N^ OF THE The Oil ogieal Seminary, PRINCETON, N. J. Case, 'OCrrr:S-rrr-..0-ivisiQP O .. j Shelf, ^Qp.^^^^^^ 1 n . . I Beokf_, y^ t j(!!i^ , i.nIo, ': . ..| A GENERAL ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY From the Nativity of our BLESSED SAVIOUR To the Firft Establishment of Chriftianity by Human Laws, Under the E M P E R O R CoNSTANTiNE thcGrcat. Containing the Sface of about 313 Tears ^ With fo much of the Jewish and Roman HISTORY as is Neceffary and Convenient to illuftrate the WORK. To which is added, A Large Chronological Ta b l e of all the Roman and Ecclefiaftical Affairs, included in the fame Period of Time. By LAURENCE^ EC HARD^ A. M. Prebendary of Lincoln^ and Chaplain to the Right Reverend William^ Lord Bifhop of that Diocefe. VOLUME the SECOND. The Second Edition. N^D N: Printed forjacsl^ Tcftfcr^, wkhm Grays-Im Gate next Grays-Inn Lane. MDCGX. ^"^jirt-c^J^ ^'c^^,^^^ ^ ^-Syes CHAP. Vllf^^@i.0^re Prom the total T)ejlm6iton ^/ Jerufalem, /^^-^v-vv^^*-- ;" the Beginning of the fecond General Terfe- cution of the Churchy, under the Emperor Domitian. Containing the Space of near zy Tears. T ■ ^^:i«»Mfe^^ | H E Jews v^cre now an accurfed aban- A. D. ±» m^^mm^^Ml don'd People, without Scepter, without 70. Sacrilice, v/ithout Altar, without E- Vefp, phod ; yet ftill they retafn'd their Cif- JL cumcilion, their Sabbathy ttieir Pafchal ^ Lamb, and fome other Ceremonies, as a Mark that God had left upon them, ias he once did upon C^/'w, that they might not be wholly exterminated. And thus they were diftinguilh'd, arid like- wife difpers'd through all Nations, that the whole World might be Witnelfes of their PuniOiment and Obftinacy ; and that they might be as Efau, Servants to the true Ifra/l the Chrijiians^ in bearing and tranfmitting the Holy Scri- ptures ; not for their own Advantage, but for a Teflimo- ny of the Truth, againfl the Pagans and Themfelves. And Mut 14. iiow the Chriftians began to lift up thefr Heads with Con- 3i--54- . lidencc, after their fevere Perfecutions, being afliir'd of an ^^''^^ '^* approaching Summer, and a certain Redemption ; and know- l«i5'<' 21 ing that the Kingdom of God was even at their Doors. 18-32. For God had now fent his Minifters with the Trumpet of his Gofpel, to gather together his Chofen People in the utmoft Parts of the World ; all which, as our Saviour told his Difciples, fliou'd be accomplifh'd before one Generati- on pafsM away. So that Chrijuanity now flouriOa'd, and VO L. 11. A 2 tti- -^^*t* --^. .'N.f^^^S.^^I 1 1 . ^=s^ 21. ^ 88' Cent. I, Ecclefiaftical Hiflory. Book II. increased more than ever ; and Churches were eftablifh'd, and Billiops were plac'd in all great Cities in the Roman Empire. In AnUoch^ Evodiw the Bifhop of that City dying, he was this Year fucceeded by the famous Ignatius call'd Theophonis^ a Difciple of St. John's ; yet firft ordain'd into this Church by St. Patcl^ as Evodim was by St. Peter^ ac- cording to the Author of the Apoftolick Conftitutions : Which is no ways contrary to Probability, lince many have obferv'd, that where St. Peur and St. Paul preachM, and founded a Church in the fame City ; one being an Apoftle of the Circumciiion, and the other of the Uncircumciiion, the Church was divided into two Ccefm-^ or AfTemblies, un- der their refpe£live Bifhops. In this City both the Apoftles laying the Foundation, each committed the Superllrudure to a di(lin£l: Succeffor, £x'o^/w; fucceeding St. Peter^ ^nd Ig- natius St Paul ; till Evodius dying, about the time of the Deflruftion of Jerufalem^ when the Dirtin6lion between the *JewiJh and Gentile Converts began to fail, there was a Coalition of both the Ccctus under the furviving Bifhop Ig- Katius. So D'lonyjius of Corinth feems to imply, was his Church founded ; and fo without doubt was the Church o£ Rome^ whtreLif-ws^ and after himC letus or AnacUtus i\x.c- ceeded St. P^/if/, ^nd^Cleme^^t St. Peter^ till at length both the Ccctus had their Union under Clement ; which naturally folves all the Difficulties of the firft Succeffion in many Churches. Titm having finifh'd his great Work, and v/inter'd at A. D. Ccvfarea^ Went to Berpus and Antioch^ and from thence ^Y. X.ViX\\!dh'XQ\i to Alexandria^ in order to go for Rome, In Vefp. ^^is Journey, he pafs'd by the Ruins of Jerufak-m^ upon i the Sight of which, he cou'd not but deplore the Lofs of 5T that noble City ; curling the Seditious, and lamenting that jafc^h, his Virtue fhou'd be made known by the Calamity of that mifcrable People. At Rome all Mens Mouths vrere fiU'd with the Praifes 01 Titus ^ who had Ihewn himfelf fo expert a Soldier and Commander ; and a Triumph was decreed by the Senate, both for him and his Father, who had fo bravely manag'd the Beginning of the Jevjijh War. T'ttus being rcturn'd to Rome^ was receiv'd with the univerfal Applaufes of the whole City, and about the end of the Month Aprll^ both the Father and the Son entered upon their Triumphs, which was as folemn and magnificent as B^ome ever fav^^ For the Spectacles there exhibited both for Number, Variety and Chai-gc, were admirable in all things which Human Invention couVI poflibly lupply ; and all Things that ever were efteem'd valuable, or beautiful among Perfons abounding in Wealth and Profperity^ were that Chap.VUI.VESPASIAN^^^'ictb Rom.Etnp. 389 that Day expos'd in the Triumph ; largely difplaying the wonderful Power, and Magnificence of the Romans. A- mong the rich and glorious Spoils, were expos'd incredi- ble Quantities of Gold taken out of the Temple ; after which was carry'd the Body of the Jevjljh Law, the laft, and not the leail: remarkable of all the Spoils. In this Tri- umph Simon was ignominioufly dragg'd along with a Rope about his Neck, and afterwards (lain. Titus had a Trium- phal-Arch ereded to his Honour, of extraordinary Beauty and Workmanfiiip, defcribing all his noble Exploits againft the Jews^ which to this Day continues almofi: intire, as a lafting Monument againfl: that impious and perverfe Nati- on, l/'efpafian likewife began a new Temple to Peace., to contain the Jewljh Spoils ; and now having quieted all Nations, as well as the Jews., he fhut up the Temple of Janus., in token of an univerfal Peace, it having ftood o- pen about five Years. And thus after the moll: dreadful Storm that ever hapned, and the moft fignal Vengeance, which was attended with Wars in every Nation, and an univerfal ConculTion of Nature, there fuccccded a great Calm throughout all the Parts of the World. After this happy Peace, Vefpafian proceeded to the Re- SHtt^ gulation of the numerous Abufes and Corruptions in the State, begun in the late Reigns and the Civil Confuhons ; . and what he undertook, he perform'd with great Wiidom and Rcfolution. He firil: reilrain'd the Luxury and Licen- tioufnefs of his Officers and Soldiers, not fparing thofe who had been Affiftants to him and Partners v/ith him \n his Vidories, not omitting any Thing that might reftore the ancient Difcipline. He took no lefs care in purging and reforming the two principal Orders among the Romans^ the Senators and Equites., of both which he took a itri6l and particular View ; and fearlefly turn'd out all fuch as he found unworthy of their Places and Dignities, fupplying their Places with the moft deferving Perfons he cou'd pro^ cure either in Italy., or the diftant Provinces. He likewife ftridly examined into all the Courts of Judicature, where he found the Number of ProcelTes, and Law-Suits fwell'd to fuch an unreafonable Bulk, that innumerable A6lions were left undetermined ; for the finifhing of which, he qualify'd many knowing Perfons, and made many excellent Laws to digeil and reduce fuch Matters into a far lefs com- pafs. To reform the Corruptions of Ufurers, and the Loofnefs of Youth, he ordain'd, That no Ufurer fliould recover any Mony of young Heirs, if it was lent to be jepaid with Advantage upon the Deceafe of their Fathers, A q Ar4 590 Cent. I. Ecclejiaflical Hijlory. Book II. And as he was fevere in punifhing Vice and Lewdnefs, fo he was no lefs remarkable for rewarding all Kinds of Me- rits; in which he extended his Liberality to Men of all Ranks, compleating the Eftates, and fetling Penfions upon many decay'd Perfons, when their Wants proceeded from no manifeil Crime of theirs. His Courtelie and Clemency appeared conitantly both in piiblick and private, fo that fcarce one innocent Perlbn was punifh'd throughout his Reign ; andfo contrary was his Temper to that of moft of his PredecelFors, that he cou'd not fo much as look upon the Sufferings of a Criminal, without iignifying his Compaflion by his Sighs and Tears. But tho' he was thus mild and humble, brave and generous, yet he did not preferve himfelf from the Scandal of Avarice and Rapacioufnefs, which was grounded upon his numerous and peculiar Impofitions, par- ticularly his Excife upon Urin; at which when his Son 7/- tns was offended, he took fo mc of the firfl: Mony that came from thence, and demanded if the Smell offended him ? And Jefiph, yet^ proceeded he, this comes all out of the Urin. In this Year he ordered Liberius Maximus and Bajfus to fell all the Lands in Judcea., and appropriated all to himfelf, leaving there only Soo Soldiers, and giving them a Place to inhabit caird Emmaus^ five or fix Miles from Jerufalem. He alfo impos'd a Tribute upon all the Jevjs in the Roman Empire, comm.anding every Perfon yearly to pay two Drachma's to the Capitol, as they had formerly done to the Temple at Jerufalem. And thus the miferable 'Jews^ who reje61:ed the MeJJiah.^ and wou'd ovfn no King but defar.^ now were conftrain'd to acknowledge the Idol qf 'Jupiter for- their God. !:<«*. At this time, the Church of God, tho' fiourilhing and ^ifh. £j.gg from Perfecution, was much difturb'd and infelled with jerom, feyej-^i Hcrefies, proceeding in a great meafure from a Mix- ture of Samaritanifm., Judaifm and Chrijiianity. For be- fides the immediate Followers of Simon Magus and the Gnojiicks.^ thofe of Menander^ Ebion and Cennthm^ began to ffiew themfelves, to the great Danger of the Chrifiian Faith. To give fome Account of each, i . M^nander was a Samaritan^ and like Simon a notorious Impoftor and Ma- gician, abounding with more monftrous Illuiions than he; declaring himfelf a Saviour, fent from above for the Rcr flauratiqn of Mankind, and teaching, that no Man cou'd otherwife overcome the Angels, the Makers of the World, u^lefs he was firft inftituted in the Magical Knowledge de.- liver'd by him, and initiated in his Baptiim : Of v^^hicTi Bap- tifm, thpfe who were, accounted worthy, he affirm'4 (hou'd b* Chap.VIII. VESPASIAN the id^ Rom.Emp. 391 be Partakers of a perpetual Immortality in this very Life, and continue always young and vigorous in this World. With thefe and other of his Mafter Simon's Opinions he fe- duc'd many in Antioch ; and tho' the Extravagancy of his Notions made them lefs infectious, yet they w^ere continu'd in the fecond Century, particularly by Bafilides and Satur- mnus. 2. Ebion^ fo call'd from his afFeded Poverty, and born in Cocaba a Village in Palejiine^ fpread his Hereiie in T'rachonitK^ and among the Chrifttans v^^ho had retired to IPella^ where he gain'd many Followers. Thefe deny'd the Divinity of our Saviour, acknowledged him an excellent Perfon, but believ'd that he was born of Jofeph and Mary. They enjoy n'd the Obfervation of the Law oi Mofes^^s ne- celTary to Salvation, retained Circumcifion, the Sabbath, and other Ceremonies ; but to fhew themfelves Chrifttans^ they kept the firft Day of the Week, in Commemoration of the Refurre6lion of Jefus. They receiv'd all the Wri- tings of the Old Teftament ; but for the New Teftament, they rejeded all but St. Matthevfs, Gofpel, or rather the Gofpel according to the Hebrews or Nazarens-^ and parti- cularly condemn'd St. Paid as an Apoftate, for proving the DilTolution of the Mofaick Law. 3. Cennthm fpread his Hereiie principally in Ephefus^ and Afia Minor^ which in fome Things was the fame with that of Ebion ; particular- ly in the Denial of the Divinity of our Saviour, in the ac- knowledgment only of St. NLdtthew\ Gofpel, and in af- firming the Obligation of the Mofaick Rites. He aflerted the Creation gf the World by Angels, as did the Gmfticks ; and to infinuate himfelf among the Vulgar, he boafted of ftrange Revelations and Illuminations. He alfo taught that as Jefus was but a meer Man, Chrift defcended upon him in the Likenefs of a Dove, and that then Jefus Chrifi re- vealed the Father, who before was unknown ; and that at lad Chrifi^ who was incapable of Sutfering, forfook Jefus^ and left him to fuffer Death. And laftly, that his Kingdom afterwards fliou'd be Terreftrial, in the City of Jevtifalem^ where Men fhou'd be blefs'd with all Kinds of carnal Plea- fures for a thoufand Years. About the latter End of this Year 71, or the Beginning of the next, according to Mr. Dodwell^ the Apoftle Jude wrote his Ihort Epiftle, which is plac'd the laft of thofe fe- vcn in the facred Canon, which are caird CathoUck. It has no particular Infcription as the other fix have, but it was probably intended for the JewifJj Converts, in their feveral Difperfions, as St. Peters Epillles were. ' In it he firft ^ lliew'd his Delign to write to them in general of the A 4 ' cummoa 3PZ Cent. I. BecleJiaflicalHiJlory. Book II. * common Salvation, and to confirm them in it ; but feeing ' the Dodrine of C^r//r attack 'd on every Side byHereticks, * he thought it more neceflary to exhort them to fland man- * fully upon the Defence of the Faith once deliver'd to the * Saints, and to oppofe thofe falfc Teachers who fo much ' laboured to corrupt it. The Hereticks meant in this Epi- * (tie were fome of the Gnofticks^ but efpecially the Ebo- * 92ites^ whofe Manners w^ere as corrupt as their Dodrine, ' alfo imagining Faith without Works fufficient for Salra- ' tion. So that hisSubjed is much the fame with St. Peter's * fecond Epiftle, whofe Senfe he moflly follows, and often * u^cs the very fame Expreffion ; but becaufe the Infe- * dion had fpread it felf farther, and gotten more Ground, * he oppos'd thefe Hereticks w^ith more Zeal, and Sharpnefs * than St. Peter. Yet with a Spirit of Charity he exhorted * the Chrijflians to labour by all gentle Methods to fave * them, and to take them out of the Fire, into which their *• own Folly had cafl: them. Several Peribns have ancient- ly doubted of the Authority of this EpiUle, becaufe it quotes the Apocryphal Book of Enoch.^ and alfo brings the Hiftory of the Archangel St. Michael difputing with the Devil concerning the Body of Mofes^ taken out of another Apo- cryphal Book, intituled, The A[cenfion of Mofes. But this does not diminiih the Reputation of this Epiftlc, nor add much to the Credit of thofe Apocryphal Books; iince they might contain fome Truths, as well as many Errors, which St. Ju^e^ infpir'd by God, knewwell how to dillinguifh. Eufebhis tells us, that in his Time mod Churches made Ufe of this Epiftle; and it is evident that before the End of the 4th Century, it was univerfally acknowledg'd for Canoni- cal Scripture, in the Council of Laodicea and Carthage^ and by the mod eminent Fathers. And Orige?t fays of it. That in a few Lines it contains many Words full of divine Pow- er and Grace. Jx . Tho' Titus had conquer'd Palejiine and the Jews by the taking of Jemfalern^ yet for a long Time after, two or three ilrong Caflles held out ; the lalt of which was the im.prcgnable Fortrefs Majfada., which was kept by Eleazar^ Grandfon of Judas GaliUus; w'ho finding that he cou'd fubfift no longer, pcrfuaded the Beficged, to the Number of 960, to kill themfelves with their Wives and Children, ha- ving firll burnt theCaftle and all that was valuable in it. This was done upon the 1 5'th Day of y^/r/V, and compleatly fi- nilhM all Wars and Rebellions in Jud.ea^ which began a- bout fix Years before. But many of the Robbers and>Af- faflj nates A.D. 72.. Vefp. _-?-_ 4. Ch^ip.VllLV ESP \SIAT>itbeio'^ Rom, Enjp. 393 faffinates that efcap'd from this Country, fled into Mgyp^ where perfuading the 'Jews in thofe Parts to revolt, great Pifturbances were rais'd, which ended with the Death and Ruin of thefe Incendiaries. And this fo far provok'd the Emperor, that he order'd Lttpis the Governor to demoli(h the Jews Temple near Mem-phis^ which Onias had built a- bove 300 Years before. Which Order was not executed in the Rigour ; but the Temple was rifled of ail its Gifts and Riches, fliut up, and all Perlbns forbidden to come at it, fo that there was not the leaft Footrtep of Religion left there. About the fame Time a certain Jew nam'd Jona- than^ a Weaver, efcaping to Cyrene^ rais'd a Tumult there ; and perfuading the Vulgar that he wou'd fhew them Signs and Wonders, he foon led 2000 into the Defarts. But Ca- tullns the Governor oi Lyhia^hy a Party of Horfe and Foot, in a fhort Time defeated them, and took Jonathan Prifo- ner ; who fallly accufing the moil wealthy of his Country- men, as Authors of this Rebellion, Catnlhis without any farther Enquiry, put 3000 Jews to Death at once. Belides thefe Miferies and Calamities, with which Jojephns con- cludes his famous Hiilory, Eufebius tells us, that f^efpq/ia-^i commanded all thote that were of the Family oi David t^ be diligently fought out, lelt any one of the Royal Race fhou'd be left remaining among the Jcwsy and that upon this, a moll fevere Periecution was again brought upon the Jews. All Things being quieted and fctled in Judj:a^ it is be- lieved that the Chr'tfttam at Pella at this Time return'd to Jerufalem^ and the neighbouring Parts, with their Bifhop Simeon ; where they buik fome few Houfes, and a little O- ratory upon Mount Sion^ in the Place of that Unj)er lioom^ where the Apoftlcs affembled after our Lord's Afcenfion. About the fame Time it is mofl: probable that the Apoftls Barnabas wrote his Epiftle to the Jewijh Converts ; an E- piftle of great Repute among the Ancients, and fomctimes r^ad in the Chriftian Churches, but never admitted into the Canon of the holy Scripture. x\ccording to the JewiJJj Way of Writing, the Frame and Contexture of it is intri- cate and oblcure to us, made up of uncooth Allegories, with fome forc'd and improbable Interpretations of Scrip- ture. ' Its main Defign is to prove, That the Law was a- *• bolifh'd by the Gofpel, that the legal Ceremonies were * then ufelefs and unprofitable, and that it was neceilary ' that Jefris Chriji fhou'd be incarnate and fuflcr Death. It ' has indeed no Infcription, but the Matter of it evidently * ihews, That it was written to the Jews., many of whom ' after 594 Cent. I. Ecclejiaftical Hijiory. Book II. * after they were become Cbr'iflians were ftill fond of the ' Law, and obterv'd its Ceremonies as necellary to Salva- ' tion. Ongtn^ for this Reafon, calls it a Catholick Epijile^ *" bccaufe it was not intended for a lingle Church or Peo- *■ pie, but an whole Nation. In the lafl: Part of it, he gave ' excellent Rules for Manners, deliring the Prayers of them * to whom he writ, calling them the Children of Love and *• Peace. The Agreement in the Subjed between this Epi- ftle and St. Paul's to the Hebrevjs^ has made Tertullian and fome others, to attribute this laft to Barnabas^ not having feen perhaps the Epiitle it felf that bears his Name. How long Barnabas liv'd after this, we have no Certainty ; it is generally faid that he dy'd a Martyr in his own Country Cypru<^ being (ton'd by the Jews at Salamis^ and bury'd within a Quarter of a Mile of the City. Both the Greek md Lati^ Church keep his Feail on Jufte ii. Some have attributed to him a Gofpel full of Fables, which is con- demn'd by Pope Gelafius. In this Year 72, ieveral Writers place the Death of the Apoftle JuHe^ who having propagated the Gofpel in Syria and Mejupatam'ia^ generally working as an Husbandman, at length traveird into Perjia ; Avhere after great Succefs in his Apoftolical Miniftry, he was at lalf for his free ando- pen reproving the fuperllitious Rites and Ufages q^ the Magi cruelly put to Death. Some fay he was (hot to Death with Arrows, and others that he dy'd in Peace at Berpus m Phx'/Acia. The ancient Martyrologies place his Feaft with St. Simon's^ on the 29th Day of June^ and the 28th of Odober^ and fome have attributed to him a falfe Gofpel con-dcmn'd by Pope Gclafius. After all, the Time and Man- ner of St. Jade's Death is very uncertain. Nor have we greater Certainty of the Death of the Apoflle Bartholomew^ which is by fome plac'd in the fame Year. This Apoftle alter he had preach'd with great Succefs in the hither Indiay or Arabia F.tiix^ into which he carry M St. Matthevfs Go- fpel, is faid to have removed into Lycaonia^ and laft of all to Albanople in the greater Arme?na or rather Albania^ a City upon the Cajpian Sea, and miferably over-grown with Idolatry : From which, while he fought to reclaim the People, he was by the Governor of the Place commanded to be crucify'd, which Punifliment hechearfully underwent, comforting and confirming the Gentile Converts to the laft Minute of his Life. Some add, that he was crucify'd with his Head downwards, others that he was flead, and his Skin firft taken off, a barbarous Punifliment much in Ufe in thefe Eaftern Go unities . Flis Fea(l, according to the anci- ent Chap.VIII. VESPASIAN the lo^^ Rom.Emp. 395 ent Martyrologies, is to be kept on tbe 24th Day (^iAuguJl^ but the Greeks obl'erve it on the nth o^'June, The Hereticks afterwards forg'd a fabulous Gofpel under his Name, as well as St. Jude's^ which has been fufficiently exploded. The following Year is faidto be fignaliz'd with the Death A. D, of the Apoftle 'Thomas ; but with as much Uncertainty as 73. any of the former. To this Apoftle, according to the Tra- W^ij^, dition of the Church in Origens Days, was allotted Par- jt, thia^ which then contain'd all Perfia ; and fome have given ■>'• us a Catalogue of the feveral People in that Kingdom, to whom Thomas preach'd, namely the Medes^ Perjians^ Car- man'tans^ Hyrcanians^ and Badriam^ belides the Magi^ to whom Pliny allots a diftind Region of Perjia^ and who liv'd in feveral other Places of the Eafl. St. Chryfojiom fays. That St. Thomas^ who at firft was the molt weak, and moft incredulous of all the Apoftlcs, became, through the Condefcenlion o^Jefus Chnjl to fatisfie his Scruples, the mofl: fervent, powerful and invincible of them all, and went through almofl all Parts of the World, and liv'd without Fear, in the midil of the moft barbarous Nations, perform.- ing his Duty without any Regard to his own Security or Life. And being encourag'd by a divine Vilion, he tra- velled forwards into the Indtes^ to Maliapur^ and the Coun- . try oi the Braehmans -^ where after many Travels and La- bours, he by his Miracles converted Sagamo the Prince of the Country, with many others. This much exafperated the Brachmans^ who fearing the Downtal of their Rites and Religion, refolv'd upon his Death ; and accordingly at a Tomb not far from the City, where the Apoftle often re- tired for his Devotions, while he was intent at Prayer, they firil: loaded him with Stones and Darts, 'till one of them coming nearer, ran him through with a Lance. His Feail, according to the Martyrologies, is to be obferv'd on the 2ift Day oi December. Several Books have been attributed to him, namely, his Ads compos'd by Lucius Carinus^ his Voyages, his Gofpel compos'd by the Manic hees., and Re- velation, all condcmn'd by Gelafius. From thefe firit Plan- tations of Chriftianity in the Eaftern Indies by this Apoftle, there is faid to have been a continu'd Series and Succeftlon of Chriftians in thofe Parts to this Day, and ftill call'd by the Name of St. Thorn as-Chriflians . But to return from thence to Rome^ in the fame Year 73, a Nobleman and Philofopher call'd Hehtdius Prifcus^ fuf- fer'd Death upon the Account of his infoient and feditious Pra6lices ; and the reft of his Se6l following his Steps, l^e- fpajiaft 59^ Cent. I. EccUfiaflkd Hiflory, Book. 11. fpafian thought fit to banlfh all the Philofophers out of the City, belides Mnfon'ms Kujm. Not long after, Demetrius the Cynick meeting the Emperor upon the Road, would fhew him no Refpe^t, but proceeded fo far as to rcvilfe him open- ly ; but he generoufly pafs'd it by, inflicting no other Pu- niihment upon him, than the bare fliling him by the Title A. D. of Dog^ as alluding to the Name of his Sed. In the fol- 74. ]owm^ Ye^v^ Fejpaft a?! join'd his Son 7/>//j with him in Vefp. the Quality of Cenlbr, and they two made the lalt publick jr_ Cenfus^ or Numbering of the Roman Citizens that was ever 1 ^ known ; in which l^liny obferves that feveral Perfons were found of an extraordinary Age, particularly of no, of 120, of 130, of 140, and two of 15^0 Years. Which may make us lefs wonder at the Age of many of the Ecclcliaflicks, and Saints of this Time ; particularly of St. John^ St. Igna- i'tus^ Simeon^ Qnadratus^ and others, who faw Je^us Chrifl in the Flefn, yet liv'd 'till the Reigns of 'Trajan and A- drian. In this Year it is fuppos'd that the Evangelift Luke dy'd, having after St. PauV^ Death preach'd the Gofpel with great Succefs in JEgypt and Lyhta^ according to fome, and alfo in DalmaUa^ Galatta^ Italy^ and Macedonia^ according to Others. As to his Death, fome fix it in one Place, and fome in another; and whether he dy'd a natural or violent Death, we have no certain Account : Yet mod do alTert his Martyrdom, and Nicepkorus ailiires us. That being in Greece^ a Party of Infidels made Head againlt him, drew him to Execution, and for want of a Crofs, hang'd him upon an Olive-Tree, in the 84th Year of his Age, accord- ing to St. Jcrom, And thus we have given as true an Ac- count as we can find, of the Aftions and Deaths of all the Apollles and Evangelifts, befides Joh?i and Simon. And as for the former, we fhall fpeak of him afterwards ; but for the latter, we are told by fome, that he went into lEgypt^ Cyrenc and Africa.^ and that after many Converts made there, he travell'd into Ly^ia and Mauritai^ia^ where he not on- ly difplay'd the Glbry of Jefus Chnfl by his Preaching, but by a great Number of Miracles. From thefe Countries he is faid to have ^owt into Britain., where having converted and baptized great Multitudes to the F^'*th, he was, after many other Perfecutions, crucify'd by the infidels, and bu- ry'd there. Others give a different Account of his Death, fo that we can have no Certainty either of the Time or the Manner of it. God has thought fit to conceal from us, die holy Anions and Lives of many of his choiccft Ser- vants, Chap.VIII. V E S P A S I A N //&^ i5th Rom. Emp, 397 vants, that we may be fatisfy'd in having our religious Deeds known to him alone, and not like the Scribes and Pharifees affed the Praife of Men. His Feaft is kept with St. Jude\ on OHober 28th, but the Greeks celebrate it on June loth. All Things now being in a quiet and peaceable Condi- ^ jy tion in the Roman Empire, Vefpafian in the 6th Year of his y^^ ' Reign confecratcd his famous Temple of Peace^ which he Vefp. began immediately after the Deftru6lion o^ Jerufalem. Ha- 6 ving beftow'd great Charges upon it, he alfo beautify'd it '7', < with divers Figures and carved Works, placing all the Ra- jofe$h, rities in it that in former Ages had been gather'd together from the utmofl: Parts of the Earth. And among thefe he P4fic'd all the golden VefTels, and other rich Utenfils which the Jeivs had in their Temple, exprefling a great Venera- tion fpr them ; but the Jewijh Law, and the Tapeftry or purpTe Veils of the San6tuary he commanded to be kept in the Palace. At this Time the Jews began in fome Mea- fure to recover their Misfortunes, tho' they loft all the Be- nefit of Jerufalem^ eredling a famous School at Jabneh near Joppa., where they ftillretain'd their great vS(2;^/Wr/w, which, as Dr. Ligbtfoot fays, they kept up in the fame Luftre and State, as it had been for many Years before the City's Ruin. It feems, Jochanan Vice-Pre(ident of the Sanhedrim^ efca- ping by a Stratagem fwmjerufalem m the Siege, afterwards obtain'd fo much Favour from the Emperor, that this Af- fembly might be fix'd at Jabneh^ where it had been for fome few Years before the Jezvip Wars. This being al- low'd^ he was made Prefident of the Sanhedrim^ and in this Year was fucceeded by Gamaliel II. the Aflembly being continu'd at this Place 'till the Reign of the Emperor A' drian. The three following Years afford us very few Materials A. D. proper for our Purpofe. In the fir ft, Eufebius in his Chro- ^6. nicon mentions the Deftrudlion of three Cities in the Ifle Vefp. of Cyprus by a great Earthquake ; of which Salamis and 7^ Paphos were two ; Cities fufficiently cnlightned by the Apo- tT ftles Paul and Barnabas^ if they had made the beft Ufe of their Do61:rine. In the fecond, PHny the Elder dedicated A. D, his great V/ork the Hiftory of Nature to the Emperor's 77. Son Tttus^ now the fixth Time Conful, near four Years Vefp, after he had celebrated the laft Ltiftrum or Census in Rome. %^ About the fame Time Eufeb'ms tells us that fo great a Pe- ?• ftilencc rag'd in Rome., that for many Days together, there dy'd looco in a Day; during which Plague, a Woman nam'd 593 Cent. I. Ecclejiajlical Hiftory. Book If. A. D. nam'd Alctpa was dehVer'd of an Elephant. The third we -1%^ jfind moll remarkable for the Impoftor Peregr'musy2i Cymck Vcfp. Philofopher, who pretended a great Veneration for the 9 Chrifl'ian Religion, into which he was baptizM ; and he lol made Profeffion of it with fuch a fecming Zeal, that he procured himfelf to be imprifon'd by the l^agan Power, in which he made a great Shew of Patience and Refignation. And being once a Perfon of conflderable Note, he by his Agents procur'd large Contributions from the Chrift'tans in. many Places ; after which he returned again to his Paga- nifm^ got free from his Imprifonment, and derided the Chrift'tans for having greatly enriched him at their Expen- ces. But long afterwards, being univerfally hated and re- jeded, he fell into great Poverty ; and at the Olympick Games, excited by a diabolical Vanity, he is faid to have leap'd alive into the Fire, like the Indian Brachmans. In all Probability this is the fame Perfon againft whom the Scoffer Lif.cian wrote with fo much Satyr, ^^^^ In the next Year 79, Fefpafian being now in his ninth Confulfhip, and his Son Titus in his feventh, and having perform'd many great and noble A6ls, to the happy Efta- blifhment of the Empire, was furpriz'd at Campania with fome light Motions of a Diftemper, when immediately he cry'd out, according to the Didates of his Pagan Princi- ples, Methinks I am going to be a God. His Indifpoiition caus'd him to remove to the City, from whence he retired to Cutylicc^ and an Eflate he had about Re ate ^ which he u- fually vifited every Summer. In which Place, notwith- llanding the Encreafe of his Dificmper, he ftill manag'd the Affairs of the Empire as formerly : But having corrupted his Entrails by the Ufe of cold Water, he was after a fhort Time fuddenly taken v/ith a Flux, which foon brought him to fuch Weaknefs, that he was ready to faint ; when of a ludden he cry'd out with his former Courage and Bravery, An Emperor ought to d^e ftanding on his Feet ; and fo raifing! himfelf up, he expir'd in the Hands of thofe who fupport- ed him. His Death was highly lamented, and his Memory fratefiilly preferv'd by all the great and wife Men of the Empire, being a Prince of extraordinary Management and Moderation, next to Julius Ccefar in War, and to Auguftus in Peace ; one whom Providence feem'd to have rais'd on purpofe for the Recovery and Reftauration of the Romans^ and the Ruin and Defolation of the Jews ; and one who a(£l:ed nothing againfl: the Chriftians^ but as they were acci^ dentally involved under the Notion of Jews. He was the fecond Chap. VIII. TITUS the iit^ Rom. Emp. 599 fecotid Roman Emperor that dy'd a natural Death, it being in the 69th Year of his Age, and on the 24th Day o^Jme., having reign'd ten Years wanting fix Days, reckoning from the firft ot July 69, when he was firft proclaimed Emperor at Alexandria. JJJ, Upon the Deceafe of Fefpafian^ his eldeft Son Tt- A. D. tus^ now near 39 Years of Age, fucceeded by general Con- 79- fent, as well as by his Father's Will, tho' not without Titus. fome Obftrudtions from his ambitious Brother Domitian, ■^'"'^'t", Tho' Titus had fervM in many Wars with great Honour, ^^'f, ^m, and difcharg'd many civil Oftices with no lefs Wifdom, pmu yet during his Father's Reign he had given too many ^^^^^ Occafions of Prejudice and Afperiion,^ upon the Account of his Severity, and voluptuous Life, his extravagant Pafli- on for Agrippa's Sifter Bernice^ and his promoting his Fa- ther's Impofitions and Extortions ; infomuch that he was generally look'd upon as a fecond Nero ; and fcarce any Man arriv'd at the Empire with a more fully'd Reputation, or a greater Repugnancy of the People. But in a Hiort Time thefe Accufations turn'd all to his Advantage, and his Virtues gain'd him a Reputation under the Burthen of an Empire, which he cou'd not obtain under the Freedom of a private Perfon ; in which he proceeded with fo much Prevalence upon the Hearts and AfFe6lions of all People, that he came to be generally ftil'd. The Love and Delight of Mankind. He began firft with the moderating his Palfions, and bridling his ftrong Inclinations ; particularly withdraw- ing himfclf from the Company of his beloved Queen Ber- nice^ and difcharging feveral Perfons who were formerly the chief Inftruments of his Plcafures, rightly judging them unbecoming the Dignity of his Office. In all which Mat- ters, he ftiew'd fuch a happy Mixture of firm Refolution, and eafie Modefty, that of him it was faid, That if ever am Man truly abjlavn d from what his own.. He was the Perfon, The Excellency of his Temper has been applauded by Wri- ters of all Ages, and St. Augufitne ftifd him by the Title of a mojl fweet Prince ; and when he enter'd upon the Of- fice of Pontifcx Maxtynus.^ he iblemnly protefted, That he did ft to keep his Hands pure and undefiPd from Blood. One of his principal Methods was never to fend away any Peti- tioner with an unpleafing Anfwer, declaring. That no Man ought to depart forrowfn I from the Prefence of a Prince ; and he was naturally fo defirous of doing Good, that one Night being told he had done nothing for any Perfon that Day, he thus readily exprcfs'd his Concern, My Friends^ I hc-xje 4CC Cent. I. , Ecclefiajlical Hijlory. Book II. loji a Day! A Sentcace worthy of an Emperor, ancj evea of a Chrtjlian. 'Titus in the Beginning proceeded with all Wifdorn and Diligence in the great Affairs of the Publick, particularly in the regulating and reforming of feveral Mifchiefs, which had not been perfedly removed in his Father's Reign ; a- mongd which iXyxloi Informers^ Promoters^ and Pettifoggers was very notorious, who had their Rife from the Licenti- oufncfs and Impunity of former Reigns, and daily encreaf-, ing in Corruptions, became the Authors and Fomenters of all Kinds of Heats and DifTentions. Of thefe this Empe- ror daily made publick Examples, condemning them to be fcourg'dand beaten with Clubs in the publick For/z»2, then to be dragged through the Theatre, and atlalt, part to be fold as 6layes, and part to be tranfported to uninhabited Iflands, till he had utterly exterminated thofe Pefts of the City. And to put a farther Stop than his Father had to the Corrupti- ons and Tedioulhefs of Law-Suits, he prohibited, among other Things, that the fame Caufe fliou'd be try'd by feve- ral Laws ; or that any one Ihou'd enquire into the Eftate of any deadPerfon, after a fet and precife Number of Years. Notwithllanding the Excellency and Mildnefs of the pre- fent Government, we are told that L/;??^j, St. P^^^r's, or per- haps St. Paul\ SuccefTor, fuffer'd Martyrdom this Year ii^ Rome ; tho' mod probably without the Emperor's Know- ledge. The Year of his Death is uncertain ; yet Eufebius poiitivclyv fixes it in the fecond of T/V///, or, as Mr. Dod- ■well regulates ir, the firil ; after he had been Bilhop of Rome^ or perhaps only of the Ge??tile Converts in Rome^ twelve Years ; to which others add 4 Months and 12 Days. He was fuccecdcd by Anacletus or Clctus^ who held the Biflio- f rick about twelve Years longer. S&n. In the l"h ort Reign of this Emperor, there hapncd fome Sutu Misfortunes and Calamities no lefs aftonilhing than deplo- rable. The fird was a dreadful and almoll incredible Irrup- tion of Mount Fefuvius in Camj^ama^ in the Beginning of Nu'i'cmbcr^ which was accompany'd with violent Earth- quakes, and wonderful Prodigies ; and after it had ruin'd many Cities nnd People with a vail Tra6l of Land, the Afhcs were carry'd through the Air into many diilant Na- tions, particularly Africk^ -^gjP '^^^ Syria^ being lb very great at Romc^ that the Sun was darkiied for many Days together. At this Mount, Pli^y the Eider, and famous na^ tural Hillorian, then Admiral of the Roman Navy at Mife- Ka^ bcino: deiirous to difcover the Reafon of this wonder- ful Chap. VIll TIT U S the i ith Rom. Emp. 4^1 ful Accident, by his too near approaching it, and his too great Curiofity, was fuffocated in the Smoak. Belides this terrible Calamity, in the following Year, there hapned ^i a -p) freat Fire in Kome^ which lafted three Days, and as many o Tights incelTantly, confuming the Capitol, the Temples of -pv-* Seraps^ IJis, and Neptune^ the Fantheo?i^ and the Library ^ * of Auguflns^ with many other noble Buildings ; God here- 7. by evidently fhewing his Difpleafure againft the Romans for their falfe Deities, the Caufe both of their Vices, and their voluntary Blindnefs againft the Light of the Gofpel. This was alfo fucceeded by a dangerous Peftilence, ^in v/hich there commonly dy'd ten thoufand every Day ; which Plague was fuppos'd to have been occafion'd by the Aflies. of Mount Vefuvius. In all thefe Miferies Titus behav'd himfelf not only with the Care and Regard of a Prince, but alfo with the Tendernefs and Compaffion of a Father, com- forting the Diftreired with his reviving Edi6ls, and affifting them as his own Revenues wou'd permit. Then to abate the Peflilence, and the Malignity of that Diftemper, there were no Methods either human or divine that he negled- ed, feeking all Sorts of fuperftitious Rites, and all Kinds of Sacrifices, which he thought might be of any imaginable Ufe ; in which he Ihew'd the Height of Paganifm. In this Year Titus conferM particular Honours upon the Jof'f^^^ celebrated Jofephus^ tho' his Countrymen were in very low Reputation with the Romans. His Father Vefpafian had ihewn great Refped to him, after the Jeunp Wars, lodg'd him in his own Houle, made him a free Citizen of Rome.^ alligned him a Penfion, gave him Lands in Jud^a., and a- bove all order'd him a publick Statue. Tttus increas'd thefe Favours, and in Honour to him, ordered his Hiftory of the Wars of the Jews now finilli'd, to be depofittd in the pub- lick Library, and to be view'd by all Men ; after it had been carefully examined by himfelf, King Agrippa^ and ma- ny others. The Writings of this Author have been highly valu'd by Jews^ Gentiles and Chriftians^ (lie wing a very fine and polite Pen ; and the Turn he gave to Things was extreamly agreeable. His Hiftory is enrich'd with admira- ble Defcriptions, moft eloquent Speeches, and molt fublime Thoughts ; his Narration is clear and juft ; and, as one obferves, he not only diverts his Readers, but alfo inclines them on which Side he pleafes, raifing and laying fuch Motions in them as he thinks fit. In (hort, his Genius and Accompliihments rendered him the moft illuftrious of his Countrymen ; fo that he may be faid to have been a finifh'd and compleat Hiftorian, and might well be ftil'd, as he is Vol. II. B by 402 Cent. I. EccleJiaJUcal Uijlory, Book II. by many, T'he Livy of the Greeks. As for his Hiftory of the H 'ars of the Jews^ which we are now fpeaking of, it is a continued Story from the Taking of Jerufalem by Antio- chus Eptphar.es^ down to the utter Ruin of it by Tttus^ be- ginning about 170 Years before our Saviour's Nativity, and reaching to the Year 72, confining in all of 242 Years, But the moft confiderable and valuable Part of it is that of the iix lafl: Years, where he defcribcs the laft Jewijh War, the De{lru6tion of Jerufalem^ and theMiferies of his Coun- trymen in the moll lively and afteding Mannet imaginable, in which alfo is fully fliewn the Completion of our blefTed Saviour's Prophefies. And whoever wou'd carefully com- pare what our Lord has faid concerning this War and Sacknge of Jerufalem^ with the Accounts thereof given by Jofcphiif^ might find fo jufi: a Correfpondency between the Prophecy, and the Completion, as wou'd make him imagine that the Hiilorian had taken his Meafures as n uch from our Lord's Predidions, as from the Event of Things : So that the Hillory is highly ufeful for the Con- vidion either of Jews or Pagans. Stict, In the following Year 81, the Emperor T'itm^ having been laluted Imperaior the fifteenth Time, liv'd not long to enjoy that Honour, being fuddenly fnatch'd away, to the exccedmg Detriment of the Empire, and to the unexprelTi- ble Grief of his Subje6ls. Not long before, at the finilh- ing of certain publick Solemnities, in which he wept plen- tifully before the People, he retir'd into the Territories of the Sahines^ fomewhat more melancholy than formerly, be- ing difcourag'd by fome unfortunate Omens. In his firft Stage he wasfurpriz'd with a violent Feaver, and being car- ry 'd afterwards in his Litter, and finding that he muft fub- niit to Death, he cou'd not refrain fhewing his great un- willingnefs to depart; and looking up to Heaven, with an uncommon Tendernefs complain'd. That he JhorCd he taken avjay fo ttndefervedly ; protelling. That hi the whole Cortrfe of his Life^ he did 'not know of any Aii'ion hut One that he ought to repent of^ which he did not mention. Shortly after he dy'd, in the fame Town where his Father dy'd, not without Sufpicion of Poifon from his Brother Dom'ttian. This was accompany'd with an univerfal Grief and Sadnefs throughout the City and Empire ; and all the Senators wirhr out any legal or regular Convocation, haded to the Senate lloufc, and fliutting the Doors for a Time, open'd them a^jjain, render'd more Thanks and Acknowledgments, hcap'd upon his Memory more Praifes and EncomimTTS, than ever J any Elnperor obtuin'd, either before pf ifysx his Death. He ^ Chap. VIII. DOMITI AN the xi'^ Rom-Emp. 405 4y'd in the Year 81, in the 13th Day o? Scptem.her^ under the Confulfhips of Sihanus and V^rus^ being in the 41ft Year of his Age, and having reign'd only two Years, twq Months and twenty Days. J y • The venerable Rerpe6l: all had for Titus and his A. Q. jFather, caus'd his Brother Domitian to fucceed him with- 81. put Oppofition, being now about thirty Years of Age. The Domi- Pride and Ambition of this Prince fhortly appeared m his tiax, declaring m open Senate, T'hat it was he who had give k the the ^.^th Empire both to his Father and Brother^ ar.d that they had, ^'.'^"^"'^ but reftor'^d it to him again. Yet the Beginning of his Reign J ^''^* was generally acceptable to the People, he fnewing fo lit- ^""' tic Signs of Cruelty and Bloodllied, that he once refolv'd by Edi6L to forbid the facrificing of Oxen, and alfo fo lit- tle of Avarice, that his chicfeft Advice to them about hirn was to abhor all Rapine and Sordidnefs. At fird indeed, his Vices and Enormities were happily temper-'d by many wife and good A61:ions ; in which Time he Ipent and em- ployed many of his Hours in divers Kinds of Exercifes and Diverlicns, particularly x\rchery and the like Games, in which he excell'd to Admiration. But we mufl: not omit one defpicable Recreation of his, of w^hich all Authors take Notice ; and that was his ufual Cuilom of retiring an Hour in a Day into his Chamber, in the Beginning of his Reign, w^hcre his fole Employment was catching of Flies, and pricking them through with a fliarp Bodkin : A great Ar- gument of a cruel, and melancholy Temper. And after- v/ards this Temper w^as more fliewn to Men than to Flies, and even to thofe of the highell: Rank and Quality ; and when the Vizor was taken off, he appeared in his proper Colours, lazy and unaclive, ill-natur'd and fufpicicus', grip- ing and voracious, and barbarous and infolent to theutmoft Degree. lu his Fiercenefs and Brutality he equall'd Ncro\ and in this particular exceeded him ; that Nero was fatif- fy'd w^ith comm.anding Execution to be done at a Diftance, whereas this Tyrant took Pleafure in beholding his Crucl-f tics exercis'd before his Eyes ; which at length prov'd his only Divcrfion ; for he did not, like Nero^ delight in the Charms of Mufick and fuch kind of Pleafures as wou'd naturally fweeten his morofe Humour. In his Cunning and Diliimulation he rcfemblcd Tiberius ; for he was not only fierce and im.placable, but alfo exceeding fuhtie an4 artificial in furprizing, never pronouncing^ any difnlal Sentence, but with an infinuating Preamble full of great Clemency and Mercy ; fp that wheiiibever he appear- d kind B a " ' ■■ ■ ami 404 Cent. I, Ecclefiajlical Hijlory. Book 11. and gentle in the Prologue, he certainly prov'd cruel and bloody in the Epilogue. A. D. About the latter End of the firft Year of this Emperor's 82. Reign, the ApolHe 'John^ being principally at EpheJHs^ and Dom. having eftabliOi'd many Churches in Ajia^ is faid to have J_^ conftituted his eminent Difciple Polycarp Bifliop of ^' Smyrna^ at this Time. But the Time of this ApolTle's coming into Afia is very uncertain, tho' moll probably it was about the Year 70 ; and his ufual Reiidence at Kphe- fm caus'd him to be call'd fometimes the Bifliop of the Ci- ty. But fince the Apoflolick Authority was fuperior to that Of Bifhops, he did not confine himfelf to the Church of Ephefus in particular, but took Care of all the Afian Churches ; nor did his Abode at Ephefus deprive T'imothy of his Epifcopal Authority, which St. ¥*aul had formerly conferred upon him. Many Churches of Note and Emi- nency were of his Foundation and Ere6rion, belides Smyr- na^ particularly Fergamus^ Thyattra^ Sardis^ Phtladelphia^ • and Laodicea^ which together with Ephefus^ make up the feven Churches which he mentions in his Revelations. A- pollonius^ who defended the Church in the Beginning of the third Age, afliires us that this Apoftle rais'd a Man from the Dead at Ephefus^ and depos'd a Prieft of Afia for writ- ing the fabulous Voyages of St. Paul and Thecla^ although he compos'd that Work in Honour of St. Paul., to whom he attributes them. St. Eptphanms affirms. That he was carry'd into Afia by the fpecial Condud of the Holy Spi- rit, to oppofe the Hereiies of the Ebtomtes and Cerinthians ; and Irenccus relates a Story, w^hich he had from his Difci- ple Polycarp.^ That going with fome Friends at Ephefus to a Bath, and finding Cerinthus the Arch-Heretick there before him, he with great Abhorrency turn'd back, crying out, Let us efcape immediately., lefi the Buildwg fall upon our Heads., fmce Cerinthus the Enemy of God and his Truth is in it : By this Example teaching us to avoid the Society of fuch as publickly abufe and corrupt the Truth. This is all that we find of this beloved Apollle, from his coming into Afia., to the fecond general Perfecution. r,,j„. In this Year 82, the Emperor Domitian taking upon him Suet. the Office of Cenfor., and the Reformation of Manners, perform'd many Things worthy of a better Man ; particu- larly, he fupprefs'd fuch Libels and defamatory Writings as any ways reflected upon Perfons of Quality of either Sex. He turn'd a Senator out of the Houfe, purely for his immoderate Delight in Buffbonry and Dancing ; judg- ^ ing thofe Qualities below the Dignity of that venerable . Order. Ch:ip.VVJ>D OMIT I AN tJbe 12^^ Rom. EmJ^. 405 Order. From fuch Women as were light and fcandalous in their Lives he took away the Privilege of Litters, and their Capacities of Legacies and Inheritance ; and (truck a Ro- man Knight out of the Lift of the Judges, for receiving his Wife after (he had been divorcM for fuch a Grime as Adul- tery. He was very diligent for a while in the Adminiltra- tion of Juftice, and many Times fit himfelf in an extraor- dinary Manner in the Courts of Judicature, fuperfeding the Partial Sentences of the Centumvrrl. He feverely pu- niOi'd fuch Judges and Counfellors as were corrupt, and aded by Bribes ; and in thefe Matters he was fo careful, as to encourage the Tribunes in Perfon to accufe a parti- cular JEdile of Extortion, and to demand Juflice againfc him in the Senate. He purfued his Father's and Brother's Deiigns as to the reforming of tedious Law-Suits, and in banifliing Delators and Promoters ; and difcharg'd fuch as had been fued in the Exchequer five Years before, and had their Suits dill depending, not allowing any new Procefs but within a Year's Space ; and with this particular Cauti- on, that if the Informer made not his Charge good, he ihou'd fuffer Banifliment. He likewife prohibited the Ca- ftration of Children; and of fuch as were already Eunuchs, and in the Polfe(rion of the Merchants, he moderated the Pri- ces, and reduc'd them to a more reafonable Rate. In all which Regulations he Hiew'd great Pride and Contempt of his Father's, and Brother's Management. Therefore in the next Year, becaulc the Whoredoms of the /^^/?^/ Virgins had A. D. been accidentally negleded by his Father and Brother, he 8^. made a llrid Enquiry after thofe Corruptions, and punifh'd Dom. them without Mercy. Such as were convicted but once, j. fufrer'd Death as other ordinary Malefa6lors ; but others v were bury'd alive, according to the ancient Cu(tom, and their afTociate Male-Criminals fcourg'd to Death. This Year a great Earthquake near the Hellefpont gave an oppor- tunity to the Magicians, Chaldeans and Jh'.gyptians^ to in- rich themfelves from the People's Bounty, under Pretence of offering Sacrifices to appeafe the Gods. And in the fame Year Domit'tan fhew'd fo great a Hatred to Philofo- phers, Mathematicians and Aftrologers, that he not only banifh'd them out o? Rome^ but likewife out of all Ital)\ perlecuting them with fuch Fury, that they were conftrain'd to fiy to many Nations. By Reafon of the Lofs of fo many Ecclefiaflical Re- A. D. cords, the following Year atfords us nothing but the bare 84. Mention of the Death of Anianus^ the fird Bifliop of Alex- Dom. A OU R GO D ; decreeing likewifc, that no Man fhou'd prclume to call him other- wife, either in Writing or Difcourfe. Fliny complains that the Way to the Capitol was crowded and incumber'd by the numerous Throngs tiiat went to offer to the Statue of this EmpCiOr ; facrificing Pieafts to Him, who continu- A. D. ally facrificM Men to himfelf. The next Year, having fi- 86. nilli'd the Capitol with great Magniilcence, he engrofs'd all Dom. the Plonour of the Foundation to himfelf, not permitting j_ any Name to be put m the Infcription but his own. iVf- ^'' ter which he inftituted certain Religious Solemnities, call'd Capitoiii^e-Ga/nex. to be for ever celebrated every fifth Year, after four Years Corripletion, according to the Man- / net of Olympiads. Yhefc Games were attended with all Kinds of Combats, Races, Excrcifes, Mulick, and Dan- cings, with the Concefts of both Sexes. Bdng inftituted in Honour of Jupiter^ the great Numbers of Paga^z-Fncd^ Attendance, fufficiently fnew'd it was in Oppofition to the true Religion ; and fliortly after, they proved fo contrary to the Purity of good Manners, that many of the wifer fort of the unconverted Romans wifh'd to fee thefe Games a- bolifhM, A. D. V . Tn the mean Time the Church of God flourifh'd and 87. increased in all Parts, tho' it was much infe61:ed with Here- Dom. fies, of which St. Paul^ i Cor. ii. 19. fpcaks as tho' there ^ was a Kind of a Neceffity to have them in the Church, to 7' iitt off, and dilliiiguiiti ih^ Orthodox and Faithful. Beiides the Ehionites and Cerinthians^ and others formerly menti- oned, about this Time there appeared another fort of Here- ticks caird the Nicclattans., particularly mention'd Rev. 1. If. and wtofe DudrineOMT Lord is with an Emphalis there laid to hate : a horrid brurifh Sed, generally fuppos'd to derive their Original from Nicolas., one of the ^tycw Deacons 'Mention'd in the 6th of the Ads^ whereof Clemens Alex- fMdrlnm Chap.VIIl DOMITIAN//j^ 12^^ Rom.Emp. 407 andrinus gives this probable Account. This Nicolas having a beautiful Wife, and being reprov'd by the Apoftles for being jealous of her, he to (hew how far he was from that, brought her forth, and gave any Perfon leave to marry her, affirming it was fuitable to that Saying, IVe ought to abufe the Flejh ; which Sentence was by feme afcrib'd to our Sa- viour, and alfo to the Apoftle Matthias^ who_ taught Men to light with the Flefli and abufe it. Thcfe Words -^nd^ A- (Slions of his being niifunderftood by his Difciples and Fol- lowers, and perverted to the worfl: Senfe imaginable, they began to let loofe the Reins, and hence-forward to give themfelves over to the greateil Impurities, and the molt fcandalous Liberties, throwing down all Inclofures, allow* ing of the moll pernicious Mixtures, and making Corporal Pleafure the ultimate End and Happinefs of Man. Yet Clemens fays that Nicolas^ their pretended Patron and 1^ oun- der, was a fober and temperate Man, never miking ufe of any but his own Wife, by whom he had one Son, and fc- vcral Daughters, who all liv'd in perpqfual Virginity. Bat thefe Hereticks, with many others, together with D'lotre^ % Jo^^y phcs^ who affedted a Supremacy in the Church, and reiilted '"* St. John's Preaching, were in no long Time fupprefb'd by ^ the great Care and Vigiiance of that holy Apolf le. In the Year 88, upon occaiion of i\\^ Cruelties of the A. D. Emperor, and fome Affronts receiv'd, Lucuis Antontus^ Go- S8. vernor of the Upper Germany^ lais'd a dangerous Rebel li- Dom. on in thofe Parts ; and being Commander of a numerous .L Army, ufurp'd the Title of Emperor. The Succefs of this jy^^^^ Infurre6tion remain'd long doubtfal, and became daily more formidable ;to Dom'ttia-a^ who had fo much loft the Lo\t of his People,; till at length \i\%G.t\\-eath of St. John the lajl fiirviving A- foJlle\ 'which concluded the firft Century., Containing the Term of about five Tears, The Se-cond General Persecutignv J B '^0»iftia}7^ Avho imitated the Vices and Cruelties ^ j^ i 9 of Nera^ did alfo imitate him in his Hatred to ^^^ ~M — ^ the Church of God; and to compleat all his Dom^ former Wickedncis, in the Beginning of this Year, rais'd 14. the fcco?7d General Perfeaftion of the Chr'tjiiaris. His Let- i j-.* tcrs and bloody Edids v/ere publiih'd through ail Parts of e^cI, the Empire, which caus'd thcBaniilimenr an^ Death of great -P-''- Numbers both in Rome^ and other places : But Mr. Dodwcll believes that this Perfecution went no flirther than BaniOi- mcnt ; to which Monf. Tiikynont and others have given a particular Anfwer. Several are of Opinion, that by Hermis's Book cali'd Paftor^God thought fit to forewarn the Church of this great Tribulation, that" the Chrtjiians might prepare themfelves for the Confli6t, and at length be purg'd from the Corruptions, that too many of them had contra6i:ed. Tliis Perfecution began in the fourteenth Year of this Emperor's ^ •Reign, thirty one Years after the fitft midcr AVo; in wliich ^ many eminent Chnjltans fufter'd : Particularly A^rn'ipa<^ \\\; Pergamus^ one of the feven Church';;^ of "Sv. Joh^s ErcvSti-| on; 412 Cent. I. Ecclejiajlical Hlflory. Book. II. on ; a Perfon to whom Jcfus Chrift was pleas'd to give the Title oPaFaa/jful Martyr^ Rev. 2. 13. and Dio^yjiih- the Jreofaghe^ St. Paulas Convert, and firlt Bilhop o^ Athens-, who fuftcr'd many Torments, as well as Death it felf. This' lalt was lucceeded by Fubliuf^ whom fome fuppofe to have been the Governor of Melita^ formerly converted by St. Paul. Dom'ttian was not fatisfy'd with dellroying the Heads of the Church, but proceeded to the Execution of his own Re- lations; particularly, his Couh'n-german FLivms Clemens^ in the very Year of his Confulfhip, whom he put to Death for embracing Chrtfl'tamty.^ and banilh'd this Conful's Wife Domitilla to the Ifland Pandataria^ and his Niece of the fame Name to Pontia. Which was fucceedcd by the Deaths and Banilliments of great Numbers of others in Rome. Nothing renderM this Perfecution fo memorable as the I famous Sufferings of the Apollle John., the Courage by ' which he conquer'd all the Power of his Perfecutors, (he w'd that the eternal U^ord.^ which he fo frequently preach'd to others, did really abide in him. It is faid, that the Calum- nies which were brought to Domltian againft him, as a Di- fturber of the Peace of the Empire, caus'd him to order the Proconllil of Afia to fend him bound to Home., where he treated him with all the Cruelty that Rage cou'd fuggcil ; for, according to Tertullian., he commanded him be cad into a Cauldron of boiling Oil, or rather Oil fet on Fire, and this, as others allure us, in the Prefence of all the Ro- man Senate. But Jefus Chrift^ who favour'd him above all the Apoftles, fo preferv'd him in this great Danger that he felt no Harm from it, but as if he had only been anointed, as the Athlet-ce were, according to St. "Jerorn., he came out more active and vigorous than before, thus giving him the Honour of Martyraom, without fuffering the Torments of it, or leaving it in the Pov/er of Man to take his Life. In this illuftrious Manner was accompliili'd what our Lord had foretold. That he Jkou^d drink of the Cttp of his Paljion. And from hence the Ancients give him theTitle of a Mar- tyr ; for tho' Martyrdom had no Power over him, yet he yielded his Body to all its Torments, and was willing to 6\t tor Chr'tjl\ and as the three Children caft into the fiery Furnace were Martyrs in their Intentions, tho' the Fire confum'd not their Bodies; fo was John in his Will, tho not in his Sufferings, God miraculoufly preferving him be- yond his Hopes, or Defires. The cruel Emperor being dif- appoiiited in his Intentions, hardncd himfelf againfl: the E- videncc of the Miracle, and without any farther Conlide- ration banifh'd him into the defolate Ille of Patmosj one ot the Chap. IX. D O M I T I A N //^o 2tii Rom, Emp. 41 3 the Sporades in the Mgcan Sea, there to be employ'd in dig- ging in the Mines, according to Vicior'mus^ the ufual La- bour of Pcrfons banilh'd thither for any Crime. In this difconfolate Place God fili'd his iVlind with fpiri- tual Comforts, and as if he had been tranllatcd from Earth to Heaven, open'd the Cabinet of Glory to him, giving him a clear Profpe6t of the future State of Chnjiiamty in thole excellent lieielations by feveral Vifions, which are tranf- mitred to us in the Book of that Name : Which was not the lealt Inthmcc of our Lord's Favour to this Apoltle. This Book was written, as it is moft generally believ'd, a- A. D. bout the Beginning of the Year 96; and .'n a Prophetical q5^ Stile, with peculiar, and uncommon Exprefllons. Tne firft Dom. Part conliits of Admonition and Iniirudtion, as well as i^. Prophetic, being direded to the fcven Cnurches in Afia^ which this Apoltle had principally founded, namely, Ephe- fusj Smyrna^ t^ergamus^ 'Thyatira^ Sardts^ Philadelpht<7^ and Laod'tcea: And the three firft Chapters coiifift, not only of an Epillle from St. Jolm^ but alfo of feven other Epiltles, one to each Church, dictated immediately, and fent by Chr'ifh himfelf ; wherein Advice is given to the Bifliops of thefe Places, who are there call'd AngeU^ concerning the State their Flocks. There are many clear Truths in this Book by which humble and plain Chrtftia-as may profit, without concerning themfelves with the Explanation of the Prophe- fies above their Capacities. As for thofe, we fnall not pre- fume to unfold them, but only obferve in gi-neral, That the Romamfis look upon all the Prophelies as already fultiird under the Pagan Emperors, inferring it from the tirfl Verfc of the Book, which fpeaks of 'Things which muft (hortlj come to pafs : But others interpret it, 'Things which'' mn ft jhorily begin to be fuijiWd. Some of the Ancients obferving the Myllerioufncfs and Obfcurity of this Book, have doubted whether it ought to be admitted into the Sacred Canon, be- caufe they were uncertain whether it was really the Apoltle John''s Writing or not; but this being made plainly to ap- pear by a Multitude ot Witneifes, Icarce any one lince the fourth Century has fcrupled to receive it as Scripture. This Apoftle in his Baniflimcnt, as Vidorinus obfervcs, feeing himfelf condemn'd to great Fains and Labour in an Age not able to undergo any Hardfliips, dcfpair'd of Life, and hopM to finilli all with Death; but God was pleas'd to un- Rev. icS^^ deceive him by revealing to him, That he mujl prophefie be- n. fore many People^ and Nations^ and Tongues^ and Kings ^ by which his Enlargement was forefhewn, which hapned fbortly after in the fucceeding Reign. Still 414 Cent. I. Ecclefiaftical WJiory, Book II. \ Still Domttian continued the Perfecution, and among the I Martyrs we find Mark^ the firfl: Billiop oi' Atina \\\ Latium^ who was llruck into the Head with 'rcntcr-hooks ; Felicu- Iky an iliullrious Wom^in in liome^ whole Body was thrown into a common Sewer ; and Nicodemns a Presbyter Suet, of the fame City, who was beaten to Death. And now the Errors and Enormities of the Emperor became more confpicuous than ever, for he grew every Day more lazy and una6live, more infolent aud revengeful, and like a thorough-pac'd Tyrant, infuppoutably jealous and fufpicious of all Perfons. The Predictions o^ the Cbalde am and other Aftrologers, concerning his Death, gave him violent Ap- prehenlions; which, together with his numerous Crimes, kept him in perpetual Difquiet and Anxiety; fo that at length he would admit of no Prifoner to be brought before him but with the moll: imaginable Care and Caution : And that his Domeftlcks might perceive how imfafe it was for a Man to attempt the J/ife of his Patron, upon any Pre- tence, he commanded Epcpbroditus to be executed, for be- ing fuppos'd to afllit Nero in his Death, tho' with his own Confent and Delire. Finally, his Jealoufies increased to that Degree, that; he caus'd his Gallery, in which he ufu- ally wal^'d, to be fet about with a certain Stone call'd Phe?2gites^ by the Brightnefs of v/hich he could difccrn what was done behind him by Reflexion, as in 2^ Glafs.. Kis Severity extended to the Ji-'ws., as well as Chrijliansy who were alfo profccuted as Atheills and Difowners of the Gods ; and he particularly commq.nded that the Pofterity of ^^^ry, David fliould be fought put and put to Death, like Herod exceedingly fearing the Coming of Chrift. Upon this Ac- count two Grand-Children of the Apoftle St. Jude^ and Kinfman oi our Lord, were brought before him. Having confefs'd themfelves of the Line of David^ he demanded what Poireliions they had ; and was anfwer'd, That they had hut 39 Acres of Land^ out of the Improvement of which they both paid him Tribute^ and maintained themfelves. with their own hard Labour^ as appear''d from the Roughnefs and Calloufaefs of their Hayids^ which they then fhew'd. He then enquir'd of them concerning the JMeJfiah^ and the State and Nature of his Kingdom, and when and where it Vv'ould commence. To which they rcply'd, That his King- dom was ?2(jt of this IV or Id ^ yior of the Dominions of it^ but Heavey/ly and /Ligetical^ which would fin aUs take place in the .^nd of the World^ when coming with great Glory ^ he would judge the Q^dck and .the Dead^ mm reward all Men according iQ their IVorki. 'iiiC Illiis was, t/iat looking upon the Mean- ^eannefs and Simplicity of the Men, as below his Jealou- ies and Fears, he difmifs'd them without any Severity a- ainft them ; and T'trtulltan adds, that he immediately ceasM he Perfecution againft the Church by his Edi6l, which hap- led juft before his Death. Thefe two were now look'd pon not only as Kinfmen, but as Martyrs of our Lord, nd were honour'd of all, being preferred to Places of Au- lority and Government in the Church ; and Julius Africa- us^ a famous Author of the third Century, fays tliat he ^arn'd feveral Things of ChriJVs Genealogy, of thofe who ;^ere then his Kindred, according to the Flefli, and who "om Nazareth and Cocab in Judcca^ were difpers'd in di- ers Parts of the World. Domitian now became daily tormented with terrible 0-^'<'*h lens and Portents, which fometimes drove him to De-'^''**' Dair ; but nothing more afteded him than the Anfwer of ifcleterion^ the Allrologer, and the ftrange Accident that nfu'd. For being accus'd to the Emperor of publifting 'redidions of his Death, and not denying the Charge, Do- titian ask'd him if he knew his Fortune, and what Death e himfelf fliould die; theAftroIoger reply'd, 'thathejhouid ? devoured by Dogs. To convince the World therefore, as he lought, of his Error, the Emperor caus'd him immediately to e flain, and commanded that he Hiould be burnt with all olTible Care; but while this was effeding, a furious Tem-^ e(t fuddenly arofe, blew down the funeral Pile, and threw ff the Body; upon which the Dogs caught it up, and de- our'd it before it was half confum'd by the Fire. This "'yrant's Ruin was much promoted by Means of the unjull >eath of his Coufin Clemens before mentioned, and haftncd y Reafcn of an accidental Difcovery of his ovv'n Wife )omitia., who fearching into his black Table Book, found er own jNTame there, with many of his principal Friends, articularly Ste-^havjus his Steward, Norbanus and Petromus^ ) whom (he (hew'd the Book, in Order to oblige them to ifpatch Domitian. Thefe and feveral others were foon erfuaded into a deep Confpiracy, which they form'd and arry'd on with the greateft Diligence and Secrecy ; among 'horn S^ephamts and Parthenius were Principals, the latter eing Dornitian's chief Chamberlain, and the former for fe- eral Days wearing a fhprt Dagger in his left Arm wrapt 1 Wool, pretending an accidental Hurt in that Place. ^or/ihia9s had particular Notice long before of the very ^Tight and the Hour of his Death, according to fbme; which 5 the Time approached, gave him the mou imaginable Uri- caliaefs. 41 6 Cent. I. Ecckfiaflical Hijlory. Book II. eafinefs. At that Night when his Fears were greateft, he enquiring of his Attendants what Hour it was, they falfly told him Midnight, which was an Hour later than that which he apprehended. At which, being tranfported, as if all Danger was pad, he hallned to his Bath' for the Refrefh- ment of his Body ; but Parthenius with great Earneflnefs led him another Way, pretending he had a Perfon in his Cham- ber, who had a Matter of the highefl: Importance to difco- ver to him, and which cou'd not fafely be deferr'd. In which Chamber he was met by Stephanus^ who under Pre- tence of difcovering a Confpiracy, prefented Dom'it'tan with a Lift of feveral Names, alluring him that Clemens was flill alive ; and while he was reading it, he fuddenly (truck his Dagger in his Groin. Whereupon the Emperor crying out, clos'd with him, and with great Violence threw him to the Ground before he cou'd give him another Wound ; but \vl thefe Struglings Parthemus^ Clodianus^ Maxtmus^ and Satu- r'tiis^ with other Confpirators, ran all furioufly upon him, and with many Wounds difpatch'd this impious Tyrant in fpite of all his Affurance and pretended Divinity. Thus did God's Vengeance meet with the fecond great Perfecutor of his Church, who after his Death was farther puniih'd by the Senate, who made a Decree, T'hat no more Honour pou'd he Jhewn at his Funeral^ than was allowed to a common Ruf- fian'^ that all his Inscriptions p oil d he totally raz'd'^ that his Name jhort'd be flruck out of the Regijlers of Fame^ and his Memory aboUp'^dfor ever. He dy'd in the Year 96, on 'the 1 8th Day of September.,undei: the Confulfhips of f^alens and Vetus.^ being in the 45'th Year of his Age, and having reign'd 15' Years and 5- Days. It is almoil incredible wliat fome Writers fay concerning Apollonius "Tyanceus.^ formerly men- tion'd, viz. that he being at Ephefus., at the fame Minute that Domitian was flain, fuddenly cry'd out before great Numbers, Courage.^ brave Stephanus ! Strike the "Tyrant home ; and that immediately after he faid, All is well., the Tyrant is dead., he is juft now flain. ^' ^' 11' The Roman Senate, after fome Moderation of their 96. Joy for Domitian s Death, by the Affiilance of Petronius N E R- Captain of the Pr.ttorian Guards, created Cocceius Nerva VA, Emperor, a Perfon of about 64 Years of Age, born in the *^' "hRc ^^^ ^^ Crete., and the firft Emperor who was neither of a '""^ Em- Ro'man., or Italian Family. He was a Man of fingular Ho- man fer»r. Hefty and Generofity, and of no Icfs Moderation and Cle- Dion, &c. mency ; and one of his firft A6ts was the refcinding the odious Chap. IX. N E R V A the xf" Rom. Emp. 41/ odious Decrees of his Pre^iecefTor, particularly recalling the difperfed Jews and Chrlflians^ who from Kome and othet Cities were banifh'd in the late Reign, not dilkirbing them in the Ufe of their Reh'gion. He ihcwM the likcKindnefs and Humanity to all others unjuftly banilh'd by DomiUan\^ likewife refloring all their Goods found about the Imperial Palace; and he not only fliew'd himfclf liberal to the Op- preiTed, but he alfo causM great Numbers of poor Mens Sons to be bred up at his own Charges, and gave certain Lands for the Recovery of decayed Gentlemen. As an In- ftance of his Clemency, he folemnly fwore, That no Sena- tor of B^omcjbould he put to Death by his Commmdment\ which he fo religioufly obferv'd, that when two of that Rank had confpired againll his Life, he us'd no Severity a-- gainft them; but to let them fee the was not ignorant of their Deiigns, he carry'd them with him to the publick The- atre, plac'd them on each Side of him, and prefenting them' v^'ith two Swords, he told them before all the People, T"/'^^ they' might experience the Goodness of the M'^eapons upon his Body. Which, with other uncommon Ads o^ Clemency,' gave Occafion to fome to murmur at the Lenity of his:* Government, openly chjclaring, l^hat it zuas a great Mif- fortune to live under thai Reign where all Things were for^ bidden^ but aworfe under that vjhere all Things were alloiv^d'. This was particularly made known to the Emperor, wha took Care accordingly ; and during his (hort Reign, made feveral good Laws and Ordinances ; among which one was, that he llriftly prohibited a common Abufe of that Age, the Caflration of Male Children ; a Cuftom w'^iizwDomittar^ had likewife condemn'd, but not wholly rcmov'd. He al- fo forbad that any Man fhould marry his Niece, which had been firfi: allow'd in the Reign o? Claudius-^ and fetled fe- veral other Matters that wanted Reformation. He wou'd not permit any Statues to be eroded m his Honour, and took down all thofeGold and Silver Statues of Domitian^Sy which theSenate had fpared,and converted them to betterUfes. His Symbol was, J good Mind pofj'ejjes a Kingdom ; and he had fo great a Confidence in his own Innocency, that he often dcclar'd. That tho'' he pouhl quit the Empire^ and n-^ turn to a private Life^ he had aBed nothing that cou^d caufe him to fear any Man, We are told by Philojlratus that this Emperor, in the Be- ' ginning of his Reign, fent to the ^2iVCiO\^sApoIiomusTyancvus^ to dclire him to come and alFift in his Council ; but was anfwer'd. That they two cou'd not meet before Death, How- Vol. 1L C ever 41 8 Cent. I. Ecckjiajlkal Hiftory. Book II. ever A^oUonlus wrote a Letter to him, full of wife Inflru- dlions, and the Arts of Government, which he fent by his Friend Darais^ with other verbal Dircdions ; and fhortly after dy'd, in the latter End of this Year 96, or the Begin- ning of the next, being about an hundred Years of Age. As to the feveral Miracles laid to have been wrought by this Philofopher and Magician, his familiar Converfe with Kings and Emperors, and the mighty Ellimation, even to , Adoration, which he is fuppos'd to have obtain'd, as we hinted before, there is the greatcft Uncertainty, and alfo Improbability : Therefore we have faid the lefs concerning them. A. D. li^ thefe Times of Indulgence and Toleration, the Church ^y, of God encrcas'd exceedingly, and the Chrtftians multiply- Nervx ii"!?? became very numerous in molt Parts of the Roman ^ I Empire. But notwithiianding the great Mildnefs of this X. Reign, it was not wholly without Martyrs, particularly the great Timothy Bifhop of Ephcfus^ who alter many Years Government of this Church, fuffer'd on the 22d or 24th of January. This we are alTur'd by the Roman Martyrology, ■ and his A6ls attributed to Polycrates in the fecond Century, (tho' written in the fifth or lixth) -^/hich inform us. That Diana^s Votaries celebrating a Feltival calfd Catagogion^ in . which they carryM about the Images of their Gods, and by Means of their Masks and Clubs committed a thoufand Infolencies and Outrages ; Timothy flood in the Streets to oppole and reprove this execrable Cuftom, which fo inrag'd the People, that falling upon him with Stones and Clubs, they left him for dead : But fome of the Chriftians finding him to breath, took him up, and lodg'd him without the Gate of the City, where in two Days he expired. Thus after infinite Labours and Difficulties, he dy'd in God's Caufc, being the fame Perfon whom St. John ftiles, The Angel of the Church of Ephefus, and one of that Note and Emi- nency, that many have given him the Title of an Apoftle. Shortly after his Death, 'the Apoftle ^0^;^, taking the Op- portunity of thofe ealie Times, being brought back from Patmos., return'd to his mofl: intimate Friends at Ephefus. , Finding Timothy dead, the Bifhops of his Province defir'd • him to take the Care of the Church upon him, which he accepted, and govern'd it 'till the Reign of Trajan. He was 90 Years of Age, according to E-piphanius., when he took this Care upon him; and notwithiianding his great ? Age, he went many Journies into the neighbouring Pro- . vinccs to ordain Bifliops, and fettle and confirnx Churches, . as Chap. rx. NE R V A the if' Rom. Emp, 419 as Occa/ion requir'd, in this Manner governing all the Churches of the LefFer /ifia. This Apoille having again undertaken the Government of the Church, vv^rote three feveral Epiltles, and as it is generally bcliev'd, near the fame Time; tho' as to that we cjinnot be very pohtive. The firil of them is call'd Ca- /^oZ/iT/^, calculated as it were for all Times and Places, 'con- ' taining mod excellent Rules for the Condu6l of the Chri- ^ Jit an Life, prefling to Love and Cnarity, to Hoh'ncfs and * Purity of Manners, and not to reft in a naked and empty ' Profeflion of Religion, particularly not to be led away ' with the crafty Iiilinuations of Seducers and falfe Teachers, ' antidotingMenagaii,ifttheG>2o/J/V;^, and other heretical Prin- ' ciplcs and Pradices, to whom it is not to be doubted,, but ' that the Apoflle had a more particular Refpe6l in this E- ' pilHe. According to his ufual Modefty, he conceal'd his Name ; yet this Epillle, as Eufehius tells us, was univerfally received and never qucltion'd by any ; and was anciently, as appears from St. Auftin^ infcrib'd to the Parth'ians^ tho' for what Reafon we arc to learn, unlefs becaufe he himfelf had formerly preach'd in thofe Parts of the World. It is look'd upon to be very like his Gofpel, both as to the Matter and the Stile. His other two Epiftles are very ftort; and fome have doubted whether they are canonical, attributing them to another 7^/^^; and this Difpute continued 'till the End of the fourth Century. But fince then, both Fathers andCoun^ oils have unanlmouily agreed to receive them as the Wri- tings of this Apoftle, bpcaufe they breath out the fame Spirit of Charity, and Zeal againft Sin, as St. John's other Writings do. The firft of the two is dire6i:ed to a ChriftiAn Lady, which fome think is nam'd Eleda ; wherein he com- mended her and her Childrens Pieties, ^ encouraging them ' to Charity, exhorting them to Perfeverance in good Works, ' and perfuading them to (hew a great Abhorrence of falfe ' Teachers and Deceivers, without fo much as being hofpi- ' table to them or faluting them. Adding, that he was fo ' brief in his Inftrudions, becaufe he delign'd to fee her ' fhortly. His laft Epirtle is direded to Gains or Ca'tus^ which fome think was one of St. PauW Difciples ; which, if true, it is more likely to be Gains of Derbe than of Co- r'tnth. ' In it he commended his Hofpitality to the Faith- ' ful, exhorting him to exercife it chearfully to thofe v^.o ' are employ'd in the Church's Service. He condemn'd the Ambition of Diotrephes^ threatning, when he came, to ' punifh his abuhVe Tongue feverely ; and highly approv'd [ of the Virtue of Demetrius^ for which he was houour'd C 2 of 420 Cent. I. EcclefiaJIical Hijlory. Book IL * of all men. Johfi took not upon him the Title of Apo- Ale in thele two laft Epiilles, becaufe they were written to private Friends, but call'd himfelf an EUer^ proba.^ly from his great Age, w^hich perhaps was not the Title he ufually gave himfelf. St. Jerom fpcaking of St. John's^ and the other general Epiftles, gives this Uharader of them, That they are long and ftort, iTiort in Words, long in Senfe and Myilerics, which are fo many and great, that {q.vv Per- fons but are dazled by the View and Contemplation of them. Belides thefe Epiilles, the Apoftle undertook a greater Work, in the fame Year 97, according to the beft Chrono- ' logcrs ; and this was his Goipel, which many believe was the laft of his Writings, and of all the Holy Scriptures. It was composM at the Requcft of feveral of his Difciples, almoft all the Bifliops of Afia^ and all the Faithful of the' neighbouring Provinces, who unanimouily join'd in a Peti- tion to him, to give an authentick Teltimony to the Truth. His Modelly and a venerable Refped to thofe profound; Truths he was urgM to treat of, made him backward in undertaking the Task ; but the Importunity of the Afian Churches, who had feverally fent their Deputies, and the fecret Influence of the Holy Ghoft oblig'd him to venture, upon the Work. He wou'd not begin it till they had ap- pointed a publick Fall and Prayers, to implore the Affi- ilance of Cod ; and at the End of a profound Vilion and Revelation, being fill' d with the Spirit, he broke out into thofe Words, In the heginntng was the 14 ord^ and the Word- nvas w'lih God^ and the Word was God. As the other three Evangelifts had Oiew^n the Humanity o^Jefus Chrift.^ as he. was King, Prophet, and Priefl:, fo this foar'd above them, and m.aniiefted his Divinity. The Ancients affign two Rea- fons efpecially for the writing of this Gofpel : The lirft, that he might confound the early Herehes of thofe Times, efpecially of the hbiomtes and Cermthians^ and the reft of that Party, who began openly to deny Chnfi's Divinity, and his Exillence berbre his Incarnation ; which Reafon is- affirm'd by Irenccus^ Clemens Aiexandrmus.^ Viclorinus^ St. ^erorn^ hpiphmius., and many others. The other Reafon was, that he might fupply thofe tallages of" the Evangelical Hiftoiy, which the reit of the facrcd Writers had omitted ; v/b.ich is alTerted by Eujebius and St. Jerom. Collc61:ing therefore the other Evangelifts, and viewing them caretully, he firft let his Seal and ratify'd theTrutn of them, and then added his own Gofpel to the reft, efpecially inljfting upon the Chap. IX. li'flKY ^ the 1'^^^ Rom. Emp. 421 the A6Hons of our Saviour from his Temptation in the Wildcniefs, to the Imprifonment oijohn Baptlft^ wherein the others were moll defcdtive, Icarce giving any Account of his tirli Year's Minidry. And as the Hiltorical Part be- gins afcer our Saviour's Temptation, fo the whole takes in a lefsCompafs of Time than the leallof the other Three, St. Mark ; and tho' it appears to have been written to fup- p]y the Defeds and OmilTions of the reil, recording our Saviour's Difcourfes, more than his Miracles, yet flill the Order of Time is more carefully oblerv'd, and the four Vajfovers exa61:ly diilinguifh'd, of which we have exprefs Intimation but of one in the other Evangel'fls. The Sub- je61: of his Writing is very fublime and myfterious, mani- felling Chrijrs Eternity, creating of the World, ksfc. upon which Account Theodoret lliles his Gofpel^ a Theology which human Underftandings can never fully penetrate. Thence by the Ancients he is compafd to an Eagle, foar- ing aloft within the Clouds, wnere the weak Eye of Man. cou'd not follow him; hence he is peculiarly honoar'dv/ith the Title of The Dtvine^ as if it were due to none but him, at lead were due to him in a more eminent and extraordi- nary Manner. Nay the very Gentile Philofophers cou'd not but admire his Writings ; and a certain Platonifi faid, ^ That the firji Sentence of hts Gofpel ought to be written in \ Letters of GoU^ and plac'd in the Front of all Churches. A- nother of them, nam'd Amcdiai^ cites this PaiFage as an ad- mirable Piece of Philofophy, equal to Plato's moil divine Notions ; and feveral of the mod approved Pnilofophers have admir'd it, and inferted it in their Works. This Gos- pel was always receiv'd by the Church as Canonical, and thofe who rejetled it treated as Hereticks, under the Name of A logi., or Enemies to the l^Vord. It was written iiiGreek by St. John himfelf, and fome fay the Original Manufcript was at Ephefiis in the 7th Century ; but in the fourth, it was tran dated into Hebrew., and kept by the Jews m their Library at Tiberias. Dionyfius Alexandrinus fays concerning the Stile, That it was written according to the dri6i:ed Rules of the Greek Tongue, with Elegance of Words, Reafon- ings and Condrudion ; having nothing in it barbirous or improper, flat or vulgar, tho' written with the greatcd Sim- plicity ; fo that God gave him not only Knowledge of the Myderies he relates, but Abilities to exprefs them fairly and fully. About the Time of the writing this Gofpel, dy'd Avili- -^V^** »/, the fecond Bidiop of Alexandria after St. Mark^ having C 3 ^ happily 42 3 Cent. I. BccleJiaflicalHiftory. Book II. happily govern'd that Church about thirteen Years. He was fucccedcd by Cerdo^ who is fuppos'd to have been one of the three firlt Presbyters ordain'd by St. Mark : He held the Dignity about eleven Years, in w^hofe Time the Numbers of the C/:7r;y?