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Lactantius
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Introductory Notice To Lactantius.
[1438] Decursis septem spatiis,—an expression borrowed from the chariot race: here applied to the seven books of this treatise.
[1439] Terent., Phorm., ii. 1. 19.
[1440] De Nat. Rer., vi. 24.
[1441] Quorum cæcis mentibus lux negatur. Others read, “Quidam cæcis mentibus viri.”
[1442] [This evident quotation from Rev. xxi. 7 and xxii. 17 is noteworthy as proof of the currency of the Apocalypse in North Africa.]
[1443] Rationem hominis.
[1444] Virg., Æneid, iv. 336.
The Preface.—The Plan and Purport of the Whole Epitome, And of the Institutions.
[1445] [A specimen of the abridgments made by authors and editors, owing to the great expense of books in manuscript. They have been sources of great injury to literature.]
[1446] [We have here only a fragment of the Epitome The rest is lost.]
[1447] [Christian morals were now to be taught openly in schools: hence the need of such manuals.]
Chap. I.—Of the Divine Providence.
[1448] Quoniam. This word appears to be out of place, as its proper meaning is “since.” Either it must be taken as above, or, with some editors, the last clause of this chapter may be taken as the beginning of the next chapter—“Since there is a providence,” etc.
Chap. II.—That There is But One God, and that There Cannot Be More.
[1449] Rerum summa.
[1450] Virg., Georg., iv. 68.
[1451] Obtineat.
[1452] Pro moribus. Another reading is “pro viribus,” with all their power.
Chap. III.—The Testimonies of the Poets Concerning the One God.
[1453] Vates, i.e., the Sibyls.
[1454] [I shall not multiply references to the seven books, which are so readily compared by turning back to the pages here epitomized.]
Chap. IV.—The Testimonies of the Philosophers to the Unity of God.
[1455] Naturalem.
[1456] Quid sit Deus.
Chap. V.—That the Prophetic Women—That Is, the Sibyls—Declare that There is But One God.
[1457] [See Cyprian on Balaam, vol. v. p. 502, note 7. A hint as to the qualified inspiration of these women.]
[1458] The appointed guardians of the Sibylline books. At first there were two; the number was afterwards increased to ten, and subsequently to fifteen, termed Quindecemviri.
Chap. VII.—Of the Wicked Life and Death of Hercules.
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