3 He will moreover inform him, that the offense was not common to the whole city, but the deed of certain strangers and adventurers, men that act upon no deliberate plan, but with every sort of audacity and lawlessness; and that it would not be just for the disorderly conduct of a few to extirpate so great a city, and to punish those who had done no wrong; and that even though all had been transgressors, they had paid a sufficient punishment, being consumed by fear so many days, and expecting every day to be put to death, and being exiles and fugitives; thus living more wretchedly than condemned criminals, carrying their life in their hands, and having no confidence of escape!
“Let this punishment (he will say) suffice. Carry not your resentment further! Make the Judge above merciful to yourself, by humanity towards your fellow-servants! Think of the greatness of the city, and that the question now is not concerning one, or two, or three, or ten souls, but of a vast multitude too numerous to be reckoned up! It is a question which affects the capital of the whole world. This is the city in which Christians were first called by that name. Honor Christ.
Reverence the city which first proclaimed that name, so lovely and sweet to all! This city has been the tabernacle of Apostles; the dwelling place of the just! And now this is the first and only instance of insurrection against its rulers; and all past time will bear favourable witness to the manners of the city. For had the people been continually given to sedition, it might have been necessary to make an example of such iniquity; but if this has happened only once in all time, it is plain that the offense has not arisen from the habit of the city, but that it was the transgression of those who had in an evil hour by mere random chance arrived there.”
Source: Homilies on the Statues (New Advent)