Table with his hand and said jaâ— contra Manichoeos conclusum esse that now the Manichees were foyled He was one that may be a perpetuall patterne for refusing and contemning worldly honours and wealth for though he was young and had great wayes to helpe himselfe yet he regarded them not nay insomuch that when Clement the fourth Bishop of Rome would have made him Arch-bishop of Naples he did refuse it and when great promotions were offered to him his usuall answer was Chrysostomi in Matthaeum Commentarios mallem that is I had rather have the Commentaries of Saint Chrysostome upon Sâ—int Matthew He desired three things principally First that he might not be weary in well-doing Secondly that he might not dislike that calling though with poverty which hee had chosen thirdly what became of his brother Rainaldus who endured such a bloody death for the good of the Church and in this last he said hee was sure that his brother for that temporall death enjoyed eternall life In his teaching hee alwayes strove to frame his speech to the peoples capacity and that hee might avoid all pride and ostentation nay in his disputations he would seeme to yeeld that he might rather shew his humility than height of learning Hee had abundance of Auditors as Doctors Bishops Arch-bishops Cardinalls who counted themselves happy in being his hearers He was of spirit wondrous mild in his corrections and reproofes hee would hate the vice and spare the person When as he was deputed to be at the Councell of Lions hee fell sicke and was carryed on a Mule to Severinum where when he was entred into a Cloyster he writ his Commentaries on the Canticles and perceiving his death to draw nigh received the blessed Eucharist prostrate on the earth After when his sister asked him if he would have any thing answered he should within a little space enjoy all things This was his fiftieth yeare of his age He had many witty sayings as one asking him why he was so long silent under Albertus he answered because he had nothing of worth to say to him Another asked him what was the most pleasant thing to him Hee replyed to understand all he had read One telling him he was not learned as he was supposed hee answered I will study the more to prove his words false A woman reproved him that seeing hee was borne of a woman hee should so shunne them Yes said he even therefore because I was borne of them One asked him how he might live without blame hee told him if he would remember his reckoning to the great Judge of Heaven and Earth So when after great paines and studies hee had approved himselfe to the Church of God he yeelded to Nature and was honourably interred with all the Rites and Ceremonies due to so great a person as he was His Workes are of that value that he who hath them in his study is furnished for all manner of learning His Sayings A day will come when faire dealing shall be found a jewell and false dealing shall come to nothing when a good conscience shall be better than a good purse for the Judge will not then be put off with faire words nor drawne aside with hope of reward He that 's armed for the warres let him consider who it is that gives him strength and teacheth his fingers to fight then let him employ that strength to his glory so that by this means come life come death all 's welcome that God sends In all thy undertaking make much of time especially in that weighty matter of Salvation O how much would that man which now lies frying in Hell rejoyce if there were but possibility to obtain the least moment of time wherein he might compasse the favour of God and so be freed from those torments which seize upon him for evermore Thou that art young hast death at thy back whereas the old man hath it before his eyes and that must needs bâ— a more dangerous enemy that pursues thee than that which marcheth up towards thee face to face Remember therefore thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth and remember withall that though God promise forgivenes to repentant sinners yet he doth not promise they shall have to morrow to repent I have set down his Works as Cardinall Bellarmine hath registred according to the Roman Edition Tome 1. Contains his life upon the Perihetmenias and the Analatickes Tome 2. Containes Commentaries upon the 8 bookes of Physicks Vpon the fourth book De Coelo Mundo and of the generation Tome 3. Contains his works upon the books de Meteoris Tome 4. Vpon the Metaphysicks 12 books Tome 5. Vpon the 10 books of Ethicks and upon the 8 books of Politicks Tome 6. Vpon the 1. and 2. books of the Sentences Tome 7. Vpon the third and fourth of the Sentences Tome 8. Vpon Disputaâ—ions and Quodlibets Tome 9. Containes his summes against the Gentiles with the Commentaries of Franciscus Ferrariâ—nsis Tome 10. The first part of his summes of Divinity with the Commentaries of Card. Caietan and the Exposition of divine names by St. Denis Tome 11. Containes primam secundae secundam secundae With Cajetans Commentaries Tome 12. Containes the tertiam partem summae Tome 13. Contains Commentaries on Iob on the 57. Psalme on the Canticles Esay Jeremy Lamentations Tom. 14. Commentaries on St. Matthew and St. Iohn Tom. 15. Contains his golden chain on the 4 Evangelists Tom. 16. On all the Epistles of S. Paul Sermons de tempore and of the Saints Tome 17. Contains 73 little Tracts and a little book upon the foure bookâ— of Sentencâ—s THus farre have we brought the lives of these holy Fathers and Doctors in every Century of yeares wherein they lived downe to our owne Moderne Writers whose vertues have shined on Earth like starres in the firmament by illuminating the darknesse of the blinde world with the light of the Coelestiall Doctrine These holy men I say did willingly and chearefully offer their lives and bodies as a living sacrifice to God not grudgingly or piningly but with alacrity of spirit for though by the hand of envy and tyranny they were judged to death yet they willingly dyed for his cause and yeelded their bodies as a debt due to Nature for they thought so long as the soule was in the body it was no better than in prison for the body at the best is is but a Coffin of the soule as the grave is a Coffin for the body Therefore let us strive by their examples to goe to heaven like them through persecutions tribulations and all worldly temptations for wee ought to desire with ardency as these holy Fathers did that joyfull day which all the Elect have and doe still long to enjoy For when Death and Time shall both cease and tender downe their Sâ—epters of authority as I doe now my self prostrate before God Almighty then shall I and never till then bee truely and really happy
