that he wolde not reiect his poore gifte the holy man toke the middle waye and yelded so to the soldiars request that yet he wolde not take any rewarde for the doinge of that miracle for he gaue him first so muche money as the horse was worth and then receiued him for perceiuing that the soldiar wolde haue bene grieued yf he had refused his courteous offer vpon charity he boughte that whereof he had then no nede Neither must I passe ouer with silence that which I hearde almost twelue daies since for a certaine poore olde man was broughte vnto me because I loued alwaies to talke with such kinde of men of whom I inquired his countrye and vnderstandinge that he was of the citye of Tuderti I asked him whether he knewe the good olde father Bishoppe Fortunatus to which he answered that he knewe him and that very well Then I beseche you quoth I tell me whether you knowe of any miracles which he did and because I am very desirous let me vnderstande what manner of man he was This man quoth he vvas far different from all those vvhich liue in our daies for he obtayned at Gods handes vvhatsoeuer he requested One of his miracles vvhich commeth to my minde I vvill novve tell you Certaine Gothes vpon a daye trauailing not far from the citye of Tuderti as they vvere in thiere iorny to Rauenna carried avvay vvith them tvvo little boies from a place vvhich belonged to the saide citye Nevves hereof being broughte to the holy Bishop Fortunatus he sent straight vvaies desiryng those Gothes to com vnto him to vvhom he spake very courteouslye being vvilling by faire speche to pacifye thâ—ere fierce cruel natures and aftervvarde tolde them that they sholde haue vvhat money they desired so they vvolde make restitution of the children and therfore I beseche you quoth he gratifye my request in this thinge Then he vvhich semed to be the chiefe of theÌ„ tvvo told him that vvhatsoeuer els he commanded they vvere readye to performe but as for the boies by no means they wolde let them goe To whom the venerable man threatninge in sweete sort spake vnto him in this manner You grieue me good sonne to see that you will not be ruled by your father but giue me not any such cause of griefe for it is not good that you do But for all this the Gothe continewing still harde harted denied his request and so went his waye yet comminge againe the next day the holy man renued his former sute concerninge the children but when he sawe that by no means he colde perswade him in sorrowfull manner he spake thus well I knowe that it is not goode for you to depart in this manner and leaue me thus afflicted But the Goth not esteming his wordes returned to his inne sett those children on horsebacke and sent them before with his seruantes and straighte wayes him selfe tooke horse and followed after and as he was ridinge in the same citye by the churche of S. Peter the Apostle DedicatioÌ„ of churches to Sainctes his horse stumbling fell downe and brake his thighe in suche sorte that the bone was quite a sunder vp was he taken and carried backe againe to his Inne who in all hast sent after his seruantes and caused the boies to be broughte backe againe Then he sent one to venerable Fortunatus with this message I beseche you father to sende vnto me your deacon who when he was come vnto him lying in his bedde he made those boies which before vpon no entreaty he wolde restore to be broughte forth and deliuered them to him sayinge Go and tell my Lord the Bishop Beholde you haue cursed me I am punnished but I haue nowe sent you those children which before you required take them and I beseche you to pray for me The deacon receiued the children and carried them to the Bishop wherevpon the holy manforth with gaue his deacon some holy water sayinge Goe quickelye and cast it vpon him where he lieth who went his waye and comminge to the Goth he sprinckled all his bodye with holy water and o A miracle wroughte by holy water strange and admirable thinge the holy water no soner touched his thighe but all the rupture was so healed and him selfe so perfectly restored to his former helthe that he forsook his bed that verye houre tooke his horse vvent on his iornye as thoughe he had neuer bene hurte at all and thus it fell out that he vvhich refused for money and vpon obedience to restore the children was by punnishemeÌ„t enforced to do it for nothinge When the olde man had tolde me this strange storye ready he vvas to procede vnto other but because I vvas at that tyme to make an exhortation to somâ— that expected me and the day vvas vvell speÌ„te I coulde not at that tyme heare any more of the notable actes of venerable Fortunatus and yet yf I might neuer vvolde I do any thing els then giue eare to such excellent stories The next day the same olde man reported a thinge far more wonderfull for he saide that in the same citye of Tuderti there dwelt a good vertuous man called Marcellus togither with two of his sisters who fallinge sicke somwhat late vpon Easter euen departed this life and because he was to be caried far of he coulde not be buried that daye His sisters hauinge now longer respit for his buriall with heauie hartes ranne weeping vnto the Bishop where they began to cry out aloud in this manner we knowe that thow leadest an Apostolicall life that thou doest heale leapers restore sighte to the blinde come therfore we beseche you and raise vp our deade brother The venerable man hearinge of theire brothers deathe began him selfe likewise to weepe desired them to departe and not to make any suche petition vnto him for it is our Lordes pleasure quoth he vvhich no man can resist vvhen they vvere gone the Bishoppe continued still sad and sorovvfull for the goode mans deathe and the next day being the solemne â—east of Easter verye earlye in the morninge he went with two of his deacons to Marcellus house and comminge to the place where his deade bodye laye he fell to his praiers and when he had made an ende he rose vp and satt dovvne by the corps and with a lovve voice called the dead man by his name sayinge Brother Marcellus whereat as thoughe he had bene lightely a slepe and awaked with that voice he rose vp opened his eies and lokinge vpon the Bishop saide O what haue you done o what haue you done to whom the Bishop answered sayinge what haue I done Marye quoth he Yesterdaye there came two vnto me discharged my soule out of my body and carried me awaye to a goode place and this day one was sent who bad them carry me backe againe bycause Bishop Fortunatus was gone to myne house And vvhen he had spoken these wordes straighte waies he recouered of his sicknes
arme to strike of his head but by no meanes coulde he bring it downe againe for it became suddainly so stiffe that it remained still aboue the man being not able once to bende it downewarde Then all the Lombardes who came to feede theire eies with the lamentable sighte of his death began with admiration to praise Gods name and with feare to reuerence the man of God for they now sawe apparantlye of what great holines he was that did so miraculouslye staye the arme of his executioner aboue in the ayre Then they desired him to rise vp which he did but when they required him to restore his executioners arme to his former state he vtterly refused sayinge By no meanes will I once pray for him vnlesse before hande he sweare vnto me that he will neuer vvith that arme offer to kill any christian more The poore Lombarde vvho as vve may truly saye had stretched out his arme against God enforced vvith this necessitye tooke an oath neuer more to putt any Christian to death Then the man of God commanded him to putt downe his arme which forthwith he did he commanded him also to putt vp his sworde which in like manner he performed All the Lombardes by this perceiuing him to be a man of rare vertue began in all hast to present him with the giftes of such oxen and other cattle as before they had taken from others but the man of God vtterly refused all such kinde of presentes desiringe them rather yf they ment to bestowe any thinge vpon him worth the giuinge that they wolde deliuer vnto him all such prisoners as they had in theire keeping that he mighte haue some cause in his praiers to commend them to almighty God To which request of his they condescended and so all the poore captiues were