Churches of Affrick to condemne them as Heretiques and that pious Emperour Honorius confirmed their Religious proceedings and adjudged them Heretiques so many of them returned to the bosome of the Church againe and dyed in the Faith Alwayes great was the care of St. Augustine for the good of Religion not onely in Hippo but in other parts of Affricke and not onely against Heretiques but also in winning Pagans to imbrace the Truth He was just in all his Counsels especially hee would determine according to the Truth Hee was not onely learned but also ready to instruct and to take off differences he would not spare likewise to reprove wisely and seasonably the sinners admonishing them to obedience and Christian Devotion so that as Possidonius reports it He may worthily be called a Watchman to the house of Israel to the Church of God preaching the Word in season out of season exhorting instructing rebuking with all long suffering Hee was excellent for deciding temporall causes and very circumspect to relieve the party wronged how divinely did he write to Macedonius a Priest of Affricke and granted his desire As hee had liberty hee would be present at the meetings of the holy Priests celebrated through diverse Provinces not seeking those things which were his but doing all for the glory of God doing as Saint Paul writes to the Corinthians not seeking yours but you taking care that the faith of the holy Catholicke Church should remaine unviolated and that unworthy men should be punished in ordaining Priests he would alwayes follow the custome of the Church and the generall consent of Orthodox Christians For his apparell it was neither too sumptuous nor sordid keeping a faire mediocrity saying that many were puft up with pride by the riches of their Garments and so did fall into sinne Hee kept a spare dyet and frugall being Broth and Roots sometimes for his guests he would have flesh or for the weake and sicke folkes He alwaies kept Wine alledging that of the Apostle Every creature of God is good and not to bee rejected being sanctified by the word and prayer And as hee speaks in his Confessions Hee did not so much feare the uncleannesse of his meate as the uncleannesse of his desires and useth many fine examples out of Gods Word to prove it his Utensils in which his meat was brought to table were either earthen or wood or Marble His Table was rather for disputation and discâ—urse than for any rich Banquetting or drinking and it had this Distich ingraven on it Quisquis amat dictis absentum rodere vitam Hanc mensam indignam noverit esse sibi That is Who shal their absent friends with words disgrace Are guests unworthy of this roome or place And therefore he would tell them that were faulty this way that either those Verses were to be blotted out or else he to depart Hee was ever mindfull of the poore and would either out of the revenues of the Church or out of the offerings of the faithfull distribute to their necessities His House was a Church Hee never bought land Possidonius speakes that there was an Honourable man of Hippo living at Carthage would give his possession to the Church an act used in those Primitive times now it is out of use and caused it to bee past under Seale and sent it to Saint Augustine but a few yeares after hee changed his minde and sent his Son to desire the deeds to be reversed and in liew of it his Father had sent to the poore an hundred shillings St. Augustine was sorry that the man should so suddenly bee weary of well-doing but withall restored to his Son the Acts and withall did rebuke him sharply and bad him take heed that God did not punish his proceedings He did not regard wealth but counted it combersome and therefore did as Mary did chuse the better part Upon a time he wanted monies to release some prisoners and Captives and caused the holy Vessells to be melted and given for their freedome Saint Ambrose saith that in such cases it may bee permitted He alwayes kept Divines in his house whom he fed and cloathed hee was wondrous severe against Oathes so that hee abated their portion and allowance that did commit it He never did admit women in his house no not those of his kindred Hee never entertained discourse alone with any but had some still with him In his Visitations hee kept the rule of the Apostle he relieved the Fatherlesse and Widowes in their distresse if they entreated him to pray to God for them and lay his hands on them hee would presently doe it He praised one who when hee was sicke said to those that stood about I have not lived so that I am ashamed to live with you nor doe I feare to dye having so good a Lord to goe to This Father before his death recounted strictly all his Books and those which he writ when he was not experienced in the affaires of the Church which would not agree with the Church hee himselfe corrected and reproved and hee writ two Volumes which carry this Title De recensione Librorum which are his Bookes of Retractations hee complained that some of his Books were taken away before they were well mended some he left imperfect being prevented by death Hee writ a Booke called the Speculum in which any one that reades it may find either his obedience or disobedience towards God Hee lived in the time of that barbarous invasion of the Goths and Vandals out of Spain into Africk and Mauritania in which were Cities Churches Monasteries laid wast Virgins