{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/003/0030074.htm","path":"chr/ecf/003/0030074.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/003/0030074.htm","text":"Chapter XVI.\u2014Concerning Private Festivals.\nTouching the ceremonies, however, of private and social solemnities\u2014as those of the white toga, of espousals, of nuptials, of name-givings\u2014I should think no danger need be guarded against from the breath of the idolatry which is mixed up with them. For the causes are to be considered to which the ceremony is due. Those above-named I take to be clean in themselves, because neither manly garb, nor the marital ring or union, descends from honours done to any idol. In short, I find no dress cursed by God, except a woman\u2019s dress on a man: 288 for \u201ccursed,\u201d saith He, \u201cis every man who clothes himself in woman\u2019s attire.\u201d The toga, however, is a dress of manly name as well as of manly use. 289 God no more prohibits nuptials to be celebrated than a name to be given. \u201cBut there are sacrifices appropriated to these occasions.\u201d Let me be invited, and let not the title of the ceremony be \u201cassistance at a sacrifice,\u201d and the discharge of my good offices is at the service of my friends. Would that it were \u201cat their service\u201d indeed, and that we could escape seeing what is unlawful for us to do. But since the evil one has so surrounded the world with idolatry, it will be lawful for us to be present at some ceremonies which see us doing service to a man, not to an idol. Clearly, if invited unto priestly function and sacrifice, I will not go, for that is service peculiar to an idol; but neither will I furnish advice, or expense, or any other good office in a matter of that kind. If it is on account of the sacrifice that I be invited, and stand by, I shall be partaker of idolatry; if any other cause conjoins me to the sacrificer, I shall be merely a spectator of the sacrifice. 290\nTertullian should have added, \u201cand a man\u2019s on a woman.\u201d See Deut. xxii. 5. Moreover, the word \u201ccursed\u201d is not used there, but \u201cabomination\u201d is.\n71:289\nBecause it was called toga virilis\u2014\u201cthe manly toga.\u201d\n71:290\n[1 Cor. viii. The law of the inspired apostle seems as rigorous here and in 1 Cor. x. 27-29.]","title":"Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol III: Tertullian: Part I: Concern...","type":"page"}