Pontianus, overseer, to Felix Subscribonius, greetings.
Our heart is exceedingly rejoiced with your goodness, in that you strive by all means in your power to carry out the practice of holy religion and strengthen sad and destitute brothers in faith and religion. Therefore, we implore the mercy of our Redeemer, that His grace may support us in all things, and that He may grant us to carry out in effect what He has given us to aspire after. In this good thing, therefore, the benefits of recompense are multiplied just in proportion as our zeal for the work increases. And because in all these things we need the assistance of divine grace, we implore with constant prayers the mercy of Omnipotent God, that He may both grant us the desire for these good works which should ever be worked by us, and give us power also to perform them, and direct us in that way, for the fruit of well-doing—which way the Pastor of pastors declared Himself to be—so that you may be able to carry out through Him, without whom nothing can be done, those good works which you have begun. Moreover, with respect to the priests of the Lord whom we have heard you aid against the plots of wicked men, and whose cause you sustain, know that in so doing you please God greatly, who has called them to the service of Himself, and has honored them with so intimate a fellowship with Him, that through them He accepts the oblations of others, and pardons their sins, and reconciles them with Him. They also make the body of the Lord with their own mouth (proprio ore corpus Domini conficiunt), and give it to the people. For of them it is said: He that hurts you, hurts me; and he that does you an injury, will receive again that which he has done unrighteously. And elsewhere: He that heareth you, heareth me; and he that despises you, despises me; and he that despises me, despises Him that sent me. Hence they are not to be molested, but honored. And in them the Lord Himself is honored, whose commission they execute. They, accordingly, if they happen to fall, are to be raised up and sustained by the faithful. And again, they are not to be accused by the infamous, or the wicked, or the hostile, or by the members of another sect or religion. If they sin, they are to be arraigned by the other priests; further, they are to be held in check (constringantur) by the chief pontiffs, and they are not to be arraigned or restrained by seculars or by men of evil life. Not slight, therefore, is our grief in hearing that you have to sorrow for your brother’s passing away (transitu). For which reason we beseech Almighty God to console you by the breathing (aspiratione) of His grace, and keep you with heavenly guardianship from evil spirits and perverse men. For if you have to bear any turmoil of certain adversaries after his disease, do not think it strange though you, who seek to enjoy good in your own country—that is, in the land of the living—have to bear evil things at the hands of men in a strange country. For the present life is a sojourning; and to him who sighs after the true fatherland, the place of his sojourning is a trial, however pleasant it may seem. And as to you who seek the fatherland, among the sighs which you have, I hear the groans also of human oppression rising. And this happens by the wonderful dispensation of Almighty God, in order that, while the truth calls you in love, this present world may cast back your affection from itself through the tribulations which it brings on, and that the mind may be so much the more easily delivered from the love of this world, as it is also impelled while it is called. Therefore, as you have begun, give heed to the duty of hospitality; labor most urgently in prayer and tears; devote yourselves more liberally and freely now to those almsgivings which you have ever loved, in order that in the recompense the profit to you for your work may be greater in proportion as your zeal for the labor has risen to higher degrees here.
Furthermore, hailing your goodness with paternal pleasantness, we beg you not to fail in the good works which you have begun. And may no one be able to turn you from them; but may the clergy and servants of God, and all Christians who sojourn in those parts, fully discover by the love of Christ and Saint Peter the disposition of your charity in all things, and obtain the comforts of your favor in every necessity that may arise; to the end that all may be defended and helped by your aid, and that we, too, may owe you thanks, and that our Lord Jesus Christ may make good to you eternal glory, and that the blessed Apostle Peter, the chief of the apostles, in whose cause you spend yourselves, may open the gate of that same glory. Given on the 10th day before the kalends of February (the 23d of January), in the consulship of the most illustrious Severus and Quintianus.
