Tertullians apology, or, Defence of the Christians against the accusations of the gentiles now made English by H.B. Esq.

THE PREFACE.

THis Apologie or Defence is the Work of an excellent Orator, displaying all the forces of his wit, to uphold a most deplored cause in the opinion of the Gentiles, and yet the justest that ever was exposed to the judgement of men. Its Reader will easily comprehend the merit of this peece, so soon as know Tertullian the Author ther∣of, and its subject the defense of truth. 'Twas treated as criminall, with them who shut their eyes

to the lights therein, and would not thereby bee informed; Error seemed venerable to them for its antiquity: they preferred the darknesse which blinded them for so many Ages, before the most excellent Sun-shine of divine light: although the accused made mention of in this Treatise were without spots, yet their accusers endeavoured to find some, and obscured their lustre, whom they falsly accused with such impurity, that it was ne∣cessary men illuminated with the beams of divine splendor, should employ the graces they received from heaven, to dissipate the darknesse of error, and discover to the world a truth which till then they were utterly ignorant of.

Tertullian was one of those, God made use of to lay open or unfold so glorious a ministry; and certainly it was a labour worthy of him; Hee had enriched his mind with all the choice ornaments of humane Learning; was ignorant of nothing that was taught by any kind of Philosophers, compleat he was in the knowledge of the Civill Lawes, had read the histories of all Ages, made to himselfe a treasure of what every science had most precious

in it, knew all the mysteries of idolatry, and was fully informed of the beginning and progresse of Su∣perstition, having an understanding which made him capable of very great things: His Discourse was so powerfull, that one could not heare him without being perswaded by him; every of his Ar∣guments rendring him victorious, at least over some of his Auditors. Hee was equally subtill and solid in his reasonings; he had united to those his sublime qualifications, a perfect understanding of the holy Scriptures: great piety and a marvellous zeale in the Religion of the true God. It apper∣tained to a man such as hee was, to defend the Christians aginst the calumntes of the Goutiles, to overthrow the Altars of the false Gods which Phi∣losophy (as he saith himselfe) had set up to justifie the worship given by us to the Creator of the Ʋ∣niversal.

Hee was an Affrican, drawing his originall from a Noble Family of the City of Carthage: his Father was an Heathen, and commanded a Com∣pany of Souldiers, under the charge of the Gover∣nour of the Province. As himselfe tooke birth

from an idolatrous house, so brought up hee was in Error, but God giving him an inquisitive soule, he contented not himselfe with the knowledge of this world only, but also soared, and even penetrated into heaven, to get knowledge of divine truth. This saving well spring carefully laid up in the bo∣some of the Church, was the water of life hee chiefly thirsted after, which having once tasted of, he hap∣pily plunged himselfe therein, and took aful draught of the graces of God, swallowed up at the same time this precious liquor. Since when he ever after ab∣horred the fond blindnesse of foolish men, who attri∣bute to miserable creatures the glory due to God.

Charity, the most excellent of Christian vertues, so lively inflamed his heart, that it made him un∣dertake to instruct Infidels, to communicate his lights unto them, to confirme them therein by the Authority of holy Scriptures, and by the strength of reason to ranke themselves with him, in the faith of Iesus Christ.

Heerupon it was he so powerfully resisted the va∣nity of Philosophy, which he formerly so delighted in, and knew to be the principall ground of Super∣stition,

So that the same things hee heertofore stu∣died to adorn his mind withall, and bring it to the knowledge of false Gods, whilest hee lived under the servitude of Idolatry, by an admirable work∣ing of divine providence, served him since his con∣version as strong instruments to destroy the worship of Idols.

Now it is very reasonable that hee, who so ear∣nestly desired the salvation of his enemies, should have a particular care of his brethren, groaning under the weight of persecutions, which Pagans made them suffer: As therefore he piously laboured to open the eyes of the Gentiles, and make them worship his Master, so he happily imployed himself likewise to represent to him the holinesse of those who most unjustly were charged with such strange crimes.

