more unquestionable credit and ancient date tell us that he was S. Johns Disciple and not his onely but as d Adv. â—eres l. 3. c. 3. p. 233. ap Eusth l. 4. c. 14. p. 127. Irenaeus who was his Scholar followed herein by S. Hierom assures us he was taught by the Apostles and familiarly conversed with many who had seen our Lord in the Flesh II. BVCOLVS the vigilant and industrious Bishop of Smyrna being dead by whom S. Polycarp was as we are e Pion. c. 3. n. 12. ubi supr told made Deacon and Catechist of that Church an Office which he discharged with great diligence and success Polycarp was ordained in his room according to Bucolus his own prediction who as the f Men. 23. Febr. â—hi sâ—pr Greeks report had in his life time fortold that he should be his Successor He was constituted by S. John say the g Tirtull de praescript Haeretic c. 32. p. 213. Hieron ubi â—apr vid. Suid. in vo◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 l. 3. c. 2 p. 225. Mâ—â—yr Rom. ad 20. Jan p. â—1 Ancients generally though h 〈…〉 citat Irenaeus followed herein by the i Olâ—â—p CCXXIV. 1. Anton. XXI p. 602. Chronicle of Alexandria affirms it to have been done by the Apostles whether any of the Apostles besides S. John were then alive or whether he means Apostolic persons commonly stiled Apostles in the Writings of the Church who joined with S. John in the consecration k H. Eccl. l. 3. c. 36. p 1â—6 Eusebius says that Polycarp was familiarly conversant with the Apostles and received the Government of the Church of Smyrna from those who had been Eye-witnesses and Ministers of our Lord. It makes not a little for the honour of S. Polycarp and argues his mighty diligence and solicitude for the good of souls that as we shall note more anon Ignatius passing to his Martyrdom wrote to him and particularly recommended to him the inspection and oversight of his Church at Antioch knowing him says l Ib. p. 1â—â— Eusebius to be truly an Apostolical man and being assured that he would use his utmost care and fidelity in that matter The m Ad. Ann. 1. Olynpiad CCXX Indi â— XIII ann Tray 4. p. 594. Author of the Alexandrian Chronicle tells us that it was the Bishop of Smyrna who could not well be any other then S. Polycarp to whom S. John committed the tutorage and education of the young man whom he took up in his Visitation who ran away and became Captain of a Company of loose and debauched High-way men and was afterwards reduced and reclaimed by that Apostle But seeing Clemens Alexandrinus who relates the Story sets down neither the name of the Bishop nor the City though he a Ap. Eusebd 3. c. 23 p. 92. confesses there were some that made mention of it nor is this circumstance taken notice of by any other ancient Writer nor that Bishops neglecting of his charge well consistent with S. Polycarps care and industry I shall leave the Story as I find it Though it cannot be denied but that Smyrna was near to Ephesus as S. Clemens says that City also was and that S. John seems to have had a more then ordinary regard to that Church it being next Ephesus the first of those seven famous Asian Churches to whom he directed his Epistles and S. Polycarp at this time Bishop of it for that he was that Angel of the Church of Smyrna to whom that Apocalyptical Epistle was sent is not onely highly probable but by a b Usser Prolegom ad Ignat. Epist c. 2. p. 9. learned man put past all question I must confess that the character and circumstances ascribed by S. John to the Angel of that Church seem very exactly to agree with Polycarp and with no other Bishop of that Church about those times especially that we read of in the History of the Church And whoever compares the account of S. Polycarps Martyrdom with the notices and intimations which the Apocalypst there gives of that persons sufferings and death will find the prophecy and the event suit together That which may seem to make most against it is the long time of his presidency over that See seeing by this account he must sit at least LXXIV years Bishop of that Church from the latter end of Domitians reign when the Apocalyps was written to the Persecution under M. Aurelius when he suffered To which no other solution needs be given then that his great nay extreme Age at the time of his death renders it not at all improbable especially when we find several Ages after that Remigius Bishop of Rhemes sate LXXIV years Bishop of that place III. IT was not many years after S. Johns death when the Persecution under Trajan began to be reinforced wherein the Eastern parts had a very large share Ann. Chr. CVII Ignatius was condemned by the Emperour at Antioch and sentenced to be transported to Rome in order to his execution In his voyage thither he put in at Smyrna to salute and converse with Polycarp these holy men mutually comforting and encouraging each other and conferring together about the affairs of the Church From Smyrna Ignatius and his company sailed to Troas whence he sent back an Epistle to the Church of Smyrna wherein he endeavours to fortifie them against the errours of the Times which had crept in amongst them especially against those who undermined our Lords humanity and denied his coming in the Flesh affirming him to have suffered onely in an imaginary and phantastic body An opinion which as it deserved he severely censures and strongly refutes He further presses them to a due observance and regard of their Bishop and those spiritual Guides and Ministers which under him were set over them and that they would dispatch a messenger on purpose to the Church of Antioch to congratulate that peace and tranquillity which then began to be restored to them Besides this he wrote particularly to S. Polycarp whom he knew to be a man of an Apostolic temper a person of singular faithfulness and integrity recommending to him the care and superintendency of his disconsolate Church of Antioch In the Epistle it self as extant at this day there are many short and useful rules and precepts of life especially such as concern the Pastoral and Episcopal Office And here again he renews his request concerning Antioch that a messenger might be sent from Smyrna to that Church and that S. Polycarp would write to other Churches to do the like a thing which he would have done himself had not his hasty departure from Troas prevented him And more then this we find not concerning Polycarp for many years after till some unhappy differences in the Church brought him upon the public Stage IV. IT happened that the Quartodeciman controversie about the observation of Easter began to grow very high between the Eastern and Western Churches each standing very
endure torments for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ and be saved For this is that which will promote our happiness and procure us confidence before that dreadful Tribunal of our Lord and Saviour before which by the divine appointment the whole World must appear To which the rest assented adding Dispatch quickly what thou hast a mind to for we are Christians and cannot sacrifice to Idols Whereupon the Governour pronounced this sentence They who refuse to do sacrifice to the gods and to obey the Imperial Edict let them be first scourged and then beheaded according to the Laws The holy Martyrs rejoiced and blessed God for the sentence passed upon them and being led back to prison were accordingly whipped and afterwards beheaded The a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greeks in their Rituals though very briefly give the same account onely they differ in the manner of the Martyrs death Men. Graecor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which they tell us was by a draught of poyson while the rest of his companions lost their heads Though there are that by that fatal potion understand no more then the poysonous malice and envy of Crescens the Philosopher by which Justin's death was procured And indeed if literally taken the account of the Greeks in that place will not be very consistent with it self Their dead bodies the Christians took up and decently interred This was done as Baronius conjectures Ann. Chr. CLXV with whom seems to concur the b Ad ann 2. Olymp. 236. M. Aurel. L. Ver. Imp. 6. Indict 3. p 606. Alexandrine Chronicle which says that Justin having presented his second Apology to the Emperours was not long after crowned with Martyrdom This is all the certainty that can be recovered concerning the time of his death the date of it not being consigned by any other ancient Writer 'T is a vast mistake or rather errour of Transcribers of c Haeres XLVI p. 171. Epiphanius who makes him suffer under Adrian when yet he could not be ignorant that he dedicated his first Apology to Antoninus Pius his successor in the close whereof he makes mention of Adrian his illustrious Parent and predecessor and annexes the Letter which he had written to Minucius Fundanus in favour of the Christians and no less his mistake if it was not an errour in the number concerning his age making him but thirty years old at the time of his death a thing no ways consistent with the course of his life and for what he adds of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he died in a firm and consistent age it may be very well applied to many years after that period of his life XVII THUS have we traced the Martyr through the several stages of his life and brought him to his last fatal period And now let us view him a little nearer He was a man of a pious mind and a very vertuous life tenderly sensible of the honour of God and the great interests of Religion He was not elated nor valued himself upon the account of his great abilities but upon every occasion intirely resolved the glory of all into the divine grace and goodness He had a true love to all men and a mighty concern for the good of souls whose happiness he continually prayed for and promoted yea that of their fiercest Enemies From none did he and his Religion receive more bitter affronts and oppositions then from the Jews yet he tells a Dial. cum Tryph. p. 254. Tryphon that they heartily prayed for them and all other Persecutors that they might repent and ceasing to blaspheme Christ might believe in him and be saved from eternal vengeance at his glorious appearing b Ibid. pag. 323 that though they were wont solemnly to curse them in their Synagogues and to join with any that would persecute them to death yet they returned no other answer then that You are our Brethren we beseech you own and embrace the truth of God And in his c Apolog. I. p. 52 Apology to the Emperour and the Senate he thus concludes I have no more to say but that we shall endeavour what in us lies and heartily pray that all men in the World may be blessed with the knowledge and entertainment of the truth In the pursuit of this noble and generous design he feared no dangers but delivered himself with the greatest freedom and impartiality he acquaints the d Apol. II. p. 53. Emperours how much 't was their duty to honour and esteem the truth that he came not to smooth and flatter them but to desire them to pass sentence according to the exactest rules of Justice e Ibid. p. 54. that it was their place and infinitely reasonable when they had heard the cause to discharge the duty of righteous Judges which if they did not they would at length be found inexcusable before God f Ibid. p. 99. nay that if they went on to punish and persecute such innocent persons he tells them before hand 't was impossible they should escape the future judgment of God while they persisted in this evil and unrighteous course In this case he regarded not the persons of men nor was scared with the dangers that attended it and therefore in his conference with the Jew tells g Dial. cum Pyph p. 349. him that he regarded nothing but to speak the truth not caring whom in this matter he disobliged yea though they should presently tear him all in pieces neither fearing nor favouring his own Countrymen the Samaritans whom he had accused in his Apology to the Emperour for being so much bewitched and seduced with the impostures of Simon Magus whom they cried up as a supreme deity above all principality and power XVIII FOR his natural endowments he was a man of acute parts a smart and pleasant wit a judgment able to weigh the differences of things and to adapt and accommodate them to the most useful purposes all which were mightily improved and accomplished by the advantages of Foreign Studies being both in the Christian and Ethnic Philosophy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 says h Col. CXXV c. l. 304. Photius arrived at the very heighth flowing with abundance of History and all sorts of Learning In one thing indeed he seems to have come short and wherein the first Fathers were generally defective skill in the Hebrew and other Eastern Languages as appears to omit others by one instance his derivation of the word Satanas Sata as he tells * Dialog cum Tryph. p. 331. us in the Hebrew and the Syriac signifying an Apostate and Nas the same with the Hebrew Sata out of the composition of both which arises this one word Satanas A trifling conceit and the less to be pardoned in one that was born and lived among the Samaritans and the Jews every one that has but conversed with those Languages at a distance knowing it to spring from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be an adversary
