{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/001/0010654.htm","path":"chr/ecf/001/0010654.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/001/0010654.htm","text":"But concerning those who think that they shall share the holy and perfect name, which some have received by a vain tradition as if they were gods, Menander in the Auriga says:\u2014\n\u201cIf there exists a god who walketh out\nWith an old woman, or who enters in\nBy stealth to houses through the folding-doors,\nHe ne\u2019er can please me; nay, but only he\nWho stays at home, a just and righteous God,\nTo give salvation to His worshippers.\u201d\nThe same Menander, in the Sacerdos, says:\u2014\n\u201cThere is no God, O woman, that can save\nOne man by another; if indeed a man,\nWith sound of tinkling cymbals, charm a god\nWhere\u2019er he listeth, then assuredly\nHe who doth so is much the greater god.\nBut these, O Rhode, are but the cunning schemes\nWhich daring men of intrigue, unabashed,\nInvent to earn themselves a livelihood,\nAnd yield a laughing-stock unto the age.\u201d\nAgain, the same Menander, stating his opinion about those who are received as gods, proving rather that they are not so, says:\u2014\n\u201cYea, if I this beheld, I then should wish\nThat back to me again my soul returned.\nFor tell me where, O Getas, in the world\n\u2019Tis possible to find out righteous gods?\u201d\n\u201cThere\u2019s an unrighteous judgment, as it seems,\nEven with the gods.\u201d\nAnd Euripides the tragedian, in Orestes, says:\u2014\n\u201cApollo having caused by his command\nThe murder of the mother, knoweth not\nWhat honesty and justice signify.\nWe serve the gods, whoever they may be;\nBut from the central regions of the earth\nYou see Apollo plainly gives response\nTo mortals, and whate\u2019er he says we do.\nI him obeyed, when she that bore me fell\nSlain by my hand: he is the wicked man.\nThen slay him, for \u2019twas he that sinned, not I.\nWhat could I do? Think you not that the god\nShould free me from the blame which I do bear?\u201d\n\u201cBut on these points the gods do not judge right.\u201d\n\u201cBut in the daughter of Erechtheus\nWhat interest have I? for that pertains\nNot unto such as me. But when I come\nWith golden vessels for libations, I\nThe dew shall sprinkle, and yet needs must warn\nApollo of his deeds; for when he weds\nMaidens by force, the children secretly\nBegotten he betrays, and then neglects\nWhen dying. Thus not you; but while you may\nAlways pursue the virtues, for the gods\nWill surely punish men of wickedness.\nHow is it right that you, who have prescribed\nLaws for men\u2019s guidance, live unrighteously?\nBut ye being absent, I shall freely speak,\nAnd ye to men shall satisfaction give\nFor marriage forced, thou Neptune, Jupiter,\nWho over heaven presides. The temples ye\nHave emptied, while injustice ye repay.\nAnd though ye laud the prudent to the skies,\nYet have ye filled your hands with wickedness.\nNo longer is it right to call men ill\nIf they do imitate the sins 2607 of gods; 2608\nNay, evil let their teachers rather be.\u201d\n\u201cFull oft, my son, do gods mankind perplex.\u201d\n\u201cThey are no gods, who do not what is right.\u201d\n\u201cGods reign in heaven most certainly, says one;\nBut it is false,\u2014and let not him\nWho speaks thus, be so foolish as to use\nAncient tradition, or to pay regard\nUnto my words: but with unclouded eye\nBehold the matter in its clearest light.\nPower absolute, I say, robs men of life\nAnd property; transgresses plighted faith;\nNor spares even cities, but with cruel hand\nDespoils and devastates them ruthlessly.\nBut they that do these things have more success\nThan those who live a gentle pious life;\nAnd cities small, I know, which reverence gods,\nSubmissive bend before the many spears\nOf larger impious ones; yea, and methinks\nIf any man lounge idly, and abstain\nFrom working with his hands for sustenance,\nYet pray the gods; he very soon will know\nIf they from him misfortunes will avert.\u201d\nAnd Menander in Diphilus: 2609 \u2014\n\u201cTherefore ascribe we praise and honour great\nTo Him who Father is, and Lord of all;\nSole maker and preserver of mankind,\nAnd who with all good things our earth has stored.\u201d\nThe same also in the Piscatores:\u2014\n\u201cFor I deem that which nourishes my life\nIs God; but he whose custom \u2019tis to meet\nThe wants of men,\u2014He needs not at our hands\nRenewed supplies, Himself being all in all.\u201d 2610\n\u201cGod ever is intelligence to those\nWho righteous are: so wisest men have thought.\u201d\n\u201cGood reason finds a temple in all things\nWherein to worship; for what is the mind,\nBut just the voice of God within us placed?\u201d\np. 293 And the tragedian in Phrixus:\u2014\n\u201cBut if the pious and the impious\nShare the same lot, how could we think it just,\nIf Jove, the best, judges not uprightly?\u201d\n\u201cYou see how honourable gain is deemed\nEven to the gods; and how he is admired\nWhose shrine is laden most with yellow gold.\nWhat, then, doth hinder thee, since it is good\nTo be like gods, from thus accepting gain?\u201d\n\u201cO Jupiter I whoever thou mayest be,\nOf whom except in word all knowledge fails;\u201d\n\u201cJupiter, whether thou art indeed\nA great necessity, or the mind of man,\nI worship thee!\u201d\n\u03ba\u03b1\u03ba\u03ac in Euripedes, \u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03ac in text.\n292:2608\n[See Warburton\u2019s Divine Legation (book ii. \u00a7 4), vol. ii. p. 20. Ed. London, 1811.]\n292:2609\nThese lines are assigned to Diphilus.\n292:2610\nThe words from \u201cbut\u201d to \u201call\u201d are assigned by Otto to Justin, not to Menander.","title":"Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol I: JUSTIN MARTYR: Chapter V.\u2014The vain pretensions of...","type":"page"}