Letter CCXXXVIII.1275    Placed in 376.

To the presbyters of Nicopolis.1276    On the appointment of Fronto to succeed Theodotus.

I have received your letter, my reverend brethren, but it told me nothing that I did not already know, for the whole country round about was already full of the report announcing the disgrace of that one among you who has fallen, and through lust of vain glory has brought on himself very shameful dishonour, and has through his self-love lost the rewards promised to faith.  Nay, through the just hatred of them that fear the Lord he misses even that contemptible little glory for lust of which he has been sold to impiety.  By the character he has now shown he has very plainly proved, concerning all his life, that he has never at any time lived in hope of the promises laid up for us by the Lord, but, in all his transactions of human affairs, has used words of faith and mockery of piety, all to deceive every one whom he met.  But how are you injured?  Are you any worse off for this than you were before?  One of your number has fallen away, and if one or two others have gone with him, they are to be pitied for their fall, but, by God’s grace, your body is whole.  The useless part has gone, and what is left has not suffered mutilation.  You are haply distressed that you are driven without the walls, but you shall dwell under the protection of the God of Heaven,1277    Ps. xci. 1, LXX. and the angel who watches over the Church has gone out with you.  So they lie down in empty places day by day, bringing upon themselves heavy judgment through the dispersion of the people.  And, if in all this there is sorrow to be borne, I trust in the Lord that it will not be without its use to you.  Therefore, the more have been your trials, look for a more perfect reward from your just Judge.  Do not take your present troubles ill.  Do not lose hope.  Yet a little while and your Helper will come to you and will not tarry.1278    Hab. ii. 3.

ΝΙΚΟΠΟΛΙΤΑΙΣ ΠΡΕΣΒΥΤΕΡΟΙΣ

[1] Ἐδεξάμην τὰ γράμματα τῆς εὐλαβείας ὑμῶν, καὶ οὐδὲν ἔσχον καινότερον τῶν ἐγνωσμένων ἤδη παρ' αὐτῶν διδαχθῆναι. Καὶ γὰρ ἔφθασεν ἡ φήμη εἰς πᾶσαν τὴν περιοικίδα, τοῦ παρ' ὑμῖν καταπεσόντος τὴν αἰσχύνην περιαγγέλλουσα, ὃς ἐπιθυμίᾳ δόξης κενῆς τὴν αἰσχίστην ἑαυτῷ συνήγαγεν ἀτιμίαν καὶ εὑρέθη τῶν μὲν ἐπὶ τῇ πίστει μισθῶν διὰ τὴν φιλαυτίαν ἐκπεσών, αὐτὸ δὲ τὸ δύστηνον δοξάριον, οὗ ἐπιθυμήσας ἐπράθη τῇ ἀσεβείᾳ, οὐκ ἔχων διὰ τὸ δίκαιον μῖσος τῶν φοβουμένων τὸν Κύριον. Ἀλλὰ ἐκεῖνος μὲν τοῦ παντὸς ἑαυτοῦ βίου ἐναργέστατον ἐξήνεγκε δεῖγμα ἐκ τῆς νῦν προαιρέσεως, ὅτι οὐδέποτε ἔζη ἐπ' ἐλπίδι τῶν ἀποκειμένων ἡμῖν ἐπαγγελιῶν παρὰ τοῦ Κυρίου: ἀλλὰ εἴ τι αὐτῷ ἐπραγματεύετο τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων καὶ ῥήματα πίστεως καὶ πλάσμα εὐλαβείας, πάντα πρὸς τὴν τῶν ἐντυγχανόντων ἀπάτην ἐπετηδεύετο. Ὑμᾶς δὲ τί καταπονεῖ τὸ συμβάν; Τί χείρους ἑαυτῶν γεγόνατε παρὰ τοῦτο; Ἔλειψεν εἷς ἐκ τοῦ πληρώματος ὑμῶν: εἰ δὲ καὶ συναπῆλθέ που ἄλλος εἷς ἢ δεύτερος, ἐλεεινοὶ τοῦ πτώματος οὗτοι, ὑμῶν δὲ τὸ σῶμα ὁλόκληρόν ἐστι τῇ τοῦ Θεοῦ χάριτι. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ τὸ ἀχρειωθὲν ἀπερρύη καὶ οὐκ ἐκολοβώθη τὸ μένον. Εἰ δὲ ἀνιᾷ ὑμᾶς ὅτι τῶν τοίχων ἐξεβλήθητε, ἀλλ' ἐν σκέπῃ τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ αὐλισθήσεσθε καὶ ὁ ἄγγελος ὁ τῆς Ἐκκλησίας ἔφορος συναπῆλθεν ὑμῖν. Ὥστε κενοῖς τοῖς οἴκοις ἐγκατακλίνονται καθ' ἑκάστην ἡμέραν, ἐκ τῆς διασπορᾶς τοῦ λαοῦ βαρὺ ἑαυτοῖς τὸ κρίμα κατασκευάζοντες. Εἰ δέ τις καὶ κόπος ἐστὶν ἐν τῷ πράγματι, πέπεισμαι τῷ Κυρίῳ μὴ εἰς κενὸν ὑμῖν ἀποβήσεσθαι τοῦτο. Ὥστε ὅσῳ ἂν ἐν πλείοσι πειρατηρίοις γένησθε, τοσούτῳ πολυτελέστερον τὸν παρὰ τοῦ δικαίου Κριτοῦ μισθὸν ἀναμένετε. Μήτε οὖν δυσφορεῖτε τοῖς παροῦσι μήτε ἀποκάμνετε τῇ ἐλπίδι. Ἔτι γὰρ μικρὸν ὅσον ὅσον, ἥξει πρὸς ὑμᾶς ὁ ἀντιλαμβανόμενος ὑμῶν καὶ οὐ χρονιεῖ.