Letter 161: 1. Blessed be God Who from age to age chooses them that please Him, distinguishes vessels of election, and uses them for the ministry of the Saints. Though you were trying to flee, as you confess, not from me, but from the calling you expected through me, He has netted you in the sure meshes of grace, and has brought you into the midst of Pisidi...

From: Basil, Bishop of Caesarea To: Amphilochius, newly consecrated Bishop of Iconium Date: ~366 AD Context: Basil congratulates Amphilochius on his consecration as bishop, sees God's hand in it, and urges him to stand firm against heresy despite illness making a personal visit uncertain. Blessed be God, who from age to age chooses those who please him, sets apart his chosen vessels, and puts them to work in the service of his saints. You tried to flee -- you admit it yourself -- not from me, but from the calling you expected to come through me. Yet God has caught you in the sure net of his grace and brought you into the heart of Pisidia [a region in southern Asia Minor] to catch people for the Lord and drag the devil's prey from the deep into the light. You too may say with the blessed David: "Where shall I go from your Spirit? Where shall I flee from your presence?" [Psalm 139:7]. Such is the wonderful work of our loving Master. Donkeys are lost so that there may be a king of Israel [a reference to 1 Samuel 9-10, where Saul goes looking for lost donkeys and is anointed king]. David, however, was an Israelite granted to Israel. But the land that raised you and brought you to such heights of virtue no longer possesses you -- she watches her neighbor adorned with her own jewel. Yet all believers in Christ are one people, and all Christ's people, though hailed from many regions, are one Church. So our country rejoices at the Lord's arrangement: rather than thinking she is one man poorer, she considers that through one man she has gained whole churches. Only let the Lord grant me this: to see you in person, and as long as we are apart, to hear of your progress in the gospel and the good order of your churches. So be strong. Play the man. Stand before the people the Most High has entrusted to your care. Like a skilled pilot, rise in mind above every wave raised by heretical blasts. Keep the ship from being swamped by the salt, bitter waters of false doctrine. Wait for the calm the Lord will bring, once a voice is found worthy to rouse him to rebuke the winds and the sea [cf. Mark 4:39]. If you wish to visit me -- now hurried by long illness toward the inevitable end -- do not wait for a formal occasion or an official summons. Come as a friend visiting a friend. Come quickly, before it is too late.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To Amphilochius on his consecration as Bishop. 1. Blessed be God Who from age to age chooses them that please Him, distinguishes vessels of election, and uses them for the ministry of the Saints. Though you were trying to flee, as you confess, not from me, but from the calling you expected through me, He has netted you in the sure meshes of grace, and has brought you into the midst of Pisidia to catch men for the Lord, and draw the devil's prey from the deep into the light. You, too, may say as the blessed David said, Whither shall I go from your Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from your presence. Such is the wonderful work of our loving Master. Asses are lost that there may be a king of Israel. David, however, being an Israelite was granted to Israel; but the land which has nursed you and brought you to such a height of virtue, possesses you no longer, and sees her neighbour beautified by her own adornment. But all believers in Christ are one people; all Christ's people, although He is hailed from many regions, are one Church; and so our country is glad and rejoices at the dispensation of the Lord, and instead of thinking that she is one man the poorer, considers that through one man she has become possessed of whole Churches. Only may the Lord grant me both to see you in person, and, so long as I am parted from you, to hear of your progress in the gospel, and of the good order of your Churches. 2. Play the man, then, and be strong, and walk before the people whom the Most High has entrusted to your hand. Like a skilful pilot, rise in mind above every wave lifted by heretical blasts; keep the boat from being whelmed by the salt and bitter billows of false doctrine; and wait for the calm to be made by the Lord so soon as there shall have been found a voice worthy of rousing Him to rebuke the winds and the sea. If you wish to visit me, now hurried by long sickness towards the inevitable end, do not wait for an opportunity, or for the word from me. You know that to a father's heart every time is suitable to embrace a well-loved son, and that affection is stronger than words. Do not lament over a responsibility transcending your strength. If you had been destined to bear the burden unaided, it would have been not merely heavy; it would have been intolerable. But if the Lord shares the load with you, cast all your care upon the Lord and He will Himself act. Only be exhorted ever to give heed lest you be carried away by wicked customs. Rather change all previous evil ways into good by the help of the wisdom given you by God. For Christ has sent you not to follow others, but yourself to take the lead of all who are being saved. I charge you to pray for me, that, if I am still in this life, I may be permitted to see you with your Church. If, however, it is ordained that I now depart, may I see all of you hereafter with the Lord, your Church blooming like a vine with good works, and yourself like a wise husbandman and good servant giving meat in due season to his fellow-servants and receiving the reward of a wise and trusty steward. All who are with me salute your reverence. May you be strong and joyful in the Lord. May you be preserved glorious in the graces of the Spirit and of wisdom. 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/3202161.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.