1. May the Lord
God, in Whom we have put our trust, give to each of you grace
sufficient to enable you to realize your hope, in proportion to the joy
wherewith you have filled my heart, both by the letter which you have
sent me by the hands of the well-beloved fellow-presbyters, and by the
sympathy which you have felt for me in my distress, like men who have
put on bowels of mercy,
Col. iii. 12. as you have been
described to me by the presbyters afore-mentioned. Although my
wounds remain the same, nevertheless it does bring alleviation to me
that I should have leeches at hand, able, should they find an
opportunity, to apply rapid remedies to my hurts. Wherefore in
return I salute you by our beloved friends, and exhort you, if the Lord
puts it into your power to come to me, not to hesitate to visit
me. For part of the greatest commandment is the visitation of the
sick. But if the good God and wise Dispenser of our lives reserves this boon for
another season, at all events write to me whatever it is proper for you
to write for the consolation of the oppressed and the lifting up of
those that are crushed down. Already the Church has suffered many
severe blows, and great has been my affliction at them. Nowhere
is there expectation of succour unless the Lord sends us a remedy by
you who are his true servants.