his sonne and for his familiaritie with Pamphilus martyr he was called Eusebius Pamphilus So farre Ierome THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF EVSEBIVS PAMPHILVS BISHOP OF CAESAREA IN PALESTINA The proëme of Eusebius to his Historye THE successions of the holy Apostles together vvith the tymes from our Sauiour vnto vs hither to continevved and those things vvhich are sayd to be done according vnto the Ecclesiasticall historye vvhat they are hovve greate and vvho decently haue gouerned the Churche specially in the most famous prouinces also vvho in all ages haue set forth the heauenly doctrine eyther by preaching or by vvriting and agayne vvhat men hovve many vvhen through desire of noueltye and error falling into extremityes haue published them selues Authors of knovvledge falsely so called cruelly rent a sunder as rauening vvolues the flocke of Christ moreouer vvhat euils forthvvith haue fallen vpon the vvholeâ—ation of the Ievves because of their conspiracye against our Sauiour and againe hovvmany by vvhat meanes and in vvhat times the vvorde hath bene of the Gentils striuen against and vvhat singuler men in all tymes haue passed and gone throughe bitter conflicts for his name sake euen by sheding of their bloode and suffring of torments and beside â–ª all this the martyrdomes done in our tyme together vvith the mercifull and comfortable ayde of our Sauiour tovvardes euery one louingly exhibited I determining to publishe in vvriting vvill not beginne of any other place my entraunce then of the first order in doinge or dispensation of our Sauiour and Lorde Iesus Christ â–ª but truely the circumstance it selfe euen in the beginning craueth pardon being greater then our strength can sustayne I confesse in deede that vvhich vve promise to be absolute and that vvhich vve professe to omitte nothing to be a thinge incomprehensible For vve first taking this argument in hande endeuoringe to treade a solitary and vntroden vvaye praying that God may be our guyde and the povver of our Lorde and Sauiour our present helper and ayder yet can vve no vvhere finde as much as the bare steppes of suche as haue passed the same path before vs hauinge onely smaâ—â— shevves and tokens vvherevvith diuers here and there in their seueral tymes haue lefte vnto vs particuler declarations as it vvere certaine sparcles vvhilest that they lift their voyces from farre and from aboue from vvhence as from an highe place and inuisible crying as out of a certayne vvatchtovver horne vvhat vvaye vve ought to goe and hovve to directe vvithout error and daunger the vvay and order of our talke vvhatsoeuer thinges therefore vve thinke profitable for this present argument choosing those thinges vvhich of them are here and there mentioned and as it vvere culling and gathering the commodious and fitt sentences of such as haue vvritten of olde as flovvres out of medovves bedecked vvith reason vve vvill endeuour in shevving the vvay of historye to compact the same as it vvere into one body being also desirous to retayne from obliuion the successions althoughe not of all yet of the most famous Apostles of 〈◊〉 Sauiour according vnto the Churches most notable and yet freshe had in memorye I suppose verily that I haue taken in hand an argument very necessary because that I haue fouâ—â— no vvhere any Ecclesiasticall â—…ter vvhich in this behalfe vnto this day hath imployed any parte of diligence I hope 〈◊〉 it vvilbe a very profitable vvorke for the studious thâ— is earnenestly sett to knovve the vtilitie of this historye And of these thinges heretofore vvhen that I compiled certayne Chronicall Canons I vvrote an Epitome but the more ample declaration thereof I thought good to reserue vntill this present â–ª and the beginning as I sayd vvill I take of the dispensation and diuinity of our Sauiour Christ higher and deeper to be considered then that vvhich concernes his humanity for it is requisite for him that comitteth to vvriting an Ecclesiastical historye thence to beginne euen from the chiefe dispensation of Christ deuiner then it seemeth to many in so much that of him vve are termed Christians T. V. CAP. I. A summarye recit all of thinges concerning the diuinitie and humanitie of our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ BEcause therefore the consideration of the maner in Christ is two folde the one consisting as a head on the bodye by the which he is vnderstoode God the other to be pondered with paces by the which he hath put on man like vnto vs subiecte to passions for our saluations sake We shal make a right rehersal of those thinges which folowe if that first we begin the declaration of the whole history from them which are principal and most proper pillers of this doctrine In the meane space the auncientrie and dignitie of Christian Antiquitie shal against them be declared which suppose this religion newe straunge of late and neuer hearde of before but to declare the generation dignitie essence and nature of Christe no speache can sufficiently serue sithence that the holy Ghost in the prophets hath testified His generation vvho shal be able to declare for the father no man hath knovven but the sonne neither at any time hath any knovven the sonne vvorthely but the father alone vvhiche begate him This light going before the worlde and all worlde 's the intellectual and essentiall wisdome and the liuing worde of God being in the beginning with the father who but the father alone hath rightly knowen which is before euery creature and workemanship both of visible and inuisible thinges the first and only sonne of God chiefe captayne of the coelestiall rationall and immortall hoaste the Angel of the great counsel executour of the secrete will of the father maker and worker of all thynges together with y â— father whiche after the father is cause and auctor of all thinges the true and only begotten sonne of God Lorde md God and King of all thinges whiche are created receauing dominion and rule of the father hy the same diuinitie power and glorye for according to the mysticall diuinitie concerning him in the scripture In the beginning vvas the vvorde and the vvorde vvas vvith God and God vvas the vvorde â–ª the same vas in the beginning vvith God â–ª all thinges vvere made by it and vvithoutit vvas nothing made that vvas made The same doth Moses the most auncient of al the prophets testifie for describing by inspiration of the holy spirite the substance and disposition of the vniuersall worlde he sheweth the framer and workeman of all thinges God to haue graunted to Christ him selfe and none other that is his deuine and only begotten worde the framing of these inferior thinges For vnto him conferring about the creation of man God sayde sayth he let vs make man after our ovvne likenesse and similitude And with this saying agreeth an other prophet thus speaking of God in Hymnes and saying He spake and they vvere made he commaunded and they
to be short a theefe for he keepeth this mountayne ouer against the church together vvith his associates the Apostle then renting his garment and beating his heade vvith greate sorrovv sayde I haue left a vvise keeper of our brothers soule prepare me a horse and let me haue a guyde he hastened out of the churche rode in post being come vnto the place appoynted he is straight vvayes taken of the theeuishe vvatch he neither flyeth neither resisteth but exclamâ—th for this purpose came I hither bringe me vnto your captaine vvho in the meane space as he vvas armed behelde him comminge but eftsones vvhen he savve his pace and knevve that it vvas Iohn he vvas stroken vvith shame and fledd avvay the olde man forgetfull of his yeares vvith might pursueth him flying and cryeth My sonne vvhy flyest thou from me thy father vnarmed and olde O sonne tender my case be not afrayde as yet there remayneth hope of saluation I vvill vndertake for thee vvith Christe I vvill dye for thee if neede be as Christ did for vs. I vvill hazard my soule for thine trust to me Christ sent me â–ª but he hearing this first stoode still turning his countenance to the ground next shoke of his armour anone trembled for feare and vvept bitterly He embraced the olde man comming vnto him aunsvvering as vvell as he coulde for vveeping so that agayne he seemed to be baptized vvith teares the shaking of the hande onely omitted The Apostle vvhen he had promised and protested to procure for him pardon of our Sauiour and prayed and fallen vpon his knees and also kissed his right hande novve clensed through repentance brought him vnto the Churche agayne VVhen that also he had povvred forth often tymes prayers for him and stroâ—gled vvith him in continuall fastinges and mollified his minde vvith diuers and sundry sermons and confirmed him departed not as the reporte goeth before he had fully restored him vnto the Churche â–ª and exhibited a greate example of true repentance a greate tryall of nevve birth and a singular token of the visible resurrection this haue I taken out of Clemens partly for the history and partly also for the profitâ— of the Reader CAP. XXI Of the order of the Gospells NOw we will forwardes and entreate of the vndoubted wrytinges of this Apostle And firste let there be no staggering at his Gospell which is well knowne of all the Churches vnder heauen Why it was of olde placed the fourthe after the other three it shall thus appeare The diuine holy men namely the Apostles of Christ leading a passing pure life hauing their mindes be decked with euery kinde of vertue vsed rude and simple speache yet of a diuine and forcible power which they had receaued of Christ neither knewe they nether endeuored they to publish the doctrine of their â—â—ister with curious paynting of wordes but vsing the demonstration of the holy spirite which wrought with them and the onely power of Christ which brought miracles to perfection they shewed the knowledge of the kingdome of heauen to the whole worlde being nothing carefull at all for the writinge of bookes And this they brought to passe being occupied with a greater worke and in maner exceeding the strength of man Paul the mightiest of all the rest in the setling of wordes and best armed with the power of perfect senses wrote but very short epistles whereas he might haue layd downe infinite thinges yea and secretes being rapt vnto the thirde heauen and behoulding celestiall things yea brought into paradyse it selfe and there thought worthy to heare secrete mysteries neyther were the rest of the Disciples of our Sauiour namely the tvvelue Apostles and the seuenty with other innumerable ignorant and vnskilful herein And yet of al these the Disciples of our Sauiour Matthew Iohn wrote gospels Who as report goeth were constrained therunto for Matthew when he had first preached vnto the Hebrevves now passing vnto other people wrote his Gospell in his contrey language supplying by writing in his absence y â— which was desired in his presence When Mark and Luke had published their gospels â–ª Iohn say they in all y â— space preached without writing but at length was moued to write for this cause It is reported that when the bookes of the three Euangelistes were through out the worlde and come into his handes he allowed them and yelded of them a true testimonye wishing that the declaration of such thinges had bene printed in their bookes which were done at the first preaching of Christ the Reader may perceaue these three Euangelistes to haue onely sett forth the doinges of our Sauiour one yeare after the imprysonment and captiuitye of Iohn the Baptist which may be gathered by the beginning of their histories for after the xl dayes fasting and the annexed temptation Matthewe sheweth the time of the beginning of his historye saying VVhen he had hearde that Iohn vvas taken he returned from Iudaea into Galilee And Marke likewise after that sayth â—e Iohn vvas taken Iesus came into Galilee And Luke also before he had mentioned the doings of Iesu obseruing the same manner Herode saythe he proceeding in his haynous offences shutt vp Iohn in prison Iohn the Apostle beinge for these causes entreated wrote the tyme passed ouer of the former Euangelistes with sylence and therein the Actes of our Sauiour namely which went before the imprisonment of Iohn which he partly signified writing thus this vvas the first of the miracles vvhich Iesus did partly with all mentioning the doinges of Iohn the Baptist who as then baptized in â—non by Salem which is euident when he sayth for as yet Iohn vvas not cast into prison Iohn then in his Gospell deliuereth such thinges as were done of Christ before the coâ—â—iâ—â—ing of Iohn the other three beginne with the mention of Iohns imprysonment vnto him that recoâ—â—yleth the Euangelistes thus they shall not seeme discrepant in so much that the Gospell of Iohn contayneth the former doinges of Christe the other the latter lastinge vnto the ende therefore not without cause Iohn passeth ouer with silence the genealogye of our Sauiour accordinge vnto the fleshe being afore amply layde downe by Matthewe and Luke and beginneth with his diuinitie reserued of the holy Ghost for him as the mightier thus much shall suffice concerning the Gospell written by Sainct Iohn The cause why Marke wrote his Gospell we haue declared before Luke in the beginninge of his historye sheweth the occasion of his writing signifying that diuers nowe already had imployed their diligent care to the setting forthe of such thinges as he was fully perswaded of deliuering vs very necessarily from their doubtful opinion why left that he by his Gospell declareth vnto vs the sure and certaine narration of such thinges whereof he had receaued the truthe sufficiently partely by the company and conuersation of Paul partely also throughe the familiaritie