defloured Matrons abused the Altars puld down the Priests slain the faithfull hiding themselves in Holes Dennes and Caves Hee saw almost innumerable Churches destroyed onely three escapt their out-rage Carthage Hippo and Cirtis yet after his death Hippo was burn'd it was besieged fourteen moneths Saint Augustine and all the faithfull did pray God either to free the Citie or give them patience to endure or to take him out of this life which last came to passe for in the third month of the siege he fell sicke of a Fever and died hee healed one possessed of a Devill and by prayer dispossest him Hee healed one readie to die by laying his hands upon him whereupon they said if any was sicke Vade ad AUGUSTINUM That is Goe to Saint AUGUSTINE and you will recover hee writ an Epistle to Honoratus his fellow Bishop who desired to know whether they might not fly in those dangerous times or not It is extant among those 180 Epistles wherein he declares largely his mind in this point Hee lived to the age of 76 yeeres hee continued Priest and Bishop almost forty yeeres hee dyed wondrous penitent and had Davids penitentiall psalmes before him which hee constantly read and would weepe hee suffered none to come to him but at such times as the Physitians came with refections for him ten days before
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
death by a contrary comparison For as death is violent in destroying so love is violent in preserving Of Corporall Exercise Corporall exercise as Fasting watching and abstinence which bridle the flesh are little profitable unlesse piety be added thereunto for it makes us shunne vices and so to be excusable for some vices but not for all but piety and good workes are gratefull unto God Of Christs Love There came one without sinne that saved us from sinne for the Sonne of man came to seeke and to save sinners because he came in love as he was man and was from eternity as he was God The instruction of words is not so powerfull as the exhortation of workes for if those that teach the truth well doe neglect to do well they shall hardly profit their audience For workes perswade more than words The Writings and Bookes of Peter Lombard may bee knowne by the Epitaph on his Sepulcher which is in Saint Marcels Church in Paris where these words may be read Here lies Peter Lombard Bishop of Paris who composed the Booke of Sentences Commentaries on the Psalmes and Saint Pauls Epistles Moreover there are foure bookes of Sentences which are the chiefe works of Master Peter The first containeth sentences of the Fathers concerning the Trinity and Unity of God The second of the Creation of the World and especially of Angels and men and of the grace of God The third of the incarnation of the Word and of vertues and vices The fourth of the Sacraments and of the last things the Resurrection and Judgement An. Christi 1245. Alexander Hales ALEXANDER HALES THis Irrefragable Piece of Learning was borne in England in a place called Hales in Norfolke where having had liberall and free education bestowed on him by his friends he wholly addicted himselfe to literature it seemes hee had not onely an excellent wit but as forward a will to study for he proved famous in a short time which argues that he was wondrous painfull in his studies and so gained the height of learning by his indefatigable care and labour And although England bred him yet hee travailed into other Countries and was as famous abroad as hee was at home for as it is testified of him Magno tempore Parisiis legit id est He read a long time in Paris He it was that made the summe of Divinity and divided it into foure parts which he performed so accurately profoundly judiciously and learnedly that hee was called in Paris Fons vitae the Fountaine of life So likewise others termed him Doctor Doctorum the Doctor of Doctors But the most generall Title of worth that was given him was this that he was Doctor irrefragabilis Sixtus Senensis saith that for his knowledge in all the liberall Arts and for his wisedome in Schoole-Divinity he was not onely not inferiour to any but indeed did farre excell all others so that he may wel be termed the guide of Schoole-Divinity Another entitles him Virum in Divinis Scripturis eruditissimum in seculari Philosophia nulli suo tempore secundum ingenio subtilem clarum Eloquiâ— id est a man most absolutely experienced in the Scriptures and inferiour to none of his time for Philosophy most acute in Wit most renouned for his Eloquence Possevinus saith of him that he writ the summe of Divinity Ea Methodo quam anteà nemo unquam attigerat id est in that dainty Method which never any before had done But abâ—ve all the pens that have writ in his praise Petrus Rudolphus hath gone the highest whose Encomium of it selfe is sufficient to cause this Author to be esteemed And since he was so famous a Writer I cannot let his name and fame dye without adding something of mine own knowledge to perpetu ate him to posterity There be three or foure remarkable things in him which praise him sufficiently as first his general Learning secondly the Scholars of note that hee was Tutor unto thirdly the various Workes that he writ fourthly the honest and sanctified life that he alwayes led and lastly his death For the first who can suspect his ability for any kinde of Learning when as hee is rather admired of all than yet equallized by any Who that is of