First Apology

9. Neither again do we^honor with numerous sacrifices and garlands of flowers, those, whom men hare invested with a bodily shape, and placed in temples* and then denominated gods. We well know that these are senseless and dead, possessing not the form of God. We imagine not that God hath such a bodily shape as some pretend to imitate, to his honor; and are persuaded that these images have not the form of God, but the names and figures of those evil demons which have appeared. For why should I repeat to you, who know so well, in what manner the workmen treat their materials, polishing, cutting, melting, and hammering, and frequently out of the meanest vessels, by merely changing their form, aqd fashioning them anew, giving them the name of gods? r In our opinion this is not only unreasonable, but offers great dishonor to God, who, although he possesses a glory and form which are inexpressible, is thus named after corruptible things and such as require care to preserve them. Ye well know, also, that those who are occupied in these works lead most impure lives, and, not to dwell upon particulars, practise all kinds of wickedness, so gg that they even corrupt the women who assist them in their works. O astonishing blindness ! that men thus impure should be said* to form and change the fashion of gods, for the purpose of worship ; and that such men should be placed as guards of the temples where they are set up, not considering that it is impious either to imagine or to say, that men are the keepers of gods.