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
Martyre or a martyr an immoderate desire of plenteousnesse and gathering vnto a prophete vvhen as Christ cōmaunded you shall not possesse gold neither siluer neither tvvo coates these of the contrarye seke after the possession of vnlavvfull substance vve haue declared that they vvhome they call prophetes and martyrs haue extorted money not onely of the riche but of the poore the fatherlesse and the vvidovves but if they pleade innocency let them staye and ioyne vvith vs in ishvve in the same matter vpon this condition that if they be ouerthrovven at leaste vvise from hence forthe they vvill cease to committe the like sinne agayne VVe haue to proue the vvorkes of Prophetes The tree is to be knovven by his fruyte And that the case of Alexander maye be knovven of suche as desire it ◠he vvas condemned at Ephesus by Aemilius frontinus liuetenant not for his pofession but for presumpteous and boulde enterprised theft being a levvd person and vnder false pretense of Christian profession vvherevvith he cloked the mater seducinge the faythfull of that place he vvas pardodoned and sett at liberty the congregation vvhereof he vvas pastor because he vvas a thiefe vvoulde not admitt him They that vvill knovve further of his offences I referre them vnto publicke recordes ▪ for by confutinge him vvhome the prophete hathe not knovven by dvvellinge together many yeares vve declare vnto the vvorlde by him the stedfastnesse of the prophete VVe are able to shevve at large the conformity of bothe partes But if they haue any confident perseuerance lett them beare the reprehension Agayne in an other place of the same booke he wryteth of theyr Prophetes thus If they deny they re Prophetes to haue bene bribers lett them affirme it condicionally that if it be proued they be no longer Prophetes hereof vve are able to alleadge many particular proufes all the vvorkes of a Prophete are necessarily to be proued tell me I beseche you is it seemely for a Prophete to paynte himselfe in coloures is it seemly for a Prophete to smothe himselfe vvith the vvhite glisteringe stibium is it seemly for a Prophete neatly to pyncke and gingerly to sett forthe himselfe is it seemely for a Prophete to dise and to carde is it seemely for a Prophete to be an vsurer let them ansvvere me vvhether these be lavvefull or vnlavvefull I vvill proue these to be they re practises This Apollonius in the same booke sheweth the time of his wryttinge to be the fortyeth yeare since Montanus inuented this false and forged prophecy Agayne he declareth howe that Zoticus mentioned before by the former Author went about at Pepuza to reprehende and confute the fayned prophecy of Maximilla and the spirite which wrought in her but yet was forbidd by such as fauored her folly he remembreth one Thraseas a martyr of that time he declareth as receaued by tradition that the Lorde commaunded his Apostles not to departe from Ierusalem vntill the twelfe yeares ende he alleageth testimonyes out of the Reuelation and reporteth howe that Sainct Iohn raysed at Ephesus by the deuine power of God one that was deade to life againe other thinges he wryteth by the which he hath fully confuted and ouerthrowen the subtle sleighte of the foresayed heresie these thinges of Apollonius CAP. XVII The censure of Serapion byshop of Antioche toutching the Phrygian heresie THis Serapion remembred the workes of Apollinarius where he confuted the sayed heresie who then is sayd to haue succeeded Maximinus in the byshopricke of Antioche he maketh mention of him in a peculier Epistle vnto Caricus Ponticus where also the sayed heresie is confuted thus I vvoulde haue you to vnderstande this also hovve that the operation of this deceatefull purpose called the nevve prophecy is impugned and counted for detestable and cursed doctrine of all the Churches throughout Christendome I haue sent vnto you the learned vvrytinges of Claudius Apollinarius that holy byshope of Hierapolis in Asia In this Epistle of Serapion there are subscriptions of many byshops one subscribeth thus I Aurelius Cyrenius martyr vvishe you health An other thus Aelius Publius Iulius byshop of Debeltum a citie of Thracia as sure as the Lorde liueth in heauen vvhen as holy Zotas of Anchia vvoulde haue cast out the deuell vvhich spake in Priscilla the dissemblinge hypocrites vvoulde not permitt it And many other byshops gaue the same censure and subscribed with theyr owne handes to the sayed Epistle the affayres then went after this forte CAP. XVIII The Industry of Irenaeus in refutinge the heresies blased at Rome by Blastus and florinus I Renaeus wrote diuers Epistles to the confutation of suche as corrupted at Rome the sincere rites of the Churche he wrote one to Blastus of schisme an other to Florinus of Monarchie or the rule of one or she winge that God is not the author of euell which opinion Florinus seemed to be of but afterwardes he being seduced with the error of Valentinus Irenaeus wrote against him that booke intitled ogdoas by interpretation the number of eightie where he signifieth himselfe Immediatly to haue succeeded the Apostles the ende of which booke hathe this notable protestation necessarily to be graffed in this our history for it is read as followeth I charge thee in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christ and his glorious comminge at vvhat time he shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead vvho so euer thou be that copiest this booke that thou peruse this copie and diligently correcte it after the example of my ovvne hande vvrytinge and that thou putt to likevvise this charge and sett it dovvne after the vvrytten copye This was profitably spoken and faithfully remembred of vs that we may behoulde the aunciente and right holy men as a moste exquisite and right paterne of earnest care and diligence Againe Irenaeus in his epistle to Florinus reporteth that he had conuersation with Polycarpus sayinge This doctrine O Florinus if I may boldly pronounce the trueth sauoreth not for sounde this doctrine disagreeth from the Churche and bringeth such as geue care vnto it into extreme impietie this doctrine no not the heretickes vvhich vvere out of the Church euer durste to publishe this doctrine such as vvere elders before vs and disciples of the Apostles neuer deliuered vnto thee I savve thee vvhen I vvas yet a boye vvith Polycarpus in the lovver Asia liuinge gorgeously in the Emperoures palace and busienge thy selfe vvith all might to be in fauoure and creditt vvith him For I remember better the thinges of oulde then the affayres of late For the thinges vve sucke of a childe sincke farther in our mindes and grovve together vvith vs. So that I remember the place vvhere Polycarpus sate vvhen he taughte his goinge out and his comminge in his trade of life the figure and proportion of his body the sermon he made vnto the multitude the reporte he made of his conuersation vvith Iohn and others vvhich savve the Lorde hovve he remembred
please our Lord the Emperour Iuuenalis the most reuerend Bishop of IerusaleÌ„ Thalassius the most reuerend Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia Eusebius the most reuerend Bishop of Armenia Eustathius the most reuereÌ„d Bishop of Berytus and Basilius the most reuerend Bishop of Seleucia in Isauria who were then of autority and chiefe of the councel should be punished alike deposed of their Bishopricks by the censure iudgement of the councel as the canons of the church do require be at the Emperours pleasure After other things were read the byshops then present beinge demaunded whether the Epistles of Leo were agreable with the fayth of the three hundred eighteene holy Fathers assembled of old at Nice in Bithynia and with the Creed of the hundred and fifty fathers in the councell held at Constantinople Anatolius Byshop of CoÌ„stantinople with all the assembly made answere that the Epistle of Leo was no other theÌ„ the faith of the aforesayd Fathers and subscribed vnto it Immediatly the councell cried we are all content we doe all allowe the same we are all of one faith we are all of one opinion we doe all be leue so Thus haue the Fathers which are present in the councell beleued thus haue they subscribed God graunt the Emperour a long life God graunt the Empresse a long life God grauÌ„t the Fathers of the councell many yeres God preserue the liues of such as are of one faith opinion with the councell VVe wish the Emperour many yeares we wish them that hold with the couÌ„cell many yeres God send the Emperour to see many yeares we haue subscribed vnto the faith this is the opinioÌ„ of Leo this is our opinion Last of all they sayd CoÌ„cerning those things we haue sent vnto y â— most holy our most religious Lord the Emperour nowe we wayt for his highnes answere Againe when some told them in this sorte your reuerence and wisedomes haue to render an accompt vnto God for Dioscorus whome you haue deposed vnknowen vnto y â— Emperours most excellent maiesty vnknowen vnto vs in like sorte and for all the things you haue complayned of for the actes of this councell they cried God hath depriued Dioscorus Dioscorus is iustly deposed Christ hath depriued Dioscorus After all this when the PresideÌ„ts had brought forth Martianus the Emperours answere where he had signified vnto them his pleasure toutching the bishops that were deposed the Bishops requested and sayde we pray you as many as be of one opinion as many as hold with the councell as many as subscribed in the councell vnto the Epistle of Leo come into the councell immediatly in they came and downe they sate The supplicatioÌ„s which the Bishops of Aegypt had exhibited vnto Martianus the Emperour were read which besides sundry other things contayned in them as followeth VVe beleue as the three hundred eighteene Bishops which met at the couÌ„cel of Nice haue deliuered vnto vs we hold with the faith of holy Athanasius and holy Cyrill accursing euery heresie both of Arius Eunomius Manes Nestorius of them which say that the flesh of our Lord came downe from heauen was not taken of the virgine Marie mother of God which coÌ„tinewed alwayes a virgine that the same is like vnto our flesh in all things sinne only excepted Then all y t were in the councell cried why haue not these men accursed the opinion of Eutyches let them subscribe vnto the Epistle of Leo and let theÌ„ accurse Eutyches with his heresie let them condescend vnto the Epistle of Leo peraduenture they goe about to deceaue beguile vs. The Bishops of Aegypt made answere that theyr prouince had many Bishops and that they would not take vpon them to answere for such as were absent they requested of the councell to stay for theyr Archbishop that according vnto theyr maner custome they may vphold his censure and opinion They sayd moreouer that if they would decide ought afore theyr Metropolitane were elected the bishops of Aegypt would make an insurrection against them When they had oft intreated and the councell withstoode them motion was made that the Bishops of Aegypt should haue time vntill theyr Archbishop were chosen Next the supplications of certaine Monks were brought forth the summe whereof was y t not one of theÌ„ would take penne in hand to subscribe before the generall assembly met which the Emperour had determined to call together and before they vnderstoode theyr decrees With the reading thereof Diogenes bishop of Cyzicum remebred that Barsumas was one of them which made an insurrection and murthered Flauianus that he had cried kill him And nowe not hauing his name in the supplicatioÌ„ contrary to order to haue presumed to come vnto the councell All the Bishops cried at this Barsumas hath peruered all Syria raised against vs a thousand Monkes When it was moued that as many as were there should waite the councells pleasure and decree the Monkes required that theyr supplications might be read The effect of them was that Dioscorus the Bishops of his opinion might be present at the councell All the councel was moued with this and cried Let Dioscorus be accursed Christ hath deposed Dioscorus out with these Monkes remoue shame froÌ„ the councel take away force and iniurie let not these impious and levvde sayings come to the Emperours eares let not the councell be discredited away vvith infamy The Monkes hearinge this cried of the contrary take away contumely from the Monasteries When the councel had the second time repeated the former exclamation they consulted that the rest of the supplications were to be reade where it was sayde that Dioscorus was iniuriously deposed and that it behoued them of necessitie seeing the controuersie toutching the fayth was to be decided to haue his presence in the councel vnlesse they would doe this that they would shake of the dust from their feete and forsweare the coÌ„munioÌ„ of the Bishops that were present After they had made an end of speaking Aetius the Archdeacon read them the canon that concerned such as deuided them selues from the Churche Againe when the Monkes would not geue eare neither be ruled by the most holy bishops neither by y t entreaty of Aetius the Archdeacon when the one halfe of the councell woulde needes pronounce Nestorius and Eutyches accursed and the other halfe withstoode them the Presidents thought good y â— the supplication of Fâ—ustus and the other Monkes should be read where they craued of the Emperour that the MoÌ„kes which impugned the true faith and sincere doctrine should not be receaued againe for why Dorotheus the Monke called Eutyches the true professor Agaynste whome there were sundry poincts of Eutyches doctrine tossed to fro and discussed in presence of the Princes In the fift session the Senators commaunded them to set forth the decrees and canons of religion after the playnest sorte Asclepiades Deacon of Constantinople read a certen
