Part 56

247 – The ‘not’ is inserted according to the suggestion of the Benedictine Editors. There seems a contradiction in terms without it.

248 – agnatio.

249 – agnatio.

250 – cognatio.

251 – ‘Apices’ here and in § 5 undoubtedly means ‘a letter.’ ‘Apex,’ in late Latin, is used for a single letter written, and ‘apices’ like ‘literae,’ for a continuous writing. Aulus Gellius (xiii. 30, 10. xvii. 9, 12.) quoted in White’s Dictionary, uses the phrase ‘literarum apices,’ and in Cod. Just. ii. 8, 6. we find ‘Augusti apices’ for ‘the Emperor’s rescripts.’

252 – Theodoret, v. 24. gives a detailed account of the ways in which the special intervention of heaven was displayed in Theodosius’ campaign against Eugenius. S. Aug. De Civ. Dei, v. 26. says that Theodosius ‘contra robustissimum Eugenii exercitum magis orando quam feriendo pugnavit,’ and, after mentioning stories told by eye-witnesses of the manifest intervention of God on his behalf, quotes the well-known lines of Claudian,

O nimium dilecte Deo cui fundit ab antris Æolus armatas hyemes, cui militat æther, Et conjurati veniunt ad classica venti.

253 – The word here used is plural, Venetiarum. From this it has been argued that this letter must be of later date than S. Ambrose’s time, as Venetiæ is the usual name for the city, which was not founded till the time of Attila. (Gibbon ch. xxxv. vol. iv. p. 242 ed. Smith.) But he certainly uses the plural form in Letter xviii. 21, which is undoubtedly his, and therefore, as Tillemont has pointed out, no argument can be founded on this against the present letter. It is possible that under the plural form he intends to include Venetia and Histria, which are reckoned together as one consular province in the civil division of the empire, (see Marquardt’s Table, in Smith’s Gibbon vol. ii. p. 315.) and also as one ecclesiastical province in the Exarchate of Milan, (see Bingham ix. 1, 6.) By ‘finitimis Italiæ partibus’ he probably means Flaminia and Picenum Annonarium, which were also included in the ‘Diocese’ of Italy and Exarchate of Milan.

254 – intentio.

255 – It is to be noted that Eusebius, who died in A.D. 371, was not the last Bishop of Vercellæ, but Limenius, whose name occurs among the Bishops who took part in the Council of Aquileia. This has also been made an argument against S. Ambrose’s authorship, but there does not seem much weight in it. Eusebius was much the more famous man of the two, and his teaching and example and the memory of his labours and martyrdom are naturally appealed to by S. Ambrose.

256 – These were, it appears, followers of Jovinian. See above, Introd. to Letter of Siricius, p. 280.

257 – reprobus.

258 – reprobum.

259 – Nothing is known of this man, nor is even the name certain, as there are many various readings. The Benedictines suggest that it may mean Philodemus, who is mentioned by Diog. Laert. x. 3. as a follower of Epicurus, and is also spoken of by Cicero, De fin. 11, 35. and by Horace, Sat. 1, 2, 21.

260 – sobrii estote. Vulg.

261 – Nothing is known of Demarchus, whom S. Ambrose here quotes. The Benedictines suggest that it may be a mistake for Hermarchus, who was Epicurus’ successor as head of his school, and who wrote books in defence of the Epicurean philosophy. He is mentioned several times by Cicero.

262 – Though the so-called Epicureans of later days perverted his theory to what is generally known as Epicureanism, Epicurus himself certainly did not mean by pleasure sensual pleasure. ‘Pleasure was not with him a momentary and transitory sensation, but he conceived it as something lasting and imperishable, consisting in pure and noble mental enjoyments.’ ‘He was a man of pure simple and temperate habits.’ Dict. of Biog. in voc. Vol.ii. p. 34, 35.

263 – This must be the sense if we retain the interrogation. If it is omitted the passage would mean, ‘Men then are recalled from that, in which’ &c., i. e., it is plainly unfitting for men to do that, in which &c.

