53. Since this, then, is the case, we do nothing out of place or foolish in believing that the souls of men are of a neutral character, inasmuch as they have been produced by secondary beings, 3772 made subject to the law of death, and are of little strength, and that perishable; and that they are gifted with immortality, if 3773 they rest their hope of so great a gift on God Supreme, who alone has power to grant such blessings , by putting away corruption. But this, you say , we are stupid in believing. What is that to you? In so believing, we act most absurdly, sillily. In what do we injure you, or what wrong do we do or inflict upon you, if we trust that Almighty God will take care of us when we leave 3774 our bodies, and from the jaws of hell, as is said, deliver us? 3772     Lit., “things not principal.” Orelli here quotes from Tertullian, de Anim. , xxiii., a brief summary of Gnostic doctrines on these points, which he considers Arnobius to have followed throughout this discussion. 3773     Si was first inserted in LB., not being found in the ms. , though demanded by the context. 3774     Lit., “have begun to leave.”