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WHen Persecution ceased then Heresie be∣gun * 1.1 to spring apace among the Christians, among whom Iuglers and Imp•…•…stors crept in as Euseb. relates, who bear the same Name and
Title, and in shew professed the same Doctrine with them, thereby the sooner to insnare the Faithful in the slippery way of Perdition, and under pretence of reducing them to the Faith, over-whelmed them in the Whirl-pool, and deep Dungeon of Damnation.
Eusebius shews, how that some Hereticks taught, how that they that would attain unto * 1.2 the Perfection of their Mysteries, or rather abo∣minable Devices, they were to work such Facts though they were never so filthy, otherwise they could not overcome the secular (i. e. world∣ly Potentates) unless every one played his part after the secret Operation. And through the subtilty of Satan came many thereby to be se∣duced, and great occasion was given to the In∣fidels to blaspheme against the divine Doctrine, and a great slander came to be spread, in that the Fame of them was bruted abroad through∣out Christendom; and by this means it fell out often, that the Infidels of those times conceived a wicked, absurd, and shameful Opinion of the Christians, saying, That they used the unlaw∣ful * 1.3 Company of Mothers and Sisters, and that they fed upon the tender Infants and Suck∣lings.
In the Judaical Wars it was commanded that the Christians should be grievously punished, ex∣cept they would renounce Christ and blaspheme * 1.4 God, but some were Converted, by beholding the patient and innocent Suffering of the Chri∣stians, from Paganism to Piety, as one said; for my self, saith he, delighted with the Doctrine of Plato, hearing that the Christians were led captive, neither fearing Death, nor any Tor∣ments which are accounted terrible. I thought it could not be, that this kind of Men were subject unto Malice, and set on Pleasure; for what voluptuous Person, or intemperate, or de∣lighted with devouring of Man's Flesh, can so imbrace Death, that he be deprived of his de∣sire, and not rather endeavour that this may al∣ways last, that he be able to deceive Princes, and not betray himself to death.
Moreover Iustinus writeth how that Adrianus * 1.5 receiving Letters from a noble President, signi∣fying in the behalf of the Christians, That it was very injurious, that for no Crime but only at the cut∣cry of the People, they should be brought and Executed.
Unto M. F. Proconsul of Asia, Adrian sendeth greeting; I received an Epistle from S. G▪ thy
Predecessor; the occasion whereof I cannot with si∣lence leave untouched, least that thereby Men be troubled, and a gap left open to the malice of Sy∣cophants * 1.6 (that is, Talebearers) wherefore, if your Provincials can prove ought against the Christi∣ans, whereof they charge them, and justifie it be∣fore the Bar, let them proceed on, and not appeach * 1.7 (that is, accuse or bewray) them only for the name, with making out-cryes against them: For it is very expedient that if any be disposed to accuse, the accusation be thoroughly known of you and sif∣tod; therefore if any accuse the Christians, that they transgress the Laws, see that you judge and punish according to the quality of the Offence: But in plain words, if any upon spite or malice * 1.8 in way of Cavillation complain against them, see you chastise him for his Malice, and punish him with Revengment.
The Emperor Caesar Marcus, &c. sendeth greeting unto the Commons of Asia; I know, * 1.9 saith he, the Gods are careful to discover hurt∣ful Persons; for they punish such as will not worship them more grievously than ye do those whom ye bring in trouble, confirming that O∣pinion which they conceive of you to be wick∣ed and ungodly Men. It is their desire in Gods Quarrel rather to die than to live; so that they * 1.10 become Conquerors, yielding their lives unto the Death rather than to obey your Edicts: It shall seem very necessary to admonish you of
the Earth-Quake, which have and do happen a∣mong us, that being therewith moved, you may compare our Estate with theirs. They have more Confidence to God-wards than you have: you during the time of your Ignorance, despise other Gods, contemn the Religion of the Im∣mortal God, Banish the Christians which Wor∣ship him and Persecute them unto Death; In the behalf of these men, many of the Provincial Pre∣sidents have Written heretofore unto our Father of Famous Memory, whom he Answered in Writing again▪ that they were not to be longer molested, unless they had practised Treason a∣ganst the Roman Empire. And many have given notice unto us of the same Matter, whom we answered as our Father did before us; If any therefore hereafter be found thus busied in other * 1.11 Mens affairs, we command that the accused be absolute and free, tho he be found such an one, I mean faulty, and that the accuser be grie∣vously Punished. This Edi•…•…t was Proclaimed at Ephesus in the hearing of that great Assembly of Asia.
