亚流派历史 21-30章

21. Constantius’ change of mind

康士坦丢改变心意

And now the Emperor Constantius, feeling some compunctions, returned to himself; and concluding from their conduct towards Euphrates, that their attacks upon the others were of the same kind, he gives orders that the Presbyters and Deacons who had been banished from Alexandria into Armenia should immediately be released. He also writes publicly to Alexandria , commanding that the clergy and laity who were friends of Athanasius should suffer no further persecution. And when Gregory died about ten months after, he sends for Athanasius with every mark of honour, writing to him no less than three times a very friendly letter in which he exhorted him to take courage and come. He sends also a Presbyter and a Deacon, that he may be still further encouraged to return; for he thought that, through alarm at what had taken place before, I did not care to return. Moreover he writes to his brother Constans, that he also would exhort me to return. And he affirmed that he had been expecting Athanasius a whole year, and that he would not permit any change to be made, or any ordination to take place, as he was preserving the Churches for Athanasius their Bishop.

如今康士坦丢觉得好像有点内疚,自我反省;他根据他们对于Euphrates的行为做出结论,就是他们攻击他人的方式都是一样的,所以他下来那些被从亚历山大城被放逐到亚美尼亚的主教和执事应当被理解释放。他也写了一封公开信给亚历山大城,下令凡是亚他那修的朋友都不当再遭受任何的逼迫。当贵格利死于十个月后,他赐给亚他那修极大的尊荣,连续三次以非常友善的方式写信给他,在信中他鼓励亚他那修要放胆来拜访他。他也差派了一位主教和一位执事,好进一步鼓励亚他那修的回归;因为他认为,根据以往所收到的警讯,我根本不在乎回不回去。除此以外,他也写信给他的兄弟康士坦,让他也鼓励我回归。他保证他已经等待亚他那修的回归一整年了,他不会再让亚他那修被定罪,或对他下达任何的命令,就像他如何为了众教会的主教亚他那修的缘故,而保守了众教会一样。

22. Athanasius visits Constantius

亚他那修访问康士坦丢

When therefore he wrote in this strain, and encouraged him by means of many (for he caused Polemius, Datianus, Bardion, Thalassus , Taurus , and Florentius, his Counts, in whom Athanasius could best confide, to write also): Athanasius committing the whole matter to God, who had stirred the conscience of Constantius to do this, came with his friends to him; and he gave him a favourable audience , and sent him away to go to his country and his Churches, writing at the same time to the magistrates in the several places, that whereas he had before commanded the ways to be guarded, they should now grant him a free passage. Then when the Bishop complained of the sufferings he had undergone, and of the letters which the Emperor had written against him, and besought him that the false accusations against him might not be revived by his enemies after his departure, saying , ‘If you please, summon these persons; for as far as we are concerned they are at liberty to stand forth, and we will expose their conduct;’ he would not do this, but commanded that whatever had been before slanderously written against him should all be destroyed and obliterated, affirming that he would never again listen to any such accusations, and that his purpose was fixed and unalterable. This he did not simply say, but sealed his words with oaths, calling upon God to be witness of them. And so encouraging him with many other words, and desiring him to be of good courage, he sends the following letters to the Bishops and Magistrates.

故此当他用如此外去的方式写信,用各种手段鼓励亚他那修(他也促使Polemius,Datianus,Bardion,Thalassus,Taurus和Florentius这些亚他那修所最信任的内阁官员写信给亚他那修):亚他那修完全投身于于神的事物,与他的同伴一同拜访康士坦丢,激动了康士坦丢的良心。康士坦丢就花了足够的耐心倾听亚他那修,然后差遣他回到他的国家和教会,同时写信给好几处的治安长官,沿途要保护亚他那修,并让他自由的通行。接着,当主教们抱怨亚他那修所经过的苦难,和皇帝所写的几封反对他的信件的时候,恳求皇帝不要在亚他那修离开后,再让他的敌人诬告他,说:「若您愿意,请召集那些人;让他们自由的站立在我们面前,好让我们暴露他们的行为;」他不愿意这样做,反而下令将原先造谣中伤亚他那修的信件销毁,让大家忘记这些信件,并肯定他再也不会聆听任何那类的控告,好叫他的旨意不会再改变。他不单单这样说,还起誓,让神做见证。进一步用许多的话鼓励亚他那修,希望他能够放胆,并寄了下面这封信给主教和治安官员。康士坦丢奥古斯都,伟大的征服者,写信给大公教会的主教和信徒们。

23. Constantius Augustus, the Great, the Conqueror, to the Bishops and Clergy of the Catholic Church.

康士坦丢奥古斯都,伟大的征服者,写信给大公教会的主教和信徒们。

The most Reverend Athanasius has not been deserted by the grace of God , etc.

