The Holy life of Philip Nerius founder of the Congregation of the Oratory. To which is annexed a relation written by S. Augustine of the miracles in his dayes, wrought many of them in or near the city wherein he resided and well-known to him. And a relation of sundry miracles wrought at the monastery of Port-Royall in Paris, A.D. 1656. publikcly [sic] attested by many witnesses. / Translated out of a French copie published at Paris. 1656.

Chap. 5. Quitting his Studies he devotes himself wholly to Christ.

AS soon as he had gathered from Sciences, and reading Holy Books what he thought might suffice to the promoting his own and others Salvati∣on, taking S. Pauls advice; Non plus Sapere, quam o∣portet sapere; That none presume to understand, above what is meet to understand; all business set aside, he determined to know nothing but Christ and him Cru∣cified. Hereupon he sold all the Books he had, and bestowed the Money on the Poor: which act of Chari∣ty performed, he betook him to his Prayers with more fervent devotion; even to the spending dayes and nights therein, and continuing sometimes in it full forty houres.

And for his better progress, he began more severely to afflict his body, sleeping on the ground anights, beating himself every day with small Iron Chaines, declining the Company of men, daily frequenting the seven Churches of the Citty, especially the Cae∣mitery of Callistus; where carrying with him only one loaf for his provision, he would many times pass whole nights in supplications: which strange course of life he led for ten years together. Which Francis

Cardonius, a Dominican (who then in Rome had charge of the Novices in the Monastery of S. Maria su∣pra Minervam:) observing, to encourage others to the practises of stricter holiness, would frequently tell them; Phil••p Neri indeed was a right holy person; who, besides many wonderfull things done by him; lived ten whole years in S. Sebastians Grots.

If he chanced at any time to finde the Church-doors shut, when he repaired to those holy places, he was won•• to stand in the Porch; and there imploy himself in meditation on heavenly things; oftimes in read∣ing some pious book by Moon-light. Here was he en∣riched with such celestial treasures, here was he so ravished with delights, that when he could no longer sustain those overcomming pleasures, he would cry out; It is enough, good God, it is enough, withhold I entreat thee, withhold the excesses of thy Grace, for I cannot ••ear them: and falling flat upon the earth, he was fa••n to roll himself too and fro. No wonder therefore, if being big with him, who fills heaven, and earth, he did divers times affirme, that nothing was more irksome, more a burden to him that truely lov∣ed God, than life: oft using that memorable and common saying, That Holy Men endured life, desired death.

Yet God not only thus feasted his Champion with Spirituall Dainties, but on the other side exercised him with the encounters of divels that assaulted him. He went once to the Lateran Church, and passing the Amphitheater of Vespasian, an evill spirit in the like∣ness of a naked person comes out and meets him, sug∣gesting filthy and impure thoughts to him: but the chast youth knowing the wily artifices of that old Ser∣pent betakes him to his wonted artillery of Prayer, with which he shamefully worsted the fiend.

One night also, not far from S. Sebastians Church,

on a suddain three devills with ugly and grim visages (the more to fright him) met him praying, and meditating as he walked, but he, as one disdaining them, discovering no sign of fear went on undaunt∣edly, continuing in prayer with great tranquility: at which they fled, frustrate of their expectations. And with many other combats in this kinde did those wicked spirits assail him, over whom notwithstand∣ing this valliant Souldier of Christ victoriously tri∣umphed. Of which in their proper places.