The Letters of S. Ambrose,
Bishop of Milan
Transcriber’s Notes
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A
LIBRARY OF FATHERS
OF THE
HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH,
ANTERIOR TO THE DIVISION OF THE EAST AND WEST:
TRANSLATED BY MEMBERS OF THE ENGLISH CHURCH.
YET SHALL NOT THY TEACHERS BE REMOVED INTO A CORNER ANY MORE, BUT THINE EYES SHALL SEE THY TEACHERS. Isaiah xxx. 20.
OXFORD:
JAMES PARKER & CO.,
AND RIVINGTONS,
LONDON, OXFORD, AND CAMBRIDGE.
TO THE MEMORY
OF THE
MOST REVEREND FATHER IN GOD
WILLIAM
LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY,
PRIMATE OF ALL ENGLAND,
FORMERLY REGIUS PROFESSOR OF DIVINITY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD,
THIS LIBRARY
OF
ANCIENT BISHOPS, FATHERS, DOCTORS, MARTYRS, CONFESSORS,
OF CHRIST’S HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH,
UNDERTAKEN AMID HIS ENCOURAGEMENT,
AND
CARRIED ON FOR TWELVE YEARS UNDER HIS SANCTION,
UNTIL HIS DEPARTURE HENCE IN PEACE,
IS
GRATEFULLY AND REVERENTLY
INSCRIBED.
THE
LETTERS
OF
S. AMBROSE,
BISHOP OF MILAN,
TRANSLATED,
WITH NOTES AND INDICES.
OXFORD,
JAMES PARKER AND CO.,
AND RIVINGTONS,
LONDON, OXFORD, AND CAMBRIDGE.
1881.
PRINTED BY THE DEVONPORT SOCIETY OF THE HOLY TRINITY,
HOLY ROOD, OXFORD. 1881.
NOTICE.
The Translation of S. Ambrose’s Epistles was made in the early days of the Library of the Fathers by a friend, now with God, before the check which the Series received through various sorrowful losses. It has now been revised by an accomplished scholar, the Rev. H. Walford, M.A., one of the Masters at Hayleybury.
Over-work prevented the writing of some introductory remarks.
E. B. P.
CHRIST CHURCH,
Lent, 1881.
CONTENTS.
[⭘][Letter of Gratian to AMBROSE.]
[⭘]LETTER I.
AMBROSE Bishop to the Blessed Emperor and most Christian Prince Gratian.
[⭘]LETTER II.
AMBROSE to Constantius.
[⭘]LETTER III.
AMBROSE to Felix.
[⭘]LETTER IV.
AMBROSE to Felix, health.
[⭘]LETTERS V. and VI.
These Letters to Syagrius appear in the original Latin at the end of the Book.
[⭘]LETTER VII.
AMBROSE to Justus, health.
[⭘]LETTER VIII.
AMBROSE to Justus.
[⭘][The proceedings of the Council of Aquileia against the heretics Palladius and Secundianus.]
[⭘]LETTER IX.
The Council which is assembled at Aquileia to our most beloved brethren, the Bishops of the Viennese and the first and second Narbonese Provinces in Gaul.
[⭘]LETTER X.
The holy Council which is assembled at Aquileia to the most gracious Christian Emperors, and most blessed Princes, Gratian, Valentinian, and Theodosius.
[⭘]LETTER XI.
To the most gracious Emperors and Christian Princes, the most glorious and most blessed Gratian, Valentinian, and Theodosius, the Council which is assembled at Aquileia.
[⭘]LETTER XII.
To the most gracious and Christian Emperors, the glorious and most blessed Princes, Gratian, Valentinian, and Theodosius, the holy Council which is assembled at Aquileia.
[⭘]LETTER XIII.
To the most blessed Emperor and most gracious Prince Theodosius, AMBROSE and the other Bishops of Italy.
[⭘]LETTER XIV.
To the most blessed Emperor and most gracious Prince Theodosius, AMBROSE and the other Bishops of Italy.
[⭘]LETTER XV.
