whole Nations boast that they descend This Epocha therefore is proper to recollect whatsoever the Fabulous Times had that was most certain and most eminent But what is seen in the Sacred History is in all Points most remarkable Years be ∣ fore J. C. 1177 the prodigious Strength of Samson Years of the World 2887 and likewise his marvellous Weakness Eli Years of the World 1176 the High-Priest Venerable by his Piety Years of the World 2888 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 1095 and unhappy by the Guilt of his Sons Samuel Years of the World 2909 an irreproachable Judge and a Prophet chosen by God to anoint Kings Saul the first King of Gods People his Victories his presumption to Sacrifice without the Priests his Disobedience pitifully excused under the pretence of Religion his Reprobation his fatal Fall About this time Codrus King of Athens gave up himself to death for the safety of his People and by his Death they got the Victory His Sons Medon and Nileus dispute for the Kingdom Upon this occasion the Athenians abolish all Regality and declare that Jupiter was their only King They created Governours or perpetual Presidents but they were subject to render an account of their Administration These Magistrates were called Archontes Medon the Son of Codrus was the first who exercised this Magistracy and it continued a long while in his Family The Athenians extended their Colonies into that part of Lesser Asia which was called Ionia The Aeolick Colonies were set up much-what about the same time and all the Lesser Asia was filled with Greek Towns Years be ∣ fore J. C. 1055 After Saul came David that admirable Years of the World 2949 Shepherd the Conqueror of the fierce Goliah and of all the Enemies of the People of God a great King a great Conqueror and a great Prophet worthy to sing out the Praises and wonderful Works of his great Creator in a word a Man after God's Years be ∣ fore J. C. 1034 own Heart as he himself stiles him and Years of the World 2970 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 1014 who by his Repentance did even turn his Years of the World 2990 Offences to the Glory of his Maker To this Pious Warriour succeded his Son Solomon Wise Just Peaceful whose Hands Years be ∣ fore J. C. 1012 undefiled with Blood were accounted worthy Years of the World 2992 to build the Temple of God VI. Epocha Solomon or the Temple finished 5. Age of the World This was about the year 3000. of the World the year 488. since the Departure out of Aegypt and to adjust the Times of Sacred History with those of the Profane 180 years after the taking of Troy 250 years before the Founding of Rome and 1000 years before Jesus Christ when Solomon Years be ∣ fore J. C. 1004 finished that stupendious Edifice He Years of the World 3000 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 1003 celebrated the Dedication of it with an extraordinary Years of the World 3001 Piety and Magnificence And this famous Action was followed with several other Wonders of the Reign of Solomon which ended in shameful Weaknesses He gave up himself to the Love of Women which debased his Mind made his Heart grow wavering so that at last his Piety degenerated into Idolatry God tho' justly provoked yet spares him for the sake of David his Servant however he would not suffer his Ingratitude utterly to go unpunished he divides his Kingdom after his death under his Son Rehoboam The Brutish Pride of that young Prince causes Ten of his Years be ∣ fore J. C. 975 Tribes to be cut off from him which Jeroboam Years of the World 3029 separated from their God and from their King For fear lest they should return to the Kings of Judah he forbids them going to Sacrifice at the Temple of Jerusalem and he sets up his Golden Calves to which he ascribes the Name of the God of Israel that so the Innovation might appear less strange The same Reason made him retain the Law of Moses which he interpreted according to his own Will and Pleasure but almost all the Politie of it he caused to be observed as well the Civil as Religious so that the Pentateuch remained still in veneration among the separated Tribes Thus was the Kingdom of Israel set up against the Kingdom of Judah In that of Israel Impiety and Idolatry reigned and triumphed But Religion tho' it was several times clouded in that of Judah yet it was always preserved there About this Years be ∣ fore J. C. 971 time the Kings of Aegypt were very powerful Years of the World 3033 The Four Kingdoms had been re-united under that of Thebes It is believed that Sesostris that famous Conqueror of the Aegyptians is that Sesac King of Aegypt whom God made use of to chastise the Impiety of Rehoboam In the Reign of Abijah the Son of Rehoboam is observable that great and mighty Victory which the Piety of that Prince gained him over the Schismatical Tribes Hâ—s Son Asa whose Piety is commended Years be ∣ fore J. C. 917 in Scripture is taken notice of there Years of the World 3087 to be a Man who in his Sicknesses relied more upon the Humane