A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

295sions and distress of all, hast ventured on subverting all things atonce. And what means will be left for thee for justifying thyselfwith respect to these things?But perhaps thou wilt say, I did this to prevent many frombeing drawn away with the unbelief of many, because the flockswere in need and forsaken, there being no pastor with them. Well,but it is most certain that they were in no such destitution; in thefirst place, because there were many going among them and ableto visit them; and, in the second place, even it there were somethings neglected by them, representation should have come fromthe people, and we should have duly considered the matter. Butthey knew that they were in no want of ministers, and thereforethey did not come to seek thee. They knew that either we werewont to warn them from such complaint or there was done, withall carefulness, what seemed profitable; for it was done undercorrection and all was considered with well-approved honesty.Thou, however, giving such careful attention to the deceits ofcertain men and their vain words, 90 hast, as it were, stealthilyleaped forward to the performance of ordinations. For if, indeed,those accompanying thee constrained thee to this and compelledthee and were ignorant of the ecclesiastical order, thou oughtestto have followed the rule and have informed us by letter; andin that way what seemed expedient would have been done. Andif perchance some persuaded thee to credit their story, who saidto thee that it was all over with us—a matter which could nothave been unknown to thee, because there were many passingand repassing by us who might visit thee—even if this had beenso, yet oughtest thou to have waited for the judgment of thesuperior father and his allowance of this thing. But thinkingnothing of these matters, and hoping something different, or [269]rather having no care for us, thou hast provided certain rulersfor the people. For now we learn that there are also divisions,90 See next selection.