§16Nam et si mauult opera iustitiae, non tamen sine sacrificio, quod est anima conflictata ieiuniis.
For even if He prefers works of justice, He does not, however, do so without sacri-fice, which is a soul afflicted by fasts.
ille certe deus, cui nec populus incontinens gulae placuit, nec sacerdos nec prophetes.
That is certainly the God whom neither a people incontinent of appetite pleased, nor priest, nor prophet.
manent adhuc monumenta concupiscentiae, ubi sepultus est populus carnis auidissimus usque ad choleram ortygometras cruditando.
There still remain the monuments of lust, where the people most greedy of flesh was buried, gorging themselves to the point of cholera on quails.
eliditur pro templi foribus senior Heli, filii eius in acie ruunt, nurus expirat in partu.
Old Eli is cast down before the temple gates, his sons fall in battle, his daughter-in-law expires in childbirth.
hanc enim meruerat a deo plagam domus impudens, sacrificiorum carnalium defraudatrix.
For this blow the impudent house, the defrauder of carnal sacrifices, had deserved from God.
Sameas, homo dei, cum exitum prophetasset idololatriae introductae a rege Hieroboam, post manum eius regis arefactam et statim restitutam, post altare diffissum, ob haec signa ad satisfactionem inuitatus a rege plane excusauit (prohibitus enim a deo fuerat) illic cibum in totum attingere; sed ab alio mox sene mentito prophetam temere pastus secundum uerbum dei ibidem factum super mensam non est in paternis sepultus.
Sameas, the man of god, when he had prophesied the end of the idolatry introduced by King Jeroboam, after the hand of that king had withered and was immediately restored, after the altar was split, being invited by the king to refreshment on account of these signs, clearly declined (for he had been forbidden by God) to touch food there at all; but mox, being rashly fed by another old man who lied about being a prophet, according to the word of God made on the spot over the table, he was not buried in his ancestral sepulchers.
leonis enim in uia occursu prostratus et apud exteros conditus poenam deserti ieiunii luit.
For being cast down by an encounter with a lion on the road and buried among strangers, he paid the penalty for his abandoned fast.
haec erunt exempla et populo et episcopis, etiam spiritalibus, si quam incontinentiam gulae admiserint.
These will be examples both for the people and for bishops, even the spiritual ones, if they admit any incontinence of appetite.
sed nec apud inferos admonitio cessauit, ubi in diuite epulone quidem conuiuia cruciantur, in paupere uero ieiunia recreantur, habentia praeceptores Moysen et prophetas.
But not even among those in the lower world did admonition cease, where in the rich epicure indeed feasts are tortured, but in the poor man fasts are refreshed, having Moses and the prophets as teachers.
nam et Iohel exclamauit: sancite ieiunium et praedicate curationem, prospiciens iam tunc et alios apostolos et prophetas sancituros ieiunium et praedicaturos officia curantia deum.
For Joel also cried out: "Sanctify a fast and preach a cure," looking forward even then to other apostles and prophets who would sanctify fasting and preach duties that care for God.
unde et qui in idolis comendis et in hac re ornandis et ad singulas horas salutandis diis adulantur, curationem facere dicuntur. sed et omnem ταπεινοφρόνησιν ethnici agnoscunt.
Whence also those who, in grooming idols and in decorating them in this matter and in greeting the gods at every hour, flatter them, are said to make "cure." But even all humility the heathens recognize.
cum stupet caelum et aret annus, nudipedalia denuntiantur, magistratus purpuras ponunt, fasces retro auertunt, precem indigitant, hostiam instaurant.
When the heaven is stunned and the year is dry, barefoot processions are announced, magistrates lay aside their purples, turn back their fasces, pronounce prayer, and renew the victim.
apud quasdam uero colonias praeterea annuo ritu saccis uelati et cinere conspersi idolis suis inediam supplicem obiciunt, balnea et tabernae in nonam usque cluduntur.
Moreover, in certain colonies, by an annual rite, veiled in sackcloth and sprinkled with ashes, they present a supplicating hunger to their idols, and baths and taverns are closed until the ninth hour.
unus in publico ignis apud aras, aquae nec in lancibus.
There is one public fire at the altars, and not even water in dishes.
Niniuiticum credo iustitium.
I believe it is a Ninevite cessation of business.
, Iudaicum certe ieiunium ubique celebratur, cum omissis templis per omne litus quocumque in aperto aliquando iam precem ad caelum mittunt.
Certainly the Jewish fast is celebrated everywhere, since, leaving their temples, along every shore, wherever in the open, they now sometimes send prayer to heaven.
et licet cultu et ornatu maeroris munus infament, tamen fidem abstinentiae adfectant et stellae auctoritatem demorantis suspirant.
And although by the habit and attire of mourning they make the office disreputable, yet they affect the faith of abstinence and sigh for the authority of the delaying star.
sed bene quod tu nostris xerophagiis blasphemias ingerens casto Isidis et Cybeles eas adaequas.
But it is well that you, throwing blasphemies at our xerophagies, equate them to the chaste rites of Isis and Cybele.
admitto testimonialem comparationem.
I admit the testimonial comparison.
hinc diuinam constabit, quam diabolus diuinorum aemulator imitatur.
From this it will be established that ours is divine, which the devil, the emulator of divine things, imitates.
ex ueritate mendacium struitur, ex religione superstitio compingitur.
From truth falsehood is constructed, from religion superstition is framed.
hinc tu eo inreligiosior, quanto ethnicus paratior.
Hence you are the more irreligious, the more prepared the heathen is.
ille denique idolo gulam suam mactat, tu deo non uis.
He, finally, sacrifices his throat to an idol; you will not do so for God.
deus enim tibi uenter est et pulmo templum et aqualiculus altare et sacerdos cocus et sanctus spiritus nidor et condimenta charismata et ructus prophetia.
For your god is the belly, and your lung the temple, and your abdomen the altar, and the priest is the cook, and the Holy Spirit the smell of food, and seasonings the charismata, and eructation prophecy.