See the eighth day after he was baptized Then it was that Jerom Epiphanius Augustine though not yet converted to the Faith and Martin Bishop of Tours lived which last wrought a great many Miracles according to the Account given by Sulpicius Severus a faithful Writer both in his History and Dialogues But we may justly prefer before all those miraculous Stories what is said concerning Martin's Judgment in respect to the Slayers of Hereticks with whom he would not Communicate and did not above once and that against his will at the instance of Maximus Tyrannus 375. Upon the death of Valentinian besides Gratian who was already Emperor his younger Brother was also elected to the Dignity and next year Valence was overcome in Thrace by the Goths and his Body never found the Barbarians having burnt the Village whither he was carried out of the Army The Goths thereupon ravaged all Thrace and Moesia and advanced sometimes even to the Gates of Constantinople but they were repulsed by the Citizens 379. As they stood in need of a valiant Man in the East to repress the fury of these Barbarians and their Incursions Gratian made Theodosius Emperor and so retired to the Western Parts of the Empire and it was not long before Theodosius overthrew the Goths and drove them out of Thrace Then was there a Council held at Antioch wherein it was Agreed between Meletius and Paulinus Successor to Eustathius That upon the death of one or other of them the Survivor was to be Bishop alone Here also Apollinaris of Laodicea was condemned who they say should affirm that the Word was only united to the Flesh of Christ and not to the Soul and that the Soul remained in sin See Theodoritus lib. v. cap. 3. But his Adversaries bring him in arguing in so absurd a manner that it gives occasion for no small doubting whether they have given a faithful Account of his Opinion There arose a great Controversy in the Church of Antioch to use the words of Henry Valesius concerning the word Hypostasis the Meletians affirming there were Three Hypostases or Substances in the Trinity whereas the Eustathians would have only One therein Alexander in the Council held at Alexandria reconciled the matter by enacting That the Profession of the Nicene Faith should be only required without making any mention of the Hypostasis as you may see in Athanasius's Synodical Epistle to the Church of Antioch But this Controversie notwithstanding the Decree of the said Council continued in the Church of Antioch as Jerom witnesseth in his lviith Epistle to Damasus Valesius is of opinion they differed only in words which is true But the Word-warring did not consist herein that they who affirmed or were for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 meant it to be One Substance for Number or that they who were for the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 believed there were Three Persons though they participated of one and the same Numerical Substance The Ambiguity consisted herein that those who stood upon the term 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 meant that there was but One Substance in Species whereas others affirmed there were Three Hypostases in Number though they agreed with others in respect to the Unity of the Species as others did with them as to the Trinity of Substances Now the original of the strife or rather obscurity of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was this that the word bore two significations one whereof was in use among Philosophers and the other among the Vulgar The Philosophers called the Existence of some thing and not the thing it self 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Examples whereof we have in Budaeus's Commentaries of the Greek Tongue p. 138 244. Now in this sence some have affirmed there were Three Hypostases that is that there were Three Substances in the Trinity subsisting apart from one another though they were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a like perfect and of the same kind But 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the vulgar sence is not the Existence of the thing but the Thing it self and accordingly Paulinus Eustathianus asserts a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is that the Substance of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is not of a different Nature The same Budaeus has Examples of this Notion pag. 466. In the Synod convoked at Sardis whose words are recorded in Theodoritus lib. ii cap. 8. there is an Anathema pronounced against those who say that the Hypostases of the Father Son and Holy Ghost are different and 't is affirm'd there was but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is one Hypostasis which the Hereticks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It 's expresly said in the words of this Synod that the Hereticks call that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which the Catholicks name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but Jerom in his Epistle to Damasus doth not use another word when he saith That all the learned Schools in all Ages knew no other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Many others have also spoke after the same