vnto Basilius beinge but very briefe I thinke best to lay downe for the louinge reader it was as followeth Vnto the most religious most holy and dearly beloued of God my lord Basil the archebyshop Symeon an humble sinner sendeth greeting in the Lorde Now we may very well say blessed be God which hath not turned away our petition neyther withdrawen his mercie from vs miserable sinners VVhen I had perused the letters which your holinesse sent vnto me I fell into an admiration of the singuler care and pietie of our most holy Emperour reuealed and made manifest vnto the worlde by the affection he bâ—re not onely vnto the holy fathers but also by the zeale he shewed vnto the fayth confirmed by them but this commeth not of our selues it is as the holy Apostle writeth the gifte of God who by the meanes of your prayers graunted vnto him so prompt and willing a minde Againe after a fewe lines he saith VVherefore I beinge an abiecte and vile creature as it were the vntimely birth of the monkes signified vnto the Emperour what I my selfe thought of the creede layde downe by the sixe hundred and thirtie holy fathers whiche assembled at Chalcedon affirming that I helde with that fayth published no doubt by the instinct motioÌ„ of the holy ghost for if our sauiour be in the middest of two or three gathered together in his name howe can he chuse but be present at the assembly of so many holy fathers seing the holy ghost hath bene with them from the beginning After this againe VVherefore be of good cheere and defende stoutly the true fayth in such sort as Iesus the sonne of Naue seruant of the Lorde of hostes gouerned and desended the people of Israell I beseeche you salute from me all the clergie of your prouince with the holy and faythfull people CAP. XI The banishment of Timotheus Aelurus byshopp of Alexandria and the election of Timotheus Salofaciolus of Gennadius and Acacius byshopps of Constantinople AFter the aforesaide sturre Timotheus syrnamed Aelurus was banished Alexandria and enioyned to make his abode at Gangrena wherefore the people of Alexandria those Timotheus whome some called Basilicus some other Salofaciolus to succeede Proterius in the byshopricke When Anatolius had departed this life Gennadius gouerned the byshopricke of the princelie citye of Constantinople after him succeeded Acacius maister of the hospitall or College of Orphans CAP. XII Of the earthquake whiche happened at Antioch three hundred forty seuen yeares after that whiche was in the time of Traian IN the seconde yeare of Leo the Emperours raigne there was suche a marueylous great earthquake shaking of the fundations at Antioch that it can not sufficiently be described before it beganne certaine people that were borne within the citie waxed mad raued aboue measure and seemed vnto vs farre to exceede all furious rage of brutishe flercenesse and crueltie as a preamble forerunninge so great a calamitie This grieuous earthquake happened the fiue hundred and sixth yeare after the citie was called Antioch the fourteenth day of the moneth Gorpiaeus after the Romaines September about the fourth houre of the night the Sunday goinge before the eleuenth course of the reuolution three hundred forty seuen yeares after the earthquake vnder Traian That earthquake was a hundred fifty and nine yeares after the grauntinge of the charter and incorporation of the citie but this fell in the raigne of Leo the fiue hundred and sixth yeare as the historiographers who diligently described the circumstances thereof haue left vs in writinge It turned vpside downe in manner all the buyldinge of this newe citie beinge well peopled without a wast corner or ruinous peece of buyldinge but all adorned and gorgeously sett forth by the bountifulnesse of the Emperours contendinge amonge themselues successiuely who shoulde passe other Moreouer as ye goe in the first and seconde lodginge of the pallace were ouerthrowen the rest standinge vp with the bath adioyninge thereunto which bath aforetime serued to no vse yet then of necessitie by reason the other bathes wente to ruyne supplyed their wante and stoode the citie in good steede the portly gates of the pallace the place called the fouresquare porche the vtter turretts and galleries nighe the gates where their stage playes were kept and some porches that came out thence some part of the bathes of Traian Seuerus Adrian the adioyning Ostracina together with the porches Nymphaeum were turned downe to the grounde all whiche Iohn Rhetor hath largely discoursed of he sayth further that in consideratioÌ„ of the premises the Emperour forgaue the citie a thousand talents of gold of the tribute which they payd him released such citizens as sustained losse of theyr rente last of all that he tooke vpon him to repayre the publique edifices CAP. XIII Of the fire that raged at Constantinople THere fell moreouer at ConstaÌ„tinople a calamity not much vnlike the former nay farr more grieuous it beganne in that part of the city which lay to the sea is called the Oxe Causei The reporte goeth that a despitefull and wicked deuell in the forme of a woman or a poore woman through the instigation of the deuell both is reported went about candel light with a candell in her hand vnto the market for to buy some saltfish left her candell vpon the stall and went away When the candell had wasted to the ende of the wike it rose into a great flame and stroke immediatly in the buylding ouer heade which burned at the first it tooke hold also of the houles that were next not onely such as easily might be set on fire but also the stony buylding and burned them to ashes They say this fire lasted the space of foure dayes no man was able to quenche it it flashed throughout the middes of the citie consumed from the north part to the south end all houses fiue furlungs in length and fourteene in bredth left no buylding either publique or priuate no pillours no stony arches or vaultes in all that tyme and in all that compasse vnburned to the fundation but to haue perced the flinte stone and harde mettall as if it had bene stuble or strawe Of the north part of the citie where the hauen lieth this lamentable destruction reached froÌ„ the Oxe-Causei so is the place called vnto the old temple of Apollo in the south side froÌ„ the hauen of Iulian vnto the temple of Concorde in the middest of the citie froÌ„ Constantines market vnto the market of Taurus a pitiefull shewe and dredfull to behold The goodly places gorgeous high buyldings that had bene within the citie the costly carued tymber yelding heretofore great maiesty vnto the eye of man both publique and priuate were then become like craggy hills and rocks that no man could passe through confused heapes of filth and all kind of stuff full of deformity that the owners of them them felues could not discerne the bounds of theyr possessioÌ„
he left Alexandria and gott him to Iudaea being come to Ierusalem well knoweÌ„ for his learned expositions gift of vtteraÌ„ce he was entreated of the priests to bestowe a sermon vpon the people in the church open assembly for he was then a minister after great entreaty in manner constrayned by the priests he â—ofe vp tooke the bible opened it happened vpoÌ„ this parcell of Scripture vnto the vngodly said God why dost thou preach my lawes takest my couenaunt in thy mouth when he had thus read he clasped the booke fare downe and burst out into teares together with all the audience which wept with him he liued vnto the time of Gallus and Volusianus that is vntill he was threscore and nine yeare olde he resteth at Tyrus where he is also buried So farre Suydas The translator vnto the reader I Haue thought good also heâ—râ— to laye downe his lamention the which Origen himselfe 〈…〉 Greeke tongue with his owne hand when as after his faule and the deniall of his Mayster Christ Iesus he wandred to aâ—â—â—â—oe with great greefe and torment of conscience the which Saynct 〈◊〉 â—râ—nlated into latine and is founde extant amonge the workes of Origen â–ª he lamented as foloweth The lamention of Origen In the bitter afliction and griefe of minde I goe about to speake vnto them vvhich herafter shal reade me thus confusely vvithout order furiously disposed to sit vpon the tribunal seate of Christ together vvith the saincts in heauen hovv can I speake vvhen as the tongue is tied the lipps dare not once moue or vvagg the tongue doth not his office the throte is dammed vâ— all the senses and instruments are polluted vvith iniquitie â–ª but I vvill