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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	father_n	holy_a	nature_n	8,877	5	5.8462	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A72216	The second booke of the dialogues of S. Gregorie the Greate the first pope of that name containing the life and miracles of our Holie father S. Benedict. To which is adioined the fule of the same holie patriarche translated into the Englishe tonge by C.F. priest & monke of the same order.; Dialogi. Part 2. English	Gregory I, Pope, ca. 540-604.; Batt, Antonie.; Fursdon, John, d. 1638.; Gregory I, Pope, ca. 540-604. Short treatise touching the confraternitie of the scapular of St. Benedicts order.	1638 (1638)	STC 12350.5; ESTC S125237	72,895	252

conuenience the man of God was at his deuotions in his cell to whō the enemye in an insulting manner appeared and told him he was going t● his Brethren at worke the man of Go● straigh● waise by à messenger aduertised the Brethren there of warning thē to haue à care of themselues for the wicked enimye was at that houre come to molest them Scarce had the messenger told his errand when the malignant spiritt ouer threw the wall that was à building and with the fall thereof bruised à yong Monke sonne to à certaine Senatour Hereat all of them much grieued and discomforted not for the loss of the wall But for the harme of their brother brought the heauy tideing to their venerable Father Benedict who bid them bring the youth to him who could not be carried but in à sheet by reason that not onely his body was bruysed but also his bones crushed with the fall Then he willed them to lay him in his cell vpon his matte where he vsed to pray So causeing the Brethren to goe out he shutt the doore and with more then ordinary deuotion fell to his prayers A wonder to heare the very ●●me how●e he sent him to his worke ●gaine whole and sound as euer he was ●efore to helpe his Brethren in making ●p the wall whereas the enemie ho●ed to haue had occasion to insult ouer Benedict by his death Of Monkes who had eaten out of their Monastery CHAP. XII NOw began the man of God by the spiritt of prophecy to foretell things to come to certifie those that were present with him of things that passed far of For it was the custome of the Monastery that the Brethren sent abroad about any business should neither eate nor drinke till their retourne this in the practise of the rule being carefully obserued one day some Brethren vpon occasion went abroad and were forced to stay later then vsually so that they rested refreshed themselues in the house of à certain deuout woman of their acquaintanc● Afterwards coming home very lat● they asked as was the custome the Abbots blessing Of whom he streigh● way demanded saying where dine● you they answered no where he replyed why doe you lye did you no● goe in to such à womans house eat● you not there such and such meates dranke you not so many cuppes Whe● the venerable Father had told them both the womans lodging the seueral● sorts of meates with the number o● their draughts They all in great terrour fell downe at his feate and with acknowledgemēt of all they had done confessed their fault which he straigh● wayes pardoned perswading himselfe they would neuer after attempt th● like in his absence knowing he was alwayes present with them in spiritt How he reprooued the Brother of Valentinian the Monke for eatinge by the way CHAP. XIII MOreouer the Brother of Valentinian the Monke whom wee mentioned in the beginning was very deuout although but à Saecular he vsed euery yeare once to goe from his dwelling to the Monastery that fasting that he might partake of the prayers of the seruant of God and see his Brother As he was in his way an other trauayler who caryed meate with him put himselfe in to his company and after they had trauayled à good while he said to him Come Brother let vs refresh ourselues least wee faint in the way God forbid answered the other by no meanes Brother for I neuer vse to goe to the venerable Father Benedict but fasting At which answer his fellow trauayler for the present said no more when they had gone à litle farther he moued him againe but he would not consent because he resolued to keepe his fast So the other was à while silent and went on forward with him after they had gone agreat way wearied with long trauaille in their way they came to à meadow and à spring with what else might delight them there to take their repast Then said his fellow trauayler loehere is water heere is à meadow here is à pleasant place for vs to refresh and rest vs à while that we may without endangering our health make an end of our iourney Soe at the third motion these words pleasing his eare and the place his eye he was ouer come consented and eate At the euening he came to the Monastery where conducted to the venerable Father he craued his benediction and prayers But presently the holy man reprooued him for what he had done in the way saying what was it Brother that the malignant enemye suggested to thee in the way by thy fellow traueller The first time he could not preuaile nor yet