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. XII. Concerning Serapion, and his Books that are extant.

'TIs likely that other monuments of a Serapion's studiousness and learning are preserv'd a∣mongst other men; but those [writings▪] onely came to our hands which he wrote to one Domninus, a man who in the time of Per∣secution fell from the faith in Christ to the Jewish su∣perstition. And what he wrote to Pontius, and Caricus Ecclesiastical men; and other Epistles to other persons. Another book also was compos'd by him, concerning that Book Intituled The Gospel according to Peter; which Book he wrote to confute the Errours in that, for some mens sakes in the Church of b Rhosse, who, taking an oc∣casion from the foresaid Go∣spel, inclin'd to Heterodox doctrines. Out of which Book 'twill not be unfit to set down some few words, in which he sets forth the opinion he had concerning that Book, writing thus;

For we, my brethren, doe admit of Peter and the other Apostles, as of Christ himself; but, like wise men we reject those writings which are forg'd in their c names, knowing that we have receiv'd no such [Books.] For I, when I came to you▪ thought all of you had adhered to the Right faith. And when I read not the Gospel which was offer'd me, that bears Peters name, I said, if this be the onely thing which seems to breed this dejected spirit in you, let it be read. But now understanding, from what has been told me, that their minds were covered with some Heresie, I will make haste to come to you again; wherefore, brethren, ex∣pect me suddenly: But we, Brethren, have found out what heresie Marcianus was of, for he contradicted himself, not understanding what he said, which you shall understand by some things which have been written to you. For we have been able to d borrow this very Gospel of some who have been continually exercised in it, (that is of some of their successours who preceded Marcianus, whom we call Doceti, for many of [Marcianus's] Tenets are derived from their doctrines,) and read it; and we find indeed many things agreeable to the true doctrine of Christ: but some things that are particularly to be excepted against and avoided, which also we have here subjoyned upon your account.

And thus much concerning Serapion's Books.

Notes

• a

  The Greeks write this name Se∣rapion with an ••, thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; but the Latines with an e. So the Greeks write 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but the Latines Serapin. This name is always writ thus in the Med. Maz. and Fuk. M. SS. Vales.
• b

  This Rhosse is a City of Cilicia▪ it lyes upon the right hand to them who sail into the Gulf of Issus. Some write this Cities name with a single s, So Stephanus in his tract De Urbibus, and Theodoret in his Religious History, Chap. 10, and 11. The name of this place in Plutark is corrupted; for he calls it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Orossus. Vales.
• c

  The Maz. Med Fuk. and Savill's M. SS. read 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. e. in his name. So Rufinus seems to have read it. Se∣rapion, also a little lower saies 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Origen in his Commen∣taries upon the 13^th Chapter of Matthew makes mention of this Gospel of Peter. Vales.
• d

  Here Se∣rapion saies he bor∣row'd this Gospel from the successours of some of those He∣reticks who were call'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Doceti, of which He∣reticks Marcianus was one; the Translatours take no notice in this place of that Hereticall Sect called the Doceti. They held that Christ was not really incarnate, nor did truely suffer, but in opinion onely▪ Clemens Alexandrinus in his 7^th book Stromat. and also Theo∣dores in his book Divinorum Decretorum mentions them. The Ring∣leader of this Sect was one Julius Cassianus, as Clemens tells as in his third book. Vales.