intollerable for he bouldened him selfe vpon Iohn and inueyed contumeliously without all modestie and shamefastnesse agaynste all men which turned to the encrease of the spite and hatred borne vnto Iohn Moreouer when Seuerianus on a certaine tyme came to the place where Serapion sate Serapion gaue him not the honor and reuerence dewe vnto a bishop neyther rose vp in so doing he declared that he regarded not the person of Seuerianus This contempt and disdayne of Serapion was not taken paciently of Seuerianus for he exclaimed against him in these wordes If Serapion dyeth a Christian then was Christ neuer incarnate Serapion tooke this as a fitte occasion ministred vnto him made Iohn to become his foe whilest that he concealed the firste sentence to wete If Serapion dyeth a Christian and repeated the later to wete that Christ was neuer incarnate affirming y ◠he heard it of Seuerianus owne mouth And to the end he woulde iustifie the reporte he brought forth men of his owne degree and callinge to testifie that they heard the words To be short Iohn without any more adoe banished Seuerianus the citie Eudoxia the Empresse vnderstanding of the circumstance founde great fault with Iohn caused Seuerianus to be sent for out of Chalcedon in Bithynia who came immediately Iohn kept him selfe on t of his companie he woulde not be brought with any mans entreatie and perswasion to become friendes with Seuerianus At length when that Eudoxia the Emperours mother in the Apostles churche had throwen her sonne Theodosius the Emperour who though he were then of tender yeares yet gouerned he y e common wealth with good successe and prosperous ouersight at the feete of Iohn and craued of him with solemne protestations that of all loue and friendship he woulde not denye her request with muche adoe he was wonne to embrace Seuerianus agayne But for all that outwardly they bare a shewe and a countenance of friendship neuerthelesse inwardly they continewed their spite and hatred one towards the other The cause that deuided Iohn and Seuerianus was in such sort CAP. XI Howe that Epiphanius comming to Constantinople celebrated the communion gaue orders without the licence of Iohn therein to gratifie Theophilus SHortly after Epiphanius the bishop came from Cyprus to Constantinople at the request of Theophilus and brought thither with him the decree of the bishops where he had not excommunicated Origen but onely condemned his bookes Wherefore after his comming into the church of Sainct Iohn which was not farre from the walls of the citie he celebrated the cōmunion made a deacon went forth out of the churche and came to Constantinople When that Iohn had inuited him requesting he woulde take a peece of a lodging with him he for to feede the humor of Theophilus refused his curtesie and tooke vp an Inne by him selfe After that he had called together the bishops which then by chaunce were at Constantinople he read in their hearinge the decree where he had condemned the works of Origen Of the bookes I haue nothing to say but thus muche that it pleased Epiphanius and Theophilus to condemne them Of the byshops some for reuerence of Epiphanius subscribed vnto the decree some other denyed it vtterly Of which number Theotimus bishop of Scythia made Epiphanius this answere I of myne owne part ô Epiphanius will not so much iniurie the man who is departed to rest many yeares agoe neither dare I presume once to enterprise so haynous an offence for to condemne the bookes whiche our auncetors haue not condemned specially seeyng I vnderstande not as yet neither read any parcell of the doctrine within contayned And when that a certaine booke of Origen was brought forth he read it and shewed there the interpretation of holy scripture agreeable vnto the faith of the catholicke churche last of all he concluded with these wordes They that reprehende these things doe no lesse then mislike vvith the matter vvhereof these bookes doe intreat This was the answere of Theotimus vnto Epiphanius a man he was of great fame both for sound doctrine and godly conuersation CAP. XII A kinde of Apologie in the behalfe of Origen IN so much that many were drawen headlong through the procurement of malicious sclaunderers much like a blast of hurlwinde to reuile Origen it shall not be amisse to saye somewhat of them Obscure men odde felowes such as haue no pythe or substance in them to the ende they myght become famous goe about moste commonly to purchase vnto them selues glorie and renowme by dispraysing of such men as farre excell them in all rare and singular vertues Of which sort of backebiters first I remember Methodius bishop of Olympus a citie of Lycia next Eustathius who for a while was bishop of Antioch thirdly Apolinarius last of all this Theophilus This messe of raylers if I may so tearme them fell a sclaūdering of Origē neither yet all for one thing One charged him with this an other with that wherby they all seuerally declared vnto the world that they allowed wholly all such thinges in him as they had not reprehended by name For in as much they blamed him seuerally for seuerall doctrine it appeareth they tooke that for trueth in him which they concealed and misliked not withall and they approued in very deede that which they denyed not in worde Methodius though at the beginning he inueyed bitterly against Origen yet afterwardes as it were by way of recantation he extolled him vnto the skies in that dialogue which he intitled Zeno. Their reuiling in myne opinion encreased the renowne fame of Origen For while they charged him with haynous crimes as they thought and yet findinge no faulte with him as toutching the blessed Crinitie they are witnesses them selues that he was of y ◠right and sound faith Euen as these men being not able iustly to accuse him beare witnes w t him of his true beliefe so Athanasius voyd of all parcialitie a zealous maintayner of the clause Of one substance alleageth him for a witnesse of his faith in the orations which he wrote to the cōfutation of the Arians citeth his words for testimonies among his works sayth thus of him That notable man that paynfull writer Origen confirmeth in plaine words the faith opinion we haue of the sonne of God in that he auoutcheth him to be coaeternall with the father Wherefore such as goe about to reuile Origen they vnwares doe sclaunder Athanasius which hyghly commended him Thus much by the way of Origen and nowe againe to the storie CAP. XIII How that Iohn sent for Epiphanius to come vnto him and charged him that he had behaued him selfe contrary to the canons of the church after they had brawled a while together Epiphanius returned homewards IOhn at the first tooke not the matter very grieuously for all that Epiphanius contrary to the canon had made a Deacon in his church but requested him to accept
all the citie seemed to be as one church CAP. XXIIII Howe Theodosius the Emperour after the execution of Iohn the tyrant proclaimed Valentinianus the sonne of Constantius and Placidia the Aunt of Theodosius Emperour at Rome WHen the tyrant was dispatched out of the waye Theodosius began to consider with him selfe whome he should proclaime Emperour of the west parts of the worlde He had to his kinseman one Valentinianus a very yong gentleman begotten on Placidia his aunt for she was the doughter of Theodosius Magnus the Emperour and sister to Arcadius and Honorius the Emperoures Constantius that was made Emperour by Honorius and gouerned the empire with him a very shorte space for he dyed immediatly was the father of Valentinianus Theodosius made this his cosin Caesar sent him into the west and put his mother Placidia in truste with the emperiall affaires Afterwards whē he determined to go him selfe into Italie for to proclaime his Cosin Emperour and in his owne person to counsell the Italians that they shoulde not lightly geue eare vnto tyrants and rebelles he came as farre as Thessalonica and there he was hindred with sicknes so that he could goe no further Therefore he sent the emperiall scepter vnto his Cosin by Helion the Senatour and returned him selfe backe againe to Constantinople But of these things thus much shall suffice CAP. XXV Of Articus bishop of Constantinople how he gouerned the churches Also howe he caused that the name of Iohn Chrysostome should be canonized among the saincts of that church ATticus the bishop was a great furtherer of the ecclesiasticall affaires for he gouerned with great wisdome and exhorted the people diligently with heauenly doctrine to vertuous and godly liuinge When he sawe the church deuided and that the Iohannits vsed their priuate meetings and conuenticles he commaunded that the memoriall of Iohn shoulde be solemnized at seruice time as the maner is of other Bishops that are deseased for by that meanes he hoped veryly it woulde come to passe that many of them woulde returne vnto the Church He was so bountifull and liberall that he prouided not onely for the pouerty of his owne Church but also sent money vnto the next Churches for to supply the want of the needy for he sent vnto Calliopius minister of the Church of Nice three hundreth peeces of golde and withall letters contayning this forme Aiticus vnto Calliopius sendeth greeting in the Lord. I am geuen to vnderstand that there is an infinite number in your city ready to perish with famine stand in neede of the almes charity of godly weldisposed persons VVhere I write an infinite number I meane a great multitude the certayne nūber wherof I do not readily knowe Therefore seeing I receaued money of him which bestoweth aboundance and plenty of ritches vpon them which vse it a right seeinge also dayly experience teacheth vs that some do want to the end that such as be welthy minister not vnto them may throughly be tryed my will is welbeloued brother that thou receaue from me these three hundreth peeces of golde and distribute them at thy discretion among the poore people of thy parish see that thou deale the same not among such as respect only the belly make a liuing or trade throughout their life time of begging but among such as are ashamed to begge Neither vvoulde I haue thee herein to respecte any opinion o◠sect vvhatsoeuer neither to preiudice them which practise in doctrine a contrary faith vnto vs but onely to haue consideration of this that thou relieue them which hunger thurst haue not vvherevvithall to helpe them selues Thus was he carefull of the pouerty of such as dwelled from him in farre forayne contreyes Againe when he vnderstood y ◠such as seuered them selues from the Nouatians about y ◠keeping of Easter had translated the corps of Sabbatius out of the Isle Rhodos for there he died in exile buried it solemnly and praied vpon his tumbe he sent certaine thither in the night time charging them to remoue the corps of Sabbatius bury it in an other sepulchre such as vsed to frequent the place when they saw the graue digged vp ceassed thenceforth to honour the tumbe of Sabbatius The same Atticus did passe in assigning of proper names to things for the rode in y ◠bosome of Pontus Euxinus which of old was called poyson he called Medicen lest he should there raise an assembly appoynt thereunto