Epistle XXXI.242    Oxford ed.: Ep. xxxii. a.d. 250.

To the Carthaginian Clergy, About the Letters Sent to Rome, and Received Thence.

Argument.—The Carthaginian Clergy are Requested to Take Care that the Letters of the Roman Clergy and Cyprian’s Answer are Communicated.

Cyprian to the presbyters and deacons, his brethren, greeting. That you, my beloved brethren, might know what letters I have sent to the clergy acting243    [Administering jurisdiction sede vacante.] at Rome, and what they have replied to me, and, moreover, what Moyses and Maximus, the presbyters, and Rufinus and Nicostratus, the deacons, and the rest of the confessors that with them are kept in prison, replied likewise to my letters, I have sent you copies to read. Do you take care, with as much diligence as you can, that what I have written, and what they have replied, be made known to our brethren. And, moreover, if any bishops from foreign places,244    [Illustrating the Treatise on Unity.] my colleagues, or presbyters, or deacons, should be present, or should arrive among you, let them hear all these matters from you; and if they wish to transcribe copies of the letters and to take them to their own people, let them have the opportunity of transcribing them; although I have, moreover, bidden Saturus the reader, our brother, to give liberty of copying them to any individuals who wish it; so that, in ordering, for the present, the condition of the Church in any manner, an agreement, one and faithful, may be observed by all. But about the other matters which were to be dealt with, as I have also written to several of my colleagues, we will more fully consider them in a common council, when, by the Lord’s permission, we shall begin to assemble into one place. I bid you, brethren, beloved and longed-for, ever heartily farewell. Salute the brotherhood. Fare ye well.

EPISTOLA XXXII. (Erasm., III, 4. Pamel., Rigalt., Baluz., Oxon., Lips., XXXII.)AD CLERUM CARTHAGINENSEM, DE MISSIS ROMAM ET ACCEPTIS INDE LITTERIS.

ARGUMENTUM.---Monetur clerus Carthaginensis ut 0316Alitteras Cleri Romani et Cypriani responsa communicanda curet.

Cyprianus presbyteris et diaconibus fratribus salutem. Quales litteras ad Clerum Romae agentem fecerim, quidque illi mihi rescripserint, quid etiam Moyses et Maximus presbyteri et Nicostratus et Rufinus diaconi et caeteri cum eis confessores in custodia constituti, aeque ad litteras meas rescripserint, ut scire possetis, fratres charissimi, exempla vobis legenda transmisi. Vos curate quantum potestis pro diligentia vestra ut scripta nostra et illorum rescripta fratribus nostris innotescant. Sed et si qui de peregrinis episcopi collegae mei, vel presbyteri, vel diacones praesentes fuerint vel supervenerint, 0316B haec omnia de vobis audiant; et si exempla epistolarum transcribere et ad suos perferre voluerint, facultatem transcriptionis accipiant: quamvis et Saturo lectori fratri nostro mandaverim ut singulis desiderantibus describendi faciat potestatem, ut in ecclesiarum statu quoquo modo interim componendo servetur ab omnibus una et fida consensio. De caeteris vero quae agenda erunt, sicut et collegis meis 0317A plurimis scripsi, plenius consilio communi tractabimus quando convenire in unum, permittente Domino, coeperimus. Opto vos, fratres charissimi ac desiderantissimi, semper bene valere. Fraternitatem salutate. Valete.