264 – S. Ambrose is alluding apparently to Ezra proclaiming and keeping a fast to remove God’s anger against his people. Should we not read ‘memoriae’ for ‘memoriâ?’ Ezra did restore the Scriptures _to_ the memory of the people, but it does not appear that he restored them _from_ memory?

265 – Sobrietatis inebrietas.

266 – Sola.

267 – Mary and Miriam are really the same name, the former having come through the Greek form Μαρία.

268 – laqueus.

269 – A reminiscence of Virgil’s,

Ante expectatum positis stat in agmine castris. Georg. iii. 348.

270 – The reading here varies. Ben. has ‘in Concilio Nicaeni tractatus,’ which may mean ‘the Council which made the Nicene Creed,’ (for the phrase ‘Nicaenus tractatus’ as applied to the Creed see note 1 on Acts of Council of Aquileia.) Another reading is ‘in Concilii Nicaeni tractatu,’ and another ‘in Concilio Nicaeno tractatus.’

There is a difficulty about S. Ambrose’s statement, as there is nothing on the subject in the Canons of Nicaea. The Benedictine editors, after discussing other explanations, suggest that S. Ambrose may have had an inaccurate copy of the Canons, with the one he here quotes inserted from some other Council. Some unauthentic documents professing to give Nicene regulations on the subject are quoted in Dict. of Christian Antiq. Art. Digamy.

271 – impressio.

272 – praescriptio.

273 – The most conspicuous instance was Nectarius. See note 54, on Letter xiii.

274 – Eusebius and Dionysius Bishop of Milan were driven into exile by the Emperor Valens, because they refused at the third Council of Milan, A.D. 355, to subscribe the condemnation of Athanasius. There is a brief but graphic account of the circumstances in Bright’s History of the Church, pages 70–73.

275 – longaevi super terram.

276 – The expression ‘aula regalis,’ applied to the Mother of our Lord, may be illustrated from De Instit. Virg. ch. xii. § 79. Ipse ergo Rex Israel transivit hanc portam, ipse Dux sedit in ea, quando Verbum caro factum est et habitavit in nobis, quasi Rex sedens in aula regali uteri virginalis. Compare also the expression in S. Ambrose’s Hymn on the Nativity, Procedit e thalamo suo, Pudoris aula regia, &c.

277 – With this Letter begins what the Benedictines have called a second division of the Letters, containing those which furnish no internal evidence of their date sufficient to justify their being assigned a place in chronological order. They are arranged according to their matter, 1st, those which contain expositions of passages of Holy Scripture, (lxi–lxxv.), 2nd, those which discuss as important, and mostly doctrinal subjects, (lxxvi–lxxxiii.), 3rd, a few brief letters of ordinary friendly intercourse, (lxxxiv–xci.)

278 – See note 222 on Letter xliv. 10.

279 – Whether the true reading here be ‘traditio’ as Ben. has, or ‘editio’ as Rom., the reference must be to the ἐκδόσεις or versions which Origen brought together in his Hexapla, of which the fifth, the sixth, and the seventh, (for there was a seventh,) were only known by their numbers. See Art. by Tregelles on ‘Ancient Versions,’ in Smith’s Dict. of the Bible, vol. iii. p. 1623.

280 – a diebus saeculi.

281 – Saeculum.

282 – i. e. the priesthood. cf. 1 Tim. iii. 13.

283 – Bethlehem.

284 – institutis.

285 – castellum.

286 – עֳנִי signifying affliction; עֲנִי one humbled by affliction and so, it was inferred, brought to obedience.

287 – Baehr on Herod. ii. 37. quotes with apparent approval Wesseling’s opinion that in fact, though Herodotus does not expressly state it, among the Egyptians only the priests and those initiated in the mysteries received circumcision. It is to this perhaps that S. Ambrose is here alluding. See also the art. on ‘Circumcision’ in Smith’s Dict. of the Bible.

288 – confusus fuerit.

289 – subditus fiat. Vulg.

290 – in Christo. εἰς χριστόν.

291 – Why this letter, which plainly declares itself in the first section to be a sequel of the previous one, is addressed to a different name, it is difficult to say. There is a similar difficulty about Letter xxvi, and possibly the same solution may apply here as is suggested by the Ben. Edd. there. See Introd. to Lett. xxvi.

