made a difference between Arius and Alexander the Bishop and that from thence it was that occasion was taken to preach the Consubstantial Doctrine This Philostorgius was indeed a favourer of Arius's Opinion but there is no reason we should give him no manner of credit and all as is usual to those of the opposite Party 324. About the same time began Licinius out of hatred to Constantine to trouble the Christians and soon after brake out into open War but being overcome by Constantine in some Engagements both by Sea and Land he was brought to comply yet Constantine finding at last that he and Martinianus whom the other had made Caesar could not forbear forming of new Designs and Attempts he commanded his Head to be struck off 325. But as the Controversie about the Celebration of Easter of which we have already made mention in the time of Victor Bishop of Rome did still the more heighten the Differences between Arius and his Opponents there was a Synod appointed to be called to meet at Nice from all the Roman Empire wherein met cccxviii Bishops and the same began on the 14th of June and ended on the 25th of August following In this Council it was Enacted That all should celebrate Easter on the same Day that is the first Sunday after the Fourteenth Day of the New Moon next succeeding the Vernal Equinox There was also a Creed or Confession of Faith made wherein that Opinion that opposed Arius's Sentiments was confirmed As for the Creed you will find it in Socrates l. i. c. 8. of his Eccles Hist But because this Synod was accounted to be the first Oecumenical Council we shall contrary to our custom say somewhat more concerning it In the first place There were great Contentions between the Bishops which is expresly affirmed by Eusebius cap. xiii lib. 3. of the Life of Constantine though Constantine in a grave Speech exhorted them all to Peace and Unanimity These are his words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Some began to accuse their Neighbours while others defended themselves and returned the Accusation upon their Opponents Neither could their Wranglings be composed any otherwise than by throwing their Petitions into the fire There is no small Controversy about the meaning of the Nicene Creed concerning which you may read Stephen Curcellaeus's Dissertation de Vocibus Trinitatis c. where he shews the Nioene Fathers believed there were Three Gods equal to one another There were Five Bishops who would not subscribe and they were Eusebius of Nicomedia Theognis of Nice Maris of Chalcedon Theonas of Marmarica and Secundus of Ptolemais These said they could not consent to admit of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because that may be said to be Consubstantial which proceeds from another either by Partition or Flowing or Eruption by Eruption as the Bud is from the Roots by Flowing as Children from their Parents and by Partition as two or three small vials from a mass of Gold But none of these ways can the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Word be the Son of God But the Synod said that the Son was from the Father without any Partition as it might be in Corporeal things but they made use of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as signifying only the Equality of the Substance and not Numerical Unity Eusebius Bishop of Caesarea who sat near the Emperor in the Synod was at first dubious whether the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 should be allowed of but at last upon granting him to make his Interpretation he gave way to it He said He approved of it for peace sake as he did also of those words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Begotten not made because they said Made was a word that was common to all other Creatures that were made by the Son wherewith the Son had nothing like unto them and moreover that he was not made like unto those things made by him but was of a much more excellent Substance than all the Creatures which indeed the Divine Oracles taught us to be of the Father by some secret method of Generation That he was Consubstantial with the Father implied no more than that the Son hath nothing of likeness in him to the Creatures he had made but that he was like unto 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Father alone of whom he was begotten and that he was of no other Subsistence or Substance but of the Father These things which are taken out of Eusebius Bishop of Caesarea's Epistles as you have them in the foremention'd place of Socrates and others that might be mention'd do sufficiently manifest unto us that the Nicene Fathers had other sort of Sentiments than what the Modern Christians have in relation to the said Point The Arians also themselves did at length acquiesce except Theonas and Secundus with the Creed of that Synod and allowed of it but upon that Condition as you have it in Athanasius's Second Apology That Arius who himself also allowed thereof should not return to Alexandria Athanasius next year was advanced into the See of Alexandria who while he was yet but Deacon stiffly opposed Arius Philostorgius hath many things in relation