discharged and thus by Gods sweete prouidence one offering him selfe to dy for an other manye were deliuered from death Peter A strange thinge it was and althoughe I haue hearde the same story by the relation of others yet I can not denye but so often as I heare it repeated it seemeth still vnto me as thoughe it were freshe newes Gregory There is no cause why you sholde admire Sanctulus for this thing but ponder with your selfe if you can what manner of spirit that was which possessed his simple soule and did aduaunce it to so highe a perfection of vertue For where was his minde when he offered him selfe with such constancye to dy for his neighbour and to saue the temporall life of his brother contemned his owne and put his heade vnder the executioners sworde what force of true loue did then harbor in that hart when he nothinge feared death to preserue the life of an other Ignorant I am not that this venerable man Sanctulus could scant reade well and that he knewe not the preceptes of the lawe yet because charitye is the fulfilling of the lawe by louing God and his neighbour he kept the whole lawe and that which outwardlye lacked in knowledge did in wardlie by charity liue in his soule And he perhappes who neuer read that which S. Iohne the Apostle saide of our Sauiour to witt that as he Ioan. 13. v. 16. yeelded his life for vs so we likewise shold yeeld our liues for our brethren yet that great highe precept of the Apostle he knewe more by action then by speculation Let vs here yf you please compare his learned ignorance with our vnlearned knowledge Where our kinde of 〈…〉 inge is nothing worth his is of 〈…〉 t price and estimation we destit◠〈…〉 vertue doe speake thereof and as 〈…〉 vere in the middes of plentifull 〈…〉 s smell of the fruite but do not 〈…〉 e thereof He knewe full well 〈…〉 we to gather and tast of the fruite 〈…〉 elfe althoughe he lacked the smell 〈…〉 wordes and vaine speeche Peter What I pray doe you thincke is the 〈…〉 ause that goode men are still taken 〈…〉 vvaye and such as for the benefit and 〈…〉 dification of many might liue still in this vvorlde either are not to be founde at all or at least verye fevve can be hearde of Gregory The malice and vvickednes of them that remayne behinde in the vvorlde deserueth that those shoulde quickly be taken avvaye vvho by theire life mighte much helpe vs and for as much as the vvorlde dravveth tovvardes an end Gods chosen seruantes are taken out of it that they fall not into more vvicked tymes and therfore from hence it commeth that the prophet saith The iust man doth perish and there is Esay 5. none that doth ponder it in his hart and men of mercye are gathered together because there is none that hath vnderstandinge And from hence also it proceedeth that the scripture saith Open ye that they may goe forth Ierem. 50. which doe tread it vnder foote Hence likewise it is that Salomon saith There is a Eccles 3. time of casting stones abroad and a tyme of gathering them together And therfore the nerer that the worlde draweth to an end so much the more necessary it is that the liuing stones shold be gathered together for the heauenly building that our celestiall Ierusalem may arriue to the full measure of his whole perfection And yet doe I not thincke that all Gods elect seruaÌ„tes are so taken out of the worlde that none but the wicked remayne behinde for synners wolde neuer be conuerted to the sorrowe of true penance yf they had not the examples of some goode people to prouoke them forwarde Peter Without cause doe I complaine of the death oâ—goode men wheÌ„ as daily I see them also that be wicked in great numbers to depart this life OF THE VISION OF REdemptus Bisshop of the city of Ferenti CHAPTER XXXVIII Gregory VVOnder nothing at this Peter for you knevve very vvell Redemptus Bishop of the city of Ferenti a man of venerable life vvho died almost seuen yeares since vvith vvhom I had familiar acquaintance by reason that he dvvelt not far from the Abbey in vvhich I liued This man vvhen I asked him for the matter vvas very vvell knovvne far and nere tolde me that vvhich by diuine reuelation he had learned concerning the ende of the vvorlde in the tyme of Ioâ—â—e the yonger vvho vvas my prededecessor For he saide that vpon a certaine daye as he vvas according to his manner visiting of his Diocesse he came to the Church of the blessed martir Euthicius and vvhen it vvas nigh the vvolde nedes be lodged nighe to the sepulchre of the martir vvhere after his trauail he â—eposed him selfe About midnighte being as he saide him selfe neither perfectly waking nor yet sleeping but rather heauy of sleepe he felt his waking soule oppressed with great sorrowe and being in that case he sawe the same blessed martir Euthicius standing before him who spake thus Art thou waking Redemptus to whom he answered that he was Then the martir saide The end of all fleshe is come the
Ferenti CHAPTER IX Gregory A Man of holye life there vvas called Bonifacius Bishop of the city of Ferenti one that vvith his vertuous conuersation did vvel discharge his dutye Many miracles he did vvhich Gaudentius the priest vvho yet liueth doth still reporte and seinge he vvas broughte vp vnder him no question but by reason of that his presence he is able to tell all thinges the more truelye His Bishopricke was passing poore a thinge which to goode men is the preseruer of humilitye for he had nothinge els for his reuenues but only one vineyarde which was also aâ— one tyme so spoiled with a teÌ„pest of haile that very fewe grapes did remayne Bonifacius comminge in seing vvhat vvas happened gaue God great thanckes for that he had sent him further pouertye to his former necessity And when the tyme came that those fewe grapes which remayned were ripe he appointed one accordinge to the custome to keepe his vineyard commaÌ„dinge him carefully to looke well vnto it And vpon a certaine daye he willed Constantius who both was a Priest and his nephewe to make ready as before they were wont to do al the barrels and wine vessels they had which thinge vvhen his nephevve the Priest vnderstoode he maruailed much to heare him commande so mad a thinge as to make ready the vessels for wine him selfe hauinge no wine at all to put in yet durst he not inquire the reason why he gaue that charge but did as he commanded and made all the vessels other thinges ready as before they had alwaies vsed to doe TheÌ„ the man of God caused the poore remnaunt of grapes to be gathered and carried to the vvine-presse and dispatching all others awaye him selfe tarried there still with a little boy whom he commanded to treade those grapes and vvhen he perceiued that a little vvine began to runne forth the man of God toke it and put it into a little vessell and powred somwhat thereof into all the other barrels vessels whiche were made ready as it were to blesse them with that little quantitye when he had so done he called straighte waies for the Priest commanding him to sende for the poore vpon whose comminge the wine in the presse began to increase runne out so plentifully that it did fill all the pottes and other vessels which they broughte WheÌ„they were all serued he bad the boy to leaue treadinge and come downe then locking vp the store house into which he had put his owne vessels and setting his owne seale vpon the dore to the churche he went and three daies after he called for Constantius and hauing saide a fewe praiers he opened the dore where he founde all the vessels into which he had before poured but a very little liquor worckinge so plentifully that yf he had not then come they had al runne ouer â—nto the floore Then he straightly commanded the priest his kinseman not to reueale this miracle to any so longe as he liued fearinge least by meanes thereof the outwarde opinion of men mighte throughe vaine glorye inwardly haue hurte his soule followinge therein the example of our master Christe who to teache vs to walke in the pathe of humilitye commanded his disciples concerninge him selfe not to tell any what they had sene vntill the sonne of man was risen againe from death Peter Bycause fitt occasion is now offered desirous I am to knowe what the reason was that when our Sauiour restored sighte vnto two blinde mene and commanded them to tell no bodye yet they after theire departure