292 – The phrase ‘cernere hereditatem’ is a well-known law-term, meaning literally ‘to decide to accept an inheritance,’ and then ‘to enter upon it.’ But as this sense will not agree with the context, it seems necessary to take ‘cernere,’ as the Benedictine note does, in its common sense of ‘to see.’

293 – The words ἁρμονίᾳ τοῦ Λόγου δεδεμένον seem to be a gloss on S. Paul’s compound συναρμολογούμενον. They are not part of his text, though S. Ambrose seems here to be quoting them as if they were.

294 – laborat.

295 – cleros.

296 – It seems necessary to the sense here to insert ‘quae’ before ‘obtexerent.’

297 – v. c. here is an abbreviation for vir clarissimus, a title of official rank. See note in p. 101.

298 – lætus.

Transcriber’s Notes.

The following corrections have been made in the text:

Page TOC: Sentence starting: The Council which is assembled.... – ‘Marbonese’ replaced with ‘Narbonese’ (first and second Narbonese Provinces)

Page TOC: Sentence starting: To the most precious Prince.... – ‘Theodorius’ replaced with ‘Theodosius’ (his Majesty Theodosius,)

Page TOC: Sentence starting: AMBROSE to Atticus..... – ‘Allicas’ replaced with ‘Atticus’ (AMBROSE to Atticus.)

Page 20: Sentence starting: 1. YOUR question,... – Paragraph number added. (1. YOUR question,)

Page 74: Sentence starting: And I would that you could.... – duplicated word removed ‘what’ (to rescind what they ought)

Page 101: Sentence starting: 1. THE honourable[77] Symmachus,... – Paragraph number added. (1. THE honourable[77] Symmachus,)

Page 116: Sentence starting: Since their prayers ought.... – ‘it’ replaced with ‘is’ (whose religion is different.)

Page 125: Sentence starting: The Philistines having discovered.... – ‘discoverd’ replaced with ‘discovered’ (having discovered through her means)

Page 131: Sentence starting: 13. The groans of the people.... – Paragraph 13 not marked in this edition. (13. The groans of the people)

Page 137: Sentence starting: I replied, ‘May God grant.... – ‘enunch’ replaced with ‘eunuch’ (act as befits an eunuch.)

Page 150: Sentence starting: Christ then, invited by these.... – ‘scuorge’ replaced with ‘scourge’ (takes His scourge and drives)

Page 155: Sentence starting: Jesus saw the penny was Cæsar’s,... – duplicated word removed ‘the’ (unto Cæsar the things that are)

Page 156: Sentence starting: Blind they are and.... – duplicated word removed ‘and’ (Blind they are and lame,)

Page 158: Sentence starting: 1. AS I am wont to keep.... – Paragraph number added. (1. AS I am wont to keep) Sentence starting: I found the suitable tokens;... – Footnote 124 not marked in text. (seized[124])

Page 159: Sentence starting: 4. _The heavens_.... – Number ‘3’ skipped in paragraph numbering. (4. _The heavens_)

Page 164: Sentence starting: How much have they suffered,... – ‘Pharoah’ replaced with ‘Pharaoh’ (and like Pharaoh,)

Page 173: Sentence starting: Therefore even according to the.... – ‘mouth’ replaced with ‘month’ (this is the first month.)

Page 175: Sentence starting: Let us with fervent spirit keep.... – ‘docrtine’ replaced with ‘doctrine’ (in pious doctrine with one accord)

Page 187: Sentence starting: In the prophet Hosea also.... – ‘sojouners’ replaced with ‘sojourners’ (and licentious train of sojourners.)

Page 188: Sentence starting: When a man condemns.... – ‘condems’ replaced with ‘condemns’ (man condemns in another)

Page 190: Sentence starting: When the criminal is put to death,... – ‘trangression’ replaced with ‘transgression’ (the transgression which is punished,)

Page 191: Sentence starting: Thus as wisdom and continence.... – ‘incontient’ replaced with ‘incontinent’ (foolish and incontinent man)

Page 199: Sentence starting: Hence we read that he was addressed.... – ‘Pharoah’ replaced with ‘Pharaoh’ (god to Pharaoh.)

