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. X. That Epiphanius [Bishop] of Cyprus being also led away by Theophilus's frauds, convened a Synod of Bishops in Cyprus, to determine a∣gainst Origen's Writings, and reproved Johan∣nes for reading Origen's Books.

HE became reconciled also to Epiphanius Bi∣shop of Constantia in Cyprus, with whom he had heretofore disagreed. For Theophilus a 1.1 had been angry with Epiphanius, in regard he entertained abject thoughts of God, and sub∣posed him to have an humane shape. Al∣though Theophilus embraced these Sentiments concerning God, and reproved those who supposed the Deity had an humane shape; yet by rea∣son of the hatred he had con∣ceived against some other per∣sons, he openly denyed his own thoughts: and at that time entred into a friendship with Epiphanius (with whom he had before been at diffe∣rence,) as if he had altered his mind, and entertained now the same Sentiment with him concerning God. He was very earnest with Epi∣phanius likewise to convene a Synod of the Bishops in Cyprus, that therein Origen's Writings might be condem∣ned. Epiphanius being by reason of his singular piety a person of a plain disposition and unacquainted with subtlety, was soon induced into Errour by Theophilus's Letters. And having assembled a Synod of the Bishops within the Island [Cy∣prus,] prohibits the reading of Origen's Books. He sent Letters also to Johannes, intreating him to abstain from reading Origen's Works; and [requesting] that he also would convene a Synod, and make the same determination he had done. Theophilus therefore having wound in Epiphanius, a person famous for his piety, to embrace his own opinion, and perceiving that his design throve according to his wish; became more confident, and he also ••••••self b 1.2 Assem∣bled many Bishops: in which convention (a∣greeable to what had been done by Epiphanius) a sentence of condemnation was ponounced a∣gainst the Writings of Origen, who had been dead c 1.3 almost two hundred years: Not that this was Theophilus's principall design, but [he did it chiefly] to be revenged on Dioscorus and his Brethren. Johannes gave little heed to what he was acquainted with either from Epiphanius, or Theophilus himself; his mind being wholly im∣ployed about Preaching in the Churches. And for that indeed he was extraordinarily eminent: but he altogether slighted the plots and designes formed against him. But after it came to be apparently known to most persons, that Theo∣philus made it his business to divest Johannes of his Bishoprick, then all those men who had an hatred for Johannes, joyned in their raising ca∣lumnious complaints against him. And many, as well of the Clergy, as of the Grandees who had a great interest in the Imperiall Pallace, sup∣posing they had a very fair opportunity offered them of being revenged upon Johannes, pro∣cured a Grand Synod to be convened at Con∣stantinople, sending into divers parts [for the Bishops,] partly by Letters, and partly by Mes∣sengers.

Notes

• a 1.1

  'Tis false that Epi∣phanius was ever so sim∣ple, as to be addicted to the Heresie of the Anthropomorphitae: he had indeed once received a check upon that account from John [Bishop] of Jerusalem. But Jerome has re∣futed this Calumny, and also E∣piphanius himself, in that Sermon he Preach't at Jerusalem in the presence of John himself; as Je∣rome (in his book to Pammachius concerning the Errours of John of Jerusalem) and Baronius (at the year of Christ 393) do relate. Wherefore, there was no need of Theophilus's feigning himself an Anthropomorphite, to curry favour with Epiphanius. Both Socrates and Sozomen were imposed upon by some Origenist, a favourer of Ammonius and Dioscorus, who told them these things. For 'twas usuall with the Origenists, (as Baronius has truly remar∣ked,) to fix the crime of this Heresie upon the Catholicks, by whom they were condemned. Vales.
• b 1.2

  Socrates (and So∣zomen who has fol∣lowed him herein) is mistaken here, in supposing that the A∣lexandrian Synod (wherein Theophilus condemned Origen's books, to∣gether with Origen himself,) was held after that Synod con∣vened at Constantia by Epipha∣nius. 'Tis manifest, that Theo∣philus did first of all convene a Synod at Alexan∣dria, and condemn that Heresie in the year of Christ 399. Which was done after many conferences concerning that matter held by the Bishops who came thither, as Postumianu•• informs us in Sulpicius's Dialogues de Vitae B. Martini. After this Theophilus sent a Synodick Letter to all the Bishops, and he wrote a particular Letter to Epiphanius, beseeching and intreating him that he would convene all the Bishops of the Island, condemn the same Heresie himself, and subscribe his Synodick Letter. This Letter of Theophilus's is at this day extant, translated by S^t Jerome. Vales.
• c 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The particle 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 must be ex∣punged. Moreover, Socrates here uses a perfect number for an im∣perfect. And for this reason he adds the Term 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, That is, almost, or, thereabout. But if we would speak exactly, above fifty years must be taken from this number. For Origen died on the year of Christ 252, as may be made out from what we have said at note (b.) and (c.) on Euseb. Eccles. Histor. book 7. chap. 1. From which year, to the year of Christ 399, wherein Origen was condem∣ned in the Alexandrian Synod, there are 147 years. Vales.