second but the third time he preuailed and obtained his desire Then the man acknowledging his fault and frailty fell at his feete more sorry for his offence by reason that he perceiued he had offended although absent in the sight of Father Benedict Peter I Discouer in the breast of the holy man the spirit of Helisaeus which was present with his disciple far of him How he discouered the dissimulation of king Totila CHAP. XIV Gregory BE silent Peter with patience that you may vnderstang strange● things For in the time of the Gothes their king informed that the holy man had the gift of prophecy as he went to wards his Monastery he made some stay à litle way of and gaue notice of his coming to whom answer was made from the Monastery that he might come at his pleasure the king of à treacherous nature attempted to trye wheter the man of God had the spirit of prophecy There was one of his followers called Riggo whom he caused to put on his royall robes and buskins on his feete and so commanded him taking on him the kings person to goe forward towards the man of God three of his cheife pages attending vpō him to witt Vsilrike Roderike and Blindine to the end they should waite vpon him in the presence of the seruant of God that so by reason of his attendance and purple robes he might be taken for the king When the said Riggo with his braue apparell and attendance entred the cloister the man of God sate a far of and seing him come so nie as he might heare his voice he c●yed to him saying putt of sonne putt of that thou cariest it is not thine Riggo straight waies fell to the ground sore abashed for hauing praesumed to delude the holy man all his followers likewise fell downe astonished and riseing they durst not approach vnto him but retourned to their king and trembling related vnto him how soone they were discouered How Benedict by prophecy foretold the king and Bishop of Canusina future euents CHAP. XV. AFter this king Totila came himselfe to the man of God whom so soone as he saw sitting à far of he durst not come nigh but fell prostrate to the ground the holy man twice or thrice bad him rise but he durst not get vp then the holy man came himselfe to

à Monastery in à mannourie of ●s neare the city Tarracina to which ●●quest he condescended and made ●oise of his monkes whom he sent ●●pointing them an Abbot with à ●rouost and as they were setting for●ard on theyr iourney he spake to thē●ying Goe and vpon such à day I ●ill come and shew you where to cō●●iue the oratory where the refectory ●●d lodging for guests or what els ●●all be necessary So they receiued his ●●essing and departed in hope to see ●im at the appointed day for which ●●ey praepared all thinges they thought ●●t or necessary for their venerable ●ather and his company The night before the appointed day the man o● God appeared in sleepe to him whom he had constituted Abbot and to hi● Prouost and described to them mos● exactely how he would haue the building ordered And when they à wake● they related to each other what they had seene yet not altogether relying vpon that vision they expected th● holy man according to his promise but seeing he came not at his appointed time they retourned to him very pensiue saying wee haue expected Father your comming as you promised but you came not to shew vs where and what we should build The holy man answered Why Brethren Why do● you say so Did not I come according to my promise And When said they came you Did not I replyed he appeare to each of you in your sleepe described euery place Goe and according to the direction was giuen you in that vision contriue the Monastery A● these wordes they were much astonished and so retourning to the mannour they erected the building according to the reuelation Peter I Would gladly be informed how and in what manner he could expresse his mind to them so far of so that they should both heare and vnderstand by an apparition Gregory VVHat is the reason Peter thou doest so curiously search out the manner how it was done It is euident that the spirit is of à more noble and excellent nature then the body And we are taught by the scripture how the Prophet was taken vp in Iury and set downe with the dinner he carried with him in Chaldee who after he had refreshed an other Prophet with his victuals found himselfe againe in Iury. If then Abacuc in à momēt could corporally goe so farre and carry his dinner what wonder if the holy man obtained to goe in spirit intimate to the spirits of his brethrē what was necessary That as the other went corporally to conueigh corporall foode so he might goe in spirit to informe them of things concerning à spirituall life Peter I Confesse by this your discourse you haue giuen full satisfaction to my doubt yet I would gladly know what kind of man he was in his common conuersation How certaine Religious women were absolued after their death CHAP. XXIII EVen his ordinary discourse Peter had à certaine efficatious vertue for his hart being eleuated in contemplation would not let à word passe from him in vaine Nay if at any time he had vttered any thing by way of threatning rather then