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On the return of Flavian the Bishop, and the reconciliation of the
Emperor with the city, and with those who had offended in overthrowing
the Statues.
1. Today, I shall begin with that very same saying with which I
have ever been used to open my address to you during the season of
danger, and shall say together with you, "Blessed be God," Who
hath granted us this day to celebrate this holy Feast with much joy and
gladness; and hath restored the head to the body, the shepherd to the
sheep, the master to the disciples, the general to the soldiers, the
High Priest to the Priests! Blessed be God, "Who doeth
exceeding abundantly above what we ask or think!" For to us it would
have seemed sufficient, had we been but delivered from the hitherto
impending evil; and for this we made all our supplication. But the
God who loveth man, and ever in His giving surpasseth our prayers by
an excess of bounty, hath brought back our Father too, sooner than we
could at all have expected. Who would, indeed, have thought that in
so few days, he would have gone, and have had audience with the
Emperor, and set us free from the calamity, and again come back to us
so quickly, as to be able to anticipate the Holy Passover, and to
celebrate it with ourselves? Behold, however, this event, which was
so contrary to expectation, hath been realized! We have received back
our Father; and we enjoy so much the greater pleasure, inasmuch as we
have received him back now beyond our hopes. For all these things,
let us give thanks to the merciful God, and be amazed at the power,
the lovingkindness, the wisdom, and the tender care which has been
manifested on behalf of the city. For the devil had attempted its
entire subversion through the daring crimes committed; but God, by
means of this same calamity, hath adorned the city, the Priest, and
the Emperor; and hath made them all more illustrious.
2. The city hath won renown, because when such a danger had
overtaken her, passing by at once all those who were in power, those
who were surrounded with much wealth, those who possessed great
influence with the Emperor, it fled for refuge to the Church, and to
the Priest of God, and with much faith, rested itself entirely upon
the hope which is from above! Many indeed, after the departure of the
common Father, were ready to terrify those who lay in prison, by
saying, "The Emperor does not lay aside his wrath, but is still
more provoked, and is thinking of the utter ruin of the city." But
whilst they were whispering all this, and much more, they who were
then in bonds were not the least intimidated, but upon our saying,
"These things are false, and they are a device of the devil, who
desires to fill you with consternation;" they replied to us," We
need no consolation to be addressed to us; for we know where we have
taken refuge from the first; and upon what hope we have rested
ourselves. We have fixed our safety upon the sacred anchor! We have
not entrusted this to man, but to the Almighty God; therefore we are
most assuredly confident, that the result will be favourable; for it
is impossible, truly impossible, that this hope can ever be
confounded!" To how many crowns, how many encomiums, is this
equivalent for our city? How much of God's favour will it draw down
upon us too in our other affairs! For it is not, indeed it is not a
thing belonging to a soul of mean order to be watchful against the
attack of temptations, and to look to God; and scorning all that is
human, to yearn after that Divine aid.
3. The city then hath thus won renown; and the Priest again not
less than the city, for be exposed his life for all; and while there
were many things to hinder him, as the winter, his age, the feast,
and not less than these, his sister, then at her last breath, he
raised himself above all these obstacles, and did not say to himself,
"What a thing is this? Our only remaining sister, she who hath
drawn the yoke of Christ along with me, and who hath been my domestic
companion so long, is now at her last breath; and shall we desert
her, and go hence, and not behold her expiring, and uttering her
paring words? But she indeed was praying daily, that we might close
her eyes, and shut and compose her mouth, and attend to all other
things pertaining to the burial; but now in this case, as one
deserted, and deprived of a protector, she will obtain none of these
offices from her brother; of him whom she especially desired to obtain
them; but when she gives up the ghost, she will not see him whom she
loved more to have with her than all others? And will not this be
heavier to her than dying many times over? Yes, although I were far
away, would it not be right to come with speed, and do, and suffer
any thing, for the purpose of shewing her this kindness? And now when
I am near, shall I leave her, and taking my departure abandon her?
And how then will she sustain the remainder of her days?"
4. Yet, so far was he from saying any of these things, that he did
not even think of them; but esteeming the fear of God above all the
ties of kindred, he recognized the fact, that as tempests display the
pilot, and dangers the general, so also a time of trial makes the
Priest to become manifest. "All men," saith he, "are eagerly
looking on us; the Jews as well as the Greeks; let us not confound
the expectations which these have of us; let us not overlook so great a
shipwreck; but having committed to God all things that pertain to
ourselves, let us venture our life itself too!" Consider,
moreover, the magnanimity of the Priest, and the lovingkindness of
God! All those things which he disregarded, all those he enjoyed;
in order that he might both receive the reward of his readiness, and
that he might obtain a greater pleasure by enjoying them contrary to
expectation! He preferred to celebrate the festival in a foreign
place, and far from his own people, for the sake of the city's
safety. But God restored him to us before the Paschal feast, so as
to take a common part with us in the conduct of the festival; in order
that he might have the reward of his choice, and enjoy the greater
gladness! He feared not the season of the year; and there was summer
during the whole period he was travelling. He took not his age into
account; and he dispatched this long journey with just as much ease as
if he had been young and sprightly! He thought not of his sisters
decease nor was enervated by it, and when he returned he found her
still alive, and all things which were disregarded by him, were all
obtained!
5. Thus, the priest hath indeed won renown both with God and man!
This transaction hath also adorned the Emperor with a splendour beyond
the diadem! First, in that it was then made apparent that he would
grant that to the priests which he would not to any other; secondly,
that he granted the favour without delay, and quelled his resentment.
But that you may more clearly understand the magnanimity of the
Emperor, and the wisdom of the priest, and more than both these, the
lovingkindness of God; allow me to relate to you a few particulars of
the conference which took place. But what I am now about to relate I
learnt from one of those who were within the palace; for the Father
has told us neither much nor little on the affair; but ever imitating
the magnanimity of Paul, he hides his own good deeds; and to those
who on all sides were asking him questions as to what he said to the
Emperor; and how he prevailed upon him; and how he turned away his
wrath entirely, he replied, "We contributed nothing to the matter,
but the Emperor himself (God having softened his heart), even
before we had spoken, dismissed his anger, and quelled his
resentment; and discoursing of the events that had taken place as if
some other person had been insulted, he thus went over all the events
that had happened without anger." But those things which he concealed
from humility, God hath brought to light.
6. And what were these? I will proceed to relate them to you by
going a little farther back in the story. When he went forth from the
city, leaving all in such great despondency, he endured what was far
more grievous than we ourselves suffered, who were in the midst of
these calamities. For, in the first place, meeting in the midst of
his journey with those who had been sent by the Emperor to make
inquisition upon the events which had happened; and learning from
them, on what terms they were sent; and reflecting upon the dreadful
events that were in store for the city, the tumults, the confusion,
the flight, the terror, the agony, the perils, he wept a flood of
tears, and his bowels were rent with compassion; for with fathers, it
is usual to grieve much more, when they are not able to be present with
their suffering children; which was just what this most tender-hearted
man now endured; not only lamenting the calamities which were in
reserve for us, but that he was far away from us, whist we were
enduring them. But this was, however, for our safety. For as soon
as he had learned these things from them; more warmly did the fountain
of his tears then gush forth, and he betook himself to God with more
fervent supplication; and spent his nights without sleep, beseeching
Him that He would succour the city, while enduring these things, and
make the mind of the Emperor more placable. And as soon as he came to
that great city, and had entered the royal palace, he stood before the
Emperor at a distance,--speechless,--weeping,--with downcast
eyes,--covering his face as if he himself had been the doer of all
the mischief; and this he did, wishing first to incline him to mercy
by his posture, and aspect, and tears; and then to begin an apology
on our behalf; since there is but one hope of pardon for those who have
offended, which is to be silent, and to utter nothing in defence of
what has been done. For he was desirous that one feeling should be got
rid of, and that another should take its place; that anger should be
expelled, and sadness introduced, in order that he might thus prepare
the way for the words of his apology; which indeed actually took
place. And just as Moses going up to the mount, when the people had
offended, stood speechless himself, until God called him, saying,
"Let me alone, and I will blot out this people;" so also did he
now act: The Emperor therefore, when he saw him shedding tears, and
bending toward the ground, himself drew near; and what he really felt
on seeing the tears of the priest, he made evident by the words he
addressed to him; for they were not those of a person provoked or
inflamed, but of one in sorrow; not of one enraged, but rather
dejected, and under constraint of extreme pain.
