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The Epitome of the Divine Institutes

Lactantius

Chapter 65

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. LXV.—Precepts About Those Things Which are Commanded, and of Pity.

I have spoken of those things which are

‹ Chapter 64 Chapter 66 ›

forbidden

;

I

will

now

briefly

say

what

things

are

commanded

.

Closely

connected

with

harmlessness

is

pity

.

For

the

former

does

not

inflict

injury

,

the

latter

works

good

;

the

former

begins

justice

,

the

latter

completes

it

.

For

since

the

nature

of

men

is

more

feeble

than

that

of

the

other

animals

,

which

God

has

provided

with

means

of

inflicting

violence

,

and

with

defences

for

repelling

it

,

He

has

given

to

us

the

affection

of

pity

,

that

we

might

place

the

whole

protection

of

our

life

in

mutual

aid

.

For

if

we

are

created

by

one

God

,

and

descended

from

one

man

,

and

are

thus

connected

by

the

law

of

consanguinity

,

we

ought

on

this

account

to

love

every

man

;

and

therefore

we

are

bound

not

only

to

abstain

from

the

infliction

of

injury

,

but

not

even

to

avenge

it

when

inflicted

on

us

,

that

there

may

be

in

us

complete

harmlessness

.

And

on

this

account

God

commands

us

to

pray

always

even

for

our

enemies

.

Therefore

we

ought

to

be

an

animal

fitted

for

companionship

and

society

,

that

we

may

mutually

protect

ourselves

by

giving

and

receiving

assistance

.

For

our

frailty

is

liable

to

many

accidents

and

inconveniences

.

Expect

that

which

you

see

has

happened

to

another

may

happen

to

you

also

.

Thus

you

will

at

length

be

excited

to

render

aid

,

if

you

shall

assume

the

mind

of

him

who

,

being

placed

in

evils

,

implores

your

aid

.

If

any

one

is

in

need

of

food

,

let

us

bestow

it

;

if

any

one

meets

us

who

is

naked

,

let

us

clothe

him

;

if

any

one

suffers

injury

from

one

who

is

more

powerful

than

himself

,

let

us

rescue

him

.

Let

our

house

be

open

to

strangers

,

or

to

those

who

are

in

need

of

shelter

.

Let

our

defence

not

be

wanting

to

wards

,

or

our

protection

to

the

defenceless

.

To

ransom

captives

is

a

great

work

of

pity

,

and

also

to

visit

and

comfort

the

sick

who

are

in

poverty

.

If

the

helpless

or

strangers

die

,

we

should

not

permit

them

to

lie

unburied

.

These

are

the

works

,

these

the

duties

,

of

pity

;

and

if

any

one

undertakes

these

,

he

will

offer

unto

God

a

true

and

acceptable

sacrifice

.

This

victim

is

more

adapted

for

an

offering

to

God

,

who

is

not

appeased

with

the

blood

of

a

sheep

,

but

with

the

piety

of

man

,

whom

God

,

because

He

is

just

,

follows

up

with

His

own

law

,

and

with

His

own

condition

.

He

shows

mercy

to

him

whom

He

sees

to

be

merciful

;

He

is

inexorable

to

him

whom

He

sees

to

be

harsh

to

those

who

entreat

him

.

Therefore

,

that

we

may

be

able

to

do

all

these

things

,

which

are

pleasing

to

God

,

money

is

to

be

despised

,

and

to

be

transferred

to

heavenly

treasures

,

where

neither

thief

can

break

through

,

nor

rust

corrupt

,

nor

tyrant

take

away

,

but

it

may

be

preserved

for

us

under

the

guardianship

of

God

to

our

eternal

wealth

.

Notes

1
Viduis.