(Eusebius had replied to the earlier letter, so Gregory wrote again, since he had the opportunity to communicate with his friend through a certain Eupraxius, a disciple of Eusebius, who was passing through Cappadocia on his way to visit his master. This letter is sometimes attributed to Basil.)
(Eusebius having replied to the former letter Gregory wrote again, having an opportunity of communicating with his friend through one Eupraxius, a disciple of Eusebius, who passed through Cappadocia on his way to visit his master. This letter is sometimes attributed to Basil.)
Our respected brother Eupraxius has always been dear to me and a true friend, but he has shown himself even more dear and true through his love for you. Even now he has rushed to your reverence, like a deer (to use David's words) seeking to quench his great and unbearable thirst with the sweet and pure spring of your patience in suffering. Please be willing to be his patron and mine.
Our reverend brother Eupraxius has always been dear to me and a true friend, but he has shown himself dearer and truer through his affections for you, inasmuch as even at the present time he has hurried to your reverence, like, to use David's words, a hart to quench his great and unendurable thirst with a sweet and pure spring at your patience in tribulations. Deign then to be his patron and mine.
Happy indeed are those who are permitted to come near you, and happier still is the one who can place upon his sufferings for Christ's sake and upon his labors for the truth a crown such as few of those who fear God have obtained. For it is not an untested virtue that you have shown, nor have you only sailed rightly and steered the souls of others in a time of calm, but you have shone in the difficulties of temptations and have been greater than your persecutors, having nobly departed from the land of your birth. Others possess the threshold of their fathers—we have the heavenly city; others perhaps hold our throne, but we have Christ. What a profitable exchange! How little we give up to receive how much! We went through fire and water, and I believe that we shall also come out into a place of refreshment. For God will not forsake us forever or abandon the true faith to persecution, but according to the multitude of our pains His comforts shall make us glad. This at any rate we believe and desire. But I beg you to pray for our humility. And as often as occasion presents itself, bless us without hesitation by a letter and cheer us up by news of yourself, as you have just been good enough to do.
Happy indeed are they who are permitted to come near you, and happier still is he who can place upon his sufferings for Christ's sake and upon his labours for the truth, a crown such as few of those who fear God have obtained. For it is not an untested virtue that you have shown, nor is it only, in a time of calm that you have sailed aright and steered the souls of others, but you have shone in the difficulties of temptations, and have been greater than your persecutors, having nobly departed from the land of your birth. Others possess the threshold of their fathers — we the heavenly City; others perhaps hold our throne, but we Christ. O what a profitable exchange! How little we give up, to receive how much! We went through fire and water, and I believe that we shall also come out into a place of refreshment. For God will not forsake us for ever, or abandon the true faith to persecution, but according to the multitude of our pains His comforts shall make us glad. This at any rate we believe and desire. But do you, I beg, pray for our humility. And as often as occasion shall present itself bless us without hesitation by a letter, and cheer us up by news of yourself, as you have just been good enough to do.