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. XXIII. Concerning Dionysius, Bishop of the Corinthians, and the Epistles he wrote.

ANd first we are to speak of Dionysius: who had the Episcopal Chair of the Corinthian Church; and liberally and copiously communi∣cated his divine labours, not onely to those com∣mitted to his charge, but also to such as inhabited Countreys remote and at a great distance: rendring himself most serviceable and usefull to all persons, by those general Epistles he wrote to divers Churches. Of which number one is that to the Lacedaemoni∣ans, containing the first rudiments of, and institu∣tions in, the true Faith; and moreover an exhorta∣tion to Peace and Unity. Another of them is that to the Athenians, which is excitatory to Faith, and to lead a life answerable to the Precepts of the Go∣spel: in which point he reproves the negligence of [the Athenians] who had in a manner aposta∣tized from the Faith, since the time that Publius their Bishop suffered Martyrdom, during the per∣secutions which then happened: he makes men∣tion also of a 1.1 Quadratus, who was constituted their Bishop, after the Martyrdom of Publius; and attests, that by his labour and industry, the congregations [of the Christians] were re-assem∣bled, and the ardour of their faith revived, and re-kindled. He relates moreover, that Dionysius the Areopagite (who was converted to the Faith by the Apostle Paul, according to the account gi∣ven in the Acts of the Apostles,) was made the first Bishop of the Atheni∣an Church. There is also extant another Epistle of his to the Nicomedians, wherein he impugneth the Heresie of Marcion, and strenuously asserts and defends the exact Rule of Truth: He wrote likewise to the Church at Gortyna, and to the rest of the Churches in Creet; and commends Philip their Bishop, because the Church under his charge was renowned for many signal acts of fortitude; and admonishes them to use caution against the deceit and perversness of Hereticks: And in the Epistle he wrote to the Church of Amastris, together with the other Churches throughout Pontus, he mentions Bac∣chylides and Elpistus, as being the persons that incited him to write: he annexes likewise seve∣ral expositions of holy Scripture, and by name mentions Palma their Bishop. He recommends to them many things concerning marriage and chastity, and commands those that recover from any lapse whatsoever, (whether vitiousness, or Heretical errour) to be affectionately received. In the same Volume is contained another Epistle to the Gnossi∣ans, wherein he admonishes Pinytus the Bishop of that Church, not to impose the heavy yoak of conti∣nency upon the brethren, as if 'twere necessary; but to have a regard to the infirmity of most men. To which Pinytus returning an answer, does greatly admire, and extol Dionysius; but withall exhorts him, that in future he would impart stronger food, and nourish up the people under his charge by sending again to them some letters that contain more perfect and solid doctrine; least, being con∣tinually accustomed to such milky expressions, they should grow old in a childish discipline. In which Epistle, both the Orthodox Faith of Pinytus, and his sollicitude for the proficiency of those under his care; his eloquence also, and understanding in di∣vine matters, is most accurately and to the life re∣presented. Moreover, there is extant an Epistle of Dionysius's to the Romans, superscribed to Soter, at that time the Bishop there: out of which it's not amiss here to insert some words, wherein he much commends the usage and custome of the Ro∣mans, observed by them even untill the times of the persecution raised in our own b 1.2 age; he writes thus;

For this hath been your custome even from the beginning [of your conversion to Christianity] to be divers ways beneficial to all the brethren, and to send relief to most Churches throughout every City; sometimes supplying the wants of such as are in necessity; at others, fur∣nishing those brethren with necessaries that are condemned to work in the mines. By such charitable gifts, which from the beginning you have been accustomed to transmit to others, being Romans, you retain the custom received from your Roman fore-fathers. Which usage your blessed Bishop Soter has not onely dili∣gently observed, but greatly improved; being both instrumental and ready in the conveyance of your bounty designed for the Saints; and al∣so comforting with blessed words (as a ten∣der and affectionate father does his children) those brethren that come as c 1.3 strangers to you.

In the same Epistle also he makes mention of the Epistle of Cle∣mens to the Corinthians, and manifests that 'twas very an∣tiently customary to recite it publickly in the presence of the Church: for he says;

d 1.4 This day therefore, being the holy day of the Lord, we have now passed over, wherein we read over your Epistle; which (as also the former Epistle of Clemens's written to us) we continuing to read henceforward, shall abound with most ex∣cellent Precepts and instructions.

Further, the same Writer speaking of his own Epistles which by some forgers were corrupted, says thus;

For I wrote some Epistles, being thereto requested by the brethren: but the emissaries of the devil have filled them with darnell; expunging some passages out of them, and adding other some; for whom a Woe is reserved. Its no wonder therefore, that some attempt to adulterate the holy writings of the Lord, since they have basely falsified such as are of an inferiour authority.

Besides these, there is extant another Epistle of Dionysius's, written to Chrysophora a most faithfull Sister, to whom he writes what is agreeable, and imparts to her such Spiritual food as is convenient for her. Thus much concerning the writings of Dionysius.

Notes

• a 1.1

  This Quadratus, I judge, is not the same person with that Quadratus, the disciple of the Apostles, mentioned by Eusebius (book 3. chap. 37.) For the Quadratus last named was not a Bishop, as it plainly appears from the foresaid place of Eusebius. But, that Quadratus (spoken of by our Authour at the beginning of this fourth book) who pre∣sented an Apology to Adrian for our Religion, was the disciple of the Apostles, as Eusebius, in his Chronicon, expresly affirms. Now this Quadratus here spoken of (who was Bishop of the Atheni∣ans) must, as I said, be distingui∣shed from Quadratus the disciple of the Apostles: for this latter lived not beyond the times of Adrian; but he that was Bishop of the Athe∣nians, governed that Church in the times of M. Antoninus, as 'tis evi∣dent from Dionysius's Epistle to the Athenians▪ for he speaks of him, as being his co-temporary▪ Now Dionysius Bishop of Corinth flou∣risht in the Reign of M. Antoni∣nus▪ Vales.
• b 1.2

  He means the perse∣cution in Diocletians Reign. Vales.
• c 1.3

  Dionysius means those bre∣thren, who usually came from remote Countreys to Rome, to procure some relief for such as in their own Countrey were in distress, and necessity. Vales.
• d 1.4

  To this fragment of Dionysius's Epistle to the Roman Clergy is to be joyn∣ed that o∣ther passage of the same Epist. quo∣ted by our Eusebius (chap. 25. B. 2.) Vales.