made him knowne throughout al that countrye For had the only begotten sonne of God who is coeternal to his father and the holy Ghost a desire herein to do that which he coulde not performe to witt that the miracle which he wolde haue kept secret colde not yet be concealed Gregory All that which our blessed Sauiour wroughte in his mortall body he did it for our example and instruction to th ende that followinge his stoppes accordinge to our poore abilitye we mighte without offence passe ouer this present life and therfore when he did that miracle he both commanded them to conceale it and yet it cold not be kept in al this to teache â—is elect seruantes to followe his doctrine to witt that when they do any notable thinge whereof glorye may arise to them selues that they shoulde haue a desire not to be spoken of and yet for the goode of others contrary to theire owne minde they sholde be laide open knowne so that it procede of theire great humility to desire that theire worcks may be buried with silence yet for the profit of others it sholde fall so out that they can not be concealed Wherfore our Lorde wolde not haue any thinge done which he could not effect but what his seruaÌ„tes ought to desire and what also conâ—rary to theire mindes was conuenient to be done like a good master he taughte vs by his owne example Peter I am verye well satissied with this your answere Gregory For as much as we haue now made mention of Bonifacius let vs prosecute a fewe more of his actes not yet spoken of Aâ—an other tyme vpon the feast daye of S. Proculus the martir one Feast daies of saâ—inctes Fortunatus a noble man that dwelt in that towne did hartily entreat the Bishop that after he had done the soleÌ„nitye of masse he wolde voutsafe to Saying of masse come vnto his house to bles his meate dine with him The man of God was content to satisfye his request so charitably was he inuited and therfor wheÌ„ masse vvas done he vveÌ„t thither but before the table was yet blest suddainly as som meÌ„ by such meanes get theire liuinge one cam to the gate vvith an ape vvho begaÌ„ to playe vpon an instrument vvhich the holy man hearing vvas discontented and saide Alas alas this vvretched man is deade this vvretched man is deade Beholde I am come hither to dinner and haue not yet opeÌ„d my lippes to prayse God and he is here vvith his ape playing vpon his instrument Then he desired them to giue him some meate and drincke yet I wolde haue yow knowe quoth he that he is a deade man when the vnhappy wretche had filled him selfe and was going out at the gate a great stone fell from the house and brake his heade Of which blowe he fell downe and was taken vp halfe deade and being caried away the nexte day as the man of God had before said he departed this life wherein Peter we haue to consider how holy men are with feare to be reuerenced for they no question be the temples of God and when an holy man is enforced to anger who is then moued but he that dwelleth in that temple wherfor we haue so much the more cause to feare how we prouoke such kinde of persons to wrath seing we knowe that he is present in theire soules who hath power and mighte sufficient to inflict what
tooke order that regular life sholde be obserued so that none of theÌ„ could as before they vsed throughe vnlawful actes decline from the pathe of holy coÌ„uersation either on the one side or on the other which the moÌ„kes perceiuinge they fell into a great rage accusinge theÌ„ selues that euer they desired hiÌ„ to be thiere Abbot seeing thiere crooked coÌ„ditions coulde not eÌ„dure his vertuous kinde of gouernmeÌ„t therfore vvhen they savve that vnder him they coulde not liue in vnlawfull sort were loth to leaue thiere former coÌ„uersation and founde it hard to be in forced with olde mindes to meditate thincke vpon nevve thinges and because the life of vertuous men is alwaies grieuous to those that be of wicked conditions some of them begane to deuise hovve they mighte ridd him out of the vvaye and therfore taking counsel togither they agreed to poison his vvine vvhich being done and the glasse wherein that wine was accordinge to the custome offered to the Abbot to blesse he putting forth his haÌ„de made the signe of the crosse straighte A miracle by the signe of che crosse waye the glasse that was holden far of brake in peces as thoughe the signe of the crosse had bene a stone throwne against it vpoÌ„ which accideÌ„t the maÌ„ of God by by perceiued that the glasse had in it the drincke of death which coulde not indure the signe of life and thersore risinge vp with a milde countenance and quiet minde he called the monkes togither and spake thus vnto them Almightye God haue mercye vpon you and forgiue you why haue you vsed me in this manner did not I tell you before hande that our manner of liuinge coulde neuer agree togither Goe your waies and seeke ye out some other father sutable to your owne conditions for I in tende not nowe to staye anye longer a mongest you when he had thus discharged him selfe he returned back to the wildernes which so muche he loued and dwelt alone with him selfe in the fighte of his creator who beholdeth the hartes of all men Peter I vnderstande not very well what you meane when you saye that he dwelt with him selfe Gregory Yf the holy man had longer contrary to his owne minde contine wed his gouernement ouer those monkes who had all conspired against him and were far vnlike to him in life and conuersation perhappes he sholde haue diminished his owne deuotion and somwhat withdrawne the eies of his soule from the lighte of contemplation and being wearied dailye with correcting of thiere faultes he sholde haue had the lesse care of him selfe and so haply it mighte haue fallen out that he sholde both haue lost him selfe and yet not founde them for so often as by infectious motion we are caried too far from our selues vve remaine the same men that vve vvere before and yet be not vvith our selues as vve vvere before because vve ar wandringe about other mens affaires little consideringe and lookinge into the state of our ovvne soule For shall vve saye that he vvas vvith him selfe vvho vvent into a far countrye and after he had as vve reade in the Gospell Luc. 15. prodigally spent that portion vvhich he receiued of his father was glad to serue a citizen to keepe his hogges and vvolde willinglye haue filled his hungrye belly with the huskes which they did eate who notwithstanding afterwarde when he thought with him selfe of those goodes which he had lost it is written of him that returninge into him selfe he saide How manye hired men in my fathers house do abounde with breade Yf then before he were with him selfe from whence did he returne home vnto him selfe and therfore I saide that this venerable man did dwell with him selfe because carryinge him selfe circumspectlye and carefully in the sighte of his creator alwaies consideringe his owne actions alwaies examininge him selfe neuer did he turne the eies of his soule from him selfe to beholde oughte els whatsoeuer Peter Why then is it vvritten of the Apostle S. Peter after he vvas by the Angel deliuered out of prison that returninge to him selfe he said Now I knowe verilye Act. 12. that our Lord hath sent his Angel and hath deliuered me from the hande of Herod and from all the expectation of the people of the Iewes Gregory We are two manner of waies Peter caried out of our selues for either we fall vnder our selues by sinfull cogitation or els we are by the grace of contemplation lifted aboue our selues for he that kept hoggeâ— through waÌ„dringe of his minde vncleane thouâ—â—tes fell vnder him selfe But he whom the Angell deliuered out of prison being also rapt by the Angell into an ecstasye vvas in truthe out of him selfe but yet aboue him selfe Both of them therfore did returne vnto them selues the one vvhen he recollected him selfe and forsoke his levvde kinde of life and the other from the top of contemplation to haue that vsuall iudgement and vnderstanding vvhich before he had wherfore venerable Bennet in that solitary wildernes dwelt with him selfe because he kept him selfe and retired his cogitations within the closet of his owne soule for when the greatnes of contemplation rapt him vp alofte out of all question he did then leaue him selfe vnder him selfe Peter Your discourse doth very well conteÌ„t me yet I beseeche you to answere me this questioÌ„ whether he coulde in conscience giue ouer those monkes whose gouernment he had now taken vpon him Gregory In myne opinion Peter euill men may with goode conscience be tollerated in that coÌ„munitye where there be some good that may be holpen and reape commoditye But where there be none goode at all that may receiue spiritual profitt often tymes all labour is lost that is bestowed in bringing of such to good order especially if other occasions be offered of doing God presently better seruice els where for whose goode then shoulde the holye man haue expected seing them all to persecute him with one consent and that which is not to be passed ouer with silence those that be perfect carry alwaies this minde that when they perceiue thiere labor to be fructelesse in one place to remoue straighte to an other where more goode may be done And for this cause that notable preacher of the worlde who was desirous to be dissolued and to be with Christe vnto whom to liue is Christe and to Philip. 