Letter 166

166. To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata

Honoured by me in all things, and among the truest of friends, our most reverend brother Eupraxius showed himself more honoured still and more genuine through his disposition toward you; for even now he has hastened to your Godliness (to use David's words) as a deer, cooling a great and unbearable thirst at a fresh and pure spring. And blessed is he who has been counted worthy to draw near to you; and more blessed still is he who, by sufferings for Christ and by sweats for the truth, has set such a crown upon them, which few of those who fear God have obtained. For you did not display your virtue untested, nor did you sail rightly and steer the souls of others only in a time of fair weather, but you shone out amid the hardships of trials, and rose above your persecutors by nobly removing from the land that bore you.

And others have their fathers' ground, but we the city above; others perhaps our throne, but we Christ. O the bargain — what things we have despised, what things we have gained! We have passed through fire and water; and I believe that we shall come out also into a place of refreshment. For God will not forsake us to the end, nor overlook the right doctrine when it is persecuted; but according to the multitude of our pains His comforts will gladden us. This, then, we both believe and pray. And you, I beg, pray for our lowliness, and as often as the occasion offers, do not be reluctant to bless us by letter, and to make us of better cheer by making known your own affairs — which you have now thought fit to do.