and his confidence of them he returned to Alexandria where he was received with most willing mind by them who held Is received by them of the Nicene Creed the Nicene Decrees but those who were otherwise disposed with Arius rose what flame they could and contention in the City The others raise stir and accuse him again Upon which the Emperor drove him out of Alexandria and accused him of having setled himself into the Church without the general consent of the Assembly of the Bishops which so incensed the Emperor that he drove him out of Alexandria Thus the fire of Contention grew hot and the Separation wonderful Cap. 3. The contention encreaseth which increased still as opportunity presented it self and occasion to minister thereunto Constantine the Younger and Brother to Constantius invading Constantine the younger invading by force certain Countries under Constans his younger Brothers Jurisdiction is slain by force certain Countries under his younger Brother Constans and fighting hand to hand with the Souldiers was slain and Alexander Bishop of Constantinople died also at the age of fourscore and Alexander Bishop of Constantinople 98 years old Great contests for a Successor eighteen years about a Successor unto whom there was great contestion Those inclined to Arius whilst Alexander lived inclined to Macedonius those on the other hand that held the clause of one Substance would have Paulus whom Alexander commended before his death so the contest was great but Paulus Paulus is Elected carried the Election in the end Constantius shortly after coming to Constantinople displaceth Cap. 5. Constantius displaces Paulus and puts in Eusebius Cap. 6. A Synod is called at Antioch to make an end of Athanasius Cap. 7. Several Bishops come not there Paulus and places Eusebius of Nicomedia in his room but not content therewith Eusebius procures of Constantius a Synod to be called at Antioch on purpose to have his ends on Athanasius and to overthrow as the Historian tearms it and subvert the Faith of one Substance which as they could they endeavoured unto which Synod Maximus Bishop of Jerusalem would not come lest he should be constrained to subscribe unto the deposition of Athanasius Neither did Julius Bishop of Rome come thither or send any Substitutes The Canon Ecclesiastical forbidding any constitution to be thrust into the Church without the censure of the Bishop of Rome Nevertheless before a Council of fourscore Yet before ninty Bish Athansius is accused and is put by Alexandria and ten Bishops Athanasius is accused with rushing into the Church upon his own head after his return from exile That at his return when the Tumult and Schism was raised many were slain moreover that he caused some to be scourged others to hold up their hands at the Bar. Athanasius being put by Alexandria and Gregorius a favourer Cap. 6. The Synod ends herewith and placing Gregory in his room and a new Creed being Cap. 7. made and sent to the Churches Cap. 8. Gregory attempts his Investure with a Captain and 5000. Souldiers and the Arians The Church so called is besieged by the Captain Sirianus of Arius being appointed in his room and a new Creed placed in wary and equivocal tearms being consented unto somewhat different from another which at first at Antioch they had concluded and sent unto the Churches the Synod hath an end And Gregorius attempts his investiture into Alexandria with five thousand Souldiers under Sirianus the Captain whom also to aid came the Arians so called in the City so the matter was made formidable the Captain drew his Souldiers in Battle array about the Church as the History calls it where Athanasius was and the People for it was Even-tide and the People spent the whole night in Vigils for there was a Communion to be he saith the next day Athanasius seeing how things were that he Athanasius by a wile gets out thereof and escapes might preserve the people and save himself set his Deacon to read the Collects unto the People he bids them sing a Psalm when the Psalm was sweetly and harmoniously sung saith the History all the People went forth at the Church Poarches the Souldiers keeping quiet and Athanasius through the midst of Gets to Rome the singers got safe away and hastned to Rome Then Georgorius took possession of that Church but the Citizens not brooking The Citizens fire the Church called Saint Dennis those things set the place called Saint Dennis Church on fire During these times of trouble among the Christians the Affairs The State disturbed The French invade the Empire Great Earthquakes in the East at Antioch where these things were done for a years space of the Common Wealth as it usually fareth grew troublesome The French invaded the Roman Borders then also there were great Earthquakes in the East but especially at Antioch where these things were done where the Earth was moved and shaken for the space of one whole year Eusebius having effected his purpose in displacing Athanasius Cap. 9. Eusebius sends to Julius Bishop of Rome to give definitive Sentence against Athanasius Eusebius dies presently after the end of the Council and saw it not Paulus is made Bishop again by the people Macedonius by his Colleagues viz. several Bishops and setling Gregory that he might yet seem to be wary in his undertaking sends a Legate to Julius at Rome to give definitive Sentence in the cause of Athanasius but the Sentence of Julius Eusebius never saw for immediately after the Council brake up breath departed Eusebius Body and so he died Eusebius being dead the People at Constantinople bring Paulus to be their Bishop Those appertaining to Arius chose Macedonius the same persons wrought it as were Eusebius his Colleagues who were able to do something at that time viz. Theoguis Bishop of Nice Maris Bishop of Chalcedon Theodorus Bishop of Heraclea in Thracia Ursacius Bishop of Zingidon in the Higher Misia Valens Bishop of Nursa a City in the Higher Pannonia Two of which afterwards recanted but Ursacius and Valens repented them afterwards and writing a Recantation to Julius of Rome submitted to the cause of one Substance and the Communion of the Church These things producing civil Wars among themselves through Great mischiefs and bloodsheds the consequence the pretenders of Arius as the History renders it much mischief was the consequence there being said to be many and often skirmishes in that City thereabouts in which many were trodden under foot and crushed to death Constantius hearing of this while he abode at Antioch commanded Cap. 10. Constantius commands Hermogenes to displace Paulus The people are disquieted and rise Hermogenes that was taking his Journey into Thracia to take Constantinople in his way and to thrust Paulus out of his Church This gave great disquiet in the City they gathered themselves together and prepare to aid their Bishop whom Hermogenes came by force to
Slaughter and bloodshed the Arians means to climb into the Church Arrians used to climb by slaughter and murder to be Magistrates in the Church Athanasius also comes again to be accused but falsly saith the Athanasius is again accused History with turning the Corn or Grain which the Emperor had given for the relief of the poor within the Church of Alexandria unto his private commodity with which slanders the Emperor being informed threatned him with death he hearing thereof flies The Emperor threatens him with death he slies and hides Julius sends for him to Rome Certificates from the Eastern Bishops come to Julius that the crimes were false Julius writes back to the Bishops of Antioch his grief because of their Letters in reproof of his to them and reproves them for divers things The proceedings at Mereotis against Athanasius registred on the one side and not on the other Sabinus used the like in his collection of Councils whereby little judgement can be given to their writings away and hides in an obscure place Julius Bishop of Rome hearing thereof sends for him and willed him to come to Rome also at the same time he received Letters from the Council at Antioch and the Bishops of Egypt that all such crimes as Athanasius was charged with were meer false therefore he writes to the Bishops at Antioch what grief and heaviness he had conceived by their Letters how they had transgressed the Canon of the Church in not calling him to the Council insomuch that the Canon commandeth That no Decree be thrust upon the Church without the Censure of the Bishop of Rome Moreover that they had covertly corrupted the Faith Also that they had concluded by main force and double dealing such things as of late they had lewdly handled at Tyrus in that they of spight had procured the relations of one side only to be registred at Mareotes and that the forged Leasings of Arsenius were meer slanders and false reports The like did Sabinus use to do in his collection of Councils viz. put down what was on the contrary behalf of those who were for the clause of one Substance not what was written in the behalf thereof And this was the course and manner of proceedings among them Not long after Paulus leaving Thessalonica the place of his exile Paulus gets to Italy from his exil Cap. 14. He and Athanasius open there their cause to the Emperor feigned as if he would go to Corinth but went strait into Italy where he and Athanasius joyntly open their cause to the Emperor The Emperor whose Dominion was the West esteeming these injuries as his own adversity wrote unto his Brother requesting He writes to his Brother to send him three persons to signifie the causes of their deposition The Emperor sends them They refuse to reason with Athanasius Conceal the form of Faith decreed at Atioch Frame another give it to the Emperor depart Photinus his Heresie sprung up in Illirium three men to be sent him with the full cause of their deposition The Emperors Brother sends three but they would not reason with Athanasius but concealing the form of Faith decreed at Antioch these Bishops frame out another which they gave the Emperor which when they had done and shewed it to some others they took their leave and departed without further reasoning of any other matter Then a new Opinion sprang up at Syrmium a City of Illyrium by Photinus that governed the Churches there who was born in the Lesser Galatia and the Disciple of Marcellus who was deposed of his Bishoprick following his Masters steps affirmed That the Son of God was onely An account thereof Man Three years after the Bishops of the East summon again another Cap. 15. Another Council called by the Eastern Bishops and another form of Faith made and sent to the Western The Western refuse it and the causes why Council and frame another long form of Faith and send it to the Bishops in Italy by certain Bishops The Bishops of the West Churches would in no wise receive it partly because it was written in a strange Tongue therefore could not understand them They also said That the Nicene Creed was sufficient and that it was not for them curiously to search further The Emperor