determining his wordes had the same force and effect as if he had absolutely decreed it For not far from his Monastery two Nunnes of noble race and parentage liued in à place of their owne and a certaine religious man prouided them all things for the exteriour but as in some nobility of birth causeth basenes in mind so that those who beare in mind their owne greatnes do lesse humble themselues in this world these foresaid Nunnes had not as yet refrained their tongues by à religious habit but by their vnaduised speches oftentimes prouoked to anger the good man who had care ouer them Wherefore after he had for à long time endured their contumelious language he complained to the holy man of the in●uryes he suffred which as soone as the man of God heard he commanded them forth with saying haue care of your tongues for if you doe not amend I excommunicate you which sentence of excōmunication not withstanding he did not pronounce but threaten Yet for all this they nothing changed in their former conditions within à few dayes after departed this life and were buryed in the church at such time as in the church à solemne Masse was soong and the deacon as the custome is cryed alowd if there be any that communicateth not let him goe forth then the Nurse of the two virgins who vsed to make offeringes to our Lord for them saw them rise out of their graues and goe forth This she obserued sundry dayes that alwayes when the Deacon cryed in that manner they went out not able to remaine in the church and calling to mind what the man of God had said vnto them whilst they were liuing for he excluded them from communion vnlesse they amended their language and manners she with great sorrow informed the seruant of God what she had seene who presently with his owne hands gaue offering and said goe and cause this oblation to be offered to our Lord and they shall be no longer excommunicated When therefore this offering was made and the Deacon according to the ceremony cryed out that such as did not communicate should goe out of the church they were not seene to goe forth any more whereby it was apparent that whereas they went not forth with the excommunicated they were admitted by our Lord to communion Peter IT is merueilous strange that this venerable and holy man as yet li●ing in this mortall life should be able ●o release those who were vnder the inuisible tribunall Gregory ANd was not he Peter in this mortall life to whom it was said whatsoeuer thou ' shalt binde vpon earth shall be also bound in heauen and whatsoeuer thou shalt vnbind on earth shall be also vnbound in heauen Whose place and autority in binding and looseing they possesse who by faith and vertuous life obtaine the dignity of holy gouernment And that man an earthly creature might receiue this soueraigne power the Creatour of heauen and earth came downe from heauen and for the redemption of man kinde God himselfe became man that this spirituall power might be granted to flesh For so Allmighty God condescending as it were beneath himselfe raised our weakenes abowe it selfe Peter HIs miraculous power is confirmed with good reason How à Boy was cast out of his graue CHAP. XXIV ON à time à certaine younge Monke of his who was ouer much affected towards his parents went out of the Monastery without his benediction and the very same day as soone as he was come to them he died and being buried the day following they found his body cast vp which they enterred the second time and the next day after it was found in like manner lying aboue ground as before Heere vpon they ran streightway and fell at the feete of the most Father Benedict imploring his aide to whom the man of God with his owne hand gaue an host of

the blessed Sacrament saying Goe and with all reuerence lay this host of the body of our Lord vpon his breast and so bury him This done the earth kept his body and neuer after cast it vp By this you perceiue Peter of what merit this man was with our Lord Iesus Christ sith the very earth cast forth the body of him who had not receiued the blessing of Benedict Peter I Doe plainely perceiue it and am much astonished therat Of à Monke who leauing his Monastery met à Dragon in the way CHAP. XXV Gregory ONe of his Monkes of a wandering and vnconstant disposition would by no meanes abide in the Monastery And although the holy mā had often reprooued admonished him of it he remained deaf to all perswasions and oftentimes entreated earnestly to be released from the congregation So the holy Father ouercome with this importunity in anger bid him be gone Scarse was he got out of the Monastery when he met in the way à Dragon that with open mouth made towards him and seeing it ready to deuoure him he beganne to quake tremble crying out alowde helpe helpe for this Dragon will deuoure me The Brethren vpon this suddain noyse ranne out yet saw no Dragon but found the Monke panting and afrighted so they brought him back againe to the Monastery who forth with promised neuer to depart from the Monastery and from that time he remained alwayes constant in his promise as who by the prayers of the holy man was made see the