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

To Elias, Governor of the Province.such occupations as are necessary to life and have been found essential to a respectable career;they must also have buildings suitable for their employments, all of which are an honourto the place, and, as their reputation is credited to our governor, confer glory on him. Notindeed that for this reason you were unwillingly induced to accept the responsibility of rulingus, for you alone are sufficient by your high qualities to restore our ruins, to people deserteddistricts and turn wildernesses into towns. Would it be better to harrass and annoy, or tohonour and reverence an associate in the discharge of these duties? Do not think, most excellentsir, that what I say is mere words. We have already, in the meanwhile, begunproviding material. So much for our defence, before our ruler. As to what is to be said inanswer to the charges of our accusers, to a Christian and to a friend who cares for myopinion, I must now say no more; the subject is too long for a letter, and cannot, besides,be safely committed to writing. But lest, before we have an opportunity of meeting, you aredriven by the inducement of some men’s calumnies to give up any of your good will towardsme, do as Alexander did. The story is, as you remember, that, when one of his friends wasbeing calumniated, he left one ear open to the slanderer, and carefully closed the other withhis hand, with the object of showing that he whose duty is to judge ought not to be easilyand wholly given over to the first occupants of his attention, but should keep half his hearingopen for the defence of the absent. 23352335 The church and hospital, of which mention is here made, were built in the suburbs of Cæsarea. Gregoryof Nazianzus calls it a new town. cf. Greg. Naz., Or. xx. and Theodoret, Ecc. Hist. iv. 19, and Sozomen, vi. 34.On Alexander’s ear, cf. Letter xxiv.528