_John_ the divine and beloved disciple, that they
may be sollicitous for the Churches which they have erected, for which they
have been in chains, for which they have undergone dangers and deaths; that
the worship of idols may not lift up its head against us, that heresies may
not spring up like thorns in the vineyard, that tares grown up may not
choak the wheat, that no rock void of the fatness of true dew may be
against us, and render the fruitful power of the word void of a root; but
by the power of the prayers of thyself and thy companions, O admirable man
and eminent among the Martyrs, the commonwealth of _Christians_ may become
a field of corn_. The same _Gregory Nyssen_, in his sermon upon the death
of _Meletius_ Bishop of _Antioch_, preached at _Constantinople_ the same
year, A.C. 381, before the Bishops of all the _East_ assembled in the
second general Council, spake thus of _Meletius_. _The Bridegroom_, saith
he, _is not taken from us: he stands in the midst of us, tho we do not see
him: he is a Priest in the most inward places, and face to face intercedes
before God for us and the sins of the people_. This was no oratorical
flourish, but _Gregory_'s real opinion, as may be understood by what we
have cited out of him concerning _Ephraem_ and _Theodorus_: and as _Gregory_
preached this before the Council of _Constantinople_, you may thence know,
saith [6] _Baronius_, that he professed what the whole Council, and
therewith the whole Church of those parts believed, namely, that the Saints
in heaven offer prayers for us before God.

_Ephraem Syrus_, another eminent Monk, who was contemporary with _Basil_,
and died the same year; in the end of his Encomium or Oration upon _Basil_
then newly dead, invokes him after this manner: _Intercede for me, a very
miserable man; and recal me by thy intercessions, O father; thou who art
strong, pray for me who am weak; thou who art diligent, for me who am
negligent; thou who art chearful, for me who am heavy; thou who art wise,
for me who am foolish. Thou who hast treasured up a treasure of all
virtues, be a guide to me who am empty of every good work_. In the
beginning of his Encomium upon the forty Martyrs, written at the same time,
he thus invokes them: _Help me therefore, O ye Saints, with your
intercession; and O ye beloved, with your holy prayers, that _Christ_ by
his grace may direct my tongue to speak_, &c. and afterwards mentioning the
mother of one of these forty Marty