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

To the Neocæsareans.pleading. For who could suffer a worse calamity than the loss of the most precious of allthings, the truth?4. [What say I, brethren? Not that I am a sinless person; not that my life is not full ofnumberless faults. I know myself; and indeed I cease not my tears for my sins, if by anymeans I may be able to appease my God, and to escape the punishment threatened againstthem. But this I say: let him who judges me, hunt for motes in my eye, if he can say thathis own is clear.] I own, brethren, that I need the care of the sound and healthy, and needmuch of it. If he cannot say that it is clear, and the clearer it is the less will he say so—(forit is the part of the perfect not to exalt themselves; if they do they will certainly come underthe charge of the pride of the Pharisee, who, while justifying himself, condemned the publican)let him come with me to the physician; let him not “judge before the time until theLord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will makemanifest the counsels of the hearts.” 2743 Let him remember the words, “Judge not, and yeshall not be judged;” 2744 and “Condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned.” 2745 [In aword, brethren, if my offences admit of cure, why does not such an one obey the teacher ofthe Churches, “Reprove, exhort, rebuke”? 2746 If, on the other hand, my iniquity be pastcure, why does he not withstand me to the face, and, by publishing my transgressions, deliverthe Churches from the mischief which I bring on them?] Do not put up with the calumnyuttered against me within the teeth. 2747 This is the abuse which any slave-girl from thegrindstone might utter; this is the kind of fine shewing-off you might expect from any streetvagabond; their tongues are whetted for any slander. But [there are bishops; let appeal bemade to them. There is a clergy in each of God’s dioceses; 2748 let the most eminent be assembled.Let whoso will, speak freely, that I may have to deal with a charge, not a slander.]Let my secret wickedness be brought into full view; let me no longer be hated, but admonishedas a brother. It is more just that we sinners should be pitied by the blessed and the sinless,than that we should be treated angrily.5. [If the fault be a point of faith, let the document be pointed out to me. Again, let afair and impartial inquiry be appointed. Let the accusation be read; let it be brought to thetest, whether it does not arise from ignorance in the accuser, not from blame in the matter2743 1 Cor. iv. 5.2744 Matt. vii. 1.2745 Luke vi. 37.2746 2 Tim. iv. 2.2747 υπ᾽ ὀδόντα. Ben. Lat., intra dentes.2748 The Greek is παροικία which is used both for what is meant by the modern “diocese” and by the modern“parish.” Of the sense of diocese instances are quoted among others in D.C.A. s.v. “Parish,” from Iren. ad Florin.apud Euseb. H.E. v. 20; and Alexand. Alexandrin. Ep. apud Theodoret, H.E. i. 3.694