father's estate having been confiscate he was brought into extream want of necessary subsistance together with his relations but God thought him worthy of his providence And he obtains entertainment and rest from a woman who was very rich in respect of her estate and very eminent otherways Moreover who carefully ministred to a very famous man one of that Heretical Sect then at Alexandria but by birth an Antiochian Him the foresaid woman having adopted for her son kept him with her and shew'd kindness to him in a most especial manner But Origen though forc'd to converse with the said Heretick yet from that time shew'd powerfull proofs of his sound Opinion concerning the Faith For when great multitudes of people not onely Hereticks but also them of our Religion flock'd to Paul for this was the mans name because he seem'd to be a person of great eloquence Origen could never be induced to assist him in prayer always from a child observing the Cannon of the Church and abominating the doctrines of Heresies as he himself in express words somewhere says and having been educated in the Greek learning by his father at first after his death he devoted himself wholly and more earnestly to the study of the Liberal Sciences so that he was furnished with an indifferent skill in the Art of Grammar and having profest this Art soon after his father's death he got plenty of necessaries considering the age he was then of CHAP. III. How Origen being very young Preach't the word of Christ. WHilest he yet applied himself to his School as he in his Writings recordeth no one residing at Alexandria to teach the Principles of Christianity but all being driven away by the threatning persecution some of the Heathens resorted to him to hear the word of God Of which number he notes Plutarchus to have been the first who when he had lived a virtuous secular life was crown'd with divine Martyrdom The second was Heraclas Plutarchus's brother who having under him shew'd many instances of a Philosophical and severe course of life was honour'd with the Bishoprick of Alexandria after Demetrius He was now in the eighteenth year of his age when he was master of the Catechetical School in which he made great proficiency in the persecutions during the time of Aquila's Prefecture over Alexandria At which time he purchas'd to himself a famous name amongst all them who were well affected towards the Faith for the singular friendship and alacrity which he shew'd to all the holy Martyrs known and unknown For he convers'd not onely with such as were in bonds nor with them who had been examined untill their last sentence but with those blessed Martyrs also who after that was pronounc't were led to Execution making use of great boldness he went to meet dangers so that the furious multitude of the Heathens standing round were frequently not far from stoning of him when he boldly came forth and with great freeness of speech communed with the Martyrs and kissed them had not he once miraculously escap'd having the Right-hand of God for his assistance The same divine and heavenly Grace at other times again and again so that t is impossible to say how often preserv'd him from them who then lay'd wait for him because of his exceeding cheerfulness and confidence in Preaching the doctrine of Christ Indeed so great was the hostility of the Infidells against him because such multitudes were instructed by him in the things which appertain to the holy faith that having made a concourse they set Souldiers to watch about the house in which he abode And the Persecution against him waxed so hot daily that all the whole City of Alexandria could no longer secure him he removes indeed from house to house but is driven from all places because of the multitude which through him were made Proselytes to the Divine Doctrine For his common actions contain'd the most admirable Rules of the truest Philosophy indeed as the common saying is such as his doctrine was such was his manner of life and such as his manner of life was such he demonstrated his doctrine to be by this means especially together with the Divine power assisting him he induced many to a zealous imitation of him But when he saw many Scholars now flocking to him the exercise of Catechising being committed solely to him by Demetrius who was Bishop of the Church supposing the teaching of Grammar disagreeable to his studies in divine Learning he forthwith breaks off his Grammar School as unprofitable and contrary to the Sacred learning Then entring into a prudent consideration with himself how he might not stand in need of assistance from others he sold all the Volumes he had of Antient Heathen Writers which were most elaborately compil'd and was content with four oboli a day that were brought him by the buyer For many years he persevered in this Philosophical course of life depriving himself of all matter which might nourish youthfull lusts both undergoing no small labour of severe exercise in the day-time and also assigning to himself the greater part of the night for his study in the holy Scriptures patiently persevering in the most Philosophical life imaginable Somtimes he inur'd himself to the exercises of fasting at other times to houres measur'd out for his repose which he would by no means enjoy upon a bed but made it his business to take it on the bare ground for he thought those Evangelical Words of our Saviour ought most especially to be observ'd which exhort us not to have two coats nor to wear shoes nor to be sollicitous about the cares of the time to come Moreover with a courage far greater then his age he patiently endur'd both cold and nakedness and came to that height and extremity of want that he made those of his acquaintance admire exceedingly And he caus'd grief in many who entreated him that they might communicate of their estates to him because they saw him bring such labours on himself for the Gospel's sake but he remitted nothing of his patience 'T is reported he walk'd upon the ground barefoot many years in no wise wearing any shoes And also for many years he abstained from the use of wine and from all other things except necessary sustenance so that now he fell into a great danger of spoiling and turning his stomach He deservedly excited most of his Scholars to imitate him shewing them who look'd upon him such examples of a Philosophical life Insomuch that now not onely the vulgar unbelieving Heathens but also they who were learned Philosophers were through him brought to submit themselves to his doctrine And it came to pass that they who receiv'd by him in the bottom of their hearts sincerely the faith of the Gospel were famous in the time of the then Persecution so that some of them after apprehension finished their lives by Martyrdom CHAP. IV. How many of
CHAP. IV. Of the first Succession of the Apostles THat Paul therefore Preaching to the Gentiles laid the foundations of those Churches from Jerusalem and round about unto Illyricum is manifest both from his own words and also from what Luke has related in the Acts. Likewise in what Provinces Peter Preaching the Gospel of Christ to those of the Circumcision delivered the doctrine of the New Covenant is sufficiently apparent from his own words out of that Epistle of his which we have said is universally acknowledged as genuine which he wrote to the Jews that were dispersed throughout Pontus and Galatia Cappadocia and Asia and Bithynia Now how many and what sincere followers of them have been approved as sufficient to take the charge of those Churches by them founded it is not easie to say except such and so many as may be collected from the words of Paul For he had very many fellow labourers and as he termed them fellow souldiers many of which were by him vouchsafed an indeleble remembrance he having in his own Epistles ascribed to them an everlasting commendation But Luke enumerating in the Acts the disciples of Paul makes mention of them by name Moreover Timothy is reported to have been the first that was chosen to the Bishoprick of the Ephesian Church as also Titus of the Churches in Orâ—â—t Luke by original extract an Antiochian by profession a Physitian for the most part accompanied Paul and being diligently conversant with the rest of the Apostles has left us in two Books written by divine inspiration Lessons that are medicinable for our souls which he prâ—â—ured of them The one is the Gospel which he professes he wrote even as they delivered it unto him who from the beginning were eye witnesses and Ministers of the Word in all which things he says he had perfect understanding from the very first The other is the Acts of the Apostles which Treatise he composed now not of such passages as he had received by report but of what he had seen with his own eyes They say also that Paul was wont to mean the Gospel according to Luke when speaking as it were of his own Gospel he says According to my Gospel Of the rest of the followers of Paul Crescens is by the Apostle himself declared to be one who was sent by him into Gallia Linus also whom in his second Epistle to Timothy he mentions to be at Rome with him who was before manifested to have been the first that was chosen to the Bishoprick of Rome after Peter Clemens also who was likewise constituted the third Bishop of Rome is attested by Paul himself to have been his fellow labourer and companion in sufferings Furthermore that Areopagite by name Dionysius whom Luke in the Acts records to have been the first that believed after the Sermon made by Paul to the Athenians in Areopagus another Dionysius one of the Antients a Pastour of the Corinthian Church relates to have been the first Bishop of the Athenian Church But as we goe on with this work of ours we will in due place declare the successions of the Apostles in their several times Now we will proceed to that part of our History which follows in order CHAP. V. Of the last Siege of the Jews after Christs death AFter Nero who held the Government thirteen years Galba and Otho having reigned a year and six months Vespasian grown famous in the wars against the Jews was made Emperour in Judea being proclaimed by the Army there He therefore going immediately to Rome committed the management of the war against the Jews to his son Titus Moreover after the Ascension of our Saviour when the Jews besides the audacious wickedness committed against him had now contrived and executed very many cruel designs against his Apostles first Stephen being stoned to death by them then after him James the son of Zebedee and brother of John beheaded and last of all that James who was first chosen into the Episcopal seat there after our Saviours Ascension Murthered according to the fore mentioned manner when the rest of the Apostles were by innumerable wiles laid wait for to be put to death and being driven out of Judea were gone to Preach the doctrine of the Gospel to all nations assisted by the power of Christ who had said unto them Goe and teach all Nations in my Name And furthermore when the whole congregation of the Church in Jerusalem according to an Oracle given by revelation to the approved persons amongst them before the war were commanded to depart out of the City and inhabit a certain City they call it Pella beyond Jordan into which when those that believed in Christ had removed from Jerusalem and when the holy men had as it were totally relinquished the Princely Metropolis of the Jews and the whole Country of Judea then at length divine vengeance seized them who had dealt so unjustly with Christ and his Apostles and utterly destroyed that wicked and abominable generation from among men But how great calamities then befell the whole nation in every place and how they especially who were inhabitants of Judea were driven to the extremity of misery and how many Myriads of men together with women and children were destroyed by Sword and Famine and by infinite other kinds of death and how many and what Sieges there were of the Jewish Cities and how great miseries and more than miseries they beheld who fled into Jerusalem it self as into the best fortified Metropolis and also the manner and order of the whole war and every particular action therein and how at length the abomination of desolation predicted by the Prophets was set up in the very Temple of God heretofore famous but now about to suffer all manner of pollution and to undergoe its last destruction by fire He that is desirous to know it may accurately read all this in the History written by Josephus But how the same Writer relates that a multitude of about thirty hundred thousand persons assembled together from all parts of Judea at the time of the passeover feast were shut up in Jerusalem as it were says he in a prison I think it requisite to shew in those his own words For it was fit that at that very time wherein they had killed the Saviour and Benefactour of all Christ the Son of God that in the same days I say they should be shut up as it were in a Prison to receive that destruction from divine vengeance which awaited them But I will omit the particular relation of those miseries which befell them and their great sufferings by the Sword and otherwaies and doe think it necessary to propose onely the Calamities of the Famine that so they who shall read this our work may from that part of their sufferings understand that the divine punishment for their enormous impieties committed against the Christ of God did not long after
Crosses CHAP. IX Concerning those who suffered at Thebais BUT the pains and tortures which the Martyrs underwent at Thebais surmount all relation who were torn all over their bodies untill they expired with sharp shells instead of torturing irons Women were tied by one of their feet and drawn up on high into the air with their heads downwards by certain machines and their bodies being naked and wholly uncovered were made a most detestable most cruel and inhumane spectacle to all that lookt upon them Again others being bound to trees and boughs were killed For by certain engines they drew together the two strongest boughs and having fastned the Martyrs legs to each of them they suffered the boughs to return into their natural site designing thereby to pull asunder their members against whom they had invented these ways of death And all these things were performed not for a few days or during some short time but continued for the space of whole years sometimes no more than ten at other times above twenty in number were destroyed sometimes not less then thirty at others neer sixty and again at another time an hundred men together with very small children and women were killed in one day being condemned to various and interchangeable sorts of punishments We also our selves being conversant in those places saw very many destroyed together in one day whereof some were beheaded and others underwent the punishment of fire Insomuch that the Executioners sword became blunt and being rendred unfit for use was broken and the Executioners themselves being tired succeeded one another by turns At which time also we beheld a most admirable ardour of mind and a truly divine strength and alacrity in those who believed in the Christ of God For no sooner was sentence pronounced against the first but others ran hastily from some other place before the Judges tribunal and confest themselves to be Christians They regarded not dangers nor those various sorts of tortures but with an undisturbed fearlesness made a bold confession of the worship of the supream God and with joy laughter and delight received their last sentence of death in such sort that they sang and to the very time of their expiration shouted forth hymns and thanksgivings in praise of God the maker of all things such admirable persons were these But these in a most especial manner deserved the greatest admiration who although eminent for riches nobility glory eloquence and Philosophy yet preferred the true Religion and the faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ before all these Of this sort was Philoromus a person that bore no ordinary office was the Emperours Rationalist at Alexandria who together with his dignity and Roman honour being attended with a guard of Souldiers did daily exercise a judiciary power Phileas also Bishop of the Church of the Thmuitae a person eminent for his discharge of the publick Offices and places of Magistracy in his own country and famous for his Philosophick studies These two persons although they were intreated by very many of their relations and friends and moreover by personages of honour yea notwithstanding the Judge himself besought them to take pitty on themselves and have compassion on their wives and children yet could in no wise be induced by such persons as these that out of a desire to preserve their own lives they should contemn the laws made concerning the confession and renunciation of our Saviour But having stoutly bore up against all the menaces and contumelies of the Judge with a manly and Philosophick mind or rather with a pious and religious heart they were both beheaded CHAP. X. The written informations of Phileas the Martyr concerning what was done at Alexandria BUT because we have said that Phileas was a person worthy of great esteem for his Graecian literature let him be produced as a witness for himself both to demonstrate what a person he was and also to relate the Martyrdoms which in his time happened at Alexandria which he will declare more accurately than we can in these words OUT OF PHILEAS'S EPISTLE TO THE THMUITAE All these Examples Prescripts and good Documents being deposited for us in the divine and sacred Scriptures the blessed Martyrs who were conversant amongst us without any delay manifestly fixed the eye of their mind upon the supream God and willingly embracing death upon account of piety they steadfastly adhered to their calling for they found that our Lord Jesus Christ had been incarnate for us that he might abolish all manner of sin and provide us with assistances for our entrance into life eternal For he thought it not robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation and took the form of a servant And being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself unto death even the death of the Cross. Wherefore the Martyrs who were full of Christ zealously affecting the best gifts endured all manner of sorrow and all sorts of tortures that could be invented not onely once but some of them a second time also And when the Souldiers that were of the guard endeavoured with much earnestness to strike a terrour into them not onely by all manner of menaces in words but by deeds they were in no wise discouraged in mind because perfect love casteth out fear Whose fortitude and courage under each torture what words would be sufficient to relate For free leave being granted to all persons that would be injurious towards them some beat them with clubs others with rods othersome with scourges again some scourged them with thongs of leather others with ropes And the spectacle of these tortures was variously enterchanged and full of malicious cruelty For some of the Martyrs having their hands bound behind them were hung at an Engin of wood and every member of their bodies was distended by certain machines After that the Tormentours by command of the Judge made use of iron-nailes to torture them with all over their bodies which were applied not onely to their sides as Murtherers are usually tormented but also to their bellies their legs and to their cheeks Others being lifted up were hung by one hand at a Gallery the stretching of whose joynts and members was a sharper pain to them than all sorts of tortures Others were bound face to face to Pillars their feet not touching the ground that so their bonds being strained by the heaviness of their bodies might with stretching be the closer drawn together and this they endured not only as long as the Governour talked with them and was at leisure to hear them but almost a whole day together for when he went away to hear others he left Officers that were impowred by him to be watchfull over the former Martyrs whether any one of them being overcome by the sharpness of his tortures would seem to abandon his resolution He also commanded they should be strained with bonds
things that are compounded The same Authour delivers these very words Every proposition says he has either a Genus which is praedicated or a Species or a Differentià or a Proprium or an Accidens or what is compounded of these but none of these can be supposed to be in the sacred Trinity Let that therefore which is inexplicable be adored with silence Thus argues Evagrius concerning whom we shall speak hereafter But although we may seem to have made a digression by relating these things yet we have mentioned them here in regard they are usefull and pertinent to the subject of our History CHAP. VIII Some passages quoted out of Athanasius's Apologetick concerning his own Flight AT the same time Athanasius recited the Apologetick he had formerly made concerning his own Flight in the audience of those that were present Some passages whereof being useful and profitable I will here insert and leave the whole Book in regard 't is large to be inquired out and perused by the Studious Behold says he these are the audacious villanies of those impious wretches These are their practises and yet they blush not at the mischiefs they have formerly contrived against us but do even at this time accuse us because we were able to escape their murdering hands Yea rather they are sorely troubled because they have not quite dispatcht us In fine under a pretence and colour they upbraid us with fear but are ignorant that whilst they make a noise about this they retort the crime upon themselves For if it be bad to fly it is much worse to pursue For the one absconds that he may not be murdered but the other pursues with a design to murder Yea the Scripture informs us that we must fly But he that seeks an occasion to murder violates the Law and does himself give others an occasion of flying If therefore they upbraid us with our flight they should rather be ashamed of their own pursuit Let them leave plotting and those that fly will soon desist from making their escape But they cease not from acting their own villanies but do all they can to apprehend being very sensible that the flight of such as are pursued is a great evidence against them that pursue For no body flies from a meek and good-natured person but rather from one that is of a barbarous and malitious disposition And therefore Every one that was discontented and in debt fled from Saul to David Wherefore these persons also endeavour to slay such as conceal themselves that there may seem to be no evidence to convince them of their wickedness But in this case also these mistaken persons seem to be blinded For by how much the more manifest the flight is by so much will the slaughters caused by their treacheries and the banishments be more evidently exposed to the view of all men For whether they kill death will make a greater noise against them or again whether they banish they do in every place erect monuments of their own injustice against themselves Were they therefore sound as to their intellectuals they might perceive themselves intangled herein and egregiously mistaken in their own measures But in regard they are infatuated for that reason they are incited to persecute and whilst they seek to murder others perceive not their own impiety For if they reproach such as conceal themselves from those that seek to murder them and calumniate such as fly from their pursuers what will they do when they see Jacob flying from his brother Esau and Moses retreating into the Country of Madian for fear of Pharaoh what answer will these Bablers make to David who fled from Saul when he sent Messengers from his own house to murder him hid himself in a Cave and changed his countenance untill he had passed by Abimelech and avoided the treachery Or what will these fellows who are ready to utter any thing say when they see the Great Elias who called upon God and raised a dead man hiding himself for fear of Ahab and flying because of Jezebels Menaces At which time the Sons of the Prophets also being sought for to be slain absconded concealing themselves in Caves with Abdia Or have they not read these passages in regard they are antient But they have also quite forgot what is related in the Gospel For the Disciples for fear of the Jews retreated and hid themselves And Paul when he was sought for at Damascus by the Governour was let down from the wall in a basket and escaped the hands of him that sought him Since therefore the Scripture records these things concerning the Saints what excuse can they invent for their rash precipitancy For if they upbraid them with timidity that audacious reproach recoyls upon themselves being madmen as it were But if they calumniate those Holy persons as having done this contrary to the will of God they demonstrate themselves to be altogether unskilled in the Scriptures For in the Law there was a command that Cities of refuge should be appointed to the intent that such as were sought for to be put to death might some way or other be enabled to secure themselves But in the consummation of ages when the Word of the Father he who spake to Moses came himself into the world he did again give this command saying But when they persecute you flee from this City to another And a little after he says When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet stand in the holy place who so readeth let him understand then let them who be in Judea flee into the mountaines Let him who is on the house-top not come down to take any thing out of his house Let not him who is in the field return back to take his clothes When therefore the Saints understood these things they entred upon such a course of life as was agreeable hereto For the same commands which the Lord has now given he had delivered by the Saints before his coming in the flesh And this is a rule for all men which leads them to perfection that is To do what ever God hath commanded Upon this account the Word himself also made man for our sakes when he was sought for vouchsafed to conceal himself as we do and being persecuted again he was pleased to fly and avoid the conspiracy For it became Him that as by hungring thirsting and undergoing these afflictions so by this means also he should demonstrate himself to be made man At the very beginning as soon as he was made man he himself being as yet but a child gave this command to Joseph by an Angel Arise and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt For Herod will seek the young childs life And after the death of Herod it appears that for fear of his Son Archelaus he retired to Nazareth Afterwards when he had demonstrated himself
Church of the Novatians at Constantinople during the space of fourty years from the times of Constantine untill the sixth year of the Emperour Theodosius as I have somewhere related before Being near his death he ordains Sisinnius to succeed him in his Bishoprick He was a Presbyter of that Church over which Agelius Presided a person of great eloquence and had been instructed in Philosophy by Maximus the Philosopher at the same time that he read to the Emperour Julian But when the Novatian Congregation found fault with this Ordination because Agelius had not rather ordained Marcianus a person of an eminent piety by whose interest the Novatians had continued unmolested during Valens's Reign Agelius desirous to appease the people's discontent ordained Marcianus also and being somewhat recovered from his distemper he went into the Church and spake these words to the people on his own account After my decease saies he take Marcianus for your Bishop and after Marcianus Sisinnius Having survived these words a small time he ended his life Marcianus therefore being constituted Bishop over the Novatians there arose a division in their Church also upon this account One Sabbatius a person that had turned Christian from being a Jew being by Marcianus promoted to the dignity of a Presbyter continued notwithstanding a zealous promoter of Judaism wherewith he had been leavened before Moreover he was extreamly ambitious of being made a Bishop Having therefore procured two Presbyters Theoctistus and Macarius who were privy to his ambitious design to be his Assistants he took a resolution of defending that innovation made by the Novatians in Valens's Reign concerning the Festival of Eaester at Pazum a Village in Phrygia which I have mentioned before And first of all under pretence of following an Ascetick and more austere course of life he secretly withdrew from the Church saying that he was aggrieved upon the account of some persons in regard he had a suspicion that they were unworthy of a participation of the Mysteries But in process of time his design was discovered to wit that his desire was to hold private and separate meetings When Marcianus understood this he himself complained of his own mistake in ordaining to wit because he had promoted persons so ambitious of vain-glory to the Presbyterate And being grieved did frequently use to say that it had been better he had laid his hands on thorns than when he preferred Sabbatius to the dignity of a Presbyter Moreover he procured a Synod of Novatian Bishops to be convened at Sangarum which is a Mart-Town in Bithynia lying near Helenopolis The Bishops being convened there sent for Sabbatius and ordered him to set forth before the Synod the reasons of his grief Upon his affirming that the dissention about the observation of the Feast of Easter was the cause of his being troubled for it ought as he said to be kept in the same manner that the Jews observed it and agreeable to that Sanction which those convened at Pazum promulged the Bishops present at the Synod having a suspition that Sabbatius pretended all this on account of his being desirous of a Bishoprick bound him with an oath that he should never accept of a Bishoprick When he had sworn to this they published a Rule concerning the Feast of Easter to which Canon they gave this Title Adiaphoros affirming that a disagreement about the Festival of Easter was not a sufficient reason for a separation from the Church and that those convened at Pazum did no prejudice to the Catholick and universal Rule For the Ancients they said and those who lived nearest the Apostles times although they differed in the observation of this Festival yet communicated one with another and in no wise raised any dissention on that account Besides the Novations they added who inhabit the Imperial City Rome never followed the Jewish usage but always kept Easter after the Aequinox and yet they separated not from those of their own Faith who observed not the Feast of Easter after the same manner that they themselves did Upon these and many such like mature considerations they made that Indifferent Canon which I have mentioned concerning Easter whereby it was left to every ones arbitrement to celebrate Easter according to that usage which by a prejudicate opinion he had embraced and that there should be no dissention in relation to communion but that those who celebrated that Festival after a different manner should notwithstanding continue in the unity and agreement of the Church This Rule therefore concerning the Feast of Easter having at that time been constituted and confirmed by them Sabbatius being bound by his oath if at any time there hapned any discrepancy in the celebration of the Feast of Easter himself anticipated the Fast by keeping it in private by himself and having watched all night he celebrated the solemn day of the Sabbath of the Passover And again on the day following he came to the Church at such time as the whole congregation were assembled there and together with them partook of the Mysteries This he did for many years and therefore could not avoid being taken notice of by the multitude Upon which account some of the simpler sort of people more especially the Phrygians and Galatians thinking they should be justified by this fact imitated Sabbatius and kept the Passover in secret agreeable to his fashion But some time after this Sabbatius disregarding his oath held Schismatical Meetings by himself and was constituted Bishop over those that were his own followers as we shall manifest in the procedure of our History CHAP. XXII This Historian's Sentiment concerning the disagreements which appear in some places in relation to the Feast of Easter Baptisms Fasts Marriages the order of celebrating the Eucharist and other Ecclesiastick Rites and Observances But I think it not unseasonable to declare in short what comes into my mind concerning Easter Neither the Ancients nor the Moderns who have studiously followed the Jews had in my judgment any just or rational cause of contending so much about this Festival For they considered not with themselves that when the Jewish Religion was changed into Christianity those accurate observances of the Masaick Law and the Types of things future wholly ceased And this carries along with it its own demonstration For no one of Christ's Laws has permitted the Christians to observe the Rites of the Jews Moreover on the contrary the Apostle has expresly forbid this and does not only reject Circumcision but also advises against contending about Festival days Wherefore in his Epistle to the Galatians his words are these Tell me ye that desire to be under the Law do ye not hear the Law And having spent some few words in his discourse hereof he demonstrates that the people of the Jews are servants but that those who have followed Christ are called to Liberty Moreover 't is his admonition that days and
in the midst together with the Church it self Moreover Basilicae Baths Rooms to lodge and eat in and many other apartments built for their use who kept the place were joyned to the Porticus's and were equall to them in length CHAP. LX. That in this Church also He built Himself a Sepulchre ALL These Edifices the Emperour Dedicated with this intent that He might consign to posterity the memory of our Saviour's Apostles But he had another design in his mind when he built this Church which purpose of his was at first concealed but in the end it became known to all men For he had designed this place for himself after his death foreseeing by a transcendent alacrity of Faith that his own Body should after death be made a partaker of the Apostles appellation to the end that even after death He might be esteemed worthy of the prayers which should be performed there in honour of the Apostles Having therefore raised twelve Capsae there as some Sacred Columns in honour and memory of the choire of the Apostles he placed his own Ark in the midst on each side of which lay six Capsae of the Apostles And this as I have said he prudently considered of namely where his Body might be decently deposited after he had ended his Life Having in his mind ordered these matters long before he consecrated a Church to the Apostles believing that their memory would be usefull and advantagious to his Soul Nor did God account him unworthy of those things which by his prayers he expected For as soon as the first Exercises of the Feast of Easter had been compleated by him and when he had past over our Saviour's day rendring it splendid to himself and a Festival to all other persons whilest he was intent upon these things and spent his Life herein to the very Close of it God by whose assistance he performed all these things opportunely vouchsafed him a divine passage to a better allotment CHAP. LXI The Emperour 's Indisposition of Body at Helenopolis and his Prayers Also concerning his Baptisme AT first an unequal temper of Body hapned to him together therewith a distemper seized him Soon after which he went to the warm Baths of his own City thence he goes to the City which bore the name of his own Mother where having made his abode for some considerable time in the Oratory of the Martyrs he put up his Prayers and Supplications to God And when he perceived that the end of his Life drew near he thought this was the time of purgation of all those sins which he had committed throughout his whole Life firmly believing that whatever sins as a man he had faln into and committed would be washt from off his Soul by the efficacy of mystick words and by the salutary Laver. Having therefore considered this with himself kneeling upon the pavement he humbly beg'd God's pardon making a confession of his sins in the very Martyrium in which place likewise he was first vouchsafed imposition of hands with prayer Removing from thence he goes to the Suburbs of the City Nicomedia where he called the Bishops together and spake to them in this manner CHAP. LXII Constantine's request to the Bishops that they would confer Baptism upon him THis was the time long since hop't for by me when I thirsted and prayed that I might obtain Salvation in God This is the Hour wherein even We may also enjoy that Seal which conferrs immortality the Hour wherein We may partake of that Salutary Impression I had heretofore taken a Resolution of doing this in the streams of the River Jordan where Our Saviour himself in a likeness to us is recorded to have partaken of the Laver. But God who best knows what is advantagious to Us in this place vouchsafes Us a participation thereof Let therefore all doubt be removed For if the Lord of Life and Death will have Us continue our Life any longer here and if it be once so determined concerning me that I may in future be assembled with the people of God and being made a member of the Church may together with all the rest partake of the prayers I will prescribe my self such Rules of living as may befit a servant of God These were the words he spake They performed the Rites and compleated the Divine Ceremonies and having first enjoyned him whatever was necessary made him a partaker of the Sacred Mysteries Constantine therefore the only person of all those that ever were Emperours was by a Regeneration perfected in the Martyria of Christ and being dignified with the Divine Seal rejoyced in Spirit and was renewed and filled with the Divine Light The joy of his mind was great by reason of his transcendency of Faith but he was stricken with an amazement at the manifestation of the Divine Power After all things had been duely performed He was clothed with white and Royal Garments which shined like the Light and rested himself upon a most bright Bed nor would he any more touch the purple CHAP. LXIII In what manner he praised God after he had received Baptism AFter this he lifted up his voice and poured forth to God a prayer of thanksgiving Which ended he added these words Now I know my self to be truly blessed now 't is evident that I am accounted worthy of an immortal life now I have an assurance that I am made a partaker of Divine Light Moreover he termed them miserable and said they were unhappy who were deprived of such great Blessings And when the Tribunes and Chief Officers of the Military Forces came in and with tears bewailed their own misfortune that they themselves should be left desolate and prayed for his longer Life He answered them also and said that now at length he was vouchsafed true life and that only He himself knew what great Blessings he had been made a partaker of Wherefore that he hastned and would by no delayes defer going to his God After this he disposed of every thing according to his own mind And to those Romans who inhabit the Imperial City he bequeathed certain Annual Gifts But he left the inheritance of the Empire as 't were some paternal Estate to his own children ordering all things in such a manner as he himself thought good CHAP. LXIV The death of Constantine on the Festival of Pentecost about noon FUrther all these things were transacted in that great Solemnity of the most venerable and most sacred Pentecost which is honoured with seven weeks but is sealed with the number one In which Festival hapned both the Ascent of the Common Saviour into the Heavens and also the descent of the Holy Spirit upon men as the Divine Scriptures do attest In this Solemnity therefore the Emperour having obtained those things we have mentioned
the latter end of each Authour whereto they belong here the Reader has them embodied with the Text and by the Letters of the Alphabet He is shown the passages in the History whereof they treat In which method the Reader 's â—ase was consulted that He might not have the trouble and interruption given Him of turning forward and backward from the Matter to the Notes and from thence to the Matter How far this Translation is beholding to That done by Doctour Hanmer will quickly be discovered by any that shall take the pains to compare them It need not be dissembled that the Doctour's Version has been seen and 't is as needless to detain the Reader in shewing Him by tedious instances that He has not been nor could have been followed without a departure from the Original Greek as published by Valesius It onely remains that the Reader be entreated before He peruses this Translation to mend those faults in it that are mentioned in The Errata and to pardon all others He shall meet with Which that He may the easier be perswaded to He is desired to be mindful of this excellent saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 'T is God's property to mistake in nothing and to correct all things THE CONTENTS Of the Whole WORK The Contents of Eusebius his Ecclesiastical History in X. Books Book I. Chap. 1. THE Subject of this Work Page 1 Chap. 2. A brief summary concerning the Praeexistence and Divinity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Page 2 Chap. 3. That the very name of Jesus and also that of Christ was from the beginning both known and honoured among the Divine Prophets Page 5 Chap. 4. That the Religion by him declared to all Nations is neither new nor strange Page 6 Chap. 5. Of the times of our Saviours manifestation unto men Page 7 Chap. 6. That in his time according to the predictions of the Prophets the Princes of the Jewish Nation who before by succession had held the Principality surceased and that Herod the first of the Aliens became their King Page 8 Chap. 7. Of the disagreement supposed to be among the Gospels about the Genealogy of Christ. Page 9 Chap. 8. Of Herods cruelty towards the Infants and after how miserable a manner he ended his life Page 10 Chap. 9. Of the Times of Pilate Page 12 Chap. 10. Of the High-priests among the Jews in whose time Christ Preached the Gospel ibid. Chap. 11. What hath been testified concerning John the Baptist and concerning Christ. Page 13 Chap. 12. Concerning our Saviours disciples ibid. Chap. 13. The History of the Prince of the Edessens ibid. Book II. THE Preface Page 15 Chap. 1. Of those things which were instituted by the Apostles after the Ascension of Christ. ibid. Chap. 2. How Tiberius was affected at the Relation Pilate sent him of those things concerning Christ. Page 16 Chap. 3. How the Doctrine of Christ spread in a short time over the whole world Page 17 Chap. 4. How after the death of Tiberius Caius made Agrippa King over the Jews and punished Herod with perpetual banishment ibid. Chap. 5. How Philo went on an Embassage to Caius upon the Jews Account Page 18 Chap. 6. How great miseries befell the Jews after their audacious wickedness committed against Christ. ibid. Chap. 7. That Pilate made himself away Page 19 Chap. 8. Of the Dearth that happened in Claudius his time ibid. Chap. 9. The Martyrdom of James the Apostle ibid. Chap. 10. How Agrippa called also Herod persecuting the Apostles presently felt the Divine vengeance Page 20 Chap. 11. Of the Impostour Theudas and his Associates ibid. Chap. 12. Of Helena Queen of the Osdroënians Page 21 Chap. 13. Of Simon Magus ibid. Chap. 14. Of Peter the Apostle's Preaching at Rome Page 22 Chap. 15. Of the Gospel according to Mark ibid. Chap. 16. That Mark first Preached the knowledge of Christ to the Egyptians ibid. Chap. 17. What Philo relates of the Ascetae in Egypt ibid. Chap. 18. What Writings of Philo's have come to our hands Page 24 Chap. 19. What a calamity befell the Jews at Jerusalem on the very day of the Passover Page 25 Chap. 20. What was done at Jerusalem in the Reign of Nero. ibid. Chap. 21. Of that Egyptian who is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles Page 26 Chap. 22. How Paul being sent bound from Judea to Rome having made his defence was wholly acquitted ibid. Chap. 23. How James called the brother of the Lord was Martyred Page 27 Chap. 24. How after Mark Annianus was constituted the first Bishop of the Church of the Alexandrians Page 29 Chap. 25. Of the Persecution in the time of Nero in which Paul and Peter were for Religion graced with Martyrdom at Rome ibid. Chap. 26. How the Jews were vexed with innumerable mischiefs and how at last they entred upon a War against the Romans Page 30 Book III. Chap. 1. IN what parts of the world the Apostles Preached Christ. Page 30 Chap. 2. Who first Presided over the Roman Church Page 31 Chap. 3. Concerning the Epistles of the Apostles ibid. Chap. 4. Of the first Succession of the Apostles ibid. Chap. 5. Of the last siege of the Jews after Christs death Page 32 Chap. 6. Of the famine that oppressed the Jews Page 33 Chap. 7. Of Christs Predictions Page 35 Chap. 8. Concerning the Prodigies that appeared before the War ibid. Chap. 9. Of Josephus and the Writings he left Page 36 Chap. 10. How Josephus makes mention of the Holy Bible Page 37 Chap. 11. How after James Simeon governed the Church at Jerusalem Page 38 Chap. 12. How Vespasian commanded that the descendants of David should be sought out ibid. Chap. 13. That Anencletus was the second Bishop of the Roman Church ibid. Chap. 14. That Avilius was the second Bishop of Alexandria ibid. Chap. 15. That Clemens was the third Bishop of the Roman Church ibid. Chap. 16. Concerning the Epistle of Clemens Page 39 Chap. 17. Of the Persecution in Domitians time ibid. Chap. 18. Concerning John the Apostle and his Revelation ibid. Chap. 19. How Domitian commanded that the descendants of David should be â—lain ibid. Chap. 20. Concerning those that were Related to our Saviour ibid. Chap. 21. That Cerdo was the third that presided over the Alexandrian Church Page 40 Chap. 22. That Ignatius was the second that presided over the Alexandrian Church ibid. Chap. 23. A Relation concerning John the Apostle ibid. Chap. 24. Concerning the order of the Gospels Page 41 Chap. 25. Concerning those Divine writings which are without coutroversie acknowledged and of those which are not such Page 42 Chap. 26. Of Menander the Impostour Page 43 Chap. 27. Of the Heresie of the Ebionites ibid. Chap. 28. Of the Arch-Heretick Cerinthus Page 44 Chap. 29. Of Nicholas and those Hereticks who bear his name ibid. Chap. 30. Concerning those Apostles that are found to have been married Page 45 Chap. 31. Of the death of John and Philip. ibid. Chap. 32. How Simeon the
Name of Christ to be most especially Venerable and Glorious when he delivered Types and Symbols of heavenly things and mystical forms agreeable to the Divine Oracle that said to him See thou doe all things after the fashion that was shewed thee in the mount the Man whom he entitled as much as he lawfully might the High-Priest of God the same he stiled Christ and thus to the dignity of High-Priesthood which excelled in his judgment all other prerogatives among men he for honour and glory put-to the Name of Christ. So then he deemed Christ to be a certain Divine thing The same Moses also when being inspired by the Holy Ghost he had well foreseen the Name of Jesus judged again the same worthy of singular prerogative For this Name of Jesus which before Moses his time had never been named among men Moses gave to him first and to him alone whom he knew very well by type again and figurative sign was to receive the Universal principality after his death His Successour therefore before that time not called Jesus but by another Name to wit Ause which his Parents had given him he called Jesus giving him this appellation as a singular Title of Honour far passing all Royal Diadems because that same Jesus the Son of Nave bore the figure of our Saviour who alone after Moses and the accomplishment of the figurative service delivered by him was to succeed in the Government of the true and most pure Religion Thus to two men who surpassed all people of that Age in virtue and glory one being then High-priest the other to be chief Ruler after him Moses gave the Name of our Saviour Jesus Christ as an Ensign of the greatest Honour The Prophets also who came after Prophesied plainly of Christ by Name foretelling long before-hand the treacherous practice of the Jewish people against him and the calling of the Gentiles by him Both Jeremie saying thus The Spirit before our face Christ our Lord is taken in their nets of whom we spake under the shadow of his wings we shall be preserved alive among the Heathen and David also being very much perplexed speaking thus Why have the Gentiles raged and the people imagined vain things The Kings of the earth stood forth and the Princes assembled together in the same place against the Lord and against his Christ whereunto afterwards he addeth in the person of Christ The Lord said unto me Thou art my son this day have I begotten thee Ask of me and I will give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance and the ends of the earth for thy possession The Name of Christ therefore among the Hebrews hath not onely honoured those that were adorned with the High-priesthood being anointed with figurative and mystical oyl prepared on purpose but Kings also whom Prophets by the Divine appointment anointing made figurative Christs because they bore in themselves a resemblance of the regal and Princely power of the onely and true Christ The Word of God who governeth all things And moreover we have learned that certain of the Prophets also by being anointed have typically become Christs So that all these have a relation unto the true Christ the Divine and Heavenly Word the onely High-Priest of the whole World therefore onely King of all the Creation and the onely chief Prophet of the Father among all the Prophets The proof hereof is demonstrable For none of them that of old were typically anointed whether Priests or Kings or Prophets ever obtained so great a measure of Divine power and virtue as the Saviour and our Lord Jesus the onely and true Christ hath shewed Indeed none of them how famous soever they were among their own followers throughout many Ages by reason of their dignity and honour have caused by their being typically called Christs that such as were conform to them should be named Christians Neither hath the Honour of Adoration been exhibited by their subjects unto any of them neither after the death of any of them have the minds of any been so much affected towards him as to be ready to die for the maintenance of his Honour neither hath there been any so great stir and commotion among all the Nations throughout the whole World for any of them For the power of the figure and shadow was not of such efficacy in them as the presence of the truth exhibited by our Saviour Who though he received not from any the Ensigns and Badges of the High-priesthood nor indeed lineally descended according unto the flesh from the Priestly Race nor was advanced by a Guard of Armed men unto his Kingdom nor was made a Prophet after the manner of the antient Prophets nor obtained any preeminence or prerogative among the Jews yet for all this he was adorned by the Father with all these dignities though not in Types and Symbols yet in very truth And although he obtained all these Titles in another manner then those men did whereof mention hath been made yet hath he been more truly stiled Christ than they all And he as being the onely and true Christ of God hath by that truly venerable and Sacred Name of his filled the whole World with Christians Nor doth he deliver henceforth types and shadows unto his followers but naked virtues and an heavenly life accompanied with the undoubted Doctrine of verity And the oyntment He received was not corporal compounded of spices but Divine by the Holy Ghost and by participation of the unbegotten Deity of the Father The which thing again Esay declareth when as in the person of Christ he breaketh out into these words The Spirit of the Lord is upon me wherefore he hath anointed me to Preach glad tidings unto the poor he hath sent me to cure the contrite in heart to Preach deliverance unto the captives and recovering of sight to the blind And not onely Esay but David also directing his words to his Person saith Thy Throne O God lasteth for ever and ever the Sceptre of thy Kingdom is a right Sceptre Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity Wherefore God even thy God hath anointed thee with the oyl of gladness above thy fellows In which Text the Word of God in the first verse termeth Christ God the second honoureth him with a Royal Sceptre thence descending by degrees after the mention of his Divine and Royal Power in the third place he sheweth him to have been Christ anointed not with oyl of corporeal substance but of Divine that is of Gladness whereby he signifieth his Prerogative and surpassing Excellency above them which with corporeal and typical oyl had of old been anointed And in another place the same David speaketh of him thus saying The Lord said unto my Lord Sit thou on my right hand untill I make thine enemies thy footstool And Out of my Womb before the Day-star have I begotten thee The Lord sware and will not repent Thou art a Priest
Senate and the Emperour Augustus Under whom whenas the presence of Christ was apparent the long-lookt-for Salvation of the Gentiles was accomplished and their calling consequently followed according to the predictions of the Prophets Since which time the Princes and Rulers of Juda those I mean who were of Jewish extraction ceasing straightway the series and course of the High-preisthood which among them by order of succession afâ—er the decrease of the former was always as it was meet wont to fall unto the next of bloud was confounded Hereof thou hast Josephus a witness worthy of credit declaring how that Herod after that he was intrusted with the rule over the Jews by the Romans assigned them no more High-priests of the antient Priestly Race but conferred that honour upon certain obscure persons and how that the same course which Herod had taken in constituting High-priests was followed by his son Archelaus and after by the Romans who succeeded him in the Government of Judea The said Josephus declareth how that Herod first shut up under his own Privy-Seal the Holy Roâ—e of the High-priest not permitting the High-priests to keep it any longer in their own custody and that after him Archelaus and after Archelaus the Romans did the same And let these things be spoken by us to evidence the truth of another Prophesie which by the coming of our Saviour Christ Jesus was accomplished For most plainly and expressly of all other the Holy Scripture in Daniel describing the number of certain weeks unto Christ the Ruler whereof we have in another place intreated foretelleth that after the accomplishment of those weeks the Jewish anointing should be abolished And this is plainly proved to have been fulfilled at the time when our Saviour Jesus Christ came in the flesh And let these things necessarily be fore-observed by us for the proof of the truth of the times CHAP. VII Of the disagreement supposed to be among the Gospels about the Genealogy of Christ. BUt in as much as Matthew and Luke committing the Gospel to writing have differently delivered unto us the Genealogie of Christ and are thought by many to disagree very much among themselves so that almost every one of the faithful through ignorance of the truth hath ambitiously striven to comment upon those places come on let us rehearse a certain History which is come to our hands concerning the premises the which Africanus whom we mentioned a little before hath set down in an Epistle written to Aristides about the concordance of the Genealogie of Christ in the Gospels and having indeed blamed the Opinions of others as wrested and false he delivereth the History that he himself had met withall in these very words For seeing that the names of kindred in Israel were numbred either after the line of nature or after the rule of the Law after the order of Nature as by succession of natural seed after that of the Law as when any one begetteth a son in the name of his brother who deceased without issue For because a perspicuous hope of the Resurrection was not yet granted them they shadowed out in some sort the promise to come with this kind of mortal Resurrection that the name of the deceased might continue and never be quite blotted out Because thereâ—ore of them that are reckoned in this Genealogy some succeeded their fathers as natural sons but others received their name whence they received not their nature mention is made of both as well of them who were truly fathers as of them who were titular onely and as fathers Thus neither of the Gospels is found false the one drawing the Pedegree by the Natural the other by the Legall line For the race both of Solomon and that also of Nathan are so wrapped and twisted together by reviving of persons deceased without issue by second marriages and by raising up of seed that not without cause the same men are supposed to have had divers fathers whereof some were onely nominative others fathers indeed Thus the account in both Gospels is true and is brought down to Joseph accuratly and exactly though by a various and different line And that what I say may plainly appear I will recite the alteration of Families If we count the Generations as Matthew doth from David by Solomon Matthan will be found the third from the end who begat Jacob the father of Joseph but if from Nathan the son of David according unto Luke then the third in like manner from the end will be Melchi whose son was Heli the father of Joseph For Joseph was the son of Heli the son of Melchi Joseph therefore being as it were the mark we shoot at we must shew how each person is termed his father as well Jacob who deriveth his pedegree from Solomon as Heli who descended from Nathan and besides how in the first place these two Jacob and Heli were brethren then in the next place how their fathers Matthan and Melchi born of divers kindreds may be made appear to be Grand-fathers to Joseph Now therefore thus it was Matthan and Melchi marrying one after the other the same wife begat children who were brethren by the mother the law not forbidding a widow either dismissed from her husband or after the death of her husband to be married unto another man First therefore Matthan descending from Solomon begat Jacob of Estha for that is said to be the womans name After the death of Matthan Melchi who descended from Nathan being of the same Tribe but of another race as we said before took this widow to his wife and begat Heli his son Thus shall we find Jacob and Heli though of a different race yet by the same mother to have been brethren One of whom namely Jacob after Heli his brother was deceased without issue married his wife and begat on her the third Joseph by nature indeed and reason his own son whereupon also it is written And Jacob begat Joseph but by the Law he was the son of Heli for Jacob being his brother raised up seed unto him Wherefore neither is that Genealogie which concerneth him to lose its authority the which indeed Matthew the Evangelist reciting saith And Jacob begat Joseph but Luke on the other side Which was the son as it was supposed for he addeth this withall of Joseph which was the son of Heli which was the son of Melchi Nor could he more significantly and properly have expressed that way of Generation according to the Law Therefore in his recital of procreations of this sort he passeth over in silence even to the end the word of Begetting carrying the whole series of Families step by step up as high as Adam who was the son of God Neither is this matter destitute of good proof or rashly and hastily devised For the kinsmen of our Saviour according to the flesh either out of desire to make known the Nobility of their stock or simply to
