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AT this time Justina, wife of Valentinianus the great, and mother
of the young prince, made known to her son the seeds of the Arian
teaching which she had long ago received. Well knowing the warmth of
her consort's faith she had endeavoured to conceal her sentiments
during the whole of his life, but perceiving that her son's character
was gentle and docile, she took courage to bring her deceitful doctrine
forward. The lad supposed his mother's counsels to be wise and
beneficial, for nature so disposed the bait that he could not see the
deadly hook below. He first communicated on the subject with
Ambrosius, trader the impression that, if he could persuade the
bishop, he would be able without difficulty to prevail over the rest.
Ambrosius, however, strove to remind him of his father's piety, and
exhorted him to keep inviolate the heritage which he had received. He
explained to him also how one doctrine differed from the other, how the
one is in agreement with the teaching of the Lord and with the teaching
of his apostles, while the other is totally opposed to it and at war
with the code of the laws of the spirit.
The young man, as young men will. spurred on moreover by a mother
herself the victim of deceit, not only did not assent to the arguments
adduced, but lost his temper, and, in a passion, was for surrounding
the approaches to the church with companies of legionaries and
targeteers. When, however, he learnt that this illustrious champion
was not in the least alarmed at his proceedings, for Ambrosius treated
them all like the ghosts and hobgoblins with which some men try to
frighten babies, he was exceedingly angry and publicly ordered him to
depart from the church. "I shall not," said Ambrosius, "do so
willingly. I will not yield the sheepfold to the wolves nor betray
God's temple to blasphemers. If you wish to slay me drive your sword
or your spear into me here within. I shall welcome such a death."
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