and that the Victory in all things be attributed to you alone as Joab writ to David come and dispatch the War that is yet behind 2 Kings 12. excite that heavenly Militia above by your Prayers till at last having totally vanquished all enemies we may sing the triumphant song of Deborah They fought from heaven against them the stars in their courses Jud. 5. fought against Sisera And for me your Son whom with your continuall protection you have guarded fortified by your vigilance conducted by your counsell sustained with patience whilst you sojourned here upon Earth defend me with your much more powerfull Patronage now resiant in Heaven and let me receive more copious supplies from that now perfect and compleated Charity of yours Yea what Gregory the Divine affirms he obtained of Basill Greg. Naz. in land Basil the Great who after his decease became his Monitor that do you in a more eminent manner for me that so through your managery of my life I may inoffensively pass the remaining stages of this old age and in fine after my labours happily atchieved attain that Blessed rest which you now possess with the Father Son and H. Spirit to whom in perfect Vnity be Everlasting Praise Honour and Glory for evermore Amen Certain PIECES of S. AUSTIN Communicated To the Reader for the Vindication of the continuance of Miracles in the Church wherein he relates the many Miracles done in his dayes within his own Bishoprick and certainly known to Him August de Civit. Dei 22. l. 8. c. Etiam nunc fiunt miracula in ejus nomine sive per sacarmenta ejus sive per orationes vel memorias Sanctorum ejus Retract 1. l. 13. c. Non sic accipiendum est quod dixi ut nunc in Christi nomine fieri miracula nulla creduntur nam tam multa etiam istis temporibus fiunt ut nec omnia cognoscere nec ea quae cognoscimus enumerare possumus De Civit. dei 22. l. 8. c. Multis quod nobis certisssimum est non datis libellis de iis quae mirabiliter facta sunt illi ipsi qui dati sunt ad septuaginta fermè numerum pervenerant quando ista conscripsi August De Civit. dei 22. l. 8. c. Epist 137. Clero plebi Ecclesiae Hipponensis De cura pro mortuis 12..16 17. Cap. S. Augustini De Civ Dei Lib. 22. Cap. 8. Of the Miracles which have been wrought and are not yet ceased that thereby the World might believe in Christ WHy say they are not those Miracles wrought now adays which ye bragg of in former times I might indeed answer they were necessary before the World believed that so it might believe He that still requires Miracles for his Faith is a Grand Miracle himself for not believing when the World believes But this they alleage that it might be thought those Miracles were not then done No whence then is it that Christs Ascension into heaven in the flesh is so publickly and so religiously averred Wherefore in those learned Ages which would at no hand admit of Impossibilities did the World without any Miracles at all too too miraculously believe things so incredible Will they say haply they were credible and therefore credited Why then do not they themselves believe Our Argument is briefly this Either this incredible thing which was not seen was confirmed by other incredible things both done and seen or being so credible as needed no Miracles to enforce it it condemns their gross incredulity This I would reply to silence such shallow Persons For we cannot deny but there have been many Miracles done which attest that one signall and saving Miracle of Christs Ascension into heaven in that flesh wherein he a rose again Which are all written in the same Records unquestionable for their truth both what was done and in confirmation of what being divulged for the propagating the Faith and by the Faith propagated are so much the more divulged They are solemnly read that they might be believed yet should not be read solemnly but that they are believed Yea even now are Miracles wrought in his Name either by his Sacraments or by the Prayers or Memorials of his Saints which being not commemorated in so publick a Register shine not altogether with so bright a fame For them the Canon of Sacred Scripture which was to be generally published causeth to be read in every place and imprints in the memories of all whereas these are hardly known to the City where they are done or to any the adjoining Quarters And commonly they are few that know thereof and many that do not especially if it be a large City and oftimes when they are related to others the Authority that recommends them is not such as that they should be believed without scruple or demurr although they be conveyed from one beleiving Christian to another The Miracle done at Millain while we were there what time one blind received his sight might be taken notice of by divers both for that it is a vast City and the Emperour at that time being there the matter was transacted in the eye of a numerous multitude which flocked unto the Bodyes of the Martyrs Protasius and Gervasius Which lying concealed and unknown to any were in a dream discovered to Ambrose the Bishop and found in which place the blind man freed from his former darkness beheld the light of day But who except a very few knew of the Cure done at Carthage upon Innocentius Advocate to the Deputy Governour at which I was present and saw it with mine Eyes For being himself very Religious as likewise his whole house he had entertained me and my Brother Alipius coming from beyond sea not yet Priests but Lay-Christians and at that time we dwelt with him He was under the Surgeons hands for certain Fistula's of which he had many and very painfull to him arising in his hinder parts about the bottom of the Trunk They had newly lanced him and tried other experiments of their Art upon him who endured both continuall and horrid tortures in the Cutting And yet one Cavity among so many which should have been lanced escaped them lying so undiscovered that they never touched it at all and all the rest that had been searched being healed up that one remaining only defeated their pains He jealous of their delays and very much dreading a second incision as a Physician that lived in his house had told him beforehand whom they would not suffer so much as to see how he was cut when they did it and himself in a rage had thrust out of doors and with much ado admitted again burst out into these words Will ye cut me again must I come to his saying whom ye would not permit to be by They scoffed at that Physician as a Novice allaying his fears with fair words and promises Thus severall dayes passed but all they did availed him nothing the Surgeons still persist in their promises that