AMBROSE to Anatolius, Numesius, Severus, Philip, Macedonius, Ammianus, Theodosius, Eutropius, Clarus, Eusebius, and Timotheus, Priests of the Lord, and to all the beloved Clergy and people of Thessalonica, health.
[⭘]LETTER XVI.
Bishop AMBROSE to his brother Anysius.
[⭘]LETTER XVII.
Bishop AMBROSE to the most blessed Prince and Christian Emperor Valentinian.
[⭘][The Memorial of Symmachus, prefect of the city.]
[⭘]LETTER XVIII.
Bishop AMBROSE to the most blessed Prince and gracious Emperor, his Majesty Valentinian.
[⭘]LETTER XIX.
AMBROSE to Vigilius.
[⭘]LETTER XX.
To Marcellina.
[⭘]LETTER XXI.
To the most clement Emperor, his blessed Majesty Valentinian, AMBROSE, Bishop, sends greeting.
[⭘]SERMON.
Against Auxentius on the giving up the Basilicas.
[⭘]LETTER XXII.
To the lady his Sister whom he loves more than his life and eyes AMBROSE her brother sends greeting.
[⭘]LETTER XXIII.
To the lords, his brethren most beloved, the Bishops throughout the Province of Æmilia, AMBROSE, Bishop.
[⭘]LETTER XXIV.
AMBROSE to the Emperor Valentinian.
[⭘]LETTER XXV.
AMBROSE to Studius.
[⭘]LETTER XXVI.
AMBROSE to Irenæus. [Studius?]
[⭘]LETTER XXVII.
AMBROSE to Irenæus, greeting.
[⭘]LETTER XXVIII.
AMBROSE to Irenæus, greeting.
[⭘]LETTER XXIX.
AMBROSE to Irenæus, greeting.
[⭘]LETTER XXX.
AMBROSE to Irenæus, greeting.
[⭘]LETTER XXXI.
AMBROSE to Irenæus, greeting.
[⭘]LETTER XXXII.
AMBROSE to Irenæus, greeting.
[⭘]LETTER XXXIII.
AMBROSE to Irenæus, greeting.
[⭘]LETTER XXXIV.
AMBROSE to Horontianus, greeting.
[⭘]LETTER XXXV.
AMBROSE to Horontianus.
[⭘]LETTER XXXVI.
AMBROSE to Horontianus.
[⭘]LETTER XXXVII.
AMBROSE to Simplician, greeting.
[⭘][Calanus to Alexander.]
[⭘]LETTER XXXVIII.
AMBROSE to Simplician, greeting.
[⭘]LETTER XXXIX.
AMBROSE to Faustinus, greeting.
[⭘]LETTER XL.
To the most precious Prince and blessed Emperor his Majesty Theodosius, Bishop AMBROSE sends greeting.
[⭘]LETTER XLI.
The Brother to his Sister.
[⭘][The Letter of Pope Siricius to the Church of Milan.]
[⭘]LETTER XLII.
To their lord, their dearly beloved brother, Pope Syricius, AMBROSE, Sabinus, Bassianus, and the rest send greeting.
[⭘]LETTER XLIII.
AMBROSE to Horontianus.
[⭘]LETTER XLIV.
AMBROSE to Horontianus.
[⭘]LETTER XLV.
AMBROSE to Sabinus.
[⭘]LETTER XLVI.
AMBROSE to Sabinus.
[⭘]LETTER XLVII.
AMBROSE to Sabinus.
[⭘]LETTER XLVIII.
AMBROSE to Sabinus.
[⭘]LETTER XLIX.
AMBROSE to Sabinus.
[⭘]LETTER L.
AMBROSE to Chromatius.
[⭘]LETTER LI.
AMBROSE, Bishop, to his Majesty the Emperor Theodosius.
[⭘]LETTER LII.
AMBROSE to Titianus.
[⭘]LETTER LIII.
AMBROSE to the Emperor Theodosius.
[⭘]LETTER LIV.
AMBROSE to Eusebius.
[⭘]LETTER LV.