of the West having wrote again concerning Cap. 16. The Western Emperoâ— writes again for Paulus and Athanasius but to no purpose The Reasons why They two desire another Council to be called Paulus and Athanasius that they should be restored to their former Dignities to no purpose by reason of the civil dissention and discord not yet appeased among the Multitude Paulus and Athanasius desired That another Council might be called that their cases may be known the better and the Faith decided protesting that their deposition was wrought to the end that the Faith might be destroyed By commandment of both Emperors another Council is called Another Council is called by both the Emperors at Sardice Three hundred Bish of the West and 76. Bish of the East only meet The excuses of the absent at Sardis of the West Churches as saith Athanasius three hundred Bishops met and of the East as Sabinus reports only seventy and six the rest making excuses some infirmity of Body others short warning for which they blamed Julius Bishop of Rome when as there was a year and a halfs time between the Proclamation and the sitting of the Council which was the eleventh year after the death of Constantine the Father of the Emperors The Bishops of the East would not come to the Bishops of the The Eastern Bishops refuse to come to the Bish of the West unless they two were kept out The Western â—ot brooking it the Eastern depaâ—â— and meet at Philippi and cuâ—se the Creed of one Substance West unless they would bar Paulus and Athanasius their Company which the Bishops of the West not brooking the Eastern Bishops departed and at Philippi a City in Thracia they assembled a private contemning the clause of one Substance and in writing to sow abroad their Opinion That the Son of God was not of one Substance with the Father The Western Bishops that continued at Sardice first condemned The Western at Sardice condemned them Depose the Accusers of Athanasius ratifie the Nicene Creed abrogate the other them which fled from the hearing of their Cause next deposed from their Dignities the accusers of Athanasius afterwards ratified the Creed of the Nicene Council and abrogated the Heretical Opinion as they called it which said That the Son was Send Letters to the Churches of what they had done as did the other throughout the World of a different Substance from the Father Lastly They set forth more plainly the clause of one Substance and wrote Letters thereof and sent them throughout the whole world Both sides were pleased with their own doings and every one Each pleased themselves with what each had done
learned before neither to receive the Faith we have not received before but to walk in the Faith of our Forefathers and not fall from the same unto our lives end But a man may here reply and say thus saith the Historian O Eleusius The Historians return upon Eleusius How calledst thou such as assembled at Antioch Fathers and yet denyest their Ancestors to be Fathers For the Bishops of Nice and the establishers of one Substance ought more properly to be called Fathers partly for that they were more antient and partly also because the Bishops at Antioch were found to be such as cut their Fathers throats these men of their Progeny without good advisement do tread the steps of Murderers And how I beseech you saith he do they allow of their electing and laying on of hands as sufficient and lawful when as they cancel their Faith and abrogate their Canons for imperfect and corrupt Doctrines If they had not the Holy Ghost which lighteth upon every one that enters into Holy Orders these men receive not the Function of Priesthood for how can they receive of them which had it not to give These things in my Opinion saith he may very well be urged against Eleusius Yet again another controversie arose among them Whereas Another controversie concerning part of Acacius Creed viz. The Son of God being like unto the Father It is demanded how It is answered Acacius his Creed had affirmed That the Son of God was like unto the Father It was demanded Wherein the Son was like unto the Father No Arcacius answers not in Substance but onely in Will and Mind The others replyed That he was like unto the Father in Substance And of this question all that day they reasoned All the day is held with it Acacius confuted He is reasoned with concerning his Books His answer Acacius being confuted when it was demanded of him Why in his Books he had avouched and written the Son in all things to be like unto the Father and now denyed that the Son was of one Substance with the Father Made answer No man that ever was either of old time or late dayes is wont to be tryed by the Books that he wrote And this is the Harmony which the Councils and the Fathers so Observations upon the whole called have had as to the Truth which is the consequence of all that which meddles with the Faith and Worship of God with the things that are of Man the wisdom of the Wise which he saith he will destroy and will bring to nothing the understanding of the Prudent That no flesh may glory in his presence 1 Cor. 1. 14. For Where is the Wise Where is the Scribe Where is the Disputer of this World For after that in the wisdom of God the World by wisdom knew not God vers 20. And Father I thank thee Lord of Heaven and Earth that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them unto Babes even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight Mat. 11. 25. And these things are manifest in these Disputations which hath produced as is signified to the Reader When they had sifted out this question diligently on both sides When yet they could not agree Leon as dissolves the Council and could not agree Leonas rose up and dissolved the Council And this was the end of the Council held at Seleusia The next day when they made suit to him to prorogue the Council he Refuses to hear them the next day And bids them go home and brawl in their own Churches His Speech would not sit with them again but told them flatly That the Emperor had sent him to be present at a uniform and peaceable Council But insomuch that divers of you are at discord and debate among your selves I cannot away saith he with your Company go your wayes therefore daily and brawl ye at home in your own Churches This being done saith the History the conspiracy of Acacius The Faction of Acacius absent themselves supposing now that they had got their desired excuse absented themselves and would not shew their faces at the Council The The others meet and summon Acacius to decide Cyrils matters others met again at the Church and summoned Acacius with his Company to decide Cyrillus his matter who was Bishop of Jerusalem who had been accused and deposed his Bishoprick for what cause the History maketh not mention and being called to purge himself absented for the space of two whole years thinking thereby to escape and the crime to be forgotten as soon as he was departed Cyril appeals to the Judges of the High Court Constantius admits it The first President of appealing from the Ecclesiastical Canon he appealed unto the Judges of the Higher Court Constantine the Emperor admitted the appeal he was the first of all and alone that gave forth a President prejudicial to the practice of the Ecclesiastical Canon as if the matter had been to be decided before Lay Judges At length he came to this Council to have his Cause heard and therefore the Bishops sent for Acacius and his Company to the end they might not only hear Cyrillus but also examine such as had been accused and were fled to the faction of Acacius but when they had often cited them and they appeared Acacius is deposed and many Bishops more not they deposed Acacius himself and Georgius Bishop of Alexandria Ursacius Bishop of Tyre Theodorus Bishop of Cheteraphon a City of Phrygia Theodosius Bishop of Philadelphia in Lydia Evagrius Bishop of the Isle Miletene Theontius Bishop of Trypolis in Lydia and Eudoxius who first had been Bishop of Garmanicia and afterwards crept by wiles into the Bishoprick of Antioch in Syria and last of all they deposed Patrophilus for stubborn behaviour and disobedience Nine more they excommunicated Nine are excommucated and decreed they should remain in that state till they had answered for themselves and cleared them of the crimes laid to their charge When these things were done they wrote to the Churches Anianus put in Eudoxious room what they had decreed and put Anianus in Eudoxious room whom the Faction of Acacius apprehended and delivered to Eudoxious sent to Exile Leonas and Lauricuis who sent him forthwith into Exile Then the Bishops that put in Anianus made a long Plea and discoursed at large before Leonas and Lauricius against Acacius and his confederacy Acacius pleaded against and his confederacy federacy but when they prevailed nothing they took their But they not being heard Get to Constantinople to acquaint the Emperor what was done at the Council voyage to Constantinople to certifie the Emperor what they had done in the Council the Emperor was then come thither from the West and had taken away the Office of Proconsulship and instead thereof ordained a certain Government at Constantinople which he endowed with the Title of Honour But
long after and Serapion was made Bishop of Dioscorus dies Heraclea a City of Thrace Yet John was not free for a Silver Picture covered with a John in trouble again Inveighs against the Silver Picture of the Empress set up Mantle of Eudoxia the Empress being set upon a Pillar of Red Marble and common Playes and Shews being made thereby John sorely enveighed against the Authors thereof with very nipping taunts The Empress took it to her self and as done to her reproach and therefore procured another Council of Bishops to Another Council is called at Constantinople He preaches against her The Empress on fire John's Enemies his Accusers and Judges be called at Constantinople which he hearing of preached that Sermon which thus began Herodias rageth afresh stomacheth anew danceth again seeketh yet the Head of John in a Platter Which made the Empress mad and set her all on fire the Bishops which were his utter Enemies sate his Accusers the old Crimes are brought forth he trusting to the upright dealings of the Bishops desires that things might indifferently be examined The Emperor sends John word That he would not communicate The Emperor refusâ—s to communicate with John till he had cleared himself with him it being their Feast of the Nativity till be had cleared himself of the Crimes laid to his charge The accusers mistrusting themselves and John building upon the integrity of his Cause the Bishops perceiving this would insist on nothing but his coming into the Church without admission of a Council after he was John is charged deposed and when he made answer That the Canon that required He answers that was not made for their Church but was to be executed where the Arrians did reign for such as assembled at Antioch to root out the Faith of one Substance made that