VII. These are the gifts given you by this
august Abraham, this honourable and reverend Head, this Patriarch, this
Restingplace of all good, this Standard of virtue, this Perfection of
the Priesthood, who to-day is bringing to the Lord his willing
Sacrifice, his only Son, S.
Gregory had an elder sister Gorgonia, and a younger brother Cæsarius, so that this expression must not be taken
too literally, but is rather to be read in connection with the
“promise,” his Mother having looked upon his birth as a
special answer to prayer, and having dedicated him to God from his
infancy. him of the
promise. Do you on your side offer to God and to us obedience to
your Pastors, dwelling in a place of herbage, and being fed by water of
refreshment; Ps. xxiii. 2. knowing your
Shepherd well, and being known by him; John x. 14.
and following when he calls you as a Shepherd frankly through the door;
but not following a stranger climbing up into the fold like a robber
and a traitor; nor listening to a strange voice when such would take
you away by stealth and scatter you from the truth on
mountains, Ezek. xxxiv. 6. and in deserts, and
pitfalls, and places which the Lord does not visit; and would lead you
away from the sound Faith in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost,
the One Power and Godhead, Whose Voice my sheep always heard (and may
they always hear it), but with deceitful and corrupt words would tear
them from their true Shepherd. From which may we all be kept,
Shepherd and flock, as from a poisoned and deadly pasture; guiding and
being guided far away from it, that we may all be one in Christ Jesus
our Lord, now and unto the heavenly rest. To Whom be the glory
and the might for ever and ever. Amen.