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. XLIV. Dionysius's story concerning Serapion.

DIonysius Bishop of Alexandria sent Letters to this same Fabius, who was something in∣clining to this Schism, and having discours'd seve∣rall things concerning repentance in his Letters to him, and also related the combats of some who had undergone Martyrdom a little before at Alex∣andria, amongst other stories, he relates a mira∣culous thing, which I thought necessary here to insert into this our History, it runs thus:

I will here propose to you one example which hap∣pened amongst us. There was amongst us one Serapion an old man, a believer: who for a long time had lived blameless: but in the time of per∣secution he lapsed; he often petitioned for par∣don, a 1.1 but no body gave at∣tention to him, because he had sacrificed. Being taken with sickness, he remained for the space of three days speechless, and senseless: be∣ing a little refreshed on the 4^th day, he called his daugh∣ters son to him, and said, Child, how long do you de∣tain me? I pray make hast, and absolve me quickly, call one of the b 1.2 Presbyters to me: And when he had spoken these words, he was again speechless. The child ran to the Presbyter. It was now night: and the Presbyter also was sick, and not able to come. But (because I had before given command, that those peo∣ple who were dying, if they desired it, and c 1.3 espe∣cially if they had before humbly requested it, should be d 1.4 absolved, that they might depart with a lively hope) he e 1.5 gave to the Child a piece of the Sacrament, bidding him to f 1.6 moisten it in water, and put it into the old man's mouth▪ the child 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with it. And when he approached, before he came in •• Sera∣pion again recovered himself a little, and said, Child thou art come, the Presbyter was not able to come; but doe thou perform quickly what he injoyn'd thee, and let me depart. The boy moistned it in water, and put it into his mouth immediately. And when he had swal∣lowed it by little and little, he straightway gave up the Ghost. Is it not plain that he was pre∣served, and his life prolonged till he was ab∣solv'd, that his sin being quite blotted out, he might for the several good works he performed, be g 1.7 acknowledged [by Christ.]

Thus much Dionysius.

Notes

• a 1.1

  He means that none of the Clergy, or Laity, were moved with his entreaties so as to think him worthy of absolution. (For the people's suffrages were requi∣red when any one was to be re∣ceived into the Church, who for any fault had been excommuni∣cated.) And the Bishop himself sometimes asked the Consent of the people. The people also did often intercede for the penitents to the Bishop, as we may see in the preceding Chap. in the Epistle of Pope Cornelius to Fabian Bishop of Antioch. Vales.
• b 1.2

  Some one may perhaps ask why Serapion did not rather send for the Bishop, whose Office it was to reconcile penitents. The Bi∣shop had given this authority to the Presbyters for fear least he being absent any one should die without absolution and the Com∣munion. See Epiphanius in his Heresic of the Arrians. This cu∣stom of committing this authority to the Presbyters was usual in all great Cities. Vales.
• c 1.3

  This was the Decree of the African Synod about the same time that Dionysius wrote these things. Vales.
• d 1.4

  In the Savil, and Fuk. M. SS. before this word [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] there are some words inserted which also Christophor. inserts in his translation: it may appear from this place that the Sacrament was delivered to such penitents in case of necessity, without the reconcilia∣tory imposition of hands. And this communion was called, the via∣ticum. See Canon the 77 and 78 of the 4^th Council of Carthage, and the 39^th Carton of the first Council of Arausica: this Communion was called also dispensatoria, because it was granted to dying peni∣tents, before the completion of the full time appointed for Repen∣tance, and if the penitent communicant recovered, it was perfected after his recovery by imposition, he compleating his time of repentance. Vales.
• e 1.5

  This that Dionysius here says concerning the giving of the Eu∣charist to the boy to carry to the sick person, ought not to seem strange, for it was frequently done a long time after; So that S^t U∣dalric thought it necessary expresly to prohibit it, in his Synodical speech which Gretser published together with the Life of Gre∣gory the seventh Chap. 20. But that which Gretser takes to be S^t U∣dalric's Oration, I found lately to be the Synodical Epistle of Rathe∣rius Bishop of Verona to his Clergy. And so 'tis intitled in the old Laudunensian M. S. Vales.
• f 1.6

  Rufinus translates this phrase 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 thus, he commanded it should be given him being dip∣ped. So the An∣tients us'd to dip the Consecra∣ted bread in water, as Adaman∣nus witnes∣seth in his 2^d book concerning the Miracles of S^t Columba, Cap. 6. And Bede also in the life of S^t Cuthbert, Chap. 31. and in his Poem upon the same man's life; and several other Ecclesiastick Writers. But the Eucha∣rists being put into the mouth of sick persons, is mentioned in the 76^th Canon of the 4^th Council of Carthage; which Canon is, concer∣ning sick persons, who desired repentance, but were speechless before the Priest came to them. See the contents of that Canon. Vales.
• g 1.7

  Langus, Wolfius and Musculus render 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in this place by the Latine word confiteri; which▪ in my opinion, is intolerable. Christoph. renders it, in numerum Confessorum referri, to be reckoned amongst the Confessours: which Translation▪ I like, if it be understood thus▪ referri •• Christo, to be reckoned by Christ. For Dionysius alludeth to Christ's words in the Gospel. He who shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father, &c. Matth. 10. 32. Vales.