PL 3 · cols. 867–870

Pseudo-Cornelius, Appendix secunda: decretales epistolae S. Cornelio papae ascriptae (de translatione corporum apostolorum Petri et Pauli; ad Rufum coepiscopum), cum decreto ex Gratiano

Editors' preface

PL 3:867

APPENDIX SECUNDA.

SECOND APPENDIX.

DECRETALES EPISTOLAE S. CORNELIO FALSO ASCRIPTAE.

DECRETAL LETTERS FALSELY ASCRIBED TO ST CORNELIUS.

EPISTOLA PRIMA.

FIRST LETTER.

DE TRANSLATIONE CORPORUM APOSTOLORIUM PETRI ET PAULI: ET DE NOVATO, ALIISQE HAERETICIS.

ON THE TRANSLATION OF THE BODIES OF THE APOSTLES PETER AND PAUL: AND ON NOVATUS AND OTHER HERETICS.

Charissimis atque dilectissimis fratribus, sanctae Dei Ecclesiae filiis, et omnibus Domino recta fide famulantibus, Cornelius episcopus.

To his dearest and most beloved brethren, the sons of the holy Church of God, and to all who serve the Lord in right faith, Cornelius, bishop.

Videns charitatis vestrae benevolentiam, quia Apostolorum amatores estis, eorumque fidem et doctrinam tenetis, decrevi vobis scribere, Domino auctore, quaedam ex his quae nunc temporis necessaria sunt sciri et quae apud nos in Ecclesia Romana, auxiliante Domino, meritis Apostolorum nuper acta sunt sive geruntur: quoniam, patrocinante charitate, credo vos paterna gratia scripta sedis apostolicae libenter suscipere, et mandata ejus peragere, atque de ejus profectibus gratulari: quia quisquis se in radice charitatis inserit nec a viriditate deficit, nec a fructibus inanescit. nec amore foecunditatis opus efficax amittit. Ipsa enim charitas exercet corda fidelium, sensus corroborat, ut nihil grave, nihil difficile, sed fiat totum dulce quod agitur, dum ejus proprium sit, nutrire concordiam, servare mandata, atque dissociata conjungere, prava dirigere, et caeteras virtutes perfectionis suae munimine solidare.

Seeing the goodwill of your charity, since you are lovers of the Apostles and hold their faith and doctrine, I have resolved, with the Lord as author, to write to you certain things among those which at this present time it is necessary to know, and which among us in the Roman Church, with the Lord's help, by the merits of the Apostles, have lately been done or are being done: since, with charity as patron, I believe that you with fatherly grace gladly receive the writings of the apostolic see, and carry out its commands, and rejoice at its advances: for whoever grafts himself into the root of charity neither fails in greenness, nor grows empty of fruits, nor through love of fruitfulness loses effectual work. For charity itself exercises the hearts of the faithful and strengthens the senses, so that nothing is heavy, nothing difficult, but all that is done becomes sweet, since it is its own property to nourish concord, to keep the commandments, and to join what is separated, to straighten what is crooked, and to make firm the other virtues with the bulwark of its perfection.

Quapropter rogo vos nobis congratulari, quia rogatu cujusdam devotae feminae atque nobilissimae matronae Lucinae levata sunt corpora Apostolorum

Wherefore I ask you to rejoice with us, because at the request of a certain devout woman and most noble matron, Lucina, the bodies of the Apostles

Editors' notes and page, col. 867

Footnotes

Variae lectiones (printed under page 485)

(5) ‹anchor: benevolentiam› · call in col 867

Fidens charitatis vestrae benovolentia Labb.

"Fidens charitatis vestrae benovolentia" (your charity's trusting goodwill) in Labbe.