his Arts and Engins singling him out above all others of that time to make him the object of his utmost rage and fury He was cast into the bottom of a loathsom and uncomfortable dungeon loaded with irons a chain about his neck his feet set in the Stocks with his legs stretched four holes distant from each other many days together he was threatned with fire and tried with all the torments that a merciless enemy could inflict Which meeting with a person of his age and a body broken with such and so many cares and labours must needs render it a very heavy burden And yet he bore all with a generous patience and was ready to submit to the last fatal stroke but that the Judge to give all possible accents to his misery ordered them so to torment him that they should not kill him XXIII HUMANE Councils and resolutions when most active and violent yet he that is higher then the highest can over-rule them and there be that are higher then they His enemies had hitherto exercised him onely with preparatory cruelties reserving him for a more solemn execution But God to whom belongs the issues from death prevented their malice and made way for him to escape which in all probability was effected by the death of Decius who was cut off when he had reigned two years and an half Being delivered out of prison a Euseb ibid. p. 235. he improved his time to pious purposes comforting the weak and the disconsolate and writing Letters to that end up and down the World Some few years he out-lived the Decian Persecution and died at Tyre about the first year of Valerian Indeed Eusebius intimates that he departed this life about the beginning of Gallus his reign But I cannot see how that can stand for seeing elsewhere he positively affirms that he was seventeen years old at the time of his Fathers Martyrdom Ann. CCII. his death must happen the first of Valerian Ann. Chr. CCLIV which falls in with the sixty nineth year of his age in which Eusebius tells us he left this World Otherwise he could not be more then LXVII years old whereas none make him less then LXIX Pamphilus b Apud Phot. Cod. CXVIII col 297. the Martyr and some others from the relation of those that had seen him report that an honourable Martyrdom put a period to his life when Decius raised the Persecution at Caesarea But besides that c De pond mensur p. 539. Epiphanius expresly denies that he died a Martyr others as Photius adds and among them Eusebius d Lib. 7. c. 1. p. 250. and S. Hierom e De script in Origen tell us that he continued till the time of Gallus and Volusian and being sixty nine years old died and was buried at Tyre Which as he observes must needs be so seeing he wrote many Epistles after the Decian Persecution And probable it is that Pamphilus meant it or at least his mistake thence arose of that great and glorious confession a preparatory Martyrdom which he made under the reign of Decius which he survived two or three years peaceably ending his days at Tyre where his body found a place of rest and where in a great Church dedicated to the memory of our Saviours Sepulchre behind the high Altar his Remains were laid up as the tradition f Cotovic itiner l. 1. c. 19. p. 121. of the last Age informs us Nay long before that Brocard g Descript Terr S. c. 2. the Monk tells us that when he was there he saw his Tomb and read his Epitaph and before both h Guiliel Tyr. H sacr l. 13. non longe ab init vid etiam Aâ—â— icom â—eatr Terr S. in Trib. Aser n. 84. in 〈◊〉 William who was himself Archbishop of Tyre reckons Origen's Tomb among the Monuments and venerable Antiquities of that City his marble Monument being adorned with Gold and precious Stones XXIV HAVING thus brought this great man to his Grave let us a little look back upon him and we shall find him a more then ordinary person His life was truly strict and philosophical a Euseb l. 6. c. 3. p. 205. and an admirable instance of discipline and vertue such as his discourses were such were his manners and his life the image of his mind that wise and good man whom he was wont to describe in his Lectures to his Scholars as one b Greg. Naeocaesar Orat. Panegyr in Origâ— p. 205. of the most eminent of them assure us he himself had first formd and drawn in the example of his own life He had a mighty regard to the glory of God and the good of souls whose happiness he studied by all ways to promote and thought nothing hard nothing mean or servile that might advance it He was modest and humble chast and temperate so exemplary his abstinence and sobriety that he lived upon what was next door to nothing for many years c Euseb ib. p. 206. abstaining from Wine and every thing but what was absolutely necessary for the support of life till by too much abstinence he had almost ruined his health and endangered the weakning of Nature past recovery Singular his contempt of the World literally making good that precept of our Lord to his Disciples not to have two Cloaks to provide no Shoes nor to be anxiously careful for to morrow When many out of consideration of his unwearied diligence would have communicated part of what they had towards his necessities he would not but rather then be needlesly burdensom to any sold his Library agreeing with the buyer to allow him four oboli or five pence for his daily maintenance His diligence in study in preaching writing travelling confuting Heathens and Heretics composing schisms and differences in the Church was indefatigable upon which account the titles of Adamantius and Chalcenterus are supposed by the Ancients to have been given to him nothing but an industry of Brass and Iron being able to hold out under such infinite labours The day he spent part in fasting part in other religious exercises and imployments the night he bestowed upon the study of the Scripture reserving some little portion for sleep and rest which he usually took not in bed but upon the bare ground This admirably exercised and advanced his patience which he improved by further austerities fasting and enduring cold and nakedness studying standing and for many years together going barefoot remitting nothing of his rigours and hardships notwithstanding all the counsels and persuasions of his friends who were troubled at the excessive severities of his life Whereby notwithstanding he gained upon men and converted many of the Gentile Philosophers famous for learning and Philosophy not onely to the admiration but imitation of himself XXV VIEW him in his natural parts and acquired abilities and he had a quick piercing apprehension a strong and faithful memory an acute judgment a ready utterance All which were adorned and
l. 6. c. 29. p. 229. Hieron d. Sâ—ipt in Diâ—ny Origen the great Master at that time at Alexandria famous both for Philosophic and Christian Lectures after which he is said by some d Anastas Sirait 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 22. p. 341. Maxim Schol. in c. 5 de Coelest Hiâ—â—raâ—â—h p. 24. 〈◊〉 2. to have publicly professed Rhetoric and Eloquence as indeed there seems a more peculiar vein of Fansie and Rhetoric to run through those fragments of his Discourses which do yet remain But I can scarce believe that the Dionysius mentioned by Anastasius and Maximus and by them said of a Rhetorician to be made Bishop of Alexandria to have been the same with ours were it for no other reason then that he is said to have written Scholia on the Works of S. Denys the Areopagite which we are well assured had no being in the World till many years after his time Ann. CCXXXII Demetrius Bishop of Alexandria being dead Heraclas one of Origen's Scholars and his successor in the Catechetic School succeeded in his room upon whose preferment Dionysius then Presbyter of that Church was advanced to his place Wherein he discharged himself with so much care and diligence such universal applause and satisfaction that upon Heraclas his death who sate fifteen or sixteen years none was thought so fit to be again his successor as Dionysius who accordingly entred upon that See a Euseb ib. c. 35. p. 232. Ann. CCXLVI though Eusebius his Chronicon places it two years after Philippi Imp. Ann. V. expresly contrary to his History where he assigns the third year of that Emperour for the time of his consecration to that place II. THE first years of his Episcopal charge were calm and peaceable till Decius succeeding in the Empire Ann. CCXLIX turned all into hurry and combustion persecuting the Christians with the utmost violence whereof the Church of Alexandria had a heavy portion Indeed the Persecution there had begun b Ep. ejus ad Fab. ibid. c. 41. p. 236. a year before while Philip the Emperour was yet alive upon this occasion A certain Gentile Priest or Poet led the Dance exciting the People of that place naturally prone to superstition to revenge the quarrel of their gods The multitude once raised ran on with an uncontrolable fury accounting cruelty to the Christians the onely instance of piety to their gods Immediately they lay hands upon one Metras an aged man who refusing to blaspheme his Saviour they beat him with clubs pricked him in the face and eyes with sharp Reeds and afterwards leading him into the Suburbs stoned him The next they seized on was a Woman called Quinta whom they carried to the Temple where having refused to worship the Idol she was dragged by the feet through the streets of the City over the sharp flints dashed against great stones scourged with whips and in the same place dispatched by the same death Apollonia an ancient Virgin being apprehended had all her teeth dashed out and was threatned to be burnt alive who onely begging a little respite of her own accord chearfully leapt into the flames Incredible it is but that the case is evident from more instances then one with how fond a veneration the Church of Rome celebrates the memory of this Martyr c Vid. Boâ—and de vit SS ad Febr. IX They infinitely extol her for the nobility of her Birth the eminent piety and vertues of her Life her chastity humility frequent fastings fervent devotions c. though not one syllable of all this mentioned by any ancient Writer bring in a voice from Heaven stiling her the Spouse of Christ and telling her that God had granted her what she had asked They make her the tutelar Goddess or Guardian of all that are troubled with the tooth or headach and in many solemn Offices