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

CHAP. VIII.

IT is not enough to shew you the weakenesse of the proofes you imploy against us, I will make knowne our innocence by your own judgement, to overthrow the opinion you have conceived a∣gainst our life: I demand but the testimony of nature, who is your mother as well as ours. Suppose Chri∣stians promise Eternall life, as a recompence for all these crimes so full of horrour: You may believe it if you list, but I would also know, if after perswaded by such blacke actions a man might merit Heaven, you would bee so barbarous as to desire it at such a rate. Can it be imagined one should say these words or the like unto you? come on hither, die your sword in the bloud of a Child, I say in a Childs bloud whose tender age ought to have no enemy, who cannot be guilty of injuring any body, and whom every one with a fatherly Love ought to cherish.

Or if the charge of shedding a Childs bloud bee committed to another, can it be supposed we should use this discourse unto you? Be present at the bloody death of an infant who meets with the end of his life in the beginning of his dayes, see a soule depart out of a body so soone as it came in, take this blood

newly animated, dip your bread in it, and fill your selfe with the substance thereof. Againe, while at Table, marke well where your Mother, and Sister, are seated, that you may not faile to find them out, after they are left in the darke, by dogs overthrow∣ing the Candles, consequently extinguishing the lignt. For you must know, you cannot but be faulty if you commit not incest. If profiting by these our in∣structions, you square your Faith by the practise of such actions, assure your selfe you shall receive ever∣lasting life. Answer me now, would you to get this never fading selicity do things so contrary to all hu∣manity? If nature it selfe be of force sufficient to di∣vert your owne minds from acting such irregular courses, you cannot I perswade my selfe, be induced to believe that other men would bee faulty therein: Yea though yee certainly believe this the onely way to eternall happinesse. I dare say you would not by such meanes so barberously difile your selves; no neither if you had any such desire, have the cou∣rage to performe the same. Judge then of us by your selves, and know wee can no more commit these crimes then you, or if wee can, your selves as liable thereunto as we.

But what do you thinke our judgements different form yours? that Christians of another race of man∣kind then you are? do you take us for the Cynocephales, & Sciapodes, Monsters of India & Lybia? do you believe we are made otherwise then other men, that the fa∣culties of our bodies otherwise disposed and by a sa∣vagenesse more then the most brutish of all people,

us onely to feed on blood, and violate the Lawes of nature, in the use embracements which it forbids? Certainly if believe these things of Christians ther's som what in it that you should doe so, we are men as well as you: And therefore if your souls abhor such like actions, you ought not imagine us in regard men as well as Christians, to commit them. You ac∣knowledge these crimes contrary to nature: but you say we deceive them who know us not; as if the ca∣lumnies you invented against the Christians were not publicke or any could be ignorant thereof. That which all the world knowes cannot be dissembled, and those who have embraced the Law of Jesus Christ, take not this resolution, without well consi∣dering it: but after all things exactly pondered they finde we are innocent of the crimes wherewith they accuse us. Besides, its a common use, that those who will be instructed in a Religion, adresse them∣selves to the cheise Priests, to learne of them what they ought to prepare that pertake of his mysteries. Then if it be true, Christians are guilty of these im∣pieties, there's no doubt but the Priest, whose charge is to receive him who would bee instructed, speakes to him in this manner: Friend, you must be carefull to provide a childe that is yet in the innocence of his first age, who knowes not what death means, and re∣joiceth at the sight of the knife that must cut his throat.

You must have a loafe to put under the wound to receive the bloud which runnes from it. You must make provision of Candlesticks and Lamps: You

must bring Dogs; which when you throw meat to them to eat out of the reach of the string where∣with tied, the desire of filling themselves there∣with may excite them to make such a leape, that they overthrow the Candlesticks to which they are tied, and by this means put out the lights: but first it is necessary you cause your Mother and Sister to be present. Yea, but how if they wil not consent to it? If he hath neither Mother nor Sister? If no kindred that would be a Christian, can he not be received? and these relations of Brother or Son, are they essen∣tiall to the qualitie of Christians? I say more, sup∣pose they have all these things ready, without ad∣vertising those who have no knowledge thereof: one cannot denie but they learne presently what is done in their Assemblies; and yet they remain firme, af∣ter turning unto Christianity they complaine not of being deceived: but you say they feare to be puni∣shed, if they discover the evill they have done. Con∣trarily, if any be found that call for the publick Au∣thority against Christians as against impostors, there would be none but would speake in their behalfe. Moreover, if the actions of Christians were so dete∣stable as you make the, those whom they should so abuse, would rather expose themselves to death then live with the remorse of so criminall a consci∣ence. But after all, suppose they feare to accuse themselves, how comes it they perservere so con∣stantly, and keep their religion in the midst of perse∣cutions? for men are not wont to tie themselves with such constancy to a profession, which they had

not imbraced, if not beene well inform'd of it form the beginnig.