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FROM INNOCENT TO JOHN
To the beloved brother John, Innocent.
Although the innocent man ought to expect all good things, and to
crave mercy from God, nevertheless we also, counselling resignation,
have sent an appropriate letter by the hands of Cyriacus the deacon;
so that insolence may not have more power in oppressing, than a good
conscience has in retaining hope. For thou who art the teacher and
pastor of so many people needest not to be taught that the best men are
ever frequently put to the test whether they will persevere in the
perfection of patience, and not succumb to any toil of distress: and
certainly conscience is a strong defence against all things which
unjustly befall us: and unless any one conquer these by patient
endurance he supplies an argument for evil surmising. For he ought to
endure all things who trusts first of all in God, and then in his own
conscience; seeing that the noble and good man can be specially trained
to endurance, inasmuch as the holy Scriptures guard his mind; and the
sacred lessons which we deliver to the people abound in examples,
testifying as they do that nearly all the saints have been continually
oppressed in divers ways, and are tested as by a kind of scrutiny, and
so attain to the crown of patience. Let conscience itself console thy
love, most honoured brother, which in affliction supplies the
consolation of virtue. For under the eye of the Master Christ, the
conscience, having been purged, will find rest in the haven of peace.
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