ready to shrink so strugled that they were ready to burst within themselves they nodded with their Countenance and beckned with their Hands exhorting them to Constancy with many signs and gestures of the Body the which when the Multitude in compass had perceived before that any laid hands on them preventing their doings they stept forth before the Bar and proclaimed themselves to be Christians so that the President and his Assistants were amazed and the Christians upon whom the Sentence had past were thereby emboldened to suffer and the Judges marvellously afraid These therefore departed from the Tribunal i. e. Judgment seat cheerfully and rejoyced in the testimony of their Faith God gloriously triumphing in them Ischyrion martyred by his Master Many others saith Dionysius throughout the Cities and Villages were quartered and dismembred by the Ethnicks i. e. Heathens whereof for example sake I will rehearse one Isohrion being a Noble-man's hired Servant and by Office his Stoward was commanded by his Master to do Sacrifice and when he obeyed not he was contumeliously i. e. reproachfully reviled The Heathen Master seeing his Christian Servant so constant pâ—…rsisting in his former Opinions taketh a great Cudgel in his hand and beat his Body and Bowels till Breath departed What shall I say of the multitude of them which wander in the desart and waste mountains consumed with Famine and Hunger and Cold and Diseases spoiled by Thieves and devoured by Beasts whose Blessedness and Victories they that remain alive are able to testifie These things Brother I write not in vain but that thou mayest understand what and how great Evils and Mischiefs have happened among us whereof they know more which among all others have felt most Of Novatus his Heresie and Impiety There was a certain Priest of Rome that was puffed up with Pride became himself the Author and Ringleader of his own Heretical Sect to wit of such as through their swelling Pride did call themselves Kathrous i. e. Puritans whereof there was a Synod i. e. a General or Universal Assembly gathered together at Rome of threescore Bishops besides many Ministers and Deacons And it was decreed that Novatus together with such as swelled and consented unto his unnatural Opinion repugnant i. e. disagreeing or contrary to brotherly Love should be excommunicated and banished the Church c. It is said that this Novatus longed of old after a Bishoprick and to the end he might conceal his own peevish Desire he used the Cloak of Arrogancy i. e. Pride or Loftiness who chose two men of a desperate Condition to be partakers of his Heresie These being simple men not knowing their crafty and malicious Fetches they were unclosed by such lewd Persons as were suborned i. e. were brought in for false Witnesses for the purpose and aâ—…ut ten a Clock when they were somewhat tipsie i. e. wanton or somewhat drunk with Wine and well crammed with Victuals were constrained to create him Bishop with imaginative or devised and frivolous i. e. vain laying on of Hands the which craftily and subtilly not compatible for his Person he challenged unto himself It is said of him that he being loth to die and desirous of Life in the time of Persecution denied himself to be a Priest And when he was intreated by the Deacons and admonished to come forth of the house wherein he had enclosed himself and to minister unto the necessity of the Brethren which wanted he was so far from yielding to the Deacons that he went away and departed in a Chafe saying That he would playno longer the Priest but addict himself unto another Trade of Phylosophy It is said of him that when he distributed the Oblation to People that he caused them to swear unto him By the Body and Blood of our Lord Iesus Christ that they would never forsake him An Epistle of Dionysius Bishop of Alexandria unto Novatus Dionysius unto the Brother Novatus sendeth greeting If thou wast constrained against thy will as thou saist thou wilt declare the same if thou return willingly Thou shouldst have suffered rather any thing than to have rent asunder the Church of God neither is this Martyrdom which is suffered for not severing and dividing the Church of less Glory than that which is tolerated i. e. suffered for denial of Sacrifice unto Devils yea in Iudgment it is of far greater Glory For in the one Martyrdom is suffered for one Soul in the other for the Universal Church i. e. the Church in general or the whole Church For if thou either perswade the Brethren or constrain them to return to Unity this notable Act will be far greater than the Fault that went before and the one will be imputed i. e. laid to his charge the other will be commended If thou canst not perswade the rebellious and disobedient save at leastwise thy own Soul I desire thy Health in the Lord and thy embracing Peace and Unity The Seventh BOOK OF EUSEBIUS Concerning Origen ORigen is said to have suffered much affliction for Christ's sake being famous eloquent trained in the Church even from his Youth up but through Envy he was brought before the Rulers and Magistrates and through the despiteful subtilty and crafty Invention of Satan he was brought into great slander and blemish of Infamy They say that the Authors of Iniquity devised that a Man should work the feat that is they prepared an Ethiopian or foul Black-moor beastly to abuse his Body but he not being willing to away with neither willing to hear of so horrible an Act brake out into loud Speeches and exclaimed at both the things which were given him in choice Rather than the one he would do the other The Choice was That either a Black-moor should play the Sodomite with him or he himself should sacrifice unto Idols And in the end he consented to Sacrifice whereof when they had put Frankincense crifice in his hand they threw it into the Fire upon the Altar By this means he was by the Judge put from Martyrdom and also banished the Church After that he was intreated by the Priests of Jerusalem to bestow a Sermon upon the People in the Church after great intreaty and in a manner constrained by the Priests he rose up took the Bible opened it and happened upon this Parcel of Scripture Unto the ungodly said God Why dost thou preach my Laws and takest my Covenant in thy mouth When he had thus read he clasped the Book sate down and burst out into Tears together with all the Audience i. e. the Assembly of People which wept with him He lived till he was Threescore and nine Years old And after his Fall he wrote his Lamentation out of which I have drawn this following Extract O ye Saints and Blessed of God with waterish Eyes and wet Cheeks soaked in Dâ—…lour i. e. Sorrow and Pain I beseech you to fall down before the Mercy-seat of God for me miserable Sinner Wo is
