people of Rome and therefore he commanded his Commonalty to cease from persecuting the Christians but in process of time he was not indeed found the same which men took him for and hoped he would be for he fell into all kinds of enormities omitting no heinous offence how detestable and lacivious soever it were unessayed committing adultery and all kind of lewd wantonness sending home again unto their Husbands the loving Spouses and lawful Wives taken from them by force An account of his most abominable wickedness after he had ignominiously abused them These presumptuous practises he exercised not only upon the obscurer sort but he dealt thus opprobiously with the most renowned of the Roman Senators wherefore all both high Primates and inferour People trembling for fear of him were oppressed with his intollerable Tiranny yet neither by silence neither by suffering of his grievous servitude could they be free from the bloody slaughter and imbrued murder of this Tyrant upon light occasions sundry times delivered he the people unto the Souldiers which were in compass to be slain and innumerable company of the Roman people in the midst of the City he offered to the Swords and Spears not of Barbarians nor Scithians but of his proper Souldiers it may not be recited what slaughter of Senators he procured craftily seeking after their substance of whom an infinite number he executed saith the Historian for sundry causes and divers crimes This was the drift and mark this mischievous Tyrant shot at He applyed himself to the study of Magical Arts he opened and ript the Bowels of burdened Women great with Child he searched the Intrals of new born Babes he slew Lyons and after a secret manner conjured Devils and endeavoured to withstand the Wars then approaching for he daily determined with himself to be Crowned Emperor by reason of these Arts. This Maxentius therefore practising Tyranny at Rome oppressed the Commonalty with such heinous offences as may not be told so that they were pinched with so great penury of necessary Victual that the like cannot be remembred in this our Age saith the Historian to have hapned at Rome This is Maxentius and as for Maximinus the Eastern Tyrant Câ—p. 16. Maximinius in the East as gâ—eat a Persecutor as Maxentius in the West and as wicked a person as this was the Western of a long time saith the Historian he used means to conceal his malice against his Brother and his secret friendship to the Roman Empire but in the end he was espyed and suffered punishment due to his desert it was wonderful to see how he committed things alike and correspondent to the practises of the Roman Tyrant nay he surpassed him in malice and mischief the chiefest Inchanters An account of him and his wickedness and Magicians were in greatest credit with him and because he was a man very timorus and wonderfully rooted in Superstition he highly esteemed of the erroneous Worship of Idols Devils Without Southsaying or answer of Oracles he durst not move no as it is commonly said the breadth of a Nail for which cause saith the Historian he persecuted us without intermission and more vehemently then his Ancestors did before him he erected Temples throughout every City the Idolatrical Worship of a long time defaced and overthrown he carefully restored again and published by Edict That Idol Priests should be ordained throughout all Countreys and Cities besides this he appointed in every Province one to be high Priest of such as were accounted famous for politick Affairs being also able with decency to execute that Function whom he furnished with a great Train or Guard of Souldiers To be short he priviledged all Inchanters as godly and taken as Gods themselves with Primacy Dignity and chiefest Prerogatives He went on still and oppressed not one City and Region onely but whole Provinces under his Dominion exacting Gold and Silver and sums In particular of money and vexing them with grievous Proclamations one Penalty ensuing after another The Wealth and Substance his Progenitors had gathered before he took in great heaps of Treasure and great sums of Money and bestowed it upon his flattering Parasites He was so drowned with over much Wine and Drunkenness that among his Cups he would be stark mad and besides himself and oftentimes being Tipsy saith the Historian commanded such things whereof afterwards being restored to his former sobriety he repented him he gave place to no man for surfetting and superfluity but made himself ring-leader of that Vice unto all that were about him both Prince and People he effeminated his Souldiers with all kind of delicacy and laciviousness he permitted his Presidents and Captains to practise ravenous extortion and Polling of his Subjects whom he entertained as fit Companions of his foul and shameful Tiranny This is Maximinus as the other was Maxentius the Eastern Both of them put together as a Looking-glass for Tyrants and Persecutors and setters up of National Worships and Western Tyrants who persecuted so grievously the Church of God and this is the description of them both which