AMBROSE to Eusebius.
[⭘]LETTER LVI.
AMBROSE to Theophilus.
[⭘][Letter on the case of Bonosus.]
[⭘]LETTER LVII.
To the most gracious Emperor Eugenius, AMBROSE, Bishop, sends greeting.
[⭘]LETTER LVIII.
AMBROSE to Sabinus, Bishop.
[⭘]LETTER LIX.
AMBROSE to Severus, Bishop.
[⭘]LETTER LX.
AMBROSE to Paternus.
[⭘]LETTER LXI.
AMBROSE to the Emperor Theodosius.
[⭘]LETTER LXII.
AMBROSE to the Emperor Theodosius.
[⭘]LETTER LXIII.
AMBROSE, servant of Christ, called to be Bishop, to the Church of Vercellæ, and to them who called on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, grace unto you from God the Father and His Only-begotten Son be fulfilled in the Holy Spirit.
[⭘]LETTER LXIV.
AMBROSE to Irenæus, greeting.
[⭘]LETTER LXV.
AMBROSE to Simplicianus, greeting.
[⭘]LETTER LXVI.
AMBROSE to Romulus.
[⭘]LETTER LXVII.
AMBROSE to Simplicianus, greeting.
[⭘]LETTER LXVIII.
AMBROSE to Romulus.
[⭘]LETTER LXIX.
AMBROSE to Irenæus, greeting.
[⭘]LETTER LXX.
AMBROSE to Horontianus.
[⭘]LETTER LXXI.
AMBROSE to Horontianus.
[⭘]LETTER LXXII.
AMBROSE to Constantius.
[⭘]LETTER LXXIII.
AMBROSE to Irenæus.
[⭘]LETTER LXXIV.
AMBROSE to Irenæus.
[⭘]LETTER LXXV.
AMBROSE to Clementianus.
[⭘]LETTER LXXVI.
AMBROSE to Irenæus, greeting.
[⭘]LETTER LXXVII.
AMBROSE to Horontianus.
[⭘]LETTER LXXVIII.
AMBROSE to Horontianus.
[⭘]LETTER LXXIX.
AMBROSE to Bellicius, greeting.
[⭘]LETTER LXXX.
AMBROSE to Bellicius, greeting.
[⭘]LETTER LXXXI.
AMBROSE to certain of the Clergy.
[⭘]LETTER LXXXII.
AMBROSE to Marcellus.
[⭘]LETTER LXXXIII.
AMBROSE to Sisinnius.
[⭘]LETTER LXXXIV.
AMBROSE to Cynegius.
[⭘]LETTER LXXXV.
AMBROSE to Siricius.
[⭘]LETTER LXXXVI.
AMBROSE to Siricius.
[⭘]LETTER LXXXVII.
AMBROSE to Bishops Sigatinus and Delphinus.
[⭘]LETTER LXXXVIII.
AMBROSE to Atticus.
[⭘]LETTER LXXXIX.
AMBROSE to Alypius.
[⭘]LETTER XC.
AMBROSE to Antonius.
[⭘]LETTER XCI.
AMBROSE to his brother Candidianus.
[⭘]INDEX.
ERRATA.
p. 20. heading for ‘skekel’ read ‘shekel.’
p. 152. l. 15. for ‘Arianism’ read ‘Ariminum.’
p. 183. l. 8. for ‘unrestored’ read ‘unstained.’
p. 217. At the end of § 12 add the following sentence. ‘A good mother of souls in that Jerusalem which is in heaven.’
ib. l. 18. for ‘life’ read ‘wife.’
p. 219. note, for ‘a’ read ‘f,’ and for ‘cic.’ read ‘Cic.’
p. 258. marg. for ‘distonxisti’ read ‘distinxisti.’
p. 285. last ref. for ‘1 Col.’ read ‘Col.’
p. 298. l. 29 after ‘partly full,’ add ‘fulness in the Gospel, half-fulness in the Law,’ and for ‘thus’ read ‘as.’
p. 368. l. 10. for ‘sinless’ read ‘senseless.’
ib. marg. for ‘Ezra viii,’ read ‘Ezra viii. 2.’
pp. 370, 374 are printed 270, 274.
p. 429. mag. for ‘S. John i. 86,’ read ‘S. John i. 29.’
