The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-12

1t is as a preacher of the gospel that
Chrysostom has won his title to immort-
ality He would very likely have been a
lawyer, rs would the great apostles Of the
Gentiles, had not God ordered 1t other
wise. He lett his cave, like sensible
man, returned to the world, mingled with
men and tried to do them good. He be.
came u deacon, studied theology, wrote
letters aud made himself generally use
ful, IA every good deacon and elder
ought to do. He did not begin 10 preach
until he was 40 years old; but when he
did begin he made his mark He could
not be hid, Perhaps it is no exaggeration
to say that in some respects he has never
been surpassed by any uninspired preach.
er. In his knowledge of human nature, in
his Christ-like zeal, in his fruitful and
glowing imagination, in his lofty and
sustained eloquenee, in his bodpess aud
fearlessnesa, and in his blood earnestness
ho was without n rival He was plenti.
fully diversed, we have been told, with
the hate Of hate, the scorn of scorn. and
the love OF love. He was always brave
though not always meek; no was always
honest: not not always wise.
When ChrysostOm preached in Basilicn
the crowds tlocked to hear him, and they
always heard something worth hearing
They always heard the gospel, whether it
was in the stern rebuko of sin, or in tho
glorious hopes which cluster around tho
crown Of Christ. He did not mlnce mat
ters' He was no w Facing. Both Ways
He knew no was living where fashion
was the only law, ami pleasure tho only
pursuit. whore the arts of luxury were
honored, and whore he serious aud manly
virtues were tha subject of ridiCue
ha a. M 70 D., al ha -
their sin aud to warn them OF their
danger.
Perhaps no preacher since the Apostles
ever welded more power over An audience
than did he when he preached his cele-
brhted sermons on the STATUES" ." The
euraged emperor was led to pardon the in.
suit that had been offered TO him and his
wife, and tho guilty people were led to
cry to God for mercy
CHRYsosToM, THE BISHOP
ChrySostom was neither II great nor a
trustworthy theologlan. He was in all
essential points thoroughly evangelical,
bus held views in regard to marriage
prayers for the dead, prayers to saints, aud
the Sacrameuts, which those better in-
structed could not endorse. Like other
great preachers, he sometimes allowed his
mcut, aud instead of biblical truth and
sober sense, he gave to his hearers pol
iShed rhetoric and magnificent nonsense
Leaving his people in Antioch no was
transferred to ConStantinople, where he
was installed as its archbishop, or patri-
arch. But he sunk the patriarch 10 the
preacher and no used his authority, but
always sincerely and with an eye single to
Gods glory. The Infamous Eutropius aud
the beautiful but scarcely less Infamous
EudoScia became his bitter enemies, He
denounced Eutropius as only he could do it
aud he was as merclleSs towards the beau.
tiful Eudoscia as was John Knox towards
the lovely Queen OF Scots. The noble
Roman like the noble Scotchman would
not allow either beauty or tears to swerve
him one iota from the path Of Tsctltude
The fidelity OF Chrysostom led to his ex-
communication and Punishment, aud his
bauishmeut led to his death. He suffered
because he would not detils his conscience.
He died an exile, far away from home in a
lonely place. Aud yet he was not alone
for God was with him. His last words
were, GLORY to God or all things.n He
was buried in the place Of his exile, but
thirty years afterward his b)ueS were
brought back to Constantinople where he
reposes in peace until the morning Of the
resurrection. Thus lived and died the
Evening Star Of early Christianity" His
greatest honor is that amid astounding
corruption he remained pure and clean.
and preached the glorious gospel Of tho
blessed God. Because he was wise to win
souls he shall shine as the brightness Of
the armament, and because he turned
many TO righteo usness he will shine as the
stars for ever and ever