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The Epitome of the Divine Institutes

Lactantius

Chapter 73

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. LXXIII.—The Hope of Safety is in the Religion and Worship of God.

Wherefore, since all these things are true

‹ Chapter 72

and

certain

,

in

harmony

with

the

predicted

announcement

of

the

prophets

,

since

Trismegistus

and

Hystaspes

and

the

Sibyls

have

foretold

the

same

things

,

it

cannot

be

doubted

that

all

hope

of

life

and

salvation

is

placed

in

the

religion

of

God

alone

.

Therefore

,

unless

a

man

shall

have

received

Christ

,

whom

God

has

sent

,

and

is

about

to

send

for

our

redemption

,

unless

he

shall

have

known

the

Supreme

God

through

Christ

,

unless

he

shall

have

kept

His

commandments

and

law

,

he

will

fall

into

those

punishments

of

which

we

have

spoken

.

Therefore

frail

things

must

be

despised

,

that

we

may

gain

those

which

are

substantial

;

earthly

things

must

be

scorned

,

that

we

may

be

honoured

with

heavenly

things

;

temporal

things

must

be

shunned

,

that

we

may

reach

those

which

are

eternal

.

Let

every

one

train

himself

to

justice

,

mould

himself

to

self

-

restraint

,

prepare

himself

for

the

contest

,

equip

himself

for

virtue

,

that

if

by

any

chance

an

adversary

shall

wage

war

,

he

may

be

driven

from

that

which

is

upright

and

good

by

no

force

,

no

terror

,

and

no

tortures

,

may

give

himself

up

to

no

senseless

fictions

,

but

in

his

uprightness

acknowledge

the

true

and

only

God

,

may

cast

away

pleasures

,

by

the

attractions

of

which

the

lofty

soul

is

depressed

to

the

earth

,

may

hold

fast

innocency

,

may

be

of

service

to

as

many

as

possible

,

may

gain

for

himself

incorruptible

treasures

by

good

works

,

that

he

may

be

able

,

with

God

for

his

judge

,

to

gain

for

the

merits

of

his

virtue

either

the

crown

of

faith

,

or

the

reward

of

immortality

.

Notes

1
Se substernet.