5. Ask yourself. How often did you
visit me in my monastery on the Iris, when my very God-beloved brother
Gregory was with me, following the same course of life as myself?
Did you ever hear anything of the kind? Was there any appearance
of such a thing, small or great? How many days did we spend in
the opposite village, at my mother’s, living as friend with
friend, and discoursing together night and day? Did you ever find
me holding any opinion of the kind? And when we went together to
visit the blessed Silvanus,
i.e.Silvanus of Tarsus. cf. Letters xxxiv.
p. 136, and lxvii. p. 164. did we not talk of
these things on the way? And at Eusinoe, I have not
been able to identify Eusinoe. There was an Eusene on the
north coast of Pontus. when you were about to set out with other
bishops for Lampsacus, i.e.
in 364, the year after St. Basil’s ordination as
presbyter, and the publication of his work against Eunomius.
The Council of Lampsacus, at which Basil was not present, repudiated
the Creeds of Ariminum and Constantinople (359 and 360), and
reasserted the 2d Dedication Creed of Antioch of 341. Maran
dates it 364 (Vit. Bas. x.). was not our
discourse about the faith? Were not your shorthand writers at
my side the whole time while I was dictating my objections to the
heresy? Were not your most faithful disciples there too?
When I was visiting the brotherhood, and passing the night with them
in their prayers, continually speaking and hearing of the things
pertaining to God without dispute, was not the evidence which I gave
of my sentiments exact and definite? How came you then to
reckon this rotten and slender suspicion as of more importance than
the experience of such a length of time?