of the Church by Schism and Sedition In his Solitude he was blessed with the Company of Gregory the Divine In the society of that most admirable person he neither wanted a Church nor Academy And that these Glorious persons might not be disturbed in actions of Religion Basils aged Mother the excellent Emmelia accompanied them in that Solitude and became the careful Caterer to provide them Herbs for their late Supper Incredible there was their pains the wild people thought Angels had descended to be their Gardians and Teachers Multitudes flockt to their Sermons many were Civilized and Sanctified by them Whilst Basil in this retirement enjoyed a perfect tranquility the Churches abroad were infinitely tormented with the Arrian Persecution Valens the Emperor had embraced that Heresie which he endeavoured by all Cruelties to propagate every where the faithful Christians were persecuted with Banishments Deprivations of their Estates Confiscation of their Goods Imprisonments and death it self whilst the Arrian Priests and Bishops took this occasion boldly to spread that wicked opinion by Sermons and Writings They came to Caesarea where they raised a great Contention against Eusebius and that part of the Church which adhered to him Eusebius was a better man then a Divine fitter to govern the Church then to dispute Cappadocia now knew the need of two such Excellent persons as Basil and Gregory were Basil imagined he could not enjoy that Heavenly Tranquility which he so much desired if any disgust remained in Eusebius his breast he rightly conceived that the love of God which he aspired to could not burn in brightest Ardours if it had not consumed all that rancour his Bishop had conceived against him Whereupon out of his beloved Desarts he writes to Eusebius the most Pathetick Letters that Eloquence heightned with Humility Affection Sorrow and tenderness could indite Those very Letters which work in the Reader strange violence of passions moved not at all Eusebius the old Bishop was peevish whereupon Basil with a profound Reverence and Humility writes a most submissive and passionate Letter to a whole Synod of Bishops met at Tiana that they would intercede to his Bishop that he would send his Pacificatory Letters to him into the Wilderness but still the old Bishop continued angry not the intreaties of Basil nor the Authority of the Synod could move him But the Arrians assault him now his Church began to be torn the City was pestered with the flocking of those Hereticks If the Metropolis was subdued ubdued the inferiour Sees would suddenly yield Eusebius though of an undaunted Courage yet was of meaner Learning who like a Pilot not fearing the waves yet wanted dexterity to manage the Vessel A General though he is fearless of death has a strong arm and an active body and can deal blows enough amongst his Enemies yet cannot secure his Army if he want Policy Stratagems and ordering of the Battalia are equally necessary to Victory as Courage and Valour In this great confusion of the Churches of Cappadocia with these dreadful conflicts with the Arrian Hereticks it was easily discovered there wanted some Excellent persons who with equal skill and Valour must oppose the rage and fury of this persecution And now this good old Bishop relents now his passion yields to Reason The Church must be succoured Basil is wanting Whereupon he hastens a Messenger to him who receives the Message of his Bishops reconciliation with infinite resentments of joy and kindness and so looking upon this Message as from Heaven he hastens to Caesarea where he falls prostrate at the Bishops feet who having cast off all his former rancour and indignation entertains him with all the Expressions of love and tenderness As the Earth which has been crusted over with Frost and lain covered with Snow by the Sun beams sweetly displayed on her is freed from those cold and uncomely garments and presently appears in a richer gaiety of Herbs and Flowers So that Soul of Eusebius possess'd too long with Furies Indignation and Anger being cleansed by the Angel of Heaven is now more gloriously inhabited by the Divine passions of love and kindness Eusebius his affection and endearments to Basil infinitely exceeded his anger Basil cherishes these new affections with all prudence with all vigilance with all tenderness and reverence imaginable so managing his conversation that his very looks his gestures his actions as well as his language should speak his love his respect and his fidelity to Eusebius All which he so discreetly and constantly performed that Eusebius was wholly turned into love and a great esteem for Basil By which means Eusebius retains the name of Bishop but Basil performs the Office Basil reformed the Clergy Basil commanded the Laity Basil withstood the Hereticks and yet paid all the due homage of obedience and honour to Eusebius Basil dared the Hereticks to disputation Basil constantly preached against them by the quickness and subtilty of the one the Eloquence and Piety of the other he settled the wavering Church and obtained a most glorious victory over the Arrian Hereticks The waves must now yield a passage to that Ship that is steered by Basilius The Army cannot but be victorious where Basil is the head of it The old Bishop is drawing to the grave with joy and a great tranquility he receives the message of death delivered to him by a Feaver Happy he was to live to those days wherein he saw his Church as houses when flames are about them yet secured as persons in danger of the Plague yet freed from the very fear of Infection Basil performs to his now dying Bishop all the offices which humanity and piety suggest which so possess'd the good Soul of Eusebius that when he was commending it to Basil he must lay his body in the arms of Basil in the hands of Basil he must dye Basil must close his eyes he would not depart out of this World till he had given testimonies of a perfect reconciliation and amity that they who were once separated in this life when the City received one and the Wilderness the other in the succeeding and ever-glorious life might have an eternal union where they might be entertained in the felicity of a perpetual joy from the fruition of one God in one everlasting habitation to live for ever and ever Chrysostom after he had performed The entrance of Chrysostom into the Holy Orders of Priesthood the Office of a Deacon with vast applause he enters into Holy Orders of Priesthood which he managed with all piety and industry His Sermons were constant he drew the whole World after him the piety of them were so admirable and their Eloquence so stupendious At Antioch he devoted himself wholly to study and preaching the affairs of the Church being managed by the Bishop of that See So business forced him not from his study but in a great serenity he prepared himself for exquisite yet continual preachings So great a crowd of people daily
