Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (1870) - Volume 3.djvu/1021

Rh TERTULLIANUS. God the Son were identical. In addition, however, to these errors, Praxeas had excited the wrath of Tertullian by stirring up one of the bishops of Rome to persecute the Montanists, the prelate in question having been, we are here assured, pre- viously disposed to regard with favour the views entertained by the members of that sect, and to recognise its founder as a prophet. Neander be- lieves that the pope here alluded to was Eleutherus, — according to AUix it was Victor. In conse- quence of the close correspondence between this piece and the work of Hippolytus, Contra Noeium, Seraler has, without success, called in question its authenticity. For an account of this work of Hip- polytus, see Vol. II. p. 492, a. 14. Scorpiace. This is a Greek word (cKop- iriaKri) signifying an antidote against the poison of scorpions. The present piece is a defence of mar- tyrdom, intended to neutralise the venom of the Gnostics and Cainites, who denied the necessity and efficacy of such sacrifices, and even accounted them sinful. It was evidently composed during a period of persecution, and later than the second book against Marcion. (See cc. 1, 4, 5 ; comp. Hieron. c. Vi- gilant. 3.) 15. De Corona Militis. On a great public fes- tival chaplets {coronae) had been distributed to the troops. A soldier was seen carrying the one which he had received in his hand instead of having placed it on his head, and when his officer de- manded the reason of this proceeding, he replied that he was a Christian. He was placed under arrest, and was awaiting in prison the punishment of his insubordination, when, in consequence of a question having arisen among the Christian community with regard to the propriety of the man's conduct, Ter- tullian composed this tract, in which he eloquently defends, and loudly commends, the deed, declaring that this conscientious believer would receive the glorious crown of a martyr in exchange for the impure crown which he had rejected. Neander imagines that the largess alluded to was bestowed upon the army after the victory of Severus over the Parthians, in which case we may assign this piece to A. d. 204. 16. De Virgiiiibiis velandis. It was the practice in Africa for married women only to wear veils, while maidens appeared in public uncovered. The latter custom is here denounced as contrary to nature, contrary to the will of God, and contrary to the discipline of the Church as observed in other places. The position thus assumed is supported by eight arguments, which are urged with a degree of vehemence and heat somewhat disproportionate to the importance of the subject. The essay is, however, very interesting to the student of Ter- tullian 's life and opinions, since it contains a more clear exposition of his views with regard to the Paraclete than we find in any other portion of his writings. 17. De Fuga in Pcrsecutione. The stem and uncompromising Montanus not only foi'bade his followers to flee from persecution, but encouraged them to defy the heathens, and brave their wrath by an open and ostentatious profession of their religion. The Catholics, on the other hand, did not consider it unbecoming, under certain circum- stances, to dissemble their faith, or to purchase toleration, or, in cases of imminent danger, to seek for safety in flight. We are here presented with an eloquent cxoosition of the beauty and holiness V(3L. 111. TERTULLIANUS. 1009 which graced the one course, and of the renegade cowardice evinced by the other. 18. De Exhortatione Castitatis Liber. Three degrees of purity are here distinguished. The first and highest consists in absolute restraint during the whole period of life, the second in continence from the time of baptism, the third and lowest in refraining from contracting a second marriage. 19. De Monogamia. May be considered as a supplement to the foregoing. It is declared that second marriages are not only inexpedient, but ab- solutely sinful, and that the permission to marry at all can only be regarded in the light of a concession to human weakness. There can be no doubt that this essay was composed after Tertullian had em- braced the extreme views of Montanus, and it has been thought possible to discover the exact time at which it was written, for we are told in the tliird chapter that 160 years had elapsed since St. Paul addressed his epistle to the Corinthians. But the precise date of that epistle itself is still open to controversy, and we may moreover conclude that in this, as in similar passages. Tertullian speaks in round numbers. 20. De Jejuniis. A defence of certain fasts and ascetic observances, the necessity of which was insisted on by the Montanists, and denied by the Catholics. In the first chapter we find a reference to the Do Monogamia. 21. De Fudicitia. A controversy had arisen between tlie Montanists and the Catholics as to the powers possessed by the Church to admit to her communion, and grant absolution to those who, after baptism, had been guilty of a flagrant breach of chastity. The rigid followers of the Phrygian closed the gates of forgiveness against even the re- pentant sinner, the orthodox advocated the milder doctrine. Although Tertullian had formerly sup- ported the latter, to a certain extent at least (see de Foenit. 7, comp. ad Martyr. 1 ), he here sternly supports the opinions of his new friends. III. Works probably written after hh BECAME A MoNTAriiST. — 22. Adverstis Valenti- nianos. An attack upon the fantastic mysticism and reveries of Valentinus and his disciples [Va- LENTiNus]. It has been remarked that there is a very close resemblance, amounting in some cases to an identity of thought, and even of expression, between this work and the first book of Irenaeus on the same subject. 23. Ad Scapulam A remonstrance addressed to Scapula, governor of Africa, who was bitterly assailing the Christians, urging upon his attention the injustice and danger of the course which he was pursuing — unjust, because the objects of his attacks were the most harmless and most loyal adherents of the emperor — dangerous, because God had already on many occasions manifested his wrath by punishing in this world those who persecuted his people. In the last section he particularly al- ludes to a portentoas darkening of the sun, which took place during a public assembly at Utica, and this is by some commentators believed to have been the great eclipse of A. D. 210. The capture of Byzantium also is spoken o^ which took place in A. D. 196. 24. De Spectaadis. Preparations on a great scale were in progress at Carthage for celebrating with all pomp certain public games. This tract ia a solemn denunciation, addressed to all true }ie- lievers, against taking any uart in such exhibitions, 3r