Letter 22: To Mar Yazdegard

Letter 22: To the Honored, the Chosen, and the Beloved of God, Mar Yazdegard, from Ishoʿyahb, in the Lord, greeting. Upon the mouth of the example of excellent deeds, I received the arrival of your letter, O beloved of God. And when, with the beauty of a little of the village, it was snatched away to a distance, I hastened as if in a dream, until at the divine sanctuary in the field of seeds I settled, with the help of God. And after the lamentation of the multitude of nations, I turned to the place of my dwelling. And immediately, before the agitation concerning those who are in distress, I applied myself to the reading of your letter. And to the vision therein concerning the soul and its movements, and the body and its customs, I praised, even to the measure of the demonstration. Concerning its swiftness, however, towards the balanced fullness, I considered as if it were fitting. Concerning the connection, as if with truth, towards a foreign likeness it was being destroyed. And to you, O beloved of wisdom, towards me, as towards another, you were able to offer, not cautiously, the gift of vanity for praise. For the weak of wisdom, if thus it seemed to you, now clarity alone of the remnant is beautiful of race, with the hunt of the beloved of wisdom. For thus, in truth, truly you will be delighted by the excellent good, with which, towards a weak head, you were shown in beauty of soul. Apart from that, however, thus I received with joy the worship of your humility, O beloved of wisdom. And I confess that you have well preceded in the cause of excellence. And yours now is the primacy, in that when the spiritual law, the completion of excellence, settles. For my part, apart from the priority in the cause, the remainder is in all things. Yet I was troubled by the distraction towards my mind, in those things which, angrily, you were occupied with a little of the weak. I also brought these things to myself weakly: the apologies of glory that are revealed.

but to you, O lover of wisdom, the love of goodness has increased you, so that you are little astonished by what is heard, and greatly by the abundance of love in the labors of such as these. For the sake of a weak head, it was poured out—that which is much more than its own limit is surpassed. As for me, however, when I am well, I am among those for whom I am considered foreign by others. I thank God for myself, that I am wretched and enslaved to sufferings. As for yourself, beloved of God, that you are thus devoted to goodness, may the Lord give you true hope through his mercies. For if it so happens, it will not be a shame for me, nor will goodness be hindered, nor will hope be disturbed, nor will love be changed, nor will election be falsified, nor will joy be taken away. But everything is for the glory of God—that which, for the soul, as is fitting, has been shown with you. For this body, thus: with the strength of wonder it has encompassed and pressed. That which, for the hidden beauty of eloquence, has made it perceptible, and has given many good things to the senses: with new goodness it has given to make wise. That which, for this perceptible garment, with extended power has striven for hiddenness. That which is in all and for all, and for the unity of the power of creation has given to knowledge and to wonder. That which never ceased in itself, without witness, as it is fitting to be astonished at its goodness from the error of false likeness. That which, in vision from before and in voice from after, and in word at the time, in the depth of its apostolic power of knowledge, finally all in true and perfect embodiment, has chosen to preserve the goodness in it without end. That which, for the multitude of distinctions of virtue, has pressed and named love for one high and excellent head. That which, through this, has now raised you above my insignificance, and has sent forth in a letter the primacy of approaching intimacy. That which, for me, a second order, has given to the seal of your peace to be preserved through the medium of a tablet.

the hidden power, by whose love the beginning of the partnership in the upbringing of his spiritual custom was completed for the glory of his holy name. And he, by his wisdom, completes the weakness in every good deed to do his will; all the days of his life are peaceful. Give the greeting of my lowliness to those whom you wish. Especially, then, to those who are pleasing to my Lord. And particularly, then, to those whose greeting you specified to me in your letter. And the greeting of God, who is greater than all knowledge, preserve your hearts, that they may not be negligent until the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Finished.