/^;?j- exceedingly encreasM m /Egyp^ Thebais^ and Lybia, In this lame Year 97, Monf. TtUemont^ contra^ ry to the Opinion of Mr. Dodwell and fome others, has ( plac'd the Writings of St. Clement's Epillle to the Corin^ thtans^ and not without good Reafons and Conjedures ; but having already taken Notice of it in the Year 65, we fhall not contend about a Thing of fo little Certainty, and which is fo very hard to diicover. T>'m, Towards the latter End of this Year, the Emperor Ner- va^ finding his Soldiers mutinous upon the Account of Domitian's Murther, and himlelf declining in Years and Infirmities, refolv'd to adopt fom^e worthy Perfon, who fhouM be able both to fupport him, and govern after his- Deceafe. Tho' he had many coniiderable Friends and Re- lations, "vyho hop'd for this high Dignity, yet likea julland generous Prince, he fought only the publick Good, and w^ifely made Choice of Uip'tus Trajanus^ an utter Stranger to his Family, then Governor ofthe Lower G^r/?^^^;^), and the greateft and moll deferving Perfon of that Age, Flaving lolemnly perform'd this about the 28th of Odooer^ he fent AmbafTfidors to him at Colngn with the Eniigns and Arms of the Empire ; from which Time the. Soldiers remain'd in aperfe6l Quietnefs and Obedience. But he liv'd not long to enjoy the Benefit of this happy Choice ; for in the be- ginning of the following Year, near three Months after, he was feiz'd with a violent Paffion againft a Senator call'd Reguhi:^ and by firaining his Voice, was put into fuch Dif- order, that by Reafon of the Feeblenefs of his ^ody, and the Lownefs of his Spirits, he fell into a Fever, and fliort- iy after dy'd. This hapned in the Year 98, on the 21ft or 27th Day of January^ he being near 66 Years of Age ; af- ter a fhort Reign of one Year, four Months, and about eight or nine Days. He was deify 'd by the Senate, accord- ing to the ancient Cuftom, and his Body inter'd in the Se- .^ puichre of ////?■///?// J". A. D. ^ ^ ^ ^ 111* Upon the Death of Nerva^ Trajan was joyfully Tra- recciv'd at Rome by the Senate and People, and obey'd as JAN, Emperor. He was a Spamard by Birth, and about 42 Years t/tyJTr^'- of Age, of a llrong Body, and vigorous Mind, happily man Em~ temper'd with the enlivening Warmth of Youth, and the fircr. ' ■ ^2j.y Chap. IX. TRAJAN the 14.^^ Rom.Emp. 423 wary Experience of old Age ; fo that he was hi all Re- DUn.Scc fpeds prepar'd for the grearcfl Attempts, and the noblelt Enterprizes. In the Beginning of his Reign, he was bleft with the Happinefs of having the grcatelt Mafter of his Age, that admirable Philofopher and Biographer Plutarch^ by whole wife Inilrudions, added to his own Abilities, he purfu'd his Minilbation of the Government with that Mo- deration and Juflice, and that Wifdom and Greatnefs, as rais'd both the Love and Admiration of all Men. He be- gan with a Reformation of feveral Laws, and took care to advance the mod worthy and virtuous Men to the high- eft Pofts, reclaiming fuch as were othcrwife with Gentlc- nefs and Clemency. At his firll Entrance into the Senate he folemnly fwore. That no good Man by his Command pou'dfuffer Death or Difgracc ; and foon after fhe v/'d great Liberality to worthy Men, elpecially relieving the Poor and Indigent, in which he both imitated and ^ exceli'd his Predecellor Nerva; which he eminently fhew'd by his edu eating great Numbei's of poor Mens Children in liome^ and in all Italy. He a6led all Things with a remarkable Mixture of Moderation and Munificence, treated all Men with Courtefie and Atfability, without Difguife or Envy, and entertain'd Perfons of Merit with a molt open Familia- rity, tho' of mean Rank, fl-equcntly paying Viiits to them, and admitting them into his private Convcrfation : For which be- ing blam'd for too great Condefcention, he reply'd, "That he treated his Subjects with the fame Ufage as he himjelf wou d dejire of his Prince.^ were he a private Perfon. Then he had fo great an Allurance of his own Innocence and Integrity, that in giving his Sword to Sabiirinns^ according to Cu- ftom, when he made him Commander of his Guards, hepro- nounc'd thefe Words, 'J'ake this Sword^ and if I govern like a juft Prince^ employ it in my Service ; but if I abufe my Ati^ thority^ draw it againft me. In lliort, he was endu'd with all the Excellencies and Qualifications of a mighty Empe- ror, and with fo great a Mcafure of the nobleit Gifts that Aur. Vidor. tells us, he feem'd to enjoy a tranfcendent Temperature of all Virtues. His Virtues were all human, and he met with all human Rewards, both in the Profpe- rity of his Life, and his Fame after Death ; it being a Gu- ftom in fucceeding Reigns, when the Romans pour'd out their Blcflings upon their new chofen Emperors, they wilVd them The Fortune of Auguftus, and the Goodnefs 0/ Trajan. Yet he muft be acknowledged to have been exorbitant in his Ambition, the prevailing PalTion of his Relidon, and that Age ; and not free from thofe two Vices of Luxury and Wo- C 4 men; 424 Cent. I. EccleJitiJIi^l Htjlory. Book II. men ; tho' in the former he never fhew'd any Diforder or Extravagance, nor in the latter usM any Violence or Com- puHion. But none of the leafl: remarkable Qualities of this Empe- ror was his Superftition and his Zeal for Paganifm^ the e- flablilh'd Religion of the Empire ; for w^hich he is high- ly applauded' by Pl'my^ who fays, That he gloried in being the moll religious of all Princes. This falfe Religion he embraced afterwards prov'd very incommodious to the true one ; and the famous St. Clement of Rome found the Ef- fe6ls of it in the firll Year of his Reign, according to Me- taphrajies^ who aiTures us, That St. Clement having con- verted a noble Lady calPd Theodora^ and many others in Rome^ the Emperor banilh'd him, andcondemn'd him to dig m the Mines in the 'Taurlca CherJonefii<^ where in the midlt of his great Affli6lions he made many Converts, and fpread Chrifltan'ity farther than ever. But having no better Autho- rity than Metaphrfijies^ we fhall neither inlill upon the Truth of the Fa61:, nor enlarge upon the Story as we might have done. A. D. In the following Year the Emperor was made Pontifex 99. Maximiis^ an Office highly agreeable to his Temper, and Traj.2. vigoroufly proceeded in a farther Reformation of the Laws, and all Kinds of Inconveniencies : Among the reft he ut- terly exterminated thofe infufferable Vermin the Delators^ Promoters^ and Pettifoggers^ who in former Reigns had jnade vaft Advantages by fomenting all Kinds ot private Quarrels and DilTentions, and had been almoft dedroyM by the Emperor 'Titus. He alfo put down the ordinary Pan- tomimic, Farce-Players and Buffoons^ rightly judging thofe Diverfions effeminate, and unworthy of the Roman Gravi- ty. He augmented the Number of the poor Children to be educated at his Charge, to near five thou land, and per- form'd many other worthy A6lions ; for which he not on- ly obtain'd the Title o^ Pater Patrice^ but the Senate gave him the new Title of OPTIMUS, as the beft of all Princes, which he efteem'd more than all the Glories of his Vidories and Conquefls, becaufe this related not fo much to his Courage and Condu£t, as to his Morality and Piety. Eufeh, In the mean Time, the Apoflle John proceeded in his a CieT)}. Duty with all imaginable Care and Tendernefs, and with all the Labour and Vigour that his great Age wou'd per- mit. Of which we have this remarkable and undoubted Inflance : Coming to a City near Ephefw^ in the Vifitation Chap. IX. TRAJAN /^^ ^^^Rom,Emp. 425- of his Churches, which fome think to be Smyrna^ he efpied a Youth of excellent Shape and pregnant Parts, and taking hold of him, deliver'd him to the Bifhop of the Place with this Charge twice repeated, / commend this Perfon to be loolCd to vjtth the utmoft Care and Diligence^ and that in the Prefence of ChriJ}^ and the Church. The Bifhop readily un- dertook the Charge, received the young Man into his Houfe, inilruded him, and at laft baptiz'd him. After which, as \i this Sacrament wou'd guard him from all Temptations, he thought he might remit the Stri6lnefs of his Care ; but the young Man, making a wrong Ufe of his Liberty, fell into dangerous Company, by whofe Arts and Snares he was feduc'd into all Kinds of Riot and Wickednefs ; till defparing of Pardon from God, he let loofe the Reins to the utmoft Exorbitancy, and agreeing with his AfTociates, they combined themfelves into a Band of Highway Men, and made him their Captain, who foon became as far above the rell in Fiercenefs and Cruelty, as ^ he was in Power and Authority. St. John upon Occaiion returning to the fame Place not long after, after he had dilpatch'd his other Bufinefs, requir'd from the Bifnop the Treafure committed to his Charge ; who being furpriz'd, and not underilanding his Meaning, the Apoiile reply'd. He reqmr''d the young Man his Brother., ivhofe Soul he had trujl- ed to his Care. The old Man with a forrowful Counte- nance, and Tears in Eyes, anfwer'd, He is Dead : And being demanded by what kind of Death, reply'd, He^s dead to God ; for.^ alas., he is become a Villain., and injiead of the Church.^ is fied with his Companions to the Mountains to be aHi'hief and a Robber. The Apoflle rending his Cloaths, and bewailing that he had entrufted his Brother's Soul to fo carelefs a Guardian, immediately cali'd for a Horfe and a Guide, and haflned to the Mountains; where being taken by the Sentinels of the Robbers, he beg'd to be brought before their Captain, who flood ready arm'd fome Diilance off; but as foon as he perceiv'd it was the Apoftle, he be- came confounded, and fled away. St. John not regarding his own Age and Weaknefs, follow'd with all poffible Speed ; and when his Legs cou'd not reach him, he fent thefe palTionate Exclamations after him. Why., my Son.^ ' dofl thou fiie from thy aged and unarr/Cd Father ? 'Take Pity on me., and fear not., there is yet Hope of Salvation for thee ; jf vjill undertake with Qhn^i for thee\ if need require., I will freely dye for thee., as our Lord did^ for us all., and lay down my own Life tq ranfqm thine ; only ft ay and believe me.^ for J am > ^26 Cent. I. Ecclefiaftical Hi/iory. Book. II. am fent by Chriil. Upon which he ftaid, and with a deje- -; ^ed Look throwing away his Arms, he trembled and melted into Tears ; he embraced the aged Apoftle with all poffible Exprcffions of Sorrow, being as it were again bap- ' / tiz'd with the Plood from his Eyes. St. John afTur'd him, »^ I That he had obtain' d his Pardon 0/ Chriil:, and having failed and pray'd with him, and for him, and with the Arts of Conlblation refrefh'd his fhatter'd and difconfolate Mind, he brought him into, and reftor'd him to the Church ; leav- ing a noble Example of true Love and CompalFion for erring and eiidanger'd Souls. The Third General Persecution. A. D. IV. The Church of God had enjoy'd Reft from Per- iod- fecution but four Years, before a new Storm broke out, Traj.3. and tell upon the Chnftuins in many Parts of the Empire; £»re*. which is call'd "The third General Perfecution of the Church, &c * beginning in the third Year of Trajan^ and about five Years after the Beginning of the fecond under Domit'ian. Many Things contriouted to this Perfecution, as the ftanding Laws of the Empire, the Emperor's Zeal for his Religion, and Averiion to Chriflianity^ and the Pagans unreafonable Prejudices, v/hich v^ere fupported with all imaginable Fal- fities and Calumnies againlt the Chrijiians. This Emperor had iflli'd out no Edi61: or Decree againft the Chrifitan Re- ligion in'particular ; wherefore he isnotplac'd in the Num- ber of the Perfecutors by T'ertuUian^ St. Mel'ito^ or Ladian- tins. But had always forbidden the Heter'tce^ the Societies or Colleges ere6led in many Parts of the Empire, where Men were wont to meet, and liberally feaft, under Pre- text of Buiinefs, and the Maintenance of mutual Love and Friendfhip ; which yet the Roman State beheld with a jea- lous Eye, as being often the Nurferies of Fadtion and Se- dition. In the Number of which Hcteria all Colleges and Corporations were accounted, that were not fetled by the Conftitution of the Emperor, or by Decree of the Senate ; and the Perfons frequenting them adjudg'd guilty of High-Treafon. Under this plaufible Pretence, and the Name o? illegal Societies^ the Chrijiians were feverely pro- fecuted by Governors and other Officers ; in which Perfecution great Numbers fell by the Rage of popular Tu- mults, as well as by Laws and ProcelTes. This Perfecu- tion continu'd feveral Years, with different Degrees of Se- verity, Chap. IX. TKk] ^.'^ the \4^ Rom.Emp. 427 verity, in many Parts of the Empire ; and was fo much the more affli6ling, becaufe the Chnftians generally fufferM un- der the Notion of Malefa61:ors and Traytors, and under an . Emperor fam'd throughout the World for his lingular Ju- llice and Moderation. Of the Martyrs that fuffer'd in the Beginning of thisPer- fecution, we have the Names of Cefarrus^ a Deacon of T'errac'tna in Italy ^ and Zofimus of Pijidia m Afia ; the lat- ter on the 19th Day ofju^e ; and the former on the id of November. But the moft noted Martyr that fatler'd this Year, was St. Clement himfelf, who having in the Time of his Exile made great Numbers of Converts was fingled out for a fpecial Example, and condemned to be thrown into the Sea with an Anchor about his Neck, according to the moll: receiv'd Opinion ; tho' for want of more ancient Authority, many doubt of the Relation. His Martyrdom hapned on the 24th Day of November^ according to Baro- niui.^ and the ordinary Roman Computation, after he had been fole Bifhop oi Rome'mxi^ Years, fix Months, and fo many Days. He was fucceeded in that Dignity by Evari- Jliis a Grecian by Birth, and oijew'tp Parentage, according to Platma.^ who held the Place near nine Years. As to -the Writings of this Apollolical Man St. Clement .^ befides the celebrated Epiflle, of which we have formerly given fome Account, there is a Fragment of a fecond Epiftle, or rather a Homily, containing a ferious Exhortation to the Pradice of Repentance, and of divers Chrtftian Virtues on the Account of the Mercy of God, and Reward promised to the Faithful. Some think this Epiftle more ancient than the other, as fhewing no Footfteps of troublefome and un- quiet Times ; yet many have judg'd it a fpurious Piece. Neverthelefs feveral of the Fathers have cited both the E- piftles as of equal Authority ; tho' few or none have thought them of equal Value. Several other Writings are falfly im- puted to St. Clement., as particularly T'he Apojiolical Conjii- tutions., an ancient and ufeful Book, but writ long after his Death ; The Recognitions., an ancient Book, abounding with Errors and Fables ; The Clementince., and the Confe- rences of St. Peter and Appion^ Works of the fame Na- ture and Authority with the Recognitions. During this Perfecution, the holy Apoftle St. John felt none of the Storm at Ephefus., but purfu'd his Duty in Peace, tho' extreamly weak and declining in Body. He ., continually urg'd his Auditors to the Duties of Love,^ Meeknefs and Tendernefs to each other , and our Lord's great 4.28 Cent. I. Ecclefiafiical Hi/tory. Book II. great Love to him fecms to have infpired his fervent Soul ■with a more exteniive and generous Charity than the reft of Mankind. St. Jerom tells us, that by Reafon of his great Age, he was reduc'd to that Weakncfs, that he could not go to the Church or Chnftian Aff.mblies, unlcfs car- ry 'd by his Difcipks ; and that not being able to make long liiicourfcs, he laid nothing elle in tnofe Alfemblies but this Sentence, My dear Chtldreny love one another. But thole who heard hiin, at length being weary with his con- Itant Repetition of the lame Thing, faid to him, Mafter, Why do yoH always [ay the fame Thingl Upon which he re- turnM tnem this Anfwer, worthy of the beloved Apoftle, It is what oitr Lord htmfelf has commanded^ and if we can perform this^ we need do nothing elfe. In the latter End of this Year 100, and about the 27th Day of December^ ac- cording to the moft receiv'd Opinion, this great Apoftle dyM in Peace at Jiphefus ; being near a hundred Years of Age, and more according to fome; having many Years out- liv'd the rcit of the Apoulcs, and done ineftimable Service to the Church of God in many Parts of the World, both in the fpreading of the Gofpel, and the confounding of He- resies. He was bury'd at Ephefus in the City, where feve- rai Fathers obferve, That his Tomb w^as then remaining in the Church, built to his Honour, and calfdby his Name; but as for thole Stories concerning his deeping in his Tomb, and the like, we think them not worthy of relating or con- futing, holy crates Billiop of Ephefus., fays he wore a Plate of Gold upon his Forehead, as a Pried of Jefus Chrifl ; which was a Badge of Honour which the firll Bifliops of the Church wore, in Imitation of the High-Prielts among the J^ws. Eptphanius alferts, That through the whole Courfe of his Life, he obferv'd a very (trid Way of Li- ving, and worthy of him; that he never cut his Hair, nor bath'd himfelf, nor eat the Fieih of any Creature, and wore but one Coat, and a Li nnen Garment, like his Brother James. He Ictt many eminent Diicipies behind him, the chief of whom were St. Ignatius., St. tolycarp., and Papias Bifhop oi titer apolis. H.: is faid to have appeared to Gregory Bi- fhop of Ncocccfarea., when he was young, and gave him a Creed, which is cited in the Fifth General Council. The Ehionites of ( 1 .1 attributed feveral Writings to this Apoftlc, which they forg'd, as a Book of his Voyages, afterwards call'd St. John''s A£ls ; which is thought to have been com- pfesM by Lucius^ the ordinary Author of thofe falfe and impious Books. And Chap.IX. TKh] \N the I A^^'i^ Rom Emp, 429 And thus ended the Apoftolical Age, and Ifkewife the firft Century ; in which Age the Church of God, which before in a great Meafure was confinM to Judcea^ and there alio miferably debas'd and corrupted, now dilated and dit- fus'd it felf after a moft flupendous Manner ; and in a Space of lefs than 70 Years, got Footing and Ground in the greatcft and bert Parts of the World : And all this by Me- thods uncommon and furprizing, contrary to all human Po- licy, and human Imagination. Chrijt purchas'd his Church and Kingdom with his own Blood, and his Apofllcs and Followers did propagate and fcal it with theirs. Chriflm- n'lty by the Afliftance and Support of twelve poor Peribns, mod Filhcrmen of a defpis'd Nation, without Learning, without Forces, without Reputation or Authority m the World, in a few Years out-ibetch'd the Bounds of the Raman Empire, and flew like Flafhes of Lightning to the utmoll Limits oF the Univerfe. Notwithdanding it laboured under the moft conceivable Difficulties, greater than any Dodrine before; the "Jews bandy'd all their Rage and Fury againft ir, the Philofophers us'd all their Arguments and Demonilrations, the Orators difcharg'd all their Rhetorick and Eloquence, the World loaded it with all imaginable Lies and Calumnies, and the Roman Empire employed its Fire and Sword, and all that was terrible to dcftroy'it; yet no Arts could diminiih its Growth, or flop its Progress but it daily encreas'd beyond Imagination, and overbore all the Powers of Earth and Hell. Such wonderful Increafe and Subiillence fhews its Heavenly Nature, and Divine O- riginal ; and that nothing but the Hand of Omnipotence it i^M could guide and preferve it under fuch furious Storms. What hapned in this Age were but Part of its Conflids- the reft we (hall relate in the following Parts of our Work' fo far as we can learn , them from the moft ancient Re- cords. The End of the fecond Book, Eccle- Ecdefiaftical Hiftory. BOOK 111. From the "Death of the laft furviving Apofile St. John, to the fir ft Eftabltjhment of Chri- ftianity by Human Laws^ under the Empe- ror Conftantine the Great. Containing the Space of about zi 5 Tears. CHAP. I. From the Death of St. John, and the third General Ferfecntion^ to the laft and entire Difperjion of the Jews, under the Emperor Adrian. Contahiing the Space of ahout 36 Tears. T lL_ p/j^^^j«f s ^^ | H E Chriftian Religion was now A. D. 1' W^mTv^M. fpread through the greatefl: Parts of loi. Europe.^ AJia and Africa^ extending Traj.4. from the Briujh Iflands to the far- theft Indies'^ and fixing not only h\ Cities and populous Places , but al- fo in Towns and Country-Villages, as Pliny himfclf teftifies. The Metropolitan Cities were all under Bifliops of the greateft Eminency and Piety ; and 1 432 Cent. II. Ecdefiafticai Hiflwf. Book III. and the four great Cities of the Roman Empire, Rome^ Alexandria^ Antioch and Jerufalem^ ufually flil'd Apo- ftolical Churches, were govern'd by Apoitolical Men; viz. Evarijlus in Rome^ Cerdo in Alexandria^ Ignatius i^ , Antioch^ and Simeon in Jcrufalern. Befides thele, we find Fublius in Athens^ Polycarp in Smyrna^ Onefimus in Ephe- feis, Papiai in Hierapolis^ with many others of primicive In- tegrity. This was the State of the Church in the Beginning of the fecond Century, increaiing and flourifhing after a ftupendous manner; but grievoufly afflifted on one Side by the Malice of the Jews and Pagans^ and the prefent Perfe- cution under this Emperor, and no lefs wounded on the other by the Hereticks, the Simonians^ the Gnojiicks^ the Menandrians^ the Rhionites^ the Cerinthians^ and the Nico- laitans: Yet ftill it flood firm as a Rock againfl all the Powers of Hell; fhining and triumphing in the Glories of the utmoft Purity and Piety. Among the Hereticks that infefted the Church, there arofe at this Time a Sed, call'd i Cainites^ a Branch of the Nicolaitans^ fo callM after the iren. Name of C^/;^; who they faid, -was form'd by a celeftial "^'' and almighty Power, and Abel by one weak and inferior. They had abominable Opinions, and held that the Way to to be fav'd, was to make Trial of all manner of Things, and fatisfie their Lulls with all' wicked A6lions: They feign'd to themfelves a great Number of Angels, to whom they gave barbarous Names, attributing to each a particular Sin ; and when they were about any wicked Adion, they invoked the Angel whom they fuppos'd to prefide over it. They compos'd a Book called, St. PaulV Afcenfion to Hea^ 'ven\ and anotl^er, intituled. The Gofpei according to St. Ju- das ; both containing many horrid Blafphemies. They had a particular Veneration for Cain^ Efan.^ Korah., and the So- domites'^ but efpecially for Judas., becaufe his Treache- ries occaiion'd i^o great a Bleffing as the Death of Jefus Chrift. j):an. In the mean Time, the Emperor Trajan proceeded in the publick Adminidration with na lefs Wifdom than Clemen- cy, and in all Things laudably,; except in relation to Chri-" Jiianity. And now being excited with an eager Thiril after Glory, he refolv'd to extend the Bounds of the RomanY.m.' pire by the Force of his Arms ; beginning his firll Enter- prize againll the Dacians^ a barbarous People on the North- fide of the River Danube.^ who had frequently moleiled the Romans in the Reign of Domitian. Marching with a pow- erful Army into thofe Countries, he was vigorouily op-- pos'4 Chap.I. TKkJAn the\i^^^ Rom.Emp. 433 pos'd by King Decebalw^ which occafion'd a very fevere and bloody War ; but Decebalus being no longer able to pro- tra6t the War, was forc'd to a general Battel, wherein Tr^- jan by his Skill and Valour overthrew him, with exceed- ing Lofs to the Dacians^ and no fmall Slaughter to the Romans^ who wanted even Linnen to bind up their Wo nds. Thi? occalion'd the Emperor out of a generous Pity to tear his own Robes and Veftments, towards the fupplying that Dcfctft ; and for thofe who dy'd honourably, he ordered Altars to be ercded, and Sacrifices to be yearly offer'd to their Memory. Trajan purfu'd his Vidory with lb much Diligence, that Decehalus^ almod reduc'd to Defpair, hum- bly implor'd Peace, and otTer'd to accept of any Articles that the Emperor ihould propofe ; which were in a (hort Time confirmed, after Decebalus had folcmnly proftrated himfelf to the Earth, and publickly acknowledgM himfelf his Vidim and Vaflal. This ended the firfl: Dac'tan War, in the fourth Year of his Reign, for which he bothobtain'd the Surname of Dac'icus^ and a folemn Triumph, which was attended for many Days after with all manner of pub- lick Games and Spe6tacles in the City. But thefe publick A. D. Rejoycings did not divert the Emperor from doing of 102. Juftice, nor from the Care of the Government; for fhortly Traj.f. after he proceeded to many other Regulations in the State : Particularly, he forbad all Advocates to receive Fees, or any Promife before a Caufe was pleaded ; and likewife re* ftrain'd the exorbitant Expences, Bribes and other Corrupt tions, in the Eledion of Magiibates. In all which, and many other Adts of Reformation, he proceeded with the utmod Difrcgard to Danger, giving many lignal Inftances of his fearleis and opot-Difpoh'tion; particularly, in his great Confidence fhew'd to hi§ Friend and Favourite Sura, For fome Perfons, who envy'd his great Share of the Em- peror's FriendOup, us'd all Methods to blaft his Reputation, and render him fufpeded to his Mailer; accufing him even of forming a Delign againil his Life. But Trajan^ to (liew how much he rely'd upon the Fidelity of his' Friend, ha- ving received an Invitation to Sup with him, went freely and unconcernedly; then purpofely fending back all his Guards, he orderM J>«r^'sPhyfician and Barber to be brought to him, commanding the former to take off his Hair about his Eye-brows, and the latter to lliave oft' his Beard; after which he bathM himfelf, and remained fecurely among Su- ra % Friends and ( Companions. Upon this Trial he returned to his Palace, and recounting all Circumftances, told the V o L. 11. , D Acculers, 434 Cent. II. Ecclejiajlkal HiJIory, Book III. Accufers, T'hat z/Sura had any Defigns againft his Life^ he gave him the fairefi and fafefl Occafiun to execute them\ and that his NegleB of it^ was a plain Indication that no fuch De- fign vjas ever form' d. A. D. Another Favourite of this Emperor's was the Famous 103. Pliny the Younger, who in the fame Year that the Perfe- Traj.6. cution began, had pronounc'd in the Senate-Houfc a moft P,„^^ celebrated Panegyrick upon all his Virtues and Excellencies. In Reward of which, he made him Governor of all Pontm and Bythtnia^ in Afia Minor ^ together with the City of By- zantium^ not as an ordinary Proconful, but as his ovi^n Lieutenant with extraordinary Power. He arriv'd at his Government about the 17th Day of September^ in the fixth Year of the Reign of Trajan ; being orderM by him not only to examin into the publick Revenues and Charges, but alfo to write to him concerning any remarliable Accidents under his Care, and any DiflficiTkies he fliould find, whe- ther they related to Civil, or Religious Affairs. In the fame Year the Famous Juftin Martyr was born ; and in the fol- A. D. lowing, the golden Palace of Nero was burnt down, which 104. Orofius fays, was a Judgment for the Perfecution of the Traj.7. Chrijiians; the Divine Juftice punilhing Trajaris Crime upon the Work of him who gave the firit Example. In the Tame Year 'Trajan was particularly employ'd in the fecond Dacian War ; which was begun by Decebalus^ who being unable to endure Subjection and Servitude, made all polfi- ble Preparations againft the Roman Empire. Trajan was no lefs vigorous on the other fide ; and to profecute the War, and to fhew his Power and Grandeur, he in a lliort Space built a Bridge over the fpacious Kiv^r Danube^ for the Con- venience of his Forces, being all of fquare Stone of won- derful Beauty, and one of the moil ftately and magnificent Works of that Nature in the World. This Bridge con- fifled of twenty Piles, each 60 Foot in Thicknefs, and i fo in Height, befides the Foundation, which fupported twenty noble Arches of 1 70 Foot each ; fo that the whole length was above 4600 Foot, a flupendous Fabrick, conlidering the fhort Time of its Building, the almofl infuperable Diffi- culties of laying fo vafl: a Foundation in a River extreamly deep, with an owzy Bottom, and a contracted Stream, ra- pid to a Miracle. This may be one Proof of the Wealth and Greatnefs of the Roman Empire, and of Trajan in par- ticular; fhewing that nothing was too bold and difficult for the Genius of that Prince to attempt and efte6t. II. During Chap.I. TK AJ AN t/jei^'^ Rom. Emp. 43jr JJ, During thefe Preparations, the Perfecution ftill rag'd in feveral Parts of the Empire, but efpecially in the Pro- vinces of Pontui and Bythima^ where Pliny was Governor * who feeing vaft Multitudes of Chriftians indided by others, and prefTing on of themfelves to Execution, and that to pu- flifh all that acknowledg'd themfelves Chriftiam^^ wou'd be in a manner to lay wafte his Provinces, thought it necelfary to write to the Emperor himfelf about this Matter, to know his Pleafure in the Cafe. His Letter, after the Preface, runs thus : / 'have never been formerly prefent at 'the Kxamination and T'rial of Chriftians, and therefore know not the Nature of the Crime ^ how far it is punijhable^ and how to proceed in thefe Enquiries. Nor was I a little at a lofsy whether regard ought to be had to Difference of Age ; whether the Weak and TQung were to he dijlinguijh^dfrom the more Strong and Age d\ whether place were to be allowed for Repentance^ and whe-^ thcr it might be of any Advantage to him^ who once was a Chriftian, to ceafe to be fo\ whether the Name alone without other Crimes^ or the Crimes that attend the Name^ ought to, be punijh^d ? In the mean time^ I have us*d this Method with fuch as have been brought before me as Chriftians : I fiyji de- manded of them^ whether they were Chriftians? Upon Confef- Jion^ I repeated the Quejiion^ threatning Punijhment ; and if they perjijled^ I commanded thera to be executed. For I did Tiot at all doubt ^ but that., whatever their Profejfion was^ their Stubbornefs andinflexible Objiinacy ought to be punijh^d. Others who were guilty of the fame Madnefs^ becaufe they were Ro- man Citizens^ I adjudged to he tranfmitted to Rome. While 'Things thus proceeded^ the Error ^ as is ufual^ fpreading far*- ther^ more Cafes did., occurr : A namelefi Libel was prefented^ containing the Names of many. But thefe denying themfelves ei^er to have been Chriftians, when after my Example they had invocated the Gods^ and offered Wine and Incenfe to your Statue., which for that Purpofe I commanded to be brought with the Images of the Gods ; and had likewife blafphem^d Chrift, (which ^tis faid^ no true Chriftian can be compeWd to do) I difmifd them. Others mention' d in the Libel confef^d themfelves Chriftians, but immediately denfd it\ that they had indeed been fuch., but that they had renounced it ; fome three Tears fmce., others many Tears., and one twenty five Tears : All which paid their Reverence to your Statue and the Images sf the Gods., and blafphem'd Chrift. They affirm'' d., that the fwhole Sum of that Se6l: or Error lay in this^ that they were VJont tipon a fet folemn Day to meet together before Sun-rife , D 2 iind i!^^6 Cent. II. EcclefiafticalHipry. Book III and to firigamongthcmfelves aHymn tQQ\m^^ AS A GOD\ and oblige thcmfeives by a Sacrament, not to commit any lV'ckednej<^ but to nbflaiH from Theft^ Robbery^ Adultery^ to keep Fa'tth^ and to reftore any Pledge intrufled with them ; and that after that they retired^ and met again at a common Meal^ in which ivai nothtr/g extraordinary^ nor criminal: Which Meetings they have laid ajide^ after I had publijh^d an Edi<^y forbidding^ according to your Order ^ all Heteriae, or unlawful Ajjembltes. To fattsfy my felf tn the Truth of this^ I com- mandedtwo Maidens called DeaconefTes, to be examined upon the Rack \ but I percetv*d nothing but a lewd and immoderate Superjlition^ and therefore furceafing any farther Procef^ I have fent to beg your Advice. For the Cafe feem'd to me wor- thy of ConfultaUon^ efpecially conjidering the great Numbers in danger : For very many of all Ranks^ ^^^^ ^^^ Sexes are and wtll be call\d in quefiion ; the Contagion of this Superjii- tion having overfpread not only Cities., but Towns and Coun- try^Villages., which yet feemspojible to be Jlopt and cured. It is very evident that the Temples., vuhich were almojl left defo- late^ begin now to be frequent ed.^tbat the holy Solemnities long negUHed are now revived., and that Sacrifices are from all Farts brought to be fold., ivhich hitherto found but few to pur^ chafe them. Whence ''tis eafie to conjedure., what Multitudes of Perfons might be reclaim'' d., if place be allow'* d for Repen- tance. By this Letter we may eafily difcover the Malice of the Pagans., as well as the Innocency of the Chnjiians'^ and by this Account wealfo find, that tho' the Severity of the Perfe- ciition might tempt feme to apoftatize, yet fo vafl was the Number of the Chrijiians in thofe Parts, that this Great Man knew not how to deal with them. To direcl him therefore in this Affair, the Emperor Trajan return'd this following Refcript. As to the Manner of your Procedure., my Secundus, ;"« examining the Caufes ofthoje who have been broutfht before you for being Chrillians, you have taken the Courfe which you ought to take : For no certain and general haw can be fo form' d., as Jh all provide for all particular Cafes. Let them not be fought for^ but if they be accused and con- vided.. let them be pmiip^d: Tet fo., that if any denies himfelf to be a Chriftian, and gives evidence of it by facrificing to our thes charge ; for that were an ill Precedent.^ and contrary to the Lf age of our Reign. TertuUian., fp caking of this Impe- rial Ciiap. I. T R A J A N the 14^^ Rom. Emp. ^^j rial Edi6l, calls it, ^ A Sentence confounded by a ftrangc ' Neceflity: It allows them not to be fought for, as if they ' were innocent, and yet commands them to be punilli'd, as ' if they were guilty : It fpares and rages, diflembles, and ' yet punifhes. Why does he entangle himfclf in his own ' Cenfure ? If he condemns them, why does he not hunt * them out ? If he thinks they ought not to be fcarch'd out, ' why does he not acquit them ? Hei^e TertuUian is obferv'd to argue more like an Orator, than a Logician : For 'Trajan ipight be unwilling the Chrijltayis OiouM be nicely hunted out, and yet not think them innocent : He cou'd not tind them guilty of any enormous Crime, but only of a novel Superllition ; and thcretbre, while they conceal'd themfelves, did not think it reafonable that they ihou'd be left to the Malice and Rapine of bufie Under-Officers. But however it was, the Kecnefs of their Enemies Fury by this means was taken off; and tho' the Popular Rage might in fome particular Places (till continue, yet the general Force and Rigour of the Perfecution did abate and ceafe. In the mean Time Trajan.^ purfuing new Glories, conti- ^\, J), nu'd his Z)^a^» Expedition with great Vigour, fhewing him- jqc-. felfamoft expert and valiant Commander; and notwith- Traj.S. Handing the Country w^as large and wild, and the Inhabi- tants fierce and hardy, he totally fubdued the whole, dif- cover'd much Treafure, and reduc'd King Dccehalw to fuch Extremities, that to efcape falling into the Romans Hands, he flew himfelf His Head was immediately fent to Kome^ and the w'hole Country of Dacia was added to the Roman Empire, and reduc'd into a regular Province; in whick Country Trajan built many Cities and Towns, and fent fe- veral Colonics, being now in the eighth Year of his Reign. After which he return'd to Rome with great Honour and Renown, an4 cnter'd the City a iecond Time in folemn Triumph, which wa§ fucceeded with infinite Variety of Shews and Games, with many niagniticcnt P\"afts and En- tertainments, for Joy of his Return and Vi6tories. Thefe were more pompous than any before this Time, continuing 123 Days fuccelUvely ; in which fometimes ten thoufand Bealls, both wild and tame, were encounter'd and llain m 2. Day, accompany'd with a vail Number of Gladiators Prizes, and other Paganip and fupcrilitious Cuftoms. The Name and Generojity of this Emperor became fo celebra- ted through the World, that at this Time AmballaJors from the very Indies^ and feveral dillant Nations came to fu? foy hi^ Alliance, acknowledging him to be their Lor4 D 3 m^ Din. 438 Cent. II. EccleJiafticalHiJiory. Book III. A. D. and Superior. Fired with thefe Honours, and thirfting af- io6. ter new Conquefts, he refolv'd upon an Expedition into Traj.p. the Eaft, againft the Armenians and Parthiam\ taking Oc- cafion from the King of Armenians receiving his Crown from the Hands of the King of Parthia^ and acknowledg- y ing him his Superior; whereas that King ought to have re- ceiv'd his Authority from Rome^ according to former Ar- ticles. Having made all due Preparations, he parted from Italy in 06lober^ in the 9th Year of his Reign; and palling through Athens^ and the Lefler Afia^ arriv'd at Seleucia^ near Antioch in S)ria^ towards the End of December. About this Time flourifh'd Papias.^ Bifhop of Hierapolis 'm P^r);i^/^, and one ofSt.^^/^^'sDifciples; a Perfon fufficiently noted for his Writings and Opinions. He wrote five Books, intituled. The Explications of our Lord's Difcourfes; but at prefent we have only fome few Fragments of them in the Works of other Authors. He was the chief that promoted the famous Opinion concerning the temporal Reign of Je- fiis Chriji^ which they fuppos'd fhou'd happen on Earth a thoufand Years before the Day of Judgment, when the E- led iTiou'd be gather'd together, after the Refurre6lion, in the City of 'Jerufalem^ and then during that Space fhou'd enjoy all the Delights imaginable. This Opinion was much in Eileem for two or three Centuries, the Followers of it being term'd Millenarians and Chili aftes\ and it was not only held by the Hcreticks, as the Cerinthians^ and Marcio^ nites^ the Montanijh.^ the Meletians.^ and Apollinarians^ but alfo by many of the Catholicks and Martyrs, ^s Papias^^Ju- Jlin Marty r^.lr en ceus^ Nepos., Vidorinus.^ hailantius^ and Sul- ficiiis Severm. So that St. Jeror/i durft not abfolutely con- demn the Opinion ; but left it to the Determination of God fiinifelf. That which gave moft Credit to it was its being embrac'd by Papi^s., who being a Difciple of St. John., was fuppos'd befl to know his Mind, as to the thoufand Years he mentions in his Revelation ; but E//febi/-s and fome o- thers have thought him a credulous Man, and of mean Judg- ment in interpreting the Scripture, and therefore not much to be rely'd on. A Y) Upon Thurfday the 7th oijamtary.^ the Emperor Trajan ".* ' ^rnw''d2.i Antioch, ^T\d enterM that great City with the Pomps 1 V-- j* ^^^ Solemnities of a Triumph ; and as his firfl: Care was jQ ufually about the Concerns of Religion, he began immedi- ately to enquire into that Affair. lie look'd upon it as an J^i/-, Affront to his other Vitflories to be conquered by Chriftians^ ind therefore began to reviveliis Inquilitions againft them, Where- Chap. I. TRAJAN the \^\, Rom. Emp. 43 9 Whereupon the brave Champion IgKatius^hemg in Fear for the Church of Antioch his Charge, to proted that, fearlefly prcfented himfelf before the Emperor, between whom there pafs'd a particular formal Difcourfe, 'Trajan admiring That he dared to trayifgrefi his Laws^ while the good Man alferted his own Innocency, and the Power which God had given them over evil Sprits^ and that the Gods of the Gentiles were no better than Daemons, there being but one fupreme Deity ^ who made the IVorld^ and his only begotten Son Jefus Chrilt, who tho* crtic'tfy'^d under Pilate, had yet deftroy^d him that had the Power of Sin^ that is^ the Devil^ and woud ruin the whole Power and Empire of the Daemons, and tread it under the Feet of thofe who carry"* d God in their Hearts. The Ilfue of the Difcourfe was, that he was caft into Prifon, 1 where, as fome report, he was fubje6ted to the moil fevere and mercilefs Torments, fcourg'd with Plumbat^., oblig'd to hold Fire in his Hands, while his Sides were burnt with Papers dipt in Oil, his Feet flood upon live Coals, and his Flefh was torn with burning Pincers. Having conquer'd all Torments, the Emperor pronounc'd the final Sentence " upon him. That being incurably over-run with Superjlition^ he Jhoti'd be carrfd bound by Soldiers to Rome, and there thrown as a Prey to the 14"^ t Id-Be aft s. The pious Martyr ' heartily rejoic'd at the fatal Decree, / thank thee., Lordy cry'd he, that thou hajl condefcended thus perfectly to honour me with thy Love^ and hajl thought me worthy with thy Apo* Jile Paul to be bound with Iron Chains. With that he chcarfuUy cmbrac'd his Chains, and having fervently pray'd for his Church, and with Tears recommended it to the di- vine Care and Providence, he deliver'd up himfelf into the Hands of his Keepers, ten Soldiers who were appointed to tranfport him to the Place of Execution. Being accompany'd by two eminent Chrifiians call'd Philo and Agathopusy he was conduced on Foot to Seleucia^ the Place where St. Paul and Bamabai ^et tail for Cyprus \ where going on board, after a tedious Voyage, they arriv'd at Smyrna^ and there landing, he went to falute Polycarp Bifhop of the Place, his old Fellow-Pupil under the Apoltle St. John. Joyful was the Meeting of thefe two holy Men, Polycarp being fo far from being difcourag'd, that he re^ joic'd in the other's Chains, and carncilly prefs'd him to a rirm and final Perfeverance. All the Country alfo repair'd to this City, efpccially the Bifhops, Presbyters and Deacons of the Afian Churches, to behold fo venerable a Sight, to partake of the holy Martyr's Prayers and Benedidion, and P 4 lo 440 Cent. II. Ecckjiaflieal Hiflory. Book III. to encourage him to hold on to his Confummation. To re- quite whole Kindnefs, and for their farther Inftru6lion and Eftablifhment in the Faith, he wrote four Epiftles from this City to four feveral Churches : The firll to the Ephefiansy ' wherein he teftify'd his Joy in feeing Onefimus their Bi- fl:iop, exhorting them to live in perfed Unity, and in O- bedience to their Bifliop and Presbyters, and declaring the Difobcdient to be out of the Church, and dcpriv'd of the celeftial Food. Next lie warn'd them of Hcrefies, urging their Belief of the Divinity and Incarnation of Jefus Chriji ; and after that exhorted them to pray for all Conditions of Men, frequently to aflemblc together, and inviolably to preferve Faith ifnd Charity ; affirming that the Devil was ignorant of the Virginity oi Mary^ of her Child-birth, and of the Death of our Lord ; and concluding all with beg- ging their Prayers for him and the Church oi^ Syria. He wrote his fecond Epiille to the Magnefians^ whofe City flood upon the River Meander^ ' exhorting them to be o- *• bedient to their Bifhop Damaf^ to do nothing without ' him, aiid to live in Unity; admonifhing them to beware * of vain Opinions, not to \\\t like Jeivs but Chrijlians^ *■ to believe in Jefus Chriji^ the Word of God not pro- ' ceeding from Silence, but fent from God the Father, and * our only Hope. At lafl he cjefirM them to remember ' him in their Prayers, He wrote his third Epiflle to the 'J'rallians h^Polybius their EilTiop, ' wherein he commended * their Union and Submilfion to their Bifhop, Presbyters ^ and Deacons, exhorting them to Perfeverarice in this U- f nion, and to avoid Hercticks. Then he expounded the ' Orthodox Principles of the Catholick Church, that Jefus ' Chnft was born of the Virgin Mary^ that he was really ^ iMan, that he adually fuftcr'd and dy'd, and not in Ap- ' pcarance, as fomeHcreticks affirm'd. The lad Epiille that ^e v/rotc from this City Smyrna was to the Romans^ whi- ther he was going, ' in'v/hich he gave them an Account of ' his prefent State and Condition, cxprefTnig a mod noble \ Zeal, and fervent Deiire of luircring Martyrdom for his; * dear Lord, befeechin'g them not to take his glorious *■ Crown from him, by any Ways preventing his being ex- ^ pos'd to the Wild Bcafts in the lioman Amphitheatre. His Keepers a little jmpaHent of their Stay at Smyrjta^ fct fail for Troai'^ where at his Arrival in the Month of Sep- ter/iber^ he was not a little refreih'd with the News he re- ^eiv'd of the Perfecution ceaiing in the Church oi Antloch^ according to hij conilant Prayers to God. Hither feveral Churched Churches fent their Meflcngers to vifit and falute him, and hence he difpatchM three Epillles more: The firft was wrote to the Philadelphia^, ' congratulating their Union, exhort- i ing them to avoid corrupt Do6irincs, and advifing thein ' not to follow the Abettors of Schitins and Diviiipns, and ' to concur in every Thing with their Biiliop. Lailly, he ' refuted the Arguments of fuch as wou'd believe nothing ' but what was written in the Old Teftament, declaring * that theGofpel was the Pcrfe6lion of what w^as prefigured ' in the old Law. His fecond Epiftle was wrote to the Smyrnccans, from whom he had lately departed, which he . fent with the former by Burrhus the Deacon, whom they and the Ephefians had font to w^ait upon him. In this, ' he ' confuted the Error of thofe who deny'd the Humanity of ' J^fi^^-) ^^^ ^^^^ h^ ailiim'd a real Body ; admonilhing the ' Smyrn Arbela in AJjyria^ where Alexander overthrew King Darizts. ^ And continuing his fuccefsful Progrefs, he conquered other Countries where the Roman Standards had never before been difplay'd ; from whence without any great Oppofiti- on, he advanc'd up to the Walls of the renowned City Babylon ; and taking it by Force, he alfo fubdu'd all its Territories, by which Means he became intire Mafler of thofe rich and noble Countries Chaldcea and AJJyria, Here he defign'd to make a Cut from the River Euphrates to the Tigris y for the Conveniency of his Vellels and his Mar- ches ; but finding the former River fo much higher than the other, as to render one unnavigable, he mounted his Veflels upon Land-Carriages, and brought them to the Ti- gris -^ from whence he advanc'd to the great City Ctefipho??^ which he took, and open'd himfelf a Paffage into Perfta^ where he ftill made new Conquells, and gain'd new Do- minions, to the Wonder and Terror of all Nations. Af- ter this great Succefs, he defir'd to repofe himfelf for fome few Days, and to pafs the Winter in Syria^ where difpo (ing his Army, he lodg'd himfelf in his chief City Anttocb : to which Place repair'da numerous and fplendid Concourfe of Kings, Potentates and Ambafladors to attend this tmgh ty Emperor. Continuing there in all Pleafures, and fur rounded by a glorious Train of Monarchs and crown\t j I lead ^\ 448 Cent. II. Ecclejiiflical Hiftory. Book Iff. Heads, his Ambition was abated by an Accident afton idl- ing to the utmoll Degree ; a prodigious Earthquake, and the moil drcadlul that ever hapned in any Age of the World. It was in a manner general ; but Syria and Anti^ och felt the greateft Share of its Fury, it beginning with an amazing Storm and Whirlwind, which overthrew infinite ' Numbers of Trees and Houfes, and brought down the Birds to the Earth, being fucceeded by fuch dreadful Light- nings and Tremblings, that it feem'd as tho' the World was all in Flames, and the Earth open'd to devour all hu- man Kind. Many Cities in the Eall were ruin'd, many Hills and Mountains funk and became level, many River^ were dry'd up, and many Waters and Fountains fprungup in new Places. In the City of Antioch almoft all the Pa- laces and Buildings were intirely demolifh'd, and many thoufands of People flain, particularly Fedo the prefent Conful ; and the Emperor himfclf was in great Danger of his Life, efcaping by a fudden leaping out of a Window into the Fields, where he was condrain'd to reiMin for many Days in TentS; Some write that he was held in the Air by an unknown Hand for fome Space ; and it is \ believ'd by many, that thefe Calamities were Inftances of the divine Difpleafure for the Severities us'd againft the Chriftians ; and that thefc caus'd fome Remorfe in Trajan's Mind, and difpos'd him to a better Opinion of that Reli- gion in the reft of his Reign. Befidcs thefe, we are told that Tibertamts^ Governor of Paleftme^ fent the Emperor an Account, That he was wearied out in executing the Laws againft the Galilacans, who crouded to Execution in fuch Multitudes^ that he was at a Lofs how to proceed : Upon which Trajan gave Command, That no particular Inquifi- tion Jljou'^d be made after the Chriftians, tho* if any offer'' d themfehes they Jhou'dfuffer. But this Account, fo'r Want of fufficient Antiquity and Authority is doubted by feveral. Tiitn ^^^ Roman Empire did not only fufter by the Punifh- E4(K ments fent immediately from Heaven, but alfo by thofc Qriard by Birth, and now a- bo^it 40 Years of Agt ; being a Perfon of admirable Parts and Qualifications, and fcarce any Prince in the World was e\'er more remarkable for int Excellency, and Varie- ty of hJs Endov.ments. He was capable of comprehend- ing whatfoever he dellred, and was highly skilfiil in all Eiercifes both of Body and Nlind ; wanting no Strength nor Abilities either for Arms or Ivearning, in which he indullrioufly endeavour'd to excel a'lMen. He composed excellently in Profe and Verfe, pleaded Caufes, and be- came perfect in Orator}' ; was a fingiLlar Mathematician, and no lefs skilfjl in Phylick, knowing the Virtues and Properties of all Plants and Alinerals. In Drawings and Paintings he was equal to the greatefl Maliers, and ar- riv'd at the utmoll Perfection in ^Mniick ; being a muni- ficent Encourager of all forts of Learned Men and Ar- tiils. Belides ail he had a Memory beyond Belief, and cou'd exactly retain all Places, Buiineiles, and Soldiers, calling them all by their Names, tho' long a:,fent ; and moreover was of iazn Capacity, that he co'j'd write, in- dite, and conferr of Bufnefs all at one Inilant. In line, he fuffer'd u.ott\in% to cfcape his Knowledge and Curioil- ty ; and he is laid to have been as much Alailer of all Arts and Sciences, as almoil: any fingle Man cou'd be of one. His exrream Curioiity alfo led him into ail Kinds of Divinarions, Magick and SuperiHrion ; and as St. Je- Tjrn obferves, he was admitted into almoft all the Religi- ous Myfteries oi Gnece. His Behaviour was extrjiordina- ry, freely converfing with Men of Reputarion, tho' of mean Rank, viiiting them in their Sicknefs twice or thrice in a Day, and treating them Avith all the Kiodnefs and Familiarity of Companions ; and he defpis'd fichaswou'd cn\7 him a Pleafure fo fenrible to him, upon the Pretence of maintaining the Port and Grandeur of an Emperor. His Clemency appeared in his ready pardoning all pafr In- juries, fo that having once met a Perfon who had orfend- ed him, he faid, Tau have ffcap^d. Jince I arn mjid* Em:;e- ror ; and aftervrards, when a Servant ran madly upon E 2 rim 4p Cent. II. 'EccIcJtafticalHiJlory, Book III. hhn with his Sword, he took no farther Notice of the Adion, than to order him a Phyiician to cure hiS' Phren- fy. Yet notwithlianding all his uncommon Virtues and Qualifications, he was not free from great Vices and Im- perfections ; and he is obferv'd to have had a ftrange and unufual Mixture of both, fo as to feem to reconcile moft Vices with their contrary Virtues. For in the midil: of all his Excellencies, he was noted to be proud and vain- glorious, envious and detrafting, cruel and revengeful ; and notwithllanding all his Favours, he bore a fecret Ha- n-ed to Men of more than ordinary Ingenuity and Learn- ing. He was inquilitive and prying into the Secrets even of the meanefl: P^amilies, and was fo ready to hearken to Whifperers and Sycophants, that the Eftates and Lives of his greatefl Friends became often cndanger'd. However, he had a peculiar Faculty of commanding and governing his Atfedions, and by a mighty Artifice and Addrefs co-^ v^cr'd over his infolent, envious-, fullen and wanton Dif- polition. Not long after the Death of Trajan^ when the Roman Empire was in its utmoll: Extent above 4000 Miles in length, Adrian m a great Meafure abandoned Parihia and the other Eaftern Provinces, which Trajan had couquer'd ; judging Mcdia^ Mefapotamia^ Parthia., and the reft of thofe diftant Countries, to be of greater Inconvenience to the Empire, than Advantage ; and for the better Security of other Places, he made iLuphrates the Boundary and Barri- er in thofe Parts, and plac'd his Legions about the Banks of that fam.ous River. Having thus fetled the Affairs of the Eaft, and fupprefs'd fome Difturbances lately rais'd by the Jcws^ he took his Journey by Land tov/ards Italy^ and fcnt the Allies of Trajan by Sea. Upon his nigh A. D. Approach to Romc^ he was inlorm'd. That a Magnificent irS. Triumph was prepared for him, in the fame manner as Hadri. was provided for his Uncle Trajan^ as being Companio-n i. in thQ fame Wars and Conquefts. But he wholly refus'd -^ ^that Honour, judging himfelf not worthy of it ; and or- dered that the fam^e Triumph and Entertainment fhou'd be given to the Image of Trajan ; all which was performed with wonderful Pomp and Solemnity : And it is obferv'd. That he was the only JVIan that ever triumph'd after he W-4V dead. Plis Afhes were plac'd in a golden Urn, upon the Top of a noble Pillar 140 Foot high, of curious Work- ■. manfhip, reprefenting the Particulars oi all his great Ex- ploitb. which remains to this Day i and belides their dei- Chap. I. A D R I A N M^ I f^ Rom. Emp. 4,^3 fying him after the Raman Cuftom, in Honour of him, they inltituted new Games call'd Panhica^ which conti- nu'd in Rome for many Ages. Shortly after Adrian's En- trance into Romcy he took an Oath never to punifli a Se- nator, but by the very Sentence of the Senate ; and that he might omit nothing that was kind and generous, he jforgave an infinite Number of Debts due to the Exche- quer from private Perfons in the City and Country, burn- ing the Bonds and Regillers of them in the publick Fo^ rum. He much recommended himfelf by feveral Ads of Generoiity and Moderation ; particularly, he increased the Allowance which by Trajan had been given to the Main- tenance of great Numbers of poor Children, relieving likewife many decay M Noble-men and Senators, whofe Misfortunes proceeded from no vilible Fault of theirs. In the fame Year, and fecond oi Adrian'' s Reign, AL'x- andcr Bifhop of Rome^ dy'd, and as fome fay, was Mar- . tyr'd, after he had held this Dignity about ten Years; being fucceeded by Sixtus I, or Xijhi;^ a Roman by Birth, and the lixth Bifhop of Rome after St. Peter and St. Paul. About the fam,e Time dy'd Primus Bilhop of Alexandria.., after ten Years continuance in that Otiice, and was fuc- ceeded by Juftiis., a Perfon of celebrated Piety, the fifth Bifhop of ihis City after St. Mark., who continued about 1 1 Years. The two Churches of Rome and Alexandria iiourifh'd in the midfl of the greareil Oppofition ; but that oi Athens., having loft its Bifhop Pubitus under Tra- jan s Perfecution, fell into a low Condition, and the Peo- ple for want of a Head and Governor, grew cold and languid, wanting but little of a total Apolfalie from the Chriftian Faith. Till about this Time that excellent Man Quadratu'^ a learned Auditor andDifciple of the Apoftles, being conllituted Bifliop of the Place, fet himfelf with a mighty Zeal to retrieve the ancient Spirit of Religion, and by a happy Management re-e(lablifiiM Order and Difcir pline, and kindled and blew up their Faith into a holy Flame. Nor did he content himfelf with a bare Refor- mation of what was amifs, but with infinite Diligence Preach'd the Faith, ai]d by daily Converts cnlargM the Bounds of the Church ; fo that he obtain'd the particular Title of an Evangelift. This Qiiadratus was a Man of ex- traordinary Parts and Abilities, and being Cotemporary with Philtp\ Virgin-Daughters, was endued v.'ith the lame Prophetick Gifts, as Eiifebms teilifies ; who alio ranks him ^ith th? Chief of the Apodles Succelfors, and llicws hfm ' ^ '-i ' ' ' to 4jr+ Cent. II. EcdeJiaflicdlHiflory, Book III. to have been the fiifl Apologijl of the Chriflian Religion. f^alejius, and fome others after him, have thought that Quadratus the Apologlft and the Bifhop of Athens^ were two diftind Perfbns, living in dift'erent Times ; but their Arguments have been aniwer'd by Dr. Cave^ in his Life of this holy Man. A. D. Yhe Emperor Adrian had not been very long in Rome^ iip; before feveral of the Northern Nations, as the Alanes^ Sar- Hadn. matians and Dacians^ began to make Devaftations in the — Roman Empire. AgainO: thefe barbarous People the Em- ^' peror himfelf march'd with a very powerful Army ; but s^^art, upon his near Approach, the Name of Adrian^ the Lieu- tenant of Trajan^ brought them to a SubmilTion ; and the better to prevent their future Incuriions, he broke down the famous Bridge that Trajan had built over the Danube. J In this Expedition, a Confpiracy was difcover'd againft his Perfon.^ which occalion'd the Execution of four Confular Men ; which Execution was difown'd by the Emperor, as done without his Confent and Approbation. Where- fore leaving Turbo Governor of Pannonia and Dacia^ he returned fpeedily to Rome., to purge himfelf from the In- famy and Envy of the Fad, making a large Diftribution of Mony among the People, conferring great Favours upon many, and exhibiting magnificent Games and Spe- A -pj dacles in the City. Staying at Rome a fhort Time, he ^ ' ' took a Refolution to viilt the whole Empire in PerfoU) -jj^ j^.* and fee if all Things were well regulated and eilablifh'd ; and taking with him a fplendid Retinue, and a confidera- ~ ble Force, he firft entered Gaui., where he made a Lu- flration of the Inhabitants, viewing the Cities and Forts, giving Marks of his Favour, as in all other Places of the Empire. ' In his Travels he ufuaily faid, Thaf an Empe- ror ought to imitate the Sun.^ who carry* d his Light through all the Regions of the Earth ; and he generally travel'd on foot, ahvays with his Head bare, making no Difference between the frozen Alps., and the fcorching Sands of AE.- g\'pt. From Gaul he pafs'd into Germany^ ^\here he ftri6l- iy kept the Soldiers to Difcipline and Hardfhips, and carefully banifh'd all Luxury and Delicacies from the Camp ; particularly, he put down the Ufe of Arbors, (hady Walks and Grovqs among the Soldiers, and cut off many fupcrfiuous Expences of his Officers ; and to excite them by his own Example, he exercisM himfelf in all Hardfhips, fed upon their meanefl and coarfeft Proviiions, and often walk'd on foot twenty Miles together. After fome Chap. I. A D R I A N //^^ 1 5^^ Rom. Emp. 455 fome Stay in Germany he eiiterM Belgium^ and' from A. D. thence pafs'd over into Britain, where he rcform'd many 121. Abufes ; and for the better Eftablifhment of future Peace Hadri. and Security, he caus'd a mighty Wall to be made of ± Wood and Earth, extending from the River Edenin.Cum- J- her land to the Tine mNorthar^berland^^o Miles in length, w^hich miglit prevent the Incurlions of the wnld^xBritaws. This ftupendous Work was begun in the fourth Year of this Emperor's Reign : And having taken all necciTary Care in this Ifland, he returned into Gaul^ wliere he ere- died fome famous Buildings, and confcrr'd many Favours in that Country. Having thus vilited all Gaul and the Borders, he direded his Journey for Spain., v^here being a Native, he was magnificently received ; and after he had view'd many Places, lie took up his Winter-Quarters in Tarragon.^ where he call'd an AiFembly of all the Princes in Spain, and ordain'd YV.iiny things for the Good and Safety of the Country. In this Year the x^.gyptians., after . a long Conceahnent, finding one of their Sacred Bulls which they ador'd under the Title of Apis ; the fight of him caus'd the People of Alexandria ^ to fall into a great Tumult and Sedition. Adrian having thus travell'd over all Spain.^ and the Ea- A. D. ftern Parts of the Empire, return'd toward Rome., in A- 12.2. /?r;7, defigning after fome convenient Stay, to furvey the Hadri. reft of tlie Roman Dominions ; and at this Time he ap- A. pointed the exad Limits and Bounds of the Em- ^* pire, from the barbarous Nations in the North. Where there wanted Rivers and other natural Marks and Divifi- ons, he made ufe of large Stones, Pillars, Trees, and o- ther Things ; and to the High Germans., . who at that Time were free, he appointed a K^ing, which gain'd him much Refpeft from thofe People who were ready to re- volt. Continuing in Rome for a confiderable Space, to- wards the feventh Year of his Reign, he receiv'd Intelli- A. D, gence that the Parthtans began to make War upon the 123. Empire ; which caus'd him to haflcn his Journey into the Hadri. Eaft : And making all necellary Preparations, he refolv'd ^ to profecute the War in Perfon ; wiiich lb alarm'd the 7- Enemy, that they immediately fu'd for a Peace, and ob tain'd it. This gave Adrian an Opportunity of purfu ing his Travels without Moleftation ; and b-jgianing his Journey, he fhortly arriv'd in tb.e Lcficr Afia., furvey'd all its Provinces with S^jria^ erected many 7'emples and other ;publick Buildings, and then return'd into Greece \q thefa- E 4 mous 4f6 Cent. 11. Ecclefiaflicnl fltjlory. Book III. mous City o^ Athens, In this Place he made a long Stay, A. D. followM the Studies and Religious Rites of Greece^ took 124. upon him the Place and Honour oi Archon of Athens, ce- H^dri. lebratcd all their folemn Sports, and gave many particular 1. Laws and Privileges to the City; but efpccially he v^^asini- ^' tiatedinto their L/eufmiaK My ilerics^ w^hich were account- ed the mof^ facred and venerable of the whole Genttlc World, and by way of Eminence, were particularly ftyl'd,, 7^he Myflerics. Thefe were folemn and religious Rites perform'd to Ceres and Proferp'me^ in Memory of great Benefits received, whereof the Candidates were ftyfd 1./.V7CU' and to the full Participation of which, many times they were not admitted till after a five Years preparatory Trial, which had many feveral Steps, and each of them its peculiar Rites ; and after all, they were oblig'd under a folemn Oath, never to difcovcr thefe myflerious Rites. A. D. Y ^ y^g Chrifiians,^ tho' they often met with local ^^^/; and occafional Oppreffions, were much easM fincctheMi- Hadri. tigation of the Perfecution under Trajan^ but now there -^- arofe a mod grievous and heavy Perfecution of the Church, ^* as St, Jerom calls it ; which was occaiionM partly by the f-»fcb. Emperor's bufie, and fuperftitious Zeal for the Pagan Rites, and partly by the infamous Lives of the Gnoflicks and other Hcreticks, who bearing the Name of Chr'tftians,^ brought a Scandal and an Odium upon their ProfelTion. This by Reafon of its Sharpnefs and Continuance, has been calTd by feveral, T^he fourth General Perfecution \ but it is not generally fo accounted by the Ancients ; for T'er- tuUian fays, That Adrian publiOi'd no Laws or Edi6ls a- gainft the Chrijiians^ but the late Laws being unrepeal'd, there wanted not fuch as wou'd put them in Execution. So that it may not improperly be cali'd a Revival, or per- haps a Continuance of the Third General Perfecution^ which was not intirely ccas'd in T^rajan^s Reign. The Severity of this Perfecution appc^ars from the great Num- ber of Martyrs, miention'd in the old Martyrologies. We are told that Arrius Antoninus ( whom fome fuppofe the fame with Adrians Succelfor) being then Proconful of Afi^', and a fevcre Perfccutor, all the Chriftians of the Ci- ty where he refide^ unanimouHy befet his Tribunal, open- ly confefiing their Religion. Being amaz'd at the Multi- tude, he causM fome few of them to be put to Death, telling the reft. That if they defir''d to end their Lives^ they bad/ Precipices and H^lteYsi enough,^ and need nqt throng /^?- th^r Chap.L kDKlk^ the \^'^ Rom. E?np, 4^7 therfor Execution. As to the Martyrs, we have the Names and Accounts of many thatfufter'd in Rome ^i\d Italy., tho* not from very ancient Authors; particularly £»y'?^?c/3//\-] ^^* Ihop of Antioch after the Apoftles, and continued about 14 ■^«/'^« Years. In the fame Year, and twelfth of Adrian^ dy'd SixtHs or Xijlns Bilhop of Rome^ and as fome believe was martyr'd, after he had held this Dignity about ten Years ; being fucceeded by Telefphorus^ a Grecian by Birth, who continu'd about eleven Years, and was the feventh Bifliop of Rome after St. Peter and St. Paul, In the fol- A. D lowing Year dy'd the celebrated Jujlus Bifhop of Alexan- 129.* ,^r/^, after about eleven Years continuance in that Office ; Hadri. and was fucceeded by Eumenes,^ the fij^th Bifhop of this iz City, after the Evangelift St. Mark,^ who continu'd Bifliop 13. about thirteen Years. About this Time the Emperor Adrian abolifli'd an impi- ous and Pagan Cuftom, too often us'd in fome Parts and upon fome Occafions ; which was the offering Men in their Sacrifices to the Heathen Deities. And now having Dim. continu'd near three Years in Rome^ he refolv'd upon a ^jP"'"'* farther Survey of the Empire, and crofs'd the Mediterra- nean Sea into Africk ; where he was receiv'd with incredi- ble Satisfadion, not only for the Efteem which the Inha- bitants had for him, but becaufe his Arrival was attended with plentiful Showers of Rain, v/hich the Country had wanted for five Years together. After many Regulations A. D. and Buildings appointed, he return'd to Rome a fifth Time, 13^: where he built a new Temple under the Name of Roma Hadrt, and Venn^ ; and fuddenly got ready for a new Journey in- 1> to the Eali. He travell'd a fecond Time into Greece,^ and ^-^ viewing all Parts, he caus'd thofe Buildings and Temples to be finiih'd, which he formerly order'd to be begun, and enjoin'd 46o Cent. II. EcclejiafttcalHzftory. Book III. cnjoiii'd others to be built. And thus contiiiumg his Jour- ney, he paiVd over into the Le/Ter Afia^ and from thence Jnto^)T/^: where by Letters and Envoys he invited all the Kings, Tetrarchs and Potentates in thufc Parts, not only Subjeds and Allies, but alio Neighbours and Strangers, to confult and converfe with him in that Country. Among this numerous and fplendid Concourfe, the King of Par- thta was one, to whom he freely fent his Daughter, who had been taken Prifoner hy Trajan in the former Wars ; for which generous hSi many came to his Court to vifit, ho- nour, and acknowledge him ; all whom he recciv'd with fuch uncommon Courteiie and Civility, as raisM the Envy and Concern of all others who had negleded this Oppor- tunity. ir#».8cc. About the Year 130, there arofe certain Hereticks callM Carpocrat'tans^ fo nam'd from Carpocrates of Alexandria^ a Magician and Platonick Philofopher, whom Eufebius ac- counts the Father of the Gmfticks. Thefe however may be called a chief Branch of the Gnofltcks^ who held their principal Errors, and like them allow'd of Community of Women, and the moH: impudent and fcahdalous Adions imaginable ; and by that means brought an Odium upon the Chriftians in general, a6ling all thofe Impieties with which the Pagans charg'd Chnjl'ianity. As for their Theo- logy, they held among other Things, that Jefus Chr'tfl was but pure Man, and the Son oij'jlph-^ and that his Soul received more Energy from God, whilfl it dwelt with him before its Union with the Body, than -other Souls did; and that God was thus liberal to it, to enable it to overcom.e the Devils, who had created the World. They rejedcd the Old Teftament, but in the New allow'd of St. Mat- thevf% Gofpel, yet deny'd the Refurredion of the Dead, and perfuaded themfelves that there was no fuch Thing as Evil in Nature, but only in Mens Imaginations. Car- pocrates left a Son behind him nam'd KftphaniHs^ who tho* he dy'd young, by means of the Platonick Philofophy, ex- treamly fpread the Fables, and abfurd Sentiments of his Father. The Libertinifm and impious Pradices of this Se6l, afterwards produced another prodigious Herefie, callM that of the Adamites^ of which one ProdtcMs was Head. This Sed made it their Bufinefs to imitate Adarfi's Naked- ' nefs before his Fall, imagining themfelves as innocent as He, fince their Redemption by the Death of Chrifl ; and therefore met together naked, aflerting, that if Adam had not finn'd, there wou'd have been no Marriages. Thefe ^ appeared Chap. I. A'Dl^lM>ithei^'^^Rom.Emp, 461 appeared about forty Years after the Carpocratiam. But t.a return to the Year 130, about this Time, a Colledioii was made of Greek Verfes, divided into eight Books, call'd by the Name of the Sibylline Oracles^ taken as they feem fi-om Prophefies, Hiftories, and Dogmas out of both Teflaments. They are fuppos'd to have been colle6led, if not forg'd, by fome Platonic k Chrijlian of Alexandria^ and were otten us'd in Defence of the Chnjitan Reh'gion againlt the Pa- gans. The Emperor Adrian^ having linifh'd his magnificent A, D. Entertainments in the Eaft, after a Survey of iSj-r/V?, en- 131/ ter'd Paleftine and Judcea^ vifiting all the principal Cities ; Hadri. after v^hich he fet forv^ards, and did the like in the fub- jj^. du'd Parts o^ Arabia. In the fame Year, the famous Ju- i/7 rifconfult or Law^yer, Salvius Julianus^, by the Emperor's Order compos'd that Law callM the Perpetual Edi^; be- ing a Colledion of Rules to be obfervM by all fucceeding PraDtors and Governors of Provinces, that Juftice might be uniform in the Empire ; and call'd Edi<^u;n Perpetuura, ^ becaufe it was to continue in Force for ever. From Ara- A. D, hia Adrian pafs'd into JE^ijpt.^ where he loft a dear and 132. beautiful Companion call'd Antinous ; for whom he wept Hadrf, with all the Tendernefs and Weakncfs of a Woman, and 2J, fhew'd the highefl Refpe6l: for his Memory. Some re- '*" port that this Youth devoted himfelf a Sacrifice for the Emperor; others that he was what his Beauty might pro- bably incite him to be, and the too great Pleafure Adrian took in unnatural Love . He was fo fuperftitious in this Matter, that the Grecians by his Order made a God of him , whence in an ancient Infcription at Rorne^ he is flil'd, The AJfeJfor of the Gods in J^gypt. He alfo built a Crty to him in the Place where he dy'd, call'd Antinoe^ ereded a Temple, and appointed Priefts and Prophets to attend it, inftituted annual Solemnities, and every five Years facred. Games, held not only in JEgypt., but in other Parts. Ma- ny of the Pagans themfelves derided the Emperor's Eolly and Weaknels, and this new Augmentation to Idolatry prov'd the flrengthning of Chriftianity . About the fame Time Adrian commanded the holy City Jerufalem to be rebuilt with great Charge; which was perform'd with ad- mirable Expedition, principally by the AfTiflance of the Jews., who began much to raife their fliort-liv'd Hopes and Expedations. In this the Emperor put a Roman Co- lony, and built a Temple to' Jupiter CapitoUnns., in the Room of the Temple of God, which extreamly oficnded the _ ^6i Cent. II. Ecclejiajiical Hiflory, Book III. the y^u^j, and afterwards rais'd greater Mi fchiefs than ever; and he likewife chang'd its former Name, and call'd it jElia Capitoiina^ which was done in the i6th Year of his Reign, and 62 Years after its Deftru6lion by Titus. A. D. I'he following Year is remarkable for the Death of the 133. Herefiarch Bafilides in Alexandria'^ but much more for the Hadri. Convcrfion of the famous Juftm^ the Philofopher and }^ Martyr to the Chrlflian Religion, now about 30 Years of '7» Age. This Juflin was a Native of the City of Sychem or Neapolis in Palefttm^ near Jacobs Well and Mount Ge- rizim, the Son of Prifcus ; he was a Grecian by Birth and Religion, but having in vain fought for the true God a- mong all the Seds of the P«^^;^ Vhilofophcrs, and chiefly among the Pfatonicks^ was converted to the Chrijiian Faith in a private Conference between him" and a certain ancient Man unknown to him, who advis'd him to adhere to the Prophets. The Study of thefe, and the other Friends to Chriftiamty^ together with the continual Examples of the Innocency of the Chriftians Lives, and the Conftancy of their Deaths, intirely gain'd his Heart ; but he did not lay afide his Habit nor Profeffion, but added to his great Skill in the Heathen Philofophy, a profound Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, becoming the principal and moft eminent A- I^- Champion of Chriftiamty. In the mean Time the Empe- 134- ror Adrian., having been above a Year and a hiX^mMgypt ^adri. and thofe Parts, quitted that Country, and return'd with a F- Defign to. winter in Athens. In this City, being difpleas'd with the ALgyptians., he wrote a Satyrical Letter to Servi- an's the Conful, giving a very detradting Charader of them, and the Chrijiians amongtl them : And fo much of it as concerns the latter, we Ihall tranfcribe from Vopifcus Saturninus. I have given my (elf a perfect Underftanding o/iEgypt; which you .^ my well heloved^tx.\\5X\\x%^ didfome- time recommend to me. They are a light inconjlant People.^ always inSufpence., and veering with every Stroke of Fortune. Thofe who worjhip the God Serapis, are neverthelefs Chrifti- ans ; and Men who call themfelves the Bijhops of Ghrift, are alfo Votaries ^0 Serapis. There is no Ruler of the Synagogues of the Jews, no Samaritan, no Presbyter of the Chriftians, no Aflrologer., no Magician., no Phyjician^ but he worjjoips Serapis. The Patriarch himfelf of A\tX2Ln.^n?iwhen he come i hither., is by fome obliged to adore Serapis, by others to adore Chrirt. Serapis is a common God to them all. Him the Chriftians, ^)&^ Jews, and Per f on s of all Nations worpip. — From this Epiftle, it is believ'd, that Adrian^ according to his 18. Chap. I. ADRIAN the if^ Rom Emp. 4 65 his changeable Humour, had perfecuted the Chrlftians in Alexandria^ while he was there, and compeird fome light or falfe ProfefTors to worfiiip the Deities of the Country, which probably gave ground to his Cenfure, and to his charging the Imputation upon alL And about this Time it is laid, that two Perfons, namM Apelles and AriJloK^ prefented Apologies to the Emperor ; but we have no Ac- count of the Particulars. :«K. y I . The great LofTes that the Jew^ fuilainM under ^i* the Emperor Trajan fo far humbled them as to briiig them ^^^*' to a reafonable Quietnefs ; but gathering Strength again, they were provok'd to a general Revolt and Rebellion, part- ly by Adrian'% building a P^^^;^ Temple ixs.Jeruj'alem^ and partly by his forbidding them the Ufe of Circumcilion, as Spartian tells us. They began their Rebellion fliortly af- ter Adrian left Mgyft and the Eafl, being headed and coi| iirm'd by an Impoftor, who by the Help of lighted Flax feem'd to vomit Flames of Fire, pretending he came down as a Light from Heaven, to deliver them from Tyranny and Bondage ; and declaring, 'That he was the very Star foretold by Balaam; from whence he was call'd by the Name of B^rcotr^^, lignifying the Son of a Star ^ and accord- ingly was worfhip'd and receiv'd as the Mejjlah : Which involv'd the Jews of all Kfations into this Sedition, But this Impoftor adted more like a Robber than a King; for gathering vaft Numbers together, they began with a barba- rous ravaging of all Judcca^ Galilee and Syria^ and fell moll feverely upon the innocent C/^rz/^/W/, uiing all Kinds of Cruelties to compel them to renounce and blafpheme the true Mejfiah^ and tormenting them alfo becaufe tliey refusM to join in their Rebellion. In the Beginning Ti- mus Rufusy Governor of Judcea^ having fome Auxiliary Forces fent him by the Emperor, march'd out againil the Multitude; and making Ufe of their Madnefs and D^fpe- ration as an Occafion of his fparing none, he flew infinite Numbers of all Ranks, Men, Women and Children, At firft the Romans defpis'd the Power of the 'Jews\ but in a Ihort Time, their Numbers did fo prodigiouOy incrcafe from all Parts of the Empire, as expeding a Deliverance, that Adrian was conftrain'd to fend his bed Forces and mofl: experienc'd Commanders againil thcfe obftinate and perfidious People. And Matters were now brought to that Extremity, that Dton tells, us, that the whole World was in a manner fhaken by this terrible Commotion of the Jews. The chief Roman Commander was Julius Se- verus^ 464 Cent. II. Ecclejlaftical Hifiory. Book HI. verus^ Governor of Britain^ who with great Difficulties divided their united Forces, gain'd fcvcrai bloody Vi6i:o-* ries, and in the firrt Year of the War, belieg*d, demolifli'd and burnt the new City o^Jerufalem. A. D. But the principal and moft remarkable Adion, hapned 135-. in the fecond Year of this War; v/hich was the Siege of Hadri. Bether or Bitthcr by the Romans^ a very ftrong Place, not j£_ far from Jerufakm^ whither vaft Numbers of the Jews i> were retired, as to their lad Refuge. This Siege was long and miferable to the Jews^ who were rcduc'd to all the Extremities of Hunger and Third, and at length fubdu'd with a moft terrible Slaughter, in the latter End of the 1 8th Year of Adrian^ and the Month Auguft^ in which Month, as St. Jerom obferves, Jerufalem was formerly ta- ken by Nebuchad-.nezzar^ and alfo the Temple deftroy'd by Titus. The Jewi/h Writers and Rabbins do reprefent the doleful Slaughter at Bcthcr^ as the mod deplorable Stroke that ever their Nation received, befides the Deitru6lion of "Jerufalem by Titns. Som^e of their Expreffions concern- ing the Slaughter are to this ^urpofe : ' The Horfes waded * in Blood up to the Nodrils ; there were flain four hun- ' dred thoufand ; and Adrian wall'd a Vineyard of iixteen ' Miles about with dead Bodies. There were found the ' Brains of three hundred Children upon one Stone ; and ' three Chefts full of tatter'd Philaderies, containing three * Buihels every Ched. £«/fi. In the mean Time, the Emperor Adrian having wintered Dion. at Athens^ was again admitted into the Grand Elc/ifiman $aru Myderies, which were diderent from thofe he had obtain'd nine or ten Years before, thefe being folemniz'd only once in four Years, in the fecond of every Olympiad. After thefe and many other Pa^an Ceremonies, the Emperor re- folv'd to conclude his whole Journey, and return to Rome for the red of his Days, having fpent about thirteen Years in furveying the Empire, befides the feveral Times of his Continuance at Rome. This was the fixth and lad Time of his Return to the City, where his Entrance was ex- ceeding grateful to the People ; and tho' he began to be old and unv/ieldly, he was no lefs diligent in the pub- lick Adminidration than formerly. He niade feveral new Laws and Ordinances ; particularly he forbad Maders to kill their Slaves, as had been before allow'd, but order'd them to be try'd by the Laws in all Capital Crimes. He alfo ordain'd that all fuch Perfons as wilfully confum'd their Eftates, diould be fird exposM to pubiick Shame in the 2.0, Chap. I. A D RI A N //j^ I fth Rom. Emp, 465 the Amphitheatre, and then turn'd out of the City.^ And now finding himfclf indifpos'd, and without an Heir, he took Care for a SuccefTor ; and after many Confutations about fo weighty a Matter, he at length made Choice of Lucius Commodus^ tho' contrary to the Advice of his Council, a Thing not ufual 'till then. He iniifted upon the Virtues and Merits of the Perfon, and having adopted him, and entituled him Ccc[ar^ he changed his Name to JEl'ius Veriis\ ordering likewife the Celebration of the Circenfian Games, and a Donative to the Soldiers and People. Not long after, he commanded Severianus^ ^ A T) great and popular Man, to be flain, together with his ^' ^' own Nephew Fufcm., upon Sufpicion of Treafon and ri^ • defign'd Ufurpation : He likewife commanded fome o- "^^^^' thers to be put to Death upon Pretences not wholly jufti- ^ ^ fiable, his Infirmities now difclofing his innate Cruelty, which alfo had before this Time fhewn it felf too openly in fome Inftances. In this Year, after many violent Struggles and Contefls, Julius Severus ended the Jewijh War ; and tho' he came off Conqueror, yet he wou'd not have chofen many Tri- umphs at the Price of fo much Blood. But the extraor- dinary Strength that was now in the Jews was given them for their Dcflrudlion, and the more dangerous this Rebellion had been, the more fevere was the Emperor's Punifhment, and the greater his Care in preventing the like Mifchiefs for the future. The War was concluded in near three Years Time, with the Death of their falfe MeJJiah^ the De- moliilimcnt of fifty of their ftrongeft Cities, the Deflru- 6tion of 9S5' of their bed Towns, and the Death of 5-80 thoufand Men in feveral Battels and Skirmilhes,befides in- finite Numbers of others confum'd by Famines, Fires and Difcafes; fo that^their whole Land was laid wafte and de- folate, and there feem'd to be almoft an utter Extirpation of they d-iui/?? Name and Nation. Their own Writers tell us, that twice the Number o^ Jews perifh'd upon this Oc- cafion than ever came out o'l Mgyft\ and that they fuffer'd more under Adrian.