in a solitary course of life so that I may be also skilfull in the study of heavenly matters whereunto all these Sciences and gifts are but servants and subalternate which words the Father of this Damascen grieved at being loth to lose such an able man whom he so loved yet because he would not seeme so to requite his pains for his sonnes tuition gave him a large reward at his farwell and so dismissed him in peace so he going to Laura a solitary place spent the remainder of his life in heavenly meditations and in fulnesse of dayes dyed and so did Damascens Father likewise his Father being dead the Prince of the Saracens called this Iohn to possesse his Fathers place which hee at first refused but it was imposed upon him which hee administred with singular fidelity Hee lost his right hand which was cut off by the policy of the exhibition of certain fained Letters which were shewed and read to the Emperour Leo Isauricus that if it pleased him to come with an Army into those parts hee would procure him the City of Damascus to be yeelded to him he having as he said almost all the rule and preheminence in those parts Leo receving the letters sent one presently backe unto the Prince of the Saracens wherein he signified how farre it was from his thoughts to make any hostile invasion into his Dâ—minions though hee had faire hopes of successe by such a mans promise to assist and direct him Hereupon Damascen was presently sent for by the Prince and the Letters were shewed to him he wondred at the matter and said the hand-written was some thing like to his but for the fact or intention hee never harboured such an one in his soule but the Prince being inraged commanded his right hand to be cut off which was as my author relates restored to him againe to convince by this wonderfull act the heart of the incensed Prince and to manifest to all men the innocencie of this Iohn it wrought so effectually that hee had all his Offices and preferments bestowed on him againe but hee intended another course for hee desired the Prince to acquit him of all his places and to give him leave to live retiredly after much debate the Prince yeelded and so immediatly this Iohn did sell all his goods except such as hee gave to his Kindred for the avoiding of suites and strifes and made distribution to the poore And so going to Hierusalem hee went to be admitted into the same Monastery into which Cosmas had beene before whither comming the President of the place finding him to bee full fraught with all sorts of learning appointed a famous member of that Societie to be his Instructour in the study of Gods Word but hee as also a second and third refused it holding themselves not able to teach such a learned man the fourth takes him into charge and gives him precepts and rules both how to order his body and soule to whom this Iohn perceiving his directions to be sweet and wholsome gave speciall obedience and singular respect though afterwards hee was by his said Master ejected out of the Monastery for a matter of disobedience but by his sorrow and submission hee was restored hee was full of Divine Hymnes and having by Gods blessing gained much in the knowledge of Gods Word he was by the Governour of the Church of Hierusalem ordain'd a Priest who having that charge laid on him hee did with great care and pâ—ety undergo it so that it is said of him to his eternall praise Cum religiosae vitae curriculum confeâ—isset c. that is when hee had consummated the course of a religious life when he had kept the Faith or as my Authour speaks when hee had propagated the faith in his Sermons when hee had graced it with his Writings hee was after much labour and travell cald to rest His prayses are large which are afforded him they stile him pietatis Athâ—etam Ecclesiae ornamentum veritatis ducem certatorem religiosae vitae cultorem dogmatum peritum insipientes sapientia instruentem prophanorum institutorem that is the Champion of Pietie the Churches ornament the Captain for Truth the imbracer of a religious life skilfull in his doctrines instructing the unlearned in Wisdome reducing the prophane to Holinesse Suidas speaks thus of him Iohannes Damascenus sirnamed Mansur was a most eloquent man behinde none of his time for various learning His Works are many and those accurate he was so skillfull in Musique that none ever did or will parallel him Trithemius terms him Virum sanctum doctum A learned and holy man of life of whom there are wonderfull things reported for his doctrine and sincerity of life Hee writ divinely many things in Greeke in Constantinople hee was highly esteemed hee brought many from sin and impiety to embrace the truth Hee was a stout Antagonist against Heretikes Hee flourished under Theodosius that worthy Emperour in the yeere of Christs Incarnation 731. Damascen his Sayings If therefore there be no Resurrection there is no God nor any providence but all things are governed by chance and fortune For we see that the just are in necessity and do suffer injurie but sinners and the unjust have abundance of riches and pleasures but who shall imagine that this is not the worke of a just judgement and wise providence therefore there shall be a resurrection for God is just and of those that trust in him is a mercifull rewarder Worldly wisdome is to disguise and cover the heart to dissemble in words to make falshood appeare truth and to make truth appeare falshood this wisdome young men learne by experience those that know it grow proud and despise others those that know it not are subject fearful and admire it in others being obey'd it maketh men climbe to the highest degree of Honour being gotten it commandeth men to rejoyce in the vanity of temporall honour to requiâ—e wrongs with advantage and having power to yield to no opposition and being destitute of ability to expresse malice to counterfeit a peaceable goodnesse of disposition An Angell is an intellectuall substance always moveable free incorporeall ministring to God by Grace not nature and immortall whose specificall kind of substance is knowne onely to the Creatour The Name of Christ doth expresse the unity of person in two natures it expresses also his Regall dignitie and fulnesse of grace by the prerogative of anointing I have here placed his Works as they are set downe in the Parisian Edition 1619. 1 Of Parallells three books 2 Of the Orthodoxe Faith foure books 3 Of some who have died in the faith 4 A speech of Christs Transfiguration 5 Of the birth of the blessed Virgin 6 Of her Assumption 7 Divine Iambiâ—kes Greek and Latine 8 Various Hymnes 9 Damascens Logick 10 Institutions of Decrees 11 Physicks 12 Of Heresies 13 A Dialogue against the Manichees 14 Of Nature 15 A learned Epistle
