The History of the Church Since the Days of Christ, Book 2 · History of century 4

The History of the Church Since the Days of Christ · Book 2 · History of century 4

p. 292CENTVRIE. IIII.

Bishops of Rome.

Plat. …. M…litiad….AFter Eusebius, Miltiades gouerned the Romane Church 4. yeeres, 7. months, and 8. dayes. His ministration was in the dayes of the raigne of Constantine, to whom the Emperour remitted the controuersie betwixt Cecilianus and the Donatistes, Euseb. lib. 10. cap. 5.to bee judged by him and his Collegues, Rheticus Maternus, and Marinus. The Donatistes would not rest vponupon the determination of Miltiades, and his Collegues. And therefore the good Emperour appointed this cause of new againe to be judged in Arles,August. epist. 68. by a number of Bishops of Spaine, Italie and France. In the Councell of Arles, Cecilianus was likewise absolued, and the Donatistes againe succumbed in their probation. Notwithstanding they appealed to the Emperour Constantine: and when the Emperour heard the cause of Cecilianus pleaded before himselfe, the Donatists could not proue, that either Cecilianus had beene admitted Bishop of Carthage by a man who was Proditor, or yet that he had admitted any other man culpable of the like fault to an Ecclesiasticall office. If the Bishop of Rome had bin supreame Iudge in all Ecclesiasticall causes, Constantine had done him wrong, to appoint other Iudges to iudge in this cause, after the B. of Rome, and his Collegues, had giuen out their definitiue sentence.August. epist. 162. & 166. August. Caus…la…o. epist. 86. His ordinance concerning prohibition of fasting vponupon the Lords day, expedient at that time to be a distinguishing note of true Christians, from Manichean heretiques, whose custome was vponupon the Lords day to fast. The purple garment, the palace of Lateran, the superioritie of the towne of Rome, and gouernment of the p. 293West, which honours some alledge were conferred by Constantine to Miltiades and Silvester, is a fable not worthy of refutation: all these honours the Emperours of the West, successours of Constantine, possessed, & not the Bishop of Rome, for the space of many hundreth yeeres.

To Miltiades succeeded Silvester, Silvester. Platina, de vita Silvest. S…crat. lib. 1. cap. 6. Theo. lib. 1. cap. 2.3.& ministred 23. yeeres, 10 months, and 11. dayes. In his time was the heretike Arrius excōmunicated by Alexander, without the fore-knowledge of the B. of Rome: It was enough, that after excōmunication intimation was made to other bishops, which duty the B. of Alexandria neglected not. Learned men shold be ashamed of fables, to say that Constantine was baptized by Siluester, for Siluester was dead before Constantine was baptized. And Platina himselfe is compelled to grant, that Marcus, the successor of Siluester, Euseb de vita Const…nt. lib. 4.gouerned the church of Rome in Constantines daies. And Eusebius testifieth, that Constantine was baptized in Nicomedia, immediatly before his death. Concerning the donatiō of Constantine, wherein he conferreth the dōinion of the West to the B. of Rome,Simile. it is like vntounto a rotten egge, which is cast out of the basket, lest all the rest be set at the lesse auaile. No ancient writer maketh mention of any such thing. Yea Constantine, in his testamentall legacie, allotted the Dominion of the West to two of his sons, namely, to Constantinus yonger, & to Constans. Note.How then had he, by an anterior disposition, resigned these Dominiōs to the B. of Rome? If Papists be not better countenanced by Antiquitie in other things,Marcus. Platin. de vita Mar. Iulius. So…om. l. 4. c. 8. then in this point, they hauehave no great cause to bragge of Antiquitie.

To Siluester succeeded Marcus, and ministred 2. yeeres, 8. months, and 20. dayes.

After Marcus, Iulius gouerned the Roman church, 15. yeeres Sozomenus attributes to Iulius 25. yeeres. His ministratiō was in the daies of the Emp. Constantius & his brethren. He was a defēder of the true faith, & a citie of refuge to those who were persecuted by Arrians: as namely, to Athanasius B. of Alexandria,Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 15. Paulus B. of Constantinople, Asclepas B. of Gaza, Marcellus B. of Ancyra, & Lucius B. of Adrianopolis: All these were vnjustly deposed from their offices by the Arrians & had recourse p. 294to Iulius. Hee was neither ashamed of the Gospell of Christ, nor of his aflicted seruants. In the councell of Sardica great honour was cōferred vntounto him, to wit, that men vnjustly condemned by Arrians, should hauehave refuge to Iulius: to whom they gaue power of new againe, to judge their cause. This was an Act of the councell of Sardica, & not of the Nicene councell (as was confidently alledged in the councell of Carthage) and a personall honour conferred to one man alone, for respectiue causes: but not extended to his successours, as though all the Bishops of Rome at all times should be Iudges of appellation. The Arrians were sore grieued for this, that Iulius both in word, and deede, and writ, assisted Athanasius and his complices. The chafing letters, and mutuall expostulations, that passed betwixt Iulius and the Arrians conueened in the Councell of Antiochia, are to be read in the Historie of Socrates. Socrat. l. 2. c. 15. Idem, lib. 2. cap. 17.Platina, in the grandoure of his speeches, is inconsiderate, as if Iulius had damned the presumption of the Orientall Bishoppes, who durst conuocate an assemblie without licence before obtained from the Bishop of Rome.Sozom. l. 3. c. 10. Noe such thing is contained in the letter of Iulius, but onelyonly an expostulation, that they did not aduertise him of their Councell, to the ende hee might hauehave sent his Ambassadours, and giuen vntounto them his best aduise. Iulius knewe the Constitutions of the Nicene Councell,Ruffin. l. 1. c. 6. Canon. 6. which gaue power to eueryevery Patriarch within his owne boundes, to conuocate Councels.

To Iulius succeeded Liberius, Liberius. Damas. Marian. Ierom.and continued sixe yeeres: some assigne vntounto him eighteene yeeres, others nineteene yeeres: so vncertaine is the computation of the yeeres of their gouernment. Hee gouerned the Church of Rome in the dayes of Constantius, by whom also hee was banished to Thracia, because hee would not consent to the deposition of Athanasius: which point was seriously vrged in the Councell of Millane.Theod. l. 2.….15.16.17. Theodoretus giueth ample testimonie of his constancie and freedome of speaking to the Emperour (not p. 295disagreeing with his name) before his banishment. In his absence Foelix the second was chosen to be Bishop of Rome; to whom Theodoretus giueth this praise, that hee adhered firmely to the Nicene Councell: but blameth him for this, that he receiued his ordination from Arrians.Theod. ibid. Notwithstanding he was more hated by the Arrians, then was Liberius, & was put to death by them,Platina, de vita Foeli…. after he had gouerned one yeere, foure months, and two dayes. After two yeeres banishment, Liberius returned backe againe to Rome. Theodoretus is silent in the matter of his praises after his returning.Hilar. in fragment. Hilarius, Bishop of Poitiers affirmeth, that hee both consented to the deposition of Athanasius, and to the councell of Sirmium. There is nothing lacking now to giuegive out a determinate sentence, whether or no the Bishop of Rome may erre in matters of Faith: but onelyonly the appearance of the great Aduocate of all euill causes Onuphrius, who will needes finde out some olde partchment, or some vnknowne manu-script, to free the Chaire of Rome from all suspition of errour in matters of faith.Bellarm. de Rom. Pont. lib. 4 cap. 9. But Bellermine giues ouer his cause, and can finde no sufficient Apologie for him, because his letters written to the Emperour Constantius after his returning from banishment, smels of Arrianisme.

After the death of Liberius, Damasus.succeeded Damasus, and ruled 18. yeeres, in time of the raigne of Iulian, of Iouinian, and of Valentinian:Socrat. lib. 7. cap. 9. Ruff. l. 2 c. 10. Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 29. his competitor Vrsinus had many fauourers, in so much that the question who should be elected Bishop of Rome, was tried by the sword, rather then by reasons, suffrages, and votes: so that in the Church of Sisinum were slaine to the number of 137. persons. Damasus preuailed, and had the vpper hand. Hee was friendly to Peter Bishop of Alexandria, whom Lucius an Arrian Bishoppe imprisoned:Theo. lib. 5. cap. 9. but hee escaped, and fled to Rome, as Athanasius had done before in the dayes of Iulius. He damned the Heresie of Apollinaris, in a councel met at Rome. His Epistle written to the Oriental Bishops, wherein he intimates vntounto them the condemnitory p. 296sentence pronounced and Apollinaris and his disciple Timotheus, Theod. ibid.is indited with the swelling pride of a lofty minde, breathing soueraignty and preheminence aboue all other Churches, as if the Romane Church were that onelyonly Apostolicke chaire, whereunto all other Churches ought homage and reuerence.Basil. epist. 10. ad Euseb. Samosat. So that Basilius, Bishop of Casarea in Cappadocia, complaines of the pride of the West, because they cared onelyonly for their owne preheminence, but not for the estate of their persecuted brethren in the East, vnderunder the Arrian Emperour Valens, whose estate they knew not, neither sent they messengers to visite them, neither would they receiue true information concerning the estate of their brethren. Yea, and Basilius saith, that hee purposed oft times, to hauehave written to the chiefe of them, that is to Damasus, that he should not count the splendor of pride to be true dignitie,Note. and honour. Where it is to be marked, that when hee speakes of Damasu…, hee called him foreign, that is, the principall of them, to wit, of the Churches of the West: but not the supreame gouernour of the vniuersall Church, neither the soueraigne commander of the Churches of the East. It is ignorance of the Ecclesiasticall historie, that makes men to imagine, that the supremacie of the Bishop of Rome is an ancient thing. When Damasus damned the heresie of Apollinaris, in the councel conueened at Rome, it was the yeere of our Lord, 379. according to the computation of Ierom: and at this time the very aiming to supremacie is counted Splendor superbiae, that is, the splendor of pride. Damasus wrote concerning the liues of the Bishops of Rome preceding his time: and was familiarly acquainted with Ierom, as Ieroms writings clearly declare.

Siricius. Socrat. l. 7. c. 9. Hist. Magd. Cent. 4. cap. 10. Malac. 2. verse 14.Mal 2:14To Damasus succeeded Siricius, and ministred 15. yeeres: at what time Gratianus and Valentinian obtained the Emperiall gouernment: he ordained, that married men, who were admitted to Ecclesiasticall offices, after their ordination should abstaine from the company of their wiues as if it were great deuotion to a man to transgresse against the wife of his youth p. 297the wife of his couenant,Platin. de vita Pontif. and his companion in all his wearisome labours. His prohibition of the second marriage, smelleth of the Heresie of Montanus. In his time with pride of the Cleargie at Rome was joyned vnsatiable auaritiousnesse,Lege 27. de Episcop & Cleri. in C. Thodos. increasing daily by degrees, so that the Emperours Valentinian the 11. and Theodosius, were compelled by a law, to inhibite widows vnderunder pretence of deuotion to leaue their houses, treasures, and house-hold-stuffe, to the Church, to the vtter impouerishing and vndoing the estate of their children.

Bishops of Alexandria.

IN the third Centurie wee rested at the name of Achillas, Alexander…Bishop of Alexandria, whose successour was Alexander. His accurate disputation concerning the vnitie in the Trinitie, made Arrius a presbyter in Alexandria, to thinke that Alexander was intangled with the errour of Sabellius: Hereof arose contentious disputations, new opinions, exulcerate minds, and open schismes. This intestine maladie was not vnknowne to the good Emperour Constantine, who sent Hosius Bishop of Corduba, a man singularly beloued of the Emperour, together with perswasiue letters from the Emp. exhorting both Alexander & Arrius, to leaue accurate and profound disputations, and keepe inuiolably the peace and vnitie of the Church: But no meanes could auaile vntil this question was decided by the determination of the generall Councell of Nice.

After the Councell of Nice had damned the opinion of Arrius as Hereticall,Athanasius. Theod. l. 1. c. 25. Sozom. l. 2. c. 17 Alexander continued not aboue fiue months aliue: In the last period of his life hee called for Athanasius, but he was not present: Of whom Alexander said; Thou hast escaped, but shalt not escape, fore-prophecying, that Athanasius should vndergoe the weightie charge, which hee, giuing place to nature, and to the calling of God, was p. 298leauing. Athanasius in his young yeeres and childish playes was counterfeiting diuine mysteries, and baptizing children:R…ff. l. 1. c. 14. yet after such due forme of interrogatories and answeres preceeding Baptisme,Hist. Magd. cent. 4 cap. 10. that Alexander, the Bishop durst not presume to rebaptize those who apparently in childish simplicitie had beene made partakers of diuine grace. He began no sooner to accept the waightie charge of the Church of Alexandria, Anno, 333; but the Arrians began to fret and offend, knowing how diligent he attended vponupon Alexander his predecessor, at the councell of Nice, and how vigilantly and wisely hee had detected the lurking absurdities of the vilde Heresie of Arrius: And they thought the preferment of Athanasius was the vtter vndoing of their opinion. Therefore they conspired against him,Socrat. lib. …. cap. 35. and by a multiplied number of false accusations preuailed somewhat against him, euen in the dayes of the Emperour Constantine. But in the dayes of Constantius and Iulian, almost the whole world conspired against him: so that except hee had beene vpholden by that grace that commeth from aboue, it was not possible that hee could hauehave borne out such vnsupportable hatred.Nazianzen. in laudem Athanasii. Sin…l. Iustly did Nazianzene compare him in time of aduersitie to the Adamant, and in time of prosperitie to the Magnes. In time of aduersitie no trouble ouercame him: in time of prosperitie, hee allured the hearts of men more intractable then yron, to embrace the truth of God.

The troubles of Athanasius.Now seeing Athanasius liued sixe and fourtie yeeres, gouernour of the Church of Alexandria, his great troubles cannot be comprised in better order, then by declaring shortly what troubles he sustained: first in Constantines dayes, next vnderunder the raigne of Constantius: thirdly, vnderunder the raigne of Iulian: & last to speake of his peaceable end vnderunder the raigne of the Emperour Valens, albeit he was an Arrian Persecuter. In the dayes of Constantine first he was accused by an effronted harlot, whom the Arrians had suborned to beare false witnesse against him: but Athan. guided p. 299the matter with wisedome, and suffered Timotheus, a worthy Presbyter,Theod. l. 1. c. 29. to speake (whom hee had brought in with him to the Councell) but he was silent himselfe. The impudent woman pointing out Timotheus by the finger (as if hee had beene Athanasius) with clamours voyde of all womanly modestie, affirmed that he had abused her in whoredome, so that all who were present were ashamed of her impudencie. This was done in the Councell of Tyrus, to the perpetuall shame of the Arrians, who subborned an harlot to accuse the faithfull servant of Christ without a cause.

