The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Gregory Nazianzen
GREGORI NAZIANZEN
The Life of Gregory Nazianzen, who flourished Anno Christi 370.
GRegory Nazianzen was first Bishop of Sasima, then of Nazianzum in Cappad…cia, and lastly, of Constantinople: he was a living Library of Philosophy and Divinity: exceeding Eloquent:His Character. a defender of the poor and oppressed; and a comforter of the afflicted. In his younger days he became acquainted with Basil, His educationand joined studies with him: So that with him at Athens he heard those famous Rhetoricians Hymerius and Proaeresius. At Antioch in Syria he frequented the School of Libanius, and by these means he became an excellent Orator. By reading the Commentaries of Origen, he learned to expound, and interpret the Sacred Scriprures. In disputation he foiled and overthrew the most learned amongst the Arians: His zeal against Heresie.and fearing least those Errors should infect the Churches of Cappadocia; he gat him thither to oppose them, where he was made Bishop of Nazianzum, He is made Bishop of Nazianzum.a mean City of Cappadocia, whereof his Father had been Bishop before him.
What insight he had into mens dispositions by their Physiognomies, may appear by that which he wrote concerning Julian the Apostate, in his second Oration against the Gentiles, where he thus writeth;His judgment on Julian. I foresaw (saith he) long ago in Julian that which is now come to pass, when I knew him at Athens: For he came thither when the Empress had procured License of the Emperour for his voyage, and when his Brother Gallus had conspired the death of the Emperour Constantius. There were two causes that moved him to repair to Athens: The first was tolerable; the second had small honesty in it: The first was to see Greece, and the Schools that flourished therein: The second (which was more secret, and was known unto few) was to consult with Southsayers, and Sacrificers, about his affairs in time to come, because it was not permitted openly for the Authors of such impiety to practise such divellish inventions. And I my self in conjecturing of him at that time, (although I am not of the number of Prophets) yet was not much deceived: For his wavering minde and frantick disposition made me Prophet good enough. I saw not one sign in him that gave me any hope that ever he would become an honest man.
He had a running head:A description of Julian. his shoulders did never leave waging: he had winking eyes that continually rouled in his head: His countenance was staring: He had a sliding and limping pace: His visage was scornful. He had a fleering face of his own, the which, his immoderate laughter, and continual scorning did declare. His manner was without all honesty, to say and unsay: His words came tumbling out with vehemency and stops, the sentence broken in the midst: His questions and objections were rash and foolish: His answers were little better, which oftentimes followed one after another, and as there was little hold of them, so were they proposed without order. But what need I to run over all particulars? I foresaw in him before he was created Emperour, that which afterwards proved to be most true. If there were any of my familiar friends present which heard me thus divining of him, I am sure they would testifie this to be no otherwise then I do report it: in whose hearing also at the foresight of these things, I uttered these words; O good God, what a Monster the Empire of Rome doth nourish? When I had uttered these words, I desired of God, that in this matter I might be found a lyer. For that had been far better, then that the whole World should have been visited with so many mischiefs, or then that such a Monster should have been seen amongst men, the like unto whom had never been remembred before: For in his time happened many deluges, and flouds over-flowing the Countries, the which both young and old do at this time remember: Besides great losses by fire, terrible Earthquakes and gapings of the ground: Men also of a strange shape were born into the World, of mixt and compound natures, being half Men, half Beasts: But he purchased to himself such an end as his frantick disposition justly deserved: These things did Gregory report of Julian.
Not long after, in the reign of Theodosius, senior, Gregory was translated from the City Nazianzum to govern a little Church within the wals of Constantinople; unto which the Emperour afterwards annexed a goodly Temple, called the Resurrection: But Gregory being a famous man, and excelling in vertue and godliness all that flourished in his time, when he perceived that some murmured, and objected to him that he was a stranger and foreigner, although he rejoyced at the Emperours coming, yet utterly refused to continue any longer at Constantinople.
He had such a dexterity of wit,His excellent parts. that which way soever he turned himself he could happily effect it: In opening the Mysteries of the Sacred Scriptures he was an exellent Teacher, diligent, cautious, plain, and without offering violence to the Text. Nature seemed to have framed him for Panegyrick Orations, yet did he so temper his speeches therein to the mindes and ears of the multitude, that he was very plain to the ignorant, and yet at the same time to be admired by the learned. In his Disputations against Eunomius, he shewed admirable acuteness, yet never receded from perspicuity of speech: and so contained himself within bounds of defence of the Catholick Truth,His modesty. that he never brake forth into reproaches extravagant from the cause. Neither was he unlike himself in his work to Amphilocus about the Holy Ghost.His excellent gifts. But what argument soever he handled, wholsome and pleasing speeches were never wanting to him, and those not acquired, but natural. According to his name in all his works there appears a certain Kingly Majesty, mixed with admirable humanity. He so inveighed against the evil manners of men, that they could not but love him whilest he child them. And look what his Doctrine was, such was his life. By this dexterity of his wit, when Eusebius Bishop of Caesarea, by his ambition stirred up Sedition, of an aemulus he made him his very good friend. By this he so contented Modestus, the Emperours Praefect, that he drew that wicked man by the shining of his vertue to admire him. By this when the Emperour Valence himself entred into his Church, he first astonished him, and afterwards by his discreet conference, deterred him from his cruelty, year reclaimed him from the faction of the Arians, though afterwards those wicked men prevailed to bring him over to them again.His desire of Martyrdom. He had always a minde so prepared for Martyrdom, that he desired it as a great favour. In all his writings there is such a peculiar grace and excellency, that he never tires his Reader: but always dismisseth him with a thirst after more. One saith of him, that the true beauty of his soul did shine forth in his Eloquence,Eloquence. Rhetorick being both his companion and servant. Hierom was his scholar: He was of such Authority in the Greek Churches, that whosoever durst oppose his testimony, was suspected for an Heretick. He so loved solitude, that when for his excellent Learning and Sanctity, he should first have been made a Bishop, he retired himself into obscurity; but being discovered, the people chose him for their Bishop. At last, growing old and unfit for his publick imployment, he constituted another Bishop, and returned to his former solitude. He flourished under Theodosius.
He used to say,His saying Preaching. That in a great multitude of people of several Ages and Conditions, who are like an Harp with many strings, it is hard to give every one such a touch in Preaching, as may please all, and off end none. He wrote divers works both in prose and verse.