Edition Masquer
Scorpiace

X.

[1] Qui uero non hic, id est non intra hunc ambitum terrae nec per hunc commeatum uitae nec apud homines huius communis naturae confessionem putant constitutam, quanta praesumptio est aduersus omnem ordinem rerum in terris istis et in uita ista et sub humanis potestatibus experiundarum? Nimirum cum animae de corporibus excesserint et per singula tabulata caelorum de receptu dispici coeperint et interrogari arcana illa haereticorum sacramenta, tunc confitendum apud ueras potestates et ueros homines, Teletos scilicet et Acinetos et Abascantos Valentini. [2] Nostrates enim, inquiunt, nec ipse Demiurgus constanter homines probabat, quos stillicidium situlae et puluerem areae et sputamen et locustas deputauit, etiam inrationalibus iumentis adaequauit. Plane, ita scriptum. Non tamen idcirco aliud hominis genus intellegendum praeter nos, quos, quia constat esse, comparatione potuit induere salua et proprietate generis et singularitate. [3] Neque enim si uita uitiata est, ut despectui iudicata despectis compararetur, statim natura sublata est, ut alia in nomine eius deputaretur. Atquin seruatur natura, etsi suffunditur uita, nec alios nouit Christus homines quam de quibus dicit: Quem me aiunt esse homines? Et: Quomodo uultis ut faciant uobis homines, ita et uos facite illis. [4] Vide an seruauerit genus, a quibus et testimonium sui expectet et in quos iustitiae uicem mandat. Illos autem caelestes homines si expostulem mihi ostendi, facilius Aratus Persea et Cephea et Erigonam et Ariadnam inter sidera deliniabit. Quis autem prohibuit dominum illic etiam confessionem hominum faciendam manifeste determinare, ubi suam futuram aperte pronuntiauit, ut ita esset positum: qui in me confessus fuerit coram hominibus in caelis, et ego in illo confitebor coram patre meo, qui in caelis est? [5] Eripere me debuit ex isto terrenae confessionis errore, quam suscipi noluisset, si caelestem praecipisset, quia nullos alios homines noueram praeter incolas terrae, ne ipso quidem adhuc tunc in caelis homine conspecto. Quae porro fides rerum, ut post excessum ad superna subleuatus illic probarer, quo non nisi iam probatus inponerer, illic de receptu examinarer, quo nisi admittendus peruenire non possem? [6] Christiano caelum ante patet quam uia; quia nulla uia in caelum, nisi cui patet caelum; quod qui attigerit, intrabit. Quas mihi potestates ianitrices adfirmas | iuxta Romanam superstitionem, + Barnum quendam et Forculum et Limentinum? Quas a cancellis ordinas potestates? [7] Si umquam legisti apud Dauid: Auferte portas, principes, uestri, et subleuentur portae aeternae, et intrabit rex gloriae, si item audisti apud Amos: qui ascensum suum aedificat in caelos, et profusionem suam fundat in terras, scito et ascensum illum exinde conplanatum uestigiis domini et introitum exinde reseratum uiribus Christi, nec ullam moram aut quaestionem in limine Christianis occursuram, qui non dinosci habeant illic, sed agnosci, nec interrogari, sed admitti. [8] Nam etsi adhuc clausum putas caelum, memento claues eius hic dominum Petro et per eum ecclesiae reliquisse, quas hic unusquisque interrogatus atque confessus feret secum. Sed asseuerat diabolus illic confitendum, ut suadeat hic negandum. Pulchra uidelicet documenta praemittam, bonas mecum claues feram, timorem eorum, qui solum corpus occidunt, animae autem nihil faciunt: commendatus ero huius praecepti desertione, honeste in caelestibus