of that Church pray that at her intercession God would cure them of those pains nay formally address their prayers to her that she would intercede with God for them on that behalf and by her Passion obtain for them they are the very words of the Prayer the remission of all the sins which with teeth and mouth they had committed through gluttony and speaking Innumerable are the miracles reported of her and to me it seems a miracle and to exceed all the rest were it true what is related of the vast number of her teeth For besides those which are preserved among the Reliques of foreign Churches which are not a few we are * Vid. Chemnit exam Concil Trid. Part. IV. de reliq SS p. 13. col 1. told that when King Edward then afflicted with the Tooth-ach commanded that all S. Apollonia's teeth in the Kingdom should be sought out and sent him so many were brought in that several great Tuns could not hold them It seems they were resolved to make her ample amends for those few teeth she lost at the time of her Martyrdom But it is time to return to the Alexandrian Persecution where they every where broke open the Christians houses taking away the best of their goods and burning what was not worth the carrying away A Christian could not stir out day or night but they presently cried out Away with him to the fire In which manner they continued till quarrelling among themselves they fell foul upon one another and gave the Christians a little breathing time from the pursuits of their malice and inhumanity III. IN this posture stood affairs when Decius having usurped the Empire routed and killed his Master Philip his Edict arrived at Alexandria which gave new life to their rage and cruelty And now they fall on afresh and persons of all ages qualities and professions are accused summoned dragged tortured and executed with all imaginable severity multitudes of whom a Ibid. p. 238. Dionysius particularly reckons up together with the manner of their martyrdom and execution Vast numbers b Ib. c. 42. p. 240 that fled for shelter to the Woods and Mountains met with a worse death abroad then that which they sought to avoid at home being famished with hunger and thirst starved with cold over-run with diseases surprized by thieves or worried by wild beasts and many taken by the Arabs and barbarous Saracens who reduced them into a state of slavery more miserable then death it self In this evil time though many revolted from the Faith yet others maintained their station with a firm and unshaken courage and several who till that moment had been strangers and enemies to the Christian Religion on a sudden came in and publicly professed themselves Christians in open defiance of those immediate dangers that attended it Whereof one instance may suffice One who was thought to be a Christian and ready to renounce his Religion being led into the place of Judicature Ammon Zeno and the rest of the military Guard that stood at the door derided him as he was going in gnashing upon him with their teeth and
II. The Second Persecution  91  10 M. Ulpius Trajanus * This Cletus is by the Greeks and that with greatest probability made the same with Anaeletus which breeds a great difference in their account of years But because the account of the Greeks is not so clear and smooth we have chosen in assigning the times of the Bishops of Rome to follow the Writers of that Church Cletus Bishop of Rome martyred this if not rather the foregoing year April 26. he is succeeded by Clemens May 16.  11 M. Acilius Glabrio  92  11 Imp. Domitianus XVI About this time S. John is supposed to be sent by the Proconsul of Asia to Rome and by Domitian to have been put into a Vessel of hot oil and then banished into Patmos  12 A. Volusius Saturninius II.  93  12 Sex Pompeius Collega  13 Cornelius Priscus  94  13 L. Nonius Asprenas Torquatus S. John writes his Book of Revelations  14 M. Arricinius Celemens Jewish Antiquities  95  14 Imp. Domitianus XVII Fl. Clemens Domitians Cousin-german and Consul with him this year put to death for being a Christian His Wife Fl. Domitilla Domitians Neece banished for the same cause  15 T. Flavius Clemens Mart.  96 Nerva à 18. Sept. 15 C. Fulvius Valens Nerva revoking the Acts of Domitian S. John is released of his banishment and returns to Ephesus  16   1 C. Antistius Vertus  97  1 Coc. Nerva Imp. III. S. John this year probably after solemn preparation writes his Gospel at the earnest request of the Asian Churches T. Virginius Rufus III.  2 Suff. C. Cornelius Tacitus historicus  98 Trajan à Jan 27. 2 Imp. Nerva IV. Avilius dying Cerdo succeeds in the See of Alexandria  1 M. Ulpius Trajanus II. S. Clemens Bishop of Rome is banished and condemned to the Marble Quarries in the Taurica Chersonesus  99  1 C. Sosius Senecio II.  2 A. Cornelius Palma  100  2 Imp. Trajanus III. S. John dies and is buried at Ephesus  M. Cornelius Fronto III.   3 Suff. Plinius junior S. Clemens of Rome is thrown into the Sea with an anchor tied about his neck November 9. having been sole Bishop of Rome 9 years 11 moneths and 12 days  101  3 Imp. Trajanus IV. Anacletus according to the computation of the Church of Rome succeeds in that See April 3.  4 Sex Articuleius Paetus  102  4 C. Sosius Senecio III.  5 L. Licinius Sura  103  5 Imp. Trajanus V. Elxai a false Prophet Author of a new Sect arises Epiph. Haeres 19.  6 L. Appius Maximus  104  6 L. Licinius Sura II.  7 P. Neratius Marcellus  105 Trajani 7 T. Julius Candidus Barsimaeus Bishop of Edessa suffers Martyrdom others Place it Ann. 109.  8 A. Julius Quadratus  106  8 L. Ceionius Commodus Verus The Greek Menology mentions 11000 Christian Souldiers banished by Trajan into Armenia and that 10000 of them were crucified upon Mount Ararat  9 L. Tullius Cerealis  107  9 C. Sosius Senecio IV. The Third Persecution wherein Simeon Bishop of Jerusalem is crucified in the 120 year of his age   10 L. Licinius Sura III. Ignatius Bishop of Antioch condemned and sent to Rome to be thrown to wild Beasts  108  10 Ap. Annius Trebonius Gallus Ignatius his bones are conveyed back to Antioch and there solemnly interred  11 M. Atilius Bradua  109  11 A. Cornel. Palma II. Onesimus S. Paul's Disciple whom the Martyrologies make Bishop of Ephesus stoned at Rome Feb. 16.  12 C. Calvisius Tullus II. Primus made Bishop of Alexandria  110  12 Clodius Crispinusâ— Euaristus succeeds Anacletus Bishop of Rome though the Greeks who make Cletus and Anacletus the same Person make him immediately to follow Clemens  13 Solenus Orfitus Hasta  111  13 L. Calpurnius Piso Justus dying Zacchaeus succeeds in the See of Jerusalem  14 Vettius Rusticus Bolanus  112  14 Imp. Trajanus VI.  15 C. Julius Africanus  113 Trajani 15 L. Publius Celsus  16 C. Clodius Crispinus  114  16 Q. Ninnius Hasta  17 P. Manlius Vopiscus  115  17 M. Valerius Messala vel ut al. Adrianus Salinator The Jews at Alexandria and about Cyrene in Egypt rebel who are slain in great numbers  18 C. Popilius Carus Pedo  116  18 Aemilius Aelianus Papias Bishop of Hierapolis sets on foot the Millenarian Doctrin 19 L. Antistius Vetus 117 Adrianê° ab Aug. 9. 19 Quinctius Niger  20   1 T. Vipsanius Apronianus  118  1 Imp. Adrianus II. The Fourth Persecution raised against the Christians reinforcing that which had been set on foot by Trajan 2 T. Claudius Fuscus  119  2 Imp. Adrianus III. Pope Evaristus martyred He sate 9 years 3 moneths 10 days He was succeeded by Alexander a Roman  3 Q. Junius Rusticus Justus made Bishop of Alexandria  120  3 L. Catilius Severus The Christians severely prosecuted at Rome whereof many Martyrs and more driven to hide themselves in the Cryptae and Coemeteria under ground  4 T. Aurelius Fulvus postea Imp. Antoninus  121  4 M. Annius Verus II. A great tumult at Alexandria about the Idol Apis found there 5 L. Augur  122  5 M. Acilius Aviola The Persecution rages in Asia under the Government of Arrius Antoninus the Proconsul  6 Corellius Pansa  123 Adriani 6 Q. Arrius Paetinus Adrian comes to Athens and is initiated in the Eleusmian mysteries 7 C. Ventidius Apronianus Quadratus Bishop of Athens and Aristides present Apologies to the Emperour in behalf of the Christians 124  7 M. Acilius Glabrio Serenius Granianus writes to the Emperour in favour of the Christians by whose Rescript to M. Fundanus Proconsul of Asia Granianus his successor the proceedings against them are mitigated 8 C. Bellicius Torquatus  125  8 P. Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus II.  9 Q. Vettius Aquilinus 126  9 Vesproniê° Candid Verê° II Ambiguus Bibulus al. M. Loll. Pedius Adrian revisits Athens finishes and dedicates the Temple of Jupiter Olympius and an Altar to himself 10 Q. Jun. Lepidus 127  10 Gallicanus  11 C. Caelius Titianus 128  11 L. Nonius Asprenas Torquatus Aquila a Kinsman of the Emperours first turns Christian then apostatizing to Judaism translates the Old Testament into Greek 12 M. Annius Libo  129  12 Q. Juventius Celsus  13 Q. Julius Balbus  130  13 Q. Fabius Catullinus Aelius Adrianus having repaired Jerusalem calls it after his own name Aelia 14 M. Flavius Aper The Martyrdom of Alexander Bishop of Rome after he had sate 10 years 5 moneths 20 days to whom succeeded Sixtus a Roman 131 Adriani 14 Ser. Octavius Laenas Pontianus Hymenaeus made Bishop of Alexandria being
a life of true Philosophy and Vertue Ap. Dioâ— Hali◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. â—5 Tem. 2. History says Thucydides being nothing else but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Philosophy drawn from Examples the one is a more gross and popular Philosophy the other a more subtle and refined History These considerations together with a desire to perpetuate the memory of brave and great Actions gave birth to History and obliged mankind to transmit the more observable passages both of their own and foregoing Times to the notice of Posterity The first in this kind was Moses the great Prince and Legislator of the Jewish Nation who from the Creation of the World conveyed down the Records of above MMDL years the same course being more or less continued through all the periods of the Jewish State Among the Babylonians they had their public Archives which were transcribed by Berosus the Priest of Belus who composed the Chaldean History The Egyptians were wont to record their memorable Acts upon Pillars in Hieroglyphic notes and sacred Characters first begun as they pretend by Thouth or the first of their Mercuries out of which Manethos their Chief Priest collected his three Books of Egyptian Dynasties which he dedicated to Ptolomy Philadelphus second of that line The Phoenician History was first attempted by Sanchoniathon digested partly out of the Annals of Cities partly out of the Books kept in the Temple and communicated to him by Jerombaal Priest of the God Jao this he dedicated to Abibalus King of Berytus which Philo Byblius about the time of the Emperour Adrian translated into Greek The Greeks boast of the Antiquity of Cadmus Archilochus and many others though the most ancient of their Historians now extant are Herodotus Thucydides and Xenophon Among the Romans the foundations of History were laid in Annals the public Acts of every year being made up by the Pontifex Maximus who kept them at his own house that the people upon any emergency might resort to them for satisfaction These were the Annales Maximi and afforded excellent materials to those who afterwards wrote the History of that great and powerful Commonwealth But that which of all others challenges the greatest regard both as it more immediately concerns the present enquiry and as it contains accounts of things relating to our biggest interests is the History of the Church For herein as in a Glass we have the true face of the Church in its several Ages represented to us Here we find with what infinite care those Divine Records which