7. And that this is true, ye will understand when ye hear what were
his words. For he did not say, "What does this mean? Hast thou
come heading an embassy on behalf of impious and abominable men, such
as ought not even to live; on behalf of rebels, of revolutionists,
who deserve the utmost punishment?" But dismissing all words of that
sort, he composed a defence of himself full of respectfulness and
dignity; and he enumerated the benefits, which during the whole time
of his reign he had conferred upon the city; and at each of these be
said, "Was it thus I should have been treated in return for these
things? What injuries had I done, that they should take such
revenge? What complaint had they, great or small, that they must not
insult me only, but the deceased also? Was it not sufficient to wreak
their resentment against the living? Yet they thought they were doing
nothing grand, unless they insulted those now in their graves.
Granting that I had injured them, as they suppose; surely it would
have been becoming to spare the dead, who had done them no wrong; for
they could not have the same complaint against them. Did I not ever
esteem this city above every thing, and account it as dearer than my
native place? And was it not a matter of my continual prayers to visit
this city; and did I not make this my oath to all men?"
8. Upon this, the priest sobbing bitterly, and shedding warmer
tears, no longer kept silence: for he saw that the defence of the
Emperor was raising our crime to a still higher amount; but heaving
from the bottom of his heart a deep and bitter sigh, he said, "We
must confess, O Emperor, this love which you have shewn towards our
country! We cannot deny it! On this account, especially, we
mourn, that a city thus beloved has been bewitched by demons; and that
we should have appeared ungrateful towards her benefactor, and have
provoked her ardent lover. And although you were to overthrow;
although you were to burn; although you were to put to death; or
whatever else you might do, you would never yet have taken on us the
revenge we deserve. We ourselves have, by anticipation, inflicted on
ourselves what is worse than a thousand deaths! For what can be more
bitter, than when we are found to have unjustly provoked our
benefactor, and one who loved us so much, and the whole world knows
it, and condemns us for the most monstrous ingratitude! If
Barbarians had made an incursion on our city, and razed its walls,
and burnt its houses, and had taken and carried us away captive, the
evil had been less. And why so? but because, whilst you live, and
continue such a generous kindness towards us, there might be a hope
that we might again be brought back to our former condition, and regain
a more illustrious liberty. But now, having been deprived of your
favour, and having quenched yore love, which was a greater security to
us than any wall, whom have we left to fly to? Where else shall we
have to look, when we have provoked so benign a lord, so indulgent a
father? So that while they seem to have committed offences of the most
intolerable kind, they have on the other hand suffered the most
terrible evils; not daring to look any man in the face; nor being able
to look upon the sun with free eyes; shame every where weighing down
their eyelids, and compelling them to hide their heads! Deprived of
their confidence, they are now in a more miserable condition than any
captives, and undergo the umost dishonour; and whilst thinking of the
magnitude of their evils, and the height of insolence to which they
have rushed, they can scarce draw breath; inasmuch as they have drawn
on their own heads severer reproaches from all the inhabitants of the
world, than even from him who is seen to have been insulted.
9. But yet, O Emperor, if you are willing, there is a remedy for
the wound, and a medicine for these evils, mighty as they are!
Often, indeed, has it occurred amongst private individuals, that
great and insufferable offences have become a foundation for great
affection. Thus also did it happen in the case of our human race.
For when God made man, and placed him in Paradise, and held him in
much honour; the devil could not bear this his great prosperity, and
envied him, and cast him out from that dignity which had been granted.
