Letter 111: Concerning one ordained by means of money payment.

The city rightly rejoices in the efforts of the just, displaying the blameless and seemly manner of piety. But those who despise it have none of the praiseworthy pursuits. Even if the divine will commands us to be perfect, the path to perfection is trodden one step at a time, and no one arrives at the summit without first climbing the slopes.

Concerning one ordained by means of money payment. You have received the priesthood unholily, O unholy one, having stolen a heavenly article by means of payment, a second Caiaphas, receiving that of which one may not speak by means of silver. But there a hope exists that you will be changed towards goodness. For I do not wish to speak against you.

ΜΔ΄. – ΘΕΟΔΩΡΩ ΔΙΚΑΝΙΚΩ. Εἰκότως ταῖς παρὰ τῶν δικαίων σπουδαζομέναις ἀγά- λλεται ἡ πόλις, ὡς ἀνυπαίτιστὸν καὶ εὐσχήμονα τὸν τῆς εὐσεβείας τρόπον ἐνδεικνυμένη. Οἱ δὲ ταύτης καταφρο- νοῦντες, οὐδὲν ἔχουσι τῶν ἐπαινετῶν ἐπιτηδεύσεων. ΥΜΑ. – ΤΟ ΑΥΤΩ, Πρὸς μαθητευομένους. Εἰ καὶ τελείους ἡμᾶς εἶναι ὁ θεῖος βούλεται νόμος, ὀμώνυμε, ἀλλὰ κατὰ ἀνάβασιν καὶ προκοπὴν πρὸς τὴν τελείωσιν φθάσαντας, πρότερον γάλακτι ποτιζο- μένους, ὡς ἀρτιγένητα βρέφη, καὶ ἐν αὐτῷ εἰς σω- τηρίαν αὐξάνοντας. ΡΙΑ'. – ΖΗΝΩΝΙ ΔΙΑΚΟΝΟ. Περὶ ἀσκήσεως. Μὴ ἐκείνοις, ὦ φιλότης, σαυτὸν παράβαλλε, τοῖς περιχαρῶς μὲν τὸ θεῖον ὑποδεξαμένοις κήρυγμα, μὴ ἐν βάθει [δὲ] τῆς διανοίας παραπέμψασι τὸν σπόρον. Ἐπιπολαιόφυτοι γὰρ καὶ ἐπιπολαιόριζοι γεγονότες, θᾶττον ἢ λόγος ἀπεξηράνθησαν, καρπὸν μὲν ἄριμον μὴ ἐνηνοχότες, τῶν δὲ πειρασμῶν ἔργον γεγενημέ- νοι. Ἀλλ' ἐκείνοις τοῖς βαθυβρίζοις, καὶ πολυββίζας, καὶ πολυκαλάμοις, καὶ πολυκάρποις, ὧν οἱ ἀστάχοις κομῶντες, καὶ ὑπὸ τοῦ καρποῦ βριθόμενοι καρηβα- ροῦσι καὶ κέκλινται, ὑπὸ τῆς πρὸς ἄμητον ὥρας μου νονουχὶ ἐφ' ἑαυτοὺς καλοῦντες τὴν τῶν θεριστῶν δρεπάνην. Εὖ γὰρ ἐπίστανται, ὅτι τοὺς τοιούτους ὁ Χριστὸς εἰς τὰς οὐρανίους λήξεις ἀποκομίσαι τοῖς ἀγγέλοις προσέταξε, συνεορτάσοντας καὶ συμβασι- λεύσοντας, καὶ ἀτελευτήτου θυμηδίας μεθέξοντας. CXI.—ΛΑΜΠΕΤΙΩ ΔΙΑΚΟΝΩ. « Ἐὰν προσφέρῃς τὸ δῶρόν σου ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον. » Μέγιστον τῷ Θεῷ Λόγῳ ὁ περὶ τῶν πρὸς ``` ΡΟΗ΄. – ΚΟΜΙΤΙ Τὸ εἰς ἀκριβολογίαν ἐπιδείκνυσθαι τὰς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἀποτυφλοῖ.