24 (54). To Athanasius, Father of Athanasius, Bishop of Ancyra
SAINT BASIL
voluntarily undertaken the contests of piety, subjecting himself to the kind yoke of the Lord, living his life in imitation of Him who became poor6 and clothed Himself with flesh for us, and running according to his aim toward the prize of his heavenly calling, he may meet with approbation from the Lord. For, I put him ofl when he was eager to receive here the crown of the love of God, wishing to anoint him for such contests with the assistance of your Reverence, and to appoint as his trainer whomever of you he might request.
Such a one would, through his earnest and blessed care, nobly train and bring to perfection an excellent wrestler, one wounding and overthrowing the world ruler of this darkness and the spiritual forces of wickedness, against whom, according to the blessed Apostle, is our wrestling.7 Therefore, what I wished to do with your assistance, let your love in Christ do even without me.
2·1. To Athanasius, Father of Athanasius, BisAop of Ancyra1 I myself am convinced, nor do I think that your Excellency doubts it, that it is one of the most difficult, if not impossible, things, for the life of a man to be above slander. But, personally to provide no occasion to those keenly watching our actions or to those maliciously lying in wait for our slightest errors is both possible and characteristic of persons living wisely and according to the standards of piety. But, do
6 Cf. 2 Cor. 8.9.
7 Cf. Eph. 6.12.
1 ~othing is known of the elder Athanasius except what is given in this letter. which is a reply to slanders that had evidently been reported to St. Basil concerning Athanasius' treatment of his children. The letter, was written before St. Basil's episcopate. Cf. Letter 25 n. I.
LETTERS
not think that we are so easy-going and so credulous as to believe without investigation the accusations of chance persons. For, we bear in mind the spiritual maxim that we shall
'not receive the voice of a lie.'2
However, since you yourself who seriously pursue literature say that things seen are signs of things unseen, this is our opinion (and do not be offended if anything I say shall seem to be an instruction, for the weak things of the world and th~ foolish has God chosen; 3 and through these He frequently brings about the salvation of those who are saved).
At all events, what I say and recommend is this: that we should be careful in fulfilling every word and every duty, and, according to the command of the Apostle, give offense to no one. 4 I hold that it is proper, when a man has sweated much in the acquiring of knowledge, and has administered the government of nations and cities, and has emulated the great virtues of his ancestors, for his life to be set before us as an example of virtue.
Of course, you ought not now to show only by word your love for your children, as you have long been showing it, indeed, ever since you became a father, nor to employ natural affection alone, which even brute beasts exhibit for their offspring, as you yourself have said and as experience proves.
But, certainly, you should deliberately intensify your love in proportion to their increasing worthiness of your paternal prayers. It is not necessary, therefore, to persu/lde us of these things, for the testimony of actual facts is sufficient.
It is not out of place, however, for the sake of truth, to add that our brother Timotheus, the suffragan bishop, is not the one who reported the rumors to us. For, neither in 2 Cf. Ex. 23.1.
!I Cf. 1 Cor. 1.27.28.
4 Cf. 1 Cor. 6.!!.