members all had one minde and the same readinesse of fayth the celebration of the diuinitie amonge all was one Moreouer the orderly seruice of such as gouerned the Churches and publique ministration of the holy thinges appoynted of them for the purpose comely rites and ceremonies of the Churches were celebrated â—â—â—e with psalmodies and other songes of praise deliuered vs from aboue there with diuine and misticall ministration as the secret pledges of the Lords passion were solemnized and withall men and women of euery age with all might that in them lay with cheerfull minde and will in prayer and thankesgeuing honored God the autor of all goodnes to be short the gouernours of the Churches as many as were present with solemne Sermons euery one as much as in him lay set forth and extolled the solemne meeting and assemblies There went vp into the pulpitt one among all the rest counted very sage expert in the words of God well exercised in preaching who chose a parcell of Scripture discoursed at large as it were in the gathering together of the members and vniting of the congregations whome many learned clerkes and famous Bishops hearde with quiet and atteâ—tiâ—â— eare This preacher therefore in the presence of Paulinus a Bishop that passed all other for rare and singuler gifts by whose meanes and procurement also the famous temple of Tyrus in Phoenicia was buylded with moste gorgeous furniture vttered this Sermon in such sort as followeth CAP. IIII. A solemne Sermon in prayse of the buylding of the Churches but expressly directed vnto Paulinus Bishop of Tyrus OYe friendes and Priestes of the most high God which are bewtified with holy robes and the heauenly crowne of glory with the sacred oyntment and priestly atyre of the holy ghost and thou the ornament of the newe holy temple of God which art honored of God him selfe with wisedome of auncient yeares yet hast brought to passe noble deeds and enterprises with fresh and florishing vertue to whome God him self comprehending the whole world hath graunted this great honor that thou shouldest build and repairs on earth this house vnto Christ the onely begotten and his first begotten word vnto his holy and noble spouse whome one may very wel call ether a new Beseleel chief builder of Gods tabernacle or Solomon king of a new and more mighty Ierusalem or else a new Zorâ—babel which hast purchaced farre greater glory vnto the temple of God then it had before and O you the sucklinges of the holy stocke of Christe the house of good literature the schoole of wisedome the honest and godly audiencâ— of pietye It was lawefull for vs of olde to laude God with hymnes and songes which haue heâ—â—â—â— out of holy Scripture the mainelous wonders of God and the miraculous bountifulnes of the Lorde shewed towards mankind being to this ende instructed that we should say â–ª O God vve haue heard vvith our eares our fathers haue declared vnto vs the vvorkes thou hast vvrought in their dayes of olde but nowe haue we learned it not by hearing neither by reheatsall and rumor of the high arme and heauenly hande of our God and high King but by deedes and as I may so say with the eyes them selues beholding the thinges of olde to be certayne and true we may sing an mother hynme of victory and to good purpose shoute and saye like as vve haue hearde so haue vve seene in the citye of the Lorde of hosts in the citye of our God â–ª I meane in an other citye then this lately buylded and exected vnto God vvhich is the Churche of the liuing God the piller and grounde of all trueth of the which a certayne other testimony of holy Scripture thus happely reporteth Glorious thinges are spoken of thee o thou citie of God In so much as then we are gathered by the benefitt of Almighty God through the grace of the onely begotten vnto this Churche let euery one of vs here presently assembled together prayse and laude God and with all crye and saye I vvas glad vvhen they sayd vnto me vve vvill goe vp into the house of the Lorde and agayne Lorde I haue loued the bevvty of thy house and the place vvhere thine honour dvvelleth And not onely he which sitteth but also altogether with one spirite and with one minde honoring the Lorde let vs then singe and saye greate is the Lorde and vvorthy to be praysed in the citye of our God euen vpon his holy hill for he truely is greate and his house greate highe wide and bewetifull in comparison of the sonnes of men greate is the Lorde vvhiche alone doth vvonderfull thinges greate is the Lorde doing greate thinges vnsearcheable things glorious and excellent things vvhereof there is no number great changing moments and times remouing and ordayning things raysing the poore out of the dust and lifting the needy out of the myre he hath deposed the mighty from their seates and exalted the meeke out of the earth he hath filled the hungry vvith good things and hath broken the armes of the proude thus hath he confirmed the memory of the thinges rehearsed of olde not onely to the faythfull but also vnto the Infidels it is the Lorde of all the maker of the whole worlde the Almighty the moste excellent the one and the onely God which doth wonderfull and greate thinges vnto whome we obediently doe singe a newe songe euen vnto him vvhich alone doth maruelous thinges because his mercy endureth for euer vvhich smote great Kings slevv mighty Kings because his mercy endureth for euer because that vvhen vve vvere brought lovve the Lorde vvas mindefull of vs and deliuered vs from our enemies with these prayses let vs not cease to celebrate God the vniuersall father but also the seconde person author of all goodnes exhibited vnto vs the bringer of the knowledge of God the teacher of true pietye the rooter out of the wicked the dispatcher of all tyrants the gouernour of our whole life let vs whose case was lamentable honour him sounding continewally with mouth and minde I meane our Sauiour Iesu for he alone the onely most excellent sonne of the most excellent father according vnto the will of his father wherewith he loued man most willingly like a passing cunning Phisicion for the health of the pacients tooke vpon him our nature whiche laye as it were in a bottomlesse pitt of perdicion the beholding of whome in this case was very greeuous and the handling vnpleasant and of the miseries of others he heaped vnto him selfe greate miseryes he saued not onely such as were sicke with fore botches and festered woundes but also such as laye amonge the deade he him selfe by him selfe hath deliuered vs from the moste darke dungeons of death there was not so much power geuen to any other in heauen whiche coulde without offence and vndoubtedly minister the saluation of so many castwayes but he alone tooke vpon him
neither haue we purposed to mention thē which were tēpted sore with persecution or altogether suffred shipwrack of their saluation and willingly were swallowed vp in the deepe goulfes of the seaes but onely to graffe in our history such things as first of all may profitt our selues next the posteritie in time to come We will proceede then and paynt forth the happy combats of the blessed Martyrs CAP. III. A recitall of certaine imperiall edicts against the Christians the constancie of certaine faithfull persons the beginnings of the butcherly slaughter IT was the nynteenth yeare of Diocletians raigne and the moneth Dystros after the Romaines March the feast of Easter then being at hande when the Emperours proclamations were euery where published in the which it was commaunded that the churches shoulde be made euen with the grounde the holy scriptures by burninge of them shoulde be abolished such as were in honor and estimation should be contemned and such as were of families if they retained the christian faith should be depriued of their freedome and such were the contents of the firste edict But in the proclamations which immediatly followed after it was added that y ◠pastors throughout all parishes first should be imprisoned next with all meanes possible constrained to sacrifice then I say then many of y ◠chiefe gouerners of the churches endured that cherefully most bitter torments gaue y ◠aduenture of most valiant noble enterprises many others fainting for feare at y ◠first onset were quite discouraged all y ◠rest tryed the experience of sundry tormēts one scorged from topp to toe an other wrested maimed with more intollerable payne some fayled of y ◠purposed ende some other were founde constant and perfect one was drawen to the foule and filthie sacrifices and dimissed as if he had done sacrifice when as in very deede he had not an other when he had neyther approched neyther toutched ought of their detestable offringes and such as were present affirmed that he had sacrificed departed with silence paciently suffring this thanklesse pickthanke an other halfe deade was borne away beyng throwen of them for deade againe there were some prostrat vpon the pauement trayled lugged all a long by the feete recounted for sacrificers one reclaymed with a lowde voyce denyed y ◠euer he sacrificed an other lifted his voyce and confessed him selfe to be a Christian and gloryed in the faith of that gladsome tytle an other againe protested that he had neyther sacrificed neither euer woulde do sacrifice These were beaten on the face and buffeted on the chekes their mouthes were stopped by the souldiers handes an whole bande was appointed for the purpose whiche violently thrust them out at the dores so the enemies of the trueth triumphed if at lest wise they might seeme to bring their purpose to effect but their purpose preuailed not against the blessed martyrs of God whose conflicts no tongue can sufficiently declare CAP. IIII. Of the persecution first raysed by Veturius the captaine against the Christian souldiers at the beginning priuely afterwards openly THere were many to be seene whiche bare singular good will and affection to the seruice of almightie God not onely in the time of persecution but long before whē peace preuailed yet of late I say of late at the first the chiefe gouernour starting vp as it were out of soking drunkemesse leaueled at the churche priuely and obscurely since the time which runne after the raigne of Decius Valerianus and waged battaile with vs not sodenly but first assayed onely the christians which were in campe By this meanes he thought he could eassly snare the rest if that first he conquered these and here might you see many of the souldiers desirous to leade a priuate solitarie lyfe fearinge they shoulde faynt in the seruice of almyghtie God for when the captaine who so euer he was firste went about to persecute his hoast and to trye and syfte as many as were brought vnto him throughout euery ward and to giue them in choise either to obey enioy their dignitie or to resist and of the contrary to be depriued many of the souldiers which were of the kingdome of Christ without any delaye or doubt preferred the faith of Christ before the fauor and felicitie they seemed enioye and nowe one or two of them very heauely not onely contemned their dignities but also endured bytter death for their constancie in the seruice of God because that the captaine as yet powred his malice by a little though he durst shede the blood of a fewe innocents yet staggered he at the multitude of beleeuers fearing as it is most like sodenly to giue bettell vnto all and that vniuersally but after that he tooke in hande more manifestly to persecute the church of God it can not be tolde or expressed with tongue how many and what maner or sort of Martyrs were to be seene throughout cities and villages CAP. V. A noble man of Nicomedia rent in peeces in the prefence of many the wicked Edict of the Emperour published against the Christians ON of Nicomedia no obscure person but according vnto the accōpt of the world of greate nobilitie who as soone as the edict againste the churches of God was published in Nicomedia being moued with zeale god wards and feruencie of faith tooke into his hands and tare in peeces the prophane most impious proclamation pasted to an open publicke post in y ◠presence of both the emperours of him which amonge the rest was most honorable of him also which was the fourth person in the empire he which first practised this noble acte endured as it is most like the penaltie of so bolde an enterprise retayning a valiant and inuincible minde vnto the last gaspe CAP. VI. The Martyrdome of certaine courtiers in Nicomedia with others both there and in other places ALl the renowmed men that euer were either of the Grecians or Barbarians cōmended for noble prowesse and fortitude are not to be compared to the deuine and famous martyrs of this our age of thē I speake who together with Dorotheus being the emperours pages in chiefest credit with their Lordes and were no lesse vnto them then deare and naturall sonnes yet counted they those comumelies drudgeries and new found torments for the trueth in Christ greater ritches then the glory and pleasure of this present life One of these for example sake and the ende he made I wil declare that the reader may coniecture by his happe what besell vnto the rest One of the aforesayd Noble men was brought forth at Nicomedia into the open assembly enioyned to do sacrifice who stoutly refusing by cōmandement is hoysed vp on high his naked bodie all to be scourged and the fleshe rent in peeces with the lashe of the whyppe vntyll he were ouercome and yeelded to their sacrifice When that he had endured
giuen him but he receaued it not saying In somuch that vve haue forsaken our ovvne hovv can vve receaue other mens These things were done the three and forty yeare which being translated worde for worde out of the Syrian tongue we thought not amisse to printe in this place The censure of the Translator toutching the aforesayd Epistles BE it true or be it false that there were such epistles it forceth not greatly as the effect and contentes thereof is not to be preferred before all other writing in trueth so of the contrary it is not to be reiected for falshoode and forged stuffe Ierome with other graue writers affirmeth such circumstances to haue bene Eusebius whose creditt herein is not smale reporteth the same to haue bene taken out of their recordes in the city of Edessa regestred there in the Syrian tongue and by him translated out of the Syrian into the greeke tongue I sidorus and Gelasius the first of that name bishop of Rome about the yeare of our Lorde 494. together with 70. other Bishops decreed that the Churche of God should receaue the same epistles for no other then Apocrypha one thing I may not here runne ouerwith silence but admonishe the Reader of how that late writers namely Damascenus and that fabulous Historiographer Nicephorus haue added vnto this history fabulous reportes howe that Abgarus gouernour of Edessa sent his letter vnto Iesu and with all a certayne paynter which might vewe him well bring vnto him backe againe the lively picture of Iesu the which painter as they reporte being not able for the glorious brightnesse of his gracious countenance to bring his purpose to effect our Sauiour him selfe tooke an handkerchef and layde to his deuine and liuely face and by the wiping of his face his picture was therein impressed the which he sent to Abgarus Nicephorus patcheth other fables therunto first he sayth that the King of Persia sent a paynter vnto Iesu which brought vnto him the picture of Iesu and also of Mary his mother Agayne that the Edessaeans in the time of Iustinianus the Emperour being besieged and brought to such a narrowe straicte that there remayned no hope of deliuer ance but a present foyle and ouerthrowe in the same lamentable plight to haue runne vnto this picture for a refuge wher as they say they fouÌ„d preseÌ„t remedy beleue it who wil. Eusebius who searched their records who layde downe the copye of the Epistles who translated faythfully all that he founde there toutching Christ neyther sawe neyther heard of any such thing for he promised in the preface to his history to omitt nothing that shoulde seeme pertinent if the other writers founde it why did not Eusebius finde it if the other writers thought expedient to publishe the same why did Eusebius omitt it nay it was not there founde at al but forged therefore recount them for fables the first that reported them was a hundred yeares after Eusebius The ende of the first booke THE SECONDE BOOKE OF THE ECCLESIASTICALL HISTORYE OF EVSEBIVS PAMPHILVS BISHOP OF CAESAREA IN PALAESTINA CAP. I. Of the ordayning of Disciples after the ascention of Christ IN the former booke as by way of proëme we haue published which necessaryly did concerne the Ecclesiastical history ioyntly contriuing the declaration of the diuinitie of the worde of saluation of the auncient principles of our doctrine of the antiquitie of Gospelike policy among Christians of his late appearing among men of his passion and election of the Apostles Now it remayneth that we vewe those things which ensued after his assumption so that partly we note them out of the sacred scriptures partly out of prophane historyes knitting to our historye those thinges which we haue firmely committed to memory First of al the Apostleship is allotted vnto Matthias in the rowme of Iudas the traytour which as it is manifest was one of the disciples of the Lorde there were also seuen approued men ordayned Deacons through prayer and laying on of the Apostles handes for the publique administration of the Churches affaires ioyned with Stephen which first after the Lorde as soone as he was ordayned as though he were appoynted for this purpose is stoned vnto death by them which slewe the Lord and for this cause as the first of the triumphing Martyrs of Christ according to his name he beareth a crowne After him folowed Iames called the brother of Christ and counted the sonne of Ioseph This Ioseph was thought to be the father of Christ to whome the virgin was betrothed vvhiche before they came together vvas founde to haue in her vvombe of the holy Ghost as the holy Gospell declareth This Iames whome of olde they priueledged for his vertue with the syrname of Iustus is sayd to be the first which occupied the bishoplike Seae at Ierusalem Clemens in the 6. of his hypotyposeon writeth thus Peter saith he and Iames and Ihon after the assumption of our Sauiour though they vvere preferred by the Lorde yet chalenged they not this prerogatiue vnto them selues but appoynted Iames the Iust Byshop of Ierusalem The same Clemens in the 7. of his Hypotyposeon also maketh mention of him thus the Lorde after his resurrection endued vvith knovvledge Iames the Iust Ihon Peter They deliuered the same vnto the rest of the Apostles the Apostles aftervvards vnto the 70. disciples of vvhich number vvas Barnabas There vvere tvvo Iameses the one termed Iust vvhich vvas throvvne dovvne hedlonâ— from the pinacle and brayned vvith a fullers clubbe * the other beheaded Of him that vvas â—…d Iust Paul made mention saying I savve none of the Apostles saue Iames the brother of the Lorde Those thinges which the Lorde promised the King of the Osroënians then were performed Thomas by diuine inspiration sent Thaddaeus vnto the city Edessa to be their preacher and an Euangelist of the doctrine of Christ as a litle before out of the recordes we haue alleaged But he after his comming and hauing cured Agbarus by the word of God astonished all them with his straunge miracles workes which he wrought brought them to the worshipping of the diuine power of Christ and ordayned disciples of the doctrine of our Sauiour From that time vnto this day the whole city of the Edessaeans addicted vnto the name of Christ shew forth no smale argument of the great goodnes of our Sauiour towardes them But these thinges be premised taken out of their auncient historicall recordes and now let vs returne vnto the sacred Scripture The first and the greatest persecution being raysed of the Ievves agaynst the Church at Ierusalem about the tyme of the martyrdome of Stephen and al the distiples the 12. onely excepted being dispersed throughout Iudaea Samaria certaine of them as the holy Scripture beareth witnesse came vnto Phaenices and Cyprus and Antioche but these as yet dated not to deliuer vnto the Gentiles the word of fayth but shewed it onely vnto the Ievves At that
writing of these things entreated of the firste preachers of the Gospell and the rites deliuered them of the Apostles of olde it is manifest to euery man CAP. XVIII The commendation of Philo the cataloge of his workes whereof many are not extant THis Philo flowed in wordes he was deepe of vnderstanding highe and profounde in the contemplation of holy Scripture he compiled a diuerous and variable exposition of the Scriptures prosecuting after his order and maner aswell the tract of the booke of Genesis with the Allegoryes thereof as the summe in the chapiters contayned laying downe the questions incident and solutions to the same entitling his booke the questions and solutions incident in Genesis and Exodus There are besides extant of his seuerall tractes of his Problemes Namely tvvo bookes of Husbandry so many of drunkenes and certayne others hauing their proper and peculiar title whereof one is vvhat the sobre minde prayeth or vovveth also of the confusion of tongues of vvandring and finding of Conuenticles vnto discipline of that vvho can be heyre of the goods of God or vvhat diuision can be of equalls and contraryes of the three vertues whereof Moyses with others hath written Moreouer of them vvhose names are changed and vvhy they vvere changed where he witnesseth him selfe to haue written agayne and againe of testaments There is extant a volume of his of banishment and of the life of a perfect vvise maÌ„ according vnto righteousnes or of vnvvritteÌ„ lavves Agayne of Gyaunts or that the Godhead is not changed â–ª of dreames which according vnto Moyses are giuen from aboue fiue volumes And thus much of them which he wrote on Genesis that came to our handes We haue also knowne vpon Exodus fiue bookes of questions and of the tabernacle and of the tenn commaundements and foure bookes of them vvhich by nature of lavves may be referred vnto the tenn commaundements of the sacrifices of beastes vvhat kindes of sacrifices there be of that vvhat revvardes are set forth to the good and godly in the lavv vvhat punishmentes and curses to the vvicked There are founde also certayne seuerall bookes of his as of Prouidence and of the Ievves of Politickes and of Alexander and concerning that that brute beastes haue reason Agayne that he is a slaue vvhich is vvicked and there foloweth an other booke that he is free vvhich is godly After these he wrote of the life contemplatiue or vvorshippers whence we borowed those thinges which we alleadged concerning the Apostolike mens liues the interpretations of the Hebrue names in the lawe and Prophetes are attributed vnto his industrye This Philo comming to Rome in the time of Caius wrote a booke of the impiety of Caius wittely cloking it with the title of vertues which booke being read before the Romayne Senate in the tyme of Claudius was so well thought of that his bookes were chayned in the publique library as famous Monuments At the same tyme when Paul had trauayled in compasse from Ierusalem to Illyricum Claudius vexed the Ievves when Aquila Priscilla with certayne other Ievves were expulsed Rome and camâ— to Asia where they had their conuersation together with Paul who then confirmed the Churches whose fundations he had lately layed Whereof the holy Scripture in the Actes of the Apostles sufficiently enstructeth vs. CAP. XIX VVhat calamity happened vnto the Iewes in Ierusalem vpon Easter day WHen Claudius as yet raygned so great a sedition and sturre was raysed in Ierusalem about the feaste of Easter that of them onely which were pressed in the porches of the temple crushed and trodden to death vnder foote there were slayne thirty thovvsand Ievves and that festiuall day was vnto the whole nation a day of mourning Lamentation being raysed throughout al their dwelling places And this Iosephus doth write worde by word Claudius assigned Agrippa the sonne of Agrippa King of the Ievves When Felix was sent to be Lieuetenante of the whole prouince of Samaria Galilaea and the region beyonde Iordane VVho after he had raygned thirtenth yeares and eyght moneths dyed leauing Nero to succeade him in the Empire CAP. XX. VVhat calamity happened at Ierusalem vnder Nero the sedition betweene priest and people The death of Ionathas the high priest VNder Nero Felix being procurator of Iudaea there was then raysed a sedition betweene the Priestes which Iosephus in the twentyeth booke of Antiquities describeth thus there rose dissention betvveene the high priestes and inferior priestes and chiefe of the people at Ierusalem Euery one gathering vnto him a company of Russians and cutters plaied the captayne they skirmished among them selues they vexed one another they slynged one at another but there vvas none to bridle them And these things frely vvere done in the city as though there had bene no President So impudent and past all shame vvere the high priestes become that they stucke not to sende and take avvay from the barne floores the tythes due vnto the inferior priestes so that in the ende it fell out that the priestes vvere seene to perishe for pouertye The violence of these seditious persons prenayled beyonde all right and reason Agayne the same Historiographer writeth that at Ierus 〈…〉 about that time there rose a certayne multitude of theues or robbers which slewe them by day that mett them in the streetes and especially on the holy dayes confounding them selues with the multitude and carying weapons couered vnder their garmentes they wounded the chiefe men and when the wounded fell downe they drewe them selues to them that were incensed agaynst the theeues and so brought to passe through the cloking of their prankes they could not be apprehended To be briefe he writeth that Ionathas the high priest was slayne of them first and dayly after him many and the feare to haue bene greater then the calamity it selfe because that euery man euery houre looked for death as in warre CAP. XXI Of the sedition that the Aegyptian Sorcerer moued whereof the Actes make mention COnsequently aftâ—r these he annexeth other thinges saying vvith a greater plague did the Aegyptian being a false prophet afflict the Ievves VVhen he came vnto those partes and chalenged vnto him selfe being a sorcerer the credit of a Prophet he gathered together about a thirty thovvsand of seduced people vvhome he guyded from the vvildernes vnto mount Oliuet vvhence he might make an embushment vpon Ierusalem and if he obtayned his purpose to exercise tyranny partly vpon the Romayne vvatch and partly vpon the people â–ª vsinge to his vvicked enterprise the company of headye and vvilfull svvashebucklers But Felix preuenting his violence mett him vvith armed Romayne souldiers vvith vvhome all the rest of the people conspired ready to reuenge them selues of them After their meeting and assault geuen the Aegiptian vvith a fevv fledde his vvay and many of his adhaerents vvere foyled and taken aliue Thus farre Iosephus in the seconde of his historyes I thinke it also very expedient to conferre with these that
pinacle of the temple and shouted vnto him and sayd Thou iust man at vvhose commaundement vve all are in so much that this people is seduced after Iesus vvho vvas crucified declare vnto vs vvhich is the dore of Iesus crucified And he aunsvvered vvith a lovvde voyce vvhy aske ye me of Iesus the sonne of man vvhen as he sitteth at the right hand of the great povver in heauen and shal come in the clovvdes of the aëer VVhen as he had persvvaded many so that they glorified God at the testimony of Iames and sayd Hosanna in the highest to the sonne of Dauid then the Scribes and Pharises said among them selues vve haue done very il in causing such a testimony of Iesu to be brought forth But let vs clime vp and take him to the end the people being stroken vvith feare may renounce his faith And they shouted saying O O and the iust also is seduced and they fulfilled the Scripture vvhich sayth in Esay Let vs remoue the iust for he is a stumbling blocke vnto vs. VVherfore they shall gnavve the buddes of their ovvne vvorks They climed vp threvv dovvne headlong Iustus saying let vs stone Iames Iustus And they vvent about him vvith stones for after his fall he vvas not fully dead but remembring him selfe fell on his knees saying I beseech thee Lord God and Father forgiue them for they vvote not vvhat they doe And as they vvere a stoning of him one of the Priestes the sonne of Rechab â–ª the sonne of Châ—raâ—im vvhose testimony is in Ieremy the Prophet cryed out cease vvhat do you This iust man prayeth for you And one of them that vvere present taking a fullers clubb vvith vvhich they pounce purge their clothes stroke Iustus on the heade and brayned him so he suffred martyrdome vvhome they buried in that place â–ª his piller or picture as yet remayneth hard by the temple engrauen thus This man vvas a true vvitnesse both to the Ievves and Gentiles that Iesus vvas Christ And Vespasianus immediatly hauing ouerrun Iudaea subdued the Ievves These at larg recorded by Aegesippus are correspondent with these thinges which Clemens wrote This Iames was so famous and renowmed among all for his righteousnes that the wise among the Ievves imputed the cause of this sodayne besteging of Ierusalem after his martyrdome which no doubt therfore happened vnto them to be for the presumptuous offence practised against him Iosephus sticked not to testifie the same in these wordes These thinges happened vnto the Ievves in vvay of reuenging the death of Iames the Iust vvhich vvas the brother of Iesu vvhome they cal Christ. For the levves slevve him vvhen he vvas most iust The same Iosephus describeth his death in the twentieth booke of Antiquities saying Casar hearinge the death of Festus sendeth Albiâ—us President into Iudaea But Ananus the yonger vvhome vve reported before to haue taken vpon him the high priesthoode vvas a very presumptuous and heady cockbrayne he claue vnto the sect of the Saduces vvhich vvere mercylesse in iudgment among all the Ievves as vve signified before Ananus then being such a one hauing gotten opportunity to his thinking in so much that Festus vvas deade and Albinus not yet come called vnto him a counsell commaundinge the brother of Iesu called Christ vvhose name vvas Iames vvith certayne others to be brought forth accusing them that they had transgressed the lavve and deliuered them to be stoned As many in the city as vvere iust and due obseruers of the lavve tooke this fact greeuously sending priuely vnto the King and beseeching him to vvrite vnto Ananus that thence forth he attempt not the like In so much that his former fact vvas vnaduisedly and impiously committed Certayne of them mett Albinus comminge from Alexandria and enstructed him hereof that it vvas not lavvefull for Ananus to summone a counsell contrary to his commaundement Albinus thus persvvaded vvrote fumishly vnto Ananus threatning reuengement vpon him for this fact And king Agrippa vvhen he had gouerned the high priesthoode three moneths depriued him placing in his rovvme Iesus the sonne of Damaeus Thus farre toutching Iames whose epistle that is reported to be which is the first among the vniuersall Epistles Yet haue we to vnderstande that the same is not voyde of suspicion for many of the auncient writers make no mention thereof like as neyther of that which is vnder the name of Iudas being one of the seuen called vniuersall for all this we knowe them to be publickly reade in most Churches The translator for the remouing of all suspition concerning the canonicall Epistle of Iames. TOutching this Iames whose Epistle hath bene suspected take this lesson of Ierome agaynst Heluidius disce Scripturae consuetudinem eundem hominem diuersis nominibus nuncupari learne the maner of the Scripture which calleth one and the same man after diuerse names he is called in Math. 10. Marke 3. Act. 1. Iacobus Alphaei and numbred among the 12. Apostles Though Ierome lib. 5. cap. 17. vpon the Prophet Esay call him decimum tertium Apostolum and Dorotheus Bishop of Tyrus do terme him one of the 70. Disciples He is called Iacobus frater Domini Iames the brother of the Lord in Math. 13. 27. Marke 6. 15. Galat. 1. and in this present history â–ª but in what sense he might be called his brother being his mothers sisters sonne reade Ierome agaynst Heluidius which handleth that question purposely He is called Iacobus Iustus and Oblias in the former chapiter of Eusebius This history reporteth him to haue bene placed by the Apostles Bishop of Ierusalem and there to haue gouerned the Church the space of 30. yeares for oft in the Scriptures he is founde at Ierusalem as Act. 1. 15. 21. 1. Corinth 15. Galat. 1. 2. Concerning his epistle and other parcells of holy Scripture that they were not generally receaued no maruell at all considering the malice of the Deuill in obscuring those thinges which proceade from the holy Ghost Eusebius writeth that besides the Epistle of Iames the Epistle of Iude the latter of Peter the 2. and 3. of Iohn with the reuelation were called into controuersy so that some reiected them some cleaued vnto them tanquam certis indubitatis Scripturis as certayne and vndoubted Scriptures Ierome in Catalog Eccles Scrip of Iames writeth thus vnam tantum scripsit epistolam quae ipsa ab alio quodam sub nomine eius aedita asseritur he wrote one epistle which is thought to haue bene published by an other vnder his name if this be the whole no danger at all The Canons commonly called the Apostles Canone 84. haue decreed this of the Epistle of Iames together with the other parcells of holy Scripture that it was to be receaued for Canonicall so hath the councell of Laodicea vnder Damasus cap. 59. about the yeare of our Lord 371. And the third councell of Carthage vnder Siricius about the yeare 417. cap. 47. Innocentius the first
