so as to resolve the evil. Why do I say these things? Lest anyone deceive you by reason of the turmoil that has arisen into leaving Phoenicia and withdrawing from there; but by as much as the difficulties are many, and the waves more grievous, and the turmoil greater, by so much the more should you persevere, being zealous, sober, and vigilant, displaying greater eagerness, so that your most excellent building may not be demolished, nor such great labor become useless, nor your cultivation be made to vanish. For God is able both to resolve the turmoil and to grant you the reward of your patience. For indeed, the reward for you is not so great when matters are proceeding with ease as it is now, when there is much difficulty, much turmoil, and many who cause scandal. Considering, therefore, both the toil you have expended, and the labor you have endured, and the accomplishments you have achieved, and that by the grace of God you have put an end to such a portion of impiety, and that the affairs of Phoenicia have come to a state of progress, and that the reward is now greater for you and the compensation larger, and that God will soon resolve the obstacles and will give you many compensations for your patience, remain and stand firm. For there is nothing that you should lack even now; rather, I have ordered that you enjoy the same abundance and plenty, whether in clothing, whether in footwear, or in the provisions of the brethren. And if we, being in such 664 distress and circumstance, and dwelling in the desert of Cucusus, take such care for your accomplishments, how much more does it behoove you, who are enjoying much sufficiency—I mean, regarding the need for necessities—to contribute from your own resources? I entreat you, therefore, let no one frighten you. For indeed, the situation has come to have better hopes; and you will be able to learn this from the copies sent by my lord, the most reverent presbyter Constantius. And if you remain, even if there are ten thousand obstacles, you will overcome them all. For there is nothing equal to patience and endurance; for it is like a rock; and these turmoils and machinations that are being stirred up against the Church are like waves breaking against the rock and dissolving into their own foam. Consider how much the blessed apostles suffered, both from their own people and from strangers, and that throughout the whole time of their preaching they passed through trials, dangers, and machinations, being consumed by prisons, chains, abductions, lashes, famines, and nakedness. But nevertheless, even when dwelling in those very prisons, they did not depart from the stewardship entrusted to them; but the blessed Paul, even when residing in prison, and having been scourged, and flowing with blood, and having been bound to a wooden stock, and suffering such things, was still initiating in the prison, and was baptizing the jailer, and was doing all things that belonged to his duty. Considering all these things, then, and such things as these, I have entreated your love: stand firm, immovable, undeceived, awaiting the hope of God and the alliance from Him, than which there is nothing equal; and endeavor to write back to us concerning all things from there. For it is for this reason that we sent John, the most reverent presbyter, to this place, so as to exhort your mind and not allow it to be shaken by anyone. I have done my part, both by exhorting with words, and by setting right with counsels, and by providing an abundance of necessities, so that you should not lack in anything. If you should not wish to bear with me, but to be persuaded by those very people who are deceiving and unsettling you, I am blameless. But you know on whom this condemnation and loss falls. So that nothing of the sort may happen, I entreat you to bear with me, who loves you greatly. And concerning whatever you may need, either write to us, or, if you wish, send someone to us, and you will not lack anything at all.
CXXIV. To Gemellus.
Others indeed rejoice with your magnificence regarding your appointment, but I with the city; and this because of your greatness, not for the sake of the honor from this (for you have studied to be above such things), but because you have found an opportunity which provides you with much freedom to show to the many your prudence 666 and gentleness, and to gather the profit resulting from this. For I know well that even those who are strongly nailed to the earth, and who are gaping after these dreams—I mean the glory that comes from the many—you will be able to instruct that an official is not in the robe, or the belt, or in the voice of the herald, but in restoring what has been labored, and correcting what is in a bad state, and punishing injustice, and not permitting the just to be driven away by power. For I know your boldness, your freedom of speech, the height of your mind, your disdain for worldly things, your hatred of evil, your gentleness, and your philanthropy, which is most needed by a ruler. Therefore, I also know this clearly: that you will be a harbor for the shipwrecked, a staff for those who have bowed their knees, a tower for those who are oppressed by unjust power; and you will be these things easily. For you do not need toil, or sweat, or a long time to accomplish these things; but just as the sun at once appears and dissolves every darkness, so also, now that you have appeared on the throne, I know well that from the first day you have restrained those attempting to commit injustice, and those being wronged, even before they entered the courthouse, you have delivered from every vexation; and the reputation of your philosophical soul has sufficed for the correction of this. Because of these things, although I am sitting in the desert and am held by many circumstances, I am filled with much cheer, considering the alliance of those who are wronged to be my own pleasure.