Gather my Saints together vnto mee Psal 50. 5. THE GLORY OF THEIR TIMES OR The Liues of the Primitiue Fathers CoÌ„tayning their Chiefest Actions workes Sentences and Deaths Aske thy father and hee will shew thee Aske thy Elders and they will tell thee Deu. 32. 7. LONDON Printed by I Okes. and are to be sold in Pauls Church-yard at the white Lyon 1640. G Glouer fecit To the Reader on the Religious and Illustrious Lives of the Primitive Fathers THe publication of a Book doth draw on much expectation but this Worke doth not only satisfie the Readers curiosity but even draw him to wonder and admiration For was not the Creation of Heaven and Earth most wonderfull and glorious For when there was nothing but rudis indigestaque moles quam dixere Chaos a rude lumpe void of forme then God made the Sun Moon and Stars also and set them in the Firmament to give light upon the Earth and this natural Light the World enjoyed in the beginning but afterward out of the Chaos of blind Ignorance God to the Worlds greater amazement created and ordained the Firmament of Religion and placed therein the Sun of Righteousnesse our Saviour Jesus Christ then clouded under Types and Figures and also the Moon which was the Primitive Church round about which the Fathers shined like Stars of severall magnitudes but all glistering with light of Life and Learning Here is a poesie gathered out of old Gardens not decayed nor withered with Time or Age but as fresh and fragrant as from the newest stocke This savoury meat hath God brought to hand Here is sweeâ— out of the strong let your soule taste it and then blesse God for sending such able men into his Harvest in the innocencie of the Church and in the time of the hottest persecutions These were Gods Champions on earth who did fight his battails and defend his cause even reproving Kings and Princes for his sake These were called Fathers of honour and therefore let us honour them because they honoured God and though we cannot imitate them so neere in their lives as wee ought yet let us strive to imitate them as neere as we can in our minds and let us follow thousands of Martyrs through temporall death to eternall life and with Nazianzen give our selves wholly to the performances of all Christian duties For these Primitive Fathers they all gloried and tooke delight in their sufferings and bid large profers for Heaven come what torment could come even the losse of their lives for by their humility and patience they both triumphed over Tyranny and Death and now have obtained for their reward the eternall Crown of Glory which they enjoy and weare When any of these Holy Fathers met at Generall Councels concerning any weighty cause about setling Religion or suppressing of any Heresie sprung in the Church with what devotion reverence did they meet not trusting in their own knowledge sharpnesse of wit strength of brain deepnesse of judgement as it were in an arme of flesh they knew that there was a Divine power who ruled and governed all their actions and intentions they trusted in Him that hath the Key of David opening and no man shutting and prayed to the Lord the Father of our Lord Jesus to direct their cogitations this was the way they took and persevered in And should such good men as these bee forgotten such Pillars of Truth as these not seene and made manifest pity it were that their worth should be obscured or that the grave should bury their deserts All which time hath now brought to light and collected together in one Volume the use and fruit of which I wish to every Christian man This Work being then a Constellation of Divine Lights that were visibly seene in the East and Westerne Horizon of the Church and are here set in their severall places and Centuries of yeares wherein they lived shewing not onely their mortall aspect by curious and lively brasse Sculptures representing their Effigies and Countenances but also the divine influences of their souls in their lives actions and divine sentences for their Seraphick Contemplations were full of sublime and sweete expressions that as their faces were full of Reverend lines of gravity so did their Writings abound with sententious lines of Piety Insomuch that these words may justly be subscribed under their severall Pictures Exempla plus dictis valent facta mea non dicta vos Christianos milites sequi volo nec disciplinam modo sed exemplum etiam à me petere Examples prevaile more than Precepts I would have all Christian Souldiers follow my steps in works as well as words and in your lives make me your Rule and Example for Omnia prosperè Deum sequentibus eveniunt adversa spernentibus for Gods servants and followers are always fortunate and blessed but his foes miserable and wretched In a word the faces of the holy Primitive Fathers are here the object of your sight their Graces of your knowledge and understanding their Sentences may serve for your minds illustration and illumination and their Lives for your practice conversation and imitation and in all they have been and are accounted sacra Ecclesiae Lumina holy Lights of the Church shining once on Earth and now in Heaven and therefore all that would become Stars in glory after this life let them imitate these resplendent Stars of Grace that hereafter they may shine in glory with Christ Jesus the Sonne of Righteousnesse in his Fathers Kingdome for ever Amen Typographus The Names of all the Primitive Fathers contained in this Booke Philo Iudeus Ann. Mundi 4024. Iosephus 4057 Ann. Christi Ignatius 71 Polycarpus 71 Dionysius 71 Saeculum secundum ab anno 100 ad 200. Iustinus Mart. 150 Irenaeus 170 Ab 200 ad 300. Tertullianus 204 Clemens Alexandrinus 204 Origenes Adamantiâ—s 226 Gregorius Thaum 233 St. Cyprianus 250 Arnobius 285 Lactantius Firmianus 290 Ab anno 300 ad 400. Eusebius Caesari 329 St. Athanasius 340 Hilarius Pictav 355 Cyrillus Hieros 365 Ephrem Syrus 365 Basilius Mag. 370 Gregorius Nazâ—anzenus 370 Epiphanius 370 S. Ambrosius 374 Gregorius Nyssenus 380 Theodoretus 389 S. Hieronymus 390 S. Chrysostomus 398 Ab anno 400 ad 500. S. Augustinus 420 Cyrillus Alexan. 430 Petrus Chrysologus 440 Prosper Aquitan 445 Ab anno 500 ad 600. Fulgentius 529 Ab anno 600 ad 700. S. Gregorius Magnus 604. Isidorus Hispal 630 Ab anno 700 ad 800. Beda venerabilis 731 Iohannes Damascenus 731 Ab anno 800 ad 900. Nicephorus 828 Ab anno 900 ad 1000 ad 1100. Theophylactus 1071 Anselmus Cant. 1081 Ab anno 1100 ad 1200. Rupertus Tuitiensis 1119 S. Bernardus 1130 Petrus Lombardus 1145 Ab anno 1200 ad 1300. Alexander Hales 1245 Bonaventura 1265 Thomas Aquinas 1265 An. Mundi 4024. Philo Iudaeus PHILO IVDAEVS THis Philo was a Iew of Alexandria of the stocke of the priests and hee is deservedly placed among the Ecclesiasticall Writers because that in his workes hee