^ than under Neb7uhadnezzar^ or under 'Titus ; fo heavy was the Hand of Heaven upon this wretch- ed Generation. Dio tells us that this Defolation was fore- told by the falling afunder of Solomon's Sepulchre, and by Wolves and Hyaena's, who howl'd about the Streets, and devour'd People in the Fields. Thofe Jews that furviv'd this fecond Ruin of their Nation, were fold in incredible Numbers, of all Ages and Sexes, like Dogs and Horfes in Vol. II. F * publick 466 Cent. II. Ecclefiaftkd Hiftory. Book III. publick Markets appointed for that purpofc. Others were tranfported into Mgypt^ and other Countries, where fome perilh'd by Shipwrecks, fome by Famine, and others were Hain like Beafts by the Pagans. This was the lad and mod dreadful Difperiion of the Jews^ when they were forbidden fo much as to fet foot on, or come in View of their own Soil or Land, becoming Sojourners and Strangers in all Nations, and like Caw^ Fugitives and Vagabonds through- out the whole World; and like him having alfo a Mark upon them, that they might not be utterly exterminated. And by this Means alfo the Providence of God advanced the Chrijiia?t Religion, and now entirely freed it from the Servitude of the Law; for 'till now, not only ihtChriJiians of Judcea^ but alfo the BiOiops of Jervfalcm^ were of the Circumcilion ; and, as far as was conlillent with Chrifti- anity^ kept to the Obfervations of the Law. From the Death oi Simeon in 107, to this Difperiion, there were 13 Bifhops o^ Jerufalem ', of whom we have only the Names, viz. Juflus^ Tjuchcew^ T'oh'tas^ Beitjamm^ John^ Matthias^ I* hilt f^ Seneca^ Juftus^ Leviy Ephrem^ j^^J^P^-t ^nd 'Judas^ who was the laft Chriftian Bifhop of the Circumcifion. This gr^eat Difperiion Iiapned in the 20th Year of theReigti of Adrian., under the Confulfhips of Commodus and Pom- peianus., 103 Years after our Saviour's Crucifixion, 66 after the Deftru^ion of the Temple by Tttus^ and 36 atter the Death of the laft Apoftle St. John. t.\.^^'- CHAP. Chap. II. ADRIAN the i st^i Rom. Emp. 467 C H A P. II. - From the laft and entire T>iJperJion of the Jews, to the Beginning of the fourth Gene- ral Terfect^tion of the Church-, under the Emperor M. Aurelius, or Antoninus Phi- ' lofophus. Containing the Space of about zf Tears. IJk FTER all thefe deplorable Misfortunes that be- A. D. * /-\ £e\ the Jews ^ the Emperor y^^r;^;?, confidering 137. -^ A that the Remains of their holy City and Temple Hadri. was one great Caufe of their Rebellion, order'd the very ^ Marks and Reli6l;s, efpecially of the Temple, to be entire- »i. ly raz'd, and to be plow'd up according to the Roman Cu- p^^^,, ftom ; which was the higheft Mark of their Ignominy, and £«/>&. final Defolation, and alfo the full Accomplilhment of all &=. our Saviour's Prcdi6lions. This was compleated in the Month of Auguft ; and at the fame Time, all the Jews in Palejline^ who were yet unfold, were banifli'd for ever out of their own native Country, and their whole Race for- bidden to fet Foot upon, or fo much as to come within . View of Jerufalem^ even from the highefl: Hill, upon pain of immediate Death. Only with great Difficulty they ob- tain'd the Favour, of going every Year, upon the loth Day of Auguft^ to approach the Place, and to deplore their un- exprclliblc Lois and Mifery ; and, as St. Jerom adds, to admire the Completion of all the ancient Prophefies. In the fame Year Adrian^ out of the Afhes and Ruins of the old City build a new one ; and the better to efface the Name of yerufaUm^ he call'd it JEUa Capitoli-aa^ as he had done before this laft Revolt, by which Name it was call'd for feveral Ages ; cauling it alfo to be inhabited wholly by Romans and Foreigners. This City much differ'd from the other in the Situation ; for Mount Calvary^ the ordi • nary Place of Execution, was now inclos'd within the Walls of it, and Mount Shn^ the Place of the Temple, and all the Southern Parts of the old City, excluded, left de- folate, and afterwards cover'd with Wood, Herbs andRub- billi, Adrian ercdcd alfo a Roman Theatre in this new F 2 City, 4^8 ' Cent. II. 'EccleJiaJlkalWflory. Book Ilf, City, employing for this Edifice, and his idolatrous Tem- ples here, the fame Stones that had'fervM for the Temple and San6l:aary of the living God. And to prophane this City after the mod notorious manner, he caus'd to be en- graven, and put upon the Gate leading to Bethlehem the Figure of a Swine; v^hich, of all Beads, the Jeivijh Na- tion mod abhorr'd. Then, not contented vi^ith that Mark of Slavery, he eredled alfo a Statue to the Honour oi Ve- nus^ in the Place w^herc our Lord v^as crucify'd; and ano- ther to Jupiter^ where he was bury'd ; and a Temple to Adonis^ at Bethlehem^ where he was born : All which flood 'till the. Time oiConfiantine, The fad Defolation of the j'^^wj- open'd the Eyes of great Numbers, who now clearly faw the Hand of Heaven, and more readily embraced Chrijiiamty ; and as this new City became inhabited, fo in a fliort Time a new Church of Chr'ifiians was eftabliOi'd here, confiding all oi Genttle Cow- verts, and of fuch as entirely renounced Circumcifion, and the Ceremonies of the Law. Of thefe St. Mark was the fird Bifhop, a mod learned and celebrated Perfon, who continu'd in the Place about 19 or 20 Years; being the firft Bifhop of Jerufalem of the Uncircumcifion. In the Beginning the Chnftiuns of this City flourifh'd beyond all Expedation, and became fo renown'd for the Eminency of their Miracles, that /iqiiiia himfelf, the Emperor's Father- in-law, and whom he had made Governor and Overfeer of the Buildings of the City, being convinc'd,was baptiz'd^ and embraced Chrijiiamty. This Aqiiila w^as a Native of Sim-pe in Fontus.^ but tho' he changM his Religion, yet he did not forfake all his Errors ; fo that dill purfuing his old Magick, and his adrological Studies, notwithdanding the frequent Admonitions that were given him, he was cad out of the Church, as an irreclaimable Perfon. Which he refented as fo great an Afrront, that he renounc'd the Faith, was circumcis'd, and became a Jewtjh Profclyte ;, after which he made himfelf Mader of thc//::Z'r£-ivTonguej and tranflated the Bible into Greeks with Defign both to ruin the Reputation of the Septuagmt^ and to corrupt and darken the Frophefies relating to our Saviour. This Tran- flation is highly edecm'd by the Jevjs., who account it the mod exa6t of all others. dpittt. ii"^ the Year 138, and 21 d of AJria?!^ dy'd L.Comyr^odas., on the firft Day or Jan/iary ; upon which, not long atter^ on the 25'th oi Ft'brnary.^ the Emperor . adopted Titris Anto- ninus^ an emineut IV^aii, afterwards firnamM P/>//, at the fame Chap. I. A N T. P lU S /^^ i6'^ Rom. Emp. 469 fame Tiine obliging him , to adopt two others, nam^.ly, Marcus Aurcltus^ and Lucius yerus^two promiling Youths, whp afterwards became Emperors. All which being .ccounts he had the Sirname of Pius given him by the Senate, who at the fame Time flifd him, Father ot Vir- tues. He fhew'd himfelf exceeding affable, eafie, and plea- lant to all Men ; an4 he often wiih'd, To bg fuck (frf ium F 3 ^'oar 47© Cent. II. EccleJtafticalHiftory, Book III. feror to his People^ as He^ if he were a deprived Perfoff^ ivou'd deftre another Prince to he. But he was very fl:ri6l as to his Servants Advantages, and tc(>k a particular Care that none of his Courtiers fhou'd make any Profit of his Favours to another, nor take Bribes or Gratuities of fuch as were Suiters to him; for which Rcafon he generally gave Audience and Anfwer to all Men himfelf in Perfon; ' and in thefe Matters he knew the Qualifications and Dif- ference between Men to an extraordinary Perfe6tion. He always punifli'd Criminals with great Cbmmiferation, and often pardon'd them, whenever he faw a fair Profped of their Amendment; and to fuch as often difcours'd with him of the Valour of Julim Ccefar^ and other Heroes, his common Anfwer was, T'h^it he more defir'^d the Preferva- tion of one Friend or Subjeil.^ than the Death of a thoufand Enemies. Thofe few Wars he had in the Beginning of his Reign, gained him fuch Reputation in all Parts, that for many Years after he rul'd the World by his own Au- thority, with little or no Bloodflied ; fo that Aur. Vi^or alTures us, That all Kings, Nations and People flood in awe of him, and at the fame Time fo lov'd and efteem'd him, That they accounted him rather their Father and Pa- tron, than their Lord and Emperor; and all unanimoully chofe him for their Judge and Arbitrator of Controverfies, looking upon him as tho' he had come down from Hea- ven. In fliort, Pofterity had fo great a Veneration for his Memory, that for near a hundred Years, the Soldiers and Roman People wou'd not look upon any Man as their Emperor, 'till he had taken upon him the Name of Anto- ninus. Antoninus^ according to his merciful Temper, made it his firft Care to free thofe Perfons, whom Adrian in his lad Sicknefs had mark'd out for Death ; declaring. That Adrian, (f^^ had recover"* d.,wou d have done the fame. Then taking his Remains to Rome., v/ith great Solemnity he bu- ry'd them there; and, notwithftanding he was much op- posed, he deify 'd Adrian^ according to the Roman and Pa- gan Cuftom. Then he made it his Bufinefs to feek for Men able to govern the Provinces of the Empire ; always conferring great Honours upon Lovers of Juftice, and the mofr dcfcrving Perfons. He exa6lly informed himfelf of the Revenues of the Publick ; but was never fatisfy'd with the Gain that aroie from an opprefs'd Province ; being very ready to hear all Complaints made againft his Colle- ctors and other like Officers. And to fiicw his great Li- berality Chap.II. ANT. PIUS thei6'^ Rom.Emp. 471 beralitv and Bounty, he foon gave away mofl: of his for- mer Edate and Goods in Favours and Ads of Charity; fo that w^hen his Emprefs Faujima repin'd at his Genero- lity, he reprehended her as ignorant, and gave her to un- deriland, That as foon as he was pojjejyd of the Empire^ he quitted all private Inter efts^ and had nothing of his own^ but that aU belong d to the Publick. In Matters of Equity and juft Government, he was no Icfs vigilant than his Predc- celfor Adrian ; but he went contrary to his Opinion as to Travels, and refolv'd never to depart from Rome during his Reign, only for Hunting and ordinary Recreations. Un- der this mild and generous Government, the Chrijiians cn- joy'd a happy Tranquillity, and great Profperity; tho' the Heathens^ who generally afcrib'd all publick Calamities to them, cou'd not want Opportunities and Pretences of af- fliding them ; fo that this excellent Reign was not wholly without Martyrs ; particularly Telefphorus Bifhop of Rome^ who fufFer'd in the firft Year, after he had been 11 Years Bilhop. He was fucceeded by Hyginus^ an Athenian by Birth, Son of a Philofopher, who continu'd about four Years, and v/as the eighth Bilhop of Korne after St. Peter and St. Paul. In the following Year, Antoninus the Emperor marry'd A. D. hisT)aughter Faujima to Marcus Aurelius^ and made him 139. Cccfar; gave a King to the Quadi, and another to the Ar- An.Pii menians. About the fame Time, Jujiin Martyr., after fc- i_ veral Journies and Voyages, fix'd his Habitation principally ^• at Rome., dwelling, as appears from the Ads of his Martyr- dom, about the Timothine Baths., which were upon the Viminal Mount. Here he made many Converts, and kept a fort of a School for the Benefit of the Gofpel ; and a- mong his Scholars, 7"^^/^;^ was mod celebrated, who after- wards became the Head of a Se6l call'd the Encratites. JuJlin ftrenuoufly employ'd himfelf to defend and promote the Caufe of Chrijiianity^ and particularly to confute and beat down theHerefies that then moft infeded the Church, writing a Book againft all forts of Herelies. And now A- D. there was fufficient Occafion for hi^ Pen, for about the j ^.q^ fame Time two grand Hereiiarchs came to Ro-me^ Falen- \^>^^ p;f tinus and Cerdo. The former was an /Egyptian., learned z and eloquent, and made Profefnon of Plato'^ Philotbphy ; "^"^ who being highly ambitious, and difpleas'd at another's being preferr'd to a Bifhoprick before him, in a great Mea- fure quitted his Faith with his Country; and coming to Home., under the notion of an orthodox Chnjlian., by ni^ F 4 liifi- 472 Cent. If. Ecckfiaftical Hiflory. Book III. Infinuations created infinite Mifchiefs. Cerdo came out of Syr'ia^ and fpread his damnable Opinions at Rome ; but by his open Abjuration of them, he found greater Opportu- nity of venting them, and in a fhort Time producM that notorious Sedt callM the MarcionHcs. In the Year 140, the great Aftronomcr Phlegon of Trallia^ the Emperor A- dnafi\ Freed-Man, finifh'd his famous Calculation of the Olympiads'^ in which he particularly takes notice of that miraculous Eclipfe of the Sun that hapncd at our Saviour's Paflion. ^' ^' Ayitoninus reigning in all Profperity, in the third Year A^^^D-- ^^^"^^ Government, his Emprefs Fauftina dy'd; and tho' An^ ru f}^g ^^5 2 bad Woman, the Senate out of Love to her -^- Husband appointed her a Temple and Prieilelfes, publick ^' Games to her Honour, and Statues of Gold and Silver. The Emperor admitted of all this Paganijh Superftition, and made himfelf a charitable Eftablifliment for the Main- tenance of certain young Children, v\^hom he call'd by the Name of Fauftind's Children, in Memory of his deceased ^- -*-■'• Emprefs. In the following Year he inftituted new Games 142.^^ at p7itcoli^ in Honour of his Predeceffor Adrian to be fo- An.Pii lemniz'd every five Years under the Title of Pia or Pia^ "t ^a. In which Year, /j^^g-zW/^j-, after he had been four Years ^' Bi(hop of Rome^ dy'd; and was fucceeded by Pius 1, an Italian of Aquileia^ Son of Ruffi-aus^ who continu'd in the Chair about 15" Years, and was the ninth BiHiop of Rome after St. Peter and St. Paul. About the fame Time dy'd Ftrrmms Bifhop of Alexandria^ after he had held this Dignity about thirteen Years, and was fucceeded by Marcus^ a Per- fon of noted Piety, the fevcnth Bifhop of this City after the Evangelifi St. Mark^ who continu'd in the Place about ten Years. Belides thefe Changes and Succeffions, in the lame Year dy'd Cornelius Bilhop of the third capital City Antioch^ after 14 Y'^ars continuance in that See ; being fucceeded by Fros^ who was the fifth Bifhop of Antioch^ after the Apodles, and continu'd fuch for about 26 Years. A. D. About the fifth Year of the Emperor's Reign, i^alenti- 143, 'i^^^ having perverted many, and difcover'd his abomina- Ai>- Pii Die Errprs, was cenfur'd by the Church, and entirely ex- s eluded the Congregation ; which was fo far from hum- ^] blinf^ him, that retiring to Cyprus^ he fpread the Venom of r^vifh, his Do6l:rinc with greater Boldnefs than ever ; and form'd ^''"•^ a Se61, which prov'd as flrong and numerous as any be- fore, and continu'd 'till the fourth Century. Valentinus form'd his Notions from Pa^an fhilofophers and Poeti«-, ■ . and Chap. II. A'^T.VIVS the j&^Rom. Emp, 473 and imagined certain Gods to the Number of thirty, which he call'd ALones^ that is Ages^ out of the Poet Heftod's^'^- bles. He wou'd have fifteen of tlie thirty to be Male, and the- other fifteen Female; and atfirm'd, that our Savi- our fprung, like another Pandurc^ out of their Mixture ; adding, that he pafs'd with a Body brought out of tlea- ven through the Virgin, as through a Conduit or Pipe. This Se6t was a Branch of the Gmjlkks^ and all the Va- lentimans glory'd in that Name. They conllituted three Orders of Men, the Spritiuil^ the Animal^ and the Car- nal ; affirming that theriril fhouM be fav'd by thdr Know- ledge, the fecond by their Works, and the third had no Sahation at all. They held that Chrtft had a fintallical or imaginary Body upon Earth, and ridicul'd the Ortho- dox for alferting his two Natures. They deny'd the Rc- furredion of the Body, held a Tranfmigration of Souls, and believ'd with the Anthro^oraorphites^ that -God had a Body, and of Human fliape, with many other abfurd Opi- nions. In the next Year according to 'J^ertulltan^ began A. D. the famous Hereiie of the Marc'wmtes^ which took its 144. Name from Marcion^ a Perfon of S'lm^e in Pontus^ who An. Pii in his younger Years follow'd the Stoick Philofophy ; but __£ being convided of Uncleanefs with a Virgin, he was ex- 7- communicated by his Father, who was a pious Man and a Bilhop. Upon wiiich, auer the Death of Hygmus Bi- fnop of Rnme^ he repaired to that City ; where, not being admitted to the Ecclefiaftical Communion, becaufe his Father ilill oppos'd it, he out of Revenge threatned to form a Schifm that fhou'd lafl: for ever ; and accordingly he joyn'd with Cerdo then in Rome^ embraced his Herefie, and added many other Errors, together with almoft all ' thofe of the Vaienttmans and Gnojiicks. He held with Cer- do two feveral Gods, the one Good, and the other Evil ; the latter he faid was the Creator of the World, and the Author of the Law ; and the former the Redeemer of the World, and the Author of the Gofpel. Or;^-^;? affirms, that he fuppos'd there was a God of the Jews^ a God of the Chrifttans^ and a God o'l i\\QGe:-2t:les. TerlnMia-/! fpeolis of nine, and curioufly obferves the reft of his Opinions ; as, that he dcny'd the Refurrc6lion of the Body, rejeded the Incarnation of our Saviour, and all the Old Teila- ment, with moft: of the New ; condemned Marriage, ex- cluding Married Perfons from Salvation; allow*dPerfons to be Baptized three feveral Times, and the Living fome- times to be Baptized in the Room of the Dead ; and alfo ' " . ■" • Womea 474 Cent, IL Ecclejiaflical Hijlory, Book« III. Women to adminifter the Sacraments. The DiTcipIes of this Herefiarch added many other Errors to his Dogma's ; which in no long Time were fpread abroad in ALgyp^ Sy- ria and Arabia^ as far as Perjia. ^ -Q As this Age produc'd Abundance of Herefies, that hin- j\^ - * der'd the Advancement of the Chrljl'ian Faith, fo it was A D. ^^ ^^^^ ^^i^^^ in great Numbers of fpurious and dangerous ' ^ * Books ; promoted, no doubt, by the Prince of Darknefs, ^ ' to obfufcate the Brightnefs of the Gofpel. Among thefe, we may name the Hiftories of Seth^ Enochy Cham^ &c. the Prayers oi'J[ofeph^ mt AJfumption of Abraham^ the Tc- ftameat of Mofes^ the Repentance of Adam^ the Hiftory N oSJannes and Jambres^ the Te(tament ofjoby the Afcen- fion of Efaiasy the Gofpel of Jr^dai according to Bajilides^ the Gofpel of Nicodemns^ the Book of Zacharias^ the A- fcenfion of St. Faul^ with a Multitude of the like fabulous and pernicious Writings, which are now happily perifhM. But to return from fpurious to genuine Writings, about A. D. the tenth Year of this Empe; or, Appion of Alexandria fi- i^y, nifh'd his tamous Work o/ oie Roman Hiftory ; of which An.Pii we have a confiderabic Part ftill remaining. In which 9 Year, which was juil: 900 Years after the Building theCi- 10. ty of Rome^ the Emperor order'd the Celebration of the grand Secular Games^ as it were folemnixing the Birth- Day of the City ; all which were performed with great Pomp and Magnificence, in which were expos'd infinite variety of ftrange Bcafls, and other Animals. This was the third Time that thefe Games were celebrated lince the Birth of our Saviour, which was 5'9 Years after the laft nnder Domifian^ and 100 after thofe under Ci audi u^^ whofe Example and Method Antoninus follow'd. The following j^^ J)^ Year was attended with another Solemnity, which was 148. the Emperor's Decennalia ; for liaving finifli'd his firit ten An. Pii Years Government, he renew'd his Time with much Ce- 10 remony and Splendor, according to the Cuftoni of Augjt- jT. flusy and the fucceeding Emperors. K. D. Ill* About the twelfth Year of this Reign the Chrifti- i who had fu iter 'd much from Hcreticks, began now -\n.Pii to be more feverely treated by Pagans : p^or tho' Antoni- 7 IX mis was fignally mild and generous, and put out no Edi6ls jjl againft them, yet ihc ChrtjUans^ being generally traduc'd and defam'd as a wicked and barbarous Generation, fcan- dalous and abominable in their Nodurnal AfTemblies, had hard Meafure in all Places, and were frequently perfecut- ed Chap. II. ANT. PIUS the 16^^ Rom.Emp. 475 ed by vertue of the particular Edi61:s of former Emperors, and the general ftanding Laws of the Roman Empire. To vindicate them from the foul Afperlions call upon them, and to mitigate the Severities us'd tovi^ards them, the great Juftm about this Time publifli'd his firft Apology, which he iufcrib'dto Antoninus Pius the Emperor, and his two adopt- ed Sons M. Aurelius and L, Verus^ to the Senate, and by them to the whole People of Rome ; ' wherein with great ' Strength and Evidence of Reafon he defended the Chri- ' Jlians from the common Objedions and Calumnies of ' their Enemies, prov'd the Divinity of the C^r//r;W Faith, ' and fhew'd how unjuft and unreafonable it was to pro- ' ceed againft them without due Convi6lion and Form of ' Law ; acquainted them with the innocent Rites and U- ' fages of the Chrijiian Affemblics, and laftly put theEm- ' peror in mind of the Pradice of his Predeceflbr Adrian ' in this Matter ; who had commanded that the Chriflians ' fhou'd not be needlefly and unjuftly vex'd, but that their ' Caufe Ihou'd be traversed and determined in open Judi- ' catures ; annexing to \^ Apology a Copy of the Re- ' fcript which Adrian had fent to Minucius Fundanus^ to * that purpofe. This Apology is written with the Spirit and Freedom of an old Prophet, yet with all the Decency and Refped due to the Charader of an Emperor ; and contains fo much of the Do^rine, Manners and'Cuftoms of the Primitive Chriftians^ that it is one of the moft con- fiderable Records of Antiquity. We there find the Do- drine of the Church concerning the Trinity, the Incarna- tion of our Saviour, and Eternal Life ; as alfo the Proofs of the Chrijiian Faith, the Holinefs and Converfation of its Profeflbrs, together with a Defcription of their AlTem- blies, and their Ceremonies us'd in the Adminiflration of both the Sacraments. 'Juftin^ happy Addrefs wanted not its delired Succefs : A. D.. For the Emperor in his own Nature of a merciful and i^i. generous Difpoiition, being mov'd partly by this Apolo- ^^^^^^ gy, and partly by the Notice he had receiv'd from other Parts of the Empire, wrote in favour of the Chriflians to the Athenians^ Thejfalonians^ and to all Greece ; belides which in the 15'th Year of his Reign, he ifTuM out this ^^ j> publick Edi61:, dire6ted to the common AfTembly of Afla. ^^^J I am very well ajfured^ that the Gods themf elves will take ^/^^^ pj: care^ that the ChvlUhns JJjall not pafs undifcover'*d^ it bein^ 14. much more their Concern^ than it can be yours ^ to punijb Ij thofe who refufe ta WQrJhip them. But you the more fir on g- 47^ Cent. II. Ecckjiaftical Hijlory. Book III. l^^ confirm them in their own Opinions^ while you vex and op- frcfs thern^ and accufe them ^j Impious ^^WAtheiftical; nor can a more acceptable Kindnefs be done them^ than that being accus*d^ they may feem to chufe Death ^ for the fake of that God zvhom they worjhip. By which means they became Con- querors^ being ready to las down their Lives^ rather than be perfnadcd to comply with your Commands. As for the Earth- quakes that have been^ or that do yet happen^ it is fit to ad- vertife ycu^ whufc Minds are apt to defpond under fuch Ac- cidents^ to cor/tpare your own Cafe with theirs. They at fuch a 'Time are much more fecure and confident in their God ; whereas you feeming ignorant of God all that T'ime.^ neglect "both the Rites of other Gods^ and the Religion of that im- mortal Deity., nay banijfj and perfecute to Death the Chri- ftians that voorptp him. Concerning thefe Men^feveral Go- vernors of Provinces have formerly written to my Father of Sacred Memory : 'To whom he return' d this Anfiuer., That they Jkou''d be no ways molefited, unlefs it appeared that they attempted fomething againfl the State of the Roman Em- pire. Tea^ I my fe if have received many Intimations of this Mature^ to which I anfwer''d according to the Tenor of my Father"* s Conjiitution. After all which., if any Jhall ftill pro- ^ ceed to create them Trouble., meerly becaufe they are Chri- ftians, let him that is indided be difcharged., tho* acknow- ledged to be a Chriftian, and let the Accufer himfelf under- go the Punipment. We are not ignorant, that Valefius.^ Dacier and feveral other learned Men, upon the account of the Infcrlption, wouM have this Imperial Edid to be the Decree of the fucceeding Emperor Marcus Aurelius ; but all their Arguments we think futiiciently anfwerM by Monf. Tillemont., who intimtaes, that by this Indulgence, the Chriftians generally remain'd in great Peace and Secu- rity throughout thereftof this Reign. In the fame Year that this Edid was publilli'd, Marcus Bifhop o't Alexandria dy'd, after he had held this Dignity about ten Years ; and was fucceeded by Celadion., a Perfon greatly belov'd in that City, who continu'd in the See about 14 Years, be- ing the eighth Billiop of Alexandria after the Evangelift St. Mark. A. D. The Church of God on one fideenjoy'd great Eafe and 15-3. ' Profpcrity, but on the other was infeded with many and ^n. Pii new Herefies; particularly, with thofe of the mod: abfurd IS and fcnilcfs Se6ts, caird the Ophites and the Sethians. The * ^' former proceeded from the Nicolaitans and Gnofticks., being Tert'»u caird Ophites or Serpentines^ from the great Veneration &c. * they Chap. II. A NT. PIUS the \G^ Rom. Emp. 477 they XmsA for the Serpent, which they faid taught Men the Knowledge of Good and Evil. When their Priefts cele- brated their Myfteries, they made a Serpent come forth from a Hole, which after it had roll'd it felf over the Things defign'd to be offer'd, they faid that Jsfus Chriji had fandifyM them, and then deliverM them to the People who worlhipped them. The other ^^Qi call'd Sethiatis^ who drew their Original from Valent'mus^ were no lefs extravagant ; they held that Cain and Abel were created by two Angels ; and that the latter being kill'd, the fu- preme Power inhabited Seth'^ and that the Angels by their mutual Impurities drew on the Flood, which deitroy'd their wicked Offspring ; but that fome of them having crept into the Ark, gave a new Original to wicked Men. They wrote many Books entituled Seth^2xA fome bearing the Names of the other Patriarchs ; and gave out. That Jefus Chriji was either Seth^ or his Vicar. Both thefe Se6ls held many other fabulous and abfurd Notions ; which fliews to what an Abyfs of Folly Men may fall, when they are abandon'd by God to their own dark In- ventions, and have abandon'd themfelves to the falfe Light of their weak Reafon. ;% Befides thefe fenllefs Se(fts, which were of no very long A. D. Continuance, thofe of the Valentinians and Marcionites^ 15-4. began now extreamly to increafe in many Parts, becom- An. Pii ing much more dangerous than the other. Of thefe the ££ famous Jiiftin was a ftrenuous Oppofer ; and the Bright- '7- nefs of the Catholick and only true Church, being always the fame, and continuing ftedfaft like it felf, was greatly increas'd and augmented. Jnfti>i-, not long after the Em- peror's Edi6h left Rome^ and revilited the Eaftern Parts of the Empire '5^d arriving atEphefus, fell into theAcquain-- tance of T'ryphon the Jew^ a Man of great Note and E- mincncy, wno had fled his Country in the late War and Rebellion againfl: the Romans ; lince when he had liv'd in Greece^ and principally in Corinth^ where he had much improv'd himfelf by converfing with the Grecian Philofo- phers. With this Champion Juftin enter'd the Lifts in a A. D. two Day's Difputc, the Account of which he has given lyy, us in his Dialogue with that fubtle Man : ' Wherein he An. Pli ' admirably defended and made good the Truth of the 17^ ' Chriftian Religion; and prov'd from an infinite Number i>». * of Pafiages of the Old Teftament, That Jefus Chriji * was the McJJiah^ and the iVord^ who firft appear'd to * the Patriarchs, and attc-rwards condefccndcd to be made ' Man, 478 Cent. II. Ecclefmjiical Hiftory. Book III. ' Man, and to be born of the Virgin Mary for our Sal- * vation. He not only diflblv'd all the Jewip Pleas and * Preteniions againft Chrifiiamty^ but alfo difcover'd their ' implacable Spite and Malice, who not only barely con- * tent to rejed that Profcliion, fent peculiar Perfons about ' the World, to fprcad abroad. That Jefus the Galilean ' was a Deceiver and Seducer, and his whole Religioa ' nothing but a Cheat and Impollure ; and that in their * publick Synagogues they folcinnly anathematix'd all that ' turn'd Chr'tft'tans^ hating and dcflroying them, whenever * they got them in their Power. The Illue of the Confe- rence was, that the Jew acknowlcdg'd himfelf highly pleas'd, profeffing he found more than he expeded ; wi(h- ing he might enjoy it oftener, and begging his F^iendfhip, in what Part of the World focver he was. A. D. In the 19th Year of this Emperor's Reign, dy'd Mark^ 15"^-^^ the fir ft Bifhop of Jerusalem after the lait Difperiion of An. Pii the Jews^ after he had held the Dignity 19 or 20 Years ; -li he was fucceeded by Cajfianus^ who was the i6th Bifhop '^' of this City, after the Apoftle St. James^ and fecond of the Uncircumcifion ; but how long he continu'd in this See is uncertain, tho' fome fay it was eight Years. In this fame Year fome have fix'd the Beginning of Monta- fzus's Herefie ; but others, with better Reafon, have plac'd A. D. it 14 or If Years after. In the 20th Year of this Empe- I S7' ror, Pius^ after he had been i )" Years Billiop of Rome^ An. Pii dy'd ; and was fucceeded by Anlcetus a Syrian^ the Son of ^ one John de Vicomurco^ who continu'd in the See about ^o« II Years, and was the tenth Biihop of Rome^ after St. Ji»fih' Peter and St. Paul. In the Beginning of this Bil"hop's hen. Xime, the Quartodeciman Controvcrlie began to arife be- tween the Eaflern and Weftern Churches, which was con- cerning the Time of the Obfervation of Eafier ; the former, according to the Jewip PalTover, keeping to one particu- lar Full-Moon ; and the latter, according to the Refiirre- ^ion, keeping to one particular Sunday ; and both jufti- fying themfelves by Apoftolical Pradice and Tradition. That this Fire might not break out into a greater Flame, the renowned Polycarp came from Smyrna to Rome^ to intcrpofe with Anicetus., and the chief of the Weftern Church. But tho' he cou'd not end the Controverfie, and they alfo difagreed about fome other fmall Matters, yet there was no great Contention between them, nor any Violation of Charity. In Token whereof they communi- cated together at the Holy Sacrament j and Jm^Pus to put the Chap.II. ANT. PIUS the i6tb Rom. Emp: 479 the greater Honour upon Polycarp^ gave him leave to con- secrate the Eucharift in his own Church or AfTembly ; after which they parted peaceably ; each Side tho' retain- ing their ancient Rites, yet maintaining the Peace and Communion of the Church. During this great Man's Stay at Rome^ he principally fet himfelf to convince Gain- fayers, teftifying the Truth of thofe Dodrines he had re- ceived from the Apoftles, by which he recovered many to the Church who had been infcdled with Errors, efpecial- ly with the Herefies of Marcion and ValenUnus. And when Marcton once accidentally met him in the Street, and re- fenting it, that he did not falute him, call'd out to him. Poly carp, own us ; the good Man reply 'd in a juft Indig- nation, / own thee to he the Firft-born of Satan. So reli- gioully cautious, adds /r^;^^'///, were theApoftles and their Followers, not to hold any Converfation with any that Corrupted the Truth ; obferving St. PauPs Rule, A Mate that is an Heretick^ after the firjl and fecond Admonition^ reje^. Polycarp'^s pious Mind was extreamly heated with a Zeal and'Abhorrency of the poifonous Principles, which in thofe Times corrupted the Simplicity of the Chrijliaa Faith, infomuch, that when ever he heard any Thing of that Nature, he was wont immediately to flop his Ears, and cry out, Good God ! To what 'Times haft thou referv'*d me^ thai I jhou^d hear fuch Things ? Immediately avoiding the Place where he heard it. Not long after Anicetm was made Bifhop, the Emperor ■^- ^^ Antoninus having compleated the 20th Year of his Reign, i j'^- folcmniz'd his fecond Decennalia. About which Time it An. F^ is believ'd Hegefippus took his Journey to Rome^ where ^ he ftay'd feverai Years, till the Time of Billiop Eleuthe- *^ rius. He was a Jew by Birth and Education, but being converted to Chriftianity^ he became a noted Author, and was the firft who composed an entire Body of the Eccle- fiaflical Hiitory, which he divided into five Books, where- in he related the principal Occurrences hapning in the Church from our Saviour's Birth ; till the Pontificate of Anicetus, This Book was written with Simplicity of Stile, becaufe he refolv'd, fays St. Jerom^ to imitate the Phrafes and Diale 49^5 Cent. II. Ecckfiaftical Hijlory. Book III. Allies to (lay the Authors of the Revolt, draw off their Forces, and defire a Truce. After which the Emperors agaiu purfa'd the Enemy, overcame them in feveral Con- tells, defeated tham entirely, and teturnM into Italy with- out any confidcrable Lofs. -^'!': And now the Time was come, that the great Jnftinj ^■'"' who had fo bravely defended the Chtiflia^ Religion, ihou'd feal i^with his own Blood; the Account of which we have from the A^ts of his Martyrdom ; which are bc- licvM to be very ancient and authentick, tho' not fo cer- tain as thofe of St. Polycarp. They inform us. That Ju- ftm and lix of his Companions having been apprehended, were brought before Rnflhus^ Prefect of the City, who was a great Philofophcr, and Tutor to the prefent Empe- ror Aiitoamui ; who feeing Jujiw^ perfuaded him 'To obey ibc Gikis^ and comply with the Emperor's KdUls. The pious Martyr told him. That no Man cou'd be jnftly con- demn d^ that obeyed the Commands of Jefus Chrill ; and when the Governor ask'd him. In vjhat kind of Learn- ings and Difiipline he had been educated ; he anfwer'd. That he had endeavotir^d to unJer/rand all Kinds of Dtfci- ^linCy and all Methods of Learnings but had finally acqui- efc\i in the Chriftian Difcipline, notwlthftanding tts fmall Eftecm amoug prejudiced Perfons. H'retch thai; thoH art^ laid the Governor, art thou then captivated ivith that Di- fciplinc ? / am^ reply 'd the Martyr ; fur with found Dodrine do I follow the Clirittians. And' when ask'dwhat thatDo- 6trin was; he anfwtr'd, The true DoHrin which we Chri- Ih'ans do profefs^ is t/Jis^ if e belieie the one only God to be the Creator of all Tbli:gs vifihle and invifible^ and our Lord Je- fus Chrill to be the Son of God ^ foretold by the ancient Pro^ phetSy and ivho JhuU come to be "judge oj all Mankind ; a Savionr^ Preacher^ and Majier to all thofe duly infintcted by him : That for h.h^felf heiuas too mean and unable to fiy cnxThi'tig becomh-ghis iyjpnite D:ity ; that this wm theBuJi- nefs of the Prophets^ who had many Ages foretold the com- i}g of the Son of God into the Iforld. The Prefe6l next enquired, IVhcre the ChriQians were wont to afjemblex and being told. That the God of the Chrirtlans was not confined to a particular Place^ he ask'd in wliat Place 'J-ifiin ufu- •.'.lly inllru^led his Difciples ; who gave him an account of the Place where he dwelt, acknowledging, That he Preach- ed the Chrillian Dociri-ne to all that rcforied to him. Then having feverally examinVi his Co r^panions, the Prefedl thus addrefs'd himfelf to Jtijiin ; Hcar^ thou, who art noted for for thy LloQuence^ and who thtnkejt thy Jelj tn the rigm ; // / cau[e thee to be fcour^d from Head to Foot^ dofl tkoH think to obtain Heaven ? He anfwcr'd, ^ho" he jhou^dfuf- fer what be had threatned^ yet he hofd to enjoy the Portion of all true Chriftiani ; well knowings that the Divine Fa- lour wm laid up for all fuch^ and jhou^d be^ oi long oi the World endur'd. And when again ask'd, IVhether he ex- fecied that Reward ; he reply'd. That he did not only ex- pscl it^ but he fo certainly knew it^ that th^ire wa: no Room frjr Doubt. Upon this, the Governor without farther ar- guing, commanded them to go all together .^ and Sacrifice to the Codi. The Martyr dec] ar'd. That no Man in his right Mind., cou^ddefert Truth .^ to embrace Error and Impiety ; and when threatncd, That unlefs they comr^l/d.^ they Jhou^d be tormented without Mercy \ Jujlin added, 7^^<"?. Barbarous Nations in the North ; and Winter being far advanc'd, they delign'd to tarry at Aquileia till it waspaft, but the Plague obliged them to part from thence with forne of their Forces ; in which Journey Verus was feiz'd with an Apoplexy near Altinum^ and dy*d fliortly after, in tUe 38th Year of his Age, after he had reign'd ahnoftnine Years with Antoninus, It is moft generally thought that Poifon was the Caufe of his Death ; which fome attri- bute to the Emprefs Faujlim-f but the moft to his Wife Lucil/ay Chap.III. ANT. PHILOS. the 17th Rom.Emp. 499 LmiUa^ being highly jealous of him for the Paffion he bore to his own Sifter Fabia. Notwithftanding his infa- mous Life, Antoninus^ out of a peculiar Kind of Good- nefs, Zeal for Paganifm^ and Refpe6t to his own Family, caus'd him to be deify'd after his Death ; tho' with no great Satisfadion, either to Senate or People. ||j[. Antomnus^ who before govern'd both an Empire A. D. and an Emperor, had now the former alone left to his 1 7^' Charge ; and marrying his Daughter Lucilla to Pompeia.- An.Ph. W//J, he left Rome to linilh the War with the Marcoman- _9 »/, who joyning with the Quadi^ Sarmatians^ VandaU^ and ^^^J°^^ ' other barbarous Nations, became more formidable than UicUn, ever ; fo that the Wars againft Hannibal and the Cim- bri^ carry'd not more Terror with them. The Emperor, who faw his Army wafted by Peftilence, and LofTes fu- ftain'd in former Encounters, and the Treafury exhaufted by vaft Expences, found himfelf furrounded with fuch v Difficulties as he had never before experienc'd. He was conftrain'd to remedy the firft Misfortune, by lifting the Gladiators, the Banditti of Dalmatia and Dardania^ and the Slaves, which had never been pradisM but in the fe- cond Punick War ; and the latter, by following the Ex- amples of Nerva and Trajan^ and felling the Moveables belonging to the Empire. Before the firft Battel, the Im- poftor Alexander had the Confidence to fend fome few Verfes to the Emperor in the Nature of an Oracle, inti- mating, ' That if he threw two Lions into the River /- ' Jier^ with Arabian Sweets for a Sacrifice, he Ihou'd be ' vi6torious and happy : Which Antoninus out of Superfti- tion obey'd ; but with fo little Succefs, that he loft above 20000 Men in Battel, and was purfu'd to the very Walls of Aquileia. But this Affront fo rowz'd the Fury and Courage of the Romans^ that in a fhort time they repuls'd thefe formidable People, drove them into Pannonia^ and fo harrafs'd them with repeated Attacks and Skirmilhes, that they were conftrain'd at length to receive fuch Arti- cles as the Emperor thought fit to impofe upon them. About this Time, Melito that excellent Writer and Bi- fhop of Sardis^ formerly mention'd, finding the Chriftians feverely and unjuftly treated, prefented an Apology to the Emperor Antoninus^ of which we have only a Fragment in Eufebius : ' Wherein he intreated the Emperor, that he * wou'd vouchfafe to examin the Accufations alledg'd a- . * gainft the Chriftims^ and caufe the Perfecution to ceafe, Ha 'by 5CO Cent. II. Ecclejtajlical Hijlory. Book III. ' by revoking the Edid publiiVd againft them : Rcprefent- ' ing to him, That the Chrtft'tan Religion was fo far from * being deftru6live to the Roman Empire, that it was very ' much enlarged fincc the Propagation thereof ; that this * Religion was perfecuted only by w icked Emperors, fuch ' as Nero and Domlttan ; that the Emperors Adrian and ' Antoninus Pius had written fevcral Letters in its Behalf; ' and therefore he hopM to obtain of his Clemency and * Generolity, the Favour he fo earneftly requefted. This Champion wrote many other remarkable Pieces, of which we have only the Titles remaining ; daily doing Service to the Church of God, which was continually attacked, both by Pagans without, and by Hereticks within. For cu. Ai. about this Time arofe thofe Hereticks call'd Anutailes^ or Offofitcs ; as oppoling one God againft another ; being a Branch of the VaUntmians and Marciomtes^ who held a- bominable Principles ; and taught, that Sin deferv'd rather Reward than Punifhment, and accordingly wallow'd in all A. D. Kinds of Vices and Enormities. Not long after, Juflin's 171. Scholar Tatian^ who had been fo very ferviceable to the An.Ph. Church, being fwcll'd with an extraordinary Conceit, fell 10 from his Orthodox Principles, and leaving Romc^ in Me- 'I' fopotamia he joyn'd feveral of the Errors of Saturmnus^ EMfeb, Marcion^ and ValenUnus with his ov^ai, and form'd a new ' Sed, call'd by the Name of Encratites^ or Continents ; becaufe thefe Hereticks condemned the Ufe of Marriage, as alfo of divers forts of Meats and Wine ; pretending to lead a fober and auftere Life. They celebrated the Sacra- ment only with Water, inftead of Wine ; for which they were romttimes cilVdHyc^roparaJIates^ ^wd. Aquarians ; and I affirm'd that our Forefathers were damn'd. This Se6t fpread it felf through Pifidia^ Cilicia^ with Afia Minor -and Greece^ and as far as Rome^ Gaul and Spain ; infomuch that many eminent Men afterwards thought fit to write a- gainft it. It had feveral Branches, particularly the Severi- ans^ founded by Sever us ^ who rejected the Epiftles of St. Paul and the y^(f?.f of the Apoftles ; and the ApotaSlites^ and Cathares^ who renounced all the Riches and Convenien- cics of this World, call'd thcmfcivcs ApoftoUcks^ and damn'd all others that poflefsM them. About the Beginning . of thcfe Encratites there arofe two other forts of Here- ticks ; the Adamites^ a Branch of the Carpocratians^ for- merly mcntio.n'd in the Year 1 30 ; and the Alogi or Alogi- ans^ in Ajia Minor ; fo call'd becaufe they deny'd the Di- vine MyQ-^ and the Gofpel sind Writings of St. John^ which Chap.lII. ANT. PHILOS. the i f^ Rom. Emp. 501 which do infift fo much upon it, attributing them all to the Heretick Cermthus. Thus was the Church of God afflided with divers He- |«M rcfies, even in the midil of Perfecution ; and the Devil, ^l ' who feem'd to have us'd all his Arts in attacking it with Libcrtinifm, now particularly thought of furprizing it by an appearing Sanitity, and uncommon Aufterities ; which \ he carry 'd on by means of Montanus., a Perfon born at Ardaba^ a little Village in Myfia in the Confines of Phry- gia. Pride, and an immoderate Ambition firft betray 'd him; at which Breach Satan having enter'd, took poffelTi- , on of the Man, who a6ted by the Influence of an Evil Spirit, was wont on a fudden to fall into Enthuiiaftick Fits, and Ecftatick Raptures, which caus'd him in a fran- tick Manner to pour out wild and unheard-of Things, and to Propheiie in a Way and Strain hitherto unknown to the Church. His firftProfelytes were his Country-men the Phrygians.^ whence his Scft deriv'd the Namo of Ca- faphryges ; whom he in(tru6ted in the Arts of Evil-fpeak- ing, teaching them to reproach the whole C/>r//??^» Church, for refuiing to acknowledge his Pfeudo-prophetick Spirit ; the fame Spirit on the contrary pronouncing them Blef- fed, that joyn'd themfelves to this new Prophet. Among the red: of his Difciples, two Women were efpecially re- markable, Prifca and Maximilla^ whom he firft corrupted, and then imparted his Demon to them, whereby they were immediately enabled to utter the mofl: frantick, inco- herent and extravagant Difcourfes. Mont anus laid his Scene with all imaginable Subtilty ; for in the Foundati- on-Principles of Religion he agreed with the Gatholick Church, entirely embracM the Holy Scriptures, and pre- tended that he muft receive the Gifts of Divine Grace ex- traordinarily conferr'd upon him ; which he gave out, were more immediately the Holy Ghoft. Then he made a lingular Shew of fome unufual Rigours, and Severities in Religion, gave Laws for more ftrid and frequent Fads than the Orthodox us'd, forbad all fecond Marriages as Fornication, allow'd of Divorces, prohibited his Follow- ers to avoid Martyrdom, and Excommunicated them for tthe leaft Crime ; call'd Pepuza and Tymium^ two little Towns of Phrygta^ by the' Name of Jerufalem^ that he might the more plaulibly invite unwary Profelytes to flock thither. And the more to oblige fuch Perfons as might be ferviceable to him by the Propofals of Profit, he us'd all Mcthqds of extorting Mony from his deluded Folio w- H 3 crs, 502 Cent. 11. Ecclefiaftical Hiftory. Book III. crs, efpecially under the Notion of Gifts and Offerings ; for which purpofc he appointed Collcdors to receive the Oblations that were brought in ; with which he maintained Under-Officcrs, and paid Salaries to thofe who propagat- ed his Do6lrines about the World. His Followers pro- claim'd him the very Comforter promisM by our Saviour, added many other Notions and Pradices, infeded the Church longer than any other Hereticks before them, and were divided into many Se6ls and Branches, as we fhall have occafion to take notice afterwards. Ca^iu], In the mean Time the Emperor /^»/^(?;^/»w, having brought the barbarous Nations to fome CelTation, return'dto/^ If the Gods ivotCd but favour the right Side^ to reftore the j Commonwealth of Rome. He was very fuccefsful at firft ; i but afterwards declining, he was brought into Difcredit , with his own Soldiers, and at laft having been Emperor i rather in Imagination than Reality, he was flain three Months and fix Days after his Revolt. His Head was feat ; to the Emperor, who commanded it to be honourably bu- \ ry'd, and forrowfuUy declar'd, that they had depriv d him I of the great Pleafure of giving Caffius his Life^ and of con- i quering his Ingratitude^ by his own Generofity. This Gle- .: inency was admir'd by fome, but one took the Liberty to j tell him,, that Caflius wou'*d not have been fo generous, had he been Conqueror ; to whom the Emperor reply'd, IVe ne- | •ver fervid the Gods fo ill, or reign d fo irregularly, as to fear \ Caffius cou^d ever be Conqueror. Having tcflify'd his Grief j for his Death, he continu'd his dcfigu'd Journey to the \ Eailyto caufe the People and Army to return to their Du- ; tv. I Chap.lII. ANT. PHILOS. the ijtt Rom.Emp. foj ty. Arriving in Syria he was met at Antioch by many Kings and Potentates of the Eaft ; and the firft Thing he did was the Burning of all Letters found in Cajjius^s Clo- fet, left he fliou'd be conftrain'd againft his Inclinations to hate any Perfon. Removing from thence into ^^gypt^ he pardon'd all the Cities that had join'd with Cafflusj and left one of his Daughters at Alexandria^ as a Pledge of his Friend fhip. Coming to Peluftum^ he there corre6ted ma- ny ExcefTes and Debaucheries at the Feflivals of Serapis ; and where ever he pafsM, he enter'd the Temples, the Schools, and all publick Places, and inftrudted the People, converting familiarly with them, and explaining to them the greateil Difficulties in Philofophy, leaving the Marks of his Wifdom in all Places. In this great Journey, the Emprefs Fauftma was unexpe6ledly feiz'd with a violent Diftemper, and dy'd at the Foot of Mount Taurus^ to- wards Winter. Her loofc and wanton Life had been a great Scandal to her high Place, and Dignity ; yet Antoni- nus either from his Ignorance of her Crimes, or his Pa(^ lion to her Perfon, willingly admitted of thofe great and unreafonable Honours which the Senate, out of Complai* fance and Flattery, decreed to her Memory. And after the Example of his PredecelTor Antoninus Pim^ he founded a Society of young Virgins, whom he bred at his own Expence, and .cal I'd them /v2«/?/W^///; and likewife built a Temple to his Wife in the Town where Ihe dy'd : Which Temple had afterwards a remarkable Chance becoming the Divinity that prefided there ; it being confecrated to Heliogahalus^ the notorious God of Impurity. After a full Re-eftabli(hment of Peace in the Eafi^ the A. D. Emperor began his Journey towards Rome-, and arriving ^1^- at Smyrna^ho. there made fome confiderable Stay, and con- An.Ph. ferr'd many Favours. From thence he went to Athens^ }^, and being a Zealot in his Religion, was there initiated in ^^* the grand Myfteries of Ceres^ call'd the Eleufinian Myite- lies, which was folemnly forbidden to all wicked Perfons, and Men of ill Reputation. Here he did many Honours to the Inhabitants, and eftablifh'd in their City Profeflbrs of all Sciences, with munificent Penfions ; making them no- ble Prcfents, and granting them large Privileges and Im- munities. From hence he took Shipping and return'd to Romf^ where upon December the 23d, he triumph'd for his Vidories in Pannonia\ and to grace his Triumph, he join'd his SonCommodus with him, declared him Auguftus^ thereby inverting him with all the Honours of a complcat Partnerfhipj -o8 Cent. II. Ecclejiaftical Hiflory. Book. III. Partnerlllip, which Verm before cnjoy'd. In this Year, E%lti. and 1 6th of Antoninus^ dy'd Soter^ after he had been eight Years Bifhop of Komc^ and was lucceeded by Eleutherus^ 2. Grecian of Nicopolis^ Son of Habund'ms^ and once Dea- con to Anicetus^ who continu'd in the See about fifteen Years, and was the twelfth Bilhop of ^^»2^, after St. P^/^r and St. Paul. About the fame Time that eminent Light of the Church, Apoli'maris Bifliop of Hierapolis, deliver'd to the Emperor an excellent Apology for the Chriftians ; in which it is believM that he infifted upon the Emperor's miraculous Deliverance two Years before. This Author wrote feveral remarkable Pieces againfl: the Pagans^ J^'i^U and Montamfts ; but of them, as of his Apology, wc have nothing remaining but their Titles. A. D. I V . The Chrifiiam had met with Eafe and Refplte 177. from their Miferies for two or three Years after the mira- An.Ph. culous Deliverance of Antoninus ; but notwithftanding the jLi Clemency and Commands of that Emperor, the Governors - y- and Magiftrates in the Provinces took fuch Advantage *■'' * from his Zeal and Religion, that the Perfecution was rc' vivM, and rag'd more fiercely than ever. Thefe unhappy Times caus'd feveral Apologies .to be prefented to the Em- peror, by eminent Chrtftians^ particularly Athenagoras and Miltiades. The former was a learned Philofopher of A^ thens^ whofe Works are ftill remaining ; but we know nothing of the latter, but that he gave evident Proofs of his Skill and Abilities, in writing againtl the Gentiles^ the yews^ and the Montanifts ; againft which latter he main- tain'd, ' That a Prophet ought not to fpeak in an Ecilacy ' or Fury; and in his Apology for theC^rz/^/^^Philofophy, dedicated to the Emperors, by whom are meant Antoninus and Commodus. Athenagoras in his Apology to the two Emperors, ' firft applauded the Excellency of Antoninus^ *• Government, and his Care ;ind Tendernefs towards his ' Subjeds in General; only complaining of his Negle6i: ' of the Chriftians^ and his abandoning them to the Fury ' of their Enemies. After which he refuted the three prin- ' cipal Calumnies alledgM againd the Chriftians^ as, That . ' they were Atheifts, That they eat l^.uman Flefh, and That ' they committed horrible Crimes in their AfTemblies : An- ' fwcring to the firft. That the Chriftians were not A- ' theifts, fince they acknowledged and ador'd one God in *■ three Ferfons, and liv'd conformably to his Laws ami ♦- Commandments, believing that he faw and knew all ^ Things; Chap.III. ANT.PHILOS. the if^ Rom. Emp. 599 * Things; that they refusM to worlhip Idols, and to offer * Sacrifice to them, as being perfuadcd they were not Dei- ' ties. He replyM to the laft Objedlion, by fliewing that *- the Lives, Laws and Manners of the Chrijlians were far ' from allowing Murther, and thofe infamous Crimes ' whereof they were accus'd. In this Apology he alfo treated of feveral of the Do61:rines of Chriftianity^ in all which he is fupposM not to have been nicely Orthodox. Befides which he wrote a particular Treatife of the Re- furre6lion of the Dead, ' in which he endeavour'd to prove, ' That the Thing was fo far from being impoffible, that * it was extreamly credible. We know not what Efted thefe Apologies had upon the Emperor ; we only know that there was now great Occafion for them : For this Year the Perfecution grew hot in many Parts of the Empire, efpecially at Lyons in Gattl^ at the Time of fome publick Feftivals ; of which we have a very lively, and affefting Account in a Letter from the Churches of Lyons and Vienna to them o^ Afia and Phrygia^ written fhortly after, as it is bcliev'd, by the Hand of Irentew. This Letter tells us, it was impolFiblc for Men to defcribe the brutifh Fiercenefs and Cruelty of the Pagans^ and the Severity of thofe Torments which the Martyrs fuifcr'd, being banilh'd from their Houfes, for- bidden to iTiew their Heads, reproach'd, beaten, hurry'd * from Place to Place, plunder'd, fton'd, imprifon'd, and there treated with all the Marks of an ungovernable Rage and Fury. Their Heathen Servants and Slaves were alfo tor- tur'd to oblige them to charge their Matters with Mur- ther, Incefl, and other abominable Crimes in private. Thefe unjuft Proceedings causM Epagathuf^ a young Man of ad- mirable Piety, to remonftrate to the Governor of Lyons in Defence of his injur'd Brethren; upon which being ask'd, Whether he was a Chriftian ? He confefs'd it publickly, and was receiv'd into the Number of the Martyrs, being term'd by the Governor the Advocate of the Chriftians. Then others were diligently examined, who with all ima- ginable Chearfulnefs accomplifli'd the folemn Confeffioii of Martyrdom ; only fome few, about ten in Number, being unprepar'd and unexercis'd, thro' Fear and Frailty fell away, to the unexpreffible Grief of the reft. From thenceforth the holy Martyrs underwent fuch Torments as were almoft beyond Belief: But the whole Rage of the Multitude, Governor and the Soldiers m more violent manner fell upon the^e five, Po^hinus the aged Bifhop of the 5IO Cent. II. Ecclejiaftical Utftory, Book III. i the City, Sandus a Deacon of Vienna^ Maturus a Pcrfon ' lately baptized, v^//^//// of Pergamus^mid an admirable Wo- ^ man nam'd Bland'ma. All were afraid of this latter, efpe- i cially her own Miilrefs, by Reafon of the Weaknefs of i her Body; but Blandma was fupply'd with fuch furprizing Strength, that thofe who by turns tortur'd' her from the ! Morning 'till Evening, became feeble, confeffing themfelves I conquered, admiring that fuch a torn and mangled Body ; cou'd live, when one Sort of her Torments were fuffici- I cnt to have ended her Life. But this bleffed Woman, like ; a couragious Champion, recover'd frefh Supples of Strength I during her ConfelTion ; and it was a RcfrclTimcnt, and an \ Abatement of her Pains, to pronounce thefe Words, / am \ a Chriftian, and there is nothing of IVickednefs aited amongji 715. As for Sandus the Deacon, having at his Examina- ' don, in a more than human Manner endur'd his exceffive j Torments, he fuftain'd them with that Courage, that he ; declared neither his Name, Condition nor Habitation, but | to all Interrogatories anfwerM, I am a Chriftian. Where- i upon his Examiners clapt red hot Plates of Brafsupon the ; tendered Parts of his Body, which was ail over full of ; Wounds, Stripes, and fo bowed and drawn together, that ■ it had loft the external Shape of a Man. And fome few ; Days after, when the fame Torments were reiterated, ; "with deiign to conquer him, or by his Death to conquer \ others, his Body by a particular Favour of God became flrait, and he recover'd both his Shape and his Limbs. Sc- i veral others were likewife tormented ; among whom was i a Woman nam'd Biblias^ one of the Lapfed, but now re- ; covcr'd. But when thefe Punifhments were render'd in- , cffedual, they made ufe of Imprifonments in dark and \ noifom Places, where they were ftretched in wooden \ Stocks, and left deftitute of human Afliftance ; where fomc ! were fuffocated, others dy'd of their Pains, and others tri- • umph'd over all Miferies and efcap'd. ' But to crown all, Pothimts the Bifhop was mark'd out, j a venerable Perfon of 90 Years of Age, fuppos'd to have 1 been fent to Lyons by St. Polycarp from Rome. Age and ' Infirmities had render'd him fo weak, that he could fcarce '■ move himfelf ; but he had a vigorous Soul in a decay 'd Body, and his earneft Defire that Chriji might triumph in his Martyrdom, added new Life and Spirit to him. Be- ing apprehended, he was haled along to the publick Tri- bunal, the Magiurates, Soldiers and Multitude following atter with fuch loud Acclamations, a$ if our Lord him- Chap.lII. x^NT. PHILOS. the 17th Rom.Emp, yii felf had been leading to Execution. Being ask'd by the Governor, Who was the Godoftht Chrtftia»s^. knowing it to be a captious Queftion, he reply'd, If you he worthy^ you fraU know. Hereupon, without any Reverence to his Age, or Refpcd to Humanity, he was drag'd up and down after a barbarous Manner, and unmercifully beaten, they that were near, kicking and ftriking him, and thofe at a diftance throwing whatever they could find, as the Inflru- ments of their Fury; by which means they thought to revenge the Quarrel of their Gods. At length being taken up from the Ground almoft breathlefs, he was caft into the Prifon, where two Days after he refign'd up his Soul to God. Not long after the four Champions, Maturus^ Sanitus.^ jittalus., and Blandina, were brought forth among the wild Reads in the Amphitheatre, a Day on purpofe being granted to the Multitude ; where the two former did again undergo all Sorts of Torments, as if they had fuffer'd nothing before ; being fometimes plac'd upon a hot Iron Chair, other Times drag'd and torn by the wild Beads, and whatfoever elfe the enraged People werepleas'd to demand from above. Thefe two Perfons, after they had continued alive a long Time under the Sufferings of a glorious and mighty Combate, at laft were llain ; having been made a SpeiStacle to the City inftead of the Combats of the Gladiators. But Blandma^ being hung upon a Piece of Wood fixt in the Ground, was propos'd as Food for the wild Beads ; who by her ftrong and earned Prayers redoubled the Ardour of the Saints, who in the Perfon of their Sider, feem'd to have a View of their crucify'd Lord. But when none of the wild Beads would touch her, die was taken from the Stake, and cad again into Prifon, being referv'd for another Combate. Attalus be- ing requir'd by the Multitude, was led round the Amphi- theatre, with a Table carry'd before him, upon which was written in the Roman Tongue, T'hts k Attalus the Chridi- an: But when the Governor underdood that he was a free Citizen of Kome^ he commanded him back to Prifon with the other Chriftians ; and wrote to the Emperor Antoninm to know his Pleafure concerning him and the red. During this Intermiffion and Cedhtion, the holy Pri- foners fpent their Times in the highed A6ls of Devotion and Charity, praying for their Enemies and Tormcnters, and uling all poflible Means for the redoring, and com- forting fuch as had dirunk from the Severity of the Perfe- cution. Yet dill they were fo moded and humble as not to 512 Cent. II. Ecclejiapcal Hijlory. Book III. to afluiTic to themfelves the honourable Title of Martyrs^ allowing it only to Chrlfl hinifelf, and thofe who^had al- ready futfer'd. Here they were replcnifli'd with fpiritual Comforts, and what they wanted on Earth they receiv'd from Heaven : And whereas Alcibiades^ one of the Imprifon'd, who led an aufterc Life, feeding upon only Bread and Water, defign'd to continue the fame Courte in Prifon, it was revcal'd to Attalm in a Vifion, that Alcibiades did not well in declining the Ufe of God's Creatures, which would leave an Example of Scandal to others ; whereup- on Alcibiades fubmitted, fed indifferently on all Meats as he found them, and gave God Thanks. Shortly after the Emperor Antoninus return'd his Anfwer to the Governor, 'That thofe who confcfs^d themfelves Chriftians Jhould fuffer^ hut thofe who renounced the Faith jhould be difmifs^d ; and the Time of a publick Solemnity "being begun, when there was a numerous Concourfe of all neighbouring Nations, the Governor order'd the Martyrs to be brought before the Tribunal, producing them as a pompous Shew before the Multitude. Being again examin'd, as many as were found Citizens of Rome, were beheaded, and the reft caft to the wild Beafls. And now Chrifi\ Glory became con- fpicuous in thofe who formerly had fallen from the Faith, w^ho contrary to Expedation became Confeifors ; and be- ing eyamin'd apart, they were added to the Number of the Martyrs. In the Time of their Examination, a cou- ragious Phrsgian Phyfician call'd Alexander^ gave them fuch open Encouragement, that he was apprehended ; and confcrfing himfelf a Chrijiian^ was condcmn'd to the wild Beafts. The next Day he was brought out into the Am- phitheatre, together with Attalus^ and together with him underwent all the Inftruments of Torture, praifing the Al- mighty, and at laft religning up their Souls into his Hands. Attains in the midft of his Torments upon the hot Iron Chair, told the Multitude, That it was they that now fed upon human Flejh^ and not the Chriftians*, who did no Evil y and being ask'd what was the Name of his God, he re- ' ply'd, That God had not a Name as Men had. To finifli the whole Solemnity on the lall Day, Blandina was a third Time brought forth, together with Ponticus^ a Youtji of 1 5- Years of Age, who continuing firm to the Faith, the Multitude were fo enrag'd, that they had no Refpcdl to the Age of the one, nor the Sex of the other, but ex- posed them to all manner of PuniOmients, and made them pafs through the whole Courfe of Torments. FQ-aticus^ be- ing Chap.III. ANT. PHILOS. the if^Rom.Emp. 5^5 ing encouragM and ftrengthned by his Sifter in Affli6lionSj after many exquifite Tortures, gave up the Ghoft. At laft, the incomparable Blandina^ having like a valiant Mo- ther fupported her Children, and fent them before as Con- querors to the King, vi^ith Joy haftned to her Exit, as to her Nuptial-Feaft. And having been fcourg'd, tortur'd upon the Iron-Chair, and exposed to the wild Beafts ; and being infenfible of all by reafon of her familiar Converfe vi^ith her Redeemer, fhe was at laft llain with a Sword ; the Pagans themfelves confeffing, that never any Woman among them fuftain'd fo many and great Torments. Nor did the Enemy's Rage ceafe here, but began afreih upon the very Bodies of the Martyrs, of whom many were found dead in Prifon, which were firft caft to Dogs, and having for feveral Days undergone all manner of ignomi- nious Ufage, were at length burnt, and their Afhes fwept into the River Rhofne ; as if they were able to vanquifh Omnipotence, and deprive them of a Refurredion. Thefe Martyrs, with many others, of whom later Wri- ters have given the Names of forty eight, fufFer'd in the 17th Year o^ Antoninus^ in the Month o^ Auguft 177, ac- cording to Eufebim and many others ; tho' Bifhop Pearfo/z fuppofes they fuffer'd in 175", and Mr. Dodwell with fome others, in 167; but Monf. \tillemont has given fuch con- vincing Arguments to the contrary, that we have follow'd his Account. Shortly after, a particular Account of their ^,,j^y^ Sufferings was fent from the Churches of Lyons and Z^/- enna^ to thofe of Afia and Phrygia ; to which were ad- join'd, the Epiftles which feveral of the Martyrs, while in Prifon, had written to thofe Churches, containing the chief Opinions of the Herelie of Montanus^ which was then much promoted in Phrygia^ by two Perfons named Alcibiades and T'beodotus. Nor did the Martyrs write only to the Afian Churches, but to Eleutherus Bifhop of Rome whom fome believe to have been a little infeded with Montanifm. Thefe Letters were fent to Rome by the celebrated Irenxiis^ whom they perfuaded to un- dertake the Journey, and whom they particularly re- commended to Eleutherus by a very honourable Teftimo- ny ; ' defiring him to receive him, not only as their Bro- ' ther and Companion, but as a zealous ProfelTor and ' Champion of that Religion Wmc\\Chrifi had ratify'dwith ^ y) * his Blood. After his Return, he was made Bifhop of x^g/ Lyons in the room of the Martyr Pothimis^ fucceeding ^n.ph. him in a troublefom and tempeftuous Time. But he was 17 a wife and skilful Pilot ; and Gregory of 'tours tells us, Ti, Vol. U I that 514 Cent. II. Ecclefiaftical Hipry , Book IIL that God gave fuch Efficacy to his Sermons and Difcourfes, that during his Government, he made almoft all the City Chrijiians. And others tell us, that he wrought feveral Miracles for the Converlion of Infidels ; which is not im- probable, fince Irencein tells us in his own Writings, that Miracles were frequent in his Time. Irefjon. the Beginning of the following Year i8o, God thought Herid. j^j. J.Q gj^.g jj. gjj£g . 2J. ^hich Time the Emperor Antomnus fell into his lafl Sicknefs at Sirmium in Pannonia, being in his third Campaign againft the Northern Nations. Here he found many Things to difquiet and difturb his Philo- fophical Temper, as his Conquefts unfetled, his Enemies with their Swords in their Hands, and the People incli- nable to revolt; but above all, the Youth and Unfleadi- nefs of his Son and SuccefTor Commodm^ which caus'd him to declare, T'hat he fear' d the Roman Empire would 77ot be large enough to contain his Vices. Strugling with thefe Difficulties, and fluduatisig between Hope and Fear, as his Death approach'd, he with great Tendernefs re- commended the Care of his Son to his principal Friends and Officers, and particularly charg'd them to make him fenfible, That not all the Riches and Honours in the Uni- ijerfe^ were Sufficient to fat is fie the Luxury and Ambition of 'Tyrants ; nor their ftrongeji Guards and Armies able to de- fend them from the Hatred and Infults of their Subjeds. That no Tyrannical Princes ever enjoy long and peaceable Reigns.^ but only fuch as by their Clemency gain the Hearts of their People. That it was not they, who ferv'd out of Conflraint, but fuch as obey^'d vohtntarily, that would conti- nue faithful in all Trials, and free from either Flattery or Treachery: And laftly, Ihat it was exceeding difficult, and yet 'highly ncceflary for thofe Princes to fet Bounds to their Pafjions, who had none to their Pozvers. Immediate- ly after thefe Inflru6lions, he was feiz'd with a Weaknefs, which took away the ufe of his Voice, and brought him to his End the next Day. Dion fays, that the Phyficians, when he began to be indifpos'd, poifon'd him to ingrati- ate themfelves with his Son, who was very eager to be freed Chap. III. COMMODUS the 1 8^^ Rojn. Emp. 5 1 7 freed from all Conftraint. Thus dy'd Antoninus 'Bhihfo' j>hu!^ a Prince of profound Wifdom and Underftanding, and no lefs fhining Virtues ; but thofe allayed with iuch Paganijh Superftition, as occafion'd innumerable Oppr^fli- ons to Chrtjiianity.^ which is far above the moll fublimQ. Philofophy. But his Name will e'vertbe plac'd among the beft of the Heathen Princes, for his numerous and wor- thy A6ls ; which, as well as his excellent Meditations which he left behind him, may ferve for noble Patterns of Morality, even to Chrlftlans themfelves. His Death was infinitely regretted in all Parts ; fo that it feem'd as tho* the whole Glory and Profperity of the Empire had dy'd with Antoninus. The Senate and People adorM him be- fore his Funeral, pronounc'd him a propitious Deity ; and as if it had been an inconfiderable Thing to ered him a Golden Statue, and decree him divine Honours ; they de- clared fuch Perfons to be facrilegious, who had not in their Houfes fome Pi6ture or Statue of the Emperor. He dy'd on the 17th Day oi March .^ under the Confulfhips of Commodus and Annlus Aurellus^ being almoft ^9 Years of Age, and having reign'd 19 Years, and 10 Days. V . Upon the Death of Antoninus^ his Son Commodus A. D^ was without Contradidion acknowledged as Emperor, firft 180. by the Army, then by the Senate, and fhortly after by the C o m- Provinces. He was now almoft 19 Years of Age; more modus noble by Defcent than any of the former Emperors, the «>a- being the firft that w^ born in his Father's Reign ; but. J^^^'^^,^^ he did not imitate his Father in his Moral Virtues and his ^^^^.f^ Philofophy, nor yet in thofe malignant Effe61-s they pro- ^^y„^__ duc'd againft Chnjllanlty. A few Days after his Father's &c. Death, he made great Promifcs of a juft and regular Go •• vernment, and for fome Space was willingly governed by the wife Diredions of his Father's Friends: But being ob* noxious to all Kinds of Flatteries, by reafon of his Youth, he was foon led alide by defigning Men, and refolv'd to leave the Wars, and return to thePleafures of Rome; not- vvithftanding the juft Arguments of the wifeft Counfellors, who unanimoully advis'd him to fee an End of this War himfelf With this Refolution the Young Emperor wrote to Rome^ advcrtiiing the Senate of his Coming ; and for a prefent Eafc and Security, he made a very hafty, and fome fay difhonourable Peace with the Enemy, which his Father had almoft reduc'd to an entire Obedience. Then leaving a conOdcrable Force on the Frontiers, he fet for- I 3 ward* 51 8 Cent. II. Ecclefiafttcal Hijlory. Book III. wards towards Rome\ and in all the Cities through which he pafs'd, he was receiv'd with incredible Joy and Solem- nity, upon the account of his Father's Worth, and the Hopes conceiv'd of his happy Reign. At his Entrance in- to Kome^ OSioher the fecond, he was receiv'd in Triumph, with infinite Applaufes and Blelfmgs by all Men, who ftrewM the Ways where he pafs'd with all Kinds of Flow- ers and Ornaments, fhewing all polTible Demonftrations of Joy, and affuring themfelves of a good and worthy Prince from the Son and Grandfon of the two great An- ton'tnes. Nor were their Expedations immediately fruftra- ted ; for he continu'd near two Years with much Decen- cy and Moderation, tho' not without fomc Tokens of a >M vicious Temper. The Poor Chriftians had of all others moft Reafon to rejoyce ; for their Affairs were happily turn'd into a quiet and fedate Poflure, and Peace encom- pafTed the Churches throughout the whole World. In which Interim, the faving Word of God invited great Numbers of all Ranks to the Worfhip of the true Deity ; fo that now many of thofe in Rome^ who were very emi- nent both for Riches and Defcent, did, together with their whole Families, betake themfelves to the Faith, and be- came Chriftians. Sertui, Tho' the Church had fo much Peace without, it was by Hereticks fufficiently difturb'd v/ithin ; and now parti- cularly by one ApeRes.^ a noted Difciple of Marcion^ who like him afferted two Gods ; one Good, the other Bad ; the latter Author of the Law, and the former of theGof- pcl. But afterwards he grew ambitious of being Founder of a new Se6l, and fell in with a young Woman call'd Vhilumena.^ pofTefs'd with an Evil Spirit, which fhe pre- tended was the Holy Ghoft. He then admitted but one God, m.ade up of infinite Parts, and allow'd Jefus only a Body of Air, which he diftributed among the Elements as he afcendcd towards Heaven. He defpis'd the Law and the Prophets, and a great Part of the New Teftament, A. D. and deny'd the Refurredion of the Body, with many o- i8i. ther Hereticks. About the lame Time the Errors o^i Mon- Com. tanns became fo general and triumphant in the Leffer A- JL /^, that the Faithful of that Province thought fit toaffem- ^ ble at feveral Times, and divers Places about it : They Ew/fp. carefully examin'd the Nature of this new Prophecy, pro- nounc'd it impious and prophane, rejedcd and condemned this Herefie, and Excommunicated all its Followers. The SyKodicon takes notice of a Council held at Hicrapolis by A![>olinaris Chap. III. COMMODUS the iS^^ Rom. Emp, 519 Apolmaris Bi(hop of the Place, who with twenty fix other Bifhops condemii'd and excluded from the Church thofe falfe Prophets, Montanus^ Maxin^illa and Theodotus. This was the firft Council we find, aft^ that held by the Apo- flles at Jerufalem^ in the Year 49. In the fame Year, T^heophilus BilTiop of Antioch^ one of the mod vigorous Oppofers of the Hereticks, who had written both a- gainft Marcton and Hermogenes^ now wrote an excellent Treatife againft a learned Pagan call'd Antolycus^ which is all we have have remaining of his Works. It is divid- ed into three Books; ' conliltingof great Variety of Learn- ' ing and Reafoning, with which he clearly vindicated the ' Chr'tflian Religion againft all the Exceptions of Antoly ' cus and the Heathens ; and demonftrated the Hiftory of ' Mofes^ was more ancient, and more true, than any a- ' mong them ; and that their Poets had borrowM their ' principal Stories from the Holy Scriptures. He is ob- ferv'd to have been the firft Author that apply'd the ve- ry Word Trinity^ to the three Perfons in the Godhead. Not long after the writing of this Treatife, having been Billiop oi Antioch about 13 Years, he dy'd ; and was fuc- ceeded by Maximinus^ who continued in the See about nine Years, and was the feventh Bifliop of Antioch after the Apoftles. Hegefippus dy'd at Rome^ about the fime Time; fhortly after which, that Church was extreamlydi- fturb'd by two Presbyters, nam'd Flonw/s and Blafiits^ who A. D. drew away many from the pure Faith. The former, a 182= Difciple of St. Polycarp^ fell into the Valent'tnian Plerefie ; Com, and moreover maintained. That God was the Author of i_ all Kinds of Evil ; for which he was degraded from his 5- Priefthood by Pope Eleutherus. Blajim forfook the Com- munion of the Church, and rather feem'd to have made a Schifm, than formM a Herelie ; as is fuppos'd from a Let- ter written to him by Iremeus^ intituled, De Schifmate. The Emperor Commodus^ had for a conliderable Space A. D. hearkned to his Father's Friends ; but now being excited 183. by the Levity of his Temper, and corrupted by the Exam- Com. pies of loofe Companions, he gave himfelf over to all j^ Kinds of mean and extravagant Pra6lices, regarding nei- 4- thcr the Honour of his Family, nor the Dignity of his Hrrtd, Oftice. He openly manifefted his Lewdnefs and Inconti- ^'^^• nence, fpending a great Part of his Time with his AfFoci- *''"^' ates at infamous Houles ; and wafting Days and Nights .in Feaftings, Banquctings, Bathings, and moft abominable Luxury. Sometimes he was a Small-Ware Merchant, I 4 fometime§ 520 Cent. II. EccleJIafticalHiftory. Book III. fometimes a Horfe-Courfcr, fometimes an Archer, other- times a Charioteer ; he eat and drank with Gladiators, was fubfervient to common Proftitutcs, and appcar'd to be born rather for the mod vile and infamous Ules, than for the Government of the World. Thefe Adions, to- gether with ^is Cruelties and Opprelfions, gave Occafion to many confiderable Perfons to form a Confpiracy againft him, among whom his own Sifter Lucilla was one ; who envying the Greatnefs of the Emprefs Crtfpim^ became Allociate, unknown to her Husband Pompeianus. The Manner of it being determin'd, the Charge of the Execution was given to young Pompeianus-, who was firft to ftrike the Emperor, and the relt of the Confpirators to fecond and alTift him. But his open and audacious manner of Proceeding, fruftrated the Defign ; for having had fufficient Opportunity of difpatching him, he infultingly held up his Dagger, crying, T'be Senate fends thee this ; which gave fome of the Guards time to feize him, before he cou'd ftrike the fatal Blow. This caus'd the Difcovery of all his Accomplices ; and Lucilla^ Quin- tianus^ Quadratus^ and the reft of the Confpirators were executed, beiides many other Perfons, wholly innocent. 1 \it^t Executions were fucceeded by thofe of his Em- prefs Crifpina^ accus'd of Adultery, his Father's Coulin- german tauftina^ and great Numbers of the moft Illuftri- ous of the Roman Nobility. He executed many innocent Perfons, inftead of others who were guilty, permitting Offenders and Criminals to efcape for Mony ; and if a- nydefir'd to be reveng'd of an Enemy, by bargaining with Commodus for a certain Sum, he was allow'd to infiid Death, or any other Punifhment. We are told feveral ft.range and monftrous Inftances of his Cruelty ; and his Tyranny increas'd fo far, that at a publick Feftival, fan- cying himfelf derided by the People, his impetuous Rage fo tranfported him, that he gave Orders to maftacre all the Multitude then prefent, and to burn the City ; which had been executed, but that his Favourite Lcetits deterr'd him from it. His Cruelties indeed were much owing to A. ^3. h^s wicked Favourites, of whom Perennis was firft, who 184. "^as made his Captain of the Guards, and was no lefs no- Corn, forious for his Avarice and Cruelty, than eminent for his 4^ Valour and Hardinefs. During this Man's Authority, ma- j. ' ny Governments and Places were fold, many unjuftCon- fifcations and Seizures were made, and many horrible Barr barities committed ; Yet ftill the Chnfuans efcapM, and were Chap. III. COM MODUS the x^^'^Rorn.Emp, 521 were free from Perfecution, having a greater Breathing- Time than in any of the latter Reigns ; and Dion tells us, this was by the Mediation of this Emperor's beloved Con- cubine Marcia^ who fucceeding the Emprefs Crifpna^ in all Things but the Title, had the greateit Influence upon him ; and favouring the Dodrine of the Chnfttans^ pre- ferv'd them from Trouble. But (till the Church met with new Troubles from He- A. D. relies and Hereticks, and now particularly from one il/^r^, 1S5'. one of the word: of Vale-^ttntis's Difciples, and no lefs re- Com. markable for Magick than Herelie, by which he is faid to 1 have caus'd Blood to appear in the Cup of the Eucharilt. He ^' took a fpecial Care to feduce Women, and chiefly the Rich ^■^"' and Beautiful ; under Pretence of making them partake of the Spirit of Prophecy, and of that great and heavenly Gift, of which he declard himfelf the Fountain. He got vaft Sums from the Rich, and perfuaded the BtautiiuJ, that by confenting to his wicked Defires, they aded pi- oufly, and were replenifli'd with the Holy Ghoft. His Followers which were call'd Marcojians^ were chiefly a- bout the Rhofne in Gaul. They had an Initiation, which they diilinguifli'd from the Baptifm of Jefus Chrift., and call'd it a Redemption ; and inltead of a Trinity., they held a Quaternity., compos'd of Ineff ability .^ of Silence^ of the Father^ and of the Truth. They affirm'd that "Jefus fuf- fer'd not in Reality, but only in Appearance : They efta- blifli'd two Principles, oppolite to each other ; held with Valentinus his Fancy of the JEones^ and deny'd the Refur- reftion of the Body. They continu'd till the fourth Cen- tury, freely committing what Sins they thought fit, upon a Pretence of being more enlightned than St. ^eter aiid St. IPauL And St. Jerom fays, that by means of thefe People the BafilidianHerdic was fpread through the great- eft: Part of Gaul^ and carry'd alfo into Spain. In this Year 18^, Monf. Ttllemont places the third Greek Verfion of the Old Teftament after our Saviour's Birth, which was made by Theodotwn of Fontns.^ a Difciple of Tatian^ then an Ebionite or Marcionite.^ and laftly a Jew ; who has ta- ken fomewhat more Liberty in his Tranflation than A- quila., but not fo much as Symmachus did in the Year 169, being more exa6l than either, yet many Things are cutotf, and Additions made to it, as Origen obferves. The Chrtftians enjoy'd fo much Freedom from Perfe- A. D. cution, that we find but one Martyr of Note in this 186. Reign, which was Apollonius., an rlluftrii5)us Senator, emi- Com, nent for his Philofophy, and other Parts of Learning ; _6 • ' who 7» 522 Cent. 11. Ecckjiajiicallhjlory, Bcok III -E«r^*. who being accused of profefTi ng the Chrlfl'tan Religion, ^tfrom. jjy j^J5 Q^^ Servant calTd Severus^ was brought into the Judgment Hall before the Emperor's Favourite Peremm^ then Captain of the Guards. The Servant undertook his AccutiUion in a very unfeafonable Time for himf^lf, for the Refcript o^ M. AntomnHs^ which commanded the C/:>r/- ftians Accufers to be punilli'd with Death, being dill m Force, Fitenms condemned him firlt to have his Legs broken, and then to be executed. Then he carneilly ex- horted Apollonius to renounce his. Faith, and not to br'n 5 on his own Ruin ; and finding him immovable, lince he was a Senator, he order'd him to give an Account of his Religion before the Senate. Accordingly he appcar'd in a full Houfe, where he made a learned and eloquent A- pology for the Chriftian Religion ; but notwithftanding that, he was condemn'd {o be beheaded, becaufe there was an ancient Law flill in Force, which ordain'd. That thofe Chrifttans^ who were once judicially accus'd for their Religion, IhouM not be acquitted if they did not for- fake it. Not long after, the Senate, which had commit- ted this Injuflice againft one of its Members, was lever e- ly punifh'd by the unjull Deaths of many of the Sena- tors ; occafion'd not only by the Cruelties of Commodns^ but alfo by the wicked Dcfigns of Pere/inis : By which Means Perennis became vaftly rich and powerful ; and well knowing the great Luxury and Neglcd of Comy/io- dus^ he began to endeavour to gain the Empire to himfelf, and had made fome fuccefsful Progrcfs in that great Attempt. But his Deiigns foan became apparent to all Men, and the Multitude of Accufations againft him at length rous'd the Emperor from his Lethargy and Blindnefs, lb that both he and his Sons, wh.o were lent into lllvncum to draw the Legions to revolt, receiv'd the jufi: Reward of their numerous Viilanies. A. D. After the Death of Perennh^ the Emperor undertook 187. t:o repeal many of his A61s ; but continu'd not long in Com. f^"'^t Regulation, purfuing his Pleafures, and futferinghim- 2^ felf to be govern'd by another Favourice nam'd Cleander^ T. a Pcrfon who for Cruelties, Rapines and Briberies cx- u^rod. ceeded Perennis. His ill Pradices occalion'd new Plots ^'««- and Confpiracics againd the Emperor's Perfon, particular- ly by one Matcrrms^ who pra6l:iling all Kinds of Robbe- ries, gather'd together great Numbers of Banditti .and Strangers, and walled Gaul and Sva'm ; and being thence repeird- refolv'd \.o attempt the Empire it fclf But de- fpairing Chap. III. COMMODUS the 1 8^^ Rom. Emp, ^73 , fpairing of attaining it by Force, he betook himfelf to Stra- tagems ; and taking Advantage from the annual Solemni- ty kept in Honour of the Mother of their Gods, wherein it was lawful to imitate Magiftrates or their Officers, he fent fome of his Soldiers privately arm'd to mix them- felves with the Emperor's Guards, and there to airaffinate him. But his own Party, in Hopes of Advantage, dete- £led him ; and he and many others were executed. Not long after fucceeded a dreadful Peflilence, accompany'd with a Famine ; in which, as at many other Times, Cle- ander\ Management became fo infupportable to the Peo- ple of Rome^ that they took up Arms, and tumultuoufly march'd to Commodus^ and requir'd to have his Head. And tho' the Emperor's Guards made fome Reiiftance, yet at length the Torrent became fo impetuous, that Corn- modus was conftrain'd, tho' cxtreamly againft his Will, to deliver up Oleander and his two Sons, to the Mercy of the Multitude. Commodus durit not punilli this Tu- mult ; but became fo fower and fufpicious of all Men, that he call off all Care of State Affairs, giving ear to e- very malicious Informer, to the Ruin of many innocent Perfons. No Men of Worth were admitted into his Pre- fence, but being rul'd by loofe and dillolute Perfons, he fell into the Fra61:icc of all Kinds of Vice and Cruelty. About thefe Times, the great Irenceus^ who had long contended, and was bed acquainted with the Principles of all the Hereticks, fet about that learned and elaborate Work Agatnji Herefies^ which ne divided into five Books. ' In the firft, he difplay'd the wild fantaftick Notions of ' each Se6l from Simon Magus to his Time, particularly ' the Valent'in'ians and Marcofians : In the fecond, he re- ' futed all their Principles, by thofe of common S enfe and ' Reafon : In the third, by the Writings of the Apoftles : ' In the fourth, by the Words of our Saviour ; and in the * laft, he explain'd feveral Paffages of St. P^.w/, which the ' Hereticks had miftaken and abus'd. In all which he fliew'd a great Variety of facred and prophane Learning, and no lefs Skill \x\ interpreting the Scriptures ; retaining a great Number of Things, which the Difciples of the Apoilles had taught by Word of Mouth. About the K. D.. Time of the Appearance of this Work, Julian Bifliop of i88. Alexandria dy'd, after he had held this Dignity near ten Com. Years ; and v/as fucceeded by Demetrius^ a celebrated 8. Man, who enioy'd a long Poffeffion of it 43 Years, and 9* wa^ the eleventh Bifhop o-f Alexandria after the Evange- lift 524 Cent. II. Ecckfiaflical Hlflory, Book. III. lift St. Mark. Jhortly after this Perfon's Entrance upon his Bifhoprick, fome Indian Emiflarics defir'd him to lend along with them fome worthy and excellent Perfon, to preach the Chriflian Faith in thofe Countries. None ap- pear'd qualify'd for this Errand like 'Pantxnus^ Governor of the Catechetical School, as being a great Philofopher, and incomparably furnifh'd with divine and human Learn- ing. IPantccnus^ notwithftanding all the apparent Difficul- ties and Hardfhips, joyfully undertook the Miflion ; there being at that Time, as Eufebius informs us, many Evan- gelical Preachers, who inflam'd with a holy Zeal, in Imi- tation of the Aportles, were willing to travel up and down the World for enlarging the Bounds of Cbrijlianity. In this Journey we are inform'd, that he met with feveral of t\\t Indians that retain'd the Knowledge of Chrift, preach'd to them long iince by the Apoftle St. Bartholomew ; whereof not the lead Evidence was his finding St. Mat- thew'^s Goipel WTitten in Hcbreiv^ which St. Bartholomew had left behind him, and which, St. Jerom fays, Panto:- fiHs afterwards brought back with him to Alexandria. Up- on his Departure from Alexandria.