Ante-Nicene Fathers. In 10 vols. Volume 07. Fathers of the Third and Fourth Centuries: Lactantius, Venantius, Asterius, Victorinus, Dionysius, Apostolic Teaching and Constitutions, Homily

965 Pages·2016·7.21 MB·English

by  Schaff Philip (Ed.)

ANF07. Fathers of the Third and Fourth
Centuries: Lactantius, Venantius, Asterius,
Victorinus, Dionysius, Apostolic Teaching
and Constitutions, Homily, and Liturgies
by
Philip Schaff
Christian Classics Ethereal Library
About ANF07. Fathers of the Third and Fourth Centuries: Lactantius, Venantius,
Asterius, Victorinus, Dionysius, Apostolic Teaching and Constitutions, Homily,
and Liturgies by Philip Schaff
Title: ANF07. Fathers of the Third and Fourth Centuries: Lactantius,
Venantius, Asterius, Victorinus, Dionysius, Apostolic Teaching and
Constitutions, Homily, and Liturgies
URL: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf07.html
Author(s): Schaff, Philip
Publisher: Grand Rapids,MI: Christian Classics Ethereal Library
Description: Originally printed in 1885, the ten-volume set, Ante-Nicene Fathers,
brings together the work of early Christian thinkers. In particular, it
brings together the writings of the early Church fathers prior to the
fourth century Nicene Creed. These volumes are noteworthy for their
inclusion of entire texts, and not simply fragments or excerpts from
these great writings. The translations are fairly literal, providing both
readers and scholars with a good approximation of the originals. This
volume has Church fathers from both the third and fourth century.
These writings were heavily influential on the early Church, and for
good reason, as they are inspirational and encouraging. These
volumes also come with many useful notes, providing the reader with
new levels of understanding. Overall, Ante-Nicene Fathers, or any
part of it, is a welcome addition to one's reading list.
Tim Perrine
CCEL Staff Writer
Rights: Copyright Christian Classics Ethereal Library
Date Created: 2004-07-04
Status: Carefully proofed except for extended Latin sections on pp. 189-190,
293-294 of the print edition.
CCEL Subjects: All;EarlyChurch; Symbols; Proofed
LC Call no: BR65
LC Subjects: Christianity
Early Christian Literature. Fathers of the Church, etc.
ANF07. Fathers of the Third and Fourth Centuries: Lactantius, Philip Schaff
Venantius, Asterius, Victorinus, Dionysius, Apostolic Teaching
and Constitutions, Homily, and Liturgies
Table of Contents
About This Book. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. ii
Title Page. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 1
Introductory Notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 3
Lactantius. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 5
Introductory Notice to Lactantius.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 5
The Divine Institutes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 10
Book I. Of the False Worship of the Gods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 10
Preface.—Of what great value the knowledge of the truth is and always
has been. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 10
Chap. I.—Of religion and wisdom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 11
Chap. II.—That there is a providence in the affairs of men. . . . . . . . p. 13
Chap. III.—Whether the universe is governed by the power of one God
or of many. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 13
Chap. IV.—That the one God was foretold even by the prophets. . . . p. 15
Chap. V.—Of the testimonies of poets and philosophers. . . . . . . . . p. 16
Chap. VI.—Of divine testimonies, and of the Sibyls and their
predictions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 19
Chap. VII.—Concerning the testimonies of Apollo and the gods. . . . . p. 21
Chap. VIII.—That God is without a body, nor does he need difference
of sex for procreation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 23
Chap. IX.—Of Hercules and his life and death. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 24
Chap. X.—Of the life and actions of Æsculapius, Apollo, Neptune, Mars,
Castor and Pollux, Mercury and Bacchus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 25
Chap. XI.—Of the origin, life, reign, name and death of Jupiter, and of
Saturn and Uranus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 26
Chap. XII.—That the stoics transfer the figments of the poets to a
philosophical system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 32
Chap. XIII.—How vain and trifling are the interpretations of the stoics
respecting the gods, and in them concerning the origin of Jupiter,
concerning Saturn and Ops. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 33
Chap. XIV.—What the sacred history of Euhemerus and Ennius teaches
concerning the gods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 35
Chap. XV.—How they who were men obtained the name of gods. . . . p. 36
Chap. XVI.—By what argument it is proved that those who are
distinguished by a difference of sex cannot be gods. . . . . . . . . . . . p. 39
iii
ANF07. Fathers of the Third and Fourth Centuries: Lactantius, Philip Schaff
Venantius, Asterius, Victorinus, Dionysius, Apostolic Teaching
and Constitutions, Homily, and Liturgies
Chap. XVII.—Concerning the same opinion of the stoics, and concerning
the hardships and disgraceful conduct of the gods. . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 40