I have set down on purpose that in these two Instances may be seen who they were and of what they were made that set up National Worships for the Idol Gods and persecuted the Christians for not bowing unto them I shall now proceed to what remains behind that I may finish the instances of this particular God plagued Maximinus as I have said before who in the Maximinus overcame all save the Christians His cruelty to the Christians and the particulars of their sufferings things aforesaid prevailed against all sorts of people saith the History the Christians only excepted who contemned death and despised his Tiranny The men endured Burning Beheading Crucifying ravenous devouring of Beasts drowning in the Sea Maiming and broyling of the Members Goring and digging out of the Eyes mangling of the whole Body moreover Famine and Imprisonment To be short they suffered every kind of torment for the Service of God rather than they would leave the Worship of God and imbrace the adoration of Idols Women also not inferior to Men through the Power of the Word of God put on manly courage saith the Historian whereof some suffered the torments with men others attained unto the like masteries of Virtue some others drawn to be abused yeelded sooner their life unto the death than their Bodies to be defiled This Plague prevailed upon and wrested from him the Edict in His Plagues produced something of liberty Euseb lib. 19. cap. 1. Which being over he fetch 't back his liberty the behalf of the Christians This Edict was matter of Joy and Liberty a while but the time continued not long in the Eastern Parts as in Asia c. Orders were given by word of mouth to the Lieutenants and Officers not to persecute the Christians but not in Writing He fetcht things back as he could first he went First in denying
such as were Dorothaeus and Gorgonius and Peter c. who counted Dorothaeus Gorgonius Peter c. Pages to the Emperor those reproaches calamities and new found torments for the Truth in Christ as the Historians words are greater riches than the glory and pleasure of this present life To give one instance for Peter brought forth enjoyned to Sacrifice refused stoutly is scourged aloft his flesh rent in pieces all one of these noble men saith the History was brought forth at Nicomedia in the open Assembly and enjoyned to Sacrifice who stoutly refussing commandment was given that he should be hoised up on high naked and his whole body to be scourged and the flesh rent in pieces with the lash of the Whip until he being overcome should be enforced to yeeld unto their Sacrifice when that he had endured these torments and persisted constant and the bones lay all bare they poured Vinegar mixt with Salt into Vinegar and Salt poured on the bare bones the wounds the festred Wounds and bruised parts of the Body when he had overcome also these torments and rejoyced greatly thereat a Gridiron with hot burning Coals is prepared and that which remained then put on a Gridiron and broiled with a slow fire of his Body was laid thereon to be broiled a slow fire being made under to consume it by little and little lest death should quickly deliver him of his pain so that they which had the charge of the fire would release him of no part of his pain No reâ—â—â—se but â—â— Sacriâ—â—cing unless he promised to yeeld in the end to the Emperors Decree but he holding fast his former Opinion overcame them and yeelded up the Ghost in the midst of those torments his He yields up the Ghost in the Torments Name was Peter Dorotheus and Gorgonius with many more Dorothaeus Gorgonius and many more of the Emperors Family hanged of the Emperors Family after sundry torments saith the History ended their lives on the Gallows and bore away the Garland of Victory Anthemius Bishop of Nicamedia is said to be at this time beheaded Anthemias Bishop of Nicomedia beheaded and with him a great multitude of Martyrs for some part of the Emperors Palace at Nicomedia being on fire it was The Emperors Palace being some part on fire attributed to the Christians who thereupon are cut off some beheaded some burned imputed to the Christians whereupon the whole Troop of all the godly there saith the History at that time were executed some with the Sword beheaded some burned with fire where also saith it by the Secret and Divine Providence of God as the report goeth saith the History both Men and Women skipt Men and Women leap and skip into the burning flames Others put in a Boat and drowned in the Sea The Emperors Pages Bodâ—es â—ug up cast into the Sea least they should be adored as gods This was the beginning of the Persecution In Syria and Mâ—letis all the Pasiors ordered to be clapt up and leapt into the flaming fire Another Company the Serjeants set in a Boat and threw into the deep Sea The Emperors Pages after their death being decently buried and resting in their Graves were digged up and by the commandments of the Lords cast into the Sea lest any should adore them in their Sepulchres and take them for gods this was the practice of the beginning of the Persecution at Nicomedia but a little while after some of the Regions of Syria and Miletis being found ready to rebel the Emperor falls upon the Christians and commanded all the Pastors as they are called throughout every Church to be Imprisoned and kept in hold the Spectacle saith the History of the practices were so cruel to behold that it exceeded all that thereof may be spoken infinite numbers saith it were every where inclosed The Prisons filled with Bishops Ministers c. instead of Robbers c and the Prisons of old appointed and ordained for Murtherers Diggers of Sepulchres and Robbers of Graves were then replenished with Bishops Ministers Deacons Readers Exorcists so that there was no room in the Prisons for such as were condemned for heinous offences After those other Edicts took place by More Edicts for Persecution Cap. 7. Multitudes of Martyrs in Africk virtue of which such as sacrificed were set at liberty and such as resisted were commanded to be tormented with a thousand kind of torments as saith the History but who is able saith it here also to number the multitude of the Martyrs in all places especially throughout Africk and among the Moors throughout Thebais and Egypt from whence passing into other Cities and Provinces Thebais Egypt they saith the History suffered glorious Martyrdom We have known saith the Historian divers of these to have flourished Palestine Tyrus in Phenicia A sum mary of the diversity of their constant sufferings thorow successive torments and cruelties in Palestina and some others in Tyrus of Phenicia whose infinite stripes who would not be amazed to behold and in their stripes marvellous constancy and after their stripes their sudden bickering with ravening Beasts and in that bickering their valiant courage in withstanding the force of fierce Libbards the rage of Bears of wild Bears and Bulls provoked with hot burning Irons At the doing of all which we were present our selves and saw with our eyes saith the Historian the Divine power of our Saviour Jesus for whose sake they suffered these things present and manifestly aiding these Martyrs Neither durst these ravening The Beasts touch not the Martyrs though ptovoked but devour the without standers Beasts saith he of a long time drawing and approach unto the Bodies of the blessed Saints but ranged about and devoured them which set them on without the Ring touching by no means among all the rest of the blessed Champions though their bodies were bare though they provoked them with the stretching forth of their hands as they were commanded and if sometime They retreat on a sudden from the Martyâ—s when they violently set on them as if repelled by Divine Power to the admiration of the beholders violently they fell on them they retired back again as if they had been repelled by Divine Power from above which continuing a long time brought great admiration to the beholders when the first beast ranged about to no purpose the second and third Beasts were let loose at one and the same Martyr The sufferance of those Saints saith he was to be wondered at and their constancy firm and unmoveable in their fresh and green bodies for then saith he might a man have seen a young strimpling under After wild Beasts were let loose at them one after another twenty years of Age standing still without any holding stretching forth his hands in the form of a Cross for that was used as a sign because of the contempt of the Heathen to Jesus that was crucified shewing
that neither were they ashamed of nor denyed him that on a Cross was crucified which since is come by others to be worshipped and made as an Idol this I speak but not the Historian making earnest supplication unto God with a setled and immoveable mind not wagging himself at all or pointing any whither from his standing place yea though the Bears and Libbards And several thrown before them and yet not touched breathed out present death and were now ready to tear his flesh in pieces with their teeth yet I wot not how as if their Jaws had been glewed together they recoiled back again Again saith he ye might have seen others in number five thrown at the feet of a fierce Bull which tossed in the Air and tore in pieces with his Horns such as stood without the Ring and left them as dead only saith he the holy Saints he had no power to hurt with his furious and cruel threats though he threw up the Earth with his Feet and fanned the Air with his Horns Though the Beast was provoked with hot Irons though he were provoked to fierceness with searing Irons and foamed out present death yet saith he by the Divine Providence of God he was pushed back When this Beast saith he nothing could prevail against the holy Martyrs others were let loose At length after sundry They are beheaded and their bodies cast into the Sea Cap. 18. Tyrus in Egypt the sore Persecution there and the particulars thereof bitter torments and violence of wild Beasts saith he all were beheaded and instead of still Earth and quiet Sepulchres they were thrown into surging Waves of the Seas The like had they of Tyrus in Egypt Then wouldst thou have marvelled saith the Historian at their Martyrdoms suffered upon their own Native Soyl where infinite both Men Women and Children for the Salvation procured saith he by our Saviour Jesus Christ contemning this transitory Life have endured sundry kind of torments whereof some after Maiming Wracking and Scourging thousands of other vexations horrible saith he to be heard of were burned to Ashes others drowned in the Seas others manfully laid their necks to the Block others hanged on the Gallows Some as heinous Offenders some others far worse tied to the Tree with their heads downwards and so long beset with a Watch And vaâ—ieties of most cruel sufferings and death Cap. 9. The exquisite varieties of sufferings in Thebays till Famine had bereaved them of their lives But no Speech saith he can sufficiently declare the punishments and torments endured of the Martyrs throughout Thebays having their bodies torn in pieces with shells of Sea-fish instead of the Tallons of Beasts the Women tyed by the Leg were lifted into the Air and their heads downwards with a certain Engine of Wood and And the divers and unheard of manner of manner of them continuing for many years there hanged all bare and uncovered yeelding to the beholders a foul filthy cruel and unnatural Spectacle others ended their lives upon Boughs and Branches of Trees they linked together with certain Instruments the tops of boysterous and mightier Boughs and tied them unto either of the Martyrs Thighs afterwards loosing the Boughs to spirt and spring into their growing place suddenly rent asunder the Members of their Bodies for which purpose they invented this pain All these mischiefs saith he continued not a few dayes but for the space of many years sometimes more then ten some other time more then twenty Ten twenty thirty sixty one hundred in a day thus executed of Men Women and Children after the first tasting of sundry torments The varieties of their sufferings and deaths were executed one while not under thirty another while well nigh threescore again another time an hundred in one day of Men Women and very young Children after the bitter tasts of sundry kinds of torments were put to death We our selves saith he being there present at the Execution saw with our eyes a great multitude whereof some were burned others beheaded until the Sword became blunt and the Tormenters wearied so that others came in place and executed by turns where we beheld saith he the noble chear and countenance the Divine Power and valiantness of mind in such as builded their Faith on Jesus Christ our Saviour as soon as the Sentence was pronounced saith the Historian and judgment given upon the former there stepped forth others and stood at the Bar protesting their Faith and publishing themselves Christians not fearing at all the bitterness of manifold and sundry torments but with invincible minds laying their whole trust and confidence upon God joyfully merrily Their joy in suffering and chearfully took the last Sentence of Condemnation singing Psalms and Hymns and Thanksgivings unto God even to the last gasp These saith he were truly to be wondred at but those were especially to be admired who being renowned for their Riches Nobility Honour Eloquence and Philosophy The quality of the Sufferers yet preferred before all these the Piety and Faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ of which sort Philorenus a Governour of Philorenus Governour of Alexandria Alexandria of no small account put in trust with weighty matters of the Empire being guarded after the Roman Dignity and Honour with a Troop of Souldiers to his Train was daily sifted and examined Such a one also was Phileas Bishop of the Phileas Bishop of Themaite People of Themaitae a famous Man both for the famous Government of his Countrey as for the oversight of the publick Lyturgies and study of Philosophy These men though they were Notwithstanding all intreaties of Kindred Friends Rulers and Judge to sacrifice and spare themselves intreated of many of their kinds-folks and otherwise their familiar Friends of many of the chief Rulers and last of all by the Judge himself that they would tender their own case that they would consider their Calling that they would pitty their Wives and Children yet could not they for all the perswasion of such great personages be brought by preferring this present life to hearkened not but contemn the Faith of Christ and to renounce his Laws but with constant and Philosophical minds yea rather Divine enduring all the threats and contumelies of the Judge ended their lives were beheaded Pag. 10. The sufferers at Alexandria endured not once but some twice the cruel torments with the losing of their Heads Those at Alexandria not once but some of them twice all pain and punishment that could be invented all the threats of Souldiers practised against them either by word or deed with an invincible courage excluding fear by reason of the fulness of love whose manhood and valiantness in all their torments what man is able with mouth to express Everyone did to them as they pleased It was permitted and was lawful for every man to torment them as he pleased and because it was so some smoat
