Letter CXLVI.

(a.d. 413.)

To Pelagius, My Lord Greatly Beloved, and Brother Greatly Longed For, Augustin Sends Greeting in the Lord.

I thank you very much for your consideration in making me glad by a letter from you, and informing me of your welfare. May the Lord recompense you with those blessings by the possession of which you may be good for ever, and may live eternally with Him who is eternal, my lord greatly beloved, and brother greatly longed for. Although I do not acknowledge that anything in me deserves the eulogies which the letter of your Benevolence contains concerning me, nevertheless I cannot but be grateful for the goodwill therein manifested towards one so insignificant, while suggesting at the same time that you should rather pray for me that I may be made by the Lord such as you suppose me already to be.

(In another hand) May you enjoy safety and the Lord’s favour, and be mindful of us!1177    Pelagius made use of this letter at the Council of Diospolis, in A.D. 415, which compelled Augustin to vindicate himself in reference to it in his narrative of the proceedings of Pelagius. See Anti-Pelagian Writings, vol. i. p. 413.

EPISTOLA CXLVI . Pelagium resalutat, et pro litteris ipsius officiosis gratiam habet.

0596

Domino dilectissimo, et desideratissimo fratri PELAGIO, AUGUSTINUS, in Domino salutem.

Gratias ago plurimum quod me litteris tuis exhilarare dignatus es, et certum facere de salute vestra. Retribuat tibi Dominus bona, quibus semper sis bonus, et cum illo aeterno vivas in aeternum, domine dilectissime, et desideratissime frater. Ego autem etsi in me non agnosco praeconia de me tua, quae tuae Benignitatis epistola continet; benevolo tamen animo erga exiguitatem meam ingratus esse non possum: simul admonens ut potius ores pro me, quo talis a Domino fiam, qualem me jam esse arbitraris. Et alia manu: Memor nostri, incolumis Domino placeas, domine dilectissime, et desideratissime frater