Nicene and Post-Nicene Church Fathers Series 2 - The Still Small ...

To the presbyters of Tarsus. 2381
Letter CXIII. 2380
On meeting this man, I heartily thanked God that by means of his visit He had comforted
me in many afflictions and had through him shewn me clearly your love. I seem to see in
one man’s disposition the zeal of all of you for the truth. He will tell you of our discourses
with one another. What you ought to learn directly from me is as follows.
We live in days when the overthrow of the Churches seems imminent; of this I have
long been cognisant. There is no edification of the Church; no correction of error; no
sympathy for the weak; no single defence of sound brethren; no remedy is found either to
heal the disease which has already seized us, or as a preventive against that which we expect.
Altogether the state of the Church (if I may use a plain figure though it may seem too humble
an one) is like an old coat, which is always being torn and can never be restored to its original
strength. At such a time, then, there is need of great effort and diligence that the Churches
may in some way be benefited. It is an advantage that parts hitherto severed should be
united. Union would be effected if we were willing to accommodate ourselves to the
weaker, where we can do so without injury to souls; since, then, many mouths are open
against the Holy Ghost, and many tongues whetted to blasphemy against Him, we implore
you, as far as in you lies, to reduce the blasphemers to a small number, and to receive into
communion all who do not assert the Holy Ghost to be a creature, that the blasphemers
may be left alone, and may either be ashamed and return to the truth, or, if they abide in
their error, may cease to have any importance from the smallness of their numbers. Let us
then seek no more than this, but propose to all the brethren, who are willing to join us, the
Nicene Creed. If they assent to that, let us further require that the Holy Ghost ought not to
be called a creature, nor any of those who say so be received into communion. I do not
think that we ought to insist upon anything beyond this. For I am convinced that by longer
communication and mutual experience without strife, if anything more requires to be added
by way of explanation, the Lord Who worketh all things together for good for them that
love Him, 2382 will grant it.
2380 Placed in 372.
2381 That the Nicene Creed alone is to be required of the brethren.
2382 Rom. viii. 28.
To the presbyters of Tarsus.
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