ought to be done of such as would please God There was one Caecilius a Priest and upright man who first did enlighten his minde a man worth commendation whom this Saint Cyprian highly honoured and reverenced calling him novae vitae parentem The Father of his Christian life It is not possible to reckon up all his severall graces this adds to his credit that being but a Neophyte in Christianity yet God so disposed it that hee was chosen to be a Bishop with an unconceiveable joy of the people which did honour him but he was so humble that hee seemed not to regard their praises but at his comming out and going into his house a World of Christians attended quae illi pietas qui vigorâ— misericordia quanta quanta censura O how great his piety his valour O how admirable his mercy and his discretion His countenance full of gravity and pleasantnesse not too much expressing a severe sadnesse nor yet affecting wantonnesse but so equally tempered that it was hard to say whether hee was more loved or feared his carriage was answerable to his aspect not any wayes swelling or puft up with pride nor dejected with poverty But what was this Bishops love to the poore may be a patterne to all succeeding ages but Satan envied this good man and so at last he was banished but even in this state he performed a world of good Witnesse that speech made and sent to Nemesianus â—oelix and Lucius with other Priests and Deacons saying It is no shame but glory not to be feared but to be rejoyced at to suffer banishment or paines for Christ that such as suffer shew that they are valiant Captains of Vertue provoking by the confessions of their mouth and sufferings of their bodies the hearts of the faithfull to Martyrdome For saith he it is no new thing for a Christians body to be beaten with clubs or to be full of wounds or skars in as much as they were ornaments to them not any discouragements and though the Mines afford no beds to Christians yet they shall rest in the Lord and though their weary bodies lie on the cold ground yet they shall be refreshed though their hands and feet have bin loaden with fetters and chains of iron yet Christ will loose them and make them free men of Heaven the tying of them fast here is a meanes to make them run the faster to Heaven and though they be stripped of their garments yet Christs Righteousnesse would cover them their deformity shall be turned to honour their mourning to joy their pain to pleasure and to endlesse felicity And though they could not bee admitted the Temples to pray in yet they might offer their bodies and souls in humility and contrition to God which would be Sacrifices that would please him And concludes his comfortable speech to them with the words of S. Paul These present sufferings are not to be compared with the brightnesse of that glory that shall be revealed to the Children of God As also that saying of his shews his worth Quis doceret poenitentiam lapsos Veritatem Hâ—reticos Schismaticos unitatem filios Dei pacem Evangelicae pacis legem Who ever gave such directions to such as were fâ—lne to renew their repentance Who ever gave better directions to Hereticks to embrace the Truth Who better taught Schismaticks the way to Unity or the Children of God the pâ—th of peace and prayer By Him it was that the blaspheming Gentiles were convinc'd in themselves of those things whereof they accused the Christians By Him it was that the weaker Christians were so willing to forsake all worldly preferments in hope of a reward in heaveu Hee it was of whom wee may truly learne pity and patience It was this Cyprian that overcame the malice of his Eâ—vious Adversaries by a sweet and Christian-like meeknesse Who was it that afforded stronger Cordials and Counsels to conquering Martyrs and to speak truth Quis denique tot confessores frontium notatarum secunda inscriptione signatos ad exemplum Martyrii superstites reservatos incentivo tubae Coelestis animaret Who ever did by the heavenly trumpet encourage so many Confessours branded and twice written downe and signed and daily expecting Martyrdome to stand firme in the faith as Saint Cyprian It was then the singular providence of God that this man should be yet reserued so that his feare and his departure was divine and approved that yet he might confirme many convince others and comfort many others in their sufferings for at this time the Church of God was deeply wounded by the common adversary and therefore fit it was that hee and such like as he was should binde up and cure the wounded and broken Lactantius gives this Cyprian a great commendation for his gravity and cleernesse of stile he was unwilling to have been Bishop but the voices of all cried out either Saint Cyprian or none and indeed who can sufficiently set forth either his wisdome or diligence in feeding Christ his flock so that hee was like a loving Father to all A vigilant Bishop and an heavenly inâ—pired Master when as the Church 〈…〉 miserably wasted by persecution under 〈◊〉 the Emperour whose governmenâ— was â—ut short but as Saint Cypriâ—n witnesseth himselfe extremly bloudy for the Church saith 〈◊〉 having enjoyed a long peace under his â—â—ther all men studied their private wealth so that Devotion and Religion and good 〈◊〉 were quite neglected and all estates and â—orts of men and women were fearfully corrupâ—ed sâ—vit hoc â—â—agellâ—m Deus God suffered thi◠〈◊〉 of persecution to reforme it which Saint Cyprian avoided by flying as 〈◊〉 testifies but his Adversaries sought for him to have cast him to be devoured by Lions in the Amphitheatre so that they that would â—ot believe him a Bishop in prosperity should 〈◊〉 him one in banishment but what great goâ—â— in his banishment did hee performe doth easily appeare by his care to see the slaughtered christians to have decent buriall to care that 〈◊〉 wounded and mangled should have releafe and comfort and it pleaâ—ed God to afford him â—uch a perswading power that he obtain'd whatsoever he desired for them but this storme of persecution was but of one yeers continuance For 〈◊〉 raigned but one yeer and three moneths so that all things being â—alme this Saint Cyprian returned to his charge againe gathering together the dispersed â—lock yet for all this the Barbarians entred Nâ—midia wasting and destroying many Christians whom Saint Cyprians provided for and got monies for the ransome of such as were captives About this time a grievous pestilence raged in Africk in which Saint Cyprian shewed a marvellous measure of Piety and Charity Hee comforted some administred to those that were in want hee stird up those Christians that were persecuted by Pagans to afford them neverthelesse reliefe in the time of Contagion teaching them to doe good even for evill but yet not all these unparalleld
