Certaine selected epistles of S. Hierome as also the liues of Saint Paul the first hermite, of Saint Hilarion the first monke of Syria, and of S. Malchus: vvritten by the same Saint. Translated into English

S. Hierome against Vigilantius the Heretike.

THERE are many Monsters brought forth in the world. Centaures and Syrens, Harpyies, and other prodigious birds are mentioned in Esay▪ Leuiathan and Behemoth are described by Iob, in a mysticall kind of language. The Poets in their fables speake of Cerberus, and the Stymphalides, the Boare of Erymanthus, the Nemaean Lion, the Ch•…•…maera, and the Hydra of many heades▪

Virgil describes Cacus; and the countryes of Spaine, haue shewed vs, that three formed Geryon. France alone hath brought no Monsters, but hath euer abounded with most valiant, and most eloquent men. Only Vigilantius is suddenly start vp, who more truly may be called Dormitantius, since he fights with his impur spirit, against the spirit of Christ; and, Denyes that veneration is to be exhibited to the tombes of Martyrs. He sayth also; That Vigills are to be condemned; that Allelluia is neuer to be sung but at Easter; That Continency is heresy; and chastity but a seminary of lust. And as Eu∣phorbus is sayd to haue beene reuiued in Pythagoras; so is the wic∣ked mind of Iouinian risen vp againe in this man: so that we are constrayned to answere to the sleights and subtilties of the Diuell, in the person both of that man, and this, to whome it may be iustly sayd, O thou wicked seed prepare thy children to be slaine, by the sinnes of thy Father. The former man be∣ing condemned by the authority of the Church of Rome, is not so properly to be sayd to haue giuen vp his Ghost, as to haue cast it out in the middest Pheasants, & Swines flesh; but this Tauerne▪ keeper of Callagura, who by nickename, in respect of the towne where he was borne, was called the dumbe Qui•…•…tili∣an, sophisticates his wine with water; and out of the stocke of that ancient fraud, he stri•…•…es to mingle the poyson of his perfi∣dious doctrine with the Catholike fayth, to impugne virginity, to hate chastity; and at the full table of secular persons, to de∣claime against the fasting of Saints, whilest himselfe is playing the Philosopher, among his cuppes; and feeding licorishly vp∣on 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cakes, he will needes be stroked with the sweet finging of Psalmes. In such sort as that, in the middest of his bankets, he voutchsafes not to heare any other songes then of Dauid, I∣dithus, Asaph▪ and the sonne of Chorah. These thinges do I vtter with a sad and gri•…•…ued mind. not being able to containe my selfe, nor to passe by the i•…•…iuries, which are done to the Apo∣stles and Martyrs, with a dea•…•… •…•…eare. O vnspeakable abuse•…•… he is sayd to haue found Bishops, who are partakers with him of his crime; if they may be called Bishops, who ordaine no Dea∣cons, but such as first haue marryed wiues; not belieuing that any vnmarryed man can be ch•…•…st; and shewing thereby how holily themselues liue, who suspectiall men of ill; and vnles

they see that Priests haue wiues with great bellyes, and that their children be crying in their Mothers armes, they giue thē not the sacraments of Christ.

But what shall then become of the Orientall Churches? What of the Churches of Egypt, & of the Sea Apostolike? which receiue men to Priesthood, either before they are marryed, or when then are widowes; or if still they haue wiues, yet they leaue to do the part of husbandes. But this hath Dormitantius taught, releasing the raynes to lust, and doubling by his exhor∣tations, that ardour of flesh and blood, which vsually boyles vp in youth, or rather quenching it, by the the carnall knowledg of woemen. That so now, there may be nothing, wherein we differ from horses, and swine, and such brute beasts, of whom it is written. They runne towardes woemen as horses, which are mad with lust do to their kind; and euery man goeth euen neying after his neighbours wife. This is that which the Holy Ghost sayth by Dauid, Do not grow like the horse and mule, in whome there is no vn∣derstanding. And againe he sayth of Dormitantius, and his com∣panions, Keep in, with the bridle and bit, the iawes of them who draw not neere to thee. But now it is tyme, that setting downe his owne words, we procure to make them a particular answere. For it is possible, otherwise, that some maligne interpre∣ter, or other, will againe alleadge, that my selfe haue deuised matter to which I may answeare with a Rhetoricall kind of declamation, like that which I wrote into France to the Mo∣ther and Daughter, who were in discord. The holy Priestes Riparius, and Desiderius are the occasions of this Epistle, for they write that their Parishes were infected by the neighbourhood of this man; and by our brother Sesinnius, they haue sent vs those bookes, which snorting vpon a surfet, he hath vomited out. And these men affirme, that many are found, who fauou∣ring the vices of his life, are content to heare the blasphemies of his doctrine. The man is ignorant both in knowledge and wordes, he is of vngratefull speech, and who cannot so much as defend a truth: but yet in regard of worldly men, and poore woemen who go loaden with their sinnes, and who are euer learning, and neuer arriue •…•…o the knowledge of the truth, I wil make answeare to his trash, in this one single sitting vp at night,

