Chapter XXXV.
Eusebius [2631] wrote On the mystery of our Lord's cross and the faithfulness of the apostles, and especially of Peter, gained by virtue of the cross.
[2631] Bishop of Milan 451, died 462.
Chapter XXXVI.
Vigilantius, [2632] a citizen of Gaul, had the church of Barcelona. He wrote also with some zeal for religion but, overcome by the desire for human praise and presuming above his strength, being a man of polished language but not practised in the meaning of Scriptures, he expounded the vision of Daniel in a perverted sense and said other frivolous things which are necessarily mentioned in a catalogue of heretics. [To him also the blessed Jerome the presbyter responded.] [2633]
[2632] At Jerusalem 394, heretic about 404.
[2633] to him...responded A Her.; omit T 25 30 31 a e.
Chapter XXXVII.
Simplicianus, [2634] the bishop, exhorted Augustine then presbyter, in many letters, that he should exercise his genius and take time for exposition of the Scriptures that, as it were, a new Ambrosius, the task master of Origen might appear. Wherefore also he sent to him many examinations of scriptures. There is also an epistle of his of Questions in which he teaches by asking questions as if wishing to learn.
[2634] Bishop of Milan 397, died 400.
Chapter XXXVIII.
Vigilius [2635] the bishop wrote to one Simplicianus a small book In praise of martyrs and an epistle containing the acts of the martyrs in his time among the barbarians.
[2635] Bishop of Trent 388, died 405.
Chapter XXXIX.
Augustine, [2636] of Africa, bishop of Hipporegensis, a man renowned throughout the world for learning both sacred and secular, unblemished in the faith, pure in life, wrote works so many that they cannot all be gathered. For who is there that can boast himself of having all his works, or who reads with such diligence as to read all he has written? [2637] As an old man even, he published fifteen books On the Trinity which he had begun as a young man. In which, as scripture says, brought into the chamber of the king and adorned with the manifold garment of the wisdom of God, he exhibited a church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing. In his work On the incarnation of the Lord also he manifested a peculiar piety. On the resurrection of the dead he wrote with equal sincerity, and left it to the less able to raise doubts respecting abortions. [2638] [2639]
[2636] Born at Tagaste 354, baptized at Milan 387, bishop of Hippo 395, died 430.
[2637] all he has written e T A 30 31 a Her.; 25 Fabr. add "wherefore on account of his much speaking Solomon's saying came true that In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin.'" This expression in the editions has been the ground of much comment on Gennadius' Semi-pelagian bias, but it almost certainly does not represent the original form of the text.
[2638] Abortions "That abortions...shall rise again I make bold neither to affirm nor to deny" Augustine De civ. Dei. 22, 13.
[2639] T 31 end thus; A omits and left...abortions but adds a few lines of other matter; e adds differing matter; a adds remained a catholic; 30 adds remained a catholic and died in the same city--the city which is still called Hypporegensis; while 25 adds a vast amount.
Chapter XL.
Orosius, [2640] a Spanish presbyter, a man most eloquent and learned in history, wrote eight books against those enemies of the Christians who say that the decay of the Roman State was caused by the Christian religion. In these rehearsing the calamities and miseries and disturbances of wars, of pretty much the whole world from the creation [2641] he shows that the Roman Empire owed to the Christian religion its undeserved continuance and the state of peace which it enjoyed for the worship of God.
In the first book he described the world situated within the ever flowing stream of Oceanus and intersected by the Tanais, giving the situations of places, the names, number and customs of nations, the characteristics of various regions, the wars begun and the formation of empires sealed with the blood of kinsmen.
This is the Orosius who, sent by Augustine to Hieronymus to teach the nature of the soul, returning, was the first to bring to the West relics of the blessed Stephen the first martyr then recently found. He flourished almost [2642] at the end of the reign of the emperor Honorius.
[2640] Paulus Orosius of Tarragon, the historian, flourished about 413 or 417. His history was begun after 416 and finished in 417.
[2641] from the creation ("from the whole period of the earth") A 25 30 31 a e; omit T 21 Her.
[2642] almost25 30 31 a e; omit T A Her.