308 PROGRESS OP MGNACHISM. 



and the people, juftified the miniffer in his choice ; 

 both as faint and as orator the new archbifhop outwent 

 the moil fanguine expectations. 



He had been educated in the fchool of the famous 

 orator and philofopher Libanius ; by whole care, in 

 conjunction with his natural abilities, he attained to 

 the higherl pitch of eloquence. Libanius held him 

 worthy to fupply his place, while yet a lad, and makes 

 heavy complaints againfl the chriftians for inveigling 

 him away from his fchool. Fu mimed with all the fpi- 

 fit and elegancies of the great orators of Greece and 

 Rome, Chryfofbonie,. therefore, mounted the pulpit at 

 Conhantinople. Undoubtedly his religious difcourfes 

 acquired greater force and authority, from his having 

 imbibed, With many good qualities, ftrcng marks of 

 the monkifh character. He was frugal and abitemious, 

 but likewife contentious, zealous, \ r oid of all worldly- 

 artifices and difguifes, imprudent, and, in rebuking 

 penbns of all defcriptions, even thofe of the higheff. 

 rank, the liberty he gave himfelf was unbounded, 

 With inexorable feverky, he demanded reverence and 

 fub million from the monks and eccleiiafxics, and the 

 whole body of the laity. He was ever ready at fulmi- 

 nating excommunications ; was much inclined to avoid 

 all intercourfe with mankind, and to fet himfelf free 

 from all the duties of fociety ; apparently difdainful 

 and unfriendly, haughty and arrogant, towards fuch 

 a? were not intimately acquainted with him.. But his 

 virtue was ever irreproachable,, and his beneficence un- 

 bounded ; for, with the rich revenues of his office,, 

 which his predeceiTors had lav i hied away on pomp and 

 high living, he founded hofpitals and fchool s ; his 

 i - auftere 



