Letter 27: Innocent replies to the five bishops that he has already made known sufficiently from their own opinion what he...

[Editorial summary] Innocent writes back to five bishops, declaring that he has already made sufficiently known what he thinks of Pelagius's treachery in accordance with their judgment: that the supporters of this heretic, if they are at Rome, lie hidden; but that wherever they live they are to be condemned, and provision must be made for their salvation; that Pelagius's acquittal in Palestine is exceedingly suspect to him; but that he neither blames nor approves his judges; that there is no need for him to summon that man, since the book of his [...] has carried this off [...] what further remains? [The letter follows. The transmitted text below is drawn from a Patrologia edition and is interrupted throughout by critical apparatus recording manuscript variants; those notes are marked as [editorial apparatus] and are not part of Innocent's letter. The Latin is also heavily damaged by OCR; genuinely illegible passages are marked [...].] [...] error may invade. For if Pelagius, in whatever place he met resistance, deceived by this assertion the minds of those who would believe a disputant easily or simply -- whether these men be in this city, which we can neither make manifest nor deny, since even if they are present they lie hidden, nor would they ever dare either to defend him while he preaches such things, or to boast of such things in the presence of any of us; and in so great a multitude of people someone may easily [escape detection], so that he cannot anywhere be recognized -- whether they dwell in whatever place of the earth, by the mercy and grace of our God we believe that they will easily be corrected, once the condemnation has been heard of him who shall have been found stubborn and resistant as the author of this doctrine. Nor does it matter where these men are, provided that, wherever they can be found, they are to be healed. [Section number] To us, nevertheless, it can neither be persuaded that he has been purged, although proceedings were carried on before him by I know not what laymen, by whom he believed himself both heard and absolved. Whether these things are true, we doubt, because they came under no prosecution of that council, nor have we received any letters about this matter from those before whom this man presented the grounds of this affair. But if he had been able to be confident of his own purgation, we believe rather that he would have done this, which could have been much truer: that he might compel those men by his own letters to make known what they had judged. But since there are certain things set down in those very acts which, in part, he suppressed by avoiding the charges laid against him, in part he confounded by twisting many words back upon themselves into total obscurity, some things he purged rather by false arguments than by true reasoning -- in such a way as could appear valid only for the time -- by denying some things, by perverting others through false interpretation. [Section number] But would that -- which is rather to be wished -- he would now turn himself from that error of his own course to the true way of the catholic faith, so that he may desire and wish to be purged, considering the daily grace of God and acknowledging His help, so that he may be seen and approved by all to have truly been corrected by a manifest reckoning -- not by the verdict of the proceedings, but with his heart turned to the catholic faith! Whence we can neither approve nor blame their judgment, since we do not know whether the acts are true; or, if they are true, that he rather escaped them by his cleverness than purged himself by the whole truth. But if he is confident, and knows that he is not worthy of our condemnation -- so that he may say either that he has already refuted this whole thing which he had said; he ought not to be summoned by us, but rather ought himself to hasten, so that he may be able to be absolved. For if he still thinks in such a manner -- when, summoned by our judgment by whatever means through