1. cap. v. 21. dye is gaine and who not only desired him selfe to suffer persecution but did also animate and incourgae others to suffer the same yet being him selfe in persecution at Damascus got a rope and a basket to passe ouer the wall and was priuily let downe what then shall we saye that Paul was affraide of death when as him selfe said that he desired it for Christes sake not so but when he perceiued that in that place little good vvas to be done by great labour he reserued him selfe to further labour where more fruit and better successe mighte be
of thine Riggo hearinge this fell straighte waies downe to the grounde and was very muche affraide for presuminge to go aboute to mocke so vvorthye a man and all his attendantes and seruitours fell dovvne likevvise to the earthe and after they vvere vp againe they durst not approche any nerer to his presence but returned backe to thiere kinge rellinge him vvith feare hovve quickely they vvere discouered HOVV VENERABLE BENNET prophecied to kinge Totilas and also to the Bisshop of Camisina such thinges as were afterward to fall out CHAPTER XV. THen Totilas him selfe in person vvent vnto the man of God and seeinge him sitting a far of he durst not come nere but fell dovvne to the grounde vvhom the holy man speaking to him tvvise or thrise desired to rise vp and at length came vnto him and vvith his ovvne handes lifte him vp from the earth vvhere he lay prostrat and then entring into talke he reprehended him for his vvicked deedes and in fewe vvordes tolde him all that vvhich sholde befall him sayinge Muche vvickednes doe you daily committe and many great sinnes haue you done nowe at length giue ouer your sinfull life In to the citye of Rome shall you enter and ouer the sea shall you passe nine yeres shall you raigne and in the tenth shall you leaue this mortall life The kinge hearinge these thinges was wonderfully affraâ—de and desiring the holy man to commend him to God in his praiers he de parted and from that tyme forwarde he was nothing so cruell as before he had bene Not long after he went to Rome sailed ouer into Sicily and in the tenthe yere of his raigne he lost his kingdome together with his life The Bishop also of Camisina vsed to visit the seruaunt of God whom the holy man derely loued for his vertuous life The Bishop therfore talkinge with him of kinge Totilas of his takinge of Rome and the destruction of that citye saide This citye wiâ—l be so spoiled and ruyned by him that it will neuer be more in habited To whom the man of God answered Rome quoth he shall not be vtterly destroied by strangers but shall be so shaken with teÌ„pestes lightninges whirlwindes earth quakes that it will fall to decay He semeth to speake of the inuasion of the Lombardes se the third booke cha xxxviij of it selfe The mysteries of which prophecy we nowe beholde as clere as the daye for we see before our eyes in this verye citye by a strange whirlwinde the world shaken houses ruined and churches ouerthrowne and buildinges rotten with old age we beholde daily to fall downe True it is that Honoratus by whose relation I had this saith not that he receiued it from his owne mouthe but that he had it of other monkes which did heare it them selues OF A CERTAINE CLERGY man whom venerable Bennet for a tyme deliuered from a deuil CHAPTER XVI AT the same tyme a certaine clergye man that serued in the churche Pilgrimage to the tombes of martirs Martirs often help suche as be deuout vnto them of Aquinum was possessed whom the venerable man Constantius Bishope of the same citye sent vnto many places of holy martirs for helpe but Gods holy martirs wolde not deliuer him to the end that the worlde mighte knowe what great grace was in the seruante of God Bennet wherfore at lengthe he was broughte vnto him who prayinge for helpe to Iesus Christ our Lorde did forthwith cast the olde enemye out of the possessed mans bodye giuing him this charge Go your way and hereafter abstaine from eating AbstineÌ„ce from slesh of flesh and presume not to enter into holy orders for when soeuer you shall attempt any such thinge the deuil againe will haue power ouer you The man departed safe and sounde and because punnishement freshe in memorye vseth to terrifye the mynde he obserued for a tyme what the man of God had giuen him in commandement But after many yeres when all his seniors were deade and he sawe his iuniors preferred before him to holy orders he neglected the wordes of the man of God as thoughe forgotten through lengthe of tyme and tooke vpon him holy orders wherevpon straightewaies the deuill that before had lefte him entred againe and neuer gaue ouer to torment him vntill he had seperated his soule from his bodye Peter This holy man as I perceiue did knowe the secret counsell of God for he sawe that this clergye man was deliuered to the power of the deuill to the end he should not presume to enter into holy orders Gregory Why sholde he not knowe the secretes of God who kept the commandements of God when as the scripture saithe He that cleaueth vnto our Lorde is one 1. Corint 6. spirit with him Peter Yf he that cleaueth vnto our Lorde be one spirit with our Lorde what is the meaninge of that vvhich the Apostle saithe VVho knoweth the sence of Rom. 11. our Lorde or who hath bene his counsellor for it semeth very inconuenient to be ignorant of his sence to vvhom being so vnited he is made one thinge Gregory Holy men in that they be one with our Lord are not ignoraÌ„t of his sence for the same Apostle saithe for what 1. Cor. 2. man knoweth those thinges which belonge to man but the spirit of man which is in him Euen so the thinges which belonge to God no man knoweth but the spirit of God and to showe also that he knewe such thinges as belonge to God he addeth straighte after But we Ibidem haue not receiued the spirit of this worlde but the spirit which is of God And for this cause againe he saithe that eye hath not sene Ibidem nor eare hearde nor it hath ascended into the harte of man those thinges which God hath prepared for them that loue him but God hathe reuealed to vs by his spirit Peter Yf then the mysteries of God were reuealed to the same Apostle by the spirit of God why did he then entreatinge of this question set downe these wordes before hande sayinge O the depthe of the riches of the wisdom and Rom. 11. knowledge of God how incomprehensible be his iudgements and his waies inuestigable And againe whiles I am thus speaking of this matter an other question commeth to my minde for the prophet Dauid saith to our Lorde with my lippes Psal 118. haue I vttered all the iudgementes of thy mouth Wherfore seeinge it is lesse to knowe then to vtter what is the reason that S. Paul affirmeth the iudgements of God to be incomprehensible and yet Dauid saith that he did not only knowe them but also with his lippes pronounce them Gregory To both these questions I haue already briefely answered when I saide that holy men in that they be one with our Lorde are not ignorant of the sence of our Lorde For all suche as do deuoutly followe our Lorde be also by deuotion one with our Lorde and yet sor all this