Canon against Athanasius and that he had the confirmation of fifty Bishops that communicated with him They made no account of his Answer nor weighed that those that made that Canon were deposers of Athanasius but They sentence him The Emperor forâ—ids him the Church gave sentence against him And the Emperor sent to him That he had no authority to go into the Church inasmuch as he was deposed and condemned by two Councils so he refrained and He withdraws and those with him those that favoured him did the same and kept Easter in the Common Baths called Constantiana together with many Bishops Priests and other Ecclesiastical Persons who because of their several Conventicles were called Johannites John was never They are called Johannites He is carried to Exile there dies The Church set on fire as â—e was carried away by some Johannites burns the Senators Court The Governor sore plagues the Christians therefore The cause wherefore these things are rehearsed seen abroad for the space of two months till by the Emperors Commandment he was carried into Exile where he died The same day as he was so carried away some called Johannites set the Church on fire which taking on the Senators Court burnt it to Ashes for which Optatus the Governor of Constantinople a Pagan by his Religion and so a sore plaguer of the Christians made them endure heavy punishments and sore penalties I am constrained to mention these things thus at large that once for all I may let the world understand what the forcing of Religion and the strife that comes through the imposition thereof hath produced in the World Many revolutions followed this banishment of John and his Ominous consequences of tâ—e Exile and death of John death and certain other significant things from Heaven which then there were that attributed to this persecution of John as the rotting of Cyrinus his Foot Bishop of Chaldon who was unawares Cap. 17. Cyrinus's foot rotted trod upon by Maruthas Bishop of Mesopotamia when the first Council met there to depose John which the people imputed The imputed cause to his reviling of John and calling of him stubborn Bishop which rotted so as that he was constrained to have it sawn off It is sawn off which he suffered not once but twice and oftner for it ran viz. the putrifaction over his whole Body and fell into his other foot so he was forced to cut off both The falling of great And the other also The greatest Hail that ever was seen falls at Constantinople The Empress dies And the Emperor Hail the likeness of the magnitude of which none had seen before The death of the Empress which followed immediately after his banishment all said by the people to be tokens of God's Wrath because of his banishment yea the death of the Emperor himself who died shortly after the death of John All which are matters for me to speak of as that which the vogue of that Age All attributed to the persecution of John attributed to be significatory as to the displeasure of the Lord as to things that then were transacted and done and which still speaks the consequence of imposing or persecuting because of And speak the consequence of peâ—secution for Religion Religion In the place of John Arsacius was made Bishop of Constantinople Arsacius of 80. years of Age succeeds John who was of the age of about fourscore years in whose time things were very quiet he being said to be of singular modesty and meek behaviour He lived Bishop of that place not very long His good description Dies the year following but in the year following that he was made Bishop he departed this life to pitch upon a successor unto whom proved a difficult kind of work and the contention grew long but at last ended in Atticus of Sebastia in Armenia who was made Bishop of Constantinople Atticus chosen in his place John died in Exile at Comanum scituate on the Sea Euxinus Cap. 19. Arcadius died at Constantinople he reigned together with his Cap. 21. Arcadius dies Anno. 412. His Son Arcadius succeeds Socrat. lib. 7. cap. 1. Father thirteen years and beginning with the one and thirtieth year of his Age he reigned fourteen years after the decease of his Father leaving behind him his Son Theodosius of the Age of eight years who by direction of Anthemius governed the Eastern as Honorius Arcadius his Brother did the Western part of the Roman Empire These times were not free from trouble for men took upon Cap. 3. Contention in Religion grew on Theodosius of Synada Bishop persecutes the Maâ—edonians banishes them the Town and Countrey them in several places to do what they listed in matters of Religion Theodosius Bishop of Synada a City of Phrygia Pacatiana sorely exercised the Macedonian Opinion he banished them not only the Town but also the Countrey which he did neither according to the rule of the Catholick Church neither with zeal of sincere and upright Faith saith the History but for his advantage sake for foul gain and filthy lucre to wring money
The occasion how ought to call Mary the Mother of God because that she was but a Woman and that God could not be born of a Woman Nestorius joyns to this man who was his great Counsellor in all his Affairs and in his Sermons favours Anastatius which divided the Church so that the Members separated one from another and a general A general Council called at Ephesus Council was summoned for the determination of this matter The Bishops came to Ephesus whitherto the Council was summoned Cap. 33. and multitudes of other people flocked thereunto Thither came Cyril Bishop of Alexandria and Juvenalis Bishop of Jerusalem But when John of Antioch tarried Cyril that he Cyril begins the Disputation might be upon Nestorius of whom he thought very ill began and used certain preambles of Disputation when many confirmed that Christ was God Nestorius pleaded I verily said he will Nestorus's blasphemy not call him God who grew to mans state by two months and three months and so forth and therefore I wash my hands from your Joyns to the Bishops that denyed Mary to be the Mother of God blood and from henceforth I will no more come into your company And so joyned with the Bishops of his Opinion so the Bishops The Bishops divided were divided into two parts Such of the Council as held with Cyril called Nestorius before them he came not but said He Cyril c. sends for Nestor He refuses to come would defer his Cause till John of Antioch came Cyril and those with him after they had read over Nestorius his Sermons and gathered out of them that in good earnest he had uttered open blasphemies against the Son of God they deposed him Those He is deposed The Bishops that held with Nestor depose Cyril c. John of Antioch coming blames Cyril for running so fast Cyril deposes John All in a hurly-burly Nestor conforms It is not accepted because supposed to be in hypocresie which held with Nestorius met and deposed Cyril and Memnon Bishop of Ephesus John being come blamed Cyril for running on head and so soon deposing Nestorius and so being the occasion of all that stir Cyril to be avenged on John taking Juvenalis with him deposed John Thus the contention flew up and a great hurly-burly there was and the poysoned infection of Discord was scattered which Nestorius perceiving said Let Mary be called the Mother of God and I pray you conceive no longer displeasure But being not supposed to speak this from his heart he was both deposed and banished to Oasis Thus was the Council He is deposed and banished The Council ends John coming to Antioch deposes Cyril Afterwards they restore one another of Ephesus at that time divided and broken up John when he returned to Antioch got many Bishops together and deposed Cyril shortly after which they laid aside their grudges and restored each other to their Bishopricks A great stir arose in Constantinople about the Election of a Bishop Cap. 34. Much ado at Constantinople about a Successor of Nestor in the place of Nestorius for the people were greatly divided by reason of his Opinion all the Clergy with one consent accursed it openly for so the Christians called the Sentence pronounced against the Author of Blasphemy thereby intending to make it as manifest to the World as what is engraven in a Table and nailed unto a Poast at length Maximinianus was chosen Maximin is chosen Bishop Maximinianus not possessing the Bishoprick above two years Cap. 39. He dies died about the Election of another lest there should be new Schisms and Divisions the Emperor was put to his Wits and therefore ere the other was interred he put Proclus in his stead The Emperor puts Proclus in his room He troubled no Sect. who was a quiet man and troubled no Sect but reserved saith the History and restored unto the Church that renowned vertue of meekness required in Clergy-men Yet were not the Barbarians quiet whom John had gathered Cap. 42. The Barbarians disturb the Empire by John Their lamentable end Rugus slain with a Thunderbolt Pestilence destroyed most of the Souldiers Fire from Heaven consumed the rest Cap 44. Proclus removes John Chrysostoms bones to Constantinople to endear his followers Who are reduced hereupon Observations upon the whole to wage War with Theodosius but purposed to over-run certain Dominions which appertained to the Emperor but their end proved lamentable Rugus their Captain was slain with a Thunderbolt and a Plague ensuing dispatched most of his Souldiers and those that remained fire from Heaven came and consumed which proved a great astonishment to the Barbarians Yet there is not an end of Johns matters though he was dead long ago But Proclus that he might unite those that followed him to that in which Proclus was got leave of the Emperor and removed his bones from Comanum to Constantinople thirty and five years after his deposition and with great pomp interred him in the Apostles Church which effected the reducing of those who appertained unto him so he is deposed exiled dead and buried remembred in the Prayers among the dead brought to Constantinople and enterred in the Church of the Apostles upwards and downwards backwards and forwards things ride where Truth is not known in the Principle thereof which should lead into it There would have been no matter administred for my Pen Cap. 47. The Historians reason why he wrote The end of Socrates's History of 140. years Evag. lib. 1. cap. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. saith the Historian in his last Chapter if such as set their minds on Sedition and Discord had been at Peace and Unity among themselves And so he ends his History of 140. years and Evagrius goeth on with the History and having given somewhat a more particular account of Nestorius and the things then that passed both at the Council of Ephesus and elsewhere of which Scholasticus hath given some intimation he goes on to shew of the death of Nestorius which he saith was after this sort His Tongue Nestorius's tongue eaten up of Worms dies was eaten up of Worms and so he died whom Maximinianus succeeded as aforesaid Yet his Opinion died not within him but Eutyches took it up Cap. 9. Eutyches takes up his Blasphemy An account of his Blasphemy who held as followeth I confess saith he that our Lord consisted of two Natures before the Divinity was coupled with the Humanity but after the uniting of them I affirm that he had but one Nature and that the Body of the Lord was not of the same Substance with ours A Council was called about him at Constantinople A Council called at Constantinople He is degraded A second Council at Ephesus where Eusebius Bishop of Dorylaeum an eloquent Rhetorician in reasoning finding him to hold as aforesaid he was degraded and a second Council summoned at Ephesus At this Council