Help of Medicines than of the Goodness and Power of God Years be ∣ fore J. C. 924 In his time Amri King of Israel built Samaria Years of the World 3080 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 914 where he established the Seat of his Years of the World 3090 Kingdom This Time is followed with the admirable Reign of Jehosaphat wherein flourished Piety Justice Navigation and the Military Art Whilst he appeared in the Kingdom of Judah another David Ahab and his Wife Jezabel who then reigned in Israel joyned to Jeroboam's Idolatry all the Impieties Years be ∣ fore J. C. 899 of the Gentiles They perished both of Years of the World 3105 them miserably God who had bore with their Idolatries was resolved to revenge upon them the Blood of Naboth whom they had caused to be slain because he had refused as the Law of Moses required to sell them the Fee of his Paternal Inheritance Their Sentence was pronounced by the Mouth of the Prophet Elijah Ahab was killeâ— some time after notwithstanding all Years be ∣ fore J. C. 987 his â—ircumspection to save himself About Years of the World 3107 this time we are to râ—ckon the Foundation of Carthage which Dido wâ—o was come from Tyre built in a Place after the Example of Tyre which was very convenient for Traffick as it was likewise for becoming Mistress of the Sea It is somewhat hard to assign the Time when it formed it self into a Republick but the mixing of the Tyrians and Africans made it become equally Warlike and Trafficking The ancient Hâ—sâ—orians who place its Origine before the Ruine of Troy seem to fancy that Dido rather enlarged and fortified it than that ever Years be ∣ fore J. C. 888 she laid the Foundations of it Affairs began
God he thus pursues his Discourse For I would not Brethren Id. 25 26 27. that ye should be ignorant of his Mystery lest ye should be wise in your own conceits that blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in And so all Israel shall be saved as it is written there shall come out of Zion the Deliverer and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. Isa 59.20 For this is my Covenant unto them when I shall take away their sins That passage of Isaiah which St. Paul cites here according to the Septuagint which he used to follow because their Version was known all over the World comes up more strongly in the Original For the Prophet foretold there before all things the Conversion of the Gentiles by those words So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the West Isai 59.19 20 21. and his glory from the rising of the Sun Afterwards under the Type and Figure of a rapid flood driven by an impetuous wind Isaiah saw afar off the Persecutions which should make the Church increase At length the Holy Ghost told him what should happen to the Jews and declared to him That the Redeemer shall come out of Zion and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob. As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord My Spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy Seed nor out of the mouth of thy Seeds seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever He hath made it plain therefore that after the Conversion of the Gentiles the Redeemer which Zion had mistaken and the Children of Jacob had rejected should turn again to them blot out their sins and should restore unto them the understanding of the Prophecies which they should have utterly lost for a long time to go down successively and from hand to hand through all Posterity never to be forgotten Thus should the Jews one day return and so as never to go astray again but they should not return until after the East and the West that is to say all the World should be filled with the fear and the knowledge of God The Holy Ghost made St. Paul see that that happy return of the Jews should be the effect of that Love which God had had for their Fathers wherefore he thus concludes his Discourse As concerning the Gospel says he which we now preach to you they the Jews are enemies for your sake if God hath cast them away it hath been O Gentiles that he might call you but as touching the Election by which they were chosen from the time of the Covenant which was made and sworn to Abrahaâ— they are beloved for the Fathers sake For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance For as ye in times past have not believed God yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief God having been pleased to choose you in their stead Even so have these also the Jews now not believed that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy for God hath conclâ—ded them all in unbelief that he might have mercy upon all and that so they might all confess the need they have of his grace and mercy O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his Judgments and his ways past finding out Foâ— who hath known the mind of the Lord or who hath been his Counsellor or who hath first given to him and it shall be recompensed to him again for of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever Amen This is what St. Paul hath said concerning the Election of the Jews their Fall their Return and at last concerning the Conversion of the Gentiles who were called to fill up their place and to bring them back in the fulness of time to the blessing that was promised to their Fathers that is to say to that Christ whom they had denied This great Apostle hath discovered to us the Grace which goes from one People to another to keep them all in fear lest they should lose it and hath also manifested its invincible force and power in that after it had converted Idolaters it should reserve it self for its last work the convincing the Jews of their hardness and contumacious perfidiousness By this profound Counsel of God the Jews remain still among all Nations whither they were dispersed and carried captive but they remain likewise with the branded Character of their Reprobation being visibly fallen by their Infidelity of the Promises which were made to their Fathers banished from the Land of Promise having not any Land to cultivate but are Slaves in all Countreys whereever they are without honour without liberty and without any form of being a People They fell into this deplorable estate eight and thirty years after they had crucified Jesus Christ and after they had in persecuting his Disciples mis-spent the time which had been given them to come to the knowledgâ— of themselves But whilst the ancient People were under a state of Reprobation for their Infidelity the new People were daily increasing among the Gentiles the Covenant formerly made with Abraham reached according to the Promise to all the People of the World that had forgot God the Christian Church called all men to her and being in tranquillity for several Ages amidâ—t unheard of Persecutions she plainly convinced them that they were not to expect their happiness here in this World This was the most worthy Fruit of the knowledge of God and the effect of that great Blessing which the World was to look for by Jesus Christ It was still daily more and more hung up in every Family and all People were to have it Men opened their eyes more and more confessing the blindness into which they had been plunged by Idolatry and notwithstanding all the Româ—â— Power Christians were seen without revolting without making any disturbance and only by patient suffering all sorts of Inhumanities to make a new World as it were in dispersing themselves throughout the Un-verse The unheard of suddenness with which that great Change was made was a visible Miracle Jesus Christ had foretold that his Gospel should soon be preached over all the Earth and that Wonder was to fall out presently after his Death and he had said that after he was lifted up from the Earth John 8.28.12.32 that is to say after they had nailed him to the Cross he would draw all men unto him His Apostles had not yet finished their course but St. Paul said then to the Romans that he thanked God through Jesus Christ Rom. 1.8 that their Faith was spoken of throughout the whole World He told the Colossians Coll. 1.5 6 23. that the Gospel was heard and preached to every Creature under Heaven that he was
fighting with an astonishing Courage His Brother Jonathan succeeded to his Charge and supported his Reputation Being reduced to extremity his Courage left him not The Romans overjoyed in their humbling of the Kings of Syria granted to the Jews their Protection and the Alliance which Judas had sent to demand of him was granted but yet it was without any Sâ—ccour But the Glory of the Roman Name was however a considerable Support to the afflicted People The Troubles of Syria daiâ—y grew greater and greater Alexander Balasus who boasted himself to be the Son Years be ∣ fore J. C. 154 of the Illustrious Antiochus was set upon Years of Rome 600 the Throne by Antiochus his Party The Kings of Aegypt who were the perpetual Enemies of Sâ—ria interessed themselves in those Divisions to make their own Advantages Years be ∣ fore J. C. 150 by them Ptolomee Philometor upheld Years of Rome 604 Balasus The War was bloody Demetrius Soter was slain in it and to revenge his Death left none but two young Princes a great deal under his Age Demetrius Nicator and Antiochus Sidetes So that the Usurper continued in peace and the King of Aegypt gave him his Daughter Cleopotra in Marriage Balasus who thought himself above all things plunged himself into Debaucheries and brought thereby upon himself the Years be ∣ fore J. C. 150 slight and scorn all his Subjects About Years of Rome 604 this time Philâ—mâ—tor judged that famous Cause which the Samaritans had with the Jews 2. Maccab. vi 2. Jos Ant. xii 7. Those Schismaticks who were ever opposite to God's peculiar People did not fail to joyn with their Enemies and to Years be ∣ fore J. C. 167 please the Illustrious Antiochus their Persecutor Years of Rome 597 they had consecrated their Temple of Gerazim to Jupiter Hospitalis Notwithstanding this Profanation these wicked Wretches desisted not from maintaining