Page 201: Sentence starting: 8. Wherefore the Lord.... – Number ‘7’ skipped in paragraph numbering. (8. Wherefore the Lord)

Page 218: Sentence starting: He cried first in Eve,... – ‘Pharoah’ replaced with ‘Pharaoh’ (he cried in Pharaoh,) ‘Corah’ replaced with ‘Korah’ (Dathan, Abiram, Korah.)

Page 219: Sentence starting: He cried in Solomon,... – duplicated word removed ‘of’ (in the power of Wisdom,)

Page 227: Sentence starting: And shall we not believe.... – ‘ministeries’ replaced with ‘ministries’ (fulfil divers ministries,)

Page 234: Sentence starting: The good physician knows.... – ‘physican’ replaced with ‘physician’ (The good physician knows)

Page 239: Sentence starting: .... – ‘LX.’ replaced with ‘LXX.’ (Prov. xvii. 2. LXX.)

Page 240: Sentence starting: And Job says,... – ‘immost’ replaced with ‘inmost’ (Take wisdom into thine inmost parts.)

Page 275: Sentence starting: 18. Now the Church ceases.... – ‘19’ replaced with ‘18’ (18. Now the Church ceases)

Page 282: Sentence starting: 1. In your Holiness’ Letter.... – ‘2.’ replaced with ‘1.’ (1. In your Holiness’ Letter)

Page 291: Sentence starting: You will easily discover that.... – ‘harrassed’ replaced with ‘harassed’ (is not harassed by suspicion)

Page 296: Sentence starting: For when we read that God.... – ‘ariving’ replaced with ‘arriving’ (to aim at arriving thither)

Page 300: Sentence starting: Solon however made ten periods.... – ‘vigourous’ replaced with ‘vigorous’ (vigorous in faculties) – ‘it’ replaced with ‘in’ (and in speech and wisdom)

Page 327: Sentence starting: Again when David was possessed.... – ‘af’ replaced with ‘of’ (the blood of Abner)

Page 333: Sentence starting: S. Ambrose does not write.... – ‘Ecclesiatic’ replaced with ‘Ecclesiastic’ (he would address an eminent Ecclesiastic.)

Page 333: Sentence starting: He also considers me to be.... – ‘physican’ replaced with ‘physician’ (to be a physician )

Page 339: Sentence starting: The case of Bonosus had been.... – ‘Amysius’ replaced with ‘Anysius’ (Anysius Bishop of Thessalonica,)

Page 342: Sentence starting: I presented two petitions.... – ‘supersition’ replaced with ‘superstition’ (for the uses of superstition.)

Page 342: Sentence starting: 3. My petitions were read.... – Number ‘2’ skipped in paragraph numbering. (3. My petitions were read)

Page 344: Sentence starting: You, whom no man constrained,... – ‘certaintly’ replaced with ‘certainly’ (ought certainly to have referred)

Page 367: Sidenote starting: Dan. i. 8;... – The following 2 references are in error and do not exist as listed. (xiv. 30; iii. 40.)

Page 385: Sentence starting: Nor does the mode of your.... – ‘trangression’ replaced with ‘transgression’ (of your transgression signify,)

Page 409: Sentence starting: The earth also is iron,... – ‘witholds’ replaced with ‘withholds’ (for it withholds its produce,)

Page 416: Sidenote: S. Matt. xxv. 40. – ‘xxx’ replaced with ‘xxv’ (S. Matt. xxv. 40.)

