For which end, that no kind of attention may seem to have been neglected to gain over a brother, we deemed it meet that the aforesaid bishop, before we should proceed to ulterior measures, should be invited to come to us by a most affectionate letter, directed to him by our orders, in which we promised that he should find a kind reception from us, and that he should not be prevented from openly and freely expressing whatever might seem to tend to his advantage. Nor indeed had all hope forsaken us that it might happen that if he brought with him a docile mind, which, according to the apostle's sense, Augustine[1] chiefly required in, a. bishop, when all contention and asperity being kept aloof the principal heads of his doctrines should be simply and candidly proposed to him to be reconsidered, such as might have appeared to have called for greater reprehension than he would readily collect himself, and would not hesitate to explain in a more sound sense whatever was put ambiguously, or openly to reject whatever should present the character at manifest perverseness, and thus, with great credit to his own character, as well as to the very great joy of all good persons,, the tumults which had arisen in the Church might be put a stop to by the most wished for correction, in the most peaceable manner possible.[2]
But now when he, under the pretext of bad health, thought it right not to avail himself of the favour thus offered to him, we can no longer delay the discharge of our apostolic duty. It is not the danger of one or two dioceses only that is in question; the whole church is shaken hy any innovation soever,[3] The decision of the supreme Apostolic See is this long time not only expected, but earnestly called for on all sides by repeated entreaties. Haven forbid that the voice of Peter should ever be silent in that his seat, in which he, perpetually living and presiding, insures to those seeking it the truth of faith. In such cases longer connivance is not safe, because there is almost as much guilt in conniving in such coses as in preaching that which is so contrary to religion.[4] Such a wound, therefore, must be
