A new history of ecclesiastical writers containing an account of the authors of the several books of the Old and New Testament, of the lives and writings of the primitive fathers, an abridgement and catalogue of their works ... also a compendious history of the councils, with chronological tables of the whole / written in French by Lewis Ellies du Pin.

PETRUS CHRYSOLOGUS.

PETRUS, who was surnamed Chrysologus, was a Native of * 1.1 Imola. He was taught, and admitted into the Clergy by S. Cornelius Bishop of that City, as he Notes in his 165 * 1.2 Sermon. Some are of Opinion, That being at Rome with his Bishop, at that time when the Clergy and People of Ravenna had sent their Deputies to desire a Bishop of Sixtus III, then Pope, he was chosen by that Pope to fill that vacant See, as he had been warned in a Dream by S. Peter, and Apollinaris the first Bishop of the See of Ravenna; but this is a groundless Story, being related by no Credible Author. It is only certain that P. Chrysologus was chosen, and Ordain'd about that time Bishop of Ravenna. He governed that Church several Years. There is a Letter of S. Leo's written to Neonas his Successor, which was heretofore the 37th, and is at present the 135, which is thought to be written in 451, in the Consulship of Martian and Adelphius * 1.3. This supposeth that P. Chrysologus was Dead in 449. But F. Quesnel having proved in his Notes upon that Letter, that it is rather written in 458, some few Years more may be allowed for the continuance of this Saint in his Episcopal Charge, yet not to carry it so far as the Year 500, nor confound him with that Petrus who lived un∣der Theodoricus.

Trithemius says, That this Bishop composed several Sermons, or Homilies, for the People, a Letter to Eutyches, which beginneth with these words, I have read with grief, and some other Letters. We have 176 Sermons, and the Letter to Eutyches.

These Sermons are very short. In them he explains the Text of Holy Scripture in few words, but in a way very pleasing, and makes short Moral Reflections upon them. The Para∣bles, and Miracles, of Jesus Christ, are the chief Subjects of his Sermons. In some of them he Treats of Fasting, Alms-giving, Vigilance, Patience, and some other Christian Virtues. He hath also several upon the Great Feasts, with some Panegyricks of Saints. S. Chrysologus hath found out the way to join extream Brevity, and very great Elegance together, in his dis∣courses. His Stile is made up of short Sentences, and Phrases, which have a natural se∣quence and connexion one with another; the words are very fit, and the sence is simple and natural. It hath nothing swelling, or forced. His descriptions are clear and easie. But for all this, there is nothing great enough, sublime enough, nor eloquent enough to entitle him justly to the Sirname of Chrysologus, of which he is possessed; we see no extraordinary Mo∣tives;

we meet with nothing that quickens, or affects much; we find no Truth enforcing con∣sent, only Doctrines explained at large. All that can be said is this, His Relations are plea∣sant, and his Moral Discourses represent very well to the Mind what we ought to do, but make no impression upon the Heart, nor are able to change the Will.

The Sermons of this Author have been Collected together above Nine Hundred Years, by Foelix Bishop of Ravenna, who lived in the Year 702, or 708. F. Oudin proves it in his Ad∣vertisement, that he found them in Three Manuscripts. They have been Printed since at Col∣len in 1541, 1607, [1618] and 1678, [Quarto] at Parn in 1585, at Antwerp in 1618, at Ly∣ons in [1633] 1636, at Bologne in 1643. This Edition is the best. They are also to be found in Bibliotheca Patrum, [Tom. VII.] and with S. Leo's Works at Paris in 1614, and 1670.

The Epistle to Eutyches was written after that Monk had been Condemned by Flavian. S. Chrysologus tells him, That he read with sorrow his sad Letter; for if the Peace of the Church, the Agreement of the Clergy, and the Quiet of the People, cause Joy in Heaven; on the contrary, Divisions ought to beget Sadness, and Grief; especially, when they proceed from so lamentable a cause, as that was, for which he separated from his Bishop. He adds, That the Church had been free from Controversies for Thirty Years; That Origen and Nestorius had fallen into Error by Reasoning upon the ineffable Mystery of the Incarnation. That it was a shame for Priests to be Ignorant of that which the Magi Acknowledged and Adored; That when Jesus came into the World, Glory to God was Sung, and it is strange at present, that all the World Bow at the Name of Jesus, that he should be Ignorant of the Reason of it. He saith afterward with the Apostle, That tho' we have known Jesus Christ according to the Flesh, yet now we know him no more; That it becomes us not to be very inquisitive, and that we ought to honour, respect, wait upon our Judge, and not dispute about his Title. This is, saith he, what may be answered to your Letter in a few words. I would have sent you a longer Answer, if our Brother Flavian had not sent me some Instruments about what pas∣sed in your Cause. You say, That his Judgment ought not to stand, because he made whom he thought fit to be Judges, but how should we know that, since we neither heard, nor saw them? We should be unjust Arbitrators, if we should determine in favour of one Party, be∣fore we hear the other. In sum, We Exhort you, my most honoured Brother, to submit to what hath been written by the Bishop of Rome, because S. Peter, who lived and presided in his See, Teaches the True Faith to those that inquire after it. As for us, we dare not, for the Love we have to Peace and Truth, concern our selves either to hear or judge Causes with∣out the consent of the Bishop of Rome. Gerard Vossius, who hath Published this Letter in Greek and Latin among several other pieces, at the end of S. Greg. Thaumaturgus at Mentz, in 1604, [in 1603, Cave] tells us, That there are two Manuscripts in the Vatican, where this Letter ends at these words, This is what I thought fit to Answer at present to your Letter. And indeed, It is likely that the Letter ends at that place, and that what follows hath been added afterward to raise the Authority of the Church of Rome. It is nevertheless to be found in the Manuscripts of Cardinal Sirlet, and it is Printed also in the first part of the Acts of the Council of Chalcedon, and in the ordinary Editions of S. Chrysologus.

Notes

• * 1.1

  [Ancient∣ly called, Forum Cor∣nelii.]
• * 1.2

  Petrus Chrysolo∣gus.
• * 1.3

  [Dr. Cave follows this Opinion.]