I frame the thunder and create the winde reuealing my Christ among men Again In that day wil I raise vp the tabernacle of Dauid that is falne down and close vp the breaches therof and I will raise vp his ruines and I wil build it as in the dayes of old that they may seeke the Lord which are the remnant of men all the heathen vpon whom my name is called sayth the Lord which doth this Iames made mention of this Prophecie in the Acts of the Apostles This Amos was of Thecna Armasias king of Iuda persecuted him very oft chastized him many times at length the sonne of Amasias tooke him with a clubbe on the temples of the head and killed him while as yet he drew breath after his wound they brought him to his owne countrey and within two dayes after he died and was there also buried Esaias THis great Prophet Esay the sonne of Amos foresaw in a figure the mysterie of Christ when he sawe the Lord sitting vpon an high and glorious seate where sayeth he the Seraphines stoode about him whereof one hadde sixe wings and an other hadde sixe wings wherewith they couered their faces and cried one to the other in this maner Holy holy holy is the Lorde of hostes the whole earth is full of his glory Then was there one of the Seraphins sent which tooke of the altar an hotte cole with the tongs and touched his lips saying this taketh away thine vnrighteousnes He was so fully instructed by the vision he sawe and perswaded of the type and figure that he foreshewed the mysterie of Christ Againe he was so endued with grace from aboue that he prophecied of the mysterie of Christes passion in this sort He was ledde as a sheepe to be slaine yet was he as still as a Lambe before the sherer and opened not his mouth The Eunuche of Ethiopia reading this Prophecie requested Philip to expound it vnto him who immediatly declared that the Prophet had said this most truely of Christ our Lord. againe he saith He is suche a man as hath good experience of sorowes and infirmities And againe He did none euil neither was there guile found in his mouth yet the Lord will clense him of his wound and shewe light vnto him Againe Thus sayth the Lord Behold I lay in Sion for a foundation a stone euen a tried stone a precious corner stone a sure foundation and who so beleeueth on him shall not be confounded Againe The spirite of the Lord is vpon me therefore hath he anoynted me c. When the Lord readd this in the synagogue on the Sabaoth he sayd Verely I say vnto you this day is this scripture fulfilled in your eares This Esay was of Ierusalem He died at Ierusalem vnder king Manasses being sawed a sunder in two partes and was buried vnder the Oke nighe the well of Rogel hard by the place where the waters ranne which king Ezechias dammed vp It was by this Prophet that God wrought the monument and memoriall of the place called Siloam for when breath failed him before death came he called for a litle water to drinke which was immediatly sent vnto him out of this brooke therfore the place is called Siloam which is by interpretatioÌ„ as much to say as sent In y â— time of Ezechias before this lake or pond was made there came out a litle water at y â— prayer of Esay for the people were then in the plaine couÌ„treys of y â— Moabites who were aliens and left y â— citie perished through want of water for the enemies enquired where they might drinke the Citie being beset they besieged also the brooke Siloam which was drie vnto them there came forth water when the Iewes prayed together with Esay Therefore it runneth continewally after a secret sort vnto this day for to reueale this great myracle And because this was done by Esay the Iewes for memorial therof buried him with great care and honor nigh Siloam that by his holy prayers they might in like sort enioy the benefite of this water after his departure out of this world for he had an aunswere from aboue to doe as he did His sepulchre is nighe where the kings are buried behinde the buriall of the Iewes towardes the Southe Solomon builded the tumbe of Dauid vnto the East of mount Sinâ— hauing an entraunce to goe in from the way which cometh out of Gabaon out of the Citie about a twentie furlongs He made it so crooked and so awrie that it can hardly be perceaued so that many Priestes and in maner the whole nation of the Iewes coulde not vnto this day finde the way that goeth in King Solomon had laide vp there golde that came out of Aethiopia and spice And because Ezechias shewed and dishonored the bones of his fathers therefore God badde him assure him selfe it woulde come to passe that his seede should serue his ennemies and he made him baren and frutelesse from that day forth Ioel. GOd gaue of his spirite vnto the Prophet Ioel that he foreshewed the mysterie of Christ For he sayeth And it shall be in the last dayes sayth the Lorde Of my spirite I will poure out vpon all flesh your sonnes your daughters shall prophecie your yong nien shall see visions and your old men shall dreame dreames On my seruauntes on my handmaideÌ„s I vvill poure out of my spirit in those dayes and they shal prophecie I wil shew wonders in heauen aboue tokens in the earth beneath bloud fire and the vapour of smoke the sunne shal be turned into darknes and the Moone into bloud before that great notable day of the Lord come And it shall come to passe that whosoeuer shal cal vpon the name of the Lord shal be saued S. Peter rehearsed this Prophecie in the Acts of the Apostles that it was euen then fulfilled wheÌ„ as the holy Ghost came downe from heauen and rested vpon the Apostles on the day of Pentecost This Ioel was a neighbour vnto the citie Bethomeron in Rubim where he died was also buried in peace Ionas IOnas hath not barely in word but truely in deede foreshewed the mysterie of our sauiours resurrection For Christ sayth in the gospell Euen as Ionas was three dayes and three nightes in the bellie of the whale so shall the sonne of man be three dayes and three nights in the bowelles of the earth Euen as the whale cast vp Ionas vncorrupt so hathe the sepulchre restored the Lorde to the better life This Ionas was of Cariathmaus nigh Azotus a Citie lying on the sea coaste towardes the Gentiles After he came out of the whales bellie and taken his way to the Citie of Niniue he taried not in that lande but tooke his mother and soâ—orned in Assur a foraine soyle He thought with him selfe by this meanes I shall take away the infamie which I haue purchased vnto my selfe by prophecying falsely against
the Citie of Niniue Elias hauing propheried in those dayes against the house of Achaab and called for famine to light vpon the earth fledd away and being come to a widowe which had a childe he taried there for he coulde not abide among the vncircumcized blessed her When Ionas died God raised him to lif by Elias for he would haue him then know that he coulde not flie from the hand and power of God After the famine was ended Ionas left that countrey and gotte him to the land of Iuda and when his mother died by the way he buried her by mount Libanus He died also him self in Saar and was buried in the caue of Cenzeum who had bene made iudge ouer one tribe in his countrey what time the lande wanted a Prince This Prophet gaue straunge tokens vnto Ierusalem and the whole land to witte a stone crying very lamentably that the end was at hande that when Ierusalem were troden and frequented of all nations then the Citie should be destroyed Sophonias SOphonie was also thought worthy to prophecie of y ◠Lord Iesus Christ For thus he saith the lord shal be terrible vnto them destroy all the gods in the land al the isles of the heathen shal worship him euery man in his place And again I wil clense the lips of the people that they may euery one cal vpon the name of the Lord serue him vnder one yoke from beyōd the riuers of Aethiopia will I take my dispersed and they shall bring me an offering And againe Reioyce O daughter Sion be ioyful o Israel reioyce and be glad from thy whole heart o daughter Ierusalem for the Lord hath wiped away thy vnrighteousnes he hath redemed thee from the hand of thine enemies the Lord him selfe wil raigne in the middest of thee so that thou shalt no more see any mischiefe befall vnto thee These things do properly appertaine vnto the Lord Iesus Christ This Sophonias was of the tribe of Simeon and the lande Sabarthatha He prophecied of the Citie the ende of Israel and confusion of the wicked He died and was buried in his owne land Ieremie IEremie receaued grace from aboue to prophecie of the mysterie of Christ For he sayeth And they tooke thirtie peeces of siluer the price of him that was valewed whom they bought of the children of Israel and gaue them for the potters fielde as the Lorde appoynted me Mathew remembred this prophecie in the gospell as then fulfilled in the passion of Christ Againe sayeth the same prophet Behold the dayes will come saith the Lord and I will make a new couenaunt with the house of Israel the house of Iuda not such a couenant as I made with their fathers what time I brought them with a mightye arme out of Aegypt For they kept not my couenant and therfore I haue despised thē saith the Lord but this is the couenant which I will make with the house of Israel After those dayes sayeth the Lorde I will set my lawes in their mindes and I will write them in their hearts and I wil be their God and they shall be my people neither shal euery one then teach his brother or his neighbour saying knowe the Lord. for euery one shall know him from the lowest to the highest because I will haue mercie on their iniquities their sinnes will I remēber no more S. Paule writing to the Romains put them in remembrance of this prophecie This Ieremy was of Anathoth the people stoned him at Taphnis in Aegypt and so he dyed and lyeth buried there where Pharaos pallace stoode The Aegyptians beinge greatlye benefited by him did him that honor For he had prayed for them when certayne Adders and beastes that were bred in the water molested them sore such as the Aegyptians called Menephoth and the Grecians Crocodils And at this day also the faithful thereabouts do praye in that place take vp duste from thence for to cure suche as are hurte of those beastes Manye of them also doe vse therewyth to chase away these venemous creatures into other waters We our selues haue learned of some that were of the line of Antigonus and Ptolomaeus auncient and elderlye men that Alexander king of Macedonia comming vnto that place where the Prophet was buried and hearing of the misteries therof translated his tumbe reliques into Alexandria placed them there with great pompe glory on euery side so that kinde of serpent was banished that land also and that water in like sort thus were the serpents whom they call Argolai that is Lisards put away being brought out of Peloponnesus so that the people there are called Argolai that is lasy loubers their speach is nice fine but altogether infortunate This Ieremy gaue the priests in Aegypt warning that their Idols must be broken and throwen to the grounde by a sauiour that was a babe that shoulde be borne of a virgine and layde in a Manger And therefore at this day they sette a virgine in bed and an infant in a Manger and adore them And when as of old king Prolomaeus demaunded of them why they did so their aunswere was that their auncestors had deliuered them that mystery and receaued it of the holy prophet before the temple was taken this prophet tooke out the Arke of couenant all that was laid vp therin and hid it in a certen rocke saying vnto such as were present The Lord from Sinai is gone vp into heauen againe the lawgeuer shall come out of Sion with great power and the signe of his comming shal be vnto you when all nations shal honor a tree he said moreouer no man shall take away that Arke except Aaron and no man shall see the tables laide vp therein be he priest or be he Prophet except Moses the chosen of God And at the resurrection the Arke shall firste rise and come forth out of the rocke and it shall be layde on mount Sina and thither vnto it will all the Saincts assemble together lookinge for the Lord and flying from the enemy which would haue destroyed them comming vnto this rocke he sealed vp this Arke with his finger writing thereon the name of God the forme of it was like the ingrauing of iron and a light cloud ouer shadowed and couered the name of God neither knew any man this place neither could any man reade the sealinge vnto this day neither shall vnto the end This rock is in the desert where y ◠Arke was made at the first betwene two mountains where Moses Aaron lie buried And in the night time a cloude muche like fire couereth this place euen as it did of olde The glory of God can neuer be awaye from the name of God Therefore God gaue vnto Ieremy the grace that he should finish his mystery become companion with Moses Aaron who are ioyned together vnto this day For Ieremy came of the line of the priests Hulda
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