^ he was fucceeded \\\ his catechetical School by the famous Clemens^ ufually caird Clemens Alexandrinus.^ a Man of infinite Induflry, who by his great Labours and Travels thcough the World, had gain'd a wonderful Skill in Philofophy, and all Parts A. D. of Learning both Human and Divine. Not long after his 1S9. entering upon this ufeful Ofnco of Catechift, he wrote Com. that remarkable Piece intituled AnExhortation to the Gen^ .^, tiles., * in which he learnedly and rationally refuted the *°* ' Follies and Impieties of the Gentile Religion, and with ' the ftronged Arguments and Inducements perfuaded * Men to embrace Chrtflianity. About the fiune Time there appeared another eminent Chriflian in Alexandria^ which was Ammoyims^ call'd Saccdi^ from his carrying Sacks of Corn upon his Back; who now quitting his Em- ployment, betook himfelfto Study, and became one of the mod learned and eloquent Men of thofe Times, a great Philofopher, and the chief of the PlatonickS^di., and afterwards Mafler to the great Origen himfelf. A. D. In the fuccecding Year, Maximinus^ Bifhop of Antioch 190. dy'd, after he had been pofTefs'd of that See about nine Com. Years ; and was fucceeded by Serapion.^ a Perfon noted 12 for his Eloquence and Writings, who held that Dignity "• about 2T Years, and was the eighth Bifhop of Antioch af- TaiUi, xtr theApoftlcs. In the fame Year there appeared two Here- liarchi Chap. III. COMMODUS the igth Rom. Emp, p^ fiarchs in Galatia^ nam'd Seleucm and Hermias^ who did not only teach, with Hermogenes^ that Matter was Eternal, and that the Body of Jefus was lodgM in the Sun, but al- fo that God himfelf was Corporeal, that Mens Souls were taken from the Earth, and created by Angels, and that there was no other Refurre6lion than the cieneration of Children. They deny'd the Baptifm of Water to be fuf- ficient, but infifted upon that of the Holy Ghoft and of Fire, and accordingly they ftigmatiz'd thofe they baptiz'd with a hot Iron on the Forehead. And now the Emperor Commodus wallowing in all L^»b Kinds of grofs Impieties and fenfelefs Fooleries, fell into ^^' new and unheard of Extravagancies, fo as to rejcd his own and Father's Name, and inftead of Commodus the Son of Antonimis^ he commanded himfelf to be ftil'd Her- cules the Son of Jupiter ; and accordingly he forfook the Roman and Imperial Habit, and in a ridiculous Manner clad himfelf in a Lion's Skin, and carry'd about a great Club in his Hand. With this flrange Habit he appear'd in all Places, fo that he became the Derifion of fome, and caus'd the Indignation of others ; adding fo many Execu- tions and Cruelties, that he became a Monfter of Man- kind. And as if Rome had not been fufficiently affliiled by having fuch a Governor, feveral other Calamities befel the City. About two Years before, the Capitol was burnt by Lightning, which likewife deftroy'd the adjacent Build- ings, and particularly the famous Libraries, wiiich had coll the Ancients fo much Care to colle6l. And now a- ^ j) nother Fire broke out, which confum'd the Temple of j*gj ' Peace^ and the Temple of Vefta^ laying open the ancient Corri. Image of PalUs to publick "V^ie w, and then rag'd for fe- , t ' veral Days before it cou'd be ftopp'd. The Temple of Peace was the largeft and mod beautiful Temple m the City, built by Vefpafian^ and befides its own magnificent Ornaments, many rich Men lodg'd their Treafures there for greater Security ; fo that this Fire impoverifh'd many more belides thofe whofe Houfes were burnt. In this Year, and 12th oi Commodm^ Eleutherus^ Biftop of Romr, dy'd, after he had held the Dignity about 15- Years ; and was fucceeded hyVt^or, mAjian and Son oi Falix, aPer- fon afterwards noted for his warm and violent Proceedings, whocontinu'd in the See about 10 Years, and was the thir- teenth Bifliop of Ro-me^ after St. Peter and St. Paul. At this Time flourilli'd Tatian\ Difciple Rhodon, who wrote many Pieces againft the Hcreticks, but none of them are now extant. jii 12.. 526 Cent. II. Ecclejiaffical Hlftory, Book III. A. D. In the following Year Co»2;«o^w having render'd himfelf 192. both odious and defpicable, became fo extravagant, that Com. he refolv'd to lodge in a Fencing School the Night before the 12 Feaft o^Janus^ trom thence to IfTue out next Day, not as «3- Emperor, but as a common Gladiator to fence naked be- Ecred. fore the People. Which ftrange Refolution being made known to his Friends, his beloved Marcia^ his General Lcctyis^ and his Chamberlain Eledus^ endeavour'd by all Methods of Perfualion to divert him from fo mean and diihonourable a Delign. But being provokM, he com- manded their Departure, and retiring to his Chamber at Noon to repofe himfelf, he wvott dow^n the Names of thefe three Ferfons in a Book, and delign'd them for Ex- ecution that Night, together with a great Number of Se- nators and rich Perfons, whofe Eftates were to purchafe him Security from the Soldiers. This Writing was acci- dentally taken up by a little Boy, who was met with it by Marc'ia ; who viewing the fatal Contents, difcover'd all to Leetus and Eledus^ who immediately refolv'd upon the Tyrant's Death, concluding upon Poifon as the mod fafe Means, which was fpeedily adminiller'd by Marcia her felf. This immediately call him into a heavy Slum- ber, and Marcia to conceal all, caus'd the Company to retire, under Pretence of Reft ; but finding him awake and vomiting, flie and the reft of the Confpirators haftily caird in a ilout young Man call'd Narcijfus^ and by fhew- ing him his Name in the black Lift, engaged him to go in and ftrangle the Emperor. Thus dy'd Commodw^ a Prince who, as Lampridim fays, liv'd only for his Sub- je6ts Mifchief, and his own Shame ; and dy'd on the 30Lh Day of December^ being in the 31ft Year of his Age ; and having reign'd 12 Years, 9 Months, and 14 Days. A. D. VI- The Confpirators found means to carry the Dead 193. Body through the Guards, and immediately repair'd to the Ferti- Houfe of tielvlus Fertlnax ; and at Night perfuadcd him NAX, to undertake the Government of the Empire, carrying him th' Mnc to the Camp of the Pr.etoriaji Cohorts for that purpofe. ir'^n*?'-- ^^^ Soldiers being deceived with a Report that their Ma- f^j'^r.^'' ~ fter's Death w\as natural, readily comply 'd with the Con- He-oj. fpirators, and made Pertimx Emperor; and then being c.ptv'i. brought into the City, he was confirm'd by the Senate ; which at the fame Time fent an inhnite Number of Curfes and Malcdidions n^-PdUiiCoimnod^is an.i his Memory. Per- t'wax was the Son of an enfranchised Slave, now 68 Years^ of Age, who had paf>M through many ftrange Changes of Fortune, Chap.III. J U L I A N U S /^ any could expect him, he immediately began the War in Armenia., threatning Barfemi^s King of the A^rer^i, w^ho had been a particular Friend to Niger. The King of Ar- menia durfl: make no Refiftance, but ferit the Emperor Pre- fents, fucd for peace, and gave fuch HoClages as he re- quired. Whereupon this valiant Prince turn'd his Forces ^ ^ againfl Arabia Fjeltx^ where was then a Mutiny, and took jgg^ * and plundered fcveral Cities; and from thence return'd g^^Jj-j againit the Frontiers of the Atreni. and inveiled the City ^ Atrce., the Metropolis of that Country. But being unable C to take it foon, by reafon of its Situation and the excef- five Heats, he immediately took Water, and failing along the Enpkrates., fuccefsfully landed in the Confines of the Parthia-fis and Perfians., who in his Abfence had invaded the Empire. Here with wonderful Expedition, he took Celeucia^ Ctefipbon and Babylori.^ and plunder'd and wafted wherefoever he came; which v/as accounted the more fignal Conqueft, becaulc the Romans flood in greater Fear of the Parthians^ than of any other Nation, in the fame Year he made his Eldeft Son Caracalla Partner with him m the Empire, gave him the "TrH^Mnitian Powcr.^ and the Title oi Augujlits., "June 2. and he alfo gave the Title of Ccefar to his Younger Son Geta. In this Year T'ertulium tells us of a flrange Appearance of a Figure of a walled City in the Air, in Judcca., for forty Mornings fucccffive- ly ; which the Moraamfts and other Mille}mria??s imagined to be the new Jerufalem., where they were to live happily a thoufand Yeius. In the Time of this flrange Sight, ftourini'd Narciffjis 'Enjeb, BiOiop oijerufalem., the i^-th Bilhop of the Uncircumci- fion, from the Year 137, and the 30th from the Apoftle St. James., a Perfon celebrated both for his Piety and his Miracles ; particularly, for his changing Water into Oyl, in a Time of great Want. After he had been fome few K 4. Years 536 Cent. II. BccleJiafticalHiJlory. Book III. A. D. Years Bifhop, and of a moft ftrid and exemplary Life, 199. fome profligate Perfons who fear'd to be cenfur'd and pu- Severi niih'd oy rjiiii for their Crimes, by Way of Prevention ac- ±_ cus'd him of Incontinency ; and to confirm their Accufa- 7- tions, they added both Oaths and Imprecations : The firfl: wii'i'd to be confum'd by Fire, the fecond defired to be walled with Leprofie, and the third tolofe his Sight, if their Allegations were not true; which notwithftanding were not bcliev'dby the Faithful, becaufe the whole Gourfe of his Life had been unblameable. But NarciJJus being unable to endure the Burthen of fo great a Scandal, and being inclinable to a Philofophical Life, retir'd himfelf fvom. his Church, and liv'd many Years in Solitudes, and obfcure Fields. But the great Eye of Juftice would not connive at what pals'd ; and thefe wicked Men foon found the fatal Efteds of their Imprecations : For the firft was burnt in his Houfe, with his whole Family ; and the fe- cond was cover'd with that Difeafe which he had wifh'd for ; but the third, feeing the End of the two former, and fearing the jufl: Vengeance of Heaven, publickly confefs'd the whole Plot, and by daily pining and lamenting, and continual weeping, at length lofl his Eycyfight. Upon the Retreat of Narcijfus^ the Church proceeded to the chuiing another Bifliop ; and before his Return to yeru-i-, falem^ he had three feveral Succeflbrs, Pius^ Germamo^ and Gordius. A.D. The Perfecution, which in a great Meafure had been ;loo. confin'd to the City of Komc^ within lefs than two Years Severi reach'd Afnck and the City of Carthage^ where V'tgilius 7_ Saturninus was Governor, and the firft in that Country ^' that employ'd the Sword againft the Chriftiam. In which Place, we have an Account of the Martyrdom of Spera- tus^ and twelve others, callM by the Name of SclUitains^ probably from the Place of their Habitation, w^ho after a conllderable Dialogue with Saturnlnus^ and a couragious Declaration of their Faith, were all condemn'd to be be- headed. Thefe Severities towards the C^ri/?/^;^j, and th» innumerable Hardiliips they fuftainM in all Places, rous'd up the Spirit of the mighty Tcrtnlllan^ and causM him to publiili his famous /1polog\\ which he dedicated to theMa- giflratcs and Governors of the lior/Lw Empire: ' Where- ^ in with incomparable t^loquencc, Evidence and Strength ^ of Reafon he pleaded the Caufe of the diftrefTcd Chri- ^ flia??s-^ complaining of thcUnreafonablenefsandlnjuftice of their Enemies, with all the illegal and irregular Me- ^ thods Chap. TIL ^EV^KUS the 21^ Rom.Emp. 5-7 ' thods of their Proceedings ; largely demouftrating both ' the Vanity, and tne Falihood of the Crimes vulgarly^ '■ charg'd upon the Chrifltam^ as their being guilty of ' Blood, Incelt, Worfhipping an Alle's Head, cf/^. JVlani- ' i'Z^xw'S^ their Meeknefs and Innocency, their Temperance ' and ChalHty, their fablime Piety to God, their inviola- ^Jble Obedience to their Prince, the Soundness of their 'Principles, and the San6lity of their Lives, beyond all ' pollible Exception. By Way of Proof, he inflanc'd in ' the Antiquity of the Books of Mofes^ the Predidions of / the Prophets, the Authority of P/Az<^v's Relation concern- ' ing Chrift^ and the miraculous Eicape of Antoninus. ' And in the Conclulion he fhew'd, tiiat the Virtues of ' the Chrift'ians were much more excellent and fublime, ' than thole of the Pagan Philofophers. Not long after he publilh'd his two Books, ^I'o the Nations \ whicii were almoH: of the fame Subject with the Apology; in which the greated Part of that is repeated, but put into another Order, and more enlarged. Aoout the fame Time he wrote his Scorpiacus^ which was dclign'd for a Remedy againfl: the Scorpion-Poifon of thofe Hereticks who dil- fuaded the Chnjhans trom fuffering Martyrdom. And to fpeak a Word in Seafon, he alfo wrote a moil pathetical Treatife to the ChnjVtans in Prifon, intituled An Exhorta- tion to the Martyrs ; wherein he powerfully incited them to Patience and Perfeverance to the lafl: Moment of Life. Beh'des thefe Pieces, he wrote about this Time a remark- able Treatife call'd. Of Prescriptions^ againfi Hereticks \ fo nanf d, becaufe it ihew'd, that their Do&ines were not to be admitted, by Reafon of their Novelty ; for he ob- ferv'd, ' That they could not reckon their Original from *- the Time of the Apollles, |ior could fliew a Succeilion ' of Bhhops, from their Times, as the Catholick Church * could. Fhis Book was wrote particularly againfl: Her- mogenes^ Marcion^ [■^alentinns^ with many Others. There never was a greater Occafion for writing againfl ^^'"'-. ' Herefies : P^or befides the feveral Hereticks formerly taken "rtru-u notice of, about this Time there appear'd the Docetcs^ and xhit Patnpajfians, The former were more ancient, againll whom St. John^ St. Ignatius and St. Polycarp affertcd the Truth and Myltery of the Incarnation, and they were a Branch of the Gnofiicks. This Herelie was reviv'd about this Time by one Jiilins Cajfiann^^ one of the Falentiniayi §ccl; and his Followers obtained the Name oi Dqcctes^ Irpm S^QY^pv, to appear \ becaufe they belicv'd and taught, that ^^8 Cent. 11. Ecclefiaflical Hijlory. Book III. that the Adions and Sufferings of Jefus Chrlfl were not in Reality, but only in Appearance. The Do61:rin of the PatrtpaJJians was broacnM by one Praxeas^ a Perfon of Afia of a turbulent Temper^ as moft Hereticks were , who upon the account of his fuffcring a (hort Imprifon- ment for Chnfilamty^ vainly attributed to himfelf the ho- nourable Title of Martyr, and diffused the Poifon of his Error both in Rome and Afr'tck. At Rome he prevented Pope V'tdor from acknowledging the new Prophecies of Montanus^ and caus'd him to revoke fome Letters in Fa- vour of that Se6l. Here he taught his Heretical Opini- ons, and atterwards in Afr'tck^ where T'ertulltan oblig'4 him to recant; but in a fhort time after he again publiOi'd his Dodrine, and taught, that there was but one Perfon in the Trinity ; that the Father was the fame with 'Jefus Chrift^ who was incarnate, born of the Virgin, and fuf- fer'd upon the Crofs. So that his Followers who were at firfl: call'd Praxeans^^ were afterwards call'd Patripaffi- atJSy becaufe they attributed the PalTion to the Father him,- felf. Thus we have got over the A6lions of two Centuries, over five General Perfecutions, and into the midd of th^ fixth ; in which the Church of God daily increas'd, and became more and more triumphant, in fpite of the Malice of all the Powers of Earth and Hell. And here it is re- markable, that befides the terrible Perfecutions that ha- rafs'd the Church, and feem'd to tear it in Pieces, the De- vil made ufe of three very fubtle Methods to ruin the Chrijlian Religion. Firfl:, becaufe the extraordinary Mi- racles of the Son of God were a notable Confirmation of the Truth and Divinity of his Do6lrine, he oppos'd the Impofliures of Simon Magus^ and ApolloKtrts "Tya-adim to his real Miracles. Secondly, becaufe the Holinefs of our Sa- viour's Life and Precepts was a powerful Perfuafive to in- cline the World to Converfion, he introduc'd into the mod Sacred Offices of Religion all Sorts of Lrufts and Impurities, by his Infl:rumcnts the Gnofikks and Carpocra- i'lans^ v/ho adopted their Vices into the Number of their Myfterics ; to whom arc to be attributed the Incefts and Scandals unjullly charg'd upon the Orthodox Chnftia'as. And thirdly, Iclt thefe fhould prove ineifedual, that he might incline the World to becarelcfs and vile, he taught by the Mouths of Marcm^^ Blaflus^ and Flormns^ That God was the Author of Sin, that he might fuperfede all Laws, and enervate the Force and Vigour of all Divine In- Chap. IV. SEVERUS the 21^ Rojn.Etnp. 5-39 Injundions. Yet notwithftanding all thcfc powerful Ef- forts, the Church of God, afflicted with Perfecution with- out and wounded with Hcreticks within, Hill flood firm upon an impregnable Rock, gather'd Strength, increased, fliin'd, and became the Wonder and Surprize of all the created Beings of the Univerfe. CHAP. IV. From the Middle of the Fifth F^erfeciition^ and Conclitfion of the Second Century^ tb the Beginning of the Sixth General Per- fecution of the Church under the Emperor Maximinus. Containing the Sface of about 3 f Tears, T r-^HE Chriftian Religion had now diffus'd it felf A. T>. ■■-• I through all the known Parts of the World; but 201. -»- more fully and triumphantly in the vaft Roman Severi Empire, where it was moil violently oppos'd, and m^t i_ with the mod terrible Confli6ts. Chnfttans were now in ^- the Cities, Towns, and Villages, in the Camp, in theSe- ^"'•'«^-^ nate, in the Palace, and in all Places beiides the Pagan ^mT* Temples and Theatres ; and that in fuch Numbers and Multitudes, that T'ertMilian afTures us, that if they had una- nimoully retir'd to any other Country, the Empire would have become a mere Defart and Solitude. All the Cruel- ties of the Gentiles were to no etle6l; but a morepow^er- ful Invitation to others to encreafe their Party; theoftencr they mowM them down, the fafter they fprung up; and their Blood was a Seed that grew up to a more plentiful Harvcft; and tho' feveral of the Gentiles had us'd their utmoft Eloquence to exhort Men to Patience under Suffer- ings, yet they could never make fo many Profelites with their Arguments, as the Chrijiians did by their A61ions. The Patience and Sufferings of the moll Virtuous and Heroick Romans^ were as far iliort of thole of the Cbrifti- ans^ as their Philofophy, was of the others Divinity. Their Heroes chofc Death when they were no longer able to bear the Shame and Mifery of Living: But the others em- brac'd f%d Cent. III. Ecclejiaftical Hiftory. Book IIL i bracM that, and all Torments, when they might have com- manded all the Conveniencies and Pleafures of Life: By : which means they became triumphant in the midft ot^ the ; moil imaginable Difficulties. And this was the State of \ Chriftiamty in the Third Century; in the firft Year of i which, and ninth o^ Severus^Vitior BKbop oi liome^ dy'd; j fome fa> by Martyrdom, after he held this Dignity about \ ten Years. He left ibme little Trads behind him, parti- \ cularly concerning the Time of keeping of Eajler ; and ', according to St. Jcrom, he was the tirfl: Ecclefiaftical Au- i thor who writ in the Larm Tongue, which muft be be- : fore thofe of Teriullia^ and ApoUomus. He was fucceed- \ ed in the Church by Zephyrinm^ a Roman^ and Son of j Habundius^ who continu'd Bifhop about 18 Years, and ! was the fourteenth Billiop of liomc^ after the- Apoflles 1 '§t. IPeter and St. Faul. j s^aru The Emperor Severus had now continu'd above three \ Eufch, Years in the Eaft; where, befdes feveral Wars, he made i many Regulations and Alterations. At length paffing ' A. D. through the Country of Paleftme^ in the Tenth Year of 1 202. his Reign, to gratifie his Heathen Subjeds, he forbad all j Seven Perfons, under the fevereft Penalties, to turn either Jews i 9 or Chrtftians; which Edi61: very much reviv'd and en- ' 1^ creas'd the fifth General Perfecution of the Church. And ' becaufe this Perfecution now rag'd more than ever, and j Severus himfelf was fq coi;cern'd m it, who before was a 1 Friend to the Chrijiiam^ many Writers make the fifth Per- I fecution to commence this Year. The GoVernors of ' Provinces, and the bigotted People being let Ipofe, fuch ; Severities and Cruelties were pradis'd in moll Parts, that ' the Chriflians of thofe Days verily believed that the Times [ oi Antichnft did then take Place ; particularly Judai an \ Ecclefiallical Writer, mention'd by Eufebiii;^ who wrote ^ i Commentary upon Daniel's Seventy IVeeks^ and a Chrono- i logy ending at the tenth Year of Sevems. This Emperor j going into Mgypt to view all the Rarities and Antiquities "j of that Country, caus'd the Perfecution to rage in a more ' .particular manner at Alexandria^ to which Place, as En- \ febim obferves, the moil fele6l: Champions of the Chnfti- j ans were brought out of all JEgvpt and T'hehan^ as to the nobleil Stadtiim of the Almighty, to fuftcr all Sorts of j Torments and Deaths, and to be encircled with Crowns j of immortal Blifs. This Perfecution cans'd many Chrifli- j fi}2s to retire from Alexandria^ and iiniong the reil, the ce- j Icbrated C1cmc:^s-^ who was conftrain'd . to quit hjs gre^t i Catc- i Chap. IV. SEV EKVS the 21^ Rom, Em/>, 541 Catechetical School, and go over to Caj)padoda; which Method he had vindicated in his Stromata^ lince flying in Pcrfecution was according to our Saviour's own Advice. Antong the many Martyrs, Lcomdes^ Father to the re- no wn'd Or'tgen^ was firft imprifon'd, then beheaded, and all his Eflateconfifcated. During his Imprifonment, young Origen^ now but 17 Years of Age, began to difcover a moil impatient Defire of Martyrdom; and bccaufe he knew the deplorable Edate wherein his Father was like to leave his Wife and Children, might probably have great Influence upon his Mind, he by Letters paffionately ex- horted him to perfevere to the lafl ; adding this Glaufe a- mong others. Take heed^ Sir, that your Care for us do not make son change your Refolution. And he himfelf had gone liot only to Prifon, but to the very Block with his Father, had not his Mother us'd all imaginable Arts to divert him ; as firfl:, Tears and all kinds of Endearments, and afterwards hiding all his Cloaths, fo that mere Shame confin'd him to the Houfc: A mighty Inftancc of a juve- nile Forwardncfs and Maturity. This Origen had a molt excellent and religious Education bcdow'd upon him by his Father, who was fo picas'd to lind him in his Youth fuch an admirable Proficient in the Holy Scriptures, that to give vent to his Joy, he frequently went into his Cham- ber wheii he lay alleep, and reverently kifs'd his naked Breafl, as a noble Treafure of an early Piety, and a divine Spirit. He had likewife learnt all the Inftitutions of the two great Maders Clemens Alexandnmis, and Ammonim Saccas\ and by means of his Studies :?.nd natural Abilities^ he was not only then a Miracle of his Years, but became afterwards the Wonder of the whole Age. As the Perfccution rag'd at Aiexandrta, fo no lefs at Lyons, where Sever m had been formerly Governor, and where Irenccus Billiop of the Place was a fhining Light. Here, as Gregory of 'Tours, and the ancient Mariyrologies inform us, Ircnccus having been prepared by fcveral Tor- ments, was at length put to death, and together with him almoil all the Chrifiians of that great and populous City> whofe Multitudes could not be enumerated ; fo that the Streets of the City flov/'d with the Blood of Chrijiians. Irenavfs was above 24 Years Bilhop of this City, and a Perfon whofe profound Learning was accompany'd with great Prudciicc, Humility and C;harity ; fo that he wanted no necellary Qualilication of a good ChnfHnn, an accom- plifh'd Bilhop, and nn able Ecd'Jiuftical Writer. Yet he is 542 Cent. in. Ecclefiafiical Wftory. Book III. is obfcrv'd, as well as ^^tftra Martyr^ to have held foine Opinions not ilri6tly Orthodox, and to have had one Fail- ing, common to him and many other ancient Authors, VIZ. That he fometimcs weakened and darken'd the moll certain Truths of Religion, by Ari^uments not very foiid. A. D. Not long after the Death of this great Oppofer of the 203. Hereticks, there appeared another fort of them call'd Ar- Severi chonUcks^ a Branch of the Marcofians.^ who among other }Z extravagant Notions, held that Archangels created the »** Worfd, from whence they had the Name of Archontlcks. Bfiphav. They deny'd the Rcfurre6lion of the Body, and plac'd per- '^^"^' fed Redemption in a Chimerick Knowledge ; they judg'd that the God of Sabaoth exercis'd a cruel Tyranny in the ^th Heaven ; that he engender'd the Devil, who begot A- bel and Cam of Eve; and that the Woman was the Work of Satan. Thefc wild Errors they defended by Books of their own compoling, which they call'd. The H-jvelations of the Prophets^ and the Harmmy. This Sed remained till the time of Epiphamns^ and were particularly found in Pa- lejime and Armenia. Eafcb, To return to Alexandria^ where the Perfecution was carry'd on with fuch Violence, Leomdes being beheaded, and all his Eilate confifcated, young Origen remain'd with his Mother and Brethren, rcduc'd to the utmoif Poverty ; but a rich Lady of the City, out of Refpecl and Compaf- iion to his Mifery, afforded him all kind of Affiilance, and took him intp her Houfe. This Lady at the fame time maintain'd one P^^/, anotedPIeretick of Antioch., whomllic had adopted for her Son, who held Conferences in her Houfe, V7here a great Number, not only of the Here- ticks, but alfo of the Orthodox, were prefent. But, tho' Or'igen was oblig'd out of neceflity to converfe with this Man, yet he would never hold Communi- on with him in Prayer, keeping exadly to the Eccle- liaftical Conftitutions, and teflifying his Abhorrence of the Do61:rincs of Hereticks. However, in a ihort time he put himfelf into a Condition of no longer needing this Lady's Charity ; for applying himfelf vigoroufly after his Father's Death to the Study of Human Learning, he open'd a School for the Profeffion of the licarned Arts, which rais'd him a conliderable Maintenance. And tho' he was then but a very Youth, yet did not the Grave and the Learned, the Philofophcrs and the Hereticks, difdain to be prefent at his Lcdlures ; many of whom from Auditors, became his Converts, and afterwards Martyrs for the Faith. In a little time Fame recommended him to publick No- tice; ticc ; and the Chair of the great School of Alexandria be- comiiif; vacant by the Retreat of St. Clement^ and the Flight' of many Chriftians^ fome of the Heathens^ who were difpofed to be converted, made their Application for him to undertake the Charge, tho' he was not then above 1 8 Years of Age. The two firft of his Difciples were 'Plutarch and Heraclas his Brother ; and the Reputatiort and Number of his Converts encreafing every Day, De- metrhis Biihop of the City confirm'd him in the Employ- ment of Catechtft^ or Profeflbr of Sacred Learning in the Church oi Alexandria. Being fetled in this Office, he ex- ecuted it with infinite Diligence, and no lefs Succefs ; and leaving off teaching Arts and Sciences, he fold all his Books that treated of human Learning, and gave himfelf intirely to the Inftru6ling his Difciples in the Rudiments of Chrtftianity. And then it was that he began to lead an extraordinary (tri6l and audere Life, which with his Learn- ing, brought over great Numbers of Difciples, notwith- flanding the Fury of the Perfecution, which in Alexandria was carry 'd on then with greater Violence than ever, un- der the new Governor Aqmla^ Succefibr to LceUis. Se- veral of his Difciples fuffer'd Martyrdom in the fame Place ; among whom w^ere Serenus^ HeracUdesy Heron^ Hermes^ &c. and he himfelf was very often expos'd to the Rage of the Pagans., when he went to the AlTiftance, and Encouragement of the Martyrs. He then carry 'd his Au- llerities lb far, as to commit an KQi of fuch Excefs, that it was blam'd even by his greateil: Defenders, and after- wards condemned by himfelf, tho' . he did it upon a pious Motive, and out of an abundant Zeal and Charity. For his Employment obliging him to be often with Women whom he inftruded as well as Men, that he might re- move from the Pagans all Ground of Sufpicion of any blameable Condu6b by reafon of his Youth, he refolv'd to execute to the very Letter that Precept and Perfe6tion v/hich'hewas perfuadcd our Saviour had propos'd in thefc Words of the Gofpcl, that there are fome who make them- fehes EUNUC IIS for the Khigdom of Heaven's fake. He endeavourM to keep this A. himfclf to the publick Affairs, fpent a confiderable time in 206. vifiting fome Cities in Italy.^ in hearing Complaints, and Sever! doing of Juftice ; for which he is defervedly applauded by n all Writers ; particularly he was fo exad as to the Places H* of Truft, that he permitted no Man in his Dominions to sport, fell his Honours and Dignities. H^ikewife eredled ma- ^""* ny noble Works and Buildings in -.^^f, and other Cities, and had a fpecial Regard to the Publick Good ; and not- withftanding his Cruelty and Avarice, he perform'd many Parts of a wife Governor, and worthy Prince. Particular- 4y he declar'd himfelf an -Enemy to thofe Vices that wounded Perfons Reputations, and made new Laws a- gainft Adulterers : And the Age was then fo loofe, that three thoufand were indi6ted for that Crime. He took fuch Care in the Treafury, that notwithftanding his infi- nite Expences and Donatives, he left behind him more Mony in the Exchequer than any of his PredeceiTors ; and was fo careful of Provifions, that he left in Rome fuch Quantities of Wheat, Wine and Oil, as were fufficient to maintain the City for five Years. He kept fo many Legions of Soldiers, that he had no Caufe to fear any Foreign Potentate whatfoever ; but to them he gave fuch Rewards and Privileges, as tho' for the prefent they ftrengthen'd his own Intereft, yet provM afterwards cx- treamly prejudicial to the Common- wealth. For the Sol- diers having formerly by the Management of ill Emperors contraded Sloth and Avarice, were by thefe Incourage- L 2 ments 548 Cent. III. Ecclejiajlical Hiflory. Book III. meats ftill more incited to violate the Sovereignty, to de- poie, dcftroy, and fet up w^hom theyplcas'd; w^hich broke jn pieces the Relids of the ancient Difcipline, and after- wards threw^ the Empire into fuch Coiitulions, as were never tolerably remov'd till the Reign of Diocletian. £^y-,^^ In the 14th Year of this Emperor's Reign, Narcijfus Bifhop of Jer/ifalem, after feven Years Retirement, in the Time of his third Succeffor Gordim^ appear'd again in the City, as one rifen from Death to Life. And being re- turned from his Solitudes, he was prevail'd upon by the People again to take the Government of the Church up- on him ; being highly reverenc'd by them both for his ftrid and Philofophical Courfe of Life, and for the fignal Vengeance which God had taken on his three Accufers formerly mcntion'd. It is believ'd that Gordius was joyn'd with him, who dy'd fliortly after ; fo that NarciJJus was not only the 30th, as formerly mentioned, but alfothe33d Billiop of Jerufalem after the Apoftle St. James. In the A. D. 1 5'^^ Year of the fame Reign, 'Tertullian., as he tells us 207. himfelf, wrote his Treatife againft the Heretick Marcion^ Severi coniifting of live Books, ftill extant. Tho' Tertullian was J 4 now a Montantft.^ he was free from the Herelie of the ij. Marcton'ites ; ' and in the fir 11 Book he fhew'd that one ' of the Gods oi Marcion was only a fantaftical and ima- ' ginary Being. In the Second, he prov'd that the God, ' whom the Jevjs worlliipp'd, was the only true God, ' the Creator of the. World, and the Author of all Good; ' refolving all the Difficulties which the Mdrcmitus had ' rais'd againft God's Covenant in the Old Teilament. In ^ Che Third, he fhew'd that Jefus Chriit was the Son of ' God, i\\'c Creator of the World, and Author of the ' Law, v/ho was foretold by the Prophets, and took up- *- on him true Flelli, and human Nature. In the Fourth, ' he Ihew'd, that it was the fame God both in the old ' and new Tefbmient ; reconciling the pretended Contra- ^ diclions aljedg'd by Marcion.^ and making it appear, that ' the whole Life of Jefm Chrijl was foretold and ligur'd ' in the old Tcflament. In the fifch Book he prov'd from ' the Epiiiies of St. P.W, that it v/as the fame God that ' was preached both in the old and new Teftament, and < that Jt-'fus Chr'tfi was iwt Son of the Creator of the ' World. After his Schifm, and much about the fame time, he wrote, bciides his Prtfcripuons formerly men- tion'd, three Treatifcs againll other Hereticks, as Prax- eaSj Hcnn^'g^KSj aiid the f^ale't^ti^iia^s^ bciides other Pieces. Againft Chap. IV. SEVERUS/Z'/f^ift Rom.Emp. 549 Againft Praxeas^ and the Vatro^ajfians^ 'he mauitain'd the ' Incarnation of our Saviour, and the Biftindion of the' ' Perfons in the Holy Trinity ; and fhewM that the Trini- ' ty of Perfons did no ways prejudice the Unity of the ' Godhead, as the Unity of the Godhead did no ways ' hinder the Trinity of Perfons. Againft Hermogmes ' he ^'•difcover'd the Fallacies and Sophifms of that Heretick, * fhewing that our Religion taught us that God created ' even that Matter whereof he made the World. His Book againft the f^alentwians is rather a Satyr, a^id Piece of Railery, than a ferious Confutation of the extravagant Sentiments of thofe Hereticks. We find two other Pieces of his near this Time, one oftheF.ep o/Jefus Chrift, and the other of the Soul : In the former he- prov'd againft fe- vcral Hereticks, that Jefiis Chrift took upon him true j Flefh ; in the latter he falfely maintain'd the Corporeality, as well as the Tradudion of the Soul. Still the Emperor Severus proceeded vigoroufly in the A. D. publick Affairs ; and having waded through a Sea of Blood 208. to make way for his Family, he declar'd his two Sons Severi SuccefTors conjointly, and gave to Geta the Title of Au- i,- guftus^ and the fame Power with Caracalla^ whofe Beha- iZ viour made him extreamly uneafie. Not long after he vt- Dhn. ceiv'd Advice, That the Northern Inhabitants of Britain ^^;"'^- were up in Arms, and had been fo fuccefsful, that the '^° ' ftanding Legions were in danger of being deftroy'd. That therefore the Empire might not in his Reign be diminifh'd by the Lofs of an Ifland of fuch great Importance, he refolv'd to go thither in Perfon, tho' then aged and gouty ;■ and the better to prevent the Enmity and Irregularities of his Sons, he took them along with him. The Britains un- derftanding the Emperor's Approach, and dreading his Pow- er, offerM him an honourable Peace ; but this Prince had fuch an infatiable Defire of obtaining the glorious Title of Britanmcus^ that he refus'd their Propofals. Upon his A. D, Entrance into the Country, he left his youngeft Son Geta ^^9\ in the Southern Parts of the Province, which had continued Severi in Obedience ; and march'd with Caracal la againft the '1 Northern Britains and Caledonians ; where with the cut- '^* ting down Woods, making of Bridges, draining of Meers, and by the Enemies Ambufcades, and Sicknefs, he loft fifty thoufand Men, according to DioT?. The old Empe- ror encountcr'd thefe Miferies and Difficulties with ex- ceeding Bravery, and profecuted his Attempts with fuch a vigorous Refolution, that he at length forc'd his Ene-» L 3 ^^^i 550 Cent. III. Ecclefiaflical Hijlory. Book III. mies to a Submiffion, and likewife to deliver up a confi- derabit^ Part of their Country, and all their Arms. This was eheded in the 17th Year of his Reign ; in which Year it is probably believ'd that Philojiratus the Atheniatt Orator, compos'd that famous Hiflory, or rather Legend, of the Life of Apollomus T'yanion. Britain^ and rebuilt the famous Wall begun by Adrian^ he ^'rod. retir'd to Eborkum or Tork^ where he grew weak, partly *^** with Age and Travel, and partly with Grief, for the irre- claHTiable Life of his eldeft Son. Hearing that the Soldi- ers had declarM him Emperor, rouz'd with the Affront, he commanded him, with the Tribunes and Centurions, to be immediately brought before him ; and when they implor'd Pardon upon their Knees, he briskly told them, T'hat he govern'' d vjtth his Head^ and not lu'tth his Feet^ and fo difmils'd: them. His Diftemper increafing, and per- ceiving his Death approaching, he cry'd out, / have been all that a Man can be^ but it ts of no Ufe or Service to me now. And ordering his Urn to be brought, wherein his Aflies were to be enclosed, and taking it in his Hands, he faid, Little Urn^ thou Jhalt now contain what the whole World could not before. Then calling his Sons and his Friends about him, he made this remarkable Speech to them, When I took the Empire upon me^ I found it declining and Ian- guijhing ; and now being aged and decrepit .^ I leave it in a State firm and lafting to my Sons., if' they prove good ; if a- therwife, feeble and jinking. His Pains increafing, efpeci- ally in his Feet, he in vain call'd for Poifon, according to Au. Vichr ; and then glutted himfelf with grofs Meats, which foon after ended his Life. Thus dy'd Septimius Severus., a Perfon both of extraordinary Vices and Excel- lencies, who is rather to be rank'd among the Great, than the Good Princes. He dyM in the Beginning of the Year 211, on the 4th Day of February., under the Confulfliips of Gentianus and Bafjus., being 6^ Years of Age, and hav- ing reign'd 17 Years, 8 Months and 3 Days, reckoning from the Time of his being declar'd Emperor by the Se- nate. 11 . Upon the Death of Severus., his two Sons Cara- A. D. calla and Geta were both declar'd and acknowledg'd Em- 211. perors, who agreed to leave Britain., and return to Rome Cara- with the Afhes of their Father. The firft thing they did calla after their Arrival, was the Apotheofis^ or Deification of ihe vcofmy their Father, which was perform'd after the ancient and /«e«^^^"j ufual Cuilom ; and becaufe it fo well ihcws the Religion "^.^ and Paeanifh Superflition of the Romans, we Ihall here ' *. out ot Herodian briefly recite the Particulars or this pom- pous Ceremony. Firft, the whole City was commanded to go into Mourning, being mix'd with fame FeftivalSo- L 4 lemnity : 552 Cent. III. EccleJiaflicalHiJlory. Book III. lemnity: Next, a pale Image of Wax, exa6lly refembling the deceafed Emperor, was plac'd at the Entrance of the | Palace, upon a (lately Ivory Bed magnificently adornM \ with Cloth of Gold : On the left hand were featcd the \ ■whole Body of the Senators in Black ; On the Right, the i Ladies of the highcft Quality in plain white Habits, with- ! out Jewels, or other Ornaments. This lafted for feven | Days, during which Space the Phylicians often reforted to the Image, as tho' it had been a living Patient, ligni- \ fying every time. That they hadftill Icfs looped of the km- ] peror's Life than before''; at which Words the Mourners J always gave a Groan. At laft, when the Phyficians had de- ; clar'd his Death, the noblell and youngeil: of the Senators ^ndiEquites carry'd the Bed upon their Shoulders through ] the Vta Sacra into the old Forum ; on each fide of which ; were eredred two large Scaffolds, one fiU'd with Lads, | and the other with young Maids, all Children of the high- , ell Quality, who after a moil: folcmn and mournful man- ; ner lung Hymns and Songs in Honour of the Dead, i Thefe finifli'd, the Senators and Knights again took up the Bed, and carry'd it out of the City into the Campus ; ■ Martius^ where was erefted a beautiful Strufture of ■ Wood, almoft in the Form of a Pyramid, with feveral \ Stories. The firft was fquare, and a fort of a Chamber ' fiird with all forts of combulhble Matter, and the Out- ; - fide richly adorn'd with Cloth of Gold, Ivory, Statues, '\ and fine Piftures : The fecond had the fame Ornaments, i and was of the fame Figure, only was fomewhat lefs, i with the four Sides open: Upon this was a third rtill lefs, ; and upon that a fourth ; and fo feveral other lefs Stories, ' till the lail: terminated in a Point. The Bed and Statue ^ being plac'd in the fecond Story, fiU'd with the richefl: Flowers, Plants, Odours, Gums and Spices, the Roman \ Knights rode on Horfeback round the Pile in Order and j Meafure, according to the Sound of feveral Warlike In- ; ftruments : After them followed certain Ferfons in Cha- ' riots in Purple Robes, with Masks, reprefenting to the ' Life the Faces of the moil famous Commanders, and , Emperors among the Roma?is. Thefe ended, the Sue- i cefiors in the Em.pire fet Fire to the Pile with Torches ; i the Confuls, Senators and Knights did the fame to their ! appointed Side ; fo that all was in a Flame immediately, i and at the fame time from the Top of the Pile an Eagle was let fly, which was foon out of fight. - This was '• accompany'd with infinite Shouts and Applaufes ; and the ' People \ Chap. IV. CAR AC ALL A the 22^ Rom.Emp. 555 People being made to believe that it was that Eagle which carry'd the Emperor's Soul to Heaven, from that Moment they paid him the fame Worfhip that they did to their o- ther Gods. Caracaila and Geta were both young Men ; the former now about twenty three Years of Age ; in his Youth he had been noted for his companionate Temper ; but his Pity and good Nature foon forfook him, and he became one of the cruellefl: Monfters that ever reign'd. His Brother Geta was naturally of a milder and fofter Difpoiition, and gaining the Affedion of the People, Caracaila foon fought means to deftroy him by Poyfon, and alfo endeavour'd to bribe the Prcetorian Soldiers by many Prefents and Fa- vours, and withal gave them leave to live according to their Pleafure. So that the City foon found the dangerous EffeSs of a State being govern'd by two Princes of equal Power and Authority, and fo contrary in their Tempers, that they continually endeavour'd each other's Death. In Matters of Juftice and publick Adminiftration, they were ever contrary in Opinion ; and in chufing of Commanders and Governors, each fought to prefer his own Friends and Favourites, as likewife they did in the Eledion of Confuls and other Magiftrates, which caus'd all Atfairs to fuccced according to Favour and Contention. By which means infupportable Injuries and Diforders were daily committed, either of them perfecuting the contrary Fadli- on, without daring to punilli thofe of their own Party, left they fhould make them their Enemies ; whence grew an univerfal Prejudice to the City and Province, and in- deed in the whole Empire. As the Romans now met with daily AfflijSlions, fo did the Chriflians ; for the fifth Perfccution, which with diffe- rent Degrees of Severity had continu'd near 14 Years, was (till kept up ; particularly in Africk by Scapula the Procon- ful of that Province. The Severities and Barbarities of this Man rouz'd the Spirit of T'ertullian^ who thereupon wrote a neat and pathetical Book to him, which is ftill re- maining to us. ^ in the Beginning, he reprefented to him, ' That the Chrtjlians rather chofe, than fear'd Sufferings, ' and to change a temporal Life for an eternal ; that there- ' fore he did not diredl his Difcourfe to him out of Ap- ' preheniion for them, but out of an earneft Delire he had > for the Salvation of the Heathens^ lince the Chrtftians ' were oblig'd to love their Enemies, and to endeavour ^ their Convcruon. ^e then reprefented the Honefty and ' Simplicity fj^ Cent. III. EccleJiafticalHiftory, Book III. * Simplicity of the Chrijiians^ and their hearty Prayers and * Endeavours for the Profperity of the Empire, with thofe * particular Inftances oi Severity, which the Divine Provi- * dcnce had lately infli6ted upon it, which could not rea- * fonably be fuppos'd to have been fent upon any other * account, than to revenge the innocent Blood that had * been Ihed ; inciting him to Moderation by the Clemency *" and Indulgence of former Princes and Governors. Not long after, CaracaUa forgetting the Chnjltans^ to follow Other Cruelties, the Perfecution ended \ and, as %ul. Seve- rus aflures us, the Church of God had a long Peace of 38 Years, fetting aiide that little Interruption by the Emperor Maximinus in the Year 235*. At the Ending of this Per- Ettfd. fecution, Origen had a great Defire to fee tiie Church of Romey fo venerable for its Antiquity and Renown, and ac- cordingly came thither in the time of Pope Zephyrin^ where he ftaid not long, but return'd back to Alexandria^ and to his accuftom'd Catechetick Office, Demetrius his Bifhop earneftly importuning him to refume it. His two renown'd Predeceflbrs, Pantcenus and Clemens ^ were ftill living, tho* probably in different Parts of the World ; but how long they liv'd, and what Deaths they dy'd, we have no cer- tain Account. Alfo Montanus was ftill living, who had broach'd his Herefie forty Years before, and was now writ againft by ApoHonius a Greek Author, who confuted the Pra»Slices and Manners of him and his Followers. In the fame Year 211, Serapion Bifhop of Antioch dy'd, after he had been pofTefs'd of that See 21 Years ; and was fuc- ceeded by Afclepiades, a Perfon of celebrated Reputation, who held that Dignity about fix Years or more, and was the ninth Bilhop of Antioch after the Apoftles. A. D. Origen being return'd from Rome to Alexandria^ loon found his Employment to encreafe, and Auditors to prefs in fo faft, that he wanted Leifure for Retirement, Con- templation, and the Study of the Holy Scriptures ; fo that he was oblig'd to take in Heraclai for his Afliitant, who had been his Difciple, and was well vers'd in divine and human Studies, by which he divided the Labour between them, committing the younger and more untutor'd Cate- chumens to HeraclaSj and taking the maturer and older to his own Care. And now he made many Converts, as well of Heretic ks as Heathens^ particularly Arnbrofius^ no- ted for the Valentinian Herefie; fo that great Numbers flock'd to him to make Trial of his fam'd Learning and Abilities, others to be inftru«Sted in the Precepts both of Philofophy Chap IV. CAR AC ALL A the 22^ Rom.Emp. 5-5 j Philofophy and Chrijiiamty. And the better to qualifie himfelf in Theology and the Underftanding of the Holy Scriptures, he diligently fet himfelf to learn the Hebrew Tongue, a Language little underftood by the Fathers and the Cearned in thofe Times ; which he effe£led with ex- traordinary Labour, and to great Purpofes. By this means the Church of Alexandria flourifh'd exceedingly, as like- wife did the Church of Jerusalem about the fame time ; of which we have the remarkable Account from Eufebm of one Alexander^ a worthy Bifhop of Cappadocia^ who out of a religious Curiofity, had refolv'd upon a Journey to Jerufalem^ to vifit the holy and venerable Antiquities of the Place, to which he was particularly excited by a divine Revelation intimating to him, that it was the Will of God that he (hould be afliftant to the Bilhop of the P4ace. For fo it was, that the celebrated Narcijfm^ who had return'd fix Years before to his See at Jerufalem^ and was now 116 Years old, became incapable through his great Age and Infirmities, duly to manage that Charge, Alexander approaching near Jerufalem^ the Chriftians were warn'd by a Vifion and Voice from Heaven, to go out of the City, and there receive him whom Heaven had defign'd for their Bilhop. This being done, and finding Alexander^ they entertained and introduced him with all poffible Kind- nefs and Refpeft ; and by the Importunity of the People, and the Confent of all the neighbouring Bifhops, he be- came Colleague with Narcijfus in the Government of the Church, who liv'd with him about three or four Years. This is the firft exprefs Inftance we meet with m Church Antiquity of two Bifhops fitting at once by Confent in the fame See. Alexander held this Dignity with extraordinary Reputation about 39 Years, and was the 34th Bifhop of Jerufalsm after the Apoflle St. James. In the fame Year at Rome all pofilble Methods were Hemd. made ufe of to reconcile the two Emperors CaracaRa and s^'^^t' Geta\ 'till at length upon the 27th Day o^ February., Ca- racaJla refolving to be freed from a Rival, found means to kill his Brother, even in his Mother Julians hxms^ whi- ther he had run for .Shelter ; having reign'd with him one Year, and 23 Days Immediately after the Fa6l, CaracaUa rufli'd out of the Palace, and run through the City to the Camp, where going diredly to the Place where the Guards kept their Standards and the Images of their Gods, he threw himfelf upon the Ground to thank them for his Deliverance. After which he defir'd the Soldiers to pro- tea 556 Cent. III. Eccleftafiical Hiflory. Book III, ttdi him, and with broken Speeches, like one recovering out of a Fright, gave them to underitand, That he had at \ laft difpatch^d his Enemies that fought hk Life. Whilft they i were mufing and doubting, he put an end to all Scruples \ by his mignty Promifes, telling them That he defr/'d only I to live and die with them ; and immediately gave them all that incredible Mafs of Mony which his Father Severus \ had been collecting during his whole Reign. This Dona- ; tive not only fatisfy'd the Soldiers, but caus'd them to j threaten the Senate into a Compliance, who out of Fear \ approv'd q^ Geta^% Death, andjuftify'd tlie Murther. Ca~ \ racalla^ to appeafe all, perform'd many Ads of Mercy, \ and likewife deify'd his Brother, being content^ as he de-: \ clar'd, that he fhould be a God above^ fo he wai not alive < ftpon Earth. Bat all thefe Ads of Remorfe were foon, j defac'd by his brutal Cruelty towards thofe who Were but I the lead fufpecled of favouring his Brother; and all his •: Servants and Guards, with their Wives and Children, to ^ the Number of twenty Thoufand, were without Mercy j put to Death. Pafiman the renown'd Civilian, with mtany others of the moll: iliullrious Families, were likewife exe- cuted upon the weakefl: Pretences. Wnolc Nights were fpent in the Execution of bloody Edids; and the dead; Bodies of Perfons of all Ranks and Ages were contemp- tuoufly thrown into Carts, and hurry'd out of the City, where they were burnt in Heaps, without the Decency of common Ceremonies. So that the proud City Oi lioyne^ which had often dipp'd her Hands in tnc Blood of the in- ■ nocent Chrijlia'as^ had nov/ her Streets overflown v/ith the Blood of her chiefeft Citizens; • and was trampled up- on by one of the greatelt Monllers in the Univerle. Ca- A. D. racalla being generally detelled in the City, in the third 213. Year of his Reign, relblv'd to take a Journey through the Carac Provinces of the Empire;, and his firft Progrefs v/as into J_ Gallia Narbonenfi-:^ where for the time he tarry'd, he per- 3- form'd as great Mifchiefs as he could. He kill'd the Pro- conful of the Province, and broke in upbn the Privileges of feveral Cities; and when he had gain'd the Hatred of the whole Province by his tyrannical and cruel Deport- ment, he returned back to Rome^ before his Expedition in^ to Germany^ as feveral learn'd Antiquaries are of opinion. £„reh. Ill the fame Year there hapned a celebrated Deputation jerom. between Caiu'\ an Orthodox Presbyter of the City and Difciple to Ire-ruxins^ and one Prochs., who was one of the Heads oi t\\Q: Mo7r:aKtfi Paity, wherein the latter being vun^uifn'd^ Chap.IV. C\R/lCA.LLA the 22^ Rom. Emp. 557 vanquiOi'd, was together with all the Followers of that Se(St, excommunicated by the Church of Kome^ and even TemiUian himfelf among the reft, as he fufficiently inti- mates in his Piece de Jejumis. This, to a Perfon of fo rigid and unyielding a Temper as "tertulltan^ was fo far from reclaiming or recovering him, that it made him more fierce and implacable than ever againft the Orthodox and Catholicks, looking upon them as far too licentious ia their Lives, and himielf and his Party as the only true Pra6licers and Reftorers of Difcipline and Devotion. Ac- cordingly he wrote four Treatiles principally againft the Catholicks, viz. of Modejiyj of Monogamy^ Exhortations to Chajiity^ and of Fafis. In his Book of Modefly^ ' he en- ' deavour'd to prove againft the Church, that it had no ' power to remit the Sins of Fornicators and Adulterers, ' and that fuch as fell into thefe Crimes after Baptifm, ' could not be admitted into the Communion of the Church, ' how penitent foever they were. In his Book of Mono- gay?iy ^i\di Exhortations to Chaftity^ 'he abfolutely condemn'd ' fecond Marriages as being Adultery. In his Difcourfe of Fajls^ ' he commended the exceffive Fafts of the Mon- '•■■tmifis^ who made feveral Lents^ obferving the Stationa- ' ry Fafts, as if they had been exprefly enjoin'd, making \ them to continue 'till Night, and eating upon thofe Days ' only Bread and Fruits, and drinking only Water. As 'TertHllian continually declin'd in the Opinion of the Church, fo Origen daily improv'd, and became the Wonder of all A. D. Men; and having with infinite Labour and Induftry exa- 214. min'd all Parts of the Holy Scriptures, he compos'd that Carac. great and famous Work call'd the T'etrapla ; which was a _i_ Bible, wherein by the Side of the Hebrew Text, he had **• tranfcrib'd in ditferent Columns, the Tranflation of the Septuagint^ that of Acjuila.^ that of Symmachus^ and that of I'heodutian^ diilinguifn'd all by Verfes, to which he after- wards made great Improvements and Additions. This and other Works extreamly cncreas'd his Reputation, and drew great Numbers of learned Men from all Parts to Alexa:iJria to converfe with him, and to be inftruded by him. About this time came a MelTenger from the Gover- nor of Arabia v/ith Letters to Demetrius the Biihop, and to the Prasfe6t of Mgypt^ defiring that with all fpeed Ori^ gen might be fent to mipart the Chriftian Do£lrine to him ; fo conliderable had the Fame of this great Man rendered him abroad in Foreign Nations. Accordingly he went in- to Arabia^ with great and folemn Attendance ; in which Nation 5^8 Cent. IIL Ecclejiaflical Ktflory. Book IIL Nation having perform'd his Bufinefs, he return'd to his Charge in Alexandria. Dhn, In the mean time the Emperor Caracalla purfuM his in- Hcfd, tended Journey through the Empire ; and taking his Way '^"^'' towards Germany and the Danube^ there at firlit, to win the Hearts of the Country People, he follow'd the Fashi- ons of that Country, took upon him the German Habit^ and chofe fuch of the Germans as were moft ftrong and a6tive, for his Guard. He fought alfo to gain the Aftedi- ons of the other Soldiers, by Ihewing himfelf affable and fociable, perfonally aflilling them in their Labours, join- ing in their Diet, and doing many things like a hardy Man and a Soldier. By which means he became popular in the main ; but he could not with-hold himfelf from' many Extravagancies and Cruelties, as putting certain enii- nent Men among the Germans to Death, and maflacring a great Number of their Youth whom he had got together on pretence of lifting them into his Service. From Ger- A. D. many he pafs'd through Thrace into Macedonia^ where he 21 f. fooiifhly pretended to imitate Alexander the Great In all his Carac A6i:ions; and had a Body of 16000 Macedonians about 4 him, whom he call'd his Phalanx^ in Imitation of that T» ancient Body of Macedonian Foot io call'd. From thence he crofs'd into the lefTer AJia^ where at Pergamos he fa- crific'd to JEfculapius for the Recovery of his Health. For now he began to be afflidled with feveral ftrange forts of Difeafes ; which beginning in Germany^ made fome Per- fons believe that the Inhabitants of that Country had turn'd his Brain by their Charms and Incantations. It is more probable that Caracalla's Crimes made him horribly un- ealie, and that the Difturbance they gave him, at length affeded his Head ; for he was frequently affrighted with dreadful Vifions, and often imagin'd that he faw his Fa- ther and Brother come upon him with drawn Swords. His reftlefs Fears drove him to make ufe of Magical Arts to raife the Dead ; and amongft others, he call'd for the Ghofts of his Father and of Commodm. His Brother's Ghoft came up with his Father's tho' uncall'd for ; and tho' they faid nothing, they join'd in tormenting him, whilft the Ghoft of Commodus bad him aloud prepare for Vengeance. It is no wonder then, that neither Supplica- tions, nor Gifts, nor Ceremonies, could cure this Mala- dy ; that neither Apllo-Grynceus^ nor JEfculapim^ nor Scra- ps^ could give Caracalla any Eafe, tho' he fent noble Prefents to each of them, and was initiated with the great*' eft Chap.IV. CARACALLA the 22^ Rom.Emp. f 59 eft Superftition in all their Rites. So that Dhn^ the Oen- tile Hidorian himfelf confeft, That God more regarded the Adions of Caracalla than his Gifts. Iq this reftiefs Condition he fliifted about from Place to Place 'till his Death, ^nd going to T'roy^ he there in all his Actions imi- tated Achilles^ travelling more like a Player than an Em- peror, which Levity caus'd the Derifion of fome, and the Indignation of others. In the following Spring he hafted A. D, to Alexandria^ where he refolv'd upon an unheard of 216. Piece of Revenge againft the Inhabitants, for their Jefts, Carac. and contemptible Names they had given him. At his Ar- /_ rival, he was folemnly received with great Joy andamigh- ^' ty Concourfe of People, gatherM together from many Parts. Here he oifer'd feveral Sacrifices, and Ihcw'd ma- ny great Favours to the Inhabitants; but fhortly after, aflembling them to fee fome publick Games, he caus'd them to be fuddenly furrounded by his Soldiers, and in- finite Numbers of all Ages and Degrees were miferably cut in Pieces, to the vaft Aftonifhment and Terror of the whole Country. After this monftrous A61ion, he pafs'd into Syria ; and being defirous to lignalize himfelf by fome memorable Exploit, he fent to Art ab anus King of P** bout fix or eight Years ; and was fucceeded by Philetm who held that Dignity about eight or ten Years, and was the tenth Bifhop of Antioch after the Apoftles. In the fame Year alfo Mon. T'tlUmont places that remarkable Story of Natalis a ConfefTor at Rome^ which Eufebhis in the latter End of his fifth Book, relates from an anonymous Au- thor. This Natalis^ had been feduc'd by Afclepiodotus and Theodotus a Banker, both Difciples of that Heretick for- merly mentioned, Theodotus the Currier, who perfwaded him to be made a Bifhop of their Se£l, upon confiderati- on of a certain Monthly Salary. Being thus beguil'd by the Bait of Primacy, as well as Profit, God, who was particularly merciful to the AfTerters of his Son's Honour, was pleas'd firll to admonifh him by Vifions; and after that, to torment him all Night by his Angels, in order to his Recovery and Reftoration. Infomuch, that nfing ve- ry early, with Sackcloth and Afhes, and a Flood of Tears, he cafl himfelf down before Zcphyrinus Bifhop of Rome^ and alfo before the Clergy and Laity ; ufing all Methods to move the CompalTion of the injur'd Church. And af- ter many Intrcaties and Supplications, and fhewing the Prints of the Stripes he had received by the Inftruments of Heaven, he was with much Difficulty rcceiv'd again into the Communion of the Church. As for Theodotus the Banker, he formed a new Se6t of his own, and added fome Things to the Thcodotians formerly mention'd, as particularly that Je^ns Qhrlfl was inferior to Melchtfedeck^ Vg L. II . M who \. D, cvl. p2 Cent. III. FcdcftafikalWjlory. Book III. ^vho was, according to his Opinion, Eternal without Fcr ther or Mother, and the Advocate of Angels ; and that^ Jefus Cbrifi was pure Man, and exercis'd the Office of Advocate only for Men. For which Reafon his Follow- ers obtained the Name of Melchifedecians. In the mean time the Emperor /^/^/m»;/; daily lofl ground in the Reputation of all wife Men; but that which mod promoted his Downfal, was the Artifices of Mafay Sifter to the J ate Emprefs Jtdia^ who upon the Death of Cara- calla had retir'd to Kmefa in Phocfiicia^ with all her Fa- mily and her valt Eftate which llie had galn'd by living above twenty Years in the Emperor's Court. Her Fami- ly conliftcd of two Widow Daughters, So.vmids and Ma- n^scca^ and their Sons BaJJianus and Alsxianus^ one 14, and t\\^ other 1 2 Years of Age. Emefa was a City famous for worfliipping the Sun in the Shape of a Black Conical Stone ; which idol^ they faid, came down from Heaven, and was call'd Eiagabal^ or the Forming God. Now BaC- fia72iis being a Pried of that Temple, heobtain'd the Name of Elagabalus.^ or as Ibme write it, Heliogabalus ; and he was much adinir'd by the ^i^;^^» Soldiers for his fine Shape and Beauty. Mcefa finding the Soldiers to affedl him, that Ihe might lofe no Advantage, readily proftituted her Daughter's Honour by reporting that he was the real Son oi Car ac alia '^ and by means of large Sums, great Promi- fes, and producing her Grandfon in the Roman Camp near Emefa^ fhe prociirM the Soldiers there to proclaim him Emperor, under the Name of M. Aurelm Antoninus \ which was done on the ij'th Day of ill^^v, 218. Macri- mis at firft contcmn'd that P^adion rais'd only by a Wo- man and a Boy, and thought it fufficient to fend a Com- mander caird Julian to chaftize the Revolters ; but for want of his own Perfonal Appearance, the Soldiers under Julian were loon corrupted, cut off their General's Head,> and went over to hlagabalus. This oblig'd Macrinus im- mediately to make ufe of his whole Power ; but he want- ing Courage himfelf, and his Army an Inclination to fight, he was intirely defeated ; and flying with all Secrefie and Expedition towards Rome^ where his Arrival was defir'd, 1 e was overtaken at Chakedou^ and both he and his Son put to Death. This hapned on the 7th Day oijune^ un- der the Confullliips of Himfelf and Ad-ventus^ he being i' idy four Years of Age, and having reign'd but one Year iijid two Months, wanting three Days. ' Imme- Chap.TV. EL AGAB ALUS thez^"^ Rom.Emp. 563 Immediately after the Death of Macr'mus and his Son, Ela- Elagabalus^ by the Advice of his Grandmotner Mcefa^ ga?,a- wrote to Rome in the mod obliging manner imaginable ; LUS which notwithflanding was ill digelted by the Senate and '^'^ '»«'«- People, who much more delir'd tne Government of Ma- ^^^^^^ cr'tnHs. But finding they were unable to relilt ibch a Em2crQu powerful Party, they yielded Obedience to Elagabalus^ of Herod, whom they conceiv'd fome Hopes, both upon, the Ac- &c. count of his good Shape, and for his Name of Antoninus, By reafon of his Youth, many Things were at firft or- dered by the Advice and Directions of Mcefa and her Fa- vourites, who fetling the unquiet Affairs of the Eaft, haltned towards Rome with the young Emperor ; but be- ing conftrain'd to winter at Nicomedia in Bithyma^ he there by feveral Inftances maniteiled his fcandalous and irreclaimable Lite. He was but fourteen Years of Age when he was eleded ; and as he was the youngeft, fo he was the moft loofe and profligate Emperor that Ronve^ or perhaps the World ever faw. His Life is one continued and amazing Inttance of the moft fuperlative Effeminacy, and the moft unaccountable Extravagancy ; and it cannot be determin'd which was moft notorious, his unbridled Obfcenity, his boundlefs Prodigality, or his Fantaftical Foolery. It affords a melancholy View of Mankmd, that when left to themfelves and abandon'd to their Lufts, no Senfe of Honour, no Regard of Humanitv or common > Decency, can reflrain them. And that which made thefe Things the more wonderful in this Emperor, was, that an extraordinary Vein of Superftition run through all his Adlions ; fo that whilft he livM like a Bruce, he would needs feem pious and religious. His Mother Sooemias was infamous like himfelf, but his Aunt Mamcx^a was a Woman of admirable Virtues ; and tho' the Domeftick Examples fhe had been us'd to, were far from being excellenc, yet flie kept her felf un- corrupted in the midft of fb much impurity, and took a ftri<3: Care to keep her Son Aiextanus the fame. She was not only virtuous according to the Heathen Notions of Vir- tue and Goodnefs, but her Aims were infinitely higher. Being a Syrian born, fhe could not but be acquamted with the Affairs both o^Jews and Chriflians ; and having heard of the great Fame of Origcn^ was extreamly defi- Enfeh, rous to fee him, and hear him concerning Religion, that fhe might truly underftand it, and know what it was, for which che World had him in fuch Veneration. And for M 1 this 564 Cent. III. Ecclcjiajlical Ihftory. Book III. this piirpofe, befote the Emperor's Dcp.irture from the Eaft, Ihe lent for him from Alexandria^ ordering a mili- tary Guard to condud him to Aniioch^ vvlicre he (taid with herlbme confidcrable Time; and having fully opcnM the Dodbines of Chrtlhamty. and given her many De- monllrations of the Faith of its Profeflbrs, to the great Honour of God and Religion, he was honourably di-f- mifs'd, and permitted to return to his old Charge in Alex- andria. It is probable that fhe was baptiz'd ; fince fevcral Writers do account her a ChrtjVtan^ and her Piety is fo highly commended by Eufeb'tus a Clrnftian Bifhop ; be- fides, file v/as lb great a Patronefs, that fhe proteded the Church from all Perfecution during all her Son's Reign. Some late Writers are of Opinion, that this Interview be- ji tween Origen and her was feveral Years after this time ; \ but Mon. Tillcmtmt in his i6th Note upon his Life of 0- t rigej^^ has given fufficient Reafons to place it in this pre- j fent Year 218. In which Year, it is believ'd that Maxi- i milb.^ one of the two great Prophctcffes o^ t\\t Montamjisy \ dy'd. In the lame Year alfo, or the following, Zephyri- p nus Bifhop of Rome dy'd, after he had held the Dignity i^ 18 Years, and was fucceeded by Califins^ an Italian of \ Ravenna^ Son of Domitius^ who continu'd in the See ^ \ Years, and was the ifth Biiliop of Rome after the Apo- \ ftles St. I'ctcr and St. Paul I A. D. Klngabalus having pafs'd the Winter at Nicornedta^ ifl Ij 219. the following Spring came to Rome^ where he made large ; Elagab. Dillributions, and noble Spedacles of all forts ; but his ; jr_ only Concern for any Thing that might claim the Name 2. of Bulinefs, was to do Honour to his Syrian Stone-Idol, Herod, by which he reprcfentcd the Sun ; to which with all po'- ^'•»- lible fpeed he erefted a magnificent Temple. To this ^ am^. Ygjyjpj^ }^£ repair'd every Morning, and oifcr'd Hecatombs I of Oxen, with an innumerable Quantity of Sheep, which li he laid on Altars loaded with the riched Spices, and waili'd with the nobleft Wines, which were confum'd with incredible Profulion, that the greater Honour might be paid to this Image. Thefe extravagant Superftitions, celebrated with all forts of Mulick and Dancings per- form'd by Phoenician Women, were fo much the more infupportable, by how much El/^gabahs made them bur- thenfome to the Perfons of the higheli Quality ; for the whole Body of Scrtators and Equites were oblig'd to at- tend thefe Ccrcn:onies as often as the Emperor thought ^| fit to call them. I3el]des this Temple near the Palace^ he buiit Chap.IV.ELAGABALUS/Zf 24^?^ Rom.E^np. 5^5 huilt another in the Suburbs to his God, whither annual- A. D. 1^ in the Hcat of Summer the original Image, which 220. he had brought from Eracja^ was cai-y'd, where "^^^.^ Pro- Elagab. ccflion was as pompous as poilible : For the Idol was _^ plac'd alone \\\ a triumphal Chariot mod cxquilitely a- 3' dorn'd ; and the Emperor held ih.^ Reins himfelf, running backwards by the Chariot lide, that he might the more frequently view his Deity ; all which was accompany'd with the Images of all other Gods, and the mod: facred and valuable Treafures of the i^o.-^^^^ Temples. T\\tGcn- t'dc Romans^ who had been educated with Sentiments of Reverence towards their other Gods, wcree^treamlymor- tify'd, to fee, that whatfocver they held dear or facred in their Idolatrous Worfliip, muft all now be tl^crific'd to this new Image. They could have been fatisfy'd to have worfliipt it at the Tutelar Deity of the Emcfeni^ and as fuch to have ereded a Temple to it ; but to proftrate all their other Idols to this lingle one, was, as they thought, abominable. Yet nothing lefs would fatislie EUgahalus^ who accounted all their ancient Gods as only Servants and Attendants to his ; tho' fome of thein were fo muca favourM, as to be chofcn cither for a Wire or for Com- panions to this. He was alfo fo vain, as to hope to com- prehend the Jcvjijh and the Samar'ttan Religions in his own, and therefore perhaps it was that he circumcis'd himfelf, and fuperflitioufly abflain'd from S wines Fieili ; for he was defirous to put the Rites of ail Religion's in pradice, that he might the more eaiily bring them that were of other Religions, to pay a Reverence to his own Deity. It is probable that he would have been baptizM too, vainly imagining that by that means he might feduce the Chrijliai^s to the VVoriln'p of his Idol ; and perhaps he was, if there were any Apoftates profligate enough to betray their Faith to gratifie his fancaflick Humour. As for the other Impieties and Monftrolities related of this Emperor, the Hints we have before given, are fuflicient in this Place; they being fo much below a Prince, and al- fo a reafonable Man, that they ought to* bury'd in Ob- livion. . -. In the third Year of this Emperor's Reign, Z)/W relates a (Irange Story of an Apparition of Alexander the Greats, -p^^^', or fome Damon in his Shape, near the River Danube^ iiiagao. who with four hundred Companions, dreit and dancin,^- -^ like Bacchanals^ pafs'd through ALvJia and Thrace to B\- ** ■^ant'rAm-^ v/ifliout any Endeavou's of Oppolition from th.- M :: ' Soldiers 5^6 Cent. III. Ecclefiaflical Hijlory. Book III. Soldiers and Governors, who allowM them all Accom- modations in their Journey. Then paffing the Sea to Cal- cedon in Afia^ there, after feveral peculiar Ceremonies per- form'd, and putting a wooden Horfe into the Ground, they wholly difappear'd. In the fame Year a noted Chri- ftiar?^ caird 'Julius Afr'icanus of Palejitne^ obtain'd a De- putation from the Emperor to caufe the City of Emmam near Jerufalem to be repair'd, which was afterv/ards call'd by the Name of Nicopolis. This Africanus about the fame time compos'd an exadl: Chronicle divided into five Books, from the Beginning of the World, to the third Year of the Reign of Eiagabalm^ wherein he gave a brief Account of the moil remarkable Accidents from the Creation, to the time ofjefus Chnji^ and related in few Words all that hapned from our Saviour's Time, to that wherein he wrote. We have not this famous Work fnder Africa- nus's Name ; but Eufebim has inf^rted it almoft entire in his Chrof7,con^ altering and adding fome few Things, and corre6i:Li)^ loiue Oi his Ivlifiakes. Beiides his Chronicle, he afterwards wrote two Letters, one to Ariftides^ to re- concile the feeming Difference between St. Matthew and St. Lukc^ concerning our Saviour's Genealogy ; and the other to Or'igen^ to fliew the Fi.buloufnefs, or at leaft the Uncertainty of the Hiftory of Sufanna. j^aynp. J^ thefe Times Elagabalus having rendred himfelf odi-* &c. ous and defpicable to all Men, was prevail'd upon by the Artifices of his Grandmother Mafa^ to adopt his Coufin- German Alcxianus^ tho' but two Years younger than him- felf, and CO make him Cccfar and his SuccelFor, giving him the Names both of Alexander and Sever us. This flrange Adoption was readily confirm'd by the Senate, but in a fhort time it nrach difpleas'd Elagabalus ; for he found the Difpofitions of young Alexander too virtuous for him, and that the growing Hopes of that wonderful Youth would foon cclipfk- his Glory. This put him upon many fooliOi as well as impious Proje6ls to deftroy him ; but fearing " that the Senate might ruin his Defigns, by chufing ano- ^ tbcr Emperor, he refolv'd to anticipate them, and in the fourth Year of his Reign, A?i. 222, he fuddenly banifh'd the whole Senate out of the City, without allowing them to make the leaft Preparations for Travelling. Shortly af- ter, having unfuccefsfully wideavour'd to poifon Alexan- der^ that he might found the Soldiers, he reported that he, was dead, w^hich immediately rais'd a Mutiny among them. To appeafe which, he immediately took Alexan- det; Chap.IV. ALEXANDER the i jti" Rom. Emp. '^(j de? rdong with him in a glorious Chariot to the Camp ; xvhcre the Soldiers Acclamations were folcly dire61ed to liis Couiin, and no Rerpe6t fhewn to himfcif , which fo enrag'd him, that he threatned the Authors of the Muti- ny with the fevered Puniiliments. But the Temped was grown too high, and the Army was refoiv'd to rid this World of the Monder, and thereupon ran furioufly after \\\m^ intending to kill him where-ever they found him. l\\ a diort time they found him with his Mother hanging about him in a Sink of the Army, whither he fled, hoping to efcape by that fecret Way ; but the Pallage being too narrow, he was dopt, and the Soldiers immediately cut off his and his Mother's Head, dra^i^g'd their Bodies through the Streets, after the mod ignominious Manner, and at lad threw his headlefs Trunk into the comn^on Sewers that led into the River, with a Weight ty'd to it, that it might pever rife again and be bury'd. Thus dy'd Elagahalu^^ the mod vile and abominable Prince in the World, out of Hatred to whofe Memory, a Decree was made by the Senate and People o^ Rome^ That thenceforward no Emperor o/Rome Jhould he caWd by the Name 6/ Antoninus. H'S Death hapned on the ii'th Day of March^ being in the 1 8th Year of his Age, and having reign'd three Years, nine Months, and four Days. W . Immediately after the Death of -E/.-i?^^^^^//^.f, young A. D, Alexander was by an univerfal Confent acknowkdg'd ^2^- Emperor oi Kome^ being now about (ixteen Years of v^ge, Alj-:..- and a Prince of fuch admirable Virtues and Qualiflcati- a^wd::-^ ens, that they ought not to be pafs'd over in an EccUfia- ^^^^'^ Jlical Hiftory without particular Notice. This Prince hav- man Ev'-,^ ing the mod celebrated Men for his Maders and Tutors, f'-'»r. became skilful in all Arts and Sciences, and was fo con- f-r^v^. fiderable for his Parts and Abilities, that at the Beginning ^ '"'• of his Adminidr^tion, he rather fcem'd a wife old Man, than a Youth. By the Advice of his yAlc Motiicr Ma- niica^ he chofe the worthied, and mod expericnc'd Perfons of the Empire for his Council ; and never aiSted any Thing without their Opinion, notwithdandi^ig his own Abfolutc Authority, and that he was fo judicious and fagacious himfelf, that fcarcc any Man could impoie upon his Un- derdandiiig. By the AlTidance of his great Counfellors, he immediately fct about a general Reformarion; andfird, he fent back all tlic foreign images that had been brought to iiome^ to thvir iefpc6i:ive Ciiici ar4 T'enrpjcs \ then he M 4 ' rcmov'4 558 Cent. III. EccleJiafticalHiftory. Book III. remov'd all thofe impure Minifters of Elagahalus, the Eu- nuchs, the Buffoons and Pantomimes^ with an incredible Number of lewd Women, that had been brought into the Palace. He wou'd admit none to pay their Devoirs to him, his Wife, or Mother, but Perfons of Honefty, and known Reputation ; folemnly forbidding by the publick Cryer all fuch as knew themfelves to be otherwife, to ap- proach his Prefence, threatning that if he once difcover'd them, it fliou'd cod them their Lives. And that he might remove all Corruptions of Manners, he deftroy'd the Ufe of mixt Baths in Rome^ where both Sexes bath'd together; all which had been prohibited by fome of the good Em- perors, but were reviv'd by his infamous PredecefTor. He reftrain'd the ordinary Charges of the Court, and reduc'd the Palace to an excellent Order, abridging the fuperfluous Expcnces introduc'd by the Luxury of former Emperors. He apparell'd himfelf with great PlainnefsandModefty, al- Icdging, "That Government confijled in Virtue^ and not in cojtly Attire ; wherefore he wore no Jewels, nor wou'd permit any in his Chamber, and accounted it a great Vanity, T'hat a Thing fo fmall in Qiiantity Jhould be jo large in Price. He never made ufe of golden Cups, ' nor allow'd above 200 Pound Weight of Silver Veffels in his Palace ; fo that at publick Entertainments he ufually borrow'd both Plate and Servants of his Friends. He was highly affable and courteous in* his Temper, familiarly vi- fited all Perfons of Worth, and permitted any Man per- fonally to inform him of their Bulinefs ; and finding their Demands reafonable, he perform'd their Requefts ; if o- therwife, he calmly debated the Matter with them, and fhew'd them their Errors. He kept a private Memorial of the Names of fuch as ought to be confider'd for their Services, and the Prefents made to deferving Perfons, which he frequently view'd ; and when he found any to whom he had given nothing, or not anfwerable to their Merits, he caird them to him, asking, Why they were fo backward in demanding a Reward ; and why they would fuff^r him to (ontinue in their Debt ? He took care of the Education of great Numbers of poor Children, and was very bountiful to all indigent Perfons of Merit ; and he is obferv'd every Day to have done fome good to others, in which he ex- ceeded the renown'd Tttus^ by having the Happiuefs of a Ipnger Reign. As the Bounty of this Emperor extended to all, fo did his Care to all publick Officers and Magiftrates, in the Choice Chap.lV. ALEXANDER the ^^^Rom.Emp. 569 ChoiGe of whom, his Opinion was, T'h at they were moft fit for publick Places who declined them^ not thofe who fu- ' edfor them-, to which he frequently added, That foch on- ly ought to be advanc^d^ who could dijcharge their Ojfices by themfehes^ and not by Deputies. That he might be exa6j: in chufing Men, when he appointed Governors of Pro- vinces and Cities, he publilli'd the Names of the Perfons de/ignM, defiring and encouraging all Men to make all juft Objedions againft them, and to prove their Accu- fation ; with this Provifo, that if they did not make good their Charge, and if it proceeded from Malice, the Accu- fer fliou'd be immediately beheaded : For^ faid he, fines Chriflians <«W Jews ufe juch careful MethQds in the Choice and Ordination of their Pricfts, it is moji reafonable that the like Courfe Jhould be taken in the Choice (?/Re6lors of Pror ziinces^ to whora are committed the Lives and Fortunes of thofe under their SubjeSiions. He would in no Cafe per- mit Offices and Places to be bought and fold : Fur^ de- clar'd he, He who buys his Ojfce raufi needs fell Jttfiice : I cannot bear any Merchants in Authority^ which if I tole- rate^ I cannot afterwards condemn their Actions', and I Jh all bluJJj to punijh that Perfon who bought^ fince I once permit- ted him to be a Buyer. He was alfo a fevere Puniflier of fuch Magiftrates as were guilty of any corrupt Pradice ; and frequently faid. He had always his Finger in readinefs to pluck out the Eyes of that Judge who was partial., or re- ceived Bribes and Gratuities ; in which he was fo ftrift, that when Arabinus^ aPerfon accus'd of Bribery, came to pay him his Refpc£ls, he cry'd out in a violent Paflion, Arabinus not only lives., but takes me for fuch a fenfelefs Prince., as to appear in my Prefence. He banifh'd one of his Secretaries for forging a Bill in his Council, andcaus'd the Sinews of his Fingers to be cut through, that he might never be able to write after. And becauie the Corrupti- ons of publick Officers were of fuch dangerous Confe- quence, he often declared. That fince their Trufis were fo great.