now-a-days do in the lofty Epithers of Duke Earl Baron Knight or Gentleman You might see amongst them abundance of Mothers that never had any Children and Virgins took care of innocent Babes as if they had beâ—…n Mothers No Family complained of Barrenness or Unfruitfullness for they never wanted Children to provide for and and those that had none of their own would be sure to find some to take care of None wanted paternal Care while so many Fathers studied to do good and men were readier to Give than others were to Ask and seemed to be sorrowful if they had not Objects upon which they might exercise a paternal Charity There was hardly a Widow among them that complained of Solitariness or sought comfort in a second Husband and second Marriage was counted little better than Adultery Their Widows were the same that they were whil'st their Husbands lived and finding that upon their Husband's death they were become Sisters of many Brethren they aimed at no other Contract but that with Christ who if they were found worthy would as they thought marry them at last to the Service of the Church where they might exercise that Material Care to the Poor and Needy which formerly they used to express to their own Children Here you should see none Rejoycing that he had any thing of his own for what-ever he had he look'd upon his Fellow-Christians as Co-heirs and was so well contented that they should inherit with him that he thought that which he had a Burthen if his Neighbours were not to share in his Possessions This present Life was the least thing they minded while that to come engrossed their Thoughts and Considerations They were so entirely Christians that in a manner they were nothing else and cared not for being any thing else lest if they should be something else they should be suspected of deviating from their Master's footsteps Hence it was that the Pagans accused them of Unrighteousness and Unprofitableness as if they were dead Weights in the World contributing nothing to the welfare and prosperity of Manking and as if they stood for Cyphers in Humane Societies though none were more ready to communicate of the Profit of their Labours to others than they and did therefore on purpose keep close to their Calling and Profession that they might be able to relieve the Needy And though they were loath to take upon them the Employment of Magistrates and Governours lest the Empero's and God's Commands should clash and they lye under a temptation of obeying Man more than God yet when-ever they were thought worthy to bear Office in the Church they readily embraced the Charge that they might be in a greater capacity to improve the Talents God had given them to his Glory and his People's good and were pleased with the Trouble of the Office that the World might see they had no design of Gain or Worldly Interest in the Administration They spake little but their Thoughts were always Great and Heavenly and as they look'd upon sublunary Objectâ—… as too mean for their lofty Minds to rest on so their care was to keep the Eyes of their Understanding fix'd on that World which fades not away Their Communications or Answers in common Discouries were Yea Yea and Nay Nay An Oath they shunn'd as much as Perjury and a Lye among them was more rare than a Sea-monster is to the Inhabitants of a Continent for they said that in their Baptism they were signed with the Mark of Truth and that they could not be Servants of the God of Truth if they should yield but to the least appearance of Falshood In the Cities and Towns where they lived none was unknown to the other for they Pray'd together heard the Word together met frequently at Meals together and were continually helpful one to the other In-so-much that where-ever they met they knew one another and when they durst not with their Lips yet with their Eyes and Gestures they would salute one another send Kisses of Peace one to another rejoyce in the common Hope and if permitted assist one another in Adversities This is one of us saith such a Saint for we have seen him in our Oratories we have Prey'd with him we have been at the Lord's Table together we have heard the Scriptures read together we have kneeled together we have been instructed together O happy Kindred which comes by Prayer and Communion of the Body and Blood of JESUS O Blessed Relations where Men are not called Brothers of the Sun or of the Stars as the antient Tyrants styled themselves but Brethren of CHRIST Children of GOD and Citizens of Heaven When a Christian who was a Stranger came to them before ever he shew'd his Testimonias they knew him by his lean Visage and meager Face which his frequent Fasting had brought him to by the Modesty of his Eyes by the Gravity of his Speech by his Gate and Habit and mortified Behaviour for something Divine did shine through their looks and one might read the Characters of the Spirit in their Countenance Nor is it very strange that a good Man should be known by his Carriage for to this day a serious Person though he says nothing something