[3018] 2 Cor. iii. 6.
[3019] Eph. i. 21.
[3020] Rom. i. 25.
[3021] Matt. x. 40.
[3022] Deut. xxxiv. 6.
[3023] Probably Exuperius of Toulouse.
[3024] Ps. ii. 9.
[3025] 1 Cor. v. 5.
[3026] Ps. l. 18.
[3027] Ps. ci. 8.
[3028] Ps. cxxxix. 21, 22.
[3029] Ps. cxvi. 15.
[3030] Cic. Cat. ii. 1, of Catiline.
[3031] A contemporary and ally of Augustus.
[3032] Nu. xxv. 7, 8.
[3033] 1 Kings xviii. 40.
[3034] Luke vi. 15: so called probably because he came from the most fanatical party among the Pharisees.
[3035] Acts v. 1-10.
[3036] Acts xiii. 8-11.
[3037] Deut. xiii. 6-9.
[3038] Deut. xiii. 5.
[3039] Acts viii. 2.
[3040] Matt. xxvi. 40, 41.
[3041] Ps. cxix. 62.
[3042] Luke vi. 12.
[3043] Acts xvi. 25-38.
[3044] Col. iv. 2.
[3045] 2 Cor. xi. 27.
[3046] Ps. cxxi. 4.
[3047] Dan. iv. 13. Jerome gives the Hebrew word for watcher, viz. yr
[3048] Ps. xliv. 23.
[3049] Matt. viii. 25; Luke viii. 24.
[3050] Cf. 1 Cor. ix. 26.
[3051] Matt. iii. 10.
Letter CX. From Augustine.
Augustine's answer to Letter CII. He now tries to soothe Jerome's wounded feelings, begs him to overlook the offence that he has committed, and implores him not to break off the friendly relations hitherto maintained between them. He touches on the quarrel between Jerome and Rufinus and sincerely hopes that no such breach may ever separate Jerome from himself. The tone of the letter is throughout conciliatory and is marked in places with deep feeling. More than once Augustine dwells on Jerome's words ("would that I could embrace you and that by mutual converse we might learn one from the other," Letter CII. §2) and speaks of the comfort which they have brought to him.
The date of the letter is 404 a.d.
Letter CXI. From Augustine to Præsidius.
Augustine asks Præsidius to forward the preceding letter to Jerome and also to write himself to urge him to forgive Augustine.
Letter CXII. To Augustine.
On receiving Letter CIV. together with duly authenticated copies of Letters LVI. and LXVII. Jerome in three days completes an exhaustive reply to all the questions which Augustine had raised. He explains what is the true title of his book On Illustrious Men, deals at great length with the dispute between Paul and Peter, expounds his views with regard to the Septuagint, and shews by the story of "the gourd" how close and accurate his translations are. His language throughout is kind but rather patronising: indeed in this whole correspondence Jerome seldom sufficiently recognizes the greatness of Augustine. The date of the letter is 404 a.d.
Letter CXIII. From Theophilus to Jerome.
Theophilus, bishop of Alexandria, had compiled an invective against John Chrysostom, bishop of Constantinople who was nosy (largely through his efforts) an exile from his see. This he now sends to Jerome with a request that the latter will render it into Latin for dissemination in the West. The invective (of which only a few fragments remain) is of the most violent kind. Nevertheless Jerome translated it along with this letter, the date of which is 405 a.d. The latter part of the letter has perished.
To the well-beloved and most loving brother Jerome, Theophilus sends greeting in the Lord.
1. At the outset the verdict which is in accordance with the truth satisfies but few. But the Lord speaking by the prophet says: "my judgment goeth forth as the light:" [3052] and they who are surrounded with a horror of darkness and do not with clear comprehension perceive the nature of things, are covered with eternal shame and know by the issues of their acts that their efforts have been in vain. Wherefore we also have always desired for John who has for a time ruled the church of Constantinople grace that he might please God, and we have been slow to attribute to him the rash acts which have caused his downfall. But, not to speak of his other misdeeds, he has taken the Origenists into his confidence, has advanced many of them to the priesthood, and by committing this crime has saddened with no slight grief that man of God, Epiphanius of blessed memory, who has shone throughout all the world a bright star among bishops. And therefore he has rightly come to hear the words of doom: "Babylon is fallen, is fallen." [3053]
2. Knowing then that the Saviour has said: "judge not according to the appearance but judge righteous judgment." [3054] ...
[3052] Hos. vi. 5, LXX.
[3053] Isa. xxi. 9.
[3054] Joh. vii. 24.