to him that are not much to his Reputation which perhaps are as little to be credited as what the Consubstantial Men have said concerning Arius and therefore are yet no more to be rejected than these 326. The same year which was next after the Synod Crispus Caesar upon account of his being suspected to have committed Incest with his Mother-in-Law was put to death by his Father's Command And Fausta being kept in custody till the following year was killed in a Bath because she was thought to have falsly accused Crispus Ablavius who afterwards attained to the Honour of being Consul hath set forth Constantine's Cruelty in the following lines Saturni aurea saecla quis requirat Sunt haec gemmea sed Neroniana Then Constantine and his Mother Helen built several Churches in Judaea Jerusalem Mount Olivet and Bethlehem 330. The Council of Nice by the Definition they made could not extinguish the Dissentions reigning among the Christians In Egypt there were great Animosities between the Arians and Athanasians Which last the Consubstantial Writers have so far favoured that they have condemned the other's Proceedings in all Points This year there happened a Tumult at Antioch arising from the same Cause which Petavius after Baronius hath mistakingly assigned to the Year 324 and cites Eusbius's Authority for it to no purpose when that Author in Constantine's Life lib. iii. cap. 60. speaks of things quite different therefrom and such as happened five years after the Synod was held as H. Valesius upon that place in Eusebius hath demonstrated Vpon the death of Paulinus Bishop of Antioch they had great feuds amongst them in that City about the Choice of a Successor the Arians being obstinately bent to have Eusebius Bishop of Caesarea translated thither Euseb lib. iii. de Vita Constantini cap. 57. At
another of the Medes and Persians For he thinks that Cyaxares the first King of the Medes whom he supposes to have been Assuerus delivered the Persians whom his Father Phraortes had Conquered to his Son Darius to be governed by him as their King Whom Daniel c. 9.1 calls as he conjectures Darius the Son of Assuerus of the Seed of the Medes And Cyaxares I. had Astyages for his Successor in the Kingdom of the Medes Dispossest by Cyrus but Darius who was also called Astyages the Grandfather of Cyrus had Cyaxares for his Successor See Marsham ad Saec. 18. But there are many things that do occasion me to dissent from him though otherwise it must be confessed that there can be nothing almost besides conjectures in this business 3426. 558. LV. iii. 196. Craesus last King of Lydia Reigned sixteen years his Father being still alive as Petavius supposes The Poets Ibycus Simonides and Stesichorus as also the Philosopher Anaximenes flourished at this time 3429. 555. LVI ii 199. After the Death of Neriglissor Baltassar his Son Reigned alone nine Months at the end whereof he was Slain by Nabonides's faction or as Petavius thinks by that of Darius the Mede and Nabonides or Darius the Mede succeeded him In this Age lived Xenophanes of Colophon the Philosopher and Theognis the Poet Sirnamed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 now flourished Phalaris the Tyrant of Agrigentum flourished then also one Perillus is said to have made him a brazen bull hollow within wherein he shut up Men alive and putting fire under it made their crying to seem like the bellowing of a Bull. But the first on whom the experiment was tryed was Perillus himself of whom Ovid in his first Book de Arte Amandi after he had said that Busiris slew the Man who first taught him to pacifie the Gods with the blood of his Guests speaks thus Et Phalaris tauro violenti membra Perilli Torruit infelix imbuit auctor opus Justus uterque fuit neque enim Lex aequior ulla est Quà m necis artifices arte perire suá 3440. 544. LIX i. 210. Croesus King of Lydia marched against the Persians or the Army of the Medes and Persians commanded by Cyrus the Persian and while he hoped to return home Conqueror he was deluded by the Ambiguous answer of the Oracle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For having past over the River Haly he was overcome by Cyrus and upon the taking of Sardis was made a Prisoner and carryed into Captivity leaving all Asia unto Cyrus A little after flourished Anaximander the Milesian who foundout the obliquity of the Zodiack and Pherecydes of Scyros not the Syrian for he was not of Syria but of the Isle of Scyros who was Pythagoras his Master who not long after were followed by Hipponax and Hippicus the Poets In these times lived Consucius in the furthermost parts of Asia among the Chineses who was an excellent Philosopher Of whom see Mart. Martinius in his History of China lib. 4. and Philip Coupletius in his Proem to Confucius Not long after Croesus his overthrow when Harpagus in Cyrus's Name governed the lesser Asia the Phocaeans being weary of his Rule left Asia and Sailed into Gaul where they fixed their Seats about a place where now Marseilles stands and built that City 3446. 