(printed under page 485)

(3) ‹anchor: EPISTOLA PRIMA› · call in col 867

Cornelii papae. Baron, aliisque merito suspecta, cum sequenti, quae non est majoris apud eruditos fidei. LABB. — Sanctum Cornelium plures epistolas scripsisse testatur Hieron. libro de Scriptor. Eccles. in Cornelio, verbis supra allatis. Primam cujus meminit, cum ipsis Actis conciliorum excidisse refert Baronius anno 255, num. 3. Secundam, cujus ibidem mentionem facit, hanc esse ideoque immerito de fide et auctoritate taxari puto, quae probatae fidei testem Hieronymum adepta est, et cujus scripta cum rerum historia conveniunt. Quod vero sanctorum corporum Petri et Pauli e catacumbis translationem Cornelio attribuit, id ex libri Pontificalis erroribus in hanc epistolam mendose irrepsisse, probabile esse videtur: nam ea verius primo saeculo paulo post ipsorum passionem accedit, ut testimonio sancti Gregorii pontificis supra demonstratum est. SEVER. BINIUS. — Hoc falsum, neque enim quisquilias istas unquam vidit Hieronymus. Translatio sanctorum corporum Petri et Pauli, quando? Novatus quis et qualis? LABB.

Of Pope Cornelius. Suspected, and rightly, by Baronius and others, together with the following letter, which carries no greater credit among the learned. LABBE. — That Saint Cornelius wrote several letters Jerome testifies in his book On Ecclesiastical Writers, under Cornelius, in the words quoted above. The first of which he makes mention, Baronius reports (year 255, no. 3) to have perished together with the very Acts of the councils. The second, which he mentions in the same place, I think is this one, and is therefore undeservedly faulted as to its credit and authority, since it has gained Jerome, a witness of proven credit, and its contents agree with the history of events. But that it attributes to Cornelius the translation of the holy bodies of Peter and Paul from the catacombs seems likely to have crept into this letter by mistake from the errors of the Liber Pontificalis: for that translation more truly took place in the first century, a little after their passion, as was shown above by the testimony of the holy pontiff Gregory. SEVERINUS BINIUS. — This is false, for Jerome never saw these trifles. The translation of the holy bodies of Peter and Paul — when? Novatus — who, and of what kind? LABBE.

(printed under page 485)

(4) ‹anchor: nec a fructibus› · call in col 867

Nec a fructibus. Sanctus Gregorius Epistol. 114, lib. VII. Vide et 49, lib. VIII. LABB.

Nor from its fruits. Saint Gregory, Letter 114, book VII. See also 49, book VIII. LABBE.

(printed under page 485)

(5) ‹anchor: matronae Lucinae› · call in col 867

Matronae Lucinae. Ado in Chronico et in Martyrologio iis similia scribit, quae refelluntur a sancto Gregorio Epist. 30, lib. III, ac Baronio. LABB.

The matron Lucina. Ado, in his Chronicle and in his Martyrology, writes things like these, which are refuted by Saint Gregory, Letter 30, book III, and by Baronius. LABBE.

(printed under page 485)

(6) ‹anchor: levata sunt corpora› · call in col 867

Levata sunt corpora. Vide quae annatovit Severin. Binius in notis ad vitam Cornelii, verbis, His temporibus, etc.

The bodies were raised. See what Severinus Binius noted in his notes on the life of Cornelius, at the words In those times, etc.

(printed under page 485)

Page

running head: 867 AD S. CORNELIUM A[...] (cut off at the image edge)
marginal letters: A EPISTOLA PRIMA (3).; B quia quisquis se in radice; C (3) Cornelii papae (page-foot notes); D nymus. Translatio sanctorum (page-foot notes)
old-edition numerals: 841 before APPENDIX (full-width title across cols 867/868, set once at the head of the unit); 842 after matronae
other: misprints kept as printed: "APOSTOLORIUM" (for APOSTOLORUM) and "ALIISQE" (for ALIISQUE) in the title; "annatovit" (for annotavit) in note (6)
running head: 867 AD S. CORNELIUM APPENDICES. 868
marginal letters: A ‹EPISTOLA PRIMA›; B ‹quia quisquis se in radice›; C (none in text; beside footnotes); D (none in text; beside footnotes)
old-edition numerals: 841 before APPENDIX SECUNDA; 842 after matronae