Secondly, they accused him for this, that hee had cut off the hand of Arsenius, sometime his owne servant: and for greater evidence, they produced in the Councell of Tyrus before the Iudges, the hand of a man inclosed in a case: which hand they affirmed that Athanasius had cut off from Arsenius. This they spake the more confidently, because they supposed that Arsenius remayned still kept in their own custodie:Note. but by the providence of God hee escaped, came to Tyrus, and was presented before the Councell, having both his hands perfect, sound, and vnmutilated. After this the Councell was full of confusion, for the Arrians cryed, that Athanasius by magicke arts deluded the senses of men: and they were purposed, by violence and force to lay hands vponupon him, and to teare him in pieces: but he fled by a ship, and came to Constantinople, where the Emperour was, as shall bee declared, God willing. The rest of his accusations, and how they dealt against him most vniustly and falsely, and gaue out a sentence of deposition against him in his absence, I remit vntounto its owne place.

VnderUnder the raigne of Constantius, Athanasius was compelled to flie at two diuers times. First, while the Emperour Constans was yet aliue, who procured a Councell to be gathered in Sardica, wherein the cause of Athanasius was tryed, and he found innocent: and was sent backe againe and resto…ed to his place.Theod. l. 2 c. 8. For Constantius feared the menacing letters of his brother Constans, who threatned to leade an p. 300army to the East, and to possesse Athanasius in his place againe,Idem lib. 2. c. 13 if his brother lingred in doing of it. After the death of Constans, Sabinianus was sent to kill Athanasius, but hee escaped miraculously, as hath beene declared.

Againe, hee was compelled first to flie, and afterward to lurke in the dayes of Iulian. Hee was restored againe by the good Emperour Iovinian: and he continued in his ministration vntill the dayes of Valentinian and Valens:Ruffin. l. 1. c. 34. and although Valens was a cruell persecuter, yet hee abstained from persecuting of Athanasius, for honour of his gray haires, and for that hee was reverently regarded of all men.Sozom. l. 6. c. 19. Thus Athanasius, full of dayes, died in peace, after he had governed the Church of Alexandria 46. yeeres.

To worthy Athanasius, Peter.succeeded Peter, whom the Emperour Valens caused to be imprisoned, and Lucius an Arrian Bishop, to be seated in his roome. Lucius was made Bishop of Alexandria, against all kinde of Ecclesiasticall order: neither did the people craue him, nor the clergie of Alexandria approue him,Theod. l. 4.22. nor any Orthodox Bishoppe giuegive him ordination. Peter escaped out of prison, and fledde to Damasus Bishoppe of Rome. Lucius like vntounto a ravening wolfe, not onelyonly banished the Homousians out of Alexandria and Egypt, but also that which was more insolent, and never attempted before: hee persecuted the Monkes who dwelt in solitary places of the wildernesse, and banished them, who had already banished themselues, from all the delicate pleasures of the world. But marke, To what place could men be banished, who inhabited the desert places of barren wildernesses? Hee caused them (especially Macarius and Isidorus) to bee transported to an Isle, wherein no Christians were to be found, but onelyonly Pagans, and worshippers of divels.

When these prisoners of Christ approached neere vntounto the Isle, the divell left his old habitation, to wit, the mouth of the Image, from whence he was accustomed to speake; and hee possessed the Priestes daughter, who ran vn… the shoare, and cryed, words not vnlike to those which were p. 301spoken to Paul and Silas in Philippi, by the maide who had the spirit of divination:Acts. 16.17.Acts 16:17 and after this the divell left her, lying vponupon the ground, as though shee had beene dead. But the men of God,Note. by their supplications to God, restored the young woman to health, and delivered her to her father. The Inhabitants of the Isle, who saw the wonderfull works of God, received the faith, and were baptized in the Name of Christ. Lucius was so dashed with the fame of this wonderfull work, and with the crying out of people against him, that hee permitted the foresayd Monkes to returne backe againe to their owne places.

After Peter succeeded Timotheus, Timotheus.for one cause worthie to be blamed, because hee favoured the vsurpation of Maximus Cynicus, who presumed without a lawfull calling to be Bishop of Constantinople. And after him Theophilus succeeded, whose attempts against Chrysostom I remit to the next Centurie.

Bishops of Antiochia.

IN Antiochia,Vitalius. after Tyrannus, succeeded Vitalius, about the time that the rage of the tenth Persecution began to bee asswaged: therefore hee re-edified a Church in Antiochia, which had beene demolished in the time of the persecution of Dioclesian:Philogonius. Theod. l. 1 c. 3. Eustatius. Theod. l. 1. c. 7. and his successor Philogonius, perfected the building. To whom succeeded Eustatius, who was present at the Councell of Nice, and was Moderator and mouth to all the rest. Eusebius sometime Bishoppe of Berytus, afterward Bishop of Nicodemia, and last of all Bishop of Constantinople:Soc. l. 1. c. 24. did insinuate himselfe in favour with the Emperour Constantine, and obtained from him liberty to goe to Ierusalem, and to visite the Temples that Constantine had lately builded in Bethlehem, Ierusalem, and vponupon Mount Olivet. To him resorted a number of Arrian Bishops, who had all secretly conspired against Eustatius, and subborned a p. 302vile woman to accuse him of whoredome. The Arrians vponupon the simple deposition of a woman, subborned by themselues:Theod. l. 5. c. 21. contrary to all kinde of order, deposed Eustatius, and perswaded the Emperour to banish him, as a man convict both of adultery and of tyranny. But the Lord layde his correcting hand vponupon the woman, whom the Arrians had suborned, so that she dyed, sore tormented with a grieuous sicknesse, and confessed that money was given vntounto her to accuse Eustatius, Note.and that shee had sworne deceitfully, because the childe procreated with her, was begotten by Eustatius a Smith of that name, but not by Eustatius Bishop of Antiochia.

The Arrians in the dayes of Constantine, had no great vpper hand, except onelyonly in the matter of Athanasius his banishment to Triere: and in the deposition and banishment of Eustatius to Illyricum. But in the dayes of Constantius they tooke boldnesse, and planted Arrian Bishops, in all principall places: so that in Antiochia (after Eustatius) Eulalius, Euphronius, Placitus, Leontius, Eudoxi…s, all these were Arrian Bishoppes, placed by them in Antiochia. In the end Meletius was ordained Bishop of Antiochia,Meletius. a man of great gifts, whom the Arrians transported out of Sebastia in Armenia, and placed him in Antiochia; supposing that by his excellent learning, many should be allured to their opinion: but it fell out farre otherwise; for Meletius professed the true faith. OnelyOnly the reproueable forme of his entrie, by receiving ordination from Arrian Bishops, was the ground of remedilesse schismes in the Church of Antiochia. There had been already two factions in the towne; to wit, Arrians, and Eustatians: now the third faction is added of them, who were called Meletians, with whom Eustatians did not communicate, but abhorred them as they did the Arrians.Theod. l. 3. c. 4.

This schisme indured after the death of Meletius for the space of fourscore and fiue yeeres. Meletius was banished in the dayes of Constantius, S…r…. l. 2. c. 44.and Euzoius an Arrian Bishoppe, placed in his roome. Hee was restored againe by Iulian, p. 303onelyonly for desire he had to vndoe things done by Constantius, and to bring his name to disgrace.Socrat. lib. 3. cap. 1. Likewise vnderunder the raigne of the Emperour Valens, hee was banished the second time. Hee governed the Church of Antiochia fiue and twenty yeeres,Soz…m. l. 6.7. and dyed in Constantinople, immediatly after the second generall Councell: and was carryed to Antiochia, to be buried there.

