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

To Eustathius, Bishop of Sebasteia.To Eustathius, Bishop of Sebasteia. 2396Letter CXIX. 2395I address you by the very honourable and reverend brother Petrus, beseeching you nowand ever to pray for me, that I may be changed from ways dangerous and to be shunned,and may be made one day worthy of the name of Christ. Though I say nothing, you willconverse together about my affairs, and he will give you an exact account of what has takenplace. But you admit without due examination, the vile suspicions against me which willprobably be raised by men who have insulted me, in violation of the fear of God and theregard of men. I am ashamed to tell you what treatment I have received from the illustriousBasilius, whom I had accepted at the hands of your reverence as a protection for my life.But, when you have heard what our brother has to say, you will know every detail. I do notthus speak to avenge myself upon him, for I pray that it may not be put to his account bythe Lord, but in order that your affection to me may remain firm, and because I am afraidlest it be shaken by the monstrous slanders which these men are pretty sure to make up indefence of their fall. Whatever be the charges they adduce, I hope your intelligence will putthese enquiries to them. Have they formally accused me? Have they sought for any correctionof the error which they bring against me? Have they made their grievance against meplain? As matters are, by their ignoble flight they have made it evident that under thecheerfulness of their countenance, and their counterfeit expressions of affection, they areall the while hiding in their heart an immense depth of guile and of gall. In all this, whetherI narrate it or not, your intelligence knows perfectly well what sorrow they have caused me,and what laughter to those who, always expressing their abomination for the pious life inthis wretched city, affirm that the pretence of virtue is practised as a mere trick to get credit,a mere assumption to deceive. So in these days no mode of life is now so suspected of viceby people here as the profession of asceticism. Your intelligence will consider what is thebest cure for all this.As to the charges patched up against me by Sophronius, far from being a prelude ofblessings, they are a beginning of division and separation, and are likely to lead to even mylove growing cold. I implore that by your merciful kindness he may be withheld from hisinjurious efforts, and that your affection may strive rather to tighten the bonds of what isfalling asunder, and not to increase separation by joining with those who are eager for dissent.2395 Placed in the end of 372 or beginning of 373.2396 On the misconduct of Basilius and Sophronius, two disciples of Eustathius.558