able to forbear sighs and tears So that as at Florence he was sirnamed Pippus bonus so at Rome he gained the title of Philippus bonus Philip the vertuous Chap. 5. Quitting his Studies he devotes himself wholly to Christ AS soon as he had gathered from Sciences and reading Holy Books what he thought might suffice to the promoting his own and others Salvation taking S. Pauls advice Non plus Sapere quam oportet sapere That none presume to understand above what is meet to understand all business set aside he determined to know nothing but Christ and him Crucified Hereupon he sold all the Books he had and bestowed the Money on the Poor which act of Charity performed he betook him to his Prayers with more fervent devotion even to the spending dayes and nights therein and continuing sometimes in it full forty houres And for his better progress he began more severely to afflict his body sleeping on the ground anights beating himself every day with small Iron Chaines declining the Company of men daily frequenting the seven Churches of the Citty especially the Caemitery of Callistus where carrying with him only one loaf for his provision he would many times pass whole nights in supplications which strange course of life he led for ten years together Which Francis Cardonius a Dominican who then in Rome had charge of the Novices in the Monastery of S. Maria supra Minervam observing to encourage others to the practises of stricter holiness would frequently tell them Philâ—p Neri indeed was a right holy person who besides many wonderfull things done by him lived ten whole years in S. Sebastians Grots If he chanced at any time to finde the Church-doors shut when he repaired to those holy places he was wonâ— to stand in the Porch and there imploy himself in meditation on heavenly things oftimes in reading some pious book by Moon-light Here was he enriched with such celestial treasures here was he so ravished with delights that when he could no longer sustain those overcomming pleasures he would cry out It is enough good God it is enough withhold I entreat thee withhold the excesses of thy Grace for I cannot â—ear them and falling flat upon the earth he was faâ—n to roll himself too and fro No wonder therefore if being big with him who fills heaven and earth he did divers times affirme that nothing was more irksome more a burden to him that truely loved God than life oft using that memorable and common saying That Holy Men endured life desired death Yet God not only thus feasted his Champion with Spirituall Dainties but on the other side exercised him with the encounters of divels that assaulted him He went once to the Lateran Church and passing the Amphitheater of Vespasian an evill spirit in the likeness of a naked person comes out and meets him suggesting filthy and impure thoughts to him but the chast youth knowing the wily artifices of that old Serpent betakes him to his wonted artillery of Prayer with which he shamefully worsted the fiend One night also not far from S. Sebastians Church on a suddain three devills with ugly and grim visages the more to fright him met him praying and meditating as he walked but he as one disdaining them discovering no sign of fear went on undauntedly continuing in prayer with great tranquility at which they fled frustrate of their expectations And with many other combats in this kinde did those wicked spirits assail him over whom notwithstanding this valliant Souldier of Christ victoriously triumphed Of which in their proper places Chap. 6. The miraculous Palpitation of his Heart HAving lived thus a long time and now 29 years of age among other priviledges wherewith God honoured him the miraculous beating of his heart the fracture of two of his ribs so that they stuck out were not the meanest which befell him after this manner A little before Witsuntide a festivity dedicated to the Holy Ghost to whom Philip having long since piously surrendred up himself now more intensely pray'd Lo on an instant he perceived himself seized with such a passionate fervour of Divine Love that flinging himself on the earth like one in a swoon gasping for air he was forced immediately to bare his brest when the extream heat somewhat allayed he rose and transported with extraordinary joy putting his right hand to his left side found a kind of rising where the heart is seated swollen to the bigness of ones fist What the cause of this tumor was plainly appeared when he was dead in the view of divers for as the Surgeon opened his Corpse before skilful Anatomists that were by they found two of the five lesser which they call the short ribs broken clean asunder and sticking forth like a bow which for fifty years afterward that he lived at no time ever closed again and yet which seems incredible he never found from it either then or afterward the least pain or trouble At the same time though he were in very good temper of body and perfectly free from any grief or passion yet was he suddenly taken with a palpitation of the heart that held him from that moment to his last breath Yet it used to seize on him only when he was conversant in matters of Religion as when he said Mass gave Absolution ministred the Body of Christ prayed or performed the like offices at which his heart would so leap within him as though it would have broke its prison and have forced its way through him Then should you have seen the stools bed and the chamber it self shaken and tossed as with an earth-quake so once at the Cathedral of S. Peter when kneeling down upon a great and heavy board his whole body did so quake and tremble that the board he rested on moved up and down like a thing of no weight at all From that time was Philip so devoted unto the Holy Ghost that after he was Priest he would every day except the rites of the Church were against it use that prayer in the Sacrifice of the Mass Deus cui omne cor patet Hence it was likewise that if any Penitent coming to Confession chanced to lean against his breast he should even to admiration feel that throbbing of his heart and if his head touched him sometimes perceive it recoil as if struck with a hammer and he in the mean while freed of all Temptations So that Tiberius Ricciardellus Canon of the forenamed Church of S. Peter who voluntarily served the H. Man four years together left this upon record What time I served the B. man saith he I was surprized with a lewd and foul imagination which so soon as I had disclosed unto him he bade me come neerer and joyn my breast to his I approached did so and was instantly rid of it never after being molested with like impurities Thus Tiberius The same do Marcellus Vitellescus Canon of S. Maria Major one very gracious with Philip and sundry
mutual charity and respects without any other particular constitution of government save only Love none superiour to other nor having one table but keeping their order of seniority cared for nothing but to outvy each other in the serving of God and helping their Neighbours Which Order continues still and flourisheth to the great example of vertue and here was Philip Authorised for the taking Confessions whereby he dayly gained opportunities for promoting the good of Souls CHAP. X. The Original of the Spiritual Conferences BUt for that most then neglected the things pertaining to salvation and counted it enough for them to confess their sins once or twice a year Philip observing that the bane of souls principally arose hence employed all his wit and pains to animate and stir them up to more frequent use of the Sacraments and the discharge of other religious duties which with those devout persons already mentioned he restored or at least promoted at Rome And to effect it the better laying all aside he gave himself wholly to the hearing Confessions having no small number of Penitents and considering what great advantages accrewed thereby bestowed part of the night also herein and betimes in the Morning gave audience to others confessing to him in his Chamber for whose conveniency he layd the key of his door in a constant place that they might have access to him at their pleasure As soon as ever the Church-doors were open he straight betook him to his seat of Penance which he left not usually except to say Mass or when some urgent occasion called him away When none came he stayed there either meditaring or walking before the Church-porch that if any needed his help they might presently have recourse to him as being at leasure He was so delighted in hearing Confessions that he would often say he took exceeding