it was for profit in both these hee shewed exquisite eloquence and depth of judgment as well knowing what he did He doth not use any circumlocutions hee desired rather to give the best then much and naughty His stile is no where languid or dull he strives to refresh to stirre up to comfort the Reader for the learning and sincerity that you shall find you may admire him In briefe hee hath so done all that none but the malicious can speak against him or his Works This and a great deale more doth that learned Erasmus speake of our Arnobius so that who pleaseth to read his prayses at large may view them set forth in the Epistle Dedicatâ—ry before the Commentary on the Psalmes printed by Frobenius This Arnobius flourished in the time of Dioclesian from the yeere of our Lord 290 to 300. Arnobius sayings Of Prayer It is the bed of a sick and weake mans soule refresheth in tentations and keepes warme the actions of grace In Psal. 41. Of Despaire He that fals into Despaire is like a ship that looseth her Anchors and runs on the Rocks In Psal. 42. Of Persecution Persecution brings death in one hand and life in the other for while it kils the bodie it crowns the soule In Psal. 45. His Writings 1 Seven Books against the Gentiles 2 Commentary on the Psalmes 3 A learned tract of Rhetoricke hee died under Dioclesianus the Emperour An. Christi 326. The life of Eusebius Caesariensis EVSEB CAESARIENSIS EVsebius Bishop of Caesarea Palaestina formerly called the Tower of Strato for his great friendship towards Pamphilus sirnamed also Pamphilus being Scholer to Dorotheus the Eunuch a most learned man and a most diligent searcher of the Divine Library with Pamphilus was so famous among all the contemporary Bishops of his age for his knowledge in divine and humane Learning so that his deserts were celebrated with this most noble Eulogie of the Emperour Constantine who would often say That it was Eusebius happinesse to bee worthy to be Bishop not onely of one City but of the whole World A praise of an high straine beseeming an high place Indeed mens abilities should be answerable to their dignities greatest perfections are fittest for greatest places and promotions If Moses be placed over all the Israelites as supream Judge his endowments ate proportionable but with his employments his measure of spirit is abated and part resteth on the seventy Elders who were fitted for the like performances He that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is an Over-seer and such had need bee furnished with more then ordinary gifts for correcting of vice instructing the ignorant making straight that which is crooked Such were the manifold endowments of this Reverend Bishop Eusebius And for his eloquence Saint Ierome stiled him Romani eloquii Tubam the Trumpet of Roman elocution Eloquence in a Minister is a singular ornament Moses was fearfull to take up Gods Embassage not being eloquent but slow of speech therefore God appointeth his brother Aaron for his helper The lineaments of a Picture make it no exquisite without colours and varnish they make it beautifull Oftentimes a faire out-side leads us to the finding of hidden worth within and the phrase or stile of writing sets a lustre upon the matter Luther caused to be painted over his study doore Verba sine rebus Erasmus Res sine verbis Lutherus nec res nec verba Carolastadius res verba Melancthon Words without matter Erasmus matter without words Luther neither matter nor words Carolostadius both matter and words Melancthon Thrice happy Melancthon judicious and eloquent Omne tulit punctum qui misâ—uit utile dulci. The same was the commendation of Eusebius That he was a defender of the Arrian Heresie and a corrupter of the Nicene Synod some Writers affirme either deceived by the affinity of name and dignitie which he had with Eusebius first Bishop of Berithus in Palaestina and afterward at Nicomedia in Bythinia Captain of the Arrians or else induced to that beliefe because Eusebius of Caesarea would not consent in the Nicene Councell to the propounders of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Consubstantiall but after a long inquisition and examination of the said word done by him not maliciously but rather out of sincere pietie for when many of the Bishops would have the word Homousii as excluding a multitude of gods inducted by Arrius and most of the Bishops did sharply oppose the acception of the same word as introducing the opinion of Sabellius who held that the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost were but one person through their diversitie of opinions Eusebius being doubtfull to whether part hee should assent Eustathius Bishop of Antioch accused afterward by Cyrus Bishop of Bexoen opprobriously termed him a Favourer of the Arrians and a corrupter of the Nicen Faith Eusebius on the conâ—rary affirmed that hee neither favoured Arius nor corrupted the Nicen Faith but that Eustathius did introduce the perfidious opinion of Sabellius Lastly when it was declared by the Fathers that this word Homousii did not take away the distinction of persons which were of the same Nature and Essence hee subscribed to the Decree of the Homousii or Consubstantialls and by the Fathers command hee composed that Nicene Creed which is now sung in the Church A singular stayed discretion in a man of authority and eminent dignity not rashly to suffer any noveltie to creep into the Church without examination how farre forth it may prove profitable to the good of the Church especially in matters of greatest importance such as this concerning the Deity 's essence and manner of existence which is well distinguished by the Schoolmen every person in the Deity say they is alius alius sed non aliud aliud the former notes the distinction of persons but the later their essence to be the same and undivided such as the Father is such is the Sonne and such is the Holy Ghost And that you may the better be drawne into the admiration of his eloquence take notice of some of his sentences which were like Gold Coine containing much worth in a little compasse they are here inserted Of the Law and Gospell Moses did write the old Law in dead Tables of stone but Christ did write the perfect Documents of the new Testament in living soules And the difference of the Law and Gospell may further appeare in this that the Law is a killing letter for it worketh death making us lyable to the curse For cursed is hee that continueth not in all things that are written in the Law to doe them but the Gospel is a quickning letter and supplies for our defects in not obeying the Law we being clothed with anothers righteousnesse the long white robes of Christs righteousnes the imputation whereof makes us as acceptable to God as if wee had fulfilled the Law in our own person Christ having actively and passively fulfilled the whole Law for us by
