Letter 287

287. Without superscription, on church-advocates

The case of this man seems hard to handle. For we do not know what to do with a character so versatile and, as one may conjecture from what is seen, so past all hope. When summoned to judgement, he does not obey; and if he does appear, he uses such an abundance of words and oaths that we are glad to be quickly rid of him. I have often seen him even turn the charges back upon his accusers. In short, no nature among all that feed upon the earth is so manifold and so apt for moulding into wickedness as that of this man, as one may judge of him from even a little experience. Why, then, do you ask me, and do not rather persuade yourselves to endure the wrongs you suffer from him as a kind of God-sent visitation? But that you may not be defiled by sharing in his sins, let him with his whole household be cut off from the prayers, and from the rest of fellowship with the clergy. Perhaps, becoming an object of caution to all, he will be brought to shame.