throng'd to the Church that the Pulpit was altered from its ancient place which was in the Chancel into the body of the Church where the people standing round about him might readily attend to that torrent of Holiness and Eloquence The Athenian Orator that the noise and tumult of the people might not disturb him whilst he was pronouncing his brave Orations constantly used to repeat them on the Banks of the Haven that he who was unconcern'd at the rouling of the waves might likewise enjoy an undisturbed mind amidst the clamours and contentions of the people But this great man commanded the people to quietness every one fearing lest any noise should hinder them from hearing any sentence flowing from that golden mouth The anger that Eusebius conceived against Basil forced him into the Wilderness but the Schism between the two Bishops of Antioch elected by two different parties made Chrysostom the second time try the sweetness of the Desarts As yet that custom prevailed of the peoples power in electing the Bishop a Rite which indeed was used in several Ages of the Church which no more vindicates the Independent Ordination of Ministers then the Kings nomination of Bishops to the Sees and Patrons presenting of Clerks to their Benefices destroy the Episcopal Ordination Chrysostom thought the Briars and Thorns of the Desarts were incomparably less troublesom then the Schisms of the Church But the Antiochians are impatient Chrysostom must return they can endure no longer the absence of so brave a Preacher Chrysostom returns privately to Antioch with what joy did this news fill the City how tedious was that night to them how long seem'd every hour till they saw Chrysostom in the Pulpit Early in the morning did the Antiochians hasten to the Church expecting Chrysostom they knew he could be no longer out of the Pulpit Chrysostom failed not their expectation Chrysostom comes to Church he hastens first to the Altar where he pays his devotion to his blessed and dearest Lord. After a Reverence done to the Archbishop he ascends the Pulpit What passions appeared in the Antiochians countenances at the same time their faces gave the indication of Joy and Admiration their eyes were full of tears the sacred pavement was slippery with that holy water the Fountains of those Rivers was Love and Joy so Clouds kindly melt into gentle Rain by the greater influence of the Sun Chrysostom for twelve years which he spent during the time that he was Presbyter at Antioch was assiduous in preaching prayer and study His honour and affection that he had for his Archbishop was infinitely entire he perceiving that the Sermons of Flavianus were not so frequented as his own would reprehend the peoples temerity in the midst of his Sermons would make an Harangue in the praise of the Archbishop preferring the Sermons of him to those of his own extolling the judiciousness gravity and ponderous Divinity and reflecting with some diminutions on his own rapidness and impetuousness This glorious action endeared him to the Archbishop with whom he continued a perfect amity and rendred himself more amiable to the multitude who plainly perceived that amidst the Acclamations of the whole City nay the Applause and honour of the whole World he sought not his honour from men but endeavoured to receive it from God In the third year of his Presbytership the dreadful commotion happen'd wherein the Citizens in a wild fury threw down the Statues of the Emperor and Empress which cast Chrysostom himself into such a vast confusion of mind that for seven days together he retired to his Chamber as not being able to look upon that people who though they had attended so long to his admirable preaching should throw themselves headlong into such an inexpressible phrenzy The seventh day recollecting his Spirit he ascends the Pulpit never people wanted more an admirable Preacher and never people furnished with a more incomparable man They stood in need of Lenitives and Corrosives no person ever knew better how to apply them Their crime was so great that the very sharpest expressions a tongue dipt in Vinegar and Gall sufficed not to chastise their insolent Treasons and yet they were so filled with the apprehensions of their guilt the horrour of so dreadful a Fact did so terrifie them that their own consciences prepared wracks and wheels for them and they were dead before the sentence was pronounced against them The Citizens themselves became living Ghosts Chrysostom therefore as a most excellent Physician seeing a Patient lye sick of a desperate wound which stands in need of the most searching Corrosives and yet of a languishing and fainting mind prepares his Patient by Cordials to receive sharper Medicines so he raises the drooping Spirits of the Citizens and enlivens them by Heavenly comforts and instructions and afterwards scourges them with a most eloquent detection of their Villanies and dreadful denunciation of Eternal Judgments His Sermons he managed so piously and dexterously that they obtained his desired effect Some time after a sharp reprehension of that rebellious frenzy he would raise some comfort in their Spirits by an Elogium of the Emperors person and qualities some time promising them a happy success from the Prudence and Authority and gravity of Flavianus who undertook to intercede for them whereby at the same time he gained a greater respect from his Auditors endeared himself to the Archbishop and ingratiated himself into the Emperors esteem and thus for twelve years he so prudently managed the Function of his Priesthood that his fame flew throughout the World his name was so celebrated in the Emperors Court that it occasioned his removal from Antioch to the Archiepiscopal See of Constantinople Now let us behold our Priests consecrated Bishops now we shall behold The entry of Basil into the Metropolitical See of Caesarea them with their Crosiers now advanced to the highest dignities But with their honour we shall behold their persecutions and troubles These Mountains of Piety and Learning are now struck with Lightning and Thunder The Tranquility of the Wilderness is changed into a violent storm their Retirements and Studies are turned into the troubles and confusions of the Court and Church now they are not more glorious in holiness and honour then persecuted by Envy and Rage When they entred upon their Episcopal dignities they launched into that Sea of trouble where they found no rest till the grave had prepared a Repose for them Upon the death of Eusebius Basil to avoid the Episcopal Authority retired and fled from Caesarea Valens the Emperour sent his Praefect of Cappadocia if possible to procure the installing of an Arrian Bishop into that Metropolitical See The Neighbouring Catholick Bishops knowing of what consequence to the universal Church the Election of Basil would be all unaminously hasten to Caesarea The aged Father of Gregory the Divine expecting a Bier to carry him to the grave rather than a Chariot to bring him to Caesarea determined to
