who have been born in her, and nurtured in her bosom, and have learned perfectly her
secrets, that these should of a sudden change, and do her enemies’ work.
107
I mean these remarks for those who give themselves up indiscriminately to the men
who are dividing the Church. For if on the one hand those men have doctrines also contrary
to ours, then on that account further it is not right to mix with them: if, on the other hand,
they hold the same opinions, the reason for not mixing with them is greater still. And why
so? Because then the disease is from lust of authority. Know ye not what was the fate of
Korah, Dathan, and Abiram? (Num. xvi. 1–35.) Of them only did I say? Was it not also of
them that were with them? What wilt thou say? Shall it be said, “Their faith is the same, they
are orthodox as well as we”? If so, why then are they not with us? There is “one Lord, one
faith, one baptism.” If their cause is right, then is ours wrong; if ours is right, then is theirs
wrong. “Children,” saith he, “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind.” Tell
me, dost thou think this is enough, to say that they are orthodox? Is then the ordination301
of clergy302 past and done away? And what is the advantage of other things,303 if this be
not strictly observed? For as we must needs contend for the faith; so must we for this also.
For if it is lawful for any one, according to the phrase of them of old, “to fill his hands,”304
and to become a priest, let all approach to minister. In vain has this altar been raised, in vain
the fullness of the Church, in vain the number of the priests. Let us take them away and
destroy them. “God forbid!” ye will say. You are doing these things, and do ye say, “God
forbid”? How say ye, “God forbid,” when the very things are taking place? I speak and
testify, not looking to my own interest, but to your salvation. But if any one be indifferent,
he must see to it himself: if these things are a care to no one else, yet are they a care to me.
“I planted,” saith he, “Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” (1 Cor. iii. 6.) How shall
we bear the ridicule of the Greeks? For if they reproach us on account of our heresies, what
will they not say of these things? “If they have the same doctrines, if the same mysteries,
wherefore does a ruler in one Church invade another? See ye,” say they, “how all things
amongst the Christians are full of vainglory? And there is an ambition among them, and
301 [See Bingham, Ant. Bk. iv. ch. vi. sec. 11.—G.A.]
302 χειροτονίας. At this time there were two orthodox successions in Antioch, that of Paulinus and Evagrius,
who were successively representatives of the old line which the Arians had dispossessed, and which Western
Christendom supported; and that of Meletius and Flavian, to which St. Chrysostom adhered, and the Eastern
Church generally, being the Arian succession conformed to orthodoxy. The schism was terminated A.D. 392,
on the death of Evagrius, though his party continued for twenty years longer.
303 [τῶν ἄλλων, wanting in the text of Field, is attested by four good authorities, and yields the only sense
that suits the context.—G.A.]
304 Exodus xxix. 9. Our translation has, “Thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons”; the margin gives the
literal rendering, “Thou shalt fill the hands of Aaron.”
200
Ephesians 4:4-7