wrote in that day the reason of the wrong Judgment of the youngness of Truth then is the same of the same censure of it now the ground hath been declared and the bottom which I thought convenient to take notice of in the entrance of what I have to say as he did in the beginning of what he spake the same being then as it is now and the answer the same with that upon which he grounded that which he said as aforesaid which I have inserted in order as his History began of which he layes this as the ground and bottom and which I quote that such men may see that that which they lay as the ground of their own Principles is no other but the same on which we are grounded who pretend to the Truth and that so they may not be offended with their own Principle when they come to see it in the hand of another or others professing and coming to that which themselves pretend to yet come not at but run on those that both come to and pretend it as is the case of the People called Quakers at this day who are run upon as bringing up some strange and uncouth Doctrine which is no other then what was in the beginning the ground of which was before the World and which when they will lay a bottom for their own work they must come to or no bottom they can lay also that the Controversies may cease and that in this particular it may appear we are not diverse from Christ nor his Apostles nor the holy men of God nor the Principle on which they pretend to build their own Profession which they not holding to come to persecute those who hold it as it was in the beginning The Son of the Bondwoman the Son of the Freewoman for as the Gal. 4 29. Scripture saith as it was then so it is now Also that in this work I may proceed methodically and as it ought taking away all ground of Objections and representing every thing as it is And so I come to that for which I chiefly quoted these Authors and shall in order go as I find the History which by that time I have finished I hope no reasonable or sober man when he hath read and considered all in the Spirit of Truth will have cause to say that either the things are needless or that he mis-spent his time in taking notice of what lies here now to be spoken to or discoursed of This then concerning National Worships and the sufferers by or because The ground of National Worship and the sufferings by them of the not complying with them and how it came that there were such Worships after the decease of the Apostles and so how they came in and on what steps they have stood and do stand at this day that is to say the sufferings by reason of them as I have shewed their Original as to the Jews on the foot of which no National Worship can have Warranty or Ground though upon that foot they have seemed to place their Ground and Warranty as hath been declared National Worship how it came in and what it was as to the Jews and how and when it had its end I have already manifested Spirit and Truth the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus the newness of the Spirit not the oldness of the Letter the Spirit of Truth which leads into all Truth after his Resurrection Ascension put it out that which was in the letter in the outward Administration in Carnal Rites Ordinances and Commandments which were in the Jew the shadows of good things to come but not the very things themselves came to have an end when this promise was fulfilled So the Apostles and Disciples of Jesus Christ testified of which the Scriptures bear Record and for this they suffered â—â—â—m the Jew that stood in the outward Commandment Worship and â—â—ministration the shadow that once was of that good thing which whiles the shadow continued was to come but being come the shadow had an end So the Jew in the flesh persecuted the Jew in the Spirit the Circumcision made with hands the Circumcision made without hands and here began the dispute in that day which hath continued unto this which is the thing I have hitherto treated of and now shall proceed further to demonstrate according to the Histories of the things that have been done since the decease of the Apostles and Disciples of Jesus and what they went through as it is mentioned in the Scriptures And here the Heathens give me the first occasion of drawing the Sufferings by the Heatâ—ens on the foot of National Worship during the dayes of the Apostles bloody Roll of Sufferings at which these Histories at large do make mention At (a) Acts 6. 5. Antioch it was that the Disciples of Jesus were first called Christians a Nickname or term of slander no doubt given or cast upon such by way of reproach or derision or marking out for mischief as the consequence both from the one and the other gives at large to understand The Gentiles or Heathen had their Worships they sacrificed to Devils not to God they were mad upon their Idols Spirit Jeâ— 5. 38. and Truth that was risen from the dead came to root them up as it did put an end to the Administration of the Jew or his National Worship it turned the World upside down which had put it down and crucified it Acts 17. 6. in Jesus and changed the Laws and Customs and said That they were Acts 19 26. 17 6. no gods that were made with bands and overturned the Decrees of Cesar as even in the Apostles dayes they spake of the Disciples of which the Scriptures makes mention Spirit and Truth overturned it The Devil had his false Worships as he hath had ever since he entred into man he made still adoe in the World about his Worship he stirred up Cain to kill his Brother Abel about his Worship he raised up the chief Priests 1 John 3. 12. and Pharisees to put him to death who came to overturn his Worship he set them on against his Disciples when they preached the Resurrection of the dead that risen again that came to put it under And the Devil said John by the Spirit of Prophesie in the Revelation shall cast some of you into Prison Man thinks he should worship God something calls Rev. 2. 10. after man though he is fallen to return to God and worship him who gave him his being The Devil being entred by reason of transgression seeks to deceive man and being in man sets man upon making of Worships and then to destroy all that will not observe what he hath set up as his Worship or would have to be set up as the Worship of God God is from everlasting his Worship is as he is they which stand in his Worship and which Worship from him are
