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Translated by Ch. Browne and J. Swallow.
Gregory Theologian Bilingual Anthology, Resources Online and in Print
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30 Pages
Page 22
XXXV. How shall this be? Remember always the parable, [4129] and so will you best and most perfectly help yourself. The unclean and malignant spirit is gone out of you, being chased by baptism. He will not submit to the expulsion, he will not resign himself to be houseless and homeless: He goes through waterless places, dry of the Divine Stream, and there he desires to abide. He wanders, seeking rest; he finds none. He lights on baptized souls, whose sins the font has washed away. He fears the water; he is choked with the cleansing, as the Legion were in the sea. [4130] Again he returns to the house whence he came out. He is shameless, he is contentious, he makes a fresh assault upon it, he makes a new attempt. If he finds that Christ has taken up His abode there, and has filled the place which he had vacated, he is driven back again, and goes off without success and is become an object of pity in his wandering state. But if he finds in you a place, swept and garnished indeed, but empty and idle, equally ready to take in this or that which shall first occupy it, he makes a leap into it, he takes up his abode there with a larger train; and the last state is worse than the first, inasmuch as then there was a hope of amendment and safety, but now the evil is rampant, and drags in sin by its flight from good, and therefore the possession is more secure to him who dwells there.
XXXVI. I will remind you again about Illuminations, and that often, and will reckon them up from Holy Scripture. For I myself shall be happier for remembering them (for what is sweeter than light to those who have tasted light?) and I will dazzle you with my words. There is sprung up a light for the righteous, and its partner joyful gladness. [4131] And, The light of the righteous is everlasting; [4132] and Thou art shining wondrously from the everlasting mountains, is said to God, I think of the Angelic powers which aid our efforts after good. And you have heard David's words; The Lord is my Light and my Salvation, whom then shall I fear? [4133] And now he asks that the Light and the Truth may be sent forth for him, [4134] now giving thanks that he has a share in it, in that the Light of God is marked upon him; [4135] that is, that the signs of the illumination given are impressed upon him and recognized. One light alone let us shun—that which is the offspring of the baleful fire; let us not walk in the light of our fire, [4136] and in the flame which we have kindled. For I know a cleansing fire which Christ came to send upon the earth, [4137] and He Himself is anagogically [4138] called a Fire. This Fire takes away whatsoever is material and of evil habit; and this He desires to kindle with all speed, for He longs for speed in doing us good, since He gives us even coals of fire to help us. [4139] I know also a fire which is not cleansing, but avenging; either that fire of Sodom [4140] which He pours down on all sinners, [4141] mingled with brimstone and storms, or that which is prepared for the Devil and his Angels [4142] or that which proceeds from the face of the Lord, and shall burn up his enemies round about; [4143] and one even more fearful still than these, the unquenchable fire [4144] which is ranged with the worm that dieth not but is eternal for the wicked. For all these belong to the destroying power; though some may prefer even in this place to take a more merciful view [4145] of this fire, worthily of Him That chastises.
[4129] Luke xi. 24.
[4130] Mark v. 13.
[4131] Ps. xcvii. 11.
[4132] Prov. xiii. 9.
[4133] Ps. lxxvi. 4.
[4134] Ib. xliii. 3.
[4135] Ib. iv. 7.
[4136] Isa. l. 11.
[4137] Luke xii. 49.
[4138] Anagoge is one of the three methods of mystical interpretation, according to the distich, Littera scripta docet: Quid credas allegoria: Quid speres anagoge; Quid agas tropologia.
[4139] cf. Isa. xlvii. 14. LXX.
[4140] Gen. xix. 24.
[4141] Ps. xi. 6.
[4142] Matt. xxv. 41.
[4143] Ps. xcvii. 3.
[4144] Mark ix. 44, &c.
[4145] i.e. To view the Fire there spoken of as Temporal punishment, with a purpose of correcting and reforming the sinner. This is not S. Gregory's own view of the meaning of the passage, though he admits it to be tenable.
Reference address : https://elpenor.org/gregory-nazianzen/holy-baptism.asp?pg=22
