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Shorter Rules
St Basil the Great, tr. Lowther Clarke, 1925
Rule 96: B May We Allow Any One Who Wishes to Learn His Letters or Have Time for Reading?…
Since the apostle says: That ye may not do the things that ye would,”1 it is harmful in any matter to allow a man to do what he chooses privately according to his desire; but he must accept whatever is chosen for him by the superiors, though it be against his wishes. Such a man as you describe deserves the charge of unbelief, for the Lord says: Be ye also ready, for the Son of man cometh in an hour that ye think not”’2; and he is clearly one who maps out for himself his times of life.
Notes
- Gal. v. 17.
- Lk. xii. 40.