The ordination of Paulinus to be Bishoppe of Antiochia,Paulinus. Meletius being yet aliue, was the foolish fact of Lucifer Bishop of Calaris, in the Isle of Sardinia. Hee was restored from banishment in the dayes of Iulian. and tooke purpose, accompanied with Eusebius, Bishop of Vercellis in Liguria, who was likewise restored at that same time, to visit the estate of their brethren.S…. l. 3. c. 6. Eusebius addresseth himselfe to Alexandria, and conferred with Athanasius. But Lucifer went to Antiochia,, where he found miserable distractions, euen amongst those who professed one and the selfe same Faith. When exhortation to vnity could prevaile nothing, but the dissention dayly encreased, hee ordayned Paulinus presbyter of Antiochia,Theod. l. 3. c. 4. and the chiefe of those who were called Eustatiani, to be Bishop of Antiochia. This fact of Lucifer was like vntounto fuell added vntounto the fire, and mightily augmented the schisme. Theodoretus blameth him for so doing, and Eusebius Vercellencis, when hee came backe from Alexandria, disliked also the fact of Lucifer. Wherefore Lucifer would not communicate any longer with Eusebius.

These sorrowfull times of multiplyed schismes, alienated the hearts of a great number of people, from the true Church.Soc. l. 3. c 9. Meletius was restored from his second banishment,Idem l. 5 c. 5. in the dayes of the Emperour Gratianus. Paulinus would on no condition communicate with him, because hee had receiued ordination from the Arrians. When Meletius had ended his life, the people would not admit Paulinus to be their Bishop,Theod. l. 5.23. because they sayd, it was not meete that he should be his successor, who dispised his fellowship and counsell in his life time.

To Meletius succeeded Flavianus, Flavianus.a worthy man. Paulinus p. 304albeit hee appoynted Evagrius to bee his successor, yet such formes manifestly repugnant to the approoved order of the Church could take no place. The Bishoppes of Rome,Theod. l. 5 c. 23. Damascus, Siricius, and Anastatius, were great adversaries to him, and mis-informed the good Emperour Theodosius against him: but when he appeared before the Emperour, hee spake before him, both freely and wisely, words that liked the Emperour well, as they are reported by Theodoretus: O Emperour, if any man doe blame my Faith as perverse, or my life as vnworthy, I am content to bee iudged by my very adversaries: but if the disputation onelyonly bee concerning principality, and eminent places, I will not contend with any man, but denude my selfe of all superiority, and commit the chaire of Antiochia to whom yee like best. The Emperour admired his courage and wisedome, and sent him backe againe to governe his owne Flocke, and was slow to heare frivolous accusations in time to come against Flavianus. This was that worthy Bishop, who associated Iohn Chrysostome to bee his fellow labourer in Antiochia:Sozom. lib. 7. cap. 23. and who mitigated the wrath of Theodosius conceived against the City of Antiochia, for misusing the Image of his wife Placilla.

Bishops of Constantinople.

COnstantinople was builded by Constantine, Func. Chron.Anno, 336. in a place where Asia and Europe neerly confines: being separated onelyonly by a narrow river, called of olde Bosphorus Thracius. The cause wherefore this Imperiall Citie was builded in this place, was not to resigne the towne of Rome, and the government of the West to the Bishop of Rome: but, as Sozomenus writes, that Constantinople or new Rome,Sozom. lib. 2. cap. 3. might bee as a soveraigne Ladie to all those who in the East, West, North, or South, were obedient to the Romane Empire.

p. 305Learned men in our dayes are ashamed to maintaine all the foolish fables of the Romane Church, for they see cleerly the cause of the building of this great Citie, was to keepe firmely both the East and the West vnderunder the Soveraignty of Constantine, and his successors.

Alexander Bishop of Constantinople,Alexander. prooved a worthy man, in the dayes of the Emperour Constantine. The Arrians finding themselues to be vtterly reiected by Athanasius, they addressed themselues to Constantinople, vnderunder the conduct of Eusebius, Bishop of Nicomedia: and threatned Alexander, that in case hee would not receive Arrius into the fellowship of the Church,Theod. l. 4 c. 4. then they would bring him in, authorized with the Emperours command, to the griefe of his heart. Alexander cloathed himselfe with the armour of God▪ and all the night long prayed in this sense: Lord, if Arrius be to be received to morrow into the communion of thy Church, then let thy servant depart in peace, and destroy not the iust with the wicked: but Lord, if thou wilt spare thy Church, wherevnto I am assured thou wilt be favourable: then Lord, turne thine eyes toward the w…rdes of the Eusebians, and give not thine inheritance to a desolation and reproach: and cut off Arrius,Note. lest while hee entreth into the Church, his heresie also seeme to enter with him, and so no difference seeme to bee betwixt Piety and Impiety.

The next day following the prayer of Alexander: Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia, with his retinue, came with great confidence and pompe, to performe all which they threatned they would doe.Theod. ibid. The death of Arrius. But Arrius was compelled to goe to a secret place, where his bowels gushed out: and he concluded his wretched life with ignominy and shame.

To Alexander succeeded Paulus:Paulus. his lot was to gouerne this Church, vnderunder the raigne of an Arrian Emperour Constantius, who reiected him, and seated Eusebius Bishoppe of Nicomedia, in his place. But this great Patron of the Arrian heresie, scarcely was placed in Constantinople, when he ended his life. The Homousians received againe Paulus to bee their Bishoppe.Socrat. l. 2. c. 7. The Arrians chose Ala…edonius. p. 306This was the cause of great strife in Constantinople, and the people divided in factions, hatefully invaded one another. the Emperour hearing of the tumult, sent Hermogenes, the Generall Commander of his horsemen, to remoue Paulus from Constantinople: Hermogenes was very ready to execute the Emperours commandement,Sozom. l.3.6.7. but the people being affectioned toward their Pastor, arose vp with popular tumult, compassed the house of Hermogenes, set it on fire, s…ew him, and fastned a cord to his legges, and trailed him along the street. For this cause, the Emperour Constantius willing to punish the authours of this tumult, hastened to come to Constantinople. The people went forth to meet him, and with teares confessed their fault, and craved pardon. The Emperour abstayned from punishing them vntounto the death, but he cut off the one-halfe of th… victuall, which the liberality of his father had bestowed vponupon Constantinople;…oe. l, 2, …, 16. to bee payed yeerely out of the tributes of Egypt. Hee banished Paulus the second tune, and seated Macedonius in Constantinople, not without effusion of blood. Paulus was againe restored by the meanes of the Emperour Constans: but after the death of Constans, hee was banished to Cucusus, a towne of Armenia, where hee was strangled by the bloody Arrians.

The Church of Constantinople was miserably troubled with Arrianisme, vnderunder the raignes of Constantius and Valens. The raignes of Gratianus and Theodosius, was a breathing time to the professors of the true Faith. At this time Nazianzen a constant defender of the Faith, was chosen Bishop of Constantinople, who notwithstanding voluntarily left the great Citie, in regard the Bishops assembled in the second generall Councell, gaue not a full and vniversall consent to his admission: Yet gaue they all their consent to Nectarius, Ruff. l.2.….2 …a man of noble birth, of the countrey of Cilicia, at that time foreign, and who had received no Ecclesiasticall preferment before that time.

N…tari….This man (I say) they made Bishop of Constantinople, with full consent and allowance, both of the Councell and p. 307people; ouer-passing Nazianzenus: so fraile are the cogitations of men, euen in generall Councels, that they are oft times more ruled with affection then reason.Hist. Magd. Cent. 4 cap. 10. Nectarius continued in that office vntill the third yeere of the raigne of Arcadius, that is, vntill the yeere of our Lord 401. In his time the confession of sinnes done in secret, to presbyter Poenitentiarius, was abrogated in the Church of Constantinople, vponupon this occasion as Socrates writeth.Note. A certaine noble woman was confessing in secret her sinnes to presbyter Poenite…tiarius, and she confessed adultery, committed with one of the Church Deacons.Socrat. lib. 5. …ap. 19. Eudaemon (this was the name of the Father confessor) gaue counsell to Nectarius, to abrogate this custome of auricular and secret confession, because the Church was like to be slandered, and euill spoken of by these meanes. Socrates can scarse giuegive allowance to this fact of Nectarius, in respect that by abrogation of this custome, the vnfruitfull workes of darkenesse were lesse coargued and reproued. But Socrates considered not, that Christ,Iohn 4.John 4 when he talked with the Samaritane woman at the Well, sent away his Disciples to buy bread, to the ende the poore Samaritane sinner might more freely poure out her secret sinnes in the bosome of Christ, who knew all things that were done in secret. It is not my purpose to contend with Socrates, he is writing an history, I am writing but a short Compend of an history: he taketh libertie to declare his iudgement concerning this fact of Nectarius, in abrogating confession of secret sinnes to presbyter Poenitentiarius.

