Alogi denied Christ to be the Word condemned John's Gospel and said that Cerinthus the Heretick wrote the Revelations Theodotus a Montanist through Sorcery took his flight towards Heaven but down he fell and died miserably Adamites devised a Church after the fashion of an hot-house to keep them from cold for the space of an hour or Service time they were all naked men and women Virgins preached unto the rest their Church they called Paradise and themselves Adam and Eve (a) Euseb Eccl. Hist l. 5. c. 14 19. Florinus and Blastus fell from the Church and taught at Rome that God was the Author of evil whom Irenaeus confuted (b) L. 5. c. 28. Theodotus a Tanner denied the Divinity of Christ he was the first Author of the Heresy of Artemon for which cause Viator Bishop of Rome excommunicated him Artemon his disciple accounted Christ but a bare and naked man He lived in the time of Victor and Zephyrinus His companions were Asclepiodorus and Natalius who repented and fell at the feet of Zephyrinus Bishop of Rome for absolution (c) Lib. 6. c. 12. Marcianus the Heretick maintained an heterodox opinion out of the pretended Gospel of Peter whom Serapion Bishop of Antioch confuted (d) Epiphan haeres 57. Noetus denied there were three Persons saying All three were one He called himself Moses and said Aaron was his brother He said the Father Son and Holy Ghost suffered in the flesh CHAP. V. From the death of Pertinax and the exposing of the Empire to sale to the death of Maximinus the first elected Emperour without consent of the Senate the space of 45 years 1. THE Soldiers having murdered Pertinax got them to their Camp Herodian l. 2. and set the Empire to sale proclaming that they would prefer him that should offer most Two there were found who bade money for it first Sulpicianus a man of Consular dignity Governour of the City and Father in Law to Pertinax and Didius Julianus of the same degree a great Lawyer and exceeding rich The Soldiers being jealous lest the former should have an intention to punish them for the murther of Pertinax accepted the offer of Julianus who promised what they would ask having as he said treasures of Silver and Gold Didius Julianus purchaseth the Empire Being by a ladder received up to the wall and so into the Camp he promised to restore the honours and statues of Commodus to grant them what liberty they enjoyed under that Prince and to give them more than they cold ask or expect he was caried into the Palace the people by the way cursing and upbraiding him with his purchase Having thus invaded the Empire he gave himself up to all Luxury but being unable to perform his promise to the Soldiers lost their favour and fell into the contempt of all men the people desiring another Prince At this time Pescenninus Niger was Governour of Syria who as well for the greatnesse of his place his Province containing all from Phoenicia unto Euphrates as for his popularity was most eminent him did the People extol and they implored his assistance He being glad of this opportunity easily perswaded his Soldiers to accept of him for their Emperour and entertained Ambassadors which now had recourse to him as the lawful Prince But then giving himself up to idlenesse he neglected to setle and confirm his estate by going to Rome and what was more by drawing the Army in Illyricum to his side and so lost all 2. At this time governed both the Pannoniaes L. Septimius Severus an African born a man forward and crafty who seeing the Roman Empire thus obnoxious to every man's catch resolved to venture for it amongst the rest especially in regard that of those two who had seized on it the one was negligent and secure the other hated and despised Being also incouraged by some dreams he first of all inveighed against the Praetorian bands which had killed Pertinax whom knowing to be much beloved by his Soldiers he highly extolled him and easily perswaded them to revenge his death who once was Lieutenant of the forces in Illyricum Then presently though he pretended he sought it not was he saluted Emperour and took upon him the name of Pertinax which he knew was acceptable to all After this he marched with great speed to Rome the Italians who ever since the dayes of Augustus had not been used to War receiving him in all places and Julianus his Soldiers very slowly providing for resistance though he had now distributed to them all the money he could by any means compasse Severus conveyed his Soldiers in a