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52 ISI l()<Y/\l IB ill ()!•’ADIABl'NIi

perhaps78 were despised by the rulers, as befitted their rebellion;
and since they themselves do not yet perceive their alienation from
the life of God, we are compelled to mourn over (hem more
bitterly than over the Mazunayc;79 and again by the spiritual law,
which requires of us a fatherly concern towards them, we arc
compelled to protect you from evil communion with those who
have acted wickedly and have been cast out of the Church of God,
and to join you with us in a unity of soul and a bond of peace, that
(you may receive) the inheritance of eternal life through our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Ruler of our lives and the Lord of our glory, our
God (who is) worshiped.80
For this reason, know, beloved brothers, that that punishment
which they, the madmen,81 visited upon themselves in their
separation from the Church of God, through an imprudence82 like
that of Judas, has been approved by us all, through a prudence83
like that of the Apostles and of our Lord himself. For neither was it
fitting or possible for us to be more merciful, that is wiser than the
holy Apostles or the Lord himself; but rather, by their example, we
cast out from the communion of die Church those who like Judas
had hung themselves from the communion of the Church of God.
And we have confirmed the seal against them, with justice and by
the power of the priesdiood, (taking from them) the title and
honour of the episcopate, whose title they have up till now
assumed,81 and also (withdrawing them) from participation in the
sacred mysteries, until we have imposed on them the penance and,
recognizing the truth and coming to themselves,85 they free
themselves from the snare of Satan, by which they have been
caught to (perform) his will.

78
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82 U
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85