Sancti Justini philosophi et martyris opera quae exstant omnia ... (titulus), cum argumento Orationis ad Graecos

All the Extant Works of Saint Justin, Philosopher and Martyr.

(All the extant works of our holy Father Justin, philosopher and martyr; as well as the Oration of Tatian against the Greeks; the Plea for the Christians of Athenagoras the Athenian philosopher; the three books to Autolycus of St Theophilus of Antioch; the Irrision of the Gentile Philosophers of Hermias the philosopher; likewise in the Appendix the works spuriously attributed to Justin together with the Acts of his martyrdom and excerpts from the lost works of the same Justin and Tatian and Theophilus; — collated with manuscript codices, and illustrated with new translations, notes, admonitions, and a preface, with copious indexes; by the labour and study of one of the monks of the Congregation of St Maur (Dom Prudentius Maran). — Paris, at the expense of Charles Osmont, Rue Saint-Jacques, 1742, in folio, with the approbation and privilege of the King.)

Analysis of the Oration of Saint Justin to the Greeks.

The Oration of St Justin to the Greeks is a brief exposition of the reasons by which he was led to dismiss the Gentiles and become a Christian. Disgust was aroused in him by their institutions, having nothing at all that could please God, gods branded with the marks of crimes in Homer and Hesiod, effeminate heroes, solemn assemblies in which luxury, flutes, ointments, garlands, the ruin of modesty, and incentives to shameful deeds flourish. Since these assemblies were instituted in honour of the gods, and in them the crimes and shameful deeds of the gods were either enacted or recounted as having been done, Justin concluded that neither fathers in their sons nor husbands in their wives could reprove and chastise those things which are worshipped in the gods. Justin joined with disgust for superstitions a love and admiration for Christian doctrine. He exhorts the Gentiles that, since he was once that which they are, they themselves should become that which he now is. He declares that he was captivated by the divine power of the doctrine and the efficacy of the Word, which, once vicious affections are calmed, brings tranquillity to the soul. In a similar manner Justin in the Dialogue with Trypho, after saying that he had approached the Christian religion struck with admiration for divine Scripture, adds these words: "I could wish indeed that all, entering upon a course like my own, would not wander from the doctrine of the Saviour. For it has in itself a certain dreadful majesty, and is fitted to move deeply those who have turned aside from the right way; while to those who meditate upon it, it is the sweetest rest." The similarity of both passages confirms the consensus of learned men in adjudging this Oration to the Greeks to St Justin.