disguised manner into the City which was full of them privily armed ere Julianus or the People were aware whereupon Julianus wrote to him to signifie he was willing to receive him into participation of the Empire and afterwards desired he might resign it For the Senate seeing him so timorous and the other now at hand being called together according to the antient custome by the Consuls decreed death to him and the Empire to Severus Julianus held the dignity seven moneths having purchased death at an excessive rate Severus obtaineth it 3. Severius having thus obtained the Empire that he might not at first crack his credit by falsifying his word got those Soldiers into his power that had slain Pertinax making them be stripped of their Military Cloaths banished them 100 miles from the Citie Then entring the Court Olymp. 243. ann 1. V.C. 946. A. D. 193. he promised great things to the Senate professing his intention was to govern after the prescript of Marcus and not onely to take the name but also disposition of Pertinax although there were some who so well knew him that they could not be deceived After this he prepared for an expedition against Niger but fearing to leave an Aemulator at his back he endeavoured to prevent him This was Clodius Albinus who at this time governed Britain was of Patrician rank and had a strong Army at his Command He flattered him with the title of Caesar beseeching him as the fittest person to take care of the Empire for that he himself grew old and his Children were Infants Albinus overjoyed that he should obtain what he had desired without any trouble fooled himself in his vain confidence especially for that Severus had written to the Senate in the same strain had ordered money to be stamped vvith his Image erected him some Statues and did him honour othervvise to deceive him 4. Niger much troubled at his coming towards him Lege Herodian lib. 3. Eutrop. lib. 9. Aurelium Victorem Xiphil ex Dione Orosium lib. 7. cap. 17. took care for securing the passages into Asia gathered together all the forces in those parts obtained aid from the Parthian and Atrenian Kings seized on Byzantium and fortified the straights of the Mountain Taurus Severus therefore directed not his course towards Byzantium but marched for Cyzicus where Aemilianus
of their Enemies the Samaritans and others neither could their habitation in the Citie be secure nor the work of the Temple go on with safety and in what could all that Treasure be spent but in Fortifications So that we may even conclude sufficient Licence and Authority to be included in this Decree and that Esra began to build the Walls but was either hindred by other occasions or the negligence of the Jews or more probably the molestations of their Enemies who because the Licence was not expressed took thence occasion to interrupt the work till thirteen years after it was renewed and perfected by the procurement and industry of Nehemiah who obtained a confirmation rather of the former Edict than any new Decree So though Syrus had first of all granted Licence for the rebuilding of the Temple yet because the work was hindred by the Enemies of the Jews there was need of another Edict granted out by Darius As the decrees of these two Kings were in effect the same so also those were onely put in execution afterwards by Nehemiah because the execution of it as to the rebuilding of the Walls was either remitted by negligence or by malice of the Borderers 9. If so the beginning of the seventy weeks of Daniel fitly may be taken hence ending most probably in the death of our Savious Jesus Christ Daniel 9.24 Seventy weeks saith the Angel are determine upon thy people and upon thy holy Citie to finish the transgression and to make an end of sins and to make reconciliation for iniquity and to bring in everlasting righteousnesse and to seal up the Vision and Prophecy and to anoint the most holy Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the Commandment to restore and to rebuild Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks and threescore and two weeks and the street shall be built again and the Wall even in troublous times And after 62 weeks shall Messiah be cut off but not for himself and the people of the Prince that shall come shall destroy the Citie and the Sanctuary and the end thereef shall be with a Flood and unto the end of the War desolations are determined And he shall confirm the Covenant with many in one week and in