The abridgment of Eusebius Pamphilius's ecclesiastical history in two parts ... whereunto is added a catalogue of the synods and councels which were after the days of the apostles : together with a hint of what was decreed in the same / by William Caton.

The Twelfth Persecution.

IN the year 362 did the Twelfth Persecution arise under the Emperour Julianus the Apo∣state

(i. e. one that revolted from true Religion who had been accounted a Christian, but was an Hyprocritical dissembler, and counterfeated a Monkish life, who being sent into France by the Emperour to make War with the Bar∣barians, and obtaining some notable Victo∣ries was afterwards Proclaimed Emperour by the Souldiers, and then did he set wide open the Temples and Idoll groves, and Sacrificed to Pictures and Intituled himself an High Priest.

Then the Pagans at Alexandria stomaked the Christians, and that the more, because they went about to disclose unto the World the Pa∣gans Pictures, to the end their fond Ceremonies might be derided of all Men: Whereupon they Boyled within themselves for Anger, and took what first came to their Hands, set upon them; * 1.1 and Slew of them every kind of way, so that some were run through with Swords, some o∣thers Brained with Clubs, other some Stoned to Death, some Strangled with Haltors about their Necks; in the end (as commonly it fal∣leth out in such hurly-burlies) they held not their Hands from their dearest Friends (for one Brother sought the other Brothers. Life, one Friend fell upon another, yea the Parents put their Children to death, and to be short, the one cut the others Throat.

Moreover the Emperour Julianus gave out a Proclamation, that such as would not renounce the Christian Faith mould Warfare no longer in the Emperours Palace, likewise that all should prepare themselves to Sacrifice, and that no Christian should bear office in the common * 1.2

Wealth; For their Law (saith he) forbideth the use of the Sword unto such as deserved death, and therefore they are not fit to be Magistrates.

Afterwards he devised a certain slight to wring Money from the Christians, for he set a great fine upon the Heads of such as would not Sacrifice, and the Tax was very grievous and duly demanded of the Christians; Then did the Heathen insult over the Christians, and the Governours of Provinces, suposing now that it was High Tyde for them under colour of the Emperours Religion to make up their Bagges, vexed the Christians far sorer then the Emper∣ours * 1.3 Proclamation bore them out, demanded greater Tax then they were sessed at, and some time Tormented their Bodys.

The Emperour understanding of their doings winked at them, and answered the Christians, which complained unto him in this sort, it is your part when you have injuries offered unto you, to take the same patiently, for so your God com∣manded you.

The Emperour made a Law that the Chri∣stians should not be trained up in prophane Li∣terature (i. e. learning, or cunning, Grammer Writing) for (saith he) seeing they have the gift of utterance so readily, they shall easely be able to overthrow the quirks of Logick where∣with the Gentills (i. e. Heathen) do uphold their Doctrine &c.

Note. As this Apostatized Emperour Julia∣nus exceeded many of his Predecessors in Sub∣tilty and Wickedness, even so have many Apo∣statized

professing Christians, exceeded the common sort of Ignorat People in Hypocrisie and Craftiness, in Deceipt and Spiritual Wick∣edness, so that the Sufferings of the true Chri∣stians have been very great under such, as they were, under this Emperour Iulianus, and as theirs are at this present; whose Sufferings are augmented oftentimes through the Covetousness and Cruelty of Inferiour Magistrates, whose Wickedness now is not only wincked and con∣nived at, but Tollerated and Countenanced by their Superiors: Hath not this been appearent * 1.4 enough at sundry times in Englland, where the chief Officers have been privy to the unjust and illegal proceedings of their under Officers, and yet they have passed it by, as if it had not been worthy of Reproof; in the mean time the Innocent, Harmless and true Christians they have suffered the spoyling of their Goods, and that because they would not Swear, nor Pay Tythes to an Hireling Priest, nor be conform∣able to the National way of Worship for Consci∣ence sake, no more then the antient Christians could Sacrifice, or Uphold the Worship of the Heathenish Gods, for the refusing of which they suffered as before mentioned, but it was indeed by and under the Heathen, who did nei∣ther owne nor profess the Doctrine of Christ, like as the antient Christians doe, who in many things are found as much out of it, as the Hea∣then were, and so consequently rather in the practise of the Heathen, then in his Doctrine, who said, Love your Enemies, Bless them that Curse you, do good to them that hate you, and

