that thy word may be heard plainly of all the People The aforesaid Scribes and Pharisees placed James upon the Pinnacle of the Temple and shouted to him and said thou just Man at whose Commandment we are all here In somuch as this People is seduced after Jesus who was Crucified declare unto us which is the Door or Way of Jesus Crucified And he answered with a loud Voice Why ask ye me of Jesus the Son of Man when as he sitteth at the right Hand in the great Power in Heaven c. When as he had perswaded many so that they glorified God at the Testimony of James and said Hosanna i. e. Save now I beseech thee in the highest to the Son of David Then the Scribes and Phariseâ—…s said among themselves We have done very ill in causing such a Testimony of Jesus to be brought forth but let us climb up and take him to the end that the People may be stricken with fear and so may be brought to renounce his Faith and they shouted saying O O! And the just also is seduced so they climbed up and threw Justus down headlong saying Let us stone James Justus and they begun to throw Stones at him for after his fall he was not fully dead And he fell upon his Knees saying I beseech thee Lord God and Father forgive them for they wote not what they do And as they were a stoning of him one of the Priests the Son of Rechab the Son of Charabim whose Testimony is in Ieremy the Prophet cryed out Cease whâ—…t do you this just Man prayeth for you And one of them that were present taking a Fullers â—…b stroke Iustus on the Head and brained him and so he suffered Martyrdom Of Nero's Persecution and Wickedness It is Recorded of Nero the Emperor before whom Paul appeared that he was so wicked that he tormented his own Mother with divers kinds of Death his Bretheren his Wife and many of his nearest Kinsfolks as if they had been Enemies and deadly Foes unto him He was counted the first Enemy of all the Emperors unto the Service of God yea some boasted and said They which knew him may easily perceive that this our Doctrine had never been condemned by Nero had it not been passing good It is written that Paul was beheaded and Peter crucified of him at Rome The Third BOOK OF EUSEBIUS Of Clemens and his Epistle which was read in Churches WHen Anacletus had been Bishop of Rome twelve years Clemens succeeded whom Paul writing to the Philippians calleth his fellow Labourer when he saith with Clemens and the rest of my fellow Labourers whose Names are written in the book of life One undoubted Epistle there is of his extant both worthy and notable the which he wrote from Rome unto Corinth when sedition was raised among the Corinthians the same Epistle we have known to have been read publickly in many Churches both of old and among us also at that time there was raised a sedition among the Corinthians An History of John the Apostle and a Young-man Ensebius hath a certain relation of a passage concerning the Apostle Iohn in the 20 Ch. of his third Book there he sheweth how that when Iohn was come unto a certain City and among other things he having recreated the Brethren He beheld a young man of A goodly body gracious face fervent mind whom he Committed unto him that was Appointed chief over all the Bishops saying I Commend this young man unto thy Custody with an earnest desire as Christ and the Church can bear me witness so Iohn returned to Ephesus But in process of time this young man became very dissolute i. e. wanton loose or given to much vain pleasure and perniciously accompanyed himself with them of his own years that were idle dissolute and acquainted with ill behaviour First they brought him to sumptuous banquets next they guided him in the night to steal and to rob so after he forsook the right way he brought himselfe unto a bottomeless pit of all misorder and outrage And a rout of Thieves being gathered together he became a most violent Captain of Thieves wholly bent to slaughter and murther and extreame cruelty In the mean while necessity so constraining the Bishop sent for Iohn he when he had ended and finished the cause of his coming Go to saith he O Bishop restore unto us thy charge which I and Christ have committed unto thy Custody the Church whereof thou art head bearing witness The Bishop at the first was Amazed supposing some deceit to be wrought touching money which he had not received yet was he not able to Answer them for that he had it not But when Iohn had said I require the young man and the Soul of our Brother then the Elder looking down with a heavy Countenance sobbing and sighing said he is dead To whom Iohn said How and by what kind of death he Answered he is dead to God for he is become wicked and pernicious and to be short a Thief for he keepeth this mountain together with his Associates the Apostle then rending his Garment and beating his head with sorrow said I have left a wise keeper of our Brothers Soul prepare me a horse and let me have a guide He hastened and rode in post being come unto the place appointed he is straight wayes taken of the thievish watch he neither fled nor resisted but exclaimed for this purpose came I hither said he bring me unto your Captain who in the mean time as he was Armed beheld him coming but as soon as he saw his face and knew it was Iohn he was stricken with shame and fled away The old man with might pursued him and cryed my Son why flyest thou from thy Father Unarmed and Old O Son tender my cause be not afraid as yet there remaineth hope of Salvation I will undertake for thee with Christ I will die for thee if need be as Christ did for us I will hazard my Soul for thine trust to me Christ sent me But he hearing this first stood still casting his Countenance to the Ground next shook of his Armour anon trembled for fear and wept bitterly He embraced the old man and coming unto him answered as well as he could for weeping So afterwards the Apostle brought him unto the Church again Concerning the Writing of the Gospel It is reported that Matthew and John were Constrained to write their Gospels for Matthew when he had Preached unto the Hebrews and passing unto other People wrote his Gospel in his Country Language supplying by Writing in his absence that which was desired in his presence When Mark and Luke had Published their Gospels John say they in all that space Preached without writing but at length was moved to write for this Cause It is reported that when the Books of the three Evangelists were much spread and coming unto Iohns hands he allowed of them and yielded of them