538. LX. v. 216. This year Cyrus having subdued the King of Babylon's Confederates marched to Babylon it self which he took and for his Reward his Uncle Cyaxares who dyed soon after bestowed his only Daughter Mandanes upon him whom when he had marryed he was made Heir to all Cyaxares his Kingdom and gave a beginning to the Persian Monarchy which had not any equal to it before Daniel the Prophet lived to this time who was carried captive into Babylon by Nebuchadnezer to whom under Nabonidus or Darius the Mede the last King of Babylon the Prophecy of the Seventy weeks was Revealed upon the elapsing of which the Messias was to come as we shall see hereafter The Return of the Jews The Eighth EPOCH From the Return of the Jews out of the Babylonish Captivity to the Subduing of Carthage are 336 years which makes up the Eighth PERIOD Year of the W. Year before Christ Olymp. of the Building of Rome 3446. 538. LX. v. 216. THE same year wherein Cyrus began his Reign upon the taking of Babylon he put forth a Decree wherein the Jews who were held in Captivity by the Kings of Babylon were ordered to Rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem in obedience to which they returned in great numbers into their own Country under the Conduct of Zorobabel together with Josua the Son of Josedec the High Priest Two years after they laid the Foundations of the Temple and erected an Altar But the Samaritans their Neighbours who also worshipped the God of Israel while they pretended a readiness of themselves to assist the Jews in the work and were refused by the Jews they endeavoured by their Calumnies to induce the King of Persia to put a stop to the further carrying on of the building Esd 4. In these times Simenides of Ceos Anacreon of Samos Lyrick Poets and Xenophanes the natural Philosopher and Poet flourished amongst the Greeks 3451. 533. LXI iv 221. This year Tarquinius Superbus the last King of the Romans having Slain his Father in Law began his Reign which continued for four and twenty years Five years after Cyrus wageth War with the Scythians if you believe Justin and Herodotus and was slain by Thomyris Queen of Scythia But Ctesias says that he was wounded in a Battle he fought against the Derbices and dyed three days after having first given many good Precepts to his Sons Cambyses and Tanyoxares But Zenophon clearly describes him dying pleasantly in a good old Age after he had Reigned thirty years He was Succeeded by Cambyses II. King of Persia who Reigned seven years and five Months Cambyses upon the Death of Amasis King of Egypt and his being Succeeded by Psammenitus in that Kingdom invaded it where after he had done many cruel Acts and in the mean time commanded his Brother in Persia to be put to Death he at last ran mad and not long after was wounded and dyed After his Death a certain Magician called Smerdis very much resembling Tanyoxares both in body and face took upon him to be the same Person and Reigned seven Months Petavius thinks this Man to have been Artaxerxes whom Esdras makes to Succeed Ahasuerus c. 9.7 See his Book de Doct. temp lib. 12.27 About these times Polycrates the Tyrant of Samos was crucified by Oron Governor of Sardis who took him by a stratagem after he held the Tyrannick power for eleven years with great Success 3436. 521. LXIV iii. 233. After the counterfeit Tanyoxares had hid himself seven Months he was at last taken and destroy'd by the Seven Peers of Persia who conspired against him and one of their number viz. Darius the Son of Hystaspis was made choice of in his room
under the leading of Leonidas durst with wonderfull boldness oppose his Land-forces at the Streights of Thermopylae where valiantly fighting they were every man of them Slain But that vast Army was next year utterly overthrown at Plataea a City of Boeotia Mardonius being General of the Persians as Pausanias and Aristides were of the Graecians In these times flourish'd Pindar the Poet and Anaxagoras the Philosopher 3057. 477. LXXV iv 277. Caeso Fabius who with the single Family of the Fabij to the number of three hundred and six of ripe years and four thousand Vassals made War against the Vejentians was overthrown by them at the River Cremera and the whole Army destroyed of which Ovid in his Fastorum says Una dies Fabios ad bellum miserat omnes Ad Bellum missos perdidit una dies One day the Fabij all One day the Fabian Race made all extinct But that many things are false herein as that amongst such a number of Men grown there was one under Age is shewn by Dionys Halicarnasseus and the matter is handled at large by Jac. Perizonius in his Observ c. 5. At this time Sicily was imbroil'd several ways what with Gelon and Hieron Tyrants of Syracuse and Theron of Agrigentum within and the Carthaginians from without who endeavoured to possess themselves of it 3510. 474. LXXVI iii. 280. Artaxerxes was made partner with his Father in the Kingdom About the same time Sophocles began to teach the way of Tragedies and a few years after was the most excellent Tragedian Euripides born In the same Age also flourished Herodotus of Hallicarnassus who is the most Ancient of all the Greek Historians we have 3514. 