Five disputations of church-government and worship

Gregory Nysen tells us in his relation of the Life of Gregory Thaumaturgus, that this holy man then Bishop of Neocaesarea, was so famous by his miracles and successes that the Neighbour Countries sent to him, to preach and plant Churches among them. Among others Comana a neighbour City sent to him to come and plant a Church and Bishops among them. When he had stayed a while, and preached and prepared them, and the time was come that he was to design them a chief Pastor (or Bishop) the Magistrates and principal men of the City were very busy in enquiring anxiously and curiously, who was of most eminent rank and splendour, excelling the rest, that he might be chosen to the office▪ and dignity of being their Bishop. For Gregory himself had all these Ornaments, and therefore they thought their Pastor must have them too But when it came to choice they were all to pieces, some for one and some for another: so that Gregory looked to heaven for Directions, what to do. When they were thus taken up with proposing men of splendour and eminency. Gregory (remembering Samuel's anointing David,) exhorted them to look also among the meanest: for possibly there might be found among them some of better qualifications of mind: Whereupon some of them signified, that they took it as a contumely and s•orn, that all the chief m•n for eloquence, dignity and splendour should be refused, and that Mechanics and tradesmen that labour for their living should be thought fitter for so great an office. And saith one of them to him in derision, If you will pass ⟨image 104⟩by all these that are chosen out of the best of the Citizens, and go to the scum and basest of the people for a Pastor for us: its best for you even to make Alexander the Collier a Priest, and lets all agree to choose him. The good man hearing these scornful words, it struck into his mind to know who that Alexander the Collier was? Whereupon they brought him presently with laughter, and set him in the midst of them collowed and half-naked, and ragged and sordid, and thus stood Alexander among them. But Gregory suspected somewhat better by him, then they that laughed at him;

Gregory Nysen tells us in his relation of the Life of Gregory Thaumaturgus, that this holy man then Bishop of Neocaesarea, was so famous by his miracles and successes that the Neighbour Countreys sent to him, to preach and plant Churches among them. Among others Comana a neighbour City sent to him to come and plant a Church and Bishops among them. When he had stayed a while, and preached and prepared them, and the time was come that he was to design them a chief Pastor (or Bishop) the Magistrates and principal men of the City were very busie in enquiring anxiously and curiously, who was of most eminent rank and splendour, excelling the rest, that he might be chosen to the office and dignity of being their Bishop. For Gregory himelf had all these Ornaments, and therefore they thought their Pastor must have them too But when it came to choice they were all to pieces, some for one and some for another: so that Gregory looked to heaven for Directions, what to do. When they were thus taken up with proposing men of splendor and eminency. Gregory (remembring Samuels anointing David,) exhorted them to look also among the meanest: for possibly there might be found among them some of better qualifications of mind: Whereupon some of them signified, that they took it as a contumelie and sorn, that all the chief mn for eloquence, dignity and splendor should be refused, and that Mechanicks and tradesmen that labour for tehir living should be thought fitter for so great an office. And saith one of them to him in derision, If you will pass