of the world, that any time now dedicated to religious devotion, save Sunday, is called a loss. Even the days of the Apostles and Evangelists now do but receive a scanty notice, and have but a few of the faithful who share in their commemoration. But St. Jerome might be ranked very highly in the English Church, as a saint worthy of commemoration; for certainly no one is more eminent for labour and critical research in the books of Holy Writ. The Latin Vulgate now in use, the principal Latin translation of the Holy Scriptures, is the work of St. Jerome. Add to which the Church owes to him many valuable commentaries on the prophets; commentaries also on many of the epistles; all enriched with valuable illustrations, and set forth with sound and laborious criticism. He who in the present day would write upon the Holy Scriptures without the works of St. Jerome would sadly be deficient. His name, therefore, as a doctor of the Church, as well as a confessor and saint, deserves our peculiar veneration. How few, while they read his name in the Calendar, either know or appreciate his labours; how few, while they read the Scriptures in their native tongue, are aware that he to whom they principally owe that blessing, is the holy, the laborious, the stern, yet faithful Jerome. ST. AMBROSE. To thee an eye to trace out the third Heaven I see thee stand before the injur'd shrine, Falls down, and owns the Keys and Power Divine: I see thee thron'd upon the Teacher's seat, And Austin from thy hands receives the Spirit's seal. THE CATHEDRAL. LIFE OF ST. AMBROSE. CHAPTER I. From God these heavy cares are sent for our unrests, And with such burdens for our wealth He fraughteth full our breasts. All that the Lord hath wrought, hath beauty and good grace, And to each thing assigned is the proper time and place. EARL OF SURREY, 1557. PARAPHRASE ON THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES. PARENTAGE OF ST. AMBROSE-ANECDOTE OF THE BEES-HIS EDUCATION-HIS SISTER-BECOMES A CIVIL GOVERNORCHOSEN BISHOP OF MILAN-ENDEAVOURS TO AVOID IT-HIS BAPTISM. In the life of St. Chrysostom, we have traced the history of one of God's eminent servants in persecution, in affliction, in temporal discomfiture, and finally in a martyr's death. And now we turn to a very opposite narrative; that of St. Ambrose, Archbishop of Milan, who, under the blessing of God, set at defiance all opposition; was almost invariably victorious in all his combats in behalf of the Church; and after enjoying the most devoted affection and reverence of three successive emperors, died at last a calm and peaceful death; his last victory being that over sin and the grave. The historian Gibbon, whose sympathies are all engaged against the holy cause in which Ambrose triumphed, is compelled to award to him the palm of episcopal vigour and ability ;* whilst a living author, instituting a comparison between this Saint, and St. Chrysostom, in favour of the western bishop, would attribute the authoritative energy and unshaken resolution, which are so remarkable in him, to the Roman blood flowing in his veins. The father of Ambrose, who bore the same name as his illustrious son, was a citizen of Rome, and of noble family. At the time when our history begins he held the high office of Prætorian Præfect, or Imperial lieutenant of Gaul, which jurisdiction included part of Italy and Germany, and the British and Spanish provinces. It is not quite certain whether the vice-regal court was held at Arles or at Treves; but in one of these two cities, about the year A.D. 340, St. Ambrose was born. *The palm of episcopal vigour and ability was justly claimed by the intrepid Ambrose.”—Decline and Fall, c. 27. † Milman. |