Letter 143

143. To Another Auditor

If it were possible for me to be present in person with your Honour, I should certainly have laid before you myself the matters I wished to, and taken up the cause of those who are hard pressed. But since sickness of body and the press of affairs draw me away, I commend to you in my stead this brother the country-bishop, that you may attend to him sincerely and use him as a counsellor, since he is able to give counsel about affairs in a manner both truth-loving and prudent. For the poor-house administered by him, whenever you deign to view it (and you will view it, I know well, and not pass it by, since you are not without experience of the work, but, as someone reported to me, maintain one of those in Amasea out of what the Lord has given you) — whenever, then, you have seen this too, you will furnish him all that he seeks. For your colleague too has already promised me some kindness concerning the poor-houses. And I say this not that you should imitate another (for it is fitting that you should be a leader to others in good works), but that you may know that other men too have been moved to entreat us about these very matters.