receive the Sacrament by appointment of their Confessor he advised all Confessors to take Confessions publickly in the Church every Holy day Wednesday and Friday on other dayes he would still have one of them there for that purpose For matters of the house he desired his should chuse a mean doing nothing that was singular At times of refection besides the usual reading which lasted somewhat above half the meal the rest of the spare time was spent in propounding a couple of Questions by turns morning and evening either pertaining to Morality or taken out of Sacred Writ or the heads of Positive Divinity which were modestly and briefly answered to by them at table according to every ones sense These are the main of those Orders Philip made in the Congregation an Institution since planted in many Cities of Italy and other Provinces The H. man was absolutely of opinion that each House that was erected should resembling his give Laws to it self and be obedient to the Ordinaries of the place independent on the Roman Congregation Of which two Bulls are extant of Paul V. and Gregory XV. Yet ambitious he never was of augmenting his number For when the finest wits and hopefullest youths daily flocked to him he would perswade them either to go into some of the Regular Societies or live as they were thereafter as he thought best for them but never would he entice any to his own Order either by intreaties or commendations of it Yea if all should have forsaken the Congregation it had not a whit discouraged him who used to say God hath no need of men for of stones he raiseth up Children unto Abraham If any attempted the like to his designe of the Oratory it troubled not him when one told him how some Regulars had taken up the custome in their Churches to make familiar discourses and that they were to be opposed he wisely answered And whose gift is it that any prophecy In other things he governed his Body with much prudence and caution and so demeaned himself that he cemented his own fast together in indissoluble bands of love and concord affirming it was harder then men imagined to preserve long unity among such as were otherwise at liberty and out of subjection which nothing doth more facilitate or sweeten than gentle conduct and moderate commands Yet did he never when there was need of it slacken or remit the reins of government having some of his so at command that with a look or beck he could rule them as he pleased and it was usual with him whensoever he would reprove any of them but to look sternly and 't was enough The detestable vice of disobedience he so perfectly hated ever that if any of his were found guilty therein they were straight discarded the House To which purpose he left in writing these words under his own hand If any think he cannot hold out by reason of the meanness of dyet the services to be performed at Church or the like but will disturb his fellows let him freely and speedily quit the place if not after a first or second offence let him be expelled for I am resolved ô ye Fathers they shall not continue amongst us who refuse to observe these so few Orders Thus Philip. And that all his might learn to deny their own understanding he sent them forth on business at such unseasonable times and hours as seemed against all reason and if they demurred never so little he redoubled his commands that so taming and mastering their own wills they might the sooner arrive at the height of true humility But what progress in piety he expected from his and what an enemy he was to the refractory and perverse the Letter which Cardinal Baronius sent from Ferrara while he tarried there with Clement VIII to Consolinus then Master of the Novices at Rome sufficiently testifies where he writes I must accuse my self indeed for writing nothing to you all this while were it but to thank you for your prayers to God for me I now defray that debt and as effectually as I can both thank and entteat you together with your Scholars my dearest dear Children to whom I dayly wish greater increase in vertue hereafter to do the same still Cherish Good Father cherish those young and tender plants dressing them to the likeness of their fair Precedent the Tree of which they are Branches the same way and course You steer conduct them and be assured Our B. Parent still lives sees and orders his holding a scourge in his hand to chastise the unruly For my self I beg of you R. Father to rank me among your Novices punishing my faults without favour or delay I would to God I could thus grow young again verifying that of the Prophet in me Renovabitur ut aquilae juventus tua Thy youth shall be renewed like the Eagles For this I take it is the meaning of Abishags cherishing David spent with travail namely when the heat of the spirit meets with old age Certainly Abishag as you well know lay with our H. Father who in his very last years felt such heats as he thought himsef in a manner burnt up therewith Not furrs nor purple can warm the aged but Abishag alone O let me obtain this favour of God let me procure this by prayer to enjoy her embraces in this last cold season of my life since this alone hath induced me to write So God bless and sanctifie you Ferrara August 14. 1598. Caesar Baronius Cardinal Lastly as to domestique affaires He was very cautious not to wast the goods of the Congregation being the Patrimony of Christ and stock of the Poor wherein he was so carefull that he would let nothing be disbursed more than needs must alledging that which Cassian writes of a Cook whom the Fathers sharply reproved for but wasting three grains of Lentils and that of S. Antonine Archbishop of Florence who went into the Church a nights and studied by the light of the Lamp lest as he said he should impair the Poors maintenance And if any judged it too great rigor he replyed Away with that nicety so the goods belong not to the Church do what you will with them CHAP. XX. The Obedience and Reverence given him by his Sons THe Congregation being reduced into this modell the Religious Father in the first place recommended obedience to his a duty which not only those of his House but even strangers most readily payed him nothing being so hard or irksome which upon his commands they would not attempt For this reason Cardinall Taurusius avouched some of them little short of the Egyptian Monks in point of obedience though neither by vow nor oath thereto obliged and that none of the Founders of other Orders that he knew of were more punctuall observed and obeyed than Philip by his Nor was it spoken upon slight grounds for some did so revere him that had he bid them throw themselves down head-long or into
