The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Gregory the Great – Isidore of Seville
GREGORY YE GREAT
The Life of Gregory the Great, who dyed Anno Christi, 605.
GRegory the Great was born in Rome: His birth and education.his Father was a Senator, by name Gordianus; his Mothers name was Sylvia, a woman Noble by birth, but both of them more Noble for their Piety. Our Gregory in his tender years was carefully educated by his Parents, being instructed both in Religion and Literature; and as he grew in years, so he encreased in Learning, which he retained with a firm Memory, whereby he was enabled afterwards to make good use of it for the profit and benefit of the Church of God: Having gone through the study of other Arts, he spent two years in reading of Pythagoras; but finding little satisfaction therein, he at last with much diligence breathed after more Divine studies: And after his Fathers death, having more freedom in disposing of himself, and his estate,His charity. he gave all his riches towards the relief of the Poor, and betook himself to a Monastical life,He turns Monk. first under Hillarion, and afterwards under Maximianus, who both of them were famous for their Piety and Learning.
He was very abstemious in his Dyet, frequent in Fasting and Prayer,His studiousness. and so studious of the Sacred Srriptures, that he could scarse finde leasure to eat his food till necessity urged him thereunto: And indeed his abstinence was so great that he much impaired his health thereby: yet would he not give over his imployments, spending all his time in Prayer, Reading, Writing, or Dictating to others. His humility was very exemplary; for though he came of Noble Parents, yet had he so little respect to his discent, that with tears he would often say, That all Earthly Glory was miserable, if the owner of it did not seek after the Glory of God: His humility.He was very exact in spending his time, saying, that he was to give an account of it unto God: Neither was he less charitable to the souls of others:Frugal of his time. For on a time when many Merchants were met to sell their commodities at Rome, it happened that Gregory passed by them, and saw many young boys with white bodies, fair faces, beautiful countenances and lovely hair set forth to sail, whereupon going to the Merchant, their owner,His charity to souls. he asked him from what Country he brought them? The Merchant answered from Britain where the Inhabitants were generally so beautiful: Then said Gregory; Are they Christians, or Heathens? Heathens replyed the other: whereupon Gregory deeply sighing said, Alass for grief! that such fair faces should be under the power of the Prince of Darkness, and that such beautiful bodies should have their souls void of the Grace of God; Then did he again ask the Merchant by what name that people were called? He answered Angli: Truly said he, they may be called Angli, quasi Angeli, for they have Angles countenances, and its fit they were made fellow-Citizens with the Angels. Again he asked, What was the name of the Province whence they came? The Merchant answered, Deiri; well may they be of Deiri, for its fit they should be pulled De ira Dei [from under the wrath of God] and called into the grace of Christ. Again he asked him, what was the name of their King? The Merchant answered Alle; whereupon Gregory alluding to his name, said Well is their King called Alle, for its fit that Alleluja to their Creator should be sung in those parts: He desires to have England converted.And so going strait to Benedict, who was Bishop of Rome at that time, he earnestly requested him to send some Ministers into Britain for the Conversion of the Inhabitants thereof; and when none could be found that would undertake that journey, himself would have gone if the Bishop would have permitted it: And indeed at the length, by his importunity he prevailed for leave, and set forwards on his journey: but within three days the people of Rome so complained to Benedict of the loss of Gregory, that he sent for him back, which occasioned his return (though with much sorrow) that he was hindered in so good a work.
Not long after he was sent upon some Ecclesiastical affairs to the Emperour at Constantinople, He is sent to Constantinople.where though the splendor of the Court was troublesome to him, yet intermitted he not his private studies and devotion, and during his abode there, at the request of a Bishop who was Embassador for the Visigoths, he wrote a Comment upon the Book of Job. He writes upon Job.Also whereas Eutychius Bishop of Constantinople, had taught and writ that our bodies at the Resurrection should be impalpable more subtle then the air: Confutes heresies.Gregory confuted that Error both by Reason, and by the Example of Christs Body after his Resurrection: whereupon ensued an hot Disputation betwixt them: This the Emperour Tiberius hearing of, sent for them both to him, heard the cause on both sides, read over diligently the Book writ by Eutychius, and being convinced of the Error by that which he had heard from Gregory, he adjudged the Book to be burned. Shortly after Eutychius fell very sick, and a little before his death, retracted his Error, and acknowledged the Resurrection of our flesh.
