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

To Nectarius.To Nectarius.Letter CCXC. 3253315May many blessings rest on those who encourage your excellency in maintaining aconstant correspondence with me! And regard not such a wish as conventional merely, butas expressing my sincere conviction of the value of your utterances. Whom could I honourabove Nectarius—known to me from his earliest days as a child of fairest promise, who nowthrough the exercise of every virtue has reached a position of the highest eminence?—Somuch so, that of all my friends the dearest is the bearer of your letter.Touching the election of those set over districts, 3254 God forbid that I should do anythingfor the gratification of man, through listening to importunities or yielding to fear. In thatcase I should be not a steward, but a huckster, battering the gift of God for the favour ofman. But seeing that votes are given but by mortals, who can only bear such testimony asthey do from outward appearances, while the choice of fit persons is committed in all humilityto Him Who knows the secrets of the heart, haply it is best for everybody, when hehas tendered the evidence of his vote, to abstain from all heat and contention, as thoughsome self-interest were involved in the testimony, and to pray to God that what is advantageousmay not remain unknown. Thus the result is no longer attributable to man, but acause for thankfulness to God. For these things, if they be of man, cannot be said to be; butare pretence only, altogether void of reality.Consider also, that when a man strives with might and main to gain his end, there is nosmall danger of his drawing even sinners to his side; and there is much sinfulness, such isthe weakness of man’s nature, even where we should least expect it.Again, in private consultation we often offer our friends good advice, and, though wedo not find them taking it, yet we are not angry. Where then it is not man that counsels,but God that determines, shall we feel indignation at not being preferred before the determinationof God?And if these things were given to man by man, what need were there for us to ask themof ourselves? Were it not better for each to take them from himself? But if they are the giftof God, we ought to pray and not to grieve. And in our prayer we should not seek our ownwill, but leave it to God who disposes for the best.3253 Placed in the episcopate.3254 On the word συμμορίας the Ben. note is: “Hac voce non designatur tota diocesis, sed certos quidampagorum numerus chorepiscopo commissus, ut patet ex epist. cxlii.,” q.v., “erat autem chorepiscoporum sedes insignialicui affixa pago, cui alii pagi attribuebantur. Unde Basilius in epist. clxxxviii. § 10. Auctor est Amphilochio utagrum Mestiæ subjectum Vasodis subjiciat.860