after midnight Leo the Xth then Pope and at his Baptism in the Church of S. John Baptist was after the name of his Grandfather called Philip. His Father Francis Nerius was a man of good repute with all and of great integrity in his pleadings in the Law His mother Lucretia Soldia a Noble and Religious Matron whose Ancestors had formerly managed the prime offices in that Common-wealth Francis had by Lucretia four Children two Daughters Katharine and Elisabeth and two Sons Anthony that dyed an infant and Philip who was of a pregnant wit an affable disposition handsome features of body and and a strange sweetness of behaviour furnished with all the excellencies wherewith those who from Heaven are designed unto the good of Souls are usually beautified His vertuous Parents vertuously educated him whilst yet a child first entring him timely What is Writ concerning his Childhood is from the relation of his Sister of his own mouth of Ludovico Parigi his most ancient and familiar freind into Grammar wherein he not only outwent but became also admired by his School-fellows He studied Rethorick too under an able Master through whose discipline he proved a good proficient Among other essays of his after-piety which at times from his very infancy he discovered to the world a marvellous inclination to things divine a rare modesty and very great reverence to his Superiours were remarkable in him He was so dutifull to his Father that but once in all his life was he known to move him in the least to anger viz. when he very lightly strook his Sister Katharine as shee disturbed him at his prayers which fault if at those years it may be termed a fault being reproved for by him he a long while after bewailed His Mothers commands he was so carefull of that being at any time bid to stay any where he would not stir from the place without her leave She dying and his Father marrying anew his Step-Mother out of a reverence to his Sanctity loved him entirely as her own and when he afterward left Florence wept sore to part with him Yea in her last most desperate Sickness being at the point of Death she oft redoubled his name ever and anon calling him thereby as if the very mentioning of it were a kinde of ease to her Nor only was he thus respective to his Parents and betters even his equals and inferiours found him so pleasant as if he had no mixture of Choller in him at all so that for his excellent temper and innocent carriage he was by contraction of his name styled Pippus bonâ—s Pippus the Good By which amiableness both of Nature and manners he not only deserved the love of men but was protected by God even to a miracle For being some eight or nine years old and as boys are eager of riding he got up on an asse that was in an outer court and on a sudden together with the asse fell down a pair of stairs into a cellar where a woman presently running took him up sound and well whom she supposed to have been bruised to pieces These rare accomplishments of the minde were attended with a speciall care of religion and the service of God and his devotions argued in him a strange maturity and carried with them much of authority For they consisted not in erecting liâ—tle Altars as is usuall for children at that age but in sending up prayers reciting Psalms and devout attention to the word of God concealing still in his talk his intention to become a Priest or betake himself to a Cloyster and even in his childhood growing reserved in his designes as perfectly detesting all manner of ostentation Such a forwardness in vertue and so childlike innocency procured him already that favour with God that whatever he requested of our Lord he instantly obtained So that it oft hapned when he had lost any thing upon recourse to his prayers he presently found it He drew his first breathings of the Spirit from the Fryers predicant whose Church dedicated to S. Mark he much frequented insomuch as living afterward in Rome when any of the Fathers of that Order visited him he would usually say Whatever good I have by Gods blessing received from my Infancy I owe it all to the Fathers of your Society principally to Zenobius de Medices and Servantius Minius of whom he was wont to relate this passage These two had agreed together every night before they went to Mattens to confesse their sins to one another but the enemy of mankind envying them so great a good knocks at Zenobius's chamber one night two hours before ordinary and cries O ho rise 't is high time whereat he awaks and leaping out of bed hies him to Church where he finds the counterfeit Servantius walking hard by the seat of Confession Zenobius taking him for Servantius indeed devoutly kneels to make his confession the devill sits by takes it and at any fault the Penitent confest answered Pish this is nothing no fault this then discovering some worse offence still he replyed These are but trifles Zenobius hearing that mistrusting the devils wiles crossing himself thus bespake the Father of lies Art not thou that fiend infernall at which he vanisht away both disappointed of his hope and confounded with shame Besides these he resorted to an eminent Preacher of the Order of the Humiliati called Baldoline whom he greatly delighted to hear of whose Sanctâ—ty he gave a very fair Character affirming that Florence was saved by this mans prayers in the Year 1527. What time the Duke of Bourbon passing with his army through Italy assaulted Rome The Holy Youth thus taken up with Spirituall imployments this divine priviledge was granted him that burning with the love of all vertues he even flamed with a Zeal of suffering for Christ He was then about fifteen years of age when he fell into a burning fever which he endured with that patience and resolution that though his body lay under the strokes of the disease his Spirit seemed in a sort above it therefore secretly hiding the matter his chief care was to conceal from the family his being Sick No less bravery of minde did he express when his Fathers house being on fire he bare with such moderation the loss of no small quantity of goods that he thereby raised in all a very great opinion of his future piety Chap. 2. He is sent to his Vncles in Campania THere was an Vncle of Philips named Romulus a man very industrious who going from Florence into Campania and living a Merchant at S. Germans had there got an estate to the value of 22000 Crowns and more to him therefore was Philip at eighteen years old by his Father dispatched with designe that applying himself to Merchandise he might make him his heir especially having none nearer a kin to him then he So coming to S. Germans he was by his Vncle kindly received towards whom he so demeaned himself that observing his ingenuity
