the eighteenth before the Calends of October and Lucius succeeded him who shortly after was banished In the second of Gallienus was he beheaded and after a vacancy of 35 dayes Stephen succeeded on the ninth of April the first feria who interceding for Basilides condemned by the Spaniards they defended their right against him and condemned his usurpation against the Africans as appeareth from Cyprian's Epistles as also that the boldnesse of the Roman Sea was now checked by all the Provinces After three years Stephen was beheaded by the command of Valerian and Sixtus succeeded him who being beheaded when Laurence the Deacon was fried to death by the command of Valerian Dionysius succeeded After him came Felix and then Eutychianus who being martyred in the first of Carus after nine dayes Caius succeeded December 16. Caius was crowned with Martyrdom in the twelfth of Diocletian and after eleven dayes Marcellinus succeeded who through fear offering incense to Idols when he denied it was overborn by the testimony of a multitude of witnesses confessed his fault and afterwards redeemed his credit by suffering Martyrdom Marcellus succeeded him After Marcellus succeeded Eusebius and then Miltiades then Sylvester who was Bishop at the time of the Council of Nice in the twentieth year of Constantine 19. After Alexander Mazabanes was Bishop of Jerusalem untill the reign of Gallus and Volusianus after him Hymeneus till the time of Aurelian Then followed Zambdas and Hermon according to (a) Lib. 7. c. 19. Eusebius who writeth that the Sea of Jerusalem was alwaies honoured and the succession continued unto his own dayes After Hermon Macarius was Bishop Socrat. Scholast l. 1. cap. 9 13. and was present at the Council of Nice In the Church of Antioch after Philetus succeeded Zebinus and then Babylas who died in prison in the persecution under Decius Him followed Fabius him Demetrianus and him Paulus Samosatenus the heretick who denying the Divinity of the Son of God was excommunicated and deprived by the second Synod held against him at Antioch in the dayes of (c) Euseb l. 7. c. 29 30. Aurelianus And when he would neither depart the Church nor avoid the house the Emperour was besought the first application to the Prince in this nature by the Christians to interpose and command by edict that such should have the house as agreed in doctrine with the followers of the Bishop of Rome and Italy Domnus was by the Synod appointed to succeed him after whom followed Timeus Cyrillus Dorotheus Tyrannus Vitalis Philogonus a Martyr and (d) Socrat. l. 1. c. 9 23. Eustathius who was at the Council of Nice He fell into the Heresie of Sabellius who being the Scholar of Noetus taught that the three Persons of the Trinity were but one but they differed in that Sabellius said not the Father to have suffered He was deposed by a Council held at Antioch Eusebius Pamphilius Bishop of Caesarea confuted him After his deposition the Sea was vacant eight years In the Sea of Alexandria after Heraclas Dionysius the Scholar of Origen was Bishop in the third year of Philip. He reporteth in (e) Quem vid. l. 6 7. passim Eusebius the peril he stood in and the persecution he suffered under Decius He wrote of the Alexandrian Martyrs to Fabius Bishop of Antioch and to Novatus the Heretick who being a Priest of Rome fell from his order and calling his Sect Cathari would not admit unto the Church such as fell after repentance and he abhorred second mariage Dionysius also wrote to Hermanion to Steven and Xistus Bishops of Rome unto Philemon a Minister of Rome and unto Dionysius Bishop of Rome He confuted the Book of Nepos the Chiliast and confounded in open disputation Coracion his disciple Hitherto this error of the Millenaries propagated by Papias had many of the Fathers that adhered to it who yet held that Christ when he came was to do his own work without any prejudice to Earthly Princes in the mean time Some observe that Dionysius striking at this error traduceth the Apocalypse as also defending the distinction of Persons against Sabellius seemeth to make three Essences Many betook themselves to Dionysius Bishop of Rome that he would reclaim him and obtained it After he had governed the Church seventeen years he died and Maximinus succeeded him whom followed Theonas and him Peter who was martyred under Diocletian Him succeeded Achillas and then came Alexander who was at the Council of Nice Hee by preaching of the Trinity somewhat curiously gave occasion to Arius one of his Clergy to fall from the Faith as * L. 1. c. 5. Socrates informeth us 20. In the fifth year of Philip whilst Fabianus was Bishop of Rome Donatus the Bishop of Carthage died and Cyprian succeeded him by consent of all men except Felicissimus who whilest the Heathens invaded his patrimony endeavoured to deprive him of his Bishoprick Felicissimus was ordained Bishop by Novatus Vita epistolae Cypriani who also ordained Novatianus against Cornelius Bishop of Rome Yet Cornelius favoured Felicissimus against Cyprian and would have taken Cognisance of their businesse whereupon Cyprian vehemently rebuketh him and denies that any one beyond the Sea hath right to passe judgement upon any matters concerning Africk And a little after the pride of the Roman Sea was reprehended by all those of the Provinces an occasion being given about Basilides who being censured in Spain complained to Stephen the Bishop of Rome Cyprian was several times driven into exile (a) Lib. 7. c. 3. Eusebius maketh him to have erred in rebaptizing Hereticks In the fourth of Valerian died Origen seventy years old Origen a man of admirable parts most austere life indefatigable industry and stupendious learning but of impure Doctrine Jerome sheweth how full of portentous errours his book 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is (b) Quem consule de Civitate Dei l. 21. c. 17. Augustin saith he held the Devil at length should be delivered from Hell and associated with the holy Angels and for this and other things especially for holding alternate or successive blessednesse and misery for ever the Church did reject him Pamphilus wrote an Apology for him But his works are to be read with especial care and especially his Commentaries upon the Scripture concerning some of which Theodore (c) In Rom. cap. 3. vers 20. Beza passeth this censure Certe hoc ausim dicere si haec sunt Origenis cujus titulum praeferunt hunc hominem fuisse selectum Diaboli organum Apostolicae Doctrinae evertendae destinatum for he evaporateth the solid and substantial Doctrine of the Gospel into Allegorical and aery Notions 21. But God having exercised his people by many a fiery trial was pleased to preserve the bush unburned and at length to grant them Peace by Constantine who proved a nursing father to the Church taking away all penal Laws against them and enacting new ones not onely for their preservation but convenience and
of Vindex as to be called an unskilfull Musician after the name of his family Aenobarbus yet at length terrified by many messages he returned to Rome Now had he most horrid projects in his head as of killing the Captains and Governours of Provinces with all the Exiles and all of Gallish Original at Rome of poysoning the whole Senate in feasting burning the Citie and letting loose wild beasts upon the people thereby to hinder the quenching of the flames From these things he was thought to be terrified more by despair of accomplishing them than out of any repentance concerning his purpose In preparing for his expedition his especial care was for the choice of carriages wherein to convey his Concubines and instruments for the stage 42. When he heard of the revolt of the rest of the Armies in a great rage taking some poyson with him in a Golden box he left his house and sending some of his trustiest servants to Ostia to make ready some ships moved the Tribunes and Centurions of his Guard about flying with him but some staggering at it and hanging backwards others flatly refused it Then he considered whether he should not fly to the Parthian or in an humble manner to Galba or whether going to the Rostra in a mourning habit he should not there ask pardon in as dolefull a manner as he could for what was past but he was fearfull to be pulled in pieces ere he could reach the publick meeting-place and put off those thoughts till the next day At night finding his Guards withdrawn he started out of his bed and sending his friends about to their Lodgings went also himself but none would answer so that he returned to his Chamber whence his attendants also were now fled having taken away the furniture and removed out of the way the box of poyson Then desired he that some one would kill him but none attempting it Then saith he I have neither Friend nor Enemy and run down as to throw himself into Tiber. But stopping ere he came there he desired some lurking hole wherein he might recover his spirits and Phaon his Freedman offering him his assistance he went with him to a Village four miles distant in a disguise hearing as he passed the prayers of the people for his destruction A. D. 69. Ol. 211. ann 4. V. C. 821. Here being called on to rid himself out of the way and prevent the abuses which else would fall upon him he ordered things to be prepared for his dead body weeping and adding Qualis Artifex perâ—â— How excellent an Artist do I die Understanding at length that he was declared an Enemy by the Senate and how he was sought for to be punished more majorum or after the custom of their Ancestors and upon his enquity hearing that this kind of death was to be stripped and having his neck made fast in a Pillory to be whipped to death he called for two Daggers the points of which he onely felt and put them up again pretending that his fatal hour was not yet come He bade Porus lament and weep and wished that some would help him by their own example to kill himself He killeth himself chiding also himself for his backwardnesse Certain hors-men now drawing near to fetch him alive he at length effected it by the help of Epaphroditus his Freed-man on the fourth of the Ides of June having reigned 13 years seven moneths and 28 dayes in the 32th of his age and the 821 of the Citie An. Dn. 68. C. Silius Italicus and M. Valerius Traehalus being Consuls Vespasian asked Apollonius what was Nero 's overthrow He answered Nero could touch and tune the Harp well noting his excessive delight in that Instrument But in government sometimes he used to wind the pins too high sometimes to let them down too low The unequal and untimely Enterchange of power Pressed too far and Relaxed too much destroyeth authority above all things Ecclesiastical matters in his time 43. About the later end of Nero's second year St. Paul was sent bound to Rome by Festus where he continued in durance two years In his third year living at Rome in free custody he wrote to the Ephesians Philippians