This short book, besides what it may suggest of help in the way of godliness, gives an insight into the mind of a man of strong opinions who was not afraid to express them, as also into the life of a community some at least of whom were not indisposed to make experiments, however little their mentor is prepared to afford them encouragement. The time was soon to come when he, as a Montanist, was to try to enforce many new practices, on the ground that, ""Our Lord Jesus Christ said, 'I am the truth,' not 'I am the custom.'"" -- From the introduction Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus was born at Carthage of heathen parentage probably about AD 160. Shortly after 190 he became a Christian. As a man of excellent education and a ready writer in both Greek and Latin, a practicing barrister also, skillful in the presentation of a case, he began at once to write in defense of the faith.