Protrepticus

 Raging for corruptions, celebrating insolence, deifying sorrows, the first to lead men by the hand to idols, yes, indeed, to stones and wood, that is,

 May inspire, and which may receive the 1.5.4 lord. yes, indeed, david the king, the harpist, whom we mentioned a little before, was exhorting towards

 And to statues and to certain such images having bound them fast with the wretched bond of superstition, that which is indeed said, bringing living me

 Let her who does not give birth hear let her who does not travail break forth with a cry, for the children of the desolate are more than of her who

 Breathing roughly is interpreted as the female serpent but deo and kore have already become a mystic drama, and eleusis holds torches for their wande

 A herdsman, the goad, calling the narthex a herdsman's goad, i suppose, which the bacchants indeed wreathe. 2.17.1 do you wish that i should narrate t

 And the swineherd eubouleus from whom sprang the hierophantic family of the eumolpidae and kerykes, 2.20.3 this very one at athens. and indeed (for i

 A teacher of the woman's 2.24.2 disease to the other scythians. for which reason (for it must by no means be concealed), it comes over me to wonder in

 They have fabricated certain saviors, the dioscuri and heracles, averter of evil, and asclepius the physician. 2.27.1 these are the slippery and harmf

 Apollodorus says, and callimachus, phoebus is appointed over the sacrifices of asses among the hyperboreans. and the same poet elsewhere says, fat sac

 And of gods. he was so poured out in matters of love, as to desire all, and to fulfill his desire upon all. at any rate, he was filled with women no

 Is fashioned in the manner of a member and sits upon the branch, fulfilling the promise to the dead man. a mystical memorial of this passion, phalli a

 Is taught to be prudent. the myth is laid bare for you leda died, the swan died, the eagle died. you seek your zeus? do not meddle with the sky, but

 2.39.8 they acclaimed. but heraclides in *foundations of temples* says that in acarnania, where the actium promontory is and the temple of actian apol

 He records 3.42.7 to have offered a whole burnt-offering. and erechtheus the attic and marius the roman sacrificed their own daughters of whom the on

 In athens, on the acropolis, is that of cecrops, as antiochus says in the ninth book of his histories. and what of erichthonius? was he not buried in

 The so-called palladium, fallen from heaven, which diomedes and odysseus are said to have stolen from ilium, and to have entrusted to demophon, was ma

 Nor insult the blooming youth keep it pure, that it may be beautiful. become a king of beauty, not a tyrant let it remain free then i will recogniz

 Worshippers of stones, having learned by deed not to worship senseless matter, being overcome by the need itself, are destroyed by superstition but t

 And private individuals dignified themselves with divine titles, as menecrates the physician, who was surnamed zeus. why must i list alexarchus (he wa

 4.56.4 offspring of the earth, all these things that you see? why then, o foolish and empty-minded ones (for i will say it again), having blasphemed t

 They boast, having enrolled them as their own household slaves, having made them compelled slaves by their incantations. therefore, the remembered mar

 You shall make, says the prophet, any likeness of anything that is in heaven above and that is in the 4.62.3 earth beneath. would we, then, still s

 Those who worship it have suffered for others named this fire hephaestus. 5.65.1 but the magi of the persians have honored fire, as have many of the

 Of truth, do you show that those who have trusted in you are subjected to a flow and current and disorderly eddies? and why do you fill my life with i

 By counsel but indeed they raise pure arms to heaven, rising early from bed, always cleansing their skin with water, and they honor only the one who

 A comfort of the gods, images of stone, or bronze or gold-wrought or ivory figures and allotting sacrifices to them and empty festivals, thus we thin

 You will empty injustice. 8.77.1 now that the other things have been duly completed by us in order, it is time to turn to the prophetic writings for

 I swear by myself. but he is vexed with the idolaters, saying to whom have you likened the lord? or to what likeness have you likened him? did a car

 For how is it permitted for the foreigner to enter? but when, i suppose, he is enrolled and made a citizen and receives the father, then he will be i

 The wanderers of the hebrews for they are said not to have entered into the rest because of unbelief, until, having followed the successor of moses,

 10.89.1 but to overturn a custom handed down to us from our fathers, you say, is not reasonable. and why, then, do we not use our first food, milk, to

 Demands repentance. but i want to ask you, if it does not seem absurd to you that you, men, having been born a creation of god and having received you