are the great instruments of our eternal happiness have through the several periods of time been conveyed down to us with what a mighty success Religion has triumphed over the greatest oppositions and spread its Banners in the remotest corners of the World With how incomparable a zeal good men have contended earnestly for that Faith which was once delivered to the Saints with what a bitter and implacable fury the Enemies of Religion have set upon it and how signally the Divine Providence has appeared in its preservation and returned the mischief upon their own heads Here we see the constant succession of Bishops and the Ministers of Religion in their several stations the glorious company of the Apostles the goodly fellowship of the Prophets the noble Army of Martyrs who with the most chearful and composed minds have gone to Heaven through the acutest torments In short we have here the most admirable examples of a divine and religious Life of a real and unfeigned Piety a sincere and universal Charity a strict Temperance and Sobriety an unconquerable Patience and Submission clearly represented to us And the higher we go the more illustrious are the instances of Piety and Vertue For however later Ages may have improved in knowledge Experience daily making new additions to Arts and Sciences yet former Times were most eminent for the practice and vertues of a holy life The Divine Laws while newly published had a stronger influence upon the minds of men and the spirit of Religion was more active and vigorous till men by degrees began to be debauched into that impiety and prophaneness that in these last Times has over-run the World It were altogether needless and improper for me to consider what Records there are of the state of the Church before our Saviours Incarnation it is sufficient to my purpose to enquire by what hands the first affairs of the Christian Church have been transmitted to us As for the Life and Death the Actions and Miracles of our Saviour and some of the first acts of his Apostles they are fully represented by the Evangelical Historians Indeed immediately after them we meet with nothing of this nature H. Eâ—cl l. 3. c. 24. p. 94. the Apostles and their immediate Successors as Eusebius observes not being at leisure to write many Books as being imployed in Ministeries greater and more immediately serviceable to the World The first that engaged in this way was Hegesippus an ancient and Apostolic man as he in Photius stiles him an Hebrew by descent Cod. 232. col 893. and born as is probable in Palestin He flourished principally in the reign of M. Aurelius and came to Rome in the time of Ancietus where he resided till the time of Eleutherius He wrote five Books of Ecclesiastical History which he stiled Commentaries of the Acts of the Church wherein in a plain and familiar stile he described the Apostles Travels and Preachings the remarkable passages of the Church the several Schisms Heresies and Persecutions that infested it from our Lords death till his own time But these alas are long since lost The next that succeeded in this Province though the first that reduced it to any exactness and perfection was Eusebius He was born in Palestin about the later times of the Emperour Gallienus ordained Presbyter by Agapius Bishop of Caesarea who suffering about the end of the Dioclesian Persecution Eusebius succeeded in his See A man of incomparable parts and learning and of no less industry and diligence in searching out the Records and Antiquities of the Church After several other Volumes in defence of the Christian Cause against the assaults both of Jews and Gentiles he set himself to write an Ecclesiastical History Lib. 1. c. 1. p. 3. wherein he designed as himself tells us to recount from the birth of our Lord till his time the most memorable Transactions of the Church the Apostolical successions the first Preachers and Planters of the Gospel the Bishops that presided in the most eminent Sees the most noted Errours and Heresies the calamities that befel the Jewish State the attempts and Persecutions made against the Christians by the Powers of the World the torments and sufferings of the Martyrs and the blessed and happy period that was put to them by the conversion of Constantine the Great All this accordingly he digested in Ten Book which he composed in the declining part of his life Praefat. de
satisfactory Philosophy The great influence which the patience and fortitude of the Christians had upon his conversion The force of that argument to persuade men His vindication of himself from the charges of the Gentiles His continuance in his Philosophic habit The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what and by whom worn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His coming to Rome and opposing Heretics Marcion who and what his Principles Justin's first Apology to the Emperours and the design of it Antoninus his Letter to the Common-Council of Asia in favour of the Christians This shewed not to be the Edict of Marcus Antoninus Justin's journey into the East and conference with Trypho the Jew Trypho who The malice of the Jews against the Christians Justin's return to Rome His contests with Crescens the Philosopher Crescens his temper and principles Justin's second Apology To whom presented The occasion of it M. Antoninus his temper Justin fore-tells his own fate The Acts of his Martyrdom His arraignment before Rusticus Praefect of Rome Rusticus who the great honours done him by the Emperour Justin's discourse with the Praefect His freedom and courage His sentence and execution The time of his death His great Piety Charity Impartiality c. His natural parts and excellent learning His unskilfulness in the Hebrew Language noted A late Author censured His Writings The Epistle to Diognetus Diognetus who His stile and character The unwarrantable opinions he is charged with His indulgence to Heathens 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in what sense used by the ancient Fathers How applied to Christ how to Reason His opinion concerning Chiliasm The concurrence of the Ancients with him herein This by whom first started by whom corrupted Concerning the state of the Soul after this life The doctrine of the Ancients in this matter His assertion concerning Angels maintained by most of the first Fathers The original of it Their opinion concerning Free-will shewed not to be opposed by them to the Grace of God What influence Justin's Philosophic education had upon his opinions His Writings enumerated Pag. 139. The Life of S. IRENAEUS Bishop of Lyons His Countrey enquired into His Philosophical Studies His institution by Papias Papias who His education under S. Polycarp His coming into France and being made Presbyter of Lyons Pothinus who how and by whom sent into France The grievous Persecution there under M. Aurelius The Letters of the Martyrs to the Bishop of Rome Pope Eleutherius guilty of Montanism Irenaeus sent to Rome His writing against Florinus and Blastus The martyrdom of Pothinus Bishop of Lyons and the cruelty exercised towards him Irenaeus succeeds His great diligence in his charge His oppostion of Heretics The Synods said to have been held under him to that purpose The Gnostic Heresies spread in France Their monstrous Villanies His confutation of them by word and writing Variety of Sects and Divisions objected by the Heathens against Christianity This largely answered by Clemens of Alexandria Pope Victor's reviving the controversie about Easter The contests between him and the Asiatics Several Synods to determine this matter Irenaeus his moderate interposal His Synodical Epistle to Victor The Persecution under Severus It s rage about Lyons Irenaeus his Martyrdom and place of Burial His Vertues His industrious and elaborate confutation of the Gnostics His stile and phrase Photius his censure of his Works His errour concerning Christs age Miraculous gifts and powers common in his time His Writings Pag. 161. The Life of S. THEOPHILUS Bishop of Antioch The great obscurity of his Originals His learned and ingenuous Education and natural parts An account of his conversion to Christianity and the reasons inducing him thereunto collected out of his own Writings His scrupling the Doctrine of the Resurrection The great difficulty of entertaining that Principle Synesius his case Theophilus his conquering this objection His great satisfaction in the Christian Religion His election to the Bishoprick of Antioch His desire to convert Autolycus Autolycus who His mighty prejudice against Christianity Theophilus his undertaking him and his free and impartial debating the case with him His excellent menage of the controversie His vigorous opposing the Heresies of those times His Books against Marcion and Hermogenes His death and the time of it S. Hierom's Character of his Works His Writings Pag. 173. The Life of S. MELITO Bishop of Sardis His Countrey and Birth-place His excellent Parts and Learning His being made Bishop of Sardis His coelibaâ—y His Prophetic gifts The Persecution under Marcus Aurelius Melito his Apology for the Christians A fragment of it cited out of Eusebius The great advantages of Christianity to the Empire His endeavour to compose the Paschal Controversie His Book concerning that Subject His journey to Jerusalem to search what Books of the Old Testament were received by that Church The Copy of his Letter to his Brother Onesimus concerning the Canon of the Old Testament What Books admitted by the ancient Church Solomons Proverbs stiled by the Ancients the Book of Wisdom His death and burial The great variety of his Works Vnjustly suspected of dangerous notions An account given of the titles of two of his Books most liable to suspicion His Writings enumerated Pag. 179. The Life of S. PANTAENUS Catechist of Alexandria The various conjectures concerning his Original The probabilities of his Jewish descent what Whether born in Sicily or at Alexandria His first institution The famous Platonic School erected by Ammonius at Alexandria The renown of that place for other parts of Learning Pantaenus addicted to the Sect of the Stoics The Principles of that Sect shewed to agree best with the dictates of Christianity His great emprovements in the Christian Doctrine The Catechetic School at Alexandria with its antiquity Pantaenus made Regent of it When he first entered upon this Office An Embassie from India to the Bishop of Alexandria for some to preach the Christian Faith Pantaenus sent upon this errand This Countrey where situate His arrival in India and converse with the Brachmans Their temper principles and way of life Their agreement with the Stoics Foot-steps of Christianity formerly planted there S. Matthews Hebrew Gospel found among them and brought by Pantaenus to Alexandria How far and by whom Christianity was propagated in India afterwards Pantaenus his return to Alexandria and resuming his Catechetic Office His Death His great Piety and Learning Pag. 185. The Life of S. CLEMENS of Alexandria His Countrey The progress of his Studies His instruction in the Christian doctrin His several Masters His impartial enquiry after truth The elective Sect what It s excellent genius Clemens of this Sect. His succeeding Pantaenus in the Catechetic School He is made Presbyter of Alexandria His Stromata published when Lawfulness of flying in time of Persecution His journey into the East What Tracts he wrote there His going from Jerusalem to Antioch and return to Alexandria His death The Elogia given of him by the Ancients His admirable
