of Nice declared so to be by the Senators Faith in writing asuring them that the Emperor believed according to the form of Faith published at Nice by three hundred and eighteen Fathers and agreeable to the Creed framed at Constantinople by one hundred and fifty Bishops and no otherwise then the Epistles of the Holy Fathers Gregory Basil Hillary Epistles read Athanasius Ambrosius and the two Epistles of Cyril read in the first Council of Ephesus have directed him and that Leo the most reverend Bishop of Rome deposed Eutyches for the contrary Lastly for it will be too long though otherwise of some account Cap. 18. Dioscorus's Sentence to rehearse all the Acts of this Council Dioscorus's Sentence was in these words Because thou hast despised the Holy Canons of the Church because thou hast not obeyed this holy and general Council because thou art moreover convinced of many other Crimes because thou being thrice called of this famous Assembly to answer to such things as are laid to thy charge thou camest not know that for all the aforesaid thou art deposed by the Holy and General Council the thirteenth of this present October of thy Bishoprick and bereaved of all Ecclesiastical Right and Title After this Florentius Bishop of Sardis craved their favour that with advice and after deliberation taken they might attain unto the Truth and Cecropius Bishop of Sebastopolis said The Faith is most notably set The Faith of the 318. Fathers confiâ—med by Athanasius c and by Leo desired to be read forth by the three hundred and eighteen Holy Fathers confirmed afterwards by the godly Fathers Athanasius c. as aforesaid and now again approved by most Holy Leo Therefore our request is That the Creed of the three hundred Holy Fathers and the most Holy Leo may The cry upon the reading this Faith and confirmation The Faith of the 150. Fathers at Constantinople read The cry thereupon be read Being read all the Council cryed This is the Faith of the true Professors we are all of this Faith This is the Faith of Pope Leo this is the Faith of Cyril thus hath the Pope interpreted Then the Faith of one hundred and fifty Fathers at Constantinople was read upon which the Council cryed out and said This is the Faith of the true Professors thus we do all believe Then the Epistles Cyril's Epistles to Nestorius anâ— John conceâ—ning Mary's being the Mother of God read of Cyril to Nestorius and John of Antioch were read which treats of Mary being the Mother of God what strange expressions are here of him the Mother of him who is from everlasting and is without beginning of days or end of life and in the behalf The cry upon that of that upon which all the Council cryed out We are all of that Faith Leo the Pope believeth so Cursed be he that divideth Christ that confoundeth his Natures this is the Faith of Arch-Bishop Leo thus believeth Leo Leo and Anatolius are of this Faith we are all of this Faith Cyril is of this Faith let Cyril never be forgotten let the Epistles of Cyril be ever had in memory this is our Opinion thus we have believed and do believe thus doth Arch-Bishop Leo believe thus hath Leo's Epistle and the Interpretation read The cry after the reading of that he written Then Leo his Epistle is read with the interpretation annexed thereunto and the Bishops cryed out This is the Faith of the Fathers this is the Faith of the Apostles we are all of this Faith the true Professors are all of this Faith cursed be he that believeth not this Peter in the person of Leo said thus Thus have the Apostles taught Leo hath godly and truly taught these things Cyril hath taught this Leo and Cyril have taught the like cursed be he that holdeth not this Faith this is the true Faith this is the Opinion of the true Professors This is the Faith of the Fathers Why were not these things read in the Council of Ephesus What meant Dioscorus to conceal these things No less than ten Pages are taken up in such things as these and Ten Pages in the History filled with these things the proceedings of the Council which I should much perhaps offend some if I should be particular in them all onely thus much as in one instance I thought convenient to insert that the Reader may see what work here was what cluttering what clamouring what being more like a company Geese gigling their A comparison of these things and the reason why they were thus noises than a Council of grave men and sober Christians and how their Faith was placed and set and upon what Foundation I shall now proceed to the consequences of these works and the effects of them as they seemed to have a reproof from the Lord in the matters of the Empire and the things that ensued therein Dioscorus being exiled to Gangrena a City in Paphlagonia Proterius Cap. 5 The consequence of these things Great Tumult at Alexandria about exiling Dioscorus and plaâ—ing in Proterius Slaughter bloodshed was set in his room upon whose enstalment wonderful and great tumults arose among the people some would have Dioscorus called home again others clave unto Proterius the consequence whereof was much slaughter and blood-shed for with blood commonly was stained the Seats of these Bishops as their forms of Faith were the consequences of such their Seats and the occasions of them The Lieutenant of Thebais coming then into Alexandria seeing the people all in an uproar and setting The people set upon the Magistâ—ates Force the Garison Burn the Souldiers quick Ransack the Temple in which they forced them 2000. choice Souldidiers hastned thither They ravish the Wives deflour the Daughters of the Citizens upon the Magistrates how they threw stones at the Garison that endeavoured to keep the peace how they forced the Souldiers into the Temple of old called Seraphis how the people ran thither ransacked the Temple and burned the Souldiers quick The Emperor understanding thereof sent two thousand chosen Souldiers who having Wind and Weather arrived in six dayes after they ravished the Wives and defloured the Daughters of the Citizens which to them that beheld it this last skirmish seemed to have exceeded the former in cruelty After all this the people gathered together at Circus where their Shews used to be solemnized requesting of Florus the Governor of the Garison and City in Civil Affairs to restore unto them the priviledged Corn their Baths their common Shews and other things of which for these Tumults he had deprived them who by his presence Floras reduces the people into peace The Monks near Jerusalem not at rest because of the Sentence of Dioscorus Gâ—eat stir and dissention in the Council aforesaid and gentle exhortation brought them for a while into peace But the Monks inhabiting near Jerusalem could not be at rest for some of them
but to all Nations of the Earth to the Gentiles the Church of God amongst them which to gather or to draw into one was the Gospel sent and preached and the Worship now was no longer National nor was it the National Worship of the Jews which also was commanded of God and accompanied with his presence while the end of it was not come or accomplished But it was every where Spirit and Truth not Form and Letter fearing of God working of Righteousness is accepted of him the true Worshippers the Worshippers whom the Father seeks to worship him All the others were dasht in pieces the end was accomplished it stood not in meats and drinks the Kingdom of God but in Righteousness and Peace and joy in the Holy Ghost not in killing of Sheep and slaying of Oxen but in an humble and contrite heart and that trembled at his Word the Sacrifices of God which even under the Law were entitled and said to be his through all which he looked for and accepted which the Sacrifices and the blood of Goats and Bulls signified Circumcision and all the Ordinances of the Jews which Moses commanded and which it was death not to observe comes now to be called beggerly Rudiments the Hand-writing of Ordinances the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances the enmity which he destroyed on the Cross and blotted out which the Apostle saith was against them and which neither they nor their Fathers were able to bear And he saith Touch not tast not handle Gal. 5. 2. Phil. 3. 2 3. not which all saith he perish in the using And if you be circumcised Christ shall profit you nothing I wish them cut off that trouble you And beware of Dogs and beware of evil workers beware saith he of the Concision for we are the Circumcision which worship God in the Spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh And the Apostles now as any were gathered into the Church they gathered them out of all the Jewish Observations and Heathenish worshipping of Idols into one God and Name of the Lord Jesus who was the great Shepherd and Bishop of the Soul Not into the Name of the Church of the Jews or the Temple or of this Region and that but into the Name of Christ Jesus The Churches of what Of the Jews c. Nay the Churches of Christ Christ the Head of the Church which are in 1 Thes 1. 1. Judea c. The Church which is in God Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus unto the Church of the Thessalonians which is in God Not in this man or that not in this profession and that barely but in God And so it was during the Apostles times of which the Scripture makes mention and their business was to open the eyes to turn men from darkness to the light and from the Power of Satan unto God that they might receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among them which are sanctified by Faith which is in me As Paul saith of his Commission which he received of the Lord Acts 26. 18. And he stiles himself an Apostle not of men neither by men but by Jesus Christ and God the Father which raised him from the dead And he saith The Righteousness which is of Faith speaketh on this wise Say not in thy heart Who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring Christ down from above Or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ again from the dead But what saith it The Word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the Word of Faith which we preach Rom. 10. 6 7 8. And the Apostle to the Hebrews saith But finding fault with them that is the first Covenant and the things therein of which he had been speaking in the former words he saith Behold the dayes come saith the Lord when I will make a new Covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah Not according to the Covenant which I made with their Fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt because they continued not in my Covenant and I regarded them not saith the Lord For this is the Covenant that I will make with the House of Israel after those dayes saith the Lord I will put my Laws into their mind and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a People And they shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying Know the Lord for all shall know me from the least unto the greatest For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their iniquities will I remember no more Heb. 8. 8 9 10 11 12. Now here is nothing of Churchship of an outward Administration and Worship of a delegation of Power to any to constitute and appoint Worships or how God should be worshipped or what Discipline should be used in the Church or what Power the Church should have as to visible things and who should be the Governors or Rulers thereof that should direct or order as to that throughout all Ages but a turning to a Principle wherein God is to be known and whereby he is to be worshipped Not to Man Kings Princes Governors States Emperors no not to Presbyters Councils Fathers Pastors Officers Synods Be ye followers 1 Cor. 11. 1. of me as I also am of Christ saith Paul But to the Light the Light of the Son of God who is Light God is Light and in him is no darkness at all the Covenant of Light to the Gentiles the Light of the World the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World that which sheweth man that is in the Transgression that he is in the dark that turns him from the darkness to the Light and from the power of Satan unto God The Lord never sent to turn man unto man nor did he ever give power to man to order man as to the Worships of him no not in the Mosaical Administration all the World have been in mistakes about these things but he alwayes reserved the power in himself and by the guidance and order of him man was to be directed and God to be worshipped for from the Lord Moses received in the mount what was that Administration hitherto to the Law of Moses when the Israelites were gone astray and had transgressed were all things to be reduced and the reformation to be made the Law of Moses which was a figure of that which came by Jesus Christ unto which all things after he was come to which Moses his Administration or the Law which was given by Moses was to have reference as it was to spring from it And the coming of him was the time of Reformation of which the Apostle speaks Heb. 9. 10. Which stood saith he speaking of that Ministration which in the verse before he calls a
