Of the choise of an history which wil shew the miseries that the Rom∣ains indured, when they worshipped their Idols, before the increase of Christian Religion CHAP. 3
BVt remember this, that when I handled those points, I had to do with the ig∣norant, out of whose blockish heads this prouerb was first borne: (a) It wil not raine because of the Christian. For there are some others amongst them that are learned, & loue that very history that makes these things plain to their vnder∣standing: but because they loue to set ye blind & erronius vulgar at enmity and dissention with vs Christians, they dissemble & conceale this vnderstanding of theirs, labouring to perswade the people this, that the whole processe of calami∣ties, which at diuers times and in seuerall places (b) fell and were still to fall vp∣pon all the world, hadde the original, and haue had, onely and meerely from the profession of Christ, greeuing that it spreadeth so farre and shineth so glori∣ously against all other their gods and religions. But lette these malicious men read but with vs, with what excesse of affliction the Romain estate was wrung & plagued, & that on euery side, before that euer this name (which they so much do enuy) did spread the glory to such note: and then if they can, let them defend their goddes goodnesses shewed vnto them in these extremities, and if that as their seruants they honour them for protection from these extremities, which if they do but suffer now in any part, they are ready to lay al the blame vpō our necks, for why did their gods permit their seruants to bee plagued with these great afflictions (which I am now to recount) before that the publishing of the name of Christ gaue them cause of offence, by prohibiting their sacrifices.
L. VIVES.
IT (a) will not raine] He rehearseth this, as a common speach of the wicked infidels, who * 1.1 would impute all the euils that hapned them vnto the Christian cause. Tertullian, Preten∣ding for the defence of their hatefulnesse, this vanity besides, that they held the Christians the one∣ly causers of all the mischiefes and harmes that fall vpon the state and cittie. If Tiber ouer-flow his bankes, if Nilus do not water the fieldes, if the heauens stand, or the earth shake; if there arise either famine or plague, straight to the Lions with a Christian cryes the whole crew. Cypryan against Demetrianus. If whereas you say that many complaine that it is imputed vnto vs that there is so often warres, pestilences, famines, inondations, and droughts, then wee must bee no longer silent, &c. (b) Fell, and were still to fall] Through the euer-changing estate of humanity, and that Fate which is indeed the will of almighty God.