letters, since he knows that he must condemn himself -- will he comply? But if he were to be summoned, it would be better done by those who seem to be nearer and not separated by a long stretch of lands. But care will not be lacking, if he himself provides material for the medicine. For he can condemn what he had held, and, having given letters of his error, as is fitting for one returning to us, ask pardon, dearest brothers. [Section number] As for the book which was said to be his, we have considered it [...]; for we converse with you who know the whole matter, and who rejoice with us in equal agreement. For these examples are better set forth when we deal with those whom it is established to be ignorant of these matters. For concerning the possibility of nature, concerning free will, and concerning all the grace of God, and the daily grace, to whom who thinks rightly is there not most abundant occasion to dispute? Therefore let this man anathematize what he has held: so that those who had collapsed under his discourses and precepts may at last recognize what the true faith holds. For they will more easily be able to be called back, when they perceive these things condemned by their own author. But if he should wish stubbornly to persist in this impiety, action must be taken so that aid may be brought even to those whom not his own, but rather this man's error has led astray; lest this medicine perish for them also, for whom [...] does not admit nor require such care. [In another hand:] May God keep you safe, dearest brothers. Given on the sixth day before the kalends of February [January 27, A.D. 417], after the consulship of the most glorious Theodosius Augustus for the seventh time and of Junius Quartus Palladius, vir clarissimus. [Editorial apparatus -- manuscript variant notes that are not part of the letter:] Garnier reads 'he indicated by his own will'; the word 'he indicated' is rendered from the Greek in [...]. Other editions of the Councils, together with the Roman, read 'a rapid enemy.' At [...] the word 'rapid' is suddenly omitted, nor does he substitute any for it. Garnier reads 'which against themselves.' Quesnel, with the old exemplar of Colbert, by whose authority [reads] 'against themselves' for certain 'spiritual men.' In the manuscripts of Isidore, 'Constantine'; in Merlin, 'in the consulship of Constantius.' In other editions of the Councils, and the Roman, 'in the consulship of Constantius, vir clarissimus' (one Colbert codex [reads] 'viri clarissimi'). At Garnier's, 'Honorius for the eleventh time and Constantius for the second, consuls.' That this consular note might be accurate, it ought to be stated thus: 'Honorius Augustus for the eleventh time and Constantius vir clarissimus, consuls.' But from epistles 29 and 31, which were transmitted to us from manuscripts of a better note than this one, this note is to be corrected. For it does not seem doubtful that Innocent signed these three epistles, given at the same time, by the same reckoning, and so after the consulship of Theodosius for the seventh time and Junius Quartus. But because after the consulship of Theodosius for the seventh time and Junius Quartus, Honorius and Constantius were in the same office: it is the conjecture that by the work of some copyist 'in the consulship of Honorius and Constantius' was added in the margin, and this scholion was carried over from the margin into the text. In the editions of the Councils, '26'; what however was '39' is now '5.' In the Corbie manuscript: 'To his most beloved brothers Aurelius, Alypius, Augustine, Evodius, Possidius, Innocent.' At Quesnel's, as in the Public manuscript, after 'int.' Other books more correctly [read] 'he may be able,' namely the linking of the letters. Then the Roman and the Council editions [read] 'given to anyone suitable,' except that in the older editions of the Councils it remains 'of his own accord.' At Garnier's, 'suitable to anyone,' you read 'two.' The Vatican [reads] 'to be lacking.' It seems preferable to read, with the other books, 'as if it were said: it can never come about that any fault should conquer that which is so wicked and so impious, that in our faith or in the truth itself it should be more fully overcome.' Merlin [reads] 'he bound,' Garnier 'he shall have bound.' Below, Crabbe and Labbe [read] 'wandering'; and the Roman edition 'overflowing' for 'abhorring.' The editions [read] 'infected'; the Vatican manuscript 'with infected things': we correct from the old exemplar [...]