Letter 174
Late Antiquity Basil of Caesarea Greek- To a free woman
I, though greatly wishing to write continually to your Nobility, have always held myself back, lest I should seem to stir up some trials for you, because of those disposed to be our enemies and, as I hear, driving their enmity even to such lengths as to inquire busily whether anyone, anywhere, receives a letter of mine. But since you yourself, doing well, took the lead in writing, and wrote to me what was fitting, communicating about the affairs of your soul, I was moved to write back, at once making good what was left undone in time past, and at once answering what was written by your Nobility.
Blessed is the soul that, night and day, turns over no other care than how, on the great day, on which the whole creation will stand around the Judge, rendering account of its deeds, it too may be able lightly to lay down the account of its life. For he who sets that day and that hour before his eyes, and ever rehearses his defence at that tribunal which cannot be deceived — such a man will sin either not at all or very little, since sinning comes to us through the absence of the fear of God. But those to whom the expectation of the things threatened is present and vivid — to such men the indwelling fear will give no opportunity to fall into unwished-for actions or thoughts.
Remember God, then, and keep His fear in your heart, and take all men into the fellowship of your prayers. For great is the help of those who are able to win God's favour. And do not leave off doing these things. For while we live this life in the flesh, prayer will be a good helper, and when we depart from here, a sufficient provision for the age to come. And as care is a good thing, so again despondency and despair and being without hope of salvation are among the things that harm the soul. Set your hope, then, on the goodness of God, and await His help, knowing that, if we turn to Him rightly and genuinely, He will not only not cast us off utterly, but, while we are still speaking the words of prayer, He will say: Behold, I am here.