Two principall things hee equally endeavoured to set forth, namely the falsenesse of the Gods of the Gentiles, and the truth of one only God, and joyn∣ing together the defence of doctrine and manners, proved by one same work, the faith and innocence of Christians.

Hee came into the Church neer the end of the second Age, about the time when Severus came to the Empire. The faithfull then enjoyed a pro∣found peace after a furious war. The Hmp rour Marcus Aurelius, a wise Prince for the world, but too much addicted to the opinions of Philoso∣phers, suffered the fourth Persecution to bee kind∣led, which being stirred up in the year of our Lord 164. by the fury of the people, and injustice of the Magistrates, who governed the Provinces, swept away an infinite number of the servants of GOD: Neverthelesse, although some rest they had, in the year of our salvation 176. by the authority of that Prince his forbidding upon pain of death, to ac∣cuse the Christians, for their Religion by a••ust ac∣knowledgement of the service hee had of their affe∣ction, When by the prayers of Christian souldiers, which were in his troops, heaven poured down a favourable showr, that refresht in extream necessi∣ty, the Army bee commanded in Germany. Yet this calm lasted not long, the quiet of this uncon∣stant sea brought in with it an horrible tempest, especially on this side the Alps, where the City of

Vienna and Lions saw the Rhos•• dyed with the first bloud the members of Iesus Christ spilt in Gaule.

The people that durst not directly resist the will of the Emperour, transported with extreame rage against so many good people, began againe to trouble their rest, in the year 179, on othre pre∣tences than that of Religion: They accused them of supposed crimes, the borror whereof, made their names odious, and by this detestable subtiloy dragd them unjustly before the Courts of Iustice; where∣by they cluded the punishment established by the Emperour, against those who accused the Christi∣ans, and boldly glutted their cruelty on these inno∣cents, whom they exposed to all kind of tortures, and in the end, in humanely put them to death, for confessing the name of God only. This Persecution ended with the life of Marcus Aurelius.

The faithfull after so many suffering, had rest under the Emperour Commodus, who transported with a bloudy outrage against all Orders of his State, by a secret judgement of God spared none but Christians.

And certainly it was by a visible miracle that this Prince an enemy of all honesty was not also an enemy of those in like maner that made professi∣on of godlinesse, that this Prince who shed with so much tyranny, the bloud of his people, should close the wounds by which came out that of the Christi∣ans, and that these Idolaters who before had no spectacle so agreeable to their madnesse as the pun∣ishments of the Faithfull, should cease to afflict them, in a time when heir hands were so accustomed to slaughter.

Wee must acknowledge God, who inspires such motions as please him in the hearts of men, the au∣thor of this so strange wonder. Hee procured this peace to the Church, to the end hee might fortifie it against the assaults it was to endure soon after. Its certaine, during this tranquility it was much in∣creased: the Gentiles moved to see such excellency in the Christians, the innocent carriage of their lives, could not consider therof without astonish∣ment. They admired the purity they saw shine in their actions. From thence sprang desire in them of discovering the cause of such perfection, and em∣ployed

were they in the search of its originall, which is truth. And after they had broken downe the vail, which hindred them from knowing the same, they embraced it with as much affection, as ever they strove against it.

So not only the people, but those also, whose birth and merit raysed them to great dignities, fol∣lowed the Crosse of Jesus Christ. They renounced their Idols, to consecraete themselves to the service of the true God, and abandoned the Temples of the false Gods, that they might serve no other but that one God that created them. By this means Towns wrer peopled with Christians, Armies made up of them, and the Senate of Rome, from whence flow∣ed the Governours of all the World, filled with them every day. These are the fruits which peace had produced, which the Church injoied since the Empire of Commodus.