to be short a theefe for he keepeth this mountayne ouer against the church together vvith his associates the Apostle then renting his garment and beating his heade vvith greate sorrovv sayde I haue left a vvise keeper of our brothers soule prepare me a horse and let me haue a guyde he hastened out of the churche rode in post being come vnto the place appoynted he is straight vvayes taken of the theeuishe vvatch he neither flyeth neither resisteth but exclamâ—th for this purpose came I hither bringe me vnto your captaine vvho in the meane space as he vvas armed behelde him comminge but eftsones vvhen he savve his pace and knevve that it vvas Iohn he vvas stroken vvith shame and fledd avvay the olde man forgetfull of his yeares vvith might pursueth him flying and cryeth My sonne vvhy flyest thou from me thy father vnarmed and olde O sonne tender my case be not afrayde as yet there remayneth hope of saluation I vvill vndertake for thee vvith Christe I vvill dye for thee if neede be as Christ did for vs. I vvill hazard my soule for thine trust to me Christ sent me â–ª but he hearing this first stoode still turning his countenance to the ground next shoke of his armour anone trembled for feare and vvept bitterly He embraced the olde man comming vnto him aunsvvering as vvell as he coulde for vveeping so that agayne he seemed to be baptized vvith teares the shaking of the hande onely omitted The Apostle vvhen he had promised and protested to procure for him pardon of our Sauiour and prayed and fallen vpon his knees and also kissed his right hande novve clensed through repentance brought him vnto the Churche agayne VVhen that also he had povvred forth often tymes prayers for him and stroâ—gled vvith him in continuall fastinges and mollified his minde vvith diuers and sundry sermons and confirmed him departed not as the reporte goeth before he had fully restored him vnto the Churche â–ª and exhibited a greate example of true repentance a greate tryall of nevve birth and a singular token of the visible resurrection this haue I taken out of Clemens partly for the history and partly also for the profitâ— of the Reader CAP. XXI Of the order of the Gospells NOw we will forwardes and entreate of the vndoubted wrytinges of this Apostle And firste let there be no staggering at his Gospell which is well knowne of all the Churches vnder heauen Why it was of olde placed the fourthe after the other three it shall thus appeare The diuine holy men namely the Apostles of Christ leading a passing pure life hauing their mindes be decked with euery kinde of vertue vsed rude and simple speache yet of a diuine and forcible power which they had receaued of Christ neither knewe they nether endeuored they to publish the doctrine of their â—â—ister with curious paynting of wordes but vsing the demonstration of the holy spirite which wrought with them and the onely power of Christ which brought miracles to perfection they shewed the knowledge of the kingdome of heauen to the whole worlde being nothing carefull at all for the writinge of bookes And this they brought to passe being occupied with a greater worke and in maner exceeding the strength of man Paul the mightiest of all the rest in the setling of wordes and best armed with the power of perfect senses wrote but very short epistles whereas he might haue layd downe infinite thinges yea and secretes being rapt vnto the thirde heauen and behoulding celestiall things yea brought into paradyse it selfe and there thought worthy to heare secrete mysteries neyther were the rest of the Disciples of our Sauiour namely the tvvelue Apostles and the seuenty with other innumerable ignorant and vnskilful herein And yet of al these the Disciples of our Sauiour Matthew Iohn wrote gospels Who as report goeth were constrained therunto for Matthew when he had first preached vnto the Hebrevves now passing vnto other people wrote his Gospell in his contrey language supplying by writing in his absence y â— which was desired in his presence When Mark and Luke had published their gospels â–ª Iohn say they in all y â— space preached without writing but at length was moued to write for this cause It is reported that when the bookes of the three Euangelistes were through out the worlde and come into his handes he allowed them and yelded of them a true testimonye wishing that the declaration of such thinges had bene printed in their bookes which were done at the first preaching of Christ the Reader may perceaue these three Euangelistes to haue onely sett forth the doinges of our Sauiour one yeare after the imprysonment and captiuitye of Iohn the Baptist which may be gathered by the beginning of their histories for after the xl dayes fasting and the annexed temptation Matthewe sheweth the time of the beginning of his historye saying VVhen he had hearde that Iohn vvas taken he returned from Iudaea into Galilee And Marke likewise after that sayth â—e Iohn vvas taken Iesus came into Galilee And Luke also before he had mentioned the doings of Iesu obseruing the same manner Herode saythe he proceeding in his haynous offences shutt vp Iohn in prison Iohn the Apostle beinge for these causes entreated wrote the tyme passed ouer of the former Euangelistes with sylence and therein the Actes of our Sauiour namely which went before the imprisonment of Iohn which he partly signified writing thus this vvas the first of the miracles vvhich Iesus did partly with all mentioning the doinges of Iohn the Baptist who as then baptized in â—non by Salem which is euident when he sayth for as yet Iohn vvas not cast into prison Iohn then in his Gospell deliuereth such thinges as were done of Christ before the coâ—â—iâ—â—ing of Iohn the other three beginne with the mention of Iohns imprysonment vnto him that recoâ—â—yleth the Euangelistes thus they shall not seeme discrepant in so much that the Gospell of Iohn contayneth the former doinges of Christe the other the latter lastinge vnto the ende therefore not without cause Iohn passeth ouer with silence the genealogye of our Sauiour accordinge vnto the fleshe being afore amply layde downe by Matthewe and Luke and beginneth with his diuinitie reserued of the holy Ghost for him as the mightier thus much shall suffice concerning the Gospell written by Sainct Iohn The cause why Marke wrote his Gospell we haue declared before Luke in the beginninge of his historye sheweth the occasion of his writing signifying that diuers nowe already had imployed their diligent care to the setting forthe of such thinges as he was fully perswaded of deliuering vs very necessarily from their doubtful opinion why left that he by his Gospell declareth vnto vs the sure and certaine narration of such thinges whereof he had receaued the truthe sufficiently partely by the company and conuersation of Paul partely also throughe the familiaritie
opportunitie or subtle shift to snare men in stirred vp againe straunge heresies to molest the Church and of those Heretickes some crept into Asia and Phrygia after the manner of venemous serpents whereof the Montanists bragge and boaste of Montanus as a comforter and of his women Priscilla and Maximilla as Prophetisses of Montanus others some preuayled at Rome whose captayne was Florinus a Priest excommunicated out of the Churche and together with him one Blastus subiect to the same daunger of soule both these haue subtly circumuented many and perswaded them to their purpose euery one seuerally establishing newe doctrine yet all contrary to the trueth CAP. XIIII The censure of the olde writers toutching Montanus and his false prophetes THe victorious and inuincible power of the trueth alwayes preuailing hath raysed vp Apollinarius of Hierapolis of whome we spake before as a stiffe and strong defence together with many other discreate persons of those tymes to the confutation of the foresayd Phrygian heresie whiche haue left behinde them matter sufficient and very copious for this our historye Wherefore one of them taking penne in hande to paynte out these heretickes signifieth at the entrance how he rebuked them with vnwritten elenches he beginneth thus It is novv a great vvhile agoe vvelbeloued Auircus Marcellus since thou diddest enioyne me this taske ▪ that I should publish some booke against the follovvers of the hereticke Miltiades vvherupon I doubted vnto this day vvhat vvas best to be done not but that I vvas able to confute their falsehoode and geue testimony vnto the trueth but that I feared greatly lest by vvriting I shoulde adde something vnto the perfect vvordes of the nevv testament vvhereto nothing may be added and vvherefro nothing may be taken avvay by him that vvill leade a life agreeable to the Gospell I being of late at Ancyra in Galatia founde the Churche throughout Pontus filled not vvith Prophets as they call them but rather as it shall be proued vvith false Prophets vvhere through the Lorde as much as in me laye I disputed in the Churche the space of many dayes against them and their seuerall obiections so that the Churche reioysed and vvas thereby confirmed in the trueth but the contrary parte yet repyned and the gaynesayers vvere very sorovvefull and vvhen the Elders of that place required of me in the presence of our fellovve minister Zoticus Otrenus that I vvould leaue them in vvriting some commentary of such things as vvere vttered against the aduersaries of the trueth At that time I did not but promised that I vvoulde shortly through the helpe of the Lorde vvrite somevvhat therof vnto them these and the like thinges layd downe in the proeme in processe of his booke he writeth thus VVherefore the originall of them and their nevve founde opinion against the Churche of God vvas after this sorte there is a certaine village in Mysia a region of Phrygia called Ardabau vvhere histories recorde that first of all one Montanus a late conuerte in the time of Gratus Proconsul of Asia pufte vp vvith an immoderate desire of primacy opened a gappe for the aduersary to enter into him and being madde and sodainly estraunged and berefte of his vvitts vvaxed furious and published straunge doctrine contrary to the tradition and custome and auncient succession novv receaued vnder the name of prophecy they vvhich then vvere auditors of this vnlavvfull preaching some chasticed checked him for a lunaticke one that vvas possessed of the spirite of error forbad him to preach being mindful of the forevvarning threatning of our Sauiour tending to this ende that vve shoulde take diligent heede of false prophets others some vvaxed insolent boasted bragged of him not a litle as if he vvere endued vvith the holy Ghost the gift of prophecye being forgtefull of the forevvarning of God they called vpon the dissembling the flattering and seducing spirite of the people by the vvhich they vvere snared deceaued that through silēce he should no more be hindred the deuil through a certain arte or rather the like subtle methode vvorking the destruction of disobedient persons being more honored thē his merit did require stirred vp kindled their mindes svvarued already from the faith slumbring in sinne so that he raised tvvo vvomen possessed of a foule spirit vvhich spake fonde foolish fanaticall thinges euen as he had before they reioyced gloried in the spirite vvhich pronounced them happy and puffed them vp vvith infinite faire promises yet sometimes by signes and tokens he rebuked them to their faces so that he seemed a chasticing spirite there vvere fevve of the Phrygians seduced notvvithstanding that boulde and blinde spirite instructed them to blaspheme and reuile generally euery Church vnder heauen because they neyther did homage neyther curteously receaued amonge them that false spirite of prophecye the faithfull throughout Asia for this cause men often and in many places examined the nevve founde doctrine pronounced it for prophane ▪ they excommunicated reiected and banished this hereticall opinion out of their churches When he had written these thinges in the beginning and throughout his first booke reprehended their error in his seconde booke he writeth thus of their endes because they charge vs with the deathe of the Prophets for that vve receaue not their disordered fantasies these saye they are the Prophets vvhiche the Lorde promysed to sende his people let them aunsvvere me I charge them in the name of the liuing God ôye good people is there any one of the secte of Montanus and these vvomen vvhich hath bene persecuted by the Ievves or put to deathe by any tyrant not one of them bearing this name vvas eyther apprehended or crucyfied neyther vvas there any vvoman of them in the Synagogues of the Ievves eyther scurged or stoned at all but Montanus and Maximilla are sayde to dye an other kinde of deathe many doe vvrite that both these throughe the motion of their madde spirit not together at one tyme but at seuerall tymes hanged them selues and so ended their lyues after the manner of Indas the traytour euen as the common reporte goeth of Theodotus that iolly fellovve the first founder of their prophecye vvho being frenticke persvvaded him selfe on a certayne tyme through the spirit of error to take his flight vp into the heauens and so being caste into the ayre tombled dovvne and dyed miserably thus it is reported to haue come to passe yet in so muche vve savve it not vvith our eyes vve can not Ovvorthy Syr alleadge it for certayne vvhether Montanus Theodotus and the vvoman dyed thus orno Agayne he writeth in the same booke howe that the holy Bishops going about to rebuke the spirite which spake in Maximilla were hindered by others that wrought with the same spirite sayinge as followeth let not the spirite of Maximilla saye as it is in the Epistle to Asterius Vrbanus I am chaced as a