Chap. XVIII.—On the consecration of gods, on account of the benefits
which they conferred upon men. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 42
Chap. XIX.—That it is impossible for any one to worship the true God
together with false deities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 44
Chap. XX.—Of the gods peculiar to the Romans, and their sacred
rites. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 44
Chap. XXI.—Of certain deities peculiar to barbarians, and their sacred
rites; and in like manner concerning the Romans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 47
Chap. XXII.—Who was the author of the vanities before described in
Italy among the Romans, and who among other nations. . . . . . . . . p. 52
Chap. XXIII.—Of the ages of vain superstitions, and the times at which
they commenced. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 54
Book II. Of the Origin of Error. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 55
Chap. I.—That forgetfulness of reason makes men ignorant of the true
God, whom they worship in adversity and despise in prosperity. . . . . p. 55
Chap. II.—What was the first cause of making images; of the true
likeness of God, and the true worship of him. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 57
Chap. III.—That Cicero and other men of learning erred in not turning
away the people from error. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 60
Chap. IV.—Of images, and the ornaments of temples, and the contempt
in which they are held even by the heathens themselves. . . . . . . . . p. 62
Chap. V.—That God only, the creator of all things, is to be worshipped,
and not the elements or heavenly bodies; and the opinion of the stoics
is refuted, who think that the stars and planets are gods. . . . . . . . . p. 66
Chap. VI.—That neither the whole universe nor the elements are God,
nor are they possessed of life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 69
Chap. VII.—Of God, and the religious rites of the foolish; of avarice,
and the authority of ancestors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 70
Chap. VIII.—Of the use of reason in religion; and of dreams, auguries,
oracles, and similar portents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 72
Chap. IX.—Of the devil, the world, God, providence, man, and his
wisdom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 75
Chap. X.—Of the world, and its parts, the elements and seasons. . . . p. 81
Chap. XI.—Of living creatures, of man; Prometheus, Deucalion, the
Parcæ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 84
Chap. XII.—That animals were not produced spontaneously, but by a
divine arrangement, of which God would have given us the knowledge,
if it were advantageous for us to know It. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 86
iv
ANF07. Fathers of the Third and Fourth Centuries: Lactantius, Philip Schaff
Venantius, Asterius, Victorinus, Dionysius, Apostolic Teaching
and Constitutions, Homily, and Liturgies
Chap. XIII.—Why man is of two sexes; what is his first death, and what
the second and of the fault and punishment of our first parents. . . . . p. 88
Chap. XIV.—Of Noah the inventor of wine, who first had knowledge of
the stars, and of the origin of false religions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 91
Chap. XV.—Of the corruption of angels, and the two kinds of
demons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 93
Chap. XVI.—That demons have no power over those who are
established in the faith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 94
Chap. XVII.—That astrology, soothsaying, and similar arts are the
invention of demons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 95
Chap. XVIII.—Of the patience and vengeance of God, the worship of
demons, and false religions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 98
Chap. XIX.—Of the worship of images and earthly objects. . . . . . . p. 99
Chap. XX.—Of philosophy and the truth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 100
Book III. Of the False Wisdom of the Philosophers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 100
Chap. I.—A comparison of the truth with eloquence: why the
philosophers did not attain to it. Of the simple style of the
scriptures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 101
Chap. II.—Of philosophy, and how vain was its occupation in setting
forth the truth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 102
Chap. III.—Of what subjects philosophy consists, and who was the chief
founder of the academic sect. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 103
Chap. IV.—That knowledge is taken away by Socrates, and conjecture
by Zeno. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 105
Chap. V.—That the knowledge of many things is necessary. . . . . . p. 106
Chap. VI.—Of wisdom, and the academics, and natural
philosophy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 106
Chap. VII.—Of moral philosophy, and the chief good. . . . . . . . . . . p. 108
Chap. VIII.—Of the chief good, and the pleasures of the soul and body,
and of virtue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 109
Chap. IX.—Of the chief good, and the worship of the true God, and a
refutation of Anaxagoras. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 112
Chap. X.—It is the peculiar property of man to know and worship
God. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 113
Chap. XI.—Of religion, wisdom, and the chief good. . . . . . . . . . . . p. 114
Chap. XII.—Of the twofold conflict of body and soul; and of desiring
virtue on account of eternal life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 115
Chap. XIII.—Of the immortality of the soul, and of wisdom, philosophy,
and eloquence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 118
v
ANF07. Fathers of the Third and Fourth Centuries: Lactantius, Philip Schaff
Venantius, Asterius, Victorinus, Dionysius, Apostolic Teaching
and Constitutions, Homily, and Liturgies
Chap. XIV.—That Lucretius and others have erred, and Cicero himself,
in fixing the origin of wisdom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 120
Chap. XV.—The error of Seneca in philosophy, and how the speech of
philosophers is at variance with their life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 121
Chap. XVI.—That the philosophers who give good instructions live
badly, by the testimony of Cicero; therefore we should not so much
devote ourselves to the study of philosophy as to wisdom. . . . . . . . p. 123
Chap. XVII.—He passes from philosophy to the philosophers, beginning
with Epicurus; and how he regarded Leucippus and Democritus as
authors of error. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 125
Chap. XVIII.—The Pythagoreans and Stoics, while they hold the
immortality of the soul, foolishly persuade a voluntary death. . . . . . p. 129
Chap. XIX.—Cicero and others of the wisest men teach the immortality
of the soul, but in an unbelieving manner; and that a good or an evil
death must be weighed from the previous life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 131
Chap. XX.—Socrates had more knowledge in philosophy than other
men, although in many things he acted foolishly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 133
Chap. XXI.—Of the system of Plato, which would lead to the overthrow
of states. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 135
Chap. XXII.—Of the precepts of Plato, and censures of the same. . . . p. 136
Chap. XXIII.—Of the errors of certain philosophers, and of the sun and
moon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 136
Chap. XXIV.—Of the antipodes, the heaven, and the stars. . . . . . . p. 138
Chap. XXV.—Of learning philosophy, and what great qualifications are
necessary for its pursuit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 139
Chap. XXVI.—It is divine instruction only which bestows wisdom; and
of what efficacy the law of God is. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 140
Chap. XXVII.—How little the precepts of philosophers contribute to true
wisdom, which you will find in religion only. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 141
Chap. XXVIII.—Of true religion and of nature. whether fortune is a
goddess, and of philosophy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 143
Chap. XXIX.—Of fortune again, and virtue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 144
Chap. XXX.—The conclusion of the things before spoken; and by what
means we must pass from the vanity of the philosophers to true wisdom,
and the knowledge of the true god, in which alone are virtue and
happiness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 146
Book IV. Of True Wisdom and Religion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 147
Chap. I.—Of the former religion of men, and how error was spread over
every age, and of the seven wise men of Greece. . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 147
vi
ANF07. Fathers of the Third and Fourth Centuries: Lactantius, Philip Schaff
Venantius, Asterius, Victorinus, Dionysius, Apostolic Teaching
and Constitutions, Homily, and Liturgies
Chap. II.—Where wisdom is to be found; why Pythagoras and Plato did
not approach the Jews. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 149
Chap. III.—Wisdom and religion cannot be separated: the Lord of nature
must necessarily be the Father of every one. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 150
Chapter IV.—Of wisdom likewise, and religion, and of the right of father
and lord. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 152
Chap. V.—The oracles of the prophets must be looked into; and of their
times, and the times of the judges and kings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 153
Chap. VI.—Almighty God begat his Son; and the testimonies of the
Sibyls and of Trismegistus concerning Him. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 154
Chap. VII.—Of the name of Son, and whence he is called Jesus and
Christ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 155
Chap. VIII.—Of the birth of Jesus in the spirit and in the flesh: of spirits
and the testimonies of prophets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 156
Chap. IX.—Of the Word of God. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 158
Chap. X.—Of the advent of Jesus; Of the fortunes of the Jews, and
their government, until the passion of the Lord. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 159
Chap. XI.—Of the cause of the incarnation of Christ. . . . . . . . . . . . p. 161
Chap. XII.—Of the birth of Jesus from the Virgin; of his life, death, and
resurrection, and the testimonies of the prophets respecting these
things. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 163
