CHAPTER XXIX.

NESTORIUS PROMOTED TO THE SEE OF CONSTANTINOPLE. HIS PERSECUTION OF THE HERETICS.

AFTER the death of Sisinnius, such was the spirit of ambitious rivalry displayed by the ecclesiastics of Constantinople, that the emperors resolved that none of that church should fill the vacant bishopric, notwithstanding the cabals of Philip's partisans, and the no less numerous votes in favour of the election of Proclus. They therefore sent for a stranger from Antioch whose name was Nestorius, a native of Germanicia, distinguished for his excellent voice and fluency of speech; qualifications which they judged important for the instruction of the people. After three months had elapsed, Nestorius therefore arrived from Antioch, being greatly lauded by some for his temperance: but what sort of a disposition he was of in other respects, those who possessed any discernment were able to perceive from his first sermon. Being ordained on the 10th of April, under the consulate of Felix and Taurus, he immediately addressed the emperor, before all the people, in these remarkable words: "Give me, my prince, the earth purged of heretics, and I will give you heaven as a recompence. Assist me in destroying heretics, and I will assist you in vanquishing the Persians." Now although this language was extremely gratifying to some of the multitude, who cherished a senseless antipathy to the very name of heretic; yet those, as I have said, who were skilful in predicating a man's character from his expressions, at once detected his levity of mind, and Ἐπήλυδα.

A city of Cilicia, on the western border of Syria.

violent temper, combined with an excessive love of vain glory inasmuch as he had burst forth into such vehemence without being able to contain himself for the shortest space of time; and to use the proverbial phrase," before he had tasted the water of the city," showed himself a furious persecutor. Accordingly on the fifth day after his ordination, he determined to demolish the oratory in which the Arians were accustomed to perform their devotions privately: an act that drove these people to desperation; for when they saw the work of destruction going forward in their edifice, they threw fire into it, which spreading on all sides reduced many of the adjacent buildings also to ashes. This catastrophe created extraordinary tumult throughout the city, and the Arians burning to revenge themselves, made preparations for that purpose: but God, the Guardian of the city, suffered not the mischief to gather to a climax. Nestorius however was from that time branded as an incendiary, not only by the heretics, but by those also of his own faith. Still he could not rest there, but seeking every means of harassing those who embraced not his own sentiments, he continually disturbed the public tranquillity. The Novatians also became objects of his malignity, being incited to molest them in every possible way, from the jealousy he felt towards Paul their bishop, who was everywhere respected for his piety: but the emperor's admonitions checked his fury. With what calamities he visited the Quartodecimani throughout Asia, Lydia, and Caria, and what multitudes perished in a popular tumult of which he was the cause at Miletum and Sardis, I think proper to omit the description of. The chastisement

* Παροιμίαν.

inflicted on him for all these enormities, and for that unbridled licence of speech in which he indulged himself, will be mentioned hereafter.

CHAPTER XXX.

THE BURGUNDIANS EMBRACE CHRISTIANITY.

I MUST now relate an event well worthy of being recorded, which happened about this time. There is a barbarous nation dwelling beyond the Rhine, denominated Burgundians, who lead a very peaceful life, being almost all artisans, and supporting themselves by the exercise of their trades. The Huns by making continual irruptions on this people, devastated their country, and often destroyed great numbers of them. In this perplexity therefore, the Burgundians resolved to have no recourse to human aid, but to commit themselves to the protection of some god: and having seriously considered that the God of the Romans mightily defended those that feared him, they all with common consent embraced the faith of Christ. Going therefore to one of the Gallic cities, they requested the bishop to grant them Christian baptism: who ordering them to fast seven days, and having meanwhile instructed them in the elementary principles of the faith, on the eighth day baptized and dismissed them. Becoming confident thenceforth, they marched against their invaders; nor were they disappointed in their hope of Divine assistance. For Optar the king of the Huns having died in the night from the effects of a surfeit, the Burgundians attacked that people then without a commander-in-chief; and although they were vastly inferior in numbers, they † Ούννων. Karnxhoas, catechised.

* Τέκτονες.

obtained a complete victory, the Burgundians being altogether but three thousand men, having destroyed no less than ten thousand of the enemy. From that period this nation became zealously attached to the Christian religion. About the same time Barba bishop of the Arians died, on the 24th of June, under the thirteenth consulate of Theodosius, and the third of Valentinian, and Sabbatius was constituted his suc

cessor.

CHAPTER XXXI.

NESTORIUS HARASSES THE MACEDONIANS.

NESTORIUS indeed not only himself acted contrary to the usage of the church, but caused others also to imitate him in this respect, as is evident from what happened during his episcopate. For Antony bishop of Germa, a city of the Hellespont, actuated by the example of Nestorius in his intolerance of heretics, began to persecute the Macedonians, under pretext of carrying out the intentions of the patriarch. For some time that sect endured his annoyance; but when Antony proceeded to farther extremities, unable any longer to bear his harsh treatment, and becoming infuriated by despair, they preferred the adoption of a cruel expedient to justice, and suborned two men to assassinate their tormentor. When the Macedonians had perpetrated this crime, Nestorius took occasion from it to increase his violence of conduct against them, and prevailed on the emperor to take away their churches. They were therefore deprived of not only those which they possessed at Constantinople, before the old walls of the imperial city, but of those also which they had at Cyzicum, and many others

that belonged to them in the Hellespont. Many of them therefore at that time came over to the Catholic church, and professed the Homoousian faith. But as the proverb says, drunkards never want wine, nor the contentious strife: and so it fell out with regard to Nestorius, who after having exerted himself to expel others from the church, was himself ejected on the following account.

CHAPTER XXXII.

OF THE PRESBYTER ANASTASIUS, BY WHOM THE FAITH OF NESTORIUS WAS PERVERTED.

NESTORIUS had brought with him from Antioch a presbyter named Anastasius, for whom he had the highest esteem, and whom he consulted in the management of his most important affairs. This Anastasius preaching one day in the church said, "Let no one call Mary Theotocos: for Mary was but a woman;† and it is impossible that God should be born of a woman." These words created a great sensation, and troubled many both of the clergy and laity; they having been heretofore taught to acknowledge Christ as God, and by no means to separate his humanity from his divinity on account of the economy of incarnation. This they conceived was inculcated by the apostle when he said, "Yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh; yet now henceforth know we him no more." And again, "Wherefore, leaving the word of the beginning of Christ, let us go on unto perfection." While great offence was taken in the church, as we have said, at what was thus propounded, Nestot'Avoрúños, a human being. || Heb. vi. 1.

* OεOTÓKOV, i. e. mother of God. † Θεολογεῖν Χριστὸν.

§ 2 Cor. v. 16.