Martyrs' constancy, number, and condition mark something divine in Scripture

Besides, something divine in Scripture is argued by the constancy, number, and condition of the martyrs who sealed it with their own blood. For since by nature nothing is dearer to a man than life, how did it come about that so many men willingly sought death for the defence of Scripture and of the doctrine it hands down, unless from a certain divine force that had settled thoroughly in their minds? Rage has sometimes been spent on certain heretics and the superstitious, and a few examples can perhaps be found of those who from a certain fierceness and obstinacy of mind chose rather to die than to suffer themselves to be moved from an error once seized. But there is no error, no superstition and human doctrine, that has had followers so obstinate that, when by denying their impiety they could escape safe and unharmed, they nevertheless refused not to endure punishments and torments. But when the Apostolic and prophetic doctrine, and Scripture, first began to be propagated through the world — and could not yet be reckoned established by the tradition of the ancestors and by custom, the deepest roots by which human institutes usually cling to men's minds — not a few only were found, but infinite myriads of men, of every age, sex, and condition, men, women, boys, old men, the lettered and the unlettered, who endured every harshest kind of death rather than deny Scripture's doctrine: although by that denial alone they could not only redeem life, but also enjoy their goods and honors with fellow-citizens by equal right. Nor can they be reckoned to have rushed into certain death by fierceness or stupidity or some disease of mind: since they often extorted from the enemies themselves testimony of a rightly composed mind and of a blameless life, and in death itself attested the highest modesty, the highest humanity, and presence of mind. In which, certainly, unless someone willingly shuts his eyes, the finger of God can easily be noted.