最受尊敬的大主教亚他那修,并没有被从神的恩典中被抛弃,等等。

Another Letter.

另一封信。

From Constantius to the people of Alexandria.

康士坦丢致亚历山大的百姓。

Desiring as we do your welfare in all respects , etc.

希望你们在各方面都安康,等等。

Another Letter.

另一封信。

Constantius Augustus, the Conqueror, to Nestorius, Prefect of Egypt.

康士坦丢奥古斯都,征服者,致Nestorius,埃及的治安官。

It is well known that an order was heretofore given by us, and that certain documents are to be found prejudicial to the estimation of the most reverend Bishop Athanasius; and that these exist among the Orders of your worship. Now we desire your Sobriety, of which we have good proof, to transmit to our Court, in compliance with this our order, all the letters respecting the fore-mentioned person, which are found in your Order-book.

大家都知道因着我们的缘故下了一个命令,某些带有偏见的文件也是为了算计最受尊敬的大主教亚他那修:而那些命令都包括在那些关于敬拜您的命令之中。如今我们希望您能够睿智的,将前述的那些人,就是在您的命令中提及的人,移交到我们的法庭中,以配合我们的命令。

24. The following is the letter which he wrote after the death of the blessed Constans. It was written in Latin, and is here translated into Greek.

以下是有福的康士坦死后写给他的信。原文为拉丁文,此处为希腊文翻译。

Constantius Augustus, the Conqueror, to Athanasius.

康士坦丢奥古斯丁,征服者,致亚他那修。

It is not unknown to your Prudence, that it was my constant prayer, that prosperity might attend my late brother Constans in all his undertakings; and your wisdom may therefore imagine how greatly I was afflicted when I learned that he had been taken off by most unhallowed hands. Now whereas there are certain persons who at the present truly mournful time are endeavouring to alarm you, I have therefore thought it right to address this letter to your Constancy, to exhort you that, as becomes a Bishop, you would teach the people those things which pertain to the divine religion, and that, as you are accustomed to do, you would employ your time in prayers together with them, and not give credit to vain rumours, whatever they may be. For our fixed determination is, that you should continue, agreeably to our desire, to perform the office of a Bishop in your own place. May Divine Providence preserve you, most beloved parent, many years.

我并非不知道您的睿智,在我的祷告中,我不断的祷告,在我的兄弟康士坦的作为中满了丰富;你的智慧必能想象,当我了解到他被最为污秽的手所操纵后,我是多么的苦恼。在现今这个令人及其哀痛的时候,仍有人尽力来警告您,因此我认为因您的不屈不挠而写信给您是正确的,好勉励您,作为主教,您应当教导人关于神致信仰的事情,也就是说,因着您的职责,您应当花大量的时间为这些事情祷告,而不要去理会那些虚空的留言,不论流言讲了些什么。因为我们定意,您应当继续根据您所期望的,在您的所在地施行主教的职责。愿神的看护在接下来的年岁中保守您,最亲爱的父。

25. Return of Athanasius from second exile

亚他那修从第二次放逐中归回

Under these circumstances, when they had at length taken their leave, and begun their journey, those who were friendly rejoiced to see a friend; but of the other party, some were confounded at the sight of him; others not having the confidence to appear, hid themselves; and others repented of what they had written against the Bishop. Thus all the Bishops of Palestine , except some two or three, and those men of suspected character, so willingly received Athanasius, and embraced communion with him, that they wrote to excuse themselves, on the ground that in what they had formerly written, they had acted, not according to their own wishes, but by compulsion. Of the Bishops of Egypt and the Libyan provinces, of the laity both of those countries and of Alexandria, it is superfluous for me to speak. They all ran together, and were possessed with unspeakable delight, that they had not only received their friends alive contrary to their hopes; but that they were also delivered from the heretics who were as tyrants and as raging dogs towards them. Accordingly great was their joy , the people in the congregations encouraging one another in virtue. How many unmarried women, who were before ready to enter upon marriage, now remained virgins to Christ! How many young men, seeing the examples of others, embraced the monastic life! How many fathers persuaded their children, and how many were urged by their children, not to be hindered from Christian asceticism! How many wives persuaded their husbands, and how many were persuaded by their husbands, to give themselves to prayer 1 Corinthians 7:5, as the Apostle has spoken! How many widows and how many orphans, who were before hungry and naked, now through the great zeal of the people, were no longer hungry, and went forth clothed! In a word, so great was their emulation in virtue, that you would have thought every family and every house a Church, by reason of the goodness of its inmates, and the prayers which were offered to God. And in the Churches there was a profound and wonderful peace, while the Bishops wrote from all quarters, and received from Athanasius the customary letters of peace.

