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. XXVI. Concerning Basilius of Caesarea, and Gregorius of Nazianzum.

DIvine Providence set up Didymus indeed as an opponent to the Arians at Alexandria: but [in order to their Confutation] in other Cities,

[it made use of] Basilius Caesariensis, and Gre∣gorius Nazianzenus. Concerning whom I judge it now opportune to give a short account. The memory and same of these two persons, which is still preserved amongst all men, and the Learning contained in the Books written by them, might indeed be sufficient to set forth the praises and commendations of each of them. But, in regard they were persons in an eminent man∣ner usefull to the Church at that time, and were preserved [by God,] as being the Incentives of the [Orthodox] Faith; the Subject of our Hi∣story does of necessity ingage us, in an espe∣ciall manner to make mention of these two men. Should any one therefore be desirous of com∣paring Basilius and Gregorius with one another, and of giving an account of the Life, Morals, and Virtues that were in them; he would be in a great doubt which of them he should prefer be∣fore the other. For they were both equal to one another, whether you respect their [pious and] exact course of Life, or their Learning; I mean as well their Grecian Literature, as their know∣ledge in the sacred Scriptures. For, when very young, they went to Athens, and were the hea∣rers of Himerius and Prohaeresius, the two most eminent Sophistae of those times; afterwards they frequented [the School of]* 1.1 Libanius at Antioch in Syria, and by their industry arri∣ved at the highest accom∣plishments of * 1.2 e∣loquence. And when they were judged worthy to be profes∣sours of eloquence, many persons perswaded them to enter upon the teaching and profession thereof. Others advised them to practise the Law, but they despised both these sorts of Life: and dis∣continuing their studies of eloquence, embraced a Mo∣nastick life. Having there∣fore had a taste of the precepts of Philoso∣phy from him who at that time taught Phi∣losophy at Antioch, not long after they procu∣red Origen's Works, and from them got an in∣sight into the interpretation of the sacred Scri∣ptures. For the great fame of Origen did at that time fill the whole world. When they had with great studiousness exercised themselves in the per∣usal of those Books, they powerfully opposed the Assertours of Arianism. And although the Arians * 1.3 cited Origen's Books, in confirmation (as they supposed) of their own opinion; yet these two persons confuted them, and evidently demonstra∣ted, that they understood not the meaning of Origen. Indeed, the Arians, and their then A∣bettor Eunomius, although they were at that time accounted persons of great eloquence, yet, as often as they engaged in a discourse with Gre∣gorius and Basilius, 'twas made evidently appa∣rent that they were men altogether ignorant and unlearned. Basilius was first promoted to a † 1.4 Diaconate by Meletius Bishop of Antioch; after that, he was preferred to the b 1.5 Bishoprick of his own Country, I mean Caesarea in Cappa∣docia, and undertook the care of the Churches. For being afraid, least the novelty of the Arian opinion should prey upon and devour the Pro∣vinces of Pontus, he went c 1.6 with great hast into those parts. Where he constituted Monasteries, instructed the inhabitants in his own doctrines, and confirmed the minds of those that wavered. d 1.7 Gregorius [being constituted] Bishop of Na∣zianzum a small City in Cappadocia, over which Church his own father had before presided, took the same course that Basilius did. For he also went up and down to the Cities, and corrobora∣ted those that were feeble and dispirited as to the faith. But more especially, he made frequent jour∣neys to Constantinople, and confirmed the Or∣thodox in that City by his Preaching and Dis∣courses. Upon which account, he was soon af∣ter

constituted Bishop over the people at Con∣stantinople, by the suffrage of many Bishops. When therefore what * 1.8 both these persons did, came to the Emperour Valens's ears, he forth∣with ordered e 1.9 Basilius to be brought from Caesa∣rea to Antioch. Immediately therefore he was conveyed thither, and by the Emperours order was set before the Tribunal of the Praefects: f 1.10 when the Praefect put this question to him, why he would not embrace the Emperours Faith; Basilius with a great deal of confidence found fault with the Emperours Religion, and com∣mended the Homoöusian Faith. But when the Praefect threatned him with death, would to God (said Basilius) it might happen to me, to be de∣livered from the bonds of the body upon account of the truth! Then, upon the Praefects admo∣nishing him to inspect and consider the matter more seriously with himself, 'tis reported that Ba∣silius said, I am the same this day that I shall be to morrow: g 1.11 I wish that you would not have changed your self. After this Basilius continued that day in custody. Not long after, it hapned, that Va∣lens's son, a young child, whose name was h 1.12 Ga∣lates, was seized with a sore distemper, in so much that his recovery was despaired of by the Physitians. The Empress Dominica, his mother, did positively affirm to the Emperour, that she had been sorely disquieted with fearfull and hor∣rid visions in her dreams; and that the child was visited with sickness, because of the Bishops in∣jurious usage. The Emperour, taking these things into consideration, sends for Basilius. And to make tryal of him, expresses himself to him after this manner. If your Opinion be true, pray that my son may not dye. If you will believe, O Emperour! (replied Basilius,) as I doe; and if [you will assent that] the Church shall be united, the child shall live. When the Empe∣rour would not consent to that, the will of God therefore be done (said Basilius) concerning the child. After Basilius had spoken these words, [the Emperour] ordered he should be dismist. But the child died not long after. Let thus much be compendiously said concerning these persons. Moreover, each of them wrote and published ma∣ny, and those incomparable Books. Some of which Rufinus says were by * 1.13 him translated into Latine. Basilius had two brothers, Petrus and Gregorius. Petrus imitated Basilius's monastick course of life: but Gregorius [followed] his eloquent way of teaching. He also finished that Book concerning the Six days-work, (which Ba∣silius had taken pains about, and left imperfect) after his Brother's death. And recited a Funeral Oration in [praise of] Meletius Bishop of An∣tioch, at Constantinople. There are also several other Orations of his extant.

Notes

• * 1.1

  ^a What Socrates says here, is in my opinion false; viz. that Basilius and Gregorius, after they had finished the course of their Learned studies at Athens, were hearers of Libanius the Sophista at Antioch. Gregorius himself does refute this, in his Poem concer∣ning his own Life; where he says, that he was in the thirtieth year of his age when he left Athens, and that his friends would have detained him at A∣thens, that he might be a pro∣fessour of eloquence; (the same is attested by Rufinus, book 2. chap. 9. Eccles. Hist.) but that he fled secretly from thence, and went into his own Country. Vales.
• * 1.2

  Or, Rhe∣torick.
• * 1.3

  Or, quoted.
• † 1.4

  Or, the Office of a Deacon.
• b 1.5

  Baronius says, Ba∣silius was prefered to the Bishoprick of Caesarea, in the year of Christ 369: and this he attempts to prove from Gregorius Nyssenus's testimony. Theo∣phanes and Cedrenus, in his Chronicon, do place the beginning of Ba∣silius's Episcopate, on the ninth year of Valens, which was the year of Christ 371. But the same Authours do affirm, that Basilius was yet but a Presbyter, in the eighth year of Valens. See Theophanes's and Cedrenus's words at the said eighth year of Valens. Gregorius Nazianzenus does confirm the s••me in his Oration de Laudibus Basilii. Where he does attest in express words, that Basilius was yet but a Presbyter only of the Church of Caesarea, at such time as Valens, guarded with a part of Heretical Prelates, undertook an expedition against the Churches of the East, which he hastned to deliver up to the Arians. Moreover, Valens undertook this expedition against the Orthodox on his own third Consulate, that is on the year of Christ 370, as our Socrates does affirm: (compare the 14^th and 17^th chapters of this 4^th book.) Gregorius Nyssenus confirms this, in his first book against Eunomius (who had upbraided Basilius with fear∣fulness and pusillanimity,) where he describes Valens's preparations and expedition against the Churches, in these words: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 &c. The Emperour went from Constantinople into the East, p••ft up in his mind with the late successfull and fortunate Actions he had performed against the Bar∣barians. That is, after the War against the Goths, and the League made with them. Which hapned in the year of Christ 369. as Amm. Marcellinus attests. Wherefore, that expedition of Valens's to de∣stroy Gods Churches, hapned in ••ife year of our Lord 370, as I have now said. Now, that Basilius was then no more than a Presbyter, his Brother Gregorius does in the same place inform us. For, he says, that the Prae••ect of the Praetorium, to wit, Modestus, at first made use of flatteries, and promised Basilius a Praesulate and an Ecclesiastick pre∣sidency, provided he would obey the Emperour. Nyss••n's words are these; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Therefore Basilius was not Bishop of Casarea, at such time as Modestus endeavoured to pervert him. Moreover, Modestus first bore the Praefecture of the Praetorium, when Gratianus ••I and Prob••s were Coss. in the year of Christ 371, as I have remarkt in my notes on the 29^th book of Amm. Marcellinus, pag. 380. It may also be proved by another argument, that Basilius was preferred to the Epis∣copate of Caesarea after the year of Christ 370. For Nazianzon in the Funeral Oration which he wrote on him, says that Basilius was but a Presbyter, at such time as that Famine (by far the ••orest of all the Famines that are mentioned to have hapned at any time) hapned in Cappadocia. Now, this is the Famine, which our Socrates mentions in the sixteenth chapter of this book; it hapned in the third Con∣sulate of Valentinianus and Valens. Vales.
• c 1.6

