(ii) Next in order come the Proœmium de
Judicio Dei (προοίμιον
περὶ
κρίματος
Θεοῦ) and the De Fide
(περὶ
πίστεως). These
treatises were prefixed by Basil to the Moralia. He
states that, when he
enquired into the true causes of the troubles which weighed
heavily on the Church, he could only refer them to breaches of
the commandments of God. Hence the divine punishment, and
the need of observing the Divine Law. The apostle says that
what is needed is faith working by love. So St. Basil
thought it necessary to append an exposition of the sound faith
concerning the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and so pass
in order to morals. De Jud.
Dei. § 8. It has,
however, been supposed by some cf.
Ceillier VI. viii. 3. that the
composition published in the plan as the De Fide
is not the original tract so entitled, but a letter on the
same subject written, if not during the episcopate, at least in
the presbyterate. This view has been supported by the
statement “Thus we believe and baptize.” οὕτως
φρονοδμεν
καὶ οὕτως
Βαπτίζομεν
εἰς Τοιάδα
ὁμοούσιον,
κατὰ τὴν
ἐντολὴν
αὐτοῦ τοῦ
κυρίου ἡμῶν
᾽Ιησοῦ
Χριστοῦ
εἰπόντος
πορευθέντες
μαθητεύσατε
κ.τ.λ. §; the co-essential Trinity being
described as involved in the baptismal formula.