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.

The excellent guifts, and talents of S. Antony, especially necessary to so notable a preacher, as he was. Chap. 7.

LEt no man thinke by the former Chapter, that S. Antony shew∣ed himselfe to be so rigorous and terrible to all. He wanted not iudgment to discerne the difference of his Auditours, nor skill and practize to deale with the rich, with the poore, with the noble and ignoble, according to the capacity, and nature, and state of ech one. And how beyt the principall foundation of his preaching was placed, as we haue sayd, in frequent prayer, and continuall abne∣gation of himselfe; neuerthelesse he tooke light and nourishment of sound and sincere knowledge from the auncient Doctours, sacred Councells, and diuine Scriptures, wherein he was so versed and dexterous, as it is affirmed for certaine, that when by any misfor∣tune, they might hap to be lost, he alone from the Cabinet of his memory, was sufficient to recouer them agayne, as heeretofore Esdras had done, and to put them faythfully in writing.

Wherof among other persons of authority, Gregory the Ninth his Holynes, gaue truely a most cleere and graue testimony; for that S. Antony being come to the Court of Rome (for this likewise was a notable exployt of his) to oppose the designes and endeuoure of Fryar Elias, and of others, who sought to wrest the Rule, and enlarge the Religious discipline, he not only laboured efficaciously in this matter, but preached also to the Court, and people of Rome, in diuers places and tymes, with so great abundance of true and profund conceipts, with such subtilityes, and art in discouering the origens and causes of vices, and in appling apt remedyes to each one, and with such sharpe and sound interpretations of the Psalmes and the Prophets, and of all historyes & Oracles, and diuine precepts as the Pope himselfe being astonished, besides infinite other prayses afforded him, with a Pontificall spirit daigned to call him, The Arke of the Testament. There were added to these so rare guifts of a Christian Oratour, a dignity of aspect, a grace in his gestures, á sweetenes and cleernes of voyce, and all in so eminent a degree,

as he seemed to be an organ for honest delectation, and for a hole∣some mouing of soules, framed by the hand of God himselfe. And that which more increased the wonder, was so great a variety, quaintnes, and propriety in the Italian tongue, in a man trayned vp in Prouinces so remote, and come into Italy being of yeares so mature, and so late brought forth to the light of the world, and to the eminency of Pulpits.

Whence it is not very easy to explicate the concourse of people of all conditions, that assembled together at the sound of that cele∣stiall harmony and diuine Trumpet: in shutting vp their shopps, leauing their traffikes in the market places, and the noyses of the Pallace, and taking vp places before day at the sacred audience, with such hast and strife withall, as many tymes the seruant of God was constreyned to abandon the Churches and Cittyes, and goe forth into the spacious playnes, and there from the higher bancks to breake the bread of the diuine word vnto the hungry multitude. And he howbeyt corpulent by nature, and much subiect to swea∣ting, and diuers infirmityes, left not for all that, to expose him∣selfe with great promptnes, and without sparing any labour, or trouble where the greatest need was, & hope of a more certaine & copious haruest.

Now who were able to set downe what fruite followed, to the glory of our Lord and saluation of men? Who could number the rancours and enmityes deposed, the restitutions made, the Con∣cubines forsaken, the processions, disciplines, fasts, the pious works both common and particuler instituted for behoofe of body & soule? Many contemning the vanity of the world, though rich and po∣tent otherwise, eyther dedicated themselues to the diuine seruice in Religion, or the better to assure their conscience, very freely sub∣iected their whole substance and their life it selfe, vnto the dispose of the faythfull seruant of Christ; the good and faythfull through his discourses would depart from him very full of consolation of new courage and purpose afresh. The sinners chasing away dark∣nes and sleep, astonished at the diuine prouidence, acknowledging their perilous estate, and the greiuousnes of their synnes, as woun∣ted Harts to the fountayne, so ran they to the tribunall of Confes∣sours, with teares and sighs.