overthrown The Devill therefore may exercise us with combats not conquer us by his assaults but that we knowing we are beset every where should alwayes watch and be ready Lib. de opificio Dei cap. 20. Lactantius reading the first Verse of the fourteenth Psalme viz. The foole hath said in his heart that there was no God asked why the foole said so he first gives this answer because he was a foole then hee askes the question farther why hee did say so in heart and not with his tongue Because said hee if hee had said it openly and before men then they would conclude him a foole indeed Ibid. 16. cap. 14. I have here also registred his Works as recorded by Cardinall Bellarmine 1 Of divine Institutions 7 books 2 Of Gods Anger one book 3 Of the Creation one book 4 An Epitome upon his books 5 Verses on the Phaenix 6 On the Lords Passion 7 On our Saviours Resurrection Saint Ierome reckons up one that was written to the youth of Africke and another inscribed the Grammarian and two to Aesclepiades One of Persecution Foure books of Epistles to Probus two books of Epistles to Geverus two of Epistles to Demetrianus his Auditour An. Christi 340. Sanctus Athanasius S. ATHANATIVS AMongst these glorious Lights of the Church who have beene even by their Adversaries not onely known but confest to have bin eminent for piety and learning this reverend Athanasius deserves for his worth to be enchased if you will believe a cloud of witnesses then you cannot but have this Athanasius in a singular reverence for Saint Gregory Nazianzen speaking in his Oration that God hath alwayes had famous men in his Church either dignified for their good Government abilities of Learning or for Miracles done by them or else for their constancie in suffering Martyrdom by Tyrants Ex his Athanasius alios exaequavit c. So speaks that Father That this Athanasius did equall some came short of very few excelled many hee obtained the Learning of some the Eloquence of others the Action of others hee followed some in meeknesse others in zeale and many he exceeded in his sufferings hee lost by none gained some goodnesse from all so that the same Father speaks thus in his commendation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Athanasium laudans in praysing this Athanasius I commend vertue it selfe for it is all one to set forth the prayse of him and vertue for he doth truly possesse all vertues in himselfe For vertue in all workes is chiefly and above all things to be praysed as the head fountaine our most precious Jewell of all manner of riches Vertue is said to be a strong Castle that can never be won it is a river that needeth no rowing a Sea that moveth not a fire that quencheth not a treasure that ever hath an end an army never overcome a burden that never wearieth a spie that ever returneth a signe that never deceiveth a plain way that never faileth a sirrope that forthwith healeth a renowne that never perisheth it is onely vertue which attaineth everlasting blessednesse all these appeare at once in this our Athanasius as you shall plainly confesse by his constancy in suffering and by his Piety in the conclusion Lampadius doth declare him to be well descended of vertuous and Religious Parents who had no more Children but this one Athanasius who did not degenerate from their worth but added lustre and glory to his progenitors his spring shewed what a rich harvest he would produce For even in his young yeares hee was Ingenious liberally disposed of upright cariage obedient to his parents Hee is of all Writers famous for his actions even in his youth especially for one which I cannot omit when Alexander the Bishop of that City did yeerely celebrate a great Feast in memory of Peter the Martyr which had beene formerly Bishop in the same place he having his house by the waterside saw many youths playing together now the manner of their sport was that all the boyes should personate Priests and Deacons and so they all consented and choâ—e this Athanasius to be their Bishop and so they presented unto this Athanasius some other youths which were not yet baptiz'd that they might be baptized by him so Athanasius performing all things requisite baptized them with the water of the sea and gave them good counsels and admonitions directing them what to doe hereafter which the Bishop of Alexandria beholding and wondring at their actions caused them to be brought to him whom when he had asked many questions being certified of the act would not have the children to be rebaptized and gave order forthwith that Athanasius parents should be brought to him to whom he gave strict charge that they should see him brought up to Learning which they performed So this Athanasius profiting exceedingly in all sorts of learning he was as an other Samuel to the old Bishop Alexander who at first used him to read to him and write from him then he was ordained Deacon and so received the order of Priesthood about what time Arrius began to broach his too too infectious Heresie about which there was some privaâ—e