pleasure in but fitting in the Penitential chair and therefore as long as he lived he omitted not this service And when any asked him Father why do you over-burden your self with so great pains taking his answer was I am so far from thinking it a burden that I finde it an ease and recreation to me Neither was it enough in his opinion to allure many by these artifices but he also laboured to strengthen and confirm them in the ways of God To which end he took order for their meeting in his chamber after dinner for at those hours the wise man knew the incursions of the Noon-day devil were most of all to be avoided and withstood where gathering round about him he either sitting or resting on the bed proposed some moral subject as the beauty of vertue or deformity of vice or else the life of some Saint whereto every one contributed his part Which pious discourse ended Philip repeating what was said followed the argument with such a Monte Zazzaro testified this upon oath eagerness that he a shook the whole room with his action and oftimes his body was seen lifted up into the air and he standing as on the Ground At first there were present at these Conferences but seven or eight viz. Simon Grazinius and Montes Zazzara Florentines Michael a Prato a Shoemaker two young men Goldsmiths and a Roman one of the Maximi but the number afterward increasing the H. man at his own charges provided a larger and more convenient room in the same house CHAP. XI His first Penitents WIth these religious exercises did He win many of the prime of the City which became famous in all manner of vertues Among which the principal were John Baptist Salviatus Sisters son to Katharine de Medices Queen of France who was not ashamed to stoop unto the meanest services for Christs sake even to attendance on the Hospitals an employment then thought but thought unjustly ignominious for a Noble man all which he managed with such evidences of his Charity and and Humility that the sick out of respect to his Person refused his service which many times he was fain to force upon them One day making the beds in an Hospital as his manner was he found one sick which had formerly been his servant who when he would have made his bed sick as he was opposed him the Master urged the Servant refused so that a great quarrel began betwixt them till after a hot contest the Masters Piety got the victory of the Servants Modesty This man was such a master of his affections that he who lately stalked through the City gorgeously array'd attended with a numerous train of servants having once relished the Spirit began now utterly to abandon the empty ostentation of such State yet Philip wished him to go well habited and keep a competent Retinue for the Honour of his house By these and the like vertues he so pleased God that at his death armed with the Sacraments of the Church and spreading forth his hands to Heaven he sang that of David Laetaetus sum in his quae dicta sunt mihi in domum Domini ibimus I was glad when they said unto me Let us go into the house of the Lord and so breathed out his soul in the arms of Philip his most tender Father Before this Philip had long since brought Portia the Wise of this Salviatus one of the Maximi to a wonderful height of Piety for living a Widow at Florence she resolved on some stricter course of serving God and thereupon withdrew unto a Monastery of Religious Virgins but not having her health well at Florence returned to Rome where entring into the Nunnery of S. Katharine of Siena on Mount Viminal being very aged as she had lived vertuously so she died holy and lamented Next Salviatus was Francis Maria Taurusius Politianus allied to two Popes Julius the third and Marcellus the second a man of great parts and for his excellencies and abilities of mind by the Princes highly esteemed and of much repute at Court He upon occasion of a certain Indulgence at that time published went to the Church of S. Hierom a Charitate to Confession and found the good man never unprepared to such offices When he had done Confession Philip had him to his chamber where after many and several discourses he took an occasion to desire him to go and pray with him one hour Taurusius yielded to it and found in that space such a gust of heavenly things that the hour seemed less then a minute to him And when afterwards coming to Philips lodging he oft saw him hoised up into the air whilst he pray'd he began to have a venerable esteem of him and inflamed with more ardent affections unto holiness thought of prescribing to himself a new course of life But withheld by some obstacles from those purposes of serving God he acquaints Philip with them who bids him Go and rest contented for those lets that now hinder you within a moneth will be over and at the moneths end returning to the H. man well quieted and at ease he confessed to him
the Tears fell in such plenty that he was often forced to desert the employment At Divine Service he was so affected with the Melody of Church-Musick that he many times cried all the while Being once in the Qâ—ire among the Friers at S. Maries supra Minervam he wept so that he wet all the forepart of his cloathes Last of all he was so inclined to grief that on all occasions of Piety he would shed Tears and it was reckoned for a Miracle that by continual weeping he lost not his fight which he retained perfect to fourscore years of age without using Spectacles though he had divers pairs by him to preserve and refresh his sight as he said which after his death were affirmed to have done many strange Cures being used in diseases Among others Lucia Marzana a Recluse in the Monastery of S. Lucia in silice in the City being much troubled with the Head-ach applying but the H. mans Spectacles to the place affected fell into a gentle slumber and when she rose her paiâ— was gone CHAP. V. His Prayers THis fervour of Charity and abundance of Tears he obtained only by his frequent exercise of Prayer which he was continually so much addicted to that he directed all those Religious exercises he had instituted in the Oratory to this one and therefore entitled it the Congregation of the Oratory To this Divine Study he so vigourously set himself and made such progress therein that standing or walking his thoughts were still fixed upon God more naturally soaring heaven-ward then the doters on this world tend groveling toward earth Many a time whilst his Scholars were discussing several and serious matters in his Chamber be disengaged from their affairs either cast up his eyes to heaven or crossed his hands or sometimes fetched groans from the bottom of his heart As he walked the streets hee was so swallowed up of contemplation that ever and anon he must be plucked by the sleeve and put in minde to offer or returne Salutes After dinner that he might not injure the health of his body by too much intention of the minde when he had a desire to slumber or to rest him he was wont to call Gallonius and tell him You know what to do if you would have me sleep meaning that he must call off his thoughts from the consideration of things supernaturall by variety of discourse or some pleasant reading for that purpose Indeed he felt that in himself which he used to apply in generall to others to wit That a man enflamed with the Love of God must arrive to that heighth of Chariy as to be constrained to cry out Let me alone Lord let me rest a while for whoever is indisposed to pray even at Noon and after meals hath not yet received the Gift of Prayer He never went upon any business that was not usher'd in