undertake that journey the great Zeal he had to oppose the Arrian designs and the vast love he had for the promoting of the purity of the Churches Doctrine and establishing the Churches peace revived his drooping Spirits and seemed to restore him to a Juvenile vigour The Election was managed by the Arrian party with fury and passion But at length the Constancy of the Orthodox Christians prevailed Basil is Elected after enquiry is found by violence forced to Caesarea where the Provincial Bishops waited for his coming being resolved not to depart till they had confirmed the Church against the Arrian fury by the Consecration of Basil Anno 369. The Emperour Arcadius the whole The Consecration of Chrysostom in the Archbishoprick of Constantinople Court and City of Constantinople were so satisfied with the Virtues Eloquence and great Accomplishments of Chrysostom that they resolved no other person but he should sit in the Archiepiscopal See But a great question arose how they should procure the Assent of that person to accept of that Ecclesiastical dignity And the people of Antioch being seditious and addicted to mutinies it would be difficult to wrest Chrysostom averse to Ecclesiastical honours out of the hands of that people who would rather lose their lives then the Comfort of their lives the brave Sermons of Chrysostom But Eutropius the Lord Chamberlain of the Emperors Houshold acquainted Arcadius that he would certainly by an innocent contrivance bring Chrysostom to Constantinople The Emperour committed the management of the Affairs to Eutropius who immediately dispatched some Persons of Quality to Antioch with Letters to Chrysostom commanding him in the name of Arcadius upon the account of some important affairs to attend him in a City called by Zozom l. 28. 2. Pagras some miles distant from Antioch Chrysostom not dreaming of Eutropius's design at the place and time waited on him Eutropius at the first meeting roundly told him the Emperors intentions and desires Chrysostom refused as being unwilling to leave that People over whom he had so absolute a command and from whom he received such an entire affection But Eutropius was peremptory he commanded him to be carried into the Chariot The Charioter must obey Eutropius and not lend an ear to the prayers of Chrysostom on he drives and with hard journeys arrives at Constantinople where the Emperour and the Court receive him with all sentiments of love and honour and the people with all joyful Acclamations Virtue is always dog'd at the heels by Envy Theophilus Archbishop of Alexandria being then at Constantinople hugely opposed Chrysostoms Election and resolutely refused to be present at his Consecration That See the Alexandrian Archbishop designed for a Priest of his own Church who had obliged him by the faithful conduct of this affair In the War between Theodosius the Emperour and Eugenius the Tyrant he entrusted him with a noble present and two Letters the one to Eugenius the other to Theodosius with this Commission that he should deliver neither of the Letters until the Victory was obtained and to the Triumpher who had confirm'd himself in the Imperial Dignity the Letter directed to him with the gifts should be presented and the other presently consumed in the flames But as Treason seldom succeeds base and treacherous actions generally are discover'd One of the Servants of this Priest stole his Letters and immediately carried them to the Court of Constantinople and deliver'd them into the hands of Eutropius who reserved them to make use of them as occasion served Eutropius goes to Theophilus Archbishop of Alexandria not desires but commands him to consecrate Chrysostom he peremptorily denies and with indignation whereupon Eutropius shews him those unworthy and hypocritical Letters at which Theophilus is surprized with a trembling astonishment and begs pardon and silence of Eutropius and promised him to consecrate Chrysostom which he performed Anno 398. Basil having governed the Church The management of the Episcopal Function by Basil and Chrysostom of Caesarea under the power and Authority of Eusebius the management of all affairs being committed to him by that aged and grave Bishop there was no necessity of making any alteration in that Church which he had governed with so much prudence and sanctity Chrysostom on the contrary succeeding Nectarius in the Archiepiscopal See of Constantinople found a licentious Clergy a loose and a debauch'd City Nectarius from being a Praefect was advanced to that Ecclesiastical Throne and he though he was a person of a sound Faith and of no mean Abilities which he bravely exercised to the depressing of Hereticks yet bringing with him the splendour and pomp of the Court into his Palace the Reins of Discipline which in a more austere sanctity bridled the manners of the Clergy and people he let loose by Luxury and Pomp which ingratiated him very much into the favour of the Court and being a person of a sound Faith and great resolution against all Heresies gave him a brave esteem in the eyes of the World He was a great abhorrer of Avarice and nobly spent the revenues of the Church but by remitting of the severity of Ecclesiastical discipline a way was made for the more licentious conversation of the Clergy which spread it self not only into the Court but City likewise so that there seemed an universal defection from those rigours which made Christianity so glorious in the World Chrysostom being bred up in solitude and Austerities knowing no other Pomp or Luxury but a crouded Church attending upon his divine Eloquence and being naturally addicted to Austerities he was more prone by the manner of life he used to banish those Excrescences out of the Church Whereupon as soon as he enter'd upon his Episcopal dignity he betook himself to his old course of life constantly to preach and that he might not seem in the least to dissemble his intentions he with a sweet torrent of Eloquence sharply inveighs against the viciousness of Christians especially of the Clergy publickly threatning a deprivation of those of the Clergy who continued in a loose conversation This though it procured the hatred of the Clergy yet infinitely endeared him to the City now he is become their darling and favourite now in every Shop there are the Elogiums of Chrysostom every Boy sings the felicity of Constantinople How happy was that See in an Archbishop of the greatest holiness industry and Eloquence in the World What he threatned he punctually performed many of the Clergy who neglected his admonitions were presently deprived of Ecclesiastical Authority and removed from the Altar This laid the foundation of a great odium which the Clergy conceived against him and of his after-troubles He was represented cruel proud and arrogant An unreasonable passage of Seraphion a Deacon of the Church of Constantinople whom he dearly loved much heightned the hatred of the Clergy for in the Consistory as Chrysostom was examining the Priests Seraphion cries out Holy Father you will never rid the