Figure only in Meats and Drinks and divers Washings and Carnal Ordinances imposed on them until the time of Reformation Heb. 9. 10. Moses his time or the duration of the standing of the Law or the outward Administration or Jewish National Worship was not to remain for ever the first Covenant but it was to pass away and to have an end as not being able to make the comers thereunto perfect Heb. 10. 1. though it was commanded of the Lord So there was to be a time of Reformation when that which could not make the comers thereunto perfect was to be removed when that which was the shadow of good things to come but not the very Image of the things as the same place hath it was to have an end which was in the coming of him who was perfect who perfects for ever them that are sanctified Heb. 10. 14. which the other lead unto For by one Offering saith the Apostle in the verse aforesaid he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified and this was called the time of Reformation when he came who put an end to all that was outward and had a visible or an outward Administration which could not make the comers thereunto perfect nor was appointed for that end and purpose but to lead unto another thing which should put an end thereunto and which was its end Now I say if the very outward Mosaical Jewish Administration National Worship the first Covenant which was all the outward Government which was commanded of God in the World was not of man but from the Lord which yet had reference to another thing which was Christ the new Covenant the Law put into the mind and wrote in the heart which was the Prophet which Moses said unto the Jews the Lord their God should raise unto them of their Brethren like unto him whom they should hear in all things whatsoever he should say unto them and that it should come to pass that every Soul he doth not say Body that will not hear that Prophet should be destroyed from among the people Acts 2. 23. How much more now that the thing is come which those Administrations had reference unto the great Reformer ought all things now in relation unto Worship have reference unto him and how ought all things of this nature thither to be directed For as I said he sent not to turn from man to man from the darkness to man but to the Light to the Principle of God that which is of God in man the Seed which is Christ the Mystery hid from Ages and Generations now made manifest as the Apostle speaks Col. 1. 26 27. that men may know who they worship and when and how thy may worship him God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth Spirit that is something that is Spirit that is of the Nature that God is that is Spirit and Truth that is as as he is Spirit they that worship him must worship him not in the Letter not in the Injunctions of men not in an outward or fleshly Principle not in man or the spirit of man but of God which is in opposition to all that is of man or cometh from man that is not from the Spirit or Principle of God So men must first come to learn or be turned to the Light to the Principle of God to that which is Spirit by which they may come to know him that dwells in the Light that is inaccessible as to all that is mannish or mortal from the darkness all that is from man or of him who is mortal then something may be said to them as to the Worship of God then they are somewhere and know something which God accepts and in which he is well pleased such Worshippers the Father seeks to worship him All other Worships are not available nor are they to any purpose nor doth God seek them though men may think thereby that they seek after God The time of Reformation svveeps them avvay to the Moles and to the Bats to go into the Clefts of the Rocks all the Idols of Silver and of Gold which are made each one for himself to worship and into the tops of the ragged Rocks for fear of the Lord and the glory of his Majesty when he ariseth to shake terribly the Earth Cease from man whose breath is in his Nostrils for wherein is he to be accounted of Isa 2. 20 21. The great Reformer gives them no standing every one must worship him from his Temple whose Temple ye are saith the Apostle to the Saints Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God saith he and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you 1 Cor. 3. 16. In his Temple doth Psal 26. 9. every one speak of his glory Novv man coming to be the Temple of God and the Spirit of the Lord dvvelling in man and the Principle of God in man being knovvn 1 Cor. 3. 16. here the Worship comes to be knovvn vvhich is in the Spirit and in Truth and this is that vvhich the Father seeks So avvay vvith all inventions of men in the Worship of God avvay vvith all Imitations and Likenesses avvay vvith the shadovvs even of good things to come Novv the thing it self Christ Jesus is come the Principle the Measure of him is knovvn the Incense or Odour vvith Rev. 8. 3. vvhich the Prayers of all Saints are offered upon the Golden Altar vvhich is before the Throne vvhich God accepts The Principle of God is to lead the Spirit of the Lord to offer as this moves the Lord accepts in this he is vvell pleased the living Root must be knovvn something that is holy that never sinned to guide and direct something that is as he is vvho is holy and no iniquity can come near his dvvelling Hab. 1. 13. then the Worship is accepted of the Lord. Say not in thy heart Who shall ascend into Heuven that is to bring down Christ from above Say not Who shall descend into the deep that Rom. 10. 6 7 8. is to bring up Christ again from the dead You need not go so far you need not look vvithout you to Forms Constitutions Ordinances of Men Laws and Imitations the thing is vvithin you the Lord hath brought it nigh to you he hath not put you to another You must account for your selves and joy or be undone for your selves every man is an Individual he is made so by God An Individual signifies a being by it self that can never be mixed that can never be made tvvo something vvherein a man is determined for ever vvhich the Lord should guide of vvhom the Lord vvill require an account the Lord hath not put you to seek here and look there Loe here and loe there it is not in Heaven that thou shouldst say who shall go up for us to Heaven and bring it unto us that we may hear it and do it Neither is
have confessed often I am a Christian was most baâ—barously tormented instead of all other things of his Name and City and Kindred neither could the Gentiles get any other Language of him Wherefore it is said the President and the Tormenters were fiercely set against him and when as now there remained no punishment unpractised at length they applyed to the tenderest part of his Body plates of Brass glowing hot which fryed seared and scorched his Body yet he is said to remain unmoveable nothing amazed and constant in his Profession Over all his Body his Flesh is said to be wounded his Members bescarred his Sinews shrunk so that the natural shape and outward hue was quite changed And whenas his Tormenters a few dayes after brought him to the place of Torment hoping that if they punished him now having his whole Body as it is said puft up with swelling and festred Wounds so fore that it might not be touched no not with the and the second time being brought to torment had his pain taken away and the shape of his body restored Biblis fainting at first came on again and had her lot among the Martyrs least finger they should overcome him and prevail or if he died in torment it would terrifie the rest and so warn them as they thought to take heed None of all these things hapned unto him but beyond all mens expectations in the latter torments his Body is said to have been released of the pain to have recovered the former shape and the Members to have been restored to their former use Biblis having fainted through cruel torments they brought out again hoping again to cast a reproach upon the Christian Faith but she coming again to the Torments is said as one awakened out of a dead sleep to cry out unexpectly to the Tormenters and to say How can ye devour Infants which were not suffered to suck the blood of bruit Beasts and confessing her self a Christian was appointed to take her lot amongst the Martyrs of Jesus Then they took a new devise to keep them in noysome Dungeons and New devises to destroy them by stench and cruelty of Prisons Photinus Bish of Lyons above ninty years of age carried by Souldiers before the Tribunal Seat Prisons and in Stocks to the fifth Hole after their grievous torments seeing their torments they went through as aforesaid by the stench and cruelty of which and the festring of their Wounds many died And Photinus Bishop of Lyons being above fourscore and ten years old weak of Body and scarce able to draw breath through the imbecility of Nature as the History saith in the repetition of the Letter aforesaid out of which all that I have said is continued was carried of the Souldiers and laid before the Tribunal Seat with a great shout of the Multitude as if saith the History he had been Christ where were the Potentates or Chief of the City being demanded by the President Who is the God of the Christians He answered If thou become worthy thou shalt understand Whereupon he was cruelly handled and is said to have suffered Kickt struck beaten cast into Prison many stripes such as were near to him struck at him both with hand and foot reverencing or having respect to his years nothing at all and such as stood afar off look what each one had in his hand that was thrown at his head and such as ceased from pouring out their poysoned malice thought themselves to have grievously offended supposing by this means saith the Letter to revenge the ruine of their rotten Godds but he almost breathless they cast into Prison where after two dayes he departed this life Vetius Epagathus one of the Brethren saith the Then dies Vetius Epagathus a Noble Man History repeating the Letter having fulness of love towards God and Man whose conversation was so perfect though a young man that he was thought comparable to Zacharias the Priest for he walked unblamably in all the Services Ordinances of the Lord and very serviceable to his Neighbours having great zeal fervency of the Spirit of God allowed not of the Sentence unjustly pronounced against them for after they had born manfully all such vexations as the multitude laid upon them as exclamation scourgings dragging spoyling stoning fettering and the like whatsoever the heady and savage Multitude accustomed to practise against the professed Enemies they were led unto the open Market-place and examination being had they were condemned in the presence of the people by the Tribune and the other chief Potentates of the City until the Presidents coming before whom they were brought which had exercised all kind of extream cruelty against the Christians but with vehement motion required that audience might be given him to demanding audience to plead for the Christians was denyed and confessing himself a Christian was Martyred called The Christians Advocate plead for the Brethren alleadging that they had committed no impiety which being denyed him for he is said to be a Noble Man of such as compassed the Tribunal Seat and of the President rejecting this just Petition and onely demanding Whether he was a Christian he confessed it with a loud voice and so he was received into the fellowship of the Martyrs and called The Advocate of the Christians The aforementioned stirred by his Example hastned themselves to Martyrdom and became more lively and ready Great it is said was the whole rage both of the President People and Souldiers against Sanctus Sanctus Deacon of the Church of Vienna and against Maturus lately baptized Maturus yet said to be a noble Warriour and against Attalus a Pergamenian Attalus who is said to be alwayes a Pillar and Fortress of the Faith and against Blandina the Woman aforesaid because of whom it 's said they quaked Blandina for fear yea and that her Carnal Mistress as she is called which also was one of the persecuted Martyrs was very careful lest peradventure at the time of her Answer by reason of the frailty of her flesh she should not persevere constant Maturus Sanctus Blandina and Attalus were led unto the bruit Beasts in the popular and publick Spectacle of the Led to the wild Beasts Maturus and Sanctus diversly tormented Heathenish inhumanity as are the words at the day appointed of set purpose for so beastly a bucking where again Maturus and Sanctus were diversly tormented with all kinds of punishments as if they had suffered nothing before yea rather as it were with many new means repelling the Adversary they bear again the victorious Garland suffering again the wonted revilings all the cruelty of the savage Beasts and whatsoever the outragious multitude craved and demanded and above all they patiently suffered the Iron Chair wherein their Bodies broiled as in a Frying-pan filling such as were present with the loathsome Put in the Iron Chair and broiled savour of that their foulsome froth Neither were
