as occasion served How full of Hospitality was he to strangers How humble how cheerfull and how liberall not onely refreshing their bodies but comforting likewise their soules with spirituall directions Did not all men knowing his excellencies send in reliefe to the Brethren either by shipping out of England or by Wills of men dying still was this Monastery supplyed There did likewise belong faire revenues to this Abby out of England to bring in which to the Cloyster this Anselmus came over in the first yeare that he was ordained Abbot and not onely for that reason but also to see and speak with Lanfrancus who was from being an Abbot preferred to the Arch-bishopricke of Canterbury Whither when Anselmus was come with what a confluence of all sorts of people was hee entertained at Canterbury so there was Discourse had betwixt Lanfranck and himself and this is said of them both to their commendations Non erat ullus eo tempore qui aut Lanfranco authoritate vel multiplici rerum scientiâ aut Anselmo praestaret in Sanctitate vel Dei sapientiâ that is There was none at that time that did exceede Lanfranck in authority and variety of knowledge nor Anselme in holinesse nor heavenly wisedome He proceeds now to effect that for which hee came and takes an account of all the meanes which did belong to their Monastery but it is to be wondred at with what expressions of joy and love was he every where entertained what grave Counsells and directions hee gave to all sorts of people especially to the Clergy there was not a Lord or a Lady in England at that time but did strive to expresse their loves to him by presenting him with rich presents nay William the Conquerour though otherwise sterne and rigid yet how did hee expresse his love to this great man So having beene joyfully received of all sorts in England he intends his journey for his Monastery againe having gained large meanes for his fellowes But now the Conquerour dying and leaving his sonne William King of England Lanfranck also the Arch-bishop being dead this William began fearfully to waste the Churches throughout England which Anselme having with griefe heard of did he not at the solicitation of Hugh Earle of Chester and other Nobles come againe into England and comming to the Court did hee not modestly and divinely tell the King what wrongs he had done and how such things would draw downe Gods heavy judgements upon him and his posterity but the King was for the present unflexible so this Anselme went to this Hugh Earle of Chester but the King falling sicke all men cryed up this Anselmes fame and that hee was the onely man to bee Arch-bishop of Canterbury By the Kings authority and the whole Kingdomes love he was consecrated the first Sunday in Lent in the yeare of Grace 1093. But he found this place at that time to bee full of troubles and cares yet he being sent for to Court did meekly beseech the King to cease from afflicting the Churches did not this man performe his charge with patience industry and with expressions of learning and fidelity he was not any wayes addicted to pride not ensnared with covetousnesse neither was he tainted with idlenesse He committed the administration of his houshold affaires to one Baldwine Hee did mainly lament the abuse that was offered to the Church by prophane covetous men who took the meanes of them into their owne possession The King return'd from forraine parts Anselmus humbly intreats of his Majesty that hee might have licence to go to Rome but at this the King was incensed and told him there should no Pope have any Authority over his subjects nor any power within his dominions hereupon there was a generall meeting of all the Bishops and Lords at Rothingam to decide this Here most to gaine the Kings favour were directly against this Arch-bishop onely the Bishop of Rochester stood with him But the King was so vexed that he told him he would not hold him as an Arch-bishop unlesse forthwith he would deny the Popes authority and again at Winchester desiring of the King the same thing the King told him that hee should never have that liberty nor any other if he did persist in that minde So Baldwine was driven out of England and Anselmes servants misused and his lands alienated and hee himselfe derided and hated yet in the depth of this storme hee retained his piety and said that of our Saviour By patience possesse your soules at last he was forced by secret meanes to flye and so came to a place called Whitsands and so to Saint Bertine being glad that hee was out of England but then the King hearing presently ceized upon all his lands and goods and so Anselme came to Lions and was kindly entertained by the Arch-bishop of that place and so being weake in body and unfit to travaile to Rome hee sent his cause thither but stay'd in Lions till they returned They comming