教牧守則·對話錄與書信 第 819 章

Gregory to Phocas Augustus. Glory to God in the highest, who, according to what is written, changes the times and transfers kingdoms; and because this has become known to all which He deigned to speak through His prophet, saying: For the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and to whomever He wills He gives it (Dan. 4:14). For in the incomprehensible dispensation of Almighty God the governings of mortal life are alternating, and sometimes, when the sins of many are to be smitten, one is raised up through whose harshness the necks of the subjected are pressed down under the yoke of tribulation — which we have long proved in our affliction.

But sometimes, when the merciful God has decreed to warm again with His consolation the mourning hearts of many, He advances one to the summit of governance, and through the bowels of his mercy He pours into the minds of all the grace of His own exultation. By which abundance of exultation we believe ourselves to be strengthened the sooner, we who rejoice that the benignity of your Piety has attained to the imperial height. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth exult (Ps. 95:11), and let the whole people of the commonwealth, hitherto vehemently afflicted, grow glad at your kindly deeds. Let the proud minds of enemies be pressed down under the yoke of your dominion. Let the contrite and depressed souls of the subjected be relieved by your mercy.

May the strength of heavenly grace make you terrible to your enemies, and piety kind to your subjects. Let the whole commonwealth be at rest in your most happy times, the plunder of peace being brought forth under the appearance of lawsuits. Let the ambushes of testaments cease, and the gratuities of donations exacted by violence. Let secure possession return to all in their own affairs, so that they may rejoice to hold without fear the things which were not acquired for them by frauds. Let now to each one his own liberty be restored under the yoke of empire. For this is the difference between the kings of the nations and the emperors of the commonwealth: that the kings of the nations are lords of slaves, but the emperors of the commonwealth are lords of free men. But we say these things better by praying than by suggesting.

May Almighty God hold the heart of your Piety in His hand of grace in every thought and work, and may the Holy Spirit, the indweller of your breast, kindly dispose whatever things are to be done justly and whatever mercifully, so that both your clemency may be exalted in the temporal kingdom, and after the courses of many years may reach to the heavenly kingdom. Given in the month of June, in the sixth indiction.