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

Basil as Archbishop.Nevertheless, so far as the civil power was concerned, Basil, after the famous visit ofValens, was left at peace. 184 He had triumphed. Was it a triumph for the nobler principlesof the Gospel? Had he exhibited a pride and an irritation unworthy of the Christian name?Jerome, in a passage of doubtful genuineness and application, is reported to have regardedhis good qualities as marred by the one bane of pride, 185 a “leaven” of which sin is admittedby Milman 186 to have been exhibited by Basil, as well as uncompromising firmness. Thetemper of Basil in the encounter with Valens would probably have been somewhat differentlyregarded had it not been for the reputation of a hard and overbearing spirit which he haswon from his part in transactions to be shortly touched on. His attitude before Valens seemsto have been dignified without personal haughtiness, and to have shewn sparks of that quiethumour which is rarely exhibited in great emergencies except by men who are consciousof right and careless of consequences to self.184 “The archbishop, who asserted, with inflexible pride, the truth of his opinions and the dignity of his rank,was left in the free possession of his conscience and his throne.” Gibbon, Chap. xxv. “Une sorte d’inviolabilitéde fait demeurait acquise a Basile a Césarée comme a Athanase à Alexandrie.” De Broglie.185 Quoted by Gibbon l.c. from Jerome’s Chron. A.D. 380, and acknowledged by him to be not in Scaliger’sedition. The Benedictine editors of Jerome admit it, but refer it to Photinus. cf. D.C.B. i. 288.186 Hist. Christ. iii. 45.35