LETTER OF GRATIAN TO AMBROSE. [A.D.379.]

It is in answer to this that Letter I was written by S. Ambrose. It was written by the Emperor Gratian in his 20th year, four years after his succession to the. Empire in partnership with his Uncle Valens and his younger brother Valentinian the 2nd, on the death of their father Valentinian the first, 375 A. D. Tillemont (Hist. des Emp. vol. v. p. 158.) calls it 'une lettre toute pleine de piete et d'humilite, et d'ailleurs mesme ecrite avec beaucoup d'esprit et d'elegance.'

THE EMPEROR GRATIAN TO AMBROSE BISHOP OF ALMIGHTY GOD.

1. GREAT is my desire that as I remember you though far away, and in spirit am present, with you, so I may be with you in bodily presence also. Hasten then, holy Bishop  01-1  1. a The word in the original is Sacerdos. It is constantly used by S. Ambrose and other writers of his time for Bishops, though they sometimes add a qualifying epithet, 'Summus Sacerdos.' But even alone it is used where the writer is clearly speaking of Bishops, and of Bishops qua Bishops. Thus it occurs frequently in the Proceedings of the Council of Aquileia, which is itself styled 'Sacerdotale Concilium.' See the Article 'Bishop' by Mr. Haddan in Dict. of Chr. Ant. Vol. 1 p. 210 b., who refers also to Bp. Taylor, Episc. Assert. § 27. It has therefore been rendered 'Bishop' throughout this volume, wherever it is plain that the reference is to Bishops, and 'Priest' wherever it is used in a more general way. of God ; come and teach me, who am already a sincere believer; not that I am eager for controversy, or seek to apprehend God in words rather than with my mind, but that the revelation of His Godhead may sink more deeply into an enlightened breast.

2. For He will teach me, He Whom I deny not, but confess to be my God and my Lord, not cavilling at that created  01-2  2. creaturam. nature in Him, which I see also in myself. That I can add nothing to Christ I acknowledge, hut I am desirous by declaring the Son to commend myself to the Father also; for in God I can fear no jealousy; nor will I suppose myself such an eulogist as that I can exalt His divinity by my words. Weak and frail, I proclaim Him according to my power, not according to His Majesty.

3. I beg you to bestow upon me the Treatise  01-3  3. b This forms the two first books of the 'De Fide' still extant among the works of S. Ambrose. The other three books were added afterwards, as S. Ambrose explains at the beginning of Bk. iii, to maintain his statements against the attacks of heretical teachers. The Treatise, 'De Spiritu Sancto,' in 3 books, was sent afterwards in 381 A.D. you gave me before, adding to it an orthodox discussion on the Holy Spirit: prove, I beseech you, both by Scripture and reason, that He is God. God keep you for many years, my father, servant of the eternal God, Whom we worship, even Jesus Christ.

751 GRATIANI AD AMBROSIUM EPISTOLA .

 0875B 

AMBROSIUM  ad se invitat, ut se in fide de Filii ac Spiritus sancti divinitate confirmet. Librum etiam petit, cui et alium de Spiritu sancto jungi postulat. 

AMBROSIO religioso sacerdoti omnipotentis Dei GRATIANUS AUGUSTUS.

1. Cupio valde ut quem recordor absentem, et cum quo mente sum, cum eo etiam corpore sim praesenti. Festina igitur ad me, religiose Dei sacerdos, ut doceas doctrinam vere credentem: non quod contentioni studeam, aut velim magis Deum verbis quam mente complecti; sed ut magis aperto pectori revelatio divinitatis insidat.

2. Docebit enim me ille, quem non nego, quem fateor Deum ac Dominum esse meum, non ei objiciens,  0875C quam in me video, creaturam, qui Christo nihil me addere posse confiteor; velle tamen ut etiam Patri me commendem, Filium praedicando Non ego in Deo verebor invidiam: non me talem  0876B laudatorem putabo, qui divinitatem verbis augeam. Ego infirmus et fragilis, quantum possum, praedico: non quantum est ipsa divinitas.

3. Rogo te ut mihi des ipsum tractatum, quem dederas, augendo illic de Spiritu sancto fidelem 752 disputationem: Scripturis atque argumentis Deum esse convincas. Divinitas te servet per multos annos, parens, et cultor Dei aeterni, quem colimus, Jesu Christi.