meetings and conferences at Alexandria before the Nicene Councell in which this Athanasius shewed himselfe a maine opponent and that with an admirable expression of Learning and integritie Whereupon the old Bishop Alexander going to the Councell at Nice tooke this Athanasius with him not onely as his companion in his journey but as his fellow Champion in this great conflict and to speak truth his learning procured him all good mens love and hatred from the Arrians well His old Lord Bishop dying shortly after the Nicene Councell this Athanasius was not onely by his last Will but by the Generall Suffrages of all the Churches of Alexandria chosen Bishop of that See and that not without the singular providence of God so disposing it for hee proved so eminent that few in after times equall'd him take but a judicious mans testimony of him Iudicium in 〈◊〉 vis ingenii excellenâ— Eloquentia eximia inveris sententiis tuendis 〈◊〉 in adversariis refutandis firmitas inexpugnabilis ad res adversas perferendas Magnanimitas verò Heroica à Spiritu Sancto accensa in ipsius pectore flagrabat This Athanasius had a sharpe judgement a strong wit an admirable gift of Eloquence resolute in defence of the truth valorous in refuting his Adversaries and patient in all adversities in a word There was an Heroicall magnanimitie kindled in his heart by the Holy Ghost There is not any Doctour of the Church since the Apostles times that suffered for so long time more hatred treacheries persecutions even as though the whole World had conspired against him For as one saith well Non solum Episcopi sed ipse etiam Imperatores Regna Exercitus populi infesti sunt Not only Bishops but Emperours Kingdomes Armies Nations molested him but the Sonne of God whose cause this Athanasius maintained
made many sermons to the people and did not he compile that worthy piece that is termed Vitiorum Destructorium which is indeed the very undermiâ—er of the Kingdome of sinne and darknesse these workes are so able to defend themselves that I neede not spend time to lend praise to them Fourthly as his learning was great his pains wonderfull his Scholars famous his Workes unreproveable so his life and conversation was as upright and honest Certainly he who did take such labour to kill vice in others would not harbour it in his owne soule Are not those his remedies which hee hath prescribed against the Capitall sinnes demonstration sufficient that his aime was to kill them are not all his arguments against them as so many Engines unresistable who is so ignorant of his pious intention that knowes not the reason why he entred into that strict course of life but that he might be the more free from the snares of the world and that he might have the more time and space to give himself to prayer watching fasting meditation and godly writing and what ingenuous spirit but knowes that writing many books is wearinesse to the flesh as Solomon speakes and did not he write many and those solid ones which must needs take up most part of his time adde moreover the set houres of his publick exercises which could not be performed with that generall applause as they were had not hee in private spent much time in molding them so that these things considered seriously who can finde almost in all his life any time for to be idle or ill imployed in did hee not all his life rather chuse to live poorely as holding that to bee the lesse subject to any incombrances was hee not alwayes a friend to the poore as well knowing whose Members they were and to whom they did belong And as his Life was full of Charity and labour so it was as spotlesse and innocent free from suites and needlesse contentions so that in all his deportments he shewed himselfe a patterne of meeknesse temperance and sobriety And to conclude when it pleased God to call him from earth was not his heart and soule ready to be offered Saint Pauls Cupio dissolvi was his resolution and at his death was he not of all learned pious and devout men generally lamented aswell knowing what a great labourer was then called to rest so after a religious devout humble and laborious life he departed quietly in the Lord being in his time the glory of the Pulpit the Father of scholars and the light and grace of the Schoole-men He departed in the yeare of our Lord 1245. in the reigne of Fredericke the second then Emperour Some of Alexander Alensis his wise and religious Sayings collected out of his Workes Of Charity Charity in the soule of a man is like the Sunne in the Firmament which spreads his beames upwards downewards upwards towards God the Angels Saints downwards to the Creatures especially to the poore that are good and as the Sunne shines upon the good and bad so true charity dilates its beames to its enemies Destruct vitior pa. 7. cap. 12. Num. 3. Of Patience A soule patient for wrongs offered is like a man with a sword in one hand and salve in another could wound but will heale Part. 6. cap. 26. Of Faith What the eye is to the body that is faith to the