“ But the two volumes published by Bickell in his lifetime (Giessen, 1873 and 1877) contain only 37 homilies. Bedjan’s edition, of which the first volume has alone appeared (Paris, 1903) contains 67 poems, viz. 24 previously published (18 by Bickell) , and 43 that are new, though their titles are all included in Bickell’s list.
The writer’s main interest lies in the application of religion to the practical duties of life, whether in the church or in the world. He has a great command of forcible language and considerable skill in apt illustration. ”

“ He judges with extreme severity those who argue about religion while neglecting its practice, and those who though stupid and ignorant dare to pry into mysteries which are sealed to the angels. “Not newly have we found Him, that we should search and pry into God. ”

“ He also commemorated the destruction of Antioch by an earthquake in 459, so that he must have lived till about 460. Unfortunately these poems have perished. He is of course to be distinguished from Isaac of Nineveh, a Nestorian writer on the ascetic life who belongs to the second half of the 7th century. [4]
When we examine the collection of homilies attributed to Isaac, a difficulty arises on two grounds. ”

“ The zeal with which he denounces the abuses prevalent in the church of his day, and particularly in the monastic orders, is not unlike that of the Protestant reformers. He shows acquaintance with many phases of life. ”

“ Two other poems (Bickell 35, 36=Bedjan 66, 67) , written probably at Antioch, [10] describe the prevalence of sorcery and the extraordinary influence possessed by “Chaldeans” and enchanters over women who were nominally Christians.
The metre of all the published homilies is heptasyllabic. (N. M.)
↑ W. Wright, Short Hist. of Syr. Lit. p. 51. ↑ The fullest list, by G. Bickell, contains 191 which are extant in MSS. ↑ The trustworthy Chronicle of Edessa gives his date as 451–452 (Hallier, No. lxvii.) ”