backe told him all excuses laid aside hee must himselfe goe in person to Rome So they came to Secusium and presented themselves to the Abbat of that place there were three of them Anselmus and Baldwine and Edinerus which writ this his life So after much travaile and danger we came to Rome and it was bruted abroad of this Fathers approach and all men desired to see him but it being extreame hot in the City of Rome this Anselme lived in a Village seated pleasantly called Schlavia a great deale of time was spent in deliberating for the Churches good but it was thought safest for Anselme not to returne into England while William lived neither did he but his successor Henry came into Normandy hearing that Anselme was there and did reinvest him into all his state and honours againe and he came into England and was entertained with great reverence of all the Lords of the Kingdome and the love of all the Common people So King Henry was very glad that hee had gained the peace of Anselme but hee was even spent with age labour and watching for age brings to us experience in one hand and death in the other and so did not live long after his return but with a great expression of holinesse and comfort did commend his spirit to God Time deales with man Arithmetically First he addes to beauty multiplies his graces and then he subtracts all these and makes a long lasting division between him and Nature And now he is dead it is high time to cover this sweet and heavenly Father with his first mother the Earth who being honourably attended to the grave with the Rose and the Violet is laid to sleepe in the bosome of the earth and shall enjoy though not so suddenly yet as certaine a Spring as they and which is more an everlasting one His Sayings S. Anselm de Malitia foeditate peccati Cap. 190. Saint Anselme was wont to say that if hee should see the shame of sinne on
would visit others that were in chaines for the cause of CHRIST Nay and without feare of punishment delivered some from their fetters And in his Writings when as he◠speaks of Martyrs and their torments hee seemes to be even ravished in spirit Hee was not seventeen yeeres old when hee was deprived of his Father and had a Mother with many brethren whom hee did by labour and study maintaine and cherish and the better to provide for their sustenance hee did publikely professe Grammar which though many may take to be a needlesse profession yet in ancient times it was in high esteem so that of it it was said Senile atque arduum fuisse negotium that is it was a taske for an old grave man to perform and full of difficulty for as a great Writer speaks Non tātùm expect abatur Declinationum Conjugationum Constructionum ratio sed sermonis elegantia plurimorum Authorum lectio Antiquitatum Historiarum peritia ac etiam Poeseos Rhetorices Dialectices Arithmetices Cosmographiae Musicaeque cognitio that is There was not onely expected in one of these Professors a method for the Declensions Conjugations but there was a requisite elegancy of speech reading of divers Authours skill in Histories Poetrie Rhetoricke Logicke Arithmeticke Cosmographie and Musicke in all which this Origen was excellently wel experienced and the place in which hee professed was no meane one but in the famous Citie of Alexandria and presently after hee read the grounds of Religion divinely instructing the Christians confirming and strengthening their hearts against all the stormes of persecution Amongst many others one Disciple called Plutarchus was so encouraged by this famous instrument that hee underwent Martyrdome and one Heraclas a Kinsman of this Plutarchus for his holinesse of life was after the death of Demetrius advanced to the Government of the Church of Alexandria Serenus also was so instructed by Origen that hee died for the name of Iesus as also Heraclides and many others as well men as women so servent and powerfull was the doctrine of Origen and such deepe impressions made it in the minds of his Auditors He did strictly keep under his body and subjugated the flesh to the spirit lest as hee said while he saved others hee himselfe should be a cast-away he was frequent in watchings in fastings humicubations in labours and wants and yet underwent all with a great deale of alacritie integritie and patience his holinesse of life was not onely admired and followed by Christians but also by many Heathens so attractive and powerfull is the example of a good life But now Demetrius Bishop of Alexandria hearing of Origens paines and piety thought him a fit instrument to be placed in the Church and so called him to be the Catechista or Reader of Divinitie in that place a weighty and eminent place which after the Apostles one Pantaenus and after him one Clemens had supplyed in the Citie of Alexandria and now this Origen enjoy'd and kept it many