The following is taken from Pope John IV (d. 642), Epistola Prima, PL 80:601-2. In context, he is addressing the Pelagians:
EPISTOLA PRIMA.
JOANNIS PAPÆ IV ET CLERI ROMANI, AD EPISCOPOS ET PRESBYTEROS SCOTIÆ.
De Paschate more catholico celebrando, et
reviviscente Pelagiana hæresi diligenter cavenda.
Dilectissimis et sanctissimis
Thomiano, Columbano, Chromano, Dimano et Bathano episcopis, Chromano
Hermannoque, Laustrano, Stellano et Segiano presbyteris, Sarano caeterisque
doctoribus seu abbatibus Scotis, Hilarius archipresbyter, et servans locum sanctae
sedis apostolicae, Joannes diaconus et in Dei nomine electus, item Joannes
primicerius et servans locum sanctae sedis apostolicae, et Joannes servus Dei,
consiliarius ejusdem apostolicae sedis.
Scripta quae perlatores ad sanctae memoriae Severinum papam adduxerunt, eo
de hac luce migrante, reciproca responsa ad ea quae postulata fuerant
siluerunt. Quibus reseratis, ne diu tantae quaestionis caligo indiscussa
remaneret, reperimus quosdam provinciae vestrae contra orthodoxam fidem novam
ex veteri haeresim renovare conantes, Pascha nostrum in quo immolatus est
Christus nebulosa caligine refutantes, et quarta decima luna cum Hebraeis
celebrare nitentes.
Quo epistolae principio manifeste declaratur, et nuperrime temporibus illis
hanc apud eos haeresim exortam, et non totam eorum gentem, sed quosdam ex eis
hac fuisse implicitos. Exposita autem ratione paschalis observantiae, ita de
Pelagianis in eadem epistola subdunt; et hoc quoque cognovimus quod virus
Pelagianae haereseos apud vos denuo reviviscit, quod omnino hortamur ut a
vestris mentibus hujusmodi venenatum superstitionis facinus auferatur.
Nam qualiter ipsa quoque exsecranda haeresis damnata est, latere vos non
debet: quia non solum per istos ducentos annos abolita est, sed et quotidie a
nobis perpetuo anathemate sepulta damnatur: et hortamur ne quorum arma combusta
sunt, apud vos eorum cineres suscitentur.
Nam quis non exsecretur superbum eorum conamen et impium, dicentium posse
sine peccato hominem existere ex propria voluntate, et non ex gratia Dei? Et
primum quidem blasphemia et stultiloquium est dicere esse hominem sine peccato,
quod omnino non potest, nisi unus mediator Dei et hominum homo Christus Jesus,
qui sine peccato est conceptus et partus.
Nam caeteri homines cum peccato originali nascentes, testimonium
praevaricationis Adae (etiam sine peccato actuali existentes) portare
noscuntur, secundum prophetam dicentem: Ecce enim in iniquitatibus conceptus
sum, et in peccatis concepit me mater mea (Psal. L.).
FIRST EPISTLE.
OF POPE JOHN IV AND THE ROMAN CLERGY, TO THE BISHOPS AND PRESBYTERS OF
SCOTLAND.
On celebrating Easter according to Catholic custom, and
diligently guarding against the resurgent Pelagian heresy.
To the most beloved and most holy Thomianus,
Columbanus, Cromanus, Dima(n)us, and Baithanus, bishops; to Cromanus,
Hermannus, Laustranus, Stellanus, and Segianus, presbyters; to Saranus and the
other teachers or abbots of the Scots:
Hilarius, archpresbyter and holding the place of the
Apostolic See; John, deacon and elected in the name of God; likewise John,
primicerius and holding the place of the Apostolic See; and John, servant of
God and counsellor of that same Apostolic See.
The writings which the bearers had brought to Pope
Severinus, of holy memory, remained without a reciprocal reply to the things
that had been requested, since he had departed from this life. When these
matters had been disclosed, lest the darkness surrounding so great a question
remain for a long time without investigation, we discovered that certain people
in your province were attempting to revive, against the orthodox faith, a new
heresy from an old one, rejecting our Pasch, in which Christ was sacrificed,
under a cloud of darkness, and striving to celebrate with the Jews on the
fourteenth day of the moon.
The opening of the letter clearly declares both that
this heresy had arisen among them only recently in those times, and that not
their entire people, but only some of them, had become involved in it. Having
set forth the rationale of the observance of Easter, they then add the
following concerning the Pelagians in that same letter: We have also learned
this, that the poison of the Pelagian heresy is again reviving among you; and
we earnestly urge that such a poisonous crime of superstition be removed from
your minds.
For you ought not to be ignorant of how that accursed
heresy also was condemned: for it has not merely been abolished for these two
hundred years, but is also daily condemned and buried by us under a perpetual
anathema. And we exhort you not to raise up among you the ashes of those whose
weapons have been burned.
For who would not reject with abhorrence their proud
and impious attempt, when they say that a human being can exist without sin by
his own will, and not by the grace of God? Indeed, it is first of all blasphemy
and foolish talk to say that a human being can be without sin—which is utterly
impossible except for the one mediator of God and human beings, the man Christ
Jesus, who was conceived and born without sin.
For all other human beings, being born with original
sin, are understood to bear the testimony of Adam's transgression—even when
they are without actual sin—according to the prophet who says: “For behold, I
was conceived in iniquities, and in sins my mother conceived me.” (Psalm 50
[51]:5)