Severus having found the Empire in this happy condition, left it not so. The Sovereigne power fell in his hands in the yeare of our Lord 195. At the beginning hee shewed no sign of any a∣version against the Christians, but contrarily made

great esteem of them; witnessed their probity, and openly opposed the violence of the people when hee saw them most incensed to the Christians destru∣ction. He had still before his eyes the benefit wher∣with he was obliged to a Christian named Proculus Torpacion, who heertofore restored him to his health, and by the remembrance of such a recovery, was so dear to him, that he alwayes kept this man neer him, so long as he lived; he durst not use vio∣lence to the Religion of him to whom he owed his life, so long as he was in the world, and his presence ready to reproove him of such ingratitude. The death of this Christian, time, and the revolution of affairs changed his mind unhappily to indignation.

Hee had two Competitors in the Empire, Pisce∣nius Niger (who held Syria, and declared him∣selfe Emperour in the City of Antioch) and Clau∣dius Albinius (who was Master of Gaule and Britain,) Severus accommodated himselfe to this man, and associated him with himselfe in the Em∣pire, to defeat the other, and after overcomming Niger (who died of akurt hee received in fighting) turned his thoughts unto procuring the ruin of Albi∣nius,

whom he had honored for no other purpose then to destroy him. Albinius being dead, he came back from Gaule victorious, and entring Rome, he was there received with publick acclamations, rejoycings, and such solemnities as Superstition had brought in, and which thwarted the holinesse of the Christians, thought they should offend God, if in shewing their affection to the Emperour, they mingled themselves in these dissolutions; but their piety passing with the Infidels for a crime, their enemies tooke occasion thereby to exclame against them, as against the e∣nemies of the Emperour. Some think that Seve∣rus after hee had caused many Noble persons to bee put to death, of Niger or Albinius party, went to make War against the Parthians, and leaving the Government of the City of Rome to Plautianus, this man naturally cruell, and continuing the search after all those who had favoured the one or the o∣ther of these two parties, filling Rome with Fune∣ralls and mourning, began also the fifth Persecution against the Christians, not as complices of the fa∣ctions which now began to be extinguished, but as guilty of high Treason, in neglecting to render to

the Emperour at his return from Gaule, their du∣ties in like maner as his other people did.

They that writ this fifth Persecution were stir∣red up at Rome on this subject, on the only autho∣rity of Plautianus, have also writ it was in this time that Tertullian made this Apologie or De∣fence, to make known to the Gentiles the injustice of the usage the Christians had; And upon their ac∣count this Peece was published the seventh yeare of the Empire of Severus, which fell in the year of our Lord 201. But others more probably say, it was in the year of our Salvation 204. the tenth year of the Empire of Severus, when this Prince after he had overcome the Parthians, and established peace in the Empire, willing to smother the seed of trou∣bles, wher with it had beene so violently agitated, for bad unlawfull assemblies, and factious meetings; upon this occasion, pretence is taken to persecute the Christians with authority as if in meeting to prayse GOD, they had violated the prohibition of the Emperour.

Tertullian in his Apologie or Defence, affirms, this last opinion to be the truest, shewing Christian

meetings not to be factious meetings: Concluding it was not for this cause, that the before men∣tioned Inhibition was put forth. Neither is it un∣likely, but this Apologie or Defence, that justifies Christian Religion from the guilt of faction, practise and conspiracie against the State, was after the Edict of Severus, who commanding the Judges to punish all seditious confederacies, had kindled a∣gaine the fire of Persecution against the guilt∣lesse.

Howsoever it was, certaine it is; Tertullian composed this Apologie or Defence in the reigne of Severus, during the greatest heat of punishing the Christians: he was then at Rome, and published this Book, without putting his name to it, that bee might not expose himselfe to inevitable dan∣ger.

Sparing the name of Severus for the respect born to his dignity, he addrest this Book to the Ma∣gistrates, who sate every day in judgement upon the faithfull, and condemned the true Religion without knowing it.

