Book, Chapter

4001   4,  21 |             Lord's flesh, filled with the Spirit of God, should burn
4002   4,  21 |               God, should burn up all the sins of the human race.
4003   4,  21 |               burn up all the sins of the human race. Whence also
4004   4,  21 |               human race. Whence also the Lord says, 'I am come to
4005   4,  21 |               am come to send fire on the earth.'" And in the same
4006   4,  21 |           fire on the earth.'" And in the same style he pursues the
4007   4,  21 |             the same style he pursues the subject, devoting himself
4008   4,  21 |                         An example of the temperate style is the celebrated
4009   4,  21 |             of the temperate style is the celebrated encomium on virginity
4010   4,  21 |         discourse addresses itself to the virgins, who, as they are
4011   4,  21 |             virgins, who, as they are the objects of higher honour,
4012   4,  21 |               higher honour, are also the objects of greater care.
4013   4,  21 |               greater care. These are the flowers on the tree of the
4014   4,  21 |              These are the flowers on the tree of the Church, the
4015   4,  21 |            the flowers on the tree of the Church, the glory and ornament
4016   4,  21 |               the tree of the Church, the glory and ornament of spiritual
4017   4,  21 |          ornament of spiritual grace, the joy of honour and praise,
4018   4,  21 |             unbroken and unblemished, the image of God answering to
4019   4,  21 |             image of God answering to the holiness of the Lord, the
4020   4,  21 |          answering to the holiness of the Lord, the brighter portion
4021   4,  21 |             the holiness of the Lord, the brighter portion of the
4022   4,  21 |               the brighter portion of the flock of Christ. The glorious
4023   4,  21 |               of the flock of Christ. The glorious fruitfulness of
4024   4,  21 |          fruitfulness of their mother the Church rejoices in them,
4025   4,  21 |               adds to her numbers, in the same proportion does the
4026   4,  21 |              the same proportion does the mother's joy increase."
4027   4,  21 |               And at another place in the end of the epistle, "As
4028   4,  21 |           another place in the end of the epistle, "As we have borne,"
4029   4,  21 |             we have borne," he says, "the image of the earthly, we
4030   4,  21 |                he says, "the image of the earthly, we shall also bear
4031   4,  21 |           earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly."
4032   4,  21 |          shall also bear the image of the heavenly." Virginity bears
4033   4,  21 |            bear it who are mindful of the chastening of the Lord,
4034   4,  21 |          mindful of the chastening of the Lord, who obscene justice
4035   4,  21 |          humble in fear, steadfast in the endurance of suffering,
4036   4,  21 |       endurance of suffering, meek in the endurance of injury, ready
4037   4,  21 |             Christ, and having chosen the greater and better part,
4038   4,  21 |           better part, lead and point the way to the Lord, to whom
4039   4,  21 |             lead and point the way to the Lord, to whom you have pledged
4040   4,  21 |            age, exercise control over the younger. Ye who are younger,
4041   4,  21 |            who are younger, wait upon the elders, and encourage your
4042   4,  21 |                     Ambrose also uses the temperate and ornamented
4043   4,  21 |            also in mind; not mingling the purity of her affection
4044   4,  21 |              uncertain riches, but in the prayer of the poor; diligent
4045   4,  21 |          riches, but in the prayer of the poor; diligent in labour;
4046   4,  21 |              look to God, not man, as the guide of her conscience;
4047   4,  21 |        neighbours? When did she spurn the humble, laugh at the weak,
4048   4,  21 |            spurn the humble, laugh at the weak, or shun the indigent?
4049   4,  21 |            laugh at the weak, or shun the indigent? She is accustomed
4050   4,  21 |               to be known for such at the very threshold, and show
4051   4,  21 |           very threshold, and show at the very entrance that there
4052   4,  21 |             no dark recess within, as the light of a lamp set inside
4053   4,  21 |          inside sheds its radiance on the outside. Why need I detail
4054   4,  21 |               superabundance in duty, the one falling beneath the
4055   4,  21 |               the one falling beneath the demands of nature, the other
4056   4,  21 |        beneath the demands of nature, the other rising above its powers?
