A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

176 PELAGIUS. PELAGIUS.
Vertly instilling this poison, but at the same time especially in the notes on the Epistle to the Itothey both complain of the snake-like lubricity with mans. No doubt can exist with regard to their
which he uniformly evaded the grasp of his oppo- authenticity, which is established beyond dispute
nents when they sought to fix him down to any by the quotations of Augustine, Marius Mercator,
substantial proposition, and of the haze of subtle and others. They will be found in the Benedictine
dialectics with which he enveloped every point in edition of Jerome, and in that by Vali;larsi. See
debate, obscuring and confounding the vision of his Garnier's edition of Mercator, Append. ad Diss. vi.
judges. There can be no doubt, however, that p. 367.
although his speculations were of a most abstruse II. Epistola ad Denzetriadema, written in the
and refined character, their tendency was eminently East about 412, and addressed to a Roman lady of
practical; that he desired to banish all mysticism, distinction, who had been induced by Augustine to
to render religious truth an active power in the abandon the pleasures of the world for a life of
amelioration of the heart, and sought upon all devout austerity. This piece, which is of consideroccasions to demonstrate the inefficacy of mere able importance, inasmuch as it contains clear
nominal faith unaccompanied by works, to warn indications of the sentiments of Pelagius with
his hearers of the hazard they incurred by waiting regard to the excellence of human nature, was, as
passively for some manifestation of Divine favour, well as the last-mentioned, assigned to Jerome, but
without making one effort to obtain it, and above the real author was ascertained from the quotations
all, toconvince them that their justification depended by Augustine in his De Gratia C(iristi (capp. 22,
in some degree upon themselves. 37, 38), and in the epistle to Juliana, the mother
In forming an estimate of the real character of of Demetrias. It will be found in the best editions
Pelagius, it must be remembered that his most of Jerome, and was published separately by Semiler,
bitter enemies freely admit the spotless purity of 8vo. Hal. Magd. 1775.
his life, and that he labours under this signal dis- III. Libellus Fidei ad Inoocentiasm Papan; a
advantage, that his chief works are known to us formal confession of faith, forwarded to Rome in
only from the quotations of his adversaries. But 417, which, along with the preceding, was included
even from those which are extant we may without among the tracts of Jerome under the title lIierowant of charity infer that the charge of duplicity, nymi Explanatio Symboli ad Daualas msz; and here
or at least reserve, was not altogether unfounded. likewise the mistake was corrected by the quotaI-le does not appear to have possessed that straight- tions in the De Gratia Christi. It is to be found
forward courage which prompts a truly great nind in all the best editions of Jerome. See also Garboldly to proclaim what it deems a vital truth in nier's edition of Mercator, P. I. Diss. v. p. 307.
defiance of obloquy and persecution. We are Another letter inscribed Epistola ad Celantiant
constantly struck with an indistinctness and ambi- Matronarn de Ratiose pie vivendi, among the corguity of phrase, which, after making very full respondence of Jerome, was supposed by Erasmus
aIllowance for the abstruse nature of the themes, to belong to Paulinus of Nola, by Vallarsi to Sulcannot be altogether accidental, while his complex picius Severus, while Semler argues from the
definitions and divisions, his six kinds of grace to general tone and spirit with which it is imbued, as
take a single example, tend rather to perplex than well as from the style, that it ought to be made
to simplify his positions and his arguments. Hence over to Pelagius. It is numbered CXLVIII. in
he may have endeavoured to convey the essence of the edition of Jerome by Vallarsi.
his system, while he abstained from spreading The following works are known to us only from
alarm by the open enunciation of what might fragmentary citations:appear at once strange and perilous, hoping in this 1. Ei}Aoyltuv Liber, designated by Gennadius as
manner to avoid those angry controversies from Eeulogiarzzz pro acltuali Concersatione ex Divinis
which a refined and contemplative mind would Scripturis Liber; by Honorius as Pr-o actuaoi Vita
shrink with disgust. In this project he might Liber; by Orosius as Testilsonioramn Liter. A
have succeeded had not his plans been frustrated by collection of remarkable texts from Scripture in
the impetuous sincerity of the more practical Coe- reference to practical morality, arranged and illuslestius, whose undisguised avowals first kindled trated after the manner of the Testimonia of Cvagainst himself that- flamlre of persecution which prian [CYPRIANUS, p. 914]. (Hieronym. Dialoy.
eventually involved his teacher also. advers. Pelag. lib. i. Augustin. c. duds PelagiacnoA very few only of the numerous and voluminous 2uam epp. iv. 8; De Gestis Pelagii, c. 1, 6. Collp.
treatises of Pelagius have descended to us, and for Garnier, ad M. AVercat. Appenal. ad Diss. vi.)
a long period every one of these was supposed to 2. De Nlatura Liter, to which Augustine replied
be the work of his most bitter enemy. in his De Nitusra et Gratia. The fragments have
1. Expositionzun in LEpistolas Pauli Libri XIV., been collected by Garnier, 1. c.
written at Rome, and therefore not later than A. D. 3. Liber ad Viduans Consolatorius atquze Exl7or310. These commentaries, which consist of short tutorius. See Hieronym. Dialog. adv. Pelay. lib.
simple explanatory notes on all the Epistles of Paul, iii.; Augustin. do Gest. Pelag. c. 6-; Garnier, ed.
with the exception of that to the Hebrews, were at Mercator. 1. c.
one period attributed to Gelasius, who was Bishop 4. Epistola ad Azguzstizmm;, written after the
of Romle towards the end of the fifth century; Synod held in Palestine. (Augustin. de Gest. Pelag.
they afterwards found their way into the MSS. of c. 26; Garnier, ed. Mercat. 1. c.)
Jerome; and the admirers of that divine, considering 5. Epistola ad Agzyustinziu Secunda; written
it their duty to expunge every passage which after the Synod of Diospolis, and transmitted by
seemed tinged with heresy, they have been trans- the deacon Carus. (Augustin. de Gest. Peiag.
mitted to modern times in a state very different c. 30; Garnier, ed. Mercat.. c.; G. J. Voss.
from that in which they issued from the hands of Histor. Controversia-mrun Pelagianarum, 4to. Lug.
their composer, although his doubts with regard to Bat. 161l 8; H. Nolris. IfTistor. Pelaq. fol. Lovan.
original sin may still be very clearly traced, 1 702; Tillemont, Al1moires, &c.; Schriick, i;r