procede on â–ª and first I vâ—â—l faule to the ground on my bare knees and make myne humble supplicatioÌ„ vnto all the sainctes and blessed of God â–ª that they vvill helpe me seely vvretche vvhich dare not by reason of the superfluytie of my sinne craue ought at the handes of God O ye sayncts and blessed of God vvith vvatrishe eyes and vvetâ— cheekes soken in dolor and payne I beseeche you to faule dovvne before the mercy seate of God for me miserable sinner VVo is me because of the sorovv of my harte vvo is me that my soule is thus aflictedâ—â— vvo is me that am compassed thus on euery side and shutt vp in my sinne and that there is no health in me vvo is me o Mother that euer thou broughtest me forth for a skilfull lavvyer to be ouerthrovven in his vnrighteous dealinge â–ª for a religious man to faule into extreme impietie â–ª vvo is me o Mother vvhich broughtest me forth a righteous man to be coÌ„uersant in vnrighteousnes â–ª â—n heire of the kingdom of God but novv an inheritor of the kingdom of the deuell a perfect man yet a priest found vvallovving in impiety a man beautified vvith honor and dignities yet in the ende blemished vvith shame and ignominie a man besett vvith many euells and choked vp vvith infamous doinges vvo is me o Mother vvhich broughtest me forth as an highe and a lofty turrett yet suddenly turned dovvne to the grounde as a fruitefull tree yet quickely vvithered as a burninge light yet forthvvith darned as a runninge fountayne yet by and by driyed vp VVo is me that euer I vvas bedecked vvith all giftes and graces and novve seeme pitifully depriued of all But vvho vvill minister moysture vnto the temples of my heade and vvho vvill geue streames of teares vnto myne eyes that I may bevvayle my selfe in this my sorovvfull plight A lasse o priesthoode hovve shall I bevvayle thee A lasse o mynistery hovve shall I lament thee O all you my friendes tender my case pitie my person in that I am daungerously vvounded pitie me o all ye my friendes in that I am novve become an abiect person pitie me o ye my friendes in that I am novve vvith sorovve come to nought pitie me o ye my friendes in that I haue novve troden vnder foote the seale and conyâ—ance of my profession and ioyned in league vvith the deuell pitie me o ye my friendes in that I am reiected and cast avvaye from the face of God it is for my levvde life that I am thus polluted and noted vvith open shame Bevvayle me vvhome the Angells haue bevvayled bevvayle me vvhome all the saynctes haue bevvayled bevvaile me vvhome euery man hath bevvayled bevvayle me o all ye the nations vnder heauen in that I am fallen from my glorie the Lorde made and ingraffed me a frutefull vine but insteede of pleasaunt clustered grappes I brought forth prickinge thornes bevvayle me also for that in steede of grapes I brought forth brambles â–ª but let the vvellspringes of teares be stirred vp and lett my cheekes be vvatered let them flovve vpon the earth and moysten it for that I am soken in sinne and borne in my inquities I see my priesthoode lament ouer me I see all ioy sorovvinge ouer me I see the spider ouer my seate buyldinge vvith cobvveb I see and beholde my selfe all sorovvfull and pensiue euery creature sorovveth at my case for that I vvas vvonte heretofore to poure out prayses vnto God for them all Alasse vvhat haue I felt and hovve am I fallen Alasse hovve am I thus come to nought there is no sorovve comparable to my sorovve there is no afliction that exceadeth my afliction there is no bitternes that passeth my bitternes there is no lamentation more lamentable then mine nether is there sinne greater then my sinne and there is no salue for me VVhere is that good shepherd of the soules VVhere is he that vvent dovvne from Ierusalem to Iericho vvhich also salued and cured him that vvas vvounded of the theeues seke me out o Lorde vvhich am fallen from the higher Ierusalem vvhich haue broken the vovve I made in baptisme vvhich haue profaned my conyâ—ance in that I dealt iniuriously vvith thy blessed name Alasse that euer I vvas doctor and novve occupie not the rovvme of a disciple Thou knovvest o Lorde that I fell agaynst my vvill vvhen as I vvent about to lighten others I darkened my selfe vvhen I endeuored to bringe others â–ª from death to life I brought my selfe from life to deathe vvhen I mynded to â–ª presente others before God I presented my selfe before the deuell VVhen I desired to be founde a friende and a fauorer of godlynes I vvas founde a foe and a furtherer of iniquitie vvhen that I sett my selfe agaynst the assemblyes of the vvicked and reproued theyr doinges there founde I shame and the moste pestilent vvounde of the deuell vvhen that I vvas ignorant and vnskilfull in the diuerous slayghtes of striuers vvhich commonly entrappe men I allured and exhorted them to the knovveledge of the Sonne of God vvherefore after muche siftinge â–ª they promised me vnhappie man crafty conueyances to auoyde the subtletye of Satan But after that I departed from them the
their saynges and vvhat he hearde out of theyr mouthes toutching the Lord of his povver and doctrine recitinge preceptes and all thinges consonante to holy Scripture out of theyr mouthes I say vvho themselues had seene vvith their eyes the vvorde of life in the flesh these thinges at that time through the mercy of God vvhich vvrought in me I diligently marked and paynted it not in papyr but printed it in my harte vvhich continually throughe the grace of God I ponder and meditate And I am able to testifie before God that if that holy and Apostolicke elder had hearde any such thinge he vvoulde haue straight reclaimed and stopped his eares and after his maner pronounced good God into vvvhat times hast thou reserued me that I shoulde suffer such thinges yea and vvoulde haue straight shunned the place vvhere he sitting or standing had hearde such speaches to bee shorte this may be reported for true out of the epistles vvhich he vvrote to the confirmation of the borderinge Churches or out of the Epistles vvhich he vvrote to certaine brethrē for admonition and exhortation sake thus farre Irenaeus CAP. XIX The Church enioyeth peace vnder Commodus the Martyrdome of Apollonius a Christian Philosopher THe same yeare vnder Comodus the Emperoure the rage of the Gentiles was mitigated towardes vs so that peace was graunted through the grace of God vnto the vniuersall Churche through out the worlde When as the heauenly doctrine leade the mindes of all mortall men to the embracinge of the true Religion of the onely and vniuersall God so that many of the nobles of Rome brewe neare to their soules health and saluation together with their whole houses and families It was a thinge altogether intollerable for the deuell whose nature is altogether enuious and spitefull therefore he taketh vs in hande againe and inuenteth diuerse snares to entrape vs in he procureth at Rome Apollonius a man amonge the faythfull of that time for learninge and philosophie very famous to be brought forth before the tribunall seate raising his accuser among them that were fitt ministers for so malicious a purpose But the vnhappie man came out of season to receaue the sentence of iudgement because it was decreed by the Emperoure that the accusers of the Christians shoulde dye the death Perennius the Iudge forthwyth gaue sentence agaynste him that his legges shoulde be broken Then the beloued Martyre when the iudge had earnestly and with many wordes entreated him to render an accompte of his fayth before the noble senate he exhibited in the presence of them all a notable Apollogie of his fayth in the whiche he suffred martyrdome Yet neuerthelesse by decree of the senate he was beheaded and so ended this life For the auncient decre was of force and preuayled amonge theym that the Christians whiche were once presented before the tribunall seate and not reuoked their opinions shoulde no more be sette at libertie Wherefore the wordes of Apollonius whiche he answered to Perenius standyng at the barre and his whole Apollogie offered to the senate who lysteth to knowe lette him reade our booke of Martyrs CAP. XX. Of the succession of Byshopes in the moste famous churches IN the tenthe yeare of the raygne of Comodus when Eleutherius had gouerned the bishopricke of Rome thertene yeares Victor succeded him at what tyme also Iulianus after he had continewed tenne yeares in the bishopes seae of Alexandria dyed and Demetrius came in place at what tyme likewise Serapion mentioned a little