as much as the name either of lawes or iudgements and to be short not once as much as the vewe of vertue and philosophie but liuing among beastes spent their time in wildernesse as â—â—eldish men and voyd of humanity corrupting the reasonable vnderstanding agreable with nature the reasonable seedes of mans minde with their wilful malice yelding them selues wholy to al abominations so that sometimes they infect eche other sometimes they sleye eche other sometimes they deuoure mans fleshe presuming to wage batle with God after the famous battel of the foolish Giants determining and imagining in their minde to wall heauen and earthe in one and beinge moued throughe the madnesse of their minde they went about to conquere God the gouerner of all thinges whereby they haue thus sore incensed him agaynst them selues God the duerseer and ruler of all things reuenged them with floodes and destructions of fiery flames as if they had bene a certaine wilde vmnanured thickett ouerspreadinge the whole earthe also with famyne and continuall plagues with battayle and thunderboltes from aboue he cut them of and subdued that seuere and most bitter maladye of their soules by restrayning them with more sharpe punishments imprisonments When malice was now flowen vnto the brimme and had ouercast al with the couer thereof ouershadowing ouerdarkening the mindes of mortall men as it were a certaine soking slumber of drunkennesse that first begotten wisedome of God and the same worde that was in the beginning with God by his superabundant louing kindnes appeared vnto the inhabiters on earth sometimes by vision of Angels sometimes by him selfe as the helping power of God vnto some one or other of the auncient worshippers of God in no other forme or figure then of man for otherwise their capacity could not haue comprised the same After that now by them the seede of piety was sowen scattered amiddes the multitude of men and the whole nations which from the Hebrewes linealy descended had now purposed to preferre godlines vpon earth he deliuered vnto them of olde by his seruant Moses after strait institutions certayne figures and formes of a miâ—ticall Sabaoth and circumcision and entrances vnto other spiritual contemplations but not the perfect playne mysteries thereof When as the law was published and set forth as a sweete 〈…〉 vnto all men then many of the Gentils through the law makers euery where yea and philosophers changed their rude brutish and sauage senses vnto meeke and milde natures so that thereby there ensued amongest them perfect peace familiarity and frendshipithen againe to al men and to the Gentils throughout al the worlde as it were now in this behalfe holpen and fit to receaue the knowledge of his father the same schoolemaster of vertue his fathers minister in al goodnes the deuine and celestiall worde of God through man with corporall substance not different from ours shewed him selfe about the beginning of the Romaine empire wrought and suffred such thinges as were consonant with holy Scripture which foreshewed there shoulde be borne such a one as shoulde be both God and man a mighty worker of miracles an instructor of the Gentiles in his fathers piety and that his wonderfull birth shoulde be declared his new doctrine his wonderfull workes besides this the maner of his death his resurrection from the dead and aboue all his diuine restitution into the heauens The Prophet Daniel beholdinge his kingdome in the spirit to be in the latter age of the worlde whereas otherwhere deuinely yet here more after the maner of man describeth the vision of God I beheld sayth he vntill the thrones vvere placed and the auâ—â—â—ent of dayes sate theron his garments vvere as the vvhite snovve the heares of his heade as pure vvoll his throne a flame of fire his chariots burning fire a fyry streame slyded before his face a thousande thousandes ministred vnto him the iudgement vvas set the bookes vvere opened c. Againe And againe after this I behelde sayth he and beholde one comminge in the cloudes like the Sonne of man and he came still vnto the auncient of dayes he vvas brought â—â—â—ore him and to him vvas geuen principalitie honour and rule and al people tribes and to 〈…〉 shall serue him his povver is an euerlasting povver vvhiche shall not paâ—â—e his kingdome 〈…〉 neuer be destroyed These thinges truely may be referred to none other then in out 〈…〉 God that was the word being in the beginning with the father and named 〈…〉 reason of his incarnation in the latter tinâ—es 〈◊〉 â—â—eause we haue in out 〈…〉 propheticall expositions touching our Lord 〈…〉 Christ and therin hath 〈…〉 thinges which concerne him at this present we wylbe content with the premises CAP. IIII. That Iesus and the very name of Christ from the beginning was both knowen and honored among the deuine Prophets that Christ was both a King an highpriest and a Prophet THat the name both of Iesus and also of Christ among the holy prophets of old was honored nowe is it time to declare Moses first of all knowing the name of Christ to be of great reuerence glorious deliuering types of heauenly things pledges mistical formes according vnto y â— commaundement prescribed saying vnto him See thou doe all thinges after the fashion that vvas shevved thee in the mount Naming man as he lawfully might an highpriest of God called the same Christ and to this dignitie of highe priesthood althoughe by a certayne prerogatiue excelling all others among men yet because of honor and glory he put to the name of Christ So then he deemed Christ to be a certayne deuine thyng The same Moses also when being inspired with the holy Ghost he had wel forseene the name of Iesu iudged the same worthy of singuler prerogatiue for this name of Iesu appeared not manifest among men afore it was knowen by Moses and this name he gaue to him first and to him alone whom he knew very wel by tipe figuratiue signe to receaue the vniuersal principality after his death His successor therfore before that time called not Iesu but otherwise to weete Ause He called Iesu the which name his parents had geuen him therby attributing to that name singuler honor farr passing al princely scepters because that the same Iesus Naue was to beare the figure of our Sauiour also alone after Moses to accomplish the figuratiue seruice committed vnto him and thought worthy to beginne the true and most sincere worship Moses to these two men after him thus surpassing all people in vertue and honor attributed for great honor the name of our sauiour Iesus Christ to the one as highe priest to the other as principal ruler after him After this y â— prophets playnely haue prophecied namely of Christ of the peeuishe practise of the Iewishe people agaynst him of the calling of the Gentils by him Ieremie thus sayde The spirite before our face
Christ our Lorde is taken in their nets of vvhom vve speake before vnder the shadovve of his vvinges vve shal be preserued aliue among the Heathen Dauid also being amazed because of his name expostulateth the matter thus VVhy sayth he haue the Gentiles raged and the people imagined vayne thinges The kinges of the earth stoode foorth and the princes assembled together against the Lorde and against his Christ To these he addeth in the parson of Christ saying The Lorde sayde vnto me thou art my sonne this day haue I begotten thee Aske of me and I shall geue thee the Heathen for thine inheritaunce and the endes of the earthe for thy possession The name of Christ therefore among the Hebrewes hath not onely honored those that were adorned with the high priesthood anointed with figuratiue oyle prepared for that purpose but also princes whom the Prophets by the precept of God haue anoynted and made figuratiue Christs because they figuratiuely resembled the deuine worde of God and the regall and princely power of the onely and true Christ gouerning all thinges And moreouer we haue learned certaine of the Prophets typicalye by their anoynting to haue bene termed Christs Al they had a relation vnto the true Christ the deuine and heauenly worde the onely highpriest of all the king of all creatures and the chiefe Prophet of the father ouer all other Prophets the proofe hereof is playne for none euer of all them that typicaly were anoynted were they Princes or Priests or Prophets haue purchased vnto them selues suche deuine power and vertue as our sauiour and Lorde Iesus Christ sole and singuler hath shewed None of all them howe famous so euer they were found among their owne throughout many ages by reason of their dignitie and honor haue bestowed this benefit vpon their subiects that by their imaginatiue appellation of Christ they should by name be consecrated Christians in deede Neyther hath the honor of adoration bene exhibited by the posteritie vnto any of them neither after their death hath there bene any such affection that for their sake any prepared them selues to dye for the maintenance of their honor neither hath there bene any tumult among the Gentils throughout the worlde for any of them the power of the shadow was not of such efficacy in them as the presence of the verity by our sauiour declared which resembled nether the forme or figure of any nether linealy descended according vnto the fleshe from the Priests neither was exalted by the might of men vnto his kingdome neither prophecied after the maner of the auncient Prophets neither obtayned any preeminence or prerogatiue amonge the Iewes yet for all this Christ being by the diuine spirite adorned with all these dignities though not in types yet in trueth it selfe and enioyinge all the gyftes of those men whereof mention is made he hath bene more published and preached and hath powred vpon vs the perfect ornature of his moste reuerent and holy name not turning henceforthe vnto types and shadowes such as serue him but vnto the naked trueth the heauenly life and vndoubted doctrine of verity his anoynting was not corporall but spirituall by participation of the vnbegotten dyetie of the father the whiche thinge Esai declareth when as in the person of Christ he breaketh out into these wordes The spirite of the Lorde vpon me vvherefore he anoynted me to preache glad tydinges vnto the poore he sent me to cure the contrite in hearte to preache deliuerance vnto the captiues and sight vnto the blinde Not Esay alone but Dauid also touching the person of Christ lifteth vp his voyce and sayeth Thy throne ô God lasteth for aye the scepter of thy kingdome is a right scepter thou hast loued righteousnes and hated iniquitie vvherefore God euen thy God hath anointed thee vvith the oyle of gladnesse aboue thy felovves of the which the first verse termeth Christ God the seconde honoreth him with regall scepter thence consequently passing vnto the rest he sheweth Christ to be anoynted not with oyle of corporal substance but of deuine that is of gladnes whereby he signifieth his prerogatiue and surpassing excellencie and difference seuering him from them which with corporall and typicall oyle haue bene anoynted And in an other place Dauid declaring his dignitie sayeth The Lorde sayde vnto my Lorde sit thou on my right hand vntil I make thine enemies thy footestole And out of my vvombe before the day starre haue I begotten thee The Lorde svvare neither vvil it repent him thou art a Priest for euer after the order of Melchisedech This Melchisedech in the sacred Scriptures is sayde to be the Priest of the most highe God so consecrated and ordayned neither by any oyle prepared of man for that purpose neither by succession of kindred attayning vnto the priesthoode as the maner was among the Hebrewes Wherfore our Sauiour according vnto that order and not others which receaued signes shadowes is published by performance of the othe Christ and Priest So that the history deliuereth him vnto vs nether corporally anoynted among the Iewes nether borne of the priestly tribe but of God him self before the day starr that is being in essence before the constitution of all worldly creatures immortall possessinge a priesthoode that neuer perisheth by reason of age but lasteth worlde without ende Yet this is a greate and an apparent argument of his incorporeall and deuine power that alone of all men that euer were and now are among all the wightes in the worlde Christ is preached confessed testified and euery where among the Grecians and Barbarians mentioned by this name and hitherto among all his adherentes honored as King had in admiration aboue a Prophet glorified as the true and the onely high Priest of God surpassing all creatures as the worde of God consisting in essence before all worldes receauing honor and worship of the father honored as God him selfe and which of all other is most to be marueled at that we which are dedicated vnto him honour him not with tongue onely garrulous talke of whispering wordes but with the whole affection of the minde so that willingly we preferre before our liues the testimony of his trueth CAP. v. That the Christian religion is neither newe neither straunge I suppose these thinges to haue bene necessaryly placed by me in the beginning of this history lest that any surmise our Sauiour and Lorde Iesus Christ to be a newe vpstarte by reason of the time of his being in the fleshe Nowe agayne leste that any so deeme his doctrine as newe founde and straung deliuered by such a one so thought of and nothing differing from other in 〈◊〉 doctrines let vs then in fewe wordes entreat and reason of this the which we may take for vndoubted For when as the comming of our Sauiour Christ was now freshe in the mindes of all men and that a newe nation neither smale nether weake neither such as
