A View of Antiquity Presented, Title page – Table of contents 2
foreign: OR, A VIEW OF Antiquity. PRESENTED IN A Short, but Sufficient Account of some OF THE FATHERS; Men famous in their Generations, who lived within or near the first three hundred years after CHRIST.
Serving as a Light to the Studious, that they may peruse with better Judgment, and improve to greater Advantage, the Venerable Monuments of those Eminent Worthies.
By J. H. M. A.
Perutile into necessarium est, ut ad lectionem Patrum accessurus, habeat anted informatam in animò meth…dum, & sciat, quid sing… lis sit praecipuum, & quasi emineat, ac ubi cavendi sint Scopuli, &c. Chemnit. de lectione Patrum.
LONDON, Printed for Thomas Parkhurst, and Jonathan Robinson; at the Bible and three Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside, and at the Golden Lyon in St. Paul's Church-yard. 1677.
Imprimatur,
G. Iane R. P. D. Henr. Episc. Lond. à Sacris Dom. Decem. 9. 1676.
To the Studious, Especially such as are in the Ministery or intend it.
IT's our Blessed Saviour's Encomium of Iohn the Baptist, that he was a burning and shining light, Iohn 5. 35. in respect of purity of life, and perspicuity of Doctrine, which eminently appeared in him: herein is he a Minister's pattern, in whom both these are requisite: for light without life would make him little better then an ignis fatuus, apt to mislead; or like a Candle in the socket, not so pleasing by it's blaze, as offensive for it's ill savour; And life without light will render him of little advantage, if not prejudicial; both in conjunction make an happy mixture, and qualifie the person in whom they are for that weighty function. Reading is his proper work, 1 Tim. 4. 13. Which, with pains about his heart, and watchfulness over his flock, may well take up his whole time; there will be little overplus for the unworthy world or worse imployments. One of the great wants he will have cause to complain of, will be of time, as too short for the dispatch of the grand affair personal and functional incumbent upon him: and indeed he that hath tasted the sweetness, or duly weigh'd the importance of those two, I much marvel how he should be taken off from, or neglective of either, for things comparatively so mean, and mostly pernicious.
That which best deserves our pains in study is,
1. In the first place the sacred Scriptures, discovering to us things most necessary and useful; without the knowledg whereof, all our other accomplishments will prove but insignificant things, serving only for vain ostentation, as no way furthering our own, or others chiefest good. These therefore call for our diligent and daily perusal; which we should labor to make familiar; so that they may as a choice treasure dwell richly in us in all wisdom, that we may be as Scribes instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven, able upon all occasions to speak a word in season unto any that shall have recourse unto us either for counsel and direction in their doubts or for comfort and consolation in their distresses. To which we should never forget to joyn fervent prayer for the obtaining of the Spirit, the only guide to the right understanding of these deep things of God, without which they will remain as riddles and a sealed book unto us; of the great advantage hereof to study, Luther (who each day spent three hours in this duty) out of his experience, thus speaks, benè oravisse est penè studuisse, and again, haec tria faciunt Theologum, precatio, meditatio, tentatio; Melch. Adam.
2. Unto these, the writings of such as in the Christian Church are most Ancient, challenge the next place; who have obtained (as accounted worthy of it) the Venerable title of Fathers; as nearest successors unto the Apostoles, And therefore for some Centuries together wont to be stiled Apostolici, even as many as precedeed the first Council of Nice. Parker de dsc. Christ. l. 4. § 10. These well deserve our serious inspection, acquainting us not only with the meaning of the Scripture, but the Doctrine also and discipline agreeable thereto, preserved in, and maintained by the Church; who were ever held in great esteem, and approved of by the Orthodox in the following Ages unto this day; from whom the Learned and Judicious Zanchy did scruple to dissent, comparing them to old Wine, which he preserred before new. Epist. ante confes. fid. and in his observations upon that his confession (composed by him for his family when he was seventy years old) we have him twice declaring his mind herein, viz. in p. 47. his words are these. Hoc ego ingenuò profiteor talem esse meam conscientiam, ut à ve…erum patrum sive dogmatibus, sive Scriptur arum interpretationibus non facile, nisi vel manifestis sacr. literarum t…stimoniis, vel necessariis consequentiis, apertis que demonstrationibus convictus at que coactus discedere queam: sic enim acquiescit mea conscientia, & in hâc mentis quiete cupio etiam mori, and p. 39.—A quibus, inquit, presertim ubi pleri que omnes consentiunt, me pro meâ tenerâ conscientiâ deflectere non au…ere, toti Ecclesiae Christi ingenuè confiteor.
