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. XXV. After what manner Origen has mentioned the Books of the Old and New Testament.

BUt in his Explication of the first Psalm, he has exhibited a Catalogue of the holy Scriptures of the Old Testament, writing on this manner word for word.

a 1.1 We must un∣derstand that, as the He∣brew Traditions say, there are b 1.2 twenty two bookes of the Old Testament; just so many in number as they have letters.

A little after he adds, saying;

These are the twenty two books ac∣cording to the Hebrews. That which we give the Title of Genesis to, is by the Hebrews, from the be∣ginning of the book en∣titl'd Bresith, that is, in the beginning. Exodus, Velles∣moth, that is, these are the names. Leviticus, Vaicra, that is, and he hath called. Numbers the Hebrews call c 1.3 Hammisphecodim. Deu∣teronomie, Helle-haddaba∣rim, that is, these are the words. Jesus the Son of Nave, [in Hebrew] Je∣hosue Ben Nun. Judges, Ruth, are by them compre∣hended in one book, and call'd Sophetim. The first and second of Kings, a∣mong them one book, termed Samuel, that is, called of God. The third and fourth of Kings, amongst the Hebrews one book, call'd Vammelech David, that is, the Kingdom of David. The first and second book of Chronicles, in one Volume, call'd Dibre Hajamim, that is, The words of Days▪ Esdras the first and second book, by them made one book call'd, Esra, that is, A helper. The book of Psalms, Sepher Tehillim [in Hebrew.] So∣lomon's Proverbs, in Hebrew, Mis••oth. Eccle∣siastes, Coheleth. d 1.4 The Song of Songs, Sir▪ H••si∣rim. e 1.5 Esaias, Iesa••a, Hie∣rimas with his Lamenta∣tions, and his Epistle, all in one book, call'd Jermia. Daniel, [The Hebrews also call] Daniel. Eze∣chiel, Jeezchel, Job, Job; Ester, Ester also among the Hebrews. Besides these there are (but not of their number) the Maccabees, which are intitl'd Sarbet Surbane-el.

These Origen has set forth in the afore∣said work. But in the first book of his Comments upon Matthew's Gospel, obser∣ving the Canon of the Church, he attests there are onely four Gospels, in these words:

As I f 1.6 have un∣derstood by Tradition, there are four Gospels, which, and onely which are to be allow'd with∣out contradiction by the Church of God under hea∣ven. As for the first, 'twas written by one Mat∣thew formerly a Publican, but afterwards an Apostle of Jesus Christ, he publisht it, being written in He∣brew, for the sake of those Jews who believ'd. The second is Mark's Gospel; who wrote it as Peter ex∣pounded to him; whom also he confesses to be his Son, in his Catholick E∣pistle, and in these words, g 1.7 The Church which is at Babylon elected together with you saluteth you, and so doth Marcus my Son. And the third is the Gospel according to Luke, which is commended by Paul, he wrote it for the sake of the Heathens. Lastly S^t John's Gospel. And the same Writer in the h 1.8 fifth book of his Expo∣sitions upon John has these words concerning the A∣postle's Epistles. Paul be∣ing made a fit Minister of the New Testament, not in the Letter, but in the Spirit, he who i 1.9 fully Preacht the Gospel from Jerusalem round about to Illyricum, wrote not to all those Churches which he taught; But to those to whom he wrote he sent [Epistles that con∣tained] but a few verses. But Peter k 1.10 on whom the

Church of Christ was builded, against which the gates of hell shall not prevail, left but one E∣pistle which is acknowledg'd to be his. But let us grant that the second is his too, for it is question'd whether it be his or not. But what must we say of John, l 1.11 he who lay in Christ's bosome? He left behind him but one Gospel, [though] he professes he could have written m 1.12 so many books, as the world could not have contain'd. He also wrote the Revelation: be∣ing commanded to be silent, n 1.13 and not to write the voices of the Seven Thunders. He also left to posterity a very short Epistle. But let us grant that the second and third were his: for all men do not allow them to be genuine: both of them doe not contain above an hundred verses.

Besides, he discourses thus concerning the Epistle to the Hebrews in his Homilies upon that Epistle.

For the stile of that Writing en∣titled The Epistle to the Hebrews, has nothing of that plain homeliness of the Apostle [Paul,] who confesses himself to be unlearn'd in his speech, that is, in his manner of Expression. But this Epistle as to the composition of the stile favours much of the Grecian eloquence, this every one will confess who knowes how to judge of Stiles, which are different. Again, the sentences of this Epistle are admirable, and no∣thing inferiour to those books which are acknow∣leg'd to be Apostolick. And this every one will assent to as true, who gives attention to the reading of the Apostles writings.