which is reade in the Actes of the Apostles concerning this Aegiptian where vnder Felix it is sayd of the tribune of the souldiours that was at Ierusalem vnto Paul when the multitude of the Ievves raysed a tumulte agaynst him art thou that Aegiptian vvhich a fevv dayes agoe hast raysed vvith thee foure thousand common theeues leddest them vnto the vvildernesse and such are the thinges that happened vnder Felix CAP. XXII The going of Paul vnto Rome and his pleading there with his Martyrdome FEstus is sent by Nero to succeede Felix vnder whome Paul pleading in his owne cause is brought bound to Rome There was with him Aristarchus whome iustly in some place of his Epistles he calleth his felowe captiue and Luke when he had finished the Actes of the Apostles concluded his history here saying that Paul liued peaceably at Rome tvvo vvhole yeares and preached the vvord of God vvithout impediment The which being expired fame goeth that the Apostle after accompt made of his doctrine returned vnto the office of preaching and afterwardes when he came the seconde time vnto the city vnder the same Emperour to haue bene crowned with martyrdome Where lying in fetters he wrote the latter Epistle vnto Timothe instructing him both of the accompt of doctrine that he made in his former captiuity and also of his death approching nigh Take here of his owne testimony for thus he writeth At my former apparance none assisted me for all forsooke me I pray God that it be not laide to their charge But the Lord assisted me and strengthned me that by me the preaching should be accomplished and that all nations might heare And I vvas deliuered out of the Lyons mouth Playnly he sheweth by these wordes that he was before deliuered out of the lions mouth meaning as it appeareth Nero because of his cruelty that the preaching might be supplyed by him Neither afterwardes hath he added the like for he will deliuer me out of the lions mouth He saw in the spirite his death to drawe nigh Wherfore immediatly he sayth I haue bene deliuered out of the Lyons mouth and the Lord vvill deliuer me from euery euill vvorke and reserue me vnto his heauenly kingdome Noting his martirdome to draw nigh The which more euidently he foresheweth in the same Epistle saying For I am novv ready to be offred the time of my dissoluing is at hand In the latter epistle when he wrote he declared Luke alone to be with him but in his former apparance and pleading not one no not Luke to be with him Wherefore it is playne that Luke wrote the Actes of the Apostles vnto that time knitting vp his history with his absence from Paul These thinges haue we spoken to this end that we may warrant the martyrdome of Paul not to haue bene consummated when Luke finished his history that is when Paul came to Rome It is very like that the apologye of Paul for his doctrine might haue bene at the beginning sooner accepted when Nero was somewhat milder in affection dealing But after that he fell vnto such outragious wilfulnesse he was quicke with others for the Apostles sake CAP. XXIII Of the martyrdome of Iames called the brother of Christ. THe Ievves when their purpose fayled them in their pretended malice towards Paul after his appellation made vnto Caesar being sent from Festus vnto Rome they turne themselues agaynst Iames the brother of Christ who was placed of the Apostles Bishop of Ierusalem The like they practise against him placing him in the middest and requiring of him that in presence of all the people he would renounce the fayth of Christ When as he contrary to their expectation freely and with greater audacity then they hoped in presence of all the multitude had confessed Iesus to be the sonne of God our Sauiour and Lorde they could no longer abide his testimony for he was counted of all most iust for his excellent wisedome piety which he shewed in life Him they slewe hauing gotten opportunitie to the accomplishing of this haynous fact by the vacancy of the Regall seat For Festus gouernour of Iudaea being deade the prouince wanted a President or Procurator But how Iames was slaynt the testimonye of Clemens heretofore of vs alleadged hath largely declared that he being throwne downe from a pinacle of the temple and brayned with a fullers clubb gaue vp the ghost And Aegesippus who immediatly succeeded the Apostles repeateth the circumstance hereof exquistely in his fift booke after this maner Iames the brother of Christ tooke in hand the gouernment of the Church after the Apostles termed a iust and perfect man of all men from the tyme of our Sauiour vnto vs. For many vvere called Iameses beside him but this man vvas holy from his mothers vvombe He dranke nether vvine nor strong drinke nether â—are any liuing creature He vvas neither shauen neither anointed neither did he vse bathe Vnto him alone vvas it lavvfull to enter into the holy places he vsed no vvollen vesture but vvore a Syndone and alone frequented he the temple so that he vvas found prostrare on his knees and praying for the sinnes of the people His knees vvere after the guise of a camels knee benummed bereft of the sense of feeling by reason of his continuall kneeling in supplication to God and petitions for the people For the excellency of his righteousnesse he vvas called Iuste and Oblias vvhich soundeth by interpretatioÌ„ the bulvvarke or defence of the people in righteousnes as prophecies do go of him VVhen diuers asked him toutching the heresies among the people vvherof vve meÌ„tioned before vvhich vvas the gate or dore of Iesu he aunsvvered the same to be the Sauiour by vvhose meanes they had beleeue Iesus to be Christ But the aforesayde heresies acknovvledge neyther the resurrection nor the comming of any iudge vvhich shall revvarde to euery one according to his vvorkes For as many as beleeued they beleeued by meanes of Iames. VVhen many of the Princes vvere persvvaded there rose a tumult of the Ievves Scribes and Pharises saying It is very dangerous lest that the vvhole people looke after Iesus as though he vvere Christ and being gathered together they said to Iames vve pray thee refraine this people for they erre in Iesu as though he vvere true Christ VVe pray thee persvvade this people vvhich frequent to this feaste of the Passeouer concerning Iesu for vve all obey thee yea vve and all the people testifie of thee that thou art iust and respectest not the person of any man persvvade therefore this multitude that they erre not in Iesu For the vvhole multitude and vve obey thee stand therefore vpon the pinacle of the temple that thou mayst be seene aloft and that thy vvord may be perceaued plainly of all the people for because of this Passeouer all the tribes are mett here together vvith the Gentiles The aforesayd Scribes and Pharises placed Iames vpon the
Christe with the rest of those thinges that the Historiographer hath written concerninge the whole warres how can he but fall into an admiration and confesse that the prophecy and prescience of our Sauiour was wonderfull and passing naturall reason of those thinges which after the passion of our Sauiour there crying when the whole multitude of the Ievves craued a thefe and a murtherer to be deliuered happened vnto this whole nation I thinke it not necessary to entreate But this is needefull to be noted which commendeth the goodnes of the prouidence of God in deferring their destruction for the space of forty yeares after their presumptuous rashenes agaynst Christ in the which yeares many of the Apostles and Disciples Iames by name their first Bishop called the brother of the Lorde as yet aliue and abiding in the citye of Ierusalem haue endured and continewed as a most sure fortresse for that place God winking all that while if peraduenture they woulde repent to the ende they might be pardoned and saued And besides so notable a patience how wonderfull signes from aboue were exhibited to happen vppon the impenitent which of the aforesayde Historiographer are sett forth to perpetuall memory and are now to be deliuered of vs vnto the Readers handes I will therefore propose what he hath published in his seuenth booke of historyes CAP. VIII Of the signes foreshewing the warres SEducers sayth he and authors of lyes agaynst God deceaued at that tyme that seely and vvretched people so that they neither marked those euident ougly shapes forshevving the desolation to come nether gaue any credit therunto but as astonied both blinde senselesse contemned the demonstrations of God so that a starre stoode ouer the city like vnto a svvorde and a Commett enduring the space of a vvhole yeare Agayne before their rebellion and vvarlike tumulte vvhen the people frequented the feaste of svveete breade the viij day of the moneth Aprill in the night at nyne of the clocke so greate a light ouerspred the altar and the temple that it seemed to be cleare daye continevving the space of halfe an hovvre vvhich sight vnto the vnlearned seemed good but vvas numbred of suche as exercised them selues in the holy Scripture among thinges vvhiche shortly shoulde happen At the same feaste a covve ledde by the high priest to sacrifice calued a lambe in the middest of the temple Moreouer the East gate of the inner temple though of brasse and most stronge so that in the euening tvventy men coulde scarse shutt it being boulted vvith iron barres and strengthened vvith longe postes and pillers in the night tyme about the sixt houre vvas seene to haue opened voluntarily of it selfe A fevve dayes after the feaste the xxj daye of Maye there vvas seene the figure and shape of the deuill almoste incredible some vvoulde thinke that I vvent about to reporte a monstrous lye vnlesse it had bene reported by them that savve it and the afflictions vvhiche folovved vvere correspondent vnto the signes For before sunne sett there vvere seene in the aëre throughout the contrye charettes and armed souldiers marching in the cloudes and compassing the citye In the feaste of Pentecost vvhen the priestes after their maner vvent into the temple in the night season to offer sacrifice they reported to haue hearde a commotion and a ratling sounde vvith this voyce folovving Let vs goe hence And that vvhich vvas more terrible on Iesus the sonne of Ananias a rude and a contrey fellovv came vnto the feaste in the vvhich the lavve geuen by God vvas deliuered vnto all as in the tyme of their tents foure yeares before the vvarres vvhen the citye vvas in peace and prosperitie and so dainly about the temple cryed out and sayd A voyce from the East a voyce from the VVest a voyce from the foure vvindes a voyce vpon Ierusalem and the temple a voyce vppon the bridegrome and nevve maried vvife a voyce vpon all this people this day and night cryed he out in the crosse vvayes of the streates Many of the chiefe of the people not pleased vvith this infortunate voyce vvere throughly moued so that they chastized and scourged him vvith many and grieuous stripes he of the contrary saying not a vvorde for him selfe ceased not to cry seuerally vnto them that vvere present the same songe The magistrates supposing him to be possessed of a fanaticall spirite as it vvas in deede brought him vnto the Romayne president vvhere he vvas scourged from top to toe so that the bare bones might be seene yet neuer entreated he for him selfe nor shedd a teare but as much as in him laye lifted his voyce vnto lamentation sounding at euery stripe vvoe vvoe vnto Ierusalem An other thing yet more straunge the same Historigrapher writeth that a certayne oracle was found in the holy Scriptures contayning in it this sense y ◠there should one rise out of their owne region which shoulde rule the worlde which Iosephus vnderstandeth to haue bene ment by Vespasian yet ruled he not the whole worlde but the Romayne Empire This oracle may better be referred vnto Christ vnto whome it was sayd of the Father Aske of me and I vvill geue thee the Gentiles for thyne inheritance and the endes of the earth for thy possession the sound of vvhose Apostles vvent at the very same tyme throughout the earth and their vvordes to the endes of the vvorlde The translator vnto the Reader toutching the infinite number of Iewes which perished in all the warres betwene the Romaynes and the Iewes diligently gathered out of Iosephus I thinke it not amisse gentle Reader to note here vnto thee the infinite number of Iewes which perished from the beginning of the warres betwene the Romaynes and the Iewes that is from the 12. yere of Nero and the 2. of the Lieuetenantship of Florus Anno Christi 68. out of Iosephus a Iewe whiche was present in the warres vnto the ouerthrowe of Ierusalem and the burning of the temple by Titus the which Eusebius in these former chapiters hath partly mentioned and partly omitted to the ende we may beholde eyther the long suffring and goodnes of God for the amendement of our liues by repentance which winked so long at the wickednesse of these Iewes to prouoke vs or els the ire wrathe and heauy hand of God ouer impenitent persons to terrifie vs to feare his name and tremble at his plagues The land of Sodome for their abominable sinne was ouerthrowne with fire and brimstone from heauen The Lord him selfe sayd Genes 18. that their sinne vvas exceeding grieuous Abraham pleading with the Angell of God which came to destroy them for pardon could not finde tenne iust persons no not in fiue cities if they could haue bene founde all the rest had bene pardoned for their sakes Iosephus writeth of Sodome thus bell Iud. lib. 5. cap. 5. Terra Sodomitica olim tam fructibus quà m substantia ciuitatum fortunata