the midst of the week he shall cause the Sacrifice and the Oblation to cease and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate even untill the consummation and that determined shall be powred upon the desolate Thus the Oracle in which is contained a Prophecy concerning the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the coming of Christ who should bring unconceivable benefits along with him and yet at length be put to death not for himself but others and this should be all accomplished within 70 weeks of years which contain 490. Lastly it foretels that for that horrible sin of the Jews in murdering the Messias they should lose both Principality and Priest-hood and be punished with perpetual Exile and the utter and unreparable desolation of the Citie 10. Many are the opinions concerning the beginning and end of these seventy weeks amongst Chronologers Some begin them in the first year of the Empire of Cyrus and end them in the Nativity of Christ Others fetch their rise from the second of Darius Nothus Successor to Artaxerxes and conclude them with the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus Vespasian Some make them Commence from the 20 of Artaxerxes when Nehemiah obtained another Decree of him and to conclude with the passion and death of Christ and others will have them begin in the 20th year of Artaxerxes Mnemon and end in the desolation of the Citie by the Romans But many there are who rejecting all these with best reason fix the beginning of them in the seventh of Artaxerxes Longimanus and their conclusion in the death of Christ in which termination most of the Learned both ancient and modern agree 11. For if we seriously consider the account of time and judge of it according to the best approved Authors The beginning of Daniel's seventy weeks the three former opinions will be found either to exceed or come short of the number From the beginning of the Persian Empire to Christ's Nativity passed about 530 years From the second of Darius Nothus indeed to the destruction of Jerusalem near upon 490 years intervened but concerning any Edict made by that Prince there is not a word in Scripture From the 20th of Artaxerxes Longimanus to the death and passion of Christ are found 476. or 477. which come too short by thirteen of the 490. and betwixt the twentieth of Artaxerxes Mnemor and the destruction of Jerusalem are found but about 450. which come far short of the true account as also the Chronology of such as would fetch the rise of the 290 from the first of Darius Medus and the second or sixth of Darius the son of Hystaspes And although the Angel mentioneth the punishment to be inflicted on the Jews yet doth he not comprise it in the 490 years the end of which he signalizeth by the annointing and sufferings of the Mâ—ssias but assigneth half a week or of seven years for the accomplishment of those plagues which in such a quantity of time were to be inflicted upon his murderers Vide Ludovic Cappelli tabulas in Chron. Sacra 12. But if we reckon from this seventh of Artaxerexes Longimanus down by his Successors in the Persian Empire the Ptolomies of Aegypt after that of Alexander the Great and then by the Assamonaeans or Jewish Princes till we come at length to Herod the Great and so to Christ the just number of 290 we shall find accomplished at his death with such small difference as is pardonable to so many Authors handling so many things Or if we reckon by the years of the Olympiads and the building of Rome we shall find Christ to have died in the 490th year after the promulgation of this decree The seventh year of Artaxerxes Longimanus fell in with the second and third of the 80th Olympiad according to Eusebius and the 295 or 296th of the City from which continuing to the second year of the 202d Olympiad and the 785th of the City in which Christ was crucified 289 years or â—90 are precisely found so that farther we shall not enquire about these seventy weeks having therein already satisfied what this design and work requireth leaving the further enquiry thereof to the studious Reader and the judgement to the Learned 13. In the fifteenth year of Artaxerxes the Athenians having recalled Cimon whom for ten years they had banished by the Ostracism Thucyd. lib. 1. Diodorus ad Olymp. 82. an 3. sent him with a Fleet of 200 Sail against Cyprus subject to the Persian Sixty of these ships he sent into Aegypt to the aid of Amyrtaeus who still was up in the marishes and with the rest he set upon Citium a Town in the Island Plutarch in Cimone At
