That standing at a distance with those that dissent from us, even to the utmost, is the way of many; but certainly it is a false way, God is not in it. It may be some, yea many will judge this yielding to be a fair, handsome turning about to the other side; take heed of such bold censures: Is every difference from that rigid, stout spirit of thine, a warping from the truth, a sinful temporizing for private ends? The Lord judge between you and his servants. Some men who have been of yielding spirits in things that God would have them, have stood out undauntedly when God hath called them to witness to his truth, when those who have been stout and harsh in their own ways have basely betrayed it, when they have been tried with greater sufferings. Ambrose was a man of a sweet and moderate spirit, witness amongst other things that notable saying of his,1 If that end of virtues be the greatest that looks at public good, Moderation is of all the most beautiful. Ay, but I warrant you, Ambrose was a man who saw which way the times went, he was loth to hazard himself in standing out against men who had power in their hands, this temper of his made him thus plead for moderation. No, Ambrose was a man of an invincible spirit in the ways of God; In all Ecclesiastical Story we read not of a braver spirit then his contesting with men of power in the cause of Christ. For when Theodosius the Emperor had been the cause of a great slaughter in Thessalonica, though provoked to it by a sedition there, the Emperor a while after coming to Milan, where Ambroses charge was, after the ⟨p. 291⟩usual manner he came to the Church, Ambrose meets him, and forbids him entrance,2 reproving him before all the people, Do you not know, oh Emperor, (says he) the barbarousness of that vile fact of yours? or do you not remember we have another Emperor above you? what bold impiety is thi•? do you not fear to bring those feet of yours, polluted with the blood of innocents, into this holy place? or to stretch forth those hands of yours, wet, yea dropping with blood, to take the most holy body of the Lord? or to put that mouth of yours, which (forgetting not only the clemency which belongs to an Emperor, but the justice) gave out the sentence for the killing so many innocent men,) to the precious blood of the Lord? Away therefore, will you add impiety to your sin?
THat standing at a distance with those that dissent from us, even to the utmost, is the way of many; but certainly it is a false way, God is not in it. It may be some, yea many will judge this yeelding to be a faire, handsome turning about to the other side; take heed of such bold censures: Is every difference from that rigid, stout spirit of thine, a warping from the truth, a sinfull temporizing for private ends? The Lord judge between you and his servants. Some men who have been of yeelding spirits in things that God would have them, have stood out undauntedly when God hath called them to witnesse to his truth, when those who have been stout and harsh in their owne wayes have basely betrayed it, when they have beene tryed with greater sufferings. Ambrose was a man of a sweet and moderate spirit, witnesse amongst other things that notable saying of his,1 If that end of vertues be the greatest that looks at publique good, Moderation is of all the most beautifull. Ay, but I warrant you, Ambrose was a man who saw which way the times went, he was loth to hazard himself in standing out against men who had power in their hands, this temper of his made him thus plead for moderation. No, Ambrose was a man of an invincible spirit in the wayes of God; In all Ecclesiasticall Story we read not of a braver spirit then his contesting with men of power in the cause of Christ. For when Theodosius the Emperour had been the cause of a great slaughter in Thessalonica, though provoked to it by a sedition there, the Emperour a while after comming to Milan, where Ambroses charge was, after the ⟨p. 291⟩usuall manner he came to the Church, Ambrose meets him, and forbids him entrance,2 reproving him before all the people, Doe you not know, oh Emperour, (sayes he) the barbarousnesse of that vile fact of yours? or doe you not remember we have another Emperour above you? what bold impiety is thi•? doe you not feare to bring those feet of yours, polluted with the blood of innocents, into this holy place? or to stretch forth those hands of yours, wet, yea dropping with blood, to take the most holy body of the Lord? or to put that mouth of yours, which (forgetting not onely the clemency which belongs to an Emperour, but the justice) gave out the sentence for the killing so many innocent men,) to the precious blood of the Lord? Away therefore, will you adde impiety to your sinne?
- 1Si virtutum fi•is ille sit maximus qui plurimorum spectat profectum, moderatio omn• um plucherrima• est. Ambr. de paenit. l. 1. c. •.
- 2Ne intret, cum probibet gravissime coram f•aequenti •aetu cum objargans, An nes•is, inquit, Imperator, quae sit atrocitas à te commissi facinoris? aut non me•inisti alium nobis esse Imperatorem te superiorem? quae con•idens impietas ut nihil v•rearis, &c. Vide Magdebu•g. cent. 4. c. 10. pag. 165. quoting Theod. l. 6. c. 18. and Zozomen l. 7. c. 24.
