St. Augustine, Of the citie of God vvith the learned comments of Io. Lod. Viues. Englished by I.H.

Seneca his opinion of the Iewes. CHAP. 11.

THis man amongst his other inuectiues against the superstitions of politique 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Theology condemnes also the Iewes sacrifices, chiefly their saboaths: say∣•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by their seauenth day interposed, they spend the seauenth part of their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 idlenesse, and hurt themselues by not taking diuers things in their time •…•…et dares he not medle with the Christians (though then the Iewes deadly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vpon either hand, least he should praise them against his countries old cus∣•…•… or dispraise them perhaps against (a) his owne conscience. Speaking of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, he saith: The custome of that wicked nation getting head through all the world, the vanquished gaue lawes to the vanquishers. This hee admired, not •…•…ing the worke of the god-head. But his opinion of their sacraments hee subscribeth. They know the cause of their ceremonies (saith hee) but most of the people doe they know not what. But of the Iewish sacrifices how farre gods in∣stitutions first directed them, and then how by the men of God that had the miste∣ry of eternity reuealed to them, they were by the same authority abolished, wee haue both els-where spoken chiefly against the (b) Manichees, and in this worke in conuenient place meane to say some-what more.

L. VIVES.

AGainst (a) his owne] Nero hauing fired Rome, many were blamed for the fact by the

villens of his Court, and amongst the rest the Christians whom Nero was assured should smart for all, because they were of a new religion: so they did indeede and were so extreamely tortured that their pangs drew teares from their seuerest spectators. Seneca meane while begged leaue to retire into the contrie for his healths sake: which not obtayning, hee kept himselfe close in his chamber for diuers moneths: Tacitus saith, it was because hee would not pertake in the malice that Nero's sacriledge procured: but I thinke rather, it was for that hee could not endure to see those massacres of innocents. (b) Manichees] They reuiled the old Tes∣tament and the Iewes lawe. August, de Haeres. ad Quodvultdeum, Them scriptures they sayd GOD did not giue, but one of the princes of darkenesse. Against those Augustine wrote many bookes.