a place called after a foule name Moreouer he tearmed a peece of the suburbes of Constantinople Argyrople vpon such an occasion as followeth Chrysople is a rode in y ◠head of the sea Bosphorus Many auncient writers make mention therof namely Strabo Nicolaus Damascenus the famous writer Xenophon who both in y ◠sixt booke of Cyrus expedition in the first of y ◠famous acts of y ◠Grecians remembreth the said towne y ◠Alcibiades wal led it about how there is a place therein assigned for y ◠paiment of tyth tribute for such as loose out of the maine sea ariue at y ◠place doe vse there to pay tyth Wherfore Atticus seeing the place ouer against him had so worthy a name procured this rode thenceforth to be called Argyrople As soone as he spake y ◠word the name was immediatly chaunged Againe when as some men said vnto him y ◠the Nouatians should not haue their conuenticles assemblies w t in the walls of the citie what do ye not remember saith he what troubles vexations they endured when we were tossed w t the grieuous storme of persecution in y ◠raigne of Constantius Valens howe y ◠at sundry other times they testified together w t vs the true faith which we maintaine Moreouer for all they were of old deuided from the church yet attempted they to establish no noueltie as toutching y ◠fayth Againe this Atticus being at Nice about the ordayning of a bishop seing there Asclepiades a Nouatian bishop who was a very old man he asked of him how many yeares he had bene a Bishop when the other had answered fifty yeares thou art truely a happy man saith he in y ◠God graunted thee to enioy so worthy a function so long a time he said againe vnto Asclepiades verily I doe commende Nouatus but I allowe not of the Nouatians Asclepiades maruelling what he shoulde meane in so saying replyed how so O bishop Atticus made answere I do commend him saith he for refusing to communicate w t such as had sacrificed to Idols for I would haue done no lesse my selfe But I like not of the Nouatians because they exclude from the communion such as of y ◠layty haue lightly offended Asclepiades replied againe vnto these things besides y ◠sinne of sacrificing vnto Idols there are as holy Scriptures do witnes many other sinnes vnto death for the which you depriue onely the
feruent that he wrote freely vnto the Emperour Theodosius who had made a lawe that the Iewes inhabitinge Antioch shoulde enioye againe suche synagogs as the Christians had taken from them rebuking him sharply for he feared only God who was his emperour that Theodosius for to please the Christians called in his proclamations deposed the magistrate which put in his head the restoringe of the synagogs entreated this holy man and namely Erius the martyr to pray for him vnto God to make him partaker of his blessing This Symeon leading so austere a life continued his mortal race six and fiftie years for he liued nine years in the monasterie where he was trained vp in the diuine precepts of vertuous life in Mandria so was the place called seuen and forty yeares tenne of these he spent in a very narrowe rowme seuen in straicter pillours and thirtie yeares in a pillour of forty cubits After his deceasse his holy corps was brought to Antioch in the raigne of Leo the Emperour and Martyrius byshop of Antioch vnto that time Ardaburius captaine of the Easterne garison remained in Mandria together with his power keepinge the corps of holye Symeon leste the borderinge cities shoulde by force carie it away Wherefore the holye corps of Symeon is brought to Antioch after the workinge of manye miracles by the way the whiche Leo the Emperour afterwardes requested of the people of Antioch but the Antiochians of the other side made humble sute vnto the Emperour in suche sort as followeth In so muche our citie is not inuironed vvith vvalles the Emperours furious rage had ouerwhelmed them to the grounde VVe haue transported hither O Emperour the holy corps of Symeon that it may be both vnto vs and to our citie in stede of a fortified wall Leo being thus intreated of theÌ„ yelded vnto their request grauÌ„ted theÌ„ their sute â–ª many parts of his carcasse were reserued vnto these our days I my self saw his skul at what time Gregorie a man of great renowne bishop of y â— church and Philippicus required that the reliques of the saincts for the speedier expedition of his martial affaires in the East shoulde be sent vnto him And that which was greatly to be marueiled at the heare of his heade was not worne away but remained whole as if he had bene a liue and conuersaunt amonge men the skinne of his foreheade beinge onely shronke into wrinkles and withered yet was not consumed many also of his teeth being not pulled out by the handes of the faythfull declared vnto the worlde the shape and stature of holy Symeon moreouer there was laid vp the iron chaine which hong about his neck and with it the corps so much spoken of of all men for enduringe suche great hardnesse and miserie was honored with diuine prayses All which circumstances both for mine owne profitt and the commonditie of the reader I woulde rehearse at large were it not that Theodoritus as I sayde before had sufficiently discoursed of them CAP. XIIII Of the starre that was sene in the porche of Symeons pillour the which Euagrius together with many others sawe NOwe I am about to write a certaine thing whiche I sawe with mine owne eyes I was wonderfull desirous to see the Churche of holy Symeon it standes at the furthest from Theopolis that is Antioch three hundred furlongs set vpon the top of a hill the cuntreymen call that place Mandria borowinge the name as I suppose of the seuere discipline and austere trade of life exercised by Symeon therein the hill riseth in height to a twentie furlongs the buildinge of the Church is after the manner of a crosse notably set forth with porches of fouresquare The porches haue pillours annexed vnto them finely wrought of freestone which lift vp the roufe on high and that very artificially The entire that is to the middes of the temple is wide open very cunningly wrought where the aforesaide pillour of forty cubites standes in the which the earthly and corporeal angel ledde an heauenly life The porches haue as it were lattises on high the which they cal windowes fallinge both towardes the entrie and porches them selues At the left hand of the pillour in one of the lattises I my self together with many cuntrey men assembled together and compassing the pillour sawe a starre of a wonderfull bignesse running and wandringe hither and thither throughout the chinkes and clefte lattises twinkelinge in the eyes of the beholders neither that once twise or thrise but oftener and the same oftentimes fading and vanishinge away afterwardes immediatly appearinge againe the whiche is commonly scene on this sainctes holiday There are which report and verily we haue to belieue the myracle partly for their creditt which testifie the same and partly also for that which we sawe our selues that they sawe the very shape of his person houering here and there in a long berde with a hatt on his heade after his wonted manner suche men as trauell that way may easily goe in and see all and some times they ride about the pillour There is a porter which continually watcheth the porches of the Church that no woman enter in the cause I doe not learne but if any drawe nigh they stand without and beholde the miracle for one of the porches standeth ouer against the bright starre CAP. XV. Of Isidorus the pelusian and Synesius byshop of Cyrene VNder the raigne of the same Emperour there florished one Isidorus the fame of whose sayings and doinges is spred farre and nigh and rife in euery mans mouth he so tamed the flesh with continuall toyle and labour and so fedd the minde with misticall and heauenly doctrine that he led on earth the life of an Angell and commended vnto the worlde the liuely and expresse forme of the monasticall and contemplatiue trade of liuinge he wrote beside many other notable workes of his great labour and studie one vnto Cyrill whereby we gather that he liued at one time with the renowmed Cyrill Nowe that I haue runne ouer these thinges aftermy sclender hability let vs not forget Synesius byshop of Cyrene that the excellencie of his vertues may set forth the simplicitie of our stile This Synesius was so eloquent a man and so profounde a philosopher that he was had in great admiration of suche christians as iudged of him without parcialitie respectinge neither the venome of malice neither the vaine flatterie of friendship Wherefore they perswade him to be baptized and to take vpon him the priestly function though he admitted not the article of the resuâ—ection neither woulde be brought to belieue the same hopinge of him very charitably that these things woulde followe after his other vertues and that the grace of God woulde suffer nothing to want in him that appertained vnto his soules health saluation which hope of theirs was not frustrate for how excellently he proued both the learned epistles he wrote after the receauing of priesthood
in paper afterwardes they returned and reade it thus before the councell I signified of late vnto your holinesse that I was sicke therefore I craue that the most worthye presidents and holy senate will be present at the handlinge and decidinge of causes and because my sickenesse increaseth therefore I differre my comminge The recordes doe declare that Cecropius hearinge that aunswere sayde thus vnto Dioscorus Why syr hitherto ye made no mention of sickenesse and will ye nowe be sicke ye shoulde haue satisfied the canons of the Churche Dioscorus turned vnto him I tolde you sayth he once alreadye that the presidents shall be there for me With this Russiâ—s byshop of Samosata sayde vnto Dioscorus looke what so euer is called into controuersie it is decided accordinge vnto the canons of the Churche and therefore he that commeth vnto the councell may speake freely what pleaseth him Dioscorus beinge therein perswaded Iuuenalis and Thalassius came thither Eustathius bolted out suche thinges as were to no purpose whereunto as it is recorded Dioscorus made aunswere and requested of the most religious Emperour that the presidents and suche as had geuen iudgement with him in the councell shoulde be sent for thither The messengers that were sent vnto him aunswered him againe that Eusebius complayned vpon him alone and that it needed not accordinge vnto his motion to cite all to appeare Dioscorus replyed that by right as many as were Iudges with him in the councell shoulde be present that Eusebius had no priuate action against him but onely an accusation agaynst suche thinges as they all had decided and iudged When the Legats vrged him with the same Dioscorus aunswered I tolde ye once what ye may trust toe I knowe not what I shoulde tell you agayne After the relation of the aforesayde Eusebius byshop of Dorylaeum protested that he charged no man with ought saue Dioscorus alone and requested that Dioscorus might be called the thirde time Aetius interrupted him and sayde that there came of late vnto the councell certaine men of Alexandria as they named them selues of the clergie