Letter 295

To the same person. Christ, the God and Master of all things, in the Gospels clearly and expressly calls to himself those who are weighed down by every kind of wickedness, crying out: "Come to me, and I will give you rest." [Matthew 11:28] For he affirmed that this was the very cause of his descent from heaven, saying: "I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." [Matthew 9:13] And: "Those who are healthy have no need of a physician, but those who are sick." [Matthew 9:12] If, then, these things are so, do not despair in any way; rather, be strengthened by the more hopeful expectations.

Χριστὸς ὁ Θεὸς καὶ Δεσπότης τῶν ὅλων, σαφῶς καὶ διαῤῥήδην ἐν τοῖς Εὐαγγελίοις ἀνακαλεῖ τοὺς ἀπὸ παντοίας κακίας βεβαρημένους· «Δεῦτε πρός με, κραυγάζων, κἀγὼ ἀναπαύσω ὑμᾶς.» Τοῦτο γὰρ αὐτῷ καὶ τῆς ἐξ οὐρανοῦ καθόδου τὸ αἴτιον γεγενῆσθαι διεβεβαιώσατο· «Οὐ γὰρ ἦλθον δικαίους καλέσαι, φησὶν, ἀλλὰ ἁμαρτωλοὺς πρὸς τὸ μετανοῆσαι.» Καὶ, «Οἱ ἰσχύοντες οὐ χρήζουσιν ἰατροῦ, ἀλλ' οἱ κακῶς ἔχοντες.» Εἰ τοίνυν ταὐθ' οὕτως ἔχει, μηδαμῶς ἀπογίνωσκε, μᾶλλον δὲ ῥώννυσο ταῖς χρηστοτέραις ἐλπίσιν.