deceived Adam and Eve was Christ they kept a living Serpent which with opening of the chest and charming of the Priest came forth licked the bread upon the altar Epiphan haeres 37. August l. de haeretib and wrapped it self about it Their manner was to kisse the bread and so to eat believing verily that the Serpent had consecrated it They defended themselves that the Nicolaitans and Gnosticks delivered them this service About the same time there were certain Jews which believing in Christ called themselves Nazarai of Nazareth Epiphan haeres 29. In confessing Jesus Christ to be the Son of God they contraried the Jews But they erred in Christian Religion in that they addicted themselves wholy to the whole Law Idem haeres 38. Aug. There were other Hereticks which honoured Cain and took him for their Father whence they were called Cains They highly esteemed of Esau Corah Dathan and Abiram with the Sodomites They called Judas the Traitor their Cosin honoured him for betraying of Christ affirming that he foresaw how great a benefit it would bring to mankind They read a certain gospel written as they said by Judas they reviled the Law and denied the Resurrection There were others called Sethiani who derived their pedegree from Seth the son of Adam whom they honoured and called Christ and Jesus they held that in the beginng of the World he was called Seth but in the latter dayes Christ Jesus Epiphanius saith Epiphan haeres 39. Aug. Euseb l. 4. c. 10 11. Epiphan haeres 41. that he disputed with some of them in Aegypt and that the last of them were in his time Cerdon the Heretick came from Syria to Rome when Hyginus was Bistop there He taught that God preached by the Law and Prophets was not the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ He said that Christ was known the Father of Christ unknown He denied the Resurrection and the Old Testament he held other things with the Manichies and Marcion was his Scholar 19. In the time of Hyginus Valentinus the Heretick came to Rome lived under Pius and continued till Anicetus He taught 1. That Christ brought his flesh with him from Heaven Tertullian contra Valentinianos Epiphan haeres 31. Philastrius and took no flesh of the blessed Virgin but passed through her as water through a conduict-pipe 2. That there are two beginnings of all things Profundum i. e. the Deep and Silentium i. e. Silence these being maried together had issue Understanding and Truth which brought forth 300 Aenoae or Ages and of these were the Devil and others born who made the World In the reign of Antoninus Pius Marcion also the Heretick began to teach living in the time of Justin Martyr who wrote against him He was native of Pontus first a Stoick then a Christian he followed Basilides Cerdon and Valentinus in their Heresies Meeting Polycarpus he said Knowest thou us Polycarp answered I know thee for the first born of Satan Epiphanius writeth Euseb l. 4. c. 11 14. Epiphan haeres 42. Theophyl Hieron cont Jovinian Irenaeus l. 3. c. 4 29. that being a Bishops son when he had defloured a Virgin he was by his own Father excommunicated and afterwards flying to Rome because they there admitted him not into the Church he began to preach detestable doctrine He taught that there were three beginnings Good Just and Evil that the New Testament was contrary to the Old He denied the Resurrection He baptized such as died without Baptism saying that Paul bade him do so He taught that mariage was unlawful and that it was a great sin to marry That Cain the Sodomites and all wicked men were saved because they met Christ when he descended into hell but the Patriarchs and Prophets are still in hell for not meeting Christ for they thought said he that Christ came to tempt them Under Anicetus also came to Rome Marcellina a woman which infected many with the Heresie of Carpocrates who called himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 She is said to have kept and offered incense to the Statues and Pictures of Christ which the Gnosticks said had been made by command of Pilate as also to others of St. Paul 20. About the nineteenth year of Antoninus Pius the beginning also of Montanus his Heresie is placed by Epiphanius but from Eusebius Cappellus would gather that the original of it was fifteen years before because the Historian writeth that Apollinaris wrote against Miltiades Haeres 48. and Montanus the