before was knowen to be the eyght Bishope of Antioche after the Apostles Then was Theophilus bishope of Caesarea in Palestina and Narcissus before remembred bishope of Ierusalem and Banchillus bishope of Corinthe in Hellada Polycrates bishope of Ephesus and an infinite number more as it is verye likelie besydes these excelled at that tyme. but we rehearse theim by name and that iustlye by whose meanes and writinges the catholicke fayth hath bene continewed vnto our tyme. CAP. XXI Of the controuersie about the kepinge of Easter daye AT the same time there rose no small contention because that all the churches throughoute Asia of an aunciente tradition thought good to obserue the highe feaste of Easter in the foreteenthe moone on whiche daye the Ievves were commaunded to offer their Pascall Lambe as muche to saye as vpon what daye soeuer in the weeke that moone fell the fastinge dayes finished and ended when as the other churches throughout the worlde accustomed not to celebrate Easter after this manner but obserued the Apostolicke tradition and custome as yet retayned to wete the fastinge dayes on no other daye to be broken vp afore the daye wherein our Sauiour rose from death to lyfe Wherefore synodes and meetinges of Byshopes were summoned where all with one accorde ordained an ecclestasticall decree whiche they published by their epistles vnto all churches That vpon no other then the sondaye the mysterie of our sauiours resurrection shoulde be celebrated And that one that daye and no other the fasting vsed before Easter shoulde haue an ende Theire epistle is at this daye extant who at that tyme for this cause assembled together in Palaestina whereof Theophilus bishope of Caesarea and Narcissus bishope of Ierusalem were chiefe At Rome likewise there was a synode gathered together for the same cause the whiche Victor their bishope published Agayne there was an other of bishopes at Pontus where Palmas as the moste auncient did gouerne An other of bishops throughout Fraunce whiche Irenaeus did ouersee to be shorte an other of the bishopes throughout Ostroëna and the cities therein contained and speciallye of Banchillus bishope of Corinth with many others al which with one and the same sentence and iudgement ordained the same decree and their vniforme assent was thus made manifest vnto the worlde CAP. XXII By the reporte of Polycrates the churches in Asia celebrated Easter the fouretenthe moone POlycrates moderated the bishops throughout Asia whiche affirmed that their aunciente custome deliuered them of olde was to be retayned This Polycrates in his epistle vnto the churche of Rome sheweth the custome of Asia obserued vnto his tyme in these wordes VVe celebrate the vnuiolated daye of Easter neither addinge anye thinge thereto neither takinge oughte therefro for notable pillers of Christian religion haue rested in Asia vvhiche shall rise at the laste daie vvhen the Lorde shall come from heauen vvith glorie and restore all the sainctes to ioye Philip one of the tvvelue Apostles novve lienge at Hierapolis his tvvo daughters vvho kept them selues virgins all the dayes of their liues the third also after the ende of hir holie conuersation rested at Ephesus Againe Iohn vvho laye on the Lordes breast being a Priest vvore the priestlie attire both a Martyr and a Doctor slept at Ephesus Moreouer Polycarpus Bishop of Smyrna and a Martyr Thraseas an Eumenian both a Bishop a Martyr slept at Smyrna VVhat shal I speake of Sagaris
coÌ„mentaries of Heraclitus vpoÌ„ Paul Maximus of y â— common question in hereticks mouthes vvhence euill proceedeth and that this substance vvas made Candidus of the creation of vvorke of the sixe dayes Appion of the same argument Sixtus of the resurrection and a certein tracte of Arabianus with a thousande mo all whiche writers time doth not permitte neither is it possible to publishe them in this our history because they minister no occasion to make mention of them CAP. XXV Of suche as from the beginning impugned the heresie of Artemon the behauiour of the hereticke and his presumption in reiecting and corrupting the scriptures AMong these bookes there is found a volume written against the heresie of Artemon â–ª which Paulus Samosatenus in our daies endeuored to reuiue wherin is coÌ„tained ah history worthy to be published among these our histories diuersly from euery where collected â–ª wheÌ„ this boke had coÌ„futed y â— said presuÌ„ptuous heresy which affirmed Christ to be a bâ—â—e naked maÌ„ that the authors therof had gloried of it as an auncient opinioÌ„ after many lynes leaues to the coÌ„fuâ—acion of this blasphemous vntrueth he writeth thus They affirme that all our aunâ—â—â—ours â–ª yea and the Apostles them selues vvere of that opinion and taughte the same vvith them and that this their true doctrine for so they call it vvas preached embraced vnto the time of Victor the thirtenth bishop of Rome after Peter corrupted by his successour Zephyrinus this peraduenture might seeme to haue some likelyhoode of trueth vnlesse firste of all the holy scriptures reclamed next the bokes of suÌ„dry meÌ„ loÌ„g before the time of Victor vvhich they published against the gentiles in the defence of the trueth in the confutation of the hereticall opinions of their time I meane Iustinus Meltiades Tatianus and Clemens vvith many others in all vvhich Christ is preached and published to be God VVho knovveth not that the vvoorkes of Irenaus Melito and all other Christians do confesse Christ to be both God and man to be shorte hovve many psalmes and hymnes and Canticles vvere vvritten from the beginninge by the faythfull Christians vvhich â—ounde and singe Christ the vvorde of God for no other then God in deede hovv then is it possible accordinge vnto their report that our auncetors vnto the time of Victor should haue preached so vvhen as the ecclesiasticall censure for so many yeares is pronounced for certeine and knovven vnto all the vvorlde and hovve can they chuse but be ashamed thus vntruely to reporte of Victor vvhen as they knovve for suretie that Victor excommunicated Theodotus a tanner the father and founder of this Apostasie vvhich denyed the diuinitie of Christ because that he firste affirmed Christ to be but onely man if Victor as they reporte had bene of their blasphemous opinion hovv then could he haue excoÌ„municated Theodotus the author of that heresie but Victor was thus affectionated when he had gouerned y â— ecclesiasticall function the space of tenne yeares Zephyrinus succeeded him about the tenth yere of the raigne of Seuerus The same author which wrote the aforesaid booke against the founder of this heresie declareth a certeine historie that was done in the time of Zepherinus after this maner Therfore to the ende I may aduertise diuerse of the brethren I vvil rehearse a certaine historie of our time vvhiche as I suppose if it had bene in Sodome they vvold haue fallen to repentaÌ„ce There vvas one Natalius vvho not loÌ„g before but eueÌ„ in our time becam a coÌ„fessor this Natalius vvas on a tyme seduced by Asclepiodotus an other Theodotus an exchauÌ„ger they both vvere disciples of Theodotus the taÌ„ner vvho theÌ„ being author of this blasphemous opinioÌ„ as I sayd before vvas excoÌ„municated by Victor bishop of Rome for Natalius vvas persvvaded by theÌ„ for a certeine hire revvarde to be called a bishop of this heretical opinioÌ„ to vvete a huÌ„dreth fifty peÌ„ce monethly to be payd him Novv he being thus linked vnto theÌ„ the Lord vvarned him oft by visions for God and our Lord Iesus Christ full of mercy compassion vvold not that the vvitnesse of his passioÌ„s should perishe vvithout the churche for that he vvas altogether carelesse negligeÌ„t in marking the visions froÌ„ aboue being novv as it vvere hooked vvith the svveete baites of primacie honour filthy lucre vvherby thousands do perishe at leÌ„gth he vvas scurged by an Angel of the Lord. for the space of a vvhole nyght chasticed not a little so that vvhen he rose earely in the morning couered in sackcloth sprinckled in ashes vvith much vvoe many teares he fel dovvn flatte before the feete of Zephyrinus bishope of Rome not after the manner of a cleargie man but of the laye people beseaching the churche prone alvvayes to compassion vvith vvatrishe eyes and vvette cheekes for the mercie of Christ to tender and pitie his miserable case so that vsinge many petitions and shevvinge in his bodie the printe of the plaguye stripes after muche adoe he vvas receaued vnto the