470. LXXVII iii. 284. Cimon the Son of Miltiades Admiral of the Athenians Fleet took away several Cities of Asia from the Persians and overcame them at Sea with two hundred and fifty Ships only when they had no less than three hundred and forty and a little after gained another Victory over their Land Forces at Eurymedon a City of Pamphylia The Athenians at that time waged War with good success against their Neighbours in Greece and gave divers overthrows to the Thassians Thracians and Aeginetans The Lacedaemonians also brought the Hilotes and Messenians who Rebelled against them under Subjection again having sent home the Auxiliary Troops of Athens because of the suspicion they had of them 3516. 468. LXXVIII i. 286. T. Quinctius General of the Romans obtained a Victory over the Voscians and after the taking of Antium Triumphed Next year upon the Death of Hieron in the Isle of Sicily succeeded his Brother Thrasibulus in his Tyranny over Syracuse but being expelled by the Syracusians he went into Banishment to Locris and from that time forward the Syracusians enjoyed a free State for 40 years together till Dionysius his days 3519. 465. LXXVIII iv 289. Artabanus the Hyrcanian slew Xerxes and Accused his Brother Darius of the Parricide before Artaxerxes whom as we have said Xerxes had made his Copartner in the Empire Darius being condemn'd to die Artaxerxes was wounded by Artabanus but afterwards slain by him whence he obtain'd the Name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Long Hands and began this year to Reign alone and Reigned XL years To him Themistocles fled in his Banishment who was very kindly received and rewarded by him The same Artaxerxes was a great favourer of the Jews and in the twentieth year of his Reign gave Nehemiah leave to Rebuild the Walls of Jerusalem when Cyrus had only allowed them the favour of Rebuilding the Temple Nehemiah finish'd that work in a very short time notwithstanding all the opposition made to the contrary by the neighbouring Samaritans Ammonites and Arabians 3522. 462. LXXIX iii. 292. In the mean while there was a Law made at Rome after several Tumults raised by the People which was called the Terentian Law concerning the Quinqueviri that were to be created with consular power as well from among the Commonalty as Nobility The year after Ap. Herdonius the Sabine with four thousand Exiles and Servants seized on the Capitol but soon after by the assistance above all others of the Tusculans they were driven out Thenceforward the Romans gave many overthrows to the Sabines and Aequi and when it hapned so that Minucius the Consul through ill management was Besieged by the Aequi in his Camp Quinctius Cincinnatus being called from his Plow to take upon him the Office of Dictator he conquered the Aequi and made them Slaves The Athenians this very time under the Conduct of Leocrates often beat the Corinthians and Epidaurians and forced Garrisons upon the Aeginetae and Megarensians after which under the leading of Myronides they Routed the Lacedaemonians and from this spark was afterwards that flame of the Peloponnesian War kindled 3530. 454. LXXXI iii. 300. Petavius thinks that Daniel s Seventy weeks ought to take their beginning from this year See Lib. 12. de Doc. temp This same year upon the Abrogating of the Terentian Law concerning the Quinqueviri there were three Embassadors sent into Greece to make an inspection into the Laws of that Country and especially into those of Athens that they might amend the Roman Laws by them Upon the return of the Embassadors which was three years after the Tribunes of the People and Consuls were laid aside and the Decemviri constituted to set down the Laws of the Common-wealth who were the first that reduced the same into ten Tables which by the addition of two more to them afterwards made up those Famous twelve Tables which were the foundation of the whole Body of the Roman Laws After the Republick had for the space of two years or a little more been Governed by this sort of Magistracy it reverted to its Ancient form upon this occasion As the Decemviri demeaned themselves but indifferently in their charge and that Appius Claudius had made Virginia a free Maiden of Rome a Slave out of the hopes he had to enjoy her her Father Virginius Slew him made the People Mutiny and brought things so to bear that the Office of the Decemviri was Abrogated and Tributes of the People and Consuls were chosen again While these things were doing in Rome Nehemiah returning from Chaldaea together with Ezra the Scribe Rectified the corrupt manners of the Jews and pressed upon them the observation of the Law of Moses From this time it was that the Jews began to gather the Books of Scripture together into one Volume which is the same we have at this day But seeing that the Jews during the Babylonish Captivity had almost forgot the Hebrew Tongue and way of Writing the Ancient Books were written in Assyrian Characters and what was read in the Hebrew Tongue in the Scriptures was expounded to the People in the Chaldee See Lud. Capellus concerning the Hebrew letters But the Samaritans when they received Moses his Law before the Phoenician or Ancient Character was grown quite obsolete preserved them from whence it comes