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
who strive to corrupt the Christians by their Idolatrous shews then Tertullian wrote his learned Treatise de spectaculis wherein hee handles the case to the full And at the same time how did hee stop an Heresie arising in Affrick called the Apelletians from one Apelles which worke is desired but not as yet enjoyed In the fifteenth yeere of the Emperour Severus did hee not famously write against that great Heretick Marcion and set forth his Book De Resurrectione Carnis And presently after wrote his Booke De Carona Militis worthy here to be spoken of a little upon a Triumph all the Emperours Souldiers for the greater pompe were to weare Crowns made of Bayes but one Christian there was who when he had his Crown given held it on his arme but would not weare it whereupon being demanded why hee alone had refused to set forth the pompe of that day he did boldly answer Non decet Christianum in hac vita coronari A Christian ought not to be crowned in this life a true and a worthy answer And so upon this Tertullian wrote his Book so entituled I read not after this that Tertullian did write any thing for the Church but against it The more is the pitie so great a Scholer should fall so fouly There are many Fathers who have discoursed what might be the cause of this Tertullians revolt Some as Saint Ambrose say it was Envie Vincentius Lirinensis makes a good application of it It was saith he a great tentation and triall The Lord saith Moses tries us whether wee love him or not when there ariseth up one of these false prophets or teachers or dreamers Saint Ierome gives him a great praise for his wit but laments his losse Saint Cyprians phrase was when hee would read Tertullian to say Da Magistrum Give me my Master Trithemius terms him Tam in divinis quà m in saecularibus Scripturis doctissimum The most learned in sacred and secular affaires And that hee taught Rhetorick at Carthage a long time Gloriosè saith he with great glory and credit and againe scripsit Latino sermone penè c. That hee wrote almost infinite Workes in Latine wherein he hath most judiciously confuted and overthrown all the Heresies hee wrote against licet in aliquibus c. and though saith he he erred in some things yet he wrote profitably in many other his Books Hee lived till hee was old and decrepite and so yielded up his spirit after that he had painfully and learnedly studied the Word of God and carefully and discreetly answered all those that proved Hereticks to the Truth I have here not followed Trithemius Catalogue nor yet Bellarmines concerning his Works but as Pamelius hath registred them in the Collen Impression Anno 1617. Hee hath a learned commendation set under his Effigies wherein as Tullius was the Pillar and praise of Rome so Africk glories in her Tertullian His Oratory was famous and Tertullians speech was sweeter then honey as may appeare by some of his Sentences Tertul. de poenitenia If thou be backward in thoughts of repentance be forward in thy thoughts of Hell the flame whereof only the streame of a penitent eye can extinguish and first so thinke on the greatnesse of the punishment that thou mayst not doubt of getting a remedy against it Idem de fuga in persecutione The Legion of Devils could not have conquered a Herd of Swine if God had not given them power farbe it then the Devill should have power over Gods owne Sheepe I may say That even then the bristles of those Swine were numbred before God and much more are the haires of his Saints De Fide Ex personis probamus fidem an ex fide personas Doe wee try mens faith by their persons we should try their persons by their faith Idem de Oratione The remembrance of Gods precepts chalkes out a way for our prayers to Heaven the chiefe of which precepts is That we come not first to make our atonement with God on his Altar before wee have made our atonement with our brother in our hearts For what profit is it to come to the peace of God without peace to come for remission of debts without remission of debts How can he appease his Father that is angry with his brother Idem de Oratione Let us not approach unto Gods holy Altar before wee have made peace with our offended brother for to what end should wee come to the God of peace without peace for the remission of our own sinnes without any intention to forgive one another How can hee that is not pleased with his brother thinke to please the God of his brother seeing that God commands him not to be angry at all but forgive him Hee that then prepareth himselfe on earth shall be sure of his reward in Heaven Tertullians houres of prayer They were the third the sixt and the ninth houres for they are saith he the more eminent part of the day to distribute and distinguish the publike affaires of men so have they beene accounâ—ed the most solemne times for Prayer and Divine Duties in the Church of God For at the third houre were the Apostles met together at their Devotions and were filled with the power of the Holy Ghost GOd Almighty who is the protector and defender of Kings grant to your Sacred Majesty along life a happy Reigne a secure State and habitation a strong Army a faithfull Senate or Councell and a Royall people These were the solemne Prayers of Tertullian for the Emperours and used by the ancient Church De Sanctorum Passione Tertullian saith that Paul thought himselfe unworthy to suffer for his Saviour because hee had no more lives to lose for his sake For hee that lost his life for us that wee might live deserves our lifes and all to bee laid downe for him Whence it is that the Saints have rejoyced in their sufferings not counting their life deare that they might winne Christ. Yea to mee saith Saint Paul in his Epistles to live is Christ and to die is gain And elswhere he saith I beare in my body the marks of the Lord Iesus And indeed the sufferings of the Saints though for the present grievous and hard to bee borne bring forth an hope of reward exceeding great and glorious while wee looke not at the things temporall but at the things eternall And this should encourage us for Christs Name sake to passe through bad report and good report setting before our eyes the example of the Saints and not onely so but with cheerfulnesse to sustain all injurious dealings of men though they deprive us of livelihood and life it selfe for Christ and his Truths sake knowing that it is a good thing to suffer in a good cause and that this shall make our Crown to be glorious and enstate us into blessednesse with eternity to have a period De Christo VERBO Tertullian upon occasion taking a
