For  it  would  be  unjust  in  them,  after  receiving
the  good  things  which  they  dispense,  to  pay
them  no  tribute  in  return."  To  this  we  reply,
that  there  appears  to  us  to  be  no  good  reason
for  our  leaving  this  world,  except  when  piety
and  virtue  require  it;  as  when,  for  example,
those  who  are  set  as  judges,  and  think  that  they
have  power  over  our  lives,  place  before  us  the
alternative  either  to  live  in  violation  of  the  com-
mands of  Jesus,  or  to  die  if  we  continue  obe-
dient to  them.  But  God  has  allowed  us  to
marry,  because  all  are  not  fit  for  the  higher,  that
is,  the  perfectly  pure  life  ;  and  God  would  have
us  to  bring  up  all  our  children,  and  not  to  destro]'


Chap.  LVIII.]


ORIGEN   AGAINST   CELSUS.
66 1


any  of  the  offspring  given  us  by  His  providence.
And  this  does  not  conflict  with  our  purpose  not
to  obey  the  demons  that  are  on  the  earth ;  for,
"being  armed  with  the  whole  armour  of  God,
we  stand  "  '  as  athletes  of  piety  against  the  race
of  demons  that  plot  against  us.
CHAP.  LVI.
Although,  therefore,  Celsus  would,  in  his  own
words,  "  drive  us  with  all  haste  out  of  life,"  so
that  "  such  a  race  may  become  extinct  from  the
earth ; "  yet  we,  along  with  those  who  worship
the  Creator,  will  live  according  to  the  laws  of
God,  never  consenting  to  obey  the  laws  of  sin.