of God who am banished from God bewail him who is bereaved of the Holy Ghost bewail me that am thrust out of the Wedding-Chamber of Christ Bewail me who once was thought worthy the Kingdom of God but now altogether unworthy Bewail me that am abhorred of the Angels and severed from the Saints of God Bewail me for that I am condemned to eternal Punishments Bewail me for that I am here on Earth and now tormented with the Prick of Conscience And what shall I do I wot not being thus on every side beset with Misery If there be any Man that can I beseech him now to help me with his earnest Prayers and with his sorrowful Tears for now it behoveth me to shed infinite Tears for me great Sin Who knoweth whether the Lord will have mercy upon me whether he will pity my Fall whether he will tender my Person whether he will be moved with my Desolation whether he will have respect unto my Humility and encline his tender Compassion towards me who have no taste nor relish of him but am as the unsavoury Salt Now let the Elders mourn for that the Staff whereto they leaned is broken Now let the Young Men mourn for that their School-Master is fallen Now let the Virgins mourn for that the Advancer thereof is defiled Now let the Priests mourn for that their Patron i. e. a great Friend and Defender is shamefully fallen Now let all the Clergy i. e. Bishop Priests Deacons c. mourn for that their Priest is fallen from the Faith Wo is me that I sell so lewdly who is me that I fell most dangerously and cannot rise again Now all ye which behold my Wound tremble for fear and take heed that ye slumber not neither fall into the like Crime i. e. Fault or Offence but come jointly which have the same measure of Faith let us assemble together and rend our Hearts and provoke streams of Tears to gush out of the Temples of our Heads I mourn and am sorry from the Heart root O ye my Friends that ever I fell from aloft I have fallen and am bruised there is no Health in me Let the Angels lament over me because of this my dangerous Fall Let the Garlands and Crowns of the Saints lament over me for that I am severed from among their blessed Assemblies Let the Holy-Church lament over me for that I am ruinously decayed Let all the People lament over me for that I have my deaths Wound I was constrained of the Holy Bishops to break out into some Words of Exhortation and taking the Book of Psalms in my hand I prayed and opened and I lighted upon that Sentence the which I am ashamed to repeat yet compelled to pronounce Unto the ungodly said God Why dost thou preach my Laws and takest my Covenant in thy Mouth But bewail me and lament this my bitter Sorrow bewail me who am in like case with the reprobate Jews i. e. Cast-aways for that which was said unto them by the Prophet now soundeth alike in my Ears What shall I do that am thus beset with many Mischief Alas O Death why dost thou linger to wit that thou mayst spite and bear me malice O Satan what mischief hast thou wrought unto me How hast thou pierced my Breast with thy poisonous Dart Thinkest thou that my ruine will avail thee any thing at all thinkest thou to procure unto thy self ease and rest while that I am grievously tormented Who is able to signifie unto me whether my Sins be wiped and done away whether that I have escaped the Pains which greatly I feared Who is able to signifie to me whether again I shall be coupled and made a Companion of the Saints Alas O the Bosom of the Father which I am deprived of Alas that I became Partaker with the rich Man of his Condemnation in the horrible Pit and partner of his Thirst in the bitter place full of sorrow and heaviness why hast thou broke down my hedge and strong hold The wild Boar out of the Wood hath destroyed me and the wild Beast of the field hath eaten me up rid me O Lord from the roaring Lion The whole Assembly of Saints do make intercession unto thee for me which am an unprofitable Servant have me O Lord out of the mouth of the ravenous Wolf and suffer me not to become the Sacrifice of Sin but let down upon me thy Holy Spirit that with his fiery Countenance he might put to flight the crooked Fiend of the Devil that I may be brought home again unto thy Bosom that the Bill of Sin written against me may be blotted out that my Lamentation may cease in the Evening and receive Joy in the Morning Let my Sack-cloth be rent asunder and gird me with Joy and Gladness let me be received again into the Joy of my God let me be thought worthy of his Kingdom through the Prayers and Intercession of the Saints through the earnest Petition of the Church which sorroweth over me and humbleth her self unto Jesus Christ to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all Glory and Honour for ever Amen Dionysius professed that he was profited by reading the Books of the Heretick Dionysius writeth thus unto Philemon a Roman Minister I have read over the Traditions and Commentaries i. e. Registers or