Nicene and Post-Nicene Church Fathers Series 2 - The Still Small ...

and about Him, according to His Father’s commandment, and became obedient unto death,
even the death of the Cross. And on the third day He rose from the dead, according to the
Scriptures, and was seen by His holy disciples, and the rest, as it is written: And He ascended
into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of His Father, whence He is coming at the end of
this world, to raise all men, and to give to every man according to his conduct. Then the
just shall be taken up into life eternal and the kingdom of heaven, but the sinner shall be
condemned to eternal punishment, where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched:
And in one Holy Ghost, the Comforter, in Whom we were sealed to the day of redemption:
The Spirit of truth, the Spirit of adoption, in Whom we cry, Abba, Father; Who divideth
and worketh the gifts that come of God, to each one for our good, as He will; Who teaches
and calls to remembrance all things that He has heard from the Son; Who is good; Who
guides us into all truth, and confirms all that believe, both in sure knowledge and accurate
confession, and in pious service and spiritual and true worship of God the Father, and of
His only begotten Son our Lord, and of Himself.” 537
(iii) The Moralia (τὰ ἠθικά) is placed in 361, in the earlier days of the Anomœan heresy.
Shortly before this time the extreme Arians began to receive this name, 538 and it is on the
rise of the Anomœans that Basil is moved to write. The work comprises eighty Rules of
Life, expressed in the words of the New Testament, with special reference to the needs of
bishops, priests, and deacons, and of all persons occupied in education.
Penitence consists not only in ceasing to sin, but in expiating sin by tears and mortification.
539 Sins of ignorance are not free from peril of judgment. 540
Sins into which we feel ourselves drawn against our will are the results of sins to which
we have consented. 541 Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost consists in attributing to the
devil the good works which the Spirit of God works in our brethren. 542 We ought carefully
to examine whether the doctrine offered us is conformable to Scripture, and if not, to reject
it. 543 Nothing must be added to the inspired words of God; all that is outside Scripture is
not of faith, but is sin. 544
537 The rest of the clause seems to be rather in the way of explanation and assertion, and here he explains,
as cited before, that the baptismal formula involves the homoousion.
538 Ath., De Syn. § 31, in this series, p. 467.
539 Reg. i.
540 Reg. ix.
541 Reg. xi.
542 Reg. xxxv.
543 Reg. xxviii.
Ascetic.
544 Reg. lxxx. § 22. Fessler (De Pat. Sæc. iv. p. 514) notes the similarity of a Homily, De perfectione vitæ
Monachorum, published under the name of St. Basil in a book published by C. F. Matthæi at Moscow in 1775,
entitled Joannis Xiphilini et Basilii M. aliquot orationes. He describes it as quite unworthy in style of St. Basil.
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lii