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| The Inconsistent Life of Any False Christian No More Condemns True Disciples of Christ, Than a Passing Cloud Obscures a Summer Sky.
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Chapter V.522
| 522 Compare The
Apology, cc. ii. xliv. xlvi. | —The Inconsistent Life of Any False
Christian No More Condemns True Disciples of Christ, Than a Passing
Cloud Obscures a Summer Sky.
As to your saying of us that we are a most
shameful set, and utterly steeped in luxury, avarice, and depravity, we
will not deny that this is true of some. It is, however, a sufficient
testimonial for our name, that this cannot be said of all, not even of
the greater part of us. It must happen even in the healthiest and
purest body, that a mole should grow, or a wart arise on it, or
freckles disfigure it. Not even the sky itself is clear with so
perfect523
| 523 Colata,
“filtered” [or
“strained”—Shaks.] | a serenity as not to be flecked with some
filmy cloud.524
| 524 Ut non alicujus
nubiculæ flocculo resignetur. This picturesque language defies
translation. | A slight spot on the
face, because it is obvious in so conspicuous a part, only serves to
show purity of the entire complexion. The goodness of the larger
portion is well attested by the slender flaw. But although you
prove that some of our people are evil, you do not hereby prove that
they are Christians. Search and see whether there is any sect to
which (a partial shortcoming) is imputed as a general stain.525
You are accustomed in conversation yourselves
to say, in disparagement of us, “Why is so-and-so deceitful, when
the Christians are so self-denying? why merciless, when they are so
merciful?” You thus bear your testimony to the fact that this is
not the character of Christians, when you ask, in the way of a
retort,526
how men who are reputed to be Christians can
be of such and such a disposition. There is a good deal of difference
between an imputation and a name,527
| 527 Inter crimen et
nomen. | between an
opinion and the truth. For names were appointed for the express purpose
of setting their proper limits between mere designation and actual
condition.528
How many indeed are
said to be philosophers, who for all that do not fulfil the law of
philosophy? All bear the name in respect of their profession; but they
hold the designation without the excellence of the profession, and they
disgrace the real thing under the shallow pretence of its name. Men are
not straightway of such and such a character, because they are said to
be so; but when they are not, it is vain to say so of them: they only
deceive people who attach reality to a name, when it is its consistency
with fact which decides the condition implied in the name.529
And yet persons of this doubtful stamp do not
assemble with us, neither do they belong to our communion: by their
delinquency they become yours once more530
since
we should be unwilling to mix even with them whom your violence and
cruelty compelled to recant. Yet we should, of course, be more ready to
have included amongst us those who have unwillingly forsaken our
discipline than wilful apostates. However, you have no right to call
them Christians, to whom the Christians themselves deny that name, and
who have not learned to deny themselves.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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