with Prayer either by himself or his whence he gained so strong a confidence that he spared not to say Give me but time to pray and I am sure to obtain of God what I ask And at other times Hoc volo Hoc jubeo This I will this I command and as he said it fell out still Briefly by his perseverance in prayer he attained even to supernaturall illuminations that he knew exactly which of his had prayed that morning and which not But though his whole life might truely be termed one continued Prayer yet he prescribed himself some set hours to encrease his devotion there in For in Summer except some work of Charity hindred he retired himself to the top of the house morning and evening where he might view heaven and earth to that end not only at S. Hieroms but a Vallicella amongst his own he built him a Closset on the very Roof a story higher than the rest And in his latter dayes he went up to the leads of the Church where he spent a good space in holy Cogitations yet if at any time he were called forth to any pious work he came down straight and quitted his spirituall exercise till having dispatched his business he returned again saying He did not therefore reject Meditation but left Christ for Christ and that the force of Prayer was not hereby diminished but augmented rather In the Winter after Sun-set he prolonged his Prayers to the second or third hour of the night and going to rest that he might rise again to prayer just at his time he hung his Watch at the Beds head by feeling of which he knew what a clock it was and hard by his Crucifix he laid the Rosary of our Lady that when he wakened he might fall to his Prayers At some speciall times in the year as the principall Festivals and when publique or private necessity required his prayers were both longer and more intense He watched fasted and prayed on Good Friday all those hours that the sacred Body of our Lord was kept apart by it self in memory of his Buriall He devoutly and attentivly recited his Canonicall hours for the most part joyning a Companion to him for he could not dispatch them alone by reason he was subject to rapts He almost ever had his Breviary lying open being wonderous carefull that no error passed in saying it and if any chanced though he seemed as one bereft of sense he presently corrected the mistakes When he was fourscore years old Gregory XIV remitted him his Office upon repeating the Rosary of the B. Virgin which favour he at no time made use of Nay if he were extream sick he appointed the Canonicall hours should be rehearsed in his hearing at least To Prayer he added Reading and the daily perusing Saints Lives alledging that There was no better incentive to Piety then the Examples and Rules of Saints Besides those lives gathered by Lippoman he commonly used Cassians Collations the Imitation of Christ father'd on Gerson the Life of S. Katherine of Siena and above all the Acts of the B. John Columbine For the Books of H. Scripture he delighted much in S. Pauls Epistles Those whom he designed for preachers he counselled to read their works chiefly whose names began with S. as S. Augustine S. Gregory S. Bernard and the rest And because he was desirous that People should rise from prayer rather cheared than tired he wished such as he thought lesse able to pray long together that they should often raise their devotion by certain short Ejaculations some of which more frequently used by him are here annexed Create in mee a clean heart O God and renew a right Spirit within mee O God make speed to save mee O Lord make hast to help mee Teach me to do thy will O Lord hide not thy self from mee O Lord I am oppressed undertake for mee Thou art the way the truth and the life Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Jesus be thou to mee Jesus Remember not Lord mine iniquities When shall I love thee with a filial love O Holy Trinity one
into the Room to desire those that were present to joyn with him in Prayer a while And if they were dangerously ill he never left them till either they died or mended Sebastian a Musitian of the Castle of S. Angelos one of Philips Sons and a very devout religious man was sick of a disease that killed him as he lay drawing on the Devill appeared to him in an ugly and terrible shape which apparition so affrighted him that he in a despair of mercy cried out O miserable wretch that I am O wo is me now hath God Of this are four Witnesses upon Oath who were present two of them Priests forsaken me now am I consigned to Hels eternal flames wo unto me forlorn creature wo unto me When he had lamented thus sadly some two hours and found comfort from none they called for the Curate of the Parish whom the sick party would by no means see or hear but saying he was undone protested he gave no credit at all to the Priest Those of the house dismayed hereat sent for Philip who hying thither as soon as ever he set his foot within the Chamber asked What 's the matter what 's the matter Fear nothing He presently being put in hopes at that cries aloud Father Philip chaseth the Devils they fly and Philip drives them before him O miraculous power of Philip Live Christ for ever Live Philip by whom I am recovered from the Pit of Hell let the Oratory flourish And then filled with consolation he sang some of the H. Lauds at last stretching forth his hands he broke out into these words Behold the Angells behold the Archangels reckoning up the severall Quires and in September on the Vigil of the Archangel S. Michael he breathed out his Soul in the arms of the H. Father Persianus Rosa Philips Confessor being likewise very sick was grievously assaulted by the Devil and in the midst of his conflicts and temptations would This was attested by an eye-witness say Tu judica me Deus tu discerne causam meam Judge me ô God and plead my cause Lying on his bed for fear tumbling to and fro Meanwhile in comes Philip whom Persian looking on said Holy Philip pray for me adding O thou Servant of God drive away I beseech thee that foul look'd dog that leaps upon me lest I be torn in pieces he forthwith kneeling down desires those that were by to pray with him Scarce had he bowed the knee but Persian cryed out God be thanked the dog is gone the dog is fled see he stands at the door So rising from Prayer he sprinkled both the sick man and his chamber with H. water and the devils being expelled the next day he quietly and joyfully died Gabriel Tana of Modena one of Cardinal Politians Gentlemen and of Philips first Scholars who confessed his sins twice a week and received the Sacrament fell mortally sick when he was 18 years old and having bin ill about Of this Jacobus Marmita writ a relation who was present as were likewise divers of Philips Sons 20 dayes and now about to dye the devil instigating him thereto he began most vehemently to wish he might recover his health Philip coming every day to see him asks him how he did Very well said he for I hope I shall out grow this disease He foreseeing his death said to him My son give me your Will and your Nill that when the Tempter comes you may answer my Consent or Dissent is no more in my hands but Christs Gabriel assented and Philip departed When Mass was done he returns to the sick person and finds his mind changed insomuch as he that a little while since was too desirous to live now said with the Apostle Cupio dissolvi c. I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ and putting the Crucifix to his brest and kissing it he exhorted them that stood by to contemn the gaudy vanities of the world Believe me said he I disdain life I desire heaven