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| Introductory. Tertullian Compares the Heresy to the Old Eleusinian Mysteries. Both Systems Alike in Preferring Concealment of Error and Sin to Proclamation of Truth and Virtue. PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP
IV.
Against the Valentinians.
In Which the Author Gives a Concise
Account of, Together with Sundry Caustic Animadversions on, the Very
Fantastic Theology of the Sect. This Treatise is Professedly Taken from
the Writings of Justin, Miltiades, Irenæus, and
Proculus.
[Translated by Dr. Roberts.]
————————————
Chapter I.—Introductory.
Tertullian Compares the Heresy to the Old Eleusinian Mysteries.
Both Systems Alike in Preferring Concealment of Error and Sin to
Proclamation of Truth and Virtue.
The Valentinians, who are
no doubt a very large body of heretics—comprising as they do so
many apostates from the truth, who have a propensity for fables, and no
discipline to deter them (therefrom) care for nothing so much as to
obscure6611
6611 Occultant. [This
tract may be assigned to any date not earlier than a.d. 207. Of this Valentinus, see cap. iv. infra,
and de Præscript. capp. 29, 30,
supra.] | what they preach,
if indeed they (can be said to) preach who obscure their
doctrine. The officiousness with which they guard their doctrine is
an officiousness which betrays their guilt.6612
6612 We are far from
certain whether we have caught the sense of the original, which we add,
that the reader may judge for himself, and at the same time observe the
terseness of our author: “Custodiæ officium conscientiæ
officium est, confusio prædicatur, dum religio
asseveratur.” |
Their disgrace is proclaimed in the very earnestness with which they
maintain their religious system. Now, in the case of those Eleusinian
mysteries, which are the very heresy of Athenian superstition, it is
their secrecy that is their disgrace. Accordingly, they previously
beset all access to their body with tormenting conditions;6613
6613 Et aditum prius
cruciant. | and they require a long initiation
before they enrol (their members),6614
6614 Antequam
consignant. | even
instruction during five years for their perfect disciples,6615
6615 Epoptas: see
Suidas, s.v. ᾽Επόπται. | in order that they may mould6616 their opinions by this suspension of full
knowledge, and apparently raise the dignity of their mysteries in
proportion to the craving for them which they have previously created.
Then follows the duty of silence. Carefully is that guarded, which is
so long in finding. All the divinity, however, lies in their
secret recesses:6617 there are revealed
at last all the aspirations of the fully initiated,6618 the entire mystery of the sealed tongue, the
symbol of virility. But this allegorical representation,6619 under the pretext of nature’s reverend
name, obscures a real sacrilege by help of an arbitrary
symbol,6620
6620 Patrocinio coactæ
figuræ. | and by empty
images obviates6621 the reproach of
falsehood!6622
6622 “Quid enim aliud
est simulachrum nisi falsum?” (Rigalt.) | In like manner, the
heretics who are now the object of our remarks,6623
6623 Quos nunc
destinamus. |
the Valentinians, have formed Eleusinian dissipations6624 of their own, consecrated by a profound
silence, having nothing of the heavenly in them but their
mystery.6625 By the help of the
sacred names and titles and arguments of true religion, they have
fabricated the vainest and foulest figment for men’s pliant
liking,6626
6626 Facili caritati.
Oehler, after Fr. Junius, gives, however, this phrase a subjective turn
thus: “by affecting a charity which is easy to them, costing
nothing.” | out of the affluent
suggestions of Holy Scripture, since from its many springs many
errors may well emanate. If you propose to them inquiries
sincere and honest, they answer you with stern6627
look and contracted brow, and say, “The subject is
profound.” If you try them with subtle questions, with the
ambiguities of their double tongue, they affirm a community of faith
(with yourself). If you intimate to them that you understand their
opinions, they insist on knowing nothing themselves. If you come to
a close engagement with them they destroy your own fond hope of a
victory over them by a self-immolation.6628
Not even to their own disciples do they commit a secret before they
have made sure of them. They have the knack of persuading men before
instructing them; although truth persuades by teaching, but does not
teach by first persuading.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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