After the interposition of some words, Origen addes these, saying: o 1.14

This is my Opinion that the sen∣tences, are the sentences of an Apostle: but the Phrase and Composition is some ones else, who committed to writing the words of the Apostle, and as it were illustrated with Explications the words of his Master. If any Church therefore accounts this to be Paul's Epistle, let it be com∣mended even for so doing: for the Antients did not inconsiderately declare it to be Paul's E∣pistle. But God alone truely knows who wrote this Epistle. But of those written records which are come to our hands, some ascribe the writing of this Epistle to Clemens who was Bishop of Rome; others to Luke who wrote the Gospel, and the Acts. But thus far concerning this.

Notes

• a 1.1

  This whole quotation is to be seen in Origen's Philocalia; chap. 3. but that place of the Philocalia must be corrected by this, for there 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 instead of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is read. And this is the common mistake of all Editions that they writ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 when the word fol∣lowing begins with a vowel. But in all good Copies 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is written, although a vowel follow. Vales.
• b 1.2

  Victorimus upon the Apoca∣lyps says, there are twenty four books of the Old Testament; twen∣ty two you may▪ find io Theodotus his Excerptions. Some reckon'd twenty two, some twenty four books of the Old Testament: hence arose this different account saith Hieronymus, because some rec∣kon'd the book of Ruth, and that of the Lamentations of Jeremiah in the Catalogue of Scriptures apart by themselves. Others, as Hilarius says, added Tobias, and Judith to make 24 books of the Old Testament; Epiphanius says, that some reckon'd up twenty seven books of the Old Testament. Vales.
• c 1.3

  I know not what Copy Ro∣bert Stephens follows, who here reads it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. for in the Kings, the Maz. Med. and Fuk. M. SS. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is the reading. Vales.
• d 1.4

  Some books adde this clause, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, not as some think the Song of Songs. This we have omitted in our Edition, but 'tis in the Maz. Med. and Fuk. M. SS. and also in the King's Copy, and in Rufinus's Translation of this place. Vales.
• e 1.5

  In this Catalogue the book of the twelve minor Prophets is left out. Hence it comes to pass that although Origen promises to reckon up twenty two books, we can find but one and twenty. In Rufinus's Version this book is reckon'd immediately after the Canticles. So also Hilarius and Cyrill of Jerusalem doe reckon them. The books of the holy Scripture are recounted here in a different order to Epiphanius, Hieronymus, and Melito's recko∣ning of them: but Hilarius in his Prologue to his Commentaries upon the Psalmes, agrees all a∣long with Origen; and no won∣der, for that Prologue is al∣most all of it a Translation of Origen's Comments upon the Psalms. Vales.
• f 1.6

  These are Origen's own words, and so Rufinus, Langus and Musculus Translated them: one∣ly Christophorson thought they are Eusebius's own words: to whom we cannot consent, although in the Maz. and Med. M. SS. after the word [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] there is a final distinction; but in the King's Copy the whole clause is con∣tinned without any distinction. Moreover, besides this place quo∣ted by Eusebius, Origen also in another place (that is, in the be∣ginning of his Comments upon Luke) says there were four Go∣spels onely which were allowed by the Catholick Church. Vales.
• g 1.7

  1 Pet. 5. 13.
• h 1.8

  This place of Origen, which Eusebius here quotes, is in the Preface to the fifth book of his Ex∣positions upon John; the greatest part of this Preface is extant in the fifth Chapter of his Philocaliae, Therefore this place here quoted by Eusebius must be joyn'd to that fragment. In that Preface Ori∣gen raises this dispute, whether many books are to be written con∣cerning Sacred things? And he proves it from Ecclesiastes 11. 12. Also he brings for proof the ex∣amples of holy men, Prophets and Apostles, who wrote very little. But these examples the Collector of the Philocaliae on set purpose omitted, as he himself confesses. Vales.
• i 1.9

  Rom. 15. 19.
• k 1.10

  Matthew the 16 Chap. and ver. the 18. See D^r Hammond upon the place.
• l 1.11

  S^t John's Gospel c. 13. v. 23, and 25.
• m 1.12

  John 21. 25.
• n 1.13

  See Apo∣caly p. 10. 4.
• o 1.14

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, signifies to remember, to repeat a thing by heart, as Schollars do who re∣peat their Master's Dictates, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, signi∣fies to illu∣strate, or make a thing plain by short Scholia's, or Explications▪ that is to explain obscure words, by other words more common and known. The Translatours, and especially Christophorson, seem by their Versions not to have understood this passage. Origen says, that the sentences of The Epistle to the Hebrews, are the Apostles own; but the words and composition of the whole Epistle are some bodies else, who recorded the sayings of the Apostle, and, like a Scholiast, explained them more elegantly. See Chap. 18. B. 4 note (b.) Vales.