were adjudged to go to Hell withstood them stifly and under the Name of Divine Grace which they said Pelagius was an Enemy to establish'd their own Opinion among the Christians which before was scarce ever heard of in the World At the same time Attalus and Heracliaenus set up for Tyrants in Italy and Africa but quickly lost their Usurped Power while the Goths in the mean time waged War against the Alans and Vandals in Spain and Gaul under the Conduct of Vallias Ataulphus's his Successor who restored Placidia to Honorius and was marry'd to Count Constantius 514. This year the first Synod at Diospolis in the Land of Palestine was held against Pelagius where he is said to have retracted his Errors and to be absolved Another Synod in conformity to this condemned the Pelagian Errors in Africa and sent Letters to Innocent Bishop of Rome to induce him to do the like The same thing was done that year by the Synod held at Milevitum in Numidia But Coelestius the Disciple of Pelagius coming to Rome after the death of Innocent cleared himself before Zosimus then Pope who wrote to the Clergy in Africa That if they knew of any one that were minded to accuse Coelestius they should send him to Rome And he did at the same time inveigh bitterly against Lazarus and Herotes two Gaulish Bishops for their rash Accusation of Coelestius and Pelagius He wrote also not long after such other Letters in favour of Pelagius which Pelagius's Adversaries say were obtained through cunning Dissimulation But there is no reason we should believe them before Pelagius seeing they used all the Artifice imaginable to defame his Doctrine and obtained an Order from Honorius against him See Ger. John Vossius in Historia Pelagiana From thence in the mean time arose Contentions about Appeals from Places beyond the Seas while Zosimus in opposition to the African Bishops urged That Appeals to the See of Rome were lawful and for this he insisted upon I do not know what Canon of the Council of Nice whereby he said it was manifest those Appeals were Canonical But the African Fathers found the Canon was fictitious by sending some to the East to bring them the Canons of that Council And hence sprung a Schism between the Roman and African Churches 420. While the Romans waged War against the Persians in the East and that Honorius who govern'd the Western Empire wasted away his time in Idleness the Kingdom of the Franks under Pharamond is said to have begun 424. A few years after when Placidia with her Sons Valentinian and Honorius were drove away by the Emperor Honorius she fled to Theodosius into the East where she had the Dignity of Augusta conferred upon her as her Son Valentinian had that of Caesar This Prince upon the death of Honorius was sent into Italy to suppress John Principal Notary who had invaded the Empire of the deceased Which he successfully performed and in a little time after did by the help of Aetius a valiant Man to whom he was much obliged overthrow Count Boniface who had seized upon the Empire in Africa 428. Nestorius Bishop of Constantinople is said to have spread his Doctrine at that time whereby he contended as they would have it That there were Two Persons in Christ Cyril Bishop of Alexandria opposed him vehemently though it 's very likely the whole Contest was nothing but meer Word-warring nay if Cyril's words were as rigidly scann'd as those of Nestorius the Bishop of Alexandria would appear to be more Heterodox than the other But yet the Synod assembled at Ephesus which was called the Third General one and which consisted of Two hundred Bishops condemned Nestorius But John Bishop of Antioch coming thither with his Party did on the fifth day after Nestorius's Condemnation serve Cyril the same turn and annull the Council's Decrees From whence arose a Schism in the Eastern Churches which could scarce be composed again The whole Controversy had its beginning from the ambiguity of the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For while some confounded the terms and said there were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Christ Others who made a Distinction between them contended That there were indeed Two Natures in him but One Person Besides which there were also some who said there were but One Nature and One Person in him from whence afterwards sprang the Opinion of the Eutychians of whom by and by At length when Cyril's Party who were at first inferiour to the other got the better on 't with the Emperor Theodosius Nestorius's Books were condemned In Defence whereof the Nestorians published the Books of Diodorus of Tarsus and Theodorus of Mopsuestenum who defended both Natures which were condemned by some and approved by others when they did not rightly understand one another Then was the Theodosian Code publish'd being the year after Vincentius Larinensis put out his Book called Commonitorium The Goths Huns and Vandals about these times molested the Roman Empire in divers Parts tho' the Roman Generals craftily made use sometimes of one sometimes of another's friendship in order to appease the rest 437. Valentinian the Second marry'd Eudoxia Theodosius's Daughter to whom he had been betrothed a long time before Eudoxia the Mother of this Prince went to Jerusalem the next year to pay her Vows where she stayed for the space of a year for then it was that holy Places began to be had in much veneration and many Pilgrimages were under taken thither several also of the Reliques of the Saints long since deceased began to grow famous by which great Miracles were said