Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume IV/Commodianus/The Instructions of Commodianus/Chapter 57

LVI.&#8212;To the Dissembler.

Dost thou dissemble with the law that was given with such public announcement, crying out in the heavenly word of so many prophets?&#160; If a prophet had only cried out to the clouds, the word of the Lord uttered by him would surely suffice.&#160; The law of the Lord proclaims itself into so many volumes of prophets; none of them excuses wickedness; thus even thou wishest from the heart to see good things; thou art also seeking to live by deceits.&#160; Why, then, has the law itself gone forth with so much pains?&#160; Thou abusest the commands of the Lord, and yet thou callest thyself His son.&#160; Thou art seen, if thou wilt be such without reason.&#160; I say, the Almighty seeks the meek to be His sons, those who are upright with a good heart, those who are devoted to the divine law; but ye know already where He has plunged the wicked.