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| Your letter is full of falsehood and violence. I will try not to take the same tone.
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I have read the letter3146
| 3146 That is, private letter, now lost, which was two books of
Rufinus’ Apology. | which you in your wisdom have written
me. You inveigh against me, and, though you once praised me and called
me true partner and brother, you now write books to summon me to reply
to the charges with which you terrify me. I see that in you are
fulfilled the words of Solomon:3147
“In
the mouth of the foolish is the rod of3148
| 3148 Pride A.V. and Vulgate. | contumely,” and3149
“A fool receives not the words of
prudence, unless you say what is passing in his heart;” and the
words of Isaiah:3150
| 3150 Is. xxxii. 5. The words are
not those of the Vulgate, nor of the A.V. | “The fool
will speak folly, and his heart will understand vain things, to
practise iniquity and speak falsehood against the Lord.” For what
need was there for you to send me whole volumes full of accusation and
malediction, and to bring them before the public, when in the end of
your letter you threaten me with death if I dare to reply to your
slanders—I beg pardon—to your praises? For your praises and
your accusations amount to the same thing; from the same fountain
proceed both sweet and bitter. I beg you to set me the example of the
modesty and shamefacedness which you recommend to me; you accuse
another of lying: cease to be a liar yourself. I wish to give no one an
occasion of stumbling, and I will not become your accuser; for I have
not to consider merely what you deserve but what is becoming in me. I
tremble at our Savior’s words.3151
“Whosoever shall cause one of these little ones that believe in
me to stumble, it were better for him that a great mill stone were
hanged about his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the
sea;” and3152
“Woe unto
the world because of occasions of stumbling: for it must needs be that
occasions arise; but woe to the man through whom the occasion
cometh.” It would have been possible for me too to pile up
falsehoods against you and to say that I had heard or seen what no one
had observed, so that among the ignorant my effrontery might be taken
for veracity, and my violence for resolution. But far be it from me to
be an imitator of you, and to do myself what I denounce in you. He who
is capable of doing filthy things may use filthy words.3153
“The evil man out of the evil
treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil; for out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” You may count it as
good fortune that one whom you once called friend but now accuse has no
mind to make vile imputations against you. I say this not from any
dread of the sword of your accusation, but because I prefer to be
accused than to be the accuser, to suffer an injury than to do one. I
know the precept of the Apostle:3154
“Dearly beloved avenge not yourselves but rather give place unto
wrath: for it is written Vengeance is mine, I will repay saith the
Lord. Therefore, if thine enemy hunger feed him, if he thirst give him
drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his
head.” For he that avenges himself cannot claim the vindication
of the Lord.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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