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

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

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Proof of the absurdity of the refusal to glorify the Spirit, from the comparison of thingsglorified in creation.Chapter XXIV.Proof of the absurdity of the refusal to glorify the Spirit, from the comparison of things glorifiedin creation.55. Furthermore man is “crowned with glory <strong>and</strong> honour,” 1188 <strong>and</strong> “glory, honour <strong>and</strong>peace” are laid up by promise “to every man that worketh good.” 1189 There is moreover aspecial <strong>and</strong> peculiar glory for Israelites “to whom,” it is said “pertaineth the adoption <strong>and</strong>the glory…<strong>and</strong> the service,” 1190 <strong>and</strong> the Psalmist speaks of a certain glory of his own, “thatmy glory may sing praise to Thee 1191 ;” <strong>and</strong> again “Awake up my glory” 1192 <strong>and</strong> accordingto the Apostle there is a certain glory of sun <strong>and</strong> moon <strong>and</strong> stars, 1193 <strong>and</strong> “the ministrationof condemnation is glorious.” 1194 While then so many things are glorified, do you wish theSpirit alone of all things to be unglorified? Yet the Apostle says “the ministration of theSpirit is glorious.” 1195 How then can He Himself be unworthy of glory? How accordingto the Psalmist can the glory of the just man be great 1196 <strong>and</strong> according to you the glory ofthe Spirit none? How is there not a plain peril from such arguments of our bringing onourselves the sin from which there is no escape? If the man who is being saved by works ofrighteousness glorifies even them that fear the Lord 1197 much less would he deprive theSpirit of the glory which is His due.Grant, they say, that He is to be glorified, but not with the Father <strong>and</strong> the Son. But whatreason is there in giving up the place appointed by the Lord for the Spirit, <strong>and</strong> inventingsome other? What reason is there for robbing of His share of glory Him Who is everywhereassociated with the Godhead; in the confession of the Faith, in the baptism of redemption,in the working of miracles, in the indwelling of the saints, in the graces bestowed on obedience?For there is not even one single gift which reaches creation without the <strong>Holy</strong> Ghost; 1198when not even a single word can be spoken in defence of Christ except by them that areaided by the Spirit, as we have learnt in the Gospels from our Lord <strong>and</strong> Saviour. 1199 And I1188 Ps. viii. 5.1189 Rom. ii. 10.1190 Rom. ix. 4.1191 Ps. xxix. 12.1192 Ps. lvii. 8.1193 cf. 1 Cor. xv. 41.1194 2 Cor. iii. 9.1195 2 Cor. iii. 8.1196 cf. Ps. xxi. 5.1197 cf. Ps. xv.1198 cf. Matt. xxviii. 19; 1 Cor. xii. 11; Rom. viii. 11; 1 Pet. i. 2.1199 Matt. x. 19, 20.217

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