255:1
Gregorius Bonifacio episcopo a Regiensi. Quibusdam venientibus agnovi fraternitatem tuam miserocordiæ opcribus vehementer insistere; atque omnipotenti Deo gratias retuli, quia juxra egregii praedicatoris vocem, nunc vivimus, si vos s atis in Domino (7 Thess. III, 8). Sed illud, fateor, non leviter mentem meam momordit, quod eadem opera multis vosipsi nuntiatis; ex qua re collegi quod mens vestra non studeat Dei oculis, sed humano judicio placere. Unde necesse est, frater charissime, ut cum bona exterius agis, haec interius cum inagna cautela custodias, ne appetitus placendi hominibus subrepat, et omnis labor boni operis incassum liat. Nos enim qui sumus, quihns placcri ab hominibus quæritur?
貴格利致雷焦主教博尼法爵。從幾位前來之人那裡，我得知你的弟兄之情熱切地持守於憐憫的善工；我便向全能的神獻上感謝，因為正如那卓越傳道者所言，我們如今若在主裡站立得穩，就活了（帖前三8）。但我承認，有一事咬齧我心不輕，就是你自己把這些善工向許多人宣揚；由此我推斷，你的心所力求討的，不是神的眼目，乃是人的評判。故親愛的弟兄，你必須如此行：當你在外行善時，要在內裡以極大的謹慎守護這些事，免得討人喜悅的慾念潛入，使善工的一切勞苦歸於徒然。因為我們算得甚麼，竟要求人喜悅呢？
Gregory to Boniface, bishop of Reggio. From certain persons who came, I have learned that your fraternity vehemently persists in works of mercy; and I have given thanks to almighty God, because, according to the voice of the excellent preacher, we now live, if you stand fast in the Lord (1 Thess. 3:8). But this, I confess, gnawed my mind not lightly, that you yourself announce these same works to many; from which thing I gathered that your mind strives to please not the eyes of God, but human judgment. Hence it is necessary, dearest brother, that when you do good outwardly, you should guard these things inwardly with great caution, lest the appetite for pleasing men creep in, and all the labor of the good work be rendered void. For who are we, by whom it is sought to be pleased by men?
255:2
Quid namque aliud quam pulvis et cinis sumus? Sed illi tua fraternitas placere desideret, quiet non tonso cM ut appareat, ct omne quod retribuerit finem nullo modo habcbit. b Mense Octobri, indictione undecima.
因為我們除了是塵土與灰燼之外，還是甚麼呢？但願你的弟兄之情去討那一位的喜悅——祂並不要求人看見——祂所要償報的一切，斷不會有終結。時值十月，第十一個小紀年。
For what else are we but dust and ashes? But let your fraternity desire to please Him who does not require that it should be seen, and everything which He shall repay will in no way have an end. In the month of October, in the eleventh indiction.