persecutions Hail of a wonderful bigness like unto stones lighted at Constantinople Cap. 10. Great Hail at Constantinople It is rife saith the History in every mans mouth That God sent that great Hail in token of his displeasure against the Emperor for banishing many Priests and Bishops who refused to communicate with Eudoxius the Arrian In Bythinia the year Great Earthquakes in Bythinia following there was a great Earthquake which overthrew the City of Nice it was the twelfth year after the ruine of Nicomedia Immediately after many pieces of Germa a City of Hellespont Also in Hellespont were turned upside down with another Earthquake yet neither Valens the Emperor nor Eudoxius the Arrian Bishop were moved Neither Valens nor Eudoxius consider but turn them otherwise any thing at all nor inclined to Pitty or Reformation but observing no mean furiously raged against all such as held the contrary Faith and Opinion as usually is the disposition of Tyrannical Persecutors These Earthquakes were no otherwise to be taken The Historians observation of the Earthquakes saith the Historian then for manifest tokens of Schism and Division in the Church Yet Basilius Bishop of Cesaria in Cappadocia and Gregorius of a small and mean City bordering upon Cesarea were not exiled their Native Soil which then was looked upon as a great kindness The Persecution being very hot in particulat against the Macedonians Cap. 11. The persecuted Macedonians apply themselves to Rome and they being at their wits end agree together and send certain Bishops viz. Eustathius of Sebastia and others to the Emperors Brother and Liberius Bishop of Rome with a Supplication wherein they conform to the Creed with the Clause of one Substance being charged not to disagree with Liberius This they did because they could not communicate with Eudoxius the Arrian The Emperor Valentinian being then in France in his War against the Sarmatians they delivered their Letter to Liberius who at first refused to give their Letters the Reading telling them they were Arrians and therefore in no wise to be entertained of the Church having abrogated the Nicene Creed To which they answered That his words were true and that it repented them of their folly that they acknowledged the Truth that of late they had condemned the Opinion which affirmeth the Son to be unlike the Father that they confessed the Son in all things and in all respects to be like the Father and that the clause of Likeness differed nothing from the Sence of one Substance and subscribing unto the same in their Supplication aforesaid which they presented he received them into Communion and writing Letters by them sent them away And are received They being returned sent Letters into every City of them that held the Faith of one Substance for an Assembly at Tarsus in Cilicia They desire an Assembly at Tarsus partly to ratifie the Nicene Creed partly to remove all Schism and Contention since that time And the History saith Peradventure it had been done if Eudoxius aforesaid had not withstood it through the great favour he had with the Emperor who was wonderfully incensed at the summoning of them and afterwards diversly Are vexed by Eudoxius vexed them I quote these things all along as the History bears through to The reason of these Quotations the end that in a constant Series and Succession for near the first six hundred years I may shew what I have often laid down as the ground of this my undertaking viz. The Original and Succession of National Faiths or Worships and the consequences of them in every Age throughout the World even what they have produced of tumults and trouble and confusion and destruction and death The Tragical Scenes of every Age bearing nothing more rampant than these Characters throughout every Generation Thus as to the Macedonians dividing from the Arrians Now I shall shew how Eunomius aforesaid went from them also such Eunomius divides from the Arrians as did the Macedonians roulings and tumblings were there in the World amongst men who knowing not that which should stay their minds would yet go to make a definition of God Eunomius having made a long The reason thereof and tedious suit unto Eunomius in the behalf of Aetius his Master Eudoxius would not receive him into their Church which the History saith Eudoxius did not of himself for his own Opinion differed not from Aetius but because of the Faction of Eudoxius which abhorred Aetius as one contrary in Opinion unto them therefore Eunomius withdrew from the Arrians this at Constantinople Cap. 12 Persecution at Alexandria but at Alexandria the Writ that was sent thither by the Governor through the procurement of Eudoxius molesting wonderfully the quiet thereof the consequence of which and fearing lest if any mischief were wrought by the heady and rash motion of the common people it would be laid to his charge Athanasius Athanasius hides himself at Alexandria The people in an uproar The Emperor constrained thereby to let him be there quiet hid himself in his Fathers Closet for the space of four months whereupon the City of Alexandria being all on an uproar the Emperor was constrained to signifie by his Letters to the People of Alexandria that Athanasius should quietly as they wished themselves enjoy the Bishoprick through which it came to pass that they had peace and tranquillity to the death of Athanasius in that which was called the Church of Alexandria When shall I have done with this turmoil and trouble Eudoxius Cap. 13. Eudoxius dies Demophilus put in his place by the Arrians Evagrius by the Nicenians dies In his room Demophilus is placed by the Arrians those of the Faith of one Substance supposing now was their opportunity put in Evagrius whom Eustathius had consecrated Bishop who of old had been Bishop of Antioch and lately called from Exile by Jovianus and now lay hid in Constantinople secretly to confirm those of the Faith of one Substance This being done The Arrians furiously rise in persecution Valens hastens to Constantinople fearing the Consequence the Arrians furiously began to persecute the other Christians which Valens hearing as it came quickly to his ear being at Nicomedia in his way to Antioch from Constantinople he hastned unto Constantinople great powers of armed Souldiers fearing lest the seditious tumults of the vulgar sort should overthrow the City and commanded that both the Consecrator and the Consecrated Banishes the Consecrator and the Consecrated what holiness is here and how is it turned underfoot as occasion presents should be banished one to one place another to another Countrey hereupon Eustathius was exiled into Bizia a City of Thracia and Evagrius was conveyed to another City The Arrians hereupon saith the History crowed exceedingly The Arrians hereupon insult scourge revile imprison merce the other Christians They complain to Valens by eighty of the Priestly Order over the Christians they
