Isho'yahb to Babay of Izla

[ed. Isho'yahb of Nineveh, letter 2]

But if the action of virtue, O Father, would triumph in every generation with a fitting glory, it would be an easy task for her, even for those who use the strength of the weak in the fight of war, because that glorification of many [deeds] of valor afforded an increase in the strength of those weakened by their zeal; and the triumph of the victory was of the truth alone, and not of its ministers. But now, with every danger from external enemies, a long time ago also a murmuring was added by those familiar to us; and with these is the infirmity of the human intellect joined in hard times, what has befallen them in general affliction and when the evil of disobedience has invaded many and has now received the fitting end of the saying of the Apostle "In the future people will be selfish" {2 Tim 3:2} and the rest of that sentence and many other things, which have been preached by the Holy Spirit for many generations, are now being completed in fact by the children of disobedience, and it may seem difficult to establish on account of them the prosperity of our faith: What glory, then, will he not possess who, through storms of despair, leads the ship of faith at the helm of his preaching, and fills his city with abundant food from the business of spiritual life?

For when the solicitude of your zeal had conquered the danger of such barbaric storms for many years, O most holy Father, without means you were able to expose all the very satanic deceits of the corporeal demons, for by this name it seems to me that the impious should be called. Even the prince of the air, with his extraordinary nature he had obtained in his creation from the good Creator; yet his impiety toward God acquired this name. For this reason, even the heirs of that rebellion take away from them the inheritance of that name. Such then are the depraved demons, and the enemies of truth, and the stupid and unruly companions of their malice; And as He consumed with the brightness of his flame the stubble, the ungodliness of their daring, without offense, He made a step in the way of truth to those whom He pleases to take pleasure in the light of the glory of Christ's gospel. Out of the midst of the battle against the enemy, from the murmuring of familiar people, and the glory of your zeal at every necessary time, you must be glorified with praise from God: by his grace let him exalt your honor to the comfort of his faithful for many years, amen.