feared not any Tormentors but resolv'd both in life and death to keepe his stedfast faith in the merits and mercies of Jesus Christ. Behold in this Lactantius a true patterne of a true follower of Jesus who despaired not in the depth of his penury and poverty nor yet was daunted or struck off from Heaven by the rage of persecution these two I dare boldly say have made many to deny their Lord that so dearly bought them with the price of his most precious bloud To bee poore by nature is no shame unto a man for we brought nothing into this world with us nor must we carry any thing out of it but to be made poore by any evill or unhappy occasion of our own that we ought to be ashamed of and hate And there is one thing only for which poverty ought to be beloved because that maketh triall and shew of whom thou art beloved for who was poorer on earth then Christ which died for us for he had no where to repose or lay his head But this furious Thunderclap removed not this stout Lactantius but as his name so his nature was firme and fixed his education under such a stout Master was a great motive to him to stand fast for Arnobius whose Disciple this Lactantius was did to testifie to the World his constancie in Religion even in the Reigne of Dioclesian set forth seven Books against the Heathens as Bellarmine avers by which and his Masters example Lactantius learn'd to imitate so noble a vertue It is none of the least testimonies of a pious mind to be spurred on to follow good examples And it is a thing very unfit and inconvenient for any man to carry goodnes in his mouth and have none at his heart I cannot omit to mention likewise thus much of him that when as with much profit and commendation Hee had learn'd of Arnobius that being sheltered by some friends to the Gospell of Christ during the time of persecution as I am perswaded not without the singular providence of God ordering it for the preservation of this man that hee was in his old age as I have said before upon severall proofs called to instruct Crispus the sonne of Constantinus as Saint Ierome Ruffinâ—s and Socrates doe witnesse any man of judgement I suppose will conclude that such a wise religious potent and munificent Emperour as Constantine would never have taken such speciall notice and knowledge of a decrepit old man had he not certainly been informed of or really knowne the worthy parts and pious endowments of this Reverend Lactantius neither could hee have beene admitted into the Emperours favour had hee not beene formerly well approved by the Fathers of the Church and had of them Letters Testimoniall and Commendatory for his integritie and learning nay unlesse he had been well furnished with learning and gravity holinesse of life Constantine would not have committed the Education of his sonne unto him Good Education being the manifest pillar of Nobility and Greatnesse and indeed good and able Tutors are necessarily requisite about the persons of Princes Education indeed alters the whole course of Nature Hence it is said that an ill man by due ordering and good governance is made good as a piece of ground which is full of weeds may by a skilfull and diligent hand be cleere and fruitfull to bring forth fruit So a minde that is full of vices and corruption may by good discipline be made honest and vertuous Education saith one is compared to a Sickle and a Hand and being demanded the reason made this answer that if there was any vice in the soule it would weed it out and if there was no vertue as yet in the soule it would plant some in These things aforesaid seriously considered doe not a little set forth the lustre and glory of our Lactantius and to adde this one thing to what hath been said all the Historians do not mention any thing of his removeall from his great charge but by all probabilitie he continued his place with repute and a generall approbation as well of the Emperour as of his sonne For his carriage in the place or how long hee continued it nor Saint Ierome nor Eusebius Ruffinus nor Nicephorus nor Bellarmine or Baronius do once mention and therefore we may safely suppose that Lactantius was upright and vertuous If we may give credit to Saint Ierome this Father also was an industrious man for his Writings of which there were many penned that are not now extant And wee may believe that though the Author did escape the great persecution yet many of his works perished in the flames when as the enemies of the Church did not spare to burne the Word of God and of those that are extant Cardinall Bellarmine hath censured some of them to be none of Lactantius Especially the Verses and those of the Phaenix his words are these Et quidem opera omnia quae extant exceptis carminibus sine controversiâ Lactantii sunt carmen de Phaenice Ethniei hominis videtur esse and carmen de Resurrectione Paschate de Passione ambiguum est an Lactantii sint that is and truly all the Bookes that are extant except the Verses without controversie are of this Lactantius making the Verses of the Phaenix seeme to be an Heathens as also the Verses of the Resurrection of the Passeover and Passion are doubtfull whether they be his or not neither do I certainly finde the time of his death nor yet the manner but all agree that he lived till he was very aged an argument that God saw him necessary for the benefit of his Church His Sayings I have added some of the famous Sentences of this Lactantius that you may by them perceive what a learned man he was in his Treatise of false Religion against the Gentiles in his third Chapter of the Governance of the World to prove one God hee saith Deus ergo quia perfectus est non potest esse nisi â—nus ut in eo sint omnia that is God being a perfect substance must needes bee one that all things may bee in one All vices are temporary nor can alwayes be and therefore the followers of them are vain in the prosecution De divino praemio lib. 7. cap. 10. The followers of righteousnesse are contemned here but their reward is great hereafter Godlinesse alwayes enriches the possessour Lib. 7. de divinâ— praemio cap. 11. No righteousnesse no wisdome no knowledge of God no way to curbe our unruly affections and to suppresse sin without Religion Lib. de ira Dâ—i cap. 12. Every man is mortall because corporeall for every body is soluble and corruptible they are but unwise therefore who trust upon long life when at any time they may be dissolved Lib. de opific. Dei cap. 4. There is no conquest but there is also a battaile nor no vertue but hath its enemy God would have our graces proved and known not
