Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume IV/Commodianus/The Instructions of Commodianus/Chapter 20

XIX.&#8212;Of the Vain Nemesiaci.

Is it not ignominy, that a prudent man should be seduced and worship such a one, or say that a log is Diana?&#160; You trust a man who in the morning is drunk, costive, and ready to perish, who by art speaks falsely what is seen by him.&#160; While he lives strictly, he feeds on his own bowels.&#160; A detestable one defiles all the citizens; and he has attached to himself&#8212;a similar gathering being made&#8212;those with whom he feigns the history, that he may adorn a god.&#160; He is ignorant how to prophesy for himself; for others he dares it.&#160; He places it on his shoulder when he pleases, and again he places it down.&#160; Whirling round, he is turned by himself with the tree of the two-forked one, as if you would think that he was inspired with the deity of the wood.&#160; Ye do not worship the gods whom they themselves falsely announce; ye worship the priests themselves, fearing them vainly.&#160; But if thou art strong in heart, flee at once from the shrines of death.