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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 Amphilochius, the Canons.LXXXIII. Consulters of soothsayers <strong>and</strong> they who follow heathen customs, or bringpersons into their houses to discover remedies <strong>and</strong> to effect purification, should fall underthe canon of six years. After weeping a year, hearing a year, kneeling for three years <strong>and</strong>st<strong>and</strong>ing with the faithful for a year so let them be received.LXXXIV. I write all this with a view to testing the fruits of repentance. 2851 I do notdecide such matters absolutely by time, but I give heed to the manner of penance. If menare in a state in which they find it hard to be weaned from their own ways <strong>and</strong> choose ratherto serve the pleasures of the flesh than to serve the Lord, <strong>and</strong> refuse to accept the Gospellife, there is no common ground between me <strong>and</strong> them. In the midst of a disobedient <strong>and</strong>gainsaying people I have been taught to hear the words “Save thy own soul.” 2852 Do notthen let us consent to perish together with such sinners. Let us fear the awful judgment.Let us keep before our eyes the terrible day of the retribution of the Lord. Let us not consentto perish in other men’s sins, for if the terrors of the Lord have not taught us, if so greatcalamities have not brought us to feel that it is because of our iniquity that the Lord hasab<strong>and</strong>oned us, <strong>and</strong> given us into the h<strong>and</strong>s of barbarians, that the people have been ledcaptive before our foes <strong>and</strong> given over to dispersion, because the bearers of Christ’s namehave dared such deeds; if they have not known nor understood that it is for these reasonsthat the wrath of God has come upon us, what common ground of argument have I withthem?But we ought to testify to them day <strong>and</strong> night, alike in public <strong>and</strong> in private. Let us notconsent to be drawn away with them in their wickedness. Let us above all pray that we maydo them good, <strong>and</strong> rescue them from the snare of the evil one. If we cannot do this, let usat all events do our best to save our own souls from everlasting damnation.2851 μετανοίας. cf. note on p. 256; here the word seems to include both repentance <strong>and</strong> penance.2852 Gen. xix. 17, lxx.729

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