Colossians and Philemon Consule Lud. Cappellum in Histor Eccles Illustrata Tacitum Annal l. 15. c. 44. Euseb Eccles Hist l. 2. c. 25. l. 3. c. 1. About the end of the fourth he seemeth to have been set at liberty and thence to have returned into Greece and Asia where for five or six years he established the Churches he had founded In the eleventh year of Nero he is said to have suffered Martyrdom at Rome For Nero having set the Citie on fire accused the Christians as Tacitus writeth and exposed them to ignominious deaths Some he caused to be covered with the skins of wild beasts that they might be devoured of Dogs others to be Crucified and others burnt alive and that in the night that they might give light to passengers He offered his own Garden for this show and celebrated the Circensian Games amongst the common sort in the habit of a Chariot driver who could not have raged against Christianity as Tertullian observeth but that some excellency was in it In this First persecution besides Paul who was beheaded and many others Peter also was Crowned with Martyrdom being Crucified as 't is reported with his head downward which kind of death himself desired because he would die in a more dishonourable sort than his Lord and Master But some will have St. Paul and Peter to have suffered Martyrdom in the last year of Nero's reign and that on June the 29. insomuch that Chrysostome saith that the day of Pauls death was more known than that of Alexander 44. After the Martyrdom of James sirnamed Just the First Bishop of Jerusalem whom Eusebius (a) Eccles Hist l. 2. c. 23. from Clemens reporteth to have been thrown down from a Pinacle of the Temple and brained with a Fuller's Club who governed that Sea thirty years Simon (b) Idem l. 3. cap. 11. Cleopas the Lords Cousin German one of the 70 Disciples and which saw Christ with his eyes was chosen into his place by the Apostles and Disciples themselves being gathered together for this purpose After the Martyrdom of Peter (c) Idem l. 3. c. 2 13 19. in Chron. Linus one of the 70 Disciples of whom Paul made mention succeeded him in the Sea of Rome where he continued Bishop twelve years though some place his Martyrdom also in the last year of Nero and the ninth before the Calends of October Evodius one of the 70 Disciples whom St. Paul remembred in his Epistles was Bishop of Antioch being by Eusebius said to be the first known to govern that Church Him succeeded Ignatius (d) Idem l. 3. c. 19 32 in Chron. Tritem the Disciple of John who wrote as they say to Mary the Mother of Christ and Mary unto him
again He wrote unto John the Evangelist and to Polycarpus his Disciple Besides he wrote sundry other notable Epistles yet extant and in the eleventh year of Trajan was brought to Rome and torn in pieces of wild beasts as will be shewn Eusebius writeth that he was the second Bishop by succession after Peter in the Church of Antioch When Nero had reigned the space of eight years Lib. 2. 24. saith the Historian first after Mark the Evangelist Anianus took the government of the Church of Alexandria a man both virtuous and renowned in all respects CHAP. III. From the death of Nero to that of Domitian the last of the family of Vespasian the space of 27 years 1. GALBA after the death of Nero obtained the Principality yet not long Galba succeedeth Nero. for being Emperour Tacitus Histor lib. 1. Sueton in Galba he maintained not the opinion which had been conceived of him whilest a private man for that he gave way to a cruel and covetous humour acting all things according to the will and lust of three men whom the people thence called his School-masters But his severity towards the Soldiers especially that speech Legi à se militem non emi procured his ruin who upon the revolt of the Armies in upper Germany betrayed him to M. Salvius Otho notwithstanding he had adopted Piso He was murdered by them in the Forum near the place where Curtius rode into the hole Is murdered by his Soldiers and his head being cut off for some time was carried up and down on a spear till his Enemies had with the sight satisfied their flouting appetite and then it was buried with the body He died on the 17th of the Calends of February in the 73th year of his age having reigned seven moneths 2. Otho seized on the Empire by the help of his Soldiers having resolved it after he saw Piso preferred before him Otho seizeth on the Empire Idem ibid. Tacitus Histor lib. 2. Plutarch in Othone He was Nero's great friend and companion and now refused not to be called by his very name suffered his Images and Statues to be restored as also his Officers and Freed-men to their several places and the first thing he subscribed to was for money to finish his golden house But A. Vitellius was shortly after saluted Emperour in Germany by the Army there being son to L. Vitellius who governed Syria Being sent into Germany by Galba he denied nothing to the Soldiers but granted them their wills with impunity in all things and for that was rewarded with this Election Hereupon Otho desired the Senate that they would send to him to acquaint him with his Election and to perswade him to be quiet but he himself by Letters offered to be onely partner with him in the Soveraignty and to be his son-in-law The Enemy drawing near the Praetorian bands stood very faithfully to him Being opposed by Vitellius even so far that with much ado and with the slaughter of some of their Officers were they kept from destroying the Senate which they suspected to be false to him His interest was to draw out the War in length having the Enemy at advantage who was straightned both for necessaries and by reason of the narrownesse of the passage But he rashly and imprudently resolved on a battel either for that Vitellius was not yet come or urged by the earnestnesse of the Soldiers They had four ingagements whereof in the first three he had the better but in the last at Bebriacum a Village in Italy betwixt Cremona and Verona now called Labemein was worsted yet so as he might without difficulty have recovered himself though taken at unaware and deceived by pretence of a parley But being ashamed to seek his own establishment with the hazard of so many mens lives He killeth himself rather than out of any desperation he killed himself He was much extolled for his generous death as it was accounted which rendred him so much more desirable than his life had done that many thought him to have killed Galba not so much out of the desire of rule as to restore liberty so called to the Commonwealth He died on the 12th before the Calends of May in the 38th year of his age and the 95th day of his Empire 3. Otho being dead though Vitellius was detested by those at Rome yet when they heard how things went they began to flatter Tacitus Histor l. 2. c. 3. Sueton in Vitellio and gave him the title of Emperour The Army of upper Germany which first mutined against Galba turning to him Vitellius owned as Emperour he gladly received the sirname of Germanicus but deferred the title of Augustus and utterly refused that of Caesar When yet in Gall he heard of the event of the battel at Bebriacum he presently cashiered the Praetorian bands as giving a bad example of revolt and 120 which had demanded a reward of Otho for killing Galba he commanded to be sought and put to death Hereby he much commended himself to the People and gave hopes of an excellent Prince but carrying on all things afterwards according to his natural inclination and former course of life he deserved to be ranked amongst the worst of Governours 4. He returned to Rome in a triumphant manner and gave up himself to luxury and excesse wherein he also tolerated his family and Soldiers as in all manner of wickednesse Coming through the fields where the Armies fought when many loathed the noisomnesse of the carsseises he stuck not to say Is very vicious Optime olere occisum hostem melius civem that A slain Enemy smells well but sweeter a Citizen He drunk much wine in the place before them all to prevent any hurt that might proceed from the stench and caused this liquour to be distributed to the Soldiers with the like vanity and insolence Entring the City as into a field with trumpets sounding to the charge with colours flying and in his coat-armour he fell more and more into the neglect of all Laws divine and humane He made himself Perpetual Consul and that it might be seen after whose pattern he meant to govern in the Campus Martius attended by a number of Priests he sacrifized for the Soul of Nero and at a solemn feast commanding a Musician to sing something of Domitius he leaped up and applauded the beginning of Nero's songs He governed State matters at the will and discretion of the vilest Player and chariot driver especially of Asiaticus his Freed-man He gave himself over to such luxury as he had been accustomed to in the dayes of Caius and Nero especially to gluttony the abhominable excesse whereof turned him into a very Monster For he would eat four or five meals a day which that he might be able to bear he used frequent vomiting and inviting himself to the houses of his friends he would as Nero did put them to incredible expenses At his coming
a man of Consular dignity and next Cornelius Fuscus Captain of the Guards in several sore and bloody battels insomuch that the Historians of those times have thought fittest to passe over in silence the number of the slain Yet at length he triumphed over them all He was also struck at by a Civil War raised by L. Antonius President of upper Germany whom he had incensed by the odiousnesse of his vices and especially by uncivil language Which yet he overcometh This he finished absent with admirable felicity for that very hour the fight was to be the Rhine swelled so high that it hindred the Auxiliaries which were sent to Antonius from joyning with him In the second year of his reign Agricola defeated the Ordovices in Britain Tacitus in vita Agricolae and took the Isle Mona about Autumn and that upon his first coming into the Island So that the years of the Expeditions which Tacitus afterwards relateth are rather to be reckoned from the Kalends of January of the former year as Jacobus Cappellus hinteth Though Dion Cassius as appeareth from Xiphilin referred the discovery of that Britain an Island to the reign of Titus Yet others unto the time of Domitian who at length envying Agricola that great glory he had got in reducing Britain recalled him under pretence of sending him into Asia and he died two years after on the tenth of the Calends of September in the 56 year of his age Pompeius Collega and Cornelius Priscus being Consuls Whether hee died of poyson or not though there wanted not suspitions Tacitus his son-in-law dareth not affirm His cruelty 30. Domitian having suppressed the rebellion of Antonius grew extraordinarily cruel putting men to death upon small and trivial accounts Those of any