the Samnites a great overthrow Marius in the mean time by the assistance of C. Sulpicius Tribune of the People endeavoured to deprive him of his Command But Sulla returning out of Campania to Rome slew Sulpicius and put Marius to flight Italy was again much afflicted the following year with the Armies commanded by Marius Cinna Carbo and Sertorius while Sulla won many Battels from Mithridates and wasted his Army Marius dying of Sickness Cinna being then Consul L. Flaccus succeeded Sulla in the Command but his own Lieutenant Fimbria killed Flaccus who being afterwards forsaken by the Army that went over to Sulla slew himself Nay Cinna was also slain by the very Army he got ready to march against Sulla leaving the Consulship to Carbo alone who refused to accept of the Terms of Peace offered him by Sulla This Man therefore marched out of Greece at the Head of Thirty thousand Men and with them overthrew a much more numerous Army of Cn. Norbanus Flaccus the Consul in Battel At the same time Q. Sertorius who had an Army in Italy despairing of any good Success went into the farther Province of Spain which fell unto his lot to govern But Cneus Pompeius who afterwards conquered him joined Sulla with three Volonian Legions being then but Three and twenty Years old Sulla next year overthrew C. Marius the other 's Son in battel at Praeneste and then possessing himself of the City confiscated the Estates of his Enemies He also fought with and overcame the Praetor Damasippus Marius Carrinates and the Samnite Troops before the Gate called Collina He was afterwards made Dictator which Office after three years space he laid down of himself 3906. 78. CLXXV iii. 676. Hyrcanus upon the death of King Alexander his Father succeeded him in the Kingdom of Judaea and reigned eleven years In the mean time Sertorius in Spain being one while beaten another while Victor worsted the Roman Armies commanded by Metellus and Pompey in divers Battels till that after five years both himself and Perpenna his Lieutenant were slain by the Treachery of their own Men whereby Pompey had the opportunity of recovering Spain At that time Servilius conquered the Isaurians and took their Cities in Cilicia from whence having got the Sirname of Isauricus conquered the Pirates and reduced Cilicia and Crete into the form of a Province he triumphed L. Lucullus engaged in the Mithridatick War and won many Victories over that King That War called the Servile one breaking forth under the Conduct of Spartacus it was with difficulty put an end to in three years space by M. Crassus the Praetor and Cn. Pompeius Cicero was then Quaestor in Sicily and began to be famous for his Eloquence Varro also with Lucretius Catullus and other learned Men lived in those days 3917. 67. CLXXVIII ii 687. Servilius having not perfectly destroyed the Cilician Pirates and others who having repaired their Shipping infested the Seas every where Pompey was entrusted with an extraordinary Commission to clear the Seas from those Robbers which he perform'd with that celerity that he either took them all or having burnt their Ships rendred them incapable of more mischief in the space of forty days The same Pompey being next year sent against Mithridates did at length put a final period to that War and so had the honour of Triumphing He performed also many famous Exploits almost throughout all Asia Then Hyrcanus King and High-Priest of the Jews was put out of the Pontificate by his Brother Aristobulus who exercised that Charge for the space of three years but being taken Prisoner by Pompey when he conquered Jerusalem he was together with his Children sent to Rome and Hyrcanus restored again to his former Office The same year Cicero being Consul delivered the Commonwealth of Rome from a most dangerous Conspiracy Cataline who was the Chief of it being overcome and slain by Petreius Lieutenant to Anthony the other Consul 3924. 60. CLXXX i. 694. Pompey Crassus and Caesar having contracted a strict Friendship one with another formed a Design of oppressing the Commonwealth now distracted with divers Factions Caesar obtained Gaul for his Province and held the same for ten years Syria fell to Crassus his lot from whence marching against the Parthians he was together with his Son P. Crassus and the whole Army hemmed in by their Horse and slain The two Provinces of Spain came to Pompey's share In the mean time Cicero was sent to and recalled from Banishment Hyrcanus in Judaea being driven out of Jerusalem by Alexander the Son of Aristobulus was restored by Gabinius This same Gabinius that he might lessen the Authority of the Grand Synedrim or Council at Jerusalem erected four more like thereunto viz. at Gadaris Amathus Jericho and Saphoris While Caesar was getting several Victories over the Gauls and Germans Pompey dedicated his Theatre and gave Plays wherein ten Lions and eighteen Elephants were slain But Crassus as was said before warring rashly against the Parthians perished in the said Expedition 3933. 