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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 the bishops of Italy <strong>and</strong> Gaul concerning the condition <strong>and</strong> confusion of the Churches.through some burning wood, when it has consumed what is close at h<strong>and</strong>, may catch distantobjects too. The plague of heresy is spreading, <strong>and</strong> there is ground of apprehension lest,when it has devoured our Churches, it may afterwards creep on even so far as to the soundportion of your district. 3046 Peradventure it is because with us iniquity has abounded thatwe have been first delivered to be devoured by the cruel teeth of the enemies of God. Butthe gospel of the kingdom began in our regions, <strong>and</strong> then went forth over all the world. So,peradventure—<strong>and</strong> this is most probable—the common enemy of our souls, is striving tobring it about that the seeds of apostasy, originating in the same quarter, should be distributedthroughout the world. For the darkness of impiety plots to come upon the very heartswhereon the “light of the knowledge” of Christ has shone. 30474. Reckon then, as true disciples of the Lord, that our sufferings are yours. We are notbeing attacked for the sake of riches, or glory, or any temporal advantages. We st<strong>and</strong> in thearena to fight for our common heritage, for the treasure of the sound faith, derived fromour Fathers. Grieve with us, all ye who love the brethren, at the shutting of the mouths ofour men of true religion, <strong>and</strong> at the opening of the bold <strong>and</strong> blasphemous lips of all thatutter unrighteousness against God. 3048 The pillars <strong>and</strong> foundation of the truth are scatteredabroad. We, whose insignificance has allowed of our being overlooked, are deprived of ourright of free speech. Do ye enter into the struggle, for the people’s sake. Do not think onlyof your being yourselves moored in a safe haven, where the grace of God gives you shelterfrom the tempest of the winds of wickedness. Reach out a helping h<strong>and</strong> to the Churchesthat are being buffeted by the storm, lest, if they be ab<strong>and</strong>oned, they suffer complete shipwreckof the faith. Lament for us, in that the Only-begotten is being blasphemed, <strong>and</strong> thereis none to offer contradiction. The <strong>Holy</strong> Ghost is being set at nought <strong>and</strong> he who is able toconfute the error has been sent into exile. Polytheism has prevailed. Our opponents owna great God <strong>and</strong> a small God. “Son” is no longer a name of nature, but is looked upon as atitle of some kind of honour. The <strong>Holy</strong> Ghost is regarded not as complemental of the <strong>Holy</strong>Trinity, nor as participating in the divine <strong>and</strong> blessed Nature, but as in some sort one of thenumber of created beings, <strong>and</strong> attached to Father <strong>and</strong> Son, at mere haphazard <strong>and</strong> as occasionmay require. “Oh that my head were waters, <strong>and</strong> mine eyes a fountain of tears,” 3049 <strong>and</strong> Iwill weep many days for the people who are being driven to destruction by these vile doctrines.The ears of the simple are being led astray, <strong>and</strong> have now got used to heretical impiety.The nurslings of the Church are being brought up in the doctrines of iniquity. What arethey to do? Our opponents have the comm<strong>and</strong> of baptisms; they speed the dying on their2853046 παροικία. The word seems here to have a wider sense even than that of “diocese.”3047 cf. 2 Cor. iv. 6.3048 cf. Ps. lxxiii. 8, LXX.3049 Jer. ix. 1.785

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