History of the First Ten Persecutions

CONSTANTINE.

T HE CHURCH of CHRIST flourished in time of the ten persecutions, as a Palme tree groweth under the burden, and spreads out her branches by increasing growth toward Heaven. Satan on the other part that piercing and crooked serpent, who strives against the militant Church of GOD, both by might and slight: when his might faileth, it is time to try his slight: which he did by the Canker-worm of heretical doctrine. Now therefore, let us entreat of the ARRIAN and EUTYCHIAN Persecutions in the three subsequent CENTURIES. Other Heretics albeit they were fierce and cruel, such as the Donatists, yet their cruelty was like unto the stighling of a fish, when the water is ebbed, and she is not covered with the deepness of over flowing water: the more stir she maketh, the nearer she is unto her death. But the Arian and Eutychian Heretics found Emperors favorably inclined to the maintenance of their errors, such as Constantius and Valens protectours of the Arian heresy, and Anastatius and Heraclius favorers of the Heresy of Euiyches. This support they had of supreme powers, strengthened the a •… me of Heretics, and made them able to persecute the true CHURCH of CHRIST.

Notwithstanding, betwixt the ten great Persecutions, and the Arian pers •… cution, a short breathing time was granted by GOD unto his CHURCH, who will not suffer the rod of the wicked perpetually to lie upon the righteous, lest they put out their hand unto iniquity. The days of the reign of Constantine, were the breathing days of the persecuted CHURCH: Men banished for the cause of CHRIST, by the Emperors edicts were returned from their banishment, restored to their offices, dignities, and possessions, which duly belonged unto them. The heritage and goods, of such as had suffered death for the cause of CHRIST, were alloted to their nearest kinsmen, and incase none of these were found alive, then their goods were ordained to appertain unto the CHURCH. These beginnings of an admirable change of the estate of persecuted men, wrought in the hearts of all people a wonderful astonishment, considering within themselves what could be the event of such sudden and unexpected alteration.

The care that Constantine had to disburthen persecuted Christians of that heavy yoke of persecution, that pressed them down so long, was not only extended to the bounds of the Roman Empire, whereinto Constantine was sovereign lord, and absolute Commander: But he was careful also to procure the peace of Christians, who lived under Sapores King of Persia, who vexed Christian people with sore & grievous persecution: so that within his Dominions, more then sixteen thousand were found, who had concluded their lives by martyrdom. Amongst whom Simeon Bishop of Selentia, & Ustazares the kings eldest eunuch, & his nurs-father in time of his minority, Pusices ruler of all the kings artificers, Azades the kings beloved eunuch, & Acepcimas, a Bishop in Persia: all these were men of Note and Mark, who suffered martyrdom under Sapores king of Persia.

While the cogitations of Constantine were exercised with meditation, by what means the distressed estate of Christians in Persia might be supported: by the providence of GOD the Ambassadors of Sapores, king of Persia, came to the Emperor Constantine: whose petitions when he had granted, he sent them back again to their lord and master: and he sent with them a letter of his own, entreating Sapores to be friendly to Christians, in whose Religion nothing can be found, that can justly be blamed. His letter also bare the bad fortune of the Emperor Valerian the VIII. persecutor of Christians, and how miserably he ended his life: and on the other part, what good success the LORD had given unto himself in all his battles, because he was a defender of Christians, and a procurer of their peace. What peace was procured to distressed Christians in Persia by this letter of Constantine, the History bears not: always his endeavor was honest and Godly.

In Constantine's days the Gospel was propagated in East India, by Frumentius and Edesius, the brother sons of Meropius, a man of Tyrus. This History is written at length by R •… ffinus, Theodoretus, Sozomenus, and many others. Likewise it was propagated in Iberia, a country lying in the uttermost part of the Euxien sea eastward, by the means of a captive Christian woman, by whose supplications, first a child, deadly diseased, recovered health, and afterward the Queen of Iberia her self was relieved from a perilous and dangerous disease, by her prayers made to CHRIST. The King of Iberia sent Ambassadors to Constantine, craving of him, that he would send Preachers and Doctors to the country of Iberia, who might instruct them in the true faith of CHRIST. Which desire also Constantine performed, with great gladness of heart.

Now to return and to speak of the Dominions subject to the Roman Empire, Constantine the son of Constantius Chlorus, begun to reign in the year of our LORD 310. and he reigned 31. years: he gave commandment to re-edify the Temples of the Christians, that were demolished in time of the persecution of Dioclesian. This commandment was obeyed with expedition, and many more large and ample Churches were built, meet for the conuentions of Christian people. Likewise, the Temples of Idols were locked up: better they had been demolished, and equalled with the ground: then had it been a work of greater difficulty to Julian the Apostate, to have resto •… ed again Heathen Idolatry. Many horrible abuses, both in Religion and manners were reformed by the auzhoritie and commandment of the Emperor, such as cubitus mensuralis, called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in Egypt, whereunto was attributed the virtue and cause of the inundation of Nile by the Egyptians: therefore by the Emperors commandment this 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 was transported out of their Temples. In Rome the bloody spectacle of Gladiatores, that is, of Fencing men, with swords killing one another in sight of the people was discharged. In Heliopolis a town of Phoenitia, the filthy manners of young women, accustomed without controlment, to prostitute themselves to the lust of strangers, until they were married: this filthy custom (I say) by the commandment of the Emperor Constantine was interdicted and forbidden. In Judea, the Altar built under the Oak of Mambre, where the Angels appeared to Abraham, and whereupon the Pagans offered sacrifice in time of solemn Fairs, for bying and selling of Merchand waires in that place: This Altar (I say) was commanded to be demolished, and a Temple to be built in the same place, for exercise of divine service.

The care this good Emperor had, to quench the schism that began in Alexandria, shall be decla •… ed in the own time, GOD willing. In somethinges Constantine was not unlike to King Solomon, who finding his Kingdom to be peaceably settled, he gave himself to the building of the Temple, of Palaces, and of Towns, which he fortified & made strong. Even so Constantine finding that no enemy durst enterprise any longer to molest the peaceable estate of his settled Kingdom he built magnificke Temples in Bethlehem, the place of the LORD'S Natiuitie, upon Mount Olivet, from whence CHRIST ascended to Heaven, upon Mount Caluarie, where CHRIST'S Sepulcher was. He built also a City in Bithinia, and called it Helenopolis, for honor of his Mother Helena, and another in Palestine, and called it Constantia, by the name of his Sister. Also he built a glorious Temple into Antiochia, which his son Constantius perfected, and to the dedication of that Temple a great number of Bishops were assembled, as shall be declared hereafter if the LORD please. And finally, he built the great City of Constantinople in Thracia, and called it nova Roma, whereas before it was called Byzantium. This town was built, anno 336.

In end the good Emperor intended to have made war against the Persians, and by the way he was purposed to have been baptized in Jordan, where our Savior CHRIST was baptized by John: but the LORD had disposed otherwise: for the good Em. fell sick at Nicomedia, & was baptized in the suburbs of that principal town of Bithynia, not in Rome, nor by •… ilvester, but in Nicomedia, and by Eusebius. Howe this Eusebius coosoned the Emperor, and obscured the wicked purpose of his Heretical heart from him, and continued in good favor and credit with the Emperor, until the last periode of his life, so that he had the honor to baptize the good Emperor it will be declared hereafter, GOD willing. In his testamentall legacy, he left his Dominions to his sons, ended his life happily, and was buried in Constantinople.

Constantius, Constance, and younger Constantine.

