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 41

93. I hear again that Nadab and Abihu, for having merely offered incense with strange fire, were with strange fire destroyed, [2833] the instrument of their impiety being used for their punishment, and their destruction following at the very time and place of their sacrilege; and not even their father Aaron, who was next to Moses in the favor of God, could save them. I know also of Eli the priest, and a little later of Uzzah, the former made to pay the penalty for his sons' transgression, in daring to violate the sacrifices by an untimely exaction of the first fruits of the cauldrons, although he did not condone their impiety, but frequently rebuked them; [2834] the other, because he only touched the ark, which was being thrown off the cart by the ox, [2835] and though he saved it, was himself destroyed, in God's jealousy for the reverence due to the ark.

94. I know also that not even bodily blemishes in either priests [2836] or victims [2837] passed without notice, but that it was required by the law that perfect sacrifices must be offered by perfect men—a symbol, I take it, of integrity of soul. It was not lawful for everyone to touch the priestly vesture, or any of the holy vessels; nor might the sacrifices themselves be consumed except by the proper persons, and at the proper time and place; [2838] nor might the anointing oil nor the compounded incense [2839] be imitated; nor might anyone enter the temple who was not in the most minute particular pure in both soul and body; so far was the Holy of holies removed from presumptuous access, that it might be entered by one man only once a year; [2840] so far were the veil, and the mercy-seat, and the ark, and the Cherubim, from the general gaze and touch.

[2833] Lev. x. 1.

[2834] 1 Sam. ii. 12, 15, 23.

[2835] 2 Sam. vi. 6.

[2836] Lev. xxi. 17.

[2837] Ib. xxii. 19.

[2838] Ib. viii. 31.

[2839] Exod. xxx. 33, 38.

[2840] Lev. xvi. 34; Heb. ix. 7.

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