ThecontemporarysaintalwaysmentionsthebishopofLaodiceaasafriendandbrother。Thestyleofthemorerecenthistoriansisharshandhostile:yetPhilostorgiuscompareshiml。viii。c。11
—15toBasilandGregory。]
V。ThegrovellingEbionite，andthefantasticDocetes，wererejectedandforgotten:therecentzealagainsttheerrorsofApollinarisreducedtheCatholicstoaseemingagreementwiththedoublenatureofCerinthus。Butinsteadofatemporaryandoccasionalalliance，theyestablished，andwestillembrace，thesubstantial，indissoluble，andeverlastingunionofaperfectGodwithaperfectman，ofthesecondpersonofthetrinitywithareasonablesoulandhumanflesh。Inthebeginningofthefifthcentury，theunityofthetwonatureswastheprevailingdoctrineofthechurch。Onallsides，itwasconfessed，thatthemodeoftheircoexistencecouldneitherberepresentedbyourideas，norexpressedbyourlanguage。Yetasecretandincurablediscordwascherished，betweenthosewhoweremostapprehensiveofconfounding，andthosewhoweremostfearfulofseparating，thedivinity，andthehumanity，ofChrist。Impelledbyreligiousfrenzy，theyfledwithadversehastefromtheerrorwhichtheymutuallydeemedmostdestructiveoftruthandsalvation。Oneitherhandtheywereanxioustoguard，theywerejealoustodefend，theunionandthedistinctionofthetwonatures，andtoinventsuchformsofspeech，suchsymbolsofdoctrine，aswereleastsusceptibleofdoubtorambiguity。Thepovertyofideasandlanguagetemptedthemtoransackartandnatureforeverypossiblecomparison，andeachcomparisonmisleadtheirfancyintheexplanationofanincomparablemystery。Inthepolemicmicroscope，anatomisenlargedtoamonster，andeachpartywasskilfultoexaggeratetheabsurdorimpiousconclusionsthatmightbeextortedfromtheprinciplesoftheiradversaries。Toescapefromeachother，theywanderedthroughmanyadarkanddeviousthicket，tilltheywereastonishedbythehorridphantomsofCerinthusandApollinaris，whoguardedtheoppositeissuesofthetheologicallabyrinth。Assoonastheybeheldthetwilightofsenseandheresy，theystarted，measuredbacktheirsteps，andwereagaininvolvedinthegloomofimpenetrableorthodoxy。Topurgethemselvesfromtheguiltorreproachofdamnableerror，theydisavowedtheirconsequences，explainedtheirprinciples，excusedtheirindiscretions，andunanimouslypronouncedthesoundsofconcordandfaith。Yetalatentandalmostinvisiblesparkstilllurkedamongtheembersofcontroversy:bythebreathofprejudiceandpassion，itwasquicklykindledtoamightyflame，andtheverbaldisputes^19oftheOrientalsectshaveshakenthepillarsofthechurchandstate。
[Footnote19:IappealtotheconfessionoftwoOrientalprelates，GregoryAbulpharagiustheJacobiteprimateoftheEast，andEliastheNestorianmetropolitanofDamascus，seeAsseman，Bibliothec。Oriental。tom。ii。p。291，tom。iii。p。514，&c。，
thattheMelchites，Jacobites，Nestorians，&c。，agreeinthedoctrine，anddifferonlyintheexpression。Ourmostlearnedandrationaldivines—Basnage，LeClerc，Beausobre，LaCroze，Mosheim，Jablonski—areinclinedtofavorthischaritablejudgment；butthezealofPetaviusisloudandangry，andthemoderationofDupinisconveyedinawhisper。]
ThenameofCyrilofAlexandriaisfamousincontroversialstory，andthetitleofsaintisamarkthathisopinionsandhispartyhavefinallyprevailed。Inthehouseofhisuncle，thearchbishopTheophilus，heimbibedtheorthodoxlessonsofzealanddominion，andfiveyearsofhisyouthwereprofitablyspentintheadjacentmonasteriesofNitria。UnderthetuitionoftheabbotSerapion，heappliedhimselftoecclesiasticalstudies，withsuchindefatigableardor，thatinthecourseofonesleeplessnight，hehasperusedthefourGospels，theCatholicEpistles，andtheEpistletotheRomans。