Opening the library…

Search the Bible

The Divine Institutes

Lactantius

Book 6 · Chapter 21

About this work

A large Latin presentation of Christian teaching that criticizes pagan religion and philosophy while treating justice, God, creation, Christ, worship, ethics, and the final destiny of humanity.

Author: Lactantius
Date: c. AD 303–311
Origin: North Africa and Nicomedia
Genre: Apology

Chap. XXI.—Of the Pleasures of the Ears, and of Sacred Literature.

Pleasure of the ears is received from the sweetness

‹ Book 6 · Chapter 20 Book 6 · Chapter 22 ›

of

voices

and

strains

,

which

indeed

is

as

productive

of

vice

as

that

delight

of

the

eyes

of

which

we

have

spoken

.

For

who

would

not

deem

him

luxurious

and

worthless

who

should

have

scenic

arts

at

his

house

?

But

it

makes

no

difference

whether

you

practice

luxury

alone

at

home

,

or

with

the

people

in

the

theatre

.

But

we

have

already

spoken

of

spectacles

:

there

remains

one

thing

which

is

to

be

overcome

by

us

,

that

we

be

not

captivated

by

those

things

which

penetrate

to

the

innermost

perception

.

For

all

those

things

which

are

unconnected

with

words

,

that

is

,

pleasant

sounds

of

the

air

and

of

strings

,

may

be

easily

disregarded

,

because

they

do

not

adhere

to

us

,

and

cannot

be

written

.

But

a

well

-

composed

poem

,

and

a

speech

beguiling

with

its

sweetness

,

captivate

the

minds

of

men

,

and

impel

them

in

what

direction

they

please

.

Hence

,

when

learned

men

have

applied

themselves

to

the

religion

of

God

,

unless

they

have

been

instructed

by

some

skilful

teacher

,

they

do

not

believe

.

For

,

being

accustomed

to

sweet

and

polished

speeches

or

poems

,

they

despise

the

simple

and

common

language

of

the

sacred

writings

as

mean

.

For

they

seek

that

which

may

soothe

the

senses

.

But

whatever

is

pleasant

to

the

ear

effects

persuasion

,

and

while

it

delights

fixes

itself

deeply

within

the

breast

.

Is

God

,

therefore

,

the

contriver

both

of

the

mind

,

and

of

the

voice

,

and

of

the

tongue

,

unable

to

speak

eloquently

?

Yea

,

rather

,

with

the

greatest

foresight

,

He

wished

those

things

which

are

divine

to

be

without

adornment

,

that

all

might

understand

the

things

which

He

Himself

spoke

to

all

.

Therefore he who is anxious for the truth, who does not wish to deceive himself, must lay aside hurtful and injurious pleasures, which would bind the mind to themselves, as pleasant food does the body: true things must be preferred to false, eternal things to those which are of short duration, useful things to those which are pleasant. Let nothing be pleasing to the sight but that which you see to be done with piety and justice; let nothing be agreeable to the hearing but that which nourishes the soul and makes you a better man. And especially this sense ought not to be distorted to vice, since it is given to us for this purpose, that we might gain the knowledge of God. Therefore, if it be a pleasure to hear melodies and songs, let it be pleasant to sing and hear the praises of God. This is true pleasure, which is the attendant and companion of virtue. This is not frail and brief, as those which they desire, who, like cattle, are slaves to the body; but lasting, and affording delight without any intermission. And if any one shall pass its limits, and shall seek nothing else from pleasure but pleasure itself, he designs for himself death; for as there is perpetual life in virtue, so there is death in pleasure. For he who shall choose temporal things will be without things eternal; he who shall prefer earthly things will not have heavenly things.

Notes

1
[See p. 187, supra.]
2
Fundati, having the foundation well laid, trained. Some read, “Ab aliquo imperito doctore fundati.”