[163] Why then do you talk idly saying, “If Thou art casting me out of the earth, Thee also shall I hide from myself” (Gen. 4:14)? For, on the contrary, were He to expel you from the earthly sphere, He will show you His own image clearly manifested. This can be proved. You are going to remove out of the presence of God, and having so removed you will none the less inhabit your earthly body; for he says afterwards, “and Cain went out from the presence of God and dwelt in the earth” (Gen. 4:16); so that, instead of having been cast out of the earth and having hidden from yourself Him that IS, you have turned away from Him and have taken refuge in earth, i.e. the mortal region.
[164] Moreover, it is not really true that “everyone that findeth you shall kill you,” as you dishonestly argued (Gen. 4:14). For the thing that is found is assuredly found by one of two, either by one like it or by one unlike it. He that is like it and akin to it finds it because of their congruity and fellowship in all respects; he that is unlike it, owing to their opposition and incongruity. That which is like is prone to guard and keep what is so nearly related to it: that which is unlike is on its part ready to destroy what differs from it.
[165] Let Cain and every other scoundrel know assuredly that he will not be killed by everyone that meets with him, but whereas unscrupulous people, given to vices closely akin to his, will prove his guards and keepers, all who have engaged in the toilsome quest of sound sense and other virtues, will regard him as an enemy with whom there can be no truce, and destroy him if they can.
[166] For it is an almost invariable rule that both persons and causes are cherished by those who are friendly and attached to them, but brought to ruin by those who have nothing in common with them, and look on them with no favour. For this cause the sacred utterance, testifying in opposition to the feigned simplicity of Cain, says ‘ “Not so” are you minded as your words run’ (Gen. 4:15); for you say that everyone that has found your artifices in the wrestling-bout of words will kill you, but you know that not everyone will do so, since countless numbers have been enrolled on your side, and only he will do so who is a friend of virtue, but to you an irreconcilable enemy.