Letter 209: It is your lot to share my distress, and to do battle on my behalf. Herein is proof of your manliness. God, who ordains our lives, grants to those who are capable of sustaining great fights greater opportunity of winning renown.

From: Basil, Bishop of Caesarea To: [unnamed recipient] Date: ~369 AD Context: A brief, warm letter to a loyal friend who has risked his reputation defending Basil, thanking him and encouraging him to keep demanding letters. It is your lot to share my troubles and to fight on my behalf. This is proof of your courage. God, who orders our lives, grants to those who can endure great battles a greater opportunity for renown. You have truly risked your own reputation as a test of your loyalty to your friend -- like gold in the furnace. I pray God that others may be made better, that you may remain what you are, and that you will never stop scolding me (as you do) and accusing me of not writing often enough, as though my neglect does you a grave injustice. That is an accusation only a friend makes. Keep demanding payment of such debts. I am not so unreasonable about paying the claims of affection.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA Without address. It is your lot to share my distress, and to do battle on my behalf. Herein is proof of your manliness. God, who ordains our lives, grants to those who are capable of sustaining great fights greater opportunity of winning renown. You truly have risked your own life as a test of your valour in your friend's behalf, like gold in the furnace. I pray God that other men may be made better; that you may remain what you are, and that you will not cease to find fault with me, as you do, and to charge me with not writing often to you, as a wrong on my part which does you very great injury. This is an accusation only made by a friend. Persist in demanding the payment of such debts. I am not so very unreasonable in paying the claims of affection. About this page Source. Translated by Blomfield Jackson. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 8. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3202209.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.