in his Lineaments and Features and Postures will betray the inward Zeal and Sincerity of his Soul and his Deportment will discover there is something more than ordinary in him as much as the Roman Senator was betray'd by the Perfumes about him Whenever they were thrust into the Croud of Malefactors there Fellow-Christians soon guessed who they were for they hastned with Meekness to their Martyrdom and without expressing any impatience or indignation submitted their Necks to the stroak of the Axe prepared for them They used to look frequently up to Heaven and one might by their smiles see that between God and them there was more than ordinary Correspondence Sometimes they would provoke the Executioners to begin their Tortures and be earnest with the Hangman not to delay their Agonnies Sometimes they would laugh at the Pain they suffer'd and in the very jaws of Death betray a taste of Immortality They looked upon Christianity as a Religion that taught them to suffer valiantly and to them it was no other but a Science to instruct Men to dispise Riches Honours and Torments too in order to Everlasting Glory Their Presidents and Pastors were known by no other Character but that of Officiousness and Charity nor had their Shepherds any other mark to be distinguish'd by but their willingness to advance the good of the Sheep and their readiness unto every good Word and Work And indeed so were the Christians in general known by their mutual Love and kind Offices If any fell sick the rest did chearfully run to comfort him and this Employment their Women were chiefly ambitious of who seldom stirred out of their own Houses but upon such occasions and when they resorted to their Oratories They were seen but rarely in the Streets except
ceased then Heresie begun to spring apace among the Christians among whom Iuglers and Impâ—…stors crept in as Euseb. relates who bear the same Name and Title and in shew professed the same Doctrine with them thereby the sooner to insnare the Faithful in the slippery way of Perdition and under pretence of reducing them to the Faith over-whelmed them in the Whirl-pool and deep Dungeon of Damnation What a slander Hereticks were unto Christian Religion Eusebius shews how that some Hereticks taught how that they that would attain unto the Perfection of their Mysteries or rather abominable Devices they were to work such Facts though they were never so filthy otherwise they could not overcome the secular i. e. worldly Potentates unless every one played his part after the secret Operation And through the subtilty of Satan came many thereby to be seduced and great occasion was given to the Infidels to blaspheme against the divine Doctrine and a great slander came to be spread in that the Fame of them was bruted abroad throughout Christendom and by this means it fell out often that the Infidels of those times conceived a wicked absurd and shameful Opinion of the Christians saying That they used the unlawful Company of Mothers and Sisters and that they fed upon the tender Infants and Sucklings How the Christians were threatned and how some were converted by beholding their innocent Sufferings In the Judaical Wars it was commanded that the Christians should be grievously punished except they would renounce Christ and blaspheme God but some were Converted by beholding the patient and innocent Suffering of the Christians from Paganism to Piety as one said for my self saith he delighted with the Doctrine of Plato hearing that the Christians were led captive neither fearing Death nor any Torments which are accounted terrible I thought it could not be that this kind of Men were subject unto Malice and set on Pleasure for what voluptuous Person or intemperate or delighted with devouring of Man's Flesh can so imbrace Death that he be deprived of his desire and not rather endeavour that this may always last that he be able to deceive Princes and not betray himself to death Moreover Iustinus writeth how that Adrianus receiving Letters from a noble President signifying in the behalf of the Christians That it was very injurious that for no Crime but only at the cut-cry of the People they should be brought and Executed An Epistle of Adrian the Emperor who ordered that no Christians should be accused neither suffer without just Cause Unto M. F. Proconsul of Asia Adrian sendeth greeting I received an Epistle from S. G thy Predecessor the occasion whereof I cannot with silence leave untouched least that thereby Men be troubled and a gap left open to the malice of Sycophants that is Talebearers wherefore if your Provincials can prove ought against the Christians whereof they charge them and justifie it before the Bar let them proceed on and not appeach that is accuse or bewray them only for the name with making out-cryes against them For it is very expedient that if any be disposed to accuse the accusation be thoroughly known of you and siftod therefore if any accuse the Christians that they transgress the Laws see that you judge and punish according to the quality of the Offence But in plain words if any upon spite or malice in way of Cavillation complain against them see you chastise him for his Malice and punish him with Revengment Antoninus Pius Epistle in the behalf of the Christians The Emperor Caesar Marcus c. sendeth greeting unto the Commons of Asia I know saith he the Gods are careful to discover hurtful Persons for they punish such as will not worship them more grievously than ye do those whom ye bring in trouble confirming that Opinion which they conceive of you to be wicked and ungodly Men. It is their desire in Gods Quarrel rather to die than to live so that they become Conquerors yielding their lives unto the Death rather than to obey your Edicts It shall seem very necessary to admonish you of the Earth-Quake which have and do happen among us that being therewith moved you may compare