heard concerning Jesus by his disciple and Apostle Thaddaeus who without the help of Herbs or Medicines restored him to his former soundness And not onely him but one Abdus also the son of Abdus who had the Gout he coming and falling down at Thaddaeus's feet received a blessing by prayer and the laying on of his hands and was healed Many others also of the same City with them were cured by the Apostle who wrought wonderfull Miracles and Preached the Word of God After all this Agbarus spake thus We believe Thaddaeus whatever thou dost thou performest by the power of God and therefore we greatly admire thee But We pray thee moreover give us some farther account of the Advent of Jesus How and after what manner it was of his power also and by what virtue he wrought those mighty Works we have heard I shall now be silent replied Thaddaeus because I am sent to publish the Word of God But assemble all the men of thy City together to me to morrow and I will Preach the Word of God to them and will disperse the Word of life among them and expound the Advent of Jesus after what manner it was his Commission and for what reason his Father sent him the power of his Works the Mysteries he declared to the world by what power he wrought so great Miracles his new Preaching the slender and mean reputation he made himself of the despicableness of his outward man how he humbled himself even unto death how he lessened his Divinity how many and great things he suffered of the Jews how he was Crucified how he descended into Hell and rent asunder that Inclosure never before severed how he rose again and together with himself raised those from the dead who had layn buried many ages how he descended from heaven alone but ascended to his Father accompanied with a great multitude how with glory he is set down at the right hand of God his Father in Heaven and how he will come again with power and glory to judge both quick and dead Agbarus therefore commanded the men of his City to come together very early and hear Thaddaeus Preach After this he commanded that Gold and Silver should be given to Thaddaeus But he refused it saying how shall we who have left all that was our own take any thing that is anothers These things were done in the Three hundredth and fortieth year All this being translated word for word out of the Syriack Tongue and not unprofitable to be read we have thought good to set down opportunely in this place THE SECOND BOOK Of the Ecclesiastical History OF EUSEBIUS PAMPHILUS The PREFACE WHatsoever was necessary to be premised by way of Preface to Our Ecclesiastical History both concerning the Divinity of the comfortable Word the Antiquity of the points of our doctrine and Evangelical Politie and also moreover concerning the Manifestation our Saviour lately made of himself his Passion and the Election of the Apostles we have Treated of in the foregoing Book and briefly summed up the proofs thereof Now therefore in this we will diligently look into what followed upon his Ascension partly from what we find noted in Holy Writt and partly from other Records which we will mention in due place CHAP. I. Of those things which were instituted by the Apostles after the Ascension of Christ. FIRST of all therefore Matthias who as before hath been manifested was one of the Lords disciples by lot was elected into the Apostleship of the Traitour Judas Then seven approved men were by prayer and imposition of the Apostles hands Ordained Deacons for the publick Administration of the Churches affairs of which number Stephen was one who immediately after his Ordination as if he had been made Deacon onely for this was the first that after the Lord was slain by those very Jews that had been the Lords murtherers who stoned him to death And thus he being the first of the worthily victorious Martyrs of Christ gained a Crown answerable to his Name Then James also who was termed the brother of the Lord because he also was called the Son of Joseph for Joseph was the father of Christ to whom Mary being Espoused before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Ghost as the Sacred History of the Gospel doth declare This same James I say who for his eminent virtue the Antients surnamed the Just was as they relate the first that had the Episcopal seat of the Church at Jerusalem delivered to him So Clemens affirms in the sixth Book of his Institutions For he says That after our Saviours Ascension Peter James and John although our Lord had preferred them before the rest did not contend for the Dignity but chose James the Just Bishop of Jerusalem The same Author in the seventh Book of the same work says this farther of him The Lord after his Resurrection conferred the gift of Knowledge upon James the Just John and Peter which they delivered to the rest of the Apostles and those to the Seventy Disciples one of whom was Barnabas But there were two James's the one surnamed the Just who was cast head-long from the Battlement of the Temple and beaten to death with a Fullers Club the other was beheaded Paul makes mention of this James the Just writing thus Other of the Apostles saw I none save James the Lords brother At this time also all that our Saviour had promised to the King of the Osdroënians was fulfilled For Thomas moved thereto by Divine impulse sent Thaddaeus to Edessa to be a Preacher and Evangelist of the Doctrine of Christ as from a Record there found we have a little before manifested He when he was come thither did in the Name of Christ both cure Agbarus and also astonished all the Inhabitants of the country with the wonderfulness of his Miracles And when he had sufficiently prepared them with such Works and brought them to an adoration of Christs power he made them disciples of his wholesome Doctrine From that very time untill now the whole City of the Edessens has continued to be Consecrated to Christs Name enjoying no trivial evidences of our Saviour's graciousness towards them And these things are said as from the History of the old Records We will now return again to Holy Writ After the Martyrdom of Stephen when the first and sorest persecution of the Church at Jerusalem by the Jews arose all the disciples of Christ except the Twelve onely being scattered throughout Judea and Samaria some of them travelling as far as Phoenice and Cyprus and Antioch as Holy Scripture testifieth were not able to be so bold as to communicate the Word of Faith to the Gentiles but Preach't to the Jews onely At that time Paul also untill then made havock of the Church entring into every house of the faithfull haling men and women and committing them to prison Moreover Philip one of those who was ordained
CHAP. IV. How after the death of Tiberius Caius made Agrippa King over the Jews and punished Herod with perpetual Banishment BUt Tiberius having Reigned about two and twenty years died Caius succeeding him in the Empire presently gave Agrippa the Kingdom of Judea and made him King over the Tetrarchies both of Phillip and Lysanias Besides not long after he gave him Herods Tetrarchy also having condemned Herod to perpetual banishment being together with Herodias his Wife deservedly punished for divers enormities This was the Herod that was present at our Saviours Passion Josephus is a witness of these things also Moreover in this Emperours time Philo flourished a man highly esteemed of for his Learning by many not onely among us but also among forreigners He was indeed by Original extract an Hebrew inferiour to none of those that were illustrious in dignitie at Alexandria Moreover what and how great pains he bestowed about divine matters and in the learning of his own Nation it is to all evidently manifest Besides how excellent he was at Philosophy and Humane Learning it is needless to relate for he is said to have excelled all of his own time in the Platonick and Pythagorean Philosophy which he much affected CHAP. V. How Philo went on an Embassage to Caius upon the Jews Account MOreover this man comprized in five Books the calamities that befell the Jews in Caius his Reign wherein he sets forth both the madness of Caius Proclaiming himself to be god and also his insolent carriage in his Government in innumerable instances likewise the distresses the Jews underwent in his Reign and declares how himself went Embassadour to Rome upon the account of his Countrey-men that dwelt at Alexandria and how that reasoning before Caius for the Laws and customes of his own nation he obtained nothing besides laughter and reproaches and narrowly escaped the danger of being put to death Josephus mentions all this in his eighteenth Book of Antiquities writing thus much word for word Moreover there happening a sedition at Alexandria among the Jews that dwelt there and the Greeks three of each faction were sent Embassadours to Caius Now Apion was one of the Alexandrian's Embassadours who railed bitterly against the Jews laying many things to their charge and amongst the rest that they neglected to worship Caesar For when all the subjects of the Roman Empire built Temples and Altars to Caius and at all points worshipped him as they did their gods the Jews onely said he accounted it a vile thing to errect Statues to him and to swear by his name When Apion had urged these and many other vehement accusations against them whereby he hoped as it was likely to incense Caius Philo chief of the Jewish Embassy a man every way famous brother to Alexander Alabarchus and not unskilfull in Philosophie was able and ready with an Apologie to answer his Accusations But Caius forbad him commanding him to depart immediately from his presence And the Emperour was so highly incensed that none doubted but he would most severely punish the Jews But Philo being much reviled went out and as they say spake to the Jews that were about him to be of good courage for although Caius was angry with them yet he had now really rendred God his Adversarie Thus much Josephus relates And Philo himself in the account which he wrote of this his Embassy does exactly relate every particular thing that was then done Whereof omitting most part I will hereunto annex onely so much as shall make it evidently plain to the Readers that these miseries straightway without any delay befell the Jews upon account of their enormous impieties committed against Christ. First of all therefore he relates that in the Reign of Tiberius one Sejanus of the City of Rome a person who then could doe much with the Emperour did use his utmost indeavour to destroy that whole Nation and that in Judea Pilate in whose time that horrible wickedness was most audaciously committed against our Saviour attempting something about the Temple at Jerusalem which yet stood contrary to the customes and ordinances of the Jews raised vehement commotions among them CHAP. VI. How great miseries befell the Jews after their audacious wickedness committed against Christ. HE relates further how after the death of Tiberius Caius assuming the Government was every way sorely injurious towards many but above all he most heavily annoyed the whole Jewish Nation which in short we may understand from Philo's own words writing thus word for word So great therefore was the extravagancy and pride of Caius's carriage towards all but more especially towards the Jewish Nation which he bitterly hated and appropriated to himself all their Proseucha's in the rest of the Cities beginning with those at Alexandria filling them with his own Images and Statues For in that he suffered others to consecrate Statues to him he seemed in a manner to dedicate them to himself And he changed and transformed the Temple at Jerusalem which hitherto had remained undefiled and dignified with all the priviledges of a Sanctuary and made it into a Temple dedicated to himself causing it thence forward to be called the Temple of CAIUS JUNIOR JUPITER CONSPICUOUS Moreover the same Authour in his second Book which he intitled of Virtues relates innumerable other calamities such as are grievous beyond all expression that befell the Jews dwelling at Alexandriaâ— during the Government of the foresaid Caius To whom Josephus agrees who notes that those troubles with which the whole Jewish Nation was molested began even from the times of Pilate and from those enormous facts committed against our Saviour Let us therefore hear what he also declares in his second Book of the Jewish wars in these words saying Pilate being by Tiberius sent Procurator into Judea brought into Jerusalem by night the veiled Images of Caesar which are called his Statues As soon as it was day this raised a great commotion among the Jews For those who were near were astonished at the â—ight in that their Laws were violated and trampled on For they account it a detestable thing to place any graven image in the City These things if thou comparest with the Evangelical writing thou shalt understand that that voice they uttered before Pilate crying out they had no other King but Caesar was soon after revenged upon them The same Writer relates another following calamity inflicted on them by Divine vengeance in these words After this Pilate raised another commotion amongst them exhausting the stock of the sacred Treasury it is call'd the Corban in making a Conduit wherein the water that was to be brought was at three hundred furlongs distance For which there was great indignation amongst the populace And when Pilate was at Jerusalem they flockt about the judgment Seat and began to exclaim But he for he foresaw there would be a tumult amongst them mingled armed Souldiers clad like
concerning certain Problems such as are two Books Of Husbandry and as many of Drunkenness and some others having different and fit Titles Such is that Of the things which a sober mind prayeth for and which it detesteth and that Of the confusion of Languages and that Of flight and invention and that Of Assemblies upon account of obtaining Learning and concerning this subject Who is the Heir of Divine things or of division into parts equal and their contraries and also that Of the three Virtues which with others Moses wrote of Besides that Of them whose names are changed and for what reason they are changed in which Book he says he wrote Of Testaments the first and the second There is also another Book of his Of Removals in journey or shifting of places and of the life of a wise man perfected according to righteousness or Of unwritten Laws and also Of Giants and that God is immutable also That Dreams are sent from God according to the opinion of Moses five Books And thus many are the Books he wrote on Genesis which have come to our hands We have also known five Books of his of Questions and Solutions upon Exodus and also that of the Tabernacle and that of the Decalogue and those four Books of those Laws which in specie have reference to the chief heads of the Decalogue and that of those beasts fit for sacrifice and what be the kinds of sacrifices and that of the rewards and punishments propounded in the Law as well to the Good as to the Evil and of curses Besides all these there are extant of his particular Books as that Of Providence and a discourse compiled by him Of the Jews and of the man leading a Civil life also Alexander or That Brutes are endowed with Reason Besides of this That every wicked man is a slave to which follows in order this Book That every man studious of Virtue is free After these he compiled that Book Of contemplative life or of suppliants out of which we have cited those things concerning the lives of the Apostolical men Also The interpretations of the Hebrew names in the Law and in the Prophets are said to have been done by his diligence This Philo coming to Rome in the time of Caius wrote a Book of Caius's hatred of God which by way of Scoff and Ironie he entituled Of Virtues which Book it s said he rehearsed before the whole Roman Senate in the time of Claudius and the piece was so taking that his admirable works were thought worthy to be dedicated to the publick Libraries At the same time when Paul travelled from Jerusalem round about to Illyricum Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome At which time Aquila and Priscilla with other Jews departing from Rome arived in Asia where they conversed with Paul the Apostle then confirming the foundations of those Churches there newly laid by him Even the Holy book of the Acts teacheth us these things CHAP. XIX What a Calamity befell the Jews at Jerusalem on the very day of the Passover BUt Claudius yet ruling the Empire there happened to be so great a tumult and disturbance at Jerusalem on the feast of the Passover that there were thirty thousand Jews slain being those onely who by force were prest together about the gates of the Temple and troden under foot by one another So that that Festival was turned into mourning over the whole Nation and Lamentation throughout every family Thus much also Josephus relates almost word for word But Claudius made Agrippa the son of Agrippa King of the Jews having sent Felix Procuratour of the whole country of Samaria and Galilee and also of the Region beyond Jordan And when he had raigned thirteen years and eight months he dyed leaving Nero his successour in the Empire CHAP. XX. What was done at Jerusalem in the Reign of Nero. NOw in Nero's time Felix being Procuratour of Judea Josephus relateth in the twentieth Book of his Antiquities that there was again a Sedition of the Priests one against the other in these words There arose also a Sedition of the chief Priests against the Priests and the chief of the people of Jerusalem And each of them forming for themselves a company of most audacious fellows and such as indeavoured to make innovations behaved themselves as Captains and encountring they railed against each other and threw stones at one another There was no body to rebuke them but as in a City destitute of a Governour these things were licentiously done And so great impudence and presumptuous boldness possessed the chief Priests that they dared to send their servants to the threshing floors and take the Tythes due to the Priests Whence it came to pass that the poorest of the Priests were seen to perish for want of sustenance In such sort did the violence of the Seditious prevail over all justice and equity And again the same writer relates that at the same time there arose a sort of theeves in Jerusalem who in the day time as he says and in the very midst of the City killed those they met with but especially on the Festivals being mixt among the croud and hiding little daggers under their garments they stab'd the most eminent Personages and when they fell these murtherers would dissemble themselves to be of the number of those that grieved Whereby they were undiscovered because of the good opinion all men had of them And first he says Jonathan the High Priest was killed by them and after him many were slain daily and he says the fear was more grievous than the calamity in that every one as in war hourly expected death CHAP. XXI Of that Egyptian who is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles AFter these things Josephus adds having interposed some other words But the Egyptian false prophet annoyed the Jews with a greater mischief than these For he coming into the Country being a Magician and having gotten himself the repute of a Prophet gathered together about thirty thousand men such as he had seduced and leading them out of the wilderness to the mount called the mount of Olives prepared by force from thence to enter Jerusalem and having vanquished the Roman guards to seize the principality over the people resolving to make them his guard who together with him by violence entred the City But Felix prevented his attempt having met him with the Roman Souldiers and all the people joyned their assistance in repelling his injurious violence So that the Assault being made the Egyptian fled with a few and most of his party were slain and taken prisoners These matters Josephus relates in the second Book of his History and its worthy our observing together with what is here related of this Egyptian those things which are declared of him in the Acts of the Apostles There in the time of Felix it is said by the chief Captain at Jerusalem unto
stretching forth his hands called God to witness that it was not his fact To all this after the interposition of some words he adds saying I will not be afraid to declare what grief commands me to speak I think had the Romans been slack to destroy those flagitious wretches that either they would have been swallowed by the earth opening under them or that the City would have been drowned by an inundation or that like Sodom it would have been destroyed by lightning For it had brought forth a generation of men by far more abominably impious than those who had suffered such things By reason therefore of the desperate outragiousness of those men the whole body of the people was together with them destroyed And in his sixth Book he writes thus Of those who perished being destroyed by the famine throughout the City the multitude was innumerable the afflictions that befell them cannot be uttered For in every house where there appeared but the least shadow of provision there was fighting and such as were dearest friends strove one with the other snatching from one another the miserable provisions of their life Neither were those that dyed believed to expire for want of sustenance But the theeves searched those that gave up the ghost least any one having meat in his bosome should feign himself to die The theeves themselves empty and hollow for want of sustenance wandred and hunted up and down like mad dogs striking against the doors like drunken men and by reason of their stupified condition breaking into the very same houses twice or thrice in one hour Necessity made all things to be eaten and what was unfitting to be given to the most sordid irrational creatures they gathered up and endured to eat Therefore at the last they did not forbear to eat girdles and shooes and pluck't the leather from off their Bucklers and eat it The stumps of old hay were made food by some and others gathered the very stalks or small fibers of plants and sold the least weight of them for four Attick drachms But what need I speak of the sharpness and extremity of the famine as to the eating things without life For I will declare such a fact the like whereof is no where recorded either amongst the Grecians or Barbarians which may seem both horrid to be related and also incredible to be heard And indeed least I might seem to posterity to feign monstrous stories I could very willingly leave this sad accident unmentioned but that I have innumerable witnesses thereof to wit men that are cotemporary with me And besides I should doe my Country a very frigid and inconsiderable kindness should I goe about to conceal the rehearsal of what it really suffered A woman of the Region beyond Jordan by name Mary the daughter of Eleazar of the village Bathezar which word signifies The house of Hyssop for descent and wealth eminent flying with the rest of the multitude into Jerusalem was there together with them besieged All her goods which she had taken with her out of the region beyond Jordan and brought into the City the tyrants robbed her of The remains of what she had which was of greatest value and price and what ever provision of food she could any way procure the spearmen breaking in daily took from her A most vehement indignation moved the woman and oftentimes she reviled and cursed those ravenous pillagers and provoked them against her self But when none of them could be either instigated by anger or moved by compassion to kill her and she being grown weary of finding victuals for others and provision being now no where to be found the famine also having entred her very bowels and marrow and her anger being more exceedingly hot than the famine was sharp she took fury and necessity as her advisers and in a hostile manner invaded Nature it self And having snatched up her son for she had a sucking child Miserable Babe said she amidst these Wars Famine and Sedition for whom shall I preserve thee Amongst the Romans if they let us live we shall be slaves and the famine must precede that servitude but the Seditious are more mischievous than both those evils Be thou therefore my food a fiend to take revenge upon the Seditious and a story for men to talk of which is onely yet wanting to compleat the calamities of the Jews Having said this she kills her son then roasting him she eat half of him the remainder she kept covered The Seditious came immediately and having smelt the horrible savour threatned to kill her forthwith if she would not bring out to them what she had provided But she answering that she had reserved a good part for them uncovered the remains of her son Horrour and astonishment of mind suddenly seized them and they stood benummed as it were with amazement at the spectacle This said the woman is the son of mine own womb and this mine own fact Eat for I have eaten of him already be not you more effeminate than a woman or more compassionate than a mother But if you are religious and abhor this my sacrifice I have eaten the one half already and let the rest also remain with me After this they went out trembling abashed at this very one thing and with much adoe yielding to leave this food with the mother Immediately the whole City was filled with the noyse of this detestable fact and every one setting before his eyes this unnatural deed was horribly afraid and trembled as if it had been audaciously perpetrated in his own house And now all who were sorely pressed with the famine earnestly hastned to die and happy were they accounted who were taken away by death before they heard and saw so great calamities Such was the punishment the Jews underwent for their iniquity and impiety against the Christ of God CHAP. VII Of Christs predictions BUt it is worth while to adjoyn hereunto the most true prediction of our Saviour wherein he manifestly foretells these very things after this manner And â—o unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter neither on the sabbath-day for then shall be great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time no nor ever shall be But the same writer adding together the whole number of those that were destroyed says that by the famine and by the sword an hundred and ten Myriads perished And that the Seditious and the Theeves that were left discovering one another after the City was taken were put to death that the tallest and comeliest of the young men were reserved to adorn the Triumph that of the rest of the multitude such as were above seventeen years of age were sent bound to the Mines in Egypt and that very many were distributed through the Provinces to be destroyed in the publick Shews by the sword
having reigned something more than a year Trajan succeeded him It was his first year wherein Cerdo succeeded Avilius who had governed the Alexandrian Church thirteen years This Cerdo was the third from Annianus who first presided there At this time also Clemens yet governed the Roman Church he being also the third that after Paul and Peter had the Episcopal dignity there Linus being the first and after him Anencletus CHAP. XXII That Ignatius was the Second that presided over the Alexandrian Church MOreover Euodius having been constituted the first Bishop at Antioch the second was Ignatius a man famous in those times Simeon likewise was the second who after our Saviours brother at the same time entred upon the publick charge over the Church at Jerusalem CHAP. XXIII A Relation concerning John the Apostle AT the same time the Apostle and also Evangelist John the same whom Jesus loved remaining yet alive in Asia governed the Churches there being returned from his Exile in the Island after the death of Domitian For that he was hitherto alive it is sufficiently confirmed by two who evidence the matter and they are very worthy of credit having been constant assertours of Catholick sound Doctrine I mean these persons Irenaeus and Clemens Alexandrinus The former of whom in his second book against Heresie writes thus word for word And all the Elders that were conversant in Asia with John the disciple of our Lord do testifie that John delivered it to them for he continued among them untill Trajans time And in the third book of that work he manifests the same thing in these words Moreover the Church at Ephesus was founded indeed by Paul but John continuing among them untill Trajans time is a most faithfull witness of the Apostolick Tradition And Clemens likewise having evidently shown the time adds withall a Relation very necessary for those who delight to hear good and profitable things in that work of his which he entitled who that rich man is that shall be saved Let us therefore take his book and read the story which is thus Hear a Relation which is not a feigned story but a real truth delivered concerning John the Apostle and kept in remembrance For after the death of the Tyrant he returned from the Island Patmos to Ephesus and being thereto requested he went to the neighbouring Provinces in some places constituting Bishops in others setting in order whole Churches and other where electing into the Clergy some one or other of those who were made known to him by the Spirit Coming therefore to one of the Cities not far distant the name whereof some mention and moreover having refreshed the brethren at length casting his eyes upon a youth of a goodly stature of body comely countenance and lively disposition he lookt upon him whom he had Ordained Bishop and said This youth I doe with all imaginable care commit to thy charge in the presence of the Church and of Christ as a witness And when he had undertaken this charge and promised his utmost care thereof John declared and desired the same again And afterwards returned to Ephesus But the Presbyter taking home the youth committed to his custody educated him kept him within compass and cherished him and at length baptized him but after that he abated something of his great care and caution over him because he had fortified him with that most absolute defence to wit the Seal of the Lord. But having obtained his freedom a little too early some idle dissolute young men that were inured to all manner of vice keep him company and first of all they entice him with sumptuous Banquets then going out by night to rob and strip those they could meet with they carry him a long with them afterwards they desire him to be their complice in greater rogueries So by little and little he was accustomed to lewdness and because he was high spirited having once left the right way like a strong hard mouthed horse holding the bitt between his teeth he was so much the more fiercely hurried into destruction In fine despairing of the salvation of God he spent not his thoughts now upon any trifling designe but attempted some enormous wickedness in as much as he was wholly past all hope he scorned to run the hazard of so mean a punishment as other theeves did Taking therefore those his accomplices and having formed them into a Troop of theeves he was readily made their commander in chief being the fiercest the most bloudy and cruelest person of them all Sometime after and there happening some necessity for it they send again for John who after he had set in order those things upon account whereof he came said Come on Bishop restore us that which was committed to thy custody which I and Christ delivered to thee to take care of in the presence of the Church as witness over which thou dost preside But he at first was astonished supposing himself to be falsely accused about money which he had not received neither could he give credit to John concerning his demand of what he had not nor yet durst he disbelieve him But when John had said I demand the young man and the soul of our brother the old man fetching a deep sigh and also weeping said he is dead How and what kind of death To God said he he is dead for he proved wicked and extreamly naught and in conclusion a thief And now instead of continuing in the Church he hath taken possession of the mountain with a troop of associates like himself The Apostle therefore having rent his garment and with a great outâ—ry smiting his head I left said he an excellent keeper of our brothers soul But let an horse be presently brought me and let me have a guide to direct me in the way He rode as he was forthwith from the Church and coming to the place is taken by the watch which the Theeves had set he flyes not nor makes entreaty but calls out For this purpose I came bring me to your captain he in the mean time armed as he was stood still but as soon as he knew John approaching being ashamed he fled But he forgetfull of his Age with all possible speed pursued him crying out Son why doest thou flee from thy Father unarmed and aged Have compassion on me my son fear not as yet there is hopes of thy salvation I will intercede with Christ for thee if need require I will willingly undergoe death for thee as the Lord underwent it for us I will by way of recompence give my soul for thine stand still believe me Christ hath sent me He having heard this first stood still looking downward then he threw away his armour afterwards trembling he wept bitterly and embraced the approaching old man craving pardon as well as he could for crying and being as it were baptized the second time with tears onely he hid his right
Germanicus was most signally couragious who being corroborated by divine grace overcame that fear of bodily death implanted by nature on the mind of man For when the Proconsul desirous by perswasion to prevail upon him proposed to him his youthfullness and earnestly entreated him that being young and in the prime of his years he would have some compassion on himself he made no delay but readily and couragiously enticed the wild beast to devour himself and almost forced and stimulated it that he might the sooner be dismist out of this unrighteous and wicked life Immediately upon his glorious death the whole multitude greatly admiring the couragiousness of the divine Martyr and the fortitude of all the other Christians on a sudden began to cry out destroy the impious Let Polycarp be sought after Moreover there following a great tumult upon these clamours a man by name Quintus by extract a Phrygian lately come out thence seeing the wild beasts and the other tortures they threatned to make use of was daunted and disspirited and at length gave way to a desire of saving his life The contents of the foresaid Epistle doe manifest that this Quintus together with some others ran with too much rashness and without any religious consideration to the place of judicature but being forthwith apprehended he gave all men a signal example that none should be so audacious as to precipitate themselves into such dangers without a considerate and pious circumspection But thus far concerning these men Now the most admirable Polycarp when he first heard these things was not at all disturbed but continued to keep himself in a steadfast serene and unmoved temper of mind and resolved with himself to continue in the City But his friends and those who were about him beseeching and entreating him that he would withdraw himself he was prevailed with and went out of the City to a countrey-house not far distant therefrom where he abode with a small company spending the time day and night being intent upon nothing else in continued prayers to the Lord wherein he craved and made humble supplications and requests for the peace of all the Churches throughout the world For that was his constant and continual usage Moreover three days before his apprehension being at prayer in the night time and falling into a sleep he thought he saw the pillow whereon his head lay on a sudden consumed by a flame of fire Whereupon being awaked out of his sleep he forthwith expounded the vision to those who were then present and having little less than predicted what was in future to be he expresly declared to those that were about him that he should be burnt to death for the testimony of Christ. Further when those that sought for him used their utmost care and diligence to find him out he was again constrained through the love and affection of the brethren to remove as they say to another countrey house Whither his pursuers soon after came and catcht up two boys that were there by the one of which after they had scourged him they were conducted to the house where Polycarp lodged and coming in the evening they found him reposing himself in an upper room Whence he might easily have removed into another house but he would not saying The will of the Lord be done Moreover when he understood they were come as that Epistle relates he went down and with a very chearfull and most milde countenance talked with the men insomuch that they to whom Polycarp was before unknown thought they saw a wonder when they beheld his exceeding great age and his venerable and grave behaviour and they admired so much diligence should be used to apprehend such an old man But he making no delay presently ordered the table to be spread for them then he invites them to a sumptuous feast and requested of them one hours space which he might without disturbance spend in prayer when they permitted him that he arose and prayed being so full of the grace of the Lord that those who were present and heard him pray were struck with admiration and many of them altered their minds and were now very sorry that so venerable and divine an old man was forthwith to be put to death Afterwards the foresaid Epistle contains word for word this subsequent relation concerning him But after he had ended his prayer wherein he made mention of all persons who at any time had been conversant with him both small and great noble and obscure and also of the whole Catholick Church throughout the world the hour of his departure being now come they set him upon an Asse and brought him to the â—ity on the day of the great Sabbath Herod the Eirenarch and his father Nicetes met him who taking him up into their Chariot as they sate together endeavoured to perswade him and said For what harm is it to say these words Lord Caesar and to sacrifice and so to evade punishment He at first made them no answer but they continuing to be importunate with him he said I will never doe what you endeavour to induce me to They despairing of perswading him gave him opprobrious language and thrust him out of their Chariot so hastily that in his going down be very much bruised the fore part of his leg But he no more concerned than if he had suffered no harm went on chearfully and made hast being brought by a guard to the Stadium but there being so great a noise made in the Stadium that few could perfectly hear this voice came from heaven to Polycarp as he entred the Stadium Be couragious Polycarp and behave thy self valiantly no person indeed saw him that spoke but many of us Christians heard the voice When therefore he was brought before the Tribunal a great shout was made because the multitude heard Polycarp whas apprehended After that when he was come near him the Proconsul asked him whether he were Polycarp and when he had confessed he was the Proconsul endeavoured to perswade him to renounce Christ saying have a reverent regard to thine age and some other words agreeable hereto which 't is usual for them to speak swear by the fortune of Caesar change thy mind say destroy the impious But Polycarp beholding with a grave and severe countenance the multitude that was in the Stadium stretched forth his hand towards them and sighed and looking up towards heaven said destroy the impious When the Governour was urgent with him and said swear and I will release thee speak reproachfully of Christ Polycarp made answer I have served him these eighty and six years during all which time he never did me injury how then can I blaspheme my King who is my Saviour But when the Proconsul was again instant with him and said swear by the fortune of Caesar Polycarp said because you are so vain glorious as to be urgent with me to swear by the fortune of Caesar as
made a lamentable conclusion of their lives but others accomplished their combat after another manner One being forcibly thrust forward by others and constrained to approach their impure and most nefarious sacrifices was let goe as if he had sacrificed although he really did not Another when he had neither approacht the Altar nor toucht any thing that was execrable yet because others said he had sacrificed silently bore that calumny and went his way A third was taken up on their shoulders half dead and cast forth as if he had been really so a fourth lying upon the ground was drawn a great way by the feet and then accounted amongst them who had done sacrifice One cried out and with a loud voice attested that he denyed to sacrifice another exclaimed that he was a Christian adorning himself with the confession of that salutary appellation A third affirmed that he neither had nor ever would sacrifice But these being struck on the mouth by the Souldiers with their fists a great company of whom were placed there as a Guard filenced and beaten on the face and cheeks were by force thrust out So highly did these enemies of piety every way esteem their being thought to have perfected what they desired But these proceedings against the holy Martyrs did in no wise prove successful to them whose admirable courage should we undertake accurately to set forth what expressions would be sufficient to compose such a Narrative CHAP. IV. Concerning God's illustrious Martyrs how they fill'd the world with their fame having been adorned with divers crowns of Martyrdom for Religion FOr who should be able to make a relation of those infinite numbers of Martyrs who demonstrated an admirable alacrity of mind for the worship of the supream God not onely from that time the persecution was raised against all the Christians but long before when the times were calm and serene For some time since when the Devil who hath received power over this world was first rouzed as it were out of a profound sleep and as yet made his attempts against the Churches in a secret and occult manner after that interval which followed the perfecution under Decius and Valerian for he would not set upon us closely and with an open War but as yet made tryal onely of those who were engaged in the Milice for he supposed the rest would easily be vanquished could he first overcome them Then I say you might have seen very many of those who were Souldiers most willingly embracing a private life rather than they would renounce the worship of the Creator of all things For when the Roman General who he was it matters not first set upon persecuting the Christian Souldiers and began to take a strict view of and purge those that belonged to the army permitting them freely to choose whether by obeying they would enjoy that degree of honour they were arrived to or on the contrary be deprived of it if they refused to comply with the Emperours commands innumerable Souldiers of the Kingdom of Christ without all delay or hesitancy preferred their confession of him before the apparent glory and prosperity they were possest of Some few of which one or two procured not onely the loss of their preferment but death also for their pious and resolute stedfastness the framer of the conspiracy against our Religion being at that time moderate and presumed to proceed to shed the bloud but of very few the multitude of believers 't is likely terrified him and made him afraid as yet to enter into an open War against them all But when he prepared himself more manifestly for an engagement it is impossible to relate how many and eminent Martyrs of Christ were visible to the inhabitants of all Cities and Countries CHAP. V. Concerning what was done at Nicomedia IMmediately therefore upon the publishing of the Edict at Nicomedia against the Churches one who was no obscure person but eminently illustrious for secular honour and esteem moved with a divine zeal and incited by an ardent faith took down the Edict which was fixed up in the most open and publick place of the City and tore it as being impious and most detestable which he did whilest two of the Emperours made their abode in that City one of which was seniour to the rest and the other held the fourth place in the Empire But this person who was the first of the inhabitants of that City which appeared thus eminent and zealous having suffered such punishments as were thought meet to be inflicted on him for such a bold act persevered in an undisturbedness and tranquility of mind to his very last gasp CHAP. VI. Concerning those who were conversant in the Imperial Palaces BUt that time produced these divine and glorious Martyrs which excelled all that ever were celebrated as admirable and famous for their courage both among Grecians and Barbarians Dorotheus and the other boys that were of the Bed-chamber to the Emperours Who although they were accounted worthy of the highest station of honour by their masters and were no less beloved by them than if they had been their own sons yet they supposed the reproaches and tortures for Religion and those various sorts of deaths devised for them to be really of greater value than the glory and pleasure of this life We will here relate what an exit one of them made and leave the Readers to conjecture from him what befell the rest In the forementioned City one of them was publickly brought forth before the foresaid Emperours and commanded to sacrifice which when he refused to do 't was ordered he should be stript and hoisted up on high and that his whole body should be lacerated with stripes until he should yield though against his will to do what he was commanded but when he continued immoveable after his suffering such tortures as these they mixed salt and vinegar together and poured it his bones being now laid bare upon the putrified parts of his body When he had undergone these tortures also then fire and a gridiron was brought forth and the remains of his body were laid on and broiled like flesh dressed to be eaten not all at one time but by little and little that he might not end his life too soon neither were those persons who laid him on the fire permitted to leave him till after so great tortures he should give his consent to perform what he was commanded But having constantly persevered in his resolution and gotten the victory he expired under his very tortures Such was the Martyrdom of one of those boys who were of the Bed-chamber to the Emperours being truly worthy of his name for he was called Peter The Martyrdom of the rest although not at all inferiour to this yet shall be omitted least our discourse should be too tedious Thus much onely we will relate that Dorotheus and Gorgonius together with many others that were attendants at the
Imperial palace after various combats having finished their lives by being strangled obtained the rewards of a divine victory At the same time Anthimus the then Bishop of the Church of Nicomedia was beheaded for the testimony of Christ. With whom was joyned a great multitude of Martyrs For in those days by what accident I know not there happened a fire in the Imperial palace at Nicomedia Which being laid to our charge as the Authours thereof by a report grounded on a false suspicion all sorts of persons that were the worshippers of God in that City were destroyed by heaps some with the sword and others by fire At which time report says both men and women excited by a divine and unspeakable alacrity leapt into the fiery pile The executioners also having bound another great company in Boats cast them into the abysses of the Sea Moreover the bodies of those who were of the Bed-chamber to the Emperours having been interred with decent funeral obsequies they who were accounted their masters supposed it requisite to dig up again and cast them into the Sea least some as they thought should look upon them as Gods and worship them in after ages should they be let alone to rest in their graves Such were the exploits performed at Nicomedia in the beginning of the persecution But not long after when some attempted to possess themselves of the Empire in the region called Melitina and others in Syria an Imperial Edict arrived commanding that all the Governours of Churches every where should be bound and imprisoned The sight of what was done after that no expressions are sufficient to describe when infinite multitudes were every where committed to custody and the prisons in all places which in former times had been provided for murderers and robbers of the dead were then filled with Bishops Priests Deacons Readers and Exorcists insomuch that there was now no place left therein for those who had been condemned for their crimes Again when another Edict followed the former wherein it was commanded that those who were imprisoned if they would offer sacrifice should have their liberty to goe whither they pleased but if they refused should be cruciated with a thousand tortures the multitudes of martyrs in every Province cannot possibly be reckoned up especially those who suffered in Africa Mauritania Thebais and Egypt Out of Egypt some went into other Citys and Provinces and were there adorned with glorious Martyrdoms CHAP. VII Concerning those Egyptians who suffered in Phoenicia SOme of them we knew were famous for their Martyrdoms in Palestine and others in Tyre a City of Phoenicia Whom any one that had seen could not but have been astonished at their innumerable stripes at the courage and constancy of those truly admirable champions of piety in suffering them at their combat with wild beasts accustomed to devour the bloud of mankind which immediately followed their tortures with scourges at their encounters in that combat with Leopards huge wild bears fierce wild bores and bulls which were incited against them with fire and red hot iron and lastly at the admirable patience of those couragious Martyrs in enduring the Assaults of each of those wild beasts We our selves were present at the performance of these things when we saw the divine power of our Saviour Jesus Christ whom the Martyrs then bore witness of present and evidently manifesting it self to the Martyrs for those ravenous beasts for a long time dared not to touch or approach the bodies of these Martyrs beloved by God But they turned their fury upon others to wit those that were infidells who instigated and provoked them but the sacred champions onely who stood naked and by the motions of their hands irritated them against themselves for this they were enjoyned to do they did not so much as touch Sometimes indeed they assailed them but as it were by some divine power they were stopt and retired back again which hapning for a long time together gave occasion of no small admiration to the spectatours so that because the first beast performed not its assault a second and a third was let loose upon one and the same Martyr you would have admired the intrepid stedfastness of those sacred persons at the sight of all this and that firm and immoveable fortitude of mind which was in young and tender bodies for you might have seen a youth who had not yet compleated the twentieth year of his age standing still without being bound and having stretcht forth his hands in form of a Cross in an undisturbed and fearless temper of mind contending with the greatest earnestness in prayers to the divine Majesty in no wise receding or removing from the place he stood on when the Bears and the Leopards breathing forth rage and death almost toucht his very flesh with their jaws But their mouths were after what manner I know not bound fast as it were by a divine and unspeakable power and they ran backward again After such a manner as this did this person behave himself Again you might have seen others for they were in all five in number cast to an enrag'd Bull who tore some of the Infidels that approacht him tossing them into the air with his horns and leaving them to be taken up half dead But when he should have assailed the sacred Martyrs onely with rage and menaces he could not approach them but stamping on the ground with his feet tossing his horns this way and that way and breathing forth rage and menaces by reason of his being irritated with red hot irons he was notwithstanding drawn backward by the assistance of divine providence When therefore none of them was at all hurt by him they let loose other wild beasts upon them In fine after these various and horrid assaults of the wild beasts they were all killed with the sword and instead of being buried in the earth were committed to the surges of the Sea CHAP. VIII Concerning those who suffered in Egypt SUch was the combat of those Egyptians who gloriously fought for Religion at Tyre those Egyptians also may be deservedly accounted admirable who suffered Martyrdom in their own country Where infinite numbers of men together with women and children contemning this temporal life in respect of our Saviours doctrine underwent various sorts of death Some of whom after their flesh had been torn off with torturing irons after they had been rackt most cruelly scourged and undergone infinite other tortures of different sorts and horrible to be heard were committed to the fire others were drowned in the Sea Othersome chearfully offered their heads to be cut off by the Executioners some died under their tortures others were destroyed by famine Again others were crucified some of them according to the usual manner of crucifying malefactours but others after a more cruel manner being nailed to the Cross with their heads downwards and kept alive until they died by famine on the very
as to estate in the flower of their age beautifull in body chast of mind pious in their conversations admirable for their industry as if the earth were unable to bear so great an ornament were by the command of the worshippers of Demons cast into the Sea These things were done amongst those at Antioch But 't is horrid to hear the relation of what others suffered in Pontus some had sharp reeds thrust up the fingers of both their hands from the very tops of their nailes others had melted lâ—ad poured upon their backs even whilst the melted metall boiled which ran down and burnt the most necessary parts of their bodies again others without any commiseration endured obscene tortures which are unfit to be related in their privy members and bowels which those couragious and just judges invented with much earnestness and labour demonstrating thereby the acuteness of their wit as if the very power and strength of wisdom consisted in such cruell inventions and striving continually as if it had been for rewards in a combat to outdo one another in finding out new sorts of tortures These calamities therefore were not ended till such time as the Judges despairing of making any further addition to these miseries wearied with slaughters filled and satiated with the effusion of bloud betook themselves to the thoughts of clemency and humanity that in future they might seem to invent no further cruelty against us For it was unfit they said to pollute the Cities with the bloud of their inhabitants and to defame the government of the Emperours which was benign and gentle towards all persons by so superlative a cruelty but that rather it was fit that the humanity and beneficence of the Imperial authority should be extended to all persons and that the Christians should not any longer be punished with death in regard those of our Religion were exempted from such punishment by the indulgence of the Emperours At that time therefore command was given to pluck out the eyes of the Christians and that they should have one of their legs lamed For such was their civility towards us and this seemed to them the most gentle punishment that could be inflicted on us In so much that upon acount of this lenity used by these impious wretches towards us it is impossible to give in any further account of the multitudes which indeed are altogether innumerable both of them who had their right eyes first thrust out with a sword and after they had been thus prickt out their eye-holes were seared with a red-hot iron and also of those who had their left legs as far as the bending of their knees made useless by being seared with hot irons after which they were condemned to the brazen mines which were in the Province not so much for the service they could do as upon account of the affliction and misery they should endure there Besides all these there were many others who were assaulted with several sorts of combats which 't is not possible to give a catalogue of for their couragious exploits do surpass all relation Therefore the noble Martyrs of Christ having obtained great renown over the whole world in these combats did both deservedly amaze every where the spectatours of their courage and also exhibit in themselves manifest tokens of the truly divine and inexplicable power of our Saviour Indeed the mention of every particular person of them by name would be very tedious if not a thing impossible CHAP. XIII Concerning those Prelates of the Church who demonstrated the sincerity of the Religion they asserted by the effusion of their own bloud NOw of those Ecclesiastick Prelates who suffered Martyrdom in the most eminent Cities the first that must be commemorated in the monuments of the pious may be Anthimus a witness of Christs kingdom Bishop of Nicomedia who was beheaded in that City But of the Antiochian Martyrs we will mention Lucianus a Presbyter of that Church a person most eminent for sanctity throughout his whole life he at first made a declaration of the celestiall kingdom of Christ in words and by an Apologetick oration at Nicomedia in the presence of the Emperour and afterwards he asserted it in deeds and reall performances But the most eminent Martyrs in Phaenice which were most acceptable to God and Pastours of Christ's flock were Tyrannio Bishop of the Church at Tyre and Zenobius a Presbyter at Sidon also Silvanus Bishop of the Churches at Emisa This Prelate last named being together with some others cast as food to the wild-beasts at the very City of Emesa was received into the number of the Martyrs Both the other rendred the doctrine of the divine faith famous at Antioch by their most patient suffering of tortures untill their deaths Tyrannio the Bishop was drowned in the depths of the Sea and Zenobius a most incomparable Physitian died couragiously under the tortures which were applied to his sides Amongst the Martyrs of Palestine Silvanus Bishop of the Churches at Gaza was together with nine and thirty others beheaded at the mines of brass which are in Phaeno Also Peleus and Nilus Aegyptian Bishops together with some others were burnt to death at the same place Amongst which number we must in no wise omit the mention of Pamphilus the Presbyter the most admirable person in our age and the greatest ornament of the Church at Caesarea whose fortitude and couragious exploits we will declare at a fit and convenient opportunity Moreover of those who were perfected by a glorious Martyrdom at Alexandria throughout all Egypt and Thebais the first to be mentioned is Peter Bishop of Alexandria a most divine teacher of the Christian Religion also Faustus Dius and Ammonius perfect Martyrs of Christ who were his Presbyters Besides Phileas Hesychius Pachumius and Theodorus Bishops of Churches in Egypt Moreover there were many other eminent Martyrs who have an honourable mention among the Churches that are in those places and Countries But our design is not to commit to writing the conflicts of all those who suffered for the worship of God over the whole world nor yet to give in an accurate relation of every accident that befell them but of those rather who with their own eyes beheld what was done Moreover those conflicts our selves were present at we will commit to the knowledge of posterity in another work But in this present book I will annex to what has been declared a revocation of what had been practised against us and the accidents that happened from the very beginning of the persecution which will be most usefull to the Readers Therefore before the war was denounced against us during the time that the Emperours were friendly and peaceable towards us how great a felicity and plenty of all that is good the Roman Empire was dignified with what words can be sufficient to declare At which time those in whose hands the supream power was having compleated
