Letter 7: You tell me, most merciful Emperor, that your mind is consumed with eager longing until the hoped-for restoration of...

Hormisdas to the Emperor Anastasius Augustus. You tell me, most merciful Emperor, that your mind is consumed with eager longing until the hoped-for restoration of unity is achieved. The desire for salvation is a good thing, and the intention that commends itself to God in this way is praiseworthy. It is indeed a particular mark of wisdom when one pursues with impatience what one believes to be beneficial. For if slow treatment is harmful in diseases of the body, how much more serious is it when the quest for faithful remedies for the soul's health comes too late? We are instructed by spiritual teachings not to put off what can do us good until tomorrow, as the wisest Solomon cries out: "Do not delay in turning to the Lord, and do not defer from day to day" [Sirach 5:7] — because just as the times of life are uncertain, so the remedies of the soul ought to be secure, so that when the Lord comes, he may find his servant doing what pleases him and "enter into the joy of his master" [Matthew 25:21]. I confess I was surprised that the promised embassy was delayed so long, since we must use force to seize the kingdom of heaven [Matthew 11:12]. Nevertheless, the very eagerness that your gentle letter reveals gives hope of heavenly mercy, for "even the will to do good comes from above" [cf. Philippians 2:13]. And I trust that "he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion" [Philippians 1:6]. So press on with the path you have begun. Spurn the slippery ways of those who wander and hold firm footing with us on the rock. The holy church grew by such unity, as the history of the Acts of the Apostles testifies: "The multitude of believers was of one heart and one soul" [Acts 4:32]. For how can those whose hearts are divided in their convictions be joined by the bonds of grace? Act, lord Emperor — let deeds prove the faith of your words. For people's hearts are known not by their speeches but by their fruits. Even "Abraham our father" commended his faith to God not by bare faith but by works.

: ANUM. SoUicitari animum tuum, clementissime imperator, ambitiosa auiditate commemoras, donec speratae unitatis red- integratio optata contingat. bona sunt desideria salutis et laudabilis quae se huiusmodi deo commendat intentio; pru- dentiae siquidem speciale documentum est cum id, quod sibi 2 utile credit, impatienter inquirit. nam si in corpoioim morbis noxia est tarda curatio, quanto magis in salute animae gi-auius est ferendus remediorum fidelium serior appetitus ? commonea- mur spiritalibus institutis, ne quae prodesse possunt, in diem posterum differantur clamante sapientissimoSalomone: ne tardes conuerti ad dominum et ne differas de die in diem» quia sicut in incerto uitae tempora, ita in tuto animae con- uenit esse remedia, ut intret in gaudium domini sui, quem 3 ueniens dominus ea, quae sibi placent, inuenerit operari. 21 Eccli. 5, 8 24 cf. Matth. 25, 21 112. Diat (aitnul cum ep. 114) a. 616 non ante mensem Sept. per Theopompum et Seuenanum; respondet epistulae 111. Edd. Car. 445; Bar. ad a. 516, 13: Collect. Concil; BTA I 381; Thiel 766. 11 per Theop. et »Seu. V minutiore charactere in margine 19 cum moneamur o^ 20 ne quae o^: neque V 21 clamante ex clamantg V 23 intuta F, corr, o 25 inueniet Bar. Epist. CXI 5 — CXII 8. 505 iinde et fateor me fuisse rairatum, cur tam diu legatio pro- missa tardauerit, cum facienda uis sit, ut regna caelestia rapiantur. uerum tamen instinctus ipse, quem mansuetudinis uestrae declarat alloquium, spem supernae misericordiae poUi- 5 cetur; desuper est enim et ipsum uelle, quod bonum est. confido autem, quoniam qui coepit in uobis opus bonum, perficiet usque in finem. ergo uiae, cui coepistis, insistite 4 et spretis errantium lubricis nobiscum supra petram solida tenete uestigia. tali creuit ecclesia sancta consensu, quod his uerbis 10 apostolicorumactuumtestaturhistoria: multitudinis creden- tium erat cor unum et anima una. nam quemadmodum connecti poteiiint gratiae uinculis, quorum distant corda sen- . tentiis ? fac, domine imperator, eflfectum rerum fidem probare 5 uerborum. non enim sermonibus cognoscuntur hominum corda 45 sed fructibus, cum et Abraham pater noster non nuda deo fide sed opere fidem commendante placuerit. unde uel. pro 6 dispensatione mihi credita uel pietatis uestrae circa me beni- gnitate perpensa, domine fili, hortor et supplico, ut studium pacis, quod per scripta praefertis, ad componenda nobiscum 20 adiutore deo ea in his, quibus laborant ecclesiae, dirigatis, quia secundum prophetam pax multa diligentibus nomen tuum etnon estillis scandalum. non sunt incognita apud mansue- 7 tudinem uestram, quae nos ab ea, quam redintegrare cupimus, unitate discernant. date operam, ut laudando, quae profitemini, 25 compleantur effectu, et apostoli, cuius communionem creditis expetendara, totis uiribus sequimini disciplinam. in totum perdita noxiorum declinate contagia scientes non habere cura religiosis impios portionem nec uUum fidei cum perfidia esse consortium. consequens est, ut qui errorum detestatur prin- 8 30 cipes, oderit sectatores; exsecrabile habeatur in flore, quod 2 cf. Matth. 11, 12 6 Philipp. 1, 6 10 Act. 4, 32 15 cf, Matth. 7, 16 21 Psalm. 118, 165 27 sq. cf. Cor. II 6, 14 sq. 2 uis sit Thiel (cf. Matth. 11, 1J2): iussit V 6 cfpit V 7 cepistis V 8 solidam a tenet F, corr. o 12 coniecti F, corr. o 17 despen- satione V 20 in his F, uix integra lectione 30 .et execrabile BuU. Taur, 506 Anastasius senatai urbis Romae damnatur in semine. oflferte hoc munus deo, pro uestris, precor, ofFerte temporibus; iam diu hanc a uobis hostiam pro 9tantis, quae uobis contulit, Christus expectat. quid opus est apud illum preces adhibere, qui supplicat? uos senatui urbis Somae, ut me ad pacem hortaretur, iniungitis; ego non solum s cum his ad uos supplicationis uerba conuerto sed uestigiis lOuestris cum uniuersali aduoluor ecclesia. audite me pro Christo legatione fungentem: non patiamini ab improbis canibus Christi membra discerpi; quae insanabilia uidetis, abscidite, et quae aegi*a, curate. cur quae sana sunt, inualidis coniuncta qua- lo tiantur? seruate ordinem, quem ueritas ipsa praefinit, et pacem llmundo, quam poscitis, reddidistis. haec et sub praesenti occasione deposco et rursum ac saepius supplicare curabo sperans importunitatem hanc meam et deo esse placituram et apud uos quoque per adsiduas petitiones, quoniam id nos i& dominus docuit, uacuam non futuram. Data « «