Letter 10: Symmachus, bishop, to our beloved brothers the bishops of the eastern churches.

Symmachus to his most beloved brethren, the African bishops. 1. Perhaps the enemy would reckon it a gain if, amid the perils he has brought upon Christians, he had subdued the souls of believers, and if, with the Lord's flock scattered in various directions, there did not survive even among a few any by whom, with their faith persevering, he might be trampled underfoot. He still reigns in your number, who has taken pleasure in himself not so much in a multitude as in devotion. For it is written that power was given to Satan, that he might sift the servants of Christ: so that whatever of wheat could be found might be gathered into the storehouses, and whatever of chaff might pass over to feed the fires. It was said to you in particular: Do not fear, little flock, it has pleased your Father to give you the kingdom. The sword of the treacherous came among you, to cut away the withered members of the Church, and to bring the sound ones through to heavenly glory. What soldiers Christ has, the contest reveals; who deserve the triumph is made known through the battles. Do not be afraid because they have taken from you the fillets of the pontifical mitre. With you is that priest, or rather victim, who has been accustomed to rejoice not so much in honors as in minds. Greater are the rewards of confession than the gifts of named dignity: to the latter, human favor for the most part brings even persons of lesser merit, but the former, only grace from above bestows. For He Himself both fought and conquered in you, whom faith deserves to be joined as a comrade even amid the torments of men. 2. There is no need of lengthy discourses to kindle the heavenly fervor in you. The fire of divine power has its own increase. There is no need to exalt with praises those already set upon their trophy, who conquered without a prompter: whatever the flatteries of public proclamation bring, they weigh heavily upon a Christian's conscience. The deed you have done is indeed a matter of virtue, but to be surpassed by the restoration of the highest reward. Yet that which you have hoped for in the letters directed to our son H[ormisdas], the deacon, requesting the blessing of the blessed Nazarius and Romanus, we do not deny to the faithful. Receive the venerable patronage of the unconquered soldiers, and, since the Emperor has now recognized your pious faith in the battles, happily bring the gifts of confession to fulfillment. God will give, when it shall please Him, peace restored to the churches, and may He console with the sweetness of peace the grief which adversity has brought in.

(a. 507 Symmachi papae (yel.saltem ipsius nomine scripta) ad ~"^^*^^ episeopos Afros. In confessionis eanlio constituios consolatur eisque petentibus reHquias befUorum p.5 Nazarii et liomani transmittit. Dilectissimis fratribus episcopis Afris Symmachus. 1. Lucrum forsitan putaret inimicus, si inter pericula^ quae Christianis induxit, credentium animos subegisset, et per diversa Domini grege disperso, non superesset vel inter paucos^ a quibus possit fide perseverante calcari. Regnat adhuc ille in numero vestro, qui sibi non tam in multitudine quam in devotione eomplacuit. oo^Qi Scriptum est enim datam Satanae potestatem, ut servos Christi cribraret: ut quod de tritico inveniri posset, horreis jungeretur, quod de paleis, ad ignium aUmenta transiret. Ad vos specialiter dictum 12^2 ®^^' iVo/iVt' thnere^ pusilius grex, complacuit Patri vestro dare vobis regnum. Venit inter vos gladius perfidorum, qui marcida Ecclesiae membra resecaret, et ad coelestem gloriam sana perduceret. Quos ') habeat Christus milites, certamen ostendit: qui triumphum merea- tur, per bella cognoscitur. Nolite metuere, quod pontificalis a Tobis apicis infulas abstulerunt. Vobiscum est sacerdos ille vel hostda, qui non tam honoribus consuevit gaudere quam mentibus. Majora sunt confessionis praemia, quam nominatae munera dignitatis: ad illa plerumque etiam minoris meriti personas favor humauus adducit, ista nisi gratia superna non tribuit. Ipse enim in vobis et pugnavit et vicit, quem fides meretur et inter hominum tormenta sociari. 2. Prohxis non est opus ad fervorem in vobis coelestem ani- mare colloquiis. Habet incrementa sua divinae virtutis incendium. Non est opus eos in tropaeo jam positos attoUi bmdibus^ qui sine monitore vicerunt: gravant^) conscientiam Christiani, quidquid aflFe runt blandimenta praeconii. Res quidem virtutis est quam fecistis, sed summi praemii restitutione superanda. Quod tamen directis ad ') Sirm. gravat. EPISTOLAE 10—12. 709 filium nostrum H. ^) diaconum litteris sperastis, beatorum Nazarii et (a. 507 Romani benedictionem posceutes, fidelibus non negamus. Accipite ~~^^^) veneranda patrocinia invictorum militum, et^) quia vestram jam piam fidem in praeliis imperator agnovit, feliciter confessionis mu- uera consummate **). Dabit Deus, quum ipsi placuerit, reducem ec- clesiis quietem, et ut moerorem, quem induxit adversitas, pacis dulcedine consoletur.