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

To Theodotus bishop of Nicopolis.Letter CXXX. 2430To Theodotus bishop of Nicopolis.1. You have very rightly and properly blamed me, right honourable and well belovedbrother, in that ever since I departed from your reverence, conveying to Eustathius thosepropositions about the faith, I have told you neither much nor little about his business.This neglect is really not due to any contempt on my part for the way in which he has treatedme, but simply to the fact that the story is now published abroad in all men’s ears, andnobody needs any instructions from me in order to learn what his intentions are. For thishe has had good heed, as though he were really afraid that he would have few witnesses ofhis opinion, and has sent to the ends of the earth the letter which he has written against me.He has therefore severed himself from communion with me. He did not consent to meetme at the appointed spot, and did not bring his disciples, as he had promised. On the contrary,he publicly stigmatized me in the public synods, with the Cilician Theophilus, 2431 bythe open and undisguised slander of sowing in the souls of the people doctrines at variancewith his own teaching. This was quite enough to break up all union between us. Afterwardshe came to Cilicia, and, on meeting with a certain Gelasius, showed him the creed whichonly an Arian, or a thorough disciple of Arius, could subscribe. Then, indeed, I was yetmore confirmed in my alienation from him. I felt that the Ethiopian will never change hisskin, nor the leopard his spots, 2432 nor a man nurtured in doctrines of perversity ever beable to rub off the stain of his heresy.2. In addition to all this he has had the impudence to write against me, or rather tocompose long discourses full of all kinds of abuse and calumny. To these, up to this time,I have answered nothing, taught as we are by the Apostle, not to avenge ourselves, but togive place unto wrath. 2433 Moreover, at the thought of the depth of the hypocrisy withwhich he has all along approached me, I have, in a way, become speechless with amazement.But, if all this had never happened, who would not feel horror and detestation of the fellowat this fresh piece of audacity? Now, as I hear, if the report is really true and not a slanderousinvention, he has ventured to re-ordain certain men; a proceeding on which so far no heretichas ventured. How then can I quietly endure such treatment? How can I look upon theerrors of the man as curable? Beware, then, of being led away by lies; do not be moved bythe suspicions of men who are prone to look at everything in a bad light, as though I weremaking little of such things. For, be sure, my very dear and honourable friend, that I have1992430 Placed in 373.2431 Bishop of Castabala, whither he was translated from Eleutheropolis. cf. Letters ccxliv. and ccxlv.2432 cf. Jer. xiii. 23.2433 Rom. xii. 19.574