在这样的环境下,当他们在长途旅行中看见自己的朋友时,是很喜乐的;然而有另一群人,因着他(亚他那修,译者)的眼神而不知所措;另外有些人则躲了起来,根本不敢出面;还有些人则因他们所提供,反对主教的书面材料而忏悔。因此,除了两、三位,和一些品格有问题的人以外,在巴勒斯坦的所有主教,都愿意接纳亚他那修,并拥抱他,他们写信给亚他那修为自己原先书信中表达的立场辩解,他们如此行,不是出于自愿,而是被迫。埃及和利比亚行省的众主教,以及该两处地方和亚历山大的百姓,远超过我所能够陈述。他们带着说不出来的喜悦一同奔跑,他们喜出望外的接待他们的朋友;他们也从那些像疯狗之异端份子的手下被拯救出来了。他们是那么的喜乐,以至于会众彼此用美德彼此激励。许多本来要结婚的女子,如今都自愿成为基督的处子!许多看见榜样的男子,都拥抱了修士的生活!许多的父亲劝勉他们的子女,也有许多父亲被子女所劝勉,加入了禁欲的修行!许多的夫妻彼此劝勉,跟随使徒的教训,以林前7:5为他们的祷告!许多原先是饥寒受苦的寡妇和孤儿,如今因着百姓的热情,不再挨饿,也披上了衣服!简单的说,因着他们是如此争先恐后的追寻美德,因着居民的美德和我们显个神的祷告,使得你会认为每个家庭和每个房子都是一个教会。各教会间也充满着平安,主教们从各处根据教会的习惯写问安信给亚他那修,也从亚他那修收到问安信。

26. Recantation of Ursacius and Valens

URSACIUS与VALENS改变立场

Moreover Ursacius and Valens, as if suffering the scourge of conscience, came to another mind, and wrote to the Bishop himself a friendly and peaceable letter , although they had received no communication from him. And going up to Rome they repented, and confessed that all their proceedings and assertions against him were founded in falsehood and mere calumny. And they not only voluntarily did this, but also anathematized the Arian heresy, and presented a written declaration of their repentance, addressing to the Bishop Julius the following letter in Latin, which has been translated into Greek. The copy was sent to us in Latin by Paul , Bishop of Treveri.

Ursacius和Valens在受到良心的鞭责后,想出了另一个点子,他们亲自写了一封友善与和平的信给主教,即便他们没有收到主教任何的交通。然后他们在罗马假冒伪善,承认他们针对主教的控告与推测都不过是虚假的污蔑。他们不单单自愿这样做,还咒诅了亚流异端,写了一封悔过书给Julius主教。这封拉丁文写的信随后被翻译为希腊文。其拉丁副本由Treveri的主教保罗寄给了我们。

Translation from the Latin.

从拉丁文翻译

Ursacius and Valens to my Lord the most blessed Pope Julius.

Ursavius和Valens致我的主,最被祝福的Julius教皇

Whereas it is well known that we , etc.

故此我们都清楚的知道,等等。。。

Translation from the Latin.

从拉丁文翻译

The Bishops Ursacius and Valens to my Lord and Brother, the Bishop Athanasius.

Ursacius与Valens主教致我的主与兄弟,亚他那修主教

Having an opportunity of sending , etc.

有机会寄给您,等等。。。。

After writing these, they also subscribed the letters of peace which were presented to them by Peter and Irenæus, Presbyters of Athanasius, and by Ammonius a layman, who were passing that way, although Athanasius had sent no communication to them even by these persons.