auncient fathers thus much shall suffice fourtene Epistles of Paul are manifest and well knowen but that diuers reiected the Epistle which is vnto the Hebrues alleadging the contradiction of the Churche of Rome that it was not Paules I thinke it requisite to knowe and what our Predecessors hereof haue thought I will lay downe when occasion serueth The Actes which goe vnder the name of Paule were neuer taken as vndoubted And because the same Apostle in his Epistle vnto the Romaines saluteth certayne and amongest others Hermes therefore appoynt they the booke called Pastor to be his which hath bene gaynesayd of many therefore not to be numbred amonge those bookes which are for certayne Others thought this booke very necessary especially vnto them that haue neede of an elementall introduction but we haue knowne him to haue bene publikely reade in the Churche and alleadged of many auncient writers in their workes let this much be spoken of the holy Scriptures as well of the generally receaued as of the doubtfully reiected CAP. IIII. Of the succession of the Apostles THat Paul preaching vnto the Gentyles planted the Churches from Ierusalem vnto Illyricum it is manifest both by his owne wordes and the testimony of Luke in the Actes In what prouinces Peter preached vnto them of the circumcision and deliuered the doctrine of the newe testament it appeareth by his wordes and also by the Epistle whiche of trueth is sayde to be his written to the Hebrues scattered throughout Pontus Gallacia Cappadocia Asia and Bythinia But how many and what sincere followers haue fedd the Churches planted by the Apostles it can not be affirmed but as farre forthe as can be gathered out of the wordes of Paul He had many fellowe laborers and companions as he called them whereof diuers haue purchased immortall memorye for so much as he maketh continuall mention of them in his Epistles and Luke in the Actes repeting the most famous remembreth them by name Timothe is reported to be the firste Bishop of Ephesus and Titus of the Churches in Creta Luke by lyne of Antioche by profession a Phisician hauinge his conuersation of purpose for the moste parte with Paule and the reste of the Apostles lefte vs proofes of skyll comprysed in two volumes medicinable for our soules healthe sought out amonge them One of the Gospell whiche he reporteth to haue published accordinge as he receaued of them whiche from the beginninge were behoulders and mynisters of this doctrine so that he searched all from the originall the other of the Actes of the Apostles where he compiled not onely the thinges hearde with his eares but also the thinges whiche he sawe with his eyes And of Paule they saye that he accustomed to mention the Gospell of Luke when he spake as of his owne sayinge accordinge vnto my Gospell Amonge the other fellowes of Paule Crescens is witnessed to haue bene sent by the Apostle him selfe into Fraunce Toutchinge Linus we spake before that he was the firste Byshop of Rome after Peter whome he remembreth to haue bene with him at Rome in his latter Epistle vnto Timothe And Clemens the thirde Byshop of Rome is proued by his testimonye to be Paules fellovve laborer and companion Moreouer Dionysius the Areopagite whome Luke in the Actes reporteth to haue firste beleued at the Sermon of Paule vnto the Athenians preached in Areopagus was the firste Bishop of Athens but an other Dionysius there was Byshop of the Churche of Corinthe In processe of our history we will dilate of the successors of the Apostles in their seuerall tymes succeeding nowe let vs turne vnto that whiche consequently dependeth vpon the historye CAP V. Of the vtter besieging of the Iewes after the passion and resurrection of Christ AFter that Nero had raygned thirtene yeares Otho and Galba one yeare and six monethes Vespasianus was counted a potent Prince in Iudaea amonge the armyes appoynted against the Ievves and being proclaymed Emperour of the hoast that there was forthe with he is sent to Rome committing vnto his sonne Titus the warres in hande agaynste the Ievves therefore after the ascention of our Sauiour because the Ievves besydes the haynous offence committed agaynst Christ had compassed manyfould mischiefes against his Apostles firste stoning Stephen to death next beheading Iames the sonne of Zebede and the brother of Iohn with the sworde and aboue all Iames their first Bishop after the ascention of our Sauiour with the manner afore mentioned and draue out of Iudaea the rest of the Apostles pursuing them to the deathe with innumerable wyles when as nowe they were sent by the power of Christ to preache vnto all nations sayinge vnto them goe teache all nations in my name Yea and the congregation of the faythfull in Ierusalem forewarned by an oracle reuealed vnto the beste approued amonge them that before the warres beganne they shoulde departe the cytye and inhabite a village beyonde Iordan called Pella into the whiche when the Christians leauing Ierusalem had entred and the holy men had forsaken the princely principall citye of the Jevves together with all the lande of Iudaea the heauye hande of God apprehended that wicked generation vtterly to roote them from amonge men whiche had practysed so presumptuously agaynst Christ and his Apostles howe many mischiefes haue happened at that tyme vnto this whole nation and howe they chiefely whiche enhabyted Iudaea were driuen to extreame myserye and how many millions of men throughout euery age together with women and children perished with the sworde with famyne and with infinite other kindes of deathe and how many and what cityes of the Ievves were destroyed to be shorte howe many calamityes and more then calamityes they sawe whiche fledde vnto Ierusalem as the Metropolytane and best fortyfied citye Moreouer the state of the whole warres and the seuerall actes thereof and howe at lengthe the abomination of desolation foreshewed by the Prophetes standing in that famous temple of olde suffered a diuerous destruction and an vtter ouerthrowe by fire he that listeth to knowe let him reade the historye of Iosephus where all these are diligently described I thinke it necessarye to note howe Iosephus writeth that vppon the solempne dayes of Easter there were gathered together at Ierusalem out of all Iudaea to the number of three hundred Millions and there shutte vp as it were in prison saying It vvas requisite that destruction due for their desert dravvinge nighe by the iust iudgement of God shoulde apprehende them vpon those dayes being as it vvere shutte vp in prison in the vvhiche they before had dravvne the Sauiour and benefactor of al men the anoynted of God vnto his passion Omiting those thinges whiche particularly happened vnto them eyther by sworde or by other kinde of misfortune I thinke it expedient to expresse their onely calamityes by famine so that the reader may partely hereby coniecture howe that God not longe after was reuenged on them for their impiety
Symeon was then diuersly by them accused to be a Christian for the space of many dayes he was scourged so that the Iudge and his company was maruelously amazed and in the ende he dyed a deathe agreeable with the passion of Christe but let vs heare the Historiographers owne wordes Certayne sayth he of the Heretickes accused Symeon the sonne of Cleopas that he linealy descended of the stocke of Dauid and that he vvas a Christian he suffered martyrdome being a hundreth and tvventy yeare olde vnder Traian the Emperour and Atticus the Consul The same Aegesippus reporteth how that his accusers enquiry being then made of such as came of the royall bloude among the Ievves were founde to haue their originall of the Regall Iewish trybe whosoeuer wayeth this with him selfe he will confesse that this Symeon was of them whiche both hearde and sawe the Lorde in that he liued so long a tyme and in that the Gospell maketh mention of Marie Cleopas whose sonne we haue sayde this Symeon to haue bene before Agayne the same Historiographer writeth how that certayne others of the posterity of some one of them called the brethren of our Lorde namely Iude were alyue vntil the same tyme yea after the testimony of them whiche vnder Domitian were tried for the true faythe of Christe for thus he writeth â–ª they come and gouerne vvhole Churches as martyrs being also of the kindred of Christ VVhen peace novve had possessed the Churches they remayne aliue vnto the tyme of Traian the Emperour vntil the afore sayd Symeon the Lords consingermaine the sonne of Cleopas vvas il entreated of Heretickes accused vnder Atticus the Consul often scourged tollerated such martyrdome that all vvondred the Consul him self marueiled hovv that he being a hundred xx yeares old vvas able to endure that bitter torment to be short in the end he vvas by commaundement crucified Vnto the afore said the same Historiographer annecteth this â–ª vnto those tymes the Church of God remained a pure an vncorrupted virgin for such as endeuored to corrupt the sound rule the right preaching of the vvord if then there vvere any such hidd them selues vnto that time in some thicke miste â–ª or dongeon of darkenes but after that the sacred company of the Apostles vvas vvorne and come to an end that that generation vvas vvholy spent vvhich by special fauour had heard vvith their eares the heauenly vvisedome of the sonne of God â–ª then the detestable error of conspiracy through deceate of such as deliuered straung doctrine tooke rooting and because that not one of the Apostles suruiued they publish boldely vvith all might possible the doctrine of falsehoode and impugne the open manifest and knovvne trueth Thus of these thinges hath this Historiographer written Now to that which by order of history we are bound vnto CAP XXX How Traian caused to cease the inquisition for Christians SO greate a persecution was raysed agaynst vs in sundry places that Plinius secundus a notable President made relation thereof vnto the Emperour being very much moued with the number of martyrs which suffred death for the testimony of their fayth signifying withall that they committed no haynous offence that they transgressed no law sauing that they rose before day and celebrated Christ with hymnes as God forbidding adulteryes slaughter with such other like abominable factes conforming all thinges agreable vnto the lawes After which reporte it is written that Traian commaunded by edicte that the Christian nation shoulde not be enquired for but if happily they were founde they ought to be punished by which edicte the vehement heate of that greuous persecution was somewhat delayed yet neuerthelesse there was scope enough left for such as were willing to afflicte vs. so that in one place the people in an other place the Princes and rulers of the regions layde wayte for our men whereby seuerall persons suffred martyrdome in their prouinces and sundry of the faithful sundry kindes of death without open or manifest persecution which history we haue selected out of the latine Apollogye of Tertullian whereof we haue alleadged before by interpretation thus Although vve haue knovvne the inquisition directed for vs to be inhibited it vvas by reason of Plinius secundus President of the prouince vvhich hauing condemned some of the Christians and depriued some others of their dignities vvas moued vvith the greatnes of the multitude and doubted vvhat vvas best to be done he made the Emperour Traian priuy thereof saying that he founde nothinge in them that vvas impious but that they refused the vvorshippinge of Idoles signifyinge this vvithall that the maner of the Christians vvas to ryse before daye to celebrate Christe in Psalmes as God and to the ende their discipline might straitly be obserued to forbid shedding of bloude adultery fraude trayterous dealing such like for aunsvvere hereunto Traian vvrote againe that there shoulde be no inquisition for the Christians but if they vvere mett vvith to be punished And thus went the affayres of the Christians then CAP. XXXI Of Euarestus the fourth Bishop of Rome AMonge the Bishops of Rome when as the afore sayd Emperour had raigned three yeares Clemens committed the ministery vnto Euarestus and finished his mortall race when he had gouerned the Churche and preached the worde of God the space of ix yeares CAP. XXXII How after Symeon Iustus succeeded the thirde Bishop of Ierusalem and of the famous Bishops then liuing â–ª Polycarpus Papias Ignatius and his Epistles AFter Symeon had such an ende as before we haue reported a certayne Ievve called Iustus one of that infinite number which of the circumcision beleued in Christ was placed in the Bishops seae of Ierusalem And vnto that time Polycarpus a Disciple of the Apostles liued in Asia beinge placed Bishop of the Churche of Smyrna by suche as sawe the Lorde and ministred vnto him the same time florished Papias Bishop of Hierapolis a man passing eloquent expert in the Scriptures And Ignatius likewise vnto this daye amongest most men famous the seconde Bishop by succession after Peter of the Churche of Antioch the reporte goeth that this Ignatius was sent from Syria to Rome for the confession of his faith to be foode for wilde beastes who passing through Asia and curiously garded with a greate troope of keepers confirmed the congregations throughout euery citye where he came with preaching of the worde of God and wholsome exhortations and specially geuing charge to auoide the heresies lately sprong and at that time ouerflowing and to cleaue stedfastly vnto the traditions of the Apostles which for the auoyding of error and corruption he thought very necessary to be diligently written And being at Smyrna where Polycarpus was Bishop he wrote an epistle vnto the Church of Ephesus making mention of Onesimus their Pastor An other vnto the Church of Magnesia lying on the riuer Meander â–ª making mention of Dama their
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
Iulianus was chosen Bishop ouer the Churches of Alexandria after that Agrippinus had gouerned there twelue yeares There moderated there at that tyme the schole of the faythfull a famous learned man called Pantaenus for that of olde exercise and disputation in holy Scripture florished among them instituted as we are giuen to vnderstande by such men as excelled in eloquence and studye of holy Scripture it is written that amonge them which then liued this Pantaenus was in great estimation brought vp among the secte of Philosophers called Stoickes he is sayd to haue shewed such promptnes of a willing minde towards the publishing of the doctrine of Christ that he became a preacher of the Gospell vnto the Easterne Gentiles and was sent as farre as India there were I say there were then many Euangelistes prepared for this purpose to promote to plant the heauenly word with godly zeale after the guyse of the Apostles of these Pantaenus being one is sayd to haue come into India where he founde the Gospell of Matthewe written in the Hebrewe tongue kept of such as knewe Christ preached there before his comming by Bartholomewe one of the Apostles and as they reporte reserued there vnto this daye This Pantaenus then after he had done many notable thinges gouerned the Church of Alexandria where by rote and by writing he published much precious doctrine CAP. X. Of Clemens Alexandrinus TOgether also at that time was Clemens founde at Alexandria well exercised in holy Scripture of the same name with him which of old was byshop of Rome and disciple of the Apostles and namely in his bookes intitled Hypotyposeon he maketh mention of Pantaenus by the name of his master I suppose him to haue meante the same in his first booke intitled Stromatôn when he recited the moste renowmed and famous men of the Apostolicke succession whome he embraced saying If it be best to confesse the trueth this present taicte of mine is not made for any ostentation but for a monumente graffed in minde or rather a medicene to expell the forgetfulnes of mine olde age that it may be vnto me a simple resemblance or a sleyght kinde of portracture of those notable and liuely men vvhome sometimes I harde vvith mine eares of vvhich both sayinges and sainctes on vvas of Grece an Ionicke an other of great Grece one of Caelosyria an other of Aegypte some from the east vvhereof one vvas an Assyrian an other of Palaestina of the Hebrevve bloode he vvhich is last in order of name vvas the first in renovvned vertue I remained in Aegyptshiftinge out such thinges as lay in secrett vvheÌ„ I founde him these haue obserued the right tradition of true doctrine vvhich before they had receaued of Peter Iames Iohn Paul holy Apostles as a sonne of the father yet very fevve like theyr fathers God no doubt disposing that those fatherly Apostolicke seedes should by them be layed vp and reserued for vs. CAP. XI Of the byshopes of Ierusalem AT this time was Narcissus byshop of Ierusalem a man very famous the fifteeneth in succession from the ouerthrowe of the Ievves vnder Adrian from which time we haue signified before the Churche after the Ievves to haue bene gouerned by the Gentiles and the first byshop of them to haue bene Marcus next him was Cassianus after him Publius after Publius Maximus after Maximus Iulianus after Iulianus Caius after Caius Symachus after Symachus an other Caius after him an other Iulianus him succeeded Capito after him Valens after Valens Dolichianus after all Narcissus the thirtieth in succession from the Apostles CAP. XII Of Rhodon and the repugnancy which he founde in the heresie of Marcion ABout the same time florished one Rhodon an Asian sometime at Rome by his owne report the disciple of Tatianus who wrote many bookes and together with others impugned the heresie of Marcion he paynteth this heresie in his time to haue bene seuered into sundry sectes the Authors of which schisme and their false positions seuerally inuented he hath sharply and in fewe wordes reprehended heare him if you please writing thus VVherefore they varied among themselues coursing an vnconstant sentence of that crue vvas Apelles pretending a politicall kinde of conuersation and sadde grauitie confessing one beginning and saying that prophecyes are of a contrary spirite fully crediting the sentences and deuelishe doctrine of a mayde called Philumaena others some as the rouer Marcion haue layde dovvne tvvo beginninges of vvhich opinion are Pontinus and Basilicus these follovving Lycus of Pontus not perceauing the right distinction of thinges no more did he runne headelong out of the vvay and published barely and nakedly vvithout shevv or proofe of reason tvvo principall beginnings â–ª againe others some falling farre vvorse haue dreamed not onely of tvvo but of three natures vvhose author and ringeleader is Synerus by the report of them vvhich fauour his doctrine The same Rhodon writeth that he had conference with Apelles saying by reasoninge vvith this olde Apelles I tooke him vvith many falsehoodes vvhereupon he sayd that no man vvas to be examined of his doctrine but euery man to continevve quietly as he beleued he pronounced saluation for such as beleued in Christ crucified so that they vvere founde exercised in good vvorkes his doctrine of the God of all thinges vvas maruelous darke and obscure he confessed on beginning agreeable vvith our doctrine after he had layde downe his whole opinion he sayth VVhen I demaunded of him hovv prouest thou this hovve canst thou affirme that there is one beginning tell vs. he made ansvvere that he misliked vvith the prophecies them selues for that they vttered no trueth but varied among them selues that they vvere false and contrary to them selues hovv that there vvas one beginning he sayd He knevve not but yet he vvas so persvvaded aftervvards I charged him to tell me the trueth he svvare he sayd the trueth neither knevve he hovv there vvas one God vnbegotten yet beleued he the same I truly condemned him vvith laughter for that he called him self a doctor and coulde not confirme his doctrine In the same booke Rhodon speaking to Calliston confesseth him self at Rome to haue bene the disciple of Tatianus he reporteth that Tatianus wrote a booke of Problemes Wherefore when as Tatianus promised to sifte out the darke speaches and hidd mysteries of holy Scripture Rhodon promised also in a peculiar volume to publish the resolutions of his Problemes his commentaries vpon the six dayes vvorkes are at this day extant but Apelles wrote infinite tractes impiously agaynst the lawe of Moses reusâ—ing in most of them the holy Scriptures very paynfull and earnest in the reprehension and as he thought in the ouerthrowe of them of these thinges thus farre CAP. XIII Of the false prophets in Phrygia and foule schisme raysed at Rome by Florinus and Blastus THat sworne enemy of the Church of God hater of all honesty embracer of all spite malice omitting no
vvolfe from the sheepe I am no vvolfe I am the vvorde the spirite and povver but let him manifestly expresse that povver by the spirite and preuayle let him compell such men as then vvere present to trye and conferre vvith that talkatyue spirite namely these vvorthy men and Bishops Zoticus of Comanum and Iulian of Apamia to confesse the same vvhose mouthes vvhen the companions of Themison had stopped they suffered not the lying spirite and seducer of the people to be rebuked In the same booke after he had layde downe other thinges to the confutation of Maximilla his false prophecyes he declareth with all the tyme when he wrote and their prophecyes foreshewing warres and sedicions whose fonde fantasies he confuteth in this sorte And hovv can it othervvise fall out but that this be founde a manifest vntrueth and open falsehoode For novve it is more then thirtene yeares agoe since this vvoman dyed and yet in all this space hath there happened in this vvorlde neither ciuill neither generall vvarres but especially the Christians through the mercy of God haue had continuall peace Thus much out of the seconde booke out of the thirde booke we will alleadge a fewe lynes agaynst them which gloried that many of them were crowned with martyrdome for thus he writeth VVhen as they are in the premisses blanked confuted and voyde of arguments they flye for shift and refuge vnto martyrs reporting them selues to haue many affirming that to be a sure and a certayne proofe of the propheticall spirite raygning among them neither is this a most euident proofe as it appeareth for diuers other hereticall sectes haue many Martyrs vnto vvhome for all that vve neither condescende neither confesse that they haue the trueth among them And first for all the Mareionites affirme they haue many Martyrs vvhen as for all that their doctrine is not of Christ him self according vnto the trueth a litle after he sayth these that are called to their tryall and to testifie the true fayth by suffring of Martyrdome are of the Churche they communicate not vvith any of the Phrygian hereticall Martyrs but are seuered from them consenting no not in one iote vvith the fonde spirite of Montanus and his vvoman and that this vvhich I saye is moste true it shall euidently appeare by the examples of Caius and Alexander Martyrs of Eumenia vvho suffered in our tyme at Apamia situated vppon the ryuer Maeander CAP. XV. Of Miltiades and his workes IN the afore sayd booke this Apollinarius remembred the Commentaries of Miltiades who likewise wrote a booke against the foresayd heresie the wordes by him cyted were in this sort these things haue I briefly alleadged and found vvritten in some one of their commentaries vvhich confute the booke of Alcibiades vvhere he declareth that it is not the property of a Prophet to prophecye in a traunce a litle after he rehearseth the Prophets of the newe Testament among whome he numbreth one Ammias and Quadratus saying as followeth A false Prophet in a traunce vvhere licence and impunitie doe concurre beginneth vvith rashe ignoraunce endeth vvith furious rage and frensie of mind as it is sayd before of this sort in such traunce of spirite they shal be able to shevve vs non of the prophetes ether of the olde or of the nevve testament neyther shall they be able to glory of Agabus of Iudas of the daughters of Philip of Ammias the Philadelphian of Quadratus neither of any other vvhich may any thing auaile them Againe he wryteth If that as they say after Quadratus and Ammias the Philadelphian these vvomen of Montanus succeeded in the gift of prophecy lett them shevve vvho aftervvardes succeeded Montanus and his vvomen for the Apostle thinketh good that the gift of prophecie should raigne in euery Church euen vnto the ende but novve for the space of these fouretene yeares since Maximilla dyed they are able to shevve vs not one so farre he this Militiades whome he remembreth leaft vnto vs in wryting other monumentes of his laboure and industrie in the holy Scriptures aswell in the bookes he wrote agaynst the Gentiles as also in the books agaynst the Ievves satisfieng confuting in two books their seuerall argumentes and opinions afterwardes he wrote an Apologie of the Christian philosophie which he embraced vnto the potentates and princes of this world CAP. XVI Apollonius his iudgement of the same heresie TO be briefe this Phrygian heresie was confuted by Apollonius an ecclesiasticall writer who then I saye at that time florished in Phrygia he published a seuerall booke against it he refuted their prophecyes accompting them for vayne lyes he plainely opened and reuealed the conuersation of such as were principall and chief patrons of this heresie of Montanus he wrote in this manner But vvhat kinde of nevve Doctor this is his vvorkes and doctrine doe declare This is he vvhich taught the breakinge of vvedlocke this is he vvhich prescribed lavves of fastinge this is he vvhich called Pepuza and Timium peltinge parishes of Phrygia Ierusalem to the ende he might entice all men from euery vvhere to frequent thither this is he vvhich ordayned tolegatherers taxers of money â–ª this is he vvhich vnder pretense and colour of oblations hath conningely inuented the arte of bribinge this is he vvhich giueth greate hyre vnto the preachers of his doctrine that by feedinge of the panche his prophecies may preuaile Thus much of Montanus and immediatly of his Prophetisses he wryteth VVe haue shevved before these first prophetisses from the time they vvere filled vvith theyr false spirite to haue forsaken theyr husbandes hovve shamefully then do they lye calling Priscilla a virgin He addeth sayinge Doth not the-vvhole Scripture forbydde that a prophete shoulde receaue revvardes and money VVhen I see a prophetisse receaue golde and siluer and precious garmentes hovve can I chuse but detest her Agayne of an other he sayth And besides these Themison also inflammed vvith the burninge thurst of couetousnesse tasted not of the tarte conyzance of confession before the tyrant but shifted himself out of fetteres vvith much money And vvhen as therefore he shoulde haue humbled himselfe yet he all in braggery as if he vvere a martyr after the example of the Apostle vvrote a catholicke epistle very presumptuously to enstructe them vvhich beleued better then he did and to exhort them to striue for the nevve doctrine together vvith him and to reuile the Lorde and his Apostles and his holy Churche Againe speakinge of one of theyr highlye esteemed Martyrs he wryteth in this sorte And that vve trouble not our selues vvith many lett the prophetisse tell vs toutchinge Alexander vvho called himselfe a Martyre vvith vvhome she hathe banqueted vvhome also many doe adore vvhose theftes and other haynous crimes vvhich he suffred for I vvill not presently rehearse for they are publickely knovven and registered vvhose sinnes hathe he pardoned vvhether doth a prophete yeld thefte vnto a
