Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Ser. II, Vol. VIII:
The Letters.: To Eustathius bishop of Sebastia.

Letter LXXIX. 2274

To Eustathius bishop of Sebastia. 2275

Even before receiving your letter I knew what trouble you are ready to undergo for every one, and specially for my humble self because I am exposed in this struggle.  So when I received your letter from the reverend Eleusinius, and saw him actually before my face, I praised God for bestowing on me such a champion and comrade, in my struggles on behalf of true religion by the aid of the Spirit.  Be it known to your exalted reverence that I have hitherto sustained some attacks from high magistrates, and these no light ones; while both the prefect and the high chamberlain pleaded with sympathy for my opponents.  But, so far, I have sustained every assault unmoved, by that mercy of God which supplies to me the aid of the Spirit, and strengthens my weakness through Him.

Footnotes

Also of the year 371.

cf. Letter cxix.  Sebaste is Siwas on the Halys.  On Eustathius to Basil a type at once of the unwashable Ethiopian for persistent heresy (Letter cxxx. 1) and of the wind-driven cloud for shiftiness and time-serving, (Letter ccxliv. 9.)  Vide proleg.