Pray therefore Father that God would satisfie my longings and before the fifth hour of the night I may fly hence unto my Saviour You shall replied the Father obtain your requests yet let me advertise you of this that the Devil will use many stratagems to undo you telling them all to him and when he had done went his way that he might give himself to Prayer An hour after Philip was gone comes the Enemy and tempts the Young man to presumption on his own worth of which this was a mark The Letanies for the dying as the custome is were rehearsing and when they came to those words A mala morte libera eum Domine Free him from an ill death ô Lord Gabriel smiled and shaking his head said O he cannot dye amiss who carries Christ in his heart when presently perceiving the wiles of the subtile Fiend I beseech you saith he pray to Christ for me for what I spake just now was by suggestion of the devil No sooner was he rid of that temptation but the adversary redoubling his blows labours with all his might to keep him from uttering the H. name of Jesus thereupon he cries out Alas Brethren I cannot possible express that which I most desire What is that said they doth the Devil hinder you from mentioning the name of Jesus At which he nodded as being so then they replyed Keep Jesus in your mind and that is enough In the encounter he was fain to summon up all his powers so that what with perplexity of minde and motion of his body he was all in a sweat Then was Philip fetch'd who shewing the B. Crucifix whispers softly in his ear the most delicious and sacred Name of Jesus which he oft repeated freely and readily at his pleasure yet did not the wicked spirit depart for not long after he sought to seduce him from the Catholique Faith perswading him that he should escape this sickness all which he related to Philip who bids him Slight my Son slight those Satanical cheats and say the Creed with me He pronounced the words often over but seemed to himself not to pronounce them which Philip perceiving bids those that were present rehearse the Symbol of the Apostles which done straight the temptation ceased The sick person the while recollecting himself and resuming courage defies his enemy in these expressions whether thou wilt or no O thou damned apostate I do believe At last the wily Tempter storms him afresh and more fiercely employing his utmost to engulf him in a Hell of desperation So assuming a deformed shape he appears with a dreadfull aspect to the sick man who appalled at the spectacle trembled every joint of him changing his colour rolling his eyes and unable to maintain his standing roars out in bitterness of Soul O caytive that I am ah what a number of horrid crimes have I committed Beat away Father beat away those ugly Curres Whereupon Philip laying his hand on the Patients
head thus bespake the Devil And O thou Monster darest thou still oppose I command thee hence immediately for these very hands have this morning handled the H. Body of Christ and turning to the sick party Take courage my Son said he and say with me Discedite a me c. Depart from me all ye workers of iniquity which being done twice or thrice Gabriel for joy cried out The Dogs run away at Philips bidding and pointing to them with his finger do ye not see saith he with what speed they fly we have overcome O good God we have overcome Then turning his eyes to the Crucifix he began to pray to our Saviour with such devotion that all the standers by fell a weeping and taking it in his hand lifting up his head he uttered many pious speeches at length triumphing over the Devil he upbraids his cowardise but Philip fearing lest by these intensions of his mind his end possibly might be hastned bad him Peace now peace and be quiet let us leave the divel He was silent instantly and the by-standers hearing him speak so heartily conceived he would live to the next day but Philip told them No he will not for as soon as ever he stirs but out of his place he will depart straight Scarce half an hour after he turned him on his right side and naming the B. Name of Jesus dyed James Marmita one of the forenamed Cardinalls Secretaries a man eminent for prudence learning piety and of Philips familiar acquaintance being now in the last stage of his life and through the infirmity of frail flesh fearing to dye greatly complained of the violence of his disease Philip who was by bid him Be of good cheer and imploring the Divine aid say Deus noster refugium c. God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble he did adding these words following Quae invenerunt nos nimis which as soon as he heard he went to prayer and continued there not long before Marmita bâ—ing marvelously cheared peaceaby departed Nicolas Lilius Priest of the Congregation almost at last gasp encountring with the devil thus obtained victory over This is commonly known his adversary Philip was saying Mass it seems in the little room above mentioned and praing more fervently than usually on the sudden great noises were heard over the Dining-room as if huge stones had bin hurled too and fro Philip then alone in the Chappell calls Petrus Consolinus and bids him Go and bring him word how Nicolas doth away goes he and finds him sick with his hands clasped and lift up to heaven reiterating these words Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro accessit recessit victus est Let us give thanks to our Lord God he came he is gone he is overcome Consolinus informs Philip of all who as his fashion was said 'T is enough and hyes him straight to Nicolas who looking on him wistly asked him passionatly Ah Father why was not I acquainted with you before Why Father thus late intimating hereby that he had learnt sufficiently in that combat what prevalency and favour Philip had with God Lilius was a Frenchman by birth one to be admired for his strange contempt of himself far from the love of terrene things from doting on his friends or kinred insomuch as when their letters were brought him he would throw them unread into the fire He was of a wonderfull patience in hearing Confessions and foretelling the day of his own death after he had lived 20 Years in the Congregation deceased whom Philip so exceedingly valued that he kept his goods instead of Reliques as an argument of his incomparable Vertue Carolus Mazzaeus likewise one of Philips Sons being at the point of death sustained shrew'd conflicts by the temptations of the Devill for an evil angell presented himself to him in his sickness and that he might sink him in the Gulf of despair laid open before him all his wickedness committed whom the sick party answered twice together only thus I appeal to Philip and straight the Devil vanished and Charles soon after very quietly departed Philip averred his Soul went to heaven affirming that if a sick person disputed with the devil any while he was sure to be surprized by his sleights By this time it was sufficiently known that as soon as the B. man set but his foot within the chamber of the sick and asked Who is here the devils immediatly fled away so that divers when they lay a dying sent for Him And not only to his friends and acquaintance but even to his very enemies did this Good Old man discharge these offices of Charity Among others he had one inveterate adversary whom he was not suffered to visit so one day after Mass retiring into the Vestry he said I felt my self much constrained at Mass to pray for N. And it was found that the same hour Philip said Mass the man fell sick of a disease whereof he died Him the H. man loved so well that if any chanced