_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 Martyrs, he concludes the Oration with this
prayer: _I entreat thee, O holy, faithful, and blessed woman, pray for me
to the Saints, saying; Intercede ye that triumph in _Christ_, for the most
little and miserable _Ephraem_, that he may find mercy, and by the grace of
_Christ_ may be saved_. Again, in his second Sermon or Oration on the
praises of the holy Martyrs of _Christ_, he thus addresses them: _We
entreat you most holy Martyrs, to intercede with the Lord for us miserable
sinners, beset with the filthiness of negligence, that he would infuse his
divine grace into us_: and afterwards, near the end of the same discourse;
_Now ye most holy men and glorious Martyrs of God, help me a miserable
sinner with your prayers, that in that dreadful hour I may obtain mercy,
when the secrets of all hearts shall be made manifest.
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