Letter 229

229. To the clergy of Nicopolis.

Even a work carried out by one or two devout men assures us that it is done by the counsel of the Spirit. For when nothing human lies before the eyes, and holy men press toward their actions with no aim of personal enjoyment, but set before themselves only what is well-pleasing to God, it is plain that the Lord is the one who directs their hearts. And where spiritual men take the lead in the deliberations, and the people of the Lord follow them in agreement of mind, who will doubt that the decision was reached by the fellowship of our Lord Jesus Christ, who poured out his blood for the churches? Hence you yourselves rightly judged that our most God-beloved brother and fellow-minister Poemenius was moved according to God, who both stood by you at the right moment and came to this manner of consolation. And I praise not only his discovery of what was profitable, but I also admire the nobility of his judgement, in that he did not draw the matter out into delays—which would have slackened the zeal of those who were seeking, given time for self-defence to the claimants, and stirred up the plots of those lying in wait—but at once brought the good plan to its end. May the Lord, by his grace, keep him and all his household safe, so that the church may remain true to itself in the equally honoured succession of its predecessor, and give no place to the evil one, who now, if ever, is vexed at the stability of the churches.

As for the brothers in Coloneia, we have exhorted them much by letter, and you too ought to receive their disposition with goodwill rather than provoke them, as men slighted on account of their small numbers, nor by contempt drive them into rivalry. For somehow those who fall into rivalry tend to become more imprudent, and to manage much of their own affairs badly for the sake of grieving their opponents. And no one now is so small that he cannot furnish an occasion for great evils to those who want an occasion. And we say this not by guesswork, but taught by the experience of our own troubles—which may God turn aside through your prayers. And pray together with us for a good journey, that when we are present we may rejoice with you over your present shepherd, and be comforted together over the departure of our common father.