Records of He eticks not infecting my mind with their impure cogitations i. e. unclean thoughts or thinkings buâ—… profiting my self so much thereby that I reprehend i. e. reprove them with my self and detest i. e. abhor them utterly And when I was brotherly and charitably forbidden by a â—…ertain Minister who feared lest I should wallow in the Puddle of their Maliciour writings whereby my Soul might perish who as I thought said the truth a certain Vision came to me from Heaven above plainly commanding and saying Read all whatsoever cometh into thy hands for thou shalt be able to weigh to prove and try all and by this means at the first thou came unto the Faith Concerning Valerianus the Emperour We have to consider how that above all his Predecessors i. e. those that were in Place or Office before he was disposed at the first gentle before all the men of God meek friendly-minded for there was none of all the Emperours so Courteous and Friendly affected towards them no not they which openly were accounted Christians He at the first embraced our men most Familiarly most Lovingly and that openly so that his Place was replenished with professors of the Faith and accounted for the Church of God Yet afterwards he became so exceeding Cruel and Wicked that he brought to pass Impure Ceremonies i. e. unclean Rites or Customs execrable i. e. Herrible or Wicked Enchantments and abominable Sacrifices He made a Slaughter of miserable Children He Sacrificed the Sons of Unfortunate i. e. unhapy Parents he searched the Bowells of newly born Babes spoyling asunder the shaped Creatures of God as if by such
will lead a Life agreeable to the Gospel I being of late at Ancira in Galatia found the Church through Pontus not with Prophets as they call them but rather as it shall be proproved with Falâ—…e Prophets where through the Lord as much as in me lay I disputed in the Chuhch the space of many Days against them and their several Objections so that the Church rejoiced and was thereby confirmed in the Truth but the contrary Part yet repined and the Gainsayers were very sorrowful It is written of Montanus that he was puffed up with an immoderate Desire of Primacy i. e. Chief Authority opened a Gap for the Adversary to enter into him and being mad and estranged suddenly and bereft of his Wits waxed furious and published strange Doctrine contrary to the Tradition and ancient Custom of ancient Succession now received under the Name of Prophecy they which then were Auditors of this unlawful Preaching some chastised and checked him for a Lunatick i. e. one possed with Lunacy who at certain times of the Moon is distracted in his Wits and one that was possessed with the Spirit of Errours and forbad him to Preach being mindful of the Forewarnings and Threatnings of our Saviour tending to this end that we should take diligent heed of False Prophets Others waxed insolent i. e. proud and boasted and bragged of him not a little as if he had been endued with the Holy Ghost and Gift of Prophecy so that through disobedient Persons he came to be more honoured than his Merit did require And two Women being possessed of a foul Spirit spoke fond foolish and fantastical things even as he had before and they gloried and rejoiced in that Spirit which pronounced them happy and puffed them up with infinite fair Promises yet sometimes by Signs and Tokens he rebuked them to their faces so that he seemed a chastising Spirit There were few of the Phrygians seduced notwithstanding that bold and blind Spirit instructed them to blaspheme and revile generally every Church under Heaven because they neither did Homage i. e. a servile Ceremony of some Tenants which by Duty they owe to their Lords neither courteously received among them that false Spirit of Prophecy Those things he wrote in his first Book and in his second Book he writeth thus of their Ends These say they are the Prophets which the Lord promised to send his People Let them answer me I charge them in the Name of the Living God O ye Good People Is there any of the Sect of Montanus and these Women which have been persecuted by the Jews or put to death by any Tyrant Not one of them bearing the Name was either apprehended or crucified neither was their any Woman of them in the Synagogues of the Jews either scourged or stoned at all but Montanus and Maximilla are said to die ' another kind of Death Moreover when the Bishops went about to rebuke the Spirit which spoke in Maximilla they were hindred by others that wrought by the same Spirit saying Let not the Spirit of Maximilla say I am chased as a Wolf from the Sheep I am no Wolf I am the Word the Spirit and Power but let him manifestly express the power by the Spirit and prevail Apollonius against the Montanists He wrote in this manner saying But what kind of New Doctrine this is his Works and Doctrine do declare This is he which taught the breaking of Wedlock i. e. Marriage this is he which prescribed Laws of Fasting This is he which called Pâ—…puza and Tymium pelting Parishes of Phrygia Jerusalem to the end he might entice all Men from every where to frequent thither This is he which first ordained Tollgatherers and Taxers of Money this is he which under pretence and colour of Oblations hath cunningly invented the Art of Bribing this is he who giveth great hire unto the Preachers of his Doctrine that by feeding of the Paunch his Prophecies may prevail Moreover he addeth saying Doth not the whole Scripture forbid that a Prophet should receive Rewards and Money When I see a Prophetess receive gold and silver and goodly Garments how can I chuse but detest her Again of another he saith And besides these Themison also inflamed with the burning Thirst of Covetousness