Chap. I.—Of the Non-Condemnation of Accused Persons Without a Hearing of Their Cause; From What Cause Philosophers Despised the Sacred Writings; Of the First Advocates of the Christian Religion.

I Entertain no doubt, O mighty Emperor Constantine,893    These words are omitted in some editions. The chapter is a kind of preface to the whole book, in which he complains that punishment has been inflicted on the Christians, without due inquiry into their cause. [Religious = superstitious. See p. 131, supra.]  —since they are impatient through excessive superstition,—that if any one of those who are foolishly religious should take in hand this work of ours, in which that matchless Creator of all things and Ruler of this boundless world is asserted, he would even assail it with abusive language, and perhaps, having scarcely read the beginning, would dash it to the ground, cast it from him, curse it, and think himself contaminated and bound by inexpiable guilt if he should patiently read or hear these things. We demand, however, from this man, if it is possible, by the right of human nature,894    Jure humanitatis.   that he should not condemn before that he knows the whole matter. For if the right of defending themselves is given to sacrilegious persons, and to traitors and sorcerers, and if it is lawful for no one to be condemned beforehand, his cause being as yet untried, we do not appear to ask unjustly, that if there shall be any one who shall have fallen upon this subject, if he shall read it, he read it throughout; if he shall hear it, that he put off the forming of an opinion until the end. But I know the obstinacy of men; we shall never succeed in obtaining this. For they fear lest they should be overcome by us, and be compelled at length to yield, truth itself crying out. They interrupt, therefore, and make hindrances, that they may not hear; and close their eyes, that they may not see the light which we present to them. Wherefore they themselves plainly show their distrust in their own abandoned system, since they neither venture to investigate, nor to engage with as, because they know that they are easily overpowered. And therefore, discussion being taken away,  

as Ennius says; and because they eagerly endeavour to condemn as guilty those whom they plainly know to be innocent, they are unwilling to be agreed respecting innocence itself; as though, in truth, it were a greater injustice to have condemned innocence, when proved to be such, than unheard. But, as I said, they are afraid lest, if they should hear, they should be unable to condemn.  

And therefore they torture, put to death, and banish the worshippers of the Most High God, that is, the righteous; nor are they, who so vehemently hate, themselves able to assign the causes of their hatred. Because they are themselves in error, they are angry with those who follow the path of truth; and when they are able to correct themselves, they greatly increase895    Coacervant, “they heap up.”   their errors by cruel deeds, they are stained with the blood of the innocent, and they tear away with violence souls dedicated to God from the lacerated bodies. Such are the men with whom we now endeavour to engage and to dispute: these are the men whom we would lead away from a foolish persuasion to the truth, men who would more readily drink blood than imbibe the words of the righteous. What then? Will our labour be in vain? By no means. For if we shall not be able to deliver these from death, to which they are hastening with the greatest speed; if we cannot recall them from that devious path to life and light, since they themselves oppose their own safety; yet we shall strengthen those who belong to us, whose opinion is not settled, and founded and fixed with solid roots. For many of them waver, and especially those who have any acquaintance with literature. For in this respect philosophers, and orators, and poets are pernicious, because they are easily able to ensnare unwary souls by the sweetness of their discourse, and of their poems flowing with delightful modulation. These are sweets896    Mella.   which conceal poison. And on this account I wished to connect wisdom with religion, that that vain system may not at all injure the studious; so that now the knowledge of literature may not only be of no injury to religion and righteousness, but may even be of the greatest profit, if he who has learned it should be more instructed in virtues and wiser in truth.  

Moreover, even though it should be profitable to no other, it certainly will be so to us: the conscience will delight itself, and the mind will rejoice that it is engaged in the light of truth, which is the food of the soul, being overspread with an incredible kind of pleasantness. But we must not despair. Perchance  

For neither are affairs in so bad a condition that there are no sound minds to which the truth may be pleasing, and which may both see and follow the right course when it is pointed out to them. Only let the cup be anointed898    There is a reference here to a well-known passage of Lucretius, i. 935: “As physicians, when they purpose to give nauseous wormwood to children, first smear the rim round the bowl with the sweet yellow juice of honey, that the unthinking age of children may be fooled as far as the lips, but though beguiled, not be betrayed.”   with the heavenly honey of wisdom, that the bitter remedies may be drunk by them unawares, without any annoyance, whilst the first sweetness of taste by its allurement conceals, under the cover899    Sub prætextu.   of pleasantness, the bitterness of the harsh flavour. For this is especially the cause why, with the wise and the learned, and the princes of this world, the sacred Scriptures are without credit, because the prophets spoke in common and simple language, as though they spoke to the people. And therefore they are despised by those who are willing to hear or read nothing except that which is polished and eloquent; nor is anything able to remain fixed in their minds, except that which charms their ears by a more soothing sound. But those things which appear humble900    Sordida.   are considered anile, foolish, and common. So entirely do they regard nothing as true, except that which is pleasant to the ear; nothing as credible, except that which can excite901    Incutere. So Lucretius, i. 19, “incutiens amorem.”   pleasure: no one estimates902    Ponderat.   a subject by its truth, but by its embellishment. Therefore they do not believe the sacred writings, because they are without any pretence;903    Sine fuco.   but they do not even believe those who explain them, because they also are either altogether ignorant, or at any rate possessed of little learning. For it very rarely happens that they are wholly eloquent; and the cause of this is evident. For eloquence is subservient to the world, it desires to display itself to the people, and to please in things which are evil; since it often endeavours to overpower the truth, that it may show its power; it seeks wealth, desires honours; in short, it demands the highest degree of dignity. Therefore it despises these subjects as low; it avoids secret things as contrary to itself, inasmuch as it rejoices in publicity, and longs for the multitude and celebrity. Hence it comes to pass that wisdom and truth need suitable heralds. And if by chance any of the learned have betaken themselves to it, they have not been sufficient for its defence.  