manner Gregory Nazianzen went to Constantinople and began to engage the People with such an admiration of his Learning that he had had that Episcopal See conferred upon him unless Peter of Alexandria had withstood it who made it his business in the absence of the other to get Maximus who from a Cynick was turned Christian by ill methods substituted in his room But Demophilus the Arian and Maximus being turned out by the Authority of Theodosius he was not long after brought in again to the Church of Constantinople 381. Then was the Second Oecumenical Synod convocated in that City when Meletius first with some other Bishops confirmed Gregory in Antioch before the Synod met together Afterward upon the death of Meletius and that Flavian was substituted in his room Gregory upon account of the fore-mention'd Compact opposed it so that a Contention arose and upon the arrival of the Egyptian Bishops things came to that pass that Gregory relinquished the Bishoprick of his own accord After this there were Canons made against Macedonius Maximus next year seized upon the Empire in Britain and having the Seat of his Empire at Treves he made his Son Victor his Colleague therein Not long after his General Andragathius flew the Emperor Gratian now forsaken by his Party while Theodosius in the East gave the Dignity of Augustus to his Son Arcadius 385. There was a Synod held at Bourdeaux against Priscillian Bishop of Abila in Spain and some others who being declared guilty of notorious Wickednesses were beheaded and their Disciples slain The Bishops Idacius and Ithacius were so eager for the Infliction of the said Punishment that 't was thought Martin of Tours refrained Communicating with them upon that account and herein you may consult Sulpitius Severus St. Jerom went the same year into the Land of Palaestina and St Augustin was converted from Manichaeism saving that he never utterly relinquished the Notion of Fatal Necessity and the
whence arose great Janglings 450. Theodosius having once expelled his Wife Eudoxin and Sister Pulcheria whose wise Counsels had been a long time useful to him from the Court did now upon a sense of his errour recall them and died not long after after he had appointed Marcianus to succeed him who together with his Wife Pulcheria taking the Reins of Empire into his hands assembled the Council of Chalcedon which was styled the Fourth General one and wherein Eutyches and Dioscorus were condemned From these times it seems to have come to pass that the Abyssines and others in Egypt who were infected with Dioscorus's Doctrine have begun to oppose other Christians as there were many in Babylon who followed Nestorius's Opinions remnants of whom continue to this day both in Africa and Asia Though Attila at that time was overcome in some Battels by Aetius yet he wasted Gaul and Italy far and near in which Age they say the City of Venice had its beginning many Persons for fear of Attila flying into the Island wherein the same is situated 453. He died the year after he had quitted Italy 454. Valentinian not long after he had put Aetius to death was himself cut off by Maximus a Senator who had advised him to that Fact But Eudoxia Valentinian's Wife called Geisericus out of Africa who possessing himself of Rome transported vast Riches from thence into Africa and marry'd Eudoxia's Daughter of the same Name to his Son Hunericus 455. Avitus in the mean time usurped the Empire in Italy while Merâ—veus who was the third in descent from Pharamund and who distinguish'd the first Race of the Kings of France by that of the Merovingian according to his own Name reigned among the Franks Theodoricus King of the Goths brought the Suevians who held part of Spain under his Subjection after he had made their King Rechiarius his Prisoner being encouraged thereunto by the Persuasions of Avitus 457. But this Person next year being forsaken by the Gauls and Goths lost both his Empire and his Life At the same time died Martianus Emperor in the East and was succeeded by Leo with whose consent Majorianus was made Emperor of Ravenna But this Prince after four years Reign was slain by Ricimer and succeeded by Severus In those times it was they say that the Egyptian Monks of the Eutychian Persuasion raised Commotions under the leading of Timotheus Aelurus and that at last they advanced him into the Episcopal See of Alexandria when they had slain Proterius but that Aelurus soon after was banish'd by the Emperor Leo. 463. Peter Fullo another seditious Person having expelled Martyrius invaded the See of Antioch They say this Peter held the same Opinion as the Theopaschites who affirmed That not only Man but God had suffered and that he had added to the Trisagium who died for us these words Sancte fortis Sancte Deus Sancte Immortalis qui passus es pro nobis miserere nobis O Holy and Strong Holy God Holy and Immortal who hast suffered for us have mercy on us But he was quickly banish'd by Leo. 465. This year Severus by the Treachery of Ricimer a Patrician was poisoned and died after whose decease there was an Interregnum for one year when Theodoricus King of the Goths departed this life and left his Son Evaricus to succeed him After this did Leo the Emperor