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. XXVI. Concerning Melito, and what he has made men∣tion of.

ALso, at that time Melito, Bishop of the Church at Sardis, and Apollinaris Pre∣late of the Church at Hierapolis, flourished and were eminently famous. Each of which persons did severally dedicate an Apology written in de∣fence of our faith to the foresaid Roman Emperour, who reigned at that time. The Books of each of them, which are come to our knowledge▪ are these that follow. Two books of Melito's concerning Ea∣ster; one of his, a 1.1 concerning the true way of converse, and of the Prophets: another, con∣cerning the Church; and a third, concerning the Lords day: Moreover, one, con∣cerning the nature of man, and another, about the frame and composure of man▪ and one, concerning the b 1.2 obe∣dience of the senses and their subjection to faith; and moreover, one book, con∣cerning the soul, the body and the mind: a book, con∣cerning Baptism; one, of Truth; one, concerning the c 1.3 Origination and Genera∣tion of Christ: his book of Prophecy, another, concern∣ing Hospitality; and that entitled, The k••y: besides one, concerning the Devil, and, of the Revelation of John; and another, about the incarna∣tation of God; and lastly, his Apology to Antoninus. Now, in his books concerning Easter, to wit, in the begin∣ning of that work, he de∣clares the time when he wrote, in these words,

Ser∣vilius Paulus being Pro∣consul of Asia, at that time when Sagaris suffered Mar∣tyrdom, there arose a great controversie at Laodicea concerning Easter, which happened to fall on those days in its due season: at which time I wrote these books.

Clemens Alex∣andrinus makes mention of this book, in his piece con∣cerning Easter; which book of Melito's was, as he says, the occasion of his compo∣sing that work. Now, in that book dedicated to the Em∣perour, he relates what was acted against us Christians in his Reign.

For now, says he, that sort of men who are pious and holy are persecuted, (a thing which was never before done) and molested with new Decrees throughout all Asia. For most impudent in∣formers, who are desirous to possess themselves of other mens goods, taking an occasion from the Imperial Edicts, doe openly commit robberies, and day and night take away the goods of inno∣cent persons.

And, after some words, he con∣tinues, thus;

Now if all this be done by Your command, let it pass for an orderly and due way of proceeding. For a just Emperour can never decree or authorize any thing that is unjust: and we willingly undergoe the reward of such a death. This request onely we hum∣bly make to you, that you your self would first

take cognizance of d 1.4 them that are sufferers of this vexatious molestation; and then deter∣mine impartially, whether they are worthy of punishment and death; or deserve to live in peace and quietness. But if this Decree, and this new Edict (which ought not to have been established against the most barbarous enemies) does not proceed from You, then we more earnestly beseech You, not to be unmindfull of us, nor permit us to be any longer infested with these publick Rapines.

Then, after the interposition of some words, he adds thus much;

For this Sect of Phi∣losophy, which we profess, at first flourisht amongst the e 1.5 Barbarians. But when, in the Reign of the Great Augustus Your Progeni∣tour, it began to be eminent and conspicuous in Your Provinces; it brought with it most for∣tunate and prosperous success to Your Empire. For from that time the power of the Roman Empire began to be eminently great, and was much augmented. Of which Empire You by succession are the most acceptable Inheritour that could be wish't for, and shall so continue, to∣gether with your f 1.6 Son, if you will be the defender of that Religion which was nursed up together with Your Empire, which took its beginning under the Reign of the Great Au∣gustus; and which your Ancestours did together with other Religions both esteem, and reverence: And this is a most certain evi∣dence that our Religion (which flourisht together with your happily begun Empire) brought with it publick success and prospe∣rity; to wit, that from the time of Augustus's Reign no unsuccessfull accident hath intervened; but on the contrary such splendour and magnificence hath always artended Your Empire, as is agree∣able to the desires and prayers of all men. Of all the Emperours, onely g 1.7 Nero and Domitian (induced thereto by the perswasion and advice of some malevolent persons) endeavoured to fix a calumny and reproach upon our Religion. From whom that false and malicious detraction happened to be conveyed down to succeeding times, agreeable to the usage of the rude multi∣tude, which irrationally gives credit to such groundless rumours. But Your pious An∣cestours corrected their ignorance: and by frequent Rescripts reproved such as audaci∣ously attempted to be insolent and vexatious to∣wards those of our Religion. Amongst whom Your Grandfather Adrian wrote both to Fun∣danus Proconsul of Asia, and also to many other [Governours of Provinces;] and h 1.8 your Father, even at that time when You were his Colleague in the Empire, wrote to the Cities that they should not raise tumults, nor commit any insolencies against us; namely to the Larisseans, to the Thessalonians, the Athenians and to all the Grecians. But we most confidently per∣swade our selves that You (who retain the same opinion concerning us that your Ancestours had; yea, who are enclined to be much more gracious and mild towards us, and to entertain wiser and discreeter thoughts concerning us,) will doe whatsoever we request of you.

This passage is extant in the fore mentioned Apo∣logie of Melito. The same Authour (in that book of Extracts and Collections written by him) does, at the beginning of that work, make a Catalogue of those books of the Old Testament that by general consent are acknowledged as Ca∣nonical: which Catalogue I judged necessary to be here inserted: It is word for word thus.