We have written unto you Brethren, of such as suffered Martyrdom; The beholders of them were amazed, seeing their Flesh rent with * 1.12 Scourges, even unto the Inner Veins and
Sinews, so that the most secret Entrails of their Bodies, their Bowels and inward Privities were * 1.13 piteously to be seen; beholding again the sharp Shells of Sea-fish, and pibble Stones strowed under the Martyrs Backs and bruised Bodies, with every kind of Torment that could be de∣vised; last of all they were thrown to be torn in pieces, and devoured of Wild Beasts. But there was a certain Phrygian, by Name Quin∣tus, that trembled at the fierce Rage of the terri∣ble Beasts, and shrinked at the sight of their grim Visage, and betrayed his own safety with slack∣ness of Courage; for the same Epistle testifieth * 1.14 of him, that he personally appeared, together with the rest before the Bar, more of rashness than of any Religion; and being taken he publickly professed, That none ought to intrude himself among such Men without good Devotion, neither to intermeddle in matters wherewith he hath not to do.
The same Chapters sheweth how that after Polycarpus was apprehended, he was brought to the City upon an Ass on the great Sabbath day: And a Justice of Peace, with his Father, meet∣ing him, they received him into their Chariot, and perswaded him, saying, What harm is it * 1.15 to say, Lord Caesar, to sacrifice and so be saved? At the first he answered nothing; but when they urged him he said, I will not condescend unto your Counsel. They perceiving he would not be perswaded, gave him very rough Language, and tumbled him down out of the Wagon, and afterwards he was brought upon the Theatre, or Stage; and when the Multitude saw him they
were in a great Rage: The Proconsul, or De∣puty-Counsel, demanded of him whether he were that Polycarpus, beckning that he should de∣ny * 1.16 it, and saying, Tender thy Years, with such like perswasions, Swear by the fortune of Caesar; repent thee of that is past, say, Remove the Wick∣ed. But Polycarpus beholding with unmoveable Countenance the Multitude round about the Stage, pointing with the Hand Sighing, and looking up to Heaven, said, Remove O Lord these Wicked: When the Proconsul urged and said, Swear, and I will let thee go; Blaspheme and defie Christ: Polycarpus answered, fourscore and six Years have I served him, neither hath he ever offended me in any thing; And how can I revile my King which hath thus kept me? The Proconsul still urged him, and said, Swear by the Fortune of Caesar. To whom Polycarpus said, if thou requirest this vain Glory, that I protest the Fortune of Caesar, as thou sayest, feigning thou knowest me not who I am, hear freely, I am a Christian; and if thou desire to know the Doctrine of Christianity, appoint the Day and thou shalt hear it. Afterwards the Proconsul said, I have Wild Beasts to devour thee, unless thou repent; Polycarpus answered, bring them forth, For it is determined among us not to pass * 1.17 from the better unto the worse by Repentance; but we count it a thing commendable to turn from the thing that is evil, to that which is good and just.
Again the Proconsul said, I will quiet thee with Fire, if thou regard not the Beasts nor re∣pent: To whom Polycarpus answered, Thou
threatnest Fire for an Hour, which lasteth a while and quickly is quenched; but thou art ignorant of the everlasting Fire at the Day of Iudgment, and endless Torments reserved for the Wicked: But what lingerest thou? Dispatch as it pleaseth thee. So the Proconsul being amazed, commanded the Beadle, in the midst of the Theatre, thrice to cry, Polycarpus confesseth himself a Christian.
At which saying, the Multitude both of the Jews and Gentiles inhabiting Smyrna, shouted with a great Rage, this is that Doctor of Asia, the Father of the Christians, the overthrower of our Gods, who hath taught many that our Gods are not to be adored: And they craved of the President, that he would let loose a Lion to devour him; and when he would not do that, then they cryed with one Voice, that Polycarpus should be burned quick. And in a short while all things necessarily required for the Execution were ap∣plyed. And when as they would have nailed him to the Stake, he said, Nay suffer me even as I am, for he that gave me patience to abide this Fire, will give me also an unmoveable mind to persevere within the fiery Pale, without your Pro∣vision in fastning my Body with Nails.