CONSTANTIUS governed the East parts of the Roman Empire, and he reigned 25. years. The other two brethren governed the West parts. Constantine the younger was slain at Aquileia, after he had reigned with his brethren 3. years. The Emperor Constance reigned 13. years, and was slain in France by the Tyrant Magnentius: so after the death of Constance, the whole government of the Empire turned to the hands of Constantius. He overcame Magnentius in battle, who fled to Lions, and slew his mother, his own brother, and himself: And so the Tyrant Magnentius brought himself and his kindred to a miserable ende. Constantius was infected with the Heresy of Arius, by the means of an Arian Priest, who had been in Court with CONSTANTIA, the sister of the Emperor Constantine, and relict of Licinius. When she was bound to bed by infirmity, and sickness, whereof she died, She recommended this Arian presbyter to Constantine her brother, whereby it came to pass, that he had favor and credit in the Emperors Court. He procured the returning of Arius from banishment, and was the first reporter to Constantius of his fathers testamentall legacy: And finally, he perverted Constantius from the true faith, which his father had professed. So pernicious a thing is it to have deceitful Heretics lurking in the Courts of Princes.

During the lifetime of his brother Constance, Arianism had no great upper hand, because Constance the Emperor of the West protected Paulus Bishop of Constantinople, and Athanasiu •… Bishop of Alexandria, and the rest of the Bishops whom the Arians had most unjustly accused, deposed, and persecuted. But after the slaughter of Constance, the Arians were encouraged by the inconstancy of the Emperor, whose flexible and instable mind, like unto a reed shaken with the wind, was inclined to follow the course, that the fore-mentioned Priest put in his head. This Priest informed the Emperor Constantius, that the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , that is, Consubstantial, was not found in holy Scripture, and that the inserting of this word in the sowme of faith set down by the Nicene Council, was the occasion of many debates and contentions in the CHURCH of GOD and that the returning of Athanasius from banishment, was the ground of a terrible tempest, whereby not only the estate of Egypt was shaken, but also the estate of Palestine and Phae-nitia, and other places not far distant from Egypt. Moreover, he added, that Athanasius had been the author of intestine dissention betwixt the Emperor Constantius and his brother Constance, so that Constance wrote minassing letters to his brother, either to repossesse Paulus & Athanasius into their places again, else if he linguered in so doing (since their innocence was cleared in the Council of Serdica) he threatened to lead an army to the East, and to see them repossessed into their own rooms again. The Emperor Constantius was easily incited to wrath against Athanasius, and he sent Sebastianus, one of his captains, accompanied with 5000 armed men, to slay Athanasius: but the LORD delivered him miraculously out of their hands, when there seemed to be no way of escaping, because armed soldiers were planted round about the Temple: yet he went safely through the midst of them, and was not discearned, albeit many Arians were present of purpose to design and point him out by the finger, as a sheep ordained for the slaughter.

Georgius, an Arian Bishop, was seated in Alexandria, in the place of Athanasius, a wolf in the chair of a true Pastor, whose fury and madness was helped by sebastianus, who furnished unto him armed soldiers, to accomplish all his wicked and devilish devises. A fire was kindled in the town: Christian Virgins were stripped naked, and brought to the fire, and commanded to renounce their faith: but the terror of the fire made them not once to shrink. When the sight óf the fire could not terrify them, he caused their faces to be so dashed with strokes, & misfashioned their countenances, that they could not be known by their familiar friends: but they, like unto victorious soldiers, patiently endured all kind of rebuke for the NAME of CHRIST. Thirty Bishops of Egypt and Libya were slain in the fury of this Arian Persecution. Fourteene Bishops (whose names are particularly mentioned by Theodoretus) were banished, of whom some died in the way when they were transported, others died in the place of their banishment. Fourtie good Christians in Alexandria were scourged with wandes, because they would not communicate with the Arian wolf Georgius: and so pitiously demained, that some pieces of the wands were so deeply fixed in their flesh, that they could not be drawn out again, and many through excessive pain of their wounded bodies concluded their lives. Here is a viue portrat of the mercies of the wicked, which are cruel.

The like cruelty the Arians practiced in Constantinople. Paulus Bishop of Constantinople was banished to Cucusus, a little town in Cappadocia, where he was strangled by the Arians. Macedonius was placed in his room, a notable Heretic, who used no less cruelty, in compelling the Christians of Constantinople, to communicate with him, then was used of old, to compel Christians to sacrifice to the Idols of the Gentiles.

The exquisite diligence of the Arians in procuring Councils to be gathered for establishing of their error, shall be declared in the own place, GOD willing. Now to return to the civil estate of Constantius. After that Magnentius had made an end of his own life in most desperate manner, as said is, and his associate Britannio had humbly submitted himself to Constantius, and obtained pardon: yet was not the Emperors estate quiet and free of trouble: for there arose another Tyrant, called Silvanus, whom the Captains of Coastantius army in France did hastily cut off, and make out of the way. Also the Jews of Diocaesaria, a town of Palestine, rebelled against him, who were overthrown by Gallas the Emperors coosen, and the City of Diocaesaria was levelled with the ground. This good success made Gallus somewhat insolent, and he slew Domitia •… us, the Emperors great Treasurer in the East: therefore the Emperor gave commandment to cut him off. Finally, the Germans, who had assisted him in his wars against Magnentius, they rebelled against him. And he sent against them his coosen Julian, the brother of Gallus, who subdewed the Germans, and he likewise waxed insolent, and suffered the soldiers to salute him with the name of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , that is, of an Emperor. This was not unknown to Constantius, who made haste to prevent all further usurpation. But by the way as he was leading his army through Silicia, he concluded his life, sorowing for this, as Theodoretus writes, that he had changed the form of the Nicene faith.

Julianus.

IN the year of our LORD 365. Julian began to reign, and he reigned 3. years. Ruffinus assigns unto him one year, 8. months only: he was Constantius near kinsman, namely. his uncles son: But he dealt unkindly with Constantius, who made him Caesar, and give unto him in marriage Helena his sister: He was brought up in Christian Relig on, but was perverted by Maximus an Ephesian Philosopher, whom Valentinian the Emperor afterward punished unto the death, as a practiser of Magicall arts. In the beginning of his reign he restored those Bisshops to their places again, whom Constantius had banished, not for love of Religion, but to impare the fame of Constantius▪ yet immediately after, he manifested his affection toward Heathnicke superstition, and opened the doors of the Temples of the gods of the Heathen, which Constantine had locked up, and encouraged others by his own example, to offer sacrifices to the gods of the Gentiles.

Julian abstained, for a time, from cruelty, and shedding of blood: not for pity, and compassion of Christians: but rather for envy: For he enuyed the glory of Christian Martyrs, whose magnanimity, courage, and constant perseverance in the faith of CHRIST unto the death, was commended in the mouths of all men. But he endeavored by subtle and crafty means to undo Christian Religion. He debarred the children of Christians from Schools, and from the use of Learning: Also he debarred them from war-fare, from offices of government of Roman Provinces, and from offices of Collectorie of money: and burdened them with payment of heavy taxations: which taxations also the auaritiousnes of the Deputies of Provinces increased, & made them more grievous and intolerable. Nevertheless, when Christians complained of the unrighteous dealing of the Deputies, the Emperor mocked them, and said, their happiness was increassed, according to the speech of CHRIST their LORD and Master, Blessed are they, who suffer persecution for righteousness sake.

Likewise, in the market places of Cities, he set up his own Image, with the Effigies of the gods of the Heathen pictured round about it: to the ende, that whosoever should do ciail reverence to the Emperors Image, might also seem to worship the gods of the Gentiles: And by the contrary, they who would not bow to the gods of the Gentiles, might seem also to refuse all due reverence to the Emperor. When he distributed gold to his Captains and Warriours (as the custom was) he used a form of distributing not accustomed before, to have an altar near unto his Princely throne, and coals burning upon it, and incense upon a table near unto the altar: whereby it came to pass, that no man received gold, before he cast incense upon the coals of the altar: by this subtle artifice circumuenting many, who knew not, that it was Julian's purpose to entangle them with the rites of idolatrous service. In Antiochia, and in the Region round about, he dedicated all the Fountaines to the Goddesses of the Gentiles, and caused all the victual that was to be sold in market places, to be sprinkled with Heathnicke holy water. Neu •… rthelesse, Ch •… istians, without scruple of conscience, drank of the water that was in the Welles, and ate of the meat which they bought in the market, being fully persuaded, that to the clean all things are clean: and again, it is written, Whatsoever is sold in the •… hambles, eat ye, and ask no question for conscience sake. The liberty that Iuuentius and Maxentius, two worthy Warriours, used in reproving the Emperor in his face, for his Heathnicke superstition, moved Julian to such wrath, that he punished them unto the dea •… h: And so by degrees the policy and wisdom of Julian in end breaks forth into the fruits of cruelty and shedding of blood.