our Estate with theirs They have more Confidence to God-wards than you have you during the time of your Ignorance despise other Gods contemn the Religion of the Immortal God Banish the Christians which Worship him and Persecute them unto Death In the behalf of these men many of the Provincial Presidents have Written heretofore unto our Father of Famous Memory whom he Answered in Writing again that they were not to be longer molested unless they had practised Treason aganst the Roman Empire And many have given notice unto us of the same Matter whom we answered as our Father did before us If any therefore hereafter be found thus busied in other Mens affairs we command that the accused be absolute and free tho he be found such an one I mean faulty and that the accuser be grievously Punished This Ediâ—…t was Proclaimed at Ephesus in the hearing of that great Assembly of Asia An Extract out of the Epistle of the Church of Smyrna unto all the Congregations of the Holy Catholick Church throughout Pontus Mercy Peace and the Love of God the Father and of our Lord Jesus Christ be multiplied We have written unto you Brethren of such as suffered Martyrdom The beholders of them were amazed seeing their Flesh rent with Scourges even unto the Inner Veins and Sinews so that the most secret Entrails of their Bodies their Bowels and inward Privities were piteously to be seen beholding again the sharp Shells of Sea-fish and pibble Stones strowed under the Martyrs Backs and bruised Bodies with every kind of Torment that could be devised last of all they were thrown to be torn in pieces and devoured of Wild Beasts But there was a certain Phrygian by Name Quintus that trembled at the fierce Rage of the terrible Beasts and shrinked at the sight of their grim Visage and betrayed his own safety with slackness of Courage for the same Epistle testifieth of him that he personally appeared together with the rest before the Bar more of rashness than of any Religion and being taken he publickly professed That none ought to intrude himself among such Men without good Devotion neither to intermeddle in matters wherewith he hath not to do The same Chapters sheweth how that after Polycarpus was apprehended he was brought to the City upon an Ass on the great Sabbath day And a Justice of Peace with his Father meeting him they received him into their Chariot and perswaded him saying What harm is it to say Lord Caesar to sacrifice and so be saved At the first he answered nothing but when they urged him he said I will not condescend unto your Counsel They perceiving he would not be perswaded gave him very rough Language and tumbled him
own murtherer l. 2. c. 7. Plinus secundus the Christians great friend l. 3. c. 30. Polycarpus's nobility and Constancy untill death l. 4. c. 15. Pothinus dyed in prison l. 5. c. 1. Polycrates of the death of John and Philip the Apostles l. 3. c. 28. A Proclamation against the Christians l. 6. c. 40. Priests sedition among themselves about Tythes l. 2. c. 20. R. ROman Empire prosperous whâ—…le the Christians injoyed their Liberty in it l. 8. c. 14. S. SAnctus's constancy and Martyrdom l. 5. c. 1 Concerning the Scriptures l. 5. c. 28. Sects among the Jews l. 4. 21. Simeon the Bishops Martyrdom l. 3. 29. Simon Magus the 〈◊〉 l. 2. c. 13. The Church of Sâ—…yrna's Epistle to other Churches l. 4. c. 15. A Synod summoned to Rome l. 10. c. 5. T. THaddaeus cured King Agbarus but would receive no money for his cure nor for his preaching l. 1. c. 14. Theodisia a virgins suffering l. 8. c. 25. Theudas the soycerer beheaded l. 2. c. 11. V. VAlerianus was at the first mild and gentle towards the Christians but afterwards he became exceeding cruell l. 7. c. 6. Urbanus a cauel persecutor fell into great misery l. 8. c. 25. Y. YOung and Old were injoynd to Sacrifice unto the Gods of the Heathens l. 8. c. 27. Hoc genus literarum non cum credendi necessitate sed cum judicandi libertate legendum est This kind of Writings is to be read not with a necessity of believing them but with a liberty to judge of them The First BOOK OF EUSEBIUS PAMPHILUS The Definition of a Christian. EUSEBIUS saith in his first Book of his Ecclesiastical History in the fifth Chapter That he that will express the Name of a Christian must be such a Man as excelleth through the Knowledge of Christ and his Doctrine in modesty and righteousness of Mind in continency i. e. chastity of Life in vertuous Fortitude i. e. Srength and in Confession of sincere Piety i. e. Godliness towards the one and the only universal God Of the Martyrdom of John Baptist and the Testimony of Josephus touching Christ. In the 12th Chap. of the aforesaid Book Euseb. speaking of Iohn Baptist Relates how that when divers flocked together for many greatly delighted in hearing of him Herod fearing least that so forcible a Power of persuading which was with him should lead the People into a certain Rebellion he supposed it far better to bereave him of his Life before any Novelty were by him put in use than that change with danger being come in place he should repent him and say Had I wist Thus Iohn because of Herod's suspicion was sent toward and there beheaded In the same Chapter he repeats what Iosephus wrote of Christ saying there was at that time one Jesus A wise Man if it be lawful to call him a Man a worker of Miracles a Teacher of them that received the Truth with gladness he drew after him many as well of the Jews as Gentiles This same was Christ and though Pilate by the Judgment of the chief Rulers amongst us delivered him to be Crucified yet there wanted not them which from the beginning loved him Of him the Christian People borrow their Name The Epistle of King Agbarus unto Iesus Christ. Agbarus Governour of Edessa unto Jesus the good Saviour shewing himself in Ierusalem sendeth greeting I have heard of thee and thy Cures which thou hast done without Medicines Herbes For