Tfhio - JScholarship - Johns Hopkins University

APOLOGETICVS 37, 38, 39 111
necessary, people that palpably are enemies, yet not indeed
of the human race, but rather of error.
CHAP. XXXVIII. Furthermore was not a somewhat gentler
attitude also more fitting, namely the enrolment of this sect
among the legal associations, seeing it commits no such crime
as is wont to be feared from illegal associations? For unless
I am mistaken, the reason for preventing associations derives
its force from forethought as to pubhc order, lest the state should
be split up into factions. This result would easily disturb the
elections, the assemblies, the senates, public meetings, even the
shows, by the rival clash of partisanship, since even already
men had begun to regard their deeds of violence as for sale
and hire, and a means of earning a livehhood. But to us who
are dead to all the zeal for fame and position, there is no need
for meeting together, nor is there anything more foreign to us
than affairs of state. We recognise the world as one commonwealth
belonging to all. Your shows likewise we shun just
as much as their beginnings, which we know arise from superstition,
since we pass by even the events themselves which are
their occasion. We have nothing to say, or see or hear, in
•connexion -with the madness of the circus, the immodesty of
the theatre, the ferocity of the arena, the vain-glory of the
gymnasium. In what do we offend you, if we prefer different
pleasures? If we refuse to be taught how to enjoy pleasure,
it is our loss, perhaps, not yours. But we reject what pleases
you, nor do our pleasures dehght you. But the Epicureans
were permitted to maintain some reahty of pleasure, that is
calm of mind, and for the Christian's pleasure there are great
tasks.
CHAP. XXXIX. I -will now at once proclaim the actual^
occupations of the Christian association, in order that I who
rejected the idea that they were evil may sho-w that they are
good. We are a corporation with a common knowledge of
religion, a common rule of hfe, and an union of hope. We
come together for meeting and assembly, in order that having
formed a band as it were to come before God we may encompass
him -with prayers. This -violence is pleasing to God. We pray
also for the emperors, for their ministers and those in authority,
for the state of the world, for general quiet, for the postponement
of the end. We meet to call one another to remembrance of
the Scripture, if *he aspect of affairs requires us either to be
forewarned or to be reminded of anything. In any case we feed
1 ipsa, J. B. M. ipse cett.