在写了这些信后,他们又签署了由亚他那修的长老,彼得与爱任纽,和一位平信徒Ammonius写给他们的问安信,虽然亚他那修根本没有经过这些人跟他们有任何的交通。

27. Triumph of Athanasius

亚他那修的胜利

Now who was not filled with admiration at witnessing these things, and the great peace that prevailed in the Churches? Who did not rejoice to see the concord of so many Bishops? Who did not glorify the Lord, beholding the delight of the people in their assemblies? How many enemies repented! How many excused themselves who had formerly accused him falsely! How many who formerly hated him, now showed affection for him! How many of those who had written against him, recanted their assertions? Many also who had sided with the Arians, not through choice but by necessity, came by night and excused themselves. They anathematized the heresy, and besought him to pardon them, because, although through the plots and calumnies of these men they appeared bodily on their side, yet in their hearts they held communion with Athanasius, and were always with him. Believe me, this is true.

28. Second ArianPersecution under Constantius

康士坦丢治下的第二次亚流派逼迫

But the inheritors of the opinions and impiety of Eusebius and his fellows, the eunuch Leontius , who ought not to remain in communion even as a layman , because he mutilated himself that he might henceforward be at liberty to sleep with one Eustolium, who is a wife as far as he is concerned, but is called a virgin; and George and Acacius, and Theodorus, and Narcissus, who are deposed by the Council; when they heard and saw these things, were greatly ashamed. And when they perceived the unanimity and peace that existed between Athanasius and the Bishops (they were more than four hundred , from great Rome, and all Italy, from Calabria, Apulia, Campania, Bruttia, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, and the whole of Africa; and those from Gaul, Britain, and Spain, with the great Confessor Hosius; and also those from Pannonia, Noricum, Siscia, Dalmatia, Dardania, Dacia, Mœsia, Macedonia, Thessaly, and all Achaia, and from Crete, Cyprus, and Lycia, with most of those from Palestine, Isauria, Egypt, the Thebais, the whole of Libya, and Pentapolis); when I say they perceived these things, they were possessed with envy and fear; with envy, on account of the communion of so many together; and with fear, lest those who had been entrapped by them should be brought over by the unanimity of so great a number, and henceforth their heresy should be triumphantly exposed, and everywhere proscribed.

然而优西比乌和他的跟随者之观念与不敬虔的继承人,太监李安迪,不甘心身为平信徒,他威力能够自由的与Eustolium入寝而自阉,这位号称仍是处女的女子对他而言乃是妻子;已经乔治,Acacius,Theosorus,和Narcissus,他们是被大会放逐的人;当他们听见并看见这样的事情,就大大的羞愧。当他们意识到在亚他那修和众主教(他们超过400位,分别来自伟大的罗马和全意大利,从Calabria, Apulia, Campania, Bruttia, 西西里,Sardinia, Corsica和全非洲;已经那些来自高卢,不列颠和西班牙,包括伟大的认信者Hosius;以及那些来自Pannonia, Noricum, Siscia, Dalmatia, Darania, Dacia,Moesia, 马其顿,Thessaly和Achaia全地,以及从克里特,塞卢普斯,和Lycia,以及从巴勒斯坦,Isauria,埃及和Thebais来的大部分主教,以及全部来自利比亚和Pentapolis的主教)间的一致与和平时,当我说他们意识到那些事情时,他们又嫉妒,又恐惧;他们因着这么多主教同有的交通而嫉妒;他们恐惧那些被他们陷害的人被大量的带入和谐一致中,使得他们的异端被以一种胜利的方式曝露,诏告天下。

29. Relapse of Ursacius and Valens

URSACIUS与VALENS旧态复萌

First of all they persuade Ursacius, Valens and their fellows to change sides again, and like dogs to return to their own vomit, and like swine to wallow again in the former mire of their impiety; and they make this excuse for their retractation, that they did it through fear of the most religious Constans. And yet even had there been cause for fear, yet if they had confidence in what they had done, they ought not to have become traitors to their friends. But when there was no cause for fear, and yet they were guilty of a lie, are they not deserving of utter condemnation? For no soldier was present, no Palatine or Notary had been sent, as they now send them, nor yet was the Emperor there, nor had they been invited by any one, when they wrote their recantation. But they voluntarily went up to Rome, and of their own accord recanted and wrote it down in the Church, where there was no fear from without, where the only fear is the fear of God, and where every one has liberty of conscience. And yet although they have a second time become Arians, and then have devised this unseemly excuse for their conduct, they are still without shame.