to be done whereby it came to pass that Men began to invoke the holy Martyrs and others by whose Prayers they believed those things they asked of God would be more easily obtained From henceforward the Thirteenth Book of Dionysius Petavius de Doct. Temp. is stuffed with a great many Monkish Stories he neglecting no opportunity of taking notice of those Reliques which at that time grew in vogue with the People 439. Carthage was taken by the Vandals after it had been almost for Six hundred years in the hands of the Romans The Conquerors are said to have vented their rage against the Christians and especially the Priests by the Command of King Geisericus It 's said there were several Manichaeans discovered at this time in Italy who were sharply prosecuted by Leo Bishop of Rome Bleda and Attila Kings of the Huns ravaged Illyricum and Thrace and besides that extorted great Summs of Money from Theodosius But Attila after his Brother Bleda was slain had the whole Power in his hands and not long after over-ran almost all Europe 448. Eutyches this year is said to have been convicted of Heresie in the Synod of Constantinople because he confounded the Natures of Christ which Nestorius had over separated But next year there was a Synod held at Ephesus wherein Dioscorus Bishop of Alexandria restored him to Communion again from
would not obey him to take off his Father by Poison to be put to death and in their ruine was also Papinian the Lawyer involved because he would not consent to the said Execution 215. Agrippinus Bishop of Carthage having held a Council in these times Enacted That Hereticks should be Re-baptized 217. Antoninus the Emperor after he had ravaged the Kingdom of Parthia and was come back to Mesopotamia was taken off by Opilius Macrinus by the means of Martialis the Centurion after he had reigned for six years But Macrinas himself after one year's Reign together with his Son Diadamenianus whom he had made Caesar was slain by the Soldiery Antoninus Alagabalus a most wicked Emperor succeeded him He was at first a Priest of Alagabalus a God of the Emisseni from whom he had his Name for Alah gabal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies a Mountain-God or God of the Mountain The Emissenians worshipped God under the form of a Mountain which they believed to have fallen down from Heaven and who was esteemed to be the chief among them as is set forth at large by Is Casaubon and Claud. Salmasius upon Heliogabalus of Lampridius He introduced the Worship of his Name-sake-God into Rome and built him a Temple there He adopted his Cousin-German Alexander Mammea's Son whom he called Caesar and after he had reigned three years and nine months was together with his Mother Julia slain at Rome in a Tumult made by the Soldiery and thrown into the Tiber. 222. Alexander a good Prince assumed the Imperial Dignity He is said to have worshipped Apollonius Tyanaeus Christ Abraham and Orpheus in his private Chapel so that we do not find the Christians much molested in his Reign Nay it 's said that he would have built a Temple for our Saviour which Adrian was affirmed to have designed who commanded Temples to be built in Cities without any Statues in them He also allowed especial Privileges to the Jews and if any suffered Martyrdom in his Reign the same must be attributed to certain Lawyers whose Counsel he made use of and who were great Enemies to the Christians Amongst others Vlpian Pomponius Celsus Modestinus Paulus Proculus and Venuleius were famous 231. About these times it was that Origen undertook a most useful Work upon the Old Testament he put forth that called by the Name of Tetrapla where you have first the Hebrew Text in Hebrew Characters then the same in Greek after which follows the four famous Versions of the Septuagint Aquila Symmachus and Theodotion whence sprang the Name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not from the number of the Columns but of the Versions for the Columns were five whereas the Versions were no more than four An Example whereof we have subjoined in this place 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Hebraic 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 LXX Int. Aquila Symmach Theodot 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But seeing that in the Reign of Antonine Caracalla there were three Versions more found in a great Tub at Jericho which they called the Fifth Sixth and Seventh there were with the addition of these two Columns more made one whereof took up the Fifth place as the Sixth and Seventh who were looked upon as all one took up the other and perhaps there was no great difference between them That work being ended in this manner they called it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because the same consisted of fix Versions the Sixth and the Seventh being reputed but for one But Epiphanius and some other eminent Writers have given this Edition the Name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they had a regard to the Columns and not the Versions that is they allowed two Columns for the Hebrew Text and six for the Versions for the reason already given They have also for the same reason called that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we before with Origen and Jerom have distinguish'd by the Name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Origen hath also done this in the Septuagint's Version that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or that which was vulgarly used wherein are many things added or borrowed