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THUS spoke the emperor, and then the council begged him, being a
wise and devout prince, to make the choice. He then replied, "The
responsibility is too great for us. You who have been dignified with
divine grace, and have received illumination from above, will make a
better choice." So they left the imperial presence and began to
deliberate apart. In the meanwhile the people of Milan were torn by
factions, some eager that one, some that another, should be
promoted. They who had been infected with the unsoundness of
Auxentius were for choosing men of like opinions, while they of the
orthodox party were in their turn anxious to have a bishop of like
sentiments with themselves. When Ambrosius, who held the chief civil
magistracy of the district, was apprised of the contention, being
afraid lest some seditious violence should be attempted he hurried to
the church; at once there was a lull in the strife. The people cried
with one voice "Make Ambrose our pastor," although up to this time
he was still unbaptized. News of what was being done was brought to
the emperor, and he at once ordered the admirable man to be baptized
and ordained, for be knew that his judgment was straight and true as
the rule of the carpenter and his sentence more exact than the beam of
the balance. Moreover he concluded from the agreement come to by men
of opposite sentiments that the selection was divine. Ambrose then
received the divine gift of holy baptism, and the grace of the
archiepiscopal office. The most excellent emperor was present on the
occasion and is said to have offered the following hymn of praise to his
Lord and Saviour. "We thank thee, Almighty Lord and Saviour;
I have committed to this man's keeping men's bodies; Thou hast
entrusted to him their souls, and hast shown my choice to be
righteous."
Not many days after the divine Ambrosius addressed the emperor with
the utmost freedom, and found fault with certain proceedings of the
magistrates as improper. Valentinian remarked that this freedom was no
novelty to him, and that, well acquainted with it as he was, he had
not merely offered no opposition to, but had gladly concurred in, the
appointment to the bishopric. "Go on," continued the emperor, "as
God's law bids you, healing the errors of our souls."
Such were the deeds and words of Valentinian at Milan.
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