Albeit no public mandate of Julian was set forth, commanding to persecute Christians, yet by many evident testimonies it was known to the people, that the Emperor hated them, and that no man would incur punishment, for outrage and violence used against them. Therefore in the town of Sebaste, the Sepulcher of John the Baptist was opened, his bones were brunt, and the ashes scattered abroad. Likewise the wicked men of Gaza and Askelon, killed Preachers and holy Virgins, ripped their bellies, filled them with barlie, and cast their bodies to the swine to be eaten. Cyrillus also, a Deacon in Hierapolis, a town of Phoenicia, at the foot of Mount Libanus, who in time of the reign of Constantine had broken in pieces the images of the Gentiles, was taken by them, his belly was ripped, his liver was drawn out of his body, which with Barbarous inhumanity they chawed with their teeth. But the LORD suffered not such vnkouth cruelty to escape unpunished: for the teeth of those who committed this fact of unnatural inhumanity, fell out of their jaw-bones, their tongues: otted within their mouths, and their eyes were darkened and blinded: a just and deserved punishment of brutish Savages practiced by men. Marcus A •… ethusius had his body ouerlaide with honey, and it was hung up in hot summer weather, to be molested with wasps and flies. In Alexandria many Christians were slain for discovering the abominations of the Pagans, especially in sacrificing to Mythra bloody sacrifices of reasonable creatures. Among others, Georgius the Arian Bishop was bound unto a Camel, and both he and the Camel were burned with fire: whom no man counts a martyr, because he kept not the true faith. In the country of Phrygia, and town of Miso, Macedonius, Theodulus, and Tatianus, for breaking in pieces images, were broiled upon hot grattes of iron. The persecution of Athanasius, which with great hazard he escaped, by a stratagem, of turning back his ship in the face of the persecuting enemy, was procured by Philosophers, Sorcerers, and Enchanters, who were about Julian, and affirmed that all their travails would be spent in vain, if Athanasius, the only bar, and obstacle of their doings, were not made out of the way.

The wrath of Julian was highly kindled against the inhabitants of Casarea in Cappadocia. This town of old was call •… d Maza, but the Emperor Claudius changed the name of it, and called it Casarea. The inhabitants of the City, for the most part, were Christians, and they had of old overthrown the Temples of Jupiter and Apollo, and the Temple of Fortune (which only remained) they overthrew in Julian's own time. For this cause Julian rased the name of Cesarea, out of the roll of Cities and exacted from them 300 pound weight of gold, compelled their Clergy to serve in warfare: And finally, he threatened to punish unto the death all the inhabitants of Casarea; but the righteous LORD cutted the cords of the wicked, and he had not power to perform all his bloody designs.

He had intention to fight against the Persians, yet would he do nothing without consultation of his gods. He sent his most assured friends to all the Oracles within the Roman Dominions, and he himself would inquire at the Oracle of Apollo in Daphne, what should be the success of his enterprises. The answer of Apollo was, that he was hindered by the dead, to give his responses. Hereof it came to pass, that Julian gave liberty to Christians, to transport the bones of the Martyr Babylas. About the same time fire came down from heaven, and destroyed the Temple of Apollo in Daphne, and beat the image of Apollo in pieces, like unto the lightest and smallest powder, or dust.

Moreover, he gave liberty to the Jews, to return to Jerusalem, to build their Temple, & to offer sacrifices conform to the law of Moses: not for love he carried toward the Jews, but for hatred of the Christians: therefore the work prospered not, but was hindered by earthquake, fire & a mighty tempest of wind. Mark how everything this hateful enemy of CHRIST enterprised, had an evil success. Julian arrived at Ctesiphon the Metropolitan town of Chaldea, after that Babylon was ruined. The king of Persia had his people in better preparation then the Emp. looked for: therefore he took deliberation to return back again to the bounds of the Roman dominions: but he who was deceitful all his days, was in end deceived by an old Persian captive, who led the Emp. into a barren wilderness, where he concluded his life, wounded with a darte: but it remains uncertain by whom he was slain.

Jouinianus.

AFTER the death of Julian, Jovinian was chosen, by the Roman army, to be Emperor, but lived not fully 8. months in his Imperial dignity. He accepted not the souerainty, until the time the whole army with uniform consent acknowledged themselves to be Christians. He made a covenant of peace with the K. of Persia, such as the necessity of a distressed army compelled him to condescend unto: for Nisib •… s, a great City in Mesopotamia, with some dominions in Syria, were resigned over to the king of Persia. The blame of this scathfull capitulation, was imputed to the temerity of Julian the apostate, who had brunt with fire the ships that should have brought victualles to the army, and gave hasty credit to a Persian captive. When he had reduced the army to the bounds of the Roman dominions, he buried the dead body of Julian in Tarsus, a town of Silicia: and he reduced from banishment the worthy captain Valentinian, whom Julian had banished, together with the Bishops banished from their places, or compelled to lurk: & inspecial Athanasius, whose counsel he was resolved to follow in matters of Faith & Church government. In end, he took purpose to go to Constantinople: but by the way, in the Confines of Galatia and Bithinia, he concluded his life in a Village called Dadastana.

Valentinianus and Valens.

AFTER the death of Jovinian, the Roman army chose Valentinian to be Emperor, who reigned 13. years. In whom was accomplished which is promised in the Gospel, to render an hundredth-fold in this life, to them who suffer any loss for for CHRIST'S sake, & in the world to come eternal life. Valentinian CHRISTES sake lost his office in Julian's Court, and he received in this world a kingdom, and hath a greater recompense of reward laid up for him in heavē. The magnamimus courage of Valentinian in beating on the face that heathē Priest, who sprinkled holy water upon his garments, whereby he thought his garments to be contaminate, & not his body sanctified. This courageous fact was the cause wherefore Julian banished him to Miletina, a town in Armenia. He was relieved from banishment in the days of Jovinian, & was made Emp. after his death. He was borne in a town of Panonia, called Cibale: he addressed himself immediately after his acceptation of the Emperial souerainty, to Constantinople, and within the space of 30. days he chose his brother to be his associate in the government: in such sort, that the Emp. Valentinian governed the West, and the Emp. Valens governed the Eastern parts of the Roman Dominions.

The Emp. Valens finding the Persians to be quiet, and disposed to keep the covenant of peace bound up in the days of Jovinian, he undertook an unsupportable war-fare against the Homousians. The usurpation of the Tyrant Procopius, did somewhat slacken the readiness and quickness of his attempts: but after Procopius was delivered into the hands of the Emp. Valens, by Agelon and Gomarius his Captains, he rent in pieces the body of Procopius, by bowing down to the ground the tops of strong trees, whereunto he caused the legs of Procopius to be fastened. The bodies of Agelon and Gomarius, the two Captains who betrayed Procopius, were cutted in twain with sawes of iron. In which fact the Emp. Valens had no regard to the oath of GOD, which he made unto them for their safety.

