Ep. XX.

(In a.d. 368 the City of Nicæa in Bithynia was almost entirely destroyed by a terrible earthquake.  Cæsarius lost his house, and his personal escape was almost miraculous.  Gregory writes (as also did Basil) to congratulate him on his escape, and profits by the occasion to urge upon him retirement from his secular avocations.)

Even frights are not without use to the wise; or, as I should say, they are very valuable and salutary.  For, although we pray that they may not happen, yet when they do they instruct us.  For the afflicted soul, as Peter10    Source of the quotation unknown. somewhere admirably says, is near to God; and every man who escapes a danger is brought into nearer relation to Him Who preserved him.  Let us not then be vexed that we had a share in the calamity, but let us give thanks that we were delivered.  And let us not shew ourselves one thing to God in the time of peril, and another when the danger is over, but let us resolve, whether at home or abroad, whether in private life or in public office (for I must say this and may not omit it), to follow Him Who has preserved us, and to attach ourselves to His side, thinking little of the little concerns of earth; and let us furnish a tale to those who come after us, great for our glory and the benefit of our soul, and at the same time a very useful lesson to all, that danger is better than security, and that misfortune is preferable to success, at least if before our fears we belonged to the world, but after them we belong to God.  Perhaps I seem to you somewhat of a bore, by writing to you so often on the same subject, and you will think my letter a piece not of exhortation but of ostentation, so enough of this.  You will know that I desire and wish especially that I might be with you and share your joy at your preservation, and to talk over these matters later on.  But since that cannot be, I hope to receive you here as soon as may be, and to celebrate our thanksgiving together.

[20] ΚΑΙΣΑΡΙΩΙ

Οὐδ' οἱ φόβοι τοῖς εὐφρονοῦσιν ἄχρηστοι: ὡς δ' ἔγωγέ φημι, καὶ λίαν καλοὶ καὶ σωτήριοι. Εἰ γὰρ καὶ γίνεσθαι αὐτοὺς ἀπευχόμεθα, γινομένοις γε παιδευόμεθα. Κάμνουσα γὰρ ψυχὴ ἐγγίζει Θεῷ, φησί που θαυμασιώτατα λέγων ὁ Πέτρος, καὶ παντὶ διαφυγόντι κίνδυνον πλείων οἰκείωσις πρὸς τὸν περισώσαντα. Μὴ οὖν, ὅτι μετεσχήκαμεν τοῦ κακοῦ, δυσχεράνωμεν: ἀλλ' ὅτι διαπεφεύγαμεν, εὐχαριστήσωμεν. Μηδ' ἄλλοι φανῶμεν τῷ Θεῷ παρὰ τὸν καιρὸν τῶν κινδύνων, καὶ ἄλλοι μετὰ τοὺς κινδύνους: ἀλλὰ βουληθῶμεν εἴτ' ἐνδημοῦντες, εἴτ' ἐκδημοῦντες, εἴτ' ἰδιωτεύοντες, εἴτε τὰ κοινὰ πράττοντες (δεῖ γὰρ οὕτω λέγειν καὶ μὴ λιπεῖν), τῷ σώσαντι κατακολουθεῖν καὶ γίνεσθαι τῆς ἐκείνου μοίρας, μικρὰ τῶν μικρῶν καὶ χαμαὶ ἐρχομένων φροντίσαντες. Καὶ δῶμέν τι διήγημα τοῖς εἰς ὕστερον, μέγα μὲν εἰς δόξαν ἡμῖν, μέγα δ' εἰς ὠφέλειαν ψυχῆς: τὸ δ' αὐτὸ καὶ παίδευμα τοῖς πολλοῖς χρησιμώτατον, ὅτι κρεῖττον ἀσφαλείας κίνδυνος, καὶ συμφορὰ εὐημερίας αἱρετωτέρα: εἴ γε πρὸ μὲν τῶν φόβων ἦμεν τοῦ κόσμου, μετὰ δὲ τοὺς φόβους τοῦ Θεοῦ γεγενήμεθα. Ἴσως σοι φορτικοὶ δοκοῦμεν πολλάκις σοι περὶ τῶν αὐτῶν ἐπιστέλλοντες, καὶ οὐ παραίνεσιν, ἄλλ' ἐπίδειξιν νομίζεις τοὺς λόγους. Διὸ τούτων μὲν ἅλις: ἡμᾶς δ' ἴσθι προθυμουμένους καὶ εὐχομένους μάλιστα μὲν γενέσθαι μέχρι σοῦ, συνησθησομένους τῇ σωτηρίᾳ σου καὶ περὶ τούτων τελεώτερον διαλεξομένους: εἰ δ' οὖν, ἀλλ' ἐνταῦθά σε δεξομένους ὡς τάχιστα, συνεορτάσαι τὰ χαριστήρια.