Letter 27: Innocent replies to the five bishops that he has already made known sufficiently from their own opinion what he...

Innocent to his most beloved brothers Aurelius, Alypius, Augustine, Evodius, and Possidius. 1. Not even the marshaling of your letters could fail to make sufficiently known what we think about the perfidy of Pelagius, since it cannot ever come about that the dogma prevails which is so wretched and so impious that the very truth of our faith itself might be more fully vanquished against it. 2. If, then, there are any whom such great perversity has bound in its defense, who give themselves over to this dogma and join it, hoping that this pertains to Catholic doctrine — something which is far removed and is proven to be utterly opposed — since they were led astray, seduced in their affection and purpose and words, let them hasten to return to the right path of the way, lest the error that long besieges the mind should, as though feeding on their senses, invade. For if Pelagius, in whatever place he resisted, deceived by this affirmation the minds of those who would readily or naively believe his arguments — whether they are here in the city (which we do not know and can neither assert nor deny, since if they are present they are hiding, and never dare either to defend him while he preaches such things, or to boast of such things in the presence of any of ours, and amid so great a multitude of the people someone can hardly be caught or recognized anywhere), or whether they dwell in any place in the world — we trust by the mercy and grace of our God that they may easily be corrected, once they have heard the condemnation of him who is found to be the obstinate and resistant author of this dogma. Nor does it matter where they may be, so long as wherever they can be found, they may be healed. 3. Nevertheless, we cannot be persuaded that he has been cleared, although certain documents have been brought to us by unknown laymen, by which he believed himself heard and absolved. Whether these are genuine, we doubt, since they came without any prosecution of that council, nor have we received any letters from those before whom he pleaded his case in this matter. Had he been able to have confidence in his own exculpation, we believe he would have done this rather — which could have been much more effective — that he would have compelled them by his own letters to declare what they had judged. But since there are certain things placed in those very records which he partly evaded when objected against, partly confused in complete obscurity by twisting the words back upon himself, and partly cleared — more by false arguments than by true reasoning, so that he might seem for the time being to have been absolved — by denying some things and distorting others by false interpretation: if this took away the charge, what further did it leave? 4. But how much more it is to be wished that he would now turn himself from the error of his path to the true way of the Catholic faith, that he might desire and wish to be cleansed, recognizing the daily grace of God and acknowledging His help, so that he might be seen truly and approved by all as corrected by manifest reason — not by the verdict of those proceedings, but by a heart converted to the Catholic faith. Wherefore we can neither approve nor blame the judgment of those judges, since we do not know whether the records are genuine; or if they are genuine, whether he rather escaped by subterfuge than cleared himself by full truth. If he has confidence and knows that what he says or has already refuted what he had said is not worthy of our condemnation, he ought not to be summoned by us, but should rather hasten himself to be absolved. For if he still thinks as he did, when will he submit himself to our judgment, summoned by whatever letters, knowing that he is to be condemned? If he needed to be summoned, it would be better done by those who are closer and are not separated by a great stretch of lands. But care will not be lacking, if he provides the material for a remedy. For he can condemn what he had thought, and, having sent letters, seek pardon for his error, as befits one returning to us, dearest brothers. 5. As for the book which is said to be his, it has been brought to us as something that is in no way pleasing — to be condemned and trampled upon by anyone. No one other than the man who wrote it would take such things into his mind and think them. For to dispute more broadly about the law in this place, as if with Pelagius present and resisting, we did not think necessary, since we are speaking with you who know the whole matter, and with you who share our judgment, rejoicing in equal assent with us. For then these examples are better deployed when we are dealing with those who are proven ignorant of these things. For concerning the possibility of nature, concerning free will, and concerning all the grace of God, and daily grace — who, if he thinks rightly, would not have abundant matter for discussion? Let him therefore anathematize what he has thought, so that those who were overthrown by his speeches and teachings may at last learn what the true faith holds. For they can more easily be recalled when they perceive these things condemned by their own author. But if he persists obstinately in this impiety, we must act so that at least those may be helped whom not their own error but rather his led astray, lest the remedy be lost to them as well — for such a person neither admits nor requires this care.

