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

CHAP. XXX.

As for us, in the prayers wee make for the Em∣perous, wee call upon the eternall God, the true God, the living God, this God to whom the Emperours prefer their assistance before that of other gods; they know very well who gave them the empire they possesse; and men as they are, know who gave them the spirit wherewith they are ani∣mated. They acknowledge there is no other, then this onely God, through whose power alone they subsist, to whom they are inferiour one degree one∣ly, after whom they are next in place; before and above all other that are called gods. Why should they not be greater then these gods, seeing they are masters of all the living, which are more worth then the dead? they consider how farr their authority goes, and apprehend the essence of God in proving they can do nothing against him; also seeing God greater and of more power then themselves, they are forced to acknowledge they can doe nothing but by him.

Let the Princes of the earth makes as many de∣signes as they please to subdue Heaven, undertake to carry Heaven in triumph as a captive, command

courts of guard to be kept in Heaven, strive to make Heaven tributary, they labour in vaine, hee is great, because not altogether so great as heaven. To him heaven and all creatures appertaine, the Empe∣rour drawes his originall from the same place whence man drew before hee was Emperour: the author of his soule, is the author of his power. It is to him to whom wee Christians, addresse our pray∣ers, make them with hands opened, and lifted up, because innocent; the head bare, because no cause to bee ashamed when wee pray to God. There are none declares to us the words we are to say, because it is our heart that acteth rather then our tongue: Wee pray for all the Emperours, and aske of God that he would give them along life; that their Em∣pire enjoy a profound peace; their house a happy con∣cord; their armies be invincible; themselves assisted with good counsells; the people remaine in their duties, no trouble arise in the world against their authority. In the end, we forget nothing the Prince can wish for, either as a man, or as an Emperour.

Neverthelesse, we cannot aske these things but of him of whom wee know wee shall obtaine them: as hee is the onely one that must grant them, wee are they alone that must pray for them, because we and none but we are his true subjects, for of all men hee is worshipped of none but us, let them put us to death because wee follow his doctrine, and offer this rich and fat sacrifice, which hee will have us consecrate unto him, to wit a prayer conceaved and produced from a chast body, an innocent soule, a spirit filled

with holinesse, and not with the graines of incense of little value, the teares of that tree of Arabia, two drops of wine, the blood of an Oxe ready to die of old age, and for that reason even to bee rejected in true sacrifices; finally after all sort of uncleanesse, with a contaminated conscience. In effect there is where withall to wonder that among you, the Priests (vicious as they are) exactly consider it the sacrifi∣ces are pure and intire, they examine rather the in∣wards of the sacrifices, then the insides of them that offer them, then whilst we implore the grace of God for the Emperours, with our hands lifted up, and stretched toward heaven, let irons pierce us, gibbets put us on crosses, fires consume us, knives cut our throats, beasts devoure us: A Christian while in prayer lifting up his hands to God is in a condition fit to receave all sorts of punishments; and therefore continue, O magistrates, so affected to justice; ravish our soules, whilst they are in prayers for the welfare of the Emperours, and make a crime of truth and the service of God.