note that were of his party he tortured to death by wayes unheard of and confounded the cause of the innocent with that of the guilty raging against the Christians with a second persecution He arrived at that horrid arrogance that he sticked not to say in the Senate that he gave the Empire to his father and brother who did but restore it to him and what was worse than this he would be called our Lord and God Being hereby rendred terrible and hatefull unto all he wrought his own destruction which fearing and being foretold it by the Chaldaeans he grew timorous out of measure and was ruined with the least suspition Hence did he cause the place where he was wont to abide to be beset with the stone Phengites that he might see if any one came behind him and though he was sufficiently ambitious yet did he refuse an extraordinary honour offered him by the Senate viz. that when he bore the Consulship Knights should go before him with spears amongst the Sergeants Hence also he put Epaphroditus his Secretary to death because it was believed that he had helped Nero in dispatching himself and he killed Flavius his Uncle though he had openly owned his two sons as his Successors whereof the one he called Vespasian and the other Domitian His death which hastened his destruction Eight moneths after he was slain by his own servants of whom Parthenius the chief of his Chamber was principal Domitia his wife being drawn in to the conspiracy A. D. 96. V. C. 849. Domitiani 15. for that she feared to be poysoned for her kindnesse to Paris Longinus Proculus then in Germany is said to have foretold the very day of his death and Apollonius Tyanaeus a famous Magitian who being convented before him vanished out of fight spoke of it that very hour exhorting Stephanus as it were to strike him home The people took his death indifferently the Soldiers heavily which they shortly after revenged upon the murtherers but the Senate as it were triumphed and ordered the memory of him to be abolished The best thing we find concerning him was that though he was no Scholar himself he took care for repaiting of Libraries He was murthered on the fourteenth before the Calends of October in the 45th year of his age and the 15th of his reign in the 849 year of the Citie A. D. 96. T. Fulvius Valens and C. Antistius Vetus being Consuls In his time flourished Statius Papinius who beginneth the fourth book of his Sylvae with the celebration of his 17th Consulship which fell in with the 14th of his reign Juvenal and Martial also flourished at this time whereof the later was of Equestrian rank though ever poor as * Sum fatcor semperque fui Callistrate pauper Sed non obscurus nec male notus eques he himself witnesseth 31. Now must we give a short account of Ecclesiastical affairs according to the course of time and matter Ecclesiastical matters in his time (a) Euseb Eccles Hist l. 3. c. 4. L. 4. c. 22. Dionysius the Areopagite being by St. Paul who converted him to the faith made Bishop of Athens governed that Church in the time of Nero and afterwards There are extant several works under his name but suspected and sundry Epistles whereof one to John the Evangelist then in the Isle Pathmos and another unto Polycarpus Linus the Bishop of Rome being Crowned with Martyrdom on the ninth of the Calends of October Bishops in the last year of Nero according to Damasus Cletus or Anacletus succeeded him in that Sea Some next unto Linus do place Clemens then Cletus and then Anacletus But Irenaeus Eusâ—bius and Epiphanius rank them thus Peter Linus Cletus or Anacletus Clemens for he whom Irenaeus and Eusebius call Anacletus is by Epiphanius and Damasus called Cletus This Cletus according to Damasus died in the 2 year of Domitian on the sixth before the Calends of May and was succeeded by Anacletus But (b) Lib. 3. c. 14. Eusebius maketh Anacletus to have been Bishop twelve years and in the 12th of Domitian to have been succeeded by Clemens whom St. Paul in his Epistle to the Philippians calleth his fellow labourer In the fourth year of the reign of Domitian (c) Idem ibid. c. 13. Anianus the first Bishop of Alexandria having continued there 32 years died to whom succeeded Abilius As for the Bishops of Byzantium afterwards called Constantinople we have them in this order from (d) Vide Joseph Scaliger in Eusebianis pag. 313. Nicephorus the Patriarch The first was Andrew the Apostle who having preached the word at Byzantium and built an Oratory in Argâ—ropolis ordained Stachys to be Bishop of whom (e) Rom. 16.9 St. Paul maketh mention Stachys governed 16 years after him succeeded in the year of our Lord 55 Onesimus who governed 14. then Polycarpus ruled 17. and Eleutherius 7. who came to the Chair A. D. 85. in the second of Domitian 32. Domitian having raised the second persecution against the Christian faith St. John the Apostle who having continued at Ephesus 27 years was in the ninth of his reign banished into the Island (a) Euseb Eccles Hist l. 3. c.
most holy Marty on the 20 of December as it is recorded in his Acta or the Memorials of him collected by Philo Whom he causeth to be cast to wild beasts at Rome Gaius and Agathopes who followed him from Syria to Rome concerning which as also three Epistles which go under his name the Dissertations of the most Reverend and Learned Arch-Bishop of Armagh are to be consulted 5. Ignatius being vexed by a tedious journey that his constancy might be shaken when he came to Troas or new Troy Consule usserium in notis ad Epist Ignatii ad Philadelphenos built not far from the place where that of Priamus stood understood that Peace was restored to his Church of Antioch This came to passe whilst Trajan stist continued there consulting about the Parthian War as appeareth from Malela the Historian of that City Tiberianus his letter to Trajan For Tiberianus the President of the chief Nation of Palestine moved the Emperour to moderation by this letter I am wearied with punishing and putting to death the Galilaeans who come before us under the name of Christians according to your Commands yet they cease not to reveal themselves for the slaughter And although I have laboured both by exhortation and threatnings that they might not dare to make known themselves to me as professors of that doctrine yet being prosecueed they do not cease I desire therefore that what your pleasure is in this kind your Majesty would please to certifie me * In voce 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Suidas mentioning also this message of Tiberianus unto Trajan Mitigateth the Persecution addeth that the Emperour forbad all his Subjects to punish the Christians Yet that this indulgence was not so universal but that it most especially concerned Palaestine Syria and other parts of the East where the Emperour then resided appeateth from Ignatius his deprecation that the persecution might cease when he was even to be brought into the Amphitheatre as the Acta or Memorials concerning him relate But besides this Letter of Tiberianus there is extant another of Pliny the younger who was moved to write to the Emperour upon the same occasion and for the same end 6. For being Propraetor of Bithynia the variety of cases in those that were accused troubled him As also the letter of Pliny Junior although Plin. Epist 97. l. 10. to comply with the iniquity of the times he declareth that such as stood out his threatnings thrice he commanded to be led to punishment He signifieth that out of such as had formerly been Christians but now worshipped the Images of the Emperour and the gods and blasphemed Christ he could not get any confession of any other fault or error than that they were wont on a day appointed before it was light to meet together and sing an hymn to Christ and bound themselves by a Sacramentum or religious oath not for any wickednesse but that they should not commit robbery theft or adultery that they should not break promise nor cheat Which being done they were wont to depart and meet again to eat promiscuously but innocently To get out the truth he tortured two women servants but could not find any thing justly chargeable though through his Ethnick pravity and desire to please the Emperour he termeth the faith Superstitio prava immodica or a naughty and immoderat superstition He addeth that it seemed to him a thing worthy of serious consideration especially for the number of those that were in danger for many saith he of every age and order and of both Sexes are brought and will be brought into danger For not onely hath the contagion of this superstition gone through Cities but also Villages and fields which as it seemeth might be stopped and corrected To be sure it 's clear enough that the Temples which were almost desolate begin to be frequented and the sacrifices of long time intermitted to be restored beasts for that is use now going off which till now scarcely any would buy Whereby it is easie to guesse what a multitude of men might be reclaimed if there were but place for repentance Thus Pliny to whom Trajan answereth that we may onely repeat the sum that Christians are not to be sought for but if accused and convicted except they recant to be punished concerning the absurdity and injustice of which Sentence Tertullian excellently argueth in his * Chap. 2. Apology most worthy to be read of all Christians 7. In the reign of Trajan died St. John the Apostle the time and manner of his death being uncertain The death of St. John the Apostle though all agree as to the place which was Ephesus (a) In Jovinian l. 1. Jerome referreth his death to the 68 year after the Passion of Christ which fell in with the third of Trajan and the 27 of December on the first Feria (b) Arabica Kirstenii apud Jacob. Cappellum ad A. D. 103. Others place it in the 71 after Christs Passion and the sixth of Trajan Dorothaeus Bishop of Tyre in his tract written concerning the lives ends and Martyrdoms of the Prophets Apostles and 70 Disciples writeth that being 120 years old yet living the Lord would so have it he buried himself (c) Ut supra in Mat. c. 20. Jerome alleged out of Tertullian that in the time of Nero though others say in the reign of Domitian he was thrown at Rome into a tun of hot boyling oil yet thereby took no harm but came out after this trial purer than he went in (d) In John tract 124. Augustine calleth him a Martyr by will Polycrates Bishop of Ephesus as (e) Lib. 3. c. 31. Eusebius allegeth sticketh not to call him a Priest a Martyr and a Doctor But that which (f) Ubi supra Augustine writeth of his end is strangest of all and let the credit thereof rest in the choise of the Reader How John caused at Ephesus his grave to be made and in presence of divers went in alive and being no sooner in and to their seeming dead they covered him Which kind of rest saith he is rather to be termed a sleep than death For that the earth of the grave bubleth or boyleth up after the manner of a Well by reason of John's resting in it and breathing a sign of his slumbring therein Though he died at Ephesus yet was not the succeeding Bishop much lesse any other Heir of that Authority which for so many years he had obtained in the Church as having many years outlived the rest of the Apostles For to the Apostles succeeded not Apostles nor universal Messengers of Christ of which sort John was for many years and he alone but Bishops every one circumscribed within his own limits In the dayes of Trajan and this third persecution was Crucified (g) Euseb l. 3. cap. 32. Simeon Cleophas Bishop of Jerusalem being 120 years old Justus a Jew succeeded him after whom some place