To reflect upon foregoing Ages, in a Landskip of them is a thing both pleasant and profitable; for thus we seem to live in more ages then one, and in joy the benefit of that experience which the narrow limits of our own cannot afford. This may we be, in a sort said to do, in the view of those Ancient Worthies who are the subject of the ensuing discourse; men living nearest the Apostles times, and most perfectly resembling them in their excellencies; the due contemplation whereof is like to produce the most notable effects in such as are seriously this way exercised. For what can be of more force to fit us for, and quicken us to our duty, then frequently to cast our eyes upon the pourtraitures of such men, in whom is represented what is most worthy our imitation; seeing that to learn by example is not only the most facil, but effectual way; this being, as the surest, so the most affecting sense, and what enters hereby, having the strongest influence. Who can look upon that burning Light Ignatius, whose heart did so flame, and life spa…kle with love to Christ and his Church; and not find himself at least warmed with the like holy affection? Who take into consideration the indefatigable industry of Origen, and not be thereby excited to mend his pace, and bewailing former slackness to fall to his work with double diligence? Would we behold the sweet fruit of uncessant study in the vast and various knowledge attainable thereby, making men shine as stars of the first magnitude in their several spheres and to communicate their streams of light to after generations; and would be awakened to the like course in order to the like, or at least considerable attainments? Let us fix our eye upon those magazines of learning Clement, and Tertullian. How eminently doth the beauty of Christian zeal and courage in maintaining the truth and opposing Heresie appear in those Heroick Champions Iustine, Irenaeus▪ Hilary▪ and Athanasius? Bulwarks for the defence & security of the one, against all the fierce assaults, and cunning underminings of its adversaries; and mauls and engines for the battering and beating down of the other. In the last of whom, together with it, was most conspicuous the grace of invincible patience, making him Adamant-like unyieldable unto the most violent attempts of restless persecutors. In divers of them may be seen in it's lustre that more then conquering grace of Christian Constancy, not loving their lives unto the death in the quarrel and for the Honor of their Lord and Master, obtaining hereby the glorious Crown of Martyrdom, set upon their heads by that Captain of our Salvation; Briefly, what a goodly Map (as it were) of the choicest Christian Vertues have we meeting together, and shining forth in holy Cyprian, as so many stars in a constellation; Piety and Prudence, Meekness and Humility, Compassion and Charity, Patience and Constancy in suffering often, and the utmost for the sake of Christ? Of what singular advantage must it needs be to us, to have the endowments we should strive after, that may accomplish us for our station, in such lively Colours represented and the things we should practice so fairly exemplified & set before our eyes, as in these eminent men we find them to be?
And for their writings they are a foreign, a precious treasure, from whence▪ being duly improved, we may be furnished with such things as may be of no small advantage to our selves, and make us no less useful unto others. For therein shall we meet with not a few apt interpretations and expositions of many Texts of Scripture; such as will afford us more then ordinary light for the right understanding of them: divers grave and pithy passages which may well serve upon several occasions both for illustration and confirmation of any suitable subject; Also, nervous & weighty Arguments wherewith they have so pressed and overborn the adversary, that the nakedness of error hath been discover'd to the confusion of it's fautors that have endeavoured to maintain it; and the beauty and strength of Truth to the great exultation and establishment of all that love it. Lastly, the best account of the face and state of the Church of Christ, both as to the sound Doctrine professed, and wholsom Discipline exercised in them; wherewith it may well be presumed they were better acquainted then most others, and could give us the fullest and truest information; it having been their special work to publish and defend the one, and they having had the chiefest hand in the management of the other; To all which add the necessity of a considerable insight into these Ancient Records, that we may become no contemptible Antagonists to grapple with, and (foreign, Tit. 1. 11.) to stop the mouth of those of the Romish Synagogue, who, having shamefully corrupted the Doctrines of Christianity, and shunning the trial and determination of the Scripture, betake themselves for shelter unto the monuments of these Worthies, audaciously pretending that they are theirs, and with greatest, though groundless confidence of their patronage.