他们首先逼迫Ursacius与Valens,和他们的跟随者,要他们转变立场,就像狗回头去吃它们呕吐出来的秽物和如猪再次回到他们的不敬虔中打滚一样;他们用这个作为他们的借口,好叫他们因着惧怕最为敬虔的康士坦而做这些市区。然而,他们若肯定他们所做的,就别因着恐惧而出卖他们的朋友。然而当他们不是因为恐惧的缘故做那些事情的时候,难道他们不是犯了说谎的罪,难道他们不应当受到我们最严厉的定罪?当他们写下他们改变的立场时,没有任何的士兵在场,也没有任何的公证人在那里,皇帝也不在那里,没有任何人邀请过他们。然而他们心甘情愿的去了罗马,自愿的在教会中写下了撤回信仰的声明,在那里没有任何的恐惧,唯一的恐惧是对神的敬畏,在那里每个人都有良心的自由。然而,虽然他们机会再次成为亚流派,他们却想出了这种不得体的借口,为自己的行为辩护,他们仍是毫无羞耻的人。

30. Constantius changes sides again

康士坦丢再次改变立场

In the next place they went in a body to the Emperor Constantius, and besought him, saying, ‘When we first made our request to you, we were not believed; for we told you, when you sent for Athanasius, that by inviting him to come forward, you are expelling our heresy. For he has been opposed to it from the very first, and never ceases to anathematize it. He has already written letters against us into all parts of the world, and the majority of men have embraced communion with him; and even of those who seemed to be on our side, some have been gained over by him, and others are likely to be. And we are left alone, so that the fear is, lest the character of our heresy become known, and henceforth both we and you gain the name of heretics. And if this come to pass, you must take care that we be not classed with the Manichæans. Therefore begin again to persecute, and support the heresy, for it accounts you its king.’ Such was the language of their iniquity. And the Emperor, when in his passage through the country on his hasty march against Magnentius , he saw the communion of the Bishops with Athanasius, like one set on fire, suddenly changed his mind, and no longer remembered his oaths, but was alike forgetful of what he had written and regardless of the duty he owed his brother. For in his letters to him, as well as in his interview with Athanasius, he took oaths that he would not act otherwise than as the people should wish, and as should be agreeable to the Bishops. But his zeal for impiety caused him at once to forget all these things. And yet one ought not to wonder that after so many letters and so many oaths Constantius had altered his mind, when we remember that Pharaoh of old, the tyrant of Egypt, after frequently promising and by that means obtaining a remission of his punishments, likewise changed, until he at last perished together with his associates.

他们接下来与康士坦丢皇帝结为一党,乞求他,说,“当我们第一次请求您的时候,您不相信我们;因为我们告诉您,当你差派亚他那修的时候,就是容许他来驱逐我们这些异端。因为他从一开始就抵挡我们的教训,从不停止的咒诅它。他已经写了反对我们的信件,发送到世界的每个角落,大部分的人都热切的拥抱与他的交通,甚至连那些看起来是支持我们的人,都被他争取过去了,还有很多人估计也会被争取过去。现在只剩下我们这些人,所以我们恐惧,除非我们这个异端的特征为众人所认可,否则我们与您都会背负异端之名。若是这样,你就要避免我们被认定是摩尼教徒。所以,你要再度发动逼迫,好支持异端,因为这个异端认定你是它的王。”这就是他们邪恶的话。当皇帝在乡间,向着Magnentius而去的急行军中,看见主教们与亚他那修一同交通的时候,就像一团火,突然改变了他的主意,他不再记得他发过的誓言,好像完全忘记了他所写给他的兄弟,关于他的责任之誓言。因为在他的信中,就像他当面告诉亚他那修的一样,他发誓他不会再有出人意料的行动,也会被主教们所认可。然而他里面不敬虔的渴望使得他立刻忘记了这一切。然而人们也不得不惊叹于,在那么多的信件和誓言后,康士坦丢还能够改变心意,这让我们想起埃及古代的暴君法老,在那么多的应许与被赦免后,也是同样改变了心意,直到他与他的同伴一同灭亡。(指法老和他的军兵一同被红海吞没,译者。)