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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A31414	Apostolici, or, The history of the lives, acts, death, and martyrdoms of those who were contemporary with, or immediately succeeded the apostles as also the most eminent of the primitive fathers for the first three hundred years : to which is added, a chronology of the three first ages of the church / by William Cave ...	Cave, William, 1637-1713.	1677 (1677)	Wing C1590; ESTC R13780	422,305	406

informs us His Fathers name was Faustinus but who he was and what his Profession and course of life is not recorded Indeed in the Book of the Recognitions and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mentioned by the Ancients and lately published we have more particular accounts concerning him Books which however falsly attributed to S. Clemens and liable in some cases to just exception yet being of great antiquity in the Church written not long after the Apostolic Age as we shall shew hereafter we shall thence derive some few notices to our purpose though we cannot absolutely engage for the certainty of them There we find S. Clemens brought in giving this account of himself II. HE b Recogn l. 7 n. 8. p. 476. Clem. Homil. 12. n. 8. p. 678. Epitom ● 76. p. 781. Edit Paris was descended of a noble race sprung from the family of the Caesars his Father Faustinianus or Faustus being near a kin to the Emperour I suppose Tiberius and educated together with him and by his procurement matched with Mattidia a woman of a prime Family in Rome He was the youngest of three sons his two elder Brothers being Faustinus and Faustus who after changed their names for Nicetas and Aquila His Mother a Woman it seems of exquisit beauty was by her husbands own brother strongly sollicited to unchast embraces To avoid whose troublesome importunities and yet loth to reveal it to her husband lest it should break out to the disturbance and dishonour of their Family she found out this expedient she pretended to her husband that she was warned in a dream together with her two eldest sons to depart for some time from Rome He accordingly sent them to reside at Athens for the greater conveniency of their education But hearing nothing of them though he sent Messengers on purpose every year he resolved at last to go himself in pursuit of them which he did leaving his youngest son then twelve years of age at home under the care of Tutors and Guardians a Recogn l. 2. ● 1. p. 399. ●● Hom. 1. p. 540. Epist p. ●49 S. Clemens grew up in all manly Studies and vertuous actions till falling under some great dissatisfactions of mind concerning the immortality of the soul and the state of the other life he applied himself to search more narrowly into the nature and the truth of things After having baffled all his own notions he betook himself to the Schools of the Philosophers where he met with nothing but fierce contentions endless disputes sophistical and uncertain arts of reasoning thence he resolved to consult the Egyptian Hierophantae and to see if he could meet with any who by arts of Magic was able to fetch back one of those who were departed to the invisible World the very sight of whom might satisfie his curious enquiries about this matter While he was under this suspense he heard of the Son of God his appearing in the world and the excellent doctrins he had published in Judaea wherein he was further instructed by the ministry of S. Barnabas who came to Rome Him he followed first to Alexandria and thence after a little time to Judaea Arriving at Caesarea he met with S. Peter by whom he was instructed and baptized whose Companion and Disciple he continued for a great part of his life III. THIS is the sum of what I thought good to borrow from those ancient Writings As for his relations what various misadventures his Father and Mother and his two Brothers severally met with by what strange accidents they all afterwards met together were converted and baptized into the Christian Faith I omit partly as less proper to my purpose partly because it looks more like a dramatic Scene of Fansie then a true and real History As to that part of the account of his being related to the Imperial Family though it be more then once and again confidently asserted by b H. Fee● l. 2. c. 35. p. 191. l. 3. c. 2. 18. p. 247. Nicephorus who transcribes a good part of the Story and by c Euther Lugd. ad Valerian de contempt Mund. Anonym de vit Petr. Paul ap P. Jun. not in Clem. Ep. ad Corinth others before him yet I cannot but behold it as an evident mistake arising from no other Fountain then the Story of Flavius Clemens the Consul who was Cousin-german to the Emperour Domitian and his Wife Flavia Domitilla near akin also to the Emperour concerning whose conversion to and martyrdom for the Faith of Christ we have d Primit Christ p. 1. ch 3. elsewhere given an account from the Writers of those Times Probable it is that S. Clemens for the main attend S. Peters motions and came with him to Rome where he had at last the Government of that Church committed to him e Synops de vit App. in Bibl. PP Tom 3. p. 150. col 1. Dorotheus tells us that he was the first of the Gentiles that embraced the Christian Faith and that he was first made Bishop of Sardica a City in Thrace afterwards called Triaditza and then of Rome But herein I think he stands alone I am sure has none of the Ancients to join with him unless he understands it of another Clemens whom the f Chron. Alex. p. 508. Chronicon Alexandrinum also makes one of the LXX Disciples but withall seems to confound with ours That he was Bishop of Rome there is an unanimous and unquestionable agreement of all ancient Writers though they strangely vary about the place and order of his coming to it The Writers of the Roman Church how great words soever they speak of the constant and uninterrupted succession of S. Peters Chair are yet involved in an inextricable labyrinth about the succession of the four first Bishops of that See scarce two of them of any note bringing in the same account I shall not attempt to accommodate the difference between the several Schemes that are given in but onely propose what I conceive most likely and probable IV. EVIDENT it is both from a Adv. Heres l. 3. c. 3. p. 232. Irenaeus and b Epiph. Haeres XXVII p. 51. vid. Ham. Dissert V. c. 1. p. 256. Epiphanius as also before them from c Cal. adv Proc●l Caius an ancient Writer and from d Dionys Epist ad Rom. apud Euseb l. 2. c. 25. p. 68. Dionysius Bishop of Corinth that Peter and Paul jointly laid the Foundations of the Church of Rome and are therefore equally stiled Bishops of it the one as Apostle of the Gentiles as we may probably suppose taking care of the Gentile Christians while the other as the Apostle of the Circumcision applied himself to the Jewish Converts at Rome For we cannot imagine that there being such chronical and inveterate prejudices between Jews and Gentiles especially in matters of Religion they should be suddainly laid aside and both enter-common in one public Society We know that in the Church

common Epithet yet is it sometimes used as a proper name It is written according to the different accents either 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and then it notes a divine person a man whose soul is full of God and all holy and divine qualities 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Ignatius himself is said to explain it or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so in a passive signification it implies one that is born or carried by God And in this latter sense he is said to have derived the title from our Lords taking him up into his Arms. For thus we are told that he was that very Child whom our Saviour took into his arms Mark 9.36 Matt. 18.2 3 4. and set in the midst of his Disciples as the most lively instance of Innocency and Humility And this affirmed if number might carry it not onely by the a Maenaeon Graecor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greeks in their public Rituals by b Metaphr ad Decembr 20. Graec. Lat. apud Cottler p. 991. Metaphrastes c Niceph. H. Eccl. l. 2. c. 35. p. 192. Nicephorus and others but as the Primate of Armagh d Annot. in Ignat Act. p. 37. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Men. Graec. loc cit●t observes from the Manuscripts in his own possession by two Syriac Writers more ancient then they But how confidently or generally soever it be reported the Story at best is precarious and uncertain not to say absolutely false and groundless Sure I am e Homil. in S. Ignat. p. 506. Tom. 1. S. Chrysostom who had far better opportunities of knowing then they expresly affirms of Ignatius that he never saw our Saviour or enjoyed any familiarity or converse with him II. IN his younger years he was brought up under Apostolical Institution so f Ibid. p. 499. Chrysostom tells us that he was intimately conversant with the Apostles educated and nursed up by them every where at hand and made partaker 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 both of their familiar discourses and more secret and uncommon Mysteries Which though 't is probable he means of his particular conversation with S. Peter and Paul yet some of the forementioned Authors and not they onely but the a Act. Ignat. p. 1. 5. Edit Usser Acts of his Martyrdom written as is supposed by some present at it further assure us that he was S. Johns Disciple Being fully instructed in the Doctrines of Christianity he was for his eminent parts and the great Piety of his life chosen to be Bishop of Antioch the Metropolis of Syria and the most famous and renowned City of the East not more remarkable among Foreign Writers for being the Oriental Seat of the Roman Emperours and their Vice-Roys and Governours then it is in Ecclesiastics for its eminent entertainment of the Christian Faith its giving the venerable title of Christians to the Disciples of the Holy Jesus and S. Peters first and peculiar refidence in this place Whence the Synod of b Ap. Theod●●● H. Eccl. l. 5. ●9 p. 211. Constantinople assembled under Nectarius in their Synodical Epistle to the Western Bishops deservedly call it the most ancient and truly Apostolic Church of Antioch in which the honourable name of Christians did first commence In all which respects it is frequently in the Writings of the Church by a proud kind of title stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the City of God That Ignatius was constituted Bishop of this Church is allowed on all hands though as to the time and order of his coming to it almost the same difficulties occur which before did in Clemens his succession to the See of Rome possibly not readily to be removed but by the same method of solution easily granted in this case by * Ad Ann. 45. n. 14. vid. Ad. Martyr Rom. Feb. 1. p. 88. Baronius himself and some other Writers of note in that Church I shall not need to prove what is evident enough in it self and plainly acknowledged by the Ancients that Peter and Paul planted Christianity in this City and both concurred to the foundation of this Church the one applying himself to the Jews the other to the Gentiles And large enough was the Vineyard to admit the joint-endeavours of these two great Planters of the Gospel it being a vast populous City containing at that time according to S. Chrysostoms computation no less then two hundred thousand souls But the Apostles who could not stay always in one place being called off to the Ministry of other Churches saw it necessary to substitute others in their room the one resigning his trust to Euodius the other to Ignatius Hence in the Apostolic Constitutions c Lib. 7. c. 47. p. 451. Euodius is said to be ordained Bishop of Antioch by S. Peter and Ignatius by S. Paul till Euodius dying and the Jewish Converts being better reconciled to the Gentiles Ignatius succeeded in the sole care and Presidency over that Church wherein he might possibly be afterwards confirmed by Peter himself In which respect probably the Author of the d Ad Ann. Tib. XIX p. 526. Alexandrine Chronicon meant it when he affirms that Ignatius was constituted Bishop of Antioch by the Apostles By this means he may be said both immediately to succeed the Apostle as e Orig. Hom. 6. in L●c. p. 214. Origen f Easeb H. Eccl. l. 3. c. 36. p. 106. Eusebius g Athan. de Synod Arim. Seleu. p. 922. Athanasius and h Chrys●s● loc cit p. 500. Chrysostom affirm and withall to be the next after Euodius as i Hier. de script in Ignat. S. Hierom k Socr. H. Eccl. l. 6. c. 8. p. 313. Socrates l Metaphr ubi supr Metaphrastes and others place him However Euodius dying and he being setled in it by the Apostles hands might be justly said to succeed S. Peter in which sense it is that some of the Ancients expresly affirm him to have received his Consecration from S. Peter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 says m De Immutab Dialog 1. p. 33. Tom. 4. Theodoret and so their own n Jo. Malel Chron. l. 10. ap Usser Not. in Epist ad Antioch pag. 107. Historian relates it that Peter coming to Antioch in his passage to Rome and finding Euodius lately dead committed the Government of it to Ignatius whom he made Bishop of that place though it will be a little difficult to reconcile the Times to an agreement with that account III. SOMEWHAT above forty years S. Ignatius continued in his charge at Antioch Nicephorus Patriarch of Constantinople assigns him but four years the figure μ for forty being probably through the carelessness of Transcribers slipt out of the account in the midst of very stormy and tempestuous times But a Act. Ig●at p. 1 2. he like a wise and prudent Pilot sate at the Stern and declined the dangers that threatned them by his prayers and tears his fastings and the

rude and merciless usage of his Keepers who treated him with all ruggedness and inhumanity From Syria even to Rome both by Sea and Land I fight with Beasts night and day I am chained to ten Leopards which is my military guard who the kinder I am to them are the more cruel and fierce to me as a Epist ad Rom. p. 23. ap Euseb l. 3. c. 36. p. 107. himself complains Besides what was dearer to him then all this his credit and reputation might be in danger to suffer with him seeing at so great a distance the Romans were generally more likely to understand him to suffer as a Malefactor for some notorious crime then as a Martyr for Religion and this b Martyr ubi s●pr p. 995. Metaphrastes assures us was one particular end of his sending thither Not to say that beyond all this the Divine Providence which knows how to bring good out of evil and to over-rule the designs of bad men to wise and excellent purposes might the rather permit it to be so that the leading so great a man so far in triumph might make the Faith more remarkable and illustrious that he might have the better opportunity to establish and confirm the Christians Vid. Chrysost Homil. cit pag. 505. who flocked to him from all parts as he came along and by giving them the example of a generous Vertue arm them with the stronger resolution to die for their Religion and especially that he might seal the truth of his Religion at Rome where his death might be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Chrysostom speaks a Tutor of Piety Ibid. and teach 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the City that was so famous for Arts and Wisdom a new and better Philosophy then they had learned before To all which may be added that this was done not by the Provincial Governour who had indeed power of executing capital punishments within his own Province which seems to have been the main ground of Scaligers scruple but immediately by the Emperour himself whose pleasure and command it was that he should be sent to Rome whither we must now follow him to his Martyrdom in the account whereof we shall for the main keep to the Acts of it written in all probability by Philo and Agathopus the Companions of his Journey and present at his Passion two ancient Versions whereof the incomparable Bishop Vsher first recovered and published to the World VI. BEING c Act. Ignat. pag. 5. consigned to a guard of ten Souldiers he took his leave of his beloved Antioch and a sad parting no doubt there was between him and his people who were to see his face no more and was conducted on foot to Seleucia a Port-town of Syria about sixteen miles distant thence the very place whence Paul and Barnabas set sail for Cyprus Here going aboard after a tedious and difficult Voyage they arrived at Smyrna a famous City of Ionia where they were no sooner set on shore but he went to salute S. Polycarp Bishop of the place his old Fellow-Pupil under S. John the Apostle Joyful was the meeting of these two Holy men S. Polycarp being so far from being discouraged that he rejoiced in the others chains and earnestly pressed him to a firm and final perseverance Hither came in the Country round about especially the Bishops Presbyters and Deacons of the Asian Churches to behold so venerable a sight to partake of the holy Martyrs prayers and blessing and to encourage him to hold on to his consummation To requite whose kindness and for their further instruction and establishment in the Faith he wrote d E●seb H. Eccl. l. 3. c. 36. p. 107. Letters from hence to several Churches one to the Ephesians wherein he commends Onesimus their Bishop for his singular charity another to the Magnesians a City seated upon the River Meander which he sent by Damas their Bishop Bassus and Apollonius Presbyters and Sotio Deacon of that Church a third to the Trallians by Polybius their Bishop wherein he particularly presses them to subjection to their spiritual Guides and to avoid those pestilent haeretical doctrines that were then risen in the Church A fourth he wrote to the Christians at Rome to acquaint them with his present state and passionate desire not to be hindred in that course of Martyrdom which he was now hastening to accomplish VII HIS Keepers a little impatient of their stay at Smyrna set sail for Troas a noted City of the lesser Phrygia not far from the ruines of the ancient Troy where at his arrival he was not a little refreshed with the news that he received of the Persecution ceasing in the Church of Antioch Hither several Churches sent their Messengers to visit and salute him and hence he dispatched two Epistles one to the Church at Philadelphia to press them to Love and Unity and to stand fast in the truth and simplicity of the Gospel the other to the Church of Smyrna from whence he lately departed which he sent as also the former by Burrhus the Deacon whom they and the Ephesians had sent to wait upon him and together with that as a Loc. cit p. 1● Eusebius informs us he wrote privately to S. Polycarp particularly recommending to him the care and oversight of the Church of Antioch for which as a vigilant Pastor he could not but have a tender and very dear regard though very learned men but certainly without any just reason think this not to have been a distinct Epistle from the former but jointly directed and intended to S. Polycarp and his Church of Smyrna Which however it be they conclude it as certain that the Epistle to S. Polycarp now extant is none of it as in which nothing of the true temper and spirit of Ignatius does appear while others of great note not improbably contend for it as genuine and sincere From Troas they sailed to Neapolis a maritime Town of Macedonia thence to Philippi Act. 16.11.12 a Roman Colony the very same journey which S. Paul had gone before him where as b Epist Polycarp ad Philip. p. 13. ●on longe ab ●nit S. Polycarp intimates in his Epistle to that Church they were entertained with all imaginable kindness and courtesie and conducted forwards in their journey Hence they passed on foot through Macedonia and Epirus till they came to Epidamnum a City of Dalmatia where again taking Ship they sailed through the Adriatic and arrived at Rhegium a Port-Town in Italy whence they directed their course through the Tyrrhenian Sea to Puteoli Ignatius desiring if it might have been granted thence to have gone by Land that he might have traced the same way by which S. Paul went to Rome After a day and a nights stay at Puteoli a prosperous wind quickly carried them to the Roman Port the great Harbour and Station for their Navy built near Ostia at the mouth of Tyber about sixteen miles from Rome whither the