also the same Bernardine for that he had a neat and large beard to shave it half off who presently going about it Philip charged him to forbear And to what an eminent purity this Person arrived by such kind of Mortifyings those who lived a long time with him in the Congregation can sufficiently testify Once in the heat of Summer he was seen openly in the Church clad in a furr'd Coat which being put off he dressed up one of his Sons in with the wrong side outward and sends him on an errand so to Caesar Baronius as they were singing Vespers the young man ashamed to go in such a habit skulked privily behind the Priests seats and delivered his message Philip who at a distance saw the carriage of the business as soon as he returned sent him again bidding him go thorow the midst of the Quire he observed his commands though much against his will He made Anton. Gallonius wear a furr'd garment over his Coat a Summer together although he was of so hot a constitution that in the depth of Winter he used only a Cloak He would also not only civilly intreat but imperiously compell him to sing before such Noble or Honourable Persons as came to Vallicella for that he knew he could tune certain Ballads as the Balladsingers use though otherwise he were a very serious man He invented a smart and witty Penance for Austin Mannus a Priest of the Congregation He had it seems made a choice sermon to his Audience which Philip observing commands him to preach over the same word for word six times he obeyed him insomuch as those that were present looking one upon another and laughing cried Look there is he that always sings the same note Besides as one that could dive into the in most recesses of the Soul he used for the subduing high-mindedness to enjoyn them though seldom openly to disclose the secrets and cogitations of their hearts Which speciall Antidote he made use of for reducing troubled and oppressed consciences to a tranquility and calme One of his had entertained some thoughts against Philip himself which the R. Father caused him particularly and openly to discover upon his knees in the Hall who having done so was eased of all his disquiet mind But this course he took with none but such as he found very tractable and obedient A Dominican Frier who before his entrance into that Religious order was assailed with violent and strong temptations having this one remedy of Philip but to make known his grief was cured in his mind of all those perturbations But forasmuch as Philip mainly exacted of all his that they should submit the internall motions of their Understandings and Wills to the direction of another it will not be amiss to recount here that which befell Baronius to this purpose The Pope had allotted him a certain pension for the compleating his Annalls which coming to Philips ear He thereupon injoynâ— him to pay out of the moneys assigned him such a yearly value as the rest formerly used to defray toward the benefit of the Congregation Baronius thought it hard measure and was much troubled at it especially not having wherewith to discharge the Transcribers of the Vatican Records Therefore he alledged many and severall Arguments to alter the Fathers intention but he being peremptory and resolved on it could by nothing that was propounded be brought off whereat Baronius began to be much dejected So sending for Thomas Bozzius he entreats him to deal with the Father effectually and to change his resolutions protesting that he would rather leave the Congregation then bear that charge Bozzius gratifies him herein but finds Philip more resolved than before requiring him in plain terms either to pay or to be gone for God needs not the help of men At that Thomas counselled Caesar and earnestly besought him to yield himself up in every thing to the commands of the B. Father remembring that next under God he was indebted unto him both for his Spirituall and Secular knowledg At length he following his good counsell repairs speedily to the H. man and falling down at his feet in most humble manner begs his pardon offering not his money alone but himself and all he had to his service chearfully To whom Philip Had you but done your Duty we needed not your money only learn hence-forward to yield more ready obedience and soften the hardness of your refractary mind For his greatest desire was that his should enure themselves to suppress the too nice inquisitions of the Intellect which he called the Rationale and therefore he said All vertue was comprized within the compass of three fingers putting his hand upon his forehead while he spake so and adding This is the abridgment of all Spirituall life to lay aside Reason and arguings And withall he diligently trained up his Sons in the daily and constant practises of Mortification For many times when one of them was a preaching he would command another to go up into the Pulpit and bid him hold his peace sometimes he made them speak ex tempore to the people who at his command did much better on the sudden than if they had premeditated Otherwhiles he would send them to the Booksellers bidding them ask aloud for the Jests of Plebanus Arlottus or the Sonnets of Mathew Boiardus or if they had Esops Fables to sell He made them more than once go backward and forward from Vallicella to S. Hieroms without a Cloak or else in torne and ragged cloths whereupon it once fell out that one of his wearing by his appointment tattered Sleeves met one that offered him a newer pair which he refused Philip hearing thereof presently dispatches him to the man to tell him how he denyed to take them then as not lacking them but would willingly now accept them for that he needed them the Scholar did so and having gotten the sleeves wore them till they were all to pieces Lastly he would make them dance in the presence of Prelates and Cardinalls sing divers Songs wear a linnen Bonnet on their heads openly walk the streets in a broad old-fashioned Hat tied under their Chin carry Rosaries made of the biggest sort of Beads hanging about their necks like Hermites tye silk Scarfs edged with gold athwart their breasts like Souldiers and many things of the like nature thereby to cross their inbred pride and thirst after estimation telling them often My Sons accustome accustome to Deny your selves in small things that ye may be able to do it more easily in greater Yet although he disciplined them daily by these exercises he treated them not all alike for some at the very first he clogged with sundry and severe Penances on the otherside he injoyned others no such thing at all For being Divinely inspired he knew who were fit to undergo them who not and what kind of Austerities every one needed He also made such account of this Vertue that he had often in his mouth