them joying and tryumphing at their end as if she had been invited to a Wedding Dinner and not to be cast among wild Beasts after scourging after buckling with wild Beasts after the broyling of her body as it were in a Frying-pan at length she was wrapped in a Net and tumbled before a wild Bull which fanned and tossed her with his Horns to and fro yet had she no feeling of all these things her mind being fixed and wholly set upon the conference she had with Christ and in the end she was beheaded the Pagans themselves pronouncing That never any Woman was heard of among them to have suffered so many and so great torments Neither did their rage and cruelty against the Christians so cease for the barbarous Gentiles being provoked by a wicked Fiend saith the History could not quiet themselves but that their furious rage practised another kind of malitious spight upon the dead Carkasses neither were they pleased in that they were overcome and void of natural feeling and sence but proceeded further like bruit Beasts both President and People were furiously provoked prosecuting them with like hatred that the Scripture may be fulfilled He that is wicked let him be wicked still and he that is just let him work Righteousness still The Bodies of those that were choaked in Prison cast to dogs for as many as were choaked up with the noysome sent of the Prison were thrown to be devoured of Dogs and a continual watch set day and night that none of them should be buried And gathering together the Reliques of the Martyrs Bodies some undevoured by Beasts some And guarâ—ed of them to be devoured unburnt by fire partly torn and partly burned with the Heads and stumps of others uncovered with earth they committed them for the space of many dayes to the custody of Souldiers others fretted and fumed snatching at them with the gnashing of their Teeth seeking further revengement of them others derided and scoffed them magnifying their Idols as cause of this our calamity and such as were of a milder nature and somewhat sorrowed at our suffering upbraided us and said Where is their God and what profited them this Religion which they Others said Where is their God prefer before their lives And such was the variable and devilish disposition of the Infidels to our great sorrow because we were not permitted to bury the dead bodies of the Martyrs neither stood the night in any stead to us for that purpose neither would money perswade the Keepers nor our Prayers move them but they kept the bruised Carkasses of the Saints as if some great Commodity grew unto them by keeping them unburied To be short after that the bodies of the blessed Saints had been every kind of way spitefully and scornfully intreated The stumps of their bodies lying six dayes unburied are burnt and the Ashes cast into the River Rhodanus lest they should rise again or that their God should help them The French sustain lying whole six dayes unburied at length they were burned to Ashes the Ashes also they gathered and scattered in the River Rhodanus which passed by so that no Jot or Relique thereof should longer remain upon Earth This they did to the end they might overcome God and hinder the reviving of the Saints lest that as they said there should be any further hope of the Resurrection whereof say they the Christians being fully perswaded bring amongst us a strange and a new Religion they contemn punishment and hasten themselves chearfully unto death Now let us see whether they can arise and whether their God can help and deliver them from our hands Thus far of the Sufferings of the French under this Emperor out of the Sufferers own Writings which though it be a little prolix and so may seem somewhat besides the intent of this Discourse yet being so pertinent and of so circumstantial a nature I thought it convenient to give the Reader a relation thereof that in the instance of these he may see how grievous the persecution was and how inhumane on the one hand and on the other how the Lord sustained and carried them through like noble Conquerors In the other places the persecutions were not so great nor the inhumanities so long and terrible to flesh and blood but he made them easie and caused those to overcome who were faithful unto the greatest Persecutions him Besides these of cruel Torments and Death they were exercised with Exile as well as Death Exile from their Houses Booths and common Market-places and not only so but every one of them were charged not to shew his face with the weakness also of many who through fear of torments fell from the Faith who notwithstanding many of them came on again and confessed The fallings of many for fear Exeâ—cise the French themselves what they were viz. Christians and died constant in the Faith though the enemy wrought by their first stepping aside no small disadvantage and these were divers of the Ethnicks their own Servants whom those terrible Spectacles of grim Beasts and torments made to start and to accuse their fellow Christians falsly as using the feastings of Thiestes and the incests of Oedipus with divers others which themselves They are falsly accused of disordeâ—ed conversations say may neither Godly be thought upon neither with modesty uttered neither without impiety be believed Through the egging on and perswasions of the Souldiers these things were feigned and reported of them which was the wile of the Devil in all Ages where he cannot otherwise thereto make Truth to suffer and the followers thereof that his Instruments may have something to pretend to sober men that they are not such as he knows them to be and which they are and sober people take them for but on the contrary such as they are themselves who so force the report that they may seem worthily to put them to death wiping off thereby the opinion of their sanctity so far as he is able that neither may their sufferings sink into the hearts of others neither take with them so as to turn them to the Truth but having removed them by such reports out of the Opinion of the Sober he might have also an influence on them to give them sufferings which proved something to these Servants of the Lord for these reports being bruited abroad every body they write was moved and incensed against them insomuch that they who for familiarity sake used moderation before now were exceedingly moved and mad with them Then was say they the saying of our Saviour And thereby cast out of the minds of the most sober fulfilled The time will come when every one that slayeth you shall think that he doth therein God good service Then suffered say they again the holy Martyrs such torments as tongue cannot express and Satan also provoked them with all might possible that they might utter some blasphemy There were certain
others say they found unready less exercised The flagging of many and yet weak not of ability to bear the burthen of so weighty a Combate in number Ten which fell through the frailty of the flesh to our great heaviness and sorrowful lamentation quailing the chearfulness of others which were not as yet apprehended but accompanied the Martyrs what torments soever befel them and severed not themselves to the great grief of the rest from them Then trembled we all say they for fear and that greatly because of the uncertainty of confessions being not terrified with any torments but carefull for the end lest any should fall from the Faith Yet say they daily there were apprehended such as were accounted worthy to fulfil the number of the fallen weaklings so that out of both these Churches as many as ruled and bear the greatest sway were taken and executed and the others came on again as aforesaid and died the death whom to encourage lest when at the Bar again they should flag Alexander offered himself up and was torn in pieces A worthy remembrance Drew Alexander to offer up himself wheâ—eby such were strengthened at the Bar to die of the famous power of the Truth and of the valour of him and the Christians in that day who thought not their lives dear unto the death for the confession of Jesus Christ The President commanded publickly a general Inquisition to be made for them And the inhumane and most cruel butcheries of them were made the recreation of the Heathen on their days of pleasure who to be so recreated flocked to The Heathen recreated themselves in their sufferings and came to them as to sport the Theatres in great multitudes which would be strange to think that men could be so far degenerated into cruelty who are made of a tender nature So that no man ever hated his own flesh as to make sport of the highest torments inflicted on their Brethren and to count it a pastime and come thither to such savage and barbarous cruelties for that purpose but that the Devil being got into Man and forming his Worship look how much their understandings are dark and they are brought into the grossest sort of Idolatrous Worship by so much they are come into his Nature and he hath power over them who is the Godd they worship who is without natural affection that they destroy and take pleasure therein These noble Christians were kept low and tender under all their sufferings desiring with watery eyes the prayers uncessantly of their Brethren that they might hold out unto the end and in the fulness of the fear of God as are those Christians own words refused to be called of the Brethren Martyrs as thinking themselves not worthy Cap. 2. The low account the Christians had of themselves who thus suffered but themselves said We are mean and base and humble Confessors whom the Lord highly exalted and counted worthy of this Name and of the Crown Immortal which they enjoy with the Lord in the highest Heavens And thus much shall suffice of this horrible Persecution of the French and their Noble Constancy and Faithfulness to God by which may be judged what was done in other Provinces for the Persecution under this Verus seemed to be general of which in these words I thought fit to give this particular Nevertheless the Lord was not absent from his People but with a The tendernes of the Lord to suppoâ—t them and to work a release tender hand not only upheld those that suffered through the greatest tortures and so gave the demonstration of his power in them but some release also of those sufferings in as great a wonder when he saw good he gave them as he did in carrying them through sufferings in manner following Historians do Record saith Eusebius that when his Brother Marcus Euseb l. 5. c. 5. By the means of the Legion of the Christians under Marc. Aurel. Antoninus's Brother in Germany who praying to the Lord obtained Lightning against the Enemy which overthrew them and Rain to refresh the Army which was near perishing The Heathen Writers Record it Aurelius viz. Antoninus his Brother who gave these Persecutions warred against the Germans and Sarmatians his Hoast was ready to perish with thirst so that he wist not what to do and that the Souldiers of the Legion called Militina moved again and again with faithfulness towards their Prince bowed down upon their bare knees as our accustomed manner saith he of praying is in the midst of the Army turning them to the Enemies and made supplication unto God When as this sight seemed strange unto the Enemies there was shewed a more sad Spectacle viz. Lightning which put the Enemy to flight and overthrew them and withal a shower of Rain to refresh the Army which well nigh perishing with thirst poured out their Prayers before the high Throne of the Majesty of God The History saith he is reported by them who favoured not the Christian Faith yet were careful to set down the things which concerned the aforesaid persons It is also written by our men saith he and of the Heathen Historiographers themselves the Miracle is mentioned but not expresly to proceed from our men yet our Writers saith he as Friends and Favourers of the true Doctrine have delivered it simply and plainly as in deed it was done whereof saith he Apolinarius is a Witness of credit who reporteth that this Legion by whose Prayers this Miracle came to pass was from that time forth called by the Emperor in the Roman Tongue after a peculiar The Emperor calls them the Lightning or Thundering Legion Name the Lightning Legion or Thundering as some interpret it Tertullian also saith he a man worthy of Credit dedicated an Apology in the Roman Tongue unto the Roman Senate in the defence of our Faith whereof saith he we mentioned before hath confirmed this History with a mightier and more manifest proof for he writeth saith Marc. Aurel. himself records it he that the most prudent Epistles of Marcus that is the Emperor aforesaid are yet extant that is in Tertullians time that thus wrote wherein he himself testifies that wâ—rring with the Germans his Army well nigh perished through the scarcity of Water but yet was saved through the prayers of the Christians he saith viz. Tertullian That the Emperor Tertul. in Apolog. cap. 6. and threatned them with death which accused the Christians threatned them with Death which went about to accuse them Unto the aforesaid things he addeth What manner of Laws are these against us Impious unjust cruel which neither Vespasian observed although Conquerer of the Jews which Trajan partly frustrated commanding the Inquisition of the Christians to cease which neither Adrianus although busiing himself with every matter neither he which is called Pâ—us confirmed And under Comodus the Emperor who succeeded Verus the rage of the Gentiles saith Eusebius was mittigated
