PROPOSALS For Printing by Subscription Bibliotheca Patrum:  
OR, A New Ecclesiastical History. Containing an Account of the Authors of the several Books of the Old and New Testament; Of the Lives and Writings of the Primitive Fathers, and other Ecclesiastical Writers; An Abridgement of their Works, with a Catalogue, and their different Editions, and Censures upon them, determining which are Genuine, and which are Spurious; As also a Judgement upon their Style and Doctrine, and a Compendious History of the Councils. Written in French with great Integrity by the very Learned and Judicious LEWIS ELLIES DU PIN, Doctor of the Sorbon. Translated into English, and carefully Reviewed by Mr. WILLIAM WOTTON, B. D. who hath very much improved the Author, by making proper Remarks and Notes throughout the whole Work. The Two First Volumes now in the Press, containing the Authors that flourished in the four first Ages of the Church, of which see the particulars in the Table here annexed.  
THE Works of the Learned and Judicious L. Ellies du Pin, Doctor of the Sorbon, have met with that Universal Approbation in the World, that several Gentlemen have been desirous to have them put into English, for the Public Benefit.  
The Author is a Person of that Integrity and Judgement, and so far from suffering himself to be carried away by a Spirit of Bigotry, so peculiar to the Writers of that Communion, that no one, perhaps, has so freely laid open the Forgeries of their old Liturgies, Decretals, Spurious Works ascribed to the Fathers, etc. as himself. But what deserves a particular Commendation, he has in his Prolegomena generously and learnedly defended the Authority of the Holy Scriptures against all the Attempts of Spinosa, Hobbes, and Father Simon.  
The First and Second Volumes are now almost Printed; and the Translation has been Revised by Mr. William Wotton, B. D. who has made Remarks upon several passages, and many Additions, which are Printed in separate Paragraphs, not intermixing them with the Original.  
A Paper of this Nature will not admit a recital of all the advantageous Characters that have been given this Learned Author, by several Foreign Divines of the Reformed Religion; we shall therefore content ourselves with setting down some of many honourable Testimonies he has received from some of the most Eminent Members of our own Church.  
The Bishop of Worcester, in his Treatise entitled, The Doctrine of the Trinity and Transubstantiation compared, p. 33. speaking of the Liturgies of St. Peter, St. Paul, and St. Matthew, quoted by the Papist, the Protestant answers, Do you not know that these are rejected as supposititious by your own Writers? And a very late and Learned Author [Duke Pin in the Margin] hath given full and clear Evidences of it.— And a little after, He proves (speaking of Du Pin) St. Peter' s Liturgy to be later than the Sacramentary of St. Gregory, and so can prove nothing for the first 600 years; and the Aethhiopic Liturgy, or St. Matthews, he shows to be very late; that of St. James he thinks to have been some time before the Five General Councils, but by no means to have been St. James ' s.  
Dr. Cave, in his Prolegomena to the Historia Literaria, p. 1, 2. Ex eo tempore duo Scriptores Galli idem Argumentum ex parte tractarunt; viz. Lud. Ellies du Pin, Facultaris Sorbonicae Theologus, qui Auctorum Ecclesiasticorum novam Bibliothecam Gallico sermone, Edidit Paris. 1686. 80. Vir (quantum ex iis quae Latinè Edidit, perspicere licet. Gallica enim haud satis capio) Doctus & Candidus & Antiquitatis Ecclesiasticae cultor diligentissimus. Alter Casim. Oudin, etc.  
Mr. Fleetwood, in the Preface to the Life and Death of the Blessed Virgin, p. 16. We are more obliged to Monsieur du Pin, a late French Author, both for his Candour and good Nature, whose words I will set down, etc. Again, p. 22. But because the aforementioned Ellis du Pin, Doctor of the Sorbon, and at present in great Repute with the Church of France, hath dispatched this business effectually, etc. I shall take leave to transcribe a short Chapter of his, etc.— Again, p. 29. [speaking of Dionysius the Areopagite, that the Books which go under his Name are spurious] But du Pin (says he) has done the Work effectually, and therefore I will not grudge the pains of making an Abstract of his Judgement— [too long to insert.]  
Mr. Gee, in his Veteres Vindicati, p. 63. No body (I mean no Learned-Man) believes St. Peter' s Liturgy, etc. I could furnish you with more intrinsic Arguments against it, and against the rest which labour under the same or worse Absurdities, out of your own (to omit our) Authors; the Learned and Judicious du Pin hath gathered enough against it, etc.  
Many more such Testimonials might be collected out of the Writings of our Clergy: but these we hope are sufficient to convince the World of the Value of this Excellent Book, and of the Integrity of its Learned Author.  

