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

To the heretic Simplicia.Letter CXV. 2387To the heretic Simplicia. 2388We often ill advisedly hate our superiors and love our inferiors. So I, for my part, holdmy tongue, and keep silence about the disgrace of the insults offered me. I wait for the Judgeabove, Who knows how to punish all wickedness in the end, even though a man pour outgold like sand; let him trample on the right, he does but hurt his own soul. God always asksfor sacrifice, not, I think, because He needs it, but because He accepts a pious and right mindas a precious sacrifice. But when a man by his transgressions tramples on himself Godreckons his prayers impure. Bethink thyself, then, of the last day, and pray do not try toteach me. I know more than you do, and am not so choked with thorns within. I do notmind tenfold wickedness with a few good qualities. You have stirred up against me lizardsand toads, 2389 beasts, it is true, of Spring time, but nevertheless unclean. But a bird willcome from above who will devour them. The account I have to render is not according toyour ideas, but as God thinks fit to judge. If witnesses are wanted, there will not stand beforethe Judge slaves; nor yet a disgraceful and detestable set of eunuchs; neither woman norman, lustful, envious, ill-bribed, passionate, effeminate, slaves of the belly, mad for gold,ruthless, grumbling about their dinner, inconstant, stingy, greedy, insatiable, savage, jealous.What more need I say? At their very birth they were condemned to the knife. How cantheir mind be right when their feet are awry? They are chaste because of the knife, and it isno credit to them. They are lecherous to no purpose, of their own natural vileness. Theseare not the witnesses who shall stand in the judgment, but rather the eyes of the just and1912387 Placed in 372.2388 The Ben. E. note that in the imperial codex No. lxvii. appears an argument of this letter wanting in theeditions of St. Basil. It is as follows: “Letter of the same to Simplicia about her eunuchs. She was a heretic. Theblessed Basil being ill and entering a bath to bathe, Simplicia told her eunuchs and maids to throw his towelsout. Straightway the just judgment of God slew some of them, and Simplicia sent money to the blessed Basil tomake amends for the injury. Basil refused to receive it, and wrote this Letter.” This extraordinary preface seemsto have been written by some annotator ignorant of the circumstances, which may be learnt from Greg. Naz.Letter xxxviii. It appears that a certain Cappadocian church, long without a bishop, had elected a slave of Simplicia,a lady wealthy and munificent, but of suspected orthodoxy. Basil and Gregory injudiciously ordainedthe reluctant slave without waiting for his mistress’s consent. The angry lady wrote in indignation, and threatenedhim with the vengeance of her slaves and eunuchs. After Basil’s death she returned to the charge, and pressedGregory to get the ordination annulled. cf. Maran, Vit. Bas. chap. xxv.2389 Presumably the slaves and eunuchs mentioned below. If the letter is genuine it is wholly unworthy ofthe Archbishop of Cæsarea.553