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Translated by Ch. Browne and J. Swallow.
Gregory Theologian Bilingual Anthology, Resources Online and in Print
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21 Pages
Page 4
7. Thus brought up and trained, as even now those should be who are to preside over the people, and take the direction of the mighty body of Christ, [3276] according to the will and foreknowledge of God, which lays long before the foundations of great deeds, he was invested with this important ministry, and made one of those who draw near to the God Who draws near to us, and deemed worthy of the holy office and rank, and, after passing through the entire series of orders, he was (to make my story short) entrusted with the chief rule over the people, in other words, the charge of the whole world: nor can I say whether he received the priesthood as the reward of virtue, or to be the fountain and life of the Church. For she, like Ishmael, [3277] fainting from her thirst for the truth, needed to be given to drink, or, like Elijah, [3278] to be refreshed from the brook, when the land was parched by drought; and, when but faintly breathing, to be restored to life and left as a seed to Israel, [3279] that we might not become like Sodom and Gomorrah, [3280] whose destruction by the rain of fire and brimstone is only more notorious than their wickedness. Therefore, when we were cast down, a horn of salvation was raised up for us, [3281] and a chief corner stone, [3282] knitting us to itself and to one another, was laid in due season, or a fire [3283] to purify our base and evil matter, [3284] or a farmer's fan [3285] to winnow the light from the weighty in doctrine, or a sword to cut out the roots of wickedness; and so the Word finds him as his own ally, and the Spirit takes possession of one who will breathe on His behalf.
[3276] Body of Christ, i.e., the Church, His mystical body.
[3277] Gen. xxi. 19.
[3278] 1 Kings xvii. 4.
[3279] Isai. i. 9.
[3280] Gen. xix. 24.
[3281] S. Luke i. 69.
[3282] Isai. xxviii. 16.
[3283] Mal. iii. 2, 3.
[3284] 1 Cor. iii. 13, 15.
[3285] S. Matt. iii. 12.
Reference address : https://www.elpenor.org/gregory-nazianzen/athanasius-alexandria.asp?pg=4
