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1. VErecundus became leane againe with vexing at himselfe upon this good hap of ours, for that being detained by some engagements, by which he was most strongly obliged; hee saw himselfe likely to lose our company, as being not yet a Christian, though his wife were indeed baptized. And by
her as being a clogge that hung closer to him than all the rest, was hee chiefly kept from that journey which wee now inten∣ded. And a Christian he would not (as hee said) be any other wayes made, than by that way, which he as yet could not. How∣ever, most courteously in truth did he proffer us, that we might freely make use of his Countrey house, so long as we meant to stay there. Thou, O Lord, shalt reward him for it in the resur∣rection of the Iust, seeing thou hast already rendered to him the lot of mortality. For although it was in our absence, as being then at Rome, that he was taken with a bodily sicknesse; yet de∣parted he this life, being both made a Christian a 1.1, and bap∣tized.
also. Thus hadst thou mercy, not upon him onely, but upon us also; lest wee remembring our selves of the humanity re∣ceived from our friend; and not allowed to reckon him in the number of thy Flock, should be tortured with intolerable sorrow for him.
2. Thankes unto thee, O our God, wee are now thine: Thy inspirations and consolations tell us so. Thou, O faithfull promi∣ser, shalt repay Ʋerecundus for his Countrey house of Cassi∣acum, where from the troubles of the world we rested our selves in thee with the pleasantnesse of thy Paradise which is ever greene: for that thou hast for∣given him his sinnes upon earth, in that mountaine b 1.2 of spices, thine owne mountaine, that fruitfull mountaine. Ʋerecun∣dus therefore was much perplex∣ed, but Nebridius was as joyfull as wee. For although when as
he was not yet a Christian, hee had falne into the same pit of most pernicious error with us, be∣leeving the flesh of thy Sonne to be fantasticall: yet getting out from thence, he beleeved as wee did; not as yet entered into any sacraments of thy Church, but a most zealous searcher out of the truth. Whom, not long af∣ter our conversion and regenera∣tion by thy Baptisme, being al∣so baptized in the Catholike Faith, serving thee in perfect cha∣stity and continence amongst his owne friends in Africa, having first converted his whole family unto Christianity, didst thou take out of the flesh; and now he lives in the bosome of Abraham.
3. Whatsoever that estate be, which is signified by that bo∣some, there lives Nebridius my sweet friend, thy child, O Lord, adopted of a freed-man, lives there. For what other place is there for such a soule?
In that place he lives, concer∣ning which hee sometimes de∣manded of me unskilfull man, so many questions. Now layes he his eare no longer unto my mouth; but layes his spirituall mouth unto thy fountaine, and drinketh as much of Wisedome as he is able to containe, propor∣tionable to his thirst; now with∣out end happy. Nor doe I yet thinke that he is so inebriated with it, as c 1.3 to forget me; see∣ing thou, O Lord, of whom hee drinketh, art still mindfull of us Thus fared it then with us: sor∣rowfull Ʋerecundus wee com∣forted, reserving our friendship entire notwithstanding our con∣version; and exhorting him to continue in the fidelity of his degree, namely of his married
estate. Nebridius we stayed for, expecting when he would fol∣low us, which being so neere he might well doe: and even now hee was about to doe it, when behold those daies of Interim were at length come to an end. For long and many they seemed unto me; even for the love I bare to that easefull liberty: that we might sing unto thee out of all our bowels, My heart hath said unto thee, I have sought * 1.4 thy face, thy face Lord will I seeke.
Christi∣anus & fi∣delis fa∣ctus: and before, Nondum Christia∣nus, con∣juge fide∣li. By this appeares the Primitive order to make and call them Christians before they were bap∣tized. And that what ever degree of faith they had, yet did they not call them faithfull, till they were baptized. After which, though they proved Energumeni, to be possessed with a Divell, yet still they called them Faithfull. Nothing lost them that name, but excommunication onely.
In mon∣te Cassia∣to, In the Mountains where Cas∣sia and Spi∣ces grow. See Can∣tic. 8. 14. Cassiato better an∣swers to Cassiaco, than Inca∣scato does, which the printed Co∣pies read.
Here the Popish Tran slaior notes, that Au∣gustine thought Nebridius prayed for him. Is here any word of prayer? may not the Saints in generall re∣member us, and what passed betwixt us and them at the time of their death; and yet not pray for us? especially not for our secret and particular wants, and things done since their death. The place better proves the Communion of Saints, than the Prayers of the Saints.
Psal. 27. 8.