“Neither let us flatter ourselves concerning our multitude.  We seem many to ourselves, but to God we are very few.  We distinguish peoples and nations; to God this whole world is one family.  Kings only know all the matters of their kingdom by the ministrations of their servants:  God has no need of information.  We not only live in His eyes, but also in His bosom.  But it is objected that it availed the Jews nothing that they themselves worshipped the one God with altars and temples, with the greatest superstition.  You are guilty of ignorance if you are recalling later events while you are forgetful or unconscious of former ones.  For they themselves also, as long as they worshipped our God—and He is the same God of all—with chastity, innocency, and religion, as long as they obeyed His wholesome precepts, from a few became innumerable, from poor became rich, from being servants became kings; a few overwhelmed many; unarmed men overwhelmed armed ones as they fled from them, following them up by God’s command, and with the elements striving on their behalf.  Carefully read over their Scriptures, or if you are better pleased with the Roman writings,¹⁸²⁰

1820 [Minucius is blamed for not introducing more Scripture!  He relates his friend’s argument with a scoffing Pagan.  How could Octavius have used the Scriptures with such an antagonist?]

1821 [Wars of the Jews, b. v. cap. 9, etc.]

E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH