a perfect knowledg of the faith also vnto a sure cōfirmation of the same ▪ for it instructeth vs most exquisitly in such things as we must necessarily know of the father of the sonne of the holy ghost and setteth forth after the plainest maner the incarnation of our Lord Iesus for them that with faith wil embrace it but seeing that certen leud godles persons endeuoring with their erronious opinions to root out true religiō haue brought into the world many vaine fantasies of their idle braines of which number some were not affraid to corrupt the true vnderstanding the mistery of the manhood our Lord Iesus toke for our sakes to deny the mother or bearing of God which is attributed vnto the virgine Mary other some fained very fondly that the diuinity the humanity consisted of one nature confoūding both with a certē imaginatiue cōmixitō of natures affirming with horrible blasphemy that in the said confusion the diuine nature of the onely begotten was patible therefore this great general coūcel presētly assēbled together being desirous with al might to stop euery gapp to cutt of all occasion of deuelishe deuices wrought to the ouerthrowe of the trueth decreeth that the faith which we receiued of the fathers is inuiolably to be retained and therefore commaundeth aboue all other formes of fayth that the creede deliuered vnto vs of three hundred and eighteene godly fathers is firmely to be beleeued moreouer to th ende the enemies of the holy Ghoste may vtterly be foyled it ratifieth the doctrine aftervvardes established touching the substance of the holy Ghost by a hundred and fifty godly byshopps whiche mett at the princely citye of Constantinople the which essence those fathers made manifeste vnto the whole world not by adding anything of their owne as if the canons of the Nicene coūcell were vnperfect but that they might declare by manifest testimonies of holy scripture what their owne opinion was of the holy ghost against such as denied the godhead thereof furthermore to the confutation of suche as doubted not to peruert the mysterie of our Lords incarnation assirming both impiously and blasphemously that he which was borne of the holy virgine was but onely man this holy councell approueth the synodicall Epistles of holy Cyrill byshopp of Alexandria written vnto Nestorius and to the byshops of the East churches partly to refell the mad and franticke opinion of Nestorius and partly also for to instruct such as are godly disposed and labour to attaine vnto the true vnderstandinge of the holye creede Againe this councell annexeth thereunto not without good consideration the Epistle of Leo the most holy archebyshop of old Rome which he wrote vnto Flauianus the most holy archebyshopp for the remouinge and rooting out of the Churche of God the fanaticall opinion of Eutyches as a worthie tract agreeing with the consession of Peter that great Apostle and as it were a stronge pillour and fortresse to vpholde the true and sincere doctrine against all erronious opinions for he valiantly encountreth with such as endeuored to deuide the mystery of the incarnation into two sonnes he excommunicateth suche as dare presume to saye that the diuinitie of the onely begotten is patible he manfully withstandeth suche as confounde or make a commixtion of both the natures in Christe he ratleth sickebraines and frentike fooles who affirme that the shape of a seruant which he tooke of vs was of a celestiall or some other kinde of substance last of all he accurseth suche as vaynely haue fayned that before the couplinge of the natures there vvere tvvo but after the vnitynge of them that there vvas but one onely nature in the Lorde VVherefore treadinge one trace and immitatinge the fayth of the holy Fathers vvhiche vvent before vs vve consesse one and the same sonne our Lorde Iesus Christe and vvith one generall consent vve saye that he is perfecte God and perfecte man true God and true man of a reasonable soule and humane fleshe subsistinge of one substance vvyth the father according vnto his diuinitye but of one substance with vs according vnto his humanitye like vnto vs in all things sinne onely excepted begotten of the father before all worlds according vnto his godhead but borne in these later dayes for our sakes and for our saluation of the virgine mary the mother of God according vnto his manhood one the same Iesus Christ the sonne the Lord the onely begotten of two natures knowen without confounding of thē without mutation without diuision without separation the distinctiō of natures not remoued for all the vniting of them but the proprietie of both natures vvholly retayned and coupled together in one person or as the Grecians say in one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not seuered parted into tvvo persons but one and the selfe same onely begotten sonne God the vvorde and the Lorde Iesus Christe euen as the Prophetts of olde and Christe him selfe aftervvardes haue instructed vs of him and the same hath the faith of the fathers deliuered vnto vs. Seeinge we haue sifted out the trueth of these thinges with great care and diligence the sacred and generall councell hath decreed that it shall be lavvfull for no man eyther to alleage or to vvrite or to frame or to beleeue or to teache any other fayth Moreouer this councell commaundeth suche as presume to deuise any other fayth or to bringe forth or to teache or to publishe any other creede vnto suche as turne eyther from paganisme or from Iudaisme or from any other secte whatsoeuer vnto the knowledge of the trueth if they be byshops that they be deposed of their byshoplike dignities if priests that they be vnministred if monks and lay people that they shoulde be accursed After the reading of these decrees Martianus the Emperour who was present at the councell of Chalcedon who made there also an Oration returned to Constantinople Iuuenalis and Maximus Theodoritus and Ibas who had bene deposed were restored to their byshopricks other thinges there were handled by the councell the whiche shall be layde downe as I saide before in the ende of this hooke They decreed besides all the aforesaide that the byshopps seae of New Rome that is of Constantinople because she enioyed the second honor after Olde Rome shoulde be chiefe and in honor aboue all other cities CAP. V. Of the sedition raysed at Alexandria about the election of Proterius and in like sort at Ierusalem AFter that Dioscorus was exiled into Gangrena a citie of Paphlagonia Proterius by the generall consent of the councell was chosen byshopp of Alexandria Beinge stalled in the seae there rose amonge the people through heate of contention a wonderfull great tumult vprore for as it falleth out in such hurliburlies some would needs cal home Dioscorus some others very earnestly cleaued vnto Proterius so that there ensued thereof great slaughter and bloodshed for Priscus the
Emperours house And so an ende of them CAP. IIII. The Edict of the fayth which Iustinus caused to be published in writinge vnto all Christians wheresoeuer FUrthermore Iustinus wrote an edict sentit abrode vnto y ◠christians euery where cōtaining such a forme as followeth In the name of the Lord Iesus Christ our God the emperour Caesar Flauius Iustinus faithfull in Christ meeke chiefe lord bountifull lord of Almaine lord of Gutland lord of Germanie lord of Antium lord of Francia lord of the people Eruli lord of the nation Gepaedi pious fortunate glorious victorious triumphant all noble perpetuall Augustus My peace saith the Lord Christ who is our true God I geue vnto you my peace saith the same Lord vnto the whole world I leaue vnto you which is no otherwise to be taken then that such as belieue in him should repaire vnto the one and the onely Church that they should be at vnity among them selues in the true and sincere faith of Christ and detest from the hearte root such as gainesay or vphold the contrary opinion The chiefest point that appertaineth vnto mans saluation is the free acknowledging protesting of the true faith VVherefore as we are commaunded by the Euangelists and as the sacred creed to wit the doctrine of the holy fathers hath taught vs we exhort al mē to embrace the one the only church discipline belieuing in the father in the sonne in the holy ghost glorifying the coessētiall trinitie the on godhead to wit nature and substance one both in word and deed one might power and autoritie in the three persons in whome we were baptized in whome we belieue and by whome we are coupled together in one VVe worship the trinitie in vnitie and the vnitie in trinitie hauinge both a diuision and a coniunction so wonderfull that they can not be expressed the vnitie we meane according vnto substance to wit the godhead the trinitie according vnto the proprieties that is the persons the diuision we vnderstand to be vndeuided and the coniunction deuided For the diuinity is one in the three persons and the three in whome the diuinity lieth or as I may better say which are the diuinitye it selfe are one God the father God the sonne God the holy ghost because that euery person is taken by him self the mind separateth the things which are vnseparable to wit God to be three persōs which are vnderstood to be ioyned together in on as I may so terme it in idētitie of motiō nature for it behoueth vs to say there is one God acknowledge three persōs or proprieties we cōfesse moreouer that the only begottē sonne of God God the word was begottē of the father before all worlds from euerlasting not made that for vs for our saluation he came downe from heauen in the later dayes was incarnat by the holy ghost of our Lady Mary the holy glorious mother of God and perpetuall virgine and borne of her that he is equall to the father to the holy ghost For the blessed trinity alloweth not of any fourth person as if God the word incarnat were so who is one persō of the trinity one the same our Lord Iesus Christ of one substance with the father according vnto his diuinity of one substance with vs according vnto his humanity patible as toutchinge the fleshe but impatible toutching the godhead we say not that God the worde which wrought miracles was one he which suffred was another but confesse that the one the same our Lord Iesus christ the word of God was incarnat truely made man that both the miracles he wrought the afflictiōs he voluntarily endured in the flesh for our saluation appertained vnto one the selfe same person For it was no man that gaue him self for vs but it was euen very God the worde who was made man without alteration of the godhead of his owne accord both suffred died for vs. wherfore in acknowledging that he is God we say not but that he is man in cōfessing his māhood we deny not his godhead Againe while we affirme that the one our Lord Iesus Christ consisteth of both the natures diuinity humanity we confound not the persons in the vnity for al he was made man accordinge vnto our nature yet is he God notwithstandinge neither because he is God after his owne nature and hath a likenes not capable of our similitude doth he ceasse to be man but contineweth as God in humanity so no lesse man in the excellency of diuinity Therefore both the aforesaid is in one and the same one is both God and man who is Emmanuel Further when we graunt that the same one is both perfect God and perfect man of whiche two things he consisteth we seuere not the coniunctiō vnity of his person but declare the differēce of the natures which is not taken away for all the coupling and knittinge together of them for neither is the diuine nature chaunged into the humane neither the humane conuerted into the diuine nature but because both of them is better vnderstood and sooner appeareth in the perfect description order of the proper natures Therefore say we that the confunction was made in the person The coniunction which is in the person sheweth that God the word to wit one of the three persons in diuinity was coupled not to mā that was before but in the wombe of Marie our Lady the holy glorious mother of God perpetuall virgine framed vnto him self of her in his proper person a body of one substance with ours subiect to like affections with vs sinne onely excepted and endued with a reasonable soule and vnderstanding ▪ he had a being of him selfe and was made man and is one and the same our Lord Iesus Christe of equall glory with the father the holy ghost And while we imagine or conceaue his vnspeakable copulation we acknowledge vnfainedly that the one nature of God the worde was incarnat and tooke flesh endued with a reasonable intellectuall soule Againe when we thinke vpon the differēce of natures we affirme there are two natures yet deuide them not at al for both the natures are in him therefore we confesse one the same Christ one sonne one person or one proprietie of the diuine essence both God man ▪ wherefore as many as held contrary opinions vnto this or presently doe belieue otherwise we pronounce thē to be held for accursed iudge thē to be farre estraunged frō the holy catholick apostolick church of God And seeing the true sincere doctrine deliuered vnto vs by the holy fathers hath pearced our eares and is now as it were imprinted in our brests we exhort you all nay rather we beseech you in the bowels of Christ Iesu to become one fold to be of one the same catholick apostolick church for we think it no
is practised in this levvd fact of theirs ether they persvvade them selues that the holie scriptures vvere not endited by the instinct of the holy ghost so are they infidels or else they thinke thē selues vviser thē the holy ghost vvhat other thing do they in that then shevv thē selues possessed of a deuill they cā not deny this their bold enterprise for they haue vvrittē these things vvith their ovvne hands they can not shevv vs vvho instructed them vvho deliuered them such scriptures vvhence they trāslated their copie◠diuerse of them voutchsafe not to corrupt the scriptures but flattly they denie the lavve and the prophetes vnder pretense of their detestable and impious doctrine of fayned grace they fall into the bottomlesse gulfe of perdition but of them thus muche shall suffice The ende of the fyft booke THE SIXT BOOKE OF THE ECCLESIASTICALL HISTORYE OF EVSEBIVS PAMPHILVS BISHOP OF CAESAREA IN PALAESTINA CAP. I. Of the persecution vnder the Emperour Seuerus WHen as Seuerus persecuted the churche of God there were noble martyrdomes of suche as suffered for the profession of the true faith ▪ but speciallye at Alexandria whither chosen champions out of Aegypt and all Thebais as vnto a moste notable Theatre of God were brought and after a moste pacient sufferance of simdry tormentes and diuerse kindes of deathe were crowned of God with garlandes of immortalltie Of this number was Leonides called the father of Origen and there beheaded who left his sonne very yonge and of tender yeares howe also he was disposed and affected towardes Christian religion from that tyme forth it shall not be at this tyme vnseasonably written Specially for that he is famous and renowned throughout the whole worlde Some man will saye it is no small peece of worke to printe in paper the lyfe of this man and that it will require a whole volume to it selfe but at this present cutting of many things vsing as muche breuitie as may be we will runne ouer certaine thinges which concerne him selected out of their epistles and histories which were his familiars whereof some lyued in our tyme and reported certaine things of him To be short we will declare suche things as shall seeme worthye of memorie and that were done from his cradell vnto this tyme. Seuerus then had ended tenne yeares Laetus then gouerned Alexandria and the rest of Aegypte ▪ Demetrius lately after Iulianus had taken vpon him the ouersight of the congregations there CAP. II. Origen desirous of Martyrdome was in greate daunger and beyng delyuered he professed diuinitie at Alexandria with earnest studie and led a maruaylous honest lyfe THe heate of persecution was very vehemēt an infinite number of persons were crowned with Martyrdome when as Origen yet verye yonge bare in his minde a feruent desire of Martirdome so that he hazarded himselfe skipped and brake forth and coueted voluntarily to be doyng in that daungerous combatt Yea narrowsie did he escape for it had coste him his life had not the diuine and celestiall prouidence of God stayed him by the meanes of his mother to the further commoditie and profite of many She at the firste entreated him with manye wordes to tender hir motherly affection but perceauing him to be more vehemently incensed and kindled ▪ knowing his father to be kept in close prison and wholly minded to suffer Martyrdome she constrayned him to remaine at home hydinge from him all his apparrell He then being able to do no other thinge more prompte in minde than rype in yeares could not reste wrote vnto his father a letter in the whiche he exhorteth him thus O father faynt not neither imagin◠amisse bicause of vs. Let this be the firste token of the industrie and syncere minde of Origen in his childhood towards christian religiō set forth in this our history ▪ for he beyng of a child trained vp exercised in holy scripture shewed then no small signes of the doctrine of faith his father furthered him not a little to the knowledge of them when as besides the studie of liberall artes he instructed him in these not as the lesser parte For first of all before the exercise of prophane literature he instructed him in holy Scripture and demaunded of him daily a certaine taske of that he learned and rehearsed And this trade was not vnprofitable for him being a child but he grewe therby vnto such facility and promptnes that he contented not him selfe with the bare and casual reading of the words but sought farther searching the perfect and profound vnderstanding therof so that diuers times he would set his father demaunding of him what was meant by this that place of holy Scripture But his father checked him to his face in outward sight admonishing him not to search ought aboue the capacity of his yeares more then plaine letter gaue to vnderstand Yet to him selfe he reioyced greatly yelding vnto God the author of all goodnes harty thankes for that he had made him the father of such a sonne The report goeth that the father often vncouered the breast of his sonne in his sleepe and solemnly kissed it as if the holy ghost had taken there the inner parte for his priuy closset and thought him selfe happy of such an ofspringe These and the like thinges they remember to haue happened vnto Origen being yet a childe When his father dyed a Martyr he was left an orphane of the yeares of seuenteene with his mother and other children his brethren to the number of six his father◠substance was confiscated to y ◠Emperours treasorie y ◠want of necessaries pinched him together with his mother brethren he casteth his care vpon the diuine prouidence of God he is receaued and refreshed of a certain matrone which was very ritch also religious which harbored in her house a certaine man of Antioche an errant heretike of the sect then fresh at Alexandria one that was accepted of her for her sonne and deare friende Origen then of necessitie vsing his company shewed forth manifest proofes of his cleaning fast vnto y ◠right and true faith For when as an infinite multitude not only of heretikes but also of the true faith frequented vnto Paulus so was he called for he was counted a profounde and a wise man he could not be perswaded to be present with him at prayers but obserued the canon of the Church from a childe and detested ▪ as he witnesseth him selfe in a certaine place the doctrine of heretikes he was of his father absolutely instructed in the profane learning of y ◠Gentils but after his fathers death he applied a litle more diligently the study of rhetoricke and hauing before meanely applied humanity now after the death of his father he so addicteth him vnto it that in short space he got sufficiency to serue his turne both tollerable for the time correspondent to his yeares for he being idle at schole as he
generall couÌ„cell of Nice is this VVe beleue in one God the father almighty maker of all things visible inuisible and in one Lord Iesus Christ the sonne of God the onely begotten sonne of the father that is of the substance of the father God of God lyght of lyght very God of very God begotten not made being of one substance vvith the father by whome all things were made both the things in heauen and the things in earth VVho for vs men and for our saluation came dovvne and vvas incarnate he vvas made man he suffred and rose the thirde daye he ascended into the heauens he shall come to iudge both the quicke and the deade And vve beleeue in the holie Ghost therefore they vvhich say that there vvas a time vvhen he vvas not before he vvas begotten or that he had his beginning of nothing or that he is of an other substaÌ„ce or essence or that affirme the sonne of God to be made or to be conuertible or mutable these the Catholicke Apostolicke church of God doth pronounce for accursed This faith three hundred eighteene bishops haue confirmed and all consented thereunto and as Eusebius writeth they all with one voice and one minde subscribed therevnto fyue onely excepted which allowed not of this clause to weâ—e Of one substance by name Eusebius bishop of Nicomedia Theognis of Nice Maris of Chalcedon Theônas of Marmarica and Secundus of Ptolemais For they affirmed that to be Of one substance which hath his originall of some thing either by diuision or deriuation or production By production as a budde out of the rootes by deriuation as children of the parents by diuision as two or three peeces out of a masse of golde The sonne of God by relation was after none of these maners and therefore they sayde they would not agree vnto the forme of faith confirmed in the councell of Nice Wherevpon they derided exceedingly the clause of One substance and would not subscribe vnto the deposition of Arius For which cause the councell not only accursed Arius and all his adherents but also forbad him Alexandria Morouer by the Emperours edict Arius Eusebius Theognis were exiled whervpoÌ„ Eusebius Theognis in a while after they were banished gaue vp a booke of their coÌ„uersion repeÌ„taÌ„ce signifying withall their coÌ„sent toutching the faith Of one substaÌ„ce as hereafter in processe of our history we will declare more at large At y â— same time Eusebius coÌ„monly called PaÌ„philus bishop of Caesarea in Palaestina wheÌ„ in y â— same couÌ„cell he had a while staggered aduisedly pondered with him selfe whether it were his part to admit y â— plattforme definitioÌ„ of faith â–ª at length approued it together with the other byshops subscribed therevnto and sent the same forme of faith in writing vnto y â— people whose charge he had expounding the clause of One substance lest y â— any thenceforth should suspect him to haue doubted therof at all The things which he wrote were after this maner It is very like welbeloued that the acts coÌ„cerning the ecclesiasticall faith coÌ„cluded in the great famous couÌ„cell held at Nice came heretofore to your knowledge specially in that fame spreadeth her self abrode faster theÌ„ the truth curiously tryed or handled of vs yet that the trueth may not only be embraced of you by hearesay I haue thought necessary to send vnto you in writing first that forme of faith which I exhibited to the councell next the other published by the bishops where they haue annexed added certaine things to ours The forme of our faith which theÌ„ was read in presence of our most holy emperour theÌ„ approued for souÌ„d certaine was in this sort as we haue receaued of the bishops our predecessors both when we were catechized as also vvhen we vvere signed with the seale of baptisme as we haue learned of holy scripture as we haue beleued beiÌ„g priest preached being bishop euen so now also beleuiÌ„g we haue made manifest our faith vnto you which is this VVe beleue in one God the father almighty maker of all things visible inuisible in one Lord Iesus Christ the word of God God of God light of light life of life the only begotten sonne the first begotten of all creatures begotteÌ„ of God the father before all worlds by whome all things were made who for our saluation was incarnate coÌ„uersant amoÌ„g men who suffred rose the third day who ascended vnto the father and shall come againe to iudge both the quicke the dead â–ª we beleue also in one holy Ghost beleuing moreouer euery one of these to be in esseÌ„ce substaÌ„ce the father to be a father in deede the soÌ„ne to be a soÌ„ne in deede the holy ghost to be a holy ghost in deede cueÌ„ as our Lord sending his disciples to preach said Goe therfore teach all natioÌ„s baptiziÌ„g theÌ„ in the name of the father of the soÌ„ne of the holy ghost ToutchiÌ„g all which we firmly protest that we are of this mind that we are of this opinioÌ„ haue bene and that we minde to perseuer in this faith vntill death do seuer and part asunder body soule holding for accursed all caÌ„kred heresies the which godlesse persons haue soweÌ„ in the world â–ª that you may fully perswade your selues of vs that we haue heretofore beleued spoken vnfâ—inedly and from the hart toutching all the premisses presently also vve protest that vve both beleue aryght and speake as vve ought of God almyghtie and our Lorde Iesus Christ and vve are able vvith playne demonstration to proue and vvith reason to persvvade that in tymes past our fayth vvas alike that then vve preached thinges correspondent vnto the forme of faith already published of vs so that none in this behalfe can repyne or gaynesay vs. Moreouer our most holie Emperour hath testified the same to be most true affirming him selfe to be of the same opinion he commaunded that all should geue their assent vnto the same that they should subscribe vnto the particulers that they shoulde condescende vnto the premises so that this one onely clause Of one substance vvere interlaced The vvhich he him selfe explicated in these vvordes to be Of one substance may not be taken accordinge vnto corporall affections neytherto consist of the Father by diuision neyther by incision or parting asunder It may not be that an immateriall an intellectuall and an incorporeall nature should admitt or be subiect to any corporall passion for it behoueth vs to conceaue such mysteries vvith sacred and secrett termes Our most sage and vertuous Emperour reasoned of these thinges after this sort The bishops because of the clause Of one substance published this forme of faith VVe beleue in one God the father almighty maker of all things visible inuisible and in one Lord Iesus Christ the sonne of God the onely begotten sonne of the father that is of
that he thrust him selfe againe to execut the function of priesthood without the admission consent of a generall councell For they complaine that after his returne from exile he rushed into the church vpon his owne head Secondly that at his returne when the tumult schisme was raised many were slaine moreouer that he caused some to be scurged some other to hold their hands at y ◠barre they alleage also such things as were pleaded against Athanasius in the councell held at Tyrus CAP. VI. Of Eusebius Emisenus IN the meane space while Athanasius was charged with the aforesayd crimes they chose Eusebius first called Emisenus Bishop of Alexandria Who and what he was Georgius Bishop of Laodicea who then was present at the councell sheweth vnto vs. For in the booke he wrote of his life he declareth that Eusebius came of a noble family of Edessa in Mesopotamia from a litle one to haue bene trained vp in holy scripture afterwards to be instructed in prophane literature by a professor which then taught at Edessa last of all to haue sucked y ◠right sense vnderstanding of holy scripture at the lips of Eusebius Patrophilus the one bishop of Caesarea the other bishop of Scythopolis After this to haue gone to Antioch where it fell out that Eustathius being accused of the heresie of Sabellius by Cyrus bishop of Beroea was deposed of his bishoprik Thēceforth to haue accompanied Euphronius the successor of Eustathius and because he woulde not be prieste to haue gott him to Alexandria and there to haue studied philosophie After that to haue returned to Antioch where he acquaynted him selfe with Placitus the successor of Euphronius Thēce to haue bene called by Eusebius bishop of Constantinople to be bishop of Alexandria but sayth Georgius because that Athanasius was greately beloued of the people of Alexandria he went not thither but was sent into the city Emisa Where when there was much adoe made among the citizens of Emisa about the election for he was charged with the study of the mathematicks he fledd away came to Laodicea vnto Georgius who reported many notable storyes of him Georgius brought him to Antioch by y ◠meanes of Placitus Narcissus caused him to be conueyed to Emisa where againe he was accused of the heresy of Sabellius But of the circumstāces of his election Georgius discourseth more at large last of all he addeth howe that the Emperour going into Barbary tooke him thence and that he knewe full well many wonders miracles to haue bene wrought by him So farre of the things which Georgius remembred of Eusebius Emisenus CAP. VII Howe that the byshops which mett at Antioch after that Eusebius Emisenus had refused Alexandria chose Gregorius to be byshop of Alexandria and endeuored to alter and so consequentlye to abrogate the canons of the Nicene councell WHen as at that time Eusebius by the councell of Antioch was chosen bishop of Alexādria feared to goe thither they consecrate Gregorie in his rowme to enioye the seae of Alexandria These things being done they labour to alter the faith who althoughe they colde reproue nothinge of the thinges decided in the Nicene Councell yet verelye wente they about through theyr often assemblyes to peruerte and ouerthrowe the creede contayninge the clause of One substance and otherwise to establishe of theyr owne that by a little and a litle they mighte soke men in the filthie sincke of Arius But of theyr drifte and fetches in the storyes followinge The epistle contayninge the fayth whiche they published was after this maner VVe are neyther the followers of Arius for howe can it be that we beinge Byshops shoulde geue eare vnto Arius beinge but a prieste neyther haue we receaued any other faythe then that whiche hathe beene published from the beginninge but when as vve examined his faith narrowely and weyed it deepely we rather receaued Arius returninge vnto vs then that our selues shoulde hange vpon his opinion The whiche you may easilye perceaue by that whiche followeth For we haue learned from the beginninge to beleeue in one vniuersall God the creator and maker of all things both visible and inuisible and in one Sonne the only begotten Sonne of God who was before all wordes and had his beinge together with the Father which begott him by whome all things both visible and inuisible were made VVho in the later days according vnto the singular good will of the father came downe from heauen and tooke flesh of the virgine mary VVho fullfilled all his fathers will who suffred rose againe ascended into the heauens and sitteth at the right hande of the father shall come againe to iudge the quick and the dead and continewe king and God for euer VVe beleue also in the holy Ghost And if that you will haue vs to add more we beleue the resurrection of the fleshe and the life euerlasting After that they had wrytten these things in theyr former epistle they sente it to the churches throughout euery cytie But continewinge at Antioch a while longer they in maner condemned the forme of fayth that wente before and wrote forthwith a newe one in these wordes VVe beleue as the Euangelistes and Apostles haue deliuered vnto vs in one God the Father almightie the creator and maker of all thinges and in one Lorde Iesus Christ his onely begotten sonne God by whome all thinges were made begotten of the father before all worlds God of God whole of whole alone of alone perfecte of perfecte kinge of kinge lorde of lorde the liuinge worde the wisedome the life the true light the waye of trueth the resurrection the shepherd the dore inconuertible and immutable the liuely image of the diuinity essence power counsell and glorie of the father the first begotten of all creatures who was in the beginninge with the father God the worde as it is sayde in the Gospell and God was the word by whome all thinges were made and in whome all thinges are VVho in the later dayes came downe from heauen was borne of a virgin according vnto the Scripturs was made man and the mediator of God and man the Apostle of our fayth and the guyde to life And as he sayth of him selfe I came dovvne from heauen not to doe mine ovvne will but his will vvhich sente me VVho suffred for vs and rose agayne the thirde daye for our sakes and ascended into heauen and sitteth at the righte hande of the father and shall come againe vvith glorie and power to iudg the quick and the dead And we beleue in the holy Ghost vvhiche is geuen vnto the faythfull for theyr consolation sanctification and perfection Euen as our Lord Iesus Christ commaunded his disciples sayinge goe teache all nations baptizinge them in the name of the father and of the sonne and of the holy Ghoste That is of the father who is the father in deede and of the sonne who is the
fathers or that there vvas a time when he had no being these the Catholicke church doth holde for accursed When they had exhibited these fewe lynes vnto the Emperour and shewed them to diuers others they tooke their leaue without further reasoninge of any other matter Furthermore whilest that as yet both the churches of the East and also of the West without any adoe communicated together a newe opinion sprang vp at Sirmium a citie of Illyrium Photinus who gouerned the churches there borne in the lesser Galatia the disciple of Marcellus that was deposed of his byshopricke following his maisters steps affirmed that the sonne of God was but onely man The discourse of these things we will referre to an other place CAP. XV. A forme of faith layde downe by the byshops of the East contayning many longe and large circumstances THree yeares after the bishops of the Easterne churches summone agayne an other councell they frame an other forme of faith and sende it to the bishops of Italie by Eudoxius bishop of Germanicia Martyrius and Macedonius bishop of Mopsiestia a citie in Cilicia This faith sett forth at large contayneth many additions and glosses besides such as heretofore were published in other creedes it beginneth thus VVe beleue in one God the father almightie creator and maker of all things of vvhome all fatherhoode in heauen and in â—arth is called and in his onely begotten sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde begotten of the Father before all worlds God of God lyght of lyght by vvhome all thinges vvere made both in heauen and in earth be they visible or inuisible who is the word the wisdome the power the life true light who in the later dayes was incarnate for our sakes was borne of the holy virgine was crucified dead and buryed who rose againe the third day from the dead ascended into heauen sitteth at the ryght hand of the father who shall come in the end of the world to iudge the quicke and the dead to reward euery man according vnto his works whose kingdome shall haue no ende but shall continevve for euer For he shall sitte at the ryght hande of the Father not onely vvhyle this vvorlde lasteth but also in the lyfe to come VVe beleeue also in the holye Ghost that is in the Comforter vvhome Christ promised to sende his Apostles after his ascention into heauen vvhome also he sent for to teache and leade them in all thynges by vvhose meanes the soules of them vvhich faithfully beleeue in him are sanctified vvhosoeuer therefore dare presume to affirme that the sonne had his beginninge of nothinge or of any other substance then the Fathers or that there vvas a tyme or a vvorlde vvhen he vvas not these the holie and Catholicke churche doth holde for accursed In like maner such as saye that there are three gods or that Christ vvas not God from the beginninge or that he is neyther Christ neyther the sonne of God or that there is neyther Father neyther Sonne neyther holie Ghost or that the sonne is vnbegotten or that the Father begatt not the sonne of his ovvne vvyll and purpose these the holie and Catholicke church doth holde for accursed Neyther can it be vttered vvithout blasphemie that the sonne had his beynge of nothinge in so much there can no such thinge be founde of him in holie scripture Neyther doe vve learne that he had his beynge of any other preexistent substance besydes the fathers but that he vvas truely begotten of God the father alone The holie scripture teacheth vs that the father of Christ is and vvas one vnbegotten and vvithout beginning Neyther may vve safely affirme vvithout testimonie of the sacred scripture that there vvas a tyme vvhen he vvas not as though vve shoulde imagine or forethinke in him any temporall space but vve haue to conceaue and comprehende in our mindes God alone vvhith begatt him vvithout tyme. For tymes and vvorldes vvere made by him Neither can ere other the father or the sonne properly be sayde ioyntly to be vvithout beginninge and ioyntly vvithout begettinge but as vve knovve the father alone to be vvithout beginninge incomprehensble and to haue begotten the sonne after an incomprehensible and an intelligible maner so vve vnderstande the forme to haue bene begotten before all vvorldes and not to be vnbegotten after the same maner vvith the father but to haue had a beginninge the father vvhich begatt him for the heaâ—â—â— of Christ is God VVhen vve confesse three thinges and three persons accordinge vnto the scriptures to vvete of the father â–ª of the sonne and of the holie Ghost vve doe not therein allovve of three gods For vve acknovvledge one onely God perfect and absolute of him selfe vnbegotten vvithout beginninge inuisible the father of the onely begotten sonne vvho alone of him selfe hath his beynge vvho also alone ministreth aboundantly vnto all other things their beyng And vvhen as vve affirme one God the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ to be onely vnbegotten vve doe not therefore deny Christ to haue bene God from euerlastinge as the follovvers of Paulus Samosatenus dyd vvhich affirmed that by nature he vvas but onely and bare man after his inâ—â—mation by profitingâ— and forvvardnes to haue bene made God VVe knovve though â—e be subiect to the father and to God that he is God of God begotten accordinge vnto nature that he is both a perfect and true God and not made God aftervvardes of 〈…〉 but that accordinge vnto the vvyll of God the father he vvas incarnate for our sakes neuer aftervvardes loâ—inge his diâ—â—nitiâ— Moreouer vve detest and abhorre and holde them for accursed vvhich affirme that the sonne of God is the onely and naked vvorde of God vvithout substance but after a fayned and imaginatiue sort in an other and one vvhyle doe terme him the vvorde as vttered by the mouth an other vvhyle as inclosed in the minde of some one or other For they confesse not that euen Christ vvho is Lorde the sonne of God the mediator the image of God vvas before all vvorldes but that he vvas Christ and the sonne of God from that tyme since vvhich novve full foure hundred yeares agoe he tooke our fleshe of the Virgine They vvyll haue the kingdome of Christ from that tyme to haue his beginninge and after the consummation of the vvorlde and the dreadfull daye of iudgement to haue his endinge The authors of this abhominable heresie are the Marcellians Photinians Ancyrogalatians vvho therefore disproue the essence and diuinitie of Christ vvhich hath bene before all vvorldes and likevvise his kingdome vvhich hath no ende because they pretende the establishinge of a monarchie But vve knovve him not for a simple vttered vvorde or as it vvere inclosed in the minde of God the father but for the liuing word God subsistinge of him selfe the sonne of God and Christ and not to haue bene with his father before the vvorlds by onely prescience to haue bene
conuersant and ministred vnto him for the framing and finishing of euery vvorke of visible or inuisible things but to haue bene the vvorde in deede together vvith the father and God of God ▪ for this is he vnto vvhome the father sayde Let vs make man after our ovvne image and similitude vvho appeared in his proper person vnto the fathers of olde gaue them the lawe spake by the prophets laste of all became man made manifest his father vnto all men and raygneth vvorlde vvithout ende Neyther doe vve beleue that Christ receaued his diuinitie of late but that he vvas perfect from all aeternitie and like vnto the father in all things Such as confounde the father the sonne and the holie Ghost and impiously imagine three names in one thinge and in one person not vvithout iust cause vve forbidde them the church because they appoynt the father vvho is incomprehensble and impatible by incarnation to be both comprehensible and patible Of which heresie are the Patropassians so called of the Romaines but of vs Sabellians VVe know of certainty the father vvhich sent his sonne to haue continewed in the proper nature of his immutable diuinitie the sonne vvhich vvas sent to haue accomplished the disposed order of his incarnation In like maner such as say impiously and blaspheniously that Christ vvas begotten neyther by the counsell neyther by the vvill of the father attributinge to God the father a counsell tyed to necessitie and an essence intangled vvith the vvant of free vvill so that he begatt the sonne of cōpulsion them first of all we hold for accursed creatures and farre estraynged from the trueth in Christ because they presume to publishe such doctrine of him both contrary to the common notions vnderstanding vve haue of God and also repugnant vvith the sense and meaning of the sacred scripture inspired from aboue VVe knowe that God is of his owne power that he enioyeth his free will and we beleue godly and reuerently that he begat the sonne of his owne accord free will VVe beleue that godly which is spoken of him The Lorde made me the beginning of his wayes for the accōplishing of his works yet we vnderstand no◠that he was so made as other creatures other things were framed For that is impious farr◠frō the faith of the catholicke church to liken the creator vnto the creatures which he shaped or to thinke that he had the like maner of begetting with other thinges of different nature The holy scriptures do informe vs onely of one onely begotten sonne vnfainedly and truely begotten Moreouer when as we say that the sonne hath his being of him selfe that he liueth subsisteth in like sort with the father for all that vve seuer him not from the father neither do we imagine corporall vvise certaine spaces and distance betvvene their coherencie For vve beleeue that they ioyne together vvithout pause or distance put betvvene and that they can not be seuered asunder so that the father compriseth as it vvere in his bosome the vvhole sonne and the sonne is ioyned and fastened to the vvhole father and resteth continevvally onely in his fathers lappe VVe beleeue furthermore in the absolute perfect most blessed Trinitie and vvhen vve call the father God the sonne God in so doing we say not there be two gods but one God of equall power diuinitie and one perfect coniunction of raygne and euen as the father beareth rule exerciseth authoritie ouer all things ouer the sonne sovve say that the sonne is subiect vnto the father and that he gouerneth besides him immediatly and next after him all thinges vvhich he made and that the saincts by the vvill of the father receaue the grace of the holy Ghost aboundantly poured vpon them Thus the holy scriptures haue instructed vs to direct our talke of the monarchie in Christ After the aforesayd briefe cōpendious forme of faith vve haue bene cōstrained to explicate discourse of these thinges at large not that vve are disposed vainely and arrogantly to contend but to remoue out of the mindes of such men as knovve vs not all fonde suspicion surmise cōceaued of our censure opinion othervvise then trueth is that moreouer all the bishops of the VVest may easily perceaue not only the sclaunders of such as maintayne the contrary opinion but also the ecclesiasticall and Christian faith of the byshops inhabitinge the East confirmed out of the manifest and vnvvrested testimonies of holie scripture the vvhich the aduersaries are vvont lewdly to interpret The bishops of the west churches affirmed they would in no wise receaue these thinges partly for that they were written in a straunge tonge therfore could not vnderstand them they sayd moreouer that the creede or forme of faith layd downe by the Nicene councell was sufficient and that it was not for them curiously to search further CAP. XVI Of the generall Councell summoned at Sardice WHen as the Emperour had written againe that Paulus and Athanasius should be restored to their former rowmes and dignities and his letters had taken no place by reason of the ciuill dissention discord as yet not appeased among the multitude Paulus Athanasius make humble sute that an other councell might be called together to the end their cases should be the better knowen the faith should be decided in a general coūcell for they protested y ◠their depositiō was wrought to the end y ◠faith might be destroyed Wherfore by y ◠cōmaundemēt of both y ◠Emperours the one signifying y ◠same by his letters the other whose dominiōs lay in y ◠East willingly cōdescending thervnto there was proclaimed a generall councell that all should meete at Sardice a citie of Illyrium The eleuenth yeare after y ◠desease of Costantinus the father of these Emperours in the consulship of Ruffinus Eusebius the councell of Sardice was summoned There mett there as Athanasius sayth about thre hundred bishops of the west churches and as Sabinus declareth onely seuenty six bishops out of the East of which number was Ischyras bishop of Mareôtes whome y ◠deposers of Athanasius preferred to be bishop of that place Some alleage for them selues their infirmitie of body some cōplaine that their warning was to short therfore they blame Iulius bishop of Rome when as since the date of the proclamation the leasure of Athanasius cōtinewing at Rome expecting y ◠meeting of the councell there rame a whole yeare six moneths After that y ◠bishops of the east came to Sardice they would not come into y ◠presence of y ◠bishops which inhabited y ◠West but sent thē this message that they would not talke neither reason with them vnlesse cōditionally they would barre Athanasius and Paulus their cōpany But when Protogenes bishop of Sardice Osius bishop of Corduba a citie as I sayd
while this world lasteth but also in the life to come And we beleue also in the holy Ghost that is in the comforter whome the Lord promised to send his disciples after his ascention for to teache leade theÌ„ in all things whom also he sent by whose meanes the soules of theÌ„ that faithfuly beleeue in him are sanctified They that say that the sonne of God hath his being of nothing or that he is of an other substance then the fathers or that there was a time or a world when he was not these the holy Catholicke church doth hold for accursed Againe we say that whosoeuer affirmeth the Father and the Sonne to be two Gods let him be accursed If any man when he calleth Christ God to haue bene before all worlds confesse not also that the sonne of God ministred vnto the father at the creation of all thinges let him be accursed He that presumeth to say that he is vnbegotten or that part of him was borne of the virgine let him be accursed If any say that the sonne was borne of Mary according vnto prescience not to haue bene with God begotteÌ„ of the father before all worlds by vvhom all things vvere made let him be accursed VVhosoeuer saith that the substance of God can either be more enlarged or lesse diminished let him be held for accursed vvhosoeuer saith that the enlarged substaÌ„ce of God made the sonne or calleth the sonne the enlarged substaÌ„ce of God let him be accursed whosoeuer calleth the vvord of God the mentall word of the father or the vocall vvorde let him be accursed VVhosoeuer saith that the sonne of God is but only maÌ„ borne of Mary let him be accursed whosoeuer when he sayth that he was borne God man of Mary vnderstandeth the vnbegotten God let him be accursed whosoeuer vnderstandeth this after the Iewish maner I am the first God I am the secoÌ„d besides me there is none other God which was spoken to the ouerthrowe of Idols of them that be no Gods thereby to take away the only begotteÌ„ that was God before all worlds let hiÌ„ be accursed whosoeuer wheÌ„ he heareth The word became flesh supposeth the word to be turned into flesh or by conuersion to haue taken fleshe vpon him let him be accursed whosoeuer wheÌ„ he heareth the onely begotten of God to haue bene crucified thinketh that therein he was subiect to corruption torment alteration diminution or destructioÌ„ let him be accursed whosoeuer vnderstandeth this let vs make man not to haue bene spokeÌ„ of the father vnto the sonne but God the father himselfe to haue spoken it to himselfe let him be accursed whosoeuer thinketh the sonne not to haue wrastled with Iacob as man but the vnbegotten God or some portioÌ„ of him let him be accursed whosoeuer vnderstandeth this the lord rained froÌ„ the lorde not to be taken of the father the sonne but that the father rained from himselfe let him be accursed For the sonne being lord rained froÌ„ the father that was lord whosoeuer wheÌ„ he heareth the father lord and the sonne lorde calleth the father being lord both lord sonne wheÌ„ he readeth the lord froÌ„ the lord affirmeth there be two gods let him be accursed For we place not the sonne in the same rowme with the father but subiecte to the father Neyther was he incarnate without the will of the father neither rained he froÌ„ himselfe but froÌ„ the lord who hath authority of himselfe to wit from the father neither sitteth he at the right hand of himselfe but harkeneth vnto the father saying sit thou on my right haÌ„d whosoeuer calleth the father the sonne the holy ghost one person lette him be accursed whosoeuer when he calleth the holy Ghost the coÌ„forter tearmâ—th him the vnbegottteÌ„ God let him be accursed whosoeuer saith there is no other comforter beside the sonne contrary to the doctrine of the sonne himselfe for he sayd the father whome I will entreat will send vnto you an other coÌ„forter let hiÌ„ be accursed whosoeuer saith that the holy Ghost is a peece or porcion of the father of the sonne let him be accursed whosoeuer affirmeth the father the sonne the holy ghost to be three gods let hiÌ„ be accursed whosoeuer saith that the sonne of God was made by the will pleasure of the father as one of the creatures let him be accursed whosoeuer saith the sonne was begotten contrary to the wil of the father or whether the father would or no let him be accursed For the father begatte not the sonne against his owne wil neither was he coÌ„strained by the law of nature as if he had bene vnwilling thereuÌ„to but of meare good will without all time without passioÌ„ begat he hiÌ„ of him selfe â–ª whosoeuer saith that the sonne had neither be getting nor beginning so consequeÌ„tly affirme that there are two without begining two without begetting so appoint two Gods let him be accursed the sonne is the head the originall of all creatures the head of Christ is God for so we referre all things reuerently by the sonne vnto one begining of the whole vniuer sality which is with out begening Agayne weyinge deepely with our selues that clause also of christian profession we say that whosoeuer affirmeth Christ Iesus the sonne of God who ministred vnto the father at the creation of all things not to haue bene before all worldes but onely froÌ„ the time since the sonne was borne of Mary to haue bene Christ theÌ„ his deity to haue begone as Paulus Samosatenus was perswaded let him be accursed An other forme of faith first layd downe in Latine afterwardes translated into the Greeke IN so much it pleased them dilâ—gently to consider of the faith all whatsoeuer appertained thereunto was exquisitly curiously handled at Sirmium in presence of Valens Vrsacius Germanius with other Bishopps they agreed that there was one God the father almightie euen as it is taught throughout the whole world one onely begotten sonne of his Jesus Christ our Sauiour begotten of him before all worlds â–ª y â— it was not lawfull to say there were two Gods although the Lord himselfe had sayd I goe vnto my father vnto your father vnto my God and vnto your God Wherefore he is the God of all as the Apostle hathe taught vs VVhat is he the God of the Iewes onely Is not he also the God of the Gentiles Yea of the Gentiles toe for there is but one God which shall iustifie the circumcision by faith All the other things are correspondeÌ„t neither doe they contayne any ambiguitie at all And because there was great contention about y â— vnderstanding of y â— word which the Latines call Substantia the Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 about y â— equality or as they call it the vnitie of substance they decreed y â— thenceforth y â— controuersie should not
inueÌ„ted such things to deface the true and catholicke faith When they had ended these lowde speaches the Councell brake vp The Emperour vnderstaÌ„ding of this coÌ„mauÌ„ded them forthwith to exile banishmeÌ„t determineth w t him selfe to summone a generall couÌ„cell to y â— end after citing of all the easterne bishops into the west contries he might if it were possible bring them all to embrace vnitie and concorde But after better aduisement taken with him selfe he sawe it was a very hard matter to compasse by reason of the farre contries and longe iourney and therefore he commaunded the Councell shoulde be deuided into two partes the bishops then present to assemble at Ariminum a citie of Italie the bishops of the East to meete at Nicomedia a ritie in Bithynia But his purpose tooke no prosperous successe for nere nother of y â— Councells agreed â–ª within them selues both was deuided into sundry factions For neither could the bishops which mett at AriminuÌ„ in Italy agree amonge them selues neyther the bishops of the East among them selues for they raysed a newe schisme at Seleucia a citie of Isauria but howe all this came to passe I will hereafter rehearse in processe of our discourse if that first I say somewhat of Eudoxius In the very same time Leontius â–ª who preferred Actius the hereticke to the degree of Deaconship hauing departed this lyfe Eudoxius bishop of Germanicia a citie of Syria then beyng at Rome thought it high time for him to returne into the East he dealeth doubly with the Emperour forlicence to depart with speede alleadginge for him selfe that the citie of Germanicia stoode in greate neede of his helpe and ghostly counsell The Emperour litle thinkinge what fetches he had in his heade gaue him his pasport He through the sute and furtherance of the Emperours chamberlaynes left his owne citie and crept through wyle and subtletie into the byshopricke of Antioche he endeuoureth to restore Actius agayne into the church and goeth about to summone a Councell of byshops and to make him Deacon agayne But his lewde dryft was longe in brynginge about because the hatred owed vnto Actius was of more force to repell him then the hartie good wyll and furtherance Eudoxius vsed to restore him but of this we neede no more wordes Of them which assembled at Ariminum the Easterne byshops not mentioninge the businesse aboute Athanasius signified that the cause of their comminge was to discourse of other matters Vrsacius and Valens who at the firste were Arians and afterwards exhibited a recantation vnto the byshop of Rome subscribing as I sayd before vnto the clause of One substance stoode them in great stead for these two continewally cleaued vnto the stronger and the surer side There came also to take their part Germanius Auxentius Demophilus Caius In the assembly of bishops then present when diuers men would haue diuers things enacted Vrsacius Vales affirmed y â— all formes of faith layd downe in times past were thenceforth to be caÌ„celled that y â— new forme of faith published a litle before at y â— councell of SirmiuÌ„ was to be coÌ„firmed When they had so sayd they gaue forth a shete of paper which they had in their haÌ„ds to be read The second creede written before at Sirmium suppressed there as I sayd before read also at AriminuÌ„ translated out of the Latine into y â— Greeke toÌ„gue was layd downe in these words This Catholick faith was published at SirmiuÌ„ in the presence of Costantius our liege lord Flauius Eusebius Hypatius renowmed consuls the eleuenth Kalends of Iune VVe beleue in one onely true God the father almightie creator and maker of all things in one onely begotten sonne of God who was before all worlds before all beginninges before all tymes that may be imagined and begotten of God the father vvithout any passion before all comprehensible knowledge by vvhome both the vvorld and all things were made one only begotten begotten of the father alone God of God like vnto the father which begatt him according vnto the scriptures vvhose generation no man hath knovven saue the father vvhich begatt him him vve knovve his onely begotten sonne to haue come dovvne from heauen at the fathers becke to banishe and vvype avvay synne to haue bene borne of the Virgine Marie to haue bene conuersant vvith the disciples to haue fulfilled according vnto his fathers will all his message to haue bene crucified to haue suffred died to haue descended into hell and there to haue disposed all things at whose sight the porters of hell gates trembled to haue risen againe the third day againe to haue accoÌ„panied with his disciples after 40. dates were expired to haue ascended into heauen where he sitteth at the right hand of the father and shall come againe at the last day with the glory of his father to reward euery one according vnto his workes And we beleue in the holy ghost whome the onely begotten sonne of God Iesus Christ him selfe promised to send mankind the coÌ„forter as it is written I go vnto my father I will pray my father to send you an other comforter the spirite of trueth he shall take of myne and shall teache leade you in all things The word Substance being simply layd downe of the fathers vnknowen of the ignoraÌ„t people geuing vnto many great cause of offence insomuch it is not founde in holie scripture vve haue thought good to abandone it and henceforth speakinge of God to make no mention of the vvorde Substance because the sacred scriptures haue not once remembred the substance of the Sonne or of the holie ghost VVe say that the sonne is like the father in all things that because the word of God hath affirmed taught it vs. WheÌ„ these things were read such as were not pleased with the circumstances and contents therof rose vp and sayde We came not hither as though we wanted faith and beleese for we retayne that faith which we learned from the beginning but we are come to withstand nouelties if ought be practised preiudiciall vnto y â— same If those thiÌ„gs which you haue now read neither sauor neither rend to y â— establishing of noueltie accurse renounce the heresie of Arius in such wise as the old auncient canon of the church hath banished all hereticall blasphemous doctrine It is apparent vnto the whole world what tumults troubles the blaspemous opinioÌ„ of Arius hath raysed euen vnto this day in the church of God This offer was not accepted of Vrsacius Valens Germanius Auxentius Demophilus Caius thervpon the bond of vnitie retained in the church of God was broken asunder For these men cleaued vnto such things as the councell of AriminuÌ„ had decreed y â— other confirmed the canons of the Nicene Councell derided y â— contents of the creede y â— was read in their presence but specially Athanasius so y â—
Churche of Seleucia they barre the doores and ratisie with their subscriptions the forme of fayth that was read the daye before In their steede which were absent their readers and Deacons subscribed for they had signified before that they woulde by their Deputies approue the aforesayd creede CAP. XXXII Howe that Acacius of Caesarea rehearsed an other creede in the councell of Seleucia also how that he and his complices after the Emperours returne out of the west mett at Constantinople and procured the councell of Ariminum to be ratified adding thereunto of their owne ACacius and his complices founde great fault with the canons of that councell because they subscribed when the Church doores were shutt ▪ for sayth Acacius the thinges which are done in huckermucker as they ought not to be approued so are they not voide of suspicion This he sayde because he caryed in his pockett an other forme of fayth ready to be offred vp he read it in the presence of Lauricius and Leônas that were noble men and bent his whole might to haue onely the same confirmed these thinges were done the seconde daye of the councell and besides nothing The thirde day Leônas went about to call both partes together at what time Macedonius Bishop of Constantinoplē and Basilius Bishop of Ancyra were present When both these men mett together and presented them selues to wete of the contrary side vnto Acacius his consederats woulde not shewe their faces in the councell but sayde that it was requisite they should be banished the assemblie who of late had bene deposed and then also were accused After much adoe when this side had the vpper hande they that were accused left the councell in whose rowmes Acacius together with his company succeded Then Leônas stoode vp and sayde that Acacius had presented vnto him a booke yet knewe they not that it was a forme of fayth which confuted sometymes priuely sometymes openly and playnly the opinion of the contrary side When that all made silence and gaue diligent eare thinking nothing lesse then that it had bene a forme of fayth at length Acacius read his creede or fayth with a certayne preface written before it as followeth VVe vvhich by the Emperours edict mett yesterday that is the fift of the kalends of October at Seleucia in Isauria haue labored vvith all might possible to continevve vnitie agreement in the church of God to dispute reason of the faith according vnto the sacred testimonies of the Prophets euangelists with modest quiet mindes as the most vertuous Emperour Constantius hath geuen vs in charge to conclude nothing for canons of the Church vvhich might be founde contrary to holy Scripture ▪ but seing there were such kinde of men at the councell vvho rayled at some shutt vp some others mouthes forbade these to speake excluded the other from their cōpany ioyned with them out of diuers prouinces certaine deposed expulsed persons entertained them contrary to the old canon of the church the coūcel as Lauricius the most valiant captaine saw more is the pity with his owne eies was all set on tumult grieuous dissention VVe haue spoken these things to this end that you may vnderstand we reiect not the forme of fayth that vvas published confirmed in the dedication at Antioch but vve bring forth the same presently sithence that we knowe for suerty that the fathers then agreed vpon this controuersie which concerned the faith but in as much as the clauses of vnity in substance equality in substance disquieted the mindes of sundry men not onely in tymes past but also at this present so that novve also such as affirme the sonne to be vnaequall to the father are sayd to be authors of noueltie therefore haue vve layd aside the clauses of vnitie and aequalitie in substance as words not agreeing with holy Scripture also we accurse the clause of vnaequalitie and hold all the patrons and fauorers thereof for excommunicated persons VVe confesse playnely the likenesse the sonne hath with the father imitating the Apostle vvhere he saith of the sonne who is the image of the inuisible God VVe protest therefore and beleeue in one God the father almighty maker of heauen earth of visible and inuisible things VVe beleeue also in his sonne our Lord Iesus Christ begotten of him before all vvorlds vvithout affection God the vvord of the only begotten God the light the life the trueth the vvisedome by vvhome all things vvere made both in heauen and in earth be they visible or inuisible VVe beleeue that he in the latter dayes tooke flesh of the blessed virgine Mary to the ende he might take avvay the sinnes of the worlde that he vvas made man that he suffred for our sinnes that he rose againe ascended into the heauens sitteth at the right hande of the father and that he shall come againe vvith glorie to iudge both the quicke and the deade VVe beleeue also in the holy Ghost vvhome our Lorde and Sauiour called the comforter promising after his departure to send him to his disciples vvhome also he hath sent by whome he sanctifieth the faithfull in the Churche and such as are baptized in the name of the father and of the sonne and of the holy Ghost all those that besides this fayth shall publishe any other vve doe excommunicate out of the holy and Catholicke Churche This was Acacius creede whereunto both he and his complices as many in number as I reported before subscribed The creede being reade Sophronius Bishop of Pompeiopolis in Paphlagoma stoode vp and spāke agaynst it in this maner for I will vse his owne wordes If that the nevve deuises and dayly inuention of your brayne be layde dovvne for creedes it can not othervvise fall out but that shortly vve shall be founde vvithout one grayne of fayth These as I haue learned were the wordes of Sophronius In my opinion if that his auncetors and such as liued then with him had so settled their myndes as toutchinge the Nicene councell all this sturre and tumultes had quite bene taken away all this hurlyburly this rashe and vnaduised sedition had neuer raygned in the Churche but to what passe these thinges are nowe come let them iudge that can better discerne and geue sentence thereof When they had reasoned toe and fro of this matter and of them that were accused and brawled together a longe whyle at length the councell brake vp The fourth daye they assemble agayne and a freshe they chide one with an other In circumstance of talke Acacius gaue forthe this verditt as followeth If the Nicene creede was once altered of olde and afterwards often ▪ what can you saye to the contrary but that presently a newe forme of fayth without any preiudice at all may be established of vs whereunto Eleusius made answere We are not nowe come to this assemblie for to learne that which we learned before neyther to receaue the fayth which we haue
of their owne but in so much they haue written and annexed something of their owne braine it is requisite that we rehearse it againe They wrote as followeth VVe beleue in one God the father almighty of whome are all things in the only begotten sonne of God begotten of the father before all worldes before all begininge by whome all thinges were made both visible inuisible the one only begottē begottē of the father alone God of God like vnto the father which begate him according vnto the Scriptures whose generatiō as holy Scripture doth witnesse no man knoweth but the father alone which begat him This only begottē sonne of God vve knovve to haue bene sent frō the father to haue come dovvne from heauē as it is vvritten to haue bene conuersant vvith his disciples after the accōplishing of his message according vnto the vvill of his father to haue bene crucified dead buried to haue descended into hell at vvhose presence the infernall povver trembled to haue risen againe the third day from the dead againe to haue accōpanied his disciples after forty dayes vvere expired to haue bene taken vp into heauē vvhere he sittteth at the right hande of the father shall come at the generall resurrectiō vvith the glorie of the father to reward euery one according vnto his vvorks and vve beleue in the holy ghost vvhom the only begottē sonne of God himselfe our Lord God promised to send mankind a comforter as it is vvrytten the spirit of trueth whome also he sent after his assumptiō into heauē The clause of substāce being of diuers simply layd downe because the ignorant people vnderstood it not gaue greate occasion of offence It semed good therefore in as much as there was no mentiō thereof in holy scripture quite to take it away henceforth not to reason thereof because the word of God hathe no where remembred the substāce of the father of the sonne For the substance or subsistēcie of the father of the sonne of the holy ghost may not be once named or reasoned of we therefore as we are taught by holy scripture doe affirme that the sonne is like the father All heresies whatsoeuer either heretofore condemned or lately sprong vp if they be found contrary to this faith let them be held for accursed These things as you see were then decreed at Cōstantinople Nowe hauing at length runne ouer the confuse multitude of Creeds formes of faith let vs once againe briefely repeate the number of them After the Creede that was laid downe by the Nicene councell the Bishops framed two others at Antioch when they assembled to the dedication of the church the third was made in Fraunce of the bishops which were with Narcissus exhibited vnto the Emperoure Constantine the fourth was sent by Eudoxius vnto the Bishops throughout Italie Three were published in wryting at Sirmium where of one being gloriously intitled with the names of Consulls was red at Ariminum The eight was set forth at Seleucia procured to be red by the complices of Acacius The ninth was geuen abroade with additions at Constantinople there was thereunto annexed that thenceforth there should be no mention made of the substance of subsistencie of God Whereunto Vlphilas Bishop of y ◠Gotthes then first of all subscribed For vnto that time he embraced the faith established by the councell of Nice and was an earnest follower of Theophilus steps Bishop of the Gotthes who had bene at the Nicene councell subscribed vnto the Creed But of these things thus much CAP. XXXIII Howe that after Macedonius was deposed Eudoxius was made Bishop of Constantinople and of Eustathius Bishop of Sebastia ACacius Eudoxius together with their faction made foule tumults greate sturre at Constantinople fully purposing to remoue frō their bishopricks some of the contrary side And here also we may not passe ouer with silence howe that both parts inuēted causes of depriuatiō not for piety religion sake but of priuat malice quarellous spite for though they varied in the faith yet in deposing one an other they charged not ech other with their beleefe but such as were of Acacius side tooke the Emperours displeasure who purposed among diuers other to reuenge him of Macedonius as a fit occasion first they depose Macedonius frō his bishoprick partly for that he had bene the cause of great slaughter partly also because he admitted into the communion a certaine deacon that was taken in adultery They remoued Eleusius Bishop of Cyzicū for baptizing one Heraclius a sacrificing priest of Hercules at Tyrus who was knowē to be a great coniurer preferring him to the order of deaconship they depriued Basilius otherwise called Basilas who was made Bishop of Ancyra in Marcellus rowme for that he cruelly tormented imprisoned a certaine man for because he forged sclaundres discredited diuers persons and lastly for molesting the quiet estate of the churches in Aphricke by his epistles they suspended Dracontius for leauing Gallacia remouing to Pergamus they displaced moreouer Neonas Bishop of Seleucia where y ◠coūcel was held Sophronius bishop of Pompeiopolis in Paphlagonia Elpidius bishop of Satalum in Macedonia Cyrillus Bishop of serusalē many mo for sundry other causes Neither had Eustathius Bishop of Sebastia in Armenia licence permitted him for to purge himselfe because that a little before he had bene deposed by Eulauius his owne naturall father who was Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia for apparelling himselfe in such weede as was not decent for the dignity order of priesthood In this Eustathius rowme Meletuis of whome I mind hereafter to speake was made Bishop Moreouer Eustathius was afterwards condemned by the councell held at Gangra that was summoned for the hearing of his matters because that after his former deposition in the councell of Caesarea he had attempted many things cōtrary to the canons customes of the church He forbad mariadge set forth precepts of abstuēce He parted asunder diuers that were coupled together in wedlock perswaded suche as refrained the churches publick assembly to raise conuenticles brotherhood in their priuat houses He tooke seruāts frō their maisters vnder colour of religion He himselfe vsed the Philosophers habite constrained his followers to vse a straunge kind of Atyre He caused the women to be shauen He forbad the accustomed prescribed fasting dayes commaunded abstinence on the sundays He abhorted y ◠prayers that were made in maried mēs houses He detested the offring and the communion of the maried priest who when he was a lay man had lawefully coupled himselfe in the bonde of wedlocke This Eustathius when he had taught and set abroch these and many other such lewd precepts was as I said before deposed by y ◠councell held at Gangra in Paphlagonia and his doctrine accursed But these things were done a good while after When that
through the procurement of Anastasius his disciple called the blessed mother of God not the mother of God but the mother of Christ and therefore was counted an hereticke In so much that Nestorius who called together against Christ a seconde councell with Caiphas who builded a slaughterhouse of blasphemies where Christ a newe is both slaine and solde who seuered and deuided a sunder his natures that hong on the crosse and had not as it is written no not one bone broken throughout all the members of his bodie neither his vnseamed coate parted of such as put the Lorde to death reiected the clause of the mother or bearing of God framed of the holy Ghost by the meanes of many learned and godly fathers set against it this saying the mother or bearing of Christ leudly forged of his owne braine and filled the Churche of God with sedition ciuill warres and cruell bloodshed I thinke verily my penne can not wante matter to paint and orderly to continue the historie and so to proceede vnto the ende if that first of all through the helpe of Christ the ayder of all men I beginne with the blasphemie of Nestorius the schisme which thē rose in the church had such a beginning as followeth Anastasius a certain priest of a corrupt and peruerse opinion an earnest maintainer of the Jewishe doctrine of Nestorius and his companion in the voyage he tooke from Antioch to be byshop of Constantinople whē he heard the leude reasons and conference which Nestorius had with Theodolus at Mopsouestia in Cicilia he fell from the right fayth and as Theodorus writeth of that matter in a certaine epistle he presumed in the open audience of the Church of Constantinople in the hearing of such people as serued God deuoutly to say these wordes let no man call Marie the mother of God for Marie saith he was a woman and it is vnpossible that God shoulde be borne of a woman when the religious people misliked with his reasons and counted not without cause of his doctrine as of blasphemie Nestorius the ringleader of his impietie not onely not forbad him neither maintained the right opinion but first of all confirmed his sayings to be true and was very earnest in the defence of them Wherefore after he had annexed and lincked thereunto his owne opinion and the deuise of his owne braine when he had powred into the Church of God the venome of his poysoned doctrine he endeuoured to establish a farre more blasphemous sentence to his owne destruction he said as followeth I verily will not call him God who grewe to mans state by two monethes three moneths and so forth euen as Socrates Scholasticus and the former councell helde at Ephesus haue informed of him CAP. III. VVhat Cyrill the great wrote vnto Nestorius the hereticke and of the third◠councell of Ephesus whereunto Iohn byshop of Antioch and Theodoritus came shorte CYrill byshop of Alexandria a man of great fame and renowne confuted the leude opinion of Nestorius in seuerall letters yet for al that Nestorius stiffely withstood his confutation yelded not one iote neither vnto Cyrill neither vnto Celestinus byshop of olde Rome but vomited out the venome of his cankered stomacke vpon the Churche and made sute vnto Theodosius the younger who was Emperour of the East that by his authoritie the first councell of Ephesus might be called together Wherfore the Emperour wrote vnto Cyrill and to all y ◠other ouerseers and byshops of the Churches throughout euerie citie geuinge them to vnderstand that the day of Pentecost was prescribed for their assemblie on which day the liuing and ghostly spirit descending from heauen shined among vs. but Nestorius by reason that Ephesus is not farre from Constantinople was there before them Cyrill together with his company came thither also before the day appointed Iohn byshop of Antioch was absent with his prouince not of set purpose according vnto their report which defend his doings but because he coulde not in so short a space call together the byshops of his prouince for many of their cities were distant from Antioch of olde so called but now Theopolis vnto a swift and stoute goer twelue dayes iourney vnto some others more and Ephesus is from Antioch about thirtie dayes iourney And when as Iohn aunswered plainely he was not able to meete them on the Sundaye appointed for so was the day called all his diocesse sturred not a foote from home CAP. IIII. Howe Nestorius the hereticke was deposed by the councell of Ephesus in the absence of Iohn byshoppe of Antioch When the day appointed for their meeting and fifteene dayes ouer were expired the byshops which assembled at Ephesus thinking verily that the easterne byshops would not come or if peraduenture they came it woulde be long ere they mette together when as Cyrill also moderated the councell in steade of Celestinus who as I said before gouerned the seae of Rome called Nestorius before them and willed him to aunswere vnto the crimes that were laid to his charge And when as the first day he promised to come if the case so required and being afterwardes thrise cited to appeare made light accompt of his promise the byshops that were present called the matter into controuersie and began to reason thereof Wherefore after that Memnon byshop of Ephesus had numbred the dayes that were past since the prescribed time to wit seuenteene after they had reade the epistles of the reuerende Cyrill vnto Nestorius and suche as he wrote vnto Cyrill againe together with the holy epistle of the renowmed Celestiniu sent in like sort vnto Nestorius after that Theodotus byshop of Ancyra and Acacius byshop of Melitina had made relation of the blasphemous sentences whiche Nestorius bolted out at Ephesus and after that many notable sayinges to the iustifying of the sincere fayth were vttered in that assembly of holy and learned fathers interlacing sometimes the vnaduised and blasphemous phrases of Nestorius the holy councell pronounced this sentence against Nestorius in maner as followeth Omitting other hainous crimes of the reuerend Nestorius in so much he was cited and would not appeare neither entertaine the most holy and religious byshops which we had sent vnto him vve were driuen of necessitie to sifte and examine his leude and wicked doctrine And seeinge vve founde him to haue belieued impiously and to haue taught heretically partly by perusing of his bookes and epistles and partly also by the blasphemous sentences he vttered of late in this noble citie we were moued both by the canons of the Church and the graue censure of the most holy father our College Celestinus byshop of Rome yet not without sheding of many teares to pronounce against him this seuere and sharpe sentence VVherefore our Lord Iesus Christ in derogation of whose maiesty Nestorius sticked not to pronounce such horrible blasphemie hath decreed and ordained by this sacred assembly that he shoulde both be deposed of his
vnto Basilius beinge but very briefe I thinke best to lay downe for the louinge reader it was as followeth Vnto the most religious most holy and dearly beloued of God my lord Basil the archebyshop Symeon an humble sinner sendeth greeting in the Lorde Now we may very well say blessed be God which hath not turned away our petition neyther withdrawen his mercie from vs miserable sinners VVhen I had perused the letters which your holinesse sent vnto me I fell into an admiration of the singuler care and pietie of our most holy Emperour reuealed and made manifest vnto the worlde by the affection he bâ—re not onely vnto the holy fathers but also by the zeale he shewed vnto the fayth confirmed by them but this commeth not of our selues it is as the holy Apostle writeth the gifte of God who by the meanes of your prayers graunted vnto him so prompt and willing a minde Againe after a fewe lines he saith VVherefore I beinge an abiecte and vile creature as it were the vntimely birth of the monkes signified vnto the Emperour what I my selfe thought of the creede layde downe by the sixe hundred and thirtie holy fathers whiche assembled at Chalcedon affirming that I helde with that fayth published no doubt by the instinct motioÌ„ of the holy ghost for if our sauiour be in the middest of two or three gathered together in his name howe can he chuse but be present at the assembly of so many holy fathers seing the holy ghost hath bene with them from the beginning After this againe VVherefore be of good cheere and defende stoutly the true fayth in such sort as Iesus the sonne of Naue seruant of the Lorde of hostes gouerned and desended the people of Israell I beseeche you salute from me all the clergie of your prouince with the holy and faythfull people CAP. XI The banishment of Timotheus Aelurus byshopp of Alexandria and the election of Timotheus Salofaciolus of Gennadius and Acacius byshopps of Constantinople AFter the aforesaide sturre Timotheus syrnamed Aelurus was banished Alexandria and enioyned to make his abode at Gangrena wherefore the people of Alexandria those Timotheus whome some called Basilicus some other Salofaciolus to succeede Proterius in the byshopricke When Anatolius had departed this life Gennadius gouerned the byshopricke of the princelie citye of Constantinople after him succeeded Acacius maister of the hospitall or College of Orphans CAP. XII Of the earthquake whiche happened at Antioch three hundred forty seuen yeares after that whiche was in the time of Traian IN the seconde yeare of Leo the Emperours raigne there was suche a marueylous great earthquake shaking of the fundations at Antioch that it can not sufficiently be described before it beganne certaine people that were borne within the citie waxed mad raued aboue measure and seemed vnto vs farre to exceede all furious rage of brutishe flercenesse and crueltie as a preamble forerunninge so great a calamitie This grieuous earthquake happened the fiue hundred and sixth yeare after the citie was called Antioch the fourteenth day of the moneth Gorpiaeus after the Romaines September about the fourth houre of the night the Sunday goinge before the eleuenth course of the reuolution three hundred forty seuen yeares after the earthquake vnder Traian That earthquake was a hundred fifty and nine yeares after the grauntinge of the charter and incorporation of the citie but this fell in the raigne of Leo the fiue hundred and sixth yeare as the historiographers who diligently described the circumstances thereof haue left vs in writinge It turned vpside downe in manner all the buyldinge of this newe citie beinge well peopled without a wast corner or ruinous peece of buyldinge but all adorned and gorgeously sett forth by the bountifulnesse of the Emperours contendinge amonge themselues successiuely who shoulde passe other Moreouer as ye goe in the first and seconde lodginge of the pallace were ouerthrowen the rest standinge vp with the bath adioyninge thereunto which bath aforetime serued to no vse yet then of necessitie by reason the other bathes wente to ruyne supplyed their wante and stoode the citie in good steede the portly gates of the pallace the place called the fouresquare porche the vtter turretts and galleries nighe the gates where their stage playes were kept and some porches that came out thence some part of the bathes of Traian Seuerus Adrian the adioyning Ostracina together with the porches Nymphaeum were turned downe to the grounde all whiche Iohn Rhetor hath largely discoursed of he sayth further that in consideratioÌ„ of the premises the Emperour forgaue the citie a thousand talents of gold of the tribute which they payd him released such citizens as sustained losse of theyr rente last of all that he tooke vpon him to repayre the publique edifices CAP. XIII Of the fire that raged at Constantinople THere fell moreouer at ConstaÌ„tinople a calamity not much vnlike the former nay farr more grieuous it beganne in that part of the city which lay to the sea is called the Oxe Causei The reporte goeth that a despitefull and wicked deuell in the forme of a woman or a poore woman through the instigation of the deuell both is reported went about candel light with a candell in her hand vnto the market for to buy some saltfish left her candell vpon the stall and went away When the candell had wasted to the ende of the wike it rose into a great flame and stroke immediatly in the buylding ouer heade which burned at the first it tooke hold also of the houles that were next not onely such as easily might be set on fire but also the stony buylding and burned them to ashes They say this fire lasted the space of foure dayes no man was able to quenche it it flashed throughout the middes of the citie consumed from the north part to the south end all houses fiue furlungs in length and fourteene in bredth left no buylding either publique or priuate no pillours no stony arches or vaultes in all that tyme and in all that compasse vnburned to the fundation but to haue perced the flinte stone and harde mettall as if it had bene stuble or strawe Of the north part of the citie where the hauen lieth this lamentable destruction reached froÌ„ the Oxe-Causei so is the place called vnto the old temple of Apollo in the south side froÌ„ the hauen of Iulian vnto the temple of Concorde in the middest of the citie froÌ„ Constantines market vnto the market of Taurus a pitiefull shewe and dredfull to behold The goodly places gorgeous high buyldings that had bene within the citie the costly carued tymber yelding heretofore great maiesty vnto the eye of man both publique and priuate were then become like craggy hills and rocks that no man could passe through confused heapes of filth and all kind of stuff full of deformity that the owners of them them felues could not discerne the bounds of theyr possessioÌ„
Alexandria departed this life in his tyme he woulde geue him the nominatinge of the nexte incumbent to succeede him in the Byshoprick Zacharie reporteth that the Emperour charged him he wente about to procure it vnto him selfe but to cleare him selfe of this suspicion he sware and protested with solemne othes he woulde neuer be Byshop if it were offered him and so gotte him home Wherefore the Emperour decreed that after the death of Timothee he should be Byshop whome both clergy and laytye would electe Shortely after Timothee died Iohn gaue a peece of money as Zacharie doth wryte neglected the othe he made vnto the Emperour and was chosen Bishop of Alexandria When this was knowen the Emperour banished him Alexandria wrote by some mens procuremente an Epistle vnto the people of Alexandria of vnitye and concorde and commaunded that Peter shoulde be restored vnto the Byshopricke condicionally if he subscribed vnto the Epistle and receaued into the communion suche as helde with Proterius CAP. XIII Howe Petrus Moggus Bishop of Alexandria receaued the Epistle of Zeno and was reconciled vnto the faction of Proterius PErgamius Liuetenant of Aegypt tooke vpon him the orderinge of this matter according vnto the minde of Acacius Bishop of Constantinople he arriued at Alexandria and there he was geuen to vnderstand that Iohn had fled away he conferred with Peter exhorted him to allowe of Zeno his Epistle wrytten vnto the people of Alexandria and to receaue into the Church such as dissented from him Whereupon Peter receaued the Epistle and subscribed vnto it promised moreouer to admit his aduersaries into the communiō After all this at a solemne meeting within Alexandria whē all the people embraced the Epistle of Zeno intitled of Concorde Peter also was reconciled vnto the faction of Proterius made a sermon vnto the people and read in the church the Epistle of Zeno which was an exhortation vnto peace and vnity CAP. XIIII The Epistle which Zeno wrote to reconcile the people of Alexandria ZEno Emperour Caesar Pius Victorious Triumphant chiefe Lord perpetual Augustus vnto the most reuerend bishops throughout Alexandria Aegypt Libya Pentapolis with the Priests Mōks laye people sendeth greeting In somuch we are certenly perswaded that the originall cōfirmation continewāce strēgth inuincible fortres of our Emperiall scepter is only vpheld by the sincere true faith the which three hūdred eighteene holy fathers deliuered vnto vs by the inspiratiō of the holy Ghost in the councell of Nice was also confirmed of a hundred fifty godly Bishops in the councel held at Cōstantinople we haue labored day and nighte not onely by prayer but with all endeuer and vvyth publishinge of lawes amply and aboundantly to sill vvith it the holy Catholick and Apostolick Church of God scattered far vvide ouer the face of the earth being the immortall and sempiternall parent of this our raygne and principalitye that the deuoute people of God continewinge the diuine peace and quietnes may poure vnto God the acceptable sacrifice of prayer together with the most holy Bishops sacred clergy with the gouernours of Monasteries Monkes them selues for the preseruatiō of our prosperous raygne For in case that almighty God and our Sauiour Iesus Christ who tooke flesh of the virgine Mary the mother of God was borne into the worlde would allowe of the general praises worship we geue vnto him receaue the same with willīg minde redines then no doubt not onely all sorts of enemies woulde vtterly be foyled but also all other nations vnder heauen would be brought subiect vnto our Empire willingly serue vs next immediatly after God then also peace the profit annexed therunto seasonable tēperature of the aer plenty of all sorts of fruite with all other things required for the vse of mā would abūdantly be ministred Nowe therfore seing it appeareth vnto all men howe both we our selues the Empire of Rome is preserued vnder the wing of the true faith the holy gouernours of the monasteries heremits with other religious mē exhibited vnto vs supplicatiōs exhortīg vs very earnestly that the most holy churches may enioy peace that the mēbers may be coupled together whiche the deuel enemy to honesty hath labored of a lōg time to part asunder for he is fully perswaded that if the body of the church being ioyntly knit together in the bond of vnity encountred with him he would quickly be ouerthrowē by reason the mēbers were seuered it came to passe that infinit multituds of mē now many hundred yeres ago departed this world some without baptisme some other without the cōmunion being void of charity the dynt of death is ineuitable it caused moreouer infinit slaughters bloodshed not only the earth but the aer also was infected with streames of blood is huinge out of the tender bowells of men And who is he I pray you that wisheth not for reformatō redresse of these things wherfore we haue done our indeuor for to certifie you that not onely we our selues but all the churches euery where haue not had in times past neither present will not haue herafter neither knowe any other that haue any other faith or doctrine then the creede spoken of before deliuered by three hūdred eighteen Byshops confirmed afterwardes by a hundred fifty fathers But if any man haue any other creede we take him not to be of the church For we beleue that through this faith only it cometh to passe that our Empire doth florish that the people by embracīg of the same are inspired with the holy Ghost washed in the sacred fountaine of baptisme it was this faith that the holy fathers in the councell of Ephesus subscribed vnto which deposed wicked Nestorius of the Ecclesiasticall ministery as many as fauored his hereticall opinion whome we also doe accurse together with Eutyches for both of them impugned the aforesayde faith and approue the twelue pointes of the faith layde downe by Cyrill of worthy memorye late Archbishop of the Catholicke church of Alexandria For we confesse that the onely begotten sonne of God our Lord Iesus Christ is truely incarnate of one substance with the father accordinge vnto his diuinity of one substance with vs accordinge vnto his humanity that he came downe from heauen that by the holy Ghoste he tooke fleshe of the virgine Mary the mother of God that he is one and not two For we say that the miracles he wrought the vexations he endured in the flesh belonged vnto one person we doe condemne for euer such as deuide or confound his natures or say that he had a phantasticall body For he was truely incarnate of the mother of God without spott or blemish of sinne The Trinity remayneth neuerthelesse though one person of the Trinity to wit God the worde be incarnate VVherfore seing we learne of surety that all the holy and Catholicke Churches euery where that all the godly Presidentes
dyed An. Dom. 375. Socrat. li. 4. cap. 12. 16. Acesius a NouatiaÌ„ bishop was of Constantine called to the councell of Nice to render an accompte of his opinion Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 7.    The first councell of Arelate decreed with other thinges that Easter shoulde be kept at one certain time tom 1. coÌ„cil A councell of Arian bishops meet at Tyrus deposed Athanasius but CoÌ„stantine remoued them to coÌ„secrate the temple lately buylded at Ierusalem called them afterwards to CoÌ„stantinople in his presence to determine Athanasius causes Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 20. 22.   Iulius was b. of Rome after Mark Anno Do. 336. where he contine wed 16. yeres Ierom chron Socrat lib. 2. cap. 5. 27. saith it was 15. yeares  Marcellus b. of Ancyra in Galatia taught the heresie of Paulus Samosatenus that Christ was but bare man the bishops in the councell of Constantinople deposed him and â—usebius Pamphilus coÌ„futed him in three bookes Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 24. c. 336.    Maximus was b. of Ierusalem after Macarius hedetested the Arians refused to come to the councel of Antioche lest he shoulde condemne the Nicen Creede in the ende the Arians deposed him Socrat li. 2. c. 5. 30.    Audius was a schismaticke a man of an hotte spirite he rebuked the clergie men to their faces for their disordered lyfe being councelled to deale modestly nay chastized he deuided him selfe from the church and fell to raysing of priuate coÌ„uenticles he kept Easter with the Iewes Epiphan haer 70.         Eusebius of Nicomedia not onely in Arius tyme but also after his death mayntayned the heresie of Arius together with Macedonius b. of Constantinople â–ª Theognis b. of Nice Mâ— â–ª ris b. of ChalcedoÌ„ Theodorus b. of Heraclea â–ª Vrsacius Valens c. Socrat lib. 2. cap. 2. 9. 15. 340. ConstaÌ„tinus the yonger beig made Caesar the 10. yere of his fathers â—avgne â–ª CoÌ„stantius beinge made Caesar the 20. yere of his fathers raygne Constans beinge made Emperour the 30. yere of his fathers raigne succeeded they re father after his desease and deuided the Empire amonge them Constantinuâ— enioâ—ed it but alitle while for he was slayne by the souldiers of his brother Constans when he sought to inuade his brother CoÌ„stans dominions ConstaÌ„s not loÌ„g after was slayne by MagneÌ„tius the tyrant These two were godly emperours but CoÌ„stantius was an AriaÌ„ in the end CoÌ„stantius dyed being fiue and fortie yeare olde he raigned 38. yeares thirteene with his father CoÌ„staÌ„tinus Magnus fiue twentie after his fathers death Socrat. lib. 1 cap. 25 26. lib. 2. cap. 3 20. 37. IeroÌ„ chronic Rheticus a learned wryter florished in Fraunce about this time Ierom catalog There was a couÌ„cell held at Caesarea in Cappadocia where Eulalius b. of that seae condemned his owne sonne Eustathius b. of Sebastia in Armenia for manye crimes Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 33. The Councell of Gangra condemned the hereticall opinions of Eustathius allowing the mariage of priests Socra lib. 2. cap. 33 tom 1. concil A councell helde in Carthage decreed there should be no rebaptizing that clergie men should not meddle with temporall affaires tom 1. coÌ„cil Iulius helde a prouinciall synode at Rome where he condemned Arius ratified the Nicene Creede tom 1. concil  Eulalius an Arian was b. of Antioch after Eustathius Nicephor   Eustathius b. of Sebastia in Armenia went in suche attyre as was not decente for a priest He sorbad Mariadge made lawes of fastinge he parted maried couples asunder He caused suche as refrayned the churches to rayse conuenticles at home he tooke seruaunts froÌ„ their maisters vnder colour of religion he commaunded his followers to weare the philosophers habit he caused the womeÌ„ to be shauen he sorbad the accustomed fastingdays and commaunded they should faste on the sundaye He detested the prayers of maryed men he abhorred the offering and communion of the maried priest not remeÌ„bringe that his owne father was a priest and bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia he was first coÌ„demned of his owne father in a councell helde at Caesarea afterwardes by the couÌ„cel of Gâ—gra last of all at Gonstantinople Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 33.   Iuuencus a prieste of Spayne who wrot the foure EuaÌ„gelists in heroical verse florished about this tyme Ierom catalog   Euphronius an Arian was b. of Antioche after Eulalius Socrat. lib. 1. ca. 18.     Maximus b. of Treuere in Fraunce entertayned honorably Athanasius b. of AlexaÌ„dria being exiled into Fraunce Ier. chro A councell of Arian bishops mett at Antioche the first yeare after ConstaÌ„tines desease wher they deposed Athanasius endeuored to abrogate the Nicene creede Socrat. li. 2. ca. 5. 6. 7 The bishops of the East called a councell together layd down their creede with long expositions and sent it to the west churches by three bishops Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 15 A councell held at Coleyne in Germanie condemned Euphrata the byshop for denyinge that Christ was god â—om 1. concil A generall councell was summoned at Sardice by Constantius Constans the Emperoures for the hearing of Athanasius b. of Alexandria Paulus b. of Constantinople whom the Arians had exiled The councell restored them deposed they re accusers condeÌ„ned the Arians and confirmed the Nicene creede Socrat. lib. â— cap. 16. Cyrillus an Arian was chosen b. of Ierusalem after the deposition of Maximus he was deposed forcerâ—eÌ„ hainous crimes woulde not come and purge him selfe Socrat. li. 2. cap. 30. 31. 32.    Macedonius at the first being an Arian and deposed by Acacius secte could not quiet him self but fell from the Arians into an other heresie he denyed the godhead of the holy ghost tearming him the seruant and the drugge of the father of the sonne this opinion they saye Marathonius bishop of Nicomedia taught before him These hereticks are called Pneumatomachoi Socrat lib. 2. cap. 25. Epiph. haeres 73.    A councell summoned at IerusaleÌ„ by Maximus b. of that seae where he receaued Athanasius vnto the communion ratified the Nicene creede Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 19 A councell called together at AlexaÌ„dria by Athanasius where the actes of the couÌ„cell of Sardice of IerusaleÌ„ were confirmed Socrat lib. 2. cap. 21. Heraclius Placitus an Arian was b. of Antioch Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 5 6. 7.   Euphrata bishop of Coleyne denyed that Christ was God he was condemned in a councell helde at Coleyne tom 1. concil 350.  Hilarius b. of poetiers in Fraunce a great aduersarie of the Arians wrote sundrye notable bookes whereof one he deliuered into Constantius hande at ConstaÌ„tinople He died in the time of Valens and Valentinianus Ierom. catalog Socrat li. 3. ca. 8. Herenius Stephan an Arian succeeded Placitus Socrat lib. 2. cap. 21. Liberiê° was b. of Rome after Iulius
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
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
giuen him but he receaued it not saying In somuch that vve haue forsaken our ovvne hovv can vve receaue other mens These things were done the three and forty yeare which being translated worde for worde out of the Syrian tongue we thought not amisse to printe in this place The censure of the Translator toutching the aforesayd Epistles BE it true or be it false that there were such epistles it forceth not greatly as the effect and contentes thereof is not to be preferred before all other writing in trueth so of the contrary it is not to be reiected for falshoode and forged stuffe Ierome with other graue writers affirmeth such circumstances to haue bene Eusebius whose creditt herein is not smale reporteth the same to haue bene taken out of their recordes in the city of Edessa regestred there in the Syrian tongue and by him translated out of the Syrian into the greeke tongue I sidorus and Gelasius the first of that name bishop of Rome about the yeare of our Lorde 494. together with 70. other Bishops decreed that the Churche of God should receaue the same epistles for no other then Apocrypha one thing I may not here runne ouerwith silence but admonishe the Reader of how that late writers namely Damascenus and that fabulous Historiographer Nicephorus haue added vnto this history fabulous reportes howe that Abgarus gouernour of Edessa sent his letter vnto Iesu and with all a certayne paynter which might vewe him well bring vnto him backe againe the lively picture of Iesu the which painter as they reporte being not able for the glorious brightnesse of his gracious countenance to bring his purpose to effect our Sauiour him selfe tooke an handkerchef and layde to his deuine and liuely face and by the wiping of his face his picture was therein impressed the which he sent to Abgarus Nicephorus patcheth other fables therunto first he sayth that the King of Persia sent a paynter vnto Iesu which brought vnto him the picture of Iesu and also of Mary his mother Agayne that the Edessaeans in the time of Iustinianus the Emperour being besieged and brought to such a narrowe straicte that there remayned no hope of deliuer ance but a present foyle and ouerthrowe in the same lamentable plight to haue runne vnto this picture for a refuge wher as they say they fouÌ„d preseÌ„t remedy beleue it who wil. Eusebius who searched their records who layde downe the copye of the Epistles who translated faythfully all that he founde there toutching Christ neyther sawe neyther heard of any such thing for he promised in the preface to his history to omitt nothing that shoulde seeme pertinent if the other writers founde it why did not Eusebius finde it if the other writers thought expedient to publishe the same why did Eusebius omitt it nay it was not there founde at al but forged therefore recount them for fables the first that reported them was a hundred yeares after Eusebius The ende of the first booke THE SECONDE BOOKE OF THE ECCLESIASTICALL HISTORYE OF EVSEBIVS PAMPHILVS BISHOP OF CAESAREA IN PALAESTINA CAP. I. Of the ordayning of Disciples after the ascention of Christ IN the former booke as by way of proëme we haue published which necessaryly did concerne the Ecclesiastical history ioyntly contriuing the declaration of the diuinitie of the worde of saluation of the auncient principles of our doctrine of the antiquitie of Gospelike policy among Christians of his late appearing among men of his passion and election of the Apostles Now it remayneth that we vewe those things which ensued after his assumption so that partly we note them out of the sacred scriptures partly out of prophane historyes knitting to our historye those thinges which we haue firmely committed to memory First of al the Apostleship is allotted vnto Matthias in the rowme of Iudas the traytour which as it is manifest was one of the disciples of the Lorde there were also seuen approued men ordayned Deacons through prayer and laying on of the Apostles handes for the publique administration of the Churches affaires ioyned with Stephen which first after the Lorde as soone as he was ordayned as though he were appoynted for this purpose is stoned vnto death by them which slewe the Lord and for this cause as the first of the triumphing Martyrs of Christ according to his name he beareth a crowne After him folowed Iames called the brother of Christ and counted the sonne of Ioseph This Ioseph was thought to be the father of Christ to whome the virgin was betrothed vvhiche before they came together vvas founde to haue in her vvombe of the holy Ghost as the holy Gospell declareth This Iames whome of olde they priueledged for his vertue with the syrname of Iustus is sayd to be the first which occupied the bishoplike Seae at Ierusalem Clemens in the 6. of his hypotyposeon writeth thus Peter saith he and Iames and Ihon after the assumption of our Sauiour though they vvere preferred by the Lorde yet chalenged they not this prerogatiue vnto them selues but appoynted Iames the Iust Byshop of Ierusalem The same Clemens in the 7. of his Hypotyposeon also maketh mention of him thus the Lorde after his resurrection endued vvith knovvledge Iames the Iust Ihon Peter They deliuered the same vnto the rest of the Apostles the Apostles aftervvards vnto the 70. disciples of vvhich number vvas Barnabas There vvere tvvo Iameses the one termed Iust vvhich vvas throvvne dovvne hedlonâ— from the pinacle and brayned vvith a fullers clubbe * the other beheaded Of him that vvas â—…d Iust Paul made mention saying I savve none of the Apostles saue Iames the brother of the Lorde Those thinges which the Lorde promised the King of the Osroënians then were performed Thomas by diuine inspiration sent Thaddaeus vnto the city Edessa to be their preacher and an Euangelist of the doctrine of Christ as a litle before out of the recordes we haue alleaged But he after his comming and hauing cured Agbarus by the word of God astonished all them with his straunge miracles workes which he wrought brought them to the worshipping of the diuine power of Christ and ordayned disciples of the doctrine of our Sauiour From that time vnto this day the whole city of the Edessaeans addicted vnto the name of Christ shew forth no smale argument of the great goodnes of our Sauiour towardes them But these thinges be premised taken out of their auncient historicall recordes and now let vs returne vnto the sacred Scripture The first and the greatest persecution being raysed of the Ievves agaynst the Church at Ierusalem about the tyme of the martyrdome of Stephen and al the distiples the 12. onely excepted being dispersed throughout Iudaea Samaria certaine of them as the holy Scripture beareth witnesse came vnto Phaenices and Cyprus and Antioche but these as yet dated not to deliuer vnto the Gentiles the word of fayth but shewed it onely vnto the Ievves At that