from other Interpreters he hath distinguish'd them which were not the Septuagint's with Asterisms and Lines but in the Hexapla hath inserted the Septuagint's unmix'd As to this point you may consult Eusebius lib. vi cap. 16. of his Ecclesiastical History and Henry Valesius upon him as also Is Vossius adtertias Objectiones Ric. Simonii Andrew Masius's Pref. to the Greek Text of Joshua may withal be seen upon this occasion From this Origen several of whose Pieces are quite lost but many still extant as from an Everlasting Fountain have the Fathers of the Greek Church drawn almost all their Writings neither did St. Jerom borrow a little matter from him though his great Opponent nor Ruffinus Presbytes of Aquileia who stuck close to his part who also translated much of him into Latin He was afterwards accused of divers Errors concerning which you may consult Sulpicius Severus in his Dialogues Indeed as to those Controversies relating to Grace yea and to the Holy Trinity and other Points of Christian Theology he hath very different Sentiments from those which afterwards prevailed especially in the Latin Church At that time flourished Gregory Thaumaturgus and Julius Africanus who were great Admirers of Origen In this Age it was that Artaxerxes the Persian after he had overcome and slain Artabanus restored the Empire to the Persians or rather suppress'd the Name of Parthia yet Alexander overcame this Prince but was soon after together with his Mother slain by the Soldiers when he had reigned thirteen years In his Reign lived Dio Cassius who wrote the Roman History 235. Maximinus whose Father was a Goth and Mother an Alane succeeded him being made Emperor by the Soldiery without the concurrence of the Senate This very year to which Writers refer the Sixth Persecution the Gordians Father and Son usurp the Empire Which was no sooner made known at Rome but the Romans by the Authority of the Senate revolted from Maximinus and chose Twenty Senators to take care of the Publick Weal But after the Revolution of one year the Gordians were slain by Capelianus and Maximinus himself while together with his Son he laid Siege to Aquileia was cut off also The Senate presently advanced Maximius and Pupienus into his Place But these as being beloved by the People and hated by the Soldiery ran the same fate in the following year 238. Gordianus yet a Child was chosen Emperor by the African Legions who by the Assistance of Misitheus his Father-in-Law a most valiant and learned Person held the Dignity for six years But not being able to hinder Philip the Arab from killing him and getting himself to be Praefectus Praetorio or Captain of the Life-guard in his room he was slain the next year by the same Person 244. M. Julius Philippus together
made a difference between Arius and Alexander the Bishop and that from thence it was that occasion was taken to preach the Consubstantial Doctrine This Philostorgius was indeed a favourer of Arius's Opinion but there is no reason we should give him no manner of credit and all as is usual to those of the opposite Party 324. About the same time began Licinius out of hatred to Constantine to trouble the Christians and soon after brake out into open War but being overcome by Constantine in some Engagements both by Sea and Land he was brought to comply yet Constantine finding at last that he and Martinianus whom the other had made Caesar could not forbear forming of new Designs and Attempts he commanded his Head to be struck off 325. But as the Controversie about the Celebration of Easter of which we have already made mention in the time of Victor Bishop of Rome did still the more heighten the Differences between Arius and his Opponents there was a Synod appointed to be called to meet at Nice from all the Roman Empire wherein met cccxviii Bishops and the same began on the 14th of June and ended on the 25th of August following In this Council it was Enacted That all should celebrate Easter on the same Day that is the first Sunday after the Fourteenth Day of the New Moon next succeeding the Vernal Equinox There was also a Creed or Confession of Faith made wherein that Opinion that opposed Arius's Sentiments was confirmed As for the Creed you will find it in Socrates l. i. c. 8. of his Eccles Hist But because this Synod was accounted to be the first Oecumenical Council we shall contrary to our custom say somewhat more concerning it In the first place There were great Contentions between the Bishops which is expresly affirmed by Eusebius cap. xiii lib. 3. of the Life of Constantine though Constantine in a grave Speech exhorted them all to Peace and Unanimity These are his words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Some began to accuse their Neighbours while others defended themselves and returned the Accusation upon their Opponents Neither could their Wranglings be composed any otherwise than by throwing their Petitions into the fire There is no small Controversy about the meaning of the Nicene Creed concerning which you may read Stephen Curcellaeus's Dissertation de Vocibus Trinitatis c. where he shews the Nioene Fathers believed there were Three Gods equal to one another There were Five Bishops who would not subscribe and they were Eusebius of Nicomedia Theognis of Nice Maris of Chalcedon Theonas of Marmarica and Secundus of Ptolemais These said they could not consent to admit of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because that may be said to be Consubstantial which proceeds from another either by Partition or Flowing or