Crispus a Son like his Father in all things quietly reigned throughout all the Jurisdictions of the Empire of Rome so far Eusebius Pamphilius and the Records of his History At noon day those in the Cities belonging to Lycinnius a little before the fight saw armed Troops and Bands of men marching through all Constantines Army as if they had got the Victory which were only apparitions Socrates Scholasticus takes up from his time and proceeds onwards Socrat. Scholast succeeds in the History in the prosecution of the History out of whom I shall give what materially may serve to what I have in hand and purpose yet to treat of in reference to this first head of National Worship I have shewed what contentions arose by reason of Cecilianus Bishop of Carthage in that and other Provinces and how Constantine summoned two Synods in order to the reconciling that difference and how Lycinnius as a scourge or rather rebuke stept in to offer those things unto the Christians who being overthrown Lyâ—innius cut off by Constantine when he sought to make stirs after He had suffered him to live quietly in Thessalonica having taken him aliâ—e and cut off by Constantine when he had endeavoured to stir trouble again when as Constantine with much humanity had given him liberty to live in quiet at Thessalonica after he had taken him alive Prisoner further then which Eusebius goeth not Now I shall shew what Socrates in the continuation of the History saith concerning the differences that were among the Christians and the consequences thereof as instances of that which I have here asserted and so I shall proceed Arius is the first whom he takes notice of who being a Priest Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 3. Arius and his Heresie under Alexander who succeeded Achillas who succeeded Peter that was Martyred Bishop of Alexandria and hearing Alexander The ground of its Rise intreating somewhat more curiously of what is called the Trinity in Unity among the Priests that were under him said If the Father begot the Son then had the Son which was begotten a And what it was beginning of Essence hereby it is manifest that there was a time when the Son was not and the consequent to follow necessarily that he had his Essence of nothing This begat a great deal of reasoning amongst them Arius had It spreads amongst Bishops and others in Egypt Libia and upper Thebais his favourers both of Bishops and others of this his blasphemous Opinion which beginning at Alexandria spread it self throughout all Egypt Libia and the upper Thebais and at length passed through the rest of the Cities and Provinces The spreading of this moved Alexander who calling of a Counsel of many Bishops Alexander Bishop of Alexandria deprives him Writes against him to all The matter spreads further deprived Arius and such as favoured his Opinion of the Priestly Order and afterwards writing to the Bishops throughout the Cities against him spread the thing further than it was before because those unto whom the Letters were directed began to burn among themselves with the sparks of contention and discord So the nicety of the Bishop on the one hand and his sharp The cause attributed to the Bishops nicety sharpness writing proceeding and writing on the other gave occasion for this little sparkle to burn out into a great flame which made fore destractions and divisions and which in no wise could come to be quenched but ran over all as a loathsome leprosie Bishop against Bishop It flies over the world engages one against the which makes matter of deâ—ision on the Heathen Theaters and People against People and Synod against Synod doing the things which the Heathen had done to them as aforesaid which rended them asunder and caused the Religion the Christians professed to be openly derided by the Heathens on the publick Theatres Constantine was sorely troubled at these things and by a principle Cap. 4. And troubles Constantine he writes to Bishop and Priest Alexander and Arius person whom he entirely loved he wrote both to Alexander and Arius blaming Alexander for demanding a question of the Elders touching a certain place of Scripture yea rather saith his Letter touching a certain vain piece of a question what every Reproves them both ones Opinion was And Arius for unadvisedly blazeing abroad and setting a broach That which thou shouldst saith the Emperor not at the first have conceived and having conceived it Offers an accomodation condesends low for that purpose but neither would hear thou shouldst have passed it over with silence He wrote smartly to them both and very reasonably concerning an accomodation and that Union might be again saying Let either of you pardoning each other like of that which your fellow Minister so low he condescended not without cause exhorted you unto But neither of them would hear He summoned a Council at Nice concerning Cap. 5. He summons a Council about this and Easter Three hundred and eighteen Bishops met besides others of the Clergy Five dissent from the Creed of one substance Some of those the Emperor exiled subscribe the Nicene Creed Arius and his Complices accursed The Dissenâ—ers Argument that and what they call the Celebrating the Feast of Easter concerning the time of the celebrating of which there was no small controversie Here the Council of three hundred and eighteen Bishops the Emperor being present who endeavoured all he could to bring to unity besides many others of what is called the Clergy five onely excepted who admitted not of the clause of one substance some of whom the Emperor exiled subscribed that which is called the Nicene Creed accursing Arius and all others that held the contrary Opinion The five dissenting Bishops against the Clause of one Substance with the Father thus reasoned or affirmed That to be of one Substance which hath its Original of something either by division or derivation or production by production as a Bud out of a Root by derivation as Children of the Parents by division as two or three pieces out of a piece of Gold The Son of God by relation was after none of these manners and therefore they said they would not agree to the form of Faith confirmed in the Council of Nice whereupon they derided exceedingly the They deride the contrary and submit not clause of one Substance and would not submit unto the deposition of Arius for which cause the Council not only accursed Arius as hath been said and all his Adherents but also forbad And forbad Alexandria and with Eusebius of Nicomedia and Thergius of Nice banished The two later recant him Alexandria And by the Emperors Edict Arius Eusebius not of Caesaria that wrote the History aforesaid but of Nicomedia and Thergius of Nice were exiled who afterwards gave a Book that is to say the two latter of their conversion and repentance and consent to the clause of one Substance as the History
The causes of the doings of each seemed to himself to have done right well The Bishops of the East because the Western Bishops had received them whom they had deposed The Western Bishops because the Bishops of the East being deposers of others had departed before the hearing of their cause The one for that they maintained the Nicene Creed The other for that they went about to condemn it To Paulus Athanasius Marcellus restored to their Bishopricks Paulus and Athanasius their Bishopricks are restored and to Marcellus Bishop of Ancyra in the Lesser Galatia The Bishops of each part having decreed such things as seemed Cap. 18. Each part depart separating as far in affection as they were in place best unto themselves they depart every one to his own home going asunder as far in Spirit as they were in Person and so became divided and the Mount between Illirium and Thracia called Tisuris was the bound of both beyond which there was no The Mount Tisuris is set the bound between them for their Communion The West Emperor desires the restitution of Paulus and Athanasius Constantius delaying the other sends him in choise either War or Restitution communion such confusion such stir and such division saith the History reigned then in the Church Immediately after this the Western Emperor signifies to his Brother what was decided at the Council of Sardice and requested him to see Paulus and Athanasius placed in their Bishopricks But when Constantius delayed from day to day his Brothers desire The Emperor of the West gave his Brother in choice Either to restore Paulus and Athanasius and so account of him as his Friend or else to hear the Proclamation of open War and so find him as his deadly Foe The Letters sent by his Embassador were these There remain here with me Athanasius and Paulus who as I am credibly A Copy of his Letters given to understand are persecuted for piety sake if that thou wilt promise me to restore them unto their Seas and to punish severely such as have injured them I will send the Parties themselves unto thee But if thou wilt not accomplish this my will and pleasure know for surety that my self will come thither and maugre thy bread restore them to their proper Seas This when the Emperor of the East understood it troubled Constant is troubled hereat assembles the Bishops him and is said to be wonderful pensive and sad he assembles many of the Bishops of the East layes before them the choice his brother gave him demandeth of them What was best in the Demands of them What is to be done They chuse Peace rather than War He sends for Athanasius Constantine sends Paulus to Constantinople with his and the Councils Letters case to be done They answered It was far better to restore Athanasius than to raise deadly and mortal Wars Therefore the Emperor being constrained through necessity sent for Athanasius In the mean while Constans the Emperor had sent Paulus honourably together with two Bishops with his own Letters and the Letters of the Council for more surety unto Constantinople Athanasius yet doubting whether he yet were best go or no to Cap. 18 Constantius sends again for Athanasius and a second and third time Constantius because the slanders cast upon him troubled him very sore Constantius sent for him not once only but the second and third time which he having received and the Bishop of Rome being made privy thereunto by Athanasius and having the said Bishops Letters unto the Priests and People of Alexandria he went to Constantius