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| To Sophronius, the bishop.
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Letter
CLXXII.2568
To Sophronius, the bishop.2569
| 2569 This
Sophronius is distinguished by Maran from the Sophronius,
magister officiorum, to whom Letters xxxii.,
lxxvi., and xcvi. have already been addressed, and who is also the
recipient of clxxvi., clxxx., cxcii., cclxii. Nothing else is
known of him. |
There is no need for me to say
how much I was delighted by your letter. Your own
words will enable you
to conjecture what I felt on receiving it. You have
exhibited to me in your letter, the first fruits of the Spirit,
love. Than this what can be more precious to me in the
present state of affairs, when, because iniquity abounds, the
love of many has waxed cold?2570
Nothing is rarer now than spiritual intercourse with a brother, a
word of peace, and such spiritual communion as I have found in
you. For this I thank the Lord, beseeching Him that I may
have part in the perfect joy that is found in you. If such
be your letter, what must it be to meet you in person? If
when you are far away you so affect me, what will you be to me
when you are seen face to face? Be sure that if I had not
been detained by innumerable occupations, and all the unavoidable
anxieties which tie me down, I should have hurried to see your
excellency. Although that old complaint of mine is a great
hindrance to my moving about, nevertheless in view of the good I
expect, I would not have allowed this to stand in my way.
To be permitted to meet a man holding the same views and
reverencing the faith of the Fathers, as you are said to do by
our honourable brethren and fellow presbyters, is in truth to go
back to the ancient blessedness of the Churches, when the
sufferers from unsound disputation were few, and all lived in
peace, “workmen” obeying the commandments and not
“needing to be ashamed,”2571
serving the Lord with simple and clear
confession, and keeping plain and inviolate their faith in
Father, Son and Holy Ghost.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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