whichcouldonlybeeffacedbythetearsofpenitence。TheepiscopalvigorofAmbrosewastemperedbyprudence；andhecontentedhimselfwithsignifying^96anindirectsortofexcommunication，bytheassurance，thathehadbeenwarnedinavisionnottooffertheoblationinthename，orinthepresence，ofTheodosius；andbytheadvice，thathewouldconfinehimselftotheuseofprayer，withoutpresumingtoapproachthealtarofChrist，ortoreceivetheholyeucharistwiththosehandsthatwerestillpollutedwiththebloodofaninnocentpeople。Theemperorwasdeeplyaffectedbyhisownreproaches，andbythoseofhisspiritualfather；andafterhehadbewailedthemischievousandirreparableconsequencesofhisrashfury，heproceeded，intheaccustomedmanner，toperformhisdevotionsinthegreatchurchofMilan。Hewasstoppedintheporchbythearchbishop；who，inthetoneandlanguageofanambassadorofHeaven，declaredtohissovereign，thatprivatecontritionwasnotsufficienttoatoneforapublicfault，ortoappeasethejusticeoftheoffendedDeity。Theodosiushumblyrepresented，thatifhehadcontractedtheguiltofhomicide，David，themanafterGod\'sownheart，hadbeenguilty，notonlyofmurder，butofadultery。\"YouhaveimitatedDavidinhiscrime，imitatethenhisrepentance，\"wasthereplyoftheundauntedAmbrose。Therigorousconditionsofpeaceandpardonwereaccepted；andthepublicpenanceoftheemperorTheodosiushasbeenrecordedasoneofthemosthonorableeventsintheannalsofthechurch。
Accordingtothemildestrulesofecclesiasticaldiscipline，whichwereestablishedinthefourthcentury，thecrimeofhomicidewasexpiatedbythepenitenceoftwentyyears:^97andasitwasimpossible，intheperiodofhumanlife，topurgetheaccumulatedguiltofthemassacreofThessalonica，themurderershouldhavebeenexcludedfromtheholycommuniontillthehourofhisdeath。Butthearchbishop，consultingthemaximsofreligiouspolicy，grantedsomeindulgencetotherankofhisillustriouspenitent，whohumbledinthedusttheprideofthediadem；andthepublicedificationmightbeadmittedasaweightyreasontoabridgethedurationofhispunishment。Itwassufficient，thattheemperoroftheRomans，strippedoftheensignsofroyalty，shouldappearinamournfulandsuppliantposture；andthat，inthemidstofthechurchofMilan，heshouldhumblysolicit，withsighsandtears，thepardonofhissins。^98
Inthisspiritualcure，Ambroseemployedthevariousmethodsofmildnessandseverity。Afteradelayofabouteightmonths，Theodosiuswasrestoredtothecommunionofthefaithful；andtheedictwhichinterposesasalutaryintervalofthirtydaysbetweenthesentenceandtheexecution，maybeacceptedastheworthyfruitsofhisrepentance。^99Posterityhasapplaudedthevirtuousfirmnessofthearchbishop；andtheexampleofTheodosiusmayprovethebeneficialinfluenceofthoseprinciples，whichcouldforceamonarch，exaltedabovetheapprehensionofhumanpunishment，torespectthelaws，andministers，ofaninvisibleJudge。\"Theprince，\"saysMontesquieu，\"whoisactuatedbythehopesandfearsofreligion，maybecomparedtoalion，docileonlytothevoice，andtractabletothehand，ofhiskeeper。\"^100Themotionsoftheroyalanimalwillthereforedependontheinclination，andinterest，ofthemanwhohasacquiredsuchdangerousauthorityoverhim；andthepriest，whoholdsinhishandstheconscienceofaking，mayinflame，ormoderate，hissanguinarypassions。Thecauseofhumanity，andthatofpersecution，havebeenasserted，bythesameAmbrose，withequalenergy，andwithequalsuccess。
[Footnote96:Ambros。tom。ii。Epist。li。p。997—1001。Hisepistleisamiserablerhapsodyonanoblesubject。Ambrosecouldactbetterthanhecouldwrite。Hiscompositionsaredestituteoftaste，orgenius；withoutthespiritofTertullian，thecopiouseleganceofLactantiusthelivelywitofJerom，orthegraveenergyofAugustin。]
[Footnote97:AccordingtothedisciplineofSt。Basil，Canonlvi。，thevoluntaryhomicidewasfouryearsamourner；fiveahearer；seveninaprostratestate；andfourinastandingposture。IhavetheoriginalBeveridge，Pandect。tom。ii。p。47