solid judgement but doe allow of his authority who but subscribes to his Conclusions Who desires not to register his undenyable Sentences Who but spend themselves at the Lampe to have resolution of difficult points from his Treasury What Case doth hee leave unresolved what Science doth he not handle Is hee not absolute for Grammar fluent for Rhetorique deepe in Philosophy expert in Metaphysicks made up compleat for Divinity Who almost can reckon up the number of his scholasticke Questions with their wise and learned Answers satisfies he not any man in any poynt or head of Divinity Is not hee the Garden that 's variously decked with most sorts of sweet Flowers and wholsome Herbes so that while some have endeavoured to bee eminent in this or that Science and with great difficulty have scarce attained their desired perfection is not he made up of all as though Natures endowments and graces blessings attended him and did both strive to the utmost to enrich him And then secondly doe not those worthy Instruments of learning who proved such solid Scholars afterwards speak this Alensis praise especially those two more eminent Lights to wit Thomas Aquinas and Bonaventure the one being for his admirable parts stiled Doctor Angelicus and the other for his rare knowledge in Divinity is called Doctor Seraphicus of the first it is said Tolle Thomam dissipabo Ecclesiam take him away and the Church will bee weakned and take away both and how will the Schooles be darkned and their glory eclipsed and were not both these by their own confessions instructed and tutored by this Alexander of Hales the Master sure was an able man who gave learning in such a measure to two such Champions And thirdly doe not his numerous unparalleld Workes sufficiently renowne him Did not all the chiefe Divines and Masters of Paris to the number of sixty approve and seale to the allowance of his summe of Divinity Did not the same Alensis decore and illustrate the old and new Testament with Marginall Notes which Worke was called Postills on the whole Bible Are there not in Manuscripts in foure Tomes Expositions and Commentaries of his upon Saint Marke Saint Luke and upon all the Epistles of Saint Paul Did not his pen set forth the summe of vertues Hath not hee writ likewise on the Pentateuch Commentaries on the Booke of Iosuah on the booke of Iudges on the bookes of the Kings as also on the Psalms hath not his labour set forth Annotations on the lesser Prophets Are not those his Commentaries on Aristotles Metaphysicks knowne by the name of Alexander ab Alexandria Did not he write learnedly likewise on the foure bookes of the Master of the Sentences hath not he
that Saint Basil was so beloved of God that hee was kept in the midst of all dangers as an other Noah and as Moses Aaron and Iosuah Symeon Metaphr astes names him Praeclarissimam Ecclesiae facem splendidissimum purae Veritatis Solem qui suorum claritate radiorum omnes orbis terrarum or as illustret and also Excelsam Dei Columnam Theologiae Iâ—bar legitimum ipsius sapientiae filium Consummatam Intelligentiae perfectionem Patris aeterni Legatum Divini verbi Tubam Donorum Spiritus Sancti Dispensatorem fidelem that is The resplendent torch of the Catholike Church a bright Sunne to the truth by whose lustre and brightnesse all the parts of the world are enlightned a main Pillar for the trueth of God a bright beame of theologie the very sonne of Wisdome the perfection of Understanding the Embassador of the Eternall Father the trumpet of Gods Word a faithfull Steward and Dispensour of the guifts of the Holy Ghost Thus doe these and so have many others of the Primitive Fathers celebrated this Saint Basills praise Cardinall Bellarmine speaking of his Works calls them no otherwise then Basilii Magni opera praeclarissima the most famous works of Saint Basill the Great hee flourished under Valens died under Gratianus as Saint Hierome in his Ecclesiasticall Writers doth testifie Saint Basils Sayings To know thy selfe is a difficult consideration For as the eye can see all things but it selfe so some can discerne all faults except their owne Divine Love is a never failing treasure hee that hath it is rich and hee that wanteth it is poore The love of God is an excellent ointment to cure the infirmities of the minde and cleere the eyes of the understanding Basil. in Hexamero Hee that willâ—know true love let him learne to love Christ for Christ is love Basil ibid. Divine love is a never failing treasure he that hath it is rich and he that wants it is poore Basil in hom What shall I doe shall I pull downe my Barnes Who doth not pitie his unhappinesse He wants in abundance and is troubled with too much wealth and is unhappy in his present prosperitie and as his field brought him a great increase so that increase did augment his care and trouble Basil in Hexameron There are three things which nourish Humilitie daily subjection consideration of our own frailtie and the hope of reward Basil in Hom. Every Hypocrite is like Simon carrying the Crosse on his shoulders they afflict their bodies with corporall abstinence and yet through the love of glory they live to the World Basil ibid. Three things doe settle a wandring minde watching me ditation and prayer the assiduity and fervencie whereof doe establish and settle the soule Hee being asked why wee should love those that speak ill of us answered Because for their