The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Eusebius – Lactantius
The Life of Eusebius, who dyed Anno Chri. 340.
THe life of Eusebius was written by Acatius, his Disciple, and successor in the Bishoprick of Caesarea, which being lost, I can meet with no Author, that gives us any account either of his Parents, Masters, or his first course of life: But Eusebius is commended to the Christian World, not for his Parents and Masters sake,His commendations. but for his excellent wit, and great variety of Learning: So that S. Basil saith of him, Eusebius Palaestinus est fide dignus propter multiplicem experientiam. Eusebius of Palestine is worthy to be credited for his great experience. S. Hierom saith, Eusebius in Divinis Scripturis studiosissimus, & Bibliothecae Divinae cum Pamphilo Martyre diligentissimus pervestigator, Eusebius was a great student of the sacred Scriptures, and together with Pamphilus the Martyr a most diligent seacher of the Divine Library. Evagrius saith, Eusebius vir sanè cùm in aliis rebus disertissimus, tùm in scribendo tantum pollens, ut possit lectores suorum librorum etsi non efficere perfectos Christianos, ita tamen persuadendo impellere ut Christianam Religionem lubenter colant. Eusebius truly was a man, as in other things most Eloquent, so in writing of such prevalency, that though he could not make the Readers of his Books perfect Christians, yet he could inforce them by his perswasions willingly to embrace the Christian Religion.
He was Bishop of Caesarea Palestina, and for his great love to Pamphilus, Constantines esteem of Eusebius.sir-named Pamphilus: a most learned man, of whom Constantine the Great used to say, that he was worthy to be Bishop not of one only City, but of the whole World: and for his eloquence, Hierom stiled him Romani eloquii Tubam: the Trumpet of Roman Elocution.
About this time Eustathius Bishop of Antioch was deposed from his Bishoprick as some say for the Sabellian Heresie, whereupon there was kindled in Antioch such a fierie flame of Sedition,A sedition in Antioch. that in a manner the whole City was therewith turned upside down Amongst the common sort of people some cleaved to this side, some to that; The Garrison Souldiers also were so divided, and set one against the other, that if God, and the Allegiance they owed to the good Emperour Constantine the Great, had not been called to remembrance, they had lamentably murthered one another. But the Emperour by his Letters appeased the Tumult, and Sedition that was raised amongst them: the cause whereof was this; One party of them chose Eusebius Pamphilus for their Bishop, and would bring him in▪ the other party would have their former Bishop Eustathius again: But Eusebius refused to come to them, whereupon the Emperour Constantine highly commended him for his wisdom and moderation.
Afterwards a Synod being gathered at Tyre, A Synod.to determine the controversies which were sprung up amongst the Bishops, Constantine sent Eusebius thither to take cognizance of their differences, where this memorable thing fell out, Potamon (one of the Bishops) seeing Eusebius to rit as a Judge, and Athanasius standing, and pleading his cause before him, being overcome with sorrow,Eusebius reproved. and weeping for those things which he saw the Professors of the Truth to suffer, with a loud voice he inveighed against Eusebius, saying: Thou sittest there Eusebius, and innocent Athanasius stands to be judged by thee: Who can endure such things? Tell me Eusebius, Was thou not in Prison with me in the time of Persecution? and I truly lost one of my Eyes for the Truth sake, but thou hast nothing mutilated in thy Body, neither didst thou give any testimony for thy Confession; thou livest and hast had no member cut off. How gatest thou out of Prison, but because thou either madest a promise of submission to our Persecutors, or else didst that which was abominable? Eusebius hearing these things, grew into great choller, and dissolved the Assembly, saying, If you come hither, and now speak such things against us, surely your Accusers speak nothing but the truth. For if you go about to exercise a Tyranny here, much more will you do it in your own Country.
There is much contest amongst Divines both Ancient and Modern what Eusebius Faith was about the person of the Son of God: Some charge him with Arianism for denying the Deity of Christ: but Athanasius saith that he recanted it in the Nicaene Council. Eustathius of Antioch accused him for innovating the Nicaene Creed, when as himself professed that he rested satisfied therewith. Hierom nameth him for an open defender of the Arian impiety. On the contrary Socrates out of Eusebius his writings endeavours to vindicate him from that charge.
Learned Scultetus thus reconciles them, Aries (saith he) denyed two things: The Eternity of the Son of God, & his Co-equality with the Father. Eusebius doth every where profess the Eternity of Christ: But his Co-equality he never seriously believed.
He used to say, That Moses wrote the Old Law in dead Tables of stone: but Christ did write the perfect Documents of the New Testament in living Souls: He flourished under Constantinus Magnus and Constantius.
His Ecclesiastical History is well known, besides which he wrote some other Books as Libri Praeparationis Evangelicae 15. Libri Demonstrationis Evangelicae decem, and some others which are lost.
The Life of Lactantius, who flourished An. Chri. 308.
LUcius Caelius was an Italian by birth,His birth and education. and from his Country Firmia was called Firmtanus, & d lacteo dicendi genere was called Lactantius; He sometime lived at Rome, where he was scholar to Arnobius, under whom he profited exceedingly, and became so famous for his Eloquence, that he far surpassed his Master therein. Wimphelingus contends to have him a German by birth, and saith that there is till this day a famous family of the Firmiani in Germany, who boast themselves to be the Progenie of Lactantius. Having perfected his Studies at Rome, he went into Bythinia, where he taught Oratory under the raign of Dioclesian and Constantine; and when he saw the Christian Religion to want some Eloquent Defenders of it, he took pen in hand, and besides divers others writings which are perished, he wrote his seven Books of Institutions against the Gentiles; a Book De Ira Dei, His works.of the Anger of God: and another of Gods Workmanship: Also an Epitome of the Divine Institutions. Other things that are fathered upon him are spurious, saith the Learned Scultetus.
About the nineteenth year of Dioclesian there was an horrible Persecution raised against the Church of Christ,A great persecution. wherein the Christian Churches were demolished, the Sacred Scriptures, and other godly Books were burnt, the Christians themselves were dragged to most inhumane tortures and torments; yea, where any were found that constantly adhered unto Christ, they were cruelly martyred;Gods P…ovidence. yet it pleased God to hide Lactantius in this great storm, though he retained his Piety, fearing no torments, but resolved both in Life and Death to cleave close unto Christ.
He Dedicated most of his Works to Constantin. Magn. Hierom faith of him, Lactantius quasi quid…m fluvius Tullianae Eloquentis: Lactantius flowed with Eloquence, yea, as abounding as Tullie himself, &c. In his old Age for his rare Parts he was appointed Tutor to Cris…us, Constantine's Son:His C…tentati…n. He was so far from seeking after riches, that he died very poor.
He used to say, That godliness alwayes enriches the possessor: He flourished under Dioclesian Anno Christi 308.