Letter 7: You tell me, most merciful Emperor, that your mind is consumed with eager longing until the hoped-for restoration of...

You relate, most merciful Emperor, that your soul is stirred with an eager longing until the desired restoration of the hoped-for unity may be attained. Good are the desires for salvation, and praiseworthy is the intention that commends itself to God in this manner; for it is indeed a special mark of prudence when one impatiently seeks out that which it believes to be useful to itself. For if in diseases of the body slow treatment is harmful, how much more grievously, in the salvation of the soul, is a too-tardy desire for faithful remedies to be borne? Let us be admonished by spiritual teachings, lest the things that can be of profit be put off to a later day, as most wise Solomon cries out: "Delay not to be converted to the Lord, and put it not off from day to day"; because, just as the times of life are set in uncertainty, so it is fitting that the remedies of the soul be kept in safety, that he may enter into the joy of his Lord, whom the coming Lord shall find working those things that are pleasing to him. And thence I confess that I too have wondered why the promised embassy has delayed so long, since one must use force, that the kingdoms of heaven may be seized. Yet nevertheless the very impulse, which the discourse of your gentleness declares, holds out hope of heavenly mercy; for the very willing of what is good is also from above. And I am confident, since he who has begun a good work in you will bring it to completion even unto the end. Therefore press on in the way upon which you have entered, and, the slippery paths of those who wander being spurned, keep your steps firm with us upon the solid rock. By such accord the holy Church has grown, as the history of the Acts of the Apostles testifies in these words: "The multitude of believers was of one heart and one soul." For in what manner can those be bound together by the bonds of grace whose hearts stand apart in their opinions? Grant, lord Emperor, that the outcome of deeds prove the faith of words. For the hearts of men are not known by speeches but by their fruits, since even Abraham our father pleased God not by bare faith but by works that commended his faith. Wherefore, whether by reason of the stewardship entrusted to me, or in consideration of the kindness of your piety toward me, lord son, I exhort and beseech you that the zeal for peace, which you set forth through your writings, you may direct, with God as helper, toward settling along with us those matters in which the churches labor; because, according to the prophet, "Much peace have they that love thy name, and to them there is no stumbling-block." The things that separate us from that unity which we desire to restore are not unknown to your gentleness. Give heed, that, by praising the things you profess, they may be fulfilled in their effect, and that with all your strength you may follow the discipline of the Apostle, whose communion you believe is to be sought after. Wholly avoid the ruinous contagions of harmful men, knowing that the impious have no portion in common with the religious, nor any fellowship of faith with faithlessness. It follows that he who detests the leaders of errors should hate their followers; let that be held abominable in the flower which is condemned in the seed. Offer this gift to God; for your own times, I beg, offer it; for so long now has Christ awaited this sacrifice from you, in return for the great things he has bestowed upon you. What need is there to bring prayers before him, when he himself entreats? You enjoin upon me that I should exhort the Senate of the city of Rome to peace; I, however, turn the words of supplication to you not only together with these but I prostrate myself at your footsteps together with the universal Church. Hear me, discharging an embassy on behalf of Christ: do not allow the members of Christ to be torn apart by wicked dogs; the things you see to be incurable, cut away, and the things that are sick, heal. Why should the things that are sound, joined to the weak, be shaken? Keep the order which truth itself has ordained, and you will have restored to the world the peace which you demand. These things I both implore under the present occasion and shall again and more often take care to entreat, hoping that this importunity of mine will be pleasing both to God and also among you, through unremitting petitions, since the Lord has taught us that it will not be in vain. Given [...]