tasted not of the tart Cognisance of Confession before the Tyrant but shuffled himself out of Fetters with much Money And whenas therefore he should have humbled himself yet he all in bragery as if he were a Martyr i. e. one that died for Righteousness sake after the example of the Apostle wrote a Catholick i. e. Universal or General Epistle very presumptuously to instruct them which believed better than himself and to exhort them to strive with him for this New Doctrine and to revile the Lord and his Apostles and his holy Church Again speaking of one of their highly esteemed Martyrs he writes in this sort And that we trouble not our selves with many let the Prophetess tell us touching Alexander who called himself a Martyr with whom she hath banqueted whom also many do adore i. e. worship whose Thefts and other heinous Crimes which he suffered for I will not presently rehearse for they are publickly known and registred Whose Sins hath he pardoned Whether doth a Prophet yield theft unto a Martyr or a Martyr an immoderate Desire of gathering unto a Prophet For as when Christ commanded You shall not possess Gold neither Silver neither two Goats these on the contrary seek after the Possession of unlawful Substance for they whom they call Prophets and Martyrs have extorted Money i. e. wrested it from people per force not only of the Rich but of the Poor the Fatherless and Widows But if they plead innocency let them stay and join with us in the issue in the matter upon this condition that if they be overthrown at leastwise from henceforth they will cease to commit the like Sin again The Fruits of the Prophets are to be tried the Tree is to be known by its Fruit. And that the case of Alexander may be known of such as desire it he was condemned at Ephesus by Aemilius Frontinus not for his Profession but for his presumptuous and bold enterprised Theft being a lewd Person And then with a false pretence of Christian Profession seducing the faithful of that place he was pardoned and set at liberty Again in another place he writeth of their Prophets thus If they deny their Prophets to have been Bribers let them affirm it conditionally that if it be proved they be no longer Prophets For all the Works of a Prophet are necessarily to be proved Tell me I beseech ye Is it seemly for a Prophet to painthimself in Colours Is it seemly for a Prophet to smooth himself with the white glittering Stibiâ—… i. e. A certain Stone which maketh the Skin look very fair when it is rubbed with it Is it seemly for a Prophet to pinch and gingerly to
set forth himself Is it seemly for a Prophet to Dice and Cards Is it seemly for a Prophet to be a Usurer Let them answer me Of Apollonius's Apology before the Senate Apollonius who was said to be a Christian Philosopher i. e. a Lover of Wisdom and Learning was brought before the Tribunal i. e. Judgment-Seat at Rome and being earnestly intreated of the Judge to render an account of his Faith before the Noble Senate i. e. the Council he exhibited i. e. gave or presented in the presence of them all a notable Apology i. e. Defence or Speech of his Faith in which he suffered Martyrdom i. e. a suffering of grievous torment unto death for constant perseverance in true Religion For the antient Deeree was of Force and prevailed among them that the Christians which were once presented before the Tribunal-Seat and not revoked i. e. called back again their Opinions should no more be set a liberty A Controversie among the Bistops about celebrating Easter Immediately upon this Victor Bishop of Rome goeth about to sever from the unity in the Communion all the Churches of Asia together with the adjoining Congregations as savouring not aright and inveighing i. e. speaks bitterly against them in his Epistles and pronounceth flatly all the Brethren there for excommunicated Persons But this not pleasing all the Bishops they exhorted him to seek after those things which concerned Peace and Unity and Love between Brethren And one amongst the rest wrote to him saying Neither is this Controversie only of the Day but also of the kind or manner of fasting some think they ought to fast one Day some two some forty and telling the Hours throughout day and night they count a day Moreover he added how that they that were Bishops before Soter of the See which thou governest neither did so observe it themselves neither left they any such Commandment unto their Posterity and yet they though not observing the same Custom were at unity with them which resorted to them from other Churches and did observe the same although their Observation was contrary to the Minds of such as observed it not The Sixth BOOK OF EUSEBIUS Concerning Origen THis Origen when he was yet young bear in his Mind fervent desire of Martyrdom He exhorted his Father not to Faint when he was in close Prison He was of a Child trained up in the Holy Scriptures and he contented not himself with the bare and casual i. e. that which happened by chance or uncertain reading of the Words but sought farther searching the perfect profound understanding thereof When his Father died a Martyr he was left an Orphan i. e. one that wanteth Father or Mother of the years of seventeen He was also afterwards received of a certain Matron i. e. a grave Motherly Woman who was very rich and also Religious He was one that detested the Doctrine of Hereticks He purchased unto himself a Famous Opinion among the Faithful in that he cheerfully embraced in the heat of Persecution all the Martyrs not only of his Acquaintance but such as were unto him unknown He visited not only such as were fettered in deep Dungeons and close Imprisonment neither only such as looked for the last Sentence of Execution