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

CHAP. XXXVI.

NOw seeing they who had the names of Ro∣mans, were enemies of the State, why doe they deny us the title of Romans, wee whom they call enemies? but cannot we bee Romans with∣out being enemies, because it is found they were e∣nemies who passed for Romans? Certes the piety we should, have to the Emperours, the judgement of Re∣ligion, with which wee are obliged to pray for their welfare, and the testimonies of the fidelity due to them, consist not in these exterior duties whereof wee have spoken; contrarily under the vaile of these ceremonies men may hide their ill will; but it con∣sists

in the ceremonies of the actions of vertue that commands the law of God, and that Christians are bound to practise, as much for the Emperour in per∣ticular, as for all the world in generall; for the good wee do, is not a tribute wee owe but to our Prince. Our good workes distinguish not the qualities of persons, because wee labour not for our selves, and looke not for the prayse, or recompense of men, but of God, who hath a faithful register of our good actions, and gives us a rich recompense when they are indifferent, and have not for an object any other consideration in the world. We live with our Em∣perours even as with our neighbours.

It is equally forbidden us to wish evill, to do evill, and to speake evill of our neighbours, yea to thinke evill of whosoever it bee: that which is not lawfull for us to undertake against the person of the Empe∣rour, is not permitted us against any other person whatsoever: that which is not lawfull for us to un∣dertake against a particular, is perhaps lesse lawfull against him God hath raysed up to so great dignity.