Iustinus (who Reprehended, or reproved the Philosophers, as Gluttonous and Deceiptful * 1.18 Persons) was by the Malicious means of Cres∣cens the Philosopher Martyred, which he fore∣saw and signified in his Apology (i. e. defence,
or speech) in these words: I look for no other thing then this (said he) that I be betrayed by some one of them called Philosophers: It is not indeed requisite to call him a Philosopher, which igno∣rantly reporteth that the Christians are Impicus and Irregulous, to the end he may please and flatter such, as are overshadowed with the mist of Errour and Darkness, for if he Impugne or re∣sist the Doctrine of the Christians, having nei∣ther * 1.19 read nor known the same, then is he full of Malice, and far worse than Idiots (i. e. Fools) that sometime beware they reason not of un∣known matters, least they speak falsly: or if he hath read them, he understandeth not the Mistery and Majestical meaning thereof: or if he do understand them, he doth this, that he be not taken for such an one, and then is he a∣gain far more Wicked and Spiteful, the Bond∣slave of vain Glory and Brutish fear.
The aforesaid Iustinus makes mention of a certain Woman, that had been given unto Las∣civiousness * 1.20 and Lewdness, but when she learned the Doctrine of Christ, she repented of her for∣mer Life, and Imbraced Chastity, and she ex∣horted her Husband likewise to repent, but he continuing still in his former Lewdness by his unlawful actions alienated his Wife from him: * 1.21 for she said that it was thence forth unlawful for her to use company at Bed and Board with that Man, who contrary to the law of Nature, beyond all right and reason sought means to
satisfie his filthy Lusts, and therefore would she have been divorced from him: But through the Perswasion of her Friends, who counselled her, a little while quietly to live together, that there * 1.22 was yet hope at length of his repentance, she re∣voked her Sentence, changed her Mind, refrain∣ed her self, and continued with him in Wedlock; * 1.23 but he accused her for being a Christian; but ha∣ving no other Colour nor Cloak to accuse her, his Malice turned against Ptolomaeus who instructed his Wife in the Christian Faith; and after he had suffered much in Prison, he was examined whe∣ther * 1.24 he was a Christian, or no? whose Conscience bearing him witness of no Crime, but in a just Cause, confessed that he had preached the true and heavenly Doctrine of Christ. For he which denieth himself to be that he is, either condem∣neth * 1.25 that which is in him, by denial, or knowing himself unworthy and estranged from the matter, re∣fuseth to confess; whereof neither is found in a true Christian; and when Urbitius commanded that he should be brought forth: one Lucius (that was also a Christian) seeing the Sentence given contrary to all reason, said to Urbitius, what reason is it (O Urbitius) that thou shouldst condemn this Man for confessing the Name of * 1.26 Christ, which hath comitted neither Adultery, nei∣ther Fornication, neither Man-slaughter, neither Theft, neither Robbery neither any wicked Offence, that he may justly be charged withal? Urbitius an∣swered nothing to these things, but said to Lu∣cius, and thou seemest to me to be such a one: Lucius answered, I am so; and he commanded him to be brought forthwith to the place of exe∣cution.
The aforementioned Iustinus wrote a Dia∣logue * 1.27 (i. e. a Communication betwixt two or more) against the Jews, wherein he declared their spite against the Doctrine of Christ, say∣ing, * 1.28 you have not only hardned your selves from repentance, but have sent chosen Men from Ierusalem, which should pass throughout the World, and pronounce that there was a certain Christian Heresie sprung up▪ slandering us, as the rest do which know us not, so that hereby you proved your selves Authors of Falshood; not only to your own People, but * 1.29 to all other Nations: He writeth also that unto his time the Gift of Prophecy flourished in the Church.
Egesippus wrote, how that after Iacobus Iustus * 1.30 was martyred, in such sort as Christ himself was put to death: his Uncle Simon Cleophas was chosen Bishop, and then they called the Church a pure Virgin; for, as yet (saith he) the Devil had not sown there any corrupt Seed of False Doctrine. But Thebulis, because that he was not chosen Bishop, went about to cor∣rupt the same, being one of the Seven Here∣ticks among the People: He writes of many more Hereticks, as of Simon, •…•…cobius, Dosi∣thaeus, * 1.31 Gortaeus, Machotaei, Menend•…•…anises, Car∣pocratians,
Valetinians, Basilidians, and Satur∣nians, whereof every one (saith he) hath set a∣broach a proper and a several Opinion.
Of these (saith he further) sprang the false Christs, the false Prophets, the false Apostles, * 1.32 rending asunder the Church with their false Doctrine, directed against God and Christ; The same Author describeth likewise the old Heresies of the Jews, saying, there were in the time of the Circumcision sundry Sects among the Children of Israel, varying in Opinions, and set opposite against the Tribe of Iudah and Christ; namely these, the Esseans, the Galileans, the Hemerobaptists, the Masbotheans, the Sa∣maritans, * 1.33 the Sadducees, and Pharisees. And by Occasion the aforesaid Egesippus reasoning of the Scriptures called Apocrypha, that is, hid∣den, doubtful, or unknown, he said that in his time, divers of them were published by He∣reticks, that is, such as make choice, of themselves, what points of Religion they will believe, and what they will not.