of his wits and Maximinianus depose themselves which bereaved him of his wits together with Maximinianus the second to him after they had been Emperors for the space of twenty years as aforesaid deposed themselves and lived a private life from which time to his end Dioclesian wasted and pined Dioclesian wasts away with Diseases Maximinian hangs himself Constantius and Maximinus sole Emperors away with Diseases and Maximinian hanged himself Constantinus and Maximinus then took the sole government of the Empire which had before four Princes at one time governing Constantius was very friendly and Persecution on his hand loosened from the Christians Maximinus persecuted them sorely though at Maximinus sorely plagued in his body at Tarsus times he would seem to be otherwise minded The Hand of God pursued him so that at Tarsus a great plague fell upon him first taking hold in his flesh and afterwards proceeding to the very Soul for there arose suddenly in the secret parts of his body an impostume or running sore afterwards in the lower part of his Privities a botchy corrupt Boyl with a Fistula whence issued out with a Botch corrupt matter eating up the inward bowels and an unspeakable multitude of Lice swarming out and breathing a deadly stench and Lice and stench when as the corpulency of the whole body through abundance of meat before the Disease came was turned into superfluous grosness and then being grown into matter yeelded an intolerable and horrible spectacle to the beholders wherefore of the Which flew some of his Physicians Physitians some being not able to digest that wonderful noysome stench were slain some other when there remained no hope of Others were executed because they could not help recovery by reason of the swelling throughout the whole body being not able to help at all with their Physick were cruelly executed themselves Whilst the Hand and Plague of God was on him and he lay in his miserable plight he pondered with himself the rash enterprises he had practised against the Worshippers of God Cap. 18. In this plight he repents confesses to God Commands persecution to cease wherefore returning unto himself first he confesses his sins to God next calling upon him such as were about him he gave commandment that with all speed they should cease from persecuting the Christians and that by Decree and Commandment of the Emperor they should build again their Churches and that they should meet often to celebrate their wonted Ceremonies and pray for the life of the Emperor And immediately that And desires Prayers of the Christians for his life The Proclamations hastned which by word he commanded was indeed brought to pass The Proclamations of the Emperor were published throughout the Cities containing a recantation of those things formerly prejudicial unto the Christians in this form The Emperor Caesar Maximinus Puissant Magnificent chief Lord The Copy of the Edict Lord of the Thebais Lord of Salmatia five times Conqueror of Persia Lord of Germany Lord of Egypt twice Conqueror of the Carpyans six times Conqueror of the Armenians Lord of the Medes Lord of the Adiabeni twenty times Tribune nineteen times general Captain eight times Consul Father of the Countrey Proconsul And the Emperor Caesar Flavius Valerius Constantius some read Constantius but it is not so found in the Greek Vertuous Fortunate Puissant Noble chief Lord general Captain and Tribune five times Consul Father of the Countrey Proconsul Among other things which we have decreed for the Commodity and profit of the Common Wealth our pleasure is first of all to order and redress all things according to the antient Laws and Discipline of the Romans and withal to use this provisoe That the Christians which have forsaken the Religion of their Ancestors should be brought again to the right way for after a certain humour of singularity such an Opinion of excellency puffed them up that those things which their Elders had received and allowed they rejected and disallowed devising every man such Laws as they thought good and observed the same assembling in divers places great multitudes of people Wherefore when as our Edict was proclaimed that they should return unto the Ordinance of their Elders divers standing in great danger felt the penalty thereof and many being troubled therefore endured all kinds of death And because we perceive many as yet to persist in the same madness in their yeelding due worship to the Caelestial Godds nor regarding the God of the Christians having respect unto our benignity and godly custom pardoning all men according to our wonted guise we thought good in this case to extend our gracious and favourable clemency that the Christians may be tollerated again and that they may repair again the places where they meet together so that they do nothing prejudicial to publick Order and Discipline We mean to prescribe unto the Judges by another Epistle what they shall observe Wherefore as this our gracious Pardon deserveth let them make intercession to their God for our Health for the Common Weal and for themselves that in all places the Affairs of the publick Weal may be safely preserved and that they themselves may live securely in their own houses I have mentioned this Edict or Proclamation the rather that men The reason of the reheaâ—sal of the Copy of the Edict however swel'd with Titles Dominions and Honours notwithstanding all that they can say of them and do by them must come to bow to him whom in their hearts they despise and seek to trample his Worship and Worshippers under foot who is a Spirit and will be worshipped in Spirit and Truth Great calamities attended the Roman Empire whilst their rage was The sad consequence of these persecutions to the Roman Empire and the forbearance of them great against the Christians whilst they imposed the Worship of their Heathen Godds and destroyed all those who could not bow down unto nor worship them which when they forbore and left to these who worshipped the Lord to worship him according to his Spirit not according to their Law it flourished was safe and increased I should be marvellous large if I should go through those things also in particular The rebellious invasions divisions amongst themselves Plagues Pestilences Famines Earth-quakes and untimely deaths that befel those Emperors themselves the Lord when he saw time cutting short their race who ordaineth his Arrows against the Persecutor notwithstanding that he saw it good also to suffer those things to be to prevent greater The end of the Lord to the Christians in suffering these persecutions mischiefs amongst the Christians and to give testimony before all the World of his Power that was in them wonderfully to carry them through whatsoever was laid upon them for the testimony unto his Name For the Christians when a little ease and liberty befel them and the Hand of the Lord so wrought that instead of being cast out like Dogs
banish Hermogenes with his Souldiers Hermogenes endeavours to disperse them They fall upon him burn the house over his head pull him out by the ears and put him to death endeavours to disperse the people they being in an uproar fell upon him they fire the house over his head they pull him out by the ears and put him to death This was done when both the Emperors were Consuls and when Constans had overcome the French and concluded a peace between them and the Romans hereupon Constantius left Antioch came to Constantinople thrusteth Constantius comes to Constantinople thrusts out â—aulus Fines the City Paulus out of his Church merced the City taking from them so many measures of Grains as their City received above four hundred thousand the which saith the History by his Fathers Yet for fear forbears placing in Macedonius Donation daily was given unto them yet he delayed the placing in of Macedonius for that he was greatly incensed against him not only because he was chosen without his advice and counsel but also in that through the stir and tumult raised between him and Paulus not only Hermogenes his Captain but also many others besides were slain the pretenders also to Arius removed Gregory Gregory removed from Alexandria by the pretenders to Arius The reason why Georgius put in from Alexandria because the people hated him grievously and had set their Church on fire and for that he but slenderly maintained their Opinion and put in his stead Georgius born in Cappadocia one that was nuzled in the Opinion they held By this time Paulus of Constantinople and several other Bishops Cap. 11. Paulus and the other Bishops repair to Julius of Rome being accused one for one thing and another for another and deprived of their Churches go to Rome and having Julius his Letters unto the Bishops of the East that every one should be restored again sharply reproving their rash deposition they depending He gives them letters they repair to their Bishopricks on the Prerogative of Rome went every one to his own charge sending their Letters to those unto whom they were directed and whom it concerned The Eastern Bishops took this correction of Julius Bishop of The Bishops of the East take Julius correction heinously summon a Synod at Antioch They decree against Julius Bishop of Rome Rome as a contumely and summon a Synod at Antioch where being assembled they devise an Epistle by uniform consent wherein they bitterly inveigh against Julius and signifie withal That if any were banished the Church and excommunicated by their Censure and Decree it was not his part to intermeddle neither to sit in Judgment upon their sentence For when as he had removed Novatus out of the Church of Rome they neither resisted neither contraried his doings Athanasius coming to Alexandria Georgius Alexandria in a tumult upon the return of Athanasius by Georgius as some said by Athanasius as others affirm much blood is shed the Arrian so called made great stir and tumults in which much harm murder and bloodshed was committed which the one sort impute to Georgius and the other to Athanasius whom yet the Historian justifies as innocent Well as soon as Constantius who then remained at Antioch Cap. 12. Constantius is displeased at the return of Paulus commands Philip to remove Paulus and place in Macedonius Philip useth a wile to entrap Paulus heard that Paulus was placed again in Constantinople he took great displeasure and was sorely incensed he gave commission to Philip the chiefest of his Lieutenants and called the second person in the Empire to remove Paulus and to appoint Macedonius in his stead Philip fearing the rage and tumult of the multitude circumventeth Paulus very subtilly and covertly concealeth the Emperors pleasure He feigneth the cause of his coming to be for the common Affairs of the City he gets him strait to the publick Bath called Zeuxippus he sends thence one unto Paulus Which taking that he