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In the first Ages, Pastors were so full of zeal for the Glory of God, and so industrious for the Edification of their Flock, that 'twas superfluous to exhort them to Re∣sidence, seeing they had no other thoughts but to do it in the places assigned to their care, and where the Fami∣lies lived which were committed to their conduct; nei∣ther do we find in those times any Canons which enjoyn them to this Residence, because they themselves of their own free will were inclin'd to do it; and that 'twas not heard of that a Pastor did not dwell in the midst of the Flock to whom he owed his care and pre∣sence. * 1.1 St. Cyprian complained of certain Bishops which incumbring themselves with secular affairs, abandoned their Churches, and the care of that holy administrati∣on whereof they were to render an account to our Sa∣viour: And in his 56 Epistle to those of Thibari, he shew∣eth, that in the present conjuncture, he could not safely leave his Church, and the People God had committed to his Charge.
St. Ambrose sufficiently testifies that he was really persuaded of the necessity of Residence, when he wrote to the Emperor Theodosius, that if the dread he had of the Tyrant Eugenius had oblig'd him to quit Millan for a little time, yet he returned thither as soon as the storm was past over; * 1.2 I hastned, saith he, to return as soon as ever I heard that him whose presence I thought I was bound to shun, was gone: for I forsook not the Church of Millan, which the Providence of God committed to my care; but I desir'd not to see him that made himself guilty of Sacriledg. He speaks of Eugenius, who usurped the Empire after having cruelly put to death the Emperor Valentinian the