Letter 718

To the Same Person. For this reason the Hebrews, when in former times they sinned, used to be handed over to their enemies, so that they might be afflicted; and being afflicted, that they might cry out; and having cried out earnestly, that they might be helped—so that God's abandonment of them and the affliction came about rather for their profit and benefit.

Διὰ τοῦτο Ἑβραῖοι ποτε ἁμαρτάνοντες τοῖς ἐχθροῖς παρεδίδοντο, ἵνα θλιβῶσι, καὶ θλιβέντες κράξωσι, καὶ κράξαντες ἐκτενῶς βοηθηθῶσιν, ὥστε πρὸς τὸ λυσιτελοῦν αὐτοῖς μᾶλλον, καὶ ὠφέλιμον, ἡ ἐγκατάλειψις τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ ἡ θλίψις ἐγίνετο.