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

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

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

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To the deaconesses, the daughters of Count Terentius.Letter CV. 2365To the deaconesses, the daughters of Count Terentius. 2366On coming to Samosata I expected to have the pleasure of meeting your excellencies,<strong>and</strong> when I was disappointed I could not easily bear it. When, I said, will it be possible forme to be in your neighbourhood again? When will it be agreeable to you to come intomine? All this, however, must be left to the Lord’s will. As to the present, when I foundthat my son Sophronius was setting out to you, I gladly delivered him this letter, to conveyyou my salutation, <strong>and</strong> to tell you how, by God’s grace, I do not cease to remember you,<strong>and</strong> to thank the Lord on your behalf, in that you are goodly scions of a goodly stock, fruitfulin good works, <strong>and</strong> verily like lilies among thorns. Surrounded as you are by the terribleperversity of them that are corrupting the word of truth, you do not give in to their wiles;you have not ab<strong>and</strong>oned the apostolic proclamation of faith, you have not gone over to thesuccessful novelty of the day. Is not this cause of deep thankfulness to God? Shall not thisrightly bring you great renown? You have professed your faith in Father, Son <strong>and</strong> <strong>Holy</strong>Ghost. Do not ab<strong>and</strong>on this deposit; the Father—origin of all; the Son—Only begotten,begotten of Him, very God, Perfect of Perfect, living image, shewing the whole Father inHimself; the <strong>Holy</strong> Ghost, having His subsistence of God, the fount of holiness, power thatgives life, grace that maketh perfect, through Whom man is adopted, <strong>and</strong> the mortal madeimmortal, conjoined with Father <strong>and</strong> Son in all things in glory <strong>and</strong> eternity, in power <strong>and</strong>kingdom, in sovereignty <strong>and</strong> godhead; as is testified by the tradition of the baptism of salvation.But all who maintain that either Son or Spirit is a creature, or absolutely reduce theSpirit to ministerial <strong>and</strong> servile rank, are far removed from the truth. Flee their communion.Turn away from their teaching. They are destructive to souls. If ever the Lord grant us tomeet, I will discourse to you further concerning the faith, to the end that you may perceiveat once the power of the truth <strong>and</strong> the rottenness of heresy by Scriptural proof.2365 Placed in 372.2366 cf. Letter xcix. <strong>and</strong> note.542

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