Bishop An other vnto the Church of Trallis whose ouerseer then was Polybius and besides these epistles he wrote vnto the Churche of Rome prefixing an exhortation lest that they refusing martyrdome shoulde be depriued of the hope layde vp for them but it may seeme needefull that we alleadg thence some part of the wordes for proofe hereof for thus he writeth from Syria sayth he vnto Rome I striue vvith beastes by sea by land nightes and nightes fettered among tenne Leopardes that is a bande of souldiers the more benefit they receaue the vvorse they become I thus exercised vvith their iniuries am the more instructed yet hereby am not I iustified I desire to enioy the beastes prepared for me vvhiche I vvishe to fall vppon me vvith fierce violence yea I vvill allure them forthvvith to deuoure me that they abstayne not from me as they haue left some for feare vntoutched If they as vnvvilling vvill not I vvill compell them to fall vpon me pardon me I vvott vvell vvhat this shall auaile me Novv doe I beginne to be a Disciple I vvay neither visible nor inuisible thinges so that I gaine Christ â–ª let fire gallovves violence of beastes bruysing of the bones racking of the members stamping of the vvhole body and all the plagues inuented by the mischiefe of Satan light vpon me so that I vvinne Christ Iesu this he wrote from the aforesaid city vnto the Churches before named And beinge beyonde Smyrna he wrote vnto the Churches of Philadelphia and Smyrna and seuerally to Polycarpus their Bishop whome he knewe for a right Apostolike man commending as a syncere and right Pastor ought to doe the congregation of Antioche praying him to be carefull of the busines there namely about the election of a Bishop in his rowme this Ignatius writing vnto the Church of Smyrna reporteth certaine wordes vttered by Christ which he founde I wott not where I knovve and beleue that he vvas in the fleshe after the resurrection for comming vnto them vvhich vvere vvith Peter he sayde vnto them Come feele me and knovve that I am not a spirite vvithout body and anone they felt him and beleued Irenaeus also knewe his martyrdome remembred his epistles writing thus Euen as one of our men condemned vnto the beastes for the confession of his fayth sayde In so much that I am the vvheate of God I am to be grinded vvith the teeth of beastes that I may be founde pure breade or fine manchet And Polycarpus maketh mention hereof in the epistle vnder his name vnto the Philippians writing thus I beseeche you all that you be obedient and exercise patience vvhich you haue throughly seene not only in blessed Ignatius Rufus and Zosimus but in diuers of your selues and in Paul vvith the rest of the Apostles being persvvaded for certaine that all these ranne not in vayne but in fayth and righteousnes novve resting them vvith the Lorde in the place appointed due for their deserts vvith vvhom they suffred together they loued not this present vvorlde but him that dyed for our sinnes and rose agayne for our sakes agayne he addeth both you and Ignatius vvrote vnto me that if any did trauell vnto Syria he might conuey thither your letters of vvhich I vvill be careful if fitt opportunity be offred vvhether I my selfe goe or send that your busines there may be dispatched according vnto your request I haue sent you the epistles of Ignatius both vnto vs vvritten and the others in my custody annexed vnto this epistle vvhere you may gayne much profitt they contayne fayth and patience and all maner of edifying in the Lorde thus much concerning Ignatius whom Heros succeeded in the Bishopricke of Antioche CAP. XXXIII Of the Euangelistes then florishing AMong them which were then famous was Quadratus whome they say together with the Daughters of Philip to haue bene endued with the gift of prophecying and many others also at the same tyme florished which obtayning the first stepp of Apostolicall succession and being as deuine Disciples of the chiefe and principall men buylded the Churches euery where planted by the Apostles preaching and sowing the celestial seede of the kingâ—… of heauen throughout the worlde filled the barnes of God with encrease for the greater â—â—â—â—e of the disciples then liuing affected with greate zeale towards the worde of God first fullfilling the heauenly commaundement distributed their substance vnto the poore next taking their iourney fullfilled the worke office of Euangelistes that is they preached Christ vnto them which as yet heard not of the doctrine of fayth and published earnestly the doctrine of the holy Gospell These men hauing planted the fayth in sundry newe and straunge places ordained there other pastors committing vnto them the tillage of the newe ground they lately conuerted vnto the fayth pas sing them selues vnto other people and contries holpen there vnto by the grace of God which wrought with them for as yet by the power of the holy Ghost they wrought miraculously so that an innumerable multitude of men embraced yea at the first hearing with prompte and willing mindes the Religion of the Almighty God In somuch that it is impossible to rehearse all by name when and who were pastors and Euangelistes in the first succession after the Apostles in the Churches scatered throughout the worlde it shall seeme sufficiente onely to commit in writing to memorie the names of such as are recorded vnto vs by tradition from the Apostles them selues as of Ignatius in the epistles before alleadged and of Clemens mentioned in the epistle which for vndoubted he wrote vnto the Corinthians in the person of the Romayne churche where he imitating very much the epistle wrytten vnto the Hebrewes and alleadging thereof whole sentences worde by worde manifestly proueth that this epistle vnto the Hebrewes was nether newe nether of late founde wherefore it semed good to number it among the rest of the Apostles writings wheÌ„ as Paul wrote vnto the Hebrevves in his mothers tonge some affirme that Luke the Euangelist some other which seemeth more aggreable that Clemens traslated it for bothe the Epistle of Clemens and that vnto the Hebrevves vse the like manner of speach and differ not much in sense CAP. XXXIIII Of the Epistle of Clemens and other wrytinges forged vnder his name and fathered vpon him WE haue to learne that there is a seconde epistle of Clemens yet not so notable and famous as the former and we knowe that the elders did nether vse nether alleadge it Now diuerse haue thrust out in his name certaine vabling and tedious comentaries containing the dialogues of Peter and Apion which none at all of the elders haue mentioned nether doe they obserue the sincere forme and rule of the Apostolicke doctrine CAP. XXXV Of the writinges and workes of Papias THe vndoubted wrytinges of Clemens are apparent we haue spoken likewise of the wrytinges of Ignatius and Polycarpus The
the Lorde vvrought these thinges phantastically vve vvill leade them vnto the practised examples of the Prophetes and proue out of them that they all prophecied of him after this manner and that these thinges vvere done in deede and that he vvas the onely sonne of God VVherefore in his name they that be his true Disciples receauing grace of him bende their vvhole might to this ende that euery one after the quantitie of the talent receaued doe benefitt the other brethren some soundely and truely expell deuills so that they being deliuered of their euill spirites embraced the fayth and vvere receaued into the Church others haue the foreknovvledge of thinges to come they see diuine dreames propheticall visions others cure the deseased and sickly restore them to their health by their laying on of handes Novv according to our former saying the deade vvere raysed to life and liued together vvith vs many yeares for the gracious giftes of the holy Ghost are innumerable vvhich the Church dispersed throughout the vvhole vvorlde hauing receaued disposeth dayly in the name of Iesus Christ crucified vnder Pontius Pilate to the benefitt of the Gentyles seducing none neither selling to any at any pryce as she hath receaued them freely so freely she bestovveth them Againe in an other place Irenaeus writeth as vve haue hearde of many brethren in the Churche vvhich had the gift of prophecying vvhich vvere able through the holy Ghost to speake vvith sundry tongues vvhich coulde reueale the secretes of men vvhere it so behoued and expounde the darke mysteries of God thus much of the diuersity of giftes which florished among the worthy men vnto that time CAP. VIII VVhat Irenaus wrote of and concerning the holye Scriptures canonicall and the septuagints translation FOr as much as in the beginning of this our treatise we haue promised in their seuerall places to alleage the testimonies of the auncient ecclesiasticall elders and writers which they haue written to our knowledge deliuered to the posteritie toutchinge the canonicall scriptures of bothe the olde and newe testament nowe we will endeuour to performe the same And beginninge with Irenaeus firste of all let vs see what he hath written of the newe testament his wordes are these Matthewe deliuered vnto the Hebrues the historie of the Gospell vvritten in theire ovvne tongue VVhen Peter and Paul preached at Rome and planted the churche after their departure Marke the disciple and interpreter of Peter also deliuered vs in vvritinge suche thinges as he had hearde Peter preache and Luke accompanyenge Paul comprised in one volume the Gospell preached of him After these Iohn the disciple of our Lorde vvhich also leaned on his breaste published a Gospell vnto the posteritie remaining at Ephesus This hath he written in his thirde booke And in the fifte of the same argument he reasoneth of the reuelation of Sainct Iohn and the calculation of Antichristes name These thinges beinge thus vvhen as in all true and auncient copies this numbre is layde dovvne and they also testifie the same vvhiche savve Iohn vvith their eyes and the vvorde it selfe teacheth vs that the number of the beastes name according vnto the numbring of the Gentiles is declared by the letters expressed in the vvord it selfe A litle beneath of the same thus he sayth VVe doubte nothing of the name of Antichrist of the vvhich vve affirme sure certenly for if his name at this present vvere openly to be published no doubt it had bene done by him vvhich pronounced the reuelation â–ª neither vvas the reuelation seene long agoe but vvelnighe in this our age vnder the end of Domitians raigne thus muche he sayed of the reuelation of Sainct Iohn He hath made mention of the firste Epistle of Iohn citing thence many testimonies also of the former of Peter and he not onely knewe but allowed of the booke of Hermes intituled Pastor sayeng That vvritinge hath very vvell pronounced vvhich saithe before all thinges beleue there is one God vvhich hath created and made perfect all thinges c. Hee hath vsed also certaine sentences selected out of the booke of VVisdome of Solomon where he sayeth The sight of God bringeth incorruption incorruption dravveth a man vnto God He cyteth the woorkes of some one Apostolicke elder whose name he passeth ouer with silence yet pronounceth his interpretation of holy scripture Moreouer he remembred Iustinus Martyr and Ignatius alleaging their writinges for testimonies he hath promised to confute Marcion in a seuerall volume but of the translation of the olde testament by the septuagintes heare what he writeth in these wordes God then vvas made man the Lord himselfe hath saued vs geuing vs a Virgine for a signe not as some saie vvhich presume to interprete the Scriptures beholde a damsell shall conceaue and bring forth a sonne as Theodotion the Ephesine and Aquila of Pontus translated vvhich vvere both Ievvish proselytes vvhom the Ebionites folovving haue taught that Christ vvas borne of Ioseph and Marie After a fewe lynes he addeth sayinge Before the Romaine empire grevve to be of suche force vvhen as yet the Macedonians helde Asia Ptolomaeus the sonne of Lagus fullie minded to erect a librarie at Alexandria and to replenishe the same vvith all such good bookes as vvere extant requested of the Ievves inhabiting Ierusalem that they vvould sende him their bookes translated into the Greeke tongue they forasmuche as they vvere as yet subiect vnto the Macedonians sent vnto Ptolomaeus seuentie elders from among them very skilfull in their bookes and both the tongues God no doubt disposinge this thinge after his pleasure Ptolomaeus for tryals sake fearing if they conferred together they vvould conceale the truth reuealed in their bokes commaunded them seuerally euery man by himselfe to vvrite his translation and this in euery booke throughout the olde testament VVhen as they all came together in presence of Ptolomaeus and conferred the translations one vvith an other God vvas glorified and the Scriptures diuine in deede vvere knovven for all they from the beginninge to the endinge had expressed the selfe same thing vvith the selfe same vvordes and the selfe same sentences so that the Gentils then present pronounced those scriptures to haue bene translated by the instincte and motion of the spirite of God neither may it seme maruailous vnto any man that God brought this to passe for vvhen as in the captiuitie of his people vnder Nabuchodonosor the scriptures vvere perished the Ievves returning into their ovvne region after seuenty yeares in the tyme of Artaxerxes King of Persia he inspyred Esdras the priest of the tribe of Leâ—â— that he restored agayne all the sayinges of the former Prophetes and delyuered vnto the people the lavve geuen by Moses thus farre Irenaeus CAP. IX Of Iulianus Bishop of Alexandria and Pantaenus there professor of diuinitie WHen Antoninus had raigned ninetene yeares Comodus tooke the rule of the imperiall scepter in the first yeare of whose raigne
