727you have endured, how many temptations, how many molestations, I was already aware; and on this account I consider you blessed, when I bring to mind the crowns, the prizes, and the rewards which are being prepared for you. For as those who lay snares for you, and disturb you, bring upon themselves a grievous judgment and heap up the fire of hell upon their own head: so you, who suffer such things, shall obtain a great reward and a great retribution. Do not therefore be terrified, or troubled by this, but rejoice and exult, while you retain the apostolic frame of mind which declares: "Now I rejoice in my sufferings" (Col. 1:24), and again, "Not only so, but we also glory in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience trial" (Rom. 5:3-4). Having become, therefore, more proved and more opulent with heavenly riches, even if more grievous things than these befall you, exult the more. "For the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory which shall be revealed in us" (Rom. 8:18). Nor, indeed, is your patience, your fortitude, your endurance, your sincere and ardent love, and the firm and immovable constancy of your mind unknown to us. For which cause we give you immense thanks, and we are perpetually bound to your souls, and neither the length of the journey renders us any less diligent toward your charity. But I also give you thanks for the zeal you exhibited so that no tumult might occur in the Church of the Goths, but that the matter might be drawn out by some delay. And I not only do not blame you for sending no one, but I even praise and admire you. For it is much more desirable than that, that you all should apply yourselves to this kind of work. Do not, therefore, cease to carry out what is your duty, both through yourselves and through others through whom it may be possible, so that the business may be prolonged by some delay. For whether anything be accomplished by your efforts or not, a full and heaped-up reward shall be settled upon you for this intent of mind and zeal.
CCVIII. To Acacius the Presbyter.
You who burn with such love for us, and embrace us with such vehement benevolence, do not even make us partakers of your letters. And yet we have already written to you once and again; but you have proved more sluggish in this matter. Since, therefore, you understand how great a favor you will be conferring upon us if you make us more certain regarding your health, take care, I pray, to send letters to us as quickly as possible. For we shall be soothed with no small consolation if we are informed without intermission regarding the health of our friends.CCIX. To Salvion.
That we are loved by you, whether you write or whether you are silent, I know for certain. For neither can your love for us, so ardent, be hidden from us, but all men proclaim this, and many who arrive here from you announce your fervent and sincere charity toward us. Yet we would also wish to receive letters frequently from your generosity, by which we might become more certain regarding your health and that of my lady your wife, and of your whole house; for you know how much concern we have in this. Since these things are therefore plain to you, my lord most venerable, although it is difficult to do what we ask, both because of the winter season and because few come to us, when it is possible, do not be loath to write to us, and to indicate those things which we have requested. For we deem your health and safety to be our wealth, and joy, and truly abundant pleasure. Beware, therefore, of depriving us of such pleasure, but grant to those who love you dearly this consolation by letter, which will mitigate our weariness with no small solace.CCX. To Theodore.
I have marveled at how it came about that I should learn of the negligence of Salustius the presbyter from others. For it has been signified to me that he had scarcely held five homilies in the month of October, and that both he and Theophilus the presbyter, the one from sloth, the other from fear, do not come to the gathering. But I have rebuked Theophilus more vehemently by letter, whereas I write to your reverence concerning Salustius, because I know that he is loved vehemently by you: for which cause I am not insignificantly glad and pleased. But I am also indignant at your reverence, because you did not make this manifest to me, who ought to have corrected him: yet you have performed neither of these things. Now, therefore, at least, I pray you, grant this greatest favor both to yourself and to us, that you excite him vehemently, and do not permit him to fall asleep, or to be idle. For if now in this tempest and storm of these affairs he does not show himself to possess fitting fortitude, when shall we stand in need of his labors, when tranquility and peace shall have returned? I exhort you, therefore, that having performed what is of your duty, as is fitting, you excite both him and all others to bring aid to the people tossed by the storm, which I know full well you began to do of your own accord and without any prompter, before you received our letters.CCXI. To Timothy the Presbyter.
We indeed wrote lately to you and to my most honorable lord Marcian the tribune; but you neither took care for letters to be sent to me by him, nor did you yourself write to us. Nevertheless, following our custom, we do not cease to remember you without intermission, and to write to you when the opportunity provides; which we do even now, and we give you immense thanks for the zeal you show, and the dangers you undergo, and we proclaim you blessed. For you do not store up for yourselves small crowns, while being afflicted for a short time, you prepare for yourselves an everlasting reward in heaven and one much greater than these labors. For "the sufferings of this present time" are not worthy...