solemnity into the Imperial Palace Which yet could not be effected for the sturdy Mules that carried the Treasure being come as far as Constantines Baths would not advance one step further And when unreasonably whipped and pricked they spake aloud and told those that conducted them that the Martyr was to be reposed and interred in that place Which was accordingly done and a beautiful Church built there But certainly they that first added this passage to the Story had been at a great loss for invention had not the Story of Balaams Ass been upon record in Scripture I confess * Bar. ad Ann. 439. Tom. 5. p. 681. Baronius seems not over-forward to believe this relation not for the trifling and ridiculous improbabilities of it but onely because he could not well reconcile it with the time of its being first found out by Lucian Indeed my Authors tell us that this was done in the time of Constantine Metrophanes being then Bishop of Constantinople and that it was onely some part of his remains buried again by some devout Christians that was discovered in a Vision to Lucian and that the Empress Pulcheria by the help of her Brother Theodosius procured from the Bishop of Jerusalem the Martyrs right hand which being arrived at Constantinople was with singular reverence and rejoycing brought into the Palace and there laid up and a stately and magnificent Church erected for it set off with all rich and costly ornaments and advantages XXVI a Marcell Chro. Indict VII p. 24. Theodor. Lect. lib. 2. p. 568. AUTHORS mention another remove Ann. CCCCXXXIX and let the curious and inquisitive after these matters reconcile the different accounts of his remains to Constantinople by the Empress Eudocia Wife to Theodosius who having been at Jerusalem upon some pious and charitable designs carried back with her to the Imperial City the remains of S. Stephen which she carefully laid up in the Church of S. Laurence The Roman b Ad VII Maii p. 284. Martyrology says that in the time of Pope Pelagius they were removed from Constantinople to Rome and lodg'd in the Sepulchre of S. Laurence the Martyr in agro Verano where they are honoured with great piety and devotion But I find not any Author near those times mentioning their translation into any of these Western parts except the little parcel which c Vid. Avit Ep. Praef. Ep. Lucian Gennad de script Eccl. in Oros c. 39. p. 53. Marcell Chron. p. 17. Orosius brought from Jerusalem whither he had been sent by S. Augustin to know S. Hieroms sense in the Question about the Original of the Soul which he received from Avitus who had procured it of Lucian and brought it along with him into the West that is into Afric for whether it went any further I find not XXVII AS for the miracles reported to have been done by the remains of this Martyr d Deglor Martyr lib. 1. cap. 33. p. 42. c. Gregory Bishop of Tours and the Writers of the following Ages have furnished the World with abundant instances which I insist not upon Superstition having been the peculiar genius and humour of those middle Ages of the Church and the Christian World miserably over-run with an excessive and immoderate Veneration of the Reliques of departed Saints However I can venture the Readers displeasure for relating one and the rather because 't is so solemnly averred by e Annot. in Martyr Rom. ad Aug. III. p. 474. Baronius himself S. Gaudiosus an African Bishop flying from the Vandalic Persecution brought with him a Glass Vial of S. Stephens blood to Naples in Italy where it was famous especially for one miraculous effect that being set upon the Altar at the time of Mass it was annually wont upon the third of August the day whereon S. Stephens body was first discovered to melt and bubble as if it were but newly shed But the miracle of the miracle lay in this that when Pope Gregory the XIII reformed the Roman Kalendar and made no less then ten days difference from the former the bloud in the Vial ceased to bubble upon the third of August according to the old computation and bubbled upon that that fell according to the new Reformation A great justification I confess as Baronius well observes of the divine Authority of the Gregorian Kalendar and the Popes Constitutions but yet it was ill done to set the Kalendars at variance when both had been equally justified by the miracle But how easie it was to abuse the World with such tricks especially in these later Ages wherein the Artifice of the Priests was arrived to a kind of perfection in these affairs is no difficult matter to imagin XXVIII LET us then look to the more early Ages when Covetousness and Secular Interests had not so generally put men upon Arts of craft and subtlety and we are told both by Lucian and Photius Loc. an●e eleat that at the first discovery of the Martyrs body many strange miraculous cures were effected seventy three healed onely by smelling the odor and fragrancy of the body in some Daemons were cast out others cured of Issues of Bloud Tumours Agues Fevers and infinite other distempers that were upon them But that which most sways with me is what S. Augustin reports of these matters who seems to have been inquisitive about matters of Fact De Civ D●i lib. 22. cap. 8. col 1346. c. Tom. 5. as the Argument he managed did require For being to demonstrate against the Gentiles that miracles were not altogether ceased in the Christian Church among several others he produces many instances of Cures miraculously done at the remains of S. Stephen brought thither as before we noted by Orosius from Jerusalem all done thereabouts and some of them in the place where himself lived and of which as he tells us they made Books which were solemnly published and read to the People whereof at the time of his Writing there were no less then seventy written of the Cures done at Hippo the place where he lived though it was not full two years since the memorial of S. Stephens Martyrdom had begun to be celebrated in that place besides many whereof no account had been given in writing To set down all were to tire the Readers patience beyond all recovery a few onely for a specimen shall suffice At the Aquae Tibilitanae Projectus the Bishop bringing the remains of the Martyr in a vast multitude of People a blind woman desiring to be brought to the Bishop and some Flowers which she brought being laid upon them and after applied to her eyes to the wonder of all she instantly received her sight Lucillus Bishop of Synica near Hippo carrying the same remains accompanied with all the people was suddenly freed from a desperate disease under which he had a long time laboured and for which he even then expected the Chirurgeons Knife Eucharius a Spanish Presbyter then dwelling at Calama

at least they had continued at Corinth when S. Paul resolved upon a journy to Jerusalem where he staid not long but went for Antioch and having travelled over the Countries of Galatia and Phrygia to establish Christianity lately planted in those parts came to Ephesus where though he met with great opposition yet he preached with greater success and was so wholly swallowed up with the concerns of that City that though he had resolved himself to go into Macedonia he was forced to send Timothy and Erastus in his stead who having done their errand returned to Ephesus to assist him in promoting the affairs of Religion in that place V. S. PAVL having for three years resided at Ephesus and the parts about it determined to take his leave and depart for Macedonia And now it was as himself plainly intimates 1 Tim. 1.3 and the Ancients generally conceive that he constituted Timothy Bishop and Governour of that Church he was the first Bishop says a H. Eccl. l. 3. c. 4. p. 73. Eusebius of the Province or Diocess of Ephesus he did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 says the b Martyr Tim. ap Phot. Cod. CCLIV col 1401. Author in Photius first act as Bishop of Ephesus and in the Council of Chalcedon XXVII Bishops are said successively to have sitten in that Chair whereof S. Timothy was the first c Conc. Chalced. Act. XI Conc. Tom. 4. col 609. In the d Lib. 7. c. 47. col 451. Apostolical Constitutions he is expresly said to have been ordained Bishop of it by S. Paul or as he in Photius expresseth it a little more after the mode of his time he was ordained and enthroned or installed Bishop of the Metropolis of the Ephesians by the great S. Paul Ephesus was a great and populous City and the Civil Government of the Proconsul who resided there reached over the whole Lydian or Proconsular Asia And such in proportion the Ancients make the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of that Church a Homil. XV. in 1 Tim. p. 1606. S. Chrysostom affirming it to be plain and evident that Timothy had the Church or rather the whole Nation of Asia committed to him to him says b Argum. in 1 ad Tim p. 462 Theodoret divine S. Paul committed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the care and the charge of Asia upon which account a little after c Com. in 1 Tim. 3. p. 475. T. 3. he calls him the Apostle of the Asians As for the manner of his Ordination or rather designation to the ministeries of Religion it was by particular and extraordinary designation God immediately testifying it to be his will and pleasure thence it is said to have been done 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 1.18 1 Tim. 4.14 according to some preceding predictions concerning him and that he received it not onely by the laying on of hands but by prophesie that is as d Homil. V. in 1 Tim. p. 1545. Chrysostom truly explains it by the Holy Ghost it being part of the Prophetic Office as he adds and especially it was so at that time not onely to fore-tell future events but to declare things present God extraordinarily manifesting whom he would have set apart for that weighty Office Thus Paul and Barnabas were separated by the special dictate of the Holy Ghost and of the Governours of the Ephesine Churches that met at Miletus it is said that the Holy Ghost had made them Bishops or Over-seers of the Church And this way of election by way of prophetic revelation continued in use at least during the Apostolic Age e Epist ad Corinth pag. 54. Clemens in his Epistle to the Corinthians tells us that the Apostles preaching up and down Cities and Countries constituted their first-fruits to be the Bishops and Deacons of those who should believe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 making trial of them by the spirit and another f Clem. Al. lib. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ap Euseb H. Eccl. l. 3. c. 23. p. 92. Clemens reports of S. John that visiting the neighbour Churches about Ephesus he ordained Bishops and such as were signified or pointed out to him by the spirit VI. THIS extraordinary and miraculous way of chusing Bishops and Ecclesiastic Officers besides other advantages begat a mighty reverence and veneration for the Governours of the Church who were looked upon as God's choice and as having the more immediate character of Heaven upon them And especially this way seemed more necessary for S. Timothy then others to secure him from that contempt which his youth might otherwise have exposed him to For that he was but young at that time is evident from S. Pauls counsel to him 1 Tim. 4.12 so to demean himself that no man might despise his youth the Governours of the Church in those days were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in respect of their age as well as office and indeed therefore stiled Elders because they usually were persons of a considerable age that were admitted into the Orders of the Church This Timothy had not attained to And yet the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 youth admits a greater latitude then we in ordinary speech confine it to g In Orator p. 266. Tom. 1. Cicero tells us of himself that he was adolescentulus but a very youth when he pleaded Roscius's cause and yet h Noct. Attic. l. 15. c. 28. p. 383. A. Gellius proves him to have been at that time no less then XXVII years old Alexander the son of Aristobulus is called i Joseph Antiq. l. 14. c. 13. p. 480. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a youth at the time of his death when yet he was above thirty Hiero in k Hist l. 1. p. 11. Edit 8. ubi vid. Casaub Comment p. 129. ejusd exercit ad Baron Appar n. 99 p. 154. Polybius is stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a very young man whom yet Casaubon proves to have been XXXV years of Age and the same Historian speaking of T. Flaminius his making War upon Philip of Macedon says he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a very young man for that he was not above thirty years old it being as Casaubon observes the custom both of Greek and Latine Writers to extend the juventus or youthful age from the thirtieth till the fortieth year of a mans life To which we may add what Grotius observes that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 answering to the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 denotes the Military Age Annot. in loc all that civil and manly part of a mans life that is opposed to Old Age so that Timothies youth without any force or violence to the word might very well consist with his being at least thirty or five and thirty years of age and he so stiled onely comparatively with respect to that weighty Function which was wont to be conferred upon none but grave and aged men But of this enough VII Acts 20.2 3 c. S. TIMOTHY thus

had commanded that Christians should not be needlesly and unjustly vexed but that their cause should be traversed and determined in open Judicatures annexing to his Apology a Copy of the Rescript which Adrian had sent to Minucius Fundanus to that purpose IX HIS address wanted not it seems its desired success * Oros Hist l. 7. c. 14. fol. 305. For the Emperour in his own nature of a merciful and generous disposition being moved partly by this Apology partly by the notices he had received from other parts of the Empire gave order that Christians henceforward should be treated in more gentle and regular ways as appears among others by his a Ap. J. Mart. ad Ca lt Apol. II. p 100. ap Euseb l. 4. c. 13. p 126. Chron. Alex. Ann. 2. Ol●rp CCXXXVII Iad VII p. 608. Letter to the Commonalty of Asia yet extant which I shall here insert EMPEROUR Caesar Titus Aelius Adrian Antoninus Augustus Pius High-priest the XV. time Tribune thrice Consul Father of the Countrey to the Common Assembly of Asia Greeting I am very well assured that the Gods themselves will take care that this kind of men shall not escape it being much more their concern then it can be yours to punish those that refuse to worship them whom you do but the stronglier confirm in their own sentiments and opinions while you vex and oppress them accuse them for Atheists and charge other things upon them which you are not able to make good nor can a more acceptable kindness be done them then that being accused they may seem to chuse to die rather then live for the sake of that God whom they worship By which means they get the better being ready to lay down their lives rather then be perswaded to comply with your commands As for the Earth-quakes that have been or that do yet happen it may not be amiss to advertise you whose minds are ready to despond under any such accidents to compare your case with theirs They at such a time are much more secure and confident in their God whereas you seeming to disown God all the while neglect both the Rites of other Gods and the Religion of that immortal deity nay banish and persecute to death the Christians that worship him Concerning these men several Governours of Provinces have heretofore written to my Father of sacred memory to whom he returned this answer That they should be no way molested unless it appeared that they attempted something against the state of the Roman Empire Yea and I my self have received many notices of this nature to which I answered according to the tenor of my Fathers constitution After all which if any shall still go on to create them trouble meerly because they are Christians let him that is indicted be discharged although it appear that he be a Christian and let the Informer himself undergo the punishment Published at Ephesus in the place of the Common Assembly of Asia X. THIS Letter was sent as appears from the year of his Consulship Ann. Chr. CXL Antonini III. If it be objected that this seems not consistent with the year of his being Tribune said here to be the XV. I answer that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Tribunitian Power did not always commence with the beginning of their reign but was sometimes granted and that more then once to persons in a private capacity especially those who were Candidates for the Empire Thus as appears from the Fasti Consulares b Videsis Fast Con●●● à Sigon Edit ad Ann. V.C. DCCXLI DCCLXVI M. Agrippa had the Tribunitia potestas seven as after his death Tiberius had it fifteen times during the life of Augustus So that Antoninus his fifteenth Tribuneship might well enough consist with the third year of his Empire Though I confess I am apt to suspect an errour in the number and the rather because c Annot. in Justin M.p. 10. c. 2. Sylburgius tells us that these XV. years were not in the Edict as it is in Justin Martyr but were supplied out of Eusebius his Copy which I have some reason to think to be corrupted in other parts of this Epistle I am not ignorant that some learned men would have this Imperial Edict to be the decree of Marcus Aurelius son of Antoninus Indeed in the inscription of it as it is extant in Eusebius it is Marcus Aurelius Antoninus but then nothing can be more evident then that that part of it is corrupted as is plain both because Eusebius himself a few lines before expresly ascribes it to Antoninus Pius and because in the original inscription in Justins own Apology from whence Eusebius transcribed his it is Titus AElius Antoninus Pius And besides that nothing else of moment is offered to make good the conjecture the whole consent of Antiquity and the tenor of the Epistle it self clearly adjudge it to the elder Antoninus and a Ap. Euseb l. 4. c. 26. p. 148. vid. c. 13. p. 127 Melito Bishop of Sardis who presented an Apology to his Son and Successor tells him of the Letters which his Father at the time when he was his Partner in the Empire wrote to the Cities that they should not raise any new troubles against the Christians XI NOT long after his first Apology Justin seems to have revisited the Eastern parts for besides what he says in the Acts of his Martyrdom that he was twice at Rome b Lib. 4. c. 17. p. 140. Eusebius expresly affirms that he was at Ephesus where he had his discourse with Tryphon which 't is c Vid. Dialog cum Tryph. p. 349. plain was after the presenting his first Apology to the Emperour And 't is no ways improbable but that he went to Ephesus in company with those who carried the Emperours Edict to the Common-Council of Asia then assembled in that City where he fell into acquaintance with Tryphon the Jew This Tryphon was probably that Rabbi Tarphon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as they commonly call him the wealthy Priest the Master or associate of R. Aquiba of whom mention is often made in the Jewish Writings A man of great note and eminency who had fled his Countrey d Dialog cum Tryph. p. 217. in the late War wherein Barchochab had excited and headed the Jews to a Rebellion against the Romans since which time he had lived in Greece and especially at Corinth and had mightily improved himself by converse with the Philosophers of those Countries With him Justin enters the lists in a two-days dispute the account whereof he has given us in his Dialogue with that subtle man wherein he so admirably defends and makes good the truth of the Christian Religion cuts the very sinews of the Jewish cause dissolves all their pleas and pretences against Christianity and discovers their implacable spight and malice who not barely content to reject Christianity sent peculiar persons e Ibid. pag. 335. ap Euseb