long after and Serapion was made Bishop of Dioscorus dies Heraclea a City of Thrace Yet John was not free for a Silver Picture covered with a John in trouble again Inveighs against the Silver Picture of the Empress set up Mantle of Eudoxia the Empress being set upon a Pillar of Red Marble and common Playes and Shews being made thereby John sorely enveighed against the Authors thereof with very nipping taunts The Empress took it to her self and as done to her reproach and therefore procured another Council of Bishops to Another Council is called at Constantinople He preaches against her The Empress on fire John's Enemies his Accusers and Judges be called at Constantinople which he hearing of preached that Sermon which thus began Herodias rageth afresh stomacheth anew danceth again seeketh yet the Head of John in a Platter Which made the Empress mad and set her all on fire the Bishops which were his utter Enemies sate his Accusers the old Crimes are brought forth he trusting to the upright dealings of the Bishops desires that things might indifferently be examined The Emperor sends John word That he would not communicate The Emperor refusâ—s to communicate with John till he had cleared himself with him it being their Feast of the Nativity till be had cleared himself of the Crimes laid to his charge The accusers mistrusting themselves and John building upon the integrity of his Cause the Bishops perceiving this would insist on nothing but his coming into the Church without admission of a Council after he was John is charged deposed and when he made answer That the Canon that required He answers that was not made for their Church but was to be executed where the Arrians did reign for such as assembled at Antioch to root out the Faith of one Substance made that Canon against Athanasius and that he had the confirmation of fifty Bishops that communicated with him They made no account of his Answer nor weighed that those that made that Canon were deposers of Athanasius but They sentence him The Emperor forâ—ids him the Church gave sentence against him And the Emperor sent to him That he had no authority to go into the Church inasmuch as he was deposed and condemned by two Councils so he refrained and He withdraws and those with him those that favoured him did the same and kept Easter in the Common Baths called Constantiana together with many Bishops Priests and other Ecclesiastical Persons who because of their several Conventicles were called Johannites John was never They are called Johannites He is carried to Exile there dies The Church set on fire as â—e was carried away by some Johannites burns the Senators Court The Governor sore plagues the Christians therefore The cause wherefore these things are rehearsed seen abroad for the space of two months till by the Emperors Commandment he was carried into Exile where he died The same day as he was so carried away some called Johannites set the Church on fire which taking on the Senators Court burnt it to Ashes for which Optatus the Governor of Constantinople a Pagan by his Religion and so a sore plaguer of the Christians made them endure heavy punishments and sore penalties I am constrained to mention these things thus at large that once for all I may let the world understand what the forcing of Religion and the strife that comes through the imposition thereof hath produced in the World Many revolutions followed this banishment of John and his Ominous consequences of tâ—e Exile and death of John death and certain other significant things from Heaven which then there were that attributed to this persecution of John as the rotting of Cyrinus his Foot Bishop of Chaldon who was unawares Cap. 17. Cyrinus's foot rotted trod upon by Maruthas Bishop of Mesopotamia when the first Council met there to depose John which the people imputed The imputed cause to his reviling of John and calling of him stubborn Bishop which rotted so as that he was constrained to have it sawn off It is sawn off which he suffered not once but twice and oftner for it ran viz. the putrifaction over his whole Body and fell into his other foot so he was forced to cut off both The falling of great And the other also The greatest Hail that ever was seen falls at Constantinople The Empress dies And the Emperor Hail the likeness of the magnitude of which none had seen before The death of the Empress which followed immediately after his banishment all said by the people to be tokens of God's Wrath because of his banishment yea the death of the Emperor himself who died shortly after the death of John All which are matters for me to speak of as that which the vogue of that Age All attributed to the persecution of John attributed to be significatory as to the displeasure of the Lord as to things that then were transacted and done and which still speaks the consequence of imposing or persecuting because of And speak the consequence of peâ—secution for Religion Religion In the place of John Arsacius was made Bishop of Constantinople Arsacius of 80. years of Age succeeds John who was of the age of about fourscore years in whose time things were very quiet he being said to be of singular modesty and meek behaviour He lived Bishop of that place not very long His good description Dies the year following but in the year following that he was made Bishop he departed this life to pitch upon a successor unto whom proved a difficult kind of work and the contention grew long but at last ended in Atticus of Sebastia in Armenia who was made Bishop of Constantinople Atticus chosen in his place John died in Exile at Comanum scituate on the Sea Euxinus Cap. 19. Arcadius died at Constantinople he reigned together with his Cap. 21. Arcadius dies Anno. 412. His Son Arcadius succeeds Socrat. lib. 7. cap. 1. Father thirteen years and beginning with the one and thirtieth year of his Age he reigned fourteen years after the decease of his Father leaving behind him his Son Theodosius of the Age of eight years who by direction of Anthemius governed the Eastern as Honorius Arcadius his Brother did the Western part of the Roman Empire These times were not free from trouble for men took upon Cap. 3. Contention in Religion grew on Theodosius of Synada Bishop persecutes the Maâ—edonians banishes them the Town and Countrey them in several places to do what they listed in matters of Religion Theodosius Bishop of Synada a City of Phrygia Pacatiana sorely exercised the Macedonian Opinion he banished them not only the Town but also the Countrey which he did neither according to the rule of the Catholick Church neither with zeal of sincere and upright Faith saith the History but for his advantage sake for foul gain and filthy lucre to wring money
