57. But note how this passage is as water
upon fire to a crowd of heresies. “A Child is born to
us,” not to the Jews; “to us,” not to
the Manichæans; “to us,” not to the
Marcionites. The prophet says “to us,” that
is, to those who believe, not to unbelievers. And He indeed, in
His pitifulness, was born for all, but it is the disloyalty of heretics
that hath brought it to pass that the birth of Him Who was born for all
should not profit all. For the sun is bidden to rise upon the
good and the bad, but to them that see not there is no appearance of
sunrise.