children doe they might please God better in obeying his Commandement and their Parents who lege talionis deserve more respect then their children can give them Many Bishops by the Emperours command being assembled at Selâ—ucia to give their opinions concerning the Arrian Heresie Saint Hâ—lary comming on a Sunday into a Chappell belonging to a Castle Florentia a Heathen Maid cry'd cut with a loud voice That a servant of God was come thither and falling downe at his feet shee earnestly desired his benediction and afterward leaving her parents shee followed him even to Poicters saying That though hee were not the father of her generation yet he was the Father of her regeneration Thus it is an easie thing with God of the stones to raise up Children unto Abraham to mollifie stony hearts and make them fructifie and beyond all mans beliefe by small or no meanes to bring great things to passe no lesse then an Heathens Conversion at the sight and approach of a man of God Such is the freenesse of Gods grace which is agens liberrimum The Winde bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof but knowest noâ— whence it commeth nor whither it goeth even so is every one that is borne of the Spirit Hee got much credit and approbation in the Arrian Synod and by persecution of his enemies Valens and Vrsatius was sent back againe into France where Saint Martin met him seeking his acquaintance and adoring him as an earthly Deity Afterward Saint Hilary being come home and finding his Daughter to whom he had written a former Epistle constant in desiring to be married to the Bridegroome which her Father had provided shee returned unto Christ the Bridegroome of her soule whose body her Father with his owne hands buried O glorious Funerall better than life being translated from Earth to Heaven and that in the flowre of her age and spring of her youth Thus despising naturall affection hee shewed loves perfection in seeking her eternall felicity and glorification An History which sets forth to the life the reward of obedient Children She that obeyed her earthly father is rewarded by God her heavenly Father And whereas she did expect for a recompence of her patience an earthly Bridegroome she was espoused to the Bridegroome of her soule fairer than the sons of Men richer than the greatest Potentates whose are all the Beasts of the Mountaines and the Cattell on a thousand Hills sweeter than all sweetnesse and better than all goodnesse Within few yeeres after Saint Hilary departed this present life in the Reigne of the Emperours Valens and Valentian Earth deploring Heaven rejoycing and also our Saviour Jesus Christ admitting him into felicitie to whose glory he had lived and died Thus a blessed Life was seconded by a blessed Death and he that had seene the various changes in the revolutions of times did at last exchange 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 drosse for gold misery for happinesse and in peace was gathered to his Fathers But what eloquence can expresse his facundiousnesse he being in discretion provident in handling matters profound in learning eloquent for vertue admirable in composition various in resolution subtle and wise as our Saviour saith as a Serpent yet gracious as the simple Dove He was the Salt of Wit the Fountain of Eloquence the Treasury of Knowledge the Light of Learning a Defender of the Church and an Enemy to the opposers thereof whose words read seemed not words but thunder He that would know the character of his minde let him remember his constancie reade his Volumes and weigh his Sayings some whereof are here inserted Whose excellency may appeare to any indifferent Reader who shall weigh them in the ballance of mature judgement and they deserve no lesse approbation or title than sometimes did the sayings of Pythagoras among the ancients which were intitled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the golden words of Pythagoras for according to that of the Wise man A word spoken in due season is like unto Apples of Gold in pictures of silver Such were these following viz. Of Custome Custome is a strong obligation and therefore he is a better Christian who not only by remission of sinne but by ignorance in sinne is blamelesse and innocent Whence it was that the Prophet denounceth a woe against such as draw iniquity together with cords of vanity Such are the cords of long continued custome which habituate a man in an evill way making him irrecoverably wicked Can a Blackamoore change his skin saith the Prophet or the Leopard his spots no more can yee that are accustomed to evill learne to doe good So that the truth of the ancient Proverbe is manifest that Custome is a second Nature for as slips of trees that are ingrafted and inoculated into another stocke partake of the nature of the stocke whereinto they are ingrafted so whatsoever vice a man accustometh himselfe unto to the same are his affections glued as it were and inseparably joyned and the corruption thereof concentraâ—ed and made coessentiall unto it Of Gods Works God hath performed many things whose naturall causes being hid yet their effects are knowne And Faith is religious though joyned with naturall ignorance A fit Register of Gods various wisedome yea the treasure house thereof is the whole Universe wherein all his workes are done in number weight and measure all which by their operations and impressions they make are easily to be discerned to bee nothing else but the foot-steps of his Majesty Now as Moses could not see GODS face but his hinder parts he saw so can we not many times discerne Gods workes in themselves à priori but à posteriori wee may by necessary collections Proportionably Faith which is the gift of God in it selfe is a glorious grace but because of our ignorance naturall and affected wee doe not attaine to that height and depth of that divine mystery which they that shall doe must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 must have an Eagles eye not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 having their understandings darkned being strangers from the covenant of grace Of hidden treasure By the similitude of hidden treasure the riches of our hopes are shewed because God was found in man for obtayning of whom all is to be sold that wading through all wants we may attaine the riches of Heaven That man can want nothing which hath him which is All in all And as sometime the Philosopher said Omnia mea mecum porto Whatsoever is mine I beare about mee so may a Christian rich in grace say Deus meus omnia since I enjoy God I enjoy all without whom enjoying all I enjoy nothing other things utor non fruor I enjoy for their use but have no true contentment in enjoying them Of the Church Those that are out of the Church cannot be capable of understanding divine mysteries for the ship wherein Christ preached the Word of Life was a Type of the Church those without being like the sands were