gentle and meek easie to be Jam. 3. 17. 2 Tim. 2. 25. entreated with meekness instructing them that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them the knowledge of the Truth It is Spiritual and the Weapons thereof are not Carnal but mighty through the Spirit But that 2 Cor. 10. 4. which stands in the Worship of man or of the Devil or of the Worship of the Devil or man is otherwise It is like that from whence it came which is Carnal and outward and fierce and implacable and destructive in the consequence to those that bow not thereunto which is a demonstration of that from whence it came as pertaking of its nature and being like thereunto This I write to give a little taste of the difference of either that as I go along all may see what things have ruled in the World and what hath been the ground of the troubles that have been therein concerning Religion and that they may know what that Religion is that ends in death and other sufferings and may be convinced how far it is from that which came not to bring death but to deliver from it which seeks the destruction of the spirit that leads aside from God not the man but to redeem and deliver him And here as in a Glass these things may be seen and discovered and with great perspicuity and plainness if men shut not their eyes on purpose and refuse to see though the day-light break in never so bright upon them whose eyes the god of this World hath blinded even the minds of them lest the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who 2 Cor. 4. 4. is the Image of God should shine unto them As the Apostle spake in his day of those to whom his Gospel was hid even to them that were lost it was so plain it was so perspicuous If our Gospel be hid it is to them that are lost in whom the God of this World hath blinded their minds c. as aforesaid 2 Cor. 4. 3. 2 Cor. 4. 3 4. So there I leave this matter and shall proceed to shew what hapned or came to pass after the time of which the Scriptures give testimony being the thing of which I have declared to treat though thus much was necessary to say to bring things down from the beginning to their due order and place and so I shall proceed Sufferings by the Heathen after the days of the Apostles The Roman Emperors were worshippers of Images of Godds their Jurisdictions were large and their Worships they made as large as their Jurisdictions nothing was more against that which was not God than the Name of that or of him which came to redeem from dumb Idols to the Service of the living God and this was Christ Jesus he gave a great start to the Godds made with hands the Inventions of men who had eyes and saw not ears and heard not neither did they understand The Psal 115. 5. Power in which he stood and the Miracles which he wrought were such that drew to him great admiration throughout the World The Romans had jurisdiction over Judea in those dayes and the Regions thereabouts they were an inquisitive and understanding People as men though ignorant of God their Lievtenants Prefects and Governors usually gave them account who had the chief rule of what considerably passed in their Provinces and was most remarkable the mighty things which Jesus did and how he was put to death and rose again went not without its observation and report Pilate under and by whom he suffered Pilates account at the instigation of the Jews being then Governor of Jerusalem who washed his hands and said He would have nothing to do in the death of that just Person though he afterwards delivered Jesus to their wills notwithstanding that he knew that through very envy Jesus was delivered to him having a sence upon him of what Jesus was and of the mighty things he had wrought signified the matter so unto Tiberius who was Anno. 18. to Tiberius Emperor of Jesus occasioned then Emperor that he had him in great Reverence and his Doctrine and declared to the Senate That it pleased him right-well and so would have had him put among the number of their Godds but they received it not because of the decree that was amongst them That no Godd should be consecrated by the Emperor unless it were first agreed upon by the Senate as Eusebius quotes Tertullians words who nevertheless viz. Tiberius Euseb lib. 2. cap. 2. gave not over but persevered in his Opinion of Jesus and his Doctrine â—hreatning them with death that would accuse the Christians The Seâ—ate the liberty of the profession of saith Eusebius of Tertullians words rejected it because they had not allowed the same but he persevered in his Opinion threatning them death that would accuse the Christians And this maketh for us saith Eusebius of Tertullian in his Apology for the Christians that the Deity is weighed amongst you after mans will and judgment unless God please man he is not made God so that saith Tertullian by the Decree man must be favourable Tertul in Apolog advers Gentes cap. 3. and gracious unto God This was the wisdom saith Eusebius of Tiberius his retaining of the sence of Christ and his Doctrine of the Divine Providence lightning his mind that the preaching of the Gospel should pass Christian Religion at the beginning throughout the World So I have given the ground or occasion as to men how the fame of Jesus had its liberty to go through the World which as Eusebius hath observed no doubt was through the Wisdom of God and his mighty Hand that the report of what he was and did from Pilate should bear that weight with Tiberius as to allow a propagation thereof throughout his Dominions which extended very far by reason of which it so came to pass that multitudes were turned from their Idols and worshipped the God which made Heaven and Earth through his Son Jesus Christ Thus got the Name Christian footing in the World and spread it self Which spreading it self over under the whole Heaven as it were of the Roman Empire into Towns Cities Nations Provinces and the Lord was called upon who made Heaven and Earth the Sea and the dry Land of which John speaks and the Earth was replenished with the knowledge of the Lord But in The World occasioned or the Persecution because thereof this state it stood not long but the Enemy as soon as he could wrought off that sound which was of what Jesus was from all the Emperors that succeeded Tiberius and the sence of him and it and got the constitutions of the Roman Empire for the enforcing of the Worship of their Idol become General Godds to take place which gave occasion of infinite sufferings and unheard of Butcheries to be committed on the Christians from the dayes of Nero who succeeded
