Letter to Urban the Prefect

The highest good is to love those who love oneself; and on the contrary, there is no worse evil than that citizens should envy their fellow citizens. We give thanks indeed to your charity, because you receive and assist the faithful of Saint Peter well. Wherefore know that you are loved by us and by ours, and that we have no small care for you and yours. For this reason we exhort your love not to delay in always fulfilling the good which you have begun, because it is not the beginning but the end that is praised. We also exhort you to love and search out wisdom, so that you may dispose and judge with reason and wisdom those things which have been entrusted to you, as the Lord says through the prophet: Be instructed, you who judge the earth. Fear God therefore, and keep his commandments. And love him with all your inward parts, and your neighbour as yourself. The most high God created wisdom in the Holy Spirit, and he saw, and numbered, and measured it.

And he poured it out upon all his works, and upon all flesh; he gave it as his gift to those who love him. The fear of the Lord is glory, and gladness, and a crown of exultation. The fear of the Lord will delight the heart, and will give joy and gladness and length of days; to him who fears God it will be well in the last things, and in the day of his death he shall be blessed. The love of God is honourable wisdom. But to those to whom it has appeared in vision, they love him in vision, and in the knowledge of his great works. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. And it was created together with the faithful in the womb, and it walks with chosen women, and it is known among the just and faithful. The fear of the Lord is the religion of knowledge. Religion will guard and justify the heart, and will give cheerfulness and joy.

To him who fears God it will be well, and in the days of his consummation he shall be blessed. The fullness of wisdom is to fear God, and the fullness of her fruits. The crown of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, filling up peace and the fruit of salvation; and he saw and numbered it. But both are gifts of God, knowledge and understanding. Wisdom will be shared with prudence, and exalts the glory of those who hold her. The root of wisdom is to fear God; for her branches are long-lived. In the treasures of wisdom are understanding and knowledge of religion; but abomination to sinners is wisdom. The fear of the Lord drives away sin; for he who is without fear cannot be justified. For the wrath of his indignation is his ruin. The patient man will endure until a time, and afterwards a return of gladness. A man of good understanding will hide his words until a time, and the lips of many will declare his understanding.

In the treasures of wisdom is the sign of discipline; but abomination to the sinner is the worship of God. Son, desiring wisdom, keep justice, and God will provide it for you; for wisdom and discipline are the fear of the Lord, and what is pleasing to him is faith and meekness, and he will fill his treasuries. Be not stubborn, and unbelieving toward the fear of the Lord, and do not approach him with a double heart. Be not a hypocrite in the sight of men, and be not scandalized by your own lips. Take heed to them, lest perhaps you fall, and bring a stumbling-block upon your soul, and bring dishonour upon yourself, and God reveal your hidden things. For faith, brother, and for justice, and for the salvation of your soul, strive always, and for the help of your brethren act manfully, that you may receive recompense from the Lord. For it is written: Son, preserve the time, and keep yourself from evil. For your soul be not ashamed to speak the truth.

For there is a shame that brings sin, and there is a shame that brings glory and grace. Do not accept a face against your own face, nor a lie against your own soul. Do not reverence your neighbour in his fall, nor hold back a word in the time of salvation. Do not hide your wisdom in its beauty. For in the tongue wisdom is known, and understanding, and knowledge, and doctrine in words of truth, and firmness in works of justice. Contradict not the truth in any way, and be confounded by the lie of your ignorance. Be not ashamed to confess your sins, and do not subject yourself to a man for sin. Do not resist against the face of the powerful, nor strive against the stroke of a river. Strive for justice for your soul, and contend even unto death for justice, and God will fight against your enemies for you, and will overthrow them manfully. Be not hasty in your tongue, and be not unprofitable and slack in your works.

Be not like a lion in your house, overthrowing your household and oppressing those subject to you. Let not your hand be stretched out to receive, and closed when it comes to giving. Supported by these authorities of the Scriptures, be always upright in this way, and turn not aside from the path of truth, so that you may always acquire the grace of God and always enjoy the friendship of good men; and let your mind depart from love of this age all the more easily, the more it is also urged on while it is called. For we both desire to see you present, and when absent we long to converse with you, at least by letter. Wherefore we pray that the blessed Peter, prince of the apostles, may lead you happily to his threshold, so that in the grace of the Almighty we may be found worthy to enjoy your presence. Given on the fourth day before the nones of February, in the consulship of the most illustrious men Aurelianus and Bassus.