A treatise of the sibyls so highly celebrated, as well by the antient heathens, as the holy fathers of the church : giving an accompt of the names, and number of the sibyls, of their qualities, the form and matter of their verses : as also of the books now extant under their names, and the errours crept into Christian religion, from the impostures contained therein, particularly, concerning the state of the just, and unjust after death / written originally by David Blondel ; Englished by J.D.

CHAP. XXXIX. The same Sentiment further confirmed from Sepulchral In∣scriptions.

BUt though we should be willing (out of a Design to gratify our Ad∣versaries) not to bring into any accompt at all the Depositions of all these Great Persons, and make a voluntary loss of their Writings, and Judgments, yet would the Epigrams, and Inscriptions of antient Monu∣ments, which Rome, and her Correspondents, preserve for us, be enough to keep us from falling into so great a weakness, as the renouncing of our present Opinion, concerning the State of the Faithfull departed. Nay, though all the Doctours of the Church were silent, and their Testimonies cast out of all respect, the Stones (as long as they shall remain) will not cease publishing, and that very loudly, the truth of the perswasion maintained by us. Let us then consult those half consumed Epitaphs, a 1.1 which the Providence of God hath made to triumph over so many ruins, and make our advantage of the hardness of Marbles, which have hitherto stood out against the injury of Times, to confound the insen∣sibility of those, who seem desirous injuriously to smother a most evi∣dent

Truth. Let us propose it to their own Consciences, whether it be not a very strong presumption against them, that not any one of those Antient Inscriptions, whereof they are the Preservers, and Admirers, can, without violence, be applied to their Sentiment, and that all of them presuppose ours, which yet they charge (I know not upon what accompt) with Novelty. Which to make so much the more manifest, I shall begin with the most simple, which I shall reduce into Classes, al∣ledging of every one some Instance; then conclude with those, which, being of greater length, make a clearer discovery of the Design of their Authours. The Book, entituled Roma Subterranea, in as much as it contains a Description of the Vaults, and Cemiteries, digged under ground in, and about, that City, furnishes us with about ninety Examples of Epitaphs, which say simply, In Pace, &c. In Peace, as that of Proclus, Interred under the eighth Consulship of Honorius, that is to say, in the year 409. that of Hilara, deceased under the Consulship of Opilio, that is to say, in the year 453. those of Crescentina, Honoraius, Pelagia, Ul∣pius Festus, Quartina, &c.

Others had 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a Place of Rest. As that of Ammonius, and of Eutyches; Locus GerontI Presbyteri, &c. The Place of Gerontius the Priest, deceased the seventeenth of June, under the Consulship of Avitus; that is to say, in the year 456. Hîc habet sedem Leo Presbyter, &c. The Priest Leo hath his Seat here.

Others, which in some sort savour of the Style of the Heavens. As Domus aeterna Ex. & Tyres in Pace, &c. The eternal house of Ex. and Tyre in peace: and that of Valeriana in like manner.

Others had onely this word Quiescit, &c. He rests. As that of Victo∣ria, that of Pancratius the Bishop, deceased in the year 493. and that of Alix, the Daughter of Pipin, Interred at St. Arnoul-de-Mets.

Or Requiescit, which signifies the same thing. As that of Gordianus, Interred the ninth of September, under the Consulship of Symmachus; that is to say, in the year 485. That of Aemiliana, Interred the eleventh of October, under the Consulship of Probinus, viz, in the year 489. That of Pelagius the First, deceased the fourth of March, 558. That of Au∣gustine, Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, deceased the twenty fifth of May, 604. That of Boniface the Fourth, deceased the eighth of May, 614. That of Theodore, who died in the year 619. That of Theobald, Bishop of Ostia. That of Roderick last King of the West-Goths, in Spain, who died on Sunday the eleventh of November, 714. That of Alcuin, deceased the nineteenth of May 804. That of b 1.2 Bernard King of Italy, deceased April the 17^th. 871. and Interred at Milan, that of the Abbot Vintila, deceased at Leon, the three and twentieth of December, in the year 928.

Others, Quievit, &c. He is at rest. As that of Susanna deceased the seven and twentieth of July, under the Consulship of Caesarius, and At∣ticus, in the year 397. Or Requievit: as that of Leo the Neop••yte, de∣ceased the four and twentieth of June, under the Consulship of Philippus, and Sallea, in the year 348. and that of Leontius, the Spanyard, deceased the four and twentieth of June, 510.