the tenth and twentieth year of their Empire lead their lives in a firm and continued peace spending the time with festivities publick shews most splendid banquets and delights When their Empire was after this sort enlarged without any manner of impediment and daily augmented with an increase of greatness on a sudden they revoked the peace with us and raised a perfidious war against us The second year of this war was not compleated when a new and unexpected accident subverted the state of affairs almost throughout the whole Roman Empire For He that had the precedency amongst the foresaid Emperours having been visited by an unfortunate disease which drave him into a disordered and mad temper of mind betook himself to a private and Country life together with that Emperour who was the next in dignity to him These affaires were no sooner transacted after this manner but the whole Roman Empire was divided into two parts which as it has been recorded was an accident that never happened before Within some small interval of time the Emperour Constantius a person of extraordinary mildness throughout his whole life most favourable to his subjects and one that had a singular affection for the divine doctrine of our Religion ended his life according to the common sanction of nature leaving his own Son Constantine Emperour and Augustus in his stead And he was the first that was deified amongst the Romans being after his death vouchsafed all honours due to an Emperour He was the mildest and most benigne of all the Emperours and moreover the onely person of those Princes in our days that passed over the whole time of his government sutably to his Imperial Majesty he behaved himself with the greatest graciousness and candour imaginable towards all persons both in other matters and also was in no wise a confederate in the war raised against us but preserved those worshippers of God that lived under his government free from harm and injuries and having neither demolished the fabricks of the Churches nor attempted any other new design against us he obtained an honourable and thrice-happy conclusion of his life being the onely person of all the four Emperours that ended his life in his Imperial government fortunately and gloriously leaving his own Son a most prudent and pious Prince his successour Constantinus Son to this man being immediately from the very time of his fathers death proclaimed supream Emperour and Augustus by the Souldiers but long before that by the supream God exhibited himself an emulatour of his fathers piety towards our Religion Such a person was he afterwards Licinius by the common suffrage of the Emperours was declared Emperour and Augustus at which Maximinus was sorely displeased who untill that time had been honoured onely with the title of Caesar by all men He therefore being a person of a most tyrannical disposition by violence possest himself of that dignity and was by himself declared Augustus About that time Maximianus whom we before manifested to have re-assumed the Empire after his resignation of it being found to have contrived machinations in order to the death of Constantine ended his life by a most infamous death he being the first whose Monuments Statues and what ever else of that nature has been usually erected in honour of the Emperours were abolished upon account of his being a profane and most impious person CHAP. XIV Concerning the Morals of those that were the enemies of Religion MAxentius Son to this man who had possest himself of the government of Rome at first hypocritically pretended himself a professour of our faith that he might thereby please and flatter the people of Rome Upon this account he commanded his subjects to forbear persecuting the Christians making a shew of piety and being desirous to seem benign and much more mild than the former Governours But in his practises he manifested himself not to be such a manner of person as 't was hoped he would have proved But having applied himself to the commission of all sorts of impious facts he omitted no manner of action that was impure and libidinous He committed adulteries and rapes of all sorts He parted the husbands by divorce from their lawfull wives whom when he had by uncleanness abused he most dishonourably sent back again to their husbands Nor did he make it his business to be thus injurious towards obscure persons and those of mean quality but towards them especially who were advanced to the highest place of honour in the Senate of Rome insulting over the most eminent personages All persons therefore both the vulgar and the Magistrates as well the honourable as the obscure standing in great fear of him were sorely afflicted with his intollerable tyranny And although they were quiet and patiently bore the austere servitude they were opprest with yet none could so avoid the bloudy cruelty of the Tyrant For one time upon a very trivial pretence he delivered the people of Rome to be slain by his own guards And so innumerable multitudes of the Roman people not Scythians nor Barbarians but his own Citizens were killed with spears and all sorts of weapons in the midst of the City Moreover 't is impossible to enumerate how many slaughters were made of those that were Senatours to the end their estates might be seized infinite numbers of them being put to death at several times for various crimes framed against them At length as the complement of his impieties the Tyrant proceeded to exercise the delusions of Magick Art sometimes ripping up women great with child other whiles searching into the bowells of new-born infants he also killed Lyons and performed some other horrible rites to call forth the Daemons and repell the approaching war For he most undoubtedly presumed that by these performances he should obtain the victory Whilst this person therefore tyrannized at Rome 't is impossible to relate what mischievous acts he perpetrated and how miserably he enslaved his Subjects insomuch that they were reduced to such extream penury and want of necessary sustenance as 't is recorded by those of our times never happened at Rome nor any where else But Maximinus the Tyrant in the Eastern parts having secretly made a league with Maxentius the Tyrant at Rome as being his brother in wickedness endeavoured to keep himself concealed for a long time But being at last detected he suffered condign punishment It was wonderfull to observe how near a relation and brother-like affinity in wickedness this man exprest towards the Tyrant at Rome or rather how far he exceeded and surpassed him in the perpetration of nefarious facts For Inchanters and Magicians were by him promoted to the chiefest places of honour he was exceeding timorous and superstitious and a mighty favourer of the impostures about Idols and Daemons without divinations and responses of Oracles he presumed not to move any thing a nails breadth as the saying is Upon which account he
imposed a more cruel and sharper persecution upon us than the former Emperours had done commanding that Temples to the Gods should be erected in every City and that those places dedicated to their worship which by length of time were decayed should with all diligence be repaired He constituted priests for the Idols in every place and City and over them he appointed a chief Priest of every Province any one of those who had most worthily discharged all the publick Offices in the Court or Senate of the City and appointed him a military guard consisting of a set number of troops In fine he freely bestowed the Governments of Provinces and chiefest places of preheminence on all those that were impudent Soothsayers as being Religious persons and most acceptable to the Gods After this he proceeded to vex and oppress not one City onely or Country but all the Provinces in general that were under his government with exactions of Gold Silver and vast sums of money with most burthensome imposts and with various sorts of forfeitures succeeding one another Moreover depriving the rich of their estates laid up for them by their Ancestours he bestowed a vast treasure and heaps of money on those about him that were his flatterers Besides he was given to ebriety and drunkenness in such an high degree that in his cups he would rave and be out of his wits and in his drunkenness he would command such things to be done as the next day when sober he would repent of In sottishness and luxury no man was his equal exhibiting himself the master of debauchery both to his Princes and to his inferiour Subjects He permitted his Souldiers to live effeminate lives in all manner of deliciousness and intemperance but he perswaded his Presidents and chief Commanders who in a manner were his Colleagues in his Tyranny to break forth into extortion and covetousness towards those under their jurisdiction What need we relate those libidinous courses in which this man indulged himself or recount their multitudes which he vitiated by adultery For he passed through no City in his journey without committing whoredome with women and ravishing of virgins Moreover these his practises succeeded according to his desire against all persons the Christians onely excepted who having contemned death despised that his outragious Tyranny For the men having endured the fire the sword the being fastned to wooden engines with nails the wild beasts the being drowned in the depths of the Sea the cutting off their members the â—earings with hot irons the pricking and digging out of their eyes and the being maimed all over their bodies and besides all this famine the mines and bonds would rather demonstrate their patient sufferance under all these tortures for religion than they would forsake the adoration of God and worship Idols Again the women were not less corroborated by the doctrine of the divine word than the men some of whom underwent the same combats with the men and obtained rewards of their fortitude equal to them others haled away to be ravâ—shed were more ready to part with their lives than expose their bodies to be defiled Indeed one onely Christian woman the most emiâ—ent and famous of the Alexandrian women when the others had been vitiated by the Tyrant vanquished the dissolute and incontinent mind of Maximinus by her most valiant courage of mind She was a woman eminent for riches descent and learning but she preferred chastity before all these When the Tyrant had often solicited this woman to commit adultery with him he was indeed unable to kill her who was prepared to die because his lust was master of his cruelty but he punished her with exile and deprived her of her whole estate Infinite other women being unable to endure the hearing of the menaces of ravishment which the Governours of Provinces threatned them with underwent all sorts of tortures torments and capital punishments But the most admirable person above all these was that woman at Rome the most noble and truly chastest woman of all those whom Maxentius the Tyrant there whose practises were like Maximinus's attempted to vitiate For as soon as she understood that the Ministers which the Tyrant made use of for the performance of such villanies had assaulted her house now she also was a Christian and that her husband who was Prefect of the City at Rome had by reason of his fear permitted them to take her and carry her away with them having requested that a short time might be allowed her as if she would have adorned her body she went into her Chamber and being alone sheathed a sword in her own breast Expiring immediately hereupon she left indeed her Coâ—ps to those that came to conduct her to the Tyrant but by this act of hers which resounds more than any voice she has manifested to all men that now are and shall be in future ages that the courage of the Christians is the onely thing that is inexpugnable and which cannot be extirpated by death Such indeed and so great was the fertility of wickedness produced at one and the same time the authours of which were two Tyrants who had divided the East and West between themselves And now what man is he that making his researches into the cause of these so great calamities will be dubious in affirming the persecution raised against us to have been the originall of all these miseries Especially when he considers that these mighty disturbances in the Empire were not terminated before the Christians had the free and open profession of their Religion restored to them CHAP. XV. Concerning what happened to the Gentiles INdeed throughout the whole ten years space of the persecution there was no intermission of mutual conspiracies and intestine wars amongst them the Sea was impassible to those that made voyages over it Neither could any persons arrive at any Haven whatsoever â—ut they must induâ—e all sorts of scourges be tormented have their sides torn with nails and be interrogated by their undergoing all sorts of tortures whether they came from the Enemies Country and at last they underwent the punishment of crucifixion or were burnt to death Furthermore they provided shields breast-plates darts speares and other such like military instruments Also galleys and weapons for a Sea-fight were every where prepared Neither did any person expect any thing else but an incursion of the enemy After all these calamities followed a famine and a pestilence of which we will give a relation at an opportune place and time CHAP. XVI Concerning the change of affaires to a better posture SUch were the preparations during the whole time of the persecution which by the grace of God wholly ceased in the tenth year beginning to be somewhat remiss after the eighth year For after the divine and celestial grace demonstrated it self in a benigne and propitious inspection over us then the Governours in our times even those very Princes
sides and breasts should be furrowed to her very bones after this breath being still left in her having with a pleasant and chearfull countenance undergone all these tortures by the Presidents command she was drowned in the Sea After he had done with her he went upon the examination of the other Confessours all whom he condemned to the Brazen Mines at Phenos in Palestine Furthermore on the fifth day of the month Dius that is according to the Roman account on the Nones of November in the same City to wit Caesarea the said President condemned Silvanus who then was a Presbyter and a Confessor but some small time after was honoured with a Bishoprick and happened to finish his life by Martyrdom and some others that were his companions after they had given demonstration of a most resolute courage and constancy in behalf of Religion to labour in the same mines of Brass having first given order that the flexures of their feet should be seared with a red hot iron and so rendred infirm and useless At the same time that this sentence was pronounced against them he condemned Domninus a man very famous for innumerable other confessions who for his singular freedom in speaking was much taken notice of by all persons throughout Palestine to be burnt alive After he had been thus punished the same Judge a crafty inventour of mischief and one that studied new devices and designes to extirpate the doctrine of Christ found out such sorts of punishments for the worshippers of God as were never heard of before He condemned three and compelled them to fight with one another in such a sort as the Champions usually did Auxentius a venerable and holy old man was by him condemned to be devoured by the wild beasts Again he gave order that some who were arrived to the compleat age and stature of men should be cut and made Eunuchs and then condemned them to the same Mines He shut up others in Prison after they had undergone the sharpest tortures Amongst which number was Pamphilus my dearest companion a person that was the most eminent of all the Martyrs in our age for his singular virtue and piety Urbanus first made tryall of his skill in Rhetorick and Philosophick literature after that he compelled him to offer sacrifice which when the Martyr refused to do and Urbanus perceived that he despised his menaces he was exceedingly exasperated and gave order that he should be tormented with the acutest sorts of torture Moreover this most enraged man being in a manner satiated with the flesh of the Martyrs sides which he had caused to be torn off with torturing irons whereof he made a continued and reiterated use pertinaciously desiring thereby to get the victory over the Martyr having after all these tortures procured nothing but shame and ignominy for himself at length ordered him to be cast into Prison amongst the other Confessours therein confined But what sort of punishment this person who after so fierce a manner insulted over the Martyrs of Christ was to expect would be inflicted on him at the divine Tribunal for his cruelty towards the Saints is easily known from those beginnings thereof which he underwent in this life Immediately after those audacious cruelties which he had practised towards Pamphilus the divine vengeance forthwith seized him whilst he was as yet possest of the Government Which on a sudden in one nights space stript him who but the day before sate as Judge upon a lofty Tribunal was attended with a Military Guard governed the whole Province of Palestine who also was companion to the Tyrant himself for he was his chief favourite and did usually eat at the same table with him of all these great places and preferments and reduced him to a disconsolate and helpless condition clouded him with ignominy and shame in the sight of those very persons who had formerly admired him as their Governour proposed him to the whole Nation over which he had been Ruler as a miserable and dis-spirited wretch pouring forth effeminate intreaties and supplications and lastly constituted Maximinus himself of whose favour he had in former times bragged and boasted having been dearly beloved by him by reason of the cruelties he practised towards us Christians his inexorable and most severe Judge in the very City of Caesarea For after many reproaches which he suffered upon account of those crimes of which he was convict the Emperour himself pronounc't sentence of death against him But thus much we have said by the by There may happen a seasonable opportunity wherein we shall be more at leisure to relate the exits and calamitous deaths by which those impious wretches especially Maximinus and those about him who were his advisers that were the greatest sticklers in the Persecution against 〈◊〉 finished their lives CHAP. VIII Concerning other Confessours and concerning the Martyrdom of Valentina and Paul WHen the storm of persecution had now without any intermission raged against us untill the sixth year there was a very great number that were Confessours of the divine Religion who heretofore had lived in Thebaïs at Porphyrites a place that had its appellation from the name of the Marble dug out there of which company an hundred men wanting three together with their wives and very small children were sent to the President of Palestine Concerning all which persons after they had made their confession of God the Framer of all things and of Christ Firmilianus the President who was sent thither as successour to Urbanus gave order agreeable to the Emperours command that they should have those very sinews of their left legs by which they bent their knees â—eared in two with red-hot-irons and that their right eyes together with the membranes and balls thereof should be first cut out with swords and after that their eye-holes â—eared even to the very bottome with red-hot-irons After which he ordered they should be sent to work in the Mines that were in the Province that they might be worn out there with labours and miseries Nor did we behold these persons only undergoing such punishments but those Palestinians also who as we manifested a little before were condemned to practise the Champions exercises in order to their being made fit to engage in the Gladiatours Combats because they would not endure either to receive those Provisions which were allowed them out of the Imperial treasury or to practise such exercises as were necessary to render them accomplish't Combatants For which reason they were brought not only before the Procuratours but Maximinus himself and having given a demonstration of their invincible constancy in the confession of Christ and of their couragiousness in enduring famine and scourges they suffered the same punishments with the forementioned persons some other Confessours in the City of Caesarea being added to their number Soon after these others were taken at the City Gaza who were Assembled to hear the sacred Scriptures read
body of a man but either stones or wood or some such senseless thing should without any intermission be torn even to his very bones and inmost recesses of his bowells Which being performed for a long time together the Judge perceived his attempts were vain for although his body was mangled all over with the tortures yet he continued silent and was as insensible of pain as if he had in a manner been lifeless Nevertheless the Judge still persevering in his merciless and inhumane cruelty immediately condemned him to be burnt in the same habit he was in by a slow fire And thus this person although he was the last that entred the combat yet prevented his master after the flesh in that he obtained his departure out of this life before him those who were busied about vanquishing the former Martyrs hitherto making some delays You might therefore have seen Prophyrius for that was his name in quality like a valorous champion who had been conquerour in all manner of exercises belonging to the Sacred games proceeding forth to his death after he had suffered so great tortures with a body covered all over with dust but with a chearful countenance and a mind full of joy and confidence he was most truly filled with the divine spirit and being clad in a Philosophick habit having only a garment wrapt about him in fashion like unto a n cloak with a calm and sedate mind he gave commands to those of his acquaintance and dispatcht whatever he had a mind to do retaining the serenity of his countenance even when he was at the very stake Moreover when the pile which lay at a sufficient distance was kindled round about him with his mouth he attracted the flame on every side of him and after this one expression which he uttered when the flame began to touch him to wit invoaking Jesus the Son of God to be his helper he most couragiously continued silent even to the very last gasp Such was Porphyrius's combat whose consummation Seleucus a Confessour that had formerly been a Souldier having related to Pamphilus as being the conveyer of such a message he was immediately vouchsafed to be joyned in the same lot with the Martyrs For he had no sooner related Porphyrius's death and saluted one of the Martyrs with a kiss but some of the Souldiers seize him and carry him before the President Who as if he resolved to hasten Seleucus that he might be Prophyrius's companion in his journey to heaven forthwith ordered he should undergo a capital punishment This Seleucus was born in Cappadocia but had attained no mean degree of honour amongst the choisest young men that belonged to the Roman Milice For he far excelled his fellow Souldiers in the fitness of his age for Military services in strength and stature of body and in valour in so much that his aspect was much discourst of amongst all men and the shape of his whole body greatly admired upon account both of his stature and comeliness About the beginning of the persecution he was eminently famous for his enduring stripes in the combat of confession but after he had left off his Military course of life he became a zealous emulatour of those that were Ascetae in their studies and exercises of piety and like a father and a patron demonstrated himself to be an Overseer as it were and an helper of desolate orphans and widows that were destitute of assistance and of those that were reduced to poverty and sickness Wherefore by God who is more delighted with such performances as these than with the smoak and bloud of sacrifices he was deservedly accounted worthy of that admirable and high calling to wit Martyrdom This was the tenth Champion who after the others before mentioned ended his life on the very same day whereon as it is probable the great gate of heaven was opened by the Martyrdom of Pamphilus sutable to the worth of that person which gave both him and his companions an easie entrance into the Celestial Kingdom Also Theodulus a venerable and pious old man belonging to the Presidents own family for whom Firmilianus had a greater esteem than for all his other domesticks partly upon account of his age having seen his children to the third generation and partly in respect of the singular affection and conscionable fidelity which he had continually retained towards him having followed Seleucus's steps and performed the same things that he did was brought before his master against whom he was more exasperated than against any of the former Martyrs and being forthwith put upon a Cross he underwent the same sort of Martyrdom our Saviour suffered Moreover one being yet wanting who might render the number of the foresaid Martyrs compleatly twelve Julianus intervened to make up their number At that very interim he was coming from a remote Country and had not entred the City but being informed of the slaughter of the Martyrs ran immediately in the same habit he had on out of the road to see that spectacle When he saw the dead bodies of those holy persons lying upon the ground being filled with an extraordinary joy he embraced every one of them and kissed them all Whilst he was doing this the Souldiers that were the instruments to commit those murders apprehend him and bring him to Firmilianus He doing herein what was agreeable to his usual cruelty ordered that this person also should be consumed by a slow fire Thus was Julianus also accounted worthy to receive the crown of Martyrdom leaping for joy and being exceeding glad and with a loud voice giving great thanks to the Lord who had vouchsafed him so great an honour This Julianus was by country a Cappadocian as to his morals he was eminently pious and circumspect and famous for his most genuine and sincere faith he was very active and diligent in all things being inspired by the holy Ghost Such was the file of Martyrs who were vouchsafed to arrive at Martyrdom in company with Pamphilus The holy and truly sacred bodies of these persons were by the impious Presidents order watched for the space of four days and as many nights and exposed to be devoured by beasts that prey on flesh But when as it miraculously happened no wild beast or fowl or dog approached them during that time at last divine providence so ordering the matter they were taken away whole and untorn and having been allowed such funeral rites as befitted them received the usual interment Whilst the discourse concerning the Presidents surious rage against these persons was yet rise in all mens mouthes Adrianus and Eubulus arriving from that Country called Manganaea at Caesarea to give a visit to the rest of the Confessours were examined also at the gate of the City for what reason they came thither And having confessed the truth they were brought before Firmilianus he as he had usually done before was in no wise dilatory in his proceedings towards them also but
Atheists and irreligious persons even these men are now acknowledged by this very Tyrant to profess Religion and are permitted to rebuild their Oratories nay further the Tyrant himself does acknowledge and attest that they ought to be partakers of some Rights and Priviledges Moreover when he made this publick acknowledgment as if he had hereby obtained some favour for this very reason his sufferings were less calamitous than he deserved they should be for being smitten by God with a sudden stroak he died in the second Engagement that happened in that War But he ended his life not like those Martial Generals who after they had often demeaned themselves gallantly in the field in defence of their honour and their friends happened couragiously to undergo a glorious death But he like an impious person and a Rebel against his Creatour whilst his Army stood in the field drawn up in Battalia staying at home and hiding himself suffered a condign punishment being smitten by God with a sudden blow over his body For being tortured with grievous and most acute paines he fell upon his face on the ground and was destroyed by want of food all his flesh being melted away by an invisible fire sent upon him from heaven In so much that when his flesh was wholly wâ—sted away the entire shape and figure of his former beauty quite disappeared his parched bones which lookt like a skeleton that had been long dried being all that was left of him So that those about him judged his body to be nothing else but the grave of his soul buried in a body already dead and wholly putrified And when the violent heat of his distemper scorched him with a greater vehemency even to the very marrow of his bones his eyes leaped out of his head and having deserted their proper station left him blind After all this he yet drew his breath and having given thanks and made his Confession to the Lord he called for Death At last acknowledging these his sufferings due for his contempt and presumption against Christ he gave up the Ghost CHAP. XI Concerning the final Destruction of the Enemies of Religion MAximin therefore being thus taken out of the world who was the only Enemy of Religion that hitherto surviv'd and declared himself the worst of them all the Churches by the grace of God Almighty were rebuilt and raised from the very foundation and the Gospel of Christ darting forth its beams of light to the great glory of the all-ruling Deity enjoyed greater liberty than it formerly had But the wicked and the Enemies of Religion were clouded with the highest disgrace and greatest shame immaginable For first of all Maximin himself was proclaimed by the Emperours a publick Enemy and was termed in the publick Edicts which were fixed upon Pillars a most impious detestable Tyrant superlatively odious to God Also the Pictures which were placed in every City in honour of him and his children were some of them broke in pieces and thrown down from on high to the very ground and others were defaced having their visages blackned with dark colours In like manner all the Statues which had been erected in honour of him were also thrown down broken in pieces and exposed as subjects of derision and scorn to all those that would abuse and insult over them After this the other Enemies of Religion were divested of all their dignities Moreover all Maximin's party more especially those whom he had preferred to places of the greatest power in the Provinces within his Empire who to flatter him had been insolently abusive towards our Religion were put to death One of this number was Picentius a person that was a great favourite of his highly esteemed by him and his dearest intimado whom he created Consul a second and a third time and also made him Prefect and Rationalist Another was one Culcianus who had born all Offices of dignity in the Magistracy and in the Government of Provinces he also was famous for his innumerable Massacres of the Christians in Aegypt There were a great many more beside these by whose endeavours most especially the barbarous Tyranny of Maximin was maintained and extended Further Divine vengeance required justice to be executed upon Theotecnus being in no wise forgetful of his practises against the Christians For he was look's upon as a deserving and successful person upon account of his consecration of the Image at Antioch and besides the Emperour Maximin conferred on him the Presidency of a Province But when Licinius came to Antioch and was resolved to make inquisition for the Impostours amongst others he tortured the Priests and Prophets of the New contrived Image enquiring of them how they palliated and put a mask upon their Imposture when they could no longer conceal the truth being by their tortures compelled to disclose it they declared that the imposture of the whole Mystery was compos'd by the cunning of Theotecnus when therefore Licinius had inflicted condign punishment on them all he gave order that Theotecnus himself should first be executed and afterwards the rest of his Associates that were conscious to and accomplices in the Cheat having first suffered innumerable tortures To all these were added Maximin's Sons whom he had now made Colleagues with himself in the Empire and partakers of the Pictures and Inscriptions dedicated to his honour In fine all the Tyrants relations who but just before had made their proud boasts and insolently exercised authority over all men most ignominiously underwent the same sufferings with those persons forementioned for they received not instruction nor did they know or understand this seasonable admonition uttered in the holy Scriptures O put not your trust in Princes nor in the children of men for there is no health in them The breath of man shall go forth and he shall return again to his earth in that day shall all their thoughts perish Thus therefore the impious being like filth wiped away from off the earth the Empire which by right belonged only to Constantine and Licinius continued firm and unobnoxious to Envy These persons after they had first of all cleansed the world from all impiety being sensible of those great benefits they had received from God did sufficiently demonstrate their love of vertue and of the Deity their piety and gratitude towards God by the Laws they made in favour of the Christians The End of the Ninth Book of the Ecclesiastical History THE TENTH BOOK OF THE Ecclesiastical History OF EUSEBIUS PAMPHILUS CHAP. I. Concerning the Peace which was procured by God for us THerefore glory be to God the Almighty and supream King for all things and manifold thanks to the Saviour and Redeemer of our souls Jesus Christ through whom we pray that we may have always preserved to us a firm and inviolable peace both from outward troubles and also from all internal molestations of mind Having by the assistance of your prayers added this tenth book
mildness and clemency implanted by nature to which Law also there was a penalty annexed that they who shewed compassion upon the criminals should suffer the like afflictions with those towards whom they shew'd mercy and that such as charitably ministered to those in bonds and confined to prison should suffer the same punishment with them Such were Licinius's Ordinances What need we reckon up his innovations concerning marriages or his new laws about dying persons whereby he presumptuously abrogated the ancient good and wisely established Roman Laws and instead of them introduced certain barbarous and inhumane ordinances truly unjust and illegal he also invented several sorts of Taxes to the great oppression of the Subjects of his Provinces and all sorts of exactions of Gold and Silver surveying of lands and that cursed way of getting lucre from Countrey men which were not alive but long since dead Besides these things why should we reckon up the proscriptions of innocent men which he the Enemy of mankind was the Inventer of and the Imprisonments of men nobly descended and of an honourable repute Whose youthfull wives he forced from them by violence and delivered them to some of his impure slaves that they might be most injuriously vitiated What need we number the married Women Virgins and Maids whom in his decrepid age he abus'd to the fulfilling of his own soul's insatiable lust What need is there I say of enlarging upon these things whenas the exorbitant grosness of his last actions evinceth his first to be trivial and almost nothing In fine he arrived to such an heighth of madness that he made an attempt upon the Bishops and looking upon them in regard they were the servants of Almighty God to be enemies to his practises but daring not as yet to use open violence fearing his superiour he privily and craftily plotted against them and by the treacheries of his Presidents destroyed the eminentest of them The manner how he murthered them is strange and such as was never before heard of But his Actions at Amasia and the rest of the Cities of Pontus do far exceed the most superlative cruelty Where some of Gods Churches were again thrown down from their vast height to the very ground and others were shut up least any of those that did usually frequent them should meet there and render a due worship to God For he did not suppose that prayers were offered up for him being perswaded to entertain such thoughts as these by a consciousness of his own impieties But he was of opinion that all we did was in behalf of the Pious Emperour and to render God favourable to him Upon which account he resolved to assail us with his utmost rage Therefore those Presidents that were his flatterers being fully perswaded that this would be grateful to the Tyrant inflicted the same punishment upon some Bishops that they usually imposed upon Malefactours So that harmless and innocent men were haled away and without the least pretext punished like murtherers But others of them underwent a new kind of death having their bodies cut with a sword as Butchers do meat into a great many pieces and after this barbarous and most horrid spectacle they were thrown into the depths of the Sea to be made food for the fishes After this therefore the worshippers of God betook themselves to flight and the Fields the Deserts the Woods and Mountains were the receptacles of Christ's servants When the impious Tyrant had succeeded thus prosperously in these his attempts he afterwards entertained some thoughts of raising a general Persecution against all the Christians And he had undoubtedly been master of his desire nor could there have been any obstacle to hinder him from effecting of it had not God the Protectour of his own servants that he might prevent what would immediately have ensued caused Constantine his servant suddenly to appear as a Saviour and a great Light to all that were in a thick darkness and an obscure night conducting him with a mighty Arm into these parts CHAP. IX Concerning Constantin's Victory and concerning the prosperity procured by him to all those that live under the power of the Romans ON this man therefore did God from above bestow Trophies of Victory over the ungodly as being the worthy fruits of his piety But the impious Tyrant together with all his Counsellours and friends he laid prostrate on their faces before the feet of Constantine For when he was arrived at the highest degree of Madness the pious Emperour supposing he was not to be longer born with entring into a prudent and sober consideration with himself and having tempered the severity of Justice with his own natural clemency resolves upon succouring of those that were oppressed by the Tyrant and prepares to save a great part of mankind by cutting off and removing out of the way a few Pestilent and destructive persons For having before this made use of clemency only and shewing pity on him who deserved no compassion he did not profit him at all for he desisted not from the practise of his pristine impieties but rather increased his fury against the Subjects of his own Provinces There was no hope of deliverance now remaining to those that were oppressed and afflicted by this cruel Beast Wherefore Constantine the Protector of all good men having tempered his hatred of impiety with his love of virtue together with his Son Crispus a most mild and courteous Caesar marches forwards upon this expedition reaching out a helping hand to all that were in distress Both the Father therefore and the Son having for their Captain and Assistant the supream King and the Son of God the Saviour of all men divided the Armie so as on every side to encompass God's Enemies and got an easie Victory all things in that action having been rendred facil and successfully expedited for them by God according to their wish Immediately therefore even in the twinkling of an eye they who yesterday and the day before breathed forth Death and menaces became wholly extinct the remembrance even of their very names not in the least surviving them Their pictures also and other monuments dedicated to their honour received the deserved spots of ignominy and the same disgrace which Licinius had with his own eyes beheld the impious Tyrants heretofore involved in even he himself in like manner suffered For he himself received not instruction nor was he amended by his Neighbours stripes but walking on in the same path of wickedness with them deservedly wandred into the same precipice they did Thus was this person smitten and prostrated But Constantine the mighty Conquerour gloriously adorned with all the vertues of Religion together with his Son Crispus a Prince highly beloved of God and in all things like his Father recovered his own East and reunited the Roman Empire into one entire body as it heretofore was subjecting under their Peace the whole
Whenas therefore three hundred Bishops and upwards admirable both for their moderation and acuteness of understanding had unanimously confirmed one and the same Faith which according to the verity and accurate disquisition of the Divine Law can only be the Faith Arius vanquished by a diabolical force was found to be the only person who with an impious mind disseminated this mischief first amongst you and afterwards amongst others Let us therefore embrace that Opinion which Almighty God hath delivered Let us return to our beloved brethren from whom this impudent servant of the Devil hath separated us Let us with all diligence imaginable hasten to the common body and to our own natural members For this doth well become your prudence Faith and Sanctity that since his Error who has been evidently prov'd to be an Enemy of the Truth is confuted you should return to the Divine Grace For that which was approv'd of by three hundred Bishops can be judged nothing else but the determination of God especially since the holy Ghost residing in the minds of such great and worthy personages hath disclosed to them the will of God Wherefore let none of you continue dubious let none of you make delays but do you all with great alacrity return to the right way that when we come to you which shall be as soon as possible we may together with you return due thanks to God who inspects all things because having revealed the pure Faith he hath restored you that mutual love which was the subject of all mens prayers God preserve you beloved Brethren Thus wrote the Emperour to the people of Alexandria demonstrating to them that the determination of the Faith was not imprudently or unadvisedly made but that it was dictated with a great deal of disquisition and diligent examination nor does he say that some things were spoken in that Council and others passed over in silence but that all that was fitting to be said in confirmation of the opinion was produced and urged and that the controversie was not inconsiderately determined but was with great accuracy first discussed In so much that all things whatever which seemed to produce matter of ambiguity or dissention were wholly removed and destroyed In short he terms the determination of all those there assembled the will of God and does confidently aver that the unanimity of so many and such eminent Prelates was procured by the holy Ghost But Sabinus the Ring-leader of the Macedonian Heresie does wittingly and on set purpose oppose their authorities and Stiles the Fathers there assembled Idiots and men of no knowledge and he does in all appearance asperse even Eusebius Caesariensis with the imputation of ignorance but he does not in the least consider with himself that although those convened in that Synod were Idiots yet in regard they were illuminated by God and the Grace of the holy Ghost they could in no wise err from the Truth But let us hear what the Emperour by another Letter which he sent to all the Bishops every where and to the people Decreed against Arius and those that embraced his Opinion Another Letter of Constantines VICTOR CONSTANTINUS MAXIMUS AUGUSTUS to the Bishops and People In as much as Arius has followed the Practices of wicked and profane persons 't is but just that he should undergo the same ignominy with them Therefore as Porphyrius that Enemy of true Piety found a just recompence for composing impious Volumes against Religion and such a recompence as has rendred him ignominious to posterity covered him with infamy and many reproaches and his impious writings have been utterly destroyed so it also now seemes reasonable to term Arius and those that embrace his Opinion Porphyrians that they may derive their denomination from him whose morals they have so exactly imitated Moreover if any book written by Arius shall be found extant we do hereby Order that it be immediately burnt that by this means not only his wicked Doctrine may be wholly destroyed but also that there might not be left to posterity the least monument of him This also we declare that if any person shall be found to have concealed a book compiled by Arius and shall not immediately produce the said book and burn it his punishment shall be death For immediately upon his being found guilty of this fact he shall undergo a capital punishment God preserve you Another Letter Constantinus Augustus to the Churches Having sufficiently experienced by the flourishing posture of the publick affairs how great the benignity of the divine power has been towards us we judged it our chiefest concern and aim to labour for the Preservation of one Faith a sincere charity and one universally acknowledged Religion towards Almighty God amongst the most blessed Congregations of the Catholik Church But since this could not be otherwise firmly constituted and established unless all or at least the greatest part of the Bishops were conven'd in one place and every particular that concerns the most sacred Religion were by them first discussed upon this account when as many of the Clergy as could possibly be got together were assembled and we also as one of you were present with them for we will not deny what we account our greatest glory that we are your fellow servant all things were sufficiently discussed so long untill a determination acceptable to God the Inspector of all things was published in order to an universal agreement and union so that there is now no place left for dissention or controversie about matters of Faith Where also after a disquisition made concerning the most Holy day of Easter it was by a general consent concluded to be the best course for all men in all places to celebrate that Festival upon one and the same day For what can be more comely and commendable or what more grave and decent then that this Festival from which we have received the hopes of immortality should be unerringly kept by all men in one and the same order and in a manner apparently and expresly agreeable And in the first place all men lookt upon it as an unworthy thing and misbecoming the dignity of that most sacred Festival to follow the Jewish usage in the celebration thereof For the Jews persons who have defiled themselves with a most abominable sin are deservedly impure and blind as to their understandings Having therefore rejected their usage we may by a more certain and infallible order propagate that day to future ages for the completion of this solemnity which we have kept from the first day of the passion even to this present time Let us then have nothing in common with that most hostile multitude of the Jews We have received another way from our Saviour For there is proposed to us a lawful and decent leading to our most sacred Religion Let us therefore dearest Brethren with one accord constantly persist in this course and withdraw our selves from that most adverse Society and their
the reign of Theodosius the younger and rehearsed to me though then very young these Memoires of Eutychianus he discours'd much to me concerning the divine Grace infus'd into him but one thing he told me concerning him more especially worthy of remembrance which happened in the reign of Constantine One of those belonging to the Guard whom the Emperour calls his Domesticks being suspected to have attempted some Tyrannick designes made his escape by flight The Emperour highly incensed thereat gave order that he should be put to death wherever he could be found being apprehended about the mountain Olympus in Bithynia he was shut up in prison and loaded with very heavy and painful chaines neer these parts of Olympus Eutychianus then resided leading a solitary life where he wrought many cures both upon mens bodies and soules The long-lived Auxanon was with him at that time being then very young and was by him instructed in the Precepts of a solitary Life Many did resort to this Eutychianus beseeching him to release the Prisoner by interceding for him with the Emperour For the fame of the miracles wrought by Eutychianus was come to the Emperours hearing He readily promised to make a journey to the Emperour But in regard the Prisoner suffered most acute tortures caused by his chains those that did sollicit for him reported that his death haâ—tned by the tortures of his fetters would both prevent the Emperours punishment and Eutychianus's intercession for him Eutychianus therefore sent to the keepers of the Prison and intreated them to release the man But when they answered that it would be a very dangerous thing for them to release a criminal he taking Auxanon only along with him went to the Prison and upon the Keepers refusal to open the Prison the grace which was in Eutychianus did there more illustrate it self for the Prison doors opened of their own accord whilst the Keepers of the Prison had the keyes in their custody and when Eutychianus together with Auxanon had entred the Prison and a great amazement had seized those that were present the chains fell from the Prisoners members of their own accord Afterwards Eutychianus together with his companion Auxano travelled to the City heretofore named Byzantium but afterwards called Constantinople and being admitted into the Imperial Pallace he freed the Prisoner from the danger of death For the Emperour having a great respect for Eutychianus readily granted his request This was done after those times which we are now giving an account of But then the Bishops that were present at the Synod after they had drawn up in writing some things which they usually term Canons returned to their respective Cities Moreover I look upon it as a thing advantagious to such as are studious of History to insert here those Bishops names as many of them as we were able to find that were convened at Nice as also the name of the Province and City over which every one of them did preside and likewise the time wherein they were assembled Hosius Bishop of Corduba in Spain I do believe as is before written Vito and Vincentius Presbyters of Rome Alexander Bishop of Aegypt Eustathius Bishop of Antioch the Great Macarius Bishop of Jerusalem Harpocration Bishop of Cynopolis And the rest whose names are particularly and fully set forth in the Synodicon of Athanasius Bishop of Alexandria And the time when this Synod was convened was as we found it in the Notation of the time prefixt before the Synod in the consulate of Paulinus and Julianus on the twentieth day of the month of May that was the Six hundredth thirty six year from the reign of Alexander the Macedonian Thus the Synod was concluded We must also take notice that after the dissolution of this Synod the Emperour took his Progress into the Western parts of his Empire CHAP. XIV That Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia Theognis Bishop of Nice who had been banished because they were abettors of Arius's Opinion having afterwards sent a Libell of Repentance and agreed to the exposition of the Faith were re-admitted to their Sees MOreover Eusebius and Theognis having sent a Libell of Repentance to the most eminent Bishops were by an Imperial order recalled from exile and restored to their own Churches those who had been Ordained in their places being removed by them Eusebius put out Amphion and Theognis removed Chrestus This is a Copy of their Libell We having been sometime since condemned by your Piety without having our cause declared or defended ought quietly to bear what has been determined by your holy discretion But because 't is absurd by silence to give an occasion of calumny against our selves for this reason we declare to you that we have both unanimously agreed to the determination about the Faith and also after we had made researches into the notion of Homöousios with our utmost earnestness laboured for Peace having never been followers of any Heresie And when we had suggested whatever came into our minds upon account of the Churches security and had fully satisfied those that ought to be perswaded by us we subscribed the Faith but have not subscribed the Anathematism not that we had any thing to object against the Faith but because we did not believe the person accused to be such a one as he was represented to be having been fully satisfied that he was no such person partly from the private Letters written to us by him and partly from the discourses he made in our presence But if your holy Council was then satisfied we now make no resistance but agree to what you have determined and by this Libell do fully declare and confirm our consent which we are induced to do not because we took upon our exile to be tedious and burdensom but that we might avoid the suspicion of Heresie For if you shall now vouchsafe to let us return to your presence you shall find us to be of the same Opinion with you in all points and quietly to adhere to what you have determined since it hath seemed good to your piety gently to treat even him who is accused for these things and to recall him from banishment But it would be absurd since he that seemed to be guilty is recalled and has made his defence in reference to those things laid to his charge that we should be silent and muster up an argument against our selves Do you therefore vouchsafe as it befits your piety that loves Christ to remind our Emperour most dear to God to offer up our supplications to him and speedily to determine concerning us as shall be most agreeable to your prudence This is the Libell of Eusebius and Theognius's recantation From the words whereof I conjecture that they subscribed the Faith which had been publisht in the Council but would not give their consent to the deposing of Arius and it appears hence that Arius was recalled from banishment
SCHOLASTICUS CHAP. I. The Preface wherein he gives an account why he made a new Edition of his First and Second Book Rufinus he that wrote an Ecclesiastick History in the Latine tongue has erred concerning the notation of the times For he supposes that what was done against Athanasius hapned after the death of Constantine the Emperour He was also ignorant of his banishment into the Gallia's and of several other things We having at first followed Rufinus as our authour wrote the first and second book of our History according to his authority But from the third to the seventh Book we have made a collection of some passages partly out of Rufinus and partly out of various other authours and related others from those which do yet survive and so have compleated our work But when we had afterwards procured Athanasius's Books wherein he laments his own calamitous sufferings and how he was banisht by the calumny of the Eusebian faction we thought it more expedient to credit him who had suffered these hardships and those who had been present at the transacting of these matters rather then such as have followed conjectures in their relations thereof and for that reason have been mistaken Besides having gotten several Letters of persons at that time very eminent to our utmost ability we have diligently traced out the truth Upon which account we have been necessitated entirely to dictate again the first and second Book of this work making use nevertheless of those passages in the relation whereof Rufinus hath not forsaken the truth Moreover notice is to be taken that in our former Edition we had not inserted Arius's Libel of deposition nor the Emperours Letters but had onely set forth a bare relation of the affairs transacted that we might not dull our Readers by a prolixe and tedious narration But in regard that this also was to be done in favour to you O sacred man of God Theodorus that you might not be ignorant of what the Emperours wrote in their Letters nor of what the Bishops changing that faith by little and little promulged in divers Synods wherefore in this latter Edition we have made such alterations and insertions as we judged to be necessary And having done this in the first Book we will also make it our business to do the same in that now under our hands we mean the second But we must now begin the following series of our History CHAP. II. How Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia with his accomplices earnestly indeavouring to introduce Arius's opinion again made disturbances in the Churches THe Emperour Constantine being dead Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia and Theognis Bishop of Nice supposing they had now gotten a very seasonable opportunity made use of their utmost diligence and attempts to expell the Homoüsian faith and introduce Arianism in its stead But they supposed it impossible for them to effect this if Athanasius should return to Alexandria Moreover in order to their forming and carrying on of their design in this matter they made use of that Presbyters assistance who had a little before been the cause of Arius's being recalled from banishment But how this was effected we must relate That Presbyter we have mentioned presented Constantines last will and commands which he had received from the Emperour at his death to the Emperours son Constantius He having found that written in the Will which he was very desirous of for by the Will the Empire of the East was committed to him had an honorary respect for the Presbyter allowed him a great liberty of speaking and ordered he should freely and with confidence come into the Palace This liberty therefore being allowed the Presbyter made him in a short time well known both to the Empress and also to her Eunuches The principal person of the Emperours Bed-chamber at that time was an Eunuch whose name was Eusebius The Presbyter perswaded this person to embrace Arius's opinion After which the rest of the Eunuches were prevailed with to be of the same opinion Moreover the Emperours wife also by the perswasion of the Eunuches and this Presbyter became a favourer of Arius's Tenets Not long after this question came to the hearing of the Emperour himself And by degrees it was spread abroad first amongst those that were of the milice in the Palace and afterwards it was divulged amongst the multitudes of the Imperial City Those of the Bed-chamber together with the women discoursed concerning this opinion in the Imperial Palace and in the City throughout every private family there was a logical war waged Moreover the mischief soon spread its self over other Provinces and Cities And like a spark this controversie taking its rise from a small beginning excited the hearers minds to a most pertinacious contention For every person that enquired the reason of the disturbance immediately had an occasion of disputing given him and at the very interim of his making an enquiry he resolved upon entring into a wrangling dispute By this contention all things were subverted These alterations were started in the Eastern Cities only For the Cities of Illyricum and those scituated in the Western parts of the Empire were in that interim at quiet for they would by no means disanull the determinations made at the Nicene Synod When therefore this mischief thus kindled increased and grew daily worse and worse Eusebius of Nicomedia and his faction began then to think the disturbance of the Vulgar to be their gain For they were in hopes of being enabled by this means only to constitute a Bishop of Alexandria that should be of the same opinion with them But Athanasius's return at that time to Alexandria prevented this their design who came thither fortified with one of the Augustus's Letters which Constantinus the younger who bore the same name with his Father sent from Triers a City in Gallia to the people of Alexandria A Copy of which Letter I have here subjoyned CHAP. III. How Athanasius confiding in the Letter of Constantine the Younger returned to Alexandria CONSTANTINUS CAESAR to the people of the Catholick Church of the Alexandrians IT has not We suppose escaped the knowledge of your sacred mind that Athanasius an interpreter of the venerable Law was therefore sent into the Gallia's for a time lest in regard the barbarity of his bloud-devouring Enemies and Adversaries continually menaced his sacred head with imminent danger he should undergo incurable mischiefs through the perverseness of wicked men In order therefore to his frustrating of this barbarity he was snatcht out of the Jaws of those persons that designed his ruine and enjoyned to live under our district in such a manner that in that City wherein he was ordered to make his residence he should abound with all manner of necessaries although his most eximious virtue having put its confidence in the divine assistances esteems as nothing the troubles of a rougher fortune Wherefore although Our Lord and Father Constantinus Augustus
of blessed memory had determined to restore this Bishop to his own See and return him to your most amiable piety yet in regard being prevented by humane chance he died before the accomplishment of his desire We being his successour thought it agreeable to fulfill the mind of that Emperour of sacred memory Moreover how great a reverence and respect he has procured from us you shall know from himself as soon as he shall come into your presence Nor is it a wonder that We have done any thing in favour to him for both the representation of your love and also the aspect of so great a personage moved and exited Our mind hereto May the Divine Providence preserve you dearest brethren Upon the confidence of this Letter Athanasius comes to Alexandria and the people of Alexandria most willingly received him But as many as were followers of Arius's opinion entred into a combination and conspired against him hereupon continual Seditions arose which gave an occasion to the Eusebian faction of accusing him before the Emperour because upon his own inclination and award without the determination of a general Council of Bishops he had returned and taken possession of the Alexandrian Church And they made so great a proficiency in their calumnies that the Emperour being incensed expelled him out of Alexandria But how that was effected I will a little after this relate CHAP. IV. That upon Eusebius Pamphilus's death Acacius succeeded in the Bishoprick of Caesarea DUring this interval of time Eusebius who was Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine and had the sirname of Pamphilus departed this life and Acacius his Scholar succeeded him in that Bishoprick This Acacius published many other books and also wrote particularly concerning the Life of his Master Eusebius CHAP. V. Concerning the death of Constantine the Younger NOt long after this the Emperour Constantius's brother who bore the same name with his Father Constantine the younger invading those parts of the Empire that belonged to his younger brother Constans and ingaging with his Souldiers is slain by them in the Consulate of Acindynus and Proclus CHAP. VI. How Alexander Bishop of Constantinople at his death proposed Paulus and Macedonius to be elected into his Bishoprick AT the very same time the City Constantinople was involved in another tumult which followed on the neck of those disturbances we have before related raised upon this account Alexander who presided over the Churches in that City a Prelate that had couragiously opposed Arius departed out of this life after he had spent twenty three years in that Bishoprick and had lived ninety eight years compleat having ordained no body to succeed in his place But he commanded those to whom the power of electing belonged to make choice of one of those two whom he should name And if they were desirous of having one that should be both skillfull in teaching and also of an approved piety and uprightness of life he advised them to make choise of Paulus one that he had ordained Presbyter a person that was a young man indeed in respect of his age but old in understanding and prudence But if they would rather have one commendable for an external shew of piety only they might elect Macedonius who had long since been made a Deacon of that Church and was now grown aged Hereupon there hapned a great contest concerning the Ordination of a Bishop which very much disturbed that Church For the people were divided into two factions the one side adhered to the Arian opinion the other embraced the determinations made at the Nicene Synod And as long as Alexander continued alive the Homoöusian party prevailed the Arians disagreeing and contending daily amongst themselves concerning their own opinion But after Alexanders death the success of the peoples contest was dubious Therefore the Homoöusian party proposed Paulus to be ordained Bishop but those that embraced Arianism were very earnest to have Macedonius elected And in the Church called Irene which is near that Church now named The Great Church and the Church of Sophia Paulus is ordained Bishop in which election the suffrage of Alexander then dead seemed to have prevailed CHAP. VII How the Emperour Constantius ejected Paulus who had been Ordained Bishop and having sent for Eusebius from Nicomedia entrusted him with the Bishoprick of Constantinople BUt the Emperour arriving not long after at Constantinople was highly incensed at this Ordination of Paulus And having convened a Council of Bishops that embraced Arius's opinion he vacated Paulus's Bishoprick And he translated Eusebius from Nicomedia and constituted him Bishop of Constantinople When the Emperour had performed these things he went to Antioch CHAP. VIII How Eusebius assembled another Synod at Antioch of Syria and caused another form of Faith to be published BUt Eusebius could by no means be at quiet but as the common saying is moved every stone that he might effect what he had designed Therefore he procures a Synod to be assembled at Antioch in Syria under a pretence of dedicating a Church which Constantine the father of the Augusti had begun to build after whose death Constantius his son finished it in the tenth year after its foundation was laid but in reality that he might subvert and destroy the Homoöusian Faith At this Synod there met ninety Bishops who came out of divers Cities But Maximus Bishop of Jerusalem who had succeeded Macarius was not present at that Synod having considered with himself that he had been before induced by fraud to subscribe Athanasius's deposition Neither was Julius Bishop of Rome the Great present there nor did he send any body to supply his place Although the Ecclesiastick Canon doth order that the Churches ought not to make Sanctions contrary to the Bishop of Romes opinion This Synod therefore is convened at Antioch the Emperour Constantius himself being there present in the Consulate of Marcellus and Probinus This was the fifth year from the death of Constantine the father of the Augusti At that time Placitus successour to Euphronius presided over the Churches in Antioch The Eusebians therefore made it their principal business to calumniate Athanasius saying in the first place that he had done contrary to that Canon which they had then constituted because he had recovered his Episcopal dignity without the consent of a general Synod of Bishops For returning from his exile he had upon his own arbitrement and award rushed into the Church secondly that a tumult being raised at his entrance many had lost their lives in that Sedition and that some persons had been scourged by Athanasius and others brought before the seats of Judicature Moreover they produced what had been done against Athanasius in the City of Tyre CHAP. IX Concerning Eusebius Emisenus AFter the framing of these calumnies they proposed one to be made Bishop of Alexandria and in the first place they named Eusebius Emisenus Who this person was Georgius of
