To Florus 2.171

For they had trampled reason and law through their love of crimes, following their own desires, which conscience itself—a force of the greatest power—rebuked. Yet the prophets too were known to have shone repeatedly in their contempt for death for the sake of justice. Many others had run toward destruction with fearless minds for great causes radiant with the splendor of their inherent worth. Lest examples like these obscure the uniqueness of Christ’s virtue, the apostle added something to show that Christ’s love and courage stand at an unmatched height. I too agree that some people, though rarely and scarcely, have chosen to die for just and good causes. But the worthiness of their affairs—that is, the nobility of the causes for which they fought—softened the pain of their dangers. Christ, however, had nothing to love in the activities of the ungodly, and did not disdain to expend himself for those made ugly by their own will. Plainly he excels everyone’s virtues: even if he can have a few companions in endurance, he can have none in the cause for which he endured. Let us therefore despair of nothing from his generosity. If he died for us while we were still sinners, much more, now justified in his blood, shall we be saved through him from wrath (Romans 5:8–9).