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The Ecclesiastical History of Theodoret (CCEL)
Chapter VI. Of the election of Ambrosius, the Bishop of Milan.
Thus spoke the emperor, and then the council begged him, being a wise and devout prince, to make the choice. He then replied, “The responsibility is too great for us. You who have been dignified with divine grace, and have received illumination from above, will make a better choice.” So they left the imperial presence and began to deliberate apart. In the meanwhile the people of Milan were torn by factions, some eager that one, some that another, should be promoted. They who had been infected with the unsoundness of Auxentius were for choosing men of like opinions, while they of the orthodox party were in their turn anxious to have a bishop of like sentiments with themselves. When Ambrosius, who held the chief civil magistracy 1 of the district, P. 111 was apprised of the contention, being afraid lest some seditious violence should be attempted he hurried to the church; at once there was a lull in the strife. The people cried with one voice “Make Ambrose our pastor,”—although up to this time he was still [^86] unbaptized. News of what was being done was brought to the emperor, and he at once ordered the admirable man to be baptized and ordained, for he knew that his judgment was straight and true as the rule of the carpenter and his sentence more exact than the beam of the balance. Moreover he concluded from the agreement come to by men of opposite sentiments that the selection was divine. Ambrose then received the divine gift of holy baptism, and the grace of the archiepiscopal office. The most excellent emperor was present on the occasion and is said to have offered the following hymn of praise to his Lord and Saviour. “We thank thee, Almighty Lord and Saviour; I have committed to this man’s keeping men’s bodies; Thou hast entrusted to him their souls, and hast shown my choice to be righteous.”
Not many days after the divine Ambrosius addressed the emperor with the utmost freedom, and found fault with certain proceedings of the magistrates as improper. Valentinian remarked that this freedom was no novelty to him, and that, well acquainted with it as he was, he had not merely offered no opposition to, but had gladly concurred in, the appointment to the bishopric. “Go on,” continued the emperor, “as God’s law bids you, healing the errors of our souls.”
Such were the deeds and words of Valentinian at Milan.
[^86] ἀμύητος
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By the constitution of Constantine, beneath the governors of the twelve dioceses of the Empire were the provincial governors of 116 provinces, rectores, correctores, præsides, and consulares. Ambrosius had been appointed by Probus Consularis of Liguria and Æmilia. Probus, in giving him the appointment, was believed to have “prophesied,” and said “Vade; age non ut judex, sed ut episcopus.” Paulinus S. ↩
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Histoire de l'Église
CHAPITRE XXII.
Généreuse liberté d'un Décurion de Bérée.
ETANT parti tout rempli de ces grands desseins, et après avoir fait de si terribles menaces, il fut vaincu à Berée par un seul homme. Il est vrai que c'était un homme illustre, et qui tenait un des premiers rangs parmi ses citoyens, mais il était encore plus illustre par la pureté de sa foi, et par l'ardeur 201 de son zèle. Ayant vu que son fils avait apostasié, et fait profession de la Religion dominante, il le chassa de sa maison, et le déclara privé de son bien. Le fils étant allé trouver l'Empereur à quelques lieues de la ville, lui exposa son changement de Religion, et le châtiment dont son père l'en avait puni. Julien lui commanda de se tenir en repos, et lui promit d'apaiser la colère de son père. Quand il fut arrivé à Berée il fit un festin aux principaux habitants, parmi lesquels était le père du jeune homme dont je parle. Il fit asseoir le père, et le fils sur le lit, où il était assis lui-même ; et sur le milieu du repas, il dit au père : II me semble qu'il n'est pas juste de contraindre l'inclination de personne. Laissez à votre fils la liberté de suivre une autre Religion que la vôtre, comme je vous laisse la liberté d'en suivre une autre que la mienne, bien qu'il ne me fût que trop aisé de vous l'ôter. Alors le père animé du zèle de la foi, dit à l'Empereur, Vous me parlez en faveur dfont color="#0000FF">J'aurai soin de vous, puisque votre père ne veut pas l'avoir, quelque prière que je lui en fasse. Je rapporte ici cette histoire, non seulement pour montrer la généreuse liberté de ce père, mais aussi pour marquer comme en passant, qu'il y a eu plusieurs personnes qui n'ont eu que du mépris pour la puissance tyrannique, et pour les cruautés inouïes de Julien.