Lucius and was commanded to adopt Marcus but they being both young Hadrian adopted Pius and commanded him to adopt Lucius and Marcus Antoninus Pius F. Auâ—elius Fulvius Antoninus for his goodnesse sirnamed Pius the son of Aurelius Fulvius and born in Gall within the Alpes succeeded Adrian There was little stir in the Provinces during his reign onely something was done in Britain against the Natives by Lollius his Lieutenant and some bickering with the Jews the last and weakest struglings of a dying Nation Now was another wall of turf made in Britain and for the Victories obtained by Lollius Urbicus the Emperour was saluted Britanicus who as * In Arcadicis Pausanias telleth us fined the Brigantes part of their grounds because they had fallen with War upon the Genunii the Allies of the Roman People And at this time saith Cambden as we collect out of Jabolenus Seius Saturnius was Archigubernus of the Navy in Britain But whether by this title he was an Admiral of the said Navy or a principal Pilot or the Master of a ship I would have the Lawyers to tell Antoninus ruled with such care moderation and humanity that he was called another Numa all things flourishing in calmnesse and tranquility He repaired several Cities that had been overturned with Earthquakes in which and other respects Pausanias giveth him large commendations He was excellently learned a subtil and deep Philosopher He was rendered favourable to Christianity by the Apologies of Justin Martyr and the supplications of others in behalf of the faithful in Asia which were grieved with all sorts of contumelies practized against them by their Provincials He graciously sent a constitution in their behalf unto the body of Asia which was read at Ephesus in the audience of this great Assembly and yet is preserved to our sight in the end of Justin Martyr his second Apology and by Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical History according to this tenour 16. The Emperour Caesar Titus Aelius Adrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius Pontifex Maximus fifteen times enjoying the power of Tribune four times Consul not thrice as it is corruptly written in Eusebius Father of the Country to the People of Asia Health I know the gods are careful to disclose hurtful persons For they punish such as will not worship them more grievously than you do those whom you bring in trouble confirming that opinion which they have of you to be wicked and ungodly men It 's their desire in Gods quarrel His edict in behalf of the Christians rather to die than live So that they become conquerours yielding their lives unto the death rather than to obey Edicts It shall seem very necessary to admonish you of the Earthquakes which have and do happen amongst us that being therewith moved you may compare our estate with theirs They have more confidence to Godward than you have you during the time of your ignorance despise other gods contemn the Religion of the immortal God banish the Christians which worship him and persecute them unto the death In the behalf of these men many of the Principal Presidents have written heretofore unto our Father of famous memory whom he answered in writing again that they were not to be longer molested unlesse they had practized treason against the Roman Empire And many have informed us of the same matter whom we answered as our Father did before us If any therefore hereafter be found thus busied in other mens affaires we command that the accused be absolute and free though he be found such an one I mean as faulty and that the accuser be grievously punished That this Edict was proclamed at Ephesus in the hearing of the great Assembly of Asia witnesse is Meliton saith Eusebius Bishop of Sardis who flourished at that time in his profitable Apology for our doctrine delivered unto the Emperour Verus But Antoninus died on the Nones of March after he had reigned 22 years seven moneths and 26 dayes in the first year of the 235 Olympiad the 914 of the City A. D. 161. In his time flourished besides many excellent Lawyers and Justin the Christian Philosopher the son of Priscus Bacchius and born in Flavia a new City of Palaestine as he saith himself Polycarpus Bishop of Smyrna Galen that excellent Physician and Aelian Writer of the natural and various Histories 17. In the first year of Pius died Telesphorus Bishop of Rome on the Nones of January Bishops the Sea was vacant seven dayes both the terms being excluded and then Hyginus the ninth Bishop succeeded on the Ides of January and the first feria In the fifth of Pius died Hyginus on the third of the Ides of January and Pius succeeded him when Sex Erucius Clarus and Cn. Claudius Severus as Damasus will have it were Consuls which if it be true the Sea was vacant four years In the thirteenth of Pius Damasus died Pius the Bishop on the fifth of the Ides of July and his seat being vacant fourteen dayes Anicetus the eleventh succeeded him on the 25 of July the first feria (a) Euseb l. 4. c. 5 6. From the Passion of our Saviour till the eighteenth year of Adrian there were fifteen Bishops in the Church of Jerusalem all Jews In the which year after the utter overthrow the siege and conquering of the City under the said Aelius Adrianus Jerusalem was called Aelia and began to be inhabited of strange Nations Until (b) Idem l. 4. c. 22. wellnigh this time this Church was called a pure and uncorrupted Virgin for till about the year 110 there was no false doctrine sown there Of the Gentiles (c) Idem l. 4. c. 6. l. 5. c. 11. Marcus was the first Bishop of Jerusalem After Abilius (d) Idem l. 3. c. 21. Cerdo was Bishop of Alexandria in the first year of Trajan where he continued thirteen years Him succeeded Primus who continued in the Sea twelve years After Primus was (e) Idem l. 4. c. 4 5. Justus Bishop of Alexandria where he continued eleven years After Justus (f) Idem l. 4. c. 5 11. Eumenes was Bishop and so continued thirteen years He was succeeded by Marcus who governed that Church ten years Then followed (g) Idem l. 4. c. 11 20. Celadion who continued fourteen years And in the Sea of Antioch that we may still continue the series of Bishops formerly began after Heros who succeeded Ignatius (h) Idem l. 4. c. 20. Cornelius was Bishop about the twelfth of Adrian Hereticks 18. After the Bishops and Fathers of the Church it 's convenient to continue the series of Hereticks formerly laid down About the year 110 (a) Euseb l. 4. c. 22. Thebulis was the first Heretick in the Church of Jerusalem It 's said that he fell from the Faith because they would not chuse him Bishop after Simeon About the same time were certain Hereticks called Ophitae who worshipped a Serpent and thought that the Serpent which
deceived Adam and Eve was Christ they kept a living Serpent which with opening of the chest and charming of the Priest came forth licked the bread upon the altar Epiphan haeres 37. August l. de haeretib and wrapped it self about it Their manner was to kisse the bread and so to eat believing verily that the Serpent had consecrated it They defended themselves that the Nicolaitans and Gnosticks delivered them this service About the same time there were certain Jews which believing in Christ called themselves Nazarai of Nazareth Epiphan haeres 29. In confessing Jesus Christ to be the Son of God they contraried the Jews But they erred in Christian Religion in that they addicted themselves wholy to the whole Law Idem haeres 38. Aug. There were other Hereticks which honoured Cain and took him for their Father whence they were called Cains They highly esteemed of Esau Corah Dathan and Abiram with the Sodomites They called Judas the Traitor their Cosin honoured him for betraying of Christ affirming that he foresaw how great a benefit it would bring to mankind They read a certain gospel written as they said by Judas they reviled the Law and denied the Resurrection There were others called Sethiani who derived their pedegree from Seth the son of Adam whom they honoured and called Christ and Jesus they held that in the beginng of the World he was called Seth but in the latter dayes Christ Jesus Epiphanius saith Epiphan haeres 39. Aug. Euseb l. 4. c. 10 11. Epiphan haeres 41. that he disputed with some of them in Aegypt and that the last of them were in his time Cerdon the Heretick came from Syria to Rome when Hyginus was Bistop there He taught that God preached by the Law and Prophets was not the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ He said that Christ was known the Father of Christ unknown He denied the Resurrection and the Old Testament he held other things with the Manichies and Marcion was his Scholar 19. In the time of Hyginus Valentinus the Heretick came to Rome lived under Pius and continued till Anicetus He taught 1. That Christ brought his flesh with him from Heaven Tertullian contra Valentinianos Epiphan haeres 31. Philastrius and took no flesh of the blessed Virgin but passed through her as water through a conduict-pipe 2. That there are two beginnings of all things Profundum i. e. the Deep and Silentium i. e. Silence these being maried together had issue Understanding and Truth which brought forth 300 Aenoae or Ages and of these were the Devil and others born who made the World In the reign of Antoninus Pius Marcion also the Heretick began to teach living in the time of Justin Martyr who wrote against him He was native of Pontus first a Stoick then a Christian he followed Basilides Cerdon and Valentinus in their Heresies Meeting Polycarpus he said Knowest thou us Polycarp answered I know thee for the first born of Satan Epiphanius writeth Euseb l. 4. c. 11 14. Epiphan haeres 42. Theophyl Hieron cont Jovinian Irenaeus l. 3. c. 4 29. that being a Bishops son when he had defloured a Virgin he was by his own Father excommunicated and afterwards flying to Rome because they there admitted him not into the Church he began to preach detestable doctrine He taught that there were three beginnings Good Just and Evil that the New Testament was contrary to the Old He denied the Resurrection He baptized such as died without Baptism saying that Paul bade him do so He taught that mariage was unlawful and that it was a great sin to marry