1 Maccab. 7. 2 Mac. 14. and now was not received nor owned by the people because that in the dayes of Epiphanes he had defiled himself came to Demetrius with other Apostates and such like as himself and accused his Countrey-men especially the Hasmonaeans i. e. Judas and his brethren that they had cut off and banished his friends Bachides sent by him against the Jews whereupon he sent one Bachides a trusty friend with great forces into Judaea confirming the Priesthood to Alcimus whom he sent back with him All their design being arrived there was to get Judas into their hands divers Scribes going out to them to sollicit for peace being confident because the Priest was of the seed of Aaron he most wickedly and contrary to his Oath given slew sixty of them in one day then Bachides going from Hierusalem sent about and caused divers that had fled from him and many of the people whom being slain he cast into a great pit and so committing the Countrey to Alcimus to the defence of which he left him some forces he returned unto his King Leaveth Alcimus the High-Priest with some forces After his departure Alcimus striving to confirm himself in the Priesthood made great havock of the people to restrain which Judas went throughout the Countrey and compelled his party to shut themselves up within their holds and growing stronger he restrained their invasions so that Alcimus being afraid of him goes once more unto the King carrying along with him a Crown of Gold a Palm and of the boughs which were used solemnly in the Temple and seeing he could not have any more accesse to the holy Altar taking a fit opportunity when he was asked of the affairs of his Countrey accused the Asidaeans and especially Judas as seditious of depriving him of the Priesthood the honour as he said of his Ancestors and plainly affirmed that as long as Maccabaeus lived the Kings affairs could not be secure This being seconded by some ill-willers to the Jews Demetrius was inflamed and sending for Nicanor one of his chiefest Princes Who accusing Judas Nicanor is sent against him and a bitter Enemy to the Israelites made him Captain over Judea and sent him forth with a Command to slay Judas to scatter them that were with him and make Alcimus High Priest of the great Temple 60. When he was come thither and understood the courage and resolution of Judas his brethren and companions for the defence of their Countrey he feared to try the chance of War and sent to make peace with the people who having agreed unto the Covenants the two Captains came together to consult about the League Nicanor was so taken with Judas as he continued with him loved him in his heart and perswaded him to marry and beget Children and so remained constant in his affection to him till Alcimus perceiving it Nicanor at first much loveth Maccabaeus and understanding the Covenants which were made betwixt them took a third journey to the King told him that Nicanor had taken strange matters in hand and appointed Judas a Traitor to the Realm to be his Successor Demetrius being hereat displeased by Letters checked him for these things and commanded him in all haste to send Maccabaeus bound unto Antioch which grievously troubled him that he who had done no hurt should be thus used but conceving it necessary for him to comply with the pleasure of the King he waited for a convenient opportunity to accomplish it Then complained of by Alcimus seeketh his destruction Behaving himself thenceforth more roughly to him the other suspected something by the great change of his carriage and therefore gathering a few of his men withdrew himself from him but he followed him with a strong power to Hierusalem and drawing him out to talk with him had prepared some to seize on him yet he having notice hereof got away and would see him no more Seeing his design to be discovered he went and fought with him near Capharsalama in which he lost about 5000 of his men and the rest fled into the Citie of David After this he came up to Mount Sion and some of the Priests with the Elders of the people went forth of the sanctuary to salute him peaceably and shew him the burnt-offering that was offered for the King but he jeering hereat demanded Judas to be delivered unto him and they affirming with an Oath that they knew not where he was he stretching out his hand against the Temple swore that except Judas and his forces were delivered up he would when he should return in peace set the sanctuary on fire His blasphemous threats demolish the Altar and build there a stately Temple to Bacchus The Priests hearing this went in and standing before the Altar with tears begged of God that he would frustrate the mans intentions and be avenged upon him and his Host for his blasphemous words 61. Hearing that Judas was gone from Jerusalem into Samaria 1 Maccab. 7. 