communicated his diuine and godly labour and industry not onely to such as were his charge but also to strangers shewing himself most profitable vnto all people by those Catholicke epistles which he directed vnto the Churches of which numbre is that epistle written by him vnto the Lacedaemonians â–ª contayning y e right institution of christian peace vnitie Moreouer his epistle wrytt vnto the Athenians stirreth the mindes of faythfull men vnto the embracing of the trueth and euangelicall conuersation of life repâ—enâ—endeth the gainesayers despisers thereof chargeth diuerse of them that they were now in manner fallen from the fayth although Publius there bishop in their time had there bene martyred He remembreth Quadratus the successor of Publius after his martyrdome in the byshoprick testifieth of him that by his meanes they were vnited and stirred to the fayth He sheweth moreouer howe that Dionysius Areopagita conuerted vnto the fayth according vnto that which is wrytten in the Actes of the Apostles â–ª was by Paul placed the first byshop of Athens There is extant also an other epistle of his vnto the Nicomedians where repugninge the heresie of Marcion he fortifieth the right rule of fayth And vnto the Churche of the Gortynenses together with other congregations throughout Creta he wryteth commending Philip there byshope for that the Church committed vnto his charge was beautified and bedecked by the proufe of many vertuous properties warninge withall that they should auoide the wilfulnes of peruerse heretickes And wryting to the Church of Amastris together with the rest throughout Pontus he mentioneth Bachilides and Elpistus at whose instant motion he wrote and Galma there byshop interlacing expositions of sundry places of Scripture He admonisheth them at large toutching mariage and virginitieâ— commaundinge also to receaue after repentance such as fell how soeuer it happened eyther of purpose or by heretical perswasioÌ„ Unto this there is annexed an epistle vnto the Gnosij where theyr byshope Pinytus is admonished not to charge necessarily the brethren with the greuous burthen of vowed chastitie but to haue consideration of the frail imbecillity of many natures vnto the which epistle Pinytus making answere extolleth commendeth Dionysius yet agayne by way of admonition requireth that stronger meat beinge deliuered he fead the flocke coÌ„mitted vnto his charge with more absolute and profound doctrine least that they lingering in their milkesoppes and smothe exhortacions waxe old through negligence in childish nurture In the which epistle of Pinytus the right rule of fayth diligent care for the saluation of his flocke discretion also vnderstanding of holy scripture is liuely set forth last of all there remaineth an epistle of Dionysius vnto the Romaines namely vnto Soter their byshop whereof if we alleage some parte it shall not seeme impertinent where he commendeth the Romaine manner obserued vnto the persecution of our time wryting thus It hath bene your accustomed manner euen from the beginning diuersely to benefitt all the brethren and to send relief throughout the citie supplying the vvant of the poore by refreshing them in this sorte and specially the vvante of the brethren appointed for slauishe drudgerie and digging of mettalls you Romaynes of old do retaine the fatherly affection of Rome vvhich holy Soter your bishop not onely obserued but also augmented ministringe large and liberall relief to the vse of the sainctes embracing louingly the conuerted brethren as a father doth his sonnes vvith exhortation of vvholsome doctrine Here also he remembreth y â— epistle of Clemens wrytten to the Corinthians shewing the same of auncieÌ„t custome to haue bene read in the Church for thus be writeth VVe haue this day solemnized the holy sunday in the vvhich vve haue read your epistle alvvaies vvill for instructions sake euen as vve do the former of Clemens vvritten vnto vs. The same author reporteth of his owne epistles that they were patched corrupted in these words VVhen I vvas intreated of the brethren to vvrite I vvrote certaine Epistles but the messengers of Satan haue sovven them vvith tares pulling avvay some putting to other some vvhose condemnation is layd vp for certaine no maruell then though some endeuored to corrupt the sacred Scriptures of God vvhen as they vvent about to counterfett such vvrytinges of so smale authoritie Yet be sides all these there is founde an other epistle of Dionysius to Chrysophora a faithfull sister where as it was most mete he ministreth vnto her spirituall foode conuenient for her calling thus much toutching Dionysius CAP. XXIII Of Theophilus byshop of Antioche and his workes OF Theophilus byshop of Antioch before meÌ„tioned there are found three bookes of ElemeÌ„tall Institutions dedicated vnto Antolicus again an other entitled Against the heresie of Hermogenes where he alleageth many testimonies out of the reuelation of Sainct Iohn there are also certaine other bookes of his intitled of Institutions but there was neuer no greater plague or pestilence then the poyson of heretickes which then infected after the manner of tares the true seede of Apostolicke doctrine whome the pastors of the Churches repelled from the flocke of Christ as if they had bene certen sauadge beastes partely by adinomtions exhortations vnto the brethren partly also by encountring with the heretickes them selues sometimes disputing and questioning with them face to face to the vtter ouerthrow of their trifling fantasies sometimes by theyr wrytten commentaries diligently confuting by way of reprehension theyr fonde opinions Among whome Theophilus together with others which then labored against theÌ„ was counted famous who also wrote a booke leaueling at Marcion the which we knowe together with the rest at this day to be extaÌ„t after the desease of this Theophilus Maximinus being the 7. from the Apostles succeeded him in the Church of Antioche CAP. XXIIII Of Philip byshop of Gortyna Irenaeus and Modestus PHilip whome by the reporte of Dionysius we haue learned to haue bene byshop of the Church of Gortyna wrote a most exquisite tract agaynst Marcion so did Irenaeus and Modestus which of all others chiefly detected his error vnto the worlde so did sundrye other learned men whose bookes are yet to be seene with diuerse of the brethren CAP. XXV Of Melito byshop of Sardis in Asia and his workes ABoute this time Melito byshop of Sardis and Apollinarius byshop of Hierapolis florished who both wrote vnto the Emperour of Rome then raygning seuerall bookes and Apologies in the behalfe of our faith whereof these of Melito his doinges came to our handes 2. bookes of Easter of Politicke conuersation and the Prophets of the church of the sundaye of the nature of man of the molde of man of the obedience of fayth of the senses Moreouer of the body and soule also of our regeneration or nevvbirth of the trueth â–ª of the faith and the natiuitie of Christ likewise a booke of his of prophecie of the soule body â–ª of hospitalitie And a booke
by perusing the expositioÌ„s of their doctrine vve haue fouÌ„d many things sauoring of the true doctrine of our Sauiour and certaine other things borovved and interlaced vvhich vve haue noted vnto you Thus farre Serapion CAP. XII Of the workes of Clemens byshop of Alexandria THe bookes of Clemens entitled Stromatôn are in all eight and extant at this daye bearing this inscription The diuerous compacted bookes of Titus Flauius Clemens of the science of true Philosophie There are also of the same number bookes of his intitled Dispositions or InformatioÌ„s where he namely remembreth his maister Pantaenus expounding his interpretations traditions there is extant an other booke of his for exhortatioÌ„ vnto the gentils and three bookes intitled the schoolemaister other thus vvhat ritch maÌ„ can be saued againe a booke of Easter and disputations of fasting and of sclaunder an exhortation to nevvenes of life for the late conuerts The canon of the church or against the Ievves dedicated vnto Alexander the bishop aboue named In the bookes Stromatôn he explicated not onely the deuine but also the heathenish doctrine and he repeating their profitable sentences maketh manifest the opinions both of Grecians and barbarians the which diuerse men highely doe esteeme and to be shorte he confuteth the false opinions of Graunde heretickes dilatinge manye Historyes and ministringe vnto vs muche matter of sundry kindes of doctrine With theese he mingleth the opinions of philosophers fittlye entitling it for the matter therein contained a booke of diuerous doctrine He alleageth in the sayde booke testimonies out of wryters not allowed and out of the booke called the vvisedome of Solomon Iesus Sirach the Epistle to the Hebrvves Barnabas Clemens Iude. He remembreth the booke of Tatianus against the Gentils and of Cassianus as if he had wrytten a Chronographie Moreouer he remembreth Philo Aristobulus Iosephus Demetrius Eupolemus Iewish wryters and howe that all they pronounced in their writings that Moses and the nation of the Hebrevves and Ievves were farre more auncient then the Gentils The bookes of the aforesayd Clemens containe many other necessary and profitable tractes In the first of his bookes he declareth that he succeded the Apostles and there he promiseth to publish comentaries vpon Genesis In his booke of Easter he confesseth himself to haue bene ouer treated of his friendes that he shoulde deliuer vnto the posteritie in wryting those traditions which he hearde of the elders of olde he maketh mention of Melito and Irenaus and of certain others whose interpretations he alleageth To conclude in his bookes of Dispositions or Informations He reciteth all the bookes of y â— Canonicall Scripture neyther omitted he y â— rehearsall of such as were impugned I speake of the Epistle of Iude the Catholicke epistls the epistle of Barnabas the Reuelation vnder the name of Peter CAP. XIII Clemens byshop of Alexandria of the Canonicall Scripture Alexander byshop of Ierusalem of Clemens and Pantaenus Origen cometh to Rome in the time of Zephyrinus THe Epistle vnto the Hebrevves he affirmeth to be Pauls for vndoubted and therefore written in the Hebrewe tongue for the Hebrews sakes but faithfully translated by Luke and preached vnto the Gentils and therefore we finde there the like phrase and maner of speache vsed in the Actes of the Apostles it is not to be misliked at all that Paul an Apostle is not prefixed to this Epistle For saith he vvryting vnto the Hebrevves because of the ill opinion they conceaued of him very vvisely he concealed his name lest that at the first he shoulde dismay them Againe he sayth For euen as Macarius the elder sayd for so much as the Lorde himself vvas the messenger of the almighty sent vnto the Hebrevvs Paul for modesty his sake being the Apostle of the Gentils vvrote not himselfe the Apostle of the Hebrevves partly for the honor due vnto Christ and partly also for that he frely boldly being the Apostle of the Gentils vvrote vnto the Ievves Afterwardes of the order of the Euangelists according vnto the tradition of the elders he writeth thus The gospels vvhich containe the genealogies are placed and counted the first The Gospell after Marke vvas vvritten vpon this occasion VVhen Peter preached openly at Rome and published the Gospell by rote many of the auditors intreated Marke being the hearer and follover of the Apostle a long vvhile one that vvell remembred his vvords to deliuer them in vvryting such things as he had heard Peter preach before vvhich thing vvhen he had signified to Peter he nether forbad him neither commaunded him to do it â–ª Iohn last of all seing in the other Euangelists the humanitie of Christ set forth at large being entreated of his friends and moued by the holy Ghost vvrote chiefly of his diuinitie Thus farre Clemens byshop of Alexandria Againe the aforesayd Alexander in a certaine epistle vnto Origen writeth howe that Clemens Pantaenus were become familiar friends after this manner This as you knovve very vvell vvas the vvill of God that our frendship should continevve and remaine immoueable begonne euen from our progenitors become yea more feruent stedfast vve takâ—â—â—em for our progenitors vvho going before haue taught vs they vvaye to follovve after vvith vvhome after a vvhile vve shal be coopled I meane blessed Pantaenus my Mayster holy Clemens my maister also vvhich did me much good and if there be any other such by vvhose meanes I haue knovven you throughly for my maister and brother So farre Alexander but Adamantius so was Origen called writeth in a certaine place that he was at Rome when Zephyrinus was bishop there for he was very destrous to see the most auncient churche of the Romains where after he had continewed a litle while he returned to Alexandria executing most diligeÌ„tly y â— accustomed office of Catechizing when as Demetrius also bishop of Alexandria vsed all meanes possible together with him to th ende he might profitt and further the brethren CAP. XIIII Of Heraclas Origens campanion in catechizinge WHen Origen sawe himselfe not sufficient neither able alone to searche out the profound mysteries of holie scripture neither the interpretation and right sense thereof because that suche as frequented vnto his schoole graunted no leasure at all â–ª for from morning to nyght in seuerall companies one ouertakinge an other they flocked to his preachinge he ordained Heraclas of all the other his familiers his fellowe helper and Usher a man experte in holy scripture discrete and wise and a profounde philosopher committing vnto him the instruction of the inferiour sort and lately come to the faith reseruing vnto himselfe the hearinge of suche as were father and better entred CAP. XV. Origen studyed the Hebrewe tongue and conferred the translations of holie scripture ORigen had so greate a desire of searching out the deepe mysteries of holy scripture that he studied the Hebrevve tongue and bought the copies vsed
mouth by thy holy Prophete Dauid haue I bene the first that sinned Or am I the first that fell vvhy hast thou thus foresaken me being desolate and reiected and banished me from amonge thy saynctes and astonyed me to preache thy lavves vvhat man is he borne of a vvoman that sinned not VVhat man is he that euer vvas conuersant here vpon earthe and did no iniquitie This I say because thou haste thus forsaken me Dauid himselfe first vvho shutt vp my mouth sinned toe bad in thy sight yet after his repentance thou receauedst him in mercye Likevvise saincte Peter the piller of trueth after his fall vvyped avvaye that bitter passion vvith salte teares sleyinge sinne and purginge avvaye the venoume of the serpent not continevveinge longe in the puddle of infidelitie But they of fauour vvere thought vvorthie of mercy and this I speake to the ende these thinges may take effect vvo is me that I fell thus moste vvickedly vvo is me that my aduenture in these thinges vvas so vnfortunate but novve I humbly beseche thee o Lorde in as much as I haue felt farre vvorse Call me backe o Lorde for that I treade a moste perilous and ruynous vvaye Graunte me that good guide and teacher the holy Ghost that I be not made a prickinge hedgehogge and become an habitation for deuells but that I maye treade vnder foote the deuell vvhich trode me and ouercomminge his sleyghtes be restored agayne to the former health and saluation Remember not o Lord the iniquitie of thine humble suter vvho sometime haue celebrated vnto thee the function of priesthood remember not o Lord the iniquity of me vvho made aunsvvere vvith vvicked language Novve o all you vvhich behold my vvounde tremble for feare and take heede that ye slumber not neither fall into the like crime but come ioyntly vvhich haue the same measure of faith let vs assemble together rent our hartes and prouoke streames of teares to gushe out of the temples of our heades For vvhen these runne and flovve vpon the face of the earth there vvill follovve remission of sinnes the paynes vvyll be auoyded and the tormentes shall not be felt I mourne am sorie from the hart roote O ye my frendes that euer I fell from aloft I haue fallen and am brused there is no health in me let the Angels lament ouer me bicause of this my daungerous fall let the garlands crovvnes of the saincts lament ouer me for that I am seuered from amoÌ„g their blessed assemblies let blessed Aaron lament ouer me his pâ—â—esthoode let the holy church lament ouer me for that I am ruynously decayed Let all people lamente ouer me for that I haue my deathes vvounde I see the cloudes in the skie shadovving the lyght from me and the sonne hydinge his bryght beames But novve you do all see and perceaue the prophet Dauid hath shutte the dore of my mouth I vvas constrayned of the holie byshops to breake out into some vvordes of exhortation and takinge the booke of Psalmes in my hande I prayed and opened and I lyghted vpon that sentence the vvhiche I am ashamed to repeate yet compelled to pronounce Vntò the vngodly sayde God vvhy doest thou preache my lavves and takest my couenaunt in thy mouth But bevvayle me and lament this my bytter sorovve bevvayle me vvhich am in like case vvith the reprobate levves For that vvhiche vvas sayde vnto them by the Prophet novve soundeth alike in myne eares Vvhat shall I do that am thus besette vvith many mischiefes alasse o death vvhy doest thou linger to vvete that thou mayest spite and beare me malice O Satan vvhat mischiefe hast thou vvrought vnto me hovve hast thou pearced my breast vvith thy poysoned darte thinkest thou that my ruyne vvyll auayle thee any thinge at all thinkest thou to procure vnto thy selfe ease and reste vvhyle that I am greeuously tormented vvho is able to signifie vnto me vvhether my sinnes be vvyped and done avvay vvhether that I haue escaped the paynes vvhich greatly I feared VVho is able to signifie vnto me vvhether agayne I shal be coopled and made companion vvith the saincts O ye the saincts of God for that I am not vvorthie to heare the message of theÌ„ that bring such tidinges but presuming farre vvorse practises haue hearde the terrible threates of the Euangelistes alasse ô the boosome of Abraham the vvhich I am depriued of â–ª alasse that I became partaker vvith the ritche man of his condemnation in the horrible pitte and partner of his thurst in the bitter place full of all sorovve heauinesse alasse ô father Abraham entreate for me that I be not cutt of from thy coasts the vvhich I haue greatly longed after yet not vvorthely because of my great sinne But ô Lorde I fall dovvne before thy mercie seate haue mercie vpon me vvhich mourne thus out of measure vvhich haue greatly offended vvhich haue shed many salt and bitter teares vvhose miserable case euery creature hath lamented VVhy hast thou broken dovvne my hedge strong holdes the vvilde bore out of the vvood hath destroyed me the vvilde beaste of the fielde hath eaten me vp rydde me o Lorde from the roaring Lion the vvhole assemblie of saincts doth make intercession vnto thee for me vvhich am an vnprofitable seruant the vvhole quire of Angels do entreate thee for me vvhiche haue greeuously offended that thou vvilt shevv mercy vnto the vvaÌ„dering sheepe vvhich is subiect to the renting teeth of tâ—…â—uenous VVolfe saue me o Lord out of his mouth suffer me not to become the sacrifice of sinne but let dovvne vpon me thy holyspirite that vvith his firie couÌ„tenance he may put to flight the crooked fiende of the deuell that I may be brought vvhome againe vnto thy vvisdome that the bill of sinne vvritten agaynste me be blotted out that my lamentation may ceasse in the euening receaue loye in the morning let my sackcloth be rented asunder gyrde me vvith ioye gladnes let me be receaued againe into the ioye of my God let me be thought vvorthye of his kingdome through the prayers and intercession of the sainctes through the earnest petitions of the church vvhich sorovveth ouer me humbleth her selfe vnto Iesus Christ to vvhome vvith the father and the holie ghost be all glorie and honor for euer and euer Amen CAP. II. Of the byshops of Rome and of the controuersie then raysed of Baptisme WHen Cornelius had ended full three yeares in the byshops seae of Rome Lucius succee ded whiche enioyed the rowme not fully eyght monethes and after him was Stephan chosen bishop vnto this Stephan Dionysius wrote his firste epistle of baptisme when as at that tyme there was no small controuersie raysed whether they which returned from any heresie whatsoeuer shoulde be rebaptized or after the auncient manner be receaued with prayer and layinge on of handes CAP. III. Stephan bishop of Rome reprehendeth Cyprian bishop of Carthage for
rebaptizing of heretickes THen firste of all Cyprian bishop of Carthage thought the heretickes no other kinde of waye to be admitted and purged from their errour then by Baptisme But Stephan thought good that nothinge shoulde be innouated preiudiciall to the tradition preuaylinge of olde for whiche cause he was greatly offended with Cyprian CAP. IIII. Dionysius writeth vnto Stephan bishop of Rome of the matter in controuersie and of the peace which followed after persecution DIonysius when he had often written vnto him of this matter at length certifieth him that persecution beynge ceassed all the churches enioyed peace embraced vnitie and detested the erroneous nouelties of Nouatus he writeth thus Vnderstand nowe o brother that all the churches throughout the east yea and beyonde are vnited together whiche afore tyme were deuided and at discorde amonge them selues All the gouernours of the churches euery where are at one reioysinge exceedingly at the peace which happened beyonde all expectation Demetrianus of Antioche Theoctistus of Caesarea Mezabanes of Ierusalem Marinus of Tyrus Alexander who is dead Heliodorus of Laodicea which succeeded after the death of Thelymidres Helenus of Tarsus all the churches of Cilicia Firmilianus and all Cappadocia I haue onely recited the most famous Bishops lest my epistle become ouer large and the readinge be ouertedious All Syria and Arabia two wherewith ye are pleased and to whome presently ye write and Mesopotamia Pontus and Bithynia and that I may vtter all in one worde euery one euery where reioyceth glorifyinge God in concorde and brotherlie loue So farre Dionysius Stephan when he had bene byshop of Rome two yeares dyed and after him came Xystus in place And to him wrote Dionysius an other epistle of Baptisme layinge downe the censure of Stephan and the other byshops Of Stephan he sayeth thus He wrote an epistle toutchinge Helenus and Firmilianus and all Cilicia Cappadocia Galatia and the borderinge nations that he woulde not communicate with them for that cause to weete for that they rebaptized heretickes Consider that this is a weyghtie matter For truely as I heare in the greatest synodes of bishopes it is decreed that such as renounce any heresie shoulde firste agayne be instructed then be baptized and purged of the dregges of the olde and impure leauen And hereof I wrote vnto him requestinge him to certifie me agayne and to our welbeloued fellowe ministers Dionysius and Philemon who at the firste gaue their censure with Stephan and nowe they write vnto me to whome at the firste I wrote brieflie but nowe at large So farre presently of this question then in controuersie CAP. V. Of the Sabellian heresie MAkinge relation of the Sabellian heretickes then preuaylinge he writeth thus For as much as manie brethren of both partes haue sente theyr bookes and disputations in writinge vnto me toutchinge the impious doctrine lately sowen at Pentapolis in Ptolemais contayning many blasphemies against the almightie God and the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ and withall muche incredulitie toutchinge his onely begotten sonne and firste begotten of all creatures and the worde incarnate and senselesse ignorance of the holy ghoste Some of them I haue written as God gaue me grace with greater instruction and sent the copies vnto you CAP. VI. Dionysius being warned from aboue read with greate profitt the bookes of heretickes he thinketh that such as returne from their heresies shoulde not be rebaptized DIonysius in his third epistle of Baptisme writeth thus vnto Philemon a Romaine minister I haue read ouer the traditions and commentaries of heretickes not infecting my minde with their impure cogitations but profiting my selfe accordingly that I reprehēded thē with my selfe and detested them vtterly And when I was brotherly and charitably forbidd by a certaine minister whiche feared lest that I wallowed my selfe in the puddle of their malicious writinges whereby my soule myght perishe who as it seemed me tolde the trueth a certaine vision came vnto me from aboue plainlie commaundinge and sayinge Reade all whatsoeuer come into thy handes thou shalt be able to weye to proue and trye all for by this meanes at the firste thou camest vnto the faith I thankfully receaued the vision as agreable vnto the voice of the Apostle speakinge vnto myghtier men Be you tryed stewardes or disposers of the mysteries of God Agayne after he had spoken somewhat of all the heresies before his time he proceedeth on thus I haue receaued this canon and rule of blessed Heraclas our pope Suche as returned from heretickes though they fell from the churche or not fell but thought to participate with them yet betrayde for that they frequented the companie of one that published false doctrine he excommunicated neither admitted no if they had entreated before they had openly pronounced all they had hearde of the aduersaries then at length he gathered them together not requiringe that they shoulde be baptized againe For a good whyle before they had obtained by his meanes the holie ghost Agayne when he had largely entreated hereof he writeth thus ▪ And I am sure of this that not onely the bishopes of Africk haue practised the like but also the bishops our predecessours of olde in the most famous churches and in the Synodes of the brethren at Iconium and Synadis with the aduise of manie haue decreed the same whose sentences to ouerthrovve and raise contention and bravvling among the brethren I cannot awaye with Thou shalt not as it is written alter the bounds of thy neighbours which thy fathers haue limited CAP. VII The same Dionysius of the Nouatian heresie HIs fourth epistle of Baptisme is written vnto Dionysius then a Romaine minister but afterwards there placed bishop whereby we may coniecture howe he was counted wise and famous by the testimonie of Dionysius bishope of Alexandria he wrote vnto him after other things in this manner of Nouatus VVe are not without iuste cause offended with Nouatus vvhiche hath rent a sunder the churche of God and drawen diuerse of the brethren vnto impietie and blasphemies and hath published of God a moste impious and prophane kinde of doctrine charging the moste louing and mercifull God vvith the title and sclaunder of immercifulnesse And moreouer he hath renounced baptisme he hath made shipwracke of his former faith and confession he hath chased avvay the holy ghost vvhat hope soeuer remaines either of the tarying or returning of the holy ghost into them againe CAP. VIII Dionysius reporteth of one that sorowed because he had receaued baptisme of heretickes THe fifte epistle of Dionysius is extant vnto Xystus bishop of Rome where after he had written many thinges againste heretickes he reporteth this one thing which happened in his time writing thus In good sooth brother I stande in neede of aduise and counsaile I craue your opinion for that a certaine thing happened vnto me vvherin I feare lest I be deceaued when the brethren were gathered
reprehension of the world the deuell Antichrist promise of the holy ghost adoption of God fayth euery vvhere required of vs euery vvhere the father and the sonne and if throughout all the character of both vvere noted the frase of the gospell epistle shal be found altogether on but the reuelation farre differeth froÌ„ both resembleth not the same no not in one vvord neither hath it any one syllable correspondeÌ„t to the other vvrytings of Iohn for the epistle I vvill say nothing of the Gospell neuer thought vpon neither made any mention of the reuelation neither the reuelation on the other side of the epistle vvhen as Paul gaue vs an inklinge or somvvhat to vnder stand in his epistles of his reuelations yet not intitling them so that he vvould call them reuelations moreouer by the frase thereof vve may perceaue the difference betvvene the Gospell the epistle and the reuelation â–ª for they are vvrytten so artificially accordinge vnto the greeke frase vvith most exquisit vvords syllogismes and setled expositions that they seeme farre from offending in any barbarous terme soloecisme or ignoraÌ„t error at all for the Euangelist had as it appeareth both the gift of vtterance the gift of knovvledge for as much as the Lord had grauÌ„ted him both the grace of vvisdom science as for the other I vvll not gaynsay but that he savv a reuelation but that also he receaued science and prophecy yet for all that I see his greeke not exactly vttered the dialect and proper frase not obserued I find him vsing barbarous frases in some places soloecismes vvhich presentlye to repeate I thinke it not necessary neither vvrite I these thinges findinge fault vvith oughte lett no man accuse me thereof but onely I doe vvey the diuersitie of both vvorkes CAP. XXV The epistles and workes of Dionysius b. of Alexandria BEsides these there are extante other epistles of Dionysius whereof some he wrote agaynst Sabellius vnto Ammon byshop of Bernice â–ª afterwards on to Telesphorus one to Euphranor an other to Ammon and Euporus of the same argument he wrote foure bookes and dedicated them to Dionysius of the same name with him byshop of Rome againe sundry other epistles and volumes in forme of epistles as his Physicks dedicated vnto his sonne Timotheus An other tracte of temptations the which also he dedicated to Euphranor And wrytinge to Basilides byshop of Pentapolis diocesse he reporteth him selfe in the beginninge to haue published commentaries vpon Ecclesiastes he left behinde him sundry epistles for the posteritie But so farre of Dionysius workes Nowe it remayneth that we deliuer vnto the posteritie the history of this our age CAP. XXVI Of Dionysius byshop of Rome of Paulus Samâ—satenus the Hâ—reticke denyinge the diuinitiâ— of Christ and the Synode heldâ— at Antioch condemninge his heresie WHen Xystus had gouerned the Churche of Rome eleuen yeares Dionysius of the same name with him of Alexandâ—ia succeeded him About that time also when Demetrianus byshop of Antioch had departed this life Paulus Samosatenus came in his place And because he thought of Christ basely abiectly and contrary to the doctrine of the Church to wete that he was by nature a common man as we are Dionysius byshop of Alexandria was sent for to the Synode who by reason of his greate age the imbecilitie of his body differred his comminge and in the meane while wrote his censure of the sayde question in an epistle â–ª the other byshops one from one place an other from an other place hastened to Antioch and mett with the rotten sheepe which corrupted the flocke of Christ CAP. XXVII Of the famous byshops which were present at the Synode helde at Antioch AMonge these as chiefe florished Firmilianus byshop of Caesarea in Cappadocia Gregorius and Athenodorus who were bretherne and byshops of the Churches in Pontus besides these Elenus byshop of Tarsus and Nieomas byshop of Iconium Moreouer Hymenaus byshop of Ierusalem Theotecnus byshop of Câ—sarea in Palaestina and Maximus byshop of Bostra I might haue repeated an infinite mo both ministers and deacons who mett for the same cause at Antioch but these aforenamed were the most famous amonge them â–ª When all came together at seuerall times and sundry sessions they did argue and reason hereof Samosatenus together with his complices endeuored to couer and conceale the variablenes of his opinioÌ„ but the rest practised with all might possible â—o saye bare and â—ett wyde open his blasphemy against Christ In the meane while Dionysius byshop of Alexandria departed this life the twelfe yeare of Galienus his raygne after he had gouerned the Churche of Alexandria seuenteene yeares and him succeeded Maximus CAP. XXVIII Of Claudius the Emperour and the seconde Synode held at Antioch where Malchion confuted Samosatenus WHen Galienus had raygned vnder the regall scepter the space of fifteene yeares Claudius his successor was created Empetour This Claudius hauinge continewed two yeares committed the empire to Aurelianus vnder whome was summoned the last the greatest synode of all celebrated of many bishops where the author of that heresie and strauÌ„g doctrine was taken shorte publiquely condemned of all seuered banished excommunicated the Catholicke and vniuersall Church vnder heauen and among all the rest Malchion a man besides sundry other his gifts very eloquent skilfull in sophistry moderator in morall discipline of the schole at Antioch for his sincere faith in Christ made minister there of the same congregatioÌ„ reproued him in reasoning for a slippery waueringe and obscure marchant â–ª he so vrged with reasons this Samosatenus and the notaries penned them which vnto our tyme were extant that alone of all the rest he was able to â—osse and wringe this dissemblinge and wily hereticke CAP. XXIX The Epistle of certaine byshops contayninge the Actes of the Synode helde at Antioch against paulus Samosatenus and of the heretickes life and trade of liuing WIth vniforme consent of all the byshops then gathered together they wrote an epistle vnto Dionysius byshop of Rome Maximus byshop of Alexandria senâ— it abrode into all prouinces in the which they reuealed vnto the world their great labor industry the peruerse variablenes of Paulus the reprehensions and obiections proposed against him his conuersation trade of liuing whereof for memories sake I thinke it not amisse to alleage some part for the posterity which is thus written Vnto Dionysius Maximus and all our fellowe byshops elders deacons throughout the worlde to the whole vniuersall catholicke church vnder heauen Helenus Hymenaeus Theophilus Theotecnus Maximus Proclus Nicomas Aemilianus Paulus Bolanus Protegenes Hierax Entychius Theodorus Malchion Lucius with all the other byshops who with vs inhabite the borderinge cyties and ouersee the nations togetherwith the elders and deacons and holy Churches of God to the beloued brethren in the Lord sende greeting Vnto this salutation after a fewe
and punishments which commonly chaunce vnto them but thenceforth also pleade more boldly and yeelde an accompt of their faith more freely their tongue neither stuttinge neither stammeringe for feare yea and if it may any kind of waye come to passe they dare reuoke the persecutors and tormentors them selues from their blinde ignorance and constrayne them to acknowledge and embrace the one onely God Immediatly after he of whome I speake as it was moste like to happen vnto so bolde an enterprise was haled of the Presidents trayne as of sauadge beastes furiously raging against him and tormented ouer all his bodie with infinite stripes the which he paciently suffred and for a while was clapt in prison Where for one whole daye and nyght he was piteously tormented with both his feete in the stockes streatched farre a sunder the thirde daye he was brought forth before the Iudge And as soone as they enioyned him to sacrifice he resisted and shewed forth the greate pacience ingraffed in his minde for the suffringe of all terrors and horrible punishments so that the executioners rent his sides with the lashe of the whippe not once and twise but often euen vnto the bone and inwarde bowells lashinge him also on the face and the necke vntill that his face was swollen with the print of the stripes so that they which afore time knewe him well and discerned him by his countenance thenceforth missed of their marke and knewe him not at all When they sawe he woulde not yeelde for all these manifolde and sundrie tormentes the executioners at the commaundemēt of the president wrapped his feete in slaxe oyled all ouer and sette the same a fire whereof howe great and what greuous payne be suffred I am not able to expresse It runne ouer his fleshe it consumed the same and pearced vnto the marowe bredd within the bones so that his whole bodie larded and distilled muche like vnto droppinge and meltinge waxe Yet there was breath left and life remaininge for all these torments the aduersaries and executioners them selues were weryed at his intollerable pacience which farre exceeded the common nature of man after all this the seconde time he is cast into prison Three dayes after he is brought againe before the Iudge and beyng founde freely to confesse the same faith as aforetime although by reason of his woundes he was readie to yeelde vp the ghost yet was he throwen into the surginge waues of the seas If we shoulde make relation of the miracle which immediatly followed peraduenture such as sawe it not with their eyes will giue no creditt at all thereunto and though we perswade our selues that men will hardlie beleue it yet there is no reason to the contrarie but that we committe to memorie and deliuer in writinge the historie as it was indeede insomuch as in maner all which inhabite Caesarea are witnesses to the same There was no not a childe in Caesarea but was present at this straunge spectacle As soone as they had plunged as it pleased them best that holie and blessed martyr of Christ in the deepe goulphes of the mayne sea there rose vpon a sodaine such a storme not after the wonted maner of weather and such a noyse in the ayre not onely ouer the sea but ouer the whole lande whiche shooke both the earth and the whole citie with the violence and force therof and together with this wonderfull and sodaine earthquake the sea caste vp before the gates of the citie the martyrs carcasse as if it had bene of strength not bigge inough to beare so holie a burthen Such were the circumstances toutching blessed Apphianus who suffred martyrdome on good friday that is the second day of the moneth Zanthicus the 4. of the Nones of Aprill CAP. XXIII The Martyrdome of Vlpianus and Aedesius THe same time of the yeare and in maner on the selfe same dayes in the citie of Tyrus there was a yonge man by name Vlpianus who after most bitter stripes and greuous lashes was wrapped together with a dogge and a serpent in a greene oxe hyde and caste into the deapth of the sea And therefore I thought good to place him the next martyr in order of historie vnto Apphianus Not long after Aedesius not onely brother in God but also by birth and blood naturall brother by the fathers side vnto Apphianus suffred like brotherly and in maner the selfe same torments with him after infinite confessions of his faith after long fettering and stocking after sentence pronounced of the president cōdemning him to the myne pitts quarries in Palaestina after his holy trade of life led vnder the philosophicall habite being farre more profounde in prophane literature and better skilled in philosophie then his brother at length hearinge the Iudge giue sentence vpon the Christians in the citie of Alexandria and raging against them beyonde all reason shamefully entreating some times graue and sage and sober men some other times deliueringe chaste matrons and consecrated virgins to brothell houses to the ende they should be beastly abused he enterprised the selfe same thinge which his brother had done before And because he could in no wise away with those horrible offences he went boldly and courageously vnto the Iudge and told him to his face of the filthie and shamefull acts he had done both by worde and deede for which bolde reprehension he suffred sundry bitter torments with great constancie and pacience and last of all he was throwen into the sea enioying the like ende with his brother so farre of Aedesius And these things as I sayd before ensued not long after CAP. XXIIII Of Agapius the Martyr IN the fourth yeare of the persecution which plagued vs sore and the twelft Calendes of December the twentieth day of the moneth Dius beyng the fridaie and in the same citie of Caesarea such an act was committed in the presence of Maximinus the tyrant who then celebrated his birth day with royall spectacles and sumptuous maskes together with the people as may be thought worthy of memory and the printing in marble And because the custome then preuailed that sundry showes how so euer it fell out at other times in presence of the emperours should be exhibited with princely port maiestie to their great delight pleasure and that varietie full of newe and straunge deuises besides the common and vsuall maner should then be ministred so that some times beasts which were fett out of India Aethiopia other places were let loose in cōpasse of the theatre some other times men with lewde and wanton gestures delited the beholders wonderfully and the emperour also him selfe made sport and pastime it behoued that a notable spectacle full of admiration shoulde shine in that gorgeous and princely showe And what thinke you was that A martyr and a witnesse of our christian religion brought to the ringe and readie to wrastle for the sole and syncere seruice of God by name Agapius whome
the misery and lamentable state of such as were thus afflicted but also their owne case and the ignominie redounding therby vnto nature the common parent of all This spectacle of mans fleshe not in one place deuoured but piteously scattered euery where was subiect to euery mans eye rounde about the walls of the towne and exceeded all that thereof may be spoken and euery lamentable and tragicall shewe Some reported they sawe quarters whole carkasses and peeces of bowells within the walls of the citie while this continewed the space of many dayes such a miracle was seene as followeth When the weather was calme aud the ayre cleare and the cloudes vnder heauen which compasseth all banished away the pillers of the citie vpon a sodaine which helde vp the great and common porches swett or rather poured out many droppes of water much like vnto teares the markett place also and the streetes when as there fell not a droppe of rayne I wot not how neither whence soked with moysture and sprinkled dropps of water so that immediatly the rumor was bruted abroad in euery mans mouth that the earth being not able to away with the hainous and horrible offences of those dayes poured out infinite teares after a wonderfull sort and that the stones and senselesse creatures bewayled those detestable mischieues reprouing man most iustly for his stoâ—y heart his cruell minde voyde of all pitie and compassion but peraduenture this story will seeme fabulous and ridiculous vnto the posterity yet not vnto such as then were present and were fully perswaded with the trueth thereof CAP. XXVIII The martyrdome of Ares Promus Elias Petrus Apselamus and Asclepius a Bishop of the opinion of Marcion THe fourteneth daye of the moneth Apellaeâ—s which next ensued that is about the nynetenth of the Calends of Ianuary certaine godly men trauellers out of Aegypt their iourney was into Cilicia minding to finde some reliefe at Caesarea for the confessors whiche there abode were taken of the watch which sate at the gates of the citie searched incommers Of which men some receaued the self same sentence as they had before whom they went about to relieue to were y â— pulling out of their eies the maiming of their lyâ—â—â—es and left legges Three of them yelding forth a maruelous constancie at the confession of their faith ended their liues with diuers kindes of torments at Ascalon where they were apprehended One of them whose name was Ares was throwne into a great flaming fire and burned to ashes â–ª the other two whose names were Promus and Elias had their heads stroken of from their shoulders The eleuenth day of y â— moneth Audinaeus y â— is about the thirde Ides of Ianuary Petrus called also Apselamus a worshipper or religious man borne in the village Anea which bordered vpon Eleutheropolis being very often entreated by the iudge and his asistents to remember him selfe to pity his case and to tender his youthly yeares and florishing age contemned their perswasions and cast his whole care vpon Almighty God preferring that before all other thinges yea and before his proper life and at Caesarea tried by fire his faith in Christ Iesu with a noble and valiant courage much like vnto most pure golde together with him on Asclepius a Bishop as men sayd of the heresie of Marcion with godly zeale as he thought but not with that which is according vnto knowledge departed this life in the selfe same burning fire and thus much of them CAP. XXIX Of 12. Martyrs that suffred together in one day with Pamphilus and of the martyrdome of Adrianus and Eubulus TIme now draweth me away to paynt forth vnto the posteritie that noble and glorious theatre of Martyrs which suffred together with Pamphilus whose name I doe alwayes honour and reuerence They were twelue in number and thought worthy not only of y â— Prophetical or rather the Apostolike gift but also the number of the Apostles whose captayne and principall was Pamphilus â–ª minister of the Churche of Caesarea a man very famous for sundry his vertues throughout the whole race of his life singuler in despising and contemning this present worlde bountifull for liberalitie bestowed vpon the poore wonderfull in neglecting the care fixed vpon transitory thinges excelling in behauiour and Philosophicall trade of liuing moreouer passing all the men of our age for feruent zeale and earnest desire and study of holy Scripture maruelous constant in all his doings and enterprises and also very ready to ayde and helpe such as were of his kinne and familiar acquaintance other his vertues and well doinges because it required a longer treatise we haue lately and that largely published in a seuerall and peculier volume entitled of his life and deuided into three bookes Therefore such as are desirous to learne more exactly and more exquisetly to knowe his vertuous life we referre thither and presently we minde onely to prosecute such thinges as concerne the Martyrs which suffred persecution together with him The seconde after Pamphilus that came forth to wrastle was the reuerent whore headed Valens Deacon of the city Aelia a graue father in euery mans eye and greatly skilled in holy Scripture if then there was any such in the worlde he was so expert therein that if he hearde any percell thereof by any man alleadged forthwith was he able by rote to repeate it as well as if then he read it out of the booke The thirde was Paulus a man wonderfull zealous and feruent in the spirite borne in the citye Iamnia where he grewe to greate fame before martyrdome he endured the scorching and searing of his fleshe with hott yrons and passed through a worthy combatt at the confession of his fayth the martyrdome of these was differred by reason of their continewance in prison two whole dayes In the meane while came the brethren of Aegypt which suffered martyrdome together with them these Aegyptians when they had accompanied the confessors of Cilicia vnto the place appoynted for the digging of mettals returned home againe in their returne they were taken of the watch which kept the gates of Caesarea which were barbarous and rude groomes and examined who they were and whence they came when they could not conceale the trueth they were layde in holde as if they had bene haynous trespassers and had committed some horrible crime In number they were fiue which were brought before the tyrant and after their examination clapt in prison The thirde daye being the sixtenth of the moneth Peritius after the Romaynes about the fouretenth of the Calendes of March these together with Pamphilus and the rest of his companions mentioned a litle before by commaundement were brought before the iudg This iudge first of all trieth with sundry and manifold torments with new and straung deuises the inuincible constancy and valiant minde of the Aegyptians And with all he demaunded of the chiefe principal in this combat what his name was then
our perdicion subiect to many greeuous passions he alone tooke vpon him our troubles he alone tooke vpon him the punishments due for ourimpietye and he saueth vs whome he founde not onely halfe deade but to be abhorted nowe stincking in the graues and sepulchres them selues heretofore presently also with the carefulnesse of his good wil beyond all other mens expectation yea and ours to and deliuereth vnto vs the greate aboundance of his fatherly goodnes being our quickner our day starre our greate Phisicion our Kinge and Lorde the Christ of God When all man kinde was then ouershadowed with the night all cloudy and palpable darknes with the wilines of seducing deuills and the working of spirites hatefull to God he alone appearing vnto vs loosed with the sunne beames of his heauenly light the knobbye fetters of our sinnes but nowe after that for so greate 〈…〉 and â—…lnes spyte being greeued with all goodnes and the deuill himselfe busily going about all â—â—â—ele onely not bâ—â—sting for grieâ—e hath raysed eruell warre agaynst vs with all â—…ly 〈…〉 and fiâ—sâ—â— after the maner of a maâ—d doggâ— whiche gnaâ—â—th with his â—â—â—â—hâ— the stâ—â—es floâ—◠〈◊〉 him and pâ—â—reth out the rage of reuengemâ—â—t vpon the darâ—s whichâ— haue no life he sett vpon the 〈◊〉 oâ—â—s of the oratoryes and the senselesse buylding of the houses with sâ—â—adge woodnes to the ende he might bring in as he sâ—pposed a waste desert of Churches agayns he sent out cruell 〈…〉 and poysored speaches pattly by the threats of wicked tyrants and partly by the decrees of prophant Princes moreouer soâ—â—ing out his death he hath iâ—â—â—â—ted with his â—eâ—â—mous and â—â—â—dly poysâ—n the soules which he caught in his snare and slewe them with the daiâ—â—able sacrifires of dead images and raysed agaynst vs all sortes of bâ—astes coueted with mâ—â—s skinâ—e and all kindâ— of 〈…〉 agayne the Angell of greate counsell the greate gâ—auâ—dâ—â—apâ—ayne of God after sufficient 〈…〉 the whiche the moste valiant souldiers of his kingdome endured throughly with â—…ible pacience and sufferance had eftsones shewed him selfe he destroyed the hurtfull and 〈…〉 thinges and brought all to nought as if they neuer had beâ—e named but vnto him selfe he made all acceptable and peculier aboue all glorye not onely among all men but among the heauenly powers them selues the sunne the moone the starres all heauen and earth together so that nowe which otherwise neuer any where came to passe the most excellent Emperours considering the honour they receaued of him haue detested the sight of dead images and troden vnderfoote the vnlawefull seruice of deuills they haue sett at nought the seducing of olde tyme receaued of the Elders they haue knowen one onely God the common benefactor of all they of them selues consessed Christ the sonne of God supreame Kings of all vpon pillers they haue intitled him a Sauiour for euerlasting memorie they fastened his vertues and victories agaynst the wicked in the middes of the citye whiche had dominion vpon earth vnto the imperiall armes that Jesus Christ our Sauiour alone of all the men from the beginning of the worlde yea of the heade Princes of the whole worlde was honoured not as a common Kinge treated of men but adored as the naturall sonne of the â—â—â—uersall God and God himselfe and not without iust cause What Prince of all them that euer were brought so much power that by the appeliation of his name he shoulde fill the eares and mouthes of all mortall men throughout the whole worlde What Kinge hath ratified so godly and so wise lawes decreed by him that they might sufficiently and durable he read to the hearing of all men from the endes of the earth to the boundes of the whole worlde Who hath wyped away the barbarous and sauadge maners of the Gentiles with his louing and tractable lawes who euer since the beginning of the whole worlde being impugned of all men hath shewed power passing the reache and strength of man so that he seemed dayly to florishe and through out all his whole life to waxe yong who hath ordayned and planted a nation not hearde of from the firste beginninge not secrete in some corner of the earth but throughout the whole compasse vnder heauen Who hath so fenced his souldiers with the bright armour of godlines that they were founde in their fighting agaynst their aduersaries of courage harder then the Adamant stone What King after his desease so gouerneth and warreth and trecteth signes of victories against the enemyes and filleth euery place coast and contrey as will of the Grecians as Barbarians with his princely pallaces and consecrated temples as these ornaments and dedicated â—ewells of this temple are gorgeous whiche being royall and notable in deede are worthy of wondering and admiration and as it were certayne and manifest tokens of our Sauiour for nowe also he spake the vvorde and they vvere done he commaunded and they vvere created for who will with stande the beckning of the worde of God the supreme King and gouernour of all which require speciall rest and conuenient leasure that they may diligently he considered and expounded wherof also proportionally the readines of the workmen is to be weyed in presence of him whom we celebrate with diuine prayses whiche considereth the spirituall temple of vs all and beholdeth the house builded with liuely and growing stones which being soundly and securely layed vpon the fundation of the Apostles and Prophets hath Iesus Christ him selfe to the corner stone whome the wicked head builders of mischiefe haue reiected not onely of that building which now is auncient and hath no longer contine wance but also of that presently consisting of many men but the father hath alloweded him for heade of the corner of our common Church both then and now also Therefore this liuely Churche of the liuing God buylded of our selues I doc call that chiefe vestrye seruing for the worde of God whose inwarde chauncells not seene of many holy in deede and most holy places who by beholding of them euer durst presume to explicate yea who coulde beholde the inner parts of the halowed poâ—… but the onely greate high Priest of all to whome onely it is lawefull to searche the secretes of euery reasonable soule per aduenture it may be possible for some one or other of his equalls to enioye the seconde place next after him to weâ—e for the President and Captayne of this warrefare whome the chiefe and greate highe Priest him selfe hath orâ—â—ayned a shepeherd of this your holy flocke enioying the seconde honour of these holy thinges taking in charge your people by lott and appoyntment of the father as his seruant and interpreter like a newe Aaron or Melchisedech likened vnto the sonne of God remayning and preferued by him for euer by the prayers in common of you all vnto this man therefore onely be it lawefull next after the chiefe and greatest highe Priest to see and to beholde if not the
chiefe thinges at least wise the seconde closset of the inner contemplation of your soules when he hath exactly sifted euery one of you by experience and proliritye of time and when as with his owne industrye and care he hath enstructed all you of the worlde in honestye and the doctrine which is according vnto godlines and hath bene made mighty aboue all others to sett forth with workes agreeable to his calling that doctrine which by aide of the diuine power he hath gotten the chiefe therefore and our greate highe Priest the thinges vvhiche he seeth the father doe the same likevvise sayth he doth the sonne but this man secondarily euen him selfe beholding with the cleare eyes of the mynde the firste as a teacher whatsoeuer thinges he sawe him doe vsing as it were the first framed paternes the portracture of them as much as laye in him to the like resemblance as a workeman he wrought the thinges whiche you see with your eyes differing not a â—ote from that Beseleel whome God him selfe endued with the spirite of wisedome and vnderstanding and other industrye and skylfull knowledge whome he called and ordayned the workeman of the buylding of the temple by formes of the celestiall types after this sorte this man garnishing and bewtifying whole Christ the worde the wisedome and light in his minde it may not be tolde with what courage of minde with what plenteous and vnsaciable power of the minde and with what greate liberalitye of you all and earnestly contending with largenesse of giftes lest by any mâ—aues you shoulde slyde away from his purpose he hath ordayned this moste renowned and moste excellent temple of the highe God as a visible paterne agreable with nature resembling y â— better inuisible temple This quyre worthy to be spoken of though firste of all it were couered through the wiles of the aduersaries with the sincke of all filthines he despised not neyther yealded vnto the cruell spyte of them whiche were authors of that mischiefe for if his pleasure had bene to haue passed vnto some other place a thousande others had bene easily sought in this citye he had founde greate ease of his labour and had bene ridd of so much busines but firste of all he styrred vp him selfe to this worke next all the whole people being settled with readinesse and made of all as it were one will firste he tooke this labour in hande to the ende that he might specially restore her that was destroyed by the enemye whiche afore tyme had endured greate trauells and before our tyme the same persecution whiche we suffered I meane the Churche like a mother depriued of her chyldren he thought good that she altogether with vs shoulde enioy the magnificency of our gracious God for as much as the great shepeherd hath voutchsafed to gather into one folde his children the beastes and wolues driuen away and euery sorte of cruell and sauadge creatures put to flight the iavves of the Lions he hath broken as the holy Scripture doth testifie he hath also most iustly restored agayne the very folde of his flocke that he might still the enemye and auenger and resist the rebellious enterprises of the wicked agaynst God and nowe they are not hated of God no more were they then but after that in shorte space they molested and were also molested them selues they suffered punishment due for their desert and were vtterly destroyed them selues their friendes and families so that the prophecyes written of olde in holy Scripture they haue in very deede confirmed where among other things the holy Scripture truely pronounceth these things of them the vvicked haue dravven their svvord bended their bovv that they may shoote at the poore and needy and sleye the pure of harte their svvorde shall pearce their owne harte and their bovve shall be broken and agayne the remembrance of them is perished vvith a sounde and their name hast thou vviped avvay for euer and euer and vvhen they vvere in misery they cryed but there vvas none to deliuer them vnto the Lorde and he hearde them not they stumbled and fell but vve rose and stand vp and this that was foretold of them Lord in thy citye thou shalt bring their likenesse to nought is nowe in all mens sight founde true but they after the maner of the giauntes goinge about to warre with God purchased vnto them selues suche an ende as berewed them of theyr liues but she that was desolate and bewailed amonge men obtained such an ende of her pacience in God as is nowe to be seene that accordinge vnto the prophecye of Esay it may be tried vnto her Reioyce thou drie desert let the vvildernes be glad and florishe like the â—â—â—y the vvast places shall bring forthe and reioyce You loose handes and dissolute knees ye shall be strengthened Comforte your selues you faynt harted you shall be strenthened feare not Behoulde our God hathe restored iudgement and vvill requite He vvill come and saue you For sayth he the vvaters shall flovve in the deserte and the valleyes in a thyrsty lande and the dry lande shall beturned into marishe and the fountaynes of vvaters into drye lande And these thinges of olde time foretolde by wordes were graffed in holy Scripture but the things nowe brought to passe are not onely deliuered vnto vs by hearesay but by workes themselues This desert destitute of water this widowe and desolate whose gates with axes like timber in the woodes they haue hewed downe For they haue broken her in peeces vvith axes and hammers Whose bookes they haue destroied And burned vvih fiere the Sanctuary of God for they haue throvven to the grounde the tabernacle of his name vvhose grapes they haue gathered as many as passed this vvay throvven dovvne her hedges the vvhich the vvilde bore out of the vvoode hathe rooted vp and the vvilde beaste of the fielde deuoured By the wonderfull workes of Christ presently where it pleased him is become like the lily For then by his commaundement accordinge vnto the prouidence of the father she was chasticed VVhome the Lorde loueth he chasticeth he scurgeth euerye childe vvhome he receiueth and after due measure conuerted she is commaunded to reioyce from aboue now florisheth like the lily breatheth vnto all meÌ„ an holy sweete smelling sauor for sayth he the vvater shall flovve in the desert they to wete which are holy of the sauinge fountaine of newebyrth And now that whiche a while agde was desert is turned to marishe and the wellspringe of the water of lyfe issued out into thyrstie lande And to say the truthe the handes before loose are strengthened these workes also which we presently beholde are greate and famous tokens of the wonderfull power and handy worke of God Moreouer the knees of old withered and weakened hauinge recouered they re strength and wounded paces doe enter the right and highe way of deuine knowledge and hasten vnto the flocke
y â— prophete she hath put on her weddinge robe is compassed about with a crowne of bewty as it were instructed by Esay to daunce for ioy let vs heare of her how she offreth with reuerence thanksgeuing vnto God the king with the voice of praise when she sayeth Let my soule reioyce in the Lorde For he hath putt vpon me the garment of saluation couered me vvith the mantell of righteousnes He hath bedecked me like a brydgrom vvith a crown like a bryd vvith ornameÌ„ts for eueÌ„ as the earth multiplieth her flovvrs and like as the gardene shooteth forth her seedes so hath God caused righteousnes and praises to florishe before all the heathen With such sayings doth she triumphe but heare with what words the brydgrome the celestiall word Iesus Christ himselfe doth answere her the Lorde himselfe saying Feare not because thou vvast confounded neyther be thou ashamed because thou hast bene sett at nought The Lord hath not called thee as a vvoman forsaken and faynt harted neyther as a vvoman hated from her youth vp sayth thy God A litle vvhile haue I forsaken thee in great mercyes will I pitie thee wheÌ„ I vvas a little vvhile angry I turned my face from thee but in great mercies will I pardon thee sayth the Lord thy redemer Awake awake thou that froÌ„ the haÌ„d of the Lord hast dronke the cupp of his wrath Thou hast dronke of and emptied cleane the cupp of destructioÌ„ the cupp of my wrath There was not of all thy sonnes whome thou hast begotten not one lefte to coÌ„fort thee not one vvhich might hould thee vp with the hand behold I haue taken the cupp of destruction out of thy hand euen the cupp of my wrath henceforth see thou drinke of it no more I will putt it into theyr hand vvhich vvrongfully troubled thee vvhich haue humbled thee to the dust Avvake avvake â–ª putt on thy strength put on thy glory Shake from thee the dust arise sitt vp â–ª plucke out thy necke from the collar â–ª lift vp thine eyes and looke about thee see thy sonnes gathered about thee Behold they are gathered together come vnto thee As truely as I liue sayth the Lorde thou shalt put them all vpon thee as an apparell and gird them vnto thee as a bride doth her ievvels â–ª as for thy land that hath layen desolate vvasted destroyed it shal be frequented of thine inhabitors they vvhich haue deuored thee shal be farre of For the sonnes vvhich thou hast lost shall say in thine ears this place is narrovve for me prouide a place vvhere I may dvvell and thou vvilt say in thine harte vvho hath begotten me these I vvas barreÌ„ and a vvidovve but vvho hath nurished these for me I vvas left alone but vvhence come these vnto me These things hath Esay prophecied â–ª these things of old were graffed in holy Scripture coÌ„cerning vs requisit it was that somwhere we should behold y â— trueth thereof shewed in works theÌ„selues Wherfore because the bridgrome the word of God hath thus spoken vnto the spouse his most holy church very well hath this chiefe solemnizer of the mariadge raised restored this desert lying after the maner of a dead carcase destitute and voyd of all hope of man by the commoÌ„ prayers of you all the true hands stretched forth at the commaundement of the vniuersall king by shewing of the power of Iesu Christ beinge raised ordained her such a one as he had learned by the description of holy scripture This miracle then passeth is aboue measure to be wondred at of them specially which only make the shewe of outward things The chiefe typs foreshewes spirituall of these do excede all maruelous miraculous things y â— intellectual theologicall patterns to wete the renewing repayring of the deuine reasonable building in the souls y â— which y â— sonne of God according vnto y â— likenes which he made of him self made it in all things like vnto God to wete an incorruptible nature an incorporeall a rationall seuered froÌ„ all earthly substaÌ„ce a selfe spirituall essence â–ª which at the beginning ordained y â— it should be of that which was not made vnto him selfe to y â— father an holy spouse a most sacred temple which he sheweth affirming manifestly when he sayth I vvill dvvell in them vvalke among theÌ„ I vvilbe their God they shal be me people And in deede the mind of man was perfect purged so prepared froÌ„ the beginning that it might bewtifie the heuenly word and fructifie in it selfe but it became enuious and by the motion of the malicious deuell subiect of his owne accorde to passions sett on malice that it was forsaken of God and destitute of his helpe vnarmed sett forth and left to the snars of them which of old haue spited enuied at his saluation ouerthrowen by the terrours sleyghtes of the â—â—uisible and spirituall enemyes hath fallen with suche a fall as maye not be recouered so that not one vertuous stone cleaued to an other in it but lay all prostrate vpon the earth and dead be reâ—te of the naturall vnderstanding of God And beinge fallen which was made after the likenes of God no wild bore out of the wood as is visible among vs rooted it vp but some pernicious deuell and spirituall wild beaste which haue sett it a fire with theyr passions as with the firye darts of theyr malice burned with fire the true Sanctuary of God throwen to the earth the dwelling place of his name troddeÌ„ it thus miserably lying ouercast with a great heape of earth for euer to dispaire of saluation But the holy word of saluation carefull hereof obeing the bountifullnes of his most gracious father reuenged him of the sinners with punishmente due for their desert First of all then by takinge away the liues of the most impious and pernicious of all the moste greuous and hated tyrauntes of God he purged the whole worlde with the industry of the most godly princes next he brought vnto the open face of the world men well knowen of him dedicated and consecrated vnto him of olde in godly life and protected by him thoughe in secrete the troublesome times then drawing nigh them againe hath he honored sufficieÌ„tly with plenteousnes of his spirit and by the meanes of these hath he wiped and clensed the soules a litle before infected oppressed with all kinde of filthe and heapes of impious decrees with reprehensiue leasons of Discipline as it were with digginge and deluinge instrumentes as spades and the company of your minds garnished and made glorious he hath deliuered vnto this most wise captaine and beloued God who otherwise preuailinge in iudgemente and industry of inuention knowing and discerning the dispositioÌ„ of the soules commited to his charge beginning as I may say from the first day
to build hath not yet vnto this day rested one while framinge in you all glistering gold an other while tried and purified siluer and precious stones to the end he may accomplish a fresh in you by workes themselues the sarred and mysticall prophecy which is thus read Behold I vvyll make thy vvalls of precious stone and thy fundations of Saphires thy bulwarks of Iasper thy gates of Crystall and thy borders of chosen stones Thy children shall be taught of God I will geue all thy children plenteousnes of peace and in righteousnes shalt thou be groūded Therefore building in righteousnes he hath proportionably seuered y ◠powers of the whole people by some comprising the only outward wall he hath fortified the fayth that is void of error But this people being many great in nūber is not fitt to resemble the buylding of a more excellent worke Vnto some he committed the entrances of the house geuing them in charge to watch the dores and to guide suche as enter in who not vnworthely are shewed to be the porches of the temple Some he hathe firmely sett about the inner court with chiefe pillers after the maner of a quadrāgle and to the chiefe bulwarks he hath referred the Scripture of the foure Euangelists Againe some he hath coupled with fortresses one eyther side about the princely pallace which as yet are nouices in the faith they both increase and prosper yet sett farther of from the inward holy cōtemplation of the faithful Of these hath he taken the incorrupt soules purified with the deuine fountaine after the maner of gold others hath he sett vp with pillers farre mightier then those outward out of the inner wrytings of mysticall Scripture and sett them forth liuely to minister light The glorious doctrine of the high supreme king that is of the one and onely God hathe adorned the whole temple with one porche and the same very notable He hath atributed the seconde bewtifull brightnes vnto the power of Christ and to the power of the holy ghost and euery where vnto the power of the Father as for y ◠rest he hath expressed the excellency of euery trueth both plentifull and manifold throughout the whole house euery way forth and one euery side he hath buylded a great a princely and a noble house full of light throughout with liuely seasoned sure and chosen stones of the soules He hathe bewtified the inner and vtter partes with the moste florishing atyre of continency and temperance in so muche as they consist not onely of soule and mind but also of body There are also in this temple thrones and infinite vnder seates and receptacles in all those soules wherein the graces of the holy Ghost haue their abode such as of olde appeared vnto them which had their conuersation with the holy Apostles of whom also clouen tongues were seene as if they had bene fire and rested vpon ech one of them ▪ but whole Christ him selfe hath fastened his seate in him which gouerneth all in others secondarily next after him placed rateably as euery ones capacitie can comprise the diuisiōs of the power of Christ and his holy spirit The vnder seates are both Angels and soules of certayne men euen of such as are committed vnto euery on for institution custodies sake The noble the great and onely altar what other thinge is it than the most holy place y ◠sincerity of the priests soule which is common to all at y ◠right hand of which altar standeth the great high priest of all Iesus himselfe the only begottē sonne of God which directeth vnto the father of heauen and the vniuersall God that sweete smellinge perfume the vnbloody and spirituall sacrifices of prayers receaued of all with swift eyes and stretched out armes first of all he himself with adoration and alone exhibiteth due honor vnto the father and next prayeth that he wil be vnto vs all pacified and gentle firmely and for euer This greate temple which is in the whole worlde vnder the sunne the great workeman of al ▪ euē the word of God hath ordained and againe he hath finished vpon earth this spirituall likenes of them which clime ouer the same circular forme of the heauens that the father might be honored and worshiped through him of euery creature and resonable thinges on this earth againe he hath made the supercelestial hoste and the shewes of these things there to be seene to be short that Ierusalem which they call newe and Sion the celestiall mounte and supernaturall cytye of the liuing God in the which infinite solemne troups of Angels the church of the first begotten which are wryttē in heauen do honor with secret and vnsearchable prayses our maker and the g◅ll prince of all whome no mortall man can worthely sett forth For the eye hathe not seene and the eare hath not heard neyther hathe the harte of man conceaued the things vvhich God prepared for them that loue him Whereof we nowe partly beinge thought worthy both men women and children all together as well smale as great with one spirit and with one soule lett vs not ceasse with thankesgeuinge to celebrate the author of so greate benefits bestowed vpon vs ▪ VVhich hath mercy on all our sinnes and cureth all our maladyes vvhich hathe redemed our life from destruction he crovvneth vs in loue and mercies and filleth our desire vvith goodnes For he hathe not dealt vvith vs acordinge vnto our sinnes neyther revvarded vs accordinge vnto our iniquities For looke hovve farre the east is from the vveast so farre hath he sett our sinnes from vs. And euen as a father tendreth his sonnes so hathe the Lorde tendered suche as feare him Ponderinge therefore in our mindes these thinges alwayes hereafter and settinge before our mynde the author and solemnizer of this presente feaste of this ioyfull and renowmed daye yea daye and night euery houre and as I may so saye vnto the last gaspe embracinge and reuerenringe him with all the mighte of our minde and nowe risinge lette vs humblye beseeche him with the greate voyce of our earnest desires that he kepe and defende vs in his sheepe foulde vnto the ende and that he alwayes gouerne the peace whiche he him selfe hathe graunted neuer to be broken alwayes immoueable in Christ Iesu our Sauiour to whome be glory world without ende Amen CAP. V. The edicts of Constantinus and Licinnius toutching Christian religion and the libertie thereof GO to nowe lett vs proceede on annexe the coppies of the imperiall edicts of Constantinus and Licinnius translated out of the Romayne into the Greeke tongue as followeth VVeyinge vvith our selues that of olde the liberty of religion vvas not to be hindered and that euery one had licence after his minde and vvill vve haue presently commaunded that euery one shall handle the holy affayres at his pleasure and that the christians shall retayne the fayth of they re former opinion
insulte and inueye against a man vvhich receaued dew for his desert His impietie grew to that passe and so preuayled that he lead Theônas bishop of Marmarica and Secundus of Ptolemais together vvith him into perdition for they vvere partakers of the same punishment vvith him After that the grace of God had deliuered vs from that peruerse opinion from that impietie and blasphemie and from such people as presumed to sowe discorde and debate in the middest of such as leade a peaceable and quiet life there remained as yet toutching the coÌ„tumacie of Meletius and such as he had aduaunced vnto ecclesiastical orders to be determined of vs and vvhat the councell decreed toutchinge him thus vnderstande vvelbeloued brethren The councell beyng bent to deale vvith more clemencie tovvardes Meletius then he deserued for by iust iudgement he was worthy of no pardon decreed that he should remaine in his proper city that he should haue no authoritie to make ministers no authoritie to aduauÌ„ce any vnto the ecclesiasticall function neither to appeare or present him selfe in any other region or in any other citie for that purpose but onely to retayne the bare name and title of his office and dignitie they decreed farther toutching such as were entred into holy orders by his laying on of haÌ„ds that they after confirmation vvith more mysticall laying on of handes should be admitted into the fellovvship of the church with this condition that they shoulde enioye their dignitie degree of the ministerie yet that they be inferiour vnto all the pastors throughout euery prouince and churche the vvhich the most honorable man and our college Alexander hath ordayned Moreouer that they haue no authoritie to elect the ministers approued by their censures no not so much as to nominate theÌ„ which are to execute the ecclesiasticall function nor to intermedle with any thing toutching theÌ„ that are within Alexanders iurisdiction without the coÌ„sent of the bishop of the catholicke church But they who through the grace of God the meanes of your praiers were found no maintayners of schisme but coÌ„tained theÌ„ selues within the bounds of the Catholicke Apostolicke churche voyd of all erroneous blemishe let these haue authoritie to consecrate ministers to nominate such as shal be thought vvorthie of the cleargie and in fine freely to do all according vnto the rule canon of the church If in case that one of them which presently enioye the ecclesiasticall dignitie chaunce to finishe his mortall race theÌ„ one of them lately admitted into the church so that he be found worthy the people chose him so that the bishop of Alexandria consent thervnto and confirme his election may succeede in the place of the deseased our will is also that that liberty be grauÌ„ted vnto all others But of Meletius namely it is otherwise decreede to wete that both for his insolent boldnes wherewith heretofore he molested the quiet estate of the church and also for his temeritie and wilfull ignorance openly shewed he shoulde haue neither power neither authoritie geuen him for in that he is a man he may agayne vexe the churche with the like disorder And these decrees properly and seuerally do concerne Aegypt and the most holy churche of Alexandria But if any other thinge besides this be decreed and concluded vpon vvhylest that the most honorable lorde our fellovve minister and brother Alexander is present vvith vs he beynge both president and priuye to our doinges vvyll in presence of you all more exactly recite the vvhole vnto you VVe sende you gladde tydinges of the vniforme consent and agreement toutching the celebration of the most sacred feaste of Easter that by the meanes of your prayers the sturre raysed in that behalfe vvas quietly appeased so that all the brethren vvhich inhabite the East obseruinge heretofore the maner of the Ievves novve vvith vniforme consent do follovve the Romaines and vs and you vvhich of olde tyme haue retayned vvith vs the selfe same order and maner of celebration VVherfore reioyce partly because of these prosperous affaires and partly for the peace and vniforme agreement of all partly also that all heresies are abaÌ„doned plucked vp by the rootes and embrace vvith greater honor more feruent loue our fellow minister Alexander but your bishop whose presence was a great pleasure vnto vs who in those yeares tooke great paynes labored exceedingly to reduce the affaires of your church vnto a quiet peaceable state powre vnto God harty prayers for vs all that the things rightly decreede established may continewe for firme inuiolable through God the father almighty our Lord Iesus Christ together with the holy ghost to whome be glorie for euer euer Amen It is euident by this Synodicall epistle that they accursed not onely Arius and his complices but also the sentences of his peruerse opinion moreouer that they agreed among theÌ„ selues toutching y â— celebration of Easter that they receaued y â— grauÌ„d hereticke Meletius grauÌ„ting him licence to retaine his episcopall dignitie yet depriuing him of all authoritie to execute the functioÌ„ as a bishop vseth for which cause I suppose the Meletians in Aegypt vnto this day to haue bene seuered from the church because that the councell tooke away from Meletius all authoritie We haue moreouer to vnderstaÌ„d that Arius wrote a booke of his opinion the which he intituled Thalia the style phrase of the booke is both wanton and dissolute resembling in all poynts the bawdy ballets and rymes of the wanton poet Sotades the which booke also the councell then dyd condemne Neyther was the councell onely carefull by writinge to certifie of the peace established but the Emperour also signified the same by his letters vnto the church of Alexandria Constantinus the Emperour vnto the Catholicke church of Alexandria VVe wishe you health in the Lord welbeloued brethren A great a singular benefite of the deuine prouidence of God is conferred on vs in that all errour and deceate beinge quite put to slight we acknowledge one the selfe same faith For henceforth there remayneth no refuge for the sleyghts of the deuill intended agaynst vs vvhatsoeuer through fraude he pretended the same is vvholly taken avvay The bright beames of the trueth according vnto the commaundement of Christ ouercame those dissentions schismes those tumults as I may so terme it that deadly poyson of discorde one God therfore all we both in name do adore and in faith do beleue to be And to the end the same through the forewarning of god might be brought to passe I haue called together a great coÌ„pany of bishops vnto the city of Nice with whome I also beiÌ„g one of your nâ—ber most willingly addictiÌ„g my selfe wholly together with you vnto the same busines haue endeuored that the trueth then in coÌ„trouersy might throughly be tried out wherfore all things that seemed to breede occasion of discord or dissention vvere narrovvly sifted
to flyght and abandoned from amongest you but that also our fayth by reason of peace and concorde doth euery vvhere notably florishe God preserue you vvelbeloued brethren An other Epistle vnto Eusebius COnstantinus the puysant the mighty noble Emperour vnto Eusebius sendeth greeting Euen as welbeloued brother I haue learned of a truth and am fully perswaded that all Churches from the fundations are either through negligence gone to decay or through feare of the daūger that was like to ensue haue bene lesse repayred then they should haue bene yea vnto this present daye by reason of the grieuous maladye of spite and great tyrannye exercised vpon the Sainctes of God and the seruants of our Sauiour Iesus Christ so now liberty being restored vnto all men and that dragon and persecutor Licinnius being foyled the direction of ecclesiasticall affayres remoued from the disposition of the vulgar sort by the prouidence of Almighty God the vigilant labor of our ministery I suppose that the power and might of God is made manifest vnto all men that they which fell by reason of feare or incredulitie or other infirmitie whatsoeuer in as much as nowe they acknowledge the true God in deede will repent and returne vnto the true and right way VVherefore what Churches so euer thou doest gouerne or other places where other Bishops Priestes Deacons of thy acquaintance doe ouerse our will is that thou admonish them all that with watchful eye the buildings of the churches be looked vnto to the ende that such as stande may be repayred and also be enlarged or else vvhere necessitie so constrayneth they may be erected all new from the foundation Looke what thinges are necessarily required for buildinge see that either thou thy selfe or some other in thy name demaunde them of the Lieuetenants or rulers of our prouinces for vve haue signified vnto them by our letters that vvith all celeritie and promptnes of minde they shall supplye the vvante of such thinges as thine holines doth prescribe and thus vvelbeloued brother I committ thee to the tuition of Almighty God These thinges the Emperour wrote for the buylding of the Churches vnto the Bishops of euery prouince and what seuerally he wrote vnto Eusebius Bishop of Caesarea in Palaestina for the coppying of holy Scripture it may easily be gathered by these letters of his as followeth Constantinus the puysant the mighty and noble Emperour vnto Eusebius Bishop of Caesarea sendeth greeting In so much that in the citye vvhich is called after our name there inhabiteth a greate multitude of men our Sauiour Iesu and God the father of his prouidence sending encrease thereunto vvhich embraceth the most holy Church to the ende all the Ecclesiasticall affayres may in the same place dayly encrease more more vve haue thought good that more Churches shoulde be erected and buylded there VVherefore accept vvith louing harte vvhat our vvill and pleasure is VVe haue thought good to signifie vnto thy vvisedome that thou shouldest prepare fyftye volumes or coppies of holy Scripture written in parchment which shal be both legible hādsome portable that thou commaunde moreouer that they be written of skilfull scriueners exercised in the arte of penning our will is that the volumes comprise those bookes of holy Scripture whose penning and vse thou thy selfe shalt thinke most necessarily to auaile for the edifying of the Church Our highnes hath sent letters vnto our heade treasurer that he shoulde minister all necessaries for the prouision of these bookes It is thy part then to ouersee with speede that these vvritten coppies be made ready Moreouer by vertue of these our letters as right requireth we geue thee liberty to take vp tvvo common vvaggons for the conueying of them thither for so the vvritten coppies shal the sooner be brought vnto vs and so much the better if one of thy Deacons be put in trust therewith who when as he commeth in place shall find the proofe of our liberality God keepe thee in health welbeloued brother An other epistle vnto Macarius COnstantinus the puysant the mighty and noble Emperour vnto Macarius Bishop of Ierusalem sendeth greeting So bountifully vvas the goodnes of our Sauiour shevved towards vs that no tongue is able for the worthines thereof sufficiently to expresse this present miracle that the pleadge or monument of his most blessed passion which of late laye hidd in the bovvells of the earthe the space of so many yeares shoulde at length be reuealed vnto the seruants of God being set at libertie after conquering of the common and generall enemie it farre exceedeth all humane sense and capacitie of mans vvitt For if all the sages and vvisest sorte of men throughout the vvorlde assembled them selues together and purposed to reason and entreate hereof without doubt they coulde not for the worthines thereof satisfie with any circumstance no not the least point thereof the fayth annexed vnto this miracle is of such force and so farre exceedeth the sense and capacitie of mans nature as celestiall and diuine thinges doe passe humane and worldly affaires VVherefore this is alwayes my principall and onely marke to shoote at that euen as the true fayth reuealeth her selfe dayly by newe and straung miracles so all our mindes with all modestie and vniforme readines shoulde be fixed and more prone to the obseruation of the most holy and blessed Gospell besides this that also the vvhich I thinke euery man knovveth full vvell I vvoulde haue thee fully assured to be my chiefe care that the sayd holy place the which by the commaundement of God we haue purged from the foule weight of the filthy Idols ouerlayed therevvith as it vvere vvith a most grieuous burthen the vvhich place also vve knowe to haue bene recounted holy in maner from the beginning of the vvorlde and aftervvards also to haue yelded more euident proofes of holines by sturring vp againe the faith of the passion of our Sauiour as it vvere from out of darkenes into light be bevvtified vvith goodly and gorgeous buylding It is requisite that thy vvisedome doe cast vvith thy selfe and sett in order this work◠and carefully prouide necessaries for all circumstances to the ende that not onely the sanctuary may excell for bevvtie all the rest vvheresoeuer but that also the other partes thereof may be such as shall farre passe in excellencie of buylding all the principall Churches throughout euery citye I certify thee moreouer that toutching the making vp of the vvalls and the curious vvorkemanship thereof I haue charged our friende Dracillianus who gouerneth diuers other coasts and also the ruler of that prouince our grace hath charged them that what artificers what workemen what other thinges soeuer shall seeme expedient for the buylding they shoulde learne of thy wisedome and forthvvith be sent thither for the prouision thereof Concerning the pillers other parts of the temple to be made of marble looke vvhat thou supposest fittest both for
by the way of Athanasius CAP. XII Howe that Constantine the Emperoure enlarging the city which of olde was called Byzantium tearmed it after his owne name Constantinople THe emperour after the ending of the coūcell liued in great trāquility And as soone as after the wonted guise he had celebrated the twētyth yeare of his raygne without all delay or tariance he turned himselfe wholy to the buylding of churches the which he brought to passe as well in other cyties as in that cytie the which he called after his name but of olde bore the name of Byzantium This he enlarged exceedingly he enuironed with great goodly walls he bewtified with glorious building and made her nothing inferior to the princely cytie of Rome callinge her after his name Constantinople He made moreouer a lawe that she shoulde be called the Second Rome The which lawe is ingrauen in a stony piller reserued in the publique pretory nigh the emperours knightly picture In this cytie he erected from the foūdation two churches calling y ◠one of peace the other of the Apostles He encreased not only as I sayd before christian affairs but altogether rooted out the rites of the Gentiles He caried away the images out of the Idole groues to the end they might sett out the cytie of Constantinople they were to be seene abrode in y ◠open market place He inuironed about in the open aer the threefooted trestle vpon y ◠which the priest of Apollo in Delphos was wont to receaue his oracle with a grate Peraduenture some men will count the recitall of these things altogether impertinent specialy in as much as of late in maner all men haue ether seene them with their eyes or heard of them w t theyr eares At that time y ◠christian religiō spredd it selfe farre nigh For vnder the raygne of the emperour Costantine besides the prosperous affairs of many other things the prouidence of God so prouided that the faith in Christ shoulde take great increase And although Eusebius Phamphilus hath sett forth the praises of this emperour with a large and lofty style yet in my opinion I shal nothing offend if that after my simple maner I say something to his commendation CAP. XIII Howe that Helene the emperours mother leauinge Ierusalem sought out the crosse of Christ and founde it afterwardes built there a Church HElene the emperours mother which of the village Drepane made a cyty the which afterwards the emperour called Helenopolis being warned by a vision in her sleepe tooke her iorney to Ierusalem And when as shee founde that auncient Ierusalem lyinge all wast in a heape of stones as it is in the prophet she searched diligētly for the sepulchre of Christ in the which he was layd and out of the which he rose againe and at length although with much adoe through the helpe of God she found it And why it was so harde a matter to finde I will declare in fewe words euen as they which embraced the faith of Christ highly esteemed of that sepulchre and monument after his passion so of the contrary such as abhorred christian religion heaped in that place much earth and raised great hilloks and buylded there the temple of Venus and hauinge suppressed the remembrance of the place they sette vp her Idole This haue we learned of olde to be true But when as the emperours mother was made priueye hereunto shee threwe downe the Idole she digged vp the place she caused the great heape of earthe to be hurled aside and the filth to be remoued she findes three crosses in the graue one I meane that blessed vpon the whiche Christe suffred other two on the whiche the two theeues ended their liues Together with whiche crosses the table of Pilate was founde whereupon he had wrytten with sundrye tongues and signified vnto the worlde that Christe crucified was the Kinge of the Iewes Yet because there rose some doubte whether of these three shoulde be the crosse of Christ for the which they had made this searche the emperours mother was not a litle pensiue The which sorowefull heuynes of hers Macarius byshop of Ierusalem not longe after asswaged For he made manifest by his fayth that which afore was doubtfull ambiguous He desired of God a signe and obtained his sute The signe was this there was a certaine woman of that coast which by reason of her long and greuous disease lay at the poincte of death As she was yeldinge vp of the ghost the byshop layd euery one of the crosses vpon her beinge fully perswaded that she shoulde recouer her former health if that she toutched the reuerent crosse of our Sauiour which in deed failed him not For whē as both the crosses which belonged not vnto the Lorde were layd to the woman she continewed neuerthelesse at the poinct of death but as soone as the third which in very dede was the crosse of Christ was layd vnto her although she seemed presently to leaue this world yet leaped she vp and was restored to her former health After this sorte was the crosse of Christ founde out The emperours mother buylded ouer the sepulchre a goodly and gorgeous church callinge it Nevve Ierusalem righte ouer against that old and wast Ierusalem The one halfe of the crosse she lockt vp in a siluer chest left there to be seene of suche as were desirous to beholde such monumēts the other halfe she sente to the emperour The which when he had receaued supposinge that city to be in greate safety where in it were kept compassed it with his owne picture which was sett vp in the market place at Constantinople so called of Constantinus ouer a mighty piller of redd marble Although I commit this to wryting which I haue onely learned by hearesay yet in maner all they which inhabite Constantinople affirme it to be most true Moreouer when Constantinus had receaued the nayles wherewith the naked handes of Christ were fastened to the tree for his mother had founde these also in the sepulchre of Christ and sent them vnto him he caused bitts for bridles helmets and headpeeces to be made thereof the which he wore in battaile The emperour furthermore made prouision for all suche necessaries as were required to the buyldinge of the churches and wrote vnto Macarius the bishop that with all diligence he should further the buyldinge The emperours mother as soone as she had finished the church which she called Nevve Ierusalem buylded a second nothinge inferior to the first at Bethleem in the hollowe rocke where Christ was borne accordinge vnto the flesh also a thirde vpō the mount where Christ ascended vnto y ◠father Besides she was so vertuous so meeke that she would fall downe to her prayers in the middest of the vulgare sorte of women that she woulde inuite to her table virgines which were consecrated to holy life accordinge vnto the canon of the church that she woulde bring
euen as your godly and singular zeale hath geuen vs in charge vve doe protest that both vve our selues and all they that be of our syde doe beleeue as follovveth VVe beleeue in one God the father almyghtie and in his sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ begotten of him before all vvorldes God the vvorde by vvhome all thinges were made both in heauen and earth who came dovvne from heauen and vvas made man vvho suffred rose againe ascended into heauen shall come againe to iudge both the quicke the dead And we beleue in the holy ghost the resurrection of the fleshe the life of the vvorlde to come the kingdome of heauen the one Catholicke churche of God scattered farre and vvide ouer the face of the vvhole earth This faith haue vve learned of the most holie Euangelists where the Lorde him selfe sayd vnto his disciples Goe teache all nations baptizing theÌ„ in the name of the father and of the sonne and of the holy ghost euen as the vvhole Catholicke church and the scriptures do teache all vvhich vve faithfully beleeue God is ouâ— Iudge presently to the houre of death and at the daye of doome VVherefore moste holy Emperour we humbly craue of your godly highnes in as much as vve are â—â—eargiâ— men retaine the faith and affection both of the church and also of holy scripture that of your wonted zeale whervvith you prouide for vnitie and the right honour of God all controuersies and quarells and cauillations and subtle quircks vvhatsoeuer layde aside you will coupleâ—â— vvith our mother the church that both vve and the church of God among our selues may liue quietly ioyntly vvith one harte and voyce povvre vnto God the accustomed prayers for the peaceable and prosperous estate of your empire and for all mankinde CAP. XX. How Arius by the commaundement of the Emperour returned to Alexandria whome Athanasius would in no wise admitt against Athanasius Eusebius and his confederats patched diuers crimes and presented them vnto the Emperour so that in the ende a synode was summoned at Tyrus to pacifie these quarells WHen that Arius had perswaded the Emperour in such sorte as we sayde before he returnes to Alexandria but yet he could not with all his wiles treade downe the trueth the which he had so egregiously dissembled Athanasius would not receaue him into the church of Alexandria after his returne for he detested him as a monster of the worlde Arius neuerthelesse whilest that he priuely sowed his pestilent opinion goeth about to sett the whole citie on an vprore At what time Eusebius both him selfe wrote vnto Athanasius and procured also the Emperour to commaunde him by his letters to condescende vnto the admission of Arius and his coÌ„plices Athanasius for all that would not receaue them into the church but wrote backe againe vnto the Emperour that it was not lawfull for such as had made shipwracke of their faith and had bene held for accursed of the church â–ª after their returne and conuersion to receaue their former dignities The Emperour was in a great chafe and conceaued great displeasure against Athanasius for this answere threatninge him by his letters as followeth In as much as thou art made priuie to our will and pleasure see that thou make the dore vvide open to all that desire to enter into the church For if I vnderstand that any one vvhich desired to be made a member of the church hath by any meanes through thee bene hindred or his entraÌ„ce stopped I vvill forthwith send one of mine officers who by authority from me shall both depose thee of thy bishopricke and also place an other in thy rovvme This the Emperour wrote respecting the commoditie of the church the vnitie of the councell lest that through variance it were dissolued Eusebius then who hated Athanasius with deadly enmitie thought no time fitter theÌ„ that to bring his purpose to effect for he had the Emperour incensed against him which was meate and drinke for Eusebius and therefore he raysed all that troublesome sturre to the ende he myght cause Athanasius to be deposed of his bishopricke For he thought verylie that if Athanasius were once remoued Arianisme then should beare away the bell Wherefore there conspired against him at once Eusebius bishop of Nicomedia Theognis bishop of Nice Maris bishop of Chalcedon Vrsacius bishop of Singidon a citie of the vpper Pannonia and Valens bishop of Murson a citie also in Pannonia These men hyred certaine of the Meletian seâ—t caused diuers crimes to be layd vnto Athanasius charge And firste of all by the depositions of Eusion Eudaemon and Callinicus that were Meletian heretickes they charge Athanasius that he had inioyned the Aegyptians to pay for a yearely tribute vnto the church of Alexandria a lynen garment But Alypius and Macarius priests of the church of Alexandria who then as it chaunced were at Nicomedia confuted this sclannderous report that was layde agaynste Athanasius and perswaded the Emperour that all their malicious tales were manifest vntruthes Wherefore the Emperoure wrote vnto his aduersaries and rebuked them sharply but Athanasius he requesteth to repayre vnto him yet agayne Eusebius together with his complices before his comminge patched an other crime farre more haynous then the former that Athanasius went about trayterously to defeate the Emperoures edicts in sending to one Philumenus a kasâ—et or forsar full of gold The Emperour then being at Psamathia a manour without the walls of Nicomedia by sifting out of this matter founde Athanasius to be giltlesse and sent him away with honor writing also to the Church of Alexandria that their bishop was falsely accused before him But I thinke best and with more honesty a great deale to passe ouer with silence the sundry kindes of sclaunders Eusebius together with his adherents inuented afterwards agaynst Athanasius lest that the Churche of God be blemished and sclaundered of them which haue their mindes farre estraynged from the religion fayth in Christ Iesu for the thinges committed to writing â–ª are wont to be knowen of all and therefore it was our part to comprise in few words such things as required a seuerall tracâ— but neuerthelesse I thinke it my duety in fewe wordes to declare out of what fountaine these false accusations ishued and whence such as forged them had their originall Mareôtes is a contrey of Alexandria in it there are many villages and the same well peopled within the same also there are many Churches yea of greate fame all which are vnder the Bishop of Alexandria within the iurisdiction of his seae and bishopricke In this Mareôtes one Ischyras for so they called him practised priuely such a kinde of offence as deserued a hundreth kindes of death for when as he had neuer taken orders he called him selfe a minister and presumed to execute the function of a priest Who when he was taken with the maner fledd away priuely and gott him straight to
sonne in dede and of the holy Ghoste who is the holye Ghoste in deede VVhiche names are not vnaduisedly neyther vvithout good consideration layde dovvne of vs for they plainely sett forth the proper person the order and the glorie of â—â—he of them that are named that there be three persons yet in harmoniacall consente but one God VVherefore vve retayninge this fayth before the maiestye of God the father and his sonne Iesus Christ doe holde for accursed all detestable heresies If that any shall teache contrary to the righte and sounde fayth contained in holy Scripture that there is or that there hathe bene a tyme or a vvorlde and made before the sonne of God let him be accursed If that any shall saye that the sonne of God is a creature as one of the creatures a budde or spring as one of the buddes and not as the sacred Scriptures haue deliuered euery of the aforesayde vnto vs or if that any shall preache or publishe any other besides that vve haue receaued lette him be accursed For vve beleue truely and vnfaynedly all vvhatsoeuer the holy Scriptures the Prophetes and Apostles haue deliuered vnto vs and vve follovve the same zealously Suche were the Creedes of the Byshopes whiche then assembled at Antioch whereunto Gregorius althoughe as yet he was not gone to Alexandria subscribed intitlinge him selfe Byshope of Alexandria The Councell after the finishinge of these thinges and the establishinge of other constitutions was dissolued At the very same time the affayres of the common weale fell out to be very troublesome For the French natioÌ„ so are they tearmed inuaded the Romayne possessions bordering vpon Fraunce then also there were greate earthquakes in the Easte but specially at Antioch where the earth was hoyssed and shaken the space of one whole yeare CAP. VIII Howe that when Gregorius was broughte to Alexandria with armed souldieres Athanasius by flyinge awaye saued his life WHen the aforesayde busines was brought to this passe Syrianus the captaine together with fiue thousande armed soldiers brought Gregorius to Alexandria The Arians that were within the citie came to ayde them But I thinke it requisite to discourse howe Athanasius that was violently by them thrust out of the churche escaped their handes It was then euentide the people spent the whole night in vigils for there was a coÌ„munion the day followinge The captaine drewe nighe he sette his soldiers in battaile araye he besetts the churche Athanasius vnderstandinge of this called his witts together and deuised howe the people might take no harme for his sake He commaunded his Deacon to read the collects vnto the people He bidds him singe a psalme When the psalme was sweetly and harmoniacally songe all the people went forth at one of the church porches While this was adoinge the soldiers made no sturre at all Athanasius through the middest of the singers escaped they re handes safe and sounde He beinge thus ridd out of this perill and daunger he stoode in went in all the haste to Rome Then Gregoriâ— tooke possession of the churche The citizens of Alexandria not brooking their doinges sette Sainct Denys churche afire So farre of that CAP. IX Howe that the citizens of Constantinople after the death of Eusebius chose Paulus againe to be their Byshope the Arians of the contrary chose Macedonius EVsebius as soone as he had brought his purpose to effecte sente a legate vnto Iulius Bishope of Rome requestinge him to be iudge in Athanasius his cause and to take vpon him the pronouncinge of the definitiue sentence But the sentence that Iulius gaue of Athanasius neuer came to Eusebius his hearing for immediatly after the councell brake vp breath wente out of his body and so he died Wherefore the people of CoÌ„stantinople bring Paulus againe to be their Bishop the Arians assemblinge in Sainct Pauls churche chose Macedonius They were authors and chiefe doers in that sturre who a litle before ayded Eusebius that turned vpside downe the whole state of the churche These were they that could doe some thing at that time Theognis bishop of Nice Maris bishop of Chalcedon Theodorus bishop of Heraclaea in Thracia Vrsacius bishop of Singidon in the higher Mysia and Valens bishop of Mursa a citie in the higher Panonia But Vrsacius and Valens repented them afterwardes gaue vp their recantation in writinge vnto Iulius bishop of Rome and thenceforth submitted them selues to the clause of One substance and the communion of the church At that tyme the Arians raysed ciuill warres and dissention in the church of the which one was sturred at Constantinople through the confederats of Macedonius And by reason of these domesticall warres of the christians there were many often skirmishes in that citie at what tyme many were troden vnder foote and crushed to death CAP. X. The death of Hermogenes the captaine and howe that therefore Paulus the seconde tyme was banished Constantinople The Arians translating Gregorius from Alexandria placed Georgius in his rowme THe report and fame of the sedition at Constantinople came to the eares of the Emperour Constantius who then abode at Antioche he commaunded Hermogenes the captaine that was takinge his iourney into the coasts of Thracia to take Constantinople in his waye to thrust Paulus their byshop out of the church He comming into the citie disquieted the people not a little while he went by force about to banishe their byshop Immediately the multitude of the people was vp they prepared them selues to ayde their byshop As Hermogenes proceeded and laboured together with his souldiers to sett him packinge the multitude beynge on an vprore rashely and headyly as it happeneth in such a hurlyburly fell vpon him They fyre the house ouer his heade they pull him out by the eares and putte him to death This was done when both the Emperoures were Consulls to wete the thirde Consulshippe of Constantius and the seconde of Constans At what tyme Constans ouercame the Frenchemen made truse and concluded a league betweene them and the Romaines Constantius the Emperour hearinge of the death of Hermogenes tooke his horse left Antioche and gott him to Constantinople there he thrusteth Paulus out of the churche he mearced the cytie takinge from them so manie measures of grayne as their cytie receaued aboue foure hundred thousande the which was his fathers donation daylie geuen vnto them For vnto that tyme the cytie of Constantinople receaued about eyght hundred thowsande measures of grayne that was caryed thyther from Alexandria The Emperour differred to nominate Macedonius their byshop for he was wonderfully incensed not onely agaynste him in that he was chosen without his aduise and counsell but also in that through the sturre and tumult raysed betweene him and Paulus not onely Hermogenes his captayne but also manie others beside were slayne After he had geuen Macedonius licence to execute his function in that churche onely where he was chosen byshop he returneth to Antioche In
church such as defended the creede contayning the clause of One substance flocked to the church as well as the Arian hereticks As soone as the gouernour together with Macedonius was now come nygh the church a maruelous great feare amazed both the multitude and the souldiers them selues There was so great a multitude gathered together that there was no passage for the gouernour to leade Macedonius the souldiers were faine to thrust the people of this side and that side but the throng was so great and the rowme so narowe that they coulde not geue backe neither recoyle The souldiers supposinge the multitude had set them selues againste them of set purpose stopped their walke that the gouernour might haue no passage theraway drewe their swords let flye amongest them and layd on lustyly The report goeth that there fell about three thousande one hundred and fifty persons whereof some were slayne by the souldiers some other styfled in the throng crushed to death But Macedonius after all these famous acts as if he had committed no offence as if he were innocent and gyltles toutching all this haynous and horrible slaughter is stalled in the bishops seate more by the censure of the gouernour then the canon of the church These were the meanes that Macedonius and the Arians vsed to clim◠by slaughter and murther to be magistrates in the church About that tyme the Emperour buylded a goodly churche nowe called The church of wisdome and ioyned it vnto the churche called by the name of Peace the which beyng of small compasse his father afore him had both in bygnes enlarged and in beautie sett forth and adorned Nowe were they both inuironed with one wall and called after one name CAP. XIII Howe Athanasius being terrified with the Emperours threats fled the second tyme to Rome ABout that tyme there was an other sclaunder raysed by the Arians agaynst Athanasius which forged out such an accusation agaynst him as followeth Constantinus the father of these Emperours had geuen a good whyle before certaine grayne for almes to the reliefe of the poore within the churche of Alexandria This they sayde that Athanasius had soulde and turned it to his owne lucre and gayne The Emperoure taketh their sclaunderous reporte for trueth and threatneth him with death Athanasius then vnderstandinge of the Emperours hygh displeasure against him fled away and hidd him selfe in a secrete and obscure place Iulius bishop of Rome hearing the molestation and iniuries the Arians offred Athanasius and nowe hauing receaued the letters of Eusebius who lately had departed this lyfe vnderstandinge of the place where Athanasius hydd him selfe sent for him willinge him to repayre to Rome At the same tyme he receaued letters from the Councell assembled at Antioch and other letters also sent vnto him from the byshops of Aegypt which playnely affirmed that all such crymes as Athanasius was charged withall were meere false Wherefore Iulius by sendinge of contrary letters answered at large the byshops which assembled at Antioche and firste he sheweth what griefe and heauines he conceaued by their letters secōdly that they had transgressed the canon of the church in not callinge him to the Councell in so much the canon commaundeth that no decree be thrust vpon the church without the censure of the bishop of Rome moreouer that they had couertly corrupted the fayth also that they concluded by mayne force and double dealing such things as of late they had lewdely handled at Tyrus in that they of spyte had procured the relations of one side duely to be registred at Mareôtes and that their forged leasinges of Arsenius were meere sclaūders false reports These other such like thīgs Iulius layd downe in his letters vnto y ◠bishops assēbled at Antioch we would haue layd downe here y ◠epistles vnto Iulio his vnto others were it not that the length of their writings and the tediousnesse of their discourse perswaded vs to the contrary Sabinus the fauourer of Macedonius his fond opinion of whome we spake before though in his booke intituled The collection of Councells he omitted not y ◠epistle of the bishops assembled at Antioche vnto Iulius yet layde he not downe the letters of Iulius vnto them agayne It was his accustomed maner so to doe for what epistles so euer were written by any Councells either altogether disanullinge or at lest wise passing ouer with silence the clause of One substance them he carefully cyted and collected diligently looke such as were of the contrary them of sett purpose he ouerskipped CAP. XIIII Howe that the VVesterne Emperour requested his brother to sende vnto him such as were able to iustifie the depositions of Athanasius and Paulus and howe the legats brought with them a newe forme of faith NOt long after Paulus leauyng Thessalonica fayned he woulde to Corinth and gott him straight into Italie there both he Athanasius ioyntly do open their estate vnto the Emperour The Emperour whose dominions were y ◠contries of the West esteeming of their iniuries as his owne aduersitie wrote vnto his brother requesting him in his letters to send vnto him three men that might render afore him iust causes of the deposition of Paulus Athanasius There were sent vnto him Narcissus the Cilician Theodorus the Thracian Maris the Chalcedonian and Marcus the Syrian After their comming they woulde not reason with Athanasius but concealing the forme of faith decreed at Antioche the bishops frame out an other the which they exhibited vnto the Emperour in these words VVe beleue in one God the father almightie creator and maker of all things of vvhome all fatherhoode is called both in heauen and earth and in his onely begotten sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ begotten of the father before all vvorldes God of God light of light by vvhome all thinges vvere made both in heauen and in earth be they visible or inuisible who is the vvorde the wisdome the power the life the true light who in the later dayes was incarnate for our sakes vvas borne of the holie Virgine vvas crucified dead and buryed vvho rose agayne the thirde day from the dead ascended into the heauens sitteth at the right hand of the father and shall come againe at the ende of the vvorld to iudge the quicke and the dead and to reward euery man according vnto his vvorks whose kingdome shall haue no ende but shall continew foreuer For he shall sitt at the ryght hande of the father not onely vvhile this vvorlde lasteth but also in the lyfe to come And vve beleeue in the holie Ghost that is in the comforter whome he promised he vvould sende the Apostles whome also he sent after his ascention into the heauens for to informe and instruct them in all thinges by vvhome their soules shall be sanctified vvhich faithfully beleue in him VVhosoeuer then dare affirme that the sonne hath his being of nothinge or that he is of any other substance then of the
before of Spaine could in no wise brooke that Paulus and Athanasius should be absent the Easterne bishops forthwith depart and cōming to Philippi a citie in Thracia they assemble a priuate coūcell among thē selues beginne thenceforth openly to accurse the creede cōtaining the claule of One substance to sowe abrode in writing their opinion that the sonne was not of one substance w t the father But the assembly of bishops which cōtinewed at Sardice first cōdemned them which fled from the hearing of their cause next deposed from their dignities the accusers of Athanasius afterwards ratified the creede of the Nicene coūcell abrogated the hereticall opinion which said that the sonne was of a different substance from the father last of all sett forth more plainely the clause of One substance for they wrote letters therof sent them throughout the whole world Both sides were pleased with their owne doings and euery one seemed to him selfe to haue done right well the bishops of the East because the Westerne bishops had receaued such as they had deposed the byshops of the West because the Easterne bishops being deposers of others had departed before y ◠hearing of their cause the one for that they mayntained the Nicene creede the other for that they went about to condemne it Their bishoprickes are restored to Paulus and Athanasius likewise to Marcellus bishop of Ancyra in the lesser Galatia who a litle before as we sayd in our first booke was deposed who also then endeuoured with all might to disproue and confute the sentence pronounced against him saying that the phrase and maner of speach which he vsed in his booke was not vnderstoode and therefore to haue bene suspected by them as if he mayntayned the heresie of Paulus Samosatenus Yet we may not forget that Eusebius Pamphilus wrote three bookes to the confutation of the booke of Marcellus where he citeth the words of Marcellus and refuteth them plainly declaring that Marcellus no otherwise then Sabellius the Aphrick Paulus Samosatenus thought that the Lorde Iesus was but onely man CAP. XVII An Apologie or defence in the behalfe of Eusebius Pamphilus that he was no Arian as diuers malicious persons wrote of him BEcause that diuers haue bruted abroade sclaunderous reports of Eusebius Pamphilus affirming that in his workes he sauoured of the heresie of Arius I thinke it not amisse presently to laye downe in fewe wordes what of trueth we may thinke of him Firste of all he was both present at the Councell of Nice and subscribed vnto the clause of One substance In his thirde booke of the lyfe of Constantine he hath these wordes of that Councelll The Emperoure dealt so farre vvith them for the reducinge of them vnto concorde and vnitie that he lefte them not vntyll he had brought them to be of one mynde and of one opinion toutchinge all that afore tyme vvas called into controuersie so that vvith one voyce they all embraced the fayth decided in the Councell of Nice If Eusebius then mentioninge the Councell summoned at Nice doth saye that all quarells and questions were there ended and that all were of one minde and of one opinion howe is it that some dare presume to charge him with the spotte of Arianisme The Arians them selues also are foulie deceaued if they take him for a fauourer of their opinion But some man peraduenture wyll saye that he seemed to smell of Arianisme in that he vsed often tymes in his bookes this phrase By Christ. Whome I answere that not onely he but also other ecclesiasticall writers yea and the Apostle him selfe who was neuer once suspected to be the author of any lewde opinion vsed this phrase before them which wrote such kinde of speache and sundrie other sortes of sentences for the liuely settinge forth and expressinge of the order and maner of our sauiours humanitie But what Eusebius thought when Arius taught that the lonne was a creature and to be accompted as one of the other creatures nowe vnderstande for in his first booke agaynst Marcellus he writeth thus He alone and none other is both called and is in deede the onely begotten sonne of God VVherefore they are vvorthy of reprehension vvhich are not ashamed to call him a creature and to say that he beganne of nothinge as other creatures did Hovve shall he be the sonne or after vvhat sort may he be called the onely begotten of God vvhen as he hath as they say the same nature vvith other creatures and is become one of the vulgare sort of men to wete hauinge the like beginninge vvith them and beyng made partaker vvith them of the creation vvhich is of nothinge But the holie scriptures Ivvis teache vs no such thinges of him And agayne a litle after he sayeth VVhosoeuer then sayeth that the sonne vvas begotten of nothinge or that the principall creature beganne of nothing he attributeth vnto him vnaduisedly the onely name of the sonne but in very deede and in trueth he denyeth him to be the sonne For he that is begotten of nothinge can in no vvyse be the true sonne of God no more can any other thinge that hath the lyke beginninge But the sonne of God truely begotten of the father him selfe is to be termed the onely begotten and the vvelbeloued of the father and so he shall be God For vvhat other thinge is the budde or branche of God then that vvhich resembleth the begetter The kinge is sayde to buylde or make a cytie but not to begette a cytie and so he is sayde to begette a sonne but not to buylde or make a sonne In respect of the vvorke he vvrought he is not called a Father but a cunninge vvorkeman and in respect of the sonne he begatte he is not called a vvorkeman but a father VVherefore the God of all vniuersalitie is worthely to be called the father of the sonne yet the framer and maker of the worlde Although it be once found written in a certaine place of holie scripture The Lord made me the beginning of his wayes for the accomplishing of his workes yet as I am minded immediatly to interpret it behoueth vs to skanne narowly and to sift out with diligence the sense vnderstanding thereof not after the maner of Marcellus with one word to shake the chiefe principles of christian religion These many other such like reasons hath Eusebius alleaged in his first booke against Marcellus to y ◠cōfutation of his opinion In his third booke he hath expounded how this word Made or created is to be vnderstood as followeth These things being after this sort it remaineth that we cōsider of this sentence The Lord made me the beginning of his wayes for the accomplishing of his works which is no otherwise to be taken then the other thinges we expoūded before For in case he say that he is made he sayth it not as if he became something of nothing or that he
once be remembred y t the church of God should no longer be troubled with y â— interpretatioÌ„ thereof and y â— for two causes first because y â— Scriptures of God made no mention thereof secondarily because that the interpretatioÌ„ thereof exceeded the sense aud capacitie of man for y â— holy Scriptures testisted that no man was able to set forth the generation of the sonne in these wordes His generation who shal be able to declare For it is most true that the father alone knoweth howe he begat the sonne againe y â— sonne alone knoweth howe he was begotten of y â— father They sayd no maÌ„ doubted but that the father was greater in honor dignitie diuinitie and fatherly title and that by the testimony of the sonne himselfe where he sayth The father which sent me is greater then I. They sayd moreouer this was Catholicke neither vnknowen vnto any that there were two persons the father and the sonne the father greater the sonne subiect together with all other things which the father made subiect vnto him the father to be without beginning inuisible immortall impatible the sonne to be begotten of the father God of God light of light and that no man as I sayde before was able to rehearse his generation saue the father alone the sonne our lorde and God to become incarnat to haue taken a body vpon him that is man euen as partly he shewed vnto the Angels and partly all the Scriptures doe informe vs of him but especially the Apostle the preacher of the Gentiles that Christ tooke manhood of the virgine Mary according vnto the which he suffred They sayd it was the principle ground of our whole faith alwayes to holdfast the faith in the trinitie as we read in the Gospell Goe teach all nations baptizinge them in the name of the Father of the Sonne of the holy Ghost The number of the trinitie is absolute perfect The comforter the holy Ghost sent by the sonne came according vnto promise for to sanctifie and lead the Apostles and all the faithfull They goe about to perswade Photinus after his depriuatioÌ„ to condescend and to subscribe vnto these thinges promising to restore him vnto his Bishopricke againe if he would recant and renounce the selfe opinion he had inuented of his owne braine and thenceforth promise to cleaue vnto their doctrine He refused the coÌ„ditions and prouoked them to disputation A certaine day was appointed for conference the Emperoure commaundeth the Bishops theÌ„ present to be at it there came thither also at the request of y â— Emperour not a fewe councellers The assembly being met Basilius who theÌ„ was Bishop of Ancyra tooke Photinus in hand the notaries penned all they spake While they reasoned one with an other the disputation waxed hot and in the end Photinus had the foile was condemned to vanishment From that time forth he liued in exile and wrote in the Greeke and Latine tonge for he was well seene in both a boke against all heresies endeuoringe therein to publishe his owne opinion So farre of Photinus We haue yet to vnderstand that the Bishops assembled at Sirmium misliked theÌ„selues with the forme of faith laid downe in the Latine tonge for after the publishing thereof they espied contradictories therein Wherefore they went about in all the hast to call in all the coppies and when as diuers were concealed the Emperour by his edicte gaue charge that all should be broughte in and such as hid theÌ„ shoulde be punished Yet were there no threats or cruelty that coulde recouer the thinges once blased abroad because they had runne through many hands CAP. XXVI Of Osius Bishop of Corduba WHereas we haue made mention a â—itle before of Osius Bishop of Corduba that he was constrained to shewe himselfe at the councell of Sirmium I thinke it requisite nowe to say somwhat of that matter Although in a while before through the lewd practises of the Arians he had bene in exile yet then at the sute and procuremeÌ„t of the Bishops which assembled at Sirmium it tell out that the Emperoure cited him purposinge with himselfe to perswade him or by foule meanes to constraine him to be of the same opinion with the assembled Bishops and in so doinge their faith shoulde seeme to cary with it greate force and creditte To this ende he was drawen against his will as I sayd before vnto the councel But when as this olde father woulde in no wise subscribe vnto their faith they scurged his sides and set his members vpon the racke So that in the end by compulsion he gaue his assent subscribed vnto the formes of faith which then were published These were the Acâ—es at Sirmium and thus were they ended CAP. XXVII Magnentius the tyrant is ouercome and dieth miserably the Iewes inhabiting Diocaesarea rebell against the Romaines and are soiled Gallus rebelleth and is put to death COnstantius the Emperoure remayned at Sirmium waytinge what ende the battell waged with Magnentius should haue But Magnentius as soone as he tooke the princely citie of Rome he executeth many of the Senators he dispatcheth not a fewe of the common multitude When the captaines of Constantius had gathered a great army of Romaine souldiers they marched towards him he theÌ„ left Rome got him to Fraunce There were many skirmishes one while this side an other while that side had the vpper hand At length Magnentius was ouercome at the castell of Mursa in Fraunce in he got him and kept it a while where such a straunge thing as followeth is reported to haue come to passe Magnentius going about to animate his souldiers nowe altogether discouraged with the foile ouerthrowe they had takeÌ„ got him vp into an highe seate The souldiers after the accustomed honor done vnto the Emperours mindinge to sounde fortunate successe vnto Magnentius by force as it were their lippes wagging before their minds they turne their good wishes vnto ConstaÌ„tius for they all with one mouth proclaimed not MagneÌ„tius but Constantius Augustus Magnentius supposinge this to be a signe of misfortune conueyed himselfe forthwith out of the castell fled into the furthest partes of Fraunce The captaines of Constantius pursued after him earnestly Againe they pitched their caÌ„pe at a place called Miltoseleucus where Magnentius being ouerthrowen ranne away alone and got him to Lions a citie of Fraunce three dayes iorney from the castell of Mursa Magnentius comming to Lions first of all he slewe his mother next his brother whome he had created Caesar last of all he became his owne murtherer This was done the sixt Consulship of Constantius the seconde of Constantius Gallus the fiftenth day of August Not long after Decenius an other brother of Magnentius hanged himselfe And although Magnentius the tyrant had such an ende yet the common wealth was not without great trouble tumults For immediatly there stept vp an other tyrant whose name
Macedonius about y ◠time was remoued Eudoxius supposing the seae of Antioch to be farre inferior vnto y ◠Bishoprick of Constantinople was proclaimed Bishop of Constantinople by Acacius his adherents who made lawes put them in practise contrary to their owne former decrees For after y ◠deposition of Dracontius they made Eudo xius Bishop of Constantinople who nowe the seconde time had translated himselfe from one seae vnto an other in so doing they were founde farre contrary to thēselues After this they ratifie y ◠forme of faith that was read at Ariminum together with y ◠additiōs and glosses as a very absolute thing send it abroade into the whole world commaunding y ◠whosoeuer refused to subscribe vnto the same should by vertue of the Emperours proclamation be condemned to perpetuall banishemēt They signified this their purpose vnto many of the Cast churches which maintained y t same hereticall opinion with them to Patrophilus Bishop of Scythopolis who from the councell of Seleucia got him straight to his owne citie When Eudoxius was setled Bishop of the noble citie of Constantinople y ◠great church calied after the name of wisedome was honored w the solempne feast of dedication in the tenth Consulship of Constantius the third of lulianus Caesar the fifteneth day of the moneth of February Eudoxius beinge stalled in his seate gaue this out for y ◠first sentēce which at this day is riffe in euery mans mouth y ◠sonne is religious the father irreligious wherefore when tumult and sedition rose by occasion of these wordes let this saying sayth he nothing grieue you at all for the father is irreligious in that he worshipeth none the sonne is religious in that he worshipeth the father When he had thus interpreted his mind the contentious multitude quieted themselues and in steede of the hurlyburly the whole churche was sette on laughter His fonde saying vnto this day is counted a famous iest The authors of error and schisine occupiyng their braine about such trifling quircks about such fond and friuolous words haue broken asunder the bonde of vnitie and concorde retained in the church of God The councell held at Constantinople had such an end as I haue shewed before CAP. XXXIIII Of Meletius Bishop of Antioch NOwe it remaineth that according vnto our former promise we say somewhat of Meletius This man after the deposition of Eustathius as I sayd before was first chosen Bishop of Sebastia in Armenia afterwards was he taken thence and translated to the bishoprick of Beroea a citie of Syria After he had bene at the councel of Seleucia and subscribed vnto the forme of faith which the faction of Acacius had framed and exhibited vnto the councell immediatly be re turned to Beroea the Antiochians after the summoning of y ◠councel at Constantinople vnderstāding for certaine y ◠Eudoxius had made light of their church for greater lucre crept vnto the Byshopricke of Constantinople sent to Beroea for Meletius and made him Bishop of Antioch He in a good while after his comming medled not with high matters and my steries of faith but deliuered onely vnto his auditors such things as concerned maners good life and godly conuersation yet in countinewance of time he expounded thē the faith and the clause of one substance The Emperour hearing of this commaunded him to exile and gaue charge that Euzoius who afore time had bene deposed together with Arius shoulde be stalled Bishop of Antioch But suche as bare good will and great affection vnto Meletius laing aside for altogether the Arian opinion and confederacie begannne to meete priuatly and had their particular conuenticles when as they which alwayes had cleaued vnto the fayth of one substance refused theyr communion for two causes partely for that Meletius had bene made pricste by the Arians and partely also for that his followers had bene baptised of them Thus the churche of Antioch leaned vnto that side whiche agreed with it selfe But the Emperoure hearing that the Persians had proclaimed warre against the Romaines gotte him in all the haste to Antioch CAP. XXXV Of the heresie of Macedonius MAcedonius beinge banished the citie of Constantinople and takinge very impatiently the sentence pronounced against him could by no meanes quiet himselfe but got him vnto the contrary side vnto such as had deposed Acacius at Seleucia together with his cōplices he dealt with Sophronius Eleusius by messengers that they should firmely addicte themselues vnto the forme of faith set forth at Antioch afterwardes confirmed at Seleucia he requested them earnestly to call it after that famous renowmed title the fayth of one substance Wherefore there frequented vnto him many of his familiars together with sundry others who after his name are nowe called Macedonians there resorted vnto him diuers others also who at y ◠councel of Seleucia were foes vnto the faction of Acacius who also at the beginninge maintained both publikely and priuately the fayth of one substance but nowe tread the same vnder foote This Macedonius thoughe he affirmed that the sonne of God was like vnto the father as well in substance as in all other thinges yet auoutched he that the holye Ghoste had not these titles of honor but tearmed him theyr seruante or drudge The reporte goeth that Macedonius was not the firste founder of this blasphemous opinion but Marathonius who longe before his time had bene Bishop of Nicomedia and thereupon such as maintayned y t opinion to haue bene called Marathonians Unto these mens company it was that Eustathius who for the cause aboue specified lefte Sebastia linked himselfe When Macedonius denied that the holy Ghost was equall and partaker of the godhead whiche is in the blessed Trinitie Eustathius made answere I of mine owne parte saith he doe not minde to call the holy Ghost God neyther yet dare I presume to tearme him a creature Wherefore suche as embrace the faith of one substance doe call these men Pneumatomâchous by interpretation deadly foes vnto the diuinitie of the holy Ghoste But howe it cometh to passe that Hellespontus is full of these Macedonians I will discourse when fitte occasion is ministred The faction of Acacius endeuored with all might againe to call a councell at Antioch for it repented them that they affirmed the sonne in all thinges to be like vnto the father Wherefore the yeare followinge in the consulshippe of Taurus and Florentius they assemble together at Antioch in Syria at what time Euzoius gouerned that churche and the Emperoure also abode there Many of thē after theyr meeting call into question such things as they had decreed in tymes past they affirme that the Clause of likenesse by the Councell of Ariminum and the Councell helde at Constantinople is quite to be abandoned and not once to be named againe they clocke their opinion no longer but pronounce with open mouthe that the some was
in the later I take the immortall godds to vvitnesse vvhen that I endeuour as duetie requireth to prayse you the horrible offence vvhich you committed stoppeth my mouth and stayeth my penne VVhat dareth the subiect as a madde dogge pull man in peeces vvith his teeth ought not he be ashamed of so haynous an offence Is this to purifie and clense the handes and to holde them vp streatched vvide vnto the gods as if they vvere not polluted vvith the blemishe and infamie of murther But Georgius had no other then vvas devve vnto his desert and peraduenture I my selfe might iustly haue affirmed that by all ryght he shoulde haue suffered farre vvorse But you vvill say that he deserued it for his dealinge tovvards you and therein I am of your opinion But if you say that it behoued you to punishe him that vvill I in no vvyse graunte You haue lavves the vvhich ought greatly to be honored and embraced of all men both publiquely and priuately But notvvithstandinge though it commonly fall out that manie be founde faultie and seuerall trespassors yet ought vve to fauour the publique state of the common vveale to obey the lavves and in no vvyse to violate the auncient and godlie decrees Thinke your selues happie O ye people of Alexandria that this haynous offence vvas committed by you in my tyme for I can not in maner chuse but embrace you vvith brotherly affection partly for the reuerence I ovve vnto God and the affection I beare vnto my graundfather of the same title vvith me vvho sometyme gouerned both Aegypt and your citie For the prince that vvyll not brynge him selfe vnder the gyrdle of his subiect the discrete and vpryght magistrate may not vvinke at so haynous an offence of the people lest that necessitie constrayne to cure so greeuous a maladie vvith farre greater griefe and more desperate medicine But I for the aforesayd causes doe applie vnto these your sores most gentle and tollerable salues to wete exhortation and curteous language vvhervnto I am certainely persvvaded you vvill yeelde if you be the men I take you for descendinge of the auncient stocke of the Graecians retaining in your breasts that noble valiant courage hauing also all the properties of curteous and ciuill life I speake vnto you my louinge citizens of Alexandria impressed in the secret closets of your mindes This was the epistle of the Emperour CAP. IIII. Howe that after the death of Georgius Athanasius returninge vnto Alexandria tooke agayne the gouernement of the bishopricke of Luciser and Eusebius and howe that Lucifer made Paulinus byshop of Antioche NOt longe after the people of Alexandria receaued with louinge and chearefull mindes their byshop Athanasius returninge from exile at what tyme also the Arians were banished the Christian congregations and the Church restored to the gouernment of Athanasius But the Arians meetinge in priuate houses appoynted Lucius to succeede Georgius in the byshopricke At that tyme thus went the affaires of Alexandria In the meane whyle Lucifer and Eusebius by the Emperours edict were called home from banishment Lucifer was byshop of Caralitanum a citie in Sardinia Eusebius as I sayde before was byshop of Vercellae a citie of the Ligurian Italians Both they returninge from the hygher countries of Thebae consulted together by what meanes they myght recouer their byshoprickes without preiudice to the canon and decree of the churche Wherefore after aduisement taken it seemed good that the one of them I meane Lucifer shoulde goe to Antioche in Syria the other that is Eusebius shoulde take his voyage to Alexandria where by the meanes of Athanasius a Councell myght be called together and the canons of the church therein confirmed Lucifer sent thither a Deacon signifyinge by him that he woulde subscribe vnto the decrees of the Councell He him selfe went to Antioche where he founde the state of the churche very troublesome For the multitude was deuided and the congregations at variance not onely by reason of Euzoius hereticall opinion but also as I sayde before because that the sect of Meletius for the singular fauour they bare vnto him seuered them selues from the faithfull Lucifer therefore when he had ordayned Paulinus to be byshop of that seae departed thence CAP. V. Howe that Eusebius ioyninge with Athanasius called a Councell at Alexandria where the blessed Trinitie was pronounced to be of one and aequall substance AFter that Eusebius came to Alexandria he dealte earnestly with Athanasius for the summoninge of a Councell so that the byshops assembled out of diuers cities decreed very necessarie doctrine confirmed the diuinitie of the holie Ghost to be of one substance in the blessed Trinitie affirmed the sonne of God at his incarnation to haue taken not onely humaine fleshe but also a reasonable soule as the auncient fathers of olde haue deliuered vnto vs. They woulde not establishe neither thrust into the church of God any newe opinion But such things as of old were inioyned by ecclesiasticall decree and layd downe vpon good consideration by such as were wise learned and zelous Christians For thus did the elders of old tyme reason of this matter and deliuer in writinge vnto the posteritie Irenaeus Clemens Apollinarius bishop of Hieratopolis and Serapion byshop of Antioch haue w t generall consent layd downe euery where throughout their works that the sonne at his incarnation was endued with reasonable soule Moreouer y â— councell summoned for the hearing of Cyrillus cause who was bishop of Philadelphia in Arabia â–ª signified y â— selfe same by their letters vnto Cyrillus Orige likewise who throughout his works teacheth y â— the soÌ„ne in takiÌ„g fleshe tooke also soule yet in y â— ninth homily vpoÌ„ Genesis he openeth this mystery more plainly where at large he discourseth how y â— Adam â—are y â— figure of Christ Eue y â— figure of the church Hereof PaÌ„philus and Eusebius who of him tooke his appellation are witnesses sufficient for both they imploying their labor ioyntly for to penne in paper the life of Origen and preuenting w t Apollogies in his behalfe the sclauÌ„derous accusations of the aduersaries haue affirmed y t Origen was not the first that entreated of this matter but y t he interpreted vnto the posteritie the mysticall tradition of the church in y â— behalfe Moreouer the bishops which mett in the councell of Alexandria haue discussed the controuersie of the clause of essence and substance For Osius bishop of Corduba in Spaine of whome we haue spoken before being sent by the Emperour Constantine to appease the tumult raysed by Arius in disputinge of essence and substance to the ouerthrowe of Sabellius the Aphricks opinion he ministred occasion to the raysinge of a newe controuersie But at that tyme there was not a worde of this matter in the Councell of Nice for afterwards when diuers contended and reasoned among them selues hereof this councell tooke order toutching the clauses of essence and substance
the threats of Ieâ—â—â—bel For it is written howe that in those dayes the sonnes of the prophets beinge sought for hid them selues and through the helpe of Abdias â—urked in denns VVhat haue they not read these auncient stories vvhat are they ignorant also of such thinges as the Euangelists haue vvritten For the Disciples fearinge the levves stole them selues from amonge them Moreouer Paul beynge at Damascus â–ª and sought out by the gouernour of that countrey vvas lett dovvne ouer the vvall in a basket and so escaped the magistrate Seeinge that holie scripture hath thus remembred the behauiour of holie men â–ª vvhat coulourable shyfte can they finde to cloke their impudent dealinge If they charge them vvith timorous feare the fault recoyles and lighteth vpon their owne distempered brayne If they report it to be contrarie to the will of God then are they founde altogether ignorant of the vvorde of God For it is commaunded in the Lawe that sanctuaries and cities of refuge shoulde be ordayned for such as vvere pursued to death vvhere after they had sledde vnto them they might lyue in safetie Furthermore the vvorde of the father vvhich in olde tyme spake vnto Moses hath commaunded in these last dayes VVhen they shall persecute you in this cytie flye into an other And agayne VVhen you see sayeth Christ the abhomination of desolation mentioned in the Prophete Daniel standinge in the holie place he that readeth lett him vnderstande it then lette them that be in Iudaea flye vnto the mountaynes â–ª he that is on the house toppe lette him not come dovvne to take ought out of his house and lett not him that is in the fielde returne home for his raymente The vvhiche vvhen holie men had learned they framed their trade of lyfe agreeable therevnto For looke vvhatsoeuer the Lorde commaunded at that tyme the same he vttered by the mouthes of his Sainctes yea before his incarnation And this is the vvay to perfection for men to performe that in deede vvhich the Lorde commaunded in vvorde VVherefore the vvorde of God being made man for our sakes sticked not to hide him selfe as vve commonly doe vvhen he vvas sought for and agayne to flie to the ende he might auoyde the conspiracie of the Pharises vvhich persecuted him For euen as by pacient sufference of hunger and thurst and such kinde of miseries he vvoulde shevve him selfe to be true man so also by flyinge avvay from the face of the aduersary Moreouer euen from the very cradle and svvadling cloutes as soone as he had taken fleshe of the virgine being as yet but a childe he gaue charge vnto Ioseph by the Angell saying rise take the childe together vvith his mother and flie into Aegypt for it vvill come to passe that Herode vvill goe about to seeke the life of the childe Likevvise after the desease of Herode vvhen he hearde that Archelaus the sonne of Herode raygned in his steede it pleased him to goe aside into the partes of Nazareth Aftervvardes vvhen he made him selfe manifest to be God and healed the vvithered hande the Pharises vvent out and tooke councell hovve they might dispatche him but Iesus perceauinge their conspiracie conueyed him selfe from amonge them Agayne vvhen he restored Lazarus to life from that daye forth sayth the text they tooke councell hovve they might put him to death Iesus therefore after that tyme shevved not him selfe openly amonge the Ievves but departed vnto a solitary place adioyning vnto the vvildernesse Beside all this vvhen our Sauiour auoutched saying before Abraham vvas I am the Ievves tooke vp stones for to throvve at him but the Lorde hid him selfe and vvent out of the temple and passing through the middest of the thronge escaped avvay VVhen they see these examples but they seeing as it is vvritten doe not see and bethinke them selues of these presidents are they not invvardly pricked in conscience vvhen as they preâ—mue thus vnaduisedly to bolt out sentences and sit in iudgment both vpon the sayings and doings of our Sauiour To this purpose vvas that of Iesus vvho vnderstanding of the beheading of Iohn the Baptist and the burying of his body by his disciples tooke shiping weÌ„t aside into a desert place Thus the Lorde him selfe both did these thinges and taught the same I vvoulde to God these men vvoulde novv at length be ashamed of their doings and cease euen presently from sclaundering of true professors and not proceede on further in their furious disposition charging yea our Sauiour him selfe vvith timorous feare and faint corage blaspheming vvith all might the maiestie of his blessed name â–ª but no man can avvay vvith such kinde of persons that are vvholy geuen ouer vnto all vngracious behauiour it may easily be proued that they are altogether ignorant vvhat the Euangelists haue left vs in vvriting The cause that moued our Sauiour to slie and goe aside being layde dovvne in the Gospell seemed not onely to be agreeable vnto reason but vvas in very deede most true vve therefore haue to coniecture that the same by all likelyhoode happened vnto all the Sainctes of God for vvhatsoeuer thinges are vvritten to haue chaunced vnto our Sauiour after the maner of men vve haue not referre the same vnto all mankinde in so much he tooke our nature vpon him and liuely expressed in him selfe the humane affections of our fraile constitution euen as it is vvritten in the Gospell after Iohn they sought to take him but no man laide handes vpon him because that his houre vvas not as yet come Yea before this came about he sayde vnto his mother Mine houre is not as yet come He spake also vnto them that vvere called his brethren my tyme is not yet come Agayne vvhen the houre vvas come he sayd vnto his disciples sleepe on novv and take your rest beholde the houre is at hande the sonne of man shal be betrayed into the handes of sinners Therefore neyther suffred he him selfe to be taken before his tyme vvas come neyther hid he him selfe vvhen the houre vvas at hande but yelded him selfe vnto the enemie In like sorte the blessed Martyrs in the great heate and troublsome stormes of persecution vvhiche often came to passe being pursued by men fledde avvay and hid them selues in secret and solitary places but being taken they valiantly encountred vvith the aduersaries ended the combatt vvith martyrdome These were the reasons of Athanasius layd downe in his Apollogie the which he wrote in the defence of his departure from his bishopricke in the time of persecution CAP. VII Eusebius after the councell held at Alexandria was broken vp returned to Antioch where he founde the people at variance by reason that Paulinus was there chosen Bishop and when that he coulde not preuaile among them with exhort ations to peace and vnitie he gott him home to his owne bishoprick of Vercellae EVsebius Bishop of Vercellae immediatly after the dissoluing of the
courage Moreouer the Emperour called home againe the bishops whome ConstaÌ„tius had exiled whome Iulian also had not restored to their seaes TheÌ„ also the Idoll groues temples of the Ethnicks were shut vp the Pagans them selues wandered hid them here there such as wore y â— philosophicall habite layd it aside wore y â— coÌ„mon vsuall attire Those bloody detestable sacrifices wherwith they openly defiled theÌ„ selues tooke their fill during y â— raigne of Iulian were nowe wholly taken away CAP. XXI How the Macedonians and Acacians assembling at Antioche confirmed with their subscriptions the Nicene Creede THe Christian affaires were not as yet pacified neither enioyed they a quiet ende For such as were ringleaders of contrary factions gott them vnto the Emperour hopinge that he would geue them free libertie to feede foster among them selues the fiery humour of contention licence to deale sediciously w t their aduersaries And first of all y â— Macedonians exhibite vnto him a supplication where they request that such as auoutch the vnlikenes dissimilitude betwene the sonne the father should be banished y â— church theÌ„ selues substituted in their rowmes The authors of this supplication were Basilus bishop of Ancyra Siluanus bishop of Tarsus Sophronius bishop of Pompeiopolis Pasinicus bishop of Zenum Leontius bishop of Comanum Callicrates bishop of Claudiopolis Theophilus bishop of Castabala The Emperour receauiÌ„g their supplication gaue them no answere at all but sent theÌ„ away w t these words I tell you truely I caÌ„ not away w t contention but such as embrace vnitie concord I doe both honor reuerence them These words of y â— Emperour coÌ„ming to yâ—eares of other contentious persons delayd the heate of sedition y â— was kindled amoÌ„g them which fell out right as the Emperour had wished Againe at y â— time also the behauiour of y e Acacians a busie kind of bodies a sect wonderfull seditious was perceaued a kind of people they are alwaies applying them selues according vnto the vaynes of the Emperours These men assemble them selues at Antioch in Syria together with Meletius who a litle before had seuered him selfe from their communion they creepe to familiaritie conference with him The cause that moued them therevnto was for that they sawe him in great estimation with the Emperour who then made his abode at Antioche They frame a supplication amonge them selues with vniforme coÌ„sent of them all They acknowledge the faith of One substance they ratifie the Nicene creede They exhibite vnto y â— Emperour their supplication coÌ„tayning y â— forme as followeth Vnto our most holy and gratious lorde Iouianus victorious puisant Augustus the councell of bishops assembled at Antioch out of sundry prouinces send greeting in the Lorde VVe haue experience tryall sufficient most holy Emperour howe that your graces highnes with great industrie endeuoureth to establishe peace vnitie in the church of God neither are we ignorant howe that your prudent aduice thinketh no lesse then that the forme of the catholicke faith will preuayle very much to the furtherance and confirmation of the aforesayde vnitie and concorde Therefore lest we should be numbred among the corrupters of the true and syncere character of Christian doctrine we thought good to let your maiestie vnderstand that we both allowe and retaine vnuiolably the Creede confirmed of old in the holy sacred councell of Nice sithence that the clause of One substance according vnto some mens thinkinge vnaduisedly layde downe is very well interlaced of the fathers interpreted and expounded both with commodious phrases and fitt epithetons the which exposition sheweth forth the sonne to be begotten of the fathers substance to be like vnto the father according vnto his substance that no passion ought to be conceaued in his inexplicable generation that the word Substance was not vsed of the holie fathers in that sense which the Graecians take it but to the ouerthrowe of the poysoned doctrine which the blasphemous mouth of Arius endeuoured to establishe saying that Christ had his originall of nothinge that also these Anomoians affirming by interpretation the sonne to be vnlike the father who lately stept vp auoutched more impudent and levvde doctrine to the ouerthrovve of the ecclesiasticall peace and vnitie VVherfore vve haue thought good to annexe vnto this our supplication vvherein our censure and opinion is layde downe the forme of faith which we honor and reuerence decreed by the bishops assembled at Nice It beginnes as followeth VVe beleeue in one God the father almightie c. contayning throughout very sounde and substantiall doctrine I Meletius bishop of Antioch doe subscribe and allowe of all the parts and parcells of the aforesayde supplication and creede aboue written Euen so doe I Eusebius bishop of Samosata Euagrius bishop of Sicilia Vranius bishop of Apamea Zoilus bishop of Larissae Acacius bishop of Caesarea Antipater bishop of Rosse Abramius bishop of Vria Aristonicus bishop of Seleucobelus Barlamenus bishop of Pergamus Vranius bishop of Melitine Magnus bishop of Chalcedon Eutychius bishop of Eleutheropolis Isacocis bishop of Armenia the greater Titus bishop of Bostra Peter bishop of Sipus Pelagius bishop of Laodicea Arabianus bishop of Antros Piso bishop of Adana by his substitute Lamydrio the elder Sabinianus byshop of Zeugma Athanasius byshop of Ancyra by his substitutes Orphitus and Atetius the elders Irenio byshop of Gaza Piso bishop of Augusta Patricius byshop of Paltum by his substitute Lamyrio the elder Anatolius byshop of Beroea Theotimus byshop of Arabia and Lucianus byshop of Arce This supplication haue we founde in the booke of Sabinus intituled The collection of the Councells The Emperour who determined with him selfe to pacifie with gentle and curteous languages all quarelles and contention made answere that he woulde not molest any what faith or religion soeuer they professed but aboue all others that he woulde honour and reuerence such as shewed them selues peacemakers and went about to mayntayne the bonde of vnitie and concorde Themistius the philosopher doth report these thinges in this sort of him For in the oration intituled Consul the which he wrote of him he extolleth him vnto the skies because that in grauntinge euery man free choyce and libertie to professe this or that kinde of religion he stopped the mouthes of all flattering parasites and sycophants which kinde of men sayeth he nyppinge wyse as it is knowen vnto the whole world worship not the kinge of heauen but the earthly crowne and scepter much like vnto Euripus caryed headlong some times this way some times that way CAP. XXII The death of Iouianus the Emperour THe Emperour when he had appeased the sedition of contentious persons in such sorte as we haue sayde before remoued with speede from Antioche and gotte him to Tarsus in Cilicia where after the wonted solemnitie of honorable funeralls he buryed the corps of Iulian his predecessor immediatly after he is proclaimed CoÌ„sul
incarnation or that he hath his being of nothinge or that he consisteth of any other essence or substance then of the fathers or that the sonne of God is conuertible and mutable them I saye ▪ the holy and Catholick Churche vnder heauen doth holde for accursed I Eustathius bishop of Sebastia Theophilus Siluanus legats of the councells of Lampsacum Smyrna with others haue voluntarily with our owne proper hands subscribed vnto all the premisses to euery parcell within comprised If any man after this our protestation commense any sute or accuse either vs or them whiche sent vs let him come with your holinesse letters vnto some of the catholick Bishops whome you thinke best there pleade with vs in their presence so let the punishment light vpon his heade that is faulty Liberius hauing bounde the legats with the subscription of their owne hands receaued them into the communion gaue them these letters following and sent them away The epistle of Liberius Bishop of Rome vnto the Bishops of the Macedonian sect inhabiting the East contries Vnto our welbeloued brethren and fellow bishops Hythius Cyrillus Hyperechius Vranius Heron Elpidius Maximus Eusebius Eucarpius Heortasius c. vnto all the Catholick bishops of the East churches Liberius Bishop of Italy together with other Bishops of the VVest sende greeting alwaies in the Lord. Your letters welbeloued brethren mē that are bedecked with the bright beames of fayth we haue receaued by the reuerend brethren bishops Eustathius Siluanus Theophilus containing quietnes concord of the catholick church which confirmed in vs fully out desired ioy gladnes And first of all because that therby we perceaued your faith opinion to be in all pointes agreeable both with mine which am the meanest of you all with the other bishops of Italy the rest of the west contreyes nay not only this but also your legats haue confirmed it with the testimony of their owne handes This Catholick Apostolicke faith we doe acknowledge which from the councell of Nice hitherto hath firmely vnuiolably continewed This was the faith that your legats protested in this faith with notable corage they haue accursed all the croked steppes of cankred opinions quenched all the fiery sparcles that slashed thereof This faith not onely by preaching vnto the people but also by penning of it in paper they haue published vnto the worlde The coppy whereof we thought good to annexe vnto these letters lest the hereticks finde meanes hereby to cauill euen as some heretofore haue gotten lighter occasion then this to leueale at the church of God the darts of their dispiteful minde the flaming firebrands of contention for our most reuerende brethren Eustathius Siluanus Theophilus confesse the same and withall them selues together with your fatherhoode to haue bene euer of this fayth nowe with free purpose to continewe firme in the same vnto the last houre that in the faith which was approued of three hundreth eyghteene Catholick Bishops assembled in the city of Nice which containeth the absolute and perfect trueth which stoppeth the mouths of hereticks and vtterly ouerthroweth their counterfeit doctrine Neither came it to passe by happ hazarde that so great a heape multitude of bishops met together for it was the will prouidence of Almighty God that assembled them to the suppression of the fury rage of the heretick Arius It was with the same nūber that blessed Abraham ouercame through faith so many millions of mē The which fayth being comprised in the force vertue of one substance is so firme inuincible a bulwark that it foyleth all the sleights crafty inuention of the Arian heresie And although the cursed abominable Arians caused all bishops from euery where to assemble at Ariminum to the ende that eyther through persvvasion or rather to tell the trueth by the commaundement of the Emperour that vvhich vvas the principall point of the creede might by them be blotted out or at least vvise levvdly peruerted yet for all their spitefull deuises they preuailed not For all the Bishops in maner vvhich mett at Ariminum and vvere either allured by their fradulent enticements or compelled by force and so fell at that time from the faith novv hauing remembred them selues better accursed the faith sett forth by the Bishops at Ariminum ratified by subscription the Catholick Apostolick faith confirmed by the bishops of the Nicene councell and now they communicate together vvith vs once I say againe all they presently are earnest zealously bent against the hereticall opinion of Arius and his followers The vvhich thing vvhen your legats had throughly examined deepely vveyed vvith them selues they freely subscribed in your names accursed Arius together vvith the canons concluded vpon at Ariminum contrary vnto the Nicene faith vnto the vvhich sometimes you your selues being trained through fraude vviles haue by othe subscribed VVherfore it seemed good vnto vs to write vnto your louing brotherhoode to asist you in such reasonable requests especially seing we are geuē to vnderstād by the protestatiō of your legats that the bishops of the cast are novv come into the right vvay embrace one faith together with the Catholick Bishops of the vvest Neither vvould vve haue you ignorant that they vvho sometime vvere craftely violently dravven from the trueth to establish the blasphemous decrees against the maiestie of the sonne of God at the councell of Ariminum novve haue vvholly vnfainedly condemned the same with vniforme consent of them all to haue embraced the Nicene creede Moreouer you haue to certifie all men by your letters that they vvhich heretofore vnvvittingly svvarued from the faith now wander in the wast desert darke miste of heresie may at length returne vnto the bright celestiall beames of christian liberty shining in the vvorlde to the comfort of their soules All vvhich let them knovve for suertie that if they vvill not after this damnable councell purge them selues vomit out the deadly poison of this detestable doctrine if they will not remoue from among them all the blasphemies of Arius if they wil not abhorre him from the hart roote accurse him for euer that they them selues are cutt of excōmunicated from the communion of the faithfull as aliens forayners for the Churche norisheth no bastards together with Arius his disciples all such vipers broode as the Sabellians Patropassians all other hereticall opinions whatsoeuer God haue you in his tuition welbeloued brethren The legats of Eustathius cōpany hauing gotten these letters tooke their iourney into Sicilia where after that a synode of Sicilian bishops was called together they protested in like sort before them y ◠they embraced y ◠faith of one substance there also they ratifie the forme of faith established by the councell of Nice When they had also procured these bishops letters toutching the same matter together