THE LETTERS
OF
S. AMBROSE
BISHOP OF MILAN.
LETTER OF GRATIAN TO AMBROSE.
A.D. 379.
IT is in answer to this that Letter 1 was written by S. Ambrose. It was written by the Emperor Gratian in his 20th year, four years after his succession to the Empire in partnership with his Uncle Valens and his younger brother Valentinian the 2nd, on the death of their father Valentinian the first, 375 A.D. Tillemont (Hist. des Emp. vol. v. p. 158.) calls it ‘une lettre toute pleine de piété et d’humilité, et d’ailleurs mesme écrite avec beaucoup d’esprit et d’elegance.’
THE EMPEROR GRATIAN TO AMBROSE BISHOP OF ALMIGHTY GOD.
1. GREAT is my desire that as I remember you though far away, and in spirit am present with you, so I may be with you in bodily presence also.Hasten then, holy Bishop[1] of God; come and teach me, who am already a sincere believer; not that I am eager for controversy, or seek to apprehend God in words rather than with my mind, but that the revelation of His Godhead may sink more deeply into an enlightened breast.
creaturam.
2. For He will teach me, He Whom I deny not, but confess to be my God and my Lord, not cavilling at that created nature in Him, which I see also in myself. That I can add nothing to Christ I acknowledge, but I am desirous by declaring the Son to commend myselfto the Father also; for in God I can fear no jealousy; nor will I suppose myself such an eulogist as that I can exalt His divinity by my words. Weak and frail, I proclaim Him according to my power, not according to His Majesty.
3. I beg you to bestow upon me the Treatise[2] you gave me before, adding to it an orthodox discussion on the Holy Spirit: prove, I beseech you, both by Scripture and reason, that He is God. God keep you for many years, my father, servant of the eternal God, Whom we worship, even Jesus Christ.
LETTER I.
A.D. 379.
IN this letter S. Ambrose replies to the preceding. He apologises for not coming at once to Gratian, and, after praising his humility and faith, promises to come before long, and meanwhile sends him the two books ([a]duos libellos]) of the Treatise [a]De Fide], which he had before composed at Gratian’s request, begging for time to write on the subject of the Holy Spirit.
AMBROSE BISHOP TO THE BLESSED EMPEROR AND MOST CHRISTIAN PRINCE, GRATIAN.
1. IT was not lack of affection, most Christian Prince, (for I can give you no title more true or more illustrious than this,) it was not, I repeat, lack of affection, but modesty which put a restraint upon that affection, and hindered my coming to meet your Grace. But if I did not meet you on your return in person, I did so in spirit, and with my prayers, wherein the duties of a priest more especially lie. Meet, did I say? Nay, when was I absent? I who followed you with an entire affection, who clung to you in thought and heart; and surely it is by our souls that we are present to one other most intimately. I studied your route day by day; transported by my solicitude to your camp by night and day, I shielded it with my watchful prayers, prayers, if not of prevailing merit, yet of unremitting affection.
2. And in offering these for your safety we benefited ourselves. This I say without flattery, which you require not, and I deem unbefitting my office, but with the greatest regard to the favour you have shewn me. Our Judge Himself, Whom you acknowledge and in Whom you devoutly believe, knoweth that my heart is refreshed by your faith, your safety, your glory, and that not only my public duty but my personal affection leads me to offer these prayers. For you have restored to me quiet in the Church, you have stopped the mouths (would that you had stopped the hearts) of the traitors, and this you have done not less by the authority of your faith than of your power.
3. What shall I say of your late letter? the whole is written with your own hand, so that the very characters tell of your faith and devotion. Thus Abraham of old, when ministering entertainment to his guests, slew a calf with his own hand, and had not, in this sacred service, the assistance of others. But he, a private man, ministered to the Lord and His Angels, or to the Lord in His Angels, you, the Emperor, honour with your royal condescension the lowest of Bishops. And yet the Lord is served when His minister is honoured; for He hath said, S. Matt.
xxv. 40. Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, ye have done it unto Me.