to speak of him he would weep out of his tender compassion To this purpose he in the last place forewarned men of two things one was that those who lay a dying were rather to be assisted by the strength of Prayer than store of words the other that men should not spend their Verdicts lightly either about the Patients recovery or death He said he knew some that were mightily displeased at the amendment of such as they had doom'd for death CHAP. IX He comforts the Afflicted BEsides the special care He took in helping such as were sick in body He likewise miraculously raised up such as were dejected in spirit and oppressed with sundry temptations Marcellus Benejus Politianus was in danger of committing a grievous sin his Confessor wished him to seek help of Philip and as he was opening his case to the H. man he felt himself eased of his trouble by that time he had ended his relation Antonius Fantinius a vertuous good man who lived by Merchandise and for about 30. years or more confessed almost daily to the H. Father having married a yong Wife sharply checked a Noblemans Servant for blemishing his honour and threatned to kill him the Servant not yet forbearing he vowes to embrue his hands in his blood Three dayes after upon the return of some Festival as his manner was he comes to Philip to Confession shews him the indignities he had suffered and his purpose of killing the Servant the Good man laying his hand on him said no more but Go and presently all thoughts of committing the murder forsook him and which was yet more strange that Servant never after durst walk near his house A certain yong man who lately entertained Philip for his Confessor could by no meanes be brought to forgive one that had offended him though the Father used severall arguments to change his obstinate mind but he grew every day more inflexible than other At last Philip taking up a
beasts One of his trod on a Lizard once at which said he O thou hard-hearted Wretch what harm did that poor creature do thee Seeing a Butcher wound a Dog with his axe he turned away his head moved with compassion and cryed O thou Barbarous creature One of his Scholars brought him a Bird to delight him with the fight and singing of her but he restored her to the heaven where she was bred When he took Coach he would charge the Coachman to hurt no living creature as he drave on the way and if any were presented him he would not let them be killed but either return them back or keep them very carefully if any came into the house of themselves he let them forth at the Door or the Windows without doing them any harm This his goodness and pity even the dumb creatures through the disposall of Providence requited with manifold tokens as it were of gratitude again Aloysius Ames a Frenchman presented Philip with two fine singing birds which he accepted upon condition that the donor would every day bring their food the Good man desiring by this means to contract further familiarity with him So one day Ames coming suddenly into His Chamber espies one of the Birds got out of the cage fluttering about Philips face and pleasing his eares with her delightfull tunes The Father asks if she used to do so No replied he at that Philip with a stern look beat her from him three or four times but she would not leave all the while chanting her pleasant notes till bidding the Cage should be brought to her she presently flew in as if understanding the meaning of his command Divers instances of this nature are purposely omitted CHAP. XIII His unstained Virginity HAving thus entreated at large of the H. mans Charity and Meekness intending to take a view of his other Vertues in their order the first that offers it self is his inward Purity and Virgin-innocency For the B. man well knowing how greatly God delights in Chastity both of Body and Mind employed so soon as he came to the use of Reason all his art and industry in quenching those sparks of lust that began to kindle in him and although by occasion of the affairs wherein he was daily exercised all his life long he met with many temptations to dishonesty yet preserved he the flower of his Virginity unspotted to the last For proof whereof besides the undoubted publique Testimony of Cardinall Baronius to whom the H. Father with many tears accusing himself of unthankfullness disclosed the secret a little before he died and besides what Persianus Rosa his Confessor while yet a young man averred yea and besides the common fame that went of him alwayes both at Rome and Florence for his Chastity that one might serve instead of many which the Sacred Congregation of Rites gave concerning Him having duly weighed the Reports of both Witnesses and Records viz. That they had had proofs of Philips Virginity more then needed And it is not to be forgotten how one time He discovered as much to one of his Penitents at Confession to procure his love also to this Vertue and to convince him that not only the purity of Continency but Virginity too by the Grace of God might be preserved as he himself had preserved it This pretious treasure he hid close under the Cover of profound humility guarding it every way by a most strict watch kept over all his Senses For in imitation of that Great Antony he never let any part of his body be seen naked nor ever let fall a word that savoured of the least immodesty He turned away his eyes from beholding vanity insomuch that a beautiful woman whose Confessions he took for 30 years together affirmed he never so much as once looked her in the face At first when he was Confessor he alwayes looked sowre while he spake to women not giving them so much as a coutteous word though in his latter years he forbore that custome Such and so purely white and unblemished Chastity did the impure Fiend labour by all means to defile One night forced by necessity whilst yet a Laique he lodged at a friends of his where the Daughter of the house one of a fair body but most deformed Soul watching a fit occasion came into the Chamber where the H. young man lay thinking by that privacy to entice him to folly but he Divinely assisted repulsed her impudent assaults going away victor over the unclean Spirit About the same time certain debauched persons not believing his Chastity to be such as the rumor bruted sent for him on pretensions of piety and getting him into a private room where two lewd women were provided to entrap him locked the door upon him but he betaking him to his main Fort his Prayers expressed himself therein with such devotion and zeal that they durst neither approach near nor so much as once speak to him Being after made Priest and appointed to take Confessions he was more craftily assayed as it were by Ambuscado For a notorious Strumpet called Caesarea hearing of his renowned Continency and being her self very handsome proclaims she would effect her will on him so pretending a desperate sickness she sends for Philip as to take her Confession He at first refuseth fearing to bring a scandal on himself for not without cause being of those years he alwayes denyed to come to women but upon very much importunity earnestly longing after the good of Souls he went when no sooner was he entred within the doors but the audacious harlot meets him with a transparent Veil cast over her naked body he perceiving the subtil wiles of the Devil crossing himself turns his back on her and leaping down staires breaks away She finding her self cozen'd of her expectation takes a stool up and throws after him with all her might to hit him but in vain so the Servant of Christ by Gods providence escaped the danger both of Soul and Body This resolution of his for preserving his Chastity God so rewarded that he never after felt himself annoyed with inclinations to Lust or illusions of the night Insomuch as he told Baronius once Be assured Caesar if any such thing should befall me though asleep I should even dye for grief Yea he had brought himself to that pass that as though he had been made of wood or stone his body was in a manner sensless And Gallonius speaking of his rare Continence writes thus I do really believe for he was intimate with the H. man Philips Virginity and Purity was no whit inferiour to that which by speciall priviledg from God was confered on Eleazar Count of Arian and Simon Salo whose Praises are recounted by the Metaphrast in Surius for either of these led the lives of Angels amidst the Society of Men. Moreover wonderfull were the effects of his his unstained Chastity For first the brightness of so singular a Purity sparkled forth at his very eyes which from