Origenhedetested；butthewritingsofClemensandDionysius，ofAthanasiusandBasil，werecontinuallyinhishands:bythetheoryandpracticeofdispute，hisfaithwasconfirmedandhiswitwassharpened；heextendedroundhiscellthecobwebsofscholastictheology，andmeditatedtheworksofallegoryandmetaphysics，whoseremains，insevenverbosefolios，nowpeaceablyslumberbythesideoftheirrivals。^20Cyrilprayedandfastedinthedesert，buthisthoughtsitisthereproachofafriend^21werestillfixedontheworld；andthecallofTheophilus，whosummonedhimtothetumultofcitiesandsynods，wastooreadilyobeyedbytheaspiringhermit。Withtheapprobationofhisuncle，heassumedtheoffice，andacquiredthefame，ofapopularpreacher。Hiscomelypersonadornedthepulpit；theharmonyofhisvoiceresoundedinthecathedral；hisfriendswerestationedtoleadorsecondtheapplauseofthecongregation；^22andthehastynotesofthescribespreservedhisdiscourses，whichintheireffect，thoughnotintheircomposition，mightbecomparedwiththoseoftheAthenianorators。ThedeathofTheophilusexpandedandrealizedthehopesofhisnephew。TheclergyofAlexandriawasdivided；thesoldiersandtheirgeneralsupportedtheclaimsofthearchdeacon；butaresistlessmultitude，withvoicesandwithhands，assertedthecauseoftheirfavorite；andafteraperiodofthirty—nineyears，CyrilwasseatedonthethroneofAthanasius。^23
[Footnote20:LaCrozeHist。duChristianismedesIndes，tom。i。
p。24avowshiscontemptforthegeniusandwritingsofCyril。
Detouslesonvragesdesanciens，ilyenapeuqu\'onliseavecmoinsd\'utilite:andDupin，BibliothequeEcclesiastique，tom。
iv。p。42—52，inwordsofrespect，teachesustodespisethem。]
[Footnote21:OfIsidoreofPelusium，l。i。epist。25，p。8。Astheletterisnotofthemostcreditablesort，Tillemont，lesssincerethantheBollandists，affectsadoubtwhetherthisCyrilisthenephewofTheophilus，Mem。Eccles。tom。xiv。p。268。]
[Footnote22:AgrammarianisnamedbySocratesl。vii。c。13。]
[Footnote23:SeetheyouthandpromotionofCyril，inSocrates，l。vii。c。7andRenaudot，Hist。Patriarchs。Alexandrin。p。
106，108。TheAbbeRenaudotdrewhismaterialsfromtheArabichistoryofSeverus，bishopofHermopolisMagma，orAshmunein，inthexthcentury，whocanneverbetrusted，unlessourassentisextortedbytheinternalevidenceoffacts。]
ChapterXLVII:EcclesiasticalDiscord。
PartII。
Theprizewasnotunworthyofhisambition。Atadistancefromthecourt，andattheheadofanimmensecapital，thepatriarch，ashewasnowstyled，ofAlexandriahadgraduallyusurpedthestateandauthorityofacivilmagistrate。Thepublicandprivatecharitiesofthecitywereblindlyobeyedbyhisnumerousandfanaticparabolani，^24familiarizedintheirdailyofficewithscenesofdeath；andthepraefectsofEgyptwereawedorprovokedbythetemporalpoweroftheseChristianpontiffs。Ardentintheprosecutionofheresy，CyrilauspiciouslyopenedhisreignbyoppressingtheNovatians，themostinnocentandharmlessofthesectaries。Theinterdictionoftheirreligiousworshipappearedinhiseyesajustandmeritoriousact；andheconfiscatedtheirholyvessels，withoutapprehendingtheguiltofsacrilege。Thetoleration，andeventheprivilegesoftheJews，whohadmultipliedtothenumberoffortythousand，weresecuredbythelawsoftheCaesarsandPtolemies，andalongprescriptionofsevenhundredyearssincethefoundationofAlexandria。Withoutanylegalsentence，withoutanyroyalmandate，thepatriarch，atthedawnofday，ledaseditiousmultitudetotheattackofthesynagogues。Unarmedandunprepared，theJewswereincapableofresistance；theirhousesofprayerwerelevelledwiththeground，andtheepiscopalwarrior，after—rewardinghistroopswiththeplunderoftheirgoods，expelledfromthecitytheremnantoftheunbelievingnation。Perhapshemightpleadtheinsolenceoftheirprosperity，andtheirdeadlyhatredoftheChristians，whosebloodtheyhadrecentlyshedinamaliciousoraccidentaltumult。
