Letter LXXXVI.
(a.d. 405.)
To My Noble Lord Cæcilianus, My
Son Truly and Justly Honourable and Esteemed in the Love of Christ, Augustin, Bishop, Sends Greeting in the Lord.
The renown of your administration and the fame
of your virtues, as well as the praiseworthy zeal and faithful
sincerity of your Christian piety,—gifts of God which make you
rejoice in Him from whom they came, and from whom you hope to
receive yet greater things,—have moved me to acquaint your
Excellency by this letter with the cares which agitate my mind. As
our joy is great that throughout the rest of Africa you have taken
measures with remarkable success on behalf of Catholic unity, our
sorrow is proportionately great because the district of Hippoand the
neighbouring regions on the borders of Numidia have not enjoyed the
benefit of the vigour with which as a magistrate you have enforced
your proclamation, my noble lord, and my son truly and justly
honourable and esteemed in the love of Christ. Lest this should be
regarded rather as due to the neglect of duty by me who bear the
burden of the episcopal office at Hippo, I have considered myself
bound to mention it to your Excellency. If you condescend to
acquaint yourself with the extremities to which the effrontery of
the heretics has proceeded in the region of Hippo, as you may do by
questioning my brethren and colleagues, who are able to furnish
your Excellency with information, or the presbyter whom I have sent
with this letter, I am sure you will so deal with this tumour of
impious presumption, that it shall be healed by warning rather than
painfully removed afterwards by punishment.