scourged reviled imprisoned merced and laid upon them all the grievous and intolerable burthens they could devise The persecuted went to the Emperor and besought some mittigation of some part of their troubles if not altogether and this humbly as saith the History but where they thought to have found favour and Justice there they found it otherwise for whereas they sent about eighty who were in the Priestly Order in the name of all the rest to Nicomedia who made supplication unto the Emperor opened to him their grief and certified the injuries they sustained of the Arrians he although he was wonderfully saith the History incensed against them yet concealed he his displeasure until that privily he had commanded his Lieutenant Modestus to lay them in hold and to punish them He causes them to be put on board a Ship and being at Sea the Ship to be set on fire and they burned with death whom the Lieutenant commanded on Board a Ship and ordered the Mariners to set the Ship on fire when they came into the main Sea which they did in the Astacen Sea themselves getting into a Cock-boat and returning home a mighty wind arose which continued till the Vessel was brought into Dacidizus Haven where both the Ship and they were burned to Ashes This Which was performed he did fearing otherwise the tumult of the people and therefore gave out that he would banish them the Countrey which because it went no further was taken in good part The report of the Countrey was and saith the History it is yet rife in every ones mouth That this cruel and horrible Act was not long after unrevenged for that immediately after Phrygia was plagued with a sore and lamentable Famine so that many were constrained to fly The Countrey plauged with Famine as the consequence for relief to Constantinople and other Provinces Yet this dreadful Judgment signified no more to Valens then Cap. 14. Valens receives it not as a Judgement but persecutes more cruelly if there had been no such thing but on in his Journey he goes to Antioch where he pursued with deadly hatred such as detested the Opinion of Arius he deposed from their Churches for no other Crime than that they were not one with Arius all that held the Faith of one Substance which he did throughout the Eastern Countries and not only so but with divers grievous devices he Torments and executes the other Christians with divers deaths tormented them and executed a far greater number than hath been mentioned before with sundry kinds of death but especially with drowning them in the Sea Let me give one famous instance for all and so close this particular At Edessa in Mesopotamia was a famous Temple unto which Edessa a notable instance of the prevention of the destruction of multitudes by the hastning of a Woman with a little Child through the Souldiers Ranks towards the Temple there to be put to death which to do and all that were then there Souldiers were thithermarching multitudes did resort Valens desired to see it though he knew the frequenters thereof hated his Opinion and gave his Lieutenant a blow with his fist for not scattering the Conventicles of such as he had given them in charge The Lieutenant notwithstanding all this contumely framed himself though unwillingly to obey the Emperors wrath and displeasure and yet being unwilling to murther so many godly Citizens he sent privily that none should appear in the Temple and that none should be found raising any Conventicle Nevertheless not any one made account of his advice nor weighed his threats but the day following they flocked in great multitudes to the Temple and whilst the Lieutenant hastned with great power of armed Souldiers thither to answer to the Emperor a simple Woman leading a Child in her hand all in haste brake their Array or Ranks to pass whither she was going viz. to the Temple The Lieutenant being moved herewith called the Woman before him and thus reasoned with her Thou fond and unfortunate Woman whither runnest The entercourse between the Woman and the Lieutenant thou so rashly Thither said she where others do hasten Hast thou not heard said he that the Lieutenant will execute as many as he finds there I heard it said the Woman and therefore I go thither in all the haste that I may be found there But whither said he leadest thou this Child That he also said she may be accounted in the number of Martyrs By this the Lieutenant conjectured of Iâ—s influence on the Lieutenant the rest and getting to the Emperor he giveth him to understand that all from the highest to the lowest prepared to die in the quarrel and defence of their Faith Adding moreover That it was very rash and without all reason that so great a multitude in so short a space should so suddenly be executed and in so saying he fell a perswading of the Emperor so long until his And the Emperor words prevailed and the Emperor was with reason appeased Notwithstanding his devilish lust after blood and mischief was Cap. 15. Several executed whose names