Doctrine of Climates Untenable.
2951.
Moreover, we ought to remember the things which have been mentioned, that in the one country of India there are both persons who feed on human flesh, and persons who abstain even from the flesh of sheep, and birds, and all living creatures; and that the Magusæi marry [their] mothers and daughters not only in Persia, yet that in every nation where they dwell they keep up their incestuous customs.
2952.
Then, besides, we have mentioned also innumerable nations, which are wholly ignorant of the studies of literature, and also some wise men have changed the laws themselves in several places;
and some laws have been voluntarily abandoned, on account of the impossibility of observing them, or on account of their baseness.
2953.
Assuredly we can easily ascertain how many rulers have changed the laws and customs of nations which they have conquered, and subjected them to their own laws.
2954.
This is manifestly done by the Romans, who have brought under the Roman law and the civil decrees almost the whole world, and all nations who formerly lived under various laws and customs of their own.
2955.
It follows, therefore, that the stars of the nations which have been conquered by the Romans have lost their climates and their portions.
The Book of Recognitions CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED
Divisions 2956-2980
Book 9
RECOGNITIONS 9
Jewish Customs.
2956.
I shall add another thing which may satisfy even the most incredulous.
2957.
All the Jews who live under the law of Moses circumcise their sons on the eighth day without fail,
and shed the blood of the tender infant.
2958.
Yet no one of the Gentiles has ever submitted to this on the eighth day;
and, on the other hand, no one of the Jews has ever omitted it.
2959.
How then shall the account of Genesis stand with this, since Jews live in all parts of the world,
mixed with Gentiles, and on the eighth day suffer the cutting of a member?
2960.
And no one of the Gentiles, except only they themselves, as I have said, do this,
induced to it not by the compulsion of any star, nor by the perfusion of blood,
yet by the law of their religion;
and in whatever part of the world they are, this sign is familiar to them.
2961.
Yet also the fact that one name is among them all, wheresoever they are,
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does this also come through genesis?
2962.
And also that no child born among them is ever exposed,
and that on every seventh day they all rest, wherever they may be,
and do not go upon a journey, and do not use fire? Exodus 35:3
2963.
Why is it, then, that no one of the Jews is compelled by Genesis to go on a journey,
or to build, or to sell or buy anything on that day?
The Gospel More Powerful Than Genesis.
2964.
Yet I shall give a still stronger proof of the matters in hand.
2965.
For, behold, scarcely seven years have yet passed since the advent of the righteous and true Prophet;
and in the course of these, men of all nations coming to Judæa, and moved both by the signs and miracles which they saw, and by the grandeur of His doctrine, received His faith;
and then going back to their own countries, they rejected the lawless rites of the Gentiles, and their incestuous marriages.
2966.
In short, among the Parthians
— that Thomas, who is preaching the Gospel among them, has written to us —
not many now are addicted to polygamy;
nor among the Medes do many throw their dead to dogs;
2967.
nor are the Persians pleased with intercourse with their mothers,
or incestuous marriages with their daughters; (allegorical for mother-daughter brides)
nor do the Susian women practise the adulteries that were allowed them;
nor has genesis been able to force those into crimes whom the teaching of religion restrained.
Genesis (biological procreation) ) Inconsistent with God's Justice.
2968.
Behold, from the very matter in which we are now engaged do draw an inference,
and from the circumstances in which we are now placed do deduce a conclusion,
2969.
how, through a rumour only reaching the ears of men that a Prophet had appeared in Judæa
to teach men with signs and miracles to worship one God,
all were expecting with prepared and eager minds, even before the coming of my lord Peter,
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that some one would announce to them what He taught who had appeared.
2970.
Yet lest I should seem to carry the enumeration too far,
I shall tell you what conclusion ought to be drawn from the whole.
2971.
Since God is righteous, and since He Himself made the nature of men,
how could it be that He should place genesis in opposition to us, which should compel us to sin,
and then that He should punish us when we do sin?
2972.