4057   4,  21 |              rising above its powers? The latter has no intervals
4058   4,  21 |            intervals of intermission, the former doubles the days
4059   4,  21 |      intermission, the former doubles the days by fasting; and when
4060   4,  21 |             days by fasting; and when the desire for refreshment does
4061   4,  21 |               passages as examples of the temperate style, because
4062   4,  21 |            devoted themselves to take the vows of virginity, but to
4063   4,  21 |             importance, requires that the mind should be excited and
4064   4,  21 |            excited and set on fire by the majestic style. Cyprian
4065   4,  21 |               majestic style. Cyprian the martyr, however, did not
4066   4,  21 |          however, did not write about the duty of taking up the profession
4067   4,  21 |           about the duty of taking up the profession of virginity,
4068   4,  21 |               of virginity, but about the dress and deportment of
4069   4,  21 |             even in these respects by the power of a majestic eloquence. ~
4070   4,  21 |              shall select examples of the majestic style from their
4071   4,  21 |          touched. Both have denounced the women who colour, or rather
4072   4,  21 |           their faces with paint. And the first, in dealing with this
4073   4,  21 |           colours that rival nature's the features and form and completion
4074   4,  21 |              some man, and that, when the portrait had been finished
4075   4,  21 |         improve by his superior skill the painting already completed;
4076   4,  21 |             already completed; surely the first artist would feel
4077   4,  21 |     wickedness, such an insult to God the great artifices? For, granting
4078   4,  21 |             worse than an adulteress. The fact that thou considerest
4079   4,  21 |         violation of truth. Listen to the warning voice of the apostle: '
4080   4,  21 |               to the warning voice of the apostle: 'Purge out the
4081   4,  21 |               the apostle: 'Purge out the old leaven, that ye may
4082   4,  21 |             us: therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven,
4083   4,  21 |              old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness;
4084   4,  21 |              and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity
4085   4,  21 |            meretricious colouring and the deceptions of quackery into
4086   4,  21 |              so as to bring to nought the words of thy Lord? With
4087   4,  21 |              thou wouldst fain change the colour of thy hair: I would
4088   4,  21 |              with a prophetic look to the future, thou shouldst dye
4089   4,  21 |          future, thou shouldst dye it the color of flame." It would
4090   4,  21 |            What folly it is to change the features of nature into
4091   4,  21 |               incurred their own! For the woman who desires to alter
4092   4,  21 |             when thou can't not enjoy the pleasure of the lie either
4093   4,  21 |             not enjoy the pleasure of the lie either in thine own
4094   4,  21 |            adultery in thee. Thou art the evil promptress of thine
4095   4,  21 |            thine own injury. For even the woman who has been the victim
4096   4,  21 |           even the woman who has been the victim of a pander shrinks
4097   4,  21 |            pander shrinks from acting the pander's part, and though
4098   4,  21 |              against and not another. The crime of adultery is almost
4099   4,  21 |           Accordingly, we notice that the style is neither subdued
4100   4,  21 |              selected as specimens of the rest, and in other ecclesiastical
4101   4,  21 | ecclesiastical writers who both speak the truth and speak it well,
4102   4,  21 |              examples may be found of the three styles of speech,
4103   4,  21 |          writings and discourses; and the diligent student may by
4104   4,  22 |                             chap. 22. The necessity of variety in
4105   4,  22 |              these various styles: on the contrary, every variety
4106   4,  22 |              style, we fail to retain the hearer's attention; but
4107   4,  22 |            from one style to another, the discourse goes off more
4108   4,  22 |              of its own which prevent the hearer's attention from
4109   4,  22 |         becoming languid. We can bear the subdued style, however,
4110   4,  22 |           longer without variety than the majestic style. For the
4111   4,  22 |               the majestic style. For the mental emotion which it
4112   4,  22 |             stir up in order to carry the hearer's feelings with us,
4113   4,  22 |            been sufficiently excited, the higher the pitch to which
4114   4,  22 |      sufficiently excited, the higher the pitch to which it is raised,
4115   4,  22 |             raised, can be maintained the shorter time. And therefore
4116   4,  22 |               carry to a higher point the emotion we have excited,
4117   4,  22 |             already gained. But after the interposition of matter
4118   4,  22 |         treated forcibly, thus making the tide of eloquence to ebb
4119   4,  22 |        eloquence to ebb and flow like the sea. It follows from this,
4120   4,  22 |               follows from this, that the majestic style, if it is
4121   4,  22 |           alternate at intervals with the other styles; the speech
4122   4,  22 |      intervals with the other styles; the speech or writing as a whole,
4123   4,  22 |       referred to that style which is the prevailing one. ~
4124   4,  23 |                         chap. 23. How the various styles should be
4125   4,  23 |       alternated with what other, and the places where it is necessary
4126   4,  23 |              style should be used. In the majestic style, for instance,
4127   4,  23 |         almost always, desirable that the introduction should be temperate.
