37. After such a course, as taught and
teacher, that his life and habits form the ideal of an Episcopate, and
his teaching the law of orthodoxy, what reward does he win for his
piety? It is not indeed right to pass this by. In a good
old age he closed his life, Closed his life
a.d. 373. and was gathered to
his fathers, the Patriarchs, and Prophets, and Apostles, and Martyrs,
who contended for the truth. To be brief in my epitaph, the
honours at his departure surpassed even those of his return from exile;
the object of many tears, his glory, stored up in the minds of all,
outshines all its visible tokens. Yet, O thou dear and holy one,
who didst thyself, with all thy fair renown, so especially illustrate
the due proportions of speech and of silence, do thou stay here my
words, falling short as they do of thy true meed of praise, though they
have claimed the full exercise of all my powers. And mayest thou
cast upon us from above a propitious glance, and conduct this people in
its perfect worship of the perfect Trinity, which, as Father, Son, Holy
Ghost, we contemplate and adore. And mayest thou, if my lot be
peaceful, possess and aid me in my pastoral charge, or if it pass
through struggles, uphold me, or take me to thee, and set me with
thyself and those like thee (though I have asked a great thing) in
Christ Himself, our Lord, to whom be all glory, honour, and power for
evermore. Amen.