Suchcrimeswouldhavedeservedtheanimadversionofthemagistrate；butinthispromiscuousoutrage，theinnocentwereconfoundedwiththeguilty，andAlexandriawasimpoverishedbythelossofawealthyandindustriouscolony。ThezealofCyrilexposedhimtothepenaltiesoftheJulianlaw；butinafeeblegovernmentandasuperstitiousage，hewassecureofimpunity，andevenofpraise。Orestescomplained；buthisjustcomplaintsweretooquicklyforgottenbytheministersofTheodosius，andtoodeeplyrememberedbyapriestwhoaffectedtopardon，andcontinuedtohate，thepraefectofEgypt。Ashepassedthroughthestreets，hischariotwasassaultedbyabandoffivehundredoftheNitrianmonkshisguardsfledfromthewildbeastsofthedesert；hisprotestationsthathewasaChristianandaCatholicwereansweredbyavolleyofstones，andthefaceofOresteswascoveredwithblood。TheloyalcitizensofAlexandriahastenedtohisrescue；heinstantlysatisfiedhisjusticeandrevengeagainstthemonkbywhosehandhehadbeenwounded，andAmmoniusexpiredundertherodofthelictor。AtthecommandofCyrilhisbodywasraisedfromtheground，andtransported，insolemnprocession，tothecathedral；thenameofAmmoniuswaschangedtothatofThaumasiusthewonderful；histombwasdecoratedwiththetrophiesofmartyrdom，andthepatriarchascendedthepulpittocelebratethemagnanimityofanassassinandarebel。Suchhonorsmightincitethefaithfultocombatanddieunderthebannersofthesaint；andhesoonprompted，oraccepted，thesacrificeofavirgin，whoprofessedthereligionoftheGreeks，andcultivatedthefriendshipofOrestes。Hypatia，thedaughterofTheonthemathematician，^25wasinitiatedinherfather\'sstudies；herlearnedcommentshaveelucidatedthegeometryofApolloniusandDiophantus，andshepubliclytaught，bothatAthensandAlexandria，thephilosophyofPlatoandAristotle。Inthebloomofbeauty，andinthematurityofwisdom，themodestmaidrefusedherloversandinstructedherdisciples；thepersonsmostillustriousfortheirrankormeritwereimpatienttovisitthefemalephilosopher；andCyrilbeheld，withajealouseye，thegorgeoustrainofhorsesandslaveswhocrowdedthedoorofheracademy。ArumorwasspreadamongtheChristians，thatthedaughterofTheonwastheonlyobstacletothereconciliationofthepraefectandthearchbishop；andthatobstaclewasspeedilyremoved。Onafatalday，intheholyseasonofLent，Hypatiawastornfromherchariot，strippednaked，draggedtothechurch，andinhumanlybutcheredbythehandsofPeterthereader，andatroopofsavageandmercilessfanatics:herfleshwasscrapedfromherboneswithsharpcystershells，^26andherquiveringlimbsweredeliveredtotheflames。Thejustprogressofinquiryandpunishmentwasstoppedbyseasonablegifts；butthemurderofHypatiahasimprintedanindeliblestainonthecharacterandreligionofCyrilofAlexandria。^27
[Footnote24:TheParabolaniofAlexandriawereacharitablecorporation，institutedduringtheplagueofGallienus，tovisitthesickandtoburythedead。Theygraduallyenlarged，abused，andsoldtheprivilegesoftheirorder。TheiroutrageousconductduringthereignofCyrilprovokedtheemperortodeprivethepatriarchoftheirnomination，andtorestraintheirnumbertofiveorsixhundred。Buttheserestraintsweretransientandineffectual。SeetheTheodosianCode，l。xvi。tit。ii。andTillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。xiv。p。276—278。]
[Footnote25:ForTheonandhisdaughterHypatia。seeFabricius，Bibliothec。tom。viii。p。210，211。HerarticleintheLexiconofSuidasiscuriousandoriginal。HesychiusMeursiiOpera，tom。vii。p。295，296observes，thathewaspersecuted；andanepigramintheGreekAnthologyl。i。c。76，p。159，edit。
Brodaeicelebratesherknowledgeandeloquence。SheishonorablymentionedEpist。10，1516，33—80，124，135，153byherfriendanddisciplethephilosophicbishopSynesius。]
[Footnote26:Oystershellswereplentifullystrewedonthesea—beachbeforetheCaesareum。Imaythereforeprefertheliteralsense，withoutrejectingthemetaphoricalversionoftegulae，tiles，whichisusedbyM。deValoisignorant，andtheassassinswereprobablyregardless，whethertheirvictimwasyetalive。]