51. CLXXXII ii 703. Cicero this year got a Decree of the Senate to make him Proconsul in Cilicia and after having overcome some bands of Robbers in Mount Amanus and taken some Castles was saluted by the Army with the Title of Imperator Cassius also at the same time valiantly defended Syria against the Irruption of the Parthians so that they were forced to be gone re infectâ Next year after the Senate had in vain required Caesar to dismiss his Army broke out the Civil War between him and Pompey wherein first Caesar entring Italy with his Army drove the Senate and Pompey from thence Then Pompey's Troops in Spain submitted to him and after that returning victorions to Rome he entred upon the Consulship and having transported his Army over into Epirus he overcame Pompey himself who flying into Egypt was slain by Ptolemy Caesar pursuing Pompey thither was very like to have been cut off by the King of Egypt yet he overcame the Alexandrians and entred upon the Office of Perpetual Dictator He conquer'd Scipio Pompey's Son-in Law in Africa the following year and at last in the fifth year from the first breaking out of the Civil War beat Pompey's Sons in Spain by which last Victory he got the Sovereign Power entirely into his hands Then he bethought himself of regulating the Course of the Year and seeing the preceding one which was called the Year of Confusion by his Command consisted of 445 Days this which was the 45th before the Birth of our Saviour was the First Julian Year the same being made up of 365 Days and 6 Hours which being set together make One Day in every Fourth Year the same being called the Bissextile or Leap-Year See Pet. Rationar p. 2. l. i. c. 1. He was slain in the fourth year of his Dictatorship and the sixth after the commencement of the Civil War on the First of March in the Senate-House There was one Antipater an Edomite by Nation who
Spain sickened and died at Marseilles Eighteen Months after his Brother's decease Caius also departed this life in Lycia as he was at last returning into Italy whither he had been required to come by Augustus Tiberius from henceforward was as it were by the Suffrage of all Men designed Successor of the Empire Augustus had indeed a third Grand-son from his Daughter Julia whose Name was Agrippa but him he never dignified with those Honours nor loved to that degree as he did his Brothers Augustus at length after he had governed the Empire for fifty seven years obtained the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or easie death which he wish'd for at Nola in Campania on the 19th of August in the Seventysixth year of his age 14. Tiberius suceeded Augustus and reigned Two and twenty years This Prince by his overcruelty afflicted the Romans grievously as you may see in Tacitus and Suetonius In the mean time Germanicus the Son of his Brother Drusus reduced the mutinous Legions in Germany to Obedience though they made a tender unto him of the Empire and led them against the Cherusci Chatti and Angrivarii Nations dwelling about the Rhine whom he overcame and then triumphed From thence he was sent with an extraordinary Commission into the East of whom Tiberius who was of a most mistrustful and exceeding timorous Disposition growing jealous 't was believed he was poison'd by Piso Governor of Syria two years after Tiberius after the Revolution of seven years left Rome and retired to Campania with an intention never to return confining himself to the Island Caprea to his dying day The very same year that he went into Caprea was Pontius Filate sent Governor into Judaea 28. The next year which was the fifteenth of the Reign of Tiberius John the Son of Zacharias who was born in the same year with our Saviour began to preach Repentance in Judaea neither did he admit the Jews themselves to become his Disciples without they were first Baptized 30. After he had spent a year in that Work Christ came to be baptized by him and then began his own Ministry but John was cast into Prison by Herod upon account of the Reason given in the Gospel This year died Livia Tiberius's Mother being hated by her wicked Son when she had lived eighty six years 33. Christ in the third year after he began his Preaching was Crucified for the Salvation of Mankind on the Twenty third Day of March the Sixth Festival and fifteenth Moon according to the Usage field in Judaea when he had celebrated the Passover the third or at least the second time aster he had entred upon his Office He died towards the end of a Friday and rested in the Grave all the Saturday together with part both of Friday and the Sunday following that is about Six and thirty Hours in all He arose the Twenty fifth of March before Sun-rising ascended into Heaven the Third of May and sent the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles the Thirteenth of the same Month. The Apostles henceforward began to preach the Gospel not only in the Ghaldaean or Greek Tongues which were used in Judaea and common to them but also in all other Languages throughout the World This very year Stephen was martyred and the Church of Jerusalem except the Apostles scattered 34. But that we according to our Custom may mix Prophane with Sacred History two very memorable things happen'd at Rome this same year and four years after