Others, Depositus, &c. He is left as a Pledge, &c. As those of Mace∣donia, and Fortunula.

Others, Quiescet in pace, &c. He shall rest in Peace. As that of Mari∣nus, deceased the thirtieth of November, under the Consulship of Arbaethio, and Lollianus, in the year 355. Others, Requiescet in pace; which signi∣fies the same thing: as that of Felix. Others, Requievit in pace, &c. He is at rest in peace: as that of Litorius, deceased at Talabriga, or Talave∣ra della Reina, the four and twentieth of June, in the year of the Aera 548, or 510 of Christ. That of Primus, deceased at Evora, the thir∣teenth of March, according to the Aera 582. or 544 of Christ. That of Paulina, deceased the eighteenth of November, under the Consulship of Datianus, and Cerealis, in the year 318. That of Andrew of Cajeta, de∣ceased the nineteenth of October, 585. That of Ermengarda, deceased the twentieth of March, 852.

Others, Quiescit in pace, &c. He rests in peace. As those of Donatus, Principalis, Januarius, Gabinia, Cutinus, Jobinus; and that of Celerinus, de∣ceased under the seventh Consulship of Valentinian with Avienus, in the year 450. That of Paulus, deceased the twelfth of March, in the year of the Aera 582. which comes to the year of our Saviour 544. The Acrostick of the Epitaph of Florentinus, Abbot of Sainte Croix d'Arles, deceased the twelfth of April, 553.

Others, Requiescit in pace; which is the same: as that of Tarreses, under the fourth Consulship of Theodosius, in the year 411. That of Praetextatus, the eleventh of October, under the Consulship of Festus, in the year 472. That of Paula, under the Consulship of Venantius, in the year 508. That of Processus, the twenty fifth of May, under the Consul∣ship of Probus, in the year 513. That of Petronius, under the Consulship of Probinus, in the year 489. That of Sabinus, under the Consulship of Symmachus, and Boëthius, in the year 522. That of Romulus, the twelfth of September, under the Consulship of Lampadius, and Orestes, in the year 530. That of Thaumasta, December the twelfth, Indict. 11. two years after, viz. 532. That of Dausdet, the seventeenth of April, after the Consulship of Paulinus, in the year 535. That of Fausta, Wife of Cassius, Bishop of Narni, deceased the thirtieth of June, 558. That of Con∣cordia, deceased the thirteenth of September, Indiction 4. in the fourth year of Mauricius; that is to say, in the year 586.

Others, Depositus in pace: He is deposited, or, Left as a Pledge in peace. As that of Susanna, under the Consulship of Bassus, and Philippus, in the year 408. That of Albina, deceased the thirteenth of October, under the Con∣sulship of Taurus, and Felix, in the year 428. That of Timothea, the first of November, under the Consulship of Avitus, in the year 456. That of Petronia, October the fifth, under the Consulship of Festus, in the year 472. That of Exuperantia, under the Consulate of Festus the Younger, in the year 490. That of Boëtius, October 25^th. 557. Those of Simplicius, Veneri∣anus, Paulus, Innocentius, Viventius, Honorius, Quintianus, Alypia, Abundan∣tius, &c. Others, Positus in pace; Lay'd in peace: as that of Bonifacius.

Others, Defunctus in pace, &c. He is deceased in peace: as those of ••lara, and Antiochianus.

Others, Decessit in pace, &c. He is departed in peace: as those of Doxius, and Victorius.

Others, Dormit in pace, &c. He sleepeth in peace: as that of Felici∣tas,

and her Son; those of Sabbatius, Heraclius, Respectus.

Others, Requiescit in somno pacis, &c. Heresteth in the sleep of Peace: as that of Mala, deceased June the tenth, under the Consulship of Aetius, in the year 432.

Others, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Jacet in pace, &c. He is layed in peace: as that of Matrona, deceased May the fourteenth, under the Consulship of Her∣culanus, in the year 452. That of Hygeia, &c.

Others, Requiescit in Domino, &c. He resteth in the Lord: as that of Ge∣rontius the Priest, deceased under the Consulship of Avitus, and cited by Cardinal Baronius, under the year 456. §. 1.

