AMBROSE, St, was born at Arles, where his father resided as governor of Gaul; and while he lay in his cradle, a swarm of bees, it is said, were seen to settle on his lips. This is considered as having been a pro phetical indication of his eloquence ; and, on account of the sweetness of his expressions, he was afterwards called Mellifluous. He was appointed by Probes the prefect to be governor of Milan; and was charged by him to act in his office, not as a judge, but as a bishop. This was probably intended merely as an advice to con duct himself as a magistrate, who respected religion ; but it was afterwards considered as a prophecy, when Ambrose really became a bishop. While he resided at Milan, there were violent contests between the Arians and orthodox, about the election of a bishop for that city. As the people were on one occasion remarkably tumul tuous in this affair, Ambrose addressed them in such a pathetic and persuasive manner, on the beauty and bene fit of concord, that they were enraptured with his elo quence, and exclaimed, that he should be their bishop. He wished to decline the office, and is said to have employed some very extraordinary means to prevent his being chosen.* But the emperor Valentinian approved the choice of the people, recommended it to Ambrose to signify his acceptance, and witnessed in person the ceremony of his ordination. It is related that he was only a catechumen, and not yet baptized, when he was thus appointed to be a bishop ; but his abilities and virtues overcame every disqualification of that nature. He was much respected by Valentinian, and still more by his successor Gratian. After the death of Gratian, who had been no friend to the support of the heathen mythology, an attempt was made by Symmachus, pre fect of Rome, a person of high rank and great eloquence, to persuade Valentinian, the brother and successor of Gratian, to restore the vestals, and to replace the altar of Victory. Ambrose resisted this proposal with all his influence, and prevented it from being adopted. At the request of the young prince, he went on an embassy to the tyrant Mtximin, who had revolted in the reign of Gratian, who was in possession of Gaul and Spain, and who was threatening an invasion into Italy. lie prevailed
with that monster of cruelty to lay aside his hostile in tention, and saved Valentinian from his power. He made a second visit to Maximin at Trevcs, to demand the body of Gratian, but was not so successful in his nego ciations. Notwithstanding those dangerous and difficult services, which he had rendered to the emperor, he found that both he and his mother Justina, were more favourable to the Arians than to his friends ; and he firmly resisted them, in several measures which he con ceived were hurtful to the cause of peace and truth. He was equally bold in his remonstrances with the em peror Theodosius ; and on one occasion, made him sub mit publicly to the censures of the church. The inha bitants of Thessalonica had risen in a tumultuous man ner, and had slain one of his generals. The emperor punished their guilt, by sending a body of troops, and making a general massacre in the city. For this act of cruelty and injustice, Ambrose denounced him as a murderer, and refused to perform the sacred rites of religion in his presence, till the emperor consented to give a solemn testimony of his penitence. This faith ful bishop, however, discharged those painful duties with so much humility and affection, that he was often respected by those whom be reproved. Theodosius, particularly, instead of being offended by this instance of his integrity and zeal, became more attached to him than before. He used to say that he never knew a bishop but Ambrose ; and on his death-bed, recommended his children to his care. Ambrose discharged the office of a bishop with the most exemplary piety, hospitality, tem perance, and charity, during 23 years ; and died amidst the tears of his friends, and the lamentations of his peo ple, A. D. 397, in the 64th year of his age. Few of his writings are extant ; and some have been ascribed to him (such as Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul,) which, in the opinion of many authors, could not have come from his pen. His sentiments are sublime and eloquent ; but his style is full of conceits, and his figures very confused. See Paulinus. Baronius. Eusebius. Go dcau, hist. de l'Eglise, v. ii. (q)