But God was so far from forsaking him, that He even opened Heaven
to us instead of Paradise; and in so doing, both shewed His own
lovingkindness, and punished the devil the more severely. So do thou
too now! The demons have lately used all their efforts, that they may
effectually rend from your favour that city which was dearest of all to
you. Knowing this then, demand what penalty you will, but let us not
become outcasts from your former love! Nay, though it is a strange
thing, I must say, display towards us now still greater kindness than
ever; and again write this city's name among the foremost in your
love;--if you are indeed desirous of being revenged upon the demons
who were the instigators of these crimes! For if you pull down, and
overturn, and raze the city, you will be doing those very things which
they have long been desiring. But if you dismiss your anger, and
again avow that you love it even as you did before, you have given them
a deadly blow. You have taken the most perfect revenge upon them by
shewing, not only that nothing whatever has come for them of their evil
designs; but that all hath proved the very opposite of what they
wished. And you would be just in acting thus, and in shewing mercy to
a city, which the demons envied on account of your affection; for if
you had not so exceedingly loved her, they would not have envied her to
such a degree! So that even if what I have asserted is
extraordinary, it is nevertheless, true, that what the city hath
suffered, hath been owing to thee, and thy love! What burning, what
devastation, so bitter as those words, which you uttered in your own
defence?
10. You say now, that you have been insulted, and sustained wrongs
such as no Emperor ever yet did. But if you will, O most gracious,
most wise, and most religious Sovereign, this contempt will procure
you a crown, more honourable and splendid than the diadem you wear!
For this diadem is a display of your princely virtue, but it is also a
token of the munificence of him who gave it; but the crown woven from
this your humanity will be entirely your own good work, and that of
your own love of wisdom; and all men will admire you less for the sake
of these precious stones, than they will applaud you for your
superiority over this wrath. Were your Statues thrown down? You
have it in your power again to set up others yet more splendid. For if
you remit the offences of those who have done you injury, and take no
revenge upon them, they will erect a statue to you, not one in the
forum of brass, nor of gold, nor inlaid with gems; but one arrayed in
that robe which is more precious than any material, that of humanity
and tender mercy! Every man will thus set you up in his own soul; and
you will have as many statues, as there are men who now inhabit, or
shall hereafter inhabit, the whole world! For not only we, but all
those who come after us, and their successors, will hear of these
things, and will admire and love you, just as if they themselves had
experienced this kindness!
11. And to shew that I do not speak this in a way of flattery, but
that it will certainly be so, I will relate to you an ancient piece of
history, that you may understand that no armies, nor warlike weapons,
nor money, nor multitude of subjects, nor any other such things are
wont to make sovereigns so illustrious, as wisdom of soul and
gentleness. It is related of the blessed Constantine, that on one
occasion, when a statue of himself had been pelted with stones, and
many were instigating him to proceed against the perpetrators of the
outrage; saying, that they had disfigured his whole face by battering
it with stones, he stroked his face with his hand, and smiling
gently, said, "I am quite unable to perceive any wound inflicted
upon my face. The head appears sound, and the face also quite
sound." Thus these persons, overwhelmed with shame, desisted from
their unrighteous counsel.
This saying, even to the present day, all repeat; and length of time
hath neither weakened nor extinguished the memory of such exalted
wisdom. How much more illustrious is such an action, than any number
of warlike trophies! Many and great titles did he build, and many
barbarous tribes did he conquer; not one of which we now remember; but
this saying is repeated over and over again, to the present day; and
those who follow us, as well as those who come after them, will all
hear of it. Nor indeed is this the only admirable thing; that they
will hear of it; but that when men speak of it, they do so with
approbation and applause; and those who hear of it, receive it with
the like; and there is no one who, when he has heard it, is able to
remain silent, but each at once cries out, and applauds the man who
uttered it, and prays that innumerable blessings may be his lot even
now deceased. But if amongst men, this saying has gained him so much
honour, how many crowns will he obtain with the merciful God!
12. And why need I speak of Constantine, and other men's
examples, when it were fitting that I should exhort you by
considerations nearer home, and drawn from your own praiseworthy
actions. You remember how but lately, when this feast was near at
hand, you sent an epistle to every part of the world giving orders that
the inmates of the prisons should be set free, and their crimes be
pardoned. And as if this were not sufficient to give proof of your
generosity, you said in your letters, "O that it were possible for
me to recal and to restore those who are dead, and to bring them back
to their former state of life!" Remember now these words. Behold
the season of recalling and restoring the deceased, and bringing them
back to former life! For these are indeed already dead, even before
the sentence hath been pronounced; and the city hath now taken up its
tabernacle at the very gates of Hades! Therefore raise it up again,
which you can do without money, without expense, without loss of time
or labour! It is sufficient merely for you to open your lips, and you
will restore to life the city which at present lieth in darkness.
