Bad Advertisement?
Are you a Christian?
Online Store:Visit Our Store
| To Eusebius, bishop of Samosata.
PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP 
Letter
CXXVIII.2422
To Eusebius, bishop of
Samosata.2423
| 2423 On the
difficulty of reconciliation with Eustathius. |
1. Hitherto I have
been unable to give any adequate and practical proof of my earnest
desire to pacify the Churches of the Lord. But in my heart I
affirm that I have so great a longing, that I would gladly give up even
my life, if thereby the flame of hatred, kindled by the evil one, could
be put out. If it was not for the sake of this longing for peace
that I consented to come to Colonia,2424
| 2424 Maran
supposes this to be the place referred to in Letter ccxliv.
2. | may my life be
unblessed by peace. The peace I seek is the true peace, left us
by the Lord Himself; and what I have asked that I may have for my
assurance belongs to one who desires nothing but the true peace,
although some perversely interpret
the truth into another sense. Let them use their tongues as they
will, but assuredly they will one day be sorry for their words.
2. Now I beseech your holiness to remember
the original propositions, and not to be led away by receiving answers
that do not fit the questions, nor yet to give practical weight to the
quibbles of men who, without any power of argument, very cleverly
pervert the truth, from their own ideas alone. I set out
propositions which were perfectly simple, clear and easy to remember;
do we decline to receive into communion those who refuse to accept the
Nicene Creed? Do we refuse to have part or lot with those who
have the hardihood to assert that the Holy Ghost is a creature?
He, however,2425
instead of
answering my questions word for word, has concocted the statement which
you have sent me:—and this not from simplemindedness, as might be
imagined, nor yet from his inability to see the consequences.
What he reckons is that, by repudiating my proposition, he will expose
his true character to the people; while, if he agrees to it, he will
depart from that via media which has hitherto seemed to him
preferable to any other position. Let him not try to beguile me,
nor, with the rest, deceive your intelligence. Let him send a
concise answer to my question, whether he accepts or repudiates
communion with the enemies of the faith. If you get him to do
this and send me such a distinct answer as I pray for, I own myself in
error in all that has gone before; I take all the blame upon myself;
then ask from me a proof of humility. But, if nothing of the kind
come to pass, pardon me, most God-beloved father, in my inability to
approach God’s altar with hypocrisy. Were it not for this
dread, why should I separate myself from Euippius, so learned a man, so
advanced in age, and bound to me by so many ties of affection?
If, however, in this case I acted rightly, it would, I am sure, be
absurd to appear united with those who maintain the same views as
Euippius, through the mediation of these amiable and charming
persons.
3. Not that I think it is absolutely our
duty to cut ourselves off from those who do not receive the faith, but
rather to have regard to them in accordance with the old law of love,
and to write to them with one consent, giving them all exhortation with
pity, and to propose to them the faith of the fathers, and invite them
to union. If we succeed we should be united in communion with
them; if we fail we must be content with one another and purge our
conduct of this uncertain spirit, restoring the evangelical and simple
conversation followed by those who accepted the Word from the
beginning. “They,” it is said, “were of one
heart and of one soul.”2426
If
they obey you, this will be best; if not, recognise the real authors
of the war, and, for the future do not write me any more letters
about reconciliation.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
|