of the Emperour and destroying of Constantinople He was frustrated from those designs by the miraculous power of God Whereupon he flies to Tribigilaus the Gothish King who received him with the highest respect and commissioned him in the head of an Army to make a dreadful invasion upon the Graecian Empire which filled Asia with horrour and bloud Greece it self trembling under his Arms The Emperour was not provided to repel so great a force whereupon Chrysostom is sent in an Embassie to that Barbarian who though he knew the affront he had given him at Constantinople yet undertakes the business Gaynas meets him with the greatest kindness and gives him the highest testimony of respect Chrysostom so far prevails that he affrights him from a further progress whereby the Emperour had leisure to raise such an Army which chastised the treachery and insolence of Gaynas and made him satisfie for all the injuries he had done to the Romans in the ruine of his Army and the loss of his life Oh the glory of Religion that an unarmed person could free the Roman Empire from those dangers from which their own weapons could not preserve them so in Spiritual Preaching the verity of Christian Religion is asserted The weapons of our warfare are not Carnal but Spiritual through God That one Bishop should more prevail over the enemies of the Roman Empire then whole Armies and when the City of Constantinople would have twice hindred his banishment and would have opposed their Arms to the Emperours Edict that commotions and bloud might be hindred he privately delivered himself into the hands of the Emperours Souldiers who secretly conveyed him into exile Nay when Innocentius Bishop of Rome would have pronounced a sentence of Excommunication against the Emperour and Honorins the Western Emperour in the defence of Chrysostom would have drawn down his Army to Constantinople against Arcadius he hindred the intentions of both by his Eloquence peaceable and quiet Letters And to shew he retained not a rancour against the Emperour and Empress or his other Court or Ecclesiastical enemies at Cucusum where he had a space to breath in he wrote that incomparable and excellent piece stiled No man is hurt but by himself This is the glory of Christanity to reconcile the fear of God and honour of the King together They must not rifle their duty and yet they must not draw the Sword against their Princes The foundation laid by a late Philosopher of making the Princes will the rule of Justice and goodness for the preservation of Government and the peace of Societies overthrows the whole structure of Religion destroys the society and order of men and is contradictory to the reason of men But to secure Government and peace by Non-resistance and Passive obedience as it 's consonant to Divine pleasure so it secures Religion maintains Justice and is the most certain defence of the Imperial power Chrysostom privately retiring into The Accident that happened at the banishment of Chrysostom banishment the People for some hours were ignorant that he had taken Ship for Armenia but no sooner the news was spread in the City but it was filled with confusion terrours and cryes Men Women and Children of all sorts and qualities ran to the Haven and there cry out the Bishop the Bishop is gone They enquired of the Mariners where the last step was that they might kiss the very impression of his foot Never City was more doleful then Constantinople was then The Governour of the City Optatus was a Pagan a zealous professor of Idolatry he with the greatest joy embraced the banishment of Chrysostom as an occasion put into his hands to prosecute the Christians with as great a cruelty and rage as ever the Heathen Tyrants did to make a Christian Emperour by his hands the cause of inflicting as dreadful tortures on them as a Decius or Dioclesian The Banishment of Chrysostom happened imediately before Easter the great Ternary of days the days of our Lords being in the Grave was the time when these Tragedies were acted For then the Churches were filled with Christians of all sorts many Men and Women were then preparing for Baptism to be celebated on Easter-day the Deaconesses attending upon the Women the Deacons upon the Men in their distinct and several places all which were filled with sorrow for Chrysostom incredible was their grief for the Decree of Banishment fervent were their prayers for his continuance Optatus commands his Troops to enter the Church the people cry for Chrysostom the Souldiers answer their Petitions with their Swords Thus the Holy Church the Sacred Altar was besmeared with bloud in the day of the Lords Passion They enter the places where the Catechumens were to the Women they offer the basest indignities and cruelties to the Men all which malice and rage could perpetrate The Fonts were not now filled with water but bloud and they who were prepared to be consecrated to God in the waters of Baptism are now indeed baptized into the Baptism that Christ was baptized with Oh dreadful passage what if Chrysostom had been in some words indiscreet must the Flock of Christ thus suffer and the Christian Emperour give authority for such an indignity to be offered to Christian Religion The Souldiers after they had wounded the Catechumens poured their bloud into the Fonts stript the Women naked and in a barbarous cruelty and divelish rage against Christianity for these were Pagan Troops in a scorn dipt them in their own bloud and cruelly murthered many of them Who can read without tears such a Tragedy done in a Christian City with the Authority of a Christian Emperour on the day of our blessed Lord's Passion but O Eternal God! thy ways are a great depth and cannot be searched out In the very night that Chrysostom was carried into Exile a Fire began in the Throne of Chrysostom which consumed that stately Cathedral wherein he constantly Preached the flames being carried by a violent East-wind lighted upon the Palace of the Senators of Constantinople the Common-Council-house of the City a rare Pile of buildings and laid it level with the ground Those flames were matter of Joy to Optatus another opportunity being presented to him for the reaking his malice upon the Christians The favourites of Chrysostom were presently clapt in prison and laid in Irons especially the Presbyters and Deacons who were faithful to him the Constantinopolitan Ladies not being spared many of whom were put to cruel Torments that the Ecclesiastical Historian judges it best to pass by the Narrative in silence But in all the Tortures that they suffer'd neither man nor woman confessed the Fact but utterly denied it Olympias a great Lady the Widow of Nebridius a rich Consul embraced a Religious life She was a great admirer and lover of Chrysostom her Estate was crime enough she is drag'd to the Tribunal accused as an Accomplice in the burning of the Church to which accusation she bravely answers
wickedness that by an immediate consequence from their Sentiments no worship can be given to the ever-glorious and Eternal God no obedience or faithful subjection to the Supreme Magistrate no justice between man and man The same great person thus laments The absurd and foolish Philosophy which the World so much admired propagated by the late Mr. Hobbs and others had undone him and many more of the best Parts in the Nation The wickedness of our Opponents cannot charge the Commandments of the blessed Jesus with the least errour For the preservation and flourishing of Christianity we will put up our prayers to Almighty God that nothing may separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus Ordain O Lord a Lamp for thine anointed deck thy Priests with Salvation and make thy Saints sing aloud for joy Amen THe Compiler of this Tract hath not given the particular account of each Author out of which he hath collected this History but he assures the Reader that he Traded not with any fabulous Writer he durst not trust Chrysostom's Biographers but the Books out of which he hath taken this Parallel are St. Basil Graecè Ed. Froben Basileae 1551 Nazianzen Graecè Ed. Herbagi Basileae 1550. Chrysostom Graecè Ed. Savilianâ Aetonae 1612. Socrates Sozomen Theodoret Graecè Ed. Steph. Paris 1544. Photii Bibliotheca Gr. Lat. Ed. Rothom 1653. ERRATA PAge 11. lin 6. dele the Snow of p. 17. l. 26. set the colon point after Grave