146 HERMES TRISMEGISTUS. 



Ibid., Lib. vi. ch. 25. 



" We ought therefore to hold forth and offer to God that 

 alone for the receiving of which He Himself produced us. 

 But how true this twofold kind of Sacrifice is, Trismegistus 

 Hermes is a befitting witness, who agrees with us, that is 

 with the Prophets whom we follow as much in facts as in 

 words. He thus spoke concerning Justice: 'Adore and 

 worship the Word, Son ! but the worship of God con- 

 sists of one thing, not to be wicked.' l Also in that ' Per- 

 fect Discourse ' when he heard Asclepius enquiring from 

 his Son (Tat) whether it pleased him that incense and other 

 odours for divine Sacrifice were offered to his father, ex- 

 claimed : ' Speak words of good omen, Asclepius ! for it 

 is the greatest impiety to entertain any such thought 

 concerning that being of pre-eminent goodness. For these 

 things and things resembling these are not adapted to 

 Him. For He is full of all things as many as exist, and 

 He has need of nothing at all. But let us give thanks 

 and adore Him, for His Sacrifice consists only of Blessing.' 2 

 And he spoke rightly." 



Ibid., Lib. vii. ch. 4. 



" But Hermes was not ignorant that Man was both 

 made by God and after the image of God." 3 



Ibid. ch. 9. 



" Man alone of all the animals is heavenly and Divine ; 

 whose body raised from the ground, elevated countenance 

 and upright position, goes in quest of its origin, and de- 

 spising as it were the lowliness of the Earth, reaches forth 

 to that which is on high, because he perceives that the 



1 Poemandres, ch. xii. 23; Parthey, 113. 



2 In Asclepius, ch. xv. As before shown, this " Perfect Discourse" 

 was not written by Hermes but by Asclepius, his disciple, subse- 

 quently. Here Lactantius quotes in Latin, not in Greek. See also 

 Poemandres, ch. xiii. 19, 20. 



3 Poemandres, ch. i. 12; Parthey, 6. 