communion We thinke best to adde vnto these other relations of the same author for thus he writeth They corrupted the holye sacred scriptures vvithout any reuerence they reiected the canon of the auncient faith they haue bene ignorant of Christ not searching vvhat the holie scriptures affirmed but exercisinge them selues therein siftinge it to this ende that some figure or forme of a syllogisme myght be founde to impugne the diuinitie of Christ and if any reasoned vvith them out of holie scripture forthvvith they demaund vvhether it be a coniuncte or a simple kinde of syllogisme layenge asyde holye scripture they practise Geometrie as beynge of the earth they speake earthlye and knovve not him vvhiche came frome aboue Euclides amonge a greate many of them measureth the earth busielie Aristotle and Theophrastus are hyghlye esteemed Galen is of diuerse vvorshipped but vvhat shall I saye of these vvho beynge farre from the fayth abuse the arte of infidels to the establyshinge of theyr hereticall opinion and corrupt the simplicitie of holy scripture through the subtle craft of sinfull persons for to this purpose they put their prophane handes to holie scripture sayinge they vvolde correcte them and that I reporte not this vntruely of them or parciallie agaynste them if any man please he may easily knovve it for if any vvill peruse their copies and conferre one vvith an other he shall finde in them great contrariety The bookes of Asclepiades agree not vvith them of Theodotus there is found betvvene them great difference for their disciples vvrote obscurely such things as their masters had ambiciously corrected againe vvith these the copies Hermophilus do not consent neither are the copies of Apollonius at concord among theÌ„ selues if their alligatioÌ„s be coÌ„ferred vvith their traÌ„slatioÌ„s alteratioÌ„s there shal be found great diuersity belike they are altogether ignoraÌ„t vvhat presumptioÌ„
deuell in the same night transformed into an Angell of light reasoned vvith me sayinge vvhen thou art vp in the morninge goe on and persvvade them and bringe them vnto God if they demaunde ought of thee If in case they condescende and harken vnto thee doe it and ceasse not staggeringe nothinge at the matter to the ende many may be saued And agayne the deuell goinge before to prepare the vvaye vvhetted theyr vvitts to deuise mischief agaynst me seely vvretch he sovved in theyr mindes hypocrisie dissimulation and deceate but I o vnhappie creature skippinge out of my bedd at the davveninge of the daye colde not finishe my vvonted deuotion neyther accomplishe my vsuall prayer but vvishinge that all men might be saued and come vnto the knovveledge of the trueth folded and vvrapped my selfe in the snares of the deuell I gott me vnto the vvicked I required of them to performe the couenantes made the night before I seely soule not knovveing of any thinge and vve came vnto the baptisme O blinded heart hovve didest thou not remember O foolishe mynde hovve didest thou not bethinke thy selfe O vvittlesse brayne hovve didest thou not vnderstande O thou sense of vnderstandinge vvhere didest thou sleepe but it vvas the deuell vvhich prouoked thee to slumbre and slepe and in the end slevve thy vnhappy and vvretched soule he bound my mightie men and spoyled me of my knovvledge he bound my mightie men vvounded me I ansvvered but in a vvorde became reprochefully defamed I spake vvithout malice yet felt I spite the deuell raysed an assembly about me and pronounced agaynst me that vniuste sentence Origen sayth he hathe sacrificed O thou deuell vvhat hast thou done vnto me O thou deuell hovve hast thou vvounded me I bevvayled sometime the fall of Sampson but novve haue I felt farre vvorse my selfe I bevvayled heretofore the fall of Solomon yet novve am I fallen farre vvorse my selfe I haue bevvayled heretofore the state of all sinners yet novve haue I plunged in them all Sampson had the heare of his heade clypt and cropt of but the crovvne of glorie is fallen from of my heade Sampson lost the carnall eyes of his body but my spirituall eyes are digged out it vvas the vvilyenesse of a vvoman that brought him to his confusion but it vvas myne ovvne tongue that brought me to this sinfull fall And euen as he vvanted after the losse of his earthly possession So my tongue hauinge bolted out this vvicked sayinge depriued me of the spirituall giftes vvhich sometime haue flovved vvith heauenly ritches And euen as he beinge seuered from the Israelites and cleauinge vnto forayners endured these thinges so I goinge about to saue notorious sinners brought my selfe captiue vnto captiues and the bondeslaue of sinne Alasse my Churche liueth yet am I a vviddovver Alasse my sonnes be aliue yet am I barren Alasse euery creature reioyceth and I alone forsaken and sorovvfull Alasse o Church vvherein I vvas gladsome Alasse o seate vvherein I sate full mery Alasse o spirite vvhich heretofore camest dovvne vpon me vvhy hast thou forsaken me I am forsaken and become desolate because of the corruption and filth of mine iniquitie bevvayle me that am depriued of all goodnes bevvayle me o ye blessed people of God vvhich am banished from God bevvayle him that is bereued of the holye Ghost bevvayle me that am thrust out of the vvedding chamber of Christ bevvayle me vvho once vvas thought vvorthye the kingdome of God novve altogether vnvvorthye bevvayle me that am abhorred of the Angels seuered from the saincts of God bevvayle me for that I am condemned to eternall punishments bevvayle me for that I am here on earth and novve tormented vvith the pricke of conscience I doe feare death because it is vvicked I doe feare the dreadfull day of iudgement for that I am damned for euer I doe feare the punishment for that it is eternall I doe feare the Angelles vvhich ourseethe punishment because they are voyde of mercy I do feare out of measure all the tormentes and vvhat I shall doe I vvott not beinge thus on euery side besett vvith misery If there be any man vvhich can I beseche him novve assiste me vvith his earnest prayers and vvith his sorovvfull teares For novve it behoues me to shed infinite teares for my greate sinne vvho knovveth vvhether the Lorde vvill haue mercye vpon me vvhether he vvill pitie my fall vvhether he vvill tender my person vvhether he vvilbe moued vvith my desolation vvhether he vvill shevve mercie vnto me vvhether he vvill haue respecte vnto mine humilitie and encline his tender compassion tovvards me but I vvill prostrate my selfe before the thrasholds and porches of the Churche that I may entreate all people both small and greate and I vvill saye vnto them trample and treade me vnderfoote vvhiche am the foolishe salte the vnsauery salte treade me vvhiche haue no taste or relishe of God treade me vvhiche am fitte for nothinge Novve let the Elders mourne for that the staffe vvhereto they leaned is broken Novve lett the yong men mourne for that their schoolemayster is fallen Novve let the virgines mourne for that the aduauncer thereof is defyled Novve let the Priestes mourne for that their patrone and defender is shamefully fallen Novve let all the Clergye mourne for that their Prieste is fallen from the faythe Vvo is me that I fell so levvdely VVo is me that I fell moste daungerously and can not rise againe Asist me o holy spirite and geue me grace to repente Let the fountaynes of teares be opened and gushe out into streames to see if that peraduenture I may haue the grace vvorthely and throughly to repente and to vvype out of the booke of the conscience the accusation printed agaynst me But thou o Lord thinke not vpon polluted lippes neyther weye thou the tongue that hathe vttered levvde thinges but accept thou repentance afliction and bitter teares the dolour of the harte and the heauynesse of the soule and haue mercy vpon me and rayse me vp from out of the mire of corruption for the puddle thereof hathe euen choked me vp VVo is me that somtime vvas a pearle glisteringe in the golden garlande of glorye but novve throvven into the dust and trode in the myre of contempte VVo is me that the salte of God novve lyeth in the dung hill but hovve greate streames of lamentation shall vvype and purifie myne humble harte novve I vvill adresse my selfe and turne my talke vnto God vvhy hast thou lysted me vp and cast me dovvne For as thou haste exalted me vvith the deuine vvorde of thy heauenly vvisedome so me thinkes I sticke in the depth of sinne vvhich my selfe haue vvrought I had not committed this impietie vnlesse thou hadest vvithdravven thy hande from me But it is thy pleasure o Lorde vvhich art good to doe all thinges graciously and I of the other side beinge a foole haue foolishlye fallen But vvhy o Lorde haste thou shutt my