should honourably salute him and will him in any wise to repair unto the Emperors Lieutenant as soon as he came the Governour opened unto him his Lord the Emperors Commandmant The Bishop taketh patiently his Sentence although unjustly decreed against him But the Governour standing in great fear of the furious rage of the multitude and such as stood in compass about him for many by reason of the suspicious rumour flocked unto the publick Bath gave Commandment that one of the back Windows of the Bath should be opened that Paulus He is privily sent to exile should be let down at the said Window into a Ship ready appointed for the purpose and thence be conveyed to exile The Governour had commanded him that he should sail thence strait to Thessalonica the Head City of Macedonia from thence his Ancestors came and there make his aboad Paulus thinking little or nothing of all this is both deprived his Church banished the City and forthwith brought to exile Philip got him with And Macedonius carried by Philip to their Church The Souldiers guard them with naked Swords The people are amazed run thither speed from the Bath to the Church Macedonius accompanies him as it was concluded afore sitting by his side in the Waggon in the face of the whole Multitude the Souldiers guarded them with naked Swords the multitude in compass are amazed thereat and struck with sudden fear all ran to the Church such as defended the Creed that contained the clause of one Substance flocked to the Church saith the History as well as the Arrian To the Nicenians and Arians Hereticks The Governour and Macedonius being come near the Church a marvellous great fear afrighted both the multitude and the Souldiers themselves so great a company gathered together No passing the Company was so great The Souldiers force their passage on this side and that that there was no passing for the Governour to lead Macedonius The Souldiers were fain to force the people of this side and that but the throng was so great and the room so narrow that they could not recoyl The Souldiers supposing that the multitude had set themselves against them and of set purpose stopped their walk that the Governour might have no passage thereaway drew their Swords let fly amongst them and laid on lustily the report was That there fell about three thousand one hundred About three thousand and one hundred slain and stifled and crushed to death Macedonius not regarding is enstalled by the Governor whereof some were slain by the Souldiers others stifled in the throng and crushed to death But Macedonius saith the History after all these famous acts as if he had committed no offence and were innocent and guiltless touching all this heinous and horrible slaughter is stalled in the Bishops Seat more by the censure of the Governour than by the Canon of the Church These be the means saith the History that Macedonius and the
consequence of any peace amongst the Christians the Bishops also hoping each to find the Emperor according to their Opinion apply themselves unto him but he stuck close to the Faith of one Substance unto which he had alwayes adhered He encouraged Athanasius to return to Alexandria He cleaves to the Nicene Creed sends home Athanasius Calls the Bishops fâ—om Exile Shuts up the Pagan Temples who upon his Letters took courage and went the Bishops whom Jultan had not returned who were banished by Constantius he called from Exile he shut up the Pagans Temples and ceased their worshipping of Devils which Julian gave way to and of which they had their fill in his Reign Now went on the old work of tearing and rending one another Cap. 21. The Christians tear and rend one another The Macedonians supplicate tâ—at none but themselves might be amongst the Christians The Macedonians make a supplication unto the Emperor That such as avouch the unlikeness and dissimilitude between the Son and the Father should be banished the Church and themselves substituted in their rooms The Emperor gave them no answer at all but with these words sent them away The Emperors answer I tell you truly I cannot away with contention but such as imbrace unity and concord I do both honour and reverence them Which cooled the fiery contention of others and answered to the Emperors wishes The Acacians also signed a supplication to the Emperor The Acacians conforth to the Emperors Faith who turn every where acknowledging the Faith of one Substance who had made such a hurly-burly as before is mentioned for they ever were observed to turn according to the minds of the Emperors to which the Emperor determining with himself to pacifie with gentle and courteous language all Quarrels and Contentions made answer That he would not molest any what Faith or Religion soever they professed The Emperors declaration of distuâ—bâ—ng none but respecting them that weâ—e for peace but above all others that he would honour and reverence such as shewed themselves Peace-makers and went about to maintain the bond of Unity and Concord One thing is worthy to be noted in their supplication they The Emperor being clawed to the setting up one form of Faith claw the Emperor with the Faith of one Substance as if he intending to promote Unity and Concord might mind at least they would insinuate it into him That the form of that Faith which they therein call Catholick would produce much thereunto and therefore they declare and subscribe thereunto insinuating an Example for an universal Subscription and to set up that Faith because the Emperor being of it they thought he might set it up or to insinuate into him that so to do were best but the He refuses and turns all Court ship aside Emperor wisely turns all their courtships and flattery aside and answers them like himself as aforesaid All men commended this Is commended by Themistius and applauded for giving liberty his equality of Spirit yea the Philosophers themselves and Themistius in particular who in his Oration to him called Consul saith That in granting every man his free choice and liberty to profess this or that kind of Religion he stopped the mouths of all flattering Parasites and Sycophants which kind of men saith he as it is known unto the whole world worship not the King of Heaven but the An account of Parasites earthly Crown and Scepter much like unto Euripus carried headlong sometimes this way sometimes that way Thus when Jovianus had appeased the sedition of contentious Cap. 32. He comes to Tarsus Inters Julian persons he came from Antioch to Tarsus then he took his voyage towards Constantinople having honourably interred his Predecessor he came to Dadastana lying in the midst between Galatia Arâ—ives at Dadastana There Themistius and many Senators meet him in the way to Constantinople He dies and Bythinia there Themistius the Philosopher aforesaid meeting of him with other sundry Senators and noble Parsonages he died in the Winter with a deadly obstruction of his Lungs having been Emperor seven months and being three and Anno. 368. thirty years old Valentimanus succeeded Jovianus whom the Souldiers proclaimed Valentinianus succeeds Socrat. lâ—b 4. cap. 1. him and Valens Emperor of Nicia in Bythinia and he made Valens his Brother his fellow Emperor they both with Jovianus threw down their Sword-Girdles when Julian made his Proclamation as aforesaid who notwithstanding displaced them not the first being Tribune and the other of the ordinary Guard about the Emperor Valentinian was of the Faith of one Substance but molested not Valentinian of the Nicene Faith the Arrians at all Valens as he endeavoured to encrease the number of the Arrians so he grievously persecuted the others So Valence an Arrian the Emperors varied one from another and by reason thereof great variety of occasions exercised and tryed the Christians The Christians are exercised Valentinian through some necessary occasions removed to the Cap. 2. Valentinian removes to the West Valens keeps in the East The Macedonian Bish desire a Council West Valens remained at Constantinople where he was requested of the Bishops that favoured Macedonius or were of what were called his Sect to call a Council he thinking them to be one in Opinion with Acacius and Eudoxius gave them License they cite the Bishops from every where to meet at Lampsacum but he It 's ordered at Lampsacum Valens hastens to Syria to keep all quiet where he finds it so himself hastens to Antioch in Syria fearing some stir among the Persians but when he came there he found them quiet and meaning no harm Valens living in quietness fell grievously to persecute those of His prosperity turns him to persecute Displaces Bishops Plagues some throws others into the River Orontes the Faith of one Substance he displaced some Bishops and those of Antioch that would not communicate with Euxojus he vexed diversly and plagued with sundry punishments and threw many as was reported into the River Orontes which runneth by the City and there drowned them Whilst Valens was at this work in Syria the Hand of the Lord Cap. 3. Judgment meets him moved to give him trouble at Constantinople who before he persecuted his fellow Christians knew no trouble Procopius rebels Procopius rebels at Constantinople against him at Constantinople gathers a great Army and marcheth to give Battel to the Emperor who had given Battel to the Lord. Valens was in a sore taking at this and by this his cruelty Valens is troubled restrains persecution a while Dreadful Earthquakes great inundations and alterations of Land to Sea rested a while from persecuting the Christians yet this was not all but whilst the fire of this tumult waxed hot there appeared on a sudden another hand from Heaven in a great Earthquake which scattered the buildings asunder of and destroyed many Cities nor
his own portion through the just Judgments of him who ordaineth his Arrows against the Persecutors The Goths having dispatched Valens they drew near to Constantinople Socrat. lib. 5. cap. 2. Valens being dead the Goths approach Constantinople The people engage them and beat them from the City and began to destroy the Suburbs the People taking Arms such as came next to hand and being paid by Dominia the Empress out of the Emperors Treasury as was the agreement and Mavia Queen of the Sarazens having helpt them with some succour a little before they beat the Barbarians far from their City Valens being dead Gratianus together with Valentinianus the Anno. 383. Gratian and Valentine govern the Empire Cap. 3. Valens cruelty is condemned The Exiles are called home Liberty of Religion for all save the Eunomians Photinians Manichees younger aforesaid both Brothers but by two Mothers governed the Empire he condemned his Uncle Valens cruelty towards the Christians called home the Exiles made a Law That every Sect and Opinion should freely have liberty except the Eunomians Photinians and Manichees And to the end that the Roman Affairs which were then very low might be raised up again for the Barbarians much infested them he joyned Theodosius a valliant noble Theodorus of Spain made also Emperor man of Spain in the Empire and at Sirmium caused him to be proclaimed This quiet Affairs as to the Government of the Empire in reference Cap. 4. The Empire being quiet the Christians begin to fall out to the Christians gave again a discovery of what lay within as to the forms of Faith in every one unto which they adhered and as opportunity was sought to impose and those who out of necessity and for straits sake because of persecution subscribed And appear secretly what they were within The Macedonians who subscribed the Nicene Creed before Liberius Bishop of Rome in their adversity gather a Synod to another than their own to preserve themselves from suffering now the necessity being over return to their old form again in particular the Macedonians who though they subscribed to the Faith of one Substance before Liberius Bishop of Rome as aforesaid yet now every Opinion having liberty they shew themselves as they were and how they had dissembled Therefore being met in a Council they Decreed That henceforth Declare against that Faith as not to be received nor those to be communicated with as were of it Many fell from them hereupon and followed the other for altogether the clause of one Substance should never be received and that they ought no more to communicate with the Professors of the Nicene Creed Which gave those among themselves which were more conscientious so to understand them seeing they did say and unsay after this manner in matters of Faith that they fell from them and imbrace the other such turning of times the Lord in his Wisdom suffering to be for the