 Punishment? why do we not accept the gift? why do we not choose the better things, god instead of the wicked one, and prefer wisdom to idolatry, and e

 10.98.3 promised? who has promised immortality? only the creator of all things, the father, the master-craftsman, fashioned us, man, such a living s

 To wipe away the hindrances to salvation, both pride and wealth and fear, uttering this very poetic saying: where, indeed, do i carry these many posse

 They inhumanly attempt to slaughter him who teaches humanely, who calls them to righteousness, neither awaiting the grace from above nor shunning the

 A portion to those who have turned to any part of life, and to consider wisdom the same waveless harbor of salvation 10.107.3 through which those who

 He who also was, through what he taught and showed, having presented himself, our truce-bearer and reconciler and savior, the word, a life-giving, pea

 Since you were not ashamed of your brother. 11.114.1 let us then take away, let us take away the forgetfulness of the truth having cast down the igno

 The trumpet with its great blast sounded, gathered soldiers, and announced war but christ, having breathed a peaceful melody to the ends of the earth

 Bound, you shall be loosed from all corruption, the word of god will steer you, and the holy spirit will bring you to anchor in the harbors of the hea

 12.121.1 let us hasten, let us run, o god-loving and god-like images of the word [men] let us hasten, let us run, let us take up his yoke, let us mou

by counsel; but indeed they raise pure arms to heaven, rising early from bed, always cleansing their skin with water, and they honor only the one who always rules, the immortal one. 6.71.1 And not only this one Plato, O philosophy, but hasten to present many others also, uttering the one truly only god, god by his 6.71.2 inspiration, if somewhere they might have grasped the truth. For Antisthenes indeed did not conceive this in a Cynic fashion, but as an acquaintance of Socrates says, "God is like nothing"; "therefore no one can learn of him from an image." 6.71.3 And Xenophon the Athenian would himself have written something explicitly about the truth, testifying like Socrates, if he had not feared the poison of Socrates; but he hints at it no less. "The one, then," he says, "who shakes and keeps all things still, is manifest as someone great and powerful; but what he is like in form, is unseen; nor indeed does the sun, which seems to be all-shining, itself seem to permit one to see it, but if anyone shamelessly beholds it, he takes away their sight." Whence then does the son of Gryllus draw his wisdom, if not clearly 6.71.4 from the prophetess of the Hebrews who prophesies somehow thus? For what flesh can with eyes see the heavenly and true immortal god, who inhabits the vault of heaven? But not even opposite the rays of the sun can men stand, being born mortal. 6.72.1 And Cleanthes of Pedasus, the philosopher from the Stoa, demonstrates not a poetic theogony, but a true theology. He did not hide what he thought concerning God; 6.72.2 Do you ask me what the good is? Listen then: orderly, just, holy, pious, self-controlled, useful, beautiful, fitting, austere, impartial, always expedient, fearless, without grief, profitable, painless, helpful, well-pleasing, safe, friendly, honored, acknowledged * * * * * of good repute, without pride, careful, gentle, vehement, long-lasting, blameless, ever-abiding. Unfree is every man who looks to opinion, as though he would obtain some good from it. 6.72.3 Here indeed, I think, he clearly teaches what God is like, and how common opinion and custom enslave those who follow them, 6.72.4 but not those who seek God. Nor must we hide the followers of Pythagoras, who say, "God is one, and he is not, as some suppose, outside the world-order, but in it, whole in the whole circle, overseer of all generation, the mixture of all things, ever-existing and worker of his own powers and works, luminary of all things in heaven and father of all, mind and life-giving principle to the whole circle, 6.72.5 movement of all things." And these things are sufficient for the knowledge of God, written down by them through the inspiration of God, and selected by us for one who is able to discern even a little of the truth. 7.73.1 Let poetry now come to us (for philosophy alone is not sufficient), but also poetry itself, which is occupied with falsehood in all things, about to testify to the truth at long last, or rather confessing to God its mythical digression; let then whichever poet wishes come first. 7.73.2 Aratus, then, perceives the power of God to extend through all things, that all things may grow steadfast, so they propitiate him always first and last; hail, Father, great wonder, great help to men. 7.73.3 In this way also Hesiod of Ascra hints at God: for he himself is king and ruler of all; and with him no other of the immortals has vied in power. 7.74.1 And now even on the stage they lay bare the truth; one, looking up to the aether and to heaven, 7.74.2 says, "count this as God," says Euripides; and Sophocles, the son of Sophillus, "One in very truth, one is God, who made both heaven and the broad earth and the sea's flashing swell and the might of the winds; but many of us mortals, wandering in heart, have set up for woes

