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Morals

St Basil the Great, tr. Lowther Clarke, 1925

Chapter 5

That a man ought to be pure from all hatred towards all men, and to love his enemies; but on behalf of his friends to lay down his life, if occasion requires, having such love as God and His Christ had towards us.

Mt. v. 43 add τοῖς ἀρχαίοις*; 44; 48 ὥσπερ for ὡς K; Jn. iii. 16; xv. 12 ἐγώ after καθώς*; 13; Lk. vi. 35; 36 add οὖν after γίνεσθε K; Rom. v. 8 ὁ θεός before εἰς ἡμᾶς*, ἡμῶν before ὄντων*; Eph. v. 1; 2 ἡμᾶς for ὑμᾶς K.

That a sure sign of Christ’s disciples is their mutual love in Him.

Jn. xiii. 35.

That it is a proof of a man’s not having the love of Christ towards his neighbour, when he does anything that harms him or troubles him so as to destroy his faith, even though what he does is in a manner permitted by the Scripture.

Rom. xiv. 15 ὁ Χριστός for Χριστός**.

That the Christian ought in every way so far as in him lies to pacify the man who is vexed with him.

Mt. v. 23; 24; 1 Cor. iv. 12; 13 βλασφημούμενοι for δυσφημούμενοι K.

That he who has a Christ-like love will on occasions even grieve the loved one, for his good.

Jn. xvi. 5-7; 2 Cor. vii. 7-9.