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
as were present affirmed that he had sacrificed departed with silence one being halfe dead was borne away being throwen of them for dead the same was tormēted with bondes reckned among the sacrificers an other lifted his voyce protested that he had not yelded at all the same was beaten on the mouth constrayned to kepe silence by the force of many hands which stopped his breath violētly excluded him when he had not sacrificed at al. so it pleased them well if at least wise they might seeme to bring their purpose to effect but for all their mischieuous deuises the blessed martyrs of God only bare away y ◠victory againe y ◠seuēteenth day of y ◠moneth Dius after the Romaynes the fifteenth of the Calendes of December Alphaeus and Zachaeus after they had bene lashed with whipps mangled with rasors after racking and greuous tormentes therein after sundry questions demaunded of them after they had layen in y ◠stocks many dayes and many nights their feet stretched foure spaces asunder last of all whē they had freely confessed and boldely pronounced that there was but one onely God one kinge captaine ouer all Iesus Christ as if herein they had vttered blasphemy or treason they were in like maner beheaded euen as the martyr mētioned a litle before Moreouer the history toutching Romanus y ◠martyr who suffred the same day at Antioch is worthie of memory He was borne in Palaestina he was deacon and exorcist of the church of Caesarea as it fell out being in Antioch at the ruyne and desolation of y ◠churches beholding with his eyes great multituds both of men women and children flocking vnto the altars and offering sacrifices to the Idols supposed it was his duety in no wise to winck thereat wherefore he being moued with singular zeale of the spirit of God drewe nigh vnto them exclaimed against them and sharpely rebuked them Who for so bold an enterprise was apprehended shewed him selfe a valiāt witnes or testifier if then there was any such in the world of the trueth in Christ For when the iudge threatned him death with flashing fire that consumeth to ashes he of the contrary embraced his offer most willingly with cherefull countenance and gladsome courage and with all is brought vnto the place of execution Being bounde to the stake while the officers threwe fagotts about him and such as were appointed to kindle the fire wayted for the emperours watch worde pleasure who then was presente he shouted vnto them from the stake where I pray you is the fire The whiche he had no sooner spoken but the Emperour called him vnto him to the ende he shoulde suffer a newe and straūge kinde of torment to wete that his tongue might be plucked out of his mouth the which he constantly endured and thereby declared at large howe that the deuine power and grace of God neuer fayleth them which suffer for godlines sake but alwayes ether easeth their labours slaketh theyr griefs or els graunteth courage and might to endure paciently vnto the ende This blessed sainct as soone as he had vnderstoode of their newe deuised torment beinge valiantly disposed neuer staggered thereat but voluntarily put out his tongue yelded the same which was fully instructed in the word of God vnto the tormentors hands After which tormēt he was clapt in prison and there plagued alonge time at length when the twentieth yeare of the Emperours raygne was nowe expired at what time a generall pardon was proclaimed y t all prisoners should be sett at liberty he alone lying in the stockes and his feete stretched fiue spaces asunder had his necke compassed with a haulter and thus in prison stifled to death so that hereby according vnto his desire he was crowned with martyrdome This man although he suffred out of the bounds of his natiue soyle yet being a Palaestinian by birth is worthy to be canonized amōg the martyrs of Palaestina Such were the tragicall affayrs of the church in Palaestina the first yeare of the persecution which was chiefly bent against y ◠presidents of our doctrine byshops of y ◠church of God CAP. XXI Of the martyrs which suffred in Caesarea the seconde yeare of the persecution vnder Diocletian and of the alteration of the Empire THe second yeare nowe being come when the persecution raised against vs waxed hott the proclamations of the Emperours where it was generally cōmaunded that both mē women children throughout euery citie and village should be constrained to sacrifice offer incense to Idols were newly come to the hands of Vrbanus then lyuetenant of y ◠prouince Timotheus of Gaza in Palaestina after infinite torments the which he endured laste of all being boūd to the stake enuironed with slacke slowe fire gaue forth a worthy triall of his zeale godwards through pacient sufferance in all the bitter punishments laid vpon him and in the end bare away the garlande of victory vsually graunted to all y ◠valiant champions which wrastle for piety the seruice of God At y ◠same time Agapius Thecla also which liued in this our age she wed y ◠worthy constancy of their noble minds when as at y ◠cōmaundement of the iudge they were throwen at the feete of wild beasts to be ether deuoured or torne in peeces What man is he that ether beholdinge with his eyes the thinges which ensued will not fall into admiration or lendinge onely the bare eare vnto the recitall of them will not be astonied thereat For when as the Ethniks solemnized their publick feastes and celebrated their wonted spectacles amongst other their mery newes gladsome wishes it was commonly noyced abrode that the christians lately condemned to wild beasts made all the sport and finished the solemnity This report being farre and nigh and euery where bruted abrode yonge striplings to the number of six whereof one was of Pontus by name Timolaus the second of Tripolis a citie in Phaenicia called Dionysius the third by name Romulus subdeacon of the church of Diospolis the fourth Pausis the fift Alexander bothe Aegyptians the sixt Alexander of the same name with him that went before of the citie of Gaza ioyning handes and hartes together signifiyng thereby the feruent loue they owed to martyrdome went with speede vnto Vrbanus who a litle before had let loose the raueninge beastes to rent the christiās in peeces and frely protested the christian faith declaring by this their promptnes and willing minds as it were absolutely furnished to giue the onsett of what aduenture soeuer that suche as glory in the title worshipp and seruice of the great God creator of the whole world haue not to tremble at y ◠fierce rage of furious and sauadge beastes Wherevpon both the president and the people fell into great admiration and the confessors were forth with clapt in prison Not longe
after there were other two committed to take their lots among them wherof one by name Agapius had before that time yelded an accompt of his faith by suffring of many bitter and greeuous torments the other by name Dionysius who carefully prouided for the corporall reliefe of the Martyrs All these in number eyght were in one day beheaded in the citie of Caesarea the foure and twentieth daye of the moneth Dystros that is the ninth of the Calendes of Aprill About that tyme two of the Emperours whereof the firste enioyed the prerogatiue of honor the seconde was next which gouerned the Empire embraced a priuate trade of lyuinge after the vulgare sort of men and the state of the publicke weale immediatly beganne to decaye In a while after the Romaine Empire was deuided the Emperours amonge them selues one againste an other fought great and greuous battailes neither was that tumult and sedition ceassed before that firste of all peace was restored and established throughout all the parts of the worlde which were subiect to the Romaine Empire for when as peace once appeared againe much like sonne beames shining after a mistie and darke night the publicke state of the Romaine empire was a gaine established the bonde of amitie linked againe mutuall amitie and concord retained of olde was againe recouered But of these things we will entreate hereafter more at large when more fitt oportunitie shall serue now let vs proceede vnto that which followeth CAP. XXII Of Apphianus the Martyr MAximinus Caesar who by maine force intruded him selfe into the Empire laynge wyde open vnto the whole worlde manifest proofes of his deadly hatred and impietie towards God as it were naturally growing in his fleshe and graffed in his bones persecuted vs more vehemently and more generally then the other his superior emperours wherfore when as trouble tumult no small confusion hanged ouer our heads some were here there scattered endeuoring by all meanes possible to auoide y t perill ensuing that a greuous coÌ„motion had now ouerrunne the contrie no toÌ„gue can worthely declare no speache sufficiently expresse the deuine loue liberty of faith wherewith Apphianus y â— blessed martyr of God yelded an accoÌ„pt of his profession Who shewed vnto y â— citizens of Caesarea asseÌ„bled at their spectacle or sacrifice in y â— porche of the teÌ„ple a liuely signe or tokeÌ„ of the singular zeale he bare godwards when he was not at that time no not xx yeare old he coÌ„tinewed a long time at Berytos in Phaenicia applying his minde to the study of prophane literature for he came of such parents as flowed in worldly wealth It is in maner incredible how he ouercame all youthly affectioÌ„s drowned all his wild otes in so vicious so corrupt a citie how y t neither by reason of his youthly floure lately florishing in his greene body neither by reason of his coÌ„panie and acquaintance with youthly mates he sucked the iuyce neither swallowed the sopps of lewde and wanton conuersation but embracing temperancie led a reuerent life peculier to christian religion in modesty sobrietie godlines If in case we be coÌ„strained to mention his contrey and to honor the same for bringing forth so valiant a champioÌ„ to wrastle in the caÌ„pe of this world vnder the baÌ„ner of Christ truely we will performe the same neither without good consideration for who so euer knoweth Pagas no obscure citie of Lycia it was there that this yong man was borne he after his returne from schoole and the study of prophane literature applied at Berytos not pleased with the conuersation of his father who then gouerned that whole contrey neither with the conuersation of his kinsfolks with whome he liued because they framed not their liues after the rule of piety being pricked with the instinct motion of the spirite of God inflamed with a certaine naturall nay rather celestiall true loue of sincere wisdome cast in his mind to consider of weyghtyer matters then this fayned counterfeite glory of the world beares vs in hande laying aside therfore all the sweete baites of fleshly pleasure he forsooke fled away priuely from his friends and families not weying at all the want of necessary prouision but casting his whole care confidence vpâ—â— God was ledd no doubt by the deuine spirite as it were by a stryng into the city of Caesarea where the crowne of martyrdome beynge the reward of godlines was prepared for him for whilest that he liued among vs he profited in holy scripture during that short terme of his life more then any man coulde thinke and practised such discipline as tended to godly life preparing a perfect way to dye well But toutching the ende he made who is it that beholdinge the same with single eye wyll not be astonyed and howe so euer againe he be disposed which only with fame and hearesay attaineth vnto the knowledge of his setled mind his noble courage his immouable constancie and aboue all his faithfull trust endeuour wherby the tokens of vnfained godlines and feruent spirite appeared which passed all the reach of mans reasons how can he chuse but woÌ„der therat for when as in y â— third yeare of our persecution vnder the raigne of Maximinus the seconde whurlyburlie was raysed against vs and the tyrants letters then first of all were brought to Vrbanus charging all the people of what degree or callinge so euer that they shoulde sacrifice vnto their gods the magistrats also throughout euery cytie busily applying them selues to the same and that the beadells throughout all the cytie of Caesarea shoulde by vertue of the Presidents edict summone the fathers the mothers and their children to appeare at the Idols temple and that the Tribunes shoulde likewise out of a scroule call euery one by his name by reason whereof there was no where but heauynesse sobbinge and sighinge the aforesayde Apphianus letting not one to vnderstande of his purpose vnknowinge vnto vs which accompanyed with him in one house vnknowinge vnto the whole bande of the captayne came cherefully vnto Vrbanus the President as he was a sacrificinge and boldly without any feare at all tooke holde in his ryght hande and stayed him forthwith from doynge sacrifice exhortinge him also both wisely and grauely with a certayne godly protestation and cheerefulnesse of minde thenceforth to ceasse and be no more seduced sayinge moreouer there was no reason that he shoulde despise the one the onely true God and offer sacrifice to idols and to deuells Such an enterprise the yonge man tooke in hande beynge prouoked thereunto as it seemeth vnto vs by the deuine power of God sounding in the eares of all mortall men by this his fact that the Christians which ryghtly do chalenge that name are farre from falling away from the seruice due vnto God the author of all goodnesse so that they not onely suffer and variantly endure threates and plagues
