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

this as I wrote it, but altered (God knows by whom), then recognise their unfairness. No
bishop is accused if, while he was a layman, he wrote something somewhat incautiously on
an indifferent matter; not anything concerning the Faith, but a mere word of friendly
greeting. Possibly even my opponents are known to have written to Jews and to Pagans,
without incurring any blame. Hitherto no one has ever been judged for any such conduct
as that on which I am being condemned by these strainers-out of gnats. 2905 God, who
knows men’s hearts, knows that I never wrote these things, nor sanctioned them, but that
I anathematize all who hold the vile opinion of the confusion of the hypostases, on which
point the most impious heresy of Sabellius has been revived. And all the brethren who have
been personally acquainted with my insignificant self know it equally well. Let those very
men who now vehemently accuse me, search their own consciences, and they will own that
from my boyhood I have been far removed from any doctrine of the kind.
3. If any one enquires what my opinion is, he will learn it from the actual little document,
to which is appended their own autograph signature. This they wish to destroy, and they
are anxious to conceal their own change of position in slandering me. For they do not like
to own that they have repented of their subscription to the tract I gave them; while they
charge me with impiety from the idea that no one perceives that their disruption from me
is only a pretext, while in reality they have departed from that faith which they have over
and over again owned in writing, before many witnesses, and have lastly received and subscribed
when delivered to them by me. It is open to any one to read the signatures and to
learn the truth from the document itself. Their intention will be obvious, if, after reading
the subscription which they gave me, any one reads the creed which they gave Gelasius, 2906
and observes what a vast difference there is between the two confessions. It would be better
for men who so easily shift their own position, not to examine other men’s motes but to
cast out the beam in their own eye. 2907 I am making a more complete defence on every
point in another letter; 2908 this will satisfy readers who want fuller assurance. Do you, now
that you have received this letter, put away all despondency, and confirm the love to me, 2909
which makes me eagerly long for union with you. Verily it is a great sorrow to me, and a
pain in my heart that cannot be assuaged, if the slanders uttered against me so far prevail
as to chill your love and to alienate us from one another. Farewell.
2905 cf. Matt. xxiii. 24.
2906 cf. Letter cxxx. p. 198.
2907 cf. Matt. vii. 4.
2908 i.e. Letter ccxxiii.
2909 cf. 2 Cor. ii. 8.
To the presbyter Genethlius.
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