both a Bishope a Martyr lyenge at Laodicea And of blessed Papyrius and Melito an eunuche vvho vvas ledde and guided in all thinges that he did by the holie ghoste and novve resteth at Sardis vvaytinge the message from heauen vvhen he shall rise from the dead All these celebrated the feaste of Easter according vnto the Gospell in the fouretenth daye of the moneth svvaruing no vvhere but obseruinge the rule of faith to be shorte and I Polycrates the meanest of you all do retaine the tradition of my forefathers of vvhich some I haue imitated for there vvere seuen Bishopes before me and novve I the eighth vvhich alvvaies haue celebrated the feaste of Easter on that daye in the vvhich the people remoued the leauen from among them I therfore my brethren vvhich novve haue liued threescore and fiue yeares in the Lorde haue conferred vvith the brethren throughout the vvorld haue reade ouerreade the holy scriptures yet vvill not be moued at al vvith these things vvhich are made to terrifie vs. for my auncetors elders haue saied that vve ought rather to obey God then men Afterwardes he speaketh of the bishops that consented and subscribed to his epistle after this maner I could repeate the bishops vvhich vvere present vvhome you requested me to assemble vvhome also I haue assembled together vvhose names if I should vvrite vvould grovve to a greate number they haue visited me a simple soule and a man of small accompt and haue consented vnto this epistle they also knovve that I beare not this gray heare in vaine but alvvaies haue had my conuersation in Christ Iesu CAP. XXIII The censure of certaine byshops toutching this controuersie IMmediately vpon this Victor Bishope of Rome goeth aboute to seuer from the vnitie in the communion all the churches of Asia together with the adioyning congregations as sauoring not aright and iuueyeth againste them in his epistles pronounceth flattly all the brethren there for excōmunicated persons but this pleased not al the bishops for they exhorted him to seke after those thinges which concerned peace and vnitie and loue betwene brethren Their words are at this daye extant that sharpely reprehended Victor of which number Irenaeus in the name of all the brethren in Fraunce that were vnder his charge wrote and allowed the same sentence to wete The mysterie of the resurrection of our Sauiour to be celebrated on the sondaye onely Yet as it was very meete he put him in remembrance at large of his dutie that he shoulde not estraynge or cut of all the churches of God whiche retayned the tradition of olde custome his wordes are these Nether is this controuersie onely of the daye but also of the kinde or maner of fasting Some thinke they ought to faste one daye some tvvo some more some fortie and telling the houres throughout day and nyght they counte a daye nether beganne this varietie of fastinge in our tyme but longe before through them vvho then bare rule and as it is very likelye through their double negligence they despised and altered the simple and common custome retayned of olde yet for all this vvere they at vnitie one vvith an other and as yet vve retayne it for this varietie of fastinge commendeth the vnitie of fayth After this he adioyneth a certeine historie whiche I will alleage as peculierly incident to this place ▪ They sayeth he that vvere bishops before Soter of that sea vvhich novve thou gouernest I meane ▪ Anicetus Pius Hyginus Telesphorus and Xystus nether did they so obserue it them selues nether did they publishe anye suche president vnto the posteritie for all that they though not obseruing the same custome vvere at vnitie neuerthelesse vvith them vvhich resorted vnto them from other churches and did not obserue the same although their obseruation vvas contrary to the mindes of suche as obserued it not nether vvas the like euer heard of that any man for suche kind of fasting vvas excōmunicated yea the bishopes them selues vvhich vvere thy predecessours haue sent the Eucharist vnto the brethren of other churches that obserued a contrary custome And Polycarpus beinge at Rome in the tyme of Anicetus they both varied among them selues about trifling matters yet vvere they soone recōciled not a vvord of this matter Neither vvas Anicetus able to persvvade Polycarpus that he should not retaine that vvhich he had alvvaies obserued vvith Iohn the disciple of our Lord the rest of the Apostles vvith vvhome he had bene cōuersant neither did Polycarpus persvvade Anicetus to obserue it but told him that he ought to obserue the aunciēt custome of the elders vvhome he succeeded These thinges being at this poynt they cōmunicated one vvith an other in the churche Anicetus graunted the Eucharist vnto Polycarpus for reuerēce he ovved vnto him in the end they parted one from an other in peace and al such as retayned cōtrary obseruations throughout the vvhole vniuersal churche held faste the bonde of loue vnitie Thus Irenaeus not degenerating from the etymologie of his name passing all other in y e gyft of reconciling the brethren practised for the ecclesiasticall peace he wrote not only to Victor but also to sundrye gouernours of diuers other churches in seuerall epistles concerninge the sayde controuersie CAP. XXIIII The censure of the Bishops in Palaestina toutching the saide controuersie of Easter the repetition of the bookes of certaine ecclesiasticall writers THe bishops of Palaestina mentioned a little before Narcissus Theophilus with thē Cassius bishope of Tyrus and Clarus bishop of Ptolomais together with other bishops in their cōpany when they had reasoned at large toutching the celebration of Easter the tradition deliuered vnto thē by succession from y e Apostles in the end of their epistle they write thus Sende out vvith speede the copies of our epistle throughout the parishes that vve be not charged vvith their errour vvhich easily are brought to snare euē their ovvne soules vve signifie vnto you that at Alexādria they celebrate the feast of Easter vpon the selfe same day vvith vs. their epistles are brought vnto vs ours vnto thē that vve may vniformely together solemnize this holy feast Besides these alleaged trāslated letters epistles of Irenaeus there is extāt an other boke of his very learned and necessary against the gentiles intituled of Science or knovvledge an other vnto Marcianus his brother intituled A declaration of the Apostles preaching an other booke of diuers tracts ▪ where he maketh mētion of the epistle vnto y ◠Hebrevves the booke of VVisdome called Solomons whence he alleageth testimonies these are the workes of Irenaeus which came to our knowledge whē Comodus had bene Emperour xiii yeares Pertinax after him not fully the space of six moneths Seuerus succeeded him in the empire there are reserued at this day in many places many notable workes of diuers ecclesiasticall persons whereof these came to our handes the
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
you for that it concerneth not any weyghty substance of all our religiō there is no reason why it should breed any diuision at all in mind or discorde in doctrine And this doe I say not to compell you in this light and fonde question of what sorte soeuer it be alltogether to condescende vnto the same sentence though you dissent among yourselues about a matter of small importance for neither truely are we all in all things like minded neither haue we all the same nature and gifte ingraffed in vs neuerthelesse for all that it may come to passe that the sacred vnity may soundlye inuiolably be retained amōg you one cōsent fellowship cōserued betwene all But toutching the prouidēce of God let there be one fayth amōg all one cōsent of mind one opinion cōcerning God as toutching the sleyghty subtle sifting out of these vaine questiōs though you agree not altogether in one yet should you haue limited thē within the boūds of your cappacity layd them vp within the secrete closett of your minde let the cōmon lincke of amity let true fayth let the honor due vnto God the reuerēce of his lawe dwell for sure certaine amōg you ioyne hāds together be friends one with an other render vnto the whole multitude of the people theyr wonted familiarity purging your mindes of the spott of cōtention embraceye againe one an other after the most louing friendlyest maner for oftentimes vvhē enmity is banished amity is of more delectable force amōg friēds let me therefor enioy the days in peace the nights vvithout molestation that the pleasure vvhich riseth of the pure light of cōcord quiet life may hēceforth inuiolably be cōserued If it othervvise happē it behoueth vs to sobe sigh to shede many a salt teare for it can not be that hēceforth we leade the rest of our life in peace trāquility for it can not be that the people of God I meane that people which ioyntly with vs is tied to the seruice of god as long as they thus iniustly dāgerously disagree one frō an other doe liue peaceably or hovve can I in this case quiett my selfe and setle my conscience And that you may perceaue the great griefe sorow I conceaue in my harte for the same I beseche you geue eare vnto me Of late as I came vnto the cyty of Nicomedia forthvvith I purposed in minde speedely to trauell tovvards the Easte and vvhen I hastened tovvards you and had passed the greater parte of my iourney so that novve I seemed in maner to be with you tydings hereof constrained me to alter my mind lest that I shoulde vvith mine eyes behould the thinges vvhich I verely supposed my selfe not able to tollerat with mine ears Toutching that vvhich remayneth see that vvith your peace concordeye make plaine and sett vvide open the vvay for my iourney into the East the vvhich you haue shut vvith your debate discord kindled of the one against the other And bringe speedely to passe that I may perceaue not onely you to holde together but also the whole multitude of the laye people reioycinge and let vs all ioyntly render thankes as our bounden duety requireth vnto God almighty vvith conuenient laude and praise for the publique peace the common vnity and liberty of all men CAP. V. Constantinus the Emperour summoneth the Nicene councell it was held at Nicaea a Citie of Bithynia for the debatinge of the controuersie about the feast of Easter and the rootinge out of the heresie of Arius THough the emperours letters contained a wonderfull exhortation full of graue and sobre councell yet y ◠poyson of dissention had takē such roote that neither the industry of the emperoure neyther the credit of the messenger which brought the letters colde suppresse it For neither Alexander neither Arius tempered the madnes of their cōtentious minds for all the emperours letters There was moreouer no small contention and a greate tumulte amonge the vulgare sorte before the which there was an other pestilēt kind of sedition scattered abrode into certaine particular prouinces which greatly molested the quiet estate of the church to weete the schisme about the time of the celebration of the feast of Easter which then had onely possessed the Easterne partes whilest that some curiously obserued the Iudaicall celebration of the feaste some other the generall custome and maner of the christians throughout the worlde And while they thus contende about the feaste they communicate neuerthelesse one with an other and accomplishe the solemnity with bitter contention of minde When therefore the Emperour sawe the church vehemently tossed by reason of both these troublesome tumultes he summoned a generall councell and cited by his letters from euery where the byshops to appeare and meete at Nicaea a city of Bithynia So that many byshops out of many prouinces and cityes came thither of the which Eusebius called Pamphilus in his thirde booke of the life of Constantine wryteth thus There vvere gathered together into one the chiefe ministers of God inhabitinge all the churches throughout all Europe Aphrick and Asia there vvas one sacred senate framed as it vvere by the handye vvorke of God vvhich also embraced vvithin the boundes thereof both Syrians and Cilicians such as came from Phoenicia Arabia Palaestina Aegypt Thebais Libya and Mesopotamia there vvas also in this Synode the byshop of Perses neyther vvas the Scythian absent from this company Pontus Galatia Pamphilia Cappadocia Asia and Phrygia ministred chosen men from amongest them Moreouer the Thracians Macedonians Achaians Epirotae and they vvhose dvvellinge vvas farre distant came thither of the Spaniardes also there vvas present together vvith many others in that company * one that vvas counted notable of greate fame and renovvne But the byshop of the princely cytye by reason of his olde age absented himselfe yet there vvere then presente of his clergie vvhich supplied his rovvme Suche a garlande of immortall memory tvvisted the emperour Constantine beinge but one through the bonde of vnity vnto the glory of Christ and to the ende he mighte be founde thankefull vnto his Sauiour he sett vp that renovvmed signe of victory agaynst the enemye liuely resemblinge in this our assemblie the Apostolicke quire For it is wrytten that in those tymes there were gathered together holy men of euery nation vvhich is vnder heauen amonge vvhome there vvere Parthians Medes Elamits and inhabitors of Mesopotamia Iudaea and Cappadocia Pontus and Asia Phrygia and Pamphilia Aegypte and the partes of Libya vvhiche is beyonde Cyren straungeres of Rome Ievves and Proselytes Cretes and Arabians But this one thinge fayled them for all they that mette there vvere not of the ministers of God The number of Bishops in this assemblie vvas three hundred and ouer but of Priestes Deacons Acolyts and others vvhich accompanyed them the number coulde not be tolde And of the ministers of God some
