Gregory Nazianzen the Theologian In Defence of His Flight to Pontus and His Return, After His Ordination to the Priesthood, with an Exposition of the Character of the Priestly Office (Oration II), Complete

Translated by Ch. Browne and J. Swallow.

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Page 20

45. For some need to be fed with the milk [2640] of the most simple and elementary doctrines, viz., those who are in habit babes and, so to say, new-made, and unable to bear the manly food of the word: nay, if it were presented to them beyond their strength, they would probably be overwhelmed and oppressed, owing to the inability of their mind, as is the case with our material bodies, [2641] to digest and appropriate what is offered to it, and so would lose even their original power. Others require the wisdom which is spoken among the perfect, [2642] and the higher and more solid food, since their senses have been sufficiently exercised to discern [2643] truth and falsehood, and if they were made to drink milk, and fed on the vegetable diet of invalids, [2644] they would be annoyed. And with good reason, for they would not be strengthened [2645] according to Christ, nor make that laudable increase, which the Word produces in one who is rightly fed, by making him a perfect man, and bringing him to the measure of spiritual stature. [2646]

46. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as the many, able to corrupt [2647] the word of truth, and mix the wine, [2648] which maketh glad the heart of man, [2649] with water, mix, that is, our doctrine with what is common and cheap, and debased, and stale, and tasteless, in order to turn the adulteration to our profit, and accommodate ourselves to those who meet us, and curry favor with everyone, becoming ventriloquists [2650] and chatterers, who serve their own pleasures by words uttered from the earth, and sinking into the earth, and, to gain the special good will of the multitude, injuring in the highest degree, nay, ruining ourselves, and shedding the innocent blood of simpler souls, which will be required at our hands. [2651]

[2640] 1 Cor. iii. 1, 2; Heb. v. 12-14.

[2641] Our material bodies, lit., "matter." This, together with "dust," "mire" or "clay" and other similar terms, is often used by S. Gregory as a synonym of "the body."

[2642] 1 Cor. ii. 6.

[2643] Heb. v. 14.

[2644] Rom. xiv. 2.

[2645] Col. i. 11, 16, 17.

[2646] Eph. iv. 13.

[2647] 2 Cor. ii. 16, 17.

[2648] Isai. i. 22.

[2649] Ps. civ. 15.

[2650] Ventriloquists. Isai. viii. 19, "Wizards."

[2651] Ezek. iii. 20; xxxiii. 8.

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