The
genuineness of this latter portion of the Treatise was objected to
by Erasmus on the ground that the style is unlike that of
Basil’s soberer writings. Bp. Jeremy Taylor follows
Erasmus (Vol. vi. ed. 1852, p. 427). It was vindicated by
Casaubon, who recalls St. John Damascene’s quotation of the
Thirty Chapters to Amphilochius. Mr. C.F.H. Johnston
remarks, “The later discovery of the Syriac Paraphrases of
the whole book pushes back this argument to about one hundred
years from the date of St. Basil’s writing. The
peculiar care taken by St. Basil for the writing out of the
treatise, and for its safe arrival in Amphilochius’ hands,
and the value set upon it by the friends of both, make the forgery
of half the present book, and the substitution of it for the
original within that period, almost incredible.”
Section 66 is quoted as an authoritative statement on the right
use of Tradition “as a guide to the right understanding of
Holy Scripture, for the right ministration of the Sacraments, and
the preservation of sacred rights and ceremonies in the purity of
their original institution,” in Philaret’s Longer
Catechism of the Eastern Church.
St. Basil is, however, strong on the supremacy of
Holy Scripture, as in the passages quoted in Bp. H. Browne, On the
xxxix Articles: “Believe those things which are
written; the things which are not written seek not.”
(Hom. xxix. adv. Calum. S. Trin.) “It is a manifest
defection from the faith, and a proof of arrogance, either to reject
anything of what is written, or to introduce anything that is
not.” (De Fide. i.) cf.
also Letters CV. and CLIX. On the right use of Tradition
cf. Hooker, Ecc. Pol. lxv. 2, “Lest,
therefore, the name of tradition should be offensive to any,
considering how far by some it hath been and is abused, we mean by
traditions ordinances made in the prime of Christian Religion,
established with that authority which Christ hath left to His Church
for matters indifferent, and in that consideration requisite to be
observed, till like authority see just and reasonable causes to alter
them. So that traditions ecclesiastical are not rudely and in
gross to be shaken off, because the inventors of them were
men.”
cf. Tert., De Præsc.
36, 20, 21, “Constat omnem doctrinam quæ cum illis
ecclesiis apostolicis matricibus et originalibus fidei conspiret
veritati deputandam, id sine dubio tenentem quod ecclesiæ ab
apostolis, apostoli a Christo, Christus a Deo accepit.”
VideThomasius, Christ. Dogm. i.
105.