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

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To Count Jovinus.<br />

Letter CLXIII. 2546<br />

One can see your soul in your letter, for in reality no painter can so exactly catch an<br />

outward likeness, as uttered thoughts can image the secrets of the soul. As I read your letter,<br />

your words exactly characterized your steadfastness, your real dignity, your unfailing sincerity;<br />

in all those things it comforted me greatly though I could not see you. Never fail, then,<br />

to seize every opportunity of writing to me, <strong>and</strong> to give me the pleasure of conversing with<br />

you at a distance; for to see you face to face I am now forbidden by the distressing state of<br />

my health. How serious this is you will learn from the God-beloved bishop Amphilochius,<br />

who is both able to report to you from his having been constantly with me, <strong>and</strong> fully competent<br />

to tell you what he has seen. But the only reason why I wish you to know of my sufferings<br />

is, that you will forgive me for the future, <strong>and</strong> acquit me of lack of energy, if I fail to<br />

come <strong>and</strong> see you, though in truth my loss does not so much need defence from me as<br />

comfort from you. Had it been possible for me to come to you, I should have very much<br />

preferred a sight of your excellency to all the ends that other men count worth an effort.<br />

2546 Placed in 374.<br />

To Count Jovinus.<br />

622

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