together with some of the laytie and preferred bills of complaynt agaynst Dioscorus and as they stoode at the Churche doores where the councell sate there to haue made an exclamation that first of all Theodorus Deacon of Alexandria gaue vp vnto the councell a bill of invitement after him â—â—chyrianus Deacon of the same churche there followed him Athanasius the priest Cyrills brothers sonne and that last of all Sophronius charged him with blasphemy bribery and extortion Dioscorus was called the thirde time and came not the Legats brought the councell his aunswere in these wordes I haue aunswered your holmes so sufficiently already that I haue now no more to say vnto you When the Legats dealt earnestly with him for to come he would geue them no other aunswere Then Pascasianns said Dioscorus is now the thirde time cited to appeare comes not no doubt his owne conscience doth accuse him what deserueth he I praye you all the byshops made aunswere that he incurred the daunger of the canons of the church Proterius byshop of Smyrna saide when holy Flauianus was slaine through his procurement he was not punyshed accordinge to his deserts Last of all the Legats of Leo Archebyshop of Rome spake in the councell as followeth The haynous offences whiche Dioscorus late byshop of the noble citye of Alexandria committed agaynst the canons of councells and the Ecclesiasticall Discipline are throughly knowen of vs all partly by siftinge out suche thinges as were hearde in the former session and partly also by examininge suche thynges as we decyded this daye And that we may omitt manye other thinges this man of his owne autoritye contrarye to the canon of the Churche receaued Eutyches into the communion an hereticke of the same opinion wyth him and one that was iustly deposed by his owne proper byshop to witt the most holy father and our byshop Flauianus and this he did before he shewed his face in the councell whiche he helde with the most holy byshops at Ephesus but the Apostolicke seae pardoned the byshops because they were constrained against their wills to doe that whiche they did who yeelded them selues vnto this present houre both to Leo the most holy byshop and to the whole sacred and generall assembly of byshops and therefore as men of one opinion wyth him he receaued them into the communion As for this Dioscorus he ceasseth not as yet to glorye of the thinges for the vvhiche he ought to mourne lament and lye grouelinge vpon the grounde in sackcloth and ashes Not onely this but also he forbadd the readinge of holy Pope Leo his Epistle written vnto Flauianus of godly memorye yea beinge oft intreated of the Legats nay when he him selfe had promised with an othe that he woulde procure it to be reade The defaulte in not readinge of whiche Epistle hath beene both an offence and hindrance vnto the holye Churches vnder heauen Although he was priueye to suche levvde practises yet haue vve assembled together to th ende vve might deale somewhat fauourably both with him for all his former levvdenesse and also in lyke sort with the other godly byshopps whiche were not of equall autoritye with him in iudgement But seeinge that his later misdemenure exceeded his former impierie for he sticked not to excommunicate Leo the most holye and most religious Archebyshop of Rome Moreouer when shamefull bills were exhibited againste him and he him selfe beinge cyted once twise and the thirde tyme as the canon of the Churche hath commaunded by the godly byshops to appeare before the councel yet would he not come for his owne conscience accused him but entertayned contrarye vnto lawe suche as were iustly deposed by diuers councells and sett at naught sundrye constitutions of the Churche condemninge as it were him selfe with his owne doinges Once againe seeinge these are founde to be his later practises Leo the moste holye Archebyshop of greate and olde Rome by vs and this sacred assemblye together with the moste blessed Apostle Sainct Peter who is the rocke the grounde of the Catholicke Churche and the fundation of the true fayth bereaued him of all dignitye that belongeth to a byshop and depriued him of the priestly function VVherefore let this holye councell geue the sentence of Dioscorus of whome we haue hytherto spoken accordinge vnto the canons of the Churche When Anatolius Maximus with the rest of the byshops those onely excepted whome the Senators had deposed wyth Dioscorus had confirmed the aforesayde sentence the councell certified Martianus the Emperour of their decrees and sent a depriuation vnto Dioscorus in suche sort as followeth Because thou hast despised the holye canons of the Churche Because thou haste not obeyed this holye and generall councell Because thou art moreouer conuinced of manye other haynous crimes Because thou beinge thrise called of this famous assemblye to aunswere vnto suche thinges as were
by profession a Phisicion wrote the Gospell as he hearde Peter the Apostle preach and the actes of the Apostles as Paul deliuered vnto him He accompanied the Apostles in theyr peregrination but specially Paul S. Paul made mention of him wrytinge in a certaine place Deare Lucas the Phisicion saluteth you He died at Ephesus where he was also buried and after many yeares together with Andrewe Timothee he was traÌ„slated to Constantinople in the time of Constantius the sonne of Constantinus Magnus Of the seuentie Disciples Toutchinge these seuentie Disciples I woulde haue thee vnderstande Christian reader that as Peter de Natalibus wryteth there were founde at Rome two olde copies bothe wrytten by Dorotheus as he learned the one in Greeke the other in Latine his meaninge was to make bothe Romaynes and Grecians partakers of the fruites of his trauell and as the drift of them was one so the order diuerse for they vary very much The editions came to my hands and as I founde them so I minde to publishe them placinge the translation out of the Greeke on the lefte hande and out of the Latine on the right hand After the Greeke edition After the Latine edition  1. Iames. IAmes the brother of the Lorde after the flesh called also Iustus was the first Bishop of IerusaleÌ„ the Iewes stoned him there to death and buried him in the temple nigh the altar   2. Timothee Timothee was by Sainct Paul placed Byshop of Ephesus He preached the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ from Ephesus vnto Illyricum and throughout Hellas in Achaâ—a where he dyed and was honorably buried  Act. 16. 3. Titus Titus was bishop of Creta he preached the gospel of Christ there and in all the countrey about in the ende he dyed there and was reuerently buried Titus was Bishop in Crete there he preached there he lieth buried  4. Barnabas Barnabas was a minister of the word together with Paule he preached Christ first at Rome afterwardes he was made bishop of Millayne Barnabas Act 4. 13. 5. Ananias Ananias which baptized Paule in the Actes of the Apostles was made bishop of Damascus Ananias who baptized Paule was after that Byshop of Damascus Act. 9. 22. 6. Stephan Stephan the firste martyr and one of the seuen Deacons was stoned by the Ievves at Ierusalem as Luke testifieth in the Acts of the Apostles and so dyed Stephan was the first martyr and the firste of the seuen Deacons Act. 6. 7. 7. Philip. Philip who was also one of the seuen Deacons baptized Simon Magus and the Eunuch and was made bishop of Tralleis in Asia Philip one of the 7. Deacons who baptized SimoÌ„ the Eunuch was Bishop in Thracia afterwardes in Scythia Act. 8. 8 Prochorus Prochorus one of the seuen Deacons was Bishop of Nicomedia a citie in Bithynia Prochorus one of the 7. deacons was bishop of Nicomedia in Bithynia Act. 6. 9. Nicanor Nicanor one of the seuen Deacons was martyred in one day together with his fellowe Deacon and first martyr Stephan with two thousande other faithfull Christians Nicanor one of the 7. Deacons suffred the same day that Stephan the firste martyr did together with two others Act. 6. 10. Simon Simon one also of the seuen Deacons was Byshop of Bostra in Arabia and there by the heathen burned to ashes Simon one also of the 7. DeacoÌ„s was bishop of Tyre Sidon  11. Nicolas Nicolas was one of the seuen Deacons and beinge made Bishop of Sapria he followed after straunge doctrine and fel together with Simon from the faith Nicolas one of y â— 7. deacons was b. of Samaria but he fel became an heretick of him spraÌ„g the sect of the Nicolaits whom Iohn reprehended in the Reuelation Apocalyp 2. 12. Parmenas Parmenas was one of the Deacons as he ministred in the rowme of a Deacon he dyed in the presence of the Apostles Parmenas one of the 7. dyed at Nisibis Act. 6. 13. Cleopas Cleopas called also Simon was the Lordes Cosingermaine As he accompanied Luke he saw the Lord after his resurrection from the deade and spake with him as we reade in the Gospell At length he was the second Bishoppe of Ierusalem Cleopas Luc 24. Euseb eccle hist lib 3. cap 11. 19. 29. 14. Silas Silas was a minister of the worde with Paule he was made Bishop of Corinth Silas was bishop of Corinth Act. 15. 16. 17 15. Siluanus Siluanus was also minister of the worde together with Paule he was chosen Bishop of Thessalonica Siluanus preached together with Paule he was bishop of Thessalonica 2. Cor. 1. 1. Thes 1. 2. Thes 1. 1. Pet. 5. 16. Crescens Crescens whom Sainct Paule remembred in his seconde Epistle vnto Timothie was Bishop of Chalcedona in Fraunce he preached the Gospell of Christ and was there martyred in the time of Traian and buried Chrysches was Bishop of Chalcedonia 2. Tim. 4. 17. Epaenetus Epaenetus of whom S. Paule made mention in his Epistle to the Romaines was Bishop of Carthage Epaenetus was bishop of Carthage Rom. 16. 18. Andronicus Andronicus whom S. Paule remembred in his Epistle to the Romaines was Bishop of Pannonia Andronicus Bishop of Pannonia Rom. 16. 19. Amplias Amplias whome Paule saluted in his Epistle to the Romaines was Bishop of Odissa Ampliatus Bishop of Edissa Rom. 16. 20. Vrbanus Vrbanus mentioned by Paule writing to the Romains was Bishop of Macedonia Vrbanus Bishop of Macedonia Rom. 16. 21. Stachys Stachys remembred of Paule writing to the Romains the first Bishop of Byzantium was by Andrewe the Apostle made Bishop of Argyropolis in Thracia Stateus Stachys was of Andrew the Apostle made bishop in Argyropolis of Thracia Rom. 16. 22. Apelles Apelles mentioned of Paule in his Epistle to the Romaines was Bishop of Smyrna before blessed Polycarpus Apelles was Bishop of Eradia Ampleius bishop of Smyrna before Polycarpus Rom. 16. 23. Aristobulus Aristobulus whome Paule saluted writinge to the Romaines was Bishop of Brettania Aristobulus was Bishop of Bethania Rom. 16. 24. Narcissus Narcissus of whome Paule spake in his Epistle to the Romaines was Bishop of Patrae in Achaia Tarcissus Narcissus was Bishop of Athens Rom. 16. 25. Herodion Herodion named also by S. Paule in his Epistle to the Romaines was also Bishop of Patrae Eradius Herodio was Bishop of Patrae Rom. 16. 26. Rufus Rufus one that is rekoned by the Apostle among others in the aforesaide Epistle was Bishop of Thebae Rufus otherwise called Ruferius was Bishop of Thebae Rom. 16. 27. Asyncritus Asyncritus rehearsed by the Apostle in his Epistle to the Romains was Bishop of Hircania Asyncritus Bishop of Hyrcania Rom. 16. 28. Plegon Plegon whome Paule remembred when he wrote to the Romaines was made Bishop of Marathon Phlegontius Phlegon was bishop of Marathon Rom. 16. 29. Hermes Hermes of whom mention is made in the Epistle to the Romaines was Bishop of Dalmatia Hermes was bishop of Philipolis Rom. 16. Euseb lib. 3. cap. 3. 30. Hermas
