"The Sacred Writings Of ..." provides you with the essential works among the Early Christian writings. The volumes cover the beginning of Christianity until before the promulgation of the Nicene Creed at the First Council of Nicaea. Every single volume is accurately annotated, including * an extensive biography of the author and his life The "Octavius" is a dialogue of which Ostia is the scene. Caecilius Natalis upholds the cause of paganism, Octavius Januarius that of Christianity; the author himself is the judge of the debate. Caecilius Natalis was a native of Cirta; he lived at Rome and attentively followed Minucius in his activity as an advocate. Octavius had just arrived from a foreign country where he had left his family. Minucius lived at Rome. All three were advocates. The name Minucius Felix has been found on inscriptions at Tebessa and Carthage (Cor. Inscrip. Lat. VIII, 1964 and 12499); that of Octavius Januarius at Saldae (Bougie; ib., 8962); that of Caecilius at Cirta itself (ib., 7097-7098, 6996). The M. Caecilius Natalis of the inscriptions discharged important municipal duties and gave pagan festivals with memorable prodigality. He may have belonged to the same family as the interlocutor of the dialogue. Attempts have been made to make them identical or to establish family relationship between them. These are pure hypotheses subordinate to the opinion entertained regarding the date of the dialogue. The persons are real. The dialogue may likewise be so, despite the fact that Minucius has transformed into an almost judicial debate what must have been a mere conversation or series of conversations. Owing to the adjournment of the courts during the vintage time, the three friends went for rest to Ostia. Here they walked on the sea-shore, and when they passed before a statue of Serapis, Caecilius saluted it with the customary kiss. Octavius thereupon expressed his indignation that Minucius should allow his daily companion to fall into idolatry. They resume their walk while Octavius gives an account of his voyage; they go to and fro on the shore and the quay; they watch children jumping about in the sea. This beginning is charming; it is the most perfect portion of the work. During the walk Caecilius, silenced by the words of Octavius, has not spoken. He now explains himself and it is agreed to settle the debate. They seat themselves on a lonely pier; Minucius seated in the centre is to be the arbitrator. Thereupon Caecilius begins by attacking Christianity; Minucius says a few words, and then Octavius replies. At the end Minucius and Caecilius express their admiration and the latter declares that he surrenders. Fuller explanations of the new religion are postponed until the next day. The dialogue therefore consists of two discourses, the attack of Caecilius and the refutation of Octavius.

"The Sacred Writings Of ..." provides you with the essential works among the Christian writings. The volumes cover the beginning of Christianity until medieval times. This volume is accurately annotated, including * an extensive biography of the author and his life This edition contains the following writings: Introductory Note. The Apology. On Idolatry. The Shows, or De Spectaculis. The Chaplet, or De Corona. To Scapula. Ad Nationes. A Fragment Concerning the Execrable Gods of the Heathen. An Answer to the Jews. The Soul's Testimony. A Treatise on the Soul. The Prescription Against Heretics. The Five Books Against Marcion. Against Hermogenes. Against the Valentinians. On the Flesh of Christ. On the Resurrection of the Flesh. Against Praxeas Scorpiace. Appendix. Against All Heresies. On Repentance. On Baptism. On Prayer. Ad Martyras. The Passion of the Holy Martyrs Perpetua and Felicitas. Of Patience. I. On the Pallium. II. On the Apparel of Women. III. On the Veiling of Virgins. IV. To His Wife. V. On Exhortation to Chastity. VI. On Monogamy. VII. On Modesty. VIII. On Fasting. In Opposition to the Psychics. IX. De Fuga in Persecutione. X. Appendix. 1. A Strain of Jonah the Prophet. 2. A Strain of Sodom. 3. Genesis. 4. A Strain of the Judgment of the Lord. 5. Five Books in Reply to Marcion.

"The Sacred Writings Of ..." provides you with the essential works among the Early Christian writings. The volumes cover the beginning of Christianity until before the promulgation of the Nicene Creed at the First Council of Nicaea. Every single volume is accurately annotated, including * an extensive biography of the author and his life To overcome the doubts of the local bishop as to the earnestness of his Christian belief Arnobius wrote (about 305) an apologetic work in seven books that St. Jerome calls (De Vir. Ill., lxxix) "Adversus Gentes" but is entitled "Adversus Nationes" in the only (ninth-century) manuscript that has reached us. Arnobius is a vigorous apologist for the Christian Faith, defends and expounds its noble monotheism (deus princeps, deus summus), the Divinity of Christ and of the Christian religion, proved by its rapid diffusion, its incredible influence over uncivilized peoples, and its agreement with the views of the best philosophers.

"The Sacred Writings Of ..." provides you with the essential works among the Early Christian writings. The volumes cover the beginning of Christianity until before the promulgation of the Nicene Creed at the First Council of Nicaea. Every single volume is accurately annotated, including * an extensive biography of the author and his life Methodius had a very comprehensive philosophical education, and was an important theologian as well as a prolific and polished author. Chronologically, his works can only be assigned in a general way to the end of the third and the beginning of the fourth century. He became of special importance in the history of theological literature, in that he successfully combated various erroneous views of the great Alexandrian, Origen. This edition includes: The Banquet of the Ten Virgins Discourse I.-Marcella. Discourse II.-Theophila. Discourse III.-Thaleia. Discourse V.-Thallousa. Discourse VI.-Agathe. Discourse VII.-Procilla. Discourse VIII.-Thekla. Discourse IX.-Tusiane. Discourse X.-Domnina. Discourse XI.-Arete. Elucidations. Concerning Free-Will. Part I. Part II. Part III. Fragments Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna Oration on the Psalms. Elucidations. Three Fragments from the Homily on the Cross and Passion of Christ. Some Other Fragments of the Same Methodius.

"The Sacred Writings Of ..." provides you with the essential works among the Christian writings. The volumes cover the beginning of Christianity until medieval times. This volume is accurately annotated, including * an extensive biography of the author and his life Our author seems to have been a North-African bishop, of whom little is known save what we learn from his own writings. He has been supposed to incline to some ideas of Praxeas, and also to the Millenarians, but perhaps on insufficient grounds. His Millenarianism reflects the views of a very primitive age, and that without the corrupt Chiliasm of a later period, which brought about a practical repudiation of the whole system.

"The Sacred Writings Of ..." provides you with the essential works among the Christian writings. The volumes cover the beginning of Christianity until medieval times. This volume is accurately annotated, including * an extensive biography of the author and his life Contents: The Divine Institutes Book I. Of the False Worship of the Gods. Book II. Of the Origin of Error. Book III. Of the False Wisdom of Philosophers. Book IV. Of True Wisdom and Religion. Book V. Of Justice. Book VI. Of True Worship. Book VII. Of a Happy Life. The Epitome of the Divine Institutes A Treatise on the Anger of God On the Workmanship of God, or the Formation of Man Of the Manner in Which the Persecutors Died. Fragments of Lactantius The Phoenix A Poem on the Passion of the Lord General Note. Footnotes: