The Magical-Astrological-Diviner Posed and Puzzled, Treatise · Chapter 27 · Section 14
14. Of ſuch as apoſtated from, or were excommunicated out of the Church of Chriſt, becauſe of Magick and Aſtrologie.
SImon Magus believed, and was baptized, and continued with Philip, and wondred, beholding the miracles and ſignes which were done, Act. 8. 13. yet after all this, the bond of iniquity, the diabolicall compact, or magicall covenant had ſo entangled and inſnared him, that of ſometimes Samaritan, ſometimes Iewiſh, and for the moſt part Pagan in his religion, he fell utterly away from Chriſtian, and had not the leaſt part or lot in that matter.
Iulian was trained up in Chriſtianity, and profeſſed it; but ſtealing to magicall Maſters, they ſo perverted him with their Magicall ſophiſtry, as that they utterly perverted him; and that made him (as ſoon as he durſt appeare in his own colours) apoſtate, or fall away from it.
Ecebolius the Sophiſter, who was one of Iulians Tutors while Conſtantius raigned, he ſeemed very ardently to embrace the Chriſtian faith: but after that Iulian had obtained the Empire, he preſently conformed to thoſe opinions and manners of the Emperour, which he, and his light, had infuſed into him. But Iulian being dead, he pretended again to profeſſe the Chriſtian Religion; and caſt himſelfe proſtrate at the doore of the Church (out of which he was excommunicated) crying out to ſuch as paſt by, tread me under feet, as unſavory ſalt: yet after all this, remained light and unconſtant in his religion, to an utter apoſtaſie at the laſt.
Porphyrius, that notable contemplator in Magick, and practitioner alſo, who of Chriſtian, turn'd Platoniſt, and Pagan, upon this occaſion. Certaine Chriſtians of Caeſarea Paleſtina having reproved him ſharply (ſome ſay ſcourged him) for the notorious ſcandall as well of his manners as opinions: he indigning to be thus dealt withall, quite deſerted Chriſtianity, became a capitall enemy thereunto, and wrote divers curſed books againſt Chriſtian Religion (beſides thoſe wherein he promoted magicall Philoſophy, and Paganiſme) wherein he blaſphemed God, and Chriſt, and the Holy Ghoſt; depraved and wreſted the Scriptures, calumniated the Prophets and Apoſtles, and ſlandered ſundry Fathers, Doctors, and Confeſſours of the Primitive Church.
Aquila, making ſome flouriſhes in the Chriſtian profeſſion, but not forſaking his former corrupt habit in the vanities of Aſtrologie, but ſtill abhorring the ſuperſtitious poſitions of Nativities, was therefore reprehended by the orthodox teachers of thoſe times. But inſtead of amending thoſe his pernicious errors, he perverſly oppoſed them even againſt the truth it ſelfe. For which being expelled the Church, he renounced Chriſtianity, turned Proſelyte, and became a circumciſed Iew.
Pope Alexander the third (they ſay) ſuſpended a Prieſt from his office, for the ſpace of a whole yeere, for but conſulting with an Aſtrologer, about a theft that was committed in the Church.
Eleuſius, a Novatian Biſhop, and one who himſelfe had ſacrificed to Fortune, was depriued of his Biſhoprick, for the baptizing of Heraclius, a preſaging Prieſt of Hercules, and admitting him to the degree of a Deacon.
At Laodicea one Epiphanius a Sophiſter, about to recite an Ode in the honour of Bacchus, began to declame, hence ye prophane, and not initiated to the ſacred Bacehanals. Notwithſtanding many of the Chriſtians ſtaid ſtill, as being taken with the fame of the Rhetorician. Amongſt the reſt were the two Apollinares, the father, and the ſonne, both Clerks, one a Preſbiter, the other a Lector. Of which Theodotus the Biſhop of Laodicea being advertiſed, he reaſonably chid the lay people, and ſo pardoned them. But as for the Apollinares, after long, ſharp, and publique rebuke, he interdicted them the Church, and communion of Chriſtians.
Anatolius, very familiar to Gregorius the Biſhop, being found to have ſacrificed to Idols at Antioch; and the preſect of the Eaſt being but too negligent and remiſſe in judging him for it: the people began to riſe in tumult, and to lay hands upon Gregory himſelfe; whom they alſo impeached of Idolatry, but unjuſtly. Hereupon by the command of Tiberius the Emperour (him that ſucceeded Iuſtin) Anatolius was called in queſtion, and not having whereof to accuſe Gregory, at the acclamation of the people, who could not endure ſuch a wickedneſſe unpuniſhed, he was not only excluded the Church, but condemned to the beaſts.