PL 3:868

Petri et Pauli de catacumbis. Et primo quidem beati Pauli corpus, levatum silentio, positum est in praedio praedictae matronae, via Ostiensi ad latus ubi decollatus est. Postea vero beati Apostolorum principis Petri accepimus corpus, et condecenter posuimus illud juxta locum ubi crucifixus est inter corpora sanctorum episcoporum in templo Apollinis, in monte Aureo, in Vaticano palatii Neroniani, tertio kalendarum juliarum die, orantes Deum et Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, ut, intercedentibus suis sanctis Apostolis, maculas vestrorum purget peccatorum, et in sua vos conservet voluntate diebus vitae vestrae, et in fructu boni operis vos perseverabiles reddat. Vos vero his congaudete, quia et ipsi sancti Apostoli de vestro congratulantur gaudio. Vos semper Deum laudate, et ipse glorificetur in vobis. Scriptum est enim: Quid retribuam Domino pro omnibus quae retribuit mihi? Calicem salutaris accipiam, et nomen Domini invocabo. (Psal. CXV.) Tantum enim a nobis exigitur, quantum possumus famulatus nostri obsequio commendare: Unde quidem tanto nos necesse est impo⟨r⟩tunis praedicationibus insistere, quanto nobis perfectae negotiationis creditur duplicata talentorum assignatio, atque dominicae vocis ad suspiciendam ejus requiem suadet assertio.

Peter and Paul have been raised from the catacombs. And first the body of blessed Paul, raised in silence, was placed on the estate of the aforesaid matron, on the Ostian Way, beside the place where he was beheaded. Afterwards we received the body of blessed Peter, prince of the Apostles, and fittingly placed it near the place where he was crucified, among the bodies of the holy bishops, in the temple of Apollo, on the Golden Mount, in the Vatican of Nero's palace, on the third day before the Kalends of July, praying God and our Lord Jesus Christ that, by the intercession of His holy Apostles, He may cleanse the stains of your sins, and keep you in His will all the days of your life, and make you persevering in the fruit of good work. Do you, then, rejoice in these things, since the holy Apostles themselves also rejoice together in your joy. Praise God always, and may He be glorified in you. For it is written: What shall I render to the Lord for all the things that He has rendered to me? I will take the chalice of salvation, and I will call upon the name of the Lord (Ps. 115:12–13). For so much is required of us as we are able to commend by the obedience of our service: whence indeed it is so much the more necessary for us to press on with importunate preaching, as the doubled assignment of the talents of a perfect trading is entrusted to us, and the assertion of the Lord's voice urges us to look up to His rest.

Haec invidens antiquus hostis suscitavit nobis adversarium Novatum, rectae fidei et sanctae

Envying these things, the ancient enemy raised up against us an adversary, Novatus, a rival of the right faith and of holy

Editors' notes and page, col. 868

Footnotes

(6) ‹anchor: famulatus nostri obsequio commendare› · call in col 868

Commodare Labb.

"Commodare" (to lend) in Labbe.

Variorum notae (printed under page 485)

(7) ‹anchor: a nobis› · call in col 868

Tantum enim a nobis. Sanctus Martinus I, in epist. ad sanctum Amandum. LABB.

For so much [is required] of us. Saint Martin I, in his letter to Saint Amandus. LABBE.