learning His Writings His Hypotyposes Photius his account of them corrupted by the Arrians His Books yet extant and the orderly gradation of them His Stromata what the design of it His stile what in this what in his other Books A short Apology for some unwary assertions in his Writings His Writings enumerated Pag. 193. The Life of TERTULLIAN Presbyter of Carthage His names whence His Father who His education in all kinds of Learning His skill in the Roman Laws Different from Tertylian the Lawyer His way of life before his conversion enquired into His married condition His conversion to Christianity when The great cruelty used towards the Christians Severus his kindness to them Tertullians excellent Apology in their behalf His address to Scapula and the tendency of that discourse Severus his violent persecuting the Christians His prohibition of the Heteriae Tertullians Book to the Martyrs and concerning Patience His zeal against Heresies and Writings that way His Book De Pallio when written and upon what occasion His becoming Presbyter when His Book De Corona and what the occasion of it His declining from the Catholic Party Montanus who and whence His principles and practices Tertullians owning them and upon what occasion His morose and stubborn temper How far he complied with the Montanists and acknowledged the Paraclete How he was imposed upon His Writings against the Catholics The severity of the ancient Discipline Episcopus Episcoporum in what sense meant by Tertullian concerning the Bishop of Rome His separate meetings at Carthage His death His Character His singular parts and learning His Books His phrase and stile What contributed to its perplexedness and obscurity His un-orthodox opinions A brief plea for him Pag. 201. The Life of ORIGEN Presbyter Catechist of Alexandria Origen where and when born Several conjectures about the original of his name His Father who His juvenile education and great towardliness in the knowledge of the Scriptures His Philosophical Studies under Clemens Alexandrinus His Institution under Ammonius Ammonius who His fame and excellency confessed by the Gentile Philosophers Another Origen his Contemporary These two heedlesly confounded His Fathers Martyrdom and the confiscation of his Estate Origen's resolute encouragement of his Father His own passionate desire of Martyrdom His maintenance by an honourable Matron of Alexandria His zeal against Heretics His setting up a private School He succeeds Clemens in the Catechetic School at eighteen years of Age. The frequency of his Auditors Many of them Martyrs for the Faith Origen's resolution in attending upon the Martyrs His danger His couragious act at the Temple of Serapis His emasculating himself and the reasons of it The eminent chastity of those Primitive Times Origen's journey to Rome and return to Alexandria His taking in a Colleague into the Catechetic Office He learns the Hebrew Tongue The prudent method of his Teaching Ambrosius converted Who he was His great intimacy with Origen Origen sent for by the Governour of Arabia His journey into Palestin and teaching at Caesarea Remanded by the Bishop of Alexandria Alexander Severus his excellent Vertues and kindness for the Christian Religion Origen sent for by the Empress Mammaea to Antioch He begins to write his Commentaries How many Notaries and Transcribers imployed and by whom maintained Notaries their Original and Office Their use and institution in the Primitive Church His journey into Greece His passage through Palestin and being ordained Presbyter at Caesarea Demetrius of Alexandria his envy and rage against him Origen condemned in two Synods at Alexandria and one at Rome The resignation of his Catechetic School to Heraclas Heraclas who The story of his offering Sacrifice The credit of this story questioned and why His departure from Alexandria and fixing at Caesarea The eminency of his School there Gregorius Thaumaturgus his Scholar His friendship with Firmilian Firmilian who The Persecution under Maximinus Origen's Book written to the Martyrs His retirement whither He compares the Versions of the Bible His Tetrapla Hexapla and Octapla what and how managed A Specimen given of them His second journey to Athens His going to Nicomedia and Letter to Africanus about the History of Susanna His confutation of Beryllus in Arabia His answer to Celsus Celsus who Origens Letters to Philip the Emperour The vanity of making him a Christian Origens journey into Arabia to refute Heresies The Helcesaitae who What their Principles Alexanders miraculous election to the See of Jerusalem His Coadjntorship Government Sufferings and Martyrdom Origens grievous sufferings at Tyre under the Decian Persecution His deliverance out of Prison Age and Death His Character His strict life His mighty zeal abstinence contempt of the World indefatigable diligence and patience noted His natural parts incomparable learning His Books and their several Classes His stile what His unsound opinions The great Out-cry against him in all Ages The Apologies written in his behalf Several things noted out of the Ancients to extenuate the charge His assertions not Dogmatical Not intended for public view Generally such as were not determined by the Church His Books corrupted and by whom His own complaints to that purpose The testimonies of Athanasius and Theotimus and Haymo in his vindication Great errours and mistakes acknowledged What things contributed to them His great kindness for the Platonic Principles S. Hierom's moderate censure of him His repenting of his rash Propositions His Writings enumerated and what now extant Pag. 213. The Life of S. BABYLAS Bishop of Antioch His Originals obscure His education and accomplishments enquired into Made Bishop of Antioch when Antioch taken by the King of Persia Recovered by the Roman Emperour Babylas his fidelity in his charge The Decian Persecution and the grounds of it severely urged by the Emperours Edicts Decius his coming to Antioch His attempt to break into the Christian Congregation Babylas his bold resistance This applied to Numerianus and the ground of the mistake The like reported of Philip the Emperour Decius his bloudy act related by S. Chrysostom His rage against Babylas and his examination of him The Martyrs resolute answer His imprisonment and hard usage The different accounts concerning his death Three Youths his fellow-sufferers in vain attempted by the Emperour Their Martyrdom first and why Babylas beheaded His command that his chains should be buried with him The translation of his body under Constantius The great sweetness and pleasantness of the Daphne Apollo's Temple there S. Babylas his bones translated thither by Gallus Caesar The Oracle immediately rendered dumb In vain consulted by Julian The confession of the Daemon Julian's command for removing Babylas his bones The Martyrs Remains triumphantly carried into the City The credit of this Story sufficiently attested The thing owned by Libanius and Julian Why such honour suffered to be done to the Martyr Julian afraid of an immediate vengeance His Persecution against the Christians at Antioch The sufferings of Theodorus The Temple of Apollo fired from Heaven Pag. 241. The Life of
Christ did all Nations believe Parthians Medes Elamites the inhabitants of Mesopotamia Armenia Phrygia and Cappadocia of Pontus Asia and Pamphylia those who dwell in Egypt Afric and beyond Cyrene strangers at Rome Jews at Jerusalem and other Nations as also now the Getuli and the Mauri the Spaniards and the Gauls yea and those places of Britain which were unapproachable by the Roman Armies are yet subdued to Christ the Sarmatae also and the Daci the Germans and the Scythians together with many undiscovered Countries many Islands and Provinces unknown to us which he professes himself unable to reckon up In all which places says he the name of Christ reigns as before whom the Gates of all Cities are set open and to whom none are shut before whom Gates of Brass fly open and bars of iron are snapt asunder To which g Lib. 2. p. 23. Arnobius adds the Indians the Persians the Serae and all the Islands and Provinces which are visited by the rising or setting Sun yea and Rome it self the Empress of all IX FROM Tertullians account we have a most authentic testimony how early Christianity stretched it self over this other World having before his time conquered the most rough and inaccessible parts of Britain to the banner of the Cross which may probably refer to the conversion of King Lucius the first Christian King that ever was a potent and considerable Prince in this Island who embraced the Christian Religion about the year CLXXXVI and sent a solemn Embassie to Eleutherius Bishop of Rome for some who might further instruct him and his people in the Faith who accordingly dispatched Faganus and Derwianus hither upon that errand Not that this was the first time that the Gospel made its way through the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Clemens a Epist ad Corinth p. 28. calls the British Ocean and so the Ancients constantly stile it the unpassable Ocean and those worlds which are beyond it that is the Britannic Islands it had been here many years before though probably stifled and overgrown with the ancient Paganism and Idolatry St. Clemens b Ibid. p. 8. tells us of St. Paul that he preached both in the East and West and having instructed the whole world in righteousness made his way to the utmost bounds of the West by which he must either mean Spain or more probably Britain and it may be both Accordingly Theodoret c Comment in Psal 116. speaking of his coming into Spain says that besides that he brought great advantage to the Isles of the Sea and he reckons d De curand Graecor affect Serm. IX p. 125. the Cimbri and the Britains among the Nations which the Apostles and he particularly mentions the Tent-maker converted to the Christian Faith If after all this it were necessary to enter into a more minute and particular disquisition I might enquire not only in what Countries but in what Towns and Cities in those Countries Christianity fixed it self in what places Episcopal Sees were erected and what succession of Bishops are mentioned in the Records of the Church but that this would not well consist with the designed shortness of this Introduction and would be more perhaps than the Readers patience would allow X. THE shadows of the night do not more naturally vanish at the rising of the Sun than the darkness of Pagan Idolatry and Superstition fled before the Light of the Gospel which the more it prevailed the clearer it discovered the folly and impiety of their worship Their solemn Rites appeared more trifling and ridiculous their Sacrifices more barbarous and inhumane their Daemons were expelled by the meanest Christian their Oracles became mute and silent and their very Priests began to be ashamed of their Magic Charms and Conjurations and the more prudent and subtle heads among them who stood up for the Rites and Solemnities of their Religion were forced to turn them into mystical and allegorical meanings far enough either from the apprehension or intention of the vulgar The truth is the Devil who for so many ages had usurped an Empire and tyranny over the souls of men became more sensible every day that his Kingdom shaked and therefore sought though in vain by all ways to support and prop it up Indeed some time before our Saviours Incarnation the most celebrated Oracle at Delphos had lost its credit and reputation as after his appearance in the world they sunk and declined every day whereof their best Writers universally complain that their gods had forsaken their Temples and Oracular Recesses and had left the world in darkness and obscurity and that their Votaries did in vain solicit their Counsels and answers Plutarch who lived under Trajan wrote a particular Tract still extant concerning the ceasing of Oracles which he endeavours to resolve partly into natural partly into moral partly into political causes though all his Philosophy was too short to give a just and satisfactory account of it One cause he assigns of it is the