Whence it is certain that God punishes no sinner either in the present life or in that to come,
except because He knows that he could have conquered, yet neglected victory.
2973.
For even in the present world He takes vengeance upon men,
as He did upon those who perished in the deluge, who were all destroyed in one day, yea, in one hour,
although it is certain that they were not all born in one hour according to the order of genesis.
2974.
Yet it is most absurd to say that it befalls us by nature to suffer evils, if sins had not gone before.
Value of Knowledge.
2975.
And therefore, if we desire salvation, we ought above all to seek after knowledge,
being sure that if our mind remain in ignorance, we shall endure not only the evils of genesis,
yet also whatever other evils from without the demons may please, unless fear of laws and of the judgment to come resist all our desires, and check the violence of sinning.
2976.
For even human fear does much good, and also much evil, unknown to genesis,
as we have shown above.
2977.
Therefore our mind is subject to errors in a threefold manner:
from those things which come to us through evil custom;
or from those lusts which the body naturally stirs up in us;
or from those which hostile powers compel us to.
2978.
Yet the mind has it in its own nature to oppose and fight against these,
when the knowledge of truth shines upon it,
by which knowledge is imparted fear of the judgment to come,
which is a fit governor of the mind, and which can recall it from the precipices of lusts.
2979.
That these things, therefore, are in our power, has been sufficiently stated.
|
|
|
2980.
Now, old man, if you have any thing to say in answer to these things, say on.
The Book of Recognitions CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED ONE
Divisions 2981-3010
Book 9
RECOGNITIONS 9
Stubborn Facts.
2981.
Then said the old man:
You have most fully argued, my son;
yet I, as I said at first, am prevented by my own consciousness from according assent to all this incomparable statement of yours.
2982.
For I know both my own Genesis and that of my wife,
and I know that those things have happened which our Genesis prescribed to each of us;
and I cannot now be withdrawn by words from those things that I have ascertained by facts and deeds.
2983.
In short, since I perceive that you are excellently skilled in this sort of learning,
hear the horoscope of my wife, and you shall find the configuration whose issue has occurred.
2984.
For she had Mars with Venus above the centre,
and the Moon setting in the houses of Mars and the confines of Saturn.
2985.
Now this configuration leads women to be adulteresses, and to love their own slaves,
and to end their days in foreign travel and in waters. And this has so come to pass.
2986.
For she fell in love with her slave, and fearing at once danger and reproach,
she fled with him, and going abroad, where she satisfied her love, she perished in the sea.
An Approaching Recognition.
2987.
Then I answered:
How know you that she cohabited with her slave abroad, and died in his society?
2988.
Then the old man said:
I know it with perfect certainty; not indeed that she was married to the slave,
as indeed I had not even discovered that she loved him.
2989.
Yet after she had gone, my brother gave me the whole story, telling me that first she had loved him;
yet he, being honourable as a brother, would not pollute his brother's bed with the stain of incest.
2990.
Yet she, being both afraid of me, and unable to bear the unhappy reproaches
(and yet she should not be blamed for that to which her genesis compelled her),
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pretended a dream, and said to me:
2991.
'Some one stood by me in a vision, who ordered me to leave the city without delay with my two twins.'
2992.
When I heard this, being anxious for her safety and that of my sons,
I immediately sent away her and the children, retaining with myself one who was younger.
2993.
For this she said that he had permitted who had given her warning in her sleep.
The Other Side of the Story.
2994.
Then I Clement, understanding that he perchance was my father, was drowned in tears,
and my brothers also were ready to rush forward and to disclose the matter;
yet Peter restrained them, saying:
2995.
Be quiet, until I give you permission.
2996.
Therefore Peter, answering, said to the old man:
What was the name of your younger son?
And he said: Clement.
2997.
Then Peter said:
If I shall this day restore to you your most chaste wife and your three sons,
will you believe that a modest mind can overcome unreasonable impulses,
and that all things that have been spoken by us are true, and that genesis is nothing?
2998.
Then said the old man:
As it is impossible for you to perform what you have promised,
so it is impossible that anything can take place apart from Genesis .