Alexandria in his seconde booke after he had remembred the reuelation of Sainct Iohn receaued by tradition of olde he reporteth of this man thus Cerinthus vvhiche founde the Cerinthian heresie â–ª gaue his figment a name for the further creditt thereof his kinde of doctrine vvas this â—he dreamed the kingdome of Christ shoulde become earthly and sett vppon those thinges vvhich he lusted after novv being couered vvith his fleshe and compassed in his skinne that is the satisfying of the belly and the thinges vnder the belly vvith meate vvith drinke vvith mariage and that he might the more colerably bring his deuelish deuices to passe he dedicated thereunto holy dayes oblations and slaughter for sacrifices so farre Dionysius but Irenaus in his first booke against the heresies layeth downe certayne more detestable opinions of his And in his thirde booke he reporteth a historye worthy the memorye as receaued by tradition of Polycarpus saying that Iohn the Apostle on a certayne time to bayne him selfe entred into a bathe and vnderstandinge that Cerinthus there vvithin bayned him selfe also started a side and departed forthe not abiding any tariance vvith him vnder the same â—ouffe signifying the same to his company and saying let vs speedely goe hence lest that the bathe come to ruyne vvherein Cerinthus the enemy of the truth baineth him selfe CAP. XXVI Of Nicolas and such as of him are called Nicolaïtes AT the same time the heresie of the Nicolaïtes spronge whiche lasted not longe after wherof the reuelation of S. Iohn made mention they boast that he was one of the Deacons ordayned together with Stephen of the Apostles to minister vnto the poore Clemens Alexandrinus in his thirde booke of stromatôn reporteth thus of him This Nicolas sayth he hauing a beautifull vvoman to his vvife after the ascention of our Sauiour vvas accused of ielousie and to cleare him selfe of that cryme brought forth his vvife and permitted him that lysted to marye her but his follovvers say that their doing is agreable vvith that saying that is the fleshe is to be brydled and so follovving that doing and saying vvithout all discretion they sinne vvithout all shame in silthy fornication but I heare that Nicolas accompanied with none other then his proper wife allotted vnto him by wedlocke and of his children his Daughters to haue endured virginity his sonne to haue remained vncorrupt the case being thus in y â— he brought forth his wife for ielousie ouer the which he was accused into the middest of the Apostles it was to cleare him oâ— the â—â—â—me layde to his charge and to teache the brydling of the fleshe by contayning and refrayning voluptuous lust and pleasure He woulde not as I suppose accordinge vnto the precept serue two masters lust and the Lorde they say that Mathias after this maner commaunded by instruction the fleshe to be ouercome and tamed yelding vnto it not one iote which might tende vnto pleasure and that the soule hereby shoulde take encrease by fayth and knowledge Thus much shall seeme sufficiently spoken toutching them which then depraued the truth and sodainely came to naught CAP. XXVII Of the Apostles which liued in wedlocke CLemens whose wordes lately we alleadged after the premises against them which relece and rebuke mariage reciteth the Apostles which liued in wedlocke saying VVhat doe they condemne the Apostles for Peter and Philip employed their industry to the bringing vp of their children Philip also gaue his Daughters to mariage And Paul in a certaine epistle sticked not to salute his vvife vvhiche therefore he ledd not aboute that he might be the redier vnto the ministation In so much then that we haue made mention hereof it will not seeme tedious if we alleadge an other historye worthy the notinge which he wrote in his seuenth booke after this manner they say that Sainct Peter going to his house and seeing his vvife ledd to be executed reioyced greatly because of the calling and cryed out vnto her vehemently exhorting and comforting her calling her by her name and saying O vvoman remember the Lorde such vvas the mariage of the godly and the entire affection of faithfull friendes And thus muche as pertinent to my purpose hereof I thought good here to alleadge CAP. XXVIII Of the death of Iohn and Philip the Apostles OF the deathe of Paule and Peter the tyme eke and the manner their resting place also after their departure hence we haue spoken of before and of Iohn toutchinge his appoynted tyme we haue tolde before but of his resting place or tombe we are enstructed by Polycrates his epistle this Polycrates was Bishop of Ephesus whiche he wrote vnto Victor Bishop of Rome where he remembreth also Philip the Apostle and his Daughters after this maner foâ— in Asiâ— sayth he greate pleadges of Christian religion rested them selues â–ª vvhiche shall rise the laste daye at the comming of the Lorde vvhen he shall come from heauen vvith glorye to seeke out all the Sainctes â–ª Philip one of the tvvelue Apostles â–ª resteth in the dust of the earthe at Hierapolis and tvvo of his Daughters vvhiche ledd their vvhole lyfe in virginitye the thirde vvhose conuersation vvas directed by the holy Ghoste resteth at Ephesus And Iohn vvhiche leaned on the breaste of our Sauiour vvho beinge also a Priest vvore the garment petalum A martyre and a doctor rested at Ephesus thus much of their endes In the Dialogue of Gaius mentioned before Proclus agaynst whom be proposed the question testifieth agreeable vnto that before of the death of Philip and his Daughters saying After this the foure Prophetisses the Daughters of Philip vvere at Hierapolis in Asia their sepulchre is there to be seene and their fathers also â–ª so farre he â–ª Luke in the Actes of the Apostles maketh mention of the Daughters of Philip dwelling at Caesarea in Iudaea with their father which were endued with the gift of prophecye saying VVe came to Caesarea and entred into the house of Philip the Euangelist vvhiche vvas one of the seuen and there made our abode this Philip had iiij Daughters vvhiche vvere virgines and Prophetisses â–ª thus much of the Apostles and apostolicke tymes and the thinges deliuered vnto vs by holy Scriptures of the canonicall and disalowed Scriptures though read of many in many Churches of the forged and farre from the Apostolicall rule as farre forth as we could learne Now to that whiâ—â— followeth â–ª CAP. XXIX The martyrdome of Symeon Bishop of Ierusalem AFter Nero and Domitian vnder that Emperour whereof we minde now to entreate the rumor went euery where throughout the cityes that persecution was raysed agaynst vs Christians through populare seditions in the which we learned that Symeon the sonne of Cleopas the seconde Bishop of Ierusalem ended his life with martyrdome hereof is Aegesippus a witnesse whose wordes we haue oft alleadged for he writing of certayne Hereticks geueth vs to vnderstand how that the afore sayd
communicated his diuine and godly labour and industry not onely to such as were his charge but also to strangers shewing himself most profitable vnto all people by those Catholicke epistles which he directed vnto the Churches of which numbre is that epistle written by him vnto the Lacedaemonians â–ª contayning y e right institution of christian peace vnitie Moreouer his epistle wrytt vnto the Athenians stirreth the mindes of faythfull men vnto the embracing of the trueth and euangelicall conuersation of life repâ—enâ—endeth the gainesayers despisers thereof chargeth diuerse of them that they were now in manner fallen from the fayth although Publius there bishop in their time had there bene martyred He remembreth Quadratus the successor of Publius after his martyrdome in the byshoprick testifieth of him that by his meanes they were vnited and stirred to the fayth He sheweth moreouer howe that Dionysius Areopagita conuerted vnto the fayth according vnto that which is wrytten in the Actes of the Apostles â–ª was by Paul placed the first byshop of Athens There is extant also an other epistle of his vnto the Nicomedians where repugninge the heresie of Marcion he fortifieth the right rule of fayth And vnto the Churche of the Gortynenses together with other congregations throughout Creta he wryteth commending Philip there byshope for that the Church committed vnto his charge was beautified and bedecked by the proufe of many vertuous properties warninge withall that they should auoide the wilfulnes of peruerse heretickes And wryting to the Church of Amastris together with the rest throughout Pontus he mentioneth Bachilides and Elpistus at whose instant motion he wrote and Galma there byshop interlacing expositions of sundry places of Scripture He admonisheth them at large toutching mariage and virginitieâ— commaundinge also to receaue after repentance such as fell how soeuer it happened eyther of purpose or by heretical perswasioÌ„ Unto this there is annexed an epistle vnto the Gnosij where theyr byshope Pinytus is admonished not to charge necessarily the brethren with the greuous burthen of vowed chastitie but to haue consideration of the frail imbecillity of many natures vnto the which epistle Pinytus making answere extolleth commendeth Dionysius yet agayne by way of admonition requireth that stronger meat beinge deliuered he fead the flocke coÌ„mitted vnto his charge with more absolute and profound doctrine least that they lingering in their milkesoppes and smothe exhortacions waxe old through negligence in childish nurture In the which epistle of Pinytus the right rule of fayth diligent care for the saluation of his flocke discretion also vnderstanding of holy scripture is liuely set forth last of all there remaineth an epistle of Dionysius vnto the Romaines namely vnto Soter their byshop whereof if we alleage some parte it shall not seeme impertinent where he commendeth the Romaine manner obserued vnto the persecution of our time wryting thus It hath bene your accustomed manner euen from the beginning diuersely to benefitt all the brethren and to send relief throughout the citie supplying the vvant of the poore by refreshing them in this sorte and specially the vvante of the brethren appointed for slauishe drudgerie and digging of mettalls you Romaynes of old do retaine the fatherly affection of Rome vvhich holy Soter your bishop not onely obserued but also augmented ministringe large and liberall relief to the vse of the sainctes embracing louingly the conuerted brethren as a father doth his sonnes vvith exhortation of vvholsome doctrine Here also he remembreth y â— epistle of Clemens wrytten to the Corinthians shewing the same of auncieÌ„t custome to haue bene read in the Church for thus be writeth VVe haue this day solemnized the holy sunday