Page 416: Sentence starting: Until the time that.... – duplicated word removed ‘that’ (Until the time that she)

Page 424: Sentence starting: For the ground of the truth.... – ‘intelligibe’ replaced with ‘intelligible’ (by an intelligible mystery,)

Page 435: Sentence starting: It was superfluous.... – ‘superflous’ replaced with ‘superfluous’ (It was superfluous herein)

Page 456: Sentence starting: Thus that which is in part has ceased,... – ‘circumscised’ replaced with ‘circumcised’ (the Cross has circumcised not one )

Page 460: Quote starting: Go, wash in.... – duplicated word removed ‘in’ (wash in the pool of Siloam,)

Page 472: Sentence starting: 7. Joseph also, in order to.... – Number ‘6’ skipped in paragraph numbering. (7. Joseph also, in order to)

Page 478: Sentence starting: 1. PROSPICIENDUM esse ne de nostro.... – Paragraph number added. (1. PROSPICIENDUM esse ne de nostro)

Page 483: Sentence starting: Quid autem præstantius,... – ‘præcipunm’ replaced with ‘præcipuum’ (cujus præcipuum opus verecundia,)

Page 486: Sentence starting: Vale, frater, et nos dilige;... – ‘qula’ replaced with ‘quia’ (quia nos te diligimus.)

Page 490: Sentence starting: Cæsa itaque vigintiquinque millia,... – ‘virgintiquinque’ replaced with ‘vigintiquinque’ (Cæsa itaque vigintiquinque millia,)

Index Aaron: Sentence starting: Took precedence of Moses.... – ‘predecence’ replaced with ‘precedence’ (Took precedence of Moses)

Index Ambrose: Sentence starting: Prevents a reply to .... – ‘Symmachius’ replaced with ‘Symmachus’ (reply to Symmachus’ memorial,)

Index Arian heresy: Sentence starting: Refuses to believe.... – ‘evidenec’ replaced with ‘evidence’ (believe the evidence of)

Index Auxentius: Sentence starting: Challenges Ambrose to.... – ‘arbirtation’ replaced with ‘arbitration’ (Challenges Ambrose to arbitration,)

Index Bassianus: – duplicated word removed ‘’ – ‘Paladius’ replaced with ‘Palladius’ (His condemnation of Palladius,)

Index Cabillonum: Sentence starting: Châlons-sur-Saône,... – ‘sub’ replaced with ‘sur’ (Châlons-sur-Saône,)

Index Castulus: Sentence starting: _Castulus_, an Arian presbyter.... – ‘Castalus’ replaced with ‘Castulus’ (_Castulus_, an Arian presbyter)

Index Eutropius: Sentence starting: Eutropius.... – ‘Entropius’ replaced with ‘Eutropius’ (_Eutropius_)

Index Morasthite: Sentence starting: _Morasthite_, son of the.... – ‘Morashthite’ replaced with ‘Morasthite’ (_Morasthite_, son of the)

Index Plotinus: Sentence starting: Plotinus.... – ‘Photinus’ replaced with ‘Plotinus’ (_Plotinus_)

Index Priest: Sentence starting: Regard worldly loss as gain,... – ‘wordly’ replaced with ‘worldly’ (Regard worldly loss as gain,)

Index Exodus: Sentence starting: xvii. 6.... – ‘673’ replaced with ‘367’ (xvii. 6 284, 367)

Index Psalm: Sentence starting: xcii. 11.... – ‘cii’ replaced with ‘xcii.’ (xcii. 11 253)

Index confundar: Sentence starting: confundar,... – ‘conusuas’ replaced with ‘confusus’ (confundar, confusus fuerit,)

Footnote 50: Sentence starting: Meanwhile Meletius had returned.... – duplicated word removed ‘the’ (the Church at Antioch)

Footnote 53: Sentence starting: Fleury remarks on this.... – closing quote mark not identified. (‘This letter plainly shews)

Footnote 54: Sentence starting: Maximus, called the Cynic.... – ‘conscrated’ replaced with ‘consecrated’ (was irregularly consecrated at Constantinople,)

Footnote 109: Sentence starting: Valentinian was in official attendance.... – ‘Valentian’ replaced with ‘Valentinian’ (Valentinian was in official attendance)

Footnote 115: Sentence starting: This refers to a story.... – ‘puprose’ replaced with ‘purpose’ (failed of their purpose,)

Footnote 128: Sentence starting: .... – ‘espe’ replaced with ‘esse’ (‘Nam incipit esse contrarium.’)