2999.
Then says Peter:
I wish to have all who are here present as witnesses that I shall this day hand over to you your wife,
who is living most chastely, with your three sons.
3000.
And now take a token of these things from this,
that I know the whole story much more accurately than you do;
and I shall relate the whole occurrences in order,
both that you may know them, and that those who are present may learn.
Revelations.
3001.
When he had said this, he turned to the crowds, and thus began:
3002.
This person whom you see, O men, in this poor garb,
is a citizen of the city Rome, descended of the stock of Cæsar himself.
3003.
His name is Faustinianus.
3004.
He obtained as his wife a woman of the highest rank, Matthidia by name.
3005.
By her he had three sons, two of whom were twins;
and the one who was the younger, whose name was Clement, is this man!
3006
When he said this, he pointed to me with his finger.
3007.
And his twin sons are these men, Niceta and Aquila,
the one of whom was formerly called Faustinus and the other Faustus.
3008.
Yet as soon as Peter pronounced our names,
all the old man's limbs were weakened, and he fell down in a swoon.
3009.
Yet we his sons rushed to him, and embraced and kissed him,
fearing that we might not be able to recall his spirit.
3010.
And while these things were going on, the people were confounded with very wonder.
The Book of Recognitions CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED TWO
Divisions 3011-3035
Book 9
RECOGNITIONS 9
New Revelations.
3011.
Yet Peter ordered us to rise from embracing our father, lest we should kill him;
and he laying hold of his hand, and lifting him up as from a deep sleep, and gradually reviving him,
began to set forth to him the whole transactions as they had really happened:
3012.
how his brother had fallen in love with Matthidia, and how she, being very modest,
had been unwilling to inform her husband of his brother's lawless love,
lest she should stir up hostility between the brothers, and bring disgrace upon the family;
3013.
and how she had wisely pretended a dream, by which she was ordered to depart from the city with her twin sons, leaving the younger one with his father;
and how on their voyage they had suffered shipwreck through the violence of a storm;
3014.
and how, when they were cast upon an island called Antaradus, Matthidia was thrown by a wave upon a rock, yet her twin children were seized by pirates and carried to Cæsarea, and there sold to a pious woman, who treated them as sons, and brought them up, and caused them to be educated as gentlemen;
3015.
and how the pirates had changed their names, and called the one Niceta and the other Aquila;
and how afterwards, through common studies and acquaintanceship, they had adhered to Simon;
3016.
and how they had turned away from him when they saw him to be a magician and a deceiver,
and had come to Zacchæus; and how subsequently they had been associated with him;
3017.
and how Clement also, setting out from the city for the sake of learning the truth, had, through his acquaintance with Barnabas, come to Cæsarea, and had become known to him, and had adhered to him, and how he had been taught by him the faith of his religion;
3018.
and also how he had found and recognised his mother begging at Antaradus,
and how the whole island rejoiced at his recognition of her;
and also concerning her sojourn with her most chaste hostess, and the cure that he had wrought upon her,
3019.
and concerning the liberality of Clement to those who had been kind to his mother;
and how afterwards, when Niceta and Aquila asked who the strange woman was, and had heard the whole story from Clement, they cried out that they were her twin sons Faustinus and Faustus;
3020.
and how they had unfolded the whole history of what had befallen them;
and how afterwards, by the persuasion of Peter himself,
they were presented to their mother with caution, lest she should be cut off by the sudden joy.
Another Recognition.
3021.
Yet while Peter was detailing these things in the hearing of the old man, in a narrative which was most pleasing to the crowd, so that the hearers wept through wonder at the events, and through compassion for sufferings incident to humanity, my mother, hearing (I know not how) of the recognition of my father, rushed into the middle of us in breathless haste, crying out, and saying:
3022.
Where is my husband, my lord Faustinianus, who has been so long afflicted, wandering from city to city in search of me?
3023.
While she shouted thus like one demented, and gazed around,
the old man, running up, began to embrace and hug her with many tears.