sometime after at Alexandria before Ptolomeus Philometer that That Temple ought to be preferred to that of Jerusalem The Parties disputed in the Presence of the King and both of them to the hazard of their Lives engaged to justifie their Pretensions by the Terms of the Law of Moses The Jews gain'd their Cause Josph Ant. lib. 13. c. 6. Ibid. and the Samaritans were punished with Death according to their Covenant The same King permitted Onias of the Sacerdotal Race to build in Aegypt the Temple of Heliopolis after the Model of that of Jerusalem An Enterprise condemned by all the Jewish Council and adjudged contrary to the Law In the mean while Carthage began to stir again being very uneasie in bearing with the Laws which Scipio Africanus had imposed upon her The Romans resolved on no less than her total Overthrow and therefore to that end was the third Punick War undertaken Years be ∣ fore J. C. 148 The young Demetrius Nicator now having Years of Rome 606 past over his Minority was contriving how to re-establish himself upon the Throne of his Ancestors the Softness and Effeminacy of the Usurper made him to hope every Years be ∣ fore J. C. 146 thing At his approach Balasus was troubled Years of Rome 608 his Father-in-Law Philometor declared against him because Balasus would not let him take his Kingdom The Ambitious Cleopatra his Queen left him to marry his Enemy and he was slain at last by the hand of one of his own Creatures after the loss of a Battle Philometer dyed a few days after the Wounds he received in it and Syria was delivered of two Enemies At the same time were two great Cities seen to fall Carthage was taken and reduced to Ashes by Scipio Aemylianus who by that Victory confirmed the Name of Africanus to his Posterity and shewed himself the worthy Inheritor of the Great Scipio his Grandfather Corinth had the same Destiny and the Republique of Achaia was destroyed with it The Consul Mummius did utterly ruine that City the most voluptuous and the most beautiful of all Greece He transported to Rome their incomparable Statues without ever knowing the Value of them The Romans being ignorant of the Arts of Greece contented tnemselves with the knowledge of War Politie and Agriculture During the Troubles of Syria the Jews fortifyed themselves Jonathan saw himself sought after by both Parties and Victorious Nicator treated him as a Brother He was quickly requited for Years be ∣ fore J. C. 144 it In a Sedition The Jews all in a Body Years of Rome 610 took him by force from the Hands of the Rebels Jonathan was overwhelmed with Honours but when the King thought himself most secure he took up also the Designs of his Ancestors and the Jews were as bad tormented as before The Troubles of Syria began again Diodotus sirnamed Tryphon raised up a Son Balasus whom he called Antiochus the God and made himself his Tut r during his Infancy The Years be ∣ fore J. C. 143 Pride of Demetrius flushed the People all Years of Rome 611 Syria was as it were on fire Jonathan knew how to take Advantage of this Conjuncture and renewed the Alliance with the Romans Every thing was prosperous to him when Tryphon by a breach of Promise caused him to be slain with his Children His Brother Simon the most prudent and happy of the Macâ—abees succeeded him and the Romans favoured him as they did his Predecessors Typhon was not less unfaithful to his Pupil Antiâ—chus than he had been to Jonathan He caused that Child to be made away by the meanes of the Physicians under pretence of having him to be cut of the Stone which he had nothing of and so made himself Master of one part of the Kingdom Simon joyned himself with Demetrius Nicator the Legitimate King and after he had obtained of him the Freedom of his Country he maintained and kept it by Arms against the Rebel Tryphon Years of Rome 612 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 142 The Syrians were driven out of the Cittadel which they kept in Jerusalem and a while after out of all the places of Judea Thus the Jews being freed from the Yoke of the Gentiles by the Valour of Simon they yielded the Kingly Rights to him and to his Family Demetrius and Nicator consented to that new Establishment There began the new Kingdom of God's People and the Principality of the Asmonians ever joyned to the Soveraign Priesthood About this time the Parthian Empire extended it self over the Bactrians and Indians by the Years be ∣ fore J. C. 141 Victories of Mithridates the valiantest of all Years of Rome 613 the Arsacidae Whilst He was advancing towards Euphrates Demetrus Nicator called by the People of that Country which Mithridates had newly brought into Subjection was in hopes of reducing the Parthians to Obedience whom the Syrians had always treated as Rebels He was happy in several Victories and near to retun into Syria to give Tryphon his absolute Overthrow there but unluckily sell into a Snare which one of Mithridâ—tes his Generals had laid
