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 S. Antony mountes into the Chayre of Theology, and was the first of his Order, that read in those Schooles. Chap. 8.

VVE may not seeme to passe ouer in silence, how 22. Thee∣ues being accustomed to rob and murder trauaylours in a certaine thick and obscure forest, and then after vnknowne in the Citty, to appeare in the habit of Honourable persons, being lastly moued with the fame, which ran euery where of the Angelicall preaching of S. Anthony, resolued to goe all at once to heare him. And found the report of him to be nothing false, but rather remay∣ned so mollifyed and softned, at his fyery speaches, as the sermon being hardly finished, they went al one after another, to cast them∣selues at the feet of the Preacher, with most humble confession, crauing absoluion at his hands, and promising amendment. Of whome being graciously heard, and with fatherly admonitions being encouraged and instructed, they retired themselues to per∣forme the pennances imposed vpon them.

By which example, may easely be estimated without more ado, how great, and how vnusuall effects, that instrument of the diuine goodnes occasioned in the harts of men. So as S. Bonauenture in the second translation of the Saint, which was some thirty two yeares after his death, finding that happy tongue, through the di∣uine will, wholy fresh and red, with good reason exclaymed: O tongue, which hast euer blessed God, and taught others to blesse him like∣wise, it appeares now manifestly of what merit thou wast before our Lord: and so kissing it deuoutly he placed it in a decent Reliquary, for that purpose. But returning to the matter of the spirituall purchase, and most burning zeale of S. Antony. It is surely a merueilous thing, how the man of God, notwithstanding the occupation of the pul∣pit, and other trauayls of no light importance, employed himselfe very willingly in hearing confessions, and with so much prudence, and longanimity applyed himselfe to looke into, and to cure the wounds of soules, as sometymes from morning, to late in the eue∣uing, he had no tyme to restore his weary and afflicted body eyther with meate, or repose at all.

The Heretikes moreouer and the Heresiarks being manifestly conuinced by the wisedome and spirit that spake in him, were con∣streyned opēly eyther with base silence to confesse their perfidious∣nes, or with wholesome compunction to accept the truth. Though

indeed he combated against such a plague, •…•…ot only from aloft with long and continued speaches, but euen also in meetings and assem∣blyes in schooles, with syllogismes and distinctions, and with other arts which Logick teaches. Which perticularly is seen in the Citties of Arimini, Millan, & Tholouse. From which things grew also another effect of no small consideration, as well for the common benefit of all Christendome, as for the especiall increase and reputation of the Fryars Minors.

The sayd Religion, as we mentioned, was lately founded by the most Blessed Father S. Francis, in profession and spirit, rather of Christian pouerty and humility, then of erudition or learning. Which though they were not despised, or in contempt with him, yet was he very circumspect and cautious in admitting them into his Institute, being desirous that his Fryars should preach rather with example and good works, then with precepts, and words: nor lightly would he giue them leaue to study, as fearing not with∣out good reason, least through weakenes of humane nature, much reading might extinguish deuotion, and the wind of curio∣sity destroy the building of Charity. From this caution of the ho∣ly Father, and simplicity which commonly appeared in his chil∣dren, sprang vp an vniuersal opinion in the world, that the Fryars were certainely but silly, and good men only; but ignorant meer∣ly and litle apt for discouering the deceipts of the auncient aduer∣sary, and iudging the quality of synnes, or distinguishing between leaprosy and leaprosy, and by consequence vnable to cooperate with the diuine prouidence in the conducting of soules.

Now some Fathers being desirous to cancell this note, as zea∣lous of the fame of their Order, and of the glory of Christ, made great instance vnto the Blessed Antony, he would take the paynes to read and explicate the more grauer sciences, and set vp in the Reli∣gion of the Minors a Schoole also, whence as from a noble and per∣petuall Seminary, might issue from tyme to tyme sufficient worke∣men for the Vinyard of our Lord. To which so honest requestes, howbeit otherwise he would willingly haue condescended, yet hauing some notice of the mind of his common Father and Superi∣our, he could neuer be brought to accept the enterprise, vntill such tyme, as he had expresse faculty and commission from him, with a letter of the tenour following: To his most deere Brother Antony, Fryar Francis sends greeting. I am content that you read Diuinity to

the Fryars, but in such sort, that (according to the aduise of the Rule) neither in you or them, the spirit of holy Prayer may be ex∣tinguished.

Heereby, all excuse being taken away, S. Antony did at last begin to satisfy the continuall desires of the Fryars, and he was the first, who in that, venerable Family euer held the Chayre; begin∣ning in Mompelier in France, and prosecuting afterwardes in Bologna, and then in Padua. To which Citty, whether it were for the cle∣mency of the ayre, or for the humanity and disposition of the inha∣bitants, he bare very speciall affection: and with this his new la∣bour of interpreting the diuine mysteries, he came both to illustrate the Order of Minours, and to affoard the militant Church a fit sup∣ply of the choicest fouldiours. Amidst these so noble and fruitefull cares of his, the Seruant of Christ, could not also auoyd that same of gouerning others, in diuers degrees, and places of France, and Italy, where he was (according to the institute of the Order) both Guar∣dian and Minister. In which dignityes, howbeit he shewed affa∣bility, and such iudgment, as he was both reuerenced and beloued of his subiects: yet to the end he might more readily attend to spiri∣tuall workes, and for the greater common good, it seemed well to Pope Gregory the IX. through singular priuiledge, to discharge him of all superintendency of Conuents, or of Prouinces, which do ne∣cessarily bring with them diuers distractions and thoughts of tem∣porall matters. And besids the office of confessing, conuersing with the Neighbours, and preaching, the same Pope would haue him to put his sermons into writing, that the profit might not only deriue to the present and liuing, but euen also to the absent, and posteri∣ty. Whereupon retyring himselfe a new into the Citty of Padua, being a place for diuers occasiōs very apt for al exercise of learning, he went forward in putting those bookes to writing, which are now read in print, & which to the studious of christian eloquence, serue as a copious and rich storehouse for any subiect whatsoeuer.