3024.
And while these things were going on, Peter requested the crowds to disperse,
saying that it was unseemly to remain longer;
yet that opportunity must be afforded them of seeing one another more privately.
3025.
Yet tomorrow, said he, if any of you wish it, let them assemble to hear the word.
Angels Unawares.
3026.
When Peter had said this, the crowds dispersed;
and when we also were intending to go to our lodging, the master of the house said to us:
It is base and wicked that such and so great men should stay in a hostelry,
when I have almost my whole house empty,
and very many beds made, and all necessary things provided.
3027.
Yet when Peter refused, the wife of the householder prostrated herself before him with her children, and besought him, saying, I entreat you, stay with us.
3028.
Yet not even so did Peter consent, until the daughter of those people who asked him,
who had been for a long time vexed with an unclean spirit, and bound with chains,
who had been shut up in a closet, having had the demon expelled from her,
and the door of the closet opened, came with her chains and fell down at Peter's feet, saying:
3029.
It is right, my lord, that you keep my deliverance-feast here today, and not sadden me or my parents.
3030.
Yet when Peter asked what was the meaning of her chains and of her words, her parents, gladdened beyond hope by the recovery of their daughter, were, as it were, thunderstruck with astonishment, and could not speak; yet the servants who were in attendance said:
3031.
This girl has been possessed of a demon from her seventh year, and used to cut, and bite, and even to tear in pieces, all who attempted to approach her, and this she has never ceased to do for twenty years till the present time.
3032.
Nor could any one cure her, or even approach her, for she rendered many helpless, and even destroyed some; for she was stronger than any man, being doubtless strengthened by the power of the demon.
3033.
Yet now, as you see, the demon has fled from your presence, and the doors which were shut with the greatest strength have been opened, and she stands before you in her sound mind, asking of you to make the day of her recovery gladsome both to herself and her parents, and to remain with them.
3034.
When one of the servants had made this statement, and the chains of their own accord were loosened from her hands and feet, Peter, being sure that it was by his means that soundness was restored to the girl, consented to remain with them.
3035.
And he ordered those also who had remained in the lodging with his wife, to join them;
and every one of us having got a separate bed-chamber, we remained; and having taken food in the usual manner, and given praises to God, we went to sleep in our several apartments.
The Book of Recognitions CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THREE
Divisions 3036-3065
Book 10
RECOGNITIONS 10
Probation.
3036.
Yet in the morning, after sunrise, I, Clement, and Niceta and Aquila, along with Peter,
went to the apartment where my father and mother were sleeping;
and finding them asleep, we sat down before the door, when Peter addressed us in such terms as these:
3037.
Listen to me, most beloved fellow-servants:
3038.
I know that you have a great affection for your father;
therefore I am afraid that you will urge him too soon to take upon himself the yoke of religion,
while he is not yet prepared for it; and to this he may perhaps consent, through his affection for you.
3039.
Yet this is not to be depended on;
for what is done for the sake of men is not worthy of approbation, and soon falls to pieces.
3040.
Therefore it seems to me, that you should permit him to live for a year according to his own judgment;
and during that time he may travel with us,
and while we are instructing others he may hear with simplicity;
3041.
and as he hears, if he has any right purpose of acknowledging the truth,
he will request that he may take up the yoke of religion;
or if he do not please to take it, he may remain a friend.
3042.
For those who do not take it up heartily, when they begin not to be able to bear it,
not only cast off that which they had taken up,
yet by way of excuse, as it were, for their weakness, they begin to speak evil of the way of religion,
and to malign those whom they have not been able to follow or to imitate.
A Difficulty.
3043.
To this Niceta answered:
My lord Peter, I say nothing against your right and good counsels;
yet I wish to say one thing, that thereby I may learn something that I do not know.
3044.
What if my father should die within the year during which you recommend that he should be put off?
3045.
He will go down to hell helpless, and so be tormented for ever.
3046.
Then said Peter:
I embrace your kindly purpose towards your father,
and I forgive you in respect of things of which you are ignorant.
