The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Cyril – Ephraem Syrus
CYRIL
The Life of Cyril, who dyed Anno Christi 365.
Cyrillus, Bishop of Jerusalem, was at the first an Arian, and therefore by that faction was made Bishop of Hierusalem: but shortly after he was accused in a Council for certain hainous crimes,He is deposed. by whom he was deposed from his Bishoprick, and being often called by them to purge himself from those crimes, he still absented himself for the space of 2 years, thinking thereby to escape, and the crime to be forgotten; as soon as he was deposed he sent an appellation in writing to his Deposers, appealing from them to the Judges of the Higher Court. Constantius the Emperour admitted his appellation,His appeal. so that Cyril was the first and the only man that brought in this president, so prejudicial to the Ecclesiastical constitutions. At length he came to Seleucia to have his cause heard, where his Deposition was confirmed for his communicating with certain heretical Bishops: and Herennius was substituted in his room Bishop of Hierusalem, and after him Heraclius, and after him Hilarius; These continued the Government of that Church, till the reign of Theodosius senior: At which time Cyril having reformed his former miscarriages,His reformation. was again placed in the Bishoprick of Hierusalem by that good Emperour, and he proved an eminent instrument of Gods glory and his Churches good: Insomuch as one saith of him, that he was Magnae sanctimoniae vir, a man of great Sanctity, Learning and Wisdom; he endured many heavy things for the testimony of Faith and a good Conscience,His patience. being often forced to forsake his place by the rage of the Arians: His charity.He was very charitable, insomuch that in a great Famine many poor people resorting to him for relief, he gave them all he had, and that not sufficing, he took the Vessels, and Church Ornaments, and sold them to relieve their wants: When Julian the Emperour had given command to re-edifie the Temple at Jerusalem in his time one night there was such a terrible Earthquake,Gods judgement on the Jews. that it parted the very stones of the foundation, and so all the upper buildings fell down; and when many Jews came together to behold what was done, suddenly there came fire from Heaven that consumed all the tools and instruments of the workmen.
Epiphanius gives him this testimony: He not only not feared to encounter Acrcius the Arian, but did Christianly and faithfully oppose divers other Heretical Bishops.Testimonies of him. Hierom also saith thus of him; Cyril that valiant Souldier and Combatant for Jesus Christ, that most constant maintainer of the Orthodox Faith, for many years together strove for the propagation of Divine Truth, suffered various and heavy Persecutions: being exercised in such dangers from almost the beginning of Constantius his reign, to the reign of Theodosius; yet all this while in the midst of these manifold afflictions he kept his first resolution, and dyed in the Faith at last,His death. Anno Christi 365.
He used to say,His sayings. The benefit of hearing. Some come to the Church to see fashions, others to meet their friends; yet its better to come so then not at all: in the mean time the Net is cast out, and they which intended nothing less, are drawn in to Christ, who catches them, not to destroy them, but that being dead, he may bring them to life eternal.
He wrote divers Treatises,His works. which are called his Catechisms upon the principal Heads of Divinity.
The Life of Ephrem Syrus, who dyed Anno Christi 404.
EPhrem Syrus was born in Nisiba, His birth and education.and by the care of his Parents was educated in Learning, in the study whereof he was exceeding industrious, insomuch that without the help of an instructer he attained to excellent skill in the Syriack tongue: He was also a great Philosopher, and a very good Orator, so that he far excelled most of the Greek writers. Basil Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia did wonderfully admire and commend him for his Learning.His excellent learning. He is said to have written three hundred thousand verses, which were much esteemed in those times, many endeavouring to imitate his Learing therein; amongst whom were Abbas, Zenobias, Abraham Meras, and Symeon, all of them famous amongst the Syrians, and amongst all such as diligently study that language. But besides his exquisite Learning, he also gat great honour and commendations for his many good works, and exact course of life. He was very grave and severe in his carriage,His Chastity. and living a single life, that he might prevent all calumnies and scandals, he shunned the sight of a woman: For the report goes, that a certain woman dissolute in life and manners, and of an impudent face, either on purpose to tempt the man, or else being hired thereto by some others, on purpose met him in the City gate, and earnestly stared in his face: Ephrem taking notice of it, sharply rebuked her, and bade her look down upon the ground: But the woman answered, How can I do that, who am not made out of the Earth, but of thee? Its more meet that thou shouldst look upon the ground from whence thou hadst thy original, but that I should look upon thee, from whom I was procreated, Ephrem wondering at the woman, went his ways, and wrote a Book of these passages betwixt them, which the learned in the Syrian tongue do much esteem, Its also recorded of him, that though by nature he was very cholerick, and all his Youth, could not bridle his anger;His patience. yet after he entred into this strict course of life, he was never seen to be angry with any man.
