Letter 113

113. To the Presbyters of Tarsus

On meeting this man, I gave great thanks to the holy God, both because by his presence he consoled me amid many afflictions, and because through him he plainly showed me your love. For in the resolve of this one man I came to know the zeal of you all for the truth. What we discussed privately with one another he will himself report to you; but what it was fitting that your love should learn from me is this. The present time has great weight toward the ruin of the churches, and this we have for a long time now perceived. But of the building up of the Church, the correcting of faults, compassion toward the weak, the defence of the sound among the brothers — of these there is not one. There is no remedy, no cure for the disease that has already taken hold, no safeguard against the one that is expected. And the condition of the Church now resembles — to use a plain illustration, though it may seem too lowly — an old garment, easily torn at the slightest pretext, and unable to be restored again to its original strength. At such a time, then, there is need of great earnestness and much diligence, that the churches may receive some benefit. And the benefit is this: that what has hitherto been torn apart should be united. And union would come about if we were willing, in matters where we do no harm to our souls, to bear with the weaker. Since, then, many mouths have been opened against the Holy Spirit, and many tongues sharpened for blasphemy against him, we ask you, so far as it lies with you, to reduce the blasphemers to a small number; and to receive into communion those who do not call the Holy Spirit a creature, so that the blasphemers may be left alone, and may either, put to shame, return to the truth, or, persisting in their sin, be discredited through their fewness. Let us, then, seek nothing further, but let us set before the brothers who wish to join with us the faith of Nicaea; and if they assent to it, let us further ask of them that the Holy Spirit ought not to be called a creature, and that those who say so are not to be in communion. Beyond these things I ask that nothing be sought from us. For I am persuaded that, by longer association and by unquarrelsome common exercise, and if anything more should need to be added for clearer understanding, the Lord will grant it — he who works all things together for good to those who love him.