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

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

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

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To Ambrose, bishop of Milan.To Ambrose, bishop of Milan. 2685Letter CXCVII. 26841. The gifts of the Lord are ever great <strong>and</strong> many; in greatness beyond measure, innumber incalculable. To those who are not insensible of His mercy one of the greatest ofthese gifts is that of which I am now availing myself, the opportunity allowed us, far apartin place though we be, of addressing one another by letter. He grants us two means of becomingacquainted; one by personal intercourse, another by epistolary correspondence.Now I have become acquainted with you through what you have said. I do not mean thatmy memory is impressed with your outward appearance, but that the beauty of the innerman has been brought home to me by the rich variety of your utterances, for each of us“speaketh out of the abundance of the heart.” 2686 I have given glory to God, Who in everygeneration selects those who are well-pleasing to Him; Who of old indeed chose from thesheepfold a prince for His people; 2687 Who through the Spirit gifted Amos the herdmanwith power <strong>and</strong> raised him up to be a prophet; Who now has drawn forth for the care ofChrist’s flock a man from the imperial city, entrusted with the government of a whole nation,exalted in character, in lineage, in position, in eloquence, in all that this world admires.This same man has flung away all the advantages of the world, counting them all loss thathe may gain Christ, 2688 <strong>and</strong> has taken in his h<strong>and</strong> the helm of the ship, great <strong>and</strong> famousfor its faith in God, the Church of Christ. Come, then, O man of God; not from men haveyou received or been taught the Gospel of Christ; it is the Lord Himself who has transferredyou from the judges of the earth to the throne of the Apostles; fight the good fight; heal theinfirmity of the people, if any are infected by the disease of Arian madness; renew the ancientfootprints of the Fathers. You have laid the foundation of affection towards me; strive tobuild upon it by the frequency of your salutations. Thus shall we be able to be near oneanother in spirit, although our earthly homes are far apart.2. By your earnestness <strong>and</strong> zeal in the matter of the blessed bishop Dionysius youtestify all your love to the Lord, your honour for your predecessors, <strong>and</strong> your zeal for thefaith. For our disposition towards our faithful fellow-servants is referred to the Lord Whom2352684 Placed in 375.2685 Ambrose was placed in the archiepiscopate of Milan in 374. The letter of <strong>Basil</strong> is in reply to a requestfor the restoration to his native city of the relics of St. Dionysius of Milan, who died in Cappadocia in 374. cf.Ath., Ep. ad Sol.; Amb. iii. 920.2686 Matt. xii. 34.2687 Ps. lxxviii. 70.2688 Phil. iii. 8.675

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