709the greater the judgment that hangs over those who disturb everything, the greater too and more abundant is the reward to be expected by you, who have applied such patience and zeal toward correcting the evils that have been wickedly committed by others. And we indeed desired, while present in person, to meet with your devotion; but since we have been deprived of this by the necessity of exile, and having at long last and with difficulty obtained the presence of my most esteemed and devout presbyter who is arriving to you, we have sent these letters, both offering the duty of greeting that is owed, and giving thanks for what is past, for what is present, and for the entire correction of the evils. For even if nothing more is achieved, you have done your part. Wherefore you have also had [the reward] made complete by the philanthropic God, having used such great zeal and readiness throughout all this time to heal what had been done wickedly. A
CLXVIII. To the gentlewoman Proba, in Rome.
Even though we are separated by a long span of road, yet we have attained such accurate experience of your genuine and warm love—as if we were present and seeing all your affairs—from those arriving here to us from there and reporting about your gentleness exactly what we desired to learn. For this reason we owe you many and great thanks, and we boast and pride ourselves on the disposition of your nobility; and we entrust the beloved, the most devout presbyter John, and the most esteemed deacon Paul, to your decorum, as sending them as if to a harbor, namely, your hands. Therefore, I entreat you, my most esteemed and noble lady, to see them as is fitting for you. For you know how great will be your reward for this kindness. And whenever it is possible, signify to us more frequently about your health, about which it is very important for us to learn, since we cling to it very strongly. BCLXIX. To Juliana, and those with her.
By as much as the judgment is more severe for those who have perpetrated such transgressions, by so much the greater will the reward be for you, who have been zealous to undo such great transgressions, and who are displaying such labor and toil. For the benevolence and zeal that you displayed also in the matter at hand, and toward the kindness of those who have arrived there from us, did not escape our notice. Wherefore we give you thanks, and we exhort you to persist in the same readiness, and to display even more robust vigor and courage. For you know the magnitude of the achievement, and how great is the reward you will receive, by stilling such disturbance, and such savage waves, so far as it concerns you, and by bringing in the correction appropriate for the evils that have occurred. CCLXX. To Italica.
In external affairs, these sexes are distinguished—I mean man and woman—just as by nature, so also by activity and by the way they are handled. For in the one case it is considered proper to keep the house, while for the man to be involved in civic affairs and those of the market. But in the contests of God, and in the toils for the Church, this is not so; but a woman is able, even more strongly than a man, to hold fast to these noble contests and toils. And Paul, declaring this in the letter to your fatherland, proclaims many women, saying that they have labored not a little in correcting men and in leading them toward what is fitting. For what reason do I say these things? So that you may not think it alien to yourselves to be involved in the zeal and toils that contribute to the ecclesiastical correction, but, as is fitting for you, both by yourselves and through others, whomsoever it might be possible, you may bring in the appropriate zeal, to break the common storm and disturbance that has seized the Churches of the East. For by how much the storm has become more severe, and the winter harsher, by so much the greater will be the reward for you, who have chosen to do and suffer everything for the sake of bringing back the disturbed peace, and to be zealous to set all that has been disturbed in the appropriate state. DCLXXI. To Montius.
We are seated far from you in the presence of the body, but near in the disposition of the soul, and we are with you, and we are intertwined day by day; considering within ourselves your warm love for us, the hospitality, the kindness, such great care and zeal which you displayed through all things, and luxuriating in the memory of your nobility, and proclaiming your sincere, guileless disposition to all. Wherefore we desire letters from your nobility, and we entreat you to write to us constantly, and to bring good tidings concerning your health, so that from this also we may harvest much consolation, learning about your steadfastness. For it is very important to us to know this. Do not, therefore, deprive us of this gladness; but as often as it is possible, write, bringing these good tidings. ACLXXII. To Helladius.
We have been with you but a little while, yet we have attained much experience of your genuine and warm love. For noble souls overcome those who meet them in a brief time. Which you yourself have also done, having in a short time made us fervent lovers of your nobility. Wherefore we write, and make known our affairs to you: that we are living in great peace and freedom from business, everyone here attending to us with zeal and seeing us with much goodwill. In order, then, that we too might rejoice by learning of your affairs, do not hesitate to write to us constantly, and to bring good tidings concerning your health, so that from this also we may harvest much consolation, receiving such letters from your nobility. BCLXXIII. To Evethius.
Even though we have been separated from your nobility in body,