up under the tutorage and instructions of S. Polycarp Bishop of Smyrna and S. Johns Disciple from whom he received the seeds of the true Apostolic Doctrine and for whom he had so great a reverence and regard that he took a most exact and particular notice of whatever was memorable in him even to the minutest circumstances of his conversation the memory whereof he preserved fresh and lively to his dying day II. BY whose hands he was consecrated to the Ministeries of Religion as also when and upon what occasion he came into France is not known Probable it is that he accompanied S. Polycarp in his journey to Rome about the Paschal controversie where by his and Anicetus his persuasions he might be prevailed with to go for France in some parts whereof and especially about Marseilles great numbers of Greeks did reside then beginning to be over-run with those pernicious Heresies which at that time invaded and disturbed the Church that so he might be helpful and assisting to Pothinus the aged Bishop of Lyons in quelling and subduing of them Hist Franc. lib. 1● 29. This Pothinus if we may believe Gregory Bishop of Tours who resided some time in this City with his Uncle Nicetius Bishop of it came out of the East and had been dispatched hither also by S. Polycarp to govern and superintend this Church If it seem strange to any how S. Polycarps care came to extend so far as to send a Bishop into so remote and distant parts of the World it seems not improbable to suppose that Lyons being a City famous for Commerce and Traffique some of its Merchants might trade to Smyrna where being converted by Polycarp they might desire of him to send some grave and able person along with them to plant and propagate the Christian Faith in their own Country which accordingly fell to Pothinus his share But then that this must needs be done by the Authority and ratified by the Decree of the Bishop of Rome P. de Marc. dissert de Primat n. 111. p. 227. a learned man will never be able to convince us though he offers at three Arguments to make it good weak I must needs say and inconcluding and which rather shew that he designed thereby to reconcile himself to the Court of Rome whose favour at the time of his writing that Tract he stood in need of in order to his admission to the Bishoprick of S. Leiger de Conserans to which he was nominated and wherein he was delayed by that Court offended with his late Book De Concordia Sacerdotii Imperii then argue the truth of what he asserts so unsuitable are they to the learning and judgment of that great man But I return to Irenaeus He came to Lyons the Metropolis of Gallia Celtica situate upon the confluence of the two famous Rivers the Roan and La Saona or the ancient Arar famous among other things for its Temple and Altars erected to the honour of Augustus at the common charge of all France where they held an annual solemnity from all parts of the Countrey upon the first of August and upon d Euseb H. Eccl. l. 5. c. 1 p. 162. this day it was that most of the Martyrs suffered in the following Persecution These Festival solemnities were usually celebrated not onely with great contentions for Learning and Eloquence but with Sports and Shews and especially with the bloody conflicts of Gladiators with barbarous usages and throwing Malefactors to wild Beasts in the Amphitheatre wherein the Martyrs mentioned by Eusebius bore a sad and miserable part Irenaeus being arrived at Lyons continued several years in the station of a Presbyter under the care and Government of Pothinus till a heavy storm arose upon them For in the reign of M. Aurelius Antoninus Ann. Chr. CLXXVII began a violent Persecution a Euseb l. 5. Praef. p. 153. against the Christians which broke out in all places but more peculiarly raged in France whereof the Churches of Lyons and Vien in a b Apud Euseb ibid. p. 154 155 c. Letter to them of Asia and Phrygia give them an account where they tell them 't was impossible for them exactly to describe the brutish fierceness and cruelty of their Enemies and the severity of those torments which the Martyrs suffered banished from their houses and forbid so much as to shew their heads reproached beaten hurried from place to place plundered stoned imprisoned and there treated with all the expressions of an ungovernable rage and fury as they particularly relate at large The occasion c Euseb ibid. c. 3. p. 168. of writing this account was a controversie lately raised in the Asian Churches by Montanus and his followers concerning the Prophetic Spirit to which they pretended for the composing whereof these Churches thought good to send their judgment and opinion in the case adjoyning the Epistles which several of the Martyrs while in Prison had written to those Churches about that very matter all which they annexed to their Commentary about the Martyrs sufferings penned no doubt by the hand of Irenaeus III. NOR did the Martyrs write onely to the Asian Churches but to Eleutherus Bishop of Rome about these controversies And just occasion there was for it if which is most probable this very Eleutherus was infected with the errours of Montanus for d Adv. Prax. c. 1. p. 501. Tertullian tells us that the Bishop of Rome did then own and embrace the Prophesies of Montanus and his two Prophetesses and upon that account had given Letters of Peace to the Churches of Asia and Phrygia though by the persuasions of one Praxeas he was afterwards prevailed with to revoke them Where by the way may be observed that the infallibility of the Pope was then from home or so fast asleep that the envious man could sowe Tares in the very Pontifical Chair it self This Bishop e Ad Ann. 173. n. IV. Baronius will have to be Anicetus but in all likelihood was our Eleutherius who in his after-commendation of the Montanists followed the example of his f Tertull. ibid. Predecessors no doubt Soter and Anicetus who had disowned and rejected Montanus his Prophesie nor can it well be otherwise conceived why the Martyrs should so particularly write to him about it And whereas g Ad. Ann. 201. n. IX Baronius would have Pope Eleutherius dead long before Tertullian became a Montanist because in his Book against Heresies he stiles h De Praescript Haeret. c. 30. p. 212. him the blessed Eleutherius as if it were tantamount with cujus memoria est in benedictione nothing was more common then to give that title to eminent persons while alive as Alexander of Jerusalem calls i Euseb l. 6. c. 11 p. 113. Clemens Alexandrinus who carried the Letter the blessed Clemens in his Epistle to the Church of Antioch and the Clergy of the Church of Rome stiles k Ad Cler. Carthag Epist II. p. 8.

of the Empire he is as little to be credited and guilty of as notorious a falshood as Eusebius observes as when he affirms that Origen was born and bred up a Gentile and then turned off to Christianity when as nothing was more evident then that Origen was born of Christian Parents and that Ammonius retained his Christian and divine Philosophy to the very last minute of his life whereof the Books which he left behind him were a standing evidence Indeed e Annal. p. 332. Edit Po●ock vid. 〈◊〉 Selden retan Euty●● Sect. 23. p. 147. Eutychius Patriarch of Alexandria if he means the same seems to give some countenance to Porphyries report and further adds that Ammonius was one of the twenty Bishops which Heraclas then Bishop of Alexandria constituted over the Egyptian Churches but that he deserted his Religion Which Heraclas no sooner heard of but he convened a Synod of Bishops and went to the City where Ammonius was Bishop where having throughly scanned and discussed the matter he reduced him back again to the truth Whether he found this among the Records of that Church or took it from the mouth of Tradition and Report is uncertain the thing not being mentioned by any other Writer But however it was 't is plain that Ammonius was a man of incomparable parts and learning a Lib. de Provid fat ubi supr Hierocles himself stiles him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one taught of God and when Plotinus the great Platonist had found him out he b Porphyr in vit Plotin p. ● Plot. n. Op●● Praf Porphyr ap E● seb ubi supr told his friend in a kind of triumph that this was the man whom he had sought after Under him Origen made himself perfect Master of the Platonic Notions being daily conversant in the Writings of Plato Numenius Cronius Apollophanes Longinus Moderatus Nicomachus and the most principal among the Pythagoreans as also of Chaeremon and Cornatus Stoics from whom as Porphyry truly enough observes he learned that allegorical and mystical way of interpretation which he introduced into the Christian Doctrin IV. BESIDES our Adamantius there was another Origen his Contemporary a Gentile Philosopher honourably mentioned by c Lib. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ap●d Porphyr in vit Plotin Longinus d Ibid. Porphyry e Lib. de Fat ubi supr Hierocles f In vit Porphyr p. 19. Eunapius g In Plat. T●eol l. 2. c. 4. p. 90. Proclus and others a person of that learning and accurate judgment that coming h Ap. Porphyr loc cit one day into Plotinus his School the grave Philosopher was ashamed and would have given place and when intreated by Origen to go on with his Lecture he answered with a complement that a man could have but little mind to speak there where he was to discourse to them who understood things as well as himself and so after a very short discourse broke up the meeting I am not ignorant that most learned men have carelesly confounded this person with our Origen Whence i De Vit. Script Porphyr c. 2. p. 11. Holstenius wonders why Eunapius should make him School-fellow with Porphyry who was much his junior whom Porphyry says indeed he knew being himself then very young and this probably not at Alexandria but at Tyre where he was born and where Origen a long time resided So that his wonder would have ceased had he considered what is plain enough that Eunapius meant it of this other Origen Porphyries fellow-Pupil not under Ammonius at Alexandria but under Plotinus at Rome Indeed were there nothing else this were enough to distinguish them that the account given of Origen and what he wrote by Longinus by Porphyry in the life of Plotinus and others does no ways agree to our Christian Writer V. THE Persecution under Severus in the tenth year of his reign was now grown hot at Alexandria Laetus the Governour daily adding fewel to the flames where among the great numbers of Martyrs k Euseb ib. c. 1. p 201. Leonides Origens Father was first imprisoned then beheaded and his estate confiscate and reduced into the public Exchequer During his imprisonment l Id. c. 2 p. 2●● Origen began to discover a most impatient desire of Martyrdom from which scarce any intreaties or considerations could restrain him He knew the deplorable estate wherein he was like to leave his wife and children could not but have a sad influence upon his Fathers mind whom therefore by Letters he passionately exhorted to persevere unto Martyrdom adding this clause among the rest Take heed Sir that for our sakes you do not change your mind And himself had gone not onely to prison but to the very block with his Father if the divine Providence had not interposed His Mother perceiving his resolutions treated him with all the charms and endearments of so affectionate a relation attempted him with prayers and tears intreating him if not for his own that at least for her sake and his nearest relatives he would spare himself All which not prevailing especially after his Fathers apprehension she was forced to betake her self to little Arts hiding all his cloths that meer shame might confine him to the house A mighty instance as the Historian notes of a juvenile forwardness and maturity and a most hearty affection for the true Religion VI. HIS Father being dead and the a E●seb ibid. p. 203. Estate seized for the Emperours use he and the Family were reduced to great streights When behold the providence of God who peculiarly takes care of Widows and Orphans and especially the relicts of those that suffer for him made way for their relief A rich and honourable Matron of Alexandria pitying his miserable case liberally contributed to his necessities as she did to others and among them maintained one Paul of Antioch a ringleader of all the Heretics at Alexandria who by subtle artifices had so far insinuated himself into her that she had adopted him to be her Son Origen though he held his livelihood purely at her bounty would not yet comply with this Favourite not so much as to join in prayer with him no not when an innumerable multitude not onely of Heretics but of Orthodox daily flocked to him taken with the eloquence of his discourses For from his childhood he had religiously observed the Rule and Canon of the Church and abominated as himself expresses it all heretical Doctrines Whether this noble Lady upon this occasion withdrew her charity or whether he thought it more agreeable to the Christian Rule to live by his own labour then to depend wholly upon anothers bounty I know not but having perfected those Studies of Foreign Learning the foundations whereof he had laid under the Discipline of his Father he now began to set up for himself opening a School for the profession of the learned Arts where besides the good he did to others he raised a

at Jerusalem 2 L. Antistius Vetus   56   2 Q. Volusius Saturninus S. Paul comes to Jerusalem and is apprehended in the Temple and secured in the Castle His imprisonment at Caesarea and arraignment before Felix the Roman Governour 3 P. Cornelius Scipio 57   3 Nero Claud. Imp. II. S. Paul kept Prisoner at Caesarea under Felix 4 L. Calpurnius Piso 58   4 Nero Cl. Imp. III. S. Pauls arraignment before Festus He is sent to Rome where he arrives about the end of this or the beginning of the following year * The time of S. Paul's being sent to Rome depends upon Festus his coming into Judaea to succeed in the room of Felix which though it cannot be Precisely determined yet plain it is that it must be while Pallas Felix his Brother by whose mediation with the Emperour Felix at his return had his life spared when accused by the Jews for his mal-administration was yet in some favour with Nero wherein he was declining some time before and from which he seems wholly to have fallen upon Agrippina's death upon whose interest he stood at Court who was slain Neron V. Ann. Chr. LIX Pallas himself being Poisoned Neron VIII Ann. LXII 5 M. Valerius Messala al. 59   5 C. Vipsanius Poplicola al. Apronianus S. Pauls free imprisonment at Rome He writes his Epistles to the Ephesians Colossians Philippians to Timothy and Philemon 6 C. Fonteius Capito 60   6 Nero Cl. Imp. IV. About the latter end of this year S. Paul is set at liberty and before his departure out of Italy writes his Epistle to the Hebrews 7 Cossus Cornelius Lentulus 61 Neronis 7 C. Caesonius Paetus S. Paul now released travels for the propagation of the Gospel especially in the Western parts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clem. Rom. Ep. Ad Corinth P. 8. prchably into Spain or Britain 8 C. Petronius Turpilianus al. Sabinus 62   8 P. Marius Celsus S. James the less the Brother of our Lord and Bishop of Jerusalem thrown by the Jews from the Temple and knocked on the head with a Fullers Club.   L. Asinius Gallus 9 Suff. Seneca Trebellius 63   9 L. Memmius Regulus Simeon chosen to be S. James his successor in the See of Jerusalem 10 Paulus Virginius Rufus Anianus succedes S. Mark in the Bishoprick of Alexandria Euseb Chron. 64   10 C. Lecanius Bassus Nero burns the City of Rome and to wipe off the odium from himself charges it upon the Christians and raises the First Persecution against them under that pretext 11 M. Licinius Crassus Frugi 65   11 P. Silius Nerva * Some of the most learned Chronologists of the Roman Church place the Martyrdom of these two great Apostles two years later viz. Ann. Chr. LXVII Which if any like better I will not contend the Persecution probably extending to the last of Nera though it seems mose probable that they should suffer about the beginning of it S. Peter and Paul suffer Martyrdom at Rome   C. Julius Atticus Vestinus Several prodigies at Jerusalem foreshew the destruction of that Church and State 12 Suff. Anicius Cerealis 66   12 C. Suetonius Paulinus Nero residing in Achaia commits the mannagement of the War against the Jews to Vespasian 13 L. Pontius Telesinus 67   13 L. Fonteius Capito Verspasian carries on the War with great diligence and success 14 C. Julius Rufus Josephus is taken Prisoner 68 Galba à Jun. 10.   C. Silius Italicus Phanassus the son of Samuel the last High Priest of the Jews 1 M. Galerius Trachalus Turpilianus 69 Otho à Jan. 15.   Ser. Sulpitius Galba Imp. II Vespasian being proclaimed Emperour leaves Judaea goes to Alexandria and thence for Rome Vitellius ab April 20   T. Vinius Rufinus al. Crispinianus Vespasianꝰ à 1. Julii 1   70   1 Fl. Vespasianus Imp. II. Titus remanded by Vespasian to prosecute the Jewish War 2 T. Vespasianus Caesar Jerusalem besieged taken sacked and burnt 1100000 of the Jews perish 97000 taken prisoners 71   2 Imp. Vespasianus III. The Jewish Nobility and the spoils of the Temple carried in triumph to Rome 3 M. Cocceius Nerva postea Imper. S. Bartholomew the Apostle said to be martyred this by others the following year 72   3 Imp. Vespasianus IV. Ebion so called from an affected poverty born at Cocaba a Village in Basanitis and Cerinthus noted Heretics begin more openly to shew themselves about this time 73   4 Fl. Domitianus S. Thomas slain at Maliapor in India 5 M. Valerius Messalinus S. Martialis at Ravenna in Italy 74   5 Imp. Vespasianus V. The last Cense made at Rome several very aged persons then noted mentioned by Pliny lib. 7. c. 49. justifying the great Age of several Ecclesiastic persons of those times 6 T. Vespasianus III.   75   6 Imp. Vespasianus VI. The Temple of Peace dedicated by Vespasian and the Jewish spoils laid up in it   Tit. Vespasianus IV. 7 Suff. Domitianus IV. 76   7 Imp. Vespasianus VII     Tit. Vespasianus V. 8 Suff. Domitianus V. 77 Vespasiani 8 Imp. Vespasianus VIII Linus Bishop of the Church of the Gentile Christians at Rome suffers Martyrdom having sate 12 years 4 moneths and 12 days though others allow but 11 years 2 moneths and 23 days   Tit. Vespasianus VI. 9 Suff. Domitianus VI. 78   9 L. Ceionius Commodus Verus Antipas a faithful Martyr slain at Pergamus Onuphr by others referred to Ann. 93. 10 C. Cornelius Priscus 79 Titus à Jun. 24 10 Imp. Vespasianus IX A great eruption of Vesuvius in the over-curious search whereof Pliny the Elder perished the following year 1 Tit. Vespasianus VII 80   1 Titus Vespas Imp. VIII Titus commands Josephus his History of the Jewish War to be laid up in the Library at Rome 2 Fl. Domitianus VII 81 Domit. à Sept. 13. 2 M. Plautius Sylvanus   3   1 M. Annius Verus Pollio 82   1 Domitianus Imp. VIII   2 T. Flavius Sabinus 83   2 Imp. Domitianus IX Domitian banishes the Philosophers out of Rome and Italy and severely punishes the incest of the Vestal Virgins 3 T. Virginius Rufus II. 84   3 Imp. Domitianus X.   4 Ap. Junius Sabinus 85   4 Imp. Domitianus XI Anianus S. Marks successor in the Bishoprick of Alexandria dies and is succeeded by Avilius 86   5 Imp. Domitianus XII   6 Ser. Cornelius Dolabella 87 Domit. 6 Imp. Domitianus XIII Domitian assumes divine honours commanding himself to be stiled Lord and God   7 A. Volusius Saturninus   88   7 Imp. Domitianus XIV   8 M. Minucius Rufus   89   8 T. Aurelius Fulvius Philosophers and Mathematicians again banished out of Rome   9 A. Sempronius Atratinus   90   9 Imp. Domitianus XV. Apollonius Tyanaeus the famous Magician set up by the Gentiles as Rival to our Saviour is brought before Domitian shews tricks of Magic and is said immemediately to vanish out of his sight   10 M. Cocceius Nerva