things worthy of memory they reporte of this mans life whereof this is one certaine lewde varletts seeing the constancie vprightnesse of his life could not brook nether away with it fearing that if through his meanes they were attainted there was no other way but execution therefore they in conscience being priuey to infinite lewde practises preueÌ„t the same and charge him with a greuous accusation afterwards to perswade the hearers y â— sooner they confirme their accusatioÌ„s with othes y â— first swore if I lye let me be burned to ashes the seconde if I reporte not the trueth let my whole body be tormented and wasted away with some cruell disease The third if I beare false wittnesse let me be sâ—itten with blindnesse but for all their swering and staring not one of the faithfull beleued them the chastitie and vpright conuersation of Narcissus so preuailed among all men He tooke greuously theyr despitefull dealing and because that of olde he had bene of the Philosophicall secte he fledd and forsooke his Churche hidd himselfe priuely in the deserte and obscure places for the space of many yeares yet the great and watchfull eye that iustely auengeth woulde not permitt such as had maliciously practised this lewdnes to haue perfect rest but speedely and swiftely compassed them in theire owne crafte and wrapped them in the same curses if they lyed they had craued vnto themselues The first therefore without any circumstance at all in plaine dealinge had a smale sparcle of fire fallen in the night time vpon the house where he dwelt whereby he his house and his whole family by fire were consumed to ashes The seconde was taken with the same disease from toppe to toe which he had wished vnto himselfe before The thirde seeing the terrible ende of the two former and fearinge the ineuitable vengeance of God that iustely plagueth periured persons confesseth vnto all men they re compacted deceate and pretended mischiefe agaynst that holy man and wasteth awaye with sorowefull mourninge punisheth his body and pineth wyth teares so long till bothe his eyes ranne out of his heade and such were the punishmentes of false wittnesses and periured persons CAP. IX Of the succession of byshops in the Church of Ierusalem AFter the departure of Narcissus when it was not knowen where he remained the bishops of the borderinge and adioyninge Churches ordayned there an other byshop whose name was Dios whome after he had continewed but a smale space Germanion succeeded and after Germanion Gordius In whose time Narcissus shewed himselfe againe as if he had risen from death to life and is entreated of the brethren to enioye his byshopricke againe beinge much marueiled at for his departure for his philosophicall trade of life and especially for the vengeance and plagues God powred vpon his accusers and because that for his olde yeares and heuie age he was not able to supplie the rowne the deuine prouidence of God through a vision by night reuealed vnto him prouided Alexander byshop of an other prouince to be Narcissus his felowe helper in discharging the function due vnto the place CAP. X. Of Alexander byshop of Ierusalem and Asclepiades byshop of Antioche FOr this cause therefore as warned by a vision from aboue Alexander who afore was byshop of Cappadocia tooke his iorney to Ierusalem for prayer sake and visitinge of the places there whome they of Ierusalem receaue bountifully and suffer not to returne whome againe and that did they accordinge vnto the vision which appeared vnto them in the night and plainely pronounced vnto the chief of them charging them to hasten out of the gates of their city and receaue the byshop ordained of God for them this they did through thaduise of the bordering byshops constraining him of necessitie to remayne among them Alexander himselfe in his epistles at this day extant against the Antinoites maketh mention of this byshopricke in commen betwene him and Narcissus wryting thus about the later end of an epistle Narcissus greeteth you vvho gouerned this byshopricke before me and novve being of the age of a hundreth and sixtene yeares prayeth vvith me and that very carefully for the state of the church beseacheth you to be of one mind vvith me These thinges went then after this sorte when Serapion had departed this life Asclepiades was stalled bishop of Antioch and constantly endured the time of persecution Alexander remembreth his election writing to the church of Antioch after this maner Alexander the seruant of the Lord and the prisoner of Iesus Christ vnto the holy church of Antioch sendeth greeting in the Lorde The Lord eased lightened my fetters and imprisonment vvhen that I hearde Asclepiades a man vvell practised in holy Scripture by the prouidence of God for the vvorthines of his faith to haue bene placed bishop of your church This epistle he signifieth in the end to haue bene sent by Clemens This epistle I haue sent vnto you my Maysters and brethren by Clemens a godly minister a man both vertuous vvell knovven vvhome you haue seene and shall knovve vvho also being here present vvith me by the prouidence of God hath confirmed furthered the church of Christ CAP. XI Of the workes of Serapion byshop of Antioch IT is very like that sundry epistles of Serapion are reserued amonge others vnto our knoweledge onely such came as he wrote vnto one Domnus which renounced the fayth of Christ in the time of persecution and fell to Iewish Apostasie and vnto one Pontius and Caricus ecclesiasticall persons againe epistles vnto other men and also a certaine booke of the Gospell which they call after Peter wrytten to this end that he might confute the falsehoode specified in the same for that diuerse of the churche of Rosse went astray after false doctrine vnder coloure of the foresayd Scripture it shall seeme very expedient if we alleage a fewe lines out of it whereby his ceÌ„sure of that booke may appeare thus he wryteth VVe my brethren receaue Peter the other Apostles as messengers of Christ himselfe but their names being falsely forged vve plainely do reiect knovving vve receaued none such I truely remaining amongest you supposed you vvere all sounde and firme in the right fayth and vvhen I had not perused the booke published in Peters name entitled his Gospell I sayd if this be onely the cause of your grudginge and discoraging let it be redd but novve in so much I perceaue a certaine hereticall opinion to be thereby cloked and coloured by occasion of my vvordes I vvill hasten to come vnto you vvherefore my brethren expecte shortely my comming For vve knovve vvell inough the heresie of Marcianus vvho vvas founde contrary to himselfe he vnderstoode not that vvhich he spake as you may gather by the things vvhich vve vvrote vnto you vve might peraduenture our selues laye dovvne more skilfully the grounde of this opinion vnto his successors vvhome vve call coniecturers for
hath Porphyrius written in his third-booke agaynst the Christians truely reporting of this mans exercises and sundry kindes of knowledge but vntruely in that he sayde he should degenerate from the Gentiles For how can he pronounce the trueth when as he practiseth to write againste the Christians he sayeth that Ammonius from leading a good and a godly lyfe fell into heathenish idolatrie for the doctrine of Christ the which Origen receaued of his forefathers the same he retayned as we haue largely declared before And Ammonius also contrary to his reporte kept styll and retayned the sounde and vncorrupted philosophie of God euen vnto his laste ende as his commentaryes at this daye beare recorde whiche he lefte behinde him namely that famous worke entituled The agreement of Moses and Iesu and other tractes whatsoeuer other men haue founde written These thyngs are layde downe to the coÌ„mendation of Origen agaynst the sclaunderous mouthe of that despitefull man and of the greate skyll of Origen in the Grecians discipline and doctrine Toutchinge the whiche when he was reprehended of soâ—e for his studye therein he defended him selfe in a certaine epistle writinge after this manner CAP. XIX Howe Origen defended him selfe againste such as reprehended him for studying Philosophie Of his voyage into Arabia and Palaestina WHen that I studyed for the increase of knovvledge and that a rumor or fame vvas spredde abrode of the perfection of my learninge and doctrine heretickes and speciallie such as vvere profounde in philosophie and in the doctrine of the Gentils resorted vnto me vvherefore I thought good to searche out the selfe opinions of heretickes and vvhat soeuer myght be sayde out of philosophie for the confirmation of the trueth This haue I done firste of all after the example of Pantaenus vvho profited a greate manye before my tyme and had singular skyll and knovvledge therein secondly after the example of Heraclas novve a minister of the churche of Alexandria vvhome I founde vvith a professor of philosophie vvhiche vvas his mayster fyue yeares before I applyed my minde to the studie of theyr sciences VVho also in tymes paste vsed the common and vsuall attyre novve layinge that asyde he tooke the philosophers habite the vvhiche he retayneth as yet and ceaseth not vnto this daye vvith earnest labour industrie to reade ouer the philosophers bookes These thinges hath he written to the clearinge of him selfe for his studie in prophane writers When as at that tyme he continewed at Alexandria there came a certayne souldier from the gouernour of Arabia with letters vnto Demetrius Byshope of that seae and vnto him who then was Liuetenante of Aegypte requestinge them with all speede to sende Origen vnto him whiche myght communicate vnto him some parte of his doctrine Origen then beynge sente of them taketh his voyage into Arabia Not longe after when he had accomplished the cause of his iourney he returned into Alexandria In the meane whyle there was raysed such a sedition in the cytie and the warres were so hotte that there was no beynge for him there he lefte Alexandria and foreseeynge that he coulde be safe no where in all Aegypt he went into Palaestina and remayned at Caesarea where he was intreated by the byshopes of that prouince to dispute in the open churche and to expounde holie scripture beynge as yet not called to the ministerie Whiche thinge may euidently appeare by that whiche Alexander bishope of Ierusalem and Theoctistus bishope of Caesarea wrote in defence of the facte vnto Demetrius concerninge him after this manner he layde this downe in his letters that there was neuer suche practise hearde of that there coulde no where the like president be founde that laye men in presence of bishops haue taught in the churche VVe knovve not for vvhat cause he reporteth a manifest vntrueth vvheÌ„ as there may be found such as in opeÌ„ assemblies haue taught the people yea vvhen as there vvere present learned men that coulde profite the people and moreouer holie byshops at that tyme also exhortinge them to preache For example sake at Laranda Euelpis vvas requested of Neon at Iconium Paulinus vvas requested by Cellus at Synada Theodorus vvas requested by Atticus vvho vvere godly brethren It is like also that this vvas practised in other places though vnknovven to vs. Thus was Origen honored beynge a yonge man not onely of his acquaintance but of byshops that were straungers vnto him Afterwardes when Demetrius had called him whome by his letters and diuers Deacons of the churche had earnestly solicited his returne he taketh his voyage agayne into Alexandria and there diligently applyeth his accustomed maner of teachinge CAP. XX. Of the famous writers in Origens tyme and how the Emperours mother sent for him THere florished at that tyme many other learned and profounde ecclesiasticall persons whose epistles writing from one to an other are at this daye to be seene and found reserued in the librarie buylded at Jerusalem by Alexander who was bishope there at that tyme. from whence we haue compiled together the substance of this our present historie of this number Beryllus besides his epistles and commentariesâ— hath lefte vnto the posteritie sundrye monumentes of his sounde fayth for he was bishope of Bostra in Arabia Likewise Hippolytus bishope of an other place There came also into our handes the disputation of Gaius a notable learned man had at Rome in the tyme of Zephyrinus agaynste Proclus a patrone of the Phrygian heresâ—e â–ª in the which to the confutation of the temeritie and bolde enterprise of the contrarye parte in alleaginge of newe founde scriptures he maketh mention of therteene epistles of Sainct Paul not naming the epistle vnto the Hebrevves in the number For neither as yet of diuerse Romaines is that epistle thoughte to be Pauls When Antoninus had bene Emperour seuen yeares and sixe moneths Macrinus succeeded him in the empire And after that this Macrinus had departed this lyfe in the firste yeare of his raygne an other Antoninus tooke the imperiall scepter to rule ouer the Romaines in the first yeare of whose coronation Zephyrinus bishop of Rome dyed wheÌ„ he had gouerned the ecclesiasticall seae the space of eyghteene yeares whome Calâ—stus succeeded who continewing the space of fyue yeares lefte the churche to Vrbanus Agayne after that Antoninus had bene Emperour foure yeares full he dyed in whose rowme Alexander immediately folowed at what tyme Philetus succeeded Asclepiades in the churche of Antioche Then Mamâ—â— the Emperours mother a woman if there was then any suche in the worlde very godly and religious when the fame of Origen was spredde farre and nyghe enen vnto hir eares thought hir selfe a happie woman if she myght see him and â—eare his wisedome in holye scripture whiche all men wondered at Wherefore remayning at Antioche she sent of hir garde for him who also came and after that he had continewed there a while and published many thinges to
haue contayned them He vvrote also the reuelation beyng commaunded to conceale and not to vvrite the vvordes of the seuen thunders He left behinde him an epistle comprising very fev ve verses be it that the seconde and the thirde be annexed though some take them not for his In bothe vvhiche there are not an hundreth verses Moreouer of the epistle vnto the Hebrevves in his homelyes expoundinge the same he writeth thus The character of the epistle vnto the Hebrevves setteth not forth the style of Paul vvho confessed him selfe to be rude in speache for the phrase of that epistle sauoreth very muche of the Greeke tongue VVhosoeuer he be that hath any iudgement in discerninge of phrases vvyll confesse the same Agayne that the doctrine of this epistle is sounde not inferior to those epistles vvhiche vvithout contradiction are knovven to be the Apostles vvho so euer vvyll vvith iudgement reade the Apostle he vvyll also confesse the same to be most true A little after he sayeth thus I truely of myne ovvne parte if I maye speake vvhat I thinke do saye that the doctrine of this epistle is the Apostles for vndoubted but the phrase and style an other mans vvhich noted the sayinges of the Apostle and contriued such thinges as he had hearde of his maister into certayne scholyes VVherefore if any churche heretofore hath receaued the same as the epistle of Paul â—et her still embrace and receaue the same vnder this name For the learned men of olde haue not vvithout greate consideration deliuered the same vnto vs for the epistle of Paul But who wrote it God the onely trueth knoweth yet histories haue declared vnto vs that some thought it to haue bene written by Clemens bishop of Rome some by Luke who wrote both the Gospel and the Actes of the Apostles but of these thinges thus muche in this sorte CAP. XXV Origen professeth diuinitie at Caesarea Heraclas is chosen byshop of Alexandria IT was in the tenth yeare of the raygne of the aforesayde Emperour when Origen left Alexandria and gotte him to Caesarea when also he committed the office of catechizinge there vnto Heraclas In a while after Demetrius the bishop of Alexandria dyeth when he had continewed in the same rowme the space of three and fortie yeares him succeeded Heraclas There florished also at that same tyme Firmilianus byshop of Caesarea in Cappadocia CAP. XXVI Of the byshops that were Origens familier friendes THis Firmilianus so highly esteemed of Origen that one whyle he sent for him vnto his owne prouince to edifie his churches an other while he tooke his voyage vnto Iudaea vnto him where for a certayne space he continewed with him for farther vnderstandinge of the holy scriptures Besides him Alexander byshop of Ierusalem and Thâ—â—ctistus byshop of Caesarea continewally were of his side and embraced him permittinge vnto him alone as maister the interpretation of holy scripture with the rest of the ecclesiasticall function CAP. XXVII Of the persecution which Maximinus the Emperour raysâ—â— AFter that the Emperour Alexander had ended the raigne of therteene yeares Maximinus â—â—sar succeeded him who beyng iâ—censed with the anger spite â–ª and grudge he â—are vnto the house of Alexander whiche â—arhored many of the faythfull â–ª styâ—red 〈◊〉 the fyrye flame of pâ—rsecution and gaue commaundement that â—he gouernouâ—s â—nely of the churches as principal authors of the doctrine of our sauiour should be put to death â–ª â—â—t that â—â—mâ— Origen wrote a booke of Martyrs the which he dedicated vnto Ambrose and Protoctaetus minister of Caesarea for that both they suffered no small affliction in that troublesome tyme. When as also they had endured moste constantly examination and confession Maximinus him selfe continewinge Emperour no longer then three yeares Origen noted the tyme of this persecution both in the two and twentieth tract of his commentaries vpon Iohn and in sundry of his epistles When Gordianus had succeeded Maximinus in the empire of Rome Anterus also folowed Pontianus after he had gouerned sixe yeares in the bishops seae of Rome CAP. XXVIII Of the straunge election of Fabianus bishop of Rome of the succession of byshops at Antioche and Alexandria â–ª AFter that Anterus had enioyed the ecclesiasticall function the space of one moneth Fabianus succeeded him who as reporte goeth came from the contrey after the death of Anterus together with certaine others for to dwell at Rome When such a thinge as neuer was seene before at the election of a bishop happened then by the deuine and celestiall grace of God For when all the brethren had gathered them selues together for the election of a bishop â–ª many thought vpon diuers notable and famous men Fabianus him selfe there present together with others when as euery one thought least nay nothinge at all of him sodaynly from aboue there fell a Doâ—e and rested vpon his head after the example of the holy ghost which in likenesse of a Doue descended vpon our sauiourâ— the whole multitude beynge moued thereat with one and the same spirite of God cryed out cheerefully with one accorde that he was worthy of the bishopricke and immediately as they reporte he was taken and stalled bishop At that tyme when Zebinus bishop of Antioche had departed this lyfe Babylas came in place and at Alexandria when Heraclas the successor of Demetrius had finished his mortall race Dionysius one of Origens disciples supplyed the rowme CAP. XXIX Of Gregorius and Athynodorus disciples of Origen WHen Origen executed his accustomed maner of teachinge at Caesarea many flocked vnto his lessons not onely that contrey men but also infinite foraynerâ— who forsaking their natiue foyle became his disciples of whiche number as chiefe we haue knowen Theodorus he was the same Gregorius the moste renowmed byshop amonge vs and his brother Athynodorus he beynge moste studious in the Greeke and Romaine discipline so perswaded them that they embracinge the syncere loue of philosophie altered their former studies vnto the exercise and study of holy scripture And after that they had continewed with him the space of fiue yeares they profited so much in holy scripture that both beinge as yet yonge men they were ordayned byshops of certayne churches in Pontus CAP. XXX Of Aphricanus an ecclesiasticall writer and his bookes ABout that tyme also was Aphricanus renowmed and muche spoken of the author of thâ—se commentaries intituled of Cestes or vvedding gâ—rdels there is extant also an epistle of his vnto Origen to this effect that he doubted whether the historie of Susanna commonly redde in Daniel was true or fayned Whome Origen fully satisfâ—ed There came also to our handes of the same Aphricanus doynge fiue volumes of Cronicles curiously penned where he reporteth himselfe to haue trauailed vnto Alexandria because of the greate fame of Heraclas whome excellinge in philosophicall sciences and discipline of the Gentils we haue shewed before to haue bene
chosen byshop of Alexandria There is also of the same author an epistle vnto Aristides of the difference or disagreeinge in the Genealogie of Christ written by Mathewe and Luke where manifestly he proueth the consent and agreement of the Euangelistes out of a certaine historie which came to his handes whereof in his proper place that is in the firste booke of this present historie we haue made mention before CAP. XXXI VVhen and where Origen wrote vpon the Prophets ABout this tyme Origen published commentaries vpon Esaye afterwardes vpon Ezechiel of the whiche vpon the thirde parte of the Prophete Esaye vnto the vision of the fourefooted beastes in the wyldernesse there came vnto our handes thirtye tomes and vpon the Prophet Ezechiel in the whole fiue and tvventie the whiche he wrote beyng at Athens He beganne to comment vpon the Canticles so that therevpon he finished fiue bookes and afterwards returninge from Caesarea he made them out tenne bookes What neede we presently to recite an exacte catalogue of his workes for it requireth a seuerall volume when as we haue runne them ouer in the lyfe of Pamphilus who suffered martyrdome in our tyme. where we commendinge the lyfe of Pamphilus his earnest and greate studie haue made catalogues and indexes for the librarie whiche he buylded gatheringe together both the workes of Origen and also of other ecclesiasticall writers â—here if any man be so disposed he shall readily finde all the perfect volumes of Origen as many as came to our knowledge Nowe let vs proceede on further to the discourse of that whiche followeth in this present historie CAP. XXXII Origen reduceth Beryllus into the ryght waye who aforetyme sauored not a ryght of the deuine nature in Christ. BEryllus byshop of Bostra in Arabia of whome we haue spoken a little before went about to establyshe forrayne and straunge doctrine from the fayth to the ouerthrowe of the ecclesiasticall canon he was not afrayde to saye that our Lorde and sauiour before his incarnation had no beynge accordinge vnto the circumscription of a proper and seuered substance neither had a proper but onely his fathers diuinitie dwellinge in himselfe When as by reason of this matter many byshops had dealt with him by conference and disputation Origen also amongest others was sent for who conferred with him at the fyrste to vnderstande the grounde of his opinion whiche beynge vnderstoode and perceauinge him not to beleeue aryght rebuked him perswaded him with reasons conuinced him with manifest proofe restrayned him with true doctrine and restored him agayne to his former sounde opinion The actes of Beryllus the synodes summoned for his sake the questions moued by Origen vnto him the disputations helde in his owne congregation with all the other circumstances thereunto appertayninge are at this daye extant and many mo infinite things haue our elders remembred of Origen all which I passe ouer as impertinent to this present purpose Such thinges as concerne him and are necessarie to be knoweÌ„ may be gathered out of the Apollogy the which we wrote in his behalfe together with Pamphilus Martyr a man that florished in our tyme against contentious quarellers CAP. XXXIII Of Philip a Christian Emperour and his humilitie WHen Gordianus had bene Emperour of Rome sixe yeares Philip together with his sonne Philip succeeded him of this man it is reported that he beinge a Christian and desirous vpon the last day of the Easter vigils to be partaker and ioyned with the multitude in their ecclesiasticall prayers coulde not be admitted before he had firste rendred an accompt of his faith coupled him selfe with them which for their sinnes were examined and placed in the rowme of penitents otherwise he shoulde not be addmitted because that in many thinges he was fautye which Emperour willingly obeyed and declared by his workes his syncere and religious minde towards God CAP. XXXIIII Dionysius succeeded Heraclas at Alexandria IT was the thirde yeare of the raygne of Philip and the sixteenth yearâ— of Heraclas Bishop of Alexandria when Dionysius succeeded him in the Bishops seae CAP. XXXV VVhat time Origen sett his scriueners â—mâ—rke and when his other workes were written ABout that tyme fayth as it was very requisite taking roote and the Gospell freely preached throughout the world Origen as they reporte aboue threescore yeare old being much worne and wasted by reason of his longe studie and painfull exercise now at length firste permitted and not before that those things which he had publiquely preached and disputed should by notaries be coppied out Then wrote he agaynst the booke of Cellus the Epicure intitled the vvorde of trueth eyght bookes after them fiue and tvventy tracts vpon the Gospel after Matthewe and others vppon the tvvelue Prophets whereof we haue founde fiue and tvventy in the whole there is extant an epistle of his vnto the Emperour Philip and an other vnto his vvife the Empresse Seuera with sundry others vnto other men of the which as many as we coulde finde being scattered here and there which exceeded the number of a hundred we haue collected and comprised in seuerall volumes to the ende they should no more be dispersed He wrote also to Fabianus Bishop of Rome and to sundry other Bishops and gouernours of Churches of his sounde opinions and doctrine the specialities thereof thou maist see in the sixt booke of our Apollogie written in his behalfe CAP. XXXVI Origen confuted the Arabians which taught that the soules were mortall THere rose certayne at that time in Arabia which were authors of pernicious doctrine they taught that in this present life the soules dyed and perished together with the bodye and that in the generall resurrection they rose together and were restored to life agayne A great synode was summoned together for this cause so that agayne Origen was sent for who publikely so discoursed and disputed of this question that he purged withdrewe their seduced minds from this foule error CAP. XXXVII Origen openeth and confuteth the heresie of the Helcesaits THen also sprange vp the poysonâ—d opinion namely the heresie of the Helcesaitae whiche was no sooner risen but it was rooted out Origen made mention thereof expounding in the open audience of the congregation the fourescore and seconde Psalme where he sayth thus In these our dayes stept forthe one vvhich faced out that he vvas able to auoutche the most detestable opinion called the heresie of the Helcesaitae lately sovven in the Churche â–ª vvhat cancred poyson is contayned in this opinion I vvill tell you lest that ye also be deceaued This heresie disalovveth of some of the holy Scripture vvholy agayne allovveth of some other both in the olde and nevv testament This heresie denieth Paul vvholy This heresie counteth it an indifferent thing if thou deny or not deny vvith thy mouth in the time of persecution so that thou persist faithfull in thine hearte They vse a certayne booke vvhich as