he did so made this answere that he tooke not feeding for a seueral vvork but as an od or superfluous thing Unto an other that asked of him the like he gaue this answere My behauiour is as you see lest the mind by pamperinge of the carkasse be pufte vp vvith fleshelye pleasure Isidorus affirmed that for the space of fortie yeares his minde had not consented to sinne that he had neuer yelded to fleshly lust or furiouse anger Pambo a simple and an vnlearned man came vnto his friende for to learne a Psalme and hearinge the firste verse of the thirtieth and eyght Psalme which is thus reade I sayde I vvill take heede vnto my vvayes that I offende not in my tongue woulde not heare the seconde but wente awaye sayinge This one verse is inoughe for me if I learne it as I oughte to doe And when as his teacher blamed him for absentinge himselfe wholle six monethes he answered for himselfe that as yet he had not well learned the firste verse Many yeares after that when as one of his acquayntance demaunded of him whether he had learned the verse sayde againe that in nyneteene yeares he had scarse learned in life to fulfill that one lyne The same man when as one deliuered him moneye to the reliefe of the poore and sayd tell the summe made answere vve neede no counters but a sound mynde and a setled conscience The reporte goeth that at the requeste of Athanasius the Bishop he came from the deserte into Alexandria and seing there a certaine light woman sumpteously attyred and gorgeously arayed to feede the eyes of fonde people to haue burst out into teares And beinge demaunded what the cause was and wherefore he wept to haue answered that two things moued him to lamente very sore One was that he sawe the gaye and painted woman to runne headlonge into destruction the other was that he was not so carefull and earnest in pleasinge of God as she busied to bayte entrappe men already burthened with sinne and iniquitie An other sayd the monke that liued idlely and labored not for his liuing vvas no othervvise to be taken them for a thiefe a roge or a vagabounde Petirus a man of greate skill in metaphysicall and diuine contemplation gaue out one precept or other continewally vnto such as cōferred with him his maner was to conclude euery sentence with a prayer Amonge the aforesayde religious men of that time there were two of equall fame and renowne of like piety and vertue of one name appellation either was called Macarius the one of the vpper parte of Aegypt the other of Alexandria it selfe bothe florished and excelled in many things as monasticall discipline institution of godly life right conuersatiō and straunge miracles The Aegyptian Macarius cured so many men cast out so many Deuells out of such as were possessed of them that all the wonderfull actes he wroughte desire a peculier volume He mingled austere seueritie with temperate reuerence and grauitie towardes them which reasoned or dealt with him The Alexandrian Macarius although in all other thinges he fully resembled him yet in this one point was he farre from his disposition for he behaued him selfe cheerefull and pleasaunt towardes all them that talked with him so that with his curteous ciuilitie and comely mirth he allured many yonge men vnto the monasticall trade of liuinge Euagrius was a disciple of theyrs who at the first was a Philosopher in word but afterwardes in dede and trueth it selfe This mā was first made deacon at Cōstantinople by Gregorie Naziāzen thence together with him he went into Aegipt and there had conference with the aforesayd religious men he became an earnest follower of theyr trade of life and wrought as many miracles as bothe the Macariuses before him He wrote learned bookes one intitled the monke or of that trade of life which consisteth of practise an other called Gnosticus of science or knowledge deuided into fiftie chapiters a third Antirreticus that is a confutation collected out of holye Scripture against the temptation of Deuells deuided into eyght partes resemblinge very fitly the number of the eight deuises or imaginations of mās mind moreouer he wrote six hundreth problemes to the vnderstanding of things to come Unto these are added two bookes inverse one vnto the mōks inhabiting the monasteries publicke assemblies the other vnto him that leadeth a virgine life what singuler books these are I referr it vnto y ◠iudgemēt of the reader Yet opportunitie serueth in my opinion presently to alleage here some part out of his booke called the monke and to linke it with this our history for thus he wryteth The institution trade of life layd downe by the monkes of old is necessarily to be knovven of vs furthermore we haue to direct our wayes thereafter For they vttered many sage sentences and did many notable and worthie acts Of which number one sayde that a drie and spare kinde of diette at all tymes precisely kept mingling brotherly charitie and loue vvithall woulde quickly purge mans minde of all perturbation and fonde humor of humane and earthly affection The same man deliuered a certaine brother that was wonderfully tormented in the night season with spirites for he charged him alvvayes vvith deuotiō to minister vnto the poore fasting Being demaūded vvhy there is no way sayth he to quenche the fierie heate of perturbation as soone as by almes and charitie One of them vvhich at that time were called vvise came vnto Antonie the iust reasoned with him saying O father how can you prolong your dayes being bereaued of that solace comfort which is by reading of bookes perusing of holy writers My booke ô philosopher sayd Antonie is the cōtemplation of all the creatures vnder heauen in the vvhich as often as I am disposed I may reade the wonderfull workes and writinges of God The olde Aegyptian Macarius the chosen vessell demaunded of mee the reason why vvhen we remember the iniuries that men do vnto vs vve doe vveaken the seate of memorie ingraffed in the minde vvhen as vve call to remembrance such spite as the deuell ovveth vs the memorie taketh no hurt and vvhen I muzed vvhat to ansvvere and requested him to resolue me the doubt he sayd that the former perturbation was contrarie to nature the later agreeable vvith the heate and anger of nature Furthermore vvhen I came vnto the holie father Macarius about noone tyme in the heate of the daye beynge sore athurst and requested of him a draught of vvater be content sayeth he vvith the shade for manie that trauayle on earth and manie that trafficke by sea haue not that VVhen that I reasoned vvith him of continencie God sende thee vvell to doe ô sonne sayeth he these tvventie yeares haue not I taken my fyll eyther of breade o◠vvater or sleepe For I eate breade by vveyght and dronke vvater by measure and
minde of the Apostle where he sayth Although we haue knowen Christ after the fleshe yet novve doe vve knovve him so no more Wherefore for this cause let vs ceasse to reason any longer of Christ but let vs endeuer to attayne vnto his perfection When as schisme and contention was hereof risen as I sayd before in the Church Nestorius going about to confirme the opinion of Anastasius for he woulde in no wise haue him whome he made so much of to be rebuked as one that had vttered blasphemies against Christ discoursed very oft of that matter as he preached in the Churche layde downe very contentiously certayne positions and condemned vtterly the clause that signified the bearing of god And because that diuers men to a diuers ende purpose disputed of this question the church was deuided the members parted asunder for much like blind folded persons men brawling and fighting in the darke they were caried here and there now they affirmed this anone they sayd that and loke what they auoutched a litle before the same they denied immediatly after Many thought that Nestorius was of the opinion that Christ was but onely man and that he went about to reuyue and to rayse vp a fresh the heresie of Paulus Samosatenus and of Photinus there was so much adoe about this matter that the summoning of a generall councell seemed needefull for the deriding of the controuersie the appeasing of the people I of mine owne part by perusing the works of Nestorius doe finde the man ignorant and altogether vnlearned I speake this from the hart and vnfainedly far it is not of hatred I owe him that I fall a ripping of his crymes and infamie neyther haue I determined by flattery and feeding of some mens humors to report lesse of him then I founde true Nestorius in mine opinion followeth neither Paulus Samosatenus neither Photinus neither thinketh he that our Lord Iesus Christ is onely man but onely auoideth this clause the mother or bearing of God as a sraying ghost This befell vnto him for his palpable error and ignorance for though of nature he had a smoth and an eloquent tongue and therefore was thought learned yet to say the trueth he was altogether vnlearned Moreouer he disdained to peruse the works of the auncient fathers he so vaimted him selfe with his rolling congue and eloquent speach that in maner he contemned the olde writers and preferred him selfe before them all Againe he was ignorant of that which was written in the olde coppies of S. Iohns Catholick epistle euery spirite which deuideth Iesus is not of God As many as went about to seuer the diuinitie from the humanitie of Christ sticked not to rase and blot this sentence out of the auncient coppyes Wherefore the olde writers signified no lesse then that certaine men had corrupted that epistle to the ende they might deuide the humanitie of Christ from the diuinitie of God his manhoode is ioyned with the godhead neyther are they two but one in which sense the auÌ„cient writers were not affraid to call Marie the mother of god Euen so wrote Eusebius Pamphilus in his third booke of the life of Constantine God among vs was borne on earth for oursakes the place of his natiuitie is called of the Hebrewes after a proper name Bethleem VVherefore Helen the most holy Empresse hath set forth the trauailing of the mother of God with goodly ornaments bedecked that hollowe rocke with sundry notable monuments Origen hath written no lesse in the first come of his commentaries vpon the epistle of S. Paul vnto the Romaines where he discourseth at large of this matter and alleadgeth the cause why Marie was called the mother of God Therefore Nestorius seemeth neuer to haue read the worâ—s of the auncient fathers and therefore he inueyed only as I said before agaynst this clause the mother of God For he saith not that Christ is onely man as Photinus and Paulus Samosatenus affirmed neither taketh he away y â— subsistencie of the sonne of God but confesseth euery where that he hath his being and that he is in the trinitie neither denieth he his essence as Photinus and Samosatenus did so did also the Manichees and Montanists as it appeareth by the sermous which he published vnto the world But though I finde that Nestorius was of that opinion partly by his bookes which I haue perused and partly by the report of his familier friendes yet his foolish and fonde doctrine disquieted not a litle the whole worlde CAP. XXXIII Of a haynous offence committed by certaine fugitine seruants at the altare of the great Church of the former councell summoned at Ephesus for the hearing of Nestorius opinion WHen these thinges were done in such forte as I sayd before a certaine haynous offence was committed in the open church and face of the whole people for some noble mans seruants by birth Barbarians when they had tasted of their Lord maisters extreame truelty and coulde not paciently away with the rigor thereof ranne for refuge vnto the Church and got them vnto the altare with swordes hanging by their sides being requested to depart they woulde not in any wise but disturbed and hindred deuine seruice Moreouer for the spare of many dayes they held their naked swordes in their hands ready to dispatch whosoeuer came vnto them Wherefore when they had killed one of the Priests and wounded an other in the ende they slewe them selues with the sight hereof one of them that were present sayde that the profanation of the Churche prognosticated some calamitie to ensue and repeated two Iambick verses out of some olde Poete to iustifie his saying Men see full oft such signes before and vvonders eke VVhen haynous crimes the holy Church to stayne doth seeke Neither was he in a wronge boxe that vttered these Iambicks for it prognosticated as it seemed vnto vs diuision to rise among the people and depriuation of him that was ringleader of the whole mischiefe Shortly after the emperour gaue forth his commauÌ„dement that the bishops out of all places should meete at Ephesus where they came together whither also Nestorius tooke his voyage immediatly after Easter holy dayes together with a greate multitude of people where he found the bishops assembled â–ª but Cyrillus bishop of Alexandria came thither in a while after it was about VVhitsontide The fift day after Pentecost Iuueâ—alis Bishop of Ierusalem was come But while Iohn bishop of Antioch lingered by the way the Bishops which were already come thither called the matter into controuersie Cyrillus bishop of Alexandria to the ende he might molest Nestorius for he thought very ill of him vsed certaine preambles of disputation When many confirmed that Christ was God Nestorius pleaded for him self I verily sayth he will not call him god who grew to mans state by two moneths and three moneths and so forth therfore I wash my handes from your blood and from
the mysteries After all this in the sight of the wholl assembly the Bishop of Constātinople accompanied with his clergie gott him into the vestry where the corps of this holy Martyr aboue named was interred There is on the left hande of this coffin and chested corps as it were a litle wickett very strongly made of litle latises through the which they vse to let down a longe iron with a sponge tyed about the end they dipp and soke it round about in the dead corps after wardes pull vp the sponge all embrued with cogeled drops of blood The people seeing this worship God immediatly and magnifie his holy name There are so many drops of cōgeled blood drawen vp that they suffice the religious Emperours the wholl assembly of priests gathered ther together all the flocking multitude not onely to participate thereof them selues but also to send vnto the other faithfull throughout the world that full fayne would be partakers with them But the congeled drops continew still the same neither doth the holy blood chaunge the hewe or colour thereof at all All which things are not to be seene at any certaine speciall or appointed time but thereafter as the Bishop of that place is in life and as it agreeth with his vertues For they report when any singular man of godly disposition is chosen Bishop of that Church that then most commonly this miracle is to be seene but when a leude person is crept to enioy the rowme that these things very seldome come to passe An other thing yet I will rehearse which is stayed and hindred neither by time neither by occasion neither maketh any difference betwene faithfull and infidell but sheweth it selfe alike vnto all men When any cometh into the vestry where the coprs of this holy martyr is chested he is so rauished with such fragrant odours that all other perfumes in comparison of that seeme worth nothinge For it is like neither the sweete smelling flowres culled in the greene medowes neither any other redolēt sauor whatsoeuer neither such as is made of pleasant oyles but it is a straunge and passing all the rest breathing out of the Martyrs dead body CAP. IIII. Of the things handeled decided by the councell of Chalcedon howe after they had deposed Dioscorus b. of Alexandria they restored Theodoritus and Ibas to theyr Bishopricks IN the aforesayde place described of vs at large the Councell of Byshoppes mette together where Pascasianus and Lucentius Byshopps and Boniface a Priest legats as I sayd before of Leo Byshoppe of olde Rome Anatolius Byshopp of Constantinople Dioscorus byshopp of Alexandria Maximus byshopp of Antioch and Iuuenalis byshopp of Ierusalem with the priestes of their seuerall prouinces were present There sate with them the chiefe senators vnto whome the substitutes of Leo sayde that Dioscorus ought not to sitt with them in the councell that Leo their byshopp had charged them no lesse and if they woulde not yeelde vnto it that they woulde leaue the Churche and bidd them farewell When the Senators demaunded what crimes Dioscorus was to be charged withall their aunswere was that he who contrarye to all right and honestie playde the part of a Iudge was to ▪ abide the sentence of iudgement him selse for the censure he had pronounced of others These thinges beinge spoken and Dioscorus also beinge appointed to stande in the middest Eusebius byshopp of Dorylaeum requested that the supplication he had sent vnto the Emperour might be openly reade in their hearing and withall he added these wordes I protest vnto you that Dioscorus hath iniuried me not a litle he hath also brought our religion into great infamye he procured the death of Flautanus the byshopp and wrongfully deposed him together with me cause I beseeche you my supplication to be reade When he had made an ende of speakinge his supplication was reade contayninge suche a forme as followeth The humble supplication of Eusebius byshop of Dorylaeum exhibited vnto the most vertuous Emperours requestinge he may be hearde pleadinge both for him selfe and in the behalfe of the catholicke faith IT behoueth your maiesties most noble and puisant emperours to prouide carefully for the quietnesse of all your louing subiects yet when all others sustaine iniuries euer to vphold and assist the sacred senate of priesthood and herein verily the diuine godheade which graunted vnto you the rule domination of the whole world is truely honored wherefore seing the christian faith we our selues also haue bene oppressed diuersty molested with extreme wrōg by Dioscorus the most reuerēd byshop of the most noble city of Alexandria we are come vnto your wonted clemēcy most humbly to craue iustice at your hands The occasion of our cōplaint is as followeth In the councel lately held at the famous city of Ephesus I would to God it had neuer bene called together then had it not brought into the whole world such horrible mischiefe and hurliburly the aforesaid Dioscorus who trode right reasō vnder foot who set the fear of God farre out of his sight who maintained one absurd opinion with Eutyches that vaine hereticall varlett who of a longe whyle reuealed not vnto many the venome of his cankred stomacke yet bewrayed him selfe in processe of time partly by occasion of the crimes we laide to Eutyches his charge partly also by occasion of the sentence which Flauianus the byshop of worthy memorie pronounced against him gathered together a great multitude of seditious persons raised with his money no small power laboured as muche as laye in him to ouerthrowe the catholicke religion and godly fayth of the auncient fathers and to establishe the blasphemous opinion of Eutyches the monk whose opinion was euer condēned of the holy fathers from the Apostles time vnto this day wherfore seing the haynous offences he committed both impudently to the derogation of the Christian faith vncharitably against vs be of no smal importāce we are most humbly to craue vpon our bare knees of your graces and to request that by vertue of your autority the most reuerēd byshop Dioscours may be inioyned to aunswere vnto suche crimes as we haue laid to his charge to wit vnto such practises of his records as he broughtforth against vs in the holy councell wherby we shal be able plainly to proue that he is estraunged from the catholicke faith that he maintaineth an opinion which is nothing else but blasphemy it selfe that he both deposed vs vniustly iniuried vs diuersly besides ▪ we beseeche you moreouer to vouchsafe the sending of your gracious letters vnto the holy general councel of the most godly byshops to thend both our doings his may indifferently be heard that your highnes may be certified againe of al that is handled by the councel hoping that therein we shall please our immortal head Christ Iesus If we may obtaine most holy emperours this our humble sute at your maiesties hāds we will not ceasse
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
specially by suche a one whose crueltie bereaued her husband of his life she sendes to Libya vnto Genzerichus makes him faire promises puttes him in good hope of prosperous successes requests him that vnlooked for he would inuade the Empire of Rome and promised to yeelde all into his handes This being compassed Rome is taken Genzerichus being a Barbarian of behauiour vnconstant and of litle trust â–ª gaue no credit vnto her words set the citye on fire caryed away the spoyle tooke Eudoxia with her two daughters returned got him to Libya and maried Eudoxia the elder daughter to his sonne Honorichus but he sent Placidia the yonger daughter together with Eudoxia her mother accompanied with a princely traine vnto Martianus hopinge thereby to mitigate his wrath and displeasure for he was offended not a litle at the burning of Rome and the abusing of Valentinianus the Emperours daughters Martianus afterwards gaue Placidia to wife vnto Olybrius a noble man and a senator of Rome who when the citie was taken fledd to Constantinople After the death of Maximus Auitus was Emperour of Rome the space of eight moneths when the plague had dispatched him Maiorinus the yeare following tooke the gouernement of the Empire againe when Rhecimerus a Romaine captaine had procured through treason the death of Maiorinus Seuerus became Emperour of Rome the space of three yeares CAP. VIII The death of Martianus the Emperour and the raigne of Leo and how the hereticall faction within Alexandria slew Proterius their byshopp and chose in his rowme Timotheus Aelurus WHile Seuerus continued his raigne in the Empire of Rome Martianus hauing gouerned onely seuen yeares chaunged his kingdome got him to a farre more excellent habitation and left vnto his successors a princely example of rule The people of Alexandria vnderstanding of his death renued their spite with a farre greater rage and furie against Proterius The people are wont vpon light and triflinge occasions to raise tumults and sedition but specially at Alexandria who boldening them selues with often brawlinge beinge in very deede but raskalls and abiectes take vpon them like blinde bayardes great enterprises And therefore they say that euery Iack straw if it so please him may geue the onsett set the citie all on an vprore drawe the people here and there at his pleasure in â—o much they are not ashamed as Herodotus writeth of Amasis to fight diuers times with their shadowes and for matters of no importance at all In such things this is their disposition but in other matters not so The people of Alexandria watchinge the absence of Dionysius captaine of the garrison and his abode in the vpper parts of Aegypt consented together and chose Timotheus syrnamed Aelurus to be their byshopp who lately had bene a monk yet then one of the priests of Alexandria and after they had brought him into the great Church called Caesar they proclaime him their byshop for all Proterius as yet liued and executed the priestly function Eusebius byshop of Pelusium and Peter the Iberian byshopp of Maiuma were present at the election of Timothee the which thinges are remembred of the historiographer who wrote the life of Peter where also he reporteth that Proterius was slaine not of the people but by a soldier â–ª for when Dionysius being driuen with the rumor of the horrible practises committed there 〈◊〉 in post haste to Alexandria for to quenche the firie flame of sedition certen citizens as it was credibly enformed vnto Leo the Emperour through the perswasion of Timothee ranne Proterius through with a naked sworde as he passed by fled towardes the holy font tyed him with a rope and trailed him to the fouresquare porche for all men to gaze at him there with shouting and laughter they reueale the murthering of Proterius Afterwardes they drew his carkasse throughout the citie and burned it to ashes neither abstained they like sauadge and bruite beastes as they were from tastinge of his bowells euen as it is manifest vnto the whole worlde by the complaint which the byshopps throughout Aegypt with all the clergie of Alexandria beholding the circumstances with their eyes made as I said before vnto Leo the successor of Martianus in the Empire of Rome written in maner as followeth Vnto Leo the vertuous religious victorius by the testimony of God him selfe and triumphant Emperour the complaint made by all the byshops throughout your prouince of Aegypt and by the clergie of your chiefest and most holy Church of Alexandria SEinge the diuine and celestiall grace of God most holy emperour hath ordained your highnesse as a levvell and treasure for mortall men you ceasse not we speake vnfainedly imediately and next after God continually to prouide for the safety and profit of the common vveale In a while after they say when the peace which raigned among the godly people both here with vs and with in the citie of Alexandria was remoued out of the Churche of God Timotheus then beinge a priest gott him imediately after the councell of Chalcedon vvas dissolued onely with foure or fiue byshopps together with a fevve monks fell from the fayth and deuided him selfe from the Catholicke Churche These his companions were infected with the pernicious doctrine of Apollinarius the pestilent error of Timothee him selfe al they were then deposed of their priestly dignities according vnto the canon of the Churche both by Proterius of worthie memorie and the councell of byshops helde in Aegypt and also exiled by the Emperours whose displeasure they had procured Againe after a fewelines The same Timothee at what time Martianus the Emperour of famous memorie chaunged this fraile life for blisfull rest in the celestiall paradise sticked not most impudently to reuile him with raylinge and opprobrious languages as if he had bene subiect to no lawe he staggered not like a shamelesse caytiffe at accursing the sacred and generall assembly of byshopps which mett at Chalcedon he ledde after him a multitude of chaungelings and seditious people he set vp him selfe against the holy canons the decrees of the Churche the common weale and lawes he intruded him selfe into the holy Churche of God which had both a pastor and a teacher to witt our most holy father and archbyshopp Proterius as he celebrated the wonted mysteries and offered vp the sacrifice of prayer vnto Christ Iesus the sauiour of vs all for your holy Empire and for your christian and religious pallace Againe they say The next day after as Proterius the most holy father executed as the manner is the function of a byshop Timotheus tooke vnto him two byshopps deposed of their dignities with some banished priests as we saide before and was consecrated byshopp by two of them when as none of all the Catholicke byshops throughout the prouince of â–ª Aegypt as the vse is in consecrating the byshopp of Alexandria was present and so tooke possession as he perswaded him selfe of the archebyshopps chaire but verily it
maintained one absurd opinion with Eutyches that vaine hereticall varlett who of a longe whyle reuealed not vnto many the venome of his cankred stomacke yet bewrayed him selfe in processe of time partly by occasion of the crimes we laide to Eutyches his charge partly also by occasion of the sentence which Flauianus the byshop of worthy memorie pronounced against him gathered together a great multitude of seditious persons raised with his money no small power laboured as muche as laye in him to ouerthrowe the catholicke religion and godly fayth of the auncient fathers and to establishe the blasphemous opinion of Eutyches the monk whose opinion was euer condeÌ„ned of the holy fathers from the Apostles time vnto this day wherfore seing the haynous offences he committed both impudently to the derogation of the Christian faith vncharitably against vs be of no smal importaÌ„ce we are most humbly to craue vpon our bare knees of your graces and to request that by vertue of your autority the most reuereÌ„d byshop Dioscorus may be inioyned to aunswere vnto suche crimes as we haue laid to his charge to wit vnto such practises of his records as he broughtforth against vs in the holy councell wherby we shal be able plainly to proue that he is estraunged from the catholicke faith that he maintaineth an opinion which is nothing else but blasphemy it selfe that he both deposed vs vniustly iniuried vs diuersly besides we beseeche you moreouer to vouchsafe the sending of your gracious letters vnto the holy general councel of the most godly byshops to thend both our doings his may indifferently be heard that your highnes may be certified againe of al that is handled by the councel hoping that therein we shall please our immortal head Christ Iesus If we may obtaine most holy emperours this our humble sute at your maiesties haÌ„ds we will not ceasse day night to pray for the prosperous state of your empire and the continuaunce of your raigne The canons concluded vpon by the byshops in the second councell of Ephesus were openly read at the request as wel of Dioscorus as of Eusebius where it appeared that the epistle of Leo was not read at all yea though some had spoken of it againe againe Dioscorus being demaunded why it was not read aunswered for him selfe that he had moued the byshops and that oftentimes to doe it Iuuenalis byshop of Ierusalem and Thalassius byshop of Caesarea in Cappadocia who together with Dioscorus challenged vnto them selues autority in the councell of Chalcedon required that all should be read reuealed Iuuenalis auoutched and said plainely that the emperour admonished Dioscorus by his letters to read the epistle of Leo yet afterwards that there was not a word spoken of it Thalassius pleaded in like sort for him selfe y t he hindred not the reading of it that he had not so much autority of him self as to coÌ„maund the reading of it wherfore the acts of the councell being read some of the byshops espied therein certaine fayned and counterfeit handes and among the rest Stephan byshop of Ephesus was demaunded of the councell who they were that subscribed with exceptions he made aunswere that Iulian who afterwards was made byshop of Lebidum and Crispinus had done so for all that such as subscribed at the request of Dioscorus not to haue suffred it so to stande but to haue wrung the fingers of such as wrote directed their pens to their great shame infamy In the end Stephan coÌ„fessed that the depriuation of Flauianus was ratified with subscriptions the same day for Acacius byshop of Ariarathia compelled all the byshops by force made them of necessity to subscribe vnto a blanke molesting theÌ„ infinitly with soldiers who stood by with naked swords redy to dispatch them if they yelded not Againe they reade an other accusation whereunto Theodorus byshop of Claudâ—â—opolis made aunswere y â— there was no such thing spokeÌ„ As they proceded on stil in reading the acts of the councel where any thing was motioned which concerned Eutyches such as affirmed y â— the flesh of God our lord sauiour Iesus christ came downe from heauen they brought forth the records of the councell where Eusebius had aunswered y â— Eutyches had said in deed from heauen but not to haue added whence he toke it y â— Diogenes byshop of Cyzicum vrged him at y â— time in this sort tel vs theÌ„ wheÌ„ce toke he flesh and y â— they were not suffred to reasoÌ„ further therof After al this they brought forth the records then Basilius byshop of Seleucia in Isauria said I adore our one lord Iesus Christ the sonne of God y t only God y â— word who after his incarnation the vniting together of y â— diuinity humanity is thought to consist in two natures y â— byshops of Aegypt cried out against this in such sort as followeth Let no man deuide him into parts that can not be parted we must say there is one sonne not two sonnes they y â— byshops of y â— east cried cursed be he that parteth christ cursed be he that deuideth him the same records did testifie y â— Eutyches being asked whether he thought y â— christ had two natures made aunswere y â— according vnto his knowledge before y â— coÌ„iunction of his diuinity humanity together christ consisted of two natures but after y â— vniting of theÌ„ to haue had in him but one nature And y â— Basil said then if he confesse not y â— there were two natures after y â— coniunction of y t natures which can neither be separated neither confounded then bringeth he in both a confusion a coÌ„mixtion but if he say that the diuinity being incarnate put on humanity so vnderstand y â— incarnation in such sort as Cyrill doth then saith he no other then we doe for the diuinity which was with the father is one thing the humanity which he tooke of his mother is an other thing when y â— councell demaunded of them why they had subscribed to depose Flauianus y â— records doe declare y â— the byshops of the East cried out we haue all done amisse therefore we all craue pardon Againe going forwardes in perusing of y â— records it appeared y â— byshops were asked why they admitted not Eusebius into their company conference when he requested it of them whereunto Dioscorus aunswered that Elpidius brought letters to warne them that he proued vnto them how Theodosius the emperour charged them they should not permit him to come into the councell the acts doe witnesse y t Iuuenalis made the same aunswere Thalassius said y â— such things as the emperours had coÌ„demned were of no force autority after the condemnation yet y â— he said not so as in defence of the faith whereupon the records doe declare y t Dioscorus reprehended their doings with these such other like words I
pray you what maner of canons are now obserued when Theodoritus came in amonge them it is reported the Senate shoulde say that he came in for an accuser and that Dioscorus aunswered he was to take the rowme of a byshop The Senate then replyed that both Eusebius and Theodoritus were to stande in the rowme of accusers no otherwise then Dioscorus was to stande at the barre and to be arrayned All the actes of the seconde councell helde at Ephesus were reade and the sentence whiche they had pronounced against Flauianus and Eusebius vntill they came to a certayne clause at the hearinge whereof Hilarius the byshop beganne to speake The byshops of the East and suche as were of their side cryed Let Dioscorus be accursed In the verye same houre Christe depriued Dioscorus when Dioscorus deposed Flauianus O holye Lorde we beseeche the chastise thou him and thou O Catholicke Emperour be reuenged on him God graunt Leo may liue manye yeares God sende the Patriarche a longe lyfe Laste of all when the actes were reade whiche declared that all the byshops assembled at Ephesus had subscribed vnto the depriuation of Flauianus and Eusebius the most sage and worthie Senators sayde as followeth The nexte daye after when the councell aduised them selues somewhat better we doe perceaue that they reasoned more exquisitly of the true and Catholicke fayth VVherefore seeinge that Flauianus the byshop of worthye memorye and Eusebius the most reuerende byshop 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 fowlye 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 Cappadocia Eusebius the most reuerend byshop of Armenia Eustathius the most reuerend byshop of Berytus Basilius the most reuerende byshop of Seleucia in Isauria who were then of autoritye and chiefe of the councell shoulde be punished alyke deposed of their byshoprickes by the censure and iudgement of the councell as the canons of the Church doe require be at the Emperours pleasure When their sentence was reade the byshops of the East cryed That iudgement is iust Then the byshopes of Illyrium sayde wyth lowde voyces VVe haue all done amisse and therefore we all craue pardon When the byshops of the Easte cryed agayne That sentence is iust Christ deposed the murtherer Christ reuenged the martyrs The Senators commaunded that euerye one of the byshopes then present shoulde wryte his fayth seuerallye perswadinge them selues of a suretye that the moste holye Emperour beleeued accordinge vnto the forme of fayth publyshed at Nice by three hundred and eyghteene fathers and agreeable vnto the creede framed at Constantinople by a hundred and fiftye byshops and no otherwise then the Epistles of the holye fathers Gregorie Basil Hillarie Athanasius Ambrosius and the two Epistles of Cyrill reade in the first councell of Ephesus haue directed him and that Leo the most reuerende byshop of olde Rome deposed Eutyches for the contrarye After the breakinge vp of this session in suche sort as you heare when the holy byshops had mette agayne and sate together Eusebius byshop of Dorilaeum exhibited vnto them bils of complaynt both in his owne name and in the person of Flauianus where he charged Dioscorus that he maintayned one heresie and opinion wyth Eutyches and that he had deposed them of their priesthood He added moreouer that Dioscorus had falsified the recordes by layinge downe certaine wordes which were not at all vttered in the councell then assembled together that through wiles and craft he had procured blanks for them to subscribe vnto he made sute vnto them againe that all the actes and canons of the seconde councell helde at Ephesus by their sentence and autority might be abrogated that they would restore them vnto their priestly function that they would accurse the detestable doctrine of Eutyches and last of all he requested that after the reading of the records his aduersary might be brought before the councell when this was graunted Aetius the head notary stood vp and said that he had bene with Dioscorus as with the rest and that Dioscorus had aunswered him that his keepers would not licence him to come vnto the councell It was saide moreouer that Dioscorus was sought for before the councell sate and could not be found that Anatolius byshop of Constantinople should aunswere he should both be warned and come vnto the councell This being done such as were sent vnto him returned saying from Dioscorus My keepers wil not let me come if they will licence me let them speak but when y â— messengers replied y â— they were sent not vnto the maisters of y â— ward but vnto him y â— report goeth he aunswered thus I am redy to come vnto the holy generall councel but I am staid Himerius added vnto these sayings howe at their returne froÌ„ Dioscorus Boâ—tius met by y â— way the maâ—ster of y â— holy offices that byshops accoÌ„panied him againe as he went vnto Dioscorus and y â— they had brought with theÌ„ in paper some part of their conference y â— which notes being read declared y â— Dioscorus made theÌ„ this aunswere when that I ponder this matter with my selfe and perceaue how auaileable it is for me take this aunswere seeinge the most reuerende byshops which sit in the couÌ„cell haue decreed many things after the often coÌ„ferences they had with seueral meÌ„ that I now am called to the secoÌ„d sitting for to reuoke such things as were spokeÌ„ of before my request is that the most reuerend byshops holy Senate which were present at the first session be now also at the second that the same things may now the secoÌ„d time be exquisitly handled The records doe declare y â— Acacius replied vnto him againe in this sort The holy worthy councell hath not therefore commaunded your holines to come vnto them to thend such thinges as were decided in the presence of the most reuerend byshops and holy senate should be called in agayne but sent vs purposely vnto you that you shoulde come vnto the councell and that your holynesse shoulde not be absent from them Dioscorus sayde vnto him agayne as it is recorded You tolde me alreadye that Eusebius gaue vp vnto the councell bills of complaynte well I requeste you once agayne that my cause may throughly be knowen and examined in presence of the presidents and senate After the recitall of other thinges toe and froe wyth other circumstances they sent againe vnto Dioscorus requestinge him to be present at the councell who wrote his aunswere
in paper afterwardes they returned and reade it thus before the councell I signified of late vnto your holinesse that I was sicke therefore I craue that the most worthye presidents and holy senate will be present at the handlinge and decidinge of causes and because my sickenesse increaseth therefore I differre my comminge The recordes doe declare that Cecropius hearinge that aunswere sayde thus vnto Dioscorus Why syr hitherto ye made no mention of sickenesse and will ye nowe be sicke ye shoulde haue satisfied the canons of the Churche Dioscorus turned vnto him I tolde you sayth he once alreadye that the presidents shall be there for me With this Russiâ—s byshop of Samosata sayde vnto Dioscorus looke what so euer is called into controuersie it is decided accordinge vnto the canons of the Churche and therefore he that commeth vnto the councell may speake freely what pleaseth him Dioscorus beinge therein perswaded Iuuenalis and Thalassius came thither Eustathius bolted out suche thinges as were to no purpose whereunto as it is recorded Dioscorus made aunswere and requested of the most religious Emperour that the presidents and suche as had geuen iudgement with him in the councell shoulde be sent for thither The messengers that were sent vnto him aunswered him againe that Eusebius complayned vpon him alone and that it needed not accordinge vnto his motion to cite all to appeare Dioscorus replyed that by right as many as were Iudges with him in the councell shoulde be present that Eusebius had no priuate action against him but onely an accusation agaynst suche thinges as they all had decided and iudged When the Legats vrged him with the same Dioscorus aunswered I tolde ye once what ye may trust toe I knowe not what I shoulde tell you agayne After the relation of the aforesayde Eusebius byshop of Dorylaeum protested that he charged no man with ought saue Dioscorus alone and requested that Dioscorus might be called the thirde time Aetius interrupted him and sayde that there came of late vnto the councell certaine men of Alexandria as they named them selues of the clergie together with some of the laytie and preferred bills of complaynt agaynst Dioscorus and as they stoode at the Churche doores where the councell sate there to haue made an exclamation that first of all Theodorus Deacon of Alexandria gaue vp vnto the councell a bill of invitement after him â—â—chyrianus Deacon of the same churche there followed him Athanasius the priest Cyrills brothers sonne and that last of all Sophronius charged him with blasphemy bribery and extortion Dioscorus was called the thirde time and came not the Legats brought the councell his aunswere in these wordes I haue aunswered your holmes so sufficiently already that I haue now no more to say vnto you When the Legats dealt earnestly with him for to come he would geue them no other aunswere Then Pascasianns said Dioscorus is now the thirde time cited to appeare comes not no doubt his owne conscience doth accuse him what deserueth he I praye you all the byshops made aunswere that he incurred the daunger of the canons of the church Proterius byshop of Smyrna saide when holy Flauianus was slaine through his procurement he was not punyshed accordinge to his deserts Last of all the Legats of Leo Archebyshop of Rome spake in the councell as followeth The haynous offences whiche Dioscorus late byshop of the noble citye of Alexandria committed agaynst the canons of councells and the Ecclesiasticall Discipline are throughly knowen of vs all partly by siftinge out suche thinges as were hearde in the former session and partly also by examininge suche thynges as we decyded this daye And that we may omitt manye other thinges this man of his owne autoritye contrarye to the canon of the Churche receaued Eutyches into the communion an hereticke of the same opinion wyth him and one that was iustly deposed by his owne proper byshop to witt the most holy father and our byshop Flauianus and this he did before he shewed his face in the councell whiche he helde with the most holy byshops at Ephesus but the Apostolicke seae pardoned the byshops because they were constrained against their wills to doe that whiche they did who yeelded them selues vnto this present houre both to Leo the most holy byshop and to the whole sacred and generall assembly of byshops and therefore as men of one opinion wyth him he receaued them into the communion As for this Dioscorus he ceasseth not as yet to glorye of the thinges for the vvhiche he ought to mourne lament and lye grouelinge vpon the grounde in sackcloth and ashes Not onely this but also he forbadd the readinge of holy Pope Leo his Epistle written vnto Flauianus of godly memorye yea beinge oft intreated of the Legats nay when he him selfe had promised with an othe that he woulde procure it to be reade The defaulte in not readinge of whiche Epistle hath beene both an offence and hindrance vnto the holye Churches vnder heauen Although he was priueye to suche levvde practises yet haue vve assembled together to th ende vve might deale somewhat fauourably both with him for all his former levvdenesse and also in lyke sort with the other godly byshopps whiche were not of equall autoritye with him in iudgement But seeinge that his later misdemenure exceeded his former impierie for he sticked not to excommunicate Leo the most holye and most religious Archebyshop of Rome Moreouer when shamefull bills were exhibited againste him and he him selfe beinge cyted once twise and the thirde tyme as the canon of the Churche hath commaunded by the godly byshops to appeare before the councel yet would he not come for his owne conscience accused him but entertayned contrarye vnto lawe suche as were iustly deposed by diuers councells and sett at naught sundrye constitutions of the Churche condemninge as it were him selfe with his owne doinges Once againe seeinge these are founde to be his later practises Leo the moste holye Archebyshop of greate and olde Rome by vs and this sacred assemblye together with the moste blessed Apostle Sainct Peter who is the rocke the grounde of the Catholicke Churche and the fundation of the true fayth bereaued him of all dignitye that belongeth to a byshop and depriued him of the priestly function VVherefore let this holye councell geue the sentence of Dioscorus of whome we haue hytherto spoken accordinge vnto the canons of the Churche When Anatolius Maximus with the rest of the byshops those onely excepted whome the Senators had deposed wyth Dioscorus had confirmed the aforesayde sentence the councell certified Martianus the Emperour of their decrees and sent a depriuation vnto Dioscorus in suche sort as followeth Because thou hast despised the holye canons of the Churche Because thou haste not obeyed this holye and generall councell Because thou art moreouer conuinced of manye other haynous crimes Because thou beinge thrise called of this famous assemblye to aunswere vnto suche thinges as were
layde vnto thy charge camest not knowe that for all the aforesayde thou art deposed by this holye and generall councell the thirteenth daye of this present October of thy byshopricke and bereaued of all Ecclesiasticall right and title These thynges beinge registred and sent also vnto the godlye byshops of the moste holye Churche of Alexandria and the decree agaynste Dioscorus openly proclaimed that session brake vp and so ended But afterwards they sate againe and first they aunswered the senators who had desired to be satisfied as touchinge the true and right faith next they affirmed that there was nothinge to be done concerninge Eutyches for the byshop of Rome had made a â—â—nall end and conclusion thereof and therein they were all agreed moreouer when all the byshops seemed very willing and the senators exhorted euery patriarch that one or other of euery their seuerall prouinces shoulde stande vp to th ende the opinions of them all might throughly be knowen Florentius byshop of Sardis craued their fauour that with aduise and after deliberation taken they might attaine vnto the trueth and Cecropius byshop of Sebastopolis saide The faith is both notablye sett forth by three hundred and eyghteene holye fathers confirmed afterwardes by the godlye fathers Athanasius Cyrill Celestinus Hilarius Basil and Gregory and nowe againe approued by moste holye Leo. VVherefore our requeste is that the creede of the three hundred holye fathers and of the moste holye Leo may be reade Beinge reade all the councell cryed This is the fayth of the true professors we are all of this fayth This is the fayth of Pope Leo this is the fayth of Cyrill thus hath the Pope interpreted Againe when they had reasoned amonge them selues for the readinge of the fayth which the hundred and fifty holye fathers publyshed in the councell helde at Constantinople it was also reade Then the whole councell cryed agayne This is the fayth of the true professors thus we doe all beleeue After the finishinge of all the premises Aetius the Archedeacon sayde I haue here at hande the Epistle of holye Cyrill written vnto Nestorius the whiche all the byshopes in the councell helde at Ephesus confyrmed wyth their seuerall subscriptions I haue here also an other Epistle of the same Cyrill written vnto Iohn byshope of Antioche and confirmed lykewyse will it please you to geeue them the hearinge When euerye one had spoken his pleasure of them they were both reade we haue thought good presently to laye downe here some portion of the former it was reade as followeth Vnto Nestorius the most reuerend and his most holy collegue Cyrill sendeth greetinge THere are as I am geuen to vnderstande certaine men whiche labour and that verye often altogether to discreditt me with your holinesse this they doe specially when they see worthye men and magistrates oftentimes meetinge together supposinge peraduenture that you will be pleased with the hearing of such thinges Againe after a fewe lines he saith The holy and famous councel affirmeth that he which is naturally begotten of God the father is the onely begotten sonne true God of true God light of light by whom the father made all things that he came downe from heauen that he was incarnate and made man that he suffred rose againe the third day ascended into the heauens It behoueth vs to yeelde and condescend vnto these articles vnto this doctrine and to search out with al the gifts we haue what is ment by being incarnate what is vnderstood by saying that the worde of God became flesh for we doe not say that the worde of God by chaunginge the nature thereof became flesh neither by conuersion into wholl man which consisteth of body soule but this rather that the worde according vnto the subsisteÌ„cy or being therof coupling vnto it selfe liuing flesh endued with a reasonable soule became man in such sort as may neither be expressed in worde neither conceaued by thought that he was called the soÌ„ne of man not according vnto will onely or in that it so pleased his goodnes neither onely by taking vpon him the person or because contrarie natures were coupled together in true vnitye but that one Christ and one sonne consisted of two natures not that the difference of the natures was taken away by reason of the vnity but that the diuinitye and humanitye after an vnspeakeable and secret couplinge and meetinge together made one Lorde Christe and the sonne After the enterlacinge of certayne other thinges he annexed thereunto as followeth Because he came of a woman and coupled mans nature vnto him selfe according vnto his subsistencie and that for our sake and for our saluation therefore is he said to haue bene borne after the fleshe for he was not first of all after the common generation borne of the virgine Mary then the worde of God entred into him but was coupled with the flesh in the matrix and is said to haue bene borne after the flesh as one that made the birth of his flesh proper to him selfe In like sort we say that he suffred rose againe not that God the word suffred in his owne nature either stripes or the print of nayles or other vexations for the godhead being without body is impatible but that the body being made proper vnto him suffred and so is he saide to haue suffred these thinges for our sakes for there was in the bodye which suffred that which coulde not suffer But so muche out of the first epistle touchinge the second we layde downe a good part thereof in the first booke of our Ecclesiasticall historie which went before in the epistle of Iohn byshopp of Antioch there is suche a protestation layde downe as followeth and confirmed with the testimonie of Cyrill VVe confesse that the holy virgine is the mother of God because God the worde tooke fleshe and manhood of her and coupled vnto him selfe by the conception the temple which he tooke of her Neyther are we ignorant that godly men inspired from aboue haue partly affirmed that the phrases which coÌ„cerned the Lord and were laid downe by the Euangelists and Apostles were vttered of one person and partly deuided them into seuerall portions as written of two natures and partly also confessed that they were diuine and spoken onely of the diuinitye of Christe Vnto this of Iohn Cyrill addeth of his owne VVhen we had perused these your godly sentences and clauses within contained and perceaued plainely that you were of one minde and opinion with vs for there is but one Lord one fayth one baptisme we reÌ„dred vnto god diuine praises who is the coÌ„seruer of the whol world and presently we conceaue exceedinge ioy seeinge that as well your Churches as ours beinge driuen thereunto partly by the force and power of the holy scriptures and partly also by tradition deliuered vnto vs of our most holy fathers doe embrace one fayth and opinion After the readinge of these Epistles they that