Chap. XIII.—Of Jesus, God and man; and the testimonies of the
prophets concerning him. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 166
Chap. XIV.—Of the priesthood of Jesus foretold by the prophets. . . . p. 168
Chap. XV.—Of the life and miracles of Jesus, and testimonies
concerning them. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 171
Chap. XVI.—Of the passion of Jesus Christ; that it was foretold. . . . . p. 174
Chap. XVII.—Of the superstitions of the Jews, and their hatred against
Jesus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 176
Chap. XVIII.—Of the Lord’s passion, and that it was foretold. . . . . . p. 179
Chap. XIX.—Of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus; and the
predictions of these events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 183
Chap. XX.—Of the departure of Jesus into Galilee after his resurrection;
and of the two testaments, the old and the new. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 185
Chap. XXI.—Of the ascension of Jesus, and the foretelling of it; and of
the preaching and actions of the disciples. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 186
Chap. XXII.—Arguments of unbelievers against the incarnation of
Jesus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 187
Chap. XXIII.—Of giving precepts, and acting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 188
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ANF07. Fathers of the Third and Fourth Centuries: Lactantius, Philip Schaff
Venantius, Asterius, Victorinus, Dionysius, Apostolic Teaching
and Constitutions, Homily, and Liturgies
Chap. XXIV.—The overthrowing of the arguments above urged by way
of objection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 189
Chap. XXV.—Of the advent of Jesus in the flesh and spirit, that He
might be mediator between God and man. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 191
Chap. XXVI.—Of the cross, and other tortures of Jesus, and of the
figure of the lamb under the law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 192
Chap. XXVII.—Of the wonders effected by the power of the cross, and
of demons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 196
Chap. XXVIII.—Of hope and true religion, and of superstition. . . . . . p. 199
Chap. XXIX.—Of the Christian religion, and of the union of Jesus with
the Father. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 201
Chap. XXX.—Of avoiding heresies and superstitions, and what is the
only true Catholic Church. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 202
Book V. Of Justice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 204
Chap. I.—Of the non-condemnation of accused persons without a
hearing of their cause; from what cause philosophers despised the
sacred writings; of the first advocates of the Christian religion. . . . . p. 205
Chap. II.—To what an extent the Christian truth has been assailed by
rash men. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 207
Chap. III.—Of the truth of the Christian doctrine, and the vanity of its
adversaries; and that Christ was not a magician. . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 209
Chap. IV.—Why this work was published, and again of Tertullian and
Cyprian. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 212
Chap. V.—there was true justice under Saturnus, but it was banished
by Jupiter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 213
Chap. VI.—After the banishment of justice, lust, unjust laws, daring,
avarice, ambition, pride, impiety, and other vices reigned. . . . . . . . p. 215
Chap. VII.—Of the coming of Jesus, and its fruit; and of the virtues and
vices of that age. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 216
Chap. VIII.—Of justice known to all, but not embraced; of the true temple
of God, and of His worship, that all vices may be subdued. . . . . . . . p. 217
Chap. IX.—Of the crimes of the wicked, and the torture inflicted on the
Christians. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 219
Chap. X.—Of false piety, and of false and true religion. . . . . . . . . . p. 221
Chap XI.—Of the cruelty of the heathens against the Christians. . . . . p. 223
Chap. XII.—Of true virtue; and of the estimation of a good or bad
citizen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 225
Chapter XIII.—Of the increase and the punishment of the Christians.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 226
Chap. XIV.—Of the fortitude of the Christians. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 228
viii
ANF07. Fathers of the Third and Fourth Centuries: Lactantius, Philip Schaff
Venantius, Asterius, Victorinus, Dionysius, Apostolic Teaching
and Constitutions, Homily, and Liturgies
Chap. XV.—Of folly, wisdom, piety, equity, and justice. . . . . . . . . . p. 228
Chap. XVI.—Of the duties of the just man, and the equity of
Christians. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 230
Chap. XVII.—Of the equity, wisdom, and foolishness of Christians. . . p. 231
Chap. XVIII.—Of justice, wisdom, and folly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 232
Chap. XIX.—Of virtue and the tortures of Christians, and of the right of
a father and master. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 235
Chap. XX.—Of the vanity and crimes, impious superstitions, and of the
tortures of the Christians. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 237