Gospel The Schism in the Church of Corinth and Clemens his Epistle to that Church An enquiry into the time when that Epistle was written The Persecution under Trajan His proceeding against the Heteriae A short relation of S. Clemens his troubles out of Simeon Metaphrastes His banishment to Cherson Damnatio ad Metalla what The great success of his Ministry in the place of his exile S. Clemens his Martyrdom and the kind of it The anniversary miracle reported on the day of his solemnity The time of his Martyrdom His genuine Writings His Epistle to the Corinthians the commendations given of it by the Ancients It s Stile and Character The great modesty and humility that appears in it The fragment of his second Epistle Supposititious Writings The Recognitions their several titles and different editions Their Antiquity what A conjecture concerning the Author of them The censures of the Ancients concerning the corrupting of them considered The Epistle to S. James Pag. 77. The Life of S. SIMEON Bishop of Jerusalem The heedless confounding him with others of the like name His Parents and near Relation to our Saviour The time of his Birth His strict Education and way of Life The Order and Institution of the Rechabites what His conversion to Christianity The great care about a Successor to S. James Bishop of Jerusalem Simeon chosen to that place when and why The causes of the destruction of the Jewish state The original and progress of those Wars briefly related The miserable state of Jerusalem by Siege Pestilence and Famine Jerusalem stormed The burning of the Temple and the rage of the Fire The number of the Slain and Captives The just accomplishment of our Lords predictions The many Prodigies portending this destruction The Christians forewarned to depart before Jerusalem was shut up Their withdrawment to Pella The admirable care of the Divine Providence over them Their return back to Jerusalem when The flourishing condition of the Christian Church there The occasion of S. Simeons Martyrdom The infinite jealousie of the Roman Emperours concerning the line of David Simeons apprehension and crucifixion His singular torments and patience His great age and the time of his death Pag. 89. The Life of S. IGNATIUS Bishop of Antioch His Originals unknown Called Theophorus and why The Story of his being taken up into our Saviours arms refuted His Apostolic education S. Johns Disciple His being made Bishop of Antioch The eminency of that See The order of his succession stated His prudent Government of that Church The tradition of his appointing Antiphonal hymns by revelation Trajans persecuting the Church at Antioch His discourse with Ignatius Ignatius his cruel usage His sentence passed His being transmitted to Rome and why sent so far to his execution His arrival at Smyrna and meeting with S. Polycarp His Epistles to several Churches His coming to Troas and Epistles thence His arrival at Porto Romano Met on the way by the Christians at Rome His earnest desire of Martyrdom His praying for the prosperity of the Church The time of his Passion His being thrown to wild Beasts What kind of punishment that among the Romans The collection of his Remains and their transportation to Antioch and the great honours done to them The great plenty of them in the Church of Rome Trajans surceasing the Persecution against the Christians The dreadful Earthquakes happening at Antioch Ignatius his admirable Piety His general solicitude for the preservation and propagation of the Christian Doctrine as an Apostle His care diligence and fidelity as a Bishop His patience and fortitude as a Martyr His Epistles Polycarps commendation of them Pag. 99. The Life of S. POLYCARP Bishop of Smyrna The place of his Nativity The honour and eminency of Smyrna His education under S. John By him constituted Bishop of Smyrna Whether the same with the Bishop to whom S. John committed the young man S. Polycarp the Angel of the Church of Smyrna mentioned in the Apocalyps Ignatius his arrival at Smyrna His Letters to that Church and to S. Polycarp His Journey to Rome about the Quartodeciman Controversie The time of it enquired into Anicetus his succession to the See of Rome His reception there by Anicetus Their mutual kindness notwithstanding the difference His stout opposing Heretics at Rome His sharp treatment of Marcion and mighty zeal against those early corrupters of the Christian Doctrine Irenaeus his particular remarques of S. Polycarps actions The Persecution under M. Antoninus The time of Polycarps Martyrdom noted The acts of it written by the Church of Smyrna their great esteem and value S. Polycarp sought for His Martyrdom foretold by a dream His apprehension and being conducted to Smyrna Irenarchae who Polycarps rude treatment by Herodes His being brought before the Proconsul Christians refused to swear by the Emperours genius and why His pious and resolute answers His slighting the Proconsuls threatnings His sentence proclaimed Asiarchae who Preparation for his burning His Prayer before his death Miraculously preserved in the fire Dispatched with a Sword The care of the Christians about his Remains this far from a superstitious veneration Their annual meeting at the place of his Martyrdom His great Age at his death The day of his Passion His Tomb how honoured at this day The judgments happening to Smyrna after his death The Faith and Patience of the Primitive Christians noted out of the Preface to the Acts of his Martyrdom His Epistle to the Philippians It s usefulness Highly valued and publicly read in the ancient Church The Epistle it self Pag. 111. The Life of S. QUADRATUS Bishop of Athens His Birth-place enquired into His Learning His Education under the Apostles Publius Bishop of Athens Quadratus his succession in that See The degenerate state of that Church at his coming to it His indefatigable zeal and industry in its reformation It s purity and flourishing condition noted by Origen Quadratus his being endowed with a spirit of Prophecy and a power of Miracles This person proved to be the same with our Athenian Bishop The troubles raised against the Christians under the reign of Aadrian Aadrians Character His disposition towards Religion and base thoughts of the Christians His fondness for the Learning and Religion of Greece His coming to Athens and kindness to that City His being initiated into the Eleusinian mysteries These mysteries what and the degrees of initiation Several addresses made to the Emperour in behalf of the Christians Quadratus his Apologetic Ser. Granianus his Letter to Aadrian concerning the Christians The Emperours Rescript His good opinion afterwards of Christ and his Religion Quadratus driven from his charge His Martyrdom and place of Burial Pag. 131. The Life of S. JUSTIN the Martyr His vicinity to the Apostolic times His Birth-place and Kindred His Studies His Travels into Egypt To what Sect of Philosophy he applied himself The occasion and manner of his strange conversion to Christianity related by himself Christianity the onely safe and

S. CYPRIAN Bishop of Carthage His Birth-place The Nobility of his Family exploded The confounding him with another Cyprian Bishop of Antioch These two vastly distinct S. Cyprian's education His professing Rhetoric His conversion to Christianity by the persuasions of Caecilius Their mutual endearment His great charity to the Poor His Baptism Made Presbyter and Bishop of Carthage His modest declining the honour His Proscription recess and care of his Church during that retirement The case of the Lapsed A brief account of the rise of the Novatian Sect. The fierceness of the Persecution at Carthage under Decius The courage and patience of the Christians Cyprian's return A Synod at Carthage about the case of the Lapsed and the cause of Novatian Their determination of these matters Ratified by a Synod at Rome and another at Antioch A second Synod about the same affair Moderation in the Ecclesiastic Discipline used in the time of Persecution The great Pestilence at Carthage The miserable state of that City The mighty charity of S. Cyprian and the Christians at that time These evils charged upon the Christians S. Cyprians vindication of them The time of baptizing Infants determined in a Synod Another Synod to decide the case of the Spanish Bishops that had lapsed in the time of Persecution The Controversie concerning the Rebaptizing those who had been baptized by Heretics This resolved upon in a Synod of LXXXVII African Bishops The immoderate heats between Cyprian Firmilian and Stephen Bishop of Rome about this matter Cyprian arraigned before the Proconsul His resolute carriage His banishment to Curubis His Martyrdom foretold him by a Vision His Letters during his exile The severe usage of the Christians His withdrawment and why His apprehension and examination before the Proconsul The sentence passed upon him His Martyrdom and place of burial His piety fidelity chastity humility modesty charity c. His natural parts His learning wherein it mainly consisted The politeness and elegancy of his stile His quick proficiency in Christian studies His frequent converse with Tertullian's Writings His Books The excellency of those ascribed to him The great honours done to his memory Pag. 251. The Life of S. GREGORY Bishop of Neocaesarea S. Gregory where born His Kindred and Relations The rank and quality of his Parents His youthful studies His study of the Laws His travels to Alexandria The calumny there fixed upon him and his miraculous vindication His return through Greece His studying the Law at Berytus and upon what occasion His fixing at Caesarea and putting himself under the tutorage of Origen The course of his studies His Panegyric to Origen at his departure Origen's Letter to him and the importance of it His refusal to stay at Neocaesarea and retirement into the Wilderness His stunning to be made Bishop of Neocaesarea Consecrated Bishop of that City during his absence His acceptance of the charge and the state of that place at his entrance upon it His miraculous instruction in the great mysteries of Christianity His Creed The miracles wrought by him in his return His expelling Daemons out of a Gentile Temple and the success of it His welcom entrance into the City and kind entertainment His diligent preaching to the People His erecting a Church for Divine Worship and its signal preservation An horrible Plague stopped by his prayers The great influence of it upon the minds of the People His judging in Civil Causes His drying up a Lake by his prayers which had been the cause of an implacable quarrel between two Brothers and his restraining the overflowings of the River Lycus The signal vengeance inflicted upon two Jews counterfeit Beggars The fame and multitude of his miracles and the authorities to justifie the credibility of them The rage and cruelty of the Decian Persecution in the Regions of Pontus and Cappadocia His persuading the Christians to withdraw His own retirement The narrow search made for him and his miraculous escape His betrayer converted His return to Neocaesarea and instituting solemnities to the memories of the Martyrs and the reasons of it The inundations of the Northern Nations upon the Roman Empire His Canonical Epistle to rectifie the disorders committed by occasion of those inroads His meeting with others in the Synod at Antioch about the cause of Paulus Samosatenus His return home age and death His solemn thanks to God for the flourishing state of his Church and command concerning his Burial The excellent Character given of him by S. Basil His Writings The charge of Sabellianism S. Basils Apology for him in that behalf Modesty to be used in censuring the ancient Fathers and why Pag. 267. The Life of S. DIONYSIUS Bishop of Alexandria The place of his nativity His Family and Relations His conversion how His studies under Origen Whether a professed Rhetorician His succeeding Heraclas in the Catechetic School His being constituted Bishop of Alexandria and the time of it Apreparatory Persecution at Alexandria how begun The severity of it The Martyrdom of Apollonia and the fond honours done her in the Church of Rome The Persecution continued and promoted by Decius his Edicts The miserable condition of the Christians The sudden Conversion and Martyrdom of a Guard of Souldiers Dionysius apprehended and carried into banishment there to be beheaded A pleasant account of his unexpected deliverance by means of a drunken rout His retirement into the Desarts His return to Alexandria The great number and quality of the Lapsed in the late Persecution The contests about this matter Dionysius his judgment and practice herein The case of Serapion His dealing with Novatian about his Schism and the copy of his Letter to him His being engaged in the Controversie about Rebaptization and great moderation in it His Letter to Pope Sixtus about a person baptized by Heretics Valerianus the Emperours kindness to Christians How turned to cruelty Dionysius brought before Aemilian His discourse with him and resolute constancy He is condemned to be banished His transportation into the Desarts of Lybia The success of his Ministry there Innumerable Barbarians converted to the Faith Gallienus his relaxing the Persecution His Letter to Dionysius granting liberty to the Christians Alexandria shut up by the usurpation of Aemilian The Divisions within and Siege without The horrible Pestilence at Alexandria and the singular kindness and compassion of the Christians there above the Heathens Dionysius his confutation of Sabellius His unwary expressions and the charge against him His vindication both by himself and by S. Athanasius His writing against Nepos Nepos who and what his Principles and Followers Dionysius his encounter with the heads of the Party his convincing and reducing them back to the Orthodox Church His engaging in the Controversie against Paulus Samosatenus The loose extravagant and insolent temper and manners of that man Dionysius his Letter to the Synod at Antioch concerning him The success of that affair Dionysius his death His Writings and Epistles The loss of them bewailed THE

of them by the plain confession of Heathen Writers and the enemies of Christianity a Annal. l. 15. c. 44. p. 319. Tacitus tells us That the Author of this Religion was Christ who under the reign of Tiberius was put to death by Pontius Pilat the Procurator of Judaea whereby though this detestable Superstition was suppressed for the present yet did it break out again spreading it self not onely through Judaea the fountain of the mischief but in the very City of Rome it self where whatever is wicked and shameful meets together and is greedily advanced into reputation b H. Eccl. l. 2. c. 2. p. 40. vid. Oros adv Pag. l. 7. c. 4. fol. 293. Eusebius assures us that after our Lords Ascension Pilat according to custom sent an account of him to the Emperour which Tiberius brought before the Senate but they rejected it under pretence that cognizance had been taken of it before it came to them it being a fundamental Law of the Roman State that no new god could be taken in without the Decree of the Senate but that however Tiberius continued his good thoughts of Christ and kindness to the Christians For this he cites the testimony of Tertullian who in his c Apolog. c. 5. p. 6. c. 21. p. 20. Apology presented to the Roman Powers affirms that Tiberius in whose time the Christian Religion entered into the World having received an account from Pilat out of Palestin in Syria concerning the truth of that Divinity that was there brought it to the Senate with the Prerogative of his own vote but that the Senate because they had not before approved of it would not admit it however the Emperour continued of the same mind and threatned punishment to them that accused the Christians And before Tertullian Justin Martyr d Apolog. II. p. 76. speaking concerning the death and sufferings of our Saviour tells the Emperours that they might satisfie themselves in the truth of these things from the Acts written under Pontius Pilat It being customary not only at Rome to keep the Acts of the Senate and the People but for the Governors of Provinces to keep account of what memorable things happened in their Government the Acts whereof they transmitted to the Emperour And thus did Pilat during the Procuratorship of his Province How long these Acts remained in being I know not but in the controversie about Easter we find the Quartodecimans e Ap. Epiph. Haeres L. p. 182. justifying the day on which they observed it from the Acts of Pilat wherein they gloried that they had found the truth Whether these were the Acts of Pilat to which Justin appealed or rather those Acts of Pilat drawn up and published by the command of f E●seb H. Eccl. l. 9. c. 5. p. 350. Maximinus Dioclesians successor in disparagement of our Lord and his Religion is uncertain but the latter of the two far more probable However Pilats Letter to Tiberius or as he is there called Claudis at this day extant in the Anacephalaeosis g Ad calcem ● de Excid u●b Hicros p. 683. of the younger Egesippus is of no great credit though that Author challenges greater antiquity then some allow him being probably contemporary with S. Ambrose and by many from the great conformity of stile and phrase thought to be S. Ambrose himself who with some few additions compiled it out of Josephus But then it is to be considered whether that Anacephalaeosis be done by the same or which is most probable by a much later hand Some other particular passages concerning our Saviour are taken notice of by Gentile Writers the appearance of the Star by Calcidius the murder of the Infants by Macrobius the Eclips at our Saviours Passion by Phlegon Trallianus not to speak of his miracles frequently acknowledged by Celsus Julian and Porphyry which I shall not insist upon VI. IMMEDIATELY after our Lords Ascension from whence we date the next period of the Church the Apostles began to execute the Powers intrusted with them They presently filled up Judas his vacancy by the election of a new Apostle the lot falling upon Matthias and he was numbred with the eleven Apostles Being next endued with power from on high as our Lord had promised them furnished with the miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost they set themselves to preach in places of the greatest concourse and to the faces of their greatest enemies They who but a while before fled at the first approach of danger now boldly plead the cause of their crucified Master with the immediate hazard of their lives And that nothing might interrupt them in this imployment they instituted the Office of Deacons who might attend the inferiour Services of the Church while they devoted themselves to what was more immediately necessary to the good of souls By which prudent course Religion got ground apace and innumerable Converts were daily added to the Faith till a Persecution arising upon S. Stephen's Martyrdom banished the Church out of Jerusalem though this also proved its advantage in the event and issue Christianity being by this means the sooner spread up and down the neighbour Countries The Apostles notwithstanding the rage of the Persecution remained still at Jerusalem onely now and then dispatching some few of their number to confirm and setle the Plantations and to propagate the Faith as the necessities of the Church required And thus they continued for near twelve years together our Lord himself having commanded them not to depart Jerusalem and the parts thereabouts till twelve years after his Ascension as the ancient Tradition mentioned both by a Ap. Euseb H. Eccl. l. 5. c. 18. p. 186. Apollonius and b Stromat l. 6. p. 636. vid. Life of S. Peter Sect. 11. num 5. Clemens Alexandrinus informs us And now they thought it high time to apply themselves to the full execution of that Commission which Christ had given them to go teach and baptize all Nations Accordingly having setled the general affairs and concernments of the Church they betook themselves to the several Provinces of the Gentile World preaching the Gospel to every Nation under Heaven so that even in a literal sense their sound went into all the earth and their words unto the ends of the World Infinite multitudes of people in all Cities and Countries says c Lib. 2. c. 3. p. 4● Eusebius like Corn into a well-filled Granary being brought in by that grace of God that brings salvation And they whose minds were heretofore distempered and over-run with the errour and idolatry of their Ancestors were cured by the Sermons and Miracles of our Lords Disciples and shaking off those chains of Darkness and Slavery which the merciless Daemons had put upon them freely embraced and entertained the knowledge and service of the onely true God the great Creator of the World whom they worshiped according to the holy Rites and Rules of that divine and wisely contrived