soule t is good for direction if it be well kept as Flies doe hurt the eye so doe little sinnes and ill thoughts the soule par 6. cap. 32. Of the detestation of Covetousnesse It deserves hate of all men for sixe reasons First because it is a sinne against Nature making the desires of the soule terrene whereas they should be Celestiall Secondly from the many curses that are laid against it in Gods Word Woe to them that joyne house to house Esay 5. Thirdly from the many evills it subjects a man to it is the roote of all evills Fourthly it makes a man a foole Thou foole this night c. Fiftly it causes strifes and contentions From whence are strifes c. Sixtly it brings men into snares which drowne them in perdition Destruct vitior page 44. Of the Sinne of Lying Every lye is odious but that most which is against the poynts of Faith as to say that Jesus Christ was not borne of the Virgin Mary c. Faith must bee defended not opposed Dectruct page 52. Of good Counsellours Such should be holy in their lives true in their words righteously zealous and wise by experience par 4. cap. 44. in Destruct Of the danger of customary sinnes Custome in sinne enticeth and invadeth youth tyes fast and bindes age deceives and infects the affections subverts the judgement and is hardly cured par 5. cap. 2. num 11. Of Humility An humble man is like a good tree the more full of fruit the branches are the lower they bend themselves par 4. cap. 48. num 6. Of teares and weeping Shed teares of compunction of compassion of devotion weepiâ—g availes not if it bee feigned for vaine things immoderate for the dead or the crying of the wicked in Hell torments par 4. cap. 52. num 5. An. Christi 1264. Bonaventura BONAVENTVRVS IN many Authours this Seraphick writer was called Iohn Gerso the Cardinall of Paris thinkes that hee was called Eustachius some have term'd him Eustathius others Eutychius but the most call him Bonaventure the reason why hee was termed Eustathius or Eustachius was because in all his disputations had at Paris with the Grecians he stil was constant and resolved to defend the truth with all solidity and gravity Hee was borne in Etruria of the Greeks called Tyrrhenia one of the most flourishing parts of all Italy called at this day Tuscany his fathers name was Ioannes Fidantius his mother Ritelia both of great Descent wondrous devout and full of charity who had this sonne borne to their mutuall joy in one of the ancientest and renowmedst Cities of all Tuscany called Balneo-Regium in English The Kings Bath This Bonaventure in his youth shewed what he would prove afterwards for as he was mainly addicted to study so he set himselfe to follow that way and those men which were most holy and learned in those times principally Alexander of Hales the glory of that age as also Ioannes Rupellius with many others and for certaine it is that age was as active and full of Disputations as any could be so that Bonaventure could not want occasion or opportunitie for exercise For his feature and proportion of body though as Nazianzen said in the life of Saint Basil his minde was so adorned that hee would passe over all the praise of his outward parts yet he doth plainly say that Saint Basil when he was young was of an able strong constitution comely proportioned gratefull in his behaviour of an heavenly aspect So I may say of this great Doctor though his soule was richly decked
9 Of the three Vertues or Graces 10 Of Nature and Invention 11 Of Covenants 12 Of the successe of Generation 13 Of the change of names 14 Of the Giants 15 Of the five Bookes of Moses 16 Of Dreams 17 Of the Tabernacle 18 Of a Contemplative Life 19 Of Husbandry 20 Of Drunkennesse 21 Of Sacrifices 22 Of Providence 23 Of Idaea's 24 Of Alexander 25 Of Creatures 26 That every unwise man is but a slave These Trithemius fol. 4 There are more of his Works extant 2 Books of Allegories 3 Of the Cherubims 4 Of the Sacrifice of Cain and Abel Of the confusion of Languages Of Gods Immutability Of Abrahams Iournying Of Fortitude Of the Decalogue Of speciall Laws Of Circumcision Of Monarchie Of the Honor of Priests That an honest man is a friend of Nobilitie Of Rewards and punishments Of Cursings Of his Embassage to Caius These are all sufficient Witnesses of this Mans pains and labour An. Mundi 4057. Flavius Iosephus FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS HE was of no mean parentage or Descent but of an ancient stock of the Priests and of that Line which was the chiefe of the foure and twenty and by his Mothers side was of the Bloud Royall shee being of the Family of the Asamonaeans who a long time not onely held the Priesthood of that Nation but the Kingdome his great Grand-father was called Symon Psellus at what time Hircanus the sonne of Symon the High-priest the first of that name held the Priesthood hee was borne the first yeare of Caius Caesar and had three sonnes Hircanus the eldest Iustus and Agrippa in Vespasians Time this Genealogie and Succession was truly kept in publike Tables as his