1 Come then, clear yourself of all the preconceptions which occupy your mind, and throw off the habit which leads you astray, and become a new man, as it were, from the beginning, as one who would listen to a new story, even as you yourself confessed. See not only with your eyes, but with your intellect also, of what substance or of what form they happen to be whom you call and regard as gods. 2 Is not one of them stone, like that which we tread under foot,⁠a and another bronze, no better than the vessels which are forged for our use, and another wood, which has already become rotten, and another silver, which needs a man to guard it lest it be stolen, and another iron, which is corroded with rust, and another earthenware, not a bit more attractive than that which is supplied for the most dishonorable service? 3 Are not all these of perishable matter? Are they not forged by iron and fire? Did not the sculptor make one, and the brass-founder another, and the silversmith another, and the potter another? Before they were molded into this shape by the crafts of these several craftsmen, was it not possible for each one of them to have been changed in form and made to resemble these several utensils? Might not the vessels which are now made out of the same material, if they met with the same craftsmen, be made like such as these? 4 Could not these things which are now worshipped by you, by human hands again be made vessels like the rest? Are not they all deaf and blind, are they not soulless, senseless, motionless? Do they not all rot and decay? 5 These things you call gods, to these you are slaves, these you worship; and you end by becoming altogether like them.⁠b 6 Therefore you hate the Christians, because they do not consider these to be gods. 7 For do not you yourselves, who now regard and worship them, much more despise them? Do you not much rather mock and insult them, worshipping those that are of stone and earthenware unguarded, but shutting up those that are of silver and gold by night, and setting guards over them by day, to prevent their being stolen? 8 And as for the honors which you think to offer to them, if they are aware of them, you rather punish them by it, whereas, if they are unaware, you reproach them by propitiating them with the blood and fat of victims. 9 Let one of yourselves undergo this treatment, let him submit to these things being done to him. No, not so much as a single individual will willingly submit to such punishment, for he has feeling and reason; but a stone submits, because it has no feeling. Therefore you disprove its feeling. 10 Well, I could say much besides concerning the Christians not being enslaved to such gods as these; but if anyone should think what has been said insufficient, I hold it superfluous to say more.