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Translated by Ch. Browne and J. Swallow.
Gregory Theologian Bilingual Anthology, Resources Online and in Print
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15 Pages
Page 6
VIII. But since to us grace has been given to flee from superstitious error and to be joined to the truth and to serve the living and true God, and to rise above creation, passing by all that is subject to time and to first motion; let us look at and reason upon God and things divine in a manner corresponding to this Grace given us. But let us begin our discussion of them from the most fitting point. And the most fitting is, as Solomon laid down for us; us; The beginning of wisdom, he says, is to get wisdom. [3936] And what this is he tells us; the beginning of wisdom is fear. [3937] For we must not begin with contemplation and leave off with fear (for an unbridled contemplation would perhaps push us over a precipice), but we must be grounded and purified and so to say made light by fear, and thus be raised to the height. For where fear is there is keeping of commandments; and where there is keeping of commandments there is purifying of the flesh, that cloud which covers the soul and suffers it not to see the Divine Ray. And where there is purifying there is Illumination; and Illumination is the satisfying of desire to those who long for the greatest things, or the Greatest Thing, or That Which surpasses all greatness.
IX. Wherefore we must purify ourselves first, and then approach this converse with the Pure; unless we would have the same experience as Israel, [3938] who could not endure the glory of the face of Moses, and therefore asked for a veil; [3939] or else would feel and say with Manoah "We are undone O wife, we have seen God," [3940] although it was God only in his fancy; or like Peter would send Jesus out of the boat, [3941] as being ourselves unworthy of such a visit; and when I say Peter, I am speaking of the man who walked upon the waves; [3942] or like Paul would be stricken in eyes, [3943] as he was before he was cleansed from the guilt of his persecution, when he conversed with Him Whom he was persecuting—or rather with a short flash of That great Light; or like the Centurion [3944] would seek for healing, but would not, through a praiseworthy fear, receive the Healer into his house. Let each one of us also speak so, as long as he is still uncleansed, and is a Centurion still, commanding many in wickedness, and serving in the army of Caesar, the World-ruler of those who are being dragged down; "I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof." But when he shall have looked upon Jesus, though he be little of stature like Zaccheus [3945] of old, and climb up on the top of the sycamore tree by mortifying his members which are upon the earth, [3946] and having risen above the body of humiliation, then he shall receive the Word, and it shall be said to him, This day is salvation come to this house. [3947] Then let him lay hold on the salvation, and bring forth fruit more perfectly, scattering and pouring forth rightly that which as a publican he wrongly gathered.
[3936] Prov. iv. 7.
[3937] Ib. i. 7 sq.
[3938] Exod. xxxiv. 30.
[3939] 2 Cor. iii. 7.
[3940] Judg. xiii. 23.
[3941] Luke v. 8.
[3942] Matt. xiv. 29.
[3943] Acts ix. 3-8.
[3944] Matt. viii. 8.
[3945] Luke xix. 3.
[3946] Col. iii. 5.
[3947] Luke xix. 9.
Reference address : https://elpenor.org/gregory-nazianzen/holy-lights.asp?pg=6