desire Athanasius having received these Letters at Aquileia for there he abode after his departure from Serdica hastned immediately to Rome And having shown the Letters to Julius the Bishop he caused great joy in the Roman Church For they supposed that the Emperour of the East had now given his assent to their Faith in regard he invited Athanasius to come to him But Julius wrote this Epistle to the Clergy and Laity in Alexandria concerning Athanasius The Epistle of Julius Bishop of Rome to those of Alexandria Julius to the Bishops and Presbyters and Deacons and to the Laity inhabiting Alexandria his beloved Brethren health in the Lord. I also rejoyce with you beloved Brethren because you now see before your eyes the fruit of your Faith For that this is truly so any one may see in our brother and fellow Bishop Athanasius whom God hath restored to you upon an account both of his purity of life and also of your prayers Hence it is apparent that you have continually offered up to God prayers which were pure and full of charity For being mindfull of the Celestial promises and of the course of life tending thereto which you have been instructed in by the Doctrine of our foresaid Brother you certainly knew and according to that true Faith which is implanted in you were apprehensive of this that your Bishop could not be perpetually seperated from you whom you carried in your pious minds as being continually present Wherefore I need not make use of many words in this my Letter to you For your Faith hath prevented whatever could have been said by me and by the grace of Christ those things have been fulfilled which you in common prayed for and desired I rejoyce therefore with you for I will say it again because you have preserved your souls inexpugnable in your defending of the Faith Nor do I any whit less rejoyce with my Brother Athan sius because although he hath undergone many sharp afflictions yet he was not one hour unmindfull of your love and your desire For although he seemed to have been withdrawn from you for a time yet he was continually conversant with you in spirit And I am of opinion Beloved that all the trialls and troubles which have hapned to him are not inglorious For both your and his Faith hath thereby been made known and approved amongst all men For had not so many and great afflictions befell him who would have believed either that you should have had so great a respect and love for so eminent a Bishop or that he should have been adorned with such excellent virtues by reason of which he is in no wise to be defrauded of his hope in the heavens He hath therefore obtained a testimony of confession every way glorious both in this and in the world to come For after his many and various sufferings both by Land and Sea he hath trodden under foot all the treachâ—ries of the Arian Heresie and after his having been frequently assaulted and brought into danger through envy he hath despised death being guarded by Almighty God and our Lord Jesus Christ hoping that he should not only avoid his Enemies Plots but also be restored in order to your consolation bringing back to you greater Trophies by reason of your being conscious of having done what was just and good Upon which account he hath been rendred glorious even as far as the ends of the whole earth being approved for his integrity of life undauntedly persisting in the defence of his resolution of mind and Celestial Doctrine and evidently declared by your constant and perpetual judgment to be intirely beloved by you He returns therefore to you now far more bright and glorious than when he departed from you For if the fire tries and refines pretious metalls I mean Gold and Silver what can be said of so eminent a Personage according to his worth who having vanquished the fire of so great afflictions and so many perills is now restored to you having been declared innocent not by our determination only but by that of the whole Synod Receive therefore Beloved Brethren with all Divine Glory and joy your Bishop Athanasius together with those who have been his fellow sufferers And rejoyce in that you enjoy your desires who have nourished and quenched the thirst of your pastour hungring if I may so speak and thirsting after your piety with your comfortable writings For you were a consolation to him during his abode in strange Countries and you have cherished him with your most faithfull souls and minds whilst he was Persecuted and assaulted with treacheries Indeed I rejoyce already whilst I consider and foresee in my mind the joy of every one of you at his return and the most pious meetings which will be given him by the populace and the glorious solomnity of those which will be assembled and what manner of day that will be wherein our brother shall make his return when forepast calamities shall have an end and his pretious and wish't for return shall unite all persons in an alacrity of mind exprest by the highest degree of joy Such a joy as this does as to the greatest part of it reach even as far as us to whom Heaven 't is manifest hath granted this favour that we should be able to come to the knowledge of so eminent a Personage It is fit therefore that we should close this Letter with a prayer May God Almighty and his Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ afford you this perpetual grace rendring you the reward of your admirable Faith which you have demonstrated towards your Bishop by a glorious testimony that better things may await you and your posterity both in this and in the world to come which Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things that God hath prepared for them that love him through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom Glory be to Almighty God for ever and ever Amen I wish you good health beloved Brethren Athanasius confiding in these Letters went into the East The Emperour Constantius received him not then with an incensed mind But upon the suggestion of the Arians he attempted to circumvent him And speaks to him thus You have indeed recovered your See by the Synods determination and our consent But in regard there are some of the people in Alexandria who do refuse to hold communion with you suffer them to have one Church in the City To which request Athanasius immediately made this return and says It is in your power O Emperour to command and do what you will I also ask and request this favour of you which I desire you would grant me When the Emperour had readily promised him to grant it Athanasius forthwith added that he desired to receive the same favour that the Emperour had required should be granted him for he also requested that throughout every City one
his guards took the Chain which he wore about his own neck and put it upon Julianus's head After this manner therefore Julianus came to be Emperour But what he did afterwards let the hearers judge whether or no they became a Philosopher For he neither sent an Embassage to Constantius nor did he shew him that Reverence which was due to him as being his Benefactour but managed all affairs according to his own arbitrement He changed the Governours of Provinces and reproacht Constantius in every City by reciting in publick his Letters sent to the Barbarians Whereupon those inhabitants revolted from Constantius and came over to him At that time he manifestly pull'd off his mask of Christianity For he went from City to City opened the Heathen Temples offered sacrifice to Idols and termed himself the Pontifex Maximus And such as professed Gentilism celebrated their heathenish Festivals after their own manner By these proceedings of his he takes an occasion of raising a Civil War against Constantius And as far as in him lay he took care that all those calamities should have hapned which are the consequents of a War For this Philosophers desire could not have been fulfilled without much bloud-shed But God the Arbiter of his own Councils repressed the Impetus of one of these two Antagonists without any damage to the Republick For when Julianus arrived amongst the Thracians news was brought him that Constantius was dead And thus the Roman Empire at that time escaped a Civil War But Julianus having made his entry into Constantinople began immediately to consider with himself after what manner he might win the favour of the people and procure their benevolence towards himself He makes use therefore of this Artifice He very well understood that Constantius was odious to all such as embraced the Homoousian opinion both because he had driven them from their Churches and also in regard he had proscribed and banished the Bishops belonging to them He assuredly knew also that the Heathens were sorely vexed because they were prohibited sacrificing to their Gods and that they were very desirous of getting an opportunity wherein their Temples might be opened and they have a liberty of offering sacrifices to their Idols He was sensible that for these reasons both those sorts of people had privately rancoured minds against his predecessour Constantius He also found that all people in general highly resented the violence of the Eunuches and the rapines of Eusebius the principal person of the Bed-chamber to him He therefore treated them all with a great deal of craft and subtlety With some he dissembled others he oblieged by kindnesses being a great affectour of vain glory But He made it evident to all in general how he was affected towards the superstition of the Heathens And first that he might make Constantius odious for his cruelty towards his Subjects and render him infamous amongst the Vulgar he commanded that the exiled Bishops should be recalled and restored to them their estates which had been confiscated Then he issued out an Order to his Confidents that the Heathen Temples should be forthwith opened He also ordered that such persons as had been injured by the Eunuches should be repossessed of their goods which were unjustly taken from them He punished Eusebius the principal person of the Imperial Bed-chamber with death not only because many persons had been wronged by him but also in regard he was assured that his brother Gallus had been murthered upon account of his calumny against him He took care that Constantius's body should be honoured with an Imperial Funeral He expelled the Eunuches Barbers and Cooks out of his Pallace The Eunuches because he had lost his Wife after whose death he resolved not to marry any other The Cooks in regard he fed upon a very slender and mean diet And the Barbers because said he one is sufficient for a great many For these reasons he put these sorts of men out of the Pallace Most of the Notaries he reduced to their former condition and ordered that the rest should be allowed a salary befitting a Notary He also retrenched the publick way of conveyance of necessaries for publick uses for example the use of Mules Oxen and Asses and permitted horses only to serve for such publick conveniences These Acts of his are commended by some few persons but most men discommend them because the grandeur and magnificence of the Imperial riches being lost which creates an admiration in the minds of the Vulgar he thereby rendred the dignity of an Emperour despicable and obnoxious to contempt Moreover he sate up all night composing Orations which he recited at his going into the Senate-house For he was the first and only Emperour since Julius Caesar's times that made Speeches in the Senate-house He had an high esteem for such as were studious about any part of Literature but more especially for those who professed Philosophy Wherefore the report hereof brought such as were pretenders to this sort of Learning from all parts to the Pallace who wore their Palliums and were most of them more conspicuous for their garb than their Learning But they were all troublesome to the Christians being persons that were Impostours and who always owned the same Religion with the Emperour He himself also was so excessively vain glorious that he reviled all his predecessours in the Empire in a book he composed which he entitled The Caesars The same proud temper of mind excited him to write Books against the Christians also His expulsion of the Cooks and Barbers was an act befitting a Philosopher indeed but not an Emperour But in his reproaching and reviling of others he did neither like a Philosopher nor an Emperour For both those sorts of persons are to be of a temper of mind superiour to all detraction and envy An Emperour may indeed be a Philosopher in what bears a respect to modesty and temperance But a Philosopher should he imitate an Emperour in all things would transgress his Rules Let thus much be cursorily said concerning the Emperour Julianus his Extract Education and disposition and after what manner he came to the Empire CHAP. II. Concerning the Sedition which hapned at Alexandria and after what manner Georgius was slain WE come now to mention what was transacted in the Churches at that time In the great City Alexandria there hapned a disturbance upon this account There was a place in that City which had for a long time lain wast and neglected being filled with a great deal of filth wherein the Heathens had formerly celebrated their Mysteries 〈…〉 Mithra and had sacrificed men This place being vacant and useless Constantius had sometime before bestowed upon the Church of the Alexandrians Georgius desirous to erect an Oratory therein gave order that the place should be cleansed Whilst they were clearing of it there was an Adytum discovered of a vast depth wherein were hid the Mysteries of
of ill-gotten money was in a short time mightily enriched For that Law was put in execution not only where the Emperour was present but in those places also to which he came not At the same time also the Pagans made incursions upon the professours of Christianity and there was a great conflux of such as termed themselves Philosophers Moreover they constituted certain detestable Rites in so much that they sacrificed young children as well males as females inspected their entrails and tasted of their flesh And these were their practises both in other Cities and also at Athens and Alexandria At which City likewise they framed a calumnious accusation against Athanasius the Bishop acquainting the Emperour that he would destroy that City and all Egypt and therefore that it was requisite he should be driven from that City The Prefect also of Alexandria according to the Emperours command made an attempt against him CHAP. XIV Concerning Athanasius's Flight BUt he Fled again saying these words to his intimate acquaintance Friends let us recede a little while for 't is a small cloud which will soon vanish Having spoken these words with all possible celerity he went aboard of a ship and passing over the Nile fled into Egypt They who endeavoured to apprehend him made a close pursuit after him When he understood that his pursuers were not far behind those that accompanied him perswaded him to fly into the wilderness again But by making use of prudent advice he escaped those that pursued him For he perswaded his followers to turn back and meet the pursuers which was done with all possible speed When therefore they who a little before fled approacht the pursuers the persons who sought for Athanasius ask't his followers nothing but this whether they had seen Athanasius They gave them notice that he was not far off and said that if they made hast they would soon apprehend him Being after this manner imposed upon they pursued him very hotly but in vain Athanasius having made his escape came privately to Alexandria and absconded there till such time as the Persecution ceased Such were the miseries which befell the Bishop of Alexandria after his frequent persecutions and troubles occasioned partly by the Christians and partly by the Heathens Moreover the Presidents of Provinces supposing the Emperours superstition to be a fair opportunity of increasing their private gain treated the Christians very ill beyond what the Imperial Order commissioned them to do one while exacting greater sums of money from them than they ought to have done at other times inflicting on them corporal punishments These things the Emperour was sensible of but connived at them And to the Christians making their addresses to him upon this account his answer was 'T is your duty when you are afflicted to bear it patiently for this is the command of your God CHAP. XV. Concerning those who in the Reign of Julianus suffered Martyrdom at Merus a City of Phrygia AT the City Merus Amachius President of the Province of Phrygia gave order for the opening of the Temple there and commanded it should be cleansed from the filth heapt up therein by length of time and that the images in it should be polished and trim'd up This fact did sorely trouble the Christians One Macedonius Thcodulus and Tatianus out of their zeal to the Christian Religion were unable to bear that indignity But having acquired a warmth and fervency of affection towards Vertue they rushed into the Temple by night and brake the images in pieces The Governour highly incensed at what was done resolved to destroy many in that City who were guiltless whereupon the authours of this Fact rendred themselves on their own accord And chose rather to die themselves in defence of the Truth than to see others put to death in their stead The Governour having seized these persons ordered them to expiate the crime they had committed by sacrificing Upon their refusal to do that he threatned them with punishment But being persons endowed with a great courage of mind they disregarded his menaces and shewed themselves prepared to undergoe any sufferings whatever And chose to die rather than be polluted by sacrificing When therefore he had made these men undergoe all manner of tortures at last he gave order they should be laid on Grid-irons under which he commanded fire to be put and so destroyed them At which time they gave the highest and most Heroick demonstration of their sortitude by these words of theirs to the President Amachius if you desire to eat broyled flesh turn us on the other side least we should seem half broyled to your tast After this manner these persons ended their lives CHAP. XVI How when the Emperour prohibited the Christians from being educated in the Grecian Literature the two Apollinaris's betook themselves to writing of Books BUt that Imperial Law which prohibited the Christians from being educated in the Grecian Literature made the two above mentioned Apollinaris's far more eminent than they had been before For whereas both of them were persons well skilled in humane Learning the father in Grammar the son in Rhetorick they shewed themselves very usefull to the Christians at that juncture of time For the father being an exquisite Grammarian composed a Grammar agreeable to the form of the Christian Religion he also turned the Books of Moses into that termed Heroick verse And likewise paraphrased upon all the Historical Books of the Old Testament putting them partly into Dactylick Verse and partly reducing them into the form of Dramatick Tragedy He designedly made use of all sorts of Verse that no mode of expression peculiar to the Grecian Language might be unknown or un-heard-of amongst the Christians But the Younger Apollinaris a person provided with a good stock of Eloquence explained the Gospels and Apostolick writings by way of Dialogue as Plato amongst the Grecians had done Having rendred themselves usefull after this manner to the Christian Religion by their own Labours they vanquished the Emperours subtlety But Divine Providence was more prevalent and powerfull than either these persons industry or the Emperours attempt For that Law quickly became extinct together with the Emperour who made it as we will manifest in the procedure of our History And these mens Works are reputed no otherwise than if they had never been written But some one will perhaps make this formidable objection against us How can you affirm these things to have been effected by Divine Providence For it is indeed evident that the Emperours sudden death proved very advantagious to the Christian Religion But certainly the rejecting of the Christian writings composed by the two Apollinaris's and the Christians beginning again to be cultivated with an education in the Grecian Literature can in no wise be of advantage to Christianity For the Grecian Literature in regard it asserts Polytheism is very pernicious To this objection we will according to our ability make such
informed that the Persians were a people that were weakest and of the least courage in the Winter For being unable to endure cold they abstain from undertaking any Military action at that time But according to the proverb a Mede will not pull so much as his hand from under his Cloak at that time On the contrary in regard he very well knew that the Romans were able to endure a Winter Campaigne he poured his Army into the Persian Territories When therefore they had depopulated a large tract of ground laid waste many Villages and Garrisons they then began to take Cities And having invested the great City Ctesiphon he reduced the Persian King to such straights that he dispatcht frequent Embassies to Julian entreating him that he might be punished with the loss of some part of his Country only provided he would depart out of his Territories and put an end to the War But Julianus was not in the least affected in his mind nor shewed any compassion towards these suppliants Neither did he take into his consideration this common saying to wit To conquer is famous but to be more than Conquerour is odious But giving credit to certain divinations which Maximus the Philosopher with whom he converst continually suggested to him and imagining that he should not only equal but exceed the glory of Alexander the Macedonian for these reasons I say â—e rejected the humble addresses of the Persians And he supposed agreeable to the opinion of Pythagoras and Plato that by a Transmigration of souls he was possest of Alexanders soul or rather that he himself was Alexander in another body This opinion deceived him and was the cause of his not admitting of the Persian Kings humble address at that time The King of Persia therefore perceiving his Embassie to be ineffectual was reduced to a necessity of fighting Whereupon the next day after he had sent his Embassie he draws out all the forces he had against the Roman Army in order to his giving them Battel The Romans did indeed blame the Emperour in regard he would not avoid an engagement when as he might have done it with Advantage Nevertheless they gave the Enemy Battel and routed them again The Emperour was in the Engagement in person on Horse-back and encouraged his men but he had no Armour on in regard he solely confided in his hope of success But on a sudden a Dart is â—ast at him from an unknown place which pierced through his Arm and entred his side Of which wound he died the person that killed him being unknown For some say the Dart was thrown by a certain Persian who fled others that it was cast by one of his own men which is the strongest and most common report But Callistus who had a Military imploy in this Emperours Guards and recorded his Acts in Heroick Verse in his Narrative of this War says that Julian was wounded by a Daemon of which he died This was perhaps a Poetical Fiction of his peradventure 't was really true For revengefull Furies have destroyed many persons But however that matter was this is not unknown that this Emperour was a person by reason of his too great heat and ardency of mind unwary because of his Learning vain glorious upon account of his counterfeit mildness obnoxious to contempt Julianus therefore ended his life in Persia as we have said in his fourth Consulate which he bore with Salustius his Colleague about the twenty sixth of June This was the third year of his Empire the seventh from his having been created Caesar by Constantius and the thirty first year of his age CHAP. XXII Concerning Jovianus's being Proclaimed Emperour THe Roman Army reduced to the greatest streight imaginable without delay on the day after Proclaim Jovianus Emperour a person couragious and nobly descended He being Tribune of the Souldiers when Julianus by publishing of an Edict gave the Souldiers their choice whether they would sacrifice or leave their Military Employments chose rather to lay down his Commission then obey the command of the impious Emperour But Julianus necessitated thereto by the then imminent War had continued him in Commission amongst his chief Commanders Being at that time Elected to the Empire he refused it And when he was forcibly drawn forth by the Souldiers he cried out saying that being himself a Christian he would not reign over men firmly addicted to Gentilisme But after all of them with one voice answered professing that they also were Christians he accepted of the Empire Moreover in regard he was on a sudden left in very great streights in an Enemies Country and his men being destroyed by a Famine upon terms he put an end to the War The conditions were indeed misbecoming the Roman glory but they were necessary in that conjuncture For being punished with the loss of the Borders of the Empire and having surrendred Nicibis a City in Mesopotamia to the Persians he departed out of Persia. At the relation of these things the Christians were encouraged But the Pagans bewailed Julianus's death Further the whole Army blamed his imprudent heat and rashness and ascribed the disgrace of the loss of their Borders to him because being imposed upon by a Persian desertour he had burnt the Ships which supplied them with provision by water whereupon the Army was reduced to a great extremity by a Famine Further at that time Libanius the Sophista composed a Funeral Oration upon Julian which he entitled Julianum or The Epitaph In which Oration he does at large recite and extol almost all his Actions he has also mentioned the Books which Julian wrote against the Christians wherein he says the Emperour has demonstrated the Books of the Christians to be ridiculous and stuft with trifles Had it sufficed this Sophista to have commended the Emperours other Actions only I should quietly have proceeded to the following part of my History But whenas being a sharp Oratour by mentioning Julians Books he does enveigh against the Christian Religion for this reason we are resolved to speak something concerning this matter and in the first place we will produce his own words CHAP. XXIII A confutation of what Libanius the Sophista has said concerning Julianus THe Winter says he having lengthened the nights the Emperour undertook those Books which make the man of Palestine God and the Son of God and by a long dispute and validitie of arguments he evinced that those Records revered and honoured by the Christians are ridiculous and meer trifles having in this matter demonstrated himself to be more skilfull and wiser than the Tyrian Old man But may that Tyrian be propitious to me and not be disgusted at what is said in regard he was but-done by his Son These are Libanius the Sophista's words I am indeed of opinion that he was a most incomparable Sophista but I am confident had he not entertained the same sentiments with the Emperour as to
a pious woman BUt we must relate what was done at Edessa a City of Mesopotamia In that City there is a stately and splendid Church which bears the name of Thomas the Apostle wherein assemblies in order to the performance of the publick duties of Religion are without intermission convened by reason of that places sanctity The Emperour Valens desirous to view this Church and being informed that the whole congregation met therein were followers of that Heresie which he detested struck the Praefect with his own hand as 't is said because he had not taken care to have them driven from that place When the Praefect after this manner abused made preparations though unwillingly to obey the Emperours rage for he was not willing to be the instrument of the murder of so many persons he gave them notice secretly to the intent that no person might be found within that Church But no body heeded either his advice or his menaces For on the day following all persons flock't to the Church And when the Praefect with a great company of Souldiers hastened to the Oratory in order to his fulfilling the Emperours rage a poor woman leading her own little son by the hand went with great speed towards the Church and broke through the ranks of Souldiers which Guarded the Praefect At which the Praefect being highly displeased orders the woman to be brought to him And speaks to her after this manner Miserable woman Whither runnest thou in this undecent manner She replied To the same place that others run too Have you not heard said he That the Praefect is going to put to death all persons that shall be found there I have heard so answered she and do therefore make hast that I may be found there And whither draggest thou that little child said the Praefect the woman replied that he also may be voutsafed the honour of Martyrdom Upon hearing hereof the Praefect made a conjecture of the constancy aâ—d resolution of the persons assembled in the Church And he went back immediately to the Emperour and informed him that all of them were ready to die for their own faith And declaring withall that it would be absurd to destroy so many persons in so short a time he thereby perswaded the Emperour to desist from being enraged After this manner the Edessens escaped their being destroyed by their own Emperour CHAP. XIX That the Emperour Valens slew many persons the first letter of whose name was Theta upon account of a certain Necromantick divination whereby that was foretold AT the same time a certain destructive Daemon abused the Emperours cruelty For he perswaded some persons to make a strict and over-busie enquiry by a Necromantick divination who should succeed Valens in the Empire To which persons having made use of a certain Magicall inchantment the Daemon gave responses not plain and manifest but as he usually does oblique and ambiguous by shewing only four Letters Theta and Epsilon and Omicron and Delta saying that his name who should Reign after Valens did begin with these Letters and that his name was compounded The report of what had been done came to the Emperours ears But he permitted noâ— God who manages all things in a due and orderly manner to have the knowledge of things future and to do what seemed good to him but slighting the sanctions of Christianity for which he supposed himself to have a zeal and ardency he put many to death of whom he had a suspicion that they would seize upon the Empire Therefore the Theodorus's the Theodotus's the Theodosius's and the Theodulus's and as many as had such like names as these were deprived of their lives Amongst whom one Theodosiolus a person of great Valour and Courage a descendant of a Noble Family in Spain was also put to death And out of a fear of the imminent danger many persons at that time changed their names denying those names their Parents had given them when they were young in regard they were liable to danger But let thus much be said concerning this CHAP. XX. Concerning Athanasius's death and the promotion of Peter to his See FUrther you are to know that as long as Athanasius Bishop of Alexandria lived the Emperour upon account of some over-ruling dispensation of Gods providence forbore disquieting Alexandria and Egypt knowing for certain that there was a numerous multitude of persons there who favoured Athanasius and for this reason he was afraid least a sedition being raised at Alexandria the populace who are naturally hot and violent should endammage the publick state of affairs Moreover Athanasius after those many Conflicts He had undergone upon the Church's account departed this life in the second Consulate of Gratianus which he bore with Probus he governed that Bishoprick amidst many dangers fourty and six years and left Peter a pious and eloquent person to succeed him in his See CHAP. XXI That after Athanasius's death the Arians by the Emperour Valens's Order delivered up the Churches in Alexandria to Lucius who had been Ordained by them before and committed Peter to Prison THe Arians therefore took courage immediately being rendred insolent by the Emperour's Religion and without delay they give an account hereof to the Emperour who then resided at Antioch At the same time also Euzoius who presided over the professours of Arianism at Antioch with greediness catches that opportunity so seasonably offered and makes it his design to procure himself to be sent to Alexandria to the intent that he might deliver possession of the Churches there to Lucius the Arian Which was also approved of by the Emperour And forthwith he went to Alexandria accompanied with the Imperial Forces For Magnus Lord Treasurer to the Emperour went along with him The Imperial Order was directed to Palladius Praefect of Egypt and a command was issued forth that the Military Forces there should give their assistance Wherefore they apprehended Peter and confined him to Prison After they had dispersed the other Ecclesiasticks some into one place some into another they seated Lucius in the Episcopal Chair CHAP. XXII That Sabinus the Macedonian Heretick has made no mention of those many mischiefs which happened at Lucius's installment But they are recorded in a Letter written by Peter who made his escape and fled to Damasus Bishop of Rome But the Arians and Lucius were the Authours of many mischievous practises and cruelties against those holy persons who led a Monastick life in the Solitudes MOreover what mischiefs hapned at Lucius's induction into the Sea of Alexandria or what was done against those persons that were ejected as well in as without the Courts of Judicature and how some were subjected to various Tortures and others were banished even after they had been tortured of any of these particulars there is not the least mention made by Sabinus For in regard he was a Semi-Arian he concealed the enormous villanies of his friends But
others another When a Sedition was raised about this matter the Governour of that Province a person vested with a Consular dignity whose name was Ambrosius fearing least some absurdity might happen in the City caused by that tumult ran into the Church in order to his appeasing of the uproar After that the people upon his coming thither were quieted and that he had represt the irrational fury of the multitude by a long and very usefull exhortatory Oration there hapned on a suddain an unanimous agreement amongst all persons who cried out that Ambrosius deserved the Bishoprick and all made it their request that he might be ordained For by that means only 't was said the people would be united and embrace a concordant opinion concerning the Faith In regard therefore this unanimous consent of the people seemed to the Bishops that were present to proceed from some divine order and appointment without delay they laid hold of Ambrosius and having baptized him for he was then but a Catechumen they forthwith went about the promoting of him to the dignity of that Bishoprick But because Ambrosius though he received Baptism with much willingness yet refused the Episcopal dignity with all imaginable earnestness the Bishops acquaint the Emperour Valentinianus with what hapned The Emperour admiring the unanimous consent of the people and acknowledging what had come to pass to be the work of God declared to the Bishops that they ought to obey God who had commanded he should be ordained for that he was elected by the suffrage of God rather than of men Ambrosius being after this manner constituted Bishop the Inhabitants of Millaine who had been at variance before were by his means reduced at that time to unity and concord CHAP. XXXI Concerning Valentinianus's death BUt after this when the Sarmatae made incursions into the Roman Territories the Emperour undertook an expedition against them at the head of a vast Army The Barbarians informed of these great preparations for a War and being sensible of their own inability to make a resistance sent an Embassy to the Emperour and requested that they might obtain a Peace upon certain conditions When the Embassadours were introduced into the Emperours presence and appeared to him to be vile and despicable fellows he asked whether all-the Sarmatae were such sort of persons The Embassadours made answer that the noblest personages of their whole Nation were come to him whereupon Valentinianus was highly incensed and crying out with a very loud voice said that he was very unfortunate to have the Roman Empire devolve upon him when such a Nation of Barbarians so vile and contemptible was not satisfied to continue in safety within its own limits but would take up Arms depopulate the Roman Territories and audaciously break out into a War And he tore himself in such a manner by his crying out that all his Veines were opened and every one of his Arteries broken A vast quantity of bloud gushing out after this manner he died in the Castle called Bergition after Gratianus's third Consulate which he bore with Equitius about the seventeenth of the month November when he had lived fifty four years and reigned thirteen Valentinianus therefore having ended his life the Milice in Italy on the sixth day after his death proclaimed his Son who had the same name with his Father Valentinianus a very young child Emperour in Acincum a City of Italy The Emperours informed hereof were displeased not because Valentinianus Junior who was brother to the one Emperour and the others Nephew was made Emperour but in regard he had been proclaimed without either of their being acquainted with it whom they themselves were about to proclaim Notwithstanding both of them gave their consent to his being made Emperour After this manner was Valentinianus Junior seated on his own Fathers Throne Further you must know that this Valentinianus was begotten by Valentinianus Senior of Justina which woman he married whilest Severa his former wife was living on this occasion Justus Father to Justina who heretofore to wit in Constantius's Reign had been Governour of the Province Picenum had a Dream wherein to his own thinking he saw himself delivered of the Imperial purple which he brought forth out of his right side this Dream being divulged at length came to Constantius's hearing also He guessing at the meaning of the Dream to wit that an Emperour should descend from Justus sent one who dispatcht him His daughter Justina bereaved of her Father for a considerable while continued a Virgin Some time after she became known to Severa wife to the Emperour Valentinianus and was continually conversant with the Empress And after a firm familiarity was contracted between them she bathed her self also together with her When therefore Severa had seen Justina washing her self she was wonderfully taken with the Virgins beauteous composure of body and discoursed concerning her in the Emperours presence saying that that Virgin Justus's daughter was endowed with so admirable a compleatness of body that she her self although a woman was notwithstanding inamoured with her delicate shape The Emperour treasured up his Wives discourse in his mind and consulted about his marriage of Justina yet so as not to divorce Severa of whom he had begotten Gratianus and had created him Augustus but a little before He therefore dictated a Law and made it publick throughout every City that any one that would might have two Lawfull wives This Law was promulged And he married Justina by whom he had Valentinianus Junior and three daughters Justa Grata and Galla. The two former of which persisted in their resolution of continuing Virgins but Galla was afterwards married to the Emperour Theodosius the Great of whom he begat a daughter by name Placidia For he had Arcadius and Honorius by Flaccilla his former wife But we shall speak in particular concerning Theodosius and his sons in due place CHAP. XXXII Concerning the Philosopher Themistius And that Valens appeased by the Oration he spake to him did in some measure mitigate his Persecution against the Christians VAlens making his Residence at Antioch continued in the interim undisturbed by forreign Wars For the Barbarians did on every side contain themselves within their own Territories But he Persecuted those who embraced the Homoöusian opinion in a most grievous manner and every day invented greater and more acute punishments to be inflicted on them Till such time as the Philosopher Themistius reduced his great cruelty to something of a moderation by that Speech he spake to him wherein the Philosopher advertizes the Emperour that he ought not to admire at the disagreement of Opinions amongst the Christians For that the discrepancy of sentiments amongst them was small if compared with the multitude and confusion of Opinions amongst the Grecians For they entertained above three hundred Opinions Further that as touching Opinion there would of necessity arise a wonderfull dissent from
provided for the combat of dispute heard this they knew not what to do For every one of them fell into a disagreement of opinion some affirming that the Emperours Proposal was good others thinking it not conducive to their design For some were one way affected towards the Books of the Ancients others another Nor could they any longer agree amongst themselves and they dissented not only from other Sects but those of the same Sect differed one from the other Concordant malice therefore like the tongue of those ancient Gyants was divided and their tower of mischief demolished After the Emperour perceived their confused Dissention and was sensible that they confided in disputation only and not in the Exposition of the Ancients he betook himself to a second project And orders every Sect to set forth and deliver in to him in writing a Draught of that Creed which they owned Then those of every Sect amongst them that were skilfullest and most eloquent wrote their own opinion making use of a great deal of caution and circumspection in their expressions A day also was pitcht upon whereon the Bishops of each Sect upon summons met at the Pallace At which time were present Nectarius and Agelius Prelates of the Homoöusian Creed of the Arians Demophilus of the Eunomians Eunomius himself of those that embraced Macedonius's opinion Eleusius Bishop of Cyzicum The Emperour gave them a very kind reception at their meeting and having received a Draught of the Creed in writing from every one of them retired into a private apartment alone where he prayed with much fervency that God would give him his assistance in order to an Election of the Truth And having read over every one of the written Draughts of the Creed he tore all the rest disapproving of them in regard they introduced a separation of the Trinity except the Homoöusian Creed only which he commended and embraced This was the reason of the Novatians flourishing again and of their being permitted to celebrate their sacred assemblies within the Cities For the Emperour admiring their consent as to the Faith with those of his own opinion gave command by the promulgation of a Law that they should securely enjoy their own Oratories and that their Churches should have the same priviledges with those Churches of his own Faith But the Prelates of the other Sects by reason of their disagreement amongst themselves were condemned and despised even by their own disciples And being reduced to a desperation and overwhelmed with grief they made their departure and wrote Consolatory Letters to those of their own party perswading them not to be troubled because many relinquished them and became adherents to the Homoöusian Creed For many they said were called but few chosen Which expression they in no wise made use of at such time as the greatest part of the people through force and fear became their favourers But neither were the Professours of the Homoöusian Creed perfectly free from trouble and disquietude For the affairs of the Antiochian Church caused a division amongst those that were present at the Synod For the Egyptians Arabians and Cypriots gathering together again said that Flavianus ought to be expelled out of Antioch But the Bishops of Palaestine Phoenice and Syria stood up in defence of Flavianus What conclusion this affair had I will declare in its due place CHAP. XI Concerning Maximus the Tyrant how he slew Gratianus by treachery at which time also Justina the mother of Valentinianus Junior desisted though unwillingly from her design against Ambrosius Bishop of Millain for fear of Maximus ABout the same times wherein these Synods were held at Constantinople these transactions hapned in the Western parts Maximus coming out of the Island Britannia invaded the Roman Empire and makes a treacherous attempt upon Gratianus then ingaged in a War against the Alamanni In Italy during Valentinianus's minority Probus a person that had been Consul had the chief management of affairs who at that time bore the Praefecture of the Praetorium Justina mother to Valentinianus Augustus a woman that was an Arian during her Husbands life had no power to be mischievous towards the Embracers of the Homoöusian Creed But after her husbands death when her Son was very young she went to Millain and raised great disturbances against Ambrosius the Bishop issuing out an Order that he should be banished And whilest the people made a resistance against this Order out of their excessive love to Ambrosius and opposed those that endeavoured to hale him away into Exile in that interim news came that Gratianus was treacherously slain by the Tyrant Maximus For Andragathius Maximus's Lieutenant being hid in a Carriage put into the form of a womans Horse-litter and carried by Mules and having given the Guards a Command that they should before-hand spread abroad a report that the Emperour Gratianus's Wife was in that Litter meets the Emperour before Lyons a City in France passing the River The Emperour supposing it to be his Wife was not aware of the Treachery but as a blind man does into a ditch fell into the hands of his Enemie For Andragathius leapt out of the Litter on a Sudden and slew Gratianus Gratianus therefore ended his life in the Consulate of Merobaudes and Saturninus after he had Reigned fifteen years and lived twenty four This accident cool'd the Emperours Mothers heat against Ambrosius Moreover Valentinianus though against his will complyed with the necessity of that juncture and admitted Maximus to be his Colleague in the Empire At which time Probus afraid of Maximus's power resolves upon a retreat into those parts of the Empire nearer to the East Immediately therefore he departs out of Italy and arriving in Illyricum he fixt his Residence in Thessalonica a City of Macedonia CHAP. XII That the Emperour Theodosius having provided a numerous Army against Maximus at which time Flaccilla bore him his Son Honorius lest Arcadius at Constantinople but went himself to Millain where he came to an Engagement with the Tyrant BUt the Emperour Theodosius was extreamly full of care and sollicitude and formed a very powerfull Army against the Tyrant being afraid lest he should treacherously murder Valentinianus Junior also At the same time arrived Embassadours from the Persians requesting Peace of the Emperour Moreover then also a Son was born to the Emperour named Honorius of whom his Wife Flaccilla was delivered in the Consulate of Richomeres and Clearchus on the ninth of September In the same Consulate died Agelius Bishop of the Novatians a little before Honorius's birth On the year following whereon Arcadius Augustus bore his first Consulate with Bauton Timotheus Bishop of Alexandria ended his life who was succeeded in that See by Theophilus A year after this Demophilus Bishop of the Arian Heresie concluded his life The Arians sent for one Marinus a Bishop of their own Heresie out of Thracia whom they entrusted with the Bishoprick But
The success of the Battell being after this manner turned the Tyrant cast himself at the Emperours feet and requested his life might be saved But the Souldiers beheaded him as he lay prostrate at the Emperours feet These things were done on the sixth of September in Arcadius's third and Honorius â—â—cond Consulate But Arbogastes who had been the Authour of these great mischiefs being on his flight upon the third day after the battell as soon as he knew there were no hopes of life for him ran himself through with his own sword CHAP. XXVI How the Emperour falling ill after his Victory sent for his Son Honorius to Millain and thinking himself somewhat recovered from his distemper he ordered that Cirque-Sports should be exhibited on which very day he dyed BUt the Emperour Theodosius contracted an ill habit of body from the troubles and disquietudes he underwent in this War And supposing that his life would be ended by that distemper which was upon him he was more sollicitous about the publick affairs than concerned at his own death considering with himself how great calamities do usually befall Subjects after the death of their Emperour Wherefore he sends forthwith for his Son Honorius from Constantinople being desirous to settle the State of the Western Empire After his Sons arrivall at Millain he seemed to be somewhat revived from his distemper and gave order for the celebration of Triumphant Cirque-Sports And before Dinner he was very well and was a Spectatour at the Cirque-Sports But after Dinner he was taken very ill on a sudden and could not come to see the Games But having given his Son order to Preside at the Cirque-Sports he died on the night following in the Consulate of Olybrius and Probinus on the seventeenth day of January This was the first year of the two hundredth ninety fourth Olympiad The Emperour Theodosius lived sixty years and reigned sixteen This Book contains an account of affairs transacted during the space of sixteen years and eight months THE SIXTH BOOK OF THE Ecclesiastical History OF SOCRATES SCHOLASTICUS The PREFACE WE have finished the task enjoyned by You most Sacred man of God Theodorus in the sive foregoing Books wherein according to our best ability we have comprized the History of the Church from the times of Constantine But you must know that we have not been curious about our Stile for we considered that should we have been carefull about an Elegancy of expression we might peradventure have mist of our design Besides could we have accomplished our design yet we were altogether unable to write such things as are extant in the Composures of Ancient Historians whereby any one of them might suppose himself able either to amplifie or disimprove Transactions Further such a Stile would in no wise have edified the Many and the Simpler sort of persons who are desirous of knowing affairs only not of admiring the Stile for its elegant composure That therefore our work might not be unusefull to both these sorts of persons to the Learned because 't is unworthy of being compared with the Elegant Stile of Ancient Writers and to the unlearned in regard they cannot attain to the knowledge of affairs being concealed by a pride and over-elegancy of Expression We have designedly made use of such a Stile as seems indeed to be lower and more mean but is notwithstanding plainer and more perspicuous But before we begin our Sixth Book we must give this premonition In regard we undertake the writing a Narrative of the affairs which have hapned in our own age we are afraid lest we should seem to record such things as will displease many persons either because according to the proverb Truth is bitter or in regard we mention not their names whom all men have a great love for with an Encomium or Lastly because we extoll not their Actions The Zealâ—ts of our Religion will condemn us because we do not give the Bishops the Title of Most dear to God or Most Holy or such like Others also will sometimes make curious remarks because we term not the Emperours Most Divine and Lords nor do give them those other titles which are usually attributed to them But in as much as I am able to prove and demonstrate from the Testimony of Ancient Writers that a Servant amongst them did usually call his Master by his proper name and made no account of his Dignity or Title by reason of the urgency of affairs and in as much as my indeavour is to obey the Laws of History which do require a sincere pure and true Narrative of Transactions free from all manner of Masks and Covers I will in future proceed in the same Narration Recording those things which either I my self saw or could learn from those who had seen them and making a judgment of the Truth from their not varying in their Relations who told me them But my Labour in discovering the Truth hath been great in regard many and those different persons gave me an account of affairs some of whom affirming they were present at the transacting of these things and others asserting they knew them better than any other persons CHAP. I. That after the death of the Emperour Theodosius when his Sons had divided the Empire between them and Arcadius had met the Army returning from Italy after some short stay there Rufinus the Praefectus Praetorio was killed by the Souldiers at the Emperours feet THE Emperour Theodosius having ended his life in the Consulate of Olybrius and Probinus on the seventeenth of the month January his Sons succeeded him in the Roman Empire Arcadius had the Government of the Eastern Empire and Honorius of the Western The Bishops who Presided over the Churches at that time were Damasus in the Imperial City Rome Theophilus at Alexandria Johannes was in possession of the Churches at Jerusalem and Flavianus of those at Antioch At Constantinople termed also New Rome Nectarius filled the Episcopall Chair as we have related in the foregoing Book About the eighth of the month November in the same Consulate Theodosius's body was brought to Constantinople and interred by his Son Arcadius with an honourable and solemn Funeral Not long after this on the eight and twentieth of the same month the Army also arrived which had been employed in the War against the Tyrant under the Emperour Theodosius's command When therefore the Emperour Arcadius agreeable to the usuall custom had met the Army without the City-gates the Souldiers at that time slew Rufinus the Emperours Praefectus Praetorio For Rufinus lay under a suspicion of turning Tyrant and 't was believed that he had called the Hunni a Barbarous Nation into the Roman Territories For at that time they destroyed Armenia and some parts of the East by making incursions into those Provinces Moreover on the same day whereon Rufinus was killed Marcianus Bishop of the Novatians died He was succeeded in that Bishoprick by Sisinnius of whom we
seemed rough and austere to the Ecclesiasticks and incurred their Odium many of them became his enemies and declined him as an angry person Serapion his Deacon incited him to alienate all mens minds from himself And on a time when all the Clergy were present he spake aloud to the Bishop after this manner You will never be able O Bishop to get the mastery over these persons unless you drive them all out with one rod. This expression of his excited an Odium against the Bishop Not long after the Bishop ejected many persons out of the Church some for one reason others for another But they as it usually happens in such violent proceedings of Governours enter into a Combination against him and calumniated him to the people That which induced the hearers to a belief of what was spoken against him was that the Bishop would not eat with any body nor would he upon any invitation go to a Feast Upon which account most especially the calumny against him improved and grew greater Upon what design he refused to eat with any person no one could ever certainly tell For those who are desirous of defending him say that he had a very weak stomack and could hardly digest meat for which reason he did eat alone Others affirm he did this on account of his Ascetick and most severe course of life What-ever of truth there was in this matter it was of no small advantage to his Accusers in order to their calumniating him Notwithstanding the people did highly approve of him upon account of the Sermons he Preach't in the Church loved the man exceedingly and disregarded those persons who attempted to accuse him Moreover what his Sermons were as well those published by himself as them taken by the Notaries from his mouth as he Preach't them how elegant inviting and perswasive it is needless now to declare in regard those that are desirous may read them and reap abundant benefit from them CHAP. V. That Johannes differed not only with the Clergy but with the Magistracy also And concerning Eutropius the Eunuch AS long as Johannes was offensive to the Clergy only the designes framed against him were weak and infirm But after he attempted to reprove many of the Magistracy also beyond the bounds of what was fit then the envy against him was much more enkindled Many things were spoken against him most whereof were in future believed by the hearers But that which made an addition to the calumny was the Oration at that time spoken by him against Eutropius For Eutropius the Eunuch the chief person of the Bed-chamber to the Emperour the first Eunuch that was vouchsafed the dignity of a Consul by the Emperour desirous to be revenged upon some persons who had taken sanctuary in the Church made it his business to get an Edict published by the Emperours prohibiting any person from flying into the Churches for sanctuary but that such as had fled thither should by force be drawn out thence But divine vengeance followed immediately hereupon For the Law was promulged and not long after Eutropius himself having offended the Emperour made his escape into the Church The Bishop therefore whilest Eutropius lay under the Altar and was terrified with fear sitting in the Pulpit out of which it had before been his usage to Preach in order to his being heard more easily made an Oration in reproof of him Whereupon he seemed to give a greater offence to some persons because he was not only incompassionate towards an unfortunate man but on the contrary even reproved him Eutropius therefore at that time bearing the Consulate was by the Emperours order beheaded for some crimes he had committed His name also was rased out of the Fasti Consulares and only Theodorus's name who had been his Colleague in the Consulate was Recorded therein 'T is reported likewise that Bishop Johannes making use of his usuall freedom and boldness in speaking did sharply reprove Gaina also at that time Master of the Milice because he took the confidence to make a request to the Emperour that one of the Churches within the City might be assigned to the Arians who were of the same opinion with himself He also reproved several other of the Grandees upon various accounts with much freedom and boldness by reason of which liberty of his he gained the Ill-will of many persons Wherefore Theophilus also Bishop of Alexandria soon after Johannes's Ordination began to consider how he might undermine and ruine him And with some persons that were present he discoursed privately concerning that affair but he imparted his own design by Letters to many others who were at a great distance For he was not only vexed at Johannes's too great boldness but also because he had not been able to promote Isidorus a Presbyter under him to the Bishoprick of Constantinople In this posture were Bishop Johannes's affairs and immediately at the very beginning of his Episcopate he felt the pangs of mischief and disquietude But we will declare the matters that concern him in the procedure of our History CHAP. VI. Concerning the Tyranny of Gaïna the Goth and the disturbance he raised at Constantinople and concerning his death I Will now relate an affair worthy to be recorded which hapned at this very time and will demonstrate how divine providence freed the City and Roman State from the greatest danger imaginable by unexpected assistances What that was must now be declared Gaïna was by extract a Barbarian Having made himself a Subject to the Romans and ingaged in a Military Employ he rose by degrees and was at length constituted Generall both of the Roman Horse and Foot When he had gotten so great a power he knew not himself nor could he moderate his own mind But as the saying is moved every stone that he might render the Roman Empire subject unto himself He sent for the whole nation of the Goths out of their own Country And took care that such as were his relations should have the Command of the Military Forces Moreover when Tribigildus one of his kindred Tribune of those Souldiers lodged in Phrygia raised a Rebellion by Gaïna's instigation and ruined the whole Province of Phrygia Gaïna orders the matter so that the care of affairs there should be committed to himself To which the Emperour Arcadius foreknowing nothing of his design readily yielded Gaïna therefore forthwith made an Expedition pretendedly indeed against Tribigildus but in reality with a resolution to turn Tyrant He took along with him a vast multitude of the Barbarous Goths And when he was arrived in Phrygia laid all places desolate The Romans were on a sudden mightily disturbed not only by reason of the vast number of Barbarians who were with Gaïna but also in regard the fertilest and most usefull Provinces of the East were highly endangered But then the Emperour in relation to the present juncture of affairs made use of a prudent and
