To Uranius Again

Your letter was a long one and a pleasant one, and it shows how warm and genuine your affection is. I am so delighted with it that I am not at all sorry for having guessed wrongly at the meaning of the opening of your earlier letter. For my mistake about what your letter intended has brought your brotherly love to light, made plain the sincerity of your faith, and shown your zeal for the true religion. We have indeed divided the prophet’s words and trials between us. Your holiness has used his words. I am battered by the hurricane and the waves, and against the rowers of the ship I cry out in his words, “Those who pay regard to lying vanities forsake their own mercy.” Perhaps he who is Jonah’s Lord and mine will grant that I too may rise and be set free from the sea monster. But if the surge goes on boiling, I trust that even so I will enjoy God’s protection, and learn by my own experience how his strength is “made perfect in weakness,” for he has measured the danger by my frailty. The divine prophet I have mentioned was thrown into the sea by every one of his shipmates, but I am granted the comfort of your holiness and of other godly men. For them and for your godliness I pray that the blessing given to the excellent Onesiphorus may be yours, for you have not been ashamed of the insults heaped on me. On the contrary, you have shared in my afflictions for the faith’s sake. [a]

There is one thing I want you to know. Other godly bishops have sent me gifts, and I have declined to accept them. This was not from any lack of respect for the senders, God forbid. It was because until now the food I need has been provided by him who gives it even to the ravens, without stint. With your reverence I have acted differently, for the warmth of your affection has really overcome what has until now been my fixed rule. For you may be quite sure, my godly friend, that ever since our friendship began, the fire of our love has been burning ever hotter. [d]