who it 's said received him not unwillingly He goes to Constantius but through the slights of the followers of Arias went Who desires sufferance of one Church in Alexandria for the Arrians He leaves it to the Emperor and craves another thing of him viz. That the Nicenians might have one Church throughout every City about to beguile him by desiring a permission of one Church for those that differed in Opinion from Athanasius and severing themselves from his Communion he answered It lies in thee O Emperor to do as pleaseth thee best to command and execute thy Commandment And craved of the Emperor another thing viz. That he would grant him one Church throughout every City for such as communicate not with the Arrians The followers of Arius perceiving that his request was not unreasonable made answer That The Arrians hereupon defer the matter it behoved them to defer the matter unto another time and consider better of it They hindred not the Emperor but suffered him to do what pleased him best wherefore the Emperor setled Athanasius is setled Paulus with other Bishops by the Emperor who writes to Alexandria of Love and Friendship and to abregate what Laws were against Athanasius Athanasius and Paulus Marcellus and Asclepas Bishop of Gaza and Lucius of Andrianople into their Bishopricks and wrote Letters to Alexandria of Love and Friendship and for them to receive Athanasius and all of the same mind with him and to settle them in their places and to abrogate whatsoever Law or Order was made against him or them or any thing that appertained unto them These things being done Athanasius takes his Journey to Cap. 19. Athanasius returns by the way of Jerusalem Anno. 351. Acquaints Maximus Bishop of that place He calls an Assembly of Bishops assigns him his Dignity Alexandria by the way of Jerusalem where he acquaints Maximus the Bishop of that place with the Decrees of the Council of Sardis and also the Emperor Constantius his agreement and consent therein and procured out of Syria and Palestina an assembly of Bishops where Maximus gave him the Communion and assigned unto him his Dignity and the Council being dissolved they wrote and signified by their Letters to the People of Alexandria The Council also write Letters to Alexandria in his behalf unto the Bishops of Egypt and Libia all their Decrees and Canons concerning Athanasius This incensed all the Adversaries of Athanasius who cried out The Arrians are incensed hereat cry out against Maximus against Maximus for that aforetime he had subscribed to Athanasius deposition but now repenting of his folly as if he had not then done well he became of his Faith and awarded him both Communion and Dignity yet Ursacius and Valens hearing Vrsacius and Valens upon the success of Athanasius recant of the prosperous success of Athanasius they exhibit to Julius Bishop of Rome their Recantation and Repentance in writing and subscribed to the Creed containing the clause of one Substance But Athanasius travelled by Peleusium in the way to Alexandria Athanasius returns by Peleusium inveighs against Arius preaching in every City where he came and exhorted them to eschew the followers of Arius and to embrace such as confessed the Faith of one Substance And in divers of the Ordains Ministers in other Churches gives occasion thereby
the Women that refused to communicate with them some were laid along in Chests and at the lids their Brests sawed off new-found torments never found among the Heathens but now practised by those which professed Christianity some The Paps of others burned with searing Irons and roasted hot Eggs. others had their Paps burned with searing Irons glowing hot and with Eggs laid thereunto that were rosted so hard that they scalded for heat this as an instance of some of their torments Alexander Paphlagon a man very famous for a severe and strait Alexander Paphlagon scourged and tormented Of which he died in Prison kind of life was imprisoned and scourged and endured many other torments who after the grievous lashes of the Whip died in Prison Auxanon a very old man a Novation endured very Auxanon an aged Novation sorely scourged and tormented many torments with him and scourgings as he had suffered much before he entred into Orders He destroyed not onely other Churches saith the History in other Cities but also the Novation The Novation Church in Constantinople thrown to the ground And all other Nicenian Churches by the Emperors Edict Church within the City of Constantinople It was proclaimed by the Edict of the Emperor and the cruelty of Macedonius saith it That the Churches of such as embraced the Faith of one Substance should be thrown to the ground even to the Foundations which was soon put in execution The true Catholicks saith the History and the Novations were alike handled together These An account of the Novations Opinion and wherefore they were called so Novations were called so because they denyed that those who sacrificed to Idols and had recanted should not be admitted Communion although they repented Novatus was the head of them from whom they received their Name or that from whence the tearm Novation came and this not only in Constantinople but in all other places they were very friendly and kept together though in that point they differed Eleusius of Cizicum Elusius at Cizicum follows the steps of Macedonius Afflicts the Novations and the others proceeded in the steps of Macedonius laid the Novation Church there even with the ground and arming himself every where against the other Christians he afflicted them every where and tormented them grievously in which Macedonius gave the last Macedonius afflsts stroke and final conclusion for there being many in Paphlagonia and Montinium of the Novation Opinion which by Ecclesiastical Authority could not commodiously be removed he procured of the Emperor four Bands of Souldiers whom those of Montinium Brings four Bands of Souldiers on those of Montinium They go against the Souldiers Slay down the Souldiers went against with long Hedging-Bills Axes and rusty Armour and joyning Battle coming to Handy-gripes are said to have slain down the Souldiers every one a few only excepted though they came in glittering Array thinking to have afrighted them with the loss of many of themselves These Hostile proceedings procured the enmity and ill-will of many against Macedonius who Macedonius hated hated these doings and not only among them who because of these things bore incurable Wounds but of his near Friends and Familiars yea of the Emperor himself whose displeasure he procured Even by the Emperor The reasons thereof and whose mind was alienated from him partly for these things partly for what follows he went about to pull down the Temple where the Tomb of Constantine the Emperor lay which He removes Constantines bones lest the falling of the Temple should deface he endeavoured to remove the Emperors bones this his enterprize the people withstood as unlawful and being in a manner nothing less then the digging him out of his Grave the people in this were divided some were against it as I have said and these were those that held the Faith The people divided thereabouts of one Substance others said This wicked deed might lawfully be done and these were such as followed Arius Macedonius heeding not the gain-sayers removed the Corps into the Church where Acatius the Martyr was buried this was no sooner done but the multitude of the contrary side ran thither in all haste and They rise and fight setting themselves one against another went together by the Ears upon which so great a slaughter proceeded that the Body of the The body of that Church floated with blood The way filled with blood and dead Carkasses Church was a float with streams of blood and yet not only there but from the Porch unto the Street the way was all blood and dead Carkasses crossing one another which lamentable and woful Spectacle wonderfully incensed the Emperor against them partly for that he had murdered so many men and partly for presuming without his consent to translate his Fathers Bones Thus far of Macedonius in this place and the cruelties that were the consequence of this new form of Faith and the Emperors Edicts to inforce it as aforesaid Macedonius shortly after was deprived of He is afterwards deposed his Bishoprick and received no small punishment for so great an offence The Emperor after he had committed the Government of the West unto Julianus whom he made Caesar called afterwards the Apostate he returned into the East Thus much of these things Now concerning the Council though it pleased the Emperor The Council ordered to meet at Nicomedia The Earthquake prevented it best that it should meet at Nicomedia yet the great Earthquake for there were terrible significations of the displeasure of the Lord in those dayes because of the things that were done though they would take no notice thereof which shook the Countrey and overthrew Nicomedia Nice was then thought of Which overthrew Nicomedia but being very far they appointed to meet at Tarsus a City of Cilicia and when they could neither agree upon that they assemble at Selusia a City of Isauria called Rough where met one They meet at Seleusia 160. Bishops then they agree not hundred and threescore Bishops but neither could this Council agree being divided some for examining the lives of Cyrillus Bishop of Jerusalem Eustathius Bishop of Sebastia in Armenia and divers others who had hainous crimes laid to their charge others to reason and question concerning the Faith and Tholeonas who Freedom of proposition and speech at first given by Tholeonas the Emperors Lieutenant or President The others restrain it till Macedon and Basilius came Who for fear of being accused absented themselves The Council divided and how being in great favour with the Court proposed at first free liberty for by the Emperors Commandment in his hearing they should reason of the Faith for every one freely to propose what seemed to him best yet those present affirmed it was not lawful to call any thing into question before they came whose presence was required in the Council which were Macedonius aforesaid and Basilius Bishop of Ancyra who
