Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume IV/Commodianus/The Instructions of Commodianus/Chapter 2

The Instructions of Commodianus

Christian Discipline,

Against the Gods of the Heathens.

I.&#8212;Preface.

My preface sets forth the way to the wanderer and a good visitation when the goal of life shall have come, that he may become eternal&#8212;a thing which ignorant hearts disbelieve.&#160; I in like manner have wandered for a long time, by giving attendance upon heathen fanes, my parents themselves being ignorant. &#160; Thence at length I withdrew myself by reading concerning the law.&#160; I bear witness to the Lord; I grieve alas, the crowd of citizens! ignorant of what it loses in going to seek vain gods.&#160; Thoroughly taught by these things, I instruct the ignorant in the truth.