If Basil was employed in founding monasteries in the neighboring parts, he also caused hospitals to be erected for the poor, and, as he had been ordained priest before he left Cæsarea, he was useful in preaching up and down the country. Returning after a time to his native home, he distinguished himself by inducing the rich to supply the necessities of the poor during a grievous famine; and all the world gave him credit both for his charity in relieving the distressed, and for his integrity in resisting the importunities of Valens, the Arian

emperor.

The See of Cæsarea being vacant, the authority of the aged Gregory, Bishop of Nazianzum, the father of his friend, was sincerely exerted for his promotion; and to this See he was at length advanced, notwithstanding the opposition of the Arians. He was soon called to withstand the repeated attacks of Valens, and though he was in the utmost danger of being banished from his See, he remained immovable in the profession of the faith.

He found that the church, before his time, had been scandalously neglected in its discipline. Church officers, who were a disgrace to religion, ministered; and the country bishops ordained men without the knowledge of the bishop, and without any just examination; and many pressed into the ministry for secular reasons. It was reported that some were even guilty of selling the priesthood for money; the crime usually known as Simony.

Basil reminded his clergy of the strictness of the primitive discipline, and of the care formerly exercised by the presbyters and deacons in examining the lives and manners of the persons to be ordained; and he made earnest attempts to revive the laudable customs, inveighing against Simony as most detestable.

It would be tedious to describe the divers contests in which he was engaged. Calumny, malice and the domineering power of Arianism afflicted him with various trials, in which his patience was unwearied; and, as his body became enfeebled by increasing infirmities, his mind seems to have collected more vigor. Finding himself rapidly declining, after he had

governed the church eight years and some months, he ordained some of his followers, and then was obliged to take to his bed. The people flocked about his house, sensible of the value of such a pastor. He discoursed piously to those who were about him, for a time, and sealed his last breath with the ejaculation, "Into thine hands I commend my spirit."

It is much to be lamented that a man so sincerely pious, so profoundly learned, and of so elegant and accomplished a genius, should have suffered so much, both in mind and body, from the monastic spirit. But his excessive austerities broke his constitution, and left him for years in a very imperfect state of health. He died in the year 379.

His doctrine appears, from his works, to be too much clouded with self-righteous and superstitious mixtures to contribute materially to the instruction and consolation of sincere souls, though it is evident that he revered the influences of the Holy Spirit, and placed his hope of salvation in Christ Jesus.

On one subject,-the love of heavenly things in opposition to earthly, he excelled, both in precept and example.

In this the power of grace appeared in the man through life; and even the whole system of his errors in Divinity was connected with it. The very principle of the Ascetic life was to him a supreme desire to live above the world.

Truly, he was a man of piety, and he has gained his appro priate reward.

4

CHAPTER XI.

Ambrose.

RELUCTANCE TO ACCEPT THE OFFICE OF BISHOP; PERSECUTION BY JUSTINA; ARDUOUS LABORS IN HIS CALLING; EARLY DEATH.

MBROSE succeeded Arian Auxentius at Milan, who died in the year 374. He was born about the year 333, while his father was the emperor's lieutenant in France. He was the youngest of

three children, Marcellina and Satyrus being born before him. After his father's decease, his mother with the family returned to Rome, where he made himself master of all the learning that Greece and Latium could afford; at the same time his sister instructed him with much success in the principles of godliness.

Being grown to maturity, he pleaded causes with so much dexterity, that he was soon taken notice of by Anicius Probus, prætorian prefect of Italy, who made choice of him to be of his council; and having authority to appoint governors to several provinces, when he gave a commission to him, he said, "Go and govern more like a bishop than a judge." He resided in this office at Milan for five years, and was renowned for prudence and justice, when one of those sudden turns of Providence, which are so conspicuous in the lives. of many persons of eminent godliness, threw him into at course of life extremely different from the former.

Auxentius, by artifice and dexterity, had imposed on Valentinian, and preserved his seat till his death in the year 374. Immediately the bishops of the province met together concerning the election of a successor.

The emperor sent for them, and told them that they, as men best acquainted with the sacred volume, ought to understand better than he the qualifications necessary for so important a station.

"Choose a man," said he, "fit to instruct by life, as well as by doctrine, and we ourselves will readily submit our sceptres to his counsels and direction, and as men obnoxious to human frailty, will receive his reproofs and admonitions as wholesome physic." The bishops besought him to nominate the person, but Valentinian was resolute in referring the determination to them, as fitter than himself to decide.

In the mean time factions were strong, and the Arian party vigorously labored to provide a successor worthy of Auxentius. The city was divided, every thing tended toward a tumult, the bishops were consulting, and Ambrose hearing of these things, hastened to the church of Milan, and exhorted the people to peace and submission to the laws. His speech being finished, an infant's voice was heard in the crowd, "Ambrose is bishop."

The hint was taken at once; the whole assembly cried out, "Ambrose shall be the man." The factions agreed immediately, and he whom secular pursuits had seemed to preclude from the notice of either party, was suddenly elected by universal consent.

Ambrose was astonished, and peremptorily refused; nor was any person ever more desirous to obtain the office of bishop, than he was to avoid it.

He even used methods which sound strange in our ears, and are by no means justifiable. By exercising severity on malefactors, and other unjust measures, he took pains to convince them that he was not that character of mildness and. chastity which he undoubtedly was, and which all believed him to be.

The uncommon hypocrisy was, however, easily detected. Finding that it was in vain to stem the torrent, he stole out of Milan at midnight, but missing his way, and wandering all night, he found himself in the morning at the gate of Milan.

A guard was placed about his person, till the emperor's pleasure should be known; because his consent was neces sary to part with a subject in office.

Valentinian sincerely consented; and the consent of

Ambrose himself alone was wanting. He again made his escape, and hid himself in the country house of a friend. A menacing edict of the emperor brought him again to Milan, because he dared not expose his friend to the resentment of the emperor. He yielded at length, and Valentinian gave thanks to God, that it had pleased him to make choice of the very person to take care of men's souls, whom he had himself before appointed to preside over their temporal concerns.

He received his general admonitions with reverence; and in particular, hearing him represent the faults of some in authority with great plainness, "I knew," said the emperor, "the honesty of your character before this time, yet I consented to your ordination; follow the Divine rules, and cure the maladies into which we are prone to fall."

Ambrose was then about thirty-four years old.

Immediately he gave to the church and to the poor all the gold and silver which he had. He gave also his lands to the church, reserving the annual income of them for the use of his sister, Marcellina. His family he committed to the care of his brother, Satyrus.

Thus disengaged from temporal concerns, he gave up himself wholly to the ministry. Having read little else than profane authors, he first applied himself to the study of the Scriptures. Whatever time he could spare from business, he devoted to reading; and this he continued to do after he had. attained a good degree of knowledge. His public labors went hand in hand with his studies. He preached every Lord's day. Arianism, through his labors, was expelled from Italy.

There was a presbyter of Rome, one Simplician, a man of eminent learning and piety, whom he drew over to Milan, and under whose tuition he improved in theology. From him, as an instrument, it pleased God successively to convey both to Ambrose and Augustine that fire of Divine love and genuine simplicity in religion, which had very much decayed since the days of Cyprian; and in this slow, but effectual method, the Lord was preparing the way for another great effusion of his Spirit. Ambrose now gave himself wholly