Others, Recessit in pace, &c. He is retired in peace: as that of Alexandria, deceased the twenty third of December, in the year of the Aera 503. con∣current with the year of our Lord 465. That of Paula, deceased January the seventeenth, in the year of the Aera 582. concurrent with the year of our Lord 544. and that of Gregory, deceased the fourth of February following. That of Julian, Bishop of Euora, deceased the first of De∣cember, in the year of the Aera 604. or the 566 of our Saviour.

Others, Requievit in pace Domini, &c. He is at rest in the peace of the Lord: as that of Severus the Priest of Badajox, deceased October the twenty second, in the year of the Aera 622. or 584 of Christ. And that of a certain Inhabitant of Elvas, deceased February the eighteenth, in the year of the Aera 582. or of Christ 544.

Others, Quietem accepit in Deo Patre nostro, & Christo ejus, &c. He hath taken his rest in God our Father, and his Christ: as that of Florentinus, cited by ••asius upon the Dialogues of Severus Sulpicius.

Others, Requiescit, deposita in pace, &c. She rests, laid up as a pledge in peace: as that of Dativa, and Basilia.

Others, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 He goes before in peace: as that of Re∣ceptus.

Others, Bene requiescit in pace, &c. He rests well in peace: as that of Pelagius, and another Anonymous one, to the same sence, Bene requiescit.

Come we now to others, expressing somewhat of a more particular form, and humour; as, Locus Sallii Pontii Jovini in Christo, &c. The place of Sallius Pontius Jovinus in Christ. Hîc pax quiescit Caucaridis, &c. Here resteth the peace of Caucaris. And this other, Expect at refrigeria, He looks for refreshments, &c. Again, Spiritus in bono: The spirit is in the enjoyment of good. Redempta Polyxene: Polyxena redeemed. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Leo victo∣rious in peace. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Here lieth Paulina, in the place of the Blessed, &c. Deo semper unite Luci cum pace: Lucius, who art ever united to God with peace.

There are some also, which contain Wishes: as, for instance, Optatus in pace requiescat; May Optatus rest in peace. Refrigerii tibi donum potitus, &c. May the favour of refreshment be communicated to thee, &c. Regina, vi∣vas in Domino Jesu, &c. Regina, mayest thou live in the Lord Jesus.

Nay there were some contained Imprecations. Among others this, Malè pereat, insepultus jaceat, non resurgat, cum Juda partem habeat; si quis sepulchrum hoc violaverit, &c. May he come to an ill-end, may be lie unburied, may he never rise again, may he have his portion with Judas; whoever shall vio∣late this Sepulchre.

But, from these Wishes, cannot rationally be inferred either the delay, or total privation of their Felicity, on whose behalf they were con∣ceived; and the refreshment, in expectation whereof the Antients thought them to be, did not signifie their consolation in, or after the Pains of Purgatory, which the present Church of Rome imagines; as if he, who said of his Friend, Expectat refrigeria, &c. He expects refreshments, had meant, that he was in hopes to obtain some diminution, or, haply, the absolute cessation of the Torments he endured, with some allusion to those, who, feeling the excessive Heat of Fire, wish, and hope for the re∣spirations of a cooling, and temperate Air. On the contrary, (accord∣ing to the Romane Liturgy, which indefinitely, and without any exception, demands, for the Faithfull departed, locum refrigerii, &c. a place of refresh∣ment; expressly alluding to the Words of St. Peter, who called the Last day, c 1.3 The times of refreshing, and of the restitution of all things:) on the contrary, I say, the Person, so wishing, considered his Frien••, as aspi∣ring to the plenary enjoyment of that happy State, whereof he ex∣pected the absolute accomplishment on the day of the general Resurrecti∣on, at the end of the World; though he were already, by way of ad∣vance, possessed of the Earnest thereof, according to the Saying of the Authour of the Book of Wisdom, who affirms, that, d 1.4 Though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest: where the Latine Version hath it, in refrigerio, &c. in a place of refreshment. Which shews, that the In∣terpreter had found in his Copy, not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, (as the Text hath it) but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 so that, in the Discourses of the Antients, the begging of refreshments for their departed Friends could not signifie any other thing, then what is expressed in the Liturgy attributed to Saint James, in these words, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Do thou cause them to rest there, e 1.5 in the Land of the living, in f 1.6 thy Kingdom, in the g 1.7 Delights of Paradise, in the h 1.8 Bosoms of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, our Holy Fathers, i 1.9 where trouble, and sorrow, and Lamentation have no place. Which indeed is no more, then is required in the Liturgy, which goes under the name of Saint Mark, and more at large in that, which is attributed to Saint Clement, and those of Saint Basil, and Saint Chrysostome; all which concur in the demand of the Celestial Beatitude, which they design by the several Expressions u∣sed in the Scripture to represent it, and suppose, that God hath commu∣nicated it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, even there, where the departed Person, whose Memory is celebrated, hath been already placed. And in this sence is it confirmed by Tertullian, the most antient of the Latines; who, speaking of Prayer for the dead, does, in the fourth Chapter De testimonio animae, call eternal Bea∣titude a refreshment; and saith, Affirmamus expectare diem judicii, proque meritis, aut crucia••ui destinari, aut refrigerio, utrique sempiterno, &c. We affirm, that the Soul expects the day of Judgement, and that, according to her Works, she is destined either to Torment, or to Refreshment; both which are e∣ternal. Which had made so deep an Impression upon some mens spi∣rits; that, about the year 960. Hildegarius, Bishop of Limoges, Founder of the Abbey of St. Peter, protested, that the Motive of his Founding it was, Ut pius, & clementissimus Deus, in Die Judicii, refrigerium praestare digne∣tur,