sought out How great what horrible blasphemies God of his goodnes be mercifull vnto vs haue some vnreuerently vttered against our great sauiour against our hope and life and impudētly not only blased things cōtrary vnto the scriptures inspired from aboue the sacred faith but also affirmed they beleued the same For vvhen as three hundreth bishops and aboue men of great fame both for modestie of minde sharpnesse of witt had confirmed one the same faith which was founde to be a true faith by the trueth it selfe and playne testimonies of holie scripture sought out for the purpose Arius alone was found beyng ouercome with the power and fraude of the deuill to fall from the same and beynge prone therevnto through the peruersitie of his minde scattered and sovved first of all amongest you aftervvardes amongest vs this poysoned errour of perdition VVherefore lett vs embrace that doctrine vvhich almightie God the father of heauen hath deliuered vnto vs let vs returne vnto our dearely beloued brethren vvhome the wicked impudēt minister of Satan hath seuered asunder let vs vvith might and mayne and as commonly vve say vvith all the vaynes in our hart go home agayne vnto the generall societie and body of the church and vnto our ovvne naturall members This aboue all other things behoueth your wisdome your faith holines after the remouīg frō your minds the cākred poysō of the aduersary who set him selfe opposite against the trueth that without all delaye ye haue recourse vnto the grace and goodnes of almightie God For that which seemed good vnto the three hūdred bishops is no othervvise to be taken then for the sentence of God specially in as much as the holie Ghost vvas resiant in the mindes of so vvorthie and so notable men inspiring them vvith the deuine vvill of God him selfe VVherfore let none of you stagger at the matter let none of you make any delay at all but all ioyntly vvith most vvillinge mindes returne vnto the most perfect way of trueth that as soone as I my selfe come amōgst you I may together with you rēder dew thāks vnto the god whose eye nothīg doth escape because that he hath not onely reuealed vnto vs the true syncere faith but also geuen vnto vs most graciously the loue and charitie which vvas to be vvished of vs all God keepe and preserue you vvelbeloued brethren This the Emperour wrote vnto the people of Alexandria signifying in playne words that the finall conclusion definitiue sentēce of the faith was not layde downe vnaduisedly neither came to passe by happe hazard but after great labour industrie after diligent searching and sifting out of the trueth to haue bene published by the councell and not some thinges to haue bene handled some other things to haue bene omitted but all whatsoeuer seemed necessary to be entreated of toutching the confirmation of y ◠doctrine of faith to haue bene sufficiently discoursed neither to haue bene firste vnaduisedly decreed before all were curiously handled in so much that all what so euer seemed to breede occasion of controuersie or discord was quite plucked vp by the rootes But that I may vtter all in one word Constantine calleth the censure of the whole assembly the sentence of God him selfe neither doubted he but that so great a company of bishops was vnited linked together in one mind in one opinion by y ◠motion instinct of the holy ghost Yet for all this Sabinus who is the ringleader of the Macedonian heresie wilfully and of sett purpose impugneth these thinges yea moreouer he termeth such as mett at Nice vnlearned and doultishe idiots neither is he ashamed to charge Eusebius bishop of Caesarea with the reprochefull spot and blemishe of ignorance neither weyeth he this with him selfe that such as were present at the coūcell though they were vnlearned men as he reporteth yet being inspired from aboue endued with the grace of the spirite of God could in no wise straye from the trueth But let vs heare what the Emperour layde downe in other letters against the opinions of Arius and his complices the which also he sent abroade vnto the bishops and congregations throughout christendome An other Epistle of Constantine COnstantinus the puyssāt the mighty noble Emperour vnto the bishops pastors people whersoeuer Inasmuch as Arius traceth the stepps of detestable impious persons it is requisite that he be partaker with them of the selfe same infamie and reproche For as Porphyrius the svvorne aduersarie deadly foe of deuine seruice vvho lately published levvde cōmentaries in the cōfutation defiance of Christian religion vvas revvarded according vnto his desert and so recōpenced that within the cōpasse of these fewe yeares he was not only grieued with great reproche blemished with the shamefull spot of infamie but also his impious blasphemous works perished vtterly were abolished euen so now it seemed good vnto vs to call Arius his complices the vvicked broode of Porphyrius that looke vvhose maners they haue imitated they may enioye also the priuiledge of their name Moreouer we thought good that if there can be founde extant any worke or booke compiled by Arius the same shoulde be burned to ashes so that not only his damnable doctrine may thereby he vvholly rooted out but also that no relique thereof may remaine vnto the posteritie This also we straightly cōmaunde charge that if any man be found to hyde or conceale any booke made by Arius and not immediatly bring forth the sayd booke deliuer it vp to be burned that the sayde offender for so doing shall die the death For as soone as he is taken our pleasure is that his head be stricken of from his shoulders God keepe you in his tuition An other epistle of Constantine COnstantinus the Emperour vnto the churches throughout christēdome sendeth greeting VVhen as I perceaued by the florishing prosperous estate of the publicke weale how greatly we are beholding vnto the goodnes of almightie God conferred vpon vs I deemed that aboue all things it behoued me of dutie to foresee that in the most holy and sacred assemblies of the Catholicke church vnder heauen there shold one faith syncere loue charitie vniforme consent agreement toutching the religion seruice of almightie God vnuiolably be retayned But sithence that the same could by no other way or meanes be compassed neither in any other sure or certaine place be setled vnlesse that either all the bishops or at lestvvise the greater part of them assembled together layde downe their seuerall censures concerning the most holy religion seruice of God therfore when the greatest company that coulde be gott mette together I my selfe as one of your number vvas present vvith them Neyther tooke I in scorne vvhereat novve I greatly reioyce that I coupled my selfe vvith you in those affayres VVe proceeded so farre in the premisses and handled all thinges so exquisitely vntill
the sentence vvhich seemed gratefull and acceptable vnto God the ouerseer of all thinges for the concorde and consent in religion vvas openly pronounced so that there remayned nothinge hereafter to be concluded vpon vvhich seemed to tende or grovve either vnto discorde or disagreement toutchinge the faith VVhen as there at that tyme vve reasoned of the most sacred solemnitie and feast of Easter it seemed good by vniforme consent of all that all men in all places shoulde celebrate it vpon one and the selfe same daye for vvhat vvas there more auaylable vvhat could there be more glorious then that this feast vvhereby vve retaine and holde fast the firme hope of immortalitie shoulde after one and the same order and after the same manifest trade vvithout noueltie or alteration be obserued and first of all it seemed altogether contrary to order that in the celebration of the sayd most sacred feast we should imitate the rites maner of the Iewes who in as much as they haue defiled their hāds with an hainous offence reason it is as impure persons their minds should be helde snared in blindnesse It remayneth therefore that vve lay aside theyr custome and publishe for a remembrance vnto the posteritie in tyme to come the celebration of this feaste after a truer more syncere institution the vvhich vnto this present time from the first day of the passion we haue obserued VVherfore let vs haue nothing common with that most odious broode of the Iewes for we are taught by our sauiour to tread an other way the which we must cleaue vnto there is layde downe a race a limite both decēt and lawfull for our most sacred religion let vs ioyntly retaine this with vniforme consent most honorable brethren withdraw our selues from that despitefull nation For in very deede it is the greatest absurditie that can be for them arrogantly to vaunt that we can in no wise obserue these things without the ayde and helpe of their discipline VVhat is it whereof they are able to sauour aright who after they had put the Lord Iesus to death hauing remoued the right sense of their minde out of his quiet seate vvere caryed not vvith the vveyght of reason but vvith an intollerable vvilfulnesse of rashe enterprises vvhither so euer the frensie and madnesse that vvas ingraffed in their mindes did leade them And in this poynte it is apparent they see not the manifest trueth no maruell then they erre in many things in that they besides the appointed time for the celebration of this fest within the compasse of the selfe same yeare do celebrate a second Easter VVhat cause then shall moue vs to imitate these men vvhome vve see thus manifestly infected vvith the grieuons maladie of errour vve vvill in no vvise permit the same feast in one and the same yeare the seconde time to be solemnized If that I had bene carelesse and busyed my selfe herein nothinge at all it had bene your parte and duetie to haue imployed both your diligence and also with earnest and continewall prayer to haue craued that the right rule and synceritie of your minds should in no wise participate neither in any thing haue felowship with the vvicked vvayes of levvde persons Besides all this vve may easily perceaue hovve shamefull and detestable a thinge it is to dissent and disagree about so vveyghtie a matter and about so hygh and so religious a feaste One festiuall daye of purchased freedome to vvete of the moste blessed passion bloodsheding hath our sauiour commended vnto vs one catholicke churche he would haue to be collected of all whose mēbers though they be many in sūdry places dispersed vnder heauē yet do they knit close together in one spirite that is in the will pleasure of almighty god I would that of your wisdome holines you deepely weyed with your selues how disordered vndecent a thing it is vpō the selfe same dayes for some religiously to fast for some others ryotously to feaste it out and after Easter holidayes for some to feast and yeld them selues to fullnesse of pleasure for others to abstayne and obserue the prescribed dayes of fastinge VVherefore this is to be reformed and reduced vnto one maner and custome this as I am sure you doe all knowe very vvell is the pleasure of God him selfe And in as much as the same is ryghtly to be redressed that vve haue nothinge common vvith murtherers of fathers and such as haue putt theyr Lorde and mayster to death In as much as agayne that orderly and comelie maner retayned of all the churches throughout the vvorlde inhabiting either the VVest the South or the North and in sundrie places also of the East vvas to be obserued of vs therefore it is that presentlie all haue thought ryght vvell thereof I my selfe also haue taken vpon myne ovvne person your tractable vvisdome that looke vvhat custome soeuer vvith vniforme consent is of force in the citie of Rome in Italie Aphtick in all Aegypt Spaine Fraunce and Bryttaine Libya and all Greece in the prouince of Asia Pontus and Cilicia the same also vvith vvilling and gratefull minds should be ratified and approued of you all Considering of this carefully vvith your selues that not onely the greater number of congregations lyeth in the places before mentioned but also that it is a most godly purpose for all men ioyntly with one harte and voyce to desire that established which right and reason requireth to be done which also hath no fellowship with the damnable periurie of the despiteful Iewes but that I may vtter the whole in fewe wordes it seemed good by common assent of the whole assembly that the most sacred feaste of Easter shoulde be celebrated vpon one and the selfe same daye for it may not be that variance and dissention shoulde raygne about the celebration of so holy and so high a feast yea moreouer it is very commendable to condescend vnto this sentence which is farre from all error that doth preiudice the faith from all fellowship with shamefull sinne VVherefore the matter being brought to this passe embrace this decre with willing mindes as an heauenly most godly commaundement for whatsoeuer is decreeed in the holy councels of Bishops the same is to be attributed to the will of God VVherefore when you haue certified al our welbeloued brethren of the canons of this councel the sentence already layd downe the maner of celebrating the most holy feast it is your parte to approue the same and duely to obserue it that as soone as I can perceaue the right disposition of you all the vvhich of long tyme I haue desired I may vpon one and the selfe same daye together vvith you all solemnize this most sacred feaste and ioye for your sakes the vvhiche shall come to passe if that I may vnderstande that not onely the spite and outragious dealing of the deuill through your vvell doing ayded from aboue is vvholly put
