Herein we continue, from part 1, part 2, considering info on the Devil from Aurelius Ambrosius aka St. Ambrose bishop of Milan (340-397 AD). The fuller complete result consists of quotations of those sections within the text that refer to Angels, Cherubim, Seraphim, Devil, Satan, demons, serpent and dragon. The point is not to elucidate these references but to provide relevant partial quotations and citations. See my section on Angels here, Cherubim and Seraphim here, Satan here and Demons here.
Concerning Virgins, Book I
Chapter 9 Why should I continue the praise of chastity in more words? For chastity has made even Angels. He who has preserved it is an Angel; he who has lost it a devil.
On the Death of Satyrus, Book II
85 The devil said: “Command this stone that it become bread.”
Sermon Against Auxentius on the Giving Up of the Basilicas.
4 We have an adversary who assails us, for our adversary “the devil goes about, as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour,”…You have read how the devil tempted holy Job in these many ways, and how at last he sought and obtained power to try his body, which he covered with sores.
6 But since “our contest is not against flesh and blood, but also” (which is worse) “against spiritual wickedness in high places,” that tempter the devil makes the struggle harder by means of his servants, and thinks to make trial of me by the wounds of my flesh.
Exposition of the Christian Faith, Book I
Chapter 17 We cannot then doubt that He is very God, Whose true Godhead even executioners believed in and devils confessed.
Exposition of the Christian Faith, Book II
Chapter 13 Thus let the followers of Arius and Photinus speak. “I deny Your Godhead.” To whom the Lord will make answer: “’The fool has said in his heart: There is no God?’ Of whom, think you, is this said?— of Jew or Gentile, or of the devil…”…Now let the Manichæan have his word. “I hold that the devil is the creator of our flesh.” The Lord will answer him: “What, then, are you doing in the heavenly places? Depart, go your way to your creator. ‘My will is that they be with Me, whom my Father has given Me.’ You, Manichæan, hold yourself for a creature of the devil; hasten, then, to his abode, the place of fire and brimstone, where the fire thereof is not quenched, lest ever the punishment have an end.”
Chapter 15 Such men, who sow disputes— that is to say, heretics— the Apostle bids us leave alone. Of them he says in yet another place, that “certain shall depart from the faith, giving heed to deceitful spirits, and the doctrines of devils.”
In the next segment, we will consider more from Ambrose on the Devil.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A plea: I have to pay for server usage and have made all content on this website free and always will. I support my family on one income and do research, writing, videos, etc. as a hobby. If you can even spare $1.00 as a donation, please do so: it may not seem like much but if each person reading this would do so, even every now and then, it would add up and really, really help. Here is my donate/paypal page.
Due to robo-spaming, I had to close the comment sections. However, you can comment on my Facebook page and/or on my Google+ page. You can also use the “Share / Save” button below this post.