Arnobius — Against the Nations 2.11
But let these things hinder nothing and impede nothing, least of all that you ought not to believe and listen to them: and what is it that in this part either you have more or we less?
You believe Plato, Cronius, Numenius, or whom you please: we believe and rest in Christ.
How great is this unfairness, that when we both stand by authors and believing is one and shared for us and you, you want it granted that you may so receive what is said by them, while what is brought forward by Christ you demand we know by syllogisms and like things that they pledge the truth — or are they by that worthy that one must necessarily believe them on the most obscure matters? A contest of persons is not to be weighed by powers of eloquence but by the virtue of deeds done. He is not to be called a good author who put out speech whitely, but who follows up what he promises with a pledge of divine works.
Latin
11.1. Sed officiant haec <nihil> nihilque impediant, plurimum quominus eis credere atque auscultare debeatis: et quid est, quod in hac parte aut vos plurimum habeatis aut nos minus?
2. Vos Platoni, vos Cronio, vos Numenio vel cui libuerit creditis: nos credimus et adquiescimus Christo.
3. Iniquitas haec quanta est, ut cum utrique auctoribus stemus sit que nobis et vobis unum et socium credere, vobis velitis dari quod ita ab illis dicatur accipere, nos ea quae proferuntur a Christo f. 32b | syllogismi resque aliae similes scire illos veritatem spondent aut ea re digni sunt quibus necessario debeat rebus de obscurissimis credi? Personarum contentio non est eloquentiae viribus set gestorum operum virtute pendenda. Ille <non> est dicendus auctor bonus, qui sermonem candidule prompsit, sed qui quod pollicetur divinorum operum prosequitur sponsione.