Sayfadaki görseller
PDF
ePub

and educated his son in accordance with his own views. After his father's death, he travelled to perfect himself in Roman law; being expected to open a brilliant career for himself as an advocate. But at Cæsarea he became acquainted with Origen, and was so much attracted by his lectures, that he forgot everything else in his eager pursuit after religious truth. He remained with him eight years. Concerning his expositions of the Scriptures he says: "It is my firm belief that he was able so to discourse only by communion with the Holy Spirit; for it requires the same power to be a prophet and to understand prophets. This man received from God that greatest of all gifts, to be to men an interpreter of the words of God; to understand God's Word as God speaks it, and to announce it to men as men can understand it." He was extremely reluctant to part from Origen and return with his brother to their native city. In view of it, he exclaims: "Do thou, beloved head, stand up and dismiss us with thy prayer. As thou hast, by thy holy doctrines, guided us to salvation all the long time we have been with thee, so now we are to leave thee, guide us to salvation by thy prayers. Pray God to send a good angel to lead us, and to console us for our separation from thee. But pray also that he would bring us back to thee."

Origen kept up an affectionate correspondence with this enthusiastic disciple. He assured him that he could become an able teacher of Roman law, or an eminent instructor in the philosophical schools; but he advised him to devote his talents to the Christian church. When he returned to Neocæsarea, there were only seventeen Christians in that place; but the majority were soon converted by his zeal and eloquence. He retired for awhile into the wilderness, to devote himself to religious contemplation, and to avoid being chosen bishop of the church which had grown up under his auspices. But during his absence, he was ordained to that office without his knowledge, and came from the wilderness with great reluctance to answer to the call. He had remarkable success in mak

ing converts, and he was so celebrated for the miracles he performed, that he was universally called Gregory Thaumaturgus, the Wonder Worker.

A Life of Gregory Thaumaturgus was written about a century after his death, by Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa. It contains many strange legends, which remarkably illustrate the credulity of the times. A work which he wrote on the Trinity is much eulogized by his biographer. He says the Virgin Mary herself, accompanied by the Apostle John, appeared in a vision, and explained to him the mystery of godliness, which he wrote down in this short summary of faith, and left as a legacy to his church. He adds: "For excellency of divine grace, it may be compared with those tables of the Law made by God and delivered to Moses." In the time of Gregory of Nyssa, this document was still preserved as a holy relic by the church at Neocæsarea; and they averred that it was in the author's handwriting. But the doctrine of the Trinity was then very hotly controverted, and some learned men say the manuscript had been much interpolated, to meet the exigencies of the time.

CYPRIAN.-One of the most celebrated of the early Fathers was Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage. He was educated in the old religion of Rome, and taught rhetoric with distinguished success. He was converted to Christianity in the year two hundred and forty-six, and became bishop two years after; in which office he maintained a high reputation. for eloquence and virtue. His ideas concerning subordination in the churches were very strict; and, combined with the dignity of his demeanour, did more to exalt the claims of bishops, than had been done by any of his predecessors. He believed they were divinely appointed to guide mankind, and that it was impious for any one to dispute their authority in matters of faith. The church was then much troubled with schismatics, and he seems to have taken this ground from an earnest desire to preserve unity, rather than from personal ambition. It made him rigorous to

ward all whom he deemed heretics; but the bishops regarded him as a tower of strength, and he was greatly admired and beloved by his people, toward whom he discharged his pastoral duties in a conscientious and paternal

manner.

Such a man was, of course, a conspicuous mark for persecution. He had always discountenanced rashness in incurring unnecessary danger, and, at the commencement of the Decian persecution, he prudently withdrew from the city, till the storm blew over. Extreme zealots blamed him for this, and accused him of setting a cowardly example; but the motives he assigns are such as would naturally actuate a man careful of the welfare of those over whom he presided. He says: "On the first commencement of the troubles, when the populace, with furious clamours, had frequently demanded my death, I retired for a while, not so much out of regard for my own safety, as for the public peace of the brethren; lest the disturbance which had begun might be increased by my obstinate presence." From his retreat, he wrote thus to his clergy: "I beg of you to use all prudence and care for the preservation of quiet. If our brethren, in their love, are anxious to visit those worthy Confessors, whom divine grace has already honoured by a glorious beginning, this must be done with caution, and not in crowds, lest suspicion should be excited, and our access to them wholly prohibited. Be careful then, that for the greater safety, this matter be managed with due moderation. Indeed, we must in all things, with meekness and humility, as becomes the servants of God, accommodate ourselves to the times, and seek for the preservation of peace, and the best good of the people."

