I.  Where are they who reproach us with our poverty, and boast themselves of their own riches; who define the Church by numbers,1    Shewing the absurdity of defining the Church by counting heads. and scorn the little flock; and who measure Godhead,2    This refers to the distinction drawn by the Arians in degree as to the Godhead, asserting the Spirit to be great, the Son greater, and the Father greatest (cf. Or. xlii., 16). and weigh the people in the balance, who honour the sand, and despise the luminaries of heaven; who treasure pebbles and overlook pearls; for they know not that sand is not in a greater degree more abundant than stars, and pebbles than lustrous stones—that the former are purer and more precious than the latter?  Are you again indignant?  Do you again arm yourselves?  Do you again insult us?3    The beginning of the Oration was apparently disturbed by hostile demonstrations on the part of Arian hearers.  Is this a new faith?  Restrain your threats a little while that I may speak.  We will not insult you, but we will convict you; we will not threaten, but we will reproach you; we will not strike, but we will heal.  This too appears an insult!  What pride!  Do you here also regard your equal as your slave?  If not, permit me to speak openly; for even a brother chides his brother if he has been defrauded by him.

Αʹ. Ποῦ ποτέ εἰσιν, οἱ τὴν πενίαν ἡμῖν ὀνειδίζοντες, καὶ τὸν πλοῦτον κομπάζοντες; Οἱ πλήθει τὴν Ἐκκλησίαν ὁρίζοντες, καὶ τὸ βραχὺ διαπτύοντες ποίμνιον; οἱ καὶ θεότητα μετροῦντες, καὶ λαὸν σταθμίζοντες; οἱ τὴν ψάμμον τιμῶντες, καὶ τοὺς φωστῆρας ὑβρίζοντες; οἱ τοὺς κάχληκας θησαυρίζοντες, καὶ τοὺς μαργαρίτας ὑπερορῶντες; Οὐ γὰρ ἴσασιν, ὅτι οὐ τοσοῦτον ψάμμος ἀστέρων ἀφθονωτέρα, καὶ λίθων διαυγῶν κάχληκες, ὅσον ταῦτα ἐκείνων καθαρώτερά τε καὶ τιμιώτερα. Πάλιν ἀγανακτεῖς; πάλιν ὁπλίζῃ; πάλιν ὑβρίζεις; ἡ καινὴ πίστις; Μικρὸν ἐπίσχες τὴν ἀπειλὴν, ἵνα φθέγξωμαι. Οὐχ ὑβρίσομεν, ἀλλ' ἐλέγξομεν: οὐκ ἀπειλήσομεν, ἀλλ' ὀνειδίσομεν: οὐ πλήξομεν, ἀλλ' ἰατρεύσομεν. Ὕβρις σοι καὶ τοῦτο δοκεῖ; Τῆς ὑπερηφανίας! Κἀνταῦθα δοῦλον ποιεῖς τὸν ὁμότιμον; Εἰ δὲ μὴ, δέξαι μου τὴν παῤῥησίαν. Καὶ ἀδελφὸς ἀδελφὸν ἐλέγχει πλεονεκτούμενος.