PROPOSALS.  

I. THAT this Book shall be Printed in Folio, upon the same Paper, and with the same Character as these Proposals: The Two Volumes containing about One Hundred and Seventy Sheets.  
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IV. The Price to any other than a Subscriber shall be no less than Fourteen Shillings in Sheets; and there are so few Printed, that none will be left to be sold under hereafter.  
V. The First Volume is almost finished, and will be ready to be delivered by the 10th day of June next to such Gentlemen as desire it, paying Five Shillings as above; and the Second Volume at Michaelmas Term next.   
And in the mean time we shall prepare the Third Volume for the Press, it being already in hand, intending to Publish that by Christmas next; and shall proceed with all expedition with the rest.  
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And most other Booksellers both in London and the Country. As also,  
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Whereas there is lately Published the first Volume of this Book in Latin, and pretended to have been Printed at Paris, thereby to insinuate that it was translated by Monsieur du Pin himself: This therefore is to disabuse the World, and to assure them, That it was never Printed there, but at Amsterdam only, without the knowledge or consent of the Author. Their Performance may be guessed at, by their Integrity in this particular.  
☞ A Mathematical Dictionary; Or, General Idea of the Mathematics: Being lately Published in French by Monsieur Ozanam, Professor of that Science to the French King. The same is undertaken to be done in English by several Gentlemen Eminently Famous for their Skill therein, and capable not only of Translating it Properly, but also of Adding, Abridging, or Correcting, such Things as they shall find amiss. Illustrated with many Copper Cuts and Schemes, more, and better, than in the Original In Folio. Is now in ●he Press, and will be Published with all convenient speed; by Abel Swalle and T. Child.   


The CONTENTS of the First Volume.  