&c. That God, out of his compassion, and clemency, would be pleased to give (to his own Soul, and those of his Friends) refreshment, at the day of Judgment.

Some conceive, that the Epitaphs, which run thus, In pace, &c. Qui∣escit in pace, &c. Depositus in pace, &c. Dormit in pace, &c. do not signifie, that the Departed Person is in absolute possession of that sovereign Peace, which is that of God; but simply, that he departed in the Peace of the Church. For my part, I am willing to believe; that those, who gave order for such Inscriptions, intended thereby to comprehend the Peace of the Church, remembring, that, as to be grafted into the Body of the visible Church is naturally an external mark of the Believer's admission into the society of the Saints, whose Names are written in Heaven; so the participation of her Peace is many times a Pledge of the Peace of God. But it is impossible, it should be the intention of the Authours of those an••ient Epitaphs, to speak of the Peace of the Church; and to insi∣nuate, that the Faithfull departed were not (when God called them out of this world) excommunicated. And that for these reasons:

First, These very Forms are indifferently used upon the Tombs of Martyrs, little Children, and Persons newly-baptized: who, every one knows, could not have deserved the Censures of the Church; but were, without dispute, passed from the troubles of this life into the rest of Heaven, which onely may be denoted by the name of Peace, inscribed upon their Monuments.

Secondly, It may be said, that neither being possessed of the Peace of the Church is an infallible assurance of the participation of that of God, out of which are excluded Hypocrites, whom the Church must of necessi∣ty entertain in her Communion, as not knowing their interiour; nor does the privation of the Church's peace necessarily infer the denyal of that of God; it being possible, that many good people (through Errour in mat∣ter of Fact) may be treated in the society of the Faithfull otherwise, then they should; as, for Example, a Meletius, whom the Church of Rome never honoured with her Communion, though now she acknowledges, by the Celebration she annually makes of his Memory, that he was most wor∣thy of it, and a Person precious in the sight of God. Whence it follows; that the Faithfull departed should not carry hence with them a truly per∣swasive Testimony of the Piety, in which they ended their dayes; if the surviving, saying onely They died in Peace, thought it enough to attribute to them an advantage, many times common to those, who have, through their own fault, been deprived of the Grace of God to their Dying-day.

Thirdly, Because the Antients have, by several Forms, expressed their Sentiment, and declared, that, when they assigned Peace to their deceased Brethren, they specifically limited themselves to the peace of God; which onely is able to make them happy. Thus (not to mention the Inscripti∣on of the Tombs of Severus of Badajox, and the Inhabitant of Elvas, which hath expresly Pacem Domini, The peace of the Lord) the Epitaph of Junius Bassus, cited by Cardinal Baronius, says, that Neophytus îit ad Deum VIII. Calend. Septemb. Eusebio & Hypatio Coss. &c. Being newly-converted to the Faith, he went to God on the eighth of the Calends of Sep∣tember,