^ in mo ft Cafes., the Lofs of thetr Places was an infuf- ficient Punijbmcnt., that nothing could recommence for fuch Mifchicfs, but the Lofs of their Lives. Accordingly, he commanded one of his Servants, who had rcceiv'd a hun- dred Crowns of a Soldier for a Bribe, to be hang'd in the High-way, where his Servants commonly pafs'd to his Houfes out of the City. Nor would he fpare his chief Favourite Tunnus, who for taking Mony for a Place, and net performing his Part in ic, was adjudg'd by hiin t3 570 Cent. III. EcclcJiafiicalHiJtory. Book III, to be bound to a Stake in the main Forum^ and to befmo^ thefd to Death with the Smoke of green Wood, and wet Stubble, the publick Crier in the mean time proclaiming, He who fold Smoke ^ dies by Smoke. By thefe A6ls of Ju- ftice, as -well as many others of Mercy and Generoiity, he gain'd the AfFedion and Admiration of all Men. Amidfl: fo many Virtues and Excellencies, this Empe- ror could not want a proportionable Degree of Religion, which was really Pagan^ but not fo pernicious to the true Religion as that of Antonlnm Philojhphus ; for by means of his Mother Mamcca^ he fhew'd a particular Efteem for Chrijiiamty^ and had the Images of Abraham and Jy^s Chriji in his Clofet, where he perform'd his daily Devoti- ons ; but as a purblind Man, without full Knowledge, he placM Chrift among Orpheus^ Apollo/iius T'yan.^Hs^ and his other Deities. Tno' Alexander did not believe in f^jus Chriji as a Saviour, yet he reverenc'd him as a Law-giver, whofelnftitutionsexccird all thofe of the Genttle Phi'ofo- phers. That Conmiand, on which all the Law and the Prophets depend, DO NOT THAT TO ANOTHER, WHICH YOU WOULD NOT HAVE ANOTHER DO TO YOU, he was fo fond of, then when he pu- nifh'd any Man for Ads of Injuftice, the Crier was com- manded publickly to pronounce it in the Court ; and that it might be the more regarded, he order'd it to be infcrib'd upon his Palace, his Courts of Judicature, and his publick Works and Buildings. He had liich a good Opinion of Chrifiiar.ity^ that he once defign'd to ercd a Temple to JESUS CHRIST in particular ; but his Soothfayers hin- dered him by giving a Reafon, which coming from a Pa- gan Author, is a noble Charader of the Chrijiian Faith, ' That if the Chrijlians were ever publickly allow'd to ' have Temples of their own, the Temples of the Rom^in * Deities would be forfaken, and the Empire would foon ' embrace Chriftianky. Tho' this hindered the Emperor from building Churches to the Honour of Jefus ChnJ}^ he was not willing that any already built fhould be pull'd down. Vox when the Company of l^'tdhiallers complain'd that the Chrijiians had built a Church upon a Piece of Wftfte Ground, which they claim'd for themfelves, ire de- ny'd their Petition, deciding the Matter by his Refcript in thefe Words ; It is better that God be there worshipped in any manner^ than that the Place JJjould be put to fuch Ufes MS they defign'^d it for. The greatcfl Part of his Family " wcfe'converted, and the Chrijlians cn_;oyM- pcrfeic Tran- quility Chap IV. ALEX/\NDEEl the 25^^ Rom.Emp. ^71 quility during his Reign ; in which Reign, it is moftly be- livcd, the Chnftians began firft to build their Churches in E.itfib, pubiick, and in the View of the People and Magiftrates. In the firll: Year of the Emperor's Reign, Hippolyins a celebrated Bifiiop Arabia^ and afterwards a Martyr, fi- niHi'd his remarkable Trcatife concerning Eajler^ wherein he gave a kind of a Chronicle to the firll Year of Alexan- der^ and alfo a Pafchal Cycle for lixteen Years. This Au- thor was eminent for fevcral Pieces, as particularly one concerning Antkhrift^ one concerning the Rej'urredion^ and one againii all Herejics\ but for none more than his Com- mentaries upon the Holy Scriptures. Thefe are faid to have ^^ j) given Occalion to the great Origen to do the like, being 222/ particularly excited by his dear Friend Ambrofius ^who not Alex, only importun'd him, but alfo furnifli'd him with all Con- i veniencies necclfiry tor fuch a Labour ; allowing him be- x. (ides his Maintenance, feveniVo/^ricj, and fometimes more, to attend upon him, who by Turns might take from his Mouth what he dictated, and as many Tranfcribers^ befides Virgins employ'd for that purpofe, who copy'd out fair what the others had haftiiy written. His Induftry and Di- ligence in thefe Studies were incredible, few Parts of the Bible efcaping his narrow and critical Re-fearches; where- in he attain'd to fo admirable an Accuracy and Perfedion, that St. Jeror/i himfelf, who was not always civil to his Memory, profeft, he could have been fatislied to have bora that Load of Envy caft upon his Name, provided he had with it his Skill and Knowled'2:e in the Scriptures. About a -pv thefe Times, and the fccond Year of Alexandjr^ Califtus Bifhop o^ Rorne^ after he had held that Dignity about five aT^* Years, was martyr'd in the City; undoubtedly without the \ ' Emperor's Knovj^ledge. He was fucceeded by C/rbanus^ a t" Roman ^ and Son of Pontianus^ who continu'd in the i>ee about eight Years, and was the fixteenth Bifnop of Romc^ after the Apoftlcs St. }^eter and St. Paul. V • f'or the Space of two or three Years we find very A. D. little, cither of Kcciefiaftical or the Roman Affairs. The 227. chief we find do relate to the indefatigable Studies of Ori- Alex. gen-^ who having made himfelf a mou profound Mailer of «L Philofophy, as well as Divinity, now wrote in Defence ^* of his Philofophical Studies, ' as well from the Ufefulnefs ^*/*** ' of them, as from the Examples of Paat.enus and Hera- ' clas^ now a Presbyter va Alexandria. But his Philofo- phical and unbounded Genius often tranlportcd him too tar j'/2 Cent. Iir. Ecckfiajlical Hijiory. Book III. far in his Writings, and made him afterwards advance fe- vcral extravagant Notions, not to fay dangerous Errors ; vrhich made greater Noife in the Church, than any others A D. fince the Beginning of Chrift'mmty. In the Year 228, he 228. was fent by his Biihop Demetrius from Alexandria into A- Alex. cha'-a in Greece^ v^^hich was then difturb'd with divers He- £_ refies, that over-ran the Churches in thofe Parts. He Ibid ^' a conliderable Time at Ath.yjs^ where, as Epiphamui tells us, he frequented the Schools of the Philofophers, and convers'd with the Sages of that City. At Nicopoh) near Aiiium^ he found a new Verlion of the old Teftamcnt in- to Greeks which was done by fome unknown Jeiv^ and was the tifth Greek Verfion of the old Teilament lince our Saviour's Nativity. Origefi afterwards joining this with the Verlion found Qtjericbo 11 Years before, and adding them to his Work call'd Tetrap/a, mention'd A.D.ii^. he com- pos'd his Hexapla^ and his Odapla; which was a Bible confiding of all the Greek Verfions, with the Hebrew Text in two diftinft Charaders, and all plac'd in different Columns: A noble Work, and of fingular Ufe. In th'S Journey to Achaia^ as he pafsM through Palejii^ie^he took Ccefarea in his Way, where producing his Letters of Re- commendation from De-^ictrius^ he was ordain'd 'Presbyter by Alexander Bifliop of Jerufaleyn^ and T'heo^iflm of Cce- farea^ he being now 43 Years of Age. Tho' this was in- tirely the Aft of thefe two excellent BiOiops, who delign'd only to add Authority to his Embaffy, yet the Thing was highly refented by his Diocefan Demetrius^ who envying his mighty Reputation, declar'd it was an Affront to his Jurifdidion, and a Contempt of his Power ; and that he might not want Pretences, he condemn'd him now for the unnatural A»3ion committed in his Youth, feverely rjfled- ing upon the Rilliop who ordaiu'd him. However, Origen return'd peaceably to Alexandria^ where he continued his Commentaries upon the Holy Scriptures. It was then that he publilVd his tive Books of Commentaries upon the Gofpel of St. John^ eight Books upon Genefis^ Commen- taries upon the iir (I five and tiventy Pfalrns^ and upon the Lamentations &/ Jeremiah, his Books de PrincipHs^ and his Stromata. In the fame Year that Origen was ordain'd Prielt, Phi- letus Billiop of Anttoch dy'd, after he had held that Dig- nity TO or II Years; and was fuccecded by one Zehin'is or Zehennus^ who continued in the See about nine Years, and was the eleventh Eiihop oi Antioch after' the; Apodles. Chap. IV. ALEX ANDER the 2 $^^ Roin, Emp. 5-73 in the fame Year at Rome there hapned a dangerous and bloody Contefi: between the Emperor's Guards and the !>'»"> Citizens ot liorne^ upon the Account of that renown'd Ci- \iliim Vlparjy who being Commander of the Guards, vi- o-oroufly endeavour'd to reform their many Corruptions ; but the Soldiers growing too powerful, not only forc'd the Citizens to a Compliance by Fire, but purfuM Ulpan into the Palace, ai»id flew him in the Prefence of the Em- peror and his Mother ; w^hich put an End to the Conteft. This Ulpian was chief Couniellor to the Emperor, and wrote many excellent Books upon feveral Subjeds in the Law, out of which there are noble Excerpta ftill preferv'd in the Digejis. In the following Year the celebrated Dioa A. D. Cajfius^ having been Proconful oiAfrick for a few Years, and 229. now a fecond Time Conful, retir'd himfelf into the Pro- Alex, vince of Bitbyfiia^wherG he wrote that great and excellent 2. Work of his, the Roman Hijiory^ of which we have a con* ^' fiderable Part ftill remaining, and which fufficiently fhews the extraordinary Abilities of the Author. All this while Demetrius Bifhop of Alexandria was not A. D. appeas'd, butcontinu'dtoperlfcute Orlgen\ and in aCoun- 230. cil which he alTembled in the tenth Year of Alcxa?2der''s A. D Reign, it was ordain'd that Origen lliould quit Akxayidria\ 231, that he fhould neither be permitted to teach or live there Alex, any longer; but that neverthelefshefhould not be depriv'd A of his Dignity of Prieilhood. Origcn being thus ban ifh'd ^'*^' from Alexandria^ relign'd the Government of his Cateche- jcrlm^ tical School to his Colleague Heraclas^ and retir'd to Car- Phot, /area in Palelline^ his ordinary Place of Refuge, where he was gcneroufly receiv'd by his Patron Theo^ijim Billiop of tliat City, and Alexander Bifhop of Jerufalem^vfho under- took to defend him., commillion'd him publickly to ex- pound the Scriptures, and heard him as if he had been their Maltcr. But Demetrius being not fatisfy'd with the firft Judgment againft Origen, accus'd him of Heretical Princi- ples in a fecond Council of the Biihops of Aigypt^ and having caus'd him to be depriv'd of his Prieflhood, and e- ven to be excommunicated, he wrote at the fam.e time to all Parts againfl: him, to procure his being excluded the Communion of the Catholick Church. For when once a Priefi: was dcpos'd and excommunicated by his Bifhop, with the Content of t/ie Bifliops of the Province, he cou'd not wichout Reconciliation be admitted into any other Church. So that it is no Wonder, if all the Biihops in. the Wor'd, except thofe of Palcfti?je^ Artwhi^ Phoonicia^ and 574 Cent. III. Rc€lefiafiical Hijlory, Book IIL and Achaia^ who were intimately acquainted with Origem Ihould confent to his Condemnation; and if the BiOiop of Rome it felf, having allembled his Clergy againll him, did condemn him afcer the Example of his own Bilhop. Ne- verthelefs Ongen found feverai Prote6tors, efpecially in Paleftme^ where he continu'd to explain the Scriptures at Cd'/aria^ as formerly at AlexaKdna^ with fo great a Repu- tation, that all forts of Perfons, not only from that Pro- vince, but even from remote Countries, came to be his Difciples. The molt famous were Gregory^ afterwards ixivn^im.QAT'haumaturgus^ and his Brother Athtnodorns^ who afterwards returning to their own Country Fontus^ both became Bifhops, and prov'd eminent Lights, and Gover- nors of the Church. Ftrmil'ian^ afterwards Bilhop of Ca- farea in Cappadocia^ was another ; who had fo great an Elleem for him, that he fometimes engag'd him to come over into his Province for Edification of the Churches in thofe Parts, and other times went into Paleft'me to vilit him, and to perfe6l himfelf by his Sociccy and Converfati- on. His Enemy Demetrius liv'd not long after he had ex- communicated him, but dy% in the fame Year, after he had held this Dignity 43 Years ; and was fucceeded by Heraclai^ to whom Origen had left his School, who con- tinu'd in this See about lixteen Years, and was the twelfth Bilhop of Alexandria^ after the Evangelill St. Mark. He- racldi left the Care of his Catechetical School to an emi- nent Pried Q.'^lVdiDionyfius^ and tho' both thefev/ ere Scho- lars and Friends of Origen^ which caus'd the Heat againft him to abate, yet he was always look'd upon as an ex- communicated Perfon by the /Egyptians.^ and the Sentence of Demetrius continu'd under his SuccelTors. In this Re- tirement Origen compos'd his Hexapla and Oiiapla.^ went on with his Commentaries upon St. John.^ and began fome ' upon Ezekiel and Ifaiah. About the time of Origcn*s Retirement from Alexan- dria^ it is believ'd that the Council of Iconium was call'd, which Eufehiiis briefly mentions in his 7th Book and 7th Chapter. This was affembled to determine a Controverfie concerning the Validity of that Baptifm that v/as admini- fired by the Montanijh or Cataphngtans^ and therein it was refolv'd. That all Baptifm adminiltred out of the Church was to be rejeded, as had been done before in Cappadocia by immemorial Cuflom. All t'aat we know further of this Council, is, that there were many Bifhops at it from Cappadociaj G alalia^ Cilicia, and the neighbour- ing Chap.IV. ALEXANDER the 25*^ ji^^^ ^^^^p^ ^^. ing Provinces ; and that Firmtl'tan Bifliop of Cappadocia^ was none of the leafl: eminent among them. In the fol- A. D. lowing Year, and tenth of Alexander^ Urbaniis Bifhop of 232. Ro}7ie dy'd, by Martyrdom, as it's commonly bdiev'd, after Alex. he had held that Dignity about eight Years ; and was fucceed- l^ cd by Pontiar/Hs a Roman ^ and Son of Calphurnim^ who i*» continu'd in the See about five Years, and was the feven- tcenth Bifhop of Rome after the Apoflles St. Peter and St. PauL In the fame Year, 162 Years after the Deftrudion of Jerufalem^ according to the Rabbins, the Jerufalem Tal- mud was begun and composed by R. Jochanan ; which is a confus'd Heap of the extravagant and the wild Notions, Cuiloms, and Traditions of the Jeivs in thofe Times. But it is fo obfcure, that the Jews of latter Times could make but little ufe of it ; fo that when they cite the Talmud^ they ordinarily mean that o^ Babylon^ written above three hundred Years after, and when they would denote the o- ther, they add the Title Jerufalem, Alexander having now reign'd about ten Years, to the Lttmf, general Satisfadion of all Men, was alarmM by the Pro- grcfs of Artaxerxes in the Eaft, who having conquer'd Parthia^ and reftor'd the Perfian Empire, began to invade the Roman Dominions. This caus'd Alexai^der to make all necellary Preparations to oppofe this new Conqueror, raid to go m Perfon againft him ; in wtiich Expedition he obfcrv'd the greateft Regularity and Difcipline, maintain- ing fuch Order and Jultice, and punifhing Outrages and Mifdemeanors with fuch Prudence and Severity, that his Camp iecm'd a well-govern'd City, and a Sight o£ his Army was fufficient to give an Idea of the Grandeur of the Roman Empire. He was exceeding careful, that no Soldier fhould defraud another; fo that if any Colonel or Captain dctain'd the leafl: Part of his Mens Allowance, he was condemned to inevitable Death; and once he difcard- ed a whole Legion at a time, never fearing any Muti- neers, becaufe he knew they could objedt nothing againfl his Life and Management. If any of his Soldiers in their March near Gardens and Orchards, trefpafs'd upon the Owners, he commanded them to be beaten with Rods of Iron; or if the Dignity of the Perfon exempted him from fuch a Punilhment, he publickly reprimanded him, and putting him in mind of the Chriftians Maxim, would fo- lemnly ask him, If he ivould ivdllngly have been fo ferved in his ozvn hfiate> By thefc Methods, and hi^; innumera- ble Ads of Kindnefs and CondeUention, with his ten- der 576 Cent. in. E<:c/eftaf!ical Hiflory. Book III. 1 dt-r Regard to the mcancft of the Sick and wounded, he ' was iiitinitely valu'd and adinir'd both by his own Soldiers ■■ A. D. and all the Countries through which he pafs'd. In this ' 230. manner Alexander advanc'd againft the Perfians', and du- j Alex, ring the time of the War, there pafs'd many remarkable ; II Skirmifhes, 'till at length both Parties gathering together ; Ti7 all their Forces, refolvM to come to a general Battel ; ia^, which Alexander^ by his Management, gain'd one of the ! greateft Vidorics that ever was known in the Entire, i Artaxerxes with great Difficulty efcaping with Life.Tnere were (lain in this Battel looooHorfemen, Foot-Men with- out Number, 200 Elephants, and 300 taken, as alfo 1000 armed Chariots, and an infinite Number of Prifoners of ,all Ranks and Qualities, as is evident from the Account which Alexander gave to the Senate after his Return to Rome. Tho' Herodtan^ who hated both him and his Mo- ther for favouring Chrtftianity^ has given a different and detracting Account of thefe Wars. After this happy Vi- \ dory, the Emperor without Reliftance, recovered all thofe • Countries that Artaxerxes had taken from the Rdmans\ | and paffing through the Body of Mefopotamiay, he enlarg'd ' the Bounds of the Empire, took the Cities Ctefiphon and ; Babylo;^^ fubdu'd Part of Aral^ia^ and then returned to A'^^- \ A. D. tioch in Syria. Having eftabliflVd Peace in the Eaft, he re- I 234. turn'd to Ro'/ne^whcre he triumph'd on September zy, with I Alex, great Solemnity. His Chariot was drawn by four Ele- ! JLi. pha,nts, and the whole Senate, Knights and People, with ; *S* an Infinite Throng of Women and Children, attended him '■ from the Capitol to the Palace.^ crying. Now Rome isfafe^ ^ fwce Alexander isfafe! The following Day was fpent in j the Games of the C/>^«f, and the Diveriions of the Stage; : at which Time the Emperor gave a Largefs to the People^ ; and eftablifli'd Penfions for the Maintenance of poor Chil- : dren, in Imitation of the Antomnus^s., calling them by the i Name of Mam.va>js^ in Honour of his excellent Mother i IMameca. \ Lamp. This admirable Emperor continu'd but a fhort Time in j ^*/«^. Ror/ie., before he was dilturbM by tlie Revolt of the Ger- \ mans., who joining with other Northern Nations, had ! pafs'd the Rhine and the Danube^ with fuch Fury and Num- i bers, that all Italy was in a great Conllcrnation. Uponj Notice of which, Alexander made what Levies he could, | and to the mighty Regret of the whole City, went in ' Pcrfon to ftem this furious Torrent. Tho' the Emperor ^ met v»"ith much Succefs againtl thcic barbarous Nations, ' yet; &c. Chap IV. MAXIMINUS thei^'^Rom.Emp. 57/ yet he met with more barbarous Ufage from the (landing Legions encamp'd about Moguntta or Mentz^ which had been abominably corrupted in the Reign oiElagabalus^ and ever fince train'd up in all kinds of Rapines and Difor- ders. Alexander could neither endure their infolent Out- rages, nor they his regular Difcipline : but more efpecial' ly they exclaim'd againft the exceeding Penurioufnefs of his Mother Mamaa^ who was then, as at other times, with him in the Camp. Thefe Infolencies increafing on one Side^ and the Emperor's Stridners on the other, the Soldiers beifig excited by a famous old Soldier call'd Max- im'mm^ refolvM upon his Death ; which they fliortly after effefted in his Tent, togetner with that of his Mother Mamcea. Thus dy'd this admirable Prince, by the Hands of a profligate and irreclaimable Army, to the infinite Grief of the Roman People ; who not only deify'd hijn, and beftow'd a mofl: magnificent Funeral upcii Iiim, but alfo appointed that his Birth-d;.y fhould be kept very rcli- ' gioufly, and it was obferv'd for many Years after. Alex- ander dy'd on the 19th Day oi March ^ under the Conful- fhips of Silver us and Qumuanus^ being about twenty nine Years of Age, and having reign'd thirteen Years and nine Days. Vl- upon the Death of v^/^;ir^W(?r, the Soldiers made A. D. choice of Maxlmimis^ who had been the chief Promoter 235'. of the Murder, and fwore him Emperor. Maximinus Maxi- jmmediately join'd his Son Maximus with him, allowing minus, him equal Power and Authority ; but the Senate and Pco- the z6th pie of Rome utterly rcfufed to confirm their Ele6lion, and ^•'"^'^ continu'd in that Refolution ; fo that Maximinus was the '"^^*^* firit Roman Emperor, to whom Hiftorians give that Title, ^^//j^ who was eledted without the Confent of the Senate. Maximinus was now 62 Years of Age, a Perfon of the meanefl: Extradion, barbarous by Defcent, fprung from a Goth and Alane^ who from a poor Herdfman of T'hrace^ by his monftrous Stature, prodigious Strength, and brutiih Valour, gain'd fcveral military Pofts, and at length the Empire of the World. He was eight Foot and an half in Height ; had Joints fo large, that his Wife's Bracelet would ferve him for a Thumb-Ring; a Stomach fo ftrong, that he ordinarily eat 40 Pounds ot Flelh, and drunk fix Gallons of Wine ; and a Strength fo extraordinary, that he was able to turn and draw loaden Wains, to ftrikeout % Horfe's Teeth with his Fill, kill him with a Kick, and Youll N cleave 578 Cent. III. EcclefiaflkalWJloiy. Book III. cleave young Trees with his Hands. Bcfides, he was of - a Temper io bold and couragious, fo fierce and pre- fiimptaous, that relying upon his valt Bulk and Strength, he neither fear'd nor regarded any Man in the World. So that Capitulinus truly laid of him, ' Never did a more * cruel Beaft tread upon the Earth. Seeing himfelf ad- vanc'd to lb high a Station, he immediately Ihew'd the utnioft Extent of his Authority ; and firfl he put to Death all fuch as had been intimate with Alexander^ and then banifli'd an infinite Number of others, not i^lowing any Commander or Senator that had been advanc'd by him. And becaufe he was much afham'd of the Meannefs of his Extradl, he commanded all fuch as well knev^r him and his Parents to be flain ; tho' many of them had re- lieved both him and his Parents in the Time of their low Condition. He commanded many of the moft illuftrious Perfons oi Home to be flain, lb that the Senate and People flood in great Fear of him, being ready to tremble at his Name; and both Men and Women made folemn Vows and Prayers to their Gods, That he might never fet Foot in their City. In a fhort time the infupportable Behaviour of this Ty- rant caus'd Magnus a Confular Perfon, to confpire with many of Alexar,der's old Soldiers, and fome others, to break down a Bridge as foon as Maximmus had pafs'd it, and abandon him to the Enemy. But this was foon difco- ver'd; tho' fome think the whole Projcd was invented by Maxir/iinv.<^ to colour over his Cruelties, which he exe- cuted to fo high a Degree, that he caus'd above 4000 to be llain, upon pretence of their being concern'd in this Treafon. Shortly after, a great Number of Alexander^ old Soldiers mutined ; and withdrav^ing thcmfclves from the CajTip, proclaim'd one Ouariianus or 'Ticus^ for Em- peror, who had lately been remov'd from his Charge. The Soldiers conftrainM him to accept of the Empire, which he upon fufficicnt Grounds rcfus'd ; for Macedom- usy who had been the chief Promoter of his Advancement, within a few Days after murderM him in his Bed, and carried his Head to Maxirmnus^ v/ho firft kindly receiv'd him, and then put him to a cruel Death, punifliing him for his Treafon to his Sovereign, and his Treachery to his Friend. With thefe Succelles the Cruelty and Tyranny of Maxhnr^iis encreafed; but fliortly after he was diverted by his Wars againfl: the Germans ^ whom he overthrew in fttveral Battels, wafted all their Country with Fire and Sword Chap.V. MAXmmiJSthe26^^Rom,Emp. ^79 Sword for ^bove 400 Miies together, and threatncd to fubdue all the Northern Nations as far as the Ocean ; and had his general Carriage been anfwerable to his Couraga, he might probably have eujoy'd Xime and Opportunity to have performed all. In the Time of thefe Wars bega^i the Sixth Perfecution of the Church, after it had enjoyed about 24 Years reft, from the End of the Fifth, under Sever Pis and CaracaUa. CHAP. V. From the Beginning of the Sixth general "Perfecution of the Chtirch^ to the End of the Seventh-, begun and ended under th^ Eraperors Decius and Gallus. Containing the Space of about 1 8 Tears. The Sixth General Persecution. IT N the midft of fo much Cruelty and Bloodflied, it A. D. 'I is no w^onder if the Emperor Ma'xtm'mus fet him- 235'. J- felf to perfecute the Chriftians\ efpecially fincethey Maxi. had met v^ith fo much Favour from his Predeceflbr. i. This is generally caird T'he Sixth general 'Persecution ; £„^^^^ tho' Sulpitim Sever us admits not this into the Number, &c. and therefore makes no more than nine Pagan Perfecuti- ons, peculiarly referving the Tenth for the Times of An^ tichrift. But Enfeb'ms exprefsly affirms, that Maximinus ftirr'd up a Perfecution againft the Chrijlians^ and that out of Hatred to his Predeceflbr, in w^hofe Family many Chrijiians had found Shelter and Patronage; but. that it vi^as almoft wholly levelled againft the Biftiops and Mini- fters of the Church, as the prime Pillars and Propagators of Chnjiianity. Whence Firmdian^ Biihop of Cappado- cia, in his Letter to St. Cyprian^ fays of it. That it was not a general, but a local Perfecution, that rag'd in fomc particular Places, and efpecially in that Province where he liv'd, Serenianus the Prefident driving the Chrijiians out of all thofe Countries. He adds, that many dreadful Earthquakes happening in thofe Parts, whereby whole Ci- N 2 tie* j8o Cent. III. Ecclefiafticd Hijiory. Book III. tics and Towns were fwallowM up, much increased the Pci Iccutioii ; it being ufual with the Paga-/js^ if a Famine [ or Pcftilence, an Earthquake or Inundation happen'd, im- , mediately to turn their Rage againlt the Chrtpians^ con- I eluding them the Caufers of thofe Calamities. And this | Ortgeit meant when he tells us in his Homilies, that he ^ knew fome Places overturn'd with Earthquakes, the Caufe ; whereof the Heathens call: upon the ChrtJUans^ for which ' their Churches were burnt to the Ground ; and that not i only the common People, but the wifer Sort among \ them, did not iHck openly to affirm, That thcfc Things i came for the fake of the Chrijlians. About the Begin- ! ning of this Pcrfecution the Emperor Maximr/ius and his \ Son exhibited fome magnificent Sports, and gave a Dona- i tive to the Soldiers, which whoever receiv'd, was oblig'd \ to come up to the Tribune with a Laurel Crown up- i on his Head. Among thefe Soldiers, a Chrijlian^ more' Icrupulous than ordinary, brought his Crown in his Hand ; and being ask'd the Reafon of his not wearing it upon his Head, made Anfwer, That he could not becanfe he was a Chriilian. Upon which, he was publickly accusM, (tript of all his military Ornaments, molt cruelly fcourg'd, and then call into Prifon, hourly expci^ling Martyrdom. The refl of the C/^r//7/V7^^ Soldiers took Oftence at his'over nice I Singularity, as giving the common Enemy too jufl a Pro-| vocation to vent their Rage againfl them. But this A6tion i coming to the Ears oi Tert/flliaa^ now old and more rigid! than ever, he immediately fet about to defend this Soldier, ; and wrote his Book De Corona Militis^ ' wherein he ex-i ' toird the Ael ns an heroick Piece of Zeal and Chrilh'an ; *- Magnanimity, not only lawful and warrantable, but ho- i ' nournble, juit and neceflary; and with an Air of migh-, ' ty AlUirance maintain'd, that it was abfolutely prohibit | * ted to the Ckrifttans to crown themfelves, and even to: ' bear Arms. Shortly after, he wrote his Book concern- j ing Flight in time of Perjecution^ which is a further Markj ot the extrcam Rigour of 'Tertnil'ia-4: For there he pofi-' tively maintain'd ' That Chriftians were abfolutely prohibi- , ' ted to fiy in Time of Pcrfecution, or fo much as to ; A. D. ' give any Mony HOt to be perfecuted. i ^5^: Tho' this PerJccution was very fevere in fome Places^ Maxi. ^ yet we have the Names but of a few Martyrs. The chief _i^ of them was Pontia?nt<^ who after he had been about five! ** Years Billiop of Rom*\ for his free reproving the Roman], E^-^, i^Q\.;iX\y^ was banilVd into the llland Sardinia^ where he] ^"^'^ ■' ihortly! Chap. V. MAXIMINUS/^^ 26^^ Rom, Entp. 581 ihortly after dy'd or wa? flain. He was fucceedcd by An- teros a Grecian^ tlie Son of Romulus^ who by his extraor- dinary Care in colleding the A<^s of the Martyrs^ exafpc- rated the Government, and it is faid, caus'd himlclf to be made a Martyr, after he had held this Dignity forty Days. After his Deceafe, Eufehini informs us, that when many were Competitors for this See, a Roman called Fabian^ coming out of the Country by Chance into the Aflembly, . by means of the Defcent of a Dove upon his Head, was unanimoufly chofen Bifliop; the People looking upon that unufual Accident as the particular Direction of Heaven. He held this Dignity for about 14 Years, and was the 19th Bilhop of Rome after the Apollles St. l^eter and St. l^aul. About die fame time Or'tgen was very induftrious^ in fupporting Mens Spirits againil the Mifchiefs of Perfe- cution, and undcrftanding that his dear Friend Amhrofitis^ and i'rotodetus Presbyter of Cafarea^ had been brought before the Emperor, and undergone Imprifonment for their noble Confeffion of the Faith, he wrote his Piece concerning Martyrdom^ ' direcSling it immediately to them, ' and exhorting them not only to part from all their E- ' ftates, but even their Lives for the fake ofjefus Chriji. Ne- verthelefs, contrary to the Notions of TertulUan^ he con- ceal'd himfelf during this Perfecution, and retir'd forfome time to the City of Athens^ where he finiflied his Com- mentaries upon Ezekiel^ and proceeded with his Commen- taries upon the Song of Solomon^ which he finilTiM when he returned to Caifarea^ from whence he went afterwards to Ccefarea in Cappadocia^ where he remained for fome Space with Firmil-ian^ who invited him thither. During this Retirement of Or'tgen^ Zeb'mus Bifhop o'i Antioch(^fd^ I after he had held that Dignity about nine Years ; and was A. D. fucceedcd by the famous Rabylas^ a brave and prudent Pi- 2^7. ' lot, who in the midlt of the greatelf Storms guided that ; JVlax'f. Church about 13 Years together, and was the 12th Bilhop 2 Q^ Antioch after the Apoftlcs. . '3,' And now the Church of God again found Reft ; which mmd, was occafioned more by the Coiifu lions that were in the Cn^iaU Empire, than the Diipolidon of the Governors. For molt of the Provinces groaning under the Burden of a Tyrant, Afrtck firlt fhew'd its Dctellation of him, and fct up an eminent old Man near 80 Years of Age, nanfd Gordlan^ then Proconful of the Province, who together with his Son Gordian^ were immediately conhrmM in the Empire by the Roman Senate, and Max'immns and his Son de- N 5 * clar'4 582 Cent. III. Ecclefidflical Hijlory. Book III. clar'd Enemies and Rebels to the State. This was fuc- cecded by many Executions and Cruelties in Rome againft the Friends of Maximinus^ and Orders were given to re- riiove all his Governors, which were obfcrved in mofl: Provinces ; but as in fome the Governors were fiain, fo iii others the Senate's MefTengers ; fo that there was Blood fhed in all Parts, and the Cruelties of Maximmus made all Men cruel. Gordian was proclaim'd in the Middle of May^ but before he had cnjoy'd his Empire two Months, Capcliamts Governor of Nfi'mic^h^ ja)liing With Maximi- Tiks'^s Intereft, march'd againft his Son^ overthrew him, and flew him; which btcadonM the poor old Emperor to end his Life with hi$ Girdle. In the me^n time Maximi- 71U5 Was coming agaihft Rorne^ like a raging Lion, breath- ing out Deftrudlion to all Oppofers, which caus'd the Se- nate to meet with great Solemnity at the Temple of J-u- fher^ and on the 9th of July ^ they chofetwo worthy Com- mandets, nam'd Maximus and Balhinns^ and made them Emperors conjointly. This Eleftion was fucceeded by new Mifchiefs in Rome ; for the Arrival of fome Spies from Maximimis^ ra'is'd fuch TuitiilUs and Contcfls be- tween t\\QPra:torian Soldiers and the Citizens, that after fe- vcral Attacks, Slaughters atid Cruelties, the City it felf was fet on tire by the Soldiers, and a gteat Part of it con- fum'd. The Roman Em.pire alio felt the Vengeance of HeaVcn for the Blood of the Chrifttans ; for during this Reign, neither the City of Romc^ nor the Provinces, were free from Wars, Tumults, Murders, Robberies, and all manner of Calamities. In the Beginning of the Year 238, Maximmus crofsM the Alp into Itah^ and befieg'd Aqm- leia^ where he met with an uncXpe6led Oppofition, and many Difficulties and Ditappointhients. Here his Cruel- ties and Mif-managemcnts rendered him both odious and defpicable, infomuch that his own Soldiers at length fct upon him in his Tent, and (lew both him and his Son, fcnt their Heads to the Senate at Rome^ and left their Bo- dies to be devoured by Dogs, and Birds of Prey. This was the deferv'd End of an Uiiirper, Tyrant and Perfe- cutor, who dy'd in the End of the Month March^ under the Confulfhips of Uhius and 'Pontianus^ being about 6^ Years of Age, and having reign'd, or rather continu'd in his Ufurpation, three Years and a few Days. A. D. II . Upon the Death of Max'tm'mus and his Son, Max- 238. imus and Balhmus continuM Emperors without Contradi- dion, Chap. V. G O R D I A N //^'^ 28^^ Rom. Emp. 583 61:ion, having been created by the Senate above nine Max. Months before. They began their Reign with a happy & Bal. EftabliOiment of Peace in the Empire, govern'd all things »/'« zjtti well and wifely, made feveral good Ordinances, and ^^^'^• gained the Love of all Men in general. Only the Prato- ^^^^' r/V?» Soldiers were highly affronted at the Manner of their a^c? * Election, as being made by the Senate without their Con- currence; and finding themfelves in danger of lofing their darling Power of making Emperors, they foon refolv'd upon the Death of thefe Perfons. Yet Itill they might have fecured themfelves by the Help of the Citizens and their new German Guards, had not their own private Jea- loufies made way for their Ruin ; which, notwithflanding their Age and Experience, gain'd fuch an Afcendant upon their Minds, that they kept their diflindl Guards, and in a manner flood upon their Defence againft each other. The Frcctorian Soldiers foon made their Advantage of thefe Divifions, and at a Time when the Capitol'me Games were celebrated in liomc^ and the Emperors weakly guards ed, they enter'd the Palace with great Fury, divefted the Emperors of their Robes, and hal'd them like two Criminals through the midft of the City towards the Camp. But under- {landing that a confiderable Force was haftning after them to their Refcuc, to put an end to all further Contefls, they flew them both, and left their Bodies in the Streets. This hapned upon the lyth Day of July ^ thefe Emperors having reign'd a Year and fix Days, fince their firfl Crea- tion by the Senate, and but a little above three Months from the Death of the laft Emperor Maxim'mus. The Soldiers, after they had committed this Murder, by Accident met with young Gordtan^ Grandfon to the old Q q w^ Emperor of that Name, whom they immediately lalutcdj^^^^ by the Title of Aagr^fius and Emperor, and accordingly the 2^ih proclaimed him their Sovereign. Being thus chofen by Roman the Prcetorian Soldiers, the Senate and People, feeing no ^'"P^^°^' Remedy againft their pretended Authority, readily con- ^"^^'^^ firm'd their Eledion ; for he was generally belov'd in the City, upon the Account of the Memory of the two for- mer Gordtans ; And from this Election, there enfu'd aij amicable Corrcfpondence between the Soldiers and Citi- zens. Gordtan was now but thirteen or fourteen Years of Age, but of an ancient and illuftrious Family ; of a very fwect and doci'DleDifpoh'tion, and fo fludious and inclinable to Learning, that we are afTur'dthat he had 62000 Books in his Library. He fo much followed the Councils of wife N 4 m4 ^84 Cent. III. EccleftajlicalHtfiory. Book III, and worthy Men, that tho' he was naturally prohe to Vice and Senfuality, theyfoon form'dhim into an excellent Prince and Governor. He wanted no Qualification of a Governor, but Age; and by his mild and prudent Behavi- our he fo much eain'd the Atfcdions of all Men, that * the Soldiers callM him their Ch'ild^ the Senate their Son^ and the People their 'Joy and Dcltght. tuftk The Church was free from Pcifecution in all this, and Cr, ^yf. the fucceeding Reign, which gave an Opportunity to Pope ^^' Fabian to re-gain the Chrijiian Ca-mcterics, and to make a Collection of the Ads of the Martyrs^ according to the Defign of his Predeceflbr Anteros. Thcfe Times alfo gave an Opportunity to Origen to rc-afllimc his School ia Cafarea in Palejiine; about which time the famous GV^^o- ry of Neocccfarea^ having been his Scholar for five Years, was now re-caird to his own Country, together with his Brother Athenodorus. Gregory being to take his leave, made an excellent Oration before his Mafter and a nume- rous Auditory, ' wherein he gave a wonderful Character ' ofOrigen^ and elegantly bewail'd his Departure from * his School, as a kind of Banifhment out of Paradice. At his Return to Neoccefarea^ Or'tgen followM him with a Letter, ' commending his excellent Parts, able to render * him either an eminent Lawyer among the Romans^ or a ' renown'd Philofopher among the Greeks^ but efpecially ' perfwading him to improve them to the Ends of Chn- ^ Jiiamt\\ and the Promotion of Virtue and Piety. All A. D. Mens Eyes were upon him at Jsleoctefarea^ expe6ling theex- 2-39- traordinary Fruits of his Studies, tho' the Place was mife- Gordi. rably overgrown with Superflition and Idolatry ; but inftead -i. of anfwcriiig their Expedations, he retired to the V^^ilder- *• nefs, and rcfign'd himtelf up to Solitude and Conterjpla- rion. In which Place he was miriiculoufly confecrated Bi- jhop of Neocccfarea^ by Phccdlr/ius Bifhop of Amafea^ a neigMrouring City. After v/hich, he not only made great Numbers of Converts, but is faid to have wrought many Miracles, of which are mentioned in particular his expell- ing Dccmo,7s out of a Pagan Temple, his flopping a dread- ful Plague by his Prayers, his drying up a Lake, and put- ting an End to an implacable Quarrel, his reftraining the Overflov/ings of the River Lycus^ with feveral others ; upon the Account of which, he afterwards obtain'd the Sirname of'Thanmaturgus^ or the IfWker of Af trades. Tho' thele are confidently related by St. Gregory Nyjfen and St. Ba/i/y who liv'd but an hundred Years after, yet they are doubted Chap. V. G O R D [ A N r;^^ q8'^ Rom. Emp, 585 doubted by feveral learned Men ; for which Reafon we have been the lefs particular in relating them. Yet at the fame time it mull be acknowledg'd that Miracles were not then ceafed, efpecially in Places over-run with Paga- nifm^ as Neoccefurea was. Not long after Gregory'' s Ad- A. D. vancement in Neocafarea^ there appear'd a new Sort of 2,40. Heret'tcks in the Church called Valejians^ from Valefms aft Gordi. Arabian. They made all their Followers Eunuchs, either 5, by Perfwafion or Force, and often did the fame to other ^' Men, when they could meet with them conveniently. They aUb maintain'd other Errors, and reje6i:ed the Law and the Prophets ; and were known in the Time of £/?/- ■phantus. In the mean Time, the Emperor Gordian^ who had Capuu reigned fuccefsfully about two Years, was extreamly di- fturbM by Sabinianus Commander in Jfrick, who proclaimed himfelf Emperor. But the Governor of Mauritania^ by Gordian'% Order, marching againft him, he was feized by his own Men ; who by bringing him to Carthage^ and de- livering him into the Hands of the Emperor's Officers, obtain'd Pardon for their Offence. This Infurre^tion caus'd Gordian to ftrengthen his Intereft feveral Ways, but A. D. more efpecially by the Alliance of Mifithem the Pr^feft 241. and Inftru61:or, whom he fo much honour'd for his great GordL Wifdom and Learning, that he marry'd his Daughter, tho' ^ but of an ordinary Family ; and the Authority and Ma- +» nagement of this Perfon added much to his Succefs and Profperity. The lad Year and this were attended with llrange Accidents and Calamities, fuch as drove the Ro- mans into great Fears, and fuperftitious Proje6ls : The firftwas an unufual Eclipfe of the Sun, which made Noon- Day as dark as Midnight ; the fecond was fuch a terrible Earthquake, that many Cities and 1 owns of the Empire were fwallow'd up and deftroy'd. Thefe put the Romans upon confulting the Books of the Sibyls^ and occaiion'd great Number of Sacrifices not only in the City of Rome^ but generally all over the World, as Capitolinus exprefles it. Gordian having reign'd four Years, was alarmM with A. D. - News from the Eall, that the mighty ^^^or^-j- King of Per- 242.* fia., who fuccceded his Brother /Irtaxerxes^ had fuccefs- Gordi. fully invaded the Roman Empire, over-run Syria, and ta- 4 ken and plunder'd Antiock it felf. Upon this Gordian jT caus'd the Temple of Jamts to be open'd, and left Rome with a powerful Army ; and marching by Land from I- tdiy^ he firft pafTcd through Mccfia, to Hop the Progrefs of the 586 Cent. III. EccleJiaJlicalHiJlory. Book III. the Goths^ and other barbarous Nations, which came down like a Torrent to inhabit Thrace ; againlt whom he ob- tained fome Vidories, and left thole Provinces in a peace- able Condition. From thence he palVd over into the lef- fer Ajla and Syrin^ where he had many Encounters with Sapores^ and Obtaining fev.eral Victories, he foon recovered Antioch ; and proceeding further, he took the Cities Nifi- hh and Carrjc from the Perjians : For Sapor es being dif- couraged by the firit Battels, foon abandoned the Koman , Empire, and retir'd into his own Country. Effjti,^ During thcfe Tranfa6lions in the State, Berylluf Bifhop of Bojlr a in Ambia^ broach'd fome dangerous Errors, al- ferting that our Saviour before his Incarnation, had no proper Subliftencc, no perfonal Deity, but only a deriva- tive Divinity from the Father afterwards. The Biiliopsof thofe Parts met about it, but could not reclaim his Er- rors ; whereupon the Afliilance of the great Origcjt was requeued, who went from Cxfarea., and treated with him both in private Conferences, and in publick Synods. U- rigcKS greatcll Difficulty was to find out the true Mean- ing Of the Perfon, which when he had once difcover'd, he attack 'd him with fuch cogent Reafonings and Demon- flrations, that he was oblig'd to quit his Hold, recant his Errors^ and return back to the Church. The Records of all that pafs'd in this i\ffair were preferv'd till the Time of Er-fehivj. After Origen was returned back to dcfareay Ber)lius fhcwing himfelf a true Convert, in feveral Let- ters' gave Thanks to him for his kind Pains in his Con- vidion, killing the Hand that thus brought him back. A. D. And now all the good F'ortunc of the Emperor Gordi- 24:^. ^^ began to forfake him ; which was occalion'd by the Gordi. fudden Death of his Father-in-law Mifithens^ and the Ad- 5 vancclncnt of a valiant Arabian call'd Philips into his Pla- 6. ces of PraPoriaK Pracfecl:, and General of the Army. Phi- Capitei. lip feeing himfelf fo potent, and being fwell'd with the Hopes of the Empire, relbiv'd to venture all to obtain it ; in order to which, he ufed the utmoll Artifices and Methods of Treachery to bring Gordian into Difgrace with his own Soldiers. Which at length prov'd fo effe- ctual, that the Soldiers by Force made Philtp his Equal in the Empire, and likewife gave him the Title of his Tu- tor and Governor. Gordian patiently fubmitted to this impudent Determination, which cnus'd Philip to become more iniblcnt and imperious, fo that by means of the q- jfocr's Youth, and the Army's Favour, he began to a61: as Ible Chap. V. ?IULI? the 2s>'^ Rom.Emp. 587 fole Emperor. But Gordian being unable to endure this extravagant Incroachment, aflcmbled the Army, and o- penly expoftulated with his Men concerning this flrange Ulage : But Philip fo fubtilly and fuccefsfully manag'd his Affairs, that the poor young Emperor was difplac'd, abandon'd by all, and reduced to that Extremity, that he fent to entreat Philip 'That he would pleafe to allow htm the Dignity of Castar ; but that not being granted, he then defired to be his Prastorian Prcefed : Which being likewife deny'd, he at lafl: requefled to be one of his Captains as long as he liv'd. At this Petition Philips cruel Mind fome- what relented ; but however afterwards cohlidering how much Gordian was belov'd in moll Parts of the Empite^ both for his Family and Virtu- s, he commanded him to be llain. This hapned on the Borders of Perjia in the Month of March^ under the ConfulOlips of Peregrimis and JEmilian^ Gordian beuig now in the 20th Year of his Age, and having reign'd live Years, and eight or nine Months. . WV' Thus Philip fucceededin his Wickednefs, and was ^' ■*-'• fo fortunate, as to be acknowledg'd Emperor both by the ^^44- Army, and the Senate ; and he took his Son Philips tho' i'HiLiP but a Child of about fix or feven Years of Age, for his Roman'^ Companion in the Empire. Julius PhiUppus was now a- Em^crtr. bout forty Years of Age, and was by Birth an Arabian of Trachonitis^ of difhonourable Parentage, his Father being a notorious Captain of Robbers in that Country. He was bred up in the Wars among the Rnynan Armies, from whence he learnt Experience and Valour, and from his own Country Treachery and Cruelty. Yet notwith- flanding his unjuftitiable A6tions, many Authors have de- clared him a Chriftian^ and confequently the fir ft Chriflian Emperor of Rome ; but feveral later Criticks have utterly disbelicv'd it. The Authorities of the former feem to us to out-balance the Reafons of the latter ; fo that we are inclinable to think him a Chrijitan^ but withal acknow- ledge him to have been an immoral and wicked Man, WTak and imperfe6l in his Religion, if not heretical in his Principles, l-'hilip fhortly after his Election, made a dif- honourable Peace with the Perfians^ and returned to An- tioch ; wbcr;? upon the Ftgils of Eajier^ he and his Em- chr. Ah prefs attempted to enter into the Chrifttan Church, to par- ^^vf- take of the Prayers of the Congregation : But the holy ^''^'** Babylas^ BifnQp of the City, w^ell knowing his late Crimes, couragiouily 83 Cent. III. EcckfiaftlcdHi[hry. Book III. coumgloufly withftood him, and laying his Hand upon his Heart, pronounc'd him Unworthy to enter into the Sheep- fold of ]q(\xs Chrirt, and declar'd That he Jhould have no Admittance^ nnlefs he made a general Confejjlon of his Sins^ and was plaud among the Kumber of the Penitents. To all which, it is laid, the Emperor humbly fubmitted, and demonltrated in his Deeds, the Sincerity and Devoutnefs of his Affedtion towards the Majelty of Heaven. It is uncertain whether it was upon the Account of this A6li- on or fome other, that Urigen wrote a Letter both to Philip and his Emprefs ; which Letters St. Jerom fays, were extant in his Time. And Eufchius adds, that the Church of God very much flouriHi'd and encreas'd under the Reign of this Emperor ; and Pope Fabian fent many A. D. Bidiops and Pauors into Gaul., as De-nis to Paris., S^tur- 24f. »'^''J" to Tholoufe.^ 'Trophimus to Arles^ Paul to Narbonne^ Phih'p Gratian to T'ours^ Anjlremion to Clermont.^ and Martial to \ Limoges. The Emperor, to fliew his Morality, when he ^* retura'd to Rome., made many good Laws to reform the Vices of the Place, which Alexander himfelf could notef- feft. Particularly, he reltrain'd the open and fcandalous K'^\ow%'Oi Sodomites-^ and depriv'd the Poets of their Ti- tles and Privileges, becaufe they then corrupted good Man- ners, and often tarniflf d the Reputations of good Men. So that Philip fecm'd to endeavour to attone for all his former Errors. jSx-v.fi, About the beginning of this Reign, or before, T'ertuU Sec. lian in the main forfook the MoHtamjls or Cataphrygians., but his Age and Opinions would not permit him"^ to re- turn to the Church ; fo that from an Heretick, he became an Hereharch, kept his feparate Meeting at Cart hag? .^ and form'd a Se6t call'd by the Name of 7 'crtulUanifis., who contimvd in that City till St. Augujlin'^s Time. They condemn'd fecond Marriages, and held all the rigid Prin- ciples oiTertullian^ with the Fradudlion of the Soul; but they denied the wild Revelations and Prophecies of ilfr>;^- tanus. TcrtuUian li\x'd not long after his Separation from the Montantjh., but dy'd very old and decripit, as St. Je- rom informs us, being probably about 90 Years of Age. He was a Man of an acute Wit and Keenncfs, and admira- bly skill'd in all Parts of Learning, yet hi^ Stile was for the moll: part abrupt, rugged and obfcure, but at the fame Time fublime and mafculine, carrying a commanding and majeftick Eloquence along with it His Excellencies were almoft beyond Comparifon ; fo that his Fall was highly to Chap. V. PHILIP the 2 9th Rom. Bnp, ^3^ to be lamented by the Church. But if we take all his Writings, Adions and Temper together, it is hard to de- termine whether there was moft Good or III in his Life, or whether he did moil Service or Dif-fervice to the Church in General. Not long after the Death of T'emiUian^ in A. D. the fame City of Carthage^ the famous Cyprian was con- 246. verted from the Pagan to the Chrijhan Religion ; princi- Philip pally by the means of decilius a Presbyter of Carthage^ ±_ which occaiioned him to afTume his Name, and ever after to S- love him as a Friend, and reverence him as a Father. This Cyprian had a moft liberal and polite Education, and was fo remarkable for his Eloquence and Oratory, that he pub- lickly taught it mCarthage with great Reputation and Ap- plaufe ; living then in great Pomp and Splendor, and never going abroad without a Crowd of Clients and Followers. But inclining to Chrijiianity^ and becoming a Catechumen^ he profeft a fevere Temperance and Sobriety, accounting it one of the beft Preparations for the Entertainment of the Truth, to fubdue and mortifie all irregular Appetites. Immediately after his Baptifm, he fold molt of his plenti- ful Eftate, and diftributed it among the Poor, at once tri- umphing over the Love of the World, and exerciiing the great Duty of Mercy and Charity ; fo that by the fpeedy Progrefs of his Piety, fays Pontius^ he became almoft a perfect Chrtftian^ before he had learnt the Rules of Chri- ftianity. He livM but thirteen Years after his Converfion ; but in that lliort Space, by his Writings and Adions, he fhew'd himfelf to be one of the moft eminent and Ihining Lights of the Age. Still Or'tgen^ tho' an excommunicated Perfon, preferved Ett^/A/?'s Celebration of thefe Games makes him look very unlike a Chrijiian^ or at lead like a very bad one; yet his purging the City afterwards, and fuppreffing of Vice, as we have formerly hinted, was a- greeable enough to one of that Profefiion. Which has oc- cafion'd fome to report that he was converted immediate- ly after the Secular Games, and baptiz'd by Pope Fabian^ which is a Thing m.ore uncertain than his being a Chri- ft'tan. About this Time, Or'tgen^ remitting nothing of his in- A. D. credible Induftry, at the Requefl: of his Friend Ambrofius^ 240. undertook an Anfwer to the Book of Csl[us againft the Philip Chrifiians\ who being an Epcurean Philofopher, and of t great Parts and Learning, had of all the Heathens ufed the ' 6. mod fubtle Arguments, and proposed them with the great- EupsK eft Malice and Solidity. To this Man Ov'igen return'd a full Anfwer in eight Books, ' Wherein he by convincing ^ Proofs edabliOi'd the Truth of the Hidory of Jefus * Chriji^ his feveral Miracles, his Divinity and Refurredi- * on. He confuted all the Calumnies and Impodors of * Celfns^ and of the other Pagans againd the Chrlftlans^ * and at length prov'd the Truth and Excellency of the ' Dodrine and Religion of ''Je[us Chr'tft. All which he wrote with fo much Politeneis, Clearnefs, and Accuracy, that were there nothing elfe to tedifie the Abilities of this great Man, this Book alone would be fufticient. And it is believ'd not only to be the bed of Origen'% Works, but alfo the mod excellent and mod compleat Apology for the Chriflians that we have among all the Ancients. At this time there was fufficient Occafion for Apologies ; for now a dreadful Storm hung over the Church, threatning its i^tire Dedrudion. This fird appeared in Alexandria^ without the Knowledge of the Emperor, occalion'd by the Indigation of a certain Gentile Pried, or Magician, who find- ing the People prone to Supcrdition, excited them to re- venge the Quarrel of their Gods. The Multitude once rais'd, ran on with uncontroulable Fury, accounting Cru- elty 592 Cent. III. Ecclefiaflical HiJIory. Bojk III. ; elty to the Chrljliaa^^ the only Inllance of Piety to their Gods. Immediately they laid Hands upon one Metrus^ aa aged Man, who refuling to blafpheme his Saviour, they beat him with Clubs, prick'd him in the Face and Eyes I with iharp Reeds, and afterwards llon'd him. Next, they feiz'd on a Woman nam'd Quinta^ whom they carry'd to j their Temple, where for refuiing to worfhip their Idol, \ fhe was dragg'd by the Feet through the Streets over fharp ; Flints, dafh'd againft Mill-ftones, fcourg'd with Whips, | and diipatch'd by the fame Death with the other. Apollo- 1 nia an ancient and eminent Virgin, being apprehended, had j all her Teeth dafli'd out, and was threatned to be burnt a- ; live, who only begging a little Refpite, of her own Ac- ; cord chearfully leapt into the Flames. They in all Places i broke open C^r{/?/^;?j Houfes, taking away the beft of their ! Goods, and burning the reft ; and a Chriftian could not j flir out Day nor Night, but they immediately cry'd out, | Away with him to ths Ftre. In which Manner they con- < tinu'd, 'till by Seditions among themfelves, they fell into : new Contefts, and gave the Chriftians a little breathing | Time from the Purfuits of their Malice and Inhumanity. z the Woods and Mountains became full, and the Cities and Towns empty; yet no fooner were many Houfcs cleared of their proper Owners, but they were turn'd into common Goals, the publick Prifons not being fufficient to contain the Multitudes of Chrift'tans fcnt thither. Great Numbers that fled, met with new Miferies, being famiih'd with Hunger and Thirft, itarv'd with Cold, over-run with Difeafes, furpriz'd by Robbers, or worried by wild Beads, and many taken by the wild Arabs and Saraccyis^ who re- duced them into a State of Slavery more miferable than Death it felf And what was another terrible Calamity to the Church, many of the weaker Chriftians^ unpre- O 7. par'd 55)6 Cent. III. Ecclcjiajlical rUjlory. Book III, : par'd for fo terrible a Conflid, apodatizM, or compound- ed with their Pcrlecutors. Several of thcfe were punifli'd by the immediate Hand of Heaven ; and feveral afterwards return'd to the Church, and were reilor'd and recovered. Tho' many revolted from the Faith, yet more maintained their Station with a firm and unihaken Courage ; and ma^ ny thoulands held out 'till they had obtain'd the Crown of Martyrdom; Nicefhorm affirming it to be eafier to count the Sand of the Sea, than to reckon up the Martyrs in this Pcrfecntion. And what mod mortify'd the Pcrfe- cutors, was, that many who 'till now had been Enemies to Chrijiiamty^ on a fudden came in, and publickly pro- fefs'd themfelves Chriftians^ and defy'd all the Powers of Satan ; infomuch that the Judges were amai'd and trem- bled, whilit the Condemned were chearful and couragi* ous, and willing to undergo the fcverell Conflids. A. D. This Perfecution begun in Kome about the latter End 25-0. of the Year 249; and in the Beginning of the following Decii Year, "January 20, Fabian BiHiop of Rome, after he had ,1, held this Dignity 14 Years, receiv'd the Crown of Mar- *• tyrdom. Alter his Death there v/as a Vacancy for 16 O-^rr^n. Months, and the Place was in a great meafure fupplied . ^^^ ' by the Clergy of the City. His Martyrdom was fucceed- ^ ed by that of Abdon, Sennas, V'tdjria, Anatolia, and many others in this City, as alfo by the Imprifonments of two eminent ConfelTors, Celerinm and Moyfcs. In the Begin- ning of the fame Year the Perfecution reach'd Carthage and Africa, where it rag'd after an unheard of manner, of which St. Cyprian gives us a fad and difmal Account. This great Man was pubiickly profcribed by the Name of Cacilius Cyprianus, BiJJjop of the Chriftians ; and every Man commanded not to conceal his Goods ; befides which the People frequently call'd out that he might be thrown to the Lions. So that being warned by a divine Admo- nition and Command from God, as he himfelf allures us, and left his Prcience fhould provoke his Enemies to fail more feverely upon his Flock, he thought good at pre- fent to withdraw himfelf from Carthage, continuing in a private and diliant Retirement for above a Year. During his Recefs, tho' abfent in Body, yet he was prefent in Spirit, fupplying the Want of his Prefence by thirty excel- lent Letters, furnifh'd with pious Councils, grave Admo- nitions, fcafonable Reproofs, carneil Exhortations, and hearty Prayers to Heaven for the Welfare and Profperity of the Qhurch. His greateft Concern was for the Cafe of Chap. V. D E C r U 5 the 30"" Horn. Emp. 597 of the UpM, whom Fdiclffimus and fome few Presby- Kr Oppofers of Cv/>rWs Eledion, without tne know- kdec aS Confent oV their Bifliop, h.d ra:hly ad-nitted to he Communion of the Church upon very eahe 1 erms CvpW<,«aftria Afferter of Eccieliaftica! Ditc.pUae, and the Rights of his Place, was highly oftended, and not on- Iv bv leveral Letters complained of it, but enaeavoar c. to refo m it, not fparing the Martyrs ,themfeWcs wno pre- fuming upon their gr^eat Merits in the Caule ot Rengion, 00k upon them to give Lihcts of Peace to tnc Lapied, whereby they were again taken into Communion, iooner rtan the^ Rules of thichurch did allow. I he Example of Cypm«'s Retirement was foUow'd by feveral emmuK Men, particularly Gregory thattmaHirgtis , vvno not on, y retreated from licoc/fJa himfelf, but alio advi. d his Church to decline the prefent Storm, and not to rely too much upon their own ^utural Strength, ^^^i^'i^^ oi AuLniria, with much Difficulty, efcapd into thv. wild Defarts 'of Lytia,^ ^^;ith his four ^f^f^f^^^ and Presbyters, CaL, Fauftus, Pern- and Paul Among thofe that lied, we may mention the cdebrated P«./ ot The&ais mJEgypi>, a young Man ot 21 Ye- sof x\ge vvho withdrew himfelf into the JLgy?ua-a De arts w U. had. ing a large and convenient Cavern in a Kock v.hich had foLerlv^een a private Mint-houle •" th^,/".^! .^f^"" thony and Cleopatra, he took up his Abode 1^- "S ^r abov« became glorious Sufferers. A'no"g.w.^om were A./». ^^-M- BilTiop of Meg-jdJM in PamphiUa; Ptomas the 1 Uiltaous Presbyter of fV'', who'ilKw'd the moft hero.ck Cou- rage imaginable^ Jdian, Chron.con, ^Pl^'^^lf^ J"=^ dfr, Ammon, Zeno, Ptolomy, Ammonana Ihercuna Ij- dor\ and mLy others at Alexa:,dna;, ^^''^t'c^Hhie'- Fortumo Paulu', DonaW, Martmhs, &c. in Carhage b hdes t'hofe already meniionM in Korae and an infinite ►Number of others. Alfo tlie renowned Babyla Bifhop Kw° «fter he had worthily held that Dignity abo« n Years, dy'd either in Prifon, or by the Sword, having fort orde'd his Chains to be bury'd in the lame Grave with him, where St. ao^.,'Z.-affures -iS' ^;^hey remain d in his Time, concerning wbch wc are told a ftr^ge 55)8 Cent. HI. Ecclefiajlical Hijlory. Book III. Story ; but that is out of the Limits of our Hiflory. He was fuccecdcd by a Perfon call'd Fabius^ who coiitinu'd in the See but a Year or two^ and was the 13th Billiop of A'fitiocb after the Apoftlcs. Among all the Sufferers in this difmal Time, the renowned Or(^en (now 64 Years of Age) had not the leall Share. Eafeblus fumming up his Sufferings, tells us that the Devil mufter'd up all his Forces againrt him, and affaulted him with all his Arts and Engines, marking him out above all others of that Time, as the Object of his utmoft Rage and Fury. He was cafl: into the Bottom of a loathibme and uncomfor- table Dungeon, loaded with Irons, a Chain about his Neck, his Feet fet in the Stocks, with his Legs (Iretch'd to the utmoit for many Days together ; he was threatned with Fire, and try'd with all the Torments that a merci- lels Enemy could infli6l. Which meeting with a Perfon of his Age, and a Body broken with fuch infinite Cares and Labours, mufi: needs be unexpreffibly burthenfome. And yet he bore all with a noble Patience, and was ready to fubmit to the lail fatal Stroke ; but the Judge, to give all poffible Additions to his Mifcry, order'd his Torments to be fuch as fhould not take away his Life ; fo that be- fore the Perfecution ended, he efcaped. The Storm of the Perfecution was very difmal all this Year, and mod of the next ; yet in the latter End of this, there appear'd fome Dawnings of Light in Carthage and Africa^ and many of the Confeffors of thofe Parts were releas'd out of Prifon. This Perfecution, roufing, as it were, the Vengeance of Heaven, was attended and fuccecded by many Miferies and Calamities in the Roma?? Empire; particularly by great Wars and Devaflations from the Goths^ and other barbarous Northern Nations, and like wife by a dreadful Peftilence, which beginning in JEthlupia \\\ the Confines of TEgypt^ from thence infedcd all the Provinces in the World, fpreuding for no lefs than ten Years after in an unheard of manner, and deftroying incredible Numbers of A D. P^<^plc in every City in the Empire. To remedy the firft j^j_ of thefe Evils, the Emperor having nominated his Sons Decii ^^'^-^ 3nd Etrufcus Augnfti^ and Partners in the Empire, _2 made all polTible Preparations, and in the Spring went in- 3. to Thrace and ALcfia^ where the Goths had been mofl: fuccefsful ; leaving the Government o^ Rome in the Hands Cy^rLtn. of the Senate. Shortly after his Departure, the Clergy of Euftb. Rome^ who had taken Care of that Church during fixteeii ^^' Months Chap. V. DECIUS ^he 30^'^ Rom. Emj>. 55)^ Months Vacancy, made choice of Cornelius for their Bi- fliop, a worthy Roman .^ Son of Cajhnns.^ who continu'd in the S^e but one Year and a little above three Months, and was the 20th Bilhop oi Rome after the Apoftles St. P^- ter and St. Paul. Notwithllanding the Worth of this Perfon, this Eledion accidentally occaiion'dvaft Mifchiefs m the Church, which were rais'd and promoted by the Pride and Turbulence of two Presbyters, Novatian and Novatm^ one of Rome.^ and the other of Carthage. No- 'vat'ian had been formerly a Paga?i Philofopher, who be- ing dangerouHy ill, had been baptiz'd in his Bed, and af- terwards was ordain'd Prieil, tho' not without Oppofitioii from Clergy and People, it being, as they faid, contrary to the Orders of the Church, that any fliould be ordain'd who had been baptiz'd after that Manner. Cornelius ac - cufes him of denying his Sacerdotal Fundion in the Time of Perfecution, and of other unjuftifiablePraftices. Being Mafter of much Wit, Knowledge and Eloquence, he might have been very ferviceable to the Church, if his Ambition to be Billiop, the main Occafion of the Apolla- cy of the firft Hereiiarchs, had not carry'd him to a Sepa- ration. After the Death of Pope Fabian., he wrote a very elegant Letter to ^t. Cyprian., in the Name of the Clergy of Rome., and continu'd in the Communion of the Church during the Vacancy of that See. But as foon as Cornelius was chofen Bifliop, pufh'd forwards by Envy and Ambi- tion, he openly attacked his Eledion, accus'd him of fe- veral Crimes, and publifli'd a Libel againll him. His prin- cipal Plea was, that Cornelius admitted thofe to Communi- on who had been guilty of Idolatry ; and to make the bed Advantage of this Accufation, he rigorouily maintain'd. That we ought never to permit thofe Perfons to partake of the Communion, who had once fallen into Idolatry. Upon this Pretence he feparated from Cornelius., and from thofe who believM that the Church might receive them again upon Repentance. The greater Part of the Con- felfors who had fuffer'd couragioufly for the Faith, too much fweird with Vanity, and unable to endure, that 6- thers who had iliewn fo little Conftancy and Refolution, Ihould fland on the fame Level with themfelves, embraced Novatian* s Party, together with fome Presbyters. At the fame Time, Novatus before-mention'd, having imbroil'd the Church of Carthage ; and finding himfelf in Danger of being excommunicated by Cyprian for his fcandalous, irregular and unpeaceable Pra&ices, repaired to Rome.^ O 4 join'd 6co Cent. III. EccleJiaJlicalHiJlory. Book HI. jpinM \\ir^i^t\£ to Nov atia}7^ and brought with him from Carthage thofe of his own Fa£lion. They both maintain'd the fame rigid Principles, denying all Communioa to the Lapfed, tho' never fo penitent. And thus a dangerous . Schifm began in the Church of Rome ^ which at that Time conlifted of one Bifliop, 44 Presbyters, 7 Deacons, 7 Sub- Deacons, 42 Acolytbs or Clerks, 5'2 Porters and Exor- cifts, above 15-00 Widows and Poor, and a very great Multitude of People. In the mean Time the Perfecution being fomev/hat a- bated in Carthage^ St. Cyprian return'd to his Poil, where he vigoioufly fet hjmfeif to reform Dlforders, and tocom- pofe the Differences that difturbM the Church. For which purpofe he conven'd a Synod of his neighbouring Bifhops to coniulr about the Caufc of the Lapfed ; who having difcufled the wliole Matter, according to the Rules of the Holy Scripture, concluded upon this wife and moderate Expedient, that neither all Hopes of Peace and Communi- on lliould be dcny'd them, leit Defpair fhould throw them into a tota> Apoftacy ; nor yet the Cenfures of the Church be fo hx relaxed, as raflily to admit them to Communi- on : But that the Caufes being examined, and Regard be- ing had to the Will of the Delinquents, and Aggravati- ons of particular Cafes, their Time of Penance iliouid be accordingly prolonged, and Clemency be obtain'd by Ads of more than ordinary Sorrow and Repentance. That the Lapfed being of feveral Sorts, iliould be treated according; to the Nature of their Crimes; the Libellaticiy who had pnly purcnafed Libels of Security and RemJffion from the Heathen IVlagitlrate to excufc them from facriiicing in Time of Perfecution, fhould be foon admitted to Reconci- liation; but the Sainjicati be ftill kept under Penance, and jiot allowed Reconciliation 'till they became dangerouOy iick, provided they began to do Penance beibre their Di- (lemper. For as for fuch as flaid 'till they were lick, be- fore they defir'd to undergo Penance, it was thought ex- pedient wholly to retiife them Abfolution, ' bccaufe then, * fays St. Cypria?!^ it is not fo much Sorrow for their * Sins, as the Fear of Death, that obliges them to defire * it. As for thofe Eccleflafticks who had fallen into Ido- latry, it was ordain'd that they fliould for ever be ex- cluded from the Clergy, that they fhould communicate no more with the Faithful, but as Lay-men^ and that even fome of them fhould be obligM to undergo the Severities pf Penance. They likewife excommunicated FeltaJJlmm and thofe of his Party, who had diflurb'd the Tranquillity 9% Chap.V. DEC lUS the ^d^ Rom. Emp. 6oi of the Church oi Carthage^ in St. Cyprian's Abfcncc; and here Privatusan Hcretick of the Colony of La^nipefa, who had been condemn'd bypoBifliops, preientcd himlelf; but feeing himfelt fo far ncgkdcd, as not to be udmitted to make his Defence, he embrac'd the Party of Fclicij/imus. The Council, after they had made thcic Regulations, feut a Synodical Letter to Comehni;^ whom they acknowledg'd Bifbop of Royyze ; who thereupon aflembled a Synod of 60 Bifhops, and above as mmy Presbyters and Deacons, who followed the Rules of the African Council in ordering of publick Penance for the Lapfed : Particularly 'T-rophtmHx^ a bpfed Bifliop, with nis i-^'lock, was receivM in, after great Humility and fevere Penance; but he himfelf was not allow'd to communicate, but only in a Lay Capacity. As for Novatian^ Novatus^ and all that obllinately adhered to their inhuman and mercilefs Opinion, they were ex- communicated ; but it was ordain'd, that the Brethren who had fallen into that Calamity, fhould be more gently trea- ted, and rclior'd by reaibnable Methods of Repentance. The Church's Cenfure was fo far from hmvLhXmgNovar^. E^if^h. tian^ that he immediately enter'd upon new and worfe Oi' ''^ Proje6ls ; and being inftigated by Novatus^ he refolvM to make himfelf Bifhop of Rome. In order to effe6l this, he fent two of his own Cabal to three mean ignorant Bi- fhops, who liv'd in a fmall Province of Italy ^ and pre- vail'd with them to come to Rome^ under pretence of ac^ j commodating Affairs, and putting a Stop to fome new Divilions. Thefe Bifhops arriving, he fliut them up in a Chamber, and caus'd himfelf to be ordain'd Biiliop of Rome by them, about ten a-clock at Night, and this after he had made them drunk, as Cornelius relates the Matter, This rais'd a great Difturbance in the Church of Rome ; and the Heads of both Parties being dchrous to obtain the Favour and Approbation of St. Cyprian^ and of the other African Bifhops, wrote Letters to them, and fent their De- puties to Africk. Novatian^s Letters were very ill receiv'd; yet the African Bifhops for a while lufpended their Judg- ments, and ceas'd to fend Letters of Communion to ci- ther of the two Parties, 'till they were informed of the Matter by two of their own Brethren, c^AVdiCaldonius and For/j^;?^^/^j-, whom they purpofely difpatcht to. Rome to learn the true State of the whole Affair. After they were fully informed by them, and two other African Bifliops, who were prefent at the Ordination of Cornelius^ they decided it in favour of Himj and fe^t him Letters of Communi- on, ooz Cent. III. EccleJiaJiicalHiJiory. Book III. on, having firft confirm'd the Judgment he had pafs'd a- gainfl: Novattan in Italy. This occaiion'd St. Cyprian to write to the Confellors of Rome his Treatife of the Unity of the Church.^ ' wherein he Ihcw'd by feveral Reafons, ' That the Church of Jej'us Chrifl was elfentially One, * and that there could not be more; that there was only *■ one Epifcopacy, a Part whereof every Paftor really pof- ' fefs'd ; that fuch as were out of the Church could hope ' for no Salvation ; and that Schifm and Herefie were the ' moft enormous Grimes, which God had always punifli'd * with the greatefl: Severity. Therefore he exhorted all ' Chrtfticins whatfocver to return to it again, to promote U- ' nion by their joint Endeavours, and to maintain no Cor- ' refpondence with Schifmaticks. The Judgment of the Church in Ajrick^ and the eloquent Writings of St. Cypri- an brought the ConfefTors of the Roman Church over to. Cornelius : The Italian Bilhops alfo adherM to him ; and (bne of the three who ordain'd Novatian.^ acknowledg'd his Fault, and did Penance for it. Novatian and Novatus finding themfelves rejected, endeavour'd to raife Diftur- bances in Africk and other Parts ; and to fecure their Inte- reft, Novatian caus'd his Followers to take this Oath, / fivear by the Body and Blood of Chriji., that I will never der- fert you^ nor return to Cornelius. They flill perliiled in teaching this DovSlrine, that the Church neither can, nor ought to admit any to the Communion, who had once a- pottatizM; and they likewife condemned fecond Marriages, as the Montanijis before them had done. They charg'd the Orthodox with horrid Licentioufnefs in admitting fcandalous Offenders, and byway of Diftin61:ion,they call'd themfelves and their Party Cathari^ the pure undefil'd Parry, who kept themfelves from all Society with the Lapfed, and fuch as communicated with them. And as this Severity was agreeable to the Humours of many. No- vatian became the Head of a prevailing Hcrelie, which Ipread through many remote Parts of the World, and fo extreamly difturb'd the Peace of the Church for a long time, that this Century is calFd by fome Sceculura Nova- tianum. In the midft of thefe Difturbances in the Church, the Perfccution flill continu'd, tho' abated in fome Places. And now Alexander Bifliop of Jernfaler/i., having held that Dignity 39 Years, after feveral Araignments and various Sufferings, dy'd in Prifon at Ccefarea^ to the great Lofs of the whole Church, particularly to Origen, who had ever found Chap.V. GALLVS the ^i^ Rom. Emp. 60^ found him a true Friend and Patron. He was fucceeded by Mazaba^es, who continu'd in this See about nine Years, and was the 35'th BilTiop of Jerufalem^ after the Apoille St. James. About the fame t\m.Q Moyfes that eminent Pried and ConfefTor, with uncommon Courage and Conltancy, futfer'd Martyrdom within the Walls of Home. And now God thought lit to give fome Eafe to his Church, by re- moving its fevered Perfecutor Deciur., who warring with the Goibs and barbarous Northern Nations, in a lliort Time was in a hopeful Way of deftroying thofeRavagcrs. For he had not only gain'd an entire Vidory over them, with theLofs of 30000 of their Men, but had alfo block'd them up in fuch a manner as to have them all at his Mer- cy. But by the Treachery of his chief Commander GaUm., the Goths were put into fuch a Condition, as not only to efcape, but alfo to attack him with all poffible Advantage on their Side. So that being furrounded by the Enemy, a great Part of his Army was cut off. Perceiving his De- feat, and feeing his eldell Son kill'd before his Face, he in Defpair clapt Spurs to his Horfe, and rode furioufly into a deep Lake or Bog, where he perilVd miferably . His Body had not fo much as the Honours of a Funeral, but as belt befitted one who had fet himfelf againft God, was expos'd as a Prey to the Beaiis of the Earth, and to the Fowls of the Air. Thus dy'd Dec'tm^ a Prince fufticient- ly fam'd for his Adions, excepting thofe relating to the Chriftians.^ whofe Blood was reveng'd not only upon him, his Son, and his whole Army, but alfo upon the whole Roman Empire, by means of the Inundations of the Goths and other barbarous Nations, who at that Time might have been eaiily fupprell, if not ruin'd by natural Means, if Providence had thought it fit. His Death hapned in the latter End of November., in the Year when he and his Son were Confuls ; being now in the 60th Year of his Age, and having reign'd a little above two Years. V • The Goths purfu'd their Victory, and made a mi- p , r _ ferable Slaughter of the Roman Army; and thofe who ef- cap'd, fled to the Legions commanded by Gallus., who, as ^^^ -jji a Confederate with the Goths., was in Safety. This Per- R^-nan fon fhew'd hirnlelf very induftrious in ftrengthening and ^'"P'^ou encouraging his Army, promifing great Succefs againlt the ^'J''"- Enemy, 'till by his popular Adions he effe6led his Defigns ; f"^]'l' and procur'd the Soldiers to proclaim him Emperor. The Cji^riau, Senate and People of Rom^ were extreamly conccrn'd, both 6<^4 Cent. IIL Ecclejtajlkal Hiflory. Book III. both for the Death o^ Dsc'ms^ and the Overthrow of their Army ; but iindcrllanding that Gallm was chofen Empe- ror, and that his Legions had fecured fuch Men as efcapM from the Battel, they confirmed his Eleftion. Gallm was now about 45* Years of Age, and dcfcended of an honou- rable Family in Romc^ which he much ilainM by his infa- mous Actions. For he not only fully'd it by his treafon- able Pradiccs before he was Emperor, but after his Ad- vanctmcnt he made a Peace with the Goths^ the moit dis- honourable that ever the Romans made lince the Founda- tion of their City ; which was, "That the Romans Jhould every Tear pay a confiderable Tribute to the Goths. And thus to g.-^in the Title of Emperor, he was content to make himiclf and the Romans^ who were accounted Lords of all Nations, tributary and fubjeft to a rude and barba- A J) rous People. But the Succeffes of this Emperor prov'd ^ -, ' according to the Merit of his Adttons : For the Goths^ and Gain ^^^^"^ Northern Nations, not fatisfy'd with their Advanta- 1 gious Peace, broke it in a fhort time, and like a mighty i7 Torrent, c-ame down upon the Provinces of Thrace^ Mce- fia^ Theffaly^ Macedonia^ and fome Parts of Afia^ com- mitting all kinds of Devaftations and Maffacres. On the other Side, the Perjia?is feeing the great Succeffes of the Goths^ enter'd into Mefopotar/ita and Syria^ with a mighty Power, under their great King Saporcs ; and then palling forwards, they fubdu'd Armenia^ and drove out Ttridates the King of that Country. But Gailus not much regard- ing thefe Troubles and Calamities abroad, confum'd his Time in the Plcafures of Rome^ taking his Son Volufian^ tho' but a Child, for his Companion in the Empire, and cauling Virtus Auguftorum to be ftampt upon their Coins, as tlio' Valour, and not Treachery, had gain'd him the Em- pire. Cytrian. During thcfc Dillurbances in the State, the Church was p?«.^/#. no lefs dillurb'd by Novatian and his Party, who finding themfelves rejeded in Italy ^ to be reveng'd upon their greatOppofer St. Cy/^r/^^^jrais'd what Mifchiefs they could in Afrtck^ where they caus'd one Maximus^ a Deputy of Novatidn^ to be chofen BiThop : On the other fide Fclicif- fimus of Carthage^ an old Enemy to Cyprian^ procur'd Privatus of Lambefa^ formerly mentioned, to ordain a "Perfon call'd Fortunatus^ Bifhop, in oppofition to Cypria^^ and afterwards came into Italy to get his Ordination rati- fy'd there by Cornelius^ pretending that thi» Fortunatus had jjeen ordain'd by five and twenty Bifhops, ^nd that Cyprioft himfclf Chap. V. GALLUS the 51ft Rom. Bm}>: 60s himfelf favoiir'd the Party of the Novatiam. Cornelius at firll reje6led FeliaJJimus^ and thofe of his Fa6i:ion ; but at length, either terrify 'd by their Menaces, or Ihaken by their Difcourfes, he entertain'd fome Sufpicions to the Pre- judice of St. CyPriaTj^ and writ to him after a very difoblig- ing Manner ; to which the other return'd a very warm Anfwer, expoh'ng his Weaknefs, and acquainting him with the Malice of his Enemies. At the fame Time the Fadion of Novatian began to fpread it felf in the Eall, and to prevail in the City of Anuoch ; and Fahius the Bi- Ihop of the Place fhew'd them too much Favour and Af- fedion. This occaiion'd a Synod of the Eaflem Bi ihops about this Affair. For fo Dionyfms Alexandrtnus in his Letter to Cornelius^ tells him, that he had been fummon'd by Helenus Biiliop of T'ar'fus^ FirmU'tan of Cappadocia^ and "Theodtftus of Ccefarea^ to meet in Council at Ant'toch^ to fupprefs the Endeavours of fome who thought there to eftablifli the Novatian Schifm. But fhortly after the Par- ty declin'd by means of the Death of Fabms^ who held this Bifhoprick not ^bove two Years. He was fucceeded by Demetrian^ who continu'd in this Dignity about eight Years, and was the fourteenth Bifhop of Antioch after the Apoftles. In the mean Time the excellent Cyprian call'd a Coun- O^rrr-r*. oil at Carthage of forty two Bifliops, who m.eeting on the ^"-''^^• lyth Day of May^ fleered much the fame Courie as to the Lapfed ; being fway'd to moderate Councils, becaufe St, Cyprian had been frequently admonilh'd by Divine Re- velations of an approaching Perfecution ; and therefore they did not think it prudent and reafonable, that Men i^ould be left naked and unarm'd in the Day of Battel, but be fortify'd with the Euchariil, and reconcii'd to the Church. In the Times of Peace and Profperity they pro- tra6i:ed the Time of Penance, and allow'd not the Sacrifi- cati to be re-admitted, but at the Hour of Death ; but now the Enemy was breaking in upon them, Chrijiiam were to be prepared for Sutxering, and Encouragement given to thofe who by a fincere Repentance had Oiew'd thcmfeivcs ready to contend earneftly for the Faith. This they did, not to patronise the Idle, but to excite the Diligent, the Church's Peace being granted, not in order to Eafe, but to Confii6t ; and if any us'd their Indulgence to wo; fc Purpofes, they did but delude thcmfelves, and were re- mitted to the Divine Tribunal. The Refolution of this Council was immediately liguifyM to CorKelJusj that he might 6o6 Cent. III. Ecclefiajticd H'tftory. Book III. might ufc the fame Condu6l in his own Church. And now there was particular Occafion ; for the Emperor Gal- lus^ to compleat the Miferies of his Reign, renewed the Decian Perfecution againft the Chnftlans^ which had been much abated; refolving as it were to imitate his Predecef- for in nothing but his Crimes. He ilfu'd out no new De- crees, but only let loofe the Reins of the former ; for which Reafon it is properly enough call'd, a Continua i- on of the Seventh Perfecution. This was attended with many Miferies and Calamities in the Empire, which were one Pretence for it, as Wars, Ravages, Famines, and that dreadful PI ague which began in Dec'ms^ Time, now rag'd more furioully than ever, particularly in St. Cyprian^ Diocefs of Carthage. There vaft Multitudes were fwept away every Day, and the Streets were filfd with the Car- caffes of the Dead, which feem'd to implore the Affiftance of the Living. In this calamitous Time of Perfecution and Peftilence, St. Cyprian calfd the Chriftians together, and in Imitation of the Divine Benignity, exhorted them to A61:s of Mercy and Charity, and that to their greateft Enemies and Perfecutors ; and by his own Munificence and Perfwalions, great AlTiftance was given to all forts of People. And that he might not be wanting to any, he at this time penn'd his excellent Difcourfc concerning Mortality.