Interpretation of Ezekiel

signs at the tomb ^A, and after the tomb, which could praise worthily? Yet nothing is like the miracle of my salvation; a few drops of blood refashioning the whole world, and becoming for all men like rennet to milk, binding and drawing us into one.

XXX. But, O Pascha, great and holy, and the purgation of the whole world! For I shall address thee as if gifted with life. O Word of God, and light, and life, and wisdom, and power! For I delight in all thy names. O offspring of the great Mind, and impulse, and seal! O Word intelligible, and human being visible, who upholdest all things tied fast ^B by the word of thy power! Now thou hast this discourse, not as a first-offering, but perhaps as the final offering of our own fruit-bearing, a thank-offering and a petition at the same time: that we may suffer no hardship beyond those necessary ^C and holy labors in which we have lived; and that thou mayest stay the tyranny against us (thou seest, Lord, how great it is, and how it bows me down) in our body, or [bring] thy decree, if we are to be cleansed by thee. And if we should finish [our life] in a manner worthy of our desire, and be received into the heavenly tabernacles, there too we shall perhaps offer to thee acceptable sacrifices upon thy holy altar, O Father, and Word, and Holy Spirit; for to thee is due all glory, honor, and power, for ever and ever. Amen.

APPENDIX

MONITUM

I. In the editions of the works of Gregory published thus far, certain small works are found which, since they are falsely attributed to our Theologian, we have judged should be placed in the Appendix of this edition. And first, indeed, we consider that this little lucubration should be relegated among the spurious works of Gregory, whose inscription is: "Significatio [Significance], or rather, observation, annotation ^D on Ezekiel." Tillemont has already pronounced it "utterly unworthy of Gregory." And indeed, it falsely seems to claim for itself the name of an oration. For it would be more correctly inscribed: "Brief and indigested annotations on Ezekiel, and certain other places of Scripture." That is certainly gathered, both from the form and series of this little work, and from that scholion of the great Colbertine codex, in which we read: "These annotations concern not only Ezekiel, but also certain other places of the Scriptures." It ought to seem truly wonderful that so informis [shapeless] a fetus is attributed to Gregory, and has held a place among his most excellent orations. For as many as are masters in the critical art [have held] this fetus from the Theologian

our works have set forth. Billius himself has confirmed the opinion of the scholars with his own vote. "The Greeks," he says, "doubt whether this little work should be attributed to Gregory. And indeed, here everything is so involved and intricate, nay, so inverted and confused, and the style itself so rugged and disturbed, that it seems to me this little tract can in no way support the name of so great an author." [II] Then, to confirm our opinion on this matter, there comes also the testimony of this scholium: "It should be known that this discourse is called into doubt. Moreover, this little work is missing in several manuscripts of the best quality; nor is it read in the two primary manuscripts of the Coislinian collection in the Saint-Germain library. Therefore we justly reject it; nor are we at all swayed by what the scholiast of the great Colbert manuscript, already cited in the preceding number, immediately subjoins after the quoted words: 'Perhaps, however, he who found everything, at the same time entitled it thus, because he discovered that the Father [Gregory] had also entitled it thus in that notebook where he was accustomed to describe observations of this kind; having first, of course, digested the observations on Ezekiel, and then, as in a notebook, inserted them into other places of Scripture as well; which notebook is considered by the common consensus of all to be the progeny of this Saint; perhaps as one that had been written by his hand or explored in some other way.' But there is no one who does not see that the scholiast here speaks by way of conjecture; although he teaches that there existed a notebook, ascribed by the common opinion of all to our Gregory, in which he was accustomed to describe his observations on various places of Scripture. But it is manifest from what has been said that the common opinion of scholars is to be preferred in this matter, as it relies on stronger arguments. As for the rest, who may have been the author of this little work is unknown.

SIGNIFICATIO IN EZECHIEL

^A They turned, in the manner of the form of Bezec, as if traveling with difficulty, because they do not possess the whole of the light, but rather the form of Bezec, which is that of lightning. If the likeness of the man is complete, he masters other men; but if not, the contrary happens. The lion has something of haughtiness and intensity, so that we may use it well. The calf, that we may desire as we ought. Isaiah says: "You shall sanctify him in burning fire." From the loins and above, electrum; for the parts above have no need of being restricted. From the loins and below, fire, the things of generation; these have need of chastisement. The Spirit first elevates by purging; then the fire purges those who have not been cleansed by this. And the brightness is a noble ^B end. For such are punishments and chastisements. The aim of the Craftsman is one, that He may fashion the subject matter according to His own will, and as the art allows; just as God is good and wise, but not as we are, so too is He the Craftsman; because He is simple and incomposite; whereas we, being composite, are not so. "Wisdom is justified by her children," calling the wise her children. And again the Savior himself says to them, speaking thus: "The children of this age are wiser than the children of light in their own generation"; by children of light, understanding those who have been illuminated by knowledge. And, "We were by nature children of wrath," not saying this according to nature, but because those who sin are in reality liable to ^C wrath. And it is written concerning Judas, that he is a "son of perdition"; he is called son of perdition in that place because he committed a pestiferous crime. Isaiah for three years went naked and barefoot. They say that Moses, after hearing the oracles of God, no longer touched his wife, nor did he beget children. The "abomination of desolation standing in the holy place," they say, is that the temple in Jerusalem will be built later, as the Antichrist will be believed by the Jews to be Christ, and will be enthroned, and will appear to be king of the whole world. He will come in the desolation of the world; for it is an abomination of desolation. They say: ^D As if traversing with difficulty. Instead of, not prosperous. It masters other animals. Haughtiness is noble.