Rcscribit Innocenlius quinque episcopis, r/uir/ de eorum senteutia, quid de Pelagii perfidia semiret, se jam satis nolum [ecisse : hwretici hiijus fuutores, si Ro- ma: sinl, lalere; sed ubivis degunt daniniindos esse, eorumque salnti prospiciendvm : Pelagii in Pulccs- tina purgalionem sibi vulde esse suspectam; sed ju- dices ejns nec culpare se, nec approbare ; niliil opus essc ut eum liomum ucccrsat, cerle librum illius lioc abstulil, uilerius k quid rcliquil ? 2. Si ergo suiil aliqui , quos in sui dcfensionem perver.-itas lauia ' dcvinxil, qui itiiicsedogmatide- dant atque conjnngant, spermtes boc ad catbolicam perlinere doctriuam, <|iiod abborrens longitis et pe- nitus approb.iliir adversuin, m afieciu illorum et iiio- blasphemiisrcfertum esse: si ipse errores unaihemet , p nilis el verbis ttt labereutur indueli, qiiaieiius ad fatilnts revocatum iri quos seditxil ; sed his saltem rettum via; tramilem redeant, fesliiiabunt, " nediu- tius menlem obsidens velut eoriim scnsibus paslus consulendum. rnlis. Qnemadmodiim is papa in epistolas biijusexor- dio pastores billdat, qni ovcs illiceuler dutltuii pelita vitantes. Iioc estnd uielioreni fritgeui couversas, cus- todiw pristince circumspectione iwari noiidedignaiiitir; ita uiiiic. ovcs illas. qua: in errore periinaciier per- innnciil, carcre vuli cuslodia pnstorali, scu a grege, qui pasiorum custodiae commissiis e-i, separari. * Garner. propria voluntate significavit. Verbum lignificuvil c.xitule apud \og. liatislaliiiii. Ali.e edii. ConCil. cniii Rotn. hostis rapidis. AlG.un. vocim rubittis omitiii, nce ullain ei snbstiluil. J Garo. quas tn semelipsas. Quesn. ctiin velere exemplari Colb. quo auciore semetipsos quibusdam (Colh. ins. quosdam)spirilalis. ' In niss. Isiil. Constantino. Apud Merl. Constantio consulibus. lnaliisedil concil. ae Koin. Conslanlio viris clarissimis (umiscodexColb. u». cc.) consulibus. A|iiid Garner. Houorio xt el Couslantio u coss. lil accuraia essct noia illa consularis, enuntiari sic de- berct. Uonorio Angiislo xi el Constanto v. c. (Iiocesl viro clarissimo, mui mi. cc. quod e^t viris clarissimis) consulibus. Veruin ex epistolis-29 ei5l, qureexnie- lioris not e oiss. quain ista, ad nos Iransiiiissa; stint, refnriiiaiida est li.ic nola. Non eniin videtur ambi- geinlinii, quin tics cpislolas siinul dalas eadein ra- lione, adeoque post ccnsulattim Theodosii vu etJunii I) Quarti, Innocentius consignarit. Scd qni.i posl con- snlatiim Tlieodosii vn el Juiiii Quarli Honorius et Constaiitiiiseadeiiidigiiiiate in ignili siint: conjecliira est aniiqnarii alicnjus opera .'d marg. adjcclnm e>se Honorio el Consiuniio cons. aii|iie boc sebolion e margine in texiuui luisse Iranslatuin. ' In edii. Concil. 26. Qnne auieni crat 39, nnnc 5. 8 in ins.Corb., DHeciissimis fratribus Aurelio, Alu- pio, Aitgitsliuo, Evodio, Pnssiduuio Inuoieiitius. 1 Apml Quesii. nt io ius. Pitb., pos int. Reciins alii libri possit, scil. coutcxtio liiierarum. Drinde edit. Itoni. ei Concil. idoneo dato cuivis, msi onoil in veiuslioribiis edit. Concil. resiatr/uotu°s. AptidGarner. idoiieam cuivis, dmo legis. Vatic, deesse. Piaferendiuii vitleiur cuin aliis libris esse: quasi dicaiur. ^ce polesi aliquando fieri, ui id vineai tUigtna, quod lammiscrumtainque impiumcst, ui lidci nostra'vii inieelipsa vcriiaiepieniusviucatur. 