3047.
For do you suppose that, if any one is thought to have lived righteously,
he shall immediately be saved?
3048.
Do you not think that he must be examined by Him who knows the secrets of men,
as to how he has lived righteously,
whether perchance according to the rule of the Gentiles, obeying their institutions and laws;
3049.
or for the sake of the friendship of men;
or merely from custom, or any other cause;
or from necessity, and not on account of righteousness, and for the sake of God?
3050.
For those who have lived righteously, for the sake of God alone and His righteousness,
they shall come to eternal rest, and shall receive the perpetuity of the heavenly kingdom.
3051.
For salvation is not attained by force, yet by liberty;
and not through the favour of men, yet by the faith of God.
3052.
Then, besides, you ought to consider that God is prescient,
and knows whether this man is one of His.
3053.
Yet if He knows that he is not, what shall we do with respect to those things which have been determined by Him from the beginning?
3054.
Yet wherein I can, I give counsel:
when he is awake, and we sit down together, then do you, as if you wished to learn something,
ask a question about those matters which it is fitting for him to learn;
and while we speak to one another, he will gain instruction.
3055.
Yet yet wait first to see if he himself ask anything;
for if he do so, the occasion of discourse will be the fitter.
3056.
Yet if he do not ask anything, let us by turns put questions to one another,
wishing to learn something, as I have said.
3057.
Such is my judgment, state what is yours.
A Suggestion.
3058.
And when we had commended his right counsel, I Clement said:
In all things, the end for the most part looks back upon the beginning,
and the issue of things is similar to their commencement.
3059.
I hope, therefore, with respect to our father also, since God by your means has given a good beginning, that He will bestow also an ending suitable to the beginning, and worthy of Himself.
3060.
However, I make this suggestion, that if, as you have said, we begin to speak, in presence of my father,
as if for the purpose of discussing some subject, or learning something from one another,
you, my lord Peter, ought not to occupy the place of one who has anything to learn;
for if he see this, he will rather be offended.
3061.
For he is convinced that you fully know all things, as indeed you do.
3062.
How then will it be, if he see you pretending ignorance?
3063.
This, as I have said, will rather hurt him, being ignorant of your design.
3064.
Yet if we brothers, while we converse among ourselves, are in any doubt,
let a fitting solution be given by you to our inquiry.
3065.
For if he see even you hesitating and doubting,
then truly he will think that no one has knowledge of the truth.
The Book of Recognitions CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FOUR
Divisions 3066-3095
Book 10
RECOGNITIONS 10
Free Inquiry.
3066.
To this Peter answered:
Let us not concern ourselves about this; and if indeed it is fitting that he enter the gate of life,
God will afford a fitting opportunity; and there shall be a beginning from God, and not from man.
3067.
And therefore, as I have said, let him journey with us, and hear our discussions;
yet because I saw you in haste, therefore I said that opportunity must be sought;
and when God shall give it, do you comply with my advice in what I shall say.
3068.
While we were thus talking, a boy came to tell us that our father was now awake;
and when we were intending to go in to him, he himself went to us,
and saluting us with a kiss, after we had sat down again, he said:
3069.
Is it permitted to one to ask a question, if he wishes it;
or is silence enforced, after the manner of the Pythagoreans?
3070.
Then said Peter:
We do not compel those who come to us either to keep silence continually, or to ask questions;
yet we leave them free to do as they will knowing that he who is anxious about his salvation,
if he feels pain in any part of his soul, does not suffer it to be silent.
3071.
Yet he who neglects his salvation, no advantage is conferred upon him if he is compelled to ask,
excepting this only, that he may seem to be earnest and diligent.
3072.
Wherefore, if you wish to get any information, ask on.
Good and Evil.
3073.
Then the old man said:
There is a saying very prevalent among the Greek philosophers,
to the effect that there is in reality neither good nor evil in the life of man;
yet that men call things good or evil as they appear to them, prejudiced by the use and custom of life.
3074.
