Chapter XXIV.

In how many other ways shall we yet further show that nothing which is peculiar to the shows has God’s approval, or without that approval is becoming in God’s servants? If we have succeeded in making it plain that they were instituted entirely for the devil’s sake, and have been got up entirely with the devil’s things (for all that is not God’s, or is not pleasing in His eyes, belongs to His wicked rival), this simply means that in them you have that pomp of the devil which in the “seal” of our faith we abjure. We should have no connection with the things which we abjure, whether in deed or word, whether by looking on them or looking forward to them; but do we not abjure and rescind that baptismal pledge, when we cease to bear its testimony? Does it then remain for us to apply to the heathen themselves. Let them tell us, then, whether it is right in Christians to frequent the show. Why, the rejection of these amusements is the chief sign to them that a man has adopted the Christian faith. If any one, then, puts away the faith’s distinctive badge, he is plainly guilty of denying it. What hope can you possibly retain in regard to a man who does that? When you go over to the enemy’s camp, you throw down your arms, desert the standards and the oath of allegiance to your chief:  you cast in your lot for life or death with your new friends.

CAPUT XXIV.

0655C Quot adhuc modis perorabimus, nihil ex his quae spectaculis deputantur, placitum Deo esse 0656A aut congruens Dei servis , quod Domino placitum non sit, si omnia propter diabolum instituta, et ex diaboli rebus instructa monstravimus: nihil enim non diaboli est, quidquid Dei non est, vel Deo displicet: hoc erit pompa diaboli, adversus quam in signaculo fidei ejeramus. Quod autem ejeramus, neque facto, neque dicto, neque visu, neque prospectu participare debemus. Caeterum nonne ejeramus et rescindimus signaculum, rescindendo testationem ejus? Numquid ergo superest ut ab ipsis ethnicis responsum flagitemus? Illi jam nobis renuntient, an liceat christianis spectaculo uti. Atquin hinc vel maxime intelligunt factum christianum, de repudio spectaculorum. Itaque negat manifeste, qui per quod agnoscitur tollit. Quid autem spei superest in hujusmodi homine? 0656B Nemo in castra hostium transit, nisi projectis armis suis, nisi destitutis signis et sacramentis principis sui, nisi pactus simul perire.