Justin Martyr, First Apology 68

If you judge this to rest on reason and truth, honor it; but if it strikes you as nonsense, treat it as the worthless thing it is — despise it as such. Do not sentence to death people who have done no wrong, as though they were enemies. We warn you: you will not escape the coming judgment of God if you persist in injustice, and we will cry out against it — let what is dear to God be done! We also hold a letter from the greatest and most illustrious Caesar Hadrian, your father. We invoke it to demand that you order fair trials, just as we requested — not because we asked Hadrian to decree this, but because we know our petition and explanation are just. We have also submitted a copy of Hadrian's letter so that you may know we speak the truth in this matter as well. Here is that copy: To Minucius Fundanus. I received a letter written to me by Serenius Granianus, a most illustrious man, whom you succeeded. It does not seem right to me to leave the matter uninvestigated, lest people be disturbed and informers be given a handle for wickedness. If the provincials can clearly accuse the Christians, as if answering before a court, let them proceed only with that — not with mere cries or petitions. For it is far more proper, if someone wishes to accuse, for you to investigate the charge. If someone accuses and proves they are doing something contrary to the laws, judge accordingly, in proportion to the offense. But if someone brings the charge for the sake of calumny, take the gravity of it to heart and see to it that you avenge it.