parents were great and Noble so their Integrity and uprightnesse was well knowne to all Ierusalem hee was bred up from his Childhood in good Discipline and had an excellent memory and quick understanding so that the High-priest and Elders of the City much regarded him hee passed through all the three Sects of Pharisees Sadduces and Essenes and did most approve the life of the Pharisees and did in his strictnesse of life imitate one Banus who liv'd solitarily by fruites and herbes At two and twenty yeares he professed himselfe a Pharisie which is much like to the Stoicks amongst the Graecians and presently tooke a Voyage to Rome to plead the cause of some honest and good men who for little or no cause were bound and carried before the Emperour In his Voyage the Ship was cast away yet he with others by Gods blessing with swimming saved their lives and did appeare at Rome and got speciall familiarity with Aliturus a Iew who was in great esteeme with the Emperour by whose helpe hee got to be made knowne to Poppaea the Wife of the Emperour and so freed those Priests from their bonds and further dangers and was rewarded by her with great gifts and so returned home againe Hee was in his outward behaviour and manners courteous and 〈◊〉 of humanity And in his speeches affâ—ble and friendly to all making himselfe pleasing and agreeable to most men as much as in him lay and acquainted himselfe only with such as were good and vertuous for in so doing he shunned the hatred of one and was sure to get the favour of the other For Wisemen accustome themselves gladly and willingly to indure things with patience to the intent they may the better do it when they shall be forced to sufferance He was in his time a famous Warriour and performed great Exploits hee was taken prisoner alive at the siege of Iotopata and was kept with great care and command by a company of Souldiers In the time of his imprisonment which was but short being about five dayes hee did write many things concerning the government of man in affliction And as a Wise man saith which is not impertinent That afflictions on earth are as so many good guides and Companions unto the godly which though of themselves unworthy yet make their cause the better who aime at a higher end then the blinded eyes of the ignorant can behold and become the Masters of their own hopes before others perceive them in trouble For saith hee The Heavens are their only prospect where they behold the Creatour of Nature in his height of Wonder and themselves are the Mine into which they dive to finde reason triumphant by which they discerne their insurrective passions and afflictions And as another saith That it is good for a man to live in the greatest assurance that hee can possibly howbeit if hee be constrained to hazard and adventure himselfe it is more fit that he contend and strive with it honestly then to shun and flie from it shamefully considering that all men are destinated to die but Nature hath only ordained and framed them that are vertuous and wise to die valiantly and couragiously and to beare afflictions patiently Vespasianus did much honour and respect him for his Learning and Knowledge and at his command hee married a certaine Captive Virgin of Caesarea but lived not long with her for she went with the troops to Alexandria and he himselfe married another and so with Titus was sent to Hierusalem where he was in great danger of the Iews for they esteemed him no better then a Traitour and a Betrayer of their Nation but Titus slighted these clamours of the Vulgar but the City being taken Titus gave him leave to chuse something that might be beneficial for him but hee not desiring to be made rich with the spoils of his Countrey desired nothing but the freedome of his body and his Writings both which the Emperour did grant unto him Hee preferred study and knowledge before honour and riches for he knew that the one soone fadeth and the other abideth for ever For hee held amongst all goods and pleasure of this life only wisdome was immortall And we commonly see that those to whom Riches most befall doe find sooner the end of their living then of their longing Which consideration hath caused most wise men to vent these or the like speeches concerning the infelicity of coveting Riches before Knowledge How miserable saith one should I bee if I were the most richest of the the world with what a great burthen of evils should I be over-whelmed Why then should a man torment himselfe for a thing that he must necessarily leave And why is hee not rather content quietly with that which is needfull chiefly considering that the fairest kinde of wealth is for a man to be content in what estate soever that is not to be too poore nor yet too farre off from poverty Hee set free abundance of his Kindred and Friends which were fled into the Temple and did save them and theirs from the violence of the Souldiers to the number of a hundred and fifty persons so hee was sent by Titus with Cerealis with a thousand Horse to Tekoah and saved many of his Friends and Countrymen by the way from misery
