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

To a fallen virgin.death: how would he feel on seeing such an outrage wreaked on the marriage chamber ofthe Lord?2. You have flung away the yoke of that divine union; you have fled from the undefiledchamber of the true King; you have shamefully fallen into this disgraceful and impiouscorruption; and now that you cannot avoid this painful charge, and have no means or deviceto conceal your trouble, you rush into insolence. The wicked man after falling into a pit ofiniquity always begins to despise, and you are denying your actual covenant with the truebridegroom; you say that you are not a virgin, and made no promise, although you haveundertaken and publicly professed many pledges of virginity. Remember the good professionwhich you witnessed 2118 before God, angels, and men. Remember the hallowed intercourse,the sacred company of virgins, the assembly of the Lord, the Church of the holy. Rememberyour grandmother, grown old in Christ, still youthful and vigorous in virtue; and yourmother vying with her in the Lord, and striving to break with ordinary life in strange andunwonted toils; remember your sister, who copies their doings, nay, endeavours to surpassthem, and goes beyond the good deeds of her fathers in her virgin graces, and earnestlychallenges by word and deed you her sister, as she thinks, to like efforts, while she earnestlyprays that your virginity be preserved. 2119 All these call to mind, and your holy service ofGod with them, your life spiritual, though in the flesh; your conversation heavenly, thoughon earth. Remember days of calm, nights lighted up, spiritual songs, sweet music of psalms,saintly prayers, a bed pure and undefiled, procession of virgins, and moderate fare. 2120What has become of your grave appearance, your gracious demeanour, your plain dress,meet for a virgin, the beautiful blush of modesty, the comely and bright pallor due to temperanceand vigils, shining fairer than any brilliance of complexion? How often have younot prayed, perhaps with tears, that you might preserve your virginity without spot! Howoften have you not written to the holy men, imploring them to offer up prayers in your behalf,not that it should be your lot to marry, still less to be involved in this shameful corruption,but that you should not fall away from the Lord Jesus? How often have you received giftsfrom the Bridegroom? Why enumerate the honours given you for His sake by them thatare His? Why tell of your fellowship with virgins, your progress with them, your beinggreeted by them with praises on account of virginity, eulogies of virgins, letters written asto a virgin? Now, nevertheless, at a little blast from the spirit of the air, “that now workethin the children of disobedience,” 2121 you have abjured all these; you have changed the1502118 cf. 1 Tim. vi. 12.2119 These words occur in the mss. after “moderate fare,” below, where they make no sense. The Ben. Ed.conjectures that they may belong here.2120 Vide note above.2121 Eph. ii. 2.450