in the vvhich vve haue read your epistle alvvaies vvill for instructions sake euen as vve do the former of Clemens vvritten vnto vs. The same author reporteth of his owne epistles that they were patched corrupted in these words VVhen I vvas intreated of the brethren to vvrite I vvrote certaine Epistles but the messengers of Satan haue sovven them vvith tares pulling avvay some putting to other some vvhose condemnation is layd vp for certaine no maruell then though some endeuored to corrupt the sacred Scriptures of God vvhen as they vvent about to counterfett such vvrytinges of so smale authoritie Yet be sides all these there is founde an other epistle of Dionysius to Chrysophora a faithfull sister where as it was most mete he ministreth vnto her spirituall foode conuenient for her calling thus much toutching Dionysius CAP. XXIII Of Theophilus byshop of Antioche and his workes OF Theophilus byshop of Antioch before meÌ„tioned there are found three bookes of ElemeÌ„tall Institutions dedicated vnto Antolicus again an other entitled Against the heresie of Hermogenes where he alleageth many testimonies out of the reuelation of Sainct Iohn there are also certaine other bookes of his intitled of Institutions but there was neuer no greater plague or pestilence then the poyson of heretickes which then infected after the manner of tares the true seede of Apostolicke doctrine whome the pastors of the Churches repelled from the flocke of Christ as if they had bene certen sauadge beastes partely by adinomtions exhortations vnto the brethren partly also by encountring with the heretickes them selues sometimes disputing and questioning with them face to face to the vtter ouerthrow of their trifling fantasies sometimes by theyr wrytten commentaries diligently confuting by way of reprehension theyr fonde opinions Among whome Theophilus together with others which then labored against theÌ„ was counted famous who also wrote a booke leaueling at Marcion the which we knowe together with the rest at this day to be extaÌ„t after the desease of this Theophilus Maximinus being the 7. from the Apostles succeeded him in the Church of Antioche CAP. XXIIII Of Philip byshop of Gortyna Irenaeus and Modestus PHilip whome by the reporte of Dionysius we haue learned to haue bene byshop of the Church of Gortyna wrote a most exquisite tract agaynst Marcion so did Irenaeus and Modestus which of all others chiefly detected his error vnto the worlde so did sundrye other learned men whose bookes are yet to be seene with diuerse of the brethren CAP. XXV Of Melito byshop of Sardis in Asia and his workes ABoute this time Melito byshop of Sardis and Apollinarius byshop of Hierapolis florished who both wrote vnto the Emperour of Rome then raygning seuerall bookes and Apologies in the behalfe of our faith whereof these of Melito his doinges came to our handes 2. bookes of Easter of Politicke conuersation and the Prophets of the church of the sundaye of the nature of man of the molde of man of the obedience of fayth of the senses Moreouer of the body and soule also of our regeneration or nevvbirth of the trueth â–ª of the faith and the natiuitie of Christ likewise a booke of his of prophecie of the soule body â–ª of hospitalitie And a booke
Martyre or a martyr an immoderate desire of plenteousnesse and gathering vnto a prophete vvhen as Christ cōmaunded you shall not possesse gold neither siluer neither tvvo coates these of the contrarye seke after the possession of vnlavvfull substance vve haue declared that they vvhome they call prophetes and martyrs haue extorted money not onely of the riche but of the poore the fatherlesse and the vvidovves but if they pleade innocency let them staye and ioyne vvith vs in ishvve in the same matter vpon this condition that if they be ouerthrovven at leaste vvise from hence forthe they vvill cease to committe the like sinne agayne VVe haue to proue the vvorkes of Prophetes The tree is to be knovven by his fruyte And that the case of Alexander maye be knovven of suche as desire it ◠he vvas condemned at Ephesus by Aemilius frontinus liuetenant not for his pofession but for presumpteous and boulde enterprised theft being a levvd person and vnder false pretense of Christian profession vvherevvith he cloked the mater seducinge the faythfull of that place he vvas pardodoned and sett at liberty the congregation vvhereof he vvas pastor because he vvas a thiefe vvoulde not admitt him They that vvill knovve further of his offences I referre them vnto publicke recordes ▪ for by confutinge him vvhome the prophete hathe not knovven by dvvellinge together many yeares vve declare vnto the vvorlde by him the stedfastnesse of the prophete VVe are able to shevve at large the conformity of bothe partes But if they haue any confident perseuerance lett them beare the reprehension Agayne in an other place of the same booke he wryteth of theyr Prophetes thus If they deny they re Prophetes to haue bene bribers lett them affirme it condicionally that if it be proued they be no longer Prophetes hereof vve are able to alleadge many particular proufes all the vvorkes of a Prophete are necessarily to be proued tell me I beseche you is it seemely for a Prophete to paynte himselfe in coloures is it seemly for a Prophete to smothe himselfe vvith the vvhite glisteringe stibium is it seemly for a Prophete neatly to pyncke and gingerly to sett forthe himselfe is it seemely for a Prophete to dise and to carde is it seemely for a Prophete to be an vsurer let them ansvvere me vvhether these be lavvefull or vnlavvefull I vvill proue these to be they re practises This Apollonius in the same booke sheweth the time of his wryttinge to be the fortyeth yeare since Montanus inuented this false and forged prophecy Agayne he declareth howe that Zoticus mentioned before by the former Author went about at Pepuza to reprehende and confute the fayned prophecy of Maximilla and the spirite which wrought in her but yet was forbidd by such as fauored her folly he remembreth one Thraseas a martyr of that time he declareth as receaued by tradition that the Lorde commaunded his Apostles not to departe from Ierusalem vntill the twelfe yeares ende he alleageth testimonyes out of the Reuelation and reporteth howe that Sainct Iohn raysed at Ephesus by the deuine power of God one that was deade to life againe other thinges he wryteth by the which he hath fully confuted and ouerthrowen the subtle sleighte of the foresayed heresie these thinges of Apollonius CAP. XVII The censure of Serapion byshop of Antioche toutching the Phrygian heresie THis Serapion remembred the workes of Apollinarius where he confuted the sayed heresie who then is sayd to haue succeeded Maximinus in the byshopricke of Antioche he maketh mention of him in a peculier Epistle vnto Caricus Ponticus where also the sayed heresie is confuted thus I vvoulde haue you to vnderstande this also hovve that the operation of this deceatefull purpose called the nevve prophecy is impugned and counted for detestable and cursed doctrine of all the Churches throughout Christendome I haue sent vnto you the learned vvrytinges of Claudius Apollinarius that holy byshope of Hierapolis in Asia In this Epistle of Serapion there are subscriptions of many byshops one subscribeth thus I Aurelius Cyrenius martyr vvishe you health An other thus Aelius Publius Iulius byshop of Debeltum a citie of Thracia as sure as the Lorde liueth in heauen vvhen as holy Zotas of Anchia vvoulde haue cast out the deuell vvhich spake in Priscilla the dissemblinge hypocrites vvoulde not permitt it And many other byshops gaue the same censure and subscribed with theyr owne handes to the sayed Epistle the affayres then went after this forte CAP. XVIII The Industry of Irenaeus in refutinge the heresies blased at Rome by Blastus and florinus I Renaeus wrote diuers Epistles to the confutation of suche as corrupted at Rome the sincere rites of the Churche he wrote one to Blastus of schisme an other to Florinus of Monarchie or the rule of one or she winge that God is not the author of euell which opinion Florinus seemed to be of but afterwardes he being seduced with the error of Valentinus Irenaeus wrote against him that booke intitled ogdoas by interpretation the number of eightie where he signifieth himselfe Immediatly to haue succeeded the Apostles the ende of which booke hathe this notable protestation necessarily to be graffed in this our history for it is read as followeth I charge thee in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christ and his glorious comminge at vvhat time he shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead vvho so euer thou be that copiest this booke that thou peruse this copie and diligently correcte it after the example of my ovvne hande vvrytinge and that thou putt to likevvise this charge and sett it dovvne after the vvrytten copye This was profitably spoken and faithfully remembred of vs that we may behoulde the aunciente and right holy men as a moste exquisite and right paterne of earnest care and diligence Againe Irenaeus in his epistle to Florinus reporteth that he had conuersation with Polycarpus sayinge This doctrine O Florinus if I may boldly pronounce the trueth sauoreth not for sounde this doctrine disagreeth from the Churche and bringeth such as geue care vnto it into extreme impietie this doctrine no not the heretickes vvhich vvere out of the Church euer durste to publishe this doctrine such as vvere elders before vs and disciples of the Apostles neuer deliuered vnto thee I savve thee vvhen I vvas yet a boye vvith Polycarpus in the lovver Asia liuinge gorgeously in the Emperoures palace and busienge thy selfe vvith all might to be in fauoure and creditt vvith him For I remember better the thinges of oulde then the affayres of late For the thinges vve sucke of a childe sincke farther in our mindes and grovve together vvith vs. So that I remember the place vvhere Polycarpus sate vvhen he taughte his goinge out and his comminge in his trade of life the figure and proportion of his body the sermon he made vnto the multitude the reporte he made of his conuersation vvith Iohn and others vvhich savve the Lorde hovve he remembred