In vaine doe you goe about to terrifie or fright this man for he feareth nought bnt sinne Saint Chrysostome reports that it must bee our hand that must bring us to Heaven and not our tongue only Hee calls the life of man a Faire or Market where some are seeking for gaine and profit others for pleasure and delight others for prayer and devotion and the last of these are those that walke as children of light Saint Chrysostome calls Saint Paul the tongue and Teacher of the whole World who lived like an Angell on earth and now enjoyes a crowne in Heaven Saint Chrysostome gives man the reason why the Angels did not bring the tydings of our Saviours birth first to Kings and Princes or other great men aswell as to the poore Shepherds And this is it because saith hee great mens eares were so stopped with cares and honours that they have no pleasure to heare it or would not take so much pains themselves but sent their servants His Works are here registred He departed in the thiriteenth of Arcadius and Honorius Hee was made Bishop in the fourth of Arcadius and received Priesthood in the eleventh of Valentinian the younger and in the eighth of Theodosius the elder His Works as Bellarmine doth reckon them whom I follow are contained in five Tomes printed at Venice 1575. Tome 1. 1 Homilies on Genesis in number 67. 2 On the Psalmes 26. 3 On sundry places of the Old Testament in number 52. 4 Whereof five out of Esay Tome 2. 1 Homilies on Matthew in number 89 2 More on the same 54. 3 On sundry places of Saint Matthew 26. 4 Homilies on Saint Mark 14. 5 Homilies on sundry places of Saint Luke Tome 3. 1 Homilies on Saint John 87 2 More or some places of Saint John 6. 3 Homilies on the Acts 51. 4 Sermons for Feast days 32. 5 On severall places of Saint Paul and many things in commendation of him Tome 4. Commentaries or Homilies on all Saint Pauls Epistles Tome 5. 1 Homilies to the Antiochians 80. 2 Dialogues of the Priesthood 6. 3 Of compunction of heart 2. 4 Of Gods providence 6 books 5 Of praying to God two books 6 Against the dispraysers of a Monastick life three books 7 Against the Gentiles one book 8 12 Sermons of Penitence 9 Against Jewes and Heretickes 15 Sermons 10 Against Concubinists two Sermons 11 Of divers arguments 48 Tracts 12 To Innocentius the Pope two books 13 To Cyriacus one booke 14 To Bishops and Priests in prison one book 15 To Theodorus being falne two books 16 To Eutropius one book 17 To Olympia a famous Matron 1 book 18 St. Chrysostomes Lyturgie I have not followed the Edition of Paris those who would fully bee satisfied they may have their choice either of the Venetian Parisian or Eaton Edition An. Christi 420. Sanctus Aurelius Augustinus S. AVGVSTINVS IN describing this Fathers life I follow not any uncertaine Relations but I follow the method of Possidonius who in writing the passages of his life saith such things quae in eodem vidi ab eodemque audivi which I saw in him and heard from him two sure witnesses the eyes and the eares and therefore may for succeding times be easily admitted for truth This Augustine therefore was an African by birth borne in the City of Thagasta of pious and Christian Parents bred and nourished by their care and diligence and singularly well learned and approved for skill in the Liberall Arts for he taught Grammar in his owne City and Rhetorique in the head City Carthage and after going over sea he came to Rome and so to Millaine where hee was appoynted to instruct the Emperour Valentinian being the fifth of that name and the Bishop at the same time of that City being that worthy Prelate Saint Ambrose whose sermons to the people and publicke disputations this Augustine did attentively heare and like of He was living in Carthage tainted with the Pestilent Heresie of the Manichees but by the providence of God and the wisedome of Saint Ambrose his heart was enlightned so he was brought safe from that Rocke was confirmed in the faith and a little before Easter did receive the Doctrine of the Catholick Church and also Baptisme by the ever honoured Father Saint Ambrose and being in this state so fairely recovered he set his heart wholly and intirely to seeke the Lord and to leave the world not now regarding honors wealth or riches but sought diligently heavenly treasures striving with might and maine to be one of that little flocke of whom it is said Feare not little flocke it is your Fathers good will to give you the Kingdome Hee was about thirty yeares old when hee thus beganne having onely his mother Monica alive who did mainly rejoyce to see him so intirely converted His Father called Patricius was dead before and now also he left his Scholars whom hee taught Rhetorique and told them they should provide themselves another Master for hee would onely serve the Lord. It pleased him being baptized to goe and live in Affricke with other faithfull Christians where when hee was come how speedily did he performe what he had resolved for leaving