30. I recalled the people, and yet I did not
escape their ill-will, which ill-will, however, I think we ought rather
to tempt than fear. For why should we fear for the Name of
Christ? Unless perchance I ought to be troubled because they
say: “Ought not the Emperor to have one basilica, to which
to go, and Ambrose wants to have more power than the Emperor, and so
refuses to the Emperor the opportunity of going forth to
church?” When they say this, they desire to lay hold of my
words, as did the Jews who tried Christ with cunning words,
saying: “Master, is it lawful to give tribute to Cæsar
or not?” S. Matt. xxii. 17. Is ill-will
always stirred up against the servants of God on Cæsar’s
account, and does impiety make use of this with a view to starting a
slander, so as to shelter itself under the imperial name? and can they
say that they do not share in the sacrilege of those whose advice they
follow?