tryal of all Times of tryal manifest them that at one time or another every thing might be made manifest Also at Antioch there was a great stir about Miletius and Paulinus Cap. 5. Stirs at Antioch about Paulinus Miletius And what they were Paulinus would not admit the other to be joyned with him because made by Arians The people fall out the latter was not exiled as aforesaid and the former was who returning his Friends would have him joyned to Paulinus who was ready to go into his Grave Paulinus would not admit thereof because it was contrary to the Canon That any that were created by Arrian Bishops should be made Colleagues in any Bishoprick So to difference they go again and falling together by the ears when a little outward peace as from the Empire sprang in among them and an uproar here was because it was endeavoured to be enforced in a certain Church of the Suburbs which they having performed raised the tumult which would A tumult is made They swear the six Bishops that stood in competition not to attempt the place whilst those two lived The stir is composed thereupon The Fruits of compulsive Faiths not be reconciled till all the six Bishops that stood for that place had bound themselves with an Oath That none of them would aspire unto the Bishoprick whilst Miletius and Paulinus lived and that when either of them were dead the Bishoprick should remain to the surviver of them This was the division among themselves when there was no division made of them by the Roman Government which was the usual trades of the Christians among themselves whose Faith was of an inforcing or compulsive nature when the Governors of the Common-Wealth left all things free as to matters of Religion and made no compulsion except as aforesaid Matters being thus all out of frame at Antioch Gregory of Nazianzum Gregory Nazianzum made Bishop of Constantinople Cap. 6. was made Bishop of Constantinople whitherto Theodosius came after that Gratianus and he had overthrown the Barbarians from Thessalonica Gratian being gone to France to encounter the Germans which there had done some Hostility where he found things in the same turmoil as at Antioch For Gregory Cap. 7. Demophilus the Arrian opposes him He confines himself to a little Church within the Walls though he was chosen Bishop by the uniform consent of the Bishops of the Nicene Faith yet Demophilus the Arrian Bishop had raised such stir against him because he was a stranger that as he only kept him to a certain little Church within the Walls of Constantinople before the Emperors coming so when the Emperor The Emperor coming he refuses to sâ—ay Theodosius requires Demophilus to sign the Nicene Creed He refuses was come he utterly refused to continue any longer at Constantinople whereupon Theodosius immediately gave Demophilus to understand his mind and demanded Whether he would imbrace the Nicene Creed Which he refusing the Emperor said If thou refuse to imbrace peace and unity I command thee to avoid the Church The Emperor commands him from the Church He withdraws Whereupon he assembling those of his own party stood up in the midst and said Brethren it is written in the Gospel If they persecute you in one City fly unto another Insomuch that the Emperor banisheth us the Churches I would have you know that to morrow you must meet together out of the City He understood not saith the Historian that such as flie that trade of life which worldlings follow for so saith he must we take the words of the Gospel must seek the higher Jerusalem but he meant it otherwise saith the Historian of Demophilus and thenceforth raised Conventicles Raiseth Conventicles Lucius resorts to him without the Walls of the City Unto whom Lucius of Alexandria who was there in Exile resorted And so the Arrians who had held the Churches there for the space of forty years refusing saith the History Unity and Concord which Theodosius exhorted them unto
Eudoxius who had chosen him Bishop of Cyzicum because he would not admit his Master Aetius lately excommunicated into the Church Others called after his name parted themselves into several Sects Theophrinius a Cappadocian one that was trained up under Eunomius Theophrinius and his Heresie in quirks of Logick and captious Fallacies and having Aristotles Predicaments and Perihermenias at his fingers end wrote Books intituling them The Exercise of the Mind Because of which he became hated of his own Sect and accounted by He is hated of his own Sect. them as an Apostate whereupon he raised private Conventicles and left behind him an Heresie intituled with his Appellation At Constantinople Eutichius fell from the Eunomians upon Eutichius divides from them also light and trifling occasions and frequented several Meetings The followers of Theophronius were called Eunomotheophrani From these two came the Eunomotheophrani and the Eunomilutichians What fond things they brawled about the Historian saith he thinks not needful to lay down in writing but concerning Baptisme which saith he they corrupted they Baptize not in the Name of the Trinity but the death of Christ Thus of the Eunominians Lastly concerning the Macedonians The divisions of the Macedonians Eutropius Carterius divided from one another for these things are necessary to be particularly instanced Eutropius a Priest gathered a several company of such matters as he thought good saith the History to follow his Tail Carterius also of the same Sect divided himself from him And of these arose others among the Cities I of my own part saith Socrates the Historian inasmuch as I led my life here at Constantinople where I was born bred and brought up no marvel though I write more at large of the famous Acts within this City partly seeing that I saw most of them with mine eyes and partly also insomuch they are more famous and thought far worthy of memory than any other Acts. These things reigned not at one but at sundry times the several names of these and all other Sects may be found particularly by those that are disposed thereunto and to learn them exactly in Epiphanius his Book Bishop of Cyprus intituled Ancyrotus Whilst these things cluttered so and were divided among the Cap. 24. The Common-Wealth rouls as the Christians are divided Christians the outward state of the Common-Wealth was not at rest but very troublesome One Eugenius who was first a Grammarian then a Courtier in the Western Empire Guard to the Eugenius conspires the death of Valentinianus who is smothered in his bed Emperors Person then his Treasurer being a politick man and then puft up with pride consulted with Arbogastes of the lesser Galatia by Office Captain in condition barbarous and behaviour cruel and together conspired the death of Valentinianus the Emperor which to effect they dealt with the Eunuches of the Emperors Chamber who as he slept stifled him to death through which Eugenius got the Empire of the Western part of the Gets the Empire of the West World behaving himself after the wonted guise of Tyrants Theodosius hearing of this was very sorry yet prepares to give Theodosius troubled hereat prepares for Battel Anno. 396. him Battel as he had done to Maximus So having made his Son Honorius Emperor in his third Consulship and the first of Abundantius the tenth of January having gathered great forces together began his march into the West leaving both his Sons behind Leaves his Sons Emperors him Emperors at Constantinople whom to aid against this Tyrant many of the Barbarous Nations beyond Illyricum came The Barbarians freely joyn with him freely and of their own accord Into France he came with great power Eugenius having there drawn together multitudes of men and fortified themselves the Camp was pitched and the They fight in France The Battel doubtful The Barbarians woâ—sted Theodosius troubled falls prostrate and prayes Battel fought by the River Phrygdus As the Battel was doubtful when the Romans came to fight hand to hand So among the Barbarians that came to aid Theodosius Eugenius had the upper hand Theodosius seeing the Barbarians foyled overthrown was wonderfully pensive and falling down prostrate on the ground prayed to God for aid and assistance who heard him and he obtained his suit for Macurious his Captain putting on a venturous and valiant courage got him where the Barbarians were foyled came to the Standard joyned with him the other chief Captains encountered the Enemy brake the Array made them to fly and pursued the flight Immediately after proceeded another strange Eugenius is routed The wind turns the Arrows on Eugenius Act there arose such blustring blasts of Winds as turned Eugenius s Darts the Usurper on their own sides and the Arrows of Theodosius forcibly on the armed Souldiers of Eugenius Which so coming to pass Eugenius falling at Theodosius's feet craved mercy Eugen. falls at Theodosius's Feet The Souldiers strike off his head but as he kneeled the Souldiers of Theodosius struck Eugenius's head from his Shoulders These things were done on the sixth of September in the third Consulship of Arcadius and the second of Honorius in the year 396. In the which I have been the more particular to shew into what a narrow strait Theodosius was brought and how at length the Lord turned the hand he had brought against him who gave occasion of trouble by enforcing of Religion so far forth as hath been manifested Arnogastus the Author of so great a slaughter seeing that by Aâ—nogastus the Conspiâ—ator falls on his own Sword flight there was no possibility to escape ran upon his own Sword and dispatched himself The travel and great toyl Theodosius the Emperor took about Cap. 25. Theodosius falls ill these things made him ill at ease which when the Disease increased so that he saw he must conclude his natural race he was more troubled with the cares and doubts of the setling the Common-Wealth than the finishing of his course and considering how many calamities commonly happen when the Empire is divided therefore he sent for Honorius his Son from Constantinople Sends for Honorius purposing by him to establish tranquillity in the West When his Son was come to Millain he was something recovered so that He somewhat recovers he held the tryumph of his Victory and in the morning was present thereat but in the afternoon he was so suddenly taken with his Disease that he could not go but charged his Son to see all accomplished and the night following departed this life in the Dies the next night sixtieth year of his Age and the sixteenth year of his Reign whom his two Sons Arcadius and Honorius succeeded who between Anno. 397. Arcadius and Honorius succeed them divided the Eastern and Western parts of the Empire Theodosius being dead his Sons took in hand the Government Socrat. lib 6. cap 1. Both govern peaceably of the Empire