in that they are laden with the burthen of thiere corruptible fleshe theye be not with God and so in that they be ioyned with him they knowe the secret iudgements of God and in that they be separated from God they knowe them not for seeing they do not as yet perfectly penetrate his secret mysteries they giue testimony that his iudgements be incomprehensible But those that do vvith thiere soule adhere vnto him and cleauing vnto the sayinges of the holy scripture or to secret reuelations acknovvledge vvhat they receiue such persons both knovve these thinges and do vtter them for those iudgemētes vvhich God doth conceale they knovve not and those vvhich he doth vtter they knovve therfore the prophet Dauid vvhen he had saide I haue with my lippes vttered all the iudgements he addeth immediatly of thy mouthe as thoughe he sholde plainely saye Those iudgemēts Psal 118. I maye both knovve and vtter vvhich I knevve thovve diddest speake for those thinges vvhich thovve doest not speake vvithout all questiō thovv doest conceale from our knovvledge Wherfor the sayinge of Dauid and S. Paul agree together for the iudgemēts of God are incomprehensible and yet those vvhiche him selfe vvith his ovvne mouthe vouchesafeth to speake are vttered vvith mens tongues because men maye come to the knovvledg of them beinge reuealed they may be vttered and by no meanes can be kept secret Gregory Novve I see the ansvvere to my question But I praye you to procede yf any thinge yet remaineth to be tolde of his vertue and miracles HOVV THE MAN OF GOD BENnet did foretell the suppression of one of his owne Abbeyes CHAPTER XVII Gregory A Certaine noble man called Theoprobus vvas by the goode counsell of holy Bennet conuerted vvho for his vertue and merit of life vvas verie intrinsecall and familiar vvith him This man vpon a daye comminge into his cell founde him vveepinge verye bitterlye And hauinge expected a good vvhile and yet not seeing him to make an ende for the man of God vsed not in his praiers to vveepe but rather to be sadd he demanded the cause of that his so great heauines to vvhom he ansvvered straightevvaye sayinge Al this Abbey which I haue builte and all suche thinges as I haue made ready for my brethren are by the iudgement of almighty God deliuered to the gentils to be spoiled and ouerthrowne and scarse coulde I obtaine of God to haue thiere liues spared that shold then liue in it His wordes Theoprobus then heard but we see them to be proued most true who knowe that very Abbey to be nowe suppressed by the Lombardes For not longe since in the nighte tyme when the monkes were a sleepe they entred in and spoiled al thinges but yet not one mā coulde they retaine there and so almighty God fulfilled what he promised to his faithfull seruant for thoughe he gaue them the house and all the goods yet did he preserue thiere liues In which thinge I see that Bennet imitated Act. 21. S. Paul whose shipp thoughe it lost all the goodes yet for his comforte he had the liues of all that were in his company bestowed vpon him so that no one man was cast awaye HOVV BLESSED BENNET knewe the hidinge awaye of a flag on of wine CHAPTER XVIII VPon a certaine tyme Exhilaratus our monke a lay brother whom you knowe was sent by his master to the monastery of the man of God to carry him two wooden bottles commonly called flagons full of wine who in the waye as he was goinge hidd one of them in a bushe for him selfe and presented the other to venerable Bennet who tooke it very thāckefullye and when the man was going awaye he gaue him this warninge Take hede my sonne quoth he that thowe drinckest not of that flagon which thow hast hidden in the bushe but first be careful to boowe it downe and thowe shalt finde what is with in it the poore man thus pitifully confounded by the man of God went his waye and comminge backe to the place where the flagon was hidden and desirous to try the truthe of that vvas told him as he vvas boovvinge it dovvne a snake straighte wayes leaped forth Then Exhilaratus perceiuinge vvhat vvas gotten into the vvyne began to be affraide of that vvickednes which he had committed HOVV THE MAN OF GOD knewe that one of his monkes had receiued certaine handkerchefs CHAPTER XIX NOt far from his Abbey there vvas a village in vvhich very many men had by the sermons of Bennet bene conuerted from idolatrye to the true faithe of Christe Certaine Nunnes also there were in the same towne to whom he did often sende some of his monkes to preache vnto them for the goode of thiere soules Vpon a daye one that was sent after he had made an ende of his exhortation by the entreaty of the Nunnes tooke certaine small napkins and hid them for his owne vse in his bosome whom vpon his returne to the Abbey the man of God verye sharpely rebuked sayinge Howe commeth it to passe brother that synne is entred into your bosome At which wordes the monke was much amazed for he had quite forgotten what he had putt there and therfore knevve not any cause why he sholde deserue that reprehension wherevpon the holy man spake to him in playne termes and saide was not I present when you tooke the hand-kercheffes of the Nunnes and put them vp in your bosome for your ovvne priuat vse The monke hearing this fell dovvne at his feete and vvas sory that he had behaued him selfe so indiscretly forth he drevve those napkins from his bosome and thre vve them all avvaye HOVV HOLY BENNET KNEVVE the proude thoughte of one of his monkes CHAPTER XX. VPon a tyme vvhiles the venerable Father vvas at supper one of his monke vvho vvas the sonne of a greate man helde the candle and as he vvas standing there and the other at his meate he began to entertayne a proude cogitation in his minde and to speake thus within him selfe who is he that I thus waite vpon at supper and holde him the candle and who am I that I shold do him any such seruice Vpon which thoughte straighte wayes the holy man turned him selfe and with seuere reprehension spake thus vnto him Signe your harte brother for what is it that you say signe your harte and forthwith he called an other of the monkes and bad him take the candle out of his handes and commanded him to giue ouer his waitinge and to repose him selfe who being demanded of the monkes what it was that he thoughte tolde them how in Yf Saintes in mortal flesh may knowe the thoughtes of our harte much more the immortal Saintes in heauen wardelye he swelled with pride and what he spake against the man of God secretlye in his owne harte Then they all sawe verye well that nothinge coulde be hidden from venerable Bēnet seeinge the verye sounde of mens inwarde thoughtes came vnto his
reprochefull wordes they â—ntreated him where vpon he sent them by and by this message sayinge Amende your tongues otherwise I do excommunicat you which sentence of excommunication notwithstandinge he did not then presentlye pronounce against them but only threatened yf they amended not them selues But they for all this chaÌ„ged thiere conditions nothing at all both which not longe after departed this life and were buried in the churche and vvhen Solemne mass solemne masse was celebrated in the same churche and the Deacon accordinge to custome saide with lowde voice yf any there be that do not communicate let them departe the nurse which vsed to giue vnto our Lorde an Offring for the dead offringe for them behelde them at that tyme to rise out of thiere graues to depart the churche Hauing often tymes at those vvordes of the Deacon sene them leaue the churche and that they could not tarry within she remeÌ„bred what message the man of God sent them whâ—les they were yet aliue For he tolde them that he did depriue them of the communion vnlesse they did amende theire tongues and conditions Then with great sorrowe the whole matter was signified to the maÌ„ of God who straight-waies with his owne handes gaue an oblation saying Go your waies and cause this to be offered Oblation for the deade vnto our Lorde for them and they shall not remayne any longer excommunicat which oblation beinge offered for them the Deacon as he vsed crying out that such as did not communicate shold departe they were not sene any more to go out of the churche whereby it was certaine that seeinge they did not departe with theÌ„ which did not communicate that they had receiued the communion of our Lorde by the handes of his seruant Peter It