Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (1870) - Volume 3.djvu/1022

Rh 1010 TERTULLIANUS. which were invented by devils, and were calculated^ to awaken and cherish feelings and passions alto- gether inconsistent with the Christian profession. Neander supposes that this and the following piece were called forth by the rejoicings at the termina- tion of the civil war by the death of Niger (a. d. 194) and of Albinus (a. d. 1.97). Others believe that the preparations referred to were for the Secu- lar Games, which commemorated the completion of the eighth great century of Rome (a. d. 204). This diversity of opinion upon such a point is in itself sufficient to prove that the historical allusions are of a vague and general character. 25. De Idololattia. Composed for the purpose of warning Christians that not those only were guilty of idolatry who actually offered sacrifice to false gods, but all who contributed in any way, di- rectly or indirectly, to the support and diffusion of the popular religion by fabricating images, by as- sisting in the construction and decoration of temples, by consulting soothsayers and astrologers, by being present at heathen solemnities or festivities. In conclusion, it is asserted that no true believer can lawfully accept any public office, nor even serve as a soldier in the armies of the state. 26. De Cultu Feminarum Lihri II. On the folly and sin displayed by women in devoting much time and anxious care to the decoration of that body which they ought to be willing and eager to sacrifice, at any moment, in the service of Christ. IV. Works concerning which nothing CERTAIN CAN BE PRONOUNCED. — 27. Apologia. A formal defence of Christianity. Much difference of opinion has been expressed by the earlier ec- clesiastical historians as to the time when and the place where this work was composed, as M-^ell as with regard to the persons to whom the appeal is made. It is now, however, generally admitted that it was written at Carthage, and that the " Praesides," *■' Imperii Romani Antistites " (" vo- bi8...in aperto et in ipso vertice civitatis praesi- dentibus") addressed, must, have been the chief magistrates of the African province. The precise epoch at which it was drawn up is still a question open to discussion. We find clearly indicated a period of persecution against the church, of intes- tine discord in the state, and of attacks upon the dominion of Rome by various barbarous tribes, especially the Parthians, a series of conditions all of which were fulfilled by events which occurred during the reign of Severus ; but here, as elsewhere in TertuUian, the historical allusions are couched in such general and vague terms, that it is impos- sible to fix with confidence on any one known event. The Christians at the close of the second century were compelled to maintain a perilous struggle both with the government and the populace. By the former their rapidly increasing numbers were viewed with jealous apprehension ; for not only did the multitndes who professed the new faith openly avow their contempt and abhorrence of the gods reverenced by the constituted authorities, and refuse to participate in any of their rites, even in the sacrifices offered up for the safety of the em- perors, but the close correspondence, union, and organization which existed among all the members of the different churches induced the rulers to suspect that religion was, in this case, merely a convenient cloak employed to hide the intrigues of TERTULLIANUS. a widely-spread political combination By the more ignorant portion of the crowd, on the other hand, their bold repudiation of the popular creed was regarded as an open avowal of absolute atheism, and every species of vice and crime were unhesi- tatingly ascribed to a class of men who were be- lieved to have cast off all the restraints imposed by a fear of Divine wrath. Even those who did not admit without question the extravagant rumours, fabricated by intolerance and folly, and who knew enough of the real state of the case to feel sensible that the broad accusation of total unbelief could not be supported, still looked upon the Christians as wild fanatics who paid homage to new, foul, un- recognised, and therefore unlawful deities, and who were in consequence amenable to those ancient laws which denounced punishment upon all who introduced foreign superstitions without the sanc- tion of the senate. Hence, the mere fact that a man was notoriously a Christian, Avas held by many governors to be a cause sufficient to justify the imprisonment or even the death of the indi- vidual in the absence of all proof of any specific offence, while the occurrence of any public disaster was considered by the rabble as a demonstration of Divine displeasure, called forth by the blasphemies of the hated infidels, whose instant destruction they clamorously demanded. The object of Ter- tuUian in this, the most elaborate of all his treatises, is to combat and repel these attacks, to point out how unfounded were the lears entertained with respect to the loyalty of the Christians, how false the charges of atheism and immorality, how unrea- sonable the prejudices of the vulgar. He begins by complaining of the unfairness with which they were treated in courts of justice, since they alone were condemned without a hearing, and without being impeached of any definite crime, the name which they bore being held as a sufficient evidence of guilt, while their enemies were so ignorant, that they frequently mistook the real name, and substi- tuted an appellation altogether different. He then proceeds to demonstrate how utterly absurd were the tales in common circulation, that they practised infanticide, and were guilty of gross debauchery in their holy assemblies ; he explains that, far from being atheists, they paid the most solemn adoration to the only true God, rejecting the worship of dead men and of evil spirits, retorting at the same time upon the Gentiles, with great force and effect, the reproaches of cruelty and impurity in cele- brating sacred observances, and exposing many of the most prominent follies and abominations, which were mingled with the heathen ceremonies. He next calls attention to the circumstance that, far from being bad subjects, they were bound by their Scriptures to submit themselves to the temporal powers, and that in public and private they joined in fervent prayer for the emperor ; that far from cherishing hatred against the human race, forgive- ness of enemies was one of the leading principles of their moral code ; that their meetings were all of a harmless and devout character occupied entirely with holy ordinances and spiritual communion'; that far from being the cause of national misfor- tunes, it was notorious that the most terrible visita- tions had often been mitigated by their suppli- cations ; and, finally, that the greatest loss and danger would arise to the state should it persist in alienating by persecution such a nuraereus, inof- fensive, virtuous, and well-disposed class of ci-