Acacius had Acacius prevents them and accuses them prevented them and laid grievous accusations to their charge perswading him that their form of Faith was no wise to be admitted The Emperor being grievously incens'd against them determines The Emperor is incenc'd determines to cut them off Makes a Law to take them from their civil jurisdiction c. to cut them off he made a Law That as many as were Magistrates and bear Office in the Common-Wealth should be brought back again to imbrace a popular and private kind of life For of the Bishops some were called to govern the Common-Wealth some were Senators and Counsellors some others were Presidents and Lieutenants of Provinces Acacius and his Accomplices remaining at Constantinople and Another Council held at Constantinople by Acacius c. Anno. 364. They confirm the form of Faith read at Ariminum which was dated with the Consuls and add thereunto something of their own calling unto them the Bishops of Bythinia held there another Council being to the number of fifty unto whom came Maris Bishop of Chalcedon these confirmed the form of Faith that was read at Ariminum at whose beginning and title the Consults were written unto which they also added something of their own So the Faith 's changed up and down as Clouds and Meteors which participate of various Colours and Appearances as the Wind and Sun and Candence Air gives them being rouling up and down until they come at length to that from which they were to wit to nothing and these are the footsteps or rather wanderings of those who know not the Lord the Principle of God to guide them the Spirit of Truth which leads into all Truth I have traced this Council and these things hitherto to shew The consequences of mens taking upon them to determine Faith observed through all what is the consequence of mans taking upon him to determine concerning the Faith of Jesus by that which is not the Spirit of Jesus and to enjoyn it which runs them into all these confusions bloodshedings and destructions and yet hath no other certainty than the determinations of man which change and alter as they please Now let me rehearse the number of the Creeds because A rehearsal of the number of the Creeds being nine in number At Nice one At Antioch two In France one In Italy one At Sirmium three At Ariminum one At Seleucia one At Constantinople one the History gives me in this place an assistance in that particular The first is that of Nice Two others were framed at Antioch The third in France by the Bishops which were with Narciscus and exhibited unto the Emperor Constantine The fourth was sent by Eudoxius to the Bishops throughout Italy Three were published in writing at Sirmium whereof one being gloriously intituled with the names of the Consuls was read at Ariminum The eighth was set forth at Seleucia The ninth was given abroad with additions at Constantinople there was thereunto annexed That thenceforth The clause of Substance c. left out there should be no mention made of the Substance or subsistancy of God about whom they had kept such ado whom they did not understand Vlphilas Bishop of the Gothes subscribes thus The Application of the whole and the Consequences Unto which Ulphilas Bishop of the Goths first subscribed who till that time imbraced the Faith established by the Nicene Council and had subscribed to that Creed So see what confusion here is which is the Faith upon which a man may pitch seeing all these were enforc't and sought to make it self a Standard for all to resort unto which were contrary to one another which many of the same men made contrary and put the highest stress thereupon Thereupon even to death punishing the Nonconformity thereunto with Prisons Whipings Scourgings Torments Exile Death Acacius and Eudoxius saith the History made foul tumults Cap. 33. Acacius c. make great stir at Constantinople deprive and depose the Bishops c. and great stir at Constantinople seeking to remove from their Bishoprick some of the contrary side and causes of deprivation they invented not for Piety sake and Religion saith the History but of private malice and quarrelsome spight for though they varied in their Faith yet in deposing one another they charged not each other with their belief Those of Acacius's side took the opportunity of the Emperors displeasure for that he had been the cause of great slaughter and had admitted into the Communion a certain Deacon taken in Adultery deposed Macedonius Macedonius in particular Eleusius and others Eleusius Bishop of Cizicum they removed for baptizing Herachius a sacrificing Priest of Hercules at Tyre They deprived Basilius alias Basillas who was made Bishop of Ancira in Marcellus room for that he cruelly tormented and imprisoned a certain man and because he forged slanders and disordited divers persons and lastly for molesting the quiet state of the Churches in Africa by his Epistles Several others they suspended and removed too long to mention They suspend several nor had I these but only to shew the fruits of forced Faith or Religion and into what it runs its self and under cover of piety seeks to vent its spight and mischief They gave Eustathius Eustathius deposed and the causes thereof Bishop of Sebastia no liberty to purge himself because his own natural Father Eulavius Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia had but Eulavius Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia a little before deposed him for wearing a Weed not decent saith the History for the order of Priesthood Miletius was put into his room afterward at the Council held at Gangra which was summoned for the hearing of his matters Eustathius was condemned And his Principles and Opinions for forbidding Marriages for setting forth Precepts of abstinencie for parting asunder divers that were coupled together in Wedlock for perswading such as refrained the Churches and publick Assemblies to raise Conventicles and Brotherhood in the private Houses for taking Servants from their Masters under colour of Religion for using the Philosophers habit and causing his followers to use strange attire for causing Women to be shaven forbidding accustomed and prescribed fasting dayes and commanding abstinences on the Sundayes for abhorred prayers in married mens houses and detesting the Offering and Communion of the married Priests who when he was a Layman had lawfully coupled himself in the bond of Wedlock he attempted many things after his former deposition against the Canons and Constitutions of the Church so he was deposed as aforesaid and For which he is deposed and his Doctrine cursed his Doctrine accursed Eudoxius also supposing Constantinople to be superior to the Sea Eudoxius made Bishop of Constantinople by Acacius c. at Antioch was proclaimed Bishop there by Acacius and his Adherents who made and put Laws in execution contrary to their former Decrees as saith the History for they made Eudoxius
from For gain-sake to wring money from them Maintains his Clergy against them His cruel usages Punishes Agapetus their Bishop them for which cause he left no way unessayed to vex them maintaining his own Clergy against them he brought them in Fetters made them hold up their hands at the Bar Their Bishop Agapetus he exercised with sundry griefs and vexations and because he found that the Commission of the Magistrates extended not to the punishment of the Macedonians he made haste to Constantinople Gets to Constantinople for more power against them Agapetus conforms and his people in the mean time to the Nicene Creed Gets into Theodosius Church and Seat Theodosius being disappointed of his place and power to get larger power from the Lieutenant of that Province for the sharp correction of them but whilst he was about these things Agapetus embraced the Faith of one Substance perswaded all his people both Clergy and Laity to do the same got him into their Church placed himself in the Seat of Theodosius and had the ordering of the Churches within the Diocess of Synada Theodosius not knowing any thing of this shortly after comes down with his power of which he much bragged but finding things as aforesaid and what small welcome he had the doors being made fast against him hasted again to Constantinople Hies to Constantinople Complains but in vain and complained to Atticus but his grief he was forced to retain for that it was for the profit of the Church that he was thus put by his Bishoprick Thus at Synada At Constantinople Sabbatius aforesaid severing Sabbatius makes stirs at Constantinople about Easter himself from the Novations took upon him the Jewish Celebration of Easter on the day of which he read this part of the Gospel Reads the Gospel and adds to it Ensnares the people The Feast of the sweet bread drew nigh which is called Easter adding Cursed be every one that keepeth Easter without sweet bread Through occasion of which many of the Novations came to be of his Opinion But there soon came a reproof upon his corrupting of the Scriptures for as they were in their Vigils for the solemnization of that Feast they thought they saw Sisinius An apparition frights them their Bishop setting upon them which an infinite number of men on which they getting together in a narrow room the throng was so great that threescore and ten persons of them were smothered Seventy persons smothered to death to death upon which many of them shrunk from their Opinion as he did from the Novation Church of which he was a Priest Thus at Constantinople At Alexandria Theophilus being dead Cap. 7. A Successor of Theoph. dead of a Lethargy Troubles Alexandria Cyrillus is chosen His height and taking upon him Temporal Jurisdiction His persecuting of and plundering the Novations and their Bishops of a Lethargy a great contention there was for a Successor which at length fell to be the Lot of Cyrillus Theophilus Brothers Son who challenged more Authority than ever Theophilus had and together with the Ecclesiastical took upon him the Government of Temporal Affairs He shut up the Novation Church in Alexandria and not onely rifled them of all their Treasure but bereaved Theopomptus their Bishop of all his Substance These whirlings up and down and persecuting of one another Cap. 10. The distracted consequences in the State Alaricus aspires to the Empire He subdues Illyricum at pleasure went not without their attendancies of trouble in the State for Alaricus a Barbarian who was in league with the Romans and aided Theodosius against Eugenius aspired unto the Imperial Scepter he left Constantinople and hasted into the West all Illyricum he subdued as he came into it The Thessalonians The Thessalonians withstand him fight him kill 3000. of his men He removes ransacks all as he goes Takes Rome his outrage cruelty there withstood him when he came amongst them and at a pitched Battel slew three thousand of his men he marched away ransacking Town Country as he went and at length took the City of Rome which he ransacked also defaced and fired many Monuments plundered the Citizens of their Money put to death many of the Senators with sundry kinds of torments proclaimed Attalus Emperor Makes Attalus Emperor to day and a Servant to morrow to bring the Imperial Government into contempt Theodosius's Army hastens to give him Battel He flies A Monk admonishes him as he was marching to Rome to forbear his outrage His Answer as set on by God to day who had his guard of Souldiers the next day made him go in the tire and habit of a Servant on purpose to bring the Imperial Government into contempt Theodosius's Army made great expedition to give him Battel he hearing thereof betook him to his heels It is said That as he marched to Rome a Monk met and admonished him Not to delight in perpetrating of such heinous and horrible offences neither to rejoyce in committing slaughter and bloodshed To