1 Merl.,(/e/i'xit, Garucr., devinxeril. Inferius Crab: et Lab., oberrans ; el edit. Rom., uberrans pro abhor- rens. 111 Edili, infccti; Valicanns ms., iufectis : rorrigim- uir cx vi teri exemplaii (', .lb. Ilae responilenl verbis qtiinque e|iisCO[iorum n. 14, quod scandalmn audi- torcs ct in pcrversum uii.kctores ejus usquequaque spargfre nu:t cessant. Si enim cognoverint, otc. " Garucr., liccdiutitil invadet. m error invadat. Nam si Pelagius , quortunqnc reslitit \ i. Scd iitinam, f|iioil nptandum esl niagis, jam se locn, eoriim animos, qui facilevel simpliciiercrede- renl dispulanli, liac affirmationedecepit, "seuhacilli in urlie siul, quod nescicires ncc manifeslare pos- siimiis nec negare , cum et si sunt laieanl , nec ali- quando andeanl vcl illuin pra dieanteni isia dcfen- dere, vel lalia h aliquo nostroriini pra?senle jactare, ille ad veram cathoiic.v fidei viam ab illo sui tiamitis crrore cnnverlal, ut cnpiat velilque purgari , consi- dcrans quntidiannm Dei graiinm , adjiitoiininqiie coghnscens", ut videalur ' vcrc el api'rolietur al> onl- nibus manifesta raiionc corrcctus , non gestorum indicio, sed ail cilholic.am (idem corde converso ! et in tanta popiiii multiludine depreheiid) aliquis fa- Unde non pusSumus illorum nee approliare nec cnl- cile, c nec alicubi posMl agnosci : sivc in quovis ter- rarnm loco degant, Itei noslri miseiicorriia gralia- que credimiis, quod facile conigantur, hudila ejus damnatione, qui fuerii peninax ct resistcns bujus dogmaiis auclor inveiiius. Nec interesl ubi isti fue- rint , diim iibicunique inveniri potiterint , sint sa- n:indi. pare judicium, cum nesciamns utruni vcra sini gcsta; aUt si vcra sint, illuni cnisielmagis subierfngisse, qnani se loia veiiiaie purgassc. Qnl si ciuilidil, no- vltque non noslva dignnni esse rinmnatione i quod dicat aut jani boc loium se refulasse quod riixerat; non a nobis accersiri , sed ipse debet polius fesli- nare, ul possit absolvi. Nam si adhtic taliler sen- 5. Nobis taincn '' nec persuadeii polesteum cssc p lii ; qnando se nosiro jtidicio, qnibusvisk accitus piirgalum, qiiamvis ad m s e a nescio qnibus laicis sint ge?ia peiiata ; quibus ille ct audiiom se crede- ret, et absolutum. Qnoe iitrum vera sini, diibilanms, quod sub nnlla illius concilii f prosecutione vene- runt, ncc eoriim aliquas acccpimus de hac re liile- r.is, apud quos islius rei islc pncslilitcausas. Quod si de sua ille potuisset purgatione confidere, bocma- gis credimus quod egissel. , quod mulio verius essu poiueral , ut illos cngeret cpistolis suis B quid judi- caverant indicare. Veruin cnm sint aliiiua in ipsis posiia gestis, qua; objccla parlim ille vilando sup- liiteris , cum sciat damnaiiduni se e se, coniinitiel ? Qnod si accersiendus essel,ab iis nielius fierct, qni inagis proximi ct non longo lerraruin spatio viden- tnr esse riisjuncti. Sed non deerit cura, si medicinae prsebeat ille maleriam. Poiest cnim damnare qua> senserat, ac daiis liileris, eiroris sui, ut regrcssnni ad nos decel, veniam poslulare, fraires cbarissimi. S. Librnm sane, qui ej'us esse diceretur, hobis pressit, parliin nmlia in se verba retorquendo lota quod non penltus displicerel, a quovis riamnandiini obscuviiaie confiidii , alioua magis falsis argumentis, aique calcandum, cujnssilnilia, nisi qui i>ta scripse- qnam vera raiione h nt ad icinpus videi i poterat , rat, nemo altcr in mentem reciperet aique senlirct. purgavii , negando alia , alia falsa iuterprelalione C Nam boc loco de lege lalius disptiiare , velut coram vertendo. posito repugnahleque Pelagio neces-aiiuni esse non " Unus cod ex Coib. ac Pitli. cum Corb. a I ma- nu, scn hic ilti , elc. Aller ul apud Qii"sn., scu liic aliqui decepii siut, t/uo^ nescientes. ''■ Apud Garner., nec ubi laleut possil. Inferinrb noloe ni-s., nec deprehendi nliquisfaclievel alicjibi. A Loio particulse ncc, Garher. substilnit vix. Isiilori exemplai ibus prse se fenbal qiiid judicave- runi.Posteriofesedil. Concil., qui jiidicnreritnt. Apud Aiifj. qni dijudicaverunt. Io cdil. Itom., ut in mss. Colb.. Pilb. cl Corb., f/nirf judicaveranl. Ad h;cc pro- pins aeeedii qnod ev. Merl. , Crab., ctc. , rcvocaiuus qui dijndicarerant. At istud Garn. quod jndicarcranl more ecclesiaslico indicare, glossenia sapii. Incniii Ita Gtii. exhibet, quam vera ralionc ptitgavit negandn , aliti fahrt inierpretando , ne ad lempiis qui- dem viileri pntnerit absolutus , verbis