An Enemy of Christmas Denounced

Plane nativitas a Gabriele adnuntiatur: quid illi cum angelo creatoris? et in virginis utero conceptus inducitur: quid illi cum propheta creatoris? odit moras, qui subito Christum de caelo deferebat. aufer hinc, inquit, molestos semper Caesaris census et diversoria angusta et sordidos pannos et dura praesepia: viderit angelica multitudo deum suum noctibus honorans: servent potius pecora pastores, et magi ne fatigentur de longinquo: dono illis aurum suum:  melior sit et Herodes ne Hieremias glorietur: sed nec circumcidatur infans, ne doleat, nec ad templum deferatur, ne parentes suos oneret sumptu oblationis, nec in manus tradatur Simeoni, ne senem moriturum exinde contristet: taceat et anus illa, ne fascinet puerum. his opinor consiliis tot originalia instrumenta Christi delere, Marcion, ausus es, ne caro eius probaretur. ex quo, oro te: exhibe auctoritatem: si propheta es praenuntia aliquid, si apostolus praedica publice, si apostolicus cum apostolis senti, si tantum Christianus es crede quod traditum est: si nihil istorum es, merito dixerim, morere. nam et mortuus es, qui non es Christianus, non credendo quod creditum Christianos facit. Tertullianus, De Carne Christi

Clearly the nativity is announced by Gabriel. But what is an angel of the Creator to this man? The conception in the virgin's womb is brought forth. But what is a prophet of the Creator to him? This fellow abhors delay, since suddenly he brings down Christ full grown from heaven. 'Away from here,' says he, 'with that troublesome census of Caesar, and the needy inn, and squalid swaddling cloths, and the rough stable.' He would rather see the angelic multitude which honored their Lord at night helping shepherds with their flocks, he would not let the Magi weary themselves with a long journey but would have their gold remain with them. Let Herod, too, improve, so that Jeremiah may not glory over him, let a babe not suffer circumcision and let him not be brought to the temple lest he burden his parents with the expense of the offering, nor let him be given into the hands Simeon, lest the old man be hurried to death by sadness, and let that old woman also hold her tongue lest she should bewitch the child. With these thoughts, I think you,O Marcion, would dare destroy the original records of Christ that His flesh might not be demonstrated. But, I beseech you, on what grounds is this done? Show me your authority. If you are a Prophet, pronounce something; if an Apostle, preach it in public; if a follower of the Apostles, think with the Apostles; if you are only a Christian, believe in that which has been handed down. If, however, you are none of these, then I would with reason say, die, but indeed you are dead who are no Christian, not believing in that which by being believed makes one Christian. Tertullian, On the Flesh of Christ