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