we fulfill even this. For even if we are carried away to the very ends of the earth, we cannot forget your love—that genuine, and warm, and sincere, and guileless love, A which was from above and from the beginning, and which you have demonstrated now. For all that you have labored to say and to do on our behalf, my most honorable and God-beloved master, has not escaped us. And if nothing more has come of it, yet you have God as a debtor for your zeal and readiness, with your reward fully prepared. And we do not cease to be grateful to your holiness, and to herald your piety to everyone, and to urge you to preserve that same love, flourishing at all times. For it is no ordinary consolation that we reap while sitting in this wilderness, seeing that we have so great a treasure and wealth of your vigilant and noble soul's love B laid up in our heart.
CXIII. To Palladius, Bishop
Concerning our own situation, we need no consolation; for the subject matter itself is enough to provide us with comfort. We lament, however, the common storm of the Churches and the shipwreck that has overtaken the inhabited world, and we beseech you all to assist with your prayers, so that this utter destruction may finally be dissolved, and everything may change into a clear calm. Do not cease, I pray, from doing this. For hiding and remaining concealed, you have more leisure now to persevere in your prayers, and with a distressed mind. It is no small thing, this, to fall before the C kind-hearted God. Do not cease, therefore, from doing this, and write to us continuously whenever it is possible. For even if we have been exiled to so great a length of distance, we do not cease from caring for your affairs every day, and even if we rarely succeed in encountering those who arrive from there, we inquire and search them out. In order, therefore, that we may be more clearly informed of everything, whenever it is possible, grant us this favor, bringing us good tidings of your D health, so that even though we live in the wilderness, we may reap great consolation.
CXIV. To Elpidius, Bishop
This also is yours, this is the work of a sober and vigilant pilot: not to collapse, even though the storm has risen to such a height, but still to remain in care and anxiety, and with all your might to exert yourself in every way, running here and there through your letters, supporting those near and those far away, stirring them up, and exhorting no one to be swept away by the surges, but to stand firm and be sober, even if a myriad of even more grievous waves of these things should come upon them, and though you are established in one place, yet to fly everywhere through your exhortations. For nothing that you do has escaped us, even though we sit at such a great distance. A Therefore we also bless and admire your piety, and your awakened soul, and your unwavering purpose, and your eagerness that remains youthful in such an old age; and it is nothing out of place. For when the things set before us require bodily strength, old age becomes a hindrance therein; but when it demands the philosophy of the soul, gray hair is not accustomed to overshadow achievements; it has not, therefore, overshadowed yours, but everything has been brought forth by your piety. That this labor and such great sleeplessness will yield the proper fruit, I think there is no need to doubt. B Since, however, along with the entire inhabited world you have also accepted the burden of our care, because of your great and warm love, and you desire to learn where we are living, and in what state our affairs are, and who those are that are with us, and to learn not simply, but so that you may also be grateful to them—we, for our part, shall not cease to herald you for such love, crowning you, proclaiming you before all, and acknowledging our thanks before those who meet and associate with us. Do you, however, wait for the greatest rewards, C and rewards exceeding your labors, from the kind-hearted God, who in His compensations surpasses by far those who have labored to do or to say something good.
And so that you may also be cheered from another quarter by learning of our state: we have been exiled to the most desolate district, Cucusus, yet we have no sense of desolation; we enjoy such great quiet, such great security, such great care from everyone. For we have laid aside the remnants of our illness through your prayers, and we are now living in health, and we have been delivered from the fear of the Isaurians, and have been established in safety, D and we are luxuriously enjoying great lack of trouble. The most honorable presbyters Constantius and Euethius are present with us, and others are expected to arrive quickly, whom their bonds had held until the present; but all have been released, and I know well that they will fly to us. Do not cease, I pray, from praying for us who love you very much.