Übersetzung
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On Idolatry
Chapter I.--Wide Scope of the Word Idolatry.
The principal crime of the human race, the highest guilt charged upon the world, the whole procuring cause of judgment, is idolatry. 1 For, although each single fault retains its own proper feature, although it is destined to judgment under its own proper name also, yet it is marked off under the general account of idolatry. Set aside names, examine works, the idolater is likewise a murderer. Do you inquire whom he has slain? If it contributes ought to the aggravation of the indictment, no stranger nor personal enemy, but his own self. By what snares? Those of his error. By what weapon? The offence done to God. By how many blows? As many as are his idolatries. He who affirms that the idolater perishes not, 2 will affirm that the idolater has not committed murder. Further, you may recognize in the same crime 3 adultery and fornication; for he who serves false gods is doubtless an adulterer 4 of truth, because all falsehood is adultery. So, too, he is sunk in fornication. For who that is a fellow-worker with unclean spirits, does not stalk in general pollution and fornication? And thus it is that the Holy Scriptures 5 use the designation of fornication in their upbraiding of idolatry. The essence of fraud, I take it, is, that any should seize what is another's, or refuse to another his due; and, of course, fraud done toward man is a name of greatest crime. Well, but idolatry does fraud to God, by refusing to Him, and conferring on others, His honours; so that to fraud it also conjoins contumely. But if fraud, just as much as fornication and adultery, entails death, then, in these cases, equally with the former, idolatry stands unacquitted of the impeachment of murder. After such crimes, so pernicious, so devouring of salvation, all other crimes also, after some manner, and separately disposed in order, find their own essence represented in idolatry. In it also are the concupiscences of the world. For what solemnity of idolatry is without the circumstance of dress and ornament? In it are lasciviousnesses and drunkennesses; since it is, for the most part, for the sake of food, and stomach, and appetite, that these solemnities are frequented. In it is unrighteousness. For what more unrighteous than it, which knows not the Father of righteousness? In it also is vanity, since its whole system is vain. In it is mendacity, for its whole substance is false. Thus it comes to pass, that in idolatry all crimes are detected, and in all crimes idolatry. Even otherwise, since all faults savour of opposition to God, and there is nothing which savours of opposition to God which is not assigned to demons and unclean spirits, whose property idols are; doubtless, whoever commits a fault is chargeable with idolatry, for he does that which pertains to the proprietors of idols.
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[This solemn sentence vindicates the place I have given to the De Idololatria in the order adopted for this volume. After this and the Apology come three treatises confirming its positions, and vindicating the principles of Christians in conflict with Idolatry, the great generic crime of a world lying in wickedness. These three are the De Spectaculis, the De Corona and the Ad Scapulam. The De Spectaculis was written after this treatise, in which indeed it is mentioned (Cap. xiii.), but logically it follows, illustrates and enforces it. Hence my practical plan: which will be concluded by a scheme (conjectural in part) of chronological order in which precision is affirmed by all critics to be impossible, but, by which we may reach approximate accuracy, with great advantage. The De Idololatria is free from Montanism. But see Kaye, p. xvi.] ↩
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Lit., "has not perished," as if the perishing were already complete; as, of course, it is judicially as soon as the guilt is incurred, though not actually. ↩
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i.e., in idolatry. ↩
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A play on the word: we should say, "an adulterator." ↩
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Oehler refers to Ezek. xxiii.; but many other references might be given--in the Pentateuch and Psalms, for instance. ↩
Übersetzung
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De l'idolatrie
I.
Le plus grand crime du genre humain, le forfait qui comprend tous les autres, la cause tout entière de sa condamnation, c'est l'idolâtrie. Car, bien que chaque prévarication ait son caractère spécial, bien qu'elle soit condamnée à part, il n'en est pas moins vrai qu'elles se fondent toutes dans le crime de l'idolâtrie. Oubliez les noms, voyez les oeuvres. L'idolâtre est en même temps homicide. Qui a-t-il tué, me demandez-vous? Je lis dans l'inscription qui l'accuse: Meurtrier, non pas d'un étranger ni d'un ennemi, mais de lui-même. ---- Par quels moyens? ---- Par son aveuglement.----Par quelles armes? ---- Par ses offenses contre Dieu. ----- Par, combien de blessures?---- Par autant de blessures que d'idolâtries. Que celui-là nie que l'idolâtrie soit un homicide, qui peut nier qu'il ait perdu son ame. D'après ce principe, vous trouverez encore en lui l'adultère et l'impudicité. Car quiconque sert les faux dieux altère indubitablement la vérité: or toute altération de la vérité est adultère. De même il se plonge dans l'impudicité. Qui peut sacrifier aux esprits immondes sans en être souillé et sali? Aussi les saintes Ecritures se servent-elles toujours du mot fornication pour flétrir l'idolâtrie. Ce qui constitue le vol, j'imagine, c'est d'enlever le bien d'un autre, ou de nier ce qu'on lui doit: le vol commis envers l'homme est regardé comme un grand crime. L'idolâtrie fait un vol à Dieu, en lui dérobant les hommages qui lui sont dus pour les transporter à d'autres, ajoutant ainsi l'outrage au larcin. Que si le vol, la fornication, l'adultère causent la mort, c'en est assez pour que l'idolâtrie ne soit pas innocente d'homicide.
Après ces crimes si funestes, si capables d'anéantir le salut, plusieurs autres désignés par différents noms, et conséquemment classés à part, se reproduisent dans l'idolâtrie. Elle comprend toutes les convoitises du siècle. Quelle est la cérémonie idolâtrique sans le luxe et les vains ornements du culte? Elle comprend les désirs impurs et l'ivresse: car les solennités païennes ne sont fréquentées que pour y satisfaire les plus grossiers appétits. Elle comprend l'injustice: qu'y a-t-il de plus injuste que celle qui méconnaît le père de toute justice? Elle comprend la vanités puisqu'elle repose tout entière sur la vanité. Elle comprend, le mensonge, puisque le fond de sa substance n'est que mensonge. Par là, tous les crimes se rencontrent dans l'idolâtrie, et l'idolâtrie dans tous les crimes.
D'ailleurs, comme tous les délits sont une offense envers Dieu, et que tout ce qui offense Dieu doit être attribué aux démons et aux esprits immondes auxquels sont consacrées les idoles, il n'en faut point douter, quiconque pèche commet le crime de l'idolâtrie, puisqu'il fait ce qui appartient aux maîtres des idoles.