of new Accusations Churches also he ordained Ministers which gave occasion to the Adversaries to accuse him again that he presumed to make Ministers in other mens Provinces Whilst the Ecclesiastical Affairs went thus very troublesome Cap. 20. The Common wealth reels whilst the Christians totter about Athanasius and the clause of one Substance the quiet estate of the Common Wealth as usually it falls out so to be was not a little out of square Constantine who builded Constantinople dying left his three Sons to succeed him in the Empire of which Constantine the great left three Sons they are divided Constantines Son the younger slain Constantius not forbidding it The Souldiers did it when he had reigned but a little while number Constantine that was called after his Fathers Name was one and reigned together with the rest of the Emperors whom the Souldiers slew after he had reigned but a very little while and as Constantius commanded not he should be slain so again he forbad not the slaughter but how that Constantine the Younger breaking forth into his Brothers Dominions lost his life whilst he fought hand by hand with the Souldiers it hath been shewn before after whose death there arose War between the Persians The Persians War with the Romans The Romans have but ill-favoured success and the Romans where Constantius had but ill-favoured success for the Camp being pitched in the night time about the bounds of the Roman and Persian Dominion the Persian Host seemed then to prevail and for a time to have the upper hand Things being at this point Magnentius the Tyrant became a Rebel in Magnentius turning Rebel produces the death of Constans another Son the West part of the World and through Treason procured the death of Constans the Emperor who governed the West and then aboad in France This being wrought there ensued great Great Wars follow thereupon and grievous Wars Magnentius invaded Italy subdued Africk and Libia and all France Moreover at Sirmium a City of Illirium Bretanion another Tyrant raises War at Sermium there was another Tyrant set up by the Souldiers whose Name was Bretanion At Rome also there was a great stir for Nepotianus Constantines Sisters Son having got him a great Troop Nepotianus at Rome stirs then Magnentius cuts him off subdues the West of Fencers and Sword-players aspired unto the Imperial Scepter but the Captains of Magnentius dispatch't him In a little time Magnentius over-ran and subdued all the West parts of the World Constantius understanding all this and what was befel his Brethren Cap. 21. Constantius makes War with the Tyrants is proclaimed Emperor of the West the fourth year after the Council of Sardice made Title and Challenge to the Dominions of his Brethren and being proclaimed Emperor of the West he maketh expedition to wage War with the Tyrants The Scaene now beginning to change the Adversaries of Athanasius Athanasius hereupon is new charged again supposing they had now gotten a fit opportunity forge again as saith the History heinous offences afresh against him before his coming to Alexandria informing That he perverted all Egypt and Libia Also they charge him with making Ministers in other mens Provinces Athanasius coming to Alexandria calls He calls a Council they decree according to Athanasius The Emperor decrees the contrary divers Councils of the Bishops of Egypt who decreed certain things according to the Council of Sardice and Jerusalem The Emperor being said to be addicted aforetime to the Heresie of Arius wrested all things he had lately decreed to the contrary part and first of all he banished Paulus Bishop of Constantinople He banishes Paulus and is stifled by them that carried him to Exile Basilius put in the room of Marcellus Lucius of Adrianople imprisoned and there choaked with stink aforesaid whom they who carried him to exile stifled at Cucusum a City in Cappadocia Marcellus is expelled Ancyra and Basilius placed in his room Lucius Bishop of Adrianopolis is clapt in Prison and there choaked up with stink but the Relations made to the Emperor against Athanasius so incensed him that he gave forth a Commandment he should be executed where ever he was taken He charged moreover That Theodulus and Olympius Athanasius ordered to be executed Bishops of Thracia should be put to death which threats of the Emperor Athanasius understanding for he was quickly made privy thereunto fled away He flies Macedonius after Paulus was murdered as aforesaid was made Cap. 22. Macedonius put in Paulus room Bishop of Constantinople he had great liberty and access unto the Emperor he made Wars among the Christians nothing inferior to the Tyrannical practises of those times he perswaded The Emperor aids him the Emperor to aid him when as in very deed he procured the overthrow as is said and the destruction of the Churches and Makes Edicts at his Will prevailed that whatsoever he compassed the same forthwith was by a Law confirmed every City sounded of Proclamations the Souldiers were commanded to see the Emperors Edicts take place As many as cleaved unto the Creed containing the clause Orders Souldiers to make them take place The Nicenians cut off from the Church and exiled of one Substance were not only cut off from the Churches but also banished altogether the Cities And first they joyn heads and hands together to bring this to pass But when this Pestilent Infection saith the History had spread it self far and nigh such as had little or no care at all of the Ecclesiastical Affairs determined with themselves to constrain men to their Communion the They constrain to their Communion as the Heathens did the Christians violence saith the History truly was no less than that of old practised towards the Christians when they were compelled and drawn to sacrifice to Idols for many endured several kinds of torments By racking dismembring confiscation exile dâ—â—th often racking and dismembring of their joynts confiscating of their Substance some bereaved of their Native Soyl other some departed this life under the hands of the Tormentor some died in Banishment and never saw their Country again these This throughout the East chiefly at Constantinople All by Macedonius were their practises throughout all the Cities of the East but especially at Constantinople This civil Plague and Persecution aforetime being not so out of measure though the least of it is too much Macedonius did greatly augment as soon as ever he had gotten the Bishoprick but the Cities of Greece Illirium and of the other The West is at rest parts tending toward the West were void of all these tumults and calamities because they agreed within themselves and observed the Canons of the Nicene Council Hear a little further what Athanasius himself writes of what horrible Cap. 23. Athanasius Account of the sufferings at Alexandria by Georgius The Nicenians sought out for Execution Their Church beset with