yeeres with a general approbation and renowne the Disciples of these men were termed Catechumenists or hearers Now he left his profession of Grammar and sold all his bookes to a friend of his for the allowance of foure half-pence a day and wholly addicted himselfe to the studie of Divinity in which he so profited and exceld that hee was by Alexander Bishop of Hierusalem and Theoctistus Bishop of Caesarea called to the Priesthood a great dignity in those times though much and too much slighted in these looser and prophaner days The Churches of Achaia were vext at this time with divers Heresies to stop which Origen was sent with the Epistles or Letters Testimoniall of the Church and as he went through Palestine towards Athens hee was by the Bishops aforenamed ordained Priest that He might be the more potent being confirmed by authority Ecclesiasticall He did not run but was lawfully sent and did painfully undergoe that charge and indeed his doctrine and life was so renowmed and eminent that they caused him to be envied and hated especially of Demetrius so that he did what he could to cloud and darken this Origens fame a fault not fitting to harbour in a Divines breast though through the Devils malice too frequent This Demetrius ript up this Origens faults and by his writings did publish them to the World and especially hee upbraided him with that rash and inconfiderate act of his dismembring himself which He stiles puerilis error a childish fact a blind zeale without knowledge and said that He took some other things Historically which he should not in the Gospel as that having two Coats he should give away one as also that of not caring for the morrow c. so that what Origen thought not to have bin known was and Demetrius for that imperfection deem'd him unfit for the Priesthood and so did now dislike what formerly hee approved and envied deeply him whom hee should have lov'd Such power hath premeditated and working revenge Well in the height of Origens fame these things were divulged and his adversary was potent and thereupon Origen was forced to give way to the storme and yield to the importunitie of his Enviers and so left Alexandria yet always kept his constancie and courage and retain'd his piety unmoved preaching the Gospel with all diligence and painfulnesse striving to convert many to Christ not doing as Tertullian did to turn from Orthodox to a Montanist but the more his affliction was the closer he kept his piety nor yet troubling the World with Schisme nor yet requiting his adversaries with ill language or calumniations but hee went another way to worke to doe good for evill and to speak well of His standerers as Saint Peter saith by this meanes stopping the uthes of his Gain-sayers The principall place in which He taught was Caesarea of Palaestine there hee instructed many in the Faith and saw the fruits of His labours for Hee had many famous men who were His Followers and Scholers as Firmilianus afterwards Bishop of Caesarea Cappadocia of whom Hee was entertained with applause through all Cappadocia Who after that he had seen the Holy places in Palaestina return'd to Origen againe He brought up Theodorus afterwards called to the dignity of a Bishop as also Gregorius who for the Miracles which Hee wrought was termed Thaumaturgus who was an eminent Father of the Church This Origen did likewise convert Anthenodorus the brother of Gregorius and made him leave all his worldly wisdome to gain the knowledge of Christ and gained great advancement in the Church of God He was called to Antioch by Mamniaea the mother of Alexander Severus and was by her honourably entertained and religiously dismissed againe this woman is called by Saint Ierome a Religious Matron He wrote a famous and learned Epistle to Philip the Emperour who was the first King of the Romans which was Christian. Hee saw Rome which hee cals Ecclesiam magnam a great Church in one of his
patternes could move those Heathens for Valerianus and Galienus Emperours The Proconsull Aspatius Paternus seeing of what great authority Saint Cyprian was in Carthage nor yet daring to lay hands on him commanded him to depart the City Wel Saint Cyprian obeyed his Injunction and went to Curubis for one yeere till the Proconsull died whom Galienus Maximus succeeded and then this Father returned and if the persecution had not hindred hee had sold all his Gardens and distributed the mony to the poore He told his friends the time of his Martyrdome But this Proconsul hearing where Saint Cyprian lived and how the people flocked to him commanded him to bee apprehended and carefully to bee watched in his owne house hither came a world of people supposing to have seene the Martyrdome of this Reverend Father but he knowing this purpose of the Proconsul did prevent him for he departed to Vtica and writ an Epistle