That Cain the Sodomites and all wicked men were saved because they met Christ when he descended into hell but the Patriarchs and Prophets are still in hell for not meeting Christ for they thought said he that Christ came to tempt them Under Anicetus also came to Rome Marcellina a woman which infected many with the Heresie of Carpocrates who called himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 She is said to have kept and offered incense to the Statues and Pictures of Christ which the Gnosticks said had been made by command of Pilate as also to others of St. Paul 20. About the nineteenth year of Antoninus Pius the beginning also of Montanus his Heresie is placed by Epiphanius but from Eusebius Cappellus would gather that the original of it was fifteen years before because the Historian writeth that Apollinaris wrote against Miltiades Haeres 48. and Montanus the Hereticks under the Proconsulship of Gratus who seemeth the same with him whose Consulship is by Cassiodorus cast into the fourth of Pius He thinks therefore that in the nineteenth year some new thing might be attempted by Montanus as he might this year institute his Prophetesses These were his two Country-women Priscilla and Maximilla born at Pepuza a City of Phrygia upon which account he called Hierusalem by that name Cappellus further observeth that of such things as are attributed to Montanus some were truly his some after his death were added by the Montanists and some falsely ascribed to them Montanus really held that the promise of sending the Holy Ghost was deferred till his time and in himself fulfilled because the Church heretofore could not bear the yoak of more severe and holy discipline which he indeavoured to bring in by appointing the eating of dried meats fasting and Monogamy or single mariage The Montanists after their number was increased did those things which Hierome mentioneth viz. they appointed themselves Patriarchs 2 Cenonae which word seemeth of Phrygian Original and 3 Bishops That is falsly imputed to them Ad Marcellum tom 3. cp 9. which Jerome saith others did attribute but he would not believe viz. that they pricked an Infant and with his bloud made up the Eucharist If this opinion may be attributed to any Haeresie or if this prejudice did not arise from the imputation of this kind of cruelty by the Heathen to Christianity it self the Carpocratians rather than the Montanists were guilty of it But because both sorts were called Gnosticks as swelling with an opinion of knowledge what was acted but by one might easily be attributed to the other So because Montanus as full of the Holy Ghost called upon men in the name of the Father he was believed to confound the persons of the Trinity into one which was the invention of the Sabelliani 100 years after 'T is further said of him that he baptized the dead and not allowing of second marriages permitted married persons to be separated when they themselves would That he took away repentance affirming that sinners could never have their sins pardoned by repentance And that the Apostles and Prophets understood not any thing they had written but were Arreptitii Now to return to civil matters 21. Pius being dead on the Nones of March Marcus the son of Annius Verus succeeded M. Aurelius Antoninus Philosophus and L. Verus who was first adopted by Catilius Serenus his
State as those Privileges were which he bestowed upon the Henrici However it appeareth that they had not the freedom till this time Dionys l. 8. for Cassius in his flattering speech to the multitude concerning the excellent acts performed by them in his three Consulships saith that in his third the sedition being appeased the Commons were reduced home the Latines kinsmen of the Romans but emulators for glory and Empire were received into friendship and into the City that afterwards they might esteem Rome as their Country and not as an adversary Though formerly there was a League with them yet it seemeth they were not received into the City till now and that rather by Cassius his flattery so that neither they not the Hernici retained this privilege and we do not find that they were admitted into any Tribe or gave thenceforth their suffrages in the Comitia This confirmeth what we say that * L. 1. c. 14. Florus declareth the cause of their revolt afterwards to have been an emulation for Empire and Magistrates and that contemning the Romans after the burning of the City they required Jus civitatis amongst other things 27. This they did not now obtain being subdued and reduced by War to obedience and punished several wayes However the antient League seemeth to have been renewed at least with most of them who were still called Socii nominis Latini Often the Jus Civitatis was promised them but still deferred and put off by the Fathers who alone knew the secret of Empire till at length they broke out into the Social War and yet then were they subdued again and brought under by force and then was given to them conquered what they could not obtain by strong hand After this the hedge being broken down from about the Roman State and through the variety of the interests of Roman Citizens parties and factions arising Freedom came to be given to other places one after another though when to whom and by whom we now must not inquire Augustus was very sparing in the grant thereof but succeding Princes spred this privilege far and wide till at length Antoninus Philosphus communicated it to the whole body of the Empire it being now nothing material seeing that the multitude met not together in the Comitia to give their suffrages which had by variety of interests humours and inclinations confounded all things Now again to our matter 28. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus like a good Patriot or rather Pater Patriae did not satisfie himself in providing for the publick good for his own time only For he took special care for the good education of his son Commodus committing him to the most eminent men he could obtain for money to be educated in good literature and manners To Lucius rather than him is to be imputed the fourth persecution The fourth persecution which in their time raged throughout the Provinces Herein suffered Polycarpus that famous Bishop of Smyrna as is testified in the Epistle written by his Church unto the brethren in Pontus He was ordained Bishop by St. John and other Apostles with whom he conversed and his Scholar he was as Tertullian Irenaeus and several of the Antients do testifie and had served Christ 86 years for he was older by much than thus as Reverend * Quem consule de Polycarpo in Dissert de Scriptis illius Ignatii Usher hath evinced He caused meat to be set before those who apprehended him and with wonderful alacrity and resolution underwent his Martyrdom by fire on the seventh of the Calends of April the ninth of M. Aurelius Antoninus and the 169 of the ordinary Aera of Christ which was the same wherein Lucius died as some Inscriptions of Gruterus do testifie Now suffered also Justin Martyr Euseb l. 4. c. 15 16 17. l. 5. c. 1. who after he had published his second Apology for the Christians through the malice of Crescens the Cynick whom railing against Christianity he had taxed for his filthy kind of life as he even foretelleth in his Apology The Churches of Lugdunum and Vienna in Gall were especially exercised in this fiery tryal as is to be seen in the History of Eusebius 29. It may without curiosity be observed that usually the persecutions of Gods People were followed with judgements upon the adversaries Orosius l. 7. c. 15. Eutrop. l. 8. as it now through Gods providence came to passe For so great a Pestilence fell upon the Provinces that Villages Towns and fields in Italy were left without Inhabitant or Tiller and Galen the Physician ran away from it from Rome home to Pergamus This was followed by a War with the Marcomanni which could not be caried on without new levies wich for three years together the Emperour made at Carnutum now Chartres in Gall. For besides the Marcomanni a People inhabiting that now called Merhern the Quadi whom some will have the same with the present Austrians others with the Saxons and Silesians the Vandalls inhabiting in the now Kingdom of Sweden Sarmatians and Suevians and almost all Germany were up in arms and invaded Pannonia The Roman Army resisting these motions Vide Tertul. Apolog. c. 5. Euseb Hist l. 5. c. 5. in Chron. Orosium ubi supra Paul Diacon l. 8. Xiphil ex Dione Julium Capitolinum peirced into the borders of the Quadi but there were beset by their adversaries and encountred by a greater Enemy being all ready to perish by thirst At this time the Soldiers of the Legion called Melitina being Christians fell upon their knees in presence of their fellow Soldiers and in the name of Christ so far prevailed with Almighty God that presently abundance of rain fell and the Enemy was defeated by Thunder and Lightning This Legion was thence called Fulminatrix or Thundering and the Emperour confessing the Victory to have proceeded from the prayers of Christians was thenceforth favourable to such and owned the deliverance in a publick instrument or letter to the Roman People and Senate Herein after he hath related the story and improved it in the behalf of Christianity he commandeth such as accuse Christians meerly as such to be burnt alive and no constraint to be used towards the faithful This his constitution he would have confirmed by a Senatusconsultum and proposed to be seen and read in the Forum of Trajan He ordereth Verasius Pollio to take care that it be sent into all the Provinces and that any one that pleaseth may take a copy of it The Emperour's letter in behalf of Christianity 30. This letter is published at the end of Justin Martyr's second Apology together with those of Antoninus and Adrian It could not be added by Justin himself for ere this time he had suffered Martyrdom Perionius thinketh that onely that of Adrian was added by him and the other two by some other who saw them pertinent for the place But Eusebius in his History mentioneth that of Antoninus as well as that