the maiestie of the workmanship continewance of the buylding taking vvith thy selfe good aduisement therein that thou certifie vs thereof by thy letters to the ende that we vnderstanding by thy letters what you haue neede of may from euery vvhere conuey the same thither vnto you for it behoueth vs to garnishe sete forth vvith great maiestie the heade and chiefe place of the vvhole vvorlde our vvill is besides that thou certifie vs vvhat thine opinion is vvhether it vvere better to haue the roofe of the sanctuary embovved vautvvise or vvrought after some other kinde of artificious cunning â–ª if embovved vautvvise then may it finely be gylded all ouer It resteth then that thy holines vnto vvhose prudent consideration as it is premised we haue referred the whole do certifie vs vvith all speede what vvorkemen vvhat artificers vvhat prouision ye shall haue neede of also that thou signifie vnto vs thy minde toutching the marble and pillers to be made thereof and the embovved roofe if that kinde of vvorke please thee best God keepe thee in health vvelbeloued brother The Emperour wrote also solemne and large epistles against Arius and his complices the which he caused euery where and in euery citie to be blased abroad taunting him bitterly for his follye and skoffing wise grieuing him to the gutts besides he wrote letters vnto the Nicomedians where he inueyed agaynst Eusebius and Theognis He charged Eusebius with subtle treachery and lewde behauiour and not onely that he had infected him selfe with the noysome filth of Ariamse but also in the tyrants behalfe wrought treason agaynst him and after the maner of a rebell resisted his enterprises Wherefore he exhorted them to choose an other Bishop in his rowme The which Epistles of his because that they are somewhat longe I thought good presently not to trouble the Reader withall in so much as such as are desirous thereof may easily and at pleasure both finde and peruse them And of these thinges thus much CAP. VII Howe that the Emperour Constantine called Acesius a Nouatian Bishop vnto the councell of Nice THe Emperours care and industrie moueth me to mention an other act of that councell wherein he applyed him selfe to the maintenance of peace And because he greatly respected the vnitie and concorde in Ecclesiasticall affayres he summoned Acesius Bishop of the Nouatian sect to the councell After that the determination of the councell toutching the fayth was both layde downe in writing and ratified with the scuerall subscriptions of all their handes the Emperour demaundeth of Acesius whether he woulde assent vnto the same fayth and also vnto the canon concluded vpon toutching the obseruation of the feast of Easter who made answere the councell O Emperour hath concluded and decreed no newe thing â–ª for I haue learned of olde that euen from the beginning and the Apostolick times them selues the selfe same fayth was retayned and the selfe same time for the celebration of the feast of Easter was obserued Agayne when the Emperour demaunded of him the cause why he seuered him selfe from the communion of the faythfull he alleadged for him selfe such thinges as had happened vnder the raygne of Decius and about the persecution of that time and also he brought forth the precise obseruation of a certayne seuere Canon to were that such as after baptisme through frayltie of the fleshe had fallen viâ—o that kinde of sinne the which holy Scripture termeth the sinne vnto death shoulde not be partakers of the holye mysteries but exhorted vnto repentance and that they shoulde wayte for remission of sinne to proceede not of the Priestes but of God him selfe who both can and is of power sufficient to remitt sinne The whiche when Acesius had vttered the Emperour sayde vnto him agayne Prouide thee a ladder O Acesius and clyme alone into heauen These thinges did neyther Eusebius Pamphilus neyther any other writer once make mention of but I my selfe learned it of one that was of no small creditt of greate yeares and such a one as rehearsed the thinges he sawe done in the councell whereby I coniecture the selfe same to haue happened vnto such as herein haue bene silent the which thinge diuers Historiographers haue practised â–ª for these men ouerskipp many thinges eyther because they fauour some one side or flatter some kinde of men And so much of Acesius CAP. VIII Of Paphriutius Bishop of a certaine place in the vpper Thebais and Spyridion Bishop of Trimithous a citie of Cyprus IN so much as heretofore we haue promised to speake of Paphnutius and Spyridion nowe fitt opportunitie is offered to performe the same This Paphnutius was Bishop of a certayne citie in the vpper Thebais so vertuous and so holy a man that straung miracles were wrought by him He had one of his eyes pulled out in the tyme of persecution Wherefore the Emperour had him in very greate reuerence and sent for him at sundrye tymes to come vnto his sumptuous pallace The emptye place of the banished eye he was wonte to kisse So greate a reuerence and honor did the Emperour Constantine owe vnto auncient and holy fathers And this is one thinge whiche I had to saye of Paphnutius An other thinge also I will reporte whiche came to passe through his aduise both profitable for the Church and honorable for ecclesiasticall persons The Bishops thought good to bring a newe lawe into the Churche to were that they which were of the Clergie I meane Bishops Priestes Deacons should thenceforth not company with their wiues the which they had coopled vnto them being lay men When as they went about to reason hereof to consult among them selues toutching this matter * Paphnutius stoode vp in the middest of the assembly of Bishops and brake out into lowde speaches language that the necks of clergie men and such as were entred into holy orders were not to be pressed downe with an heauy yoke and greeuous burthen saying * that mariage was honorable the bedd vndefiled that it was their part to foresee lest that with toe seuere a censure they should greatly iniurie and offende the Churche of God that all possibly coulde not away with so austere a discipline to be voyde of all perturbation and frayltie of the fleshe and that peraduenture likewise euery of their wiues coulde not brooke so rare a rule of continencie prescribed vnto them He termed the company of man and wife lawfully coopled together chastity and that to seeme sufficient inough for such as had entred into holy orders being single men thenceforth according vnto the old ecclesiasticall tradition to liue a single life and not to seperate any man asunder from his wife the which he had maried being a laye man such speaches vsed Paphnutius when he him selfe had neuer bene maried and as I may iustly auoutch neuer knewe what woman 's company meant for of a childe he ledd a straict life in the
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
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
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
was made after the selfe same maner with other creatures of that vvhich is not as some haue levvdely imagined but that he had beynge and lyuinge that he vvas and subsisted before the foundations of the vvorlde vvere layde and therefore appoynted by his father vvho is Lorde of all thinges the prince of all this vniuersalitie so that the vvorde Made in this place is no othervvise to be taken then Appoynted or Ordayned Peter also the Apostle calleth Princes and Magistrates plaine creatures vvhere he sayeth Submitt your selues vnto euery humane creature for the Lords sake whether it be vnto the kinge as vnto the chiefe heade either vnto rulers as sent of him And the Prophet also prepare thy selfe sayth he O Ierusalem to call vpon thy God for beholde he setteth the thunder he shapeth the spirite and shevveth vnto men his Christ he vnderstandeth not this worde shapeth as if the spirite were made of that which is not for God then made no◠the spirite when he shevved by him his Christ vnto all men he vvas not then nevvely proclaymed vnder heauen for he vvas and subsisted before but he sent him what time the Apostles were assembled together when the sound in the likenes of thunder came downe from heauen as if it had bene the comming of a mighty winde and filled them all with the holy Ghost and thus he shevved his Christ vnto all men according vnto the prophecie which sayd beholde he setteth the thunder he shapeth the spirite and shevveth his Christ vnto men laying dovvne the worde shapeth for sendeth or ordaineth and the word thunder in an other sense for the preaching of the Gospell Dauid also vvhen he sayde Create me a cleane harte O God he sayde it not as though he wāted a hart but he desired a pure hart to be put in him made perfect In like sense also is that spoken that he shoulde create two into one newe man that is he shoulde couple Se likewise this whether it may be taken after the same maner to put on the new man which is created after God Againe If there be any new creature in Christ such like phrases the which with diligent searche we may finde in the holy Scriptures Maruell not then if the Scripture metaphorically doe vse this kinde of speach the Lord made me the beginning of his wayes made that is appoynted or ordayned these were the reasons of Eusebius in his bookes against Marcellus and cited of vs to this ende that the mouthes of such as vnaduisedly do sclaunder him and contumeliously report of him may therwith be stopped They are not able to proue although the wordes of the order and maner be vsually and commonly founde throughout his workes that he assigned vnto the sonne of God a beginning of essence for all that he was a great follower and fauorer of Origens workes where whosoeuer can attaine vnto the secrete and hidd sense of Origens bookes he shall finde euery where the sonne to haue bene begotten of the father thus haue we vsed digression for to ridd Eusebius out of the sclaunderous mouthes of suspicious heads CAP. XVIII VVhen the councell of Sardice decreed that Athanasius and Paulus should be restored to their bishoprikes and Constantius the Easterne Emperour woulde not admitt them The Emperour of the VVest threatned him with warrs so that Constantius was therewith affrayde wrote for Athanasius and sent him to Alexandria AFter that both the Bishops assembled at Sardice and also the bishops assembled at Philippi a citie of Thracia in their seuerall councells had decreed such things as seemed good vnto them selues they returned euery man to his owne home The East west churches were now deuided the space or distance seuering their communion asunder was the mount betwene Illyrium and Thracia called Tisueis for so farre euery of them among them selues though they differed about the faith yet the quarell being layde aside they communicated together beyonde that there was no communion of contrary parts such a confusion such a sturre and such a diuision raigned then in the church Immediatly after the Emperour of the West parts of the world certified his brother Constantius of the things decided in the councel of Sardice requested him to see Paulus Athanasius placed in their bishoprikes But when Constantius differred from day to day his brothers desire the Emperour of the west gaue his brother in choise either to restore Paulus Athanasius so accompt of him as his friend or else to heare the proclamation of open warre and so find him his deadly foe The letters he sent by the embassadour vnto his brother were these There remaine here with me Athanasius Paulus who as I am credibly geuen to vnderstand are persecuted for pieties sake If that thou vvilt promise me to restore them vnto their seaes to punish seuerely such as haue iniuried them I will send the parties them selues vnto thee but if thou wilt not accomplish this my vvill pleasure knovve for suertie that my selfe vvill come thither maugre thy berde restore them to their proper seaes When the Emperour of the East had vnderstoode of this he was wonderfull pensiue and sadd he assembleth together many of the Easterne bishops layeth before them y ◠choice his brother gaue him demaundeth of them what was best in this case to be dōe They make answere that it was farre better to restore againe Athanasius then to rayse deadly and mortall warrs Wherefore the Emperour being constrayned of necessitie sent for Athanasius vnto him In the meane while Constans the Westerne Emperour had sent Paulus honorably together with two Bishops with his owne letters and with the letters of the councell for the more suretie vnto Constantinople When Athanasius feared doubted whether he were best goe or no vnto Constantius for the false reports of sclaunderous persons troubled him very sore the Easterne Emperour Constantius by name sent for him not once but the seconde and the thirde time euen as his letters turned out of the latine into the greeke doe declare and by translation as followeth The epistle of Constantius the Emperour vnto the exiled Athanasius Constantius the puysant noble Emperour vnto Athanasius the bishop sendeth greeting ▪ our singuler wonted clemency vvill no longer suffer thy fatherhoode to be turmoyled and tossed vvith the surging vvaues of the seas ▪ the pietie vvhich vve haue alvvaies in greate price vvill no longer permitt thy holines novve banished out of thy natiue soyle bereaued of thy substance barred of all prosperitie to vvander through crooked and crosse vvaies through desert daungerous contries Although we haue lingered now a great vvhile from sending our letters wherby vve might signifie vnto thee the concealed secretie of our minde hoping that of thine ovvne accorde thou vvouldest repaire vnto vs vvith humble sute craue remedie redresse of thine iniuries yet neuerthelesse feare peraduenture dismaying thee of thy