[Footnote27:TheseexploitsofSt。CyrilarerecordedbySocrates，l。vii。c。13，14，15；andthemostreluctantbigotryiscompelledtocopyanhistorianwhocoollystylesthemurderersofHypatia。Atthementionofthatinjuredname，IampleasedtoobserveablushevenonthecheekofBaronius，A。D。415，No。
48。]
Superstition，perhaps，wouldmoregentlyexpiatethebloodofavirgin，thanthebanishmentofasaint；andCyrilhadaccompaniedhisuncletotheiniquitoussynodoftheOak。WhenthememoryofChrysostomwasrestoredandconsecrated，thenephewofTheophilus，attheheadofadyingfaction，stillmaintainedthejusticeofhissentence；norwasittillafteratediousdelayandanobstinateresistance，thatheyieldedtotheconsentoftheCatholicworld。^28HisenmitytotheByzantinepontiffs^29wasasenseofinterest，notasallyofpassion:heenviedtheirfortunatestationinthesunshineoftheImperialcourt；
andhedreadedtheirupstartambition。whichoppressedthemetropolitansofEuropeandAsia，invadedtheprovincesofAntiochandAlexandria，andmeasuredtheirdiocesebythelimitsoftheempire。ThelongmoderationofAtticus，themildusurperofthethroneofChrysostom，suspendedtheanimositiesoftheEasternpatriarchs；butCyrilwasatlengthawakenedbytheexaltationofarivalmoreworthyofhisesteemandhatred。AftertheshortandtroubledreignofSisinnius，bishopofConstantinople，thefactionsoftheclergyandpeoplewereappeasedbythechoiceoftheemperor，who，onthisoccasion，consultedthevoiceoffame，andinvitedthemeritofastranger。
Nestorius，^30nativeofGermanicia，andamonkofAntioch，wasrecommendedbytheausterityofhislife，andtheeloquenceofhissermons；butthefirsthomilywhichhepreachedbeforethedevoutTheodosiusbetrayedtheacrimonyandimpatienceofhiszeal。\"Giveme，OCaesar!\"heexclaimed，\"givemetheearthpurgedofheretics，andIwillgiveyouinexchangethekingdomofheaven。Exterminatewithmetheheretics；andwithyouIwillexterminatethePersians。\"Onthefifthdayasifthetreatyhadbeenalreadysigned，thepatriarchofConstantinoplediscovered，surprised，andattackedasecretconventicleoftheArians:theypreferreddeathtosubmission；theflamesthatwerekindledbytheirdespair，soonspreadtotheneighboringhouses，andthetriumphofNestoriuswascloudedbythenameofincendiary。OneithersideoftheHellesponthisepiscopalvigorimposedarigidformularyoffaithanddiscipline；achronologicalerrorconcerningthefestivalofEasterwaspunishedasanoffenceagainstthechurchandstate。LydiaandCaria，SardesandMiletus，werepurifiedwiththebloodoftheobstinateQuartodecimans；andtheedictoftheemperor，orratherofthepatriarch，enumeratesthree—and—twentydegreesanddenominationsintheguiltandpunishmentofheresy。^31ButtheswordofpersecutionwhichNestoriussofuriouslywieldedwassoonturnedagainsthisownbreast。Religionwasthepretence；but，inthejudgmentofacontemporarysaint，ambitionwasthegenuinemotiveofepiscopalwarfare。^32
[Footnote28:HewasdeaftotheentreatiesofAtticusofConstantinople，andofIsidoreofPelusium，andyieldedonlyifwemaybelieveNicephorus，l。xiv。c。18tothepersonalintercessionoftheVirgin。YetinhislastyearshestillmutteredthatJohnChrysostomhadbeenjustlycondemned，Tillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。xiv。p。278—282。BaroniusAnnal。
Eccles。A。D。412，No。46—64。]
[Footnote29:SeetheircharactersinthehistoryofSocrates，l。vii。c。25—28；theirpowerandpretensions，inthehugecompilationofThomassin，Disciplinedel\'Eglise，tom。i。p。80
—91。]
[Footnote30:HiselevationandconductaredescribedbySocrates，l。vii。c。2931；andMarcellinusseemstohaveappliedtheeloquentiaesatis，sapientiaeparum，ofSallust。]
[Footnote31:Cod。Theodos。l。xvi。tit。v。leg。65，withtheillustrationsofBaronius，A。D。428，No。25，&c。，Godefroy，adlocum，andPagi，Critica，tom。ii。p。208。]
