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| On the question of an accused bishop appealing to the seat of the apostles.
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V.
On the question of an accused bishop appealing to the
seat of the apostles.
It is determined, moreover, that, in the case of an
accused bishop appealing to the seat of the apostles, that should be
held to be a settlement which is
the decision of the pontiff of that same seat. On all occasions,
however, in cases concerning priests, let this form be maintained, that
no one be bound by a decision pronounced by another than his own proper
judge. It is the duty also of all the faithful to be ready to
help the oppressed and the miserable in their distress, in order that
by the manifestation of another manner of recompense
(vindictæ) they may be able to keep the recompense
(vengeance) of God from themselves. For he offers
(libat) things prosperous to the Lord who keeps off
things adverse from the afflicted. Whence it is written, “A
brother aiding a brother shall be exalted.”2867
For the Church of God ought to
be without spot or wrinkle, and therefore it ought not to be trodden
and defiled by certain persons; for it is written, “My dove, my
undefiled, is but one.”2868
Hence, again, the Lord says to Moses, “There is a place with me
(penes me), and thou shalt stand upon a
rock.”2869
What
place is there that belongs not to the Lord, seeing that all things
consist in Him by whom they were created? There is a place,
however, with God—to wit, the unity of the holy Church—in
which there is a standing upon a rock, while the perfection of the
confession (confessionis soliditas) is held in
lowliness. We admonish thee, our brother, and all our brethren
who are rulers in the Church of Christ, which He hath purchased with
His blood, to keep back, by whatever checks ye possess, all men from
that abyss into which some brethren are slipping, in reviling the
Lord’s pastors, and persecuting them both by word and deed; and
we counsel you not to suffer them to be wounded with the hook of
passion: for it is written, “For the wrath of man worketh
not the righteousness of God.”2870
Hence it is said again, “Let every man be swift to hear, but slow
to speak, and slow to wrath.”2871
Now I doubt not that with God’s help you observe all these
things; but as an occasion for counsel has arisen, I also secretly
attach my word to your good desires and deeds, so that what you are
doing of yourselves and independently of admonition you may do
presently not by yourselves alone, now that the counsellor himself is
added to you. Wherefore, brethren, it becomes you and all the
faithful to love each other, and not to calumniate or accuse one
another: for it is written, “Love thy neighbour, and be
faithful unto him. But if thou bewrayest his secrets, thou shalt
follow no more after him. For as a man who destroyeth his friend,
so is he that loseth the love of his neighbour. And as one that
letteth a bird go out of his hand, so art thou who hast let thy
neighbour go, and shalt not get him again. Follow after him no
more, for he is far off. For he is as a roe escaped out of the
snare, since his soul is wounded. Further thou wilt not be able
to bind him up, and after reviling there may be reconcilement; but to
bewray the secrets of a friend is the despair of an unhappy mind.
He that winketh with the eye worketh evil, and every one will cast him
off. When thou art present, he will speak sweetly, and will
admire thy words. But at last he will writhe his mouth, and
slander thy sayings. I have hated many things, but nothing like
him; and the Lord will hate him. Whoso casteth a stone on high,
it will fall upon his own head; and a deceitful stroke shall make
wounds in the deceiver. Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein;
and he that placeth a stone in his neighbour’s way shall stumble
thereon; and he that setteth a trap for another shall perish in
it. He that worketh mischief, it shall fall upon him; and he
shall not know whence it cometh on him. Mockery and reproach are
from the proud; and vengeance, as a lion, shall lie in wait for
them. They that rejoice at the fall of the righteous shall be
taken in the snare; and anguish shall consume them before they
die. Wrath and fury are both abominations, and the sinful man
shall have them both.”2872
“He that desireth to be avenged shall find vengeance from the
Lord, and He will surely keep his sins in remembrance.
Forgive thy neighbour the hurt that he hath done thee; so shall thy
sins also be forgiven thee when thou prayest. One man beareth
hatred against another, and doth he seek pardon from the Lord? He
showeth no mercy to a man which is like himself, and doth he ask
forgiveness of his own sins from the Most High? He, though he is
but flesh, nourishes hatred; and does he implore mercy from God?
Who will entreat for pardon of his sins? Remember thy end, and
let enmity cease. For corruption and death impend on His
commandments. Remember the fear of God, and bear no malice to thy
neighbour. Remember the covenant of the Highest, and wink at the
ignorance of thy neighbour. Abstain from strife, and thou shalt
diminish thy sins. For a furious man will kindle strife, and a
sinful man will disquiet friends, and will make debate among them that
be at peace. For according to the trees of the wood, so will the
fire burn; and according as a man’s strength is, so will his
wrath be; and according to his riches, his anger will rise. An
hasty contention will kindle a fire; and an hasty fighting will shed
blood; and a tale-bearing (testificans) tongue will cause
death. If thou blow the spark, it shall burn like a fire; and if
thou spit upon it, it shall be quenched; and both these come out of thy
mouth. The whisperer and double-tongued is cursed; for he has destroyed many
that were at peace. A backbiting (tertia) tongue hath
disquieted many, and driven them from nation to nation. Strong
cities of the rich hath it pulled down, and overthrown the houses of
great men. It has destroyed the strength of peoples, and has
scattered strong nations. A backbiting tongue hath cast out
virtuous women (viratas, spirited), and deprived them of their
labours. Whoso hearkeneth unto it shall never find rest, and
shall never have a friend on whom he may repose. The stroke of
the whip maketh marks; but the stroke of the tongue will break the
bones. Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not so many
as have fallen by the tongue. Well is he that is defended from
the evil tongue, and hath not passed through the venom thereof; who
hath not drawn the yoke thereof, nor hath been bound in her
bands. For the yoke thereof is a yoke of iron, and the bands
thereof are bands of brass. The death thereof is an evil death,
and the grave were better than it. Its endurance shall not abide,
but it shall possess the ways of the unrighteous. In its flame it
shall not burn the righteous. Such as forsake the Lord shall fall
into it; and it shall burn in them, and not be quenched; and it shall
be sent upon them as a lion, and devour them as a leopard. Hedge
thine ears (sæpi aures) about with thorns, and refuse to
listen to the evil tongue, and make a door for thy mouth and bars for
thine ears. Smelt (confla) thy gold and thy silver,
and make a balance for thy words, and a right bridle for thy
mouth. And beware lest thou slide perchance in thy tongue, and
fall in the sight of thine enemies that be in wait for thee, and thy
fall be irremediable unto death.”2873
Let all beware of these
things, and “keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from
speaking guile.”2874
“Finally, dearly beloved, be strong in the Lord, and in the power
of His might. Put on the armour of God, that ye may be able to
stand against the wiles of the devil; for we wrestle not against flesh
and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of
the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly
places (cœlestibus). Wherefore take unto you
the armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and to stand perfect in all (omnibus perfecti). Stand
therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the
breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation
of the Gospel of peace; in all (in omnibus) taking the
shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery
darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and
the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”2875
It is our wish, brother, that
those things which we have written to you should be made known
generally to all, in order that things which touch the others should be
made known to all. May Almighty God protect you, brother, and all
our brethren everywhere situate, even to the end,—even He who has
thought good to redeem the whole world, our Lord Jesus Christ, who is
blessed for ever. Amen.—Given on the 16th day of October,
in the consulship of the most illustrious Africanus and
Decius.
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