and he filled all the World with the noise of his Holiness and his Miracles during his life and after his death Valentinian dyed after a most fierce and violent Harangue which he made to the Enemies of the Empire his passionate Impetuosity which made him so much feared by others proved fatal to himself His Successor Gratianus without any Invidiousness of the exaltation of his young Brother Valentinian II. who was made Emperour tho' he was but nine years of age His Mother Justina the Protectress of the Arrians had the Government during his Minority There Years of J. C. 377 happened in a few years very strange and Years of J. C. 378 wonderful Accidents the Revolt of the Goths against Valentius that Prince forsaking the Persians to repress the Rebels Gratianus running to him after he had got a signal Victory over the Germans Valentius resolving to conquer singly hastened the fight where he was killed near to Adrianople the Goths being victorious burn him in a Town whither he had retired Gratianus being oppressed with the weight of Affairs associated the Great Theodosius to the Empire and left the East to his Conduct The Goths are overcome Years of J. C. 379 all the Barbarians are kept in awe and that which Theodosius looked upon as no less the Macedonian Heretics who denyed the Divinity of the Holy Ghost were condemned Years of J. C. 881 at the Council of Constantinople And now there was only the Greek Church the consent of all the West and of Pope Damasus made him to call the Second General Council Whilst Theodosius governed with so much Power and Success Gratianus who Years of J. C. 383 was not inferior to him valour nor Piety abandoned by his Troops all made up of Strangers became a Sacrifice to the Tyrant Maximus The Church and the Empire bewailed Years of J. C. 386 387 the fate of that good Prince The Tyrant reigned over the Gauls and seemed to be satisfyed in that division The Empress Justina under her Son's Name set forth Proclamations in favour of Arrianism St. Ambrose Bishop of Milan opposed it with his holy Doctrin Prayers and Patience and knew that by such Arms he should not only preserve to the Church the * Basiliques Royal Palaces which the Heretics would fain have possessed but also that he should bring over the young Emperor to him In the mean while Maximus was in action and Justina found nothing more faithful than the Bishop whom she treated notwithstanding as a Rebel She sent him to the Tyrant whom his Discourses could not bend The young Valentinian is forced to betake himself to flight with his Mother Maximus is Master at Rome where he sets up again the Sacrifices unto false Gods in complaisance for the Senate as yet almost all Pagan After he had got possession of all Years of J. C. 388 the West and at that time when he thought himself most in Peace Theodosius aided by the Franks overcame him in Pannonia besieged him in Aquileia and suffered him to be killed by his Soldiers And now being absolute Master of both Empires he gave that of the West to Valentinian tho he did not enjoy it very long That young Prince raised and degraded Arbogastus too fast who was a Captain of the Franks valiant disinterested and one that by all manner of crimes was able Years of J. C. 392 to keep the Power he had acquired over the Troops He raised the Tyrant Eugenius who was only good at Discourse and killed Valentinian who would no longer have the proud Frank for his Master That detestable Fact was committed near Vienna in the Country of the Gauls St. Ambrose whom the young Emperor had sent for to receive Baptism from his hand lamented his loss and had very good hopes of his Salvation His death not long remain unpunished A very manifest Miracle gave to Theodosius the Years of J. C. 394 Victory over Eugenius and over the false Gods whose worship he had anew set up Eugenius was taken and must be sacrificed to the Public Vengeance that so the Rebellion might be quashed by his death The fierce and resolute Arbogastus became his own Murtherer rather than he would seek to the clemency of the Conqueror which all the other Rebels came to embrace Theodosius now sole Emperor was the joy and admiration of all the Universe He confirmed Religion put to silence Heretics abolished the corrupt and impure Sacrifice of the Heathen corrected vitious effeminacies and Years of J. C. 390 repressed all superfluous expences He humbly acknowledge his faults and repented of them he hearkened to St. Ambrose the famous Doctor of the Church who reproved him for his passion the only Vice of that great Prince Tho' always victorious yet he never made War but when forced to it by necessity He made the People happy Years of J. C. 395 and dyed in Peace more illustrious by Years of J. C. 386. 