Of those who are known to me, Minucius Felix was of no ignoble rank among pleaders. His book, which bears the title of Octavius, declares how suitable a maintainer of the truth he might have been, if he had given himself altogether to that pursuit.904    [Vol iv. 173. Note our author’s reference to the founders of Latin Christianity, all North-Africans, like Arnobius and himself. See vol. iv. pp. 169, 170.]  Septimius Tertullianus also was skilled in literature of every kind; but in eloquence he had little readiness, and was not sufficiently polished, and very obscure. Not even therefore did he find sufficient renown. Cyprianus, therefore, was above all others905    Unus.   distinguished and renowned, since he had sought great glory to himself from the profession of the art of oratory, and he wrote very many things worthy of admiration in their particular class. For he was of a turn of mind which was ready, copious, agreeable, and (that which is the greatest excellence of style) plain and open; so that you cannot determine whether he was more embellished in speech, or more ready in explanation, or more powerful in persuasion. And yet he is unable to please those who are ignorant of the mystery except by his words; inasmuch as the things which he spoke are mystical, and prepared with this object, that they may be heard by the faithful only: in short, he is accustomed to be derided by the learned men of this age, to whom his writings have happened to be known. I have heard of a certain man who was skilful indeed, who by the change of a single letter called him Coprianus,906    The word κοπρίας is applied to sycophants and low buffoons and jesters, who, for the sake of exciting laughter, made boastful and extravagant promises.   as though he were one who had applied to old women’s fables a mind which was elegant and fitted for better things. But if this happened to him whose eloquence is not unpleasant, what then must we suppose happens to those whose discourse is meagre and displeasing, who could have had neither the power of persuasion, nor subtlety in arguing, nor any severity at all for refuting?  

CAPUT PRIMUM. De non damnandis reis, inaudita causa; unde Litteras sacras contempserint philosophi; de primis assertoribus religionis christianae.

Non est apud me dubium, Constantine Imperator Maxime, 0546D quin hoc opus nostrum, quo singularis ille 0547A rerum conditor et hujus immensi rector 0547A asseritur, si quis attigerit ex istis inepte religiosis (ut sunt nimia superstitione impatientes), insectetur etiam maledictis, et vix lecto fortasse principio, affligat, projiciat, execretur; seque inexpiabili scelere contaminari atque astringi putet, si haec aut legat patienter, aut audiat. Ab hoc tamen, si fieri potest, humanitatis jure postulamus, ut non prius damnet, quam universa cognoverit. Nam si sacrilegis, et proditoribus, et veneficis potestas defendendi sui datur, nec praedamnari quemquam incognita causa licet: non injuste petere videmur, ut si quis erit ille qui inciderit in haec, si leget, perlegat, si audiet, sententiam differat in extremum. Sed novi hominum pertinaciam: nunquam impetrabimus. Timent enim ne a nobis revicti, 0547B manus dare aliquando, clamante ipsa veritate cogantur. Obstrepunt igitur, et intercedunt ne audiant; et oculos suos opprimunt, ne lumen videant, quod offerimus. 0548A Quo plane ipsi diffidentiam suae perditae rationis ostendunt, cum neque cognoscere; neque congredi audent, quia sciunt se facile superari. Et idcirco disceptatione sublata, Pellitur e medio sapientia, vi geritur res,ut ait Ennius; et quia student damnare tamquam nocentes, quos utique sciunt innocentes, constare de ipsa innocentia nolunt. Quasi vero major iniquitas sit, probatam innocentiam damnasse, quam inauditam. Sed, ut dixi, verentur, ne si audierint, damnare non possint.