send Anthemius a Nobleman to Rome and made him Augustus 467. In the mean time Geisericus who with a strong Fleet wasted the Coasts of Greece being overcome by Lea's Generals sued for Peace and confined himself within the Bounds of Africa But soon after he raised new Commotions which were difficultly quelled because of the Treachery of Basiliscus whom Leo sent against him 472. Anthemius was slain by Ricimer his Son-in-Law and Olybrius advanced to his Place who died the same year His Successor was Glycerius After him came Majorinus and then Nepos all of them in the space of two years There were also others who rashly snapt at the Western Empire which they could not hold At length Augustulus the Son of Orestes was the last Emperor of the West 474. Leo in the East left a Son of his own Name Leo II. who made Zeno his Colleague in the Empire and not long after by his death gave Basiliscus and opportunity to invade the Empire who expelled Zeno But he in a short time recovered his Station and made an Exile of Basiliscus in which state he died 476. In the mean time the Ostrogoths wasted Illyricum and Italy while the Arabian Saracens did the same by Mesopotamia or caused the People to ransom it for Money The Herulians also being called in by Nepos's Favourers whom Augustulus had succeeded divested this last of the Throne and at length PUT AN END TO THE WESTERN EMPIRE So that their King Odoacer took the Government upon him 482. Acacius whom Zeno had advanced to the See of Constantinople was the occasion of his writing a Letter to the Clergy and Monks of Egypt wherein he reconciled the Tenets of those who followed Dioscorus's Opinion with the Decrees of the Synod of Chalcedon And those who followed the said Decrees were by others called Melchites because they embraced the Opinion of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Melech the King for in the Arabick Language used by the Egytian-Arabs that is the Name they give a King as 't is also in the Hebrew Zeno would have the Egyptians subscribe this Epistle which in inserted in Evagrius's Ecclesiastical History lib. iii. cap. 14. but herein they did not comply with him The same was also called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it was written with a design of reconciling the contending Parties The Synods of Nice Constantinople and Ephesus are approved of therein but that of Chalcedon is left out and this Confession of Faith inserted We confess one only begotten Son of God and God made true Man our Lord Jesus Christ These words are taken out of the Chalcedon Creed See Evag. l. 2. c. 4. consubstantial with the Father according to the Divine Nature and the same consubstantial with us according to his Humanity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who came down and was begotten by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary and the Mother of God That he is One and not Two 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For we call both the Miracles and Sufferings which he endured of his own accord in the flesh the Miracles and Sufferings of One but for those who divide or confound them or introduce a phantom we by no means receive them for that true and sinless Incarnation from the Mother of God made no accession of another Son for the Trinity always remains the Trinity though God to wit the Word one of the Trinity was Incarnate Those who have followed this Edict because they have neither condemned the Eutychians nor others nor yet adhered to the Heads of any one Faction have been called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Doubting and
by wild Beasts than Men. A little after began the Egyptian Dynasties which were in number four the Theban Thinitican Memphitican and Tanitican Dynasties whose respective Metropolitan Cities were Thebes This and Memphis in the Higher Egypt and Tanis seated in that part of the Country called the Lower Egypt but the first that seems to have possest all Egypt was Menes the first King in each Dynasty He seems to have been the same with Cham Noah's Son Sir John Marsham has a Catalogue of his Successors Sec. 1. and onwards who is to be consulted with concerning the Antiquities of Egypt About these times Fohi seems to have flourished as first Emperor of China though their Calculation exceeds that of the Hebrews which we follow and doth better accord with the Greek of the Septuagint but wherein the error lies who can tell See Is Vossius de Aetate Mundi The Kingdom of Scicyone in the Peloponnesus is thought to have had its beginning not long after whereof Aegialeus was the first King who is placed by Chronologers about these times See Petavius Arts seemed to have flourished about the end of this Period and Architecture was now first known because certain Pyramids of a Stupendious bigness and height are thought to have been built at this time in Egypt but seeing the beginning of all Ancient History commences here we have commonly no more than the Names of Kings and Patriarchs and Fables beyond At this very time Idolatry seems to have sprung up in the World seeing before now all Mankind worshipped one only God And this was the Original thereof Men knew that there were certain separate Essences which