VALERIAN.
VALERIANUS or VALERUS, Bishop of a 1.1 Cemele, a City of the Sea-Alps, an Ancient Bishoprick, subject to the Metropolis of Ambrun, flourished in the Popedom * 1.2 of S. Leo. We have a Letter of this Pope's to the Bishops of France, in the Inscription of which we find the Name of Valerian, and a Letter of the Bishops of France, in the Subscri∣ption of which we find it also. He was present at the Council of Ries in 439. at the 3d. Council of Arles in 455, to which he was summoned by Ravennius, to determine the difference between Theodorus Bishop of Frejus, and Faustus Abbot of Lerins. He took the part of Faustus and the Monastery of Lerins, of which he was once a Monk. We have 20 Homilies of this Author, and one Letter to the Monks. The 1st. is of the Usefulness of Discipline. The 2d. and 3d. is of the narrow way to Salvation. The 4th. is upon the obligation of paying of Vows, and giving to God what is promised. The 5th. is of the Abuse of the Tongue: The 6th. is of idle Words, wherein he blames vain Talk, Detraction, Rallery, Songs, and what∣soever tends not to the Edification of our Neighbour. The 7th. 8th. and 9th. are upon the obligation that lies upon Men to be Charitable. He requires, among other things, That Christian Charity should extend it self to all the World, excepting no Man. The 10th. is an elegant Satyr upon the Life of Parasites. The 11th. teaches the Faithful to humble them∣selves, by acknowledging, That they are beholding to God for all the good they do, yet he maintains, That Man contributes to it by his Free-will: But as it would be ridiculous in a Soldier to attribute the Victory to himself, altho' he fought in it, so it would be a foolish thing for a Christian to arrogate to himself the Honour of the good he does by the Assistance of the Holy Spirit. We must give God the Praise of all our Labours, because they belong to him. The 12th. and 13th. are about the Love of Enemies and the Benefit of Peace. The 14th. is concerning the necessity and conditions of Christian Humility. The following Three are upon the Advantages of Martyrdom. The 18th. is in Honour of the 7 Macchabees. The 19th. opposes the Disorders of those who follow their Debaucheries upon the Sundays in Lent, under pretence that it is allowed not to Fast upon those days. Valerian exhorts the Chri∣stians to keep up the Lent-discipline even upon those days, and not run to any Excess. The last Homily is against Covetousness. The Letter to the Monks is a very little thing.
The Stile of these Homilies is not lofty, but plain and without Ornament, yet perspicuous and familiar. It hath neither Allegories nor Clinks of Words, nor harsh Figures. They are moral Discourses, very useful, where we may find very edifying Instructions and profitable Maxims. The Opinions of the Monks of Lerins and Priests of Marseille about Grace and Free-will, are scattered up and down his Sermons. He holds a necessity of Grace in order to doing good, but gives Man an absolute Liberty. He supposes, That the beginning may pro∣ceed from him, and that God never denies Grace for the Accomplishment. This Author was published [at Paris] in 1612. [Octavo.] by F. Sirmondus, and after Printed [at Lyons] in 1623. [1633.] with the Works of S. Leo. [They are in Bibl. Patrum, Tome VIII.]