was made after the selfe same maner with other creatures of that vvhich is not as some haue levvdely imagined but that he had beynge and lyuinge that he vvas and subsisted before the foundations of the vvorlde vvere layde and therefore appoynted by his father vvho is Lorde of all thinges the prince of all this vniuersalitie so that the vvorde Made in this place is no othervvise to be taken then Appoynted or Ordayned Peter also the Apostle calleth Princes and Magistrates plaine creatures vvhere he sayeth Submitt your selues vnto euery humane creature for the Lords sake whether it be vnto the kinge as vnto the chiefe heade either vnto rulers as sent of him And the Prophet also prepare thy selfe sayth he O Ierusalem to call vpon thy God for beholde he setteth the thunder he shapeth the spirite and shevveth vnto men his Christ he vnderstandeth not this worde shapeth as if the spirite were made of that which is not for God then made no◠the spirite when he shevved by him his Christ vnto all men he vvas not then nevvely proclaymed vnder heauen for he vvas and subsisted before but he sent him what time the Apostles were assembled together when the sound in the likenes of thunder came downe from heauen as if it had bene the comming of a mighty winde and filled them all with the holy Ghost and thus he shevved his Christ vnto all men according vnto the prophecie which sayd beholde he setteth the thunder he shapeth the spirite and shevveth his Christ vnto men laying dovvne the worde shapeth for sendeth or ordaineth and the word thunder in an other sense for the preaching of the Gospell Dauid also vvhen he sayde Create me a cleane harte O God he sayde it not as though he wāted a hart but he desired a pure hart to be put in him made perfect In like sense also is that spoken that he shoulde create two into one newe man that is he shoulde couple Se likewise this whether it may be taken after the same maner to put on the new man which is created after God Againe If there be any new creature in Christ such like phrases the which with diligent searche we may finde in the holy Scriptures Maruell not then if the Scripture metaphorically doe vse this kinde of speach the Lord made me the beginning of his wayes made that is appoynted or ordayned these were the reasons of Eusebius in his bookes against Marcellus and cited of vs to this ende that the mouthes of such as vnaduisedly do sclaunder him and contumeliously report of him may therwith be stopped They are not able to proue although the wordes of the order and maner be vsually and commonly founde throughout his workes that he assigned vnto the sonne of God a beginning of essence for all that he was a great follower and fauorer of Origens workes where whosoeuer can attaine vnto the secrete and hidd sense of Origens bookes he shall finde euery where the sonne to haue bene begotten of the father thus haue we vsed digression for to ridd Eusebius out of the sclaunderous mouthes of suspicious heads CAP. XVIII VVhen the councell of Sardice decreed that Athanasius and Paulus should be restored to their bishoprikes and Constantius the Easterne Emperour woulde not admitt them The Emperour of the VVest threatned him with warrs so that Constantius was therewith affrayde wrote for Athanasius and sent him to Alexandria AFter that both the Bishops assembled at Sardice and also the bishops assembled at Philippi a citie of Thracia in their seuerall councells had decreed such things as seemed good vnto them selues they returned euery man to his owne home The East west churches were now deuided the space or distance seuering their communion asunder was the mount betwene Illyrium and Thracia called Tisueis for so farre euery of them among them selues though they differed about the faith yet the quarell being layde aside they communicated together beyonde that there was no communion of contrary parts such a confusion such a sturre and such a diuision raigned then in the church Immediatly after the Emperour of the West parts of the world certified his brother Constantius of the things decided in the councel of Sardice requested him to see Paulus Athanasius placed in their bishoprikes But when Constantius differred from day to day his brothers desire the Emperour of the west gaue his brother in choise either to restore Paulus Athanasius so accompt of him as his friend or else to heare the proclamation of open warre and so find him his deadly foe The letters he sent by the embassadour vnto his brother were these There remaine here with me Athanasius Paulus who as I am credibly geuen to vnderstand are persecuted for pieties sake If that thou vvilt promise me to restore them vnto their seaes to punish seuerely such as haue iniuried them I will send the parties them selues vnto thee but if thou wilt not accomplish this my vvill pleasure knovve for suertie that my selfe vvill come thither maugre thy berde restore them to their proper seaes When the Emperour of the East had vnderstoode of this he was wonderfull pensiue and sadd he assembleth together many of the Easterne bishops layeth before them y ◠choice his brother gaue him demaundeth of them what was best in this case to be dōe They make answere that it was farre better to restore againe Athanasius then to rayse deadly and mortall warrs Wherefore the Emperour being constrayned of necessitie sent for Athanasius vnto him In the meane while Constans the Westerne Emperour had sent Paulus honorably together with two Bishops with his owne letters and with the letters of the councell for the more suretie vnto Constantinople When Athanasius feared doubted whether he were best goe or no vnto Constantius for the false reports of sclaunderous persons troubled him very sore the Easterne Emperour Constantius by name sent for him not once but the seconde and the thirde time euen as his letters turned out of the latine into the greeke doe declare and by translation as followeth The epistle of Constantius the Emperour vnto the exiled Athanasius Constantius the puysant noble Emperour vnto Athanasius the bishop sendeth greeting ▪ our singuler wonted clemency vvill no longer suffer thy fatherhoode to be turmoyled and tossed vvith the surging vvaues of the seas ▪ the pietie vvhich vve haue alvvaies in greate price vvill no longer permitt thy holines novve banished out of thy natiue soyle bereaued of thy substance barred of all prosperitie to vvander through crooked and crosse vvaies through desert daungerous contries Although we haue lingered now a great vvhile from sending our letters wherby vve might signifie vnto thee the concealed secretie of our minde hoping that of thine ovvne accorde thou vvouldest repaire vnto vs vvith humble sute craue remedie redresse of thine iniuries yet neuerthelesse feare peraduenture dismaying thee of thy
purpose vve sent presently our gracious letters vnto thy grauitie that vvith all celeritie thou come vnto vs in so doing thou shalt satisfie thy longing desires thou shalt haue triall of our vvonted clemency and be restored to thine ovvne seae natiue soile ▪ for to this ende I haue entreated my Lord and brother Constans the puysant noble Emperour that he vvould licence thee to returne vnto vs vvherby thou mightest by the meanes of vs both enioy thy contrie haue this token for triall of our singuler clemencie good vvill tovvards thee An other epistle vnto the sayd renowmed Athanasius Constantius the puysant noble Emperour vnto Athanasius the Bishop sendeth greeting Although by our former letters vve haue signified vnto thy vvisedome after the plainest maner that with secure mind safe conduyte thou shouldest come vnto our courte because we were fully determined to restore thee vnto thy former dignitie for all that vve haue sent these letters also vnto thy holines that thou hire a common vvaggon and remouing all timorous thoughts from thy mistrustfull minde thou speedely repaire vnto vs to the ende thou mayest the sooner enioy thy long vvished desires An other epistle vnto the sayd renowmed Athanasius Constantius the puysant and noble Emperour vnto Athanasius the Bishop sendeth greeting Being of late at Edessa vvhere there vvere also of thy priestes then present it seemed good vnto vs to send one of them vnto thee that thou shouldest hasten vnto our court and after thy comming into our presence vvithour delay returne into Alexandria And for as much as it is novve a greate vvhile agoe since thou receauedst our letters and hast differred thy iourney therefore novv also vve thought good to putt thee in remembrance that vvithout delay thou come vnto vs and so thou shalt possesse the libertie of thy contrey and thy long vvished ease and quietnes To the ende thou mightest fully persvvade thy selfe of all the premises vve sent vnto thee Achetas the Deacon of vvhome thou shalt vnderstand both vvhat our purpose is and also hovv that thy harty desires shall preuaile Athanasius bing at Aquileia for he had remoued thither from Sardice receaued these letters thence he went in post to Rome shewed the letters to Bishop Iulius and recreated very much the Church of Rome for Constantius the Easterne Emperour seemed to be of the same fayth and opinion with them when he sent for Athanasius home Iulius certified the clergy and layetie of Alexandria in his letters of Athanasius as followeth The epistle of Iulius Bishop of Rome vnto the Priestes and people of Alexandria Iulius Bishop of Rome vnto the priestes deacons people inhabiting Alexandria welbeloued brethren sendeth greeting in the Lorde I doe greatly reioyce vvith you vvel beloued brethren that henceforth you may behold with your eyes the frute of your faith that truely is to be seene in my brother fellowe Bishop Athanasius whome God hath restored vnto you partly for his syncere godly life partly also by the meanes of your prayers hereby it may easily be coniectured vvhat pure and feruent prayers you haue alvvayes poured vnto God For when you called to remembrance the heauenly promises the entire affection you beare vnto them all which you learned of my foresaid brother you vnderstood plainly through the right faith ingraffed in your mindes you were fully persvvaded that Athanasius whome in your godly mindes you behelde present shoulde not alwayes be absent and continually be seuered from you VVherfore I neede not vse many words vnto you for whatsoeuer I say the same hath your faith preuented whatsoeuer commonly you all hartely desired the same through the grace of God is now fully come to passe And that I may repeate the same againe I doe greately reioyce vvith you that you haue continevved so firmely and so stedfastly in the fayth that by no meanes you could be vvithdravven from it Moreouer I doe no lesse reioyce at my brother Athanasius vvho notwithstanding the manifold calamities sundry miseries he endured yet remembred almost euery houre your entire loue great longing for him although for a season he seemed to be absent from you in body yet liued he alwayes as if he had bene present with you in the spirite I thinke verily welbeloued brethren that all the temptations paines he endured are not voyd of their praise commendation for by this meanes both your faith his hath bene knowen made manifest vnto the whole worlde If he had not bene tryed with such great and lamentable temptations who euer would haue thought so stayed a censure to haue rested in your minds or so feruēt loue affection to haue fastened your minds vpon so notable a bishop or that he was the man that excelled in such rare gifts by the meanes whereof he is made partaker of the hope which is layd vp for vs in heauen VVherefore he hath attayned vnto a notable testimony of his faith not only in this life but in the life to come For by the pacient sufferance of much aduersity by sea by lande he hath trampled trodd vnderfoote all the malicious treacheries of the Arians Oftētimes by reasó of the aduersaries spite he stood in great hazard of his life yet made he no accompt of death but for all that through the grace of almighty god the power of our Lord Iesus Christ he escaped their hands wherby he conceaued good hope that in the ende he should quit him of his aduersaries be restored to the comfort of you all beare away together with you the victorious garland of good workes well doing in that he is already famous euen to the endes of the world highly cōmended for his good life renowmed for his free constant perseuerance in the defence of the christian heauenly faith registred by the censure of you al to immortall memory for the singuler loue affection he shewed towards you VVherfore he is returned vnto you bedecked with greater excellēcy renowm thē before his departure If the fire accustomed to try exquisitly the purity of fine precious mettall as of golde or siluer what can be spokē of so notable a mā in respect of his worthines who after the quēching of so many fiery flames of sedition after the recouering of so many daūgerous perills greuous downfalls is now restored vnto you foūd innocent not only by our determination but by the decree cēsure of the whole councell Entertaine therfore welbeloued brethren your bishop Athanasius also such as haue bene partakers of his affliction with all reuerēce ioy gladnes Reioyce in that you haue obtained your desires in that you haue as it were fed quēched with your letters the thurst of your sheepheard hūgering thursting in his absence after your godly zeale for in so doing during his abode in foraine farre cōtries you comforted him not a litle while