death and departure of those Daemons that heretofore presided over these Oracles To which purpose he relates a memorable passage 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 419. concerning a voice that called three times aloud to one Thamus an Egyptian Ship-master and his company as they sailed by the Echinadae Islands commanding him when they came near to Palodes to make Proclamation that the great Pan was dead which he did and the news was entertained not with the resentment of one or two but of many who received it with great mourning and consternation The circumstances of this story he there reports more at large and adds that the thing being published at Rome Thamus was sent for by Tiberius to whom he gave an account and satisfied him in the truth of it Which circumstance of time Eusebius a Praepar Evang. l. 5. c. 17. p. 207. observes corresponds with our Lords conversing in the world when he began openly to dispossess Daemons of that power and tyranny which they had gained over mankind And if the calculation which some make hit right it fell in about the time of our Saviours Passion who led captivity captive spoiled principalities and powers and made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in his Cross and by his Death destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devil XI HOWEVER that the silence of Oracles and the enervating the power of Daemons was the effect of the Christian Religion in the world we need no more then the plain confession of Porphyry himself truth will sometimes extort a confession out of the mouth of its greatest enemy who says 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euseb ubi supr c. 1. p. 179. that now it s no wonder if the City for so many years has been overrun with sickness Aesculapius and the rest of the gods having withdrawn their converse with men For that since Jesus began to be worshipped no man hath received any public
apud Sur. ubi supr Mabillon lec citat Hincmar as appears by his Epistle to Charles the Emperour Where he plainly tells us that no sooner had he read this Life written by Methodius but he found it admirably to agree with what he had read in his Youth he means I doubt not the Writings of Hilduin by whom and how the Acts of S. Denys and his companions came to the knowledge of the Romans and thence to the notice of the Greeks This is the most likely pedigree and procedure of the Story that I can think of and from hence how easie was it for the after-Writers both of the Western and the Eastern Church to swallow down a Story thus plausibly fitted to their taste Nor had the Greeks any reason over-nicely to examine or reject what made so much for the honour of their Church and Nation and seemed to lay not France onely but the whole Western Church under an obligation to them for furnishing them with so great and excellent a person But to return to our Dionysius X. THOUGH we cannot doubt but that he behaved himself with all diligence and fidelity in the discharge of his Office yet because the Ancients have conveyed down no particulars to our hands we shall not venture upon reports of false or at best doubtful credit Nothing of certainty can be recovered of him more then what Aristides the Christian Philosopher who himself lived and was probably born at Athens not long after Dionysius relates in the a Apud Usuard Adon. Mart. V. Non. Octobr. Apology which he published for the Christian Religion that after a most resolute and eminent confession of the Faith after having undergone several of the severest kinds of torment he gave the last and great testimony to it by laying down his life This was done as is most probable under the reign of Domitian as is confessed betraid into it by a secret instinct of truth by Abbot Hilduin Methodius and their followers while others extend it to the times of Trajan others to the reign of Adrian who entered upon the Empire Ann. CXVII partly that they might leave room enough for the account which they give of him partly to preserve the Authority of his Writings wherein a passage is cited out of Ignatius his Epistles written just before his Martyrdom Ann. CVII The Reader I hope will not expect from me an account of the miracles said to be done by him either before or since his death or of the fierce contests that are between several places in the Roman Church concerning his Reliques One passage however I shall not omit In a Village in Luxemburg not far from Treves is a Church dedicated to S. Denys wherein is kept his Scull at least a piece of it on the Crown whereof there is a white Cross while the other parts of the Scull are black This common Tradition and some b Vid. Author citat ap P. Halloix not ad vit Dionys p. 241. Authors to avouch it will have to be made when S. Paul laid his hands upon him at his consecration Which if so I have no more to observe but that Orders which the Church of Rome make a Sacrament did here even in a literal sense confer an indeleble character and mark upon him XI HIS 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the shape and figure of his body is by the c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greek Menaeon thus described he was of a middle stature slender fair but inclining to paleness his nose gracefully bending hollow-eyed with short eye-brows his ear large his hair thick and white his beard moderately long but very thin For the image of his mind expressed in his discourses and the excellent conduct of his life the Greeks according to their magnifying humour as well as language bestow most hyperbolical elogies and commendations on him Ibid. They stile him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Sacred Interpreter and contemplator of hidden and unspeakable mysteries and an unsearchable depth of heavenly knowledge 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Trinity-Divine the divine instrument of those enlivening graces that are above all comprehension They say of him that his life was wonderful his discourse more wonderful his tongue full of light his mouth breathing an holy fire but his mind 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most exactly like to God with a great deal more of the like nature up and down their Offices And certainly were the notions which he has given us of the coelestial Hierarchy and Orders of Angels and the things of that supramundane State as clear and certain as some would persuade us he might deserve that title which a Vid. Anasias-Biblioth Epist ap Sur. loc cit p. 132. Chrysost de Pseudâ— Preph p. 401. Tom 6. others give him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Wing or the Bird of Heaven XII THE great and evident demonstration of his Wisdom and Eloquence we are told b Suid. in voce 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 745. Niceph. H. Eccl. l. 2. c. 20. p. 167. are the Works which he left behind him the Notions and Language wherewith they are clothed being so lofty and sublime as are scarcely capable to be the issue of a meer mortal creature Books infinitely intricate and perplext as our Countreyman c Epist ad Carol Calv. Franc. Reg. ap Usser Epist Hibern p. 59. Johannes Scotus who first translated them into Latine tells us far beyond the reach of Modern apprehensions and which few are able to pierce into both for their Antiquity and sublimeness of those Heavenly Mysteries whereof they treat A Work so grateful to all speculative Enquirers into the natures of things and the more abstruse and recondite parts of Learning that if Suidas say true some of the Heathen Philosophers and particularly Proclus often borrows not onely his notions but his very words and phrases from him whence he suspects that some of the Philosophers at Athens stole those Books of his mentioned in the Epistle Dedicatory to S. Timothy and which now are wanting and published them under their own names But had I been to make the conjecture I should rather have suspected that this Pseudo-Dionysius fetched his speculations and good part of his expressions from Plotinus Iamblichus and the rest of the later Platonists For certainly one egg is not more like another then this mans Divinity is like the Theology of that School especially as explained by the Philosophers who lived in the first Ages of Christianity That our Dionysius was not the Author of the Books at this day extant under his name I shall not concern my self to shew For however it be contended for by many with all imaginable zeal and stifâ—ness yet want there not those and men of note even in the Roman Communion who clearly disown and deny it as among the Reformed it has been largely disproved by many and by none with greater learning and industry then Monsieur Daille who has said whatever is
measure from S. John of whom he was wont to d Iren. l. 3. c. 3. p. 233. ap Enseb l. 4. c. 14. tell that going into a Bath at Ephesus and espying Cerinthus the Heresiarch there he presently started back Let us be gone said he to his Companious lest the Bath wherein there is Cerinthus the enemy of the truth fall upon our heads This passage says Irenaeus some yet alive heard from S. Polycarps own mouth and himself no doubt among the rest for so he tells us a Epist ad Florin ubi supr elsewhere that in his youth when he was with S. Polycarp in the lesser Asia he took such particular notice of things that he perfectly remembred the very place where he used to sit while he discoursed his goings out and coming in the shape of his body and the manner of his life his discourses to the People and the account he was wont to give of his familiar converse with S. John and others who had seen our Lord whose sayings he rehearsed and whatever they had told him concerning our Saviour concerning his Miracles and his Doctrine which themselves had either seen or heard agreeing exactly with the relations of the Sacred History All which Irenaeus tells us he particularly took notice of and faithfully treasured them up in his mind and made them part of his constant meditation These are all the material remarks which I find among the Ancients concerning Polycarp during the time of his Government of the Church at Smyrna Indeed there are several Miracles and particular passages of his life related by the above-mentioned Pionius which tend infinitely to exalt the honour of this holy man But seeing the Author is obscure and that we can have no reasonable satisfaction who he was and whence he borrowed his notices and accounts of things I chuse rather to suspend my belief then to entertain the Reader with those at best uncertain relations which he has given us VI. IN the reign of M. Antoninus and L. Verus began a severe Persecution whether fourth or fifth let others enquire against the Christians Melito Bishop of Sardis who lived at that time and dedicated his Apology to the Emperours making mention of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 b Apud Euseb l. 4. c. 26. p. 147. new Edicts and Decrees which the Emperours had issued out through Asia by virtue whereof impudent and greedy Informers spoiled and vexed the innocent Christians But the storm increased into a more violent tempest about the seventh year of their reign Ann. Chr. CLXVII when the Emperour Marcus Antoninus designing an expedition against the c Jul. Capit. in vit M. Antonin c. 13. p. 181. Marcomanni the terrour of whom had sufficiently awakened them at Rome summoned the Priests together and began more solemnly to celebrate their Religious Rites and no doubt but he was told that there was no better way to propitiate and atone the gods then to bear hard upon the Christians generally looked upon as the most open and hateful enemies to their gods And now it was that S. Polycarp after along and diligent discharge of his duty in his Episcopal station received his Crown So vastly wide of the mark are the later d Men. Graec 