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. XXXIX. Concerning the Synod at Seleucia [a city] of Isauria.

BUt at present, I must give an account of the other Synod, which by the Emperours Edict was to emulate that at Ariminum in the East. At first it was determined, that the Bi∣shops should be convened at Nicomedia in Bi∣thynia. But, a great earthquake, whereby the City Nicomedia hapned to be ruined hindred their being convened at that place. This hapned in the

Consulate of a 1.1 Dacianus and Cerealis, about the eight and twentieth day of the month August. They resolved therefore upon removing the Sy∣nod to the City Nicaea which was near to it. But this resolution was again altered: and it seemed [more convenient] to meet at Tarsus a City of Cilicia. When this displeased them also, they were assembled at Seleucia [a City] of Isauria, which is surnamed Aspera. This they did on the b 1.2 same year [whereon the Ariminum Council was held,] in the Con∣sulate of Eusebius and Hypatius. The persons convened were in number an hundred and sixty. There was present with them a personage eminent in the Imperial pallace, his name c 1.3 Leonas; in whose presence, as the Emperour had given order by his Edict, the disquisition about the Faith was to be proposed. Lauricius also the Comman∣der in chief of the Souldiers throughout Isauria, was ordered to be there, to provide the Bishops with what necessaries they might stand in need of. At this place therefore [the Bishops] were convened in the presence of these persons, on the twenty seventh of the month September, and began to dispute about making of publick Acts. For there were Notaries present also, who were to take in writing what was spoken by every one of them. A particular account of all matters then transacted, the studious Readers may find in Sabinus's Collection, where they are set forth at large. But we shall only cursorily relate the chief heads thereof. On the first day of their being convened, Leonas ordered every one to propose what they would. But such as were present said, that no dispute ought to be raised, before the persons absent were come. For these Bishops were wanting, Macedonius of Constantinople, Basi∣lius of Ancyra, and some others, who suspected they should be accused. Macedonius excused his ab∣sence by saying he was sick. Patrophilus affirmed he had a distemper in his eyes, and was therefore necessitated to continue in the Suburbs of Seleucia. All the rest proposed one occasion or other of their being absent. But, in regard Leonas said, that, notwithstanding the absence of these per∣sons, the question was to be proposed; those that were present made answer again, that they would in no wise enter into any debate, be∣fore the * 1.4 Moralls of those accused were in∣quired into. For Cyrillus of Jerusalem, Eu∣stathius of Sebastia in Armenia, and some others had been accused some time before. Hereupon arose a sharp contest amongst those that were present. For some affirmed, that the Moralls of such as had been accused were in the first place to be lookt into: others were of opinion, that no controversie ought to be discussed be∣fore [that concerning] the Faith. This Con∣test was raised by the different opinion of the Emperour. For his Letter was produced, in one passage whereof he gave order for the de∣bating of this matter in the first place, in another for that. A disagreement therefore hapning con∣cerning this matter, a Schism was made amongst the persons present. And this was the original cause of the Seleucian-Synods being divided into two parties. The one faction was headed by A∣cacius [Bishop] of Caesarea in Palestine, Geor∣gius of Alexandria, Uranius of Tyre, and Eu∣doxius of Antioch: of the same mind with whom there were only two and thirty other [Bishops.] The principal persons of the other faction were Georgius of Laodicea in Syria, So∣phronius of Pompeiopolis in Paphlagonia, and Eleu∣sius of Cyzicum; who were followed by the major part. When therefore that side prevailed which was for debating in the first place concerning the Faith, Acacius's party manifestly rejected the Nicene Creed, and intimated the publication of another. But those of the other faction, who were superiour in number, approved of all o∣ther matters [determined] in the Nicene Sy∣nod; excepting only the term Homoöusios, which they found fault with. Therefore, after a very sharp contest amongst one another untill Evening, at length Silvanus (who presided over the Church at Tarsus) spake a loud, saying, there was no necessity of publishing a new Draught of the Creed, but that they ought rather to confirm that set forth at Antioch, at the consecration of the Church. When he had said this, Acacius's party secretly withdrew [out of the Council:] but the other faction produced the Creed [com∣posed] at Antioch, after the reading whereof the Council broke up for that day. On the next day they met in a Church in Seleucia, and having shut the doors, they read that Creed, and con∣firmed it by their subscriptions. Instead of some [Bishops] who were absent, the Readers and Deacons there present subscribed, by whom the absent persons had professed, that they would acquiess in that Draught [of the Creed.]

Notes

• a 1.1

  This per∣sons name should not be Tatia∣nus, but Dacianus▪ For so he is called in the Fasti Consula∣res, and in Ammia∣nus Marcellinus. This man was one of Libanius's chiefest friends; to whom Libanius wrote very many of his Epistles, which are extant in the fourth book of his Epistles. In the 71 Epistle of that book he mentions his Consulate, and says he was Schollar to one of the Em∣perours, and Master to the other: his words are these: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. i. e. But your actions are illustrious, and better than that they should be extinguished. For your Consulate, and the honours bestowed upon you by the Emperours, and your having been one of the Emperours Schollars, and the others Master: Moreover, the stateliness, of your houses, and the numerousness, large∣ness, and handsomeness of your Bathes: all these things will for ever retain your name, although your body does depart. In the 146 Epistle of the same book, there is extant this Elogue of Datianus: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. For, to hear such and so many brave exploits of a person, who has erected so many Kingdoms, and has been beneficial to so many men, nor has ever hurt any body, who is eminent for prudence, and has filled the Earth and Sea with the Glory of his name; is, to a man of discretion, greater than all present or future wealth. And, at the close of the same Epistle, he intimates, that the same Datianus had a Seat at Constantinople; and that in Antioch and the suburbs thereof, he had Houses and Palaces beautified with Fountaines and Bathes; to take a view whereof he invites him. Vales.
• b 1.2

  At this place occurs no trivial difficulty. For the destruction of the City Nicomedia hapned when Datianus and Cerealis were Consuls, in the year of Christ 358, on the month of August. But the Coun∣cill of Seleucia was held on the year following, in the Consulate of Eusebius and Hypatius, in the month of September. These things therefore hapned not in one and the same year. Wherefore it seem∣eth, that the reading at this place should be [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, on the year following.] Or, if the common reading must be retained, we must understand our Authours meaning to be, that the Councill of Bishops at Seleucia was held on the same year with the Ariminum Councill. Vales.
• c 1.3

  This Le∣onas was Questor of the sacred Palace: and Lauri∣cius was Comes of Isauria, as Ammianus Marcelli∣nus doth attest. Vales.
• * 1.4

  Or lives.