but after Judgment given and Sentence pronounced He was present with the Martyrs boldly accompanying them to the place of execution putting himself in great peril oftentimes boldly embracing them so that once the furious Rage of the fond Multitude of the Gentiles i. e. such as did not profess the Faith of Christ or Heathen had stoned him to death if the divine power of God had not marvelously delivered him Souldiers were commanded to watch about his House because of the multitude that came to be instructed of him in the Christian Faith It is said of him that as he taught so he lived that as he lived so he taught When he perceived many Disciples to frequent unto him and that the Charge of the School was now by Demetrius the Bishop committed unto him alone he supposed the reading of Humanity i. e. Courtesie or Pleasant Manners to be out of Season and transformed the School as altogether â—…nprofitable by reason of prophane Literature to the exercise of godly Discipline i. e. Instruction After good advice taken for necessary Provision he sold the prophane Writers which he had diligently perused and laid by him enjoing the Buyer â—…ay by day four half penny of the set Price wherewith he contented himself Of the Martyrdom of Potamaiaena a Virgin Marcella her Mother and Basilides a Souldier It is said that Potamaiaena for the Chastity of her Body and Purity of Mind strove very stoutly with her Lovers and that after she had suffered very much for the Faith of Christ with her Mother Marcella she was burnt with fire and consumed to ashes after Sentence pronounced Potamaiaena was taken and led to Basilidos a Souldier of Authority among the Host to execution And when the Multitude molested her fore spitefully handling her with opprobrious i. e. reproâ—…chful Terms Basilides repressed and rebuked their raging Speeches pitying her very much and practising great Courtesie towards her And on the other side she approved and acknowledged his courteous Dealings towards her and bade him be of Good Cheer c. When she had done speaking to him Pitch scalding hot was poured by little and little over all her Body and such was the suffering that this Worthy Virgin sustained But not long after Basilides being required by his Fellow-Souldiers to swoar for some occasion or other he refused and said That it did not become him or it was nâ—…t lawful for him to swear for hâ—… was a Christian. At the first he was thought to dally but when he constantly a vouched it i. e. affirmed it boldly he was brought before the Judge and there confessing the same was clapt in Prison afterwards he was beheaded and suffered Martyrdom Clemens Bishop of Alexandria of the Canonical Scripture The Epistle unto the Hebrews he affirmeth to be Paul's for undoubted and therefore written in the Hebrew Tongues for the Hebrews sakes but faithfully translated by Luke and preached unto the Gentiles It is not to be misliked at all saith he that Paul an Apostle is not prefixed to this Epistle for saith he writing unto the Hebrews because of the ill Opinion they conceived of him very wisely concealed his Name lest that at first he should dismay them i. e. astonish them Afterwards of the Order of the Evangelists according unto the Tradition of the Elders he writeth thus The Gospels which contain the Genealogies i. e. a description of Stocks Lineages or Pedigrees are placed and counted first The Gospel after Mark was written upon this occasion When Peter preached openly at Rome and published the Gospel by rote many of the Auditors intreated Mark being the Hearer and Follower of the Apostle a long while
ready to shrink so strugled that they were ready to burst within themselves they nodded with their Countenance and beckned with their Hands exhorting them to Constancy with many signs and gestures of the Body the which when the Multitude in compass had perceived before that any laid hands on them preventing their doings they stept forth before the Bar and proclaimed themselves to be Christians so that the President and his Assistants were amazed and the Christians upon whom the Sentence had past were thereby emboldened to suffer and the Judges marvellously afraid These therefore departed from the Tribunal i. e. Judgment seat cheerfully and rejoyced in the testimony of their Faith God gloriously triumphing in them Ischyrion martyred by his Master Many others saith Dionysius throughout the Cities and Villages were quartered and dismembred by the Ethnicks i. e. Heathens whereof for example sake I will rehearse one Isohrion being a Noble-man's hired Servant and by Office his Stoward was commanded by his Master to do Sacrifice and when he obeyed not he was contumeliously i. e. reproachfully reviled The Heathen Master seeing his Christian Servant so constant pâ—…rsisting in his former Opinions taketh a great Cudgel in his hand and beat his Body and Bowels till Breath departed What shall I say of the multitude of them which wander in the desart and waste mountains consumed with Famine and Hunger and Cold and Diseases spoiled by Thieves and devoured by Beasts whose Blessedness and Victories they that remain alive are able to testifie These things Brother I write not in vain but that thou mayest understand what and how great Evils and Mischiefs have happened among us whereof they know more which among all others have felt most Of Novatus his Heresie and Impiety There was a certain Priest of Rome that was puffed up with Pride became himself the Author and Ringleader of his own Heretical Sect to wit of such as through their swelling Pride did call themselves Kathrous i. e. Puritans whereof there was a Synod i. e. a General or Universal Assembly gathered together at Rome of threescore Bishops