Послание 44. К Сергию, консулу

You, as I learned, are receiving one position after another with the local Caesar, and, moreover, against his will, my beloved and most respected. And I, humble one, do not cease to desire that you become a close friend of the Highest King of all through piety, because it is better to be placed in the most insignificant place in the most distant and last place before the Heavenly King, than in the very first place before the earthly. However, knowing your zealous concern for salvation, I hope that you will not suffer any harm to your soul, but will even receive benefit from this dignity, since there are many ways to achieve benefit. For a poor tributary, not only relief of taxes is enough, but also a favorable look from the collector of the royal money, a gentle voice and friendly speech, not to mention the dissolution of a union of untruth and other benefits that are easy for a boss to do for a subordinate. So, do good to others to whom you have the opportunity to benefit, without forgetting about yourself, my lord, but act as prudent and knowing that after a little time we will depart from this life, taking nothing else with us except our deeds. We will be diligent towards them, we will be enriched by them, for they are for us a means of achieving eternal life and pleasure. Thus I exhort my blood, my desire, truly a branch of the good root of Anna, very honorable and amiable to me and praised by all who know her for her honesty, truly my blessed mother in all respects. You might be interested in: