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

To the Presbyter Evagrius.Letter CLVI. 2512To the Presbyter Evagrius. 25131. So far from being impatient at the length of your letter, I assure you I thought it evenshort, from the pleasure it gave me when reading it. For is there anything more pleasingthan the idea of peace? Is anything more suitable to the sacred office, or more acceptableto the Lord, than to take measures for effecting it? May you have the reward of the peacemaker,since so blessed an office has been the object of your good desires and earnest efforts.At the same time, believe me, my revered friend, I will yield to none in my earnest wish andprayer to see the day when those who are one in sentiment shall all fill the same assembly.Indeed it would be monstrous to feel pleasure in the schisms and divisions of the Churches,and not to consider that the greatest of goods consists in the knitting together of the membersof Christ’s body. But, alas! my inability is as real as my desire. No one knows better thanyourself, that time alone is the remedy of ills that time has matured. Besides, a strong andvigorous treatment is necessary to get at the root of the complaint. You will understandthis hint, though there is no reason why I should not speak out.2. Self-importance, when rooted by habit in the mind, cannot be destroyed by one man,by one single letter, or in a short time. Unless there be some arbiter in whom all partieshave confidence, suspicions and collisions will never altogether cease. If, indeed, the influenceof Divine grace were shed upon me, and I were given power in word and deed and spiritualgifts to prevail with these rival parties, then this daring experiment might be demanded ofme; though, perhaps, even then, you would not advise me to attempt this adjustment ofthings by myself, without the co-operation of the bishop, 2514 on whom principally falls thecare of the church. But he cannot come hither, nor can I easily undertake a long journeywhile the winter lasts, or rather I cannot anyhow, for the Armenian mountains will be soonimpassable, even to the young and vigorous, to say nothing of my continued bodily ailments.I have no objection to write to tell him of all this; but I have no expectation that writing willlead to anything, for I know his cautious character, and after all written words have littlepower to convince the mind. There are so many things to urge, and to bear, and to replyto, and to object, that a letter has no soul, and is in fact but waste paper. However, as I havesaid, I will write. Only give me credit, most religious and dear brother, for having no privatefeeling in the matter. Thank God. I have no such feeling towards any one. I have not busied211in xl. Mar. ii. 935. As early as the time of St. Augustine (†430) a thriving trade in forged relics had already begun.(Aug., De Opere Monach. 28.) cf. Littledale’s Plain Reasons, p. 51.2512 Placed in 373.2513 cf. Letter cxxxviii.2514 Meletius of Antioch.609