with which he was deeply affected, and wrote to Theodofius* concerning him with all the marks of forrow, and compofed a funeral oration in his praise. The rhetorical spirit ufually exaggerates on these occafions; but it is inconfiftent with the unqueftionable integrity of Ambrofe to fuppofe, that he did not believe the real converfion of his royal pupil. The oration itself is by no means worthy of Ambrofe; the tafte is vicious and affected. Indeed panegyric, when it has not an object of magnitude fufficient to fill the mind, is ever frigid and groveling, because it is continually affecting, but has not materials to fupport, the sublime.

Epif. 34. and de obitu Valentiniani.

I

CHA P. XVI.

THE CHURCH UNDER THEODOSIUS.

'T will be proper to look a little more particularly at the conduct of this prince towards the church. He had been preferved in his younger years from the jealousy of Valens, who, by fome fuperftition had been led to fufpect thofe, whofe names began with THE, and to feek their deftruction. After his exaltation to the empire from a private life by the generous and patriotic choice of Gratian, he reigned in the Eaft, more vigorously fupporting Christianity, according to his ideas of it, than any emperor before him. His fenfe of juftice, however, determined him to order fome Chriftians to rebuild at their own expence a Jewish fynagogue, which they had tumultuoufly pulled down. I mention with concern, yet with historical veracity, that Ambrose prevailed on him to fet afide this fentence, from a miftaken notion of piety, that Chriftianity should not be obliged to contribute to the erection of a Jewish fynagogue. If the Jews were tolerated at all in the empire, the tranfaction ought certainly to have been. looked on as a civil one. This is the first instance I recollect in which a good man was induced, by fuperftitious motives, to break the effential rules of juftice; and it marks the growth of fuperftition*. Nor is there any thing in the declamatory eloquence of Ambrofe, which moves me to pass a different judgment.

The Luciferians ftill exifting, intreated this emperor to grant them liberty of confcience; confeffing themselves to be Chriftians, and contending that it was wrong in others to give them a fectarian name;

Epif. 29.

at

at the fame time declaring that they coveted not the riches and grandeur of other churches, and in their cenfures not fparing Hilary of Poitiers and Athanafius. Thefe laft were doubtlefs men of great uprightness and integrity. What they themfelves were is not fo evident as it were to be wifhed, becaufe of the scantinefs of information. They fpeak with extraordinary refpect of Gregory, bishop of Elvira, as the chief of their communion; A man doubtless of high eftimation, because Theodofius himself admits it, and grants them a legal toleration. I have before fpoken of this clafs of diffenters, among whom, I apprehend, it is probable marks of the prefence of God might be found, if their hiftory had come down to us. But the reader, who knows how flight our information of these things is, while church history dwells chiefly on what is fcandalous, not what is excellent, will not be furprized at my filence. The fect itself vanished foon after.

1

Theodofius was of a paffionate temper, and on a particular occafion was led by it to commit a barbarous action; the circumftances of the story will be the best comment on the character of this em peror, of Ambrofe, and of the times. At Theffalonica a tumult was made by the populace, and the emperor's officer was murdered. The news was

calculated to try the temper of Theodofius, who ordered the fword to be let loose upon them. Ambrofe interceded, and the emperor promifed to forgive. But the great officers of the court perfuaded him to retract, and to fign a warrant for military execution. It was executed with great cruelty. Seven thousand were maffacred in three hours without trial, and without diftinction.

Ambrofe* wrote him a faithful letter, reminding him of the charge in the prophet, that if the priest does

Amb. Epif. 51.

does not warn the wicked he fhall be answerable for it*. "You discover a zeal, fays he, for the faith and fear of God, I own: but your temper is warm, foon to be appeased indeed, if endeavours are ufed to calm it; but if not regulated, it bears down all before it." He urges the example of David, and fhews the impropriety of communicating with with him at prefent. "I love you, fays he, I cherifh you, I pray for you; but blame not me, if I give the preference to God." On thefe principles

Ambrofe refused to admit Theodofius into the church of Milan. The emperor pleaded the cafe of David. "Imitate him, fays the zealous bishop, in his repentance, as well as in his fin." Theodofius fubmitted, and kept from the church eight months. On the feaft of the nativity, he expreffed his forrow with fighs and tears in the presence of Ruffinus the mafter of the offices. "I weep, faid he, that the temple of God, and confequently heaven is fhut from me, which is open to flaves and beggars." Ruffinus undertook to perfuade the bishop to admit the emperor. Ambrofe urged the impropriety of his rude interference, becaufe Ruffinus by his evil counfels had been the author of the maffacre. Ruffinus telling him, that the emperor was coming, “I will hinder him, fays he, from entering the veftible; yet if he will play the king, I fhall offer him my throat." Ruffinus, returning informed the emperor; "I will and receive the refufal which I defire," fays he. And as he approached the bishop, he added, I come to offer myself, to fubmit to what you prefcribe. Ambrofe enjoined him to do publick penance, and to fufpend the execution of capital warrants for thirty days in future, in order that the ill effects of intemperate anger might be prevented. The emperor pulling off his imperial robes, prayed proftrate on the pavement; nor did he put on those robes, till

go,

Ezek. iii. 18.

a

Theodoret, B. V. c. 18.

the

the time of his penance was expired. My foul cleaveth to the duft, faid he, quicken thou me, according to thy word." The people prayed and wept with him, and he not only complied with the rules of penance, but retained visible marks of compunction and fadness during the reft of his life.

Let us make as candid an estimate, as we can, of this extraordinary affair; I fay, as we can. Moderns hardly can be fufficiently candid; fo different are our fentiments and views. It is certain that these rules of humiliation are too fevere, too formal, and by no means properly calculated to inftruct: the growth alfo of fuperftition and the immoderate excercife of episcopal power are both strikingly evident. But what then? was Theodofius a mean abject prince, and Ambrose an haughty or hypocritical pontiff? neither the one nor the other is true. The general life of the former evinces him. a great and wife prince, who had the true fear of God before his eyes; and the latter thought he did no more than what the office, which he bore, required; and his affectionate regard for the emperor, and fincere concern for his foul, appear evident. On the whole, the discipline itself thus magnanimously exercised by Ambrofe, and humbly submitted to by Theodofius, when stripped of its fuperftitions and formalities, was falutary. Who does not fee, that the contempt of difcipline in our days, among the great, has proved extremely pernicious to the interefts of practical religion?

On the murder of Valentinian, one Eugenius ufurped the empire of the Weft, who again erected the altar of victory, and encouraged the Pagans; but their hopes were of fhort duration. Theodofius soon stripped him of his life and power, and thus became fole mafter of the Roman world. Under his authority the extirpation of idolatry was carried on with more decifive vigour than ever. At

Alex