which had caused great discord betwixt two Breâ—hren that Hee by His prayer stopt the force of the River Lycus which overflowed and drowned the neighbouring fields and so brideled the swelling waves that ever after they did keep within their own bounds and banks That this Faâ—her likewise cast out Devils out of the bodies of men that He stayed the plague in places that were infected that he heald the sick and weak and that He also raised the dead and that Hee brought many souls to embrace the Gospel of Christ Iesus Whether he was so full of these Works and Wonders I doe not here intend to dispute but I have onely related what I have read of him and I have not much cause to suspect the wordes of so many Fathers of the Church who witnesse it of Him Take therefore I pray you the commendation which Saint Basil the great affords Him in His Booke of the Holy Ghost Chapter 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Where shall I find a fit place for this great Gregory and his praises May I not fitly set him with the Prophets and Apostles a man endued with the same spirit in great measure a man whose life paralled those former stars of Heaven a man who did powerfully shew the vigour of the Word of God We should do injury to the Truth if we should not account him amongst the blessed in glory and felicity which like an eminent Torch shined in the Church of Christ ope S. S. tremendam habuit adversus Daemones potestatem And who by the helpe of the Holy Ghost had mighty power against Devils Hee had received such a plentifull portion of the graces of Gods Spirit that by the helpe of seventeen more Christians he brought whole Cities and Countries to the obedience of the Gospel Hee also chang'd the course and bridled the force of Rivers and of a great Lake which was cause of dissention betwixt two brothers and his predictions of things to come makes him that hee may be reckoned amongst the Prophets If saith Saint Basil I should reckon up all His Wonders and Miracles which hee did in the sight of the people I should even attribute that title to him which his very adversaries afforded him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a second Moses for they are so fixed in the hearts of men and so knowne amongst all so faithfully registred amongst Historians that the envy of the Devill nor the length of time can ever abolish the memory of them Qui à tempore magni praesidis Ecclesiae vestrae Gregorii Who from the time of that Great President of your Church Saint Gregory have flourished Here I cannot but cite the admirable commendation that Eusebius the Historian giues him beginning thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 about the same time that Xistus ruled the Roman Church and Demetrianus who succeeded Fabianus in the Church of Antioch and Firmilianus the Church of Caesarea that this Gregory called Theodorus who was an Auditour of S. Origens together with his brother Athenodorus did wisely manage the Church of Pontus and in another place the said Eusebius reckons up this famous Gregories actions Verum quoniam Beati Gregorii historiae textus mentionem attulit c. But for as much as the Text of the History hath mentioned this Blessed Saint Gregory I will not omit the worthy Workes of so great a man There was a great Lake in Pontus full of all sorts of fish which came to be the Inheritance of two Brethren who fell to civill dissention about it so that many men had lost their lives in the quarâ—ell which thing when Gregory heard of he presently came to the place and uttered these words to the two contentious Brothers Nolite ô Filioli rationales animas pro multis animantibus viâ—lare Fraternam pacem quaestus cupiditate dissolvere Dei leges naturae pariter jur a temer are that is Do not ô my sonnes ô doe not destroy so many reasonable soules for a few mute creatures break not the bond of brotherly love and peace for transitory gaine doe not so rashly and desperatly violate the Laws oâ— God and Nature at once come wiâ—h mee to this fatall Lake and I will by the help of God reconcile you for ever Whither comming this good man upon his bended knees prayed heartily to God in the sight and hearing of all present and Eusebius sets down the words of his prayer That he desired of God that never any more fish might be in it but that it should be a field for corn that by this means these two Brethren might agree in love together whose prayer God heard and did immediatly grant his request to the amazement of all the standers by Such force have the prayers of a faithfull man with God this one action is enough to renowme him in all Ages but he was admirable likewise for ingenuity and dexteritie of wit as the same Eusebius gives testimony of him in these words Sed ingenii sui in parvo nobis maxima monumenta dereliquit But hee shewed in briefe the excellency of his wit For Magnificentissime scripsit that is He writ most elegantly upon Ecclesiastes and left a brief but an eloquent Exposition upon the Catholike Faith which hath beene and is a great edification of the Church of Christ His wordes begin thus Vnâ—â— Deus Pater Verbi Viventis that is One God the Father of the Living Word of the Subsisting Wisdome of the Ever-living Power the Perfect begetter of the Perfect One the Father of the onely begotten Sonne and so goes on expressing the Deitie and Triniâ—â— in most apt and significant judicious termes Saint Gregory Nyssen affords this man a singular Encomium and Eulogie in these words Sicâ—t de Mose ait Scriptura c. that is That as the Scripture speaks of Moses so may I of this Gregory Hee was seene in all the Learning of the Gentiles hee found how weake and unwise their opinions were and embraced with great ard our and sanctity the Gospel Saint Hierome also blazons 〈◊〉 his Works with prayse and commendation They begin thus Theodorus qui postea Gregorius a pellatus est Theodore who was after called Gregory was Bishop of Neocaesarea in Pontâ—s in his youth to learne the Greeke and Latine with his Brother Anthenodorus he passed from Cappadociâ— to Beritum and afterwards to Caesarea of Palestine where Origen seeing their admirable wit taught them Philosophie and so instâ—ucted them in Divinitie and sent them to their Mother this Gregory wrote an eloquent Letter to Origen extant yet And Hierome stiles him Virum Apostolicorum signorum virtâ—tum that is A man ful of signes and Apostol call Miracles And he that will read more of him let him accept of this cloud of Witnesses Sanctus Gregorius pap lib. 1. Dialogorum cap. 7. Socrates lib. 4. c. 22. Enagrius lib. 3. cap. 31. Cedrenus in anno 12. Anastasii Imp.
