Gregory of Nazianzus, On the Arrival of the Egyptians

Oration XXXIV. On the Arrival of the Egyptians.

I. I will address myself as is right to those who have come from Egypt for they have come here eagerly, having overcome illwill by zeal, from that E

II. For from you hath sounded forth the Word to all men healthfully believed and preached and you are the best bringers of fruit of all men, specia

III. Such was Joseph your Superintendent of corn measures, whom I may call ours also who by his surpassing wisdom was able both to foresee the famin

IV. Of these great men and doctors and soldiers of the truth and victors, you are the nurslings and offspring of these neither times nor tyrants, re

V. Once thou didst praise me thy Mendesian Goats, and thy Memphite Apis, a fatted and fleshy calf, and the rites of Isis, and the mutilations of Osir

VI. Wherefore I embrace and salute thee, O noblest of peoples and most Christian, and of warmest piety, and worthy of thy leaders for I can find not

VII. But, O people of God and mine, beautiful also was your yesterday’s assembly, which you held upon the sea, and pleasant, if any sight ever was, t

VIII. I find two highest differences in things that exist, viz.:—Rule, and Service not such as among us either tyranny has cut or poverty has severe

IX. This being so, if any be on the Lord’s side let him come with us, and let us adore the One Godhead in the Three not ascribing any name of humili

X. What must we say of the Father, Whom by common consent all who have been preoccupied with natural conceptions share, although He hath endured the

XI. For my part I revere also the Titles of the Word, which are so many, and so high and great, which even the demons respect. And I revere also the

XII. I dare to utter something, O Trinity and may pardon be granted to my folly, for the risk is to my soul. I too am an Image of God, of the Heave

XIII. To sum up my discourse:—Glorify Him with the Cherubim, who unite the Three Holies into One Lord, and so far indicate the Primal Substance as th

XIV. With Luke be inspired as you study the Acts of the Apostles. Why do you range yourself with Ananias and Sapphira, those vain embezzlers (if ind

XV. Speak of God with Paul, who was caught up to the third Heaven, and who sometimes counts up the Three Persons, and that in varied order, not keepi

X. What must we say of the Father, Whom by common consent all who have been preoccupied with natural conceptions share, although He hath endured the beginnings of dishonour, having been first divided by ancient innovation into the Good and the Creator. And of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, see how simply and concisely we shall discourse. If any one could say of Either that He was mutable or subject to change; or that either in time, or place, or power, or energy He could be measured; or that He was not naturally good, or not Self-moved, or not a free agent, or a Minister, or a Hymnsinger; or that He feared, or was a recipient of freedom, or was not counted with God; let him prove this and we will acquiesce, and will be glorified by the Majesty of our Fellow Servants, though we lose our God. But if all that the Father has belongs likewise to the Son, except Causality; and all that is the Son’s belongs also to the Spirit, except His Sonship, and whatsoever is spoken of Him as to Incarnation for me a man, and for my salvation, that, taking of mine, He may impart His own by this new commingling; then cease your babbling, though so late, O ye sophists of vain talk that falls at once to the ground; for why will ye die O House of Israel?15 Ezek. xviii. 31.—if I may mourn for you in the words of Scripture.

Ιʹ. Περὶ μὲν γὰρ τοῦ Πατρὸς, τί χρὴ καὶ λέγειν, οὗ καὶ τὸ παρὰ πάντων συγκεχωρηκὸς φείδεσθαι ταῖς φυσικαῖς ἐννοίαις προκατειλημμένων; Εἰ καὶ τῆς ἀτιμίας τὰ πρῶτα ἠνέγκατο, πρῶτος τμηθεὶς εἰς Ἀγαθὸν καὶ Δημιουργὸν παρὰ τῆς ἀρχαίας καινοτομίας. Περὶ δὲ τοῦ Υἱοῦ, καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος, σκοπεῖτε ὡς ἁπλῶς καὶ συντόμως διαλεξώμεθα. Εἰ μέν τις ἔχοι τούτων τι λέγειν τρεπτὸν ἢ ἀλλοιωτὸν, ἢ χρόνῳ, ἢ τόπῳ, ἢ δυνάμει, ἢ ἐνεργείᾳ μετρούμενον, ἢ οὐ φυσικῶς ἀγαθὸν, ἢ οὐκ αὐτοκίνητον, ἢ οὐκ αὐτεξούσιον, ἢ λειτουργὸν, ἢ ὑμνῳδὸν, ἢ φοβούμενον, ἢ ἐλευθερούμενον, ἢ οὐ συναριθμούμενον: δεικνύτω τοῦτο, καὶ ἡμεῖς στέρξομεν, συνδούλων σεμνότητι δοξαζόμενοι, εἰ καὶ Θεὸν ζημιούμεθα. Εἰ δὲ πάντα ὅσα ἔχει ὁ Πατὴρ, τοῦ Υἱοῦ ἐστι, πλὴν τῆς αἰτίας: πάντα δὲ ὅσα τοῦ Υἱοῦ, καὶ τοῦ Πνεύματος, πλὴν τῆς υἱότητος, καὶ τῶν ὅσα σωματικῶς περὶ αὐτοῦ λέγεται διὰ τὸν ἐμὸν ἄνθρωπον, καὶ τὴν ἐμὴν σωτηρίαν, ἵνα τὸ ἐμὸν λαβὼν, τὸ ἑαυτοῦ χαρίσηται διὰ τῆς καινῆς ἀνακράσεως: παύσασθε παραληροῦντες ὀψὲ γοῦν, ὦ σοφισταὶ κενῶν ῥημάτων, αὐτοῦ πιπτόντων. Καὶ ἵνα τί ἀποθνήσκετε, οἶκος Ἰσραὴλ, ἵν' ἐκ τῆς Γραφῆς ὑμᾶς ὀδύρωμαι;