A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

§ 73. Sole Authority of the State Church 413them opportunity for repentance. But some who had so deeplyinvolved themselves that no remedy could assist them have beensubjected to the laws, in accordance with the constitutions of ourChristian princes, and lest they should pollute the holy flock bytheir contagion, have been banished into perpetual exile by thepublic judges. And all the profane and disgraceful things whichare found, as well in their writings as in their secret traditions,we have disclosed and clearly proved to the eyes of Christianlaity, that the people might know what to shrink from or avoid;so that he that was called their bishop was himself tried by us andbetrayed the criminal views which he held in his mystic religion,as the record of our proceedings can show you. For this, too, wehave sent you for instruction; and after reading them you will beable to understand all the discoveries we have made.And because we know that some of those who are involvedhere in too close an accusation for them to clear themselves havefled, we have sent this letter to you, beloved, by our acolyte; thatyour holiness, dear brothers, may be informed of this, and see fitto act more diligently and cautiously, lest the men of Manichæanerror be able to find opportunity of hurting your people and ofteaching these impious doctrines. For we cannot otherwise rulethose intrusted to us unless we pursue, with the zeal of faith inthe Lord, those who are destroyers and destroyed; and with whatseverity we can bring to bear, cut them off from intercourse withsound minds, lest this pestilence spread much wider. Wherefore Iexhort you, beloved, I beseech and warn you to use such watchfuldiligence as you ought and can employ in tracking them out lestthey find opportunity of concealment anywhere.[378](g) Leo the Great, Epistula 15. (MSL, 54:680.)An account of the tenets of the Priscillianists. Leo is answeringa letter sent him by Bishop Turribius of Asturia, in which