our selves have been present and beheld it may be it would only make the Infidels merry supposing that we like themselves did forge and feign them But God bears witness with my conscience that I do not endeavour by falsly-contrived stories but by various powerful instances to recommend the Divine Religion of the Holy Jesus More testimonies of this kind I could easily produce from Minucius Faelix Cyprian Arnobius and Lactantius but that these are enough to my purpose XIII ANOTHER advantage that exceedingly contributed to the triumph of Christianity was the singular learning of many who became champions to defend it For it could not but be a mighty satisfaction especially to men of ordinary capacities and mean employments which are the far greatest part of mankind to see persons of the most smart and subtil reasonings of the most acute and refined understandings and consequently not easily capable of being imposed upon by arts of sophistry and plausible stories trampling upon their former sentiments and opinions and not only entertaining the Christian Faith but defending it against its most virulent opposers 'T is true indeed the Gospel at its first setting out was left to its own naked strength and men of the most unpolisht breeding made choice of to convey it to the world that it might not seem to be an humane artifice or the success of it be ascribed to the parts and powers of man But after that for an hundred years together it had approved it self to the world and a sharper edge was set upon the malice and keenness of its adversaries it was but proper to take in external helps to assist it And herein the care of the Divine providence was very remarkable that as miracles became less common and frequent in the Church God was pleased to raise up even from among the Gentiles themselves men of profound abilities and excellent learning who might 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Julian c Theod. H. Eccl. l. 3. c. 8. p. 131. said of the Christians of his time beat them at their own weapons and wound them with arrows drawn out of their own quiver and it was high time to do so for the Gentiles did not only attaque the Christians and their Religion by methods of cruelty and by arts of insinuation not only object what wit and subtilty could invent to bear any shadow and pretence of reason but load them with the blackest crimes which nothing but the utmost malice and prejudice could ever suspect to be true This gave occasion to the Christian Apologists and the first Writers against the Gentiles who by their learned and rational discourses assoil'd the Christians from the things charged against them justified the reasonableness excellency and divinity of their Religion and expos'd the folly and falshood the brutishness and impiety the absurd and trifling rites of the Pagan Worship by which means prejudices were removed and thousands brought over to the Faith In this way they that rendred themselves most renowned and did greatest service to the Christian cause were especially these Quadratus Bishop of Athens and Aristides formerly a famous Philosopher of that City a man wise and eloquent dedicated each an Apologetic to the Emperor Adrian Justin the Martyr besides several Tracts against the Gentiles wrote two Apologies the first presented to Antoninus Pius the second to M. Aurelius and the Senate about which time also Athenagoras presented his Apology to M. Aurelius and Aurelius Commodus not to mention his excellent discourse concerning the Resurrection To the same M. Aurelius Melito Bishop of Sardis exhibited his Apologetic Oration for the Christians under this Emperor also flourished Apollinaris Bishop of Hierapolis in Asia and dedicated to him an incomparable discourse in defence of the Christian Faith besides five Books which he wrote against the Gentiles and two concerning the truth Not long after Theophilus Bishop of Antioch compos'd his three excellent Books for the conviction of Autolycus and Miltiades presented an Apology probably to the Emperor Commodus Tarian the Syrian Scholar to Justin Martyr a man learned and eloquent among other things wrote a Book against the Gentiles which sufficiently evidences his great abilities Tertullian a man of admirable learning and the first of the Latins that appeared in this cause under the Reign of Severus published his Apologetic directed to the Magistrates of the Roman Empire besides his Books Ad Nationes De Idololatria Ad Scapulam and many more After him succeeded Origen whose eight Books against Celsus did not greater service to the Christian cause than they did honour to himself Minucius Faelix an eminent advocate at Rome wrote a short but most elegant Dialogue between Octavius and Caecilius which as Lactantius a De Instit l. 5. c. 1. p. 459. long since observed shews how fit and able an advocate he would have been to assert the truth had he wholly applied himself to it About the time of Gallus and Volusian Cyprian addressed himself in a discourse to Demetrian the Proconsul of Afric in behalf of the Christians and their Religion and published his Tract De Idolorum vanitate which is nothing but an Epitome of Minucius his Dialogue Towards the close of that Age under Dioclesian Arnobius taught Rhetoric with great applause at Sicca in Afric and being convinc'd of the truth of Christianity could hardly make the Christians at first believe that he was real In evidence therefore of his sincerity he wrote seven Books against the Gentiles wherein he smartly and rationally pleads the Christian cause as not long after his Scholar Lactantius who under Dioclesian professed Rhetoric at Nicomedia set himself to the composing several discourses in defence of the Christian and subversion of the Gentile Religion A man witty and eloquent but more happy in attacquing his Adversaries then in establishing the Principles of his own Religion many whereof he seems not very distinctly to have understood To all these I may add Apollonius a man versed in all kind of learning and Philosophy and if St. Hierom say right a Senator of Rome who in a set Oration with so brave and generous a confidence eloquently pleaded his own and the cause of Christianity before the Senate it self for which he suffered as a Martyr in the Reign of Commodus XIV AND as they thus defended Christianity on the one hand from the open assaults and calumnies of the Gentiles so were they no less careful on the other to clear it from the errors and Heresies wherewith men of perverse and evil minds sought to corrupt and poyson it And the chief of those that ingaged in this way were these Agrippa Castor a man of great learning in the time of Adrian wrote an accurate Refutation of Basilides and his Principles in xxiv Books Theophilus of Antioch against Hermogenes and Marcion Apollinaris Philip Bishop of Gortyna in Crete Musanus Modestus Rhodon Tatian's Scholar Miltiades Apollonius Serapion Bishop of Antioch and hundreds more who engag'd against the

divinity of that Religion that he taught But Truth and Innocency and a better Cause is the usual object of bad mens Spight and Hatred The zeal and diligence of his Ministry and the extraordinary success that did attend it quickly awakened the malice of the Jews and there wanted not those that were ready to oppose and contradict him So natural is it for Errour to rise up against the Truth as Light and Darkness mutually resist and expel each other VIII THERE were at Jerusalem besides the Temple where Sacrifices and the more solemn parts of their Religion were performed vast numbers of Synagogues for Prayer and Expounding of the Law whereof the Jews themselves tell us there were not less then CCCCLXXX in that City In these or at least some apartments adjoining to them there were Schools or Colledges for the instruction and education of Scholars in their Laws many whereof were erected at the charges of the Jews who lived in Foreign Countries and thence denominated after their names and hither they were wont to send their Youth to be trained up in the knowledge of the Law and the mysterious Rites of their Religion Of these five combined together to send some of their Societies to encounter and oppose St. Stephen An unequal match 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Chrysostom calls it a whole Army of wicked adversaries Orat. in S. Steph. Tom. 6. p. 276. the chief of five several Synagogues are brought out against one and him but a stripling too as if they intended to oppress him rather with the number of assailants then to overcome him by strength of Argument IX THE first of them were those of the Synagogue of the Libertines but who these Libertines were is variously conjectured Passing by Junius his conceit of Labra signifying in the Aegyptian Language the whole Precinct that was under one Synagogue whence Labratenu Jun. in loc in G●n 8.4 or corruptly says he Libertini must denote them that belonged to the Synagogue of the Egyptians omitting this as altogether absurd and fantastical besides that the Synagogue of the Alexandrians is mentioned afterwards Suidas tells us 't was the name of a Nation Suid. in voc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but in what part of the World this People or Countrey were he leaves us wholly in the dark Most probably therefore it relates to the Jews that were emancipated and set at liberty For the understanding whereof we must know that when Pompey had subdued Judaea and reduced it under the Roman Government he carried great numbers of Jews captive to Rome as also did those Generals that succeeded him and that in such multitudes that when the Jewish State sent an Embassy to Augustus Josephus tells us Antiquit. Jad lib. 17. c. 12. p. 610. that there were about eight thousand of the Jews who then lived at Rome that joined themselves to the Embassadors at their arrival thither Here they continued in the condition of Slaves till by degrees they were manumitted and set at liberty which was generally done in the time of Tiberius Phil. de legat ad Gai. p. 78● who as Philo informs suffered the Jews to inhabit the Transtiberin Region most whereof were Libertines such who having been made Captives by the Fortune of War had been set free by their Masters and permitted to live after the manner of their Ancestors They had their Proseucha's or Oratories where they assembled and performed their devotions according to the Religion of their Country every year they sent a Contribution in stead of first-fruits to Jerusalem and deputed certain persons to offer sacrifices for them at the Temple Indeed afterwards as we find in * Tac. Annal. lib. 2. c. 85. p. 88. Tacitus and † Sueton. in vit T●b●● 36 p. 334. Suetonius by an Order of Senate he caused four thousand Libertini generis of those Libertine Jews so many as were young and lusty to be transported into Sardinia to clear that Island of Robbers the occasion whereof is related by ⸫ Antiq. l. 18. c. 5. p. 623. Josephus and the rest both Jews and Proselytes to be banished the City Tacitus adds Italy it self This occasion I doubt not many of these Libertine-Jews took to return home into their own Countrey and at Jerusalem to erect this Synagogue for themselves and the use of their Countreymen who from Rome resorted thither stiling it from themselves the Synagogue of the Libertines and such questionless St. Luke means when among the several Nations that were at Jerusalem at the day of Pentecost he mentions Strangers of Rome and they both Jews and Proselytes X. THE next Antagonists were of the Synagogue of the Cyrenians that is Ap. J●●ph Ant●● Jad lib. 16. c. 10. p. 561. Jews who inhabited Cyrene a noted City of Libya where as appears from a Rescript of Augustus great numbers of them did reside and who were annually wont to send their holy Treasure or accustomed Offerings to Jerusalem where also as we see they had their peculiar Synagogue Accordingly we find among the several Nations at Jerusalem Act. 2.10 those who dwelt in the parts of Libya about Cyrene Thus we read of Simon of Cyrene whom the Jews compelled to bear our Saviours Cross of Lucius of Cyrene Act. 13.1.11.19 20 a famous Doctor in the Church of Antioch of men of Cyrene who upon the persecution that followed St. Stephens death were scattered abroad from Jerusalem and preached as far as Phoenice Cyprus and Antioch The third were those of the Synagogue of the Alexandrians there being a mighty intercourse between the Jews at Jerusalem and Alexandria where what vast multitudes of them dwelt and what great priviledges they enjoyed is too well known to need insisting on The fourth were them of Cilicia a known Province of the lesser Asia the Metropolis whereof was Tarsus well stored with Jews it was S. Pauls birth-place whom we cannot doubt to have born a principal part among these assailants finding him afterwards so active and busie in S. Stephens death The last were those of the Synagogue of Asia where by Asia we are probably to understand no more then part of Asia properly so called as that was but part of Asia minor viz. that part that lay near to Ephesus in which sense 't is plain Asia is to be taken in the New Testament And what infinite numbers of Jews were in these parts and especially at Ephesus the History of the Apostles Acts does sufficiently inform us XI These were the several parties that were to take the Field persons of very different Countries men skilled in the subtleties of their Religion who all at once rose up to dispute with Stephen What the particular subject of the disputation was Loc. 〈◊〉 citat we find not but may with St. Chrysostom conceive them to have accosted him after this manner Tell us Young man what comes into thy mind thus rashly to reproach the Deity Why doest thou study

which was one of the seven and abiding with him and the same man had four daughters Virgins which did prophesie These Virgin-Prophetesses were endowed with the gift of foretelling future events for though prophecy in those times implied also a faculty of explaining the more abstruse and difficult parts of the Christian Doctrine and a peculiar ability to demonstrate Christs Messiaship from the predictions of Moses and the Prophets and to express themselves on a sudden upon any difficult and emergent occasion yet can we not suppose these Virgins to have had this part of the prophetic faculty or at least that they did not publicly exercise it in the Congregation This therefore unquestionably respected things to come and was an instance of Gods accomplishing an an ancient promise that in the times of the Messia Act. 2.17 18. he would pour out of his Spirit upon all flesh on their sons and daughters servants and handmaidens and they should prophecy The names of two of these daughters the Greek Menaeon tells us were Hermione and Eutychis who came into Asia after S. Johns death and the first of them died and was buried at Ephesus XIV HOW long S. Philip lived after his return to Caesarea and whether he made any more excursions for the propagation of the Faith is not certainly known a Synops de Vit. App. loc citat Dorotheus I know not upon what ground will have him to have been Bishop of Trazellis a City in Asia b 〈…〉 others confounding him with S. Philip the Apostle make him resident at Hierapolis in Phrygia where he suffered Martyrdom and was buried say they together with his Daughters Most probable it is that he died a peaceable death at Caesarea where his Daughters were also buried as some ancient c 〈…〉 Martyrologies inform us where his House and the apartments of his Virgin-Daughters were yet to be seen in d Hi●● Epitaph Pa●● ad E●s●o●● T. 1. p. 172. S. Hieroms time visited and admired by the noble and religious Roman Lady Paula in her journey to the Holy Land The End of S. PHILIP's Life THE LIFE OF S. BARNABAS THE APOSTLE S. BARNABAS APOSTOLUS MI 〈◊〉 DEL ET SCULPSIT His Sirname Joses The Title of Barnabas whence added to him His Countrey and Parents His Education and Conversion to Christianity His generous charity S. Pauls address to him after his Conversion His Commission to confirm the Church of Antioch His taking S. Paul into his assistance Their being sent with contributions to the Church at Jerusalem Their peculiar separation for the ministry of the Gentiles Imposition of hands the usual Rite of Ordination Their travels through several Countries Their success in Cyprus Barnabas at Lystra taken for Jupiter and why Their return to Antioch Their Embassy to Jerusalem about the controversie concerning the legal Rites Barnabas seduced by Peters dissimulation at Antioch The dissension between him and S. Paul Barnabas his journey to Chyprus His voyage to Rome and preaching the Christian Faith there His Martyrdom by the Jews in Cyprus His Burial His body when first discovered S. Matthews Hebrew Gospel found with it The great priviledges hereupon conferred upon the See of Salamis A description of his person and temper The Epistle anciently published under his name The design of it The practical part of it excellently managed under the two ways of Light and Darkness I. THE proper and if I may so term it original name of this Apostle for with that title S. Luke and after him the Ancients constantly honour him was Joses by a softer termination familiar with the Greeks for Joseph and so the Kings and several other Manuscript Copies read it It was the name given him at his Circumcision in honour no doubt of Joseph one of the great Patriarchs of their Nation to which after his embracing Christianity the Apostles added that of Barnabas Joses who by the Apostles was sirnamed Barnabas either implying him a Son of Prophecy eminent for his prophetic gifts and endowments or denoting him what was a peculiar part of the Prophets Office a Son of Consolation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost Homil. XI in Act. App. p. 529. for his admirable dexterity in erecting troubled minds and leading them on by the most mild and gentle methods of persuasion Vid. Notker Martyr ad III. Id. Jan. ap Ca●is Antiq. Lect. Tom. 6. though I rather conceive him so stiled for his generous charity in resreshing the bowels of the Saints especially since the name seems to have been imposed upon him upon that occasion He was born in Cyprus a noted Island in the Mediterranean Sea lying between Cilicia Syria and Egypt a large and fertile Countrey the Theatre anciently of no less then nine several Kingdoms so fruitful and richly furnished with all things that can minister either to the necessity or pleasure of mans life that it was of old called Macaria or The Happy and the Historian reports ● Flor. lib. 3. 〈◊〉 p. 67. that Portius Cato having conquered this Island brought hence greater treasures into the Exchequer at Rome then had been done in any other triumph But in nothing was it more happy or upon any account more memorable in the Records of the Church then that it was the Birth-place of our Apostle whose Ancestors in the troublesome times of Antiochus Epiphanes or in the Conquest of Judaea by Pompey and the Roman Army had fled over hither as a place best secured from Violence and Invasion and setled here II. He was descended of the Tribe of Levi and the line of the Priesthood which rendred his Conversion to Christianity the more remarkable all interests concurring to leaven him with mighty prejudices against the Christian Faith But the grace of God delights many times to exert it self against the strongest opposition and loves to conquer where there is least probability to overcome His Parents were rich and pious and finding him a beautiful and hopeful youth says my a Alexand. M●●a●h 〈◊〉 S. Barna● inte● vit a● S. M●●●●● extat ap sur ad J●● XI p. 1●● vi● 〈…〉 Author deriving his intelligence concerning him as he tells us from Clemens of Alexandria and other ancient Writers they sent or brought him to Jerusalem to be trained up in the knowledge of the Law and to that end committed him to the tutorage of Gamaliel the great Doctor of the Law and most famous Master at that time in Israel at whose Foot he was brought up together with S. Paul which if so might lay an early foundation of that intimate familiarity that was afterwards between them Here he improved in learning and piety frequenting the Temple and devoutly exercising himself in Fasting and Prayer Ibid. ● VI● We are further told that being a frequent Spectator of our Saviours miracles and among the rest of his curing the Paralitie at the Pool of Bethesda he was soon convinced of his Divinity and persuaded to deliver up himself