of the Nouatians was set on fire SHortly after Paulus the Nouatian bishop although aforetime counted a very godly man yet then specially it fel out y â— men conceaued a farre better opinion of his piety theÌ„ euer they did before At ConstaÌ„tinople there happned such a fire y â— like whereof was not remebred before For the greater parte of the citie was consumed to asses the famous graynard the market house called Achilleus were quite burned Last of all the fire crept into the Nouatian church which adioyned vnto the signe of the Storck Wherefore Paulus as soone as he perceaued the churche to be in great daunger fell prostrate before the Altare referred vnto God in his prayer the preseruatioÌ„ of the church neither ceassed he to inculcate as well the remembrance of the citie as of the church God as it proued in the end gaue eare vnto his prayers For all y e fire flashed into the church both by dore and by windowe yet was there no harme done nay though the buylding round about was on fire though the church was inuironed w t burning flames by the power of God the church was preserued and ouercame the furie rage of the fire It was not quenched the space of two dayes two night s the citie burned all that while In the end though many partes of the citie were vtterly come to nought yet the church as I sayde before escaped that lamentable ouerthrowe And that which was more to be wondred at no signe of the smoke no scorching of the flame no parching of the heat could be seene vpon the timber beames or walls This came to passe the seauenteenth of August in the fourteenth Consulship of Theodosius and the first of Maximus The Nouatians since that time doe yearely keepe holyday the seauenteeneth of August in remembrance y â— their church was then miraculously preserued from fire at what time they render vnto God harty thankes all men doe reuerence that church for the miracle and not only the Christians but also y e Ethniks doe honor it as an holy place So farre of that CAP. XXXIX Howe that Proclus succeeded Maximianus in the Bishoprick of Constantinople WHen Maximianus had peaceably gouerned the church the space of two yeares and fiue moneths He departed this life in the Consulship of Areobindus Asparis the twelf of Aprill It was the ember weeke next before Easter and on good fridaye At what time Theodosius the Emperour plaid a very wise part For lest that tumult dissention should be raised againe in y e church wtout any further delay while as yet y e corps of Maximianus was aboue grouÌ„d he procured the bishops then present to stall Proclus in the Bishops seae To this end the letters of Celestinus bishop of Rome were brought vnto Cyrill bishop of Alexandria vnto Iohn bishop of Antioch vnto Ruffus bishop of Thessalonica certifieng them that there was no cause to the contrary but that one either alredy nominated bishop of some certaine citie or stalled in some proper sea might be translated vnto an other bishopricke As soone as Proclus then tooke possession of the bishoprick he solemnized the funerall of Maximianus and interred his corps CAP. XL. Of Proclus Bishop of Constantinople and what kinde of man he was NOwe fit oportunity is offred to say somewhat of Proclus This Proclus from his youth vp was a reader he frequented the schooles and was a great student of Rhetoricke When he came to mans estate he had great familiarity with Atticus for he was his scribe Atticus seeing his forewardnes in learning good behauiour in life made him Deacon But wheÌ„ he was thought worthy the degree of a priest Sisinius as I sayd before made him Bishop of Cyzicum But these things were done a good while before At that time as I saye he was chosen Bishoppe of Constantinople A man he was of a maruelous good life for being trained vp vnder Atticus he became an earnest follower of his vertuous steps As for pacieÌ„t sufferaÌ„ce he farr excelled Atticus Euen as Atticus as time and place required could terrifie the heretickes so he behaued him self tractable towardes all men perswaded him selfe that it was farre easier for him by faire meanes to allure vnto the Churche then by force to compell them vnto the faythe He determined to vexe no secte whatsoeuer but reserued and restored vnto the Churche that renowmed vertue of meekenesse required in Clergie men Wherein he imitated the EmperoureÌ„ Theodosius For euen as it pleased him not to execute the Emperiall sworde agaynste suche as committed haynous crimes and wrought treason so Proclus made no accompt at all of suche as were of the contrary fayth and opinion CAP. XLI Of the clemencie of Theodosius the Yonger THeodosius the Emperour did highely commende Proclus for the aforsayde vertues For he counteruayled in pacience y â— holy pryests of God he could not away w t persecutors yea â—o say the trueth he passed all the priestes of God in modesty and meekenes of spirite euen as it is wrytten of Moses in the booke of Numbres Moses was the mildest man vpon earth so may it nowe be sayd of Theodosius that he is the mildest man in the world for which cause God subdued his enemies vnto him without slaughter bloodshed euen as the victory he got of Iohn the tyrant and the ouerthrowe of the Barbarians did manifestly declare vnto the worlde For God bestowed such benefittes vpon this most holy Emperour as he did of olde vpon the righteous and vertuous liuers Neyther truely doe I wryte these thinges in the waye of flattery but I will heareafter declare vnto the world more plainely that they are as true as I reporte them CAP. XLII VVhat calamity befell vnto the Barbarians which ayded the tyrante and rebell Iohn AFter the desease of the tyrante the Barbarians whome he had gathered together to wage battaill with the Romaynes purposed to ouer runne certaine dominions that were subiecte vnto the Empire of Rome The Emperour hearing of this referred vnto the wisedome of God after his wonted guise the wholl matter he gaue him selfe altogether vnto prayer and in the end obtayned his desire It shall not be amisse presentely to laye downe the miserable endes of the Barbarians First of all theyr captayne Rugas was slaine with a thunderbolt Next there ensued a plague which dispatched the greater parte of his souldiers Neither seemed this a sufficiente punishment but there came fire also from heaueÌ„ consumed many of them that remained the which thing did greatly astonish y â— BarbariaÌ„s not so much because they presumed to take armour against y â— fierse valiaunt Romaynes as when they saw y â— Romaynes asisted by the mightie arme inuincible power of God At that time Proclus the Bishop repeated some parcell of Ezechiels prophecy expounded it in the Churche and applied it with singuler commendation to haue bene foreshewed of
day night to pray for the prosperous state of your empire the coÌ„tinuaÌ„ce of your raigne After these things y â— acts of y â— secoÌ„d couÌ„cel of Ephesus were openly read at y â— request both of Dioscorus Eusebius y â— subtle disputation exquisit discourse therof both written of many others also laid down among y â— acts of y â— councel of ChalcedoÌ„ if I should here pen for y â— reader who peradueÌ„ture wil be desirous to vnderstaÌ„d y â— finall end of al their doings without doubt I should seeme to post him ouer with delayes I will therefore referre it to the ende of this booke where as many as will haue all things after their common saying at their fingers endes may both reade all and carefully committ the whole to memorie But nowe let vs proceede on in the things which we haue chiefely purposed to handle that is to saye howe Dioscorus bewrayed him selfe partly by reiecting the Epistle of Leo byshopp of old Rome and partly also by deposing Flauianus byshop of newe Rome all which he did in one day and craftely deuised that the byshops whiche assembled together should subscribe vnto a blancke where afterwards he caused the depriuation of Flauianus to be written when these thinges were done the senators decreed as followeth The next day after when the councell aduised them selues somewhat better we doe perceiue that they reasoned more exquisitly of the true and catholicke fayth VVherefore seeinge that Flauianus the byshopp of worthie memory and Eusebius the most reuerende byshopp of Dorilaeum were founde not to haue erred in the fayth after we had searched the actes and decrees of the councell and also by the report of suche as were chiefe in the councell and therefore vniustly to haue beene deposed for they confessed them selues sowly deceaued and wrongfully to haue depriued Flauianus and Eusebius It seemeth good vnto vs and no doubt God approueth the same that Dioscorus the most reuerend byshop of Alexandria if it so please our Lorde the Emperour Iuuenalis the most reuerend byshop of Ierusalem Thalassius the most reuerend byshop of Caesarea in Cappodocia Eusebius the most reuerende byshop of Armenia Eustathius the most reuerend byshop of Berytus Basilius the most reuerende byshop of Seleucia in Isauria who were then of autority and chief of the councell should be punished alike deposed of their byshopricks by the censure iudgemeÌ„t of the councell as the canons of the church doe require be at the emperours pleasure Immediatly there were other bils exhibited against Dioscorus both of the crimes he committed and the money he had receaued but when Dioscorus being called y â— second the third time of y â— councel sent fained excuses for him self came not y â— Legats of Leo byshop of old Rome stood vp in y â— councel said as followeth The hainoê° offeÌ„ces which Dioscorus late byshop of the noble city of Alexandria coÌ„mitted against the canons of the councells the ecclesiastical discipline are throughly knoweÌ„ of vs al partly by sifting out such things as were heard in the former session and partly also by examining such things as we decided this day And that we may omit many other things this man of his owne autority coÌ„trary to the canon of the church receaued Eutyches into the coÌ„munion an heretick of the same opinion with him one that was iustly deposed by his owne proper byshop to wit the most holy father and our byshop Flauianus this he did before he shewed his face in the councel which he held with the most holy byshops at Ephesus but the Apostolicke seae pardoned the byshops because they were constrained against their wills to doe that whiche they did who yeelded them selues vnto this present houre both to Leo the most holy byshop to the whole sacred general assembly of byshops therefore as men of one opinion with him he receaued theÌ„ into the coÌ„munion As for this Dioscorus he cesseth not as yet to glory of the things for the which he ought to mourne lament lie groueling vpon the ground in sackcloth ashes not onely this but also he fâ—rbad the reading of holy Pope Leo his epistle written vnto Flauianus of godly memory yea being oft intreated of the Legats naye when he him selfe had promised with an othe he woulde procure it to be read the default in not reading of which epistle hath bene both an offence hindrance vnto the holy churches vnder heauen Although he was priuey to such lewde practises yet haue we asseÌ„bled together to th end we might deale somewhat fauourably both vvith him for all his former leudnes and also in like sort with the other godly byshops which were not of equall autority with him in iudgment but seing that his later misdemenure exceeded his former impiety for he sticked not to excoÌ„municate Leo the most holy and most religious archebyshop of Rome moreouer wheÌ„ shameful bills were exhibited against him he him self being cited once twise the thirde time as the canon of the church hath coÌ„maunded by the godly byshops to appeare before the councel yet would be not come for his owne coÌ„science accused him but entertained coÌ„trary vnto law such as were iustly deposed by diuers councells set at naught sundry coÌ„stitutions of the church condemning as it were him selfe with his owne doings once againe seeinge these are found to be his later practises Leo the most holy archebyshop of great olde Rome by vs and this sacred assembly together with the most blessed Apostle S. Peter who is the rocke the grounde of the Catholicke Churche and the fundation of the true fayth bereaued him of all dignitie that belongeth to a byshop and depriued him of the priestly function â–ª wherefore let this holy councell geue the sentence of Dioscorus of whom we haue hitherto spoken according vnto the canons of the Church When these things were ratified by the councell and certen other things decided y â— byshops that were deposed with Dioscorus at y â— request of the councell the consent of y â— emperour were restored to their byshopricks againe when they had annexed certeÌ„ things vnto their former constitutious y â— conncell pronounced such a sentence as followeth Our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christe going about to confirme his disciples in the knowledge of the fayth saide vnto them my peace I geue you my peace I bequeath vnto you to th ende none should vary froÌ„ his neighbour in sacred religion but that all with one mouth minde should acknowledg the word of trueth Imediately after when they had read y â— creed established by the councell of Nice with y â— forme of faith agreed vpon by a hundred fiftye godly fathers assembled at Constantinople they procede on in these words that diuine holy creed containing the abundance of the grace spirit of god is sufficient both to bring men vnto
