Chapter III.--Concerning the Genuineness of "The Prophecy of Enoch."
I am aware that the Scripture of Enoch, [102] which has assigned this order (of action) to angels, is not received by some, because it is not admitted into the Jewish canon either. I suppose they did not think that, having been published before the deluge, it could have safely survived that world-wide calamity, the abolisher of all things. If that is the reason (for rejecting it), let them recall to their memory that Noah, the survivor of the deluge, was the great-grandson of Enoch himself; [103] and he, of course, had heard and remembered, from domestic renown [104] and hereditary tradition, concerning his own great-grandfather's "grace in the sight of God," [105] and concerning all his preachings; [106] since Enoch had given no other charge to Methuselah than that he should hand on the knowledge of them to his posterity. Noah therefore, no doubt, might have succeeded in the trusteeship of (his) preaching; or, had the case been otherwise, he would not have been silent alike concerning the disposition (of things) made by God, his Preserver, and concerning the particular glory of his own house.
If (Noah) had not had this (conservative power) by so short a route, there would (still) be this (consideration) to warrant [107] our assertion of (the genuineness of) this Scripture: he could equally have renewed it, under the Spirit's inspiration, [108] after it had been destroyed by the violence of the deluge, as, after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian storming of it, every document [109] of the Jewish literature is generally agreed to have been restored through Ezra.
But since Enoch in the same Scripture has preached likewise concerning the Lord, nothing at all must be rejected by us which pertains to us; and we read that "every Scripture suitable for edification is divinely inspired." [110] By the Jews it may now seem to have been rejected for that (very) reason, just like all the other (portions) nearly which tell of Christ. Nor, of course, is this fact wonderful, that they did not receive some Scriptures which spake of Him whom even in person, speaking in their presence, they were not to receive. To these considerations is added the fact that Enoch possesses a testimony in the Apostle Jude. [111]
[101] [Elucidation.]
[102] Comp. de Idol., c. iv.
[103] See Gen. v. 21, 25, 28, 29.
[104] "Nomine;" perhaps ="account."
[105] Comp. Gen. vi. 8.
[106] Prædicatis.
[107] Tueretur.
[108] In spiritu.
[109] Instrumentum.
[110] See 2 Tim. iii. 16.
[111] See Jude 14, 15.
Chapter IV.--Waiving the Question of the Authors, Tertullian Proposes to Consider the Things on Their Own Merits.
Grant now that no mark of pre-condemnation has been branded on womanly pomp by the (fact of the) fate [112] of its authors; let nothing be imputed to those angels besides their repudiation of heaven and (their) carnal marriage: [113] let us examine the qualities of the things themselves, in order that we may detect the purposes also for which they are eagerly desired.
Female habit carries with it a twofold idea--dress and ornament. By "dress" we mean what they call "womanly gracing;" [114] by "ornament," what it is suitable should be called "womanly disgracing." [115] The former is accounted (to consist) in gold, and silver, and gems, and garments; the latter in care of the hair, and of the skin, and of those parts of the body which attract the eye. Against the one we lay the charge of ambition, against the other of prostitution; so that even from this early stage [116] (of our discussion) you may look forward and see what, out of (all) these, is suitable, handmaid of God, to your discipline, inasmuch as you are assessed on different principles (from other women),--those, namely, of humility and chastity.
[112] Exitu.
[113] Matrimonium carnis.
[114] Mundum muliebrem. Comp. Liv. xxxiv. 7.
[115] Immundum muliebrem.
[116] Jam hinc; comp. ad. Ux., i. 1 ad init. and ad fin., and 8 ad fin.
Chapter V.--Gold and Silver Not Superior in Origin or in Utility to Other Metals.
Gold and silver, the principal material causes of worldly [117] splendour, must necessarily be identical (in nature) with that out of which they have their being: (they must be) earth, that is; (which earth itself is) plainly more glorious (than they), inasmuch as it is only after it has been tearfully wrought by penal labour in the deadly laboratories of accursed mines, and there left its name of "earth" in the fire behind it, that, as a fugitive from the mine, it passes from torments to ornaments, from punishments to embellishments, from ignominies to honours. But iron, and brass, and other the vilest material substances, enjoy a parity of condition (with silver and gold), both as to earthly origin and metallurgic operation; in order that, in the estimation of nature, the substance of gold and of silver may be judged not a whit more noble (than theirs). But if it is from the quality of utility that gold and silver derive their glory, why, iron and brass excel them; whose usefulness is so disposed (by the Creator), that they not only discharge functions of their own more numerous and more necessary to human affairs, but do also none the less serve the turn of gold and silver, by dint of their own powers, [118] in the service of juster causes. For not only are rings made of iron, but the memory of antiquity still preserves (the fame of) certain vessels for eating and drinking made out of brass. Let the insane plenteousness of gold and silver look to it, if it serves to make utensils even for foul purposes. At all events, neither is the field tilled by means of gold, nor the ship fastened together by the strength of silver. No mattock plunges a golden edge into the ground; no nail drives a silver point into planks. I leave unnoticed the fact that the needs of our whole life are dependent upon iron and brass; whereas those rich materials themselves, requiring both to be dug up out of mines, and needing a forging process in every use (to which they are put), are helpless without the laborious vigour of iron and brass. Already, therefore, we must judge whence it is that so high dignity accrues to gold and silver, since they get precedence over material substances which are not only cousin-german to them in point of origin, but more powerful in point of usefulness.
[117] Sæcularis.
[118] De suo. Comp. de Bapt., c. xvii. sub fin.