For He exhibits among every race of men the things that are righteous at all times and in all places, and every race is aware that adultery is evil, and fornication, and murder, and all suchlike things. And although all practise them, yet, nevertheless, they are not set free from knowing they do wrong when they practise them, with the exception of such as, possessed by an unclean spirit and corrupted by early education and bad customs and evil laws, have lost their natural thoughts, or rather have quenched them or held them down.
For we may see even such persons not wishing to endure the same sufferings that they inflict on others, and with a conscience opposed to themselves reproach others for the very things that they themselves perform. Wherefore it seems to me that it was well said by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, that all righteousness and piety are fulfilled in two commandments, which are these: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy might, and thy neighbour as thyself.Matthew 22:37-39 For he who loves God with all his heart and all his might, being full of a mind that is turned to God, will honour no other as God. Yet that Angel will he honour, as God would have him do, who is beloved by the Lord and God Himself. And he that loveth his neighbour as himself will desire for him the good that he desires for himself; and no one will desire for himself what is evil.
He therefore that loves his neighbour will both pray and work for that to happen to his neighbour as for himself. Now a man’s neighbour is none else than that living and reasonable creature of like passions with himself, even a man. All righteousness therefore having been divided into two parts, towards God and men, whosoever, the word says, loves the Lord God with all his heart, and with all his might, and his neighbour as himself, would of a truth be righteous.
But, as for you, you have never shown yourselves as possessing friendship or love, either towards God, or towards the prophets, or towards one another, but, as is plain, are found to be always idolators and murderers of the righteous, so that you even laid your hands upon Christ Himself, and still stay on in your wickedness, cursing even them who prove that He who was crucified by you is the Christ. And, besides, you deem it right to prove that He has been crucified as an enemy of God and accursed, which is the result of your unreasonable opinion.
For though you have the opportunity of learning from the signs wrought by Moses that it is He, you will not have it, and, further, supposing that we can be reduced to silence, you put whatever questions come into your mind, and you are at a loss what to say whenever you meet with a keen Christian.