to the Christians shewing the cause well though he suffered not Martyrdome in the Citie of Carthage but at Sextum six miles distant so called because the sixt great stone from Carthage was here erected as also it was called Saint Cyprians Table not for his banqueting there but because he was offered up there yet there was such an infinite multitude of people there as if it had beene in the middle of Carthage it selfe Nay this Father at the very time of suffering was so carefull to doe good as though death had not beene so neere to him witnesse his comforts that hee gave to Virgins at the same time Hee suffered under Galienus Maximus who when it was told him that the Emperour had commanded him to death answered joyfully doe fully what belongs to your office and one telling him he must lose his head Saint Cyprian answered God be thanked for delivering mee from the bonds of the flesh the people that accompanied him desired also to suffer with him When hee came to the place of Martyrdome hee put off his Bishops attire and gave them to his Deacons onely reserved one to die in and wisht them to give to his Executioner 25 pieces of Gold in testimony of his love to him All the Clergie and his friends wondrously deplored his death so that they laid their owne garments under his body because none of his bloud should fall to the ground hee covered his owne eyes and so kneeling down tooke the blow of the Executioner quietly and with all signes of joy All the Christians had a great care to see his body honourably interred not fearing all the threats of the Officers nor Heathens Hee was the first of all the Bishops of Carthage that suffered Martyrdome afterward there were two great Churches builded to his honour one was â—uilâ— in the plâ—ce of his Martyrdome the other where he was buried So many of the Fathers doe praise him that wee cannot comprehend all Saint Hierome calls him an holy and most eloquent man St. Augustine reckons him amongst the rarest and learnedst men a most sweet Doctour a most glorious Martyr an unconquered Martyr and such like glorious titles He suffered under Valerianus and Galiâ—nus on the eighteenth of the Calends of October His Sentences are these De Sanctorum passione The Psalmist tels us That preâ—ious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints Whereupon saith Cyprian that though they were vexed in small things they should be required with great maâ—tâ—rs and what though they were in the 〈◊〉 yet they should come forth with the more lusâ—re and glory we know that the Prophets and Apostles are our patterns in these bonds and we know That if wee doe suffer with him here wee shall be sure to reigne with him hereafter And as hee did encourage those that were in â—onds so hee advised those that were free to cherish those that were in misery Cyprian Epist. 2. de disciplina habitu Virginis Discipline is the preserver of hope the reins of Faith the guide of salvation the encouragement of a good disposition the mistresse of vertue making us cleave to Christ and live to God and to obtaine heavenly promises and divine rewards Cyprian in Epist. An open enemy is not so much to be feared as a secret enemy that creeps on secretly as the Serpent who is so called from his secret creepâ—ng on Cyprian de 12 abusionibus The justice of the King is the peace of the people the defence of the Countrey the freedome of the people the joy of mankind the â—almnesse of the Sea the fruitfulnesse of the â—arth the comfort of the poore the inheritance of children and the hope of future happinesse Cyprian de habitu Virginis Those that are clothed in silke and purple cannot be sincerely clothed with Christ and those that are so curiously dressed want the oâ—naments of the soule Cyprian de laud. poen O Repentance thou dost lose that which is bound open that which is shut mitigate adversitie heale after contrition enlighten confusion and enliven desperation Cyprian Ep. 5. de Oratione dominica Thy will be done Christ did practice and preach the will of God humility in conversation stability in faith modesty in words justice in deeds mercy in works discipline in manners innocencie in doing wrong patience in suffering wrongs to maintaine concord with our brethren to love God with all our heart to love him as a Father to feare him as a Lord to preferre nothing before Christs love as hee preferred nothing before our love His Workes follow as they are reckoned up by worthy Writers Foure Books of Epistles in number 83. 