he left Alexandria and gott him to Iudaea being come to Ierusalem well knoweÌ„ for his learned expositions gift of vtteraÌ„ce he was entreated of the priests to bestowe a sermon vpon the people in the church open assembly for he was then a minister after great entreaty in manner constrayned by the priests he â—ofe vp tooke the bible opened it happened vpoÌ„ this parcell of Scripture vnto the vngodly said God why dost thou preach my lawes takest my couenaunt in thy mouth when he had thus read he clasped the booke fare downe and burst out into teares together with all the audience which wept with him he liued vnto the time of Gallus and Volusianus that is vntill he was threscore and nine yeare olde he resteth at Tyrus where he is also buried So farre Suydas The translator vnto the reader I Haue thought good also heâ—râ— to laye downe his lamention the which Origen himselfe 〈…〉 Greeke tongue with his owne hand when as after his faule and the deniall of his Mayster Christ Iesus he wandred to aâ—â—â—â—oe with great greefe and torment of conscience the which Saynct 〈◊〉 â—râ—nlated into latine and is founde extant amonge the workes of Origen â–ª he lamented as foloweth The lamention of Origen In the bitter afliction and griefe of minde I goe about to speake vnto them vvhich herafter shal reade me thus confusely vvithout order furiously disposed to sit vpon the tribunal seate of Christ together vvith the saincts in heauen hovv can I speake vvhen as the tongue is tied the lipps dare not once moue or vvagg the tongue doth not his office the throte is dammed vâ— all the senses and instruments are polluted vvith iniquitie â–ª but I vvill procede on â–ª and first I vâ—â—l faule to the ground on my bare knees and make myne humble supplicatioÌ„ vnto all the sainctes and blessed of God â–ª that they vvill helpe me seely vvretche vvhich dare not by reason of the superfluytie of my sinne craue ought at the handes of God O ye sayncts and blessed of God vvith vvatrishe eyes and vvetâ— cheekes soken in dolor and payne I beseeche you to faule dovvne before the mercy seate of God for me miserable sinner VVo is me because of the sorovv of my harte vvo is me that my soule is thus aflictedâ—â— vvo is me that am compassed thus on euery side and shutt vp in my sinne and that there is no health in me vvo is me o Mother that euer thou broughtest me forth for a skilfull lavvyer to be ouerthrovven in his vnrighteous dealinge â–ª for a religious man to faule into extreme impietie â–ª vvo is me o Mother vvhich broughtest me forth a righteous man to be coÌ„uersant in vnrighteousnes â–ª â—n heire of the kingdom of God but novv an inheritor of the kingdom of the deuell a perfect man yet a priest found vvallovving in impiety a man beautified vvith honor and dignities yet in the ende blemished vvith shame and ignominie a man besett vvith many euells and choked vp vvith infamous doinges vvo is me o Mother vvhich broughtest me forth as an highe and a lofty turrett yet suddenly turned dovvne to the grounde as a fruitefull tree yet quickely vvithered as a burninge light yet forthvvith darned as a runninge fountayne yet by and by driyed vp VVo is me that euer I vvas bedecked vvith all giftes and graces and novve seeme pitifully depriued of all But vvho vvill minister moysture vnto the temples of my heade and vvho vvill geue streames of teares vnto myne eyes that I may bevvayle my selfe in this my sorovvfull plight A lasse o priesthoode hovve shall I bevvayle thee A lasse o mynistery hovve shall I lament thee O all you my friendes tender my case pitie my person in that I am daungerously vvounded pitie me o all ye my friendes in that I am novve become an abiect person pitie me o ye my friendes in that I am novve vvith sorovve come to nought pitie me o ye my friendes in that I haue novve troden vnder foote the seale and conyâ—ance of my profession and ioyned in league vvith the deuell pitie me o ye my friendes in that I am reiected and cast avvaye from the face of God it is for my levvde life that I am thus polluted and noted vvith open shame Bevvayle me vvhome the Angells haue bevvayled bevvayle me vvhome all the saynctes haue bevvayled bevvaile me vvhome euery man hath bevvayled bevvayle me o all ye the nations vnder heauen in that I am fallen from my glorie the Lorde made and ingraffed me a frutefull vine but insteede of pleasaunt clustered grappes I brought forth prickinge thornes bevvayle me also for that in steede of grapes I brought forth brambles â–ª but let the vvellspringes of teares be stirred vp and lett my cheekes be vvatered let them flovve vpon the earth and moysten it for that I am soken in sinne and borne in my inquities I see my priesthoode lament ouer me I see all ioy sorovvinge ouer me I see the spider ouer my seate buyldinge vvith cobvveb I see and beholde my selfe all sorovvfull and pensiue euery creature sorovveth at my case for that I vvas vvonte heretofore to poure out prayses vnto God for them all Alasse vvhat haue I felt and hovve am I fallen Alasse hovve am I thus come to nought there is no sorovve comparable to my sorovve there is no afliction that exceadeth my afliction there is no bitternes that passeth my bitternes there is no lamentation more lamentable then mine nether is there sinne greater then my sinne and there is no salue for me VVhere is that good shepherd of the soules VVhere is he that vvent dovvne from Ierusalem to Iericho vvhich also salued and cured him that vvas vvounded of the theeues seke me out o Lorde vvhich am fallen from the higher Ierusalem vvhich haue broken the vovve I made in baptisme vvhich haue profaned my conyâ—ance in that I dealt iniuriously vvith thy blessed name Alasse that euer I vvas doctor and novve occupie not the rovvme of a disciple Thou knovvest o Lorde that I fell agaynst my vvill vvhen as I vvent about to lighten others I darkened my selfe vvhen I endeuored to bringe others â–ª from death to life I brought my selfe from life to deathe vvhen I mynded to â–ª presente others before God I presented my selfe before the deuell VVhen I desired to be founde a friende and a fauorer of godlynes I vvas founde a foe and a furtherer of iniquitie vvhen that I sett my selfe agaynst the assemblyes of the vvicked and reproued theyr doinges there founde I shame and the moste pestilent vvounde of the deuell vvhen that I vvas ignorant and vnskilfull in the diuerous slayghtes of striuers vvhich commonly entrappe men I allured and exhorted them to the knovveledge of the Sonne of God vvherefore after muche siftinge â–ª they promised me vnhappie man crafty conueyances to auoyde the subtletye of Satan But after that I departed from them the
ende ye like vvise might receaue from him againe letters of friendly coÌ„sent amitie novv let Paulus vvrite to Artemas let the coÌ„plices of Artemas coÌ„municate vvith him But of these things thus farre Paulus together with his right faith was depriued also of his bishoprike Domnus as it is written before succeeded him being chosen by the synode bishop of Antioch wheÌ„ Paulus would not depart the church neither voyde the house the emperour Aurelianus being besought decreed very well coÌ„mauÌ„ded by ediâ—â— â–ª the house should be allotted for such as y â— bishops of Italic Rome with vniforme coÌ„seut in doctrine â–ª appointed for the place After this sort was Paulus with greate shame vanished y â— church by secular power thus was Aurelianus theÌ„ affected towards vs but in processe of time he so eâ—â—raunged him selfe that welnygh through the lewde motion of some men he moued persecution against vs much talke was blased farre nygh toutching him but wheÌ„ he had raysed persecution against vs now welnygh subscribed to a publicke edict preiudicial to our affaires the iust iudgement of God ouertooke him hindred his purpose craÌ„ping as it were his knuckles making manifest vnto all men that the princes of this world haue neuer any power to practise ought against the church of God vnlesse the inuincible myght of God for discipline conuersion of his people according vnto his deuine celestiall wisdome graunt pardon or licence to bring any thing about in what time it shall please him best When Aurelianus had held the imperiall scepter the space of sixe yeares Probus succeeded him And agayne after sixe yeares Carus came in his place together with Carinus and Nâ—â—erianus his sonnes Againe when these had continewed scarse three yeares Diocletianus was chosen emperour and by his meanes they were promoted vnder whome persecution and the ouerthrow of the churches preuayled a little before the raygne of this Diocletâ—â—â— Diâ—â—yâ—â—â—s byshop of Rome dyed when he had gouerned the church nyne yeares whome Feliâ— succeeded CAP. XXX Of Manes whereof the Maniches are called whence he was his conuersation and heresie ABout that tyme Manes after the etymologie of his name in no better taking than a 〈…〉 man was in armour and instructed in a deuelishe opinion through the peruersitie of his minde the deuell and satan the aduersariâ— of God leading and procuring him to the perdition of many soules He was in tongue and trade of life very barbarous by nature possessed and frenticke he practised things correspoÌ„dent vnto his witte and maners he presâ—â—â—ed to represent the person of Christ he proclaimed him selfe to be the comforter and the holy ghost and beynge puffed vp with this frenticke pride chose as if he were Christ twelue partners of his new found doctrine patching into one heape false and detestable doctrine of olde rotten and roâ—ted out heresies the which he brought out of Persia for no other then deadly poyson into the world whâ—â—â— that abhominable name of the Maniches hath had his originall CAP. XXXI Of the bishops ministers and other famous men florishing at that tyme in the churches of Rome Antioch and Laodicea SVch a fained name of false science sprong vp in those tymes in the which after Felix had gouerned the churche of Rome fiue yeares Eutychianus succeeded who continewinge seares tenne moneths committed his cleargie vnto Gaius in this our time and fyfteene yeares after Marcellinus followed whome also the persecution ouertooke In the churche of Antioch after Domnus succeeded Timaeus after him in our tyme Cyrillus was chosen bishop vnder whome we remeÌ„ber one Dorotheus then minister of the churche of Antioch to haue bene a very eloquent and singuler man he applyed holy scripture diligently he studied the Hebrewe tongue so that he read with great skill the holy scriptures in Hebrewe This man came of a noble race he was expert in the chiefe discipline of the Grecians by nature an eunuch so disposed from his natiuitie for which cause the emperour for rarenesse therof appropriated him placing preferringe him to the purple robe in the citie of Tyrus we hearde him our selues expounding holy scripture with great coÌ„mendation in the churche of God Tyrannus succeeded Cyrillus in the churche of Antloch in whose tyme the spoile of churches was very ryfe Eusebius whiche came from Alexandria gouerned the church of Laodicea after Socrates The sturre about Paulus Samosatenus was the cause of his remouing for whose sake he weÌ„t into Syria where of the godly he was hindred that he coulde not returne home againe because he was the desired Jewell hoped staye of our religion as by the testimonie of Dionysius hereafter alleaged shall manifestly appeare Anatolius succeeded him the good as they say after the good who also was of Alexandria for his eloquence and skill in the Grecians discipline and philosophicall literature he bare the bell among all the famous of our time he excelled in Arithmeticke Geometric Astronomie Logicke physical coÌ„templatioÌ„ and rhetoricall exercises for whiche his excellencie he was chosen moderator of Aristotels schoole by the cytizens of Alexandria They report at AlexaÌ„dria many other famous acts of his specially his behauiour at the slege of Pyruchium â–ª where he obâ—â—yneâ— a singuler prerogatiue of principalitie of whose doings one thing for example sake I will rehearse When vittaile as they say fayled such as were vesieged and famine pressed them sorer then foraine enemies this same Anatolius brought this deuise to passe whereas the one part of the citie helde with the Romaine hoast and therfore out of the daunger of the slege he gaue information to Eusebius who then was at Alexandria it was before his departure into Syria and conuersant amonge them which were not besieged in great estimation and credite with the Romaine captaine howe that such as were besieged almost perished for famine he beinge made priuie to their miserie by the messengers of Anatolius craued pardon of the Romaine captaine for such as left forsooke the enemie â–ª which sute when he had obtained he communicated with Anatolius he forthwith accepting of his promise assembleth together y â— senate of Alexandria first requesteth of theÌ„ all that they will ioyne in league with the Romaines when he sawe them all sett in a rage at this his request be sayd but yet in this I suppose you will not resist if I councell you to permitt such as stand you in no stede as olde men and olde women and children to depart the cytie to repaire whither please them for to what purpose do we retaine these among vs nowe ready to yelde vp the ghost to what purpose do we presse with famine such as are maymed and wounded in bodie when as men onely and yonge men are to be releaued and retayned and prouision of necessary foode is to be founde for them which keepe the citie with contine wall watch and warde when he
mention of that which Eusebius wrote cap. 14 and cap. 30. he maketh mention of that which Eusebius wrote cap. 2. as wrytten by himselfe therefore it is like Eusebius wrote this fragmente The sixt reason that moueth me to annexe this as parte of the booke is the shortenes of the booke for if we end at the 18. chapiter where the fragmente beginneth the booke may seeme to be no booke but rather an entrance or beginning of a booke Eusebius in the beginning of this 8. booke cap. 2. promised to wryte of martyrs thinkest thou Gentle reader that he woulde be so briefe and make so short a treatise where occasion was ministred to wryte not one booke onely but rather 3. bookes if he were disposed omitting nothing as he promised li. 1. ca. 1. touching the martyrs of his time to write of all the martyr doms suffred vnder Diocletian Maximinian and Maximinus Last of all this fragment endeth in very good order He promiseth to discourse of Maximinus the tyrantes recantation the which Eusebius performeth in the booke followinge For looke howe the. 8. booke endeth with the same the. 9. beginneth Therefore Eusebius was the author of this fragment CAP. XIX Howe the. 4. emperours Diocletian Maximinian Maximinus Constantius ended their liues THe author of this former edict not long after his foresayd coÌ„fession being rid of that his lamentable plight departed this life He is reported to haue bene the chiefe autor of the cala mity which befell vnto the christians during the time of persecution a good while agoe before y â— whurly burly raised by the rest of the emperours to haue gone about to peruert the christians which liued in warefare but aboue all such as were of his owne familye to haue depriued some of their martiall dignity renowne to haue encreated some others reprochefully without al shame Moreouer to haue persecuted some of them to the death and last of all to haue prouoked y â— other his fellowe emperours to persecute all christendome the ends of which emperours if that I passed ouer with silence I shoulde greatly offende The empire being deuided into foure parts foure seuerall princes bearing rule they two which were first proclaimed emperours and prefer red in honor before the rest hauing not raigned fully two yeares after the persecution deposed theÌ„ selues as we haue sayd before led thence forth the rest of their liues priuatly after y â— vulgare sorte of men hauing such an end as followeth the first hauing gotten y â— chief honor due to y â— imperiall scepter primate by creation after long great greuous disseases consumed wasted away by a litle a litle so died The seconde secondarily ruling the empire being priuey in consciâ—ce to many his lewd mischiuous practises committed in his life time hanged himselfe by the procuremeÌ„t of a wicked spirite which ledd him thereunto The later of them two which immediatly succeeded these whome we haue termed y â— author ringleader of y â— who le persecution suffred such tormeÌ„ts as we haue meÌ„tioned before CoÌ„stantius who weÌ„t before him by vertue of his prerogatiue in y â— imperiall dignity being a most mild curteous emperour as I sayd before led a worthy life during his whole raigne not onely because y t in other things he behaued himself most curteously most liberally towards al meÌ„ but also in y â— be was no partener w t y â— enemy in the persecutioÌ„ raysed against vs nay rather he maintained preserued such as were of y â— godly vnder his dominioÌ„ he neither rifled neither destroied the holy churches neither practised any other mischief preiudiciall to the christian affairs he obtained an end both blessed thrise happy he alone in his kingdome to y â— comfort of his naturall sonne successor in the empire a prince in all things both most sage religious enioyed a noble a glorious death His sonne forthwith entring into his raygne was by the soldiers proclaimed chief emperour Augustus who imitated that diligently his fathers stepps as a paterne of piety to the embracing of christian religion such an end at seuerall times had the aforesayd foure emperours of y â— which he alone mentioned a litle before together with others his emperiall associats published vnto the whole world by his writteÌ„ edict the aforesayd confession CAP. XX. Of the martyrs in Palastina IT was the ninetenth yeare of Diocletians raigne and the moneth Zanthicus the which the Romaynes call Aprill the feast of Easter theÌ„ drawing nigh Flauianus being gouerner of Palaestina wheÌ„ the emperours edicts were euery where proclaimed in y t which it was commaunded y t the churches should be destroyed that the holy scriptures should be burned y t such as were of creditt should be contemned y t such as led a priuate life if they retayned the christian professioÌ„ should be depriued of their freedome such were the contents of the first Edict but in the proclamation which immediatly folowed after it was added y t the pastors throughout all congregations should first be imprisoned next withall meanes possible constrained to sacrifice to be short the first of the martyrs in Palaestina was Procopius who before he had bene any while imprisoned stepping forth at the first iumpe before the tribunall seat of the presidents being commaunded to doe sacrifice vnto their gods made answere that to his knowledge there was but one only God to whom as y â— selfe same God had coÌ„maunded he was bound of duely to sacrifice And when as they commauÌ„ded him to offer sacrifice for y â— prosperous state of the foure emperours he recited a certaine verse out of a poet which pleased theÌ„ not for the which immediatly he was beheaded the verse was this Not many Lordes auayle vs here let one beare rule and raygne This was y e first spectacle exhibited at Caesarea in Palaestina the eight day of the moneth Desius before the seuenth of the Ides of Iune called of the Romaynes the. 4. day of the sabaoth After him there suffred many of the inhabiters of the same citie of the chief gouernours of y â— ecclesiasticall affayrs who endured that cherefully most vitter torments gaue the aduenture of most valiaÌ„t enterprises other some fainting for feare were quite discouraged at the first all the rest tried the experience of sundry torments one scurged from top toe an other wrested vntil y â— his ribbs brake a sunder in the squising bonds by reason whereof it fell out that some had their hands strooke of thus together they enioyed such an end as befell vnto them according vnto the secret wisedome iudgement of God one was led by the hand lugged to the altar his hands violeÌ„t stretched to toutch their detestable sacrifices in the end let go for a sacrificer an other when y â— he had neither approched neither toutched such
then craftely crept in to be Bishop of Nicomedia a city of Bithynia claue fast vnto him which thinges when Alexander had both hearde and seene done with his eyes was very much moued thereat and summoning together a counsell of many Bishops he depriueth Arius and such as fauored his opinion of the priestly order and wrote vnto the seuerall Bishops throughout the cities in this maner The epistle of Alexander Bishop of Alexandria TO the welbeloued and most reuerend brethren fellow ministers with vs throughout the churches whersoeuer In so much as we are commaunded by holy Scripture to retaine the bonde of vnity peace it is requisite that we vvrite signifie one to another the things that seuerally happen among vs to the ende that if one suffer or one reioyce vve all may suffer together or reioyce together Novv in our church there are risen certaine men vvhich transgresse the lawes which impugne Christ which leade men into Apostasie whome a man may rightly suppose iustly terme the forrunners of Antichrist I was disposed truely to be silent and not to blason at all so haynous an offence if peraduenture by any meanes possibly this blemish might haue bene wiped away from among them which alone fel from the church lest that straying abrode into straung places it might infect vvith the filth therof the eares of simple seely soules but in as much as Eusebius novv Bishop of Nicomedia supposing the vvhole state of the church to be vnder his iurisdiction and seeing vvith him selfe that he is to be charged of none for leauing the Churche of Berytus and for that he greedily gaped after the Churche of Nicomedia and in that he is become the patrone and ringleader of these Apostatas going about to publish letters into all prouinces highly extolling them that he may plung certayne of the ignorant sort into an extreame pestilent heresie altogether contrary to Christ him selfe I thinke it necessary seeing the like is vvritten in some parte of the lavve no longer to be silent but to declare vnto you all the vvhole matter vvhereby ye may not onely knovve them vvhiche fell from the trueth but also their derestable doctrine and the circumstance of their heresie and also if peraduenture Eusebius doe vvrite vnto you that you geue no eare vnto him for he hauing concealed for a season his olde festred corruption of minde and novve disposed to renevve the same fayneth to further their cause by his epistels but in very deede he shevveth plainly that these his practises be directed to the furtherance of his ovvne cause such as fell from the Church vvere these Arius Achillas Aeithales Câ—rpônes a seconde Arius Sarmates Euzoius Lucius Iulianus Menas Helladius Gaius and together vvith them also Secâ—ndus Theonas vvhich sometime vvere called Bishops the things vvhich they published abroade contrary to holy Scripture were such that God vvas not alvvayes a father but that there vvas sometime vvhen he vvas no father and that the vvorde of God vvas not from euerlasting but had his beginning of nothing For that God vvhich is made him vvhich vvas not of that vvhich is not for vvhich cause there vvas a tyme vvhen he vvas not that the sonne vvas a creature and made neyther like vnto the father in substance neyther the true vvorde of the father by nature neyther his true vvisedome but made metaphorically the worde and the vvisedome the same to be made by the proper worde of God and by the wisedome which is in God in the which God made all thinges and him toe for vvhich cause he is of a changeable and diuerous nature as all other reasonable creatures be that the vvorde is straung diuerous and seuered from the vvisedome of God that the father can not be expressed by the sonne that the sonne knovveth not the father fully neyther absolutely neyther can perfectly discerne him and that the sonne perceaueth not the substance of the father as he is but that he was made for our sakes that God by him as by an instrument might create vs and that he had not bene had not God bene moued to create vs. One at that tyme demaunded of them vvhether the vvorde of God coulde be chaunged as the deuill vvas chaunged and they vvere not afrayd to ansvvere yea it may be for that he is of a chauÌ„geable nature and begotten he is mutable Arius therefore and his adherents vvhiche vttered these thinges and impudently auoutched them together vvith all such as fauour the like fonde opinions VVe together vvith other Bishops of Aegypt and Libya in number vvelâ—â—ghe a hundred meeting for the same purpose haue pronounced to be helde of all men for accursed Eusebius and his adherents endeuer to mingle falsehoode with the trueth pietye with impietye but they shall not preuaile for trueth getteth the victory light hath no fellowship with darknes no agreement betwene Christ Belial who euer hearde of the like practises who presently if he heard the like woulde not wonder as at straung thinges and stoppe his eares lest the dregges of so detestable a doctrine should annoy the sense of hearing what man hearing Iohn affirming in the beginning was the worde will not forthwith condemne these which say there was a tyme when he was not or who is it when he heareth in the Gospell the onely begotten sonne and by him were all thinges made that vvill not detest these vvhich affirme that the sonne is one of the creatures and hovve can he resemble the thinges vvhiche vvere made by him or hovve can the onely begotten as their opinion is be numbred vvith all other liuing creatures or hovve is he made of nothinge vvhen the father sayeth My harte hath endited a good matter and Before the morning in the wombe haue I begotten thee Or hovve is he in substance different from the father being the Perfect image and brightnes of the Father and vvhen as he him selfe sayeth He that hath seene me hath seene also the Father or hovve can it be if the onely sonne of God be the vvorde and the vvisedome that there vvas a tyme vvhen that he vvas not it is as if a man shoulde saye God sometyme vvanted both vvorde and vvisedome or hovve is he chaungeable and mutable vvhen as he reporteth of him selfe I am in the Father and the Father is in me also I and the Father be both one and by the Prophet Malachyâ— also Consider me that I am God and am not chaunged and althoughe this saying may be referred vnto the Father him selfe yet presently it is applyed more aptely vnto the sonne for in that he was borne and become man he is not chaunged at all but as the Apostle vvriteth Iesus Christ yester nyght and toe daye and he is the same for euer VVhat therefore ledd them I beâ—eache you vnto so erroneous and detestable an opinion for to saye he vvas made for vs vvhen as the Apostle vvriteth For of him
the substance of the father God of God light of light very God of very God begotteÌ„ not made being of one substaÌ„ce with the father by whome all things were made both the things in heaueÌ„ the things in earth who for vs men for our saluation came downe was incarnate he was made man he suffred rose the third day he ascended into the heauens he shall come to iudge both the quicke the dead And we beleue in the holy Ghost Therefore they which say that there was a time when he was not before he was begotten or that he had his beginninge of nothinge or that he is of an other substaÌ„ce or esseÌ„ce or that affirme the sonne of God to be made or to be coÌ„uertible or mutable these the Catholicke Apostolicke church of God doth pronounce for accursed â–ª wheÌ„ they had prescribed this forme of faith we ceased not diligeÌ„tly to demaund of theÌ„ how they vnderstoode that senteÌ„ce To be of the substaÌ„ce of the father that to be of one substance with the father wherevpoÌ„ there rose obiectioÌ„s resolutioÌ„s so that the right seÌ„se of the foresayd senteÌ„ces was curiously sought out They sayd that to be Of one substaÌ„ce signified nothing else theÌ„ to be of the father yet not to be as a part of the father This seemed vnto vs very well to agree with the expositioÌ„ of that blessed doctrine which teacheth the sonne to be of the father yet not to be part of his substaÌ„ce VVherefore vve accorded vvith this sentence neither reiected vve the clause Of one substance because that peace vvas placed before our eyes as a marke to beholde and moreouer vve had speciall care not to fall from the faith In like maner vve approued Begotten not made For Made they counted a common vvorde vvith other creatures vvhich vvere made by the sonne that the sonne had nothinge in him vvhich resembled or vvas like vnto them and for that cause he vvas not a creature like vnto those vvhich vvere made by him but of a farr more excelleÌ„t substaÌ„ce theÌ„ any creature is framed the which holy scripture declareth to be begotteÌ„ of the father inasmuch as no mortall nature can either by vvord expresse or by thought comprehende or attaine vnto the maner of his generation In like sort also that clause The sonne to be of one substance with the father vvas sifted and allovved to be vnderstode after no corporall maner neither to haue any likelihoode vvith mortall liuing things neither to be by diuision of substance neither by section or parting asunder neither by mutation of the fathers essence and povver that the vnbegotten nature of the father vvas farre from al these thinges And that To be of one substance vvith the father signified no other thing then that the sonne of God vvas in nothing like the rest of the creatures but altogether like vnto the father alone vvhich begate him neither begotten of any oother then of the fathers substance and essence vnto the vvhich thinge thus sett forth right and reason required that vve should condescende For vve haue knowen for suertie diuers auncient bishops and vvriters of greate learning and renovvne to haue mentioned this clause Of one substance in setting forth of the diuinitie of the father and the sonne so farre of the faith published in the councell of Nice vvhervnto vve all condescended not rashly and vnaduisedly but according vnto the sentences sett forth in the presence of the most godly Emperour which were discussed by common assent approued for the causes afore alleadged And withall we thought good to ratifie the forme of curse published after the exposition of the faith because that it forbiddeth that no man do acquaint him selfe vvith forreyne speaches and vnwritten languages vvhereby in maner all confusion and discord is drawen and crept into the churche vvhen as the sacred scripture maketh mention no vvhere of any such sentences to vvete That the sonne of God had his beginning of nothing and that there vvas a time vvhen he vvas not And such like sentences it seemed not agreable vvith reason either in vvordes to talke of them or in deede to teache them Vnto vvhich notable decree vve haue subscribed although heretofore vve neuer accustomed neither acquainted our selues vvith such speaches These things vvelbeloued vve haue necessarily sent vnto you not onely to certifie you of the censure concluded of vs after our curious sifting and assent but also to let you vnderstande that while at the first the diuersitie of reports written vnto you offended vs not a little we persisted in one the same mind as it was most meete euen to the last houre But afterwards with small adoe we embraced without any disquietnes at all such things as were not offensiue when as we with tractable mind sought out the sense and vnderstanding of the words which vvere then in controuersie and found them altogether agreable vvith the thinges contayned in the forme of fayth published by vs our selfe These things did Eusebius Pamphilus sende in writing vnto Caesarea in Palaestina CAP. VI. The Epistle of the Synode contayning their decrees and the expulsion of Arius with his complices sundry epistles of Costantine the Emperour THe councell it selfe by generall consent wrote these things which followe vnto the churche of Alexandria and vnto the inhabitants of Aegypt Lybia and Pentapolis Vnto the holy through the grace of God and the renowmed church of Alexandria to the beloued brethren throughout Aegypt Lybia Pentapolis the bishops assembled at Nice and summoned to the greate and sacred senate sende greeting in the Lorde VVhen as by the grace of God and the commaundement of the moste vertuous Emperoure Constantine vvho gathered vs together from diuers cities and prouinces the greatâ— and sacred councell of Nice is summoned it seemed expedient that letters from the vvhole sacred assembly should be sent vnto you wherby you might be certified as vvell of the thiÌ„gs called into questioÌ„ and exquisitely decided as also of the canons therein coÌ„firmed First of all the things which did concerne the impious peruerse opinion of Arius his complices were fully handled in the presence of the most godly Emperour Constantine whervpon it pleased the councell by coÌ„mon consent of all to pronounce his wicked opinion to be helde for accursed and the execrable words and blasphemous sentences he vsed â—aying that the sonne of God had his beginning of nothing that there was a time vvhen he vvas not That the sonne of God vvas of free vvill inclined to vertue to vice that he was a creature and that he vvas made all vvhich the holy councell did accurse nay it may not be permitted that his impious opinion his insolent madnesse his blasphemous vvordes shoulde come within hearing Moreouer you haue heard or at leastvvise ye shall heare of vs toutchinge him and his ende lest that vve seeme rashly and vvithout cause to