  Grego∣rius Nazi∣anzenus (who is more to be credited in these things) does attest in his Fu∣neral Ora∣tion concer∣ning the praises of Basilius, that Basi∣lius, as yet but a Pres∣byter, went into those parts, with a design to oppose himself against the perfidiousness of the Arians. Vales.
• d 1.7

  Socrates borrowed this out of Rufinus; who (in book 2. chap 9. Eccles. Histor.) writes thus: Gregorius vero apud Nazianzon, &c. But Gregorius, being substituted Bishop in his father's stead, at the Town Nazianzum, faithfully ••ore the storm of the Hereticks. And yet 'tis manifest, that Gregorius was not made Bishop, but Coadjutor only to his own father Gregorius, in the Episcopate of Nazianzum: and upon this condition too, that he should not succeed his father in that Bi∣shoprick; as he himself attests in his Eighth Oration, and in his Poem concerning his own Life. He was first constituted Bishop of Sasimi by Basilius the Great, who had been the first Founder of this Bishoprick, that he might assure that place to his own Church; as Gregorius at∣tests in the Poem concerning his own Life. From thence he was tran∣slated to the Constantinopolitan See, which he quickly left, betook him∣self to Nazianzum, and governed the Bishoptick of that place some while, till such time as, being wearied out with age and diseases, he made choise of his own successour. Jerome's account therefore is true, whose words (in his book De Script. Ecclesiast.) are these: Gregorius primùm Sasimorum, deinde Nazianzenus Episcopus, &c. Gregorius, Bishop first of Sasimi, and afterwards of Nazianzum, &c. And 'tis strange, that although he governed three Bishopricks, yet they were all doubtfull and uncertain. 'Tis plain, that in his Epistles he himself does frequent∣ly deny, that he ever presided over the Episcopate of Sasimi, or ever per∣formed any sacerdotal office there. Neither Jerome his Scholar, nor Rufinus, do ascribe the Constantinopolitan Bishop••ick to him. Lastly, he delivered the Bishoprick of Nazianzum to another, rather than governed it himself. Vales.
• * 1.8

  That is, Basilius and Gre∣gorius.
• e 1.9

  This ac∣count disa∣grees from what the two Gre∣gorius's (to wit, Na∣zianzenus in his fu∣neral ora∣tion, and Nyssenus in his first book a∣gainst Eu∣nomius) do relate con∣cerning Basilius. For they do attest, that Basi∣lius was not brought before Mo∣destus the Praefect of the Praeto∣rium at An∣tioch, but that this was done in the City Caesarea. Sozomen therefore (Eccles. Hist. book. 6. ch. 16.) has truly corrected Socrates's mistake here; where he relates, that Valens came from Antioch to Caesarea, and ordered Basilius should be brought before the Tribunal of the Praefect of the Praetorium. Further, you must observe, that Va∣lens Augustus came to Caesarea twice, and made an attempt to vanquish Basilius: His first journey thither was when Basilius was no more than a Presbyter; which (as we have shown be∣fore) was in the year 370. This is evidently confirmed by Sozo∣men in his sixth book. When he came the second time thither, 'tis not certain. But I conjecture it was on the year of Christ 371, or 372. Which I collect from Modestus's Praefecture, which falls on those years. Nazianzenus distinguishes these two journeys of Valens's, in his twentieth Oration, pag. 346. of his works. Edit. Paris. 1609. Vales.
• f 1.10

  Socrates took this out of Rufinus, book 2. chap. 9. Eccles. Hist. But Gregorius Nyssenus, in his first book against Eunomius, says that Basilius stood before the Tribunal of Modestus the Praefect twice; once when he was Presbyter, and a second time when he was Bishop. But Nazianzen makes no mention of Basilius's former examina∣tion. Vales.
• g 1.11

  In Rufinus (Eccles. Hist. book 2. chap. 9.) this passage is thus worded; utinam te non mutares, I wish you would not have changed your self. In which words Basilius reproves Modestus, because from being a Catholick he was become an Arian, that he might please the Emperour. We are indeed told by Gregorius (in his funeral Ora∣tion) that Modestus was an Arian. Vales.
• h 1.12

  Here Valentinianus Junior is called by another name, as we have observed before, chap. 10. of this book note (a) He was surnamed Galates, because he was born in Galatia. Further, in regard Socrates does here term him 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a young child; our opinion (which we have given in before) is very much confirmed; to wit, that these things were done about the year of our Lord 371, or 372. For Valentinianus Junior was born in the year of Christ 366; as we have remarked before: from which year to the year 372, are six years compleat. So Valentinianus Junior, called also Galates, died at six years old. For a child of that age is rightly termed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Vales.
• * 1.13

  So Rufi∣nus says, book 2. chap. 9. Eccles. Hist.