No man can blame me to write my iudgement concerning auricular confession.Gen. 9.23. Simile.Gen 9:23 It is in our dayes not like vntounto the mantle wherewith Sem and Iapheth couered the nakednesse of their Father Noe: but it is in very deed a lap of the mantle of the Deuill, couering the nakednesse of his children, that is, the horrible treasons that are plotted in secret by the children of the Deuill, against Christian Magistrates. Now is auricular confession for greater causes to p. 308be abrogated, then of olde presbyter poenitentiarius was discharged by Nectarius.

Bishops of Ierusalem.

Macarius.TO Thermon succeeded Macarius, Anno 318. about the seauenth yeere of the raigne of Constantine: In his time it is thought,Ruffin. lib. 1. cap. 8. Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 17. Theod. lib. 1. cap. 18. Ambros…e obitu Theodos. that Helena, the mother of Constantine, found the Crosse of Christ: but Ambrose writes, that shee worshipped it not, for that, saith he, had been Gentili… error, & vanitas impiorum, that is, an errour of Pagans, and vanitie of vngodly people. But now to lay aside the inexcusable fault of adoration of the tree whereupon our Lord suffered. What necessitie had Helena to be so earnest to seeke out this tree, and to commit it to the custodie of all posterities? seeing that Ioseph of Arimathea, who sought the bodie of IESVS at the hands of Pilate, Math. 27.58.Matt 27:58to the end he might burie it honourably, yet sought he not the tree whereon Christ was crucified, which with little adoe might hauehave beene obtained. Secondly,Note. during the time that the Crosse was easie to be found, and easie to hauehave beene discerned from other Crosses. How could the blessed Virgine the mother of the Lord, and holy Apostles, hauehave committed such an over… sight, in not keeping that precious treasure, if so be in the keeping of it there be so great deuotion, as the Romane Church now talkes of? Thirdly, what is the cause, that the Romane Church brags so much of antiquitie? when as the worshipping of the crosse, one of the maine points of their Religion was vnknowne to the first three hundred yeeres of our Lord: and now in the fourth Centurie, the crosse is found, but not worshipped: yea, and the adoration of it is detested and abhorred, as an errour of the Pagans.

Maximus.To Macarius succeeded Maximus, who had beene his p. 309fellow-labourer, as of olde, Alexander was to Narcissus. Macarius gouerned the Church of Ierusalem, in the peaceable dayes of Constantine, Ruff. lib. 1. cap. 17.but Maximus gouerned that same Church himselfe alone, in the dayes of Constantius. He was present at the Councell of Tyrus: but Paphnutius a Bishop and confessor in Thebaida, pittied the simplicitie of Maximus, whom the Arrians with deceitfull speeches had almost circumueened, and he stepped to him, and suffered him not to sit in the assembly of vngodly people: whereupon followed a bond of indissoluble coniunction, not onelyonly with Paphnutius, but also with Athanasius, who was charged with many false accusations in that wicked Councell of Tyrus. This warning made him circumspect and wise in time to come:Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 8. so that he was not present at the Arrian Councell of Antiochia, gathered vnderunder pretence of dedication of the Temple, which Constantine began to build, but his sonne Constantius perfected the building of it.

To Maximus succeeded Cyrillus, Cyrillus.a man greatly hated by the Arrians, in so much, that Acacius Bishop of Caesarea Palestinae deposed him (no doubt by some power granted to him by the Emperour Constantius, Theod. lib. 2. cap. 26.with aduise of Arrian Bishops). Notwithstanding Silvanus Bishop of Tarsus receiued him, and he taught in that Congregation with great liking and contentment of the people. The strife of Acacius against him in the Councell of Seleucia, I remit vntounto its owne place.

In time of famine he had a great regard to poore indigent people,Sozom. lib. 5. cap. 25. and sold the precious vessels and garments of the Church for their support. This was a ground of his accusation afterward,Note. because of a costly garment bestowed by the Emp. Constantine to the church of Ierusalem, which Cyrillus sold to a Marchant in time of famine, and againe, the Marchant sold it vntounto a lasciuious woman: and such friuolous things were aggregated by the Arrians, who hated the men of GOD.

p. 310Of other Pastors and Doctors, in Asia, Africa, and Europe.

BEsides the Patriarchs of principall places, God raised vp in this Centurie a great number of learned Preachers, who were like vntounto the Ibides of Aegypt, Simile.a remedy prepared by God, against the multiplied number of venemous & flying Serpents. Euen so learned Fathers, of whom I am to speak, were instruments of God, to vndoe the heresies which abounded in this age, aboue all other ages. Did not Nazianzenus vndoe the Heresie of Apollinaris? Basilius the Heresie of Eunomius? Hilarius like vntounto a second Deucalion saw the ouer-flowing flood of Arrianisme abated in France. Ambrosius, Epiphanius, and Ierom set their hearts against all Heresies, either in their time, or preceding their dayes. It were an infinite labour, to write of them all, who in this age, like v… glistering starres, with the shining light of celestiall doctrine, illuminated the darknesse of the blind world: but the names of some principall Teachers (God willing) I shall remember.

Eusebius Pamphili, Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine, liued vnderunder the Emperour Constantine, Eusebius Pamphili.with whom he was familiarly acquainted. He was desired to supply the place of Eustatius Bishop of Antiochia, whose deposition the Arrians without all forme of order, had procured most vnrighteously: but he would not consent to accept that charge, so that the chaire of Antiochia wanted a Bishop eight yeeres.Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 24. Some expecting the restitution of Eustatius; others feeding themselues vponupon vaine hopes, that Eusebius would accept that place. The Emperour Constantine commended his modestie, and counted him worthy to be Bishop of the whole world. Neuerthelesse, he was not altogether free of the Heresie of Arrius before the Nicene Councell, and he was remisse and slacke in the cause of ATHANASIVS. p. 311He was so familiarly acquainted with Pamphilus, Sozom. lib. 3. cap. 2.who suffered martyrdome in Caelarea, that he clothed himselfe with his name, and called himselfe Eusebius Pamphili. Hist. Magd. cent. 4. cap. 10.He died about the time that Athanasius first returned from banishment, by the meanes of Constantine the younger, about the yeere of our Lord 342.

