Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series • VOLUME 10
Ambrose — Selected Works and Letters
SECTION 1
A SELECT LIBRARY
Title: NPNF2-10. Ambrose: Selected Works and Letters Creator(s): Schaff, Philip (1819-1893) (Editor) Rights: Public Domain CCEL Subjects: All; Early Church; Proofed A SELECT LIBRARY OF THE NICENE AND POST-NICENE FATHERS OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. SECOND SERIES TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH WITH PROLEGOMENA AND EXPLANATORY NOTES.…
2,229 wordsSECTION 2382. Gratian orders the removal of the image of Victory from the forum at Rome. [Ep. 17, 18.] Acholius, Bishop of Thessalonica, dies and is
382. Gratian orders the removal of the image of Victory from the forum at Rome. [Ep. 17, 18.] Acholius, Bishop of Thessalonica, dies and is succeeded by Anysius. 383. The Priscillianists endeavour in vain to gain Damasus and St. Ambrose to their side by means of a visit to Rome and Milan. On the 25th of August Gratian is assass…
2,229 wordsSECTION 3The life of St. Ambrose was a pattern of the discharge of episcopal duties. He spent much time daily in study and devotion, besides the more
The life of St. Ambrose was a pattern of the discharge of episcopal duties. He spent much time daily in study and devotion, besides the more public duties of his office. [22] He preached every Sunday and at certain seasons daily. His labours in preparing catechumens for baptism were blessed with great success, amongst those taug…
2,202 wordsSECTION 43. De Cain et Abel. The treatise is now divided into two books, but the division is too inartistic to have been made by the writer. As to th
3. De Cain et Abel. The treatise is now divided into two books, but the division is too inartistic to have been made by the writer. As to the date, it was later than the last treatise, but probably not many months. The interpretations are very mystical, and touch upon moral and dogmatic questions. 4. De Noe et Arca. This treati…
2,200 wordsSECTION 577, 78. To Horontianus, contrasting the condition of the Jew and the Christian.
77, 78. To Horontianus, contrasting the condition of the Jew and the Christian. 79, 80. To Bellicius, on recovery from sickness, and on the miracle of healing the man blind from his birth. 81. To certain clergy, against despondency. 82. To Marcellus, concerning a lawsuit. 83. To Sisinnius, commending him for forgiving his so…
712 wordsSECTION 6Introduction.
Introduction. St. Ambrose, esteeming very highly the dignity of the ministerial office, was most desirous that the clergy of his diocese should live worthily of their high vocation, and be good and profitable examples to the people. Consequently he undertook the following treatise, setting forth the duties of the clergy, and ta…
1,153 wordsSECTION 7Chapter II.
Chapter II. Manifold dangers are incurred by speaking; the remedy for which Scripture shows to consist in silence. 5. Now what ought we to learn before everything else, but to be silent, that we may be able to speak? lest my voice should condemn me, before that of another acquit me; for it is written: "By thy words thou shalt …
723 wordsSECTION 8Chapter III.
Chapter III. Silence should not remain unbroken, nor should it arise from idleness. How heart and mouth must be guarded against inordinate affections. 9. What then? Ought we to be dumb? Certainly not. For: "there is a time to keep silence and a time to speak." [43] If, then, we are to give account for an idle word, let us take…
764 wordsSECTION 9Chapter IV.
Chapter IV. The same care must be taken that our speech proceed not from evil passions, but from good motives; for here it is that the devil is especially on the watch to catch us. 14. If any one takes heed to this, he will be mild, gentle, modest. For in guarding his mouth, and restraining his tongue, and in not speaking befo…
1,034 wordsSECTION 10Chapter VI.
Chapter VI. In this matter we must imitate David's silence and humility, so as not even to seem deserving of harm. 21. What need is there to be troubled when we hear abuse? Why do we not imitate him who says: "I was dumb and humbled myself, and kept silence even from good words"? [55] Or did David only say this, and not act up…
976 wordsSECTION 11Chapter IX.
Chapter IX. A duty is to be chosen from what is virtuous, and from what is useful, and also from the comparison of the two, one with the other; but nothing is recognized by Christians as virtuous or useful which is not helpful to the future life. This treatise on duty, therefore, will not be superfluous. 27. The philosophers c…
1,223 wordsSECTION 12Chapter XI.
Chapter XI. It is proved by the witness of Scripture that all duty is either "ordinary" or "perfect." To which is added a word in praise of mercy, and an exhortation to practise it. 36. Every duty is either "ordinary" or "perfect," [71] a fact which we can also confirm by the authority of the Scriptures. For we read in the Gos…
1,818 wordsSECTION 13Chapter XIII.