Et ideo cultores Dei summi, hoc est justos homines torquent, interficiunt, exterminant; nec causas odiorum reddere ipsi possunt, qui tam vehementer oderunt: quia ipsi errant, irascuntur iis qui veram 0548B viam sequuntur, et cum corrigere se possint, errores suos insuper crudelibus factis coacervant, innocentium cruore maculantur, et dicatas Deo mentes evisceratis 0549A corporibus 0549A extorquent. Cum talibus nunc congredi et disputare contendimus, hos ad veritatem ab inepta persuasione traducere, qui sanguinem facilius hauserint, quam verba justorum. Quid igitur? Operamne perdemus? Minime. Nam si lucrari hos a morte, ad quam concitatissime tendunt, non potuerimus; si ab illo itinere devio ad vitam lucemque revocare, quoniam ipsi saluti suae repugnant: nostros tamen confirmabimus, quorum non est stabilis, ac solidis radicibus fundata et fixa sententia. Nutant enim plurimi, ac maxime qui litterarum aliquid attigerunt. Nam et in hoc philosophi, et oratores, et poetae sunt, perniciosi quod incautos animos facile irretire possunt suavitate sermonis, et carminum dulci modulatione currentium. Mella sunt haec venenum tegentia. Ob eamque causam volui sapientiam cum Religione conjungere, 0549B ne quid studiosis inanis illa doctrina possit officere; ut jam scientia litterarum non modo nihil noceat Religioni atque justitiae, sed etiam prosit quamplurimum, si is, qui eas didicerit, sit in virtutibus instructior, et in veritate sapientior.

Praeterea, etiamsi nulli alii, nobis certe proderit: delectabit se conscientia, gaudebitque mens in veritatis se luce versari; quod est animae pabulum, incredibili quadam jucunditate perfusum. Verum non est desperandum. Fortasse 0550A Non canimus surdis.Nec enim in tam malo statu res est, ut desint sanae mentes, quibus et veritas placeat, et monstratum sibi rectum iter et videant, et sequantur. Circumlinatur modo poculum coelesti melle sapientiae, ut possint ab imprudentibus amara remedia sine offensione potari; dum illiciens prima dulcedo acerbitatem saporis asperi, sub praetextu suavitatis occultat. Nam haec in primis causa est, cur apud sapientes, et doctos, et principes hujus saeculi Scriptura sancta fide careat, quod Prophetae communi ac simplici sermone, ut ad populum, sunt locuti. Contemnuntur itaque ab iis, qui nihil audire, vel legere, nisi expolitum ac disertum volunt; nec quidquam haerere animis eorum potest, nisi quod aures blandiori sono mulcet. Illa vero, 0550B quae sordida videntur, anilia, inepta, vulgaria existimantur. Adeo nihil verum putant, nisi quod auditu suave est; nihil credibile, nisi quod potest incutere voluptatem: nemo rem veritate ponderat, sed ornatu. Non credunt ergo divinis, quia fuco carent; sed ne illis quidem, qui ea interpretantur, quia sunt et ipsi, aut omnino rudes, aut certe parum docti. Nam ut plane sint eloquentes, perraro contingit; cujus rei causa in aperto est. Eloquentia enim saeculo servit; populo se jactare, et in rebus malis placere gestit: si quidem veritatem saepius expugnare conatur, 0551A ut vim suam monstret; opes expetit, honores concupiscit, summum denique gradum dignitatis exposcit. Ergo haec quasi humilia despicit, acarna tanquam contraria sibi fugit; quippe quae publico gaudeat, et multitudinem celebritatemque desideret. Eo fit, ut sapientia et veritas idoneis praeconibus indigeat. 0551A Et si qui forte litteratorum se ad eam contulerunt, defensioni ejus non suffecerunt.

Ex iis, qui mihi noti sunt, Minucius Felix non ignobilis inter causidicos locifuit. Hujus liber, cui Octavio titulus est, declarat, quam idoneus veritatis assertor esse potuisset, si se totum ad id studium contulisset. Septimius quoque Tertullianus fuit omni genere litterarum peritus: sed in eloquendo parum facilis, et minus comptus, et multum obscurus 0551B fuit. Ergo ne hic quidem satis celebritatis invenit. Unus igitur praecipuus, et clarus extitit Cyprianus, quoniam et magnam sibi gloriam ex artis oratoriae professione quaesierat, et admodum multa conscripsit in suo genere miranda. Erat enim ingenio facili, copioso, suavi, et (quae sermonis maxima est virtus) aperto, ut discernere nequeas, utrumne ornatior in eloquendo, an felicior in explicando, an potentior in persuadendo fuerit. Hic tamen placere ultra verba 0552A sacramentum ignorantibus non potest, quoniam mystica sunt, quae locutus est, et ad id praeparata, ut a solis fidelibus audiantur. Denique a doctis hujus saeculi, quibus forte scripta ejus innotuerunt, derideri solet. Audivi ego quemdam hominem sane disertum, qui eum immutata una littera Coprianum vocaret; quasi qui elegans ingenium, et melioribus rebus aptum, ad aniles fabulas contulisset. Quod si accidit hoc ei, cujus eloquentia non insuavis est, quid tandem putemus eis accidere, quorum sermo jejunus est et ingratus; qui neque vim persuadendi, neque subtilitatem argumentandi, neque ullam prorsus acerbitatem ad revincendum habere potuerunt?