said by Johannes the Bishop But Johannes admitted not Severianus to a familiarity any more in future but advised him to return into his own Country signifying thus much to him Severianus said he 't is not expedient that the Diocess you are intrusted with should for so long a time continue unlookt-after and destitute of the presence of its Bishop Wherefore hasten your return to your Churches and neglect not the Gift which God hath bestowed upon you When Severianus had begun his journey the Empress Eudoxia informed hereof reproves Johannes and causes Severianus to be forthwith recalled from Chalcedon in Bithynia He came back immediately But Johannes declined a friendship with him and could by no persons entreaty be prevailed upon till such time as the Empress Eudoxia in that Church called the Apostles cast her Son Theodosius Junior then a very young child before Johannes's knees and having conjured him frequently by her Son with much a-do perswaded him to admit of a friendship with Severianus After this manner therefore c. THE SEVENTH BOOK OF THE Ecclesiastical History OF SOCRATES SCHOLASTICUS CHAP. I. That after the Emperour Arcadius's death who left his Son Theodosius then eight years old Anthemius the Praefect had the chief management of affairs in the Empire THE Emperour Arcadius having ended his life on the first of May in the Consulate of Bassus and Philippus Honorius his Brother still Governed the Western Empire the Eastern was under the Government of his Son Theodosius Junior at that time eight years of age Anthemius the Praefectus Praetorio had the chief management of the publick affairs He was Grandchild to that Philippus who in Constantius's Reign ejected Paulus the Bishop and introduced Macedonius into his See He encompassed Constantinople with a great wall Of all the men of his own times he was accounted and in reality was the most prudent person He never did any thing without advice but consulted with many of his acquaintance concerning what ought to be done chiefly with Troïlus the Sophista who besides the wisdom that was in him was Anthemius's equall in Politicall knowledge Wherefore almost all things were done with Troïlus's advice CHAP. II. Concerning Atticus Bishop of Constantinople what manner of person he was as to his temper and disposition DUring therefore the Emperours being in the eighth year of his age Atticus was in the third year of his Episcopate over Constantinople and was highly eminent He was a person as we have said before besides his great Learning pious and prudent Wherefore he much augmented the Churches under his jurisdiction For he not only defended those of his own Creed but caused the Hereticks also to admire his prudence He was in no wise vexations to them but when he had attempted to terrifie them afterwards he shewed himself mild towards them Nor was he careless about his studies For he bestowed much pains in reading ancient Writers spending whole nights in perusing them Wherefore he was not unacquainted with the discourses of the Philosophers and Sophistae Moreover to those that addrest to him he was pleasant and delectable He groaned with such as were sorrowfull and that I may speak summarily according to the Apostle's example he was made all things to all men Formerly during his being a Presbyter he made Sermons gat them by heart and Preach't them in the Church But afterwards by his assiduity he procured such a readiness of expression as to be able to speak extemporè and followed a panegyricall way of Preaching Notwithstanding his Sermons were not such as were either received by his Hearers with applause or committed to writing But concerning his Temper Moralls and Learning let this suffice I will now relate those memorable passages which hapned in his times CHAP. III. Concerning Theodosius and Agapetus Bishops of Synnada IN Synada a City of Phrygia Pacatiana one Theodosius was Bishop who severely persecuted the Hereticks in that City wherein there were many of the Sect of the Macedoniani he drove them not only out of the City but from the adjacent Villages also Which practise of his was not agreeable to that of the Orthodox Church which does not use to persecute nor was He incited hereto by a zeal for the true Faith but being a perfect slave to the love of money he made it his business to amass riches together by taking them from the Hereticks Wherefore he made all imaginable attempts against those that embraced the Sect of the Macedoniani putting the Clergy that was under him in Arms and practised a thousand stratagems against them nor did he forbear binding them over to the Courts of Judicature More especially he did severall ways disquiet their Bishop whose name was Agapetus But in regard the Governours of Provinces in no wise had as he supposed a sufficient power to punish Hereticks he ran to Constantinople and petitioned for Edicts from the Praefecti Praetorio In the interim therefore that Theodosius stayed at Constantinople on this account Agapetus who as I have told you presided over the Sect of the Macedoniani betook himself to a prudent and good course For having communicated the affair to his whole Clergy and called together the people under him he perswades them to embrace the Homoöusian Faith Having effected this he went directly into the Church accompanied with a great multitude or rather with the whole body of the people in generall Where when he had solemnized the prayers he took possession of the Chair wherein Theodosius was wont to sit And having united the people and professing in future the Homoöusian Creed he became possest of the Churches belonging to Synada These things having been after this manner transacted Theodosius arrives within a short time and brings along with him a Praefecturian assistance and being ignorant of what had been done goes immediately to the Church From whence he was driven by all persons unanimously and went again to Constantinople Being arrived there he made complaint before Atticus the Bishop of what had been done against him to wit that he had been unjustly ejected out of his Bishoprick Atticus knowing that this accident was advantagious to the Church gave Theodosius comfortable words perswading him with patience to embrace a quiet course of life and informing him that he ought to prefer the good of the publick before his own private concern But he wrote to Agapetus ordering him to continue in possession of the Bishoprick and bidding him not to be suspicious of any molestation from Theodosius's displeasure CHAP. IV. Concerning the Paralyticall Jew who was cured by Atticus the Bishop in divine Baptism THis was one usefull accident which befell the Church in the times of Atticus Nor was the state of these times without Miracles or Cures For a Jew who had been a Paralytick for many years was confined to his bed And when all medicinall remedies had been applied to him and no
prayers of the Jews could do him any good at length he betook himself to Christian Baptism hoping that this would be his only true and Salutary Physitian Atticus the Bishop was soon acquainted herewith Having therefore instructed him in the rudiments of Christianity and declared to him the hope in Christ he ordered him to be carried in his bed to the Font. The Paralyticall Jew receiving Baptism with a sincere faith immediately upon his being taken out of the water in the Font was freed from his disease and continued sound and healthy in future This admirable Cure the power of Christ vouchsafed to shew to men even in our times by reason whereof many Heathens believed and were baptized But the Jews although they seek after Signs notwithstanding could not be induced to believe by present miracles Such benefits as these were conferred upon men by Christ. CHAP. V. How Sabbatius who from being a Jew had been made a Presbyter of the Novatianists deserted those of his own opinion BUt many persons slighting these things persisted in their impiety For the Jews did not only disbelieve these Miracles which hapned but such persons also as were studious followers of them were found to hold the same Sentiments they did For Sabbatius of whom we have made mention a little before not willing to continue in the degree of a Presbyter to which he had been promoted but being from the beginning ambitious of a Bishoprick in these times separated from the Church of the Novatianists making the observation of the Jewish Passover his pretence Holding therefore assemblies that were Schismaticall and separate from his own Bishop Sisinnius in a place of the City which is termed Xerolophus where Arcadius's Forum now is he attempted an audacious fact that deserved many punishments For on one of his meetingdays he read a passage in the Gospell whereat these words occur Now it was a Feast called the Passover of the Jews to which he made an addition of his own that was never written nor ever heard of before to wit these words Cursed says he be that person who celebrates the Passover not on the days of unleavened bread These words of his being heard spread immediately And the simpler sort of the Novatian Laity circumvented by this Artifice betook themselves to him But his fraud proved unsuccessfull to himself And his forgery had an unhappy event For not long after he celebrated the Festivall by way of Anticipation when many persons flockt to him And whilst they were keeping the Solemn Vigills by watching all night in the Church a Daemoniacall terrour seised them as if Sisinnius their Bishop was come with a great multitude to fall upon them Hereupon a disturbance was raised as it usually happens and they being shut up by night in a streight place trod upon one another in so much that above seventy persons of them lost their lives For this reason many deserted Sabbatius Notwithstanding some possest with a rude anticipate opinion continued with him But how Sabbatius violated his oath and got into a Bishoprick we will declare by and by CHAP. VI. Concerning those who at that time were the Ring-leaders of the Arian Opinion DOrotheus Bishop of the Arian Heresie who had been translated by the Arians from Antioch to Constantinople as we have related before having lived an hundred and nineteen years died in Honorius's seventh and Theodosius Augustus's second Consulate on the sixth of November After this person Barba presided over the Arian Sect. In whose time the Arian Heresie was very happy in having two eloquent men both whom were dignified with a Presbyterate The name of the one was Timotheus the other was called Georgius Georgius was furnished with more of Grecian Literature but Timotheus had bestowed greater pains about the Sacred Scriptures Moreover Georgius had Aristotle's and Plato's books always in his hands but Timotheus was an admirer of Origen and in his Expositions of the Sacred Scriptures in publick he shewed himself not to be unskilled in the Hebrew Tongue Timotheus had formerly been an adherent to the Sect of the Psathyriani But Georgius had been ordained by Barba I my self discoursed with this Timotheus and evidently perceived how ready and expedite he was in returning answers to those who questioned him and in explaining the most obscure places which occur in the Sacred Scriptures He always quoted Origen as a most evident witness of what he asserted I cannot therefore but wonder how these two persons should persist in their adherence to Arianism the one of whom had Plato always in his hand and the other had Origen in his mouth For neither does Plato assert that the Second and Third Cause as he usually terms them took a beginning of Existence And Origen every where acknowledges the Son to be coeternal with the Father But though they continued in their own Church yet the Arian heresie was by them reduced to a better and more moderate temper For by their own doctrine they banished many of Arius's blasphemies But thus far concerning these persons Not long after this Sisinnius Bishop of the Novatianists dyed in the same Consulate and Chrysanthus is ordained concerning whom we shall speak hereafter CHAP. VII How Cyrillus succeeded Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria SOme little time after this Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria fell into a Lethargick distemper and died in Honorius's ninth and Theodosius's fifth Consulate on the fifteenth of the month October And a contention being raised there also about the Bishoprick some endeavoured to place Timotheus the Arch-deacon in the Episcopal Chair others Cyrillus who was Theophilus's sister's son When a Sedition arose hereupon amongst the people Abundatius Commander of the Milice in Egypt favoured Timotheus's party Wherefore on the third day after Theophilus's death Cyrillus was placed in the Chair and came to the Bishoprick with a greater power than Theophilus had done For from that time the Bishops of Alexandria surpassing the Sacerdotall degree and bounds exercised a principality and took upon them the secular Government of affairs Cyrillus therefore forthwith shut up the Churches of the Novatianists at Alexandria and in the first place he took away all their sacred vessells and ornaments after which he deprived their Bishop Theopemptus of all he had CHAP. VIII Concerning Maruthas Bishop of Mesopotamia and how the Christian Religion was by him propagated in Persia. ABout the very same time the Christian Religion hapned to be propagated in Persia upon this account Between the Romans and Persians frequent Embassies are continually sent For there are severall reasons why they should frequently send Embassies to one another There hapned therefore to be a necessity at that time that Maruthas Bishop of Mesopotamia whom we have mentioned a little before should be sent by the Roman Emperour to the King of the Persians The Persian King having found that this person was endewed with an eminency of piety
their meetings within the City but had a singular love and affection for them also as I have sufficiently declared already CHAP. XII Concerning Chrysanthus Bishop of the Novatianists at Constantinople AFter Sisinnius's death Chrysanthus was by force made Bishop He was the son of that Marcianus who had been Bishop of the Novatianists before Sisinnius From his younger years he had had a Military Employ in the Pallace afterwards in the Reign of Theodosius the Great he was made Consularis of Italy and after that Vicarius of the Britannick Islands for his management of both which charges he was much admired Being grown elderly he returned to Constantinople and desiring to be made Praefect of that City he was against his will compelled to take the Bishoprick For Sisinnius having mentioned him at the time of his death as a fit person for the Bishoprick the Novatian people with whom Sisinnius's words were a Law attempted to draw him by force even against his will But when Chrysanthus fled Sabbatius supposing an opportune season was offered him wherein he might be made possessour of the Churches gets himself ordained Bishop by some obscure Prelates and slights the oath which he had bound himself in Amongst those who ordained Sabbatius Bishop Hermogenes was one who had been Excommunicated and cursed by Sabbatius for his blasphemous books But Sabbatius's design proved unsuccessfull to him For the people hating his unreasonable ambition because he did all things with a design of getting into the Bishoprick made it their whole business to find out Chrysanthus Whom they found absconding in Bithynia whence they brought him by force and preferred him to the Bishoprick He was a person of as great prudence and modesty as any man was and by his means the Church of the Novatianists at Constantinople was preserved and increased He was the first person who distributed Gold of his own to the poor He received nothing from the Churches save only two Loaves of the Blessed Bread every Sunday Moreover he was so carefull about his Church that he took Ablabius the eloquentest Oratour of his own time from Troïlus the Sophista's School and ordained him Presbyter Whose elegant and acute Sermons are now extant But Ablabius was afterwards constituted Bishop of the Novatianists Church at Nicaea in which City he taught Rhetorick at the same time also CHAP. XIII Concerning the Fight which hapned at Alexandria between the Christians and Jews and concerning Cyrillus the Bishops difference with Orestes the Praefect ABout the same time the Jewish Nation were driven out of Alexandria by Cyrillus the Bishop for this reason The Alexandrians are more seditious and tumultuous than any other people and if at any time they get an occasion they usually break out into intollerable mischiefs For their rage is not appeased without bloud It hapned at that time that the populace of that City were tumultuous amongst themselves not upon any weighty or necessary occasion but by reason of that mischief which abounds in all Cities I mean an earnest desire of looking upon Dancers For in regard a Dancer gathered great multitudes together on the Sabbath day because the Jews work not on that day nor are busied in hearing their Law but spend their time in seeing Theatricall Shews that day usually occasioned mutuall factions and divisions among the people And although this was in some measure regulated and repressed by the Praefect of Alexandria nevertheless the Jews continued enraged against those of the contrary faction and besides their being always enemies to the Christians they were much more incensed against them on account of the Dancers Therefore when Orestes Praefect of Alexandria made a Police â—o the Alexandrians do usually term publick Orders in the Theatre some of Bishop Cyrillus's favourers were present there also being desirous to know the Orders that were made by the Praefect Amongst whom was a person by name Hierax a teacher of the meaner sort of Learning He was a zealous hearer of Cyrillus the Bishop and always mighty diligent about raising the Clappings at his Sermons The Jewish multitude spying this Hierax in the Theatre cried out immediately that he came into the Theatre for nothing else but to raise a Sedition amongst the people Moreover Orestes had long before conceived an hatred against the secular Government of Bishops because it diminished much of their power who had been appointed Governours of Provinces by the Emperour and also more especially because Cyrillus was desirous of prying into his Acts and Orders Having seized Hierax therefore he made him undergo tortures publickly in the Theatre With which Cyrillus being acquainted sends for the chief of the Jews and threatned them with condign punishment unless they desisted from being tumultuous against the Christians Of which menaces after the Jewish multitude were made sensible they became more pertinacious and contrived plots to damnifie the Christians The chiefest of which designs of theirs and which occasioned their expulsion out of Alexandria I will relate here Having agreed upon a sign amongst themselves which was that every one of them should wear a ring on their fingers made of the bark of a Palmtree-branch they took a resolution of making an attack upon the Christians by a night-fight One night therefore they sent some persons provided for that purpose who cried out in all the streets of the City that Alexander's Church was on fire The Christians hearing this ran some one way others another that they might preserve the Church Then the Jews set upon them immediately and slew them they abstained from killing those of their own party by shewing their rings but they murdered all the Christians they hapned to meet with When it was day the Authours of this nefarious fact were not concealed Cyrillus highly incensed hereat went accompanied with a great multitude to the Jews Synagogues so they term their houses of prayer which he took from them he also expelled the Jews out of the City and permitted the multitude to make plunder of their goods The Jews therefore who had inhabited that City from the days of Alexander the Macedonian were all forced to remove naked from thence at that time and were dispersed some in one place others in another Adamantius one of them a professour of Physick went to Constantinople and fled to Atticus the Bishop and having turned a professour of Christianity returned afterwards to Alexandria again and fixt his residence there But Orestes Praefect of Alexandria was highly incensed at what was done being exceedingly troubled because so great a City was on such a sudden emptied of so numerous a company of inhabitants Wherefore he acquainted the Emperour with what had been done Cyrillus himself likewise made known the Jews wickednesses to the Emperour nevertheless he sent messengers to Orestes on account of procuring a reconciliation For the people of Alexandria compelled him to do this And when Orestes would not admit of any
Acacius should come into his presence to the end he might enjoy a sight of the man and that that was effected by the Emperour Theodosius's order When therefore God had given so eminent a Victory to the Romans many persons who excelled for their eloquence wrote Panegyricks in praise of the Emperour and recited them in publick Moreover the Emperour's Wife wrote a Poem in Heroick Verse for she was a woman of a great eloquence For being the daughter of Leontius the Athenian-Sophist she had been instructed by her Father and cultivated with all manner of Literature When the Emperour was about marrying of this woman Atticus the Bishop made her a Christian and at her Baptism instead of Athanaïs named her Eudocia Many persons therefore as I have said recited Panegyricks some with a design to make themselves taken notice of by the Emperour others endeavouring to publish the powerfullness of their own eloquence being altogether unwilling that that Learning they had gotten by much labour should lie concealed CHAP. XXII Concerning the excellencies wherewith the Emperour Theodosius Junior was endowed BUt I who am neither studious about being taken notice of by the Emperour nor desirous of making a shew of eloquence have taken a resolution of setting forth those excellencies wherewith the Emperour is endowed sincerely and without any Rhetoricall flourishes For in regard his virtues are so singularly usefull my Sentiment is that to pass them over in silence would be a loss to posterity which would be defrauded of the knowledge thereof In the first place therefore although he was born and educated in the Imperiall Pallace yet he contracted nothing of an effeminacy oâ— stupidity from that education But was always so prudent as to be reputed by those who addressed to him to have attained a knowledge and experience in most affairs His patience in undergoing hardships was such that he could endure heat and cold couragiously and would fast frequently especially on those days termed Wednesdaies and Fridaies And this he did out of an earnest endeavour of observing the Rites of the Christian Religion with an accuracy He governed his Pallace so that it differed not much from a monasterie Wherefore he together with his sisters rose early in the morning and recited alternative Hymns in praise of God Moreover he could say the sacred Scriptures by heart And with the Bishops who conferred with him he discoursed out of the Scriptures as if he had been an Ecclesiastick of a long standing He was much more diligent in making a Collection of the sacred Books and of the Expositions which had been written thereon than Ptolemaeus Philadelphus had been heretofore For clemency and humanity he excelled all men by far The Emperour Julianus although he was a profest philosopher yet could not moderate his rage and anger towards the Antiochians who had derided him but inflicted most acute tortures upon Theodorus But Theodosius bad farwell to Aristotle's Syllogismes and exercised Philosophy in deeds getting the mastery over Anger Grief and Pleasure He never revenged himself upon any one who had been injurious to him Yea no man ever saw him angry Being on a time asked by one with whom he was pleased to be familiar why he never put to death any person who had injured him his answer was Would to God it were possible for me to restore to life those that are dead To another questioning him about the same thing 'T is no great or difficult thing said he for him that is a man to die but 't is Gods property only by repentance to restore to life him that is once dead Further his Practise of this Virtue was so constant and earnest that if any person had hapned to commit a crime which deserved a capitall punishment he was never led so far as the City-gates onwards on his way to the place of Execution before a pardon was granted whereby he was immediately recalled When on a time he exhibited a Show of hunting wild beasts in the Amphitheatre at Constantinople the people cried out Let one of the boldest Bestiarii encounter the enraged wild beast To whom he gave this answer You know not that We are wont to be spectatours at Shows with clemency and humanity With which saying he instructed the people to be in future delighted with Shows wherein there was less of cruelty Further his piety was such that he honoured all God's Priests but most especially those whom he knew to be more eminent for sanctity of life 'T is reported that when the Bishop of Châ—bron had ended his life at Constantinople he desired to have his Hair-cloth-Cassock which although it was very foul and nasty he wore instead of a Cloak believing he should thereby partake something of the dead Bishop's sanctity There hapning tempestuous weather one year he was forced to exhibit the usuall and set Shows in the Cirque in regard the people were extreamly earnest for them But when the Cirque was filled with Spectatours the Storm increased and there was a vast fall of Snow at which time the Emperour gave an evident demonstration how he was affected towards God for he made proclamation by the Cryer to the people in these words 'T is much better that we should omit the Show and all joyn in prayer to God that we may be preserved unhurt from the imminent Storm The Cryer had scarce made an end of proclaiming these words when all the people began to supplicate God in the Cirque with the greatest joy immaginable and with a generall consent sang Hymns to him And the whole City became one congregation The Emperour himself went in the midst of the multitude in a private habit and began the Hymns nor was he frustrated of his hope at that time For the air returned to its former serenity and instead of a scarcity of bread-corn the divine benevolence bestowed a plentifull crop upon all persons If at any time a War was raised in imitation of David he fled to God knowing him to be the disposer of Wars and by his prayers he managed them successfully I will here relate therefore how a little after the Persian War when the Emperour Honorius was dead in the Consulate of Asclepioâ—otus and Marianus on the fifteenth of the month August by putting his confidence in God he vanquished the Tyrant Johannes For 't is my Sentiment that the Actions which hapned at that time are worthy to be recorded because what befell the Hebrews who were led by Moses in their passage over the red Sea the same almost hapned to the Emperour's Commanders at such time as he sent them against that Tyrant Which Actions I will relate in short leaving the ampleness of them which does require a peculiar work to be set forth at large by others CHAP. XXIII Concerning Johannes who Tyrannized at Rome after Honorius the Emperour's death And how God mollified by Theodosius's prayers delivered him into the
hands of the Roman Army HOnorius Augustus therefore being dead the Emperour Theodosius informed thereof conceals it and deceives the populace by feigning sometimes one thing at others another But he sends his Military Forces secretly to Salonae which is a City of Dalmatia to the end that if any Rebellion should happen in the Western parts a force to resist it might not be far off Having made provision after this manner before hand he then published the death of his Uncle But in the interim Johannes the chief of the Emperour's Notaries unable to bear the greatness of his own preferment seizes the Empire and sends an Embassage to the Emperour Theodosius requiring to be admitted Colleague in the Empire Theodosius imprisoned his Embassadours and dispatches away Ardaâ—urius Master of the Milice who had done excellent service in the Persian War He being arrived at Salonae sailed from thence to Aquileia and had ill success as he then thought but 't was afterwards demonstrated to be prosperous For an unlucky wind blew which drove him into the Tyrant's hands Who having taken Ardaburius hoped Theodosius would be necessitated to Elect and Proclaim him Emperour if he were desirous of preserving the life of his Master of the Milice And the Emperour when informed hereof was really in an Agony as was also the Army which had been sent against the Tyrant least Ardaburius should suffer any mischief from the Tyrant Moreover Aspar Ardaburius's Son when he understood that his Father was taken by the Tyrant and knew that many Myriads of Barbarians were come to the Tyrant's assistance knew not what course to take But the prayer of the Emperour beloved by God at that time prevailed again For an Angel of God in the habit of a Shepherd became a guide to Aspar and the forces with him and leads them through the Lake which lies near to Ravenna For in that City the Tyrant resided where he detained the Master of the Milice Prisoner No person was ever known to have passed through this Lake But God rendred that passable at that time which before had been impassable When therefore they had passed the waters of the Lake as if it had been over dry ground they found the gates of the City open and seized the Tyrant At which time the most pious Emperour gave a demonstration of his Religious affection towards God For whilest he was exhibiting the Cirque-Sports news was brought him that the Tyrant was destroyed Whereupon he speaks to the people Come said he if you please let us rather leave our Recreation and go into the Church and put up our thanksgivings to God in regard his hand hath destroyed the Tyrant These were his words and the Shows ceased immediately and were neglected and all persons went through the midst of the Cirque singing praises together with him with one consent of mind and voice and went into God's Church And the whole City became one congregation Being come into the place of prayer they continued there all day CHAP. XXIV That after the slaughter of Johannes the Tyrant Theodosius the Emperour proclaimed Valentinianus the Son of Constantius and of his Aunt Placidia Emperour of Rome MOreover after the Tyrant's death the Emperour Theodosius became very solicitous whom he should proclaim Emperour of the Western parts He had a Cosin-German very young by name Valentinianus the Son of his Aunt Placidia She was daughter to the Emperour Theodosius The Great and Sister to the two Augusti Arcadius and Honorius Valentinianus had a Father by name Constantius who having been proclaimed Emperour by Honorius and reigned with him a short time died soon after This Consin-German of his he created Caesar and sent him into the Western parts committing the chief management of affairs to his mother Placidia Moreover Theodosius himself hastned into Italy that he might both proclaim his Cosin-German Emperour and also by being present there himself instruct the Italians by his own prudent advice not easily to yield subjection to Tyrants Being gone as far as Thessalonica he was hindred from proceeding on his journey by a sickness Having therefore sent the Imperiall Diadem to his Cosin-German by Helion a person of the Senatorian Order he himself returned to the City Constantinople But I think this Narrative which I have given concerning these transactions to be sufficient CHAP. XXV Concerning Atticus's Government of the Churches and that he ordered Johannes's name to be written into the Dypticks of the Church and that he foreknew his own death IN the interim Atticus the Bishop in a wonderfull manner enlarged the affairs of the Church administring all things with a singular prudence and by his Sermons inciting the people to Virtue Perceiving that the Church was divided in regard the Johannitae held separate Assemblies he ordered that mention should be made of Johannes in the prayers according as it was usuall for other Bishops who were dead to be mentioned on which account he hoped many would return to the Church Moreover he was so liberall that he made provision not only for the poor of his own Churches but sent money also to the neighbouring Cities towards the relief and comfort of the necessitous For he sent three hundred Crowns to Calliopius a Presbyter of the Church of Nicaea to whom he wrote this Letter Atticus to Calliopius health in the Lord. I understand that in your City there are an infinite company of persons oppressed with hunger who stand in need of the compassion of pious men By terming them an infinite company I mean a multitude not an accurate and determinate number In regard therefore I have received a sum of money from him who with a liberall hand giveth to good Stewards and whereas it happens that some are oppressed with want to the end that those who have wherewithall might be tried but do not give to the indigent take dear friend these three hundred Crowns and bestow them as you shall think good But give them to those who are wholly ashamed to beg not to them that throughout their whole lives have declared their belly to be their trade Moreover when you give have no respect to any Sect or Religion whatever in this particular act mind this one thing only to feed the hungry but not to difference or distinguish those who embrace not our Religion After this manner Atticus took care even of the indigent that were at a distance from him Moreover he made it his business to extirpate the superstitions of some men For having one time received information that those who separated from the Novatianists on account of the Jewish passover had translated the body of Sabbatius from Rodes for he had been banished into that Island where he ended his life and buried it and did usually pray at his grave he sent some persons by night to whom he gave order to dig up Sabbatius's body and bury it in some other Sepulchre But the
persons who usually went thither when they found the grave dug up in future left off worshipping that place Besides he was very elegant and happy in imposing names upon places A Sea-Port situate in the mouth of the Euxine-Sea which had antiently been called Pharmaceus he named Therapeia least at his holding religious assemblies there he should call that place by an infamous name Another place near adjacent to Constantinople he named Argyropolis for this reason Chrysopolis is an ancient Sea-Port situate in the head of the Bosphorus many of the ancient Writers make mention of it especially Strabo Nicolaus Damascenus and the admirably eloquent Xenophon in his sixth Book concerning the expedition of Cyrus and the same Authour in his first Book concerning the Grecian affairs speaks to this effect concerning this City viz. that Alcibiades when he had built a wall round it set up a Toll therein which consisted of a payment of the tenth peny For those who fail out of Pontus were compelled to pay the tenth peny there Atticus therefore perceiving this place which was situate over against Chrysopolis to be pleasant and delightfull said it was fit and agreeable it should be termed Argyropolis Which saying of his put that name upon the place immediately When some persons spoke to him that the Novatianists ought not to hold their assemblies within the Cities his answer was you know not how much they suffered together with us when we were persecuted in the Reignes of Constantius and Valens And besides said he they have been Assertours of our Faith For though they made a separation long since from the Church yet no innovation about the Faith hath been introduced by them Being arrived on a time at Nicaea upon account of an Ordination and seeing Asclepiades a very aged person Bishop of the Novatianists there he asked him how many years have you been a Bishop When he made answer that he had been a Bishop fifty years You are happy O man said he in regard you have been diligent about so good a work for such a long time He spake these words to the same Asclepiades I do indeed commend Novatus but the Novatianists I can in no wise approve of Asclepiades amazed at this strange expression replied how can you say this O Bishop To whom Atticus made this answer I commend Novatus because he refused to communicate with those persons who had sacrificed For I my self would have done the same But I do not in any wise praise the Novatianists in regard they exclude the Laïcks from communion on account of very light and triviall offences To which Asclepiades made this return there are besides sacrificing many other sins unto death as the Scriptures term them on account whereof you exclude Ecclesiasticks but we Laïcks also from communion leaving to God alone a power of pardoning them Further Atticus foreknew even the time of his own death For at his departure from Nicaea he spake these words to Calliopius a Presbyter of that place Hasten to Constantinople before Autumn if you are desirous of seeing me agai◠alive For if you delay you will not find me living Upon his saying whereof he mistook not For in the twenty first year of his Episcopate on the tenth of October he died in Theodosius's eleventh and Valentinianus Caesar's first Consulate Moreover the Emperour Theodosius being then in his return from Thessalonica was not at his Funerall For Atticus was interred the day before the Emperour's Entry into Constantinople Not long after Valentinianus Junior was Declared Augustus about the twenty third of that same October CHAP. XXVI Concerning Sisinnius Atticus's successour in the Constantinopolitane Bishoprick AFter Atticus's death a great contest hapned about the Ordination of a Bishop some desiring one person others another For one party 't is said were earnest to have Philippus a Presbyter another Proclus who was a Presbyter also But the whole body of the people with a generall consent wished Sisinnius might be made Bishop who was a Presbyter also himself he had not been constituted over any of the Churches within the City but had been promoted to the Presbyterate in a Village belonging to Constantinople the name whereof is Elaea and 't is situate over against the Imperiall City in which Village the Festivall of our Saviour's Ascension was from an ancient usage celebrated by the whole people in generall All the Laïcks were desirous to have this man made Bishop both because he was a person singularly eminent for his piety and also more especially in regard his diligence in relieving the indigent was earnest even beyond his power The desire therefore of the Laïty prevailed and Sisinnius is ordained on the twenty eighth of February in the following Consulate which was Theodosius's twelfth and Valentinianus Junior Augustus's second Afterwards Philippus the Presbyter because Sisinnius was preferred before him was very bitter and large in his invectives against that Ordination in that voluminous work termed the Christian History which he wrote wherein he calumniates both the person ordained and also those who had ordained him but more especially the Laity And his expressions are such that I am unwilling to record them for I can in no wise approve of his rashness in having been so audacious as to commit such things to writing But I judge it not inopportune to say something in short concerning him CHAP. XXVII Concerning Philippus the Presbyter who was born at Side PHilippus was by Country a Sidensian Side is a City of Pamphylia at which Troilus the Sophista had his originall extract of his own relation to whom Philippus boasted Whilest he was a Deacon he had had frequent converse with Bishop Johannes He was a very laborious and painfull student and had made a Collection of many books and those of all sorts He imitated the Asian Style and wrote many Books For he confuted the Emperour Julian's Pieces and compiled a Christian History which he divided into six and thirty Books Each Book contained many Tomes in so much that in all they were near a thousand The Contents of each Tome equalled the Tome it self in bigness This work he entitled not an Ecclesiastick but a Christian History In it he heaped together variety of Learning being desirous to shew that he was not unskilled in Philosophick Literature For which reason he makes frequent mention therein of Geometricall Astronomicall Arithmeticall and Musicall Theorems He also describes Islands Mountains Trees and severall other things not very momentous Upon which account he has made it a loose work and therefore hath in my judgment rendred it useless both to the ignorant and to the Learned also For the ignorant are unable to inspect the heighth and grandeur of his Stile And those that are well versed in Learning nauseate his insipid repetition of words But let every one pass a judgment upon those Books according to his
God as were different from those embraced by himself CHAP. XLII That this Writer spends many words in praise of the Emperour Theodosius Junior's probity ON account hereof therefore Proclus was highly commended by the Emperour For He himself also was like to such as were true Prelates nor did he any wise approve of those who were desirous of persecuting others Yea I can speak it with confidence that for meekness he excelled all those who were true and genuine Ecclesiasticks And what is recorded of Moses in the Book of Numbers Now the man Moses was very meek above all the men which were upon the face of the earth the same may be now said of the Emperour Theodosius to wit that he is very meek above all the men which are upon the face of the earth For by reason of this his meekness God has subdued his enemies under him without military engagements as hath been demonstrated by his Victory over the Tyrant Johannes and shall be made evident from the destruction of the Barbarians which succeeded that soon after For what manner of assistances have been given by God to just men heretofore such like have even in our times been bestowed on the most pious Emperour by the God of the Universe Nor do I write this out of flattery but I will give a Narrative of affairs which all men have been throughly acquainted with as they truly are CHAP. XLIII How great calamities those Barbarians underwent who had been the Tyrant Johannes's Auxiliaries FOr after the slaughter of the Tyrant those Barbarians whom he had called to his assistance against the Romans made preparations to overrun and ruine the Roman Provinces When the Emperour heard of it according as his usage was he committed the care of this affair to God and having been earnest in prayers not long after obtained what he desired Further it will be advantagious to hear what calamities befell the Barbarians Their Commander in chief whose name was Rougas is killed by a clap of thunder Then followed a plague which destroyed most of the men under his command Nor was this only sufficient but fire also descended from heaven and consumed many of those who remained And this put the Barbarians into the greatest terrour imaginable not so much because they had dared to take up Arms against the valiant Nation of the Romans as in regard they found them assisted by a powerfull God Moreover Proclus the Bishop Preached a Sermon at that time in the Church wherein he applied a prophecy taken out of Ezechiel to the deliverance effected by God at that juncture for which discourse he was greatly admired The prophecy runs thus And thou son of man prophecy against Prince Gog Rhos Misoch and Thobell For I will judge him with death and with bloud and with an overflowing rain and with stones of hail And I will rain fire and Brimstone upon him and upon all those with him and upon many Nations which are with him And I will be magnified and glorified and I will be known in the eyes of many Nations And they shall know that I am the Lord. On account thereof therefore as I have said Proclus was much admired But on the Emperour because of his meekness many other Blessings were conferred by divine providence Amongst which this was one which I will now relate CHAP. XLIV That the Emperour Valentinianus Junior married Eudoxia the daughter of Theodosius HE had a daughter by his Wife Eudocia her name Eudoxia His Cousin Germane Valentinianus whom he had made Emperour of the Western parts desired he might marry this Princess To which when the Emperour Theodosius had given his consent and both the Augusti after they had deliberated about celebrating the marriage at some place on the frontiers of both Empires had resolved each to make a journey half way and do it at Thessalonica Valentinianus sends Theodosius intimation by Letter that he should not give himself that trouble for that he would come in person to Constantinople Having therefore secured the Western parts with a sufficient guard he comes to Constantinople on account of the marriage Which having been celebrated in the Consulate of Isidorus and Senator he took his Wife and returned into the Western parts Such a felicity as this befell the Emperour at that time CHAP. XLV That Proclus the Bishop perswaded the Emperour to translate the Body of Johannes from the place of his Exile where it had been buried to Constantinople and to deposite it in the Church of The Apostles NOt long after this time Proclus the Bishop reduced those to the Church who had made a separation from it on account of Bishop Johannes's deposition having mitigated their disgust by a prudent expedient What that was we must now relate After he had perswaded the Emperour to give his consent thereto he brought the body of Johannes which had been buried at Comani to Constantinople on the thirty fifth year after his deposition And when he had carried it through the City publickly in great pomp and state he deposited it with much honour and solemnity in that termed the Church of The Apostles Those persons therefore who had made a separation on Johannes's account were by this means prevailed upon and became united to the Church And this hapned in the sixteenth Consulate of the Emperour Theodosius about the twenty seventh of January But I cannot forbear wondring here how it came to pass that Envy should assail and corrode Origen after he was dead and yet spare Johannes For Origen was excommunicated by Theophilus about two hundred years after his death But Johannes was admitted to communion by Proclus on the thirty fifth year after he died So great was the difference between Proclus's disposition and that of Theophilus But prudent men are not ignorant in what manner these things have been and daily are done CHAP. XLVI Concerning the death of Paulus Bishop of the Novatianists and concerning Marcianus who was his successour SOme little time after the Removall of Johannes's body died Paulus also Bishop of the Novatianists in the same Consulate about the twenty first day of July Who at his own Funerall reduced all the disagreeing Heresies into one Church in a manner For they all accompanied his body to the Grave with singing of Psalmes because whilest he lived all Sects loved him exceedingly for his Sanctity of life But because the same Paulus performed a memorable action just before his death I judge it usefull to insert it into this History for their advantage who shall peruse this Work For that during his sickness he observed his usuall Ascetick discipline as to his dyet and transgressed not in the least the rules thereof and that he never omitted performing the usuall prayers with a fervency all this I think fit to leave unmentioned least by spending time in giving a narrative hereof I should obscure that memorable and most
usefull action as I have said which he performed What that is must now be declared Being neer dying he sent for all the Presbyters belonging to the Churches under him to whom he exprest himself thus Take care about electing a Bishop over your selves whilest I am alive least afterwards your Churches be disturbed When they made answer that the Election of a Bishop was not to be left to them for in regard said they some of us have one Sentiment others another we shall never nominate the same person but we wish that you your self would name that man whom you desire to be your successour To which Paulus made this return deliver me then this profession of yours in writing to wit that you will Elect him whom I shall appoint to be chosen When they had done that and confirmed it by their subscriptions he sate on his bed and without discovering it to those who were present wrote Marcianus's name in the paper This person had been promoted to the Presbyterate and likewise had been instructed in aâ— Ascetick course of life under Paulus but was then gone to travell After this he Sealed up the paper himself and caused the chief of the Presbyters to Seal it up also and then delivered it to one Marcus who was Bishop of the Novatianists in Scythia but had at that time made a journey to Constantinople to whom he spake these words If God shall permit me to continue much longer in this life restore this depositum to me now committed to your trust to be kept safely But if it shall please him to remove me out of this world in this paper you will find whom I have Elected to be my successour in the Bishopâ—ick When he had spoken these words he died On the third day therefore after his death when they had unsealed the paper in the presence of a great multitude and found Marcianus's name therein they all cried out that he was a worthy and fit person And without delay they dispatcht away some messengers who might seize him They took him by a pious fraud at his residence in Tiberiopolis a City of Phrygia from whence they brought him along with them and about the twenty first of the same month ordained and placed him in the Episcopall Chair But enough concerning these things CHAP. XLVII That the Emperour Theodosius sent his Wife Eudocia to Jerusalem MOreover the Emperour Theodosius offered up his Thanksgivings to God for the benefits which he had conferred upon him And this he performed by honouring Christ with singular and eminent honours He likewise sent his wife Eudocia to Jerusalem For she had oblieged herself also to a performance of this vow if she might see her daughter married But the Empress herself also beautified the Churches at Jerusalem and all those in the Eastern Cities with various ornaments both when she went thither and likewise at her return CHAP. XLVIII Concerning Thalassius Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia ABout that very time to wit in Theodosius's seventeenth Consulate Proclus the Bishop attempted a wonderfull thing the like to which has not been performed by any of the Ancient Bishops For Firmus Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia being dead the Caesareans came to Constantinople and requâ—sted they might have a Bishop And whilest Proclus was considering whom he should preser to that See it hapned that all the Senatours came to the Church on the Sabbath to give him a visit amongst whom was Thalassius also a personage who had born a Praefecture over the Provinces and Cities of Illyricum But though as it was reported he had been the person pitch't upon who was about to have the Government of the Eastern parts committed to his care by the Emperour yet Proclus laid his hands on him and instead of his being constituted a Praefectus Praetorio made him Bishop of Caesarea Thus successfull and prosperous were the affairs of the Church But I will here close my History with my prayers to God that the Churches in all places the Cites and Provinces may live in peace For as long as peace flourishes those that are desirous to do it will have no subject for their writing an History For we our selves who have performed what you enjoyned us in Seven Books O Sacred man of God Theodorus should have wanted matter for this our History if the lovers of seditions and tumults would have been quiet This Seventh Book contains an account of affairs transacted during the space of two and thirty years The whole History which iâ—â—â—omprized in Seven Books contains the space of an hundred and fourty years It begins from the first year of the two hundredth seventy first Olympiad wherein Constantine was proclaimed Emperour and ends at the second year of the three hundredth and fifth Olympiad whereon the Emperour Theodosius bore his seventeenth Consulate The End of Socrates Scholasticus's Ecclesiastick History THE ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF Evagrius Scholasticus EPIPHANIENSIS And One of the EX-PRAEFECTS IN SIX BOOKS Translated out of the GREEK according to that Edition set forth by VALESIUS and Printed at PARIS in the Year 1673. Together with VALESIUS's Annotations on the said Historian which are done into ENGLISH and set at their proper places in the Margin Hereunto also is annexed an account of the foresaid Historian's Life and Ecclesiastick History Collected by VALESIUS and Rendred into ENGLISH HINC LUCEM ET POCULA SACRA CAMBRIDGE Printed by John Hayes Printer to the University 1681. VALESIUS'S ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND Ecclesiastick History OF EVAGRIUS SCHOLASTICUS Epiphaniensis EVagrius Scholasticus was by Nation a Syrian as was also Theodoret born at Epiphania which was a City of Syria Secunda as he himself has declared in the Title of his own work Therefore I wonder at Gerardus Vossius who in his Book de Historicis Graecis pag. 498 relates that Evagrius was born at Antioch But Evagrius himself both in the Title of his History and also in his Third Book Chap. 34 does expressly attest that he was born at Epiphania For speaking there concerning Cosmas Bishop of Epiphania his words are these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Cosmas Bishop of Our Epiphania in the Vicinage whereof runs the River Orontes c. Besides Photius in his Bibliotheca chap. 29 affirms that Evagrius was born in Epiphania a City of Syria Coele 〈…〉 which is strange Nicephorus Callistus does in two places term our Evagâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 ot Epiphaniensis but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Illustrious For in Nicephorus's First Book chap. 1 the words are these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Moreover Evagrius the Illustrious c. And in Book 16. Chap. 31 Nicephorus quoting a passage of Evagrius out of his Third Book Chap. 34 which passage I have just now mentioned expresses himself thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Moreover in like manner as Evagrius the Illustrious has related concerning Severus But my Sentiment is that Transcribers have mistook at both
highest indignity took a resolution to cast every Dye as the saying is to the end she might be revenged both for what had been done in relation to the assassination of her husband and also for the reproach which had been brought upon her own Liberty For a woman is fierce and of an anger implacable if when she uses her utmost endeavour to preserve it inviolate her chastity be forcibly taken from her and especially by him who hath been her husband's Assassine She sends therefore into Africa to Gizerichus and having forthwith presented him with many Gifts and by her Declaration put him into a good hope of what was behind she prevails with him to make a sudden and unexpected Invasion upon the Roman Empire promising she would betray all to him Which having in this manner been performed Rome is taken But Gizerichus in regard he was a Barbarian and of a disposition inconstant and mutable kept not his promise even with her but having burnt the City and made plunder of all its riches he took Eudoxia together with her two daughters marched back went away and returned into Africa The elder of Eudoxia's daughters by name Eudocia he married to his own son Hunericus But the younger her name was Placidia together with her mother Eudoxia he sent some time after to Byzantium attended with an Imperial Train and a Guard to the end he might pacifie Marcianus For he had highly incensed him both because Rome had been burnt and also in regard the Imperial Princesses had been so contumeliously used Moreover Placidia is match't by Marcianus's order Olybrius having married her who was look't upon to be the eminentest personage amongst the Roman Senatours and after the taking of Rome had betaken himself to Constantinople Further after Maximus Avitus reigned over the Romans eight months He having ended his life by the Pestilence Majorianus held the Empire two years After Majorianus had been traecherously slain by Ricimeres Master of the Milice Severus possest the Empire three years CHAP. VIII Concerning the doath of Marcianus and the Empire of Leo. And how the Hereticks of Alexandria slew Proterius and gave that Arch-Bishoprick to Timotheus Aelurus MOreover during Severus's Governing the Romans Marcianus changed his Kingdom and departed to a better Inheritance when he had Governed the Empire seven years only having left amongst all men a truely royall Monument The Alexandrians informed of his death with much more animosity and a greater heat of mind renewed their rage against Proterius For the multitude is a thing with the greatest ease imaginable blown up into a rage and which snatches hold of the most triviall occasions as fuell for Tumults But above all others the populace of Alexandria are of this humour which City abounds with a numerous multitude made up mostly of an obscure and promiscuous company of Foreigners which by an unexpected and unaccountable boldness and precipitancy breaks out into violence and rage 'T is therefore for certain reported that any one there who makes complaint of the breaking any thing of small value which he carries may incite the City to a popular Tumult and may lead and carry the multitude whither and against whom he pleases For the most part also they are delighted with jests and sports as Herodotus relates concerning Amasis And this is the humour of the Alexandrians Nevertheless as to other things they are not such a fort of persons as that any one may despise them The Alexandrians therefore observing the time when Dionysius Commander of the Milice made his Residence in the Upper Egypt make choice of one Timotheus surnamed Aelurus to ascend the Archi-Episcopal-Chair a person who heretofore had followed a Monastick Life but afterwards was enrolled amongst the number of the Presbyters of the Alexandrian Church When they had led this person to the Great Church called Caesar's they ordain him their Bishop whilest Proterius was as yet living and personally officiating in his Episcopal Function Eusebius Bishop of Pelusium and Peter of Iberia Bishop of the little Town Majuma were present at the Ordination as he who wrote Peter's Life has told us in his account of these transactions Which writer affirms that Proterius was not murdered by the people but by one of the Souldiers Further after Dionysius had made his return to the City Alexandria with the greatest celerity imaginable to which he had been urged by the nefarious facts there perpetrated and was using his endeavours to extinguish the kindled fire of the Sedition some of the Alexandrians incited thereto by Timotheus as the Contents of the Letter written to Leo the Emperour do declare murder Proterius by running their swords through his bowells when he attempted to get away and had fled as far as the most Holy Baptistery And after they had tied a rope about him they hung him up at that place termed The Tetrapylum and shewed him to all persons jeering and crying out aloud that that was Proterius who had been killed After this they drag'd the body all over the City and then burnt it Nor did they abhor tasting of his very bowells according to the usage of Savage-beasts as the Supplicatory Libell wherein all these passages are contained sent by all the Bishops of Egypt and by the whole Clergy of Alexandria to Leo who after Marcianus's death as hath been said was invested with the Empire of the Romans doth evidence the Contents whereof are conceived in these express words To the Pious Christ-Lover and by-God-designed Leo Victor Triumphator and Augustus The humble Address presented by all the Bishops of Your Aegyptick Dioecesis and by the Ecclesiasticks in Your Greatest and Most Holy Church of the Alexandrians Whereas by Celestiall Grace You have been bestowed as a most Eximious Gift upon the World 't is no wonder if You cease not Most Sacred Emperour daily after God from making Provision for the Publick And after some other words And whilest there was an uninterrupted peace amongst the Orthodox Laïty both with us and also at the City Alexandria disturbances were raised again by Timotheus who made a separation of himself from the Catholick Church and Faith and cut himself off therefrom soon after the holy Synod at Chalcedon at which time he was but a Presbyter together with four or five persons only heretofore Bishops and some few Monks who together with him were distempered with the Hereticall errour of Apollinaris and that person On which account having then been canonically deposed by Proterius of divine memory and by a Synod of the Bishops of all Egypt they deservedly experienced the Imperial displeasure by Exile And after some words interposed And having taken his advantage of that opportunity when the Emperour Marcianus of Sacred Memory made his departure hence to God with impious Expressions as if he had been subject to no Laws he in a most shameless manner raged