1 Of the habit of Virgins 2 One Treatise 3 Of such as are falne one booke 4 Of the simplicity of Prelats and the Churches unitie one book 5 Vpon the Lords Prayer one book 6 Against Demetrianus one book 7 Of the vanitie of Idols one book 8 Of mortalitie one book 9 Of Almsdeeds one book 10 Of the God of patience one book 11 Of Zeale and envy one book 12 Of exhortation to Martyrdâ—m one book 13 To Quirinus against the Jews three books 14 To Jubajanus of baptizing Hereticks one booke 15 To Pompeius against the Epistle of Stephanus the Pope one book Pamelius reckons these two amongst the Epistles 16 Sentences out of the Councel of Carthage concerning the baptizing of Hereticks There are some others which are doubtfull and supposititious 17 Of Syna and Sion one Tract 2 An Exposition of the Creed 3 Of the single life of Clergie men 4 Of the Workes of Christ twelve Sermons 5 Of the prayse of Martyrdome 6 Of Discipline 7 To Novatianus 8 Of a twofold Martyrdome 9 Of players at dice. 10 Of the disposing the Lords Supper 11 Of Playes and publike Shews 12 Verses on Genesis Sodome on the Paschall Lambe 13 A prayer for the Martyrs which begins Agios 14 Another prayer which begins Domine â—ancte pater But there cannot be any certainty of the truth of these and therefore I leave it to the Readers
that Saint Basil was so beloved of God that hee was kept in the midst of all dangers as an other Noah and as Moses Aaron and Iosuah Symeon Metaphr astes names him Praeclarissimam Ecclesiae facem splendidissimum purae Veritatis Solem qui suorum claritate radiorum omnes orbis terrarum or as illustret and also Excelsam Dei Columnam Theologiae Iâ—bar legitimum ipsius sapientiae filium Consummatam Intelligentiae perfectionem Patris aeterni Legatum Divini verbi Tubam Donorum Spiritus Sancti Dispensatorem fidelem that is The resplendent torch of the Catholike Church a bright Sunne to the truth by whose lustre and brightnesse all the parts of the world are enlightned a main Pillar for the trueth of God a bright beame of theologie the very sonne of Wisdome the perfection of Understanding the Embassador of the Eternall Father the trumpet of Gods Word a faithfull Steward and Dispensour of the guifts of the Holy Ghost Thus doe these and so have many others of the Primitive Fathers celebrated this Saint Basills praise Cardinall Bellarmine speaking of his Works calls them no otherwise then Basilii Magni opera praeclarissima the most famous works of Saint Basill the Great hee flourished under Valens died under Gratianus as Saint Hierome in his Ecclesiasticall Writers doth testifie Saint Basils Sayings To know thy selfe is a difficult consideration For as the eye can see all things but it selfe so some can discerne all faults except their owne Divine Love is a never failing treasure hee that hath it is rich and hee that wanteth it is poore The love of God is an excellent ointment to cure the infirmities of the minde and cleere the eyes of the understanding Basil. in Hexamero Hee that willâ—know true love let him learne to love Christ for Christ is love Basil ibid. Divine love is a never failing treasure he that hath it is rich and he that wants it is poore Basil in hom What shall I doe shall I pull downe my Barnes Who doth not pitie his unhappinesse He wants in abundance and is troubled with too much wealth and is unhappy in his present prosperitie and as his field brought him a great increase so that increase did augment his care and trouble Basil in Hexameron There are three things which nourish Humilitie daily subjection consideration of our own frailtie and the hope of reward Basil in Hom. Every Hypocrite is like Simon carrying the Crosse on his shoulders they afflict their bodies with corporall abstinence and yet through the love of glory they live to the World Basil ibid. Three things doe settle a wandring minde watching me ditation and prayer the assiduity and fervencie whereof doe establish and settle the soule Hee being asked why wee should love those that speak ill of us answered Because for their sakes it is that we are blessed according to those words of Christ Blessed are yee when men speak evill of you Mat. 6. He likewise being demanded of Eubulus the Philosopher what was the definition of Philosophie answered The meditation of death He being demanded again Quis est mundus made this answer Quâ— est super mundum Saint Basil speaking of the joyes of Heaven saith of the sweete harmony that is there the sweet melodie the heavenly musique they enjoy would ravish a soule on earth if it were but capable of it nay farther hee goes and sayes that it is sweeter than devotion more sweete than contemplation and farre sweeter than all things in this earthly Mansion Sanctus Basil in Psal primum When he had read the Bible over saith that it is a Physicians shop of preservatives against poysoned Heresies A patterne of profitable Laws against rebellions spirits a treasury of most costly jewels against beggerly rudiments a foundation of most pure water springing up unto everlasting life The originall thereof being from Heaven not from Earth the Author being God not man the matter veritie pietie puritie uprightnesse The forme is Gods Word Gods testimony Gods Oracles are effects light of understanding repentance from dead works newnesse of life peace and holinesse the end and reward of the studie The same Basil hearing of a Senator that had renounced the World and yet retained unto himselfe some part of his meanes to live within a Cloyster told him that he had left to be a Senatour that was not made a Monke I have here set downe his Works as they are contained in foure Tomes printed at Basile in the yeere of Grace 1540. Tome 1. 