Procopius being subdewed, he bended all his might against the Homousians: He banished Mil •… tius, Bishop of Antiochia, to Armenia: Eusebius Bishop of Samosata to Thracia: Pelagius Bishop of Laodicea, to Arabia. The town of Samos •… ta was so affectioned to their own Pastor Eusebius, that they would not communica •… e with Eunomius, whom the Arians sent to fill his place, Val •… ns was filled with wrath against the Fathers convened in the Council of Lampsacum (this is a town near unto the strait firth of Hellespontus) because they adhered fast unto the Nicene faith. In Constantinople he not only banished the Homousians, but also the Novatians, & their Bishop Agelius, because they would not consent with the Arians in the matter of faith. In Edessa, a town of Mesopotamia, the Emperor gave commandment to slay the Homousians, who were assembled together in the Church: but the fervent zeal of one woman, that ran in haste through the ranks of soldiers, drawing with her, her young and tender child, together with her courageous answer to the Captain, stayed the rage of the Emperor wonde •… fully: for she counted it a sweet fellowship, that she and her babe should be found amongst the number of these, who were counted worthy to suffer death for the NAME of CHRIST. Nevertheless the Emperor banished of men who dwelt in Edessa. especially of such as were in spiritual offices, to the number of fourscore, whom he commanded, by two and two, to be dispersed through Thracia, Arabia, and Thebaida. The invincible courage of Basilius, Bishop of Casarea in Cappadocia, the peaceable death of Athanasius, which happened in the very time of the Persecution of this Arian Emperor Valens, together with the surie & madness of the Arian Bishop Lucius, intruded in Alexandria, All these things, GOD willing, shall be touched in their own places.

Amongst all the facts of unspeakable cruelty committed by Valens, o •… e fact ouerwent all the rest. While the Emperor was at Nicomedia, fourscore Ambassadors were directed unto him: amongst whom Menedemus, Urbanus, and Theodorus, were the chief. These complained to the Emperor, of the manifold injuries done to the Homousians. The Emperor gave commandment to Modestus, the Governor of his army, to embarke them into a ship, as if they were to be banished unto some remote and far distant place: but secret direction was given unto the ship-men, to set the ship on fire, & to retire themselves into a boat. So it came to pass, that these fourscore Martyrs circumvented by the craft of Valens, glorified the NAME of CHRIST, by patient suffering of many deaths at one time, both tormented by fire, and drowned in water.

Terentius and Traianus, two worthy Captains, used some liberty in admonishing the Emperor to abstain from persecuting of innocent people, because his fighting against GOD procured good success to the Barbarians: but the LORD was minded to destroy him, therefore he could receive no wholesome admonition: for a number of the nation of the Goths, whom he entertained as soldiers, meet to defend his Dominions against the invasion of foreigners and strangers, they began to waste the country of Thracia: and they faught against the Emperor Valens, and prevailed against him: so that he fled, and was overtaken in a certain Village, which the Goths set on fire. So this Emperor died miserably, brunt with fire by his enemies, without succession, and left his name in curse and execration to all ages, after he had reigned fifteen or sixteen years, as Sozomenus reckoneth.

Now to return to the Emperor Valentinian: He was a defender of the true faith, and was so highly offended against his brother Valens, that he would make him no support against the invasion of the Goths: for he said, it was an impious thing, to strengthen the hand of a man, who had spent his days in warfare against GOD, and his CHURCH. In his days the Sarmatians invaded the bounds of the Roman Dominions. Valentinian prepared a mighty army to fight against them: but they sent unto him Ambassadors, to entreat for peace. When the Emperor saw that they were but a naughty people, he was moved with excessive anger, whereby he procured the ruptu •… e of some arters, or veins, whereupō followed great effusion of blood. And so he himself died, leaving behind him two sons, Gratianus, whose mother was Seuera, and Valentinian the second, whose mother was Iustina.

Gratianus, Valentinianus the second, and Theodosius.

GRATIANUS, the son of Valentinian, after the death of Valens his fathers brother, had the gouernament both of West and East. His brother Valentinian the second, was his associate in the government of the West: But when he perceived, that the weighty affairs of the kingdom required the fellowship of a man, who was ripe in years, he chose Theodosius, a man of Noble parentage in Spain, to whom he committed the government of the East, contenting himself and his brother Valentinian, with the government of the West. Gratianus in the beginning of his reign, reduced from banishment those Bisshops, whom the Arian Persecuter Valens had banished. He was slain by Andragathius, Captain of the army of Maximus, who usurped the Empire of the West. This Andragathius, not by valor and might, but by circumvention, falsehood, and treason, overthrew the good Emp. Gratian: for he made a report to pass in Lions, where the Emp. Gratian had his remaining, that his wife was coming to visit him: and he in simplicity went forth to meet his wife beyond the river of Rhonne: but Andraga •… hius (who was covertly lurking in a chariot) stepped out, and slew Gratianus, after he had reigned with his father, with his brother, and with Theodosius, 15. years.

His brother Valentinian, young in years, was seduced by the enticing speeches of his mother Iustina, after the death of her husband, in whose days she durst not presume to avow the Arian Heresy: yet after his death, she enticed the flexible mind of her son, to persecute Ambrose, Bishop of Millane, because he would not consent to the Arriane doctrine. The zeal of the people affectioned to their faithful Pastor, hindered the cruel purposes of Iustina. Likewise the miracle wrought at the sepulchers of Protasius and Geruasius, opened the mouths of the people to glorify GOD, and to magnify that Faith, which Protasius and Geruasius had sealed up with their blood: these holy men of GOD were martyred in the second great Persecution moved by the Emp. Domitian. The dolorous tithinges of the death of Gratianus, and the near approaching of the tyrant Maximus to Italy, compelled Iustina to leave the persecuting of Ambrose, & to fly to Illy •… , for safety of her own life, & her sons life. Theodosius being mindful of the kindness of Gratianus toward him, led an army against the tyrant Maximus. The captains of Maximus army, terrified with the rumor of he might of Theodosius army, delivered him bound into the hands of Theodosius, & he was justly punished unto the death. Andragathius, who slew the Em. G •… atian (as said is) seeing no way to escape, threw himself headlonges into a river, & so ended his wretched life. About the same time Iustina the mother of Valent. the II. she died, her son was peaceably possessed in his kingdom, & Theodosius returned to the east again. But within few days he was compelled to gather a new army & fight against the tyrant Eugenius, & his chief captain A bogastus, who had conspired against Valent. the II. & strangled him while he was lying in his bed. This battle went hardly at the beginning, but Theodosius had his recourse to GOD by prayer: & the LORD sent a mighty tempest of wind, which blew so vehemently in the face of Eugenius army that their darts were ramue •… sed and turned back by the violence of the wind, in their own faces. Of which miraculous support, sent from above, the Poë •… Claudian writes these Verses:

The tyrant Eugenius fell down at the feet of Theodosius, to beg pardon: but the soldiers pursued him so stra •… tly, that they slew him at the Emp. feet. Arbogastus, the author of all this mischief, he fled, & being out of all hope of safety, slew himself. Like as there was no sacrifice, wherein dung was not found, evē so the life & actions of this noble Emp. was spotted with some infirmities. Against the inhabitants of Thessalomca the Emp. was moved with excessive anger so that 7000. innocent people were s •… in, invited to the spectacle of Plays, called Ludi circenses, & in the Grieke language, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . For this fault the good Em. was reproved by Ambrose Bish. of Millane, & confessed his fault in sight of the people with tears: and made a law, that the like commandments anent the slaughter of people, should not h •… ue hasty execution, until the time that 30. days were overpassed: to the ende that space might be left either to mercy, or to repentance. In like manner, he was angry out of mea •… ure against the people of Antiochia, for overthrowing the brazen portrate of his beloved bed-fellow Placilla. The Emp. denuded their town of the dignity of a Metropolitan City, conferring this eminent honor to their neighbor town Laodicea. Moreover he threatened to set the town on f •… e, and to redact it unto the base estate of a Vil age. But Flauiannus, Bishop of Antiochia, by his earnest travails with the Emperor, mitigated his wrath: (for the people repented their foolish fact, & were sore afraid) & the good Emp. moved with pity, pardoned the fault of the town of Antiochia. His lenity toward the Arians, whom he permitted to keep conuentions in principal Cities, was with great dexterity & wisdom reproved by Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium: For he came in upon a time, and did reverence to the Emperor, but not unto Arcadius his son (albeit already associated to his Father in gouernament, & declared Augustus) whereat Theodosius being offended, Amphilochis very pertinentlie, and in due season, admonished the Emperor, that the GOD ofHeauen also would be offended with them, who tolerated the blasphemers of his only begotten Son, the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Wherupon followed a law, discharging the conuentions of Heretics in principal Cities. In all these infitmities, it is remarkable that the good Emperor 〈◊〉 gave place to wholesome admonitions. The excessive rains he was compe •… led to undertake in Wa •… re-fare, hastened his death: for he contracted sickness soon after his returning from the battle faught against Eug •… nius. and died in the 60 year of his age, and in the 16. year of his reign. He left behind him his two sons, Arcadius to g •… uerne the East, and Honorius to govern the West.

