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

To Bishop Bosporius. 2176
Letter LI. 2175
How do you think my heart was pained at hearing of the slanders heaped on me by
some of those that feel no fear of the Judge, who “shall destroy them that speak leasing”? 2177
I spent nearly the whole night sleepless, thinking of your words of love; so did grief lay hold
upon my heart of hearts. For verily, in the words of Solomon, slander humbleth a man. 2178
And no man is so void of feeling as not to be touched at heart, and bowed down to the
ground, if he falls in with lips prone to lying. But we must needs put up with all things and
endure all things, after committing our vindication to the Lord. He will not despise us; for
“he that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker.” 2179 They, however, who have patched
up this new tragedy of blasphemy seem to have lost all belief in the Lord, Who has declared
that we must give account at the day of judgment even for an idle word. 2180 And I, tell me,
I anathematized the right blessed Dianius? For this is what they have said against me.
Where? When? In whose presence? On what pretext? In mere spoken words, or in writing?
Following others, or myself the author and originator of the deed? Alas for the impudence
of men who make no difficulty at saying anything! Alas for their contempt of the judgment
of God! Unless, indeed, they add this further to their fiction, that they make me out to have
been once upon a time so far out of my mind as not to know what I was saying. For so long
as I have been in my senses I know that I never did anything of the kind, or had the least
wish to do so. What I am, indeed, conscious of is this; that from my earliest childhood I
was brought up in love for him, thought as I gazed at him how venerable he looked, how
dignified, how truly reverend. Then when I grew older I began to know him by the good
qualities of his soul, and took delight in his society, gradually learning to perceive the simplicity,
nobility, and liberality of his character, and all his most distinctive qualities, his
gentleness of soul, his mingled magnanimity and meekness, the seemliness of his conduct,
his control of temper, the beaming cheerfulness and affability which he combined with
2175 Placed at the beginning of Basil’s episcopate, c. 370.
2176 Bosporius, an intimate friend of Basil and of Gregory of Nazianzus, was bishop of Colonia, in Cappadocia
Secunda. Basil left Cæsarea in 360 in distress at hearing that Dianius had subscribed the creed of Ariminum,
but was hurt at the charge that he had anathematized his friend and bishop. Dianius died in Basil’s arms in 362.
2177 Ps. v. 6.
2178 συκοφαντία ἄνδρα ταπεινοῖ, for Eccles. vii. 7, LXX. συκοφαντία περιδέρει σοφόν: oppression maketh
a wise man mad, A.V.; extortion maketh a wise man foolish, R.V.
2179 Prov. xiv. 31.
2180 Matt. xii. 36.
To Bishop Bosporius.
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