thing He herewith extreamly displeased betook himself to his Chamber where in a roule he wrote down the names of such as he would have killed and amongst them those three in that order we mention them had the first places them followed a great number of Senators the goods of whom he intended to distribute amongst the Fencers and Soldiers to purchase mirth and jollity from them and defence from these This writing he laid upon his bed where he did not suspect that any would come at it But a little boy with whom he was wont to play coming thither took it up and went out with it in his hand whom Martia meeting and taking up in her arms Lege Herod ubi supra Eutrop. l. 8. Xiphil ex Dione Aurel. Victor fearing it might be something of consequence read it and thereby discovered the matter which she presently imparted to the other two They all concluding that haste was to be made Martia gave him poyson and when that succeeded not they hired one Narcissus to strangle him So Commodus died who by his Lieutenants overthrew the Moors and Dacians and bridled Pannonia Germany and Britain which would have thrown off the yoak He died on the last day of the Julian year the 32 of his age when he had reigned almost 13 years A. V. C. 945. He is murdered A. D. 192 he himself the seventh and Helvius Pertinax the third time being Consuls 35. The Conspirators did not make known his death till they had made means for a Successor and then gave out that he died of an Apoplexy which was easily believed because of his voluptuous life Herodian l. 2. He upon whom they pitched was Helvius Pertinax an old Soldier who had done good service in Britain where he was near killing by his Soldiers but severely corrected their insolence He had been thrice Consul yet being thus delivered from the danger he was in by Commodus considering the meannesse of his birth he would have declined the burthen Helvius Pertinax but it was put upon him by the Senate and the Army acknowledged him He gave great hopes of an excellent Prince behaving himself modestly and suitably towards all men Olymp. 242. an 4. V.C. 445. A.D. 192. He restrained Promoters took away divers tolls and gabells lately imposed and restrained the rapines and insolence of the Soldiers This troubled the guards exceedingly who being so much the more sensible of the change brought upon them by strict discipline as they remembred the liberty given them by Commodus resolved to make tryal of another and an end of Pertinax In the strength of this resolution they set upon and killed him though he had like so excellent a person gravely and stoutly admonished them of their duty He died in the 85 day of his reign and the 69 year of his age Q. Sosius Falco and C. Julius Erucius Clarus being Consuls 36. Now that we may briefly carry on the series of Ecclesiastical matters Bishops whence we left them In the second year of M. Aurelius Philosophus died Anicetus the Bishop of Rome and Soter being the 13th of this Sea succeeded him according to Damasus In his 10th year Soter died and was succeeded by Eleutherius In the 6th of Commodus died Eleutherius on the 7th before the Calends of June Maternus and Bradua being Consuls in which year Commodus and Cleander to overturn the power of the Consulship created 25 Consuls for which Cleander was afterwards punished being carried to Rome amongst the worst sort of slaves In the following year Eleutherus was succeeded by Victor an African Commodus the fifth time and Glabrio being Consuls Touching the purity of the Church of Rome at this time Aegesippus thus wrote (a) Euseb Hist lib. 4. cap. 22. When I came to Rome I stayed there till Anicetus was chosen Bishop whose Deacon was Eleutherius whom Soter succeeded after him Eleutherius In all their successions and in every one of their Cities it s no otherwise than the Law and the Prophets and the Lord himself preached Irenaeus also wrote Now (b) Euseb l. 5. cap. 6. Eleutherius was the 12th Bishop from the Apostles after the same order the same Doctrine and Tradition of the Apostles truely taught in the Church at this day continued in our time From Marcus the first Bishop of Jerusalem from amongst the Gentiles some reckon 13 Bishops unto Narcissus of whom are many things reported He (c) Idem lib. 5. cap. 11. lib. 6. c. 8 9. was accused of an hainous crime and although he was innocent yet left he his Church and fled into the Wildernesse where he continued a long time In the mean while his accusers were wonderfully plagued from above to the example of all perjured persons After his departure Dios was Bishop unto the reign of Severus as is gathered from Epiphanius After Cornelius was (d) Idem lib. 4. c. 20. 24. Theophilus Bishop of Antioch he wrote of Elemental Institutions and dedicated them to Autolycus Also against the Heresie of Hermogenes and Marcion After him followed Maximinus and then (e) Idem lib. 5. c. 19. 22. Serapion After Celadion in the Church of Alexandria (f) L. 4. c. 20. l. 5. c. 9. Agrippas was Bishop about the 8th year of Marcus and governed 12 years Him succeeded (g) L. 5. c. 9. 20. Julianus in the first of Commodus and governed 10 years Then followed (h) L. 5. c. 22. l. 6. c. 26. Demetrius who continued 43 years 37. During the reign of Commodus were several Synodes or Councils held against the Heresie of Montanus and about the Celebration of Easter Because before this time Councils were but few Councils we would not give any account of them in a scattered manner but now shall briefly recite from the first of all such as hapened untill the end of Commodus The (a) Acts 1. Apostles immediately after the ascension of our Saviour returned from Mount Olivet to Jerusalem and there assembled together for the election of one to succeed in the room of Judas the Traitor where they chose Mathias This is the first Council The (b) Acts 6. second was summoned of the Apostles and Disciples at Jerusalem about removing the tumult risen betwixt the Graecians and Hebrews about their Widows wherein they chose seven Deacons as they are called by Ecclesiastical Writers The (c) Acts 15. third was held by the Apostles Elders and Brethren at Jerusalem concerning circumcision and observation of the Law where it was resolved that the faithfull should abstain from bloud from that which is strangled and from fornication the which they published by their Letters unto the Churches of Antioch Syria and Cilicia The fourth was held by James Bishop of Jerusalem Paul (d) Acts 21. and the Elders at that Citie also where for removing of suspition and winning of the brethren it was decreed that Paul should clear and purifie himself according to the Law yielding
for some time to the Ceremonies of it After the death of James the Apostles from every quarter (e) Euseb l. 3. cap. 11. gathered themselves together at Jerusalem for the Election of a Bishop and chose Simon Cleopas In an assembly of the Apostles certain Canons were agreed on and published by Clemens as 't is said But (f) Concil tom 1. those that now go for them are corrupt the corruption of the Apostolical constitutions and of Ignatius his Epistles having proceeded from the same hand as reverend Usher sheweth in his Dissertation concerning the said Epistles who as to this matter is therein most worthy to be consulted About the time of Nerva the Emperour were two (g) Euseb l. 3. c. 23. Synods summoned in Asia for reformation of the Churches and Consecration of Bishops where St. John the Apostle being sent for was present About the beginning of Marcus Antoninus was a Synod at (h) Idem l. 5. cap. 16. Ancyra in Galatia where the figments of Montanus were confuted by Apollinarius And there were held in Asia sundry Synods in which Montanus was excommunicated and his Heresie condemned The brethren in (i) Lib. 5. c. 3. France also assembled together and censured the opinions of Montanus writing to Eleutherius Bishop of Rome that he would maintain the Peace of the Church there against such Hereticks (k) Lib. 5. c. 19. Serapion also Bishop of Antioch held a Synod there about the middle of Commodus his reign where together with many other Bishops he condemned the Montanists or their Heresie called the Phrygian Heresie because Montanus was of that Countrey Not long after was held a Council at (l) Idem l. 5. cap. 23. Rome by Victor the Bishop about the Celebration of Easter in Palaestine also in Pontus and Gall were Synods called about the same matter Controversie concerning Easter 38. This controversie about Easter is mentioned by Eusebius not till the last year of the 243 Olympiad which fell in with the fourth of Severus but â—appellus thinketh it first arose in the first of the 242 Olympiad and the tenth of Commodus wherein this feast was celebrated by the Jews and the Churches of Asia Minor at a wrong time as Theophilus Bishop of Caesaraea thought viz. by the Jews on the fifteenth of Nisan March 20. but by the Christians of Asia on the fourteenth of Nisan March 19. on the fourth Feria three dayes before the Vernal Aequinox Beda de natura rerum cap. 28. 46. de Aequinoctie Theophilus supposing that the Aequinox hapned on March the 25. and that so it ever did and for this cause that the Sun was on that day created and that Christ arose again the same day as also that the Lords Supper was instituted on the 22 of March contended that is was utterly against reason to prevent the Epoche of the Aequinox so many dayes and the day whereon the Lords Supper was instituted Wherefore he procured the Fathers of Palestine assembled in a Synode to make these Canons 1. That never except after March 21. 2. That never but after the fourteenth Moon 3. That never after April 24. 4. That never except on the Lords day Easter should be celebrated on that day which next followed the fourteenth Moon hapning next after March 21. Hereby he hoped it would come to passe that Easter would ever be observed within the moneth of Aries In the Synode of Palaestine where these Canons were made the aforesaid Theophilus Bishop of Caesarea and Narcissus of Jerusalem presided Of that at Rome Victor the Bishop was President In that of Pontus Palmas as the most antient did govern In that of the Bishops of Gall Irenaeus presided There was another of the Bishops throughout Ostroena and the Cities therein contained and especially held by Bauchillus Bishop of Corinth with many others all which saith Eusebius with one and the same sentence and judgement ordained the same Decree With those also consented Cassius Bishop of Tyre and Clarus Bishop of Ptolemais They affirmed that it was the Apostolick tradition and custom as yet retained that the fasting dayes should be broken up on no other day than that wherein our Saviour arose from the dead And the Church of Alexandria celebrated Easter on the self-same day with them 39. But all the Churches throughout Asia as of an antient tradition thought good to observe the high-feast of Easter in the 14th Moon on which day the Jews were commanded to offer their Paschal Lamb. As much as to say that upon what day soever in the week that Moon fell the fasting dayes were finished and ended Polycrates of Ephesus chief of these Bishops in his Epistle to the Church of Rome sheweth the custom of Asia observed unto his time in these words We observe the unviolated day of Easter neither adding any thing thereto neither taking any thing from it For notable pillars of Christian Religion have rested in Asia which shall arise at the last day when the Lord shall come home from Heaven with glory and restore all the Saints to joy Philip one of the twelve Apostles now lying at Hierapolis and his two daughters who kept themselves Virgins all the dayes of their lives the third also after the end of her holy conversation rested at Ephesus John also who lay on the Lord's breast and wore the Priestly Attire both a Martyr and a Doctor slept at Ephesus Moreover Polycarpus Bishop of Smyrna and a Martyr Thraseas an Eumenian both a Bishop and a Martyr slept at Smyrna What shall I speak of Sagaris both a Bishop and a Martyr lying at Laodicea Also of blessed Papirius and Melito an Eunuch who was led and guided in all things he did by the holy Ghost and now resteth at Sardis waiting the message from Heaven when he shall arise from the dead All these celebrated the Feast of Easter according to the Gospel in the fourteenth Moon swarving no where but observing the rule of faith To be short and I Polycrates the meanest of you all do retain the tradition of my forefathers of which also I have imitated some For there were seven Bishops before me and I am the 8th which alwayes have celebrated the Feast of Easter on that day in which the people remove the leaven from amongst them I therefore my brethren who now have lived 65 years in the Lord have conferred with the brethren throughout the World and have read and over-read the holy Scriptures yet will not be moved at all with those things which are made to terrifie us For my Ancestors and Elders have said that we ought rather to obey God than men Afterwards he speaketh of the Bishops that consented and subscribed to his Epistle after this manner I could repeat the Bishops that were present whom you requested me to assemble whom also I have assembled together whose names if I should write would grow unto a great number they have visited me a simple Soul and a man