Gregory having dispatched the business about which he was sent to Constantinople, His return to Rome.returned to Rome, about which time the River Tiber swelled to such an unmeasurable height that it ran over the Wals of the City,Gods judgements on Rome. and drowned a great part of it, and break into many great houses overthrew divers ancient Monuments; it overthrew also the Granaries belonging to the Church, and carried away many thousand measures of Wheat: Presently after which inundation of Tiber, there came down the River an innumerable company of Serpents, with one monstrous great one, as big as a Beam, which when they had swum into the Sea, were there choaked, and their carkasses being all cast upon the shore there rotted, which caused such an Infection of the Ayr, that presently a great Plague followed in Rome, so that many thousands dyed of it: Yea, Arrows were visibly seen to be shot from Heaven, and whosoever was stricken with them, presently dyed, amongst whom Pelagius Bishop of Rome was one: and this judgement so raged in the City, that many houses were emptyed of their Inhabitants.
After the death of Pelagius, He is chosen Bishop of Rome.the Clergy, Senate, and People of Rome made choice of Gregory to be their Bishop, though he opposed it all that possibly he could; crying out that he was altogether unworthy of such honour,His humility. fearing least the splendor of worldly glory, which he had formerly layd aside, should in such an Office creep upon, and infect him. But the importunity of the People being so great, he seemed to consent to them: but privately under-hand wrote to the Emperour Mauritius, earnestly requesting him that he would not consent to the Election, but that by his Authority he would free him from it: But Germanus the Praefect of the City meeting with the messenger, took his Letters from him, and reading them, detained them, sending word to the Emperour of the unanimous consent of all in the Election of Gregory: He is confirmed by the Emperour.Whereupon the Emperour returning thanks to God for that they had made so good a choice, confirmed the Election, so that Gregory could no longer evade it. In the mean time the Pestilence raging exceedingly, Gregory called the people together, and shewed them the justice of God in his Judgements, who used not to punish till by sin he is provoked thereunto: telling them that they might read the greatness of their sins in the greatness of the Plague; and thereupon exhorted them to repentance by the Precepts of God, and by the example of Nin…veh, He appoints a Fast to remove the judgments.appointing them to lay all their worldly businesses aside, and to meet together the next day to spend it in Fasting and Prayer; which accordingly they did: yet whilst they were together Gods hand was out against them, so that fourscore of them fell down dead in the place: But Gregory being not discouraged hereby, continued his Sermon, telling them that God would at length be found of them, if they would forsake their wicked ways, and turn unto him with all their hearts, and with all their souls: and accordingly not long after the Pestilence ceased.
Gregory observing that many customs were lately crept into the Church which were not warranted by the holy Apostles, He reforms the Church.he first extirpated them out of the Church of Rome, and then calling a Council of many Bishops, he endeavoured to root them out of the whole Church. Then removing from about him all secular persons, he chose Presbyters and other Learned men in their stead, whereby Learning was much advanced in his days.His charity. He was very charitable, and much given to hospitality, insomuch as when very many Inhabitants from divers parts (flying from the barbarous cruelty of the Longobards) came to him, he entertained and relieved them, inviting dayly to his house many of those Exiles. He made also large distributions unto others, giving them Corn, Wine, Flesh, Fish, Cheese, and many other refreshings in their several seasons. Many times also he sent large relief to the sick, lame, and impotent persons, not only in Rome, but in many other Towns and Villages round about, insomuch as all that he had, seemed to be the common Granary of the Church.
