83. But at the present time there are some who go
to war even about small matters and to no purpose, and, with great
ignorance and audacity, accept, as an associate in their ill-doing,
anyone whoever he may be. Then everyone makes the faith his
pretext, and this venerable name is dragged into their private
quarrels. Consequently, as was probable, we are hated, even among
the Gentiles, and, what is harder still, we cannot say that this is
without just cause. Nay, even the best of our own people are
scandalized, while this result is not surprising in the case of the
multitude, who are ill-disposed to
accept anything that is good.