Section 299
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268 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. called his grandchild to him, and said, " 0 son, how long do you detain me? I beseech you hasten, and quickly absolve me, Call one of the presbyters to me. Saying this, he again became speechless. The boy ran to the presbyter. But it was night and the presbyter was sick. As I had, however, before issued an injunction, that those at the point of death, if they desired it and especially if they entreated for it before, should receive abso lution, that they might depart from life in comfortable hope, 1 gave the boy a small portion of the eucharist, telling him to dip it in water, and to drop it into the mouth of the old man. The boy returned with the morsel. When he came near, before he en tered, Serapion having again recovered himself, said, Thou hast come, my son, but the presbyter could not come. But do thou quickly perform what thou art commanded, and dismiss me.' The boy moistened it, and at the same time dropped it into the old man's mouth. And he, having swallowed a little, immediately expired. Was he not, then, evidently preserved, and did he not continue living until he was absolved ; and his sins being wiped away, he could be acknowledged as a believer for the many good acts that he had done ?" Thus far Dionysius. CHAPTER XLV. The epistle of Dionysius to Novatus. LET us also see what kind of epistle the same writer addressed to Novatus, who was then disturbing the brethren at Rome; since he pretended that certain brethren were the cause of his apostacy and schism, because he had been forced by them to proceed thus far. Observe the manner in which he writes to him : " Dionysius sends greeting to his brother Novatus. If, as you say, you were forced against your will, you will show it by retiring voluntarily. For it was a duty to suffer any thing at all, so as not to afflict the church of God; and, indeed, it would not be more inglorious to suffer even martyrdom for its sake, than to