least otherwise I might seeme to despise the letrers of those ho∣ly men, who haue entreated me to do thus much.

But this man followes the kind of which he comes, as being descended from murdering theeues, and from a people made vp of many natiōs; Whome Cneius Pompeius (hauing con∣quered Spayne, and hastening to celebrate his triumph) thrust downe from the top of the Pyrenean hills, and gathered them together into one towne, whereupon the Citty was called by no other name, but of Conuenae, that is to say of People gathe∣red together. Thus farre doth he reach now, in exercising mur∣dering thefts vpon the Church of God, and descending from the Vectonians, the Arabatians, and Cel•…•…iberians he ouerrunnes the Churches of France; not carrying in his hand the ensigne of Christ, but the standard of the Diuell. Pompey did the same in the Easterne parts also. And the Cilician, and Isaurian Pirates, & murdering theeues, being ouercome, he built a Citty for them betweene Cilicia, and Isauria, bearing his owne name. But that Citty doth still liue vnder the lawes of their forefathers, and no Dormitantius is sprung vp there. The Countreyes of Fraunce haue a domesticall enemy, and now they see a man of a troubled brayne, and fit to be bound vp, as Hipocrates directed that mad men should be, hauing a seat in the Church, and a∣mong other wordes of blasphemy deliuering also these; To what purpose is it for thee, with so great respect, not only to honour, but to adore also, that (I know not what I should call it) which thou wor∣shippest in that little portable violl. And againe in the same booke; VVhy doest thou adoringly kisse that dust, wrapped vp in a little cloath. And afterward; VVe see that almost after the manner of the Gentils, it is introduced into our Churches, vnder the pretence of Religion, to light huge heapes of waxen tapers; and euery where they kisse, and a∣dore I know not what little dust in a little violl, wrapped about in some pretious linnen cloath Such men as these do doubtles impart great honour to the most blessed Martyrs in thinking that they may be illustrated by those most base waxe lights, whome the Lambe, who is in the middest of the Throne doth illuminate, with the whole brightnes of his Maiesty.

But who, O you mad headed man. Did euer adore the Martyrs? Who thought that a man was God? Did not Paul and Barnabas, when they were thought by the Lycaonians to be Iu∣piter,

and Mercury, and had a mind to offer them sacrifice, teare their garments, and declare that they were but men? Not but that they were better then Iupiter or Mercury, who were dead long before; but because, vnder the errour of Paganisme, the honour which was due to God, was deferred to them. This we also read of Peter, who when Cornelius desired to adore him, raysed him vp by the hand, & sayd; Rise vp, for I am also a man. And dare you say, That same, I know not what, which you worship in that little violl to be carryed vp and downe? What is that thing which you call by the name of I know not what? I would faine vnderstand what you meane by it. Speake plainely that you may with perfect liberty blaspheme, That same I know not what kind of little dust, in that little violl, wrapt about with a precious linnen cloath.

He is grieued that the Relikes of Martyrs are preciously couered, and wrapped vp, and that they are not foulded in cloutes, or course haire clouths, or cast in fine into some dung∣hill, that so Vigilantius alone, being drunke a sleep, might be adored. So that belike we commit sacriledge when we go into the temple of the Apostles. Constantine the Emperour was also sacrilegious, who transferred the holy Relikes of Andrew, Luke and Timothy to Constantinople; at the presence of which Relikes, the Diuels roare, and the Inhabiters of Vigilantius confesse, that they feele the presence thereof. Yea and Augustus Arcadius, is not only to be accounted sacrilegious, but a so•…•… also, who hath carryed a thing most base, and euen loose ashes in silke, and in a case of gold. The people of all Churches must be also fooles, who went to meet those holy Relickes, and entertayned them with so much ioy, as if they had beheld the Prophet present, & li∣uing with them, in such sort, as that the swarmes of people, did euen reach from Palestine to Chalcedon, and did sound forth the praise of Christ with one voice. Belike they adored Samuel, & not Christ whose, Priest & Prophet Samuel was. You think he is dead, and therefore you blaspheme. But read the Ghospel. The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Iacob, is not the God of the dead but of the liuing. If therefore they be aliue, they are shut vp, belike according to your opinion, in some honest pri∣son. For you say, that the soules of the Apostles, and Martyrs, are in

