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| The Absurd Opinion of Epicurus and the Profane Conceits of the Heretic Menander on Death, Even Enoch and Elijah Reserved for Death.
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Chapter L.—The Absurd
Opinion of Epicurus and the Profane Conceits of the Heretic Menander on
Death, Even Enoch and Elijah Reserved for Death.
We have by this time said enough about sleep, the
mirror and image of death; and likewise about the occupations of sleep,
even dreams. Let us now go on to consider the cause of our departure
hence—that is, the appointment and course of death—because
we must not leave even it unquestioned and unexamined, although it is
itself the very end of all questions and investigations. According to
the general sentiment of the human race, we declare death to be
“the debt of nature.” So much has been settled by the voice
of God;1782
such is the
contract with everything which is born: so that even from this the
frigid conceit of Epicurus is refuted, who says that no such debt is
due from us; and not only so, but the insane opinion of the Samaritan
heretic Menander is also rejected, who will have it that death has not
only nothing to do with his disciples, but in fact never reaches them.
He pretends to have received such a commission from the secret power of
One above, that all who partake of his baptism become immortal,
incorruptible and instantaneously invested with resurrection-life. We
read, no doubt, of very many wonderful kinds of waters: how, for
instance, the vinous quality of the stream intoxicates people who drink
of the Lyncestis; how at Colophon the waters of an oracle-inspiring
fountain1783
affect men with
madness; how Alexander was killed by the poisonous water from Mount
Nonacris in Arcadia. Then, again, there was in Judea before the time of
Christ a pool of medicinal virtue. It is well known how the poet has
commemorated the marshy Styx as preserving men from death; although
Thetis had, in spite of the preservative, to lament her son. And for
the matter of that, were Menander himself to take a plunge into this
famous Styx, he would certainly have to die after all; for you must
come to the Styx, placed as it is by all accounts in the regions of the
dead. Well, but what and where are those blessed and charming waters
which not even John Baptist ever used in his preministrations, nor
Christ after him ever revealed to His disciples? What was this wondrous
bath of Menander? He is a comical fellow, I ween.1784
| 1784 It is difficult to say
what Tertullian means by his “comicum credo.” Is it a
playful parody on the heretic’s name, the same as the comic
poet’s (Menander)? | But why (was such a font) so seldom in
request, so obscure, one to which so very few ever resorted for their
cleansing? I really see something to suspect in so rare an occurrence
of a sacrament to which is attached so very much security and safety,
and which dispenses with the ordinary law of dying even in the service
of God Himself, when, on the contrary, all nations have “to
ascend to the mount of the Lord and to the house of the God of
Jacob,” who demands of His saints in martyrdom that death which
He exacted even of His Christ. No one will ascribe to magic such
influence as shall exempt from death, or which shall refresh and vivify
life, like the vine by the renewal of its condition. Such power was not
accorded to the great Medea herself—over a human being at any
rate, if allowed her over a silly sheep. Enoch no doubt was
translated,1785
and so was
Elijah;1786
nor did they
experience death: it was postponed, (and only postponed,) most
certainly: they are reserved for the suffering of death, that by their
blood they may
extinguish Antichrist.1787
Even John underwent
death, although concerning him there had prevailed an ungrounded
expectation that he would remain alive until the coming of the
Lord.1788
Heresies, indeed, for the most part spring
hurriedly into existence, from examples furnished by ourselves: they
procure their defensive armour from the very place which they attack.
The whole question resolves itself, in short, into this challenge:
Where are to be found the men whom Menander himself has baptized? whom
he has plunged into his Styx? Let them come forth and stand before
us—those apostles of his whom he has made immortal? Let my
(doubting) Thomas see them, let him hear them, let him handle
them—and he is convinced.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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