Spirit of Mortification And Philip afterward told Cusanus that he was no contemptible Person For his Scholars instruction and information he was wont to give them many Precepts and Advices Firâ—t he counselled such as were Confessors not by violence to guide their Penitents the same course which themselves had taken since some Holy exercises are beneficiall for one which to another become pernicious for said he they must not be suffered to try at pleasure what ever comes into their heads it being sometimes most advantageous to interdict them the practises of Devotion both for relaxing the mind and to enure them by the exercise of Mortification to master their own desires by little and little if they affected any thing overmuch He would not have Penitents for every cause change their Confessors as on the otherside he was offended that Confessors admitted other Penitents besides their own For he would not entertain Nerus de Nigris one whom he loved exceedingly for his Penitent but alwayes remitted him to his own Confessor while he was at Rome He also made Peregrine Altobell return to his former Confessor again in whose absence he for a year together had taken his Confession And for preserving peace and union between Man and Wife and the better governing of Families he greatly commended the having but one and the same Confessor so that it were done voluntarily not out of any motives from fear or aw as knowing full well how free the use of Sacramentall Penance ought to be For the reclaiming any one fallen to his former state of piety he affirmed no better remedy could be found than to discover his offence to some one of approved sanctity that was his confident it being not impossible by this one act of Humility to repossess himself of his formerly lost Vertue He likewise advised Confessors not to permit such of their Penitents as were Novices to practise all kind of Penance they perhaps requested that so they might proceed with more alacrity in the Service of God neither overburdened with multiplicity of Penances to weary them or make them grow desperate and careless and so withdraw their hand from the Plow He wished Penitents not too violently to urge their Confessor to yield to them wherein he was unwilling and said it was very expedient when they had not the benefit of a Confessor to imagine him directing them and to square their actions as they conceived he would enjoyn them He disliked that any should whip themselves with Scourges or small Chains or do any such thing without acquainting their Confessor that who so did otherwise would either suffer in their health or likely were seduced with a spirit of Pride He would not have Vows made without the advice of Persons discreet for fear lest what is lightly promised God be as lightly recalled He could not give way that any of his should leave any Vertuous course of life they had once chosen desiring much that every one should abide in his own calling adding that even Secular men might attain the state of Perfection for that Trades and Arts did not hinder the acquisition of Vertue Whereupon though he sent innumerable companies welnigh to severall Orders of the Religious and especially to S. Dominic's insomuch as the Fathers thereof stiled him a Second Dominic yet was he most pleased to see people Religious in their own houses And for this reason he would hardly consent that such as lived in the Courts of Nobles with good example unto others should depart thence saying that a man to alter from evil to good needed no directions but he that intended to ascend from good to better had need of Time and Counsell and Prayer For the conservation of quiet and concord betwixt Neighbours and Friends he advised never to speak of mens naturall defects as also in admonishing Princes or Great Personages not to proceed directly but in the third person still so tempering the reprehension as Nathan to David He likewise counselled that if any had received discourtesies or affronts by Persons of Quality they should not bewray any signes of displeasure but look affably as though there had passed nothing of discontent between them that by this means all jealousies and surmisings of malice and revenge might be removed He wished women to tarry at home not to goe much abroad nor gadde to other folks houses but upon necessity and urgent occasions So that one time as he was highly extolling Martha Spoletana a woman of that Age remarked for her holy conversation some of his asked him Why he so much commended that Woman Because said he manum suam misitad fortia digiti ejus apprehenderunt fusum She layeth her hauds to the Spindle and her fingers take hold of the Distaff This woman was a great honourer of Philip kneeling and prostrating her self at his feet as often as she came to Rome and resorted to him having that Priviledg granted her by God to discern the Beauty of the Soul and seeing the brightness of this B. mans Soul she was ravished therewith into an Extaticall joy and delight Much more to this effect was He wont to alleage which to avoid prolixity is here omitted CHAP. X. He freeth Persons Possest by the Devill THough Philip were not very forward to make use of Exorcisms yet he obtained of Our Lord that singular Favour as by his Prayers and commands devils were cast out a Testified upon oath by Car. Tarugi and divers others A Maid named Katherine was brought from Campania to Rome that by His means she might be released from the Devill For she spake both Greek and Latin as though she had been brought up in an Academy whereas she was ignorant and illiterate without the least smattering of learning besides she had such an incredible strength that many stout men at once were scarce able to master her By help also of the Devil she many times foresaw at what hour Philip would send to adjure her saying That Priest hath now sent one to bring me by force to him and presently ran away and hid her self in the secretest by-places of the honse Her did Philip free of those unclean Spirits by only Praying to God for her at S. Johns Church of the Florentines and returned her safe again to her Parents Lucretia Cotta a Roman being bewitched was so tormented by the Devill for eight years that the Balls of her eyes were drawn down to her Nose and she almost wholly deprived of her sight besides that she had such a pain at her heart that the Curate of the place finding her sometimes half-dead meant to anoint her with the Holy Oyle otherwhiles she felt her Bowels so torne and wrung attended with such a trembling that many women lying upon her brest could not stop the motion thereof In these tortures of body and mind she could neither eat nor sleep nor stand nor walk at all but as she was held up betwixt two At last brought to this extremity