2.15 he went and pitched his Tents in Bethhoron where new supplies from Syria came to him the Enemy being in Hadasa 30 furlongs off with no more than 3000 men He would fain have fought on the Sabbath day which the Jews who were constrained to follow friendly dehorting him from with great blaspemy uttered against God he refused to hear them demanding if there were a living Lord in heaven who commanded that seventh day to be kept and saying he himself was mighty upon earth to command them to Arm themselves and to perform the Kings businesse He is slain in battel But coming to the ingagement he himself was slain first which when his Army saw they cast away their Arms and fled and the Israelites following the chace slew 30000. so that not one of the Army was left remaining Coming to the plunder of the field they cut off Nicanor's head and hands and carried them to Jerusalem where they were hung up before the Temple his tongue being cut in pieces and cast unto the Fouls The end of the second book of Maccabees Then they decreed that the 13th day of the 12th moneth Adar as the Syrians call it the day before Mardocheus his day should be observed every year as the Author of the second book of Maccabees tells us who with this story finisheth his work 1 Maccab. 8. 9. being the Epitome of the five books of Jason a Jew of Cyrene After Nicanor's death Judaea was quiet for some time and then Judas hearing of the power of the Romans and their compassion of the distressed and how much Demetrius stood in awe of them sent Eupolemus the son of John and Jason the son of Eleazer on an Ambassage to the Senate Bachides and Alcimus sent into Judaea against Judas that entring into society with them the People might be freed from the yoke of Demetrius and the Greeks But Demetrius hearing of the mischance of Nicanor and his
his Passion and Resurrection to Tiberius and the Senate with the miracles done by him or by them in his name and how the multitude of believers daily increasing he was accounted a God Tiberius hereupon reported the matter to the Senate with his favourable suffrage that Christ might be accounted a God But the Senate because they were displeased that they had not first moved it refused to canonize him and by an Edict commanded that Christians should be banished the City especially by reason that Seianus the great minister of State most obstinately contradicted this Religion But Tiberius by another Edict threatened death to the accusers of Christians These things thus related by (a) Lib. 7. c. 4. Orosius are also witnessed by (b) Ecc. Hist l. 2. c. 2. Eusebius Tertullian and Justin Martyr whereof the testimonies of the two later are incontrolable for in their Apologies they durst not mention such things and cite such testimonies as they must needs know would be easily confuted 84. (a) Apologet. c. 5. Tertullian writeth that Tiberius referred it to the Senate with the prerogative of his own suffrage but they having not approved the thing refused it Caesar notwithstanding remained firm in his resolution and threatned such as should accuse the Christians This he openly asserteth in his Apology to the Pagans writing also in another (b) Cap. 21. place of the same excellent Work that Pilate who in his heart believed in Christ at the same time wrote all the History of him to the Emperour Tiberius whereupon the Caesar ' s themselves had worshipped our Master if their Government in so doing had been consistent with the men of this World and Christians permitted to have been saluted Caesars He giveth another reason why Christ was not at first worshipped as a God There was an antient Law that forbad introducing new ceremonies into Religion as worshipping strange Deities unlesse approved by the Senate and this was an unviolable and unalterable Law to which the Prince himself was subject He instanceth that Marcus Aemilius would have had divine honours rendred to his Idol called the god Albarnus but could not obtain it As for Justin Martyr he maketh it more evident telling plainly the Pagans in his second Aplogy that they may know these things thus to have been in the Acts which were written under Pontius Pilate and again that they might know that Christ wrought such miracles from the Acta or Acts made under Pontius Pilate Now the word Acta signifieth sometimes the Journal Book of the Senate then called Acta Senatus and otherwhiles the Records of the People or of the Publick then named Acta Publica De Actis consulant omaino Tirones Justum Lipsium in Comment ad Taciti Annal. lib. 5. Diurna and Urbana In the former sort was contained whatsoever was done or said by the Fathers In the later things concerning the People as Publick Judgments punishments Assemblies buildings nativities the death of eminent persons mariages and divorces These afforded matter for Historians to digest and adorn Now Justin Martyr either meaneth those Acta Publica wherein might be recorded what notable things hapned in the Provinces and set under the administration of the several Deputies or Governours or rather those Acta which Pilate himself composed in his Province For we cannot but imagine that care would be taken for the recording of things