13.07.2015 Views

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

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

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

To the people of Evæsæ.Letter CCLI. 3096To the people of Evæsæ. 30971. My occupations are very numerous, <strong>and</strong> my mind is full of many anxious cares, butI have never forgotten you, my dear friends, ever praying my God for your constancy in thefaith, wherein ye st<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> have your boasting in the hope of the glory of God. Trulynowadays it is hard to find, <strong>and</strong> extraordinary to see, a Church pure, unharmed by thetroubles of the times, <strong>and</strong> preserving the apostolic doctrine in all its integrity <strong>and</strong> completeness.Such is your Church shewn at this present time by Him who in every generation makesmanifest them that are worthy of His calling. May the Lord grant to you the blessings ofJerusalem which is above, in return for your flinging back at the heads of the liars theirsl<strong>and</strong>ers against me, <strong>and</strong> your refusal to allow them entry into your hearts. I know, <strong>and</strong> ampersuaded in the Lord, that “your reward is great in heaven,” 3098 even on account of thisvery conduct. For you have wisely concluded among yourselves, as indeed is the truth, thatthe men who are “rewarding me evil for good, <strong>and</strong> hatred for my love,” 3099 are accusing menow for the very same points which they are found to have themselves confessed <strong>and</strong> subscribed.2. Their presenting you with their own signatures for an accusation against me is notthe only contradiction into which they have fallen. They were unanimously deposed by thebishops assembled at Constantinople. 3100 They refused to accept this deposition <strong>and</strong> appealedto a synod of impious men, 3101 refusing to admit the episcopacy of their judges, inorder not to accept the sentence passed upon them.The reason alleged for their non-recognition was their being leaders of wicked heresy.All this 3102 happened nearly seventeen years ago. The principal men of those who deposedthem were Eudoxius, Euippius, George, 3103 Acacius, <strong>and</strong> others unknown to you. 3104The present tyrants of the churches are their successors, some ordained to fill theirplaces, <strong>and</strong> others actually promoted by them.3096 Placed in 376.3097 Euassai. Possibly Ptolemy’s Σείουα. Ramsay, Hist. Geog. A. M. 304. Now Yogounes, i.e. ῞Αγιος ᾽Ιωάννης.3098 Matt. v. 12.3099 Ps. cix. 5.3100 i.e. in January 360. Soc. ii. 41–43; Soz. iv. 24.3101 The Synod of Lampsacus in 365 is probably referred to, but Socrates (v. 14) mentions several synods ofthe Homoiousians.3102 i.e. the deposition.3103 Of uncertain see.3104 A ms. variety is “to me.”800

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!