that the same Emperour took care of the publick works and buildings CHAP. XIII Concerning the Fire which hapned at Constantinople THere hapned together with these mischiefs a like or rather a far more grievous calamity at Constantinople this mischievous accident began in that part of the City that lay towards the Sea which they term the Ox-Street 'T is reported that about such time as Candles are usually lighted a certain mischievous and execrable Devill having cloâ—hed himself in the shape of a woman or rather in reality a poor woman instigated by the Devill for 't is reported both ways carried a Candle into the Market being about to buy some Salt-fish and that the woman set down the Candle there and went away And that the fire having taken hold of some Flax raised a vast flame and in a moment burnt the Market-house After which that it easily consumed the adjoyning buildings the fire preying all about not only upon such houses as might with ease be fired but upon Stone-buildings also and that it continued till the fourth day and that having exceeded all possibility of being extinguished all the middle of the City from the Northern to the Southern Quarter five furlongs in length and fourteen in breadth was in such a manner consumed that nothing either of the publick or private buildings was left standing within this compass not the Pillars nor Arches of Stone but that all the most hardned matter was burnt as if it had been straw oâ— any such combustible stuff Further this calamitous mischief raged in the Northern part wherein is the Haven of the City from that termed the Bosporos unto the Old Temple of Apollo In the Southern part from Julianus's Haven to those houses which stand not far off from that Oratory termed the Church of Concordia And in the middle part of the City from that termed Constantine's Forum to that called Taurus's Forum it left a miserable and most deformed spectacle to the view of all men For whatever Edifices had stood stately to behold in the City or had been brought to a Magnificence and incomparableness of Beauty or accommodated to publick or private uses were every one on a sudden transformed into mountains and hills inaccessible and impassible made up with all manner of Rubbish which deformed the Pristine Beauty and sight of the City In so much that even the possessours themselves of the places could not discern what any one of those former Edifices had been and in what place it had stood CHAP. XIV Concerning the universall Calamities ABout the same times when the Scythian War was raised against the Eastern-Romans the Country of Thracia and the Helespont were shaken with an Earthquake as was Ionia and likewise those Islands called the Cycladès in so much that in the Islands Cnidus and Coos very many buildings were overturned Further Priscus relates that at Constantinople and in the Country of the Bithynians there hapned most violent storms of rain the waters descending from heaven in the manner of Rivers for the space of three or four days And that mountains were levelled into Plains and Villages overwhelmed with waters perished Moreover that Islands arose in the Lake Boäne which is not far distant from Nicomedia from the vast quantity of dirt and filth conveyed into it But these things came to pass sometime afterwards CHAP. XV. Concerning the Marriage of Zeno and Ariadne MOreover Leo takes Zeno to be his Son in Law by giving him his daughter Ariadne in Marriage This person having from his Cradle been called Aricmesius after his Marriage assumed the name of Zeno from a certain person so named who had arrived at great glory amongst the Isauri But by what means this Zeno arrived at this heighth of Honour and on what account he was by Leo preferred before all persons Eustathius the Syrian has declared CHAP. XVI Concerning Anthemius Emperour of Rome and those Emperours who succeeded him BY reason of an Embassie of the Western Romans to Leo Anthemius by him is sent and created Emperour of Rome to whom Marcianus the preceding Emperour had married his own daughter Not long after Basiliscus brother of Verina the wife of Leo Augustus is sent Master of the Milice against Gizerichus with a choice Army of Souldiers All which have with great accuracy been recorded by Priscus the Rhetorician as likewise in what manner the same Emperour Leo killed Aspar who had invested him with the Empire whom he circumvented by Treachery rendring him this reward as 't were of his own promotion and his Sons Ardaburius and Patricius whom some time before he had created Caesar that he might possess himself of Aspar's favour and benevolence But after the murder of Anthemius who had Reigned five years at Rome Olybrius is proclaimed Emperour by Recimeres and after him Glycerius is made Emperour Whom Nepos having expelled during the space of five years holds the Empire and ordains Glycerius Bishop of the Romans at Salonae a City of Dalmatia Afterwards Nepos is driven from the Empire by Orestes and after him his Son Romulus surnamed Augustulus is made the last Emperour of Rome one thousand three hundred and three years after the Reign of Romulus After this Augustulus Odöacer rejecting the name of Emperour and styling himself King administred the affairs of the Romans CHAP. XVII Concerning the Death of Leo and the Empire of Leo Junior and also concerning Zeno his Father AT the same time the Emperour Leo ended his Reign at Byzantium after he had Governed the Empire seventeen years having declared Leo the son of his own daughter Ariadne and Zeno a very young child Emperour After his death his Father Zeno assumes the Purple Verina the wife of Leo giving him her assistance as being her son in Law The child Leo Junior dying not long after Zeno continued sole possessour of the Empire But what was transacted by him or against him and whatever else hapned in his times the following Book by God's assistance shall declare The End of the Second Book The matters agitated at the Synod convened at Chalcedon being reduced into an Epitome are these CHAP. XVIII An Epitome of the Acts at the Synod of Chalcedon set at the end of the Second Book PAschasinus and Lucentius Bishops and Boniphatius a Presbyter filled the place of Leo Pontif of the Elder Rome Anatolius being Prelate of Constantinople and Dioscorus Bishop of the Alexandrians Maximus also of Antioch and Juvenalis of Jerusalem and those Bishops about them were there Together with whom were present those personages who held the principall places in the eximious Senate of Constantinople To whom they who filled the place of Leo said that Dioscorus ought not to sit together with them in the Councill For this they said was given them in charge by Leo. And unless it were done that they would go forthwith out
those who besieged him he drives out Basiliscus who had held the Empire two years and delivers him to the enemy after he had made his escape to the Holy Rails of the Altar On this account Zeno dedicated a spatious Church eminent for its splendidness and beauty to the Proto-Martyr Thecla at Seleucia scituate in the Country of Isauria and beautified it with many and Imperial Sacred gifts which are preserved till these our times Further Basiliscus is sent into the Region of the Cappadocians in order to his being put to death but he is slain in that Station named Acusus together with his wife and children And Zeno makes a Law which abrogates what had been constituted by the Tyrant Basiliscus in his Circular Letters Then also Petrus surnamed Fullo is driven from the Church of the Antiochians and Paulus from that of the Ephesians CHAP. IX That after Basiliscus's death the Bishops of Asia that they might appease Acacius sent him a Penitentiary-Libell craving pardon for their offence in rejecting the Synod of Chalcedon IN the Interim the Bishops of Asia in order to their appeasing Acacius excused themselves and craved pardon sending a Penitentiary-Libell to him wherein they affirmed that they had subscribed to the Circular-Letters by force and constraint not voluntarily and they swore that the thing was so and that they had not believed nor did believe otherwise than agreeable to the Synod at Chalcedon The purport of their Letters is this The Epistle or Petition sent to Acacius Bishop of Constantinople from the Bishops of Asia To Acacius the most Holy and most Pious Patriarch of the most Holy Church at the Imperial City Constantinople New Rome And after other words He hath arrived amongst us and does what is right and fitting who also shall fill your place And after a few words By these Libells we signifie to you that we have subscribed not according to the intent of our minds but by force and constraint giving our consent thereto in words and Letters but not in heart For by the assistance of your acceptable intercessions together with the assent of the Deity we believe in such manner as we have received from those Three hundred and eighteen Luminaries of the world and from the Hundred and fifty Holy Fathers Besides we believe those matters also which have been piously and rightly determined at Chalcedon by the Holy Fathers convened there Further whether Zacharias the Rhetorician has calumniated these Bishops of Asia or whether they themselves have lyed in averring that they subscribed involuntarily I cannot affirm CHAP. X. Concerning those who governed the Bishoprick of Antioch AFter therefore Peter was ejected Stephanus assumes the Chair of Antioch whom the children of the Antiochians slew with reeds which were made sharp like to Darts as Johannes the Rhetorician has related But after Stephanus the Government of that same See was committed to Calendion who excited those that came to him to Anathematize Timotheus together with Basiliscus's Circular Letters CHAP. XI That the Emperour Zeno took a resolution of persecuting Aelurus but by reason of his age he had compassion on him and let him alone And how after Aelurus's death Petrus Mongus was ordained by the Alexandrians But Timotheus Proterius's successour by the order of the Emperour obtained the Chair of the Alexandrians MOreover Zeno was resolved to have expelled Timotheus out of Alexandria but understanding from some persons that he was now very aged and would soon go the way of all men he altered his resolution And not long after Timotheus paid the common debt of Nature whereupon those of Alexandria by their own authority elect Petrus surnamed Mongus Bishop Which when it came to Zeno's hearing disturbed him extreamly Wherefore Zeno punished Petrus with death but he recalled Timotheus Salophaciolus Proterius's successour who then lived at Canopus on account of a Sedition raised by the people Timotheus therefore by the Emperour's order recovered his own See CHAP. XII Concerning Johannes who obtained the Presidency over the Alexandrian Church after Timotheus and how Zeno outed him in regard he had forsworn himself and restored the Chair of Alexandria to Petrus Mongus BUT by the advice of some persons Johannes a Presbyter appointed to be the Steward of the venerable Church of the Holy Forerunner and Baptist John makes a journey to the Imperial City Constantinople being sent on an Embassage to make an address to the Emperour that if it should happen that their Bishop should die the Inhabitants of Alexandria might have a liberty of Electing one to preside over their Church whom they should have a mind to This person as Zacharias affirms was by the Emperour discovered to have a design of procuring the Bishoprick for himself And when he had oblieged himself by oaths that he would never seek to get the Alexandrian Chair he returned into his own Country But the Emperour promulged a Law that after Timotheus's death that person should be Bishop whom the Clergy and people of Alexandria should Elect. Timotheus having ended his life not long after this Johannes as the same Zacharias has related gave money and disregarding the oathes wherein he had bound himself to the Emperour is constituted Bishop of Alexandria Which when the Emperour understood he ordered him to be Ejected And by the perswasion of some persons the Emperour wrote an Exhortatory Edict to the Alexandrians which he termed his Henoticon and ordered that the Chair of Alexandria should be restored to Petrus provided he would subscribe to His Henoticon and receive those of Proterius's party to communion CHAP. XIII That Petrus Mongus embraced Zeno's Henoticon and joyned himself to the Proterians THis Disposition which had been made by the advice of Acacius Bishop of the Imperial City Pergamius who was constituted Praefect of Egypt carries along with him He being arrived at Alexandria and finding Johannes fled held a conference with Petrus and perswades him to admit of Zeno's Exhortatory Edict and moreover to receive those who had dissented from him He admits therefore of the forementioned Exhortatory Edict and subscribes to it He promises also that he would receive those who were of the contrary party Wherefore not long after this when a publick Festivity was celebrated at Alexandria and all persons by a generall consent agreed to that termed Zeno's Henoticon Petrus likewise admitted to communion those of Proterius's party And having made an Exhortatory Oration to the people in the Church he recited Zeno's Exhortatory Edict also the Contents whereof were these CHAP. XIV Zeno's Henoticon EMperour Caesar Zeno Pius Victor Triumphator Maximus always Adorable Augustus to the most Reverend Bishops Clergy Monks and Laicks in Alexandria and throughout Egypt Libya and Pentapolis Knowing the only right and true Faith which the Three hundred and eighteen Holy Fathers convened at Nicaea by a Divine influence have set forth
that Zeno framed innumerable designes and intreagues even against Verina his own mother in Law and that after these things he banisht her into the Country of the Cilicians but that afterwards when Illus's Tyranny broke out Verina removed to that termed the Castle of Papirius and there ended her life Moreover the same Eustathius hath written the Affairs of Illus with much Eloquence how having been treacherously laid wait for by Zeno he made his escape and in what manner Zeno delivered up that person to Illus to be put to death whom he had ordered to murder Illus paying him with the loss of his head which reward Zeno gave him for his unsuccessfullness in that attempt Illus also was declared Master of the Oriental Milice by Zeno who made it his business to conceal those treacherous designes he had framed against Illus But Illus having taken into an association with himself Leontius and one Marsus a person eminent and skilfull and Pamprepius went into the Eastern parts Then the said Eustathius relates Leontius's being proclaimed Emperour which was done at Tarsus of Cilicia and also what these persons got by their Tyranny Theodoricus a person by original extract a Goth and who was a man of eminency amongst the Romans being sent against them with an Army consisting partly of Romans and partly of Barbarians The same Eustathius does very ingeniously describe the slaughter of these persons which in a cruell manner was effected by Zeno's order he repaying them with this reward for their Benevolence they had shown to himself and that Theodoricus made sensible of Zeno's treacherous designes against himself departed to the Seniour Rome But others affirm that Theodoricus made this journey into Italy by Zeno's perswasion and having vanquished Odoacer in an Engagement made himself Master of Rome and assumed to himself the name only of King CHAP. XXVIII Concerning Mammianus and the Structures built by him JOhannes the Rhetorician relates that during the Reign of Zeno one Mammianus from being a Sedentary Mechanick became an eminent person and arrived at the Senatorian Order and that this Mammianus built that Edifice termed The Antiphorum in the Suburb Daphne which place had before had Vines in it and was fit for Tillage opposite to the publick Bath wherein is erected a Brazen Statue with this Inscription MAMMIANUS A LOVER OF THE CITY The same Johannes adds that he raised two Royall Porticus's in the City for building very magnificent and beautified with the splendour and brightness of Stones And that between the two Royall Porticus's The Tetrapylum a middle Edifice was erected by him most exquisitely adorned with Columns and Brass I my self have seen the Royall Porticus's which together with their name do still retain the Remains of their former Beauty their flour being paved with Proconnesian Marble But the rest of the Building has nothing of excellency For by reason of those Calamities which have befaln them they have of late been repair'd nothing being added that might beautifie them But of The Tetrapylum erected by Mammianus we have not found so much as the very Foundation CHAP. XXIX Concerning Zeno's Death and the Proclaiming Anastasius Emperour FUrther Zeno dying Childless of a disease termed an Epilepsie after the seventeenth year of his Empire his brother Longinus who had arrived at great power entertained an hope that he should invest himself with the Empire But he proved unsuccesfull in his desires For Ariadne encircled Anastasius with the Imperial Crown who had not yet arrived at the Senatorian Order but was inrolled in that termed The Schole of the Silentiarii Moreover Eustathius relates that from the beginning of Diocletian's Empire to Zeno's death and the Proclaiming of Anastasius there passed Two hundred and seven years from the Empire of Augustus Five hundred thirty two years and seven months from the Reign of Alexander the Macedonian Eight hundred thirty two years and likewise seven months from the Reign of the Romans and Romulus One thousand fifty two years and moreover seven months from the destruction of Troy One thousand six hundred eighty and six years with seven months This Anastasius had his originall extract at the City Epidamnus which is now termed Dyrrachium and succeeded Zeno in his Empire and married his Wife Ariadne And in the first place he sends away Longinus Zeno's brother who bore the dignity of a Magister which Officer the Ancients termed The Prefect of the Offices in the Pallace into his own Country Then he gave many other Isaurians a like liberty of returning into their own Country who requested the same thing of him CHAP. XXX Concerning the Emperour Anastasius and how because he would not innovate any thing in relation to the Ecclesiastick Constitution the Churches over the whole world were filled with infinite disturbances and many of the Bishops for that reason were ejected FUrther This Anastasius being a person very studious to promote Peace would permit no innovation whatever to be made especially in relation to the Ecclesiastick Constitution and took all imaginable Courses both that the most Holy Churches might continue undisturbed and also that every person subject to his Government might enjoy a profound Peace all Animosity and Contention being far removed both from the Ecclesiastick and from the Civill State of affairs The Synod therefore at Chalcedon was in these times neither publickly asserted in the most Holy Churches nor yet wholly rejected but every one of the Prelates acted according to that Sentiment they had embraced And some of them couragiously defended what had been expounded in that Synod nor would they recede even from one syllable of it's determinations or admit of the alteration of one Letter but with much confidence separated from and would in no wise endure to communicate with those who admitted not of that Synod's Decrees But others not only embraced not the Synod at Chalcedon and the determinations made by it but also Anathematized it together with Leo's Epistle Othersome stifly adhered to Zeno's Henoticon which they did notwithstanding their disagreement amongst themselves concerning the one or the two Natures these being imposed upon by the composure of the Letters and those having a greater inclination to Peace and Unity In so much that the Churches of the whole world were divided into private Factions nor would the Prelates hold Communion one with another Hence hapned many Dissentions both in the East and in the Western parts and throughout Africa neither the Eastern Bishops keeping up a Society and Amity with the Western or those of Africa nor yet on the other hand these with the Eastern Prelates Moreover the matter proceeded to an higher Degree of absurdity For neither did the Eastern Prelates hold a Communion amongst their own selves nor would those who governed the Episcopall Chairs of Europe or Africa cherish a communion one with another much less with Strangers and Forreiners Which when the
on the day following not one of the Enemy was to be found about Anaplus or at the Imperial City it self 'T is moreover said that after this Vitalianus spent some time at Anchialus and kept himself quiet Further another Nation of the Hunni having past the Caspian Streights made an Incursion into the Roman Provinces At those very same times also Rhodus was shaken by a most Violent Earthquake in the dead of the night which was the third calamity it had suffered of that Nature CHAP. XLIV That Anastasius being desirous to add these words Who hast been Crucified on our account to the Hymn termed The Trisagium a Sedition and disturbance hapned amongst the people Which Anastasius fearing made use of dissimulation and soon altered the minds of the people And concerning the death of Anastasius BUt at Constantinople when the Emperour was desirous of making an addition of these words Who hast been Crucified on our account to The Hymn termed The Trisagium a most violent Sedition hapned as if the Christian Religion had been totally Subverted Macedonius and the Constantinopolitane Clergy were the Authours and Abettours of this Sedition as Severus affirms in his Epistle to Soterichus Which Epistle he wrote before he had obtained the Episcopall Throne whilst he resided at the Imperial City to wit at that time when he together with others had been ejected out of his own Monastery as I have related already On account of these Calumnies besides other reasons already mentioned I am of opinion that Macedonius was ejected out of his See From this occasion the populacy was enraged and in regard they were not any longer to be withheld many personages of the Nobility were reduced to the greatest of dangers and severall of the eminentest places of the City were burnt down And when the people had found a certain Country-fellow who lead a Monastick course of life in the house of Marinus the Syrian they cut off his head affirming that by this mans motives and perswasions that Expression had been added to The Hymn They also put his head upon a pole carried it about and in a deriding manner exclaimed that he was the Enemy of the Trinity Further the Sedition increased so vastly ruining all things and being superiour to all Opposition that the Emperour compelled by necessity went to the Cirque without his Crown and sent the Criers to the people to make Proclamation that with all imaginable readiness he would resigne his Empire but that it was a perfect impossibility for all of them to obtain the Empire which cannot endure many Colleagues and that there was of necessity to be one who might Govern the Empire after him Which when the people perceived by a certain Divine impulse as it were they altered their mindes and besought Anastasius to put his Crown upon his head and promised to be calm and quiet in future When Anastasius had survived these disturbances some small intervall of time he departed to another life having Governed the Empire of the Romans seven and twenty years three months and as many days The End of the Third Book of Evagrius's Ecclesiastical History THE FOURTH BOOK OF THE Ecclesiastical History OF EVAGRIUS SCHOLASTICUS Epiphaniensis And one of the EX-PRAEFECTS CHAP. I. Concerning the Empire of Justinus Senior ANastasius therefore being as I have said translated to a better allotment Justinus by Extract a Thracian vests himself with the purple Robe on the ninth day of the month Panemus which amongst the Romans is termed July in the Five hundredth sixty sixth year of Antioch's being styled a free City he was declared Emperour by the Imperial Guards of whom also he was Commander having been made Master of the Offices at Court He obtained the Imperial Dignity beyond all expectation in regard there were many of Anastasius's relations who were eminent personages had arrived at the greatest fortunateness imaginable and who had procured to themselves all that power which might have invested them with the Imperial Dignity CHAP. II. Concerning the Eunuch Amantius and Theocritus and in what manner Justinus put these persons to death MOreover there was at that time one Amantius the chief person of the Imperial Bed-Chamber a man of great power and interest Who in regard 't was unlawfull for a man deprived of his Genitalls as he was to be possest of the Roman Empire was desirous of encircling Theocritus a great Confident of his with the Imperial Crown Having therefore caused Justinus to be sent for he gave him vast quantities of money ordering him to distribute it amongst those who were most fit to effect this thing and who might be able to invest Theocritus with the purple Robe But Justinus having with this money purchased either the suffrages of the people or else the Benevolence of those termed The Guards For 't is reported both ways invested himself with the Imperial Dignity Forthwith therefore he takes off Amantius and Theocritus together with some other persons CHAP. III. In what manner Justinus slew Vitalianus by treachery BUt he calls Vitalianus then making his Residence in Thracia who had attempted to divest Anastasius of the Empire to Constantinople being afraid of his power of his skill in relation to Military affairs of the greatness of his Fame then spread amongst all men and of the desire he had to obtain the Empire But perceiving by a sagacious foresight that he could on no other terms bring Vitalianus within his own power unless he should feign himself his friend and having for that reason mask't his face with a fraud not to be detected he constitutes him Master of one of those Armies termed The Present Militia After this he gave a greater occasion of perswasion whereby Vitalianus might more deeply be imposed upon and promotes him to the Consulate Vitalianus therefore being made Consul after he was arrived at the Imperial Pallace ended his life by being treacherously murdered at one of the inner Gates paying this punishment for those high contumelies wherewith he had affected the Roman Empire But these things hapned afterwards CHAP. IV. How Justinus having Ejected Severus put Paulus into his place and that some little time after Euphrasius obtained the See of Antioch BUt Severus who had been Ordained Bishop of Antioch agreeable to what we have already related in regard he ceased not daily to Anathematize the Synod at Chalcedon especially in those they term The Installing Letters and in the Answers thereto which he sent to the Patriarchs in all places but they were embraced and admitted of at Alexandria only by Johannes Successour to the former Johannes and by Dioscorus and also Timotheus which Letters are preserved till these Times of Ours and because many contentions in the Church arose therefrom and the most faithfull people were divided into Factions this Severus I say is by Justinus's
of his wife which when he had done immediately the milk sprang out as 't were from a fountain in such a manner that it wetted the garment of the woman Further a child having been left upon the Road in the dead of the night through the forgetfullness of those who travelled with him a Lyon laid it on his back and brought it to Symeon's Monastery and by Symeones's order those who ministred to him went out and brought in the child which had been preserved by the Lyon The same person performed many other things highly memorable which require an eloquent tongue much time and a peculiar Treatise all which actions of his are celebrated by the tongues of men For persons of almost all Nations of the Earth not only Romans but Barbarians came frequently to him and obtained their requests of him Certain branches of a shrub which grew on that mountain were made use of by him in stead of all sorts of meat and drink CHAP. XXIV Concerning the Death of Gregorius Bishop of Antioch and the Restauration of Anastasius NOt long after dyed Gregorius also after he had been seized with a Goutish distemper wherewith he was much troubled and had drank a potion made of the herb termed Hermodactylus which was administred to him by a Physitian He ended his life at such time as Gregorius was Bishop of the Elder Rome who had succeeded Pelagius and whilst Johannes presided over the Church of Constantinople and Eulogius over that of Alexandria persons whom I have mentioned before and during Anastasius's presidency over the Antiochian Church who had been restored to his own Chair after three and twenty years Johannes was then Bishop of Jerusalem who died soon after and as yet no body has undertaken the Government of that Church And here shall my History be closed namely on the twelfth year of Mauricius Tiberius's Government of the Roman Empire the following affairs of the Church being left to be collected and written by such as are desirous of employing themselves that way If any thing be either omitted or not accurately set forth by us let no person ascribe it to us as a fault but let him consider with himself that we have Collected into one Body a dispersed and scattered History and have made it our business to consult the advantage of men in favour of whom we have undertaken so many and such vast Labours Another Volume has likewise been composed by us which contains Relations Letters Decrees Orations Disputations and some other things The foresaid Relations contained in that Volume were all written in the Name of Gregorius Bishop of Antioch By reason whereof we have obtained two dignities the one from Tiberius Constantinus who invested us with the Dignity of Quaestorius the other from Mauricius Tiberius who sent us the Codicills of a Praefecture on account of that Oration we had composed at such time as having wiped away the reproach of the Empire he brought into the light his Son Theodosius who gave a beginning of all manner of felicity both to Mauricius himself and to the State Six Books of Ecclesiastical History of Evagrius Scholasticus Epiphaniensis and one of the Ex-Praefects THE END THE LIFE OF CONSTANTINE IN FOUR BOOKS Written in GREEK by Eusebius Pamphilus Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine done into ENGLISH from that Edition set forth by Valesius and Printed at PARIS in the Year 1659. Together with VALESIUS's Annotations on the said LIFE which are made ENGLISH and set at their proper places in the Margin Hereto is also annext the Emperour CONSTANTINE'S ORATION to the CONVENTION OF THE SAINTS and EUSEBIUS PAMPHILUS'S SPEECH CONCERNING THE PRAISES OF CONSTANTINE Spoken AT HIS TRICENNALIA HINC LUCEM ET POCULA SACRA CAMBRIDGE Printed by John Hayes Printer to the University 1682. VALESIUS'S Advertisement to the READER IN My Annotations on Eusebius's Ecclesiastick History I have remarked that the Titles or Contents of the Chapters which are prefixt before each Book were composed by Eusebius himself And this in my judgment I have proved by most evident Arguments But in these Books concerning the Life of Constantine the matter is otherwise For the Contents of these Books were not made by Eusebius himself but by some other more modern Authour Now I make this conjecture from hence both because the Contents of these Chapters are for the most part uncooth insipid and barbarous and also in regard they always speak of Eusebius in the third person whereas in the Contents of the Chapters of his Ecclesiastick History Eusebius always names himself in the first person Besides the distinctions of the Chapters are two thick and occur too often and one Letter and Constitution of the Emperour is divided and torn asunder as 't were into many Chapters Which thing is wont often to beget a loathing and nauseousness in the Reader I forbear mentioning the barbarous words and terms which occur frequently in these Contents For in them you diverse times meet with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All which considerations make me of this opininon that I should believe any one else rather than Eusebius to have been the Authour of these Contents Nevertheless whoever the person was he was ancient and lived not at any great distance from the Age of Our Eusebius And this is chiefly Collected from the Contents of the Fourth Book wherein you may read some passages which could not have been known but by a Writer Contemporary with those times of which sort is that concerning Marianus the Tribune and Notary in the Contents of Chapter 44. Book 4 the name of which Notary we might at this day have been ignorant of had not that Authour of the Contents and after him Sozomen given us information thereof I have sometimes conjectured that Acacius he who succeeded Our Eusebius in the Chair of the Church of Caesarea in regard he publisht these Books of his Master after his death Composed these Contents But this is but a meer conjecture which any one that will may follow Lastly the Reader is to be Advertised that in all our Manuscript Copies the Titles of these Chapters are written without the Numerall Notes And in The Old Sheets belonging to the Kings Library they occur praefixt before each Book But in the Fuketian Manuscript they are not only set before each Book but are also added to every Chapter in the Body of each Book THE FIRST BOOK OF EUSEBIUS PAMPHILUS CONCERNING THE LIFE OF THE BLESSED EMPEROUR CONSTANTINE The Preface Concerning the Death of Constantine ALL Mankind have not long since celebrated the recurring periods of our great Emperour 's compleated Vicennalia and Tricennalia with Festivities and publick Banquets We our selves also by a Panegyrick spoken in his Vicennalia have lately venerated the same Glorious Conquerour environed with a Synod of God's Sacred Ministers Moreover we have platted
King But God rewarded him forthwith by making him Lord and Master and the only Conquerour of all the Emperours that ever were alwaies invincible and insuperable and he advanced him to be so great an Emperour on account of his Victories and Trophies as no one is ever recorded to have been in former ages so happy and dear to God so pious and every way fortunate that with all facility imaginable he reduced more Nations to a Subjection under himself than the former Emperours had vanquished and continued possest of his Empire free from disturbance and disquietude to the very moment of his Expiration CHAP. VII Constantine compared with Cyrus King of the Persians and with Alexander the Macedonian ANcient History relates Cyrus King of the Persians to have been more renowned and glorious than all the Princes that ever were But the conclusion of his life 't is said was in no wise fortunate but reproachfull rather and ignominious in regard he was slain by a woman The Greeks tell us that Alexander King of the Macedonians vanquished innumerable Nations but before he had perfectly arrived at man's estate he ended his life by an untimely death and was taken off by Debauchery and Drunkenness He finished the whole course of his Life within the space of two and thirty years â— not much more than a third part of which years determined the time of his Reign He march't on through bloud and slaughter being a person that may be compared to thunder and incompassionately enslaved Nations and whole Cities without any respect had to Age. But when he was scarce arrived at the flower of his Age and whilst he bemoaned his Catamite Death approach't him on a sudden and took him off Childless without any Stock or Kindred before he had raised a family and in an Enemies Country far remote that he might not any longer be the Ruine of Mankind His Kingdom was immediately rent insunder each of his Servants striving to pull and tare off some part for themselves And yet this person is extolled for such mischiefs as these CHAP. VIII That he subdued almost the whole World BUt Our Emperour began to Reign from that year of his Age whereon the Macedonian ended his life and he lived twice as long as Alexander did but trebled the length of his Reign Further having cultivated his Army with the mild and modest Precepts of Piety he march't into Britannia and to those who dwell in the very Ocean which is diffused far and wide at the setting of the Sun He likewise subdued all Scythia which lyes under the North it self and is divided into innumerable Nations of Barbarians differing both in name and manners Moreover having extended his Empire to the utmost confines of the South to the Blemmyae namely and Aethiopians he look't upon a dominion over them who dwell at the rising Sun not to be forreign and inconvenient In fine having with the brightest rayes of Piety enlightned all mortalls inhabiting within the circumference of the whole Element of the Earth even to the utmost bounds of the Continent that is as far as the Outermost Indians and the Nations inhabiting round on every side he brought all the Reguli Ethnarchs and Satrapae of the Barbarous Nations under a subjection to himself all which gave him voluntary and joyfull Salutes sent him Embassies and Presents and put an high value upon his knowledge and friendship So that each person within his own Province paid him honour partly by Pictures and partly with Statues publickly dedicated to him and Constantine the only person of the Emperours was known and famous over the whole World Even as far as these Nations therefore he Proclaimed his own God by his Imperial Acclamations with all the freedome and liberty Imaginable CHAP. IX That he was the Son of a Pious Emperour and left his Empire to his Sons who were Emperours NOr performed he this by words only and was disappointed in the thing it self but proceeding on in all manner of Virtue he abounded with the various fruits of Piety oblieging his Friends with Magnificent Benefactions Governing by the Laws of Clemency and making his Empire easie and desirable to all his Subjects Till at length after long periods of years that God whom he worshipped Crowned him when wearied out by various Conflicts and Exercises with the Divine Rewards of an Immortality and from a mortall Kingdome translated him to an endless life which he hath treasured up with himself for holy Souls after he had raised him up three children who might succeed him in his Empire In this manner therefore the Imperiall Dignity descended to him from his Father and by the Law of Nature is reserved for his Children and for their descendants and like some paternall Inheritance shall henceforward be forever propagated and prolonged And indeed God himself who hath exalted this most blessed Emperour as yet conversant amongst us to divine Honours and hath adorned his Death with singular advantages proceeding from himself can only be a fit Writer of his Life in regard he has Recorded his Glorious Actions and Conflicts on Celestiall Tables and Monuments CHAP. X. That this History is necessary and advantagious to the Souls and Mindes of Men. BUt though I am convinc't of the difficulty of saying any thing befitting the Blessedness of so great a Person and that to be silent is safe and without danger nevertheless I count it necessary to consecrate to eternall Memory the Portraicture of a most pious Emperour drawn in the Colours of words in imitation of mortall Paint to the end I may clear my self of the imputation of sloth and negligence For I should be ashamed of my self should I not confer the utmost of my abilities though they are slender and mean on him who with a transcendency of piety honoured God Further 't is my Sentiment that this work will prove both advantagious to the life of man and necessary to my self also wherein are contained the Actions of a Great-minded Emperour which are highly acceptable to God the Supream King For how can it be otherwise than disgracefull that the Memory of a Nero and of some other Impious and Atheisticall Tyrants far worse than he should not have wanted indefatigable Writers who have adorned their Subjects which were ill Actions with a politeness and elegancy of Style and made them up into voluminous Histories but that we should be silent for whom God himself hath vouchsafed to procure such an Emperour as no Age hath seen and to whom he has allowed a liberty of coming into his presence to His knowledge and converse CHAP. XI That he will at present relate only the Pious Actions of Constantine WHerefore 't is certainly incumbent on us rather than on any other person to give a full Narrative of all the good things we have heard to those
be in future Ages that Chastity a Virtue so famous amongst Christians is the only thing that is invincible and which cannot be destroyed Thus this woman behaved her self CHAP. XXXV The Slaughter of the People of Rome by Maxentius ALL persons therefore both the Commonalty and the Magistracy as well the Honourable as the Obscure stood in great fear of him when they beheld him audaciously perpetrating such impieties as these and were sorely afflicted with his intollerable Tyranny And although they were quiet and patiently bore the austere servitude they were opprest with yet none could so avoid the Bloudy Cruelty of the Tyrant For one time upon a very trivial pretence he exposed the people of Rome to the slaughter of his own Guards And so innumerable multitudes of the Roman people not Scythians nor Barbarians but his own Citizens were killed with Spears and all manner of Weapons in the midst of the City Moreover 't is impossible to enumerate how many slaughters were committed of those that were Senatours to the end a seizure might be made of each persons Estate infinite numbers of them being put to death at severall times for various Crimes framed against them CHAP. XXXVI Maxentius's Magick Arts against Constantine and the scarcity of Provisions at Rome AT length as the Complement of his impieties the Tyrant proceeded to exercise the delusions of Magick Art sometimes ripping up women great with child otherwhiles searching into the Bowells of new-born infants He also killed Lyons and performed some other Horrid Rites to call forth the Daemons and repell the approaching War For he hoped that by these performances he should obtain Victory Whilst he Tyrannized therefore in this manner at Rome 't is impossible to relate what mischievous facts he perpetrated and how miserably he enslaved his Subjects in so much that they were reduced to such extream penury and want of necessary sustenance as 't is recorded by those of our times never hapned at Rome nor any where else CHAP. XXXVII The overthrow of Maxentius's Armies in Italy BUt Constantine moved with compassion at all these calamities of the Romans furnished himself with all manner of military provisions against the Tyranny And when he had procured the supream God to be his Patron and invoaked His Son Christ to be his Saviour and Assistant and had set up the Victorious Trophy to wit the salutary Standard before his Souldiers and Guards he began his march with his whole Army that by his intervention he might restore to the Romans the Liberties they had received from their Ancestours Now Maxentius confiding more in his Magick Impostures than in the Love and Affection of his Subjects durst not so much as stir out of the City Gates but with a multitude of Souldiers and with innumerable Bodies of men laid in Ambushes had fortified every place Region and City which were under the pressures of his Tyranny But the Emperour Constantine depended upon Divine assistance and having attacked the Tyrant's first second and third Body and with ease routed them all at the very first charge he opened himself a passage into the greatest part of the Country of Italy CHAP. XXXVIII Maxentius's Death on the Bridge of the River Tiber. ANd he had now made his approaches very near to Rome it self But least he should be constrained to assault all the Romans for the Tyrant's sake only God himself drew the Tyrant as it were with Cords a great way out of the Gates and effectually confirmed the truth of those Miracles Recorded in the everlasting Monuments of the Sacred Scriptures which though they are accounted fabulous by many persons and are not credited are nevertheless believed by the Faithfull he had wrought in times past against the wicked to all in generall Believers as well as Infidells who with their own eyes saw this Miracle we are about to relate For as heretofore in the days of Moses and the old religious Nation of the Jews God cast the Chariots of Pharaoh and his Army into the Sea and drowned his Chosen Captaines in the Red-Sea after the same manner Maxentius with the Souldiers and Guards that were about him were cast into the deep like a stone at such time as having been put to flight by that Divine power which gave assistance to Constantine's Arms he would have past the River that was in the way before him Over which he having laid a Bridge of boats well fastned together had thereby framed an Engin of destruction against himself being in hopes that the Emperour beloved by God might have been caught in this snare but the God whom he worshipped was present with and gave him his assistance But the wretched Maxentius deprived of his aid framed these secret machines against himself On which account these words may be pertinently spoken of him wherefore He he hath graven and digged up a pit and is fallen himself into the destruction that he hath made His travell shall come upon his own head and his wickedness shall fall on his own pate Thus therefore by God's assent the Machines framed upon the Bridge of Boats and the Ambuscade placed in them being disjoyned at a time in no wise expected the passage began to sink and the Boats together with the men in them descended on a sudden to the bottom of the River And in the first place the Wretch Himself then the Protectors and Guards that were about him as the Divine Oracles have predicted sank down like Lead into the deep waters So that Constantine's Souldiers who by Divine assistance then obtained the Victory in such sort as the Israelites heretofore did who were lead by that eminent servant of the Lord Moses might deservedly have sung and repeated though not in words exactly the same yet in reality some of those expressions which they heretofore did against that impious Tyrant Pharaoh in this manner We will sing unto the Lord for he hath been magnificently glorified The Horse and his Rider hath he thrown into the Sea My helper and defender is become my salvation And again who is like unto thee O Lord amongst the Gods Thou hast been glorified in the Saints admirable in glories doing wonders CHAP. XXXIX Constantine's Entry into Rome AFter Constantine who at that time imitated that Great servant of God Moses had in reality sung these and other such like Hymns as these in praise of God the Governour of all things and the Authour of Victory he made his entry into the Imperial City in Triumph And immediately all persons as well those of the Senatorian as them of the Equestrian Order in that City being freed from the confinement of a Prison as 't were together with the whole Roman Populace received him with a joy in their Countenances that proceeded from their very Souls with acclamations and a gladness insatiable And the men together with the women children and infinite numbers of servants stiled him a Redeemer a Saviour and a
that prayers were not made there for him being induced to entertain such thoughts as these from a consciousness of his own impieties But he had perswaded himself that all we did was in behalf of Constantine and to render God propitious to him Now those Presidents who were his flatterers and soothed him up being fully perswaded they should do what would be gratefull to the impious Tyrant subjected the eminentest Prelates of the Churches to capitall punishments Therefore harmless and innocent persons were haled away and without any the least cause punished as if they had been Murderers But some of them underwent a new sort of death having their bodies cut with a sword as Butchers do meat into a great many pieces and after this barbarous spectacle far more horrid than any Tragicall representation they were thrown into the depths of the Sea to be made food for Fishes After this therefore persons that were worshippers of God began to flye again in such manner as they had done a little before And the Fields and Solitudes were again become the Receptacles of Gods servants When the Tyrant had succeeded thus prosperously in these his attempts he afterwards entertained thoughts of raising a generall Persecution against the Christians And he had undoubtedly been master of his desire nor could there have been any obstacle which might in future have hindred him from effecting it had not God the defender of his own servants that he might prevent what would have ensued caused his servant Constantine to appear like some great Light in darkness and in a most obscure night and led him by the hand as 't were into these parts CHAP. III. In what manner Constantine was moved in behalf of the Christians when Licinius made preparations to Persecute them WHo perceiving that the complaint he had received of the foresaid proceedings was not any longer to be endured musters up a soberness and prudence of mind and having mixt an austerity of disposition with his own innate clemency hastned to the assistance of the oppressed judging that that ought to be accounted a pious and holy Action when by the taking off of one person the greatest part of mankind is preserved For thus he thought with himself if he should make use of much clemency and should shew compassion to him who deserved no pity it would not advantage him in the least for he would in no wise desist from his practise of mischiefs but would rather increase his Rage and Fury against his Subjects nor could there be any hopes of safety in future remaining to those persons who had been afflicted by him The Emperour having considered these things with himself without any dilatoriness resolved to stretch forth a salutary right hand to those who had faln into the bitterest of calamities He made therefore a vast provision of Military Forces and his whole Army as well Troops of Horse as Companies of â—â—ot were drawn together But before them all were carried the Insignia of his confidence in God to wit the forementioned Standard CHAP. IV. That Constantine made provision for the War with Prayers but Licinius with Divinations and Prophecics ANd well knowing that if ever before he now stood in need of prayers he carried God's Prelates along with him it being his Sentiment that these persons like some good Guards of his Soul ought to be always present and conversant with him Whereupon when he that Headed the Tyranny was informed that Constantine obtained Victories over his Enemies by no other means than by God's assistance and that the foresaid persons were alwaies present and conversant with him also that the Symboll of the Salutary passion went before himself and his whole Army he judged these things to be deservedly ridiculous and at the same time mock't Constantine and reviled him with opprobrious expressions But he himself got the Diviners and Soothsayers of the Egyptians about him the Sorcerers and Impostours the Sacrificers and Prophets of such as he look't upon as Gods And when he had with sacrifices appeased those whom he thought to be Gods he enquired of them what manner of end he was like to have of the War They made answer with one consent that without controversie he would be the Conquerour of his Enemies and should get the better in the War the Oracles every where promising him this in long and elegant Verses Moreover the Interpreters of Dreams predicted that success was portended to him by the flying of Birds and the Aruspices affirmed the like was signified by the motion of Entrails Elevated therefore by the fallacious promises of these persons with great confidence he proceeded forth to the Camp and made preparations for an Engagement CHAP. V. What Licinius spaek concerning Idolls and concerning Christ whilst he was sacrificing in a Grove BUt when he was just about beginning a fight he called together the choicest of his Protectors that were about Him and those of his Friends for whom he had an higher value into a certain place which by them was accounted sacred It was a well-watered and shady Grove but in it were erected various Statues carv'd out of Stone of those whom he thought to be Gods To whom after he had lighted Tapers and offered the usuall sacrifices 'T is reported that he made this speech to those that stood by him Friends and Fellow Souldiers These whom we Honour whose Adoration hath been handed down to us from our Remotest Ancestours are our Country Gods But he who Leads the Army opposed against us having violated the Usages and Institutions of his Fore-fathers has made choice of their impious opinion who believe no God and hath erroneously embraced a certain strange God procured from I know not whence And with his most filthy sign disgraces his own Army In whom having put his confidence He comes forth and takes up Arms not so much against us as against those very Gods whom he hath abused This present day therefore will evidently shew which of Us two have erred in Opinion and will give a judgment concerning those Gods who are worshipped by us and of them honoured by the other side For either it will declare us Conquerours and so most justly demonstrate our Gods to be the Saviours and true Assistants Or else if this one God of Constantine's who comes from I know not whence shall get the better of our Gods which are many and at present do exeeed in number no body in future will be in doubt which God he ought to worship but will betake himself to the more powerfull God and attribute to him the Rewards of Victory And if this strange God who is now a Ridicule to us shall appear to be the Victor it will behoove us also to acknowledge and adore him and to bid a long farewell to those to whom we light Tapers in vain But if our Gods shall get
better allotment and brought upon him the debt due to Nature CHAP. LIII That after He had Reigned about two and thirty years and lived above sixty He had a Body that was sound and healthy HE Compleated the time of His Reign in two and thirty years abating some few months and days but the space of His Life was about double as much At which age his Body continued free from Diseases firm void of all manner of blemish and youthfuller than any the most juvenile Body beautifull to behold and strong to do any thing whatever that was to be performed by strength In so much that he could exercise as a Souldier ride walk fight erect Trophies against his conquered Enemies and according to his own usage could obtain unbloudy Victories over his opposers CHAP. LIV. Concerning those who abused his eximious humanity to avarice and a pretence of Piety HIS Mind also arrived at the heighth of humane perfection being adorned with all manner of accomplishments but most especially with humanity Which nevertheless many persons found fault with by reason of the baseness of ill men who ascribed the occasion of their own badness to the Emperours patience and clemency Indeed even we our selves beheld the mighty prevalency of these two Vices in those times the Violence namely of insatiable and ill men who infested almost all Mortals and the unspeakable Dissimulation of those who craftily crept into the Church and pretendedly took upon themselves the name of Christians But the Emperours innate humanity and goodness the sincerity of his Faith and Integrity of his Morals induced him to credit the specious and outside piety of those men who were thought to be Christians and who with a crafty mind pretended to bear a true and sincere benevolence towards him His committing of himself to which persons did sometimes perhaps drive him upon those things that were unfitting the Envy of the Devil bringing this Blot upon his other praises CHAP. LV. How Constantine wrote Orations to the very last day of his Life BUt Divine Vengeance seized those men not long after But the Emperour himself had in such a manner furnished his mind with discursive knowledge that to his very death according to his accustomed manner he wrote Orations and as his usage was made Speeches and instilled into his hearers divine Precepts He would likewise be continually making of Laws sometimes about Civil matters at others concerning Military affairs in fine he employed his thoughts about all things that were advantagious and of use to the life of men But this is highly worthy to be recorded namely that when he was at the point of death he recited a certain Funeral Oration in the presence of his usual Auditory And having continued his Speech to a great length he discoursed therein concerning the Immortality of the Soul and concerning those who had spent their Lives piously and concerning the Blessings treasured up with God himself for those that love him But on the other hand he made it apparent by many and those evident reasons what manner of end they would come to who had lead a contrary course of life and gave an accurate description of the calamitous death of the impious By his solid and weighty attestation to which truth he seemed severely to touch those about him In so much that he asked one of them who were puft up with a vain opinion of wisdom what his Sentiment was in reference to those things which had been discoursed of Who by his own testimony confirmed the truth of what had been spoken and though much against his will highly commended his reasonings against the worship of many Gods By making such discourses as these to his Confidents before his death he seemed to render his way to a better allotment smooth and plain CHAP. LVI How making an Expedition against the Persians He took the Bishops along with him and provided a Tent made in form of a Church THis also is worthy to be recorded that about the forementioned time upon his hearing of the motion of those Barbarians who dwell at the East having said that as yet there remained to him this Victory to be obtained over them he resolved upon an Expedition against the Persian Which when he had determined to undertake he summoned together his Military Forces and likewise conferred with the Bishops that were about him concerning the desighe of his Expedition it being his chiefest care that some persons should always be present with him who were of use in order to the worship of God They affirmed that they would most willingly follow him nor would in any wise leave him but with their incessant prayers to God would ingage and fight together with him At which news he was highly pleased and described to them a way whereby they might go Then he prepared a Tabernacle most richly furnished made in the form of a Church for the use of this War wherein he resolved in company with the Bishops to pour forth his prayers to God the Giver of Victory CHAP. LVII That having received the Embassie of the Persians He watch't all night together with others on the Feast of Easter IN the interim the Persians informed of the Emperours preparation for a War and being extreamly fearfull of coming to an Engagement with him by an Embassie entreated him to make a Peace Wherefore this most peaceable Emperour gave the Embassie of the Persians a kind reception and readily entred into a League with them The great Festival of Easter was now at hand wherein the Emperour paid his Vowes to God and together with others watch't all night long CHAP. LVIII Concerning the Building of that termed the Martyrium of the Apostles at Constantinople AFter this He began to build a Martyrium in that City which bore his own name in memory of the Apostles And when he had raised the Church to an unexpressible height he made it Splendid and Glorious by a variety of all manner of Stones covering it with Crusts of Marble from the Foundation to the very Roof He laid the inner-Roof all over with Lacunaria of very small work and gilded it thorowout with Gold Above instead of Tyles Brass was laid which afforded the whole Structure a secure defence against showers Which covering being likewise over-spread with Gold shined gloriously in so much that it dazled their eyes who beheld it at a distance the Brass reverberating the Rayes of the Sun But the whole Roof was encompassed round with chased Net-work made of Brass and Gold CHAP. LIX A further description of the same Martyrium IN This manner was the Church it self beautified by the Emperour 's extraordinary Care and Munificence But about the Church there was a most Spatious Area open to the pure Air. At the four sides whereof ran Porticus's joyned one to another which inclosed the Area Scituate
