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JOHN taken into exile died in Comana on the Euxine, on the,
14th of September, in the following consulate, which was the
seventh of Honorius, and the second of Theodosius. A man, as we
have before observed, who on account of zeal for temperance was
inclined rather to anger than forbearance: and his personal sanctity of
character led him to indulge in a latitude of speech which to others was
intolerable. Indeed, it is, most inexplicable to me, how with a
zeal so ardent for the practice of self-control and blamelessness of
life, he should in his sermons appear to teach a loose view of
temperance. For whereas by the Synod of bishops repentance was
accepted but once from those who had sinned after baptism; he did not
scruple to say, 'Approach, although you may have repented a thousand
times.' For this doctrine, many even of his friends censured him,
but especially Sisinnius bishop of the Novatian; who wrote a book
condemnatory of the above quoted expression of Chrysostom's, and
severely rebuked him for it. But this occurred long before.
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