Sigalion in the Shield of Croesiades or Apologetic Dialogue for the Mystery of Detected Syncretism

Jewish philosophy, (u) having used Crete also for its dwelling and home because of the occasion of the dispersion, infested with the images of the gods, decreed that some unnamed and unknown Divinity should be worshiped, which, through some prevarication of the Cretans, degenerated from Jehovah into Jove, (x) asymbolon without symbol/image indeed, and abstaining from the commerce of other nations, yet so tenacious of its own religion that it was also deceptive.

§. 5. Hence the matter (y) of lawsuits, the nursery of altercations, the torch of intestine wars! The greater part of the people, accustomed to the ancient dogmas, tenacious of their own opinion, infamous with the mark of lying, did not want to yield to the truth, because it seemed new; for it is most difficult to unlearn. This part, through its power, more easily subdued the other part of those philosophizing and the third part of the aliens of the City: What happens? While they burn inside with contentions, an external enemy threatens. Xerxes is at the gate! Nothing is more present for destruction, unless spirits are composed: if anyone had brought a remedy to the troubled ones, they seemed as if they would embrace him as SALVATION itself. So-and-so arises, from where, from where? An exciter of a new Theology, that is, of the one which I have taken it upon myself to speak of, a schemer of politics, and having gathered an Assembly, he addressed the people in these words: "Cease," he says, "from angers, enough has been given to quarrels: unless you are reconciled, it is all over; we are the surest prey and victim of the enemy. While we fight each other, we will be conquered by all: put aside the pernicious after the salutary, the rough after the polished, the harsh after the delicate, the doubtful after the safe, and listen to me as Consul! Before all things, there is need for a mutual contract." (z) "For each, knowing that what is commonly fearful holds all in fear."

(u) Cretan. You may gather this from the end of the life of Josephus, p. 568: "I took another wife, a Cretan by birth, born to parents who were noble at home and excellent in customs among the others, as I learned from her company. From her, two sons were born to me: Justus, who is older, and after him, Simonides, also called Agrippa."

(x) Asymbolon: Acts 10:23, but deceptive, Matthew 23:15. Hence the Jews are "mind-deceivers, overturning whole houses," Titus 1:9, 11.

(y) One religion is the author of Union, always from that confused mob. The Egyptian Kings and Julian openly confess that they introduced dissenting religions so that subjects would differ, thus Justus Lipsius, book 4, politica, ch. 2, n. 12.

(z) Thus Hermocrates the Syracusan to the Sicilians in Thucydides, book 4, p. 290.