8. Desiring to maintain the moderation of this middle course in these matters, we for a long time, and indeed many of us, and, moreover, with some of the bishops who are near to us and within reach, and some whom, placed afar off, the heat of the persecution had driven out from other provinces, [2350] have thought that nothing new was to be done before the appointment of a bishop; but we believe that the care of the lapsed must be moderately dealt with, so that, in the meantime, whilst the grant of a bishop is withheld from us [2351] by God, the cause of such as are able to bear the delays of postponement should be kept in suspense; but of such as impending death does not suffer to bear the delay, having repented and professed a detestation of their deeds with frequency; if with tears, if with groans, if with weeping they have betrayed the signs of a grieving and truly penitent spirit, when there remains, as far as man can tell, no hope of living; to them, finally, such cautious and careful help should be ministered, God Himself knowing what He will do with such, and in what way He will examine the balance of His judgment; while we, however, take anxious care that neither ungodly men should praise our smooth facility, nor truly penitent men accuse our severity as cruel. We bid you, most blessed and glorious father, ever heartily farewell in the Lord; and have us in memory. [2352]
[2330] Oxford ed.: Ep. xxx. a.d. 250.
[2331] This letter was written, as were also the others of the Roman clergy, during the vacancy of the See, after the death of Fabian.
[2332] "Pope Cyprian."
[2333] [Note ta archaia ethe, as in St. Paul, 1 Cor. xi. 16.]
[2334] Rom. i. 8.
[2335] [God grant this spirit to the modern Christians in Rome.]
[2336] No conception of Roman infallibility here.]
[2337] [A concession which illustrates the present awful degeneracy of this See.]
[2338] [1 Cor. x. 21, where tables and altars are used as synonymes.]
[2339] Sacramentum.
[2340] [See p. 304, note 8, supra.]
[2341] [The whole system of Roman casuistry, as it now exists in the authorized penitential forms of Liguori, is here condemned.]
[2342] [See Alphonsus de' Liguori and the Papal Authorization, vol. i. p. xxii., ed. Paris, 1852.]
[2343] [All-important is this testimony of the Roman clergy to the Cyprianic idea of the Church synods. See this vol. supra, p. 283.]
[2344] [Note this principle, as a test of synodical decrees.]
[2345] [Probably a quotation from a "bidding prayer" in use at Rome in those times. Elucidation VI.]
[2346] In "sacramento," scil. "fidei;" perhaps in a way in harmony with their religious engagement and with ecclesiastical discipline.
[2347] Matt. xviii. 32.
[2348] Matt. x. 33; Luke xii. 9.
[2349] [Note this faithful statement of scriptural doctrine, and no hint of purgatory.]
[2350] [All this illustrates the Treatise on Unity (infra), and proves the utter absence of anything peculiar in the See of Rome.]
[2351] [How different the language of the cardinal vicar, now, when he writes, sede vacante.]
[2352] [This eloquent and evangelical letter proves that much dross had been burned away by the fires of persecution since the episcopate of Callistus. It is referred to, p. 309, note 4.]
Epistle XXXI. [2353]
To the Carthaginian Clergy, About the Letters Sent to Rome, and Received Thence.
Argument.--The Carthaginian Clergy are Requested to Take Care that the Letters of the Roman Clergy and Cyprian's Answer are Communicated.
Cyprian to the presbyters and deacons, his brethren, greeting. That you, my beloved brethren, might know what letters I have sent to the clergy acting [2354] at Rome, and what they have replied to me, and, moreover, what Moyses and Maximus, the presbyters, and Rufinus and Nicostratus, the deacons, and the rest of the confessors that with them are kept in prison, replied likewise to my letters, I have sent you copies to read. Do you take care, with as much diligence as you can, that what I have written, and what they have replied, be made known to our brethren. And, moreover, if any bishops from foreign places, [2355] my colleagues, or presbyters, or deacons, should be present, or should arrive among you, let them hear all these matters from you; and if they wish to transcribe copies of the letters and to take them to their own people, let them have the opportunity of transcribing them; although I have, moreover, bidden Saturus the reader, our brother, to give liberty of copying them to any individuals who wish it; so that, in ordering, for the present, the condition of the Church in any manner, an agreement, one and faithful, may be observed by all. But about the other matters which were to be dealt with, as I have also written to several of my colleagues, we will more fully consider them in a common council, when, by the Lord's permission, we shall begin to assemble into one place. I bid you, brethren, beloved and longed-for, ever heartily farewell. Salute the brotherhood. Fare ye well.
[2353] Oxford ed.: Ep. xxxii. a.d. 250.
[2354] [Administering jurisdiction sede vacante.]
[2355] [Illustrating the Treatise on Unity.]