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Shorter Rules
St Basil the Great, tr. Lowther Clarke, 1925
Rule 53: What is Pollution of the Flesh and What is Pollution of the Spirit? And How…
It is pollution of the flesh when we mingle with those who practise forbidden things; of the spirit, when we show indifference towards those who think or do such things. A man cleanses himself when he obeys the apostle’s commands, not even to eat with such a one, and similar words; or when he feels what David describes: “Despondency hath taken hold of me because of the sinners who forsake thy law.” Or when he shows such grief as the Corinthians showed when they were accused of a feeling of indifference towards the sinner, though in every respect they had shown themselves pure in the matter. Sanctification is to be dedicated to the holy God completely and continuously at all times by care and zeal for what pleases Him. For what is mutilated is not accepted in the sacrifices; and what has once been dedicated to God it is impious and horrible to divert to common and human uses.