Nazianzenus liued in the dayes of Constantius, Gregorius Nazianzenus. Socrat. lib. 5. cap. 6.Iulian, and Theodosius. He was borne in a little towne of Cappadocia, called Nazianzum, from which he receiued his name. He was trained vp in learning in Alexandria and in Athens; his familiaritie with Basilius Magnus began in Athens, & it was increased in the Wildernesse: he Preached in Sas…ma, but because it was a place vnmeete for studies,Ruff. l. 2.c. 9. he returned to Nazianzum, and was a helper to his aged father. After his fathers death he went to Constantinople, where he found the towne in a most desolate condition, in regard the Arrian and Macedonian heresies had so mightily prevailed, that all the principall Churches were occupied by them. Nazianzenus onelyonly had libertie to Preach in a little Church called Anastatia, because the truth of God, which seemed to hauehave beene buried,Sozom. lib. …. cap. 5. now by the Preaching of Nazianzenus was revived againe. In the second generall Councell gathered by Theodosius, because some Bishops of Macedonia & Egypt murmured against his admission, he counterfeited the fact of Ionas, Ruff. lib. 2. cap. 9and was content to be cast out of his place, to procure peace and concord amongst his brethren. He benefited the Church of Christ in the dayes of Iulian, by writing bookes of Christian Poesie,The…d. lib. …. cap. 8. whereby the Christian youth should hauehave no harme by the interdiction of Iulian, prohibiting the Children of Christians to be brought vp in the Schooles of learning. He detected the heresie of Apollinaris, and the abominations of Heathen idolatrie, whereunto Iulian had sold himselfe,Sozom. lib. 6. cap. …7. more cleerely then any other man had done. A man worthie for excellencie of gifts, to be called Theologus.

Basilius Magnus, Basilius Magnus.Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, was so vnited in heart and mind with Nazianzenus, that the Pen p. 312of Socrates will not separate the Treatises of their liues. His father Basilius, Socrat. lib. 4. …ap. 26.his mother Eumele, his nurse that fostered him, named Macrina, all were Christians. His father was martyred vnderunder the persecuting Emperour Maximus. He left behinde him fiue sonnes: three of them were Bishops, namely, Basilius Bishop of Caesarea, Peter Bishop of Seba…ta, and Gregorius Bishop of Nyssa. He was instrusted in all kinde of learning in Caesarea, in Constantinople, in Athens vnderunder Himerius and Proaeresius, in Antiochia vnderunder Libanius. At his second comming to Athens, he acquainted himselfe with Nazianzenus. They spent too much time in searching out the deepenesse of humane learning: and it repented Basilius, Basil. Eustatio, epist. 79.that he had spent so much time in searching out things that are not necessary to eternall life. He was ordained a Deacon by Meletius, B. of Antiochia, and a Presbyter by Eusebius B. of Caesarea in Cappadocia. The good cariage of Basilius toward Eusebius is worthic of remembrance, albeit Eusebius conceiued indignation against him without a cause, yet he would not expostulate with his Bishop, but he departed to a solitarie place in Pontus, where he remained vntill the dayes of the Emperour Valens. Then did the Arrian Heresie so mightily prevaile, that necessitie compelled the Churches of Cappadocia to intreat Basilius to turne againe, left in his absence Arrianisme should get a full vpper-hand. Basilius returned, not without the foreknowledge & good aduise of Nazianzenus his deare friend,Nazian. Basilis, epist. 19. who counselled him to preueene Eusebius, and to ouercome him in courtesie and humanitie: So was he reconciled to Eusebius, and after his death was ordained B. of Caesarea in Cappadocia: whom God so blessed, that the Arrians and Eunomians, Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 26.who seemed to be excellently learned, when they encountered with Nazianzenus and Basilius, they were like vntounto men altogether destitute of learning. In the persecution of Valens, he was led to Antiochia, and presented before the Deputy of Valens, who threatned him with banishment and death: but he answered him with inuincible courage, so that the Deputy was astonished at his answeres. He was p. 313not afraid of banishment,Socrat. ibid. because the earth is the Lords: neither was he afraid of death, but wished to hauehave that honour, that the bonds of his earthly tabernacle might be loosed for the testimony of Christ.Note. The Emperours sonne Galaces at this time was sicke vntounto the death, and the Empresse sent him word. that she had suffered many things in her dreame for the B. Basilius, so he was dismissed, and suffered to returne to Caesarea.

The prouident care of God ouer-ruling all humane cogitations, kept before hand some sparkles that were not quenched in the feruent heat of this persecution. The multiplied number of his Letters sent to the Bishops of the West, whereof he receiued no comfortable answere, gaue vntounto Basilius iust occasion to suspect affectation of supremacy in the West, as his owne words doe testifie, which I cite out of the Latine version as most easie to be vnderstood: Nihil nos fratres separat nisi animi proposito, Basil. transmarinis, epist. 77▪separations causas robúrque demus: vnus est Dominus, vna Fides, Spes eadem. Siue caput vniversalis Ecclesiae vos ipsos esse reputatis, non potest pedibus dicere caput, non est mihi opus vobis, &c. That is, There is nothing, brethren, that separates vsus, except the purpose of our owne mindes furnish both cause and strength to separation: There is one God, one Faith, one Hope. Or if yee suppose your selues to be head of the vniversall Church, yet the head cannot say vntounto the feete, I hauehave no neede of you.

Nyssa,Gregori… Nyssenus. is a Citie of Mysia, of olde called Pythopolis. The brother germane to Basilius Magnus, named Gregorius, was Bishop of this towne. In the second generall Councell, to him was committed the ouer-sight of the Countrey of Cappadocia. Albeit the volume of his Bookes be not extant,Socrat. lib. 5. cap. 8. yet he is renowned in the mouths of the learned: and the fragments of his writings declare that he hath beene a man of note and marke. Concerning sinne, he said, that albeit the Serpents that stinged vsus,Note. were not slaughtered, yet we hauehave sufficient consolation in this, that we are cured from their venemous bits and stings.Numb. 21.6Num 21:6 Concerning pilgrimage to p. 314Ierusalem, Mount Olive…, and Bethlehem, he said, that a pilgrimage from carnall lusts, to the righteousnesse of God, is acceptable to the Lord; but not a iourneying from Cappadocia to Palestina:Hist M…gd. Cent. 4 cap. 10. and that God will giuegive a reward in the world to come,Note. onelyonly to things done in this world, by warrant of his owne Commandement.

Epiphanius. Sozom lib. 6. cap. 32.Epiphanius was borne in a little Village of Palestina, called Barsanduce, in the fielde of Eleutheropolis. He was brought vp amongst the Monkes of Palestina and Egypt. In the ende he was ordained Bishop of Salamina, the Metropolitane towne of the Isle of Cyprus. He refuted the Heresies preceding his time in his booke called Panarium, and set downe a summe of the true faith in his booke called Anchoratus. He had a great regard to the poore: in so much, that he was called Oeconomus pauperum. And like as Cyprus was naturally situated in a place neere approaching to Asia the lesse, and to Syria, and to Egypt, and Pentapolis, and not farre distant from Europe: so it fell out, that Christians, who were disposed to support their indigent brethren, they sent their collections to Epiphanius, and he distributed them to the poore.Socrat. lib. 6. cap. 10. With all these commendable vertues, there was mixed a reproueable simplicitie in him: he was circumveened by Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria, and tooke a dealing against Iohn Chrysostome Bishop of Constantinople, because he would not be suddaine in damning the Books of Origen. Also he taught in Constantinople, with indeuour to alienate the hearts of the people from their owne Pastour, and celebrated the communion, and ordained a Deacon in Constantinople, without the foreknowledge and consent of Chrysostome, and contrary to the Church order. Chrysostome on the other part sent him aduertisement, that in case he receiued any disgrace or harme in the fury of popular commotions, he should blame himselfe, who by his own inordinate doings was procuring the same. After this, Epiphanius ceased from such doings, and entered into a ship, of purpose to returne backe againe to Cyprus, but he died by the way. It is reported of him, that when he entered into the ship, he p. 315said,Sozom. lib. 8. cap. 15. he left three great things behinde him, to wit, a great towne, a great pallace, and great hypocrisie.

