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

has he not done? What ill considered and dangerous argument has he not risked? Is not
all the Church divided against herself, specially since the day when men have been sent by
him to the Churches governed by orthodox bishops, to rend them asunder and to set up
some peculiar and illegal service? Is not ridicule brought upon the great mystery of true
religion when bishops go about without people and clergy, having nothing but the mere
name and title, and effecting nothing for the advancement of the Gospel of peace and salvation?
Are not his discourses about God full of impious doctrines, the old impiety of the insane
Sabellius being now renewed by him in his writings? For if the works which are current
among the Sebastenes are not the forgery of foes, and are really his composition, he has
reached a height of impiety which cannot be surpassed, in saying that Father, Son, and
Spirit are the same, and other dark pieces of irreverence which I have declined even to hear,
praying that I may have nothing to do with those who have uttered them. Does he not
confuse the doctrine of the incarnation? Has not the œconomy of salvation been made
doubtful to the many on account of his dark and cloudy speculations about it? To collect
them all, and refute them, requires long time and much discussion. But where have the
promises of the Gospel been blunted and destroyed as by his figments? So meanly and
poorly has he dared to explain the blessed hope laid up for all who live according to the
Gospel of Christ, as to reduce it to mere old wives’ fables and doctrines of Jews. He proclaims
the renewal of the Temple, the observance of the worship of the Law, a typical high priest
over again after the real High Priest, and a sacrifice for sins after the Lamb of God Who
taketh away the sin of the world. 3201 He preaches partial baptisms after the one baptism,
and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the Church which, through its faith in Christ, has not
spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; 3202 cleansing of leprosy after the painless state of the
resurrection; an offering of jealousy 3203 when they neither marry nor are given in marriage;
shew-bread after the Bread from heaven; burning lamps after the true Light. In a word, if
the law of the Commandments has been done away with by dogmas, it is plain that under
these circumstances the dogmas of Christ will be nullified by the injunctions of the law. 3204
At these things shame and disgrace have covered my face, 3205 and heavy grief hath filled
my heart. Wherefore, I beseech you, as skilful physicians, and instructed how to discipline
antagonists with gentleness, to try and bring him back to the right order of the Church, and
to persuade him to despise the wordiness of his own works; for he has proved the truth of
3201 John i. 29.
3202 Eph. v. 27.
3203 cf. Num. v. 15.
3204 This passage shews in what sense St. Basil understands δόγματα in Eph. ii. 15, and Col. ii. 14. cf. note
on p. 41.
3205 cf. Ps. lxiv. 7.
To Eulogius, Alexander, and Harpocration, bishops of Egypt, in exile.
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