Epistle XXII.
To the Clergy Abiding at Rome, Concerning Many of the Confessors, and Concerning the Forwardness of Lucian and the Modesty of Celerinus the Confessor.
Argument.—In This Letter Cyprian Informs the Roman Clergy of the
Seditious Demand of the Lapsed to Be Restored to Peace, and of the
Forwardness of Lucian. In Order that They May Better Understand
These Matters, Cyprian Takes Care that Not Only His Own Letters, But
Also Those of Celerinus and Lucian, Should Be Sent to Them.
1. Cyprian to the presbyters and deacons
abiding at Rome, his brethren, greeting. After the letters that I
wrote to you, beloved brethren, in which what I had done was explained, and some slight account was given of my discipline and diligence, there came another matter which, any more than the others, ought not to be concealed from you. For our brother Lucian, who himself also is one of the confessors, earnest indeed in faith, and robust in virtue, but little established in the reading of the Lord’s word, has attempted certain things, constituting himself for a time an authority for unskilled people, so that certificates written by his hand were given indiscriminately to many persons in the name of Paulus; whereas Mappalicus the martyr, cautious and modest, mindful of the law and discipline, wrote no letters contrary to the Gospel, but only, moved with domestic affection for his mother, who had fallen, commanded peace to be given to her. Saturninus, moreover, after his torture, still remaining in prison, sent out no letters of this kind. But Lucian, not only while Paulus was still in prison, gave everywhere in his name certificates written with his own hand, but even after his decease persisted in doing the same things under his name, saying that this had been commanded him by Paulus, ignorant that he must obey the Lord rather than his fellow-servant. In the name also of Aurelius, a young man who had undergone the torture, many certificates were given, written by the hand of the same Lucian, because Aurelius did not know how to write himself.
2. In order, in some measure, to put a stop to
this practice, I wrote letters to them, which I have sent to you under
the enclosure of the former letter, in which I did not fail to ask and
persuade them that consideration might be had for the law of the Lord
and the Gospel. But after I sent my letters to them, that, as it
were, something might be done more moderately and temperately; the same
Lucian wrote a letter in the name of all the confessors, in which well
nigh every bond of faith, and fear of God, and the Lord’s
command, and the sacredness and sincerity of the Gospel were
dissolved. For he wrote in the name of all, that they had given
peace to all, and that he wished that this decree should be
communicated through me to the other bishops, of which letter I
transmitted a copy to you. It was added indeed, “of whom
the account of what they have done since their crime has been
satisfactory;”—a thing this which excites a greater odium
against me, because I, when I have begun to hear the cases of each one
and to examine into them, seem to deny to many what they now are all
boasting that they have received from the martyrs and confessors.