Bishops of Alexandria.

IN the third CENTURIE we rested at the name of 〈◊〉 Bishop of Alexandria, whose successor was Alexander. His accurate disputation anent the unity in the Tiinitie, made Arius a presbyter in Alexandria, to think that Alexander was entangled with the er •… our of Sabellius: Hereof arose contertious dispu •… ations, new opinions, exulc •… er te minds & open schisms. This intestine malady was not unknown to the good Emperor Constantine, who sent Hosius Bishop of Corduba, a man singularly beloved of the Emperor, together with persuasiue letters from the Emperor, exhorting both Alexander and Arius, to leave accurate & profounde disputations, and keep inviolably the peace & unity of the Church: But no means could avail, until this question was desided by the determination of the general Council of Nice.

After the Council of Nice had damned the opinion of Arius as Heretical, Alexander continued not above 5. months alive: In the last period of his life he called for Athanasius, but he was not present: Of whom Alexander said, Thou hast escaped, but shalt not escape, fore-prophesying that Athanasius should undergo that wieghtie charge, which he, giving place to nature, & to the calling of GOD, was leaving. Athanasius in his young years and childish plays was counterfeiting divine mysteries, & baptizing children: yet after such due form of interrogatories & answers preceeding Baptism that Alexander then Bishdurst not presume to rebaptize those who apparently in childish simplicity had been made partakers of divine grace. He began no sooner to accept the weighty charge of the Church of Alexandria, anno 333. but the Arians began to fret and offend, knowing how diligently he attended upon Alexander his predecessor, at the Council of Nice, and how vigilantly & wisely he had detected the lurking absurdities of the vile 〈◊〉 of Arius: And they thought the preferment of Athanasius was the utter undoing of their opinion. Therefore they conspired against him, and by a multiplied number of false accusations prevailed somewhat against him, even in the days of the good Emper. Constantine. But in the days of Const •… ntius and Julian, almost the whole world conspired against him: so that except he had been up-holden by that grace that cometh from above, it was not possible that he could have consisted and borne out such unsupportable hatred. Justly did Nazianzen compare him in time of adversity to the Adamant, and in time of prosperity to the Magnet In time of adversity no trouble overcame him, in time of prosperity, he allured the hearts of men more intractable then iron, to embrace the truth of GOD.

Now seeing Athanasius lived six and forty years, governor of the Church of Alexandria, his great troubles cannot be comprised in better order, then by declaring shortly what troubles he sustained: first in Constantine's days, next under the reign of Constantius: thirdly, under the reign of Julian: and last to speak of his peaceable end under the reign of the Emperor Valens, albeit he was an Arian Persecuter. In the days of Constantine first he was accused by an effronted harlot, whom the Arians had suborned to bear false witness against him: but Athan. guided the matter with wisdom, & suffered Timothy a worthy presbyter, to speak (whom he had brought in with him to the Council) but he was silent himself. The impudent woman pointing out Timothy by the finger (as if he had been Athanasius) with clamours void of all womanly modesty, affirmed that he had abused her in whosedome, so that all who were present were ashamed of her impudency. This was done in the Council of Tyrus, to the perpetual shame of the Arians, who suborned an harlot to accuse the faithful servant of CHRIST without a cause.

Secondly they accused him for this, that he had cutted off the hand of Arsenius, some time his own servant: and for great •… r evidence, they produced in the Council of Tyrus before the Judges the hand of a man enclosed in a case, which hand they affirmed that Athanasius had cut off from Arsenius. This they spake the more confidently, because they supponed that Arsenius remained still secretly kept in their own custody: but by the providence of GOD he escaped, came to Tyrus, and was presented before the Council, having both his hands perfect, sound, and vnmutilated, After this the Council was full of confusion, for the Arians cried, that ATHANASIUS by magic arts deluded the senses of men: and they were purposed, by violence and force to lay hands upon him, and to tear him in pieces: But he fled by a ship, and came to Constantinople, where the Emperor was, as shall be declared, GOD willing, in the fourth CHAPTER. The rest of his accusations, and howe they dealt against him moste unjustly and falsely, and gave out a sentence of deposition against him in his absence I remit unto the place foresaid.

Under the reign of Constantius, Athanasius was compelled to fly at two diverse times. First, while the Emp. Constance was yet alive who procured a Council to be gathered in Serdica, wherein the cause of Athanasius was tried, and he found innocent: and was sent back again and re •… ored to his place: For Constantius feared the mina •… ng letters of his brother Constance, who threatened to lead an army to the Fast, and to poss •… sse Athanasius in his place again, incase his brother linguered in doing of it. After the death of Constance, Sabinianus was sent to kill Athanasius, but he escaped miraculously, as hath been declared.

Again he was compelled first to fl •… e, and afterward to lurk in the days of Julian: He was restored again by the good Emp. Jovinian: and he continued in his ministration until the days of Valentinian and Valens: And although Valens was a crew I persecutor, yet he abstained from persecuting of Athanasius, for honor of his gray hairs and for that he was reverently regarded of all men. Thus Athanasius, full of days, died in peace, after he had governed the Church of Alexandria 46. years.

To worthy Athanasius succeeded Peter, whom the Emp. Valens caused to be imprisoned, and Lucius an Arian bishop, to be seated in his room. Lucius was made bishop of Alexandria, against all kind of Ecclesiastical order: neitheir did the people crave him, nor the Clergy of Alexandria approve him, nor any Orthodox bishop give him ordination. Peter escaped out of prison, and fled to Damasus bishop of Rome. Lucius like unto a ravenous wolf, not only banished the Homousians out of Al •… xandria and Egypt, but also that which was more insolent, and never attempted before, he persecuted the Monks who dwelt in solitary places of the wilderness, and banished them, who had •… lready banished themselves from all the delicate pleasures of the world. But mark, To what place could men be banished, who inhabited the desert places of barren wildern •… sses? He caused them (especially Macarius & Isidorus) to be transported unto an Isle, whereinto no Christians were to be found, but only Pagans and worshippers of devils. When these prisoners of CHRIST approached near unto the Isle, the devil left his old habitation, to wit the mouth of the image, from whence he was accustomed to speak, and he pos •… essed the Priests daughte who ran unto the shore, and cried words not unlike to those which were spoken to Paul and Silas in Philipp •… , by the maid who had the spirit of divination: and after this the devil left her, lying upon the ground, as though she had been dead: But the men of GOD, 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 wonderful works of GOD, received the faith, and were baptized in the Name of CHRIST. LUCIUS was so dashed with the fame of this wonderful work, and with the out-crying of the people against him, that he permitted the foresaid monks to return back again to their own places.

Afrer Peter succeeded Timothy, for one cause worthy to be blamed, because he favored the usurpation of Maximus Cynicus, who presumed without a lawful calling to be Bishop of Constantino. And after him Theophilus succeeded, whose attempts against Chrysostom I remit to the next CENTURIE.

Bishops of Antiochia.