p. 63. in the marg for Appeals read Fraternal Addresses p. 64. l. 27. when the East was so dreadfully tormented are a Parenthesis l. 29. r. Bishops and dele the comma The PARALLEL Of the LIVES of St. Basil the Great AND St. John Chrysostom HElenopontus a mean City of the The Birth and Parentage of St. Basil Cappadocian Pontus had for ever been obscured in the Charts of Geographers had not the Birth of Basilius given it a perpetual lustre whose Parents were of ancient and great Nobility His Grandfather was one of the Nobles of Cappadocia and made more Honourable by the Christianity which he gloriously professed The Maximinian Persecution occasioned his flight into the Desarts of Pontus whither he with some brave persons his Friends and some of his Family retired and there for seven years he lived That wild Desart afforded no other meat than what his Prayers obtained from Heaven the Beasts and the Fowls that fed him were Prisoners of his prayers they being caught by no other Snares or Nets than those his Ejaculations had prepared Yet supposing men might afford a greater liberty and shew a more fair civility than the Beasts of the Pontick Wilderness he ventured again into the open Air of Cappadocia where though his expectation was cheated his Faith was permanent and what the savage Beasts did not act the devillish Pagans perpetrated by whom he received a cruel but glorious death the Annals of the Church perpetuating the day of his Martyrdom The Parents of Basil were Basilius and Emmelia Basilius his Sanctity advanced him to an Episcopal Dignity which he managed with great piety and prudence Emmelia survived her Husband many years who had the unusual felicity of the prosperous holiness of ten Children five of whom were Sons three of which were Bishops of eminent wit and holiness the glory of that present and succeeding Ages At her death which happen'd in the 90 th year of her age Macrina her eldest Daughter and Peter her youngest Son were present before they closed her eyes that heavenly Widow laid her hands upon her eldest Child which was Macrina and on Peter then a Presbyter her youngest Child and gave up the Ghost with these heavenly passages O my Eternal God in this my eldest Daughter and this my youngest Son I dedicate my whole harvest of Children to thy Divine Majesty and in these prayers I commend my Soul unto thee the first fruits and tenths are thine all O my God are thine into thy hands I commit my Spirit Of such a Father and such a Mother the great Basilius was born Anno 319. Constantine being the fifth and Licinianus the first time Consuls O glorious felicity an aged Lady living in such an exemplary Piety seeing her Children to be the Pillars of the Church and glory of their Age thus happily in the vigour of her parts and piety to breath out her blessed Soul Antioch the Metropolis of Syria receives an eternal honour by the Birth Of St. Chrysostom of Chrysostom which happen'd Anno 354 Constantius the seventh and Gallus the third time Consuls His Parents Secundus and Anthusa were of the Noble Race of the Senators of Antioch Milesius the Archbishop of that See was the instrument of converting them from Paganism to Christianity His Father Secundus died when Anthusa his Mother was but 20 years of age who after the decease of her Husband lived in a perpetual Widowhood Secundus was unwilling to survive that glorious honour which Christianity had conferred on him fearing he might defile the white Garments of his Baptism with a subsequent viciousness She to manifest that entire love which Christianity had encreased in her purer breast to her Husband gained that honour from the Enemies of Christianity that Libanius the Pagan yet Eloquent Orator of Antioch enquiring of Chrysostom himself the age of his Mother Chrysostom answered 40 years and again asking what state of life she embraced he return'd Widowhood which she had continued for 20 years for his Father Secundus died when his Mother was but 20 years old at which reply he cryed with a strange joy and astonishment to his Auditors and Pupils See what famous Women are amongst Christians The Roman Orator to that profuse Gentleman who upbraided him with the meanness of his Parentage smartly replied I give a lustre to my Family but you have obscured the glory of your Ancestors Of these great Persons the question will not easily be determined whether from their Parents they received or unto them gave the greater Splendor But it is unquestionably true that no Parents had Children of greater Excellencies nor Children had Parents of higher Accomplishments These persons of singular extraction remembred the Nobility of their birth and would do nothing unworthy of so great a descent As China Dishes receive their perfection from a long continuance in the Earth and thereby are prepar'd for ornament and most excellent uses so Nobility dignified by a continued succession is fitted for the gallantest imployments and the greatest actions Happy certainly were those Ages of the Church when Nobles offer'd themselves up willingly to serve the Lord when a Chair of State was not more valued than an Episcopal See Plato rejoyced in the happiness of those Commonwealths who had Philosophers for their Princes and certainly it would be a great felicity and splendor to the Church if the Nobility were her Prelates and Governours The Revenues and Dignity of the Church generally came from the Nobility who divested
is no wonder his passions were so by assed when his Judgment was so imposed upon Theophilus gathers a great company of Bishops together and there all those Bishops which the severity of Chrysostom or the Arts of his Adversaries or all the powers of the Court could make met at a place called the Oak in Constantinople and summoned Chrysostom to appear before them He refused and with the highest reason for what Authority had the Alexandrian Bishop over the Bishop of Constantinople or with what Authority or reason could they celebrate a Council in Constantinople without the consent of Chrysostom Arch Archbishop of Constantinople Chrysostom sent two of his Presbyters to that unlawful Convention of Bishops and acquainted them that their actions were destructive of the Churches peace contrary to the Ecclesiastical Canons and that he refused not to answer any crimes laid against him but he rejected an usurped power and therefore appealed to a General Council They still persist in their determinations upon his non-appearing At the fourth summons they pronounced a sentence of his deposition which being divulged in the City filled them with rage and indignation The whole City is in an uproar here the very Children and Women cryed men raged all hastened to the Cathedral and Palace of Chrysostom whom they detained all night which was pass'd in Prayer and Preaching They could hardly be filled with a greater sorrow and amazement if an Enemy had been sacking their Town then they were at the apprehensions of the loss of Chrysostom but Chrysostom uses all his Eloquence to perswade the people to peace and to behave themselves with all Reverence and obedience to their Religious Emperour O brave mind provoked to excellent actions by injuries and oppressions So Chrysostom retires to his Palace where for some space he keeps himself reserved and would not come to the Church and now Constantinople seems