stabo, qui in terrenis stare non potui, sustinebo maiores potestates, qui minoribus cessi, merebor utique admitti iam exclusus. [9] Suppetit adhuc dicere: si in caelestibus confitendum, et hic negandum est. Nam ubi alterum, ibi utrumque. Aemula enim quaeque concurrunt. Etiam persecutionem in caelis agitari oportebit, quae confessionis negationisue materia est. Quid itaque cessas, audacissime haeretice, totum ordinem Christianae concussionis in superna transferre et inprimis ipsum nominis odium illic collocare, ubi ad patris dexteram praesidet Christus? [10] Illic constitues et synagogas Iudaeorum, fontes persecutionum, apud quas apostoli flagella perpessi sunt, et populos nationum cum suo quidem circo, ubi facile conclamant: usque quo genus tertium? [11] Sed et fratres nostros et patres et filios et socrus et nurus et domesticos nostros ibidem exhibere debetis, per quos traditio disposita est; item reges et praesides et armatas potestates, apud quas causa pugnanda est. Erit certe etiam carcer in caelo carens sole aut ingratis luminosus et uincula fortasse de zonis et eculeus axis ipse qui torquet. [12] Tum si lapidandus Christianus, grandines aderunt, si urendus, fulmina prae manu sunt, si trucidandus, Orionis armati manus operabitur, si bestiis finiendus, ursas septentrio emittet, zodiacus tauros et leones. Haec qui sustinuerit in finem, iste erit saluus. [13] Ergone et finis in caelis et passio et occisio et prima confessio? Et ubi caro omnibus istis necessaria? Vbi corpus, quod solum ab hominibus habet occidi? Haec nobis etiam ludicrum in modum certa ratio mandauit nec ullus obicem praescriptionis istius extrudet, ut non omnem ordinem persecutionis, omnem eius causam formam paraturam illuc transferre cogatur, ubi confessioni forum dederit. [14] Siquidem confessio a persecutione deducitur et persecutio in confessione finitur nec possunt non una sequi quae et aditum et exitum, id est initium finemque disponunt. Porro et odium nominis hic erit et persecutio hic erumpit et traditio hic producit et interrogatio hic compellit et carnificina hic desaeuit; at totum hunc ordinem in terris confessio uel negatio expungit. [15] Igitur si cetera hic, nec confessio alibi; si confessio alibi, nec cetera hic. Enimuero non alibi cetera, itaque nec confessio in caelo. Aut si aliam uolunt esse rationem interrogationis et confessionis caelestis, utique et ordinem suum illi struere debebunt alium longe et ab ista dispositione diuersum, quae scripturis notatur. [16] Et possumus dicere: uiderint, dum hic ordo terrenae interrogationis et confessionis ex materia decurrens persecutionis et discordiae publicae omnino saluus sit, sua e fide ut ita credendum sit, sicut et scribitur, ita intellegendum sit, sicuti auditur. Hic omnem ordinem sustinemus ipso domino non aliam regionem mundi destinante. Quid enim post confessionis et negationis terminum subiungit? [17] Ne putaueritis uenisse me, uti pacem mittam in terram, sed machaeram, certe in terram. Veni enim diuidere hominem aduersus patrem suum et filiam aduersus matrem suam et socrum aduersus nurum suam, et inimici hominis domestici sui. Sic enim efficitur, ut tradat frater fratrem in mortem et pater filium et insurgant filii in parentes et mori eos faciant. Et qui sustinuerit in finem, iste sit saluus. Adeo totus hic ordo dominicae machaerae non in caelum missae, sed in terram, illic constituit etiam confessionem, quae in finem sustinendo passura est mortem.