all secular affaires how constant was hee in Watching Fastings and Prayers and those graces which it did please God to give him how did he imploy them so that by his Sermons and Bookes he taught those that were absent as well as those that were present for hee converted one to the faith in a short time At the same time one Valerius was Bishop of Hippo and having a great care to provide able men to teach the people he with the peoples great desire ordained this Augustine a Priest and being entred into that holy function hee did strive to grace the Gospell by an holy Life This Valerius ordained him being banished This Augustine did powerfully preach the Word and had great conflicts with Fortunatus a defender of the Manichees who was appointed to meete Augustine in a publicke place and to dispute with him which with a great deale of feare he did undertake but was quite foiled and so by Gods blessing and the consent of all the learned men the Manichees fell and sincere Religion was maintained in the City of Hippo. He also preached and writ with singular care and dextrous learning against the Affrican Heretiques as the Donatists Manichees and Pelagians so that by his writings the Affrican Churches did recover the ancient Truth and he was so able and powerfull in the Scriptures that the very Heretiques were forced to confesse him a Divine Man He was appoynted by the Bishop to dispute of Faith which hee did with the approbation of all but this good old man Valerius finding him so rarely qualified sent to the Primate of Carthage and certified him that he was so old and weake and the charge was so great to manage and this Augustine was so learned and pious a man that hee intreated him to bee
after experimentall knowledge The rich man is not reprehended for ploughing his lands and gathering his fruit into his Barnes but because hee put his confidence in them and did not bestow them on the poore that so his soule might bee received into heaven Through Riches and Liberty mans heart doth commonly grow dissolute but by trouble and poverty it is recollected Anger doth languish by suppressing but flames higher by expressing The pleasure of Fornication is but a breath but the punishment thereof is eternall death Wantonnesse is a Bestiall languishing of the Body arising from carnall Conceits and Cogitations And for to declare unto the World the great paines this worthy man tooke in propagating the Gospell of Christ I have here annexed the Works which are onely knowne to be his 1 Vpon Genesis 2 Exodus 3 Numbers 4 Leviticus Deuteronomy 5 Of the Tabernacle and questions upon the Kings 6 Iosuah 7 Iudges 8 Chronicles 9 Proverbs 10 Ecclesiastes 11 Canticles 12 Esdras and Nehemiah 13 Tobias 14 Esay 15 Ieremiah 16 Ezekiel 17 Daniel 18 Twelve lesser Prophets 19 On Marke 20 On Luke 21 On the Evangelists 22 On Pauls Epistles 23 On the Canonicall Epistles 24 On the Acts of the Apostles 25 On the Apocalyps 26 Of Times and their Nature 27 Some sparkes out of the Fathers 28 Deeds of the English Nation 29 Flowers out of Gregory the Great on the Canticles 30 The actions of divers Saints A Cronologie of his own Monastery 31 A Martyrology 32 Hymnes in sundry sorts of Verses 33 Epigrams in Heroicke verse 34 Of holy places Readings of the old Testament 36 On the new Testament 37 Distinctions on Ieremaih Iob. 38 Of Christ and his Church 39 Of Abaccucks song 39 Of making of Verses 40 Of Scheames 41 Of Orthography 42 Epistles to divers So having beene laborious in the Church he departed Leo being Emperour Anno Christi 732. Of whom I might speake much more according to his deserts but let this suffice An. Christi 731. Sanctus Damascenus S. DAMAZEN IT is no small comfort to proceed from the loines of worthy Progenitors when not onely wee are enabled by our owne vertues but also made the more conspicuous by our parents In this respect this worthy Father challengeth a double honour for hee was not onely well descended from parents of worth and pietie but also was himselfe a grace to them and the place of his Nativity Hee was borne in Damascus a City well knowne if it were but for that very one cause that is registred in holy Writte and was as it is to be read in the ninth of the Acts of the Apostles a place of refuge for the persecuted Saints which fled from Hierusalem were prosecuted by Saul who was converted in his journey to this place for his parents though they lived in dangerous times and in the midst of barbarous people yet they as Lilies among thornes retained their beauty and integrity not losing their piety in the midst of a perverse generation and when the Agarens subjected that City by the sword and used cruelty towards the Chriâ—â—â—ans yet these worthy paire by Gods providence were preserved as it might seeme to produce to the World this their son nay their very enemies admired their constancie and gave them reverence and as God who kept Daniel among the Assyrians though a captive yet made him a Ruler and a Commander and likewise Ioseph though sold and imprisoned