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On the Theophania
Eusebius of Caesarea, tr. Lee, 1843
This (philosopher) also taught, that there was a just Judgment of God, and that He would …
This (philosopher) also taught, that there was a just Judgment of God, and that He would render to every man as he should deserve: he very divinely shewed too, that the extreme good was this, that (men) be like to the Godhead; be attached, and made (as it were) twin brothers, to virtue. Nevertheless, he also fell justly, (and as it was) likely, more than they all under reprehension. Why? Because he knew God as He was; but honoured Him not as God. He concealed the truth too, and put forth falsehood to the many. To those whom he loved, he spoke openly and well, as a Philosopher, of the Father and Creator of this whole. But, with the inhabitants of Athens, he conducted himself as no Philosopher; and went down to the Piræus to Socrates, at his word, to pray to the Goddess, and, at once, to complete the festival of Bendis, together with all the inhabitants. And again, he himself said of his master, that, when the end of his life drew near, he commanded them to sacrifice a cock! Nor did the best of Philosophers blush;—nor was it concealed:—that, the Father of his philosophy commanded them to propitiate the Deity, by means of fabricated earthly matter, and a little blood;—the body of a dead bird! And again, he called those (Deities) that were honoured in the cities, Demons: and this he did well. But, he further confessed, that these same were, and that they were formerly known as being, mortal men. And (here) he spoke the truth. Nevertheless, he advised that (men) should worship these same as Gods! And, because he submitted himself, with the multitudes, to the error of these, he may well have been memorialized as (implicated) in their pretences, because he concealed the word of truth under the show of Philosophy, and attached himself to falsehood. Hear therefore, the things that he has said in the Timæus:—