Unparalleld varieties: or, The matchless actions and passions of mankind.: Displayed in near four hundred notable instances and examples. Discovering the transcendent effects; I. Of love, friendship, and gratitude. II. Of magnanimity, courage, and fidelity. III. Of chastity, temperance, and humility. And on the contrary the tremendous consequences, IV. Of hatred, revenge, and ingratitude. V. Of cowardice, barbarity, treachery. VI. Of unchastity, intemperance, and ambition. : Imbellished with proper figures. / By R.B. ...

XXXVI. In the Reign of Theodosius the Emperor there happened a great tumult in Thessalonica, a rich and, populous City of Macedonia, amongst the People against the Magistrates and Governors under the Emperor, and their Fury grew so great, that they slew them, which when Theodosius understood, he was so incensed against them, that he caused his Soldiers to put ten thousand of the common people to death, making no difference be∣tween the guilty and innocent; St. Ambrose hearing of it, when the Emperor came to Church, as his manner was, Ambrose set himself at the Church door, and that his Repentance might be as publick as his Offence, he told the Emperor, That he should not enter there, making a learned Oration to him, wherein he opened his fault, and then Excommunicated him; all which the Empe∣ror heard with great patience, and returning to his Pallace, he continued there eight months before he was Absolved, at the end whereof he said to one about him, Truly I will go and see what Pennance my Pastor will

lay upon me for mine offence; and so he went to the Church door, where St. Ambrose was, and intreated him to ab∣solve him; But what Repentance have you shew'd, said the Bishop, for so hainous an Offence? And with what Salve have you healed so mortal a wound? You, said the Emperor, are to in∣struct, and shew me what I am to do, and you shall see I will accomplish what you shall prescribe; The Bishop seeing the Emp. Mildness and Humility, and judging it sufficient pen∣nance, that he had been so long Excommunicated, cour∣teously replied, Your Pennance Theodosius shall be this, that seeing in your hasty fury you committed such an horrid Mur∣ther, you shall presently establish a Law, that no man whom you shall adjudge to die, shall be executed within thirty days after you have pronounced the Sentence; at the end of which time, you shall either ratify, or disannul your Sentence, as you shall see cause. The Emperor immediately caused this Law to be written, and proclaimed, which he ever after ob∣served, and whereof much good ensued; and so being absolved, he came into the Church, prayed, and recei∣ved the Sacrament, and ever after loved St. Ambrose very dearly, and used his Council in many matters, and for his Companies sake, he continued in Millain the remain∣der of his life. Clarks Lives. p. 20.