suffer any kind of torment then deny their Saviour Christ Jesus Others Others Sacrifice saith he counterfeit Christians who thought that the Riches and Honour of this World was true felicity it self without any delay fell to Sacrifice Ecebolius the Sophist of Constantinople was Ecebolius the Sophist turns Cat in the Pan again Falls to Idolatry after Julianus death turns again His Speech in the Church Poâ—ch when he laid himself all along for the passers in to tread upon him one of them who in the dayes of Constantine was an earnest follower of the Christian Faith but when Julian succeeded him he fell to Gentility and the Idolatry of the Pagans after the death of Julian he became a Professor of the Doctrine of Christ again and lying along at the Porch of the Church saith the History cryed to such as came in Tread me underfoot for that I am the unsavoury Salt As a scourge for Julian who undertook these enterprizes for Julians Judgments The Persians invade him the Heathen Godds and against the Christians the Persians invaded some of the Romans Jurisdiction of whom to be revenged he took his Journey into the East through the Coasts of Asia and Raiseth money on the Christians for not Sacrificing to maintaâ—n his Wars Whâ—ch was rigorously exactâ—d considering that many evils and inconvenies attended War and great sums of mony were requisite he set a great fine on the heads of those that would not Sacrifice So that the Christians every one rateably were assessed in a certain sum which was very grievous and duly demanded which Law he made of force not onely where he travelled but also in such Countries where he came not The Heathen hereupon insult over the Christians near so that he wonderfully enriched himself with injurious heaps of money unjustly exacted Then did the Gentiles insult over the Christians the Philosophers celebrated their frequented Conferences they solemnized certain detestable Rites and Ceremonies they made slaughter of Infants sparing no Sex They used Perform their Rites Slay Infants their Intrals for Southsaying they tasted of their tender flesh These detestable practises were both at Athens and Alexandria and elsewhere And because Athanasius was returned to Alexandria Cap. 12. Athanasius returned is falsly accused divers false accusations were raised against him that he had subverted Egypt and the whole City of Alexandria so that of necessity they said unto the Emperor that it behoved him to banish Athanasius out of Alexandria so that by the command of the Emperor the Governor was sorely incensed against him concerning The Emperor incenst which Athanasius is said to utter these words to some of Athanasius prophesies of the shortness of the storm Gets away is pursued but lies hid his Familiars My Friends let us go aside for a season this is but a little Cloud which will quickly vanish away He immediately took shipping and went into Egypt his Adversaries pursued him his Followers perswaded him to fly into the Desart so he escaped them and got privily again into Alexandria where he hid himself till the kindled flame of Persecution was quenched Furthermore The Governors enrich themselves by the Taxes on the Christians the Governors of Provinces thinking it now high time to fill their Bags under colour of Religion vexed the Christians far sorer than the Emperors Proclamation bore them out in demanding greater Taxes then they were rated at and sometimes tormented their Bodies which the Emperor winked at and answered The Emperor winks at it and flouts the Christians with their required patience the Christians when they complained It is your part when you have injuries offered you to take it patiently for so your God commanded you At Maris in Phrygia Amachius the Governor commanded the Cap. 13. A notable attempt of three Christians in Maris in Phrygia on the Idols Temple Idols Temple to be set wide open and to be cleansed and set himself to the worshipping of the Idols which pricked not a little in Conscience saith the History the zealous Christians wherefore Macedonius Theodulus and Tatianus brake in the night season into the Temple threw down their Idols and stamped them into ponder at which when the Governor was exceeding wroth and threatned to execute divers of the Citizens the men aforesaid presented themselves who were the Authors thereof that the They present themselves to death lest the guiltless should die guiltless of that Act might not suffer and chose to die themselves for the Truth The Governour commanded them to clear themselves by Sacrifice threatning severely to punish them if they did it not They set nought by his threats and made themselves ready Endure all kind of torments the Gridiron and are broyled to death to suffer The Governor when he had assayed them with all kind of torments last of all set them on the Gridiron and caused fire to be made under and broiled them to death and to the end that they might gloriously encounter saith the History under the glorious Garland of Victory they reasoned thus with the Governor If thou long O Amachius after broyled meat turn up the Their noble Speech on the Gridiron other side of us lest in the eating we seem raw unto thee and the blood run about thy teeth Onward in his Journey towards the Persians the Emperor proceeded Cap. 15. Julian in his expedition against the Persians is derided at Antioch with his long thrum Beard when he had from the Christians heaped up a great sum of money and came to Antioch where the people derided him with his long thrum beard and bad him make halters thereof when he had for the advantage of his Souldiers put down the rates of the Market so playing upon him which he to be revenged of them for the flouting of his Beard answered in an Oration which He avenges it in an Oration he called Antiochian or Misopogon wherein he defamed the City of Antioch for ever He got him also to the Oracle of Apollo at Daphne a little from Cap. 16. Attends the Oracle of Apollo The Devil would not speak He interprets the cause to the Body of Babilas removes it Antioch But the Devil saith the History whose dwelling was in that Den would give the Emperor no answer The Emperor supposing the cause to be the body of Babylas the Martyr which lay there caused his Tomb to be removed thence with speed The Christians of Antioch hearing of this they assembled together their Men Women and Children they rejoyce and are The Christians rejoyce with Songs Julian is plagued determines to do as had Dioclesian glad and sing Psalms in reproof or derision of the Heathen god and such as worshipped Images which plagued the Emperor who thereby discovered his inward mind determined to torment the Christians as Dioclesian had before but his expedition against the His expedition hinders Orders these Christians punishment Persians
