ecoming a fugitive and cityless, and a slave, and serving in a foreign land, and fearing the terror of the final dread. But if I speak of Joseph, who was sold, who was [in] slavery and in bonds for so many years; or if I should speak of Moses, who suffered so many evils at the hands of the Jews; for no one can describe the afflictions of the apostles in a single speech. A Gathering all these things, therefore, and weighing with yourself how great is the reward of patience, offer a sacrifice to God by bearing generously whatever happens; and in all things glorify Him. For indeed Job obtained his crown because of such words as these. Then, truly, wait for a change for the better, and do not cease to pray to God for this, and hasten to write to us that you have profited somewhat from our letters, so that we might foster the tranquility of your soul—unless, perhaps, you wish to disturb our joy. For we are filled with much pleasure here, while we are delighted by the company of the most holy bishop, and by the quiet of this place, and by the utmost leisure. For even the fear of the Isaurians has settled down, as winter compels them to keep to their own region. Do not, therefore, disturb this joy of ours. But if letters are brought to us which signify that you are bearing what has occurred in a way that is fitting for you and befitting your lofty mind, our joy will be increased by this occasion with no small addition. Indeed, the fruitful company of the most holy bishop has wonderfully refreshed us, so that it has almost changed us into other men, nor has it allowed us to be affected by the feeling of a foreign land: so much do we abound in the delight of good things, and so many spiritual riches do we overflow with, and for that reason we do not cease to glorify God continually.
CCXXXVIII. The same to his sister.
B Nature’s law binds us together in charity, as does the fact that we were brought forth by the same birth; but we revere and love you not only for that reason, but for another, which ought to hold the greatest place—namely, that you hold the things of this world for naught, that you have driven away the smoke, crushed the dust, trampled the mud, and prepared for yourself light wings to measure the way that leads to heaven. And neither the care of a husband, nor the solicitude of educating children, nor the administration of a house, nor the tumult that these produce, could interrupt or retard your course; but you have used these very things by which you seemed able to be hindered for a greater speed of flight. And neither that which humbles noble men—since “poverty,” says the Scripture, “humbles a man” (Prov. 10:4)—could cast you down, but it even made you more exalted. For such is the power of virtue, that it is not hindered by things that are like spider webs, but, dissipating them much more easily than spider webs themselves, it reaps much profit therefrom. C We have written these things to your veneration not without cause, but because we conjecture that you are greatly disturbed and anxious, both by our departure and by the tumult that has arisen there. Therefore we thought it needful to write to your piety, and to suggest that human affairs are a kind of way—that the way of virtue is indeed narrow, while that of vice is spacious—and that you should not envy those who, together with their sins, succeed happily in everything, but rather bewail them (since this prosperity brings punishment upon them), nor should you consider those wretched who follow the narrow way, but rather proclaim them blessed, if they travel the way with virtue. For the affliction of this life, if it is tolerated with the help of virtue, brings to those people a greater occasion and an increase of honors and crowns. D Indeed, that rich man was tormented not because he was cruel and inhuman, but because he abounded in many riches and enjoyed a sumptuous table; Lazarus, however, was rewarded with a crown because he bore with much patience the grave torment of his ulcers, his poverty, the lack of those to help him, the fact that he was cast out, that he was held in contempt, that he lay exposed as prey to the tongues of dogs. For although you were not unaware of all these things before you received our letters, we nevertheless thought it our duty to recall them to your memory by writing, lest you should allow yourself to be disturbed by sadness. For although I do not wish to consign everything to letters, I know well, however, by what evils you are besieged; for which reason I have added this letter. Therefore, that we may be filled with much pleasure even while we are living in a foreign land, send us letters by which you signify that our exhortation has had as much weight with you as we wished and desired. For so it will be that, although we are far separated from you, we shall draw much joy from this. For although we have suffered so much, we feel nothing of it while we keep in mind the reward set for what we have suffered, and we expect that it will come to pass that our affairs will turn out for the better, just as the beginnings themselves show. Therefore, considering these very things with yourself while you tolerate such labors of patience, do not lose heart, but be concerned both for all the care of your children (since a greater reward awaits you now), and make it your study to educate the beautiful Epiphanius as it shall be pleasing to God. For you are not ignorant of how great a reward is established by God for the education of children. Thus, together with others, Abraham attained the celebrity of his name, thus Job merited his crown; and the blessed Paul assiduously commands this to parents, saying: “Educate your children in the discipline and correction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). You have obtained a vacation, which can acquire for you an immunity from superfluous and unreasonable cares and useless anxiety; a vacation which brings much profit, from which many fruits of virtue can grow for you, if you are willing to apply all your effort to this matter. For concerning my lady mother, I think there is no need to write to you, since I know well enough that among other excellent deeds this has been accomplished by you, and that you have reaped a copious fruit from it, since by your duties and services to her you have surpassed any servant. Because, however, it is right that this also should not be omitted by me, hear the blessed Paul saying, “Honor your parents,” and adding, “Which is the first commandment in promises” (Eph. 6:2). If you conduct yourself in this way, you will both acquire many crowns for yourself and fill us with much pleasure, and we shall not consider that we have suffered anything of those things which we have suffered for this cause, but, refreshed by the magnitude of the joy which from the good things...