Since I see thee, most excellent Diognetus, exceedingly desirous to learn the mode of wor- shipping God prevalent amon^ the Christians, and inquiring very carefully and earnestly con- cerning them, what God they trust in, and what form of religion they observe,' so as all to look down upon the world itself, and despise death, while they neither esteem those to be gods that are reckoned such by the Greeks, nor hold to the superstition of the Jews ; and what is the affection which they cherish among themselves ; and why, in fine, this new kind or practice [of piety] has only now entered into the world,^ and not long ago ; I cordially welcome this thy de- sire, and 1 implore God, who enables us both to speak and to hear, to grant to me so to speak, that, above all, I may hear you have been edi- fied,3 and to you so to hear, that I who speak may have no cause of regret for having done so.