Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume VIII/Pseudo-Clementine Literature/The Clementine Homilies/Homily X/Chapter 23

Chapter XXIII.&#8212;Folly of Idolatry.

&#8220;Nay, it will be said; but they are detected by their foresight.&#160; It is false; for how many of them have not been detected?&#160; And if on account of the capture of some it be said that they have power, it is a mistake.&#160; For of those who rob tombs, some are found out and some escape; but it is not by the power of the dead that those who are apprehended are detected.&#160; And such ought to be our conclusion with respect to those who steal and pilfer the gods.&#160; But it will be said, The gods that are in them take no care of their images.&#160; Why, then, do you tend them, wiping them, and washing them, and scouring them, crowning them, and sacrificing to them?&#160; Wherefore agree with me that you act altogether without right reason.&#160; For as you lament over the dead, so you sacrifice and make libations to your gods.