IN Antiochia, after Tyrannus, succeeded Vitalius, about the time that the rage of the tenth Persecution began to be asswaged: therefore he re-edified a Church in Antiochia, which had been demolished in time of the Pe •… secution of Dioclesian, and his successor Philogonius, perfected the building. To whom succeeded Eustatius who was present at the Council of Nice, & was Moderator and Mouth to all the rest. Eusebius, sometime bishop of Berytus, afterward bishop of Nicomedia, and last of all •… bishop of Constantinople, did insinuate himself in favor with the Emperor Constantine, and obtained from him liberty to go to Jerusalem, and to visit the Temples that Constantine had lately built in Bethlehem. Jerusalem, & upon Mount Oliuct. To him resorted a number of Arian Bishops, who had all •… secretly conspired against Eustatius. and suborned a vile woman to accuse him of whoredom. The Arians upon the simple deposition of a woman suborned by themselves, contrary •… all kind of order, dep •… sed Eustatius, and persuaded the Emp •… rour to banish him, as a man convict both of adultery, and of tyranny. But the LORD laid his correcting hand upon the woman, whom the Arians had suborned, so that she died, sore tormented with a grievous sickness, and confessed that money was given unto her, to accuse Eustatius, & that she had sworn deceitfully, because the child procreated with her, was begotten by Eustatius a smith of that name, but not by Eustatius bishop of Antiochia.

The Arians, in the days of Constantine, had no great upper hand, except only in the matter of Athanasius his banishment to Triere, and in the deposition and banishment of Eustatius to Illyricum. But in the days of Constantius they took boldness, and planted Arian bishops in all principal places: so that in Antiochia (after Eustatius) Eulalius, Euphronius, Placitus, Leontius, Eudoxius, all these were Arian bishops, and placed by them in Antiochia. In end Meletius was ordained bishop of Antiochia, a man of great gifts, whom the Arians transported our of Sebastia in Armenia, and placed him in Antiochia, supposing that by the means of his excellent learning, many should be allured to their opinion: But it fell out far otherwise: for Meletius professed the true faith. Only the reproueable form of his entry, by receiving ordination from Arian bishops, was the ground of remediless schisms in the Church of Antiochia. There had been already two factions in the town, to wit, Arians, and Eustatians: now the third faction is added of them, who were called Meletiani, with whom Eustatiani did not communicate, but abhorred them as they did the Arians. This schism endured after the death of Meletius for the space of fourscore and five years. Meletius was banished in the days of Constantius, and Euzoius an Arian bishop placed in his room. He was restored again by Julian, only for desire he had to undo things done by Constantius, and to bring his name to disgrace. Likewise under the reign of the Emperor Valens, he was banished the seconde time. He governed the Church of Antiochia five and twenty years, and died in Constantinople, immediately after the second general Council and was carried to Antiochia, to be buried there.

The ordination of Paulinus to be Bishop of Antiochia, Meletius being yet alive, was the foolish fact of Lucifer bishop of Calaris, in the Isle of Sardinia. He was restored from banishment in the days of Julian. And took purpose, accompanied with Eusebius, bishop of Vercellis in Liguria, who was likewise restored at that same time, to visit the estate of their brethren. Eus •… bius addressed himself to Alexandria, and conferred with Athanasius: But Lucifer went to Antiochia, where he found miserable distractions, even amongst those, who professed one & the self same Faith. When exhortations to unity could prevail nothing, but the dissention daily increased, he ordained Paulinus presbyter of Antiochia, and the chief of those who were called Eustatiani, to be bishop of Antiochia. This fact of Lucifer was like unto fuel added unto the fire, and mightily augmented the schism. Theodoretus blameth him for so doing, and Eusebius Vercellensis, when he came back from Alexandria, disliked also the fact of Lucifer. Wherefore Lucifer would not communicate any longer with Eusebius. These sorrowful times of multiplied schisms, alienated the hearts of a great number of people from the true CHURCH. Meletius was restored from his seconde banishment, in the days of the Emperor GRATIANUS. Paulinus would upon no condition communicate with him, because he had received ordination from the Arians. When Meletius had ended his life, the people would not admit Paulinus to be their bishop, because they said, it was not meet that he should be his successor, who despised his fellowship and counsel in his life time.

To MELETIUS succeeded FLAVIANUS, a worthy m •… n. Paulinus albeit he appointed Euagrius to be his successor, yet such forms manifestly repugnant to the approved order of the Church could take no place. The bishops of Rome Damasus, Siricius, and Anastatius, were great adversaries to him, and misinformed the good Emperor Theodosius against him: but when he compeared before the Emperor, he spake before him both freely and wisely, words that liked the Emperor well, as they are reported by Theodoretus: O Emperor, if any man do blame my Faith as perverse, or my life as unworthy, I am content to be judged by my very adversaries: but if the disputation only boe anent principality, and eusinent places, I will not contend with any man, but denude myself of all superiority, and come •… it the chair of ANTIOCHIA to whom ye like best. The Emperor admired his courage and wisdom, and sent him back again to govern his own flock, and was slow to hear frivolous accusations in time to come against Flarianus. This was that worthy Bishop, who associated 〈◊〉 Chrysostom to be his fellow-laborer in Antiochia: and who mitigated the wrath of Theodosius conceived aga •… nst the City of Antiochia, for misusing the imag •… of his wife Placilla.

Bishops of Constantinople.

CONSTANTINOPLE was built by Constantine, anno 336. in a pla •… e where Asia and Europe nearly confines, b •… eing separate •… d only by a narrow firth, called of old Bo •… phorus Thracius. The cause wherefore this Imperial City was built in this place was not to resign the town of Rome, and the gouernament of the West to the bishop of Rome: but, as Sozomenus writes, that Constantinople, or new Rome, might be as a sovereign Lady to all those who in the East, West, North, or South, were obedient to the Roman Empire. Learned men in our days are ashamed to maintain all the foolish fables of the Roman Church, for they see clearly the cause of the building of this great City was to keep firmly both the East and the West under the Souerainitie of Constantine, and his successors.

Alexander bishop of Constantinople, proved a worthy man, in the days of the Emp. Constantine. The Arians finding themselves to be utterly rejected by Athanasius, they addressed themselves to Constantinople, under the conduct of Eusebius, bishop of Nicomedia: and threatened Alexander, that incase he would not voluntarily receive. Arius into the fellowship of the Church, then they should bring him in authorized with the Emperors command, to the grievance of his heart. Alexander clothed himself with the armor of GOD, and all the night long prayed in this sense: LORD, if Arius be to be received tomorrow into the communion of thy CHURCH, then let thy servant depart in peace, and destroy not the just with the wicked: but, LORD, if thou wilt spare thy CHURCH. whereunto I am assured. thou wilt be favorable: then LORD, turn thine eyes toward the words of the Eusebians, and give not thine inheritance to a desolation and reproach: and cut of Arius, lest while he entereth into the CHURCH, his heresy also seem to enter with him, and so no difference seem to be betwixt Piety and Jmpietie. The day next following the prayer of Alexander, Eusebius bishop of Nicomedia, with his retinue came with great confidence & pomp, to perform all which they had threatened they would do: But Arius was compelled to go to a secret place, whereinto his bowels gusihed out: and he concluded his wretched life, with ignominy and shame.

To Alexander succeeded Paulus: His lot was to govern this Church under the reign of an Arian Emperor Constantius, who rejected him, and seated Eusebius, bishop of Nicomedia, in his place: But this great parrone of the Arian Heresy, scarcely was placed in Constantinople, when he ended his life. The Homousians received again Paulus to be their bishop: The Arians chose Macedonius. This was the c •… use of great debate in Constantinople, and the people divided in factions, hatefully invaded one another. The Emperor hearing of the tumult, sent Hermogenes, the general commander of his hors •… -men, to remove Paulus from Constantinople: Hermogenes was very ready to execute the Emperors commandment, but the people being affectioned toward their Pastor, arose up with pop •… re tumult, compassed the house of Hermogenes, set it on 〈◊〉 sl •… w himself, and fastened a cord to his legs, and trailed him along the streets. For this cause the Emper. Constantius willing to punish the authors of this tumult, hastened to come to Constantinople. The people went forth to meet him, and with rears confessed their fault, and craved pardon. The Emperor abstained from punishing them unto the death, but he cutted off the one half of the victual which the liberality of his father had bestowed upon Constantinople, to be paid yearly out of the tributes of Egypt. He banished Paulus the second time and seated Macedo •… ius in Co •… stantinople, not without effusion of blood. Paulus was again restored by the means of the Emp. Constance: but after the death of Constance, he was banish •… d to Cucusus, a town of Armenia, where he was strangled by the bloody Arians.

