LETTER LIX. [A.D.393.]

S. AMBROSE here writes to Severus, Bishop of Naples, to tell him of one James, a presbyter of Persia, who was seeking a retreat from the world in Campania. This leads him to dwell on the contrast of the many troubles with which he is surrounded at Milan.

AMBROSE TO SEVERUS, BISHOP.

I. JAMES, our brother and fellow-presbyter, has come from the depths of Persia, and chosen the coast of Campania and your pleasant abodes for his resting-place. You see in what spot he has anticipated for himself the enjoyment of a haven sheltered, as it were, from the storms of this world, where, after his long toils, he may spend the remainder of his life.

2. For your coast, removed not only from danger, but from all tumult, fills the senses with tranquillity, and transports the mind from the fearful and raging billows of care to an honourable rest. So that those words of David concerning the holy Church, which belong in common to all, appear to be especially fitting and appropriate to yourselves;  For He hath founded it upon the seas, and prepared it upon the floods. For a mind undisturbed by inroads of barbarians and the evils of war, has leisure for prayer, devotes itself to the service of God, cares for the things of the Lord, cherishes those things which belong to peace and tranquillity.

3. We meanwhile, exposed to the outbreaks of the barbarians and the storms of war, are tossing in the midst of troubles, and from these toils and dangers can only gather that those of our future life will be still more grievous. Wherefore that saying of the Prophet seems to accord with our condition,  I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction. 

4. For since I have now lived in the body fifty and three years, among the shadows of this world, whereby the truth of future perfection is obscured, and have already endured such heavy afflictions, am I not camping in the tents of Cushan, and having my habitation among the dwellers of Midian? For these, owing to their consciousness of their darksome works, dread being judged even by mortal men,  but he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 

Farewell, my brother; love me, as indeed you do, for I also love you.

EPISTOLA LIX.

 Nuntiato Jacobi presbyteri secessu ex Perside in Campaniam, hujus plagae tranquillitatem laudat, tumultus queis Mediolanum agitabatur, illi opponens. 

AMBROSIUS SEVERO episcopo.

1. Ex ultimo Persidis profectus sinu Jacobus frater et compresbyter noster, Campaniae sibi ad requiescendum littora, et vestras elegit amoenitates. Advertis quibus in locis quasi ab hujus mundi vacuam tempestatibus suppetere sibi posse praesumpserit securitatem, ubi post diuturnos labores reliquum vitae exigat.

2. Remota enim vestri ora littoris non solum a  1182C periculis, sed etiam ab omni strepitu tranquillitatem infundit sensibus, et traducit animos a terribilibus, et saevis curarum aestibus ad honestam quietem; ut illud commune omnium specialiter vobis videatur congruere et convenire, quod ait David de sancta Ecclesia:  Ipse 1017  super maria fundavit eam, et super flumina praeparavit eam (Psal. XXIII, 2). Etnim liber animus a barbarorum incursibus, et praeliorum acerbitatibus, vacat orationibus, inservit Deo, curat ea quae sunt Domini, fovet illa quae pacis sunt et tranquillitatis.

3. Nos autem objecti barbaricis motibus, et bellorum procellis, in medio versamur omnium molestiarum freto, et pro his laboribus et periculis graviora colligimus futurae vitae pericula. Unde de nobis  1182D propheticum illud concinere videtur:  Pro laboribus vidi tabernacula Aethiopum (Habac. III, 7).

4. Etenim in istius mundi tenebris, quibus obumbratur  1183A veritas futurae perfectionis; cum annum tertium et quinquagesimum jam perduxerim in hoc corpore situs, in quo tam graves jamdudum sustinemus gemitus, quomodo non in tabernaculis Aethiopum tendimus, et habitamus cum habitantibus Madian? Qui propter tenebrosi operis conscientiam dijudicari etiam ab homine mortali reformidant (Psal. CXIX, 5):  Spiritalis enim dijudicat omnia, ipse autem a nemine dijudicatur (I Cor. II, 15). Vale, frater, et nos dilige, ut facis; quia nos te diligimus.