Its impossible seriously to consider this Peece without being ravisht therewith. Riches it hath that puts it into the rank of great Workes, and of force to make us consesse, that if it be to bee estee∣med for the reputation of its Author, it is also of more esteem for its own merit. We may see therin rare vivacity of wit, incredible store of high thoughts and a mervaillous power of perswading. Wee may receive there the light of an eminent Do∣ctrine. We meet there with an infinite number of choice things. The conduct of it is admirable: Art hath nothing excellent, which is not judicially there observed. All the parts therof are agreeable with the whole. In fine, its a perfect body to which the Learned have given this commendation, that of all the Works of Tertullian, there is none to bee compared to this. All the following Ages have ac∣knowledged, that the Church hath nothing more accomplished; and that Religion could not bee bet∣ter defended, nor better perswaded then it is in this Divine Peece.

The truth is, the stile is not so glorious, the phrase rude and obscure, and it seems as if every

one of its periods contayned a mystery, the sense therof is so hid, But we must pardon an Affrican, if it be not expressed with all the grace of the La∣tine Tongue: the fault is not so much in him, as in his Countrey. If his speech hath not much Elo∣quence, it hath much vigor; His discourse flatters not the ears, but works with vehemence, and im∣presseth powerfully on the mind of the Readers that which will perswade him

Now although Terrullian hath not loftinesse of speech, yet we may say, hee hath written purely and not used tearms, which were not fit to declare vigo∣rously what he conceived, and which are not found in the Authors of Humane Learning, and of civill right; all his words are Latin, but his phrase strange, and rellisheth of the stile of the Greeks, to which he was accustomed by his ordinary reading of their Books. Its this mixture that makes it obscure, that the most able men meet with difficulties in his Workes; and the reason his Apologie or Defence shewes not its beauty, to all those that makes use of it.

There have crept in some opinions not now re∣ceived, and which in that time were not condem∣ned. He writes, Divels were ingendred by the conjunction of revolted Angels, with the daugh∣ters of men: he speaks of the birth of the soule, as well as of that of the body, beleeving the child takes both his soul and his body from the substance of his father: he sayes the soul cannot suffer alone (but he is not constant in his opinion) and teaches, that the souls of the wicked suffer in hell, although sepa∣rated from the matter, and their bodies rest in the grave, which is the doctrine of the Catholicke Church. Hee mentions Paradise, as a place of de∣lights, different from that in heaven, and separa∣ted from the world, by the interposition of a Zone of fire, where he beleeves the just goe after death, to remain till the day of the Lord. And in conclu∣sion, lets slip something from his pen of the age of a thousand years interposed between the end of this world, and eternity: He is of opinion also, that during the course of these thousand yeares, Iesus Christ shall raign on the earth with his elect, that in the mean time, the just being raysed out of their

graves, shall live with abundance of spirituall feli∣city, and that this age being come to its period, the Son of God shall then make his universall judgement. It is enough wee have taken notice of these opinions, which were not yet errors in the time of Tertullian; the Church then not having pronounced any thing to the contrary, they con••••a∣ted themselves then to preach the truth of one God in three Persons, the mystery of the Birth, Life, and Death of Iesus Christ, the institution of the Sa∣craments, the judgement of the Lord, the glory of the blessed in heaven, and eternall punishments prepared for the wicked in hell.

Our Tertullian hath so wel1 establisht this do∣ctrine, so perfectly represented the innocence of Christians, by this Apologie or Defence, that all the Church had this Book in singular reversace: they esteemedit as a pretions Cabinet, where the evidences of its faith are kept the proofs of its an∣cient discipline, and marks of the holinesse of its first children

It seemes to me that England deserves to have this Peece in its Language, that Learned men owe

to this Nation so rich a Present; for although Translations are not much esteemed in this Age, where every one adores his own inventions, yet this, (how meanly soever translated) may bee well received, because of the dignity of the matter. I have undertaken it for those, who not knowing the language of the Mistresse of the World, cannot know the perfection of so excellent a production of wit, if it appear not to their eyes with its graces in the Mother tongue of their native Country. This Work might have met with a better Pen then mine, but not a faithfuller; I aspire not to the glory of wri∣ting well, but only, of being an Interpreter of an Author, who, in the judgement of the Learned, hath no fewer thorns, then flowers.