[1949] Rom. xii. 10 and 1 Pet. ii. 17.
[1950] Rom. xiv. 10.
[1951] Matt. vi. 29, Luke xii. 27.
[1952] Mark ix. 37.
[1953] Phil. ii. 3.
[1954] Tit. i. 10.
[1955] 2 Thess. iii. 10.
[1956] 1 Thess. iv. 11.
[1957] 1 Cor. x. 31.
[1958] 1 Cor. xiii. 6.
[1959] 1 Cor. xii. 26.
[1960] 1 Tim. v. 20.
[1961] 2 Tim. iv. 2.
[1962] 2 Tim. iv. 2.
[1963] 2 Cor. ii. 7.
[1964] Luke iii. 8.
[1965] Heb. x. 26, 27.
[1966] Tit. iii. 10.
[1967] to proestoti. & 233; proestos is the "president" in Justin Martyr's description of the Christian service in Apol. Maj. i.
[1968] cf. Tit. ii. 8.
[1969] Matt. xviii. 17.
[1970] Prov. xxix. 16, LXX.
[1971] Eph. iv. 26.
[1972] cf. Matt. xxiv. 14; Luke xii. 40.
[1973] 1 Tim. vi. 8.
[1974] Col. iii. 5.
[1975] cf. Mark x. 23, 24; Luke xviii. 24.
[1976] Ps. cxix. 120, LXX.
Letter XXIII. [1977]
To a Solitary.
A certain man, as he says, on condemning the vanity of this life, and perceiving that its joys are ended here, since they only provide material for eternal fire and then quickly pass away, has come to me with the desire of separating from this wicked and miserable life, of abandoning the pleasures of the flesh, and of treading for the future a road which leads to the mansions of the Lord. Now if he is sincerely firm in his truly blessed purpose, and has in his soul the glorious and laudable passion, loving the Lord his God with all his heart, with all his strength, and with all his mind, it is necessary for your reverence to show him the difficulties and distresses of the strait and narrow way, and establish him in the hope of the good things which are as yet unseen, but are laid up in promise for all that are worthy of the Lord. I therefore write to entreat your incomparable perfection in Christ, if it be possible to mould his character, and, without me, to bring about his renunciation according to what is pleasing to God, and to see that he receive elementary instruction in accordance with what has been decided by the Holy Fathers, and put forth by them in writing. See too that he have put before him all things that are essential to ascetic discipline, and that so he may be introduced to the life, after having accepted, of his own accord, the labours undergone for religion's sake, subjected himself to the Lord's easy yoke, adopted a conversation in imitation of Him Who for our sakes became poor [1978] and took flesh, and may run without fail to the prize of his high calling, and receive the approbation of the Lord. He is wishful to receive here the crown of God's loves, but I have put him off, because I wish, in conjunction with your reverence, to anoint him for such struggles, and to appoint over him one of your number whom he may select to be his trainer, training him nobly, and making him by his constant and blessed care a tried wrestler, wounding and overthrowing the prince of the darkness of this world, and the spiritual powers of iniquity, with whom, as the blessed Apostle says, is "our wrestling." [1979] What I wish to do in conjunction with you, let your love in Christ do without me.
[1977] Written at Cæsarea during his presbyterate.
[1978] 2 Cor. viii. 9.
[1979] Eph. vi. 12.
Letter XXIV. [1980]
To Athanasius, father of Athanasius bishop of Ancyra. [1981]
That one of the things hardest to achieve, if indeed it be not impossible, is to rise superior to calumny, I am myself fully persuaded, and so too, I presume, is your excellency. Yet not to give a handle by one's own conduct, either to inquisitive critics of society, or to mischief makers who lie in wait to catch us tripping, is not only possible, but is the special characteristic of all who order their lives wisely and according to the rule of true religion. And do not think me so simple and credulous as to accept depreciatory remarks from any one without due investigation. I bear in mind the admonition of the Spirit, "Thou shalt not receive a false report." [1982] But you, learned men, yourselves say that "The seen is significant of the unseen." I therefore beg;--(and pray do not take it ill if I seem to be speaking as though I were giving a lesson; for "God has chosen the weak" and "despised things of the world," [1983] and often by their means brings about the salvation of such as are being saved); what I say and urge is this; that by word and deed we act with scrupulous attention to propriety, and, in accordance with the apostolic precept, "give no offence in anything." [1984] The life of one who has toiled hard in the acquisition of knowledge, who has governed cities and states, and who is jealous of the high character of his forefathers, ought to be an example of high character itself. You ought not now to be exhibiting your disposition towards your children in word only, as you have long exhibited its ever since you became a father; you ought not only to shew that natural affection which is shewn by brutes, as you yourself have said, and as experience shews. You ought to make your love go further, and be a love all the more personal and voluntary in that you see your children worthy of a father's prayers. On this point I do not need to be convinced. The evidence of facts is enough. One thing, however, I will say for truth's sake, that it is not our brother Timotheus, the Chorepiscopus, who has brought me word of what is noised abroad. For neither by word of mouth nor by letter has he ever conveyed anything in the shape of slander, be it small or great. That I have heard something I do not deny, but it is not Timotheus who accuses you. Yet while I hear whatever I do, at least I will follow the example of Alexander, and will keep one ear clear for the accused.
[1980] Placed before Basil's episcopate.
[1981] Vide note on Letter xxv. Nothing more is known of the elder of these two Athanasii than is to be gathered from this letter.
[1982] Ex. xxiii. 1, LXX. and marg.
[1983] 1 Cor. i. 27, 28.
[1984] 2 Cor. vi. 3.
[1985] cf. Plut., Vit. Alex.