as the Report goeth thou makest the Blind to see the Lame to go the Lepers thou cleansest foul Spirits and Devils thou castest out the long diseased thou restorest to Health and raisest the Dead to Life When that I heard these things of thee I imagined with my self one of these two things either that thou art God come from Heaven and dost these things or the Son of God that bringest such things to pass wherefore by these my Letters I beseech thee to take the pains to come unto me and that thou wilt cure this my grievous Malady i. e. Disease or Sickness wherewith I am sore vexed I have heard moreover that the Jews murmur against thee and go about to mischief thee I have here a little City and an Honest which will suffice us both The Epistle of Christ unto Agbarus Agbarus blest art thou because thou hast believed in me when thou sawest me not for it is written of me that they which see me shall not believe in me that they which see me not may believe and be saved Concerning that that thou wrotest unto me that I should come unto thee I let thee understand that all things touching my Message are here to be fulfilled and after the fulfilling thereof I am to return again unto him that sent me but after my Assumption i. e. taking up I will send one of my Disciples unto thee which shall cure thy Malady and restore Life to thee and them that be with thee Unto these Epistles there was a Narration added in the Syrian Tongue which sheweth how that after Jesus Ascention there was one of his Disciples sent to the City where Agbarus resided and when the King heard of him he sent for him and when Thaddaeus the Disciple and one of the 70 heard the Message he said I go for it is for his sake that I am sent thus mightily to work And when he was come to the King he asked him saying Art thou of Truth a Disciple of Jesus the Son of God which made me this Promise I will send unto thee one of my Disciples which shall cure thy Disease and shall shew Life unto thee and all thine To whom Thaddaeus made Answer because thou hast greatly believed in the Lord Jesus which sent me therefore am I sent unto thee but in case that thou believest in him as yet thy hearty Petitions according unto thy Faith thou shalt obtain To whom Agbarus said I have continued so believing in him that I could have found in my Heart mightily to destroy the Jews which Crucified him were not the Roman Empire a lett unto my purpose Thad said again our Lord and God Jesus Christ fulfilled the Will of his Father which being finished he is ascended unto him Agb. Answered and I have believed in him and in his Father To whom Thad replies therefore in the Name of the same Lord â—…esu I lay my Hand upon thee which when he had done he was forthwith cured of his Malady and delivered of the Pain that pressed him sore Agbarus marvelled at this that even as it was reported to him of Jesu so in Truth by his Disciple and Apostle Thad without Apothecary Stuff and vertue of Herbs he was cured with many more So afterwards Agb being desirous to know many things concerning Christ he Commanded his Citizens to be gathered together to hear the Sermon of Thaddaeus which being ended the King charged that Gold coined and uncoined should be given him
him forthwith from doing Sacrifice exhorting him thenceforth to cease and to be no more seduced saying moreover there was no reason that he should despise the One and the Only True God and offer Sacrifices unto Devils Immediately after he was haled of the Presidents Train as of savage Beasts furiously raging againest him and tormented over all his Body with many stripes the which he patiently suffered and for a while was clapt in prison and afterward shas brought before the Judge and was tortured with many Torments and was finally cast into the Se. Great Persecution against the Christians A young Virgin called Theodosia coming to salute certain Prisoners she was apprehended as if she had done some heinous and horrible Offence and she was haled before the President and he forthwith like a mad man bereaved of his Wits scourged her bare sides with bitter and grievous Lashes and afterwards she was drowned in the Sea Afterwards many were condemned to the Mine-Pits not for Commodity and Profits sake but for Affliction and Misery some burned three Martyrs enjoyned to buffet if not to kill one another and some were torn of wild Beasts and some of the Christians were gâ—…lded and afterwards condemned to the Quarries and others were condemned grievously and chastised with Imprisonment and Fetters Of which number was Pamphilus of all my Familiars saith Eusebius my dearest Friend a Man who among all the Martyrs of our times excelled for every kind of Virtue But not long after this Villany exercised upon Pamphilus and others Vengeance from above began on a sudden to take hold on Urbanus their persecutor while as yet he governed in this sort so that after great shame and ignominy being convinced of hainous Crimes and horrible Treachery he was condemned to die then he whined like a Child and cried for the help of the whole Nation which he had ruled The Punishment of 130 Confessors and of Persecution reviving again against the Christians Not long after there were 130 valiant Champions out of the Country of Egypt Protesting their Faith in Christ and Religion to God-wards which at the Commandment of Maximinus suffered in Egypt the like Torments viz. That their right Eyes should be sticked upon the point of a Bodkin and all to be digged out and searched to the inner Veins with a hot scalding Iron and that the left Leg should be Sawn alunder in the Knee-Sinews But with these hainous and horrible Treacheries practised against the Noble and Renowned Martyrs of Christ the great heat of Persecution was asswaged and the Flame thereof as it seem'd unto us by reason of their Blood was quenched and now Pardon and Liberty was granted unto the Confessors for