but never met with any that gave so safe so pious and so prudent counsell as Philip. And which was most remarkable in him his Answers seemed to be made casually as it were and yet the event sufficiently demonstrated that they proceded from the greatest depth of Reason and maturity of Judgment Hence was it that in his transactions he was searching not precipitate courteous yet not too flexible and though by nature very respectfull yet no way farther then was fit officious So that being moved once by a Noble man to mediate with the Pope for him in a certain business he plainly answerd that he would not both for that another might better effect it as also lest he might lose an apportunity of helping others that stood in greater need But to come to that branch of Prudence called by the H. Fathers the Discerning of Spirits he was so divinely illuminated from above that he could distinguish what best conduced to every ones condition Hereupon it came to pass that as many as by his means or directions turned Religious for the most part persevered therein with great approbation when such as against his mind be took them to the Cloyster soon returned again to the pompous vanities of the World Which was constantly observed by those of the Oratory they who with his full consent were admitted into it persisting gloriously those few which were not being either discarded by the Fathers or voluntarily forsaking the Congregation The like befell such as he herein questionless Propheticall out of any speciall motives perswaded to a Secular life and they proved eminent amongst others in the practise of Vertue Among whom besides those already named John Baptist de Fulginio became famous Who being very desirous to know what course of life he should lead repaired to Philip whose piety was much fam'd throughout the City so kneeling down to make a Generall Confession as they term it of his sins unto him Philip takes the paper wherein he had marked down his faults and tears it which he patiently endured and much admiring the wisdome of the man ever after was directed and led by his conduct in all the actions of his life as if he had been as himself said a meer carkase neither after made he any more words concerning the Generall Confession Meanwhile he put up his prayers to God that what he pleased to appoint for him Philip might discover to him and lo as he was in prayer at S. Bonaventures Church under Mount Quirinall he heard a voice bidding him John Baptist return to Fulginium return to Fulginium At the hearing of which although he were wont to communicate all things unto the H. man yet would he not presently acquaint him with this lest he should suspect him to long after his Countrey But Philip who knew all by Inspiration from God said to him I command you that you return into your own Countrey for thither Christ calls you yet be in a readiness to come hither whensoever I shall remand you Whereupon he travells to his Native soile where he made such Progress in Holiness and Vertue that while he lived he was commonly termed a Saint With no less advantage both to himself and others did he detain Caesar Baronius among the Seculars when having oft desired Philips leave to enter into the Order of Capuchins he could never get his consent insomuch as some hearing how the Father opposed it and diverted him from it not duly weighing things were scandalized thereat that he should discourage any from a Religious State But the sequell evidenced how much they were deceived and how judicious his caution was seeing every one knows how renowned for his life and learning Baronius was in his Secular course and what incomparable service he did the Church of God both by his Writings and Example He perswaded Franc. Puccius of Palestrina to live a Secular too For he contemning the specious vanity and emptiness of the World was most passionately desirous to become a Capuchin so that he minded nothing else day nor night and whensoever he saw any of that Order he thought him an Angel So advising with Philip he tells him what he had been designing You saith Philip are not fit for a Religious life therefore live at Palestrina where you are like to be most beneficiall Puccias was not satisfyed with this but wearied the Good man with continuall requests to procure an answer to his mind At last he bad him Go but withall know you shall not stay long among them The young man posts away to Viterbium to accomplish his desires but by the way fell so desperately ill that after a tedious languishing sickness he was fain to return home again where growing more resolved and supposing it ill done of him to return into his Countrey he vowed if he recovered he would assay once more to put himself into the Capuchins Order So when he was well again he comes to Philip tells him he had lately made a Vow the H. man cries God forgive you did I not foretell you that a Religious life would not suit with you Therefore look you get a dispensation of your Vow as soon as may be He did so but not resting there the Father repairing to the Generall of that Order first instructs him what answer to give Puccius then sends him to him The Generall asks him what I pray Good friend have you vowed our course of life I have so quoth he But replyed the other though you have sworn our Rule yet we have not sworn to receive you in therefore go some whither else for here is no room for you At that Puccius was quiet and returning to Palestrina being first made Priest then Archpriest of that City performed such and so many services tending to the good of Souls both in his Country and at Latium and the Frontiers of Campania that he was generally stiled the Apostle of those parts He prevailed likewise with a Noble young Roman that came to ask his advice about taking a Religious habit to live quietly at home saying Some evill Spirit would amuse you with these kind of thoughts that he may ruine you and your whole Family But I tell you further you not only shall be none of the Religious but in time shall marry All which to a syllable came to pass though out of respect to the party his name be concealed Yea the B. man was so Divinely illuminated in the discerning and determining each mans condition that he many times would say to his Sons Do this or that for this is the will of God which when Cardinall Fred. Borromeo heard he would say Few or almost none can use this speech and not be mistaken Otherwhiles he was wont to say you indeed shall persevere but not he and the success in tract of time shewed his predictions were true Two of his the one named Francis the other Ioh. Baptista Saracenus intended to betake them to S. Dominic's Order to whom Philip
