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Shorter Rules

St Basil the Great, tr. Lowther Clarke, 1925

Rule 276: What is the Meaning of the Apostle’s Words, That Ye May Prove What is the Good…

There are many things which God wills: some in longsuffering and kindness, which are good and are so styled; others in wrath because of our sins, which are called evil. For “I’ He says “am he that maketh peace and createth evil things.”² Evil things, not as causes of our punishment but as instruments of our chastisement. But that which chastises and through affliction leads to conversion becomes good. As many things therefore as God wills in His long-suffering and kindness, these things it is necessary that we too should will and imitate. For He says: “Be ye merciful, even as also your Father is merciful.” And the apostle says:³ Be ye therefore imitators of God as beloved children and walk in love even as Christ also loved us.”⁴ And as many things as God brings on us in wrath because of our sins, these being called evil, as I have said, because they bring affliction, it is in no way lawful for us to do. For because it is the will of God that men should often be destroyed by famine, pestilence, war, or similar cause, it is not right that we should serve this will. For with such purposes in view God uses even evil ministers according to that which is written: He sent upon them the fury of his wrath, wrath, fury and affliction, which he sent by evil angels.” First then we must inquire what is the good will of God; then when we have found out the good we must examine whether this good will is also pleasing to God. For there is something which in its own manner is a thing willed by God and good, but when it is done in a way not fitting the person or time it is no longer pleasing to God. For instance, it was the will of God and it was good to burn incense to God, but it was not pleasing to God that Dathan and Abiram and their followers should do it. Again it is the will of God and good to offer alms; but to do so to be glorified by men is no longer pleasing to God. Again, it was God’s will and it was good that the disciples should proclaim on the house tops what they heard in the ear; but to speak anything prematurely was no longer pleasing to God. For He says: “Tell this vision to no man till the Son of man be risen from the dead.” And in general everything willed of God is good and pleasing when the apostle’s saying is fulfilled in it:⁵ Do all to the glory of God”’⁶; and:⁷ ‘Let all things be done decently and in order.”⁸

Again, when a thing is willed of God and good and pleasing, not even then ought one to feel safe, but rather struggle and plan that it be perfect and lacking in nothing—now measuring what is done, now whether it is according to the commandment, and now considering the strength of him who does it. For He says: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.”⁹ As also the Lord taught in the Gospel according to John. Moreover we must do every commandment, as it is written: ‘“Blessed is the servant, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing.”

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