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

Homiletical.nothing to divide nor to cut asunder the eternal conjunction. No age intervenes, nor yetcan our soul entertain a thought of separation as though the Only-begotten were not everwith the Father, or the Holy Ghost not co-existent with the Son. Whenever then we conjointhe Trinity, be careful not to imagine the Three as parts of one undivided thing, but receivethe idea of the undivided and common essence of three perfect incorporeal [existences].Wherever is the presence of the Holy Spirit, there is the indwelling of Christ: whereverChrist is, there the Father is present. ‘Know ye not that your body is the temple of the HolyGhost which is in you ?’” 621First of the Homilies on moral topics come I. and II. on Fasting. The former is of uncontestedgenuineness. Erasmus rejected the latter, but it is accepted without hesitation byGarnier, Maran, and Ceillier, and is said by the last named to be quoted as Basil’s by Johnof Damascus and Symeon Logothetes. From Homily I. two passages are cited by St. Augustineagainst the Pelagians. 622 The text is Ps. lxxx. 3. “Reverence,” says one passage, 623 “the hoaryhead of fasting. It is coæval with mankind. Fasting was ordained in Paradise. The first injunctionwas delivered to Adam, ‘Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil thou shaltnot eat.’ 624 ‘Thou shalt not eat’ is a law of fasting and abstinence.” The general argumentis rather against excess than in support of ceremonial abstinence. In Paradise there was nowine, no butchery of beasts, no eating of flesh. Wine came in after the flood. Noah becamedrunk because wine was new to him. So fasting is older than drunkenness. Esau was defiled,and made his brother’s slave, for the sake of a single meal. It was fasting and prayer whichgave Samuel to Hannah. Fasting brought forth Samson. Fasting begets prophets, strengthensstrong men. Fasting makes lawgivers wise, is the soul’s safeguard, the body’s trusty comrade,the armour of the champion, the training of the athlete.The conclusion is a warning against mere carnal abstinence. 625 “Beware of limiting thegood of fasting to mere abstinence from meats. Real fasting is alienation from evil. ‘Loosethe bands of wickedness.’ 626 Forgive your neighbour the mischief he has done you. Forgivehim his trespasses against you. Do not ‘fast for strife and debate.’ 627 You do not devourflesh, but you devour your brother. You abstain from wine, but you indulge in outrages.You wait for evening before you take food, but you spend the day in the law courts. Wo tothose who are ‘drunken, but not with wine.’ 628 Anger is the intoxication of the soul, and621 1 Cor. vi. 19.622 August. in Julian. i. 18.623 § 3.624 Gen. iii. 17.625 § 10.626 Is. lviii. 6.627 Is. lviii. 4.628 Is. li. 21.107