the Macedonians by these three the Churches were miserably vexed But foure yeeres after the Councell of Sardis even to the death of Constantius some ten yeeres space this Athanasius was again banished into the Desarts of Libya but the Emperour was sorely vexed at him but Liberius then Bishop of Rome pleaded hard for him in so much that Constantius banished him for it well in the absence of Athanasius Constantius caused councels to be held in severall places that was chiefe against Photinus the Heretike who dispraised both the Orthodoxe and Arrians Against this Photinus both the Orthodoxe Christians and Arrians agreed well But in what troubles was the Church under the Reigne of Constantius who gouerned 24 yeers in which space there were so many Councels and nine contrary Confessions of Faith to that of the Nicene Councell the two first were proposed at Antioch the third by Constantius his Embassadours to Constans the fourth was sent by Eudoxius to the Westerne Bishops the fifth sixth and seventh was at Sirmium the eighth at Seleucia by the Acacians the ninth was at Constantinople to which Vlphilas the Bishop of the Gothes subscribed upon all these hath Athanasius divinely spoken Witnesse his Creed every syllable whereof beares matter of importance answerable to the judgment of so divine an Author whose doctrine in other things was no lesse judicious though not altogether so profitable as in this his compendious abridgment and abbreviation of the Christian faith briefly comprehended in a short Epitome yet not so briefely as plainly dilucidated and expounded to the general benefit and edification of the Church Concerning which it may be said maximum in minimo that the greatest thing is in the least the most matter in fewest words And albeit in the Apostles Creed there are not many words yet the words might appeare unto some not sufficient for restrayning Heretikes from their opinions and hence this Father advisedly undertooke the penning of this his Creed for explication of those articles which others wrested and perverted to their own and others destruction which had it bin sooner written in all probability those their errors had bin nipped in the bud never germinated to the scandal and annoyance of the Church of God So that as it is said of the good woman by the Son of Syrach Many daughters have done vertuously but thou excellest them all so may we say of this learned and reverend man many have written Creeds of the Christian faith but thine the Apostles onely excepted is inferiour unto none yea superiour being compared with others Upon these occurrences Constantius died sorrowing for three reasons The first that hee had furthered his Kindreds death the second because hee had nominated Iulian the Apostate Emperour the third that he had too much approved those new and Hereticall Arrian points But now the case of the Church under Iulian was deplorable who strive to put downe all Christianity But for all this Athanasius receives his charge at Alexandria where while he staid he called the Bishops together and they strengthened the Nicene Confession and they condemned the Arrians Eunomians Macedonians and the Audaeans and Apollinarians with the Sabellians but now the Church increasing at Alexandria by Athanasius presence the great Philosophers Magicians Wisards and South-sayers cry out that they can do nothing unlesse this Athanasius be removed So Letters were granted not onely to take him but to kill him upon this Athanasius leaves Alexandria and intends to go by ship to Thebais his friends grieving at his departure he told them Nubecula est â—ito transitura It was a cloud that would soone be over and so it came to passe for the yeere after Iulian died fearfully but how ever he sent after Athanasius to apprehend him but they were deceived that sought him for hee came presently back to Alexandria and kept close till Iulian was dead Then Iovianus succeeding in the Empire recall'd the banished Orthodox Bishops and embrac'd them highly Athanasius writ an Epistle to this ' Emperour of the Nicene Faith but this good Iovianus after seven moneths raigne died at Bythinia so Valentinianus and Valens succeeded him different these were for Valentinian was Orthodoxe but Valens was an Arrian and did persecute the Easterne Churches so that Athanasius was forced to hide himselfe in his Fathers Monument the space of foure moneths yet for all this stir this Emperour was in a manner forc't to give leave to Athanasius to reside in Alexandria so long as this Athanasius liv'd the Church of Alexandria was quiet but this good Father died in the seventh yeere of Valens his Raigne peaceably and in his old age having been Bishop 46 yeeres of Alexandria This Father is commended of all Ecclesiasticall Writers Gregory Nazianzen stiles him Tubam ingentem columnam Ecclesiae The great Trumpet of the Church and the Churches Pillar and further he calls him Oâ—ulum Orbis Doctorem Certaminum vocem magnam fidei sustentaculum secundum Christi praecursorem Lampadem Epiphanius calls him patrem rectae fidei Theodoret stiles him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Bulwarke of Truth Saint Basil praises this Father highly so doth Iulius the Roman Bishop in his Epistle to the Alexandrians So doth Constantine the younger in his Letters to the said Citizens So doth Saint Hierome Ruffinus lib. c. 14. So doth Cassianus lib. 7. de Incarnat cap. ult and Vincentius Lirinensis and Cyrillus of Alexandria and divers others and so this Father having finisht his course and kept the faith expects the second comming of the Lord Jesus Athanasius his Sayings Of Faith The religious forme of godlinesse is above every forme and is knowne only by Faith For it is the light of the soule the doore of life the foundation of eternall salvation for without it no man can come neere the number of the sons of God and without it all the endevoâ—â— of man is of none effect So the Apostle Paul declares himselfe saying ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus Againe his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertaine to life and Godlinesse 2 Pet. 1. 