people cry out against them if they reject them not then let us alleage their works and writings and confirm the matters in controversie out of them This was the advice of Sisinius and this was the policy of those The policy of those dayes as to truth dayes as to Truth which not being from a right Principle could neither determine of Truth nor quiet the minds of people concerning it for the determination of Truth as it comes from the Principle of Truth is that only which can answer to the Witness of God and so satisfie Nectarius having received this advice acquaints the Emperor Theodosius receives his Judgment Puts the matter They perceive him not at first the Emperor likes it well and treads the steps thereof he puts the question concerning the Fathers Whether they liked them They not seeing his drift who were of the opposite part answered They highly reverenced them as their Masters He demanded Whether they would be tryed by their Testimonies concerning the true and right Faith Here they were in a puzzle and knew not what Afterwards were stumbled answer to make for they were divided among themselves some held with the Emperor and some affirmed That it was altogether contrary to their mind and purpose So that not only every Opinion was divided from the other but each Opinion among themselves Each Opinion becomes divided amongst themselves as well as one with another The Emperor seeing this and how they builded not upon the Antient Fathers exposition of the Faith but trusted in their Sophistical quirks of Logick for they had brought many Logicians with them he went another way to work and bad He bids each give him by suâ—h a day their Faith in writing every Opinion to take Pen and Ink and lay down in writing what they held and by such a day bring it unto him at the Emperors Pallace They met viz. Nectarius Agelius of the Faith of one Substance They meet The four Opâ—nions and the heads of them under which the whole world was divided Demophilus of the Arrians Eunomius himself in the name of the other Eunomians and Eleusius of Cyzicum for the Macedonians And into these four was the whole World of Christians chiefly divided there being under each of them also several other Opinions as the History makes manifest The Emperor saith the History salutes them friendly next Theodosius receives all friendly Locks his Closet Prayes for direction Tears in pieces all Creeds but the Nicene Approves of that receives every ones writing then he went aside and lock't in himself fell down on his knees and prayed unto God That he would assist him in the choice and revealing of the Truth Last of all having perused every ones Opinion he condemned and tore in pieces all such Creeds as derogated from the Unity of the blessed as the History calls it Trinity and allowed and highly commended that above all the rest the Creed containing the Clause of one Substance This was the cause that the Novations had their The cause why the Novations had Churches with the Nicenians The rest depart pensive yet endeavour by Letters to comfort their people Churches with their priviledges as the rest because to this Creed they leaned the rest though at their departure they went away sorrowful and pensive yet fell they a comforting of their charge by Letters exhorting them not to shrink at all from them because many had left them and were fallen to the Faith of one Substance they being set at naught by reason of their mutual discord and difference yea by the people committed to their charge For many were called but few were chosen Yet these of one Substance were not without molestation for at Antioch they Factions at Antioch again About Flavianus Three Nations to remove him three to keep him in fell into two Factions the Egyptians Arabians and Cyprians held together and thought good to remove Flavianus out of the Bishoprick of Antioch but the Palestinians Phoenicians and Syrians took his part Thus this Council ended which I have the rather been particular The end of the Council The cause of bringing these instances in because it s of great consequence as to what I have further to produce as to the effects thereof and what followed thereupon in the World as well as to shew what Policies have been used in matters of Religions and how that Religion hath been built thereupon Thus fared it at Constantinople In the Western part of the Empire Cap. 11. Persecution in the West by Justina which hitherto had generally been more free from Persecution there arose Persecution Justina the Mother of Valentinianus the Younger whilst her Husband lived could effect nothing of this matter but he being dead she removed to Millain and her Son being of tender years she raised tumults being of the Opinion of Arius against Ambrose so that in the end he Ambrose ordered to Exile by the Arrians The people resist Gratian is murdred The news stops Justina's persecution was exiled which when the people withstood and hindred their force that came to carry him to exile news came that Gratian was murthered by the wiles and slights of Maximus which cooled the heat of Justina against Ambrose So the Lord that looketh down from Heaven and beholds the doings of the Children of men puts stops to their rage and reproves it as he sees good Andragathius Maximus his Captain hiding himself in a Chariot The conspiracy by which Gratian was murdered in the form of a Litter born with Mules went to meet with Gratian giving in charge to them that conducted it That it was the Empress who came to meet the Emperor he passed over Rhodanus River that runs by Lyons in France The Emperor suspecting nothing went to the Litter out of which Andragathius lighted and killed him presently So Valentinianus was constrained to receive Maximus who being a Brittain thus conspired Designed by Maximuâ— his fellow Emperor Executed by Andragathius Probus hasts to Illyrium for fear of Maximus with Valentines Army Cap. 12 Theodosius troubled who gave trouble to the World Gathers a great Army and had slain Gratian his fellow Emperor But Probus who had governed prudently during the nonage of Valentinianus fearing Maximus power left Italy and hastned to Illyrium making his abode at Thessalonica a City in Macedonia Now found Theodosius trouble who began to trouble the World about Religion he was wonderfully sorry and gathered a great power to go against Maximus fearing lest he should conspire the death of Valentinianus also At the same time Legates came from Persia to conclude a Peace between them and Honorius was born to him by Placilla the Empress So Theodosius leaving his Son Arcadius at Constantinople marched towards Maximus to give him Battel When he came to Thessalonica he found Valentinianus's Comes to Thessalonica finds Valentines Army discouraged because they had proclaimed Maximus He neither