The improvement of the Ancients in these regards is the design and scope of the following treatise, presenting the Reader with a Scheme both of their lives and labors, as may beget in the mind a fair Idea of both, and so prove a good step toward the attainment of the ends proposed; For herein a brief account is given of each of the Fathers discoursed of in this Decade;
1. Of their lives and special imployments in the places of their abode; and the Dignities and Offices they were advanc'd unto; Together with their diligence and continuance in them; and various accidents betiding them. 2. Of their excellencies and accomplishments whether natural or acquired by their industry, with their Elogies in this regard; which shew in what singular esteem they were held (as they well deserved) by the most pious and judicious in succeding ages. 3. The admirable products of their parts and pains, which they either left behind them, or intended so to do for the benefit of posterity; whereof, 1. Some are lost through the injury of time, little remaining of them besides their names and titles; which yet here you find recorded, as far as by diligent search and inquiry after them, they could be found. 2. Some have been happily preserved, and are extant at this day; and because in the Edition of the works of these Worthies the Brats of others (which they would impudently father upon them) are intermixed among their true and proper births, and of some 'tis doubtful whose they are; (and hereof the Romish Champions make no small use and advantage for the upholding of their tottering and desperate cause) you have here as full a Catalogue as could be gotten of whatever bears their names, with a hint of what kind they are, whether genuine, spurious, or dubious; to the end the Reader may know (as much as may be) whom he hath to do withal, and so his abuse herein may be prevented; And of the genuine, the augument and sum of each is briefly set down, together with the time and occasion of their writing, which may give some light to the understanding of them, help the Reader in his choice, and provoke to diligence and attention. 4. The Stile they used, which in some of them is such as that a perspicacious and critical observer may be able thereby to make a judgment, whether the piece he is perusing be indeed the Authors whose name it bears, or no; which in some of them is so elegant, and adorned with the flowers of Rhetorick that it entertains the Reader with singular contentment and delight; and in whom it is otherwise, an intimation hereof is given, together with what may be apprehended to be the reason hereof. 5. A tast of the choice and useful passages, wherewith they do abound, which may serve for an invitation to the studious to bestow their time and pains upon them as being well assured they will be neither lost nor ill laid out, in case that care and judgment be not wanting; 6. And because they were (though more then ordinary) yet but men, and so subject to slips and faillings, these are, salvo honore, taken notice of, with the causes of, at least, divers of them, that as rocks and shelves they may be avoided; and the unwary student, together with what is Orthodox, take not in that which is unsound and noxious. 7. All is closed with the close of all, their deaths, whether natural or violent, by whom, for what, and when and where procured.
All which he that would throughly inform himself of (as in some measure from this Treatise he may do) shall find it, I doubt not, a notable clew to wind and extricate him out of those Labyrinths and Difficulties, which otherwise he may haply be involved in; and make his way and work by far more facil and pleasant; which that it may be the issue of this undertaking is heartily desired by him who is,
foreign. I. H.
Each Chapter consists of all (or most) of these following particulars concerning each Father.
1 § A Brief account of his Life and Travels in the Church.
2 § His Elogy and the esteem he was held in.
3 § His labors and writings: whereof,
1. Some are lost.
2. Some remain: of which,
1. Some are dubious.
2. Some are spurious.
3. Some are genuine, and of these.
1. Their sum.
2. Their censure.
4. § His language and stile.
5. § Some notable and select passages.
6. § His slips and errors: whereof
1. The Occasion and Ground.
2. The Apology and Plea that may be made for some of them.
7. § His end and death.
The FATHERS treated of in this Treatise, viz.
Page
1. Ignatius Antiochenus. 1
2. Iustinus Martyr. 22
3. Irenaeus Lugdunensis. 51
4. Clemens Alexandrinus. 79
5. Tertullianus. 111
6. Origenes Adamantius. 171
7. Cyprianus Carthaginensis. 248
8. Lactantius Firmianus. 314
9. Athanasius Alexandrinus. 339
10. Hilarius Pictaviensis. 390