(printed under page 485)

(8) ‹anchor: adversarium Novatum› · call in col 868

Suscitavit nobis adversarium Novatum. Novatus fuit Africanae Ecclesiae episcopus, qui Felicissimum diaconum et schismaticum Montensium (sic dicti, quod sectarii illius in monte convenirent) auctorem, invito Cypriano ordinaverat, et ad schisma conflandum, ejusdem odio et invidia, antesignanus exstiterit: qualis autem fuerit, Cyprianus epist. XLIX his verbis declarat: De Novato nihil ad nos fuerat nuntiandum, cum magis per nos vobis debeat Novatus ostendi, rerum novarum semper cupidus, avaritiae inexplebili rapacitate furibundus, etc. Sede vacante ad evertendam Romanam Ecclesiam Romam veniens, Novatianum Romanum presbyterum, male in Cornelium vitio ambitionis animatum, acrius in eum impellit, eo quod Cornelius, fratrum suorum consilio, poenitentes lapsos in Ecclesiam reciperet; cum tamen Africa Cypriano sacrosanctae Ecclesiae communionem a lapsis petitam, ille advertum tempus differandam (continues)

He raised up against us the adversary Novatus. Novatus was a bishop of the African Church who, against Cyprian's will, had ordained the deacon Felicissimus, author of the schism of the Montenses (so called because its sectaries met on a mountain), and who, out of hatred and envy of the same [Cyprian], had stood forth as standard-bearer in stirring up the schism. What sort of man he was, Cyprian declares in Letter XLIX in these words: About Novatus nothing needed to be reported to us, since Novatus ought rather to be shown to you by us: ever greedy for novelty, raging with the insatiable rapacity of avarice, etc. Coming to Rome while the see was vacant in order to overthrow the Roman Church, he drove Novatian, a Roman presbyter ill-disposed towards Cornelius through the vice of ambition, more sharply against him, because Cornelius, on the counsel of his brethren, was receiving the penitent lapsed into the Church; whereas in Africa, when communion with the sacred Church was sought of Cyprian by the lapsed, he [held] that it should be put off to a fixed time (continues)

(printed under page 485)

Page

running head: ‹…›ORNELIUM APPENDICES. 868 (left part cut off at the image edge)
marginal letters: A ‹stolorum Petri et Pauli de catacumbis›; B ‹laudate, et ipse glorificetur in vobis›; C ‹Gregorio Epist. 30, lib. III› (in the foot notes); D ‹presbyterum, male in Cornelium› (in the foot notes)
old-edition numerals: (none)
other: misprints kept as printed: "advertum" (for ad certum) and "differandam" (for differendam) in note (8); "impo⟨r⟩tunis": the r is broken type on the page (the t is printed)
running head: 867 AD S. CORNELIUM APPENDICES. 868
marginal letters: A ‹stolorum Petri et Pauli de catacumbis›; B ‹vestro congratulantur gaudio›; C (none in text; beside footnotes); D (none in text; beside footnotes)
old-edition numerals: (none)

PL 3:869

doctrinae aemulum, qui extra Ecclesiam ordinavit Novatianum, et in Africa Nicostratum, utrosque haereticos, sicut ille erat. Hic vero conatibus quibus potuerunt, multos a recta et catholica fide suadentes recedere fecerunt, et post se in perversam et Deo odibilem doctrinam corruere persuaserunt. Sed sicut istorum tergiversationibus nimis sumus contristati, et de eorum perditione contriti, sic de aliorum conversatione, Domino auxiliante, sumus laetificati. Deus autem omnipotens, qui tristibus miscet laeta, oppido nos laetificavit, quod quidam confessores, qui dudum fuerunt fideles, a nobis et a recta fide, diabolo instigante, se separantes, cum Maximo presbytero ad Ecclesiam catholicam et fidem rectam sunt reversi, et denuo, sicut prius, facti sunt confessores fideles. Quapropter, charissimi, hortamur vos et deprecamur per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, praedictos haereticos et omnes quos a recta fide et doctrina apostatare cognoveritis, exhortationibus et bonis studiis vestris ad catholicam fidem et rectam doctrinam convertere contendite, et in Dei voluntate persistere suadete. Et non solum hos, sed omnes qui nondum fidem rectam perceperunt, ad Catholicam fidem perducere festinate. Quia neque mors, neque vita, neque angeli, neque principatus, neque instantia, neque futura, neque fortitudo, neque altitudo, neque profundum, neque creatura alia, Magistro Gentium docente, poterit nos separare a charitate Domini nostri Jesu Christi (Rom. VIII), et, quae in ipso est, a recta fide. Nolite itaque amittere confidentiam vestram, quae magnam habet renumerationem. Patientia enim nobis necessaria est ad colluctationes adversariorum, quatenus fidem intemeratam usque in finem conservantes, repromissionem perpiciamus, quam repromisit his qui legitime certare properant. Adhuc enim modicum aliquantulum, qui venturus est, veniet, et non tardabit