4128   4,  23 |              should be temperate. And the speaker has it in his discretion
4129   4,  23 |              in his discretion to use the subdued style even where
4130   4,  23 |              subdued style even where the majestic would be allowable,
4131   4,  23 |              allowable, in order that the majestic when it is used
4132   4,  23 |       majestic when it is used may be the more majestic by comparison
4133   4,  23 |               greater brilliance from the dark background. Again,
4134   4,  23 |                Again, whatever may be the style of the speech or writing,
4135   4,  23 |          whatever may be the style of the speech or writing, when
4136   4,  23 |            and this naturally demands the subdued style. And accordingly
4137   4,  23 |              used in alternation with the other two styles whenever
4138   4,  23 |               up; just as we must use the temperate style, no matter
4139   4,  23 |          style, no matter what may be the general tone of the discourse,
4140   4,  23 |            may be the general tone of the discourse, whenever praise
4141   4,  23 |             any ulterior reference to the condemnation or acquittal
4142   4,  23 |              any one, or to obtaining the concurrence of any one in
4143   4,  23 |             in a course of action. In the majestic style, then, and
4144   4,  23 |          majestic style, then, and in the quiet likewise, both the
4145   4,  23 |              the quiet likewise, both the other two styles occasionally
4146   4,  23 |              occasionally find place. The temperate style, on the
4147   4,  23 |               The temperate style, on the other hand, not indeed always,
4148   4,  23 |               but occasionally, needs the quiet style; for example,
4149   4,  23 |            unadorned and expressed in the quiet style, in order to
4150   4,  23 |              called) of ornament. But the temperate style never needs
4151   4,  23 |           temperate style never needs the aid of the majestic; for
4152   4,  23 |          style never needs the aid of the majestic; for its object
4153   4,  23 |             gratify, never to excite, the mind. ~
4154   4,  24 |                             chap. 24. The effects produced by the
4155   4,  24 |               The effects produced by the majestic style~
4156   4,  24 |        account that he is speaking in the majestic style; for this
4157   4,  24 |             is often produced both by the accurate distinctions of
4158   4,  24 |              accurate distinctions of the quiet style, and by the
4159   4,  24 |               the quiet style, and by the beauties of the temperate.
4160   4,  24 |                and by the beauties of the temperate. The majestic
4161   4,  24 |            beauties of the temperate. The majestic style, on the other
4162   4,  24 |                The majestic style, on the other hand, frequently silences
4163   4,  24 |             hand, frequently silences the audience by its impressiveness,
4164   4,  24 |           Mauritania I was dissuading the people from that civil,
4165   4,  24 |       annually at a certain season of the year for several days continuously,
4166   4,  24 |             could), I strove with all the vehemence of speech that
4167   4,  24 |               produced an effect. For the applause showed that they
4168   4,  24 |         instructed and delighted, but the tears that they were subdued.
4169   4,  24 |            was confident, even before the event proved it, that this
4170   4,  24 |          thanks to God. And, lo, with the blessing of Christ, it is
4171   4,  24 |             or more since anything of the sort was attempted there.
4172   4,  24 |           have observed that men show the effect made on them by the
4173   4,  24 |            the effect made on them by the powerful eloquence of a
4174   4,  24 |                                       The quiet style, too, has made
4175   4,  24 |         eloquently expressed, even in the temperate style, produce
4176   4,  24 |             are not only pleased with the eloquence of the encomiums
4177   4,  24 |         pleased with the eloquence of the encomiums and censures,
4178   4,  24 |          whereas all who are moved by the majestic style act accordingly,
4179   4,  24 |             and all who are taught by the quiet style know or believe
4180   4,  25 |                         chap. 25. How the temperate style is to be
4181   4,  25 |            this we may conclude, that the end arrived at by the two
4182   4,  25 |            that the end arrived at by the two styles last mentioned
4183   4,  25 |              styles last mentioned is the one which it is most essential
4184   4,  25 |               eloquence to secure. On the other hand, what the temperate
4185   4,  25 |               On the other hand, what the temperate style properly
4186   4,  25 |             good and useful, and when the hearers are both acquainted
4187   4,  25 |              more tenaciously. For as the function of all eloquence,
4188   4,  25 |            secured its object. Now in the subdued style, he persuades
4189   4,  25 |              what he says is true; in the majestic style, he persuades
4190   4,  25 |           ought to do, but do not; in the temperate style, he persuades
4191   4,  25 |          suchlike performances, where the object is not to instruct
4192   4,  25 |             object is not to instruct the hearer, or to persuade him
4193   4,  25 |         subordinate to another, viz., the effecting by this style
4194   4,  25 |              at effecting when we use the majestic style. For we may
4195   4,  25 |         majestic style. For we may by the use of this style persuade
4196   4,  25 |            not so hardened as to need the vehement style; or if they
4197   4,  25 |       constancy. Accordingly, even in the temperate style we must
4198   4,  25 |        ourselves merely with pleasing the hearer, but rather seeking
