156 THE DECLINE AND FALL family of Romans ; his father had exercised the important office of Praetorian praefect of Gaul ; and the son, after passing through [borne. 340] the studics of a liberal education, attained, in the regular grada- tion of civil honours, the station of consular of Liguria, a pro- vince which included the Imperial residence of Milan. At the age of thirty-four, and before he had received the sacrament of baptism, Ambrose, to his own surprise, and to that of the world, [AD. 374] was suddenly transformed from a governor to an archbishop. Without the least mixture, as it is said, of art or intrigue, the whole body of the people unanimously saluted him with the episcopal title ; the concord and perseverance of their ac- clamations were ascribed to a praetematural impulse ; and the reluctant magistrate was compelled to undertake a spiritual office, for which he was not prepared by the habits and occupa- tions of his former life. But the active force of his genius soon qualified him to exercise, with zeal and prudence, the duties of his ecclesiastical jurisdiction ; and, while he cheerfully renounced the vain and splendid trappings of temporal greatness, he con- descended, for the good of the church, to direct the conscience of the emperors and to control the administration of the empire. Gratian loved and revered him as a father ; and the [DeFide. elaborate treatise on the faith of the Trinity was designed for AD. 378] j^j^^ instruction of the young prince. After his tragic death, at a time Avhen the empress Justina trembled for her own safety and for that of her son Valentinian, the archbishop of Milan was dispatched, on two different embassies, to the court of Treves. He exercised, with equal firmness and dexterity, the powers of his spiritual and political characters ; and perhaps contributed, by his authority and eloquence, to check the ambition of Maxi- mus and to protect the peace of Italy. "^^ Ambrose had devoted his life and his abilities to the service of the church. Wealth was the object of his contempt ; he had renounced his private patrimony ; and he sold, without hesitation, the consecrated plate for the redemption of captives. The clergy and people of Milan were attached to their archbishop ; and he deserved the esteem, without soliciting the favour or apprehending the dis- pleasure, of his feeble sovereigns. His sTiccessfui The government of Italy, and of the young emperor, naturally tf?°°em°p'i-e88 devolved to his mother Justina, a woman of beauty and spirit, A.D. 385, but who, in the midst of an orthodox people, had the misfortune April 3 — April 10 63 Ambrose himself (torn. ii. epist. xxiv. p. 888-891) gives the emperor a very spirited account of his own embassy.