Soul he longed for Anon at the fifth hour of the Night he rose out of his Bed and walked about his Chamber Gallonius perceiving him to walk straight gets up and finds him laid in his Bed and that some bloud and flegme together had fallen down into his mouth he asks What ailed him I dy saith Philip. At that Gallonius calling in some other of the Fathers to his aid sends straight for the Physicians They thinking it to be his wonted flux of bloud try their ordinary remedies when the course of the bloud stopping for the space of a quarter of an hour he spake freely seemed to returne to his former strength and vivacity But knowing himself now with in the borders of death he desired them to forbear their medicines as it were only staying his departure till they were all come who when every one kneeling downe they had made a circle round about his bed fell a bewailing the loss of their Most Tender Father with sad laments Caesar Baronius Rector of the Congregation solemnly recommended his departing Soul to God who seeing the B. man even ready to expire exalting somewhat his Voice Father saith he do you leave your Sons thus and not spend one word at least in praying in some good thing for them I beseech you bestow your last Benediction on your Sons in Christ Then he lifttng up his hand a little continued with his eyes fixed upward to heaven And when he had remained so awhile letting down his eyes as though he had obtained of God the Blessing that he prayed for without any other sign or gesture he quietly surrendred up his Spirit CHAP IV. He appears to divers after his Death NO sooner had He given up the Ghost but he visibly appeared to divers of his Sons At Siena in Tuscany Theius Guerrius thought he saw Philip between This he himself publickly attested sleeping and waking with rayes glittering about him saying Peace be to thee Brother for I am now wafting to those spacious and delightfull Mansions of Heaven When he waked he heard the same words again and straight the Vision ceased A few dayes after he understood by Letters from his Friends that about the same time Philip departed In the City at S. Cecilia's a certain Virgin in her sleep saw him clothed in white and sitting in a bright Chair This the Virgin herself witnessed upon oath between two Angels born up to heaven saying I go directly to the joyes of the blessed but that you may come whether I am now hastning see that you keep close to the Injunctions of our Rule and doubt not but I will pray to Our Lord for you much more than heretofore I have done The Nun meanwhile awakes glad and amazed casting in her mind what this vision might betoken at break of day comes a Messenger with news that Philip died that very night Much about the same time onother of the Sisters of the Monastery dedicated to S. Mary Magdalen on Mount â—uirinall saw him likewise in her sleep and being very desirous to have his direction about some things pray'd him to stay who answered Let me go for I have been kept too long already by others and so ascending up on high disappeared In the morning she had word that the B. man was dead In the Monastery of S. Martha in the City too he appeared to an other Nun and said I am come to you to give you my last Farewell You ar hastning to Paradise saith she With that he shews her a field beset with thorns on every side telling her You must pass this way if you intend to come whither I am going She startling out of her sleep cried O my Father my Father whom I shall never see again And so weeping sore recommended her self to his Prayers believing confidently she should hear of his death by the Morrow as it hapned In Morlupo a Town that stands about a days journey from the City a Religious Woman of the Third Rule of S. Dominic receiving the H. Communion before Philips Body was buryed immagined that she saw an Old man in a Surplice sitting among the Saints in a Chair curiously adorned whereon his Vertues were displayed in Golden Characters she saw besides a huge number of Souls and heard a Voice saying to her These are the Souls of them that have attained Salvation by the Merits and means of this Blessed Man And with these words the Sight vanished The Nun relating this to her Confessor he demanded of her What age the Old man seemed to be of or what a Physâ—ognomy he had she delineates him forth exactly Whereupon her Confessor shewing her Philips Picture The Old man I saw said she was just of this favour Soon after came letters purporting that Philip died the very day before And here may not be forgot what a little after the H. mans death was spoken by a Maid hearing her mother commend Philip to this purpose Truely I esteem Philip a very worthy Servant of Gods but if I should see him restore life to the dead sight to the blind limbs to the lame I should then indeed with a loud voice proclame him a Saint for there are many things reported of him which I never beheld with my eyes The night following betwixt sleeping and waking she conceived she saw a high Scaffold in S. Peters Church that reached up to the top of the Roof and Philip sitting upon it and a little higher toward the Roof she observed a most exquisite fine round Table and hears him saying to her Look thou incredulous Woman what I will do now and straight raising himself from the Scaffold upon the Table went out of sight The Maid when she rose told her Mother what passed in her sleep and in humble manner asked God forgiveness The Vision haply imported that the B. man should in time be Registred among the Saints at S. Peters as the sequel manifested CHAP. V. The confluence of People to see his Corps THe Body being according to the custome washed and vested in a Priests habit was at the seventh hour of the night brought to the Church attended by the Priests and the rest of the Congregation In the Morning as soon as the Church-doors were opened and the rumour of his death spread there resorted a vast multitude of People The aspects of the sacred Corps carried with it a great deal of Majesty and devotion drawing the eyes of all to the beholding of it so that the Herse was not stuck with so many flowers as the spectators out of their zeal and affection to him were ambitious to have carried away with them At a convenient hour having duly concluded the Office for the Dead they sang Mass many Prelates and Nobles being by While this was a doing Antonio Carratio coming into the Qâ—ire among the rest in his Surplice having formerly been long troubled with Scruples of Conscience was immediately released of them upon his pious recommending himself to Philip.