the one Divine the other Humane And the new patched Faith of him those with him And the Isaurians by flatteries and fallacies they got to their sides and patched together a form of Faith wherein they accursed both the Council and such as esteemed there were two Natures in Christ And in the end divided themselves from Flavianus Their horrible division and Macedonius and joyned with them who had subscribed to their patched Faith The Bishop of Jerusalem in the mean time they requested to lay down his Faith in writing which he did and sent it by the faction of Dioscorus to the Emperor and this It s sent to the Emperor Faith at last they brought forth accursing those that said he had two Natures but it seems they had corrupted his form of Faith Complained of to be corrupted Another is wrote The Books and Writings of the Fathers corrupted for he charged them therewith and wrote another wherein there is no such accurse it seems they oft-times corrupted the Books and Writings of the Fathers by changing their Titles and Inscriptions and fathering of many of the works of others upon them They craved of Macedonius to see his Belief in writing Macedonius's belief who protested that he onely allowed the Faith published of old at Nice by 318. Fathers and afterwards ratified at Constantinople accursing Nestorius Eutyches with such as said there were two Sons or two Christs or divided the Natures yet spake he not a word of the Ephesian Council which deposed Nestorius neither of the Chalcedon Council which deprived Entyches therefore the Monks at Constantinople were wonderfully moved at this and divided The Monks divide from him The intollerable behaviour of Xenaias and Dioscorus themselves from Macedonius All this while Xenaias and Dioscorus having linked to their sides many other Bishops behaved themselves intollerably towards such as would not accurse whom they would have accursed insomuch that they procured divers because they would not yeeld unto them to be banished Many by them banished viz. Macedonius John Flavianus Thus they made Macedonius John Bishop of Platum and Flavianus to leave the Countrey In these things I have been the more particular because they The end wherefore these divisions are mentioned are so significant to the matter I have in hand which is once for all as I have said to draw a line over all professions of Faith and imposing of Religion as that which hath produced the saddest Scenes of Murder and Division as hath been yet in the World and which I mean to close up with that which appertains thereunto viz. Judgment and Destruction Therefore I would have none to be offended with me for a necessity lies upon me thus to bring these things into the World That which gave Anastatius the secret displeasure was this Cap. 32. The ground of Anastatius's displeasure with Macedonius Ariadne intending to put the Imperial Robe on Anastatius after the death of Zeno Macedonius would in no wise assent unto his Coronation unless he would give it under his hand and confirm it with an Oath that he would maintain the true Faith and bring no novelty into the Church which he gave Macedonius to keep for Anastatius was suspected to be a Manichee Anastatius taking it as a great disreputation to the Empire that his hand should be kept to testifie against him called for it Macedonius denyed him saying That it should never be said of him viz. Macedonius that he betrayed the Faith Therefore Anastatius sought to And wherefore at first he carried it so indifferently in matters of Religion work him mischief as there was opportunity and the aforesaid was the reason why Anastatius carried it so indifferently at first in matters of Religion This as to Mâ—cedonius and what gave the occasion of working him out of the Bishoprick of Constantinople As for Flavianus the Monks of Cynegica which inhabited the chiefest Countries of Syria being perswaded by Xanaias a Bishop of Hierapolis bordering upon Antioch aforesaid sirnamed Philoxenus after the Grecians came all on head to Antioch having made an Insurrection with resolution to force Flavianus to curse the Council of Chalcedon and Leo's Decree of the Faith which Flavianus taking very grievously the Monks urging him with violence the Citizens Many of the Monks slain at Antioch because of the things aforesaid and thrown into the River made such a slaughter of the Monks that very many of them instead of quiet Grave and Earth were covered with the swift Waves of the River Orontes whereinto they were cast On the other side the Monks that inhabited Coelosyria now called The Monks on the other side came to assist Flavianus Are slaughtered He is banished Syria Minor came to Antioch to assist Flavianus which proved of mischievous consequence and in the end no less lamentable than the former whether for the former or the later slaughter and calamity or for both the History determines not but banished he was the Province to inhabit the craggy Desarts in the farthest part of Palestina Severus succeeds Flavianus and a great bustle there is about Cap. 33. Severus and the bustle about him him from him fell the Province of Apamia and Cosmos Bishop of Epiphania and Severianus Bishop of Arethusa first divided themselves from his Communion then sent him a Libel of Deprivation A Sentence of Deprivation sent to him by a Deacon in a disguise which to him was delivered by a Deacon in the disguise of a Woman faining both Voice and Apparel Of which Anastatius hearing and considering their practises charged Asiaticus The Emperor charges hereupon Asiaticus to remove Cosmos and Severianus Lieutenant of Libaeesa in Phoenicia to remove Cosmos and Severianus from their Bishopricks because of the Libel of Deprivation But Asiaticus perceiving that without slaughter and bloodshed it could not be accomplished because the people stood to He durst not do it because of the people Certifies the Emperor them and manfully defended their Walls he certified the Emperor thereof who returned him in answer That he would have The Emperors gentle Answer for avoding the effusion of blood Severus held in whilst Anastatius reigned His name blotted by some out of the Sacred Catalogue no enterprize taken in hand were it never so noble and worthy if it did cost him as much as one drop of blood He kept Severus in his place whilst he held the Scepter and had tenderness as aforesaid yet some blotted him out of the Sacred Catalogue as it was called as an Enemy to the Council of Chalcedon for he was accursed at Jerusalem Thus much as to the Affairs Ecclesiastical As to the Civil Longinus Zeno's Brother after his coming Cap. 35. Civil Troubles Longinus raises War against Anastatius in Isauria The Bishops of Apamia assist him into Isauria his Native Soyl of which I have spoken practised against Anastatius and made preparation to