2. I have been specially moved to desire
union with you by the report of the zeal of your reverences in the
cause of orthodoxy. The constancy of your hearts has been stirred
neither by multiplicity of books nor by variety of ingenious
arguments. You have on the contrary, recognised those who
endeavoured to introduce innovations in opposition to the apostolic
doctrines, and you have refused to keep silence concerning the mischief
which they are causing. I have in truth found great distress
among all who cleave to the peace of the Lord at the divers innovations
of Apollinarius of Laodicea. He has all the more distressed me
from the fact that he seemed at the beginning on our side. A
sufferer can in a certain sense endure what comes to him from an open
enemy, even though it be exceedingly painful, as it is written,
“For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have
borne it.”
Ps. lv. 12. But it is
intolerable, and beyond the power of comfort, to be wronged by a close
and sympathetic friend. Now that very man whom I have expected to
have at my right hand in defence of the truth, I have found in many
ways hindering those who are being saved, by seducing their minds and
drawing them away from direct doctrine. What rash and hasty deed
has he not done? What ill considered and dangerous argument has
he not risked? Is not all the Church divided against herself,
specially since the day when men have been sent by him to the Churches
governed by orthodox bishops, to rend them asunder and to set up some
peculiar and illegal service? Is not ridicule brought upon the
great mystery of true religion when bishops go about without people and
clergy, having nothing but the mere name and title, and effecting
nothing for the advancement of the Gospel of peace and salvation?
Are not his discourses about God full of impious doctrines, the old
impiety of the insane Sabellius being now renewed by him in his
writings? For if the works which are current among the Sebastenes
are not the forgery of foes, and are really his composition, he has
reached a height of impiety which cannot be surpassed, in saying that
Father, Son, and Spirit are the same, and other dark pieces of
irreverence which I have declined even to hear, praying that I may have
nothing to do with those who have uttered them. Does he not
confuse the doctrine of the incarnation? Has not the œconomy
of salvation been made doubtful to the many on account of his dark and
cloudy speculations about it? To collect them all, and refute
them, requires long time and much discussion. But where have the
promises of the Gospel been blunted and destroyed as by his
figments? So meanly and poorly has he dared to explain the
blessed hope laid up for all who live according to the Gospel of
Christ, as to reduce it to mere old wives’ fables and doctrines
of Jews. He proclaims the renewal of the Temple, the observance
of the worship of the Law, a typical high priest over again after the
real High Priest, and a sacrifice for sins after the Lamb of God Who
taketh away the sin of the world.
John i. 29. He
preaches partial baptisms after the one baptism, and the ashes of a
heifer sprinkling the Church which, through its faith in Christ, has
not spot or wrinkle, or any such thing;
Eph. v. 27.
cleansing of leprosy after the painless state of the resurrection; an
offering of jealousy cf.
Num. v. 15. when they neither
marry nor are given in marriage; shew-bread after the Bread from
heaven; burning lamps after the true Light. In a word, if the law
of the Commandments has been done away with by dogmas, it is plain that
under these circumstances the dogmas of Christ will be nullified by the
injunctions of the law. This passage
shews in what sense St. Basil understands δόγματα in
Eph. ii. 15, and Col. ii. 14. cf. note on p.
41. At these
things shame and disgrace have covered my face, cf.
Ps. lxiv. 7. and heavy grief hath filled my
heart. Wherefore, I beseech you, as skilful physicians, and
instructed how to discipline antagonists with gentleness, to try and
bring him back to the right order of the Church, and to persuade him
to despise the wordiness of his own works; for he has proved the
truth of the proverb “in the multitude of words there wanteth
not sin.”
Prov. x. 19. Put boldly
before him the doctrines
of orthodoxy, in order that his amendment may be published abroad,
and his repentance made known to his brethren.