on the last day of all which should any one term the Feast of Feasts he would not be mistaken about noon was taken up to his God leaving to mortalls that part of Himself which was related to them but joyning to his God that part of his Soul which was endued with understanding and the Love of God This was the End of Constantine's Life But let us proceed to what follows CHAP. LXV The Lamentations of the Milice and Tribunes THE Protectors and the whole Body of his Guards rent their clothes forthwith and casting themselves prostrate on the earth beat their heads against the ground uttering mournfull expressions intermixt with Sighs and Cries calling upon him their Master their Lord their Emperour nor did they invoke him barely as a Master but like most obedient Children they accounted him as a Father Moreover the Tribunes and Centurions styled him a Saviour a Preserver a Benefactour And the rest of the Army as 't is usual amongst flocks with all imaginable decency and becoming Reverence desired and wisht for their Good Shepherd The common people also ran up and down all over the City and by Shreikes and Cries gave a manifest indication of their inward grief of mind Others with dejected Countenances seemed like persons astonished and each particular man lookt upon this as his own Calamity and bemoan'd himself because the common Good of all men was taken out of this their life CHAP. LXVI That His Body was carried from Nicomedia to Constantinople into the Palace AFter this the Milice took His Body out of the Bed and laid it into a Coffin of Gold which they covered with Purple and carried it to the City that bore his own name And there they plac't it on high in the stateliest Room of the Imperial Palace Then they light up Tapers round it which being put into Candlesticks of Gold rendred the Sight admirable to those that beheld it and such a one as had never been seen on earth by any person that was ever under the Sun's Rayes since the world was first made For within in the very middlemost Room of the Imperial Palace the Emperours Corps lay on high in a Golden Coffin and being adorned with Imperial Ornaments the Purple namely and the Diadem was encompassed by many persons who watcht with and guarded it night and day CHAP. LXVII That even after His Death he was honoured by the Comites and the rest in the same manner as when he was alive MOreover the Duces Comites and the whole Order of the Judges and Magistrates whose usage it had heretofore been to adore the Emperour made not the least alteration in their former Custom but came in at set times and on their knees saluted the Emperour when dead and laid in his Coffin as if he had been yet alive After these Grandees those of the Senate and all the Honorati came in and did the same After whom multitudes of all sorts of people together with women and children approacht to the sight hereof And these things were thus performed during a long space of time the Milice having taken a Resolution that the Corps should lie and be guarded in this manner till such time as his Sons could come who might honour their Father by a personal attendance at his Funeral In fine this most Blessed Prince was the only Mortal who Reigned after death and all things were performed in the usual manner as if he had been still alive this being the sole person from the utmost memory of man on whom God conferred this For whereas he of all the Emperours had been the only one who by actions of all sorts whatever had honoured God the supream King and his Christ he alone and that deservedly had these honours allotted him and the supream God was pleased to vouchsafe him this that even his dead Body should Reign amongst men Whereby God clearly shewed them whose minds are not totally stupified that the Empire of his Soul is endless and immortall In this manner were these things performed CHAP. LXVIII In what manner the Army resolved that his Sons should be forthwith proclaimed Augusti IN the interim the Tribunes dispatcht away some choice men belonging to the Military Companies who for their fidelity and good affection had heretofore been acceptable to the Emperour that they might make the Caesars acquainted with what had been done And these were the things which those men performed then But the Armies in all places as soon as they were acquainted with the Emperours death incited thereto by Divine instinct as 't were with an unanimous consent resolved as if their Great Emperour had been yet living that they would acknowledge no other person as Emperour of the Romans save only his Sons And not long after they determined to have them all henceforward not stiled Caesares but Augusti which name is the Cognisance of supremacy of Empire And these things were done by the Armies who by Letters one to another signified their own suffrages and Acclamations and the unanimous consent of the Legions was in one and the same moment of time made known to all persons wherever they dwelt CHAP. LXIX The Mourning at Rome for Constantine and the Honour done Him by Pictures after his death BUt the Inhabitants of the Imperial City as well the Senate as people of Rome when they were acquainted with the Emperours death lookt upon that to be most doleful news and more calamitous than any misfortune whatever and therefore set no Bounds to their mourning The â—aths therefore and Forums were shut up and the publick Shows omitted as likewise whatever other Pleasures as Recreations of Life are usually followed by those who spend their time in mirth and â—ollity Such also as had heretofore abounded with delights walk't the Streets with dejected Countenances And all in general stiled the Emperour Blessed a person dear to God and one that was truly worthy of the Empire Nor made they these Declarations in bare words only but proceeding on to actual performances they honoured him when dead with dedications of Pictures as if he had been still alive For having exprest a Representation of Heaven in Colours on a Table they drew him making his Residence in an Aetherial Mansion above the Celestial Arches Moreover they proclaimed his Sons the sole Emperours and Augusti without the Colleagueship of any other person and with humble supplications made it their earnest Request that they might have the Body of their Emperour with them and might deposite it within the Imperial City CHAP. LXX That his Body was deposited at Constantinople by his Son Constantius IN this manner even these Inhabitants of Rome grac't this Emperour who was honoured by God But the Second of his Sons when he was come to the place where his Father's Corps lay conveyed it to the City that bore his own name he himself going
before the Hearse The Companies of the Milice march't before Troop by Troop in a Military Order and behind followed an innumerable multitude of people But the Hastati and Scutarii surrounded the Emperour's Corps When they were come to the Church of our Saviour's Apostles they deposited the Coffin there And thus the new Emperour Constantius honouring his Father as well by his presence as other befitting Offices in a due manner performed his Funeral obsequies CHAP. LXXI The performance of the solemn prayers in that termed the Martyrium of the Apostles at the Funeral of Constantine BUt after he had withdrawn himself together with the Military Companies the Ministers of God as likewise the Multitudes and all the Congregation of the Faithfull came forth and by prayers performed the Rites of the Divine worship At which time this Blessed Prince lying on high upon a lofty place was celebrated with praises Likewise a vast number of people together with those persons consecrated to God no◠without tears and great lamentation poured forth prayers to God for the Emperour's Soul thereby performing a most gratefull Office to this pious Prince Further herein also God demonstrated his singular Favour towards his Servant because after his death he bequeathed the Empire to his own dear Sons who were his Successours and because agreeable to his own most earnest desire the Tabernacle of his thrice-blessed Soul was vouchsafed a place with the Monument of the Apostles to the end namely that it might be honoured in the same degree with the name of the Apostles and that it might be joyned with God's people in the Church and might be vouchsafed the Divine Rites and Mystick Service and might enjoy a Communion of the Holy Prayers but that He himself possest of the Empire even after death managing the whole Government by a Return to Life as 't were Victor Maximus Augustus might in his own name still Rule the Roman State CHAP. LXXII Concerning the Bird termed the Phoenix NOt like that Egyptian Bird which being the only one of her kind is said to die upon an heap of Spices at her death making her self a sacrifice and presently as 't is reported is restored to life again out of those very ashes and raising her self by her wings appears the same in kind that she was before But in the same manner with his Saviour rather who like wheat sown from one Grain diffusing himself into many by the blessing of God hath brought forth an Ear of Corn and hath filled the whole world with his fruits In a like manner hereto this thrice-blessed Prince by the Succession of his Children from being one has been made many in so much that throughout all Provinces Statues are raised in honour of Him together with his Sons and the usual name of Constantine obtaines even after his death CHAP. LXXIII In what manner they Stamp't Constantine on Coyns ascending up into Heaven as ' t were MOreover Coyns were Stamp't bearing this impress on the fore-side they exprest this Blessed Prince with His Head covered But on the Reverse he was represented sitting like a Charioteer in a Chariot drawn by four Horses and taken up into Heaven by a hand stretcht out to him from above CHAP. LXXIV That whereas God had been honoured by Him He was on the other hand deservedly honoured by God THese Miracles the supream God laid before our very eyes in the person of Constantine who was the only Prince of all the preceding Emperours that had openly profest himself a Christian whereby God manifestly declared How great a difference he made between those who thought good to worship him and his Christ and them that had embraced a contrary opinion Who having brought a War upon God's Church thereby rendred him their Enemy and Opposer And indeed the disastrous and unfortunate close of every of their Lives has produced a most convincing Argument of the greatness of the divine hatred towards them in the same manner that the death of Constantine has rendred the pledges of God's favour in reference to him manifest and apparent to all men CHAP. LXXV That Constantine was more pious than any of the foregoing Roman Emperours VVHo being the Sole Emperour of the Romans that had honoured God the Supream King with a Transcendency of piety and the only one that had freely and boldly published the Doctrine of Christ to all men and the only person as I may say that had raised his Church to such a degree of Honour and Glory as no one had ever done before and the only person that had totally destroyed the Errour of Polythëism and confuted all the Rites and Modes of such a Superstition is the only person also that was vouchsafed such honours both in this Life and after death as no one either amongst the Graecians or Barbarians is reported ever to have obtained Nor can there be any one mentioned amongst the ancient Romans themselves from the Remotest Times to this present Age who may be compared with this our Prince THE EMPEROUR Constantine's Oration WHICH HE ENTITLED TO THE CONVENTION OF THE SAINTS CHAP. I. The Preface makes mention of Easter and that Christ having been several ways beneficial to all men hath had plots framed against him by those on whom he has conferred favours THE more than usual Brightness and Splendour both of the Day and Sun the Preface of the Resurrection the new Reparation of Bodies long since dissolved the Foundation of the promise and the way leading to Life eternal the day namely of the Passion is now come Dearest Doctours and all the rest of You My Friends Ye Multitudes of Believers are far more Blessed than others Ye who worship God the very Authour of Religion and who as well by an inward sense of every particular Soul as by outward Expressions do without intermission praise Him according to those Rules contained in the Divine Oracles But Thou Nature Mother of all things What of this sort hast Thou ever conferred upon the world Or rather what is in any wise Thy work In as much as He who is the Authour of all things was the Framer of thy Sanctity also For He it is who has adorned Thee in as much as the Beauty of Nature is a Life agreeable to God But those things prevailed afterwards which are directly contrary to Nature namely that no one should adore God the Authour of all things with a congruous worship and that it should be supposed that all things were managed not by Providence but Chance in a disorderly and discomposed manner And although the Prophets inspired by the Divine Spirit particularly and in express words foretold these things to whom Credit ought to have been given yet impious injustice made its Resistance by all manner of devices hating and reproaching the
but that others in regard as to their Nature they were like irrational creatures would relye upon their own senses rather Wherefore that no person whether good or ill might be in doubt he performed it openly and hath exposed this Blessedness and admirable Cure to publick view restoring again to life those that were dead and commanding that such as had been deprived of their senses should again recover their former soundness of sense But that he rendred the Sea solid and in the midst of a Storm ordered a Calm to arise and in fine that after he had performed wonderfull works and from an incredulity had brought men over to a most strong Faith He ascended up into Heaven whose work was this save God's and a performance of a most transcendent power Nor did that time which was nearest to his Passion want those Sights that were highly admirable when the darkness of night obscured the brightness of day and totally eclips'd the Sun For a terrour had seized all people every where who believed that the end of all things was now come and that a Chaos such a one as had been before the Composure of the World would now prevail Moreover the Cause of so great a Calamity was inquired into and what horrid impiety that might be which had been committed by men against the Deity Till such time as with a pleasing greatness of mind God had with contempt look't upon the contumely of the Impious and had restored all things and beautified the whole Heaven with the usual course of the Stars The Face therefore of the world which in a manner had been wholly covered with mourning and sadness was again restored to its Native beauty CHAP. XII Concerning those who knew not this Mystery and that their ignorance is voluntary and what great blessings await those who know it and especially them who have died in Confession BUt some one of those with whom 't is usual to blaspheme will peradventure say that God was able to have made the will of men better and more tractable and mild I demand therefore what better method what more effectual attempt in order to the amendment of ill men than God's own speaking to them Has not He when present and rendred visible to all taught them modestie and sobriety of life If therefore the Command of a God who was present hath availed nothing how could the admonition of one absent and un-heard be of force What therefore was the Obstacle of that most Blessed Doctrine The perverse untractable and fierce humour of men For when with an angry and displeased mind we receive those things which are well and fitly enjoyned the acuteness of our understanding is dull'd as 't were and clouded Besides it was pleasure to them to neglect the commands and in a loathing and disdainfull manner to give ear to the Law that was made For had they not been negligent and careless they had received rewards befitting their attention not only in this life present but in that to come also which is really and truly The Life For the reward of those who obey God is an immortal and eternal Life The attaining whereof is possible to them only who shall know God and shall propose their own lives as some perpetual Exemplar for their imitation that have resolved to live by way of Emulation with a desire of excelling On this account therefore the Doctrine was delivered to the wise that what they shall command might in a pure mind be preserved with care by their companions and that the observance of God's Command might thus continue true and firm For from such an observance and from a pure Faith and a sincere Devotion towards God springs a fearlesness and contempt of Death Such a mind as this therefore gives a resistance to the Storms and Tumults of the world being fortified in order to Martyrdom by an inexpugnable strength of Divine Virtue And when with a magnanimity it has conquered the greatest Terrours it is vouchsafed a Crown from Him to whom with courage and constancy it hath born witness Nevertheless it does not boast in respect hereof For it knows I suppose that even this is the Gift of God that it has both endured Tortures and hath also chearfully fulfilled the Divine Commands Farther such a life as this is followed by an immortal Memory and an Eternal Glory and that most deservedly For both the life of a Martyr is found to be full of modesty and of a Religious observance of the Divine Commands and his death likewise appears full of magnanimity and Gallantry Wherefore Hymns Psalms commendations and praises are after this sung to God the Inspectour of all things and such a Sacrifice of thanksgiving as this is performed in memory of these persons a Sacrifice not polluted with bloud and void of all manner of violence Neither is the Odour of Frankincense required nor a kindling of the Funeral-pile but a pure Light only as much as may be sufficient for the enlightning them who pray to God Sober Feasts and Banquets are likewise celebrated by many made for the relief and refreshment of the indigent and to help them who have been deprived of their Estates and Country Which Banquets should any one think to be burthensome and inconvenient his Sentiment would be repugnant to the Divine and most Blessed Discipline CHAP. XIII That a difference of the parts of the Creation is necessary and that a propensity to Good and Evil springs from the will of men and therefore that the Judgment of God is necessary and agreeable to Reason BUt now some persons do boldly and inconsiderately presume to find fault with God even in this matter What was his meaning say they that he has not framed the nature of things one and the same but has commanded that even most things should be produced different and therefore should be endued with a nature and disposition that are contrary Whence springs a diversity of the Morals and Wills of us men It had peradventure been better both as to what respects an obedience to the Commands of God and as to an accurate Contemplation of Him and in reference to a confirmation of the Faith of every particular person that all men had been endued with one and the same disposition But we answer 't is altogether ridiculous to desire that all men should be of one and the same humour and disposition and 't is absurd not to consider and remark this that the constitution of the whole world is not the same with that of those things which are in the world or this that Natural things are not of the same substance with those that are Moral Or Lastly this that the Affections of the Body are not the same with those of the Mind For the rational Soul does far excel this whole world and is so
much more blessed than Creatures that are earthly and lyable to Corruption by how much it is nobler and more divine neither is mankind void of the divine goodness Nevertheless all men are not promiscuously and without any thing of difference partakers of the Divine Goodness but those only who have search't into the Divine Nature and who have proposed to themselves this as their chief purpose of Life and primary Study the knowledge namely of things Divine CHAP. XIV That a created Nature is at a vast distance from an Essence which is uncreated and that man approaches nearest to God by a virtuous Life MOreover to compare things that are made with them which be eternal is questionless the highest degree of madness For these have neither beginning nor end But those in regard they are brought forth and begotten and because they have received a beginning both of their existing and of their living for some set time must consequently of necessity have an end also But how can those things which are begotten be any ways compared with him who hath commanded them to be begotten For if these things were equal to him the Command whereby he ordered them to be produced would in no wise fit and be agreeable to him But neither can things celestial be compared with him in the same manner that the sensible world is not to be compared with the Intelligible nor Images with the Originals But is not the confusing and mixing of all things a thing wholly ridiculous in regard the dignity of the Divine Nature would be clouded by a comparing of it with men or with beasts And is not a desire of power which might strive to equal the power of God is not I say such a desire to be esteemed as peculiar to madmen and such as abhor a sober modest and virtuous course of Life For if with earnestness we strive to attain divine felicity we ought to leade our lives according to the Command of God For by this means when we shall have lived in Conformity to that Law appoynted by God being made superiour to all Fate we shall take up our Residence in immortal and eternal Mansions For this is the only strength in man which is like to the divine power namely a sincere and unfeigned worship paid to God and a conversion to him and a contemplation and knowledge of those things which are acceptable to the Deity not to be enclined towards the Earth but as far as we are able to raise our minds to things sublime and celestial For by such an endeavour aâ— this a Victory is procured for us of equal value with many Blessings The cause therefore of the dissimilitude of things which is plac't in a distance both of dignity and power has this reason Wherein they who are wise do willingly acquiesce and are eminently thankfull But the ingratefull and the foolish receive a punishment befitting their arrogance CHAP. XV. What Precepts Our Saviour delivered and what Miracles He wrought and how beneficial He hath been to those who own a subjection to Him FArther the Son of God exhorts all men to Virtue and constitutes himself a Teacher to such as are prudent instructing them in the Father's commands Unless we forget our selves being wretchedly ignorant that for the sake of our advantage that is on account of mens blessedness He travelled up and down on earth and having called together to himself the best men of those times he delivered them a most usefull Doctrine the preservative as 't were of a sober life teaching them Faith and Justice against the Envy of the Malitious Devil whose delight it is to allure and deceive the unskilfull Therefore he visited the sick and eased the infirm of those ills wherewith they were surrounded He likewise administred comfort to those who were reduced to an extremity of poverty and indigency He highly extolled a sober modest and quiet temper of mind joyned with reason and gave command that with a courage and patience of mind we should bear all manner of injury and every sort of contempt teaching us that the Visitation of his Father is of this sort so that they who could magnanimously endure accidents might always obtain the Victory For he affirmed that this is the most superlative degree of strength namely a constancy of mind joyned with Philosophy which is nothing else but a knowledge of what is True and Good accustoming those who get riches fairly and justly to impart what they possess by a kind and liberal distribution to the poorer sort But he wholly forbids mastership and bearing sway over others openly declaring that as he came to give assistance to the humble so he would desist from favouring those who should disrespect the humble Having therefore made Tryal of the Faith of those people subject to him by such and so powerfull an Experiment he rendred them not only Contemmers of the terriblest and most formidable things but most genuine disciples also of an hope and confidence in himself Moreover he once sharply rebuked and by his words represt one of his Companions who had been over much heated with anger That Disciple had with a drawn sword made an assault upon some body exposing his own life that he might assist our Saviour But his Lord commanded him to be quiet and to put up his Sword reproving the man severely because he had dispaired of a defence and refuge in Him Himself And he enacted a Law in express words that whoever should begin an assault upon another with the hands of Violence or should attempt to injure him who had begun or whoever in general should make use of the sword should perish by a violent death This is most undoubtedly the Celestial wisedom to choose to be injured rather than to injure and as often as necessity shall require to be in a readiness to undergo rather than do evil For whereas the mischief of being injurious is very great not he who suffers the wrong but he that does it incurrs the heaviest punishment Farther 't is in the power of him who pays an obedience to God neither to do nor suffer an injury provided he places his confidence in the protection of God who is present with and gives him assistance to the end no one of His Subjects may receive any harm But how should he endeavour to assist himself who puts his trust in God For by this means a Fight betwixt two would ensue and a doubtfull and uncertain Victory But no man of understanding preferrs dubious matters before those that are fixt and certain But how will he make any scruple about God's presence and assistance who has had experience of so many perills and has always been easily delivered from dangers by the sole will and pleasure of God who has walkt thorow the Sea which by our Saviour's command was
ten Unites make up one Denarie But a Denarie or Decade is the Limit the Meta and the fixt and stated Boundary of Unites the Meta of the infinity of Numbers but the End that is the perfection of Unites Moreover the Ternarie joyned together with the Denarie and having performed the third period of ten Circuits produces that most natural Number the Number Thirty For that which in Unites is the Ternarie the same in Denaries is the Tricenarie or Thirtieth Number And this is the firm and certain Limit of that great Luminary which is the second from the Sun For the Course of the Moon from one conjunction with the Sun to the next compleats the Circle of a Month after which She again receives a Beginning of Birth as 't were and does again begin new Light and new Days being grac't with thirty Unites honoured with three Decades and beautified with ten Ternaries With the very same Graces is the Empire of Our Victor Augustus and Lord of the whole world adorned by the Bestower of all things that are good and enters upon a beginning of new blessings having hitherto accomplished the Tricennalian Festivities only but now from hence forward entring upon longer intervals of Times and espousing the hopes of future Blessings in the Celestial Kingdom Where not one only Sun but troops of innumerable Lights daunce about the Supream Emperour every one of which is far more Glorious than the Sun it self and do shine and glister with the splendour of those Rayes shot from that Eternal Fountaine of Light Where there is a life of the mind in the incorruptible Beauties of Goods where there is a life void of all grief and trouble where there is an enjoyment of temperate and most holy pleasure Time without Time a long and endless Aevum enlarged to Spaces bounded by no Term not any more distinguished by the intervals of dayes and months nor measured by the Circles of Years and the periods of Seasons and Times but sufficient for one life continued to an immensity Which is not enlightned by the Sun nor illustrated by the multitude of the Stars or Splendour of the Moon but has that Luminary it self God the Word the only-begotten Son of the Supream Emperour On which account the Divine Discourses of Mystick Theology do declare Him to be that Sun of Righteousness and a Light which far transcends all Lights We do firmly believe that the very same person does illustrate those most blessed Powers with the Rayes of Justice and the beams of Wisedom and that He does take the Souls of men adorned with true Piety not into the Circumference of Heaven but into His own Bosom and that he does really confirm and fulfill His own promises But the eye of Mortals hath not seen nor hath any ear heard neither can a mind cloathed with flesh be able to discern and look into those things which are prepared for them who have been adorned with Pâ—ety as likewise for You also Most Religious Emperour To whom alone of all persons that ever were God Himself the Supream Emperour of this Universe has granted this that You should cleanse and reform the Life of men To whom also He hath shown His own Salutary Sign by the power whereof having conquered Death He celebrated a Triumph over His Enemies Which Trophy of Victory and Amulet of Daemons when You had opposed against the Images of Errour You gained the Victory over all impious Enemies and Barbarians as also over the Daemons themselves who are another sort of Barbarians FOR Whereas there are in us two Substances conjoyned namely Soul and Body whereof the Latter is exposed to view but the other remaines invisible against both these two sorts of Enemies and Barbarians the one covertly the other openly have set themselves in array And the one of them opposes Bodies against Bodies but the other assaults man's naked Soul it self with all sorts of incorporeal Engines Farther those visible Barbarians like some savage Nomades in nothing different from wild-beasts make an attack upon the meek and gentle Flocks of Men ruine and depopulate Countries enslave Cities rush out of the Desert like fierce and furious Wolves and fall upon the inhabitants of Cities after which they destroy as many as they can But the invisible Enemies I mean the Soul-destroying Daemons who are far more fierce and cruel than all Barbarians flye about the Regions of this Air and by the Engines of mischievous Polytheisme had reduced all mankind under their power in so much that the true God was not by them any longer look't upon as God but they wandred up and down in manifold errour without any worship of the Deity For having procured for themselves Gods from I know not whence who have not any Being or Existence in any place whatever they wholly neglected and undervalued Him who is the only and the true God as if He were not Hence it was that the Generation of Bodies was by them reputed and worshipt as a God as also a contrary Deity hereto to wit the destruction and dissolution of Bodies And the former of these Gods in regard He was the Authour of Generation was honoured with the Rites of Venus But the Latter because He abounded with Riches and in Strength excelled Mankind was named Pluto and Orâ—â—â—â— For whereas the Men of that Age acknowledged no other life save that which takes its beginning from Generation therefore they asserted the Cause and Origine of that Life to be a God And whereas they believed Men not to exist any more after death they declared Death to be the Vanquisher of all and a Great God Then concluding that on account of that dissolution by death they were in no wiâ—e accountable hereafter for what was performed here they resolved upon living such a life as in effect was 〈◊〉 life perpetrating such facts as deserved to be punished with ten thousand deaths For they had not their minds taken up with the thoughts of God they expected not the Tribunals of the Divine judgment nor call'd to remembrance the Nature of their own Souls but acknowledging a subjection to one Cruel Patron Death and fully perswading themselves that the destruction of bodies effected by it was the dissolution and annihilation of the whole man they declared Death to be a great and a rich God and for that reason gave him the name of Pluto or Dis. Death therefore was to them a God and not he alone but whatever else they accounted valuable in comparison of Death namely those things which were conducive in order to the rendring their Lives pleasant and delicate For the pleasure of the Body was by them accounted a God nourishment was a God the growth of those things that produce nutriment a God the fruit of Trees a God Drunkenness and Luxury a God the desire of things Carnal a God the Pleasure of those
Daemons which heretofore prey'd upon the whole Body of mankind and by the motion and impulse of images shewed many Impostures and delusions amongst men by an invisible and potent hand being as 't were fierce and raging wild-beasts from the Flock of men What other person besides Our Saviour by an invocation of Himself and by the purest prayers in His Name put up to the Supream God hath given a power of driving away the Remains of evil Spirits from among men to those who with purity and sincerity would follow that Rule of Living and discipline delivered by Him What other person save onely our Saviour hath taught his followers to offer unbloudy and rational sacrifices which are performed by prayers and a mysterious naming of God On which account Altars have been erected thorowout the whole world and Churches Consecrated and Divine Ministrations of intellectual and rational sacrifices are offered up by all Nations to the Only God the Supream King Who by a secret and invisible power hath caused those sacrifices which were usually performed by Bloud and Gore smoak and fire as likewise those cruel and furious slaughters of men and humane Victims to be abolished and wholly extinguished In so much that this thing is attested even by the very Histories of the Heathens themselves For all those sacrifices of men in all places of the Earth were not abolished till after the publication of Our Saviour's Divine Doctrine namely about the Times of the Emperour Hadrim Whereas therefore so many cogent arguments and evident demonstrations do give confirmation to Our Saviour's Might and Power after His death who is so iron-minded as not together with others to give evidence to the Truth and not to acknowledge His life to be divine For great Atchievements are the performances of the Living not of the dead and those things which we see do furnish us with a knowledge of things hidden Not long since indeed yesterday as 't were a Race of men who fought against God disturbed the Life of men turned all things upside down and were possest of great power and strength But when they were departed from among men thenceforward they lay upon the earth more contemptible than dung without breath without motion without voice Nor is there now any account or any mention made of them For this is the allotment of the dead And He that is no longer is no Body But what can He do who is no Body But on the contrary He who acts and works and who is more powerfull than those that are alive how can He be supposed not to be And although He be invisible to eyes of flesh nevertheless the faculty of judging consists not in sense nor do we by the senses of the Body perceive the reasons and Rules of Arts or Speculations of Sciences Neither did ever any with His eyes see the mind that is in men much less the strength and power of God but things of this nature are wont to be known and perceived by the works themselves Wherefore in our Saviour also 't is fit we should inspect and discern His invisible Power and Strength from His Works namely whether those many illustrious Acts which even till this present time are done by Him must be acknowledged the performances of a person living or whether 't is to be said that they are the works of One who is not or rather whether this question be not altogether foolish and incoherent For how can any one with reason affirm Him to be who is not In regard 't is manifest by the consent and suffrages of all that that which is not neither has any strength nor can it act or operate For this is the Nature of the Living but the Nature of the dead is contrary BUT 't is here seasonable that we should inspect the Performances of our Saviour in this our age and should contemplate the living works of the living God For how should such Glorious Atchievements as these not be the living Works of a living person and of One who truly lives the Life of God But do You enquire what those are Hear them Not long since some persons who had proclaimed war against God with great obstinacy and no less Power and Military Force ruined and dug up from their very foundations the Edifices of his Oratories and resolved upon rendring His Churches wholly invisible and with all imaginable Engines and Stratagems fought against Him who is not to be seen with eyes casting and throwing aginst Him the darts of impious Expressions But the invisible God was avenged on them in an invisible manner Immediately therefore by one only Nod of the Deity they became extinct those persons I mean who a little before lived delicious and pleasant lives and were thrice-happy who were celebrated amongst all men as equal with the Gods who during many periods of years had Governed the Empire gloriously and happily as long namely as there was peace and friendship between them and Him whom they afterwards opposed But when they changed their minds and were so audacious as to engage in an actuall war with God and set their Gods in array against Ours as their Leaders and Defenders immediately in one moment of time and by the Beck and Power of that God whom they opposed they all underwent the deserved punishments of their audacious attempts In so much that giving ground to Him with whom they were engaged in war and turning their Backs upon Him they acknowledged His divinity as others had done and hastned to grant and permit the clean contrary to those things which a little before they had attempted But our Saviour forthwith erected Victorious Trophies in all parts of the Earth and did again adorn the whole world afresh with holy Temples and Consecrated Oratories and in every City and Villâ—ge in all Countries and in the desart places of the Barbarians He dedicated Churches and Temples to one God the supream King and Lord of all Hence also 't is that these consecrated places are vouchsafed the name of the Lord and take their appellation not from men but from the supream Lord Himself For from Him they have the name of Churches Let Him therefore that has a mind to it come forth and inform us who after so great a Ruine and Devastation hath raised the sacred Houses from their foundations to so vast an height Who hath bestowed a Resurrection upon those Structures wholly despair'd of as to their being rebuilt and has vouchsafed them a Re-edification whereby they are become far more splendid and stately than they had been before and which is most to be admired hath not new-built them after the death of those Enemies of God but whilst those very persons were yet alive who had demolished them in so much that they themselves with their own mouthes and by their own Letters recanted
their bold attempts and this they did not whilst they were surrounded with the delights and pleasures of Life for thus any one might perhaps suppose that they performed this with a regard to kindness and clemency but at such time as they were pursued with stripes inflicted on them from Heaven Who after so many and such impetuous storms of Persecution and in the very heat and extremity of dangers thorowout the whole world kept fixt to the Precepts of His Divine Doctrine infinite numbers of men that were zealous followers of a Philosophick Life and strict worshippers of the Deity also women that were in Holy Orders and Quires of Virgins which Dedicated the whole time of their Lives to a perpetual chastity of body and mind and taught them abstinence from food and most willingly to continue without meat and wine during the space of many days and to lead a hard and austere oourse of life with a singular modesty and temperance Who hath so far prevailed upon women and numerous multitudes of men that they should exchange the food of their Bodies for that rational food that agrees with their rational souls which food is gotten by a perusal of Divine Lessons Who hath taught Barbarians and Peasants women children and servants and innumerable multitudes of all Nations to despise Death and to perswade themselves that their Souls are immortal and that there is an Eye of justice which inspects humane affairs and that they should expect a future judgment from God to pass upon the pious and the impious and that for that reason they ought to lead just holy and sober lives For 't is in no wise possible that those who are not thus disposed should submit themselves to the yoke of piety All which egregious performances are even at this present accomplished only by Our Saviour But let us omit these things Come on we will now apply our selves to a conviction of Him whose mind is as hard as flint by such interrogatories as these Tell me Friend and utter words that are rational Let your expressions be the products not of a foolish and stupid heart but of a soul endued with reason and understanding Tell me I say after you have often and duely weighed the matter with your self Which of all the Sages who in times past have been famous was known in the same manner with Our Saviour and proclaimed so infinite a number of ages since by the Oracles of the Prophets amongst the children of the Hebrews anciently God's beloved people Who in their minds had a fore-knowledge of the place of His Birth and of the times of His Coming and of His manner of Life of His Miracles likewise of His Discourses and of His famous actions and left them on record in the sacred Volumns Who hath shown Himself so swift a Revenger of those audacious Attempts against Himself that immediately after that impious fact committed against Himself the whole Nation of the Jews should be pursued and punished by an invisible Power and their Royal Seat utterly demolished and overthrown from its very foundations and the Temple together with all the Ornaments and rich furniture therein levell'd with the Ground Who hath uttered predictions both concerning those impious men and also in reference to the Church founded by Him over the whole world exactly correspondent to the affairs themselves and hath actually demonstrated and confirm'd the truth of those Predictions in such a manner as Our Saviour hath done Concerning the Temple of the Impious He had said Behold your house is left to you desolate and there shall not remain a stone upon a stone in this place which shall not be thrown down But concerning His own Church He spake in this manner I will build my Church upon a rock and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it To have brought at first from fishing men that were contemptible and illiterate and afterwards to have constituted them Law-givers and Teachers to the whole world what and how mighty a thing does this seem to You As for His promise to them that He would make them Fishers of men He not only uttered it in words but performed it actually and abundantly and conferr'd on them so great a degree of strength and power that they composed writings and published Books and the authority of all those Books was so great that being rendred into all Languages as well of Greeks as Barbarians thorowout the whole world they are studiously read by all Nations and the Contents of them are believed to be divine Oracles of how mighty a prevalency is this in order to a clear demonstration of His Divinity How considerable likewise is that namely that He foretold things future and long before it hapned assured His disciples that they should be brought before Kings and Princes and should be punished and undergo the extreamest of Torments not for any foul act of their own but only on account of their confession of His Name Moreover that He fitted and prepared them chearfully to endure these things and so fortified them with the Arms of Piety that in their Conflicts with their adversaries their minds appeared firmer than an Adamant what powerfulness of expression is it which that matter does not exceed Likewise that not only those who had followed Him but their successours also and again they who immediately succeeded them and at length such as have lived in this our present age should with so undaunted a resolution unite the Forces of their minds that although they had done nothing worthy of death yet with pleasure would endure all manner of punishments and every sort of Torture on account of their eximious Piety towards the supream God what degree of admiration does not this surpass What King did ever continue His Reign during so vast a number of Ages Who does thus wage war after death and does erect Trophies over His Enemies and does subdue every place Country and City as well Grecian as Barbarian and does vanquish His Opposers by an invisible and latent Hand And which is the chiefest thing of all that hath been hitherto rehearsed that Peace by His Power procured for the whole world concerning which we have already spoken what we judged agreeable how should it not stop the mouthes of all slanderers In as much as the Unity and Concord of all Nations did really concur in time with the Preaching of Our Saviour and with the Doctrine by Him disseminated over the whole world and in regard both of them had long before been foretold by the Prophets of God I mean the Universal Peace of the Nations and the Doctrine delivered by Christ to the Nations The whole length of the day would be insufficient for me Dread Sir should I attempt to sum up in one those most clear and cogent arguments of Our Saviour's Divine Power drawn from the things which are
the Church of Rome falls into Heresie 80. 1. 84. 2. Florus Procurator of Judaea 30. 2. Florus Dux and Prefect of Alexandria 426. 2. Fravita is ordained Acacius's successour in the See of Constantinople 461. 2. Fravitus a Goth a person of great valour 357. 1. Fritigernes Leader of the Goths 326. 1. Frumentius is created the first Bishop of the Indians 232. 1. 2. G. GAïnas General of the Souldiers 356. 1. endeavours to turn Tyrant ibid. He is declared a publick enemy 356. 2. Galates Son to Valens Augustus 322. 1. Galilaeans their Sect. 8. 1. Galla the wife of Theodosius 325. 2. the mother of Placidia ibid. Gallus is created Caesar. 265. 2. He is slain 270. 1. Geiorae or Geörae whom the Jews called by that name 10. 1. Gelimeres King of the Vandals is taken by Belisarius 485. 2. lying prostrate before Justinian sitting in his Throne in the Cirque what he said ibid. Gennadius succeeds Anatolius in the Constantinopolitan See 433. 1. Georgius made Presbyter of Alexandria by Alexander 603. 1. Georgius is made Bishop of Alexandria 251. 1. His cruelty 264. 2 c. He is killed 288. 1. Georgius Bishop of Laodicea wrote a Commendation of Eusebius Emisenus 235. 1. 248. 2. Germanicus a Martyr at Smyrna 56. 2. Germanio Bishop of Jerusalem 96. 1. Germinius Bishop of Sirmium 272. 1 2. 273. 2. Gladiators their Shows forbid by Constantine 614. 1. Glycerius after Olybrius is made Emperour of Rome 436. 1. He is ordained Bishop of Salonae ibid. Golanduch an holy woman 523. 1. Gordius Bishop of Jerusalem 96. 1. Gorgonius of the Bed-chamber to the Emperour 139. 2. He is crowned with Martyrdom 142. 2. Gortheus Founder of the Sect of the Gortheans 63. 2. Gospel according to the Hebrews 43. 1. 44. 1. 50. 2. 63. 2. Gospel Syriack 63. 2. Gospel termed Diatessarâ—n made up of the four Evangelists 67. 2. Goths divided into two parties 326. 1. Why they became Arians ibid. Gratian is proclaimed Emperour 310. 1. His Law against the Photinians Eunomians and Manichaeans 330. 1. Grecian Learning was not forbidden to the Christians either by Christ or his Apostles 296. 2. the Advantage and usefulness thereof ibid. and 297. 1. Gregorius Thaumaturgus disciple to Origen 106. 1. His Oration in praise of Origen 322. 2. Gregorius Bishop of Alexandria 248. 2. 250. 1. Gregorius Bishop of Nazianzum 3â—0 1. 321. 2. He is made Bishop of Constantinople 322. â— 330. 2. His Oration against the Gentiles 301. 1. Gregorius Nyssenus Brother to Baâ—il the Great 322. 2. Gregorius from being a Monk is ordained Bishop of Antioch 503. 1. His Character 503. 2. He is accused for having been present at the sacrifices to Daemons 510. 1. He is accused a second time of Incest and because he had burnt the Annona 518. 1. He is acquitted in a Synod at Constantinople ibid. His Speech to the Roman Souldiers who had made a Mutiny 520. 1 c. He reconciles the Roman Souldiers to the Emperour and to their Commander 521. 1. and frees them from the rash Oath they had taken ibid. Gregorius is ordained Bishop of Rome after Pelagius 525. 2. H. HAdrian the Emperour his Rescript to Minucius Fundanus in favour of the Christians 53. 2. Hegesippus when he flourished 53. 1. His Books 63. 1 2. Helcesaïts Hereticks 108. 1. Helena Queen of the Adiabeni furnishes the Jews with Corn. 21. 1. Her Sepulchre near Jerusalem ibid. Helena a whore Simon Magus's Companion 21. 2. Helena Augusta Mother to Constantine goes to Bethlehem to pray 591. 1. comes to Jerusalem 229. 1. builds two Churches there 591. 2. Her piety and bountifulness 592. 1. She finds the Sepulchre and Cross of our Lord. 229. 2. 230. 1. She builds three Churches in honour of Our Lord. 230. 1. Her death and burial 592. 2 c. 230. 2. Drepanum is from her termed Helenopolis 229. 1. Helenus Bishop of Tarsus 118. 1. Helius succeeds Salustius in the Bishoprick of Jerusalem 495. 1. Helion is sent Embassadour to the Persians 379. 1. He is sent into Italy 382. 1. Heliodorus Bishop of Laodicea in Syria 118. 1. Heliodorus Bishop of Trica in Thessalia 347. 2. Heliopolites their Law 231. 1. Helladius and Ammonius Alexandrians Grammarians 339. 1 2. Helladius Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia 333. 2. Hemerobaptists an Heresie amongst the Jews 63. 2. Heraclas Origen's disciple 92. 2. Origen chuses him his Assistant and Companion in teaching 96. 1. He studied Philosophy and Grecian Learning ibid. and 101. 2. Heraclas a Presbyter wore a Philosophick Pallium 101. 2. He is made Bishop of Alexandria 105. 2. His Fame 106. 2. His Rule about receiving Hereticks 119. 2. Heraclea a City of Syria formerly called Gagalice 505. 2. Heraclides Origen's disciple a Martyr 93. 2. Heraclides Deacon to John Chrysostome is preferred to the Bishoprick of Ephesus 361. 1. Heraclitus wrote Comments on the Apostle 89. 2. Heraclius Bishop of Jerusalem 284. 1. Heraïs a Catechumen she was a Martyr 93. 2. Herennius Bishop of Jerusalem 284. 1. Hereticks were not so bold as to broach their Errours till after the death of the Apostles 46. 2. they are divided into manifold kinds of Errours 53. 1. The Sects of Hereticks destroy one another ibid. Their Converse is to be avoided 56. 1. Hereticks have corrupted the Books of Sacred Scripture 90. 2. Their Books must be read with Caution 119. 1. Hermas's Book called Pastor 31. 2. 43. 1. 77. 2. Hermogenes Master of the Milice is slain at Constantinople 250. 2. Hermon Bishop of Jerusalem 138. 2. Hermogenes an Heretick 65. 1. Hermophilus an Heretick mended the Books of Sacred Scripture 90. 2. Herod the Great no Jew but a Forreigner 8. 1. by Father's side an Idumaean by his Mother's an Arabian 8. 2. made King of the Jews by the Roman Senate and Augustus ibid. and 10. 1. burnt the Jews Genealogies and why ibid. slays the infants of Bethlehem 10. 2. His disease described 11. 1. His Largess to his Souldiers 11. 2. orders his Sister Salome to kill the chief of the Jews whom he had imprisoned at his death ibid. puts three of his own Sons to death ibid. Resolves to kill himself ibid. His death ibid. Herod Junior Son to Herod the Great kills John the Baptist. 13. 1. He and his Wife Herodias are banisht by Caius 17. 2. He was present at Our Saviour's Passion ibid. Herod Eirenarch of Smyrna Son to Nicetes 57. 2. Herodian a Writer of Roman History 513. 2. Heron Origen's disciple a Martyr 93. 2. Heron and Isidorus Egyptian Martyrs 111. 1. Heros Bishop of Antioch 48. 1. Hesychius Pachumius and Theodorus Bishops and Martyrs 148. 1. Hierapolis the Metropolis of the Province Euphratensis 523. 1. Hieroglyphick Letters found in Serapis's Temple 339. 2. Hierophilus Bishop of Plotinopolis 389. 1. Hilarius Bishop of Jerusalem 284. 1. Hilarius Bishop of Poictiers 293. 2. Hippolitus 2 Bishop 102. 2. His Books 103. 1. Holy Ghost See Spirit Homonoea or Concordia the name of a Church at Constantinople
Sirmium 268. 1. Glicerius the Emperour was not made Bishop of Portue but of Salonae 436. 1 2. Golden-Rod usually carried before the Roman Emperours 499. 1 2. Gospel according to the Hebrews 43. 1. Gospel of Basilides 52. 2. Gregorius Bishop of Alexandria how many years he sate Bishop 251. 1. Gregorius Nazianzenus his three Bishopricks 321. 2. 331. 1. Gynacea 558. 1. H. HAdrian the Emperour built a Temple to Venus on mount Calvary 224. 1. Hanniballianus 667. 2. Heathens how they consecrated the Images of their Gods 173. 1. Hegâ—sippus was Irenaeus's Contemporary 53. 1. Helena her death what year it hapned 593. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies that age which is fit for warfare 168. 1. Henoticon or Zeno's Edict about uniting the Churches is termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 455. 1. Heraâ—s a Catechumen 94. 1. Hereticks whither they may lawfully be persecuted 370. 2. Hermodactylus what manner of plant it was 525. 2. the root of it good for those that are troubled with the Gout in the Joynts or fingers ibid. Hermogenes an Heretick 65. 1. what his Heresie was ibid. Herod the Great was no Forreigner but a Jew 8. â— after his death his kingdom was divided into three parts 12. 1. Herod called also Agrippa who he was 19. 2. what children he had 20. 2. Hexapla of Origen whence so called 99. 1. 99. 2. Hierocles Praefect of Egypt against whom Eusebius wrote 161. 2. Hierophantae were never called by their own name by those whom they had initiated 664. 1. High-Priest so every person was called as long as he lived who had once born that office 12. 2. They wore a plate of Gold 45. 2. Hilarius and Athanasius differ in opinion concerning the Draughts of the Creed drawn up by the Easterns 266. 1 2. Hippolytus Bishop of Portue 102. 2. His Paschal-Canon is part of his book concerning Easter 103. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 104. 1. Honoratus was the first Praefect of Constantinople 281. 1. Honorati 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 630. 2. Hosanna what it signifies 28. 1. Hosius subscribed first to the Nicene Synod 227. 1. Hyacinthides virgins at Athens who they were 690. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Prefecti Praetorio 606. 2. Hypatia the Philosopheress probably was Theon's daughter 376. 1. by whose means she was murdered 376. 2. Hypatianus when made Bishop of Heraclea 266. 1. Hypodiaconi or Sub-deacons kept the doors of the Church 191. 1. Hypomnematographer an office born by Lucian at Alexandria 122. 2. I. JAcobus the Monk to whom the Emperour Leo wrote whither Jacobus Nisibenus 432. 1. James the brother of our Lord whether one of the twelve Apostles 13. 2. whether the son of Joseph 16. 1. what is the meaning of his surname Oblias 27. 2. in what year he suffered Martyrdom 28. 2 James ordained Bishop of Jerusalem by Christ. 126. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who termed so amongst the Greeks 375. 2. Iconium the Synod there when convened 119. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 amongst the Egyptians who they were 36. 1. Jerusalem Bishop's authority 263. 1. Jews how their families came to be so confused 9. 1. their Genealogies were not burnt by Herod 10. 1. they had private copies of their Genealogies ibid. they pray'd to God with their eyes turned towards the Temple 33. 2. they were permitted to enter Jerusalem but once in a year 52. 1. their seaven Herefies 63. 2. Their Archisynagogi Presbyters Deacons Patriarchs 121. 1 at their Feasts the Gentiles were present also 28. 1. Their dispersion and the reasons of it 30. 2 c. a Jew in secret or inwardly 167. 1. How they divided the night and day 35. 2. Image of Christ at Edessa 489. 1. Indians converted to the faith of Christ by Frumentius in Constantius's reign 232. 1 2. Interregnum of three months after the death of Constantine the Great 630. 2. Johannes is ordained Bishop of Alexandria at Constantinople by Johannes Scholasticus Patriarch of Constantinople 503. 1. Johannes Apamenus Bishop of Antioch after Petrus Fullo 453. 2. Johannes Codonatus Bishop of Antioch 457. 1. Johannes Rhetor the Historian not the same person with Johannes of Epiphania the Historian 413. 2 c. Johannes Tabennesiota Bishop of Alexandria whence so called 454. 2. He was Oeconomus of the Alexandrian Church ibid. a place in Liberatus concerning him is mended ibid. He did not appeal to Pope Simplicius 456. 2. John the Baptist's Church in the City Alexandria was the Great Church 454. 2. Josephus's History of the Jewish wars transcribed by Titus's own hand 37. 2. Josephus's book concerning his own Life is part of his twentieth book of Antiquities 37. 2. His books of History otherwise divided than now they are 11. 1. Josepus so the Ancients called Josephus 12. 2. Jovius Maximinus 178. 1. his third Consulate 181. 2. Irenaeus whether he brought the Letters of the Martyrs to Rome 75. 2. In what year he was ordained Bishop 76. 2. His Synodick Letter 87. 2. Irenarch or Eirenarch 57. 2. Irene two Churches at Constantinople called by that name the one the old the other the new 247. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Copy 584. 1. Judas of Galile or Gaulanites when he made his insurrection 8. 1. He was Founder of the Sect of the Galilaeans 63. 2. Judas whether the brother of our Lord. 39. 2. Julian the Emperour called Bull-burner 297. 2. Julianus the Bishop of Rome's substitute in the second Ephesine Synod was Bishop of Coe not of Puteoli 409. 1. Justice its eye 699. 1. Justinian's Vandalic Expedition on what year of Christio was undertaken 484. 2. Justin the Martyr's first Apology according to Eusebius is that which is commonly entitled his second and on the contrary his 〈◊〉 his first 21. 2 60. 1. 61 1. Justin's second Apology commonly entitled his first was dedicated to Antoninus pius 61. 1. Justin was Martyred in the Reign of Pius ibid. Justinus Senior is by some termed a Thracian by others an Illyrian 477. 1. Before he was Emperour he was Comes of the Excuâ—iâ—â— or Guards ibid. Justinus Junior how many years he reigned 513. 1. Justus Tiberiensis and his books 37. 2. K. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Matricula or Koll of the Church-officers 342. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 101. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 99. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 92. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 coemiteries 122. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what it signifies 59. 2. L. LAcunaria 588. 1. Laicks when about to receive the Sacrament heretofore came up to the Altar 120. 2. before Bishops and Monks that were eminent for piety of Life the Laicks were wont to bow their heads that they might receive a blessing 493. 2. Lampadarii or Light-bearers 665. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Torches 613. 2. Latiare Sacrum at Rome 690. 1. Laura what it is and wherein it differs from a Monastery 417. 2. Laws of the Emperours Constantine and Theodosius concerning burning the books of