The Church of Constantinople was miserably troubled with Arrianis •… ne, under the reigns of Constantius & Valens. The reigns of Graiianus and Theodosius was a breathing time to the professors of the true Faith. At this time Nazianzenus a constant defender of the Faith, was chosen Bishop of Constantinople, who notwithstanding voluntarily left the great City, in regard the Bishops assembled in the second general Council, gave not a full and uniuers •… ll consent to his admission: Yet gave they all without hesitation their consent to Nectarius, a man of noble birth, of the country of Silicia, at that time 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , and who had received no ecclesiastical preferment before that time. This man (I say) they made Bishop of Constantinople, with full cons •… nt and allowance, both of the Council and people: ouerpassing Nazianzenus: so frail are the cogitations of men, even in general Councils, that they are oft times more ruled with affection then reason. Nectarius continued in that office until the third year of the reign of Arcadius, that is, until the year of our LORD 401. In his time the confession of sins done in secrete, to presbyter poenitentiarius, was abrogated in the Church of Constantinople, upon this occasion as Socrates writeth, A certain noble woman was confessing in secret her sins to presbyter poenitentiarius, and she confessed adultery, committed with one of the Church Deacons. Eudaemon (this was the name of the father confessor) gave counsel to Nectarius, to abrogate this custom of auricular and secrete confession, because the Church was like to be slandered, and evil spoken of by these means. Socrates can scarce give allowance to this fact of Nectarius, in respect that by abrogation of this custom, the unfruitful works of darkness were less coargued and reproved. But Socrates considered not, that CHRIST, when he talked with the Samaritan woman at the Well, sent away his disciples to buy bread, to the ende the poor Samaritan sinner might more freely pour out her secrete sins in the bosom of CHRIST, who knew all things that were done in secrete. 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 liberty to declare his judgment concerning this fact of Nectarius, in abrogating confession of secrete sins to pres byter poenitentiarius. No man can blame me to write my judgment concerning auricular confession. It is in our days not like unto the mantle where with Sem and Japheth covered the nakedness of their Father Noah: but it is in very deed a lap of the mantle of the devil, covering the nakedness of his children, that is, the horrible treasons that are plotted in secrete by the children of the devil, against Christian Magistrates. Now is auriculare concession for greater causes to be abrogated, then of old presbyter poenitentiarius was discharged by Nectarius.

Bishops of Jerusalem.

TO Thermon succeeded Macarius, anno 318. about the 7. year of the reign of Constantine: In his time it is thought, that Helena, the mother of Constantine, found the Cross of CHRIST: but Ambrose writes, that she worshipped it not, for that, saith he, had been Gentilis error, & vanitas impioram, that is, an error of Pagans, and vanity of ungodly people. But now to lay aside the inexcusable fault of adoration of the tree whereupon our LORD suffered, What necessity had Helena to be so serious to seek out this tree. and to commit it to the custody. of all posterities? seeing that Joseph of Arimathea, who sought the body of JESUS at the hands of Pilate, to the end he might bury it honourably, yet sought he not the tree whereon CHRIST was crucified, which with little ado might have been obtained. Secondly, during the time that the Cross was easy to be found, and e •… sie to have been discerned from other crosses, How could the blessed virgins the mother of the LORD, and holy Apostles, have committed such an oversight, in not keeping that precious treasure, if so be in the keeping of it there be so great devotion, as the Roman Church now talks of? Thirdly, what is the cause, that the Roman Church brags so much of antiquity? when as the worshipping of the cross, one of the main points of their Religion was unknown to the first 300. years of our LORD: & now in the 4 Cent. the cross is found, but not worshipped yea, and the adoration of it is detested & abhorred, as an error of Pagans.

To Macarius succeeded Maximus, who had be ne his fellowlabourer, as of old Alexander was to Narcissus. Macarius governed the Church of Jerusalem, in the peaceable days of Constantine, but Maximus governed that same Church himself alone, in the days of Constantius. He was present at the Council of Tyrus: but Paphnutius a Bishop and conf •… ssor in Thebaida pitied the simplicity of Maximus, whom the Arians with deceitful speeches had almost circumueened, and he stepped to him, and suffered him not to sit in the assembly of ungodly people: where •… upon followed a bande of indissoluble conjunction, not only with Paphnutius, but also with Athanasius, who was charged with many false accusations in that wicked Council of Tyrus. This warning made him circumspect and wise in time to come: so that he was no •… present at the Arriane Council of Antiochia, gathered under pretence of dedication of the Temple which Constantine began to build, but his son Constantius perfected the building of it.

To Maximus succeeded Cyrillus, a man greatly hated by the Arians, in so much, that Acacius bishop of Casarea Palestine deposed him (no doubt by some power granted to him by the Emp. Constantius, with advise of Arian Bishops) Notwithstanding Silvanus Bishop of Tarsus received him, and he taught in that Cong •… egation with great liking and contentment of the people. The strife of Acacius against him in the Council of Seleucia, I remit unto the own place. In time of famine he had a great regard to poor indigent people and sold the precious vessel and garments of the Church for their support. This was a ground of his accusation aft •… rward, because a costly garment bestowed by the Emp. Constantine to the Church of Jerusalem, Cyrillus sold it to a merchant in time of famine, and again, the merchant s •… ld it unto a lascivious woman: and such frivolous thi •… ges w •… re aggreaged by the Arians, who hated the men of GOD.

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

BESIDES the Patriarchs of principal places, GOD raised up in this CENTURI •… a great number of learned Preachers, who were like unto the Ibides of Egypt, a remedy prepared by GOD, against the multiplied number of venomous and flying Serpents. Even so learned Fathers of whom I am to speak, were instruments of GOD, to undo the Heresies which abounded in this age, above all other ages. Did not Nazianzenus undo the Heresy of Apollinaris? Basilius the Heresy of Eunomius? Hilarius like unto a s •… conde Deucalion saw the over-flowing speate of Arianism abated in FRANCE. Ambrosius, Epiphanius, and Jerome set their hearts against all Heresies, either in their time, or prece •… ding their days. It were an infinite labor, to write of them all, who in this age, like unto glistering stars with the shining light of celesticall doctrine illuminated the darkness of the blind world: but the names of some principal Teachers (GOD willing) I shall remember.

Eusebius Pamphili, Bishop of Cesarea in Palestine lived under the Emp. Constantine, with whom he was familiarly acquainted. He was desired to supply the place of Eustatius bishop of Antiochia, whose deposition the Arians without all form of order had procured most unrighteously: but he would not consent to accept that charge, so that the chair: of Antiochia vaked without a Bishop e •… ght years. Some expecting the restitution of Eustatius, others feeding themselves upon vain hopes, that Eusebius would accept that place. The Emp. Constantine commended his modesty, and counted him worthy to be bishop of the whole world. Nevertheless he was not altogether free of the Heresy of Arius before the Nicene Council, and he was remiss and slack in the cause of Athanasius. He was so familiarlie acquainted with Pamphilus, who suffered martyrdom in Cesarea, that he clothed himself with his name, and called himself Eusebius Pamphili. He died about the time that Athanasius first returned from banishment by the means of Constantine the youn •… er, about the year of our LORD 342.

Nazianzenus lived in the days of Constantius, Julian, and Theodosius. He was borne in a little town of Cappadocia, called Nazianzum, from which he received his name. He was trained up in learning in Alexandria & in Athens: his familiarity with Basilius Magnus began in Athens, and it was increased in the wilderness: he preached in Sasima, but because it was a place unmeet for studies, he returned to Nazianzum, and was a helper to his aged father. After his fathers death he went to Constantinople, where he found the town in a moste desolate condition, in regard the Arian & Macedonian Heresies had so mightily prevailed, that all the principal Churches w •… re occupied by them. Nazianzenus only had liberty to preach in a little Church called Anastatia, because the truth of GOD, which seemed to have been buried, now by the preaching of Nazianzenus was revived again. In the second general Council gathered by Theodosius, because some Bishops of Macedonia and Egypt murmured against his admission, he counterfeited the fact of Jonah, and 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 days of Julian, by writing books of Christian Poesie, whereby the Christian Youth should have no harm by the interdiction of Julian, prohibiting the children of Christians to be brought up in the schools of learning. He detected the Heresy of Apollinaris, and the abominations of Heathen idolatry, whereunto Julian had sold himself, more clearly then any other man had done. A man worthy for excellency of gifts, to be ca •… led THEOLOGUS.