whom he is said to make this Answer I God knoweth do take this voyage against my Will There is one which molesteth me daily nay he compelleth me by force and saith thus unto me Go on thy journey destroy the City of Rome And no wonder that these things were for Celestinus Bishop of Cap. 11. Celestinus Bishop of Rome banishing the Novations imputed as the cause of the sacking of Rome Rome banished the Novations out of that City and deprived them of their Churches and thereby constrained Rusticula their Bishop to raise private Conventicles who beforetime flourished in Rome and had there great Congregations but now they began to be hated out of measure The Bishop of Rome challenging to himself He took upon him sole power as did the Bishop of Alexandria secular Power and Jurisdiction as the Bishop of Alexandria had done which saith the Historian of the Romish Bishop he presumed Which the Historian charges as presumption in the Romish Biâ—â—ops to do passing the bounds of his Priestly Order So these Bishops though they commended the Novations for their uniform consent as touching the Faith yet they deprived them of all The Novations deprived of all their Substance save at Constantinople by Nicenians though of that Faith because differing in a particular Cap. 12. Chrysanthus chosen Bishop of Constantinople in Sysinnius's stead An account of him their Substance But at Constantinople it was not so with the Novations Sysinius dying at Constantinople Chrysanthus the Son of Marcianus was chosen in his room This Chrysanthus had been a Souldier from his youth in the Emperors Court and Lieutenant of Italy against Theodosius Magnus his Vicegerent of the Isles of Brittain where he purchased great commendation for his politick Government coming to Constantinople where he desired to reside in his old years was there chosen as aforesaid but he not liking of that Service conveyed himself away
spoken I shall mention no more In Alexandria there was a Woman whose name was Hypatia Cap. 15 A third Tragical Scene in Alexandria Hypatia a Woman and the most eminent Philosopher of her time the Daughter of Theon who so profited in profound Learning that she excelled all the Philosophers of her time and not onely succeeded in Plato's School the which exercise Plotinus continued but also expounded to as many as come to her the Precepts and Doctrine of all sorts of Philosophers wherefore many that gave themselves to the study of Philosophy flocked to her from every Countrey Moreover for her grave courage of mind her modest and matron-like behaviour she sticked not to present her self before Princes and Magistrates neither was she abashed to come into the open face of the Assembly wherefore great envy and spight of mind arose against her being had in admiration and reverence of all Women for her singular modesty and because Suspected to influence the difference between the Bishop and Orestes Is set upon by a Reader rude Company Carried to a Church she conferred oft and had a great familiarity with Orestes so that she was charged by the people as the cause why the Bishop and Orestes were not become Friends At length one Peter a Reader of that Church having a company of rude persons with him watched her coming from some place or other pulled her out of her Charriot haled her into the Church called Caesareum stripped Stript stark naked tormented with sharp shells till life departed Her body quartered And burnt to Ashes Cyril and the Church of Alexandria stained with this blood Christians ought to be no fighters by the Historians judgment her stark naked razed the skin and rent the flesh of her body with sharp shells until the breath departed out of it then they quartered her body brought them to a place called Cinaron and burned them to Ashes This heinous offence saith the Historian was no small blemish both to Cyril and the Church of Alexandria For saith he the professors of Christian Religion should be no fighters they ought to be far from commiting of murther and bloodshed This was done the fourth year of Cyril's Consecration the tenth Consulship of Honorius and the seventh of Theodosius in the Ember dayes The Jews also were not without their devises in this day of Cap. 16. The Jews come on with a 4th Tragedy They deride Christ Crucifâ—â— a Child wickedness and mischief who at a certain place called Inmestar between Chalcis and Antioch in Syria at their Interludes and Playes derided Christ Jesus and those that believed in him After this sort they took the Child of a Christian and nailed him to Deride scourge him till breath departed a Tree and set him on high when they had so done first they deride and laugh at him then like mad men they scourge him as long as breath remained in his body This gave occasion of great contention between them and the Christians and the Emperor hearing thereof wrote to the Lieutenant and Magistrates of that Province to make diligent search for the Authors of so great a mischief and to punish them severely They are punished in earnest therefore the Jews for that shameful Act which they had committed in jest were plagued in earnest The Persians also drew a line of blood and cruel torments over Cap. 18. A fifth Scene of blood acted by the Persians upon the Christians of tâ—at Nation with great extremity those of that Nation who in the time of Isdigerdes King of Persia were become Christians whose Son Baratanes succeeded him through the perswasion of the Magicians and Southsayers being forced thereunto vexed the Christians out of measure and punished them with divers torments after the manner of Persia through the extremity of which they fled unto the Romans for They fly for succor to the Romans succor praying them to pitty their case and not to suffer them in that measure to be so lamentably oppressed whom Atticus Bishop Atticus of Constantinople receives them The Emperor determines their relief of Constantinople courteously received and wrought with the Emperor so that what through that and other particulars of difference that lay between them he intends to stand to their relief especially seeing he had sent to demand the fugitive Christians of the Emperor and denyed those whom he had lent for the Gold-Mines to return and also had stopped the Romans Marchandize War is proclaimed so that League was broken and War was proclaimed and the The Persians are beaten again and again and a third time Cap. 20. Persians through the wonderful hand of the Lord who was near them in their straits were again and again overcome and the Persians being yet again overcome upon the refusal of a tender of Peace by perswasion of his Souldiers who were called a certain number of them Immortal who would needs make one attempt more upon the Romans ere they accepted thereof and multitudes were Prisoners many of whom died for Famine and the rest were like so to do Accasius Bishop of Amida gathered his Acacius Bishop of Amida and his Clergy Cap. 21. Redeem the Persian Prisoners with their Cups Dishes Plate Jewels Clergy together upon the commiseration of their lamentable state there being seven thousand that were in this condition said Our God hath no need neither of Dishes nor of Cups for he neither eateth nor drinketh these be not his necessaries Wherefore seeing this Church hath many precious Jewels both of Gold and Silver bestowed of the free will and liberality of the Faithful it is requisite that the captive Souldiers should therewith be redeemed and delivered out of Prison and Bondage and that they also perishing with Famine should be with some part thereof refreshed and relieved Which his Clergy consenting unto and the Treasury being cast and translated he turned it into money and not only paid Turned into money Cloath and send them home which so took on the King of Persia that he lent for Acacius The War turns into Peace and the utter ceasing of Persecution The Saracens under Alamundarus promising great things to the Persians therewith the Ransom-money but supplyed them with necessaries and to carry them home which so took with the King of Persia that he desired earnestly to see Acacius whom the Emperor commanded thither The issue of these Wars procured a Peace and the quite extinguishing the persecution of the Christians in the Kingdom of Persia It is said That in these Wars the Saracens coming to assist the Persians under Alamundarus a valiant Captain who promised not only to beat the Romans but to take in Syria and Antioch being in a sudden fear of the Romans approach that though the Romans were not near them For fear of the Romans ran into Euphrates 100000. drowned they ran into the River Euphrates where an hundred thousand with their Armes were drowned Nor
Scripture before the Church and acknowledges none but the Scripture the sole Interpreter of its self to the Conscience For if the Church be not sufficient to be implicitely believed as we hold it is not what can there else be named of more Authority than the Church but the Conscience than which God only is greater 1 John 3. 20. But if any man shall pretend saith he that the Scripture judges to his Conscience for other men he makes himself greater not only than the Church but also than the Scripture than the Consciences of other men A presumption saith he too high for any mortal since every true Christian is able to give a reason of his Faith hath the Word of God before him the promised Holy Spirit and the mind of Christ within him 1 Cor. 2. 16. A much better and safer guide of Conscience saith he which as far as concerns himself he may far more certainly know then any outward rule inposed on him by others whom he inwardly either knows not nor can know at least knows nothing of them more sure than this one thing That they cannot be his Judges in Religion 1 Cor. 2. 15. The Spiritual man judges all things but he himself is judged of no man chiefly for this cause do all true Protestants account the Pope Antichrist for that he assumes to himself this infallibility over both the Conscience and the Scripture sitting in the Temple of God as it were opposite to God and exalting himself over all that is called God or is worshipped 2 Thes 2. 4. That is to say not onely above all Judges and Magistrates who though they be called Godds are far beneath infallible but also above God himself by giving Law both to the Scripture to the Conscience and to the Spirit it self of God within us when as we find James 4. 12. There is one Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy who art thou that judgest another That Christ is the only Law-giver of his Church and that it is here meant in Religious matters no well-grounded Christian will deny Thus also St. Paul Rom. 14. 