Sejanus who had been in highest favour with Tiberius was accused by him in the Letters he wrote to the Senate there upon taken Prisoner and put to death And the Parthians who were at very ill Terms with Tiberius and the Romans growing weary of their King Arabanus came to Rome that they might get Tiberius to allow of Phraates to be their King But Phraates dying on his Journey he made Tyridates their King and him Vitellius Governor of Syria conducted to his Kingdom Then died Philip Herod's Son on whom Augustus conferred a Tetrarchy in Judaea 36. Paulus Tarsensis who was converted to the Faith in the Three and thirtieth Year of our Redemption began then to enter upon his Apostolical Function and three Years after his Conversion went up to Jerusalem to see Peter from thence to Casarea and from Casarea journeyed to Tarsus 37. Next year died Tiberius and was succeeded by Caius Caligula Germanicus's Son As soon as he came to the Empire he set Agrippa Herod's Grandson by Aristobulus at liberty and not only bestowed on him the Tetrarchies of Philip and Lysanias but also the Title of King This is that Agrippa whereof mention is made in the Acts of the Apostles Peter went the same year to Antioch where after the Revolution of three years the Disciples of Christ were called Christians Caligula after he had reigned four years and abounded in all Wickedness so far as to have a mind to be esteem'd a God and worshipped accordingly was at last cut off by Chaerea and other Conspirators 41. Claudius his Uncle succeeded him who was as remarkable for his Blockishness as the other was for his Madness Seneca writ an elegant Satyr upon him entituled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This Emperor also enlarged the Kingdom of Agrippa by adding Judaea and Samaria thereunto which made him go to Jerusalem and to please the People to persecute the Christians of whom he slew James the Apostle and threw Peter into Prison The Ancients have recorded That Peter went next year from Antioch to Rome to oppose Simon Magus But some Modern Writers in this and the last Age from some Difficulties in Chronology and other light Conjectures deny that Peter ever was at Rome and even what all Antiquity hath unanimously concurred in that he suffered Martyrdom there But it looks like an absurdity in a thing of that nature to contradict all Men because we cannot clear up some Difficulties that lie in the way Indeed it 's certain Peter never was at Rome in the space of four and twenty years together but that he never saw that City looks like a crime to deny Consult hereupon the First Dissertation of Dr. Pearson concerning the Succession of the First Bishops of Rome chap. vii viii There are no Remains left to shew whether at Rome or where else the Second Epistle of Peter was written Hugo Grotius Salmasius and Joseph Scaliger think it to be none of his The First is said to be written from Babylon and by Babylon the Ancients meant no other than Rome by reason of the Greatness of the Roman Empire in conformity to that of Babylon and whose Metropolis might therefore very well be dignified with the Name of the Metropolis of the Babylonish Empire 'T is true Peter makes no mention of Paul therein because he was not then at Rome The time when it was written cannot be assign'd See Lud. Cappellus in his Appendix to the Apostolical History where however he enclines to the contrary Opinion The same Author has
whence arose great Janglings 450. Theodosius having once expelled his Wife Eudoxin and Sister Pulcheria whose wise Counsels had been a long time useful to him from the Court did now upon a sense of his errour recall them and died not long after after he had appointed Marcianus to succeed him who together with his Wife Pulcheria taking the Reins of Empire into his hands assembled the Council of Chalcedon which was styled the Fourth General one and wherein Eutyches and Dioscorus were condemned From these times it seems to have come to pass that the Abyssines and others in Egypt who were infected with Dioscorus's Doctrine have begun to oppose other Christians as there were many in Babylon who followed Nestorius's Opinions remnants of whom continue to this day both in Africa and Asia Though Attila at that time was overcome in some Battels by Aetius yet he wasted Gaul and Italy far and near in which Age they say the City of Venice had its beginning many Persons for fear of Attila flying into the Island wherein the same is situated 453. He died the year after he had quitted Italy 454. Valentinian not long after he had put Aetius to death was himself cut off by Maximus a Senator who had advised him to that Fact But Eudoxia Valentinian's Wife called Geisericus out of Africa who possessing himself of Rome transported vast Riches from thence into Africa and marry'd Eudoxia's Daughter of the same Name to his Son Hunericus 455. Avitus in the mean time usurped the Empire in Italy while Merâ—veus who was the third in descent from Pharamund and who distinguish'd the first Race of the Kings of France by that of the Merovingian according to his own Name reigned among the Franks Theodoricus King of the Goths brought