began with THEOD as suspected to succeed the Emperor The Nicromancers threw out this Theodosiolus of Spain lost his head on this account Many changing their names through fear not appeased but understanding that some Nicromancers had given out that the Successors name of this Emperor began with THEOD he executed several whom he thought should succeed him in the Empire viz. all such as were called Theodorus Theodotus Theodosius Theodulus Particularly Theodosiolus a noble Man the Son of a Senator who being brought to him from Spain lost his Head Many also changed their names for fear of the same which I note that nothing may be wanting that the History doth afford to point out the Persecutors Athanasius being dead after he had been Bishop forty and six Anno. 375. Cap. 16. Athanasius being dead Peter succeeds The Emperor sends Euxojus the Arrian with armed men to put Lucius the Arrian therein He puts Peter in Prison banishes the rest of the Clergy settles Lucius years Peter was left behind to succeed him but the Emperor being certified thereof and Euxojus the Arrian being then with the Emperor at Antioch opportunity was taken to put Lucius the Arrian therein who with a great power of armed Men from the Emperor took his Journey to Alexandria who clapt Peter in Prison and banished the rest of the Clergy some to one place and some to another and setled Lucius therein Lucius being setled in Alexandria great persecution followed Cap. 17. Great persecution follows in Egypt Peter gets out of Prison flies to Damasus Bishop of Rome Arrians hold all the Churches of Alexandria The Religious Houses in the Desart thrown down by the Emperors Edict The Religious persons miserably slain who resisted not The slaughter beyond expression miserable This through Lucius Cap. 19. The persecution throughout
to such as was left alive it being reported that in that dear Food from Heaven in the dear years barren year there came down Food from the Air no otherwise than the Manna of old to the Israelites and that the year following the Earth of her own accord brought forth fruit Neither was Earth of its own accord brings forth Fruits These things in Palestina and other Regions where the former things were done only this misery saith the History throughout Palestina but also sundry calamities reigned in many other Regions and these things saith the History were about that time that is to say when the things aforesaid were controverted and done In the Civil State also these things hapned Aetius was lamentably Cap. 7. Aetius put to death at Rome also Valentinianus the Emperor and Heraclius by the Treason of Maximus because Valentinianus had ravished his Wife Maximus maâ—ries Eudoxia the Wife of Valentinianus against her will put to death at old Rome Valentinianus Emperor of the West together with Heraclius by certain Souldiers of Aetius through the Treason of Maximus who aspired unto the Empire and therefore wrought their destruction because the Wife of Maximus had been ravished by Valentinianus Valentinianus being dead Maximus married his Wife Eudoxia against her will she taking this in great contumely and reproach devised how to revenge her Husbands death she sends to Genzerichus to Libia She sends to Genzericus the Vandal to revenge her makes him fair promises puts him in good hopes of prosperous success requests him that unlooked for he would invade the Empire of Rome and promised to yeeld all into his hands He being a Barbarian unconstant of little trust gave no credit to her words sets the City on fire carries away the spoyl took Eudoxia He burns Rome carries away the spoyl takes Eudoxia and her two Daughters with him Returns marries Eudoxia's elder daughter to his Son Sends the other and her Mother to Martianus He tore Maximus in pieces and threw his body into Tiber. The short succession of the after Western Emperors Avitus reigned eight months Maximus 70. dayes Plague destroys Avitus Majorinus that succeeded him cut off by Treason Severus three years Anno. 458. Martianus dies Proterius opposed Cap. 8. Anno. 458. Timoth. Elurus chosen with her 2 Daughters returned got him home to Libia married Eudoxia the elder Daughter to his Son Honoricus but sent Placidia the younger Daughter and Eudoxia her Mother with a Princely Train unto Martianus thereby hoping to mittigate his wrath and displeasure who was not a little offended at the burning of Rome and the abusing of Valentinianus his Daughters he tore Maximus in pieces and threw his Carkass into Tiber. Nor did things cease here for short dates befel the next successive Emperors of Rome Avitus was Emperor eight months after the death of Maximus who reigned seventy dayes when he was dispatched by the Plague Majorinus the year following took the government of the Empire when Rhecimerus a Roman Captain had procured through Treason the death of Majorinus Severus became Emperor for the space of three years Also Martianus finished this course having reigned the space of seven years which those of Alexandria understanding they renewed their opposition against Proterius Dionysius the