memorable as well in other places as in the City it self The Provinces had their Subcensors and their Tables And the Presidents and Deputies not onely certified by letters occasionally what happened but as we may easily apprehend did refer in Acta all memorable things which were sent to Rome and there it 's probable either transcribed into or laid up with the Acta Publica But thus much of the testimonies of Jews and Heathens concerning Christ 85. the Lord Jesus having risen the third day from the dead and after his resurrection given commission and instructions to his Disciples whom he ordained his Ambassadors to the whole World forty dayes after he arose ascended into Heaven The Ascension of Christ and sent down the Holy Ghost upon his Disciples according to his promise for the furnishing of them to the Work ten dayes after his ascension Many being converted to the Faith the Church increased and living in Love and Unity together they had all things common none calling any thing his own which he possessed About the end of the year as is rationally computed the Greeks or Hellenists Jews which living out of Judaea spake Greek in a peculiar dialect which is called Hellenistick and used the Scriptures in their Synagogues in that language murmured against the Hebrews or those who both read and spoke Hebrew for that their widdows were neglected in the daily ministration Hereupon the Apostles committed it to the number of the faithful to chuse seven men who should take care of what was gathered for the poor The seven Deacons made and these Ecclesiastical Writers call Deacons About this time James the Apostle the son of Alphaeus who is also called the brother of the Lord and was sirnamed Just was created the first Bishop of Jerusalem For thus Clemens wrote in the sixth Book of his Hypotyposewn as he is cited by Eusebius Peter and James and John though they were preferred after the ascension of the Lord contended not amongst themselves for glory and honour but with one consent appointed James the Just Bishop of Jerusalem The same Clemens in his first Book distinguished thus concerning the two which bore the name of James There were two James James the first Bishop of Jerusalem the one termed Just who was thrown down headlong from the pinacle and brained with a Fullers club the other beheaded Of him that was called Just Paul made mention saying I saw none of the Apostles save James the brother of the Lord. In the year following Christ's resurrection a great persecution was raised by the Jews against the Church wherein Stephan one of the seven Deacons and the Protomartyr was stoned to death by the procurement especially of Saul a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia But in this same year as this Saul was journying to Damascus to make havock of the Church he was converted and called to the Apostleship A. D 33. Ol. 203. an 1. V. C. 787. after which he went from Damascus into Arabia as he himself testifieth in his Epistle to the Galathians Saul converted Pilate making a slaughter of the Samaritans Eusebius in his Chronicon placeth the conversion of Saul afterwards called Paul in the nineteenth year of Tiberius 86. About this time it happened that a certain man who sought by all means the favour of the multitude Joseph Antiq. l. 18. c. 5. drew the Samaritans to Mount Gerizim which they accounted holy above all other mountains promising to shew them there the holy Vessels buried in a certain place by Moses Many had gathered themselves to the foot of
for some time to the Ceremonies of it After the death of James the Apostles from every quarter (e) Euseb l. 3. cap. 11. gathered themselves together at Jerusalem for the Election of a Bishop and chose Simon Cleopas In an assembly of the Apostles certain Canons were agreed on and published by Clemens as 't is said But (f) Concil tom 1. those that now go for them are corrupt the corruption of the Apostolical constitutions and of Ignatius his Epistles having proceeded from the same hand as reverend Usher sheweth in his Dissertation concerning the said Epistles who as to this matter is therein most worthy to be consulted About the time of Nerva the Emperour were two (g) Euseb l. 3. c. 23. Synods summoned in Asia for reformation of the Churches and Consecration of Bishops where St. John the Apostle being sent for was present About the beginning of Marcus Antoninus was a Synod at (h) Idem l. 5. cap. 16. Ancyra in Galatia where the figments of Montanus were confuted by Apollinarius And there were held in Asia sundry Synods in which Montanus was excommunicated and his Heresie condemned The brethren in (i) Lib. 5. c. 3. France also assembled together and censured the opinions of Montanus writing to Eleutherius Bishop of Rome that he would maintain the Peace of the Church there against such Hereticks (k) Lib. 5. c. 19. Serapion also Bishop of Antioch held a Synod there about the middle of Commodus his reign where together with many other Bishops he condemned the Montanists or