IT is an old Complaint derived down1 to us from the very times of the Patriarchs and Prophets, and confirmed by the Evidence of all Histories, and the Testimonies of all Ages, that Truth is a Stranger upon Earth,2 and doth too easily find Enemies and Defamers, because ⟨p. 2⟩she is not known: and although this may seem perhaps incredible to those who have not attentively reflected on it, because Mankind, by the instinct of Nature, without any Teacher, doth spontaneously breathe after Truth; and Christ himself our Saviour, whilst he conversed with Men, chose to be called the TRUTH, as if that Name did aptly express all the Power and Force of his Divine Nature: yet we who are acquainted with the Holy Scriptures, and have read and considered what hath happened to pious men in almost all Ages, what befell the Prophets, the Apostles, the holy Martyrs, and Christ himself; with what Slanders, Curses, and Injuries they were vexed whilst they lived, only for the sake of Truth. We (I say) see by this, that it is no new thing, but usual, and the Custom of all Ages. Indeed it would appear much more wonderful and incredible, if the Father of Lies, the Devil, that Enemy of all Truth, should now of a sudden change his Mind, and entertain any other hopes of oppressing the Truth than by Lies; or should now begin to establish his Kingdom by other Arts than those he hath hitherto employed: For in all Ages we shall scarce find any Period of time in which Religion increased, established it self, or was reformed, but that at the same time Truth and Innocence were most unworthily and most injuriously treated by men; for the Devil knows very well, that if Truth doth flourish in safety, his Affairs can neither be safe nor prosperous.
IT is an old Complaint deriv'd down1 to us from the very times of the Patriarchs and Prophets, and confirm'd by the Evidence of all Histories, and the Testimonies of all Ages, that Truth is a Stranger upon Earth,2 and doth too easily find Enemies and Defamers, because ⟨p. 2⟩she is not known: and although this may seem perhaps incredible to those who have not attentively reflected on it, because Mankind, by the instinct of Nature, without any Teacher, doth spontaneously breathe after Truth; and Christ himself our Saviour, whilst he convers'd with Men, chose to be call'd the TRUTH, as if that Name did aptly express all the Power and Force of his Divine Nature: yet we who are acquainted with the Holy Scriptures, and have read and considered what hath happenned to pious men in almost all Ages, what befel the Prophets, the Apostles, the holy Martyrs, and Christ himself; with what Slanders, Curses, and Injuries they were vexed whilst they lived, only for the sake of Truth. We (I say) see by this, that it is no new thing, but usual, and the Custom of all Ages. Indeed it would appear much more wonderful and incredible, if the Father of Lyes, the Devil, that Enemy of all Truth, should now of a sudden change his Mind, and entertain any other hopes of oppressing the Truth than by Lyes; or should now begin to establish his Kingdom by other Arts than those he hath hitherto imployed: For in all Ages we shall scarce find any Period of time in which Religion encreased, established it self, or was reform'd, but that at the same time Truth and Innocence were most unworthily and most injuriously treated by men; for the Devil knows very well, that if Truth doth flourish in safety, his Affairs can neither be safe nor prosperous.
- 1Truth ever persecuted.
- 2Tertul. in Apologia.