Grant now, that henceforth it may bear an appellation derived from
your philanthropy; for it will not be so much indebted to the kindness
of him who first founded it, as it will be to your sentence. And this
is exceedingly reasonable; for he but gave it its beginning, and
departed; but you, when it had grown up and become great; and when it
was fallen, alter all that great prosperity; will have been its
restorer. There would have been nothing so wonderful in your having
delivered it from danger, when enemies had captured, and barbarians
overrun it, as in your now sparing it. That, many of the Emperors
have frequently done; but should you alone accomplish this, you will
be first in doing it, and that beyond all expectation. And the former
of these good deeds, the protection of your subjects, is not at all
wonderful or extraordinary; but is one of those events which are of
continual occurrence; but the latter, the dismissal of wrath after the
endurance of such provocations, is something which surpasses human
nature.
13. Reflect, that the matter now for your consideration is not
respecting this city only, but is one that concerns your own glory; or
rather, one that affects the cause of Christianity in general. Even
now the Gentiles, and Jews, and the whole empire as well as the
barbarians, (for these last have also heard of these events,) are
eagerly looking to you, and waiting to see what sentence you will
pronounce with regard to these transactions. And should you decree a
humane and merciful one; all will applaud the decision, and glorify
God, and say one to another, "Heavens! how great is the power of
Christianity, that it restrains and bridles a man who has no equal
upon earth; a sovereign, powerful enough to destroy and devastate all
things; and teaches him to practice such philosophy as one in a private
station had not been likely to display! Great indeed must be the God
of the Christians, who makes angels out of men, and renders them
superior to all the constraining force of our nature!"
14. Nor ought you, assuredly, to entertain that idle fear; nor to
bear with those who say that other cites will become worse, and grow
more contemptuous of authority, if this city goes unpunished. For if
you were unable to take vengeance; and they, after doing these
things, had forcibly defied you; and the power on each side was
equally matched; then reasonably enough might such suspicions be
entertained. But if, terrified and half dead with fear, they run to
cast themselves at your feet, through me; and expect daily nothing
else but the pit of slaughter, and are engaged in common
supplications; looking up to heaven and calling upon God to come to
their aid, and to favour this our embassy; and have each given charge
about his private affairs, as if they were at their last gasp; how can
such a fear be otherwise than superfluous? If they had been ordered to
be put to death, they would not have suffered as much as they do now,
living as they have done so many days in fear and trembling; and when
the evening approaches, not expecting to behold the morning; nor when
the day arrives, hop ing to reach the evening! Many too have fallen
in with wild beasts, while pursuing their way through desert places,
and removing to untrodden spots; and not men only, but also little
children and women; free born, and of good condition; hiding
themselves many days and nights in caves, and ravines, and holes of
the desert! A new mode of captivity hath indeed befallen the city.
Whilst the buildings and walls are standing, they suffer heavier
calamities than when cities have been set on fire! Whilst no barbarian
foe is present, whilst no enemy appears, they are more wretchedly
situated than if actually taken; and the rustling only of a leaf scares
them all every day! And these are matters which are universally
known; so that if all men had seen the city razed to the ground, they
would not have been taught such a lesson of sobriety, as by hearing of
the calamities which have now befallen it. Suppose not, therefore,
that other cities will be made worse in future! Not even if you had
overturned other cities, would you have so effectually corrected them,
as now, by this suspense concerning their fate, having chastised them
more severely than by any punishment!