of small account and have consented to this Letter They also know that I bear not these gray hairs in vain but alwayes have had my conversation in Christ Jesus 40. Immediately upon this Victor Bishop of Rome went about to sever from the unity in the Communion all the Churches of Asia together with the adjoyning Congregations as savoring not aright and inveyed against them in his Epistles and pronounced 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 unity and love between brethren Their words are at this day extant saith Eusebius that sharply reprehended Victor Victor Bishop of Rome sharply reprehended Of which number Irenaeus in the name of all the brethren in Gall that were under his charge wrote and allowed the same sentence viz. The Mystery of the resurrection of our Saviour to be celebrated on the Sunday onely Yet as it was very meet he put him in mind at large of his duty that he should not estrange or cut off all the Churches of God which retained the tradition of old custom He told him that there was not onely a controversie about the day but also the kind or manner of fasting that this variety began long before their time yet for all this they were at unity one with another for this variety of fasting saith he commendeth the unity of faith He told him that his Predecessors in the Sea of Rome Anicetus Dius Hyginus Telesphorus and Xistus neither did so observe it themselves neither left any such commandment unto posterity and yet they were at unity with them which resorted to them from other Churches and did observe the same Polycarpus being at Rome in the time of Anicetus they varied between themselves about trifling matters yet were they soon reconciled and not a word of this matter Neither was Anicetus able to perswade Polycarpus that he should not retain that which he had alwayes observed with John the Disciple of our Lord and the rest of the Apostles with whom he had been conversant neither did Polycarpus perswade Anicetus to observe it but told him he ought to keep the antient custom of the Elders whom he succeeded These things being at this point they communicated one with another And in the Church Anicetus granted the Eucharist unto Polycarpus or as Ruffinus understandeth it granted the ministration of the Communion to him for the reverence he owed him and in the end they parted in peace and all such as retained contrary observations throughout the whole universal Church held fast the bond of Love and Unity Thus Irenaeus not degenerating from the Etymology of his name and passing all others in the gift of reconciling the brethren practised for Ecclesiastical peace He wrote not onely to Victor but also to sundry Governours of divers other Churches in several Epistles concerning the said Controversy 41. Thus do we see the first controversies about this Feast of Easter Although the hypotheses of Theophilus concerning the Aequinoctial will not abide tryal yet doubtlesse those had more reason on their side who intending to celebrate the resurrection of Christ refused to do it but on that day he rose from the dead the other practice seeming to have risen from a custom of keeping the Passeover at that time by such as were originally of the Jewish Nation Notwithstanding they differed about time and manner yet before the government of Victor we see they agreed in brotherly love And it appeareth that the custom of observing this Feast was most antient even in the Apostles dayes as appeareth from what is said by Polycrates and by Irenaeus in behalf of Polycarpus Though they differed in the manner about keeping it yet we do not find that any denied it was to be kept at all although they were also for the true and spiritual observation of it and against abuses as all good Christians have reason to be But that we may conclude this controversie in processe of time both they of Asia and others leaving their own customs admitted of the Paschal Canons made by the Orientals especially by those of Palaestine and Alexandria At length few dissenters remaining a necessity of obedience was imposed by Constantine who herein followed the judgement of two Synods viz. that of Arelatum or Aries A. D. 314 and the other of Nice A. D. 325. But that we may note thus much by way of Anticipation The antient British Church as it seemeth submitted not to those Decrees observing Easter from the fourteenth to the twentieth Moon which computation saith (a) Eccles Hist Ang. l. 2. c. 2. Beda is conteined within the Circle of 84. years And for this when they would not comply with Augustine the Monk who had been sent from Gregory the Great Bishop of Rome to convert the Saxons and was made by him the first Arch-Bishop of Canterbury who sought to draw them to uniformity 1200 Monks of Bangor were put to the sword whether through procurement of Augustine or no I shall not now determin by King Ethelfrid A. D. 603 the Scots also then inhabiting Ireland observed Easter at the same time as the Britains did to whom therefore Laurentius the Successor of Augustine in the Sea of Canterbury wrote to drive them from their singularities But how much be hereby profited the present times do yet declare saith (b) Ubi supra c. 4. Beda who lived A. D. 700. 42. And being thus occasionally brought to Britain we must observe in behalf of our native Country that the thick mists of superstition being scattered When Britain received the Christian Faith in the reign of Commodus not under M. Aurelius and L. Verus as Beda writeth when Eleutherus was Bishop of Rome the heavenly light and brightnesse of Christianity by the means of King Lucius shone upon this Island This Prince admiring the holy life of Christians made petition unto Eleutherus by mediation of Elvan and Meduan Britains that both himself and his Subjects might be instructed in the Christian Religion He sent forth-with Fugatius and Donaitanus two holy men with letters which at this day saith Cambden be extant and as very many be perswaded not forged but Authentical as bearing date when L. Aurelius Commodus the second time and Vespronius were Consuls This Vespronius was Vespronius Candidus whom Onuphrius and Baronius make the Collegue of Commodus in the first year of his Fathers reign though an Inscription of Gruterus mentions Aurelius Verus so that to the very first beginning of Commodus the preaching of these men is to be ascribed These holy men instructed the King and others in the mysteries of Christian Religion Hereupon Ninnius writeth King Lucius is sirnamed Lever Maur that is a Prince of great glory for the Faith which in his time came Now such as call the being of this King into question for that they think there was at this time no King in Britain which was wholly
bestowed on them what his father had been unjustly scraping together for eighteen years Then falling like a savage beast into cruel courses he cut off all Geta's friends and acquaintance all the Senators of any considerable rank or wealth the Lieutenants and Governours of Provinces with the Vestal Nuns and set the Soldiers to kill the people beholding the Circensian Games After this going into Germany to please his Army he lived an hard and labouring life and thence passing into Thrace Olymp. 247. an 4. V.C. 965. A. D. 212. Bassiani 2. he there imitated Alexander the Great whom he ever much affected to talk of and pretended to emulate He went thence to Ilium were he counterfeited Achilles and so to Alexandria where he made the Inhabitants dearly repent of their rashnesse and folly 11. Being naturally given to much tatling they had formerly railed against him for his cruelty towards his brother and despised him for that being a man of so contemptible stature he compared himself to their Alexander Resolving then to be revenged on them he first entertained them very plausibly but afterwards drawing forth all the youth by a wile he compassed them in with his Army and killed them all After this desirous to become famous by some great exploit he sent to the Parthian for his Daughter and pretended that he himself would come and mary her whereby that King being perswaded to meet him with a great number of people he fell upon them and made a great slaughter for that they thought it needlesse to come armed to a wedding and Artabanus himself with difficulty escaped Getting here much booty and as he thought much glory he returned into Mesopotamia where he received punishment from above for his manifold cruelty There was one Opilius Macrinus an African born and one of his Captains whom he unworthily used This Macrinus receiving a letter from Maternianus directed to the Emperour who had commanded him to call together the Magicians and consult them about his end and whether any lay in wait for the Empire wherein Antoninus was advised to cut him off as aiming at the Soveraignty when he had ventured to open it perceiving that either he or his Master must dye and therefore procured one Martialis to kill him This man being inraged against the Emperour for that he had condemned his brother without sufficient hearing slew him as he was making water on the sixth of the Ides of April after he had reigned six years and two moneths in the first year of the 249 Olympiad A. V. C. 970. A. D. 217 Brutius Praesens and Extricatus being Consuls Amongst many others