the Suevians who held part of Spain under his Subjection after he had made their King Rechiarius his Prisoner being encouraged thereunto by the Persuasions of Avitus 457. But this Person next year being forsaken by the Gauls and Goths lost both his Empire and his Life At the same time died Martianus Emperor in the East and was succeeded by Leo with whose consent Majorianus was made Emperor of Ravenna But this Prince after four years Reign was slain by Ricimer and succeeded by Severus In those times it was they say that the Egyptian Monks of the Eutychian Persuasion raised Commotions under the leading of Timotheus Aelurus and that at last they advanced him into the Episcopal See of Alexandria when they had slain Proterius but that Aelurus soon after was banish'd by the Emperor Leo. 463. Peter Fullo another seditious Person having expelled Martyrius invaded the See of Antioch They say this Peter held the same Opinion as the Theopaschites who affirmed That not only Man but God had suffered and that he had added to the Trisagium who died for us these words Sancte fortis Sancte Deus Sancte Immortalis qui passus es pro nobis miserere nobis O Holy and Strong Holy God Holy and Immortal who hast suffered for us have mercy on us But he was quickly banish'd by Leo. 465. This year Severus by the Treachery of Ricimer a Patrician was poisoned and died after whose decease there was an Interregnum for one year when Theodoricus King of the Goths departed this life and left his Son Evaricus to succeed him After this did Leo the Emperor send Anthemius a Nobleman to Rome and made him Augustus 467. In the mean time Geisericus who with a strong Fleet wasted the Coasts of Greece being overcome by Lea's Generals sued for Peace and confined himself within the Bounds of Africa But soon after he raised new Commotions which were difficultly quelled because of the Treachery of Basiliscus whom Leo sent against him 472. Anthemius was slain by Ricimer his Son-in-Law and Olybrius advanced to his Place who died the same year His Successor was Glycerius After him came Majorinus and then Nepos all of them in the space of two years There were also others who rashly snapt at the Western Empire which they could not hold At length Augustulus the Son of Orestes was the last Emperor of the West 474. Leo in the East left a Son of his own Name Leo II. who made Zeno his Colleague in the Empire and not long after by his death gave Basiliscus and opportunity to invade the Empire who expelled Zeno But he in a short time recovered his Station and made an Exile of Basiliscus in which state he died 476. In the mean time the Ostrogoths wasted Illyricum and Italy while the Arabian Saracens did the same by Mesopotamia or caused the People to ransom it for Money The Herulians also being called in by Nepos's Favourers whom Augustulus had succeeded divested this last of the Throne and at length PUT AN END TO THE WESTERN EMPIRE So that their King Odoacer took the Government upon him 482. Acacius whom Zeno had advanced to the See of Constantinople was the occasion of his writing a Letter to the Clergy and Monks of Egypt wherein he reconciled the Tenets of those who followed Dioscorus's Opinion with the Decrees of the Synod of Chalcedon And those who followed the said Decrees were by others called Melchites because they embraced the Opinion of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Melech the King for in the Arabick Language used by the Egytian-Arabs that is the Name they give a King as 't is also in the Hebrew Zeno would have the Egyptians subscribe this Epistle which in inserted in Evagrius's Ecclesiastical History lib. iii. cap. 14. but herein they did not comply with him The same was also called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it was written with a design of reconciling the contending Parties The Synods of Nice Constantinople and Ephesus are approved of therein but that of Chalcedon is left out and this Confession of Faith inserted We confess one only begotten Son of God and God made true Man our Lord Jesus Christ These words are taken out of the Chalcedon Creed See Evag. l. 2. c. 4. consubstantial with the Father according to the Divine Nature and the same consubstantial with us according to his Humanity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who came down and was begotten by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary and the Mother of God That he is One and not Two 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For we call both the Miracles and Sufferings which he endured of his own accord in the flesh the Miracles and Sufferings of One but for those who divide or confound them or introduce a phantom we by no means receive them for that true and sinless Incarnation from the Mother of God made no accession of another Son for the Trinity always remains the Trinity though God to wit the Word one of the Trinity was Incarnate Those who have followed this Edict because they have neither condemned the Eutychians nor others nor yet adhered to the Heads of any one Faction have been called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Doubting and