Letter LXVII.
(a.d. 402.)
To My Lord Most Beloved and Longed
For, My Honoured Brother in Christ, and Fellow-Presbyter, Jerome, Augustin Sends Greeting in the Lord.
Chap. I.
1. I have heard that my letter has come to your
hand. I have not yet received a reply, but I do not on this account
question your affection; doubtless something has hitherto prevented
you. Wherefore I know and avow that my prayer should be, that God
would put it in your power to forward your reply, for He has
already given you power to prepare it, seeing that you can do so
with the utmost ease if you feel disposed.
Chap. II.
2. I have hesitated whether to give credence or not
to a certain report which has reached me; but I felt that I ought
not to hesitate as to writing a few lines to you regarding the
matter. To be brief, I have heard that some brethren have told your
Charity that I have written a book against you and have sent it to
Rome. Be assured that this is false: I call God to witness that I
have not done this. But if perchance there be some things in some
of my writings in which I am found to have been of a different
opinion from you, I think you ought to know, or if it cannot be
certainly known, at least to believe, that such things have been
written not with a view of contradicting you, but only of stating
my own views. In saying this, however, let me assure you that not
only am I most ready to hear in a brotherly spirit the objections
which you may entertain to anything in my writings which has
displeased you, but I entreat, nay implore you, to acquaint me with
them; and thus I shall be made glad either by the correction of my
mistake, or at least by the expression of your goodwill.
3. Oh that it were in my power, by our living near
each other, if not under the same roof, to enjoy frequent and sweet
conference with you in the Lord! Since, however, this is not
granted, I beg you to take pains that this one way in which we can
be together in the Lord be kept up; nay more, improved and
perfected. Do not refuse to write me in return, however seldom.
Greet with my respects our holy brother Paulinianus, and all the brethren who with you, and because of you, rejoice in the Lord. May you, remembering us, be heard by the Lord in regard to all your holy desires, my lord most beloved and longed for, my honoured brother in Christ.