became very strong the soldiers were animated and last of all the enemie terrified and altogether dismaid He found the citie trenched about with a great contremure raised nigh the wals all warlicke engins prepared for the winning of the citie as the great holow catapelts which shoote the dartes from a loft commonly called brakes or slings Chosroes with these helpes wonne the citie by force in the winter season when as Iohn the Maior of the towne toke no thought at all how he might repel the violence of the enemie nay rather he betraied the citie for both is reported Chosroes had besieged the citie aboue fiue moneths and in all that while there was not one that withstode him last of all when he had ransacked the citie of all that was in it and slaine many after a lamentable sort and taken many also aliue he fortified the citie lying very commodiously both for him and his subiects and so returned home CAP. XI Iustinus the Emperour fell into phrensie and Tiberius tooke the gouernement of the whole Empire I Vstinus vnderstanding that his dominions were inuaded in such sort as we haue declared before by reason of his ouer much insolencie and pride banished witte remoued reason out of her seat tooke his infortunate successe farre more greeuous then the common course of nature could beare and fell into frensie and madnes so that he had no sense or vnderstanding of any thing that was done Wherefore Tiberius a Thracian borne one that was of chiefest authoritie and estimation with Iustinus tooke in hand the gouernment of the Empire This man had lately bene sent by Iustinus with great power to geue battell vnto the people Abari Who when as his souldiers could not finde in their hearts to behold the Barbarians in the face had without all peraduenture bene taken had not the diuine prouidence of God beyond all mans expectation saued and restored him aliue into the Romaine dominions for by following the rash and headie aduisement of Iustinus he together with the whole common weale of Rome was in great daunger of vtter foile and of loosing vnto the Barbarians the great renowne of the Romaine Empire CAP. XII How Traianus went in embassie vnto Chosroes king of Persia and concluded a league betwene the Romaines and the Persians WHerfore speedie counsel was taken such as was meete and coÌ„uenient for the Romaine affaires to the ende that which they had lost with rashnes might be recouered wyth reason and sobrietie they sent vnto Chosroes king of Persia Traianus a man of great renowne by office a Senator of great honor and estimation with all men partly for his hore heare and partly also for his great wisedom his Embassie was not in the person of the Emperour or in the name of the Romaine common weale but only a message from Sophia the Empresse For she wrote letters vnto Chosroes where she lamented the wofull plight her husband stoode in and the lamentable state of the commoÌ„ weale wanting a head that it stoode not with his honor to triumph ouer a seely widowe to insult ouer an Emperour that was sicke and dedred and to inuade a common weale that was destitute of aide and succour That he of old being diseased had not onely the like humanitie shewed vnto him but also of the best Phisitions sent vnto him from the Empire of Rome which might ease him of his griefe Chosroes being perswaded with these circumstances although he had determined immediatly to ouerrunne the Romaine dominions yet confirmed he a league for three yeares space concerning the East countreys and decreed withall that Armenia should enioy the like benefite that no battell should be fought there and that none throughout the East countreys should be molested at all While the affaires of the East stoode in this sort Sermium was taken of the Barbarians a Citie of old inhabited of the people Gepaedi and afterwards by them deliuered vnto Iustinus CAP. XIII Of Tiberius who was made felowe Emperour and his disposition IN the meane while Iustinus through the couÌ„saile of Sophia the Empresse proclaimed Tiberius Caesar and vttered such lamentable words at his coronation as no historie either auncient or otherwise howsoeuer hath recorded vnto this day God no doubt of his mercy graunting vnto him so much time space as might suffice him both to coÌ„fesse his owne sinnes also to pronounce such things as were for the profite and commoditie of the common wealth For when Iohn the Bishop together with his companie the princes and magistrates last of all the pretorian souldiers were assembled in the open hall where of olde such solemnities were vsually celebrated Iustinus cladde Tiberius in the Emperiall robe and compassed him with the souldiers cloke saying aloud as followeth Let not the glory of this garment lead thee into errour neither be thou deceaued vvith the glorious shovv of such things as are subiect vnto the senses vvhervvith I my selfe novve alasse being snared haue brought my selfe foolishly into these grieuous torments VVherfore in gouerning the Empire vvith great moderation and mildnes of spirit redresse vvhat is amisse and correct vvhat I haue leudly committed And poynting at the Magistrates with the finger Thou must in no vvise sayth he be ruled by these men for these be they vvhich brought me into this lamentable plight and the miserie thou seest me in These with other sorrowfull wordes he vttered with many sobbes and sighes which made all that were present wonderfull pensiue and the teares to trickle downe their cheekes This Tiberius was a goodly tall man and well set one that excelled in the opinion of all men for comely proportion so that he passed not onely kings and Emperours but also all other sortes of men And first of all as touching the maner of his person it became very well the maiestie of the Emperiall scepter and as for his minde it was adorned with modestie gentlenes and curtesie His gracious fauour was such that it allured all men at the first sight to loue him He supposed that to be riches which suffised euery man to geue not onely for necessitie but also for plentie and abundance For he was of the opinion that not they onely were to receaue benefites which wanted but that it became the Emperour of Rome to be bountifull and liberally to geue He tooke that golde to be counterfait whiâ—h was gathered with the teares of the commonaltie He was so moued with these circumstances that he forgaue vnto them that were tributaries vnto the Empire one whole yeres tribute Againe such manours and fermes as Adaarmanes had in maner brought to decay by ceasing them at greeuous tribute he restored vnto their former libertie and not onely considered their losse but recompenced them ouer besides He forgaue the miurious exactions and pencions for the which other Emperours accustomed to deliuer and in maner to sell their subiectes to be abused of the magistrates at theyr pleasure and made a lawe
perse â—…t 〈…〉 me 〈…〉 9. When Tiberius had â—aigned 23. yeares he dyed Paul is coÌ„uerted to the â—aith The Eunuche coÌ„uerted by Philip preached the Gospell to the Aethiopians his contreymeÌ„ Act 8. Euseb lib. 2. cap. 1.         Chri Caius Caliguia succeedeth Tiberius Pilate which gaue the senteÌ„ce vpon Christ fell into such misery being acused for his cruelty that he slewe himselfe in the tyme of Caius Euseb lib. 2. cap. 7. Philo Iudae us florished about this tyme he is sent in embassie vnto Cauis from the Iewes in Alexandria Euse lib. 2. cap. 5. he came first to RoÌ„e vnder Caius the 2. time vnder Claudius Euseb lib. 2. cap. 18. Philo wrot a notable booke of the Christians at that time in Aegypt called worshipers Euseb lib. 2 cap. 16. 17. his owne are to be sene Euse lib. 2. ca. 18 HERODE the tetrarche when he had bene king of the Iewes 24. yeres is banished by Caius the Emperour together with his harlot Herodias Euseb lib. 2. cap. 4. into lions a city in Fraunce Euseb Antiq. lib. 18. cap. 14.        Chri Euse â—…c Caius Caligula called himselfe God Euseb lib. 2. cap. 6. Caius wheÌ„ he had raigned 3. yeres 10. monethsis slayne of his gard in his pallace Euseb li. 2. cap. 8. Euseb in chronic          Chri CLAVDIVS succeedeth Caius Caligula Anno Claudij 2.  AGRIPPA the sonne of Aristobulus nephewe to Herode the great brother to Herodias by the commaundement of Caius Caligula succeedeth Herode the tetrarche kinge of the Iewes Euseb lib. 2. cap. 4. Ioseph Antiq. lib. 18. cap. 11 14. Bel. Iud. lib. 1. cap. 10. 11. SIMON otherwise called Canthara is by the commaundement of king Agrippa placed highpriest Ionathas depriued Ioseph Antiq lib. 19. cap. 5.       Chr There was a great famine An 4. Claudij Philo Iudae us talked at Rome with Peter the Apostle in the tyme of Agrippa beheaded Iames the brother of Iohn Act. 12. IONATHAS the sonne of Anna is nowe the       44           Anno Christi 46.  Claudius Euseb lib. 2. cap. 16. IAMES the brother of Iohn is beheaded Act. 12. Peter cam to Rome in the time of Claudius Euseb lib. 2 cap. 14. coÌ„futed Simon Magus and preached cap. 16. Agrippa wheÌ„ he had raygned 7. yeres died miserably Euseb li. 2. cap. 10. Ioseph Antiq. lib. 19. cap. 7. 2. time placed Simon Canthara remoued by Agrippa this Ionathas requested that his brother Matthias beinge the worthier holyer maÌ„ might enioye his place Agrippa was entreated admitted Matthias Ioseph Antiq lib. 19. cap. 6. The Apostles elders brethreÌ„ gathered a councel at Ierusalem an 4. Claudij to determine what was to be done toutching the doctrine sowed by certaine bretherne of the Pharises whiche came from Iudaea affirmiÌ„g that circuÌ„cision was necessarie the obseruatioÌ„ of the law this newes Paul Barna bas Titus brought vnto theÌ„ Galat. 2. where they decreed that the faithfull should abstaine froÌ„ things offred to Idols from blood froÌ„ that that is straÌ„gled from fornication the which they published by their letters vnto the churches of Antioche Syria Cilicia with Silas Iudas which accoÌ„panied Paul   PETER the Apostle anno Do. 44. the secoÌ„d of Claudins came to Rome and as they say coÌ„tinewed there Byshop 25. yeares 12 vnder Claudius 13. vnder Nero Ierom. catalog ec cles scrip Euse eccle hist lib. 2. cap. 14. 16. He foyled Simon Magus in the citie of Rome and in the presence of Nero. He was crucifyed at Rome the laste yeare of Nero with his head down wardes whiche kinde of death he himselfe desired not presuming to haue his heade vpwards because his maister Christ was so haÌ„dled Euseb hist eccle lib. 2. cap. 25. lib. 3. cap. 1. in chron The Christians vnder him at AlexaÌ„dria as Philo Iudaeus writeth vsed the like trade with theÌ„ of whome Luke reported Act. 4. they had al thinges coÌ„mon Euse Eccl. hist. lib. 2. cap. 15. 16. 24. Ierom cata eccle script Dorotheus b. of Tyrê° sayth that in the time of Traîan he had a cable rope tyed about his neckâ— at Alexan dria by the which he was draweÌ„ from the place called Bucolê° vnto the place called Angels where he was burned to ashes buried at Bucolus but Philo saith it was the first yeare of Nero. Ierom saith it was the 8. yeare of Nero. Antoni chron part 1. tit 6 ca. 16. sayth it was An. Domi. 57. the 2. of Nero. Certaine Phaâ—… after they beleâ—… in Christ taugâ—… that circumciâ—… was necessarie the obseruatioâ—… the lawe Act. Gal. 2. 3. 4. 5. Simon Maguâ— sorcerer being Samaritane of village GittoÌ„ baptized by P 〈…〉 the Deacon in maria He woâ—… haue boughtâ— Peter the gyâ—â— the holy ghosâ— him role the 〈…〉 Simonie Act. 8. seb lib. 2. cap. 1 came to Rome the time of C 〈…〉 us he called 〈…〉 selfe a god hâ—… honored ther 〈…〉 a picture hauiâ—â— this superscripâ—… Simôni Deo s 〈…〉 he had to his mate one Helâ—… whome Irenae calleth Selen 〈…〉 witch a coâ—… harlott whom called the priâ—… pall vnderstaâ—â— Euseb lib. 2. câ—… 13. 14. he said the Samaritâ—… he was the 〈…〉 vnto the Iewâ—… that he was tâ—… sonne descerâ—… from heauen the Gentils tâ—… was the holy Irenaeus lib. 1. 20. Epiphan 〈…〉 tom 2. here 's 〈…〉 ter foyled hiâ—… Samaria whâ—… shame he fleâ—… leauing Samâ—… Iudaea he saâ—… East to Wes 〈…〉 king to liue 〈…〉 harts ease 〈…〉 to Rome vnâ—… Claudius whâ—… ter also beiâ—… no doubt bâ—… holy ghostâ—… him Euse 〈…〉 li. 2. ca. 1. 14. 15. Peter had much to doe with him in the presence of Nero. as Anton. chron writeth he had 3. conflicts with him in the ende Simon seeing him selfe foyled and his witchcraft preuailing not at all told them he would leaue their citie flye vp vnto the heauens whence he came Wherfore vpon a certaine day appointed he clymed vp into the high Capitol whence he tooke his flight by the meanes of his witchcraft the spirites which bore him in the ayre the people at the sight hereof were amazed But Peter fell downe and prayed vnto god that his witchcraft might be reueled vnto the worlde he had no sooner prayed but down cometh Simon Magus bruseth him selfe in peeces so that thereby he died miserably Abdias BabyloÌ„ Apost hist lib. 1. Egesip lib. 3. cap. 2. Epiphan lib. tom 2. haeres 21. Anton. chron part 1. tit 6. cap. 4. An. Do. 47 Claudius commauÌ„ded all Iewes to departe from Rome Act. 18. because a certaine Iewe seduced on Fuluia a noble matron to beleue in the ir ceremonies Ioseph Antiq. lib. 18. cap. 7. Claudius after the dea the of Agrippa maior