sayes they did not nor should professe the faith Catholike nor would they suffer any objections to be brought in against this famous Cyril nay moreover those that were invited to the hearing the cause of Saint Cyrill decided who had also determined his deposition were not onely not there nor was there any who answered for them yet as Baronius reports St. Cyrill was driven from his place by the Arrians in the Councell of Constantinople Mark saith Nicephorus the admired integrity of this Cyrill who appeared to defend his innocency notwithstanding all his enemies bravadoes and menacings nay he was so farre from being daunted that he affrighted the hearts of all his enemies so that they durst not maintain their forged accusations before so many famous and learned Judges But when as they found the Emperour infected with their heresie then they grew potent and impudent and Cyrill being removed Heraclius was brought in and after him Hillarius as Nicephorus maintaines for they two administred the affaires of that Church untill the reigne of Theodosius and then Cyrill was again restored and how reverently and piously hee determined all affaires belonging to that place is easily seene And Epiphanius who was the Hammer of Heretiks gives this Cyrill a worthy Encomium in these words Qui praeter Acacium Arrianum cum multis aliis illius sectae Episcopis contendere religionis ergô non dubitavit that is who not onely not feared to encounter Acacius the Arrian but did Christianly and faithfully oppose divers other Hereticall Bishops nor is Saint Ierome wanting to commend him for Cyrillus saith he Fâ—rtissimus Christi athleta orthodoxae fidei Assertor constantissimus c. That valiant Combatant of Iesus Christ that most constant Mayntainer of the Orthodoxe faith for many yeeres together strove for the propagation of Divine Truth suffered various and heavy persecutions exercised in these dangers from the beginning almost of Constantius Reigne to many yeeres of Theodosius yet all this while in these manifold grievances kept his first resolution and died in the faith at last Thus he And saith Nicâ—phorus though the Arrians at that time by their flatteries policies and suggestions had corrupted the minde of the Emperour though the Court was also all of that Sect yet this Cyrill startled not which was an infallible demonstration that he preached not Christ out of vain glory or in hope of reward at Court noâ— yet that hee was desirous to follow the times but that thee strove to keepe the â—aith in a pure conscience as knowing that would be his recompence at last Cardinall Bellarmines testimony of him shal briefly conclude my discourse of this laborious and constant Embassadour in the cause of Christ. Saint Cyrill saith hee after he was made Bishop of Ierusalem for his singular parts and Learning the state of the Church at that time requiring faithfull Dispensers of Gods Word was often driven by the Arrians from preferment yet did hee hold the faith till his death which was under Theodosius the Emperour Hee preached every Sunday and all the Lent every day with great pains and profit These are some of his Sayings Sanctus Cyrillus Hierosolymitanus Praefatio in Cat. Be not curious in things of vanity seeke not to know what 's done in the Citie what the King doth at the Court what the Bishop in his Consistâ—ry what the Priest in his Parish it is high time to looke into thy selfe and then up to Heaven from whence thy salvation commeth Idem 16. Some come to Church for fashion others to meet their friends this man upon one pretence that man upon another yet it s better to come so then not to come at all in the meane time the net is cast out the Word being preached draws in them which came with no intent to be caught at all being thus taken they shall be preserved for it is Christ that hath catch'd them not that hee may destroy them but that being dead hee may bring them to life eternall Idem Cat. 16. Let every good Christian say thus within himselfe certainly now the mystery of iniquitie is wrought the rumour of warres affrighten mee the Schismes and divisions of the Church are ready to distract me the difference amongst brethren make me amazed surely the end is not far off Lord when thou commest let me be prepared for it Idem Cat. 16. What though thou suffer for Christs sake suppose that fire and swords racks and torture be now ready to seize thee harken what the blessed Spirit of God the Comforter saith unto thee Trust still in God those are but flea-bitings continue but a while and thou shalt be in Heaven for evermore Here follow the Treatises of his which are called his Catechismes by the Paris Edition Anno 1631. 1 An introductory to Baptisme and his Lecture out of Esay upon that Lavamini 2 Of Repentance and of remission of sin of the adversary of man Lectures upon that of Ezechiel Justitia justo 3 Of Baptisme Lectures upon that of the Romans Know ye not c. 4 Lectures upon that of the Colossians Cavete ne quis vos c. 5 Of faith out of that to the Hebrewes Chap. 11. 6 Of the soveraignty of God of Heresies and Lectures out of Esay upon that Turn unto mee ye Isles 7 Of the Father Vpon the Ephesians for this cause 8 Lectures upon that of Jeremy Deus magnus fortis 9 Lectures upon Job upon that who is he 10 Vpon that and in one Lord Jesus Christ. 11 Vpon that the onely begotten Sonne of God Vpon that of the Hebrews Multis multifariam 12 Vpon that Hee was incarnate and was made flesh 13 Lectures upon that He was crucified 14 Lectures on Christs Resurrection 15 Lectures upon that He shall come again to judge the quicke and dead And of Antichrist out of Daniel Aspiciebam Throni c. 16 Lectures upon the Holy Ghost Vpon the first of the Corinthians 17 Lectures upon the holy Catholicke Church the Resurrection of the body and the life everlasting Out of Ezechiel And the hand of the Lord was upon me 1 Lectures to those who are newly baptized out of that of Saint Peter Be yee sober and watchfull c. 2 Lectures upon the body and bloud of Christ out of that of the Corinths What I have received of the Lord c. 3 Lectures upon that of Saint Peter Cast away therefore c. These were the pious and learned Works of this Father which the Church hath always kept as a solid buckler against Hereticks and as a restorative to the faithfull members of our Lord Iesus Christ. An. Christi 368. Sanctus Ephraem Syrus S. EPHREM SYRVS IT is not fitting that such eminent Lights should be hid under a Bushel but that their renowmed and pious actions should be blazon'd to the World for admiration and imitation the time in which he died in the Church was under Valentinian and Valens He
