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CHAP. CXXXIV.

PROSPER OF AQUITAIN.

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1. PROSPER, of Aquitain, by some said to have been a bishop; by others, more probably, reckoned a mere layman, is placed, by Cave, as flourishing about the year 444: Basnage speaks of him at the year 434, which seems to be more proper; for Prosper had some correspondence with Augustine, who died in 430; and, in the year 434, had written several things in favour of the Augustinian doctrine. He is supposed to have lived until after the year 460; but the exact time of his death is not known.

2. I place below the chapter of Gennadius concerning him; who commends Prosper's learning and style, or manner of writing, though he dislikes his doctrine.

3. There are several things ascribed to Prosper, which are not received by all as genuine. I intend, in this chapter, to make extracts out of those works, which are generally allowed of; and, in the following, to take notice of some others, whose genuineness is contested.

4. Prosper quotes not only the gospels, and Acts, and other books of the New Testament, universally received; but likewise the epistle to the Hebrews, the epistle of James, the second of Peter, and the Revelation.

Vid. Pagi Ann. 455. n. 17. 466. n. 4. Basnag. Ann. 434. 13. Fabr. Bib. Lat. T. iii. p. 521, 522. et alios historiæ literariæ scriptores. b Hist. Lit. T. i. p. 435. c Ann. 434. n. 13. d Prosper, homo Aquitanicæ regionis, sermone scholasticus, et assertionibus nervosus, multa composuisse dicitur. Ex quibus ego chronica illius nomine prætitulata legi, continentia a primi hominis conditione, juxta divinârum scripturarum fidem, usque ad obitun Valen. tiniani Augusti, et captivitatem urbis Romæ a Genserico Vandalorum rege factam. Legi et librum adversus opuscula sub personâ Cassiani, quæ ecclesiæ Dei salutaria probat, ille infamat nociva. Quæ enim vere Cassiani et Prosperi de gratiâ et libero arbitrio sententiæ fuerunt, in aliquibus sibi contraria inveniuntur. Epistolæ quoque Papa Leonis adversus Eutychen, de verà Christi incarnatione, ad diversos datæ et ab ipso dictatæ dicuntur. Gennad. de V. I. cap. 84. e Et si omnia bona, utique et fidem, sine quâ nemo placere potest, et quæ est virtutum omnium fundamentum. [Hebr. xi. 6.] Pro Augustin. Responsion. ad Exc. Genuen. Exc. 8. ap. Append. Opp. Augustin. Bened. T. x. et alibi. Vid. Ep. ad Rutin. de

Grat. et Lib. Arbitrio. cap. 17. et passim. In ead. App.

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A quo quis superatus est, ei servus addictus est. [2 Pet. ii. 19.] Lib. contr. Collat. in App. ibid. Nam et verbum propheticum lucernæ comparans apostolus Petrus. Habemus,' inquit, certiorem propheticum sermonem,' &c. [2 Pet. i. 19.] Exp. in Ps. 118. al. 119. ap. Bib. PP. T. viii. p. 139. H. Et in Apocalypsi est ista vox martyrum. [Apoc. vi. 10.] Expos. Ps. 118.

5. He expressly rejects the book of Hermas, or the Shepherd, as of no authority.

6. He quotes the epistle to the Ephesians, with that title.

7. Prosper has a fine passage concerning good works, which I transcribe in the margin. Some may suspect that his expressions represent them to be of greater value than he intended.

CHAP. CXXXV.

WORKS ASCRIBED TO PROSPER OF AQUITAIN.

I. Two books of the calling of the Gentiles. II. An Epistle to Demetrius. III. Of the divine promises and predictions. IV. A work entitled, De Vità Contemplativá.

I SHALL now make some extracts out of those writings which have been ascribed to Prosper; but are not certainly known to be his.

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I. One is a work, in two books, entitled, Of the Calling of the Gentiles. Quesnel has a dissertation to show that it is not Prosper's, but Leo's. Anthelmi and Pagi still think it to be Prosper's. Du Pin has carefully considered the arguments on both sides, without determining the question; but somewhat inclining to Quesnel's opinion. Tilleibid. p. 138. H. Et habenti dicitur: Tene quod habes, ne alius accipiat coronam tuam.' [Apoc. iii. 11.] In Ps. 134. ibid. p. 151. C.

i Post illud autem nullius auctoritatis testimonium, quod disputationi suæ de libello pastoris inseruit. Contr. Collat. cap. 13. n. 42. in App. ut supra. * De Ephesiorum etiam fide quid sentiat, audiamus, &c. Contr. Collat. c. 16. n. 50. Lex Christi perfectio caritatis est, quâ Deus proximusque diligitur, et per quam dicitur conditori legis: Dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris.' Bene enim exspectat promissionem Dei, qui mandata ejus exsequitur. Nec frustra sperat parcendum peccatis suis, qui ignoscit alienis. Lib. Sentent. n. 37. in App. ubi supra. Et Conf. Expos. Ps. 139. V. 4. ubi supra.

