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The Epitome of the Divine Institutes

Lactantius

Chapter 66

About this work

A condensed presentation of Lactantius’s apologetic project, summarizing his case against pagan worship and his account of divine providence, true religion, justice, and Christian hope.

Author: Lactantius
Date: Early 4th century
Origin: Nicomedia or Gaul
Genre: Apology

Chap. LXVI.—Of Faith in Religion, and of Fortitude.

Faith also is a great part of justice

‹ Chapter 65 Chapter 67 ›

;

and

this

ought

especially

to

be

preserved

by

us

,

who

bear

the

name

of

faith

,

especially

in

religion

,

because

God

is

before

and

to

be

preferred

to

man

.

And

if

it

is

a

glorious

thing

to

undergo

death

in

behalf

of

friends

,

of

parents

,

and

of

children

,

that

is

,

in

behalf

of

man

,

and

if

he

who

has

done

this

obtains

lasting

memory

and

praise

,

how

much

more

so

in

behalf

of

God

,

who

is

able

to

bestow

eternal

life

in

return

for

temporal

death

?

Therefore

,

when

a

necessity

of

this

kind

happens

,

that

we

are

compelled

to

turn

aside

from

God

,

and

to

pass

over

to

the

rites

of

the

heathens

,

no

fear

,

no

terror

should

turn

us

aside

from

guarding

the

faith

delivered

to

us

.

Let

God

be

before

our

eyes

,

in

our

heart

,

by

whose

inward

help

we

may

overcome

the

pain

of

our

flesh

,

and

the

torments

applied

to

our

body

.

Then

let

us

think

of

nothing

else

but

the

rewards

of

an

immortal

life

.

And

thus

,

even

though

our

limbs

should

be

torn

in

pieces

,

or

burnt

,

we

shall

easily

endure

all

things

which

the

madness

of

tyrannical

cruelty

shall

contrive

against

us

.

Lastly

,

let

us

strive

to

undergo

death

itself

,

not

unwillingly

or

timidly

,

but

willingly

and

undauntedly

,

as

those

who

know

what

glory

we

are

about

to

have

in

the

presence

of

God

,

having

triumphed

over

the

world

and

coming

to

the

things

promised

us

;

with

what

good

things

and

how

great

blessedness

we

shall

be

compensated

for

these

brief

evils

of

punishments

,

and

the

injuries

of

this

life

.

But

if

the

opportunity

of

this

glory

shall

be

wanting

,

faith

will

have

its

reward

even

in

peace

.

Therefore let it be observed in all the duties of life, let it be observed in marriage. For it is not sufficient if you abstain from another’s bed, or from the brothel. Let him who has a wife seek nothing further, but, content with her alone, let him guard the mysteries of the marriage-bed chaste and undefiled. For he is equally an adulterer in the sight of God and impure, who, having thrown off the yoke, wantons in strange pleasure either with a free woman or a slave. But as a woman is bound by the bonds of chastity not to desire any other man, so let the husband be bound by the same law, since God has joined together the husband and the wife in the union of one body. On this account He has commanded that the wife shall not be put away unless convicted of adultery, and that the bond of the conjugal compact shall never be dissolved, unless unfaithfulness have broken it. This also is added for the completion of chastity, that there should be an absence not only of the offence, but even of the thought. For it is evident that the mind is polluted by the desire, though unaccomplished; and so that a just man ought neither to do, nor to wish to do, that which is unjust. Therefore the conscience must be cleansed; for God, who cannot be deceived, inspects it. The breast must be cleared from every stain, that it may be a temple of God, which is enlightened not by the gleam of gold or ivory, but by the brightness of faith and purity.

Notes

1
[The law of divorce in Christian States. Sanderson, v. iv. p. 135.]