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 33

72. When will this be, say they who are swift but not sure in every thing, readily building up, readily throwing down. When will the lamp be upon its stand, [2761] and where is the talent? [2762] For so they call the grace. [2763] Those who speak thus are more fervent in friendship than in reverence. You ask me, you men of exceeding courage, when these things shall be, and what account I give of them? Not even extreme old age would be too long a limit to assign. For hoary hairs combined with prudence are better than inexperienced youth, well-reasoned hesitation than inconsiderate haste, and a brief reign than a long tyranny: just as a small portion honourably won is better than considerable possessions which are dishonourable and uncertain, a little gold than a great weight of lead, a little light than much darkness.

73. But this speed, in its untrustworthiness and excessive haste, is in danger of being like the seeds which fell upon the rock, [2764] and, because they had no depth of earth, [2765] sprang up at once, but could not bear even the first heat of the sun; or like the foundation laid upon the sand, [2766] which could not even make a slight resistance to the rain and the winds. Woe to thee, O city, whose king is a child, [2767] says Solomon. Be not hasty of speech, [2768] says Solomon again, asserting that hastiness of speech is less serious than heated action. And who, in spite of all this, demands haste rather than security and utility? Who can mould, as clay-figures are modelled in a single day, the defender of the truth, who is to take his stand with Angels, and give glory with Archangels, and cause the sacrifice to ascend to the altar on high, and share the priesthood of Christ, and renew the creature, and set forth the image, and create inhabitants for the world above, aye and, greatest of all, be God, and make others to be God?

[2761] Ib. v. 15.

[2762] Ib. xxv. 15.

[2763] "The grace" i.e. the grace of the priesthood.

[2764] S. Luke viii. 6.

[2765] S. Matt. xiii. 5.

[2766] Ib. vii. 26.

[2767] Eccles. x. 16.

[2768] Prov. xxix. 20.

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