3. To believe rightly in God and also of the whole Trinity is to direct all our hope unto God and with sure trust to depend only upon his truth and goodnesse These are the works of faith saith he namely a quiet and good conscience the love of God and the blessed Trinitie and the hope of things to come a boldnesse to come to the Throne of grace prayer true worship confession of the truth obedience perseverance in yielding up of the spirit and to goe immediatly to God Saint Athanas. de meditatione Let the Sun when it riseth in the Firmament see the Psalter or thy Prayer book in thy hands that so the Sonne of righteousnesse may shine into thy heart by faith in thy heart Saint Athanas. de meditatione Be instant at prayers with God and worship him that hung upon the Crosse
for thee at the sixt houre of the day His Works follow in two Tomes Tome the first 1 His Oration against the Heathens 2 Of the Incarnation of the Word 3 Disputation against Arrius in the Nicene Councell 4 Vpon that Scripture All things are given me of the Father 5 Epistle to Adelphius 6 Epistle to Maximus 7 An Oration against them who say the Sun is no creature 8 Against Serapion 9 Testimonies of holy Scripture to prove the Vnity in Trinity and Trinity in Vnity 10 Exposition of faith 11 Liberius Epistle to Athanasius 12 Athanasius answer 13 An Epistle to Jovianus the Emperour 14 A Narration of the Nicene Councell 15 Five Orations against the Arrians 16 An Epistle of the sentence of Dionysius of Alexandria 17 Epistle Catholicall 18 A Refutation if the hypocrisie of Meletius Eusebius and Paulus Samosatensis 19 An Epistle to the Antiochians 20 An Epistle to Epictetus 21 Of the Humane Nature 22 Against Apollinarius of the Incarnation 23 An Oration against Apollinarius 24 Of the comming of Christ. 25 Against Sabellius 26 An Oration proveing that Christ is one 27 A Letter to Serapion of the death of Arrius 28 An apologie to Constantius 29 Two apologies for his flight 30 A Letter to all solitary 31 The Protestation of the Alexandrians 32 A Letter of the Councels of Ariminum and Seleucia 33 A Letter to the Africans 34 A Letter to all Orthodox Christians 35 Letters to Palladius to Antiochus and to Dracontius To Marcellinus 36 Of the Sabbath and of Circumcision 37 Vpon that Scripture Who so shall speak a word against the Sonne of man c. 38 Vpon that as they came to the Village 39 Vpon the Passion 40 Of the holy Virgin 41 Of Virginity 42 Of the Sower 43 An Oration against all Heresies Tome the second 1 An Oration of the Ascension of Christ translated by Lampadius 2 Of Melchisedeck 3 A Letter to Serapion of the Holy Ghost 4 Another of the same 5 A concise Oration against the Arrians 6 The first Colloquie of the Arrians with Jovianus at Antioch 7 The second and third and fourth 8 Of the Incarnation 9 The Creed of Athanasius 10 Jovianus Letter to Athanasius 11 Athanasius answer 12 Severall Letters 13 Definitions 14 Synopsis of the Scripture 15 Five Dialogues of the Trinity 16 A Dialogue betwixt an Orthodoxe and a Macedonian 17 A Colloquy of Athanasius 18 A Letter of the Churches tragicall troubles 19 Severall Disputes and Objections 17. 20 Questions to Antiochus 21 Interpretation of the Evangelicall Parables 22 Other Questions 23 St. Anthonies life 24 On the Parasâ—eve 25 Fragments of the Commentary on the Psalmes 26 Other fragments out of severall authours 27 Of the united Deity of the Trinity 28 Of the proper Persons 29 A Treatise against Marcellinus 30 Of the severall names 31 Of the united substance of the Trinity 32 Of the blessednesse of the Sonne of God 33 Of the profession Catholike Lib. 6. 34 Of the Catholike and the Arrian Confession Lib. 5. 35 Of his owne faith nine books 36 Of the Vnitie of faith ten books 37 Of the Faith of the Vnitie and Trinitie of Father Son and Holy Ghost eleven Books 38 Athanasius dispute with Arrius at Laodicea 39 An exhortation to Monks 40 Athanasius and the Egyptian Bishops their Letter to Marcus Pope of Rome 41 The Rescript of Marcus 42 Vpon our Saviours Passion Then follow seven Homilies and then severall Encomiums of this eminent Father Cardinall Bellarmine de Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis ranks his Works into foure Tomes but I have reckoned them as they are printed at Paris in two Tomes Anno 1627. An. Christi 355. The Life of St Hillarie Pictavius S. HILLARIE PICTAVIVS SAint Hillarie Bishop of Poicters was borne in the Countrey of Aquitaine ninety miles distant from the British Ocean nobly and generously descended and his naturall gifts so improved by education that hee became a worthy Champion in defence of Christian Religion For although Saint Paul say that not many wise many noble according to the flesh yet when they that are