so the Christians it seems were then called of Thebias who were then oppressed with drugery in the digging of Metais growing in that Region And we poor silly Christians went about to recreate our selves in this calm season of quiet peace but he in whose hand it lay to persecute us I wot not how neither by what motion was again throughly and wonderfully incensed i. e. stirred up to Anger against the Christians Therefore upon a suddain the Letters of Maximinus were sent to raise Persecution against us in every Province whereupon the President and the grand Captain of the Emperors whole Host gave out Commandments by Writs by Epistles and Publick Decrees unto the Wardens in every City unto the Governours and Rulers of Garrisons unto Auditors i. e. Officers of Account and Recorders that the Emperours Edict with all speed might take effect And charged moreover that withal Celerity i. e. Swiftness or Speed they should repair and build again the Idol-groves and Temples of Devils lately gone to ruine And also they should bring to pass that Men and Women their Housholds and Families their Sons and their Servants together with their tender sucklings hanging at their Mothers Breasts should Sacrifice and in very deed taste of the Sacrifice themselves c. These things being come to this pass and the Christians being as it is most like altogether dismayed at these sad sorrowful Plunges wherewith they were held And the Ethnicks i. e. Heathens themselves complained of the Intolerable and Adsur'd too too shameful a dealing for they were cloyed with too much Cruelty and Tyranny and this lamentable season hanging every where over our Heads the divine power of our Lord Jesus Christ again gave unto these his Champions such valiant Courage of mind that they set at naught tread down and stamped under Foot all the terrors and threats which the Enemy could devise Three therefore of the Faithful Christians Linked together in one mind went unto the President as he Sacrificed and with a loud voice exhorted him to reform himself to revâ—…ke his Errour and to leave his Folly affirming there was no other God but he who was the Author and Finisher of all things And being demanded who and what they were boldly made answer That they were Christians whereat Firmilianus being vehemently moved without any more ado or farther Punishment commanded forthwith They should be Beheaded The Ninth BOOK OF EUSEBIUS Maximinus forbad Assemblies in Church-yards THis Tyrant who bore Rule in the Eastern Parts would not suffer the Christians to live in peace no not Six whole Months but pur in Ure every Mischievous Practice to the overthrow of Peace and Tranquility first by a certain pretence he goeth about to bar us of our Liberty of meeting in Church-yards next by sending certain Malicious Men he incited i. e. stirrod up and provoked against us the Citizens of Antioch that they should buy of him for a great benefit that he would permit no Christian at all to dwell within his Dominions Maximinus waged Battel with Licinnius and was overcome and then Published an Edict in the behalf of the Christians Maximinus became so furious and mad that he broke the League made with Licinnius and he raised an Irreconcilable War and in a short space therefore with all might he molested in manner every City and having gathered all his host together and mustered a multitude of many Myriads i. e. ten thousands of Souldiers he marched to Battle trusting in Devils whom he took for Gods and was Arrogant i. e. proud or Insulting because of his great multitude of Armed Souldiers but he was overcome and became subject to most vile shame and reproach and being stricken with rage and madness he slew many Priests and Prophets of their Gods Afterwards he ordained a most perfect absolute decree in the behalf of the Christians Liberty Wherein he said That if any were disposed to cleave unto such Ceremonies i. e. Rites or Customs or to addict themselves unto the observation of that Religion it might be Lawful for them without Offence to follow their own will And that they should be hindred or forbidden by no man Our pleasure is moreover that without fear and suspition they should use that
Schools of Learning but brought up to a Trade to catch Fish and mend Nets most of the Apostles being taken from the meanest Trades and all of them Paul excepted unfurnished of all Arts of Learning and the advantage of liberal and ingenious Education and yet these were the Men that were design'd to rund down the world and to overturn the Learning of the Prudent certainly had humane wisdom been to manage the business it would have taken quit other Measures and chosen out the profoundest Rabbins the accutest Philosophers the smoothest Oratours such as would have been most likly by strength of Reason and Arts of Rhetorick to have triumphed over the Minds of Men to Graple with the stubbornness of the Iews and baffle the the finer Notion and Speculation of the Greeks but it being otherways it is plainly evident that they taught Christianity by a Divine Power the sum of the discourse is in the Apostles words 1 Cor. 1. 27. 28. that God chose the foolish things of the world to confound the wise the weak to confound those that are mighty In the Enumeration of the Apostles all the Evangelist constantly place Peter in the front and Matthew expressly tells us that he was the first that is he was the first Called to be an Apostle his Age also and the gravity of his person more particularly qualifying him for a Primar of Order amongst the rest of the Apostles Yea our Lord chose him to be his more intimate Companion whom he admitted more familiarly than the rest in all the most secrets passages and transactions of his Life Peter Preached such a Sermon in the Name of Iesus of Nazareth the effect of which was so strange and wonderful there being that day added to the Church no less then Three thousand Souls a quit and plentiful Harvest and though the Converting so vast a multitude might justly Challenge a place amongst the greatest Miracles yet the Apostles began now more particulars Acts 3. 