Chapter XIII. The ideas of those philosophers are refuted who deny to God the care of the whole world, or of any of its parts. 47. But let us return to our point, lest we seem to have lost sight of the break we made in answering the ideas of those who, seeing some wicked men, rich, joyous, full of honours, and powerful, whilst…
1,491 wordsSECTION 14Chapter XV.
Chapter XV. Those who are dissatisfied with the fact that the good receive evil, and the evil good, are shown by the example of Lazarus, and on the authority of Paul, that punishments and rewards are reserved for a future life. 57. We have fully discussed two questions; and this discussion, as we think, has not turned out quit…
1,360 wordsSECTION 15Chapter XVII.
Chapter XVII. The duties of youth, and examples suitable to that age, are next put forth. 65. Since it has been made sufficiently plain that there will be punishment for wickedness and reward for virtue, let us proceed to speak of the duties which have to be borne in mind from our youth up, [108] that they may grow with our ye…
2,303 wordsSECTION 16Chapter XIX.
80. The priests, also, under the old law, as we read in Exodus, wore breeches, as it was told Moses by the Lord: "And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their shame: from the loins even to the thighs they shall reach, and Aaron and his sons shall wear them, when they enter into the tabernacle of witness, and when they …
1,254 wordsSECTION 17Chapter XXI.
Chapter XXI. We must guard against anger, before it arises; if it has already arisen we must check and calm it, and if we cannot do this either, at least we should keep our tongue from abuse, so that our passions may be like boys' quarrels. He relates what Archites said, and shows that David led the way in this matter, both in …
1,312 wordsSECTION 18Chapter XXII.
Chapter XXII. On reflection and passion, and on observing propriety of speech, both in ordinary conversation and in holding discussions. 98. There are two kinds of mental motions [149] --those of reflection and of passion. The one has to do with reflection, the other with passion. There is no confusion one with the other, for …
887 wordsSECTION 19Chapter XXIV.
Chapter XXIV. There are three things to be noticed in the actions of our life. First, our passions are to be controlled by our reason; next, we ought to observe a suitable moderation in our desires; and, lastly, everything ought to be done at the right time and in the proper order. All these qualities shone forth so conspicuous…
1,345 wordsSECTION 20Chapter XXV.
Chapter XXV. A reason is given why this book did not open with a discussion of the above-mentioned virtues. It is also concisely pointed out that the same virtues existed in the ancient fathers. 116. Perhaps, as the different classes of duties are derived from these four virtues, some one may say that they ought to have been d…
1,269 wordsSECTION 21Chapter XXVI.
Chapter XXVI. In investigating the truth the philosophers have broken through their own rules. Moses, however, showed himself more wise than they. The greater the dignity of wisdom, the more earnestly must we strive to gain it. Nature herself urges us all to do this. 122. It is said, therefore, that in investigating the truth,…
1,236 wordsSECTION 22Chapter XXVIII.
Chapter XXVIII. A community rests upon justice and good-will. Two parts of the former, revenge and private possession, are not recognized by Christians. What the Stoics say about common property and mutual help has been borrowed from the sacred writings. The greatness of the glory of justice, and what hinders access to it. 130…
1,036 wordsSECTION 23Chapter XXIX.
Chapter XXIX. Justice should be observed even in war and with enemies. This is proved by the example of Moses and Elisha. The ancient writers learnt in turn from the Hebrews to call their enemies by a gentler term. Lastly, the foundation of justice rests on faith, and its symmetry is perfect in the Church. 139. How great a thi…
954 wordsSECTION 24Chapter XXX.
Chapter XXX. On kindness and its several parts, namely, good-will and liberality. How they are to be combined. What else is further needed for any one to show liberality in a praiseworthy manner. 143. Now we can go on to speak of kindness, which breaks up into two parts, goodwill and liberality. Kindness to exist in perfection…
2,258 wordsSECTION 25Chapter XXXI.
[213] 2 Cor. ix. 7. [214] 1 Cor. ix. 17. [215] Cic. de Off. I. 14, § 43. [216] S. Luke xix. 8. [217] Acts v. 11. [218] S. Mat. vi. 3. [219] Gal. vi. 10. [220] Job xxix. 13. [221] S. Luke xxi. 3, 4. [222] 1 [3] Kings xix. 20. [223] Cic. de Off. I. 17, § 58. [224] "Et se juste facere putant." These words are omitted in …
1,054 wordsSECTION 26Chapter XXXII.
Chapter XXXII. After saying what return must be made for the service of the above-mentioned feast, various reasons for repaying kindness are enumerated. Then he speaks in praise of good-will, on its results and its order. 165. It is therefore a good thing for us to be bedewed with the exhortations of the divine Scriptures, and…
908 wordsSECTION 27Chapter XXXIII.
