Letter XXI.
St. Ambrose excuses himself for not having gone to the
consistory when summoned, on the ground that in matters of faith no one
but bishops could rightly judge, and that he was not contumacious
because he would not suffer wrong to be done to his own order. And he adds that Auxentius would perhaps choose as judges either Jews or unbelievers, that is, persons hostile to Christ. He says further that he is willing to discuss the matters in dispute at a synod, and that he would have told the Emperor by word of mouth what he is now writing, but that his fellow bishops and the people would not suffer him to do so.
, Bishop, to the most
gracious Emperor and blessed Augustus, Valentinian.
1. Dalmatius, the tribune and notary, summoned me
by the orders of your Clemency, as he asserted, demanding that I should
also choose judges, as Auxentius had done. He did not mention the
names of those who had been asked for, but he added that there was to
be a discussion in the consistory, and that the judgment of your piety
would give the decision.
2. To this I make, as I think, a suitable
answer. No one ought to consider me contumacious when I affirm
what your father of august memory not only replied by word of
mouth, but also
sanctioned by his laws, that, in a matter of faith, or any
ecclesiastical ordinance, he should judge who was not unsuited by
office, nor disqualified by equity, for these are the words of the
rescript. That is, it was his desire that priests should judge
concerning priests. Moreover, if a bishop were accused of other
matters also, and a question of character was to be enquired into, it
was also his will that this should be reserved for the judgment of
bishops.
3. Who, then, has answered your Clemency
contumaciously? He who desires that you should be like your
father, or he that wishes you to be unlike him? Unless, perhaps, the judgment of so great an Emperor seems to any persons of small account, whose faith has been proved by the constancy of his profession, and his wisdom declared by the continual improvement of the State.
4. When have you heard, most gracious Emperor, that laymen gave judgment concerning a bishop in a matter of faith? Are we so prostrate through the flattery of some as to be unmindful of the rights of the priesthood, and do I think that I can entrust to others what God has given me? If a bishop is to be taught by a layman, what will follow? Let the layman argue, and the bishop listen, let the bishop learn of the layman. But undoubtedly, whether we go through the series of the holy Scriptures, or the times of old, who is there who can deny that, in a matter of faith,—in a matter I say of faith,—bishops are wont to judge of Christian emperors, not emperors of bishops.
5. You will, by the favour of God, attain to a
riper age, and then you will judge what kind of bishop he is who
subjects the rights of the priesthood to laymen. Your father, by
the favour of God a man of riper age, used to say: It is not my
business to judge between bishops. Your Clemency now says: I ought to judge. And he, though baptized in Christ, thought himself unequal to the burden of such a judgment, does your Clemency, who have yet to earn for yourself the sacrament of baptism, arrogate to yourself a judgment concerning the faith, though ignorant of the sacrament of that faith?
6. I can leave it to be imagined what sort of
judges he will have chosen, since he is afraid to publish their names. Let them simply come to the Church, if there are any to come; let them listen with the people, not for every one to sit as judge, but that each may examine his own disposition, and choose whom to follow. The matter is concerning the bishop of that Church: if the people hear him and think that he has the best of the argument, let them follow him, I shall not be jealous.
7. I omit to mention that the people have
themselves already given their judgment. I am silent as to the
fact that they demanded of your father him whom they now have. I am silent as to the promise of your father that if he who was chosen would undertake the bishopric there should be tranquillity. I acted on the faith of these promises.
8. But if he boasts himself of the approval of
some foreigners, let him be bishop there from whence they are who think
that he ought to receive the name of bishop. For I neither
recognize him as a bishop, nor know I whence he comes.