^ ' wherein he eloquently taught the Chrijiians to ' triumph over the Fears of Death, and not to decline, ' but rather defire it, fincc it delivered them from all the ' Miferies of this Life, and united them to Jefus Chriji ' for ever; that therefore they had very little Reafon to ' grieve for their Friends and Relations, lince they were ' gone to the Enjoyment of the moft imaginable Felicity. This horrible Pellilence, as the other Calamities of the Empire had been before, was now by the Pagans charg'd upon the Chriftian Religion, as the Caufe for which the Gods were implacably angry with the World. To vindi- cate it from this vulgar and popular Objedion, Cyprian addrefs'd himfelf in a particular Treatife to Demetrian the Proconful ' wherein he prov'd, that thefe Evils that came ' upon the World could never be laid at the Door of ' Chrijliantty., afligning other Reafons of them, and a« ' mongft the reft, their wild and brutifli Rage againft the ' Chrijiians., which had provok'd the Deity to bring thefe ' Calamities upon them, as a juft Punifliment or their ^ Folly and Madnefs, in fetting themfelves againft a Re- ' ligion fo innocent and dear to Heaven. About the fame Chap.V. G M^LVS the ^1^ Rom. Emj>. 607 fame time alfo he wrote to Fortunatianus a particular Treatife call'd T'he Exhortation to Martyrdom. The Pcrfecution ftill continu'd in feveral Places, and Eufeb. I particularly in liome^ where Cornelius the Bifhop felt the Cyfrian, I Fury of it. For having made an open and generous Con- feflion of his Faith, for which St. Cyprian applauds him, he was banifh'd to Civita-Vecchia^ not far from Rome. But that not fatisfying the Malice of his Enemies, he was after that taken up, cruelly fcourg'd, and then beheaded upon the 14th Day o^ September., having continu'd in the See OHC Year, three Months, and ten Days. He lefcfomxC few Writings behind him, and was fucceeded by Lucius., a Roman., Son to Porphyrius., who for his vigorous affert- ing the Truth of Chnftianity., was fhortly after his Eledli- on banifh'd with feveral others. But in the Beginning of the following Year 25-3, he return'd from his Exile with ^^ j), his Companions, for which he was congratulated by St. 25'3. . Cyprian::^ and not long after, in the Month of March., he Galli z, obtain'd a glorious Martyrdom as well as his Predecellbr, having held this Dignity but five Months and i^xi Days, according to Bifhop Pearfon. He was fucceeded by Ste- ' - phen I. a Roman., the Son of Julius., a Man of a warm and violent Temper, who continu'd in this See fomewhat above four Years, and was the twenty fecond Bifhop of Rome after the Apoftles St. Peter and St. Paul. And now the Perfecution drew to an End, but the Miferies of the Empire were as great as ever, and all the Reign of this wicked Emperor was unfortunate and deplorable ; as well z»fm, for the Lofs of feveral Provinces to foreign Enemies, as *^^' other Calamities. He had only one confiderable Vi61:ory in Mcejia., g^i^i'd by his General jEmilian over the Goths ; of whom many Thoufands were flain, and the Purfuit folio w'd for feveral Days. But this Vi61:ory was fo far from being an Advantage to Gallus., that it foon after oc- cafion'd his total Ruin ; for A:.milian by this becam.e fo celebrated, and Gallus fo dcfpicable, that the Soldiers, who admir'd the Prefents and Promifes of JEmiUan., and who ever affe6led Novelties, proclaimed him Emperor. The News of this foon rouv/d Gallus from his foft Plea- fures in Rome., who thereupon with all polTible Expedi- tion prcpar'd . himfelf to oppofe this dangerous Rival; and fo leaving the City," with his Son and a powerful Army, he march'd towards M^vfia. Here he was met by .Mrnilian., who boldly came to a Battel with him, and at length overthrew him, and flew both him and his Son Volufian \ 6oS Cent. III. Ec'ckjmjlkal HiJJory. Book III, 1 Volufian ; the Soldiers all joining with the Conqueror. This hapned at T'crni in the Month of May^ under the Confulfliips oi Volufian and Maxhnus^ A. D. 2^3. Gallus '] being 47 Years of Age, and having reign'd one Year and ; iix Months. His Death gave an entire Peace to the Church i of God, after it had endur'd the mofl: terrible Storm ' and Conflict, that ever had been known before ; and 'S which had continu'd with fome little Intermiflions and i Abatements, near three Years and a half. j C H A P. VI. From the End of the Seventh General Ter^ i ficution of the Churchy to the begmmn% of \ the Dioclefian iEra, ujually called^ The \ iEra of the Martyrs. i Cent aim 7jg the Space of about 31 Tears, 1 A D T ^ "TPON theOverthrow of G^///;^/, vf!];?2i//^;^ began , 1 I to look upon himfelf as real Emperor of ^(?/?2f ; i j^-yB- %^^ and accordingly wrote to the Senate of his Sue- ' VALE- ^^^^ ^^^j Eledion, adding many Complaints againfl: the j ^,^'^^,'j Mifmanagernent of Gallus^ and as many Promifes of his i iioiran owu Performances. But the Senate had no Regard to \ Emperor, thcfe Ptomifes ; and the Army of the Alps likewife op- | foifh. pos'd him, chuling their own Commander Valerian for i ■E«/^^. Emperor, whom the Senate favour'd. Upon Notice of ; which, Mmilian\ Soldiers, mov'd with the great Reputa- \ tion o^ Valerian^ and the Favour of the Citizens, to avoid | civil Wars, rofe up againfl: Mmilian^ and flew him, after ! a fhortP.eign, or rather Ufurpation of about three Months. \ Upon this. Valerian was not only acknowledged Empe- ror by the Army, but alfo by the Senate and People, 1 with extraordinary Applaufes, and being fetled in the Go- \ vernment, he gave to his eldeftSon Gallienus the Title of \ Anguflus^ and made him his Equal in the Empire. Valeri- ; an was now about 70 Years of Age, moft of which Time | he had fpent in great Fame and Reputation, both under good and bad Emperors, by reafon of his Valour and o- ' ther Accomplifhments ; and had attained to many Offices ] and Dignities ; particularly under Dtcm he was made : Cenfor ■ Chap. VI. Y ^L'ERl^'N tbe 7,2^ Rom.Emp. 60^ Cenfor of Rome^ an Office dif-usM fince the Reign of Claudius^ into which he was chofen by the Senate, who all cry'd out, 'That the Life 0/ Valerian was a conti- nual Ccnjorjlj'ip ; and that he ought to judge of the Crimes of others^ who had none of his own. He was of an ancient Family, and in the whole Courfe of his Life had been proiperous in his Enterprifes ; fo that all had great Hopes that this Man's Wifdom and Experience v/ould difperfe the Calamities of thefe unhappy Times. And accordingly he fet about many Regulations, and made choice of wife and worthy Governors, and of valiant and experienced Commanders, whom he feledled from the chiefof the No- bility, by whom he was very fuccefsful in fcveral Adions againii the Northern Nations. Among the reft of his lau- dable Actions, he fhew'd himfelf a particular Patron to the Chrijiians.^ whom he treated with all Offices of Kindnefs and Humanity^ kindly entertaining them even in his own Family; fo that his Court feem'd to be a Church for Pie-^ ty, and a San6i:uary for Refuge to all good Men. In the Beginning of this Emperor's Reign, or the End Enfeh, of the laft, the great Origen peaceably ended his Days at &<=. Tyre^ having liv'd near 69 Years, and moft of them in the moft imaginable Fatigue and Induftry; leaving a Name that was the Envy of his own, and the Wonder of fuc^ ceeding Ages. If we confider this Man in the Corref" pondence he had with three or four Emperors, his Beha^ . viour under three Perfecutions, the Cenfures he fuftain'd, the Herefies he confounded, the Numbers of Pagans he converted, the renown'd Scholars he taught, and the fij^ thoufand Volumes he is faid to have written, we can't but ftand amaz'd at his wonderful Strength and Abilities. Tho' his Parts and Learning have been admir'd by all Men ; yet his Errors were too many and dangerous to be excus'd ; tho' they generally proceeded more from a curious Philofophical Head, than from a ftubborn unfound Heart, He held and taught the main Principles of the Chnftian Religion with great Firmnefs ; but being a vaft Proficient in Philofophy, and too much poffeft with the Notions of P/^^o's 'School, he grew very folicitous to accommo- date the divine Truths to his belov'd Opinions. Andfrorri three of them all his Errors feem to have proceeded ; as iirft, that all intelligent Beings ever did, and ever fhallexift ; Secondly, That they have alv/ays been free to do Good and Evil ; and Thirdly, that they ha,ve been precipitated in Jower Places, and confin'd to Bodies for a Puniihment of V 1.. JI. P tbeif 6io Cent. III. EcclefiafticalHiJlory. Book III. their Sins. Notwithilanding his Errors, no Man had great- er Pens employ'd in his V indication than liimfelf ; and never were more famous Conteds than about his Writ- ings, which are believ'd to have been much corrupted, fe- veral Hereticks being ambitious to make fo great a Man fpeak their Senfe. Particularly, there arofe a certain Sedt which call'd themfelves Origemfis^ maintaining fome of his Principles, as that the Sun, Moon, and Stars, had all Souls, that the Torments of the Devils and Damned ihould have an End, ^c. To which they added feveral other Errors, and fome of them renew'd the Abominati- ons of the Griojhcks^ and were therefore fliTd the Dirty and Impure. Thefe Hereticks infeded the Church to the 4th, 5-th, and 6th Centuries ; and were one Occalion of the Condemnation of all Or'igen\ Works. Cypian^ The Peace which the Church enjoy'd under this Empe- ^C' ror, gave Opportunity to the BiOiops and Governors to make feveral Regulations ; and particularly St. Cyprian call'd a Council in Carthage of 66 Bilhops upon a double Occalion. The firft was concerning a certain Presbyter imm'd l/'idor^ whom Thcrapius his own Bifliop had too foon receiv'd into Favour, contrary to the Decilion of the laft Council ; and the fecond was concerning the Time of baptizing Infants, ilarted efpecrally by Fidfis an African Bifiiop, who aflerted that Baptifm was not to be admini- ftred before the eighth Day, asCircumcilion was under the Jewijh Law. As to the firft, the Bifliops were furpriz'd to find Therapiui flight the Authority of a Decree fo late- ly enidcd, but nevcrthclefs, after mature Deliberation, they v/ere of opinion that the Reconciliation l/icidr had receiv'd from his own BiOiop, ought not to be reversed ; and fo they permitted him to enjoy Lay-Communion, contenting themfelves with admonifliing their Colleague to be more vigilant for the future. As to the Baptifm of Infants, it was determin'd, that it was not necelTary to be deferred till the eighth Day, nor was the Mercy of God to be deny'd to any as foon as born into the World , that it was their univcrfal Sentence ' That none ought to * be prohibited Baptifm and the Grace of God; which, as ^ it was to be allow'd to all, fo much more to Infants and ' new-born Children. About this Time alfo, St. Cxprian Vfx'ii againd Fort uMati anus ^ who had been Bilhop 01 Ajjuri^ and direded his Letter to Epi^etit<^ who was ele6led in his Place, and to the People of th?x City. This Fortuna- ttanns had the Uuhappinefs to fall into Idolatry, and up- on Chap.VI. VALERIAN ^/&^ 5 ^^^^^-^^A 6n on that Account was depriv'd of his Bifhoprick ; after which he earneftly labour'd to rc-pofTefs hiiTifelf of it, and to perform his Epifcopal Fundions as tormerly. In this Letter St. Cypria?^ ' condemn'd thefe Proceedings, ' and demonftrated the NecelTity of Sandity to make ' Mens Sacrifices acceptable, adviling the People not to ' fuffer him to exercife his Office, Dut to feparate from * him in cafe he perfifted in his Defign. In the following Year, the Bifhops of vS;?^/;? had recouffe A. D. to St. Cyprian, about an Affair of the fame Nature, for 25'4. Bafilides and Martial^ Biihops of Leon ard Aftorga^ hav- Valer. ing J^een publickly convided of Idolatry, and other Crimes, ^ were depriv'd, and Felix and Sahmus eledled in their Pla- *• ces. Bafilides owning his Crime, had voluntarily quitted ^y?»''*»> his Bifhoprick, and was placM in the Rank of Penitents^ ^^' thinking himfelf happy if he might be admitted to Lay- Communion. Neverthelefs, thefe two, a. cerwards pufh'd on by Envy and Ambition, us'd their utmof!: Endeavours to regain their Sees ; and for that End repaired to Rome^ not to demand their Re-eflabliOiment from Pope Stephen^ but only to obtain favourable Letters from him. Stephen being furpriz'd into a Compliance, granted them their Re- queft ; fo that upon their return to Spain^ they became more infolent than ever, and thought to re-poiTefs them-* felves by main Force. Whereupon the Clergy and Peo- ple of Spain by Letters addrefs'd themielves to St. Cypri- an^ and alfo deputed the new Bidiops, Felix and Sabinus^ to know how to proceed in this Exigency. The holy Prelate judging it a Matter of no fmall Importance, calFd a Council of 36 Bifliops, which was his fourth in Cm- thage ; and after a diligent Examination of all Circumflan- ces, the Bifliops came to this Refolution, That the De- privation of Bafilides and Martial^ as well as the Ordina- tion of Felix and Sabinus in their Places, ought to liand good : To which Purpofe they wrote a Synodical Letter to the Cler^ and People of thofe Dioceifes, wherein they declar'd, 'That fince the People had Power to eled good ' Bifhops, and to rejed the Bad, they wou'd be anfwera- ' ble to God if they any longer communicated with them ; *' That the Ordination of Felix and Sabinus was lawful, * fince it was done by the neighbouring Bifhops, by the ' Confent of the People, that it ought not to be revers'd, ' tho' Bafilides had imposed upon the Credulity of Stephen^ ' which Condud, inflcad of effacing their Crimes, aggra-'* * vated their Guilt- Shortly after this, Su Cyprian W3iS con- P 2 fulted 6i2 Cent. III. EcclefiaJlicalHiJlory, Book III. fiiltcd by the Gallican Bifhops, concerning Marcian Bi- fhop of Arles^ who being intcded with the Novatian He- refie, bronght over feveral Perlbns to his Party, and arro- gantly intuited over his Brethren. Fanfiinus Billiop of L^- ons^ mid feveral other Bifhops, wrote both to Pope ^tc- phen and St. Cyj:r!a::^ deliring their Concurrence in ex- Coinmunicating" Alardm;. Bat Stephen negleding the Af- fair, Cyprian wrote to him, ' defiling him to fatisfie the ' Rcqucflsofthe G^///V^;? Bifhops, and difpatch his Let- ' ters to Arles^ declaring Marc/an excommunicated ; re- ' monftrating, That (incc that Bifliop had joyn'd himfelf ' to NoTat'um^ there w'as no Occafion for a new Judg- * ment againft hmi ; that all Bifliops were oblig'd to ad- ' mit Penitents into the Church, fo that the whole Body ' of Bifliops being united by a mutual Charity, whenever ' ChrifVs Flock is attacked by Herefies or Schifms, they^ ' may be able to re-unite the Sheep, like good Shepherds *• who truly love their Flock. About the fame time, being highly cenfur'd by sn/^r/V^/^Bifhop call'd Papicnus^ who believ'd the Calumnies oiFeliciJfimus^ he wrote a folemn Letter to him, juflly condemning his rafli Believing any ill Reports of his Brother, concluding w^ith thefe remark- able Words, ' You have my Letter, and I have yours ; ' they will be both read in the Day of Judgment, before ' the Tribunal of Jefus Chrlfl. A. D. But now' St. Cyprian was concerned about a greater Af- ify. fair, which was examined in a Council of 32 Bifhops, Valer. which he call'd the following Year ; and this was con- j-_ cerning the famous Contcft about re-baptizing thofe w^ho 3' had been baptiz'd by Hereticks. This, by the Occafion Cyprian, of the Montanifts and Novatians^ had been formerly can- • vail in the Eallern Parts, from whence it flew over to Nmnidia^ and by Jamiarins and the Bifhops of that Pro- vince, it was brought before St. Cyprian^ and this Coun- cil of Carthage. In this it w^as determin'd, ' That no ' Baptifm could be valid out of the Church ; That it was ' absolutely necellary to re-baptile thofe who had received ' the Baptifm of Hereticks ;and that this was no novel Sen- ' tence, but had been fo adjudg'd by the African Bilhops ' their Predecelfors, and the Thing conftantly pradtisM and * obferv'd by them. Ouintns a Billiop, foon after deliring St. C\prian\ Opinion of this Matter, he return'd him the ^lame'Anfwer, ' tho' he modeilly acknowledg'd that fome ' of his Brethren were of a different Opinion, and fent * him the Decifion of the Synod. But that this Contro- vert^ Chap. VI. VALERIAN the ^i^ Rom, Emp. 6i^ verfie might be more fully examiii'd, this excellent Ma > A. D. in the next Year airemblcd a Council of 71 Blihops, as 25-6. well of the Province of Afr;ck^ as Namidla^ who con- Valcr. firm'd all that had been dctermin'd by the preceding Sy- j_ nod, concerning the Baptifm of Hereticks, and decreed, 4« ' That all Presbyters and Deacons v^'^o were ordain'd a- ' mongft them ; and alfo fuch of the Clergy, who had ' been fome time of their Party, upon their Rei urn to the ' Church, iliou'd only be receiv'd in the Quality of L^?- ' icks. And the better to maintain that Honour and Fricnd- fhip w^hich Biihops ow'd to each other, they acquaint- ed Pope Stephen with their Conftitutions by a Synodical Letter, towards the Conclufion of w^hich it reprefented, ' That lince their Ordinances were conformable to Truth ' and the Chrijiia'a Rehgion, they hop'd he wou'd make ' no Ditiiculty to approve them : That they were fcnfible ' that all Biihops could not readily change their Opinion^, ' yet tho' they retained their own Cuftoms, they might *■ ilill prcferve the Laws of Charity ; Therefore they did ' not magilterially impofe their Opinions upon others, * fince every Bifhop had full Authority within the Jurif- ' didion of his own Church, for which he was accounta- ' ble to God alone. Pope Stephen was fo far from fubmitting to the Rea- CyprUn, fons of the Africans \\\ this Matter, whether becaufe he ^"X'*- imagin'd they had a Dehgn ag;4in[l the Roman Church, or becaufe he thought the Queilion of too great Confe- quence for them to determine, that he was enrag'd againft St. Cyprian and his Colleagues, and rudely treated their Deputies : Nay, he prohibited all the Chriflians of his Church to receive or lodge them, not only depriving them of Ecclefiaftical Communion, but alfo refufingthem the common Civilities of Hofpitality. The Letter he writ back, was filfd with Atfronts and Invediives, and his Decifion was compriz'd in thefe Terms; ' If any Per- ' fon comes to you of any Herefie whatfoever, let not * the leaft Alteration be made in what has been regulated ' by Tradition, but only lay Hands upon him, and fo re- ' ceive him. This being brought to Afrkk^ St. Cyprian mov'd with the Proceedings of Stephen^ fent his Letter, with a Refutation of it, not only to Pompey of Africk^ but alfo to Ftrmilian^ and the other BiOiops o^ Cappadociay who were all of the fame Opinion with Cyprian^ toucli- ing the Baptifm of Hereticks. Firmitian particularly writ s?, long Epiftle, ' wherein he amply and iliarply refuted P 3 ' the 6i^ Cent. III. Ecclejiaftical Hiftory, Book III. ! ' the Opinion and Letter of Stephet^^ and eftablifli'd the i ' Difcipline which Cyprian had defended ; alledging, that \ ' it had been obferv'd in his Country by immemorial Cu- \ ' ftom, and confirm'd in two numerous Synods held at I ^ Iconium and Synnada. St. Cyprian alfo wrote a Letter ; to Bifhop Jubianm about this Matter, and alfo another to Magnus^ wherein he anfwer'd two important Queftions, ' and declared, ' That Baptifm by the Novatiam in particu- ; ' lar, ought to be look'd upon as invalid ; and that the ! ' Baptifm of CUmcks.^ that is, of fick Perfons on their Beds, ' ' was valid ; and that the Sacrament was equally efficaci- ' ous, whether the Pcrfon was plung'd into the Water, or ' ' had it fprinkled upon him. But, to put the grand Con- \ troverfie beyond all Bifpute, he fummon'd a more gene- ; ral Council of 87 Biiliops, which was the 7th and lafl, ! and the third upon this particular Occafion ; and this af-^ ■ fembled in the Month of 6'^^?£'W2^6"r 25'6. In this Council j the Letters ©f Jubianns to St. Cyprian^ and his Anfwer 1 to that Bifhop, were firfl read. After which St. Cyprian \ proposed to all the Biihops prefent, ' to deliver their Opi- ' nions freely, but yet not fo, as to condemn and excom- i municate thofe of a ditferent Judgm^ent ; For, added he, none of us ought to make himfelf a Bijhop of BiJhopSy or pretend to awe his Brethren by a tyrannical Fear, be- ! caufe every Bifhop is at liberty to do as he pleafes, and ] can no more by judg'd by another, than he can judge ! others himfelf; but all ought to wait for the Judgment 1 of Jefm Chrift^ who alone can fet us over the Church, i and judge our A6tions. After this Propofition, the Bi- i ihops gave their Opinions, and concluded all in favour , of St. Cyprian. Cypr-nn. Not onlv FirmiUan of Cappadocia.^ but alfo Dionyjim of ; M»fik^ Alexandria., and many others in the Eaft, flood firm to St. 1 ' Cypna?^^ and maintain'd, that all Perfons baptiz'd by j Hereticks ought to be re^bapti^'d. Dtonyfim however car- ry'd himfelf with great Temper and Moderation, and \n \ his Epifiles ' diilinguilh'd between Apoflates^ who had re- \ * ceiv'd their Baptifm in the Catholick Church, and Pure \ ^ Hereticks ; That the former upon their Return were to i * be admitted by the Impoiition of Hands, which Practice ; * he had learnt from his PredecelTbr Heradas ; but the ; * latter, who had no Baptifm but what was conferr'd by ^ Heretical Perfons, were to be cnter'd into the Church ' by Catholick Baptifm. Beiides, he engag'd in this Dif- pu^e more like a Mediator than a Party, writing to Pope Stephen Chap. VI. VALERIAN the 32^ Rom. Emp. 61 Stephen to ufe Moderation in this Cafe, as he did alfo to his SuccefTor, and moil other Bifliops of that Time. But neither Numbers nor Arguments wou'd fatisfie Stephen ; and indeed the Controveriic arofe to that Height between him and St. Cyprian^ that he gave the other very rude and unchriflian Language, ftih'ng him falfe Cbrift^ falfe Apo- ftle^ deceitful Worker.^ and fuch like ; while the other treat- ed him with great Sharpnefs and Severity, charging him with Pride and Impertinency, Self-Contradi6lion, igno- rance, and Obilinacy, and other WeakneiTes. FirmtUan alio charg'd Stephen with facrificing the Peace of the Church to a pttulent Humour, where Inhumanity, Audacioufnefs, Infolence and Impiety, are fome of the Characters be- ilow'd upon him : A great Inftance how far Paffion and Prejudice may tranfport wife and good Men beyond the Merits of the Caufe, and the Bounds of Charity. Thus we have given an account of this great Controver- iic, which was never nicely determin'd till the Council of Aries in the fourth Century. AH that wc fhall add con- cerning it, \%^ that St. Cyprian and his Party exprefly dif- own'd Anabapttfr/i^ or Rebaptization, ftill aflerting that there was but one Baptifm ; only they look'd upon the Baptifmofall Hereticks 2iS ipfo fado null and void, and therefore faid, that the Parties lb baptixM, ought to n;- ceive what (lawfully) they had not before. The Eighth General Persecution. xl. The Chrifttans had now enjoy'd a profound Peace A. D, for about four Years from t^aUr'tan^ who had been kind }11- to them beyond any of the preceding Emperors ; fo tte they ^' ^icr» wanted no AfTurance of a happy and profperous Time. But -1 in the 4th Year of his Reign, this Emperor gave way to the ^\ Suggeftions and Deluiions of an Arch-Magician of Mgypt^ "^ zdXV d, Macrtanus^ Who prevaifd upoijhim to fall froin his former Kindn'efs, and to perfecute thcChrtJhans ; alledging that thefe Men by their wicked and execrable Charms, hinder'd all the Profper ity of the Emperor, colouring his Pretence from their fpecial Power over D.tm(ms^ whofe mifchlevOus Arts they dillipated, and whom they ordina- rily banithed with the ipeaking of a Word. Upon a Pre- tence of this dangerous Power, Macrianus advis'd the f mperor to perform many impious Rites of Initiation, a- bominable Sacrifices and Enchantments, to cut the Throats of miferuble Infants, ro iaciitice the Children of unhappy P 4 Parents, 616 Cent.IIL BckJiaJlicalHipry. Book III. Parents, to rip open the Bowels of new-born Babes, and to tear in Pieces, and cut in funder God's own Work- man(hip, as if by thele A6ls he Jhould purchafe for him- felf a lalHng Felicity. WiiCieupon Edicts were in all Pla-^ ces publifli'd againit the CLrtflians^ the great Enemies to j Magick, and they were without the leait ProtJ^lion, ex- \ pos'd to the common Rage. This is commonly call'd 1 ^he Eighth General Perfecntion of the Church, beginning ; in the Month of April^ and continuing three Years and a : half, or 42 Months : For ^oDionyf.Alex, intimates when ] he makes Valerian to be the Beaft in the Revci.uion^ to ' whom was given a Month freaking great "Things and Blaf- i phemies^ and Power was given to him to continue forty and \ two Months^ Apoc. 13. 5". The fame Perfon alfo tells us, \ that it is in vain to make a particular Enumeration of all i the Chrifiians that fuffcr'd in this Perfecution ; only it is \ obfervable, that both Men and Women, young and old, ; Soldiers and Rufticks, Perfons of all Ranks and Ages, ; were fome beaten and fcourg'd, others beheaded, and o- ' thers by overcoming the Violence of flaming Furnaces, ; receiv'd the CrovvU of Martyrdom. . Cyprian, The Perfccution began at Rome^ where we have the ' ^cf: Cyp. Names of feveral Martyrs, as Rnfinw, Secundus^ Eufebius i a Presbyter, and Marcellus a Deacon, with feveral others, i But the chief of thefe Martyrs was Stephen himfelf, who ; fuffer'd on the fecond Day o'i Augtift^ after he had held ' the See of Rome a little above tour Years. After a Va- ' cancy of 22 Days, he was fuccceded by X)'ftiis or Sixtus '. II. an Athenian Philofopher, who held' this Dignity ; almofl: one Year^ and was the 23d Bifhop of Rome after : the Apoilles St. Peter and St. Paul. The Perfecution ! extended to all Parts of the Empire, and beginning in A- \ frick^ Afpajms Paternus the Proconful fent for St. Cypri- | 4in to appear before him, informing him. That he had re- \ ceiv'' d Commands f'rom the Emperors^ that all who were of i Foreign Religion^ Jljould worjhtp the Gods according to the \ Roman Rites ^ and demanded his Anfwer. Cyprian readily 1 reply'd, That he was a' ChriHian and a Bijhop^ who ac^ \ knowledged none but the true God^ the Creator of Heaven^ > ^arth^ and all Things ; whom all Chrillians ferved^ P^^y^ \ ing Day and l\ght for themfelves and all Men^ and for the j Profptrity of the Emperors. The Proconful demanding of i him whether that was his final Refolution, he reply'd, I That Refuhition iihich is founded in God^ cannot be al- | /^rV. Then he told him That hi was to fearch out the \ Presbyters ! Chap.Vl. VALERIAN the ga^ Rem. Emp. 617 . Presbyters as well as Bijhops^ and that he was commandeii to prohibit all private Ajfemblies., and proceed with capital 'Puniprnents againft the Frequenters of them. The holy Man gave him an unconcern'd iVnfwer, lb that the Pro- confiil finding it was in vain to treat with him, command- ed him to be banifli'd to Carubis^ a little City Handing in a Peninfula within the Lybian Sea, not far from Pcntapo- lis\ a pleafant Place, where he met with kind Ufage, was frequently vilited by the Brethren, and furnifh'd with all Conveniencies. In this Retirement God was pleas'd to favour him with feveral heavenly Vilions, by one of which, in the firft Day of his Arrival, he vvas particularly fore- warned of the Manner of his approaching Martyrdom. Ar the fame time the Prs^fed of Nurnidia., after having put fe- veral Chrijlians to Death, and fcourg'd others, condemn'd many to the Mines, and among the reft feveral Biiliops and Presbyters of his Province. St. Cyprian^ that he might improve all Opportunities, from the Place of his Exile fent thefe Martyrs an excellent Epiftle, ' wherein with won- ' derful Eloquence he heighten'd the Glory of their Con- ' felfion, and encourag'd them to futfer with Conitancy : He fent this to three different Places, where thefe holy Confeflbrs were dlfpers'd, and remitted fome Mony to . them to fupply their prefent Extremities. Their Anfwers were written from three feveral Places, in which, in an unaffefted Stile, ' tfeey returned him their Thanks for his ' great Kindnefs and Charity, and affurM him, that his ' Letter had rais'd their drooping Spirits, heal'd their ' Wounds, and rendered their Prellures more light and * fupportable to them. As Africk felt the difmal Effe61:s of this Perfecution, fo E/ffrJ. did ^gypt no lefs : And at the firft Arrival of the Orders to Alexandria.^ Bifliop Dionyfius.^ with fome of his Clergy, addreft himfelf to JErnilian the Governor, who at firft did not diredly forbid him to hold his Affcmblies, but endea- vour'd to perfwade him from it, prefuming others would foon follow his Example. Dionyfius return'd an Apofto- lical Anfwer, "That we mufl obey God rather than Men^ folemnly afluring \\\Xi\.,T'hat he would worpip only the true God., from which Refolution he would never recede. The Governor told him, T'hat he had acquainted them with th-: great Clemency of the Emperors^ if they would aB agree abh to Nature .f and adore the Gods who were ProteHors of the P.mpire^ which he hop'^d they would be more grateful than to refufe. To whom the Bifhop reply'd, That though the Ro- mans 6i8 Cent. III. EcckJidfiicalHiJiory. Booking mans worjhipped other Gods^ they only adored the Creator of; the iVorld^ who gave the Gouernment to the Emperors^ and \ to whom they daily prayed for the Permanency and Stability i of the Empire. Upon this the Governor by way of Infi- \ nuation, urg'd him to worlhip the Romans Gods together I with their own; but finding all inefFe6i:ual, he declared ; them ignorant and ungrateful, and order'd Dionyfins to be ; banifh'd to Cephro in the Defarts of Lybia^ and likewife \ prohibited all the AfTemblics of the Chrifliani.^ threatning i the fevereft Punilhments to the AggrefTors. The Sentence \ was immediately put in Execution, and Z>/(?»)y?/zj-,tho' lick, ; was not allowM one Day's Refpite, but was hurried into ' the mofl uncomfortable Part of Lybia ; but great Numbers ' of Chriftians foon followed him, partly from Alexandria^ , and partly from other Parts of ^gypt. At his firft Arri- i val he was treated with Rudenefs, and a Shower of Stones, I but in a (liort time he not only civiliz'd their Manners, \ but alfo reclaimed them from Idolatry, and brought them ; to Chriftia?:ity, And as he met with Succefs, fo he fhift- j cd his Quarters, preaching about in thofe difconfolate Re- \ gions, and turning the Defart into 'a Church. Nor could j all the Severity ot JEm'tlian prevent the Chrijlians Affem- \ blies at A lexandria^ tho'' he proceeded with the utmoft Ha- ' tred againft fuch as were brought before him, killing ma- ] ny with all the Arts of Cruelty, keeping others for the i Rack and Torment, loading them with Chains, and thruft- ^ ing them into loathfome Dungeons, forbidding the Pre- ; fence of their nearefl: Friends. Yet even in the Height of ! thcfe Affiidions God fupported their Spirits, and animated i others to venture in, and to adminiftcr Comfort and Ne- ] ceffarics to them, not fearing, tho' with the Peril of their ; Heads, to interr the Bodies of the Martyrs. From Cephro ] Dionyfius wrote to Pope Sixtus^ concerning the Re-bapti- j zation of Hereticks, in which he made a remarkable Ex- \ ception in one particular Inftancc, which was of a Man ] of his Congregation, who had formerly receiv'd his Bap- ; tifm from Hereticks, and now dcfired to obtain Catho- * lick Baptifm; but he durft not admit him, becaufe he had \ been nrrany Years in the Clafs of the Faithful, and a con- i ftant Receiver of the Eucharid:, judging that his long j Communion with the Church might be equivalent to Bap- 1 tifm. ' J iMfeb. \\ About this Time one SaheUius a Lybian.^ born at Ptole- | Sf't^h, vmais ^ City o^ Pe/aapolis, ftarted fome unorthodox Notj- ; : ons and Opinions about the Do6};rine of the holy Trinfty, teaching Chap.VI. VALERIAN the 3:2^ Rom.Emp, 61^ teaching that there was no Diftindlon between the three Perfons, and alTerting the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, to be but one Subiilknce, one Perfon under three feveral Names, who m the Time of the Old Tertament gave the Law under the Notion of the Father, in the New Teila- mcnt was made Man in the Capacity of the So)^^ and af- terwards defcended upon the Apoftles in the Quality of the Holy Ghoft. Epiphamus tells us th^t Sahellim had fuck*d in this Error from fome Apochryphal Books, and more e- fpecially from that call'd The Gofpel of the Egyptians, where our Saviour is introduced teaching his Apolties, that the Father and the Son are but one and the fame Perfon. Tho' thofe who then held this Opinion, were call'd Sabel- Hans^ yet the Here(ie it felf was more ancient than Sabel- luis. For we find that it was the Opinion ofPraxeas2ind the PatropaJJiajis^ and after them, of Noetus of Smyrna^ from whom they were callld Noettans ; and laftly, of this Sabelltus^ who by his Care and Induftry gave them that held it the Name of SabelUans^ which Name ever after conti- nued, as it does to this Day. And now the Perfecution began to give a fatal Turn to f^ jy all the Profperity of Valeriana for Heaven being highly ^rg provok'd with the barbarous Treatment of its faithful Ser- Vaier vants, fent its Scourges from the Northern Countries, who ^ came down \\\ a more formidable manner than ever; and "^ at the fame time the mighty Sapores King of Perjia^ with a p,m^^ furious Progrefs over-run and ravag'd Syria^ Cilicia^ Cap- Cyprian, padocta^ and the Eaflern Parts of the Empire. This oblig'd -^^^"f'-- the Emperor to make all poflible Preparations, and to march with a powerful Army to Byzantium., to put a Stop to his Enemy's Power. But thefe Miferies were fo far from mollifying his Heart, as to the ChriJUans^ that he fcnt aRcfcript to the Senate more fevere than ever, where- in he order'd that Bifhops, Presbyters and Deacons fliould be put to Death without Delay ; That Senators and Per- fons of Quality fhould lofe their Honours, and Prefer- ments, and forfeit their Eftates ; and if they jlill continu'd Chriflian^^ lofe their Heads ; That Ladies of the higheft Rank fhould not only have their Ellates confifcated, but alfo be banifh'd; and that all of the Emperor's Houfliold ihould be immediately fent to Prifon. Wnich gaveOcca- lion to the Governors to carry on the Perfecution with niorc Violence than ever ; among whom Macriams was particularly diligent in Rowe. In Execution of thefe Or- ders, Pope ^ixtiis was brought out and beheaded with \ ^20 Cent. III. Ecckjiaflical Hi/lory. Book III. Quartm^ on the 6th Day of y^uguft^ after he had been Bi- ihop o^ Rome ii Months and 12 Days. As he was led to Execution, Laurence his Archdeacon and Treafurer follow'd after him, and with loud Cries deiir'd, 'That he .might partake of the Honour of Martyrdom with him^ and that his Blood mi^ht be mingled^ with that of his Bijhop. Sixtus told \\ViXi^T^ioat he was referv'dfor a more noble Com- hat^ but that he Jhoulcn:fuickly follow him^ and within three Days be where he was. The Governor knowing L^^r^;?^-^ to be the Church's Treafurer, feiz'd upon him, and charg'd him to difcover where the Treafures were. Tiie holy Man defir'd three Days time to gather them together, and prefent them to him ; at the End of which he prcfented a great Number of poor helplefs People to the Governor, and let him uliderfland, That they were the true Treafures of the Church. The Governor incens'd at this Diuppoint- ment, immediately order'd him to be torn wim Scourges, to be whipt with Iron Rods and Plumbetcc^ and then to be fet on the wooden Horfe, and to have all his Limbs diflo- cated; and lail of all ordered a kind of Giid-Jron, with a i\ow Fire under it, to be made ready; upon which the Tyrant caus'd him to be laid down and roalled. All which Torments St. Laurence endured with admirable Conftan- cy and Unconcernednefs ; and after a conliderable Time lying upon that Bed, he vidorioufly call'd out to the Go- vernor, / am roajlcd enough on this Side ; turn me on the other.^ and then eat me. Then praying for the Converiion of Rome.^ he chearfuUy yielded up his Spirit to God. The Perfecution was now fo hot, that after the Death of Six- tus., there was a Vacancy in the Church of Rome for al- mod a Year, the Care of the Chrijiians being then left to the Presbyters. Cyprian. Nor wcrc Carthage and Africk free from the Severity Jid.Ma, of this Perfecution, where great Numbers fuffer'd; parti- cularly three hundred Martyrs at Utica., commonly call'd the Martyrs de Majfa Candida^ who rather than do Sacrifice, chearfully leapt into a mighty Pit of burning Lime kind- led for ti)at purpofe, and were immediately fulfocated in the Smoke and Flames. The daily News of the Chrijii- ans Sufferings gave St. Cyprian juit Reafon to expe6l: and provide for his own Fate, which he waited and long'd for every Hour. Tho' his chiefeil Friends defired him to withdraw; yet the Defirc and Profped of an immortal Crown had fet him above the World, and made him deaf to all their kind Entreaties. But when News was brought that Chap.VI. VALERIAN the 32^ Rom. Bmp. 621 that the Officers defign'd to carry him to Utica^ to fuffer there, he retired, being unwilling to fufter in any Place but Carthage^ in the Prefence of the People where he had fo long and luccelsfully preached the Goipel, the Truth of which he was defirous to leal with his Blood; ' it being ' very agreeable that a Billiop (hould fuffer for his Lord ' in that Place where he had govern'd his Church, and by *■ that eminent Confeffion editie and encourage the Flock ' committed to his Charge, as he writes in his lall: Epiftle to his People. ' As for themlelvcs, he advifed them to ' Peace and Unity, not to create Trouble to one another, ' nor to offer themfelves to their Perfccutors; but \i any ' were apprehended, couragioufly to confefs, asGodfhould * enable them to declare themfelves. Taking up his Refi- dence in Carthage^ Officers were immediately fent to ap- prehend him, who putting him in a Chariot carry'd him to the new Proconful Galenus Maxlmus^ who comman- ded him to be kept a Day longer at an Officer's Houfe, while the People alarm'd with the News of his Return and Appreheniion, flock'd to tl# Doors, and watchM there all Night. Being brought before the Proconful the next Day, Maximus looking upon him, faid, Art ^^oaThrafci- us Cyprian, a Btjhop and Father to Men of impious Prin- ciples ? The [acred Emperors command thee to facrifice ; therefore be well advifed^ c:nd do not throw away thy Life. The Holy Martyr reply'd, I am Cyprian and a Chiiftian, and cannot facrifice to the Gods\ do as you are commanded-^ for in fo jufi a Caufe I need no Confultation. The Pro- conful difpleafed at his invincible Conftancy, told him, That he had been long of this facrdegious Hnmuur^ had fe- duced many into the fame impious Pradiices^ and JJoewn him- felf an Enemy to the Gods and Keligion of the Roman Em- pire^ and one whom the moji pious Emperors could never re- • duce to the Obfervance of their holy Kites: That therefore being found to be the Ringleader of fo davigcrous a Seci^ he (hould be made an Example to all thsfe whom he had fe- duc^d^ and that Difcipline jhould be ejlablijlo'd in his 'Blood. Whereupon he read his Sentence out of a Table-Book, / will that Thrafcius Cyprian be beheaded. To which the holy Man only anfwerM, / heartily thank Almighty God^ who is pleafed to fet me free from the Chains of the Bodv. Sentence being pafs'd, he was led away with a ftrong Guard of Soldiers, infinite Numbers of People prefiing af- ter, the Chriflians weeping and mourning, and crying out, Jact us alfo bf beheaded with htm. Being brought to the pli^ce 62 2 Cent. III. Ecclejiafiical Hiftory. Book III. ! Place of Execution, which was a Field furrounded with , Trees leaden with Spedators, the Martyr falling down | upon his Knees, recommended his Soul to God in Pray- ' er; after which he ftript himfelf to a Linnen Veftment, i and expeded the Executioner, to whom he commanded \ the Sum of about fix Pounds of our Mony to be given. \ The pious Brethren fpread Linnen Cloaths about him to 1 preferve his Blood from being fprinkled upon the Ground ; \ and then covering his Eyes with his Hand, the Executi- 5 oner did his Office. His Body was depofited not far off \ by the Chnjiians^ but at Night, for fear of the Gentiles^ • removed ; and with many Lights and Torches, folemnly : interred into the Coemetery of Macrobius Candidm a * Procurator, near the Fifli-ponds in the Mappalian Way. \ This was done upon the 14th Day of Sepumber^ after he ' had been about ten Years Biihop of Cnrthage^ being fuc- j ceeded by Luciaa. To give a lliort Character of St. C^- \ pria'/z^ he may be faid to have been, tho' not the greateH:, ! yet the mod ufeful and valuable Man, the moft accurate ] and finiOi'd Writer, and tl||.moft wife and ferviceable Bi- [ £hop in this Age. ^ jy Not long alter the Death of St. Cyprian^ the Proconful ' ^^^ Galerius Maximas dy'd, being fucceeded by one Solon^ i Valer. ^^^^ carry'd on the Perfecution with no lefs Severity than ; 6 the other had done. In Carthage many eminent Cbrijii- ] "7f ^«-f were put to Death, particularly, Lucius^ Mo'/itanus^ ' uts, \fa, Flavian^ Jnltun^ Vi6ior'tcus^ Primolus^ Remus and Donati- \ Effck. an; moft of them of the Clergy, and St. Cyprian's Difci- \ pies. In Numidia^ James and Martannsy with many o- i thers, fufferM at Lambefa. In Spam^ FruBuofns Bifhop of i Tarrogax^ after 2 noble Confellion of his Faith, was burnt ! alive, together with his two Deacons Aiiguriui and Eulo^ \ gixs. In Paieftine^ Eujehias informs us of three eminent j Confeilbrs, Prijcus^ Malchm^ and Alexander^ who being , in the Couatry, and aOiam'd to think that they lay idle and : lecare, while fo many others were contending for the ' Crown^ cnanimonlly went to the Governor of C<.vfarea^\ profefsM themfeives Chriihaj:?^ received their Sentence of , Death, and were made Food for the wild Beails. Belides ; thele, he tells us of a Woman in Ccejarea^ who, tho' a \ Moicmnite^ imderwentthefimeFare. In Rome the Church ■ coatiaued a coaSiderabie Time v/ichout a Biihop ; but the '■ Perfecatioa a little abating, atter almoft ar Year's Vacancy, , \ the Chrsjisa^s made choke of Dionyfius^ a learned and ex- i I cellenjt Man, who held ihls Dignity about eleven Year^, | and I Chap.VI. VALERIAN the 32^ Rom. Emp. 62^ and WIS the 24th BiQiop of Reme after the Apoflles St. P^- ter and St. Paul. And now the Roman Empire began to be more and PoW». more afflided by barbarous Inundations, and the Perfia» ^J""*- Invafions, in which Valerian hiinfelf was the principal '^'^* Sufferer. For after he had made fome Refinance to thQ Goths and Scythians^ he was oblig'd to turn all his Forces againft Sapores King of Perfia^ Who with a furious Pro- grefs ravaged many of the Eaftern Provinces. Approaching near the Perftans^ he became fo difhearten'd and confoun- ded, that he defpaired of Succefs, and would have put an End to the War by giving of Mony. Sapores olfer'd to parly with him in Perfon upon that Subjed, to which Valerian imprudently confented. And being infatuated by God, and betrayed by Macrlanu;^ the firfl Caufe of his Injuftice to the Chriftians^ he was brought into an incom- modious Place without a fufficient Guard ; where being furrounded by the Perfians., and all the PalTes polTefTed^ without any Rellftance he was taken Prifoner by Sapores^ who carried this old Emperor into his own Country, and treated him with Indignities below the meaneft Slave. For the insulting Perfian^ fweil'd with this ^profperous Gale, made Valerian his Footilool, whenever he was difpofed to take Horfe; caufing the greateft Monarch of the World, to whom all Nations paid Homage, to bow down his Neck for him to tread upon it, when he mounted the Sad- dle. This was the miferable Fate of the Perfecutor Vale- rian^ which hapned in the Year 260, he being 76 Years of Age, and having reigned near feven Years; a Prince eminent for many remarkable Excellencies, who for many Years wanted no kind of Succefs and Reputation, 'till at length pulling down the Vengeance of Heaven, he was feverely puniih'd for his barbarous Cruelties to the Chrifti- ans\ which was likewife no fmall Punifhment to the Rfjmans^ who never receiv'd fuch a publick and fignal Affront fince the Foundation of their City. Sapores was wont to rally Valerian^ when he made him his Footftool, telling him, That that Pofture was a greater Proof on whicJy Side the Vt^ory wenty than all the Pidures that the Ro- mans could make ; and for a long time after the Perfians treated the very Name of a Kjr/ian with the utmofl: Scorn ,• and Indignity, /^^^/^r/ii^ continued about feven Years in this miferable Servitude, notwithilanding )ill the Writings, all the Intercefllons, and all th=i Threats of the greatefl Potentates in the World ; and at the fame time v/as defpi- 62j^ Cent. III. Ecclefidjtical Hlflory, Book III.'| fed and nc^le^ted by his own Son GaWien-is. At length '] being 83 Years of Age, Supo/es caus'd his Eyes to be pulVd •.,! out, and after that, his Body to be flead alive, and rubb'd I with Salt, according to Agathias. hxuLadantius faith that *i "after his Death his Skin was flead otF his Body, and that i both that and his Bowels being tind:ur'd with a red Co- j louring, were hung up in one of the Temples of the P^r- '| J}a?i Gods, to be a perpetual Memorial of fo remarkable a i Triumph, by which they might always put the Roman i\m- .' bafladors in mind of it, and from fo uncommon a Spe£la- • clc, warn them not to prefume too much upon their own '\ Power, but to remember Valerian's Fall, ■: A. D. 111. /^^/w^?^ being taken Prifoner, his Son GaJltenm\ 260. in courfe remain'd Emperor of Rome^ being now about '.I Gal- 41 Years of Age, jjjd a Perfon fufficiently noted for his J I.1ENUS Eloquence and Learning, but more for his impious and i the 53a profligate Life. This Reign was more confus'd and cala- ; £^lp]r"r. n^^fo^s than any of the preceding; and Heaven and Earth : _ * feem'd equally to threaten the Deilruclion of the Roman I Zo/7w, Empire. In the Beginning of it the Sun was clouded and i Cr<^«j. darkncd, fo that it did not appear for many Days : Strange j and difmal Earthquakes overthrew Cities and Ifately Edi^ ■ fices, detkoying great Numbers of People, and fhaking the ; Lands fo terribly, that the hidden Bowels of the Earth, ^| and the Itupendous Caverns were laid open, from whence-' fiow'd vaO: Streams of Salt Water. The Sea overfwell'd 'i its Banks, and broke into many Continents, drowning \ Countries, Cities, and People; and fo violent a Peftilence | rag'd, that in Rome^ no lefs than 5-000 Perfons dy'd in a ; Day. Befides which, the whole Empire was dangeroufly ' invaded on all Parts : The Germans over-run Rhiet'ta and : the Alp^ and pafs'd into Itals as far 'iJ^ Ravenna \ the Alle"^ mans alfo wafted Gai-il^ and enter'd Spam to the City of] 'Tarragon: The Goths and Scythians ravag'd all PontHs^\ and a great Part of lelfer Afia ; and in Europe^ all Greece^ '■ Macedonia^ and their Confines. Dacia beyond the Da- nube was entirely loft to the (hiadi and Seirmatiaits^ who. alfo feiz'd on Pannonia ; and the Perfians and Parthians i having already gain'd Mesopotamia^ pollefs'd themfelves of 1 a great Part of Syria. About the fame Time the Soldiers | in all Parts cle6ling their own Generals, advanced no lefs ' than Thirty almoft at one Time, who alluming the Title i of Emperors, are generally recorded by the Name of the; ^hirtx Tyrants 'y Who being oppolite to each other, and^ X9\ Chap. VI. GALLIENUS the 33^ Rom.Emp. 62S to GallienH!^ the Empire by their Means was more fevere- ly harrafsM and opprefs'd by its own Forces, than by / foreign Devaftations : Only thefe Ufurpers, who were generally valiant Men, did oftentimes fecure the Empire from barbarous Nations. Among thefe thirty Ufurpers, the two firft were Pojl- Poiug, humus^ who fet up in GauI^ and Ingenuus in Paamnia^ E«feb» both valiant Commanders. Gallienus immediately under- took the latter, flew both him, and overthrew the Goths ^ in which Vi61:ories he ufed incredible Cruelties, deltroying all the living Perfons in one City. But the former was fo powerful, that he maintain'd his Authority for feven Years; and Ingenuus^ notwithftanding his Death, wasfuc- ceeded by RegtUianuf:^ who preferved his Power in Pan- non'ta for three Years. So that by means of thefe, and many other Ufurpers, Gallienus retired*^mfelf to tiome^ regarding little cither of his own or tis Father's Con- cerns; and while the whole World was infefl:ed with Wars and Defolations, he for the moft part continu'd in the City abandoned to Eafe and Luxury, and furrounded with the fofteft Pleafures and Delights. And when he was in- formed that ^gypt had revolted, that Gaul was lofl: to Ufurpers, that Afia was ruin'd by Earthquakes and the Scythians^ and that other Provinces were in danger, he re- turn'd Anfwers with fo much Negligence and Remifsnefs, as if he had utterly forgot his Office and Dignity. But notwithftanding his Carelefsnefs andDifregard to the Pub- lick, yet he had fo much Senfe of publick Calamities, as from his Father's Misfortunes to take the Meafures of his Carriage towards the Cbrijiians. He faw that while his Father favoured the Chrijiians^ Heaven fmil'd upon his Defigns, and his Affairs fucceeded in an uninterrupted Courfe of Profperity ; but that when he once began to bear hard upon them, the Tide turned, and the Divine Vengeance fell both upon him and the Empire. There- fore, contrary to the Pradices of former Emperors in the like Circumftances, he wifely refolved to give Eafe to the innocent Chrijlians^ and accordingly by his Edi61:s he entirely relax'd the Perfecution, and allow'd them a full Freedom in the Ufe of their Religion. This was done in the Month of Oilober^ A. D. 260 ; from which Time the Church of God had a long Peace of above 40 Years ; tho' it was not wholly without Trouble and In- terruptions, as well as Martyrs. About the Beginning of this Time of Indulgence, Demetr'tan Bifliop of Antioch Vol. II - Q dy'd, 6 26 Cent. III. EcclcfiaJticalHiflory. Book III, dyM, after he had held this Dignity about eight Years ; aad was lucceeded by Paul of SamJfata^ a Perlbn luffici- ently condemned for his intolerable Avarice and Ambiti- on, who continued in the See about ten Years, and was the 15'th BiiTiop of /ht:och after the Apoftles. A. D. The Edids o'£ Galltcft!;> for fome time had not their de- 261. fir'd Etleds in all Parts of the Empire; for MacrtanuSy Gallic, the great Enemy to the Chrifiians^ taking Advantage from _i_ thele confus'd I'imes, fct up for Emperor with lii$ two *• Sons Macr'tanHs and Quietus^ and poflcft himfelf of a con- Voiu. iiderable Part of the Eaft, together with ^gypt. In the ■^^'^^' • fame time /Ikxandna was tiU'd with P^ actions, and Sedi- tions, and fo much Confuiion, that Biihop Dianyfiu. And now the impious Macrianus being in a INlanner , •E«P^' Emperor of all the Eaft^ became unfatisfy'd with his pre- 1 fent Ufurpations, and refolved to march towards Rome^ ' to make a Conqueft of the l^FeJi alfo. Therefore pufhing ' forwards with 45-000 Men through the leffer Ajia into \ Thrace and Achaia^ he was met by Aureolus.^ Commander ! of the Legions in lllyricum and Dalmatian, who in one , Battel put an End to all his afpiring Attempts, overthrow- ! ing and flaying both him and his Son Macrianus. Upon j which 30000 of the Soldiers went over to Aureolus.^ which ' fo (Irengthen'd his Interefl, that he, like other Generals, ' afTum'd the Title of Emperor, and became fo powerful, j that Gallienus., who was many Ways diverted, thought 1 fit to enter into Articles with him, and make a Peace, ' which continu'd firm mod of his Reign. Soon after the | Death of the Perfecutor Macrianus.^ Gallienus again fent ' out his Edi6is in Favour of the Chrijlians., particularly, this following Refcript, dire£lcd to Dionyfius of Alex an-' liria., Pinndf^ Demetrius, and the reft of the Bifhops : IVei have given Order that the Indulgence of our Bounty Jh all he\ extended throughout the IVorld^ that all Religious Places^ Jhall he freed from Force and Vioknce. Wherefore ye alfo may Chap. VI. G ALLIENUS the 3 j** Rom. Emp. 629 may freely enjoy the 'Benefit of our Refcript^ fo as no Man Jhall dare to vex or molejl you^ and what you now may lawfully enjoy ^ has been long fince granted by Us. And for this End Aurelius Cyrenius our High-Steward^ Jhall keep the Copy of this EdiA which we have now granted. The like Refcript he alfo fent to other Bilhops, giving them the free Liberty of the Coemetria., the Places where they bury'd their Dead, and often afTembled for their Reh'gioug Solemnities, efpecially the Memorials of their Martyrs. This wzs moft grateful News to the Chrijiians, efpecially to Dionyfius at Alexandria., where they had fuffered fo fe- verely. About this time, this indefatigable Bifhop was concerned in a new Controverfie occafion'd by an M,gyp^ tian Bifhop named Nepos., who underftanding the Promi- fes of theGofpel in a grofsSenfe, and maintaining Ghrift's thoufand Years Reign upon the Earth with inflexible Ob- flinacy, composed a Book caird A Confutation of Allego- rijls^ wherein he endeavour'd to prove his Opinion out of the Apocalypfe. He brought over many to his Opinion in that Part of JEgypt call'd Arfinoe., which unhappily proved an Occafion of Schifm and Divilion in thofe Churches. Dionyfius., as a diligent Governor, judg'd it expedient to examine this Do6lrine publickly ; and becaufe they gene- rally look'd upon Nepos''s Book as an unanfwerable Treatife, he confuted it viva voce, and after three whole Days Dif- pute, which was managed with all imaginable Wifdom and Calmnefs, he brought all things to an amicable Ac- commodation. After which, he wrote two Books againft Nepos''s Opinion ; in the firft of which he delivered his own Opinion upon this Queflion ; and in the fecond an- nexed the Reafons, and the Teftimonies drawn from the Revelations. In which laft, ' tho' he look'd upon the A- ' pocalypfe as written by an infpired Author, yet he could ' not be brought to believe that it was written by Joh» ' the Evangelilt, but by another of the fame Name. After the Death of Macrianus, new Diilurbances arofe ^oin** in the Eaji ; Bali/la his General, fet up for Emperor in Syria, and retained his Authority for two or three Years • ^nd Aimilian Governor of ^gypt followM his Example, and feized upon that important Kingdom, to the great Oppreflion of the Chriftians in Alexandria. At the fame time Prince Odenathus in Defence of the Roman Empire, gained extraordinary Advantages againft Sapores King of Perfia, which fo atfedted Gallienus., that in the midft of his Pleafures, he made a folemn Triumph for thofe Vi- Q 3 £lorie»j &c. ^jo Cent. III. Ecckfiafllcal Hiftory. Book III.! (flories, notv/Ithftanding his Father Valerian was dill un- \ acr a iniicrablc Servitude, and in the Hands olf a defeated ' Monarch. Jn the fame Year alfo the Goths and Scythians \ made further Irruptions, ravag'd Greece and the lelTer A- ' fia^ and plundered the famous Temple of Dia-^a in E^he- ; /'/'. T'hey made unheard of Devaltations, and carryM a- ! way many Chrtjiiaijs into their ov/n Countries ; which ■ Providence made ufe of for a further Spreading and Pro-i pagiuion of the Gofpel. In this general Confulion mofl ; rerfons took advantage of their Neighbours Misfortunes,; and many of the weaker Chrift'ta?2s turn'd Kenegado^s^ and ; pillaged their FcUow-ChrifliaKs^ and fome under the Pre- [ tence of finding, llole, or at leafl: detained the Goods of] A. D. others. This occalion'd an Jfmr/ Biihop to write to Bi- < 263. fhop Gregory of Neoc.cfarea^ to beg his Advice what to do! Gallic, in this fad State of Affairs. Gregory by Euphrojwns fent ' J__ back a celebrated canonical Epiille ftilj extant, * wherein i 4» ' he prefcribcs the feveral Stations and Orders of Penitents, I ' particularly cenfaring their inordinate Avarice, andihew- ■ ' ing how unfuitable fuch Adlions were to Chriflians^ and \ 'y^ how abhorrent to God ; but much more inhuman in ■ ' thefe calamitous Times, to fpoil the OpprefTed, and in- i ' rich themfelves by the Ruins of their miferableBrethrcji. ; ' But lince fome pleaded they did not fteal, but only took ^ what they found, he informed them, that if they found a- i ' ny thing, they were obliged to reftore it, tho' belonging ; ' to their Enemies, much more to their Friends, andFel- \ ' low-Sufferers. And if any thought that their being Lo- ' ' fers themfelves was a fufficient Warrant to detain what i ^ they found, he let them know, that this was to juftifie | ^ one Wickednefs with another ; and becaufe the Goths \ ' had been Enemies to them, they would become Goths 1 * and Barbarians to others. But fince many had openly j ' joind with them in affii£l:ing their Brethren, they were ' ^ to be excluded the Communion of the Saints, and not \ *■ to be re-admitted till by a juft Penance according to the 1 ' Crime, they had made a publick and folemnSatisfadlion-.' ' to the Church. 'j P0///0. Still the Confufions in the Empire continued, or rather ^^' encreas'd ; and now Saturmnus a valiant Commander, fet ! up for Emperor in the Borders of Scythia^ and continu'd j under that Title about three Years. Regillianns in Panno- j nia^ after three Years Ufurpation, and great Service per- formed againfl: the Sarmatians^ was flain by the Roxolani or Ruffians. Mmilian at the fame time was clofely be- lieg'd Chap. VI. GALLIEN US the 53d Rom. Emn. (jj j fieg'd ill Alexandria^ jiild after many HardHifps and Mi fu- ries to the. Citizens and Chnjiiaivs^ he Wiis taken Priibner, and afterwards put to Death in Prilbn. But the famous Odenathm was more fuccefsfal, who not only defeated Balijia^ one of the Ufurpers, and repell'd all the Power /\, j)^ of the Pcrjians^ but fo far ellabiiih'd his Authority in all ^(^/ the Eaft^ that GaU'tenus^ with the Senates Confent, give Qailie him what he had before ufurp'd, and made him Au^uflus^ 4' and his Equal in the Empire. His Ufurpation was the j/' moil honourable, and prov'd more advantagious to the Empire than any other ; and he continu'd, vv^ith his Son Herod^ in full Power about four Years; fo that theEaftern Parts of the Empire remained m a tolerable Degree of Peace and Regularity. About the Beginning of this Princess Reign, Paulus Sa-\ E-frh. mofatanus^ v/ho had been near four Years Bilhop of //;?/;- j -^''^^^. och^ began openly to vent feveral Hetrodox Opinions ;]^^' alferting that there was but one Perfon in the Godhead -y^ that our Saviour was a Holy, but a meej- Man, who came jiot^own from Heaven, but was of a pure Earthly Original ; that the //Vi/ (the fame with the Father) didibmetimes re- iide in him, and fometimes depart from him, with fome other dangerous Propofitions of the like nature. Befides all, he was highly obnoxious in his Morals, covetous without Bounds, heaping up vaft Riches, partly by Fraud and Sacri- lege, partly by unjufr Vexations of his Brethren, partly by fo- menting Differences, and taking Bribes to airill the weaker Party. JHewas alfo proud and ambitious beyond mca(in-e, af- fe.6ting Pomp and fecular Power, and to be ftifd a temporal Prince rather than a Biihop, walking through the Streets with a folemn Attendance and Crowds of People after him. In the Church he caus'd an high Throne to be e- re61:ed, and a Place call'd Secret um^ after the manner of Civil Magiftrates ; and being upon the Bench, he v*'as wont to ftamp with his Feet, and frown upon thofe v/ho did not theatrically fhout and applaud his Dif:ourfe, in which he generally refleded upon his moll eminent Pre- deceffors, magnifying himfelf as far above them all. In- Head of thofe Hymns that were ordinarily fung in Ho- nour of our Lord, he taught fome of his Profelyted Fe- males upon the Eajler Solemnity to chaunt out fome to his Commendation ; procuring alfo the Bifhops and Pref- byters in the neighbouring Parts to publifhthe fame Things of him in their Sermons to the People, fome of his Profe- lytes not fearing to affirm, That he was an Angel come Q 4 dowii 6^2 Cent. in. EccleJiaJlicalHiJlory. Book III. down from Heaven. He was moreover vehemently fufped- ed of Incontinency, maintaining in his Houfe fome Women of exquiiite Beauty, contrary to tne Canons of the Church, and to the great Scandal of Religion. And that he might be the lefs difturb'd, he endeavour'd to debauch his Cler- gy, conniving at their Irregularities, and corrupting others with Penlions ; and thofe whom he could not feduce by evil Arts, heaw'd by Power, and his mighty Interefl in the Princes and Potentates of thofe Parts, particularly in Ode- nathu5\ Queen Zenobia ; fo that they were oblig'd vi^ith Sorrow to bewail at home what they durll not declare a- broad. To redilie thefe Mifchiefs in the Church, mod of the chief Bifhops in the Eaji refolv'd to meet in a Sy- nod at Anttoch^ which was the Second in this City. The principal Bifhops that aflifted, were Ftrmll'tan of Cappado- c'ta Prefident, Gregory of Neoccefarea and Athenodorus^ his Brother o^ Pontus^ Helenus of Tarfus^ Nicomus of IcoKt- tim^ H'tmencsus of Jerufalem^ 'Theotecnus of Cafarea^ be- lides a great Number of others, as well Presbyters as Bi- fhops. Diomfius of Alexandria was earneftly invit^ to this Synod ; '' but not being able to travel, he acquainted them with his Judgment of the Matter by way of Letters ; and in his Epiftle to the Church of Anttoch^ to fhew his Refentment, he refus'd to give Paul fo much as the Ci- vility of a Salutation. The Synod being fate, and the Matter being canvalVd, the crafty Heretick faw it was in vain to contend, therefore he diflembled his Sentiments, palliated his Dilbrders, confefs'd and recanted what he w^as not able to conceal, and by a feigned Repentance, fecured his Continuance in that honourable Place which he held in the Church, e''''^' r Shortly after XX^z Synod at Antloch^ the great Dionyfius *-^-'* (]y'cl at Alexandria^ to the great Lofs of that Church, af- ter he had moil wifely and pioufly governM it about fe- venteen Years. He was a Man admirably skill'd in the Opinion, Difcipline and Precepts of the Church ; and his Memory was continued at Alexandria by a Church dedi- cated to him ; but it flourifn'd much more in the incom- parable Virtues of his pad Life, and thofe excellent Writ- ings he left behind him, of which far the greatetl Parr, are . -p. now loir. He was facceeded by Maximus a Presbyter of * Alexandria^ who held this See about eighteen Years, and , ^: was the lyth 'bUYiO'^ of Alexandria^ after the Evangelift St. uallie. j\iark. Not long after the Death of Dionyfius^ another -^ great Man left the World, namely Gregory Thaumaturgus^ *• Billio-p Chap.Vr. G ALLIEN US the 33d Rom. Emp. 633 Bifhop of Neocafarea^ after he had happily and ^orioufly govern'd that City about twenty fix Years. A little before his Death, being fenfible that his Time drew near, he fent about the City and the Neighbourhood to make a flri6l Enquiry whether there were any that were yet Strangers to the ChriJiianY^xth. And being told that there were but feventeen in all, he fighM, and lifting up his Eyes to Heaven, appeal'd to God how much it troubled him that he Jhou'd leave any Part of Mens Salvation incom- fleat^ but withal he acknowledged it an extraordinary Mer- cy^ that when he himfelf had found but feventeen Chriftians at hts firji coming thither^ he jhould leave but feventeen I- dolaters to hts Succefjlr. Having heartily pray'd for the Converfion of Infidels, and their Confummation of Glo- ry, he calmly and peaceably refign'd up his Soul to God ; having firft enioyn'd his Friends not to procure him any diftindl: and peculiar Place of Burial, but that as in his Life time he had carried himfelf as a Pilgrim and Foreigner^ in the World claiming nothing for himfelf^ fo after Death he might enjoy the Portion of a Stranger^ and be caft into the common Lot. After the Death of this Man, and of Fir- milian Bifhop of Cappadocia., the remaining Part of this Century had not fuch great Lights in the Church as be- fore. No Year in the Reign of Gallienus was without Rebel- PoUh, lions and Ufurpations ; and in this Trebellian was fet up "Sozum, by the Ifauri in /ijia Minor. Againft whom Gallienus fent an ^Egyptian Commander call'd Caujifoleus^ who in a bloody Battel defeated and flew him ; but could never re- duce the Ifauri., who by reafon of their inacceflible Coun- try, preferv'd themfelves after this from the Power of the Romans. In thefe Times of general Commotion Africk alfo made choice of a Tribune called Celfus^ a Perfon of no fmall Reputation, and proclaim'd him Emperor ; whofe Authority lafted but feven Days before he was fiain, and a -rv great Indignities were offer'd to his Body. And now a- V^ * gain the Goths made terrible Ravages and Devaftations in r? n-* the lefTer Afia., Galatia^ and Cappadocia., and carried away ^ * infinite Numbers of all forts of People. Among thefe Captives were many Chrijiians, and particularly thofe of the Clergy, who by their unblamable Lives, and their mi- raculous Cure of Difeafcs and poffefTed Perfons, not on- ly polifh'd and refin'd thefe barbarous People, but dail/ brought over many to be baptiz'd and to embrace the C/r/- fiian Religion. Their Succefs was fo great, that many of "the 6 634 Cent. III. EccleJiafLical Hijlory, Book III. the Chnjlia}7s^ after they lud Liberty to return to their own Countries, chofe to continue in thefc flrange Parts, where they could do fo much Service and Honour to the Gofpel. About this Time alfo it is believM th-itt\\Q Fra-aks firil received the Seeds of the Cbrijluui Religion. A. D. Odcnathus had not rcign'd four Years in the Eaji^ be- 267. foi'^ his Kinfman M.eomm treachcroufly flew him, and Gallie. caus'd himfelf to be proclaimed Emperor ; but in no long 2_ time after he m.et with the fame Fate. Zembia Wife to 8, Odenathm^ remain'd a Widow, with three young Sons, Toiiio. Herennia'aus^ T'tmolans and kahallath ; and immediately ^^' took the Government upon her, and began to rule with . a mafcuiine Courage and Condu61:, fhewing fuch Wif- dom and Valour as is incredible ; on the one Side war- ring againil the mighty Ferfians^ and on the other defend- ing her felf againit all the Power of Ko-ine for fix Years together. All Writers take fome notice of the Virtues f-nd Accomplilliments of this Princefs, who was extraordi- narily learned in many Arts and Languages, and had her felf abridged the Alexandrian and all the Oriental Hiitorians ; and tho' fhe w^as a Jew by Education, yet fhe was wil- ling to underfband the Chr'iftian Religion, and accordingly had addrefs'd her felf to Patdus Samofatanus before-men- tion'd, who the better to make it agreeable to her Tade, betray'd his Fidelity, and taught di (honourable Notions of our Saviour. This Lady is celebrated for her uncommon Chaftity, and for being liberal and temperate in all things, very fevere uponoccafion, yet no ways defedivein Good- nefs and Clemency ; brave and magnanimous, as defcend- ing in one Line from the Kings of JEgyp^ and in the o- ther from the Kings of Babylon^ and in all Things a6ting as if fhe had been Emprcfs of the World. G-alltenus^ who fear'd Odenathus^ at tirft defpis'd Zembia ; but fhe foon let him underftand his Error, by her frequent overthrow- ing his Forces, particularly thofe under Heraelianus. fniUe, At the fame Time Gallienus had no lefs Difficulties to *?c. encounter in th^WeJi^ and in Gaul^ where Poftbum^^shav- jng reign'd about feven Years, was flain by Lollianus, who fet up for himfelf. This was fucceeded by the Death of PoJlhumus\ Colleague Vi^orinus^ together with his Sons, as alfo of one Alarius, who all had the Titles of Empe- rors ; whofe Deaths caus'd 'tetricus to proclaim himfelf Emperor, and he became fo fuccefsful as to retain his Au- thority fix Years. At the fame Time the Go^/&j again ravag'ci Mcefia^ and the Heruli did the fame in Afia and Greece So Chap.VI. CLAUDIUS the 34^*^ Rom. Emp. 62 5 So that in all Parts of the Empire were committed infinite Murders, Robberies, Defolations, and all kinds of Bar- barities, Tyrannies and Treafons, accompanyM with an innumerable Company of unheard of IVliferies and Cala- mities. Thefc were lb much occalion'd by the Vices and Cruelties of GallicKtts^ that the chief Governors finding him incapable of defending the State, at length refolv'd upon his Death, which they found an Opportunity to ef- fedin a (hort.time after, when GalUemis with his Forces bcfieg'd MiLiTf^ now poireft by Aureolus^ one of the fore- mention'd Ufurpcrs. This was done in the Month of March^ about the zoth Day, under the Confulfliips of Pa- tcrntis and Marhuamis^ A. D. 268. GaihenHs being Forty nine Years of Age, and having reign*d about ly Years from his iiril: being nani'd Anguflus^ and near eight from the CaptiA'ity of his Father VciUnan. He left all the Eafi fubjcd to Zembia^ Gaul and the JVeft to T'etrlcus^ Illyri- cnm to Aurcoltis^ and Thrace^ Macedonia.^ and Part of AJia Minor to the Gx)ths and Scythuras. J^ y . After the Death of GaUienus^ Flavius Claudius J^' by mianimous Confeut was proclaim'd Emperor, who in ^"^* a fliort time put an End to the Life and Ufurpation of Glau- Aure(jlm\ rcduc'd all his Dominions, and return'd trium- ^^us, phantly to Rome. This Emperor's Lineage and Country 5^,^ma'n" is uncertain; we only know that he was a Perfon of great Emperor, Valour and Bravery, of a ftrong Body and vigorous Mind, PoiUo, eminent for many Virtues, as Temperance, Chaftity, and &c. Jufiice ; only he was fo me what fevere to the Chrijiians., tho' the Truth of that is fomewhat doubted. He made feveral excellent Laws, and in a fliort time muchreform'd the Common-wealth ; fo that in his lliort Reign there was a great Change ot Affairs, and he proved a mighty Sup- port to a declining Empire. His principal Care was to reflore the Empire to its former Strength and Glory, be- ing ready to cxpofe himfelf to all kinds of Danger ; by which he gain'd Inch a Name and Reputation, that the Moderation of Augnftus^ the Valour of Trajan^ and the Piety of Antonimts.^ are faid to have all center'd in Him. He lirll undertook a memorable Expedition againft the Goths.^ who with other barbarous Nations, came down like an Inundation with above 320000 fighting Men. O- A. D. ver thefe he gain'd one of the greateft Vi6lories that the 269. Romans ever knew; in which Battel were llain and taken Claud, 300000 Men, many barbarous Kings, and Perfons of the i_ - highelt »~ 636 Cent. III. Ecclejiaftical Hiftory. Book III. higheft Rank, with 2000 Ships loadeii with Ammunition > fo that many Houfes were fili'd with Habiliments of War, and whole Cities with Prifoners and Slaves. After which he recover'd what thefe People had gain'd in Ma- cedonia^ 'Theffaly^ and other Provinces ; and turning into Germany^ he entirely defeated an Army of 200000 of the Inhabitants of that Country. And now having re-efta- blifh'd the Roman Power, and freed the Empire from all Foreigners, he next determin'd to march againft his two puiilant Rivals, Tetricus in Gaul^ and Zenohia in the Eajl ; but coming in the Spring near S'trmium in Pannonia^ he was there leiz'd with a Peftilential Fever, which in a few Days put an End to all his great Defigns. The Romans honoured him with a Statue of Gold of ten Foot high in the Capitol, an Honour never granted before ; and alfo with another of Silver of 15-00 Pound Weight, placM up- on a Pillar compos'd of the Prows of Ships. He dy'd in the Month of April^ under the Confulfhips of Antiochta' mis and Orpoluis^ A. D. 270. being <^6 Years of Age, and having reign'd two Years and about one Month. In this Reign flourifh'd that noted Antichriftian Philofopher Por- phyrins \ who was a Jevj by Defcent, firfl: turnM to Chri- fl'tamty^ and afterwards apoftatizM to Faganlfmy and then us'd his Wit and Learning againfl the Truth of the Chrl- ft'tan Religion, and the Holy Scriptures, writing a Piece in fifteen Books upon that Subjcdl. A D Upon the Death of Claudius^ the Army unanimoufly ■ chofe Aurelian for Emperor, who was then General of 2.70. ^j^^ Horfe, and a molt valiant Commander; but his Con- AURE- gj-niation at Rome was a little retarded by reafon oi Clau- «^!^?'th ^^^-^'s Brother Q^mnttlks^ who held the Title of Emperor Roman for 1 7 Days, and then refign'd it, together with his Life. Emferor, Aurelian was now about 5*7 Years of Age, having been Vopifc. bred up in War, and pafs'd through many Offices ; in ^'^0-^' which he perform'd many noble Exploits, and many ex- traordinary z\6l:ions in his Perfon ; and particularly, as Vo- p'tfcus from T'heoclius tells us, in the Wars of Sarmatia he kill'd with his own Hand 48 Enemies in one Day, and at feveral times above 95-0 Men. His uncommon Va- lour and expeditious Proceedings, have caus'd fome to compare him with Julua defar ; but he much wanted his Mildnefs and Clemency, being naturally very fevere and cruel ; fo that he is jullly laid to have been more fit to be General of an Army, than Governor of an Empire. His Severity to his Soldiers was very remarkable j and parri- .culari/ Chap.VI. AURELIAN the 35th Rgjn. Emp, 6^t cularly he caus'd one, for committing Adultery with his Hoftefs, to be torn in funder with two Trees forcibly bent downwards ; and he frequently caus'd Criminals to be fcourg'd and executed in his Sight, either to preferve a true Difcipline, or to feed his Eyes with Objedls of Cru- elty. He was haughty as well as fevere, and was thefirft Roman Emperor that wore a Diadem on his Head, and that us'd Robes of Gold and precious Stones ; yet he hap- pily fuppreft corrupt Magiftrates, clcar'd the Empire of Fa6lions, and did many lignal Ads of Juftice. In fhort, he is faid to have been an admirable Phylician to the Pub- lick, but only that he took away too much Blood. The Chriftians enjoy 'd Peace moft of this Reign ; but Enfeh, in the firft Year of it the Church was again difturb'd by Paul Bifhop of Antioch^ whofe Immoralities and falfe Do- 6i:rine now became fo publick and notorious, that the principal Bifhops of the Eaft thought it necefTary to meet in a fecond Synod at Antioch to proceed againft him. This Synod or Council confifted of 72 Bifhops, in which Hy- menaeus of 'Jerusalem was Prefident ; for Ftrmilian of Caf^ padocia^ who was expeded, dy'd by the Way. Here again Paul us'd his utmofl: Artifices to conceal his Vices and Errors ; but this fubtle Man was fully deteded and laid open by Malch'ton a learned Presbyter of Antioch^ who with great Reputation taught Arts and Sciences in this City. The Difpute he had with him was taken down in Writing by publick Notaries ; and the Council, after they had wrote a Letter to Paul containing a ProfelTion of Faith, proceeded to condemn him, and to chufe Domnus^ Son to the former Bifhop Demetrian^ a Perfon every way qualify'd for the high Poft he obtained. Domnus continu'd in the See about five Years, and was the i6th Bifhop of Antioch after the Apofllcs. The Bifhops of the Council foon after wrote a Synodical Letter to Dionyfius Bifliop of Romcj and to all the other Bifhops in the World, to give an Account of all their Proceedings. This was writ- ten not only in the Name of the Bifhops, but alfo of the Presbyters, Deacons, and the Laity ; in which they gave an Account of all the Vices of Paul, declaring ' That ' they condemned him principally for his reviving the Er- ' tor of Artemas, teaching that Jefus Chrift was a meer *• Man, and that he did not cxilt before he was born of ' the Virgin Mary. But notwithftanding the unanimous Confent of the iBifhops, Pa;d refus'd to obey their De- cree ; and relying upon the Power of Zemhia^ whofe Favour 6.-S Cent. III. Ecclejiaflkal Wflory, Book III Favour by Flattery he had obtained, he kept PofTeinoii of his Habitation during the rell of her Reign, which was above two Years. Not long after this Synod, Di- onyfiHs Billiop of Rome dy*d, Decemb. z6th, after he had \ held this See about eleven Years, and was fucceeded by ! Fa:llx I. a Koman^ and Son of Conftant'musy who held this j Dignity above four Years, and was the twenty ^Ix^Vi Bi- \ fliop of Rome atler the Apoftles St. l?eter and St. PauL \ About this time alfo the famous Anthony o^ Mgyp^ calTd ; 'the Great^ at the Age of about 20 Years, retir'd to the ' Dcfarts of thebals^ became the Patron of many who led \ folitary Lives, and was the firft that prefcribM the Rules ' of a Monaflick Life. j A. D. Ii^ the firft Year of this Emperor's Reign, the Marco- \ 271. raanm and other fierce Nations oi Germany came furiouf- ' Aurel. ly down into Italy it felf, making terrible Devaftations in ; j_ all Places ; fo that Rome .was in flrange Confternation, all \ 2.- Perfons in a Confufion, openly taxing the Proceedings ; rut>[i;'c. and JVlanagement of the Emperor himfelf. To remedy j ^.//«. ^^^^^ Mifchiefs, the Romans firft flew to their old Arts 1 of Paga)2ifm^ order'd the Sibyls Books to be infpefted with - extraordinary Solemnity, and purg'd the City with innu- \ merable Sacrifices, Ceremonies and formal ProcelTions, | together with many Magical Operations. Aurelian upon j this Occafion, waiting to the Fathers, fpoke flightingly of : the Chriftians^ and to remedy the impending Mifchiefs, \ declared he zuould fpare for no Cojis^ but was ready to offer \ the noblejl Animals for Sacrifices^ even the Captives he had \ taken ; vainly imagining that the mod National A6ls of i Impiety would remove publick Calamities. After this he \ haltned to meet the Barbarians^ and after great Difficul- \ ties, he gain'd three Vidories over them, and happily fi- ' niHi'd the War, from whence he returned to Rome^ high- j ly incensed at fuch as prefum'd to tax his Proceedings ; a- ; mong whom fome had form'd Confpiracies againft him. \ Having made feveral fevere Examples of thefe, he refolv- , ed next to undertake an Expedition againft the great Ze- 1 mbia^ accounting it a Difhonour to the Roman Empire, j ithat a Woman fiaould thus infult over it. And paffmg i A D. '^^^'•^ ^ powerful Army through Sclavonia and thrace^ af- \ ^'^^ * ter fome Confli£ls, he enter'd the lefler Afia^ and eafily ' Aurel* -il^^^PPrefs'd the Rebellions in Bithynia. Tyana^ a City ia ! 2- * Cappadocia, was the firft Place that made any Oppofition, i ^7 which fo inrag'd this warm Emperor, that he vow'd //ther military Ornaments and Privileges. He w^as fo much ifleem'd by Aurelian^ that he defign'd him for his Succcf- br ; and his courteous Demeanour and excellent Condu6l 11 all his Offices made him generally admir'd and belov'd. lo that his Arrival at the Empire prov'd the Joy and Sa- isfadion of the whole State ; and MarMus Statianus con- ;ratulated the Senate in having an Emperor fo fublimcly :xcellent, as to furpafs T'raja??^ Adrian^ the Antonines^ and he belt of his Predeceflbrs. The. Chriflians enjoy'd a profound Peace under all this ^'f'^*'' Icign, and in the Beginning of it flouriHi'd AnatoUm Bi- ^f'K^l hop or Laodicea ni oyn^, but born ui Alexandria^ a Man £cc. )f profound Learning, admirable skill'd in human Arts Lnd Sciences. He had formerly fhew'd his great Addrefs ind Politicks in the Siege of Alexandria in JEmdian\ Time ; which by his prudent Councils he faved from an ntire Deftrudion that threatned it. Being made Bifhop )i Laodicea^ he wrote feveral Treatifes, as ten Books of Irithmetick, a remarkable Piece conceniin^E^t-r, leaving K i ' " ' ' behind 2. ^44 Cent. III. Ecclcjiajlical Hijlory. Book III. behind fcvc-ral Monuments of his Learning and Accuracy, particularly in relation to the Holy Scriptures, of whkh A. D. "^^^ ^^^^'^' ^^^^ WiiXii Remains. Tho' the Church enjoy'd n-r'j^ * Peace without, it was now extreamly diftarb'd within by Probi t-l^e Appearance and Rife of new and abominable Hcreticks 1 call'd yl/^^'/V/^e'tv, whofe Original from Manes in fhort was in this manner. One "Terebtnthus^ Difciplc to Sctthianus a Magician, broaching many dangerous Errors, was ob- liged to fly from Palcjiine into Per/'ia, where retiring to a Widow's Houfe, he was murder'd. This Widow being Heirefs to the Mony and Books of Terchhjthm^ bought a Slave nam'd Curb'tcus^ whom fhe afterwards adopted, and caus'd him to learn thefe Books, and to be intruded in all the Sciences of the Perjia?2s. After her Death, this Man to blot out the Memory of his former Condition, chang'd his Name to that oi Manes -^ and being fwelTd' with a mj'ghty Opinion of himfelf, he pretended himfelfl an Apoftle oi Chrtji^ and that he was the very Comforter promis'd by our Saviour. He mainta'in'd that there were two Principles; the one of Good, from whence proceeded' the good Soul of Man, and the other Evil, from whence- proceeded the evil Soul of Man; together with the Body, and all Corporal Creatures. He allow'd his Difciples to i wallow in all Impurities, and forbad their giving Alms to \ any but their own Se61:. He gave out that the Souls of his Followers went through the Elements to the Moon, and afterwards to the Sun to be purify'd, from whence they went to God, to whom they did rejoin : And the Souls of other Men, he faid, went to Hell, to be fent in- to other Bodies. He taught that Chrtji had his Relidence in the Sun, the Holy Ghoft in the Air, Wifdom in the Moon, and the Father in the Abyfs of Light. He deny'd the Refurredion, condcmn'd Marriage, and taught Pytha- j^oras''s Metempfychoiis, That Cbrift had no real Body, That 'he v/as neither dead nor rifen, and that he was the very Serpent that tempted Eve. He forbad the Ufe of Milk, •Cheefe, Eggs and Wine, as Creatures proceeding from the evil Principle. He usM a different Form of Baptifm from that of the Church, tanght that Magiflrates were not to be obey'd, and condemn'd the moll: lawful Wars. It v/ere almoft impoffiblctorehearfcail the abfurd and impious' Tenets of this Plerefiarch ; infomuch that Pope L^a, faid that the Devil reign'd in all other Hcrclies, but had rais'd , ,hi.s very Throne in that of the Mamchees^ who had em- braced all the Errors and Impieties that the Spirit of Mani was Chap. VI. P R O B U S the -if^ Rom. Emp. 645 w.as capable of; for whatsoever Profanation was in 'Paga- nifm^ carnal Blindnefs in Judalfm^ unlawful Curiofity \i\ Magick, or Sacrilege in other Herelics, did all center jn this. This Man promiling the King of Pcrjia to cure his Son, the Father fent away all the Phylicians that might have cur'd him, and the Patient foon after dy'd ; whereupon ^Manes^N'^'i, impriibn'd, from whence he efcap'd; bur being again apprehended, he was flead alive, and his Garcafs thrown to the wildBealls. Notwithftandingthe extravagant Notions, and cruel Death of this Hercjiarch^ his Follow- ers daily encreas'd, fpread in many Nations, and beeam.c very numerous and mifchievous in the fourth Century. The Mamchecs v/ere divided into Hearers and the Eie:t : Of the Elc6i: twelve were call'd Maflers^ in Imitation of the twelve Apolllcs; befidcs them, there was a Thirteenth, who was a kind of a Pope amongll them. While thefe Mifchiefs hapned in the Church, the Em- v-f.