festation in this life, they may [at once] pass over to the state of perfection, they are, by no
chance, found striving to do those things which wait upon virtue, and are laborious, glorious,
and skilful,622 which also are approved universally as being good. For if it be necessary to
go through every work and every kind of operation, they ought, in the first place, to learn
all the arts: all of them, [I say,] whether referring to theory or practice, whether they be ac-
quired by self-denial, or are mastered through means of labour, exercise, and perseverance;
as, for example, every kind of music, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and all such as are
occupied with intellectual pursuits: then, again, the whole study of medicine, and the
knowledge of plants, so as to become acquainted with those which are prepared for the
health of man; the art of painting and sculpture, brass and marble work, and the kindred
arts: moreover, [they have to study] every kind of country labour, the veterinary art, pastoral
occupations, the various kinds of skilled labour, which are said to pervade the whole circle
of [human] exertion; those, again, connected with a maritime life, gymnastic exercises,
hunting, military and kingly pursuits, and as many others as may exist, of which, with the
utmost labour, they could not learn the tenth, or even the thousandth part, in the whole
course of their lives. The fact indeed is, that they endeavour to learn none of these, although
they maintain that it is incumbent on them to have experience of every kind of work; but,
turning aside to voluptuousness, and lust, and abominable actions, they stand self-condemned
when they are tried by their own doctrine. For, since they are destitute of all those [virtues]
which have been mentioned, they will [of necessity] pass into the destruction of fire. These
men, while they boast of Jesus as being their Master, do in fact emulate the philosophy of
Epicurus and the indifference of the Cynics, [calling Jesus their Master,] who not only turned
His disciples away from evil deeds, but even from [wicked] words and thoughts, as I have
already shown.
3. Again, while they assert that they possess souls from the same sphere as Jesus, and
that they are like to Him, sometimes even maintaining that they are superior; while [they
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affirm that they were] produced, like Him, for the performance of works tending to the
benefit and establishment of mankind, they are found doing nothing of the same or a like
kind [with His actions], nor what can in any respect be brought into comparison with them.
And if they have in truth accomplished anything [remarkable] by means of magic, they
strive [in this way] deceitfully to lead foolish people astray, since they confer no real benefit
or blessing on those over whom they declare that they exert [supernatural] power; but,
bringing forward mere boys623 [as the subjects on whom they practise], and deceiving their
sight, while they exhibit phantasms that instantly cease, and do not endure even a moment
622 “Artificialia.”
623 “Pureos investes,” boys that have not yet reached the age of puberty.
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Chapter XXXII.—Further exposure of the wicked and blasphemous doctrines…