made many sermons to the people and did not he compile that worthy piece that is termed Vitiorum Destructorium which is indeed the very undermiâ—er of the Kingdome of sinne and darknesse these workes are so able to defend themselves that I neede not spend time to lend praise to them Fourthly as his learning was great his pains wonderfull his Scholars famous his Workes unreproveable so his life and conversation was as upright and honest Certainly he who did take such labour to kill vice in others would not harbour it in his owne soule Are not those his remedies which hee hath prescribed against the Capitall sinnes demonstration sufficient that his aime was to kill them are not all his arguments against them as so many Engines unresistable who is so ignorant of his pious intention that knowes not the reason why he entred into that strict course of life but that he might be the more free from the snares of the world and that he might have the more time and space to give himself to prayer watching fasting meditation and godly writing and what ingenuous spirit but knowes that writing many books is wearinesse to the flesh as Solomon speakes and did not he write many and those solid ones which must needs take up most part of his time adde moreover the set houres of his publick exercises which could not be performed with that generall applause as they were had not hee in private spent much time in molding them so that these things considered seriously who can finde almost in all his life any time for to be idle or ill imployed in did hee not all his life rather chuse to live poorely as holding that to bee the lesse subject to any incombrances was hee not alwayes a friend to the poore as well knowing whose Members they were and to whom they did belong And as his Life was full of Charity and labour so it was as spotlesse and innocent free from suites and needlesse contentions so that in all his deportments he shewed himselfe a patterne of meeknesse temperance and sobriety And to conclude when it pleased God to call him from earth was not his heart and soule ready to be offered Saint Pauls Cupio dissolvi was his resolution and at his death was he not of all learned pious and devout men generally lamented aswell knowing what a great labourer was then called to rest so after a religious devout humble and laborious life he departed quietly in the Lord being in his time the glory of the Pulpit the Father of scholars and the light and grace of the Schoole-men He departed in the yeare of our Lord 1245. in the reigne of Fredericke the second then Emperour Some of Alexander Alensis his wise and religious Sayings collected out of his Workes Of Charity Charity in the soule of a man is like the Sunne in the Firmament which spreads his beames upwards downewards upwards towards God the Angels Saints downwards to the Creatures especially to the poore that are good and as the Sunne shines upon the good and bad so true charity dilates its beames to its enemies Destruct vitior pa. 7. cap. 12. Num. 3. Of Patience A soule patient for wrongs offered is like a man with a sword in one hand and salve in another could wound but will heale Part. 6. cap. 26. Of Faith What the eye is to the body that is faith to the soule t is good for direction if it be well kept as Flies doe hurt the eye so doe little sinnes and ill thoughts the soule par 6. cap. 32. Of the detestation of Covetousnesse It deserves hate of all men for sixe reasons First because it is a sinne against Nature making the desires of the soule terrene whereas they should be Celestiall Secondly from the many curses that are laid against it in Gods Word Woe to them that joyne house to house Esay 5. Thirdly from the many evills it subjects a man to it is the roote of all evills Fourthly it makes a man a foole Thou foole this night c. Fiftly it causes strifes and contentions From whence are strifes c. Sixtly it brings men into snares which drowne them in perdition Destruct vitior page 44. Of the Sinne of Lying Every lye is odious but that most which is against the poynts of Faith as to say that Jesus Christ was not borne of the Virgin Mary c. Faith must bee defended not opposed Dectruct page 52. Of good Counsellours Such should be holy in their lives true in their words righteously zealous and wise by experience par 4. cap. 44. in Destruct Of the danger of customary sinnes Custome in sinne enticeth and invadeth youth tyes fast and bindes age deceives and infects the affections subverts the judgement and is hardly cured par 5. cap. 2. num 11. Of Humility An humble man is like a good tree the more full of fruit the branches are the lower they bend themselves par 4. cap. 48. num 6. Of teares and weeping Shed teares of compunction of compassion of devotion weepiâ—g availes not if it bee feigned for vaine things immoderate for the dead or the crying of the wicked in Hell torments par 4. cap. 52. num 5. An. Christi 1264. Bonaventura BONAVENTVRVS IN many Authours this Seraphick writer was called Iohn Gerso the Cardinall of Paris thinkes that hee was called Eustachius some have term'd him Eustathius others Eutychius but the most call him Bonaventure the reason why hee was termed Eustathius or Eustachius was because in all his disputations had at Paris with the Grecians he stil was constant and resolved to defend the truth with all solidity and gravity Hee was borne in Etruria of the Greeks called Tyrrhenia one of the most flourishing parts of all Italy called at this day Tuscany his fathers name was Ioannes Fidantius his mother Ritelia both of great Descent wondrous devout and full of charity who had this sonne borne to their mutuall joy in one of the ancientest and renowmedst Cities of all Tuscany called Balneo-Regium in English The Kings Bath This Bonaventure in his youth shewed what he would prove afterwards for as he was mainly addicted to study so he set himselfe to follow that way and those men which were most holy and learned in those times principally Alexander of Hales the glory of that age as also Ioannes Rupellius with many others and for certaine it is that age was as active and full of Disputations as any could be so that Bonaventure could not want occasion or opportunitie for exercise For his feature and proportion of body though as Nazianzen said in the life of Saint Basil his minde was so adorned that hee would passe over all the praise of his outward parts yet he doth plainly say that Saint Basil when he was young was of an able strong constitution comely proportioned gratefull in his behaviour of an heavenly aspect So I may say of this great Doctor though his soule was richly decked