Letter 50: Cyprian to Maximus the presbyter, and to Urbanus, Sidonius, and Macarius, his brothers, greetings.

Cyprian to Maximus the presbyter, and to Urbanus, Sidonius, and Macarius, his brothers, greetings. When I read your letter, beloved — the letter you wrote to me about your return, and about the peace of the Church, and the restoration of brotherhood — I confess that I was overjoyed, in just the same measure as I had been overjoyed when I first heard of the glory of your confession and received the news of the heavenly and spiritual renown of your warfare. For this, too, is another confession of your faith and praise: to confess that the Church is one; to refuse to become a partner in another man's error — or rather in his wickedness; to seek out again the same camp from which you had gone forth, the camp from which you leapt out with such vigor to fight the battle and overcome the enemy. The trophies from the field ought to be brought back to the place from which the weapons were received — otherwise the Church of Christ would not retain the very warriors whom Christ had furnished for her glory. Now, however, you have kept in the Lord's peace the proper course of your faith and the law of undivided love and concord, and you have given by your example a lesson of love and peace to all others. The truth of the Church, and the unity of the Gospel mystery that we hold in common, are sealed and confirmed by your return. Confessors of Christ do not become leaders of error, having stood forth first as praiseworthy champions of virtue and honor. Let others consider how much there is to congratulate you about. I know what I think: that you are more fully confessors now than before — because now your confession includes the unity of the Church herself.

Epistle 50