(c, pcror Prcbiis was very careful in preferving the Peace of ^'• the State; and with a powerful Army marchM into Gai:!^ now over-run by the Germans^ who had pollefsM them- felves of the principal Parts of that Country. Here many fharp Battels were fought, one of which continu'd two Days, being only interrupted by the Night ; and was con- tinued with that Obitinacy, that the Vidbory often enclin'd to cither Side; 'till Probus by his excellent Management prevailed, and gave them a total Overthrow. In this and other Battels, he kill'd no lefs than 400000 Men, reduc'd nine Kings, recovered 66 of their principal Cities, and made many Devallations in their Country; for which Ad- vantages the Komam made great Feaitings and Rejoicings, and many Iblemn Sacrifice's and Tnankfgivings to their Gods. Probus^ after thefe Succefles, march'd with his A. 1). vidorious Army into I'llyricum and Dalmatia^ which m a 27S. great meafure were over-run by the Sarmatiaiis \ and this Prooi War was no lefs difficult than the lalt, by realbn of the 1^ Multitudes and Fiercencls of thole Nations. After feve- 3^ ral Battels, in which he fnewM himlclf a mod experienced and valiant Commander, he entirely fubdu'd them, cleared the Roman Provinces, and Hew and took molt of them. From thence he marched with great Expedition into. nrace^ and further North, to r<:venge all the former In- fults of the Gjths\ but tiie near Approach of this warlike Archciafi^ 6.^6 Cent. III. EccUfiaflical Hijlory. Book III. ArcheliiHs Bifhop of Chafchara in Mefopotamia^ an eminent Prelate, who undcrftanding that the Hcretick Manes had wrote a Letter to pervert a Perfon of Quality, and appre- hending his Dodlrine would be very infedious in his Dio- cefs, oblig'd him to a Conference, in which he confound- ed him to that degree, that he forced him to quit the Country.. A. D. The Emperor Probus having given Peace to Europe^ paf- ^79- fed over into /i/ia to make War with the Perfia'/!s and Par- Prooi thia-/is ; and in his March fubdued Ifauria in the lefTer /^zV, J. and divided the greateft Part of it among liis old Soldiers. '^' Then marching into Syria and the Eajl^ he defeated a cer- VoHfc. j-j^jj^ People call'd Blcmii^ who had podefs'd themfelves of ''■'' * part of Arabia and Palefime. Upon the Emperor's ap- proaching the Confines o't Perfia^f^araranes the King, tho' one of the mod: powerful Monarchs in the World, im- mediately fubmitted to reftore what he had taken from the Empire, and to fuch other Articles as Probus required. And now having no Enemies in the Empire, this victori- ous Emperor return'd into Europe^ and entred Rome in a moil: folem.n Triumph, which fome by Miftake fay was the lafl: in that Kind known in Rome. All Mens Mouths w^ere filled with the Praifes of this Conqueror, and his Triumph was mod noble and magnificent, being attended with Soldiers of all Nations, as well as Captives, and many renown'd Commanders, particularly Dwcletta'a.^ Ca- rzis^ Confiant'ius and Maxtmian.^ who being formed by the Difcipline and Inllrudions of Probus^ became afterwards Emperors themfelves. The following Day was folemniz'd with Feafts, Games, and SpeClacles ; in which was greater Variety of Huntings, and Encountring wild Beafts, than was ever known in Rome. For which purpofe a Moun- tain and a large Grove of Trees were fet in the Circus Maximus\ which Place being now like a Foreft, a thou- fand Oftriches were hunted in it, a thoufand Stags, a thou- fand Mountain Goats, a thoufand wild Boars, a thoufand Fallow Deer, and other Kinds of Beafts ; which the Peo- ple were permitted to kill and take at their Plcafure. The next Day in the fame Place were let loofe an hundred vaft Lions, which fiU'd the Air with their Roarings, an hundred Lioneffes, an hundred Lybian^ and an hundred Syrian Leopards, with 300 Bears. AH which was fucceed- ed by great Numbers of Gladiafors, and other warlike Pa- gan Exercifes, to which the Romans were ftill extreamly addided. Not long after this Triumph, Probus and the Empire Chap. VI. PR OB U S the 3 7^^ Rom. Emp, 6^7 Empire were dillurbed by domedick Pretenders and Omr- A, D. •'Cr;>; and firfi: hjSaturn'mus m JEgyj^t^ who was al moll 280. . ■rcix to take upon him the Title of Emperor; and next I robi by Bomjui and JrrocHlus in. Gaul^ the one an iiuaticible 4 Vailal to Bacch;is, as tlie other was to l^cnas, Prohns si march'd into ^^y/^/,and with lb me Difficulty fuhduM Sa- turmmts^ putting an End both to his Empire and Life at the iiiine time. Then returning with extraordinary Expe- dition into Gaul^ he reduc'd Bonrjus and Proculus to that Extremity, that the former in Delpair hang'd himfelf, and the latter flying into the Country, was delivered up by the Germans^ which compleated the Emperor's Vi6lories. He return'd to Roms with great Appiaufes and Congratulati- ons; and now the Soldiers and all the Legions remained fo quiet, and in fuch exad Obedience, tiiat it grew to a common Saying, That the Mice dare not gnaw for fear of Probus. In the Time of this Peace and in the following Year, 'Ttmxzts Billiop of Ant-och dy'd, after he had held A D that Dignity about lix Years; and was lucceeded by C)'- 281 r/7///.f, wiio continu'd in this See about eighteen Years, and Prooj was the eighteenth Bifhop of Adttoch after tiie Apollles. ,- In whofe Time flourilh'd Dorothens^ a worthy Presbyter T. of Ant'toch^ a Perfon excellently skiil'd in human Learn- ing, as well as the Holy Scriptures and the //^ir^u; Tongue, who liv'd in great Reputation 'till he v/as an hundred and five Years of Age. The Emperor Prohus having again eflabliOi'd Peace in Vapifc, the Empire, proceeded to the making of leveral new Laws and Regulations ; and all Men liv'd in fuch Quiet and Security, that Probus declar'd, T'hat he would fpecdily take fuch a Courfe^ as that there jhould be no need of Soldiers \ a dangerous Sentence in this corrupt Age, which caufed the Soldiers to fufpe61: their Prince, and wifli for his Re- moval. Belides, in thefe peaceable Times the Emperor would not permit them to be idle and free from Labours, but daily imploy'd them in planting Vineyards, and in many publick Works and Buildings, declaring, T'hat Sol- diers ought not to eat their Country* s Bread for nothing. Having taken all necefTary Care concerning a peaceable Government, according to the Greatnefs of his Mind, he refolved to march again into the JE^y?, defigning to deftroy the Kingdom of the Perfians^ the only remaining Enemy he had. Coming to Sirmium in Pannonia^ the Place of his Nativity, out of Love to the City, he fet feveral Thou- fands of his Soldiers upon draining a Fen, and making 4 R 4 vaO 6j^8 Cent. III. Eccle/iafiicalHiftory, Book III. vaft Fofs to receive the Waters, that the Lands might be- come ufeful to the Inhabitants. The Fatigue of this Work, and his great Reflraint of the Soldiers Licentioufnefs, fo enrag'd them, that they confpir'd his Death ; and taking a convenient Opportunity as he marchM towards Gre^ce^ they fet violently upon him, and flew him. They had not- withftanding fo great a Veneration for him after his Death, that they ereded him a noble Monument, with this Epi- taph, Here lies the Emperor Probus for his Goodncj's jujily called PROBUS ; of all the barbarous Nattotts and Ufur- fers a Conqueror. His Death hapncd in Augufh or Novem- ber^ A. D. 282. under his own Confulihip with l/tSlorinm^ he being ";/j- proceeded wirh fuch V^igour andSuc- cefs, that he immediately took all Mefopotamia^ from whence lie march'd up to the Walls of Ctefiphon., overthrew the Pcrfia-as in Battel, and purfuing his Vidory, took both CtefiphoTt and Seleucia\ for which he obtained the Surname of Perficus. His Pride carry'd him much further, fo as to allow of the Title of Lord and God; but he liv'd not long after this Impiety ; for being laid lick in his Tent, there hapned a terrible Storm of Thunder and Lightning, which flew both him and many others about him. This was the only Emperor that met with fuch a Death, which was fo remarkable, that the Ror/inns afcrib'd it to the Divine Ven- geauce, for endeavouring to carry his Victories beyond Ctefipbon; becaufe an ancient Oracle had forbad to the Komam to extend their Empire beyond the Capital City of the Fcrfiam, His Death hapned in the latter End of the MontH ' December'^ J 5 ^ Cent. III. Ecclefiajiical Hiftorf, Book III . Deccmhcr^xVi his own Confuldilp with that of his Son Ca- Yirais^ having reign'd one Year and Ibmewhat above a Month from the Death of Probsts. In the fame Month dy'd Lut\ch:anus Bifhop of y^o;^^, fome fay by Martyrdom, after he had held that Dignity almofi: nine Years; and w^as fucceeded by Cuius a Dalmatian^'Sindi a Kinfman of the great D'tocUtiaa^ who continu'd in this See about twelve Years, and was the 27th Billiop of Rome after the Apoftles St. P;«^ were pleating tofome; but the latter was look'd upon as Emperor by the Army in the Raft. This young Prince by his Sorrow and Tears for the Lofs of his Father, had in a few Months brought fuch a Diilcmper upon his Eyes, that he could not be- hold the Light, fo that he was ulually carried in a clofe Litter, where he could not be feen. This fecret Way of travelling prov'd a Temptation, and afforded an Oppor- tunity to his Father-in-Lav/ Aper., to alfalTmate him pri- vately in. his Litter, which he effeded by fome mercenary Villain; and to conceal the Fa6i: 'till he had fetled his own Interefl in the Army, he order'd the Litter to be carry'd as formerly, with the dead Body in it, making Re- port ^that the Emperor could not endure the Sight of any Man* But the Smell of the Body difcovcr'd the Treafon foonef than Aper expeded ; and the Soldiers proceeding to a new Eleaion, fixed upon Diocletian^ one of the great- eft Commanders of the Age. Diocletian feeing himfelf thus advanced, cloathed himfelf with the Imperial Robe, and fate upon the Tribunal Seat, where being falutedy^^- guftus^ he commanded the Murderers of Numerian to be brought before him, and to be condemned to Death. Up- on the Sight of Aper^ whofe Name fignify'd a wild Boar, Diocletian defcended from his Throne, and lifting up his Hand, cry'd out to him. Be proudy Aper, that you fall by fo great a Hand as mine. Upon which Words he flew him with his own Hand and Sword, crying, Now I have killed the fatal Boar, and fulfilled the Predidions of my fu- ture Empire. And thus began the Reign of Diocletian^ and that call'd the Diocletian Mr a., upon the 17th Day of September., A. D. 284. in the Year of the Confulfliips of the two Emperors Carinus and Numerian. CHAP. Chap.VII. DIOCLETIAN the aoth ^^om, Emp. 6%r C H A P. vii. From the Beginning of the Diocletian ^fdj, to the Begmning of the Tenth and loft gene^ ral Terfeciition of the Church.^ nfuallj called the Diocletian Terfecution, Cmtainingthe Sface of almojl ip Tears, r/j^ DIOCLETIAN .ERA. ITT^ROM the Death of Numerlan^ Diocletian was ^^ J) ' 1^ look'd upon as real Emperor of Rome^ notwirh- 2S4. -^ (landing Carinm was ftill alive, and in Pofleffion J) j q- of a confiderable Part of the Empire. This Prince was cle- born in Dalmatia^ of obfcure Parentage, being generally tiak reported to be the Son of a publick Notary; but byfome, the g^tji the Son of a freed Man to AnulUanus a Senator. The R^man Name both of his Mother and the Town of his Birth, ^'"^""""■* was Diocka^ from whence he was called Diodes^ 'till he ^'JfJiJ^' was made Emperor ; and then converting a Greek N.ime ^l^'^ into a Roman Form, he nam'd himfelf Oiocletianus. He was now about thirty nine or forty Years of Age, and had pafled through many confiderable Offices, before he arri- ved at this high Poll, which in general he difcharged with great Honour and Reputation. He was remarkable for his active Diligence and military Difciplinc, his Sagacity and Ingenuity, his profound Cunning and Policy, and like- wife his contumacious Haughtinefs and Severity. Laiian- tius charges him both with Cowardice and Avarice, as well as Pride and Oilentation, which caufed many cruel and tyrannical Pradices, and great Mifchiefs in the State. Having taken upon him the Surname of Jovius^ he gave the Title of Cafar to a bold Commander named Maximi- anus^ upon the 20th Day of November^ which Day Difj- detian afterwards obferv'd in the Celebration of his De- cennalia. At the fame time he abolifli'd the JEra of the Battel ^.t.Aiiium^ which the Romans had obferv'd 315' Years, and eftablifli'd a new JEra^ or Date of his own, caird the Diocletian JEra^ from whence the Account of following Times Ihould begin. The Chrijliam alfo ob- ferv'd 6j;2 Cent, w Ecckjiaftical Hifl,ory\ Book III. ferv'd it for above 240 Vears, 'till the Reigii of the Em- peror Jufttman^ it being up^,-^ their Account likewife callM ne Mra of the Martyrs^ by reafon of this Empe- ror's great Severity towards them. Not that D'wclcttan^ or any of his Colleagues, fhew'd any Severity to them in the former Part of this Reign, as many have thought ; for on the contrary, during far the greatell Part of the Reign, the Chriftiahs w^ere not only unmoleiicd, but, as Eufehi- tis affures us, were entrufted" by the Emperors with the Governments of Provinces, were freed from the Fears of Sacrificing, were converfant in the Imperial Palaces, were made Part of the Family, and were allow'd freely and openly to make Profellion of their Faith. The Emperors alfo (hew'd an high Efteem for them, and they feem'd more acceptable to them than the reft of their Attendants ; particularly Dorotheus and Gorgomm^ Perfons whofe real Worth and excellent Behaviour, rendered them dear to all Men. The Prelates and Bifliops were greatly in Favour, and the Chriftian Congregations daily cncreas'd to an ex- traordinary Degree; fo that the Church had then all the outward Marks of Peace" and Profperity. A. D. Carlnus^ thefurviving Son of Carus^ ftill kept PofTeflion 2§^. of his Government in Gaul^ and the IVefl^ giving himfelf Diocl. "P to the moit abominable Kinds of Luxury and Debau- i_ chery, and removing all good and virtuous Men from his 2. Prefence andConvcrfation. But at length the Eledion of jr-'//o. Diocletian a litde roux'd him from his Vices and Extrava- ^m:^. gancies; and being naturally bold and rafli, hcfjon marched' his Army againft him, hoping to ruin him in one Battel. Upon Notice of which, Diocletian with great Expedition palf with his Forces from the Kaft towards Gaml^ and |>oth Armies meeting in Mrfia^ there began a bloody War between thefe two Rivals for the Univerfe. But this lafted not long, for in a few Days Carinus was firll worfted by Diocletian^ and then overthrown in a general Battel ; and foon after was flain by a Tribune or Colonel of his own Army, whofe Wife he had formerly abufed. By this Vi- ^ory Diocletian; remained fole Lord of the Roman Empire. But he had not been fo long, before he receiv'd IlitelU- gence that an infinite Number of Labourers and Peafants in Gaiil^ called Bagandce^ had made a dangerous In iurre6lt^ on in that Country, being headed by two Commanders, yiamed Ayna?idm and JEUanus, Diochtiar/ accounting this War inglorious to himfelf, feat Maximiow^ whom he had made C^/^r;agai nil thefe Rebels; who marching m^o Ganl^ Chap.VII. DIOCLETIAN the 39^^ Rom. Emp, 653 after fomc great Hazards and Difficulties, flew great Num- bers, and difpers'd the reft; fo that in all Places there was Peace and Tranquility. This Expedition feems the moft probable Time wherein to place that celebrated Story of the T'hebxan Legion, which is faid to have confifted of 6666 Chriflian Soldiers, under a brave Commander named Mauritius^ and which for refuling to facrifice, was firft decimated by Maxim'tm^ and afterwards put all to the Sword. Some place this Story eleven or twelve, and others twenty Years after ; and fome fay it was done at Agaunum^ and others at Ododurus. The Story at large is attended with fo many great Difficulties as to Hiftory, Chronology audi Geography, and fupported with fuch weak Authorities, that Veveral learned' Men have not only doubted of the Particulars, but have pronounc'd the whole a Fable. But we (liall leave that to the Determination of more nice En- quirers. In the fecond Year of Dioclettan'% R^ign, a principal ^ j)^ Commander in Britai??^ nam'd Caraafus^ revolted, pro- 286. claimed himfelf Emperor, poffefsM himlelf of that Ifland, j^Jq^j^ and continu'd his Authority for feven Years fucceffively. ^ This and other Troubles arih'ng, Diocletian.^ to eafe him- ~. felf of the whole Burthen, took Maxim'ian for his Equal Emrof, and Companion in the Empire, gave him the Title of LaQans» Augiiftus^ and the T'ribnmtian Power ; all which was done near Nicomedia m Biihyma., in the Calends of April. This Maximian was a Perfon addi6led to all kinds of Viciouf- nefs and Rapines ; and as Ladaniius obferves, had more Courage, as well as more Avarice, than D:ocleuan\ yet his Courage confifted rather in a daring to commit enor- mous Crimes, than in a true Noblenels of Spirit. Thefe two were notwithftanding wonderfully cemented in their Friendfhips, Inclinations and Deligns ; and Maximian not only behaved himfelf as a faithful Companion, but alfo as an obedient Son to Diocletian ; fo that they governM the Empire for many Years in Love and Unity, and obtain'd great Succefles over their Enemies. Maximian was to prcferve the Weftern Parts of the Empire, and had his principal Rcfidence at Rome\ where he became a Tyrant to the Senators, and the richeft of the Nobility. Diocle- tian retain'd the Eaftcrn and Northern Parts to himfelf, and moft ufually reiided in Nicomedia.^ where he took up- on him to ered extravagant Fabricks, oppreft many Pro- vinces with his vaft Expences, and endeavour'd to make Nicomedia equal to Roms it felf At this City he win- Ui'd this Year ; and in the foilo^ving Spring he march'd againil ^f4 Cent. III. Ecclejiafiical Htjfory. Book III. agalnfl Narfes King of Perfia^ difpcrfcd his Forces, and obiig'd that Monarch to come to an honourable Peace A. D. with the Romans, In the fame Year his Companion 287. IStix'imtan fuccefsfully warred againll: the Germans^ and Piocl. other Northern Nations, wliich came down with great 3 Fui-y upon the Empire. 4. Tho' the Emperors were Favourers of the Chriflians^ Epi^han, J^^ ^^^^ Mciiuchces gave them fo jufl: a Prejudice, that a- iLc, bout this time they ilTued out an Edicl: againfl them, di- re6led to Julian Proconful of Africk ; in which it was or- dained, Th?x the Ringleaders of a new Dodrine brought from Perfia^ v/ho had committed many enormous Impie- ties, fhould be burnt alive, together with their Writings ; ^nd that their Followers fliould be beheaded, and their Eftatcs confifcated; but that Perfons in high Places Ihould only lofe their Eftates, and be condemn'd to the Mines. The Reafon of this Refcript was drawn up in fuch Terms, as that it might eafily have reach'd the Chrlflians in general ; but we do not find that they were Sufferers by it ; and the fame Laws againfl: thefe Hereticks, were afterwards revived by Chriftian Emperors. About the fame Time there arofe an Mgyptian Hcreliarch, named Hicrax^ faid to be an Altrologer and a Magician, who denied the Re- furredion of the Body, and taught that all married Peo- ple, and all Children dying before Years of Difcretion, were excluded the Kingdom of Heaven, and that Paradife was no fenfible Thing or Place, but only the Joy and Sa- tisfadion of the Soul. He alfo taught that Melchifedech was the Holy Gholl, and diftinguifli'd the Subflance of the Son from that of the Father, comparing it to a Lamp with two Cottons, as if there had been a middle Nature from which both fliould borrow their Light. His Fol- lowers were caU'd Hieracitcc^ or Abftments^ becaufe they abflain'd from the Ufe of Wine, and fome particular Meats. This Hierax compofed a i reatife of the fix Days Creation, all fiU'd with Fables ; neverthclefs his affeded Piety and Aufl:erities enduc'd many to embrace his No- tions. This Year being the twentieth from the tenth Century of the Building of liome^ Maxrmian celebrated fome fo- lemn Games in that City ; at which time Mamertine the Orator made a remarkable Panegyrick upon him and his great A6lions. In the following Year 289, Diocletian cele^ brated his QuinqucunaUa^ or firltfive Years of his Govern- ment at Nicomedia, And now Caraufus flourifli'd JTiore Chap.VII. DIOCLETIAN the 59th Rom, Emp. 655 %d more in Brita'm^ fo that we find him in the next Year A. D. reigning in Peace, and obtaining the Title of Augufttts^ 290. norwithltanding all the Endeavours of Maxtm'tan to the Diod. contrary. Muximian^s Part of the Empire was not only ^ abridg'd by Caraufus^ but alfo Dtocletiayi\ by Achllleus^ a "7« valiant Commander in Mgypt^ who feiz'd on that ancient Kingdom, proclaim'd himieif Emperor, and continu'd as iuch about hx Years. In Africk all the Legions were drawn together in a mutinous Manner, and joining with many Robbers and Inhabitants of thofe Parts, ft^iz'd upon all the publick Rents and Tributes ; and thefe ifrom their Continuance were called Qumgentiam^ or Qu'inquagenarii, Narfes King of Perfia taking x^d vantage from thefe trou- blefome and unfetied Times, began a dangerous War up- on the Empire, and invaded Mejhpotamia. In thefe Tirlies there flourifli'd two noted Chnjlian Writers, V'ldorinus . aad Methodius^ both Billiops, and afterward Martyrs. The * former was Bifnop ofPaffazv mPanmnia^ who, as St.5'^- rom informs us, wrote a Treatife aga'mft all Herefies^ and many Commentaries upon feveral Parts of the Holy Scrip- tures. The latter was Bifhop of Olympus or Patara in. Lycia^ and afterwards of T^yre in Palefttne^ who wrote a large Work againft Porphyry the Philofopher, an excellent Treatife about t\\^ Re furred ion againft Origen^ another a- bout the Pythomffa againft the fame Man, a Book enti- tul'd "The Banquet of Firgins^ one about Free IVtll^ Com- mentaries upon the Scriptures, and other Pieces extant in St. Jerom'% Time; of which we have ftill fome fmall Remains. \\^ The Emperors Diocletian and Maximian^ now A. D. finding the Empire in a declining Condition by means of 291, fo many Rebellions and Ufurpations at home as well as Diocl, Enemies abroad, refolved to ftrengthen their Intereft and 2. Authority by the Affiftance of others. Therefore meeting s. at the City of Mtlan^ after a folemn Conlultation, they ^*^^l' agreed. That each of them ftiould nominate a Perfon to scc be Ccefar^ and their SucccfTor, and fuch a Perfon as fliould be able to defend the Empire, both againft foreign Inva^ ders, and domeftick Pretenders. This was finally deter- min'd at Nicomedia^ in the following Year and Calends A. D. o^ March '^ where Diocletian made choice of a fierce and 291. couragious Soldier nam'd Galerius Maximian^ and fur- Diocl. nam'd Armentarius^ as being born of a Cowherd in Da- 8_ cia\ who, tho' he had fhew'd great Marks of Valour, f* was 6f6 Cent. III. Ecclejiajtical Hijiory, Book III. was of a chiirlilli and barbarous Difpofition, agreeable to his Parentage. Max'imian chofc Conftantms^ iurnamed Chlorm\, a Perfon of noble Birth, vcrtuous and brave, Son of Claudta^ Ncice to the reiowned Emperor Claudms II. who had gained fuch great Advantages over the Goths ; and he, tho' he was nominated by tne junior Emperor, was made feuior Cccfar^ as Mon. Pagt jullly oblerves from Euj'chius^ L. 8. C. f. l^hcfe had alio the Trtbitniti' an Power granted them ; and the better to be afTurcd of their Fidelity, tne two Emperors caus'd them to put a- way their Wives, and to marry others. Upon which G<:?- lerius married l/aUrta the Daughter of Diocletian^ and Conftantius divorced Helena^ by whom he had the famous Conflantine^ and married Theodora^ Daughter-in-law to Maximian. After this Settlement, the Wars and the Pro- vinces were divided among thele four, the two Emperors and the two drfars. All Illyricum^ ^fia^ and the Eajl^ were allotted to Diocletian and Galerius ; the former be- ing to reduce Achilleus in Aigypt^ and the latter to march againft Narfes King of Perfia^ and alfo againft the Sarma^ Hans. Maximian had Italy and Africk., and was to fup- prefs the Quingentiani.^ and Conftantius had Gaul and Bri- tain^ which he was to defend againfl: the Northern Nati- ons, as well as Caraufius. Thefe Commanders did fo increafe the Number of the Troops, that, as LaBantius afiures us, every one of the four had a greater Army, than the former Emperors had who alone governed the whole Empire. By which Means they turned the bed Provinces into Defarts, bccam.e unmeafurablyburthenfome to the Empire, and no lefs infupportable than the dome- ftick Rebellions, and the foreign Invafions. A. D. Maximian was very fuccefsful againil the Quingentiani 293- in Africh^ and in a fliort time broke their united Power, Diocl. and couftTained them to fue for Peace. After which he f_ marched into divers Parts of ^/hVX-, defcroying the Ufurp- *o- ers and Robbers in thofe Countries ; for which he was £«rr«f. fixrnam'd Hercultus^ bccaufe Hercules was principally em- ployed in thoi> Kind of Exploits. But Diocletian proceed- ed iurther, and called himfelf Jcz'ius from Jupiter ; and relied not hae ; but having this Year folemnized his De- cennahaixt Nicomedta^ Vikc Caligula ^nd Domiiian^ he impi- ouHy ailiimcd the Title of LO li />, ehalleng'd Divine Honours, and fufler'd his Subjeds to adore him as a God. And whereas it was cuftomary among former Emperors, to allpw Pcdtionerj to kiis their Hands, and fomet-mes their Vifior. Chap.VlI. DIOCLETI A N the 35)''' Rom. Ernp. 6^7 their Cheeks ; Diocletian on the contrary, by a pubh'ck E- did commanded, That all Men without Diftin6lion, fhould proftrate Themfelves upon the Ground and kifs his Foot; and for the greater Magnificence, he caul'ed his Shoes to be fet with Pearl and precious Stones of the greateft Value. In this Year Caraufms^ after feven Years Reign, was flain in Britain by his Companion Aiecius^ who notwithftanding the Power of Conftantius^ held that Ifland three Years lon- ger, before he could be reduced. Not long afFbr Caran^ Jius^ Death, in the following Year Maximian alfo folem- « j^ nized his Decennalia at Kome^ w^here he was a great Op- ^ * prefTer of the Nobility. At the fame time Gaterius was tvq^i' employed againfl the Sarmatians and other Northern Na- , ^ tions, barbarous as his own Lineage, over whom he ob- 77; - tain'd many Advantages this Year. About this Time, and the following Year, there flou- A. D. riflied four Ecclefiafticks of conliderable Note, Phileas^ 295". Hefychim^ Pampbilus^ and Lucian ; the two former Bi- Diocl. fhops, the two latter Presbyters, and all afterwards Mar- ^}^ tyrs. Phi leas was BitTiop o^Thmuis in JEgypt^ defcended ^^' of a rich and powerful Family, and celebrated both for ^■"'"*''« his Eloquence and Philofophy. Hefychius was Biiliop of ^*^' another City in JEgypt^ and was chiefly remarkable for be* ing the Corredor and Publiflier of that Edition of the Sep- tuagint^ called the Alexandrian Septuagint. PamphiluswiX'i a Presbyter of Ccefarea in Pale (line ^ an intimate Friend to the famous Etifebim^ who took extraordinary Pains to coi- led!: the Books of ancient Writers, and particularly thofe of Origen^ for whom he had a more than ordinary Efteem. Lucian was a Presbyter of Antioch^ a Man of great Elo- quence, who apply'd himfelf to the Study of the Holy Scriptures, and publiih'd a new Edition of the Verlion of ' the Septuagint^ which was afterwards called Luciano Edi- tion. He is thought by fome to have been the firft Author of the Arian Opinion, fince moil of the Heads of that Party were his Difciples. In the fol- A. D. lowing Year, and 22d day of April^ died Calm Bifhop of 296. Royne^ fome fay by Martyrdom, after he had held that Diocl. Dignity twelve Years and four Months ; and was fuc- JjL ^ ceeded by Marcellinus a Koman^ Son of Projecius^ who *3' after a Vacancy of two Months and eight Days, entred upon the See, and continued about eight Years, being the 28th Bilhop of liQme after the Apoftles St, Pstsr and St. Paul. Vol. II. S And 6 5 8 Cent. III. Ecclefiaftical Hiftory. Book III. £«.'«;. And now the Emperors and the C.cfars became more £S-'b/ ^^^^ more fucccfsfal againil: their Oppolers and Enemies. In Coy;Jhrfit'iHs\ Part of the Empire, AleSins in Brttara was overthrown and flain, and that Ifland wholly reduc'd to the Roman Power, alter ten Years Revolt. At the lame time Dtuclct'ian overthrew AchilUus in ALgypt^ pu.r- fu'd him into Alexandria^ bciicged him eight Months, and at length took him, and condemned him to be de- voured b^ Lions, and other wild Beads. Thus Aigyft was reduc'd after lix Years Revolt, where Diocletia?!^ ac- cording to his fevere Temper, inliieled the m.oll cruel Pu- nifmnents, putting many Thoafands of all Sorts to Death ; not only the Ringleaders and the Abetters, but all fuch as barely approved of the Rebellion. But Galenus was not fo fuccefsflil againlt the Perjians this Year, who rallily ven- turing with too fmall an Army, was overthrown, and loft the greateft Part of his Men. Diocletian was then coming t'rom ^gyp into Mefopotamia^ where Galerius meeting him, approach'd his Litter to falute him ; but Diocletian^ without ftaying, or bidding him take Horfe, in a haughty Manner caufed him to attend his Litter feve- ral Miles on Foot, much blaming his Conduft, and In- difcretion in thefe laft Adions. But at length giving him Leave to depart, and retrieve his Honour, Galerins in the ft^ J) following Spring march'd with a powerful Army into Ar- 20*7. * yyienia^ which Narfes King of Perjia had entred. I,n the Diocl. ^^^ general Battel the Romans with great Difficulty over- ly * threw the Perfians^ and Galerius purfuing the Vidory, 71. entred Narjes^s Camp, took his Wives, his Children, hiv Sifters, and many of the Nobility of Perjia^ with great Riches and Booty. This Viftory encreas'd the Infolencc of Galerius, and no lefs the Apprehenfions of Diocletian ; for upon this, he thought himfelf too much degraded, to carry only the fecond Rank of Honour, and to be only caird Cicfar ; and when at any time he received Letters with the Infcription dvfar^ he was wont to cry out in a iierce and brutal Way, Muft I ftHl be Csefar } He became alfo fo proud and elevated, as to report that Mars was his Father, and that he ought to be look'd upon as another Romulus, not confidering the Prejudice done to his Mo- ther's Honour, of which he made no Account, while he. defired to be thought the Progeny of a God. The Beha- viour of Conjiantius was quite contrary to him and the two Emperors, who carrying himfelf with all Mildnefs and Generofity, gained the Love of all Men, and no lefs fuccefs Chap.VlI. DIOCLETIAN /^i^gp^^ RomEmp, 6^9 fuccefs in the Field than the other ; for this Year he made a Conquefl: of the L'tngones^ and flew 60000 of their Men. The Affairs of the Emperors now fucceedfng with an A. D. unufual Profperity, Diocletian and Maximian^ by a little 298. Anticipation, folemniz'd their Quindecc?malia^ or fifteenth Diocl. Year of their Government, the one in the Eafl and the 14 other in the Weft, From which Time they began to bear ij. harder upon the Chriftians than formerly, and to fhew Laaant. fome Refentments againft a Sed that had fo greatly tri- ^"^^' umph'd over the Religion of the Empire. Diocletian was a Man infinitely fuperflitious, and being now anxiouHy "defirous of knowing fome future Events, caufed his Di- viners to offer many Sacrifices ; and while they were fearching for the ufual Indications in the Entrails, and the Emperor prefent, fome Chriftian Courtiers near him made the Sign of the Crofs on their Foreheads, which immediately frighted away the Demons, and put all into a Confuiion. The Augurs were alfo m Diforder, not being able to difcern the wonted Tokens ; and, as \i they had failed in fome little Ceremony, began anew, and of- , ten repeated them, but to no Effed:. Whereupon Tages Mafter of thefe Ceremonies, either feeing the Perfons, or fufpe6ling them, cry'd out, "That the Reafun why the Sa- crifices had not their ufual RffeSis^ was, becaufe fome pro- fane Perfons had thruft themfehes into the Affembly^ and mixed with the holy Solemnities. The Emperor en- rag'd at this Difappointment, commanded all prefent to do Sacrifice, and all his Attendants upon pain of Scourg- ing ; and by a Warrant to the Commanders, order'd all the Soldiers in the Army to do the fame, or immediately to be disbanded. This may be call'd the Beginning of the Perfecution, tho' it reach'd not to Capital Punifhments, and no further than the Soldiery ; in which many honou- rable and profitable Pods in the Army were abandon'd by the Chriftians^ who chofe to forfake all rather than re- nounce the Worlhip of the true God. This was fiill in- confiderable as to the whole Body of the Chriftians ; and Eufebim tells us, that their Multitudes at this Time terri- fy'd their Enemies, and kept them from proclaiming open Waragainll them all. Maximian alfofhew'd great Severity to the Chriftian Soldiers, condemning them to the moft fer- vile Offices ; and it was by their Hands and Labours that he raifed thofe immenfe Strudures of the Baths of Dio- cletian at Rome^ the Baths of his own Name at Carthage S z and 66o Cent. III. Ecclefiajiical Ilijiory. Book III. and at JMUm^ with many other extraordinary Fabricks. A. D. In the Time of thcfe Buildings, great Advantages were \ 299. oDtiiinM iigainlt the Northern barbarous Nations, in which ; Diocl. Wars young Conjianttnc^ the Son of Confiayitius^ noblyT \ '^\ iignaliz'd his Youth by many brave Exploits ; particularly 1 *^' he took the Sarmatidyi General Prilbner, and brought him \ alive to Galcrlm. \ About this Time there appeared an eminent P^^^;? call'd | AryiQlhis^ who being awakened with the Calls of Heaven, > as well as the Lives of the Chnfllam^ prefented himfelf ' before the Bifliop of his City, and delired to be admitted among the Faithful. His City was Sicca in Numidiay -' where having been a publick Profeilbr of Rhetorick, and a t^agan of no ordinary Abilities, he was at firfl: refus'd, 1 till he had given fome lignal Evidence of the Reality of i his Converiion. Hereupon he fet himftif to vindicate the Caule of Chrijhamty againit the Geutiles^ which he did in j feven Books, ' wherein he vigoroully alfcrted the Truth ' '' and Excellency of the Chrifuari Religion, dexteroufly i •^ and wittily cxpofed the Follies of all Pagan Worfliip, ' and triumphantly baffled all the fpecious and popular In- ' finuations. But being but a Catechumen and a new ^ ' Convert, he .wrote not without fome Errors, andilicw'd i ' himfelf better skill'd in difcovering the Weaknelfes of i ' Paga-mj'm^ than proving the fublime Truths of Chn- ! ^ jltanity. But by this Work he removed all poflibility of j Jealoulie and Sufpicion, and was joyfully entertained and ; receiv'd to Baptifm ; becoming ever after a llrenuoys ' Defender of the Chrtftuiyis. About the Time of the i Converiion of Arnohhts^ dy'd Cyrillus Bifliop of Ant'wchy \ after he had held that Dignity about eighteen Years, and | was fucceedcd by Tyra7jnus^ who continued in this See a- | bout thirteen Years, and was the 19th Billiop of Ant'iocb 1 « -pv after the Apoitles. In the following Year, and towards ; ^ ' the Conclulion of this Century^ dyM Theonas Bifhop of , 'rY^{ Akxa'/;dr'iti^ after he had held that Dignity about nineteen j iJ^oc . Years, and was fucceedcd by Pctcr^ a wife and eminent i Governor, who coniinu'd in the See near twelve Years, and i was the i6th Bifliop of ///cA-^/^dV/^ after the Evangelilt St. ; Mark. ; And thus we have given an Account of the main A6ls : of the Chrifiidyi Church through the three firfl Ages of it, j and the wonderful and amazini^ Conquell that this Religi- on obtained over the greated Powers of Hell and Dark- i iiefs. Infomuch that the Chriflians at this Time had ; wirhoiii ' 16 »7- Chap.VII. DIOCLETIAN the 35)^^^ Rom. Emp. 661 without Arms overfpread the Face of the Earth ; an,d were slfb fo numerous, that the prcfent Emperors dared not o- penly to attack them, till they had firft cleared their Armies of them, and regulated their Soldiers for that Purpofe. And here it may not be improper to fpeak a Word or two of what contributed to this (tupendous Progrefs and Encreafe ; which beiides the Hand of God, and the mira- culous Powers in the Church, feem to have been thefe five Things. Firfl:, the real and intrinfick Excellency of the Religion it felf, which taught the mod rational, and noble, and fublime Precepts •: Secondly, the great Lcarii- ing and Abilities of many of its Champions, who bravely defended it againit all Domellick, as well as Foreign E- nemies : Thirdly, the indefatigable Zeal and Induflry ufed in the Propagation of it ; in which they thought no Ha- zards too great, no Difficulties infuperable, no Nations too remote, to enlarge the Bounds of the Gofpel: Fourth- ly, the incomparable Lives of its ProfelTors, which caus'd both the Envy and Admiration of its Enemies. Fifthly, their unparallelfd Patience and inviolable Conftancy un- der Sufferings, in which they became doubly triumphant more than Conquerors : And as the Roman Emperors tri- umph'd over the World, they triumph'd over the Empe- rors, and inconteftibly iTiewed that they were guided and fupported by an invincible and omnipotent Power. Ill* We are now arrived at the fourth Century of the A. D, Chr'iftian Church, the Beginning of which was attended 301. with the moft terrible Storm and Conflift, that ever was Diocl. knowi), and with no Icfs glorious Conqueft and Tri- ^i_^ umph; fo xh^iChriftianlty firil vanquiftfdall human Pow- »8. ers, and then oblig'd thein to-be real Prote6tors. But be- -E"/^^. fore this noble Advantage, God thought fit to permit fuch a furious Wind, as fhould purgs all the RubbiOi from his Church, and winnow all its Chaff. The Chrijliam.^ with fome inconfiderable Interruptions, had now enjoyed forty Years Peace and Profperity, from the End of P^aleria-f^'s Perfecution; in which Space they encreas'd to an extraor- dinary Degree, filled the Imperial Palaces, and obtained the befl: Offices in the State ; fo that, as E?4febiu< obferves, it is impoflible to defcribc the vafl Aflemblies, the nume- rous Congregations, and the Multitudes that throng'd iri every City to embrace the Faith of Chrift. For whioi4 Reafon they were no longer fatisfied with the old Edifi • /:eSj but ere^ed fpaciou:i Chiuthes frem ihc veny Fouu- S 3 4^tlonSj ^62 Cent. IV. Ecclefiaftical Hiftory. Book III. dations, throughout all Cities in the Empire. This unu- fual Liberty, as it put xki^Chriftians lefs upon their Guard, began by Degrees to be turned into Licentioufnefs, which produced many other Corruptions : Some began to envy and revile others, and were in a Manner at Wars among themfelves, wounding each other with Atfronts and Ca- lumnies ; Prelates drove againfl: Prelates, and one Con- gregation rais'd Fa£l:ions againft another. When thefe Things became too open and fcandalous, the divine Ven- geance began firfl to vilit them with a moderate and gen- tle Hand, and only permitted Lofs and Difgrace to fall upon thofe Brethren who bore Arms. But this proved not a fuflicient Warning ; but regardlefs of all Punilh- ments, they added Impieties to Impieties ; and many Pa- yors and Governors, rejeding the San6lions of Religion, were inflam'd with mutual Contentions, ftudying nothing more than promoting of DilTentions and Violence, mak- ing of Schifms and Separations, and greedily challenging to themfelves the Preeminence of others, as if it were earthly Dominion. When the firfl: Vilitation, mild and affedionate, would not reach the Hearts of an infenfible People, God thought fit to fend a fecond more ftrong and effedual ; and when the Ulcer began to putrifie, it was time to call for the Knife and the Cauftick. Athan. Among the Schifms at this Time, the moft remarkable ^f$^* was that of Meletius Bifhop of LycopoUs of Thebais in jEgypt^ who being convided of many Crimes, and a- mongfl: others, of facrificing to Idols, was depos'd in a Synod by Peter ^ Bifhop oi Alexandria. Milet'ius made no Appeal to any other Council, nor endeavoured to recant ©r acknowledge his Errors, either to Peter or his Succef- fors ; but made a new Schifm in the Church, and fepara- ted from Peter and the other Bifhops, againft whom he publifh'd many Calumnies, to cover the Shame of his De- privation, and particularly that they were guilty of too much Indulgence towards enormous Sinners and Apo- ftates. He began his Schifm in this Year 301, as Mon. Pagi proves ; and continued a long time, with many Fol- lowers, caird Meletians. A D. Oi^^ ^^ ^^^ "^°^ violent Promoters of the fucceeding ^Q2.* Perfecution, w^as Hierocles the Philofopher, fuccellively dIocI. Prefident of Bithyma^ and Governor of Alexandria ; a Per- i8 * fon who not only wrote againft the Chriftian Religion, i^r and pretended to find many Inconfiftences in the Scrip- L^aAnu turesj but alfo had the Confidence to equal the Miracles of Chap.VII. DIOCLETIAN the S9'^ Rom. Em/>. 66^ oi ApolloniusTya'/ia^Hs to thofe of our blelfed Saviour. But none fliew'd himfelf a more effectual Promoter of this Perfecution than Galenas himfelf, to which he was exci- . ted not only by his own Cruelty and Supcrftitioa, but in a particular Manner by his own Mother, who was a molt zealous Pagan^ and had entertain'd an infuperable Preju- dice againli: the Chr'iflians^ who frequently fliew'd a Dcte- Ihtion of her Religious Rites. Wherefore to gratifie her Refentments, as well as his own, he repair'd to Nicome- dia^ and us'd all Methods to engage old Diocletian to pro- ceed in what he had formerly begun, and to ruin the Chri- flians entirely. He had many Corifultations with him du- ring a whole Winter, and while it was believ'd abroad that they were treating about State-Affairs, they .were on- ly proje61:ing a new Perfecution. Diocletia?i loving his Eafe, cou'd not willingly hearken to new and violent Councils, but fliew'd Galerius How dangerous it vjas to dtfquiet the Erapire with fo much Confufion and Blofidjhed'^ ivhich muft needs be vafily great ^ Jince the Chriilians were fo ready at all times to lay down their Lives ; therefore hz judg'd it fufficient to purge the Court and the Army from Men of that Religion. Finding this would not fatistic the furious Galerius., he betook himfelf to his old King-craft, which was to refolve upon all commendable Actions, without taking Advice, that the Honour might redound to himfelf alone ; but to take Council in hazardous Mat- ters, that the Blame might fall upon others. Therefore he declar'd he wou'd hear the Opinion of his Friends and Confidents; and accordingly fome Judges and Military Commanders were admitted to Council ; amongil: v/hom, fome declar'd the Chrifiians Enemies to God, and there- fore ought to be deflroy'd; and others, out of Complai- fancc, were too ready to aflent to what Galerius fhould pleafe to determine. All which did not fatisfie Diocletian., who to do all Things compleatly, fent to confult the O- racle of Apollo Miletius ; from whence receiving an An- fwer as from a true Enemy to Chriftianity.^ he yielded, as tho' he had receiv'd his Directions from Heaven : Yet fliU he mov'd for Moderation, that it might be done without Blood, while Galerius iniifted that the Chrifiians might be burnt alive. The laft Thing determin'd, was to fix upon a proper and aufpicious Day for the Beginning thi^ great Work, which at length was determined to be the 23d Day of the next February., when the Terminalia were ufually ce- lebrated among the Romans-., and this was chofen as a S 4 happy 66^ Cent. IV. EccleJtaJlicalHiJlory. Book III. happy Omen, that the)' Hiou'd put a Term and Period to 'the Chrijiian Religion. This was refolv'd in Winter, in the latter End of the Year 302, or the Beginning of the following, 303. CHAP. VIIL From the Beginning of the tenth great Ter- fee at ton of the Church, to the firft EJtablijh- ment <9/Chrillianity by Human Laws nn^ der the Emperor Conitantine the Great. Containing the Space of about 10 Tears. TZ^^Tenth General Persecution. T ]\. ^^ Things being thus eftabliOi'd between the _5p3- •■-• L\ Emperor and his Ccefar^ in the 19th Year and Piocl. J__ ^ gj.}^ Confulfhipof Z)?5 Cent. IV. Ecclefiafiical Hijlory. Book III their Work; and accordingly they told the World in fomc Infcri prions, T'hat they had utterly defaced the Name^ and Super fi'ition of the Chriftians, and had re fl ore d and propaga- ted the IVorJh'ip of the Gods. It is impoflible to enumerate the vail Multitudes of Martyrs in all Parts, or to fet forth the infinite Variety of their Miferies and Torments ; for, as Laiiant'tus obferves, a hundred Tongues, and the loud- eil Voice were infufficient for fuch a Labour. The Deaths were innumerable, and exceeded all former Rela- tions : Some were beheaded, as in Arabia ; fome devour'd by wild Beads, as in Phoenicia', others flain by breaking their Legs, as in Cappadocia; fome were hung up with their Heads downwards, and fuffocated by flow Fires, as in Mefopotamia ; and others were broil'd upon Gridirons, as in Syria. In Pontus fome had fharp Reeds thruft up un- der all their Nails, and others had melted Lead poured up- on their naked Skins, which ran down and burnt the moll neceffary Parts of their Body ; while others without any Commiferation, endur'd obfcene Tortures unfit to be re- lated, which the impious Judges us'd as a Demonftration of the Acutenefs of their Wit, as if the Greatnefs of that confided in the mod unnatural Inventions. In ^gypt in- finite Numbers of Men, Women and Children lutFerM various kinds of Deaths ; fome of whom, after their Flefli had been torn off with torturing Irons, after they had been rack'd, moil: cruelly fcourg'd, and fuitain'd Torments of diff^erent Sorts, and horrible to be heard, were committed to the Fire, and others drown'd in the Sea. Other fome chcarfuUy ofi:erM their Necks to the Executioners ; fome dy'd under their Tortures ; others periili'd with Hunger. Again, others were crucify'd, fome according to the or- dinary Manner of Malefadors, and others after a more cruel manner, being nailed with their Heads downwards, and left to die by Famine. But the Torments and Indig- nities which the Martyrs fuftain'd in the Province of The^ hats., furpafs all Relation; who with fharp Shells infl:ead of torturing Irons, were torn all over their Bodies 'till they expir'd. Women were ty'd by one of their Feet, and by cgrtain Engines hoifed up into the Air with their Heads downwards ; and their Bodies being entirely naked, were- made a mod detedable, and inhuman Spe6i:acle. Others were ty'd by the Feet to great Boughs of Trees, violently wreded and forc'd together by Machines, which being let go, in a Moment rent the Bodies of the Martyrs all in Pieces. All which was not for a few Days, or diortTime, bu Chap.VIlI. DlOCLETIAN/>^^}9ti^ Rom.Emp. 667 but continu'd for the Space of whole Years ; fometimes no more than ten, at other times above twenty were de- ftroyM ; fometimes not lefs than thirty, at others near fix- ty ; and again at another time a hundred Men together, with very fmall Children and Women, were executed in one Day, being condemn'd to various and interchangeable Kinds of Punilhments. In Fhrygia the Soldiers invelted a populous City, conliding all of Chr'iftians\ and fetting Fire to it. Men, Women and Children, while calling up- on God, were all confum'd in the Flames. Great Numbers* of Prelates, Bifhops and Clergymen, E^eb. fufferM in this Perfecution, far too many to be nanf d ; ^'^- 'till at length fome of the Governors of Provinces, wea- ry'd with Slaughters, and fatiated with the vaft Effufion of Blood, pretended to fhew Tokens of Clemency and Humanity, declaring. It wasunjit to pollute the Cities with the Blood of the Inhabitants^ and to defame the mild Go- 'vernment of the Emperors with the Deaths of fb many Suh- jeSs. Therefore they thought it fufficient to difcourage the Chriftians^ by making them miferable in this Life, and fetting Marks of Infamy upon them. Accordingly, fome had their Ears, Nofes and Hands cut off, and others their Eyes put out, and one of their Legs difabled. Eujehim fays, it is impolTible to reckon up the innumerable Multi- tudes of the Chriftians who had their right Eyes put out and fear'd with a hot Iron, and of thofe who had their left Legs made ufelefs by torturing Inftruments : After which they were condemned to the Mines, not fo much for the Service they could do, as upon the Account of the Miferies they fhould endure. All kinds of Arts were made ufe of to eradicate Chriftiamty^ and eftablilh Paga- nifm\ and particularly the greateft Care was taken to de- flroy the holy Scriptures, but all in vain. All the Time, the Chrijiians gave ilrange and noble Inftances of the moll undaunted Bravery; they throng'd to the Tribunals of their Judges, and freely declared their Opinions and Reli- gion, defpifed the Threatnings and Barbarity of their Ene- mies, and receiv'd their lalt Sentences with a pleaiing Smile. Yet fome of them were not free from unwarran- table Pra6lices; and as fome preft too forwards to Death and Torments, fo others Icap'd off the Tops of Houfes to avoid the Malice of their Enemies ; and fome Ladies in Antioch drown'd themfelves to efcape being raviOi'd by the Soldiers. Others were far more culpable, and out of Fear deliver'd up their Bibles ; and too many, to avoid Torments, 663 Cent. IV. EccleJiaftkalHiftory. Book III. Torments, apoQatiiM. But far the greateft Part of the Chriftians behavM themfelves fo manfully, that neither Fears nor Charms could fallen upon them, at once giving undeniable Evidences both of their ovi^n Fortitude, and of the irrefiftible Povs^er of our Lord that vt^nt along with them. Among whom v/e ought to mention Donatus^ to •whom Ladant'tus writ his Account of this Perfecution, who was tormented nine feveral Times by three different Governors ; by Flaccinus^ by Hierocles^ and by his Succef- for Prifcil/ia^, In all thefe Cruelties the Emperor Maxi- m'tan willingly joinM with Diocletian and Galcrius\ fo that thefe three wild Beads exercis'd their Barbarities upon all the Provinces from the Eafl to the IVeft. Only Gaul was free, where the good and mild Conftanuus governed ; but being urg'd by his Superiors, he made a flight Pretence of pulling down fome of the Chriftians Churches, with- out any further Damage. Once ifie politickly pretended to profecute them, and commanded all the Officers of his Houlhold to join in the Pagan Sacrifices, or immediately to leave their Places; but when fomeof themdidfo,hefent them away with great Difgrace, generoufly declaring, "that thofe Men who vjere not true to their God^ would never be faithful to their Prince. ZnSanu During thefe difmal Tranfa(9:ions, the Emperor Diocletian i^dou finding thefe Affairs to fucceed according to his Defire, re- ^ folvM to repair to Rorne^ from whence he had been abfent many Years, there to celebrate his Vicennalia^ or twenti- eth Year of his Reign, and alfo to triumph for all his for- mer Conquefts and Viclories. All this was performed up- on the 20th Day of 'November with great Solemnity, be- ing accompany 'd with his Colleague Maximian^ and the tv^o Ccefars^ Ccnftantius and Galerius. In this Triumph was exposM an infinite Mafs of Treafure of the Spoils of the Eaft^ of Mgypt^ and feveral Countries by them fub- du'd. There were many Chariots full of Arms, and Vef- fels of Gold and Silver, and many renown'd Prifoners, particularly the Wife and Children of the King of Perfia^ with many Kings and Commanders of the Alanes^ the Cat- ii^ and other Nations. As foon as all thefe Solemnities were over, Diocletian^ who was always haughty and im- perious, fhew'd how little he couM bear thofb Marks of Liberty that the Romans flill retained ; at which he became fo uneafie, that tho' the firfl: oi Januaryw2is near, in which he was to enter upon his ninth Confulfhip, yet he cou'd not be prevail'd ori to uay ^till i:ha'; Day at Reme^ but he t^egaii Chap.VIII. DIOCLETIAN /)&^ ^g^^Rom. Bmp. 669 began his Confulfhip at Ravenm. This Winter was both A. D. extreamly cold and rainy ; fo that the Journey did fo af- 304. fed his Health, that it threw him into a lingring Sicknefs, Diocl. and brought him into a low and uncomfortable Conditi- ao_ on, which detained him in Italy the whole Summer. But »i« tho' he was almofl: incapacitated from ading himfelf, his . Lieutenants, and more efpecially Galerius^ carry'd on the Perfecution, particularly in Palejline^ where Etifebm him- felf reiided, and was an Eye-witnefs of infinite Barbari- ties. In the firft Year of the Perfecution, he takes notice • of the Martyrdoms of PrQcopius, Alphaus^ and Zaccheus in Ccefarea^ and of Romanus in AnUoch'^ who with great Glory conquered the Malice of their Perfecutors. In the fecond Year the Perfecution in thofe Parts became more violent and fharp, and became memorable for the trium- phant Deaths of Timotheus at Gaza^ T'imolaus^ Dionyjius^ Ro- raulus^ Agaftm^ and feveral others at Ca:farea. In Rome Pope Marcellimis fuffer'd upon the 24th Day of OBoher^ after he had held the Dignity of Biihop eight Years, feven Months and fourteen Days. In this Time of Perfecution there was a Vacancy in the Church of above three Years. In the mean Time Diocletian was brought very low by Laaanu his Sicknefs, and being carry'd in a Litter, arriv'd at iV;- comedia in the latter End of the Year ; where upon the 1 3th of December he fell into fo deep a Swoon, that all defpair'd of his Life. Yet he efcap'd this long Sicknefs, but never regain'd fuch entire Perfedion of Health as former ; for ever after this he had fome Fits of Madnefs, which returned upon him fome particular Times, tho' in the Intervals he had his Underftanding perfe<5l. Not long after his firft Appearance abroad, which was on March ift, 305'. Galerius came to him, not to congratulate his Reco- very, but to compel him to relign the Empire. This vio- lent ambitious Man had lately made the fame attempt up- on Maxiraian^ threatening him with a civil War if he re- fused to refign ; but began with Diocletian in a more gen- tle Manner, intimating, That fince he wai become agedy and lefs able to bear the Fatigues of Government^ he ought to give himfelf fome Repofe^ after fo much Application and Toil^ according to the Example of Nerva towards Trajan. Diocletian^ uncalie at fuch a Propolal, alledg'd. That a Rejignation was dijhonourable to him ix>ho had hern fo fub- lime a Charader^ and unfafe for one who in fo long a Reign mufl have created many Enemies ; therefore NervaV Cafe iiuis very dijfennt from his. But if to be of equal Dignity iviih 57O Cent. IV. Ecclefiafiical Hijiory. Book III. with himfelf] would fatisfie Galerius, he was w'dlifig to con- fer that favour upon him. The other, who had form'd a Projed of making himlelt fole Emperor, and finding this would not anfwer his End, pretended, nat the Order which Diocletian had begur:.^ of having two Emperors with fupream Power^ and two Ajjifiants to them with inferior power ought ever to be maintain' d. And then he conclu- ded more roughly, 'That if the Emperor would not retire^ and make way for him^ he would look to himfelf; for he would be no longer contented with his present Dignity. The old Man, now much broken and diipiritcd, having re- ceived Letters from Maximian., and heard that Galerius was augmenting his Forces, at length, with fervile Tears con- fented to what he was uiiable to remedy. However Dio~ cletian iHU endeavoured to be concern'd in the Nominati- on of the two delign'd dcfars ; but in that alfo Galerius over-rul'd, and appointed two Creatures of his own, caird Scver:is and i)ilaxim:?::is^ contrary to the Opinion of the other, both wicked and barbarous Perfons, and agree- able to his own Difpofition. All Things being thus con- certed in fecret, on the firll Day of May., this great Affair came to be declared ; when the Soldiers were drawn up, old Diocletian., with Tears in his Eyes told the Men, That he was now become infirm ; therefore he was refolved to refi himf elf after fo much Laboxr., and to deliver tip the Empire to thofe who were able to fuflain the Burthen of it. And accordingly he nominated the two new Cafars that Gale- rius had appointed, contrary to all Mens Expectations, who hop'd that young Conftantine iTiould have been one. After this Diocletian di[vQ\\.Q(i himfelf of his Imperial Robes ; and, like a Soldier who had obtain'd his Difmilfion, retir'd ; drove through Nicomedia., and fo pafs'd over to Salona in his own Country Dalmatia., where he return'd to his pri- vate State, and to his primitive Name Diodes. And thus the great A61 of Refigning the Empire of the World, which fome Authors extol and applaud, appears from this Account out o\^ Ladantim., to have been an x\.6l of meer Neceffity and Conftraint. This was done upon the firfl: Day of May., 305-, under the fifth Confulfhips of Confian- tius and Galerius., Diocletian being now about 60 Years of Age, and having reign'd 20 Years, feven Months, and 14 Days, from the Beginning of the Diocletian JEra. Maximian by Conlent alio rengn'd his Authority *thc fame Day at Milan., having reign'd v/ith the Title of Auguflus almoii 19 Years. 11. Upon Ch^p.VlllCONSTANT. the /^o'^ Rom. Emjf. 671 J J, Upon the Refignation of Diocletian and Maximi- a j\ an^ the Empire in courfe devolv'd upon the two Cafars^ ' Conjlantiin and Galerius^ Men as different in their Tern- q q^_ pers and Difpofitions, as in their Births and Educations. g^.^J Wherefore, to prevent any future Difputes that might a- ^^^^^ ' rife from fuch a Difparity of Inclinations, they agreed to ^^^ ^^^j, make a diftin^l and independent Divifion of the Empire Roman between them, which was the firft Divifion of that kind ; ^^peror, for tho' the Empire had often been governed by two Em- ^^«'' perors at one time, yet it was never independently divided ^£&y\ before. Conftantius had the Weftern Parts of the Empire, &c. namely, Italy^ Sicily^ the greateft Part of Africk^ together with Spain ^ Gaul^ Britain and Germany ; and Galerius the Eailern and the large ft Share, namely, Illyricum^ Pannonia^ Macedonia^ 'Thrace^ all the Provinces of Greece^ and the lefler Afia, together with JEgypt^ Syria^ Palejiine^ and all the£^y/. This Divifion being made, the Government of fo many Provinces feem'd too great a Charge to the pacifick Temper of Conftantius^ who chufing rather to govern well than to govern much, freely relinquifh'd the Provinces of Africk and Italy to Galerius^ contenting himfelf with Gaul^ Spain^ Britain^ and his Part of Germany. Galerius., on the other fide, finding the Affairs of the Empire difllicult to manage with Security to himfelf, allotted the Government of Ita- ly and Ajrick to Severus^ and the Government of JEgyp^ Paleftine^ and the Eafl^ to Maximin ; referving to his own immediate Management, the Provinces belonging to lUyricum., Greece^ and AJia-Minor. So that the World was in a manner govern'd by four Heads, Conflantius and Galerius independent Emperors, and Severus and Maximin., Cicfars dependent upon Galerius. Conftantius the firft and fenior Emperor, was about 5'4 Years of Age when he en- tred upon this Government, which he manag'd to the great Satisfadion and Approbation of all Men, preferving his Provinces from all kinds of Wars, Rebellions, and o- ther Miferies, during his fhort Reign. The Gauls not only lov'd him, but almoft ador'd him, before he was Em- peror ; for under his former Adminiftration they had ef- cap'd the pernicious Policy of Diocletian., and the bloody Temerity of Maximian. His principal Aim w^as to cn- creafe the Happinefs and Riches of his Subje6bs, it being his declar'd Opinion, T'hat it was better for a Prince to have his Illations Wealth diffufed., and in the Hands of ma- ny^ than to be locked ttj^ in his &wn Coffers ; concurring witli 6/2 Cent. IV. Ecckfiafticd Hijlory. Book III. with T'rajan^ who compar'd the Exchequer to the Spleen, the great Growth of which hinder'd the whole Body's Nourifhment. He lb little affeded Pomp and Splendor, that on Fcftival Entertainments, he generally borrowed F'urniture and Plate from other Perlbns for the Ufe of his Table. And being in his former Adminiitration reproach'd for his Poverty by Diocletian's Ambaffadors, he only inti- mated his Wants to the People, and in a few Hours a- mafs'd fuch infinite Sums from their voluntary Contribu- tions, as a(lonilli*d thefe Strangers; while he informed them, That the Love of the People vjas the furejl Treasure of the Prifice^ and that his Subjeds Mony was by that Means \always at his Devotion^ which he never thought fafer than when they were Keepers of it. After the Ambafladors De- parture, he returned all the Sublidies that were prefented him; being by his voluntary Poverty, richer than Diocle- tian and the other Princes who were his Partners. He was of an affable, brave and generous Temper, and not only the Chriftians,^ but likewife all that were fubjedl to him, were extreamly happy under his excellent Govern- ment. Zaamt. On the other fide, thofe Provinces under the Care of ^"/^** Galeriiis^ were miferably harrafsM, and opprefs'd by the Infolencies and Extortions of that Tyrant ; who continu- ally loaded his Subjeds with fuch Taxes and Impofitions, and us'd fuch barbarous Methods in collcding them, that the State of Affairs look'd as difmal as if the Empire had been over- run by Foreign Enemies. All Places were full of Grief and Fear, all Mens Fields were mcafurM, an Account was taken of all their Trees, and V^ines, and their Cattle ; upon the flighted Sufpicions of Gonceal- ilient, Men were fcourgM and tortur'd ; Children were hung up in Sight of their Parents ; Slaves were oblig'd to accufe their Mailers, and Wives their Husbands, None but Beggars were exempted from thefe Opprcffions ; but this impious Man us'd other Methods with them, gave Orders to gather them all together, to put them into Vef- fels and drown them in the Sea ; by which Means he found an effedual Expedient to keep all Men from ma- king Poverty an Excufe for not paying of Taxes. His inhuman Pradices alfo extended to Men of the highelt Rank, who were put to many cruel and ignominious Deaths, fuch as Crucifixion, and throwing to wildBeafts; for Beheading was accounted an extraordinary Favour, As for the Chriftians^ for whom he had the greateft Ha- tred, Chap.VIII. CONSTANT, the 40^^ kom. Emp. 67I tred, he not only condcmu'd them to Tortures, but to be burnt in flow Fires, after this horrible Manner ; They were firft chained to a Pofl, then a gentle Fire fct to the Soles of their Feet, which contraded the Callus of the Foot till it fell all off from the Bones; then Flambeaux juft extinguifh'd were clapt to all the Parts of their Bo- dies, fo that they might betortur'd all over; and Care was taken to keep them alive by throwing cold Water in their Faces, and giving them fome to wafli their Mouths, left • the Extremity of the Anguifh fliould dry up their Throats and choak them. Thus their Miferieswere lengthnedout whole Days, 'till at laft, their Skin being quite confum'd, and they jult ready to expire, the/ were thrown into a great Fire, and had their Bodies burnt to Aflies; after which their Bones were ground to Powder, and thrown into fome River. At the fame Time, in the Eaft the Perfecution was carried on with frefli Rage and Cruelty by the bloody Maxm'in^ who at his chtring upon his Go- vernment, ilfu'd out Orders to quicken the Governors of Provinces in putting the Laws in ftri61: Execution againit thofe who refus'd to comply with the pulick Rites and Ceremonies of the Empire. To which purpofe, while Officers were making Proclamation at Ccefarea^ and fum- moning Men by Name out of a publick Roll, Apphianus a young Gentleman o? Lycia^ then Scholar to Eufebius^ preffing through the Crowds, caught hold on the Hand d Urbanm the Governor, forcM him to let fall his Sacrifice, and gravely reproved him for thofe Impieties. Whereupon he was immediately apprehended, put to the fevcreft Tor- ments imaginable, and thrown half dead into the Sea; his Brother JEdefius for the fame Fad fuffering the fame kind of Martyrdom, and almoft at the fame time at Alex- andria^ not to mention innumerable others whoglorioufly ended their Lives. Thus were the Chrifiians feverely treated by Galerius EufeK and Maximh; but the Perfecution in Baly^ Spai?7^ Africk^ St.A.:fi» and thoic Parts, ceafed about the time of Maxir^ian's Re- '^* lignation, after it had continu'd about two Years. And now the Church obtaining fome Reft in the Weftern Parts, the Bifiiops and Clergy began to meet in feveral Places, to confult about the Cafe of fuch as had lapfed in the Perfecution, and of thofe call'd Tradkores^ fuch as had deliver'd up the Bibles, and confccraled Veftcls belonging to the Church. And in this Year we read of two Coun- cils or Synods, one at Cirtba in Africk^ and the other at V O L. II T " Elikns ,14 Cent. IV. Eccleftaftkal Hipry. Book III. / ^T Eliber'is or Elvira in Spam. The firft confifted of eleven or twelve Bifliops of Numidia^ who met at the Houfe of one Do'/^atus^ in order to ordain a Bifhop m the Room of Paul Bifhop of Cirtha^ who had been a T'raditor ; Tigiris Primate of N^midia being Preiident of this Synod. Thefe Billiops, who were afterwards the Heads of the Donatifl Fadlion, accus'd one another mutually in the Synod, of complying too much with the Heathen Magiftrates ; and all of them fearing they fhould be convided of the Crimes they laid to each other's Charge, they abfolv'd one ano- ther, referring themfelves to the Judgment of God. After which, they ordain'd Silvamis.^ who had been a T'raditor ^ Bi(hop of Cirtha^ notwithftanding all the Oppolition made by the Clergy and Perfons of Note in the City to the contrary. The other Council of EUberes confided of nineteen Bifliops and twenty fix Presbyters, who made many Canons and Conllitutions relating to Penitents, the Lapfed, and other Matters, in which they efl:ablifh'd a ri- gorous Difciph'ne. We have an Account of 8i Canons here made ; but the Variety of the Rules, and the little Order fliewn in placing them, make learned Men believe, that the Canons attributed to this Council, are an ancient Code, or an ancient Colle61:ion of the Councils of Spaitj. Not long after this Council, in the following Year 306. the Perfecution raging in jEgypt., Peter Bifhop of Alexan- dria publifli'd his excellent Canonical Epiftle a little before Eafter^ being urg'd by many of the Lapfed, who delirM to be reconcil'd, and receiv'd into the Church. ' In this ' he gave feveral Rules how fuch Perfons ought to be ' treated, carefully examining all the Circumfl:ances which ' might augment or diminiOi the Quality of the Crime, ' and fliewing lingular Prudence in tempering the Rigour * of Punifhment by a reafonable Moderation, without * which, Juilice would be weakned by too much Indul- *• gence; and as he did not lengthen out Penance by too *- fevere Methods, fo neither did he deceive the Sinner by ' too rciiiiis an Ealinefs. It is bcliev'd, that about this Time Peter depos'd /jf, which has been confirm'd by feveral others ; but Mon. Fagt and fome others feem'd to have made it appear, that he was born inNaiJfus in Dacia, now calTd A^///^, a Town in Servia. His Parentage was very noble by his Father's Side, as being defcended from the Emperor Claudius IJ. and he, as it is believ'd, from the great i/^efpafian ; but his Mother Helen was a Woman of inferior Quality, of Dre- fano into Bithyma'^ but yet a good Chriftian. This, no doubt, contributed to his future Converlion ; and the firfl Ordinance he made after his Advancement, was to give the Chnftians the free Liberty of their Religion. CunflanUne for a confiderable Time contented himfelf with the Name of C Deaths. Thefe Perfecutors were Diocletian^ Maxlmlan^ ^- • Galerlus^ Maxtmin and Maxentlus^ who were all Ene- -^"/^^* mies to Morality, as well as Chrlftia^hy, The firft that ^''^^'''* fell was the wicked Maxlmlan^ who having lofl: the Dig- nity of an Emperor, and the Regard due to a Son-in-law, proceeded to new Confpiracies againil Conftantlne^ and endeavour'd to corrupt his own Daughter Faufta to mur- ther her Husband ; all which being difcover'd by her, and all his impious Defigns detc6i:ed, Conflantlne could not fafely allow him any greater Mercy than to permit him to chufe his own Death, which Laciantius tells us, was Hanging : A Death fufficiently ignominious for one who had govern'd the Romayi Empire near twenty Years with great Glory and Reputation. But the Hand of Heaven was more vihbleaad iignal in the Pimilliment of that grand promoter of the Perfecution Galerius^ who in the Midll pf his vail and nefarious Projects, was vilited by an incu- rable ^84* Cent. IV. Ecclcfiafttcal Hiftory. Book III^ rable and intolerable Difeafe. It began with an Impoflumc and Ulcer bred in his fecret Parts, and a Fifttila in Am^ which fpread after an unheard of Manner, and entred in- to his inmoft Bowels; and tho' the Cancer encreafed flowly and gradually, yet it puzled all the Arts of the molt excellent Phyficians and Surgeons. And while all human Means became ineticdlual, Recourfe was had to the Pagan Gods, and Prayers were made to Aifculaplus and Apollo for his Recovery ; and fomc Relief was pre- tended to have come from the latter. But he grew ftill worfe and worfe, and his Death feemcd very near ; for the Ulcer had confumed all the Bottom of his Belly, his Bowels v/ere laid open, and daily rotting, and his Buttocks were over-run with Putrefa6lion. Some bold, but unhap- py Phylicians, would not deliil; and tho* they had no Hopes of Succefs, yet they ftill tried new Remedies ; which drove the Evil inwards, even through his Bones to the very Marrow, fo that Worms began to breed within him. The Stench that came from him was fo noyfome^ that it was perceiv'd, not only over all the Palace, but in the very City likev/ife; and the PafTages of his Urine and Excrements were now mixt, all the Membranes being corroded that fcparated them. He was devour'd by Ver- min, and the whole Iviifs of his Body was turn'd into an univerfal Rottennefs. Some living Creatures, and others that were boiled, were applied to the putrefied Parts, to try if the Heat would draw out the Vermine ; and this indeed opened a vail Hive of them ; yet a fecond Impo- * flumation difcovered a more prodigious Swarm, fo that his Bowels feemed to difiblve all into Worms. A Drop- iiejoinM to all thefe Ills, did monftrouHy disfigure his Body : All the upper Parts were quite exhaufled, and dried like a meer Skeleton covcr'd with a dead Skin; but at the fame time dl his lower Parts were fwellcd up like Bladders ; fo that the Shape of his Feet was fcarce to be perceiv'd. With all thefe he had infupportable Pains and Torments, greater than he had inflided upon the Chriftlans^ which caufed him frequently to bellow out like a wounded Bull ; and he often endeavour'd to kill himfelf, and caufed fcvcral A. D. of his Phyficians to be llain, bccaufc their Medicines were ->ii. incircdual. Conll. lu all this dreadful Mifery, Galerius languiOi'd a full s Year; when at length his Confcience was awikcn'd, and "^T he was forc'd to give Praife, and make Confcfiion to the -V':.'. SupreamGod: So that in the Intervals of his Torments, Chap. VIII. CO^ST AN. 8zc. the 41*^ Rom. Bmp. 68f he often cried out, T'hai he wotild re-build the Church of Nicomedia, and that he would repair the Mifchiefs he had done to the Chriftiaiis. Being in his lad Agonies, and ha- ving confulted Conftantine and Liclnius^ he publifh'd this following Edid in his and their Names. Among our o- ther Cares for the Advantage of the Vublick^ one was to re- duce all to the Obfervation of the ancient Laws and conJlanS Difciplinc of the Romans ; and particularly to oblige the Chriilians, who had forfaken ihe Religion of their Fathers^ to- return to a better Mind. Having obfcrved that they^ moved by their 9wn Reafons., had been guilty of a Jliff and obfiinate Abando'aing the Sandions of their Ancejhrs; and that according to their different Humours^ they were fram^ ing new Laws.^ by which they might govern themf elves., and, were falling into Divifiras., and forming fepar ate AJfemblies, Upon which we ijju'd out our Edi^s^ obliging them to re turn back to their firji Injiitutions.^ which had good EffeBs upon many\ but Jit 1 1 great Numbers c rntintC d jirm to theif Rules \ ayid as on one fide they did not o-!fer a due U-^orJhip to the Gods^ fo on the other fide they did not adore the God of the Chriftians. We therefore having Regard to all the fe 'Things., and being mov''d by our Princely CompaJ/iony ana our conjiant Clemency towards all Men., have thought fit t9 extend this our Grace and Indulgence even to the Chriftians : And therefore we do not only allow them to conti?zue in their Religion., but permit them to hold Affemblies for their Wor- Jhip ; provided they aSi nothing contrary to their efiabltfij'a^ Difcipline. In a particular Refcript we will fignifie our Pleafure to our Judges for their DireHion. In the mean Time we expeSl that the Chriftiaiis, in return to this our Favour^ Jhall fnpplicate their God for our Health., and the Profperity of the Commonwealth ; jo that they may ftill hope to enjoy our ProteHion in their refpeSiive Habitations. This Edid W3lS publifhed in Nicomedia., in the lall of April., where the Prifon-Doors were fct open, and Donatus., with many other Chrifiians., fet at Liberty. Yet all this did not avert the Judgments of God from Galcrius ; his Putrefa- ction encreas'd, 'till it quite wafted his whole Subftance ; fo that a few Days after the Publication of his Edid he expired, having recommended his Wife and Son to Lici* nius., and put them into his Hands. This was the mife- rable End of that great Perfecucor Galerius., after an impi- ous Reign of a little above fix Years, lince the Relignati- on of Diocletian. At his Death he left the Empire divi- ded among four; Conjhmtine Emperor of Gaul^ Spain.^ Britai'/t 686 Cent. IV. Ecclejtaflical Hiflory, Book III. Britain and Germany^ Licimus his Succeflbr, Emperor of the Provinces of I/lyricum^ Greece^ 2ir\:c/^^4i^ Rom.Emp, 69^ Maximin in the Eaji^ declaring their miraculous Progrefs, and expecting that he fhould follow their Example. This made Maximin extreamly uneafie, who being neither wil- ling to grant, nor yet daring enough to deny their Defires, fupprefl: their Edid, and direfted a Refcript to Sabinus. ' Setting forth the Care and Pains his PredecefTors Dio- ' cktian and Maxim'tan had ufed to fecure their Religion ' againfl: the Incroachments of Chrifttanity\ that at his ' coming lad: Year to Nicomedia^ he had been foUicited ' both there and in other Places, that no Chrifttan might * be fufferM to inhabit their City: However, his Pleafure ' was, that the Governors of Provinces fhould ufe no Se- ' verity againfl: the Chrijlians^ but treat them with all * Mildnefs and Moderation, and try by fuch Methods to ' reduce them to the Worfhip of the Gods, which if any ' would hearken to, they fhould be mofl: readily received; ' but if they had rather perdft in their own Religion, they ' fliould be left to their own Freedom. This Refcript, as it was extorted, fo it was fo fl:raightened, that it loft mofl: of its Effedl. The Chrijlians knew the Zeal and Fiercenefs of this Man's Temper too well to trufl: him, no Provifion being made in it for their Churches, but on- ly a general Indemnity from Trouble; they durft neither build Churches, nor hold publick AfTemblies, nor for the prefent fafely profefs themfelves Chrijlians^ but kept upon their Guard, waiting for a more fit and favourable Seafon. In thefe Times the See of Alexandria being vacant fome • what above a Year, AchtlUi was made Bifliop of the Place, who 'held this Dignity not above five Months before he died, and vyas fucceeded in the Year 313 by the celebra- ted Alexander^ who worthily fill'd the See about 13 Years, and was the 19th Bifhop of AUxandria after the Evange- lift St. Mark. In the mean Time Conjlant'me daily proceeded in his '^^'^'•^'• Pvindnclies to the CZ-t^/^/^/^j-, receiv'd their Bilhops with all ^''*^•'^'• due Honour and Refpe^l, taking them with him in his Journics, and often entertaining them at his own Table. All which the Pagans beheld with an envious and malig- nant Eye, as what portended the fiUal Declcnfion, if not the final Deftrudion of their Religion. This was no fmall Concern to Maximin in the Eaji.^ or even to old Diocle- tian^ who liv'd long enough to fee all his former great and deep Defigns blafled and ruined. But what moil near- ly affcdied him, was Conjlantine''^ Orders to pull down all |:>e leveral Pi6i:ures and Statues of old Maxirnian. Now U 3 DiocU' ^5>4 Cent. IV. Ecclejtaftical Hijiory. Book III, Diocletian'% Statues and his being always coupled together, the Difgrace of the one drew that of the other atter it. Diocletian feeing this Affront put upon his Statues, which no Emperor before him had ever ieen in his own Time, and being overprefl: with a Load of Grief and Guilt, he refolv'd to put an End to his Unquietnefs. The Hand of Heaven began nowtobevifibly upon him; fo that he was in a perpetual Uneafinefs, and could neither eat nor fleep ; but was heard to ligh and groan continually, and was of- ten feen in Tears, fometimes tumbling on the Bed, and other times on the Ground. Thus he who had govern'd the World, with no fmall Reputation, above twenty Years, was now fo dejected, difpirited and mortify'd, that he dy'd partly of Hunger, and partly through Anguifh and Madnefs. This hapned on the 3d Day oi December 312, above feven Years after his Relignation of the Empire, and in the 68th Year of his Age. A. D. V 1. Thus profperous was the State oi Chriftianity^ 313. and now nothing obftru6led its Progrefs and full PofTel- Conll. iion of the World, but the Power of 7lf^.3r/;;2/« in the £^. ^7^ ConflaKtine^ to carry on the great Work, thought it conve- S- nient to ftrengthen his Alliance with Licinius^ and to give him Et-{ch. his Sifkr Confia?itia in Marriage ; and having fetled the ^Ip^"^' Affairs of Rome^ he departed for Mila',t in the Beginning "'"'' of this Year, where the Nyptials were folemniz'd. In this City in the Month of March^ the two Emperors i/Iii'd out feveral Laws and Edidls in favour of the Chriftians^ to reftore them to their former Eflates, to grant them new Privileges, to exempt the Clergy from all Civil and Secular Oflices, which had hitherto been a fcvere Oppre^- fion to them, with many other Advantages of the like Nature. Thefe Things were a dreadful Mortification to the Gentiles^ who wTre dill more confirmed in their Fears and Apprehenfions, when they faw that CG?iftami72e neg- Icdled the Celebration of the Grand Secular Gamcs^ Vv'hich according to the ufual Courfc, were to have been folcm- nizM this Year. 