4. But is it only this lofty humility which I praise in the Emperor, and not rather that faith, which you have rightly expressed with a mind conscious of your desert, or which He Whom you deny not hath taught you? For who but He could have taught you not to cavil at that created nature in Him which you see in yourself? Nothing could have been said more pious or more accurate; for to call Christ a creature savours of a contemptuous cavil, not of a reverent confession. Again, what could be more unworthy, than to suppose Him to be like as we ourselves are? Thus you have instructed me, from whom you profess your wish to learn, for I never read nor heard anything better.
5. Again, how pious, how admirable that expression, that you fear no jealousy in God! From the Father you anticipate a recompense for your love of the Son, yet you acknowledge that your praise of the Son can add nothing toHim, only you wish by praising the Son to commend yourself to the Father also. This He alone hath taught you, Who hath said, S. John xiv. 21. He that loveth Me, shall be loved of My Father.
6. You go on to say that you, weak and frail as you are, do not suppose yourself such an eulogist as that you can exalt His divinity by your words, but that you preach Him according to your power, not according to His Majesty. This weakness is mighty in Christ, as the Apostle has said, When I am weak, then I am strong. This humility excludes frailty.
7. Certainly I will come, and that speedily, as you command, that I may be present with you and hear and read these things, as they are newly spoken by you. But I have sent two small volumes, for which, approved as they have been by your grace, I shall have no fears; I must plead for time to write on the Spirit, knowing as I do what a judge I shall have of my treatise.
8. Meanwhile however your sentiments and belief concerning our Lord and Saviour, transferred from the Son, form an abundant assertion to express our faith in the everlasting Godhead of the Holy Spirit, in that you cavil not at that created nature in Him which you find in yourself, and suppose not that God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, can be jealous of His own Spirit. For that which is separated from communion with the creature is divine.
9. If the Lord will, I will in this also comply with your Majesty’s wishes; that as you have received the grace of the Holy Spirit, so also you may know that He, holding so high a place in the Divine glory, has in His own Name a right to our veneration.
10. May Almighty God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, vouchsafe, my Lord the Emperor, chosen by Divine providence, most glorious Sovereign, may He vouchsafe to keep your majesty in all happiness and prosperity to an advanced age, and establish your kingdom in perfect glory and in perpetual peace.
LETTER II.
A.D. 379.
WE gather from the letter itself that Constantius, to whom it is addressed was a newly appointed Bishop, but of what see does not appear. In § 27 S. Ambrose commends to his care the see of Forum Cornelii, which was vacant at the time, as being in his neighbourhood. The grounds on which the Benedictine Editors fix the date seem rather vague. Its interest however is not historical: it is simply hortatory, urging on Constantius the fulfilment of the duties of his new office, and setting before him the chief subjects to which his preaching should be addressed. From S. Ambrose calling him ‘my son’ (§ 27) it would seem that he was either one of his own clergy, or had been in some way under his guidance. It is interesting as shewing how a great Bishop of that age dwelt upon the relations of the Episcopate, not merely to the Clergy under him as their superior, but to the laity of his diocese as their chief teacher.
AMBROSE TO CONSTANTIUS.
1. YOU have undertaken the office of a Bishop, and now, seated in the stern of the Church, you are steering it in the teeth of the waves. Hold fast the rudder of faith, that you may not be shaken by the heavy storms of this world. The sea indeed is vast and deep, but fear not, Ps. xxiv. 2. for He hath founded it upon the seas, and prepared it upon the floods. Rightly then the Church of the Lord, amid all the seas of the world, stands immoveable, built as it were, upon the Apostolic rock; and her foundation remains unshaken by all the force of the raging surge. The waves lash but do not shake it; and although this world’s elements often break against it with a mighty sound, still it offers a secure harbour of safety to receive the distressed.