other For fleshlye pleasure hauinge once takē place obserueth no meane endeth not in good time but by occasiō of one an other is kindled one flame of firy luste flasheth after an other vntill that one hathe gotten either the gouernement of him selfe and geuen vices the ouerthrowe and thenceforth become conquerour or else is ouercome with the tyrannicall slauery of them leade by them vnto the last gaspe and in the end plungeth like a wretch into the deepe pitt of hell CAP. II. Howe the Barbarians inuaded both the East and west contreyes ZEno in the beginning of his raigne leade such a life as I haue described before His subiects throughout the East and West dominions were vexed out of measure and sustayned greate losses for the Barbarians called Scenitae destroyed all places a great multitude of Hunni called of olde Messagetae inuaded Thracia and passed ouer the riuer Danubius without lettor stay Zeno. also was by force after a Barbarian sorte bereaued of the other partes which remained of the Empire CAP. III. Howe Basiliscus the tyrant tooke armour agaynst Zeno and put the Emperour to flight THis Zeno when Basiliscus the brother of Bernia made preparation to take armour agaynst him was of so faynt a courage that he fledde away geuinge vnto Basiliscus the Emperiall honor and victorye without any trauell He was so odious vnto his subiectes who by right detested his abhominable life he had no stomacke at all no shewe of a noble mynde but all luskish and lither of a naughty condition the whiche his sensualitye declared bearinge rule ouer his cowarde minde and slouthfull disposition Wherefore this Zeno together with Ariadne his wife whome he had with him who also had fledde awaye from her mother and if there were any other that bore him good will gotte him into Isauria where he had bene broughte vp and there he was besieged Thus Basiliscus came to be Emperoure of Rome proclaymed his some Marcus Caesar and layde downe a platforme of gouernemente farre contrary both vnto the maner of Zenos raygne and such as were Emperours before him CAP. IIII. Howe Basiliscus called Timotheus Aelurus Bishop of Alexandria home from exile and by his perswasion sent letters into euery Coast wherein he condemned the councell of Chalcedon THis Basiliscus spoken of before at the request of certaine citizēs of Alexandria that were sent vnto him called Timothee home from exile where he had continewed eighteene yeres Acacius then beinge Byshop of Constantinople Timothe after his comming to Constantinople perswaded Basiliscus to send letters vniuersally vnto all Priests throughout the Churches vnder heauen and therein to accursed both the acts of the councell held at Chalcedon and the decree of Leo as toutchinge the fayth the whiche letters were wrytten in this forme The Emperoure Caesar Basiliscus Pius Victorious triumphant chiefe Lorde perpetuall Augustus and Marcus the moste noble Caesat vnto Timothe the moste reuerende and moste holye Archebishop of the noble city of Alexandria sendeth greetinge The lawes and canons hitherto compiled in defense of the sincere and Apostolicke fayth by the moste holye Emperoures our predecessors who worshipped aright the blessed eternall and liuinge trinity seeinge they were godly decreed haue euer bene foūd wholsom for the welth of the whollworld we will neuer haue cancelled nay rather our will is they should be published for our owne proper decrees for we preferre piety and singular loue towards God our Sauiour Iesus who both made and aduaunced vs to glory and renoune before all the care and trauell that is imployed in worldly affayres and we beleue verely that the fastening and knitting together of Christs flock in loue charitie is both a safety vnto vs our selues and vnto all our subiectes vnto our Empire a fundation that can not be shaken and a wall that can not be battered and throwen downe wherefore being moued with the instinct of the holy spirit we haue determined with our selues to offer for a sacrifice vnto God and our Sauiour Iesus Christ the vniforme cōsent of the holy church as the first fruites of our raigne and Empire and ordayned that the ground and bulwarke of the blessed life geuen vnto men to wit the Creede of the three hundred and eighteene holy fathers of olde assembled together in the holy Ghoste at Nice in the which faith bothe we and all our ancestors were baptized shoulde onely be kept and retayned of the faythfull people throughout all the most holy Churches of God for in this one Creede the syncere fayth is so sufficiently decided both to the ouerthrowe of all erroneus opinions and to the establishing of concord vnity throughout the holy Churches of God And moreouer the canons published to the confirmation of the same faith are of no lesse force vertue Againe we doe ratifie the faith of the hundred fifty holy fathers which assembled in this noble city of Constantinople accursed the blasphemers of the holy Ghost In like sorte we approue the acts of the councel called at Ephesus against wicked Nestorius and such as afterwards embraced his opinion As for such decrees as disturbe the quiet estate of the holy Churches of God the peace of the wholl world to wit the decision and decree of Leo all the canons of the councell helde at Chalcedon whatsoeuer they desined toutching the exposition of the Creede interpretation doctrine and deciding thereof to the end a newefound faith might be established contrary to the Creede of the three hundred and eighteene Godly Bishops spoken of before we ordayne and decree that the most holy Bishops both here in euery the seuerall Churches wheresoeuer doe acurse them whersoeuer they are found that they be burned to ashes for so the godly Emperours of famous memory Constantinus Theodosius iunior who liued before our time commaunded as concerning the hereticks bookes and blasphemous pamphlets VVe will haue them so abolished that they be banished for euer out of the one the onely Catholick Apostolicke faithfull church as constitutions which derogate from the whollsome decrees of the three hundred eighteene holy fathers whiche alwayes oughte to be of greate force and vertue and from the canons established in the holy Ghost of the godly Bishops at the councell of Ephesus To be short that it be not lawefull either for Prieste or for people to transgresse that moste diuine canon of the holye creed but that together with all the newe sanctions published in the councell of Chalcedō the heresie also maye be rooted out of suche as confesse not that the onelye begotten sonne of God was cōceaued by the holy Ghost borne of holy Mary the perpetuall virgine and mother of God truely incarnate and made man but that his flesh came downe from heauen so faine it very monstrously to be figurated in some phātasticall sorte or other we will and commaund that euery erroneus opinion at what time in what sorte or place soeuer throughout
the wholl world hath bene either compassed or thoughte vpon within or expressed by worde without as plausible nouelty to the ouerthrowe of this holy Creed be condemned for euer And insomuch the Emperour is bounde of duety with diligent care to prouide that by his prouidente counsell the subiects not only in time present but also in time to come may enioy peace and tranquillity we doe ordayne that the most holye Bishops doe subscribe vnto these our gracious letters generally wrytten vnto all and openly proclaymed to the end they may thereby manifestly declare theyr settled mind in addicting them selues onely vnto the holy fayth of the three hundred and eighteene holy fathers the which also the hundred fifty Godly Bishops haue afterwards confirmed and after that againe was ratified of the true professors and holy fathers vvhich mett at the princely citie of Ephesus For it seemeth good vnto vs that the onely Creede of the three hundred and eighteene holy fathers as a perfect platforme of tried fayth shoulde be followed and by accursinge the actes of the Chalcedon councell which may be stumbling blockes vnto the faithfull people that they banishe them wholly the Churches for canons that disturbe the wholl worlde and hinder the successe of our happy raygne Such as after the receite of these our gracious letters published as we perswade our selues by the prouidence of God to the ende concorde and vnitye vvhich is to be desired of all men may be established in the Churches of God doe at anytime goe about to alleadge or name by disputinge teachinge or vvryting in any tyme forte or place that decree published in the councell of Chalcedon contrary to the fayth as autors of tumultes and dissention in the holy Churches of God and vnto all our louing subiects aduersaries moreouer vnto God the safty of our scepter we straictly charge coÌ„mauÌ„d that according vnto the lawes made before our time by Theodosius the worthy Emperour of happy memory against such frensie and madnes presentlye annexed vnto these our gracious letters generally directed vnto all if they be Bishops and of the clergye that they be depriued of theyr dignity priesthood if Monkes or lay men that they be exiled punished with confiscatioÌ„ of their wholl substaÌ„ce other seuere penalties For in so doing the holy coessential Trinity autor and geuer of life vnto the wholl world beinge honored of vs with such homage seruice not onely for the rootinge out of suche tares as we haue mentioned before but also for the true and Apostolicke traditions toutchinge the holy creede established by vs is like to be reconciled and fauorable vnto vs and vnto all our louinge subiects to gouerne the Empire together with vs and to bring peace and quietnes vnto mankind CAP. V. Howe many subscribed vnto the wicked letters of Basiliscus and condemned the councell of Chalcedon TImothee who was newely as I sayde before returned from exile as Zacharie Rhetor doth wryte subscribed vnto the aforesayde letters of Basiliscus vniuersally directed vnto all men Euen so did Peter Byshop of Antioch syrnamed Cnapheus who was at that tyme at Constantinople together with Timothee When these things were brought about in this sorte Paulus was chosen Archbishop of Ephesus It is reported also that Anastasius the successor of Iuuenalis in the seae of Ierusalem subscribed vnto those generall letters of Basiliscus and that many others to the number of fifty did no lesse I meane abrogated the decrees of Leo and the councell of Chalcedon Besides all this there is extante a supplication wrytten vnto Basiliscus by the Byshops of Asia whiche mette together at Ephesus whereof we haue borowed some parte and layde it here downe in suche sorte as followeth Vnto the moste holy and dearely beloued of Christ our puysant Lords Basiliscus and Marcus perpetuall Augusti After a fewe lines this is annexed You haue signified most holy and Christian Emperours that you your selues together with the fayth which is bothe hated and diuersly assaulted were impugned Agayne a litle after The terrible and dreadfull expectation of the day of dome the flame of Gods heuy wrath and your maiesties highe displeasure apprehended the aduersaries immediatly which arrogantly wente about to withstande almightye God to assault your confirmed raygne who moreouer doe not only not ceasse diuersly to affâ—ct and molest our meane calling but continewally reuile vs blase abroade false rumors and sclaunders of vs to wit that we subscribed vnto your gracious and Apostolicke letters generally wrytten vnto all not without compulsion and constraynt whereunto verely we haue subscribed vvith most willing and prompt mindes And againe after a few lines Take heede that in no wise ye laye downe any decrees contrarye vnto your former letters generally wrytten perswadinge your selues for most certaine that in so doing the wholl worlde will be set on hurlyburly and the mischiefs which rose of the councell of ChalcedoÌ„ where there was greate slaughter and blooshed of true professors and innocente persons in respecte of afterclapps shall seeme but trifles Towardes the ende there was wrytten VVe take our Sauiour Christ Iesus to witnesse that the religion and seruice vve ovve vnto God is bothe free and voluntarily and we craue moste humbly of your maiesties that besides sundry others specially the Bishop of Constantinople who is manifestly knowen to haue wickedlye behaued him selfe in his callinge may be condemned and deposed of his dignitye by the iuste canonicall and Ecclesiasticall censure Besides all the aforesayde Zacharis wryteth in this sorte VVhen the letters of the Emperour generally directed vnto all were published abroade the Monkes of ConstaÌ„tinople being infected with the noysome sinke of Eutyches hereticall opinioÌ„ supposing now after the restoringe of Timothee and publishinge of the Emperours letters they had gotten that which they looked for to the vpholdinge of theyr heresie and hopinge nowe they could bringe theyr purpose to passe got them in all the haste vnto Timothee and after Timothee who proued that the worde of God accordinge vnto the flèsh was of one substance with vs but accordinge vnto his diuinitye of one substance vvith the father had confuted them they vvente home againe like fooles CAP. VI. Howe Timotheus Aelurus after he had recouered the Bishopricke of Alexandria rendered vnto the seae of Ephesus the Metropoliticke iurisdiction and accursed the councell of Chalcedon THe aforesayd Zacharie reporteth howe that Timothee left Constantinople and gott him to Ephesus and there restored Paulus who was lately chosen by the Bishops of the prouince according vnto the canons of the Church yet after deposed vnto his former Bishopricke The sayde Timothee moreouer restored the seae of Ephesus as I sayd before vnto her Metropoliticke iurisdiction that was taken away by the councell of Chalcedon Thence he tooke shipping and came to Alexandria there he requested of as many as came vnto him to accurse the councel of Chalcedon There left him as Zacharie wryteth
sundry of his owne crue but specially Theodotus one of them which forsooke Theodosius who then was made Bishop of Ierusalem by certaine sedicious persons at Ioppe and accompanied Iuuenalis to Constantinople CAP. VII Howe Basiliscus fearinge him selfe in the insurrection made by the Monkes through the perswasion of Acacius called in his former letters AGaine the aforesayd autor wryteth howe Acacius Bishop of Constantinople canuased the matter about raised both Monkes and people of Constantinople against Basiliscus as one that was an hereticke made him denye he had wrytten his letters vniuersally vnto all men and decree that such things as he had rashly and vnaduisedly published should be called in againe and to haue also brought to passe that the same Emperour sent euery where vnto all men contrary letters wherein he approued the councell of Chalcedon The same Zacharie shewinge himselfe very partiall throughout his history and led very much with affection omitted the sayde contrary letters they were wrytten as followeth The repelling letters of Basiliscus the Emperour THe Emperours Caesars Basiliscus and Marcus we charge and commaunde that the Apostolicke and true faith from the beginning hitherto retayned in the Churche continewed vnto this our present raigne obserued ofvs this day be embraced for euer in it we were baptized we beleue that the same is only to be embraced firmly vnuiolably being embraced to be continewed throughout all the Catholicke Apostolicke Churches vnder heauen no other besides this to be longer sought for VVherefore our will is that the letters generally wrytten duringe our raygne either vnto all men or otherwise howe soeuer or vvhat beside this hathe bene published by vs be henceforth cancelled and abolished that Nestorius Eutyches with all theyr complices and euery heresie be accursed that no councell be called together neither any decree or reasoninge of the fayth but that suche thinges as are already in that behalfe established remaine vnuiolable that the prouinces whereunto the seae of this royall and noble citie hathe the preferringe of Byshops be restored vnto the moste reuerend and moste holy Patriarch Acacius and that the Bishops alredy placed throughout the prouinces continewe neuerthelesse in theyr proper seaes so that there may rise thereof after theyr desease no preiudice at all vnto the prerogatiue of the holye seae of Constantinople Laste of all let no man doubte but that this our gracious decree is of force agreable vvith the vvill of God Thus were these thinges brought about CAP. VIII Howe Zeno the deposed Emperour recouered againe the royall scepter ZEno as it is reported seing in a vision the holy valiaunt and renowmed martyr Thecla not onely prouoking but also promising him to be restored againe vnto the Emperiall robes led his army towardes Constantinople And hauinge allured with giftes such as besieged him he thrust Basiliscus who had raygned two yeares beside the scepter tooke him out of the sanctuary he had fledd vnto and deliuered him vnto the hand of the enemy For which cause Zeno dedicated at Seleucia in Isauria a goodly temple gorgeously buylded vnto y â— renowmed martyr Thecla bewtified it with many Princely monuments which were preserued vnto this our age But as for Basiliscus he sent him away to suffer at Cappadocia where together with wife and children he was put to death in an Inne called Acouson Immediatly after Zeno made a lawe where he abrogated the decrees of Basiliscus the tyrant comprised in the letters he had generally wrytten vnto all men banished Peter syrnamed Cnapheus out of Antioch and Paulus Bishop of Ephesus CAP. IX Howe after the deceasse of Basiliscus the Bishops of Asia going about to pacisie Acacius who stomached them for condemning the councell of Chalcedon sent vnto him theyr recantation THe Bishops of Asia to the ende they might auoyde the displeasure Acacius had conceaued against them acknowledged theyr faultes and craued pardon sent vnto him theyr recantatioÌ„ and repentance where they protested that they had subscribed not of theyr owne accord but by constraint and compulsion vnto the generall letters of Basiliscus and confirmed with an oth that it was euen so and that they beleeued no otherwise then the couÌ„cell of Chalcedon did beleue The recantation was thus The Epistle or recantation sent by the Bishops of Asia vnto Acacius Bishop of Constantinople VNto Acacius the most holy and most religious Patriarch of Constantinople After a fewe lines VVe haue sente vnto you as it was very meete one for to supplye our rowme In a while after this againe By these our letters we doe protest that not of our owne accord but by compulsion we were brought to subscribe vnto Basiliscus letters and that we haue geueÌ„ thereunto our consents not with hart but only in word For by the grace of almighty God who louingelye accepteth of our prayers we beleue no otherwise then we learned of the three hundred and eighteene famous men and lightes of the wholl worlde and besides them of the hundred fifty holy fathers VVe hold moreouer with the holy acts decreed by the godly fathers at Chalcedon As for the report Zacharie Rhetor made of these bishops whether he sclaundered theÌ„ or whether they lyed theÌ„ selues that they had subscribed against their wills vnto Basiliscus letters I am not able certenly to auoutch CAP. X. VVhat Bishops there were of Antioch about that time AFter that Peter was banished the Church of Antioch StephaÌ„ succeeded him in the Bishopricke whome the people of Antioch dispatched as Iohn Rhetor declareth with litle darts much like sharpe speares After his decease Calandio gouerned the seae who perswaded as many as came vnto him to accurse both Timothee the general letters Basiliscus had sent abrod vnto all Churches CAP. XI Howe the Emperour Zeno spared Timotheus Aelurus because of his gray heare after this Aelurus death Petrus Moggus became Bishop of Alexandria he was deposed Timotheus Basilicus placed in his rowme ZEno although he purposed to banish Timothee Alexandria yet when it was told him that he was a very olde man and ready to lye in his graue he altered his mind Timothee not longe after finished the race of his mortall life immediatly the Bishops of that prouince chose of theyr owne heade Peter syrnamed Moggus to theyr Bishop Zeno hearinge this was very muche displeased gaue forth commaundement that Peter should die the death called home Timothee the successor of Proterius who then by reason of a certaine insurrection made of the people led his life at Canabus Thus Timothee by the Emperours coÌ„maundement recouered againe the bishoprick CAP. XII Of Iohn who crept to be Bishop of Alexandria after the death of Timothee and howe the Emperour deposed him for periurie preferringe Petrus Moggus to the rowme IOhn the Priest Parson of Saynct Iohn Baptists the forerunner of our Sauiour â—ame through some mens perswasion to Constantinople made sute vnto the Emperour that if it fell out the Byshop of
and gouernours thereof and that our Empire neither hath allowed neither will retayne any other creede or forme of faith then that we spake of euen nowe let vs ioyntly without any more a doe be reconciled and embrace vnity and concorde These things haue we wrytten vnto you not to innouate ought as toutching the faith but fully to satisfie you therein VVe doe accurse whosoeuer hath beleued or doth beleue the contrary either nowe or at other times either in the councell of Chalcedon or in any other councell whatsoeuer â–ª but specially of all others we doe accurse Nestorius Eutyches and their coÌ„plices VVherefore hold with your Ghostly mother the Churche and celebrate therein together with vs the one holy coÌ„munion according vnto that one fayth of the three hundred eighteen holy fathers For your most holy mother the Church groneth after you and desireth to embrace you which are her naturall children moreouer she longeth to heare your sweete voyces Get ye thither in all the hast If ye doe this ye shal not onely purchase vnto your selues the fauour of our Lord Sauiour Christ Iesus but also the coÌ„mendation of our highnes This epistle being read all the people of Alexandria returned vnto the Catholick and Apostolicke Church CAP. XV. Howe Iohn the deposed Bishop of Alexandria gott him to Rome and procured Simplicius the Bishop of Romes letters in his behalfe vnto Zeno toutching the iniuries he had sustayned IOhn of whome we spake before tooke his heeles from Alexandria vnto olde Rome and raised there a wonderfull great sedition For he made reporte that they deposed him of his bishoprick for maintaining the decrees of Leo and the councell of Chalcedon and that there was an other placed in his rowme which impugned the same Simplicius Bishop of olde Rome hearing of this was wonderfully moued and wrote in his behalfe vnto the Emperour Zeno but Zeno answered him againe accused Iohn of periurie and that therefore and for no other crime he was deposed CAP. XVI Howe Calandio Bishop of Antioch was deposed for partaking with Ilus Leo and Pampreps and howe the Bishops of Constantinople Ierusalem Antioch and Alexandria were reconciled one to the other CAlandio Bishop of Antioch wrote vnto Zeno the Emperour and vnto Acacius Bishop of Constantinople that Peter was not onely an adulterer but also had accursed the councel of Chalcedon at his beinge in Alexandria Yet afterwardes this Calandio was banished into Oasis for holdinge with Ilus Leo and Pampreps against Zena Peter sirnamed Cnapheus who was Bishop of Antioch before Calandio Stephan recouered his bishopricke againe subscribed vnto Zenos Epistle of Concorde wrote synodall letters vnto Peter Moggus Bishop of Alexandria Acacius Bishop of Constantinople was afterwardes reconciled vnto this Peter Martyrius likewise Bishop of Ierusalem wrote synodall letters vnto him Yet afterwardes diuers withdrewe theÌ„ selues from Peters communion and therevpon it fell out that Peter openly accursed the councell of Chalcedon Acacius Bishop of Constantinople hearing of this was very sory wrote vnto diuers of his friends for to vnderstand the trueth Peter beâ—nge desirous to satisfie them to the vttermost wrot backe againe to purge him selfe that he had coÌ„mitted no such act yet some doe reporte y â— they knewe certainly that Peter wrote no such thing CAP. XVII Of the thinges which Peter Bishop of Alexandria wrote vnto Acacius who maintayned the councell of Chalcedon THe aforesayd Peter being a wauering person and a time seruer continewed not longe in one mind but nowe accursed the councell of Chalcedon and anone recanted him of his folly approuing in all poynts the same councell Wherefore he wrote vnto Acacius Bishop of CoÌ„stantinople in manner as followeth The most high God recoÌ„pence your holynes for your great trauell and carefulnes who not only your selfe many yeares agoe haue kept the faith of the holy fathers but also confirmed the same by continewall preaching publique sermons For the coÌ„firmation of which faith we see that the creede of the three hundred and eighteene holy fathers hath very well bene framed in it we were baptized in it we haue beleued nowe doe beleue the whiche faith also was confirmed by a hundred and fiftye godlye Bishops in the councell of Constantinople wherefore you leade all men coÌ„tinewally as a guide you bring the holy church of God into vnity last of all you perswade vs with inuincible arguments that nothinge was decreed in the most holy generall councell of Chalcedon preiudiciall vnto these canons of the fathers but that such things as of old were established by the holy fathers in the councel of Nice were confirmed in this councell with vniforme consent of all we of our owne part seing we saw therein nothing innouated as toutching the faith haue coÌ„sented theruÌ„to of our own accord beleued the same Yet are we not ignoraÌ„t that there are certeÌ„ moÌ„kes which enuie at our brotherly loue amity which blase in your hearing sclauÌ„derous reports that can not I am sure so easily displease your holynes first of all howe we should translate into an other place the corps of the most holy and our most reuerend father Timothee the Archbishop which as they say is neyther acceptable vnto God neyther agreable vvith the lawes Agayne they gette them vnto the seconde crime the which as it is forged so is it farre more haynous then the other For howe can it be that we should accurse the councell of Chalcedon seing we confirme the same by our beliefe your holinesse I am sure is not ignorant how both people and monks contende here with vs who can first deuise any fonde noueltie they determined to fall againe from the Church together with certaine other lewd persons and to draw the people after them VVherfore beinge holpen with your prayers we haue deuised these letters as a salue for this mischief which derogate nothing at all from the councell of Chalcedon fully satisfyinge our selues that there was no noueltie established therein This haue we done moreouer partly for to perswade the simpler sort of men partly also for their sakes which remaine here with vs that they may haue somewhat for them selues to stoppe the aduersaties mouth with all and by imployinge in this behalfe our continuall trauell and industrye we haue suppressed in short space the furious disposition of the people I woulde haue your holinesse yet to learne one thinge more howe the monks ceasse not at this houre to sowe tares among the wheate how they linked vnto them certaine men whiche neuer liued in the monasteries as instruments of their wicked practises howe they rogue about and spred false rumors both against vs and the quiet state of Christes Churche howe they suffer vs to doe nothinge decently as the canons of the holy and catholicke Churche of Christ doe require but rather bringe to passe that the people will sooner controle vs then be commaunded of vs naye all their doinge is detestable
in the sight of God and man I hope your holinesse will signifie all the aforesayde vnto our most holy Lorde the Emperour and bringe to passe that his highnesse may decree in this behalfe suche thinges as may be for the Ecclesiasticall peace and tranquillitie agreeable with the will of God and the Emperours industrie to thend all men may conforme them selues thereafter CAP. XVIII How Iohn the deposed byshop of Alexandria counselled Felix byshop of Rome to depose Acacius byshop of Constantinople IOhn who fledde to Rome after Zeno had deposed him certified Felix the successor of Simplicius in the Byshopricke of Rome of Peters doinges exhorted him as Zacharie writeth to send Acacius a depriuation because he had communicated with Peter the whiche act of Felix being contrary to the canons of the Church Acacius would not approue The messengers that brought this Epistle vnto Acacius were the paynefull and vigilant monks called Acoimetoi Zacharie is the autor of the premises who as farre as I can see knewe nothinge of the whole circumstance perfectly but hearde it onely as it were ouer the shoulder and so reported it Wherefore I my selfe will now write the stories as they were in deede When Iohn had exhibited accusations and bills against Acacius vnto Felix that contrary vnto the Canon of the Churche he had communicated with Peter and of other haynous offences which he had done against the decrees of the Churche Felix sent Vitalius and Misinus two byshops vnto the Emperour Zeno partly to confirme with his autoritie the councell of Chalcedon partly also to depose Peter of his Byshoprick as an hereticke and last of all to sende Acacius vnto him for to render an accompt and to purge him selfe of such crimes as Iohn of whom we made often mention before layd to his charge CAP. XIX How Cyrill head of the vigilant monks sent vnto Felix byshop of Rome charging him with slacknesse in reuenging suche iniuries as the fayth sustained ERe the aforesayde Vitalius and Misinus came vnto the Emperour Cyrill head of the vigilant monks charged him with slacknesse of duety seeinge so many grieuous practises take place against the true and sincere faith Felix then wrote vnto Misinus that he shoulde doe nothinge afore he had conferred with Cyrill and learned of him what was to be done CAP. XX. VVhat Felix wrote vnto Zeno the Emperour and Zeno vnto him againe FElix wrote not onely vnto Zeno but also vnto others where he brought them into remembrance partly of the councell of Chalcedon and partly also of the persecution in Aphrik in the raigne of Theodorichus He wrote an other Epistle vnto Acacius but Zeno wrote backe againe and tolde him that he fought with his shadowe in geuing eare vnto Iohns report and in contendinge with his aduersaries for he was the man that bound him self with an othe that he would neuer be Byshop of Alexandria yet afterwardes was founde periured and to committe euerye kinde of sacrilege that Peter was aduaunced vnto the priestly function not wythout good tryall of his faythe that he subscribed wyth his owne hande and approued the faythe of the hree hundred and eyghteene holy fathers in the councell of Nice which fayth was afterwardes ratifyed by the councell of Chalcedon These were the wordes of Zeno VVe woulde haue you assure your selfe that our highnesse with moste holye Peter mentioned before and all the Christian congregations doe embrace and reuerence the sacred councell of Chalcedon which councell is one in effect with the Nicene creede There are Epistles to be seene amonge the actes of the aforesayde councell partly of Cyrill mentioned before and partly of other gouernours of the monasteries of Constantinople and of the byshops and clergie within the prouince of Aegypt vnto Felix byshop of Rome against Peter as an heretick and against all them that communicated with him As many of the vigilant monks as came to Felix rebuked Misinus and Vitalis because that vntill their comminge to Constantinople the name of Peter was secretely vsed to be reade in the holy catalogue but since that time continually vnto this present houre Misinus and Vitalis communicated with Peter The Epistle whiche the Byshops of Aegypte wrote signified this muche of Peter and that Iohn was of the true fayth and consecrated accordinge vnto the canons of the Churche that Peter was ordered onely by two Byshops infected with the same exror with him and that immediately after the flight of Iohn he left no punishment vnpractised vpon the true professors All which circumstances are said to haue bene signified vnto Acacius and that Acacius ayded Peter in all what so euer he went about CAP. XXI Howe Symeon one of the vigilant monks went to Rome accused them that came from Rome to Constantinople that they had communicated with hereticks and procured their depriuation THe aforesayd accusations were augmented at the report of Symeon one of the vigilant monks whome Cyrill had sente vnto Felix For Misinus and Vitalis were reprehended of him because they communicated with heretickes specially seeing the name of Peter the hereticke was openly reade in the holy catalogue and that in so doing many simple men were snared of the hereticks who sticked not to bragge that the Byshop of Rome receaued Peter into the communion Symeon sayde moreouer that when certaine interrogatories were demaunded Misinus and his company woulde not conferre with the true catholickes would not receaue their writinÌ„gs neither exquisitly sift out suche thinges as were done and greatly did preiudice the true fayth Syluanus the prieste who accompanied Misinus and Vitalis to Constantinople was broughte forth and he auoutched that the monks allegations were true They reade moreouer the Epistle of Acacius where he gaue Simplicius to vnderstand that Peter was lately deposed and pronounced the childe of darkenesse To be shorte Misinus and Vitalis were deposed of their dignities and cutte of from the holy and vndefiled communion and that by the censure of the wholl assembly which pronounced of Peter as followeth The Churche of Rome doth not communicate with Peter the heretick who was lately condemned by the Apostolicke sâ—ae excommunicated the Church and helde for accursed although there were no other crime to charge him with all yet is this of force sufficient that he can not gouerne the faithful people of God because he was ordered of hereticks In the same decree this also was comprised It appeared euidently that Acacius byshop of Constantinople was greatly to be blamed because for all he wrote vnto Simplicius and called Peter an hereticke yet he would not make Zeno priuey thereunto when as in verie deede if he had borne good will vnto Zeno he should haue done it And rather he should haue pleased the Emperour then prouided for the fayth But let vs returne to discourse of the historie There is extant an Epistle of Acacius vnto the byshops of Aegypt priests monks al the people where he endeuoreth to bring such as raise schisme
about to restraine thē he did nought els saue heape coales on his owne head Whereupon a certaine magistrate of the East going about to chastise these rebels clapped gyues on their feet for to bridle their violence was led him self through the mids of the city grieuously tormented with fetters Callinicus also lieuetenant of Cilicia whē two Cilicians Paulus Faustinus both murtherers rebelled against him conspired his death because he put in vre y ◠penalty which the law had ordained for such malefactors was him selfe hanged on the gallowes and endured this punishment for his good conscience execution of the lawes Hereupon it fel out that such as were of the other faction being driuen to leaue their dwelling places and could no where be lodged but were shoueled here there as shamefull miscreants fell to assault trauellers to rob to steale to murther euery one y ◠met them vntill it grewe vnto such outragiousnes y ◠all places sounded of vntimely slaughter of spoyling other such like haynous offences Yet at length some good moode was found in him that made him to chaunge his minde and to execute such kinde of men suffering the lawe to take place against them whom he permitted afore time to rage throughout the cities like Barbarians and bloud suckers But to discourse of these things sufficiently time wil not serue neither will my penne be able to paint them accordingly By these few ye may coniecture of the other horrible actes which Iustinian committed CAP. XXXII Of Barsanuphius the Monke THere liued about that time very godly men who in many places wrought great myracles so that their Fame was euery where spred abrode Of which number one was Barsanuphius an Aegyptian borne This man led his life in a monasterie hard by Gaza although he were in the flesh yet bridled he the motions therof in so much that he did many notable myracles It is thought that he shutte vp him selfe in a certen caban and since the time he went in for the space of fiftie yeares and more that he was neuer seene of any neuer tooke sustenance or any other thing on earth When Eustochius bishop of Ierusalem would not beleue it to be true but toke it for a fable he went and digged vp the caban where this holy man had pend him selfe and as report goeth there rose out thence fire which almost burned such as came thither with him CAP. XXXIII Of Symeon the Monke who fained him selfe to be a soole for Christes sake THere was at Emesa a man whose name was Symeon who laying aside all desire of vaine glory although he was wise in euery respect and replenished with the grace of God yet seemed he vnto such as knew him not as if he had bene a starke foole He liued for the most part a solitarie life neither did he make any man priuie either when or what he prayed vnto God neither at what time he alone fasted or refreshed nature by taking of sustenance sometime when he walked in the open streate or market place he seemed farre from the common trade of liuing nay he shewed him selfe as though he had neither witte nor vnderstanding Againe if hunger draue him into a Tauerne he would feede vpon pottage meate and whatsoeuer first came to his hand If in case any did him obeysance and saluted him with the bowing of the head he woulde straight be angrie and gette him thence with speede fearing left the common people would espie his vertue Thus was Symeon wont to doe at his being in the market Yet there were some with whom he made him selfe familier and that vnfainedly Of which number one had a maide that was rauished and gotten with childe and being compelled by her maister and maistresse openly to reueale the father and him that plaid so leud a part made answere that Symeon had secretely layen with her and that shee had conceaued of him that shee would not onely sweare it to be true but also if neede were proue it with plaine euidence Symeon hearing of this sayd it was so in deede that he was a man as other men were and that the flesh was a fraile thing When the rumour thereof was noised abrode and Symeon therefore as it was very likely defamed for euer he gotte him out of sight and made them beleeue he was ashamed When the houre came that she should be deliuered as the maner is she lay in her labour was so grieuous so great and the paine so intollerable that the poore seely wretch was ready to yelde vp the ghost yet was she not ridde of her burthen Wherefore when Symeon who of sette purpose came thither was entreated to pray vnto God for her his answere was that the woman was not like to be deliuered before she confessed truely who was the father of the childe When she had so done and named them the true father immediatly the childe came spraulling out of her wombe and truth played the office of the midwife The same Symeon was seene on a certen time to goe into an harlots house who shutte the doore after him and taried there a long while when none was within but they two Againe was seene to vnlocke the doore and to put out his head looking about whether he could see any the which berely caused great suspition in so much that such as beheld him called the harlot vnto them demaunded of her what busines Symeon had in her house which swore vnto them that for pouertie she had not tasted of any thing in three dayes before saue only water that Symeon had brought her vitailes and a boule of wine that he had shut the dore and couered the table that he had commaunded her to sit downe and to eate her fill and that shee was sufficiently chastised and brought lowe enough with abstinence When shee had made this protestation she shewed them the fragmentes whiche remained of Symeons vittailes Furthermore the selfe same Symeon a litle before the earthquake which shooke in pieces Phoenicia on the sea shore at what time Berytus Biblium and Tripolis were lamentably turned to the ground tooke a whip in his hand and beate many of the pillours which stood in y t market place crying these words Stand fast be sure of your footing ye are like to daunce shortly Wherefore because he was wont to doe nothinge vnaduisedly they that were then present and behelde the circumstance noted diligently what pillours he ouerskipped without stripes whiche verily not longe after were ouerthrowen with the violence of the earthquake Many other thinges are remembred to haue bene done by him which require a peculiar volume if they be sufficiently handled CAP. XXXIIII Of Thomas the monke whiche played the foole in like sort as Symcon did before ABout that time Thomas who had led a very austere life in Coelosyria came to Antioch for the reliefe which was yearely geuen thence vnto his monastery This Thomas had bene in
there remaineth no hope for vs he perswaded them by prophecying of dead bones that there was comfort inough left for Israel both for the present and for the time to come This Prophet Iudged Israel and shewed what shoulde become both of Ierusalem and the Temple He was taken from Babylon that he came to Ierusalem the same houre to rebuke suche as beleeued not in God This Prophet sawe euen as Moses did before him the fygure of the Temple the Wall and what was thereabout and the gate through the whiche the Lorde was to enter in and toe goe out and that it woulde come to passe that the same gate woulde be shut and that all nations shoulde put their trust in the Lorde In Babylon he iudged the tribe of Dan and of Gad because they wrought wickednes in the sight of the Lord in persecuting them that kept the â—awe and he gaue them a terrible token for Adders destroyed their children and all their cattell for their sinne and iniquitye He prophecyed also that for their sakes the people shoulde not returne vnto their owne countrey but shoulde remayne in Media vntill they had repented them One of these was he that slewe this Prophet Daniel THe prophet Daniel prophecied in Babylon and was accepted of as one that was fit to prophecy of Christ. Know therefore vnderstand saith he that froÌ„ the going forth of the coÌ„maundement to bring againe the people and to build Ierusalem vnto Messias the prince there shal be seuen weeks and threescore two weekes c. Againe in an other place There vvas a sâ—one cut vvithout hands the stone smote the image it became also a great mountaine and filled the vvhol earth Againe And behold there came one in the clouds of heauen like the sonne of man vvhich vvent vnto the auncient of dayes vnto him there vvas geuen honor povver wyth other things that ther are laide downe This Daniel was of the tribe of Iudah a noble man borne being a yong childe he was led into captiuity out of Iudaea into the land of the Chaldees he was in the vpper Betheron so chasâ—â— man that the Ievves thought he had bene gelded he bewayled verye muche both the people and the holye citie Ierusalem He brought him selfe verye Iowe and weake by fastinge and abstayninge from delicate foode feedynge vpon the fruite of the earth In forme of bodye he was drye and leaue but in the fauour of God he was moyste and of good likinge At the request of Balthasar the kings sonne this prophet prayed very much for king Nabuchodonosor who was transformed into the figure of a monstrous beast that his father should not be cast away In the fore partes and the heade he was like an Oxe the hinder partes with the feete resembled the Lyon his heares were as Egles feathers and his nayles lyke byrdes 〈◊〉 â–ª It was reuealed vnto this holye man that the Kinge for his brutishe sensualitye and stifneckednesse â–ª shoulde be transformed into a beaste That is to saye he shoulde be made subiecte vnto Belial lyke an Oxe vnder yoke and resemble a Lyon for his raueninge tyrannye and crueltye These are the propertyes of Potentates in their youth vntill at length they are become bruite beasts rauening slaying practising tyrauny and all kinde of impieâ—y and in the end they receaue of the iust iudgment of God the reward of their wickednes The spirit of God gaue this holy man to vnderstand that like an Oxe he woulde â—eede vpon hay which was his food Wherefore Nabuchodonosor after he had digested this meate he recouered the sense and vnderstandinge of man he wept he made supplication vnto the Lord day night he prayed vnto y e Lord forty times And being come vnto him self yet forgate he that he had bene made a man The vse of his tongue was taken away that he could not speak and vnderstanding of that immediatly he fel a mourning His eyes by reason of his continuall lamentation gaue forth a dead look Many went out of y e citie to see him yet only Daniel would not go for al â–ª y â— while he was so transformed Daniel ceassed not to pray for him his saying was he wil become a man again theÌ„ wil I see him but they gaue no credit vnto his words Daniel by praying vnto y â— most highest brought to passe y t the seuen years whoÌ„ he called seuen times were turned into seuen moneths that y e mystery of y e seuen times should in theÌ„ be finished within y â— space ofâ—enen mâ—â—eths he was restored vnto him selfe y e sixe yeares y t were behind the fiue moneths he prostrated him self before the Lord confessing his sinnes iniquity And when he had obtained remission of sinne he gaue his kingdome vnto y e prophet he eat neither bread neither flesh nor dronk wine but coÌ„fessed his sinnes vnto y e lord For Daniel had coÌ„maunded him to feed vpoÌ„ pulse herbs so to please y e Lord â–ª wherfore he called Daniel Balthasar would haue made him cahere w t his sonnes â–ª but as toutching the kingdome the holy prophet would none of it his aunswere was be fauourable vnto me O Lorde that I forsake not the inheritance of my fathers and become heire vnto the vncircumcised He wrought many straunge wonders in the presence of the other kings of Persia whiche are not written Daniel dyed in Chaldaea and was honorably buried alone in a princely sepulchre he gaue a terrible token as toutchinge the mountaines ouer Babylon saying When ye see them smoke of the North side the destruction of Babylon is at hand When ye see them burne then the whole worlde is nigh to an ende If out of these mountaines in time of calamitie there shall flowe out water then the people shall returne into their owne lande if blood doe runne out there will be greate slaughter throughout the worlde After all this holy man of God rested in peace Baruch BAruch liued in the time of the prophet Ieremy he was his scribe he wrote out of Ieremies mouth read it before Ioachas the sonne of Iosias king of Iuda after he had read it he was faine to flye awaye and hide him selfe together wyth Ieremy for the booke was burned It appeareth after this â—light he was verye timorous God sent Ieremye to reproue him for it Beinge ledde captiue into Babylon when Ieremye went downe to Aegypt he wrote that booke which beareth his name the which was sent from thence to Ierusalem to be read in the temple vpon high dayes Vrias VRias was of Cariath-iarim the sonne of Semei he prophecied against the citie of Ierusalem and the whole lande of ludaea euen as Ieremye did Ioacim the sonne of Iosias kinge of Iuda sought to kill him therefore Vrias hearing of it was very much affraide fled away and got him into Aegypt but king Ioacim sent meÌ„ after Vrias which brought him out
side of the cupp they bragged of their almes they fasted twise a weeke they washed their hands when they come from the market before meate they â—yâ—hed mynte reâ—… their attyre was supâ—â—stitious they wore â—â—â—â—acteries Luc. 11. Mâ—â—â— â–ª 7. Epiphan praeâ—ac lib â–ª 1. de haeres Anno. 6. Christ the 6. yeare after his byrth came out of Aegipt Ioseph hearing that Archelaus did raygne in his steede feared to go to Israel and went to Galile Matt. 2. Anno 47. Augusti Euse chronic  Archelaus afterwardes is deposed by Augustus Caesar and appointed ruler ouer certain prouinces as Idumaea Iudaea and Samaria Euseb lib 1. cap. 10. Ioseph Antiqu. lib. 17. cap. 17. ANANVS otherwise called Annas was appointed hygh priest by Cyrenius that was sent by Augustus into Iudaea after the exile of Archelaus this Cyrenius first deposed Eleazar and substituted Annas Ioseph Antiq. lib. 18. cap. 3. belike Eleazar was afterwards admitted and the 2. time deposed  The Scribâ—â— were thâ— doctors of the lawâ— â–ª foolishe superstitious glossers mayntayners of blind customes contrary to the trueth â–ª Epiphan de haeres Anno. 12. Christ being 12. yeare old went vp with his parents to Ierusalem at the feast of the Passouer was found disputing among the doctors Luc. 2.   Archelaus last of all is banished by Augustus as Euseb in chronic the 9. yeare of his raigne but as Ioseph Antiq. lib. 17. cap. 19. writeth the 10. yeare into Vienna a citie of Fraunce ISMAEL the sonne of Baphus is placed high-priest and Annas deposed by Valerius Graâ—us who was seÌ„t from Caesar into Iudaea Euseb lib. 1. cap. 11. There vvas a councell of priests gathered together at Ierusalem a litle before Christ reuealed him selfe to chuse a Prieste in the rovvme of one that vvas deseased Looke hovv many letters there are in the Hebrevv tongue so many priestes there vvere in the teÌ„ple to vvere 22. the maner vvas to register in a certaine boke reserued in the temple the day of the election the name of the elected the name of his father of his mother of his tribe whilest that they thought some on one maÌ„ some on an other there stepped forth a priest one of the multitude sayd My vvill is that IESVS the sonne of Ioseph the carpeÌ„ter be elected priest vvho though he be yoÌ„g in yers yet passeth he in vtteraÌ„ce vvisdome maners I thinke truely there vvas neuer seene in Ierusalem such a one both for eloquence life maners the vvhiche I am sure all that inhabit Ierusalem do knovve as vvell as I. The vvhich vvas no soner spoken but vvas allovved of the partie I meane Iesus chosen to be a prieste They doubt of his tribe agayne they vvere therein resolued They call for his parentes to register theyr names The priest that fauored Iesus made ansvver that Ioseph his father vvas deade yet Marie his mother vvas alyue She vvas brought before them she affirmed that she vvas his mother that Iesus vvas her sonne but she sayde moreouer that he had no father on earth that she vvas a virgine that the holy Ghost had ouershadovved her They sent for the midvviues also for such as had ben present at the birth She vvas founde to be a virgine in the end they concluded vvith one voyce that he shoulde be registred Iesus the soÌ„ne of God of Marie the virgine VVe remeÌ„ber moreouer Iosephus to haue said that Iesus sacrificed in the temple together vvith the priests Heerevpon also it fel out that as Iesus entred into the synagogue of the Ievves the boke vvas deliuered vnto him vvhere he read of the prophet Esai vvhereby vve gather that if Iesus had not bene priest amoÌ„g the Iewes â–ª the booke vvoulde not haue bene deliuered vnto him Neither is it permitted amongest vs Christians for any to reade holye scripture in the opeÌ„ assemblie vnlesse he be of the cleargie So farre Suidas as he learned of a Ievve  Anno. Christi 15. Anno. 56. August Euseb cronic TIBERIVS succeeded Augustus Caesar in the empire of Rome VALERIVS GRATVS was sent from Tiberius into Iudaea there to be president and after him Pilate Iosep Anti. li. 18. ca. 4. Euseb lib. 1. cap. 10.  Herode the Tetrarch king of the Iewes succeedeth Archelaus Herode heard of the â—ame of Iesu yet beleeued he not in him Math 14.       Herode maried Herodias the wife of his brother Philip his brother being aliue Iohn Baptist reprehended him for it whiche cost him his heade Math. 14.    Anno. Do. 30. Christ was baptized the 30 â–ª yeare of his age the 15. of Tiberius the emperour the 4. of the procuratorship of Pontius Pâ—â—ate Herode being Tetrarch of Galilee Philip tetrarch of Iâ—uâ—aea Lysanias tetrarch of Abâ—â—ene Iuc 3. Euseb lib. 1. cap. 11. Anno. 15. Tâ—berij About this time Iohn the Baptist preached in the wildernes of Iudaea he pointed at châ—â—st with the â—inger he baptised Christ in Iordan he reprehended Herod for marying his brothers wife he is beheaded in pâ—â—son by the coÌ„maÌ„demeÌ„t of Herode Math. 3. Iohn 1. Math. 14. Iosephus geueth of â—â—m a notable report Euseb lib. 1. cap. 12. Herod had to wife the daughter of Aretas king of Arabia the which he dimissed and maried Herodias for which cause Herode Aretas warred on against the other in the which battell Herodes host was vtterlye â—oyled as it was thought for a plague for beheadinge Iohn Baptist Euseb lib. 1. cap. 12. out of Iosephus ELEAZAR the sonne of Annas not long after was placed by the same Graâ—us and Ismael remoued Euseb lib. 1. cap. 11.  The Gorthaeans were â—ects celebrating theyr festiuall dayes at other tymes then the Iewes did Epiph. praeâ—ac lib. 1. de haeresib  VITâ—LLIVS the procurator of Syâ—â—a is sent from Tiberius to aâ—d Herode against Aretas Ioseph Antiq â–ª lib. 19. cap. 7. 8   SIMON the sonne of Camithus the yeare after was placed and Eleazar deposed by the same Gratus Euseb lib. 1. cap. 11.  The Sebuaeans were in their ceremonies coÌ„trary to the Iewes and to the Gorthaeans Epip The Dosithaeans were such as in diuers ceremonies seuered themselues from the Iewes â–ª some of them woulde marrie yet liue continue virgins they fasted from al liuing creatures they began of Dosithaeus who shewing his folowers an example of fasting famished him self to death thereby proued him selfe a foole Epiphan lib. 1. tom 1. heres 13. The Ossaeans after the Etymologie of their name signifie impudeÌ„t persons they vsed other scriptures besides the lawe they reiected the greater part of the later Prophets Epipha praeâ—ac lib. de heres Christ being baptized in the first yeare of his preaching was led into the wildernes and hauing fasted 40. dayes 40. nights Mat. 4. was seene of Iohn who pointed at him with the â—inger and sayd beholde the Lambe of God the which when