noble by birth receive Christ and the faith of Christ they prove singular instruments of Gods glory and the good of his Church accordingly did this blessed Father shine to posteritie by the manifold naturall endowments and spirituall graces wherewith he was beautified His Wife and Daughter hee endoctrinated with the rudiments of Christianitie and himselfe lived a strictaustere life shunning the conversation of Iewes and Hereticks Herein hee shewed himself a true Christian whose practice must be answerable to his profession for otherwise a man may be said to beare fire in one hand and water in another whatsoever a man professeth except he put what he professeth in practice there is a shadow without substance a tree without fruit whose leaves of profession will not keep it from being cut downe and cast into the fire No such tree was Saint Hilary but the Psalmists tree which brought forth his fruit in due season O most perfect man whose life was with love to feare and with feare to love Christ. Hee preached often to informe the people of the mysterie of the Trinitie sowing the words of truth on the ground of their hearts In this he was a faithfull Minister of Christ he did feed Christs sheep aswell as cloath himselfe with the wooll and how did he feed them pavit verbo pavit exemplo by doctrine and example his example availed to the teaching of the ignorant his doctrine for information of the judgement both of learned and unlearned This his pious zeale being knowne hee was elected Priest and his fame spread abroad through France and forraine Countries Afterwards he resisted and opposed the Arrian Heresie whereupon the Bishops Valens and Vrsatius perswaded the Emperour to banish Saint Hilary into Phrygia together with Dionysius Bishop of Millain and Eusebius Bishop of Vercels And it is observable That wheresoever God hath his Church the Devill hath his Chappell and where the Husbandman sowes wheat there the enemy sowes tares As the truth of God was propagated so the tares grew up among the wheat and not onely so but the tares wâ—uld overgrow the wheat and not suffer it to grow up with them During his banishment hee understood that his Daughter Abra left at Poicters with her mother was sought in Marriage by a wealthy proper young man whereupon he wrote a Letter to his Daughter that hee had provided her a Husband of great Nobilitie and of such admirable beauty that it exceeded the amiable colours of the Rose and Lilly admonishing therefore not to match her selfe to any one untill he returned and that till then she should expect the comming of this promised Bridegroome Whereupon his Daughter Abra mildly embracing her Fathers counsaile remayned unmarried A notable example of an obedient childe in a matter of greatest consequence Shee did not so much satisfie her fancie as magnifie her understanding in receiving her Fathers advice Which should other
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
now sordescere coeperunt postea illos ut novos detestabatur that all were farre short nay in respect of this one man hee detested all new Writers and to speak truth as I do verily think one mayne reason why Factions and Schismes have such great growth of late is because most of our younger wits and hottest Preachers doe not tie themselves to the reading of the Primitive Fathers but slightly content themselves others with conversing onely with some few Geneva Writers of late or think to carry it away with the strength of their owne braine by which meanes many of them know but the shell of Theologie when as if my advise might take place I would have them enquire of the Ancients Moses doth invite them to the same for saith he Aske thy Father and hee will shew thee aske the Elders and they will tell thee Deut. 32. 7. They they I say are onely the ancient Bulwarks of Truth they onely and chiefely have maintained Gods truth against Heretiques and they are the pure Wells out of whom our Divines might exhaust wholsome Waters Give thy selfe to reading was Saint Pauls Councell to Timothy and it is not unfit to be practised of many young Zelots in our Church but to returne to our occasion Many and admirable are the writings of this Father He writ to Theodosius to prove the dangerousnesse of Nestorius Heresie Photius stiles this Cyril thus when amongst many other Fathers as he stiles Athanasius strenuus Praeful Infractus Ambrosius Decus Ecclesiae Basilius Verborum flumen Nyssenus fortis Athleta Cyrillus Athanasius that stout Prelate Irrefragable Saint Ambrose Saint Basil the grace of the Church Gregory Nyssen a River for copiousnesse of words and that valiant Champion of the Church St. Cyril nay hee is stiled Beatus Cyrillus twice for condemning the Nestorian Heresie He is also called Perstrenuus Cyrillus multis modis pietatem corroborans Cyrillus that is Cyrill who so many wayes confirmed and strengthened piety upheld religion established Councells confounded Heretiques defended the Orthodox Christians And Eulogius his Scholar praised him calling him Doctum pium minimeque vacillantem Cyrillum Learned godly and not fearefully hearted in the cause of truth And Photius hath registred his praise Leguntur Cyrilli Thesauri refertus est liber pugnat valide ac varie cum Arii Eunomii furibunda rabie etenim Logicis argumentis sapienter illorum destruit amentiam quibus dum sacrae scripturae adnectit adtexitque testimonia quà m sit doctrina illa futilis omni ex