: ANUM. SoUicitari animum tuum, clementissime imperator, ambitiosa auiditate commemoras, donec speratae unitatis red- integratio optata contingat. bona sunt desideria salutis et laudabilis quae se huiusmodi deo commendat intentio; pru- dentiae siquidem speciale documentum est cum id, quod sibi 2 utile credit, impatienter inquirit. nam si in corpoioim morbis noxia est tarda curatio, quanto magis in salute animae gi-auius est ferendus remediorum fidelium serior appetitus ? commonea- mur spiritalibus institutis, ne quae prodesse possunt, in diem posterum differantur clamante sapientissimoSalomone: ne tardes conuerti ad dominum et ne differas de die in diem» quia sicut in incerto uitae tempora, ita in tuto animae con- uenit esse remedia, ut intret in gaudium domini sui, quem 3 ueniens dominus ea, quae sibi placent, inuenerit operari. 21 Eccli. 5, 8 24 cf. Matth. 25, 21 112. Diat (aitnul cum ep. 114) a. 616 non ante mensem Sept. per Theopompum et Seuenanum; respondet epistulae 111. Edd. Car. 445; Bar. ad a. 516, 13: Collect. Concil; BTA I 381; Thiel 766. 11 per Theop. et »Seu. V minutiore charactere in margine 19 cum moneamur o^ 20 ne quae o^: neque V 21 clamante ex clamantg V 23 intuta F, corr, o 25 inueniet Bar. Epist. CXI 5 — CXII 8. 505 iinde et fateor me fuisse rairatum, cur tam diu legatio pro- missa tardauerit, cum facienda uis sit, ut regna caelestia rapiantur. uerum tamen instinctus ipse, quem mansuetudinis uestrae declarat alloquium, spem supernae misericordiae poUi- 5 cetur; desuper est enim et ipsum uelle, quod bonum est. confido autem, quoniam qui coepit in uobis opus bonum, perficiet usque in finem. ergo uiae, cui coepistis, insistite 4 et spretis errantium lubricis nobiscum supra petram solida tenete uestigia. tali creuit ecclesia sancta consensu, quod his uerbis 10 apostolicorumactuumtestaturhistoria: multitudinis creden- tium erat cor unum et anima una. nam quemadmodum connecti poteiiint gratiae uinculis, quorum distant corda sen- . tentiis ? fac, domine imperator, eflfectum rerum fidem probare 5 uerborum. non enim sermonibus cognoscuntur hominum corda 45 sed fructibus, cum et Abraham pater noster non nuda deo fide sed opere fidem commendante placuerit. unde uel. pro 6 dispensatione mihi credita uel pietatis uestrae circa me beni- gnitate perpensa, domine fili, hortor et supplico, ut studium pacis, quod per scripta praefertis, ad componenda nobiscum 20 adiutore deo ea in his, quibus laborant ecclesiae, dirigatis, quia secundum prophetam pax multa diligentibus nomen tuum etnon estillis scandalum. non sunt incognita apud mansue- 7 tudinem uestram, quae nos ab ea, quam redintegrare cupimus, unitate discernant. date operam, ut laudando, quae profitemini, 25 compleantur effectu, et apostoli, cuius communionem creditis expetendara, totis uiribus sequimini disciplinam. in totum perdita noxiorum declinate contagia scientes non habere cura religiosis impios portionem nec uUum fidei cum perfidia esse consortium. consequens est, ut qui errorum detestatur prin- 8 30 cipes, oderit sectatores; exsecrabile habeatur in flore, quod 2 cf. Matth. 11, 12 6 Philipp. 1, 6 10 Act. 4, 32 15 cf, Matth. 7, 16 21 Psalm. 118, 165 27 sq. cf. Cor. II 6, 14 sq. 2 uis sit Thiel (cf. Matth. 11, 1J2): iussit V 6 cfpit V 7 cepistis V 8 solidam a tenet F, corr. o 12 coniecti F, corr. o 17 despen- satione V 20 in his F, uix integra lectione 30 .et execrabile BuU. Taur, 506 Anastasius senatai urbis Romae damnatur in semine. oflferte hoc munus deo, pro uestris, precor, ofFerte temporibus; iam diu hanc a uobis hostiam pro 9tantis, quae uobis contulit, Christus expectat. quid opus est apud illum preces adhibere, qui supplicat? uos senatui urbis Somae, ut me ad pacem hortaretur, iniungitis; ego non solum s cum his ad uos supplicationis uerba conuerto sed uestigiis lOuestris cum uniuersali aduoluor ecclesia. audite me pro Christo legatione fungentem: non patiamini ab improbis canibus Christi membra discerpi; quae insanabilia uidetis, abscidite, et quae aegi*a, curate. cur quae sana sunt, inualidis coniuncta qua- lo tiantur? seruate ordinem, quem ueritas ipsa praefinit, et pacem llmundo, quam poscitis, reddidistis. haec et sub praesenti occasione deposco et rursum ac saepius supplicare curabo sperans importunitatem hanc meam et deo esse placituram et apud uos quoque per adsiduas petitiones, quoniam id nos i& dominus docuit, uacuam non futuram. Data « «