Tertullian — De Corona 10

So, when you allege that the ornaments of the heathen deities are found no less with God , with the object of claiming among these for general use the head-crown, you already lay it down for yourself, that we must not have among us, as a thing whose use we are to share with others, what is not to be found in the service of God . Well, what is so unworthy of God indeed as that which is worthy of an idol? But what is so worthy of an idol as that which is also worthy of a dead man? For it is the privilege of the dead also to be thus crowned, as they too straightway become idols , both by their dress and the service of deification, which (deification) is with us a second idolatry . Wanting, then, the sense, it will be theirs to use the thing for which the sense is wanting, just as if in full possession of the sense they wished to abuse it.

When there ceases to be any reality in the use, there is no distinction between using and abusing. Who can abuse a thing, when the precipient nature with which he wishes to carry out his purpose is not his to use it? The apostle, moreover, forbids us to abuse, while he would more naturally have taught us not to use, unless on the ground that, where there is no sense for things, there is no wrong use of them. But the whole affair is meaningless, and is, in fact, a dead work so far as concerns the idols ; though, without doubt , a living one as respects the demons to whom the religious rite belongs. The idols of the heathen , says David, are silver and gold. They have eyes, and see not; a nose, and smell not; hands, and they will not handle.

By means of these organs, indeed, we are to enjoy flowers; but if he declares that those who make idols will be like them, they already are so who use anything after the style of idol adornings. To the pure all things are pure: so, likewise, all things to the impure are impure; Titus 1:15 but nothing is more impure than idols . The substances are themselves as creatures of God without impurity, and in this their native state are free to the use of all; but the ministries to which in their use they are devoted, makes all the difference; for I, too, kill a cock for myself, just as Socrates did for Æsculapius; and if the smell of some place or other offends me, I burn the Arabian product myself, but not with the same ceremony, nor in the same dress, nor with the same pomp, with which it is done to idols .

If the creature is defiled by a mere word, as the apostle teaches, But if any one say, This is offered in sacrifice to idols , you must not touch it, 1 Corinthians 10:28 much more when it is polluted by the dress, and rites , and pomp of what is offered to the gods. Thus the crown also is made out to be an offering to idols ; for with this ceremony, and dress, and pomp, it is presented in sacrifice to idols , its originators, to whom its use is specially given over, and chiefly on this account, that what has no place among the things of God may not be admitted into use with us as with others. Wherefore the apostle exclaims, Flee idolatry : 1 Corinthians 10:14 certainly idolatry whole and entire he means. Reflect on what a thicket it is, and how many thorns lie hidden in it.