•…•…he besome of Abraham, or in a place of reposc, and ease, or vnder the Al∣tar of God, and that they cannot be present at their tombes, and where els they will. So that belike they are endewed with the dignity of Senatours, who are not condemned to be kept in some ab∣hominable prison; but shut vp in some honest and free custo∣dy, in the fortunate Ilands, and Elisian fields.

But will you prescribe a law for God? Will you tye vp the Apostles in chaines, in such sorte as that they shall be kept in prison, till the day of iudgment, and not be with their Lord; they of whome it is written, They follow the Lambe wheresoeuer he goes? If therefore the Lambe be euery where, they also who are with the Lambe, are to be belieued to be euery where. And if Lucifer, & the rest of the Diuells wāder ouer the whole world, and by their too excessiue swiftnes, be euery where at hand, shall Martyrs after the effusion of their blood, be shut vp in a chest, and not be able to go forth?

You say further in your booke, that whilest we liue, we may pray mutually for one another; but after we shall be dead the prayer of noe one is to be heard 〈◊〉〈◊〉 another, especially since Martyrs, desiring the reuenge of theyr blood were not able to obtayne it.

But if the Apostles and Martyrs, being yet liuing in these mortal▪ bodies, might pray for others, when still they ought to be solicitous for themselues; how much more can they do it after they haue obtayned their crownes, their victories, & tri∣umphes? That one man Moyses, obtayned pardon of God for six hundred thousand armed men: and Steuen the imitatour of our Lord, and the first Martyr of Christ, begges fauour for his persecuters; and shall they be of lesse power when they haue begun to be with Christ? Paul the Apostle affirmes, that two hundred seuenty six mens liues were saued in the ship at his suit, and when being dissolued, he shall be with Christ, shall his mouth be stopped, and shall he not dare to speake a word for them, who throught the whole world did belieue, vpon his preaching the Ghospell? And shall Vigilantius this liuing dog, be better then that dead Lyon? I might rightly alleadge this out of Ecclesiastes, if I should confesse that Paul were dead in spirit, but Saints in fine are not sayd to be dead, but to be sleeping. Whereupon Lazarus, who was to rise againe, was sayd to sleep;

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and the Apostle forbiddes the Thessalonians to be afflicted for such a•…•… sleep. But you sleep euen when you wake, and you write whē you sleep; & you propound to me an Apocriphall booke, which is read by you, and such as you are, vnder the name of Esdras, where it is writtē that after death, no one must dare to pray for any other, which booke I neuer read. For to what purpose should I take that booke in hand, which the Church doth not receaue? Vnles perhaps you will produce Balsamus to me, and Barbelus, and the treasure of Manich•…•…us, and the ridiculous name of Leusibora; and because you dwell at the foot of the Pirenean mountaines, and are a neighbour to Spayne, you aduance those incredible monsters of opiniō which were vented by Basilides, that most auncient, but ignorant, vnskillfull Heretike; & you propound, that which was condemned, by the authority of the whole world. For in your little Commentary, you take a testimony out of Salomon, as if it made for you; which, Salomon indeed neuer wrote: to the end that, as you had then another Esdras, so now you may haue another Salomon. And if you will, go read those fayned Reuelations of all the Patriarches and Prophets; and when you shall haue learnt them, you may sing them in the weauing houses of woemen; or rather propound them to be read in your tauernes: that so by meanes of these bables, you may the more easily prouoke the vnlearned vulgar to drinke hard.

