The second SECTION. A short Elogie of the life and manners of S. Ambrose.
I Will do as Geographers, who put the whole world into a little map. I intend to comprize in few words, that which deserveth a volume, and give you a brief table of the life and manners of this great Saint.
S. Ambrose was a man, in whom it seemed virtue was incorporated, to make it self visible to mor∣tal eyes. Goodness, which cometh to others by studie, seemed his by nature, since he had conse∣crated his infancy by the ignorance of vice, and whiteness of innocency. Others think it ill to com∣mit a sin, and with him it was a great vice to omit a virtue. When he lived in the house of his father, with his good sister Marcellina, he attended to the practice of virtuous actions; they both were as flint-stones, which by proximity make the sparkles flie: so the holy emulation they used in the pursuit of good, enkindled the sensible apprehension of God in their hearts, by a mutual reverberation. He went from this school, as Samuel from the Tabernacle, to bear innocency to the Episcopal Throne, and there to receive dignity. His life served as a rule, his example as a torch, his learning as an ornament, and his very silence as an admonition.
If you regard the virtues, which ordinarily lay the foundations of spiritual building, such as are sobrie∣ty and continency, Ambrose undertook fasts for de∣light, commonly eating but once aday, and that with moderation; he tyed himself to the one for the love of the Cross, and admitted the other by way of necessity. This exercise much served him to con∣serve his purity, which most inviolably he kept even in the very course of secular life, as it was found in his private papers, where he very ardently begged of Almighty God, that he would give him grace to maintain in his Episcopal dignity, the gift of chasti∣ty, which he had afforded him in a secular life. He daily rose from his bed, as the Phenix from her nest, having no other flames, but those of that great Sun, which scorcheth Angels in Heaven, and the most An∣gelical hearts on earth. From this temperance pro∣ceeded his admirable conversation, which gained all hearts. and who so well knew how to joyn the wis∣dom of the serpent with the simplicity of the dove. He was prudent with good men, sharp against the practises of the wicked, yet crafty never. His dis∣course came from him with such an Oeconomy, that the ignorant found instruction therein; the curious, light; the learned, solidity; the eloquent, grace; the vitious, terrour; the virtuous, edification; the timo∣rous, confidence; the afflicted, consolation; and the whole world admiration. There was nothing idle in this man, all spake in him, all tended to praise∣worthy actions; his study was holy letters, his care to express in his manners what he had read in books; he was prompt in all which he did, and had but one hinderance in the world, and that was prayer, which he would never have left, if discretion had not taught him to forsake God to find God. His in∣tentions were most sincere, his negotiations honou∣rable, his silence discreet, his words ever profitable, his heart full of compassion; and although the emi∣nency of his life raised him above all men, yet the sweetness of his nature made him familiar with all such as stood in need of his assistance. As much as his zeal made him terrible to those who durst con∣tend with his Master, so much his mildness render∣ed him communicable to all the world: his exte∣riour employments nothing diminished his interiour, nor did retirement for contemplation hinder the ma∣nage of affairs.
Never was he imperious, but to support the Em∣pire of the Saviour of the world. As he elevated himself towards Heaven, when there was occasion to defend the Church, so he humbled himself to lowest degrees, when he was to condescend to hu∣mane infirmities. Honour always seemed to him the tribute of God, and whilest he lived, he constantly yielded it to his Master, without keeping ought else for himself, but the burden of his ministery. His con∣tinual exercise was to instruct Monarchs exhort peo∣ple, convince hereticks, comfort the afflicted, feed the hungry, cloath the naked, redeem prisoners, entertain pilgrims, shew the way of salvation to the erring, save the desperate from shipwrack, enflame the luke∣warm, cherish the fervent, provide for all those who were under his charge, and punctually to act all the duties of his profession.
He thought all the miseries in the world were pro∣perly his, and bewailed them as his own. He like∣wise accounted the good hap, commodity, and ad∣vancements of his neighbour, were his own riches and enablements, as if in one sole heart, all the hearts of the world were included. There was neither need of Porter nor Page in his house, to give him notice of such as would speak with him, for he was ever ex∣posed to commerce, as writeth S. Augustine. Every one ran to him, nor did any man think the time long in his company; such pleasure they took in his conversa∣tion. The needy who arrived at his house, went not away without relief. From the time he entered into office, he consecrated his whole patrimony to the poor, giving as it were all he had, without reserving so much as himself. Although transitory goods are consumed, faith never is wasted. Faith serveth for alms, and alms fail not to faith. These temporal assistances gave passage to grace and spiritual visits; by which he endeavoured to sweeten, as with oyl, the yoke of Jesus Christ, and adorn with virtue the souls of all his subjects, as his own heart, which was a true receptacle of charity. Never was man more beloved or feared than he; so well did he know to dispence these two different affections. Every man reverenced him as his Lord, and observed him as his father; each man thought he found his countrey, kindred, and accommodations, where S. Ambrose was.