deinpiis adrii- tisvc aul loeo uinlis pr.cter lidem alioruin liluoruin. Ex h.ic Innoceotii narratione su.spicari est non slh- cera ad cuui niissa essc fjiospolltanaS synodi gesla, sed ea qu.i' Pelagius adulterareral , qiiauiue defen- sinnii sute chnrliilnm vocahai, qualia et ad Aiigusti- nuin idem li.erelicus miserat. Cerle enm operamde- disse, ut adulierata llla gesia usquequaque discur- rereui, sasplcalur et AngustihuS lib. de Gestis Pela- gii, n. 57, ubi ail : Q;<is non credal id fuisse procura- ttlttl, ul tamquam pro ijcstorum illnrum brevintione ista cliarla nsqnciitaque discurrerei ? Nec ininierito npine- mur ignolos illos viros , qni seriplum menioralum detiileriint, Pelai;io addiclos fuisse , anpie id limo- cenlio Irariidise , quod magislro suo faveie persua- suin habereni. Jurc ignur liiiiocenlius de geslis illis, utrum vera sint , dubiiare se superiiis ait , inleiins- que repelit. ' Apud Ang. ut in mss., verum. Mox Lab. , posl cdit. Rom. ei Merl., yeslnrnm judicin : mendnse. Aug. ediiione iia vnlgatus esi hic locns : Qtiotl si r. cnnfidit novitqiie noslra diijnnm se esse damnutione , qund ditat jam tolum hoc refnlnre (apild Auir., refu- tasse) quod dixerat. Noslra lectio eo est polior, quod flfih soliiin ad velerom COdiCulll lideiu expresstt, scd et c.cteris plenior alqne iniegriiir est. Hoc enini sibi vuli Iiinocentius, ui si Pelagius eonfidai daitinaiione digonin nrtn esse qnod eiiani niinc dicat ac rioceat, vel jam refutaSse seu retraciasse ac repudiasse quod piidein dixerdl ac dorueral, ipsede absolulione sua cerlus Rninam delicai pro|ierare. Corb., accitus. P.iulo anle pro accersiri , iu ms. Va- lic. exslal acciri. 1 Isiud pene , ac superiora verba, mulia conira Dei qratiam tegimits esse conscripla , ex ediiione 597 EPISTOL.E ET DECRETA. 598 duximus; cum vnbiscom ° lolam scieniibus, paii- \ incolumem custodi.it, frairercharissime. Dala sexto que nobiscufti asseusione gaudentibns colloi|ii:innir. kalendas Februarias '. Tunc enim ntelitis h;ec exempla ponunlur, (|iiando cum iis , quos harnm constat rcrtim !' iiiipriidentes esse, tractamusi Nam de nalurae possibiliiaie , de tiliero arbiirio, ei de onini Dei graiia, ei quoiidiana gratia, cui non sif recie sentienii uberrimum dispu- latfe? An;iilieiiicl ergo isic qtiae sensit : ui illi , qui ejus sermnnilms fucraut praeceplis |ue collnpsi, quid tandem habeat fitles vera engiioseant. Faeilius enim revocari poterunt, cuni isia a suo senserint auctore dainnari. Quod si ille perlinaciter in bac voluerit iinpietate persisiere, agendum est c quaienus vel iis possit siibveniri, quos non suus, sed liiijns magis error induxit ; ne et illis Itsec niedicina pereal , cu- M0"1TUM !N EPISTOLAS TRES SEQUENTES. 1. Tres epistolaa sequentea inier pomifiejas liite- ras e veieri Vaticans hihliolhecaa bbro Rnmae pri- niuiii edita', pnstea et a Baronio collaiiene earnm facia eiim altero endice ad annum 416 recusifl sunt. Unde vero iis scribendis oectsioneiti dalain existi- ntarit prinius iUarum editor, sic explicai : • i.uui Joaniicsllieinsolymoriimepiseopus Origenis errores sequerelur, Hieronymus apud lieihlcem degens, aliique petniulii ab ejus enmmuniune absiinelant. Qitani ob rem Joannis opera inullis aflecli suntnia- lis. » Yerinrein auiein illarutn eausam eonipei intus ev iis, qine Augiistiiins ad calcem libri de Ge^tis Pelagii narrai in hunc modiini : - De bis autein, quae post hoe judicium (Diospoli in Palacslina hahiiurn) ibi a nescio qno cuneo pprdilnrum, qui valde in jus istc taleni non adniitlil nec postulal curam. ( El rj perversiim perhihentiir Pelagio sulfragari, incvedi- alia munn : ) Deus vos incnlumes cusiodiat, Iraires bili audacia perpelraia dicunliir, ui Pei ser\i ei an- cliarissimi. Dala scxln kaleudas Fcbriiarins (Jiw. 27, aim. 417) d post consulaiiim gloriosissimi Tbeodo- sii augusli vn et Junii Quarli Palladii V. C.