The Divine Institutes, Books I–VII

Book III: On False Philosophy

BOOK THREE ON FALSE PHILOSOPHY Chapter 1 ~ INCE TRUTH IS THOUGHT to be still lying in obscurity, , either through the error and inexperience of the common people in subservience to varied and foolish superstitions, or through the philosophers who are distorting it rather than making it clear by the depravity of their abilities (although Marcus Tullius was not such, for his was outstanding and admirable), I would wish that some power very close to eloquence were mine. Then, as much as the truth is strong by its own proper strength, it might somehow function just so much, relying on the strength of genius also, and bring most clear light to the human race by discussing and overcoming those public errors, as it were, of those who are regarded as wise. I wish this could be for two reasons: either for the reason that men would be able to believe more in adorned truth who, captivated by the ornamentation of speech and the charm of words, even believe lies, or that the philosophers themselves might be most powerfully attacked by us with their own arms, in which they are wont to take pleasure and to trust. But since God has wished this to be the nature of the case, namely, that simple and bare truth should be more gleaming because it is ornamented enough of itself and would, therefore, be spoiled and corrupted by adornments added extrinsically, but that lying should be pleasing only under a false guise, since corrupt of itself it 164 BOOK THREE 165 vanishes and disintegrates unless it be smeared about and polished with some attractive ornament, I accept with a calm mind that mediocre ability which has been granted to me. With confidence then, not in eloquence, but in truth, I undertook this work, a greater work perhaps than is possible to be sustained by my powers. Even though I should fail, the truth itself, with the help of God whose work this is, will complete it. For since I know that some of the greatest orators have often been defeated by mediocre pleaders, because so great is the power of the truth that it defends itself with its own brilliance, although in slight matters, why should I think that in this, the greatest cause, it will be oppressed by those ingenious and skilled men, to be sure, who, however, speak falsehoods? And why should I not think that, even if not from my oratory which flows still weakly from a scant spring, the truth will appear as clear and brilliant by its own light? If the philosophers did not stand out as marvelous in the teaching of literature, I would yield to them (even) the knowledge and science of truth which no one can attain by thinking and disputing . Neither do I reprehend now the zeal of those who wished to know the truth, because God made the nature of man most desirous of attaining the truth. But this I maintain and this I charge: that the e[ect has not followed their honest and noble desire, since they knew neither what the truth itself was, nor how or where or with what mind it was to be sought. Thus, while they desired to aid human errors, they rather plunged themselves into the greatest holes and errors. To this task, therefore, of refuting philosophy, the very order of the matter undertaken has led me. For when every error arises, either from a false religion or from philosophy, it is necessary to overturn both in conquering it. Since it has been given to us in the divine writings that the thoughts of the philosophers are foolish, it must be taught by the matter and by arguments, lest anyone influenced by the honorable name of wisdom and deceived by the splendor of empty 166 LACTANTIUS eloquence prefer to believe human thillg~ rather than divine. Indeed, these divine writings have been given to us briefly and without any covering. Nor was it fitting that when God spoke to man, He should apply His words to argument, as though faith could not be put in Him otherwise, but it was fitting that He spoke as the mighty Judge of all things to whom it belongs not to plead but to pronounce. That is for Him as God. But when we apply the testimony of the divine word to single matters, surely we will show by how much...