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Tlic Manichees. Sect. VIII. 445
beautiful and empliatical, tliat I have transcribed it largely
at the bottom of the'"^ P^S^- And I would translate it too,
l)ut that I am not able to reaeh the energy of his expressions.
In the general he says: ' Let them be severe against you,
' who know not with what labour truth is discovered, and
* how difficultly error is avoided. Let them be severe against
' you, who know not how hardly the diseases of the mind
' are cured, and the eye of the understanding strengthened
' to bear the light. Let them be severe against you, who
' are insensible how little we can know of God after our best
' endeavours to understand his perfections. Let them treat
' you Avith rigour, who never were entangled in a like error.
* As for me, I can by no means treat you in that manner
* but must exercise toward you that patience and long--
' suffering which I once wanted, and which my friends
' showed me, when with a blind and furious zeal I not
' only maintained, but propagated to the utmost of my power,
' the principle in which you are still engaged.'
It will be one good use of all this long history, if Me
learn to form charitable sentiments of other men, and to
practise moderation toward them ; no longer debating with
those who differ from us, as if we were infallible, but as
inquirers after truth, even as we desire they should do :
which" also is particularly recommended by the same renowned
writer.
* llli in V03 sseviant, qui nesciunt cum quo labore verum inveniatur, et
quam difficile caveantur errores. llli in vos saeviant, qui nesciunt quam rarum
et arcluum sit carnalia phantasmata piae mentis serenitate superare. llli in vos
saeviant, qui nesciunt cum quanta difficultate sanetur oculus interioris hominis.
llli in vos saeviant, qui nesciunt quibus suspiriis et gemitibus fiat, utex
quantulacumque parte possit intelligi Deus. Postremo in vos saeviant, qui
nunquam tali enore decepti sunt, quali vos deceptos vident. Ego autem,
qui, diu multumque jactatus, tandem respicere potui, qui denique ilia
figmenfa, quae vos diuturna consuetudine implicates et constrictos tenent, et
quaesivi curiose, et atlente audivi, et temere credidi, et mstanter, quibus potui,
persuasi, saevire in vos non possum, quos, sicut me ipsum illo tempore,
ita nunc debeo sustinere, et tanta patientia vobiscum agere, quanta mecum
egere proximi mei, cum in vestro dogmate rabiosus et coecus errarem. ibid,
cap. 2. n. 2, 3.
* illud quovis judice impetrare me a vobis oporlet, ut in utraque
parte omnis arrogantia deponatur. Nemo nostrijm dicat, se jam invenisse
veritatem. Sic eam quaeramus, quasi ab utrisque nesciatur. Ita enim diligenter
et concorditer quaeri poterit, si nulla temeraria praesumtione inventa et cog-
nitaesse credatur. Id. ib. n. 4.
;