4199   4,  25 |          rather seeking to aid him in the pursuit of the good end
4200   4,  25 |             aid him in the pursuit of the good end which we hold out
4201   4,  26 |              chap. 26. In every style the orator should aim at perspicuity,
4202   4,  26 |                      Now in regard to the three conditions I laid
4203   4,  26 |            themselves respectively to the three several styles of
4204   4,  26 |    perspicuity is a merit peculiar to the subdued style, beauty to
4205   4,  26 |              subdued style, beauty to the temperate, and persuasive
4206   4,  26 |               and persuasive power to the majestic. On the contrary,
4207   4,  26 |             power to the majestic. On the contrary, all speech, whatever
4208   4,  26 |              like even what we say in the subdued style to pall upon
4209   4,  26 |            subdued style to pall upon the hearer; and therefore we
4210   4,  26 |          except that we wish to carry the hearer with us, that is,
4211   4,  26 |              his assert by calling in the assistance of Him of whom
4212   4,  26 |             narrates a story, even in the subdued style, what does
4213   4,  26 |               nor enforce conviction? The subdued style, again, in
4214   4,  26 |               seizes upon and exposes the falsity of an opposing opinion,
4215   4,  26 |          rather to be called forth by the nature of the subject: this
4216   4,  26 |         called forth by the nature of the subject: this style, so
4217   4,  26 |               hardly believe it to be the subdued style. For the fact
4218   4,  26 |             be the subdued style. For the fact that it comes forth
4219   4,  26 |           overwhelming and destroying the falsehood that opposes it
4220   4,  26 |          falsehood that opposes it by the mere strength of its own
4221   4,  26 |            own right arm. How explain the frequent and vehement applause
4222   4,  26 |             who speak thus, except by the pleasure that truth so irresistibly
4223   4,  26 |          naturally affords? Wherefore the Christian teacher speaker
4224   4,  26 |           speaker ought, when he uses the subdued style, to endeavour
4225   4,  26 |              bring home conviction to the hearer. ~
4226   4,  26 |                          Eloquence of the temperate style, also, must,
4227   4,  26 |       temperate style, also, must, in the case of the Christian orator,
4228   4,  26 |            also, must, in the case of the Christian orator, be neither
4229   4,  26 |            adorned, nor is it to make the giving of pleasure its sole
4230   4,  26 |            professes to accomplish in the hands of others; but in
4231   4,  26 |             it should aim at inducing the hearer to strive after or
4232   4,  26 |         renounce what it condemns. On the other hand, without perspicuity
4233   4,  26 |          cannot give pleasure. And so the three qualities, perspicuity,
4234   4,  26 |            necessary to stir and sway the hearer's mind by the majestic
4235   4,  26 |             sway the hearer's mind by the majestic style (and this
4236   4,  26 |             must, of course, speak in the majestic style. But who
4237   4,  27 |                             chap. 27. The man whose life is in harmony
4238   4,  27 |                   But whatever may be the majesty of the style, the
4239   4,  27 |        whatever may be the majesty of the style, the life of the speaker
4240   4,  27 |             the majesty of the style, the life of the speaker will
4241   4,  27 |             of the style, the life of the speaker will count for more
4242   4,  27 |            count for more in securing the hearer's compliance. The
4243   4,  27 |              the hearer's compliance. The man who speaks wisely and
4244   4,  27 |            himself." Wherefore, also, the apostle says: "Whether in
4245   4,  27 |              preached." Now Christ is the truth; yet we see that the
4246   4,  27 |            the truth; yet we see that the truth can be preached, though
4247   4,  27 |               seek their own, and not the things that are Jesus Christ'
4248   4,  27 |             since true believers obey the voice, not of any man, but
4249   4,  27 |                not of any man, but of the Lord Himself, who says, "
4250   4,  27 |      doctrines, sitting as they do in the high places of ecclesiastical
4251   4,  27 |               made this observation: "The scribes and the Pharisees
4252   4,  27 |         observation: "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses's
4253   4,  27 |       Pharisees sit in Moses's seat." The seat they occupied then,
4254   4,  27 |          lives, but were prevented by the seat they occupied, which
4255   4,  27 |               evil lives in comparing the teaching with the conduct
4256   4,  27 |           comparing the teaching with the conduct of their instructors,
4257   4,  27 |             himself, and in despising the preacher they learn to despise
4258   4,  27 |        preacher they learn to despise the word that is preached. Wherefore
4259   4,  27 |           that is preached. Wherefore the apostle, writing to Timothy,
4260   4,  27 |              youth," adds immediately the course by which he would
4261   4,  27 |             but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation,
4262   4,  28 |            providing things honest in the sight of God and men, fearing
4263   4,  28 |             govern his words, not let the words govern him. This is
4264   4,  28 |              govern him. This is what the apostle says: "Not with
4265   4,  28 |            with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be
4266   4,  28 |              made of none effect." To the same effect also is what
4267   4,  28 |        Timothy: "Charging them before the Lord that they strive not
4268   4,  28 |            words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers."