their Heresie called the Phrygian Heresie because Montanus was of that Countrey Not long after was held a Council at (l) Idem l. 5. cap. 23. Rome by Victor the Bishop about the Celebration of Easter in Palaestine also in Pontus and Gall were Synods called about the same matter Controversie concerning Easter 38. This controversie about Easter is mentioned by Eusebius not till the last year of the 243 Olympiad which fell in with the fourth of Severus but â—appellus thinketh it first arose in the first of the 242 Olympiad and the tenth of Commodus wherein this feast was celebrated by the Jews and the Churches of Asia Minor at a wrong time as Theophilus Bishop of Caesaraea thought viz. by the Jews on the fifteenth of Nisan March 20. but by the Christians of Asia on the fourteenth of Nisan March 19. on the fourth Feria three dayes before the Vernal Aequinox Beda de natura rerum cap. 28. 46. de Aequinoctie Theophilus supposing that the Aequinox hapned on March the 25. and that so it ever did and for this cause that the Sun was on that day created and that Christ arose again the same day as also that the Lords Supper was instituted on the 22 of March contended that is was utterly against reason to prevent the Epoche of the Aequinox so many dayes and the day whereon the Lords Supper was instituted Wherefore he procured the Fathers of Palestine assembled in a Synode to make these Canons 1. That never except after March 21. 2. That never but after the fourteenth Moon 3. That never after April 24. 4. That never except on the Lords day Easter should be celebrated on that day which next followed the fourteenth Moon hapning next after March 21. Hereby he hoped it would come to passe that Easter would ever be observed within the moneth of Aries In the Synode of Palaestine where these Canons were made the aforesaid Theophilus Bishop of Caesarea and Narcissus of Jerusalem presided Of that at Rome Victor the Bishop was President In that of Pontus Palmas as the most antient did govern In that of the Bishops of Gall Irenaeus presided There was another of the Bishops throughout Ostroena and the Cities therein contained and especially held by Bauchillus Bishop of Corinth with many others all which saith Eusebius with one and the same sentence and judgement ordained the same Decree With those also consented Cassius Bishop of Tyre and Clarus Bishop of Ptolemais They affirmed that it was the Apostolick tradition and custom as yet retained that the fasting dayes should be broken up on no other day than that wherein our Saviour arose from the dead And the Church of Alexandria celebrated Easter on the self-same day with them 39. But all the Churches throughout Asia as of an antient tradition thought good to observe the high-feast of Easter in the 14th Moon on which day the Jews were commanded to offer their Paschal Lamb. As much as to say that upon what day soever in the week that Moon fell the fasting dayes were finished and ended Polycrates of Ephesus chief of these Bishops in his Epistle to the Church of Rome sheweth the custom of Asia observed unto his time in these words We observe the unviolated day of Easter neither adding any thing thereto neither taking any thing from it For notable pillars of Christian Religion have rested in Asia which shall arise at the last day when the Lord shall come home from Heaven with glory and restore all the Saints to joy Philip one of the twelve Apostles now lying at Hierapolis and his two daughters who kept themselves Virgins all the dayes of their lives the third also after the end of her holy conversation rested at Ephesus John also who lay on the Lord's breast and wore the Priestly Attire both a Martyr and a Doctor slept at Ephesus Moreover Polycarpus Bishop of Smyrna and a Martyr Thraseas an Eumenian both a Bishop and a Martyr slept at Smyrna What shall I speak of Sagaris both a Bishop and a Martyr lying at Laodicea Also of blessed Papirius and Melito an Eunuch who was led and guided in all things he did by the holy Ghost and now resteth at Sardis waiting the message from Heaven when he shall arise from the dead All these celebrated the Feast of Easter according to the Gospel in the fourteenth Moon swarving no where but observing the rule of faith To be short and I Polycrates the meanest of you all do retain the tradition of my forefathers of which also I have imitated some For there were seven Bishops before me and I am the 8th which alwayes have celebrated the Feast of Easter on that day in which the people remove the leaven from amongst them I therefore my brethren who now have lived 65 years in the Lord have conferred with the brethren throughout the World and have read and over-read the holy Scriptures yet will not be moved at all with those things which are made to terrifie us For my Ancestors and Elders have said that we ought rather to obey God than men Afterwards he speaketh of the Bishops that consented and subscribed to his Epistle after this manner I could repeat the Bishops that were present whom you requested me to assemble whom also I have assembled together whose names if I should write would grow unto a great number they have visited me a simple Soul and a man