Moreover there remaineth an Epistle of Dio∣nysius, Bishop of Corinth, unto the Romans, as * 1.34 Eusebius saith, wherein it is thus written; It hath been your accustomed manner, saith he, even from the beginning, diversly to benefit all * 1.35 the Brethren, and to send Relief throughout the City, supplying the Want of the Poor, by refreshing them in this sort, and especially the Want of the Brethren appointed for slavish
Drudgery and digging of Metals. The same Author reporteth of his own Epistles, that they were patched and corrupted; in these Words, When I was entreated of the Brethren to write, I wrote certain Epistles, but the Messen∣gers of Satan have sown them with Tares, pulling away some things, and putting to other some. For whom Condemnation is laid up. No marvel then (saith he) though some endeavour to cor∣rupt * 1.36 the sacred Scriptures of God, whenas they went about to counterfeit such Writings of so small Authority.
Melito, the Bishop of Sardis, in his Apology to the Emperour, reporteth some of the things * 1.37 practised against the Christians, writing thus; The godly People were grieved by reason of new Edicts, which were published throughout Asia, and never before practised, now suffer Persecution. For impudent Sycophants, (that is, Tale-bearers or Slanderers,) and greedy Ga∣pers after other Mens Goods, having gotten * 1.38 Occasion, through these proclamations, openly to rob and spoil, day and night, such as com∣mit no Trespass at all. And after a few Lines, he saith, The Emperour that is just never put∣teth in Practice any unjust thing, and we wil∣lingly will bear away the Honour of this * 1.39 Death; yet this only we will crave of you, that you (after Notice and Tryal had of the Authors of this Contention) do justly give Sentence, whether they are worthy
of Death and Punishment, or Life and Quiet∣ness.
Out of the School of Syternius and Marcion sprang the Hereticks whom they call Encratits, (that is te say, contient or chast persons) who * 1.40 taught that Marriage was to be aborred, con∣temning the ancient Shape and Mould of Man framed of God; And so, by Sequel (or con∣sequently) reprehending him that made the Generation of Mankind; again they have com∣manded Abstinence from living Creatures, for so they call them; shewing themselves ungrate∣ful towards God, who made all things for the Use of Man. After that Iustinus was mar∣tyred, Tatianus fell from the Chureh, and be∣ing puffed up with presumptuous Estimation and Self-opinion of Doctrineship, as though he passed all other, invented a new Form of Do∣ctrine. He dreamed of certain invisible Worlds with the Valentinians: Some report that he presumed metaphrastically (i. e. by a Meta∣phor to change one Word from its natural Sence into another Sence like unto it) to alter the Words of the Apostle, correcting, as it were, the order of the Phrase.
Lib. 4. ch. 6.
Lib. 4. ch. 7.
Christians •…•…andered.
lib 4 ch. 8▪
How wrongfully the Chri∣stians were Executed.
lib. 2. c. 23.
The Accu∣sers were so well to appear at the Bar as the accu∣sed.
Mark what ju∣stice and Eqtity.
lib. 4. c. 13.
The desire of the Christi∣ans.
The Chri∣stians were not to be Molested nor Accu∣sed.
l. 4. 6. 15.
〈◊〉〈◊〉. 15.
A warn∣ing to for∣ward Spi∣rits.
A Temp∣tation and Provoca∣tion.
Polycar∣pus was provoked to lye and swear, but would do neither.
Nota.
Lib. 4. ch. 16.
Tis folly to speak evil of that one knrweth not.
Lib. 4. ch. 17. Christiani ty brought Chastity.
Impatiency
Wisdom.
Submission
Truth gi∣veth bold∣ness.
Nota.
Lucius's godly zeal against Injustice.
Lib. 4. ch. 18.
The Jews Spite a∣gainst Christia∣nity which was ac∣counted Heresie.
Prophecy then not ceased.
Lib. 4. ch. 21.
Hereticks.
False Christs and false Prophets were en∣tered then too among the Chri∣stians.
Many sects among the Iews.
Lib. 4. ch. 22.
The Chri∣stians re∣lieved the Brethren.
Some cor∣rupted the Scriptures.
Lib. 4. Chap. 25.
The Chri∣stians were made a prey up∣on, yet in∣nocent.
Nota.
lib. 4. ch. 27.