to flyght and abandoned from amongest you but that also our fayth by reason of peace and concorde doth euery vvhere notably florishe God preserue you vvelbeloued brethren An other Epistle vnto Eusebius COnstantinus the puysant the mighty noble Emperour vnto Eusebius sendeth greeting Euen as welbeloued brother I haue learned of a truth and am fully perswaded that all Churches from the fundations are either through negligence gone to decay or through feare of the daūger that was like to ensue haue bene lesse repayred then they should haue bene yea vnto this present daye by reason of the grieuous maladye of spite and great tyrannye exercised vpon the Sainctes of God and the seruants of our Sauiour Iesus Christ so now liberty being restored vnto all men and that dragon and persecutor Licinnius being foyled the direction of ecclesiasticall affayres remoued from the disposition of the vulgar sort by the prouidence of Almighty God the vigilant labor of our ministery I suppose that the power and might of God is made manifest vnto all men that they which fell by reason of feare or incredulitie or other infirmitie whatsoeuer in as much as nowe they acknowledge the true God in deede will repent and returne vnto the true and right way VVherefore what Churches so euer thou doest gouerne or other places where other Bishops Priestes Deacons of thy acquaintance doe ouerse our will is that thou admonish them all that with watchful eye the buildings of the churches be looked vnto to the ende that such as stande may be repayred and also be enlarged or else vvhere necessitie so constrayneth they may be erected all new from the foundation Looke what thinges are necessarily required for buildinge see that either thou thy selfe or some other in thy name demaunde them of the Lieuetenants or rulers of our prouinces for vve haue signified vnto them by our letters that vvith all celeritie and promptnes of minde they shall supplye the vvante of such thinges as thine holines doth prescribe and thus vvelbeloued brother I committ thee to the tuition of Almighty God These thinges the Emperour wrote for the buylding of the Churches vnto the Bishops of euery prouince and what seuerally he wrote vnto Eusebius Bishop of Caesarea in Palaestina for the coppying of holy Scripture it may easily be gathered by these letters of his as followeth Constantinus the puysant the mighty and noble Emperour vnto Eusebius Bishop of Caesarea sendeth greeting In so much that in the citye vvhich is called after our name there inhabiteth a greate multitude of men our Sauiour Iesu and God the father of his prouidence sending encrease thereunto vvhich embraceth the most holy Church to the ende all the Ecclesiasticall affayres may in the same place dayly encrease more more vve haue thought good that more Churches shoulde be erected and buylded there VVherefore accept vvith louing harte vvhat our vvill and pleasure is VVe haue thought good to signifie vnto thy vvisedome that thou shouldest prepare fyftye volumes or coppies of holy Scripture written in parchment which shal be both legible hādsome portable that thou commaunde moreouer that they be written of skilfull scriueners exercised in the arte of penning our will is that the volumes comprise those bookes of holy Scripture whose penning and vse thou thy selfe shalt thinke most necessarily to auaile for the edifying of the Church Our highnes hath sent letters vnto our heade treasurer that he shoulde minister all necessaries for the prouision of these bookes It is thy part then to ouersee with speede that these vvritten coppies be made ready Moreouer by vertue of these our letters as right requireth we geue thee liberty to take vp tvvo common vvaggons for the conueying of them thither for so the vvritten coppies shal the sooner be brought vnto vs and so much the better if one of thy Deacons be put in trust therewith who when as he commeth in place shall find the proofe of our liberality God keepe thee in health welbeloued brother An other epistle vnto Macarius COnstantinus the puysant the mighty and noble Emperour vnto Macarius Bishop of Ierusalem sendeth greeting So bountifully vvas the goodnes of our Sauiour shevved towards vs that no tongue is able for the worthines thereof sufficiently to expresse this present miracle that the pleadge or monument of his most blessed passion which of late laye hidd in the bovvells of the earthe the space of so many yeares shoulde at length be reuealed vnto the seruants of God being set at libertie after conquering of the common and generall enemie it farre exceedeth all humane sense and capacitie of mans vvitt For if all the sages and vvisest sorte of men throughout the vvorlde assembled them selues together and purposed to reason and entreate hereof without doubt they coulde not for the worthines thereof satisfie with any circumstance no not the least point thereof the fayth annexed vnto this miracle is of such force and so farre exceedeth the sense and capacitie of mans nature as celestiall and diuine thinges doe passe humane and worldly affaires VVherefore this is alwayes my principall and onely marke to shoote at that euen as the true fayth reuealeth her selfe dayly by newe and straung miracles so all our mindes with all modestie and vniforme readines shoulde be fixed and more prone to the obseruation of the most holy and blessed Gospell besides this that also the vvhich I thinke euery man knovveth full vvell I vvoulde haue thee fully assured to be my chiefe care that the sayd holy place the which by the commaundement of God we haue purged from the foule weight of the filthy Idols ouerlayed therevvith as it vvere vvith a most grieuous burthen the vvhich place also vve knowe to haue bene recounted holy in maner from the beginning of the vvorlde and aftervvards also to haue yelded more euident proofes of holines by sturring vp againe the faith of the passion of our Sauiour as it vvere from out of darkenes into light be bevvtified vvith goodly and gorgeous buylding It is requisite that thy vvisedome doe cast vvith thy selfe and sett in order this work◠and carefully prouide necessaries for all circumstances to the ende that not onely the sanctuary may excell for bevvtie all the rest vvheresoeuer but that also the other partes thereof may be such as shall farre passe in excellencie of buylding all the principall Churches throughout euery citye I certify thee moreouer that toutching the making vp of the vvalls and the curious vvorkemanship thereof I haue charged our friende Dracillianus who gouerneth diuers other coasts and also the ruler of that prouince our grace hath charged them that what artificers what workemen what other thinges soeuer shall seeme expedient for the buylding they shoulde learne of thy wisedome and forthvvith be sent thither for the prouision thereof Concerning the pillers other parts of the temple to be made of marble looke vvhat thou supposest fittest both for
in meate and serue them her selfe Many things she gaue to churches and to poore people she liued godly and religiously and departed this life being fourescore yeare olde her body was brought to Constantinople called Nevve Rome and buried there with princely funerall CAP. XIIII Howe the emperour Constantine destroying the Idole groues of the Gentiles erected in sundrie places many notable Churches THe emperour after this went about to promote christian religion with greater care industrie to banish the rites ceremonies of the ethnicks to restrayne the lewde combats of fencers and sworde players and to sett vp his owne image in theyr Idolatricall temples And when as the Ethnicks affirmed that the God Serapis was he which made the riuer Nilus to ouerflowe and to water the countrey of Aegypt because that a certaine elle was brought into the temple of Serapis the emperour commaunded that elle to be conueyed into the churche of Alexandria When that it was noysed that Nilus woulde no longer ouerflowe because the God Serapis tooke greate indignation that he was thus abused the yeare followinge the riuer did not onely ouerflowe after his wonted maner and from that time forth kept his course but also thereby declared vnto the worlde that Nilus was accustomed to ouerflowe not after theire superstitious opinion but by the secret determination of the deuine prouidence Although the Sarmatians Barbarians and Gotths at the same time assayled the right of the Romayne empire yet for all that the emperours care and industry for the buyldinge of churches was not slacked but diligently with great aduise did he prouide for both For he valiantly ouercame these nations vnder the banner of the crosse which is the peculiar cognizance of christian profession so that not onely he depriued them of the tribute which the emperours of olde were wonte to pay vnto the Barbarians but also they beinge astonished at this straunge victory yelded themselues then first of all wholly to embrace christian religion by the meanes of the which Constantine had preserued himselfe Constantinus againe applied himselfe to the buyldinge of other churches and one he erected in the okegroue of Mambre where holy scripture reporteth the Angels to haue bene harbored by Abraham When that he was certified that altars were erected at that oke and that the Ethnicks offred sacrifice and incense in that place to theyr fayned Gods he sharply rebuked Eusebius bishope of Caesarea by his letters because that through his slackenes in executinge his office that wickednes was committed He commaundeth therefore the altars to be turned vpside downe and a church harde by the oke to be builded He commaundeth an other church to be builded in Heliopolis of Phoenicia and that for this cause What lawe maker the Heliopolits had of olde I am not able to saye but the lawes and customes of the cytie doe manifestly declare what kinde of man he was By the custome of their countrey they haue all women in common therefore of the children there can no certainty be had Amonge them there is no difference ether of father or sonne They geue their virgins to straungers which come amongst them to be defloured The emperour endeuored wholly to abrogat this old and rotten custome of theirs For when he had taken away this brutishe and beastly kind of behauiour he made a sacred and a seuere lawe that kindreds and families shoulde be knowen amongest thē and seuered one from the other To be short when he had buylded churches amonge them he hastened to consecrate them a bishop to ordaine the holy company of clergy men Thus the state of the Heliopolits after the remouing of theire former filth was reformed into modeste behauiour In like maner he ouerthrewe the temple of Venus in Aphaca standing at the foote of mount Libanus and rooted out al the wicked rites and ceremonies which were wont to be done there both impudently vnreuerently What shall I speake of the familiar deuell and the spirite of diuination the which he foyled in Cilicia commaunded the Idole in whose closettes he had craftely hid himselfe to be destroyed furthermore he was so feruent in promoting christian religion that when he should haue warred against the Persians he made him a tente much like the tabernacle of Moses in the desert in forme and figure resembling the churche of God and the same of a chaūgeable colored vaile the which he caried about with him that in the waste wildernesse and deserte places he mighte alwayes finde readye an holy Churche to singe hymnes and deuoutly to serue the liuinge God But the same battaile wente not forewardes the Persians feared the power of the Emperoure and so all iniuries were putte vp and peaceably ended That the Emperoure also imployed greate laboure and trauell in buyldinge townes and Cyties and that of diuerse peltinge villages he made princely Cyties for example Drepane after his mothers name and Constantia in Palaestina after the name of his sister Constantia I thinke it presently not needefull to committe in wrytinge for the posterity For it is not our drifte to declare the other famous actes of the Emperoure but onely those whiche appertaine vnto christian religion and speciallye the estate of the churches Wherefore in as much as the famous actes of the Emperoure tend to an other purpose and require a proper and a peculiar kinde of handlinge I leaue them for others whiche bothe knowe and can sufficiently discourse thereof I of mine owne parte woulde neuer haue layde penne to paper if the Church had beene at vnitie and concorde within it selfe For where there is no matter ministred to wryte there the wryter seemeth to be fond and his trauell frustrat But in as much as the subtletye of sophisters fonde quirckes and fallacies of Satan depraued in those dayes the Apostolick and syncere Character of Christian religion seuered also and as it were vnioynted the membres of Christ I thought good to saye somethinge of them whereby the ecclestastical affayrs may not fall into the dust of obliuion For the knoweledge thereof is much sett by amonge moste men and settleth for experience the minde of suche a one as is well seene therein For when any vaine controuersie riseth about the signification of a worde it teacheth him to haue a stayed heade CAP. XV. Howe that in the time of Constantine the midle Indians embraced the faith of Christ by the meanes of Aedesius and Frumentius for Athanasius Byshop of Alexandria created Frumentius byshop and sent him to preache vnto the Indians NOwe it remaineth that we declare howe and by what meanes christian religion enlarged and spredd it selfe vnder the raygne of this Emperoure For the nations which inhabited the middle India and Iberia then first of all receaued the faith of Christ and why I haue ioyned thereunto the middle India I will declare in fewe wordes When the Apostles by lot had sorted them selues to trauell vnto certaine
euen as your godly and singular zeale hath geuen vs in charge vve doe protest that both vve our selues and all they that be of our syde doe beleeue as follovveth VVe beleeue in one God the father almyghtie and in his sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ begotten of him before all vvorldes God the vvorde by vvhome all thinges were made both in heauen and earth who came dovvne from heauen and vvas made man vvho suffred rose againe ascended into heauen shall come againe to iudge both the quicke the dead And we beleue in the holy ghost the resurrection of the fleshe the life of the vvorlde to come the kingdome of heauen the one Catholicke churche of God scattered farre and vvide ouer the face of the vvhole earth This faith haue vve learned of the most holie Euangelists where the Lorde him selfe sayd vnto his disciples Goe teache all nations baptizing theÌ„ in the name of the father and of the sonne and of the holy ghost euen as the vvhole Catholicke church and the scriptures do teache all vvhich vve faithfully beleeue God is ouâ— Iudge presently to the houre of death and at the daye of doome VVherefore moste holy Emperour we humbly craue of your godly highnes in as much as vve are â—â—eargiâ— men retaine the faith and affection both of the church and also of holy scripture that of your wonted zeale whervvith you prouide for vnitie and the right honour of God all controuersies and quarells and cauillations and subtle quircks vvhatsoeuer layde aside you will coupleâ—â— vvith our mother the church that both vve and the church of God among our selues may liue quietly ioyntly vvith one harte and voyce povvre vnto God the accustomed prayers for the peaceable and prosperous estate of your empire and for all mankinde CAP. XX. How Arius by the commaundement of the Emperour returned to Alexandria whome Athanasius would in no wise admitt against Athanasius Eusebius and his confederats patched diuers crimes and presented them vnto the Emperour so that in the ende a synode was summoned at Tyrus to pacifie these quarells WHen that Arius had perswaded the Emperour in such sorte as we sayde before he returnes to Alexandria but yet he could not with all his wiles treade downe the trueth the which he had so egregiously dissembled Athanasius would not receaue him into the church of Alexandria after his returne for he detested him as a monster of the worlde Arius neuerthelesse whilest that he priuely sowed his pestilent opinion goeth about to sett the whole citie on an vprore At what time Eusebius both him selfe wrote vnto Athanasius and procured also the Emperour to commaunde him by his letters to condescende vnto the admission of Arius and his coÌ„plices Athanasius for all that would not receaue them into the church but wrote backe againe vnto the Emperour that it was not lawfull for such as had made shipwracke of their faith and had bene held for accursed of the church â–ª after their returne and conuersion to receaue their former dignities The Emperour was in a great chafe and conceaued great displeasure against Athanasius for this answere threatninge him by his letters as followeth In as much as thou art made priuie to our will and pleasure see that thou make the dore vvide open to all that desire to enter into the church For if I vnderstand that any one vvhich desired to be made a member of the church hath by any meanes through thee bene hindred or his entraÌ„ce stopped I vvill forthwith send one of mine officers who by authority from me shall both depose thee of thy bishopricke and also place an other in thy rovvme This the Emperour wrote respecting the commoditie of the church the vnitie of the councell lest that through variance it were dissolued Eusebius then who hated Athanasius with deadly enmitie thought no time fitter theÌ„ that to bring his purpose to effect for he had the Emperour incensed against him which was meate and drinke for Eusebius and therefore he raysed all that troublesome sturre to the ende he myght cause Athanasius to be deposed of his bishopricke For he thought verylie that if Athanasius were once remoued Arianisme then should beare away the bell Wherefore there conspired against him at once Eusebius bishop of Nicomedia Theognis bishop of Nice Maris bishop of Chalcedon Vrsacius bishop of Singidon a citie of the vpper Pannonia and Valens bishop of Murson a citie also in Pannonia These men hyred certaine of the Meletian seâ—t caused diuers crimes to be layd vnto Athanasius charge And firste of all by the depositions of Eusion Eudaemon and Callinicus that were Meletian heretickes they charge Athanasius that he had inioyned the Aegyptians to pay for a yearely tribute vnto the church of Alexandria a lynen garment But Alypius and Macarius priests of the church of Alexandria who then as it chaunced were at Nicomedia confuted this sclannderous report that was layde agaynste Athanasius and perswaded the Emperour that all their malicious tales were manifest vntruthes Wherefore the Emperoure wrote vnto his aduersaries and rebuked them sharply but Athanasius he requesteth to repayre vnto him yet agayne Eusebius together with his complices before his comminge patched an other crime farre more haynous then the former that Athanasius went about trayterously to defeate the Emperoures edicts in sending to one Philumenus a kasâ—et or forsar full of gold The Emperour then being at Psamathia a manour without the walls of Nicomedia by sifting out of this matter founde Athanasius to be giltlesse and sent him away with honor writing also to the Church of Alexandria that their bishop was falsely accused before him But I thinke best and with more honesty a great deale to passe ouer with silence the sundry kindes of sclaunders Eusebius together with his adherents inuented afterwards agaynst Athanasius lest that the Churche of God be blemished and sclaundered of them which haue their mindes farre estraynged from the religion fayth in Christ Iesu for the thinges committed to writing â–ª are wont to be knowen of all and therefore it was our part to comprise in few words such things as required a seuerall tracâ— but neuerthelesse I thinke it my duety in fewe wordes to declare out of what fountaine these false accusations ishued and whence such as forged them had their originall Mareôtes is a contrey of Alexandria in it there are many villages and the same well peopled within the same also there are many Churches yea of greate fame all which are vnder the Bishop of Alexandria within the iurisdiction of his seae and bishopricke In this Mareôtes one Ischyras for so they called him practised priuely such a kinde of offence as deserued a hundreth kindes of death for when as he had neuer taken orders he called him selfe a minister and presumed to execute the function of a priest Who when he was taken with the maner fledd away priuely and gott him straight to
fathers or that there vvas a time when he had no being these the Catholicke church doth holde for accursed When they had exhibited these fewe lynes vnto the Emperour and shewed them to diuers others they tooke their leaue without further reasoninge of any other matter Furthermore whilest that as yet both the churches of the East and also of the West without any adoe communicated together a newe opinion sprang vp at Sirmium a citie of Illyrium Photinus who gouerned the churches there borne in the lesser Galatia the disciple of Marcellus that was deposed of his byshopricke following his maisters steps affirmed that the sonne of God was but onely man The discourse of these things we will referre to an other place CAP. XV. A forme of faith layde downe by the byshops of the East contayning many longe and large circumstances THree yeares after the bishops of the Easterne churches summone agayne an other councell they frame an other forme of faith and sende it to the bishops of Italie by Eudoxius bishop of Germanicia Martyrius and Macedonius bishop of Mopsiestia a citie in Cilicia This faith sett forth at large contayneth many additions and glosses besides such as heretofore were published in other creedes it beginneth thus VVe beleue in one God the father almightie creator and maker of all things of vvhome all fatherhoode in heauen and in â—arth is called and in his onely begotten sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde begotten of the Father before all worlds God of God lyght of lyght by vvhome all thinges vvere made both in heauen and in earth be they visible or inuisible who is the word the wisdome the power the life true light who in the later dayes was incarnate for our sakes was borne of the holy virgine was crucified dead and buryed who rose againe the third day from the dead ascended into heauen sitteth at the ryght hand of the father who shall come in the end of the world to iudge the quicke and the dead to reward euery man according vnto his works whose kingdome shall haue no ende but shall continevve for euer For he shall sitte at the ryght hande of the Father not onely vvhyle this vvorlde lasteth but also in the lyfe to come VVe beleeue also in the holye Ghost that is in the Comforter vvhome Christ promised to sende his Apostles after his ascention into heauen vvhome also he sent for to teache and leade them in all thynges by vvhose meanes the soules of them vvhich faithfully beleeue in him are sanctified vvhosoeuer therefore dare presume to affirme that the sonne had his beginninge of nothinge or of any other substance then the Fathers or that there vvas a tyme or a vvorlde vvhen he vvas not these the holie and Catholicke churche doth holde for accursed In like maner such as saye that there are three gods or that Christ vvas not God from the beginninge or that he is neyther Christ neyther the sonne of God or that there is neyther Father neyther Sonne neyther holie Ghost or that the sonne is vnbegotten or that the Father begatt not the sonne of his ovvne vvyll and purpose these the holie and Catholicke church doth holde for accursed Neyther can it be vttered vvithout blasphemie that the sonne had his beynge of nothinge in so much there can no such thinge be founde of him in holie scripture Neyther doe vve learne that he had his beynge of any other preexistent substance besydes the fathers but that he vvas truely begotten of God the father alone The holie scripture teacheth vs that the father of Christ is and vvas one vnbegotten and vvithout beginning Neyther may vve safely affirme vvithout testimonie of the sacred scripture that there vvas a tyme vvhen he vvas not as though vve shoulde imagine or forethinke in him any temporall space but vve haue to conceaue and comprehende in our mindes God alone vvhith begatt him vvithout tyme. For tymes and vvorldes vvere made by him Neither can ere other the father or the sonne properly be sayde ioyntly to be vvithout beginninge and ioyntly vvithout begettinge but as vve knovve the father alone to be vvithout beginninge incomprehensble and to haue begotten the sonne after an incomprehensible and an intelligible maner so vve vnderstande the forme to haue bene begotten before all vvorldes and not to be vnbegotten after the same maner vvith the father but to haue had a beginninge the father vvhich begatt him for the heaâ—â—â— of Christ is God VVhen vve confesse three thinges and three persons accordinge vnto the scriptures to vvete of the father â–ª of the sonne and of the holie Ghost vve doe not therein allovve of three gods For vve acknovvledge one onely God perfect and absolute of him selfe vnbegotten vvithout beginninge inuisible the father of the onely begotten sonne vvho alone of him selfe hath his beynge vvho also alone ministreth aboundantly vnto all other things their beyng And vvhen as vve affirme one God the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ to be onely vnbegotten vve doe not therefore deny Christ to haue bene God from euerlastinge as the follovvers of Paulus Samosatenus dyd vvhich affirmed that by nature he vvas but onely and bare man after his inâ—â—mation by profitingâ— and forvvardnes to haue bene made God VVe knovve though â—e be subiect to the father and to God that he is God of God begotten accordinge vnto nature that he is both a perfect and true God and not made God aftervvardes of 〈…〉 but that accordinge vnto the vvyll of God the father he vvas incarnate for our sakes neuer aftervvardes loâ—inge his diâ—â—nitiâ— Moreouer vve detest and abhorre and holde them for accursed vvhich affirme that the sonne of God is the onely and naked vvorde of God vvithout substance but after a fayned and imaginatiue sort in an other and one vvhyle doe terme him the vvorde as vttered by the mouth an other vvhyle as inclosed in the minde of some one or other For they confesse not that euen Christ vvho is Lorde the sonne of God the mediator the image of God vvas before all vvorldes but that he vvas Christ and the sonne of God from that tyme since vvhich novve full foure hundred yeares agoe he tooke our fleshe of the Virgine They vvyll haue the kingdome of Christ from that tyme to haue his beginninge and after the consummation of the vvorlde and the dreadfull daye of iudgement to haue his endinge The authors of this abhominable heresie are the Marcellians Photinians Ancyrogalatians vvho therefore disproue the essence and diuinitie of Christ vvhich hath bene before all vvorldes and likevvise his kingdome vvhich hath no ende because they pretende the establishinge of a monarchie But vve knovve him not for a simple vttered vvorde or as it vvere inclosed in the minde of God the father but for the liuing word God subsistinge of him selfe the sonne of God and Christ and not to haue bene with his father before the vvorlds by onely prescience to haue bene
