按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Come we then； O king； to the elements themselves； that we may prove concerning them； that they are not gods； but corruptible and changeable things； brought out of non…existence by the command of him who is God indeed； who is incorruptible； and unchangeable； and invisible； but yet himself seeth all things； and； as he willeth； changeth and altereth the same。 What then must I say about the elements？
〃They； who ween that the Heaven is a god； are in error。 For we see it turning and mowing by law； and consisting of many parts； whence also it is called Cosmos！ Now a ‘Cosmos' is the handiwork of some artificer； and that which is wrought by handiwork hath beginning and end。 And the firmament is moved by law together with its luminaries。 The stars are borne from Sign to Sign； each in his order and place： some rise； while others set： and they run their journey according to fixed seasons； to fulfil summer and winter； as it hath been ordained for them by God； nor do they transgress their proper bounds； according to the inexorable law of nature； in common with the heavenly firmament。 Whence it is evident that the heaven is not a god； but only a work of God。
〃They again that think that the Earth is a goddess have gone astray。 We behold it dishonoured； mastered； defiled and rendered useless by mankind。 If it be baked by the sun； it becometh dead； for nothing groweth from a potsherd。 And again； if it be soaked overmuch； it rotteth； fruit and all。 It is trodden under foot of men and the residue of the beasts： it is polluted with the blood of the murdered； it is digged and made a grave for dead bodies。 This being so； Earth can in no wise be a goddess； but only the work of God for the use of men。
〃They that think that Water is a god have gone astray。 It also hath been made for the use of men。 It is under their lordship： it is polluted； and perisheth： it is altered by boiling； by dyeing； by congealment； or by being brought to the cleansing of all defilements。 Wherefore Water cannot be a god； but only the work of God。
〃They that think that Fire is a god are in error。 It too was made for the use of men。 It is subject to their lordship； being carried about from place to place； for the seething and roasting of all manner of meats； yea； and for the burning of dead corpses。 Moreover； it perisheth in divers ways； when it is quenched by mankind。 Wherefore Fire cannot be a god； but only the work of God。
〃They that think that the breath of the Winds is a goddess are in error。 This； as is evident； is subject to another； and hath been prepared by God； for the sake of mankind； for the carriage of ships； and the conveyance of victuals； and for other uses of men； it riseth and falleth according to the ordinance of God。 Wherefore it is not to be supposed that the breath of the Winds is a goddess； but only the work of God。
〃They that think that the Sun is a god are in error。 We see him moving and turning by law； and passing from Sign to Sign； setting and rising； to warm herbs and trees for the use of men； sharing power with the other stars； being much less than the heaven； and falling into eclipse and possessed of no sovranty of his own。 Wherefore we may not consider that the Sun is a god； but only the work of God。
〃They that think that the Moon is a goddess are in error。 We behold her moving and turning by law； and passing from Sign to Sign； setting and rising for the use of men； lesser than the sun； waxing and waning； suffering eclipse。 Wherefore we do not consider that the Moon is a goddess； but only the work of God。
〃They that think that Man is a god are in error。 We see man moving by law； growing up； and waxing old； even against his will。 Now he rejoiceth； now he grieveth； requiring meat and drink and raiment。 Besides he is passionate； envious； lustful； fickle； and full of failings： and he perisheth in many a way； by the elements； by wild beasts； and by the death that ever awaiteth him。 So Man cannot be a god； but only the work of God。 Great then is the error that the Chaldeans have erred in following their own lusts； for they worship corruptible elements and dead images； neither do they perceive that they are making gods of these。
〃Now come we to the Greeks that we may see whether they have any understanding concerning God。 The Greeks； then； professing themselves to be wise； fell into greater folly than the Chaldeans； alleging the existence of many gods； some male； others female； creators of all passions and sins of every kind。 Wherefore the Greeks； O king； introduced an absurd； foolish and ungodly fashion of talk； calling them gods that were not； according to their own evil passions； that； having these gods for advocates of their wickedness； they might commit adultery； theft； murder and all manner of iniquity。 For if their gods did so； how should they not themselves do the like？ Therefore from these practices of error it came to pass that men suffered frequent wars and slaughters and cruel captivities。 But if now we choose to pass in review each one of these gods； what a strange sight shalt thou see！
〃First and foremost they introduce the god whom they call Kronos； and to him they sacrifice their own children； to him who had many sons by Rhea； and in a fit of madness ate his own children。 And they say that Zeus cut off his privy parts； and cast them into the sea； whence； as fable telleth； was born Aphrodite。 So Zeus bound his own father； and cast him into Tartarus。 Dost thou mark the delusion and lasciviousness that they allege against their gods？ Is it possible then that one who was prisoner and mutilated should be a god？ What folly？ What man in his senses could admit it？
〃Next they introduce Zeus； who； they say； became king of the gods； and would take the shape of animals； that he might defile mortal women。 They show him transformed into a bull； for Europa； into gold； for Danae； into a swan； for Leda； into a satyr； for Antiope； and into a thunder…bolt； for Semele。 Then of these were born many children； Dionysus； Zethus； Amphion； Herakles； Apollo； Artemis； Perseus； Castor； Helen； Polydeukes； Minos； Rhadamanthos； Sarpedon； and the nine daughters whom they call the Muses。
〃In like manner they introduce the story of Ganymede。 And so befel it； O king； that men imitated all these things； and became adulterers； and defilers of themselves with mankind； and doers of other monstrous deeds； in imitation of their god。 How then can an adulterer； one that defileth himself by unnatural lust； a slayer of his father be a god？
〃With Zeus also they represent one Hephaestus as a god； and him lame； holding hammer and fire…tongs； and working as a copper… smith for hire。 So it appeareth that he is needy。 But it is impossible for one who is lame and wanteth men's aid to be a God。
〃After him； they represent as a god Hermes； a lusty fellow； a thief； and a covetous； a sorcerer； bowlegged； and an interpreter of speech。 It is impossible for such an one to be a God。
〃They also exhibit Asklepius as god； a physician； a maker of medicines； a compounder of plasters for his livelihood （for he is a needy wight）； and in the end； they say that he was struck by Zeus with a thunder…bolt； because of Tyndareus； s