βουλῇ· ἀλλὰ γὰρ αἴρουσι πρὸς οὐρανὸν ὠλένας ἁγνάς, ὄρθριοι ἐξ εὐνῆς, ἀεὶ χρόα ἁγνίζοντες ὕδασι, καὶ τιμῶσι μόνον τὸν ἀεὶ μεδέοντα ἀθάνατον. 6.71.1 Καί μοι μὴ μόνον, ὦ φιλοσοφία, ἕνα τοῦτον Πλάτωνα, πολλοὺς δὲ καὶ ἄλλους παραστῆσαι σπούδασον, τὸν ἕνα ὄντως μόνον θεὸν ἀναφθεγγομένους θεὸν κατ' ἐπίπνοιαν 6.71.2 αὐτοῦ, εἴ που τῆς ἀληθείας ἐπιδράξαιντο. Ἀντισθένης μὲν γὰρ οὐ Κυνικὸν δὴ τοῦτο ἐνενόησεν, Σωκράτους δὲ ἅτε γνώριμος "θεὸν οὐδενὶ ἐοικέναι" φησίν· "διόπερ αὐτὸν 6.71.3 οὐδεὶς ἐκμαθεῖν ἐξ εἰκόνος δύναται". Ξενοφῶν δὲ ὁ Ἀθη ναῖος διαρρήδην ἂν καὶ αὐτὸς περὶ τῆς ἀληθείας ἐγεγράφει τι μαρτυρῶν ὡς Σωκράτης, εἰ μὴ τὸ Σωκράτους ἐδεδίει φάρμακον· οὐδὲν δὲ ἧττον αἰνίττεται. "Ὁ γοῦν τὰ πάντα", φησί, "σείων καὶ ἀτρεμίζων ὡς μὲν μέγας τις καὶ δυνατός, φανερός· ὁποῖος δέ τις μορφήν, ἀφανής· οὐδὲ μὴν ὁ παμφαὴς δοκῶν εἶναι ἥλιος οὐδ' αὐτὸς ἔοικεν ὁρᾶν αὑτὸν ἐπιτρέπειν, ἀλλ' ἤν τις ἀναιδῶς αὐτὸν θεάσηται, τὴν ὄψιν ἀφαιρεῖται." Πόθεν ἄρα ὁ τοῦ Γρύλλου σοφίζεται ἢ δηλαδὴ 6.71.4 παρὰ τῆς προφήτιδος τῆς Ἑβραίων θεσπιζούσης ὧδέ πως; Τίς γὰρ σὰρξ δύναται τὸν ἐπουράνιον καὶ ἀληθῆ ὀφθαλμοῖς ἰδεῖν θεὸν ἄμβροτον, ὃς πόλον οἰκεῖ; Ἀλλ' οὐδ' ἀκτίνων κατεναντίον ἠελίοιο ἄνθρωποι στῆναι δυνατοί, θνητοὶ γεγαῶτες. 6.72.1 Κλεάνθης δὲ ὁ Πηδασεύς, ὁ ἀπὸ τῆς Στοᾶς φιλόσοφος, οὐ θεογονίαν ποιητικήν, θεολογίαν δὲ ἀληθινὴν ἐνδείκνυται. Οὐκ ἀπεκρύψατο τοῦ θεοῦ πέρι ὅ τί περ εἶχεν φρονῶν· 6.72.2 τἀγαθὸν ἐρωτᾷς μ' οἷόν ἐστ'; Ἄκουε δή· τεταγμένον, δίκαιον, ὅσιον, εὐσεβές, κρατοῦν ἑαυτοῦ, χρήσιμον, καλόν, δέον, αὐστηρόν, αὐθέκαστον, ἀεὶ συμφέρον, ἄφοβον, ἄλυπον, λυσιτελές, ἀνώδυνον, ὠφέλιμον, εὐάρεστον, ἀσφαλές, φίλον, ἔντιμον, ὁμολογούμενον * * * * * εὐκλεές, ἄτυφον, ἐπιμελές, πρᾶον, σφοδρόν, χρονιζόμενον, ἄμεμπτον, ἀεὶ διαμένον. Ἀνελεύθερος πᾶς ὅστις εἰς δόξαν βλέπει, ὡς δὴ παρ' ἐκείνης τευξόμενος καλοῦ τινος. 