conuersant and ministred vnto him for the framing and finishing of euery vvorke of visible or inuisible things but to haue bene the vvorde in deede together vvith the father and God of God ▪ for this is he vnto vvhome the father sayde Let vs make man after our ovvne image and similitude vvho appeared in his proper person vnto the fathers of olde gaue them the lawe spake by the prophets laste of all became man made manifest his father vnto all men and raygneth vvorlde vvithout ende Neyther doe vve beleue that Christ receaued his diuinitie of late but that he vvas perfect from all aeternitie and like vnto the father in all things Such as confounde the father the sonne and the holie Ghost and impiously imagine three names in one thinge and in one person not vvithout iust cause vve forbidde them the church because they appoynt the father vvho is incomprehensble and impatible by incarnation to be both comprehensible and patible Of which heresie are the Patropassians so called of the Romaines but of vs Sabellians VVe know of certainty the father vvhich sent his sonne to haue continewed in the proper nature of his immutable diuinitie the sonne vvhich vvas sent to haue accomplished the disposed order of his incarnation In like maner such as say impiously and blaspheniously that Christ vvas begotten neyther by the counsell neyther by the vvill of the father attributinge to God the father a counsell tyed to necessitie and an essence intangled vvith the vvant of free vvill so that he begatt the sonne of cōpulsion them first of all we hold for accursed creatures and farre estraynged from the trueth in Christ because they presume to publishe such doctrine of him both contrary to the common notions vnderstanding vve haue of God and also repugnant vvith the sense and meaning of the sacred scripture inspired from aboue VVe knowe that God is of his owne power that he enioyeth his free will and we beleue godly and reuerently that he begat the sonne of his owne accord free will VVe beleue that godly which is spoken of him The Lorde made me the beginning of his wayes for the accōplishing of his works yet we vnderstand no◠that he was so made as other creatures other things were framed For that is impious farr◠frō the faith of the catholicke church to liken the creator vnto the creatures which he shaped or to thinke that he had the like maner of begetting with other thinges of different nature The holy scriptures do informe vs onely of one onely begotten sonne vnfainedly and truely begotten Moreouer when as we say that the sonne hath his being of him selfe that he liueth subsisteth in like sort with the father for all that vve seuer him not from the father neither do we imagine corporall vvise certaine spaces and distance betvvene their coherencie For vve beleeue that they ioyne together vvithout pause or distance put betvvene and that they can not be seuered asunder so that the father compriseth as it vvere in his bosome the vvhole sonne and the sonne is ioyned and fastened to the vvhole father and resteth continevvally onely in his fathers lappe VVe beleeue furthermore in the absolute perfect most blessed Trinitie and vvhen vve call the father God the sonne God in so doing we say not there be two gods but one God of equall power diuinitie and one perfect coniunction of raygne and euen as the father beareth rule exerciseth authoritie ouer all things ouer the sonne sovve say that the sonne is subiect vnto the father and that he gouerneth besides him immediatly and next after him all thinges vvhich he made and that the saincts by the vvill of the father receaue the grace of the holy Ghost aboundantly poured vpon them Thus the holy scriptures haue instructed vs to direct our talke of the monarchie in Christ After the aforesayd briefe cōpendious forme of faith vve haue bene cōstrained to explicate discourse of these thinges at large not that vve are disposed vainely and arrogantly to contend but to remoue out of the mindes of such men as knovve vs not all fonde suspicion surmise cōceaued of our censure opinion othervvise then trueth is that moreouer all the bishops of the VVest may easily perceaue not only the sclaunders of such as maintayne the contrary opinion but also the ecclesiasticall and Christian faith of the byshops inhabitinge the East confirmed out of the manifest and vnvvrested testimonies of holie scripture the vvhich the aduersaries are vvont lewdly to interpret The bishops of the west churches affirmed they would in no wise receaue these thinges partly for that they were written in a straunge tonge therfore could not vnderstand them they sayd moreouer that the creede or forme of faith layd downe by the Nicene councell was sufficient and that it was not for them curiously to search further CAP. XVI Of the generall Councell summoned at Sardice WHen as the Emperour had written againe that Paulus and Athanasius should be restored to their former rowmes and dignities and his letters had taken no place by reason of the ciuill dissention discord as yet not appeased among the multitude Paulus Athanasius make humble sute that an other councell might be called together to the end their cases should be the better knowen the faith should be decided in a general coūcell for they protested y ◠their depositiō was wrought to the end y ◠faith might be destroyed Wherfore by y ◠cōmaundemēt of both y ◠Emperours the one signifying y ◠same by his letters the other whose dominiōs lay in y ◠East willingly cōdescending thervnto there was proclaimed a generall councell that all should meete at Sardice a citie of Illyrium The eleuenth yeare after y ◠desease of Costantinus the father of these Emperours in the consulship of Ruffinus Eusebius the councell of Sardice was summoned There mett there as Athanasius sayth about thre hundred bishops of the west churches and as Sabinus declareth onely seuenty six bishops out of the East of which number was Ischyras bishop of Mareôtes whome y ◠deposers of Athanasius preferred to be bishop of that place Some alleage for them selues their infirmitie of body some cōplaine that their warning was to short therfore they blame Iulius bishop of Rome when as since the date of the proclamation the leasure of Athanasius cōtinewing at Rome expecting y ◠meeting of the councell there rame a whole yeare six moneths After that y ◠bishops of the east came to Sardice they would not come into y ◠presence of y ◠bishops which inhabited y ◠West but sent thē this message that they would not talke neither reason with them vnlesse cōditionally they would barre Athanasius and Paulus their cōpany But when Protogenes bishop of Sardice Osius bishop of Corduba a citie as I sayd
once be remembred y t the church of God should no longer be troubled with y â— interpretatioÌ„ thereof and y â— for two causes first because y â— Scriptures of God made no mention thereof secondarily because that the interpretatioÌ„ thereof exceeded the sense aud capacitie of man for y â— holy Scriptures testisted that no man was able to set forth the generation of the sonne in these wordes His generation who shal be able to declare For it is most true that the father alone knoweth howe he begat the sonne againe y â— sonne alone knoweth howe he was begotten of y â— father They sayd no maÌ„ doubted but that the father was greater in honor dignitie diuinitie and fatherly title and that by the testimony of the sonne himselfe where he sayth The father which sent me is greater then I. They sayd moreouer this was Catholicke neither vnknowen vnto any that there were two persons the father and the sonne the father greater the sonne subiect together with all other things which the father made subiect vnto him the father to be without beginning inuisible immortall impatible the sonne to be begotten of the father God of God light of light and that no man as I sayde before was able to rehearse his generation saue the father alone the sonne our lorde and God to become incarnat to haue taken a body vpon him that is man euen as partly he shewed vnto the Angels and partly all the Scriptures doe informe vs of him but especially the Apostle the preacher of the Gentiles that Christ tooke manhood of the virgine Mary according vnto the which he suffred They sayd it was the principle ground of our whole faith alwayes to holdfast the faith in the trinitie as we read in the Gospell Goe teach all nations baptizinge them in the name of the Father of the Sonne of the holy Ghost The number of the trinitie is absolute perfect The comforter the holy Ghost sent by the sonne came according vnto promise for to sanctifie and lead the Apostles and all the faithfull They goe about to perswade Photinus after his depriuatioÌ„ to condescend and to subscribe vnto these thinges promising to restore him vnto his Bishopricke againe if he would recant and renounce the selfe opinion he had inuented of his owne braine and thenceforth promise to cleaue vnto their doctrine He refused the coÌ„ditions and prouoked them to disputation A certaine day was appointed for conference the Emperoure commaundeth the Bishops theÌ„ present to be at it there came thither also at the request of y â— Emperour not a fewe councellers The assembly being met Basilius who theÌ„ was Bishop of Ancyra tooke Photinus in hand the notaries penned all they spake While they reasoned one with an other the disputation waxed hot and in the end Photinus had the foile was condemned to vanishment From that time forth he liued in exile and wrote in the Greeke and Latine tonge for he was well seene in both a boke against all heresies endeuoringe therein to publishe his owne opinion So farre of Photinus We haue yet to vnderstand that the Bishops assembled at Sirmium misliked theÌ„selues with the forme of faith laid downe in the Latine tonge for after the publishing thereof they espied contradictories therein Wherefore they went about in all the hast to call in all the coppies and when as diuers were concealed the Emperour by his edicte gaue charge that all should be broughte in and such as hid theÌ„ shoulde be punished Yet were there no threats or cruelty that coulde recouer the thinges once blased abroad because they had runne through many hands CAP. XXVI Of Osius Bishop of Corduba WHereas we haue made mention a â—itle before of Osius Bishop of Corduba that he was constrained to shewe himselfe at the councell of Sirmium I thinke it requisite nowe to say somwhat of that matter Although in a while before through the lewd practises of the Arians he had bene in exile yet then at the sute and procuremeÌ„t of the Bishops which assembled at Sirmium it tell out that the Emperoure cited him purposinge with himselfe to perswade him or by foule meanes to constraine him to be of the same opinion with the assembled Bishops and in so doinge their faith shoulde seeme to cary with it greate force and creditte To this ende he was drawen against his will as I sayd before vnto the councel But when as this olde father woulde in no wise subscribe vnto their faith they scurged his sides and set his members vpon the racke So that in the end by compulsion he gaue his assent subscribed vnto the formes of faith which then were published These were the Acâ—es at Sirmium and thus were they ended CAP. XXVII Magnentius the tyrant is ouercome and dieth miserably the Iewes inhabiting Diocaesarea rebell against the Romaines and are soiled Gallus rebelleth and is put to death COnstantius the Emperoure remayned at Sirmium waytinge what ende the battell waged with Magnentius should haue But Magnentius as soone as he tooke the princely citie of Rome he executeth many of the Senators he dispatcheth not a fewe of the common multitude When the captaines of Constantius had gathered a great army of Romaine souldiers they marched towards him he theÌ„ left Rome got him to Fraunce There were many skirmishes one while this side an other while that side had the vpper hand At length Magnentius was ouercome at the castell of Mursa in Fraunce in he got him and kept it a while where such a straunge thing as followeth is reported to haue come to passe Magnentius going about to animate his souldiers nowe altogether discouraged with the foile ouerthrowe they had takeÌ„ got him vp into an highe seate The souldiers after the accustomed honor done vnto the Emperours mindinge to sounde fortunate successe vnto Magnentius by force as it were their lippes wagging before their minds they turne their good wishes vnto ConstaÌ„tius for they all with one mouth proclaimed not MagneÌ„tius but Constantius Augustus Magnentius supposinge this to be a signe of misfortune conueyed himselfe forthwith out of the castell fled into the furthest partes of Fraunce The captaines of Constantius pursued after him earnestly Againe they pitched their caÌ„pe at a place called Miltoseleucus where Magnentius being ouerthrowen ranne away alone and got him to Lions a citie of Fraunce three dayes iorney from the castell of Mursa Magnentius comming to Lions first of all he slewe his mother next his brother whome he had created Caesar last of all he became his owne murtherer This was done the sixt Consulship of Constantius the seconde of Constantius Gallus the fiftenth day of August Not long after Decenius an other brother of Magnentius hanged himselfe And although Magnentius the tyrant had such an ende yet the common wealth was not without great trouble tumults For immediatly there stept vp an other tyrant whose name
Churche of Seleucia they barre the doores and ratisie with their subscriptions the forme of fayth that was read the daye before In their steede which were absent their readers and Deacons subscribed for they had signified before that they woulde by their Deputies approue the aforesayd creede CAP. XXXII Howe that Acacius of Caesarea rehearsed an other creede in the councell of Seleucia also how that he and his complices after the Emperours returne out of the west mett at Constantinople and procured the councell of Ariminum to be ratified adding thereunto of their owne ACacius and his complices founde great fault with the canons of that councell because they subscribed when the Church doores were shutt ▪ for sayth Acacius the thinges which are done in huckermucker as they ought not to be approued so are they not voide of suspicion This he sayde because he caryed in his pockett an other forme of fayth ready to be offred vp he read it in the presence of Lauricius and Leônas that were noble men and bent his whole might to haue onely the same confirmed these thinges were done the seconde daye of the councell and besides nothing The thirde day Leônas went about to call both partes together at what time Macedonius Bishop of Constantinoplē and Basilius Bishop of Ancyra were present When both these men mett together and presented them selues to wete of the contrary side vnto Acacius his consederats woulde not shewe their faces in the councell but sayde that it was requisite they should be banished the assemblie who of late had bene deposed and then also were accused After much adoe when this side had the vpper hande they that were accused left the councell in whose rowmes Acacius together with his company succeded Then Leônas stoode vp and sayde that Acacius had presented vnto him a booke yet knewe they not that it was a forme of fayth which confuted sometymes priuely sometymes openly and playnly the opinion of the contrary side When that all made silence and gaue diligent eare thinking nothing lesse then that it had bene a forme of fayth at length Acacius read his creede or fayth with a certayne preface written before it as followeth VVe vvhich by the Emperours edict mett yesterday that is the fift of the kalends of October at Seleucia in Isauria haue labored vvith all might possible to continevve vnitie agreement in the church of God to dispute reason of the faith according vnto the sacred testimonies of the Prophets euangelists with modest quiet mindes as the most vertuous Emperour Constantius hath geuen vs in charge to conclude nothing for canons of the Church vvhich might be founde contrary to holy Scripture ▪ but seing there were such kinde of men at the councell vvho rayled at some shutt vp some others mouthes forbade these to speake excluded the other from their cōpany ioyned with them out of diuers prouinces certaine deposed expulsed persons entertained them contrary to the old canon of the church the coūcel as Lauricius the most valiant captaine saw more is the pity with his owne eies was all set on tumult grieuous dissention VVe haue spoken these things to this end that you may vnderstand we reiect not the forme of fayth that vvas published confirmed in the dedication at Antioch but vve bring forth the same presently sithence that we knowe for suerty that the fathers then agreed vpon this controuersie which concerned the faith but in as much as the clauses of vnity in substance equality in substance disquieted the mindes of sundry men not onely in tymes past but also at this present so that novve also such as affirme the sonne to be vnaequall to the father are sayd to be authors of noueltie therefore haue vve layd aside the clauses of vnitie and aequalitie in substance as words not agreeing with holy Scripture also we accurse the clause of vnaequalitie and hold all the patrons and fauorers thereof for excommunicated persons VVe confesse playnely the likenesse the sonne hath with the father imitating the Apostle vvhere he saith of the sonne who is the image of the inuisible God VVe protest therefore and beleeue in one God the father almighty maker of heauen earth of visible and inuisible things VVe beleeue also in his sonne our Lord Iesus Christ begotten of him before all vvorlds vvithout affection God the vvord of the only begotten God the light the life the trueth the vvisedome by vvhome all things vvere made both in heauen and in earth be they visible or inuisible VVe beleeue that he in the latter dayes tooke flesh of the blessed virgine Mary to the ende he might take avvay the sinnes of the worlde that he vvas made man that he suffred for our sinnes that he rose againe ascended into the heauens sitteth at the right hande of the father and that he shall come againe vvith glorie to iudge both the quicke and the deade VVe beleeue also in the holy Ghost vvhome our Lorde and Sauiour called the comforter promising after his departure to send him to his disciples vvhome also he hath sent by whome he sanctifieth the faithfull in the Churche and such as are baptized in the name of the father and of the sonne and of the holy Ghost all those that besides this fayth shall publishe any other vve doe excommunicate out of the holy and Catholicke Churche This was Acacius creede whereunto both he and his complices as many in number as I reported before subscribed The creede being reade Sophronius Bishop of Pompeiopolis in Paphlagoma stoode vp and spāke agaynst it in this maner for I will vse his owne wordes If that the nevve deuises and dayly inuention of your brayne be layde dovvne for creedes it can not othervvise fall out but that shortly vve shall be founde vvithout one grayne of fayth These as I haue learned were the wordes of Sophronius In my opinion if that his auncetors and such as liued then with him had so settled their myndes as toutchinge the Nicene councell all this sturre and tumultes had quite bene taken away all this hurlyburly this rashe and vnaduised sedition had neuer raygned in the Churche but to what passe these thinges are nowe come let them iudge that can better discerne and geue sentence thereof When they had reasoned toe and fro of this matter and of them that were accused and brawled together a longe whyle at length the councell brake vp The fourth daye they assemble agayne and a freshe they chide one with an other In circumstance of talke Acacius gaue forthe this verditt as followeth If the Nicene creede was once altered of olde and afterwards often ▪ what can you saye to the contrary but that presently a newe forme of fayth without any preiudice at all may be established of vs whereunto Eleusius made answere We are not nowe come to this assemblie for to learne that which we learned before neyther to receaue the fayth which we haue
Origen where the oration of Gregorie in the praise of Origen is layd downe in writing To be short there were foure Gregories first this auncient father the disciple some times of Origen next Gregorie Nazianzene thirdly Gregorie the brother of Basil and the fourth of Alexandria whome the Arians after the exile of Athanasius chose to their bishop Thus much of these men CAP. XXIII The originall of the Nouatian hereticks and how that as many of them as inhabited Phrygia celebrated the feast of Easter after the Iewishe maner ABout that time the Nouatians inhabiting Phrygia chaunged the dayes appoynted by the councell of Nice for the celebration of Easter but howe that came to passe I will declare if that first I lay downe the cause originall why so seuere a canon of the Nouatian church preuailed so much with the Phrygian and Paphlagonian nations Nouatus the priest seuered him selfe from the church of Rome because y ◠Cornelius the bishop receaued into the communion after repentance the faithfull that fell from the church sacrificed vnto Idols in the persecution vnder Decius the Emperour When he had deuided him selfe from y ◠church for the aforesayd cause first he was made bishop of such bishops as were of his opinion next he wrote epistles vnto all churches euery where that they should not receaue as meete partakers of the holy mysteries such as had sacrificed vnto Idolls but exhort them vnto repentance referring y ◠forgeuenes and remission vnto God who is of power and authority sufficient to remit sinne when the letters were brought into euery prouince euery one iudged thereof as pleased him best Because Nouatus had signified that such as after baptisme committed a sinne vnto death were not afterwards to be admitted vnto the communion the publishing of that canon seemed vnto some toe seuere vnto others but right reason auailable also for the direction of godly life Whē this controuersie was tossed toe and fro the letters of Cornelius were sent abroade signifying that there remained hope of pardon for such as had sinned after baptisme They both wrote contrary letters and cōueyed them vnto the churches abroade And whilest that both went about to confirme his opinion with testimonies of holy scripture euery man as the maner is looke where affection lead him there he addicted him selfe For such as were geuen to sinne tooke occasion by the libertie and fauoure that was graunted them went forewardes headlonge into euery shamefull crime The Phrygians are a nation farre more temperate and modest then others for they sweare very seldome The Scythians and Thracians are hotter more prone vnto anger For they that are nearer vnto the rising of the sunne are set more vpon lust concupiscence The Paphlagonians Phrygians are inclined to nere nother of these perturbations For at this daye they vse no running at tilte no such warlike exercise neither doe they vse to pastime them selues with spectacles and stage playes Wherefore these kind of men in myne opinion draw neerest vnto the drift disposition of Nouatus letters Adulterie is counted among them for a detestable and horrible sinne It is well knowen that the Phrygian and Paphlagonian trade of lyfe is farre modester and more chast and continent then any other hereticall sect whatsoeuer I coniecture that they shott at the same modest trade of lyfe which inhabited the west parts of the worlde and leaned to Nouatus opinion Nouatus him selfe though he varyed from the church of Rome by reason of a certaine seuere trade of liuing yet altered not he the tyme appointed for the celebration of Easter For he alwayes obserued the custome of the West churches ▪ and celebrated it as they did For such as lyue there since they were Christians kept alwayes that feast after the Equinoctiallspringe And though Nouatus him selfe was putt to death in the persecution vnder Valerianus yet such as in Phrygia are so called of him for all they are fallen from the faith of the Catholicke churche were licenced to become partakers of his communion at what time they altered the celebration of Easter day For in the village Pazum where the springs of the floode Sangarius are founde ▪ there was a Councell summoned of fewe and the same very obscure Nouatian bishops where they decreed that the maner custome of the Iewes who kept thē dayes of vnleauened bread was to be obserued and that the time appoynted by them was not to be broken This haue we learned of an olde man who was a priests sonne and present at the Councell with his father whereat Agelius the Nouatian byshop of Constantinople was not neyther Maximus of Nice neither the Nouatian bishop of Nicomedia neyther the bishop of Cotuaium who was of the same opinion with the rest for these were they that chiefely layde downe the canons of the Nouatian churches These things were of olde in this sort Not longe after because of this Councell as it shall be shewed in an other place the Nouatian churche was deuided within it selfe CAP. XXIIII Of Damasus bishop of Rome and Vrsinus his deacon of the greate sturre and slaughter that was at Rome because of them NOwe lett vs returne vnto the affaires of the West that were done at the same time When the Emperour Valentinianus lead a peaceable and quiet life molestinge no kinde of sect Damasus succeeded Liberius in the bishopricke of Rome at what time the quiet state of the Romaine church was wonderfully troubled the cause as I could learne was as followeth Vrsinus Deacon of that church in the vacancie of the seae made sute for him selfe agaynst Damasus to be chosen bishop Who seeing that Damasus was preferred and him selfe put backe seeinge also that all his canuasse was to no purpose fell from the church to raysinge of priuate and particular conuenticles and perswaded certaine base and obscure bishops to consecrate him bishop Wherfore they created him not in the open church but in an odde corner of the cathedrall church called Sicona This being done the people was all on an vprore the tumult was not toutchinge y ◠faith or heresie but whether of them both by ryght should be bishop The heat of thronging multitudes was so grieuous and the contention so greate that it cost many their liues For which schisme and rebellion many both of the laytie and cleargie were grieuously tormented by the cōmaundement of Maximmus the gouernour and so was Vrsinus foyled the enterprises of his factiō suppressed CAP. XXV After the death of Auxentius the Arian byshop of Mediolanum when there rose a great schisme about the election of a bishop the which Ambrose Liuetenant of that prouince suppressed he him selfe by the voyce of all that were present and by the consent of the Emperour Valentinianus was chosen Byshop ABout that time an other straunge act fell out at Mediolanum When Auxentius whome y ◠Arians chose to be bishop of
Nyssa a citie also in Cappadocia vnto Otreius Bishop of Meletina a citie of Armenia Amphilochius Bishop of Iconium Optimus Bishop of Antioch in Pisidia tooke the Patriarckshippe of Asia The prouince of Aegypt fell vnto Timothee bishop of Alexandria Pelagius Bishop of Laodicea Diodorus Bishop of Tarsus are appointed ouer the Easterne diocesse reseruing the prerogatiue of honor vnto the churche of Antioch the which thē presently they graunted vnto Meletius They decreed moreouer that if necessity did so require that a prouincial synode should determine prouinciall affaires The Emperour gaue his assent vnto all the aforesayd and thus the councell was dissolued CAP. IX Howe the Emperour Theodosius caused the corps of Paulus late Bishop of Constantinople to be brought from exile with great honor at what time Meletius Bishop of Antioch departed this life ABout that time the corps of Paulus the Bishop whome as I said before Philip the Emperours Liuetenant throught the procurement of Macedonius sent to exile vnto Cucusum a citie of Armenia there stifled to death was conueyed by the Emperours commaundemēt from Ancyra to Cōstantinople and there receaued with great honor in the church which beareth his name vnto this day the which church was vnto that time frequented of the Macedonians who seuered themselues from the Arians but then were thrust out by the Emperour because they refused to be of his faith opinion At that time Meletius Bishop of Antioch fell sicke died Gregorie the brother of Basil preached at his funerall His corps was caried of his friends into Antioch there interred Againe the fauorers of Meletius would not be vnder Paulinus iurisdiction but chose Flauianus to their bishop in the rowme of Meletius Whereupon the people again were at discorde and fell to raising of tumults and dissentiō And because of that the church of Antioch was deuided againe not about the faith but about their fond contention in choosinge of Bishops CAP. X. Howe the Emperour when his sonne Arcadius was created Augustus summoned together a Synode of all sectes and opinions He banished all heretickes the Nouatians onely excepted because they embraced the fayth of one substance WHen the Arians were banished the churches the flame of tumult and schisme flashed about in euery congregation I can not chuse but wonder at the Emperours aduise and pollicy therein For he suffred not this seditiō to raigne very long throughout y ◠cities but with speede he summoned a councell charging that all sects opiniōs whatsoeuer should meet together supposinge verily that by conference and communication had betwene them selues they would at length be brought to establish one faith and opinion The which drift and good meaning of his as I suppose was cause directer of all his prosperous successes For then it fel out through the prouidence procurement of almighty God that all the Barbarians were at peace within his dominions rebelled not at all but yelded themselues vnto the Emperiall seepter for example Athanarichus the valiaunt captaine of the Gotthes came in withall his power shortly after died at Constantinople The Emperour created Arcadius his sonne Augustus in y ◠seconde Consulship of Merogandus the first of Saturninus the sixteenth of Ianuarie shortly after all bishops of euery sect out of all prouinces came thither in y ◠sayd Cōsulship but the moneth of Iune The Emperour sent for Nectarius Bishop of Constantinople reasoned with him howe he might rid y ◠Christiā religiō of y ◠discorde dissention howe it were possible to reduce y ◠church vnto vnitie he sayd further that y ◠controuersies quarells which molested y ◠quiete state of y ◠church rent asunder y ◠membres of Christ were to be sifted out y ◠punishments to light vpō their pates y ◠were founde the authors of schisme and disturbers of peace quietnes Nectarius hearing of this was wonderfull sadd pensiue he called vnto him Agelius the Nouatiā Bishop who embraced together w t him y ◠faith of one substāce opened vnto him y ◠mind purpose of y ◠Emperour He although otherwise a rare singuler man yet was he no body in controuersies of religion disputation of ecclesiasticall matters but appointed Sisinius a reader of his church to reason with them in his steade Sisinius an eloquent man well experienced in all thinges askilfull interpretor of holy Scripture a notable Philosopher knowinge full well that disputations woulde not onely not reconcile schismes but also fire the slymie matter of contention raygning in the rotten bowells of heretickes therefore he aduised Nectarius in this sorte that it was not best to deale with them logicall wise with the frubushinge of schoole pointes but to lay flat before them the formes of faith established by our auncetors he knewe of a surety that the Elders had taken heede lest they should assigne vnto the sonne of God a begininge of essence because they were of the opinion that the sonne of God was coeternall with the father and that the Emperour shoulde demaunde of the ringleaders of the hereticks whether they made any accompt of those aunciente fathers who gouerned the church godly and prudentely before the schisme and diuision or whether they condemned thē as aliens and farre estraunged frō the Christian faith If they reiect them then let them boldely pronounce them accursed if they presume so bolde an enterprise then will the common people crie out against them This beinge done the trueth after such triall no doubt will preuayle If they reiect not the auncient fathers thē let vs alleadge theyr workes and wrytinges and confirme the matter in controuersie out of them Nectarius beinge thus counselled by Sisinius gotte him with speede vnto the Emperoures pallace made the Emperour priuey vnto these circumstances He thinketh well of the aduise and compasseth the matter circumspectly At the first he concealed his drift required of them to tell him whether they esteemed and allowed of the fathers which gouerned the churche before the diuision or no When as they confessed as much in effect and sayd that they highly reuerenced them for their maisters the Emperoure demaunded of them againe whether they woulde be tried by theyr testimonies toutchinge the true and right faith the sectes and factious Bishoppes together with the Logicians then presente for they had broughte with them many well prepared for disputation hearinge this knewe not what answer to make They were deuided amonge themselues while that some helde with the Emperoure and some other affirmed that it was altogether contrarye to their mind and purpose for y ◠diuerse opinion they conceaued of the aunciēt fathers distracted their mindes one from the other So that not onely the opinion was diuerse among contrary sects but such as were of one opiniō were deuided among themselues Wherefore theyr linked malice was no otherwise then the confuse language of those auncient Giaunts and the turret