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greeks making him in their public Offices to suffer Martyrdom under the Decian Persecution Nor much nearer is that of e H. Eccl. l. 5. c. 22. p. 284. Socrates however he fell into the errour who tells us that he was martyred under Gordianus Mistakes so extravagant that there needs no more to confute them then to mention them Concerning his Sufferings and Martyrdom we have a full and particular relation in a Letter of the Church of Smyrna written not long after his death to the Church of Philomelium or more truly Philadelphia and in the nature of an Encyclical Epistle to all the Dioceses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Holy Catholic Church the far greatest part whereof Eusebius has inserted into his History leaving out onely the beginning and the end though the entire Epistle together with its ancient Version or rather Paraphrase is since published by Bishop Vsher It was penned by Euaristus and afterwards as appears by their several subscriptions at the end of it transcribed out of Irenaeus his Copy by Caius contemporary and familiar with Irenaeus out of his by one Socrates at Corinth and from his by Pionius who had with great diligence found it out A piece it is that challenges a singular esteem and reverence both for the subject matter and the antiquity of it with which a Animadv ad Easeb Chr. ad N. MMCLXXXIII p. 221. Scaliger thinks every serious and devout mind must needs be so affected as never to think it has enough on 't professing for his own part that he never met with any thing in all the History of the Church with the reading whereof he was more transported so that he seemed no longer to be himself Which effect that it may have upon the pious well-disposed Reader we shall present him with this following account VII THE Persecution growing hot at b Epist Eccles Smyrn de Mart. Polycarp Edit Usser p. 16. apad Euseb l. 4. c. 15. p. 129. Smyrna and many having already sealed their confession with their bloud the general out-cry was Away with the impious or the Atheists such they generally called and accounted the Christians let Polycarp be sought for The good man was not disturbed at the news but resolved to endure the brunt till his friends knowing his singular usefulness and that our Lord had given leave to his Disciples when persecuted in one City to flee to another prevailed with him to withdraw into a neighbouring Village where with a few companions he continued day and night in prayer earnestly interceding with Heaven as afore-time it had ever been his custom for the peace and tranquillity of all the Churches in the World Three days before his apprehension falling at night as he was at prayer into a trance he dreamt that his Pillow was on fire and burned to ashes which when he awakened he told his friends was a prophetic presage that he should be burnt alive for the cause of Christ In the mean time he was every where narrowly sought for upon notice whereof his friends perswaded him to retire into another Village whither he was no sooner come but his enemies were at hand who seizing upon a couple of youths one of whom by stripes they forced to a confession were by them conducted to his lodging Entering the house at Evening they perceived him to be in bed in an upper Room and though upon notice before hand of their coming he might easily have saved himself by slipping into another house yet he refused saying The will of the Lord be done Understanding his Persecutors were there he came down and saluted them with a very chearful and gentle countenance in so much that they
is under the Turkish yoke at this day is without the limits of my business to enquire To look a little higher to the Times we write of though I love not to make severe and ill-natured interpretations of the actions of Divine Providence yet I cannot but observe how heavy the Divine Displeasure not long after Polycarps death fell as upon other places so more particularly upon this City by Plague Fire and Earthquakes mentioned by a Niphil Epit. Dion in M. Aâ—ton p. 281. others but more fully described by b In Orat. Monodia dict vid. Philastr de vit Sophâ—â—t l. 2. in Aristid p. m. 659. Aristides their own Orator who was contemporary with S. Polycarp By which means their City before one of the Glories and Ornaments of Asia was turned into Rubbish and Ashes their stately Houses overturned their Temples ruined one especially which as it advanced Asia above other Countries so gave Smyrna the honour and precedence above other Cities of Asia their Traffick spoiled their Marts and Ports laid waste besides the great numbers of People that lost their lives Indeed the fate so sad that the Orator was forced to give over professing himself unable to describe it XVII I cannot better close the Story of Polycarps Martyrdom then with the Preface which the Church of Smyrna has in the beginning of it as what eminently represents the illustrious faith and patience of those Primitive Christians Edit Usser p. 14. confer Euseb l. 4. c. 15. p. 129. Evident it is say they that all those Martyrdoms are great and blessed which happen by the will of God for it becomes us Christians who have a more divine Religion then others to ascribe to God the soveraign disposure of all events Who would not stand and admire the generous greatness of their mind their singular patience and admirable love to God who when their flesh was with scourges so torn off their backs that the whole frame and contexture of their bodies even to their inmost Veins and Arteries might be seen yet patiently endured it Insomuch that those who were present pitied and grieved at the sight of it while they themselves were endued with so invincible a resolution that none of them gave one sigh or groan the holy Martyrs of Christ letting us see that at that time when they were thus tormented they were strangers to their own bodies or rather that our Lord stood by them to assist and comfort them Animated by the grace of Christ they despised the torments of men by one short hour delivering themselves from eternal miseries the fire which their Tormenters put to them seemed cool and little while they had it in their eye to avoid the everlasting and unextinguishable flames of another World their thoughts being fixed upon those rewards which are prepared for them that endure to the end such as neither ear hath heard nor eye hath seen nor hath it entered into the heart of man but which were shewn to them by our Lord as being now no longer Mortals but entering upon the state of Angels In like manner those who were condemned to be devoured by wild Beasts for a long time endured the most grievous tortures shells of Fishes were strewed under their naked bodies and they forced to lie upon sharp pointed stakes driven into the ground and several such like Engines of torture devised for them that if possible by the constancy of their torments the enemy might drive them to renounce the Faith of Christ Various were the methods of punishments which the Devil did invent though blessed be God there were not many whom they were able to prevail upon And at the end of the Epistle they particularly remark concerning Polycarp 〈…〉 p. 28. that he was not onely a famous Doctor but an eminent Martyr whose Martyrdom all strove to imitate as one who by his patience conquered an unrighteous Judge and by that means having attained an immortal Crown was triumphing with the Apostles and all the souls of the righteous glorifying God the Father and praising of our Lord the disposer of our bodies and the Bishop and Pastor of the Catholic Church throughout the World Nor were the Christians the onely persons that reverenced his memory but the very Gentiles as a Loc. supr cit p. 135. Eusebius tells us every where spoke honourably of him XVIII AS for his Writings besides that b Epist ad Lâ—cia p. 194. Tom. 1. S. Hierom mentions the Volums of Papias and Polycarp and the above-mentioned c Vit. Polycarp c. 3. n. 12. p. 697 ubi supr Pionius his Epistles and Homilies d Epist ad Florin ap Euseb ubi supr Irenaeus evidently intimates that he wrote several Epistles of all which none are extant at this day but the Epistle to the Philippians an Epistle peculiarly celebrated by the Ancients very useful says e De Script in Polycarp S. Hierom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as f Suid. in voc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Suidas and g Sophron. ap Hieron ib. Sophronius stile it a most admirable Epistle h Adv. Hares l. 3. c. 3. ap Eus l. 4. c. 15. p. 128. Irenaeus gives it this Elogium that it is a most perfect and absolute Epistle whence they that are careful of their salvation may learn the character of his Faith and the truth which he preached To which Eusebius adds that in this Epistle he makes use of some Quotations out of the first Epistle of S. Peter An observation that holds good with the Epistle as we have it at this day there being many places in it cited out of the first not one out of the second Epistle Photius passes this just and true judgment of it that it is full of many admonitions delivered with clearness and simplicity according to the Ecclesiastic way way and manner of interpretation It seems to hold a great affinity both in stile and substance with Clemens his Epistle to the Corinthians often suggesting the same rules and making use of the same words and phrases so that it is not to be doubted but he had that excellent Epistle particularly in his eye at the writing of it Indeed it is a pious and truly Christian Epistle furnished with short and useful Precepts and Rules of Life and penned with the modesty and simplicity of the Apostolic Times valued by the Ancients next to the Writings of the Holy Canon Ubi supr and S. Hierom tells us that even in his time it was read in Asiae conventu in the public Assemblies of the Asian Church It was first published in Greek by P. Halloix the Jesuit Ann. MDCXXXIII and not many years after by Bishop Vsher and I presume the pious Reader will think it no unuseful digression if I here subjoin so venerable a monument of the ancient Church THE EPISTLE OF S. POLYCARP Bishop of Smyrna and Martyr to the Philippians Polycarp and the Presbyters that are with him to the