But as for tapers of waxe, we light them not in cleere day, as you idly slaunder vs; but to the end, that by this comfort, we may temper the darknes of the night, and that we may watch by light, least otherwise being blind, we should sleep in darknes like you. And if any either through the vnskillfull∣nes, of simplicity of secular men, or yet of deuout woemen (of whome we may truely say, I confesse they haue the zeale of God, but not according to knowledge) do this for the honour of Martyrs, what are you the worse for that? The Apostles did also, long ago, complaine that a pretious oyntment was cast away, but they were reproued by the voice of our Lord. For neither did Christ need that oyntment, nor the Martyrs this light of tapers; and yet that woman did that in honour of Christ, and the de∣•…•…otion of her mind was accepted. And whosoeuer light ta∣pers,

haue their reward according to their fayth, as the Apostle sayth Euery one aboundes in his owne sense. But do you call such persons as these, Idolaters? I deny not, but that all we, who belieue in Christ, came from the errour of Idolatry: for we are not Christians by generation, but by regeneration. And belike, because we once worshipped Idols, we should not now wor∣ship God, least we may seeme to exhibit the same honour to him: which formerly we exhibited to Idols. That was done to Idols and therefore it was to be detested; but this is done to Martyrs, and therefore it is to be receaued. But abstracting frō Martyrs Relickes, there are tapers lighted, through all the Churches of the East, when the Ghospell is to be read; how brightly soeuer the Sunne then shine. Not forsooth to driue a∣way darkenes, but to declare our ioy by that testimony. Wher∣upon those Euangelicall Virgins haue their lampes euer lighted. And it is sayd to the Apostles: Let your loynes be girt, & your lam∣pes burning in your handes. And of Iohn Baptist it was sayd; that He was a lampe which did both burne and shine, that vnder the tipe of visible light, the other light might be shewed, wherof we read in the Psalme, Thy word, O Lord, is a lanterne to my feet, and a light to my steps.

So that the Bishop of Rome doth ill, who ouer the bones of the dead men, Peter and Paul (which according to our beliefe are venerable, and according to you are vile poore •…•…usi) doth of∣fer sacrifices to our Lord, and holdes their tombes to be the Al∣tars of Christ. And not only he of one Citty, but the Bishops of the whole world erre, who contemning this Tauerne-keeper Vigilantius, enter into the Churches of these dead men, wherein this most base dust, and I know not what kinde of ashes, lyes wrapped vp in linnen, that it selfe being defiled, may defile all thinges els; and which are like those Pharisaicall sepulchres, exteriourly adorned, when within, the ashes being impure according to you, all other thinges may be also vnsauoury and impure. And then casting vp that base vncleanes out of the profound hell of your stomach, you dare say thus, Therfore belike the soules of Mar∣tyrs loue theyr ashes, and houer about them, and are euer present with them; least perhaps if some petitioner might come thither, they should not be able to heare them, if themselues were absent.

O prodigious Monster, fit to be posted away into the •…•…urdest root of the whole earth! you scoffe at the Relickes of Martyrs, & together with Eunomius the authour of this heresy, you pro∣cure to cast a scandall vpon the Churches of Christ▪ Nor are you frighted by finding your selfe in such company as that; & you speake those very things against vs, which he spake against the Church. For none of his followers will go the Churches of the Apostles, and Martyrs; that forsooth they may adore the dead Eunomius, whose bookes they esteeme to be of more au∣thority then the Ghospells; and in him they hold the light of truth to be▪ as other heresies affirmed, that the holy Ghost came into Montanus, yea and they say, that Manichaeus is that ve∣ry holy Ghost. That most learned man Tertullian (that you may not vaunt your selfe to be the first finder out of this wickednes) writes against this heresy of yours, which broke out long ago against the Church, an excellent booke, which he termed Scor∣piacum, vpon a most iust reason; because by a circling kind of wound, that Heretike spread his poison vpon the body of the Church, by that heresy, which anciently was called of Cain, and which sleeping, or rather lying buryed a long tyme, is now by Dormitantius raised to life. It is a marueile, you say not, that Martyrdomes are not to be endured, because God doth not seeke the blood of so much as goates, or bulles, and much lesse will he require that of men. Which when you shall haue sayd, yea although you shall not say it, you shall be so accoun∣ted of, as if you sayd it. For he who affirmes, that the Relicks of Martyrs are to be troden on; forbids that blood to be shed, which is vnwor•…•…hy of any honour.