they call forty dayes fastinge or Lent Others some contrary to the aforesayde customes beginne to fast seuen weekes before Easter yet in all that whyle they vse abstinence but onely fifteene dayes pausing betweene euery of them and these fewe dayes they call forty dayes fastinge or Lent so that I can not chuse but maruell for all that they differ in the number of dayes yet all ioyntly doe call euery of their obseruations forty dayes fastinge or Lent Others some haue deriued the Etymologie of this worde as it pleased them best and accordinge vnto the inuention of their owne brayne Neyther is this difference onely about the number of the dayes but also a greate diuersitie in the kindes of meate For some doe abstayne from euery liuinge creature some other of all the liuinge creatures feede onely vpon fishe others together with fishe feede vpon the foules of the ayre affirminge as Moses doth write that their originall is of the water others some eate neyther nutts neither aples neyther any other kinde of fruite nor egges neither some feede onely vpon drye breade some other receaue no not that There are some that when they haue fasted vntill nyne of the clocke they refreshe nature with diuerse sortes of meates Other nations haue other customes the maner and causes are infinite But in somuch there is no man able to shewe a president or recorde thereof in writinge it is playne that the Apostles left free choyce and libertie vnto euery man at his owne discretion without feare compulsion and constraynte to addicte him selfe vnto that whiche seemed good and commendable Wee knowe for moste certayne that this diuersitie of fastinge is rife throughout the worlde Againe toutching the Communion there are sundry obseruations and customes for though in maner all the Churches throughout the whole worlde doe celebrate and receaue the holy mysteries euery Sabaoth daye after the other yet the people inhabitinge Alexandria and Rome of an olde tradition doe not vse it The Aegyptians adioyninge vnto Alexandria together with the inhabitours of Thebais vse to celebrate the Communion vpon the Sundaye yet doe they not receaue the Communion as the maner is among the Christians For when they haue banquetted and crommed them selues with sundry delicate and daynty dishes in the Eueninge after seruice they vse to communicate Agayne at Alexandria vpon the Thursdaye and Frydaye the Scriptures are read the Interpretours expounde them all the solemnitie for the Communion is accomplished yet the Communion then not receaued And this is an olde and an auncient custome at Alexandria It is well knowen that Origen florished in those dayes in the Churche who beinge a wise and discreete Doctor and Expounder of holy Scripture perceauing that the preceptes of Moses lawe coulde in no wise be litterally vnderstoode gaue forthe of the Passeouer a mysticall and more diuine kynde of interpretation that there was but one onely true Passeouer or Easter the whiche our Sauiour effectually solemnized at his naylinge to the tree when he encountred with the power of darkenes and triumphed ouer the Deuill and all his workes Agayne the Readers and Interpreters of holy Scripture at Alexandria be they Cathecumenists or baptized it forceth not when as the custome in other contreyes and Churches is to admitt none into that function vnlesse he be firste baptized I remember my selfe an other custome which preuayleth and is of force in Thessalia that if there he whiche is a Priest after the receauinge of orders doe keepe company with his wife the whiche he maryed beinge a laye man he is forthewith deposed of the ministerye yea when as all the famous Priestes througheout the Easterne partes of the worlde and the Bishopes also refrayne the company of their wiues at their owne choyse without lawe or compulsion For many of them notwithstandinge the administration and gouernement of their Bishoprickes begett children also on their lawefull wiues The autor and ringeleader of that custome in Thessalia was Theodorus a Prieste of Triua a citye of that contrey the wryter of those wanton and amorous bookes the whiche he made in the pryme of his florishinge youthe and intituled Aethiopica They retayne the same obseruation and custome at Thessalonica Macedonia and Hellas in Achaia I remember they haue an other custome in Thessalia that is they baptize onely on the Easter holydayes and therefore very many die without baptisme The Church of Antioch in Syria is situated contrary to other Churches for the altare standes not to the East but towards the West In Hellas Ierusalem and Thessalia seruice is sayd with candell light after the maner of the Nouatians at Constantinople In like sort at Caesarea in Cappadocia and at Cyprus the priests and Bishops doe preach and expounde holy Scripture at euening prayer on the Saturdayes and Sundayes by candle light The Nouatians of Hellespontus haue not the same order and maner of seruice as the Nouatians of Constantinople yet for the most part they imitate the chiefe churches among them To be short amonge the customes and obseruations of all sects and religions we shall not be able to finde two which follow and retaine one order of seruice Moreouer at Alexandria the inferior priest doth not vse to preach that order first beganne when Arius turned vpside downe the quiet estate of the Churche At Rome they faste euery Saturdaye At Caesarea in Cappadocia after the maner of the Nouatians they receaue not into the communion such as sinne after baptisme Euen so doe the Macedonians in Hellespontus and such as throughout Asia doe celebrate the feast of Easter the fouretenth day of the moneth The Nouatians throughout Phrygia allowe not of seconde mariages such as of them inhabite Constantinople doe neither receaue it neither reiect it againe such as are in y â— West partes of y â— world admit it wholly The originalls and autors of so great a diuersitie were Bishops which gouerned the Churches at diuerse and seuerall times such as like of these rites doe commende them vnto the posteritie for lawes But to penne in paper the infinite and diuerse ceremonies and customes throughout cities and contreyes woulde be a very tedious peece of worke and scarse nay vnpossible to be done This much already layd downe may seeme a sufficient treatise for to proue that the celebration of the feaste of Easter beganne euery where more of custome then by commaundement either of Christ or any Apostle Wherfore their talke sauoreth not of the trueth their report is to no good purpose which say that the Nicene Councell sett the maner of celebrating this feast out of square For the bishops of that assembly endeuored with all might possible to reconcile the lesser number with the greater which varied from them Neither were the Apostles times without such broyles and dissentions neither were they themselues ignorant hereof as it appeareth by the Acts of the Apostles for when the Apostles vnderstoode
raysed of Iohn For the cōspiracie and wayte he layd for Iohn could do longer be concealed and though it was diuersly found out yet specially in that he cōmunicated with Dioscorus and his brethren called Longe immediatly after the deposition of Iohn Seuerianus also as he preached in the church thought now he had fit opportunitie geuen him to inuey against Iohn he sayde playnely though Iohn were conuicted of no crime yet was he iustly deposed for his insolent and hautie behauiour that all sinnes were to be forgiuen yet as holy scripture bare witnesse that God resisted the proude With the hearinge of these and suche lyke contumelious phrases recited the people was the more prone to contention Wherefore the Emperour in all the hast caused Iohn agayne to be sent for and to returne to Constantinople Briso being the messenger he was an Eunuche of the Empresse found him at Prenetum a mart towne ouer agaynst Nicomedia and brought him to Constantinople But for all he was thus called home from exile yet purposed he with him selfe not to treade within the citie afore he were proued and founde innocent by the censure of the hygher Iudges therefore he continewed a whyle in the suburbes called Marianae When that he lyngered from returnynge into the Cytie the multitude tooke it grieuouslye and forthwith fell a reuilinge of the Magistrates Wherefore of necessitie he was constrayned to come home the people went forth to meete him they bring him to the church w t great reuerence they request him to continew their bishop and thenceforth after the vsuall maner to praye for the peace and prosperous estate of the church of God When that he refused so to doe and pleaded for him selfe that it must not so be afore his cause were hearde of indifferent Iudges the deposers had chaunged their mind absolued him they were the more desirous for they longed to see him stalled againe in the bishops seae and preache afreshe vnto the people To be short the people cōpelled him so to doe When that Iohn was placed in the bishops seate and prayed after the accustoined maner for peace vnto the people and congregations throughout the worlde he was constrayned also to preache The which thinge ministred occasion vnto the aduersaries to accuse him againe although for a while they suffred it to lye for deade CAP. XV. Howe that when Theophilus woulde haue Heraclides matter hearde in his absence and Iohn resisted it the citizens of Constantinople and Alexandria went together by the eares so that Theophilus with other bishops was fayne to leaue the citie and flye away IN the meane space Theophilus went craftely aboute for to call into question the consecratinge of Heraclides to the ende he myght thereby if it were possible finde matter to charge Iohn afreshe and so to depose him the seconde tyme. Heraclides for all he was not present yet they proceede againste him they laye to his charge that he had iniustly punished certaine persons imprisoned them last of all lead them throughout the open streetes of Ephesus to be ignominiously derided When Iohn made answere that of ryght no man ought to be iudged in his absence without the presence of the partie and the hearinge of his owne cause the people of Alexandria brged very earnestly that the accusers of Heraclides were to be hearde for all he him selfe were absent Herevpon there rose greate strife and contention betweene the citizens of Constantinople and the inhabitants of Alexandria And while they skirmishe one with the other many were sore wounded and diuers also presently dispatched When the heade of this combatt was past and the trueth come to light Theophilus gott him in all the hast to Alexandria the other bishops ranne likewise away fewe onely excepted which helde with Iohn and repaired euery one to his owne bishopricke After that these thinges were thus come to passe euery man was readie to speake ill of Theophilus The hatred grew and increased agaynst him dayly because he sticked not studiously to peruse the workes of Origen secretly though openly he condemned them And being demaunded why he made so much of the bookes he had lately condemned his answere was that the bookes of Origen were like meddowes clad with euery kinde of flowers therefore sayeth he if I finde in them ought that is good I cull it out if otherwise bryers or brambles I sett nought by them because of their prickes This was the answere of Theophilus when he called not to remembrance the saying of the wise man that the wordes and counsells of sages resemble very much prickinge thornes and that such as are toutched therewith ought not to kicke agaynste the pricke The aforesayde causes made Theophilus to be hated of all men Dioscorus Bishop of Hermopolis one of these religious men which commonly were called Longe departed this lyfe shortly after the departure of Theophilus into Alexandria and enioyed an honorable funerall at the Church called the Oke where the Councell was summoned for the hearinge of Iohns cause Iohn gaue him selfe wholly to teache and to preache vnto the people he made Serapion who had procured vnto him great hatred bishop of Heraclea a citie of Thracia CAP. XVI Howe the picture of Eudoxia was erected all of siluer with playes and spectacles Iohn reprehended the authors that did the whole was therfore banished SHortly after such things as followe ensued A siluer picture couered with a mantell of Eudoxia the Empresse was set vp vpon a pillour of redd marble The place of this erected pillour was not very nygh the church called VVisdome neither very farte of onely the broade streete went betwene the picture the church There were cōmon playes showes as the maner was celebrated Iohn supposing verely that these things redounded to the great sclaunder and infamie of Christian religion not forgetting his wonted audacitie and libertie of speache prepared him selfe for the authors therof and in steede of the exhortation he should haue vsed to the perswasion or rather the reformation of the princes and magistrates he skoffed with nipping tauntes at such as had caused those vanities to be solemnized The Empresse likewise applying these things to her selfe supposing that all was vttered to her disgrace and reproche procured an other Councell of bishops to be called together agaynst him Iohn vnderstanding of this made that famous notable sermon in the church which beginneth in this sort Herodias rageth afreshe stomacketh anewe daunceth againe seeketh as yet the head of Iohn in a platter This sermon made the Empresse mad set her on fire against him Not long after the bishops met there together Leontius bishop of Ancyra in Galatia the lesser Ammonius bishop of Laodicea a citie in Pisidia Briso bishop of Philippis in Thracia Acacius bishop of Beroea in Syria w t diuers others The accusers which lately charged Iohn with haynous crimes are nowe brought forth before these bishops Iohn trusting to the iust
byshoppricke and banished the companie of clergie men CAP. V. Howe Iohn byshop of Antioch came fifteene dayes after and deposed Cyrill byshop of Alexandria of his byshopricke together with Memnon byshop of Ephesus whome of the contrarie side the councell absolued remouing Iohn with his company and in the ende howe that Cyrill and Iohn by the meanes of the Emperour Theodosius letters became friends and ratified the depriuation of Nestorius When they had pronounced the aforesaid most iust sentence Iohn byshop of Antioch fiue dayes after the depriuation of Nestorius came to Ephesus together with the priests and byshops of his diocesse called together his clergie and deposed both Cyrill and Memnon Afterwardes when Cyrill and Memnon had exhibited supplications vnto the councell assembled with them though Socrates peraduenture vnacquainted with the circumstance report it otherwise Iohn was called of them to render an accompt why he deposed the byshops and being cited thrise came not at all Then Cyrill and Memnon were absolued and Iohn with his clergie excommunicated and depriued of al priestly autoritie but when Theodosius who at the first misliked with the deposing of Nestorius yet afterwardes vnderstanding fully of his blasphemous opinion consented thereunto had sent his gracious and godly letters vnto Cyrill of Alexandria and to Iohn of Antioch they became friends and ratified the sentence pronounced against Nestorius CAP. VI. The comming of Paulus byshop of Emisa into Alexandria and the commendation which Cyrill gaue vnto the epistle of Iohn ABout the same time when Paulus byshop of Emisa came to Alexandria and pronounced in the Churche the sermon which at this day is extant in the worlde and beareth his name Cyrill byshop of Alexandria extolled the epistle which Iohn had sent vnto him and wrote back againe as followeth Let the heauens reioyce and let the earth be glad the midwal of rankor is battered downe the boylinge choler which bereaued the mindes of quietnes is purged from among vs al the occasiō of discord discention is banished away for our sauiour Iesus Christ graunted peace vnto the Churches vnder heauen and the most vertuous and holy emperours haue perswaded yea and compelled vs thereunto who by imitating with great zeale the godly steppes of their auncesters doe firmely retaine in their mindes the true and syncere fayth prouiding with singuler care for the profite and furtherance of the holy Churche so that thereby they purchase vnto them selues an immortall fame and set forth the glorie of their imperiall scepter whome the Lorde of hostes doth so liberally rewarde and so bountifully recompence with diuine graces and benefites that they are wont not onely to foyle the enemies but all wayes to winne of them the renowmed garland of victorie Neither is it possible that God shoulde lye which saith As truely as I liue I doe glorifie them which glorifie me ▪ but when the Lorde our brother and most godly fellovve byshop Paulus came to Alexandria I was vvonderfull glad for I coulde not otherwise chuse because that he being a notable man became a meane laboured in preaching beyond the reache of his strength to th ende he might ouercome the enuie of Satan couple together in loue the loose and seuered members of the Churche and reduce our Church in like sort with yours vnto peace and vnitie Immediately after he wrote as followeth Now I am fully perswaded that the quarrell which rose in the Church was fond and beganne vpon light occasion in so much my most vertuous Lord Paulus the byshopp brought letters vnto me comprising a sound and syncere protestation of the faith the which he auoutched to haue bene written of your holinesse and of the most godly byshops whiche are of your prouince The forme and phrases of Cyrills epistle were as is aforesayde but toutching the clause which signified the mother of God there was written as followeth VVhen we had perused the godly sentences and clauses within contained and perceaued plainely that you were of one minde and opinion with vs for there is but one Lorde one fayth one baptisme we rendered vnto God diuine prayses who is the conseruer of the whole worlde and presently we conceaue exceeding ioye seeing that as well your Churches as ours being driuen thereunto partly by the force and power of the holy scriptures and partly also by tradition deliuered vnto vs of our most holy fathers doe embrace one faith and opinion Who so euer will diligently sift out the true histories of those times will easily attaine vnto the knowledge of the aforesaide CAP. VII Of many thinges whiche Nestorius reported in writing of him selfe and howe in the ende his tongue whiche vttered blasphemie was eaten vp of wormes in the Isle Oasis where he departed this life HOwe Nestorius was exiled what afterwardes became of him the manner of his ende and the punishments he endured for his blasphemous opiniō are not laid downe in writing of such as deliuered his life vnto the worlde all whiche in processe and continuance of time would quite haue bene forgotten and not once remembred had not I by meere chaunce lighted on a certen Pamphlet written by Nestorius him selfe where the aforesaid are rehearsed at large Wherfore Nestorius the father of blasphemy builded not vpon the sure and setled fundation but vpon the sand which according vnto the parable of our sauiour is subiect to speedy ruine ouerthrowe besides sundry other his shifts wherby he laboured to defend his blasphemous sentēces he wrote vnto such as charged him with y e raising of rash vnaduised nouelties with his fonde request for the summoning of y e coūcel at Ephesus that he was driuen of necessity to do as he did seing the church was deuided and y t the one side affirmed Mary was to be called the mother of man y e other the mother of God I said he of my part do speake vnfainedly to th end I might not erre in either side by affirming either that he was not mortall subiect to death or of the other side by saying he was not immortal haue deuised that Mary should be called the mother of christ furthermore in y e aforesaid pamphlet of his first of all he declareth how Theodosius ratified not his depriuation because of y e entire loue affection he bare towards him againe after y e certain byshops of either side were sent in Embassie frō Ephesus vnto Theodosius y e emperour for so y e emperour had willed y t he had licence giuen him to returne vnto his monastery being before y e gates of Antioch which now is called Theopolis y e name whereof Nestorius hath not laid downe yet as I learne it was called Euprepius monastery sure I am it stood before y e gates of Antioch not two furlongs of Nestorius reporteth y t he made there his abode y e terme of foure yeres y t he was highly reuerēced y t he receaued many presēts afterwards y t
layde vnto thy charge camest not knowe that for all the aforesayde thou art deposed by this holye and generall councell the thirteenth daye of this present October of thy byshopricke and bereaued of all Ecclesiasticall right and title These thynges beinge registred and sent also vnto the godlye byshops of the moste holye Churche of Alexandria and the decree agaynste Dioscorus openly proclaimed that session brake vp and so ended But afterwards they sate againe and first they aunswered the senators who had desired to be satisfied as touchinge the true and right faith next they affirmed that there was nothinge to be done concerninge Eutyches for the byshop of Rome had made a â—â—nall end and conclusion thereof and therein they were all agreed moreouer when all the byshops seemed very willing and the senators exhorted euery patriarch that one or other of euery their seuerall prouinces shoulde stande vp to th ende the opinions of them all might throughly be knowen Florentius byshop of Sardis craued their fauour that with aduise and after deliberation taken they might attaine vnto the trueth and Cecropius byshop of Sebastopolis saide The faith is both notablye sett forth by three hundred and eyghteene holye fathers confirmed afterwardes by the godlye fathers Athanasius Cyrill Celestinus Hilarius Basil and Gregory and nowe againe approued by moste holye Leo. VVherefore our requeste is that the creede of the three hundred holye fathers and of the moste holye Leo may be reade Beinge reade all the councell cryed This is the fayth of the true professors we are all of this fayth This is the fayth of Pope Leo this is the fayth of Cyrill thus hath the Pope interpreted Againe when they had reasoned amonge them selues for the readinge of the fayth which the hundred and fifty holye fathers publyshed in the councell helde at Constantinople it was also reade Then the whole councell cryed agayne This is the fayth of the true professors thus we doe all beleeue After the finishinge of all the premises Aetius the Archedeacon sayde I haue here at hande the Epistle of holye Cyrill written vnto Nestorius the whiche all the byshopes in the councell helde at Ephesus confyrmed wyth their seuerall subscriptions I haue here also an other Epistle of the same Cyrill written vnto Iohn byshope of Antioche and confirmed lykewyse will it please you to geeue them the hearinge When euerye one had spoken his pleasure of them they were both reade we haue thought good presently to laye downe here some portion of the former it was reade as followeth Vnto Nestorius the most reuerend and his most holy collegue Cyrill sendeth greetinge THere are as I am geuen to vnderstande certaine men whiche labour and that verye often altogether to discreditt me with your holinesse this they doe specially when they see worthye men and magistrates oftentimes meetinge together supposinge peraduenture that you will be pleased with the hearing of such thinges Againe after a fewe lines he saith The holy and famous councel affirmeth that he which is naturally begotten of God the father is the onely begotten sonne true God of true God light of light by whom the father made all things that he came downe from heauen that he was incarnate and made man that he suffred rose againe the third day ascended into the heauens It behoueth vs to yeelde and condescend vnto these articles vnto this doctrine and to search out with al the gifts we haue what is ment by being incarnate what is vnderstood by saying that the worde of God became flesh for we doe not say that the worde of God by chaunginge the nature thereof became flesh neither by conuersion into wholl man which consisteth of body soule but this rather that the worde according vnto the subsisteÌ„cy or being therof coupling vnto it selfe liuing flesh endued with a reasonable soule became man in such sort as may neither be expressed in worde neither conceaued by thought that he was called the soÌ„ne of man not according vnto will onely or in that it so pleased his goodnes neither onely by taking vpon him the person or because contrarie natures were coupled together in true vnitye but that one Christ and one sonne consisted of two natures not that the difference of the natures was taken away by reason of the vnity but that the diuinitye and humanitye after an vnspeakeable and secret couplinge and meetinge together made one Lorde Christe and the sonne After the enterlacinge of certayne other thinges he annexed thereunto as followeth Because he came of a woman and coupled mans nature vnto him selfe according vnto his subsistencie and that for our sake and for our saluation therefore is he said to haue bene borne after the fleshe for he was not first of all after the common generation borne of the virgine Mary then the worde of God entred into him but was coupled with the flesh in the matrix and is said to haue bene borne after the flesh as one that made the birth of his flesh proper to him selfe In like sort we say that he suffred rose againe not that God the word suffred in his owne nature either stripes or the print of nayles or other vexations for the godhead being without body is impatible but that the body being made proper vnto him suffred and so is he saide to haue suffred these thinges for our sakes for there was in the bodye which suffred that which coulde not suffer But so muche out of the first epistle touchinge the second we layde downe a good part thereof in the first booke of our Ecclesiasticall historie which went before in the epistle of Iohn byshopp of Antioch there is suche a protestation layde downe as followeth and confirmed with the testimonie of Cyrill VVe confesse that the holy virgine is the mother of God because God the worde tooke fleshe and manhood of her and coupled vnto him selfe by the conception the temple which he tooke of her Neyther are we ignorant that godly men inspired from aboue haue partly affirmed that the phrases which coÌ„cerned the Lord and were laid downe by the Euangelists and Apostles were vttered of one person and partly deuided them into seuerall portions as written of two natures and partly also confessed that they were diuine and spoken onely of the diuinitye of Christe Vnto this of Iohn Cyrill addeth of his owne VVhen we had perused these your godly sentences and clauses within contained and perceaued plainely that you were of one minde and opinion with vs for there is but one Lord one fayth one baptisme we reÌ„dred vnto god diuine praises who is the coÌ„seruer of the whol world and presently we conceaue exceedinge ioy seeinge that as well your Churches as ours beinge driuen thereunto partly by the force and power of the holy scriptures and partly also by tradition deliuered vnto vs of our most holy fathers doe embrace one fayth and opinion After the readinge of these Epistles they that