In the fourth year of his Bishoprick having in some good measure setled the affairs of the Church, he now began to think how he might advance the Conversion of the English, He sends Austin and some others into England.which he had formerly been so sollicitous for, & had never since been forgotten by him; For which end he sent Austin and some other Ministers from about him, to Preach the Gospel unto them: But they had not gone many days journey before they began to be a weary of undertaking so difficult and dangerous a task, as to go to Preach to a fierce, barbarous, and unbelieving Nation, whole Language they did not understand, whereupon they stopped, and sent Austin back to Gregory, desiring that they might have leave to return, that they might be freed from so laborious, difficult and dangerous a work.
Gregory having received this message, wrote thus back to them again:Encourages them by this Letter. Beloved Brethren, seeing it had been better that you had never begun a good work, then that you should recede from it, it behoves you through the assistance of Almighty God to go forwards with it: Neither let the labor of the journey, nor the tongues of wicked men deterre you from it: I have sent back Austin whom I would have you to obey, knowing that he will counsel you nothing but what shall be for the good of your souls. Almighty God give you his grace, and grant that I may see of the fruit of your labors, though I cannot join with you therein. With this Exhortation Austin did so encourage his Companions, that passing through France, where they found kinde entertainment by the good Bishops in every place,They arrive in England. they at last arrived in Britain, and came to Ethelburg, the King of Kent, where through Gods mercy they did not only obtain leave to Preach, but had habitations and maintenance allowed them in Canterbury his chief City. Whosoever desires to see the success of this business, may read it in my English Martyrologie, Pag. 11. &c.
Gregory dyed Anno Christi 605.His death. having been Bishop of Rome 13 years, 6 moneths, and 10 days. He lived under the Emperour Mauritius, and dyed in the second year of Phocas. Johannes Trithemius gives him this testimony;His character. Gregorius, Vir in Divinis Scripturis eruditissimus, & in secularibus literis uti que doctissimus: Theologorum Princeps: splendor Philosophorum, & Rhetorum lumen; vita & conversatione integer, at que sanctissimus.
He was of an acute wit, whereby he overthrew Eutiches, Pelagius, (who dyed in his time of the Plague at Rome) and divers other Hereticks. He severely reproved the Bishop of Constantinople, who would have been called Universal, which he cals Nomen istud blasphemia, That Name of blasphemy.
He used to say,His sayings. He is poor whose soul is void of grace, not whose coffers are emptie of money: Spiritual poverty.Contented poverty is true riches: And again, God is never absent, though the wicked have him not in their thoughts: where he is not by favour, he is by punishment and terrour. He could never read those words, Son, remember in thy life time thou receivedst good things, without horror and astonishment; least having such dignities and honors as he had, he should be excluded from his portion in Heaven. It is said of him, that he was the worst Romane Bishop of all those that were before him: and the best of all those that followed him.
He wrote Expositions upon the greatest part of the Bible.His works. His Works are contained in 6 Tome.
The Life of Isidore, who dyed Anno Christi 675.
ISidorus Hispalensis, His birth and education.by birth a Spaniard, carefully educated by his Parents, of a quick wit, and able memory, admired for his Learning and Eloquence, was chosen Bishop of Sivil under Mauritius the Emperour, wherein he was very painful, and could accommodate his speech fitly both to the ignorant and learned: He was full of mercy and good fruits. He was had in great honor, his fame spreading abroad far and wide, both for his Life and learning: He so macerated his body with Labors, and enriched his Soul with Divine Learning and Contemplations, that he seemed to live an Angels life upon Earth.His death. He dyed in the Reign of Heraclius the Emperour, about the year 675.
He used to say, His sayings.Knowledge and a good life are both profitable: yet if both cannot be obtained a good life is to be sought rather then much knowledge.Holiness. And, As the Viper is killed by the young ones in her belly;Sinful thoughts. so are we betrayed and killed by our own thoughts, nourished in our bosomes, which consume and poison the soul. And, All things may be shunned, but a mans own heart: a man cannot run from himself:Guilty conscience. a guiltie conscience will not forsake him wheresoever he goes: And, The Divels have a threefold prescience: 1. By natural subtiltie. 2. By experience. 3. By supernatural revelation.Danger of pride. And, He that begins to grow better, let him beware least he grow proud: least vain-glory give him a greater overthrow then his former vices.