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* 1.1XIX. CHAP.
1. Valentinian the second, Emperour.
2.3. &c. The Heresy of Iovinian against Virginity &c. Condemn'd by Pope Siri∣cius and the H. Fathers.
* 1.21. AFter Maximus his death Theodosius left Valentinian Emperour of the West, adding to his Government Gaule Brittany and Spain, possess'd by the Tyrant. But before he was entrusted with this great charge,* 1.3 the pious Emperour Theodosius in∣structed him in the Orthodox Faith, earnestly exhorting him to persevere in it. These In∣structions wanted not a good effect, the rather because his Mother Iustina, the great Patronesse of Artanism; was lately dead.
* 1.42. The year following broke forth a Heresy, which in our last age taught Luther to renounce his Monasticall Profession, to allow scope to his carnall appetites, and to draw out of her Cloyster a Consecrated Nunne to his incestuous embraces. The Authour of it was Iovinianus formerly a Monk, but weary of his vowd austerities: who this year was publickly declared a Heretick by Pope Siricius. Whereupon most of the learned Fathers of those times earnestly wrote against him, particularly S. Hierom, S. Ambrose and S. Augustin.
* 1.53. Concerning his speciall Hereticall Do∣ctrines S. Hierosme thus declares them. I will breifly sett down, saith he, our Adversaries opinions, and out of his obscure bookes, as out of dark denns draw out the Serpents, neither will I suffer him to cover his venemous head with the foldings of his spotted body. Let his poysonnous doctrines be brought to light, that so we may see to tread and bruise them under our feet. He affirms that Virgins, Widows and maried women, being once baptiz'd, are of the same merit, in case they differ not in other works. Again he undertakes to prove that those who with a com∣pleat Faith have been regenerated by Baptism, cannot afterward be subverted by the Devill. And in the third place he professes that there is no difference, in regard of merit, between fasting from meats, and the receiving of them with thanksgiving.
* 1.64. Pope Siricius likewise in his Epistle con∣cerning him to the Church of Milan, gives this character of Iovinian, that he was an imita∣tour of the Devill, being an Enemy of Chastity, a Teacher of luxury, nourish'd with gluttonous crudities, punish'd by abstinence; he hates fasting, telling his Ministers that such things are superfluous &c. In opposition whereto a Sy∣nod assembled by the same Holy Pope ca∣tholickly professes, Wee doe not undervalew or disparage the Vowes of mariage, at which we oftimes are present:* 1.7 but we attribute greater ho∣nour to the spirituall mariage of Virgins. Calling therfore a Synod, it appeard that Iovinians asser∣tions are contrary to our doctrin, that is, to the Christian Law. Therfore since these men teach contrary to what wee have learnt by Tradition, We the whole Clergy of Rome, with the Preists & Deacons, following the Precept of the Apostle, doe unanimously pronounce this sentente, That Iovinian, Auxentius, Genialis, Germinator, Felix, Frontinus, Martianus, Ianuarius and Ingeniosus who have been found zealous teachers of this New Heresy and blasphemy, be by Divine sentence and our iudgment condemn'd and cast out of the Church. Which sentence our hope is that your Holines will likewise confirm.
5. Conformably hereto the Church of Milan in a Synodicall answer penn'd by S. Ambrose,* 1.8 after high commendation of the Popes zeale, tells him,
That the said Here∣ticks therfore fled to Milan, that they might find no place in which they should not be condemn'd. All that saw them avoy∣ded them, as if they had been infected with the plague: and that being condemn'd with an universall execration, they were thrust our of the Citty of Milan, like vaga∣bonds.
6. To conclude, S. Augustin reciting the Positions of his Heresy, concludes with these words,* 1.9 The Holy Church did most fruitfully and most courageously resist this Monster. And in another place, This Heresy, saith he, was quickly extinguished, neither could it ever make such progresse as to seduce any Preists: though some ancient Virgins at Rome being perswaded by lovi∣nian, were reported thereupon to have taken husbands. No sign appears that it ever entred into Brittany in those times, so precious and venerable was Virginity then, so great a Mul∣titude of Seminaries there of Chastity, and such frequency of abstinence and fasting. So that it seems a more powerfull Devill atten∣ded Luther and Calvin, then Iovinian.