mouth by thy holy Prophete Dauid haue I bene the first that sinned Or am I the first that fell vvhy hast thou thus foresaken me being desolate and reiected and banished me from amonge thy saynctes and astonyed me to preache thy lavves vvhat man is he borne of a vvoman that sinned not VVhat man is he that euer vvas conuersant here vpon earthe and did no iniquitie This I say because thou haste thus forsaken me Dauid himselfe first vvho shutt vp my mouth sinned toe bad in thy sight yet after his repentance thou receauedst him in mercye Likevvise saincte Peter the piller of trueth after his fall vvyped avvaye that bitter passion vvith salte teares sleyinge sinne and purginge avvaye the venoume of the serpent not continevveinge longe in the puddle of infidelitie But they of fauour vvere thought vvorthie of mercy and this I speake to the ende these thinges may take effect vvo is me that I fell thus moste vvickedly vvo is me that my aduenture in these thinges vvas so vnfortunate but novve I humbly beseche thee o Lorde in as much as I haue felt farre vvorse Call me backe o Lorde for that I treade a moste perilous and ruynous vvaye Graunte me that good guide and teacher the holy Ghost that I be not made a prickinge hedgehogge and become an habitation for deuells but that I maye treade vnder foote the deuell vvhich trode me and ouercomminge his sleyghtes be restored agayne to the former health and saluation Remember not o Lord the iniquitie of thine humble suter vvho sometime haue celebrated vnto thee the function of priesthood remember not o Lord the iniquity of me vvho made aunsvvere vvith vvicked language Novve o all you vvhich behold my vvounde tremble for feare and take heede that ye slumber not neither fall into the like crime but come ioyntly vvhich haue the same measure of faith let vs assemble together rent our hartes and prouoke streames of teares to gushe out of the temples of our heades For vvhen these runne and flovve vpon the face of the earth there vvill follovve remission of sinnes the paynes vvyll be auoyded and the tormentes shall not be felt I mourne am sorie from the hart roote O ye my frendes that euer I fell from aloft I haue fallen and am brused there is no health in me let the Angels lament ouer me bicause of this my daungerous fall let the garlands crovvnes of the saincts lament ouer me for that I am seuered from amoÌ„g their blessed assemblies let blessed Aaron lament ouer me his pâ—â—esthoode let the holy church lament ouer me for that I am ruynously decayed Let all people lamente ouer me for that I haue my deathes vvounde I see the cloudes in the skie shadovving the lyght from me and the sonne hydinge his bryght beames But novve you do all see and perceaue the prophet Dauid hath shutte the dore of my mouth I vvas constrayned of the holie byshops to breake out into some vvordes of exhortation and takinge the booke of Psalmes in my hande I prayed and opened and I lyghted vpon that sentence the vvhiche I am ashamed to repeate yet compelled to pronounce Vntò the vngodly sayde God vvhy doest thou preache my lavves and takest my couenaunt in thy mouth But bevvayle me and lament this my bytter sorovve bevvayle me vvhich am in like case vvith the reprobate levves For that vvhiche vvas sayde vnto them by the Prophet novve soundeth alike in myne eares Vvhat shall I do that am thus besette vvith many mischiefes alasse o death vvhy doest thou linger to vvete that thou mayest spite and beare me malice O Satan vvhat mischiefe hast thou vvrought vnto me hovve hast thou pearced my breast vvith thy poysoned darte thinkest thou that my ruyne vvyll auayle thee any thinge at all thinkest thou to procure vnto thy selfe ease and reste vvhyle that I am greeuously tormented vvho is able to signifie vnto me vvhether my sinnes be vvyped and done avvay vvhether that I haue escaped the paynes vvhich greatly I feared VVho is able to signifie vnto me vvhether agayne I shal be coopled and made companion vvith the saincts O ye the saincts of God for that I am not vvorthie to heare the message of theÌ„ that bring such tidinges but presuming farre vvorse practises haue hearde the terrible threates of the Euangelistes alasse ô the boosome of Abraham the vvhich I am depriued of â–ª alasse that I became partaker vvith the ritche man of his condemnation in the horrible pitte and partner of his thurst in the bitter place full of all sorovve heauinesse alasse ô father Abraham entreate for me that I be not cutt of from thy coasts the vvhich I haue greatly longed after yet not vvorthely because of my great sinne But ô Lorde I fall dovvne before thy mercie seate haue mercie vpon me vvhich mourne thus out of measure vvhich haue greatly offended vvhich haue shed many salt and bitter teares vvhose miserable case euery creature hath lamented VVhy hast thou broken dovvne my hedge strong holdes the vvilde bore out of the vvood hath destroyed me the vvilde beaste of the fielde hath eaten me vp rydde me o Lorde from the roaring Lion the vvhole assemblie of saincts doth make intercession vnto thee for me vvhich am an vnprofitable seruant the vvhole quire of Angels do entreate thee for me vvhiche haue greeuously offended that thou vvilt shevv mercy vnto the vvaÌ„dering sheepe vvhich is subiect to the renting teeth of tâ—…â—uenous VVolfe saue me o Lord out of his mouth suffer me not to become the sacrifice of sinne but let dovvne vpon me thy holyspirite that vvith his firie couÌ„tenance he may put to flight the crooked fiende of the deuell that I may be brought vvhome againe vnto thy vvisdome that the bill of sinne vvritten agaynste me be blotted out that my lamentation may ceasse in the euening receaue loye in the morning let my sackcloth be rented asunder gyrde me vvith ioye gladnes let me be receaued againe into the ioye of my God let me be thought vvorthye of his kingdome through the prayers and intercession of the sainctes through the earnest petitions of the church vvhich sorovveth ouer me humbleth her selfe vnto Iesus Christ to vvhome vvith the father and the holie ghost be all glorie and honor for euer and euer Amen CAP. II. Of the byshops of Rome and of the controuersie then raysed of Baptisme WHen Cornelius had ended full three yeares in the byshops seae of Rome Lucius succee ded whiche enioyed the rowme not fully eyght monethes and after him was Stephan chosen bishop vnto this Stephan Dionysius wrote his firste epistle of baptisme when as at that tyme there was no small controuersie raysed whether they which returned from any heresie whatsoeuer shoulde be rebaptized or after the auncient manner be receaued with prayer and layinge on of handes CAP. III. Stephan bishop of Rome reprehendeth Cyprian bishop of Carthage for
also vvhich made the like request vnto me that not one of the Christians might dvvell among them It vvas needefull that I should ansvvere them friendly and louingly the vvhich all the auncient Emperours obserued and is of the gods them selues approued through whome all mortall men and the gouernment it self of the commonvvealth doth stande It pleased vs then to ratifie so great a request made vnto vs in the behalfe of the seruice of their hygh God VVherefore though chiefely heretofore also vve haue vvritten vnto your vvisdome commaunded the like that nothing seuerely were done against them of the prouince vvhich vvent about to succour such a nation but shoulde paciently be obeyed and that they should suffer contumelies and vexations neither of the officials neither of any other vvhatsoeuer I haue thought good by these my letters to admonishe your prompt minde that vvith fayre speaches and exhortations you brynge them of our dominions to acknovvledge the carefull prouidence of the Gods VVherfore if any of his ovvne accorde thinke good to acknovvledge the seruice of the Gods such a one is vvorthie to be embraced but if some vvill cleaue to their peculier religion lette them do it at their free vvill and pleasure Your vvisdome hath therefore to obserue that vvhich is decreed of vs that none henceforth haue this povver giuen him to oppresse vvith contumelies ratling speaches shaking troubles our louing subiects sithen that as it is vvritten before it behoueth vs rather vvith faire speaches and milde exhortations to reuoke them vnto