387. his Faith than by all his Conquests In his time St. Jerom the Priest being retired into the sacred solitary of Bethlehem put himself to vast labour and pains to explain the Scriptures read all the Interpreters of them searched into all Histories both Sacred and Profane which might give him any Light and out of the Original Hebrew composed that Version of the Bible which the Church in general hath received under the name of Vulgar The Empire which seemed to be invincible under Theodosius changed on the suddain under his two Sons Arcadius had the East and Honorius the West both of them governed by their Ministers they made their Power to serve their own particular Interests Eufinus and Eutropius successively favoured by Arcadius and each as wicked Years of J. C. 395 as the other were soon cut off and Affairs Years of J. C. 399 went no better under a weak Prince His Years of J. C. 403 Wife Eudoxa made him to persecute S. John Years of J. C. 404 Chrysostom the Patriarch of Constantinople and the Light of the East Pope S. Innocentius and all the West kept up that great Bishop against Theophilus the Patriarch of Alexandria and Minister of the Empress's cruelties The West was troubled with the Inundation of the Barbarians Radagasus a Years of J. C. 406 Goth and Heathen ravaged Italy c. The Vandals a Gothic and Arrian Nation seized on one part of Gallia and so spread themselves in Spain Alaricus King of the Visigoths an Arrian People forced Honorius to resign those great Provinces to him which were already possessed by the Vandals Stilicon â—mbarassed with so many Barbarians beat them managed them held secret Intelligences and broke with them sacrificed all to his Interest and notwithstanding kept the Empire which he was resolved to usurp In the mean Years of J. C. 408 time Arcadius dyed and thought the East so stript of good Subjects that he left his Son Theodosius of about eight years old to the Guardianship of Isdegerdus King of Persia But Pulcheria the
from being pillaged But it was quickly after exposed by the Debauches of its Emperor Valentinian Maximus Years of J. C. 454. 455. whose Wife he had violated found a way to destroy him by dissembling his Griefs and thereby insinuating himself into his good Affections By his deceitful Councels the blinded Emperour caused Aëtius the only Bullwark of the Empire to be put to death Maximus the Author of this Murder stirs up Aëtius his Friends to revenge it and so the Emperor came to be killed By these Steps he got to the Throne and forces the Empress Eudoxia the Daughter of Theodosius the Younger to marry him To deliver herself out of his Hands she was not afraid to run into those of Genseric Rome now became a Prey to Barbary It was only S. Leo that prevented all there from being put to Fire and Sword The People tore Maximus to pieces and only received that sad Consolation in all their Miseries All is out of Order in the West several Emperors are set up there and pull'd down again almost at one and the same time Years of J. C. 456. 457. Majorianus made himself the most Considerable Avitus very scurvily preserved his Reputation and saved himself by a Bishoprick The Gaules were no longer to be defended against Merovius nor against Childerick his Son But the latter had like Years of J. C. 458 to have dyed through his Debaucheries If Years of J. C. 462 his Subjects banished him one faithful Friend in reserve made him be recalled His Valour gave a Dread and Terror to his Enemies and his Conquests reached very far into the Country of the Gaules The Eastern Years of J. C. 475 Empire was at Peace under Leo the Thracian Years of J. C. 476 Marcian 's Successor and under Zeno Leo's Son-in-Law and Successor The Revolt of Basiliscus which was soon quasht gave but a short disturbance to this Empire But the Western Empire went to decay irrecoverably Augustus who was called Augustulus the Son of Orestes was the last Emperor owned at Rome and immediately after he was deposed by Odoacres King of the Heruleans These were People come from the Euxine Sea whose Government was but of a short duration In the East the Emperor Zeno attempted to signalize himself in an unheard of manner He was the first of all the Emperors who concern'd himself in regulating the Questions of Faith Whilst the Demi-Eutychians opposed the Council of Years of J. C. 482 Chalcedon he published against the Council his Henotick that is to say his Decree of Union detested by the Catholics and condemned by Pope Felix the III. The Heruleans Years of J. C. 483 were quickly driven from Rome by Years of J. C. 490 Theodorick King of the Ostrogoths that is to Years of J. C. 491 say the Eastern Goths who founded the Kingdom of Italy and left though an Arian a pretty free Exercise to the Catholic Religion The Emperor Anastasius was some trouble to it in the East He followed the Years of J. C. 492 Steps of Zeno his Predecessor and heartened Years of J. C. 493 the Heretics By which means he lost the Peoples Affections which could never be retrieved no not by casing them of heavy and oppressive Taxes Italy was all obedient to Theodorick Odoacres pressed into Ravenna indeavoured to save himself by a Treaty which Theodorick did not at all regard and the Heruleans were forced to resign up all Theodorick besides Italy did likewise keep Provence In his time St. Bennet being in Italy retired into a Desart Years of J. C. 494 began from his most