4. Who art thou that judgest the Servant of another to his own Lord he standeth or falleth but he shall stand for God is able to make him stand As therefore of one beyond expression bold and presumptuous both these Apostles demand Who art thou that presumest to impose other Law or Judgment in Religion than the only Law-giver and Judge Jesus Christ who can only save and can destroy gives to the Conscience And the forecited place to the Thessalonians by compared effects resolves us That be he or they who or where-ever they be or can be they are of far less Authority than the Church whom in these things as Protestants they receive not and yet no less Antichrist in this main point of Antichristianism no less Pope or Popedom than he at Rome if not much more by setting up Supream Interpreters of Scripture either those Doctors whom they follow or which is far worse themselves as a Civil Papacy assuming unaccountable Supremacy to themselves not in Civil only but Ecclesiastical Causes Seeing then that in matters of Religion as hath been proved none can judge or determine here on earth no not Church-Governors themselves against the Consciences of other Believers my inference is or rather not mine but our Saviour's own that in those cases they neither can command nor use restraint lest they run rashly on a pernitious consequence forwarned in that Parable Mat. 13. 26 to 31. Lest while ye gather up the Tares ye root up also the Wheat with them let both grow together until the Harvest and in the time of Harvest I will say to the Reapers Gather ye together Page 13. first the Tares c. Whereby he declares that this work neither his own Ministers nor any else can discerningly enough or judgingly perform without his own immediate direction in his own fit season and they ought till then not to attempt it which is further confirmed 2 Cor. 1. 14. Not that we have dominion over your Faith but are helpers of your joy If the Apostles had no dominion or constraining power over Faith or Conscience much less have ordinary Ministers 1 Pet. 5. 2 3. Feeding the Flock of God not by constraint c. neither as being Lords over Gods Heritage Much more I might have produced as to this Author even the whole Discourse wherein he fully convinces what in his Title page he asserts to wit That it is not lawful for any power on earth to compel in matters of Religion He is one who pretends to the Church of Christ but not by compulsion to Church-ship or matters of Religion as this his Treatise shews him Concerning God Doctor Ingelo produces Plotin as expressing him Doctor Ingelo See Tabu Bentivo Vâ—an under the respective Heads of this and that which follows to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Root of the Soul And Pithagoras 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Fountain of everlasting Nature Concerning a mans knowing of himself he saith He hath called the Governor of Tapinophorosine or Humility because the knowledge of ones self is the natural root of Humility Now what gives the knowledge of a mans self but that which searcheth the Heart And what is the natural root of Humility but the Fountain of everlasting Nature from which humility springs of whose fulness we have all received grace for grace saith the Apostle in whom the fulness of the God-head dwells bodily who saith Learn of me for I am lowly and meek And behold the King cometh meek riding on an Ass the Foal of an Ass who is the high and lofty One who inhabiteth Isa 57. 1â— Eternity whose Name is Holy who dwelleth in the high and holy Heavens in him also that is of an humble and contrite Spirit to revive the heart of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones whose Nature is Everlasting and who is the Spring thereof but he who is without beginning of dayes or end of life who is a Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedeck as aforesaid from whom every thing that is like him springs Concerning Conscience he saith It is a natural Principle and what that Nature is I have already shewed not to be eradicated by any Act of man so it is Eternal for what man cannot eradicate is not of man a severe reprover and sharp Corrector of those bold sinners who offer violence to it by the Doctors leave if I may so say after the usual manner amongst men that which witnesseth in the Conscience is that which here is put under the notion of Conscience for there be whose very Consciences are defiled who have made shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience whose Conscience is seared with a hot Iron and so whilst such it answereth not or not aright But that which witnesseth in Conscience which is the severe Reprover the sharp Corrector
mistrusting their cause and suspecting they should be accused of heinous crimes absented themselves on set purpose So they were divided into two Factions When that side prevailed that would reason concerning matters of Faith the Complices of Acacius Bishop of Cesarea moved that the Nicene Creed should be abrogated which was the first Faction and that a new form of Faith be laid down so Faiths Faith 's turned up and down â—as the Wind doth Weathercocks are turned up and down as the Wind doth Weathercocks Georgius Bishop of Laodicea in Syria and the others with him which was the greater number and the other Faction approved all other things of the Council of Nice the clause of one Substance onely laid aside And whilst they thus brawled together saith the History They brawl from morning to night from morning to night Silvanus Bishop of Tarsus cryed out That it was not their part to lay down a new form of Faith but to retain inviolable that which was decided at Antioch at the dedication of the Church Presently Acacius and his party rising up got them away who being gone the Creed concluded on at Antioch The Creed at Antioch concluded on the Council dissolved They meet in the Church at Seleucia and barring the doors sign the Creed was read and immediately the Council was dissolved The day after meeting in the Church of Seleucia they bar the doors and ratifie with their Subscription the form of Faith which was read the day before in their stead who were sent their Readers and Deacons subscribed for they had signified before that they would by their Deputies approve the aforesaid Creed Here is a great clutter about Creeds attended with bloody and Creeds and their clutter and bloody consequences The reason ground of the inserting of these things terrible consequences which is something indeed to me to draw forth and it may prove tedious to the Reader but being ingaged as I have shewed in a matter of this importance I cannot pass them by but in the way of a Chronologie to draw what is convenient to be said hereunto before the Reader This was the fruit of the first dayes sitting of the Council the Cap. 23 The first dayes work found fault with because the doors were shut by Acacius and his Complices because done in hucker-mucker who sought to introduce a Faith of his own which he read in the presence of the Emperors Presidents This was the second dayes work next day Acacius and his Complices found great fault with the Canons of that Council because subscribed when the doors were shut And saith he the things which are done in hucker mucker as they ought not to be approved so are they not void of suspition This he said because he had another form of Faith ready to be offered which he read in the presence of Lauricius and Leonas which were noble Men and appointed for this Council This bent his whole might to have only the same confirmed Nothing besides this was done the second day of the Council The third day Leonas went about to bring both parties together Leonas the President seeks to bring all together on the third day on which Macedonius and Basilius appear Acacius c. refuse to appear till they were put out being formerly deposed they are put out Leonas proposes Acacius his Book at which time Mecedonius and Basilius were present These being present Acacius his Confederates would not appear but said It was requisite they should be banished the Assembly who of late had been deposed and then also were accused These prevailing the accused left the Council whom Acacius and his Company succeeded Then Leonas stood up and said Acacius had presented him with a Book yet knew they not that it was a form of Faith which sometimes privily and sometimes openly and plainly confuted the Opinion of the contrary part which they giving diligent ear unto all being silent thinking nothing less but this had been a form of Faith At length Acacius read his own Creed Acacius reads his own Faith The preambulatory protestation with a kind of preambulatory protestation in the beginning thereof We saith he who by the Emperors Edict met yesterday that is the fifth of the Calends of October in Seleucia in Isauria have laboured with all might possible to continue unity and agreement in the Church of God to dispute and reason of the Faith according to the sacred testimonies of the Prophets and Evangelists with modest and quiet minds as the most virtuous Emperor Constantius hath given in charge and to conclude nothing for Canons of the Church which might be found contrary to the Holy Scriptures but seeing there were such kind of men at the Council which railed at some shut up some others mouths forbad those to speak excluded others from their company joyned with them out of divers Provinces certain deposed and excluded persons and entertained them contrary to the old Canon of the Church The Council as Lauritius the most valiant Captain saw more is the pitty with his own eyes was all set on tumult and grievous dissention We have spoken these things to the end that you may understand we reject not the form of Faith that was published at the dedication at Antioch c. And so goes on and reads his Creed whereunto he He and his party subscribes his Creed and his party subscribed Which being read Sophronius Bishop of Pompeyopolis in Pyhlogonia It 's opposed by Sophronius his Speech stood up and spake after this manner If that the new devices and daily invention of your brains be laid down for Creeds it cannot otherwise fall out but that shortly we shall be found without any one grain of Faith In my Opinion saith the Historian if The Historians Opinion upon these confusions that his Ancestors and such as lived then with him had so setled thetr minds as touching the Nicene Council all these stirs and tumults had been quite taken away all this hurly-burly this rash and unadvised sedition had never reigned in the Church but to what pass saith he things are now come let them judge that can better discern and give sentence thereof When they had reasoned to and fro of this matter and of them that were accused and had brawled together a long while as saith the History at last the Council brake up The Council breaks up The fourth day they assembled again and afresh they chide They chide afresh the fourth day Acacius his Speech in behalf of his Faith one another in circumstance of talk Acacius gave forth this Verdict following If the Nicene Creed was once altered of old and afterwards often what can you say to the contrary but that a new form of Faith without any prejudice at all might be established of us Eleusius made answer We are not come to this Assembly for The answer thereunto by Eleusius to learn that which we have