Chap. XXI.—Of the worship of other gods and the true God, and of the
animals which the Egyptians worshipped. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 240
Chap. XXII.—Of the rage of the demons against Christians, and the
error of unbelievers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 241
Chap. XXIII.—Of the justice and patience of the Christians. . . . . . . p. 243
Chap. XXIV.—Of the divine vengeance inflicted on the torturers of the
Christians. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 245
Book VI. Of True Worship. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 245
Chap. I.—Of the worship of the true God, and of innocency, and of the
worship of false Gods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 246
Chap. II.—Of the worship of false gods and the true God. . . . . . . . p. 247
Chap. III.—Of the ways, and of vices and virtues; and of the rewards
of heaven and the punishments of hell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 249
Chap. IV.—Of the ways of life, of pleasures, also of the hardships of
Christians. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 250
Chap. V.—Of false and true virtue; and of knowledge. . . . . . . . . . . p. 253
Chap. VI.—Of the chief good and virtue, and or knowledge and
righteousness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 255
Chap. VII.—Of the Way of Error and of Truth: that It is Single, Narrow,
and Steep, and Has God for Its Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 258
Chap. VIII.—Of the errors of philosophers, and the variableness of
law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 259
Chap. IX.—Of the law and precept of god; of mercy, and the error of
the philosophers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 260
Chap. X.—Of religion towards God, and mercy towards men; and of
the beginning of the world. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 262
Chap. XI.—Of the persons upon whom a benefit is to be
conferred. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 264
Chap. XII.—Of the kinds of beneficence, and works of mercy. . . . . . p. 267
Chap. XIII.—Of repentance, of mercy, and the forgiveness of sins. . . p. 271
ix
ANF07. Fathers of the Third and Fourth Centuries: Lactantius, Philip Schaff
Venantius, Asterius, Victorinus, Dionysius, Apostolic Teaching
and Constitutions, Homily, and Liturgies
Chap. XIV.—Of the affections, and the opinion of the Stoics respecting
them; and of virtue, the vices, and mercy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 272
Chap. XV.—Of the affections, and the opinion of the Peripatetics
respecting them. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 273
Chap. XVI.—Of the affections, and the refutation of the opinion of the
Peripatetics concerning them; what is the proper use of the affections,
and what is a bad use of them. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 274
Chap. XVII.—Of the affections and their use; of patience, and the chief
good of Christians. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 275
Chap. XVIII.—Of some commands of God, and of patience. . . . . . . p. 278
Chap. XIX.—Of the affections and their use; and of the three
furies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 281
Chap. XX.—Of the senses, and their pleasures in the brutes and in
man; and of pleasures of the eyes, and spectacles. . . . . . . . . . . . p. 282
Chap. XXI.—Of the pleasures of the ears, and of sacred literature. . . p. 286
Chap. XXII.—Of the pleasures of taste and smell. . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 286
Chap. XXIII.—De tactus voluptate et libidine, atque de matrimonio et
continentiâ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 287
Chap. XXIV.—Of repentance, of pardon, and the commands of
God. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 289
Chap. XXV.—Of sacrifice, and of an offering worthy of God, and of the
form of praising God. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 292
Book VII. Of a Happy Life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 294
Chap. I.—Of the world, and those who are about to believe, and those
who are not; and in this the censure of the faithless. . . . . . . . . . . . p. 294
Chap. II.—Of the error of the philosophers, and of the divine wisdom,
and of the golden age. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 297
Chap. III.—Of nature, and of the world; and a censure of the Stoics and
Epicureans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 298
Chap. IV.—That all things were created for some use, even those things
which appear evil; on what account man enjoys reason in so frail a
body. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 301
Chap. V.—Of the creation of man, and of the arrangement of the world,
and of the chief good. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 302
Chap. VI.—Why the world and man were created. How unprofitable is
the worship of false gods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 308
Chap. VII.—Of the variety of philosophers, and their truth. . . . . . . . p. 309
Chap. VIII.—Of the immortality of the soul. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 311
Chap. IX.—Of the immortality of the soul, and of virtue. . . . . . . . . . p. 312
Chap. X.—Of vices and virtues, and of life and death. . . . . . . . . . . p. 314
x