To Count Sporacius

To Count Sporacius. [a] I am delighted with your excellency’s letter. My pleasure has been increased by the very religious presbyter and monk Iamblichus, who has told me of your warm zeal, your earnestness in religion, and your genuine goodwill toward me. Hearing of this, and of the efforts of the glorious and pious lord Patricius on my behalf, I give you the apostolic blessing that the blessed Onesiphorus received from that holy tongue: “The Lord give mercy to your house, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain,” and, “The Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day.” This I pray for you, even though the enemies of the truth bring still greater miseries on me, as they suppose, for we have been taught to regard men’s purpose. But be sure of this: with true religion, death is very sweet to me, and so is exile to the ends of the earth. Still, we are distressed at the storm over the churches, which the Lord of all is mighty to scatter. [b]