Iohn Baptist indeed shall be taken into this Institution and there continue but Francis though be enter upon it shall ere a year come about return to a secular life And so it hapned Some of the Fathers had a desire to have a certain Youth admitted into the Oratory Philip was unwilling yet being desirous to gratifie the Society permitted him but a while after the young man out of a kinde of Levity left the House of his own accord There were two whose Confessions the H. man used to hear the one an Italian the other a French man but the Italian seemed the more devout Of these Philip This is delivered in upon oath by four persons thus divined The Italian that appears so zealous shall cool in his piety but the Frenchman who is flower to spiritual things shall bold out to the last And so it was Another young man also came sumptuously attired to S. Hieroms to hear the Sermons not to gain benefit by the Word of God but to jeer at the Preachers Where one time he made such a noise that he disturbed those that were neer him who not enduring his sauciness and impudence spake to Philip to reprove him He smiling said to them Let him alone for he will prove a better and devouter man than any of you So when the young man came to understand himself he entred into the strictest of the Religious Orders where persisting in Holiness and abounding in Vertues he ended his dayes He had a certain Penitent a Portugues about 17. years of age who was well known to the Cardinall a Monte Politiano one that had attained to such a measure of devotion and that spake with such a Gust of heavenly matters that he made even the most learned This Cardinall Taurusius witnessed upon oath stand amazed at him This man begun to be very zealously affected unto a Regular life and though Philip approved not thereof yet tired with his uncessant importunity he became unwillingly willing to his admission But as he was putting on his Religious habit the Servant of God being by went aside a little and turning to the Wall wept exceedingly Taurusins seeing it asked why he grieved who answered that he deplored the Vertues of that young man Taurusius then knew not the meaning of those words but after some revolution of time plainly perceived it for the Portuguese did not indeed quite throw of his Regular habit but degenerating and abandoning all piety spent his dayes wandring becoming the burden of the earth and a Scandall to all Moreover it was so known abroad that Philip excelled in the Gift of Discerning that Gregory the XIII desirous to prove a certain Virgin named Vrsula Benincasa which came from Naples to Rome and was in almost continuall Extasies for she was Entranced thrice before the Pope to whom she had address'd her self upon business judged none fitter than Philip for that purpose Who at his Holiness's command undertaking it tried her by severe injunctions and severall afflictions First debarring her the B. Sacrament seeming to slight all her trances and raptures calling them illusions then dealing more rigorously with her till he had made divers experiments of her sincerity After all which he gives the Pope a very good account of her commending to him her vertuous simplicity and innocent conversation She afterward returning to Naples remembring how the B. man had treated her both in word and deed was wont to say that none knew her heart betâ—er than Philip. She died the Sixteenth of January in the year One thousand six hundred and sixteen leaving fresh the memory of her exemplary piety behind her He used almost only the experiment of Mortifications to try whether the Spirit were of God or no supposing that where there was not the greatest demission of mind there could be no grounds of true religion laid Alphonsus a Capuchin sirnamed Lupus an excellent Preacher and of known Vertue was to go into the Pulpit when on a sudden in comes Philip who without any Apology or Preface as one having Authority asked Are you Lupus that famous Preacher who by reason of the airy applause of men conceit your self above all others Are you he that Peacock-like displaying the bravery of your painted tail vauntingly boast you have preached in all the eminentest Assemblies of the City and so went on upbraiding him with such bitter language that those who were by admired at it Hereupon prostrating himself on the earth he with many tears and great remorse cried O Father you worthily admonish and reprove me justly Whom Philip forewith laying away his severity and clearing up his countenance with his wonted affection embraced and kissed biding him Go on Father go on as you have begun and publish the Gospell of Christ And when he had done speaking went his way He went once to see a Good woman that had lost her sight and lay Bed-rid being highly honour'd at Rome for her piety Her the B. man divers ways makes triall of by word and deed who bore all cheerfully He to shew those that came with him the rare Vertue of the woman ere he departed taking a Priest that was then present by the ear bids him kneel down before her and then saith he to her This man is possest by the De vill and therefore hath need be adjured by the H. Exorcismes to that end let us pray that the poor wretch may be freed She having paused awhile kissing the Priests hand that kneeled said This man is not possest My Father but a Priest that said Mass this Morning to whose Prayers I humbly betake me At which Philip departed silent not so much as bidding her Farewell One Philip of the Third Rule of S. Francis's Order for his many works of Charity and austerity of life reputed a man of great Holiness and integrity was sent to the B. Philip by Cardinall August Cusanus at that time Protector of the Franciscans that he might throughly search and examine the Spirit of the man When he was come the H. Father knitting his brows and looking with a sowre aspect on him as though he scorned him asked what 's he and straight calling for his Box in which his small money was kept bid him Take as much as you please He making as if he would have emptied the Box took but a half penny whereat Philip cried out Ho sirs this man hath more need of meat than money bring him a Loaf When he saw the bread come pretending to have more mind to that he bites it before Philip as though he had been almost famished and puts it up into his â—ouch Then the Father asked him what life he led and what prayers he made to God He chattering his teeth and knocking his feet together answered that he knew not how to make any other Prayers but such Philip seeming to take that answer ill thrust him away in displeasure who said at his departure This Old man hath much of the