4269   4,  28 |              but to the subverting of the hearers." Now this does
4270   4,  28 |               when adversaries oppose the truth, we are to say nothing
4271   4,  28 |             say nothing in defense of the truth. For where, then,
4272   4,  28 |            says when he is describing the sort of man a bishop ought
4273   4,  28 |           both to exhort and convince the gainsayers?" To strive about
4274   4,  28 |               not to be careful about the way to overcome error by
4275   4,  28 |         preferred to that of another. The man who does not strive
4276   4,  28 |            other purpose than to make the truth plain, pleasing and
4277   4,  28 |            even love itself, which is the end of the commandment and
4278   4,  28 |           itself, which is the end of the commandment and the fulfilling
4279   4,  28 |            end of the commandment and the fulfilling of the law, can
4280   4,  28 |     commandment and the fulfilling of the law, can be rightly exercised
4281   4,  28 |              rightly exercised unless the objects of love are true
4282   4,  28 |             so men who teach lies are the more pitiable if they happen
4283   4,  28 |          proper words, words which in the subdued style are adequate,
4284   4,  28 |        subdued style are adequate, in the temperate, elegant, and
4285   4,  28 |            temperate, elegant, and in the majestic, forcible. But
4286   4,  28 |               majestic, forcible. But the man who cannot speak both
4287   4,  29 |              a preacher to deliver to the people what has been written
4288   4,  29 |             memory, and deliver it to the people, they cannot be blamed,
4289   4,  29 |              many become preachers of the truth (which is certainly
4290   4,  29 |             teachers; for all deliver the discourse which one real
4291   4,  29 |             such men to be alarmed by the words of Jeremiah the prophet,
4292   4,  29 |              by the words of Jeremiah the prophet, through whom God
4293   4,  29 |               not belong to them, but the word of God belongs to all
4294   4,  29 |            all who obey it; and it is the man who speaks well, but
4295   4,  29 |               badly, who really takes the words that belong to another.
4296   4,  29 |           that belong to another. For the good things he says seem
4297   4,  29 |             things he says seem to be the result of his own thought,
4298   4,  29 |              if you look closely into the matter, it is not really
4299   4,  29 |             really themselves who say the good things they say. For
4300   4,  29 |               is not for nothing that the apostle says of such men: "
4301   4,  29 |              sense, then, they do say the things, and in another sense
4302   4,  29 |              being made by Him who is the Truth. Speaking of such
4303   4,  29 |          compose a discourse in which the truth is set forth to be
4304   4,  29 |            and when this takes place, the former draws from himself
4305   4,  29 |           does not belong to him, and the latter receives from another
4306   4,  30 |                             chap. 30. The preacher should commence
4307   4,  30 |               man is going to address the people or to dictate what
4308   4,  30 |               will deliver or read to the people, he ought to pray
4309   4,  30 |             she was about to speak to the king touching the temporal
4310   4,  30 |            speak to the king touching the temporal welfare of her
4311   4,  30 |             more ought he to pray for the same blessing who labours
4312   4,  30 |              in word and doctrine for the eternal welfare of men?
4313   4,  30 |             it may give ear; and when the discourse has a happy issue,
4314   4,  30 |           blessings come, so that all the praise may be His "in whose
4315   4,  31 |                 chap. 31. Apology for the length of the work~
4316   4,  31 |             Apology for the length of the work~
4317   4,  31 |              expected or desired. But the reader or hearer who finds
4318   4,  31 |          books striven to depict, not the sort of man I am myself (
4319   4,  31 |           defects are very many), but the sort of man he ought to