Dragon ready to deuoure him which before he had followed vndiscouered How St. Benedict cured à boy of the leprosy CHAP. XXVI I Will also relate what I heard of à very honorable man named Anthonie who affirmed that à seruant of his Father fell into à leprosie in so much that his haire fell of and his skinne wa● swolne so that he could noe longe hide the deformity of his disease dayly increasing This seruant was sent by the gentlemans Father to the man of God and by him restored to his perfect health How St. Benedict miraculously procured money for à poore man to discharge his debt CHAP. XXVII NOr will I conceale that which his Disciple Peregrine was wont to relate how an honest poore man constrained by necessity of à debt thought his onely remedie was to haue recourse to the man of God So he came to the monastery where meeting with the seruant of God he told him how he was extreamely vrged by his creditour for the payment of twelue shillings The venerable Father answered him that in very deed he had not twelue shillings but yet he comforted his want with good wordes saying goe after two dayes retourne hither againe for at this present I haue it not to giue you These two dayes as his custome was he spent in prayer and vpon the third day when the poore debter came againe there was found thirteene shillings vpon à chest of the Monastery that was full of corne which the man of God caused to be brought him and gaue them to the distressed man that he might pay twelue and haue one to defray his charges But to retourne to the relation of such things as I learned of his disciples of whom I spake in the beginning There was à certaine man had an aduersary who bare him deadely hatred and so great was his malice that he gaue him poison in his drinke which potion although it procured not his death yet it so altered his colour that his body became all speckled like à leapour This man was brought to the holy Father who by his onely touch caused the diuersity of colours to vanish away and restored him to his health How à glasse bottle cast downe vpon stones was not broken CHAP. XXVIII AT such time as the great famine was in Campania the man of God gaue all he had to those he saw in want and necessity in so much that there was no prouision almost left in the spence saue onely à litle oyle in à glasse vessell yet when one Agapitus à subdeacon came humbly entreating to haue à litle oyle giuen him the man of God who had resolued to giue all vpon earth that he might haue all in heauen commanded this litle oyle that was left to be giuen him The Monke who was dispencier heard his command but was loath to fulfill And the holy man à litle after demanded whether he had done what he willed him the Monke answered that he had not giuen it saying that if he should haue giuen that there would be nothing left for the Religious hereat the good Father much displeased bad some other take the glasse bottle in which there remained a little oyle cast it out of the window that nothing of the fruits of disobedience might be left to pester the Monastery which was accordingly done vnder the window was à steepe fall full of huge rough stones vpon which the glasse fell yet it remained as whole and entyre as if it had not bin throwne downe so that neither the glasse was broke nor the oyle spilt which the man of God commanded to be taken vp and giuen to him that asked it Then calling the Monkes together he rebuked the Religious man before them all for his pride want of confidence How an empty tunne was filled with oyle CHAP. XXIX HAuing ended the chapter he and all the Monkes fell to their prayers In the place they prayed was an empty tunne closse couered As the holy man continued his prayer the couer of the said tunne beganne to be heaued vp by the oyle encreasing vnder it which runne ouer the brim of the vessel vpon the floore in great aboundance Which so soone as the seruant of God Benedict beheld he forth with ended his prayer and the oyle ceased to runne ouer Then he admonished the distrustfull and disobedient Monke to haue confidence in God and learne humility So the Brother thus reprehended was much ashamed because the venerable Father did not onely by word admonish him but also did miraculously show the power of Allmighty God Nor could any man afterwardes doubt of what he promised sith as it were in à moment for à glasse bottle almost empty he had restored à tunne full of oyle How he dispossessed à Monke CHAP. XXX ONe day as he was going to S. Iohns chappell which stands vpon the very toppe of the mountaine he mette the subtill enemie vpon à mule in the habit and comportment of à physitian carryeing à horne and à morter who being demanded whither he went answered he was going to the Monkes to minister à potion So the venerable Father Benedict went forward to the chappell to pray and haueing finished retourned backe in great hast for the wicked spirit found one of the ancient Monkes drawing water and praesently he entred into him threw him downe and tortured him pittifully As soone as the holy man retourning from prayer found him thus cruelly tormented he onely gaue him à