ible; for it is very difficult; though it is in the power
of Jesus Christ, our true life. If Jesus Christ did all this in
appearance only, then I am only chained in imagination; and why have
I delivered myself up to death, to fire, to the sword, to beasts?
but who is near the sword, is near God; he who is among beasts is
with God. I suffer all things only in the name of Jesus Christ, that
I may suffer with him, he giving me strength, who was made perfectly
man. What does it avail me to be commended by any one, if he
blasphemes our Lord, not confessing him to have flesh? The whole
consists in faith and charity; nothing can take place before these.
Now consider those who maintain a false opinion of the grace of
Jesus Christ, how they also oppose charity; they take no care of the
widow, or orphan, or him who is afflicted, or pining with hunger or
thirst. _They abstain from the Eucharist and prayer, (says he,)
because they confess not the Eucharist to be the flesh of our
Saviour Jesus Christ, which was crucified for our sins, and which
the Father, by his goodness, raised again._ It is advisable for you
to separate yourselves from them, and neither to speak to them in
public or in private. Shun schisms and all discord, as the source of
evils. Follow your bishop as Christ his Father, and the college of
priests as the apostles; respect the deacons as the precept of God.
Let no one do any thing that belongs to the church without the
bishop. Let that Eucharist be regarded as lawful which is celebrated
by the bishop, or one commissioned by him. Wherever the bishop makes
his appearance, there let the people be assembled, as wherever
Christ Jesus is, there is the Catholic church. It is not lawful to
baptize or celebrate the Agape without the bishop or his authority.
What he approves of is acceptable to God. He who does any thing
without the bishop's knowledge, serves the devil." The saint most
affectionately thanks them for the kindness they had shown him and
his followers; begs they will depute some person to his church in
Syria, to congratulate with his flock for the peace which God had
restored to them, adding that he was unworthy to be called a member
of that church of which he was the last. He asks the succor of their
prayers, that by them he might enjoy God. "Seeing," says he, "that
you are