1 to exercise their Miraculous power and Peter and Iohn going up to the Temple about the hour of prayer they found a poor impotent Criple who though above forty years old had been lame from his birth lying at the beautiful Gate of the Temple and asking an Alms of them Peter carelessly looking on him told him he had no mony to give him but that he would give him that which was much better restore him to his health and lifting him up by the hand commanded him in the Name of Iesus of Nazareth to rise up and walk the word was no sooner said than the thing was done while Peter was this working Miracles and discoursing to the People in one place we may suppose that Iohn was Preaching to them in another and the success was answerable there being by this means no fewer than five thousand brought over to the Faith Acts 4. 4. Whilest the Apostles were thus Preaching the Priests and Saduces who hated Christianity intimated to the Magistrates the danger thereof seized on the Apostles and cast them into Prison Acts 4. 1. the next day they were brought before the Jewish Sanhedrims and being asked by what power and authority they had done this Peter resolutely answered in the Name of Iesus of Nazareth whom they themselves had Crucified and God had raised from the dead and made head of the Corner and that there was no other way to expect Salvation but by him c. Great was the boldness of the Apostles admired at by the Sanhedrim it self especially when this was the very Court that had so lately Sentenced and Condemned their Master the Council commanded them to Preach no more in the Name of Iesus but Peter and Iohn replied that they could by no means yeild Obedience thereunto appealing to themselves whether it was not more fit that they should obey God rather than them and that they could not but testifie what they had seen and heard The Church exceedingly multplied by these means and that so great a company most whereof were poor might be maitained they generally sold their Estates and brought their mony to the Apostles to be by them disposed in one common Treasury and thence distributed according to the several exigent of the Church which gave occasion to the dreadful instance Ananias and his wife Acts 5. 1. Saphire having taken upon them the profession of the Gospel according to the free and generous Spirit of those times and had Consecrated and Devoted their Estates to the honour of God and the necessity of the Church and accordingly sold their possessions and turn'd them into mony but as they were willing to gain the reputation of Charitable Persons so were they loth wholy to cast themselves upon the Divine Providence by letting go all at once and therefore privately with-held part of what they had divoted and bringing the rest laid it all at the Apostles feet hoping thereby they might a deceived the Apostles though immediately guided by the spirit of God Peter at his first coming in treated Ananias with these sharp inquiries Why he should suffer Satan to fill his heart with so big a wickedness as by keeping back his Estate to think to dceive the holy Ghost that before it was sold it were holy at his one disposing and after it was perfectly in his own power fully to have performed his Vow so that it was capable of no other interpretation then that herein he had not only abused and injured Men but mocked God and what in him lay lyed too and cheated the holy Ghost who they knew was privy to the most secret thoughts and proposes of his heart This was no sooner said but suddenly to the great terrour and amazement of all that were present Ananias was Arrested with a stroke from Heaven and fell down dead to the ground not long after his wife come in whom Peter entertained with the same severe reproofs wherewith he had her husband adding that the like sad fate and doom should immediately seize her who thereupon drapt down dead as she had been Copartners with him in the sin becoming sherer with him in the Punishment an instance of great severity filling all that heard it with fear and terrour and become a seasonable prevention of that hypocrisie and dissimulation wherewith many might possibly think to have imposed upon the Church this severe case being extraordinary the Apostles usually exerted their power in such Miracles as were more useful and beneficial to the world curing all manner of diseases and disposessing Devils Acts 2. 12. Insomuch that they brought the sick into the Street and laid them upon Beds and Couches that at least Peter's shadow as he passed by might come upon them these aftonishing Miracles could not but mightily contribute to the propagation of the Church and convince the world that the Apostles were more considerable Persons than they took them for Poverty and Meanss being no bar to true worth and greatness thus Peter who converted the world not by power
