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

To a fallen virgin.came forth before Him; thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand timesten thousand stood before Him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened,” 2148clearly disclosing in the hearing of all, angels and men, things good and evil, things doneopenly and in secret, deeds, words, and thoughts all at once. What then must those menbe who have lived wicked lives? Where then shall that soul hide which in the sight of allthese spectators shall suddenly be revealed in its fulness of shame? With what kind of bodyshall it sustain those endless and unbearable pangs in the place of fire unquenched, and ofthe worm that perishes and never dies, and of depth of Hades, dark and horrible; bitterwailings, loud lamenting, weeping and gnashing of teeth and anguish without end? Fromall these woes there is no release after death; no device, no means of coming forth from thechastisement of pain.6. We can escape now. While we can, let us lift ourselves from the fall: let us neverdespair of ourselves, if only we depart from evil. Jesus Christ came into the world to savesinners. “O come, let us worship and fall down; let us weep before Him.” 2149 The WordWho invited us to repentance calls aloud, “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavyladen, and I will give you rest.” 2150 There is, then, a way of salvation, if we will. “Death inhis might has swallowed up, but again the Lord hath wiped away tears from off all faces” 2151of them that repent. The Lord is faithful in all His words. 2152 He does not lie when Hesays, “Though your sins be scarlet they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red likecrimson they shall be as wool.” 2153 The great Physician of souls, Who is the ready liberator,not of you alone, but of all who are enslaved by sin, is ready to heal your sickness. FromHim come the words, it was His sweet and saving lips that said, “They that be whole neednot a physician but they that are sick.…I am not come to call the righteous but sinners torepentance.” 2154 What excuse have you, what excuse has any one, when He speaks thus?The Lord wishes to cleanse you from the trouble of your sickness and to show you light afterdarkness. The good Shepherd, Who left them that had not wandered away, is seeking afteryou. If you give yourself to Him He will not hold back. He, in His love, will not disdaineven to carry you on His own shoulders, rejoicing that He has found His sheep which waslost. The Father stands and awaits your return from your wandering. Only come back, andwhile you are yet afar off, He will run and fall upon your neck, and, now that you are cleansed1522148 Dan. vii. 9, 10.2149 Ps. xcv. 6, LXX.2150 Matt. xi. 28.2151 Is. xxv. 8, LXX.2152 Ps. cxlv. 13, LXX.2153 Is. i. 18.2154 Matt. ix. 12, 13.454