Letter 276

276. To Harmatius the Great

Even the common law of all mankind makes those advanced in age into common fathers, and our own law, which belongs to Christians, sets us elders in the rank of parents to those of such years. So do not think me presumptuous, or meddling beyond what is fitting, if I am here interceding with you on behalf of your own son. His obedience in other matters I think it right that you should require of him, for he is answerable in body both to the law of nature and to that civil law under which we live our common life. But his soul, since he came possessing it from a more divine source, it is fitting to regard as subject to another, and to hold that it owes to God debts that are the oldest of all debts. Since, then, he has chosen the God of us Christians, the true God, in preference to the many gods worshipped among you through material symbols, you should not be displeased with him, but should rather admire the nobility of his soul, in that he has set it above both fear and filial service to be joined to God through true knowledge and a life of virtue. Nature herself, then, and the gentleness and mildness of your character in all things, will not permit you to feel grief over him even for a little while. And surely you will not slight our intercession either—or rather the intercession of your own city, made through us, who out of our affection for you and our prayer for every good thing on your behalf, suppose that you yourself too will be received as a Christian. So joyful did the report make them, falling suddenly upon the city.