he souls
of those who receive the holy mysteries before death, depart out of
their bodies attended by angels as troops of heavenly guards." Lastly,
he shows that sins are more easily committed, and are more grievous, in
the episcopal ministry than in holy retirement. Basil, at this
discourse, almost swooned away in the excess of grief and fear with
which he was seized, till after some time, recovering himself, he said
in the bitterness of his heart, What has the church of God committed to
have deserved so dreadful a calamity, that the pastoral charge should be
intrusted to the most unworthy of men? For he had before his eyes on one
side the glory, the sanctity, the spiritual beauty and wisdom of the
sacred spouse of Christ; and on the other, the sins and miseries of his
own soul; and this consideration drew from him a flood of tears.
Chrysostom said, that as to himself, upon the first news of his danger
he had swooned away, and only returned to himself to vent his grief by
abundance of tears; in which agony he passed all that time. He adds: "I
will now discover to you the deplorable state of my mind at that time,
that out of mere compassion you may forgive me what I have done; and I
wish I could show you my wretched heart itself.--But all my alarms are
now converted into joy." Basil replied: "But I am now plunged in bitter
sorrow and tears: and what protection can I seek? If you have still any
bowels of tenderness and compassion for my soul, any consolation in
Christ, I conjure you never to forsake me in the dangers in which you
have engaged me." St. Chrysostom answered, smiling, "In what can I serve
you in your exalted station? However, when a respite from your functions
affords you any leisure, I will wait upon you, and will never be wanting
in any thing in my power." Basil at this arose weeping. St. John,
embracing him and kissing his head, said, "Be of good courage, trusting
in Christ, who has called you to his holy ministry."

In the first tome of his works, p. 228, we have a book which he composed
when he was first made bishop of Constantinople, in 397, Against those
who have sub-introduced Women; that is, against such of the clergy as
kept deaconesses, or spiritual sisters, under the same roof to take care
of their household. Saint Chrysostom condemns this custom as criminal in
itself, both because dangerous, and because scandalous to others.
Whatever pretext such persons allege of imaginary necessities, and of
t