. These correspond to the words of the five bishops, note 14, that 'they do not cease everywhere to scatter scandal among the hearers and against the perverse detractors of him.' For if they shall have learned, etc. Garnier [reads] '[...] he will invade.' One Corbie and Public codex, with Corbie by the first hand, [reads] 'or this to that,' etc. The other, as at Quesnel's, 'or here some have been deceived, whom not knowing.' At Garnier's, 'nor where they lie hidden it may be possible.' In a lower note of the manuscripts, 'nor is anyone easily detected or anywhere.' For the particle 'nor,' Garnier substitutes 'scarcely.' The exemplars of Isidore presented 'what they had judged.' Later editions of the Councils [read] 'who had judged.' At [...] 'who adjudicated.' In the Roman edition, as in the Colbert, Public, and Corbie manuscripts, 'what they had judged.' Closer to this comes what from Merlin, Crabbe, etc., we recall: 'who had adjudicated.' But that of Garnier, 'what they had judged,' according to ecclesiastical usage 'to make known,' savors of a gloss. [...] thus presents 'than which he purged by true reasoning by denying, by interpreting other things falsely, so that he could not be seen as absolved even for the time, with words removed or added or in some respect contrary to the faith of the other books.' From this account of Innocent it may be suspected that the acts of the synod of Diospolis were not sincerely sent to him, but those which Pelagius had adulterated, which he called the charter of his defense, such as the same heretic had also sent to Augustine. Certainly that he took pains that those adulterated acts should circulate everywhere, Augustine too suspects, in his book On the Deeds of Pelagius, section 57, where he says: 'Who would not believe that this was procured, that as if in place of an abridgement of those acts this charter should run everywhere?' Nor undeservedly do we suppose that those unknown men, who carried the aforesaid writing, were attached to Pelagius, and handed it over to Innocent, because they held it to be a persuasion to favor their master. Rightly therefore does Innocent above say that he doubts whether those acts are true, and below repeats it. At Augustine's, as in the manuscripts, 'true.' Then Labbe, after the Roman and Merlin editions, [reads] 'by the judgment of the acts': erroneously. In Augustine's edition this passage was thus published: 'But if he is confident and knows that he is worthy of our condemnation, so that he may say that he now refutes (at Augustine's, 'has refuted') this whole thing which he had said.' Our reading is the better, because it not only expresses the faith of the old codex, but is also fuller and more complete than the rest. For Innocent means this: that if Pelagius is confident that what he even now says and teaches is not worthy of condemnation, or that he has already refuted or retracted and repudiated what he had long ago said and taught, he himself, certain of his own absolution, ought to hasten to Rome. Corbie [reads] 'summoned.' A little before, for 'to be summoned,' in the Vatican manuscript there stands 'summoned.' This 'almost,' and the foregoing words, 'we read that many things have been written against the grace of God,' from the edition [...]