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Morals

St Basil the Great, tr. Lowther Clarke, 1925

Chapter 62

That those who have believed in God and have been baptized should straightway prepare themselves for temptations, and that too from their own family, even unto death. For he who has not thus prepared himself, when a crisis comes suddenly, is easily shaken.

Mt. iii. 16; 17; iv. 1; x. 16-18, 21; 22; 38; Jn. xvi. 1; 2; 3 add ὑμῖν; Lk. viii. 13; 2 Cor. i. 8 add ἡμῖν after γενομένης K; 9; 2 Tim. iii. 12. 2That a man should not thrust himself into temptations before the time allowed by God, but should pray not to fall into temptation. Mt. vi. 9 omit ὑμεῖς**; 13; Jn. vii. 1 μετὰ ταῦτα after Ἰησοῦς K; 2; 3; 4 τι after ποιεῖ; 5–9; 10 εἰς τὴν ἑορτήν after ἀνέβη K; Lk. xxii. 46 add δέ after ἀναστάντες**, ἐμπέσητε for εἰσέλθητε**. 3That we should withdraw in good time from those that plot against us, but if allowed to fall into temptation should ask in prayer for the outcome of being able to endure, and that God’s will may be done.

Mt. x. 23 omit δέ, ἄλλην for ἑτέραν K; Mt. xii. 14 οἱ δὲ Φαρ. K, ἐξελθόντες after αὐτοῦ K; 15; Jn. xi. 53 συνεβουλεύσαντο for ἐβουλεύσαντο K; 54; Lk. xxii. 41; 42 παρενεγκεῖν for παρένεγκε K, τοῦτο after ποτήριον K; 1 Cor. x. 13.

That the Christian on each occasion when temptations assail him should recall the words spoken in the inspired Scripture with regard to the particular temptation and so both keep himself uninjured and bring to nought his adversaries. Mt. iv. 1; 2; 3 αὐτῷ after προσελθών; 4 add ὅτι before οὐκ.