Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series I/Volume II/City of God/Book I/Chapter 14

Chapter 14.—Of the Captivity of the Saints, and that Divine Consolation Never Failed Them Therein.

But, say they, many Christians were even led away captive.&#160; This indeed were a most pitiable fate, if they could be led away to any place where they could not find their God.&#160; But for this calamity also sacred Scripture affords great consolation.&#160; The three youths were captives; Daniel was a captive; so were other prophets:&#160; and God, the comforter, did not fail them.&#160; And in like manner He has not failed His own people in the power of a nation which, though barbarous, is yet human,—He who did not abandon the prophet in the belly of a monster.&#160; These things, indeed, are turned to ridicule rather than credited by those with whom we are debating; though they believe what they read in their own books, that Arion of Methymna, the famous lyrist, when he was thrown overboard, was received on a dolphin&#8217;s back and carried to land.&#160; But that story of ours about the prophet Jonah is far more incredible,—more incredible because more marvellous, and more marvellous because a greater exhibition of power.