by laying his hands upon them and when he constituted Joshua to be his Successor he laid his hands on him and gave him the charge before all the Congregation This custom they constantly kept in appointing both Civil and Ecclesiastical Officers and that not onely while their Temple and Polity stood but long after the fall of their Church and State For so a Itinerar p. 73. Benjamin the Jew tells us that in his time all the Israelites of the East when they wanted a Rabbin or Teacher in their Synagogues were wont to bring him to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as they call him the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Head of the Captivity residing at Babylon at that time R. Daniel the son of Hasdai that he might receive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 power by imposition of hands to become Preacher to them From the Jews it was together with some other Rites transferred into the Christian Church in ordaining Guides and Ministers of Religion and has been so used through all Ages and Periods to this day Though the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are not of equal extent in the writings and practice of the Church the one implying the bare Rite of laying on of hands while the other denotes Ordination it self and the intire solemnity of the action Whence the b Lib. 8. c. 28. col 494. Apostolical Constitutor speaking of the Presbyters interest in this affair says 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he lays on his hands but he does not ordain meaning it of the Custom then and ever since of Presbyters laying on their hands together with the Bishop in that solemn action VIII BARNABAS and Paul having thus received a divine Commission for the Apostleship of the Gentiles and taking Mark along with them as their Minister and attendant immediately entered upon the Province And first they betook themselves to Seleucia a neighbour City seated upon the influx of the River Orontes into the Mediterranean Sea hence they set sail for Cyprus Barnabas's Native Country and arrived at Salamis a City heretofore of great account the ruines whereof are two miles distant from the present Famagusta where they undantedly preached in the Jewish Synagogues From Salamis they travelled up the Island to Paphos a City remarkable of old for the Worship of Venus Divapotens Cypri the tutelar Goddess of the Island who was here worshipped with the most wanton and immodest Rites and had a famous Temple dedicated to her for that purpose concerning which the Inhabitants have a c Cotovic Itin. l. 1. c. 16. p. 100. Tradition that at S. Barnabas his Prayers it fell flat to the ground and the ruines of an ancient Church are still shewed to Travellers and under it an Arch where Paul and Barnabas were shut up in Prison At this place was the Court or Residence of the Praetor or President of the Island not properly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Proconsul for Cyprus was not a Proconsular but a Praetorian Province who being altogether guided by the counsels and sorceries of Bar-Jesus an eminent Magician stood off from the Proposals of Christianity till the Magician being struck by S. Paul with immediate blindness for his malicious opposition of the Gospel this quickly determined the Governours belief and brought him over a Convert to that Religion which as it made the best offers so he could not but see had the strongest evidences to attend it IX Act. 13.13 LEAVING Cyprus they sailed over to Perga in Pamphilia famous for a Temple of Diana here Mark weary it seems of this itinerant course of life and the unavoidable dangers that attended it took his leave and returned to Jerusalem which laid the foundation of an unhappy difference that broke out between these two Apostles afterwards The next place they came to was Antioch in Pisidia where in the Jewish Synagogue S. Paul by an elegant Oration converted great numbers both of Jews and Proselytes but a persecution being raised by others they were forced to desert the place Thence they passed to Iconium a noted City of Lycaonia where in the Synagogues they preached a long time with good success till a conspiracy being made against them they withdrew to Lystra the inhabitants whereof upon a miraculous cure done by S. Paul treated them as gods come down from Heaven in humane shape S. Paul as being principal Speaker they termed Mercury the interpreter of the gods Barnabas they looked upon as Jupiter their soveraign deity either because of his Age or as a Homil. XXX in Act. App. p. 361. Chrysostom thinks because he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the gravity and comeliness of his person being as antiquity represents him a very goodly man and of a venerable aspect wherein he had infinitely the advantage of S. Paul who was of a very mean and contemptible presence But the malice of the Jews pursued them hither and prevailed with the People to stone S. Paul who presently recovering he and Barnabas went to Derbe where when they had converted many to the Faith they returned back to Lystra Iconium and Antioch and so through Pisidia to Pamphylia thence from Perga to Attalia confirming as they came back the Churches which they had planted at their first going out At Attalia they took Ship and sailed to Antioch in Syria the place whence they had first set out where they gave the Church an account of the whole success of their travels and what way was made for the propagation of Christianity in the Gentile World X. THE restless enemy of all goodness was vexed to see so fair and smooth a progress of the Gospel and therefore resolved to attempt it by the old subtle arts of intestine divisions and animosities what the envious man could not stifle by open violence he sought to choke by sowing tares Act. 15.1 Some zealous Converts coming down from Jerusalem to Antioch started this notion which they asserted with all possible zeal and stiffness that unless together with the Christian Religion they joined the observance of the Mosaic Rites there could be no hopes of salvation for them Paul and Barnabas opposed themselves against this heterodox opinion with all vigour and smartness but not able to beat it down were dispatched by the Church to advise with the Apostles and Brethren at Jerusalem about this matter Whither they were no sooner come but they were kindly and courteously entertained and the right hand of fellowship given them by the three great Apostles Peter James and John and an agreement made between them that where-ever they came they should betake themselves to the Jews while Paul and Barnabas applied themselves unto the Gentiles And here probably it was that Mark reconciled himself to his Uncle Barnabas which a Alexand. Monach ubi supr n. XV. one tells us he did with tears and great importunity earnestly begging him to forgive his weakness and cowardice and promising for the future a

onely said that they sailed under it and passed by it and that Titus was then in the company whereof no footsteps or intimations appear in the Story Sailing therefore from some Port in Cilicia they arrived at Crete where S. Paul industriously set himself to preach and propagate the Christian Faith delighting as much as might be to be the first messenger of the glad tidings of the Gospel to all places where he came not planting in another mans line or building of things made ready to his hand But because the care of other Churches called upon him and would not permit him to stay long enough here to see Christianity brought to a due maturity and perfection he constituted Titus Bishop of that Island that he might nourish that infant-Church superintend its growth and prosperity and manage the Government and Administration of it This the Ancients with one mouth declare He was the first Bishop says d H. Eccl. l. 3. c. 4. p. 73. Eusebius of the Churches in Crete the Apostle consecrated him Bishop of it so e Praef. in Tit. p. 419. T. 5. S. Ambrose so f Doroth. Synops p. 148. Dorotheus and g Ap. Hier. de Script in Tit. Sophronius he was says h Homil. 1. in Tit. p. 1692. Chrysostom an approved person to whom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the whole Island was intirely committed that he might exercise power and jurisdiction over so many Bishops he was by S. Paul ordained Bishop of Crete though a very large Island that he might ordain Bishops under him says i Argum. Epist ad Tit. Tom. 3. Theodoret expresly To which might be added the testimonies of Theophylact Oecumenius and others and the subscription at the end of the Epistle to Titus which though not dictated by the same hand is ancient however where he is said to have been ordained the first Bishop of the Church of the Cretians And k Argum. in 1 ad Tim. p. 1519. S. Chrysostom gives this as the reason why of all his Disciples and Followers S. Paul wrote Epistles to Titus and Timothy and not to Silas or Luke because he had committed to them the care and government of Churches while he reserved the others as attendants and ministers to go along with himself IV. NOR is this meerly the arbitrary sense of Antiquity in the case but seems evidently founded in S. Pauls own intimation Tit. 1.5 where he tells Titus For this cause left I thee in Crete that thou shouldst set in order the things that are wanting and ordain Elders in every City as I had appointed thee that is I constituted thee Governour of that Church that thou mightst dispose and order the affairs of it according to the rules and directions which I then gave thee Ordain Elders he means Bishops says l Homil. 2. in Tit. p. 1700. vid. etiam Theoph. Occumen in loc Chrysostom as elsewhere I have oft explained it Elders in every City he was not willing as he adds that the whole administration of so great an Island should be managed by one but that every City might have its proper Governour to inspect and take care of it that so the burden might be lighter by being laid upon many shoulders and the people attended with the greater diligence Indeed Crete was famous for number of Cities above any other Island in the World thence stiled of old Hecatompolis the Island of an hundred Cities In short plain it is that Titus had power of Jurisdiction Ordination and Ecclesiastical Censures above any other Pastors or Ministers in that Church conferred and derived upon him V. SEVERAL years S. Titus continued at his charge in Crete when he received a summons from S. Paul then ready to depart from Ephesus The Apostle had desired Apollos to accompany Timothy and some others whom he had sent to Corinth but he chusing rather to go for Crete by him and Zenas he wrote an Epistle to Titus to stir him up to be active and vigilant and to teach him how to behave himself in that station wherein he had set him And indeed he had need of all the counsels which S. Paul could give him who had so loose and untoward a generation of men to deal with For the Countrey it self was not more fruitful and plenteous then the manners of the people were debauched and vicious Tit. 1 3● S. Paul puts Titus in mind what a bad character one of their own Poets who certainly knew them best had given of them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Cretians are always Liars Evil Beasts Slow-bellies This Verse a Homil. III. in Tit. pag. 1707. S. Chrysostom supposes the Apostle took from Callimachus who makes use indeed of the first part of it charging the Cretians to be like themselves notorious Liars in pretending that Jupiter was not onely born but died among them and that they had his Tomb with this Inscription ΕΝΤΑΥΘΑ ΖΑΝ ΚΕΙΤΑΙ Here lies Jupiter when as the deity is immortal whereupon the good Father perplexes himself with many needless difficulties in reconciling it Whereas in truth S. Paul borrowed it not from Callimachus but Epimenides a native of Crete famous among the Ancients for his Raptures and Enthusiastic divinations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as b In vit Solon pag. 84. Plutarch says of him From him Callimachus cites part of the Verse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Callim Hymn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vet. Schol. ibi and applies it to his particular purpose while S. Paul quotes it intire from the Author himself This witness says he is true And indeed that herein he did not bely them we have the concurrent testimonies of most Heathen Writers who charge the same things upon them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Suid. in voc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eadem Mich. Apostol in eod verb. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psell de operat Damon p. 37. So famous for lying that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 became proverbial to lie like a Cretian and to cousen a cheat and nothing more obvious then mendax Creta c Histor l. 6. p. 681. l. 4. p. 386. Edit L Bata●● Polybius tells us of them that no where could be found more subtle and deceitful Wits and generally more wicked and pernicious Counsels that their Manners were so very sordid and covetous that of all men in the World the Cretians were the only persons who accounted nothing base or dishonest that was but gainful and advantagious Besides they were idle and impatient of labour gluttonous and intemperate unwilling to take any pains farther then to make provision for the flesh as the natural effect of ease idleness and plenty they were wanton and lascivious and prone to the vilest and basest sort of lust 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as d Deipnosoph l. 13. pag. 601. Athenaeus informs us outragiously mad upon that sin

holy Martyr longed to come as much desirous to be at the end of his Race as his Keepers weary of their voyage were to be at the end of their journey VIII THE Christians at Rome daily expecting his arrival were come out to meet and entertain him and accordingly received him with an equal resentment of joy and sorrow Glad they were of the presence and company of so great and good a man but quickly found their joy allayed with the remembrance how soon and by how severe a death he was to be taken from them and when some of them did but intimate that possibly the People might be taken off from desiring his death he expressed a pious indignation intreating them to cast no rubs in his way nor do any thing that might hinder him now he was hastening to his Crown Being conducted to Rome he was presented to the Praefect of the City and as 't is probable the Emperours Letters concerning him were delivered In the mean time while things were preparing for his Martyrdom he and the Brethren that resorted to him improved their time to pious purposes he prayed with them and for them heartily recommended the state of the Church to the care and protection of our blessed Saviour and earnestly solicited Heaven that it would stop the Persecution that was begun and bless Christians with a true love and charity towards one another That his punishment might be the more pompous and public one of their solemn Festivals the time of their Saturnalia and that part of it when they celebrated their Sigillaria was pitched on for his Execution at which times they were wont to entertain the People with the bloudy Conflicts of the Gladiators and the hunting of and fighting with wild Beasts Accordingly on the XIII of the Kalends of January that is December XX. he was brought out into the Amphitheatre and according to his own fervent desire that he might have no other grave but the bellies of wild Beasts the Lions were let loose upon him whose roaring alarm he entertained with no other concernment then that now as Gods own Corn he should be ground between the teeth of these wild Beasts and become White Bread for his heavenly Master The Lions were not long doing their work but quickly dispatched their Meal and left nothing but what they could not well devour a few hard and solid bones This throwing of persons to wild Beasts was accounted among the Romans a Paul JC. Sent. lib. 5. Tit. 23. L. 3. §. 5. ff ad leg Cornel. de Sicar Venef inter summa supplicia and was never used but for very capital offences and towards the vilest and most despicable Malefactors under which rank they beheld the Christians who were so familiarly destined to this kind of death that as * Apolog. c. 40. p. 32. Tertullian tells us upon any trifling and frivolous pretence if a Famin or an Earthquake did but happen the common out-cry was Christianos ad Leones Away with the Christians to the Lions IX AMONG other Christians that were mournful spectators of this Tragic Scene were the Deacons I mentioned who had been the Companions of his Journey who bore not the least part in the sorrows of that day And that they might not return home with nothing but the account of so sad a Story b Act. Ignat. p. 8. Metaphr loc cit Men. Graec. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hieron de Script in Ignat. they gathered up the bones which the wild Beasts had spared and transported them to Antioch where they were joyfully received and honourably entombed in the Coemetery without the Gate that leads to Daphne A passage which Chrysostom according to his Rhetorical Vein elegantly amplifies as the great honour and treasure of that place From hence in the reign of c Euagr. H. Ecc. l. 1. c. 16. p. 274. Theodosius they were by his command with mighty pomp and solemnity removed to the Tychaeon within the City a Temple heretofore dedicated to the public Genius of the City but now consecrated to the memory of the Martyr And for their Translation afterwards to Rome and the miracles said to be done by them they that are further curious may enquire Bolland ad diem 1. Febr. p. 35. c. For indeed I am not now at leisure for these things But I can direct the Reader to one that will give him very punctual and particular account of them and in what places the several parcels of his Reliques are bestowed no less then five Churches in Rome enriched with them besides others in Naples Sicily France Flanders Germany and indeed where not And verily but that some men have a very happy faculty at doing wonders by multiplication a man would be apt to wonder how a few bones and they were not many which the Lions spared could be able to serve so many several Churches I could likewise tell him a long story of the various travels and donations of S. Ignatius his head and by what good fortune it came at last to the Jesuites Colledge at Rome where it is richly enshrined solemnly and religiously worshipped but that I am afraid my Reader would give me no thanks for my pains X. ABOUT this time or a little before while Trajan was yet at Antioch he stopped or at least mitigated the Persecution against Christians For having had an account from a Epist 97. l. 10. Euseb l. 3. c. 34. p 105. J. Malel Chron. l. 11. ap Usser not in Ignat. Epist p. 43. Pliny the Proconsul of Bithynia whom he had imployed to that purpose concerning the innocency and simplicity of the Christians that they were a harmless and inoffensive Generation and lately received a Letter from b Extat ap Jo. Malel loc cit ap Usser Appen Ignat. p. ● vid. Excerpt er Jo. Antioch à Val. edit p. 818. Tiberianus Governour of Palestina Prima wherein he told him that he was wearied out in executing the Laws against the Galilaeans who crouded themselves in such multitudes to execution that he could neither by persuasions nor threatnings keep them from owning themselves to be Christians further praying his Majesties advice in that affair Hereupon he gave command that no inquisition should be made after the Christians though if any of them offered themselves execution should be done upon them So that the fire which had hitherto flamed and burnt out began now to be extinguished and onely crept up and down in private corners There are that tell c Sim. Metaphr Martyr Ignat. apud Coteler p. 1002. us that Trajan having heard a full account of Ignatius and his sufferings and how undauntedly he had undergone that bitter death repented of what he had done and was particularly moved to mitigate and relax the Persecution whereby as Metaphrastes observes not onely Ignatius his Life but his very death became 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Procurer of great peace and prosperity and the glory and establishment of