their saynges and vvhat he hearde out of theyr mouthes toutching the Lord of his povver and doctrine recitinge preceptes and all thinges consonante to holy Scripture out of theyr mouthes I say vvho themselues had seene vvith their eyes the vvorde of life in the flesh these thinges at that time through the mercy of God vvhich vvrought in me I diligently marked and paynted it not in papyr but printed it in my harte vvhich continually throughe the grace of God I ponder and meditate And I am able to testifie before God that if that holy and Apostolicke elder had hearde any such thinge he vvoulde haue straight reclaimed and stopped his eares and after his maner pronounced good God into vvvhat times hast thou reserued me that I shoulde suffer such thinges yea and vvoulde haue straight shunned the place vvhere he sitting or standing had hearde such speaches to bee shorte this may be reported for true out of the epistles vvhich he vvrote to the confirmation of the borderinge Churches or out of the Epistles vvhich he vvrote to certaine brethrē for admonition and exhortation sake thus farre Irenaeus CAP. XIX The Church enioyeth peace vnder Commodus the Martyrdome of Apollonius a Christian Philosopher THe same yeare vnder Comodus the Emperoure the rage of the Gentiles was mitigated towardes vs so that peace was graunted through the grace of God vnto the vniuersall Churche through out the worlde When as the heauenly doctrine leade the mindes of all mortall men to the embracinge of the true Religion of the onely and vniuersall God so that many of the nobles of Rome brewe neare to their soules health and saluation together with their whole houses and families It was a thinge altogether intollerable for the deuell whose nature is altogether enuious and spitefull therefore he taketh vs in hande againe and inuenteth diuerse snares to entrape vs in he procureth at Rome Apollonius a man amonge the faythfull of that time for learninge and philosophie very famous to be brought forth before the tribunall seate raising his accuser among them that were fitt ministers for so malicious a purpose But the vnhappie man came out of season to receaue the sentence of iudgement because it was decreed by the Emperoure that the accusers of the Christians shoulde dye the death Perennius the Iudge forthwyth gaue sentence agaynste him that his legges shoulde be broken Then the beloued Martyre when the iudge had earnestly and with many wordes entreated him to render an accompte of his fayth before the noble senate he exhibited in the presence of them all a notable Apollogie of his fayth in the whiche he suffred martyrdome Yet neuerthelesse by decree of the senate he was beheaded and so ended this life For the auncient decre was of force and preuayled amonge theym that the Christians whiche were once presented before the tribunall seate and not reuoked their opinions shoulde no more be sette at libertie Wherefore the wordes of Apollonius whiche he answered to Perenius standyng at the barre and his whole Apollogie offered to the senate who lysteth to knowe lette him reade our booke of Martyrs CAP. XX. Of the succession of Byshopes in the moste famous churches IN the tenthe yeare of the raygne of Comodus when Eleutherius had gouerned the bishopricke of Rome thertene yeares Victor succeded him at what tyme also Iulianus after he had continewed tenne yeares in the bishopes seae of Alexandria dyed and Demetrius came in place at what tyme likewise Serapion mentioned a little before was knowen to be the eyght Bishope of Antioche after the Apostles Then was Theophilus bishope of Caesarea in Palestina and Narcissus before remembred bishope of Ierusalem and Banchillus bishope of Corinthe in Hellada Polycrates bishope of Ephesus and an infinite number more as it is verye likelie besydes these excelled at that tyme. but we rehearse theim by name and that iustlye by whose meanes and writinges the catholicke fayth hath bene continewed vnto our tyme. CAP. XXI Of the controuersie about the kepinge of Easter daye AT the same time there rose no small contention because that all the churches throughoute Asia of an aunciente tradition thought good to obserue the highe feaste of Easter in the foreteenthe moone on whiche daye the Ievves were commaunded to offer their Pascall Lambe as muche to saye as vpon what daye soeuer in the weeke that moone fell the fastinge dayes finished and ended when as the other churches throughout the worlde accustomed not to celebrate Easter after this manner but obserued the Apostolicke tradition and custome as yet retayned to wete the fastinge dayes on no other daye to be broken vp afore the daye wherein our Sauiour rose from death to lyfe Wherefore synodes and meetinges of Byshopes were summoned where all with one accorde ordained an ecclestasticall decree whiche they published by their epistles vnto all churches That vpon no other then the sondaye the mysterie of our sauiours resurrection shoulde be celebrated And that one that daye and no other the fasting vsed before Easter shoulde haue an ende Theire epistle is at this daye extant who at that tyme for this cause assembled together in Palaestina whereof Theophilus bishope of Caesarea and Narcissus bishope of Ierusalem were chiefe At Rome likewise there was a synode gathered together for the same cause the whiche Victor their bishope published Agayne there was an other of bishopes at Pontus where Palmas as the moste auncient did gouerne An other of bishops throughout Fraunce whiche Irenaeus did ouersee to be shorte an other of the bishopes throughout Ostroëna and the cities therein contained and speciallye of Banchillus bishope of Corinth with many others al which with one and the same sentence and iudgement ordained the same decree and their vniforme assent was thus made manifest vnto the worlde CAP. XXII By the reporte of Polycrates the churches in Asia celebrated Easter the fouretenthe moone POlycrates moderated the bishops throughout Asia whiche affirmed that their aunciente custome deliuered them of olde was to be retayned This Polycrates in his epistle vnto the churche of Rome sheweth the custome of Asia obserued vnto his tyme in these wordes VVe celebrate the vnuiolated daye of Easter neither addinge anye thinge thereto neither takinge oughte therefro for notable pillers of Christian religion haue rested in Asia vvhiche shall rise at the laste daie vvhen the Lorde shall come from heauen vvith glorie and restore all the sainctes to ioye Philip one of the tvvelue Apostles novve lienge at Hierapolis his tvvo daughters vvho kept them selues virgins all the dayes of their liues the third also after the ende of hir holie conuersation rested at Ephesus Againe Iohn vvho laye on the Lordes breast being a Priest vvore the priestlie attire both a Martyr and a Doctor slept at Ephesus Moreouer Polycarpus Bishop of Smyrna and a Martyr Thraseas an Eumenian both a Bishop a Martyr slept at Smyrna VVhat shal I speake of Sagaris
sonne in dede and of the holy Ghoste who is the holye Ghoste in deede VVhiche names are not vnaduisedly neyther vvithout good consideration layde dovvne of vs for they plainely sett forth the proper person the order and the glorie of â—â—he of them that are named that there be three persons yet in harmoniacall consente but one God VVherefore vve retayninge this fayth before the maiestye of God the father and his sonne Iesus Christ doe holde for accursed all detestable heresies If that any shall teache contrary to the righte and sounde fayth contained in holy Scripture that there is or that there hathe bene a tyme or a vvorlde and made before the sonne of God let him be accursed If that any shall saye that the sonne of God is a creature as one of the creatures a budde or spring as one of the buddes and not as the sacred Scriptures haue deliuered euery of the aforesayde vnto vs or if that any shall preache or publishe any other besides that vve haue receaued lette him be accursed For vve beleue truely and vnfaynedly all vvhatsoeuer the holy Scriptures the Prophetes and Apostles haue deliuered vnto vs and vve follovve the same zealously Suche were the Creedes of the Byshopes whiche then assembled at Antioch whereunto Gregorius althoughe as yet he was not gone to Alexandria subscribed intitlinge him selfe Byshope of Alexandria The Councell after the finishinge of these thinges and the establishinge of other constitutions was dissolued At the very same time the affayres of the common weale fell out to be very troublesome For the French natioÌ„ so are they tearmed inuaded the Romayne possessions bordering vpon Fraunce then also there were greate earthquakes in the Easte but specially at Antioch where the earth was hoyssed and shaken the space of one whole yeare CAP. VIII Howe that when Gregorius was broughte to Alexandria with armed souldieres Athanasius by flyinge awaye saued his life WHen the aforesayde busines was brought to this passe Syrianus the captaine together with fiue thousande armed soldiers brought Gregorius to Alexandria The Arians that were within the citie came to ayde them But I thinke it requisite to discourse howe Athanasius that was violently by them thrust out of the churche escaped their handes It was then euentide the people spent the whole night in vigils for there was a coÌ„munion the day followinge The captaine drewe nighe he sette his soldiers in battaile araye he besetts the churche Athanasius vnderstandinge of this called his witts together and deuised howe the people might take no harme for his sake He commaunded his Deacon to read the collects vnto the people He bidds him singe a psalme When the psalme was sweetly and harmoniacally songe all the people went forth at one of the church porches While this was adoinge the soldiers made no sturre at all Athanasius through the middest of the singers escaped they re handes safe and sounde He beinge thus ridd out of this perill and daunger he stoode in went in all the haste to Rome Then Gregoriâ— tooke possession of the churche The citizens of Alexandria not brooking their doinges sette Sainct Denys churche afire So farre of that CAP. IX Howe that the citizens of Constantinople after the death of Eusebius chose Paulus againe to be their Byshope the Arians of the contrary chose Macedonius EVsebius as soone as he had brought his purpose to effecte sente a legate vnto Iulius Bishope of Rome requestinge him to be iudge in Athanasius his cause and to take vpon him the pronouncinge of the definitiue sentence But the sentence that Iulius gaue of Athanasius neuer came to Eusebius his hearing for immediatly after the councell brake vp breath wente out of his body and so he died Wherefore the people of CoÌ„stantinople bring Paulus againe to be their Bishop the Arians assemblinge in Sainct Pauls churche chose Macedonius They were authors and chiefe doers in that sturre who a litle before ayded Eusebius that turned vpside downe the whole state of the churche These were they that could doe some thing at that time Theognis bishop of Nice Maris bishop of Chalcedon Theodorus bishop of Heraclaea in Thracia Vrsacius bishop of Singidon in the higher Mysia and Valens bishop of Mursa a citie in the higher Panonia But Vrsacius and Valens repented them afterwardes gaue vp their recantation in writinge vnto Iulius bishop of Rome and thenceforth submitted them selues to the clause of One substance and the communion of the church At that tyme the Arians raysed ciuill warres and dissention in the church of the which one was sturred at Constantinople through the confederats of Macedonius And by reason of these domesticall warres of the christians there were many often skirmishes in that citie at what tyme many were troden vnder foote and crushed to death CAP. X. The death of Hermogenes the captaine and howe that therefore Paulus the seconde tyme was banished Constantinople The Arians translating Gregorius from Alexandria placed Georgius in his rowme THe report and fame of the sedition at Constantinople came to the eares of the Emperour Constantius who then abode at Antioche he commaunded Hermogenes the captaine that was takinge his iourney into