But this is the most grievous and heavy case, that they call us wicked and ungodly men, and say we have thrown away all care of religion.  Though this ought not to trouble us much, whilst they themselves that thus have charged us know full well how spiteful and false a saying it is:  for Justin the martyr is a witness, how that all Christians were called [Greek text], that is, godless, as soon as the Gospel first began to be published, and the Name of Christ to be openly declared.  And when Polycarpus stood to be judged, the people stirred up the president to slay and murder all them which professed the Gospel, with these words, [Greek text], that is to say, “Rid out of the way these wicked and godless creatures.”  And this was not because it was true that the Christians were godless, but because they would not worship stones and stocks which were then honoured as God.  The whole world seeth plainly enough already, what we and ours have endured at these men’s hands for religion and our only God’s cause.  They have thrown us into prison, into water, into fire, and imbrued themselves in our blood:  not because we were either adulterers, or robbers, or murderers, but only for that we confessed the Gospel of Jesu Christ, and put our confidence in the living God; and for that we complained too justly and truly (Lord, thou knowest), that they did break the law of God for their own most vain traditions; and that our adversaries were the very foes to the Gospel, and enemies to Christ’s Cross, who so wittingly and willingly did obstinately despise God’s commandments.

Wherefore, when these men saw they could not rightly find fault with our doctrine, they would needs pick a quarrel and inveigh and rail against our manners, surmising, how that we do condemn all well-doings:  that we set open the door to all licentiousness and lust, and lead away the people from all love of virtue.  And in very deed, the life of all men, even of the devoutest and most Christian, both is, and evermore hath been, such as one may always find some lack, even in the very best and purest conversation.  And such is the inclination of all creatures unto evil, and the readiness of all men to suspect that the things which neither have been done, nor once meant to be done, yet may be easily both heard and credited for true.  And like as a small spot is soon espied in the neatest and whitest garment, even so the least stain of dishonesty is easily found out in the purest and sincerest life.  Neither take we all them which have at this day embraced the doctrine of the Gospel, to be angels, and to live clearly without any mote or wrinkle; nor yet think we these men either so blind, that if anything may be noted in us, they are not able to perceive the same even through the least crevice:  nor so friendly, that they will construe aught to the best:  nor yet so honest of nature nor courteous, that they will look back upon themselves, and weigh our fashions by their own.