the seruice of the immortall gods And to the ende this our commaundement be knovven of all our prouincials our vvill is that you publishe by proclamation directed from yourselfe that vvhich is commaunded by vs When Maximinus being constrained of necessitie not of his owne accord had coÌ„maunded these things for all this was he not of all men thought true in his dealing either worthy of trust for because that afore time after the like graunt he shewed a turncoate a wauering mind a lying mouth There durst none of vs gather a synode together or medle with publique affaires for these letters licenced not this but onely commaunded that we should not be afflicted with any violence or contumelie it commaunded not that conuenticles should be made that churches should be buylt or the rest of our wonted ceremonies should be retained although Constantinus Licinnius princes of peace and piety had written vnto Maximinus that he should graunt these things and permitted the same vnto all their subiects by Edicts and decrees yet the most wicked woulde not hitherto haue remitted his tyrannie had not he by deuine iudgement bene compelled and brought at length against his will to this passe for such a trouble besett him as followeth CAP. X. Maximinus wageth battayle with Licinnius and is ouercome he rageth against his inchaunters he publisheth an Edict in the behalfe of the Christians at length dyeth miserably WHen as he was no longer able to sustayne the weyght of the Empire which vnworthely he had chalenged vnto him selfe but went about his affaires otherwise then became him through want of skill beynge voyde of a moderate minde required in an Emperour and vnaduisedly puffed in minde with ouerflowinge arrogancie and pride he presumed to waxe stately against his fellowe Emperours farre excellinge him in lynage and learninge in worthinesse and wisdome but especially agaynst him which passed all other in wisdome and pietie towardes the true God and to chalenge vnto him selfe the maiestie of the chiefe Emperour He became so furious and madd that he broke the league made with Licinnius and raysed an irreconciled battaile In short space therfore with all might he molested in maner euery cytie and hauing gathered all his host together and mustred a multitude of many millions of souldiers he marcheth to battayle and directeth the forefront of his bande agaynst him trustinge in deuils whome he tooke for gods and was arrogant because of his infinite multitude of armed souldiers But in the skirmishe it selfe he is destitute of Gods helpe and God the one and the onely ayder succourer of all meÌ„ giueth the victory to Licinnius first of all the force of armed souldiers wherin he trusted fayleth him afterwardes he was left alone destitute of all companie forsaken of the souldiers that were about him which fled vnto the coÌ„querour the vnhappy man put of quickly the imperiall attire not pertayning vnto him timorous cowardy and effeminate he ioyneth him self to the multitude and flyeth away and hiding him selfe in fields and villages he hardly escaped the hand of the enemy while by all meanes he sought to saue his life in very deede notably approuing the holy scripture shewing for manifest trueth where it was sayd There is no king that can be saued by the multitude of an host neither is any mightie man deliuered by much strength A horse is counted but a vaine thing to saue a man neither shall he deliuer any man by his greate strength Beholde the eye of the Lorde is vpon them that feare him and vpon such as trust in his mercy that he may deliuer their soules from death After this sort the tyrant subiect to most vile shame and reproche came to his owne coasts and first of all being stroken with rage madnesse he slewe many priests and prophets of their gods whome before he had suspected and by the procurement and trust of whose oracles he had taken armour vpon him to wage battaile â–ª as inchaunters deceauers which also had villanously betraied his person afterwards wheÌ„ he had glorified the God of the Christians and ordayned a most perfect and absolute decree in the behalfe of their libertie sodainly vexation ended his life so that there remained no time afterwards for him to deliberate the lawe which he published was thus The coppie of Maximinus the tyrants constitution in the behalfe of the Christians translated out of Romaine letters into the Greeke tonge The Emperour Caesar Caius Valerius mighty lord of Germanie lorde of Sarmatia gratious fortunate puissant Augustus It is requisit that without ceasing we prouide for the profâ—â— of our prouincials by all meanes that we be willing to exhibit those things vnto them whereby they may obtaine such things as may chiefly profit theÌ„ The things which auaile for publique profit coÌ„moditie the aduaÌ„tage of the coÌ„moÌ„ wealth pleasing vnto euery maÌ„ we are well perswaded that there is none but knoweth theÌ„ very well â–ª that euery one hath recourse vnto that vvhich is done that euery wight in the world vnderstaÌ„deth of our affaires wheÌ„ as afore time it came to our knowledge that for the same cause for the which it was coÌ„mauÌ„ded by Diocletian Maximinian our progenitors of famous memory the synodes asseÌ„blies of the christians should be cutt shorte many were troubled spoiled by the officials the same as yet we perceaue to be further practised
members all had one minde and the same readinesse of fayth the celebration of the diuinitie amonge all was one Moreouer the orderly seruice of such as gouerned the Churches and publique ministration of the holy thinges appoynted of them for the purpose comely rites and ceremonies of the Churches were celebrated â—â—â—e with psalmodies and other songes of praise deliuered vs from aboue there with diuine and misticall ministration as the secret pledges of the Lords passion were solemnized and withall men and women of euery age with all might that in them lay with cheerfull minde and will in prayer and thankesgeuing honored God the autor of all goodnes to be short the gouernours of the Churches as many as were present with solemne Sermons euery one as much as in him lay set forth and extolled the solemne meeting and assemblies There went vp into the pulpitt one among all the rest counted very sage expert in the words of God well exercised in preaching who chose a parcell of Scripture discoursed at large as it were in the gathering together of the members and vniting of the congregations whome many learned clerkes and famous Bishops hearde with quiet and atteâ—tiâ—â— eare This preacher therefore in the presence of Paulinus a Bishop that passed all other for rare and singuler gifts by whose meanes and procurement also the famous temple of Tyrus in Phoenicia was buylded with moste gorgeous furniture vttered this Sermon in such sort as followeth CAP. IIII. A solemne Sermon in prayse of the buylding of the Churches but expressly directed vnto Paulinus Bishop of Tyrus OYe friendes and Priestes of the most high God which are bewtified with holy robes and the heauenly crowne of glory with the sacred oyntment and priestly atyre of the holy ghost and thou the ornament of the newe holy temple of God which art honored of God him selfe with wisedome of auncient yeares yet hast brought to passe noble deeds and enterprises with fresh and florishing vertue to whome God him self comprehending the whole world hath graunted this great honor that thou shouldest build and repairs on earth this house vnto Christ the onely begotten and his first begotten word vnto his holy and noble spouse whome one may very wel call ether a new Beseleel chief builder of Gods tabernacle or Solomon king of a new and more mighty Ierusalem or else a new Zorâ—babel which hast purchaced farre greater glory vnto the temple of God then it had before and O you the sucklinges of the holy stocke of Christe the house of good literature the schoole of wisedome the honest and godly audiencâ— of pietye It was lawefull for vs of olde to laude God with hymnes and songes which haue heâ—â—â—â— out of holy Scripture the mainelous wonders of God and the miraculous bountifulnes of the Lorde shewed towards mankind being to this ende instructed that we should say â–ª O God vve haue heard vvith our eares our fathers haue declared vnto vs the vvorkes thou hast vvrought in their dayes of olde but nowe haue we learned it not by hearing neither by reheatsall and rumor of the high arme and heauenly hande of our God and high King but by deedes and as I may