Chapter II.—God Himself an Example of Patience.

To us^90209020    i.e. us Christians. no human affectation of canine^90219021    i.e. cynical = κυνικός = doglike. But Tertullian appears to use “caninæ” purposely, and I have therefore retained it rather than substitute (as Mr. Dodgson does) “cynical.” equanimity, modelled^90229022    i.e. the affectation is modelled by insensibility. by insensibility, furnishes the warrant for exercising patience; but the divine arrangement of a living and celestial discipline, holding up before us God 708Himself in the very first place as an example of patience; who scatters equally over just and unjust the bloom of this light; who suffers the good offices of the seasons, the services of the elements, the tributes of entire nature, to accrue at once to worthy and unworthy; bearing with the most ungrateful nations, adoring as they do the toys of the arts and the works of their own hands, persecuting His Name together with His family; bearing with luxury, avarice, iniquity, malignity, waxing insolent daily:^90239023    See Ps. lxxiv. 23 in A.V. It is Ps. lxxiii. in the LXX. so that by His own patience He disparages Himself; for the cause why many believe not in the Lord is that they are so long without knowing^90249024    Because they see no visible proof of it. that He is wroth with the world.^90259025    Sæculo.