Eruption by Eruption as the Bud is from the Roots by Flowing as Children from their Parents and by Partition as two or three small vials from a mass of Gold But none of these ways can the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Word be the Son of God But the Synod said that the Son was from the Father without any Partition as it might be in Corporeal things but they made use of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as signifying only the Equality of the Substance and not Numerical Unity Eusebius Bishop of Caesarea who sat near the Emperor in the Synod was at first dubious whether the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 should be allowed of but at last upon granting him to make his Interpretation he gave way to it He said He approved of it for peace sake as he did also of those words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Begotten not made because they said Made was a word that was common to all other Creatures that were made by the Son wherewith the Son had nothing like unto them and moreover that he was not made like unto those things made by him but was of a much more excellent Substance than all the Creatures which indeed the Divine Oracles taught us to be of the Father by some secret method of Generation That he was Consubstantial with the Father implied no more than that the Son hath nothing of likeness in him to the Creatures he had made but that he was like unto 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Father alone of whom he was begotten and that he was of no other Subsistence or Substance but of the Father These things which are taken out of Eusebius Bishop of Caesarea's Epistles as you have them in the foremention'd place of Socrates and others that might be mention'd do sufficiently manifest unto us that the Nicene Fathers had other sort of Sentiments than what the Modern Christians have in relation to the said Point The Arians also themselves did at length acquiesce except Theonas and Secundus with the Creed of that Synod and allowed of it but upon that Condition as you have it in Athanasius's Second Apology That Arius who himself also allowed thereof should not return to Alexandria Athanasius next year was advanced into the See of Alexandria who while he was yet but Deacon stiffly opposed Arius Philostorgius hath many things in relation to him that are not much to his Reputation which perhaps are as little to be credited as what the Consubstantial Men have said concerning Arius and therefore are yet no more to be rejected than these 326. The same year which was next after the Synod Crispus Caesar upon account of his being suspected to have committed Incest with his Mother-in-Law was put to death by his Father's Command And Fausta being kept in custody till the following year was killed in a Bath because she was thought to have falsly accused Crispus Ablavius who afterwards attained to the Honour of being Consul hath set forth Constantine's Cruelty in the following lines Saturni aurea saecla quis requirat Sunt haec gemmea sed Neroniana Then Constantine and his Mother Helen built several Churches in Judaea Jerusalem Mount Olivet and Bethlehem 330. The Council of Nice by the Definition they made could not extinguish the Dissentions reigning among the Christians In Egypt there were great Animosities between the Arians and Athanasians Which last the Consubstantial Writers have so far favoured that they have condemned the other's Proceedings in all Points This year there happened a Tumult at Antioch arising from the same Cause which Petavius after Baronius hath mistakingly assigned to the Year 324 and cites Eusbius's Authority for it to no purpose when that Author in Constantine's Life lib. iii. cap. 60. speaks of things quite different therefrom and such as happened five years after the Synod was held as H. Valesius upon that place in Eusebius hath demonstrated Vpon the death of Paulinus Bishop of Antioch they had great feuds amongst them in that City about the Choice of a Successor the Arians being obstinately bent to have Eusebius Bishop of Caesarea translated thither Euseb lib. iii. de Vita Constantini cap. 57. At
Sentiments of the Manichaeans concerning the Liberty of Man About these times Valentinian the Younger put forth an Edict in favour of the Arians while Theodosius on the other hand did many things in favour of the Homoousians as they called them So that the pious Rules no less strove with one another by the Authority of the Emperors whom they endeavoured to engage on their side than they did in Reproaches and Anathema's Now it was that Cyril of Jerusalem flourish'd and Jerom and John both Presbyters of Antioch which last was called Chrysostom began to grow famous and about two years after the latter was made Presbyter when the Antiochians had thrown down the Statues of Theodosius he made those Orations which are known by the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 At the same time Maximus the Tyrant was overcome and slain by Theodosius at Aquileia Neither did his Son Victor survive him long for Count Arbogastes cut off his Head in Gaul Theodosius restored to Valentinian what he took from Maximus Two years after the People of Thessalonica having slain a principal Officer of his Theodosius commanded a great slaughter to be made of them For which reason St. Ambrose shut him out of the Church of Milan till he had given signs of a Publick Repentance neither was he admitted in till after the expiration of some months as other Penitents used to do Moreover he made a