yet was by the same providence set up a chiefe Ruler in the midst of his adversaries so likewise did God give this Damascens Father such credit and respect that even those Saracens made him for his worth and conspicuous piety Administrator of their publick and most weighty affaires and he is called Vt lucerna in nocte signum in monte scintilla in cinere that is As a Lanthorne in a night as a Beacon on a Hill as a spark amongst ashes as a Diamond among dust for his justice and integritie and what he got in wealth by his Offices he did with liberall hands distribute in the reliefe of captives in slavery nay hee gave his estate and land which was a great quantitie in Iudea and Palaestine to the maintenance of the poore Christians in bondage and his Father by his purse did not redeeme so many from captivity as his sonne did from the snares and slavery of the Devill this Damascens father had a speciall care that assoon as his sonne was borne he should be christened and made a member of the Christian Church a dangerous thing in those times when to be but suspected to be a Christian was matter enough of bonds or death Hee likewise had an especiall care to his education which is commendable in parents and chose him a Master not a man of the sword but eminent for austerity and holinesse of life and it fell out thus It was the custome of the Barbarians in ships and boats to rove about and to take prisoners and often they brought Christians with them whom they inslaved or put to the sword or made sale of them and bringing in many amongst the rest there was an ancient old man an Italian in an Hermits habit of a comely gracious aspect called Cosmas they that were put to the sword gave great respect to this man so that the Barbarians seeing the Christians so to reverence him conceived him to bee some great man and demanded of him what he was he answered hee was a poore old unprofitable man and thereupon wept onely he was a Philosopher as he confest which Damasecns Father standing by and hearing him and seeing him weepe asked him why he wept Who told him it was because he had gain'd the knowledge in all the liberall Arts but as yet he had not bred up any in the same knowledge whereupon this Damascens Father presently went to the Captaine and humbly on his knees begd him to be given to him which was granted him and so hee brought him to his house and having refresht him told him he had a son which he would commit to him which was this Iohn who as my Author testifies Naturae praestantiâ atque animi studio industriâ by the excellency of his naturall parts and endowments quickly attained to a perfect knowledge in Grammar and Logicke and Philosophy Rhetorick Musick Astronomy and indeed in all the Liberall Sciences and what is admirable was not for all his knowledge and learning tainted with pride or vain glory but still retained his humility His Master seeing such forwardnesse in so young a Scholer and such a promptitude and promising abilities to future performances spoke these words to his Father En quod cupiebas plenè consecutus es puer enim me eruditione antecellit that is What you have desired you have fully obtained for hee which you call a youth excels mee in Learning Wherefore seeing I have satisfied your desire in this respect give me leave to end the rest of my dayes
men of God but the just are more particularly so called not by the reason of creation or generation but of that interest they have in him by the way of regeneration if therefore thou be a man of God looke not after those things which may draw thee aside from the love of so good a God and gracious Father Idem in 2 Epist. ad Timoth. cap. 3. Let it not trouble thee if this man live in tranquillitie and thou thy selfe in tribulation God will have it so it is hee that hath put thee into the combat thou must therefore sweat hard before thou come off with victory Where as he that comes forward in the World goes backward in grace and miserable must that mans estate needs bee that goes laughing to destruction as a Foole to the stocks for correction I have here set them downe as they bee registred Bellarmine 1 Vpon the lesser Prophets Hosea Jonah Nahum Abakkuck 2 Vpon all Saint Matthew 3 Vpon Saint Mark. 4 Vpon Saint Luke 5 Vpon Saint John 6 Vpon all the Epistles of Saint Paul 7 In his Commentaries on the Evangelists and on the Epistles hee hath so imitated Saint Chrysostome that he is styled Saint Chrysostomes Abbreviator that is Saint Chrysostomes Epitomiser or Abbreviator An. Christi 1080. Sanctus Anselmus ANSELMVS THat the Reader may reape the more satisfaction concerning this famous Father of the Church St. Anselmus who was Arch-Bishop of Canterbury I thinke it very fit to speake something of his Country and Parents His fathers name was Gundulphus and his mothers name was Ermerberga both of them well and nobly descended and both of them abounding with wealth lived in the holy state of wedlocke a long time in the City Augusta Which City lying on the confines of Burgundy and of the