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Lactantius
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Introductory Notice To Lactantius.
[352] Jerome says “Great is the anger of God when He does not correct sins, but punishes blindness with blindness. On this very account God sends strong delusion, as St. Paul writes to the Thessalonians, that they should believe a lie, that they all may be damned who have not believed the truth. They are unworthy of the living fountain who dig for themselves cisterns.”
[353] Virg., Æn., iv. 464. Some read priorum instead of piorum
[354] Roll themselves.
[355] Addico, “to adjudge,” is the legal term, expressing the sentence by which the prætor gave effect to the right which he had declared to exist.
[356] [Let this be noted.]
[357] Mancipo. The word implies the making over or transferring by a formal act of sale. Debtors, who were unable to satisfy the demands of their creditors, were made over to them, and regarded as their slaves. They were termed addicti. Our Lord said (John viii. 34), “Whosoever committeth sin, is the servant of sin.” Thus also St. Paul, Rom. vi. 16, 17.
Chap. XIX.—Of the Worship of Images and Earthly Objects.
[358] [Quare non est dubium quin religio nulla sit ubicunque simulacrum est. Such is the uniform Ante-Nicene testimony.]
[359] Simulacrum, “an image,” from simulo, “to imitate.”
[360] The infernal regions.
[361] Quadrupeds.
Chap. XX.—Of Philosophy and the Truth.
[362] In this second book.
[363] [Quis autem nesciat plus esse momenti in paucioribus doctis, quam in pluribus imperitis?]
[364] [A modest confession of his desire to “find out acceptable words.” Eccles. xii. 10. His success is proverbial.]
[365] Stained, counterfeit.
[366] Embellished.
[368] [i.e., false sophia = “philosophy falsely so called.” Vol. v. p. 81.]
[369] Aliter. This word is usually read in the former clause, but it gives a better meaning in this position.
Chap. II.—Of Philosophy, and How Vain Was Its Occupation in Setting Forth the Truth.
[370] [Religionum falsitas. He does not here employ superstitio By the way, Lactantius derives this word from those “qui superstitem memoriam hominum, tanquam deorum, colerent.” Cicero, however, derives it from those who bother the gods with petitions,—”pro superstite prole.” See note of the annotator of the Delphin Cicero, on the Natura Deor., i. 17.]
[371] A joint or fastening.
[372] What he professed—gave himself out to be.
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