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
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
Theodosius the Emperour beganne to offer praises and thankesgeuing for the benefits he receaued of God and to exâ—oll w t diuine laudes the name of Christ Moreouer he sente Eudocia the Empresse to Ierusalem for he promised y â— she should performe this vowe if he might see his daughter maried But she both at her going and at her returne bewtifled with sundry ornaments not onely the churches of Ierusalem but also throughout all the cities of the Easte CAP. XLVII Of Thalassius Byshop of Caesarea in Cappadocia PRoclus about that time in the seauenteenth Consulship of Theodosius tooke in hand a maruelous enterprise suche a thinge as none of the bishops of old haue at any time brought about After the desease of Filmus bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia the Caesareans came to Constantinople for a bishop When Proclus mused with himselfe whome he should assigne to be theyr bishop by chaunce on the sabbaoth day as he sought a fit maÌ„ for the rowme all the Senators came to the church for to see whome he woulde elect of which number Thalassius was one Liuetenant gouernour of the nations and cities throughout Illyrium Who as reporte goeth being commauÌ„ded of the Emperour to gouerne certen contreyes of the East was consecrated of Proclus and in steede of a Liuetenant made bishop of Caesarea And thus y â— Ecclesiasticall affayres of those times enioyed peace and tranquility But here I will cut of and make an end of my history prayinge for the continewance of peace and prosperous estate of all churches vnder heauen for the wealth of all people for the coÌ„cord and vnity of all cities and contreyes For when peace preuayleth there is no matter for an historiographer to occupie his peÌ„ne for most holy Theodorus which hast inioined me this taske nowe at length performed in these seaueÌ„ bookes of the Ecclesiasticall history there would haue bene no matter ministred for my penne if such as set theyr minds on seditioÌ„ discorde had bene at peace and vnity among them selues This seauenth booke contineweth the historye of two and thirty yeares our wholl history being deuided into seaueÌ„ bookes compriseth the compasse of one hundreth and forty yeares begining at the first yeare of the two hundreth and first Olympiad when Constantine was proclaimed Emperour ending the second yeare of the three hundreth fift Olympiade being the seauenteenth Consulship of Theodosius the Emperour The ende of the seauenth booke of the Ecclesiasticall historie of Socrates Scholasticus The Translatour vnto the Reader HItherto Christian reader haue I translated Eusebius Socrates vvhich continevved their histories from the birth of Christ vnto the raigne of Theodosius Iunior I vvould haue thee knovve that at one tyme vvith Socrates there vvrote tvvo other Grecians Sozomenus and Theodoret beginninge vvhere Socrates beganne and endinge their histories vvith him at Theodosius Iunior Their argument is one to vvit The Ecclesiasticall historie their language one they vvrote all in Greeke their yeares one for they florished the same tyme. Little difference there is betvvene them in substance sauinge vvhere the one is longe the other short vvhere the one is obscure the other playne vvhere the one is taedious the other pleasaunt To translate them all three vvoulde not in my opinion be so profitable as paynefull the volume both vvoulde be toe huge and the reader soone vvearyed vvith the oft repetition of one thinge Cassiodorus the Senatour and compiler of the Tripartite historie preuentinge this inconuenience and seeyng that these three vvriters agreed in substance deuised vvith him selfe hovve to ease the reader of so greate a labour and hovve to rydde him from so taedious a studie He made an Epitome or briefe collection of them all three I meane Socrates Sozomenus and Theodoret and called it the Tripartite historie The creditt of the Epitome and collector doeth not counteruayle the authoritie of the author Antiquitie vvith the trueth is to be preferred Therefore in translating I thought farre better thou shouldest see not the authors to auoyde repetition and vvearisome reading but the author him selfe I meane Socrates alone in steede of the tvvo other vvhome I haue chosen as the soundest vvriter the faithfullest historiographer and the absolutest delyuerer of the historie in all poyntes vnto the posteritie VVherefore if ought be vvell done geue the prayse vnto God lette the paynes be myne and the profit the Readers THE ECCLESIASTICALL HISTORIE OF EVAGRIVS SCHOLASTICVS A NOBLE MAN OF ANTIOCH AND ONE OF THE EMPEROVRS LIVETENANTS COMprised in six bookes beginning where Socrates left and ending a hundreth and seuentie yeares after VVRITTEN in the Greeke tongue about nine hunderd yeares agoe translated by M. H. Imprinted at London by Thomas Vautroullier dwelling in the Blackefriers 1576. TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVL THE GODLY AND VERTVOVS GENTLEMAN CHRISTOPHER KENNE ESQVIER INCREASE OF VVORSHIP CONTINEVVANCE OF GODLIE zeale and health in Christ Iesu WHeÌ„ I cal to memorie right vvorshipful the saying of the holy Apostle S. Paul that God according vnto his vnsearcheable vvisedome chose not many vvise men according vnto the fleshe not many mightie men not many noble men to plant the principles of his Gospell amonge the nations vnder heauen I can not chuse but honor studious nobilitie and reuerence vertue vvhere I finde her for the rarenesse thereof hovve precious is a litle siluer amonge a great deale of drosse one fruitfull tree in a vvide barren forest one ruddye rose amonge manie pricking thornes one pearle though founde in a puddle of mire one tvvinkeling starre through manie thicke and mystie cloudes one Lotte in Sodome one Helias in Israel one Iob in Husse one Tobias in Niniue one Phoenix in Arabia and one Euagrius a noble gentleman imploying his trauell to the furtherance of the Ecclesiasticall affayres Dionysius byshopp of Alexandria vvritinge a booke of repentaunce sent it to Conon byshopp of Hermopolis vvho by repentaunce had renounced the idolatrie of pagans and zealously cleaued to the Christian profession as a fit reader of so vvorthy a theame Origen vvriting of martyrs sent his treatise vnto Ambrose and Protoctetus ministers of Caesarea such as had endured great affliction and grieuous crosses vnder Decius the emperour vvhere they might haue a vievv of their valiant and inuincible courage The philosophers of Alexandria Aegypt such as in those dayes excelled in prophane literature vvrote great volumes of their profound skill and sent them vnto the famous philosopher and Christian doctor Origen the great clarke of Alexandria Of mine ovvne part right vvorshipfull not attributing vnto my self such excellency of vvit singularitie of giftes as raigned in the aforesaide vvriters vvhen I had finished the translation of the former histories I meane Eusebius and Socrates dedicated them vvhere duety did binde me vnto the right honorable and my very good Lady the Countesse of Lyncolne I thought good to send this present translation of Euagrius vnto your vvorship a noble Gentleman vnto a vvorshipfull Esquier a lieuetenant
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
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
king of Iuda After that Iosaphat ioyned him selfe with Ahazia king of Israel whose minde was to doe wickedly and together with him to prouide a Nauie to saile into Tarsis Eliezer prophecied against Iosaphat saying because thou hast ioyned thy selfe with Ahazia the Lord hath broken thy workes And the shippes were broken that they were not able to go to Tarsis Elias THis Elias was the first man y t shewed men the way to heauen he was the first man y t shewed the way to be one for men angels He dwelling somtimes vpoÌ„ earth entred also into the heauens being mortal herein the world had his conuersatioÌ„ with immortal creatures he which walked vpon earth liueth now like a spirit with the angels in heauen this is he y â— gaue his spirit to rest duble vpon his disciple Elisseus this is he though he continue a man yet waxeth he not old this is he that is reserued for a captaine of war against Antichrist this is he that will withstand him and rebuke his pride falshood this is he that in the end of the world wil turne al men from his lying deceit vnto God this is he y t receaued the gift of God to be the forerunner of the second glorious comming of the Lord. although his seruice was among the basest sort yet is he now in company with the angels he was a Thesbit of Arrhabia of the tribe of Aaron his dwelling was in Galaad for Thesbis was an habitation dedicated vnto priests afore his mother was deliuered of him his father saw in a vision the angels saluting of him all in white wrapping him with flames of fire as it were swathing bandes and nourishing him with fire as it had bene vsuall foode or pappe To Ierusalem he went and tolde his vision aunswer was made he should not feare his dreame at all for it would come to passe that â–ª the childe his wife was great of should dwell in great light that what so euer he sayd should be of great force and that he should iudge Israel with sword and fire Zacharie the sonne of Iehoida ZAcharie the sonne of Iehoida Prophecied in the time of Ioas king of Iuda when the tribe of Iuda serued groues and Idolles the wrathe of God came vpon them for their trespasses He sent Prophets vnto them to bring them againe vnto the Lord but they would not heare The spirite of God came vpon Zacharia the sonne of Iehoida the Priest and he sayde vnto them Thus sayeth God why transgresse ye the commaundemeÌ„ts of the Lord that ye can not prosper because ye haue forsaken the Lord he hath also forsaken you and they conspired against him and stoned him with stones at the commaundement of the king euen in the court of the house of the Lord. Elissaeus ELissaeus was of Abelbuel the lande of Rubim And because of him there came a straunge thing to passe What time he was borne in Gargalis the golden cowe in Selom bellowed so lowd y â— she was heard at IerusaleÌ„ Herevpon a certen Prophet said there is borne in Ierusalem a prophet which shall ouerthrow their carued Images molten Idols He died and was buried in Samaria Osee OSee the Prophet spake by diuine inspiration of our Lord Christ in this sort In theyr aduersitie they shall early seeke me saying Come let vs turne againe vnto the Lorde for he hathe smitten vs and he shall heale vs he hath wounded vs and he shall binde vs vp againe After two dayes shall he quicken vs in the thirde day he shall raise vs vp and then shall we haue vnderstanding c. It was by occasion of this Prophecie that S. Paule sayd to the Corinthians I haue deliuered vnto you first of all that which receaued howe that Christ died for our sinnes agreeing to the scriptures and that he was buried and that he rose againe according vnto the Scriptures For this it is that the Prophet sayth here and the third day he shall raise vs vp there can no more be founde in any other place of the thirde day throughout the olde Testament Againe this Prophet wryteth that which may be applied vnto our Lord Christ my flesh is of theÌ„ â–ª Againe Ephraim compassed me about with lies and the house of Israel with deceite but Iude yet ruleth with God and is faithfull with the sainctes Because the Lord Christ is sayde to haue come of this tribe therefore sayeth he that this tribe of Iuda is faithfull with the sainctes Againe in the same Prophet I will redeme them from the power of the graue and deliuer them from death ô death where is thy victorie ô hell where is thy sting S. Paul reasoning of the resurrection alleaged this Prophecie This Osee was of Belemoth of the tribe of Isachar and was buried in peace in his owne countrey Abdias THe grace of God gaue vnto this Prophet power and knowledge to speake of the mysterie of Christ for thus he sayeth The day of the Lord is neere vpon all the Heathen This Prophecie seemeth as if it had bene spoken against the Scythians that is against Gog and Magog yet is it more certen and more properly applied to the Lord Christ a litle after he sayeth Vpon mount Sion there shal be deliueraunce This Abdias was of Sychem and the towne Bethacharam he was the disciple of Elias and hauing endured great vexation for his sake yet was he preserued He was the thirde of the fiftie sonnes of the prophets whom Elias pardoned He went vnto Ochoâ—â—as and afterwardes left his kings seruice and gaue him selfe to the gift of Prophecie He dyed and was buried with his fathers Micheas MIcheas was also endued from aboue that he Prophecied of the coming of our Lord Christ in this sorte And thou Bethlem Ephrata art not the lest among the thousandes of Iuda Out of thee shall he come forth vnto me which shal be the gouernour in Israel whose outgoing hathe ben from the beginning and from euerlasting This was the Prophecie which the high priests scribes of the Iewes brought forth when as after Herode had demaunded of them where Christ should be borne they said In Bethlehem Herevpon Herode sent the wise men into Bethlehem Againe sayth the Prophet He shall turne againe and be mercifull vnto vs he shall put downe our wickednesses cast all our sinnes into the bottom of the sea He wil perform to Iacob the truth and mercy to Abraham as he swore vnto our fathers in old time This Micheas was of Marathi â–ª of the tribe of Ephraim and after he had much ado with Achab Ioram his sonne threw him downe for to breake his necke because he had rebuked him for the sinnes of his fathers He was buried in his owne land in the common buriall in Ephraim Amos. AMos was the father of the prophet Esay God gaue him of his spirite to prophecie of Christes comming in this sort For beholde
