Letter LXII.

(a.d. 401)

Alypius, Augustin, and Samsucius, and the Brethren Who are with Them, Send Greeting in the Lord to Severus,426    Severus, bishop of Milevi in Numidia, had at one time been an inmate of the monastery of Augustin, and was held by him in the highest esteem.Their Lord Most Blessed, and with All Reverence Most Beloved, Their Brother in Truth, and Partner in the Priestly Office, and to All the Brethren Who are with Him.

1. When we came to Subsana, and inquired into the things which had been done there in our absence and against our will, we found some things exactly as we had heard reported, and some things otherwise, but all things calling for lamentation and forbearance; and we endeavoured, in so far as the Lord gave His help, to put them right by reproof, admonition, and prayer. What distressed us most, since your departure from the place, was that the brethren who went thence to you were allowed to go without a guide, which we beg you to excuse, as having taken place not from malice, but from an excessive caution. For, believing as they did that these men were sent by our son Timotheus in order to move you to be displeased with us, and being anxious to reserve the whole matter untouched until we should come (when they hoped to see you along with us), they thought that the departure of these men would be prevented if they were not furnished with a guide. That they did wrong in thus attempting to detain the brethren we admit,—nay, who could doubt it? Hence also arose the story which was told to Fossor,427    Tillemont suggests that this may be “the sexton,” and not a proper name. that Timotheus had already gone to you with these same brethren. This was wholly false, but the statement was not made by the presbyter; and that Carcedonius our brother was wholly unaware of all these things, was most clearly proved to us by all the ways in which such things are susceptible of proof.

2. But why spend more time on these circumstances! Our son Timotheus, being greatly disturbed because he found himself, altogether in spite of his own wish, in such unlooked for perplexity, informed us that, when you were urging him to serve God at Subsana, he broke forth vehemently, and swore that he would never on any account leave you. And when we questioned him as to his present wish, he replied that by this oath he was precluded from going to the place which we had previously wished him to occupy, even though his mind were set at rest by the evidence given as to his freedom from restraint. When we showed him that he would not be guilty of violating his oath if a bar was put in the way of his being with you, not by him, but by you, in order to avoid a scandal; seeing that he could by his oath bind only his own will, not yours, and he admitted that you had not bound yourself reciprocally by your oath; at last he said, as it became a servant of God and a son of the Church to say, that he would without hesitation agree to whatever should seem good to us, along with your Holiness, to appoint concerning him. We therefore ask, and by the love of Christ implore you, in the exercise of your sagacity, to remember all that we spoke to each other in this matter, and to make us glad by your reply to this letter. For “we that are strong” (if, indeed, amid so great and perilous temptations, we may presume to claim this title) are bound, as the apostle says, to “bear the infirmities of the weak.”428    Rom. xv. 1. Our brother Timotheus has not written to your Holiness, because your venerable brother has reported to all you. May you be joyful in the Lord, and remember us, our lord most blessed, and with all reverence most beloved, our brother in sincerity.

EPISTOLA LXII . Alypius, Augustinus et Samsucius Severo, excusantes quae in Timothei negotio gesta sunt.

Domino beatissimo et venerabiliter charissimo et sincerissimo fratri et consacerdoti SEVERO , et qui tecum, sunt fratribus, ALYPIUS, AUGUSTINUS et SAMSUCIUS, et qui nobiscum sunt fratres, in Domino salutem.

1. Cum Subsanam venissemus, et quae illic nobis 0230 absentibus contra nostram voluntatem gesta fuerant, quaereremus; quaedam sicut audieramus, quaedam vero aliter facta, omnia tamen dolenda et toleranda , quantum Dominus adjuvit, partim objurgando, partim monendo, partim orando correximus. Illud sane quod post tuae Sanctitatis profectionem nos plurimum contristavit, quod inde fratres sine itineris duce dimissi sunt, petimus ignoscas, et timidius quam malitiosius factum scias. Cum enim putarent eos a filio nostro Timotheo propterea mitti, ut in nos maxime Charitatem tuam ad iracundiam provocarent, vellent autem ipsi nostro adventui, quem tecum futurum sperabant, omnia integra reservare, putaverunt non eos profecturos, si ducem itineris non acciperent. Sed tamen peccatum esse, quis dubitet? Hinc etiam factum est ut et Fossori diceretur, jam Timotheum cum ipsis fratribus fuisse profectum; quod utique falsum erat: non tamen a presbytero dictum; et haec omnia fratrem Carcedonium penitus ignorasse, nobis manifestissime declaratum est, quantum ista manifestari solent.

2. Sed quid pluribus immoremur? Memoratus filius noster Timotheus vehementissime perturbatus quod dubietatem tam inopinatam invitissimus senserit, indicavit nobis quod cum ageres cum illo ut apud Subsanam Deo serviret, erupit et juravit a te omnino non recessurum. Cumque ejus voluntatem requireremus, respondit se hac juratione impediri quominus ibi esset ubi eum esse etiam antea volebamus; cum jam praesertim de suae libertatis manifestatione securus sit. Cumque illi aperuissemus non eum futurum perjurii reum, si non per ipsum, sed per te fieret ut propter vitandum scandalum tecum esse non posset; quandoquidem non de tua voluntate, sed de sua jurare potuerit, nec te sibi vicissim aliquid jurasse confessus sit; ad extremum dixit, quod servum Dei, Ecclesiae filium, dicere oportebat, quidquid nobis cum tua Sanctitate de illo fieri placuisset, id se sine dubio secuturum. Proinde petimus, et per charitatem Christi obsecramus prudentiam tuam, ut omnium quae locuti sumus memineris, et rescriptis tuis nos laetifices. Debemus enim nos firmiores (si tamen inter tanta tentationum pericula dicere hoc audendum est), sicut ait Apostolus, infirmorum onera sustinere (Rom. XV, 1). Frater Timotheus ideo non scripsit Sanctitati tuae, quia omnia quae gesta sunt sanctus frater tuus significavit. Memor nostri, in Domino glorieris, domine beatissime et venerabiliter charissime et sincerissime frater.