The Arguments of the Emperor Julian Against the Christians — page 46: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

AGAINST THE CHRISTIANS. 23 west, and who are delighted to live under more despotic governments. If these things, therefore, take place, without a greater and more divine pro- vidence, why should we laboriously investigate things of a greater and more honourable nature, and in vain worship him who providentially attends to nothing? For is it any longer fit that he should require homage from us, who neither pays attention to our life. nor our manners, nor customs, nor equitable legislation, nor political establishment. By no means, See to what a great absurdity such an opinion leads. For of the goods which are sur- veyed about human life, those of the soul take the lead and those of the body follow. If, therefore, divinity despises the goods pertaining to the souls of us heathens, and neither provides for our natu- ral composition, nor sends us teachers or legislators as he did to the Hebrews, according to Moses and the prophets after him, what is there for which we can be properly grateful to him? - See, however, whether divinity has not given to us, those, of whom you are igttorant, gods and good prefects, not at all inferior to him who was worshipped from the beginning by the Hebrews, COI G HOO) SS (CO mn