Chapter I.—Introductory. Tertullian Compares the Heresy to the Old Eleusinian Mysteries.  Both Systems Alike in Preferring Concealment of Error and Sin to Proclamation of Truth and Virtue.

The Valentinians, who are no doubt a very large body of heretics—comprising as they do so many apostates from the truth, who have a propensity for fables, and no discipline to deter them (therefrom) care for nothing so much as to obscure1    Occultant. [This tract may be assigned to any date not earlier than a.d. 207. Of this Valentinus, see cap. iv. infra, and de Præscript. capp. 29, 30, supra.] what they preach, if indeed they (can be said to) preach who obscure their doctrine. The officiousness with which they guard their doctrine is an officiousness which betrays their guilt.2    We are far from certain whether we have caught the sense of the original, which we add, that the reader may judge for himself, and at the same time observe the terseness of our author: “Custodiæ officium conscientiæ officium est, confusio prædicatur, dum religio asseveratur.” Their disgrace is proclaimed in the very earnestness with which they maintain their religious system. Now, in the case of those Eleusinian mysteries, which are the very heresy of Athenian superstition, it is their secrecy that is their disgrace. Accordingly, they previously beset all access to their body with tormenting conditions;3    Et aditum prius cruciant.and they require a long initiation before they enrol (their members),4    Antequam consignant. even instruction during five years for their perfect disciples,5    Epoptas: see Suidas, s.v. ᾽Επόπται. in order that they may mould6    Ædificent. their opinions by this suspension of full knowledge, and apparently raise the dignity of their mysteries in proportion to the craving for them which they have previously created. Then follows the duty of silence. Carefully is that guarded, which is so long in finding.  All the divinity, however, lies in their secret recesses:7    Adytis. there are revealed at last all the aspirations of the fully initiated,8    Epoptarum. the entire mystery of the sealed tongue, the symbol of virility. But this allegorical representation,9    Dispositio. under the pretext of nature’s reverend name, obscures a real sacrilege by help of an arbitrary symbol,10    Patrocinio coactæ figuræ. and by empty images obviates11    Excusat. the reproach of falsehood!12    “Quid enim aliud est simulachrum nisi falsum?” (Rigalt.) In like manner, the heretics who are now the object of our remarks,13    Quos nunc destinamus. the Valentinians, have formed Eleusinian dissipations14    Lenocinia. of their own, consecrated by a profound silence, having nothing of the heavenly in them but their mystery.15    Taciturnitate. By the help of the sacred names and titles and arguments of true religion, they have fabricated the vainest and foulest figment for men’s pliant liking,16    Facili caritati. Oehler, after Fr. Junius, gives, however, this phrase a subjective turn thus: “by affecting a charity which is easy to them, costing nothing.” out of the affluent suggestions of Holy Scripture, since from its many springs many errors may well emanate. If you propose to them inquiries sincere and honest, they answer you with stern17    Concreto. look and contracted brow, and say, “The subject is profound.” If you try them with subtle questions, with the ambiguities of their double tongue, they affirm a community of faith (with yourself). If you intimate to them that you understand their opinions, they insist on knowing nothing themselves. If you come to a close engagement with them they destroy your own fond hope of a victory over them by a self-immolation.18    Sua cæde. Not even to their own disciples do they commit a secret before they have made sure of them. They have the knack of persuading men before instructing them; although truth persuades by teaching, but does not teach by first persuading.

CAPUT PRIMUM.

Valentiniani, frequentissimum plane collegium inter haereticos, quia plurimum ex apostatis veritatis, et ad fabulas facile est, et disciplina non 0539A terretur, nihil magis curant, quam occultare, quod praedicant: si tamen praedicant, qui occultant. Custodiae officium, conscientiae officium est. Confusio praedicatur, dum religio adseveratur . Nam et illa Eleusinia (haeresis et ipsa atticae 0540A superstitionis) quod tacent , pudor est. Idcirco et aditum prius cruciant . Diutius initiant, quam consignant , cum et ante portas quinquennium instituunt ; ut opinionem suspendio cognitionis aedificent: atque ita tantam majestatem 0541A exhibere videantur, quantam praestruxerunt cupiditatem. Sequitur jam silentii officium; adtente custoditur quod tarde invenitur. Caeterum tota in 0542A adytis divinitas, tot siparia portarum , totum signaculum linguae, simulacrum membri virilis revelatur . Sed naturae venerandum nomen 0543A allegorica dispositio praetendens, patrocinio coactae figurae sacrilegium obscurat, et convicium falsi simulacris excusat . Proinde quos nunc destinamus haereticos , sanctis nominibus et titulis et argumentis verae religionis, vanissima atque turpissima figmenta configurantes, facili caritati , ex divinae copiae occasione , quia de multis multa succedere est: Eleusinia Valentiniana fecerunt lenocinia, sancta silentio magno, sola taciturnitate coelestia. Si bona fide quaeras, concreto vultu, suspenso supercilio, Altum est, aiunt . Si subtiliter tentes, per ambiguitates bilingues communem fidem adfirmant . Si scire te subostendas, negant quidquid agnoscunt . Si cominus , certes tuam simplicitatem sua caede dispergunt : Ne discipulis quidem 0543B propriis ante committunt, quam suos fecerint. Habent artificium, quo prius persuadeant quam edoceant. Veritas autem docendo persuadet, non suadendo docet.