perse â—…t 〈…〉 me 〈…〉 9. When Tiberius had â—aigned 23. yeares he dyed Paul is coÌ„uerted to the â—aith The Eunuche coÌ„uerted by Philip preached the Gospell to the Aethiopians his contreymeÌ„ Act 8. Euseb lib. 2. cap. 1.         Chri Caius Caliguia succeedeth Tiberius Pilate which gaue the senteÌ„ce vpon Christ fell into such misery being acused for his cruelty that he slewe himselfe in the tyme of Caius Euseb lib. 2. cap. 7. Philo Iudae us florished about this tyme he is sent in embassie vnto Cauis from the Iewes in Alexandria Euse lib. 2. cap. 5. he came first to RoÌ„e vnder Caius the 2. time vnder Claudius Euseb lib. 2. cap. 18. Philo wrot a notable booke of the Christians at that time in Aegypt called worshipers Euseb lib. 2 cap. 16. 17. his owne are to be sene Euse lib. 2. ca. 18 HERODE the tetrarche when he had bene king of the Iewes 24. yeres is banished by Caius the Emperour together with his harlot Herodias Euseb lib. 2. cap. 4. into lions a city in Fraunce Euseb Antiq. lib. 18. cap. 14.        Chri Euse â—…c Caius Caligula called himselfe God Euseb lib. 2. cap. 6. Caius wheÌ„ he had raigned 3. yeres 10. monethsis slayne of his gard in his pallace Euseb li. 2. cap. 8. Euseb in chronic          Chri CLAVDIVS succeedeth Caius Caligula Anno Claudij 2.  AGRIPPA the sonne of Aristobulus nephewe to Herode the great brother to Herodias by the commaundement of Caius Caligula succeedeth Herode the tetrarche kinge of the Iewes Euseb lib. 2. cap. 4. Ioseph Antiq. lib. 18. cap. 11 14. Bel. Iud. lib. 1. cap. 10. 11. SIMON otherwise called Canthara is by the commaundement of king Agrippa placed highpriest Ionathas depriued Ioseph Antiq lib. 19. cap. 5.       Chr There was a great famine An 4. Claudij Philo Iudae us talked at Rome with Peter the Apostle in the tyme of Agrippa beheaded Iames the brother of Iohn Act. 12. IONATHAS the sonne of Anna is nowe the       44           Anno Christi 46.  Claudius Euseb lib. 2. cap. 16. IAMES the brother of Iohn is beheaded Act. 12. Peter cam to Rome in the time of Claudius Euseb lib. 2 cap. 14. coÌ„futed Simon Magus and preached cap. 16. Agrippa wheÌ„ he had raygned 7. yeres died miserably Euseb li. 2. cap. 10. Ioseph Antiq. lib. 19. cap. 7. 2. time placed Simon Canthara remoued by Agrippa this Ionathas requested that his brother Matthias beinge the worthier holyer maÌ„ might enioye his place Agrippa was entreated admitted Matthias Ioseph Antiq lib. 19. cap. 6. The Apostles elders brethreÌ„ gathered a councel at Ierusalem an 4. Claudij to determine what was to be done toutching the doctrine sowed by certaine bretherne of the Pharises whiche came from Iudaea affirmiÌ„g that circuÌ„cision was necessarie the obseruatioÌ„ of the law this newes Paul Barna bas Titus brought vnto theÌ„ Galat. 2. where they decreed that the faithfull should abstaine froÌ„ things offred to Idols from blood froÌ„ that that is straÌ„gled from fornication the which they published by their letters vnto the churches of Antioche Syria Cilicia with Silas Iudas which accoÌ„panied Paul   PETER the Apostle anno Do. 44. the secoÌ„d of Claudins came to Rome and as they say coÌ„tinewed there Byshop 25. yeares 12 vnder Claudius 13. vnder Nero Ierom. catalog ec cles scrip Euse eccle hist lib. 2. cap. 14. 16. He foyled Simon Magus in the citie of Rome and in the presence of Nero. He was crucifyed at Rome the laste yeare of Nero with his head down wardes whiche kinde of death he himselfe desired not presuming to haue his heade vpwards because his maister Christ was so haÌ„dled Euseb hist eccle lib. 2. cap. 25. lib. 3. cap. 1. in chron The Christians vnder him at AlexaÌ„dria as Philo Iudaeus writeth vsed the like trade with theÌ„ of whome Luke reported Act. 4. they had al thinges coÌ„mon Euse Eccl. hist. lib. 2. cap. 15. 16. 24. Ierom cata eccle script Dorotheus b. of Tyrê° sayth that in the time of Traîan he had a cable rope tyed about his neckâ— at Alexan dria by the which he was draweÌ„ from the place called Bucolê° vnto the place called Angels where he was burned to ashes buried at Bucolus but Philo saith it was the first yeare of Nero. Ierom saith it was the 8. yeare of Nero. Antoni chron part 1. tit 6 ca. 16. sayth it was An. Domi. 57. the 2. of Nero. Certaine Phaâ—… after they beleâ—… in Christ taugâ—… that circumciâ—… was necessarie the obseruatioâ—… the lawe Act. Gal. 2. 3. 4. 5. Simon Maguâ— sorcerer being Samaritane of village GittoÌ„ baptized by P 〈…〉 the Deacon in maria He woâ—… haue boughtâ— Peter the gyâ—â— the holy ghosâ— him role the 〈…〉 Simonie Act. 8. seb lib. 2. cap. 1 came to Rome the time of C 〈…〉 us he called 〈…〉 selfe a god hâ—… honored ther 〈…〉 a picture hauiâ—â— this superscripâ—… Simôni Deo s 〈…〉 he had to his mate one Helâ—… whome Irenae calleth Selen 〈…〉 witch a coâ—… harlott whom called the priâ—… pall vnderstaâ—â— Euseb lib. 2. câ—… 13. 14. he said the Samaritâ—… he was the 〈…〉 vnto the Iewâ—… that he was tâ—… sonne descerâ—… from heauen the Gentils tâ—… was the holy Irenaeus lib. 1. 20. Epiphan 〈…〉 tom 2. here 's 〈…〉 ter foyled hiâ—… Samaria whâ—… shame he fleâ—… leauing Samâ—… Iudaea he saâ—… East to Wes 〈…〉 king to liue 〈…〉 harts ease 〈…〉 to Rome vnâ—… Claudius whâ—… ter also beiâ—… no doubt bâ—… holy ghostâ—… him Euse 〈…〉 li. 2. ca. 1. 14. 15. Peter had much to doe with him in the presence of Nero. as Anton. chron writeth he had 3. conflicts with him in the ende Simon seeing him selfe foyled and his witchcraft preuailing not at all told them he would leaue their citie flye vp vnto the heauens whence he came Wherfore vpon a certaine day appointed he clymed vp into the high Capitol whence he tooke his flight by the meanes of his witchcraft the spirites which bore him in the ayre the people at the sight hereof were amazed But Peter fell downe and prayed vnto god that his witchcraft might be reueled vnto the worlde he had no sooner prayed but down cometh Simon Magus bruseth him selfe in peeces so that thereby he died miserably Abdias BabyloÌ„ Apost hist lib. 1. Egesip lib. 3. cap. 2. Epiphan lib. tom 2. haeres 21. Anton. chron part 1. tit 6. cap. 4. An. Do. 47 Claudius commauÌ„ded all Iewes to departe from Rome Act. 18. because a certaine Iewe seduced on Fuluia a noble matron to beleue in the ir ceremonies Ioseph Antiq. lib. 18. cap. 7. Claudius after the dea the of Agrippa maior
Alexandria Meletius b. of Pontus florished at one time Euseb lib. 7. cap. 5.   Paulus Samosatenus the heretick succeeded Demetrianus he was excommunicated depriued by the 2. synode helde at Antioche in the time of Valerianus Eus lib. 7. cap. 26. 29. Dionysius was b. of Rome after Xystus An. Do. 265. coÌ„tinewed 9. yeares Euseb lib. 7. cap. 26. 29.   273. Aurelianus was emperor after Quintilius in the beginninge of his raigne he was well affectioned towards Christian religioÌ„ so that the hereticke Samosatenus was through his helpe banished the churche but in the end he persecuted the church of God wheÌ„ as he went about to subscribe vnto an edict against the Christians the crampe tooke him so that he was not able to holde penne in hande â–ª he raygned 6. yeares Euseb lib. 7. cap. 28. 29. Malchion in open disputation confuted Samosatenus the heretick at Antioch Euseb lib. 7. cap. 28. A seconde synod was held at Antioch vnder Aurelianus wher Samosatenus the hereticke was coÌ„deÌ„ned depriued the church Euseb lib. 7. cap. 28. 29. Zambdas b. Ierusalem Euseb li. 7. cap. 31. Domnus the sonne of Demetrianus was by the 2. held synod at Antioch appoiÌ„ted to succeede Samosatenus in the seae of Antioch Euseb lib. 7. cap. 29. Felix was b. of Rome after Dionysius continewed 5. yeare Euseb lib. 7. cap. 29. 31.  Origeniani were hereticks called after one Origen not he that was the great clarke of Alexandria they condemned mariage yet liued they beastly their maner was to haue among them religious women like Nunnes whom they defiled yet vsed meanes to keepe them from swellinge Epiphan haeres 63. From Christ vnto the ende of Au relianus the Empâ—roure when Manes the heretick liued there are 276. reares after Epiphan hare 66. Taâ—itus was Emperour 6. moneths Eutro lib. 9. Euseb chron       Origeniani againe were hereticks which so called theÌ„ selues of Origen Adamantius the greate clerke of Alexandria they taught as Epiphan sayeth haeres 64. that there was no resurrection that Christ was a creature the holy ghost a like that the soules were suste in heauen came downe into the bodyes as it were into prison that in the ende the deuells shoulde be saued Epiphanius as I reade in Socrates eccle hist â–ª lib. 6. cap. 11. was become the enemie of OrigeÌ„ through the spite malice of Theophilus bishop of Alexandria The deuell bare Origen a displeasure he procured heretickes to father vpon him lewde opinions He complayneth him selfe in a certain epistle how that hereticks corrupted his works PaÌ„philus Martyr the great friende familiar of Eusebius wrot an Apologie in his behalfe Euseb lib. 6. cap. 3. 18. 20. 26. reporteth of the famous men that fauoured Origen Socrates eccle hist lib. 6. cap. 12. writeth in his commendation Athanasius gaue of him a notable testimonie Chrysostome woulde in no wyse be brought to condeÌ„ne either OrigeÌ„ oâ— his works Socrat. li. 6. ca. 11. 12. 13. Buddas otherwise called Terebinthus was a litle before Manes the hereticke he taught about Babylon that he him selfe was borne of a virgine that he was bred and brought vp in the Mountaynes He wrote 4 bookes one of mysteries 2. intitled the gospell 3. Thesaurus the 4. a summarie Through witchcraft he tooke his flight into the aâ—r to offer sacrifice but the deuell threwe him downe broke his necke so that he dyed miserably Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 17. 279. â—lorianus was Emperoure 80. dayes Eutrop li. 9. Euseb chron Probus was emperour 6. yeres Euseb lib. 7. cap. 29. Anatolius b. of Laodiceaslorished vnder Probus Carus IeroÌ„ catalog  Hermon b. of Ierusalem the last before the persecution vnder Dioletiam Euse lib. 7. ca. 31 Tim. eus was b. of Antioche after Domnus Euseb lib. 7. cap. 31. Eusychianus was bishop of Rome scarce 10. moneths Euseb lib. 7. cap. 31. Gaius was b. of Rome an Dom. 283. 15 yeares Euse lib. 7. cap. 31.   285. Carus was Emperour scarse 3. yeares Euse lib. 7. cap. 29. The infiite number of martyrs which suffred in the persecutioÌ„ vnder Dioâ—letian are to be scene throughout the 8. booke of Eusebius ecclesiasticall history  These a of Ierusalem was alwayes honored and the succession contine wed vnto the daies of Eusebius him selfe Euseb lib. 7. ca. 18. Cyrillus b. of Antioche Euseb li. 7. cap. 31  Theônas was b. of AlexaÌ„dria after Maximinus coÌ„tinewed 11. yeares Euseb li. 7. cap. 31.  287. Dioâ—letian was Emperour and persecuted the church of god In the 19. yeare of his â—aigne he began to ouerthrow the churches burne the bibles persecute the Christians When he had raygned together with Maximianus who persecuted with him 20 yeares he deposed him selfe voluntarily and lyued a priuate life FroÌ„ that tyme vnto his ende he pyned and wasted away with diseases But Maximinia hanged him selfe Euseb lib. 7. cap. 29. lib. 8. cap. 2. 3. 14. 19 Socrates lib. 1. cap. 2. Arnobius florished in the time of Diocletian Ierom. catalog There was a councell of 300. bishops called together at Siunessa where Marcellinus b. of Rome was condemned for de nyig Christ and sacrificing to Idols tom 1. concil  Dorotheus b. of Antioche Marcellinus was bishop of Rome about the 10. yeare of Diocletian Anno Dom. 295. Euseb li. 7. cap. 31. He denied Christ offered sacrifice vnto Idols in the persecution vnder Diocletian was condemned of 3. hundred bishops 30. priests afterwardes he repented him and was martyred vnder Diocletian tom 1. concil   307.     Tyrranus b. of Antioch Euseb lib. 7. cap. 31.    Constantius and Maximinus ruled the empire after the deposition of Diocletian Constantius dyeth at yorke in Englande when he had ruled 16. yeares Anno Do. 310. Euseb lib. 8. ca. 14. in chronic LactaÌ„tius the disciple of Arnobius florished in the time of Diocletian in his olde age he was the maister of Crispus the soÌ„ne of Constantius Ierom. A councel was helde at Ancyra in Galatia in the time of Vitalis wher with certaine conditions such as sacrificed were receaued and the deacons that can not containe suffred to Marie tom 1. concil   Aboute this time Licinia an holie mayde of Rome dying made Marcellus b. of that seae her heire and executor gaue him al her great substance from that time forth sayth Polydor lib. 6. de inuent cap. vlt. the bishops of Rome wer greatly enriched Peter was b. of Alexandria about the 7 yeare of Diocletian where he coÌ„tinewed 12. yeares he was beheaded crowned a martyr in the persecution vnder Diocletian Euseb lib. 7. ca. 31. Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 3. Manes the hereticke whereof the Maniches haue theyr appellation had his originall in persia as Epiphan haeres 66 wryteth about the 4. yeare of Aurelianus he called him self Christ the comsorter Hechose vnto himselfe 12. Apostles He sayd that Christ was