15. Do not, then, carry this calamity any father; but allow them
henceforth to take breath again. For to punish the guilty, and to
exact the penalty for these deeds, were easy and open to any one; but
to spare those who have insulted you, and to pardon those who have
committed offences undeserving of pardon, is an act of which only some
one or two are capable; and especially so, where the person treated
with indignity is the Emperor. It is an easy matter to place the city
under the subjection of fear; but to dispose all to be loving
subjects; and to persuade them to hold themselves well affected towards
your government; and to offer not only their common, but individual
prayers for your empire; is a work of difficulty. A monarch might
expend his treasures, or put innumerable troops in motion, or do what
else he pleased, but still he would not be able to draw the affections
of so many men towards himself as may now very easily be done. For
they who have been kindly dealt with, and those who hear of it too,
will be well affected towards you, even as the recipients of the
benefit. How much money, how many labours would you not have expended
to win over to yourself the whole world in a short space of time; and
to be able to persuade all those men who are now in existence, as well
as all future generations, to invoke upon your head the same blessings
which they pray for on behalf of their own children! And if you will
receive such a reward from men, how much greater will you have from
God! And this, not merely from the events which are now taking
place, but from those good deeds which shall be performed by others in
time to come. For if ever it should be that an event similar to what
has now occurred should take place, (which God forbid!) and any of
those who have been treated with indignity, should then be consulting
about prosecuting measures against the rioters; your gentleness and
moral wisdom will serve them instead of all other teaching and
admonition; and they will blush and be ashamed, having such an example
of wisdom, to appear inferior. So that in this way you will be an
instructor to all posterity; and you will obtain the palm amongst
them, even although they should attain to the highest point of moral
wisdom! For it is not the same thing for a person to set the first
example of such meekness him-sell and by looking at others, to imitate
the good actions they have performed. On this account, whatever
philanthropy, or meekness, those who come after you may display, you
will enjoy the reward along with them; for he who provides the root,
must be considered the source of the fruits. For this reason, no one
can possibly now share with you the reward that will follow your
generosity, since the good deed hath been entirely your own. But you
will share the reward of all those who shall come after, if any such
persons should make their appearance; and it will be in your power to
have an equal share in the merit of the good work along with them, and
to carry off a portion as great as teachers have with scholars. And
supposing that no such person should come into being, the tribute of
commendation and applause will be accumulating to you throughout every
age.
16. For consider, what it is for all posterity to hear it
reported, that when so great a city had become obnoxious to punishment
and vengeance, that when all were terrified, when its generals, its
magistrates and judges, were all in horror and alarm, and did not dare
to utter a word on behalf of the wretched people; a single old man,
invested with the priesthood of God, came and moved the heart of the
Monarch by his mere aspect and intercourse; and that the favour which
he bestowed upon no other of his subjects, he granted to this one old
man, being actuated by a reverence for God's laws! For in this very
thing, O Emperor, that I have been sent hither on this embassy,
the city hath done you no small honour; for they have thus pronounced
the best and the most honourable judgment on you, which is, that you
respect the priests of God, however insignificant they may be, more
than any office placed under your authority!
17. But at the present time I have come not from these only, but
rather from One who is the common Lord of angels and men, to address
these words to your most merciful and most gentle soul, "if ye forgive
men their debts, your heavenly Father will forgive you your
trespasses." Remember then that Day when we shall all give an
account of our actions! Consider that if you have sinned in any
respect, you will be able to wipe away all offences by this sentence
and by this determination, and that without difficulty and without
toil. Some when they go on an embassy, bring gold, and silver, and
other gifts of that kind. But I am come into your royal presence with
the sacred laws; and instead of all other gifts, I present these;
and I exhort you to imitate your Lord, who whilst He is daily
insulted by us, unceasingly ministers His blessings to all! And do
not confound our hopes, nor defeat our promises. For I wish you
withal to understand, that if it be your resolution to be reconciled,
and to restore your former kindness to the city, and to remit this just
displeasure, I shall go back with great confidence. But if you
determine to cast off the city, I shall not only never return to it,
nor see its soil again, but I shall in future utterly disown it, and
enrol myself a member of some other city; for God forbid that I
should ever belong to that country, which you, the most mild and
merciful of all men, refuse to admit to peace and reconciliation!