1 Homilies upon the work of the six days being eleven in number 2 Homilies upon the Psalmes 17. 3 Homilies of severall Arguments 28. Tome 2. 1 Of Virginity two books 2 Of Paradise one book 3 Against Eunomius three books 4 Against Sabellians and Arrians 5 Of the Holy Ghost one book 6 Of free will one book 7 Of Baptisme two books Tome 3. 1 Sermons seven 2 Of the judgement of God 3 Of the Confession of Faith 4 The summe of Morals 80. 5 Questions largely explained 6 Questions shortly explained 7 Monasticall Constitutions Tome 4. Epistles of Saint Basil and Gregory the Divine 180. 2 An Epistle to Chilo of solitary life 3 Other Epistles of the same 4 An Oration against them who calumniate those which say there is a Trinitie Cardinall Bellarmine thinks as Saint Hierom that there are but nine Homilies of Saint Basils the other two he supposes to bee Gregory Nyssens and so this great Light went out whose memory wil ever be fresh and honorable among the faithfull An. Christi 390. The Life of S. Gregory Nazianzen S. GREGORI NAZIANZEN GRegory first Bishop of Sasima a little Citie in Cappadocia then of Nazianzen in Cappadocia and then of Constantinople whom the Graecians for his singular learning and authority first after Saint Iohn the Evangelist sirnamed the Divine was a living Library of Philosophie and Divinitie and the most eloquent Oratour of his Time attayning to the high stile of Polemon Laodicenus a most famous Sophister So that as men exceed beasts in the ability of speech so hee excelled others in the facultie of Eloquence and sweetnesse of speech whereby he allured mens minds enclined their wills and affections defended the poor and oppressed comforted the afflicted and got himselfe a generall fame and good opinion using it also to the edification and instruction of others in Divinity For his eloquence was but the expression of his divine contemplations and conceptions Non enim tam nos ratio juvaret nec tam esset in nobis manifesta nisi quae mente concepimus proferre etiam loquendo possemus Ipsa vitae praecepta etsâ— natura sunt honesta tamen plus ad formandas mentes valeant quoties pulchritudinem rerum claritas orationis illuminat Reason would not be so helpfull to us nor so manifest in us unlesse wee could by speech expresse our conceipts Even moral precepts of life although naturally honest yet are more powerfull to fashion minds when
now sordescere coeperunt postea illos ut novos detestabatur that all were farre short nay in respect of this one man hee detested all new Writers and to speak truth as I do verily think one mayne reason why Factions and Schismes have such great growth of late is because most of our younger wits and hottest Preachers doe not tie themselves to the reading of the Primitive Fathers but slightly content themselves others with conversing onely with some few Geneva Writers of late or think to carry it away with the strength of their owne braine by which meanes many of them know but the shell of Theologie when as if my advise might take place I would have them enquire of the Ancients Moses doth invite them to the same for saith he Aske thy Father and hee will shew thee aske the Elders and they will tell thee Deut. 32. 7. They they I say are onely the ancient Bulwarks of Truth they onely and chiefely have maintained Gods truth against Heretiques and they are the pure Wells out of whom our Divines might exhaust wholsome Waters Give thy selfe to reading was Saint Pauls Councell to Timothy and it is not unfit to be practised of many young Zelots in our Church but to returne to our occasion Many and admirable are the writings of this Father He writ to Theodosius to prove the dangerousnesse of Nestorius Heresie Photius stiles this Cyril thus when amongst many other Fathers as he stiles Athanasius strenuus Praeful Infractus Ambrosius Decus Ecclesiae Basilius Verborum flumen Nyssenus fortis Athleta Cyrillus Athanasius that stout Prelate Irrefragable Saint Ambrose Saint Basil the grace of the Church Gregory Nyssen a River for copiousnesse of words and that valiant Champion of the Church St. Cyril nay hee is stiled Beatus Cyrillus twice for condemning the Nestorian Heresie He is also called Perstrenuus Cyrillus multis modis pietatem corroborans Cyrillus that is Cyrill who so many wayes confirmed and strengthened piety upheld