The Crucifying of the World, Document
Sophronius Bishop of Ierusalem (Prat. spir. c. 195. referente Baronio ad an. 411.) delivereth this History following to posterity, as a most certain thing:
THAT Leontius Apamiensis a most faithful Religious man that had lived many years at Cyrene assured them, that Synesius (who of a Philosopher became a Bishop) found at Cyrene one Evagrius a Philosopher, who had been his old acquaintance, fellow-student and intimate friend, but an obstinate Heathen: and Synesius was earnest with him to become a Christian, but all in vain: Yet did he still follow him with those Arguments that might satisfie him of the Christian verity; and at last the Philosopher told him, that to him it seemed but a meer fable and deceit that the Christian Religion teacheth men, that this world shall have an end, and that all men shall rise again in these bodies, and their flesh be made immortal and incorruptible, and that they shall so live for ever, and receive the Reward of all that they have done in the body, and that he that hath pitty on the poor, lendeth to the Lord, and he that gives to the poor and needy shall have Treasures in heaven, and shall receive an hundred-fold from Christ, together with eternal life. These things he derided. Synesius by many arguments assured him that all these things were certainly true: and at last the Philosopher and his children were Baptized. A while after he comes to Synesius, and brings him three hundred pound of Gold for the poor, and bid him Take it, but give him a Bill under his hand that Christ should repay it him in another world. Synesius took the money for the poor, and gave him under his hand such a Bill as he desired. Not long after the Philosopher being near to death, commanded his sons that when they buried him, they should put Synesius Bill in his hand in the Grave; which they did: And the third day after, the Philosopher seemed to appear to Synesius in the night, and said to him, [Come to my Sepulchre, where I lie, and take thy Bill, for I have received the Debt and am saified; which for thy assurance I have subscribed with my own hand.] The Bishop knew not that the Bill was buried with him, but sent to his sons, who told him all; and taking them and the chief men of the City, he went to the Grave, and found the Paper in the hands of the Corpse, thus subscribed, [EGO EVAGRIUS PHILOSOPHUS, TIBI SANCTISSIMO DOMINO SYNESIO EPISCOPO SALUTEM: ACCEPI DEBITUM IN HIS LITERIS MANU TUA CONSCRIPTUM, SATISFACTUMQUE MIHI EST; ET NULLUM CONTRA TE HABEO JUS PROPTER AURUM QUOD DEDI TIBI, ET PER TE CHRISTO DEO ET SALVATORI NOSTRO.] that is, I Evagrius the Philosopher, to thee most Holy Sir, Bishop Synesius greeting: I have received the Debt which in this Paper is written with thy hands, and I am satisfied, and I have no Law (or Action) against thee for the Gold which I gave to thee, and by thee to Christ our God and Saviour.] They that see the thing admired, and glorified God that gave such wonderful evidence of his promises to his servants: And, saith Leontius, this Bill subscribed thus by the Philosopher, is kept at Cyrene most carefully in the Church to this day, to be seen of such as d… desire it.
Though we have a sure Word of Promise, sufficient for us to build our Hopes on, yet I thought it not wholely unprofitable, to cite this one History from so credible Antiquity, that the Works of God may be had in remembrance. Though if any be causlesly incredulous, there are surer Arguments that we have ready at hand to convince him by.