Fuga sæculi. Or The holy hatred of the world Conteyning the liues of 17. holy confessours of Christ, selected out of sundry authors. Written in Italian by the R. Fa. Iohn-Peter Maffæus of the Society of Iesus. And translated into English by H.H.

How the fame of S. Antony increased: And especially what credit he had with Princes. Chap. 21.

BY these and such like things, may euery one easily imagine, how much daily the fame and renowne of S. Antony, went dilating it selfe: insomuch as at last not only persons afflicted with infirmityes, and euill Spirits, or such as were desirous to be gui∣ded in the way of our Lord; came to the mountayne to visit him, and to request help and counsayle at his hands: But euen likewise the very Magistrates, and Iudges of Alexandria themselues. Who for to haue more easy accesse vnto him, sent to entreate the same at his hands, by meanes of prisoners, and guilty persons, who were sub∣iect to criminall sentences, as knowing well such cases and neces∣sityes,

would not be despised of the seruant of Christ. Nor were they deceiued, since being vanquished by their prayers and teares, he went forth of his Hermitage, and came to exhort the Gouernour in passing sentence vpon them, by any meanes to preferre the feare of God before any passion, or human respect: remembring them with∣all of that saying in the Ghospell, What measure you affoard to others, shal be likewise giuen to you. And with such manner of aduises as these, ob∣teyned he, very many dispatches of suites, and releases of Innocents.

For other personages, he forbare not with admirable modesty to remember them likewise of the vanity of the world, and the fe∣licity of a solitary life: nor the same without fruite, for that many hauing left great riches, and honours, as well of warre, as of peace, haue conuerted themselues to a religious life. And in summe, in the person of S. Antony, Christ had affoarded a famous Phisitian to all E∣gypt. What hart oppressed with sadnes which parted not cheerfull and content from him? What dolorous soule, for the death of their deerest friends, deposed not on a sudden their heauynes and mur∣muring? What wrathfull person, was not presently reduced to con∣cord? What beggar or Wretch, with his wordes and examples, that came not to make litle reckoning of money, and willingly to suffer the necessityes of life? What tepid Monke, resumed not againe new feruour? What young man, with the sight and discourses of S. An∣tony, was not suddenly enamoured with chastity? What conscience afflicted and tempted of the Enemy, or molested with irksome thoughts, that was not immediately quietted. Because indeed a∣mong the vertues of this holy man (as we haue said aboue) one was so acute a discretion of spirits, as in the twinckling of an eye, he would know their inclinations and motions; and would not only suffer himselfe to be deceyued, but likewise giue opportune and excellent remedy to others, according to the necessityes of euery one. Besides, How many Virgins; already destined to matrimony, that with the only beholding of S. Antony a far off, haue been con∣secrated to Christ? And finally, as many as repayred to him, haue come their wayes from him much encouraged agaynst the Diuell, instructed against euill cogitations, comforted in tribulations, and full of vertuous, and holy purposes.

True it is, that such manner of conuersation with men, was very cautiously dispensed by him, nor did he so giue himselfe to the care of others, as to be any whit vnmindfull of himselfe, but rather

assoone, as could be, in imtation of Christ, leauing the multitude, he would retire himself to prayer and solitude. Nor was the sweet∣nes of friends, or power of Princes, able to withdraw him from such manner of obseruance. To which purpose, we are not to passe ouer in silence, how a certayne Captayne, after he had visited him, being willing to entertayne him further in discourse, he gently excused himselfe, with that similitude of Fishes (so renowned af∣terwards, and brought into a Prouerbe) that euen as those, remai∣ning on the land, giue ouer and dye, so Monkes abiding too much with Seculars, do loose the feruour of the spirit; with which com∣parison, the Captayne was well satisfyed, though much grieued the while to be seuered from him. But what great matter may it seeme, that S. Antonyes friendship, should so be desired of Rulers or Prefects of some Prouinces only, since we see it sought for no lesse of very Monarkes themselues, and of the Emperours of the world?

It is a knowne thing, how Constantinus Augustus, and the Prin∣ces his sonnes, Constans and Constantius, sent him letters, as to a Fa∣ther, intreating him to vouchsafe to send them greeting, and good counsayle: but he was so alienate from worldly fauours, and so abhorred he euery least apparence of vanity, as he was vpon the point, not to accept the Epistles sent, saying to the Monkes, to whome it seemed to be some great honour to be so courteously greeted by the Caesars: Why meruayle you that a King should write to a man? Nay wonder rather, the immortall God, should write so his law to mortals, yea euen speake to them face to face by meanes of his only begotten Sonne. The magnanimous Abbot then (as we haue sayd) within a litle had refused to receiue the letters, at least he was resolued not to answere them at all, if through the prayers of his Monkes, and scruple which would arise of litle Edification, he had not been enforced in a manner to write backe, as he did: first with praysing those Lords, for the sayth they professed, & then exhorting thē to make no great reckoning of their present greatnes but to haue alwayes the future Iudgement in mynd, & to acknow∣ledge Christ only, for the true, and eternall King; he concluded lastly in persuading them to be courteous and benigne, and to haue speciall care of the poore, and of Iustice. Which aduises, were re∣ceyued of the Emperour and Princes with great ioy and confola∣tion.

This was the credit and reputation, whereto the Seruant of Chist, euen in his tyme, was arriued, surmounting the Enuy, and detraction of the world; and the same not so much, through same of great learning, or of extraordinary Eloquence, or of Bookes •…•…ut forth to light, or of any of those arts, which are in price with •…•…he world, as through a sanctity of manners only, and by the grace of God, who is delighted to exalt the humble, to manifest such as are willing to hide themselues, and withall to giue the world to vnderstand, how the diuine precepts and counsayles, are not im∣possible to those, that will disentangle themselus, and walke cou∣ragiously in the way of vertues. But be this sufficiently sayd for the present of the glorious acts, and rare parts of S. Antony, rather as inti∣mated to the faythfull only, then any wyse explicated as they de∣serue. And now remaines it for vs to touch somewhat of his Death, that to him was a sweet, and blessed Birth-day.