. [Editorial heading -- ADMONITION ON THE THREE FOLLOWING EPISTLES.] The three following epistles, among the pontifical letters, were first published at Rome from an old book of the Vatican library, and afterwards were reprinted by Baronius, a collation of them having been made with another codex, under the year 416. But from what occasion their first editor supposed they were given to be written, he explains thus: 'When John, bishop of Jerusalem, followed the errors of Origen, Jerome, living at Bethlehem, and many others abstained from communion with him. For which reason many were affected with evils by the doings of John.' But the truer cause of them we learn from those things which Augustine relates at the end of the book On the Deeds of Pelagius, in this manner: 'But concerning those things which after this judgment (held at Diospolis in Palestine) are reported there to have been perpetrated by I know not what band of lost men, who very much favor Pelagius in the perverse direction, said to have been carried out with incredible audacity, so that the servants of God and [...]' [the quotation breaks off]. [In another hand:] May God keep you safe, dearest brothers. Given on the sixth day before the kalends of February (January 27, A.D. 417), after the consulship of the most glorious Theodosius Augustus for the seventh time and of Junius Quartus Palladius, vir clarissimus.

Rcscribit Innocenlius quinque episcopis, r/uir/ de eorum senteutia, quid de Pelagii perfidia semiret, se jam satis nolum [ecisse : hwretici hiijus fuutores, si Ro- ma: sinl, lalere; sed ubivis degunt daniniindos esse, eorumque salnti prospiciendvm : Pelagii in Pulccs- tina purgalionem sibi vulde esse suspectam; sed ju- dices ejns nec culpare se, nec approbare ; niliil opus essc ut eum liomum ucccrsat, cerle librum illius lioc abstulil, uilerius k quid rcliquil ? 2. Si ergo suiil aliqui , quos in sui dcfensionem perver.-itas lauia ' dcvinxil, qui itiiicsedogmatide- dant atque conjnngant, spermtes boc ad catbolicam perlinere doctriuam, <|iiod abborrens longitis et pe- nitus approb.iliir adversuin, m afieciu illorum et iiio- blasphemiisrcfertum esse: si ipse errores unaihemet , p nilis el verbis ttt labereutur indueli, qiiaieiius ad fatilnts revocatum iri quos seditxil ; sed his saltem rettum via; tramilem redeant, fesliiiabunt, " nediu- tius menlem obsidens velut eoriim scnsibus paslus consulendum. rnlis. Qnemadmodiim is papa in epistolas biijusexor- dio pastores billdat, qni ovcs illiceuler dutltuii pelita vitantes. Iioc estnd uielioreni fritgeui couversas, cus- todiw pristince circumspectione iwari noiidedignaiiitir; ita uiiiic. ovcs illas. qua: in errore periinaciier per- innnciil, carcre vuli cuslodia pnstorali, scu a grege, qui pasiorum custodiae commissiis e-i, separari. * Garner. propria voluntate significavit. Verbum lignificuvil c.xitule apud \og. liatislaliiiii. Ali.e edii. ConCil. cniii Rotn. hostis rapidis. AlG.un. vocim rubittis omitiii, nce ullain ei snbstiluil. J Garo. quas tn semelipsas. Quesn. ctiin velere exemplari Colb. quo auciore semetipsos quibusdam (Colh. ins. quosdam)spirilalis. ' In niss. Isiil. Constantino. Apud Merl. Constantio consulibus. lnaliisedil concil. ae Koin. Conslanlio viris clarissimis (umiscodexColb. u». cc.) consulibus. A|iiid Garner. Houorio xt el Couslantio u coss. lil accuraia essct noia illa consularis, enuntiari sic de- berct. Uonorio Angiislo xi el Constanto v. c. (Iiocesl viro clarissimo, mui mi. cc. quod e^t viris clarissimis) consulibus. Veruin ex epistolis-29 ei5l, qureexnie- lioris not e oiss. quain ista, ad nos Iransiiiissa; stint, refnriiiaiida est li.ic nola. Non eniin videtur ambi- geinlinii, quin tics cpislolas siinul dalas eadein ra- lione, adeoque post ccnsulattim Theodosii vu etJunii I) Quarti, Innocentius consignarit. Scd qni.i posl con- snlatiim Tlieodosii vn el Juiiii Quarli Honorius et Constaiitiiiseadeiiidigiiiiate in ignili siint: conjecliira est aniiqnarii alicnjus opera .'d marg. adjcclnm e>se Honorio el Consiuniio cons. aii|iie boc sebolion e margine in texiuui luisse Iranslatuin. ' In edii. Concil. 26. Qnne auieni crat 39, nnnc 5. 8 in ins.Corb., DHeciissimis fratribus Aurelio, Alu- pio, Aitgitsliuo, Evodio, Pnssiduuio Inuoieiitius. 1 Apml Quesii. nt io ius. Pitb., pos int. Reciins alii libri possit, scil. coutcxtio liiierarum. Drinde edit. Itoni. ei Concil. idoneo dato cuivis, msi onoil in veiuslioribiis edit. Concil. resiatr/uotu°s. AptidGarner. idoiieam cuivis, dmo legis. Vatic, deesse. Piaferendiuii vitleiur cuin aliis libris esse: quasi dicaiur. ^ce polesi aliquando fieri, ui id vineai tUigtna, quod lammiscrumtainque impiumcst, ui lidci nostra'vii inieelipsa vcriiaiepieniusviucatur. 