[Footnote32:IsidoreofPelusium，l。iv。Epist。57。Hiswordsarestrongandscandalous。Isidoreisasaint，butheneverbecameabishop；andIhalfsuspectthattheprideofDiogenestrampledontheprideofPlato。]
IntheSyrianschool，Nestoriushadbeentaughttoabhortheconfusionofthetwonatures，andnicelytodiscriminatethehumanityofhismasterChristfromthedivinityoftheLordJesus。^33TheBlessedVirginhereveredasthemotherofChrist，buthisearswereoffendedwiththerashandrecenttitleofmotherofGod，^34whichhadbeeninsensiblyadoptedsincetheoriginoftheAriancontroversy。FromthepulpitofConstantinople，afriendofthepatriarch，andafterwardsthepatriarchhimself，repeatedlypreachedagainsttheuse，ortheabuse，ofaword^35unknowntotheapostles，unauthorizedbythechurch，andwhichcouldonlytendtoalarmthetimorous，tomisleadthesimple，toamusetheprofane，andtojustify，byaseemingresemblance，theoldgenealogyofOlympus。^36InhiscalmermomentsNestoriusconfessed，thatitmightbetoleratedorexcusedbytheunionofthetwonatures，andthecommunicationoftheiridioms:^37buthewasexasperated，bycontradiction，todisclaimtheworshipofanew—born，aninfantDeity，todrawhisinadequatesimilesfromtheconjugalorcivilpartnershipsoflife，andtodescribethemanhoodofChristastherobe，theinstrument，thetabernacleofhisGodhead。Attheseblasphemoussounds，thepillarsofthesanctuarywereshaken。TheunsuccessfulcompetitorsofNestoriusindulgedtheirpiousorpersonalresentment，theByzantineclergywassecretlydispleasedwiththeintrusionofastranger:whateverissuperstitiousorabsurd，mightclaimtheprotectionofthemonks；andthepeoplewereinterestedinthegloryoftheirvirginpatroness。^38Thesermonsofthearchbishop，andtheserviceofthealtar，weredisturbedbyseditiousclamor；hisauthorityanddoctrinewererenouncedbyseparatecongregations；everywindscatteredroundtheempiretheleavesofcontroversy；andthevoiceofthecombatantsonasonoroustheatrereechoedinthecellsofPalestineandEgypt。ItwasthedutyofCyriltoenlightenthezealandignoranceofhisinnumerablemonks:intheschoolofAlexandria，hehadimbibedandprofessedtheincarnationofonenature；andthesuccessorofAthanasiusconsultedhisprideandambition，whenheroseinarmsagainstanotherArius，moreformidableandmoreguilty，onthesecondthroneofthehierarchy。Afterashortcorrespondence，inwhichtherivalprelatesdisguisedtheirhatredinthehollowlanguageofrespectandcharity，thepatriarchofAlexandriadenouncedtotheprinceandpeople，totheEastandtotheWest，thedamnableerrorsoftheByzantinepontiff。FromtheEast，moreespeciallyfromAntioch，heobtainedtheambiguouscounselsoftolerationandsilence，whichwereaddressedtobothpartieswhiletheyfavoredthecauseofNestorius。ButtheVaticanreceivedwithopenarmsthemessengersofEgypt。ThevanityofCelestinewasflatteredbytheappeal；andthepartialversionofamonkdecidedthefaithofthepope，whowithhisLatinclergywasignorantofthelanguage，thearts，andthetheologyoftheGreeks。AttheheadofanItaliansynod，Celestineweighedthemeritsofthecause，approvedthecreedofCyril，condemnedthesentimentsandpersonofNestorius，degradedthehereticfromhisepiscopaldignity，allowedarespiteoftendaysforrecantationandpenance，anddelegatedtohisenemytheexecutionofthisrashandillegalsentence。ButthepatriarchofAlexandria，whilehedartedthethundersofagod，exposedtheerrorsandpassionsofamortal；
andhistwelveanathemas^39stilltorturetheorthodoxslaves，whoadorethememoryofasaint，withoutforfeitingtheirallegiancetothesynodofChalcedon。TheseboldassertionsareindeliblytingedwiththecolorsoftheApollinarianheresy；buttheserious，andperhapsthesincereprofessionsofNestoriushavesatisfiedthewiserandlesspartialtheologiansofthepresenttimes。^40