Pray for them which Dispitefully use and Perse∣cute you. Math. 5. 44. But this Doctrine is lit∣tle more regarded by some Anti-Christians, then by the Heathen themselves, whose manner was to uphold their Doctrine by quirks of Logick, even as the Priests do now, for when they can∣not * 1.5 uphold their Doctrine, and maintain their Religion by Spiritual Weapons, then will they betake themselves unto their quirks of Logick, and when they are Insufficient for them, then do they ordinarly make their addresses unto them in Authority, for to crave their help and assistance, but this was not the practise of the ancient Christians, neither is it the matter of the true Christians now, but the custom of the Anti-Christians, who are found in the practise of the Heathen.

I have read, how that when the Nicene Coun∣sel was Sommoned, which consisted of above three hundred Bishops, besides the Priests, Dea∣cons and others which were heard to be num∣bered, the Logicians busied themselves, pro∣pounding against divers others certain pream∣bles of Disputation, and when divers were there drawn to disptuation, and allured as it were by bait; a Lay-man (that is not one of the Clergy, who was of a simple and sincere mind, set himself against the Logitians, and told them * 1.6 thus in plain words, That neither Christ nor his Apostles had delivered unto us the Art of Logick, neither vain Falacies (i. e. crafty devises) but an * 1.7 open and plain mind to be preserved of us with Faith and good Works. Afterwards the Logitians quieted themselves and held with his Sentence, Logick.

Note. Thus we see that this Art of Logick (in which the Heathens were very expert, and by the quirks of which they upheld their Do∣ctrine was not approved of by all the ancient Christians, tho is begun to creep in amongst them when they Appostized, but by some it was testified against then, as it is now, by the true Christians, who are in the life and power of Godliness, which was before this Sophiestical and deceitful Art was, by the quirks of which, Persecutors have upheld their Doctrine, and by the quirks of it, Persecutors do uphold their Doctrine; but so did not Christ, nor his Apostles, nor the ancient suffering Christians, neither doth the true Christians now, who a∣bide in the Light and Doctrine of their Lord and Master, who is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, blessed for ever more.

The Histories do relate, that in these twelve Persecutions which were against the Christian Church, the Blood of about five hundred thou∣sand was shed; and that among all these that Suffered, there was not one that by Weapons revenged himself, but patience was their Ar∣mour, and thereby did they conquer the seve∣rity of the Emperours: Relig. Vryh. Lib. 1. Fol. 198.

Note. Therefore such Christians now as suf∣fer patiently for Righteousnes sake, without re∣sisting or revenging themselves by violence with carnal Weapons, are rather found in the Spirit and Practise of the ancient Christians, then re∣vengeful persecuting men, who are commonly called Christians, yet do not only do wrong to

their Brethren and Fellow Creatures, but are also found revenging themselves of the wrong done unto them by others, contrary to the Do∣ctrine of the Apostle, and contrary to the Pra∣ctise of the ancient Christians, in which Do∣ctrine and Practise the true Christians are found.

Thus have I very briefly run through these twelve remarkable Persecutions which were Sustained by the Antient Christians under the Heathen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Socrat. l. 3 c. 2.
• * 1.2

  thap. 11.
• * 1.3

  chap. 12
• * 1.4

  How the Wickedness of Officers was Tolle∣rated.
• * 1.5

  How the Priests help them∣selves with the Quirks of Logick.
• * 1.6

  Socrat. li. 1. c. 5.
• * 1.7

  Christ nor his Apo∣stles the Author of Logick.