Exhortation to the Greeks 8.77

Now that we have gone through the other matters in order, it is time to turn to the prophetic Scriptures. For the oracles, setting before us most clearly the starting points for true religion, lay the foundation of the truth. The divine Scriptures and the wise ways of life are short roads to salvation. Bare of cosmetics and of outward beauty of speech, of chatter and flattery, they raise up the human being who is being strangled by wickedness, looking beyond the slipperiness of life; with one and the same voice they heal many ills, turning us away from harmful deceit and urging us plainly toward a salvation set before our eyes. So let the prophetess, the Sibyl, sing us first the song of salvation: “Behold, he is clear to all, free from error; come, do not always pursue darkness and gloom. Behold, the sweetly shining light of the sun shines out preeminently. Know it, and lay up wisdom in your breasts. There is one God, who sends rains, winds, and earthquakes, lightnings, famines, plagues, and grievous sorrows, and snows and ice; why should I tell them one by one? He rules heaven, he governs the earth, he himself exists.” Very inspiredly she likens deceit to darkness, and the knowledge of God to the sun and light; and setting both side by side for comparison, she teaches us to choose. For falsehood is not scattered by the mere setting beside it of what is true; it is driven out and put to flight by the practice of the truth.