And although these things are so, some of these
men have proceeded to such a degree of temerity, that they even pour contempt
upon the martyrs, and vituperate those who are slain on account of the
confession of the Lord, and who suffer all things predicted by the Lord,
and who in this respect strive to follow the footprints of the Lord's passion,
having become martyrs of the suffering One; these we do also enrol with
the martyrs themselves. For, when inquisition shall be made for their blood,
and they shall attain to glory, then all shall be confounded by Christ,
who have cast a slur upon their martyrdom. And from this fact, that He
exclaimed upon the cross, «Father, forgive them, for they know not
what they do,» the long-suffering, patience, compassion, and goodness
of Christ are exhibited, since He both suffered, and did Himself exculpate
those who had maltreated Him. For the Word of God, who said to us, «Love
your enemies, and pray for those that hate you,» Himself did this
very thing upon the cross; loving the human race to such a degree, that
He even prayed for those putting Him to death. If, however, any one, going
upon the supposition that there are two[Christs], forms a judgment in regard
to them, that [Christ] shall be found much the better one, and more patient,
and the truly good one, who, in the midst of His own wounds and stripes,
and the other [cruelties] inflicted upon Him, was beneficent, and unmindful
of the wrongs perpetrated upon Him, than he who flew away, and sustained
neither injury nor insult.
