And for to make him more ashamed, he propounded unto him the example of the Panim Ephron, and the honesty that he used towards Abraham touching his field for the burial of his wife. What shall we say friend Eusebius of those poor blind men, blinded through their avarice, who so openly speak against the word of God, and all Councils and Canons? May not we rebuke and check them with that, that Tertullian 1rebuked the Gentiles and Paynims, saying: The Gods that are most tributaries and the greatest givers, are to you the most holyest, but for to speak better, those that are the holyest, are the greatest givers and tributaries. Their majesty is put to sale and valued and is esteemed after the gain that it bringeth. Your begging Religion, goeth about in Taverns, Shops and Markets, 2for to beg. ⟨image 61⟩Ye demand money for the pavement and boarding of the Temple, for the entering into the Temple and holy places. It is not lawful for to know your Gods without money 3or reward, for they are to be sold. We cannot suffice or have enough both for men and for your begging gods, and let us not think that we are bound to give unto any other, then unto those that ask it. If Jupiter then will have it, let him put forth his hand. For our mercy doth bestow more goods throughout all the street, then your religion throughout all your Temples. He 4declareth by those words that the ancient Christians bestowed not their goods in building of Temples, setting up of Idols, and in offering to them sacrifices, and in feeding of those Caphards & false Prophets, and in the mean season to suffer the poor to perish with hunger, about in the streets: but do bestow them in nourishing and feeding of those that were among them. Therefore he complaineth in the name of all the Christians, that sith that they have bestowed already so much goods for to nourish and feed the poor, they cannot provide sufficient to give so much unto the Idols and Gods of the Paynims, who do never cease to ask and beg. He thinketh in his judgement that the Christians have enough to do to keep and provide for the poor that are among them, without bestowing so much cost and charge to keep and provide for the Gods of the Paynims, who are more costly then the poor.
And for to make him more ashamed, he propounded vnto him the example of the Panim Ephron, and the honestie that he vsed towards Abraham touching his fielde for the buryall of his wife. What shall we say friende Eusebius of those poore blynde men, blynded thorow their auarice, who so openly speake agaynst the worde of God, and all Councells and Canons? May not we rebuke and checke them with that, that Tertulian 1rebuked the Gentiles and Panims, saying: The Gods that are most tributaryes and the greatest gyuers, are to you the most holyest, but for to speake better, those that are the holyest, are the greatest gyuers and trybutaryes. Their maiestie is put to sale and valued and is estéemed after the gayne that it bryngeth. Your begging Relygion, goeth about in Tauerns, Shops and Markets, 2for to begge. ⟨image 61⟩Ye demaunde money for the pauement and bourding of the Temple, for the entring into the Temple and holy places. It is not lawful for to know your Gods without money 3or rewarde, for they are to be solde. We cannot suffice or haue inoughe both for men and for your begging gods, and lette vs not thinke that we are bounde to giue vnto any other, then vnto those that aske it. If Iupiter then will haue it, lette him put foorth his hande. For our mercy doth bestow more goodes throughout all the stréete, then your relygion throughout all your Temples. Hée 4declareth by those woordes that the auncient Christians bestowed not their goodes in buylding of Temples, setting vp of Idolls, and in offring to them sacrifices, and in féeding of those Caphards & false Prophets, and in the meane season to suffer the poore to perishe with hunger, about in the stréetes: but doe bestow them in nourishing and féeding of those that were among them. Therefore he complayneth in the name of all the Christians, that sith that they haue bestowed already so much goodes for to nourishe and féede the poore, they cannot prouide sufficient to giue so much vnto the Idolls and Gods of the Panims, who doe neuer cease to aske and begge. He thinketh in his iudgement that the Christians haue inough to doe to kéepe and prouide for the poore that are among them, without bestowing so much cost and charge to keepe and prouide for the Gods of the Panims, who are more costlye then the poore.
- 1Tertullian Apolog. aduer. Gent. ca. 13. Tributary gods and to be sold.Tertulian Apolog. aduer. Gent. ca. 13. Tributary gods and to be sold.
- 2Begging Religion.
- 3Tertul. in Apo•duer. Gent a. 42 Begging Gods Unto whom we must give.Tertul. in Apo•duer. Gent a. 42 Begging Gods Vnto vvhome vve must giue.
- 4The charity of the ancient Christians.The charity of the auncient Christians.