besides many Ministers and Deacons And it was decreed that Novatus together with such as swelled and consented unto his unnatural Opinion repugnant i. e. disagreeing or contrary to brotherly Love should be excommunicated and banished the Church c. It is said that this Novatus longed of old after a Bishoprick and to the end he might conceal his own peevish Desire he used the Cloak of Arrogancy i. e. Pride or Loftiness who chose two men of a desperate Condition to be partakers of his Heresie These being simple men not knowing their crafty and malicious Fetches they were unclosed by such lewd Persons as were suborned i. e. were brought in for false Witnesses for the purpose and aâ—…ut ten a Clock when they were somewhat tipsie i. e. wanton or somewhat drunk with Wine and well crammed with Victuals were constrained to create him Bishop with imaginative or devised and frivolous i. e. vain laying on of Hands the which craftily and subtilly not compatible for his Person he challenged unto himself It is said of him that he being loth to die and desirous of Life in the time of Persecution denied himself to be a Priest And when he was intreated by the Deacons and admonished to come forth of the house wherein he had enclosed himself and to minister unto the necessity of the Brethren which wanted he was so far from yielding to the Deacons that he went away and departed in a Chafe saying That he would playno longer the Priest but addict himself unto another Trade of Phylosophy It is said of him that when he distributed the Oblation to People that he caused them to swear unto him By the Body and Blood of our Lord Iesus Christ that they would never forsake him An Epistle of Dionysius Bishop of Alexandria unto Novatus Dionysius unto the Brother Novatus sendeth greeting If thou wast constrained against thy will as thou saist thou wilt declare the same if thou return willingly Thou shouldst have suffered rather any thing than to have rent asunder the Church of God neither is this Martyrdom which is suffered for not severing and dividing the Church of less Glory than that which is tolerated i. e. suffered for denial of Sacrifice unto Devils yea in Iudgment it is of far greater Glory For in the one Martyrdom is suffered for one Soul in the other for the Universal Church i. e. the Church in general or the whole Church For if thou either perswade the Brethren or constrain them to return to Unity this notable Act will be far greater than the Fault that went before and the one will be imputed i. e. laid to his charge the other will be commended If thou canst not perswade the rebellious and disobedient save at leastwise thy own Soul I desire thy Health in the Lord and thy embracing Peace and Unity The Seventh BOOK OF EUSEBIUS Concerning Origen ORigen is said to have suffered much affliction for Christ's sake being famous eloquent trained in the Church even from his Youth up but through Envy he was brought before the Rulers and Magistrates and through the despiteful subtilty and crafty Invention of Satan he was brought into great slander and blemish of Infamy They say that the Authors of Iniquity devised that a Man should work the feat that is they prepared an Ethiopian or foul Black-moor beastly to abuse his Body but he not being willing to away with neither willing to hear of so horrible an Act brake out into loud Speeches and exclaimed at both the things which were given him in choice Rather than the one he would do the other The Choice was That either a Black-moor should play the Sodomite with him or he himself should sacrifice unto Idols And in the end he consented to Sacrifice whereof when they had put Frankincense crifice in his hand they threw it into the Fire upon the Altar By this means he was by the Judge put from Martyrdom and also banished the Church After that he was intreated by the Priests of Jerusalem to bestow a Sermon upon the People in the Church after great intreaty and in a manner constrained by the Priests he rose up took the Bible opened it and happened upon this Parcel of Scripture Unto the ungodly said God Why dost thou preach my Laws and takest my Covenant in thy mouth When he had thus read he clasped the Book sate down and burst out into Tears together with all the Audience i. e. the Assembly of People which wept with him He lived till he was Threescore and nine Years old And after his Fall he wrote his Lamentation out of which I have drawn this following Extract O ye Saints and Blessed of God with waterish Eyes and wet Cheeks soaked in Dâ—…lour i. e. Sorrow and Pain I beseech you to fall down before the Mercy-seat of God for me miserable Sinner Wo is
Martyrdom The cause was this There is a certain Dignity among the Romans called the Centurions Vine the which whosoever doth obtain is called a Centurion i. e. a Captain of a hundred when the Room was void the Company called Marinus to this Degree and he being preferred another came before the Tribunal or Judgmen-seat and accused him affirming that it was not lawful by the antient Laws for him to enjoy that Roman Dignity because he was a Christian and sacrificed not unto the Emperor and that it was his turn next to come in place The Judge being very much moved with this first demanded what Opinion Marinus was of and when he saw him constantly confessing himself to be a Christian he granted him three Hours space to deliberate i. e. advise or consider This being done Theoteâ—…nus Bishop of Caesarea took Marinus in hand with Exhortations and shewed him the Sword that hung by his side and pulled out of his Pocket the New Testament and set it over against the Sword and bade him chuse whether of these two he preferred or liked best for the health of his Soul when he