NPNF2-08. Basil: Letters and Select Works - Holy Bible Institute

Homiletical.rationis intelligentia contemplari: sapientiæ dulcissimis fructibus perfrui præsto est. Tibiomnium cedit animantium genus, quæ per connexa montium vel prærupta rupium aut opacasilvarum feruntur; omne quod vel aquis tegitur, vel præpetibus pennis in aere suspenditur.Omne, inquam, quod hujus mundi est, servitis et subjectioni tuæ liberalis munificentia conditorisindulsit. Nonne tu, sensu tibi rationabili suggerente, diversitates artium reperisti?Nonne tu urbes condere, omnemque earum reliquum usum pernecessarium viventibus invenisti?Nonne tibi per rationem quæ in te est mare pervium fit? Terra, flumina, fontesque tuisvel usibus vel voluptatibus famulantur. Nonne aer hic et cœlum ipsum atque omnes stellarumchori vitæ mortalium ministerio cursus suos atque ordines servant? Quid ergo deficis animo,et deesse tibi aliquid putas, si non tibi equus producitur phaleris exornatus et spumanti orefrena mandens argentea? Sed sol tibi producitur, veloci rapidoque cursu ardentes tibi facescaloris simul ac luminis portans. Non habes aureos et argenteos discos: sed habes lunæ discumpurissimo et blandissimo splendore radiantem. Non ascendis currum, nec rotarum lupsibusveheris, sed habes pedum tuorum vehiculum tecum natum. Quid ergo beatos censes eos quiaurum quidem possisent, alienis autem pedibus indigent, ad necessarios commeatus? Nonrecubas eburneis thoris, sed adjacent fecundi cespites viridantes et herbidi thori, florum varietatemelius quam fucatis coloribus Tyrii muricis picti, in quibus dulces et salubres somninullis curarum morsibus effugantur. Non te contegunt aurata laquearia; sed cœlum te contegitineffabili fulgore stellarum depictum. Hæc quidem quantum ad communem humanitatisattinet vitam. Accipe vero majora. Propter te Deus in hominibus, Spiritus sancti distributio,mortis ablatio, resurrectionis spes. Propter te divina præcepta hominibus delata, quæ te perfectamdoceant vitam, et iter tuum ad Deum per mandatorum tramitem dirigant. Tibipanduntur regna cœlorum, tibi coronæ justitiæ præparantur; si tamen labores et ærumnaspro justitia ferre non refugis.” 579Homily VI., on Luke xii. 18, is on selfish wealth and greed.Beware, says the preacher, 580 lest the fate of the fool of the text be thine. “These thingsare written that we may shun their imitation. Imitate the earth, O man. Bear fruit, as shedoes, lest thou prove inferior to that which is without life. She produces her fruits, not thatshe may enjoy them, but for thy service. Thou dost gather for thyself whatever fruit of goodworks thou hast strewn, because the grace of good works returns to the giver. Thou hastgiven to the poor, and the gift becomes thine own, and comes back with increase. Just asgrain that has fallen on the earth becomes a gain to the sower, so the loaf thrown to thehungry man renders abundant fruit thereafter. Be the end of thy husbandry the beginningof the heavenly sowing. ‘Sow,’ it is written, ‘to yourselves in righteousness.’ 581 Why then579 § 6.580 § 3.581 Hos. x. 12.98