such charitable Employments called them forth for none denied her Neighbour her care nor could any worldly Rspects discharge them from that Officiousness If any were Rich or Noble they were the readier to express their compassion and Women of the highest Descent were the forwardest to assist the Calamitous in their need for Religion had mortifi'd in them all Punctilio's of Honour and State and made them remember that in Christ they were all equal She in whose Veins the Noblest Blood did run would say of her poor distressed Nighbour she is my Sister my Fellow-member one that hath part with me in my Dear Redemer If she be antient she is my Mother said she if younger she is my Daughter nor were these expressions names of course only but they were written in their hearts and their Lips spoke what their Minds believed and these words were at once pronounced and thought Hence it was that the greatest Ladies touch'd their poorer Neighbours Sores bound up their Wounds applied Plaisters to them made their Beds and tended them as the meanest Servants Here you might see the industry of one there the sweetness and patience of another one would turn the sick Sister the other help her up the third dress her the fourth feed her and in all this the sick Creature saw as it were the Face of the Lord JESUS She that tended the Sick look'd upon Christ in her that was sick and she that was sick thought she saw Christ in the person that tended her So Divine so heavenly were their Works of Mercy that one was to the other in God's stead and that saying of Christ What you haue done unto the least of these my Brethren you have done it unto me did not depart from their Memories Thus stood the case with the Holy Women then and this advantage they reapt by their Charitable care that when their Husbands died they were taken as Deaconnesses into the Church and thus they prepared themselves for Christ and the Church's Service If any were imprisoned upon the account of Religion all that knew them would fly to them No Keeper so hard-hearted but they would find out a way to smooth him no Lock no Bar so strong but they would make a shift to break it either by their Gifts or their soft Answers not to make the Jaylers false to their Trusts but to get an oppertunity to see their Suffering Friends and when they saw them one would kiss their Chains and Fetters another lay his Lips to their Wounds a third give their bruised Members and tired Bodies such refreshment as was needful 〈◊〉 any of them were driven into Exile in every place they met with Brethren and Feliow-Christians and these would run to to them comfort them lead them into their Houses and treat them as Members of their own Family especially when by Letters from their Brethren they understood that for CHRIST his sake they were driven from their native home Were any condemned to work in Mines or Quarries the neighbouring Christians that that heard of it would presently come together help the innocent Man endeavour to make his burthen light feed him with Victuals and assist him in the performing of his Task Were any of them sent through the malice of the Heathen Governors to the Correction-house or forced to labour hard in Caves and Dens or lamentably scourg'd beaten and abused for the name of the Lord JESUS The rest that heard of it would not complain nor think their Brethren unhappy but rather count themselves so because they were not counted worthy to suffer for the Name of JESUS and therefore would wish that this might be their Lot and Portion too If the fury of Tyrants abated or remitted at any time and the imprison'd and afflicted Believers got leave to return home again some wounded some bruised some with disjoynted Bones some half Burnt some Maimed some with one Arm some with one Eye some with one Leg only their Friends would run out to them and strive who should first receive them into their Houses Happy the man that could kifs their Wounds and refresh them with Necessaries and Conveniences and the longer any Man could harbour such a Christian at his House the happier he thought himself to be And such Men as had thus suffer'd for Christ they honour'd for the future and esteem'd them equal with their Pastors and Presidents Indeed out of these they chose their Bishops thinking those fittest to serve at Christ's Altar who had already made themselves a Sacrifice for him Thus Men purchased the degree of Pastours by their Holiness and their eminent Sanctity which pressed even through Wounds and Tortures for the Name of Christ prepared them for that Function Men that were strong to suffer they justly thought might be fittest to lalabour in God's Church and they that had been such Champions for the truth they looked upon as the properest Instruments to defend it to their death Nor did their kindness extend only to their Friends but reacht even to their greatest Enemies and they that jush before were persecuted by them if their Persecutors fell fick or were afflicted or the Plague of God came upon them these injured Christians would offer their Services support them comfort them admonish them attend at their Beds side and Lend them their helping-hand cherish them supple their Sores relieve them and with a pity great and magnanimous weep over their calamitious Estate to the amazement of the Pagan World who were now ready to look upon them as Angels when but just before they thought them as bad as Devils Poverty was the least thing that troubled them nor did Want sit so heavy on their Souls as it doth on ours for they had learned to undervalue Riches and that which made them slight it were these two impressions the Apostles Doctrine had made on their Souls This sunk deep into their Hearts that here we have no Continuing City but we seek one to come That all we see here is but shadow and imagery but the substance is not yet Visible that the fashions of this World will pass away and the Gaudes and Glories below the Moon afford no real satisfaction This made it ridiculous in their eyes to snatch at a Butterfly or a Flying Feather and they rationally believe that what-ever is subject to time and change will certainly make it self Wings and flee away and leave the Soul as empty as it found it and that therefore their Thoughts must be turned another way even there where constant satisfaction lasting content permanent happiness perfect beauty and uninterrupted joys are to be found and indeed this duly weigh'd will breed a mighty contempt of Temporal things and a certain expectation of future Bliss Nor did the care of their Children fill their Hearts with anexious Thoughts for they were sensible that when-ever the Church had notice of their want they would certainly be relieved and looked after for as many Fathers and Mothers left their