wrought in some places not wrought in others For the holiness of the place is very well known to many where the Body of the Blessed Felix of Nola was buried wither I willed them to go for that whatever was miraculously mad◠manifest upon either of them there might from thence be more readily and * Nola in Italy being over against Hippo in Affrick more faithfully transmitted in writing to us For at Millain I my self knew at the Memoriall of the Saints where the very devils make strange and terrible confessions a certain Thief who came thither purposely to deceive one by for swearing himself that was compelled to acknowledge the theft and restore what he had taken away And is not Affrica full of the bodies of Holy Martyrs a And yet we know such things done no where hereabouts For as the Apostle saith Non omnes c. 1. Cor. 12. All Saints have not gifts of healing nor have all the discerning of Spirits so neither would he who divides his own to every one as he will have these things done at all Memorials of the Saints Wherefore being unwilling that this very great grief of my heart should come to your knowledge lest I should trouble you by grieving you to much and to little purpose God would perhaps therefore not conceal it from you that you together with us might give your selves to prayer that so what himself knows in this matter but we cannot know he of his goodness may be pleased to manifest unto us c. a Here Bishop Andrews as I said Resp ad Apol. Bellarm c. 12. would make the matter of this Epistle someway to oppose evacuate the eighth chapter of the 22th Book de Civ Dei because the Father here saith nusquam hîc in Affrica talia fieri scire se that he knew no such miracles done in Affrica But the Father without making him to contradict himself may first either be understood by talia not to exclude all miracles in generall and absolutely but only those of such a kind that is a miraculous deciding of matters of controversy forcing the delinquent to confess his fault as these expressions of his seem to imply Ubi terribiliora opera Dei non sanam cujusque conscientiam facilius aperirent i. e. ' where the more terrible works of God ' discovered every one 's unsound conscience And novimus furem quendam c. his story of a thief forced to confess his theft before such a Monument And that which follows after talia Non omnes Sancti c. All Saints have not gifts of healings nor all the discerning of Spirits so neither would he have these things done at all Memorialls who divides to every one according as he will These things that is both these things both healing and discerning of Spirits Or Secondly if he speak here of all Miracles and mean these things in generall yet may that which he saith in Civ Dei 8. cap. be true nevertheless those frequent Miracles he knew to be done at the Martyrs Memorialls in Affrick probably happening after the writing of this Epistle For in that eighth chapter of the 22th Book De Civ Dei which books were finished not long before his death he saith Nondum est autem biennium c. ' It is not yet two years since this Memoriall was set up at Hippo-Regius and of another Memoriall he saith Quam Possidius illo advexit Which Possidius Bishop of Calama and one of S. Austins Colleagues as he calls himself in the story which he writ of his Life brought thither therefore that of no long standing But to put all out of doubt see what the Father saith concerning this matter in his Book De vera Relig. cap. 25. Sed accepimus majores nostros c. But we have heard that our Forefathers followed visible Miracles for they could not do otherwise in that degree of Faith whereby men ascend as high as from things temporall to eternall by whom it is come to pass that these now are not necessary to their posterity For seeing the Catholick Church is founded and diffused through all the World those Miracles were not suffered to last to our times lest the minde should always look after things visible and mankind by the frequency of them should chill by the Novelty whereof it was at first enflamed Nor yet are we to doubt but that they are to be believed who preaching things whereunto few arrived could notwithstanding perswade the people to follow them c. Vpon which words that he might not be misunderstood in them the Father thus comments in his Retractations S. Aug. Retract lib. 1 cap. 13. Item quod dixi c. Again whereas I said that those Miracles were not permitted to last to our times it is true indeed for they that are now adayes baptized do not so receive the Holy Ghost when hands are laid on them as to speake in the Languages of all Nations nor are the impotent at this day cured at the shadow of the preachers of Christ passing by them and whatever such like things were then done which it is apparent afterward ceased But what I said is not so to be understood as that men should believe there were now no miracles wrought in the name of Christ. For at the same time when I wrote that very Book I my self knew a blind man in the same City that recovered his sight at the Bodies of the * Millain-Martyrs and some others of which sort so many are even in these times done that we can neither know them all nor yet reckon up those we know See what the Father saith to the same purpose Retract 1. lib. 14. cap. Alio loco cùm miracula commemorassem c. In another place viz of his Book De utilitate Credendi 16. cap. When I had recited the Miracles which the Lord Jesus did when he was here in the flesh I added You will say why are not these things done now and I answered there because they would not move us unless they were wonders and wonders they would not be if they were usuall But this I said because not so great nor all such miracles are done now a dayes not because none are done also now a dayes * Gervasius and Protasius see S. Aug Confess 9. lib. 7. cap. S. Aug. De Cura pro Mortuis Cap. 16. HEnce also is that Question solved After what manner the Martyrs by the favours granted to such as pray declare that they intermeddle in humane affairs if the dead know not what the living do For we have heard it not by uncertain rumours but undoubted witnesses that when Nola was besieged by the Barbarians the Blessed Confessor Felix not only by certain instances of particular favours but even in the plain view of men appeared to divers citizens and inhabitants whom he especially loved But these things were divine manifestations differing far from the usuall course assigned to the severall
