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harm then befell him thereby that thou thinkest to make mock of him？ Seest thou not yonder sun； into how many a barren and filthy place he darteth his rays？ Upon how many a stinking corpse doth he cast his eye？ Hath he therefore any stain of reproach？ Doth he not dry and shrivel up filth and rottenness； and give light to dark places； himself the while unharmed and incapable of receiving any defilement？ And what of fire？ Doth it not take iron； which is black and cold in itself； and work it into white heat and harden it？ Doth it receive any of the properties of the iron？ When the iron is smitten and beaten with hammers is the fire any the worse； or doth it in any way suffer harm？
〃If； then； these created and corruptible things take no hurt from contact with things commoner than themselves； with what reason dost thou； O foolish and stony…hearted man； presume to mock at me for saying that the Son； the Word of God； never departing from the Father's glory； but remaining the same God； for the salvation of men hath taken upon him the flesh of man； to the end that he may make men partakers of his divine and intelligent nature and may lead our substance out of the nether parts of hell； and honour it with heavenly glory； to the end that by taking of our flesh he may ensnare and defeat the ruler of the darkness of this world； and free our race from his tyranny。 Wherefore； I tell thee； without suffering he met the suffering of the Cross； presenting therein his two natures。 For； as man； he was crucified； but； as God； he darkened the sun； shook the earth； and raised from their graves many bodies that had fallen asleep。 Again； as man； he died； but； as God； after that he had harried hell； he rose again。 Wherefore also the prophet cried； Hell is in bitterness at having met thee below： for it was put to bitter derision； supposing that it had received a mere man； but finding God； and being made suddenly empty and led captive。 Therefore； as God； he rose again； and ascended into heaven； from whence he was never parted。 And our nature； so worthless and senseless beyond everything； so graceless and dishonoured； hath he made higher than all things； and established it upon a throne of honour； with immortal honour shining round。 What harm therefore came to God； the Word； that thou blasphemest without a blush？ Go to！ Better were it to make this confession； and to worship such a God； who is good and a lover of mankind； who commandeth righteousness； enjoineth continency； ordaineth chastity； teacheth mercy； giveth faith； preacheth peace； who is called and is himself the very truth； the very love； the very goodness。 Him were it not better to worship than thy gods of many evil passions； of shameful names and shameful lives？ Woe unto you that are more stony…hearted than the stones； and more senseless than the senseless； sons of perdition； inheritors of darkness！ But blessed am I； and all Christian folk； having a good God and a lover of mankind！ They that serve him； though； for a season in this life they endure evil； yet shall they reap the immortal harvest of recompense in the kingdom of unending and divine felicity。〃
XXXII。
Theudas said unto him； 〃Behold； it is evident that our religion was instituted by many mighty wise men； and interpreters； marvellous in virtue and learning； and all the kings and rulers of the earth have received it as good and sure in every point。 But that of the Galileans was preached by some country peasants； poor and common men； a mere handful； not exceeding twelve in number。 How then should one prefer the preaching of these few obscure countrymen to the ordinance of the many that are mighty and brilliantly wise？ What is the proof that your teachers be right and the others wrong？〃
Again the king's son made answer； 〃Belike； Theudas； thou art the ass of the proverb； that heard but heeded not the harp； or rather the adder that stoppeth her ears； that she may not hear the voice of the charmers。 Well； therefore； spake the prophet concerning thee； If the Ethiopian can change his skin； or the leopard his spots； then mayest thou also do good； that hast been taught to do evil。 Thou fool and blind； why doth not the force of truth bring thee to thy senses？ The very fact that your foul idols are commended by many men of marvellous wisdom； and established by kings； while the Gospel is preached by a few men of no mark； sheweth the might of our religion and the weakness and deadliness of your wicked doctrines。 Because your side； despite its having wise advocates and mighty champions； is dying down； and waxing weak； whilst our religion； though possessed of no human help； shineth from afar brighter than the sun； and hath won the fulness of the world。 If it had been set up by orators and philosophers； and had had kings for its succour； thou that art evil wouldst have found occasion to declare that it was wholly of human power。 But now； seeing； as thou dost； that the holy Gospel； though composed but by common fishermen； and persecuted by every tyrant； hath after this won the whole world for its sound hath gone out into all lands； and its words into the ends of the world what canst thou say but that it is a divine and unconquerable power establishing its own cause for the salvation of mankind？ But what proof seekest thou； O fool； that thy prophets are liars and ours true； better than the truths I have told thee？ Except thy cause had been vain talk and falsehood； it could not； possessing such human support as it did； have suffered loss and decline。 For he saith； ‘I have seen the ungodly in great power； and exalted like the cedars of Libanus： and I went by and lo； he was gone： and I sought him but his place could nowhere be found。'
〃Concerning you； the defenders of idolatry； were these words spoken by the prophet。 For a very； very little while and your place shall not be found： but； like as the smoke vanisheth； and like as wax melteth in face of the fire； so shall ye fail。 But； as touching the divine wisdom of the Gospel； thus saith the Lord； ‘Heaven and earth shall pass away； but my words shall not pass away。' And again the Psalmist saith； ‘Thou； Lord； in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth； and the heavens are the work of thy hands。 They shall perish； but thou endurest； and they all shall wax old as doth a garment； and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up； and they shall be changed； but thou art the same； and thy years shall not fail！' And those divine preachers of the coming of Christ； those wise fishers of the world； whose nets drew all men from the depths of deceit； whom thou； in thy vileness and bondage to sin； dost vilify； did by signs and wonders and manifold powers shine as the sun in the world； giving sight to the blind； hearing to the deaf； motion to the lame； and life to the dead。 Their shadows alone healed all the ailments of men。 The devils； whom ye dread as gods； they not only cast forth from men's bodies； but even drave out of the world itself by the sign of the cross； whereby they destroyed all sorcery； and rendered witchcraft powerless。 And these men； by curing every disease of man by the power of Christ； and renewing all creation； are rightly admired as preachers of truth