sakes it is that we are blessed according to those words of Christ Blessed are yee when men speak evill of you Mat. 6. He likewise being demanded of Eubulus the Philosopher what was the definition of Philosophie answered The meditation of death He being demanded again Quis est mundus made this answer Quâ— est super mundum Saint Basil speaking of the joyes of Heaven saith of the sweete harmony that is there the sweet melodie the heavenly musique they enjoy would ravish a soule on earth if it were but capable of it nay farther hee goes and sayes that it is sweeter than devotion more sweete than contemplation and farre sweeter than all things in this earthly Mansion Sanctus Basil in Psal primum When he had read the Bible over saith that it is a Physicians shop of preservatives against poysoned Heresies A patterne of profitable Laws against rebellions spirits a treasury of most costly jewels against beggerly rudiments a foundation of most pure water springing up unto everlasting life The originall thereof being from Heaven not from Earth the Author being God not man the matter veritie pietie puritie uprightnesse The forme is Gods Word Gods testimony Gods Oracles are effects light of understanding repentance from dead works newnesse of life peace and holinesse the end and reward of the studie The same Basil hearing of a Senator that had renounced the World and yet retained unto himselfe some part of his meanes to live within a Cloyster told him that he had left to be a Senatour that was not made a Monke I have here set downe his Works as they are contained in foure Tomes printed at Basile in the yeere of Grace 1540. Tome 1. 1 Homilies upon the work of the six days being eleven in number 2 Homilies upon the Psalmes 17. 3 Homilies of severall Arguments 28. Tome 2. 1 Of Virginity two books 2 Of Paradise one book 3 Against Eunomius three books 4 Against Sabellians and Arrians 5 Of the Holy Ghost one book 6 Of free will one book 7 Of Baptisme two books Tome 3. 1 Sermons seven 2 Of the judgement of God 3 Of the Confession of Faith 4 The summe of Morals 80. 5 Questions largely explained 6 Questions shortly explained 7 Monasticall Constitutions Tome 4. Epistles of Saint Basil and Gregory the Divine 180. 2 An Epistle to Chilo of solitary life 3 Other Epistles of the same 4 An Oration against them who calumniate those which say there is a Trinitie Cardinall Bellarmine thinks as Saint Hierom that there are but nine Homilies of Saint Basils the other two he supposes to bee Gregory Nyssens and so this great Light went out whose memory wil ever be fresh and honorable among the faithfull An. Christi 390. The Life of S. Gregory Nazianzen S. GREGORI NAZIANZEN GRegory first Bishop of Sasima a little Citie in Cappadocia then of Nazianzen in Cappadocia and then of Constantinople whom the Graecians for his singular learning and authority first after Saint Iohn the Evangelist sirnamed the Divine was a living Library of Philosophie and Divinitie and the most eloquent Oratour of his Time attayning to the high stile of Polemon Laodicenus a most famous Sophister So that as men exceed beasts in the ability of speech so hee excelled others in the facultie of Eloquence and sweetnesse of speech whereby he allured mens minds enclined their wills and affections defended the poor and oppressed comforted the afflicted and got himselfe a generall fame and good opinion using it also to the edification and instruction of others in Divinity For his eloquence was but the expression of his divine contemplations and conceptions Non enim tam nos ratio juvaret nec tam esset in nobis manifesta nisi quae mente concepimus proferre etiam loquendo possemus Ipsa vitae praecepta etsâ— natura sunt honesta tamen plus ad formandas mentes valeant quoties pulchritudinem rerum claritas orationis illuminat Reason would not be so helpfull to us nor so manifest in us unlesse wee could by speech expresse our conceipts Even moral precepts of life although naturally honest yet are more powerfull to fashion minds when
ordained Bishop of that City so that Megalius Bishop of Calama and Primate of Numidia comming to visit the Church of Hippo with other Bishops this Valerius did obtaine of his hands what he desired with the generall rejoycing of all the Clergy though Saint Augustine did mainly at first refuse it and alledged it was not fitting neither was it the custome of the Church to ordaine any to be Bishop of a City before the other was dead but it was imposed upon him and so being ordained hee doubled his vigilance and not onely in that City but in every place hee taught and writ against the Donatists There was a sect of perverse and desperate people who under the colour of great continence were called Circumcellians who being not able to withstand the Writings nor Preachings nor Disputations of this Augustine they did by might and violence and force of Armes strive to stop Saint Augustines proceedings but all their Actions were in vaine for Gâ—d did still prosper and blesse the labours of this Augustine for he ordaind Orthodox Priests men approved and well knowne to him for Life and Learning and did give them promotion in the Church so that the sincere Doctrine of Faith Hope and Charity was not onely taught in the Affrican Churches but also in other Transmarin Regions Books being printed and sent abroad which made these Heretiques rage insomuch that they intended to have