Apostles was called Didymus but that the same person was surnamed Judas is not that I know any where else to be found Upon this account therefore this story is deservedly to be suspected Vales. e Apostle here is to be taken in a large sense See Eusebius at the latter end of the foregoing Chapter after the same manner every Nation and City termed them Apostles from whom they first received the truth of the Gospel This name was not onely given to the 12 but all their disciples companions and assistants were generally called Apostles Vales. f This Three hundredth and fortieth year according to the account of the Edessens falleth with the first year of the two hundredth and second Olympiad For the Edessens numbred their years from the hundredth and seventeenth Olympiad fixing their Aera upon the first year of Seleucus his Reign in Asia as Eusebius writes in his Chronicon from which time to the beginning of the two hundredth and second Olympiad there are just three hundred and forty years Now the beginning of the two hundredth and second Olympiad falleth with the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar in which year as many of the Antients believed our Blessed Saviour suffered and ascended So that this account falls right placing Thaddaeus his coming to Edessa and his curing King Agbarus on the same year in which our Blessed Saviour suffered Note that the Edessens began their year from the Autumnal Aequinox according to the custom of the Syrlans and almost all the Eastern Nations Vales. a At these words we began the first Chapter following the Autority partly of Rufinus partly of the King 's Maz. and Fuk. M. SS for what goes before is a Preface Vales. b The year wherein Stephen suffered Martyrdom is not agreed on by all some say it was the third year after Christs passion which was the last of Claudius so Syncellus Others say he was martyred on the 7 th of the Calend. of Jan. that same year in which Christ suffered So Scaliger says in his Excerpt Chronolâ—g which he puts out with Euseb. Chronicon p. 68. and this seems to have been the opinion of Eusebius as appears from this place Vales. c Stephen in Greek signifies a Crown d That this James was not the Son of the B. Virgin nor yet of Joseph by one Escha a former wife but of Mary the wife of Cleophas sister to the B. Virgin may thus be made appear we read Jo. 19. 25. that there stood by the Cross of Christ his Mother and his Mothers sister Mary the wife of Cleophas and Mary Magdalen in the rest of the Evangelists we find at the same place Matth. 27. 56. Mary Magdalen and Mary the mother of James and Joses and again at the Sepulchre Matth. 28. 1. Mary Magdalen and the other Mary Wherefore that other Mary by the conjunction of these Testimonies appeareth to be the sister of the B. Virgin to be the wife of Cleophas and the mother of James and Joses and consequently James and Joses the brethren of the Lord were not the sons of Mary his mother nor of Joseph by a former wife but of the other Mary and therefore called his brethren according to the language of the Jews See Gen. 13. 8. 12. 5. 29. 12. because that other Mary was the sister of his mother See Bishop Pearson on the Creed p. 176. Edit Lond. 1669. * Gal. 1. 19. * Acts 8. 3. * Acts 8. 5. c. * Psal. 68. 31. †Acts 9. 3â— c. a Tertullian was by birth a Carthaginian his father was a Centurion a Deputy-pro-Consul He wrote many volumes in Latine of which his Apologie onely was done into Greek but by whom it is uncertain he flourisht under Severus and Antoninus Caracalla Vales. b In our translation of this quotation out of Tertullian we have followed the Original expression of the Authour according to Rigaltius his Edition of him this Greek translation being not fully expressive of the Authours mind as Valesius thinks * Psal. 19. 4. a It was called Caesarea in Palestine to distinguish it from Caesarea Philippi which was in Phoenice Valeâ— b That our Saviours followers were first named Christians in Tiberius his Reign Tertullian affirms in his Apologie the place is quoted by Eusebius in the preceding Chapter Vales. c This journey of Pauls to Jerusalem can no way fall upon the times of Tiberius For Luke writes expresly in the Acts chap. 11. v. 29 30. that it happened about that time when Herod Agrippa was smitten by the Angel of the Lord which it is most certain happened in Claudius his time Vales. a Caius Caesar about the beginning of his reign made Agrippa King first of Trachonitis which was Phillips Tretrarchy After that when Herod Tetrarch of Galilee by the perswasion of his wife Herodias went to Rome to get the Regal dignity of Caius the Emperour Caius took from Herod his Tetrarchy of Galilee and gave it to Agrippa At length after the death of Caius Claudius confirmed the Kingdom to Agrippa which Caius had given him and gave him also Judea and Samaria which his Grandfather Herod had And so the whole Kingdom of Herod the great was possessed by Agrippa See Philo in Flaccum in Legat. ad Caium sub sinem and Joseph Hist. B. 18. so that Eusebius is mistaken in that he says Caius made Agrippa King of Judeâ— Vales. a There are now extant onely two Books of Philo's concerning this Subject the one entitled in Flaccum the other de Légatione ad Caium so that either Eusebius Forgot their number or else they were heretofore divided into five Volumes Neither can any one suspect the other three to be lost for in those two we now have are contained all that happened to the Jews under Caius his Empire Vales. b Philo says there were five Embassadours of the Jews side sent to Rome See his de Legat. ad Caium sub sinem These Embassadours were sent upon two accounts first the Jews complained that the Alexandrians defiled their Proseucha's by bringing the Emperours Statues into them and then that the Alexandrians went about to deprive the Jews of their freedom of the City Alexandria Vales. c So the chief Magistrate among the Jews at Alexandria was called He held his place as long as he lived and at his death the Jews chose another into his room See Philo in Flaccum Vales. d Philo's meaning here is that Caius indeed was angry with the Jews as to appearance and in words but that in reality he did arm God and set him in array against himself For in that Caius would have himself called god he provoked God to take vengeance of him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whence the word here used is derived is a military term and signifies to set an army in array against an enemy Vales. a Philo in Legat. ad Caium about the end b The Jews had two sorts of places besides their Temple which was for
expressed as in this place yet may be tacitly understood which thing the Latine Translatours did not take notice of and hence they make 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to signifie before he had devoted himself to him i. e. as they supposed to Novatianus but I had rather read it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with George Syncellus The meaning of the place then is this that the unhappy man was not permitted to tast before he had solemnly cursed himself Vales. †This phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 instead of saying Amen has the same import with what Cornelius has said a little before viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 instead of blessing him For the faithfull when they received the Eucharist from the hands of the priest used to answer Amen after the Priest delivering the Sacrament had said The body of our Lord c. See Ambros. in his B. 4. Chap. 5. De Sacrament Cyrill of Jerusalem in his last Catechism and August B. 12. Chap. 10. against Faustus Vales. x Concerning this Moses a Presbyter of Rome Cyprian in his Epistles does speak frequently After the Martyrdom of Fabianus Bishop of Rome who suffered Anno Christi 250 this Moses was apprehended together with Maximus the Presbyter and Nicostratus the Deacon cast into prison where after 1â— Months and 11 days he dyed See Cyprian's 15 th Epistle to Moses and Maximus Vales. y Moses being a Presbyter had no authority to excommunicate his fellow-Presbyters all he could doe was to separate himself from their communion when they came to visit him in prison This phrase here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. he deprived him of communion the ancient writers frequently used when they spake of those Presbyters who abstained from communion with others See Paulinus in the Life of S t Ambros. Moses's depriving of Novatianus of communion was I suppose done by him a little before his death For at first Moses the Confessour had communion with Novatianus and when the Clergy of Rome wrote that Epistle to Cyprian which among Cyprian's Epistles is accounted the 31 Moses then had communion with Novatianus for both of them subscribed that Epistle Moreover Novatianus himself wrote an Epistle as Cyprian attests in his Epistle to Antonianus from which Epistle we may perceive the wit and eloquence of Novatianus for that Epistle we must confess is a most elegant piece and it was written when Moses had been a year in prison as may be collected from Cyprian's Epistles to Moses Vales. z Who these five Presbyters were who with Novatianus made a Schism 't is to me unknown I can't think that Maximus the Presbyter and Confessour who with Urbanus Sidonius Nicostratus and the rest of the Confessours were reduced by Novatianus adhered to his party any long time For Maximus and the rest of the Confessors went over to Novatianus's party after Moses's death Indeed Novatianus separated himself from the Church before Moses's death which happened in February Decius 3 and Etruscus being Consuls but the confessours did not betake themselves to Novatianus's â—ide till after Moses's death So great was the power and authority of Moses Besides 't is evident the Confessours were not dismist of their imprisonment till Moses was dead for why should they be freed rather than Moses Therefore they became Novatianus's followers after Moses's death One Maximus name-sake to Maximus the Presbyter and Confessour seems to have been one of these five Presbyters whom Novatianus sent as his messenger afterwards into Africa Vales. a He means that none of the Clergy or Laity were moved with his entreaties so as to think him worthy of absolution For the people's suffrages were required when any one was to be received into the Church who for any fault had been excommunicated And the Bishop himself sometimes asked the Consent of the people The people also did often intercede for the penitents to the Bishop as we may see in the preceding Chap. in the Epistle of Pope Cornelius to Fabian Bishop of Antioch Vales. b Some one may perhaps ask why Serapion did not rather send for the Bishop whose Office it was to reconcile penitents The Bishop had given this authority to the Presbyters for fear least he being absent any one should die without absolution and the Communion See Epiphanius in his Heresic of the Arrians This custom of committing this authority to the Presbyters was usual in all great Cities Vales. c This was the Decree of the African Synod about the same time that Dionysius wrote these things Vales. d In the Savil and Fuk. M. SS before this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there are some words inserted which also Christophor inserts in his translation it may appear from this place that the Sacrament was delivered to such penitents in case of necessity without the reconciliatory imposition of hands And this communion was called the viaticum See Canon the 77 and 78 of the 4 th Council of Carthage and the 39 th Carton of the first Council of Arausica this Communion was called also dispensatoria because it was granted to dying penitents before the completion of the full time appointed for Repentance and if the penitent communicant recovered it was perfected after his recovery by imposition he compleating his time of repentance Vales. e This that Dionysius here says concerning the giving of the Eucharist to the boy to carry to the sick person ought not to seem strange for it was frequently done a long time after So that S t Udalric thought it necessary expresly to prohibit it in his Synodical speech which Gretser published together with the Life of Gregory the seventh Chap. 20. But that which Gretser takes to be S t Udalric's Oration I found lately to be the Synodical Epistle of Ratherius Bishop of Verona to his Clergy And so 't is intitled in the old Laudunensian M. S. Vales. f Rufinus translates this phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thus he commanded it should be given him being dipped So the Antients us'd to dip the Consecrated bread in water as Adamannus witnesseth in his 2 d book concerning the Miracles of S t Columba Cap. 6. And Bede also in the life of S t Cuthbert Chap. 31. and in his Poem upon the same man's life and several other Ecclesiastick Writers But the Eucharists being put into the mouth of sick persons is mentioned in the 76 th Canon of the 4 th Council of Carthage which Canon is concerning sick persons who desired repentance but were speechless before the Priest came to them See the contents of that Canon Vales. g Langus Wolfius and Musculus render 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in this place by the Latine word confiteri which in my opinion is intolerable Christoph. renders it in numerum Confessorum referri to be reckoned amongst the Confessours which Translation I like if it be understood thus referri â— Christo to be reckoned by Christ. For Dionysius alludeth to Christ's words in the Gospel He who shall confess me before
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which being literally rendred imports thus much an ulcer in the fundamens full of holes like a spunge * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This expression Musculus renders thus ad semetipsum reversus being come to himself Christophorson thus mentem igitur recolligens tanquam rediens ad se recollecting therefore his mind and returning as it were to himself Valesius thus totâ mentis aciâ— in semet ipsum conversâ the whole sharpness of his mind being turned upon himself a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which words Rufinus renders very well thus Convocatis his qui in officio publico parcâ—ant having called together those who served in any publick office Eusebius usually means by this phrase the Grandees of the Palace whom Amm. Marcellinus does commonly term aulae summates Imperatoris proximos the chief Court officers and those necrest to the Emperour Vales. * In the original 't is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the Imperial Palace But Nicephorus reads 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the Emperour Vales. b We find that the Persians were but once conquered by Galerius which was in the year of Christ 297 as 't is affirmed in Fastis Idatii and in the Alexandrian Chronicle The same is confirmed by Libanius in his oration intitled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where he relates that the Persians after that great defeat they received from the Romans under the conduct of Galerius spent fourty years in preparations to make amends for that overthrow and that a little before the death of Constantine the Great they entred upon a war with the Romans Indeed from that year of Christ we mentioned i. e. Anno 297 to the year wherein Constantine dyed there are fourty years Therefore Eusebius's Chronicle must be corrected in which this Persian victory is placed on the seventeenth year of Diocletian whereas it should be placed on his thirteenth year as it is in the Edition of Arnaldus Pontacus Seeing therefore we can find no other victory that Maximianus obtained over the Persians this place ought to be pointed as it is in Nicephorus and as we have done in our translation after this manner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sarmaticus Maximus the Fifth time Persicus Maximus In Rufinus's old copy there is at this place no distinction by points but 't is thus Sarmaticus quinquies Persicus bis Carpicus Sexies Armenicus Medorum Adiabenorum Victor c Rufinus renders this passage thus Tribuniciae potestatis vicies having been Tribune of the people twenty times This is the reading in the M. SS From this place we may perceive that Galerius was made Caesar and Colleague in the Tribunician power or Tribune of the people at the same time since in this Edict he accounts the years of his Tribunician power from that time when he was proclaimed Caesar. Now he was made Caesar in the year of Christ 291 on the Calends of March. Moreover he put forth this Edict in favour of the Christians in the year of Christ 311 in his eighth Consulate as the inscription of the Edict declares whence it followes that this Edict was written before the Calends of March. For from that time Galerius began his Tribunician Power Vales. d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Emperour the Nineteenth time for that 's the reading in the most ancient copy of Rufinus Christophorson translated this term ill thus Dictator He knew not what was the import of the word Imperator Imperator signifies one thing in the titles of the Emperours when 't is put in the First place like a Pronoun but it imports another thing when 't is subjoyned to the rest of the titles For the word Emperour put in the Second place denotes the victory of the Emperours and shews how often they were stiled Emperours by the Army after they had obtained a victory so Dio â—â—forms us Vales. e In all copies there is an omission of the number of times that Constantine had born the office of Tribune of the people when this Edict came forth I have added the figure V which denotes the Fifth time of his bearing the Tribune-ship which addition is grounded upon a most certain conjecture Vales. f After this word Proconsul in the Maz. Med. Fuk. and Savil M. SS and in Nicephorus there are these following words And Emperour Caesar Valerius Licinianus Pius Faelix Invictus Augastus Pontifex Maximus Tribune of the people IV. Emperour III. Consul Father of his Country Proconsul To the Subjects of their own Provinces Greeting Which passage although it occurs not in Ruffinus yet is of good authority And first as to Licinius's Tribunician Power the same must be thought of that which was of Galerius's to wit that it is to be begun from the time of his being made Caesar. Now Licinius was made Caesar in the year of Christ 308 on the third of the Ides of November as it appears in the Fasti of Idatius Therefore the â—ourth year of Licinius's Tribunician Power began in the year of Christ 311 on the third of the Ides of November But this disagrees with what we noted before when we treated concerning the Tribunician Power of Galerius Wherefore one of these places must necessarily be false For if it were then the fourth year of Licinius's Tribunician Power it was the twenty first of Galerius's On the contrary if this were the twentieth year of Galerius's being Tribune of the people it was but the third year of Licinius's bearing that dignity As to the consulate of Licinius there is mention thereof in the Fasti of Prospâ—rus Cassiodorus and Victorius where he is placed Consul with Maximianus Augustus Cos. VIII In my notes on Amm. Marcellinus I had remarked that Licinius was made Augustus by Galerius a little before Galerius's death which I collected from hence because in this Edict we now speak of Gallerius had made no mention of Licinius's being his Colleague but since in our M. SS and in Nicephorus Licinius is stiled Augustus in this Edict of Galerius that conjecture of ours is wholly destroyed Vales. g In the Fuk. Savil Maz. and Med. M. SS the reading is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So great an arrogancy and unadvisedness has possest and invaded them Vales. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which Valesius here renders arrogantia arrogancy is by Democrates in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 defined to be speaking all and noâ— enduring to hear any body else D r Hammond has given a large account of the significantions of this word in his note on Rom. 1. v. 29. * Id est Galerius See the Edict chap. 17. book 8. a Those four were Diocletianus Maximianus Constantius and Galeriuâ— See Book 8. Chap. 13. note â— b That is Diocletianus and Maximianus See Book 8. Chap. 13. note e. c In chap. 13. book 8. d Diocletianus e Maximianus f Galerius g See Chap. 16. Book 8. note b. h See Chap. 16. Book 8. i These following words are taken out of chap. 13. book 8.
our Eusebius here the words are these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on the eighth day of the moneth Desius that is as the Romans stile it before the seventh of the Ides of June By these words in the Latine Copies of the M. SS in Saint Germans Library the title before Claudius Joly's Copy of these Acts is to be amended where 't is said Procopius suffered on the fourth of the Nones of August Notwithstanding in all the Martyrologies the Martyrdom of Procopius is set on the eighth of the Ides of July The Greeks also celebrate the memory of the great Martyr Procopius on the same day as may be seen in their Menaeum But that Procopius is a different person from ours although he was born at Jerusalem and suffered at the same time almost and in the same City that our Procopius did For our Procopius was a Reader and an Exorcist as Eusebius attests But the other was a Captain of Egypt The first Procopius was a Christian from his Childhood the second was at first a worshipper of Daemons Our Procopius was beheaded having suffered no tortures and so obtained the Crown of Martyrdom by a most compendious and easie kind of death The other Procopius suffered a tedious and most cruel Martyrdom having undergone most horrid tortures under two Presidents of Palestine Justus and Flavianus Upon which account he is reckoned by the Greeks amongst the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Great Martyrs See book 6. chap. 32. note b. Lastly our Procopius was taken at Scythopolis brought to Caesarea in Palestine and there beheaded The other was apprehended in Egypt and Martyred in Caesarea a City of Phoenicia which was also called Paneas if we may believe Simcon Metaphrastes Vales. e It is I perceive taken for granted amongst all men that the months of the Syro-Macedonians were wholly the same with the Julian months from that time when Julius Caesar publisht his year For Scaliger and our Petavius do in many places affirm this and the only difference as they say was that the Syro-Macedonians began their year from October But there are many things which make me dissent from their opinion For first Bede in his Ephemeris and in his book De ratione Temporum says that the months of the Greeks began from Apellaeus which answers to December But Marcus in his Life of Porphyrius Bishop of Gaza attests that those of Gaza began their year from the month Dius For these are his words at pag 1090. Primo mense qui ab eis vocatur Dios deinde etiam secundo qui dicitur Apellaeos i. e. in the first month which they call Dius then also in the second which is termed Apellaeus The Emperour Julianus in Antiochico confirms this where he expresly says that Lous was the tenth month amongst the Syrians Now if they began their year from October then Lous which answers to August would not have been the tenth but the eleventh month The same is manifested by Julianus in Misopogone pag. 70. in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. The Calends of the Syrians were come and Caesar goes to the Temple of Jupiter Philius again Then came the Calends of January For in my notes on book 23. of Ammian Marcellinus pag. 252 I have shown that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was the same with the Calends of January and Caesar goes to the Temple of the God Genius Concerning the Temple of this God Genius at Antioch See Evagrius's Hist. book 1. chap. 16. Then passing by the ominous day he renews his vows in the Temple of Jupiter Philius according to the custome of his Ancestours Seeing therefore Julianus attests that the New Moon of the Syrians year did a little precede the Calends of January it is manifest that the beginning of the Roman and Syrian year was not the same But it may be plainly collected from the same place of Julian that Dius was the first month of the year amongst the Antiochians For Julian says that on the Calends of the first month of the Syrians he went to the Temple of Jupiter to sacrifice because their first month was sacred to Jupiter and received its name from him For it was called Dius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from Jupiter and the first month was rightly called after his name who was thought to be the principal cause and origine of all things Now if October were the first month of the Syrian year that passage in Julian would have been impertinent For when the Antiochians would deride Julian for his assiduity in worshiping the Gods they produce this example thereof The Calends of the Syrians were come and Caesar goes to the Temple of Jupiter Philius again then came the Calends of January and Caesar goes to the Temple of the God Genius There must therefore necessarily be some little space of time between the Calends of the Syrians and the Romans that so Julian might deservedly be derided by the Antiochians for his too frequent offering of sacrifice It is therefore necessary that either Apellaeus must have been the first month amongst the Syrians which is Bede's opinion or else Dius Thus far concerning the beginning of the Syro-Macedonian year which we have demonstrated to be different from the beginning of the Julian year We will now inquire into the Syro-Macedonian months and see whether they began and ended at the same time that the Roman months did Indeed this place in Eusebius does plainly shew that the beginning of the months amongst the Syrians and Romans was not the same for it makes the eighth day of the month Desius to be the same with the seventh of the month June Therefore the Syrian month Desius began one day before the Roman month June Moreover Marcus in the life of Porphyrius affirms that the months of the inhabitants of Gaza preceded the Roman months five days His words are these Pluit autem Dominus c. Our Lord sent a continued rain from the eighth day of the month Audynaeus to the tenth Now Audynaeus amongst the Romans is January For their months precede the Roman months five days But on the eleventh day we celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany praising God From which words 't is apparent that the beginning of the months amongst those of Gaza was almost the same with the beginning of them amongst the Egyptians Further Epiphanius in his book De Ponderib chap. 20. makes the sixteenth day of May the same with the twenty third of the Grecian month Artemisius The form of the months amongst the Tyrians was different from this they made use of the Macedonian account of the months For in the Acts at Tyre which are related in the ninth Action of the Council of Chalcedon the tenth day of the month Peritius is confounded with the twenty fifth of February and in the fifth Action Concil Constantinop sub Mena the twenty eighth day of the Tyrian month Lous is said to have been the sixteenth day of the Roman month September From all
in his Rationarium Temporum Blondellus in his book de Primatu Ecclesiae and others do relate that Athanasius was recalled from banishment in the year of Christ 338 to wit the year after Constantines death who perceiving the foresaid prelate to be pressed on every side by the calumnies of his adversaries had for a time banished him into the Gallia's But I do maintain that Athanasius was restored in the year of Christ 337 when Felicianus and Titianus were Consuls in that very year wherein Constantine died which I can make evident as I suppose by a most demonstrable argument For Athanasius in his second Apology against the Arians pag. 805. relates that he was released from his banishment and restored to his Country by Constantine the younger who also wrote a Letter in his behalf to the populace and Clergy of the Alexandrian Church This Letter as Socrates does here so Athanasius there recites the inscription of it is this Constantinus Caesar to the people of the Catholick Church of Alexandria The subscription of this Letter is thus dated at Triers the fifteenth of the Calends of July As well the inscription as subscription of this Letter does attest what I say to wit that Athanasius was released from his exile soon after the death of Constantine the Great in the year of Christ 337. For if he had been restored on the year following then Constantine the younger would not have called himself Caesar but Augustus Nor would Athanasius have been restored by Constantine the younger but by Constantius to whom was allotted the Eastern part of the Empire Wherefore in regard Constantine stiles himself only Caesar in that Letter and since Athanasius attests that he was restored by Constantine the younger 't is apparent that that was done before the sons of Constantine the elder were by the Souldiers proclaimed Augusti For upon Constantines death there was a certain interregnum and the Roman world continued without an Emperour almost three months untill the brethren who under the name of Caesars Governed divers Provinces had met together in order to their making a division of the whole Roman Empire Constantine died on the eleventh of the Calends of June and on that very year there were three Augusti proclaimed to wit Constantinus Constantius and Constans on the fifth of the Ides of September as it is recorded in the Old Fasti which Jacobus Sirmondus published under the false name of Idatius This is that which Eusebius writes in his fourth book of Constantines Life chap. 71 to wit that Constantine retained his Empire after his death and that all Rescripts and Edicts bore his name as if he had been yet alive For this reason therefore Constantine the younger stiles himself Caesar only in his Letter to the Alexandrians in regard he was not yet proclaimed Augustus For the Letter was dated on the fifteenth of the Calends of July But he was created Augustus together with his brethren on the fifth of the Ides of September Moreover at that time whilst the brothers were stiled Caesars only Constantinus Junior was the chief in Authority because he was the eldest brother See Valesius's first book of Ecclesiastick observations on Socrates and Sozomen chap. 1. * Place a Socrates mistakes here and all those that follow him in placing the death of Alexander Bishop of Constantinople on the Consulate of Acindynus and Proclus in the year of Christ 340. In the second book of my Ecclesiastick Observations upon Socrates and Sozomen The Learned Reader will meet with Valesius's Ecclesiastick Observations on Socrates and Sozomen at the close of Valesius's second Volume of the Greek Ecclesiastick Historians he may find this matter discussed at the first chapter of the second book of those Observations I have by most evident arguments demonstrated that Alexander Bishop of Constantinople died in the Reign of Constantine the Great and that Paul succeeded him during the Reign of the said Constantine Baronius who places Alexanders death on the year of Christ 340 does manifestly contradict himself For he says that the Synod of the Bishops of Egypt which was summoned to confute the calumnies brought against Athanasius by the Eusebian faction was convened in the year of Christ 339. But those Bishops do expresly attest in their Synodick Epistle that at that very time Eusebius had left Nicomedia and had lept into the Constantinopolitan See 'T is needless to quote the words of that Epistle here in regard they are produced by Baronius himself at the year of Christ 340. Now if Eusebius had gotten the See of Constantinople in the year of Christ 339. Alexander must necessarily be supposed to have been dead before this year Vales. b This person was afterwards promoted to the degree of Presbyter under Paul Bishop of Constantinople and accused his own Bishop as Athanasius relates in his Epistle ad Solitar Vales. * Parts †That is those that owned Christ to be of the same substance or essence with the Father c There were two Churches of this name in Constantinople the one called the Old the other the New Irene as it is recorded in the Life of Paul the Constantinopolitan Bishop which Photius relates in his Bibliotheca Moreover the Old Church called Irene was contiguous to the Great Church which was afterwards named Sophia nor had it separate Clergy-men but the Clergy of the Great Church by turns ministred in that Church The Emperour Justinian informs us of this in the third Novell In the old description of Constantinople which is prefixt before the Notitia Imperii Romani this is called the Old Church and 't is placed in the second ward of the City together with the Great Church The Church Irene to wit The New Irene is recounted in the seventh ward of that City Socrates hath made mention of The Old Irene in his first Book chap. 37. It is termed the Church of Saint Irene after the same manner that the Church Sophia is called Saint Sophia not that there was a Virgin or Martyr called by that name Vales. a The Allatian M. S. inserts some words here after this manner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. and having through Eusebius's own ambition removed him from Nicomedia he constituted him Bishop of the Great City Constantinople Vales. * That is he means Constantiu◠and Constans sons to the Emperour Constantine the Great who had a little before this been proclaimed Augusti Constantine the other son of Constantine the Great was now dead See chap. 5. of this book a The particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 must be expunged here and the whole clause read in this continued form having considered with himself how he had been circum vented that he might subscribe Athanasius's deposition For Maximus Bishop of Jerusalem had together with Paul and the rest subscribed Athanasius's deposition in the Council of Tyre In regard of his sorrow for doing this he refused afterwards to be present at the Council of Antioch as Sozomen relates in his
was performed in the year of our Lord 490 when Longinus II and Faustus were Coss. But what Theodorus Lector adds at that place to wit that the Eustathians who before had meetings by themselves were then at length united to the Catholicks an hundred years after Eustathius's death is in my judgment false For this being supposed Eustathius would have lived to the year of Christ 390. Vales. a This account disagrees both from what we have related before chap. 14. note c. out of Jerome and also from the relation of Theodorus Lector and Theophanes in his Chronicon For Jerome says that even in his age Eustathius lay buried at Trajanople whither he had been banished But Theodorus Lector and Theophanes relate that he was banished to Philippi and there buried That Eustathius therefore who was banished by Valens to Bizua must necessarily be a different person from Eustathius Bishop of Antioch Bizua is a City of Thracia heretofore the pallace of the Thracian Astorâ—s as Stephanus attests Eutropius mentions it in his sixth book where he speaks of Lucius Lucullus who subdued the Thracian Bessi Vales. * Or be might raise an irrational tumult of the multitude c. a Sozomen book 6. chap. 14. tells the same story where he calls this place Dacibyza and says 't is a Maritime-City of Bithynia Cedrenus also terms it Dacibyza But Theophanes gives it the name of Dacidiza Vales. b Concerning this Famine there is this Record in the Old Fasti with Sirmondus has published under the name of Idatius Valentiniano III and Valente III c. i. e. in the third Consulate of Valentinianus and Valens there was a great Famine in the parts of Phrygia Vales. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it sometimes signifies a place where the reliques of some Martyr are deposited 'tis plain from what follows that by it our Authour here means a Church a Rufinus from whom Socrates borrowed this story book 2. chap. 5. Eccles. Hist. words this passage thus Infantem quoque parvulum secum trahentem cursuque rabido irrupto etiam officii agmine festinantem Leading her little child with her and making such great bast that she broke through the Praefects Guards This memorable fact of the woman of Edessa hapned on the year of Christ 371 or 372 as we shall see by and by Baronius has done ill to place it on the year of our Lord 370. Vales. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rufinus in the book and chapter just now quoted says she made such hast that she would not stay to shat her door nor dress herself in the usual garb that women appeared in in publick b After these words there were wanting in Robert Stephens's Edition these two whole lines 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And whither draggest thou that little child said the Praefect the woman replied that he also may be voutsafed the honour of Martyrdom which I have inserted from the Florentine and Sfortian M. SS Epiphanius Scholasticus acknowledges them and so does Rufinus from whom Socrates borrowed this story Moreover from this place also 't is evident that Christophorson had perused no M. S. Copies of Socrates Vales. * Or. Th. a This whole scene of that unhappy Oracle which some Heathens had consulted that they might know who should succeed Valens in the Empire is at large set forth by Ammianus Marcellinus in his 29 th book But 't is difficult to assign the year whereon it hapned Baronius in his Annalls places it on the year of Christ 370. I am of opinion that it was acted in the year of our Lord 371 or at the beginning of the year 372. For Valens in the year of Christ 371 made his entry into Antioch at the end of Summer Gratianus II and Probus being Consuls as I have demonstrated in my notes on the foresaid book of Marcellinus partly from the Laws of the Theodosian Code and partly from Libanius's book concerning his own Life Now that Tragedy and Conspiracy of those wicked wretches against Valens hapned after his entry into the City Antioch as 't is manifest from Marcellinus Therefore it must necessarily happen at the close of the year 371 or at least at the beginning of 372. 'T is certain Theophanes and Cedrenus do place Valens's entry into Antioch on his eighth year But the same Theophanes does ascribe that conspiracy of those impious wretches who had consulted the Oracle concerning the future Emperour to Valens's ninth year Which agrees exactly with our opinion if we may compute Valens's first year from the Consulate of Jovianus and Varronianus Vales. * Or Th E O D. b In the Sfortian M. S. the reading here is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 another Theodosius Epiphanius Scholasticus also calls him Theodosius Who this Theodosius or Theodosiolus should be 't is uncertain For I cannot think it was that Theodosius father to Theodosius the Emperour of whom Ammianus makes frequent mention in his History For he lived in the West and was not slain by the fraud and treachery of malevolent persons till after Valentinianus's death And yet this Character added by Socrates a personage of great Valour and Courage a descendant of a Noble Family in Spain does exactly fiâ— him Vales. Athanasius's death a This Magnus is termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Comes of the Court-Largesses in the Letter of Petrus Alexandrinus the person spoken of in this chapter part of which Letter Theodoret has recorded book 4. chap. 22. Eccles. Histor. * In the original he is termed Praefect of Alexandria which title was sometimes given to the Praefects of Egypt as it has been observed before * Or out of his bonds †Peter * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or which has the same import 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies a Wedding-chamber Dining-room or entertainingroom See Stephens's Thesaur Graec. Ling. in the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Seventy two Translatours do use this term at Joâ—l 2. 16 and at Psalm 19. 5. to express the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chuppa which was a Tabernacle or Tenâ— set up on purpose for the performance of the solemnities usual amongst the Jews of betrothing between the man and woman a In the original 't is thus worded 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in so great an house Christophorson has rendred it in tantillo domicilio in so small an house But the Greek term will not admit of this rendition Wherefore I had rather it should be thus worded 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in your dwelling Vales. * See Socrates book 1. chap. 21. †Or ashamed or he refused ‖ Or a contemner * See Psal. 39. v. 1. * Or practise †Or Theorems or Expositions * Evagrius b Instead of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Monk Epiphanius Scholasticus in his copy read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Monastick as 't is apparent from his Version Notwithstanding Nicephorus book 11. chap. 42 confirms the common reading But as to Evagrius's other book here mentioned he words the
Emperour Basiliscus's Circular Letters the Chalcedon-Synod had been wholly abrogated the priviledges of the Constantinopolitan See which had been established in that Councill seemed to have been taken away by that same Sanction By which thing Acacius was chiefly moved and used his utmost endeavour that the Emperour Basiliscus should revoak his own Constitution Besides in the Ephesine Synod the Patriarchicall priviledge had been restored to the See of Ephesus by Timotheus Aelurus as we have seen before Which having been done the Asian Dioecesis the ordinations whereof had been given to the Bishop of Constantinople by the Decree of the Chaltedon-Synod was taken away from that See There was therefore need of a new Constitution whereby its Rights and Priviledges might be restored to the Constantinopolitane See This therefore the Emperour Basiliscus now performs by the publication of these his Anti-Circular-Letters Theodorus Lector does likewise attest the same in his first Book Collectan about the close thereof Vales. * Or It has been dubious a The Greeks who delight much in Epithets are wont to grace each Saint with proper and peculiar Titles Thus they commonly term Thecla the Apostle and Proto-Martyr They call her an Apostle because like an Apostle she had preacht the Faith of Christ in many places and they style her Proto-Martyr in regard as Stephen was the first Martyr of Christ amongst men so was she the first amongst women as Basilius Seleuciensis does attest in his first book concerning the Life and Miracles of the blessed Thecla She is called Thecla by way of contraction instead of Theoclia For thus the same Basilius does frequently term her Vales. * Or Excellency †Or being about to die b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 With Evagrius agrees Malchus in the first book of his Byzantine History and Candidus Isaurus in the second book of his Histories both which Authours relate that Basiliscus was killed by the sword But the other Historians tell us that he dyed by hunger and cold together with his wife and children This disagreement of Writers in reference to Basiliscus's death is taken notice of by Theophanes in his Chronicon pag. 107. Vales. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So also the name of this Station is written in Nicephorus But Cedrenus and Theophanes term it Cucusus Marcellinus and the Authour of the Alexandrian Chronicle call it Leminis and Limnae a Castrum or Castle of Cappadocia into which Basiliscus was thrust together with his wife and children and the gate of one of the Towers wherein he was inclosed being stop't up he perished there by hunger and cold Vales. * Or force a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christophorson and S r Henry Savil have mended it thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 amongst you without any thing of sense Nicephorus 't is certain confirms the vulgar reading viz. amongst us But in the next words which follow it ought to be made 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 your place instead of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our place Johannes Langus perceived this before us who has rendred this passage transcribed out of Evagrius thus Rectè sanè ad nos venit qui locum etiam vestrum obtinebit He hath indeed come rightly unto us who shall also possess your place By which words the Bishops of Asia mean the Legate which Acacius Bishop of Constantinople had sent to them to wit a Presbyter or a Deacon of the Constantinopolitane Church But if any one had rather with Christophorson read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 amongst you we must understand it of the Legate which the Bishops of Asia had sent to Acacius that he might present the Libell of satisfaction to him And this I think is truer Vales. b Instead of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our doubtless it must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 your as the reading is in Nicephorus From whom an amendment must be made a little after this thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by dividing the words which were erroneously made one word Each emendation is confirmed by the Tellerian Manuscript Vales. a After Peirus Fullo Johannes Apamenus was Bishop of Antioch He being ejected after 3 months Stephanus was put into his place as Theophanes relates in his Cronicon page 107 to which Writer agrees Gelasius in Gestis de nomine Acacii and Liberatus in his Breviary chap. 18. Pope Felix has mentioned the same Johannes in the Sentence of Condemnation which he dictated against Acacius and in the Epistle which in the name of the Roman Synod he wrote to all the Presbyters and Archimandrites in Constantinople and Bithynia Vales. * Or enter the Inn or house of all men †Or forbad a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. the Bishops of Alexandria elect c. I had rather write 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so reade the whole clause thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereupon those of Alexandria by their own authority elect Petrus surnamed Mongus Bishop and I am of opinion that Evagrius wrote thus 'T is certain these words o◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cannot be spoken of the Suffragan Bishops Besides Petrus Mongus was ordained but by one Bishop as 't is related in Gestis de nomine Acacii and in Acacius's Epistle to Pope Simplicius Vales. b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I doubt not but it should be written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 punished For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies mulctare to punish Whence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports Punishment as Suidas attests But 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is the reading in Robert Stephen's Edition signifies quite another thing Nicephorus having found this fault in his Copy expunged the Preposition and worded this place of Evagrius thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is He punished those who had elected Petrus Mongus Bishop with a capitall punishment And yet Evagrius does not say so For the relates that Mongus himself was condemned by Zeno not the Bishops who had chosen Mongus 'T is apparent therefore that Nicephorus had read thus in our Evagrius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wherefore Zeno punished those with death and that he understood it as spoken of the Hereticall Bishops who had elected Mongus Doubtless the Bishops who had chosen Mongus deserved a sorer punishment than Mongus himself who was elected by them For they had done that on their own authority without the Emperours advice and direction whenas it had been customary by reason of the largness of the City Alexandria that the Bishop thereof should not be elected unless the Emperour's mind were first known Besides they had presumed to elect another Bishop when the See was not void but whilst Timotheus Salophaciolus as yet survived Whereupon the Seditions and Divisions which seemed to have been extinguished by the death of Timotheus Aelurus were rekindled For these reasons those Bishops were to be punished with a capitall punishment rather than Mongus Nevertheless in my judgment neither is true For Mongus was punished only with banishment But the Bishops who had ordained him are ordered
the Milice throughout Colchis and Armenia in place of Martinus as Agathias writes in his Fourth Book but afterwards he made the same person Master of the Milice throughout the Thracia's as Menander Protector declares in the First Book of his History pag. 99. Vales. * Or Fields e In what manner these Abari or Abares having been vanquished by the Turks betook themselves into Europe Theophilactus Simocatta relates Book 7. Chap. 7. Vales. * Or Camps f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In Nicephorus Book 17. Chap. 34 and in the Tellerian Manuscript 't is written in one word thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stations or Landing places which I rather approve of But I think this whole place must be thus written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c where many Barbarous Nations c according as we have rendred it Vales. †Or Disabled g In Justinianus Augustus's times the Abares having passed into Europe became first known to the Romans as Theophilactus Simocatta relates in Book 7. Chap. 8 for when they had come to the places of Scythia and Maesia they sent Embassadours to Justinian on the thirty first year of Justinian's Empire as Theophanes relates in his Chronicon and Anastasius Bibliothecarius But Victor Thunonensis mentions this Embassy a little later Post Consulatum c. After the Consulate of the most famous personage Basilius on the twenty third year the Emperour Justinian makes the Embassadours of the Nation of the Abari whence they had come c. This was the thirty sixth year of Justinian's Empire Concerning the same Embassy of the Abares to Justinian Menander Protector is to be consulted in the First Book of his History pag. 99 of the King's Edition where he excellently well describes that Embassy and confirms Victor Thunonensis's opinion For he says that Justinian died not long after Vales. * Or Enclined to both of them * Guards or Partisans a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nicephorus took away the Praeposition here For he has exprest this place of Evagrius thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and hindred him from going abroad But I had rather write with Evagrius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which reading I have followed in my Version Vales. b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nicephorus and Christophorson understood these words of Evagrius concerning Justinus kinsman to the Emperour Justinus But I had rather take them as meant of the Emperour Justinus himself For he being sickly for the most part sate at home and forbad his kinsman Justinus access to himself Indeed Cedrenus and Zonaras do attest what I have said concerning Justinus For Cedrenus's words are these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This Justinus was continually sick and dim-sighted and unable to come abroad Vales. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is brought home I had rather read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is removed So in the foregoing chapter where the reading is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nicephorus read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and understands that place of Evagrius concerning the Barbarians who had been carried thither by the Romans Further this Justinus was made Augustalis and Dux of Alexandria by the Emperour Justinus in the sixth year of his Empire as Theophanes and Cedrenus do relate Cedrenus's words are these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But Justinus having heard that his kinsman who was Augustalis and Dux of Alexandria meditated treachery against the Emperour he sent and beheaded him Write thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according as the reading is in Theophanes For those two dignities Augustalis and Dux although they were distinct yet were now and then given to one and the same person by the Emperours as may be proved by many instances Further this dignity was bestowed on Justinus by the Emperour not in honour to him but rather that he might send him far off from the Imperial City Therefore the City Alexandria was to Justinus instead of a prison Hence 't is that Theophanes in his Chronicon relates that Justinus Augustus detained his Cosin-German Justinus prisoner as 't were at Alexandria Moreover Johannes Biclariensis in his Chronicon places the murder of this Justinus on the second year of Justinus Junior's Empire to wit on the same year whereon Aetherius and Addaeus had a capitall punishment inflicted on them And this is more agreeable to the account given here by Evagrius Vales. a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The former negative particle must be expunged as being altogether superfluous Vales. b The words of Johannes Biclariensis in his Chronicon are these Anno Secundo memorati principis c. On the second year of the mentioned Emperour in the Imperial City Aetherius and Addaeus Patritii being detected whilst by Physitians they attempted to kill Justinus by Poyson rather than sword are ordered to be punished with a capitall sentence the former was devoured by wild Beasts the second was burnt to death I know not whether Johannes Biclariensis termed these men Patritii instead of Senators but there is a great difference between the Patritian and Senatorian dignity Concerning the same Aetherius and Addaeus Eustathius in the Life of Eutychius Patriarch of Constantinople writes thus Quâ quidem die id est tertiâ Octobris On which day that is the third of October those persons also who had framed Plots against the holy man and had cast him into Exile I mean Aetherius and Addaeus the latter of whom was Praefect of the City and the former was Curator of the house of Antiochus died c. Vales. * Or Buggerer c He means the house of Antiochus of which Aetherius was Curator as Eustathius attests in the place just now cited ille autem Antiochiae Curator Eustathius's words in Greek if I mistake not are these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is But Aetherius Curator of the House of Antiochus The same Eustathius makes mention of this house where he describes in what manner Eutychius was ejected out of the Imperial City Dicebant enim quidam graves viri c. For some grave men said if he should go out of the Sacred Temple he would be killed For some Armed men who were placed in the Mannour-House of Antiochus stayed for him without for that purpose Theophilactus mentions the same Imperial House in his third Book Chapter 3. There were many such houses at Constantinople as the House of Placidia the House of Flaccilla the House of Hormisda and severall others belonging to the Emperour each of which Houses had its Curator who look't after that House or Pallace and all its Revenues These Officers are termed Curae Palatiorum in the Notitia of the Roman Empire under the dispose of the Castrensis of the Sacred Pallace But then the dignity of these Curators was the chiefest and their Title was Most Glorious and Most Magnificent as Tiberius Augustus's Constitution de Domibus Imperialibus informs us Vales. * John 14. 27. †Or Run together into ‖ Or Opinion * Or First Salvation †Or Substance ‖ Or Glorisying * Or Joyning together
Marcellinus attests in his 27 th Book where he speaks concerning Damasus and Ursinus Gregory Nazianzen also in the Funerall Oration he wrote concerning the praises of Basilius says that he whilst he was Bishop of Caesarea was clad in a mean Cloak which he terms 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vales. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In the Kings Sheets this place is supplied in the margin in this manner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but was pleased to behold God honoured in each person But the reading is shorter in the Fuketian and Savil. Manuscripts thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but was pleased or thought good to look upon God himself Vales. d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I had rather write 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is for this Reason Vales. * Or Rich. †Or Assistances ‖ Or Chappell 's or Vestries of the Church a In the King 's and Fuketian M. SS and in the old Sheets the Chapter begins at these words Vales. b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He means the Heathens who were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without the Church And this is confirmed from the following Chapter where his words are these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such was his behaviour towards all persons in generall But his c. The like expression we meet with in Book 2 at the close of the 21 and beginning of the 22 chapters Vales. * Or Life †Or Wanting Father and Mother c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christophorson renders it ill nuptas married for not those that are married but them who are marrying bring a Portion to their Husbands The same Christophorson has committed the like mistake in rendring the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dead as we have noted at Euseb. Eccles. Hist. book 10. chap. 8. note c. Vales. d In the King's Manuscript at the side of these words this mark is set 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which mark seems to me to denote 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an elegant expression or place Vales. ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which words Valesius renders thus ac cum caelesti solis Jubare quodammodo exoriens and rising in a manner with a celestial beam of the Sun e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eusebius uses this term to signifie benignity or beneficence So he has also used this word in the tenth book of his Hist. Vales. a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 At this place Eusebius does not term them faithfull who were true-hearted and well-affected towards the Emperour as the Translatours thought but he styles the Christians so For Constantine in regard he was a most Religious Emperour when ever he was present at the Councills of Bishops was wont to send off all his Guards and took with him only those of his Courtiers who had been instructed in the mysteries of the Christian Faith Vales. * That is The Donatists a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exasperated against them Doubtless it must be written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against him as the reading is in the King 's and Fuketian Manuscripts which emendation I found written also in Moraeus's Copy In the old Sheets likewise 't is mended in the same hand Vales. b He means the Donatists of whose boldness and insolence many passages occur in Optatus and Augustinus Concerning the beginning and progress of which Schism throughout Africa we have made many remarks not taken notice of by others and have designedly placed them at the close of these notes Vales. See Valesius's notes on Eusebius pag. 289 c. c In the Kings Sheets this place is thus supplied in the margin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some wicked devil as 't is likely which is more elegant Vales. d Eusebius makes use of too soft a term For those things which were then done by the Donatists in Africa were such as not to deserve laughter but anintadversion rather For both the sanctity of Religion and the authority likewise of the Emperour himself were most insolently trampled on by those persons But perhaps Eusebius at this place meant only those matters which had a reference to the contempt of the Imperial Majesty For Constantine could dissemble those things and might think them worthy of laughter rather than trouble of mind But he was resolved most severely to revenge what those Donatists did against God and the observancy of the Catholick Law and on that design determined to pass over into Africk as he himself writes in his Letter to Celsus Vicar of Africa Vales. e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Before these words is to be set an Astorisk For some words are wanting which in my judgment may be supplied in this manner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. which we have express in our Version Christophorson and S r Henry Savil made good this place otherwise In the Kings Sheets this place is thus made up in the margin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But that he would in no wise inflict punishment on the fury of mad-men But the words immediately following do reject this conjecture In the Fuketian Manuscript this place is written thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The same also is the reading in Turnebus's and S r Henry Savils Copy But this reading seems to me to have issued from the conjecture of the Transcriber Vales. a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 made an invulnerable provision for his Churches Although this term 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be fitly made out concerning Constantine whose mind could never be exulcerated and provok't by the madness of the Donatists and other Hereticks of the same stamp yet at this place I had rather write 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For in my judgment it cannot well be said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he made an invulnerable Provision But on the contrary the term 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will be used most elegantly that is he made an indefatigable Provision c. So in book 2. chap. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he exercised a sleepless or watchfull care over the publick Vales. b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It must be written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but rather the mildest as 't is in the King 's and Fuk. Manuscripts Vales. a He means Maximianus Herculius For he had obtained the 2 d place in the Empire and when he had framed Plots against Constantine being detected he ended his life with an halter Besides the following words wherein Eusebius tells us his Pictures and Statues were thrown down and defaced do evidently shew that Maximianus Herculius is meant here Which if true Eusebius hath committed a most foul mistake here in relating Herculius's death after the Victory over Maxentius when as 't is certain that Maximianus Herculius ended his life two years before the defeat and destruction of Maxentius on the year of Christ 310. But who can believe that Eusebius who was contemporary with these times could have been guilty of so great a mistake Besides the Title of this chapter gives us the name not of Maximianus but of Maximinus