Me∣lito to Onesimus the brother sendeth greeting. Whereas, because of your love to, and dili∣gence bestowed about, the word of God, you have often requested me to make you some short Collections and excerptions both out of the Law and the Prophets about those things that belong to our Saviour, and all the Articles of our Faith; and moreover, you being very de∣sirous to have an accurate account of the books of the Old Testament, how many they are in number, and in what order they were written; I have made it my business to doe all this, and to satisfie your desire herein. For I well know with what an ardour of faith you are enflamed, and how earnest your desires are after know∣ledge; and that, by reason of your love of God, you greatly prefer these before all other things, striving earnestly to obtain eternal salvation. When therefore I travelled into the East, and came into that Countrey where these things were heretofore Preacht and done, I made an accu∣rate inquiry about the books of the Old Testa∣ment, a Catalogue whereof I have herewith sent you. Their names are these: The five books of Moses, to wit, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomie: Joshua, Judges, Ruth▪ the four books of the Kings, the two books of the Chronicles: the Psalms of David, the Proverbs of Solomon, which is also called the book of Wisdom, Ecclesiastes, the song of Solo∣mon, Job, the prophecies of Esaiah, and Jere∣miah: one book of the twelve [minor] Pro∣phets, Daniel, Ezechiel, Esdras. Out of these I have made some short Collections, which I have divided into six books.

But thus much con∣cerning the writings of Melito.

Notes

• a 1.1

  In all ou•• M. SS. copies this title [concerning the true way of con∣verse and of the Prophets] evi∣dently appears to be the title but of one book. Jerom (in his book de Eccles. Scriptor. which is al∣most wholly▪ taken out of Euse∣bius) entitles this piece of Me∣lito's thus [de vitâ Propbetarum▪ i. e. concerning the life of the Pro∣phets. Vales.
• b 1.2

  Melito wrote a book upon this subject, because there were some Hereticks who asserted, that such men as were carnal, believed by the help of their senses; but those who were spiritual believed by reason. So Heraclio expounded that Text in S. Johns Gospel (c. 4. 48.) Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. Which words Heraclio said, were proper∣ly directed to those, who by works and their senses had the nature of obeying, but not of believing through reason. Origen (Tome 13. Enarrat. on S. John's Gospel) men∣tions, and confutes this opinion: where he declares, that neither spi∣ritual nor carnal men can believe, unless it be by sense. Vales.
• c 1.3

  In the Maz. Med. and Fuk. M. SS. and in Nicephorus, this book of Melito's is intitled [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 &c.] i. e. concerning the Origination, &c. which reading▪ we doubt not but is true. Ru∣finus, as appears by his Version, and Robert Stephens, as may be seen in his Edit. read [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] i. e. concerning Faith, &c. The ancient Fathers, who lived before the Nicene Council, meant (by the word [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉]) not onely such a creation as is made out of nothing, but also all sort of pro∣duction whatsoever, and there∣fore the divine origination of the Word. Those words of the Apo∣stle (Colos 1. 15.) The first born of every creature, they asserted, were to be understood of the eter∣nal generation of the Son. Vales. But as D^r Hammond observes in his notes on that Text, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. e. first born, is used some times for a Lord, or person in power, who hath the priviledge of the first born, dominion over all his brethren▪ and according to this notion (continues he) 'tis used commonly in scripture for a Prince, or principal person. See Psal. 68. 27. Job 18. 13. Or it may peculiarly refer to his resur∣rection, in which he was the first born from the dead. See Ham∣mond on Colos. 1. 15.
• d 1.4

  These words are to be un∣derstood of the Christi∣ans; which appears from what follows. For Melito desires of the Emperour, that he would first look into and examine the cause of the Chri∣stians; and then determine, whe∣ther they deserved to be punished, or rather preserved in safety. Vales.
• e 1.5

  So he terms the Jews, a∣mongst whom the Christian Re∣ligion first sprang up. Upon this account Porphyrius (whose words Eusebius quotes book 6. chap. 19. of this work) termed the Chri∣stian Religion [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] i. e. an audacious Sect that had its beginning amongst Barba∣rians. Vales.
• f 1.6

  From this place it is evident, that Melito the Bishop presented his Apology to M. Antoninus after the death of Aurelius Verus. For, if Verus had been then living, when Melito wrote this Apology, he would doubtless have mentioned him here; and in stead of these words [together with your son] would certainly have said [together with your brother.] For L. Verus was the adopted brother of M. Aure∣lius. Seeing therefore, Melito does here mention onely the son of M. Antoninus (to wit, Commodus) tis manifest, as I said, that this Apolo∣gy was presented to Marcus after the death of L. Verus. And there∣fore Eusebius (in his Chronicon) places it on the 10^th year of M. Aurelius, to wit, the year after Ver••••'s death. Vales.
• g 1.7

  The same is asserted by Tertul∣lian (Apo∣loget. cap. 5.) whose words our Eusebius quotes, partly at chap. 25. B. 2. and partly at chap. 20. B. 3.
• h 1.8

  The Re∣script of Antoninus Pius (who is here meant) in savour of the Christians, is not now extant. 'Tis men∣tioned in the Restript of M. Aurelius Antoninus to the Cities of Asia, which Eusebius has set down in chap. 13. of this book. Vales.