Chapter XXXIII. Good-will exists especially in the Church, and nourishes kindred virtues. 170. Good-will expands in the body of the Church, [253] by fellowship in faith, by the bond of baptism, by kinship through grace received, by communion in the mysteries. For all these bonds claim for themselves the name of intimacy, the r…
1,092 wordsSECTION 28Chapter XXXVI.
Chapter XXXVI. One of the duties of fortitude is to keep the weak from receiving injury; another, to check the wrong motions of our own souls; a third, both to disregard humiliations, and to do what is right with an even mind. All these clearly ought to be fulfilled by all Christians, and especially by the clergy. 179. The glo…
1,176 wordsSECTION 29Chapter XXXVII.
Chapter XXXVII. An even mind should be preserved in adversity as well as in prosperity. However, evil things must be avoided. 186. There is also that true freedom of the mind from vexation which makes us neither give way too much in our griefs, nor be too elated in prosperity. [288] And if they who urge men to undertake the af…
954 wordsSECTION 30Chapter XXXIX.
Chapter XXXIX. One must show fortitude in fighting against all vices, especially against avarice. Holy Job teaches this lesson. 202. Fortitude of soul, then, is not an unimportant thing, nor is it cut off from the other virtues, for it wages war in conjunction with the virtues, and alone defends the beauty of all the virtues, …
1,296 wordsSECTION 31Chapter XLI.
Chapter XLI. After praising Judas' and Jonathan's loftiness of mind, the constancy of the martyrs in their endurance of tortures, which is no small part of fortitude, is next brought before us. 209. But as fortitude is proved not only by prosperity but also in adversity, let us now consider the death of Judas Maccabæus. For he…
1,243 wordsSECTION 32Chapter XLII.
Chapter XLII. The powers that be are not needlessly to be irritated. One must not lend one's ears to flattery. 217. I think we must take care, lest in being led on by too great a desire for glory, we should abuse the powers that be, and arouse the minds of the heathen, who are opposed to us, to desire persecution, and excite t…
1,045 wordsSECTION 33Chapter XLV.
Chapter XLV. On what is noble and virtuous, and what the difference between them is, as stated both in the profane and sacred writers. 228. Let us then hold fast modesty, and that moderation which adds to the beauty of the whole of life. For it is no light thing in every matter to preserve due measure and to bring about order,…
1,145 wordsSECTION 34Chapter XLVII.
Chapter XLVII. What is seemly should always shine forth in our life. What passions, then, ought we to allow to come to a head, and which should we restrain? 234. If any one preserves an even tenor in the whole of life, and method in all that he does, and sees there is order and consistency in his words and moderation in his de…
751 wordsSECTION 35Chapter XLVIII.
Chapter XLVIII. The argument for restraining anger is given again. Then the three classes of those who receive wrongs are set forth; to the most perfect of which the Apostle and David are said to have attained. He takes the opportunity to state the difference between this and the future life. 242. We wish if we can to point ou…
1,055 wordsSECTION 36Chapter XLIX.
Chapter XLIX. We must reserve the likeness of the virtues in ourselves. The likeness of the devil and of vice must be got rid of, and especially that of avarice; for this deprives us of liberty, and despoils those who are in the midst of vanities of the image of God. 249. Whilst, then, we are here let us preserve the likeness,…
764 wordsSECTION 37Chapter L.
Chapter L. The Levites ought to be utterly free from all earthly desires. What their virtues should be on the Apostle's own showing, and how great their purity must be. Also what their dignity and duty is, for the carrying out of which the chief virtues are necessary. He states that these were not unknown to the philosophers, b…
2,204 wordsSECTION 38Book II.
[352] The question kept coming up from time to time: Did Baptism annul all previous impedimenta ordinationis? Even in the fifth century, as Pope Innocent I. (Ep. XXIX.) shows, some maintained that as Baptism puts away all sins committed previous to its reception, so also it removes all impediments to ordination. This same idea S…
1,628 wordsSECTION 39Chapter III.
Chapter III. The definition of blessedness as drawn from the Scriptures is considered and proved. It cannot be enhanced by external good fortune, nor can it be weakened by misfortune. 8. As, then, knowledge, so far as it stands alone, is put aside either as worthless, according to the superfluous discussions of the philosopher…
1,149 wordsSECTION 40Chapter V.
Chapter V. Those things which are generally looked on as good are mostly hindrances to a blessed life, and those which are looked on as evil are the materials out of which virtues grow. What belongs to blessedness is shown by other examples. 16. But those things which seem to be good, as riches, abundance, joy without pain, ar…
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Source & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.