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

To Diodorus.near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness,” 2532 embraces also this form of kinsmanship,for what could be more akin to a man than his own wife, or rather than his own flesh? “Forthey are no more twain but one flesh.” 2533 So, through the wife, the sister is made akin tothe husband. For as he shall not take his wife’s mother, nor yet his wife’s daughter, becausehe may not take his own mother nor his own daughter, so he may not take his wife’s sister,because he may not take his own sister. And, on the other hand, it will not be lawful for thewife to be joined with the husband’s kin, for the rights of relationship hold good on bothsides. But, for my part, to every one who is thinking about marriage I testify that, “thefashion of this world passeth away,” 2534 and the time is short: “it remaineth that both theythat have wives be as though they had none.” 2535 If he improperly quotes the charge “Increaseand multiply,” 2536 I laugh at him, for not discerning the signs of the times. Secondmarriage is a remedy against fornication, not a means of lasciviousness. “If they cannotcontain,” it is said “let them marry;” 2537 but if they marry they must not break the law.5. But they whose souls are blinded by dishonourable lust do not regard even nature,which from old time distinguished the names of the family. For under what relationshipwill those who contract these unions name their sons? Will they call them brothers orcousins of one another? For, on account of the confusion, both names will apply. O man,do not make the aunt the little one’s stepmother; do not arm with implacable jealousy herwho ought to cherish them with a mother’s love. It is only stepmothers who extend theirhatred even beyond death; other enemies make a truce with the dead; stepmothers begintheir hatred after death. 2538 The sum of what I say is this. If any one wants to contract alawful marriage, the whole world is open to him: if he is only impelled by lust, let him bethe more restricted, “that he may know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour,not in the lust of concupiscence.” 2539 I should like to say more, but the limits of my letterleave me no further room. I pray that my exhortation may prove stronger than lust, or at2142532 Lev. xviii. 6.2533 St. Matt. xix. 6.2534 1 Cor. vii. 31.2535 1 Cor. vii. 29.2536 Gen. i. 28.2537 1 Cor. vii. 9.2538 On the ancient dislike of stepmothers, cf. Herod. iv. 154, and Eurip., Alcestis 309, where they are said tobe as dangerous to the children as vipers. Menander writes δεινότερον οὐδὲν ἄλλο μητρυιᾶς κακόν.2539 1 Thess. iv. 4. So A.V., apparently taking σκεῦος for body with Chrys., Theodoret, and others. TheGreek is, most simply, not “possess,” but get, and is in favour of the interpretation of Theod. of Mops., Augustine,and others, “get his wife.” See Ellicott, Thess. p. 53.617