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. XVIII. Concerning Ambrosius.

AT this time Ambrosius (a 1.1 who favour'd the Valentinian Heresie) being convinc'd by the truth Preach'd by Origen, and having his mind cleared as it were with light, assents to the do∣ctrine of the Orthodox faith of the Church. And (Origen's fame being nois'd abroad every where) several men of great learning flock'd to him, in∣tending to make tryal of this man's sufficiency in the Scriptures. Also infinite multitudes of Here∣ticks, and not a few Philosophers, and them most famous, gave b 1.2 diligent attention to him, almost like Schollars learning from him besides Divinity, those things which appertain to * 1.3 External Philo∣sophy: For he initiated c 1.4 those, whom he per∣ceived to have acute parts into Philosophical Lear∣ning: Teaching them Geometry, and Arithmetick, and the other previous Sciences. Also guiding them into the knowledge of the various Sects a∣mong Philosophers: explaining the writings that are amongst them, and Commenting on and searching into all things. So that even amongst the Gentiles this man was openly declared to be a great Philosopher. He also incited many of meaner capacities to the study of the Liberal Sciences: telling them that from hence would ac∣crue to them no small fitness and preparation for the Contemplation of the divine Scriptures: for which reason he esteem'd the study of Secular and Philo∣sophical literature most necessary for himself.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is elegantly us'd for alicujus partibus fa∣vere, to be a favourer of such a mans par∣ty: So Eu∣ripides in Hecuba, when Po∣lyxena speaks to her mother saying, '〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, A∣gamemnon is on our side•• thus much for the Phrase. Now that Ambrosius was of Va∣lentinus's Sect, or at least fa∣vour'd that opinion, O∣rigen testi∣fies in the Proaemium of his fifth Tome of Explications on S^t John's Gospel, where he commends Ambrosius for relinquishing those dangerous principles. But some will have Ambrosius not to have been a Valentinian, but a Marcionist, and Epiphanius is of that opinion. Vales.
• b 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 here signifies to give attention to any one, so as to learn something from him, or to come often to any one, to learn as Scholars; and therefore he adds 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, almost like Scholars. Vales.
• * 1.3

  That is, Grecian Philosophy.
• c 1.4

  That is, who were his Scholars. Vales.