doctrine, who outside the Church ordained Novatian, and in Africa Nicostratus, both of them heretics, as he himself was. These men, moreover, by whatever efforts they could, by persuading made many depart from the right and catholic faith, and persuaded them to rush after them into a perverse doctrine hateful to God. But just as we have been greatly saddened by the evasions of these men, and crushed by their perdition, so we have been gladdened, the Lord helping, by the conversion of others. And God almighty, Who mingles glad things with sad, has greatly gladdened us, in that certain confessors, who were formerly faithful, separating themselves at the devil's instigation from us and from the right faith, have returned with the presbyter Maximus to the catholic Church and the right faith, and once again, as before, have become faithful confessors. Wherefore, dearest ones, we exhort and entreat you through our Lord Jesus Christ: strive by your exhortations and good efforts to convert the aforesaid heretics, and all whom you know to apostatize from the right faith and doctrine, to the catholic faith and right doctrine, and persuade them to persist in the will of God. And not only these, but hasten to lead to the Catholic faith all who have not yet received the right faith. For neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor strength, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, as the Teacher of the Gentiles teaches, will be able to separate us from the charity of our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 8), and from the right faith which is in Him. Do not therefore cast away your confidence, which has a great reward. For patience is necessary to us for the struggles against adversaries, so that, keeping the faith undefiled even to the end, we may receive the promise which He has promised to those who hasten to contend lawfully. For yet a very little while, and He Who is to come will come, and will not delay

Editors' notes and page, col. 869

Footnotes

Variae lectiones (printed under page 486)

(7) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 869

Fuerunt Labb.

"Fuerunt" (they were) in Labbe.

(printed under page 486)

(8) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 869

Ms. Collegii Paris. Soc. Jesu teste Harduino legit Arma Dei.

The manuscript of the Paris College of the Society of Jesus, on Hardouin's testimony, reads "Arma Dei" (the arms of God).

(printed under page 486)

(9) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 869

Id ms. Adversus inimicos.

The same manuscript: "Adversus inimicos" (against the enemies).

(printed under page 486)

(10) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 869

Id ms. Ignea.

The same manuscript: "Ignea" (fiery).

(printed under page 486)

(11) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 869

Id ms. Accipite.

The same manuscript: "Accipite" (receive).

(printed under page 486)

(12) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 869

In eodem ms. abest Omnes.

In the same manuscript "Omnes" (all) is absent.

(printed under page 486)

(9) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 869

Qui extra Ecclesiam ordinavit Novatianum. Novatus qui semel in Africa per suos cathedram contra cathedram diro schismate collocarat, ut infelicia germina ipse cum Felicissimo uno ac primo tot infelicium casuum auctore, in transmarinam quoque Ecclesiam propagaret. Romam se contulit, nactus occasionem sedis vacantis, per fraudem multorum animos sibi conciliavit, ut eorum favore, vel ipse, vel saltem aliquis ex sibi faventibus in sede pontificia collocetur, atque ita semel conflatum schisma contra Cyprianum recitius solidetur. Sed cum, Deo volente, Cornelius opinione citius pontifex crearetur, per fraudem ac dolum, gravibus calumniis in Cornelium sparsis, praeter multos confessores gloria praeclaros, tres episcopos in eumdem concitavit, qui Novatianum clandestine pontificem Romanum electum ordinarunt, et primum schisma Ecclesiae Romanae conflarunt. Res gesta describitur a Cypriano epist. XLIX ad Cornelium, et LII ad Antonianum, secundum editionem Pamel., et constat ex epistola Cornelii ad Fabium Antiochenum, quam ex Eusebio nunc primum in hoc tomo conciliorum imprimi curavimus. Baron. praedicto anno numero 65 et sequentibus. SEVER. BIN.

