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Translated from the Greek original by Frederick Crombie.
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This Part: 128 Pages
Page 42
Chapter XXVI.
But if it is on account of those opinions of the Christians and Jews which displease Celsus (and which he does not at all appear to understand) that they are to be regarded as worms and ants, and the rest of mankind as different, let us examine the acknowledged opinions of Christians and Jews, [3779] and compare them with those of the rest of mankind, and see whether it will not appear to those who have once admitted that certain men are worms and ants, that they are the worms and ants and frogs who have fallen away from sound views of God, and, under a vain appearance of piety, [3780] worship either irrational animals, or images, or other objects, the works of men's hands; [3781] whereas, from the beauty of such, they ought to admire the Maker of them, and worship Him: while those are indeed men, and more honourable than men (if there be anything that is so), who, in obedience to their reason, are able to ascend from stocks and stones, [3782] nay, even from what is reckoned the most precious of all matter--silver and gold; and who ascend up also from the beautiful things in the world to the Maker of all, and entrust themselves to Him who alone is able to satisfy [3783] all existing things, and to overlook the thoughts of all, and to hear the prayers of all; who send up their prayers to Him, and do all things as in the presence of Him who beholds everything, and who are careful, as in the presence of the Hearer of all things, to say nothing which might not with propriety be reported to God. Will not such piety as this--which can be overcome neither by labours, nor by the dangers of death, nor by logical plausibilities [3784] --be of no avail in preventing those who have obtained it from being any longer compared to worms, even if they had been so represented before their assumption of a piety so remarkable?
[3779] ta autothen pasi prophainomena dogmata Christianon kai 'Ioudaion.
[3780] phantasia d' eusebeias.
[3781] e kai ta demiourgemata.
[3782] lithon kai xulon.
[3783] diarkein.
[3784] hupo logikon pithanoteton.
Reference address : https://ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/fathers/origen/contra-celsum-2.asp?pg=42