18. Having said this, and much more to the same effect, he so
overcame the Emperor, that the same thing occurred which once happened
to Joseph. For just as he, when he beheld his brethren, longed to
shed tears, but restrained his feeling, in order that he might not
spoil the part which he was playing; even so did the Emperor mentally
weep, but did not let it be seen, for the sake of those who were
present. He was not, however, able to conceal the feeling at the
close of the conference; but betrayed himself, though against his
will. For after this speech was finished, no further words were
necessary, but he gave utterance to one only sentiment, which did him
much more honour than the diadem. And what was that? "How, said
he, " can it be any thing wonderful or great, that we should remit
our anger against those who have treated us with indignity; we, who
ourselves are but men; when the Lord of the universe, having come as
He did on earth, and having been made a servant for us, and crucified
by those who had experienced His kindness, besought the Father on
behalf of His crucifiers, saying, "Forgive them, for they know not
what they do? " What marvel, then, if we also should forgive our
fellow-servants! And that these words were not a pretence was proved
by all that followed. And not the least, that particular circumstance
which I am now about to mention; for this our priest, when he would
have remained there, and celebrated the feast together with himself,
he urged, though contrary to what he would have wished,--to use all
speed, and diligence, to present himself to his fellow-citizens.
"I know," said he, "that their souls are still agitated; and that
there are many relics of the calamity left. Go, give them
consolation! If they see the helmsman, they will no longer remember
the storm that has passed away; but all recollection of these sorrowful
events will be effaced!" And when the Priest was urgent, entreating
him to send his own son, he, wishing to give the most satisfactory
proof of his having entirely blotted out from his soul every wrathful
feeling, answered; "Pray that these hindrances may be taken out of
the way; that these wars may be put an end to; and then I will
certainly come myself."
19. What could be gentler than such a soul? Let the Gentiles
henceforward be ashamed; or rather, instead of being ashamed, let
them be instructed; and leaving their native error, let them come back
to the strength of Christianity, having learned what our philosophy
is, from the example of the Emperor and of the Priest! For our most
pious Emperor stayed not at this point; but when the Bishop had left
the city, and come over the sea, he dispatched thither also certain
persons, being most solicitous and painstaking to prevent any waste of
time lest the city should be thus deprived of half its pleasure, whilst
the bishop was celebrating the feast beyond its walls. Where is the
gracious father that would have so busied himself on behalf of those who
had insulted him? But I must mention another circum stance that
redounds to the praise of the just man. For when he had accomplished
this, he did not make it his endeavour, as any one else might have
done, who was fond of glory, to deliver those letters himself, which
were to set us free from the state of dejection in which we were; but
since he was journeying at too slow a rate for this, he thought proper
to send forward another person in his stead; one among those who were
skilled in horsemanship, to be the bearer of the good news to the
city; lest its sadness should be prolonged by the tardiness of his
arrive. For the only thing he earnestly coveted was this; not that he
might come himself, bringing these favourable tidings, so full of all
that is delightful, but that our country might as soon as possible
breathe freely again.
20. What therefore ye then did, in decking the forum with
garlands; lighting lamps, spreading couches of green leaves before the
shops, and keeping high festival, as if the city had just come into
being, this do ye, although in another manner, throughout all
time;--being crowned, not with flowers, but with
virtue;--kindling in your souls the light which comes from good
works; rejoicing with a spiritual gladness. And let us never fail to
give God thanks continually for all these things, not only that he
hath freed us from these calamities, but that he also pertained them to
happen; and let us acknowledge his abundant goodness! for by both
these has He adorned our city. Now all these things according to the
prophetic saying, "Declare ye to your children; and let your
children tell their children; and their children again another
generation." So that all who shall be hereafter, even to the
consummation, learning this act of God's lovingkindness towards the
city, may call us blessed, in having enjoyed such a favour;--may
marvel at our Sovereign, who raised up the city when it was so
grievously falling;--and may themselves be profited, being
stimulated to piety by means of all which has happened! For the
history of what has lately happened to us, will have power to profit
not only ourselves, if we constantly remember it, but also those who
shall come after us. All these things then being considered, let us
always give thanks to God who loveth man; not merely for our
deliverance from these fearful evils, but for their being permitted to
overtake us,--learning this from the divine Scriptures, as well as
from the late events that have befallen us; that He ever disposes all
things for our advantage, with that lovingkindness which is His
attribute, which God grant, that we may continually enjoy, and so
may obtain the kingdom of heaven, in Christ Jesus our Lord; to whom
be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
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