early years to put in Practice those Holy Maximes of which he afterwards composed that excellent Rule which all the Western Monks received with the same respect and deference which those of the East do pay to that of St. Basil The Romans compleated the Ruin of the Gauls by the Victories of Clovis the Son of Chilperick Years of J. C. 495 He gained also over the Germans the Battle of Tolbiac by the Vow he made of embracing the Christian Religion to which his Wife Clotilda never ceased her Persuasions She was of the House of the Kings of Buâ—gundy and a most Catholic Zelot tho' her Family and Nation were Arrian Clovis instructed by St. Vaast was baptized at Reims with his Franks by St. Remy Bishop of that antient Metropolis Of all the Princes of the Years of J. C. 506 World he alone maintained the Catholic Years of J. C. 507 Faith and deserved the Title of most Christian to be derived to all his Successors By the Battle in which with his own Hand he killed Alarick King of the Visigoths Tholoâ—se and Aquitain were joined to his Kingdome But the Victory of the Ostrogoths Years of J. C. 508 kept him from pretending to it all even up to the Pyrenees and the end of his Reign defaced somewhat the Glory of his great beginnings His four Sons divided the Kingdom Years of J. C. 510 and yet were continually making Inroads one upon another Anastasius dyed Years of J. C. 518 by the stroke of a Thunderbolt Justin of mean Extract but a Man of parts and a great Catholic was made Emperor by the Senate He and all his People submitted to the Decrees of Pope St. Hormisdas and so put an end to the Troubles of the Eastern Churches In his time Bâ—ëtius a Man famous for his Learning as well as his Birth Years of J. C. 526 and Symmachus his Father-in-Law both advanced to the highest Offices of Government were sacrificed to the Jealousy of Theodorick who groundlessly suspected them for conspiring against the State The King being afterwards troubled in his mind for this bloudy Fact he had done thought he saw the Head of Symmachus in a Dish which was brought up to his Table and soon after dyed Amalasonta his Daughter Mother of Alâ—ricus who succeeded to the Kingdom by the death of his Grandfather was hindered by the Goths from bringing up this young Prince in the Instructions which his Birth both challenged and deserved and being forced to abandon him to Persons of his own Age she foresaw his Ruin without being able to do any thing to prevent it The Year after Years of J. C. 527 Justin dyed after he had associated to the Empire his Nephew Justinian whose long Reign is celebrated by the Labours of Tribonianus the compiler of the Roman Law and by the Exploits of Belisarius and Years of J. C. 529 of the Eunuch Narses Those two famous Years of J. C. 530 c. Captains subdued the Persians defeated the Years of J. C. 533 Ostrogoths and the Vandals and rendered to Years of J. C. 534 their Master Africk Italy and Rome but Years of J. C. 552 the Emperor jealous of their Glory without Years of J. C. 553 ever being desirous to share with them Years of J. C. 532 their Labours every day studied how to embarass and intangle them more than ever he afforded them Assistance The Kingdom of France increased
of those Laws belonged to them Jealousie increased by those Pretensions made them to resolve by common Consent to send an Embassy into Greece to search therefor the Institutions of the Cities of that Country and especially for the Laws of Solon which were the most popular The Laws of the twelve Tables were established and the Decemviri who digested them were deprived of the Power which they abused Whilest every thing appeared placid and tranquil and that such equitable Laws seem'd eternally to establish the publick Repose Dissentions started up again by new Pretensions of the People who aspired to Honours and to the Consulate which till then were reserved only to the first Order The Law to admit them to them was propounded Rather than to have the Consulate pulled down the Fathers consented to the Creation of three new Magistrates who should have the Authority of Consuls under the Name of Military Tribunes and the People were admitted to that Honour Being contented to have their Right established they used moderately their Victory and continued sometimes in giving the Command to the Patricii only After long and various Disputes they returned to the Consulate and by degrees the Honours became common between the two Orders tho' the Patricii were always the most considered in the Elections The Wars continued and the Romans subjected after five hundred Years the Gaules Cisalpines App. praef Ep. their principal Enemies and all Italy There began to Punick Wars and things went on so forward that each of those two jealous People believed they could not subsist but by the Ruine of the other Rome ready to fall was chiefly kept up during her Misfortunes by the Constancy and Wisdom of the Senate At last the Roman Patience got the better Hannibal was overcome and Carthage subjugated by Scipio Africanus