were called Angels besides the Supream God whom the Almighty sent as his Legates or Embassadors and if I may say so as it were lesser Gods unto Men. These Mankind at first worshipped as Gods Embassadors as we see the Hebrews themselves held them in great Reverence But when they once fell into that Notion that the Supream God committed Empires Cities and Families to the care of these lesser ones they grew by degrees almost forgetful of the Supream Deity and shewed that Reverence to those lesser Gods that was due to him alone Then they fell into an opinion that the Souls of Excellent Men after their decease were admitted into the Order of those lesser Deities and hence it came to pass that Deceased Kings were worshipped as if they had been taken into the number of the Gods All which however did not hinder but that that Ancient and True Opinion still Survived amongst most Nations that there was a Supream God and that it was upon him alone that the rest of the Inferior Deities had their dependance Moreover because Angels sometimes delivered Oracles in Statues as John Spencer concerning Urim and Thummin prettily conjectures the Heathens erected Statues to their Gods And it should seem afterwards to have come to pass that when both the Worship and Manners of the Gentiles displeased the Angels of Light because they saw many put them up in the place of the Creator they forsook them and the Angels of Darkness succeeded in their places whence the Scripture says the Heathens worshipped Devils not that the Heathens did believe they adored Evil Spirits which we call Devils but because their Temples and Statues were only inhabited by Devils But the discussion of these things require a larger Volume The Calling of Abraham The Third EPOCH From Abraham's Calling to the Law given by Moses are 431 years which makes up The Third PERIOD The year of the World The year before Christ 2022. 1962. IDolatry being now grown prevalent in the World God was pleased to make choice of some Family from among the rest of Mankind wherein the Knowledge and Worship of one only Supream God might be kept up and therefore he called Abraham one of the Posterity of Sem out of Ur of the Chaldees and commanded him to go into the Land of Canaan where he made himself oftner and more clearly known unto him by the Ministry of Angels and especially gave him that Signal promise that it should some time come to pass that one of his Posterity should bring the Blessings of Heaven unto all Nations A little after the coming of Abraham into the Land of Canaan as there were several petty Kings both on this and the other side of the Euphrates there hapned to be a War between them as you have it in Gen. 14. where mention is made of Amraphael King of Sinaar or Babylon not as King of all Asia as is commonly thought the Kings of Babylon then were but as the Companion of Kedorlaomer King of Elam who was much more Potent as having certain Kings in the Land of Palaestine that were his Subjects And here is an Invincible Argument for the overthrow of that opinion concerning the Kingdom of Babylon that it extended over all Asia before Abraham's time under Ninus and Semiramis and Ninyas Semiramis Son seeing Amraphael was King of Babylon at this time and not Arius as they would have it who follow Ctesia or Ninyas the Son of Ninus as Vopiscus after Africanus is of opinion neither was the King of Babylon equal in power to the King of Elam There were several Kings in these times in the Land of Palaestine among whom Abimelec and Melchisedec are mentioned and who yet retained the knowledge of the True God The Scriptures also contain the History and Birth of Ismael Isaac Esau and Jacob which may be consulted for that end 2046. 1938. Abraham was 99 years Old when God gave him his Commandment about Circumcision and the same year were Sodom Gomorra Adma and Tseboim overthrown with Lightning setting fire to the Sulphurous Earth which thereupon sunk whereunto the River Jordan and other Rivulets flowing and mixing their Waters with the Sulphurous matter formed the Lake Asphaltites concerning which I have made a particular Dissertation elsewhere This Conflagration which Lot with his Wife and Daughters was flying from reach'd his Wife who out of Curiosity stopped or turned her face back and made her give up the Ghost with the fright of such a dreadful Spectacle for so are those words in Scripture to be understood 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and she was a Statue for ever that is she grew stiff and remained like a Statue in the same place which we have also shewed in another Dissertation 2122. 1857. In Isaac's Days Inachus founded the Kingdom of the Argives in the Peloponnesus and had Successors of which see Petavius Tanaquillus Faber a very Learned Man after he had observed in his Notes upon the Bibliotheca of Apollodorus That there was nothing in Greece older than the time of Inachus says that Inachus was of Eternal Original which the Name of it self sufficiently discovered for that Inachus was no other than Anach or Enach from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in old Greek which word as is manifest from the Writings of the Poets signified a God or Gods So far he We