themselves that his obedience would declare Whether God had guided him to lead such a life and to take upon him in this World so weighty a Combate to chastise his Carkass But if he stubbornly resisted if he were froward and wilful not yeelding with all speed unto their Or to pull him down with a vengeance counsel and advice he should pull him down with a vengeance But I must not stay longer on the relation of this man and this The ignorance of God the ground of all Superstition and imposing of Religion example of superstition in one President that those times did produce in the World this was necessary to give as an instance I shall now proceed to matters of another nature yet proceeding from the same root viz. the Ignorance of God The Lord was displeased in this day Attilas King of Scythia Cap. 17. Judgements in the Common-Wealth Attilas invades East and West An Earthquake exceeding all that went before Almost throughout the world Anno. 4â—2 The Palace shaken invaded both East and West and won many great Cities and behaved himself nobly to the end of his dayes A great Earthquake the strangeness whereof exceeded all that ever were before-going in a manner throughout the whole world hapned in the latter end of the reign of Theodosius Though yet he was praised for such a gentle Prince yet dared he to meddle with Religion and Faith and to do therein as aforesaid Many Turrets within the Pallace were overthrown to the ground the long Wall of Cherronesis turned to ruine many Villages swallowed up many Many Villages swallowed up Well-springs dried Fountains in dry places Trees rooted up Valleys become Mountains Fish dead Islands drowned Sea overflows Ships on ground where the Sea was Many Countries undone in Bythinia Hellespont c. woful mischances fell out unto mankind both by Sea and Land many Well-springs dried up where Fountains were never seen before it flowed out many Trees were pulled up by the Roots the Vallies became high Mountains the Sea threw out Fish for dead many Islands drowned the Sea over-ran the Banks and overflowed the Countries many Ships that had been in the Sea seen on ground by the falling back of the Sea not yeelding its wonted streams many Countries through Bythynia Hellespont and both the Phrygia's endured such calamities that they were utterly undone Nor were these the only troubles that invaded the Empire for Cap. 19. Great Sedition in the West Wars with the Persians Theodosius dies there was great Sedition throughout Europe when Valentinianus governed the Western Dominions and with the Persians there was War as aforesaid He reigned thirty and eight years and then he died Martianus succeeded Theodosius No sooner had he entered Cran. p 590. Anno. 450. Lib. 2. Cap. 2. Martianus succeeds and peace with him but disquiet among the Bishops Leo of Rome begins Complains of Dioscorus's slighting the Decâ—ees of the second Council at Ephesus Desires a Council Eusebius complains of Chrysaphius defrauding him and Flavianus of their Bishopricks Gold demanded by Chrysaphius for the admission of Flavianus Other accusations the Throne but he presently is entertained with some of the old trade of disquiet among the Christians Leo Bishop of old Rome sends to him that Dioscorus had made light of the Decree which he had laid down in the second Council of Ephesus agreeable unto the true and right Faith others also complain of the injuries and contumelies Dioscorus had done unto them desiring a Council might be called for the hearing of these matters Eusebius of Dorilaeum also chiefly above all others follows the Emperor shewing him how he and Flavianus were defrauded of their Bishopricks through the fraud and wiles of Chrysaphius sometimes of Theodosius his Guard that Flavianus at what time Chrysaphius sent unto him requiring Gold for his admission unto the Bishoprick sent unto him the Holy Vessels of the Church for to make him throughly ashamed of his demand and that he wallowed alike in the Heretical Puddle and Blasphemous Impiety of Eutyches Moreover that Flavianus was lamentably slain by the procurement Flavianus murdered by Dioscorus of Dioscorus who thrust him violently out of the Church and disdainfully trod on him with his feet A Council therefore was summoned at Chalcedon for the hearing A Council at Chalcedon of these matters and Legates and Posts were sent every where for the calling of them together the Bishops come and meet together some Senators with them and also the Emperor Cap. 4. Dioscorus deposed and exiled Nicene Creed against Eutyches's Canons decreed Much debating The conclusion of the Council matters are turned up-side down and great bustle is made Dioscorus is at length deposed and ordered into banishment and the Nicene Creed and several other things against Eutyches are Decreed and several Canons of the Church and much debatings to and again and at length it thus endeth Seeing we have sifted out the truth of these things with great care and diligence the Sacred and General Council hath Decreed that it shall be lawful for no man either to alleadge or to write or to frame or to believe or to teach any other Faith Moreover the Council commandeth such as None must alleadge write frame believe teach any other Faith presume to devise any other Faith or to bring forth or to teach or to publish any other Creed unto such as turn either from Paganism to Judaism or any other Sect whatsoever unto the knowledge of the Truth If they be Bishops that they be deposed of their Bishop-like The penalties dignities If Priests that they be degraded If Monks and Lay-people that they be accursed Hillarius and the Eastern Bishops The manner of Exclamation at the accursing of Dioscorus Cap. 18. And conjuring God to chastize him and the Emperor to be avenged on him cryed out Let Dioscorus be accursed In the very same hour Christ deprived Dioscorus when Dioscorus deposed Flavianus Oh Holy Lord we beseech thee chastise thou him and thou O Catholick Emperor be avenged on him these were Christians so called but what spirit they were of let understanding men judge according to the Spirit of Truth God grant Leo who was then Leo his Benedictus Bishop of Rome may live many years God send the Patriark a long life When the Sentence was passed on the Bishops that were deposed with Dioscorus which was afterward to those Bishops The cry upon Dioscorus's Judgment The Bishops of Illyrium confessing themselves all to have done amiss remitted but not to Dioscorus the Bishops of the East cryed out The Judgment is just Then the Bishops of Illyricum said We have all done amiss and therefore we all crave pardon And when the Bishops of the East cryed again The Sentence is just Christ deposeth the Murderer Christ revengeth the quarrel of the Martyrs The Senators bad every one give in his particular The Emperors Fâ—ith according to that
and destruction in the World men avenge themselves on persons and destroy them they know not that or are not guided by it which conquers the risings of evil in their own minds and that which rises in another The strong man Armed that keepeth the House they know not to be bound by the stronger than he which spoileth him of his defence and taketh his goods to overcome themselves which is greater prowess than to overcome strong Cities Every one ought said the Poet of old to tame or make subject his own heart This is the thing that keeps all things in order that leads captivity captive that cannot be overcome which overcomes ill will strifes variance mischiefs hatreds envies emulations whisperings backbitings risings blood which kills things in the root the Devil and his nature and spirit that leads into those things the works of the Devil the which to destroy the Son of God was manifest who saith He came not to destroy mens lives but to save them Here is the Safeguard the Rock the Buckler the place of Defence the Pavilion the hiding-place under the shadow of the Wing of the Almighty the Defence from the strife of Tongues the Secret of the Almighty the Mountain full of Horsemen and Chariots of Fire the more with us than against us where the Sword is beaten into a Plowshare and the Spear into a Pruning-hook and War is learnt no more as the Prophets Isaiah and Micah prophesied should be in that day That the Mountain of the Lords House is established on the top of the Mountains and exalted above the Hills and all Nations shall flow unto it and many people say they shall go and say Come ye and let us go up to the Mountain of the House of the Lord to the House of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his wayes and we will walk in his Paths For out of Sion shall go forth the Law and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem and he shall judge many Nations and shall rebuke many People and they shall beat their Swords into Plough-shares and their Spears into Pruning-hooks Nation shall not rise up against Nation nor shall they learn War any more O House of Israel come ye and let us walk in the Light of the Lord Isa 2. 2 3 4 5. Micah 4. 1 2 3. And he adds But they shall sit every man under his Vine and under his Figtree and none shall make them afraid for the mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it vers 4. And saith Joel Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles prepare Wars wake up the mighty men let all the men of War draw near let them come up Beat your Plough-shares into Swords and your Pruning-hooks into Spears let the weak say I am strong Assemble your selves come all ye Heathen and gather your selves together round about thither cause the mighty ones to come down O Lord Let the Heathen be awakened and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat for there will I sit to judge all the Nations round about Put ye in the Sickle for the Harvest is ripe come get ye down for the Press is full the Fat 's overflow for the wickedness is great Multitudes multitudes in the Valley of decision for the day of the Lord is great in the Valley of decision Joel 3. 9 to 14. So there 's their judgment And here is that which preserves and keeps the Arm of the Lord and his Dominion which is greater than all which keeps the heart in peace in perfect peace which trusteth in him which he that is of this World is not so great which gives to overcome the evil of this World all provocations enmities malice mischiefs all that would stir up a man that is of this World and overcome him which beareth all things and suffereth all things which thinks no evil that hopeth all things endureth all things 1 Cor. 13. 4 5 6 7 8. which never faileth which suffereth long and is kind which envyeth not which vaunteth not it self which is not puffed up which doth not behave it self unseemly which seeketh not its own is not easily provoked rejoyceth not in iniquity but rejoyceth in the Truth the Love which man being an enemy seeks to reconcile him to God the Power of God which preserves and keeps The Jews were required thrice in the year all their men Children to Exod. 34. 23 24. appear before the Lord the God of Israel and whereas they might object and say The Enemy then that lives round about us may come and invade our Land and possess our Habitations when there are no men to keep it but they are all in one place far distant from the Borders The Lord answers them For I will cast out the Nations and enlarge thy Borders Neither shall any man desire thy Land when thou shalt go up to appear before the Lord thy God thrice in a year This was when War was lawful to them and yet being thus required the Lord in the time of Wars when all was against them round about when the Nations were cut off and they had possessed their Land none invaded them till there was an end of them He passed through them whom the Jews sought oftentimes to kill whose Kingdom was not of this World who had no outward Arm to preserve and keep him his Apostles and Disciples who had no Arm of flesh and whose Doctrine had no tutelage or defence by the Sword of man whom the powers of the Earth were against carried through their Doctrine throughout notwithstanding all opposition and though they were esteemed as perverters changing the Laws and Customs and turning the World upside down Acts 17. 6 7. doing contrary to the Decrees of Caesar saying There is another King one Jesus and had the whole World in opposition who were contrary to the World and not of it therefore the World hated them yet their Doctrine stood it throughout the whole World and though multitudes of the Christians were suffered to be cut off during the Heathen Persecution as a proof of the power of God in them which carried them through on whom also the Apostacy had entered yet the thing was the same which carried them through all the torments imaginable and cruelties of deaths so that they were not overcome but by death overcame him that had the power of death viz. the Devil and left a good savour of the vertue of the power of him who is everlasting who made them more than Conquerors as what hath been repeated out of History gives abundantly to understand So that the Testimony is abundant to this thing of which I have declared even the whole Series of that which hath born through and suffered for the Truth from the beginning and that the Truth yet is from the beginning notwithstanding all that in this World hath made head against it which hath seemed alwayes in comparison to be little in the World and which the men of