Captain of the Guard being absent they consulted to make Timotheus surnamed Aelurus to be their Bishop and having brought him into the great Church called Caesars they proclaimed him whilst Proterius was yet alive and exercised the Priesthood slew Proterius Proterius slain as he fled to the Font. Tyed with a Rope dragged derided whilst he was flying to the Holy Font as saith the History tyed him with a Rope and haled him to the four Poarches for all men to gaze at him through the perswasion of Timothy and with shouting and laughter revealed the murdering of Proterius afterwards they drew his Carkass through the City and burnt it to Drawn through the City burnt to Asâ—es His bowels tasted of Ashes neither abstained they from the tasting of his Bowels as the Bishops and Clergy throughout Egypt in their complaints to Leo who succeeded Martianus of them who were Eye-witnesses gave it at large under their hands which is said to be done with a He was run through the body with a Sword as it was rumoured that the Captain hasted into the City Six more killed with him His dead body lashed disjoynted and his Ashes thrown into the Air. naked Sword as the Captain hearing the rumor of the tumult came in post hast to Alexandria to quench it so being ran through the Body died and six more were killed with him and his dead body they lashed with a Whip and unjoynted his Members and when they had burned his body they threw the Ashes and scattered them in the Air. This outragious Villany thus committed put the Emperor to it who sent his Letters throughout the Empire to consider what was Cap. 9. The Emperor troubled sends Letters what were best to be done best to be done for there were two things in it the blood of Proterius and the dissatisfaction of the Decrees of the six hundred and thirty Bishops in the Council of Chalcedon and how to secure the peace of Alexandria so the issue returned upon Timothy Timothy is deposed banished who wrote bold Letters in answer to the Emperor's that were sent about and that Council who was deposed and banished to Gangrena aforesaid and Timothy called Basilius was put in to succeed Cap. 10. Basilius succeeds Proterius Annatolius being also dead Gennadius was Bishop of Constantinople and after him Acasius Master of the Hospital or Colledge of Orphans Thus things shook in reference to Religion and reeled up and Judgments on the State The Empire shaken down whilst men took upon them to settle and establish Religion And in the Civil State things shook also The Earth moved Cap. 12. An Earthquake at Antioch again at Antioch again it turned upside down in a manner all the building of that new City being well peopled without a waste corner or ruinous piece of building but all adorned and gorgeously set forth by the bountifulness of the Emperors contending successively who should excel the other therein the first and second Lodgings of the Pallace were overthrown the rest stood with the Bath adjoyning thereunto the Portly Gates of the Palace the place called the Four Porches the utter Turrets and Galleries near the Gates where the Stage-Playes were kept some Poarches that came out thence together with abundance of other places were turned to the ground Before the Earthquake began certain The people ran mad before it began people born in Antioch waxed mad raved above measure seeming to exceed all furious rage of bruitish fierceness which was preambulatory to this great calamity this grievous Earthquake hapned in the 506. year after the City was called Antioch The fourteenth day of the Month called Gorpiaeus after the Romans
of that nature nor may they be required but he the Reformer is to be heard in all things the Law wrote in the heart the fear put in the inward part who hath put an end unto them all the way is open unto the Father Through him saith the Apostle we have all access unto the Father through one Spirit And there is neither Jew nor Gentile Barbarian or Scythian Bond or Free Male or Female but all are one in Christ Jesus he hath put an end to them all who is come through and hath made way through Death Hell and the Grave and hath slain the enmity even the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances and nailed them to his Cross and broke down the Partian Wall and abolished them So that there is an end to all things of this nature he hath put it who hath made the end and to this of Swearing as unto the rest and that not onely inclusively or as a particular of that administration which was outward which he wholly put an end unto but exclusively as I may so say or by a particular provision or prohibition Ye have heard that it hath been Mat. 5. 