Gregory Nazianzen the Theologian Last Farewell in the Presence of the One Hundred and Fifty Bishops (Oration XLII), Complete

Translated by Ch. Browne and J. Swallow.

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Page 7

6. Such then was once this flock, and such it is now, so healthy and well grown, and if it be not yet in perfection, it is advancing towards it by constant increase, and I prophesy that it will advance. This is foretold me by the Holy Spirit, if I have any prophetic instinct and insight into the future. And from what has preceded I am able to be confident, and recognize this by reasoning, being the nursling of reason. For it was much more improbable that, from that condition, it should reach its present development, than that, as it now is, it should attain to the height of renown. For ever since it began to be gathered together, by Him Who quickeneth the dead, [4324] bone to its bone, joint to joint, and the Spirit of life and regeneration was given to it in their dryness, [4325] its entire resurrection has been, I know well, sure to be fulfilled: so that the rebellious should not exalt themselves, [4326] and that those who grasp at a shadow, or at a dream when one awaketh, [4327] or at the dispersing breezes, or at the traces of a ship in the water, [4328] should not think that they have anything. Howl, firtree, for the cedar is fallen! [4329] Let them be instructed by the misfortunes of others, and learn that the poor shall not alway be forgotten, [4330] and that the Deity will not refrain, as Habakkuk says, from striking through the heads of the mighty ones [4331] in His fury—the Deity, Who has been struck through and impiously divided into Ruler and Ruled, in order to insult the Deity in the highest degree by degrading It, and oppress a creature by equality with Deity.

[4324] Rom. iv. 17.

[4325] Ezek. xxxvii. 7, 10.

[4326] Ps. lxvi. 7.

[4327] Ps. lxxiii. 20.

[4328] Wisd. v. 9 sqq.

[4329] Zech. xi. 2.

[4330] Ps. ix. 18.

[4331] Hab. iii. 13.

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