is very straunge that you report for howe coulde he thoughe a venerable and most holy man yet liuinge in mortall body loose those soules which stoode nowe before the inuisible iudgement of God Gregory Was he not yet Peter mortall that hearde from our Sauiour whatsoeuer Math. 16 thowe shall binde vpon earth it shall be bound also in the heauens whatsoeuer thowe shalt loose in earth shal be loosed also in the heaueÌ„s whose place of bindinge and loosinge those haue at this tyme which by faith and vertuous life possesse the place of holy gouernement and to be stowe such power vpoÌ„ earthly men the creator of heauen and earth desconded from heauen to earthe and that fleshe mighte iudge of spirituall thinges God who for mans sake was made fleshe vouchesafed to bestowe vpon him for from thence our weaknes did rise vp aboue it selfe from wheÌ„ce the strength of God was weakened vnder it selfe Peter For the vertue of his miracles your wordes do yelde a very goode reason OF A BOYE THAT AFTER HIS buriall was cast out of his graue CHAPTER XXIIII Gregory VPon a certayne daye a younge boye that was a monke louinge his parentes more then reason wolde went from the Abbey to thiere house not crauinge the fathers blessinge before hand and the same daye that he came home vnto them he departed this life And beinge buried his bodye the next daye after was founde cast out of the graue which they caused againe to be put in and againe the daye following they founde it as before Then in great hast they went to the man of God sell downe at his feete with many teares beseeched him that he wolde vouchsafe him that was deade of his fauour To whom the man of God with his owne handes deliuered the holy communion of our Lordes body sayinge Goe and lay with great The Sacrament was not buried with him but only laid vpon his brest and taken of againe reuerence this our Lordes body vpon his breast and so burye him which when they had done the deade corps after that remayned quietly in the graue By which you perceiue Peter of what merit he was with our Lorde Iesus Christ seeinge the earth wolde not giue entertainement to his bodye who departed this worlde out of Bennets fauour Peter I perceiue it very well and do wonderfully admire it HOVV A MONKE FORESAKING the Abbey mett with a dragon in the way CHAPTER XXV Gregory A Certaine monke there was so inconstant and fickle of mynde that he wolde needes giue ouer the Abbey for which fault of his the man of God dâ—d daily rebuke him and often tymes giue him goode admonitions but yet for all this by no means wolde he tary amongest them and therfore continuall sute he made that he mighte be discharged The venerable man vpon a tyme wearied with his importunitye in anger bad him departe who was no soner out of the Abbey gate but he founde a dragon in the waye expecting him with open mouth which being about to deuoure him he began in great feare and tremblinge to cry out aloude sayinge Helpe helpe for this dragon will eate me vp At which noise the monkes running out dragon they sawe non but finding him there shaking treÌ„bling they broughte him backe againe to the Abbey who forth with promised that he wolde neuer more forsake the monasterye and so euer after he continued in his profession for by the praiers of the holy man he sawe the dragon comminge against him whom before when he savve not he did willingly followe HOVV HOLY BENNET CVRED a boye of the leprosy CHAPTER XXVI BVt I must not here passe ouer with silence that which I had by relation of the honourable man Anthonye who saide that his fathers boye was so pitifully punnished with a leprosy that all his heare fell of his body swelled and filthy corruption did openly come forthe Who beinge sent by his father to the man of God he was by him quickly restored to his former healthe HOVV BENNET FOVND MONEY miraculously to relieue a poore man CHAPTER XXVIII NEither is that to be ommitted which one of his disciples called Peregrinus vsed to tell for he saide that vpon a certaine daye an honest man who was in debt founde no other meanes to helpe him selfe but thought it his best waye to acquaint the man of God with his necessitye wherevpon he came to the Abbey and findinge the seruant of almighty God gaue him to vnderstande howe he was troubled by his creditor fortwelue shillinges which he did owe him To whom the venerable man saide that him selfe had not so muche money yet giuinge him comfortable wordes he saide Go your wayes and after two dayes come to me againe for I can not preseÌ„tly helpe you in which two daies after his manner he bestowed him selfe in praier when vpon the thirde daye the poore man came backe there were founde suddainly vpon the chest of the Abbey which was full of corne thirtene shillinges which the man of God caused to be giuen to him that required but twelue both to discharge his debte and also to defraye his owne charges But nowe will I returne to speake of such
be affraide when they dye and of the monkes called Anthony Merulus and Iohne 48. VVhether we oughte to obserue dreames and how many sortes of dreames there be 49. Os a certaine man who in his dreame had longe life promised and yet died shortly after 50. VVhether the soules receiue any commoditye by the buriall of theire bodies in the church 51. Of a certaine Nunne that was buried in the church of S. Laurence which appeared half burnt 52. Os the burial of the noble man Valerianus 53. Of the body of Valentinus which was throwne out of the churche after it was buried 54. Of the body of a dier buried in the churche which afterwarde could not be founde 55. VVhat thinge that is which after death hath force to helppe mens soules and of a Priest of Centumcellis who was by the soule of a certaine man desired that he mighte after his death be holpen by the holy sacrifice And of the soule of a monke called Iustus 56. Of the lise and death of Bisshoppe Cassius 57. Of one that was taken by his enemies whose irons at the tyme of the sacrifice were loosed and of the mariner called Caraca saued by the sacred host from being drowned in the sea 58. Of the vertue and mystery of the healthful sacrifice 59. How we oughte to procure contrition of harte at the tyme of the holy mysteries and of the custodye of our soule after we haue bene sorrowfull sor our sinnes 60. How we oughte to forgiue the sinnes of others that we may obtayne forgiuenes of our owne THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF S. GREGORIES DIALOGVES HOVV CARNAL MEN GIVE the lesse credit to those thinges which be eternal and spiritual because they know not by experience what they heare others to speake of CHAPTER I. AFTER that the first parēt of mankinde was for his synne bannished from the ioyes of Paradise he fell into the miserye of this ignorance and bannishment which to this yerie daye we doe all indure for his synne was the cause that he coulde not any longer see those ioyes of heauen which before by contemplation he possessed for during the tyme of his residence in Paradise he vsually hearde God talking with him and by purity of harte and heauenly vision was present with the quires of the blessed Angels But after his fall he lost that lighte of soule which before abundantly he enioyed From whom we beeing by carnall propagation deriued that liue now in this darcke ignorance of bannishmēt do heare indede of an heauenly countrye and howe it is inhabited by the Angels of God and that the soules of iust and perfect men do there keepe them companye But yet such as be carnall because they can not by experience knowe those inuisible creatures doubt whether there be any such seing with theire corporall eies they can not behold them from which doubt our first Parent was altogether free for althoughe he was exiled from the ioyes of Paradise yet did he still kepe in memorye what he had lost because he had before behelde the same but these men can not by any meanes call to minde such thinges as they heare others speake of because they neuer had of them any former experiēce as our first father Adam had For it is in this case as yf a woman bigge with childe sholde be putt in prison and be there deliuered of a sonne which neuer went forth but were there continually broughte vp for yf his mother sholde tell him of the sunne mone starres mountaines and speake of the