to the future glory which will be revealed in us (Rom. 8:18).
B CCXII. To Theophilus the Presbyter. (Written from Cucusus in the year 404.)
I was deeply grieved to hear that you and Salustius the presbyter do not attend the assembly regularly; and it did not grieve me as a trifling matter. I entreat you, therefore, if this is a lie, hasten to inform me, so that you may know you have been slandered in vain; but if it is true, correct this negligence. For just as your reward is very great, especially since you are showing the appropriate courage in the present time, so the judgment will be no light one for those who are slothful, and who draw back, and do not contribute what they can. For you know what happened to the man who buried the one talent, who, while accused of nothing else, was punished for this alone, and paid the inexorable penalty. Hasten, therefore, to free me from this anxiety. For just as it brings me much consolation and comfort when I hear that you are with readiness strengthening all the tempest-tossed people; so when I learn that some are slothful, I grieve not a little on behalf of those who are slothful themselves. For the grace of God strengthens that most excellent flock every day, as you yourselves have known from their very deeds; but those who, through sloth, fail to do what they can, store up for themselves no small judgment through this sloth.
C CCXIII. To Philippus the Presbyter. (Written from Cucusus in the year 404.)
I marveled why, during so long a time, you have not written to us, and yet you show great love for us even while absent, but have granted us none of your own letters. Now, at any rate, do not be sluggish in writing to us, and in informing us about your health: for even if you do not write, we inquire about your affairs, and we have learned that you were expelled from the school, after having shown the frankness appropriate to you. This is your reward, this is a heavenly business, this is an incorruptible crown, this is a multitude of prizes. Considering all these things, therefore, bear what has happened bravely. For God is able both to loose these temptations, and to bring about calm as quickly as possible, and to give you a great reward for this patience in the future age.
D CCXIV. To Sebastianus the Presbyter. (Written from Cucusus between the years 404 and 407.)
Even if we are separated from your honor in body, we are nonetheless bound to you in love, and wherever we may be, we carry your disposition in our memory, even if we were carried off to the very ends of the inhabited world. That you yourself also have an unforgetful memory of us, I think there is no need to doubt. I know your genuine affection, the firmness of your love, the unswerving nature of your mind. Therefore we also entreat you to write to us frequently, and to bring us good news about your health. For it is very important for us to learn of this; and while living in this wilderness we shall reap much consolation from such letters.
B CCXV. To Pelagius the Presbyter. (Written from Cucusus between the years 404 and 407.)
I know your gentleness, your moderation, your uprightness, the fervor of your charity, the sincerity of your affection for us. Therefore I greet your honor with much eagerness, and I make it clear that wherever I may be, I carry you in my thoughts. I entreat you, therefore, so that we may receive another joy, not only from writing, but also from learning about your health, make these things known to us frequently. For even if we were carried off to a wilderness more miserable than this, receiving such letters from you who love us, we would enjoy much happiness.
C CCXVI. To Musonius. (Written from Cucusus in the year 404.)
We have already written to your nobility, my most honorable and reverent lord, and now we do the same thing again, even though you have not written to us even once. But nevertheless, we shall not cease writing to you continuously, and doing what is proper for ourselves. For we wished to do this even more frequently; but since we are living in a wilderness in a very remote region, and the fear of robbers besieges the city, and the winter season walls off the roads, all these things do not permit many [messengers] to visit us frequently; yet whenever it is possible, and we chance upon letter-carriers, we render the due greeting to your reverence. For we know the genuineness of your love, the warm disposition, the unswerving nature of your mind, your freedom, your lack of hypocrisy. Therefore we carry you in our memory continuously, wherever we may be, and we are not able to forget your kindness. But so that we may be cheered, not only by writing but also by receiving letters informing us of your health, send us such epistles continuously. For in this way, even being far away, we shall reap much comfort from such letters, when we hear that you, our ardent lovers and those warm [in affection], are living in good cheer and are safe.
D CCXVII. To Valentinus. (Written from Cucusus in the year 404 or 405.)
I know your noble soul, and the warm love...