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

To the clergy of Samosata.
Letter CCXIX. 2862
The Lord ordereth “all things in measure and weight,” 2863 and brings on us the
temptations which do not exceed our power to endure them, 2864 but tests all that fight in
the cause of true religion by affliction, not suffering them to be tempted above that they are
able to bear. 2865 He gives tears to drink in great measure 2866 to all who ought to show
whether in their affections they are preserving their gratitude to Him. Especially in His
dispensation concerning you has He shown His loving-kindness, not suffering such a persecution
to be brought on you by your enemies as might turn some of you aside, or cause
you to swerve from the faith of Christ. He has matched you with adversaries who are of
small importance and easy to be repelled, and has prepared the prize for your patience in
your victory over them. But the common enemy of our life, who, in his wiles, strives against
the goodness of God, because he has seen that, like a strong wall, you are despising attack
from without, has devised, as I hear, that there should arise among yourselves mutual offences
and quarrels. These indeed, at the outset, are insignificant and easy of cure; as time goes
on, however, they are increased by contention and are wont to result in irremediable mischief.
2867 I have, therefore, undertaken to exhort you by this letter. Had it been possible,
I would have come myself and supplicated you in person. But this is prevented by present
circumstances, and so, in lieu of supplication, I hold out this letter to you, that you may respect
my entreaty, may put a stop to your mutual rivalries, and may soon send me the good
news that all cause of offence among you is at an end.
2. I am very anxious that you should know that he is great before God who humbly
submits to his neighbour and submits to charges against himself, without having cause for
shame, even though they are not true, that he may bring the great blessing of peace upon
God’s Church.
I hope that there will arise among you a friendly rivalry, as to who shall first be worthy
of being called God’s son, after winning this rank for himself because of his being a peacemaker.
A letter has also been written to you by your very God-beloved bishop as to the
course which you ought to pursue. He will write again what it belongs to him to say. But
2862 Placed in 375.
2863 Wisd. xi. 20.
2864 cf. Matt. vi. 13.
2865 cf. 1 Cor. x. 13.
2866 cf. Ps. lxxx. 5.
2867 cf. Homer of ῎Ερις, Il. iv. 442: ἥ τ᾽ ὀλίγη μὲν πρῶτα κορύσσεται, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα οὐρανῷ ἐστήριξε κάρη
καὶ ἐπὶ χθονὶ βαίνει
To the clergy of Samosata.
731