Caracallus put to death Papinianus the great Lawyer as it s said because he would not defend his paricide 12. In the first year of Severus that we may continue our method concerning Ecclesiastical matters died Victor Bishop of Rome Bishops on the fifth of the Calends of August and Zephirinus succeeded the fifteenth Bishop of that Sea according to Damasus In the last of Antoninus Bassianus Zepherinus died on the seventh before the Calends of September The Sea was vacant five dayes Then succeeded Callistus who therefore was elected the day before the Calends of September on the first feria After Dios Bishop of Jerusalem whom the Bishops of the neighbouring Churches had ordained after the departure of Narcissus Germanion succeeded Euseb Eccles Hist l. 6. c. 10. and after him Gordius in whose time Narcissus shewed himself again as if he had been risen from the dead and was intreated by the brethren to enjoy his Bishoprick being much marvelled at for his departure for his Philosophical course of life and especially for the vengance and plagues of God poured upon his accusers And because for his great age he was not able to supply the place Alexander Bishop of Cappadocia was joyned with him and governed alone after his death In the Church of Antioch Asclepiades was Bishop after Serapion about the first year of Caracalla and was succeeded by Philetus about the last of that Prince's reign 13. Upon Zepherinus Bishop of Rome falleth very foul Tertullian a Presbyter or Priest of Carthage in Africk for that he was more severe against such as through fear had sacrifized to Idols than against Whoremongers and Adulterers wherein not without cause truly saith Cappellus but yet without measure he blameth Zepherinus and the whole Roman Clergy the manners of whom were even now very corrupt if we may believe Tertullian But really not so much out of hatred to their vices as out of prejudice to the truth he calleth the Roman Clergy Psychicus Tertullian as well in his book de pudicitia as in that de monogamia which he thus beginneth Haeretici nuptias auferunt Psychici ingerunt He pretendeth therein onely to condemn second mariages but indeed most of his arguments respect both first and second although he himself had maried a wife and retained her in his Presbytery But mariage which he had learnt of the Orthodox to approve he learnt of Montanus to despise to whom he would have more revealed than to the Apostles because they as yet or for certain the Church could not bear the yoak of fastings and caelibate which Montanus brought in and he as a Montanist would inculcate This humour at length so possessed him that neither content with the title of Christian nor that of Presbyter he put on the Philosophick Pallium as a token of a more austere life wherein he would be eminent not onely amongst Christians but also Montanists The Africans either being amazed or laughing at this novelty he wrote an elegant but most obscure Book de pallio which before being miserably lacerated hath been of late dayes restored by the most learned Salmasius He wrote his Book de praescriptionibus about the eighth year of Commodus as Cappellus gathereth because in the end thereof making a Catalogue of Hereticks he mentioneth Theodotus who was censured by Victor Bishop of Rome for holding Christ to have been a meet man but not Artemon the Heretick who appeared shortly after 14. His book de corona militis acquainteth us with the occasion of the persecution of the Christians in the reign of Severus The Emperour ere he marched into the East in that Expedition wherein he overthrew the Parthians made his elder son his partner in the Tribunitial power and by his liberality pleased the People formerly inraged by the many punishments he inflicted By occasion of this liberality as it seemeth a Christian Soldier holding a certain garland or crown in his hand as if it were wickednesse for him to set it on his head as the rest did was asked why he did so and answered that he was a Christian This was the occasion of the Emperours rage About the fifteenth of Severus he wrote against the Mancionites whom he so impugneth as yet underhand he inculcareth his Montâ—nism For saith he Amongst us spiritual reason derived from the Comforter perswadeth in the Faith
unlesse he denied himself to be such an one But their cariage was so quite contrary to all these surmises except that concerning the worship of Heathenish vanities or Devils under the name of gods that they onely were the servants of the true God they onely were free from all sorts of crimes were the best friends and Subjects of Princes of the Laws good manners and nature and truly affirming themselves Christians might justly in this respect have been acquitted from these accusations They (b) Idem ibid. c. 39. assembled together by troops in their prayers to God as if thereby they would carry by force the grant of whatsoever Prayers were presented to him this being a violence agreeable to him they prayed to him for the Emperours their Ministers the Magistrates that had the exercise of their power for the State the tranquillity of the Empire and the retarding of the general dissolution that must put an end to all things They assembled together to read the Holy Scriptures The unblameable demeanous of Christians in their Assemblies and they read them according to the condition of the times what served either to admonish or confirm the faithful In effect the Scriptures nourished their faith lifted up and assured the confidence they had in God neverthelesse they ceased not to confirm their discipline by the strength of precepts they continually repeated In these Assemblies saith Tertullian for the former are also his words we make exhortations and threatnings and exercise Divine censure which banisheth sinners and excludes them from our Communion we judge them with very much circumspection because we know that God is in the midst of us and sees what we do and certainly it is a great foretelling of the judgment that God will one day pronounce against the wicked when the Church moved with the enormity of their crimes darts out upon wilful sinners the Thunderbolts of excommunication and deprives them of the participation of it's prayers it 's society and all sorts of holy commerce with it 23. In our assemblies there are Bishops that preside and have authority over all the faithful committed to their charge they are approved by the suffrages of them whom they ought to conduct and it is not bribes that acquire them this honour but testimonies given of their good life For in the Church of God nothing is done by the allurement of gifts if there be among us any kind of treasure the money laid up makes our Religion not ashamed And every one contributes a little sum at the end of the moneth or when he will but it is if he will and can for none are constrained to give If we get any alms it is of good will riches gathered in this manner are as the pledges of piety we do not confound them in eating and drinking with excesse we make not use of them for the foul and loathsom exercise of gluttony but we employ them in feeding the poor burying them in comforting poor Orphans in helping old men who have spent their best dayes in the service of the faithful in helping the poor that have lost by shipwrack what they had and in assisting them that serve in the mines are banished into Islands or shut up in prisons because they professe the Religion of the true God that during the time they suffer for the confession of his name they may be nourished by the stock of the Church But it 's a strange thing that this charity among us gives occasion to some to blame us See say they how they love one another this astonisheth them because they hate one another See say they how they are ready to die one for another but as for them they are ready to kill one another A little after As we live with the same intelligence as if we had all but one spirit and one soul we have nothing in particular but our wives of all things in the World there is nothing but wives whereof we reject community and on the contrary among them of their wives onely there is a community with other men Again Now seeing we live together with so much charity that all our goods are common why should they wonder if we make good chear for it 's one of the excesses you reproach us with besides the infamous crimes whereof you accuse our repasts you charge it with prodigality 24. In the same place But you need but consider the name given ro our repasts to know the quality thereof They expresse themselves with the same word that signifies Love with the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whatsoever the cost is that is made it is profitable for they gain alwaies in this expence because it hath piety for it's foundation It s a sweetnesse wherewith we comfort the want of the poor but we do not treat them as you those infamous gluttons who glory in selling you their liberty for the price of their good bits wherewith they fill their bellies in the midst of a thousand indignities But we will have the least served with our goods because they we know amongst all men are the most acceptable unto God Then seeing our feasts have so honest an end consider what our disciplne should be in the rest of our actions even those which more concern the duties of Religion it permits nothing that is dishonourable nor far from modesty Before we go to table we are fed with heavenly meat which is the Prayer we make to God we eat as much as is necessary to satisfie one's appetite we drink as much as is permitted to persons that have a care of their purity They that sit there take their refection with so much temperance as they may remember they are obliged to worship God even at night They entertain one another as People that know God hears what they say After the repast done they have washed their hands and lighted the candles they are invited to praise God and sing Psalms taken out of the holy Scripture or Hymns every one composeth according to the capacity of his mind By this it may be known if they have committed any excesse at table as the repast began with Prayer so it ends they go forth not in divers troops to defile their hands with the blood of men not in several bands running in the streets not to do insolencies but with the same care they had in coming in preserve their modesty and chastity 25. Finally Christians retire with so much stayednesse that we may very well see they are not fed so much with corporal meats as the substance of heavenly and holy discipline Certainly it were but reason that this society of the Christians should be reputed unlawful if it were like to that the Laws forbid it were but good reason it should be condemned if it were not different to that which deserves to be condemned if one would reproach it with the same things wherewith they accuse factious societies But tell me Did we ever