Who ordained Novatian outside the Church. Novatus, who had once in Africa, through his followers, set up altar against altar in a dire schism, so that, together with Felicissimus, the one and first author of so many unhappy disasters, he might spread the unhappy shoots into the Church overseas as well. He betook himself to Rome and, seizing the opportunity of the vacant see, won over the minds of many by fraud, so that by their favour either he himself or at least one of his supporters might be placed in the pontifical see, and thus the schism once kindled against Cyprian might be the more firmly consolidated. But when, God willing, Cornelius was made pontiff sooner than expected, by fraud and guile, spreading grave calumnies against Cornelius, he stirred up against him, besides many confessors illustrious in glory, three bishops, who ordained Novatian, clandestinely elected, as Roman pontiff, and kindled the first schism of the Roman Church. The affair is described by Cyprian in Letter XLIX to Cornelius and LII to Antonianus, according to Pamelius's edition, and is established from the letter of Cornelius to Fabius of Antioch, which we have had printed from Eusebius for the first time in this volume of the councils. Baronius, the aforesaid year, number 65 and following. SEVERINUS BINIUS.

(printed under page 486)

(10) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 869

Nicostratum. De eo Cypr. Ep. XLVIII et XLIX. LABB.

Nicostratus. On him, Cyprian, Letters XLVIII and XLIX. LABBE.

(printed under page 486)

(11) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 869

Multos a recta fide recedere fecerunt. Romanos clericos in errore adhuc detentos hosce, Maximum, Nicostratum, Urbanum, Sidonium, Macarium, Celerinum, et alios, uno Mose presbytero excepto, in suam sententiam per dolos ac fraudes pellexerunt, ut patet ex praedicta epistola. SEVER. BIN.

They made many depart from the right faith. These Roman clerics, still held in error — Maximus, Nicostratus, Urbanus, Sidonius, Macarius, Celerinus and others, the presbyter Moses alone excepted — they lured to their own opinion by guile and fraud, as is clear from the aforesaid letter. SEVERINUS BINIUS.

(printed under page 486)

(12) ‹anchor: neque mors› · call in col 869

Quia neque mors. Haec et sequentia saepe repetiit Mercator in variis pontificum Romanorum epistolis. LABB.

For neither death. These words and what follows Mercator often repeated in various letters of the Roman pontiffs. LABBE.

(printed under page 486)

Page

running head: 869 EPISTOLÆ SUPPOS (cut off at the image edge)
marginal letters: A ‹doctrinae 842 aemulum›; B ‹et denuo, sicut prius›; C ‹ipso est, a recta fide›; D ‹contra cathedram diro schismate› (in the Variorum notae)
old-edition numerals: 842 after ‹doctrinae›

