Letter 78: To Cyprian, our brother and colleague — Lucius, and all the brothers who are with me, greetings in the Lord.
To Cyprian, our brother and colleague — Lucius, and all the brothers who are with me, greetings in the Lord.
Your letter came to us, dearest brother, while we were rejoicing and exulting in God — because he had armed us for the contest and made us, by his condescension, conquerors in the battle. The letter you sent through Herennianus the sub-deacon, and Lucian and Maximus and Amantius the acolytes reached us, and when we read it we found in it a loosening of our bonds, a comfort in our affliction, and a support in our need. We were roused and more fiercely strengthened to bear whatever punishment may yet be waiting for us.
Even before our suffering, you called us forward to glory — you who first showed us the way to confess the name of Christ. We who follow in the footprints of your confession hope for an equal grace. For whoever is first in the race is also first toward the prize; and you who first entered this course have shared it with us from its beginning, showing that undivided love with which you have always loved us, so that we who had one Spirit in the bond of peace might have the grace of your prayers, and one crown of confession.
But in your case, dearest brother, to the crown of confession will be added the reward of all your labor — an abundant measure that you will receive from the Lord in the day of retribution. You have presented yourself to us through your letter as you showed yourself to us in that candid and blessed heart that is yours: full of love for us, anxious for our welfare, present with us though absent in body. We are upheld by your prayers. We await the end with courage.
Human translation — New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)
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