Heights And Falls

Τί ξενίζῃ βλέπων πονηρότατόν τε καὶ ἀνοσιώτατον ὑπερευφημούμενον, καὶ ἐνδοξαζόμενον παρανόμως, καὶ μεγάλα ἰσχύοντα παρὰ τοῖς δυναστεύουσιν; Μνήσθητι τῆς Γραφῆς ἐμβοώσης, ὅτι Ἐδόθη ὁ ἀσεβὴς ἐν ὕψεσι μεγάλοις· τουτέστι, συνεχωρήθη ὑψωθῆναι κατὰ τὸν κόσμον τοῦτον. Συγκεχώρηται δὲ οὐκ ἀκρίτως, ἀλλ' ἵνα λίαν μετάρσιος ἐκφανθεὶς, κἀκεῖθειν καταπεσὼν ἀνίατον συντριβὴν ὑπομείνῃ. Ἅγιος Νειλος, Βιβλίον Πρῶτον, Ἐπιστολή ΟΔ' Πομπηιῳ Διακονῳ Source: Migne PG 79.113d-116a

Why do you gleefully welcome the sight of the celebration of grave wickedness and impiety, and the lawless glorification of great might by the powerful? Remember that the Scriptures cry out that 'Ungodliness is given to great heights.' 1 that is, it is possessed by those who are exalted according to this world. Which association will not be without judgement, but he who has appeared exceedingly exalted, falling from that, shall suffer a shattering without repair. Saint Nilus of Sinai, Book 1, Letter 74, to Pompeius the Deacon 1. Eccle 10.6