more unquestionable credit and ancient date tell us that he was S. Johns Disciple and not his onely but as d Adv. ●eres l. 3. c. 3. p. 233. ap Eusth l. 4. c. 14. p. 127. Irenaeus who was his Scholar followed herein by S. Hierom assures us he was taught by the Apostles and familiarly conversed with many who had seen our Lord in the Flesh II. BVCOLVS the vigilant and industrious Bishop of Smyrna being dead by whom S. Polycarp was as we are e Pion. c. 3. n. 12. ubi supr told made Deacon and Catechist of that Church an Office which he discharged with great diligence and success Polycarp was ordained in his room according to Bucolus his own prediction who as the f Men. 23. Febr. ●hi s●pr Greeks report had in his life time fortold that he should be his Successor He was constituted by S. John say the g Tirtull de praescript Haeretic c. 32. p. 213. Hieron ubi ●apr vid. Suid. in vo● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 l. 3. c. 2 p. 225. M●●yr Rom. ad 20. Jan p. ●1 Ancients generally though h 〈…〉 citat Irenaeus followed herein by the i Ol●●p CCXXIV. 1. Anton. XXI p. 602. Chronicle of Alexandria affirms it to have been done by the Apostles whether any of the Apostles besides S. John were then alive or whether he means Apostolic persons commonly stiled Apostles in the Writings of the Church who joined with S. John in the consecration k H. Eccl. l. 3. c. 36. p 1●6 Eusebius says that Polycarp was familiarly conversant with the Apostles and received the Government of the Church of Smyrna from those who had been Eye-witnesses and Ministers of our Lord. It makes not a little for the honour of S. Polycarp and argues his mighty diligence and solicitude for the good of souls that as we shall note more anon Ignatius passing to his Martyrdom wrote to him and particularly recommended to him the inspection and oversight of his Church at Antioch knowing him says l Ib. p. 1●● Eusebius to be truly an Apostolical man and being assured that he would use his utmost care and fidelity in that matter The m Ad. Ann. 1. Olynpiad CCXX Indi ● XIII ann Tray 4. p. 594. Author of the Alexandrian Chronicle tells us that it was the Bishop of Smyrna who could not well be any other then S. Polycarp to whom S. John committed the tutorage and education of the young man whom he took up in his Visitation who ran away and became Captain of a Company of loose and debauched High-way men and was afterwards reduced and reclaimed by that Apostle But seeing Clemens Alexandrinus who relates the Story sets down neither the name of the Bishop nor the City though he a Ap. Eusebd 3. c. 23 p. 92. confesses there were some that made mention of it nor is this circumstance taken notice of by any other ancient Writer nor that Bishops neglecting of his charge well consistent with S. Polycarps care and industry I shall leave the Story as I find it Though it cannot be denied but that Smyrna was near to Ephesus as S. Clemens says that City also was and that S. John seems to have had a more then ordinary regard to that Church it being next Ephesus the first of those seven famous Asian Churches to whom he directed his Epistles and S. Polycarp at this time Bishop of it for that he was that Angel of the Church of Smyrna to whom that Apocalyptical Epistle was sent is not onely highly probable but by a b Usser Prolegom ad Ignat. Epist c. 2. p. 9. learned man put past all question I must confess that the character and circumstances ascribed by S. John to the Angel of that Church seem very exactly to agree with Polycarp and with no other Bishop of that Church about those times especially that we read of in the History of the Church And whoever compares the account of S. Polycarps Martyrdom with the notices and intimations which the Apocalypst there gives of that persons sufferings and death will find the prophecy and the event suit together That which may seem to make most against it is the long time of his presidency over that See seeing by this account he must sit at least LXXIV years Bishop of that Church from the latter end of Domitians reign when the Apocalyps was written to the Persecution under M. Aurelius when he suffered To which no other solution needs be given then that his great nay extreme Age at the time of his death renders it not at all improbable especially when we find several Ages after that Remigius Bishop of Rhemes sate LXXIV years Bishop of that place III. IT was not many years after S. Johns death when the Persecution under Trajan began to be reinforced wherein the Eastern parts had a very large share Ann. Chr. CVII Ignatius was condemned by the Emperour at Antioch and sentenced to be transported to Rome in order to his execution In his voyage thither he put in at Smyrna to salute and converse with Polycarp these holy men mutually comforting and encouraging each other and conferring together about the affairs of the Church From Smyrna Ignatius and his company sailed to Troas whence he sent back an Epistle to the Church of Smyrna wherein he endeavours to fortifie them against the errours of the Times which had crept in amongst them especially against those who undermined our Lords humanity and denied his coming in the Flesh affirming him to have suffered onely in an imaginary and phantastic body An opinion which as it deserved he severely censures and strongly refutes He further presses them to a due observance and regard of their Bishop and those spiritual Guides and Ministers which under him were set over them and that they would dispatch a messenger on purpose to the Church of Antioch to congratulate that peace and tranquillity which then began to be restored to them Besides this he wrote particularly to S. Polycarp whom he knew to be a man of an Apostolic temper a person of singular faithfulness and integrity recommending to him the care and superintendency of his disconsolate Church of Antioch In the Epistle it self as extant at this day there are many short and useful rules and precepts of life especially such as concern the Pastoral and Episcopal Office And here again he renews his request concerning Antioch that a messenger might be sent from Smyrna to that Church and that S. Polycarp would write to other Churches to do the like a thing which he would have done himself had not his hasty departure from Troas prevented him And more then this we find not concerning Polycarp for many years after till some unhappy differences in the Church brought him upon the public Stage IV. IT happened that the Quartodeciman controversie about the observation of Easter began to grow very high between the Eastern and Western Churches each standing very

we might declare it to others the flames disposing themselves into the resemblance of an Arch like the Sails of a Ship swelled with the Wind gently encircled the body of the Martyr Th●●icem si quis medio miretur in igne flammas Emori extructo se reparare rogo Ch●iupeat POLYCARPE avi das tibi parcere Non ausas sacrâ te violare face Mille nitent tedae rutilantque hinc inde favillis Atque in te Dominum quem colis ipse colunt Praemia nunc majora tibi sed reddit Olympus Ignea qui pedibus subjicit astra suis who stood all the while in the midst not like rosted flesh but like Gold or Silver purified in the Furnace his body sending forth a delightful fragrancy which like frankincense or some other costly spices presented it self to our senses XIV Inscript Romae in Ecclesia S. Stephani in Coeli● suprascripta haec Siracidae sententia HOW blind and incorrigibly obstinate is unbelief The Infidels were so far from being convinced Ecclesiastic LI. 6. IN MEDIO IGNIS NON SUM AESTUATUS that they were rather exasperated by the miracle commanding a Spearman one of those who were wont to dispatch wild Beasts when they became outragious Vid. usser not 74. in Act. Polycarp p. 67. to go near and run him through with a Sword which he had no sooner done but such a vast quantity of bloud flowed from the wound as extinguished and put out the fire together with which a Dove was seen to fly from the wounds of his Body which some suppose to have been his soul clothed in a visible shape at the time of its departure though true it is that this circumstance is not mentioned in Eusebius his account and probably never was in the original Nor did the malice of Satan end here he knew by the innocent and unblamable course of his life and the glorious constancy of his Martyrdom that he had certainly attained the Crown of Immortality and nothing now was left for his spight to work on but to deprive them even of the honour of his bones For many were desirous to have given his body decent and honourable burial and to have assembled there for the celebration of his memory but were prevented by some who prompted Nicetes the Father of Herod and Brother to Alce to advise the Proconsul not to bestow his body upon the Christians lest leaving their crucified Master they should henceforth worship Polycarpus A suggestion however managed by the Heathens yet first contrived and prompted by the Jews who narrowly watched the Christians when they would have taken away his body from the place of Execution Little considering they are the very words of my Authors how impossible it is that either we should forsake Christ who died for the salvation of the whole World or that we should worship any other Him we adore as the Son of God but Martyrs as the Disciples and Followers of our Lord we deservedly love for their eminent kindness towards their own Prince and Master whose Companions and fellow-Disciples we also by all means desire to be So far were those Primitive and better Ages from that undue and superstitious veneration of the Reliques of Martyrs and departed Saints which after-ages introduced into the Church Prim. Christ Part. 1. chap. 5. as elsewhere we have shewed more at large XV. THE Centurion beholding the perversness and obstinacy of the Jews commanded the body to be placed in the midst and in the usual manner to be burnt to ashes whose bones the Christians gathered up as a choice and inestimable treasure and decently interred them In which place they resolved if possible and they prayed God nothing might hinder it to meet and celebrate the Birth-day of his Martyrdom both to do honour to the memory of the departed and to prepare and encourage others hereafter to give the like testimony to the Faith Both which considerations gave birth and original to the Memoriae Martyrum those solemn Anniversary Commemorations of the Martyrs which we have in another place more fully shewed Ibid. chap. 7. were generally kept in the Primitive Church Thus died this Apostolical man Ann. Chr. CLXVII about the hundredth year of his Age for those eighty six years which himself speaks of wherein he had served Christ cannot be said to commence from his birth but from his baptism or new-birth at which time we cannot well suppose him to have been less then sixteen or twenty years old besides his converse with the Apostles and consecration by S. John reasonably suppose him of some competent years for we cannot think he would ordain a Youth or a very young man Bishop especially of so great and populous a City The incomparable a Annot. in Ep. S. Polycarp p. 2. Primate from a passage in his Epistle conjectures him to have lived though not then converted to Christianity at the time when S. Paul wrote his Epistles which if so must argue him to have been of a greater Age nor is this any more improbable then what b Ap. Euseb l. 4. c. 3. p. 116. Quadratus the Christian Apologist who lived under Hadrian and dedicated his Apologetic to that Emperour reports that there were some of those whom our Lord had healed and raised from the dead alive even in his time and of Simeon successor to S. James in the Bishoprick of Jerusalem c Ibid. l. 3. c. 32. p. 104. Hegesippus expresly relates that he was CXX years old at the time of his Martyrdom Sure I am d Adv. Haeres l. 3. c. 3. ap Eus l. 4. c. 14. p. 127. Irenaeus particularly notes of our S. Polycarp that he lived a very long time and was arrived to an exceeding great age when he underwent a most glorious and illustrious Martyrdom for the Faith XVI HE suffered on the second of the Moneth Xanthicus the VII of the Kalends of May though whether mistaken for the VII of the Kalends of April and so to be referred to March XXVI as some will have it or for the VII of the Kalends of March and so to be adjudged to February XXIII as others is difficult to determine It shall suffice to note that his memory is celebrated by the Greek Church February the XXIII by the Latine January the XXVI The Amphitheatre where he suffered is in a great measure yet remaining as a late c Th. Smith Epist de VII Asiae Eccles p. 164. Eye-witness and diligent searcher into Antiquity informs us in the two opposite sides whereof are the Dens where the Lions were wont to be kept His Tomb is in a little Chappel in the side of a Mountain on the South-east part of the City solemnly visited by the Greeks upon his Festival day and for the maintenance and reparation whereof Travellers are wont to throw in a few Aspers into an Earthen Pot that stands there for that purpose How miserable the state of this City

and their false doctrines let us return to that doctrine that from the beginning was delivered to us let us be watchful in Prayers persevering in Fasting and Supplications beseeching the All-seeing God that he would not lead us into temptation Matt. 26.41 as the Lord has said the Spirit indeed is willing but the Flesh is weak Let us unweariedly and constantly adhere to Jesus Christ who is our hope and the pledge of our righteousness 1 Pet. 2.22 24. who bare our sins in his own body on the Tree who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth but endured all things for our sakes that we might live through him Let us then imitate his patience and if we suffer for his Name we glorifie him for such a pattern he set us in himself and this we have believed and entertained VI. I exhort you therefore all that ye be obedient to the word of righteousness and that you exercise all manner of patience as you have seen it set forth before your eyes not onely in the blessed Ignatius and Zosimus and Rufus but in others also among you and in Paul himself and the rest of the Apostles being assured that all these have not run in vain but in faith and righteousness and are arrived at the place due and promised to them by the Lord of whose sufferings they were made partakers For they loved not this present world but him who both died and was raised up again by God for us Stand fast therefore in these things and follow the example of the Lord being firm and immutable in the faith lovers of the brethren and kindly affectionate one towards another united in the truth carrying your selves meekly to each other despising no man When it is in your power to do good defer it not for Alms delivereth from death Be all of you subject one to another having your conversation honest among the Gentiles that both you your selves may receive praise by your good works and that God be not blasphemed through you For wo unto him by whom the Name of the Lord is blasphemed Wherefore teach all men sobriety and be your selves conversant in it VII I am exceedingly troubled for Valens who was sometimes ordained a Presbyter among you that he so little understands the place wherein he was set I therefore warn you that you abstain from covetousness and that ye be chast and true Keep your selves from every evil work But he that in these things cannot govern himself how shall he preach it to another If a man refrain not from covetousness he will be defiled with Idolatry and shall be judged among the Heathen 1 Cor. 6.2 Who is ignorant of the judgment of the Lord Know ye not that the Saints shall judge the World as Paul teaches But I have neither found any such thing in you nor heard any such thing of you among whom the blessed Paul laboured and who are in the beginning of his Epistle For of you he boasts in all those Churches which onely knew God at that time whom as yet we had not known I am therefore Brethren greatly troubled for him and for his Wife the Lord give them true repentance Be ye also sober as to this matter and account not such as enemies but restore them as weak and erring members that the whole body of you may be saved for in so doing ye build up your selves VIII I trust that ye are well exercised in the holy Scriptures and that nothing is hid from you a thing as yet not granted to me As it is said in these places be angry and sin not and let not the Sun go down upon your wrath Blessed is he that is mindful of these things which I believe you are The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and Christ Jesus the eternal High-priest and Son of God build you up in faith and truth and in all meekness that you may be without anger in patience forbearance long-suffering and chastity and give you a portion and inheritance amongst his Saints and to us together with you and to all under Heaven who shall believe in our Lord Jesus Christ and in his Father who raised him from the dead Pray for all Saints Pray also for Kings Magistrates and Princes and even for them that hate and persecute you and for the Enemies of the Cross that your fruit may be manifest in all that you may be compleat in him IX YE wrote unto me both ye and Ignatius that if any one go into Syria he might carry your Letters along with him which I will do so soon as I shall have a convenient opportunity either my self or by some other whom I will send upon your errand According to your request we have sent you those Epistles of Ignatius which he wrote to us and as many others of his as we had by us which are annexed to this Epistle by which ye may be greatly profited For they contain in them faith and patience and whatever else is necessary to build you up in our Lord. Send us word what you certainly know both concerning Ignatius himself and his companions These things have I written unto you by Crescens whom I have hitherto commended to you and do still recommend For he has unblamably conversed among us as also I believe amongst you His sister also ye shall have recommended when she shall come unto you Be ye safe in the Lord Jesus Christ Grace be with you all Amen The End of S. POLYCARP'S Life THE LIFE OF S. QUADRATUS BISHOP of ATHENS Michael Burghers Dilineavit et sculpsit S. QUADRATUS His Birth-place enquired into His Learning His Education under the Apostles Publius Bishop of Athens Quadratus his succession in that See The degenerate state of that Church at his coming to it His indefatigable zeal and industry in its reformation It s purity and flourishing condition noted by Origen Quadratus his being endowed with a spirit of Prophecy and a power of miracles This person proved to be the same with our Athenian Bishop The troubles raised against the Christians under the reign of Hadrian Hadrians Character His disposition towards Religion and base thoughts of the Christians His fondness for the Learning and Religion of Greece His coming to Athens and kindness to that City His being initiated into the Eleusinian mysteries These mysteries what and the degrees of initiation Several addresses made to the Emperour in behalf of the Christians Quadratus his Apologetic Ser. Granianus his Letter to Hadrian concerning the Christians The Emperours Rescript His good opinion afterwards of Christ and his Religion Quadratus driven from his charge His Martyrdom and place of Burial I. WHETHER S. Quadratus was born at Athens no notices of Church-Antiquity enable us to determine though the thing it self be not improbable his Education and Residence there and the Government of that Church seeming to give some colour to it And as Nature had furnished him with incomparable parts