fieldes the flying of birdes and running of horses her childe that had continually bene broughte vp in the prison and acquainted with nothing els but blacke darckenes might well heare what she saide but with a doubt whether it were true or no because experience taught him not any such thinge Euene so men that are borne in this darcke worlde the place of theire bannishmēt do heare that there be wonderfull strange and inuisible thinges but because they are not acquainted with any els but terrestriall creatures which only be visible they doubt whether there be any such inuisible thinges as are reported of or no for which cause the creator him selfe of all thinges both visible and inuisible and the only begotten sonne of the eternall father came into this worlde for the redemption of mankinde and sent the holy Ghost vnto our hartes that quickened by him and his grace we shoulde belieue those thinges which as yet by sence or experience we can not possibly vnderstande and therfore so many of vs as haue receiued this spirit the heauenly pledge of our inheritance make no doubte of Gods inuisible and immortall creatures and who so euer as yet is not setled in this beliefe out of all question he oughte of reason to giue credit to the wordes of them that be more learned and holy and belieue them that throughe the grace of Gods holy spirit haue experience of those thinges that be inuisible for he were a very foolishe childe that thoughte his mother lied when she spake of lighte in other places because him selfe where he was beheld nothing els but the darckenes of the prison Peter That you say doth wonderfully content me yet he who beleueth not that there be any inuisible thinges out of question in myne opinion is an infidell and he that is an infidell in that thinge whereof he doubteth seeketh not for faith but for reason THAT AN INFIDEL LIVETH not without faith CHAPTER II. Gregory I Speake boldlye yet trulye that an infidell liueth not without faith for yf I demaunde of him who is his father or mother straight-waies he will tell me such a man and such a woman and yf I presse him further whether he doth remember the tyme when he was first conceiued or the houre when he was borne into this worlde he wil answer me that he neuer knewe or sawe any such thinge and yet for all this doth he beleue that which he neuer behelde seing he beleueth without all doubt that such a man was his father and such a woman his mother Peter I must nedes confesse that I neuer knewe before this tyme that an infidell had any faith Gregory Infidels haue faith but not in God sor then they were not infidels but worthly are they by the former reason to be blamed and thereby also to be prouoked to imbrace true faith for yf concerning theire visible bodye they beleeue that which they neuer sawe why do they not also beleeue some thinges which with theire corporall eyes they can not beholde THAT GOD CREATED THREE kindes of spirites with life CHAPTER III. FOr that our soule doth liue after the death of the bodye reason doth teach vs assisted and holpen with faith for almightye God created three kindes of spirites hauing life One altogether spirituall without bodye an other with a bodye but yet which dieth not with the bodye the thirde that which is both ioyned with the body and also together with the body
apparrelled in white and such a delicate sauour there was that the fragrant odour thereof did giue wonderfull content to all them that dwelt and walked in that place Diuers particular mansions also there were all shining with brightnes and lighte and especiallye one magnificall and sumptuous house which was a buildinge the brick whereof seemed to be of golde but whose it was that he knewe not There were also vpon the bancke of the foresaide riuer certaine houses but some of them the stinking vapour which rose from the riuer did touche and some other it touched not at all Nowe those that desired to passe ouer the foresaide bridge were subiect to this manner of triall yf any that was wicked attempted to go ouer downe he fell into that darcke and stincking riuer but those that were iust and not hindred by synne securely and easily passed ouer to those pleasant and delicate places There he saide also that he sawe Peter who was stewarde of the Popes familye and died some fower years since thrust into a most filthy place where he was bounde and kept downe with a great waighte of yron and inquiring why he vvas so vsed he receiued that answere which all we that knewe his life can affirme to be most true for it was told him that he suffred that paine because when him selfe was vpon any occasion to punnishe other that he did it more vpon cruelty then to shewe his obedience of which his mercilesse disposition none that knewe him can be ignorant There also he saide that he sawe a Priest whom he knewe who comming to the foresaide bridge passed ouer with as great security as he liued in this worlde sincerelye Likewise vpon the same bridge he saye that he did see this Steuen whom before we spake of who being about to go ouer his foote slipped and halfe his bodye hanging beside the bridge he was of certaine terrible men that rose out of the riuer drawne by the legges downewarde and by certaine other white and bewtifull persons he was by the armes pulled vpwarde and whiles they stroue thus the wicked spirites to drawe him downewarde and the goode to lifte him vpwarde he that behelde all this strange sighte returned to life not knowing in conclusion what became of him By which miraculous vision we learne this thing concerninge the life of Steuen to witt that in him the synnes of the fleshe did striue with his worckes of almes For in that he was by the legges drawne downewarde and by the armes plucked vpwarde apparant it is that both he loued to giue almes and yet did not perfectly resist the synnes of the fleshe which did pull him downewarde but in that secret examination of the supreme iudge which of them had the victorye that neither we knowe nor he that the sawe it Yet most certaine it is that the same Steuen after that he had sene the places of hell as before was saide and returned againe to his bodye did neuer perfectly amend his former wicked life seing many yeares after he departed this worlde leauing vs in doubt whether he were saued or damned Wherebye we many learne that when any haue the tormentes of hell showne them that to some it is for theire commoditye and to others for theire testimonye that the former may see those miseries to auoide them and these other to be so much the more punnished in that they vvolde not take heede of those tormentes vvhich they both knevve and vvith theire eies behelde Peter What I beseche you was ment by the building of that house in those places of delight with brickes of golde For it semeth very ridiculous that in the next life vve sholde haue nede of anye such kinde of mettall VVHAT IS MENT BY THE building of the house in those pleasant places And of one Deusdedit whose house was sene to be built vpon the Saterday Gregory VVHat man of sence can thincke so but by that which vvas shovven there vvho so euer he vvas for vvhom that house vvas built vve learne plainely vvhat vertuous vvorkes he did in this vvorlde for he that by plenty of almes doth merit the revvarde of eternall lighte certayne it is that he doth builde his house vvith golde For the same soldiar vvho had this vision saide also which I forgott before to tell you that old men and yonge girles and boies did carry those brickes of golde for the buildinge of that house by vvhich vve learne that those to vvhom vve shevve compassion in this vvorlde do labour for vs in the next There dvvelt also harde by vs a religious man called Deusdedit vvho vvas a shoemaker concerninge vvhom an other savve by reuelation that he had in the next vvorlde an house a building but the vvorckemen thereof laboured onlye vpon the saterday Who aftervvarde inquiring more diligently hovve he liued founde that vvhatsoeuer he got by his labour all the vveke and vvas not spent vpon necessary prouision of meate and apparrell all that vpon the saterdaye he bestovved vpon the poore in almes at S. Peters churche and therfore see vvhat reason there vvas that his building vvent forvvard vpon the Saterday Peter You haue giuen me verye goode satisfaction