moving from place to place, they were hiding; and after fifty days, when they began to show themselves and work miracles, not even thus did they gain security. For even after those signs were performed, infinite offenses occurred A among the weaker: in that they themselves were being scourged, the Church was being troubled, and with them driven out, the enemies in many places were superior and stirring up tumult. For when they had attained great boldness and freedom of speech because of the miracles, then again the death of Stephen brought on a severe persecution and scattered everyone, and threw the Church into tumult and trouble: and again the disciples began to be in fear, again in flight, and again in the greatest anxiety and anguish. B Yet even so, the affairs of the Church were always increasing, as they were flourishing through signs, as they had bright beginnings. And one man was being let down through a window, and thus escaped from the hands of the governor; and an angel led others out, and thus delivered them from chains; and others, again, who were vexed and harassed by those who were flourishing in wealth and power, were being cared for in every way by the bazaar-people and artisans—the purple-dyers, namely, and the tent-makers, and the tanners, those dwelling in the furthest recesses of the cities and by the shore and the sea. Often, indeed, they did not even dare to appear in the middle of cities; or if they did dare, the hosts certainly dared not receive them. And thus, through trials and recreations of spirits, matters were woven, and those who had been offended not long before were later healed; and those who had wandered were led back into the way; and what had been prostrate and leveled to the ground was built up more magnificently. For this cause, although Paul had contended in prayers that the Gospel might progress through quiet alone and tranquility, the most wise and most skillful God did not grant the disciple’s request, nor, though he was often asked, did He yield to his prayers, but used these words: *My grace is sufficient for thee; for my power is made perfect in weakness* (2 Cor. XII, 9). If, therefore, you now wish to weigh the successes against the hardships, if you do not see many signs and C miracles, you shall nevertheless see many things not unlike miracles, which are indeed clear proofs of God’s great providence and help. But lest you hear everything from us without labor, I leave this part to you, that you may accurately and diligently collect everything, and compare it with the troublesome and bitter things, and thus, distracting your mind with a noble occupation, you may avert yourself from sadness and anguish: for hence you shall perceive the greatest consolation. Pray, give my most earnest greetings to your whole blessed house. May God grant that you are always in firm bodily health and a joyful and cheerful spirit, my most venerable and religious lady. If you wish to write me a longer letter, let me know of this, and do not deceive me; namely, that you have laid aside all sadness of mind, and lead your life in tranquility. For in this is situated the remedy of my letters, that they may produce for you great joy of mind: and you shall receive frequent letters. But do not write to me again that you receive great consolation from my letters: for I know that well enough; but [receive] as much as I desire, so that you are neither troubled in mind nor shed tears, but live tranquilly and with joy.
To the same Epist. II
D [a] The first letter that came was indeed sufficient to calm your inflammation; but because the bitterness of sadness afflicted you in a greater manner, therefore I thought it necessary to add another letter to the former, so that you might perceive copious and abundant consolation, and your health might now be in safety. Come, therefore, I will also brush away from elsewhere the dust which you have contracted from sadness of mind. For I believe it has been turned into dust from the ulcer and the most grievous tumors. But not even so must the care of your health be deserted: for dust also, unless one repels it with the greatest care, brings destruction to the most excellent part of all, namely, infecting the transparency of the pupil, and troubling the whole eye of the one who is mourning. Lest, therefore, this also happen here, let us tear out the remnants of evil with the greatest care and zeal. But you also, rouse yourself, and offer your hand to us. For just as it is accustomed to happen in those who are of a sick body, that if the physicians indeed perform what belongs to their duty, they themselves however do not fulfill their parts, the gain of health is interrupted: in the same way, the matter is accustomed to be in the soul also. Wherefore, lest this happen, for that prudence which is required of you, take pains that you also fulfill your parts: so that on both sides a huge utility may arise. But perhaps you will say, I desire that indeed, but I cannot, nor, even though using great contention, am I equal to repelling the dense and dark cloud of sadness. These are mere excuses and mere pretexts: for I know the nobility of your mind, the strength of your pious soul, the magnitude of your prudence, the power of your wisdom, and I know it is enough for you to command this raging sea of sadness, so that all things may be rendered tranquil. But so that you may be able to achieve that more easily, let us compare those things which are of our part. By what reasoning, therefore, will you be able to effect that? Namely, if you consider with yourself all those things which are contained in the previous letter (since many things were commemorated by me in it, which look to this argument), and besides this, do that which I now command you. It is pernicious to be broken in mind for others' sins. — What then is this? When it has been brought to you that one of the Churches has perished, another is tossed by a tempest, another is overwhelmed by savage waves, another is even affected by most grievous disasters, another has accepted a wolf for a shepherd, another a robber for a governor, another an executioner for a physician, although it is permitted to grieve;