L. VIVES.
AUgustus (a) Caesar] In the forty and two yeare of his reigne, and of the world fiue thousand one hundred ninety and nine, was Christ borne. Him-selfe, and M. Plautius be∣ing Consulls. Euseb. Cassiodorus referreth it to the yeare before, Cn. Lentulus, and M. Messala being Consuls. (b) Behold a Uirgin] Shall take a sonne into her wombe, say the seauentie. (c) Some may say] But not truly: for Lactantius and Eusebius cited them when the bookes were common in all mens hands. Where if they had quoted what those bookes conteined not, it would both haue beene impudence on their parts, and disgrace to the cause of Christ. Besides Ouid and Uirgil vse many of the Sybills verses, which can concerne none but Christ, as Uirgills whole fourth Aeglogue is, and his digression vpon the death of Caesar. Georg. 1. And likewise in Ouid wee read these.
Esse quo{que} in fatis 〈◊〉〈◊〉 affore terris Quo •…•…are, quo tellus corrept aque regia 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Ardeat èt mundi moles operosa laboret.There is a time when heauen (men say) shall burne, When ayre, and sea, and earth, and the whole frame, Of this •…•…ge 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shall all to ashes turne.
And likewise this.
Et Deus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lustrat sub imagine terras. God takes a view of earth in humaine shape.And such also hath Luca•…•… in his Pharsalian warre. liber 12. Now if they say that all the as∣sertions of ours (recorded by great Authors) bee fictions, let mee heare the most direct •…•…th that they can affi•…•…, and I will finde one Academike or other amongst them that shall •…•…ke a doubt of it.