This Letter Too Is a Forgery

Now I ask again: where did my accusers obtain this letter too? I would like to learn from them who put it into their hands. Make them answer. By this you may see that they have forged this one, just as they spread abroad the earlier letter they published against me concerning the ill-named Magnentius. And when they are proved wrong in this case too, on what pretext will they next bring me to make my defense? Their only concern is to throw everything into disorder and confusion, and I see that this is what they spend their zeal on. Perhaps they think that by repeating their charges often they will at last turn you against me. But you ought to turn away from such people and hate them. For as they are themselves, so they imagine those who listen to them to be, and they think their slanders will prevail even before you. Doeg’s accusation prevailed long ago against the priests of God; but it was the unrighteous Saul who listened to him. And Jezebel was able to harm the most devout Naboth by her false accusations; but then it was the wicked and apostate Ahab who listened to her. But the most holy David, whose example it befits you to follow, as everyone prays that you may, does not favor such men; he used to turn away from them and avoid them like raging dogs. He says, “Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I destroy.” For he kept the commandment that says, “You shall not receive a false report.” And false are the reports these men bring before you. You, like Solomon, have asked of the Lord (and you ought to believe that you have obtained your desire) that it might please him to remove far from you vain and lying words. [a]