Pontianus, overseer of the holy and Universal Assembly, to all who worship the Lord correctly, and love the divine worship, greetings.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will. These words, most beloved, are not the words of men, but of messengers; and they were not devised by human sense, but were uttered by messengers at the birth of the Savior. And from these words it can be understood without doubt by all that peace is given by the Lord, not to men of evil will, but to men of good will. Whence the Lord, speaking by the prophet, says: “How good is God to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart! But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well-near slipped: for I was envious at the unrighteous, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” Of the good, however, the Truth says in His own person, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” And they are not the pure in heart who think evil things, or things hurtful to their brothers; for he who is the faithful man devises nothing evil. The faithful man, accordingly, loves rather to hear things which are becoming, than to speak things which are not becoming. And if anyone is faithful, let him see to it that he speak no evil, and lay no snares in the way of anyone. In this, then, are the children of God distinguished from the children of the Devil. For the children of God always think and strive to do things which are of God, and give help unceasingly to their brothers, and wish to injure no one. But, on the other hand, the children of the Devil are always meditating things evil and hurtful, because their deeds are evil. And of them the Lord, speaking by the prophet Jeremiah, says: “I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness.” “Therefore I will yet plead with you, says the Lord; and with your children’s children will I plead.” “Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you.” These things, brothers, are greatly to be feared, and to be guarded against by all; for the man on whom the judgment of God may fall will not depart unhurt. And therefore, let everyone see to it carefully that he neither contrive nor do against a brother what he would not wish to have to endure himself. And do not let the man of faith come under the suspicion even of saying or doing what he would not wish to have to endure himself. Therefore persons suspected, or hostile or litigious, and those who are not of good conversation, or whose life is reprehensible, and those who do not hold and teach the right faith, have been debarred from being either accusers or witnesses by our predecessors with apostolic authority; and we too remove them from that function, and exclude them from it in times to come, lest those lapse willfully whom we ought to keep in and save; lest not only (which may God forbid!) the predicted judgment of God should fall on both, but we also should perish (which may God forbid!) through their fault. For it is written, “Have they made you the master of a feast? Take care for them, that you mayst be merry on their account, and receive as your crown the ornament of esteem, and find approbation of your election.” For the evil word affects the heart, out of which proceed these four objects, good and evil, life and death; and the tongue in its assiduous action is what determines these. Therefore, the before-named parties are altogether to be avoided; and until the before-noted matters are investigated, and the parties are found to be clear of such, they are not to be received: for the right sacrifice is to give heed to the commandments, and to depart from all iniquity. “To depart from wickedness is a thing pleasing to the Lord, and to forsake unrighteousness is a sacrifice of praise.” For it is written, “Love your friend, and be faithful to him. But if you expose his secrets, follow no more after him. For as a man who destroys his friend, so is he who destroys (loses) the friendship of his neighbor. And as one that lets a bird go out of his hand, so are you that has let your neighbor go and will not get him again. Follow after him no more, for he is far off. For he has escaped like a roe out of the snare, because his soul is wounded. You will not be able to bind him anymore, and there is reconciliation for the reviled. But to betray the secrets of a friend is the desperation of a wretched soul. He that winks with the eye works evil, and no one will cast him off. When you are present, he will despise his own mouth, and express his wonder at your discourse; but at the last he will writhe his mouth, and slander your sayings. I have hated many things, but nothing like him; and the Lord will hate him. Whoever casts a stone on high, it will fall on his own head, and a deceitful stroke of the deceitful will make wounds. Whoever digs a pit will fall therein; and he that sets a stone in his neighbor’s way will fall thereon; and he that places a snare for another will perish therein. He that works mischief, it will fall on him, and he will not know whence it comes on him. Mockery and reproach are from the proud; and vengeance, as a lion, will be in wait for them. They that rejoice at the fall of the righteous will perish in the snare, and anguish will consume them before they die. Anger and wrath are both abominations, and the sinful man will have them both.” “He that will be avenged will find vengeance from the Lord, and he will surely keep his sins. Forgive your neighbor the hurt that he has done to you, and then will your sins be forgiven you when you pray. One man bears hatred against another; and does he ask redress of God? He shows no mercy to a man which is like himself; and does he ask forgiveness of the Most High for his own sins? He, though he is flesh, nourishes hatred; and does he ask pardon of God? Who will entreat for his sins? Remember your end, and let enmity cease; for corruption and death impend on commandments. Remember the fear of God, and bear no malice to your neighbor. Remember the covenant of the Highest, and look down on (despice) the ignorance of your neighbor. Abstain from strife, and you will diminish your sins.
For a furious man kindles strife; and a sinful man will disquiet friends, and make enmity among them that be at peace. For even as the trees of the wood are, so will the fire burn; and as a man’s strength is, so will his anger be; and as his riches are, so will he make his anger rise. A hastened contention will kindle a fire, and a hastening quarrel will shed blood, and a testifying (testificans) tongue will bring death. If you blow on the spark, it will burn like a fire; and if you spit on it, it will be extinguished: and both these come out of the mouth. Cursed be the whisperer and doubled-tongued, for such have troubled many that were at peace. A third (tertia) tongue has disquieted many, and driven them from nation to nation: the fortified cities of the rich it has pulled down, and overthrown the houses of great men. It has subverted the virtues of peoples, and has destroyed strong nations. A third tongue has cast out truthful women, and deprived them of their labors. Whoever listens to it will never find rest and never dwell quietly. The stroke of the whip makes marks in the flesh, but the stroke of the tongue will break bones. Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not in such manner as those who have perished by their tongue. Well is he that is defended from the evil tongue, who has not passed into the anger thereof, and who has not drawn the yoke thereof, nor has been bound with the bands of it; for the yoke thereof is a yoke of iron, and the band thereof is a band of brass. The death thereof is the vilest death, and the grave were better than it. The perseverance thereof will not abide; but it will hold the ways of the unrighteous, and its flame will not burn the righteous. Such as forsake the Lord will fall into it, and it will burn in them, and not be quenched; and it will be sent on them as a lion and hurt them as a leopard. Hedge your ears about with thorns, and do not listen to the evil tongue; and make a door for your mouth, and bars for your ears. Smelt (confla) your gold and silver, and make a balance for your words, and right curbs for your mouth. And beware that you slide not perhaps in your tongue, and fall before your enemies that lie in wait for you, and your fall be irremediable even to death.” “Make no tarrying to turn to the Lord, and put not off from day to day. For suddenly will His wrath come, and in the time of vengeance He will destroy you. Set not your heart on goods unjustly gotten, for they will not profit you in the day of veiling (for execution, obductionis) and vengeance. Move not with every wind, and do not go into every way; for so is the sinner proved with the double-tongue. Be steadfast in the way of the Lord, and in the truth of your understanding, and in knowledge; and let the word of peace and righteousness attend you. Be courteous in hearing the word, that you may understand it, and with wisdom give a true answer. If you have understanding, answer your neighbor; if not, lay your hand on your mouth, lest you be caught in a word of folly, and be confounded. Honor and glory are in the talk of the intelligent man; the tongue of the unwise is his fall. Do not be called a whisperer, and do not be caught in your tongue, and confounded. For confusion and penitence are on the thief, and the worst condemnation on the double-tongued. Moreover, for the whisperer there is hatred, and enmity, and shame. Justify the small and the great alike.” Instead of a friend, do not become an enemy to your neighbor. For the evil man will inherit reproach and shame, and every sinner in like manner that is envious and double-tongued. Extol not yourself in the counsel of your own heart as a bull, lest perhaps your virtue be shattered in folly, and it consume your leaves, and destroy your fruits, and you be left as a dry tree in the desert. For a wicked soul will destroy him that has it, and makes him to be laughed to scorn by his enemies, and will bring him down to the lot of the impious.” Most dearly beloved, study to lift up the oppressed, and always help the necessitous; for if a man relieves an afflicted brother, delivers a captive, or consoles a mourner, let him have no doubt that that will be recompensed to him by Him on whom he bestows it all, and who says: “Inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of my brothers, you have done it to me.” Strive, then, unceasingly to do what is good in such wise that you may both obtain the fruit of good works here, and enjoy the favor of God in the future, to the intent that hereafter you may be worthy to enter the court of the heavenly kingdom. Given on the fourth day before the kalends of May (the 28th of April), in the consulship of the most illustrious Severus and Quintianus.