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| Jerome to Alypius and Augustin
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Letter CCII.
(a.d. 419.)
To the Bishops Alypius and
Augustin, My Lords Truly Holy, and Deservedly Loved and Reverenced,
Jerome Sends Greeting in Christ.2892
| 2892 [The last letter of Jerome, who died at Bethlehem,
419.] |
Chap. I.
1. The holy presbyter Innocentius, who is the bearer
of this letter, did not last year take with him a letter from me to
your Eminences, as he had no expectation of returning to Africa. We
thank God, however, that it so happened, as it afforded you an
opportunity of overcoming [evil with good in requiting] our silence
by your letter. Every opportunity of writing to you, revered
fathers, is most acceptable to me. I call God to witness that, if
it were possible, I would take the wings of a dove and fly to be
folded in your embrace. Loving you, indeed, as I have always done,
from a deep sense of your worth, but now especially because your
co-operation and your leadership have succeeded in strangling the
heresy of Celestius, a heresy which has so poisoned the hearts of
many, that, though they felt they were vanquished and condemned,
yet they did not lay aside their venomous sentiments, and, as the
only thing that remained in their power, hated us by whom they
imagined that they had lost the liberty of teaching heretical
doctrines.
Chap. II.
2. As to your inquiry whether I have written
in opposition to the books of Annianus, this pretended deacon2893
of
Celedæ, who is amply provided for in order that he may furnish
frivolous accounts of the blasphemies of others, know that I
received these books, sent in loose sheets by our holy brother, the
presbyter Eusebius, not long ago. Since then I have suffered so
much through the attacks of disease, and through the falling asleep
of your distinguished and holy daughter Eustochium, that I almost
thought of passing over these writings with silent contempt. For he
flounders from beginning to end in the same mud, and, with the
exception of some jingling phrases which are not original, says
nothing he had not said before. Nevertheless, I have gained much in
the fact, that in attempting to answer my letter he has declared
his opinions with less reserve, and has published to all men his
blasphemies; for every error which he disowned in the wretched
synod of Diospolis he in this treatise openly avows. It is indeed
no great thing to answer his superlatively silly puerilities, but
if the Lord spare me, and I have a sufficient staff of amanuenses,
I will in a few brief lucubrations answer him, not to refute a
defunct heresy, but to silence his ignorance and blasphemy by
arguments: and this your Holiness could do better than I, as you
would relieve me from the necessity of praising my own works in
writing to the heretic. Our holy daughters Albina and Melania, and
our son Pinianus, salute you cordially. I give to our holy
presbyter Innocentius this short letter to convey to you from the
holy place Bethlehem. Your niece Paula piteously entreats you to
remember her, and salutes you warmly. May the mercy of our Lord
Jesus Christ preserve you safe and mindful of me, my lords truly
holy, and fathers deservedly loved and reverenced.
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