|
HOME | GREEK LANGUAGE |
LIBRARIES |
BLOG | HELP | SEARCH | BOOKSTORE | FREEWARE |
|
|
Translated by Cardinal Newman.
St Athanasius the Great Resources Online and in Print
|
This Part: 128 Pages
Page 112
2. While I then committed all my affairs to God, I was anxious to celebrate the feast with you, not taking into account the distance between us. For although place separate us, yet the Lord the Giver of the feast, and Who is Himself our feast [4209] , Who is also the Bestower of the Spirit [4210] , brings us together in mind, in harmony, and in the bond of peace [4211] . For when we mind and think the same things, and offer up the same prayers on behalf of each other, no place can separate us, but the Lord gathers and unites us together. For if He promises, that 'when two or three are gathered together in His name, He is in the midst of them [4212] ,' it is plain that being in the midst of those who in every place are gathered together, He unites them, and receives the prayers of all of them, as if they were near, and listens to all of them, as they cry out the same Amen [4213] . I have [4214] borne affliction like this, and all those trials which I mentioned, my brethren, when I wrote to you.
3. And that we may not distress you at all, I would now (only) briefly remind you of these things, because it is not becoming in a man to forget, when more at ease, the pains he experienced in tribulation; lest, like an unthankful and forgetful person, he should be excluded from the divine assembly. For at no time should a man freely praise God, more than when he has passed through afflictions; nor, again, should he at any time give thanks more than when he finds rest from toil and temptations. As Hezekiah, when the Assyrians perished, praised the Lord, and, gave thanks, saying, 'The Lord is my salvation [4215] ; and I will not cease to bless Thee with harp all the days of my life, before the house of the Lord [4216] .' And those valiant and blessed three who were tried in Babylon, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, when they were in safety and the fire became to them as dew, gave thanks, praising and 'saying words of glory to God [4217] .' I too like them have written, my brethren, having these things in mind; for even in our time, God hath made possible those things which are impossible to men. And those things which could not be accomplished by man, the Lord has shewn to be easy of accomplishment, by bringing us to you. For He does not give us as a prey to those who seek to swallow us up. For it is not so much us, as the Church, and the faith and godliness which they planned to overwhelm with wickedness.
[4209] Cf. 1 Cor. v. 7
[4210] Cf. Orat. i. 50; ii. 18; Luke xi. 13.
[4211] Cf. Eph. iv. 3
[4212] Matt. xviii. 20.
[4213] Cf. Apol. Const. 16.
[4214] Thus far Athan. has been referring to the circumstances attending his exile for the last two years. The principal subject of the remaining part consists of the duty incumbent on us to praise and thank God for deliverance from affliction, and to exercise forgiveness towards our enemies. He several times (e.g. S:S:3, 10) speaks of his restoration to the Church of Alexandria.
[4215] The Syriac translator must have found in the Greek copy the reading of the Codex Alex. Kurie--the rendering of 'Jehovah,' not that of the Vatican text. Thee
[4216] Is. xxxviii. 20.
[4217] 'Song of Three Children,' 25-28.
Reference address : https://www.elpenor.org/athanasius/letters.asp?pg=112
