9. [VIII.]—Pelagius Deceived the Council in Palestine, But Was Unable to Deceive the Church at Rome.

Wherefore Pelagius, too, if he will only reflect candidly on his own position and writings, has no reason for saying that he ought not to have been banned with such a sentence. For although he deceived the council in Palestine, seemingly clearing himself before it, he entirely failed in imposing on the church at Rome (where, as you well know, he is by no means a stranger), although he went so far as to make the attempt, if he might somehow succeed. But, as I have just said, he entirely failed. For the most blessed Pope Zosimus recollected what his predecessor, who had set him so worthy an example, had thought of these very proceedings. Nor did he omit to observe what opinion was entertained about this man by the trusty Romans, whose faith deserved to be spoken of in the Lord,153    Rom. i. 8. and whose consistent zeal in defence of catholic truth against this heresy he saw prevailing amongst them with warmth, and at the same time most perfect harmony. The man had lived among them for a long while, and his opinions could not escape their notice; moreover, they had so completely found out his disciple Cœlestius, as to be able at once to adduce the most trustworthy and irrefragable evidence on this subject. Now what was the solemn judgment which the holy Pope Innocent formed respecting the proceedings in the Synod of Palestine, by which Pelagius boasts of having been acquitted, you may indeed read in the letter which he addressed to me. It is duly mentioned also in the answer which was forwarded by the African Synod to the venerable Pope Zosimus and which, along with the other instructions, we have despatched to your loving selves.154    Albina, Pinianus, and Melania. Literally, they are here addressed as “your Love.” But it seems to me, at the same time, that I ought not to omit producing the particulars in the present work.

CAPUT VIII.

9. Unde etiam Pelagius, si se ipsum et sua scripta sine dolo cogitat, non recte dicit, eadem sententia se non debuisse teneri. Fefellit enim judicium Palaestinum; propterea ibi videtur esse purgatus: Romanam vero Ecclesiam, ubi eum esse notissimum scitis, fallere usquequaque non potuit; quamvis et hoc fuerit utcumque conatus: sed, ut dixi, minime valuit. Recoluit enim beatissimus papa Zesimus, quid imitandus praecessor ejus de ipsis senserit gestis. Attendit etiam quid de illo sentiret praedicanda in Domino Romanorum fides (Rom. I, 8), quorum adversus ejus errorem pro veritate catholica, studia consonantia concorditer flagrare cernebat: inter quos ille diu vixerat, et quos ejus dogmata latere non poterant: qui Coelestium ejus esse discipulum sic noverant, ut fidelissimum et firmissimum possent de hac re testimonium perhibere. Quid ergo de Palaestinae synodi gestis, quibus se Pelagius absolutum esse gloriatur, sanctus papa Innocentius judicarit, quamvis et in litteris ejus, quas nobis rescripsit, legere possitis, et commemoratum cum venerabili papae Zosimo synodus Africana respondit, quod vestrae Charitati cum caeteris instructionibus misimus, tamen nec in hoc opere praetereundum videtur.