A discourse concerning liturgies

To ascend a little higher; in the times of the Churches Persecution, in the beginning of the fourth Age; if there had been such Service Books, why did not their Persecutors call for the delivery of them, as they did, not only for the Bible, but for other Church Utensils? (Vid. Conc. Arelat. Can. 13. in Caranz. p. 65.) Why hear we of no traditores upon this account? It was not the Christians belief contained in the Scripture concerning the true God, or the Gentiles false Gods, that did more exasperate the Heathen against them, then their Worship. The Jews, whose belief was as opposite to theirs, had a toleration many times, when the Christians were destroyed. And Origen ^lobserves, that they were not wont to persecute any for their Opinions, [Greek or Hebrew], adv. Cel•. l. 2. p. 68. There were opinions amongst their persecutors concerning God as scandalous to the Heathen, as those which the Scripture taught the Christians. The Epicureans wholly denying Divine ⟨p. 17⟩Providence^m, which is Origens instance, Ibid. [Greek or Hebrew], holding that their Gods were composed of Atoms, [Greek or Hebrew] l. 4. p. 169. That there were no rewards nor punishments after Death; nor any true good, but what is sensible: The Stoics maintaining, that a Wise Man was equal to their great God Jupiter. Senec. Ep. 73. 74. p. 672. 673. Solebat Sextius dicere, Jovem plus non posse quam bonum virum.—Deus non vincit sapientem felicitate, etiamsi vincit aetate.—Sapiens tam aequo animo omnia apud alios videt contemnitque, quam Jupiter: & hoc se magis suspicit, quod Jupiter uti illis non potest, sapiens non vult. Et Ep. 53. 54. Est aliquid, quo sapiens antecedat Deum: ille naturae beneficio non suo sapiens est; suo sapiens. [Greek or Hebrew]. Origen. adv. Cels. l. 6. p. 309.

To ascend a little higher; in the times of the Churches Persecution, in the beginning of the fourth Age; if there had been such Service Books, why did not their Persecutors call for the delivery of them, as they did, not only for the Bible, but for other Church Utensils? (Vid. Conc. Arelat. Can. 13. in Caranz. p. 65.) Why hear we of no traditores upon this account? It was not the Christians belief contained in the Scripture concerning the true God, or the Gentiles false Gods, that did more exasperate the Heathen against them, then their Worship. The Jews, whose belief was as opposite to theirs, had a toleration many times, when the Christians were destroyed. And Origen