35. It was therefore better for me
to hide myself, and to wait for this opportunity. Yes, I am sure that
from your knowledge of the sacred Scriptures you will assent and
approve of my conduct in this respect. For you will perceive that, now
those who exasperated you against us have been silenced, your righteous
clemency is apparent, and it is proved to all 253men that you never persecuted the Christians at
all, but that it was they who made the Churches desolate, that they
might sow the seeds of their own impiety everywhere; on account of
which I also, had I not fled, should long ago have suffered from their
treachery. For it is very evident that they who scrupled not to utter
such calumnies against me, before the great Augustus, and who so
violently assailed Bishops and Virgins, sought also to compass my
death. But thanks be to the Lord who has given you the kingdom. All men
are confirmed in their opinion of your goodness, and of their
wickedness, from which I fled at the first, that I might now make this
appeal unto you, and that you might find some one towards whom you may
shew kindness. I beseech you, therefore, forasmuch as it written,
‘A soft answer turneth away wrath,’ and ‘righteous
thoughts are acceptable unto the King13871387;’ receive this my defence, and restore
all the Bishops and the rest of the Clergy to their countries and their
Churches; so that the wickedness of my accusers may be made manifest,
and that you, both now and in the day of judgment, may have boldness to
say to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the King of all,
‘“None of Thine have I lost13881388,” but these are they who designed the
ruin of all, while I was grieved for those who perished, and for the
Virgins who were scourged, and for all other things that were committed
against the Christians; and I brought back them that were banished, and
restored them to their own Churches.’