to be in a perpetual night no joy in that City where their brave Preacher was wanting Theophilus seeing the affections of the People for Chrysostom and the rage against him fears an attempt upon his Person the like possest the rest of the Bishops who wisely to prevent any danger leave the City and hasten to their respective Sees Chrysostom receives a message from the Emperour to retire into Exile that the Souldiers were ready to convey him into the place designed for his banishment who fearing his publick departure might occasion an uproar and endanger the Person of the Emperour and Empress privately delivered himself into the hands of the Souldiers and so unknown to the City was carried into Exile But as soon as ever the fame of his Banishment was spread the people were struck with rage and fury the Women and children run with the greatest passion to the Emperors gate and there they begg'd and cry'd for Chrysostom the men assembled in numerous companies nothing in this City but confusion here a company would cry what Judgments waited upon that City which was unworthy of Chrysostom others violently railing at the unlawful proceedings of the Bishops that deposed him So pitiful were the complaints so dangerous was the insurrection that Arcadius had no other means left him to quiet that tumultuous City but with a promise of a speedy restauration of him Whereupon he immediately dispatched Burso an Eunuch of the Empress with special commands to bring Chrysostom back to Constantinople He finding him at Prenetum over against Nicomedia brings him back to the City where he was received with all imaginable expressions of joy No City reduced to the greatest extremity by a potent Enemy besieging it could be more filled with the highest joy at a seasonable succour and relief then the Constantinopolitans were at the return of Chrysostom Their Acclamations were so loud their expressions of content so various and great that Chrysostom's satisfaction for his return was lessened by the immoderate honour they did unto him But he staid in the Suburbs and would not enter into the City nor go into the Pulpit till he was legally absolved till his cause was legally heard and he himself found innocent But this gave no satisfaction to the people they must see Chrysostom in the Church they must hear him preach Whereupon they so pressed upon Arcadius that he forced Chrysostom into the Pulpit and there to pray and preach which he performed In his Benediction they thought themselves all blessed his Prayers they concluded would pierce the Heavens and his pious Eloquence convey them to glory And this course for some months to the infinite content of the Citizens he continued But over against the Church called Sophia one of the miracles of the World the place where he usually preached the Statue of the Empress made of Silver with a rich Mantle over her head was erected before which Plays and Interludes were celebrated Chrysostom looking upon this as a dishonour done to Almighty God dehorts the people from such courses in a great vehemency maintains the dignity of the Divine Service with a torrent of the richest Oratory against Plays and Interludes that it was an inexpressible indignity to Almighty God that the Acclamations and noise of Plays and Interludes should be heard in the Church where Halelujahs are sung to God and so a disturbance be given to the Priest and holy people that wait about the Altar Which Sermon coming to the Empresses ears the fire of her rage which lay smothered under the ashes of dissimulation broke out into an open flame against him so that she openly threatned his second deposition which he receiving in great passion enters the Church and there makes that so famous Sermon which thus begins Herodias still dances Herodias still rages Herodias is still filled with indignation Herodias yet seeks for the head of John in a Platter At which the Empress was so incensed that she would hear of no entreaty for a reconciliation with Chrysostom But immediately sends for Theophilus Archbishop of Alexandria the old and sworn enemy of Chrysostom to summon a Council at Chalcedon there to hear the crimes laid against Chrysostom who justly refused to appear affirming that he kept himself within his own Palace with the company of fifty Bishops of excellent Piety and Learning who spent their time in prayers and tears No crimes in that Council were objected against Chrysostom only he was charged that contrary to the Ecclesiastical Canons he had preached not being absolved and restored to his Church For in a Council at Antioch it was decreed that if any Bishop was deposed he should not be restored to any Ecclesiastical Dignity except the number of Bishops that restored him exceeded the number that deposed him To which Chrysostom made this reply that his deposition was unjust unlawful and in it self null and that for fear of those inconveniences which might follow a popular tumult he voluntarily retired into Exile that he had not returned but by the Emperours command and for fear of the least transgression of
not possibly think that an Appeal to Rome was necessary since upon the account before-recited he refused to appear at Pera withall he Appeals to a General Council he acquainteth Innocent that he was not guilty and could wholly free himself from those crimes laid to his charge but that he would not appear before incompetent Judges an unlawful Judicature which consisted of his professed and implacable enemies but that he would appear before a General Council where in the presence of 1000 Bishops he could manifest his Innocency By which it is evident he Appealed not to Rome but addressed himself to the Western Bishops that as much as in them lay they would endeavour that a General Council might be called before whom he might appear all grievances redressed and Peace to the Church restored And that it was not an Appeal to Rome appeareth by the Epistle it self for though the title be to Innocent Bishop of Rome yet in the body of the Epistle we find that he addresseth himself to the Bishops of the West whom he calls most Reverend and most Holy Bishops Farther to evince that the Greek Church did not acknowledge the Roman Primacy we must attend to what Phocius averrs Innocent saith he laboured much on the behalf of John but all in vain he fent his Apocrisarii who were injuriously treated and scornfully sent back and what prayers so ever he used were to no purpose The persons to whom the Letters and Messengers of Innocent were sent were undoubtedly the Emperour Theophilus and the rest of the Holy Bishops If so this fact must needs manifest the opinion they had of the Roman Primacy That neither St. Basil nor St. Chrysostom did believe the Roman Primacy the case of Miletius and Paulinus evidently declares Miletius was thought to be an Arrian he was Bishop of Sebastia in Armenia Eudoxius the Arrian Bishop of Antioch being dead he was by the Arrians translated from Sebastia to Antioch then in every City of the East every Sect of Christians in it had its peculiar Bishop when Eudoxius governed the Arrian Church in Antioch the Catholick Christians had Eustachius for their Bishop The Antiochian Arrians hearing that Miletius was a person of a singular life and of very great Eloquence and that he was once of the same opinion with them they judged that