Law That the Execution of Sentence past should be deferred for Thirty Days Valentinian also the same year made a Law concerning Deaconesses and Women consecrated to God That they should give nothing to the Churches Which was Repealed not long after And this proved to be the fate of all the Edicts that seemed to take any thing away from the Clergy A Decree of the same Emperor had a like success wherein it was Enacted That Monks should not enter into Cities but dwell in solitary Places For the same was disused in three years after or thereabouts 391. Eugenius relying upon the aid of Count Arbogastus invaded the Western Empire and Valentinian not long after died of a Wound he received of Arbogastus at Vienna He was a Catechumen aâ— that time and desired Ambrose to Baptize him before he went upon the Expedition he had projected against the Barbarians But though he died unbaptized yet Ambrose in his Funeral Sermon stick'd not to say that he was saved Then began great Wranglings to arise about Origen's Opinions between John Bishop of Jerusalem and Epiphanius Bishop of Salamis in Cyprus whose Epistle concerning the said John of Jerusalem's Errors is still extant and was turned into Latin by St. Jerom. Paladius of Galata and Ruffinus a Presbyter of Aquileia were favourers of the same Opinions You may consult Sulpitius Seuerus's Dialogaes and the Origeniana of P. D. Huetius upon this Subject Theodosius being accompany'd with Honorius whom the year before he had created Augustus marched against Arbogastus and Eugenius and having joined Battle was worsted the first day But he overcame the day following the Winds as they said fighting for him Theodosius died the year after this Victory Ruffinus had dispossess'd his Son Arcadius of the Eastern Empire to whom his Father had assign'd it had it not been for Stilicho Honorius's General who defeated and slew him Then Augustine who had been ordained Presbyter five years before was made Bishop of Hipp. Claudian the last of the Latin Poets flourish'd at that time Eutropius was assisting to Stilicho in the overthrowing of Ruffinus but they could not agree long Eutropius made it his business to get the former who was going to the East declared an Enemy to the Commonwealth by the Emperor and Senate and endeavoured from under Honorius's Command to take away Africa by the means of Gildon wherein he proved at first successful But Mascezel Gildo's Brother having received supplies of Men from Stilicho overcame his Brother and distressed him so far by his Victory that he went and hang'd himself and himself soon after was by Stilicho's Command thrown over a Bridge into the River 398. John Chrysostom was made Patriarch of Constantinople a Person no less addicted to a severity of Discipline than famous for Eloquence While he ruled the Church of Constantinople Gainas a Confident of Eutropius having made a League with the Barbarians so far deceived him that in some time he effected his ruine But after divers Commotions raised in Constantinople he was at length slain himself in Thrace At the same time Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria having assembled a Synod took care to have Origen and his Followers condemned He used ill the Origenian Monks of Egypt who in vain fled for Protection to St. Chrysostom 400. Then it was that Alaricus King of the Goths wasted Italy and had Gaul and Spain assigned him by Honorius to dwell in There were several Synods held about these times in Africa against the Donatists whom at length seeing they could not do it by Arguments they overcame by Force And this St. Augustine in his Epistle to Vincentius asserts to be lawful 403. St. Chrysostom not long after was condemned by Theophilus of Alexandria and some other Bishops at the Instigation of Eudoxia the Empress whom he had offended by inveighing against the Plays that were celebrated in honour of her at her Silver Statue which stood not far from the Church Next year he was exil'd into Cilicia thence into Armema and in the fourth year of his Banishment died at Comana upon the Euxine Sea 408. Arcadius himself who sent him into Banishment died also not long after leaving Theodosius his Son an Infant behind him and whom he recommended to the Protection of Isdegerdes King of Persia who discharged the Trust committed to him with great fidelity Stilicho endeavouring to get his Son Eucherius made Caesar was slain Whereupon Alaricus offered to enter into a League with Honorius But the latter rejecting the Terms the other advanced with his Army twice to Rome and at last took the City while one Constantius an obscure Person who invaded the Empire was in the mean time slain in Gaul Alaricus when he had taken and plundered Rome did at his departure take along with him Placidia Honorius's Sister and bestowed her in Marriage on Ataulphus his Kinsman who upon the other's death that happened in a short while after succeeded him in his Dominions 413. About these times Coelestius a Disciple of Peâ—…gius who was a Scot or Britain was condemned â—n the Synod of Carthage Pelagius's Tenet was That all Men had strength enough and to spare bestowed upon them by God whereby freely to discharge their Duty and that they stood in no need of other extraordinary Grace to help them therein besides what the Providence of God bestowed upon all Men and That Infants were neither capable of Vice nor Vertue which then only exert themselves when they become adult Others who denied the said liberty and believed most Men through an Eternal Necessity which they called Predestination