Chapter I: Front Matter

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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.

Illustration: ( ‡ Untitled image.)

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.

Sidenote: 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 myself to 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.