an Do. 351 coÌ„tinewed 17. yeres he was banished by Constantius the Arian emperour yet restored againe Socrat. li. 2. cap. 27. 29. Damasus in poÌ„tiâ— tom 1. concil Ierom. in chronic catalog eccl script in fortunatianoâ— Ant. chro part 2. tit 9. cap. 4. parag 5. do say that he yelded to the Arians subscribed vnto their here sie recouered his bishoprick again Antoninus sayth he exhorted others to coÌ„staÌ„cie but did not perseuere him selfe  Aëtius the mayster of Eunomius the hereticke was made deacoÌ„ by LeoÌ„tius the Arian b. of Antioch yet sayth Epiphanius by Georgius the Arian b. of Alexandria He was an Arian yet fell he from them because they receaued Arius into the communion after his fayned recantation He was counted a great logician and called anâ— A theiste for reuilingâ— the aunciente Fathers He was excommunicacated yet woulde hâ— seeme of his owne accord to leaue the church he taught that the substance of the father 〈…〉 the sonne were not like one the other Socrat. li â–ª 2. cap. 28. li. 3. cap. 8. Thâ— heretickes of this opinion were called Anâ—mâ—ioi Epiphan haeres 7 â–ª          Eunomius b. of Cyzâ— cum the scribe of Aâ—tius sayde that God hâ— no more knowledge tâ—… man He tearmed 〈…〉 the man of God and 〈…〉 baptized all that caâ—… to him in the name the vncreated god in 〈…〉 name of the sonne 〈◊〉 and in the name of the sanctifyinge spirite created of the created sonne Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 7. Theodor. lib. 2. cap. 29 Epiphan haeres 76. 355.  Didymus Alexandri nus a notable clerk was in his youthtime troubled with sore eyes became blind he left behind him many notable works Antony the monke came out of the desert into AlexaÌ„dria conforted him Socrat lib. 4. cap. 20. A councell helde at Antioche decreed that such as were present at seruice should communicate otherwise depart tom 1. concil A councell held at SirmiuÌ„ in the time of Constantius condeÌ„ned Photinus bishop of that seae which mayntayned the heresie of Sabellius and Paulus Samosatenus this councell was of Arians they scourged among them Osius b. of Corduba in Spayne made him subscribe vnto Arianisme Socrat. li. 2. cap. 24. 26. Hilarius Leontius an Arian succeeded Stephan he gelded him self to auoid the suspicion of a woman whose company he kept wherfore he was by Constantius made b. of Antioch Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 21. Felix was b. of Rome by the coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t of CoÌ„staÌ„tius the procuremeÌ„t of the Arians one yeare while Liberius was in exile he was an Arian as Socrates writeth lib. 2. cap. 29. IeroÌ„ in chroÌ„ and Ruff. lib. 1. cap. 22. yet Antoninus sayeth he was a godly man  Photinus b. of SirmiuÌ„ maintayned the heresie of Sabellius P. Samosatenus that Christ was not God before Marie bare him He sayde the word was at the beginiÌ„g with the father but not the sonne Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 24. Epiphan haeres 71    A generall councell was suÌ„moned to meete at Mediolanum where the East and west churches brauled about Athanasius and dissolued the councell agreeinge vpon nothing CoÌ„staÌ„tius seeing the countreyes were farre asunder coÌ„maunded the East churches to meete at Nico media in Bithynia and the west at Ariminum in Italic Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 29. The councell of Ariminum coÌ„demned the Arians Socra lib. 2. cap. 29.  Eudoxius b. of Germanicia in Syria crepte through wiles into the bishoprike of Antioch after the desease of Leontius but the couÌ„cell of godly bishops held at Seleuciadeposed him afterwards he gotte to be bishoppe of Constantinople Socrat lib. 2. ca 29. 32. 33.   Aërius an Arian hereticke coÌ„demned saith Augustine the prayer for the dead which Epiphanius doth call the comemoration for the dead He abhorred the prescribed fastingdayes he sayd that a bishoppe was no better then a priest conteÌ„ning therein the canoÌ„ of the church August lib. de haeres Epiphan haeres 75. 363.   A councell of Arian b. mett at Nice in Thracia where in steede of Nice in Bithynia they bleared the eyes of the godly with the sounde of the Nicene Creede Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 29. A councell was helde at Seleucia in Isauria where the Arians were condemned Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 31. Cyrillus who was aboue deposed recouered his bishop rick againe Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 35.    Lucifer b. of Sardinia fell from the church vpon a stomack he beleued saith Augustine that the soule came by transfusion to wit by pourâ—g out from the one into the other moreouer they say that the soule is of the flesh and the substance of the fleshe Socrat lib. 3. cap. 7. August de haeres Theodoreâ— lib. 3. cap. 5. 364.   A councell of 50. Arian bishops was called at Constantinople where they condemned the Nicene creede Eustathius b. of Sebastia in Armenia Cyrill b. of Ierusalem Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 32.  Anianus was by the councell of Seleu cia made b. of Antioch after they had deposed Eudoxiê° the Arian but the Arians exiled him immediatly Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 32.   Audaeus the heretick liued in Caelosyria in the time of Constantius as Ierom sayth in chroÌ„ He thought that God had the shape of man miscoÌ„struing the saying lette vs make man after our image c. Theodoret li. 4. cap. 10. These heretickes in the time of Chrysostome were called Anthropomorphits Donatus of whome the Donatists haue theyr original was in the time of CoÌ„stantius There was an other of the same name immediatly after he fell through coÌ„tention from the church at Carthage and taught through Aphricke that as manye as came vnto him were to be rebaptized that the sonne was inferior to the father the holy ghost inferior to the sonne IeroÌ„ chronic August lib. de haeres   A councell of Arians met at Antioch and confirmed the blasphemie â–ª of Arius They were called Anomoioi and Execoutioi Socrat lib. 2.  Meletius is chosen b. of Antioch after Eudoxius but CoÌ„stantius deposed him for maintayning the Nicene Creede agaynste the Arians â–ª Socrat lib. 2. ca. 34.   Apollinarius the father and the sonne of one name fell from the faith vpoÌ„ a stomacke at Laodicea in Syria they taught that Christ tooke a body but no soule againe seeinge that was absurde they sayde he had no resonable soule Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 36. Ruff lib. 1. cap. 20.      Euzoius the Arianwas by the Emperour made b. of Antioch after the deposition of Meletius Socrat lib. 2. ca. 34.   Dimeritae were hereticks of Apollinarius opinioÌ„ so called because they denyed the thirde part to wit the resonable soule in Christ Some of them sayde that his body was coessentiall with his diuinity some other of them denyed he had any soule at all some agayne of them sayd that he tooke no flesh
of the virgine but that the worde became flesh Epiphan haeres 76. 77. 365. Iulian succeded ConstaÌ„tius in the empire he heard at ConstaÌ„tinople Macedonius the Eunuch Niâ—ôcles the Laconian Ecebolius the sophist CoÌ„stantius fearinge he woulde fall froÌ„ christian religion into heathenish idolatrie sente him to Nicomedia charging him nor to treade in the schoole of Libanius yet by stelthe he resorted vnto him and read his heathenishe doctrine When the Emperour suspected his disposition IuliaÌ„ shaued him selfe and became a reader in a certaine churche yet after the Emperours death the obtayninge of the empire he became an Apostata he banished the Christians out of his court entertained in steede of theÌ„ philosophers coniurers Not longe after being the third yere of his raigne he was slayne in a battayle whiche he gaue the Persians An arrowe was shot at hiÌ„ which pearced him in the ribbs and gaue him his deaths wounde Some say it was one of his owne seruants some other that it was a fugitiue Persian some other saye that it was a deuell some doe write that he tooke the daâ—te out of his side threwe it all bloodie into the ayre cryed O Galilaean meaning Christ thou hast ouercome Socra lib. 3. cap. 1. 9. 10. 18. Sozomen lib. 6. cap. 2. Theodo lib. 3. cap. 25. Iouianus a godly maÌ„ one that mayntayned the Nicene creede was Experour after Iulian. He raygned no longer then seaueÌ„ moneths but he dyed Socrat. lib. 3. cap. 19. 20. 22. Macedonius Theodulus Tatianus were broyled to death in the time of Iulian. Socrat lib. 3. cap. 13. Theodorus was sore tormented Socrat. lib. 3. cap. 16. A councell held at AlexaÌ„dria by Athanasius after his returne from exile in the time of Iulian where the Arians Apollinarians Macedonians were condeÌ„ned Socrat lib. 3. ca. 5. A couÌ„cel held at LampsacuÌ„ 7. yeares after the couÌ„cell of Seleucia wher the AriaÌ„s were condemned Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 2. 4. A councell of bishops in Sicilia condemned the AriaÌ„s Soc. lib. 4. cap. 11. Iohn was b. of Ierusalem after Cyrill Socrat lib. 2. cap. 25. Dorotheus Paulinus and Euagrius beig godly meÌ„ were chosen by the people yet notsuffred to continew  Massiliani were idle monks whome the deuell had possessed they sayde that the bodie of Christ in the sacrament did neither good neyther harme they sayde baptisme was to no purpose Leotius b. of Melitena draue the theeues out of their dennes the wolues from among the sheepe sett their monasteries on fire Theodoreâ— lib. 4. cap. 11. these hereticks were called also Euchitae so called because of their coÌ„tinewaâ— prayinge It is a wonder sayeth Augustine to heare what a number of prayers they runne ouer muche like vnto the late mumblinge of prayers vpon beades where Christ sayd Praye alwayes and Sainct Paul Pray without intermission which is deuoutly to be taken for euery day they doe it to much therfore sayeth Augustine to be numbred among heretickes They saye when the soule is purged that a sowe with her pigges is seene to come out of mans mouth and that a visible fire entreth in whiche burneth not these Euchits did thinke that it appertayned not vnto the monkes to get theyr lyuinge with the sweate of their browes but to lyue idlye Epiphanius sayth that wheÌ„ Luppicianus the Praetor executed some of them for their lewdnesse they called them selues Marryrianos Some of them thoughte that it was they re duetie to worshippe the deuell lest he shoulde hurte them these were called Sataniani If ye called any of them Christ a Patriarche a Prophet or an Angell he woulde answere that he was so They slepte like swine men and women all in one heape August lib. de haeres Epiphan haeres 80. These MassiliaÌ„s were coÌ„demned in the generall councell held at Ephesus in the tyme of Theodosius iunior Cyrill lib. Apologet.   Artemius a noble man beheaded for the faith Theodor lib. 3. cap. 18. The MeletiaÌ„s esseÌ„bled at An tioche where they layde down the Macedonian opinion of the sonne of God iump betwene the Arians the true christians where they proued theÌ„ selues neutrans Ier. chro Socr. li. 3. cap. 8.  Dorotheus tooke possession of the bishopricke the seconde time and coÌ„tinewed ther a good while Democh. Socrat lib. 4. cap 28.      A councell at Laodicea anno Domini 368. decreed that the laytie shold not chuse the priest that lessoÌ„s shold be read in the church betwene certen Psalmes that seruice should be morning euening that the Gospel should be reade with other Scriptures on the sunday that leÌ„t should religiously be obserued without marieÌ„g solemnizinge the feastes of martyrs That christians shold not daunce at brydehouses c. tom 1. coÌ„c      367. Valentinianus one whome sometime Iulian banished his court succeeded Iouianus in the Empir he ioyned with him his brother Valens Valentinianus was a true Christian but Valens an Arian the one persecuted the Churche the other preserued the christians Valentinianus dyed Anno Domini 380. after he had liued foure and fiftye yeares and raygned thirteene Valens his brother raygned 3. yeares after him departed this life Socrat lib. 4. ca. 1. 26. 31. Basilius b. of Caesarea in Cappadocia florishedabout this time wheÌ„ Valens the emperour sent for him out of Caesarea into Antioch he be haued him selfe very stoutly in the defence of the trueth Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 21. Gregorie Nazianzen the maister of S. Ierom liued in the time of Valens dyed in the raygne of Theodosius Magnus Socrat. li. 4. cap. 21. Ierom catalog eccles script A councell of Nouatians met at Pazum and decreed contrary to the Nicen couÌ„cell that the feaste of Easter shoulde be kept alike with the Iewes Socrat. li. 4. cap. 23. Nepos Meletiê° came the seconde time to be Byshop Democh    368.  Ambrose b. of Millayne beiÌ„g Liuetenant of the prouince was chosen to gouerne the church by the vniforme consent of the people coÌ„firmed by Valentinianus Ierom suspended his iudgemeÌ„t of him because he liued in his time Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 25. A councell of macedoniaÌ„smet at Antioch and condemned the Nicene councel with the clause of one substance Socrat. lib. 5. ca. 4   Damasus was b. of Rome an Dom. 369 after Liberius where he continewed 18. yeres Socrat lib. 4. cap. 17. 24. lib. 6. ca. 9. lib 7. ca. 9. Ierom. chronic   378.   A couÌ„cel of 90. Byshops called at Rome by Damasur where Arius Eunomius Macedonius Photinus HebioÌ„ and theyr disciples were condemned where also the holye Ghost was sayd to be of one substaÌ„ce with the father and the sonne tom 1. concil    Peter was b. of Alexandria after Athanasius an Dom. 375 the AriaÌ„s by autoritie froÌ„ the emperour clapt him in prison and chose Lucius in his roume Peter got out of prison fled vnto Damasus b. of
that from Theodosius to Martianus the Emperour Iuuenalis was b. of IerusaleÌ„ Domnus was b. of Antioche after Iohn Euagr. lib. 1. cap. 10. Sixtus the thirde was b. of Rome after Celestinus An. Dom. 435. and continewed 8. yeares Prosp chr One Bassus layd diuers crimes to his charge so that he called a councel purged him selfe tom 1. con cil Gennad catalog  An other hereticke sayde that the diuinitie of Christ sorowed when his naked body was nayled to the tree â–ª August         An other there was which sayd that God was of three parts the father the sonne and the holie ghost calling them all not absolute persons but parts of one August some heretiks said that the water was not made by God but was alwayes coëternall with hiÌ„ August   Theodoretus b. of Cyrus wrote about this time the Ecclesiastical history coÌ„prising a huÌ„dred and fiue years Sozomeâ—â—s wrot the Ecclesiastical history froÌ„ CoÌ„ staÌ„tinê° Magnê° vnto the raigne of Theodosius iunior Maximuâ— b. of Taurinum one that wrot many notable tractes liued about this time GeÌ„nad catalog A councell held at CarpeÌ„toracte decreed that the bishop shoulde not poule the parishes tom 1. concil     Some said that the bodye and not the soul was the image of God August Others sayde that the soules of wicked men were turned into deuells to euerye sorte of beastes correspondent to theyr merits August 443.   The 3. councell of Arelate decreed that no deacon shoulde be made before he were 25. yere olde no priest before 30. yeres tom 1. concil A prouinciall councell was held at Constátinople where Eutyches was condemned Euag lib. 1. cap. 9. An hereticall councell held at Ephesus where by the meanes of Dioscorus b. of Alexandria Eutyches the he reticke was restored Euag. lib. 1. cap. 10.  Maximus was b. of Antioche after Domnus he was at the couÌ„cell of ChalcedoÌ„ Euagr. lib. 2. cap. 4. Leo was b. of Rome after Sixtus Anno Dom. 443. where he coÌ„tinewed 21. yeares Prosp chr Palmer liuagr lib. 1. cap. 10. He died in the time of the Emperour Leo Maioranus GoÌ„nad catalog  Some sayde that when Christ wente to hell all the vnfaithfull beleued were deliuered August Other saye that Christ was alwayes with the father but not alwayes a soÌ„ne August 450. Martianus a ThraciaÌ„ sueceeded Theodosius iunior in the eastern Empire He was one that behaued him self vertuously towardes God and maÌ„ He raygned 7. yeares and then dyed Euag. li. 1. ca. 22. li. 2. ca. 1. 8 Gennadiuâ— a learned wryter the autor of the catalogue of famous men which is fouÌ„d among Ieromeâ— works sâ—oâ—â—shed aboute this time A councell of 630. bishops was helde at Chalcedon by the commaundement of Martianus where Dioscorus b. of Alexandria was deposed Nestorius Eutyches Macedonius coÌ„demned Euagr. lib. 2. cap. 2. 4. 10 Theodosius was by the idle monks made b. of Ierusalemin the absence of Iuuenalis but Martianus the Emperour deposed him restored the other Euag. lib. 2. cap. 5. lib. 3. cap. 6.   Dioscorus was b. of AlexaÌ„dria after Cyrill he was of Nestorius opinion deposed by the councell of Constantinople he was also of Eutyches opinion and deposed by the couÌ„cell of Chalcedon Euagr. lib. 1. cap. 10 lib. 2. cap. 5. Proterius was b. of AlexaÌ„dria after the couÌ„cell had deposed Dioscorus he was a godly man yet a souldier ranne him through with a naked sworde vpon Easter day and the seditious persoÌ„s after his death burned him to ashes Euagr lib. 2. cap. 5. 8. Eutyches mayntayned the opinioÌ„s of Nestorius sayd that our Lord coÌ„sisted of 2. natures before the diuinity was coopled with the humanitie but after the vnitinge of theÌ„ to be of one nature that the body of Christ was not of one substaÌ„ce with ours the couÌ„cell of Constantinople deposed him but he appealed vnto Theodosius procured the couÌ„cell of Ephesus to be suÌ„moned where Dioscorus the hereticke restored him Euagr. lib. 1. cap. 9. This Eutyches being coÌ„deÌ„ned in the councell of ChalcedoÌ„ brake out into these words this is the faith that I was baptized in this is the fayth which I haue learned of the fathers in this faith will I die tom 2. concil Dioscorus b. of Alexandria was an Euâ—ychian Euagr.  Maximus in his time was Emperour of Rome after Valentinianus death 70. dayes but GeÌ„zerichus kiÌ„g of the VaÌ„dals tooke Rome tore Maximus in pecces threw his car â—â—asse into tibris and weÌ„t backe to Car thage Auitus was Emperoure after Maxiâ—â—â— 8. moneths Iohannes Damascenus a learned writer wrote against the Arians Pantal. A councell held at Venice about this time decred that no clergye men should waÌ„der from one diocesse to an other without dimissarie letters that they shoulde not be at weddinge diners daunces hering of wantonsonnets that throughout the same prouince they obserue one maner of diuine seruice tom 2. concil A councell was called at Tours in Fraunce for the reformatioÌ„ of Ecclesiasticall matters tom 2. concil  Martyrius b. of Antioch Nicephor Theodoreâ— collect  Timotheus AElurus a moÌ„ke was by the seditious persoÌ„s made b. of Alexandria whyle Proteriuâ— lyued he was of Apollinâ—rius opinion immediately deposed by Leo. Euag. lib. 2. cap. 8. 11. he weÌ„t about the monkes lodginges in the nyght time cryed like a spirite that they should chose Timotheus AElurus to their bishop meaning him selfe Theod. collect Timotheus an hereticall bishop  Maioranus was Emperour of Rom in the end of Martianus the begining of Leo where he raygned 4 yeres But Seuerus dispatched him tooke his rowme himselfe Euag. li. 2. cap. 7. Palmer chronic Anatolius b. of Constantinople florished in the dayes of Leo. Euagr.   Iulianus b. of Antioch Nicephor Theodoreâ— collect  Timotheus Basilicus otherwise called Salofaciolus was b. of Alexandria after the exile of his predecessor Euag lib. 2. cap 11. but he was banished not longe after  458. Leo was Emperour in the East after Martianus He wrote vnto Anatolius b. of Constantinople for to examine the sturre risen at Alexandria about the murthering of Proterius the election of Timotheus He gouerned 17. yeres deposed himself placinge in his rowme Leo the sonne of his daughter Ariadne and of Zeno but this yonger Leo dyed immediatly Zeno his father ruled the empire alone Eua. lib. 2. cap. 8. 9. 17. Paulinus b. of Nola in Italie was of greate fame about this time he gaue all his substance to redeeme captiues and poore prisoners Palmer chronic A councell held at Rome in the time of Hilarius confirmed the Nicene Creede that such as had Canonicall impediments were not to be made priestes tom 2. concil   Hilarius was b. of Rome after Leo an Dom. 464. continewed 6. yeares Palm chro Anton. chro  Acephali were a confuse multitude of heretickes
Antioche after Peter Euagr. li. 3. cap. 23. Gelasius was b. of Rome after Felix Anno Do. 494. where he continewed 4. yeres â—om 2. concill Athanasius succeeded Peter in the bishopricke of Alexandria Euagr. lib â–ª 3. cap. 23. The monkes of ConstaÌ„tinople were hereticks of Eutyches opinion Euagr. lib. 3. cap. 31. Certaine Manâ—ches were fouÌ„deâ— at Rome in the time of Gelasiuâ— they were banished theyâ— bookes burned to asses Palmeâ— chron   Boëtius a christian philosopher endured greate perse â–ª cution vnder Theodoricus the Arian Volat. A synod mett at Epaunis and decreed that no clergy maÌ„ shold either hunt or hauke that throughout the prouince suche diuine seruice as the Metropolitane liked of should be retained tom 2. coÌ„c  Flauianus was b. of Antioche after Palladius but Anastasius the Emperour deposed him for sedition Euagr. lib. 3. cap. 23. 30. 31. Anastasius 2. was b. of Rome after Gelasius 2. yeares rom 2. coÌ„c  The monkes oâ— Syria were heretickes camâ— in a heate to Antioch madâ— there an insurrection so thaâ— a great numbeâ— of them in steâ—â— of earth were buryed in thâ— riuer Oronteâ— Euag. li. 3. ca. 3â— some do write of him that he shoulde commaunde not a Trinitie but a quaternitie to be worshipped and therefore was â—â—itten with a thunderbolt and so dyed P. dâ—â—c blond Remigius a bishop of Fraunce florished about this time Volat A couÌ„cell held at Râ—uenna in preseÌ„ce of Theo doricus debated the schisme that iose aboute the election of a b. of Rome and choâ—e Symaâ—hus Palmer chron Six synods wer helde at Rome in the tyme of Symaâ—hus toutchinge the election of a b. oâ— Rome and the preseruation of church goodes tom 2. concil Helias was b. of Ierusalem after Salustius Euag. lib. 4. cap. 36. Seuerâ— was b. of Antioche after the deposition of Flauianus before he was prieste he was a counceller pleaded law at Berytus after he was made Byshop he fel into the he resie of Eutyches Eua. lib. 3. ca. 33 34. Symachus was b. of Rome after Anastasius 15. yeres tom 2. concil Iohn succeeded Athanasius Euagr. lib. 3. cap. 23. Olympus an Arian bishop as he bayned him selfe at Carthage and blasphemed the blessed trinitie was sodainly smitten from heauen with three firye dartes and burned quick Palmer chronic 519. Iustinus a thracâ—aÌ„ succeeded Anastasius he fauored the couÌ„cell of Chalcedon He dispatched through wilâ—s a greate number of tyrants whome he suspected WheÌ„ he had â—aygned 8. yeres 9. moneths and three dayes he proclaimed Iustinianus his felowe Empeâ—our raygned with him four moneths then dyed Vuagr li. 4. cap. 1. 23. 9. Zosimas Iohn Chuzubites wer famous for their godly lif strauÌ„g miracles Euag. lib. 4 cap. 7. A councel held at Ilerda in Spayne decreed that suche as slewe the child in the wombe with potions simpersauces shoulde be banished the commumoÌ„ the space of 7. yeres that clergymeÌ„ being desamed should purge them selues tom 2. coÌ„c A councel held at Valentia in Spaine decâ—eed the Gospell shoulde be read after the Epistle tom 2. concil A councel held at Auâ—â—lia in the time of Hormisda decreede that Lent shold be solemnelye kept before Easter the roâ—atioÌ„ weeke with the ember dayes about the ascention tom 2. coÌ„c A councel held at Gerunda in Spayne decreed that euery prouince shold obserue one order of diuineseruice that baptisme shold be ministred onely at Easter and witsontide and at other times if necessitie so required that the Lordes prayer shoulde be sayde at morninge euening prayer tom 2. concil A councel held at Caesaraugusta accursed suche as receaued the sacrament eate it not in the church tom 2. concil Petruâ— b. of Ierusalem after Helias Euagr. lib. 4. ca. 36 the generall councell held at ConstaÌ„tinople wrot vnto him what they had done to 2. coÌ„cil  Hormisda was b. of Rome after Symachus anno Dom. 516. where he coÌ„tinewed 9. yeares Anto. chro Ioh succeeded the former Iohn Euag. lib. 3. ca. 23 Seuerus b. of Antioch was of Eutyches opinion Iustinus the emperour in the first yeare of his raigne caused his toÌ„gue to be pulled out of his mouth because he reuiled the councell of Chalcedon preached raylinge sermons Euag. lib. 4. cap. 4. Deuterius an Arian b. of Constantinople as he baptised one Barbas he vsed this forme I baptize Barbas in the name of the father throughe the sonne in the holy ghost Theod. collect   Brigida a mayde whose reuelations are at this day extant florished about this time Palmer chron   Paulus was b â–ª of Antioche after Seuerus E uagr. lib. 4. cap. 4. Euprasius succeeded Paulus he dyed in the earthquake which was at Antioch the 7. yere of Iustinus Euag. lib. 4 cap. 4. 5.  Theodosius was b of AlexaÌ„dria after Iohn Iustinianus deposed him for maintayninge the heresie of Eutyches Euag. lib. 4 cap. 9. 11. 36. Benedictus the first fouÌ„der of the order commonlye called S. Benedictes dyed sayth Volateran li. 21. Anno Do. 518. He was the firste and the onely deuiser of a seueral trade of lif within the firste 600. yeres after christ because he presumed to inuent a new way which all the godly fathers before him neuer thought of I layde him heere downe for a schismaticke and couched him in the catalogue of heretickes 525.  Priscianus the greate graÌ„marian liued in the dayes of Iustinian Palmer chron The 2. councell held at Toledo decreed that all what so euer the clergie held de iure should returne vnto the church after theyr desease to 2. conc In the time of Iohn 2. b. of Rome  Euphremius a noble man succeeded Euphrasius in the bishop ricke of Antioche Euagr. li. 4. cap. 6. Iohn was B. of Rome after Hormisda an Dom. 525. and continewed there 2. yeares and 10. moneths Palm chron  Monothelitae were heretickes whiche denied that Christ had 2. wils a diuine humane Volater lib. 17. 528. Iustinianus succeded Iustinus in the empire he was couetous cruell carelesse of that whiche was good the Empresse his wife fauored the hereticall opinion of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lie hiÌ„ self fell into a blasphemous opinioÌ„ whiche is to be seene in the cataloge of the hereticks â–ª he raygned 38. yeares 8. moneths dyed went straight down to hell as Euagrius thinketh Euagr lib. 4. ca. 9. 10. 29. 31. 38. 40. lib. 5. cap. 1. Barsanuphius a religious maÌ„ was of great fame in the time of Iustinianus â–ª Eâ—â—gr lib. 4. cap. 32. A generall councell was called at Constantinople in the 27. yeare of Iustinianus the Emperour and in the time of Vigilius b. of Rome where they condemned the heresies of Anthimus b. of Constantinople Seâ—eâ—â—â— â— of Antioche â–ª Peter Cnapheia Theodorê° Loâ—ras allowed the 4. former general councells decreed that Marie shoulde be called the mother of God and condemned Origen tom 2. conc Euag. lib. 4. cap. 37. A 2. and 3.
Polycrates byshope of Ephesus writeth to Victor and the churche of Rome Iohn the Apostle being a priest wore the priestly attyre * Cap. 25. after the greke Act. 4. * Ca. 26. after the Greeke where then was the saying that the bishope of Rome muste iudge all and be iudged of none Irenaeus bishop of LioÌ„s Victor bishop of Rome * Ruffinus traÌ„slatiÌ„g these wordes vnderstandeth that Anicetus graunted the ministratioÌ„ of the coÌ„munion vnto Polycarpus which is very like to be true Irenaeus signifieth a peace maker Cap. 27. after the greeke The prouinciall councel held at Palestina write thus vnto the prouince throughout Certaine workes of Irenaeus Comodus was emperor 13. yeares Pertinax 6. moneths Seuerus created emperor anno Dom. 195. vnder this Seuerus the 5. greate persecution was raysed Cap. 28. after the Greeke The opinion of Artemon the hereticke â–ª An auncient writer as I suppose Maximus in the confutation of the sect of Artemon Theodotus a tanner and an hereticke Zephyrinus b. of Rome Anno Dom. 203. A worthy historie of Natalius an hereticall bishope repenting him selfe God sendeth his Angell to scourge by night The practises of the hereticall secte of Artemon Euclides Aristotle Theophrast â–ª Galen Heretickes presume to correct alter traÌ„slate holy scripture A notable dilemma Anno Dom. 204. Leonides the father of Origen beheaded Seuerus weÌ„t on the tenth yeare of his raigne when the greate persecution was raysed Laetus ruled Alexandria and Aegypt * Cap. 3. after the Greeke Origen by the meanes of his mother auoydeth greate perill Origen beinge a childe exhorteth his father to mar tyrdome Origen of a childe brought vp in holy Scriture A certaine Matrone of Alexandria receaueth Origen with â–ª his mother brethren Origen taketh heede of Heretikes Tis. 3. Origen studieth rhetoricke Plutarch a martyr Heraclas after Demetrius b. of Alexandria Origen a catechizer being 18. yeare olde Origen corn forteth the martyrs OrigeÌ„ as he taught he liued as he hued he taught OrigeÌ„ sould his philosophy bookes Origen had many followers Cap. 4. after the Greeke Plutarchus a Martyr Serenus burned Heraclides beheaded Heron beheaded Serenus beheaded Rhais a woman burned Cap. 5. after the greeke Potamiaena burned Marcella burned Basilides before a Pagan now a Christian before a murtherer now a martyr Basilides baptised in prison afterwards beheaded August lib. de cur pro mort agend cap. 13. Pet. Martyr in 8. cap. ad Rom. Cyprian lib. 1. epist 1. August li. decur pro mor. agend cap. 13 Psal 27. â—say 63. 4. Reg. 22. Chrysost in 8. cap. Matth. Luke 16. Theophilact in 8. cap. Mat Origen lib 7 contra CelsuÌ„ Chrysst in 8. cap. Matth. 1. Reg. 28. Augustinus Lib. 2. de mirab sacrae Scrip. cap. 11 Cyprian de Idol vanitate Pharaos cup bearer Pharao Mardochaeus Polycarpus Sophocles Basilides Cap. 6. after the greeke Pantaenus Clemens Origen were catechizers in the schole of AlexaÌ„dria Cap. 7. after the greeke Iude. Cap. 8. after the greeke Origen geldeth himselfe Math 19. Demetrius byshop of Alexandria one while liketh another while misliketh through enuie with the gelding of Origen The byshops of Caesarea and IerusaleÌ„ allowed of Origen and made him minister Antoninus was created Emperour anno Domini 213. Cap. 9. after the Greeke If thou thinkest gentle Reader this miracle to be a tale take it as cheape as thou findest 〈…〉 it be true maruell not at all thereat for God bringeth straunger thinges then this to passe The iustice of God against peâ—iuted persons Cap. 10. after the greeke Dios. Germanion Gordius Narcissus AlexaÌ„der his helper Cap. 11. after the greeke Alexander b of Ierusalem Epist contra Atinoitas Ascleprades Alexander b of Ierusalem vnto the church of Antioch Cap. 12. after the greeke Domnus Pontius Caricus Serapion bishop of Antioch vnto the Churche of Rosse toutching the Gospell after Peter Marcianus an hereticke Cap. 13. in the greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Cap. 14. in the greke Clemens alleageth this out of Macarius Clemens of the order of the Gospells Matthewe Luke Marke Iohn Alexander byshop of Ierusalem vnto Origen Origen came to Rome about Ann. Domini 210. Cap. 15. after the Greeke Heraclas catechizer at Alexandria Cap. 16. in the Greeke Cap. 17. in the Greeke Many Greke translations of the olde testament The septuagints Aquila Symachus Theodorion 5. 6. 7. Hexapla Tetrapla Symachus an Ebionite The heresie of the Ebioonites Cap. 18. in the Greeke Origen readeth the liberall artes exhorting both the subtle simple to studie them Cap. 19. after the Greeke Porphyrius an Atheist whose wordes these are lib. 3. contra Christianos wrote fiftene bookes againste the Christians whome Euse bius coÌ„futed in 30. bookes of the which 20. were extaÌ„t in the tyme of Ierom but at this daye not one * The blasphemie of Porphyrius against Christianitie Origen learned of the Grecians to write allegorically Porphyrius sclaundered Origen and Ammonius Cap. 20. in the Greeke Origen in a certaine epistle writeth thus of him selfe for his study in philosophie Alexander b. of Ierusalem Theoctistê° b. of Caesarea write thus vnto Demetrius b. of Alexandria which found faulte that a laye man in presence of Bishops shoulde dispute or interprete Cap. 21. in the greeke Beryllus Hippolytus Gaiê° agaynst Proclus 14. epistles of Paul * an do 220 Macrinê° succeedeth Antoninus in the empire Antoninus 2 emperour an dom 221. Calistuâ— B. of Rome Vrbanus B. of Rome Alexander Emperour an dom 224. Philetus b. of Antioche Cap. 22. in the Greeke The workes of Hippolytê° Origens notaries and scriueners Pontianus b. of Rome Zebinus b. of Antioch Cap. 23. in the Greeke Cap. 24. in the Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cap. 25. in the Greeke Origen in Psal 1. Genesis Exodus Leuiticus Numeri Deuteronomium â—osue Iudges and Ruth 1. 2. of Samuel 3. and 4. of Kinges 1. 2. of Paralip 1. 2. of Esdrâ—â— Psalmes Prouerbe Ecclesiastâ—s CanticuÌ„ CaÌ„â—â—orum Iere. la. epist Daniel Ezechiel Iob Hister Machabees Origen hom 1. in Math. Matthewe Marke Luke Iohn Origen hom 5. in Iohan. Pauls epistles Peters 2. epistles The Apocacalyps Ioh. 3. epistles Origen in epist ad Rom. Cap. 26. in the Greeke an Dom. 234 Cap. 27. in the Greeke Firmilianus Alexander Theoctistus Cap. 28. in the Greeke Maximinus was created Emperour an Dom. 237 vnder whom the sixte persecution was raysed Gordianus created Emperour anno Dom. 240. Anterus b. of Rome Cap 29. in the Greeke Fabianus b. of Rome Babylas b. of Antioche Dionysius b. of AlexaÌ„dria Cap. 30. in the Greeke Theodorus Gregorius Naâ—â—anzenê° Athynodorê° Cap. 31. in the Greeke The historie of Susanna doubted of Cap. 32. in the Greeke Cap. 33. in the Greeke Beryllus denyed Christ to be the second person in Trinitie before he was made man Cap. 34. in the Greeke Philip crowned Emperour Anno Dom. 246. Cap. 35. after the greeke Anno Domi 249. Cap. 36. after the Greeke Cap. 37. after the Greeke
parents of Chrysostome Theodorus Maximus Diodorus Carterius Chrysostome a reader A Deacon â— Priest â— Bishop Here is a lesson for them that pull downe sanctuaries Tribigildus Phrygia sub dued Gainas◠〈◊〉 person and a tâ—â—â—e breaker A comet Constantinople was saued by Angells Gainas was slayne Anno Dom. 404. The heresie of the Anthropomorphits beganne Anno â–ª Dom. 40â— â—â—â—e maketh Theophilus to 〈…〉 him selfe This Bishop â—â—th more â—…s in the world Theophilus to reuenge himselfe of his enemies â—ersâ—â—â—â—ed â—â—s owne opinion this 〈◊〉 a sinne against the holy Ghost This heresie was the originall that God the father hathe â—ene painted the man Anthropomorphits be those heretickes which attribute corpereall substaÌ„ce vnto God the father Chrisostomâ— made Antemnes An. Dom. 404. Ignatius thâ— disciple of Sâ— Iohn was thâ— first author 〈◊〉 Antemnes * Cap. 10. in the Greeke Epiphanius some tyme thought that God had a bodie A Councell held in Cyprus where of spite through the procurement of Theophiâ— the bookes of Origen were cendeÌ„â—ed A Synode at AlexaÌ„dria to â—he same purpose Cap. 11. in the greeke An olde custome to take money for preaching if the gayne were not sweete I warrant you at this day the custome would be lest Heraclides b. of Ephesus Seuerall functions haue seuerall reuerence Cap. 12. in the Greeke Theotimus bishop of Scythia Cap. 13. in the Greeke In the marge of the greeke copie there was written as followeth VVe haue to learne that the fift generall Councell condemned both Origen his vvorkes But this historiographer vvas before the thirde Athanasius testimony of Origen Cap. 14 in the greeke The message which Chrysostome sent vnto Epiphanius The coÌ„tention betwene two auncieÌ„t fathers Epiphanius b. of CoÌ„stantia in Cyprus and Iohn Chrysostome b. of Constantinople Cap. 15. in the greeke Chrisostom made a sermon agains all women The couÌ„cell of ChalcedoÌ„ for the deposing of Chrysostome Chrylostome eâ—â—lâ—d Cap 16. in the Greeke Chrysostome â—turneth froÌ„â—xile Cap. 17. in the Greeke Ecclesiastes 12 Cap. 18. in the Greeke A Councell assembled at Constantinople for the deposition of Chrysostome Such as cleaned to Iohn Chrysostome were called Iohannits Cap. 19. in the Greeke Cyrinus was plagued for reuiling of Chrylostome Great haile in token of Gods wrath Cap 20 in the Greeke Arsacius Atticus Cap. 21. in the greeke Chrysostome dieth in exile Anno Dom. 412 The saying of Chrysostome Cap. 22 in the Greeke Eâ—â—â—â—â—iasieâ— 9. Iuâ—â— 9. Arcadius the Emperour died Anno Dom. 412. Honorius Theodosius Anthemius Troilus 1. Corinth 9. Theodosius a couetous Bishop Aâ—â—petus â— Mâ—â—â—doniâ—n â—â—ll to em bâ—aâ—â— the â—aith of one substance A Iewe troubled with the paulsey The gift of â—eâ—ling in he dayes of Socrates Sabbatius a Nouatian â—â—â—est Luck 22. The corrupters of Gods word haue ill endes Barbas Georgius Timotheus Cyâ—illus Bishop of Alexandria Anno Dom. 418 The Bishop of Alexandria bothe a Bishop and a magistrate Anno Dom. 418. Isdigerdes â—ing of Persia The Mâ—giâ—ians doe â—uffer blâ—â—â—â— b. Persia ararancs 〈◊〉 of Perâ—â—â— Flauianus Porphyrius Alexander Damasus Siricius Anastasius Innocentius Alarichus Attalus Alarichus as it is supposed is coÌ„maunded froÌ„ aboue to destroy the citie of Rome for theyr greate sinne and iniquitie Innocentius Zosimus Bonifacius Celestinus The bishop of Rome fell to chalenge vnto him self seculer power DauÌ„cing vsed in Alexadâ—ia on the satturdayes Temporall and worldly Magistrats are grieued that the Church shoulde haue any authority or preeminence Adamantius Orestes Ammonius the Monke wounded the Liuetenant of Alexandria with a stone Hypatia a woman of great learning The Iewes crucified a boye in derision of all Christians Chrysanthus Paulus Acacius b. of Amida Eudocia the Empresse was learned Discretion sobâ—etic Hardinesse Fasting Deuotion Singing of â—almes Memorie Knowledge â—tudie Patience Curtesie Clemencie Good life Mercie Humanitie Religion Zeale and feare of God Humilitie Prospetitie good successe for well doing Atticus b. of Constantino ple vnto Calliopius minister of Nice Atticus endeuored to bring the Nouatians from Idolatry Anastasius 2. Corinth 5. The opinion of Nestorius the heretick 1. Ioh. 4. Euseb lib. 3. de vit Const Cap. 34 in the Greeke The councel of Ephesus Anno Dom. 435. Nestoriê° denieth Christ â—o be God Cap. 35. in the greeke Anno Dom. â—35 Cap. 36. in the Greeke A canon of the Church Perigenes Gregorie Nazianzene Meletius Dositheus Berentius Iohn Palladius Alexander Theophilus Polycarpus Hierophilus Optimus Siluanus Cap. 37. in the Greeke Ca. 39. in the Greeke Anno Dom. 437. Cap. 40. in the Greeke Câ—p. 42. in the greeke Numb 12. Rugas slâ—ine with a thunderbolt Pethlence â—â—â—e from heauen â—â—â—â—h â–ª 38. Anno Dom. 440. Oâ—igen was excommunicated two hundred yeareâ— after his death Socrates endeth his hiâ—tory Anno Dom. 440. Sabellicus Euseb eccle hist lib. 8. cap. 6. Euseb ec hist lib. 8. cap. 11. Euseb eccle hist lib. 8. cap 11. Euseb lib. 8. cap. 5. Euseb eccle hist lib. 7. cap 15. Socrat eccle hist lib. 3. cap 11. 1. Cor. 1. Socrat. eccle hist lib. 5. cap 8. Socrat. eccle hist lib. 5. cap. 8. Socrat. lib. 4 cap. 25. lib. 6. cap. 3. Socrat. lib. 7. cap. 47. Euagri lib. 6. cap. vlt. Arcadians Ouid. Suidas Aegyptians Ioh. Goropius medic An twerpiens Scythians Ethiopians Brittaines Poggius Phaëton Epaphus Maximinus Herode Themistocles Amasis Smerdes Prompalus An Aegyptian Andristus Equitius Cithaâ—oedus A counterfet Ariarathes A fained Alexander A priest set vp for a king Lycurgus Plutarche Agesilaus Theod. Zuinger Chaucer Euagri lib. 4. cap. 25. Euagrius lib. 4 cap. 28. Nicephor eccl hist lib. 1 cap. 1. Euagri lib. 6. cap. 23. Eusebius Socrates Euagius Math. 24. The polliâ— of Satan â— reuiuing Iewish opon Iohn 19. Mat. 27. 〈…〉 The fonde eason of Anastasius The blaspherie of Neorius The councel Ephesus â—no Dom. â— The sentence of the councell of Ephesus pronounced against Nestorius the heretick Variance betweene Cyrill b. of Alexandria and Iohn b. of Antioch The epistle of Cyrill b. of Alexandria vnto Iohn b. of Antioch Math. 7. Nestorius the heretick excuseth his blasphemoê° opinion in these words God from aboue plagued the heretick Nestorius Nestorius the heretick in his first epistle vnto the gouernour of Thebais Nestorius the hereticke epist 2. vnto the gouernour of Thebais Nestoriê° the â—rayling hereticke had his tongue eaten â—p 〈◊〉 worms and so dyed Nestorius Maximianus Proclus Flauianus prouincial â—â—uncell hol 〈◊〉 at Constantinople Eutyches the hereticke and his opinion condemned An hereticall councell held at Ephesus ergo a councell can and doth erre 1. Corin. II 2. Corin. 12 The wanton nesse of Iuppiter This Phrygian boye was Gâ—nymedes who Iuppiter made his cup bearer in the baÌ„quet which he made the gods Nectar the drinke of the gods * Bacchus the sonne of Iuppiter was an Hermaphrodite * Iuppiter thrust Saturnus his father out of heauen * Saturnê° the sonne of Caellus as the PoeÌ„ts do fayne fearinge lest his father shoulde get more children to inherite cutte of his
a newe kinde of tormeÌ„t neuer heard of before Theyr backs and sides were so scurged and rente with palme twigges newely pluckt of the trees hauinge on their prickinge knobs So that diuers because of the stumpes that stucke in the fleshe of their backes were constrained often times to repayre vnto surgions others some not able to endure suche terrible payne dyed of their wounds As many of the men as remained yet aliue together with the virgins were exiled and ledde by the souldiers to Oasis The deade carkasses not yet fully colde were denied the friendes of the deseased being throwen here and there and lying vnburied for that liked them best the souldiers hidde them as if they had bene neither culpable neither fauty in committinge suche horrible crimes This did they hauing their mindes ouershadowed with the furious rage of frentike heresie And when as the deare friendes and familiars of the deade reioyced at the bold protestation of their faith yet sorowed because their carkasses were not couered with earth the sauadge impietie and beastlye cruelty of these souldiers reuealed it selfe with greater shame and infamie Moreouer they banishe forthwith certaine Bishops of Aegypt and Libya namely Ammon Thmuis Gaius Philon Hermes Plinius Psenosiris Nilammon Agathon Anagamphus Marcus Dracontius Adelphius Athenodorus a seconde Ammon and of the priestes they banished Hierax and Dioscorus These beinge bereaued of their natiue soyle they handled so roughly that some of them dyed by the waye some other in exile neuer returninge againe They put to death aboue thirty Bishops They followed the sâ—eppes of wicked Achaab imploying all their care and industrie for the rootinge out of the trueth from of the face of the earth These were y â— practises of Georgius at Alexandria by the reporte of Athanasius The Emperoure marched forewardes with his hoste to Illyrium for thither of necessity was he constrained to goe and there it was that Bretanion was proclaimed Emperor As soone as he came to Sirmium truce beinge made he came to parlee with Bretanion In the meane while he endeuored to winne againe the souldiers which had refused him for their Emperoure after he had so done they proclaimed Constantius alone both their Augustus their kinge Emperoure In this their proclamation there was no mention of Bretanion who seinge himselfe betrayed fell downe prostrate at the Emperoures feete and craued for mercy Constantius taking from him his princely scepter and purple robe lifted him vp by the hande very curteously and exhorted him after the callinge of a priuate man to leade a quiet and peceable life He sayde moreouer that it was fitter for an olde man suche as he was to embrace a trade of life that were voyde of all trouble care theÌ„ to gape after a vaine title of honor full of disquietnes molestatioÌ„ Thus it fared with Bretanion in the ende The Emperoure commaunded that all his charges shoulde be geuen him of the publique tribute afterwardes he wrote vnto him sundry letters to Prousa a citie in Bithynia where he made his abode signifyinge what singular pleasure he had done vnto him in riddinge him from cares troubles shewinge also what miserie oftentimes befalleth to raigne and gouernement and that of his owne parte he had dealte vnaduisedly in not geuing to him selfe that which he graunted to an other So farre of these thinges CAP. XXIIII Of Photinus the hereticke THe Emperoure at that time made Gallus his cosingermaine Caesar he gaue him his owne title or name and sente him to Antioch in Syria for to keepe those partes of the Empire whiche reached into the Easte When he came to Antioch there appeared in the East the signe or cognizance of our Sauiour for a pillour resembling the forme of a crosse was seene in the aer bringing great admiration to the beholders He sent his other captaines with great power to wage battaile with Magnentius he himselfe remayned at Sirmium harkening to the ende In the meane while Photinus the superintendent of that church wente about openly to publish a selfe opinion inuented of his owne braine and because there was great tumult and much trouble risen thereof the Emperoure commaunded a councell to be summoned at Sirmium Of the Bshops of the East there came thither Marcus Bishop of Arethusa Georgius Bishop of AlexaÌ„dria whome the Arians after they had deposed Gregorius as I sayd before placed there Basilius who was Bishop of Ancyra after the depriuation of Marcellus Pancratius Bishop of Peleusium Hypatiaâ—us Bishop of Heraclea Out of the Weste there mette them Valens Bishop of Mursa and Osius Bishop of Corduba a citie of Spayne who then beinge of greate fame was forced to come vnto the councell These Bishops assembled at Sirmium after the consulship of Sergius and Nigrianus in which yeare by reason of the warres and ciuill dissentions there was none that could execute the function of a Consull they deposed forthwith the hereticke Photinus of his Bishopricke for he maintained the lewde opinion of Sabellius the Aphricke and Paulus Samosatenus Whiche Acte of theirs was approued of all men bothe at that presente and also in times followinge to haue bene done accordinge vnto right and reason CAP. XXV VVhat formes of fayth were layde downe at the councell of Sirmium in presence of Constantius the Emperoure THese Bishops continewinge a while at Sirmium decided other thinges For they wente about to abrogate their old Creeds and to establishe newe formes of faith one was exhibited in the Greeke tonge by Marcus Bishop of Arethusa â–ª two others in the Latine tongue agreeing neither in word neither in composition neither in sense neither in sentence either with theÌ„selues or with that which the Bshop of Arethusa wrote in Greeke One of the Latine formes I will here lay downe immediatly after the Greeke forme of Marcus The other afterwards rehearsed at Sirmium I will referre to his proper plate Yet haue we to vnderstand that both were translated into y â— Greeke The forme which Marcus wrote was as followeth VVe beleue in one God the father almightie creator and maker of all thinges Of whome all fatherhood is named in heauen and in earth And in his onely begotten sonne our Lord Iesus Christ begotten of the father before all worldes God of God light of light â–ª by whome all things were made bothe in heaueÌ„ in earth be they visible or inuisible things â–ª who is the word the wisedom the true light the life who in the later dayes was incamate for our sakes borne of the holy virgine crucified died rose againe the third day froÌ„ the dead ascended into heaueÌ„ sitteth at the right hand of the father shall come againe at the end of the world to iudge both the quick the dead to rewarde euery one accordinge vnto his workes whose kingdome shall haue no ende but contineweth for euer euer For he shall sit at the right hand of the father not onely
against the Emperour for banishing many Priestes and Bishops which refused to communicate with Eudoxius the Arian Not long after in the aforesayd consulship the foure and twentieth of August Valentinianus created his sonne Gratianus Emperour The yeare following being the seconde Consulship of Valentinianus and Valens the eleuenth of Octobre there was in Bithynia a greate earthquake which ouerthrewe the citie of Nice It was the twelf yeare after the ruyne of Nicomedia Immediatly after many peeces of Germa a citie in Hellespontus were turned vpside downe w t an other earthquake for all these dreadfull sights were behelde in the open face of the worlde the lewde disposition of Eudoxius the Arian Bishop and the peruerted minde of the Emperour Valens was nothing moued to incline vnto piety and right reformation of true religion for they obserued no meane but furiously raged against all such as helde the contrary faith and opinion These earthquakes were no otherwise to be taken then for manifest tokens of the schisme tumults then raysed in y ◠church And though many of the priestly order were depriued of their dignities yet of all the rest Basilius Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia and Gregorius Bishop of a small and meane citie bordering vpon Caesarea by the prouidence of God for their great pietie were not banished their natiue soile Of whome I shall haue occasion hereafter to discourse more at large CAP. XI How the sect of Macedonius being put to their shifts by reason of the Emperours displeasure sent their letters vnto Liberius Bishop of Rome where they subscribed vnto the fayth of one substance WHen as at that tyme such as cleaued stedfastly vnto the clause of one substance being the true Christians were vexed aboue measure the Macedonians also were pursued of the wicked and godlesse persecutors These men partly for feare and partly for their fayth being brought to their witts ende wrote letters and sent messengers from their bishopricks one vnto the other signifying that of necessity they must flie for refuge both vnto the Emperours brother and to Liberius Bishop of Rome and subscribe rather vnto their fayth then condescende to communicate with Eudoxius the Arian Wherefore they sende Eustathius Bishop of Sebastia one that had bene often times deposed Siluanus Bishop of Tarsus in Cilicia and Theophilus Bishop of Castabala a citie likewise of Cilicia these men are charged not to disagree as toutching the faith with Liberius but to communicate with the Churche of Rome and to ratifie by their subscriptions the faith of one substance When these men had receaued their letters which impugned the faith at Seleucia in all the hast they post to olde Rome They shewe not them selues vnto the Emperour for he was in Fraunce busily occupying him selfe about the battell against the Sarmatians but deliuer their letters vnto Liberius Liberius refuseth to geue their letters the reading he tolde them they were Arians and therefore in no wise to be entertayned of the Church because they had abrogated the creede of the Nicene councell Unto whome they make answere that his words were true yet that they repented them afterwards of their folly that they acknowledge the trueth that of late they had condemned the opinion which affirmeth the sonne to be vnlike the father that they confessed the sonne in all thinges and in all respects to be like the father and that the clause of likenes differed nothing from the sense of one substance When they had made this protestation by word of mouth he requireth them to doe the same in writing They immediatly exhibite vnto him a supplication where in the forme of faith published and established by the councell of Nice was comprised And lest that I seeme ouertedious vnto the reader my purpose is to omitt the letters they wrote from one company to an other namely from Smyrna in Asia from Pisidia Isauria Pamphilia and Lycia onely here to lay downe the supplication which Eustathius sent from his lodging vnto Liberius it was written as followeth Vnto their Lorde and brother their fellow minister Liberius Eustathius Theophilus Syluanus sende greeting in the Lorde To the ende vve may remoue all suspicion of heresie and partaking vvith sects vvhatsoeuer which heretofore haue molested the quiet estate of the catholick church presently we do allow of the synods assemblies of bishops which mett at Lampsacum Smyrna at sundry other places maintaining the right soūd faith that these our words may seeme for no other thē our true meaning we are legats haue brought letters vnto your holines vnto al the bishops of Italie to the other churches whatsoeuer of the west contrey whereby it shall manifestly appeare that vve are of the Catholick faith that vve defende the sacred Canons of the Nicene councell established in the happy raygne of the holy Emperour Constantine by three hundred and eyghteene Bishops the which vnto this day haue bene continewally obserued and vnuiolably retained where the clause of one substance was godly enterlaced to the ouerthrowe of the poisoned opinion of Arius for by subscribing with our owne hands we doe plainly protest that we are of no other opinion then these fathers were of but that heretofore presently also we embrace the same faith with them mind firmely to continew therin vnto our last houre Moreouer we cōdemne Arius his detestable opinion his disciples his complices the whole heresie of Sabellius all the Patropassians Marcionists Photinians Marcelliās to be short the wicked sect of Paulus Samosatenus VVe pronounce these mens doctrine for accursed together with all that holde with them all heresies like wise which are contrary vnto the aforesayd sacred faith generally godly framed by those holy fathers assembled in the city of Nice VVe accurse also the forme of faith that was repeated at the councell of Ariminum partly for that it repugneth the Nicene Creede partly for that diuers vvere fraudulently brought to subscribe vnto the same at Constantinople through vviles periury mistaking the title for they tooke Nice a city of Thracia for Nice in Bithynia The beliefe faith vve are of of them likewise vvhose legats vve are is as followeth VVe beleeue in one God the father almighty maker of all things visible inuisible in one onely begotten God our Lorde Iesus Christ the sonne of God begotten of the father that is of the substance of the father God of God light of light very God of very God begotten not made being of one substance with the father by whom all things were made either in heauen or in earth who for vs men for our saluation came downe from heauen was incarnate made man he suffred rose againe the third day he ascended into heauen shall come againe to iudge both the quicke the dead And we beleue in the holy Ghost such as say there was a time when he was not or that he was not before his