year of the life of Noah God seeing all flesh to have corrupted it selfe and as well the posterity of Seth as that of Cain to be given up to all wickednesse it repented him that he had made Man He resolved not alwaies to strive with him yet gave him the space of 120 years to repent in If no amendment appeared in that time he fully determined by an universall Deluge to destroy Man and Beast with the creeping thing and the Fowls of the air Yet Noah a just man found grace in his sight Noah and his family preserved in the Ark. and being a Preacher of righteousnesse to the wicked World the Lord was graciously pleased to make choice of him and his family to be a remnant and a seed out of which Mankind and his Church might be propagated and repaired He commanded him to build an Ark of * Some interpret it Cedar others Cypress than which no wood is stronger of which the doors of the Temple of Ephesus were made the coffins of those that died in the service of their Country Jupiter's scepter ships in Babylon and Assyria Gopher wood into which he was to take his wife his sons and their wives with some of every living thing of all flesh of the clean by seven and the unclean by two On (e) Vide Ludov Capellum in Chronologia sacra the tenth day of the second Month he commanded him to bring the living Creatures into the Ark The order of the Deluge On the seventh after he entred it and on the same day the rain began to fall and so continued for 40. dayes and as many nights For 150 dayes the waters prevailed upon the Earth reckoned from the first fall thereof insomuch that fifteen Cubits upward the Mountains were covered and all flesh died that moved upon the Earth both of Fowl and of Cattel and Beast and of every Creeping thing that creepeth upon the Earth and every Man But God remembring Noah and every living thing and all the Cattell that was with him in the Ark after the fourty dayes the windows of Heaven were stopped and the rain from Heaven was restrained and at the end of 110 more which make up the 150 the waters were abated This fell out on the 29th day of the 7th moneth and the 196 of the year consisting of Lunar moneths or the 17th day of the 7th moneth if they were Solar The Ark resteth on Ararat 6. On the 17 th day of the 7th moneth the Ark rested upon the Mountains of Ararat according to the Hebrew if in this place the version of the 70th and Hierome in the vulgar be not rather to be credited which have the 27th seeing it is not probable that the Ark should rest the same day or two dayes before the waters began to decrease On the first day of the 10th moneth were the tops of the Mountains seen and fourty dayes after Noah sent forth a Raven which went to and fro untill the waters were dried up from off the earth The Raven returning no more unto him seven dayes after he sent forth a Dove to see if the waters were abated which finding no rest for the sole of her foot returned unto him He stay'd yet other seven dayes and again sent forth the Dove which in the evening brought in her mouth an Olive leaf so that he knew the waters to be abated Then seven other dayes passed he sent her out the third time and she returned not to him any more the waters being now so much faln that the ordinary Hills might be uncovered wherein she might continue and feed although the Plains and Vallies were still overwhelmed On the first day of the first moneth of the 601 year of Noah's life the waters were dried from off the face of the earth yet so as it still remained moist and dirty having been so long a time soaked with such quantity of moisture Therefore he stay'd yet 55 dayes more till the 27th day of the second moneth before he went out of the Ark so much time having been requisite for drying the ground especially in low places and for the growth of grasse and other things necessary for the sustenance of living Creatures which had now continued in the Ark 365 dayes or a full solar year which exceedeth the lunar eleven dayes Where Ararat is 7. The Ark rested upon the Mountains of Ararat Vide Bochaâ—ti Phaleg lib. 1. cap. 3. by which place most understand Armenia rejecting the pretended Verses of Sibylla which place it upon a Mountain of Phrygia near to the Citie Celaenae and out of which the two Rivers Marsyas and Meander do issue Some will have it to have rested about Araxene a Plain of Armenia through which the River Araxes runneth by the foot of the Mountain Taurus But the far greater number consisting both of Heathens Jews and Christians pitch upon the Mountains of the Gordyaans otherwise called Carduchi Cardiaei Cordyaei Cordueni Gordi Cordaei Curdi c. the Hill it self being variously named Kardu Cardon Kurud Kardynus Cordyaeus c. What Hill soever it was it must have stood Eastward of the Countrey of Shinar or Babylonia and the Vine must have naturally grown