PREFACE.  
Of the Authors of the several Books of the Old Testament.  
Of the Canonical Books of the Old Testament; of Books Doubtful, Apocryphal, and Lost, that belonged to the Old Testament.  
The History of the Hebrew Text; of the Version of the Septuagint, and other Greek Versions of the Old Testament.  
Of some Authors, whose Works have a relation to the Old Testament, viz. Philo, Fl. Josephus, Justus, Aristeas, Aristobulus, Josephus Bengorion, Berosus, the false Dorotheus, Zoroaster, etc.  
Concerning the Authors of the Books of the New Testament.  
Of the Canon of the Books of the New Testament, and particularly of those Books that were formerly doubted of.  
Of the Letter falsely supposed to be sent by Jesus Christ to King Agbarus, and of that of Agbarus to Jesus Christ.  
Of some Letters falsely attributed to the Virgin Mary.  
Of the Counterfeit Gospels.  
Of the Counterfeit Acts of the Apostles, and of the false Revelations.  
Of the Epistle to the Laodiceans, and some others attributed to St. Paul.  
Of the Epistle of St. Barnabas.  
Of the Liturgies that are falsely attributed to the Apostles.  
Of the Apostles Creed.  
Of the Canons and Constitutions attributed to the Apostles.  
Of the several Books attributed to Prochorus, Linus, and Abdias; of the Acts of the Passion of St. Andrew.  
Of the Books of the Sibyls, Mercurius Trismegistus, and Hystaspes; of the Letters of Lentulus and Pilate concerning Jesus Christ; of the Epistles of Seneca to St. Paul; and of a Passage in the History of Josephus concerning Jesus Christ.  
Of the Life and Writings of Hermas.  
St. Clemens Romanus.  
St. Dionysius the Areopagite.  
St. Ignatius.  
St. Polycarp.  
Papias  
Quadratus and Aristides.  
Agrippa.  
Hegesippus.  
St. Justin the Martyr.  
Melito.  
Tatian.  
Athenagoras and Hermias.  
Theophilus' Bishop of Antioch.  
Apollinarius of Hierapolis.  
Dionysius of Corinth.  
Pinytus, Philippus, Modestus, Musanus, and Bardesanes.  
St. Irenaeus.  
Victor, Polycrates, Theophilus of Caesarea, and Bachillus of Corinth.  
Several Writers of whom nothing remains, and who were little known amongst the Ancients.  
Serapion of Antioch.  
Rhodon.  
Pantaenus.  
St. Clement of Alexandria.  
Miltiades; the two Apollonii; and the two Anonymous authors, who wrote against the Heresies of Montanus and Artemo.  
Tertullian.  
Caius.  
Hippolytus.  
Geminianus or Geminus.  
Alexander.  
Julius Africanus.  
Minutius Felix.  
Ammonius.  
Origen.  
Ambrose and Tryphon, Disciples of Origen.  
Beryllus.  
St. Cyprian.  
Pontius.  
Cornelius.  
Novatian.  
St. Martialis.  
Sixtus.  
Gregory Thaumaturgus.  
St. Denys of Alexandria.  
Theognostus.  
Athenogenes.  
Denys Bishop of Rome.  
Malchion.  
Archelaus.  
Anatolius.  
Victorinus.  
Pierius.  
Methodius.  
Pamphilus.  
Lucian.  
Phileas.  
Zeno of Verona.  
Arnobius.  
Lactantius.  
Commodianus, and Julius Firmicus Maternus.  
Of the Councils held in the three First Ages of the Church.  
Of the false Decretals attributed to the first Popes.  
Abridgement of the Doctrine, the Discipline, and the Morals of the three First Ages of the Church.  
A Chronological Table of the Authors of the Old Testament.  
A Chronological Table of the Authors of the New Testament.  
A Chronological Table of the Ecclesiastical Authors treated of in this Volume.  
A Table of the Books, Canonical, Apocryphal, and Lost, which belong to the Old Testament.  
A Table of the Books that belong to the New Testament.  
A Table of all the Works of the Authors treated of in this Volume, showing what are Genuine, what are Spurious, and what are Lost.  
A Table of the Works of the Authors disposed in the Order of Matters on which they treat.  
An Alphabetical Table of Author's Names.  
An Index of the Principal Matters.    

The CONTENTS of the Second Volume.  

Of the Authors that Flourished in the Fourth Century.  
EUsebius of Caesaria.  
Constantine, the first Christian Emperor.  
Juvencus.  
Rheticius.  
Eustathius, Bishop of Antioch.  
Peter of Alexandria.  
Alexander Bishop of Alexandria.  
St. Athanasius.  
St. James of Nisibis.  
Marcellus of Ancyra.  
Hosius.  
Julius.  
Asterius.  
Theodorus.  
Tryphyllius.  
Heliodorus.  
Donarus; and Vitellius and Macrobius, his Disciples.  
St. Anthony of Egypt.  
St. Pachomius.  
Oresiesis.  
Theodorus.  
The Macarii.  
Serapion Bishop of Thmuis.  
Eusebius Emisenus.  
Basil of Ancyra.  
Liberius.  
St. Hilary.  
Lucifer.  
Victorinus of Africa.  
St. Pacia●●●●  
Gregory of Baetia.  
Phebadius.  
Opratus.  
Acacius of Caesaria.  
Photinus.  
Aëtius and Eunomius.  
George of Laodicea.  
The Apollinarii.  
Titus' Bishop of Bostra.  
Didymus of Alexandria.  
Peter of Alexandria.  
Lucius.  
Aquilius Severus.  
Euzöius.  
St. cyril of Jerusalem.  
St. Ephrem Syrus, Deacon of Edessa.  
Pope Damasus.  
St. Basil the Great.  
St. Gregory Nazianzen.  
St. Gregory Nyssen.  
St. Cesarius.  
St. Amphilochius.  
Maximus.  
Eusebius of Verceilles.  
Meletius.  
Diodorus Bishop of Tarsus.  
Hilary the Deacon.  
Priscilian; and Matronianus, Tiberianus, and Dictinius, ●●● Disciples.  
Ithacius, or Idatius.  
Faustinus.  
Philastrius.  
Timothy of Alexandria.  
Nectarius.  
Gelasius of Cesaria.  
Siricius.  
Sabinus.  
Ambrose of Alexandria.  
Theotimus.  
Evagrius of Antioch.  
St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan.  
St. Epiphanius.  
Philo Carpathius.  
Q Julius Hilarion.   