Eusebius and Hypatius being Consuls: that is to say, August the twenty fifth, 359. That of Eusebia, Copied by Father Sirmond, in his Notes upon Sidonius, runs thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Here lieth Eusebia, who is in peace, &c. under the eighth Consulship of Honorius, and the first of Constantine, in the year 409. That of Gaudentia, thus; Gabina Gaudentia, &c. per∣petuâ quiescit in pace, &c. Gabina Gaudentia resteth in perpetual peace. That of Timothea, thus; Timothea in pace D. Kal. Nov. Cons. D. N. Aviti, &c. Timothea hath been deposited in the peace of the Lord, Nov. 1. Avitus our Lord being Consul, in the year 456. That of Marius, thus; Satis vixit; dum vitam pro Christo cum signo consumpsit, in pace tandem quievit, &c. He hath lived long enough; since he hath spent his life for Christ, with the Sign (of Faith) and is at length deposed in peace. That of Placidus, thus; Tandem in Caelo quiescit: He is at length rested in Heaven. To the same sense was that of Alexander the Martyr, burnt at Rome on the tenth of July, for the Testimony of Christ.

Alexander mortuus non est; sed vivit super Astra, & corpus in hoc Tumulo quiescit. Vitam explevit cum Antonino Imp. quiubi multum beneficii antevenire praevideret, pro gratia o'dium reddit; genua enim flectens, vero Deo sacrificaturus, ad supplicia ducitur. O témpora infausta, quibus inter sacra, & vota, nè in cavernis quidem salvari possimus▪ Quid miserius vita; sed quid miserius in Morte, cùm ab Amicis, & Parentibus, sepeliri nequeamus. Tandem in Coelo corruscat; pa∣rùm vixit, iv. x. tem........

Alexander is not dead; but lives above the Stars, and his Body rests in this Tomb. He ended his life with the Em∣perour Antoninus; who, foreseeing that much good was to happen to him, re∣turns him Hatred instead of Favour. For, when he had bent his Knees, to sacrifice to the true God, he is led to punishment. O unhappy times, wherein, among sacred Exercises, and Devotions, we cannot be safe, not even in Ca∣verns! What more miserable, then Life? but is there any thing more miserable in Death, then that we cannot be buried by our Friends, and Kindred? At length he shines in heaven; he hath lived but a short time, &c. That of Mala; Re∣quiescit in somno pacis, &c. accepta apud Deum, &c. She rests in a sleep of peace, &c. received near God. That of Marius Innocentius; In pace Dei¦dormit, &c. He sleeps in the Peace of the Lord. That of Paulina; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 She lies in the place of the Blessed. That of Florentius; Requiem accepit in Deo Patre nostro, & Christo ejus, &c. He is at rest in God our Father, and his Christ. That of Lucius; Deo Sancto unite cum pace, &c. Thou united to the Holy God with peace. That of Leo; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 He is Victo∣riour. That of Receptus; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 He goes before in peace. That of Jovinus; Locus Sallii Pontii Jovini in Christo, &c. The place of Sal∣lius Pontius Jovinus in Christ.

Having thus heard the Judgment of Pious Antiquity concerning the State of the Faithfull departed, and learn'd of it, that they go to God, that they are, and go before, in peace; that they are, and sleep, in the peace of the Lord; that they are received to the Lord, and united to him with peace; that they are in the place of the Blessed; that they rest in eternal peace, and in heaven, as Conquerours; which is confirmed by the Figures of Crowns, Palms, and the Dove bringing to Noë the Olive-branch, the Symbol of

the peace of God, graved upon most of the antient Tombs; who can, without renouncing common sence, and opposing the Testimony of his own eys, which read these words, and see these Symbolical Pourtraitures upon the Monuments, where words are wanting, imagine, that the Epitaphs, whereby the Deceased are said to be in peace, &c. in peace, signifie one∣ly, that they died not under Excommunication; and not, that they are (as Combatants retired out of the Field) happy, and triumphant in Ce∣lestical Glory?

Notes

• a 1.1

  See the Book, entituled Roma Subter∣ranea.
• b 1.2

  Baronius ad. ann. D. 817. Paragr. 8.
• c 1.3

  Act. iii. 19, 21.
• d 1.4

  Sap. iv. 7.
• e 1.5

  Psa cxvi. 9.
• f 1.6

  Luc. xxiii. 42.
• g 1.7

  Ezek. xxviii. 13.
• h 1.8

  Luc. xvi. 22, 23.
• i 1.9

  Is. xxxv. li. 11.