6.72.3 Ἐνταῦθα δὴ σαφῶς, οἶμαι, διδάσκει ὁποῖός ἐστιν ὁ θεός, καὶ ὡς ἡ δόξα ἡ κοινὴ καὶ ἡ συνήθεια τοὺς ἑπομένους αὐταῖν, 6.72.4 ἀλλὰ μὴ τὸν θεὸν ἐπιζητοῦντας, ἐξανδραποδίζεσθον. Οὐκ ἀποκρυπτέον οὐδὲ τοὺς ἀμφὶ τὸν Πυθαγόραν, οἵ φασιν "ὁ μὲν θεὸς εἷς, χοὖτος δὲ οὐχ, ὥς τινες ὑπονοοῦσιν, ἐκτὸς τᾶς διακοσμήσιος, ἀλλ' ἐν αὐτᾷ, ὅλος ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ κύκλῳ ἐπίσ κοπος πάσας γενέσιος, κρᾶσις τῶν ὅλων, ἀεὶ ὢν καὶ ἐργάτας τῶν αὑτοῦ δυνάμιων καὶ ἔργων, ἁπάντων ἐν οὐρανῷ φωστὴρ καὶ πάντων πατήρ, νοῦς καὶ ψύχωσις τῷ ὅλῳ κύκλῳ, 6.72.5 πάντων κίνασις." Ἀπόχρη καὶ τάδε εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν θεοῦ ἐπιπνοίᾳ θεοῦ πρὸς αὐτῶν μὲν ἀναγεγραμμένα, πρὸς δὲ ἡμῶν ἐξειλεγμένα τῷ γε καὶ σμικρὸν διαθρεῖν ἀλήθειαν δυναμένῳ. 7.73.1 Ἴτω δὲ ἡμῖν (οὐ γὰρ αὐταρκεῖ μόνον ἡ φιλοσοφία) ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὴ ποιητικὴ ἡ περὶ τὸ ψεῦδος τὰ πάντα ἠσχο λημένη, μόλις ποτὲ ἤδη ἀλήθειαν μαρτυρήσουσα, μᾶλλον δὲ ἐξομολογουμένη τῷ θεῷ τὴν μυθώδη παρέκβασιν· παρίτω 7.73.2 δὴ ὅστις καὶ βούλεται ποιητὴς πρῶτος. Ἄρατος μὲν οὖν διὰ πάντων τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ θεοῦ διήκειν νοεῖ, ὄφρ' ἔμπεδα πάντα φύωνται, τῷ μιν ἀεὶ πρῶτόν τε καὶ ὕστατον ἱλάσκονται· χαῖρε, πάτερ, μέγα θαῦμα, μέγ' ἀνθρώποισιν ὄνειαρ. 7.73.3 Ταύτῃ τοι καὶ ὁ Ἀσκραῖος αἰνίττεται Ἡσίοδος τὸν θεόν· αὐτὸς γὰρ πάντων βασιλεὺς καὶ κοίρανός ἐστιν· ἀθανάτων τῷ δ' οὔτις ἐρήρισται κράτος ἄλλος. 7.74.1 Ἤδη δὲ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς σκηνῆς παραγυμνοῦσι τὴν ἀλήθειαν· ὃ μὲν καὶ εἰς τὸν αἰθέρα καὶ εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν 7.74.2 ἀναβλέψας "τόνδε ἡγοῦ θεόν", φησίν, Εὐριπίδης· ὁ δὲ τοῦ Σοφίλλου Σοφοκλῆς, εἷς ταῖς ἀληθείαισιν, εἷς ἐστὶν θεός, ὃς οὐρανόν τ' ἔτευξε καὶ γαῖαν μακρὴν πόντου τε χαροπὸν οἶδμα καὶ ἀνέμων βίας· θνητοὶ δὲ πολλοὶ καρδίᾳ πλανώμενοι ἱδρυσάμεσθα πημάτων