Longobards was the birth-place of this noble Matron and she made Gundulphus of a stranger a Citizen of the same place she was the more devout for her husband followed his secular affaires and hath bin censured of some as too profuse and prodigall But Ermerberga with great care and providence lookt to the government of her family and kept all things in comely order of an upright modest carriage and sweete behaviour to all her neighbours Yet Gundulphus before his death despised the world and the affaires of it and so entred into a Monasticke course of life This Anselme being put to learning proved excellent in it at foureteene yeares of age and then his Mother dying he lost the best Anchor to his ship and so having want of good councell and mother-like instructions he began to faile of his former good intentions and did give himselfe a while to the vaine sports of this world and neglected his learning and former studies so soone doth youth if not well governed follow fast to its owne ruine But God who had otherwise disposed of him and intending to use his labours in the Church did by the good motions of his blessed Spirit speedily reduce him for his father did prove wondrous strict unto him and the more humble this Anselmus was to his demands the more did he seeme to be exasperated against him so that Anselmus did fully resolve to travaile and not to live under his father who was so severe against him and hee was so hard put to it that in his travaile fainting and being without â—ny refection hee was forced to eate snow to quench his thirst So having spent some three yeares in Burgundy and France he came into Normandy where he hearing of the holy man Lanfrancus desired to see him and speak with him and if he could so farre prevaile intended to put himselfe under his government and tuition Well hee obtained his desire and so was admitted for one of his Scholars and being now held hard to his study night day his body was brought downe with Watchings and Fastings so that he did begin to repent this hard course of life and thereupon resolves to turne a Monke intending as he said to dedicate himselfe wholly to the service of God And so having well pondred the case with himselfe hee comes to Lanfranck and desires to know which of these three courses were the best for he intended to follow his father-like directions and his prescriptions should be a law unto him either to enter into some Monastery or to live an Hermit or else to enjoy his fathers meanes and to distribute it to the poore his Father now being dead Lanfrancus deferres to resolve himselfe but he advised him to goe to the Bishop of Rhone and to follow his grave Councells who was called at that time Mauritius Anselmus comes to the Bishop through the great Woods rhat are hard by Becc he having here propounded his minde the good old Bishop commends unto him the Monasticke life as most sit and profitable for him whereupon this Anselmus resolves to enter himselfe a member of the Monastery of Becc being now seven and twenty yeares old and one Herlvinus being Abbot an old honest man and had setled that Monastery with his owne revenues into this Anselmus being entred set himselfe studiously to imitate the vertues of the chiefest and holyest men and was so strict in holinesse of life that in three yeares space hee was admired and beloved of all What shall I speake of his Watchings his Fastings his Meditations How wisely and prudently did he convert one Osberne a wild young man how carefull was he in the visitation of the sicke How vigilant to confirme men in that course of life What famous Treatises did he write What Questions and doubts did hee resolve How mainly did he contemne the World How bitterly did he repent him of his sinnes How constant was he in prayer So that living thus holily not onely Normandy tooke notice of him but all France and Flanders and his fame was spread into England so that many of all sorts resorted to him for Counsel Thus by his worth and piety that Monastery increased within and without within with Piety Learning and good Discipline without with faire and large possessions and meanes given to it And now this old Herlvine being not able to undergoe the weight of that charge committed the administration of it to this Anselmus who having this imposed upon him how wisely and faiâ—hfully did he performe it Did hee not distribute with discretion meanes to such as wanted did hee not settle good Orders in it And now at this time the old Abbot Herlvine yeelding to death all the Brethren with one consent resolved upon this Anselme but he with words and teares denyedit but at last their eagernesse and the Arch-bishop of Rhones exhortation prevailed and so he is made Abbot the inferiour matters and causes of the Monastery being referred to the care and charge of the Brethren Ipse Dei contemplationi monachorum eruditioni admonitioni correctioni jugiter insistebat that is He was daily in Divine contemplations and instructing the Monkes with admonitions corrections and comforts