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

To Gregory, his uncle.Letter LIX. 2216To Gregory, his uncle. 22171. “I have long time holden my peace. Am I to hold my peace for ever? 2218 Shall I stillfurther endure to enforce against myself the hardest punishment of silence, by neitherwriting myself, nor receiving any statement from another? By holding fast to this stern determinationup to the present time I am able to apply to myself the prophet’s words, “I endurepatiently like travailing woman.” 2219 Yet I am ever longing for communication either inperson or by letter, and ever, for my own sins’ sake, missing it. For I cannot imagine anyreason for what is happening, other than what I am convinced is the true one, that by beingcut off from your love I am expiating old sins; if indeed I am not wrong in using such aphrase as “cut off” in your case, from any one, much less from me, to whom you have alwaysbeen as a father. Now my sin, like some dense cloud overshadowing me, has made me forgetall this. When I reflect that the only result to me of what is going on is sorrow, how can Iattribute it to anything but to my own wickedness? But if events are to be traced to sins, bethis the end of my troubles; if there was any intended discipline in it, then your object hasbeen very completely attained, for the punishment has been going on for a long time; so Igroan no longer, but am the first to break silence, and beseech you to remember both meand yourself who, to a greater degree than our relationship might have demanded, haveshewn me strong affection all my life. Now, I implore you, show kindness to the city formy sake. Do not on my account alienate yourself from it.2. If, then, there is any consolation in Christ, any fellowship of the Spirit, any mercyand pity, fulfil my prayer. Put a stop to my depression. Let there be a beginning of brighterthings for the future. Be yourself a leader to others in the road to all that is best, and followno one else in the way to what is wrong. Never was any feature so characteristic of any one’sbody as gentleness and peace are of your soul. It were well becoming such a one as you areto draw all others to yourself, and to cause all who come near you to be permeated with thegoodness of your nature, as with the fragrance of myrrh. For though there be a certainamount of opposition now, nevertheless ere long there will be a recognition of the blessingsof peace. So long, however, as room is found for the calumnies that are bred of dissension,suspicion is sure to grow from worse to worse. It is most certainly unbecoming for the restto take no notice of me, but it is especially unbecoming in your excellency. If I am wrong2216 Placed in 361, at about the same time as the preceding.2217 Vide n. on preceding page.2218 Isa. xlii. 14, LXX.2219 Isa. xlii. 14, LXX.476