the coasts of Thracia to take Constantinople in his waye to thrust Paulus their byshop out of the church He comming into the citie disquieted the people not a little while he went by force about to banishe their byshop Immediately the multitude of the people was vp they prepared them selues to ayde their byshop As Hermogenes proceeded and laboured together with his souldiers to sett him packinge the multitude beynge on an vprore rashely and headyly as it happeneth in such a hurlyburly fell vpon him They fyre the house ouer his heade they pull him out by the eares and putte him to death This was done when both the Emperoures were Consulls to wete the thirde Consulshippe of Constantius and the seconde of Constans At what tyme Constans ouercame the Frenchemen made truse and concluded a league betweene them and the Romaines Constantius the Emperour hearinge of the death of Hermogenes tooke his horse left Antioche and gott him to Constantinople there he thrusteth Paulus out of the churche he mearced the cytie takinge from them so manie measures of grayne as their cytie receaued aboue foure hundred thousande the which was his fathers donation daylie geuen vnto them For vnto that tyme the cytie of Constantinople receaued about eyght hundred thowsande measures of grayne that was caryed thyther from Alexandria The Emperour differred to nominate Macedonius their byshop for he was wonderfully incensed not onely agaynste him in that he was chosen without his aduise and counsell but also in that through the sturre and tumult raysed betweene him and Paulus not onely Hermogenes his captayne but also manie others beside were slayne After he had geuen Macedonius licence to execute his function in that churche onely where he was chosen byshop he returneth to Antioche In
also the booke whiche he dedicated vnto Theodosius with other notable monuments of his industrie doe declare CAP. XVI Howe Ignatius was translated by Theodosius from Rome and buried at Antioch THe bigger sort of bones which the beasts left vndeuoured vnto holy Ignatius after the blessed martyr as Iohn the Rhetorician with others doe recorde had according vnto his desire enioyed the bowells of beastes in stede of his resting graue at Rome in the theatre and stage striuing of rauenous beasts were translated into the Churchyard of Antioch in the raigne of Theodosius which was a long time after his martyrdome for it was almightie God no doubt that inspired Theodosius with that good motion highly for to reuerence that godly martyr and to consecrate the temple whereof old deuells were honored called y ◠temple of the goddesse of fortune vnto Ignatius the holy martyr That which of olde was dedicated vnto fortune is nowe become a sanctuarie and a famous temple to celebrate the memore of Ignatius whose holy bones were caried in a chariott with great solemnitie and buried within the temple for whiche cause there is an holy day kept with great ioye euen at this day the which Gregorie the byshop hath set forth with greater royaltie These thinges came there to passe in such sort as you heare because God would haue there the memoriall of his saincts celebrated with honor and reuerence for the impious and wicked tyrante Iulian the Apostata being emperour and requiringe an aunswere of the oracle of Apollo who prophecied in Daphnis and spake by vertue of the fountaine Castalia whiche had not the power to open his mouth holy Babylas the martyr whose corps was hard by interred had tyed his iawes together Iulian I say against his will and as it were forced thereunto translated verie honorably the corps of Babylas and builded a goodly Churche which stands at this day without the the gates of Antioch this he did to th ende the dettells afterwarde might accomplishe their wonted treacheries euen as reporte goeth they promised before vnto Iulian. but this came to passe through the prouidence of God partly that the force and vertue of martyrs may be sene of all men and partly also that the holy bones of this blessed martyr should be buried in hallowed ground and beautified with so gorgeous a building CAP. XVII Of Attilas king of Scythia howe he destroyed both the Easterne and westerne parts of the worlde of the great earthquake and straunge wonders that were seene in the worlde IN those dayes there was a battell raised by Attilas king of Scythia which at this day is much spoken of but Priscus Rhetor declareth at large with flowing stile howe he inuaded both east and west howe many and what great cities he wonne and howe nobly he behaued him selfe vnto the finall end of his frayle life Furthermore in the time of the aforesaid Theodosius raigne there was a marueilous great earthquake the straungenesse whereof exceeded all the wonderfull earthquakes that euer were before which stretched it selfe in manner throughout the whole worlde so that many turretts within the pallace were turned downe to the grounde the longe wall of Cherronesus came to ruine the earth opened and swallowed vp in her gulphes many villages many woefull mischaunces befell vnto mankinde both by sea and by lande many welspringes were dried vp againe where fountaines were neuer seene before it flowed out manie trees were plucked vp by the rootes the valleis became high mountaines the sea threwe out fishes for dead many Islands were drowned the sea ouerrunning the bankes and ouerflowing the cuntreys many shipps sulcating in the maine seas were seene on ground the sea falling backe not yelding his wonted streames many cuntreys throughont Bithynia Hellespontus and both Phrygia endured such calamities that they were vtterly vndone This misery endured toe toe long yet did it not proceede with such vehement anoyance as it beganne for it fell and slaked by a litle and a litle vntill at length all was ended CAP. XVIII The buildinges of Antioch and the founders thereof ABout the same time Memnonius Zoilus and Calixtus great patrons of the true pietie and Christian profession were sent from Theodosius the Emperour to gouerne the noble citie of Antioch of which number Memnonius buylded from the grounde with gorgeous and goodly workemanship the place which we cal Psephium leauing in the middest an hal open in height to the tempered aer vnder heauen Zoilus erected the princely porche so called vnto this day and curiously wrought which is towarde the South side of the pallace called Ruffine moreouer Calixtus founded a goodly monument whiche both of olde and of late vayes is called Calixtus porche afore the shire hall and the iudgement seates ouer against the market and the princely house where the captaines of the garrisons are wont to lye After all these Anatolius president of the Emperours power in the east beinge sent thither buylte the tower whiche beareth his name and set it out with sundrie kindes of buylding Though these things seeme from the purpose yet in mine opinion the knowledge of them is profitable for the studious reader CAP. XIX Of sundrie battailes that were fought both in Italie and in Persia in the time of Theodosius the Emperour WHile Theodosius was Emperour there was great sedition throughout Europe yea whē Valentinianus gouerned the Romane dominions all which Theodosius with great power of horsemen and footemen by sea and by land suppressed And so quelled the hautines and furious race of the Persian blood whose king was Isdigerdes the father of Bararanes or as Socrates writeth Bararanes him selfe for when they had sent Legates vnto him to entreate for peace he graunted it the whiche continewed vnto the twelfe yeare of Anastasius raigne the whiche things are also remembred of other writers partly compendiously gathered by Eustathius Syrus of Epiphania otherwise called Antioch who layeth downe in like sort howe Amida was taken It is reported moreouer that then Claudian and Cyrus the famous Poets did florishe and that Cyrus was made chiefe president which our auncetors doe tearme the heade officer of the hall and then appointed general captaine of the Romane power in the west dominions when Carthage was wonne of the Vandalls and Genzerichus captaine of the Barbarian host CAP. XX. Of Eudocia the Empresse and her daughter Eudoxia of her voyage to Ierusalem and the picture where with the people of Antioch did honor her THeodosius through the procurement of Pulcheria the Empresse being his sister maried Eudocia borne in Athens and of goodly beawtie after she had bene baptised in the Christian fatth on whom he got a daughter by name Eudoxia when she came to ripenesse of yeares and mariageable Valentinianus the Emperour tooke her to wife brought her from Constantinoplc to olde Rome Eudoxia went afterwardes to the holy citie of Christ who is God where in the Oration she made vnto
pa. 164. Auxentius an Arian b. of Millane pa. 337. Azarias the prophet and his life pa. 523. B. BAbilas b. of Antioch died in prison pag. 111. 114. Babilas the martyr pa. 309. 310. Bachilides a godly minister pa. 71. Banchillus b. of Corinth pa. 92. Bararanes king of persia pa. 386. 422. Barcabus a prophet of the hereticke Basilides pa. 60. Barcoph a prophet of the hereticke Basilides pa. 60. Barchochebas a blinde guide of the Iewes pa. 59. 61. Bardesanes a Syrian and his bookes pa. 74. Barnabas one of the 70. disciples pa. 15. 19. his martyrdome pa. 519. Barsabas one of the 70. disciples pag. 15. he was also called Iustus Ioseph he dranke poyson yet did it not hurt him pa. 57. Barsanaphius a monke pa. 485. Bartholomevve the Apostle preached in India page 85. his martyrdome pa. 519. his life pa. 532. Baruch the prophet and his life pa. 530. Basilides the hereticke wrote 24. books vpon the Gospel pa. 60. 70 Basilides a soldier was beheaded for the fayth pa. 98. 99. Basilicus an hereticke pa. 86. Basiliscus a tyrant and his ende pa. 453. Basilius b. of Ancyra coÌ„futed Photinus the hereticke pa. 277. Basilius magnus b. of Caesarea in Cappadocia pa. 322. 334. 335. Belissarius a Romaine captaine pa. 477. Beniamin the 6. b. of Ierusalem pa. 59. Beryllus Byshop of Bostra in Arabia fell to heresie and was confuted by Origen page 108. 112. Biblis a woman was piteously tormented for the faith pa. 77. Bishops honored pa. 145. Bishops persecuted pa. 146. Blandina a woman of a wonderfull patience is martyred pa. 77. 78. 79. 80. Blastus an hereticke pa. 86. 90. Books of the olde and new Testament looke Canonicall scripture Books of holy scripture burned pa. 146. Bonifacius b. of Rome pa. 381. Bretanion a tyrant and his foile pa. 272. 274. Buddas an heretick his miserable end pa. 242. Burgonians receaue the faith pa. 393. 394. C. CAiphas an high prieste of the Iewes pa. 14. Caius Iulius Caesar howe he died pa. 469. Caius Caligula was Emperour afrer Tiberius pa. 21. he called him selfe a God he plagued the Iewes and raigned not 4. yeres pa. 21. 22. 23. his end pa. 469. Caius b. of Ierusalem pa. 86. Candidus wrote learned books pa. 94. Calistus b. of Rome 5. yeares pa. 108. Canonicall scriptures pa. 36. 45. 49. 50. 73. 84. 104. 109. 110. 137. 138. Capito b. of Ierusalem pa. 86. Caricus a learned man pa. 103. Carpocrates an hereticke pa. 60. 