"'
They walked a short distance without further speech, then the prior
stopped.
'Many there are,' he said, with a gesture indicating the world
below, 'who think that we flee the common life only for our souls'
salvation. So, indeed, it has been in former times, and God forbid
that we should speak otherwise than with reverence of those who
abandoned all and betook themselves to the desert that they might
live in purity and holiness. But to us, by the grace bestowed upon
our holy father, has another guidance been shown. Know, my son,
that, in an evil time, we seek humbly to keep clear, not for
ourselves only, but for all men, the paths of righteousness and of
understanding. With heaven's blessing we strive to preserve what
else might utterly perish, to become not only guardians of God's law
but of man's learning.'
Therewith did the prior take his leave, and Basil pondered much on
what he had heard. It was a new light to him, for, as his instructor
suspected, he shared the common view of coenobite aims, and still
but imperfectly understood the law of Benedict.
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