Chapter I. — Although through the Constantinopolitan clerics I have written back to your Piety before, yet having received the letters of your Clemency through the illustrious man Tatian, prefect of the city, my son, I have received great matter for congratulation: because I have recognized you to be most zealous for ecclesiastical peace. To which holy desire it is granted with worthy equity that you may have the same condition of your realm which you desire to be the condition of religion. For among Christian princes, when the Spirit of God confirms concord, a twin confidence is strengthened throughout the whole world:
because the progress of charity and of faith makes the power of both arms insuperable, so that, God being propitiated through one confession, at once both heretical falsehood and barbarian hostility may be destroyed, O most glorious emperor. Therefore, my hope of heavenly aid being increased through the imperial friendship, I presume the more confidently to urge on your Piety on behalf of the sacrament of human salvation: that you suffer it not to be inquired, by the bold and shameless loquacity of anyone, as though it were uncertain what ought to be followed.
124:3
Etcumabevangelicaapostolicaquedoctrinaneunoquidemverboliceatdissidere,autaliterdeScripturisdivinissapere, quambeatiapostolietpatresnostrididiceruntatquedocuerunt,nuncdemumindisciplinatæmoventuretimpiaequæstiones, quasolimmoxuteasperaptasibicordadiabolusexcitavit, perdiscipulosveritatisSpiritussanctusexstinxit. CAp. II.
And since from the evangelical and apostolic doctrine it is not permitted to dissent even by a single word, nor to be wise concerning the divine Scriptures otherwise than the blessed apostles and our fathers learned and taught, now at last there are stirred up undisciplined and impious questions, which long ago—as soon as the devil aroused them through hearts fitted for himself—the Holy Spirit extinguished through the disciples of truth. Chapter II.
— But it is too iniquitous that through the folly of a few we should be recalled to the conjectures of opinions and to the wars of carnal disputations, as though, the debate being renewed, it must be treated whether Eutyches held an impious opinion, and whether Dioscorus judged perversely—he who in the condemnation of Flavian of holy memory struck himself down, and impelled all the more simple to be plunged into the same ruin. Of whom many, as we have learned, being now converted to the remedies of satisfaction, and begging pardon for their inconstant trembling, it is not to be treated of what kind the faith is that must be held, but whose prayers and in what manner assent must be given.
Wherefore to your most pious solicitude, which you deign to have concerning the synod to be summoned, through the legation which will forthwith, God assenting, come to your Clemency, whatever I judge to pertain to the advantage of the cause shall be suggested more fully and more opportunely. Given on the ninth day before the Kalends of May, in the consulship of the most illustrious man Adelphius.