Hereticks under the Proconsulship of Gratus who seemeth the same with him whose Consulship is by Cassiodorus cast into the fourth of Pius He thinks therefore that in the nineteenth year some new thing might be attempted by Montanus as he might this year institute his Prophetesses These were his two Country-women Priscilla and Maximilla born at Pepuza a City of Phrygia upon which account he called Hierusalem by that name Cappellus further observeth that of such things as are attributed to Montanus some were truly his some after his death were added by the Montanists and some falsely ascribed to them Montanus really held that the promise of sending the Holy Ghost was deferred till his time and in himself fulfilled because the Church heretofore could not bear the yoak of more severe and holy discipline which he indeavoured to bring in by appointing the eating of dried meats fasting and Monogamy or single mariage The Montanists after their number was increased did those things which Hierome mentioneth viz. they appointed themselves Patriarchs 2 Cenonae which word seemeth of Phrygian Original and 3 Bishops That is falsly imputed to them Ad Marcellum tom 3. cp 9. which Jerome saith others did attribute but he would not believe viz. that they pricked an Infant and with his bloud made up the Eucharist If this opinion may be attributed to any Haeresie or if this prejudice did not arise from the imputation of this kind of cruelty by the Heathen to Christianity it self the Carpocratians rather than the Montanists were guilty of it But because both sorts were called Gnosticks as swelling with an opinion of knowledge what was acted but by one might easily be attributed to the other So because Montanus as full of the Holy Ghost called upon men in the name of the Father he was believed to confound the persons of the Trinity into one which was the invention of the Sabelliani 100 years after 'T is further said of him that he baptized the dead and not allowing of second marriages permitted married persons to be separated when they themselves would That he took away repentance affirming that sinners could never have their sins pardoned by repentance And that the Apostles and Prophets understood not any thing they had written but were Arreptitii Now to return to civil matters 21. Pius being dead on the Nones of March Marcus the son of Annius Verus succeeded M. Aurelius Antoninus Philosophus and L. Verus who was first adopted by Catilius Serenus his
comfort And as he preserved them from external violence so he also took care for their inward peace This had been somewhat of late disturbed by the Heresie of Manes from whom his followers were named Maniches who began to publish his impure Doctrine in the first of Probus in the 277 year of the ordinary or received Aera of Christ This fellow being a Persian Euseb l. 7. c. 28. said that he was born of a Virgin that he was both Christ and the holy Ghost and sent out twelve Disciples to preach his Doctrine which was made up of many old Heresies heretofore named But his and other grosse opinions found not such entertainment as to procure so much disturbance as that of Arius did who having as we said heard Alexander the Bishop of Alexandria discoursing curiously of the Trinity and thinking that he maintained the error of Sabellius in opposition to him fell to deny the blessed Trinity and affirmed that the son of God was like unto God in name onely and not in substance The Council of Nice His Heresie having been condemned in many Synods Constantine in the 20th of his reign A. D. 325. summoned a General Council to meet at Nice where assembled 318 Bishops In opposition to Arianism was framed the Nicene Creed June 19. Hosius presided as he had done in the Synodes of Egypt and first subscribed the Canons Besides the condemnation of Arius the Sanction concerning Easter made at Arles and in Palaestine was confirmed Moreover twenty Ecclesiastical Canons were established than which no good Author mentioneth more Now were the Temples of Idols overthrown and Churches Erected the service of Devils was banished and the vvorship of the true God owned and incouraged now faith and patience triumphed over most tedious and exquisite persecutions and truth dispelled the Clouds of prejudice and errour Mr. George Herbert his Church Militant REligion now flourish'd in Greece where Arts Gave her the highest place in all mens hearts Learning was pos'd Philosophy was set Sophisters taken in