'Thefe Games were wont to be kept for three Days and Nights v/irh uncommon Magnificence and Devotion, with numerous and pompous Sacrifices, peculiar t and appropriated Hymns, and a long Train of other Pa- ganifli Ceremonies. Therefore the Emperor's Negle6l of thefe folemii Ads occafion'd a fcvere Cenfure from the Gentiles^ who not only loolc'd upon it as an Argument of his Averfion to their Religion, but eiclaim'd againfl it as perni- Chap.VIII. CONST AN. Sec. ^^^ /i^i^ Rom, Emp, 69) pernicious to the State, and that which drew down the Vengeance of the Gods upon it. In the mean Time Maximm accounting it a DiOionour L^aanu to be inferior to Conjiantine and Lictmns^ made all poffi- ble Preparations, and march'd with his Army out of Syria during the Winter Seafon ; and having harrafs'd his Army with long Marches, he arriv'd at Bithyma. The Seafon was fo fevere, and the Ways made fo deep by Snow and Rains, that partly with Cold and partly with hard Labour, he loft all or moft of his Horfe; fo that where-ever he march'd, he might have been trac'd by them ; which was a very ill Omen to his Men. Nor did he flop within his own Limits, but having crofs'd the Straits at 'Thrace^ he fat down before Byzantium ; where being a Garrifon be- longing to Lic'miu!:^ he ftudy'd fir ft to corrupt the Soldiers by Prefents and Promifes, and then to terrifie them by Threatnings ; but neither the one nor the other were effe- 6lual, 'till Time and Want of Succours oblig'd them to furrendcr. From thence he advanc'd to Heraclia and Pe- rmthus^ where he underftood that L'tctmm was coming down to oppofe him, and v/as got as far as Adriample, Ltcinius had drawn together what Forces his fliort Time wou'd permit, and march'd towards Maximm with De- fign rather to ftop his Progrefs, than to engage in any A- 6lion; for, as he did not intend to fight, lb he had no Profpeft of Vi61:ory, fince he had not now above 30000 Men, and Maximin was at the Head of an Army of 70000 Men. While the two Armies were fo near each other, that it was natural to expedl a fpeedy Decifion on the E- nemy's Side, ^Maximi^ made a Vow to Jupiter^ T'hat if he got \he ViByry^ he wou'd utterly extiviguijh the very Name of a Chriftian. On the other Side, an Angel ap- pcar'd to Licinim in his Sleep, and order'd him to rife immediately, and join with his whole Army in calling up- on the Great God, promiling him an afTur'd Vidory upon his Performance. At the fame time, he dreamt that at'i:er this he arofc, and that the Angel didated to him the very Words he fliould ufe in his Prayer. As foon as he was a- wake, he call'd for one of his Secretaries, and order'd him to write down the Words as following, ' We pray to ' thee, O great God; we pray to thee, O-holy God; we ' commit the Juftice of our Caufe to thee; wc commit ' our Lives to thee ; we commit this our Empire to thee. ' It is by thee that we live ; our Conquefts and our Hap- ^ piiicfs proceed from thee : O thou great and good God, U ^) ^ hear 6^6 Cent. IV. Eeclejiafltcal Hiftory. Book III. ' hear our Prayers ; we ftretch out our Hands to thee : ' Hear us therefore, thou holy and great God. Many Copies were immediately made of this rrayer, which were lent about to all the Officers, and were required to make their Soldiers get it by heart. This highly rais'd the Cou- rage of the whole Army, who now iook'd upon the Vi- dory as certain, fince it was foretold in lb uncommon and divine a Manner. Laaant. Maxtm'm contiding in his Numbers and his Gods, re- folv'd to give Battel before the firil: of May^ which was the x\nniverfary of his coming to the Empire, than he might celebrate that Day with greater Pomp, when he had defeated his Enemy. When Ltchzius heard that Maximin*s Army was advancing, he likewife drew out his ; fo that they were in. View of each other. Upon their near Ap- proach, Ltctniui's Men laid down their Shields and Head- pieces upon the Ground, and with Hands and Eyes lifted up to Heaven, olfer'd up that Prayer they had been taught, the Emperor himfelf beginning, and the Officers and Soldi- ers following him in it ; which was pronounc'd lb loud, that the other Army heard the Sound of it. The Prayer was three times repeated, which animated the Soldiers to the utmofl Degree, and having put on their Helmets, and taken up their Shields, fearlefly expeded the Enemy. The two Emperors parly'd a while; h\3X Maximin would hear- ken to no Propofals of Peace, defpifing Licimus^ and not doubting but his Men would defert him, becaufe he was more fparing of his Bounty than himfelf. The Signals be- ing given, Licimus^ fupportedby adivine AfTurance, began the Battel with great Vigour, and the Enemy was imme- diately fo diforder'd and confounded, that they could nei- ther draw their Swords, nor throw their Darts. Maximm ran about on all Sides, ufing all the Methods of Perfwa- lion to procure Ltci?Aiis''s Soldiers to come over to him, but all in vain ; for being feverely preft upon, he was foon oblig'd to retire himfelf. His Army fell before the other, without being able to makeReiiihance, and his vaft Body of Men were mow'd down by a Handful on the other Side. They fecm'd to have forgot their Quality, their Courage, and their former Exploits ; and thj Hand of God was vi- fible in delivering them over to the Mercy of their Ene- mies, as \^ they had come into the Field for Execution, and not for Battel. This melancholy Sight caus'd Maxi- min to throw away his purple Robe, and fly in the Habit Qi a Slave \ having 6rfl the Mortilication of feeing one Half Chap.VIII.CONSTAN &:c.?/&^4^fti?r?;;AB;^/. ^97 Half of his Army deftroy'd, and the other Half furrender'd. And fince the Emperor had deferred his Soldiers, they were not afham'd of deferting his Interefts. In a Night and a Day he got a hundred and threefcore Miles, to Nicomedia-^ where having taken his Wife, and Sons, and fome few of his Domefticks, he departed towards the Eaji. He ftopt at Cappadocia^ where he re-afTum'd the Purple, having gather'd together fome Soldiers, partly of his own Stragglers, and partly of fome Troops of the Eaftem Provinces. Licin'ms^ afrcr he had diftributed a Part of his Army into Laa^m Quarters, crofs'd the Straits, and with the refl of his Mei^ went over into Bythynia. When he enter'd into Nico- medta^ he offer'd up puhrlick Thankfgivings to God, by whofe Aid he %ad obtained this lignal Vidory : And on the 1 3th of June^ Conftantiyie and he being in their third Confulfhip, he publiih'd the fame Edid at Nicomedia^ as had been publifh'd at Milan a few Months before. This Edid was very much in favour of the Chriflians ; and to confirm it, Licimus by verbal Inftrudions urg'd all Per- fons to fee the Churches of the Chriftlans reftor'd to them. And thus ended entirely the tenth and laft General Perfe- cution of the Church, which from the Beginning of it, Feb. 23. 303. that is, from the Demoliihing of the Church oi Nicomedta^io the Rebuilding of it, were ten Years and near four Months. Maxtmin having return'd with Difgrace into his own £/#• Provinces, he firit in a furious Paffion deftroy'd many ^^^*^^* Priefts and Prophets belonging to thofe Gods he ador'd, looking upon them as Betrayers and Impoftors, fince they had engag'dhim in a defirudive War. He now began to be fcnfible of the Power of the God of the Chrifiians^ and by way of Expiation, ilfu'd out a Decree, much more favourable than his former, wherein he allow'd the Rebuilding of their Churches, and order'd the Refioration of their Eftates. Still he fled before Licimus^ and polTeft himfelf of the nar- row PafiTages of Mount Taurus^ where he built Forts to hinder the March of his Enemy. Finding this inefi^edual, he took a Compafs to the Right Hand, and fled to T'arj'iis ; but being \\\ Danger of being fiiut up there both by Sea and Land, and feeing no Profped of efcaping, his fearful Apprehcnfions, and the Anguifh of his Mind, made him feek for Death as the only Remedy againft thofe Evils, with which the Vengeance of Heaven had purfu'd him. He firll eat and drank to a great Excefs, as w^s ufual to / . fome 6p8 Cent. IV. EccleJiaJiicalHiJlory. Book III. fome who reckon it their laft Meal, and then tookPoifon; but his Stomach being over-charg'd, that had no prefent Operation on him ; but inftead of difpatching him in a Ihort time, it threw him into a lingring Torment, not un- like that of the Plague ; by which his Life was far length- ned out, and made mifcrable to the utmoft Degree. The Poifon now began to work violently upon him, and as an invifible Fire, gradually confum'd his Vitals, and his infutferable Pains threw him into a Phrenfie ; fo that for four Days time he eat Earth, which he dug up with his Hands, and fwallowM greedily. This Fire wafted and melted away his Flefli, and the entire Shape and Figure of his former Beauty quite difappear'd. The Violence of his Pains became fo intolerable, that he ran^is Head againft it Wall with fuch a Fury, that his Eyes ftarted out of their Places. But as he loft the Sight of his Eyes, a Vifion was reprefented to his Imagination, as ftanding to be judg'd by God, who feem'd to have Armies of Minifters about him, all in fplendid Garments ; at the Sight of which, he cry'd out as if he had been put on the Rack, T'hat it was others^ and not hlm^ that were to blame ! Yet afterwards he confeft his own Guilt, which was extorted from him by the exquifite Torments he fuftain'd. He callM upon Jefus ' Chrijl^ and with Floods of Tears begg'd that he wou'd have Pity on him : He groan'd and roar'd out v/ith the Heat of his inward Flames, and having fully acknow- ledged. That tkefe Sufferings were due for his Contempt and Prefnr/tpiion agahifl Chrift, he brcath'd out his Soul in tne moft dreadful Manner imaginable. This hapncd in the Pvlonth of Ai4guft^ and was the juft Death of a bloody Tyrant, and barbarous Pcrfecutor of the Church, after he had reign'd in the Eciji^ above eight Years. The Death oi Maximin put a Period to all the Trou- bles of the Chriflians\ and this was the great Epocha^ %vhen Chrijiianifj triumphantly got PofTeffion of the Thrones of Princes, and to its own native Power obtain'd the additional Strength of Human Laws and Conftitutions : In which State, tho' different Degrees of Succefs and Splendor, it has ever iince continu'd. As to the real Man- ner, and the gradual Methods obferv'd in this Eftablilli- ment, thofc are out of the Compafs of this Work; v»'hich \vc conceive has anfwer'd its Icicle and End, by Ihcwing the State o? Chrijliayuty 'till the fjiit Eftabliihmcnt of it by Hum:n Laws. THE THE INDEX. A THE Adamites, Hereticks^ Page 460 Adrian the iph Roman Emperor^ 45-0. Hh Excellencies and Failings^ 4J'i, 45-2. His Gene- rofity^ 4f2. His Dacian Expedition^ 45-4. He vifits the Empire^ and enters Gaul and Germany, ibid. He enters Belgium and Spain, ^Sl- ^^ returns to Rome, and vifits the Eaft, ibid. At Athens he is initiated into the Eleufinian Myfteries^ 45'6. His Decree in favour of the Chriftians, 45-8. He vifits Africk, 45-9. He Deifies Antonius, 461. He rebuilds Jerufalem, ibid. He con- cludes theVtfitation of the Empire^ 4^4- ^^ adopts Luci- us Commodus, 465'. H? profanes Jerufalem, 468. Hk > Death^ ^6^. ■ f Agrippa Senior^ is highly affronted at Alexandria, 249. He is made King of Paleiline, 260. He comes to Jerufalem and changes the Priefthood^ 261. He is check d hy '^■;\x- fus, 264. He perfccutes the Churchy and puts James, the Son {)/'Zebedee, to Death ^ z66. He imprifons Peter, 267, Agrippa goes to Csefarea, 268. He dies miferably^ 269. His mcraory infulted^ ibid. Agrippa Junior^ fucceeds Herod qf Chalcis, 279. He is pre- ferr'*d^i()^. He and others vifit Fellus, and hear iS^. Paul, Agrippa writes agawfi Bafilides, 45'9. Agrippina her Dcfigns^ 299, 300. She is fiain by Nero, 321. Agrippinus, the lOth Bijbop 0/ Alexandria, 495^. Albinus, the ixth Governor o/Judsea, 333. Alexander, the iph Roman Emperor^ 5-67. His admirable Virtues and regard to Chriftianity^ S^9^ 5*70 • He goes a- gainfi Artaxerxes, ^75'. His excellent Difcipline and Sue- cef^ 5^/6. His Triumph^ ibid. He goes againfi the Ger- mans, and is fiain ^ 5-77. Alexander The INDEX. Alexander, the fifth BiJJjop o/Rome, 45-3. Alexander made Bipop qf Jerufalcm, 5-5-5'. Alexander, the gth Btpop 0/ Alexandria, 69^. Alexander, the Sth Governor / Alexandria, 5'24. Ananias made High-Priefi^ 279. His Death ^ 35-5-. Ananus the High-Prieft Jlain^ 374. Anatolius, Bipop o/Laodicca, 643. St. Andrew believes in Jefus, 5-1. He iscaWd to bean Apo- ftle, 88. His Death, 348. Anianus y^ own^ d Succejfor ^0 Herod, 5'4. He isoppos'^dby his Cou77try-Men^ -$6. He is deprived and bamjh^d by Au- guftus, 5-9. Archelaus, Btlhop of Chafchara, 646. The Avchbwticks^ Hereticks^ 5-42. Aretas of Arabia overthrows Herod the Tetrarch, 244. Ariftides writes his Apology^ 45-7. Arnobius Converted^ 660. He defends the Chrijlian Reli- gion^ ibid. Alclepiades, the ()th Bijhop o/Antioch, 5- 5^4. Aftiriiis, a celebrated Chrijiian^ 628. Athenagoras, with Miltiades, prefent their Apologies^ 5'oS. Auguftus, Emperor o/Rome, his Charader^ 46. His gene- ral Taxation^ ibid. His Troubles^ 5*8. He refufes the Ti- tle of Lord^ ibid. His Regulations^ 61. His Death^ 61. Avilus, the third Bipop Oiot\\Q.\jiS fiourijhes., 647. E A Dreadful Earthquake., 447. •^ Edidum Perpetuum, 461. Elngabalus the 23^ Roman Emperor., and his CharaSier., 563. his Superjlition^ 5*64. he adopts his Coufm Alexia nus, ^66. he is flain., •^6']. The Council of Elcbcvcs., 673. Eleuthcrus the nth Bijfjop o/Rome, 5-08. Elxai the Impojior., and his Followers., 229. JEmilian proclaimed Emperor., 607. his Death., 60S-. The Encratites begun by Tatian, j'oo. Eros the ph Bijhop o/Antioch, 472. Eurnencs the ^th Bijhop 0/ Alexandria, 472. Eufebius BJhop o/(J^farea retires to Egypt, 682. where he is [mprifon'd., 683. Eufebius the 30//:? Bijhop o/Rome, ibid. Eutychianus the ^6ih Bijhop o/Rome, 641. "PAbian the i^th Bifoop of Rome, jSi. he is Martyr'^d., ) abius the lyh B:JJjop o/Antioch, fpS. Fadus ■y The I N D E X. Fadus the "jth Governor of Judaea, 269. he ends Difiur^ hances^ 270. he^ w/>^ Longinus difturb the Jews, 271. A Famine foretold by Agabus, 265'. Fauftina dies^ 472. Fanftina dtes^ 5-07. Faufta is married to Conftantine, 678. Faejix the lOth Governor of Judsea, 295* His Government^ 301. he routs an Egyptian Magician^ ^02. Felix the ift^ the ifth Bijbop o/Rome, 638. Felicitas and her feven Sons Martyr'' d^ 487. Feftus the Eleventh Governor of Judea, 324. his Govern- ment^ "^i^Z. \ V^ 2 . ■ ''^'- ''-' ^ ^ ■''•' Florinus and Blaftus dijitirt the Churchy flp. Florus the I y.h Governor of Judsea, 349. his wicked Go- vernment^ 35'0. G /^Abriel ^/^/^^rx^oZacharias, 38. he appears to Mary, 39. ^^ Galba^^^ 'jth Roman Emperor^ 304. he Adopts Pilb, 367. he is Jlain^ ibid. Galerius and Gonflantius made Ca;fars hy Diocletian, 6^6. GaleriusV Succejfes^ 65'8. his Infolence^ ibid, he urgesTy'i- ocletian to perfecute the Chrijiians^ 663. he threatens Di- ocletian, and. has the Empire rejigned to hirn^ 670. his Charaiier^ 672. he is inraged^ 675'. his Mt f carriage ^ 679. he joins Licinius with him in the Empire^ ibid, his Jirange diflemper^ 684. his EdiA in favour of the Chrijiians^6%^, he dies miferahly^ ibid. Galilee recovered^ 3S9' Gallus the 31/? Kom^m Emperor., 60^. the Empire harajfed.^ 604. he renews the yth Perfecution^6o6. he tsJlain.,6o^. Gallienus ^^dK.om^u. Emperor., andtheMiferiesofhisRcign.^ 624,625". his Behaviour., ibid, he relaxes the Perfecution.^ ibid, he publi floes a Refcript in favour of the Chrijiians^ 628. ^«r/y^^j, 668. • I Hyginus the %th BiJhop o/Rome, 471. \ Hippolkus an Ecciejiaftical IVriter, 5-71. • ' The Holy Ghoffs great Effufion at Pentecoft, 221. A fecond Effufton of the Holy Ghoji, 228. • j I, J Ames // called, 88. his Ambition, 163. he is Beheaded by i Agrippa, 267. \ James the tefl made Bipop of Jerufalem, 233. his Epijlle \ written, 333. his Martyrdom, 334. ' The Council of Iconium, 574. , 7 he Temple of Jznus Jhut np, 3^4. it is put up, 389. it is \ put up, 408. ' Jerufalem the firji Church, 1 24. a Sedition in Jerufalem, 280. i Jerulalem Bejieged, 464. Jefus born, 47. time of hts Nati-vitv, ibiS. his firfi Revela^ , tion to Shepherds,^, his Circumcifion, ibid, his Prefenta- , tion in the Temple, 49. his Reception by Simeon, ibid, his ' ' Reception bv Anna, 5'0. his fecond Revelation to i^i^^Magi, ■ ^-'l . he ts acknowledged with Adoration, ibid, his flight in- ' to Egypt, ^2. he returns from Egypt, ^'7. his Habitation \ at Nazareth, ibid. At ii Tears of Age he comes to jeru- • falem, and Difputes with the Dodiors, 61. his private \ Education, 65'. ^ ' Js Baptized,^!, his Age and time when Baptized, ibid, and '. Combat with the Devil, J^- he goes to a Marriage^ where \ he The I N D E X, he works his firjl Mirack^ 77. he repairs to Capernaum, 78. at Jerufalcm, at the Pajjover^ he clears the Temple of Traders, 79. he works Miracles, and Difiourjes with Nicodemus, ibid, he goes and Baptizes ?» Judaea, 80, 81. he enters Samaria, Dtfcourfes with a Samaritan IVaman^ 83. Converts many Samaritans, Sf. he cures a Noble man\ Son of Capernaum, ibid, he begins to. Preach in Galilee, 86. he goes to Nazareth, ibid, he is barbaroafly treated there ^ %^. Joe fettles at Capernaum, and rejlores a Demoniack there^ 89. cures PeterV IVife'*^ Mother^ and many other fick Perfons^ ibid, he makes a fecond Progref through Galilee, Cures a Leper ^ and returns to Caperna- um, 90, 91. he frees a Paralitick both from his Sins and his Difeafe^ ibid. He Cures an Infirm Man at the Pool qf Bethfaida, 92. he is called before the S^inhcdrim^ his Defence^Cf^. he Difcourfes the Pharifees concerning the Sabbath^ 95-. he returns to Capernaum, and heals a Man with a withered Hand on the Sabbath^ ibid, he works many Miracles^ 96. his Choice of his i:?. Apofiles^ Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Mathew, Thomas, James, Si- mon, Jude and Judas Ifcariot, 97, 98 . his Sermon on the Mount^ 99. he returns to Capernaum, and cures a Cen- turionV Servant^ 104. he goes to Naim, and raifes a Wi- dow'' s Son^ 105". his Anfwer to John Baptift, and his Dif courfe to the People thereupon^ ibid, he dines with Simon ^^^ Pliarifee, w^f r^ Mary Magdalen anoints his Feet^ 107. he is followed by many Women ^ 108. he cures a Dumb and Blind Demoniack, and the Pharifees B/^T^^^^^^^ibid. . his Vindication and Denunciation againjl them^ and a- gainft' the Nation of the Jews, 109. hts Mother^ &c. de- fire to fpeak with him^ ibid, his Parabolical Sermon and Explanation^ lio. his Anfwer to a Scribe and two others^ who were to follow him^ 112. he takes Shipping^- and A~ fwages a Storm^ 113. he arrives at the G^idaTcncs Country y where he cures two Demoniacks, and permits the Devils to enter a Herdof Swtne^ ibid. ^Z:?^ Gadarenes hefeech }pim to leave their Country^ 114. his Dif courfe on Matthew V FeaJ}^ and heals a Woman of a bloody Flux^ 115'. he re- Jiores JairiisV Daughter to Life^ 116. he cures two blind Men , and a dumb Demoniack, ibid, he goes a fecond time to Nazareth, 117. where he is flighted^ ibid, he Re- v'lfus Galilee, 118. his Mijjlon of the i2.ApoJlles^ and In- ftrudions to them^ ibid, his Miracle •f five Loaves and fOOO Men^ 111. he walks on the Sea^ 123. he Impowers Peter ^0 do the fame ^ ibid, his Difcourje concerning his Flejh and Bloody and the confequenccs of it^ 124. i/(? The I N D E X. He Difputes concerning ivdfhed Hands, 116. he repairs to- wards Phgenicia, where he reftores a Woman of Canaan'j Daughter.) }.z"]. he returns to the Sea 0/ Galilee, and cures one Dumb and Deaf, .128. his Miracle of the fev en Loaves and ^000 People, 1 29. he reprehends the blindnefi of the Pharifees, and of his own Difciples, ibid, he cures a blind Man at Bethfaida, 130. he tries his Difciples^ ibid, his firjl d^fcovery of his Pajfion, 1.31. his "Transfiguration up- OK the Mount, 132. he defcends from the Mountain, and returns to his Apojiles, ibid, he cures a pojfejjed Lunatick, j'^'^.Jjis fcfond Difcovery of his Pa^ion, 134. his payment of Tribute at Capernaum, ibid, his Sermon of Humility, 135". pf punning Scandals, of Private and Publick Cen- fures, and of forgiving Injuries, 136. ho is advifed to go to Jerufalem at the Feaji of the Tabernacles, his Journey towards that City, and his Miffion of 70 Difciples, 137, 138. his Arrival at the FeaJi of Tabernacles, 138, 139. he dijputes zuith the 'Pharifees, 140. and is in danger of being Jlon'd, 142* his Difcourfe voith aXiawyer,^ and .his Parable, of the good SaiTiaritaii, 143-. he is etitertain* d by Martha- ^?.W.Maryg. ibid, he teaches the Difciples to pray, and invites them hy two Examples, 144. ke d'!fpoJfeJ]l:s a d^imb Demeniack, ibid, dines with a^Pharifee, and expo- fes their Se^, ibid, he cautions his Difciples againji Hypo- crifie, Coyetoufnejl and Care lefnef, 145* andi^\6. .he warns the^Jcyy^ to Kepentance, the Parable of the barren Fig' tree, he cures a crooked Woraan, and confutes the Ruler of the Synagogue, 147. he goes to Jerufalem at theFeafiof Dedication^ where he cures a Man born blind, ibid, the Man is brought before the Sanhedrim, 148. and is excommuni- cated,!^^, he expofes the]Q.ws, andproveshimfe'lfto bethe good Shepherd, ibid, he is in danger of being flon^d; \^Q. he croffes the River Jordan, 1^1, his Anfwer co'ncerning the Mumber of the BleJJ^d, and to Herod'j Thrcafnings, ibid. he curesonefukof the Dropfie, and delivers Rules concerning Feafis, I'^x. together with a Parable, 15-3. he exhorts his Fol- lowers to Precaution by two Examples, andexpofes the Pha- rifees M^.rr/iurs by the Parables of the loji Sheep, the Piece of Silver , and the prodigal Son, 1 5^4,1 ff. he reproves their Cove- touf.ef by t/j^ Parable sf the unjuji Steward, if 5', and the Example of Di v es and Lazarus, 1^6. he advifes his Difciples againfl Scandals, and the Thoughts of Merit, if/. He cures ten Lepers, if 8. he Jfjews the Coming of his King- dom^ ibid, he teaches Fervency in Prayer by the Parable cf the T^^njuji 'Judge, a?id Humility by the Parable of the Pharifees and Publicans, if 9. he goes into Pers.!, where he The INDEX. he disputes with the Pharifees concerning Divorces^ ibid. he bleJJ'es certain -Infants^ 1 60. his Anfwer to the young Man^ ibid his Re^rehenfion ofCovetoufnefi^ 161. his Pro- mife to true Followers^ and Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard^ 161. he is fent to by Martha and Mary, 163. his third Difcoveryof his Pajfion^ ibid, he goes to Jericho, 164. he converts Zacchpus, ibid. The Parable of the ten Pieces deliver'' d to ten Servants^ ibid, he cures two blind Men ar Jericho, ibid, he goes to Bethany, ^;^<^ raifes Lazarus ^ om the Grave^ i6y. he retires to Ephraim, 168. he re- turns to Bethany, where Mary anoints his Feet^ ibid. His Kingly Entrance //^/ojerufalexn, 169. he weeps over the City^ 170. he clears the Temple of Traders^ ibid, his Dif- courfe with certain Greeks, 171. he curfes the Fig-tree^ 172. and clears the Temple again^ ibid, h^ Difcourfe con- cerning the withered Fig-tree^ 173. he is quejiion'd by the Rulers^ who are puzzle d^ ibid, his Parable of the two Sons in the Vineyard^ 174. his Parable of the ungrateful Husbandman^- \h\d. his Parable of the Marriage Feaji^i^-^. he defeats the Pharifees, and filences the Sadduces, 176. he anfwer s a Doctor of the haw ^ then confounds aU by one Quefiion^ 1 77. he expofes the Hypocrijie and Villanies of the Pharifees and leadij'ig Men^ 178. he applauds the IVi- dow^ 179- ^^■*" prophetical Sermon concerning the Defiru- £iion of the Temple of Jeriifdltm^ ibid, his Parable of the car^eful Servant^ 1 8 1 . of the ten P^irgins and of the Talents^ 182. Defcription of the laji Judgment^ 183. he fups ^^ Si- mon the Leper^s^ where Mary anoints hu Heady ibid, he wajhes his npo files Feet^ teaches them Humility ^ and fore- tells Judas V Treafon^ 184. he gives his Difciples a new Commandment^ 18^. he prepares the lajl Pajfover^ and comforts his Difciples before his Departure^ 187. he cele- brates the Pajfover^ and infiitutes the Eucharifi^ 189. he compofes the Apoftles Contefl^ and warns them of their Temptation^ 190. he gives his far ewel Exhortations ^ ibid. his folemn Prayer^ 1 91, igi. he departs over Kedron, and foretels his Apoftles Infirmities ^ 193. his Ante-P ajfion and Agony in the Garden^ his Apprehenfion and JudasV Trea- fon^ 193, 194. he is brought before Annas, and then be- fore Caiaphas and' the Sanhedrim, 196. he is inhumanly ■treated by the Servant s^ and brought again before the San- hedrim, 198. he is brought before the Roman Governor Pilate, ibid, who finds no Fault in him^ 199. he is brought before Hcrod, and fent back with Scorn ^ 200. he is again brought before Pilate, who in vain propofcs to releafe him injlead of Barabbas, ibid, he is fcourg^d^ crown d vjtth Thorns^ The INDEX. Thms^a^d expofcd to the Jews, 201. he is examined «- gain by Pilate, 202. w condcr»ind to be crucified^ 203. J5 led through ]cn\ih.lcm^aKd cr/icified between two Thieves^ 204. his Garments are divided^ ibid, be triumphs in one of the Tthiez^es^ and makes his iViU^ 205*. he cries out in his Agonies^ and dies^ 206. his Death attended with fe~ zcral Prodigies^ avd the JewiOi "Types at an end^ ibid, his Side is pierced^ 207. his Body begged and buried^ ibid, his RefurreStiony 209. his firjl Appearance to Mary Magda- len, his feco.id to certain H'omcn^and his third Appearance to two Difciples^ 209, 210, 211. his fourth Appearance to Peter, and his fifth Appearance to ten of the Apojiles^ 211. his fixth Appearance to the eleven^ 213. and his ^th Ap- pearance at the Sea of Galilee, his Injirudions to Peter, 214. his %th Appearance to ^'oo Brethren^ 215'. his Com- 'mijjton to the Apojl/es^ ibid, his . John the Baptift born^/^l. his Life^ 69. his Minifiry and time of his Minifiry^ ibid. Preachiy/g^ iuid. hisBaptifm^yo^ he is followed by all theSe£ls^ihld. he foretels the Meffiah ibid, his Tejlimony of Jefns^ 71. he is thought to be the Meffiah, 74. his fecond "teftimony ofjefus^ ibid, his third 'Teftimony^ 75'. his laft Tejiimony of Chrift^ 81. he goes to the Court o/Herod, 82. he is tmprifm d by him^ ibid, he fends to Jefus^ 105'. his Death ^ 121. ^^. John/i^^Evangelifl: belteveth injefus^ 75'. he iscalPJ^SS. his Ambition^ 163. his A^s at Ephelus, 404. he is thrown into a Chaldron of boylmgOil^ 412. he is banijh'dtothe Ijle o/Patmos, ibid, he writes /^/j Revclacions, 413. he is much afflided^ ibid, he returns to Ephelus, 418. he writes his fir ft Epiftle^ ibid, his fecond and third^ 419. he writer his Gofpel at the Re ([ue ft of i^e KivdwChnrches^^}/:). his Car e^ 424. he converts a Robber^ 42 f. his Love^ 427. his Death^ 428. his Difciples and Writings^ ibfd. Joleph the reputed Father ofjefm dtes^ 66. Jofeph made High Prieft^ 332. Jofephus 7«^.^^ High Priejt by Herod o/Calcfs, 272. Jofephus take,n Prifoner^ 35-5. he is fet free^ 371. his JVars of the Jqws put into a publick Library .,^01. he finipes his Antiquity of the Jews, 409. he dtes^ 410. Irenasus made Bijhop of Lyons, 51 3. he writes againft all Hereticks, 5'! 9. he his martyr'' d at Lyons, ^^\. Ifhmael is made High Prieft., 320. Difturbance in Judaea, 295*. all ]\idxa fuffer^ 375*. St. Jude writes his EpilHe, 391. his Death^-^^^. his Grand- children brought before Domitian, 414. Judas bargains with the Sanhedrim, &c. 186. his Defpair and ftrange Death., 198. Julian, the nth Bijhop &/ Alexandria, ^15-. Julianus the lOth Rom. Emperor., 5^27. he is ftain^ 5-28. Julius Africanus his Chronology., 5-66. Judin Martyr converted., 462. he comes to Rome, 471. he writes his firft Apology., 475'. he vifits the Eail, 477. he Difputcs w/V/?Tryphon, ibid, his Difpute with Crefccns, 487. he writes his fecond Apology., 495'. he with fix others apprehended., 496. his Dijcourje with the Governor., ibid. he and his Companions jirift'er^ 497- Julius the 6th Btjhop 0/ x\lcxandria, 45-3. Licinus M^ The I N D E X.' L LIciiiius join'd with Severus, 679. he marries Conftantia, 694. he marches againfi Maximin, and is tnftruded by an Angel^ 69^. he defeats Maximin, 696. Linus fucceeds St. Peter and St. Paul in Rome, 363. he pffers, 400. Lucian, 65-7. Lucius of Bntain fends to Pope Eleutherus/or Preachers, 5-14. Lucius the ziji Bi/bop 0/ Rome, 607. St. Luke'j Gofpel written, 331. he writes the Ads of the Apofiles, 340. hff Death, 396. Lyfias refcues Paul, 318. M Acrianus yZ^/>, 628. Macrinus the i^d Roman Emperor, ^60. his Mif- management, 5'6i. he decline:, f6i. he is /lain, ibid. Mam^d^ fends for Origen into Syria, -^6^. o'jn. ' • T'he Beginnif^g of the Manichees and their Opinions, 644. Marcella and Potamiasna their T'riumphs, 5'4)"'. Marcellina a Carpocratian, 4%). Marcia favours the Chriftians, f 2 1 . T^he Marcionites Herefie, 427. T'he Marcofians, ^11. Marcellinus the zfth Bipop of Rome, 65-7. Marcelius the x^th Bipop of Rome, 680. Marcus the "ith Bipop 0/ Alexandria, 472. Marinus martyr d, 627. St. Mark' J Gofpel written, 26 f. his Death, 328. Mark Bipop of ]erufa\em, the firji of the Uncircur/icifwn, 468. Marfus affro-nts Agrippa, 264. Several Martyrs, 414. the firji Commemoratiou of Martyrs, 493. an Accou77t of the Martyrs fent to fever al Chnrches, 5-13. Many Martyrs, ibid. 'The Martyrs in Africk, 606. Many Martyrs, ibid. Marullus the 6th Governor in Judasa, 247. The Virgin Mary vifits Elizabeth, 40. jhe is fufpeSied, 41. her Death, 180. Mary anoints Jefui's Feet, 168. Maternus a7^d ClcandGx Jlain, 5*23 . Matthew called, 92. his Feaft, and Jefus'^s Difcourfe upon it, 114, iij'. his Gofpel written, 262. his Death, 317. St. Matthias V Death, 235-. IVlatthias the laft High Priejl, 35-0. Maxentius J^^j up in Rome, 677. his Chara^er, 678. he is flam, 6g2. ■ ■. Maximian ^^cj againfi the Bclgaudx, 6^2 . he is made Au- gul^us The INDEX. guftus and equal w;/V^ Diocletian, 65*3 . their Edi^ ^g^infi the Manichees, 6^/\. he refigns his Right to the Empire^ 670. he re-ajfumes the Empire^ 677, his Dejigns^ 670. his Charader^ 6y<^. his Cruelties to the Chriftians^ ibid, his Ti'reachery and Defeat^ 681. his Villany and Death^ 683. Maximinus the 26^^ Roman Emperor ^his Monjirous Stature and 'Temper^ Sll- Con/piracies againfi him^ and hk Sue- cejjes^ 5-78. he and his Son Jlain^ 5*8 2. Maximus ^WBalbinus thex^th Roman Ew^^ror/, 5-82. they are Jlain^ ibid. Maximin /oZ/owj" Galerius'j- jEjf ^;;2/?/^, 673. he enlarges his Dominions^ 686. his Superjlition and Tyranny ^ ibid, heun- ^ willingly complies with Conftantine, 693. He marches a- gainfl Licinius, 694. he is Defeated^ 695'. he poifons him- felf^ and dies miferably^ 698. Maximinus the 'jth Bipop o/Antioch, -$1^. Maximus the iph Bijhop /:> Galerius, 631. he is Jlain^ and 'Zcnohiafucceeds him^ 634. Ophites Hcrefie^ 476. Oneiimus cmvcrted^ 339. he is Martyr' d^ 445*. OrigenV Zeal and Educatioji^ 5'4i. he is maintaii^d bv a Lady^ 5'42. he is made Governor o/i?^^- Catechetical iSri^^o/, 5'43. he Emafculates himfilf ibid. He goes to Rom«, 5'5'4. hts improvement^ f^^. he compofes his Tetrapla, ^^^. he goes to preach in Arabia, 5'5'8. he rtturns^ ibid, he retires to Cccfarea, f^-p. he is rvcaWd by Demetrius, $60. he writes Commentaries upon the Scriptures^ S7^- ^^ defends Phihfophy^ ibid, he goes to Achaia, 5^72. at Paleftine he ^ Grdain'd Presbyter^ ibid. Demetriil-s refents ity ibid, he is condcmri'd by a Council^ in a fecond Council Degraded and Excommunicated^-^'] '^. noiwithflanding finds ma7iy Friends^ ■ 5'74. he writes of Martyrdom^ and retires from Csefarea, 581. Zr Pifidiaj where Y^ preacher i The I N D E X. firfp io the Jews, and thm to the Gentiles, lyf. heiyig dijiuryd^ they remove to Icoviiuxn^aKd from thence to Ly- flra, where upon curing a Cripple ^they are accotwtedGods^ 276, 277. Paul is Jion'd^ hut efcapes^ ibid, they return to Antioch, 280. they go to Jerufalem, 281. the Council of Jerufalem, ibid, the Decree of the Council^ 283. they re- turn to Antioch, 284. Paul rebukes Peter, 285-. P^iil and Barnabas part afunder^ 286. Paul Circumcifed Timothy, ibid. Paul goes into Europe, 287. he is Scourged at Phil- lippi, and Imprifond with Silas, 288. he goes to Thcfla- lonica, and to Beraja, 289. from thence to Athens, where he preaches and pleads before ^/^^ Areopagus, 29b. Paul 'oes to Corinth ^ hi s firji Epijile to ^^^Theiralonians, 292. e is encourag d by a Vifion^ 293. he is brought before Gallio, 295'. his fecond EpiJlle to the ThefTalonians, ibid. he goes to Ephefus, and to Jerufalem, 297. he returns to Ephefus, 298. he continues at Ephefus, 304. his fir ft E- ptftle to the Corinthians, 305-. his Epijile to the Galatians, ibid. Being a Tumult by Demetrius he is in danger^ and leaves Ephefus, 307. his fecond Epiftle to the Corinthi- ans, 309. his Epiftle to the Romans, ibid, he raifes Eu- tychus from the Dead at Troas, 311. his farewell Sermon to the Presbyters &/ Ephefus, 312. his laft Journey to Je- rufalem, 313. he advtfes with James, 314. and complies with fome Rites^ ibid, he is in great Danger^ 315'. is re- fcuedbyLyiizSj but becomes a Prifoner ^o//'(7 Romans, ibid. he apologizes before the People^ who will not be fatisfied^ ibid. By the order of Lyiias, he is examined by the San- hedrim, who cannot agree ^ 3i(^. the Jews confpire againft him^ 318. he is for fecurity fent to Cocfarea, where he is accufed before Faslix, ibid, his full /Infiver^'^icj^ he is de- tain d by Fa^lix, ibid, he is accufed bsfor^ Keflus, and he appeals to the Emperor^ 322. he is brought before Feflus and Agrippa, ibid, he raakes a Speech to Agrippa, ibid. which almoft converts him^ 323, 324. Paul and others fent towards Rome, and he and his Company in great danger by a Storm^ 325", 326. they are caft upon Melita, ibid, they are civilly tntreated by the Inhabitants^ 327. he cures the Governor"* s Father^ ibid, he /e^-zi^/ Melita, and arrives at Rome, 329. he Difcourfes with the Jews there ^ 330. he returns to the Gentiles; with his Succef^ ibid, his Epiftle to the Philippians, 337. his Epiftle to the Ephelians, 338. his Epiftle to Philemon, 339. his Epiflle to ^i??^ Coloffians, 340. his Epiftle to Hebrews, 341. he goes into Spain, 342. he returns to Crete, 343. he makes^itxxs Btftjop &/ Crete, ibid. Goes into Judaea, ibid, his Journies^ 35'2. his f^rft E- Y 2 ^ piftle The I N D E X. ftftle to Timothy, 35'3. his Epiftle to Titus, ibid, his Journtes^ ibid, his fecond Arrival at Rome, 35'9. his and Pcter'j PrediSiions^ ibid, they are both imprifon'd^ 360. V^wV s fecond Epiftle ^0 Timothy, 362. he is Martyr" d^ 7,6'^. Paul of^hthizs^thefirfl Hermit^ 5-97. Paulus the iph Bijhop o/Antioch, 626. Paulus Samofatanus, his Errors and J/ices^ 631. he is depri- ved by the'Bipops^6y]. he is deprived by a fecular Power^ ^39- Perennis'j- Deftgns and Death^ ^21. Peregrinus the Impoftor^ 398. Perpetua and Felicitas Martyr'" d^ -^^6. A fever e Perfecution of the Churchy Saul principal Agent^ 237. the firft general Perfecution^ 346. the fecond general Perfecution^ 408. the third general Perfecution^ 426. the Caufes thereof^ ibid, the Perfecutio-a ftill rages ^ 43 y. it is abated^ 437. the Chriftians feverely perfecuted^ ^f6. they are fever ely treated^ and an EdiSi in favjur ofthern^ 45'8. the fourth general Perfecution and Caufes^ 48 1 . attended with many 'Troubles in the Empire^ 485'. it, increafes^ and many Cruelties^ 489. the ^th Perfecution reviiied^ and the Hiftory of the Martyrs at Lyons, 5*99. they are eafed from Perfecution^ ^16. the ph Perfecution^ and Caufes thereof which reaches Africa, 535', 5" 36. it revives and increafes^ 5'5'3. it ceafes^ 5-70. the 6th general Perfecution^ fj^. the 'jth general Perfecution and Caufes^ S9^' the feverity of it, 5'95'. it is renewed by Gallus,6o6. the Sth general Per- fecution^ 61^. the continuance^ 616. it increafeSj 619. the ^th, <^44- ^^^ beginning of the' lOih Perfecution, 663. the Jleps taken therein, 66^. the Continuance and Seventy of it, and the variety of Deaths, ibid- other Punijhments, with the behaviour of the Chriftians, 666, 66^. the Per- fecution carry^d on by others, 668. the Perfecution ceafes in the Weft, 673. it ftill rages in the Eaft, 681. the loth Perfecution ended, 693. Pertinax the \()th Roman Emperor, ^26. he is ftain, ^2y. Peter believes in Jefus, 76. he is called, 88. his ConfeJJlon, 125'. his Denial of his Mafter, 130. his pr ft Sermon to the Jews, 222. and 3000 Converted thereby, 224. he goes up to the Temple with John, and heals a Cripple, 225". his fecond Sermon to the Jews, and 5'COO Converted, 226. he and John are Imprifoned, and brought before the San- hedrim, ibid, their Defence, they are threatned and dif- miffed, ibid, they go to Samaria, 239. Peter feverely re- proves Simon Magus, ibid. Peter and John return to Jerufalem 240. Peter goes to Lydda and cures iEneas, The I N D E X. 2^1. He is fent to Joppa, where he raifes Tabitha from the Dead^ ibid, his Vifion^ he goes with the Mejfen- ger^ and preaches to Cornelius, and Baptizes him andfe- 'veral others^ iff, ifd. he indicates the Adion tu the A^ ■poftles at Jerufalem, 25-8. who are highly pleaded with it^ ibid. Of his going to Rome, 263. he goes to Babyloji, from whence he writes his fir^ Epi file ^ 298. he fettles at 'Rome, 343. his fecond Defeat 0/ Simon Magus, 344. his fecond hptjile and Predi6itons^ 3^9. he is Imprifonedwitb St. Paul, 360. he is Martyred., 363. Peter, the feijenteenth Bijhop 0/ Alexandria, 66,0. he writes his Canonical Epiflle.^ 674- he fujfers.^ 687. ne Pharifees plot againfi Jefus, 175-. Phileas flouripes., 65-7. Philetus, the tenth Bipop of Antioch, 5-61. Philip called to be an Apojlle^ 76. his Death^ 294. Philip the Deacon preaches at Samaria, 238. and Baptizes Simon Magus, 239. he goes towards Q2il2L^ where he Bap- tizes the Ethiopian Enpuch^ from whom he ts miraculoujly removed^ 240. The Death of Philip the Tetrarch, and his Dominions united to Syria, 232. Philip, the i()th Roman Emperor^ ^87. he isfuppofed to he a Chrifiian.^ and fubmits to do Penance at Alitioch, and the Church fiourip., 5-88, ^93. Philippus and ModcAus flour ip^ 5-03. JPilate, the ^th Governor in Judsea, 64. his fevere Govern- ment's^. heflaughterstheG3\ilean.Sji^6. he examines Je- fus again.^ and being terrified (after he had pronounced him Innocent) he condemns him to be Crucified^ 1 99, 202. he gives Tiberius an Account of our Saviour* s Adions^ and Ti- h^iXMSpropofes todeifie ^//?7, 231,232. he is depofed from his Government' 244. he is banijhed' 246. he killeth himfelf ifo. Pius I. the ninth Btpoop o/Rome, 472. The Death of Elder Pliny, 401. Pliny, theToungeV' fent into Afia, and he writes in favour of the Chriflians, 435'. 4$"^. Polycarp made Bijhop 0/ Smyrna, 404, hisEpifile to the Philippians, 443. he goes to Rome, 478. his zeal for his Faith' 479. he ts fought for^ he retires^ and foretels his Death' 489, 490. he is Apprehended' and encouraged by a. Voice from Heaven' 491. his Difcomfe with the Proconful^ ibid, he is ordered to be burnt' 492. his ConJiancV' his ■ Prayer' his Execution' 493. Pontianus, the lyth Bpop o/Rome, ^75'. Poppsa killed by her Husband Nero, 35-2. Porphyry flourtpe^' 636. Probiis, The INDEX. Probus, the i^yth Roman Emperor^ and his Character y6A'i. his great ^uccefi in Gaul and Illyricum, 645". his Snccejl in the Eaft, and "Triumph^ 646. he Conquers all Ufurpers 647. he is /lain ^ 648. Q QUadratus made Bijhop of Athens, 45-3. his Apologies^ "O Ome and Italy affltded^ 3^1. •"- The fir Jt Revolution in the Roman Empire ^ 364. Rome taken and plundered^ and the Capitol burnt ^ y^x. Calamities there ^ 401. 'The Romans Succefi in the Eaft, 446, 447, 448. great Cala^ mities in the Roman Empire^ 485-, 4S6. a Council in Rome, 601. fecond Council of Kome, 627. new Troubles in the Roman E)npire^ ibid. MiferiesandUfurpations there^62^^ 625'. Many Troubles there ^ 6f6. Rome afflided^ 678. Rufiis, the third Governor in Judxa, 62. S A Dijlurhance in Samaria, 343. -^ The Herefie o/Sabellius, 67S. The Sanhedrim confult againjl Jefus, 167. the Sanhedrim Confult a fecond time againfi Jefus, iSf. Satiirnius and Balilides broach their Herejies^ 44^. The Sons o/Sceva defeated^ 303. Grand Secular Games celebrated^ 278. they are again cele- bratedy 474- ^^^i^ celebrated^ 590. they are left off^ 694, Sejaniis Executed^ and the Jews eafed^iij. Seieucus ^WHermias Hereticks^ fi^. Serapian the Sth Bijhop of Antioch, 5-24. Sergius Paulus is converted by Paul and Barnabas, 274. The Severians, yco. Severus the 11 H Roman Emperor^ fi^. he goes againHKl- ger, 5'30. his Succefi againfi ISiig^r and other s^ ibid, a great Controverfie about keeping Eafler, 53 1 . his Succefi againfi Albinus, 5'32. his Succefi in the'E-iii^S'iS- ^^^ makes Cara- ^ C2L\\?k Partner in the Empire^'ibiA. his Triumph and Speda- cleSy 5*44. his Regulations^ SAl- he joins his two Sans with him, and goes into Britain, j'49. his Succeffies^ ibid, his Death, ffi. the Apothefts of htm, ibid. ScVQTUS /lain, 677. Simeon fucceeds St. James in Jerufalem, 335^. his Torment^ and Martyrdom, 443. " Simon Magus Baptized, 239. he is fever ely reproved by Pe- ter, ibid, his fecond defeat by i5"f. Peter, 543, 344. his Fol- lowers Opinions, ds the Gno (ticks, ibid. The Sibylline Oracles, 461, ' Sixtus The INDEX. SlxtVLS I. the 6th Bijhop . Stephen confutes themofi Learned Jews, whe accufehim ofBLafphemy^ 234. his Defence before the S^Luh^dnva^i'^^. his happy profpedi of lieceven^ 236. he is hurry'' d out of the City and jioii'd^ ibid, his Burial^ ibid. Stephen I. the ^id Bijhop qfRome, 607. heoppofesSt.Qy prian, 613. Symm^chiis ^ranjlated the Bible into Greek, 498. 'The Sim darkened^ 20 f. T '"PAcitus the '^6tb Roman Emperor^ 6^1. -*• The Talmud /-f down before Jerufalem, 376. he gains the firft and fecond IValls^ and Crucifies great Numbers <>/ Jews, 378. he fur rounds the City with a WaU^ and a dreadful Fa- mine enfues^ 379. a noble li^oraan boils her Child^ and eats it. / \ The INDEX. it^ 380. he gains the Caftle Antonia, ibid, he burns the temple ^ 381. he is Mafter of all the City^ which he en- tirely demolijhes^ 383. he weeps over Jerufalem, 388. he and his Father "Triumph^ and he is honoured with a "trium- phal Arch, ibid, he is the eleventh Roman Emperor^ his Regulations, 397. his Death, 402. Trajan the i^th Roman Emperor, ^11. his Excellencies and • Defers, 423. he obtains the title of Optimus, 424. his Succejfes in Dacia, and Regulations, 432. his fecond IVar in Dacia, 434. his wonderful bridge, ioid. his Anfwer to Pliny, 436. he Conquers odwelly &c. Englifhmen^ and from the Information of one of the greateft Chronologers now living. A. D. V.iE. Roman Emperors, Roman Ajfairs, Ecclefiaftical A fairs. Augufius from the Death of fulius Cens the Temple of 7'^" w"5, which had been fhut be- fore our Saviour's Birth. Ttberins returns from Rhodes in Jmy, after fcven Years Stay. 47 4S" 49 49 5-0 5-2 :r3 /3 5-4 ^4 56 S6 — ftj/«j C*yizr makes Arioharxancs Kino; over the Armetiians, Aiigv.fitis zdopis TiberiiTs June xyih. He refufes the Title of Lord, He compleacs the Calendar. AitgaJIns efiabli(hes the Militia of the Empire. A great Famine in Rome, GermanicHS mznages the War with Ecclefiaftical Affairs, Our Lord returns from cJE^ypt, and fettles at..AVx^'/-«^ in'G^- hlce. The valgiT oyEra of our Saviour's Birth commences, A, A/. 4004,5 U. C, 75-4. St. John the Evangelift fuppos'dl to have been born this Year, asj alfo Si. Paul. i Archelam banilh'd, and his Do minions reduc'd to a Roman Province. j Coperiius the firft Governor. The DalmatUiH War finifli'd. AupifiKs makes Laws againfl Ce- lebacy. Varus defeated in Germany. AugKJius baniflies Ovid. Aagt'.fius fends Tiberius into Ger- many. Tiberius carries on the Wars with the Germans. Tibeiins finiflies the German Wars, and is aflbciated in the Empire with AngitfiHS. Angnfiiis makes his Will, and lays Annius Rufits made the third Go it up with the Veftal Virgins. ■'IS. V Ttbsritts. Ax^iifius finds 4137000 Citizens cf Rome, AtiguJIns dies at Noia, Atigitjl i95h. TITiERIUS reigns 22 Years, 7 Months, and 7 Days. Cyreneus makes a fecond Taxation' in Jndxa, and depofes jfoasierl the' High -Prieft. j Jjidas of Galilee rifes up and forms a new Seft. Our Lord, at twelve Years of Age> difputes with the Doftors. Samaritans prophane the Temple. Ambivins made the fecond Gover- nor of Jndxa. vernor of Jndaa. A.D If l6 17 18 10 21 22 ^3 2-4 ^r 2(5 ^7 28 Roman Emperors. Tibtritis. 2 3 4 4 y 6 9 10 10 II II 12 iz 13 1 + 14 Ro»man Affairs, Germanicus Wars in Germany. Tiberius reftrains the Licentiouf- nefs of the Players. Germanicus, iifter great Succefles, is recall'd from Germany. The Aftrologers are banifh'd out of Italy. Germanicus triumphs- May 26th. Cappadocia reduc'd to a '^man Province. Germanicus fent into the Eafl. Germanicus reducfes Comage-na to a %oman Province. Whoredom in W^omen of Qua- lity is puniih'd with Banish- ment. Germanicus, being poifon'd, dies towards the End of this Year, Eccleliaftical Ajfairs. Valerius Gratus made the fouith Governor of Judtta. j He depofes ^njias, and fuccef-i fively fets up Ifhmael, EUaz.er and Simon. The Jews complain of the Taxes Tiberius refers them to Germa- nicus. The Death of Germanicus veng'd upon Pifa. re- Tiberius retires to Campania in the begimiing of the Tear. Tiberius aflbciates his Son Druftts with the Tribunitian Power. Drufus poifon'd, from which Time Tiberius became more tyrannical. The Players are banifh'd out of %ome and Italy. Tacfarinas, after feven Years ftruggle, is defeated in ^frick. Tiberius folemnizes his firft De- cennalia, ^ugufl 19th. Tiberius retires from ^omcy and never returns. Tiberius fettles at Caprca. The Amphitheatre at Fide^a fiills and kills 20000 People, and wounds 30000 more. The Senate forbids the Religion of the ty£gyptiaf7s and Jexus, and banilhes the latter out of T{oj»e. Caiaphas made High-Prieft by Gratus. Gamaliel made Head of the San- hsdrir/i, according to the Rab bins. The M{e~Aas^ofjefus Chrifi publish 'd in tli£ 4ta (Jenrury, are dated from this Year. Pontius Pilate made the fifth Go- vernor of Judaa. He creates great Difturbances to to the Jews. Herod divorces his Wife, and marries Herodias, Wife to his Brother Philip. Jofeph, Husband to the Virgin Mary, dies, according to the moll recciv d Opinion. * A z [A.D ^9 51 Roman Emperorr Roman ji^nirs. Ecclefiaftical Affairs, Ttberius, 16 16 17 17 18 18 l^ 19 55 19 Tiberius' s Mother L«x/i* dies. 4grippina, Widow to Germanicusy and her two Sons baniih'd. THE BEGINNING OF 1 THE GOSPEL, and of John Baptift's Preaching, in the Beginning of this, or the lat ter End of the laft Year. He has many Followers. S^-anus is CuCpectcdhy Tiberius. Paterctilus finiihes his Hiftory. Some believe that the \oman took away the Power of Life and Death fiom the Jews this Year. Jefffs baptiz'd, Jan. 6. His Temptation. John's Teftimony of him. His firft Miracle at Cana, in March. THE FIRST PASSOVER after our Saviour's Baptifra. ^pril 6th. John concludes his Miniftry, and is imprifon'd in November. Jefus converfes with the Samari- tans, and then cures the No bleman's Son in Galilee. I Sejanus, by Tiberius^s Command, is executed with all his Family, O^ober 17th. After the Death of Sejanus, Ti- berius is more favourable to the Jews. Jefus iettles at Capernaum. He calls Peter., ^Andrew, Jamej, John and Matthew. THE SECOND PASSO- VER after our Saviour's Bap- tifm, March 28. The Ciioice of the 12 Apoftks in May. John fends to Jefus from Prifon fefus receives Mary Magdalene. He goes over into Trachonitis, where the Inhabitants are frighted. He raifes the Dead, and works other Miracles at Capernaum. A Volume of the Sibyl's Books added to the reft. Tiberius, in the midft of his Plea- fures, cruel and miferabk. Tiberius is extremely fevere to- wards all the Friends and Ac- complices of Sejanus. .Agrippina, and Others, are fuffer- cdro perifh by Famine. The Million of the 12 Apoftles in Jan. John BaPtifl beheaded in leb. The firft Miracle of the Loaves. THE THIRD PASSOVER after our Savioiu's Baptifm, ^pril 14th, in which Pilate flays the Galileans. The fecond Miracle of the Loaves. Peter's Confeflion of Chrifl. Jefus's Transfiguration. The Million ot the 70 Difciples. Jefus goes to theFeaft of Taber- nacles in October. The Return of the 70 Difciples Jefus goes to the Feaft of Dedi- cation in December. THE GREAT YEAR. Jefiis crolTcs Jordan. His laft Journey to Jerufalem. He converts Zaccheus, and raifes Laz^arui from the Grave. His Kingly Entrance into Jeru falem, March 29th. THE FOURTH AND LAST PASSOVER, ^- A.D. 53 Roraan Empertrs. Tibtr'tHs. lO 34 55 20 21 l^ 17 ai 22 22 i? Roraan Ajfuirs. Ecclehaftical affair r. pril 2d, which Jefus changes for the Emharift. Jefm condemnd, fcourg'd and crucify d, ^pril 3d, Friday, His Refurreftion, ^pnl sth. He appears five Times the fame Day, and feveral Times after. His Afcenfion, May 14th. Matthias chofen one of theTwelve. The Effufion of the Holy Ghoft, May 24th. The firft Eftablifhment of the Chrifiian Church. Miracles wrought, lirc 58 Philij^ the Tetrarch being dead his Dominions are by Tiberius united to Syrta. The Confuls celebrate Tiberius's Vicemalia, and aic condemii'd ihottly after. Tiberius propofes to deify Jejus. The feven Deacons chofen. fames the Lefs made Bilhop of Jertifalem. Stephen ftoned, about the Paffo- ver. The Church firft perfecuted, and the Believers difpers'd into fe- veral Countries. Philip converts the Samaritans, Peter and Johrt confirms tiiem. Simon Magus the firft Introducer of Herelie. Philip converts the Eunuch of ty£thiopia. Tiberius makes VitelUus Gover- nor of Syria, in the Room of Pomponiui FlaccHs. A Phoenix faid to appear in this Year, or the Year 34. T{om£ idflicled by Ijiundations, &c. Tiberius dies March 26th. Paul converted near Darnafms. He retires to Arabia, where he continues two Years. Vitellius goes to Jerufalcm at the Palfover, reftores the Prieft's Veftments, depofes Caiaphas and fets up Jonathan. The Samaritans deluded by an Impoftor, and chaftis'd by Pi- late. Pilate depriv'd of liis Govern ment. Herod defeated by Gretas. Paul returns from Arabia to Da- mafcus. Vitellius malces Tlnophilus High Prieft. at Mifenum, on CALIGULA reigns 3 Years, 10 Months, and 8 Days. Caligula difpofes of feveral Go- vernments. Caligula impioufly afTumes Di- vine Honours, :uid builds Temple to himfeif. * A Pilate banifli'd by Caligula, to Vienna in Gaul. Marullus fent in his Room. Herod ^grippa advaiic'd to be King of part of Jtidxa. Paul goes from Damafcus to Je- falera,ai\d. from thence toTar- -AgrippA aftronted at ^Alexandrux^ and the JevJs barbaroully tiei- ted. Herod and Heredias baniih'd. PjUic kiJis himlclf. j A,U 19 40 41 4^ Romjii Emperors Caligula. 2 4 V. Claudius. I 45 44 45 46 47 Roman Affairs, Caligula abolishes the Memory of ^xgnjius's Victories over An- tony. He buiiiihes his Sifters, and com jnits many Cruelties. Caligula, having made a ridicu- lous Expedition, returns to "^^ome in Triumph, ^Hguft 31. Ecclefiaftical Jiffairs. Caligula flain by Chdereas, on Ja- nuary 24th. CLAiTdIUS reigns 13 Years, 8 Months, and 19 Days. He makes ^grippa King of all Falejiine. Marfus made Governor oi Syria who checks ^grippa. Camilhis's Revolt and Death. A Famine in ''R^me. Claudius abolifhes feveral Feafts and Sacrifices. The Famine foretold by ^gabm. Marfus affronts ^grippa. Claudius goes into Britain, in the End of this Year. Claudius triumphs over the Bri- tains. He makes Fadas the fevcnth Go- vernor of Jitdaa. Helena relieves Jertifalem in the Famine. Pet^ fuppos'd to have founded the Biihoprick of ^ntioch. He goes to Lydda and Joppa, where he cures cy£,neas, and raifes Ta- bitha from the Dead. The Jevjs reduc'd to great Ex- tremities by Caligula. THE CALL OF THE GENTILES. Cornelius the firft Gentile Con- vert. The Jevjs favour'd by Claudius. ^grippa makes Simon and Mat- thias High-Priefts fucceffively. Many Gentiles converted at ^n- tioch : Barnabas goes to them. St. Matthew writes his Gofpel. Paul, after three Years Labours in Cilicia, &c. goes with Bar- 7iabas to ^ntioch. Peter falfly fuppos'd to have fettled at T^ome this Year. Th7Beii"evers firft call'd CHRl- STIANS in ^ntioch. St. Marh^s Gofpel wrritten. Marfus makes Eliofixus High- Prieft. Euvodius faid to be Biihop of ^ntioch. Paul and Barnabas go to Jerufa lem. .Agrippa perfecutes the Church. St. James the Great beheaded a little before the PafTover. Peter imprifon'd, and efcapes. ^grippa dies miferably. Paul and Barnabas made Apofties of the Gentiles. Herod of Chalets obtains Power Clatidliis forbids ereding any over the Temple, aiid make Statue without the Senates Jofephus High-Prieft. Permiffion. \Theudas the Impoftor defeated. Fadus with Lon^zinus difturb the The Difperfion of the i z Apo- Jexvs. Thrace, formerly fubject to Kings, reduc'd to a 1{oman Province. ftles. Paul and Barnabas began their Circuit, and convert Sergm Paultis in Cyprus, &c. Paul and Barnabas go to ^ntioch in Ptfidia; from thence to I conium, Lyflra and Derbe. Alexander, an Apoftate Jeu>, made the 8th Governor of Ju daa. The Grand S E C U L A R p^^/ and Barnabas, after three GAMES celebrated by - diui, ^pril 2 1 ft, in the Scoth tioch in Syria. A. D. 47 48 Koman Emperors. Claudius. 7 7 8 Roman Affairs, Ecclefiaftical Affairs, 49 5^ 5^ 53 54 5f 5^ 57 9 10 10 1 1 II 12 12 ^3 Year of the City, under the Confulihips of Claudius and Vitell'ms. 1" 'cUudim finds above fix Millions * of Tinman Citizens. ^nmias made High-Prieft,. being the 1 2th after Chrift's Biith. Cumaniis made Governor of Jn daa, under whom, zoocq Jeuas were flain in a Sedition. ; Mejfalma publickly marries 07/-JThe Virgin Mary fuppos'd to Hi in October:, and is executed not long after, Claudius marries his Niece ^A- grippitm. Seneca recall'd from Banifliment and made Tutor to young Nero. dye this Year, aged 68. The Church difturb'd byjudai- zing Chriftta-ns. Paul and Barnabas go to Jcrufa- Icm. The FIRST COUNCIL in the Chrilxian Church. Paul and Barnaias return to^n- tioch. Paul rebukes teeter at ^ntioch. lYoung Nero adopted by Claudius '^grippiijo, obtiiins the Title ofiPaul and Barnabas feparate I ^ttgtifia. ^^^^^ Ipaul ciccumcifes Tnaoihy I \Paul travels into Europe. pfro made Prince of the Youth. [At Philipi he is fcoirg'd and I'CaracIacus King of the Brttains) imprifon'd with Silas. defeated and brought to T^oraeJuc goes on to Thefabmca and I Bcr^-a, \PauL goCj -" . „ ,. ,L o- '■^ Athens, and dil Diltuioances in Palcfttne, whichj putes before tise ^rtopao-us. caufes the Banifliment of r«-.The Jews baniflid by Claudius, manus, a little before the ^i^-paul goes to Corinth, and fcays fover. \ 18 Months _- Claudius reprefents a famoueNa-me writes bis firft Epiftle to the! val Combat. Thejfalomans. gThe Death of the Apoftle Philipi \ylgrippa preferr " d, and Fxlix made' Nero marries 0(5?4Z'/ii, Daughter of Claudius. the loth Governor of Jud^a Paul brought befo;e Gallio. He writes his fecond Epiftle td the Thejfaloiiians ^3 H vr. Nero, Claudius poifond by ^grtppina,\p^tii goes to Eph'cfus, to Jerufa,- on October 13 th NET{p reigns 1 3 Years, 7 Months and 27 Days. Scneia and Burrlms, Governors of the young Emperor. Nero's Government applauded. Icra, to yAntioch, through Ca latia and Phrygia, and returns to Epheftii, where he remains 3 Years. ^polios preaclies at Corinth Peter goes to Babylon., from whence he writes his Epilile. Cerinthus fuppos'd to begin his Herefie f A'ero poifons Briiannicns in Eebru- Elero. 58 59 60 4 Roman Affairs. Nero takes Popp^ea to Court. Corbftb becomes Mafter ot o/^r- th. tyr'd this Year. The Jews divided into horrid Fa ftions. OTHO reigns iz Weeks 6 Days. Otho marches agaiuft Vitellius, March 14th. Being defeated he kills hijnfelf, April isth. Jofephus fet Free by Vefpafian. IJie Jevjs languiih under all the Miferies of War, Faftions, Dc vaftatioiis, and Murthers. -~ Afianus and Zacharias are flain. Ignatius fiicceeds Eitvoditts in the Biflioprick of..4nt!>ich. VITEILIV J reigns 8 Months, and >■ Days. VESPASIAN proclaim'd, July I ft, from whicn Time he reigns 10 Years wanting 6 Days. 7v^/7;f plunder'd, and Vitellius llain, Decewbcr 20th. A.D 70 Koniau Emperers. Vefp/ffian. 71 7^ 73 74 75 ■r: 77 78 75> 8^> Roman Ajfairs, Eccleliaftical u^jf^iirs. The Gauls revolt. [TitMs Cits dowahcfoicjemfalem in Sajimis aflumcs the Title of C^farl the Beginning of ^'4pri t. Gaul. [He ga ins the firft Wall ^iprtl 28th, tian goes ag;iinft thc.GauIs.] and the fecond May 7th. The Capitol, which was burnt la ft^Hc furrounds the City in June. Year, began July zift, ^^ntonia taken July 5th. Vefpafim goes from ^^fx^»^ri.i to The perpetual Sacrifice ceafesj«- %o;ne iu tlic latter End of the Year ly 7th. The Temple confum'd ^u gufl 8th. The whole City taken and denvo- Y\ih\i September 8th The JEWISH OECONOMY ended, with the Death of 1337490 Jevj!. Vejpafian and T/f^i Triumph over T/n^ weeps over the Rums of^f- ih^Jevjs, in the Endot ^pnl.) rufalem. Titus honour'd with a triumphal The Lands ofJud^aOAd, and the Arch. I Mony due to the Temple paid The Temple of Ja?xus fhut up the, to the Capitol. llxih Time. [Several Herelies ;it this time, as Vefpafian's Regulations^ I the MenandrianSi the Ebionites I iiKidCerinthiam. _'St. Jiide writes his Epiftle. Eulvius Silva finiflies the Wars in The Jews Temple in c/£gypt de- Judxa, ^pril 2Sth. | molifh'd, and the Race oi Da- ^ntiochus King of Comagena de-| -uid fought for. priv'd of his Dominions by the The Chnftians return to Jerufalem. ■2^»Z(t« Power. Barnabas writes his Epiftle. The Death of St. Jude. The Death of St. Bartholomevj. Several Provinces reduc'd to the T^oman Power. The Philofophers banifli'd. The Death of St. Thomas in the 'Ea^-Indies. Jofephus finifhes his Wars of the jews. Vcfpafian and Titus mal-ce the laft The Death of St. Luke. pubhck Cenfiis in %ome. The Death of St. Simon. - [Vcfpafian dedicates the Temple of 7 S 9 9 10 Peace The Jevjijh Sanhedrim fit at Jab- neh. Great Earthquakes in Cyprus and the Eaft. Pliny dedicates his natural Hiftory to Titm. A great Plague in T{ome. 10 XI. Tifus ^Jgricola fent to reduce Britain. Vcfpafian dies near '^ate^ on Jun 24^1. TITV S reigns 2 Years, 2 Month and 20 Days. A vail Irruption of Vefuvias, in November ^viViic'iX luftbcates Pliny. Fires, Plagues, and orher Calami- tics in '}\o>ne, .'4'Zricola's buccciCiS in Britain. Peregri?jus the O-^/ci^^Philofopher impofes upon the Chriftians. Linus Biihop of T^wf fuffers, and is fucceeded by Clctvs or ^ucn- cletiis. JoffpijT-is's Wars of the Jews put into the publick Library. ' ^.D. 8i Sz !l 88 89 90 91 9:^ 95 9) Roman Emperors. Titus, 2 XII. Domitian, I 8 :?_ 9 10 10 II II 12 12 i: 14 Roman affairs. Ecclefiaftical affairs. Titm faluted Imperator 15th Time, po/jc^rp made Bifhop of Smyrna Titus dies m Sabina, on Septem-. i\^[^ or the next Year * ^^'^ 13 th. fst. John founds Churches in ^ D O MIT I ^N reigns 1 5 Years,! and live Days. | He begins well. Domitian makes many Rcgulati-The Seft of the AT^z^r^zcj appear ons. I in Perxa, ^gricoU proceeds in his Victories, St. John now at Ephefus. Domitian banifties the Philofo-The Whoredoms of the Veftal phers He goes into Germany, and returns with the Title of Germanicus ^grtcola reduces all Britain to the T^man Power. Virgins feverely punifh'd. Domitian afl'umes Divine Honours, Many Sacrifices olFer'd to Domi and the Titles of Lord and God. tian. Domitian finifhes the Capitol, and inftitutes Capitoline Games, to be celebrated every 5 th Year; The Revolt and Defeat of ^nto ni.'is. The Grand SECULAR GAMES celebrated by Domitian^ Sep- tember 13 th. Domitian baniihes the Philofo- phcrs a fecond Time. Dsmitian triumphs over the Da- cians. He iliuts the Temple of Janus. The Hereficof the Nicolaitans 3. bout this Time. Domitian begins to fhcw his Ha- tred to the Chrijiians. K/igrico'a dies, and Domitian s Cru- elties encreafe. 14 If Quintilian publiflies his Rhetorick Domitian banilhes the Philoio- phers a tliird Time. Dcrcitian rages againfl many of his Subjects. Cornelia^ the Head of the Veftal Kn-^//Z5, bury'd alive forlncon tineiicv. CletKs is Martyr'd, and Clemens re- mains fole Billiop oi%ome. Hermas writes his Paflor. Herod's Family quite extinft. Jofephtis finiiheshis ^Antiquities of the Jcvjs, and dies. K^pollonius TyautiKs performs hi Magick before Domitian. T H E SECOND G E NE R A L PERSECUTION in the Beginning of the Year. St. John tlirown into a Cauldron of boiling Oil, and then ba- nilh'd to the iP.c of Patmos. Clemens tlie Coiiful fuffcrs. A.D 96 97 pS 99 Komun Empgrors. DomitUn, 15* 16 XIII. I Do mitt an flain in his Palace on September i8th. His Memory abolifh'd. 1 00 TOI lOl 103 104 iO 106 [C 4 Roman affairs. NE'KV^ reigns i Year, 4 Months> and 8 Days. He refcinds the Afts of Domitian. The Px-rfton'rfw Guards raife aPi- ftuibance. NcrvA adopts Trajan, OSiober 28th and after tliat gives him full Power. XIV. Trajan. Ecckiiaftical Affairs, St. John writes his Revelations. Several are mattyr'd, and St. Jude's Grand-chUdren are que- iftion'd. Domitian relaxes the Perfecution, NervA is favourable to the Chri- fltans. T;>«(jf/7 martyt'd at Ephefus, Jan. lid or 24th. St. John returns to Ephefusy and takes Care of the Church. He writes his three Epiftles. At the Requeft of the ^fiati Churches, he writes his Gofpel. NervA dies at \ome on the 2lft,^^-/^^'"'^':^^' ^^^°P of ^'"^ <:on- or 27th of finuary. demn d by Tr^;4« to dig mthe| ' ^ -^ 1 Mines inTauricii CherJonefHs. T\yiy^Nxd^ns 19 Tears, Months, and 15 Days. Trajan made Pontifex MaximusA I and obtains the Title ofoptimus. St.John ftill careful of the Church, He exterminates the Delator Sy and^He converts a famous Robber, makes many Regulations- Plmy Junior makes his celebrated^; Panegyrick upon Trajan. Jujlus of T?^m^jfiniihes his Chro nicle this Year. Trajan's firft Conquefts in Dacia. He Triumphs. Trajan miikes many Regulations in the State. Plmy Junior made Governor of Pontas and Bithynia. He ariives there September 17th, Nero's golden Palace burnt down THE THIRD GENERAL PERSECUTION in the middle of the Year. St. Clement fuffers towards the End of the Year. St. J«hn dies at Ephefus, December 20th. The End of the A P O S T O- L I C K AGE. The Herefies of the Cainites. Jtifiin Martyr born this Year. . ^ j,-^^- * Pliny writes in Favour of the r/j»'/ Trajan begins his Xvcpr^d War inj fiians. DaciAi and builds a famous Tr^j/tzj anfwers him. Bridge. Decebalus (lain, and Dada reduc'd to a %o:7i,in Piovince by Trojan, He tiii.mphs, and orders new Fealls. Trajan begins Lis Eaflera Expedi- tion in Oth'jocr. He arrives at Sclcucia\\\ December. Trajan arrives at ^ntioch^ Jan. 7th. Trajan conquers Armenia, and reduces it to a Province. The Perfecution abated. Papias Bilhop of Uierapolis, the hril Author of the MilUnarians. St. Ignatius condemn'd to the wild Beafts by Trajan. Simeon Bifhop of Jerufalcm cruci- fy 'd at the A2e of 120, / A.D. Roman Emperors. Trajan. 107 ic8 10 10 II 1 1 I op 12 ii no »3 13 I r I H 14 111 IT If AM 16 i5 ^M 17 17 115 iS 18 116 19 19 zo 117 XV. Adrian. 118 I I 2 2 1J9 3 120 3 4 121 4 I" 122 S 6 Roman Affairs, Trajan makes new Conquefts in Parthia and Mefopotamia. Three Cities fwallow'd up in Ga- latia. The Pantheon in l^w?^ burnt by Lightning. Ecclefiaftical Affairs, St. Ignatius writes his 7 Epiftlcs. He IS martyr'd at T^ome, Decem- ber 20th. St. Polycarp writes his Epiftle to the Phflippians. Barjimtttts in £t^^^ and Onefmnts martyr'd. Saturninus begins to broach his Hereiie in Syria. Bafilides broaches his HercIie ui ^hxandria and cy^gyft. Trajan dedicates a Place in '2^?wf} for publiftiing his Ads. I rrrt;/t« begins a fecond Expedition £/x4? the Irapoftor appears in Pij- into the Eaft. I lefiine, and gives Name to the I Ojfcnian Sed. Trajan conquers Chaldtea 2nd ^f-^raj an eafes the Chrifiians at the fyria. \ Inftance oiTiberianns, He is endanger'd by a dreadful Earthquake at ^ntioch. Decern ber 23 d. Trajan purfues his Viftories to- wards the Indies. He begins to decline. Trajan difappointed in yArahia. Trajan dies in Ciiicia, on ^itgnft 8th. The Jews rebel, and ufe ftrange Barbarities. The JeiDs^ after innumerable Cru cities, are feverely chaftis'd and branded. ^D%I^N reigns 20 Years, 11 Months wanting one Day. He abandons feveral Provinces in the Eaft. Trajati Triumphs after his Death. .Adrian remits many Debts. Adrian malces an Expedition a- gainft the North, and returns. Adrian begins his general Vifita- tion of the Empire, and goes in- to Gaul and Germany. Adrian travels into Belginm, Bri- tain, and Spain. Adrian returns to T{^mc in ^pril. He gives a King to the Germans. The Church of ^rAfn.f being much declin'd, is reftor'd by ^a- dratus Bifhop of the Place. Oejiomaus the Cynick writes a- gainft the Heathen Oracles. The ^le^:andrians dxibxiiid about their God ^ph. ^ T tw mm nntgm^ J A.D. 123 124 ^M 116 127 128 129 130 132 Roman Emperors. Adrian. 6 Roman Ajfairs. Adrian begins his Eaftern Vifita- tion, aiid goes into ^fia and Syria. ^Adrian continues ftill at Greece and yAtbens. 9 10 Adrian is ftill at Athens. Adrian returns to "^me. Ecdefiaftical Affairs, Adrian enter'd into the Eleufmian Myfteries, which creates new Troubles to the Chriflians A fevere Perfecution againft the Chrifiians, under which great Numbers fufFer. 10 II II 12 12 14 Adrian makes many Regulations in %ome. Adrian proceeds in his Vifitation and goes into .Africl^ l^adratus and ^rijlides prefent Apologies for the Chrifiians. Granian the Governor writes in Favour of them, Adrian e afes them by a Decree. ^grippa Caftor writes againft the Heretick BafiUdes. Adrian abolifhes the Cuftom of human Sacrifices. Adrian travels into Greece, ^fia and Syria. M5 IS4 '35 116 14 16 17 17 18 I 19 19 20 Adrian goes into Jud^a und ^- 1 rabia. jThe Perpetual Edici com^os'd by I Salvty^s Julianas. Adrian goes into ^^gypty where he deifies Antinom. Adrian continues in cy£.gypt. Adrian leaves uartodeciman Controverfie about Eafieri begins. St. Polycarp goes to %omey where he confounds Marcion. yAntaninus fo]emxiizes his fecond Hegefippus fettles at "K^me^ about Decennalia Antoninus renews feveral Laws a- gainft Adulterers. this Year. Melito made Biihop of Sardii in Valentines dies this Year. Marcellina a Carpocratian Woman comes to %ome. ^lexanderthe Impoftor noted for his falfe Oracles in PaphUgonia [^titoniniis Pitts dies at Lorittzn, on the 7th Day of March. ^'nto'n'i nv s p hTl 0- SOPHVS reigns 19 Years and 10 Days. Lucius Verm join'd with him. The Emperor Commodm born ^Hglifi 31ft. Many Troubkland Calamities in T H E F O U R T^ PERSE the Empire. C U T 1 N begins in the firft The Britains revolt, the Catti in-) Year of this Reign. WAdtthz North, ■Jind.tht Partbi- Glyceric fuffers in Thrace^ May 4 S s 6 ans the Eafi. Verm is fent againft the latter. 13th. Tlie Chriflian Apologies forbidden to be read. ^ntonimis makes many Regulati ons in the State. Verm is fuccefsful in the Eaft. Verm marry'd to Atnoninrn's^Eclicitas ^n^ httfcscnSonsmdJ: Daughter Lucilla. Cajfim is fuccefbful in the Eajl: tyr'd in %ome. IConcordm martyr'd at Spoleto. The l?ow4» Generals, after m-myj-t^pn Martyr Difputes with Cre- Battels aiid great Succeiies,niufh fcens the Cynick Philofopher. the\Varinthe£^/. iPeregrinm tne Impoftor bums himfelf at the Olympick Games ^ntoninm and Verm Triumph o- The Perfecution encreafes. ver the Parthians. |St. Polycarp martyr'd at Smyrna^ Great Calamities in the Empire. | Feb. z^d. ^ntomni'.s MidVerm March agamft 7«/'« ^'*'tr^ w"tes his lecond tiie Marcomami, &c. I obgy fo r the Chnfttans. The two Emperors, being Succefs- 7^. "' Martyr, with iix others, be- flil, return to T{orne. headed at "^yne, by %»fticm the Governor. D;'o«7yi«j, Bilhop of Corinth, flOU- rilhes at this Time. The German Wars begin. A.D. 168 1 6^ 170 171 17Z 17$ 174 175 175 Koman Empirors. Ant. Fhil. 8 8 77 178 r79 9 10 10 1 1 II 12 13 »3 14 14 16 16 17 17 18 Roman Affairs. Ecclefiaftical Aff^rs. Sorer Bifhop of T{ome fends Alms to Corinth. Antoninus in Peil'on luccefsfiilly purfues the Wais in the North. 'Meljto prefents an Apology for the Chnfitans. The Herelie of the ^ntita^es. i'fatian begins the Heiefie of the Encrathes in Mefopotnmia. The Herelie oi Montamfis begin in Antoninus and Verus profecute thtTatmn at 'B^me writes againft the German War. { Gentiles. Verus dies at ^Itinum, in the midft Symmachus tranflates the Bible in of Winter. jj to Creek^ .Antoninus reigns alone. .Antoninus fokmnizes his Decen- nalia. Phrygi The Herefie of the .Adamites and ^logi begin this Year. Antoninus makes many wife Regu- lations. Commodtis has the Title ofGerma nicHs given him, Offober 1 5th. Paufanias purfues his Hiltoiy of ^^r^^/ewr* broaches his Hereile Greece, yAntoninus fuccefsfuUy carries on the Wars in the North againft the ^adi. Antoninus makes Peace in the North. Cajfius revolts in y^f n7, he is flain in July. .Antoninus goes into the Eaji, where he buries Fattftitia. Antomnu.s pilfles througn Syria and '^gypf} and comes to .Athens He returns to '\ome, ;uid makes his Son Commodus Augufius, No vernier 27th. He triumphs with him, December 23d. Pinytus, Philippus, and Modefius, Eccleflafticil Writers, flouriih a bout this Time. in Mefo^otamia. .Antoninus and his Men reduc'd toDefpair, are deliver'd by the Prayers of the Chnflims, for which he writes in Favour of them. The Chriftims eas'd. .Apollinaru, Bifhop of Hierafolu writes an Apology for the Chri- ftians-, and dies ihof tly after. The PerfecutiOn reviv'd. Antoninus remits many Debts tb .AtheHagorAs and JVf/7r;'ri«ff i' prefent the Publick. Smy ma luin'd by an Earthquake. Antoninus marries his Son Commo dus, and goes with him to the Northern War, ^uguft 5th. .Antoninus meets with various For-S tiuu in the North. Apologies for the Chrijiians. The Martyrs at Lions luffcr in ^ugufl. The Account of them is fent to fe veral Churches. Irenxus made Bifhop of Lions. Lucius, King of Britain, fends to Pope Eletitherus for Preachers, Hermogenes, the Author of incre- ated Matter, appears about this Time. Panixms made Governor of the great catechetical School in .A- iexandria, wliich he much im proves. * U A.D. 79 1 80 181 182 183 184 185 185 187 188 189 190 191 Roaian Emperon. . March 28th. Pant/nnm takes a Journey to the Indies for the Propagation of Chrijlianity. He is fucceeded in his School by Clemens yAlexatidriuHs. Clemens ^Alexandrinm writes his Exhortation to the Genttlcs. KAmrnonitis Saccas flouriilies. SeleucHi and Hermias, two Herefi archs, fhew themfelves in Cala- tia. T^iodon, Difciple to Tatiany flou- riflies about this Time. Theodottis the Tanner of Byzjtn^ tiumy with his Difciple ^rte- mouy broach, their Herefies at Tsome. A.D ^°"^^° Roman ^#»/r;. Emperors. Ecclefiaftical affairs. XX. J-Hltanus. I I JV LLAN Ticigns 9 Weeks, 2 Days. Heisflain, June id. ■ SE VE \V S reigns 17 Years, 8 Montlis, and 3 Days. He marches againft Niger in the EaJ}. '94 195 1 2 SevertisisfacceCs^l againft iVz^fr, and others in the £«/. Clemens ^lexandrtnhs writes his Stromata. 2 3 3 4 StvcrKs is fuccefsful againft the Parthians, and becomes Miifter of the £rty?. Scvertis marches againft sAlbinm in the Pf^f/?. Caracalla made Gc/dria. J 2, BhIU Falix a Robber pillages lulj. '3 Secerns makes many Regulations j in the State. JHe is levere to the Senators. 'Bulla Falix fupprefs'd. Sevcrus joins his Son GetA with him, and makes him Amu- fttiS. He goes with his two Sons into Britain. Ecclefiaftical Affairs. Perpetua, Felicitas, And their Com- panions, futfer at Carthage March 7th. God puniihes Africk^ with Barren- nefs. Tertulltan ioclines to the Monta nifls. Narcijfus, after 7 Years Retire- ment, returns to Jtrufalem, and governs the Church with his tliird Succeflbr Gordius. Tirtullian, now Montaniji, writes againft the Marcionites and other Hereticks. Stverus meets with many Difficul- ties andSucceflesin£m,^/». Philoftratus' the Athenian writes the Lite of Apollonifis TyAn^tts. Severus builds a Wall in Britain. Minutius Falix writes for the Chri- He falls lick, towards the End of j //^m Religion. the Year. (Tertulltan writes De Pallio. Severm dies at Eboracumoi rorib;^^7«^''f»^'",t"to '^"'^^/''*''»"i Vin- 011 the 4th Day oi February. I dication of the Chnjhans The fifth Perfecution ceafes. -> ...T, ^^ -r r . • i- „ \Orizen eocs to %ome. CA%ACALLA reigns fix Years, ^ A „f^^ ^^.^s againft 2 Months, and 4 Days. VatiA join'd with liim. : Montanus, 212 ^13 <3eta is flainby his Brother Cer^-Or/^-fw takes Affiftants in his cate- calUy Feb. 17th. I chetical School, CaracallA commits innumeiable'Alexanderliifho^ofCappadociayhy Cruelties. Caracalla travels into Gaul, makes many Changes, and returns to divine Impulfe, join'd with Nar- cijfus Bilhop of J eruf a lem. 215 Caracalla goes into Germany, where he commits many Extravagan- cies. iCaracalia travels into Macedonia and Afia, where he commits new Follies. The Montanijis are excommunica- ted by the Church of T^we, to- gether with Tertullian. TertuUian writes feveral Pieces a gainft the Orthodox. Origen compofes his Tetrapla. He goes to preach in Arabia, and returns to Alexandria. 2i Months, and 4 Days. He winters at Nicodemta. Elagabalus comes to T{ome, wliere he begins to commit many Ex- travagancies. The Emperor's PixantManittA fends for Origen into Syria, to be in- ftmfted in the Chnftian Reli- gion. Origen returns to Alexandria. Ill 213 224 XXV. Alexander. Elagabalus adopts his Coufm ^- lexianus, and calls him .Alexan dcr. Elagabalm flain by the Soldiers in "^me, on the nth Day of March. Great Inftances of Supcrftition a- mong tlie T{oma>is. Julius Africanus compofes Chrtftian Chronology. his 225 116 227 228 229 250 ^L£Xy?.VD £-7^ reigns isYearS; and 9 Days. He makes great Regulations. Alexander proceeds in his Regula- tions. His Grand-mother Mxfa dies. Dion Cajfms, the Hiftorian, ad- vanced. The Church happy under the Em- peror Alexander. Hippolyttts, Bifhop in Arabia, fiou- rifnes about this Time. 4 / f 6 Origen writes Commentaries upon the Scriptures, and employs ie- veral Notaries. The Emperor Gordian born, Janu- ary 20th. Origen applies himfcif to Philofo- phy, and writes to Heraclas in Juflilication. V!pian, the great Civilian, flain in a Sedition at 'T^omc. Dion CafJiHi retires to Bithynia, and finilhes his "t'^man Hillory. Origen goes towards Achaia. At Palcflme he is ordained Presby ter, which is highly refentedby his Biftiop De-raetrius. * B 3 AD 1251 234 I ^55 2-17 158 ^39 Koinan Emperors. 9 10 10 II Romaa jiffairs. Alexander marches againft ^rtax- erxest who liad waited Mefopota- mia. II 12 12 12 »5 XXVI. Maximin. I \Alexandcr has great SuccefTes a gainil ^rMXYrxfj, and theP^r- jians, Alexander retuins to T^orie^ and triumphs, September 25th. He marches againil the Germans foon after. AkxAnder flaixi near Mcntz^ by the Soldiers, on the ii>th ot" March Ecclefiaftical uiffmrs. On^moblig'dto quit Mexandr,^, and is condemn'd by two Coun- cils, and excommunicated. He finds many Proteftors. The Council of Iconium, about ^Heretical Baptifm. Origen is . ftill diligent in his Writ- The JcriifAlem Talmud begun a- bout this Year. M^ XIMINV S reigns 3 YC'irs, and a few Days. Several confpire againft him. Maxmin fuccefsfully wars againft the Dacians and Sarraatiam, and winters at Sirmiiira, Gordidn and his Son proclaim'd Emperors in the middle oiMay. SThey are flain in July. Maximus and Balbinm declared by the Senate, Jmys)th. A great Sedition in %o}ne, and pari of the City burnt. THE SIXTH GENERAL PERSECUTION, in the Beginning of Maximinus's Reign. Tertttllian writes De Corona, and a- gainfi Flight in Perfevution. 3 XXVII. Maxim, &: Ualkmas. I XXVIII. Gordian. I Mc.ximin bciieges Aij'MlcJa. He is fiain before the Place in the End oi March. M^XIMVS and BALBINVS I reign a little above 3 J*.Ionths. jThey are flain, July 15th. GO'KDI^iN reigns 5 Years, and S or 9 Months. ^Ccrdicn governs with great Satif- faction. 240 2 3 3 241 4 242 4 S SAbinicttiHs ictsup for Emperor in ^ifrick^ He is foon fupprefs'd. Cordian marries the Daughter of M: fit hens. Eartliquiikes and Prodigies in the I Empire. Cordian is fuccefsful againft the Goths, and againft Supores King of Perfut, Prototecius and ^Ambrofms impri- fon'd for the Faith. Origen writes to them concerning Martyrdom, and retires from Cisfarea. Origen proceeds in his Commen taries upon the Bible. The Church en;oys Peace. Origen re-allumes his School in C:efnrea. Gregory Thanmaturgfts flouriihes about this time. Gregory Thaumaturgas miracu- loufly ordain'd Biihop of Neo Cafarea. He is laid to work many Miracles The Hercfie of the Valefians. Origen makes a fecond Voyage in- to Greece. Beryllus o£ A'rabia broaches feve- ral Errors. Origen conflites iiim in a Synod. Roman uijfuirs. Mifithaus dies. Philip advanc'd to his Place. Gordian declines. Gori/4« flain in the Bordeirs of Pfr- fia, in the Month oi March. Ecclefiaflical Affairs. H7 248 249 6 XXX. Deciits. 2-5-^ ^fl PHILIP reigns five Years, and a few Months. He makes Peace with the Perfians and returns to Syria. Philip returns to 'B^me, where he makes many Regulations. Philip fuppos'd (not without Rea- fon) tohesi Chrifiian. He fubmits to Penance under Ba by las Biihop o^ Antioch. Origeti writes to him, and his Em- prefs. The Church flourifhci, and Pope Fabian lends many Bilhops and Pallors into Caul. \ Teitullian turns Herefiarch, and dies loon after. Philip's Son has the Tribunitian\Sx. Cyprian converted to Chrifiia'- Power. Philip's Son made Augufipts. \ nity at Carthage. ^He fells his Eftate, and gives it to the Poor. I Origen ftill induftrious. j Origen combates againft feveral Hereticks in Arabia. St. Cypria?} made a Presbyter in Carthage. THE GRAND SECULAR'St. Cyprian made Eifliop of Car- Li A M jb S celebrated the laft TlmcinTiome, \J. C. 1000. Philip undertakes to purge tneC ty Famines and Tioubles in the Em- pire. Deems pioclaim'd Emperor. Philip is llain between June 17th and October li^th. thage. Dfr/'L'i' reigns two Years, and a ivlonth or two. He makes his four Sons Cafars. Origen writes againft Celfus. rhe f/;rzy?M?j; b.irbaroufly treated^ at y lexandria, in the Month of January. | THE SEVENTH GENERAL; PERSECUTION, in the Begin- ning of the P-cign of Der/Kj-. I Many apoflatize, and feveral pu-, nifli'dforit. \ Pope Fabian maityr'd Jan. 20th. 1 The Goths x-2yiie the Empire, Abdon, Victoria, &c: maityrd, Ce- which is attended with maiiyl la inus nnd Moy fa im^^n^on'd. i Calamities ^ The Perlecution reaches ^frickjn A terrible plague begms, which ^pril. i lafts ten Years. St. Cypian, Gregory Thaumaturgus^ and Dionyfms "Uexandriniis retire. Paul of Thebais the Hrft Hermit, j Baby las of Antioch, Neftor, Pioneits, Celcrinus, and innumerable o-, thers are martyr'd. Origen lufi'ers much. 1 The Church in i^/nVil;^begins to have Peace in December. | of the Novatian The Beginnin Dicius quits T{ome in the Spring, and marches into i^foyJ^t. j Schilm. 'Valerian nam'd C£nfor,Otlober zjih. Novatus and Novatian join. 'jDm«^ defeated by the Goths-, and|St. Cyprian returns to Carthage. » llain in the latter end of /^ox'i'^w-jThe hxfl Council of r^rr/j^^e. I ber. I A Council at 7\^w# which excom- I miinicates Novatian. ' * — — — B4 A.D. 1)1 Roman Emperors. XXXI. Callus* 2^2 M3 XXXII. Valeriajj, M4 M5 25(5 f M7 258 Roman Affairs. G^LLVS reigns one Year, and 6 Months. Gull Its makes Ho fit Han ^ugufius, and his Son Volufian C^far. He makes a difhonourable Peace wifli the Goths. m the Volufian made yAagnftus End of 7«(r- Callus comes to T^w* and caufes //o/?»7M7jtobe(lain. Many Nations invade the Empire. r amines, and other Calamities in the Empire. c/£mtlian proclaim'4 Emperor, Callus and his Son ilain at Term in May. V^LET^l^Nxcigns almoft feven Yeais. cy£milian {[^inin j^ugufi. Gallienus made Atigufim. Ecclcfiaftical jiffairs. Novdtian ufurps the Biflioprick of T^ome. He is rejefted by fome, and fol low'd by others. j4 lexander '^iiho^ ofjerufalem dies rrifoner at Cafarea. Novattan raifcs new Dilturbances. The firft Council of ^ntioch. The fecond Council of Carthage. Callus revives the feventh Perfecu- tion. St. Cyprian is careful of his Flock, and writes feveral Treatifes. Pupienus oppofes St. Cyprian. Valerian governs well and honou- The fourth Council of Carthage. rably. concerning BafiUdes and Mar tial. St. Cyprian writes about Aims. He is concern'd with the Galilean Biihop. The fifth Council of Carthage concerning tlie Validity of He- reticks Baptifm. The Terjiansy Scythians-^ and other Nations ijivade the Empire. Valerian marches with his Army to Perjians. The Church enjoys Peace till the eighth Pcrfecution. Origen dies at Tyre, aged 6p. The Sed of the Originifis. The third Council of Carthage. St. Cyprian writes againft Fortma- ttanus of ^Jfi*y'^ Thefixth Council of Carthage u]^- on the fame vSnbjeft. Pope Stephen rejefts all their Pro^ ceedings. St. Cyprian writes to Jaliamis. The leventh Council of Carthage in September. Firmilian,Dioi!yfins, ire join with St. Cyprian, THE EIGHTH GENERAL PERSECUTION begins in April, and continues three Years and a half. Pope Stephen martyr" d, Augufl 2d. St. Cyprian banilh'd, yfugufi 50th Diony/iHs ^Icxandrinns banifli'd Sabtllitis broaches his Herefie in Lybia. The Pejfecution encrcafes. By-Laniium, to go againft the Pope Sixtiis and his Archdeacon Laurttice martyr'd, .Augufi 6th. Many niiutyr d in frick^. $t. Cyprian rccalid from Banifh- ment, and beheaded, Septem Ler 14th. A.D. ^5P 2<:>o Roman Emperors. Valtrian. 6 XXXIIl. Callienui. 161 161 2^5 :^4 2^5 2 6'<5 The Scythians pafs the Danube, en tet yy^fia, and pillage an infinite Number of Places. Roman jiffnirs. Valtrtan declines. Krf/-. ^Galliejius publiihes a Refcript in rhe Goths and Scythians ravage Favour of the Chrifiians, after and pillage ' " Greede and ^fia Diana's Temple. ■y£miUan fets up in c^gyl't. the Death of Macria?jus. Dionyfius 3 14 1+ 15" 16 16 17 17 18 i8 19 19 20 10 21 Calerius is fuccefsful in the Eaji. He grows infolent. Diocletian's and Maximian's Baths begun this Tear. The Marcomanni arc defeated by the Emperors. Ecclcfiaftical affairs. Dioclttian begihs to ptrfccutc the Chrifiian Soldiers. ^rnobitis wiires againft the Cen tilet. Conftantins defeats the Lingones and kills 60000. A Famine in divers Parts of the Empire. Galerius winters with Diocletian at Nicodemia. Peter of ^Alexandria fiourilhes. The Chriftians begin to grow cor- rupt. The Schifm of the Melttians be- gins this Year. Galerius urges Diocletian to pcx- fecute the Chrijiians. Diocletian confults the Orack, and confents. Diocletian celebrates his VicennaliaT HE TENTH GENERAL at %ome, and triumphs A^ox-fw- ber 20th with Maximian, He leaves \om€ in halk-. Diocletian has a great Sicknefs moft of this Year. He arrives very ill at Nicomedia in the End of the Year. He is believ'd to be dead on the 13th oi Deccmher. PERSECUTION, begins February 23 d. at Nicodemia^ continues lo Years, and four Months. Horrid Cruelties and innumera- ble Martyrs in all Parts of the Empire, GahL only cxcepted- Thc Perfecution carrj'd with new Fury by Galerins and others. It rages in the Eaff. Pope Marccllmys fuffers on OJfi bcr 24. A Vacancy in the See of above three Yeais. A.D >05 lo6 Roman Emperors DiocUtiny* 21 XL. ConfianUHi Roman Affairs, Diocletian appears openly, March ift. He leilgns the Empire, with Max- imian, on May the ift. CONST^NTJVS reigns one Year, one Month, and 25 Days. The Empire independently divid- ed between him and Galeritts. Maximin and Sevcrm are Cafars. 5^7 508 XLI. Conjlant'me 309 K> .^10 Conftantiiis fends for his Son Con- ftantine into Britain. ConfiantiHs dies ac Tork'> "" *^^ 25th Day of J»ly. Eccleliaftical Affain, GaleriHs encreafcs in Cruelties to the Chrijiia7is. Maximin follows his Example. The Perfccution ceafcsin ^friek. and the Wefi. The Council of Cirtha. The Council of Elibere$^ CONST^NTINE reigns 30 Years, and almoft 11 Months. Severus made ^uguftus by Gale- rius, who only accounts Conftan- ftine Ccfar. Maxentius fets up in T^ome, O^o- icr 28th. Maximian re-alFumes the Empire. Galerim and Maximin encreafe the Perfecution in their Domi nions. Peter, Bifhop oi Alexandria, writes his Canonical Epiftle before Ea- fter. Conftantine favours the Chriftians The Meletian Schifm encrea fes. The Schifm of the Donatifis be- gins. Severus goes againft Maxentius, Maximin ftill rages againft the and is flain in April. | Chrijiians in the Eaft. I Alexander fets up in Afric^. '.Parnphiliis tortur'd, and impii Maximian gives his Daughter f^?*- fla to Confianti}ie in May. Galerius goes againft Maxentius, and returns in a Fright. Galerius makes Licinius Angnfltis in November, Maximin aflumes the 1 itle of ^»- gufitis, and G