Having fasted divers days, one of his Servants that was bringing him his supper, let the Earthen Pitcher fall wherein it was, and brake it, and Ephrem seeing him overwhelmed with fear and shame, said to him: Be of good cheer, let us go to our supper, since it will not come to us, and so sitting down by the fragments of the pot,His humility. did eat his supper. He was very humble, full of self-denyal, and a great enemy to vain-glory, as will notably appear by this example. Upon a time he was voted to an Episcopacy, and they that had chosen and designed him thereto, sought him out to bring him to the place where he was to be created Bishop, which as soon as he understood, he ran into the Market place, and there by sundry signs made shew as if he was crack-brained; so that they that came for him, thinking him to be besides himself, took further counsel what to do: by which means he having gained time, fled privily away, and concealed himself, till he had heard that they had chosen another Bishop to that place. Another notable example of his charitable disposition will appear by this instance:His charity. Upon a time there was a very great Famine in Edessa, whereupon Ephrem coming out of his house, and calling many rich men together, he grievously accused, and complained of them, that the poor were almost starved, whilest they in a covetous manner kept their riches by them, which (saith he) will in the end turn to your own great loss, and to the torment of your souls, whereas you ought to prefer the wealth of your souls not only before all your riches, but before your very bodies themselves: They hearing this, were much affected with his words, and said thus unto him: Truly we care not much for our riches, but we know not whom to commit them to, to be faithfully distributed amongst the Poor, seeing that almost every man is infected with the desire of lucre and gain, and they use to make merchandise and advantage to themselves upon such occasions: Then said Ephrem to them, What do you judge of me? To whom they answered, We judge you to be a very faithful, good, and upright dealing man, as every man esteems you to be. Well (said he) and for your sakes I will undertake this great and trouble some work; and so receiving their money, he caused three hundred beds to be provided,His care for the poor in a Famine. and laid in the cloisters, placing in them such as were sick by reason of the terrible Famine, for whom he made convenient Provision, and not only for them, but also for strangers, and for all such as were driven by the Famine out of the Villages to seek relief in the City. And thus he continued till the Famine being ceased, he returned into his retired house again, and not long after he quietly slept in the Lord,His death. Anno Christi 404.
He was a great opposer of Sabellius, Arius, Apollinarius, and other Hereticks:An enemy to Hereticks. so chaste, that he repelled the shameless behaviour of a lewd woman,His chastity. which being instigated by the Devil, thought to have enticed him to lust; but with his grave Exhortations, Admonitions, and Divine speeches he caught and overcame the tempter: so that by his Fatherly advice she proved a grave,His humility. modest, and religious Matron: In his Will he commanded that they should sing no verses in his commendation, bury him in no fine linnens, nor with ointments, raise no monuments for him: for (saich he) I am a stranger and so journey, &c. He was very merciful to the poor,His charity. as in part we have heard before, and having not of his own to give, by his sweet and attractive Sermons, he stirred up the hearts of others to relieve them.
He used to say,His savings. That the resolute Traveller knows that his journey is long, The bought of perseverance.and the may dirty, yet goes on in hope to come to his house: so let a Christian, (though the way to Heaven be narrow, though it be set With troubles and persecutions) yet let him go on till be bath finished his course With Joy, for Heaven is his home. And again, He that feasts his body and starves his soul, is like him that feasts his slave and starves his wife, He dyed under Valence.
His Works are contained in three Tomes upon several Subjects.His works.