a De Vocatione omnium Gentium, Libri duo. Ap Leon. M. Opp. T. i. edit. Quesn. Lugd. 1700. b Diss. 2. ap. Leon. Opp. T. ii.

c Vid. Pagi Ann. 444. n. 4. et seq. et 461. n. 13.

d Bibl. T. iii. P. ii. p. 193. De l'Auteur des livres de la Vocation des Gentils, et de l'Epître à Démétriade.

monte likewise weighs the reasons on both sides, without declaring for either; and in another place says, he does not think Quesnel's arguments to be conclusive. S. Basnage says, the style of the work plainly shows it not to be Prosper's; but he does not say whose it is. For my part, I think the author may be reckoned unknown and anony

mous.

1. This writer had in his copies the latter part of the sixteenth chapter of St. Mark's gospel.

2. He quotes the epistle to the Ephesians, with that title.

3. The epistle to the Hebrews is here quoted several times.

4. He' quotes the epistle of St. James.

5. The most remarkable thing in these two books is, that m the author quotes the epistles of St. Peter, as written to Gentile christians.

6. He quotes" both the epistles of Peter, and the first epistle of John, very often: he also quotes the epistle of Jude, and the book of the Revelation.

II. There is a letter to the Virgin Demetrias, ascribed sometimes to Ambrose of Milan; at other times to Prosper of Aquitain. Quesnel contends, that it was written by the author of the Calling of the Gentiles; who, he says, was Pope Leo. Pagi' thinks it was written by Prosper. Cave

f Il semble néanmoins,

S. Prosper. art. 12. Mem. T. xvi. qu'il y prouve mieux la foiblesse des conjectures des autres, que la solidité des siennes. S. Leon. Pape. art. i. T. xv.

De Vocatione Gentium liber, qui vulgo et Prospero addicitur, ab eo esse abjudicandum, certissime docent stylus ab illo Prosperi diversus, altumque de Augustino silentium. An. 434. n. 14.

Secundum Marcum vero eisdem apostolis ita dicitur: Ite in orbem universum. Prædicate evangelium universæ creaturæ, &c. [Marc. xvi. 15, 16.] De Vocat. omn. Gent. 1. i. c. 2. Vid. et c. 3. Ap. Leon. Opp. Lugd. 1700. Ad Ephesios quoque scribens. 1. i. c. 23. Vid. et c. 24. et alibi.

* Aut cum ait: Novissimis istis diebus locutus est nobis in filio, quem constituit heredem universorum.' [Hebr. i. 2.] l. i. c. 9. Vid. et l. ii. c. 11. 1 Lib. i. cap. 24. m Sicut est quod sanctus Petrus apostolus, scribens sui et futuri temporis gentibus, ait: Vos autem genus electum, regale sacerdotium, gens sancta, &c. [1 Pet. ii. 9, 10.] 1. i. c. 11. Vid. et c. 15. n Item idem in secundâ epistolâ de fidei perceptione loquitur. Simon Petrus, servus et apostolus Jesu Christi, his qui coæqualem nobis adepti sunt fidem.' [2 Pet. i. 1.] l. i. c. 23.

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Et, ut brevissime pateat, qualis sit natura humarra sine gratià, dicat Judas apostolus, quid agat vel ignorantia imperitorum, vel doctrina sapientium: 'Hi autem,' inquit, quæcumque quidem ignorant, blasphemant: quæcumque ' autem naturaliter velut bruta animalia norunt, in his corrumpuntur.' [Jud. ver. 10.] L. i. c. 19. P Vid. l. ii. c. 11.

Vid. Diss. iv. ap. Opp. S. Leon. T. ii,
Ann. 413. n. 8, 9.

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also is willing to allow, that this epistle and the books of the Calling of the Gentiles, were written by Prosper. Du Pint allows, that they were both written by one and the same person; which, indeed, is the general opinion, though all are not agreed who the author is.

Here" seems to be a reference to the epistle to the Hebrews. The epistle of James is here quoted, and both the epistles of Peter. I need not say any thing of the first epistle of John, or other generally received books, which are here often quoted.

III. Another work, formerly ascribed to Prosper, but* now generally supposed to be written by an African, is entitled, Of Divine Promises and Predictions, in three, or five parts. If the author's name was Prosper, he must not be he of Aquitain, but another of that name, in Africa; and he may be a contemporary writer.

1. Here are many quotations out of almost all the books of scripture; particularly, the epistle to the Hebrews, the epistle of James, both the epistles of Peter, and the Revelation, which is quoted very largely I need not make any particular references.

