Letters concerning the Discipline and Life of the Monks.
As S. Isidore professed a Monastick Life, so 'tis to the Monks that the greatest part of his Instructions, which we have already spoken of, are directed. He extols a Monastick State in general, l. 1. Let. 129. and gives the Description of a true Monk, l. 1. 200, 298, 308, 319. He makes that estate to consist principally in two things; In Retiredness and Obe∣dience, l. 1. 1. The Apparel of the Monks, according to him, ought to be like S. John Bap∣tist's; that is to say, Of Hair, and their Food ought to be nothing but Herbs: But if they are not able to undergo so great Austerities, they ought to live in that Way which the Bishop commands them, and follow the Rules which he shall prescribe them, l. 1. 5, 74, They ought not to live as they list, but put themselves under the Government of some Supe∣rior, l. 1. 193, 260. They ought not to concern themselves with worldly Affairs, nor main∣tain any Trade or Commerce with the World, l. 1. 25, 75, 92, 220. When any Man hath once embraced a Monastick Life, he ought to persevere with Zeal, l. 1. 91, 110. Incon∣stant and fickle Monks are blame-worthy, l. 1. 41, 173, 314, 318. They ought not to be allowed to live in Idleness, but they must be employed and labour, l. 1. 49. They may not read the Books of Profane Authors, nor affect to speak or declaim elegantly, l. 1. 62, 64. I omit to speak of the Practice of such Christian Vertues as he recommends to them, and of those Vices which he reproves in some Monks of his Time, because that were to repeat what we have already said.
What we have spoken of S. Isidore of Damiata, may suffice to inform us of his Style and Person: Nothing remains more to be spoken of, but the Editions of these Letters, which I shall do in a few Words. The three first Books were translated into Latin by the Abbot Billius, and printed after his Death in Greek and Latin, at Paris in 1585. with a Collection of the excellent Observations of that Learned Man, as well upon S. Isidore as upon other Greek Fathers. Ritterhusius added a Fourth Book to these, and caused it to be printed with [the other Three, and] his own large Notes [upon all the Four Books] by Commelinus [at Heidelberg] in 1605. The Jesuit Schottus joyned a Fifth Book to them, which was printed in Greek at Antwerp in 1623, in Latin at Rome in 1624. and in Greek and Latin [illustrated with Notes, Glosses and Arguments] at Franck fort in 1629. They are all collected into one Volume, and printed in the last Edition at Paris, in 1638.