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that the letter will accomplish something; but if what we pray may not happen should occur, we will at least gain not being accused of silence, and we will be no worse than those who sail the sea, who, whenever they see their fellow tradesmen, their ship having been broken up by the violence of either waves or winds, carried on a plank, lowering their sails and casting their anchors and embarking in a small boat, attempt to rescue men unknown, but recognized only from their misfortune. But if those men are unwilling, no one would blame those who attempted to save them for their destruction. These things are from us; but we trust that, by the grace of God, there will also be things from you, and we will see you again distinguishing yourself in the precious flock of Christ. May we quickly receive you back in true health through the prayers of the saints, O dear friend. If you have any regard for us and have not cast us completely out of your memory, deign to write back to us; for your letter will gladden us; and your perfection, being able to understand yet greater things, will benefit us both by writing and by praying. We pray for your health in the Lord. Amen.

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ἀνύσειν τι τὰ γράμματα· εἰ δὲ ὅπερ ἀπευχόμεθα συμβαίη, τὸ γοῦν σιγῆς μὴ ἐγκαλεῖσθαι κερδανοῦμεν, καὶ ἐσόμεθα τῶν θάλατταν πλεόντων οὐ χείρους, οἳ τοὺς ὁμοτέχνους ὅταν ἴδωσι, τῆς νηὸς ἢ κυμάτων ἢ πνευμάτων βίᾳ λυθείσης, ἐπὶ σανίδος φερομένους, ἱστία καθελόντες καὶ ἀγκύρας χαλάσαντες καὶ εἰς ἀκάτιον ἐμβάντες, ἀνθρώπους ἀγνώστους, ἀπὸ δὲ συμφορᾶς ἐπιγιγνωσκομένους μόνον, ἀνασῴζειν ἐπιχείρουσιν. Εἰ δὲ μὴ βούλονται ἐκεῖνοι, οὐδεὶς ἂν αὐτῶν τῆς ἀπολείας τοὺς ἐπιχειρήσαντας σῶσαι, αἰτιάσαιτο. Ταῦτα τὰ παρ' ἡμῶν· πιστεύομεν δὲ ὅτι, θεοῦ χάριτι, ὑπάρξει καὶ τὰ παρὰ σοῦ, καὶ πάλιν σε διαπρέποντα κατὰ τὴν τιμίαν ἀγέλην ὀψόμεθα τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ὑγιαίνοντά σε τὴν ἀληθῆ ὑγίειαν θᾶττον ἀπολάβοιμεν εὐχαῖς ἁγίων, ὦ φίλη κεφαλή. Εἴ τίς σοι λόγος ἡμῶν ἐστι καὶ μὴ πάντη τῆς μνήμης ἡμᾶς ἐξέβαλες τῆς σῆς, ἀντιγράψαι καταξίωσον ἡμῖν· εὐφρανεῖ γὰρ ἡμᾶς ἡ σὴ ἐπιστολή· ἡ δὲ σὴ τελειότης τὰ ἔτι μειζόνως νοεῖν δυναμένη καὶ ἡμᾶς ὠφελήσει καὶ γράφουσα καὶ προσευχομένη. Ἐρρῶσθαί σε εὐχόμεθα ἐν Κυρίῳ. Ἀμήν.