parte divulgat adhibet idem quoque nuda Sacrae scripturae testimonia ut quò se fastuosi vertant obsepti undique atque conclusi non habeant Est autem inter omnia ejus Scripta liber hic maximè perspicuus ijs potissimum qui Logicorum argumentorum sensum capere possunt which is in English thus much that Booke of Saint Cyrils which is stiled his Thesauri is plentifull and abounding with wit and learning and fights valiantly and diversly with the fury and madnes of Arius and Eunomius for he doth by force of Logicall arguments wisely â—verthrow and destroy their folly to which while hee joynes and annexeth the testimony of the holy Scriptures he doth divulge to the eye of the world how empty and weake their Doctrines are and by using those testimonies of the Scriptures he doth so hedge those Heretiques in that they know not which way to turne or winde themselves off or out from shame This booke of his is so perspicuous for learning that it is highly esteemed of all pious and judicious scholars and more specially of those who can apprehend the sence and vigour of Logicke and his scholar Eulogius stiles him thus againe accuratissimus autem Doctor Cyrillus singulâ—s Haereticorum pariter execratus est sententias duas in Christo naturas concurrentes indivisas inconfusas planissimè demonstrat And again Cyrillus rerum divinarum sciens And Ardens ille â—eritatis studiosus Cyrillus and Sapiens Cyrillus Cyrillus homo divinus in English that most accurate and smart doctor Saint Cyril hated the positions of all Hereticks and did most plainly demonstrate the two Natures in Christ undivided and unconfused Cyril had true knowledge of holy things he was studious and zealous for the truth and full of wisedomâ— a man plainly divine nay it plainly appeares that his authority was great to whom Councells yielded to for his learning for it is said of him Sic Concilium Cyrillus so the Councell holds and so doth Cyrillus too Cardinall Bellarmine calls him Virum Sanctissimum Doctissimum ac praesertim circa mysterium Dominicae incarnationis a Deo doctum Nestorium Haeresiarcham primum scriptis deinde etiam authoritate damnavit a most holy man and learned and especially hee was taught and instructed of God in the mystery of Christs Incarnation He condemned as is said before Nestorius the Heretique who was then Bishop of Constantinople first by his famous Writings then by his authority This â—Nestorius Doctrine was That the Blessed Virgin Mary was the Mosher of Christ c. Christ as he was Man but not as God thereby most impiously inverting that great Mystery of the Incarnation of the Sonne of God this being taught at Constantinople by Nestorius and his Disciples was a great trouble to the people and so much the more because he had ingratiated himselfe into the Emperours favour so that no meanes was left for redresse but the calling of a Councel yet in the interim this good man tooke pen and inke and wrote a briefe and modest Epistle to Nestorius wherein hee admonished him of the peoples discontents and what great danger was in all likely-hood to fall upon the Church through his still obstinacy and indiscretion but all in vaine the answer return'd was rather reprehensory than otherwise The Bishop in tendernesse of his dignity and as he was Caesars friend writes againe and againe but still answered with the same successe as before if not worse hereupon several Councels were called one at Rome the other at Alexandria but that Oecumenicall one at Ephesus called by the Emperour Hit the Naile on the head where the reverend Prelate of Alexandria sate as President amongst two hundred Fathers of the Church much ado there was on all sides and there wanted not some that sided with Nestorius in his errors but such was the grave carriage of our reverend Father and strength of argument there used that the very sinewes of Nestorius Doctrine were againe cut in sunder he himself deprived from all spiritual promotion digraded from all Ecclesiasticall function and his positions condemned as most blasphemous against the Sonne of God Christ Iesus Thus the Councell closed but with applause unanimously conferred on their learned President Blessed for ever be the memoriall of Cyrill Arch-bishop of Alexandria many were the Epistles commendatory sent unto this renowned Prelate
Beda Dei famulus Presbyter Monasterii Apostolor Petri Pauli quod est ad Wirimudam Ingiruam c. omnem meditandis scripturis operam dedi Hee was sent for to Rome by Pope Sergius that he might discourse with him Bede being so famous in all parts for his vertues and science The Epistle of that Pope is to be seene in the third Tome of the generall Councells and begins in these words Opportunis ergo c. the subject of it was that there was a great need of the advice of learned Divines to settle the Churches peace and he was knowne to be able in the study of Theology and therefore was desired to repaire to Rome with all convenient speed but it is concluded by the best Historians that he stirred not out of England He was wonderfully modest and did never hunt after preferments but contented himselfe with that life and daily study in his readings oftentimes he was so devout that hee would shed teares abundantly and after he had done reading he would fall to prayers for he would say that prayer was of great force to get the true understanding of Gods Word O famous instrument to Gods glory who not onely was fervent in his prayers