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

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To the Beræans. 2869<br />

Letter CCXX. 2868<br />

<strong>The</strong> Lord has given great consolation to all who are deprived of personal intercourse in<br />

allowing them to communicate by letter. By this means, it is true, we cannot learn the express<br />

image of the body, but we can learn the disposition of the very soul. Thus on the present<br />

occasion, when I had received the letter of your reverences, I at the same moment recognised<br />

you, <strong>and</strong> took your love towards me into my heart, <strong>and</strong> needed no long time to create intimacy<br />

with you. <strong>The</strong> disposition shewn in your letter was quite enough to enkindle in me affection<br />

for the beauty of your soul. And, besides your letter, excellent as it was, I had a yet<br />

plainer proof of how things are with you from the amiability of the brethren who have been<br />

the means of communication between us. <strong>The</strong> well-beloved <strong>and</strong> reverend presbyter Acacius,<br />

has told me much in addition to what you have written, <strong>and</strong> has brought before my eyes<br />

the conflict you have to keep up day by day, <strong>and</strong> the stoutness of the st<strong>and</strong> you are making<br />

for the true religion. He has thus so moved my admiration, <strong>and</strong> roused in me so earnest a<br />

desire of enjoying the good qualities in you, that I do pray the Lord that a time may come<br />

when I may know you <strong>and</strong> yours by personal experience. He has told me of the exactitude<br />

of those of you who are entrusted with the ministry of the altar, <strong>and</strong> moreover of the harmonious<br />

agreement of all the people, <strong>and</strong> the generous character <strong>and</strong> genuine love towards<br />

God of the magistrates <strong>and</strong> chief men of your city. I consequently congratulate the <strong>Church</strong><br />

on consisting of such members, <strong>and</strong> pray that spiritual peace may be given to you in yet<br />

greater abundance, to the end that in quieter times you may derive enjoyment from your<br />

labours in the day of affliction. For sufferings that are painful while they are being experienced<br />

are naturally often remembered with pleasure. For the present I beseech you not to<br />

faint. Do not despair because your troubles follow so closely one upon another. Your<br />

crowns are near: the help of the Lord is near. Do not let all you have hitherto undergone<br />

go for nothing; do not nullify a struggle which has been famous over all the world. Human<br />

life is but of brief duration. “All flesh is grass, <strong>and</strong> all the goodliness thereof is as the flower<br />

of the field.…<strong>The</strong> grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall st<strong>and</strong><br />

for ever.” 2870 Let us hold fast to the comm<strong>and</strong>ment that abideth, <strong>and</strong> despise the unreality<br />

that passeth away. Many <strong>Church</strong>es have been cheered by your example. In calling new<br />

champions into the field you have won for yourselves a great reward, though you knew it<br />

not. <strong>The</strong> Giver of the prize is rich, <strong>and</strong> is able to reward you not unworthily for your brave<br />

deeds.<br />

2868 Placed in 375.<br />

2869 <strong>The</strong> Syrian Beræa, Aleppo, or Haleb. cf. Letter clxxxv. p. 222.<br />

2870 Is. xl. 6, 8.<br />

To the Beræans.<br />

733<br />

261

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