Soon after he returned to Carthage, a pestilence began to spread through the empire. Everybody was commanded to sacrifice to the gods, and those who refrained from so doing were again cruelly persecuted. Cyprian, being summoned before the tribunal, declared his determination to worship no other than the God of the Christians, "the true

and only God." He was accordingly banished to the city of Curubis, where he remained in exile eleven months. But though absent in the body, he kept up an active correspondence with the Christian churches, to whom he wrote as follows: "My dearest brethren, let no one be disturbed because our people are scattered by the fear of persecution; because he can no longer see the brethren together, nor hear the bishops preach. We, who may not shed the blood of others, but must be ready to pour out our own, cannot, at such a time, all meet together. Wherever it may happen that a brother is separated from the church a while, in body, not in spirit, by the necessity of the times, let him not be appalled by the solitude of the desert, where he may be obliged to take refuge. He who has Christ for a companion is not alone. If robbers, or wild beasts, fall upon the fugitive, if hunger or cold destroy him, if the stormy waves of the sea overwhelm him, still Christ is present to witness the conduct of his soldier, wheresoever he fights."

To those Christians who were imprisoned, or labouring in the mines, he sent money from the church treasury, and from his own income, accompanied with letters full of sympathy and affectionate encouragement. "What triumph," says he, "when you can walk through the mines with imprisoned body, but with a heart conscious of mastery over itself! When you know that Christ is with you, rejoicing over the patience of his servants, who in his own footsteps, and by his own way, are entering into the eternal kingdom."

When new governors were appointed, at the accession of Valerian, the banished bishops were recalled, and ordered to wait in retirement till the commands of the emperor decided their fate. Cyprian took up his residence at a secluded villa in the neighbourhood of Carthage, where he gave instruction and advice to such as could privately resort to him. Hearing that he was to be conveyed to Utica for trial, he yielded to the persuasions of friends, who urged him to hide himself for a time, till the governor, who was then absent, returned to Carthage; for being

aware that he was soon likely to join the band of martyrs, he chose to give his last testimony to the truth of Christianity in the presence of those who had long looked up to him for example. From his place of concealment, he wrote thus to his flock: "It becomes the bishop to confess the Lord in the place where he presides over the church of the Lord; so that the whole church may be honoured by the confession of their bishop. For whatever proceeds from the lips of the confessing bishop, under the guidance of the Divine Spirit, comes from the mouths of all. Let me then await the return of the Proconsul to Carthage, that I may learn from him the commands of the emperor, and speak whatever the Lord, in that hour, may cause me to speak. But do you, my dearest brethren, study to preserve quiet, in conformity to the directions, which, according to the doctrine of the Lord, you have often received from me. Let no one of you lead the brethren into tumults, or voluntarily give himself up. The only time for any one to speak is after he has been apprehended. In that hour, the Lord, who dwells in us, speaks in us."

Soon after the governor's return he was arrested on the charge of continuing to teach Christianity, contrary to the orders of the government. During the day that he was detained in prison, to await his trial, the keepers treated him respectfully, and a multitude of Christians thronged round the building to catch a glimpse of their beloved bishop, knowing it might be for the last time. The examination was very brief. The magistrate said: "Art thou Cyprian, the bishop of so many impious men? The most sacred emperor commands thee to sacrifice." Cyprian calmly replied: "I will not sacrifice." The magistrate bade him consider well. แ Execute your orders," answered the bishop; "it is a case that admits of no consideration." After a preamble, reminding him how pious emperors had vainly tried to reclaim him from his evil ways, he was sentenced to be beheaded; to which he quietly replied: "God be thanked." As soon as the mournful tidings reached the multitude of Christians thronging round the palace gates, a general cry

L

« ÖncekiDevam »