306 PROGRESS OF MONACHISM. 



auftere mode of life. Though they did not perfevere 

 in it, and, from the languor of fpirits it brought on* 

 foon abandoned their folitude, and returned into the 

 world, yet they continued zealous advocates for the 

 life of the hermitage and the cloifter ; their writings 

 and their fermons drove men in troops to the defart. 



Johannes with the golden mouth, or, as he is com- 

 monly called, John Chryfoftome, archbifhop and pa- 

 triarch of Conftantinople, a man worthy of the greater!: 

 refpect for his learning, his eloquence, and the inte- 

 grity of his life, exerted his utmoft endeavours in the 

 promotion of this general propenlity to fpi ritual adven- 

 tures. He would himfelf have fet out in queft of them 

 in his youth, had not his mother diffuaded him from 

 the project by remonftrances uncommonly moving. 

 This noble, rich, and generous woman became a widow 

 foon after his birth ; and educated him with the utmoft 

 care amidft the numberlefs difficulties fhe had to con- 

 tend with. Lying on that bed on which fhe brought 

 him forth, fhe implored him with tears, that he would 

 not reduce her to a fecond widowhood, but rather wait 

 for her death before he put his unchriftian and cruel 

 defign into execution. She told the young enthuliaft, 

 among other things, that he was offending God, by 

 ungratefully forfaking his mother. Chryfoftome, who 

 relates all this himfelf, thought that he was more in- 

 debted to God than to his mother. Without the leaft 

 hefitation he facrifices the filial duties of refignation, 

 obedience, and affectionate fupport. The monkifh 

 morality knows nothing of the doctrines of the duties 

 towards parents. Chryfoftome, foon after the year 

 370, departed from Antioch, repaired to the neigh- 

 bouring 



