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

To Hilarius.To Hilarius. 2801Letter CCXII. 28002521. You can imagine what I felt, and in what state of mind I was, when I came to Dazimonand found that you had left a few days before my arrival. From my boyhood I have heldyou in admiration, and, therefore, ever since our old school days, have placed a high valueon intercourse with you. But another reason for my doing so is that nothing is so preciousnow as a soul that loves the truth, and is gifted with a sound judgment in practical affairs.This, I think, is to be found in you. I see most men, as in the hippodrome, divided intofactions, some for one side and some for another, and shouting with their parties. But youare above fear, flattery, and every ignoble sentiment, and so naturally look at truth with anunprejudiced eye. And I see that you are deeply interested in the affairs of the Churches,about which you have sent me a letter, as you have said in your last. I should like to knowwho took charge of the conveyance of this earlier epistle, that I may know who has wrongedme by its loss. No letter from you on this subject has yet reached me.2. How much, then, would I not have given to meet you, that I might tell you all mytroubles? When one is in pain it is, as you know, some alleviation, even to describe it. Howgladly would I have answered your questions, not trusting to lifeless letters, but in my ownperson, narrating each particular. The persuasive force of living words is more efficient andthey are not so susceptible as letters to attack and to misrepresentation. For now no onehas left anything untried, and the very men in whom I put the greatest confidence, men,who when I saw them among others, I used to think something more than human, havereceived documents written by some one, and have sent them on, whatever they are, asmine, and on their account are calumniating me to the brethren as though there is nothingnow that pious and faithful men ought to hold in greater abhorrence than my name. Fromthe beginning it has been my object to live unknown, to a degree not reached by anyonewho has considered human infirmity; but now, just as though on the other hand it had beenmy purpose to make myself notorious to the world, I have been talked about all over theearth, and I may add all over the sea too. For men, who go to the last limit of impiety, andare introducing into the Churches the godless opinion of Unlikeness, 2802 are waging waragainst me. Those too who hold the via media, 2803 as they think, and, though they start2800 Placed in 375.2801 An old schoolfellow of Basil’s, of whom nothing seems to be known but what is gathered from this letter.2802 i.e.the Anomœans. On the use of the word dogma for an heretical tenet, cf. note on p. 41.2803 The Ben. note remarks that at first sight Eustathius of Sebasteia seems to be pointed at, for in Lettercxxviii. Basil speaks of him as occupying a contemptible half-and-half position. But, continues the note: Si resattentius consideretur, non Eustathium proprie hoc loco, sed generatim eosdem hæreticos, quos contra liber De713