there upon which and other accounts these Gordyaean Mountains are rejected by a learned (*) Sir Walter Raleigh lib. 1. cap. 7. Sect. 10. Writer of modern times who affirmeth that Ararat named by Moses is not any one Hill so called no more than any one Hill among those Mountains which part Italy from France is called the Alpes and will have the same ledge of Hills running from Armenia to India to keep the same name all along and even in India to be called Ararat For that the best Vine naturally groweth on the South-side of the Mountains Caucasi and because of other excellencies of that soyl he thinketh it most probable that Noah there setled himself and planted his Vineyard And he alloweth best of the opinion of Goropius Becanus The Testimony of the Heathen concerning Noah's Flood who conceived the Ark to have rested on the highest Mountains of that part of the World 8. Of this Deluge a tradition remained amongst the Heathen (e) Josephus Antiqu. lib. 1. cap. 3. Berosus the Caldaean Priest of Belus and contemporary with Alexander the Great wrote of the Ark's resting upon the Cordyaean Mountains of Armenia and how those that came to see the Reliques of it which yet were to be seen in his time plucked off some pitch which they used to carry about them as an Antidote against infection Hierome the Aegyptian who wrote the Antiquities of Phoenicia related the same besides Mnaseas and many others amongst whom Nicolas of Damascus is considerable who in his 96 book spake of the Hill Baris in the Countrey of the Mynians a people in Armenia upon which many saved themselves in a Deluge and one being carried thither in an Ark there rested who might saith he be the
clearly appeareth in Scripture what things our Lord did and suffered for unworthy sinners after he had eaten this Supper though the order of the former passages concerning his preaching be obscure and therefore we have more largely described them Being betrayed by Judas into the hands of the Chief-Priests and by them delivered up to Pilate the Governour he being convinced of his innocence and their malice sought how to deliver him till they told him that if he did it he was not Caesar 's friend whereupon fearing to be accused to Tiberius A. D. 33. Ol. 202. an 4. V. C. 787. of protecting one who affected the Kingdom he condemned him and delivered him to the Soldiers to be crucified This was about the sixt hour or a little after noon at what time a great darknesse arose for that the Sun was obscured and continued till the ninth hour or three of the clock Then Christ to shew the bitternesse of his torment cried yet with a loud voice Eli Eli Lamasabachtani and receiving the vineger after he had commended his soul into the hands of his Father gave up the ghost Thus he who was in the form of God and counted it no robbery to be equal with God made himself of no reputation and suffered death even the most ignominious death of the Crosse for ingrateful men 73. Some think that the darknesse which hapened at our Saviour's Passion was onely in the Land of Judaea But others finding that the Evangelists mention * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Marc. Luc. the whole Earth conclude that this Eclypse was Oecumenical or Universal Luke expresly saying that the Sun it self the eye of the whole World was darkned Some conceived that the Sun was darkened by the interposition of the body of the Moon The miraculous Eclypse at our Saviour's death whereof (a) Epist 7. Dionysius the Areopagite as he calleth himself was an eye witnesse at what time he and Apollophanes the Philosopher being at Heliopolis observed the Moon suddenly to cast her self before the Sun though it was not the time of conjunction and again from the ninth hour to the evening opposing her self to the middle line of the Sun If so it was an extraordinary miracle the Moon being now at the full as (b) De Civitat Dei l. 3. c. 15. Augustin observeth it to have been ever at the Passeover and consequently at the greatest distance from the Sun out of which respect others seem to have held that the Sun was darkned not by the interposition of that luminary but the retention of his beams That the darknesse was universal appeareth from the records of Heathen Writers which as (c) Lib. 7. c. 4. Orosius saith besides the Evangelists mentioned the greatnesse of the Eclypse And (d) Apologet. c. 21. Tertullian writing to Pagans saith You cannot make this wonder suspected seeing your own Calendars have remarked it and your selves retain the testimonies thereof in your own registers Amongst Greek Authors Phlegon (e) A ud Euseb in Chronico Orig. contra Celsum l. 2. in Matth. Trallianus the Freed-man of Adrian the Emperour Recorded by the Heathen in his Work of Olympiads or Chronicle which consisted of sixteen Books clearly spoke of this Eclypse writing in his thirteenth Book that in the fourth year of the 202 Olympiad the greatest Eclypse hapened that ever was known for at the sixth hour of the day it was night so that the Starrs