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 35

76. This depressed and kept me humble, and persuaded me that it was better to hear the voice of praise [2777] than to be an expounder of truths beyond my power; the majesty, and the height, and the dignity, and the pure natures scarce able to contain the brightness of God, Whom the deep covers, Whose secret place is darkness, [2778] since He is the purest light, [2779] which most men cannot approach unto; Who is in all this universe, and again is beyond the universe; Who is all goodness, [2780] and beyond all goodness; Who enlightens the mind, and escapes the quickness and height of the mind, ever retiring as much as He is apprehended, and by His flight and stealing away when grasped, withdrawing to the things above one who is enamoured of Him.

77. Such and so great is the object of our longing zeal, and such a man should he be, who prepares and conducts souls to their espousals. For myself, I feared to be cast, bound hand and foot, [2781] from the bride-chamber, for not having on a wedding-garment, and for having rashly intruded among those who there sit at meat. And yet I had been invited from my youth, if I may speak of what most men know not, and had been cast upon Him from the womb, [2782] and presented by the promise of my mother, afterwards confirmed in the hour of danger: and my longing grew up with it, and my reason agreed to it, and I gave as an offering my all to Him Who had won me and saved me, my property, my fame, my health, my very words, from which I only gained the advantage of being able to despise them, and of having something in comparison of which I preferred Christ. And the words of God were made sweet as honeycombs [2783] to me, and I cried after knowledge and lifted up my voice for wisdom. [2784] There was moreover the moderation of anger, the curbing of the tongue, the restraint of the eyes, the discipline of the belly, and the trampling under foot of the glory which clings to the earth. I speak foolishly, [2785] but it shall be said, in these pursuits I was perhaps not inferior to many.

[2777] Ps. xxvi. 7 (LXX.).

[2778] Ib. xviii. 12; civ. 6.

[2779] 1 Tim. vi. 16.

[2780] Exod. xxxiii. 19.

[2781] S. Matt. xxii. 13.

[2782] Ps. xxii. 11.

[2783] Ib. xix. 10; cxix. 103.

[2784] Prov. ii. 3.

[2785] 2 Cor. xi. 23.

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