1 Merl.,(/e/i'xit, Garucr., devinxeril. Inferius Crab: et Lab., oberrans ; el edit. Rom., uberrans pro abhor- rens. 111 Edili, infccti; Valicanns ms., iufectis : rorrigim- uir cx vi teri exemplaii (', .lb. Ilae responilenl verbis qtiinque e|iisCO[iorum n. 14, quod scandalmn audi- torcs ct in pcrversum uii.kctores ejus usquequaque spargfre nu:t cessant. Si enim cognoverint, otc. " Garucr., liccdiutitil invadet. m error invadat. Nam si Pelagius , quortunqnc reslitit \ i. Scd iitinam, f|iioil nptandum esl niagis, jam se locn, eoriim animos, qui facilevel simpliciiercrede- renl dispulanli, liac affirmationedecepit, "seuhacilli in urlie siul, quod nescicires ncc manifeslare pos- siimiis nec negare , cum et si sunt laieanl , nec ali- quando andeanl vcl illuin pra dieanteni isia dcfen- dere, vel lalia h aliquo nostroriini pra?senle jactare, ille ad veram cathoiic.v fidei viam ab illo sui tiamitis crrore cnnverlal, ut cnpiat velilque purgari , consi- dcrans quntidiannm Dei graiinm , adjiitoiininqiie coghnscens", ut videalur ' vcrc el api'rolietur al> onl- nibus manifesta raiionc corrcctus , non gestorum indicio, sed ail cilholic.am (idem corde converso ! et in tanta popiiii multiludine depreheiid) aliquis fa- Unde non pusSumus illorum nee approliare nec cnl- cile, c nec alicubi posMl agnosci : sivc in quovis ter- rarnm loco degant, Itei noslri miseiicorriia gralia- que credimiis, quod facile conigantur, hudila ejus damnatione, qui fuerii peninax ct resistcns bujus dogmaiis auclor inveiiius. Nec interesl ubi isti fue- rint , diim iibicunique inveniri potiterint , sint sa- n:indi. pare judicium, cum nesciamns utruni vcra sini gcsta; aUt si vcra sint, illuni cnisielmagis subierfngisse, qnani se loia veiiiaie purgassc. Qnl si ciuilidil, no- vltque non noslva dignnni esse rinmnatione i quod dicat aut jani boc loium se refulasse quod riixerat; non a nobis accersiri , sed ipse debet polius fesli- nare, ul possit absolvi. Nam si adhtic taliler sen- 5. Nobis taincn '' nec persuadeii polesteum cssc p lii ; qnando se nosiro jtidicio, qnibusvisk accitus piirgalum, qiiamvis ad m s e a nescio qnibus laicis sint ge?ia peiiata ; quibus ille ct audiiom se crede- ret, et absolutum. Qnoe iitrum vera sini, diibilanms, quod sub nnlla illius concilii f prosecutione vene- runt, ncc eoriim aliquas acccpimus de hac re liile- r.is, apud quos islius rei islc pncslilitcausas. Quod si de sua ille potuisset purgatione confidere, bocma- gis credimus quod egissel. , quod mulio verius essu poiueral , ut illos cngeret cpistolis suis B quid judi- caverant indicare. Veruin cnm sint aliiiua in ipsis posiia gestis, qua; objccla parlim ille vilando sup- liiteris , cum sciat damnaiiduni se e se, coniinitiel ? Qnod si accersiendus essel,ab iis nielius fierct, qni inagis proximi ct non longo lerraruin spatio viden- tnr esse riisjuncti. Sed non deerit cura, si medicinae prsebeat ille maleriam. Poiest cnim damnare qua> senserat, ac daiis liileris, eiroris sui, ut regrcssnni ad nos decel, veniam poslulare, fraires cbarissimi. S. Librnm sane, qui ej'us esse diceretur, hobis pressit, parliin nmlia in se verba retorquendo lota quod non penltus displicerel, a quovis riamnandiini obscuviiaie confiidii , alioua magis falsis argumentis, aique calcandum, cujnssilnilia, nisi qui i>ta scripse- qnam vera raiione h nt ad icinpus videi i poterat , rat, nemo altcr in mentem reciperet aique senlirct. purgavii , negando alia , alia falsa iuterprelalione C Nam boc loco de lege lalius disptiiare , velut coram vertendo. posito repugnahleque Pelagio neces-aiiuni esse non " Unus cod ex Coib. ac Pitli. cum Corb. a I ma- nu, scn hic ilti , elc. Aller ul apud Qii"sn., scu liic aliqui decepii siut, t/uo^ nescientes. ''■ Apud Garner., nec ubi laleut possil. Inferinrb noloe ni-s., nec deprehendi nliquisfaclievel alicjibi. A Loio particulse ncc, Garher. substilnit vix. Isiilori exemplai ibus prse se fenbal qiiid judicave- runi.Posteriofesedil. Concil., qui jiidicnreritnt. Apud Aiifj. qni dijudicaverunt. Io cdil. Itom., ut in mss. Colb.. Pilb. cl Corb., f/nirf judicaveranl. Ad h;cc pro- pins