the opinion the World had of this Person would be a means to draw to their Party the Inhabitants of Antioch There was so great a same of him that when he came to Antioch multitudes of persons went out to meet him both those which were followers of Arrius and those that were adherers to Paulinus When he came first to Antioch he preached publickly the moral Duties of Christianity afterwards he publickly taught the Faith of one substance There was then a Synod the Emperour commanded the Bishops to give their opinion After George of Laodicea had most heretically delivered and Acasius of Caesarea had not so blasphemously but not truly and Apostolically delivered his Miletius was commanded to make a profession of his Faith he contrary to the opinions of the Arrians according to the Nicene decree gave his belief with a great deal of exactness and truth upon which by the instigation of the Arrians he was banished Eustachius who from Perea in Syria was translated to Antioch a person famous for constancy soundness in the Faith and Religion was banished in the time of Constantius Paulinus a Presbyter of Antioch governed the Catholick Church in Antioch those of the people that were sound in the Faith notwithstanding the endeavours of the Arrians he retained and confirmed in the Catholick Doctrine The Bishops of the Church that were banished under Julian the Emperour being restored endeavoured to apply fit remedies for the redressing the disorders of the Church Lucifer a Bishop of Sardinia taking to himself two other Bishops ordained Paulinus Bishop of Antioch Miletius being by the Emperour Gratian recalled from Exile went to Antioch to take possession of his See Paulinus though ordained after Miletius would remain Shepherd of his own Flock and Bishop of Antioch Miletius would not forsake that honour which his Ordination conferred on him nor ought he do it for he was pre-ordained and was a person of that holiness that he judged his office of more concern to him then his dignity This was the great calamity that in a City in which there were so many evil opinions to the encouraging of Heresie two Catholick Bishops should contend one with another both were excellent persons both of admirable fame what cause should be assigned of their divisions both of them appeared by Characters given by excellent Historians to be very holy persons the Eastern sided with Miletius the Western Church with Paulinus perhaps there were heats and animosities failings to which retired and severe persons are obnoxious May I give a conjecture which may give some justification of them both Miletius advanced to the See of Antioch by the Arrians themselves when he discovered himself to be of a contrary opinion his Holiness Learning and Eloquence converted many of the Arrians these would never forsake him who was the instrument of their conversion Paulinus after the banishment of Eustachius being constant in the Faith continuing in Antioch administring the holy office to the Faithful he so obliged him that they would never forsake him Withall his adherents were offended with Miletius because he was ordained by Arrians Miletius was of so sweet a temper as he proffer'd amicable terms of reconciliation Let what will be said that can be said in favour of Paulinus Miletius had the better cause and the suffrage of the Western Church in his behalf doth make it fully appear that the Western Bishops refused the Roman Primacy The Roman Bishop and the West took the part of Paulinus the Grecian Bishops and those of the East that of Miletius If that the Eastern Church did believe the Primacy how durst they maintain that Bishop which was not approved by the Roman It was against the Ecclesiastical Canons that two Bishops should be in the same Church and yet there were two Catholick Bishops in Antioch one approved by the Western the other by the Eastern Church Miletius was a man of most singular Piety and of equal meekness he conversing with Paulinus thus bespeaks him When our Sheep are at union they feed in the same common Pasture and we contend about the right of governing of them Let us leave off our quarrelling and live in mutual concord If I die before you be you the only Pastor of the Sheep If God shall call you hence before me then to the utmost of my power and with my greatest care I will govern the Church of God This moderate proposal Sapores one of Gratians Generals who had in command from that Emperour to thrust all the Arrians out of the Churches and to restore the banished Catholicks being at Antioch seeing this dissention and knowing both of them to be Catholicks
life Wilt thou O Christian learn that wisdom with which the Teacher of the World was endued consider how he clearly discovers that whatsoever seems illustrious in the World is really nothing Mark the Language that he useth 1 Cor. 4. 17. The things that are seen say abundance of Riches if you alledge Lustre Glory and Majesty if Dominion Power if Empires if Thrones and Crowns all these things are seen and are Temporal their continuance is but short and the enjoyment of them but for a moment If these things that are seen are but Temporal what things O blessed Paul wouldst thou have us to pursue He returns things not seen things which corporal eyes cannot behold If any one shall object who is it that counsels us to neglect visible and pursue invisible things Heavenly Paul replies the nature of the things counsel and command you see these things you see them uncertain and the continuance of them short but those things which we cannot see are Eternal they know no end nor admit of a Period This he says was the subject of his continued Labours and daily Sermons So that that by the Apostle pronounced concerning the Patriarchs may be applyed to these great persons Heb. 11. 14. They that say such things declare plainly that they seek another Country Basil having consumed his body by vast labours as a glorious Lamp that Their deaths and Burials wasts it self with its own fire and goes out with the greatest flame So Basil with continual fasting in perpetual prayers study and preaching cast himself into a perpetual sickness which caused him to study Physick His incessant disease made him a Physician he scarce ever being in good health Recovering out of a former disease he was very much troubled that being near the Haven a contrary wind should drive him into the Sea again But after he had gloriously ruled the Church for 8 years and 2 months Anno 378. he fell into his last sickness which was a violent Feaver it disturbed not his Reason nor Religion his Soul burnt with Divine ardours and he cast the flames of love to God in all his discourses When he could hardly speak and ready to give up the last Gasp he called for several of the Clergy and other Religious persons and gave them most prudent most sacred most religious admonitions concerning both the guiding of their own lives and ordering of the Church of God and interrupting that discourse his strength being wasted he breaks out into this Ejaculation O Lord into thy hands I commit my Spirit and with that aspiration his Soul flew to Heaven and left the Body of Basilius for the society of Angels expecting to receive it in the resurrection of the Just The news of his death being spread throughout the City filled all with sorrow and horrour In him the very Children