which, without a doubt, burned with the guilt of their sins. By confessing that he both knew and had allowed this, he openly revealed that it was not a lack of faithful knowledge that he suffered, but a lack of will to express that faith, which will now be set forth by me more fully. On the borders of Arabia and Palestine, where the mountains on either side draw back to reveal the plains below, there were five cities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar. Zoar was the smallest of these, while the others were large and grand, for they possessed both the fertility of the soil and the river Jordan, which spread across the plains and was divided in such a way that it provided a timely abundance of fruitfulness. To this entire region, which used its goods for evil, the abundance of things became the cause of its destruction. For from this abundance, luxury arose, and from luxury, foul lusts grew, to such an extent 42 that men, working shame upon men, rushed into sin without regard for place, condition, or age. Therefore, God, in His anger, rained fire and sulfur upon this land, and He condemned the entire region, burned up with its peoples and cities, to eternal destruction as a witness of His judgment. This is so that even now the form of the region remains apparent, but the land is found to be one of ash, and the middle valley, which the Jordan had once irrigated, is now covered by an overflowing sea. So great was the divine indignation kindled against things (as is thought) of little consequence that, because they had misused their goods and turned the fruits of mercy into the nourishment of lust, the very earth which had held these cities was first 43 burned by fires and then overwhelmed by waters, perishing from common sight into eternal ruin.

Chapter VI.

Therefore now, if it pleases them, let those who cast their spit upon Christ—whom we have shown to be the Judge of the ages—as much as lies within them, discern between Sodom and Rome