Chapter II.—God Himself an Example of Patience.

To us7    i.e. us Christians. no human affectation of canine8    i.e. cynical = κυνικός = doglike. But Tertullian appears to use “caninæ” purposely, and I have therefore retained it rather than substitute (as Mr. Dodgson does) “cynical.” equanimity, modelled9    i.e. the affectation is modelled by insensibility. by insensibility, furnishes the warrant for exercising patience; but the divine arrangement of a living and celestial discipline, holding up before us God Himself in the very first place as an example of patience; who scatters equally over just and unjust the bloom of this light; who suffers the good offices of the seasons, the services of the elements, the tributes of entire nature, to accrue at once to worthy and unworthy; bearing with the most ungrateful nations, adoring as they do the toys of the arts and the works of their own hands, persecuting His Name together with His family; bearing with luxury, avarice, iniquity, malignity, waxing insolent daily:10    See Ps. lxxiv. 23 in A.V. It is Ps. lxxiii. in the LXX. so that by His own patience He disparages Himself; for the cause why many believe not in the Lord is that they are so long without knowing11    Because they see no visible proof of it. that He is wroth with the world.12    Sæculo.

CAPUT II.

1251B Nobis exercendae patientiae auctoritatem, non affectatio humana caninae aequanimitatis stupore formata , sed vivae ac coelestis disciplinae divina dispositio delegat , Deum ipsum ostendens patientiae 1252A exemplum. Jam primum qui rorem lucis hujus super justos et injustos aequaliter spargit, qui temporum officia, elementorum servitia, totius geniturae tributa dignis simul et indignis patitur occurrere, sustinens ingratissimas nationes, ludibria artium et opera manuum suarum adorantes, nomen cum familia ipsius persequentes, luxuriam, avaritiam, iniquitatem, malignitatem quotidie insolescentem , ut sua sibi patientia detrahat: plures enim Dominum idcirco non credunt, quia saeculo iratum tamdiu nesciunt.