Traduction Masquer
Scorpiace

Chapter X.

But as to those who think that not here, that is, not within this environment of earth, nor during this period of existence, nor before men possessing this nature shared by us all, has confession been appointed to be made, what a supposition is theirs, being at variance with the whole order of things of which we have experience in these lands, and in this life, and under human authorities! Doubtless, when the souls have departed from their bodies, and begun to be put upon trial in the several stories of the heavens, with reference to the engagement (under which they have come to Jesus), and to be questioned about those hidden mysteries of the heretics, they must then confess before the real powers and the real men,--the Teleti, ¹ to wit, and the Abascanti, ² and the Acineti ³ of Valentinus! For, say they, even the Demiurge himself did not uniformly approve of the men of our world, whom he counted as a drop of a bucket, ⁴ and the dust of the threshing-floor, and spittle and locusts, and put on a level even with brute beasts. Clearly, it is so written. Yet not therefore must we understand that there is, besides us, another kind of man, which--for it is evidently thus (in the case proposed)--has been able to assume without invalidating a comparison between the two kinds, both the characteristics of the race and a unique property. For even if the life was tainted, so that condemned to contempt it might be likened to objects held in contempt, the nature was not forthwith taken away, so that there might be supposed to be another under its name. Rather is the nature preserved, though the life blushes; nor does Christ know other men than those with reference to whom He says, "Whom do men say that I am?" ⁵ And, "As ye would that men should do to you, do ye likewise so to, them." ⁶ Consider whether He may not have preserved a race such that He is looking for a testimony to Himself from them, as well as consisting of those on whom He enjoins the interchange of righteous dealing. But if I should urgently demand that those heavenly men be described to me, Aratus will sketch more easily Perseus and Cepheus, and Erigone, and Ariadne, among the constellations. But who prevented the Lord from clearly prescribing that confession by men likewise has to be made where He plainly announced that His own would be; so that the statement might have run thus: "Whosoever shall confess in me before men in heaven, I also will confess in him before my Father who is in heaven?" He ought to have saved me from this mistake about confession on earth, which He would not have wished me to take part in, if He had commanded one in heaven; for I knew no other men but the inhabitants of the earth, man himself even not having up to that time been observed in heaven. Besides, what is the credibility of the things (alleged), that, being after death raised to heavenly places, I should be put to the test there, whither I would not be translated without being already tested, that I should there be tried in reference to a command where I could not come, but to find admittance? Heaven lies open to the Christian before the way to it does; because there is no way to heaven, but to him to whom heaven lies open; and he who reaches it will enter. What powers, keeping guard at the gate, do I hear you affirm to exist in accordance with Roman superstition, with a certain Carnus, Forculus, and Limentinus? What powers do you set in order at the railings? If you have ever read in David, "Lift up your gates, ye princes, and let the everlasting gates be lifted up; and the King of glory shall enter in;" ⁷ if you have also heard from Amos, "Who buildeth up to the heavens his way of ascent, and is such as to pour forth his abundance (of waters) over the earth;" ⁸ know that both that way of ascent was thereafter levelled with the ground, by the footsteps of the Lord, and an entrance thereafter opened up by the might of Christ, and that no delay or inquest will meet Christians on the threshold, since they have there to be not discriminated from one another, but owned, and not put to the question, but received in. For though you think heaven still shut, remember that the Lord left here to Peter and through him to the Church, the keys of it, which every one who has been here put to the question, and also made confession, will carry with him. But the devil stoutly affirms that we must confess there, to persuade us that we must deny here. I shall send before me fine documents, to be sure, ⁹ I shall carry with me excellent keys, the fear of them who kill the body only, but do nought against the soul: I shall be graced by the neglect of this command: I shall stand with credit in heavenly places, who could not stand in earthly: I shall hold out against the greater powers, who yielded to the lesser: I shall deserve to be at length let in, though now shut out. It readily occurs to one to remark further, "If it is in heaven that men must confess, it is here too that they must deny." For where the one is, there both are. For contraries always go together. There will need to be carried on in heaven persecution even, which is the occasion of confession or denial. Why, then, do you refrain, O most presumptuous heretic, from transporting to the world above the whole series of means proper to the intimidation of Christians, and especially to put there the very hatred for the name, where Christ rules at the right hand of the Father? Will you plant there both synagogues of the Jews--fountains of persecution--before which the apostles endured the scourge, and heathen assemblages with their own circus, forsooth, where they readily join in the cry, Death to the third race? ¹⁰ But ye are bound to produce in the same place both our brothers, fathers, children, mothers-in-law, daughters-in-law and those of our household, through whose agency the betrayal has been appointed; likewise kings, governors, and armed authorities, before whom the matter at issue must be contested. Assuredly there will be in heaven a prison also, destitute of the sun's rays or full of light unthankfully, and fetters of the zones perhaps, and, for a rack-horse, the axis itself which whirls the heavens round. Then, if a Christian is to be stoned, hail-storms will be near; if burned, thunderbolts are at hand; if butchered, the armed Orion will exercise his function; if put an end to by beasts, the north will send forth the bears, the Zodiac the bulls and the lions. He who will endure these assaults to the end, the same shall be saved. Will there be then, in heaven, both an end, and suffering, a killing, and the first confession? And where will be the flesh requisite for all this? Where the body which alone has to be killed by men? Unerring reason has commanded us to set forth these things in even a playful manner; nor will any one thrust out the bar consisting in this objection (we have offered), so as not to be compelled to transfer the whole array of means proper to persecution, all the powerful instrumentality which has been provided for dealing with this matter, to the place where he has put the court before which confession should be made. Since confession is elicited by persecution, and persecution ended in confession, there cannot but be at the same time, in attendance upon these, the instrumentality which determines both the entrance and the exit, that is, the beginning and the end. But both hatred for the name will be here, persecution breaks out here, betrayal brings men forth here, examination uses force here, torture rages here, and confession or denial completes this whole course of procedure on the earth. Therefore, if the other things are here, confession also is not elsewhere; if confession is elsewhere, the other things also are not here. Certainly the other things are not elsewhere; therefore neither is confession in heaven. Or, if they will have it that the manner in which the heavenly examination and confession take place is different, it will certainly be also incumbent on them to devise a mode of procedure of their own of a very different kind, and opposed to that method which is indicated in the Scriptures. And we may be able to say, Let them consider (whether what they imagine to exist does so), if so be that this course of procedure, proper to examination and confession on earth--a course which has persecution as the source in which it originates, and which pleads dissension in the state--is preserved to its own faith, if so be that we must believe just as is also written, and understand just as is spoken. Here I endure the entire course (in question), the Lord Himself not appointing a different quarter of the world for my doing so. For what does He add after finishing with confession and denial? "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth, but a sword,"--undoubtedly on the earth. "For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household." ¹¹ For so is it brought to pass, that the brother delivers up the brother to death, and the father the son: and the children rise up against the parents, and cause them to die. And he who endureth to the end let that man be saved. ¹² So that this whole course of procedure characteristic of the Lord's sword, which has been sent not to heaven, but to earth, makes confession also to be there, which by enduring to the end is to issue in the suffering of death.