aeeedii qnod ev. Merl. , Crab., ctc. , rcvocaiuus qui dijndicarerant. At istud Garn. quod jndicarcranl more ecclesiaslico indicare, glossenia sapii. Incniii Ita Gtii. exhibet, quam vera ralionc ptitgavit negandn , aliti fahrt inierpretando , ne ad lempiis qui- dem viileri pntnerit absolutus , verbis deinpiis adrii- tisvc aul loeo uinlis pr.cter lidem alioruin liluoruin. Ex h.ic Innoceotii narratione su.spicari est non slh- cera ad cuui niissa essc fjiospolltanaS synodi gesla, sed ea qu.i' Pelagius adulterareral , qiiauiue defen- sinnii sute chnrliilnm vocahai, qualia et ad Aiigusti- nuin idem li.erelicus miserat. Cerle enm operamde- disse, ut adulierata llla gesia usquequaque discur- rereui, sasplcalur et AngustihuS lib. de Gestis Pela- gii, n. 57, ubi ail : Q;<is non credal id fuisse procura- ttlttl, ul tamquam pro ijcstorum illnrum brevintione ista cliarla nsqnciitaque discurrerei ? Nec ininierito npine- mur ignolos illos viros , qni seriplum menioralum detiileriint, Pelai;io addiclos fuisse , anpie id limo- cenlio Irariidise , quod magislro suo faveie persua- suin habereni. Jurc ignur liiiiocenlius de geslis illis, utrum vera sint , dubiiare se superiiis ait , inleiins- que repelit. ' Apud Ang. ut in mss., verum. Mox Lab. , posl cdit. Rom. ei Merl., yeslnrnm judicin : mendnse. Aug. ediiione iia vnlgatus esi hic locns : Qtiotl si r. cnnfidit novitqiie noslra diijnnm se esse damnutione , qund ditat jam tolum hoc refnlnre (apild Auir., refu- tasse) quod dixerat. Noslra lectio eo est polior, quod flfih soliiin ad velerom COdiCulll lideiu expresstt, scd et c.cteris plenior alqne iniegriiir est. Hoc enini sibi vuli Iiinocentius, ui si Pelagius eonfidai daitinaiione digonin nrtn esse qnod eiiani niinc dicat ac rioceat, vel jam refutaSse seu retraciasse ac repudiasse quod piidein dixerdl ac dorueral, ipsede absolulione sua cerlus Rninam delicai pro|ierare. Corb., accitus. P.iulo anle pro accersiri , iu ms. Va- lic. exslal acciri. 1 Isiud pene , ac superiora verba, mulia conira Dei qratiam tegimits esse conscripla , ex ediiione 597 EPISTOL.E ET DECRETA. 598 duximus; cum vnbiscom ° lolam scieniibus, paii- \ incolumem custodi.it, frairercharissime. Dala sexto que nobiscufti asseusione gaudentibns colloi|ii:innir. kalendas Februarias '. Tunc enim ntelitis h;ec exempla ponunlur, (|iiando cum iis , quos harnm constat rcrtim !' iiiipriidentes esse, tractamusi Nam de nalurae possibiliiaie , de tiliero arbiirio, ei de onini Dei graiia, ei quoiidiana gratia, cui non sif recie sentienii uberrimum dispu- latfe? An;iilieiiicl ergo isic qtiae sensit : ui illi , qui ejus sermnnilms fucraut praeceplis |ue collnpsi, quid tandem habeat fitles vera engiioseant. Faeilius enim revocari poterunt, cuni isia a suo senserint auctore dainnari. Quod si ille perlinaciter in bac voluerit iinpietate persisiere, agendum est c quaienus vel iis possit siibveniri, quos non suus, sed liiijns magis error induxit ; ne et illis Itsec niedicina pereal , cu- M0"1TUM !N EPISTOLAS TRES SEQUENTES. 1. Tres epistolaa sequentea inier pomifiejas liite- ras e veieri Vaticans hihliolhecaa bbro Rnmae pri- niuiii edita', pnstea et a Baronio collaiiene earnm facia eiim altero endice ad annum 416 recusifl sunt. Unde vero iis scribendis oectsioneiti dalain existi- ntarit prinius iUarum editor, sic explicai : • i.uui Joaniicsllieinsolymoriimepiseopus Origenis errores sequerelur, Hieronymus apud lieihlcem degens, aliique petniulii ab ejus enmmuniune absiinelant. Qitani ob rem Joannis opera inullis aflecli suntnia- lis. » Yerinrein auiein illarutn eausam eonipei intus ev iis, qine Augiistiiins ad calcem libri de Ge^tis Pelagii narrai in hunc modiini : - De bis autein, quae post hoe judicium (Diospoli in Palacslina hahiiurn) ibi a nescio qno cuneo pprdilnrum, qui valde in jus istc taleni non adniitlil nec postulal curam. ( El rj perversiim perhihentiir Pelagio sulfragari, incvedi- alia munn : ) Deus vos incnlumes cusiodiat, Iraires bili audacia perpelraia dicunliir, ui Pei ser\i ei an- cliarissimi. Dala scxln kaleudas Fcbriiarins (Jiw. 27, aim. 417) d post consulaiiim gloriosissimi Tbeodo- sii augusli vn et Junii Quarli Palladii V. C.