33 34 35 36. said by them of old time Thou shalt not forswear thy self but shalt perform thine Oath But I say unto you Swear not at all neither by Heaven for it is Gods Throne nor by the Earth for it is his Footstool neither by Jerusalem for it is the City of the great King neither shalt thou swear by thy Head because thou canst not make on Hair white or black but let your communication be Yea yea and Nay nay for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil And James who wrote unto the twelve Tribes who were scattered abroad saith to them But above all things my Brethren swear not neither by Heaven neither by the Earth neither by any other Oath but let your yea be yea and your nay nay lest you fall into condemnation Emphatical and plain words above all things swear not nor by any other Oath lest you fall into condemnation And swear not at all whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil These things are as full as they can be exprest words of weight and depth and large comprehensiveness so peremptory and flat that one would think none could find out a way to evade them that is to say durst to do it Yet what hath not man dared to do in this particular and upon this very foot How have they put multitudes of people both in this and other Ages to most exquisite sufferings Policarpus who suffered under Verus the Emperor who began his Euseb l. 4. c. 15 Reign about the year 163. being brought forth and demanded by the Proconsul to Swear by the Fortune of Caesar to repent him of what was past and to say Remove the Wicked by which was intended the Christians And again Swear and I will let thee go Blaspheme and deny Christ and I will let thee go And again Swear by the Fortune of Caesar Policarpus answered If thou requirest this vain glory that I protest the Fortune of Caesar as thou sayest feigning thou knowest me not who I am Hear freely I am a Christian He was burned quick at Smyrna of which he was Bishop Ponticus and Blandina a Lad of fifteen years old and a Woman who Euseb l. 5. c. 10 endured notable torments and at last death by the Heathen in France in the Reign of Antonius Verus about the year 179. being the seventeenth year of his Reign of whose sufferings and constancy I have already given a particular account who often by the Heathen were urged to swear which they refused Basilide◠a Souldier in Authority in the Roman Host being upon some Euseb l. 6. c. 4. occasion required to swear by his fellow Souldiers affirmed plainly That it was not lawful for him to swear for he said he was a Christian and that he would in very deed protest the same I have given an account of him and how he came to be a Christian before page To which I refer the Reader as to a noble example they thought he dallied at first but being brought before the Judge and he confessing the same was clapt in Prison and beheaded Evangelica veritas non recipit juramentum saith Jerom The Evangelical or the Truth of the Gospel admits not of an Oath And saith Chrysostome Non oportet ut vir qui Evangelicè vivit juret omninò It behoveth not or it is not meet or it ought not to be that the man or he which lives according to the Gospel should swear at all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christians ought not to swear at all saith Justin Martyr Plato saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Let an Oath be absent from every one as much as to say let none Swear 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Meander also hath these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Fly an Oath although thou mayest swear justly Plato also saith again in his twelfth Book concerning Laws Ne quis juret ipse ne ab altero jusjurandum exigat i. e. Let no man swear himself and let him not require or compel an Oath of another Ausonius in his second Epistle saith Jurare aut falsum dicere par habuit To swear or speak falsly is the same Hesiod in his Theogonia places an Oath among the brood of contention 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Pag. 88. An Oath saith he which greatly burteth men Again he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Presently an Oath goes with corrupt judgments * Cito enim abit jusjurandum una cum pravis judiciis or When Justice appears among men then swearing vanishes As is Hesiod's scope in that place p. 13. And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 viz. neither ought he to swear this or any thing this thing or swearing shall never be or there ought to be no such thing as to swear saith Theognis Vers 660. Wherefore should I reckon up Origen Chrysostome Theophilact Oecomenius Hillary Athanasius Jerom Theodoret Lactantius and others who had frequent invectives against swearing Or Basil who commended a famous Greek called †Clineas cum posset effugere trium talentorum mulctam jurando injuriam pati maluit quam jurare Clineas who rather than he would save a Mulct of * Accounted 300 l. Sterling at the least three Talents by swearing suffered loss of his honour which he thought caution sufficient for his honesty suffered the payment mentioned by Sam. Fisher in his Answer to Bishop Gauden about Swearing or the many thousands of these latter Generations contained in the Books of Martyrs and other Histories I should fill the World anew with that with which it is full enough already and yet signifie little more than as a drop doth to the Sea shew what from the Principle came but the fulness is the Principle that he changed it that he put an end to it with all the body