Of the Councils held in the Fourth Century, etc.  
OF the pretended Council of Sinuessa.  
Of the Council of Cirtha.  
Of the Council of Alexandria, under Peter Bishop of that Church.  
Of the Council of 〈◊〉  
Of the pretended Council of Carthage.  
Of the Council of Rome.  
Of the Council of Arles.  
Of the Councils of Ancyra and Neo Caesarea.  
Of the first Council of Alexandria against Arius.  
Of the pretended Council of Bythinia for Arius.  
Of the second Council of Alexandria against Arius, held in the Presence of Hosius.  
Of the Council of Nice.  
Of the pretended Council of Antioch against E●stathius.  
Of the Synod of Caesarea.  
Of the pretended Council of Tyre against St. Athanasius.  
Of the Synod of Jerusalem.  
Of the Council of Constantinople against Marcellus of Ancyra.  
Of the Council of Constantinople against Paul Bishop of that City.  
Of the Council of Alexandria for St. Athanasius.  
Of the Council of Rome under Pope Julius for Athanasius.  
Of the Councils held at Antioch.  
Of the Council of Milan.  
Of the Council of Cologne against Euphratas.  
Of the Council of Sardica.  
Of the first Council of Sirmium.  
Of the second Council of Sirmium.  
Of the Council of Arles.  
Of the Council of Milan.  
Of the Council of Bezieres.  
Of the third Council of Sirmium.  
Of the Council of Antioch.  
Of the Council of A●●●●●.  
Of the fourth Council of Sirmium.  
Of the fifth Council of Sirmium.  
Of the Synod of Ariminum.  
Of the Council 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
Of the Council of Constantinople.  
Of the Synod of Meletene.  
Of the Synod of Antioch.  
Of the Council of Alexandria.  
Of the Council of Paris.  
Of the Council of Italy.  
Of the Council of the Egyptian Bishops held at Antioch.  
Of the Council of Antioch under Meletius.  
Of the Council of Lampsacus:  
Of the Council of Singidunum, composed of Arian Bishops.  
Of Synods held by the Semi-Arians.  
Of the Synod of Tyana.  
Of the Council of Gangra.  
Of the Council of Laodicea.  
Of the Council of Rome under Damasus.  
Of the Council of Rome under Ursicius.  
Of the Council of Valentia.  
Of the Council of Antioch for restoring Peace in that Church.  
Of the Councils of Constantinople  
Of the 2d Council of Constantinople.  
Of the 3d Council of Constantinople  
Of the Council of Aquileia.  
Of the Council of Saragossa.  
Of the Council of Sy●●a in Pamphilia.  
Of the Council of Bourdeaux.  
Of the Council of Capua.  
Of the Councils of Rome and Milan against Jovinianus.  
Of the Council of the Novatiana held at Sangara.  
Of the first Council of Carthage.  
Of the second Council of Carthage.  
Of the Councils of Carbasussa and Bagai●  
Of the Council of Hippo.  
Of the Council of Carthage in the Year 394.  
Of the Councils of Carthage in the Year 397.  
Of the Council of Carthage in the Year 398. called the IV.  
Of the Council of Carthage in the Year 399.  
Of the Council of Carthage in the Year 401, commonly called the V.  
Of the Council of Constantinople in the Year 394.  
Of the Council of Alexandria in the Year 399.  
Of the Council of Cyprus at the same time.  
Of the Council of Turin.  
Of the Council of Toledo.  
An Abridgement of the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church in the fourth Century.  
A Chronological Table of the Authors treated of in this Volume.  
A Chronological Table of the Councils held in the fourth Century.  
An Alphabetical Table of the Author's Names.  
An Alphabetical Table of the Councils.  
A Table of all the Works of the Ecclesiastical Authors of the fourth Century, showing which of them are Genuine, which Spurious, & which Lost.  
A Table of the Acts. Declarations of Faith, and Canons of the Councils held in the fourth Century.  
A Table of the Works of the Authors disposed according to the Order of Matters of which they treat.  
An Alphabetical Index of the Principal Matters.