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

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To Eusebius, in exile.<br />

Letter CCLXVIII. 3215<br />

Even in our time the Lord has taught us, by protecting with His great <strong>and</strong> powerful<br />

h<strong>and</strong> the life of your holiness, that He does not ab<strong>and</strong>on His holy ones. I reckon your case<br />

to be almost like that of the saint remaining unhurt in the belly of the monster of the deep,<br />

or that of the men who feared the Lord, living unscathed in the fierce fire. For though the<br />

war is round about you on every side, He, as I hear, has kept you unharmed. May the mighty<br />

God keep you, if I live longer, to fulfil my earnest prayer that I may see you! If not for me,<br />

may He keep you for the rest, who wait for your return as they might for their own salvation.<br />

I am persuaded that the Lord in His loving-kindness will give heed to the tears of the<br />

<strong>Church</strong>es, <strong>and</strong> to the sighs which all are heaving over you, <strong>and</strong> will preserve you in life until<br />

He grant the prayer of all who night <strong>and</strong> day are praying to Him. Of all the measures taken<br />

against you, up to the arrival of our beloved brother Libanius the deacon, 3216 I have been<br />

sufficiently informed by him while on his way. I am anxious to learn what happened afterwards.<br />

I hear that in the meanwhile still greater troubles have occurred where you are; about<br />

all this, sooner if possible, but, if not, at least by our reverend brother Paul the presbyter,<br />

on his return, may I learn, as I pray that I may, that your life is preserved safe <strong>and</strong> sound.<br />

But on account of the report that all the roads are infested with thieves <strong>and</strong> deserters, 3217 I<br />

have been afraid to entrust anything to the brother’s keeping, for fear of causing his death.<br />

If the Lord grant a little quiet, (as I am told of the coming of the army), I will try to send<br />

you one of my own men, to visit you, to bring me back news of everything about you.<br />

3215 Placed in 378.<br />

3216 To be distinguished from Libanius the bishop, p. 177, <strong>and</strong> Libanius the professor, mentioned later.<br />

3217 Δησερόρων, or Δεσερτόρων, the accepted reading, is a curious Latinism for the Greek αὐτόυολοι. Eu-<br />

sebius was in exile in Thrace, <strong>and</strong> the now the Goths were closing round Valens.<br />

To Eusebius, in exile.<br />

835

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