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| Of Silent Acquiescence in Heathen Formularies.
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Chapter XXI.—Of
Silent Acquiescence in Heathen Formularies.
But it is a mark of timidity, when some other man
binds you in the name of his gods, by the making of an oath, or by some
other form of attestation, and you, for fear of discovery,330
remain quiet. For you equally, by remaining
quiet, affirm their majesty, by reason of which majesty you will
seem to be bound. What matters it, whether you affirm the gods of
the nations by calling them gods, or by hearing them so called?
Whether you swear by idols, or, when adjured by another, acquiesce? Why
should we not recognize the subtleties of Satan, who makes it his aim
that, what he cannot effect by our mouth, he may effect by the
mouth of his servants, introducing idolatry into us through our ears?
At all events, whoever the adjurer is, he binds you to himself either
in friendly or unfriendly conjunction. If in unfriendly, you are now
challenged unto battle, and know that you must fight. If in friendly,
with how far greater security will you transfer your engagement unto
the Lord, that you may dissolve the obligation of him through whose
means the Evil One was seeking to annex you to the honour of idols,
that is, to idolatry! All sufferance of that kind is
idolatry. You honour those to whom, when imposed as authorities,
you have rendered respect. I know that one (whom the Lord pardon!),
when it had been said to him in public during a law-suit,
“Jupiter be wroth with you,” answered, “On the
contrary, with you.” What else would a heathen have done
who believed Jupiter to be a god? For even had he not retorted the
malediction by Jupiter (or other such like), yet, by merely
returning a curse, he would have confirmed the divinity of Jove,
showing himself irritated by a malediction in Jove’s name. For
what is there to be indignant at, (if cursed) in the name of one whom
you know to be nothing? For if you rave, you immediately affirm his
existence, and the profession of your fear will be an act of idolatry.
How much more, while you are returning the malediction in the name of
Jupiter himself, are you doing honour to Jupiter in the same way as he
who provoked you! But a believer ought to laugh in such cases, not to
rave; nay, according to the precept,331
not to return a
curse in the name of God even, but dearly to bless in the name
of God, that you may both demolish idols and preach God, and fulfil
discipline.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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