66. To Basilia

Anselm the archbishop to Basilia his friend, his beloved daughter in the Lord, greeting, and the blessing of God, and his own if it be worth anything.

I learnt from your messengers that you eagerly desire a letter from me; in this I perceive your good will and Christian aim, for I do not see any reason why you should desire it, except that you may thence receive some wholesome advice for your soul. There fore although the whole of the sacred Scripture teaches you how you ought to live, if you have it explained to you, yet I must not be stingy, or inexorable to your religious petition. I will therefore, beloved daughter, tell you something, which, if you will frequently consider it with the full force of your mind, will enable you to influence your heart greatly with the fear of God and love of a virtuous life. Let it always be before your mind's eye that the present life has an end; and that man knows not when the last day, towards which by day and night he is incessantly approaching, shall arrive. The present life is a journey. For so long as a man lives, he is always moving. Always is he either mounting, or going downwards towards hell. When he does any good deed, he takes one step upwards; but when in any way he sins, he takes one step downwards. This ascent or descent is known by every soul when it goes out of the body. That one who carefully strives by a pure life and good works to rise while it lives here, will be placed in heaven with the holy angels; and the one who descends by a wicked life, will be buried in hell with the evil spirits. It is also to be noted that it is a very much quicker and easier road by which one goes down than that by which one goes up. Wherefore in each one of their decisions and actions a Christian man or woman ought carefully to consider whether they are going up or down, and with their whole heart to embrace those which they see will help them upwards; and those by which they perceive a descent towards hell to be made, flee from and abjure. I therefore warn and advise you, friend and loved daughter in God, that so far as, God helping you, you are able, you draw back from every sin, large or small, and practise yourself in deeds of holiness. I pray Almighty God to protect, direct, keep you always and everywhere. Amen.