Victorious Rome enlarged her self prodigiously for two hundred Years both by Sea and by Land and reduced all the World under her Power In those times and since the Ruine of Carthage the Offices whose Dignity as well as Profit increased with the Empire were underhand furiously laboured for The Ambitious Pretenders took care only to flatter the People and the concord of the Orders held up by the Business of the Punick Wars was troubled more than ever The Gracchi put all things into Confusion and their seditious Propositions were the begâ—nning of all the Civil Wars Then began they to bear Arms and by open Force to act in the Assemblies of the Roman People where before every one desired only to carry it by lawful Ways and with Liberty of Opinions The wise Conduct of the Senate and the great Wars happening moderated their Disorders Marius the Plebeian a great Man of War with his military Eloquence and his seditious Harangues wherewith he was continually attacking the Pride of the Nobles awakened the Peoples Jealousies and by that means raised himself to the greatest Honours Sylla a Patrician put himself at the Head of the contrary Party and became the Object of Marius his Jealousie Factions and Corruptions could do all things in Rome The Love of their Country and deference to their Laws were quite extinguished there And to compleat their Miseries the Wars of Asia taught the Romans Luxury and increased their Avaâ—ice Then the Generals began to joyn themselves to their Souldiers who till that time saw nothing but the Character of publick Authority in them Sylla in the War against Mithridates let his Souldiers enrich themselves the better to gain them Marius on his side proposed to his Associates the Shares of both Money and Lands By that means being Masters of their Troops the one under pretence of supporting the Senate and the other under the name of the People they made a most furious War even in tne Heart of the City The Party of Marius and of the People were utterly beaten and Sylla made himself a Soveraign under the Name of Dictator He made most dreadful Slaughters and treated the People with Severity both in Deeds and Words even in their lawful Assemblies Being more Puissant and better established than ever he retreated to a private Life but it was after he had shewn that the Romans could indure a Master Pompey whom Sylla had raised succeded to a great part of his Power He flattered sometimes the People and sometimes the Senate to get himself established But his Inclination and Interest at length fixed him to the latter Being a Conqueror of the Pyrates of Spain and all the East he became very puissant in the Republick and in the Senate Caesar who was resolved at least to be his Equal turned to the People's side and imitating in his Consulate the most seditious Tribunes he proposed with the Divisions of the Land the most popular Laws he could invent The Conquest of the Gaules brought the Glory and Power of Caesar to the highest Pitch Pompey and he were united thro' Interest and afterwards broke again thro' Jealousie The Civil War began to kindle Pompey thought that his Name alone would carry all and so neglected himself Caesar active and discerning obtained the Victory and got the Mastery of him He made several Attempts to see whether the Romans could be brought to use the name of King But they only served to make him odious To increase the publick Hatred the Senate decreed him Honours until then unheard of in â—oâ—e so that he was slain in the full Senate as a Tyrant Anthony his Creature who was Coâ—sul at the time of his Death stirred up the People against those who had killed him and indeavoured to take his Advantage of those Commotions to usurp the soveraign Authority Lepidus who had also a great Command under Caesar indeavoured to keep it At last young Caesar â—bout nineteen Years of age undertook to revenge the Death of his Father and so sought an Occasion to succeed to his Power He knew how for his own Interest to make use of the Enemies of his House and even of his Competitors His Father's Troops went over to him being touched with the name of Caesar and the prodigious Rewards which he promised them The Senate signified nothing any longer All things were done by Force and Souldiers who were at their Service that would give 'em most In that fatal Conjuncture the Triumvirate destroyed all those whom Rome had bred up that were of greatest Courage and most opposite to Tyranny Caesar and Anthony defeated Brutus and Cassius Liberty expired with them The Conquerors after they had got rid of feeble Lepidus made divers Accords and divers Partages where Caesar as being the more Cunning found always the way how to get the better part and so put Rome into his Interests and overtopped him Anthony in vain undertook to relieve himself and the Battle of Actium brought the whole Empire under the Power of Augustus Caesar Rome being weary and exhausted by so many civil Wars to get some Repose was forced to renounce her Liberty The House of the Caesars fixed