Letter 238

238. To the presbyters of Nicopolis.

I received the letter of your Reverence, and I had nothing newer to learn from it than what I already knew. For the report had reached the whole surrounding region, proclaiming the shame of the man who has fallen among you, who, out of desire for empty glory, gathered to himself the most disgraceful dishonour, and was found, through his self-love, to have fallen away from the rewards that come from the faith; yet he does not even hold that wretched bit of glory, in desire of which he sold himself to impiety, since, by the justice of God, he is hated by those who fear the Lord. But that man brought forth, by his present choice, the clearest proof of his whole life: that he never lived in hope of the promises laid up for us with the Lord, but if he ever contrived for himself anything human, both the words of faith and the pretence of reverence—all this was practised for the deceiving of those he met.

But you—why does what happened distress you? In what have you become worse than yourselves because of it? One has dropped out of your number; and if some one or two others departed with him, these are pitiable for their fall, but your body is whole by the grace of God. For what was made useless has flowed away, and what remains has not been maimed. And if it grieves you that you have been cast out of the walls, yet you will lodge under the shelter of the God of heaven, and the angel who is the overseer of the church departed with you. So they recline among empty things each day, by the dispersal of the people preparing for themselves a heavy judgement. And if there is any labour in the matter, I am persuaded in the Lord that this will not turn out in vain for you. So that the more you are placed amid more trials, the more costly is the reward you may await from the just judge. Neither, then, be downcast at the present, nor grow weary in hope. For yet a very little while, and he who takes your part will come to you, and will not delay.