touching this one pointe yet desirous I am further to knowe what the reason was that some of those habitations were touched by the stinckinge vapour some were not and what is ment by the bridge and riuer which he savve Gregory By the representation of these thinges Peter are expressed the causes vvhich they do signify For the bridge by vvhich he beheld Gods seruantes to passe vnto those pleasant places doth teach vs that the path is verye Math. cap. 7. straighte vvhich leadeth to euerlasting life and the stincking riuer vvhich he savve runninge beneath signifieth that the filthy corruption of â—ice in this vvorlde doth dailye runne to the dovvnefall of carnal pleasure And that some of the habitations vvere touched vvith the stincking vpour and some vvere not vvhat s ment els but that there be diuers vvhich do many goode vvorckes yet in theire soule they are touched vvith the delighte of carnall sinnes and therfore very great reason there is that in the next vvorlde such should taste of a stinckinge vapour vvhom filthye carnality did delighte in this and therâ—ore blessed Iob perceiuing the pleasure of the fleshe to be stinckinge pronounceth ths sentence of the vvanton and carnall man His Iob. 24. swetenes be wormes But those that doe preserue theire hart free from all pleasure of carnall thoughtes haue not theire houses touched vvith any such stincking vapour here vve haue also to note that he savve one and the same thing both to be a vapour and also to haue an yll sauour because carnall delighte doth so obscure the soule vvhich it hath infected that it can not see the brightenes of true lighte for the more pleasure it hath in the inferior parte the more darknes it hath in the superior vvhich doth hinder it from the
is the reason that in these latter daies so many thinges come to lighte which in tymes past were not knowne in such sort that by open reuelations and manifest signes the ende of the worlde semeth not to be far of VVHY IN LATTER TYMES so many thinges be knowne concerning mens soules VVhich in former ages were not heard of CHAPTER XLI Gregory So it is for the nerer that this preseÌ„â— world draweth to wards an end so muche the more the worlde to come is at hande and sheweth it selfe by more plaine and euident tokens For seing in this worlde we knowe not one an others cogitations and in the next mens hartes be knowne to all what fitter name can we giue to this worlde then to terme it nighte and what better to the next then to call it daye But as when the nighte is almost spent and the daye beginneth to breake darkenes and lighte be in a certaine manner ioyned together vntil the lighte of the day followinge doth perfectly bannishe away the darke remnantes of the former nighte euen so the ende of this world is as it were mingled together with the beginninge of the next and with the darckenes of this some lighte of such spirituall thinges as be in that doth appeare and so we see many thinges which belonge to that vvorlde yet for all this perfect knovvledge vve haue not anye but as it vvere in the tvvilighte of our soule beholde them before the risinge of that sonne of knowledge vvhich then abundantly vvill cast his beames ouer all Peter I like very well of your speeche yet in so worthy a man as Paschasius was this doubt doth trouble me howe he was after his death caried to any place of punnishement seing the touching of his garment vpon the biere did dispossesse a vvicked spirit Gregory Herein appeareth the great and manifolde prouidence of almightye God by whose iust iudgement it fell out that Paschasius for sometyme entertayned inwardly synne in his soule and yet in the sighte of the worlde wroughte miracles by his body after his death who in his life tyme did as they knowe many goode worckes to the end that those which had sene his vertuous life shoulde not be deceiued concerning the opinion of his great almes and yet him selfe should not without punnishement haue remission of his synne which whiles he liued he thoughte to be no synne and therfore did not by teares washe it awaye Peter I vnderstande very well what you say but by this reason I am driuen â—nto such straightes that I must stand in feare both of those synnes which I knowe and also of those which I know not But because a little before you discoursed of the places of tormentes in what part of the worlde I beseech you are vve to beleue that hel is vvhether aboue the earth or beneath the same IN VVHAT PLACE OF THE worlde we oughte to beleue that hell is CHAPTER XLII Gregory TOuchinge this pointe I dare not rashelye desine any thinge for some haue bene of opinion that hell vvas in some place vpon the earth and The latin â—ord for â—el signiâ—eth a â—ace beâ—eath others thincke that it is vnder the earth but then this doubt ariseth for yf it be therfore called hell or an infernall place because it is belovve then as the earth is distant from heauen so likevvise shold hel be distant from the earth for which cause perhappes the Prophet saith Thow hast deliuered Psal 8 my soule from the lower hel so that the higher hell may seme to be vpon the earth and the lower vnder the earth and vvith this opinion that sentence of Iohne agreeth who when he had saide that he sawe a booke sealed with Apocal. seauen seales and that non was found worthy neither in heauen nor in earth nor vnder the earth to open the booke and loose the seales thereof he added forthwith and I wept much which booke notwithstanding afterwarde he saith was opened by a lion of the tribe of Iuda By which booke what els can be ment but the holy scripture which our Sauiour alone did open for being made man by his death resurrection and ascension he did reueale and make manifest all those mysteries which in that booke were closed shutt vppe And none in heauen because not any Angell none vpon earth because not man liuinge in body not any vnder the earth was founde worthy because neither the soules departed from theire bodies could opeÌ„ vnto vs beside our Lord him selfe the secretes of that sacred booke Seing then none vnder the earth is said to be founde worthy to open that booke I see not what doth lett but that we sholde beleeue that hell is in the lower partes vnder the earthe Peter I beseech you Is there one fire in hell or accordinge to the diuersitye of sinners be there so many sortes of fires prepared in that place VVHETHER THERE IS ONE fire in hel or many CHAPTER XLIII Gregory THe fire of hell is but one yet doth it not in one manner torment all synners For euerye one there according to the quantitâ—e of his synne hath the measure of his paine For as in this world many liue vnder one and the same sunne and yet do not alike feele the heate thereof for some be burnt more and some lesse so in that one sire diuers manners of burninge be founde for that which in this worlde diuersity of bodies doth that in the next doth diuersitye of synnes so that althoughe the fire be there all alike yet doth it not in one manner and alike burne and torment them that be damned Peter Shall those I pray you which be condemned to that place burne alwaies and neuer haue anye ende of theire tormentes VVHETHER THOSE THAT be in hel shal burne there sor euer CHAPTER XLIIII Gregory CErtaine it is and without all doubt most true that as the goode shall haue no ende of theire ioyes so the wicked neuer any release of theire tormentes for our Sauiour him selfe saith The wicked shal goe into euerlasting Math. 2 punnishment and the iust into euerlasting life seing then true it is that which he hath promised to his friendes out of al question false it can not be that which he hath threatned to his enemies Whar yf it be saide that he did threaten eternall paine to wicked liuers that he might thereby restrayne them from committing of synnes Gregory Yf that which he did threaten be false because his intent was by that meanes to keepe men from wicked life then likewise must we say that those thinges are false which he did promise and that this minde was therebye to prouoke vs to vertue But what man though madd dare presume so to saye For yf he threatned that which he ment not to put in execution whiles we are desirous to make him mercifull inforced we are likewise which is horrible to speake to affirme him to be deceiptfull Peter Willinge I am to knowe howe that