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Shorter Rules
St Basil the Great, tr. Lowther Clarke, 1925
Rule 147: If He Who is Engaged in the Cellar or Kitchen or Similar Work Fails to Appear…
Each man keeps his own rule by doing his own work, like a member in the body. And he suffers harm if he neglects the task assigned him: he is in grievous peril because he is plotting against the common good. So let him fulfil with all his heart what is written: “Singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord.”1 And if he cannot join the rest with his bodily presence, let him not be disturbed for he is doing what is written: Let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide.”2 But we must beware lest any one, able to fulfil his allotted task in good time and set an example to others, urge as an excuse that he is busy with work, thus putting a stumblingblock in the way of the rest, and thereby incur the condemnation of the careless.
Notes
- Eph. v. 19 ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις for τῇ καρδίᾳ.
- 1 Cor. vii. 24.