Pen. XIX HE was highly honoured while he lived not onely by men consulted and appealed to in all weighty cases by foreign Churches but by frequent visions and divine condescensions as he was wont to call them whereby he was immediately warned and directed in all important affairs and exigences of the Church After his death his memory was had in great veneration the people of Carthage c Vict. de Persec Vandal l. 1. inter Oothod PP p. 801. Tom. 2. erecting two eminent Churches to it one in the place of his Martyrdom the other in the Mappalian way where he was buried The former was stiled Mensa Cypriani Cyprian's Table because there he had been offered up a Sacrifice acceptable unto God And here they had their anniversary commemorations of him Whether this was the Church mentioned by Procopius d De Bell. Vandal l. 1. vid. Niceph l. 17. c. 12. p. 751. I cannot tell who informs us that the Carthaginians above all people in the World honoured S. Cyprian building a magnificent Church to his memory without the City Walls near the Sea side and besides other expressions of honour done to him they kept a yearly festival which they called Cypriana This Church Honoricus King of the Vandals afterwards took from the Catholics casting out the Orthodox Clergy with disgrace and contempt and bestowed it upon the Arrians which XCV years after was recovered by the Emperour Justinian under the conduct of Belisarius who besieged and took Carthage and drove the Vandals out of all those parts His Writings Genuine Epistola ad Donatum statim à Baptismo conscripta Epistolae in Secessu toto biennio conscriptae XXXVIII Epistolae sub Pontificatu Cornelii Lucii XVIII Epistolae Miscellaneae in pace variis temporibus conscriptae VIII Epistolae sub Pontificatu Stephani de rebaptizandis Haereticis X. Epistolae in exilio scriptae sub finem vitae VII De disciplina habitu Virginum De Lapsis De Vnitate Ecclesiae Catholicae De Oratione Dominica Ad Demetrianum De Idolorum vanitate De Mortalitate De Opere Eleemosynis De Bono Patientia De Zelo Livore De exhortatione Martyrii ad Fortunatum Testimoniorum Adversus Judaeos Lib. III. Concilium Carthaginense de baptizandis Haereticis Supposititious De Spectaculis De Disciplina bono pudicitiae De Laude Martyrii ad Mosen c. Ad Novatianum quod Lapsis spes veniae non sit deneganda De Cardinalibus Christi operibus De Nativitate Christi De ratione Circumcisionis De Stella Magis ac innocentium nece De baptismo Christi manifestatione Trinitatis De jejunio tentationibus Christi De Coena Domini De Ablutione pedum De unctione Chrismatis aliis Sacramentis De Passione Christi De Resurrectione Christi De Ascensione Christi De Spiritu Sancto De Aleatoribus De montibus Sina Sion contr Judaeos Carmen Genesis Carmen Sodoma Carmen ad Senatorem Apostatam Hymnus de Pascha Domini Oratio pro Martyribus Oratio in die Passionis suae De singularitate Clericorum In Symbolum Apostolorum Expositio De Judaica incredulitate Adv. Judaeos qui Christum insecuti sunt De revelatione Capitis B. Joan. Baptistae De duplici Martyrio ad Fortunatum De XII Abusionibus Saeculi Dispositio Coenae The End of S. CYPRIAN 's Life THE LIFE OF S. GREGORY BISHOP OF NEOCAESAREA Micha Burgh deli et sculp S. GREGORIUS THAUMATURGUS S. Gregory where born His Kindred and Relations The rank and quality of his Parents His youthful studies His study of the Laws His travels to Alexandria The calumny there fixed upon him and his miraculous vindication His return through Greece His studying the Law at Berytus and upon what occasion His fixing at Caesarea and putting himself under the tutorage of Origen The course of his studies His Panegyric to Origen at his departure Origen 's Letter to him and the importance of it His refusal to stay at Neocaesarea and retirement into the Wilderness His shunning to be made Bishop of Neocaesarea Consecrated Bishop of that City during his absence His acceptance of the charge and the state of that place at his entrance upon it His miraculous instruction in the great mysteries of Christianity His Creed The miracles wrought by him in his return His expelling Daemons out of a Gentile Temple and the success of it His welcome entrance into the City and kind entertainment His diligent preaching to the people His erecting a Church for divine worship and its signal preservation An horrible plague stopped by his prayers The great influence of it upon the minds of the people His judging in civil causes His drying up a Lake by his prayers which had been the cause of an implacable quarrel between two Brothers And his restraining the overflowings of the River Lyeus The signal vengeance inflicted upon two Jews counterfeit beggars The fame and multitude of his miracles and the authorities to justifie the credibility of them The rage and cruelty of the Decian Persecution in the Regions of Pontus and Cappadocia His persuading the Christians to withdraw His own retirement The narrow search made for him and his miraculous escape His betrayer converted His return to Neocaesarea and instituting selemnities to the memories of the Martyrs and the reasons of it The inundations of the Northern Nations upon the Roman Empire His Canonical Epistle to rectifie the disorders committed by occason of those inroads His meeting with others in the Synod at Antioch about the cause of Paulus Samosatenus His return home age and death His solemn thanks to God for the flourishing state of his Church and command concerning his burial The excellent character given of him by S. Basil His Writings The charge of Sabellianism S. Basil 's Apology for him in that behalf Modesty to be used in censuring the ancient Fathers and why I. S GREGORY called originally Theodorus was born at a Greg. Nyss in vit Gr. Tha●m p. 969. Tom. 2. Neocaesarea the Metropolis of Cappadocia situate upon the River Lycus His Parents were Gentiles but eminent for their birth and fortunes He had a Brother called Athenodorus his fellow-pupil and afterwards Colleague in the Episcopal Order in his own Countrey and one Sister at least married to a Judge under the Governour of Palestin His Father b Gr. Tha●m Panegyr ad Orig p. 182. was a Zealot for his Religion wherein he took care to educate him together with the Learning of the Gentile World When he was fourteen years of age his Father died after which he took a greater liberty of enquiring into things and as his reason grew more quick and manly and was advantaged by the improvements of education he saw more plainly the folly and vanity of that Religion wherein he had been brought up which presently abated his edge and turned his inclinations towards Christianity But though he had lost his Father his Mother c Ibid.

his leave he made an Oration before his Master and in a numerous Auditory wherein as he gives Origen his just commendations so he particularly blesses God g Ibid. p. 178 181. for the happy advantages of his instructions and return thanks to his tutelar and guardian Angel which as it had superintended him from his birth so had especially conducted him to so good a Master elegantly bewailing h Ibid. p. 218. 〈◊〉 his departure from that School as a kind of banishment out of Paradise a being turned like the Prodigal out of his Fathers house and a being carried captive as the Jews were into Babylon concluding that of all things upon earth nothing could give so great an ease and consolation to his mind as if his kind and benign Angel would bring him back to that place again V. HE was no sooner returned to Neocaesarea but Origen followed him with a Letter a Extat in Orig. Philo●● c. 13. p. 41. commending his excellent parts able to render him either an eminent Lawyer among the Romans or a great Philosopher among the Greeks but especially persuading him to improve them to the ends of Christianity and the practice of Piety and Vertue For which purpose he lets him know that he instructed him mainly in those Sciences and parts of Philosophy which might be introductory to the Christian Religion acquainting him with those things in Geometry and Astronomy which might be useful for the understanding and explaining the holy Scriptures these things being as previously advantageous to the knowledge of the Christian Doctrin as Geometry Music Grammar Rhetoric and Astronomy are preparatory to the study of Philosophy Advising him before all things to read the Scripture and that with the most profound and diligent attention and not rashly to entertain notions of divine things or to speak of them without solemn premeditation and not onely to seek but knock to pray with faith and fervency it being in vain to think that the door should be opened where prayer is not sent before-hand to unlock it At his return b Gr. Nyss ib. p. 975. all mens eyes were upon him expecting that in public meetings he should shew himself and let them reap some fruit of all his studies and to this he was universally courted and importuned and especially by the wise and great men of the City intreating him to reside among them and by his excellent precepts and rules of life to reform and direct the manners of men But the modest young man knowing how unfit they generally were to entertain the dictates of true Philosophy and fearing lest by a great concourse and applause he might be insensibly ensuared into pride and vain-glory resisted all addresses and withdrew himself into the Wilderness where he resigned up himself to solitude and contemplation conversing with God and his own mind and delighting his thoughts with the pleasant speculations of nature and the curious and admirable works of the great Artificer of the World VI. NEOCAESAREA was a place large and populous but miserably over-grown with Superstition and Idolatry so that it seemed the place where Satans seat was and whither Christianity had as yet scarce made its entrance to the great grief and resentment of all good men who heartily wished that Religion and the fear of God were planted in that place c Id. ib. p. 976. Phaedimus Bishop of Amasea a neighbour City in that Province a man indued with a Prophetic spirit had cast his eye upon our young Philosopher as one whose ripe parts and piety did more then weigh down his want of age and rendred him a person fit to be a Guide of Souls to the place of his Nativity whose relation to the place would more endear the imployment to him The notice hereof being intimated to him he shifted his Quarters and as oft as sought for fled from one Desert and solitary shelter to another so that the good man by all his arts and industry could not lay hold of him the one not being more earnest to find him out then the other was vigilant to decline him Phaedimus at last despairing to meet with him resolved however to go on with his design and being acted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by a divine and immediate impetus betook himself to this pious stratagem the like president probably not to be met with in the Antiquities of the Church not regarding Gregorius his absence who was at that time no less then three days journy distant from him he made his address and prayer to God and having declared that both himself and Gregory were at that moment equally seen by God as if they were present in stead of imposition of hands he directed a Discourse to S. Gregory wherein he set him apart to God and constituted him Bishop of that place and God who steers the hearts of men inclined him how averse soever before to accept the charge when probably he had a more formal and solemn Consecration VII THE Province he entered upon was difficult the City and parts thereabouts being wholly given to the worship of Daemons a Id. ubi supr p. 977. and enslaved to the observance of Diabolic Rites there not being above seventeen Christians in those parts so that he must found a Church before he could govern it and which was not the least inconvenience Heresies had spread themselves over those Countries and he himself though accomplished with a sufficient furniture of humane Learning yet altogether unexercised in Theological studies and the mysteries of Religion For remedy whereof he is said to have had an immediate assistance from Heaven For while one night he was deeply considering of these things and discussing matters of Faith in his own mind he had a vision wherein two august and venerable persons whom he understood to be S. John the Evangelist and the blessed Virgin appeared in the Chamber where he was and discoursed before him concerning those points of Faith which he had been before debating with himself After whose departure he immediately penned that Canon and rule of Faith which they had declared and which he ever after made the Standard of his Doctrin and bequeathed as an inestimable Legacy and depositum to his Successors the Tenor whereof we shall here insert together with the Original Greek which being very difficult to be exactly rendred into our Language the learned Reader if he likes not mine may translate for himself There is one God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Father of the living Word and of the subsisting Wisdom and Power and of Him who is his Eternal Image the perfect begetter of Him that is perfect the Father of the onely begotten Son There is one Lord the onely Son of the onely Father God of God the Character and Image of the Godhead the powerful Word the comprehensive Wisdom by which all things were made and the Power that gave Being to the whole Creation the true Son of the true

Immediately a terrible Plague brake in upon them that turned their Music into Weeping and filled all places with cries and dying groans The distemper spread like Wild-sire and persons were sick and dead in a few moments The Temples whither many fled in hopes of cure were filled with carcasses the Fountains and the Ditches whither the heat and fervour of the infection had led them to quench their thirst were dammed up with the multitudes of those that fell into them some of their own accord went and sate among the Tombs securing a Sepulchre to themselves there not being living enough to perform the last offices to the dead The cause of this sad calamity being understood that it proceeded from their rash and foolish invocation of the Daemon they addressed themselves to the Bishop intreating him to intercede with his God whom they believed to be a more potent and superiour Being in their behalf that he would restrain that violent distemper that raged amongst them He did so and the Pestilence abated and the destroying Angel took his leave And the issue was that the people generally deserted their Temples Oracles Sacrifices and the idolatrous Rites of their Religion and took Sanctuary in Christianity as the securest refuge and the best way to oblige Heaven to protect them XII HIS known prudence and the reputation of his mighty and as my Author a Id. ib. p. 986. calls them Apostolical miracles advanced him into so much favour and veneration with the People that they looked upon whatever he said or did as the effect of a divine power And even in secular causes where the case was any thing knotty and difficult it was usually brought to him whose sentence was accounted more just and impartial more firm and valid then any other decision whatsoever It happened that two Brothers were at Law about a Lake which both challenged as belonging to that part of their inheritance their Father had left them The Umpirage of the case was left to him who by all the persuasive arts of insinuation first endeavoured to reconcile them and peaceably to accommodate the difference between them But his pains proved fruitless and ineffectual the young men stormed and resolved each to maintain his right by force of Arms and a day was set when they were to try their titles by all the power which their tenants of each side could bring into the field To prevent which the holy Bishop went the night before to the place where he continued all night in the exercises of devotion and by his prayers to Heaven procured the Lake to be turned into a parcel of dry and solid ground removing thereby the bone of contention that was between them the remains of which Lake were shewed many Ages after Thus b Ibid. p. 990. also he is said to have miraculously restrained the violence of the River Lycus which coming down from the Mountains of Armenia with a swift rapid torrent and swelled by the tributary concurrence of other Rivers fell down into a plain Champain Countrey where over-swelling and sometimes breaking down its banks it overflowed the Countrey thereabouts to the irreparable dammage of the inhabitants and very often to the hazard and loss of their lives Unable to deal with it any other way they apply themselves to S. Gregory to improve his interest in Heaven that God who alone rules the raging of the Sea would put a stop to it He goes along with them to the place makes his address to him who has set a bound to the Waters that they may not pass over nor turn again to cover the Earth thrusts his Staff down into the Bank and prayed that that might be the boundary of the insolent and raging stream and so departed And it took effect the River ever after mannerly keeping within its Banks and the Tradition adds that the Staff it self grew up into a large spreading Tree and was shewed to Travellers together with the relation of the miracle in my Authors days In his return from Comana a Ibid. p. 997. whither he had been invited and importuned both by the Magistrates and People to constitute a fit person Bishop of that City he was espied by two Jews who knowing his charitable temper either out of covetousness or a design to abuse him agreed to put a trick upon him To that purpose one of them lies along upon the ground and feigns himself dead the other deplores the miserable fate of his companion and begs of the holy Bishop as he passed by to give somewhat towards his burial who taking off his coat that was upon him cast it upon the man and went on his way No sooner was he gone out of sight but the Impostor came laughing to his fellow bad him rise and let them make themselves merry with the cheat He called pulled and kicked him but alas in vain the comical sport ended in a real Tragoedy the man was dead indeed his breath expiring that very moment the garment was cast upon him and so the Coat really served for what he intended it as a covering to his burial XIII IN an Age so remote from the miraculous Ages of the Church and after that the World has been so long abused by the impostures of a Church pretending to miracles as one of the main notes and evidences of its Catholicism and Truth these passages may possibly seem suspicious and not obtain a very easie belief with the more scrupulous Reader To which perhaps it may be enough to say at least to justifie my relating them that the things are reported by persons of undoubted credit and integrity especially S. Basil and his brother Gregory both of them wise and good men and who lived themselves within less then an hundred years after our S. Gregory and what is more considerable were capable of deriving their intelligence from a surer hand then ordinary their aged Grandmother Macrina who taught them in their youth and superintended their education having in her younger years been Scholar and Auditor of our S. Gregory and from her I doubt not they received the most material passages of his life and the account of his miracles of many whereof she her self was capable of being an eye-witness and wherewith she acquainted them as she also did with the doctrin that he taught wherein S. Basil b Ad Neocaesar Epist LXXV p. 131. Tom. 3. particularly tells us she instructed them and told them the very words which she had heard from him and which she perfectly remembred at that age Besides that his Brother solemnly c Ubi supr p. 985. professes in recounting this great mans miracles to set them down in a plain and naked relation without any Rhetorical arts to amplifie and set them off Ib. p. 995. and to mention onely some few of those great things that had been done by him and purposely to suppress d Ibid. p. 10●9 many yet in memory lest men of incredulous minds