this also howe certaine trauelers in whose company Symeon was lefte behinde them a childe about midnighte a Lion came and tooke vp the childe on his backe and brought him to Symeons Monastery Symeon bad the seruaunts go forth and take in the childe which the Lion had caried thither He did many other notable actes which haue neede of an eloquente tongue leasure conuenient and a peculiar volume all which are well knowen and rife in euery mans mouth There resorted vnto him of all nations not only Romains but also Barbarians and obtayned there sutes This Symeon in steede of meate and drinke fedde vpon certaine bowes of shrubbes that grewe in the mountaine harde by him CAP. XXIII The death of Gregorie Bishop of Antioch SHortly after Gregorie Bishop of Antioch being sore pained with the gowte tooke a certaine medicen made of Hermodactylus for so was it called the which a certaine phisicion ministred vnto him and after the drinkinge thereof died immediatlye He departed this worlde when Gregorie the successor of Pelagius was Bishop of Olde Rome Iohn of Constantinople Eulogius of Alexandria Anastasius of Theopolis who after twenty and three yeares was restored vnto his Bishopricke and also when Iohn was Bishop of Ierusalem which died shortely after and as yet there is none chosen in his rowme Here doe I minde to cut of and make an end of wryting to wit the twelfe yeare of the raygne of Mauricius Tiberius Emperour of Rome leauing such things as followe after for them that are disposed to penne them for the posterity in time to come If I haue omitted ought through negligence or lightly runne ouer any matter let no man blame me therefore remēbringe with him selfe that I gathered and collected together a scattered and dispersed historie to the end I might profitt the reader for whose sake I tooke in hande so greate and so werysome a labour I haue finished an other worke comprisinge relations Epistles decrees orations disputations with sundry other matters The relations therein contayned are for the most parte in the person of Gregorie Bishop of Antioch For the which I was preferred vnto two honorable offices Tiberius Constantinus made me Quaestor Mauricius Tiberius preferred me to be maister of the Rolles where the Liuetenants and Magistrats were registred The relations I compiled duringe his raygne at what tyme he broughte Theodosius to lighte who was bothe vnto him and to the common weale a preamble or entrance to all kinde of felicity The ende of the sixt booke of the Ecclesiasticall historie of Euagrius Scholasticus THE LIVES THE ENDS AND THE MARTYRDOMES OF THE PROPHETES APOSTLES AND SEVENTYE DISCIPLES OF OVR SAVIOVR WRITTEN IN GREEKE by Dorotheus Bishop of Tyrus aboue a thousand yeares agoe and nowe translated by M. H. Imprinted at London by Thomas Vautroullier dwelling in the Blackefriers 1577. THE LIFE OF DOROTHEVS GATHERED by the Translator DOrotheus vvas a rare and singular man vvell seene in the Latine Greeke and Hebrevv tongues He flourished in the time of Diocletian Constantinus Magnus Constātius Iulian the Apostata Eusebius Pamphilus one that knevve him very vvell heard his gift of vtterance vvryteth thus of him Dorotheus minister of the Church of Antioch vvas a very eloquent and singular man He applied holye Scripture diligentlye he studied the Hebrevve tongue so that he reade vvith great skill the holy Scriptures in Hebrevve This man came of a noble race He vvas expert in the chiefe discipline of the Grecians by nature an Eunuche so disposed from his natiuitye For vvhich cause the Emperour for rarenesse thereof appropriated him placing and preferringe him to be magistrate in the citie of Tyrus and to ouersee the dieing of purple VVe heard him our selues expounding holy Scripture vvith greate commendation in the Church of God So farre Eusebius Antonius Demochares saith of him that he vvas exiled in the persecution vnder Diocletian and that he returned from banishment after the death of Diocletian and Licinius and recouered his Bishopricke againe vvhere he continevved vnto the raygne of Iulian about the yeare of our Lord 365. And because Iulian persecuted not the Christians openly him selfe but secretly by his gouernours and Magistrates Dorotheus vvas faine againe to flie vnto the city of Odissus vvhere as Petrus de Natalibus vvriteth the officers of Iulian apprehended him and tormented him to death for his testimony of Christ Iesus There he died and vvas crovvned Martyr being a hundred and seuen yere old An. Dom. 366. Of his vvorkes there is none extant saue this treatise contayning the liues and endes of the Prophetes Apostles and seuenty Disciples of our sauiour mentioned in the Gospell after Luke the vvhich he entitled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by translation a compendium or briefe tract THE TRANSLATOR VNTO THE READER TOVTCHING DOROTHEVS AND THE LIVES HE WROTE OF BY this short treatise of DOROTHEVS Christian reader we may take occasion to beholde the prouidence of God ouer his Churche scattered farre and nigh ouer the face of the earth and to praise him therefore in so much that of his great care and entire loue the inheritors of the kingdome of heauen his chosen people the Sainctes of God whose names were written in the booke of life were neuer left desolate without guides and teachers Adam in Paradise hearde the voyce of God himself there followed him such as called vpō the name of God erected diuine worship and taught their posteritie the same namely Abel Seth Enos Cainan Malalael Iared Enoch Mathusalem Lamech and Noe whome Peter calleth the eight person after Seth the sonne of Adam and a preacher of righteousnes When as the olde worlde and the first age numbred from Adam to Noe I meane as many as liued in his time were drowned for the sinnes iniquities of the whole world yet saued he eight persons to reueale his will vnto all nations to vphold his Church to multiply and to encrease the world In the secōd age of the world after Noe there liued Sem Arphaxad Sale Heber Phaleg Reu Saruch Nachor Thare Abraham vnto whom God rekoned faith as S. Paule saith for righteousnes In the third age of the world after Abraham liued Isaac Iacob otherwise called Israel with the twelue patriarchs Ruben Simeon Leui Iuda Zabulon Issachar Dan Gad Aser Nepthali Ioseph Beniamin Threescore and fiue yeares after the death of Ioseph Moses was borne He gouerned Israel he guided the people God gaue him three signes from heauen to confirme his doctrine to assure him of his vocation ▪ he receaued the ten cōmaundements the law of God in moūt Sina deliuered it vnto the people him succeeded Iosue after Iosue captains Iudges namely Othoniel Aod Debora Barach Gedeon Abimelech Thola Iair Iepthe Abesan AElon Abdon Samson Heli the priest Samuel the prophet iudged Israel After these came in the kings good bad Saule Dauid c. In the fourth age of the
of the virgine but that the worde became flesh Epiphan haeres 76. 77. 365. Iulian succeded ConstaÌ„tius in the empire he heard at ConstaÌ„tinople Macedonius the Eunuch Niâ—ôcles the Laconian Ecebolius the sophist CoÌ„stantius fearinge he woulde fall froÌ„ christian religion into heathenish idolatrie sente him to Nicomedia charging him nor to treade in the schoole of Libanius yet by stelthe he resorted vnto him and read his heathenishe doctrine When the Emperour suspected his disposition IuliaÌ„ shaued him selfe and became a reader in a certaine churche yet after the Emperours death the obtayninge of the empire he became an Apostata he banished the Christians out of his court entertained in steede of theÌ„ philosophers coniurers Not longe after being the third yere of his raigne he was slayne in a battayle whiche he gaue the Persians An arrowe was shot at hiÌ„ which pearced him in the ribbs and gaue him his deaths wounde Some say it was one of his owne seruants some other that it was a fugitiue Persian some other saye that it was a deuell some doe write that he tooke the daâ—te out of his side threwe it all bloodie into the ayre cryed O Galilaean meaning Christ thou hast ouercome Socra lib. 3. cap. 1. 9. 10. 18. Sozomen lib. 6. cap. 2. Theodo lib. 3. cap. 25. Iouianus a godly maÌ„ one that mayntayned the Nicene creede was Experour after Iulian. He raygned no longer then seaueÌ„ moneths but he dyed Socrat. lib. 3. cap. 19. 20. 22. Macedonius Theodulus Tatianus were broyled to death in the time of Iulian. Socrat lib. 3. cap. 13. Theodorus was sore tormented Socrat. lib. 3. cap. 16. A councell held at AlexaÌ„dria by Athanasius after his returne from exile in the time of Iulian where the Arians Apollinarians Macedonians were condeÌ„ned Socrat lib. 3. ca. 5. A couÌ„cel held at LampsacuÌ„ 7. yeares after the couÌ„cell of Seleucia wher the AriaÌ„s were condemned Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 2. 4. A councell of bishops in Sicilia condemned the AriaÌ„s Soc. lib. 4. cap. 11. Iohn was b. of Ierusalem after Cyrill Socrat lib. 2. cap. 25. Dorotheus Paulinus and Euagrius beig godly meÌ„ were chosen by the people yet notsuffred to continew  Massiliani were idle monks whome the deuell had possessed they sayde that the bodie of Christ in the sacrament did neither good neyther harme they sayde baptisme was to no purpose Leotius b. of Melitena draue the theeues out of their dennes the wolues from among the sheepe sett their monasteries on fire Theodoreâ— lib. 4. cap. 11. these hereticks were called also Euchitae so called because of their coÌ„tinewaâ— prayinge It is a wonder sayeth Augustine to heare what a number of prayers they runne ouer muche like vnto the late mumblinge of prayers vpon beades where Christ sayd Praye alwayes and Sainct Paul Pray without intermission which is deuoutly to be taken for euery day they doe it to much therfore sayeth Augustine to be numbred among heretickes They saye when the soule is purged that a sowe with her pigges is seene to come out of mans mouth and that a visible fire entreth in whiche burneth not these Euchits did thinke that it appertayned not vnto the monkes to get theyr lyuinge with the sweate of their browes but to lyue idlye Epiphanius sayth that wheÌ„ Luppicianus the Praetor executed some of them for their lewdnesse they called them selues Marryrianos Some of them thoughte that it was they re duetie to worshippe the deuell lest he shoulde hurte them these were called Sataniani If ye called any of them Christ a Patriarche a Prophet or an Angell he woulde answere that he was so They slepte like swine men and women all in one heape August lib. de haeres Epiphan haeres 80. These MassiliaÌ„s were coÌ„demned in the generall councell held at Ephesus in the tyme of Theodosius iunior Cyrill lib. Apologet.   Artemius a noble man beheaded for the faith Theodor lib. 3. cap. 18. The MeletiaÌ„s esseÌ„bled at An tioche where they layde down the Macedonian opinion of the sonne of God iump betwene the Arians the true christians where they proued theÌ„ selues neutrans Ier. chro Socr. li. 3. cap. 8.  Dorotheus tooke possession of the bishopricke the seconde time and coÌ„tinewed ther a good while Democh. Socrat lib. 4. cap 28.      A councell at Laodicea anno Domini 368. decreed that the laytie shold not chuse the priest that lessoÌ„s shold be read in the church betwene certen Psalmes that seruice should be morning euening that the Gospel should be reade with other Scriptures on the sunday that leÌ„t should religiously be obserued without marieÌ„g solemnizinge the feastes of martyrs That christians shold not daunce at brydehouses c. tom 1. coÌ„c      367. Valentinianus one whome sometime Iulian banished his court succeeded Iouianus in the Empir he ioyned with him his brother Valens Valentinianus was a true Christian but Valens an Arian the one persecuted the Churche the other preserued the christians Valentinianus dyed Anno Domini 380. after he had liued foure and fiftye yeares and raygned thirteene Valens his brother raygned 3. yeares after him departed this life Socrat lib. 4. ca. 1. 26. 31. Basilius b. of Caesarea in Cappadocia florishedabout this time wheÌ„ Valens the emperour sent for him out of Caesarea into Antioch he be haued him selfe very stoutly in the defence of the trueth Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 21. Gregorie Nazianzen the maister of S. Ierom liued in the time of Valens dyed in the raygne of Theodosius Magnus Socrat. li. 4. cap. 21. Ierom catalog eccles script A councell of Nouatians met at Pazum and decreed contrary to the Nicen couÌ„cell that the feaste of Easter shoulde be kept alike with the Iewes Socrat. li. 4. cap. 23. Nepos Meletiê° came the seconde time to be Byshop Democh    368.  Ambrose b. of Millayne beiÌ„g Liuetenant of the prouince was chosen to gouerne the church by the vniforme consent of the people coÌ„firmed by Valentinianus Ierom suspended his iudgemeÌ„t of him because he liued in his time Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 25. A councell of macedoniaÌ„smet at Antioch and condemned the Nicene councel with the clause of one substance Socrat. lib. 5. ca. 4   Damasus was b. of Rome an Dom. 369 after Liberius where he continewed 18. yeres Socrat lib. 4. cap. 17. 24. lib. 6. ca. 9. lib 7. ca. 9. Ierom. chronic   378.   A couÌ„cel of 90. Byshops called at Rome by Damasur where Arius Eunomius Macedonius Photinus HebioÌ„ and theyr disciples were condemned where also the holye Ghost was sayd to be of one substaÌ„ce with the father and the sonne tom 1. concil    Peter was b. of Alexandria after Athanasius an Dom. 375 the AriaÌ„s by autoritie froÌ„ the emperour clapt him in prison and chose Lucius in his roume Peter got out of prison fled vnto Damasus b. of
a noble vvoman vvas banished for the faith pag. 47. Flauianus B. of Constantinople was murthered by heretickes pag. 426. Florinus an hereticke pag. 86. 90. 91. Florus a cruell Liuetenant of Iudaea pag. 35. Frumentius a Byshop conuerted the middle Indians pag. 240. G. GAd the Prophete and his life pag. 521. Gainas the rebel and his end pag. 364. 365. Gaius B. of Rome pag. 35. 51. 53. 108. 142. Galba was Emperour a shorte while pa. 37. 469 Galen the phisicion is worshipped of heretickes pag. 95. Galienus vvas Emperour after Valerianus and restored peace he raygned fifteene yeres pag. 131. 139. Galilaeans and their heresie pag. 70. Gallus was Emperour after Decius pag. 121. his end pag. 469. Gallus the brother of Iulian the Apostata rebelled and was beheaded pag. 278. Galma B. of Amastris pag. 71. Georgius the Arian B. of Alexandria and his miserable end pag. 298. Germanicus for his faith was torne in peeces of wilde beastes pag. 64. Germanion B. of Ierusalem pag. 102. Germanus vvas beheaded for the fayth pag. 167 Gitton a village in Samaria where Simon Magus was borne pag. 26. 27. Gnostici were heretickes pag. 60. God diuersly plagued the old vvorld pag. 5. Golauduch a vvoman was martyred pag. 510. Gomarius a rebell is savved a sunder pag. 320. Gomorha was ouerthrowen vvith fire and brimstone pag. 4. Gordianus vvas Emperour after Maximinus and raygned 6 yeares pag. 111. 112. his ende pag. 496. Gordius B. of Ierusalem page 102. Gorgonius a page of the Emperour Diocletian after tormet was hanged for the faith pa. 145. 148. Gorthaeus an hereticke pag. 70. The Gospell after Marcke pag. 28. 57. 84. 104 110. The Gospell after Mathew was vvrytten in Hebrewe pag. 49. 57. 84. 85. 109. The Gospel after Iohn pag. 49. 50. 84. 104. 110. The Gospell after Luke pag. 37. 49. 50. 84. 110. Gospells were published by heretickes pag. 50. 51. 103. The Gotths receaued the Christian fayth page 338. 339. Gratianus was made Emperour pag. 322. his death 347. Gregorius Neocaesariensis the disciple of Origen pag. 111. 131. 335. Gregorius B. of Alexandria and the sturre about him pag. 258. Gregorie Nazianzen vvas of great fame pa. 322. 334. 335. 343. Gregorie the brother of Basil was B. of Nissa pa. 335. 345. Gregorie B. of Antioch pag. 493. H. HAnani the Prophet and his life pag. 523. Helcesaitae were heretickes and their opinioÌ„ pag. 113. Helen Queene of the Osroemians distributed corne in time of famine pag. 26. Helen the mother of Constantinus Magnus foâ—d the Crosse at Ierusalem pag. 237. 238. Helena a vvitch the yoke mate of Simon Magus pag. 27. Hemerobaptists and theyr heresie pag. 70. Heraclides a Martyr pag. 97. Heraclitus vvrote coÌ„mentaries vpoÌ„ Paul pa. 94. Heretickes corrupt the vvorkes of auncient vvryters pag. 71. Heresies reade in the Chronographie the catalogue of all the heresies vvithin the first six hundred yeares after Christ Heraclas B. of Alexandria pag. 97. 105. 110. Hermes vvrote a booke intitled Pastor vvhiche vvas reade in the Church pag. 36. 84. Hermogenes an Arian captaine is cruellye put to death pag. 259. Hermon B. of Ierusalem pag. 144. Hermophilus an hereticke translated the Scriptures pag. 95. Herode vvas kinge of the Ievves vvhen Christe vvas borne pag. 9. 10. Herode Antipater pag. 9. Herode Ascalonites pag. 9. Herode shutte vp vnder his seale the holy robe of the highpriest pag. 10. Herode burned the genealogies of the Ievves to make him selfe a Gentleman pag. 11. Herode commaunded the infantes to be slayne pag. 12. Herode is tormented he seeketh to dispatch him selfe and dieth miserably pag. 12. 13. Herode caused the chief of the Ievves to be clapt in prison and to be slaine at his departure that the Iewes might lament his death pa. 13. Herode the Tetrarch was banished into Vienna together with his harlot Herodias pag. 14. 21. Herode Agrippa is by Caius Caligula made king of the Iewes pa. 21. he imprisoneth Peter the Apostle and dierâ— miserably pa. 23. 24. 25. Herodian an historiographer pa 502. Herodias the harlot of Herode the Tetrarch pa. 14. Heron was beheaded for the faith pa. 98. Heros b. of Antioch after Ignatius pa. 55. Hesychius Bishop of Aegypt was martyred pag. 153. Hilarius b. of Poetiers pa. 304. Hippolitus and his works pa. 108. Honorichus the Arian king of the Vandals persecuted the christians pa. 476. Honorius is created Emperour pa. 359. Hormisda king of Persia pa. 50â— Hulda a prophetesse and her life pa. 527. Hyginus was bishop of Rome 4. yeares pa. 62. 83. Hymenaeus b. of Ierusalem â–ª pa. 131. Hypatia a learned womaÌ„ was of spite cruelly executed pa. 384. Hyrcanus an high priest of the Iewes was taken captiue of the Persians pa. 9. 10. I. IAcob saw God face to face pa. 4. he prophecied of Christ pa. 9. Iames the Apostle called the brother of the Lord was the first b. of Ierusalem and brained with a club pa. 19. the order of his martyrdome is to be seene pa. 32. 33. 34. 37. 519. Iames the brother of Iohn was beheaded by Herode Agrippa pa. 19. 23. 37. 519. his life pa. 532. Iberians receaued the fayth pa. 241. 242. Idithum the prophet and his life pa. 522. Iehaziel the prophet and his life pa. 523. Iehu the prophet and his life pa. 523. Ieremie the prophet and his life pa. 526. Ierusalem had 15. bishops from the Apostles vnto the 18. yeare of Adrian pa. 59. Ierusalem was wonne very oft pa. 44. Ierusalem was called Aelia pa. 59. 60. Iesus is a word of great mysterie pa. 6. Iesus the Christ of God as Iosephus witnesseth pa. 15. Iesus was the sonne of God by the testimonie of Agbarus king of Edessa pa. 17. Iesus shoulde haue bene canonized by the consent of Tiberius in the number of the Romaine gods but the senate would not pa. 20. Iesus the sonne of Dannaeus was an high priest of the Iewes pa. 34. Iesus the sonne of Ananias cried woe woe in Ierusalem pa. 42. the Iewes became tributaries vnto the Romains pa. 10. the Iewes were plagued by Seianus pa. 22. the Iewes were vexed by Pilat pa. 22. the Iewes were banished Rome by Claudius pa. 31. the Iewes to the number of 30000. were slaine vpon Easter day pa. 31. 38. the Iewes were vexed vnder Nero. pa. 31. the Iewes were slaine vnder Florus pa. 35. the Iewes were besieged in Ierusalem pa. 37. their famine slaughter and greate miserie pa. 38. 39. 40. the Iewes were searched and ript to see whether they had hid meate or eaten golde pa. 39. 44. the Iewes were torne of wilde beastes solde and led captiue pa. 41. the Iewes were plagued vnder Traian pa. 58. the Iewes which perished and their infinit number during all the warres pa. 42. 43. the Iewes were destroyed vnder Adrian pa. 59. the Iewes rased certaine places out of the Bible pa. 69. the Ievves rebelled in Diocaesarea and vvere all destroyed pa. 278. the Ievves vvere vtterly foyled vvith terrible signes from aboue in the time
â—…ul a preaâ—…er â—ct 9. â—…alat 1. â—…iberius â—ould haue â—…d Christ â—…nonized in â—…e number the Gods â—he vviseâ—…me of god this behalf â—ertull in â—polog 〈…〉 skomme â—…al 19. Cornelius the Centurion is conueâ—ted vnto the fayth Act. 10. The Antiochians vverâ— first called Christians Act. 11. Anno Christi 39. 40. Caius Caligula Herode the Tetrarch exiled vvith hâ—… harlet Herodias Herode Agrippa King of the Ievvâ—… Ioseph Anâ— lib. 18. cap. â— Philo Iudaeâ— Ioseph A 〈…〉 lib. 18. cap. â— Apion Philo. Seianus an enemy vnto the Ievves Pilate vexed the Ievves Philo Iudaeê° The cruelty of Caius Caligula Ioseph bell â—…ud lib. 2. cap. 8. â—oh 19. â—oseph bell â—…ud lib. 2. â—ap 8. â—ilate plagueth the Ieves â—he death of â—late Act. 11. Claudij Anno 4. Christi Anno 46. 1 Corinth 16. 2. Corinth 9. Galat. 2. Act. 12. Clemens lib. 7. Hypot The tormentor of Iames suffred martyrdome with him Act. 12. Act. 12. Ioseph Anti. lib. 19. cap. 7. This Angell in Iosephus is an Ovvle The oration of Herode Agrippa a litle before his death If thou haddest lyued vvell no doubt thou sholdest haue died vvel â–ª thy life vvas very ill thine end farre vvorse Herode Agrippa king of the Ievves seuen yeres He vvas called somtimes Herod somtimes Agrippa Act. 5. Ioseph Ant. lib. 20. cap. 4. â—ct 11. These Adiabeni vvere a â—tion dwelâ—g beyonde â—phrates Io 〈◊〉 bel Iud. â—6 cap. 7. â—inê° Marâ—in Apo This Helen was a common harlot Irenaeus lib. 1. cap. 20. calleth this Helen Selen Simon the father of heretickes The combâ— of light and darkenes Simon 〈◊〉 commeth 〈◊〉 Rome Peter came to Rome der Clauâ— These 2. cap. in the greeke were one The Romaines request S. Marke to write a Gospell Clemens Papias 1. Pet. 5. Rome figuratiuely called Babylon Cap. 15. after the greeke Marke the â—rit preacher â—f the Aegyâ—tians Cap. 16. in he greeke â—hilo came â—o Rome vnâ—â—r Claudius â—o Iudaeus Act. 4. Philo of the vvorshipers in Aegypt Mansions Churches Religious houses Study of holy Scripture Psalmes and Hymnes The continency of thâ— vvorshiperâ— â–ª Abstinence â–ª Virgines â–ª To compeâ— some to vâ—… chastity iâ— paganisme â–ª Allegoricall interpretations Synods Conference Fastinges Vigils Beddes made of leaues chasse and grasse Bread and vvater Bishops Deacons Act. 18. Anno Christi 51. The iustice of God for contemning his sonne Ioseph bell Iud. lib. 2. cap 11. Ioseph Anti. lib. 20. cap. 13 Ioseph Antâ— lib. 20. cap. 1 Ioseph belâ— Iud. lib. 2. câ— 12. Act. 21. Coloss 4. Act. 28. Whereof reade the 25. cap. of this 2. booke 2. Timoth. 4. â—â—mesbishop â—f Ierusalem Aegesippus lib. 5. Esay Iosephus Antiq. lib. 20. cap. 16. Ierome Mat. 10. Mark 3. Act. 1. Dorotheus in Synopsi Matth 13. 27 Mark 6. 15. Galat. 1. Act. 1. 15. 21. 1. Corinth 15. Galat. 1. 2. Euseb Eccl. hist lib. 3. cap 21. lib. 3. cap. 22. â—eron Cata. Eccle. Script Canon Apo. â—anon 84. Concil Laoâ—ic cap. 59. Concil Carâ—ag 3. cap. 7. â—nocen epi. â— EuxperiuÌ„ p. 7. Gela. 1 Ierome ad Paul August de doctrina Christ lib. 2. cap. 8. Tertul. in Apolog Gaiuâ— Dionys Bishop of Corinth 1. Pet. 1. Peter the Apostle was martyred at Rome Anno Christi 70. Rom. 15. Paul beheaded at Rome vnder Nero. The first of the 10 persecutions was vnder Nero. Linus Anno Christi 70. 2. Timoth. 4. 2. epistles of Peter Forged writinges published vnder the names of the Apostles 14. epistles of Paul The epistle vnto the Hebrewes The actes of Paul counter sett Rom. 16. The booke of Hermes called Pastor was wont to â—e reade in â—he Church Rom. 15. Acts from 14 vnto 21. cap. 1. Pet. 1. Peter Paul had many felow laborers Timothe the first Bishop of Ephesus Titê° the first Bishop of Creta Luke wrote a gospell and the Actes of the Apostles Luc. 1. 2. Timoth. 2. Eusebiê° sayth Crescens was sent into Fraunce S. Paul 2. Tim. 4. sayth he seÌ„â— him to Gallâ— cia hereby we may gather that the epistle to the Galathians was writteÌ„ bâ— S. Paul vnto the FreÌ„chm â–ª Vespasian iâ— proclaymeâ— Emperour Anno Do. 7 â–ª Stephen stoned Act. 7. â— Iames behâ—â—ded Act. 1â— Iames the first Bishop of Ierusalâ— martyred â–ª The Apoâ— persecuteâ— Matth. 28 â–ª Matth. 24. Daniel 9. A million is tenne thousande Iosephus bel Iud. lib. 7. cap 17. sayth that the iust number came to seuen twenty hundred thousande Iosephus bel â—ud lib. 6. cap 11. â—â—e cruelty â— seditious â— sons toge â—â—r with â— famine â—â—ed them Ioseph bell Iud. lib. 6. cap. 14. O tragicall factes Titus soroweth at the miserable sight of the Iewes that were dead Iosephê° with griefe vttered these wordes beâ—â— Iud. lib. 6. cap. 16. Lib. 7. cap. 7. Ioseph lib. 7. Cap. 8. An horrible history A mother slayeth her owne childe to eate â—…uth 24. â—…osep bel 〈…〉 lib. 7. cap 〈…〉 saith the â—…ber was â—…e huÌ„dred â—…usande Iosephê° saith the number of the captiues was four score and seuentenethou sande * Anno Domini 73. forty yeares iust after the passion of Christ Luk. 19. Luk. 21. Luk. 23. Ioseph bell Iud lib. 7. cap â–ª 12. A starre like a sworde A commetâ—… A light in the temple in the night time A cowe calued a lambâ—… A great gatâ—… opening it selfe A deuill in the forme 〈…〉 man An army of souldiers in the cloudes A coÌ„motion in the aëre A voyce heard in the temple Let vs go hence One Iesus the sonne of Ananias 4. yeres before the warres cryed continually woe woe all about Ierusalem An oracle to be vnderstoode of Christ Psal 2. Psal 19. Iosephus lib â— cap. 5. Iosephus lib 7. bell Iud. cap. 18. sephus of â— selfe An â— lib. 16. cap â—el lud lib cap. 25. lib. contra Anem Iosep lib. 1. contra ApioÌ„ The Iewes acknowledg 22. bookes 5. Bookes of Moses 13. Bookes of the Prophets 4. Bookes of psalmes and admonitions This is fouÌ„d in losephus first booke against Apioâ— â–ª Titus created Emperour Anno Domini 81. Linus Anacletus DomitiaÌ„ created Emperour Anno Domini 83. Anianus Abilius The 2. of the tenne persecutions was raised by this Emperour Domitian Clemens * Cap. 15. after the greke Philip. 4. * Cap. 16. after the greke The epistle of Clemens â—nto the Cointhians eade in the Churche â— Cap. 17. after the greke â—omitian dy â—d Anno Do â—ini 98. cap. 18. after 〈◊〉 greeke â—hn being â—iled into â—tmos An. â—omini 97. â—ote the relation â—naeus lib. 5 â—p 19. after 5 greeke * Cap. 20. after the greke Aegesippus The kinsmeÌ„ of Christ according vnto the fleshe make an accompte of their fayth before Domitian the Emperour Tertullian Cap. 21. after the greeke Nerua created Emperour Anno Domini 99. Traian created Emperour Anno Domini 100. The 3. persecution of the 10. famous persecutions was vnder this Traian Cerdo Cap. 22. after the greeke Peter Linus Anacletus Clemens Euodius Ignatius Simeon Cap. 23. after the Greeke â–ª Irenaeus lib.
heresy of Cerinthus The reuereÌ„t iudgement of Dionysius toutchinge the reuelatioÌ„ of Sainct Iohn Apocalip 22. Apocalip 1. 1. Iohn 1. Math. 16. Apocalip 1. Apocalip 22 Act. 13. The difference gathered first by the sense 2. By the words often repeated in both 3. No meÌ„tioÌ„ in ether of eache other 4. By the â—rase Iohn was both learned and eloqueÌ„t Cap. 26. after the greeke Cap. 27. after the greeke Dionysius b. of Rome Paulus Samosatenus b. of Antioch and an hereticke Cap. 28. after the Greeke Firmilianus Greg. Nazianz Athenodorus Elenus Nicomas Hymenaeus Theotecnus Maximus Dionysius b â–ª of Alex. dieth Anno Domini 267. Cap. 29. in the greeke Claudius was created emperour anno Dom. 271. Autelianus was crowned emperour Anno Dom. 273. vnder whome was raised the ninth persecution Cap. 30. after the greeke The byshops assembled at Antioch vnto Dionysius b. of Rome and maximus b. of Alexandria The subtleâ—y of the hereticke Samosetenus the hereticke is here painted in his colours 1. Timoth. 6. Such a proud preacher was Herod in the actes 12. * Paulê° Samosatenus was excommunicated by the councell and Domuns placed in his rowme * Aurelianus was not able to subscribe to an edict against the Christians Tacitus was emperour 6. moneths Florianus 80 â–ª daies althogh there is here no mention made of theÌ„ * Probus was crowned emperour Ann. Dom. 279. Carus began to raigne an Dom. 285. Diocletian was chosen emperour ann Do. 287. vnder whom the tenth persecution of the primitiue churchâ— was raysed against the churche of God Cap. 31. in the Greeke About the yeare 281. Euseb in chronic the hereticke Maneslyued Manes the hereticke chose 12. Apostles Cap. 32. in the Greeke Eutychianus b. of Rome Gaius b. of Rome Marcellinus b. of Rome Timaeus Cyrillus Dorotheus minister of Antioch afterwards b. of Tyrus Tyrannus Socrates Eusebius Anatolius b. of Laodicea The pollicie deuised by Anatolius Anatolius b. of Laodicea in his bookes of Easter Betwene the 10. 20. day In springe about the eyght kalends of Aprill In Autumne about the eyght kalendes of October Laâ—â—eus 2. Psalm 89. Churches ouerthrowen Scriptures burned Bishops persecuted Psal 107. An. Do. 306. the persecution vnder Diocletian waxed hotte wheÌ„ as these cruell edicts were euery where proclaimed Cap. 3. in the Greeke The pollicie of Satans messengers * Cap. 4. in the Greeke * DiocletiaÌ„ Maximian * Galerius Constantius Peter the emperours page after sundry tormeÌ„ts bruiled to death Dorotheus hanged Gorgonius was hanged Anthimê° b. of Nicomedia beheaded A certaine number beheaded A certaine companie burned A number drowned The deade dygged vp All prisons were filled with Christians Brute beastes spared such as meÌ„ would not spare The constancy of yong men Fiue Martyrs after sundry torments beheaded throwen into the seas Martyrs in Aegypt maymed racked scurged burned drowned beheaded hanged famished to death Martyrs in Thebais their skinnes rased schorched tyed by the on legge their heads downeward Hanged vpoÌ„ boughes 10. Martyrs 20. 30. 60. 100. Some burned Some beheaded Philoromus gouernour of AlexaÌ„dria beheaded â–ª Phileas b. of Thmuis beheaded Phileas b. of Thmuis writeth this epistle out of prison vnto his â—locke Philip. 2. 1. Ioh. 4. Deut. 4. Exod. 20. An whole city burned Audactus martyred Martyrs in Arabia Cappadocia Mesopotamia Alexandria Antioche Some dispatched them selues rather A matron of Antioch together with her 2. daughters drowned theÌ„ selfs rather then their bodies shoulde be abused of the tormentors The Ethnicks drowned 2. virgins of Antioch Martyrs in Pontus The Ethnicks pulled out the right eyes seared the empty place sawed of the left legge of the Christians seared their hames condemned theÌ„ to the myne pitts all this they counted a gracious pardon Anthymus â— of Nicome â—ia beheaâ—ed Lucianus a martyr Tyrannion b. of Tyrus was drowned at Antioch Zenobius of Sidon scourged to death Siluanus b. of Emisa torne of wild beastes Siluanus b. of Gaza beheaded 39 Beheaded Peleus and Nilus b. of Aegypt burned Pamphilus â–ª Peter b. of Alexandria As longe as the Emperours did not persecute the church so longe did theyr empire prosper * Anno Domini â–ª 307. Euseb Chronic Diocletian together with Maximian hauing raygned 20. yeares deposed themselues and liue â— a priuate life Constantiuâ— and Maximinus rule the Empire Constantiuâ— dieth at yoâ—â— in Englandâ— Anno Domini 310. Constátinuâ— magnus waâ— proclaimeâ— emperour Anno Domini 311. Cap. 14. after the greeke Maxentius the sonne of Maximinus a tyrante of Rome Flattery Cruelty Lecherie Tyrranny Extorcion Sorcery Inchauntement Famine cauled by Maxentius Cap. 15. in â—â—e Greeke Maximinus â—pocrisie Superstition Persecution â—…latrie â—…haunteâ—…t Oppression Prodigality Dâ—sikenesse Surfetinge Lechery The tyrant colde not ouercome the Christians A chast matron of Alexandria confounded the tyrant where fore she was exiled and her goods confiscated A matron of Rome slewe her selfe rather then MaxeÌ„tius should abuse her The cause of the worldes calamities was the persecution of the christiâ—s â–ª Cap. 16. in the Greeke * Anno Domini 320. Math. 18. Luk. 17. God plagued Maximinus the tyrante â—â—eng at Tarsus so that he was in a lameÌ„ table plight Cap. 17. after the Greeke The Edict of Maximinus in the behalf of the Christians â–ª the which his sickenesse coÌ„ strayned him to proclaime â— In steede of Constantinê° â—ome doread Constantius which I finde â—ot in the greeke 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Maximinus his practises * Cap. 14. Diocletian the Emperour pined wasted away with diseases vnto his end Maximinian â—he emperour hanged himselfe Maximinus â—ormented â—o death read â—ap 17. Constantius â—yed godly ConstaÌ„tinus Anno Domini 306. Procopius beheaded Alphaeus beheaded Zachaeus beheaded Romanus first had his tongue pulled out next tormented clapt â–ª in prison last of all in prison stifled to death Timotheus burned Agapius and Thecla thro wen to wilde beastes but not dispatched Six yong meÌ„ first imprisoned then beheaded Timolaus beheaded Dionysius beheaded Romulus beheaded Pausis beheaded 2. AlexaÌ„ders both beheaded Agapius beheaded Dionysius beheaded Apphianus Pagas of Lycia The cruell edict of Maximinus The godly and bolde enterprise of Apphianus Apphianus after often imprisoning after sundry horrible torments was throwen into the sea whose carcasse the water threwe vp and layde at the gates of Caesarea A cruell torment An Earthquake Vlpianus wrapped in an oxe hyde together with a dogge a snake is drowned in the sea Aedesius the brother of Apphianus the martyr is drowned in the sea Mat. 10. Mat. 27. In the 21. cap of this boke Agapius is sayd to haue bene beheaded at Caesarea here he is sayde to haue bene drowned so it might be first beheded theÌ„ drowned but there he sayth it was the 2. yere of the persecution here the 4. which can not be wherefore he must either be an other Agapius or â—lie the story lyeth Theodosia drowned Siluanus coÌ„deÌ„ned to the myne pitts with others 39. cap. 13. Domninus burned 3.