[That Contentions and Quarrels are Unbecoming Christians.]
XLV. It is therefore a noble encomium for a Christian to have no contest with any one; 211 1 Cor. vi. 1, etc. but if by any management or temptation a contest arises with any one, let him endeavour that it may be composed, though thereby he be obliged to lose somewhat; and let it not come before an heathen tribunal. Nay, indeed, you are not to permit that the rulers of this world should pass sentence against your people; for by them the devil contrives mischief to the servants of God, and occasions a reproach to be cast upon us, as though we had not “one wise man that is able to judge between his brethren,” or to decide their controversies.
[45] Καλὸν μὲν οὖν ἐστι τῷ Χριστιανῷ ἐγκώμιον πρὸς μηδένα ἔχειν πράγματα: εἰ δὲ ἔκ τινος ἐνεργείας ἢ πειρασμοῦ ἐπισυμβῇ τινι πρᾶγμα, σπουδαζέτω διαλύεσθαι αὐτό, κἂν δέῃ βλαβῆναί τι, καὶ μὴ ἐρχέσθω ἐπὶ κριτήριον ἐθνικόν. Ἀλλὰ μὴν μηδὲ ἀνέχεσθε κοσμικοὺς ἄρχοντας κατὰ τῶν ἡμετέρων δικάζειν: διὰ γὰρ αὐτῶν ὁ διάβολος ἐπιτηδεύει τοῖς δούλοις τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ὄνειδος ἐπεγείρει ὡς μὴ ἐχόντων ἡμῶν ἕνα σοφὸν τὸν δυνάμενον μεταξὺ ἡμῶν βραβεῦσαι τὸ δίκαιον ἢ τὰς ἀντιλογίας διαλῦσαι.