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Shorter Rules
St Basil the Great, tr. Lowther Clarke, 1925
Rule 114: The Lord Commands, If a Man Compels Thee to Go One Mile, Go with Him Two, and…
A difference in those who give orders ought not to prejudice the obedience of those who receive them. For Moses did not fail to obey Jethro when he gave good counsel. But there is no small difference in the orders given; for some are contrary to the commandment of the Lord, or perhaps destroy and corrupt it by an admixture of what is forbidden; others help to fulfil the commandment; others again, if not obviously fulfilling it, yet contribute towards this end and help the commandment. It is necessary therefore to remember the apostle’s words: “Despise not prophesyings; proving all things; hold fast that which is good; abstain from every form of evil”4; and again Casting down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”5 So that if we are given an order which fulfils the commandment of the Lord, or contributes to its fulfilment, we must receive it eagerly and carefully as the will of God, fulfilling the saying: ‘Forbearing one another in the love of Christ.”6 But when we receive an order from any one that is contrary to the commandment of the Lord, or destroys or corrupts it, then it is time to say: “We must obey God rather than men,”7 remembering the Lord’s words: A stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers”;8 and those of the apostle, who dared for our safety to attack even angels, when he said: “Though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema.”9 By which we are instructed that even if he who hinders the doing of the Lord’s command or persuades us to do what is forbidden by Him, be ever so close a relation, or exceedingly illustrious, he ought to be shunned and abominated by every one of those who love the Lord.
Notes
- Mt. v. 41 ἐάν τις ἀγγαρεύσῃ for ὅστις . . . ἀγγαρεύσει*.
- Eph. v. 21.
- See B. 303 for a similar question.
- 1 Thess. v. 20; 21 δοκιμάζοντες for δοκιμάζετε; 22.
- 2 Cor. x. 5.
- Eph. iv. 2 add Χριστοῦ after ἀγάπῃ**.
- Acts v. 29.
- Jn. x. 5.
- Gal. i. 8.