2. This author quotes the latter part of the sixteenth chapter of St. Mark's gospel.

3. He quotes the epistle to the Ephesians, with that 'title.

4. Once, the second epistle of Peter is quoted, as written to the Gentile christians.

Hist. Lit. T. i. p. 436. Ubi supra, noted, p. 37. "Aut quod vir sacratissimus Melchisedec, Domini et Salvatoris nostri præferens formam, non fuerit perfecte humilis, quia et sacerdotio eminebat et regno. [Heb. vii. 3.] Ep. ad Demetr. cap. v. p. 41. Ap. S. Leon. Opp. Vid. ib. cap. 9. p. 43. et c. 24. p. 48.

Sed contra hoc periculum quid beatus Petrus in primâ epistolâ prædicet, audiamus. Item in epistolâ secundâ. Ib. c. 16. p. 46.

* Vid. Cav. in S. Prospero. H. L. T. i. p. 436. Pagi Ann. 444. 3. Basnag. Ann. 434. n. 14. Du Pin, S. Prosper. T. iii. P. ii. p. 189. Tillem. S. Prosper, art. 12. T. xvi.

y De Promissionibus et Prædictionibus Dei. Part. iii. Quibus adjunguntur dimidium temporis, ad cujus finem implendæ sunt visiones, de Antichristo, et de gloriâ regnoque sanctorum. Ap. Bib. PP. T. viii. p. 1–52. et ap. Prosperi Opera, p. 1--50. Paris. 1671.*

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Firmant hæc evangelista, dicente ipso in Marco: Signa autem credentes hæc subsequentur. In nomine meo dæmonia ejicient; linguis loquentur 'novis.' [Marc. xvi. 17.] De Promiss. et Prædict. Part 3. Prom. 31. Vid. et cap. 30. ubi citatur ver. 14. Exponens quippe hunc locum in epistolâ ad Ephesios, ait. Ibid. P. i. c. 1. Vid. ib. c. 7. b Testatur et Petrus apostolus in epistolâ ad Gentes. Deus enim,' ait, 'angelis peccantibus non pepercit.' [2 Pet. ii. 4.] Dimid. Temp. c. 2.

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5. He twice quotes 1 John iii. 16, in this manner: Because as Christ laid down his life for us, we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.' I mention this, because of our English translation of the former part of this verse, which is unsupported by any good authority: "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us:" so our translation. However, I pre sume, it needs not to be supposed, that this author had the name of Christ in this verse. No: probably he read, as in most, or even all Greek copies: Hereby perceive we the love [which ought to be in us] because he [meaning Christ, or the Son of God, the antecedent, mentioned ver. 8,] laid down his life for us; and [or so] we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.'

6. This writer quotes the fifth chapter of St. John's first epistle, without the heavenly witnesses.

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IV. There is still another work, De Vitâ Contemplativâ, in three books, which was formerly ascribed to Prosper, and is now generally thought not to be his; but rather a work of Julian Pomerius, supposed to have been presbyter at the city of Arles, in Gaul, about the year 498.

1. This work does not abound with texts of scripture; though the Acts of the Apostles are here several times largely quoted, and also the epistle of James.

2. This writer makes a lamentable complaint of the clergy of his time: Thats they sought riches, honour, power, and authority; but neglected the duties of their function, and the care of the people which had been committed to their charge.

• Testatur et Joannes apostolus, dicens: Sicut Christus pro nobis animam suam posuit, sic et nos debemus pro fratribus animas ponere. De Prom. P. 3. c. 34. Vid. et Part 2. c. 38. d Dicit et Joannes apostolus:

Tria sunt, quæ testimonium dicunt: Spiritus, sanguis, et aqua.' Et sequitur: Si testimonium hominum acceperimus, testimonium Dei majus est.' Prom. e De Vità Contemplativâ, libri tres. Ap. Bib.

P. 3. c. 25.

PP. T. viii. p. 52-83. et ap. S. Prosperi Opp. p. 51-83. Paris. 1671. f Vid. Cav. H. L. P. 1. De Prospero, p. 436. de Jul. Pomerio, p. 466. Du Pin, Bib. T. ii. P. 2. S. Prosper. p. 189. et Jul. Pomere, ib. p. 273, &c. Tillem. S. Prosper, art. 12. T. xvi. 8 Sed nos præsentibus

delectati, dum in hac vitâ commoda nostra et honores inquirimus: non ut meliores, sed ut ditiores, nec ut sanctiores, sed ut honoratiores simus cæteris, festinamus. Nec gregem Domini, qui nobis pascendus, tuendusque commissus est, sed nostras voluptates, dominationem, divitias, et cetera blandimenta, carnaliter cogitamus. Pastores dici volumus, nec tamen esse contendimus. Officii nostri vitamus laborem, appetimus dignitatem. De Vit. Contempl. 1. i. c. 21. in.

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