were seen in the Heavens 74. That Christ was put to death in the reign of Tiberius by Pontius Pilate (a) Annal. l. 15. c. 44. Cornelius Tacitus writeth an Author guilty of Ethnick ignorance and prejudice But (b) Antiq. l. 18. c. 4. Josephus the noble Jewish Historian giveth him an honourable testimony writing that At the same time there was one Jesus a wise man The testimony of Josephus concerning Christ if it be lawful to call him a man For he was a worker of wonderful works and a teacher of those which willingly receive the truth He had also many followers not onely Jews but Gentiles and he was believed to be Christ And whereas by the malice of our Princes Pilate condemned him to be crucified yet notwithstanding they who first loved him have persevered For he appeared to them alive the third day the Prophets having foretold in their writings these and many other wonderful things concerning him and to this day the People from him called Christians hath not ceased This he relateth after he had spoken of that Sedition which hapened because of Pilate his bringing in of Caesar's Images Some from amongst our selves have not given credit to this relation thinking it to be foisted in by some Christians for the greater honour of our Religion But as the piae fraudes supposed to have been used by the Primitive Christians are rather increased than otherwise by some who either pedantically and out of ostentation seek for applause from the prejudice of their own cause as one hath done of late in reference to the matter in hand or as out of a melancholick and distrustful humour question the evidence of the truth so is there no reason that this testimony should be condemned amongst them For Josephus maketh mention of John Baptist giving him large commendations and relateth also that he was beheaded though he assigneth the cause to have been but of jealousie of him and lest he should make some commotions through his popularity which likely enough might be some cause especially the malice of Herodias considered which woman would not be wanting to fill his head with suspition although the main reason was his reproving of the incest He also maketh mention of James the brother of Alphaeus whom he calleth the brother of Jesus Christ how he was put to death at Jerusalem saying that all good men were sorely troubled at it and clearly expresseth himself dissatisfied in it writing that Ananus who commanded the murder to be done did ill and this he saith not onely because the Judicial power was taken away from the Jews as is evident from the course of his words 75. It is hence clear enough that Josephus was not in the number of those whom Herod Agrippa could have pleased in the killing of the other James the brother of John Defended to be true and not feigned by Christians and truly amongst the Jews such as were not extremely malicious against Christ were something inclining to him if we consider the temper of that People It cannot therefore be said that Josephus was so inveterately despightful against Christ and Christians that as some have thought he utterly passed over the story of Christ upon that account This Principle would have induced him to rail rather than to be silent to bespatter the Christian generation rather to say nothing or rather to seem displeased at their sufferings It 's true he was with the younger Agrippa but almost a
instructed in the same things by the same Masters he was thought also to have drunk some of the poyson which Nero gave to that Prince and that this was the cause of his want of health some conjectured He performed the Office of Tribune both in the Wars of Germany and Britain with great commendations and after that being Quaestor A. D. 79. V. C. 832. Titi 1. came to have the command of a Legion in Judaea After his father came to the Government he was suspected by some when he was yet in Aegypt as intending to establish himself whereupon he hasted to Rome to cut off all jealousies Taking then part with his father in the publick cares he triumphed with him over Judaea executed with him the Censorship Tribuneship and seven Consulships nay taking as it were all upon him he dictated letters in his fathers name published edicts spake in the Senate and that in the room of the Quaestor and took on him the Government of the Palace which never had formerly been discharged but by some Roman Knight and this Office he executed with such rigor that he contracted much envy and was accounted cruel He was suspected of luxury for feasting with voluptuous persons till midnight of incontinency also being amongst other arguments too familiar with Berenice the sister of King Agrippa to which Lady he is also said to have promised marriage but performed it not because of the distaste of the People Moreover rapacity was laid to his charge Hee was both accounted and openly talked of as another Nero and scarcely did any ever came with more fear or lesse favour to the Government 26. But so contrarily to expectation did he behave