but exceedingly both by life and learning edified the Church of Christ. Hee hated idlenesse and would say hee thought there was so much worke to doe for a Divine in so little a space of time that hee ought not to lose any of it it is imployment keeps the soule safe and sound He did not begin to take this taske upon him when the Sun was setting in his old age or begin to live when he should dye no he offered God his youth and began in the strength and prime of his age He was a Bee in his owne hive he dressed his own Garden hee managed his owne affaires forgetting all desire of honour and riches which bringeth with it miserable and stupendious effects And for pleasure and delights of the World we must deale with it saith hee as men doe who buy and taste honey onely touch it with the tip of the finger not with our whole hand for feare of surfeit He had many famous Schollars which he provoked to study by his owne example in a word he was full of knowledge charity devotion and chastity For his person he was of a comely stature grave in his going of a lofty voyce pleasant of speech comely of countenance and pleasantly severe Being aged 59 yeares in the yeare of Grace 731 he finished the Catalogue of his Workes but it is not on all parts resolved justly what yeare he dyed in Marianus Scotus saith in the yeare of oâ—r Lord 729. Sigebertus saith in the yeare 731. Trithemius saith in the yeare 733. Some have much erred who say that he dyed in the yeare 700 but Baronius he approves them not How he departed this life is to be seene by an Epistle of one of his Scholars who after great commendations of him for piety learning patience and the like saith Gravatus infirmitate anhelitus hardnesse of breathing a little after Ascention day hee was sicke of it and had a tumor in his feet in his sicknesse hee was not any whit disturbed to appearance but would often exhort his Scholars to bee quicke in gathering notes from him for hee had not long to stay with them For my life said hee is uncertaine at the best and that man which goeth on wandring without any faith or constancy feedeth his thoughts and cogitations with vapour no man knoweth what will happen in time to come howbeit God governeth all men in the midst of all perills and dangers and many times on the contrary hee bloweth upon us a strong winde or tempest of adversity And that life is good and best to be esteemed which is led in honesty and vertue for at the day of death it will trie it selfe for the day of death is the Master and judge of all other dayes being the tryall and touch-stone of all the actions of our life then doe wee make our greatest assay and gather the whole fruit of all our studies and he that judgeth of the life of a man must looke how he carrieth himselfe at his death for the end crowneth the workes and a good death honourerh a mans whole life There was a young man one Witberch that spoke to him and said Loving Master there is something left to write to which he answered and said it was finished and so cald him to hold his head and then singing Gloria Patri Filio Spiritui Sancto with cheerefulnesse he breated out his Spirit and slept in the Lord. Many famous men have praised him as Hildwines and Marianus Scotus Albinus Flaccus termes him Eximium Doctorem and Amalarius calls him Venerable according to that Verse Hic sunt infossa Bedae venerabilis ossa So also St. Boniface the German Apostle calls him sagacissimum scripturarum Indagatorem I should bee too large should I reckon up each particular praise that is given to this Father yet I cannot let passe that which Trithemius speakes of him in his Ecclesiasticall Writers He was saith he uncorrupt of life devout in heart full of knowledge wondrously industrious excellently acute usually reading the Scriptures adorned and graced with all sorts of vertues a witty writer Possevinus speaking of him useth these expressions Ingentibus Dei dâ—nis doctrina sanctitate ornatus c. that is adorned with the great gifts of Gods Spirit with learning and sanctity a diligent Writer full furnished with wit and wisedome wondrous charitable devout humble patient in a word a patterne to Preachers a lanthorne shining into all parts c. So doth Cardinall Bellarmine extoll him also But I shut up all in these wordâ— Hee did much and suffered much to defend Gods Truth and to propagate the Gospell of Iesus Christ. Hee flourished in the time of Gregory the Great and long after to the yeare 750. being the ancient glory of our English Nation and a man of greatest worth and learning of any in his time So after hee faithfully shewed himselfe a worthy Steward a carefull Watchman a painfull husband-man a powerful Labourer a learned Priest in the thirteenth yeare of his Primacy God cald him from hence His Sayings He is a sluggard that would reigne with God and not labour for God In the promised rewards he takes delight but the commanded Combates doe him affright Flattery is the nurse of sinne which like Oyle doth feed the flames of sinfull affections True love doth love truth judge in truth strive for truth and finish Workes with truth None doth ascend into Heaven but hee that doth descend from Heaven Therfore he that will ascend into heaven must joyne himself by true faith and love unto him that descended from Heaven knowing that hee cannot ascend into Heaven but by him that descended from heaven It is lesse labour to resist carnall pleasure unknowne than