immediately stretching out his Hand had taken up the Book of Holy Scriptures Hold fast then saith Theoteâ—…nus unto him cleave unto God and thou shalt enjoy the things thou hast chosen being strengthned by him and get in peace After he had returned thence the Crier lifted up his Voice and called him to appear at the Barr the time granted for deliberation being now ended Standing therefore at the Barr he gave Tokens of the noble Courage of his Faith wherefore in a while after as he was led he had the Sentence of Condemnation and was beheaded Several Bishops wrote unto Dionysius Bishop of Rome and to others concerning Paulus Samosatenus who was rejected as a Heretick by them They say that neither by Art Trade or Exercise he attained unto the abundance of Wealth he enjoyed but with lewd Acts and Sacriledge i. e. robbing of a Church or stealing of holy things by injurious or wrongful and tyrannical oppressing of the Brethren whom he made to tremble for fear with his guileful gain and wily promise of hired Patronship i. e. defence or protection by which subtilty and deceit he gained so much that Procured the Givers to be liberal to the end they might be delivered from their Adversaries and so he turned Godliness into Gain Neither need we declare how that he being puffed up with Pride usurped secular Dâ—…gnities i. e. took into his use contrary to right worldly Honours and would rather be called a warlike Captain than a Bishop of the Church walking stately through the Streets and Market-place reading Letters and withal openly inditing maintaining about him a great troop to guard his Person some going before and some coming after so that our Faith and Religion ran to great spight slander and hatred by reason of his swelling Pride and haughty Disdain Neither will we rehearse the monstrous Figments i. e. Lyes which he feigned his glorious Brags the uglisome Spectacles i. e. horrible Sights he devised to amaze the minds of the simple sort He made for himself a lofty Seat and high Throne not like the Disciple of Christ but severed in shew and title after the manner of the Princes of the World smiting the thigh with the hand pouncing the foot-stool with his Feet If any extolled him not as the use is upon Theaters i. e. places where People sit to behold solemn Games or Plays with clapping of their Hands with shouting and hurling of their Caps if any also both of Men and Women had not skipped to and fro with busie-bodies and undescent obeisance i. e. uncomely Obedience by bowing the knee if any as in the House of God had behaved themselves honestly and decently i. e. comely or handsomely the same he checked and all to be reviled He licensed the Bishops and Ministers of the adjoining Villages and Cities which honoured him to preach unto the People the Elders and Deacons which accompany with him know his Wickedness but dare not accuse him insomuch as they themselves are guilty of the same Crimes for he enricheth them wherefore he is both beloved and honoured of them that gape after the like Gudgeons i. e. Gift or Reward We know beloved Brethren that a Bishop and the whole Order of Priesthood ought to be a Patern of Good Works unto the common People neither are we ignorant of this that many are fallen by reason of the closely kept Women and many again are subject to suspicion and slander The Eighth BOOK OF EUSEBIUS Concerning the Peace and prosperous Success of the Christian Affairs and Calamity which followed after THE Clemency or Mercy of the Emperors was so increased towards the Christians that they committed the Government of the Gentiles to them And for the great Favour they bore to our Doctrine saith Eusebius they granted Liberty and Security to the Professors of Christian Religion What shall I say of them who in the very Palace of the Emperours and in the presence of Princes lived most familiarly Yea the Bishops of all Churches came to be in great Reverence and Favour among all sorts of Men and with all Magistrates who can worthily describe those innumerable Heaps flocking Multitudes throughout all Cities and Famous Assemblies frequenting the Places dedicated or appointed unto Prayer because of which Circumstances they not contented with the old and antient Buildings which could not receive them have throughout all Cities Builded them from the Foundation wide and ample Churches But then after that our Affairs through too much liberty ease and security degenerated i. e. turned out of kind from the natural Rule of Piety and after that one pursued another with open contumely i. e. disgrace or reproach and hatred and when that we impugned i. e. resisted or assaulted our selves by no other than our selves with the Armour of Spite 2nd sharp Spears of opprobrious i. e. reproachful Words so that Bishops against Bishops and People against People raised Sedition i. e. discord or strife Last of all when that cursed Hypocrisie and Dissimulation had swom even to the brim of Malice the heavy hand of Gods high Iudgment after his wonted mannâ—…r whilst as yet the Ecclesiastical Companies i. e. them of or such as belonged to the Church assembled themselves nevertheless began softly by little and little to visit us so that the Persecution that was raised against us took its first original i. e. first beginning from the Brethren which were under Banner in Camp whenas we were touched with no Sense or Feeling thereof neither went about to pacifice God we heaped Sin upon Sin thinking like careless Epicures i. e. such as are given to excess in Gluttony that God neither cared nor would visit our Sins And they which seemed our Shepherds laying aside the Rule of Piety practised Contention and Schism among themselves i. e. division in matters of Religion
