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| Chapter XLV
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Chapter XLV.
But since Celsus rejects the statements concerning
Antichrist, as it is termed, having neither read what is said of him in
the book of Daniel4509
nor in the writings of Paul,4510
nor what the Saviour in the Gospels4511
has predicted about his coming, we must make
a few remarks upon this subject also; because, “as faces do not
resemble faces,”4512
so also neither do
men’s “hearts” resemble one another. It is
certain, then, that there will be diversities amongst the hearts of
men,—those which are inclined to virtue not being all modelled
and shaped towards it in the same or like degree; while others, through
neglect of virtue, rush to the opposite extreme. And amongst the
latter are some in whom evil is deeply engrained, and others in whom it
is less deeply rooted. Where is the absurdity, then, in holding
that there exist among men, so to speak, two extremes,4513
—the one of virtue, and the other of
its opposite; so that the perfection of virtue dwells in the man who
realizes the ideal given in Jesus, from whom there flowed to the human
race so great a conversion, and healing, and amelioration, while the
opposite extreme is in the man who embodies the notion of him that is
named Antichrist? For God, comprehending all things by means of
His foreknowledge, and foreseeing what consequences would result from
both of these, wished to make these known to mankind by His prophets,
that those who understand their words might be familiarized with the
good, and be on their guard against its opposite. It was proper,
moreover, that the one of these extremes, and the best of the two,
should be styled the Son of God, on account of His pre-eminence; and
the other, who is diametrically opposite, be termed the son of the
wicked demon, and of Satan, and of the devil. And, in the next
place, since evil is specially characterized by its diffusion, and
attains its greatest height when it simulates the appearance of the
good, for that reason are signs, and marvels, and lying miracles found
to accompany evil, through the co-operation of its father the
devil. For, far surpassing the help which these demons give to
jugglers (who deceive men for the basest of purposes), is the aid which
the devil himself affords in order to deceive the human race.
Paul, indeed, speaks of him who is called Antichrist, describing,
though with a certain reserve,4514
both the manner,
and time, and cause of his coming to the human race. And notice
whether his language on this subject is not most becoming, and
undeserving of being treated with even the slightest degree of
ridicule.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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