did the Sea keep within its bounds but brake over the Banks and drowned many Countries for it fell out in many places that where a little before men went on foot all was on a float Barques and Ships were used Again in other places the Sea went so far from it self that it left much dry land much sandy And Sea to Land ground and many Fishes These things hapned saith the Historian in the first Consulship of both these Emperors These were the 2 things that commonly marched hand in hand Observations of Judgment marching with Persecution together during this History Persecution and Division in the Church as it s called Commotions and Stirs in the State which Cap. 4. The Historians observation of the same the Historian observes in these words In the time of the aforesaid calamities neither enjoyed the Common-Wealth peace nor were the Ecclesiastical Affairs in prosperous state The Council at Lampsacum The Council at Lampsacum gets the start of Valens confirm the Faith at Antioch of old established Curse that at Ariminum seven years after that of Seleucia being met through the aforesaid troubles those appertaining to Macedonius got the upper hand confirmed the form of Faith that of old was published at Antioch which a little before they had subscribed at Seleucia and accursed the Creed of the Bishops which by uniform consent in Religion they had lately established at Ariminum Against Acacius and Eudoxius they gave Depose Acacius and Eudoxius Sentence as of right deserving to be removed Eudoxius in no wise could resist their doings because of the commotion of Procopius nor be revenged of them wherefore Eleucius of Cyzicum having gotten the upper hand maintained for a while together with his Complices the The Macedonians get the day and a while keep it Anno. 370. Cap. 5. Valens and Procopius pitch Battel Procopius taken alive Strangely executed Macedonian Opinion Well Valens and Procopius met the year following at Nacolea a City in Phrygia and there pitched Battel in the first skirmish Valens side was the weaker in the next he took Procopius alive ordered his Thighs to be tyed to the tops of mighty Boughs groving not far asunder the which first of all with certain Engines he wrested to the ground and afterwards loosened them which lifted Procopius on high and pulled him in pieces Angello and His Captains sawn asunder that betrayed him Gomarius his own Captains that betrayed him he sawed asunder in the midst Procopius being thus torn into two parts died miserably The Emperor saith the History being puffed up with his Valens turns again to Persecution prosperous success turned himself again to molest and persecute the Christians as is the wont of all Persecutors because he determined with himself to prefer every where the Arrian Opinion The Council held at Lampsacum stuck in his stomach not only because they deposed the Arrian Bishops but accursed the form of Faith lately established at Ariminum Therefore coming to Nicomedia he called Eleusius Bishop of Cyzicum who Calls a Council at Nicomedia of Arian Bish was of the Macedonian Opinion before him also a Council of Arrian Bishops and compelled Eleusius to subscribe to their Compel Eleusius to subscribe Faith which at first he utterly denied but being sore threatned by the Emperor with Banishment and confiscation of goods he yeelded But his Conscience was not satisfied for he was in great agony and torment so he turned to Cyzicum and in the face of He is troubled Makes his publick lamentation the Congregation made a pittiful complaint relating the injury the Emperor had done unto him and how he had condescended not by his will but by compulsion and requested them to get another Bishop but they would not nor acknowledge another Bishop over them nor yeeld up the Government of the Church but took him for their Superiour and kept still to their former Opinion In the place of Eleusius Bishop of Constantinople he chose Eunomius Cap. 7. Eunomius put in his place aforesaid who being an eloquent man he thought the people might be induced the more to receive him and the Emperor sent commandment That he should be put out and Eunomius put in his room whereupon the favourers of Eleusius built Eleusius's people hold Conventicles them what is called a Church without the Walls of the City and there had their private Conventicles as saith the History This Eunomius was the Scribe of Aetius as I have formerly spoken with whom living it is said he learnt his captious falacies and quirks of Logick which of Sophisters is highly embraced Moreover with vain Speeches and Epithetons he was delighted he is said to learn unadvisedly to frame Sophistical Arguments in which he took great pride and ran headlong into blasphemy he imbraced Arius and impugned the Faith of one Substance when Eunomius's Sophistry raises a tumult after his wonted manner he fed the Ears of his Auditors out of the Pulpit with Sophistical Arguments and Reasons of Logick he amazed them so that a great tumult was raised at Cyzicum and the Citizens that could not away with his arrogant and insolent Which banishes him Cyzicum He gets to Constantinople playes the Bish no longer His blasphemous Opinions and Atheistical manner of preaching banished him the City from whence he got to Constantinople to Eudoxius and saith the History plaid the Bishop no longer He said as followeth God of his own Essence understood no more then we do neither is the same better known or understood of him than of us and whatsoever we know of it the same knoweth he and look what his capacity reacheth to the same thou shalt find in us This was the Heresie or rather the Blasphemy of Eunomius who was made a Bishop as aforesaid and became the head of those who held the same Atheistical Opinion of God of whom I have treated the larger because the Reader may understand what things were held and what was amongst them Those of the Faith of one Substance together with the Novations Cap. 8. The Nicenians and Navations banished Constantinople Doors shut up Agelius exiled The Bishop alwayes went barefoot had but one Coat the Emperor banished out of Constantinople and nailed up their Church doors as they are called and exiled Agelius the Novation Bishop who had ruled their Church from the dayes of Constantine It is said of this Bishop that he went alwayes barefoot and had but one Coat yet through the influence of Martianus who was sometimes a Souldier in the Emperors Pallace the Novation places were opened again yet were they not rid of the Arrians nor delivered from their Persecution I must still take notice as I go along how the displeasure of the Judgements again attending Persecution Lord alwayes accompanied these Persecutors in some exemplary or signal hand of Judgment or that which is pertentious or significatory thereto The year following these unnatural
persecutions Hail of a wonderful bigness like unto stones lighted at Constantinople Cap. 10. Great Hail at Constantinople It is rife saith the History in every mans mouth That God sent that great Hail in token of his displeasure against the Emperor for banishing many Priests and Bishops who refused to communicate with Eudoxius the Arrian In Bythinia the year Great Earthquakes in Bythinia following there was a great Earthquake which overthrew the City of Nice it was the twelfth year after the ruine of Nicomedia Immediately after many pieces of Germa a City of Hellespont Also in Hellespont were turned upside down with another Earthquake yet neither Valens the Emperor nor Eudoxius the Arrian Bishop were moved Neither Valens nor Eudoxius consider but turn them otherwise any thing at all nor inclined to Pitty or Reformation but observing no mean furiously raged against all such as held the contrary Faith and Opinion as usually is the disposition of Tyrannical Persecutors These Earthquakes were no otherwise to be taken The Historians observation of the Earthquakes saith the Historian then for manifest tokens of Schism and Division in the Church Yet Basilius Bishop of Cesaria in Cappadocia and Gregorius of a small and mean City bordering upon Cesarea were not exiled their Native Soil which then was looked upon as a great kindness The Persecution being very hot in particulat against the Macedonians Cap. 11. The persecuted Macedonians apply themselves to Rome and they being at their wits end agree together and send certain Bishops viz. Eustathius of Sebastia and others to the Emperors Brother and Liberius Bishop of Rome with a Supplication wherein they conform to the Creed with the Clause of one Substance being charged not to disagree with Liberius This they did because they could not communicate with Eudoxius the Arrian The Emperor Valentinian being then in France in his War against the Sarmatians they delivered their Letter to Liberius who at first refused to give their Letters the Reading telling them they were Arrians and therefore in no wise to be entertained of the Church having abrogated the Nicene Creed To which they answered That his words were true and that it repented them of their folly that they acknowledged the Truth that of late they had condemned the Opinion which affirmeth the Son to be unlike the Father that they confessed the Son in all things and in all respects to be like the Father and that the clause of Likeness differed nothing from the Sence of one Substance and subscribing unto the same in their Supplication aforesaid which they presented he received them into Communion and writing Letters by them sent them away And are received They being returned sent Letters into every City of them that held the Faith of one Substance for an Assembly at Tarsus in Cilicia They desire an Assembly at Tarsus partly to ratifie the Nicene Creed partly to remove all Schism and Contention since that time And the History saith Peradventure it had been done if Eudoxius aforesaid had not withstood it through the great favour he had with the Emperor who was wonderfully incensed at the summoning of them and afterwards diversly Are vexed by Eudoxius vexed them I quote these things all along as the History bears through to The reason of these Quotations the end that in a constant Series and Succession for near the first six hundred years I may shew what I have often laid down as the ground of this my undertaking viz. The Original and Succession of National Faiths or Worships and the consequences of them in every Age throughout the World even what they have produced of tumults and trouble and confusion and destruction and death The Tragical Scenes of every Age bearing nothing more rampant than these Characters throughout every Generation Thus as to the Macedonians dividing from the Arrians Now I shall shew how Eunomius aforesaid went from them also such Eunomius divides from the Arrians as did the Macedonians roulings and tumblings were there in the World amongst men who knowing not that which should stay their minds would yet go to make a definition of God Eunomius having made a long The reason thereof and tedious suit unto Eunomius in the behalf of Aetius his Master Eudoxius would not receive him into their Church which the History saith Eudoxius did not of himself for his own Opinion differed not from Aetius but because of the Faction of Eudoxius which abhorred Aetius as one contrary in Opinion unto them therefore Eunomius withdrew from the Arrians this at Constantinople Cap. 12 Persecution at Alexandria but at Alexandria the Writ that was sent thither by the Governor through the procurement of Eudoxius molesting wonderfully the quiet thereof the consequence of which and fearing lest if any mischief were wrought by the heady and rash motion of the common people it would be laid to his charge Athanasius Athanasius hides himself at Alexandria The people in an uproar The Emperor constrained thereby to let him be there quiet hid himself in his Fathers Closet for the space of four months whereupon the City of Alexandria being all on an uproar the Emperor was constrained to signifie by his Letters to the People of Alexandria that Athanasius should quietly as they wished themselves enjoy the Bishoprick through which it came to pass that they had peace and tranquillity to the death of Athanasius in that which was called the Church of Alexandria When shall I have done with this turmoil and trouble Eudoxius Cap. 13. Eudoxius dies Demophilus put in his place by the Arrians Evagrius by the Nicenians dies In his room Demophilus is placed by the Arrians those of the Faith of one Substance supposing now was their opportunity put in Evagrius whom Eustathius had consecrated Bishop who of old had been Bishop of Antioch and lately called from Exile by Jovianus and now lay hid in Constantinople secretly to confirm those of the Faith of one Substance This being done The Arrians furiously rise in persecution Valens hastens to Constantinople fearing the Consequence the Arrians furiously began to persecute the other Christians which Valens hearing as it came quickly to his ear being at Nicomedia in his way to Antioch from Constantinople he hastned unto Constantinople great powers of armed Souldiers fearing lest the seditious tumults of the vulgar sort should overthrow the City and commanded that both the Consecrator and the Consecrated Banishes the Consecrator and the Consecrated what holiness is here and how is it turned underfoot as occasion presents should be banished one to one place another to another Countrey hereupon Eustathius was exiled into Bizia a City of Thracia and Evagrius was conveyed to another City The Arrians hereupon saith the History crowed exceedingly The Arrians hereupon insult scourge revile imprison merce the other Christians They complain to Valens by eighty of the Priestly Order over the Christians they