03.04.2013 Views

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

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

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

To Sophronius, the bishop. 2569<br />

Letter CLXXII. 2568<br />

<strong>The</strong>re is no need for me to say how much I was delighted by your letter. Your own<br />

words will enable you to conjecture what I felt on receiving it. You have exhibited to me in<br />

your letter, the first fruits of the Spirit, love. Than this what can be more precious to me in<br />

the present state of affairs, when, because iniquity abounds, the love of many has waxed<br />

cold? 2570 Nothing is rarer now than spiritual intercourse with a brother, a word of peace,<br />

<strong>and</strong> such spiritual communion as I have found in you. For this I thank the Lord, beseeching<br />

Him that I may have part in the perfect joy that is found in you. If such be your letter, what<br />

must it be to meet you in person? If when you are far away you so affect me, what will you<br />

be to me when you are seen face to face? Be sure that if I had not been detained by innumerable<br />

occupations, <strong>and</strong> all the unavoidable anxieties which tie me down, I should have hurried<br />

to see your excellency. Although that old complaint of mine is a great hindrance to my<br />

moving about, nevertheless in view of the good I expect, I would not have allowed this to<br />

st<strong>and</strong> in my way. To be permitted to meet a man holding the same views <strong>and</strong> reverencing<br />

the faith of the <strong>Fathers</strong>, as you are said to do by our honourable brethren <strong>and</strong> fellow presbyters,<br />

is in truth to go back to the ancient blessedness of the <strong>Church</strong>es, when the sufferers<br />

from unsound disputation were few, <strong>and</strong> all lived in peace, “workmen” obeying the comm<strong>and</strong>ments<br />

<strong>and</strong> not “needing to be ashamed,” 2571 serving the Lord with simple <strong>and</strong> clear<br />

confession, <strong>and</strong> keeping plain <strong>and</strong> inviolate their faith in Father, Son <strong>and</strong> Holy Ghost.<br />

2568 Placed in 374.<br />

2569 This Sophronius is distinguished by Maran from the Sophronius, magister officiorum, to whom Letters<br />

xxxii., lxxvi., <strong>and</strong> xcvi. have already been addressed, <strong>and</strong> who is also the recipient of clxxvi., clxxx., cxcii., cclxii.<br />

Nothing else is known of him.<br />

2570 Matt. xxiv. 12.<br />

2571 2 Tim. ii. 15.<br />

To Sophronius, the bishop.<br />

633<br />

219

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!