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I wrote again to the same persons another treatise, which I entitled On Rebuke and Grace, because I had been told that someone there had said that no man ought to be rebuked for not doing God’s commandments, but that prayer only should be made on his behalf, that he may do them. This audiobook begins on this wise, “I have read your letters, dearly beloved brother Valentine”.

It happened very recently, a dispute was held between a Christian and a Jewish proselyte. Alternately, with contentious cable, they each spun out the day until evening. By the opposing din, moreover, of some partisans of the individuals, truth began to be overcast by a sort of cloud.

His Oratio ad Graecos (Address to the Greeks) condemns paganism as worthless and praises the reasonableness and high antiquity of Christianity. As early as Eusebius, Tatian was praised for his discussions of the antiquity of Moses and of Jewish legislation, and it was because of this chronological section that his Oratio was not generally condemned.

We know with certainty regarding Athenagoras that he was an Athenian philosopher who had embraced Christianity and that his apology, or as he styles it, “Embassy”, was presented to the Emperors Aurelius and Commodus at about AD 177. He is supposed to have written a considerable number of works, but the only other production of his extant works is his treatise on the Resurrection.

The Octavius, which is here translated, is a supposed argument between the heathen Cæcilius and the Christian Octavius - the writer being requested to arbitrate between the disputants. Of the literary character of the dialogue, it is sufficient to quote the testimony of the late Dean Milman: “Perhaps no late work, either Pagan or Christian, reminds us of the golden days of Latin prose so much as the Octavius of Minucius Felix.”

There are some persons who suppose that the freedom of the will is denied whenever God’s grace is maintained, and who on their side defend their liberty of will so peremptorily as to deny the grace of God. This grace, as they assert, is bestowed according to our own merits. It is in consequence of their opinions that I wrote the book entitled On Grace and Free Will. This work I addressed to the monks of Adrumetum, in whose monastery first arose the controversy on that subject, and that in such a manner that some of them were obliged to consult me thereon.

Containing a particular refutation of the doctrine of these heretics regarding the origin and nature of evil; an exposure of their pretended symbolical customs of the mouth, of the hands, and of the breast; and a condemnation of their superstitious abstinence and unholy mysteries. Lastly, some crimes brought to light among the Manichaeans are mentioned.

In the first part of the book, he proves that the perseverance by which a man perseveres in Christ to the end is God’s gift; for that it is a mockery to ask of God that which is not believed to be given by God. Moreover, that in the Lord’s prayer scarcely anything is asked for but perseverance, according to the exposition of the martyr Cyprian, by whose exposition, the enemies to this grace were convicted before they were born.

The Shows or De Spectaculis, also known as On the Spectacles, is a treatise by Tertullian. Written somewhere between AD 197-202, the work comments on issues and consequences related to the attendance of circus, theatre, or amphitheater ("the pleasures of public shows"). Tertullian’s views of these public performances in the theatre are that they are immoral and lead to corruption.

This among Christians is a season of persecution. When, therefore, faith is greatly agitated, and the Church burning, as represented by the bush, then the Gnostics break out, then the Valentinians creep forth, then all the opponents of martyrdom bubble up, being themselves also hot to strike, penetrate, kill.

Female habit carries with it a twofold idea - dress and ornament. By “dress” we mean what they call “womanly gracing”; by “ornament”, what it is suitable should be called “womanly disgracing”. The former is accounted (to consist) in gold, and silver, and gems, and garments; the latter in care of the hair, and of the skin, and of those parts of the body which attract the eye.

The principal crime of the human race, the highest guilt charged upon the world, the whole procuring cause of judgment, is idolatry. Do you inquire whom he has slain? If it contributes ought to the aggravation of the indictment, no stranger nor personal enemy, but his own self. By what snares? Those of his error. By what weapon? The offense done to God. By how many blows? As many as are his idolatries.

Ad Nationes (To the Nations) shows that the Roman actions taken against the early Christians are violations of justice. This is followed by a listing of Roman slanders against the Christians. Tertullian points out the hypocrisy, since Romans hardly conduct themselves in anything resembling moral behavior. The second book condemns and criticizes Roman religion and their deities, in particular.

The book, On Care to Be Had for the Dead, I wrote, having been asked by letter whether it profits any person after death that his body shall be buried at the memorial of any Saint. The book begins thus: "Long time unto your Holiness, my venerable fellow bishop Paulinus".

It is laid down at the outset that the customs of the holy life of the Church should be referred to the chief good of man, that is, God. We must seek after God with supreme affection; and this doctrine is supported in the Catholic Church by the authority of both testaments. The four virtues get their names from different forms of this love. Then, follow the duties of love to our neighbor. In the Catholic Church we find examples of continence and of true Christian conduct.

As persecutions in increasing number threaten us, so the more are we called on to give earnest thought to the question of how faith ought to receive them, and the duty of carefully considering it concerns you no less, who no doubt, by not accepting the Comforter, the guide to all truth, have, as was natural, opposed us hitherto in regard to other questions also.

As for what pertains to antiquity, what more ancient formal type can be brought forward, than the very original fount of the human race? One female did God fashion for the male, culling one rib of his, and (of course) one out of a plurality. But, moreover, in the introductory speech which preceded the work itself, he said, “It is not good for the man that he be alone; let us make a help-meet for him.” For he would have said “helpers” if he had destined him to have more wives.

Keep for God his own property untainted. he will crown it if he chooses. Nay, then, he does even choose. He calls us to it. To him who conquers, he says, “I will give a crown of life.” Be you, too, faithful unto death, and fight you, too, the good fight, whose crown the apostle feels so justly confident has been laid up for him.

Erasmus infers from the style and language of this piece, that it is not S. Augustin’s, putting it in the same category with the treatises "On Continence", "On substance of Charity", "On Faith of Things Invisible".

This is a letter to Scapula, Proconsul of Africa, who had begun persecuting Christians, during AD 212 (an eclipse visible in Utica is referred to). Tertullian exhorts the Proconsul to remember the fate that befell other persecutors of the Church, not as a threat, but because Christians love those who persecute them, and do not wish to see the judgment of God be unleashed on even the most devout haters of the faith.