of Antoninus Caracalla who began his reign Ann. CCXI. though the exact date and manner of his death be lost his memory is preserved in the Roman Calendar on the seventh of July And certainly a just tribute of honour is due to his memory for his admirable zeal and piety his indefatigable pains and industry his exquisit abilities 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Eusebius truly characters him a man singularly eminent in all kinds of Learning and c Apud Euseb l. 6. c. 19. p. 221. Origen who lived nearer to him and was one of his Successors commends him for his great usefulness and ability both in Philosophical speculations and Theological Studies in the one able to deal with Philosophers in the other to refute Heretics and Seducers In his School he displayed as Eusebius tells us both by word and writing the Treasures of the Sacred Doctrines though he taught says S. Hierom rather viva voce then by Books who mentions onely his Commentaries upon the holy Scripture and of them not the least fragment is remaining at this day The End of S. PANTAENUS 's Life THE LIFE OF S. CLEMENS OF ALEXANDRIA Mic. Burghers sculpsit S. CLEMENS ALEXANDRINVS His Countrey The progress of his Studies His instruction in the Christian doctrin His several Masters His impartial enquiry after truth The elective Sect what It s excellent genius Clemens of this Sect. His succeeding Pantaenus in the Catechetic School He is made Presbyter of Alexandria His Stromata published when Lawfulness of flying in time of persecution His journey into the East What Tracts he wrote there His going from Jerusalem to Antioch and return to Alexandria His death The Elogia given of him by the Ancients His admirable learning His Writings His Hypotyposes Photius his account of them corrupted by the Arrians His Books yet extant and the orderly gradation of them His Stromata what the design of it His stile what in this what in his other Books A short Apology for some unwary assertions in his Writings His Writings enumerated I. TITVS Flavius Clemens was probably born at Athens For when a Haeres XXXII p. 96. Epiphanius tells us that some affirmed him to be an Alexandrian others an Athenian he might well be both the one being the place of his nativity as the other was of his constant residence and imployment Nor can I imagine any other account upon which the title of Athenian should be given to him And the conjecture is further countenanced from the course and progress of his Studies the foundations whereof were laid in Greece improved in the East and perfected in Egypt And indeed his incomparable abilities in all parts of Science render it a little more probable that his early years commenced in that great School of Arts and Learning But he staid not here his insatiable thirst after Knowledge made him traverse almost all parts of the World and converse with the Learned of all Nations that he might furnish himself with the knowledge of whatever was useful and excellent especially a thorough acquaintance with the mysteries of the Christian Doctrine He tells us b Stromat l. 1. p. 274. ap Euseb l. 5. c. 11. p. 176. of those lively and powerful Discourses which he had the happiness to hear from blessed and truly worthy and memorable persons who preserving that sincere and excellent doctrine which like children from the hands of their Parents they had immediately received from Peter James John and Paul the holy Apostles were by Gods blessing come down to his time sowing those ancient and Apostolic seeds of Truth A passage which I doubt not c Lib. 6. c. 13. p. 215. Eusebius intended when he says that Clemens speaking concerning himself in the first Book of his Stromata affirms himself to have been of the next succession to the Apostles II. OF these venerable men to whose tuition he committed himself he himself has given d Loc. citat us some though but obscure account The first was Ionicus a Coelo-Syrian whom he heard in Greece and whom e Ad Ann. 185. n. IV. Baronius conjectures to have been Caius or Dionysius Bishop of Corinth a second an Egyptian under whose Discipline he was in that part of Italy called Magna Graecia and since Calabria Hence he travelled into the East where the first of his Masters was an Assyrian supposed by some to have been Bardesanes by others Tatian the Scholar of Justin Martyr the next originally a Jew of a very ancient stock whom he heard in Palestine whom Baronius will have to have been Theophilus Bishop of Caesarea though for his Hebrew descent there be no evidence among the Ancients others f Vales Annot. in Euseb p. 95. more probably Theodotus whence the excerpta out of his Hypotyposes still extant are stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Epitome of Theodotus his Oriental Doctrin that is the Doctrin which he learnt from Theodotus in the East The last of the Masters whom he met with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as he says of him but the first and chief in power and vertue was one whom he inquisitively sought out and found in Egypt and in whose institution he fully acquiesced and sought no further This person is generally supposed to have been Pantaenus whom Clemens elsewhere a In lib. Hypot ap Euseb l. 5. c. 11. p. 175. expresly affirms to have been his Master and whom in the forementioned Epitome he stiles b Ad Calc Clem. p. 808. our Pantaenus III. BUT though he put himself under the discipline of so many several Masters yet was it not out of any vain desultory lightness or phantastic curiosity but to make researches after truth with an honest and inquisitive mind He loved what was manly and generous where-ever he met it and therefore tells us c Stromat l. 1. p. 315. he did not simply approve all Philosophy but that of which Socrates in Plato speaks concerning their mysterious Rites 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 intimating as he expresses it in the stile of the Scripture that many are called but few elect or who make the right choice And such adds Socrates and such onely in my opinion are those who embrace the true Philosophy Of which sort says Clemens through my whole life I have to my power approved my self desiring and endeavouring by all means to become one of that number For this purpose he never tied himself to any particular institution of Philosophy but took up in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Elective Sect who obliged not themselves to the dictates and sentiments of any one Philosopher but freely made choice of the most excellent principles out of all This Sect as the Philosophic Historian d D. Laert. prooem ad vit Philos p. 14. informs us was begun by Potamon an Alexandrian too who out of every Sect of Philosophy selected what he judged best He gave himself liberty impartially to enquire into the natures of things and what
in longo fas est obrepere somnum In a long Work each slip the Censors Rod Does not deserve Homer does sometimes nod Let us not imitate his Faults whose Vertues we cannot reach Others both Greeks and Latines have erred in the faith as well as he whom it 's not necessary to name lest we might seem to defend him not by his own merit but by the mistakes of other men To all that has been hitherto said I may add this that suppose him guilty of as pestilent and dangerous errours as the worst of his enemies lay to his charge yet he afterwards repented of what he had rashly and unadvisedly written as appears by his Epistle to Fabian a Ap. Hier. ubi supr p. 193. vid. Ruff. Invect I. in Hieron inter oper Hier. T. 4. p. 219. Primus faelicitatis gradus est non delinquere Secundus delicta cognoscere Illic currit innocentia integra illibata quae servet hîc succedit medela quae sanet Cypr. ad Cornel. Epist 55. p. 83. Bishop of Rome And is it not intolerable reudeness and incivility at least perpetually to upbraid and reproach a man with the faults of his past life and which he himself has disowned Sorrow for what is past in some measure repairs the breach and Repentance must be allowed next door to Innocence His Writings mentioned by the Ancients and which of them extant at this day Homiliarum mysticarum in Genes Lib. II. Commentar in Genes Lib. XIII Extant Latine Homiliae XVII Commentar Tomi in Exodum Ext. Latine Homiliae XII Scholia in Leviticum Ext. Homiliae XVI In Numeros extant Lat. Homiliae XXVIII In Deuteronomium Homiliae In Libr. Jesu Nave ext Homil. XXVI Lat. In Libr. Judicum ext Hom. IX Lat. In I. Lib. Regum Homil. IV. In Lib. II. extat Homilia una In Lib. Paralipom Homil. I. In duos Esdrae Libros Homiliae In Libr. Job Tractatus In Psalmos Commentarii In Psalmos Homiliae In Psalmos Scholia Ext. Lat. in Psalm 36. Hom. V. in Psal 37. Hom. II. in Psal 38. Hom. II. In Proverbia Salom. Commentar Explicatio Ecclesiastis In Canticum Cantic Commentarii Ext. Lat. Homiliae II. In Esaiam Commentar Libri XXX In Esaiam Homiliae XXV In Esaiam Scholia Ext. Lat. Homiliae IX In Jeremiam Homiliae XLV Extant Gr. Lat. Homil. XVII In Threnos Tomi IX In Ezechielem Tomi XXV Ext. Lat. Homil. XIV In Danielem Expositio In XII Prophetas Tomi XXV In Matthaeum Comment Lib. XXV In Matthaeum Homiliae XXV In Matthaeum Scholia Ext. Gr. Lat. Tomi VII In Lucam Commentar Tomi V. Ext. Lat. Homiliae XXXIX In Joannem Commentar Tom. XXXII Ext. Gr. Lat. Tom. IX In Acta Apostolorum Homil. aliquot In Epistolam ad Romanos Explanationum Lib. XX. Ext. Lat. Libri X. In I. ad Corinthios Commentarii In Epist ad Galatas Commentarii In Epist ad Galatas Homiliae In Epist ad Galatas Scholia In Epist ad Ephes Comment Lib. III. In Epist ad Coloss Commentarii In I. ad Thess Vol. ut minimum III. In Epist ad Titum In Epist ad Hebraeos Commentarii In Epist ad Hebraeos Homiliae Tetrapla Hexapla Octapla Commentarii in Veteres Philosophos De Resurrectione Libri II. De Resurrectione Dialogi Stromaτεων Libri X. Disputationes cum Beryllo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seu de Principiis Lib. IV. Ext. Lat. Contra Celsum Lib. VIII Ext. Gr. L. De Martyrio Ext. Gr. L. Homil. de Engastrimytho Ext. Gr. L. De Oratione Ext. Gr. Ms. Philocalia de aliquot praecipuis Theologiae locis quaestionibus ex Origenis scriptis à S. Basilio Gregor Naz. excerptis cap. XXVII ext Gr. L. Epistolae fere infinitae ex his hodie ext Epistola ad Jul. Africanum de Histor Susannae Gr. L. Epistola ad Gregorium Thaumaturgum Ext. Gr. L. in Philocalia Doubtful Dialogus contra Marcionitas de recta in Deum fide Ext. Gr. L. Supposititious In Libri Job Tract III. Comment in eundem Commentarius in Evangel S. Marci Homiliae in diversos De Philosophorum Sectis dogmatibus Lamentum Origenis Scholia in Orationem Dominicam in Cantica B. Virginis Zachariae Simeonis The End of ORIGEN 's Life THE LIFE OF S. BABYLAS BISHOP OF ANTIOCH Micha Burgh sculp S. BABYLAS ANTIOCHENUS His Originals obscure His education and accomplishments enquired into Made Bishop of Antioch when Antioch taken by the King of Persia Recovered by the Roman Emperour Babylas his fidelity in his charge The Decian Persecution and the grounds of it severely urged by the Emperours Edicts Decius his coming to Antioch His attempt to break into the Christian Congregation Babylas his bold resistance This applied to Numerianus and the ground of the mistake The like reported of Philip the Emperour Decius his bloudy act related by S. Chrysostom His rage against Babylas and his examination of him The Martyrs resolute answer His imprisonment and hard usage The different accounts concerning his death Three Youths his fellow-sufferers in vain attempted by the Emperour Their Martyrdom first and why Babylas beheaded His command that his chains should be buried with him The translation of his body under Constantius The great sweetness and pleasantness of the Daphne Apollo's Temple there S. Babylas his bones translated thither by Gallus Caesar The Oracle immediately rendered dumb In vain consulted by Julian The confession of the Daemon Julian 's command for removing Babylas his bones The Martyrs Remains triumphantly carried into the City The credit of this Story sufficiently attested The thing owned by Libanius and Julian Why such honour suffered to be done to the Martyr Julian afraid of an immediate vengeance His Persecution against the Christians at Antioch The sufferings of Theodorus The Temple of Apollo fired from Heaven I. SO great and general is the silence of Church-Antiquity in the Acts of this holy Martyr especially the former part of his life that I should wholly pass him over did not his latter times furnish us with some few memorable passages concerning him His Countrey Parents Education and way of life are all unknown as also whether he was born and bred a Gentile or a Christian No doubt he was trained up under the advantages of a liberal and ingenuous education living in places that opportunely ministred unto it and in times when none but men of known parts and eminency both for Learning and Piety were advanced to the Government of the Church and when great measures of Arts and Learning were not onely commendable but necessary both to feed and preserve the Flock of God to resist and convince gainsayers and to defend Christianity against the attempts both of secret and open Enemies For as the Christian Church never wanted professed Adversaries from without who endeavoured both by Sword and Pen to stifle and suppress its growth nor pretended Friends from within who by Schisms and Heresies disturbed its Peace and tore out its very Bowels so never were