thought they had lost their Parents Wives their Husbands Parents their Children the Glory the Protection of the City they thought was gone and his Funeral was celebrated by the confluence of all sorts of people The Desarts were emptied of all their Religious persons the Country became unpeopled Jews and Gentiles flocked to attend his Herse in so great a croud many thronging to be within the shadow of the Herse or to touch the Bier perished in so great a multitude many were pressed to death as unwilling to survive that great Person being his funeral Victims they would offer themselves willingly a Sacrifice to this great Saint The memory of him was so famous that his very Gestures his Speech his Garb his Gate every thing the most excellent Persons endeavoured to imitate and they thought them admirable who could express in themselves any thing of Basilius Alass these were but faint representations of his Virtues as Ecchoes rebound but the last sillable so scarce any could express the meanest of his Excellencies His fame was so glorious that he hath acquired the name of Great Pompey and Alexander gained the same Title by their Arms and Victories but he by Grace and the Triumphs of Religion The universal testimony of the Church hath canonized him for a Saint his Laurels grow out of his grave and the glory of his Memorial shall never lose its lustre The Emperours anger continuing still against Chrysostom prohibited the conversation of Letters with him caused him to be removed from Place to Place that it might be unknown where he was Arriving at Caesarea Pharetrius Bishop of that place and successor of Basil a man infinitely inferiour to his Predecessor and of a different humour denied him Lodgings in the City prohibited a Religious Lady that lived 5 miles distant from Caesarea to entertain him The famous Bishop gave the foreign Communion to Strangers Pagans to Hereticks but how differently contrary is Pharetrius who permits not an entertainment to Chrysostom the most glorious Prelate of the World After one years rest and civil usage at Cucusum he was hurried to Petiuntum the Souldiers having received a special command from the Emperour that they should not permit him any quiet nor suffer his decayed body to receive any refreshment by ease in violent storms he should have no shelter in great heats he should not have the benefit of the shades but be carried from place to place Yet in all these troubles his mind was elevated always comforting disconsolate Christians Thus he whilst he was gloriously fighting in the Front of the Battle encouraged the Souldiers in the Rear Carried to Comanum he as the customs of holy men were to enter the Church goes to the Temple of Basiliscus to pray after which his Feaver increasing worn with labours wasted by travels in holy prayers and Ejaculations he gives up the Ghost Anno 407. having sat in the See 9 years 7 months and 8 days He enter'd a Temple to pray immediately before he was to enter into that Temple where the Lamb is the light thereof A period is put to the Travels of this Pilgrim his banishment finds an end now he enters into the City of God that new Jerusalem and is in that place where there remains a rest for the Servants of God The news of his death flying into Armenia and the adjacent Countries they were all struck with an excessive grief the Inhabitants forsook their Country to celebrate the Funeral of this great Person He was carried to the grave upon the shoulders of the most Religious persons people of divers Nations being attendants of that solemnity Divers Languages conspired in one praise all tongues sent up the same Halelujahs With Prayers Psalmodies with Hymns the people of all estates and conditions of various Countries celebrated that sad solemnity and being carried to the Church of St. Basiliscus he was there interred He lived with great Fame his enemies could never obscure but encrease his glory his Memorial can never be buried in oblivion His enemies raced his name out of the sacred Dipticks but it will always remain in the Book of life The consent of the universal Church hath reckoned him amongst the Catalogue of Saints A very considerable part of Constantinople separated from the Church and had their conventions under some Bishops the favourites of Chrysostom These were called Joannites against whom the Emperour made severe Edicts for they would not be forced to communicate at the Altar whose Dipticks admitted not the name of Chrysostom and by reason of that great injury done to this famous Bishop and Saint the whole Western Church refused a communion with the Constantinopolitan Proclus formerly a Deacon under Chrysostom was advanced to the Archbishoprick of Constantinople He prevailed upon that most excellent and Religious Emperour Theodosius the younger the Son of Arcadius that the body of Chrysostom should be translated from Comanum to Constantinople which was performed 38 years after his decease The Corps were received with the highest joy mixed with infinite shame and sorrow with the extreamest shame and sorrow that so great a Prelate so admirable a Preacher so holy a man Christians should banish into the remotest parts of the World What infinite sorrow to conceive that a Christian City should be deprived of so glorious a Person and his death to be hastened by the hands of Christians whose life deserved to be prolonged by all possible care and industry Yet what joy to see the Empire changed the City all attending the Ship that brought the Corps of their banished Archbishop Theodosius himself an Emperour composed with valour and goodness a person of the greatest courage and sweetest temper in the World being the chief Mourner And thus Chrysostom is carried with all imaginable pomp and with all the sacred solemnities to the Church of St. Sophia his holy name is re-inserted into the Sacred Dipticks and in the grave of Chrysostom all contentions were buried the Eastern and Western Churches reconciled no private conventions maintained but all met in the unity of the Spirit and bond of peace The works of this person are many and incomparable his Auditors after they came from Church would usually cry O Golden Mouth While he lived and two ages at least after his death he was known by common discourse and writing by the name of John but afterwards the glory of his writings gave him the cognomen of Chrysostom and indeed nothing can shine in greater lustre then he in the excellency of Eloquence piety and industry Thus these two great persons as the Phoenix having made a Nest which is her Funeral Pile of the odoriferous branches which the Aromatick Trees of Arabia afford by an agitation of the Air through the nimble motion of her wings causeth the Solar Beams to set it on fire which being kindled she lays her self quietly in those flames and there with great content expires knowing that of those ashes another more Juvenile and sprightly Phoenix shall arise so these great persons having prepared for themselves by their actions more fragrant and sweet then the odours of the East an Eternal Monument are laid in the grave in the sweetest repose knowing that out of their ashes there shall arise those Bodies which are in this World embalmed with the perfumes of a great Fame and the odours of glorious actions that shall be invested with light and immortality FINIS