Chapter

 1 1 |           But the error of these men, because it is very great,
 2 1 |      incited by the authority of men who deem themselves wise.
 3 3 |        of safety, is proposed to men, if God is the author of
 4 5 |     nature demands. For if among men it appears praiseworthy
 5 8 |           and by no affection of men. For why should I say 'may
 6 8 |          to escape the notice of men? and to cheat the public
 7 8 |        without which the life of men is full of folly, of wickedness,
 8 8 |         conscience greatly curbs men, if we believe that we are
 9 8 |    things are made up by skilful men, in order that they may
10 9 |       authority of distinguished men, or rather by both? But
11 10|       who assuredly alone of all men was blind and senseless,
12 10| authority of those seven ancient men who were called wise, or
13 10|  religion was instituted by wise men for the sake of terror and
14 10|           in order that ignorant men might abstain from sins.
15 10|          are derided by the wise men of old. But if they invented
16 10|      divine providence, as those men whom I have named perceived,
17 11|     respecting many gods come to men? Without doubt, all those
18 11|          worshipped as gods were men, and were also the earliest
19 11|         had profited the race of men, or that they obtained immortal
20 11|         human life? And not only men, but women also. And this,
21 11| Pythagoras, and those seven wise men. In Xenophon, Socrates,
22 12|     guards the mutual society of men, by which life itself is
23 13|     wanting by which the life of men is sustained. But (it is
24 13|    furnish and adorn the life of men with an abundance of objects
25 13|       all things for the sake of men, many things are found even
26 14|         concerning which learned men dispute, nothing is of greater
27 14|   follows that God will have all men to be just, that is, to
28 15|          Hence there arose among men the corruption of their
29 15|         things in the affairs of men, the nature of which I have
30 16|          when evils befall them, men in their dejected state
31 16|     unmerciful and a despiser of men as to refuse aid to those
32 16|        the interests of all good men. Thus even in anger itself
33 17|         He cares for the life of men, and takes notice of the
34 17|        guards the safety of good men who punishes the evil,--
35 17|      were, the house of God, and men, as it were, His slaves;
36 17|   serviceable for the affairs of men, and necessary.~
37 19|         holy law, and wishes all men to be innocent and beneficent,
38 19|    delighted with the virtues of men, and provoked by their vices.
39 20|          also a virtue. How many men, from having been sinners,
40 20|         escape the punishment of men, there would be few or even
41 20|          would be few or even no men on the earth. In short,
42 20|       have been a just one, that men, despising the living God,
43 20|   impiety and such great sins of men, the forbearance of God
44 20|        attains this object, that men, condemning the errors of
45 21|       though He Himself commands men to be reconciled before
46 23|          related by most learned men that there have been many
47 23|        account of the impiety of men, thus began:--~"Since great
48 23|          age, prophesying to all men from city to city."~Another
49 23|        cities themselves and all men, a deluge having burst forth,
50 23|          in which the impiety of men should again be destroyed:--~"
51 23|       and destroying the race of men, and laying waste the whole
52 23|        shall have perished among men. The same Sibyl, however,
53 23|     arise, to the destruction of men: --~"Lest by chance the
54 23|        destroy the whole race of men, their life and shameless
55 23|          injuries inflicted upon men, by impious actions, have
56 23|      wise, who wish to be called men, should despise frail things,