hearing that they sent for the Physicians cryes out What for help must be fetched from heaven and not from men and this I assure you of if ye pluck away the Child by force it must necessarily be torn in pieces and then the Woman is irrecoverably lost Above two days was Delia tortured with these pangs at last her Husband sends for Philip who as soon as he came into the Chamber put his Cap on her then kneeling down and looking up to heaven wept and said Ho you there repeat the Lords Prayers and Angelicall Salutation five times Afterward rising he put his mouth to her ears and cries out Delia she asks Father what is your will with me That all study Holiness quoth he God grant it replied she but Father I am very ill Doubt not you will do well again saâ—th Philip and signing her with the signe of the Cross went his way He was not quite at the bottom of the stairs but he bid her Husband that followed him Go back for your Wife is recovered He returnes finds her in health and that Night she went about her business in the House as if she had never bin ill at all left her bed The same Delia when she was sick of a Pleurisy at another time was by the H. man restored to health Faustina Capozucchia the Wife of Domitius Cecchinus having been with Child now seven Moneths fell into such a violent sickness that after twenty two days she seemed past all hope of cure The Servant of God coming to her lifts up his Eyes to heaven and lays his right hand on her forehead saying Lord I will have the Soul of this Child I will not be denied it Lord and so went away By and by he returnes and saying the same words again departs Mean-time Faustina was brought abed of a Daughter which being Regenerate by Baptisme both It and the Mother after died Olympia Trojana lay for dead in the throws of a hard travell her Servants all bewailing her and there remaining no expectancy of aid from men she made Philip be sent for whom she reverenced for his Holiness having heard of the many Miracles done by him The H. man pitying her and especially that the Infant might not dy unbaptized mâ—de hast to her and being come into the Room having prayed he only laid his hand on her and went away Being gone the woman had a very quick delivery and was well the Child also beâ—ng Christened was added to the Number of the Heavenly Quire Ersilia formerly spoken of was strongly conceited she should dy of the Child she then went with wherein she was so peremptory that none could perswade her out of her opinion Being much perplexed about it as she was going out of the Church one day she light upon Philip who said softly to her See what a silly Woman fancieth to her self and laying his hand on her bade her hope well and immediately she became chearfull left grieving and in a few days after had a very easy Labour Besides divers others by the Prayers of Philip became joyfull Mothers of Children which are here omitted Yet may it not be passed over that though Philip used to crave Temporall Blessings of â—od under a Condition he would say absolutely in the case of Women in Childbirth Lord I will have this granted me namely that these Infants which are to be born be likewise Born anew by H. Baptisme He was wont also that the Miraculous effects done daily by him at the Labour of Women through the Blessing of God might not be ascribed to his Merits to carry about with him a certain Pouch very helpfull to Women in Travell saying that there were Reliques in it and that he never applied it to any in Childbirth but it availed much either to the Mother or the Child Cleria Bonarda the Wife of Claudius Neri had always very difficult Labours and being near her time she was exceeding fearfull Her Labour coming on her Philip sent her that Bag which she devoutly applying had so easy a Delivery that she scarce knew she was brought abed The like is reported of many more When the B. Father was dead some of his Sons desirous to see what was in that Pouch pulled forth a great many Beads but found nothing at all save a Handkerchief in the middle of which was a little Cross wrought with purple Silk and a small Medall of S. Helen's such as they use to hang about Childrens necks Whereby they perceived that the Holy Man carried it to Travelling Women to the end they might not attribute as is said the Miracles to him but to those Holy and Sacred Reliques FINIS The Testimony of CARDINAL BARONIUS concerning PHILIP NERI Lib. Annal. Tom. 8. after the Dedicatory Epistle to CLEMENT VIII FOr what concerns the first Originall and progress of my writing the Ecclesiasticall Annalls I have as yet scarce had the freedome to glance at some few particulars and those rather hudled up in obscurity than manifestly declared forasmuch as He of whom we were to speak was then alive who not only contemned but professedly opposed whatsoever tended to his own praise He having since exchanged Earth for Heaven our discourse now disengaged of those ties then upon it may freely traverse the spaces of that most copious subject the Munificence and Favours received from Him Indeed we are often admonished in Holy Scripture that in generall whatsoever prosperity or happiness befalls the Children is all of it to be ascribed unto the Parents particularly in that signall Blessing which the Grand Patriarch Jacob bestowed on Joseph among other oracular truths contained therein Sedit in forti arcus ejus c. His Bow abode in strength and the bands Gen. 49. 24. of his arms and of his hands were broke asunder by the hands of the mighty Jacob from thence went forth the Shepheard the Stone of Israell Seeing therefore all Josephs felictiy is attributed to the puissant hand of Jacob who not only was far distant but had already wept for him as one dead and bewailed him as slain what may we say of this Father who being present and assistant unto all first in his Apostolicall spirit travelled oftimes of us again and checking our younger years with the reins of government restrained the precipitancy of that in constant age Gal. 4. 19. which hurries fast to ruine till he made the untamed Ass-colt obedient Matt. 21. 2. to the Laws of God and fit for Christ to back But in regard we are many ways deeply obliged unto him let this publike Thanksgiving remain as a perpetuall and lasting Monument ever living ever speaking for him at leastwise touching whatever appertains to compiling the Annalls which we have now in hand He being the sole Author of all our pains and labour undertaken therein For by the oft-redoubled commands of this our Father did we adventure on so difficult a work and however loth and unwilling as distrusting our own strengths undertook it