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

To the Neocæsareans.in order to the throne of your episcopate, like stars rising one after another, have trackedthe same course, so as to leave the tokens of the heavenly polity most clear to all who desirethem.] And if natural relationships are not to be despised, but are greatly conducive to unbrokenunion and fellowship, these rights also exist naturally for you and me. [Why is it,then, O venerable among cities, for through you I address the whole city, that no civil writingcomes from you, no welcome voice, but your ears are open to those who aim at slander?]I am therefore the more bound to groan, the more I perceive the end they have in view.There is no doubt as to who is the originator of the slander. 2739 He is known by many evildeeds, but is best distinguished by this particular wickedness, and it is for this reason thatthe sin is made his name. 2740 But you must put up with my plain speaking. You haveopened both ears to my slanderers. You heartily welcome all you hear without any enquiry.Not one of you distinguishes between lies and truth. Who ever suffered for lack of wickedaccusations when struggling all alone? Who was ever convicted of lying in the absence ofhis victim? What plea does not sound plausible to the hearers when the reviler persists thatsuch and such is the case, and the reviled is neither present nor hears what is urged againsthim? Does not even the accepted custom of this world teach you, in reference to thesematters, that if any one is to be a fair and impartial hearer, he must not be entirely led awayby the first speaker, but must wait for the defence of the accused, that so truth may bedemonstrated by a comparison of the arguments on both sides? “Judge righteous judgment.”2741 This precept is one of those most necessary for salvation.3. When I say this I am not forgetful of the words of the Apostle, who fled from humantribunals and reserved the defence of all his life for the unerring judgment seat, when hesaid, “With me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you or of man’s judgment.”2742 Your ears have been preoccupied by lying slanders, slanders that have touchedmy conduct, slanders that have touched my faith in God. Nevertheless, knowing, as I do,that three persons at once are injured by the slanderer, his victim, his hearer, and himself;as to my own wrong, I would have held my tongue, be sure; not because I despise your goodopinion, (how could I, writing now as I do and earnestly pleading as I do that I may not loseit?) but because I see that of the three sufferers the one who is least injured is myself. It istrue that I shall be robbed of you, but you are being robbed of the truth, and he who is atthe bottom of all this is parting me from you, but he is alienating himself from the Lord,inasmuch as no one can be brought near to the Lord by doing what is forbidden. Ratherthen for your sakes than for mine, rather to rescue you from unendurable wrong am I2442739 τῆς διαβολῆς.2740 i.e. ὁ διαβολος. The little paronomasia is untranslatable.2741 John vii. 24.2742 1 Cor. iv.693