himself that his former cariage did but set him off with the greater lustre and so free was he from all vice His admirable virtues and adorned with so many virtues that he became the Love and delight of mankind and by an happy exchange was so called His temperance he shewed in the moderation of his diet the choice of his companions and putting away Berenice his moderation by abstaining utterly from other mens goods and refusing often ordinary benevolences although no man ever exceeded him in munificence He was the Mirrour of courtesy being wont to say that no man should go sorrowful from the presence of the Prince and on a day having done no courtesie for any man he said Amici diem perdidi My friends I have lost a day Several sad accidents hapned in his litle time so great a Pestilence as seldom had been known So great a fire there was in Rome and kindled from Heaven that it burnt three dayes together Several calamities in his time Vesuvius also the hill in Campania burst forth with great flames and destroyed all round about it all which miseries he lessened as much as he could neither sparing cost nor pains to relieve the distressed At the same time another War arose in Britain wherein Cn. Julius Agricola harrazed all the Country of the Enemies and first of all the Romans that we know of saith Dio * Apud Xiphil in excerpt l. 66. knew that Britain was compassed about by the sea For certain Soldiers in a Sedition having killed their Centurions and Tribunes fled to their ships and lanching out sailed about that part of Britain which lieth toward the West being caried by waves and wind when they had done this and by chance light upon the other Camp of the Romans on the other side Agricola sent out others to hold the same course from whom he also knew that it was an Island These things being done in Britain Titus was saluted Imperator the fifteenth time Agricola passed the rest of his life in ignominie and poverty because he had done greater things than were suitable for a Praetor and for that cause he was afterwards put to death by Domitian though by the permission of Titus he had triumphed But concerning these things Tacitus is rather to be consulted in the life of Agricola 27. Titus put down informers usually tollerated before His mercy was too great for he vowed he had rather perish than destroy another as according to the judgment of some it came to passe Amongst others that plotted his destruction he not onely spared his brother Domitian but had him in the same respect as from the beginning and owned him as his partner and successor onely betwixt them two he besought him with tears at length to relent to Love and Unity He was a man of excellent parts both outward and inward accomplishments but to the great losse of man-kind was presently taken away He dieth whether by the treachery of his brother or no is uncertain In the beginning of his sicknesse he is said to have look'd up to Heaven as taking it ill he should dye so soon being not conscious to himself of any sin save one which as he did not expresse so it is altogether unknown He was with good reason sadly lamented throughout the Provinces He died in the same Village his Father had ended his dayes near the Country of the Sabines in the 42 year of his age when he had reigned two years as many moneths and twenty dayes in the 834 year of the City A. D. 81. M. Plautius Silvanus and M. Annius Verus being Consuls Domitian his brother succeedeth him 28. Domitian so called from Domitilla their mother succeeded Titus Sueton Eutropius being more like to Nero Caligula or Tiberius than either father or brother His youth he passed disgracefully enough Doubting upon the death of his father whether he should not give a double donative to the Soldiers to obtain their good-will he never feared to boast that he was left partner in the Empire by his father but that his testament was corrupted He never ceased to plot against his brother secretly or openly A. D. 81. V. C. 834. Titi 3. and ere he was quite dead commanded him to be caried out as such In the beginning of his reign he restrained himself for his cruelty was then imployed upon flies which privately in a room hee was wont to catch and prick with a bodkin so that one asking whether any body was within with Caesar it was not unfitly answered by Vibius Crispus At his beginning dissembleth his Vices No not so much as a flie But though at present he strove to allay the fury of his vices by some forced virtue yet within a while he let fall also this vizard and became in appearance what inwardly his disposition inclined him to be 29. He undertook several Expeditions Sueton in Domitiano Eutropius ut suprà Orosius lib. 7. c. 16. as against the Catti and Sarmatians People inhabiting the Northern parts of Europe who had cut off a whole Legion Great difficulties in his time The Dacians also put him to much trouble and grievously afflicted the Roman State under conduct of Diurpaneus their King for they overthrew first Oppius Sabinus