Chapter V.
“While these are
certain facts, since Avitianus related them to many persons, they are
further confirmed on this ground that Refrigerius the presbyter, whom
you see here present, lately had them narrated to him, under an appeal
to the Divine majesty, by Dagridus, a faithful man among the tribunes,
who swore that the account was given him by Avitianus himself. But I do
not wish you to wonder that I do to-day what I did not do yesterday;
viz. that I subjoin to the mention of every individual wonder the names
of witnesses, and mention persons to whom, if any one is inclined to
disbelieve, he may have recourse, because they are still in the body.
The unbelief of very many has compelled that; for they are said to
hesitate about some things which were related yesterday. Let these
people, then, accept as witnesses persons who are still alive and well,
and let them give more credit to such, inasmuch as they doubt our good
faith. But really, if they are so unbelieving, I give it as my opinion
that they will not believe even the witnesses named. And yet I am
surprised that any one, who has even the least sense of religion, can
venture on such wickedness as to think that any one could tell lies
concerning Martin. Be that far from every one who lives in obedience to
God; for, indeed, Martin does not require to be defended by falsehoods.
But, O Christ, we lay the truth of our whole discourse before thee, to
the effect that we neither have said, nor will say, anything else than
what either we ourselves have witnessed, or have learned from undoubted
authorities, and, indeed, very frequently from Martin himself. But
although we have adopted the form of a dialogue, in order that the
style might be varied to prevent weariness, still we affirm that we are
really setting forth132132 a true history in
a dutiful spirit. The unbelief of some has compelled me, to my great
regret, to insert in my narrative these remarks which are apart from
the subject in hand. But let the discourse now return to our assembly;
in which since I saw that I was listened to so eagerly, I found it
necessary to acknowledge that Aper acted properly in keeping back the
unbelieving, under the conviction he had that those only ought to be
allowed to hear who were of a believing spirit.
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