a fishers net Plato and Aristotle were at a losse And wheel'd about again to spell Christs Crosse Prayers chased Syllogisms into their den And Ergo was transform'd into Amen Though Greece took horse as soon as Egypt did And Rome as both yet Egypt faster rid And spent her period and prefixed time Before the other Greece being past her prime Religion went to Rome subduing those Who that they might subdue made all their foes The Warriour his dear skars no more resounds But seems to yield Christ hath the greater wounds Wounds willingly endur'd to work his blisse Who by an ambush lost his Paradise The great heart stoops and taketh from the dust A sad repentance not the spoils of lust Quitting his spear lest it should pierce again Him in his members who for him was slain The shepherds hook grew to a Scepter here Giving new names and numbers to the year But th' Empire dwelt in Greece to comfort them Who were cut short in Alexander's stem In both of these Prowesse and Arts did tame And tune mens hearts against the Gospel came Which using and not fearing skill in th' one Or strength in th' other did erect her Throne Many a rent and strugling th' Empire knew As dying things are wont untill it flew At length to Germany still Westward bending And there the Churches festival attending That as before Empire and Arts made way For no lesse Harbingers would serve than they So they might still and point us out the place Where first the Church should raise her down-cast face Strength levels ground Art makes a Garden there Then showrs Religion and makes all to bear Spain in the Empire shar'd with Germany But England in the higher victory Giving the Church a Crown to keep her state And not go lesse than she had done of late Constantines British line meant this of old And did this mystery wrap up and fold Within a sheet of paper which was rent From time's great Chronicle and hither sent Thus both the Church and Sun together ran Unto the farthest old Meridian How dear to me O God thy Counsels are Who may with thee compare FINIS READER there being many proper names in this work which the Printers rarely meet with elsewhere this hath occasioned the more faults in the Impression yet most of them are corrected by a frequent printing of them aright especially towards the later end of the Book most faults being onely the alteration of one letter in a word Such of these or others that are most notable thus correct and passe by the rest by thy candour PAge 1. line 12. for eat it read eat of it p. 2. marg for Mererum r. Mercerum p. 7. l. 43. f. Irelan r. Joctan p. 11. l. 22. f. Amonite r. Amorrhite p. 12. l. 3. f. Clesiphon r. Ctesiphon p. 13. l. 14 f. Pesen r. Resen p. 21. l. 47 f. Judaea r. India p. 24. marg f. Asheu r. Athenaeus p. 34. l. 26. f. Damascenus r. Damascus p. 39. marg f. Deut. r. Orat. p. 78. marg f. Phicium r. Phocium p. 82. l. 57 f. senerity r. serenity p. 86. l. 21. f. caried r. varied p. 88. l. 21. f. Aegyptians r. Aeginetans p. 91 l 20. f. Generation r. veneration p. 94. l. 54. f. Aphutes r. Iphicles p. 95. l. 32. f. Ganchoniathon r. Sanchoniathon p 109. l. 51. f. law r. cave p. 111. l. 7. f. antient r. after p. 116. l. 1. f. Grece r. Crete p. 187 l. 31. f. Pubares r. Bubares p. 192. l. 46. f. Mossa r. Atossa p. 199. l. 18. f. 161. r. 16. p. 213. f. penult r. 490. so p. 214. l. 10. 17. 18. r. 489. 490. p. 238. l. 16. f. Glos r. Glaus and l. 26. p. 293. l. 4. f. Corcyraeans r. Corinthians p. 297. l. 1. f. Menton r. Meton p. 362. marg Sordanus r. Soranus p 364. l. 34. f. Dubares r. Bubares p. 429. l. 30. f. Buleo r. Buteo p. 464. marg Scribonianus r. Tribonianus p. â—44 l. 32. f Antiochus r Antigonus p. 583. l. 51. dele self p. 596. l. 28. f. Phaeucia r. Phaenicia 646 l 38. f. took r. loose p. 743. l. 21 f. a fight r for flight p. 749. m. betwixt avus Rex r. Cecinna ibid. l 45. f. induced r. indued ibid. â— 5â— f Enemies r. Armies p. 760. m. Principalities r. Provinces p. 792. l. 16. Hypotyposeâ—â—n r. Hypotyposeon p. 798 penult f. Marcellus r. Marceâ—â—nus p. â—00 penult f. Cansi r. Cangi p. 830. l. 44. f. three r. the p. 839. l. 10. f. Municipi r Municipia p. 853. l. 10. f. Atraevi r. Atrevi p. 857. l. 10. betwixt Clemens Alexandrinus add called p. 866. l. 18. f. fifth r. first Books printed for Henry Herringman at the sign of the Anchor on the Lower Walk of the new Exchange THe great Exemplar the Life and Death of the Holy Jesus by Jer. Taylor Dr. in Divinity Chaplain in ordinary to his Majesty