Concerning Vigils, and sitting vp at night, which are of∣ten to be celebrated in Martyrs Churches, I haue giuen a briefe answere in another Epistle, which I wrote almost two yeares since, to Riparius the holy Priest If therefore you thinke that they are to reiected, least otherwise we may seem to celebrate many seuerall Easters; and that we keep not solemne Vigils at the end of euery yeare: by the same reason no sacrifices should be offered to Christ vpon the Sundaies, least we should seeme to celebrate the Easter of the Resurrection of our Lord often; & so we should not haue one Easter, but many. Now that ab∣use

and fault, which is many tymes committed in the night, betweene young men, and the basest sorte of woemen, is not to be imputed to deuout persons; because some such thing is ma∣ny tymes found to be committed, euen in th•…•… Vigil the Easter; but now the fault of few, must not preiudice this Act of Reli∣gion; For euen without Vigils, men may commit that sinne, either in their owne or others houses. The treason of Iudas, de∣stroyed not the fayth of the Apostles, and so the ill Vigills of o∣thers, must not destroy our Vigils; but rather let them be con∣strained to watch to chastity, who sleep to lust. For that which was good being done once, cannot be euill, if it be done often. And if it be culpable through any fault, it is not culpable be∣cause it was done often, but because it was done at all. Let vs not therfore, belike, watch at Easter, least the long entertained desire of some adulterer, may chaunce to be fullfilled then, least the wife find occasion of committing sinne; least she ex∣empt her selfe, from being shut vp by her husbandes keye. Whatsoeuer is rare, is so much the more ardently desired.

I cannot runne ouer all those particulers, which are men∣tioned in the letters of those holy Priests; but some I will pro∣duce out of his owne bookes. He frames arguments against those wonders, and miracles, which are wrought in Martyrs Churches, and he sayth, they are good for vnbelieuers, but not •…•…or be∣lieuers. As if now the question were, for whose sake, and not by what power they are wrought. But well, let Miracles be wrought for Infidells, who because they would not belieue speech, and doctrine may be brought by Miracles to the fayth. Our Lord wrought Miracles for such as were yet incredulous; and yet the Miracles of our Lord are not be taxed, because they were for Infidels, but they were to be admired so much the more, because they were of so great power, as to tame euen the stifest mindes, and oblige them to imbrace the fayth. Therfore I will not haue you tell me, that miracles are for Infidels: but an∣swere me how there comes to be so great a presence of wōders and miracles, in most base dust, and I know not what kind of ashes? I find, I find, O you the most vnhappy of all mortall men, what grieues you, and what frights you? The impure spirit which compels you to write those thinges, is often tormented with

this most base dust, yea and is tormented this very day; and he, who dissembles the wounds, which he giues to you, confesses those which he giues to others. Vnles perhaps, after the man∣ner of Gentiles, and prophane persons (such as P•…•…rphyrius and Eu∣uomius were) you will pretend that these are but trickes of the Diuells; and that indeed the Diuells cry not out, but only that they fayne themselues to be in torment. Take my counsaile, goe to the Martyrs Churches, and you shall be one day dispos∣sest. There shall you find many of your fellowes, and you shall be burnt, not by the tapers of Martyrs, which displease you, but by inuisible flames: and then you will confesse what you now deny; & you wil freely publish your owne name, though now you speake in the name of Vigilantius; and say, that either you are Mercury, for your desire of money, or Nocturnus accor∣ding to the Amphitryo of Plautus, who sleeping in adultery with Al•…•…mena▪ Iupiter made two nights of one, that Hercules might be borne full of strength. Or els that you are Father Bacchus for your drunken head, and you tankard hanging at your backe, and your face euer red, your lips foming, and your vnbridled tongue rayling▪ Whereupon there being a sudden earth-quake in this Prouince, which raysed all men from their sleep, you being the most discreet, & wise of mortall men, were praying naked, and represented to vs an Adam and an Eue, as they were in Paradise. Sauing that they hauing their eyes open, and see∣ing themselues naked, did blush and couer their secret partes with leaues of trees, but you being as naked of cloathes as voyd of vertue, and frighted with a sudden feare, hauing somewhat in you of the surfet of the former night, did expose the obscene parts of your body, to the eyes of the Saints, that you might shew how discreet a man you were.

