Chapter XXII.—Confutation of Idol-Worship.
“In the first place, indeed, if you worship them
as being animated, why do you also worship the sepulchres of memorable
men of old, who confessedly had no divine spirit? Thus you do not
at all speak truth respecting this. But if your objects of
worship were really animated, they would move of themselves; they would
have a voice; they would shake off the spiders that are on them; they
would thrust forth those that wish to surprise and to steal them; they
would easily capture those who pilfer the offerings. But now they
do none of these things, but are guarded, like culprits, and especially
the more costly of them, as we have already said. But what? Is it not so, that the rulers demand of you imposts and taxes on their account, as if you were greatly benefited by them? But what? Have they not often been taken as plunder by enemies, and been broken and scattered? And do not the priests, more than the outside worshippers, carry off many of the offerings, thus acknowledging the uselessness of their worship?