PL 3:870

(Abac. II). Ecce enim judex ante januam assistit (Jacob. V), coronas hilariter promittens his qui pro eo passionibus submittuntur. Quod si subtraxerit se quis, non placebit animae meae (Heb. X), sed cadet de promissione propter negationem. Nos autem non sumus subtractionis filii in perditionem, sed fidei in acquisitionem animae. Propter quod assumite armaturam Dei, ut possitis resistere in die malo, adversus omnes ini⟨m⟩ico⟨s⟩ s⟨a⟩nctae Ecclesiae et vestros, et induite vos loric⟨a⟩m ju⟨s⟩titiae, et calceati pedes in praeparatione Evangelii pacis, in omnibus assumentes scutum fidei, in quo possitis omnia jacula nequissimi ignita exstinguere. Et galeam salutis assumite et gladium Spiritus quod est verbum Dei, per omnem orationem et obsecrationem (Eph. VI), radicati et fundati in solatio fratrum pro Christo Jesu Domino nostro. Sed et nunc, fratres, commendamus vos Domino, et omnes verbo gratiae ejus, qui potest perficere, et dare haereditatem nobis cum omnibus sanctis (Act. XX). Ipse autem Deus pacis et consolationis det vobis idipsum sapere in alterutrum (Rom. XV), ut vobis invicem succurratis, et non sitis divisi, ut †unanimes, uno ore et uno corde honorificetis eum, in concordiam et consolationem fratrum, qui potest confirmare vos secundum Evangelium ejus, juxta revelationem aeterni mysterii, temporibus scilicet perpetuis (Rom. XVI), quibus vobis futurorum gaudiorum largienda sunt munera. Summopere considerare etiam debetis, quod illi qui fratribus invident, eosque damnare atque perdere cupiunt, per se sua dogmata destruunt. Dicit enim Dominus: Omne regnum in se divisum non stabit; et omnis scientia et lex adversum se divisa, non stabit. Ideoque necesse est ut concordialiter salubres suscipiatis hortatus, nihil per contentionem agentes, sed ad omne studium devotionis unanimes, divinis et apostolicis constitutionibus pareatis. Data septimo idus septembris, Decio et Maximo viris clarissimis consulibus.

(Hab. 2). For behold, the Judge stands before the door (Jas. 5), cheerfully promising crowns to those who submit to sufferings for Him. But if anyone withdraws himself, he will not please my soul (Heb. 10), but will fall from the promise on account of his denial. But we are not sons of withdrawal unto perdition, but of faith unto the gaining of the soul. Wherefore take up the armour of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, against all the enemies of the holy Church and your own, and put on the breastplate of justice, and with your feet shod in the preparation of the Gospel of peace, in all things taking up the shield of faith, by which you may be able to quench all the fiery darts of the most wicked one. And take up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, through all prayer and supplication (Eph. 6), rooted and grounded in the comfort of the brethren for Christ Jesus our Lord. And now, brethren, we commend you to the Lord, and all of you to the word of His grace, Who is able to bring to completion, and to give us an inheritance with all the saints (Acts 20). Now may the God of peace and consolation Himself grant you to be of one mind towards one another (Rom. 15), so that you may help one another, and not be divided, so that with one accord, with one mouth and one heart you may honour Him, unto the concord and consolation of the brethren, Who is able to strengthen you according to His Gospel, according to the revelation of the eternal mystery, namely in perpetual times (Rom. 16), in which the gifts of future joys are to be bestowed upon you. You ought also to consider most carefully that those who envy the brethren, and desire to condemn and destroy them, destroy their own doctrines by themselves. For the Lord says: Every kingdom divided against itself shall not stand; and every science and law divided against itself shall not stand. And therefore it is necessary that you receive wholesome exhortations in concord, doing nothing through contention, but with one accord in every zeal of devotion, that you obey the divine and apostolic constitutions. Given on the seventh day before the Ides of September, Decius and Maximus, most illustrious men, being consuls.

Editors' notes and page, col. 870

Footnotes

(13) ‹anchor: consolationis› · call in col 870

Id ms. Solationis.

The same manuscript: "Solationis" (of solace).

(printed under page 486)

(14) ‹anchor: per se› · call in col 870

Id ms. Pro se.

The same manuscript: "Pro se" (for themselves).

(printed under page 486)

(15) ‹anchor: Data septimo› · call in col 870

Octavo Labb.

"Octavo" (on the eighth) in Labbe.

Variorum notae (printed under page 486)

(13) ‹anchor: Decio› · call in col 870

Decio. Anno 250 aut seq. LABB.

Decius. In the year 250 or the following. LABBE.

(printed under page 486)

(14) ‹anchor: viris clarissimis consulibus› · call in col 870

Consulibus. Non sunt in fastis hi consules. LABB.

Consuls. These consuls are not in the Fasti. LABBE.

(printed under page 486)