But so that no one may say, “Kill yourselves all, go to your God already and stop causing us trouble,” I want to explain why we do not do this, and why, when we are interrogated, we nonetheless confess fearlessly. We have been taught that God did not create the world without purpose, but for the human race; we have also previously said that He delights in those who imitate His perfections, but takes no pleasure in those who love evil in word and deed. If we were all to take our own lives, we would, as far as it depends on us, be responsible for no one else being born and instructed in the divine teachings, and for the extinction of the human race; if we were truly to act in this way, we would ourselves be acting against the divine plan.
But during interrogation (persecution), we do not deny, because we are conscious of no wrongdoing, and also because we consider it a sin not to speak the truth in all things, which we believe is also pleasing to God, and because we wish thereby to free you as well from your unjust prejudice.
Source: Justin Martyr, Second Apology (Apologia secunda)