Such enemyes as these hath the Church. These are the Cap∣taines who fight against the blood of Martyrs; such Oratours as these, thunder out against the Apostles, or rather such madd Dogs as these barke against the disciples of Christ. I confesse my feare, least perhaps in your opinion it might seem▪ to grow from superstition. When I haue bene angry, when I haue had any ill thought in my mind, and haue beene deluded by any i∣magination in the night, I dare not goe into the Martyrs Chur∣ches;

I doe all so tremble both in body and minde. Perhaps you will scoffe at me for this, as if it were the dotage of some old woman. But I blush not to hold fast the fayth of those woemen, who were the first in seeing our Lord after his resur∣rection, who were sent to his Apostles, and who in the person of the Mother of our Lord & sauiour, were recomended to the same holy Apostles. Go you belching on, with the men who lead a worldy life. I will fast with those woemen, yea and al∣so with those Religious men, who carry chastity euen in their countenance; and hauing their faces pale, through continuall abstinence, declare the modesty of Christ.

Me thinkes you also seem to be troubled at another thing and that is; least if chastity, sobriety, and fasting should con∣tinue to take deep footing in France, your Tauernes would make little gayne; and so you should not be able to continue those Vigills of the Diuel, & those drunken feasts, all night lōg.

It is related to me besides, in the same letters, that you forbid▪ men to be at any charge, for the vse and comfort of those holy men, who liue at Ierusalem, against the authority of the Apostle Paul, yea and of Peter also, and of Iames and Iohn, who gaue handes to Paul and Barnabas, in testimony of their con∣sent with them, and required them to be mindefull of the poore. But now if I should answere these thinges, you would presently barke out and say, that I am pleading myne owne cause; you who haue been so liberall to all the world, as that if you had not come to Iesuralem, & had not powred forth your own mo∣ney, or that of your Patrons, we should all forsooth haue bene in danger to starue. For my part, I will but say that which the blessed Apostle Paul deliuers almost in all his Epistles, and enioyneth the Churches, which had bene conuerted among the Gentiles, namely that vpon the first day after the Sabboth, (that is to say, vpon the Sunday) men were all to conferre a∣bout that alms, which should be sent to Hierusalē either by their disciples, or by others, whome they should appoint; and that if it proued to be of moment, himself might either carry or send it. In the Acts of the Apostles, speaking to Foel•…•…x the Gouer∣nour, he sayth thus; After many yeares, being to giue much almes to the men of my nation, and to make oblations and vowes, I came to Ie∣rusalem,

where they found me purifyed in the Temple. But had he not also power, to dispose of some part of that, which he had receaued of others, vpon the Churches in other parts of the world, which growing to be Christian, he had instructed by his preaching? But yet he desired to impart the almes to the poore of those holy places, who leauing their fortunes for Christ, had deuoted themselues wholly to the seruice of our Lord. It were a long businesse, if I would reflect vpon all the testimonies which might be brought out of euery one of those Epistles, wherein the Apostle endeauours, and with his whole affection makes hast to ordaine, that money should be addressed to the faythfull at Hierusalem, and to the holy places; not to sa∣tisfy couetousnes, but for their necessary comfort; not for the gathering together of riches, but for the vphoulding of their weake bodies, and for the auoyding of hunger and cold; this custome continuing in Iury euen to this day, not only among vs Christians, but among the Iewes also, that they who medi∣tate vpon the lawes of our Lords day and night, and who haue no Father vpon earth, but only God, should be cherished by the charities of the Synagogues of the whole world, with a fit e∣quality; not that some should be at ease, and some in misery, but that the aboundance of some might serue to supply the wāt of others: But you will answere, that euery man may do this in his owne country, and that poore people will not be wan∣ting to be mainteyned vpon the charity of the Church. And so also neither doe we deny, but that almes is to be giuen to all kind of poore people, yea though they be euen Samari∣tans, and Iewes, if there be enough for all. But the Apostle directeth indeed▪ that we should giue almes to all, but especially to them of the houshold of fayth, in respect of whome our Lord sayd in the Ghospell: Make your selues friendes by the Mammon of iniquity, who may receaue you in the eternall Tabernacles. Now I pray you, can those poore people, who among their rags and corporall mi•…•…eries haue burning lust ruling ouer them, can they, I say, haue any eternall Tabernacles, who possesse neith•…•…r present, nor future thinges? For not absolutly such as are poore, but such as are poore 〈◊〉〈◊〉 spirit, are called happy; of whome it is written: Blessed is the man, who vnderstandingly considers the poore and needy,

our Lord will deliuer him in the euill day. Now for the reliefe of th•…•… generality of poore people, there is no such need of Vnderstan∣ding, but of the almes it selfe. In the case of such poore as are holy, there is a kind of beatitude of Intelligence, that a man may giue to him, who will blush to receaue, and euen be sory when he is on the taking hand, reaping carnall thinges, and sowing such as are spirituall.

