Letter 190

190. To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium.

Worthily of your own graciousness and zeal, of which I am ever an admirer, you have taken thought for the affairs of the church of the Isaurians. That it would be in every way more advantageous for the charge to be divided among several bishops is, I think, plain at once even to a chance observer; nor did this escape your discernment, but you both noted it rightly and made it known to us. But since it is not easy to find worthy men, may it not happen that, while we wish to have the credit that comes from numbers, and to make the Church of God more carefully administered by a greater number, we unawares, through the unfitness of those called, drag the matter down into cheapness and breed in the peoples a habit of indifference? For you yourself know that, whatever sort the leaders are, such for the most part the characters of those they rule are wont to become. So perhaps it is better to put forward one approved man, if even this is easy, as protector of the city, and to entrust to his own responsibility the administration of each matter — provided only that he be a servant of God, a workman not ashamed, not seeking his own interest, but that of the many, that they may be saved; one who, if he knows himself too small for the care, will take to himself workmen for the harvest. If, then, we find such a man, I confess that the one is worth many, and that it is more advantageous for the churches, and less dangerous for us, thus to manage the care of souls. But if this is not easy, let us be zealous first to give leaders to the small towns, or rather small villages, which from of old have held the throne of bishops; and then we will set up the bishop of the city, lest the one put forward become an impediment to our subsequent administration, and we straightway begin to be at war with our own household, because he wishes to rule over more and will not accept the ordinations of bishops. But if this is burdensome, and the time does not permit, let your discernment be zealous for this: to make the bishop of the Isaurians limit his own circuit, so that he may ordain some of the neighbouring places. And the rest will remain stored up for us, so that at the proper time we may give to all the others bishops whom we ourselves judge to be more worthy, having tested them by much examination.

We questioned George, as your reverence commanded, and he said what your piety also reported, in face of which we must keep quiet, casting upon the Lord the care of the house. For I trust the holy God that he will give understanding, so as to deliver us from our needs in some other way, and to procure for us a life free from grief. If, then, this does not seem good, do you yourself deign to send me a memorandum, as to what office I should bring zeal to bear upon, that we may begin to ask each of our influential friends for this favour, whether without payment, or at a moderate price, as the Lord shall prosper us.

I have written to brother Valerius, as you directed. The affairs of Nyssa are similar to those left by your piety, and they advance toward the better through the cooperation of your prayers. Those, however, who at that time broke away from us — some of them have gone off to the camp, others remain, awaiting the report from there. But the Lord is able both to make their hopes vain and to render the others' return fruitless.

Philo, interpreting the manna, said — as though taught from some Jewish tradition — that its quality was such that it was blended according to the imagination of the eater; and that in itself it was like a grain of millet boiled in honey, but that it furnished now the taste of bread, now of meat — and meat of this or that kind, whether of bird or of land animal — now of a vegetable, and of the vegetable each one desired, and of fish, so that the proper character of the quality of each kind was exactly preserved in the taste of the eater.

The Scripture knows of chariots having warriors of the third rank as riders, because the rest of the chariots had two riders, the driver and the man-at-arms; but those of Pharaoh had two who fought, and one who held the reins of the horses.

Simplicius wrote to us a kindly letter, and one of fellowship, to whom we, in reply, have sent the letter to your reverence, so that, when you have fully approved it, you may command it to be sent to him — with the addition, of course, of your own letter as well.

May you be granted to me, sound and cheerful in the Lord, praying earnestly for me, and to the Church of God, by the lovingkindness of the Holy One.