I am overcome by grief that the Church of the Lord, which is among you, has still no Bishop, and alone in all the regions of Liguria and Aemilia, of Venetia and the adjacent parts of Italy, stands in need of those ministrations which other Churches were wont to ask at her hands, and, what causes me still more shame, the contention which causes this delay is ascribed to me. For as long as there are dissensions among you, how can either we determine anything, or you make your election, or any man accept the election, so as to undertake among men who are at variance an office difficult to bear the weight of, even among those that agree?

If the Lord has said, “If two of you shall agree as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven: For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in, the midst of them;” how much less, when many are assembled in the name of the Lord, where all agree together in their petitions, how much less ought we in any wise to doubt that there the Lord Jesus will be present to inspire their will and grant their petition, to preside over the ordination and confer the grace?

Make yourselves therefore worthy that Christ should stand in the midst of you; for wheresoever is peace there is Christ, for Christ is “Peace;” wheresoever is righteousness there is Christ, for Christ is “Righteousness.” Let Him stand in the midst of you, that you may see Him, that it be not said to you also, “There standeth One among you, Whom ye know not.” The Jews saw Him not, for they believed not on Him; we behold Him by devotion, and see Him by faith.

Let Him therefore stand in the midst of you, that you may have the “heavens” which “declare the glory of God,” opened to you; that you may do His will and work His works. The heavens are opened to him who sees Jesus, as they were opened to Stephen, when he said, “Behold I see the heavens opened, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” Jesus stood as an intercessor, He stood, as being eager to assist His soldier Stephen in his combat; He stood as being prepared to crown His martyr.

Let Him therefore stand in the midst of you, that you may not fear Him when seated on His throne, for seated thereon He will judge, according to the saying of Daniel, “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the books were opened, and the Ancient of days did sit.” And in the 82nd Psalm it is written, “God standeth in the congregation of princes, He decideth among gods.” So then being seated He judges, standing He decides. He judges concerning them that are not perfected, He decides among the gods. Let Him stand for you as a Defender, as the good Shepherd, that cruel wolves may not attack you. — To the church of Vercellae, paragraphs 1,3-6.