Letter 17: The Lord says: "On whom shall I look, but on the one who is humble and quiet, and who trembles at my words?

Cyprian to the presbyters and deacons, his brothers, greetings. The Lord says: "On whom shall I look, but on the one who is humble and quiet, and who trembles at my words?" [Isaiah 66:2] We should all be like this, but especially those who must work hard after a serious fall, earning the Lord's favor through genuine repentance and deep humility. I have now read the letter from the full body of confessors. They want me to circulate it to all my colleagues, and in it they request that peace be guaranteed to everyone whose conduct since their sin has, in our judgment, been satisfactory. But this is a matter that requires the counsel and judgment of all of us, and I do not dare to prejudge it or claim a collective decision as my own. So for now, let us stand by the letters I recently wrote to you. I have already sent copies to many of my colleagues, and they have written back expressing their approval of my position. They agree that we must not depart from it until the Lord grants us peace and we can assemble together in one place to examine each case individually. But so you can see what my colleague Caldonius wrote to me and how I replied, I have enclosed copies of both letters. Please read them in full to our brothers and sisters, so they can settle more firmly into patience and not pile a new offense on top of their earlier one — refusing to obey either me or the Gospel, and not allowing their cases to be examined in accordance with the letters of all the confessors. Farewell, beloved brothers, and remember me in your prayers. Greet the whole brotherhood.

Epistle 17