sorts of creatures For because when our Lord was pleased water was presently turned into wine it follows not that therefore we should not distinguish what vertue water in the proper order of Elements hath from what in the rarity or rather singularity of that divine operation upon it Nor because Lazarus rose again therefore doth every dead man rise again at pleasure or therefore are the lifeless roused up by the living as one asleep is by another that is waking Therefore the bounds of humane things are of one sort the effects of the divine power of another what is done naturally is one thing what miraculously another although both God is assistant to nature that she may be and likewise nature not excluded to the being of Miracles We must not therefore imagine that any of the dead promiscuously can intermix themselves in the affairs of those alive because the Martyrs are present at the curing or helping some particular persons but we are rather to conceive that by the divine power it is that the Martyrs do intermeddle in the affairs of the living because by their own proper nature the dead cannot do so Although this Question transcend the reach of my understanding How the Martyrs help those who certainly are helped by them whether they are personally present at the same time in so divers and so far distant places either where their Memorials are or wherever besides at their Memorials they are known to be present or whether they being removed from all commerce with men into a place sutable to their merits yet praying in generall for the needs of their suppliants as we pray for the dead whom we are no way present to nor know either where they are or what they do Almighty God who is every where present neither fastend to us nor yet divided from us hearing the Martyrs prayers by the ministry of Angels dispersed from all places doth dispense these comforts unto men for whom he judgeth them needfull in the miseries of this life and thereby out of his wonderfull and unspeakable power and goodness sets forth the Merits of his Martyrs where when and how himself pleaseth but especially at their Memorials for that he knows this expedient for us for the building and propagating of the faith of Christ for the confession of which the Martyrs suffered c This is a thing much higher than to be reached by me deeper and obscurer than that I can fathome and therefore which of the two it be or whether haply it be both of them i. e. that sometimes these things are done by the very presence of the Martyrs sometime again by Angels personating the Martyrs I dare not determine I had rather inquire of such as know them for there are some that know them as some that think they do but do not for they are the gifts of God giving some to some men others to others as the Apostle saith 1. Cor. 12. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every one to profit withall to one saith he is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom to another the word of knowledg according to the same Spirit to another Faith in the same Spirit to another the gift of healings in one Spirit to another working of Miracles to another Prophecy to another discerning of Spirits to another kinds of tongues to another the interpretation of tongues And all these worketh one and the same Spirit dividing to every one his own as he pleaseth Of all these spirituall gifts which the Apostle reckons up whosoever hath the discerning of Spirits knoweth these things as they are to be known CHAP. XVII ANd such a one t is probable was John the Monk whom Theodosius the Elder being Emperour consulted about the event of the Civill war for he had the gift of Prophecy For I doubt not but that as every particular man may have each of those gifts particularly so might some one have many This John when a certain Woman that was very devout impatiently desired to see him and he much relucting because to women he permitted no such thing much importuned him by her husband for such a favour Go saith he tell your wife she shall see me at night but in her sleep as it came to pass When he instructed her in all things fitting to a Believer in a married condition She when she awaked told her husband that she had seen such a man of God as he well knew him to be and what she had heard from him This a grave and Noble Person most worthy to be credited and who had it from the parties themselves told me But if I should ever have seen that Holy Monk since as report goes of him he was most patient in hearing questions and most prudent in answering them I would have asked him what is pertinent to this Question Whether he himself came to that woman in her sleep that is his spirit in the shape of his body as we dream of our selves in the shape of our bodies on whether this vision befell the woman in her sleep he being busy about something else or in his sleep dreaming of something else either by some Angel or some other way and whether he did foreknow that what he foretold would come to pass by the Spirit of Prophecy revealing it to him For were he by her as she was in her sleep it must be doubtless by wonderfull grace and priviledge not nature and by especiall favour of God not by any power of his own But if she saw him in her sleep he doing something else or being asleep and taken up with other visions then some such thing it was as that we read of in the Acts of the Apostles Act. 9. where the Lord Jesus speaks to Ananias of Saul and tels him that Saul saw Ananias coming to him whereas Ananias himself knew nothing of it That man of God would inform me of every of these particulars of whom I would further enquire concerning the Martyrs whether they present themselves to such as in their sleep or any other way behold them in what shape soever they please and especially at such times when the Devils in the possessed do confess that they are tormented by them beseeching them to spare them or whether by Gods appointment these things are done by the Angelicall powers in honour and commendation of the Saints for the benefit of men they themselves remaining in perfect rest attending on other far better visions apart from us and praying for us For at Millain at the Monument of the H. Martyrs Protasius and Gervasius the Devils did expressly and by name amongst some others that were already dead whom they in like manner mentioned confess also Fishop Ambrose then living and besought him that he would spare them he being otherwise employed and altogether ignorant when this was done Or whether sometimes these things are done by the presence of the Martyrs othertimes of Angels and whether these two can be