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CAP. XXII.
Of Dionysius Byshop of Corinthe▪ and his Epistles.
FIrst we haue to speake of Dionysius▪ who being byshop of Corinthe freely communicated his diuine and godly labour and industry not onely to such as were his charge, but also to stran∣gers, shewing himself most profitable vnto all people, by those, Catholicke epistles which he directed vnto the Churches. of which numbre is that epistle written by him vnto the Lacedae∣monians▪ contayning ye right institution of christian peace, & vnitie, Moreouer his epistle wrytt vnto the Athenians stirreth the mindes of faythfull men vnto the embracing of the trueth, and e∣uangelicall conuersation of life: rep••en••endeth the gainesayers & despisers thereof: chargeth di∣uerse of them, that they were now in manner fallen from the fayth: although Publius there bishop* 1.1 in their time had there bene martyred. He remembreth Quadratus the successor of Publius (after his martyrdome in the byshoprick) & testifieth of him, that by his meanes they were vnited, and stirred to the fayth. He sheweth moreouer howe that Dionysius Areopagita conuerted vnto the fayth, according vnto that which is wrytten in the Actes of the Apostles▪ was by Paul placed the first byshop of Athens. There is extant also an other epistle of his vnto the Nicomedians, where repugninge the heresie of Marcion: he fortifieth the right rule of fayth. And vnto the Churche of the Gortynenses, together with other congregations throughout Creta he wryteth: commen∣ding Philip there byshope, for that the Church committed vnto his charge was beautified and be∣decked* 1.2 by the proufe of many vertuous properties: warninge withall that they should auoide the wilfulnes of peruerse heretickes. And wryting to the Church of Amastris together with the rest throughout Pontus: he mentioneth Bachilides, and Elpistus, at whose instant motion he wrote:* 1.3 and Galma there byshop: interlacing expositions of sundry places of Scripture. He admonisheth them at large toutching mariage and virginitie•• commaundinge also to receaue after repentance such as fell, how soeuer it happened, eyther of purpose, or by heretical perswasiō. Unto this there is annexed an epistle vnto the Gnosij, where theyr byshope Pinytus is admonished not to charge* 1.4 necessarily the brethren, with the greuous burthen of vowed chastitie: but to haue consideration of the frail imbecillity of many natures. vnto the which epistle Pinytus making answere extolleth & commendeth Dionysius, yet agayne by way of admonition requireth, that stronger meat beinge deliuered, he fead the flocke cōmitted vnto his charge, with more absolute and profound doctrine, least that they lingering in their milkesoppes, and smothe exhortacions, waxe old through negli∣gence, in childish nurture. In the which epistle of Pinytus the right rule of fayth: diligent care for the saluation of his flocke: discretion also & vnderstanding of holy scripture, is liuely set forth. last of all there remaineth an epistle of Dionysius vnto the Romaines, namely vnto Soter their byshop* 1.5 whereof if we alleage some parte it shall not seeme impertinent, where he commendeth the Ro∣maine manner obserued vnto the persecution of our time, wryting thus: It hath bene your accu∣stomed manner, euen from the beginning: diuersely to benefitt all the brethren, and to send re∣lief throughout the citie, supplying the vvant of the poore by refreshing them in this sorte, and specially the vvante of the brethren appointed for slauishe drudgerie, and digging of mettalls, you Romaynes, of old do retaine the fatherly affection of Rome, vvhich holy Soter your bishop not onely obserued, but also augmented, ministringe large and liberall relief to the vse of the sainctes: embracing louingly the conuerted brethren, as a father doth his sonnes, vvith exhorta∣tion of vvholsome doctrine. Here also he remembreth y• epistle of Clemens wrytten to the Corin∣thians, shewing the same of aunciēt custome, to haue bene read in the Church, for thus be writeth* 1.6 VVe haue this day solemnized the holy sunday, in the vvhich vve haue read your epistle & al∣vvaies vvill for instructions sake, euen as vve do the former of Clemens vvritten vnto vs. The same author reporteth of his owne epistles that they were patched, & corrupted in these words: VVhen I vvas intreated of the brethren to vvrite, I vvrote certaine Epistles, but the messengers of Satan haue sovven them vvith tares, pulling avvay some, putting to other some, vvhose condemnation is layd vp for certaine. no maruell then though some endeuored to corrupt the sacred Scriptures of God, vvhen as they vvent about to counterfett such vvrytinges of so smale authoritie. Yet be sides all these, there is founde an other epistle of Dionysius to Chrysophora a faithfull sister, where, as it was most mete, he ministreth vnto her spirituall foode conuenient for her calling. thus much toutching Dionysius.