religion established Councells confounded Heretiques defended the Orthodox Christians And Eulogius his Scholar praised him calling him Doctum pium minimeque vacillantem Cyrillum Learned godly and not fearefully hearted in the cause of truth And Photius hath registred his praise Leguntur Cyrilli Thesauri refertus est liber pugnat valide ac varie cum Arii Eunomii furibunda rabie etenim Logicis argumentis sapienter illorum destruit amentiam quibus dum sacrae scripturae adnectit adtexitque testimonia quà m sit doctrina illa futilis omni ex parte divulgat adhibet idem quoque nuda Sacrae scripturae testimonia ut quò se fastuosi vertant obsepti undique atque conclusi non habeant Est autem inter omnia ejus Scripta liber hic maximè perspicuus ijs potissimum qui Logicorum argumentorum sensum capere possunt which is in English thus much that Booke of Saint Cyrils which is stiled his Thesauri is plentifull and abounding with wit and learning and fights valiantly and diversly with the fury and madnes of Arius and Eunomius for he doth by force of Logicall arguments wisely â—verthrow and destroy their folly to which while hee joynes and annexeth the testimony of the holy Scriptures he doth divulge to the eye of the world how empty and weake their Doctrines are and by using those testimonies of the Scriptures he doth so hedge those Heretiques in that they know not which way to turne or winde themselves off or out from shame This booke of his is so perspicuous for learning that it is highly esteemed of all pious and judicious scholars and more specially of those who can apprehend the sence and vigour of Logicke and his scholar Eulogius stiles him thus againe accuratissimus autem Doctor Cyrillus singulâ—s Haereticorum pariter execratus est sententias duas in Christo naturas concurrentes indivisas inconfusas planissimè demonstrat And again Cyrillus rerum divinarum sciens And Ardens ille â—eritatis studiosus Cyrillus and Sapiens Cyrillus Cyrillus homo divinus in English that most accurate and smart doctor Saint Cyril hated the positions of all Hereticks and did most plainly demonstrate the two Natures in Christ undivided and unconfused Cyril had true knowledge of holy things he was studious and zealous for the truth and full of wisedomâ— a man plainly divine nay it plainly appeares that his authority was great to whom Councells yielded to for his learning for it is said of him Sic Concilium Cyrillus so the Councell holds and so doth Cyrillus too Cardinall Bellarmine calls him Virum Sanctissimum Doctissimum ac praesertim circa mysterium Dominicae incarnationis a Deo doctum Nestorium Haeresiarcham primum scriptis deinde etiam authoritate damnavit a most holy man and learned and especially hee was taught and instructed of God in the mystery of Christs Incarnation He condemned as is said before Nestorius the Heretique who was then Bishop of Constantinople first by his famous Writings then by his authority This â—Nestorius Doctrine was That the Blessed Virgin Mary was the Mosher of Christ c. Christ as he was Man but not as God thereby most impiously inverting that great Mystery of the Incarnation of the Sonne of God this being taught at Constantinople by Nestorius and his Disciples was a great trouble to the people and so much the more because he had ingratiated himselfe into the Emperours favour so that no meanes was left for redresse but the calling of a Councel yet in the interim this good man tooke pen and inke and wrote a briefe and modest Epistle to Nestorius wherein hee admonished him of the peoples discontents and what great danger was in all likely-hood to fall upon the Church through his still obstinacy and indiscretion but all in vaine the answer return'd was rather reprehensory than otherwise The Bishop in tendernesse of his dignity and as he was Caesars friend writes againe and againe but still answered with the same successe as before if not worse hereupon several Councels were called one at Rome the other at Alexandria but that Oecumenicall one at Ephesus called by the Emperour Hit the Naile on the head where the reverend Prelate of Alexandria sate as President amongst two hundred Fathers of the Church much ado there was on all sides and there wanted not some that sided with Nestorius in his errors but such was the grave carriage of our reverend Father and strength of argument there used that the very sinewes of Nestorius Doctrine were againe cut in sunder he himself deprived from all spiritual promotion digraded from all Ecclesiasticall function and his positions condemned as most blasphemous against the Sonne of God Christ Iesus Thus the Councell closed but with applause unanimously conferred on their learned President Blessed for ever be the memoriall of Cyrill Arch-bishop of Alexandria many were the Epistles commendatory sent unto this renowned Prelate