killed this Saint Augustine had hee not by the great providence of God escaped by missing that way in his Visitations which they had beset but such was their fury and power that they neither spared Clergy men nor Lay men but there was a meeting at Carthage appoynted and one Crispinus was the Donatists Champion against whom Saint Augustine opposed himselfe who did by force of arguments convince this Crispinus and so by the Proconsuls authority hee was adjudged as Hereticall and a fine imposed upon him and further it was ordered that all the Donatists should be accounted Heretiques and fined but by the Catholike Bishops perswasions with the clemency of the Proconsull their fine was remitted and peace restored happily to the Church under the Reigne of that glorious Emperour Honorius though there were some that gave out that the Donatists were unjustly condemned by the Bishops at the meeting at Carthage because they had not as these favourers pretended free liberty to speak their mindes Especially one Emeritus maintained this but not long after this Saint Augustine going to the City of Caesarea in Mauritania being sent for by other Bishops by Letters to determine some necessary affaires of the Church this Emeritus being then a Donatist and Bishop of the said place Saint Augustine told him that he had so given it out and wished him now before all those Bishops and all the people if he could to defend his assertions but he would not nor could not performe it onely said that what he should say would bee by the Notaries Registred at Carthage what a poore evasion was this for if it had beene truth it was the onely way to preserve it if it was a lye as indeede it was it would for ever bee his disgrace Possidonius reports an admirable passage of Saint Augustine it so fell out that preaching against the Manichees that there was one Firmus by name a Merchant by profession who was stiffe for that side and had given and spent amongst them much monies hearing Saint Augustine preach was touched in heart and presently came to this Father other men being then with him and did ingenuously confesse that he was infected a long time with that Heresie but by the blessing of God hee was fully resolved now to forsake it and with teares on his knees he desired Saint Augustine and the other Catholicke Priests to pray to God to pardon him and to give him grace to persist in the true Faith which was performed and he reduced from Heresie and leaving his former course of life and living with the faithfull obediently at last proved an eminent Preacher of the Orthodoxe Christians and not onely saved his owne soule but many others See saith Possidonius the wonderfull goodnesse of God that calls whom he will whom he will where he will and how he will to salvation God as he is Almighty so may he worke in all creatures and things after his owne Minde and Will for there is nothing that God cannot bring to passe and that without labour and travaile It was Saint Augustine by the preaching of the Word which caused the Merchant to forsake all and cleave to the Truth but it was chiefely the power of God which had that efficacy in that Word that by one knocke at the doore of the heart of this man that it should open and receive the seale and covenant of Grace which he did without any prorogation or delay or time to consider of it for in these cases delayes are dangerous for the devill the world or the Flesh may cast a baite in our way and so hinder us Therefore let all men in this be truely perswaded that God is the Moderator and Governour of all things both in heaven and in earth and that all things are done by his owne power and appoyntment and that he it is who most clearely beholdeth every man both what hee doth and what he admitteth in himselfe with what minde and godlinesse he doth love and favour Religion and that hee hath also a regard both of godly and wicked men So likewise one Foelix being one whom the Manichees called Electos came to Hippo and thought to have spread his Heresie there but Saint Augustine by publicke Disputation so solidly convinced him that he likewise acknowledged his error and was joyned to the Church This Augustine was termed Haereticorum malleus the Hammer against Heretiques How judiciously did hee overcome those two great Arrians Pascentius and Maximinus the one being full of wealth and authority at Court the other a great Bishop Pascentius who was great in Riches disturbed many poorer Christians and boasted in it that none could object any thing justly against the Arrians St. Augustine hearing this with other Priests went to him and desired to have some private conference with him before they should publickly dispute it this Pascentius admitted but hee was quite overthrowne and had no warrant for his poynts but afterwards bragged it how he had confuted this Augustine whereupon St. Augustine with speed sent in writing many great men being witnesses the grounds of Faith confirmed by the Scriptures to him which he never did replie against so also dealt he with Maximinus the Arian Bishop who had belyed him in the like manner The Pelagians likewise politique and subtle Sophisters who did seduce many and did great mischiefe to the Church how did hee the space of tenne yeares convince and overthrow that afterwards it was determined by Innocent of Rome and Zozimus that their poynts should be anathematized and sent Letters to the