Epistle XXVIII.213    Oxford ed.: Ep. xxxv. a.d. 250.

To the Presbyters and Deacons Abiding at Rome.

Argument.—The Roman Clergy are Informed of the Temerity of the Lapsed Who Were Demanding Peace.

Cyprian to the presbyters and deacons abiding at Rome, his brethren, greeting. Both our common love and the reason of the thing demand, beloved brethren, that I should keep back from your knowledge nothing of those matters which are transacted among us, that so we may have a common plan for the advantage of the administration of the Church. For after I wrote to you the letter which I sent by Saturus the reader, and Optatus the sub-deacon, the combined temerity of certain of the lapsed, who refuse to repent and to make satisfaction to God, wrote to me, not asking that peace might be given to them, but claiming it as already given; because they say that Paulus has given peace to all, as you will read in their letter of which I have sent you a copy, as well as what I briefly replied to them in the meantime. But that you may also know what sort of a letter I afterwards wrote to the clergy, I have, moreover, sent you a copy of this. But if, after all, their temerity should not be repressed either by my letters or by yours, and should not yield to wholesome counsels, I shall take such proceedings as the Lord, according to His Gospel, has enjoined to be taken. I bid you, beloved brethren, ever heartily farewell.

EPISTOLA XXIX. (Pamel., Rigalt., Baluz., XXIX. Paris., XXXIII. Oxon., Lips., XXXV.)AD PRESBYTEROS ET DIACONOS ROMAE CONSIS TENTES

0302B ARGUMENTUM.---Clerus Romanus certior redditur de temeritate lapsorum qui pacem deposcebant.

Cyprianus presbyteris et diaconibus Romae consistentibus fratribus salutem. Et dilectio communis et ratio exposcit, fratres charissimi, nihil conscientiae vestrae subtrahere de his quae apud nos geruntur, ut sit nobis circa utilitatem ecclesiasticae administrationis commune consilium. Nam, posteaquam ad vos litteras feci, quas misi per Saturum lectorem et Optatum hypodiaconum, quorumdam lapsorum conspirata temeritas , qui poenitentiam agere et Deo satisfacere detrectant, litteras ad me fecerunt, pacem 0303A non dandam sibi postulantes, sed quasi jam datam sibi vindicantes, quod dicant Paulum omnibus pacem dedisse, sicut in litteris eorum, quarum exemplum ad vos transmisi, legetis, simulque quid ego eis breviter interim rescripserim; sed et quales postea ad clerum litteras fecerim ut scire possetis, hujus quoque rei exemplum vobis misi. Quod si ultra temeritas eorum nec meis nec vestris litteris compressa fuerit, nec consiliis salubribus obtemperaverit, agemus ea quae secundum Evangelium Dominus agere praecepit. Opto vos, fratres charissimi, semper bene valere. Valete.