so say with the eyes them selues beholding the thinges of olde to be certayne and true we may sing an mother hynme of victory and to good purpose shoute and saye like as vve haue hearde so haue vve seene in the citye of the Lorde of hosts in the citye of our God â–ª I meane in an other citye then this lately buylded and exected vnto God vvhich is the Churche of the liuing God the piller and grounde of all trueth of the which a certayne other testimony of holy Scripture thus happely reporteth Glorious thinges are spoken of thee o thou citie of God In so much as then we are gathered by the benefitt of Almighty God through the grace of the onely begotten vnto this Churche let euery one of vs here presently assembled together prayse and laude God and with all crye and saye I vvas glad vvhen they sayd vnto me vve vvill goe vp into the house of the Lorde and agayne Lorde I haue loued the bevvty of thy house and the place vvhere thine honour dvvelleth And not onely he which sitteth but also altogether with one spirite and with one minde honoring the Lorde let vs then singe and saye greate is the Lorde and vvorthy to be praysed in the citye of our God euen vpon his holy hill for he truely is greate and his house greate highe wide and bewetifull in comparison of the sonnes of men greate is the Lorde vvhiche alone doth vvonderfull thinges greate is the Lorde doing greate thinges vnsearcheable things glorious and excellent things vvhereof there is no number great changing moments and times remouing and ordayning things raysing the poore out of the dust and lifting the needy out of the myre he hath deposed the mighty from their seates and exalted the meeke out of the earth he hath filled the hungry vvith good things and hath broken the armes of the proude thus hath he confirmed the memory of the thinges rehearsed of olde not onely to the faythfull but also vnto the Infidels it is the Lorde of all the maker of the whole worlde the Almighty the moste excellent the one and the onely God which doth wonderfull and greate thinges vnto whome we obediently doe singe a newe songe euen vnto him vvhich alone doth maruelous thinges because his mercy endureth for euer vvhich smote great Kings slevv mighty Kings because his mercy endureth for euer because that vvhen vve vvere brought lovve the Lorde vvas mindefull of vs and deliuered vs from our enemies with these prayses let vs not cease to celebrate God the vniuersall father but also the seconde person author of all goodnes exhibited vnto vs the bringer of the knowledge of God the teacher of true pietye the rooter out of the wicked the dispatcher of all tyrants the gouernour of our whole life let vs whose case was lamentable honour him sounding continewally with mouth and minde I meane our Sauiour Iesu for he alone the onely most excellent sonne of the most excellent father according vnto the will of his father wherewith he loued man most willingly like a passing cunning Phisicion for the health of the pacients tooke vpon him our nature whiche laye as it were in a bottomlesse pitt of perdicion the beholding of whome in this case was very greeuous and the handling vnpleasant and of the miseries of others he heaped vnto him selfe greate miseryes he saued not onely such as were sicke with fore botches and festered woundes but also such as laye amonge the deade he him selfe by him selfe hath deliuered vs from the moste darke dungeons of death there was not so much power geuen to any other in heauen whiche coulde without offence and vndoubtedly minister the saluation of so many castwayes but he alone tooke vpon him
y â— prophete she hath put on her weddinge robe is compassed about with a crowne of bewty as it were instructed by Esay to daunce for ioy let vs heare of her how she offreth with reuerence thanksgeuing vnto God the king with the voice of praise when she sayeth Let my soule reioyce in the Lorde For he hath putt vpon me the garment of saluation couered me vvith the mantell of righteousnes He hath bedecked me like a brydgrom vvith a crown like a bryd vvith ornameÌ„ts for eueÌ„ as the earth multiplieth her flovvrs and like as the gardene shooteth forth her seedes so hath God caused righteousnes and praises to florishe before all the heathen With such sayings doth she triumphe but heare with what words the brydgrome the celestiall word Iesus Christ himselfe doth answere her the Lorde himselfe saying Feare not because thou vvast confounded neyther be thou ashamed because thou hast bene sett at nought The Lord hath not called thee as a vvoman forsaken and faynt harted neyther as a vvoman hated from her youth vp sayth thy God A litle vvhile haue I forsaken thee in great mercyes will I pitie thee wheÌ„ I vvas a little vvhile angry I turned my face from thee but in great mercies will I pardon thee sayth the Lord thy redemer Awake awake thou that froÌ„ the haÌ„d of the Lord hast dronke the cupp of his wrath Thou hast dronke of and emptied cleane the cupp of destructioÌ„ the cupp of my wrath There was not of all thy sonnes whome thou hast begotten not one lefte to coÌ„fort thee not one vvhich might hould thee vp with the hand behold I haue taken the cupp of destruction out of thy hand euen the cupp of my wrath henceforth see thou drinke of it no more I will putt it into theyr hand vvhich vvrongfully troubled thee vvhich haue humbled thee to the dust Avvake avvake â–ª putt on thy strength put on thy glory Shake from thee the dust arise sitt vp â–ª plucke out thy necke from the collar â–ª lift vp thine eyes and looke about thee see thy sonnes gathered about thee Behold they are gathered together come vnto thee As truely as I liue sayth the Lorde thou shalt put them all vpon thee as an apparell and gird them vnto thee as a bride doth her ievvels â–ª as for thy land that hath layen desolate vvasted destroyed it shal be frequented of thine inhabitors they vvhich haue deuored thee shal be farre of For the sonnes vvhich thou hast lost shall say in thine ears this place is narrovve for me prouide a place vvhere I may dvvell and thou vvilt say in thine harte vvho hath begotten me these I vvas barreÌ„ and a vvidovve but vvho hath nurished these for me I vvas left alone but vvhence come these vnto me These things hath Esay prophecied â–ª these things of old were graffed in holy Scripture coÌ„cerning vs requisit it was that somwhere we should behold y â— trueth thereof shewed in works theÌ„selues Wherfore because the bridgrome the word of God hath thus spoken vnto the spouse his most holy church very well hath this chiefe solemnizer of the mariadge raised restored this desert lying after the maner of a dead carcase destitute and voyd of all hope of man by the commoÌ„ prayers of you all the true hands stretched forth at the commaundement of the vniuersall king by shewing of the power of Iesu Christ beinge raised ordained her such a one as he had learned by the description of holy scripture This miracle then passeth is aboue measure to be wondred at of them specially which only make the shewe of outward things The chiefe typs foreshewes spirituall of these do excede all maruelous miraculous things y â— intellectual theologicall patterns to wete the renewing repayring of the deuine reasonable building in the souls y â— which y â— sonne of God according vnto y â— likenes which he made of him self made it in all things like vnto God to wete an incorruptible nature an incorporeall a rationall seuered froÌ„ all earthly substaÌ„ce a selfe spirituall essence â–ª which at the beginning ordained y â— it should be of that which was not made vnto him selfe to y â— father an holy spouse a most sacred temple which he sheweth affirming manifestly when he sayth I vvill dvvell in them vvalke among theÌ„ I vvilbe their God they shal be me people And in deede the mind of man was perfect purged so prepared froÌ„ the beginning that it might bewtifie the heuenly word and fructifie in it selfe but it became enuious and by the motion of the malicious deuell subiect of his owne accorde to passions sett on malice that it was forsaken of God and destitute of his helpe vnarmed sett forth and left to the snars of them which of old haue spited enuied at his saluation ouerthrowen by the terrours sleyghtes of the â—â—uisible and spirituall enemyes hath fallen with suche a fall as maye not be recouered so that not one vertuous stone cleaued to an other in it but lay all prostrate vpon the earth and dead be reâ—te of the naturall vnderstanding of God And beinge fallen