70. Carpus a martyr pa. 67. Carterius a schismaticke pa. 358. Carterius a monke pa. 362. Carus with Carinus and Numerianus was Emperour after Probus pa. 141. Cassianus b. of Ierusalem pa. 85. Cassius b. of Tyrus pa. 92. Cataphrygian heresie looke Montanus and his opinion Cecilianus b. of Carthage pa. 204. 205. Celadion b. of Alexandria pa. 62. Celestinus b. of Rome pa. 38. Cephas one of the 70. disciples pa. 15. 16. Cerdo b. of Alexandria pa. 47. Cerdon an hereticke pa. 62. Cerinthus and his heresie pa. 51. 52. 137. Characes an historiographer pa. 501. Chaeremon b. of Nilus fled with his wife into the desert pa. 117. Chiliastae and their heresie pa. 136. 137. Chosroes king of Persia pa. 509. Chrestus b. of Syracusa pa. 205. Christ is to be vnderstood two wayes pa. 3. Christ appeared to Abraham and conferred vvith him pa. 3. 8. 264. Christ appeared to Iacob pa. 4. 8. Christ appeared to Iosua pa. 4. Christe appeared in the forme of man and why after that sort pa. 5. Christ vvhat time he was borne in the fleshe pa. 5. 8. 9. Christ was a king an high priest and a Prophet pa. 6. 7. Christ tooke a reasonable soule pa. 300. Christ suffred not the 7. yeare of Tiberius as some did write pa. 13. Christ being 30. yeare olde began to preach and vvas baptized pa. 14. Christ preached not foure yeares pa. 14. Christ chose 12. Apostles and seuentie Disciples pa. 14. Christ vvrote an epistle vnto Agbarus gouernour of Edessa pa. 16. Christian religion is not nevve and straunge pa. 3. 7. 8. Christian behauiour pa. 54. Christians in deede and the definition of a true Christian pa. 8. Chrysostome looke Iohn Chrysostome Clarus b. of Ptolomais pa. 92. Claudius was Emperour after Caligula raigned 13. yeares pa. 23. 31. Claudius 2. was Emperour after Galienus tvvo yeares pa. 139. Claudian the Poet vvhen he florished pa. 422. Clemens Alexandrinus is alleaged pa. 15. 19. 23 28. 33. 52. 85. he vvas the master of Origen pa. 100. his workes pa. 103. Clemens the thirde bishop of Rome vvas Sainct Paules fellovve labourer pag. 37. 46. 47. he preached 9. yeares pag. 54. he is sayde to haue translated the Epistle vnto the Hebrevves from Hebrevve into Greeke pag. 56. counterfeyt vvorkes are fathered vpon him pag. 56. his Epistle vvas reade in the Churche pag. 71. Cleobius an heretick pa. 70. Comodus vvas Emperour after Antoninus Verus and raigned 13. yeares pa. 85. 94. his end pa. 469. Confession the original thereof and the rooting of it out of the Church pa. 351. Confessors pa. 81. Confirmation after baptisme by the hands of the bishop pa. 119. Conon b. of Hermopolis pa. 120. Constantius the father of Constantinus Magnus his raigne and end pa. 153. 158. Constantinus Magnus was proclaimed Emperour pa. 153. hovv he became a Christian pa. 215. 216. his death and funerall pa. 252. 253. Constantinus the yonger was Emperour pa. 252. 254. his death pa. 255. 272. Constantius the sonne of Constantinus Magnus pa. 252. he vvas an Arian pa. 254. his death pa. 295. Constans the Emperour pa. 252. 267. his death pa. 272. Coration a Chiliast vvas conuerted by Dionysius b. of Alexandria pa. 136. Cornelius the centurion is conuerted pa. 21. Cornelius the 4. b. of Antioch pa. 70. Cornelius b. of Rome pa. 114. 118. the Councel of Nice pag. 222. 223. 224. 225. 226. 227. the Councel of Antioch pa. 244. the Councel of Tyrus pa. 247. 249. the CouÌ„cel of AriaÌ„s met at Antioch pa. 256. 257. the Councel of Sardice pa. 265. the Councel of Ierusalem pa. 271. the Councel of Alexandria pa. 272 the Councel of Sirmium pa. 275. the Councel of Millane pa. 279. the Councel of Ariminum pa. 280. 282. 283. the Councel of Seleucia pa. 287. 288. 289. the Councel of Arians at CoÌ„stantinople pa. 291. the Councel of Arians at Antioch pa. 293. the Councell of Alexandria called the 2. pa. 300. 301. the Councel of Antioch called the 2. pa. 316. 317. the Councel of Lampsacum pa. 319. the Councel of Sicilia pa. 325. the Councel of Constantinople summoned by Theodosius magnus pa. 344. the Councell of Angaris pa. 352. the Councel of Cyprus pa. 368. the Councel of Ephesus pa. 3â—â— 41â— 413. the Councel of Ephesus called the 2. pa. 417. the Councel of Chalcedon pag. 420. 426. 427. 428. 429. 430. 438. c. the Councel of Constantinople in the time of Iustinian pa. 487. 488. the CouÌ„cells were summoned by the Emperours pa. 341. the
had with the rest of the Apostles but of these thinges thus farre for hereafter more properly in place conuenient we will mention what the fathers of olde hereof haue written Among the rest of Iohns writinges his first epistle hath bene generally of olde and late wryters receaued without any staggering the two latter haue bene gainesayed toutching his Reuelation as yet among many there is a variable opinion some allowing and some disalowing of it likewise of this hereafter what the Elders haue thought shal be entreated CAP. XXII The bookes of the newe Testament canonicall and Apocrypha IT shall seeme conuenient if in this place we collect briefely the bookes of the newe Testament In the first place we must sett the fourefolde vvritinges of the Euangelistes next the Actes of the Apostles then the Epistles of Paul are to be added after these the first of Iohn and that of Peter which is autenticke lastly if ye please the Reuelation of Iohn of the which what is to be thought shall followe hereafter all these are receaued for vndoubted the bookes which are gaynesayde thoughe well knowne vnto many are these the Epistle of Iames the Epistle of Iude the latter of Peter the seconde and thirde of Iohn whether they were Iohn the Euangelistes or some others of the same name take these which followe for forged workes the Actes of Paul the booke called Pastor the Reuelation of Peter moreouer the Epistle fathered vppon Barnabas and the Doctrine called the Apostles and the Reuelation of Iohn if it so please you which as I haue sayde before some disalowe some other receaue as an vndoubted true doctrine diuers doe number amonge these the Gospell vnto the Hebrevves vsed specially of them which receaued Christ of the Hebrevves these writinges are they which commonly of all others are impugned I suppose that necessaryly we made rehearsall hereof to the ende we may discerne and seuer the vnfayned the vndoubted the true writinges according vnto the Ecclesiasticall tradition from the vnlawfull wrytinges of the newe Testament from such as are impugned and yet dayly read of diuers Ecclesiasticall persones that we may knowe them and such as vnder the name of the Apostles as of Peter of Thomas or Matthias besides the Gospells of others as of Andrewe of Iohn contayning the Actes of the other Apostles are published by Heretickes whereof not one Ecclesiasticall writer hath with reuerence alleadged in his Commentaries moreouer the forme of the phrase varieth from the manner of the Apostles their sentence their drifte in discourse disagreeth very much with the trueth of the tryed doctrine for nowe being conuinced they plainely expresse the fond sigments of hereticall persons In fine they are not to be placed as forged but altogether to be reiected as absurde and impious but let vs proceede vnto that which followeth CAP. XXIII Of Menander the Sorcerer MEnander succeeding Simon the Sorcerer is found nothing inferior vnto him for deuelish operation for inuention and behauiour he was also a Samaritane and preuailed no lesse in the blinde misteryes of magicall artes then his maister yea rather added vnto these monstrous sayned illusions somewhat of his owne terming him selfe now a Saâ—iour sent downe from aboue of the inuisible worldes for the saluation of mankinde teachinge with all that none was otherwise able to subdue the Angels workers of this worlde then first of all by his magicall experience deliuered for the purpose and by the Baptisme receaued of him the which as many as doe accept of it they purchase into them selues sempiternall immortalitie yea in this present lyfe so that they dye no more but continually remayne amonge them selues without wrinckled olde age and become immortall â–ª these thinges out of Irenaeus may easily appeare and Iustinus likewise making mention of Simon remembreth also this Menander â–ª saying vvo haue knovvne one Menander and the sâ—me a Samarytane of the village Caparattaea the Disciple of Simon throughly moued of deuils and abyding at Antioche to haue bevvitched many vvith magicall artes persvvading his follovvers that they shoulde not dye And as yet there be diuers which can testifie the same of him it was the drifte of the deuill by the meanes of such Sorcerers cloked vnder the name of Christians to defame by magicke the greate mistery of godlinesse and by them to choke the Ecclesiasticall doctrine which concerned the immortalitie of the soule and the resurrection of the deade but such as embraced these Sauiours haue lost the sauing healthe of their soules When the spyte of Satan coulde not seuer vnto him selfe such as syncerely bare affection towards Christ he linked vnto him selfe the wauering and wandring turnecoates CAP. XXIIII The heresie of the Ebionites THese the Elders properly called Ebionites that is poore men for they were poore and abiectes in deliuering the doctrine which concerned Christ they iudged him a simple and a common man and for his perfection of manners founde iustified as man onely borne by reason of the company of man and his mother Marie â–ª againe they thought the obseruation of the lawe to be necessarye as thoughe saluation were not by faythe alone in Christ Christâ—…â—â—â—uersation of lyfe correspondent vnto the same Other some of the same name haue auâ—yded the fowle absurditie of the wordes nor denying the Lorde to haue â—eâ—e borne of the virgine and the holy Ghoste yet when they confesse him to be God the worde and wisedome to haue bene before the natiuitie of the fleshe they sincke in the same sinne with their former felowes especially when as they busily goe aboute to sette vp the corporall obseruation of the lawe these Heretickes all doe reiecte the epistles of the Apostle Paul accusinge him that he felle from the lawe they vse onely the Gospell whiche is after the Hebrevves other they passe not for the Iewishe Sabothe and other their ceremonyes they obserue a like with the Ievves they celebrate the Sonnedayes as we doe in remembrance of the resurrection of our Sauiour for hence it came to passe by reason of these their fancies that they allotted vnto them selues the name of Ebionites signifyinge their pouertie for by this name or title poore men are called of the Hebrevves About the same tyme we learne there was one Cerinthus an author of an other heresie Gaius whose wordes we haue before alleadged in the controuersie caryed about vnder his name writeth thus of him CAP. XXV Of Cerinthus the Hereticke CErinthus also by reuelations vvritten as of a greate Apostle brought vnto vs certayne monstrous thinges fayning them to haue bene reuealed vnto him by Angels that the kingdome of Christ after the resurrection shoulde become earthly that in Ierusalem our fleshe agayne shoulde serue the concupiscence and lust of the flesh and being set vvholy to seduce as enemy vnto the vvorde of God he sayd there shoulde be the terme of a Millenarie feaste allotted for mariage Dionysius also Bishop of