Ante-Nicene Christian Library; Translations Of The Writings Of The Fathers Down To A.D. 325, Volume 2: Justin Martyr and Athenagoras

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CHΛP. I.-Obseet of the author. I THOUGII human naturo at first received a union os intelligence and safety to discorn thotruth, and the worship duo to the ono Lord ofall, Set enuy, insinuating the excellence of humangreatness, turned men aWay to the mining of idols; and this superstitious custom, aster continuing ior a long period, is handod down to tho majority as is it mere natural and true. It is tho part os a lover of man, or rather of a lover of God, to remind men who have neglected it of that whita theyought to know. For the truth is of itself sufficient to fhoπforth, by means of those things Whicli are contained under

and unchange te. For tho men os former generations, Who instituted privato and public ritus in honour of such as meremore poWerfui, caused formifulness of tho catholic faith to

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330JUSTIN ON THEone Who loves man, and set it bolare those who have intolli-gence, Whicli ait ought to have Who are privileged to Witnessthe administration of the universe, so that they should worship

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SOLE GO VERNMENT OF GOD. 331

But he was not tho only man initiated in tho knowledgeos God; for Sophocles also thus describes the nature of tho

Thoro is ono God, in truth there is but one, Who mado the heavens and tho broad earth beneath, The glancing Waves Oi Ocean, and the winds;

Both sacrifice and rite magnificent, Wo thinh that thus Wo do a pious Work.'And Philemon also, Who published many explanations osancient customs, shares in the knowle e of the truth; and thus he writes: Toli mo what thoughts of God wo inould conceivo 'one, ali things seeing, yet Himself unseen.' Even Orpheus, too, Who introduces three hundred and fixtygods, Will bear testimony in my favour from tho traci callodoatheem, in Which he appears to repent of his error by

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332JUSTIN ON THE

and on the ignoranco of the Dei displayed by menJ, I can

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SOLE GO VERNMENT OF GOD. 333

By this the righteous, and by that the bad,

λ Some propose to inseri these throe lines in the centre of tho ne sotation from Philemon, aiter the line, se Nay, the 'a an eye, etc.' Some say Diphilus. η Grotius joius these linea to the preceding. Clement of Alexandria assigna them, and the osten, Which are under the name of Euripides,

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The time so precious, otio herea ter malis For him the duo reWard of punishment.'

d that God is not appeased by the libations and incense

one, Philemony again shali bear testimony to mer Is any ono fhould dream, o Pamphilus, By sacrifice of bulis or Mara-nay, then,

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Hearing the inunder then, thou inali not fear, Nor shali thou flee, O master, at iis Volce, For thou ari conscious os no euil deed,

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SOLE GOVE MENT OF GOD.

And ye to men stiali satisfaction give For maresage torceri thou Neptune, Jupiter, Who ouer heaven presides. The temples ye Have emptied, While injustice ye repay. And though yo lavd the prudent to the SHeS, . Yet havs ye fissed your hanti With viched ness. No longer is it right to cali men ill

Nor spares even cities, but Mith cruel hand Despolis and devastates them ruthlassty. But thoy that do these inings have more Success

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338 IUSTIN ON THE