were Executed lib. 2. c. 23. The Accusers were so well to appear at the Bar as the accused Mark what justice and Eqtity lib. 4. c. 13. The desire of the Christians The Christians were not to be Molested nor Accused l. 4. 6. 15. 〈◊〉 15. A warning to forward Spirits A Temptation and Provocation Polycarpus was provoked to lye and swear but would do neither Nota. Lib. 4. ch 16. T is folly to speak evil of that one knrweth not Lib. 4. ch 17. Christiani ty brought Chastity Impatiency Wisdom Submission Truth giveth boldness Nota. Lucius's godly zeal against Injustice Lib. 4. ch 18. The Jews Spite against Christianity which was accounted Heresie Prophecy then not ceased Lib. 4. ch 21. Hereticks False Christs and false Prophets were entered then too among the Christians Many sects among the Iews Lib. 4. ch 22. The Christians relieved the Brethren Some corrupted the Scriptures Lib. 4. Chap. 25. The Christians were made a prey upon yet innocent Nota. lib. 4. ch 27. Lib. 5. Chap. 1. The Epistle of the Frenchmen unto the Churces of Asia and Phrygia Extraordinary Sufferings Of the Love that was among the suffering Christians Slanders falsty raised against the Christians Their familiar acquaintance were offended at them Cruel torment A wonderful thing if true The Saints cast into dark and deep Dungeons They were comforted of the Lord when destitute of mans Aid Recantation availed not The difference betwixt the faithful unfaithful Terrible cruelty A sâ—…d time The Christian Martyrs would not swear The Martyrs were not be buried The Christians upbraided Christian Religion termed new and strange Chap 3. The Spirits of the Christians were subject one to another Ch. 8. Of the Evangelists Concerning the Scriptures Chap. 14. False Prophets were entered A deceitful Spirit Saints did no homage False Prophets are not persecuted to death First Inventer of Bribes Gives hire to the preachers of his doctrine Bribes becometh not prophets False prophets covetous Note Chap. 19. A cruel Law against the Christianâ—… Chap. 23. A division among the Christians when they apostatized Their Opinions concerning fasting Chap. 2. Nota. Origen sold his Philosophy books Chap. 4. Basilides compassion Basilides would not swear Chap. 13. Note why Mark wrote Why Iohn wrote Chap. 19. Demetrius answered Chap. 40. A Martyr stoned Heathen Cruelty Proclamation a-against Christians A young Sufferer Souldiers compassion Chap. 41. Souldiers Zeal Chap. 42. Ch. 44. Chap. 1. Twotkings put to his choice His Fall Psal. 50. He was guilty The Serpent's subtilty It is sasd Origen gelded himself Chap. 9. Chap. 6. Cruel inhumanity Nota. Chap. 7. Dionysius and others banished Heathens converted Chap. 7. Christians Sufferings Nota. Chap. 2. The Emperors Edict Chap. 13. Chap. 19. Who licensed Bishops c. to preach Chap. 1. Christians honoured Note Chap. 3. Cruel Proclamation Chap. 6. Prisons filled with Christians Chap. 14. Note Chap. 15. Ch 16 17 18. Judgment on a Tyrant Chap. 22. Chap. 1. Chap. 27. A new Persecution Sacrifised young and old Cruelty to Heathenâ—… Courage of the Christians Chap. 2. Chap. 2. An Edict in behalf of the Christians Liberty granted A Judgment upon this Persecution Liberty of conscience granted A Synod called Chap. 6. Chap. 7. Chap. 8. Gen. 6. 5. 12 13. Gen. 37. Exod. 1. 12 14. Ier. 37. John 18. 31. Acts 24. Acts 6. Acts 8. Acts 13. 50. Chap. 14. Chap. 17. Who are Christians Psal. 51. 16 17. Who are Antichristians Tit. 1. 16. Baron 66 num 1. Origen Lib. 13. Christians now vilified as formerly Baron An. 164. Num. 2. Euseb. l. 4. c. 16. Christians noâ—… are in the same mind as formerly Baron An. 100. Num 2. Tertul. 30. pag. 127. The antient Christians would not go to any Ceremonies Heathnish inventions Euseb. l. 6. ch 4. The Heathens pleasures were not the Christians The Honour of the Gods decayed How some fell from the Faith in the time of Tryal Tertul. Apol. pa. 19. Prisons fill'd with Christians Socra 1. l. ch 2. How evils crep in amongst the Chrstians Luke 18. 8. Socrat. l. 3 c. 2. thap 11. chap. 12 How the Wickedness of Officers was Tollerated How the Priests help themselves with the Quirks of Logick Socrat. li. 1. c. 5. Christ nor his Apostles the Author of Logick Socra Lib. 1. Ch. 3. A porsecuting Bishop set up The Christians defend not themselves The calamity of the Faithful Socra lib. 4. ch 19. The cruelty of false Christians The Emperobrs Hipocrysie Socra lib. 4. ch 29. Ruffin lib. 11. ch 8. The courage of a Woman Bar. An. 1050. Num. 1. Bar. An. 1116. Num. 6. Bar. An. 1145. Num. 3. Anno. 1148. Num. 11. The Popes Cruelty Bar. An. 11 78. Num. 3 4. How the false Christians behaved themselves after they had got the power in their hands Acts 21. 28. A cruel Preelamation of the Emperours Calvin's Apostasie How Luther and his Adherents were reviled And what Spirit they were of Protestants degeneration Acts 15. Acts 21. Synop. D D. Acad Lâ—…id Disp. 49. Thes. 70. 71. Nota. 'T is the Lord's work to Establish his people in peace and not the work of Synods Good advise for England Tertull. Parallel Tertull. Nota. Parallel Tertull Parallel Tertull. Parallel Tertull. Parallel Tertull. Parallel Tertull. Parallel Pertull Parallel Nota. Tertull. Parallel Tertull. Parallel Tertull. Parallel Tertull. Parallel Tertull. Parallel Tertull. Parallel The name Quaker now the object of hatred as the name Christian hath been Tertull. Nota. Parallel Tertull. Parallel The name of a Christian procured hatred as the name of a Quaker doth now Tertull. Note Parallel Tertull. Parallel Tertull. Parallel Tertull. Note Parallel Tertull. What order there was among the Christians concerning their Collections Parallel How gifts alure Priests to Preach Tertull. Parallel Matth. 11. 21.