which was made after the likenes of God no wild bore out of the wood as is visible among vs rooted it vp but some pernicious deuell and spirituall wild beaste which haue sett it a fire with theyr passions as with the firye darts of theyr malice burned with fire the true Sanctuary of God throwen to the earth the dwelling place of his name troddeÌ„ it thus miserably lying ouercast with a great heape of earth for euer to dispaire of saluation But the holy word of saluation carefull hereof obeing the bountifullnes of his most gracious father reuenged him of the sinners with punishmente due for their desert First of all then by takinge away the liues of the most impious and pernicious of all the moste greuous and hated tyrauntes of God he purged the whole worlde with the industry of the most godly princes next he brought vnto the open face of the world men well knowen of him dedicated and consecrated vnto him of olde in godly life and protected by him thoughe in secrete the troublesome times then drawing nigh them againe hath he honored sufficieÌ„tly with plenteousnes of his spirit and by the meanes of these hath he wiped and clensed the soules a litle before infected oppressed with all kinde of filthe and heapes of impious decrees with reprehensiue leasons of Discipline as it were with digginge and deluinge instrumentes as spades and the company of your minds garnished and made glorious he hath deliuered vnto this most wise captaine and beloued God who otherwise preuailinge in iudgemente and industry of inuention knowing and discerning the dispositioÌ„ of the soules commited to his charge beginning as I may say from the first day
he was tossed toe fro with the stormes of persecution intangled with the snares of his malicious aduersaries you mitigated his grief sorow by sending vnto him tokens of your faithful feruent minds towards him VVhen that I thinke with my self cast in my mind the cōceaued ioy of you all at his returne the flocking multitude ful of religion godlines the solemne feast of sage persons assembled together what kind of day the returne of my brother vnto you is like to be I can not chuse but conceaue wonderful ioy specially for that the schisme discord which raigned heretofore is now plucked vp by the rootes for that his honorable return according vnto your owne harts desire hath replenished you with incredible ioye gladnes so that the ioye for the greatnes thereof hath reached vnto vs to whome it is geuen from aboue to haue acquaintāce familiarity with so excellent a man It seemeth good that we end our epistle with a prayer ▪ god almighty his sóne our lord Sauiour Iesus geue you alwaies of his grace graunt you of his mercy the rewarde of so noble a faith the which you haue shewed towards your Bishop with so worthy a testimony that both you and yours may not only in this world but also in the life to come enioy farre more excellent giftes vvhich neither eye hath seene neither eare hath heard neither the hart of man conceaued the things that God prepared for them which loue him through our Lorde Iesus Christ to whome vvith the Almighty God be glorye for euer and euer Amen God haue you in his tuition vvelbeloued brethren Athanasius hauing gott these letters came into the East Constantius the emperour although at that time he receaued him not vnwillingly yet geuing eare vnto the crafty sleights of the dispitefull Arians went about to begile him reasoning with him in this sort For all thou art restored vnto thy bishoprike by the decree of the councell our ovvne determination yet because there are in Adexandria certaine people differing in opinion from thine seuering them selues from thy communiō my request is that thou permitt them one church for them selues Athanasius made answere vnto his request very wittely sayd O Emperour it lieth in thee to do as pleaseth thee best to commaunde to execute the commaundement I also vvil craue of thee an other thing for recompence my humble request is that thou graunt it me When the emperour made answere that with most willing minde he woulde condescende thereunto Athanasius immediatly sayd Mine humble sute is that I may obtaine that vvhich thou vvouldest haue had at my hands to vvete that thou vvilt graunt one Churche throughout euery citye for such as communicate not vvith the Arians The Arians perceauing that the request of Athanasius was not vnreasonable made answere y t it behoued them to differre that matter vnto an other time and consider better of it they hindred not the emperour but suffred him to do that which pleased him best Wherefore the Emperour restored Athanasius Paulus Marcellus Asclepas bishop of Gaza and Lucius Bishop of Adrianopolis euery one to his owne bishoprike againe these two hindemost were admitted by the councell of Sardice Asclepas for that he shewed records wherby it appeared that both Eusebius Pamphilus sundry others vnderstood fully of his case and restored him to his dignitie Lucius for y ◠his accusers fledd away by the emperous edict they all receaued their owne seaes the cities were commaunded to entertaine them w t willing cheerefull mindes At Ancyra there was no small sturre by reason that Basilius was remoued and Marcellus restored in his place so that the aduersaries tooke therby occasion to sclaunder Marcellus againe The citizens of Gaza receaued Asclepas willingly At Constantinople Macedonius for a season gaue rowme vnto Paulus had seuerall meetinge conuenticles at a certaine church of the city But as toutching Athanasius y ◠emperour sent letters vnto the bishops vnto the clergie and laytie of Alexandria that they should receaue him both louingly willingly he commaunded moreouer by his letters y ◠such acts as were recorded agaynst him in their courts and synods should be blotted out ▪ his letters in the behalfe of both the aforesayd are these The Epistle of Constantius in the behalfe of Athanasius the Bishop Constantius the puysant the mighty noble Emperour vnto the Bishops and Priestes of the catholike church sendeth greeting It appeareth euidently that Athanasius the reuerend bishop vvas not destitute of the grace goodnes of God although by the iudgment censure of men he vvas iniuriously dealt vvithall vniustly condemned for a litle vvhile yet the diuine prouidence of almighty God the beholder of all things pronounced of him the iust sentēce of innocency so that by the vvill of God and our decree he recouered both his natiue soyle and proper church vvhere the holy Ghost had assigned him gouernour He is to receaue at our handes such things as our clemency being led by right and reason shall think conuenient for him so that all vvhatsoeuer hath bene heretofore decreed against such as communicated vvith him be henceforth quite forgotten that all suspicion raised of him be henceforth remoued that his clergy reason so requiring may enioy such liberty freedome priuiledge as they haue done in times past Moreouer of our soueraigne benignity tovvards him vve haue thought good to adde this also that as many as are allotted into the sacred senate of the clergy may vnderstande of trueth that vve haue graunted safety good leaue to as many as cleaue vnto him be they Bishops or vvhat other degree soeuer of the clergy euery ons firme sure consent in this behalfe shal be a sufficient signe or token of his faithfull minde purpose VVe haue commaunded that such as embrace his communion addicting them selues vnto the sounder opinion better sentence all alike novv by our permission as heretofore by the prouidence of God may enioye the benefitts bestovved vpon them from aboue Another epistle vnto the people of Alexandria Constantius the puysant the mighty and noble Emperour vnto the people of the Catholike church of Alexandria sendeth greetinge In as much as vve laye alvvayes before our eyes your good and politike gouernement as a marke to shoote at or looking glasse to behold our owne estate and seinge that you were bereued of your Byshop Athanasius a man approued both for sounde learninge and honest liuinge we determined with our selues to sende him vnto you againe Receaue him therefore honorably after your accustomed maner ioyne him with you as an helper in your prayers vnto God endeuer alwayes to retayne amongest you cōcord peace both fit for your owne persons and gratefull vnto vs accordinge vnto the sacred decrees of the church For it is not requisit that dissentiō debate should molest disquiet the peaceable estat of these
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