Page:Nestorius and his place in the history of Christian doctrine.djvu/76

64 explain why he wrote to the Roman bishop with a self-conscious assurance and agreed without hesitation to become the judge of Cyril. But this self-consciousness of office was something other than pride and greed of power and glory. This is convincingly proved by the fact, that Nestorius himself offered the emperor to return to his monastery ; and he did not only offer this, but he proved by the deed, that he easily gave up his episcopal honours. One cannot call him proud who regarded nothing more blissful than the calm stillness of the monastery. And when in his exile he surrendered himself to the governor, as we saw, he showed himself not only straightforward and honest, but also proved that he did not set a high value on himself and his life. Finally his remark that he did not write to Leo of Rome lest he should bring him into discredit, may be taken as proof that striving after glory and honour and esteem was far from him. May we now realise that, nevertheless, in the personal character of Nestorius are to be found the grounds for the tragic course of his life? It is intelligible