Basilius Magnus Bishop of Cesarea in Cappadocia, was so united in heart and mind with Nazianzenus, that the pen of Socrates will net separate the treatises of their lives. His father Basilius, his mother Eumele, his nuise that fostered him, named Macrina, all were Christians. His father was martyred under the persecuting Emp. Maximus. He left behind him five sons: three of them were Bishops, namely, Basilius bishop of Cesarea, Peter bish. of Sebasta and Gregorius B. of Nyssa. He was instructed in all kind of learning in Cesarea, in Constantinople, in Athens under Himerius and Proaeresius, in Antiochia under Libanius At his second returning to Athens, he acquainted himself with Nazianzenus. They spent too much time in searching out the deepness of human learning: and it repented Basilius, that he had spent so much time in searching out things that are not necessary to eternal life. He was ordained a Deacon by Meletius B. of Antiochia and a presbyter by Eusebius B. of Cesarea in Cappadocia. The good carriage of Basilius toward Eusebius is worthy of remembrance, albeit Eusebius conceived indignation against him without a cause yet he would not expostulate with his Bishop, but he departed to a solitary place in Pontus, where he remained until the days of the Emperor Valens. Then did the Arian Heresy so mightily prevail, that necessity compelled the Churches of Cappadocia to entreat Basilius to return again lest in his absence Arianism should get a full upper hand. Basilius returned, not without the fore-knowledge & good advise of Nazianzenus his dear friend, who counseled him to preueene Ensebius, & to overcome him in courtesy & humanity: So was he reconciled to Euseb. & after his death was ordained B. of Cesarea in Cappadocia, whom GOD so blessed, that the Arians & Eunomians, who seemed to be excellently learned, when they encountered with Nazianz. & Basilius, they were like unto men altogether destitute of learning. In the persecution of Valens he was led to Antiochia, and presented before the deputy of Valens, who threatened him with banishment & death: but he answered with invincible courage, so that the deputy was astonished at his answers. He was not afraid of banishment, because the earth is the LORD'S: neither was he afraid of death, but wished to have that honor, that the bands of his earthly tabernacle might be loosed for the testimony of CHRIST. The Emp. son Galaces at this time was sick unto the death, & the Empresse sent him word, that she had suffered many things in her dream for the B. Basilius, so he was dismissed, and suffered to return to Cesarea. The provident care of GOD over-ruling all human cogitations, kept before-hand some sponkes that were not quenched in the fervent heat of this Persecution. The multiplied number of his letters sent to the Bisshops of the West, whereof he received no comfortable answer, gave unto Basilius just occasion to suspect affectation of supremacy in the West as his own words do testify, which I cite out of the Latin version as most intelligible: Nihil nos fratres separate, nisi animi proposito, separationi causas robúrque demus: unus est Dominus, una Fides, Spes eadem. Sive caput universalis Ecclesiae vos ipsos esse reputatis, non potest pedibus dicere caput, non est mihi opus vobis, &c. That is, There is nothing, brethren, that separates us, except the purpose of our own minds furnish both cause and strength to separation, There is one GOD, one Faith, one Hope. Or if ye suppose yourselves to be head of the universal CHURCH, yet the head cannot say unto the feet, I have no need of you.

Nyssa is a City of Mysia, of old called Pythopolis. The brother germane to Basilius Magnus, named Gregorius, was Bishop of this town. In the second general Council to him was committed the o •… er-sight of the Country of Cappadocia. Albeit the volume of his books be not extant, yet he is renowned in the mouths of the L •… arned: and the fragments of his writings declare that he hath been a man of Note and Mark. Anent sin he said, that albeit the Serpentes that stinged us, were not slaughtered, yet we have sufficient consolation in this, that we are cured from their venomous bits and stinges. Anent pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Mount Olivet, and Bethlehem, he said, that a pilgrimage from carnal lusts, to the righteousness of GOD, is acceptable to the LORD but not a journeying from Cappadocia to Palestine: and that GOD will give a reward in the world to come, only to things done in this world, by warrand of his own Commandment.

Epiphanius was borne in a little Village of Palestine, called Barsanduce in the field of Eleutheropolis. He was brought up amongst the Monks of Palestine and Egypt. In ende he was ordained bishop of Salamina the Metrapol •… tane town of the Isle of Cyprus. He refuted the Heresies preceeding his time in his book called Panarium, and set down a sum of the true faith in his book called Anchoratus. He had a great regard to the poor: in so much, that he was called oeconomus pauperum. And like as Cyprus was naturally situated in a place near approaching to Asia the less, and to Syria, and to Egypt, and Pentapolis, and not far 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 poor. With all these commendable virtues, there was mixed a reproueable simplicity in him: he was circumueened by Theophilus Bishop of Alexendria, and took a dealing against John Chrysostom Bishop of Constantinople, because he would not be sudden in damning the books of Origen. Also he taught in Constantinople, with endeavor to alienate the hearts of the people from their own Pastor, and celebrated the communion, & ordained a deacon in Constantinople, without the foreknowledge & consent of Chrysostom, & contrary to Church order. Chrysost. on the other part sent him advertisement, that incase he received any disgrace or harm in the fuery of populare commotions, he should blame himself, 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 return back again to Cyprus, but he died by the way. It is reported of him, that when he entered into the ship, he said, he left three great things behind him, to wit, a great town, a great palace, and great hypocrisy.

It were a matter of infinite labor, and not agreeing with the nature of a COMPEND, to write of all the worthy men of GOD in the Eastern partes, who did fight a good Fight, run a good race, and kept the faith. Asclepas in Gaza, Lucius in Adrianopolis, Basi •… us presbyter in Ancyra, a mighty adversary to the Arians, under the reign of Constantius, and to the Pagans under the reign of Julian, in whose time he was martyred: Philogonius bishop of Antiochia, Hellanicus bishop of Tripolis, and Spyridion, who of a keeper of cattle, became bishop of Trimythus, Hermogenes bishop of Cesarea in Cappadocia, who was present at the Council of Nice, James bishop of Nisibis, in Misopotamia, in the days of Constantius, by whose prayers the army of Sapores king of Persia was miraculously disappointed, Paulus bishop of Neocaesarea: this town is situated upon the banks of Euphrates, and Paphnutius bishop in Th •… baida, two notable Confessors, who were both present at the Council of Nice, Eusebius Samosatenus, to whom many of Basilius Epistles are directed, and who refused to redeliuer unto the Emperor Constantius the subscriptions of the Arian Bishops, who consented to the admission of Meletius to be bishop of Antiochia, which subscriptions were put in his custody. And albeit the messenger sent from the Emperor, thr •… tned to cut off his right hand, incase he d •… liuered not the subscriptions foresaid, yet he constantly refused to deliver them: and the Emp. both admired and commended his constancy: Barses bishop of Edessa in Mesopotamia, Eulogius and Protogenes presbyters there, under the reign of Valens were banished to Antinoe in Thebaida, whose travails GOD wonderfullie bl •… ssed, to the conversion of many souls to the kingdom of GOD: Theodulus bishop of Trianopolis, Amphilochius bishop of Iconium in Lycaonia, Pelagius Laodicenus, whose name is the more famous for his insolent fact: for he married a young woman. & the first night after her marriage, he persuaded her to prefer Virginall chastity, to matrimonial copulation. Antiochus the brother sone of Eusebius Samosatenus could not abide the imposition of the hands of an Arian bishop. Le