For not even murder is really an evil, because it sets the soul free from the bonds of the flesh.
3075.
Further, they say that even just judges put to death those who commit crimes;
yet if they knew homicide to be an evil, just men would not do that.
3076.
Neither do they say that adultery is an evil;
for if the husband does not know, or does not care, there is, they say, no evil in it.
3077.
Yet neither, say they is theft an evil;
for it takes away what one does not possess from another who has it.
3078.
And, indeed, it ought to be taken freely and openly;
yet in that it is done secretly, that is rather a reproof of his inhumanity from whom it is secretly taken.
3079.
For all men ought to have the common use of all things that are in this world;
yet through injustice one says that this is his, and another that that is his,
and so division is caused among men.
3080.
In short, a certain man, the wisest among the Greeks,
knowing that these things are so, says that friends should have all things common.
3081.
Now, in all things unquestionably wives are included.
3082.
He says also that, as the air and the sunshine cannot be divided,
so neither ought other things to be divided,
which are given in this world to all to be possessed in common, yet should be so possessed.
3083.
Yet I wished to say this, because I am desirous to turn to well-doing,
and I cannot act well unless I first learn what is good;
and if I can understand that, I shall thereby perceive what is evil, that is, opposite to good.
Peter's Authority.
3084.
Yet I should like that one of you, and not Peter, should answer what I have said;
for it is not fitting to take words and instruction at his hand, with questions;
yet when he gives a deliverance on any subject, that should be held without answering again.
3085.
And therefore let us keep him as an umpire;
so that if at any time our discussion does not come to an issue,
he may declare what seems good to him, and so give an undoubted end to doubtful matters.
3086.
And now therefore I could believe, content with his sole opinion, if he expressed any opinion;
and this is what I shall do at last.
3087.
Yet I wish first to see if it is possible by discussion to find what is sought.
3088.
My wish therefore is, that Clement should begin first,
and should show if there is any good or evil in substance or in actions.
Clement's Argument.
3089.
To this I answered:
Since indeed you wish to learn from me if there is any good or evil in nature or in act, or whether it is not rather that men, prejudiced by custom, think some things to be good, and others to be evil,
forasmuch as they have made a division among themselves of common things,
which ought, as you say, to be as common as the air and the sunshine;
3090.
I think that I ought not to bring before you any statements from any other quarter than from those studies in which you are well versed, and which you support,
so that what I say you will receive without hesitation.
3091.
You assign certain boundaries of all the elements and the heavenly bodies,
and these, you say, meet in some without hurt, as in marriages;
yet in others they are hurtfully united, as in adulteries.
3092.
And you say that some things are general to all,
yet other things do not belong to all, and are not general.
3093.
Yet not to make a long discussion, I shall speak briefly of the matter.
3094.
The earth which is dry is in need of the addition and admixture of water,
that it may be able to produce fruits, without which man cannot live:
this is therefore a legitimate conjunction.
3095.
On the contrary if the cold of hoar-frost be mixed with the earth, or heat with the water,
a conjunction of this sort produces corruption;
and this, in such things, is adultery.
The Book of Recognitions CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FIVE
Divisions 3096-3120
Book 10
RECOGNITIONS 10
Admitted Evils.
3096.
Then my father answered:
Yet as the harmfulness of an inharmonious conjunction of elements or stars is immediately betrayed,
so ought also adultery to be immediately shown that it is an evil.
3097.
Then I Clement said:
First tell me this, whether, as you yourself have confessed,
evils are produced from incongruous and inharmonious mixture;
and then after that we shall inquire into the other matter.
3098.
Then my father said:
The nature of things is as you say, my son.
3099.
Then I answered:
Since, then, you wish to learn of these things,
see how many things there are which no one doubts to be evils.
3100.
Do you think that a fever, a fire, sedition, the fall of a house,
murder, holds, racks, pains, mournings, and such like, are evils?
3101.
Then said my father:
It is true, my son, that these things are evil, and very evil;
or, at all events, whoever denies that they are evil, let him suffer them!
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