Letter 213

213. Without Address, to a Pious Man.

May the Lord who afforded me swift succor in my afflictions Himself grant you the succor of that refreshment with which you have refreshed us by the visitation of the present letter, repaying the reward of our humility for the comfort you have given with the true and great gladness of the spirit. For it happened that my soul was somehow ill-disposed, when in a crowded assembly I had observed a certain brutish and altogether irrational sluggishness in the people, and an old and hard-to-correct habit of evil in those who lead them. But when I saw your letter and the treasure of love in it, I recognized that He who orders our affairs had caused to shine upon us, who live in bitterness, a sweet consolation. For this reason I send my answering greeting to your Holiness, beseeching your customary comfort, that you not cease to pray for my pitiable life, lest, sunk in the phantom of this life, I forget the God who raises the poor man from the earth, and, suffering some uplifting of pride, I fall into the judgment of the devil; or, growing slack in my stewardship, be caught sleeping by the Master; or, by harmful works, even striking the conscience of my fellow servants, or being found among the drunken, suffer in the righteous judgment of God the things threatened against the wicked stewards. I beseech you, therefore, in every prayer to ask of God that we be sober in all things, that we may not become a shame and a reproach to the name of Christ in the revealing of the hidden things of our heart on the great day of the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ.

And know that I am in expectation of being summoned to the camp through the malice of the heretics, on the pretext, forsooth, of peace; and that this bishop here, having heard of it, has earnestly written to us to be present in Mesopotamia, and there, having gathered those of like mind who maintain the affairs of the churches, to set out with them to the emperor. For me, perhaps my very body will not be equal to the journey in winter; and meanwhile the matter has not seemed even necessary, unless you yourself advise it. For I shall await also the counsel of your Godliness, that my purpose may be confirmed. Therefore I beg that what occurs to your Perfection and inspired good sense be made known to us speedily, through one of the earnest brethren.