23. This did a former Bishop of the Church of Thagasta, Firmus by name, and even more firm in will. For, when he was asked by command of the emperor, through officers sent by him, for a man who was taking refuge with him, and whom he kept in hiding with all possible care, he made answer to their questions, that he could neither tell a lie, nor betray a man; and when he had suffered so many torments of body, (for as yet emperors were not Christian,) he stood firm in his purpose. Thereupon being brought before the emperor, his conduct appeared so admirable, that he without any difficulty obtained a pardon for the man whom he was trying to save. What conduct could be more brave and constant? But peradventure some more timid person may say, “I can be prepared to bear any torments, or even to submit to death, that I may not sin; but, since it is no sin to tell a lie such that you neither hurt any man, nor bear false witness, and benefit some man, it is foolish and a great sin, voluntarily and to no purpose to submit to torments, and, when one’s health and life may haply be useful, to fling them away for nothing to people in a rage.” Of whom I ask; Why he fears that which is written, “Thou shall not bear false witness,”32    Exod. xx. 16 and fears not that which is said unto God, “Thou wilt destroy all them that speak leasing?”33    Ps. v. 6 Says he, “It is not written, Every lie: but I understand it as if it were written, Thou wilt destroy all that speak false witness.” But neither there is it said, All false witness. “Yes, but it is set there,” saith he, “where the other things are set down which are in every sort evil.” What, is this the case with what is set down there, “Thou shalt not kill?”34    Exod. xx. 13 If this be in every sort evil, how shall one clear of this crime even just men, who, upon a law given, have killed many? “But,” it is rejoined, “that man doth not himself kill, who is the minister of some just command.” These men’s fear, then, I do accept, that I still think that laudable man who would neither lie, nor betray a man, did both better understand that which is written, and what he understood did bravely put in practice.

23. Fecit hoc episcopus quondam Thagastensis Ecclesiae, Firmus nomine, firmior voluntate. Nam cum ab eo quaereretur homo jussu Imperatoris per apparitores ab eo missos, quem ad se confugientem diligentia quanta poterat occultabat; respondit quaerentibus nec mentiri se posse, nec hominem prodere, passusque tam multa tormenta corporis (nondum enim erant Imperatores christiani), permansit in sententia. Deinde ad Imperatorem ductus, usque adeo mirabilis apparuit, ut ipse homini quem servabat, indulgentiam sine ulla difficultate impetraret. Quid hoc fieri potest fortius atque constantius? Sed ait quisquam timidior: Paratus esse possum ad quaelibet ferenda tormenta, vel etiam mortem obeundam, ne peccem: cum autem peccatum non sit ita mentiri, ut neque cuiquam obsis, neque falsum testimonium dicas, et prosis alicui; stultum est et grave peccatum, voluntaria frustra sustinere tormenta, et fortassis utilem salutem ac vitam incassum saevientibus projicere. A quo quaero cur timeat quod scriptum est, Falsum testimonium non dices (Exod. XX, 16); et non timeat quod Deo dictum est, Perdes omnes qui loquuntur mendacium (Psal. V, 7)? Non, inquit scriptum est, Omne mendacium: sed ita intelligo, ac si sit scriptum, Perdes omnes qui loquuntur falsum testimonium. At nec ibi dictum est, Omne falsum testimonium. Sed ibi positum est, inquit, ubi caetera quae omni modo mala sunt. Numquid et illud quod ibi est, Non occides (Exod. XX, 13)? Quod si omni modo malum est, quomodo ab hoc crimine excusabuntur justi, qui post legem datam multos occiderunt? Sed respondetur quod non ipse occidat, qui justi alicujus praecepti minister est. Horum ergo timorem sic accipio, ut tamen illum laudabilem virum, qui nec mentiri voluit, nec hominem prodere, et melius arbitrer intellexisse quod scriptum est, et intellectum fortiter implevisse.