97 (68). To the Senate of Tyana
SAINT BASIL
of all men whom we know, and that he does not bestow favors on anyone in violation of justice, we pass by, as being less important in comparison with the other virtues of the man.
Weare, in truth, testifying to these things too late, like men who sing a dirge to console themselves, but do nothing useful in their troubles. Only this is not useless--that the recollection of the man be stored up in your great mind, and that you be grateful to him as to a benefactor of the country which bore you. Moreover, if anyone of those who are embittered because the just man was preferred should attack him, it is not useless to fight in his defense and to succor him, making it evident to all that you consider the man a friend of yours, regarding as sufficient grounds for friendship the excellent testimony concerning him and also the experience of his performance, which is not according to the pattern of the times, since matters which would not have been accomplished in many years by another were set right by him in a short time. It will also be an enduring favor for us and a consolation for what has happened, if you will recommend him to the emperor and refute the slanders brought against him.
Believe that your whole fatherland addresses these words to you through our one voice and that it is the common prayer of all that through your Perfection justice may be done to the man.
97. To the Senate of Tyana1 The Lord who reveals the depths and makes manifest the counsels of hearts has also given to the lowly comprehension of artifices difficult, as some think, to understand. Therefore,
1 The dismay and dejection of Caesarea at this time is vividly depicted by St. Basil in Letters 74, 75, and 76.
LETTERS
nothing has escaped us; nor is anything which has been done still hidden. Nevertheless, we ourselves neither see nor hear anything, except the peace of God and what leads to it. For, even if others are powerful and great and self-reliant, we are nothing and of no worth. Consequently, we would never attribute so much to ourselves as to think that we, single-handed, could succeed in our difficulties, knowing well that we need the help of each one of our brethren more than one hand needs the other. Then, too, the Lord has taught us the necessity of unity of action from the very construction of our bodies.
For, when I reflect upon these our limbs, that not one of them is sufficient in itself for activity, how shall I consider that I alone am strong enough to combat the troubles of life? In fact, neither could one foot move safely forward unless the other helped to support it, nor could the eye see clearly if it did not have the other as its partner, and if it did not, in harmony with it, cast its glance upon the objects to be seen.
The hearing is more accurate when it receives the sound through both channels; the grasp is stronger through the cooperation of the fingers. And, in general, I see that none of the actions performed either naturally or by inclination is accomplished without the agreement of kindred forces, since even prayer itself which does not come from persons praying together is much feebler, the Lord having declared that He will be in the midst if two or three call upon Him with oneness of mind. 2 The Lord even undertook the Incarnation in order that through the blood of His cross He might be a peacemaker both on earth and in heaven.
As a result, because of all these things, we pray that our remaining days may be spent in peace, and we beg that our death may be in peace. For the sake of this peace, therefore,
I have determined to leave no labor whatsoever undone, to 2 CE. Matt. 18.20.