CHAPTERVII
15。ThechurchofMilanhadonlyrecentlybeguntoemploythismodeofconsolationandexaltationwithallthebrethrensingingtogetherwithgreatearnestnessofvoiceandheart。Foritwasonlyaboutayear——notmuchmore——sinceJustina，themotheroftheboy-emperorValentinian，hadpersecutedthyservantAmbroseonbehalfofherheresy，inwhichshehadbeenseducedbytheArians。Thedevotedpeoplekeptguardinthechurch，preparedtodiewiththeirbishop，thyservant。Amongthemmymother，thyhandmaid，takingaleadingpartinthoseanxietiesandvigils，livedthereinprayer。AndeventhoughwewerestillnotwhollymeltedbytheheatofthySpirit，wewereneverthelessexcitedbythealarmedanddisturbedcity。
Thiswasthetimethatthecustombegan，afterthemanneroftheEasternChurch，thathymnsandpsalmsshouldbesung，sothatthepeoplewouldnotbewornoutwiththetediumoflamentation。
Thiscustom，retainedfromthentillnow，hasbeenimitatedbymany，indeed，byalmostallthycongregationsthroughouttherestoftheworld。[288]
16。ThenbyavisionthoumadestknowntothyrenownedbishopthespotwherelaythebodiesofGervasiusandProtasius，themartyrs，whomthouhadstpreserveduncorruptedforsomanyyearsinthysecretstorehouse，sothatthoumightestproducethematafittimetocheckawoman’sfury——awomanindeed，butalsoaqueen！WhentheywerediscoveredanddugupandbroughtwithduehonortothebasilicaofAmbrose，astheywerebornealongtheroadmanywhoweretroubledbyuncleanspirits——thedevilsconfessingthemselves——werehealed。Andtherewasalsoacertainman，awell-knowncitizenofthecity，blindmanyyears，who，whenhehadaskedandlearnedthereasonforthepeople’stumultuousjoy，rushedoutandbeggedhisguidetoleadhimtotheplace。Whenhearrivedthere，hebeggedtobepermittedtotouchwithhishandkerchiefthebierofthysaints，whosedeathispreciousinthysight。Whenhehaddonethis，andputittohiseyes，theywereimmediatelyopened。Thefameofallthisspreadabroad；fromthisthygloryshonemorebrightly。Andalsofromthisthemindofthatangrywoman，thoughnotenlargedtothesanityofafullfaith，wasneverthelessrestrainedfromthefuryofpersecution。