It were a matter of infinite labour,Note. and not agreeing with the nature of a Compend, to write of all the worthie men of God in the Easterne parts, who did fight a good fight, runne a good race,Sozom. lib. 5. cap. 1…. and kept the Faith. Asclepas in Gaza, Luci… in Adrianopolis, Basilius presbyter in Ancyra, a mightie adversarie to the Arrians, vnderunder the raigne of Constantius, and to the Pagans vnderunder the raigne of Iulian, in whose time he was martyred:The…d. lib. 1. cap. 5. Philogonius Bishop of Antiochia, Hellanicus Bishop of Tripolis, and Spyridion, who of a keeper of cattell, became Bishop of Trimythus, Hermogenes Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, who was present at the Councell of Nice, Iames Bishop of Nisibis, in Mesopotamia, in the dayes of Constantius, Theod. lib. 2▪ cap. 30.by whose prayers the armie of Sapores King of Persia was miraculously disappointed. Paulus Bishop of Neocaesarea: this towne is situated vponupon the bankes of Euprates, and Paphnutius Bishop in Thebaida, two notable Confessors, who were both present at the Councell of Nice. Eusebius Samosatenus, Theod. lib. 2. cap. 32.to whom many of Basilius Epistles are directed, and who refused to redeliuer vntounto the Emperour Constantius the subscriptiōs of the Arrian Bishops, who consented to the admission of Meletius to be Bishop of Antiochia, which subscriptions were put in his custodie. And albeit the messenger sent from the Emperour, threatned to cut off his right hand, in case he deliuered not the subscriptions aforesaid, yet he constantly refused to deliuer them: and the Emperour both admired and commended his constancie:Theod. lib. 5. cap. 8. Barses Bishop of Edessa in Mesopotamia, Eulogius and Protogenes presbyters there,Idem, lib. 4. cap. 18. vnderunder the raigne of Valens were banished to Antinoe in Thebaida, whose travailes God wonderfully blessed, to the conversion of many soules to the kingdome of God: Theodulus Bishop of Trianopolis, Amphilochius Bishop of Iconium in Lycaonia. Pelagius Laodicenus, whose name is the more famous for his insolent fact;Note. for he married a young woman,T…od. lib. 4. cap. 13. and the first night after her marriage, he perswaded her to preferre Virginall chastitie, to matrimoniall p. 316copulation. Antiochus the brother sonne of Eusebius Samosatenus could not abide the imposi…on of the hands of an Arrian Bishop. Letoius Bishop of Meletina in Armenia, who burnt the Monasteries, or rather as Theodoretus writes,Theod. lib. 4. cap. 11. the dennes of theeues, wherein the Heretiques called Massaliani had their abiding Ephem Syrus a man borne in Nisibis, brought vp in the wildernesse, was counted a famous Writer in the Syrian Language. The bookes shrowded vnderunder his name, are thought for the most part to be supposititious.Sozom. lib. 7. cap. 27. Aeas who liued in company with Zenon Bishop of Maioma, neere vntounto Gaza, is much reported of, because he married a young woman, procreated three children with her, and in the end left her, and entered into a Monasterie, forgetting his matrimoniall couenant. Zebe…nius Bishop of Eleutheropolis in Phaenicia, to whom Sozomenus affirmeth, that by diuine revelation,Sozom lib. 7. cap. 28. the places were manifested, wherein the bodies of the Prophets, Habacuk and Micheas were buried: So superstitious are Ecclesiasticall Writers alreadie become, that the searching out of things nothing appertaining to eternall life, are ascribed to divine revelations. The judicious Reader will pardon me, that I write not in particular of the liues of all the fore mentioned Bishops and Pastors, because the nature of a short Compend cannot permit it to be done.

Bishops and Doctors in Africke.

Didymus. Sozom. lib. 3. cap. 15.IN Africke, ouer and besides the Bishops of Alexandria, was Didymus, a Doctor of the schoole of Alexandria, who through occasion of a dolour that fell into his eyes, became blind from his very youth: Yet by continuall exercise of his minde, he became excellently learned in all Sciences: But aboue all things the exact knowledge of divine Scriptures made him a terrour to the Arrians. Many doe write, that the very last period of time, wherein Iulian the Apostate p. 317concluded his wretched life,Sozom. l…b. 6. cap 2. was revealed to Didymus in a dreame, and that he againe tolde it to Athanasius, who lurked secretly in Alexandria, during the time of the raigne of Iulian.

Arnobius was an Oratour in Africke,Arnobius, afterward he became a Christian, and craued to be baptized. Christian Bishops lingered to conferre the holy Sacrament to a man, who had beene a hater of Christian Religion of a long time. Yet Arnob. freed himself from all suspition of Paganisme, by writing Bookes wherein he confuted the Idolatrie of the Pagans,Ierom. chron. and was baptized about the yeere of our Lord 330. About the suffering of our Lord he writes very judiciously: That like as the beames of the Sunne, that shine vponupon a tree, when the tree is cutted,Simile. Arnob. in Psal. 129.Ps 129 the Sunne-beames cannot be cutted: Euen so, in the suffering of Christ, the diuine Nature suffered no paine.

Lactantius F…rmianus, was the Disciple of Arnobius. In eloquence he was nothing inferior to his Master:Ierom ad Paulinum. yet it is thought, that he impugned errours with greater dexteritie, then he confirmed the Doctrine of the Truth.

Optatus Bishop of Meleuitanum in Africke,Optatus Meleuitanu…. in the dayes of Valentinian and Valens, set his Pen against the Donatistes, especially against Parmenianus, whose absurd assertion he clearely refutes.

First, Whereas the Donatists affirmed, that the Church of Christ was onelyonly to be found in a corner of Africke. He refutes it by Scripture,Psal. 2.….Ps 2 wherein it is written, Aske of me, and I will giuegive thee the Heathen for thine inheritance, and the ends of the world for thy possession: This place proues the Church to be Catholicke.

Also whereas they saide, that Baptisme was not auaileable, except some of their sect had beene present at the administration thereof; he answereth, That when God first created the Element of water, the presence of the Trinitie was powerfull in operation to create water, albeit none of the Donatists were then present: Euen so the Trinitie can worke effectually in Baptisme, albeit none of the Donatists be present: p. 318Yea, and that it was God (the author of Baptisme, and not the Minister) that did sanctifie, according as it is written, Wash me, Psal. 51.7.Ps 51:7and I shall be whiter then the snow, &c.

Bishops and Doctours of Europe.

Acholius.ACHOLIVS Bishop of Thessalonica, baptized the Emperour Theodosius, after he returned from the slaughter of Maximus. The Emperour fell sicke by the way, before he came to Constantinople, and was desirous to be baptized:Socrat. lib. 5. cap. 6. Neverthelesse, he would not suffer Acholius to baptize him, vntill he was assured that Acholius was not spotted with the Arrian Heresie. After Baptisme the Emperour recouered his health againe.Sozom. lib. 7. cap. 4. Acholius was brought vp in Monasteries, like as Epiphanius, and many other worthie men were brought vp.

Hilarius.Hilarius Bishop of Poitiers in France, liued vnderunder the raigne of Constantius: a man in Religion constant, in manners meeke and courteous.Ruffin. lib. 1. cap. 31. He was banished immediately after the Councell of Millane, to Phrygia, as some suppose. Theodoretus writeth, that he was banished to Thebaida: and relieued againe from banishment vnderunder Iulian. But it is more apparent,Theod. lib. 3. cap. 4. that he remained in Phrygia, vntill the Councell of Seleucia; vntounto which Councell he was brought from banishment: not by any speciall commandement from the Emperour, but by a generall commandement giuen to his Deputie Leonas, to assemble together the Bishops of the East.Hist. Magd. Cent. 4. cap. 10. VnderUnder pretence of obeying this commandement, Hilarius being banished in the East, was brought to the Councell of Seleucia: from Seleucia he went to Constantinople. The Emperour refused to heare him reason with the Arrians in the matters of Faith, but gaue him libertie to returne to his owne countrey againe. He tooke great paines to purge the countrey of France from the poyson of Arrian heresie: and he preuailed so farre, that Ierom compares him p. 319to Deucalion, Ierom. in Chron.who both sawe the flood of waters ouer-flowing Thessalia, and the abating of them also: Euen so Hilarius saw both the growth and decay of Arrianisme in France. Similie.He liued sixe yeeres after his returning from banishment, and concluded his life vnderunder the reigne of Valentinian.