But in that you affirme them to do better who still make vse of theyr owne goodes & distribute the reuenues of their estates by little & little, then they who by selling their landes, giue all at once, no answere shall be giuen you to this by me, but thus by our Lord, If thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be perfect go and sell all that thou hast & giue it to the poore, and come thou and follon me. He speakes to him who will be perfect, and who in company of the Apo∣stles will dismisse himselfe of his father, of his ship, and of his net. This other man whome you cōmend, is of the second and third ranke, whereof we also allow; so as yet we may know withall, that the first is to be preferred before the second and the third.

No•…•… are Monkes to be frighted from their course by your viperous and most cruell biting tongue, against whome you argue thus, and say, If all men should shut themselues vp, and be∣take themselues to the desert, who shall doe Offices in Churches, who shall gaine secular men to God, who shall exhort sinners to a course of ver tue? And so also if euery body should be a sot with you, what wise man would there be in the world? And by this reason al∣so virginity must not be approued. For if euery body shall be chast, there will then be no mariages, and then mankind will perish; noe infanrs will be crying in their cradles, Midwiues must goe begg without meanes to liue; and Dormitantius must ly awake in his bed in the coldest wether which can come, al alone, and shrunke vp together.

But vertue is a rare thing, and not sought by many. And I would to God all men were that, which few are; of whom•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is sayd, Many are called but few are chose•…•…. The prisons then would be empty. But as for the Monke it is not his Office to teach, but to lament and bewayle, either himself, o•…•… the world, and to expect the comming of our Lord with profound feare: who

knowing his owne weakenes, and how brickle the pott is which he beares about him, is affrayd to offend, least first he stumble, and then fall, and so it be broken. And for this reason, he declines the sight of woemen, and especially of the younger sort•…•…, and is so farre a chastiser of himselfe, that he shrinkes euen at those thinges, wherein there is no danger.

But you aske me, why I go to the Desert? Euen to the end that I may neither heare, nor see you; that I may not be offen∣ded by your madnes, nor endure the troubles which you put me to; that the harlots eye may not take hold of me, nor that great beauty of hers bring me to vnlawful embracements. But you will say; This is not to fight, but to fly. Stand fast in the battaile, be in armour, and resist your ennemy, to the end that you be crowned when you haue conquered. I confesse my weaknes, I will not sight through a hope of victory, least at some tyme or other, I may chaunce to loose it. If I fly, I auoyd the sword; if I stay, I must either conquer, or be killed. But what need haue I to let goe that which is certaine, and to seek after that which is vncertaine? Death must be auoided, either by the targuet, or by flight. You who fight, may both ouer∣come, and be ouercome. I, when I fly away, shall euen ther∣fore not be ouercome. There is no safety in sleeping neere a serpent. It may be, he will not bite; but so perhaps, there may be a tyme, when he will. We call them our Mothers, our Si∣sters, and our Daughters, & we are not ashamed to cloake our vices by such names of▪ piety as those. But what doth the Monke in woemens chambers? What meane these single and priuate conferences, and these countenances which are afraid of witnesses? A holy loue, is not subiect to impatience; & that which we haue sayd of lust, may be applyed to couetousnes, or any other vice which is auoided in the desert. And therefore do not we decline the frequent resort of Citties, least we should be obliged to do those thinges, to which nature doth not com∣pell vs so much as our owne will.

These wordes (as I was saying) I haue dictated in the •…•…it∣ting vp of one night, at the request of those holy Priestes; our brother 〈◊〉〈◊〉 making much hast, and going towardes Egypt with all speed▪ to carry almes to the Saints there. For other∣wise,

the matter it sol•…•…e is full of expresse blasphemy, which rather would require indignation, in the writer, then any mu∣stering vp of proofs against him. But i•…•… Dormitantius keep him∣selfe awake to rayle at me, and with the same blasphemous mouth, wherewith he teares the Apostles and Martyrs, shall thinke also fit to detract from me; I will not keep my selfe wa∣king in some short sitting vp, but all night long, both for him and his companions; or rather for his, either disciples, or Ma∣sters; who vnles they may see the wo•…•…men with great b•…•…llies, thinke their husbands to be vnworthy of the Ministry 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Christ