The history of the church from our Lords incarnation, to the twelth year of the Emperour Maricius Tiberius, or the Year of Christ 594 / as it was written in Greek, by Eusebius Pamphilius ..., Socrates Scholasticus, and Evagrius Scholasticus ... ; made English from that edition of these historians, which Valesius published at Paris in the years 1659, 1668, and 1673 ; also, The life of Constantine in four books, written by Eusibius Pamphilus, with Constantine's Oration to the convention of the saints, and Eusebius's Speech in praise of Constantine, spoken at his tricennalia ; Valesius's annotations on these authors, are done into English, and set at their proper places in the margin, as likewise a translation of his account of their lives and writings ; with two index's, the one, of the principal matters that occur in the text, the other, of those contained in the notes.

CHAP. XIV. Some memoires of Polycarp the disciple of the Apostles.

AT this time, Anicetus presiding over the Roman Church, Irenaeus relates that Poly∣carp (who till now survived) came to Rome and discourst Anicetus about a question that arose con∣cerning Easter-day. And the same Authour de∣livers another relation concerning Polycarp, (in his third book against Heresies) which I judged re∣quisite to adjoyn to what has been mentioned con∣cerning him; it is thus:

And Polycarp, who was not onely instructed by the Apostles and conversant with many that saw Christ, but also was by the Apostles ordained Bishop of the Church of Smyrna in Asia (whom we also saw in our younger days; for he lived to a great age, and being very antient, ended his life by a glorious and most renowned Martyrdom) This Polycarp, I say, continually taught what he had learned of the Apostles, such points as the Church now teacheth, and such onely as are true: all the Churches throughout Asia doe attest this, and also all those who to this day have been successours to Polycarp; who doubtless is a witness much more worthy to be credited, and gives a firmer assurance to the truth, than either Valentinus, or Marcion, or any other Au∣thours of corrupt opinions. This Polycarp, coming to Rome in the times of Anicetus, con∣verted many of the foresaid Hereticks to the Church of God, declaring that he had received the one and onely truth from the Apostles, which was taught by the Church. And there are some yet surviving, who heard him relate, that John the disciple of the Lord going into the Bath at Ephesus to wash himself, and seeing Ce∣rinthus in it, leapt out having not bathed him∣self, but said, let us make hast away, least the Bath fall, Cerinthus that enemy of the Truth being within it. This same Polycarp also, when Marcion on a time came into his presence and said to him a 1.1 Take acquain∣tance of us, returned him answer, I take notice of thee to be the first begot∣ten of the devill. So ex∣ceedingly cautious were the Apostles and their disci∣ples, not so much as by speech to have any con∣verse with such as were corrupters of the Truth; as Paul also said, * 1.2 A man that is an heretick, after the first and second admonition, reject: knowing that he that is such, is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. There is extant also of this Polycarp's a most incomparable Epistle, written to the Philippians; from which those who are desirous to be carefull about their own salvation, may learn the character of his Faith, and the publication of the Truth.

Thus far Irenaeus. But Polycarp, in his said Epistle to the Philippians, which is still extant, quotes some authorities out of the first Epistle of Peter. Moreover Antoninus, surnamed Pius, having compleated the two and twentieth year of his Reign, died; and was succeeded by M▪ Au∣relius Verus (who also was named Antoninus, and was his son) and his brother Lucius.

Notes

• a 1.1

  In the Original the term is [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] which in this place is the same almost in signification with the word [Salutare, i. e. to Salute] For therefore would Marcion have had himself taken notice of, that he might be sa∣luted. So, antiently in the Church, when the Faithfull approacht the holy Table, the Deacon was wont to cry aloud often [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. e. acknowledge one another] to wit, least any pro∣phane person or Jew should come to the Sacrament. Vales. S. Paul uses this term (1 Cor. 16. 18.) where our translation renders it [acknowledge.]
• * 1.2

  Tit. 3. 10. 11.