Ambrose the sonne of Symmachus, Ambrosius.was a man of noble parentage: vnderunder the Emperour Valentinian he was gouernour of Liguria. At this time Auxentius Bishop of Millane (an Arrian) died. Great sedition was in the Towne, for the election of a new Bishop,Ruffin. lib. 2. cap. 11. eueryevery man contending to hauehave a Bishop chosen of that faith which he himselfe best liked. Ambrose fearing the vndoing of the Towne by this intestine contention, exhorted them to vnitie and concord, with words and reasons to perswas…e, that the people with one consent cried out, they would be all of one minde, if that Ambrose were appointed to be their Bishop.Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 30. The Emperour thought this inexpected consent of the people came from GOD, and he consented to the desire of the people. So was Ambrose ordained Bishop of Millaine. After the death of Valentinian, he was grieuously troubled by Iustina, the mother of Valentinian the second: for shee was infected with Arrianisine. Ambrose was fauoured by the people, and would not betray the sheepe-folde of GOD to Wolues.Theod. lib. 5. cap. 13. Ambrose ad Marcellinam epist. 33. August. Confess. lib. 9. c. 7. Theod. lib 5. cap. 14. Hist. Magd. Cent. 4. cap. 10. The particular description of the broile of Iustina may be read at length in the Epistle that Ambrose writes to his sister Marcellina.

The miracle wrought at the sepulchres of Protasius and Gervasius, mittigated somewhat the furie of Iustina. But the dolorous tydings of the slaughter of Gratianus compelled Iustina to flie from Italie to Illyricum for safetie of her owne life, and her sonnes life. He sustained also great trouble vnderunder the two Tyrants Maximus and Eugenius: so that he was compelled in the time of Maximus, to flie to Aquileia: and in the time of Eugenius, to flie to Hetruria, He liued also vnderunder the raigne of Theodosius, whom hee sharpely reprooued for the slaughter of the innocent people of Thessalonica:Theod. lib. 5. cap. 18. and died in the third yeere of the raigne p. 320of Honorius, after he had gouerned the Church of Millane twentie-two yeeres.

Prudentius.Prudentius, a man of Spaine, a Lawyer at some times, and a Warriour at other times in his young yeeres. In his old age he writ of diuine matters. He liued vnderunder the reigne of Valentinian the second, of Theodosius, and his sonnes. He set forth his knowledge in Bookes of Latine Poesie, albeit Greeke inscriptions be prefixed vntounto them, such as foreign, which intreateth of the fight betwixt the spirit and the flesh:Hist. Magd. Cent. 4. cap. 10. foreign, which intreateth of the workes to be done in the day time: foreign, intreateth of Divinitie and divine things: foreign, intreateth of Originall sinne, against Cerdon and Marcion, the Authors of two beginnings: foreign, a booke conteining the prayses of victorious Martyrs.Psal. 50.58.Ps 50:58 In this Booke is frequent invocation of Saints, expresse against holy Scripture: foreign, conteining Histories, both of the olde and new Testament. The verses, wherein he argueth the Heresie of the Manicheans, who attributed vntounto Christ, not a true, but a phantasticall bodie made of aire, are very judiciously conceiued:

Restat vt aëriam pingas ab origine gentem….

Aërios proceres, Leuim, Iudam, Simeonem,

Aerium DAVID, magnorum corpora Regum

Aeria, at que ipsam foecundae virginis alvum

Acre fallaci, nebulisque & nube tumentem.

The Ecclesiasticall Writers, whom I hauehave chiefly followed in this Compend, make no mention of him.

Osius.Osius Bishop of Corduba, was a Confessor, in the Persecution of Dioclesian and Maximianus. He was regarded by the Emperour Constantine, for the markes of the rebuke of Christ. The Emperour employed him in the schisme in Aegypt, Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 7.betwixt Alexander and Arrius. Likewise he sent him to the Bishops of the East, who differed in opinion from the Bishops of the West concerning the keeping of Easter day.Sozom. lib. 1. cap. 16. He was present at the Councell of Nice, where p. 321he damned the heresie of Arrius: And at the councell of Sardica, he absolued Athanasius, Paulus, &c. Neither was he terrified with the menacing Letters of Constantius, but answered couragiously, that Athanasius was an innocent man, and that the Emperour did not well to hearken to the calumnies of Versatous and Valens, men who had by writ confessed to Iulius Bishop of Rome,Th…od lib. 2. cap. 19. that the accusations intended against Athanasius, were but forged calumnies. And this they did of their owne accord freely, and not compelled. In his decrepit yeeres (for hee liued an hundreth yeeres) some weaknesse was found in him. At the councell of Syrmium, he was compelled to be present in that assembly of Arrian Bishops,Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 31. to whose wicked constitutions (fearing torture and banishment, from which he was lately reduced) he subscribed.

Ierom was borne in a towne of Dalmatia,Hieronymu…. called Stridon, and was instructed in the Rudiments of Learning at Rome. From Rome he went to France,Ierom. epist. ad Gerons. of purpose to increase his knowledge, and to diuerse other places, and he returned againe to Rome, where he acquainted himselfe with honourable women, such as Marcella, Sophronia, Principia, Paula, and Eustochium, to whom he expounded places of holy Scripture, for he was admitted presbyter: He was counted worthie to succeed Damasus B. of Rome: his gifts were enuied at Rome: therefore he left Rome, and tooke his voiage toward Palestina. By the way he acquainted himselfe with Epiphanius B. of Cyprus, with Nazianzenus B. in Constantinople, with Didymus Doctor in the Schoole of Alexandria, and sundry other men of Note and Marke. In the end he came to Iudea, and made choise of the place of the Lords Natiuitie to be the place of his death. At Bethlehem, Paula a Noble woman (who accompanied Ierom, Hist. Magd. cent. 4. cap. 10.and his brother Paulinianus from Rome) vponupon her owne charges builded foure Monasteries. Ierom guided one Monasterie, wherein were a number of Monkes. The other three, wherein there were companies of holy Virgines, she guided her selfe. Ierom was a man of sterne disposition, and more inclinable p. 322to a solitary and Monkish life, then to fellowship and societie. Neither Heliodorus in the Wildernesse, nor Ruffinus out of the Wildernesse,August. epist. 17. could keepe inuiolable friendship with him. The Letters that passed betwixt August. and Ierom declare, that Ierom knew not how great a victory it was in louelove, in humilitie, and friendship to ouer-come them,Ierom. Aug. epist. 13.14. who seemed to contend against him. Ierom wanted not his owne grosse errours. Concerning the creation hee thought,Ierom. auar. in tit. cap. 1. Ierom. lib. 18. Comment. in Isaiam. Hist. Magd. cent. 4. cap. 10. that Angels, Thrones, Dominations, were existent before the world was created. In his Bookes written against Iouinian, he writeth not reuerently of Mariage, and he seemeth to condemne the second Mariage. He ended his life about the twelfth yeere of the raigne of Honorius, in the yeere of his age 91.

Ecclesiasticall Writers hauehave filled their Bookes with excessiue commendations of Heremites and Monks: of whom (God willing) I shall write in a particular Treatise of Monasticall life.