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. XII. That Epiphanius coming to Constantinople, held Assemblies, and performed Ordinations contra∣ry to Johannes's mind; that he might gratifie Theophilus.

NOt long after this, Epiphanius the Bishop comes again out of Cyprus to Constantinople, induced thereto by Theophilus's * 1.1 perswasives: he brought along with him † 1.2 a copy of a Sen∣tence of a Synod, wherein he had not declared Origen to be Excommunicate, but had condem∣ned his Books only. Arriving therefore at Saint John's Church, (which is distant from the City seven miles,) and coming ashoar, he celebrated an Assembly, a 1.3 and ordained a Deacon; after which he entred into the City. That he might gratifie Theophilus, he declined Johannes's invi∣tation, and lodged in a little private house. And having called together those Bishops who were then at Constantinople, he produced a copy of the Sentence of condemnation against Origen's Books, and recited it to them: b 1.4 having nothing to say

against those Books, only he and Theophilus were pleased to reject them. Some [of the Bishops] out of that reverential respect they bore Epipha∣nius, subscribed [this Decree of the Synod:] but very many of them refused to do it. Amongst which number was Theotimus Bishop of Scythia, who made this answer to Epiphanius. I (said he) will neither be injurious (O Epiphanius!) to a person who has long since ended his life piously; nor dare I attempt so impious a fact, as to condemn what our Predecessours have in no wise rejected; especially when I do not c 1.5 know of any ill doctrine in the Books of Origen. After this he produced a Book of Origen's, which he began to read, and shewed the Ecclesiastick expositions [of Scri∣pture which occur'd] therein. And then he sub∣joyned these words. They who are injurious to∣wards these writings, perceive not that they fix a reproach upon those very Books, concerning which these are written. This was the return, which Theotimus (a person eminent for his piety and rectitude of life,) made to Epiphanius.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Or, Ar∣guments.
• † 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• a 1.3

  Baronius does at this place charge So∣crates with a mistake, because he has said, that Epi∣phanius or∣dained a Deacon at Constantinople without the consent of the Bishop of that City. Epiphanius had done that before indeed, in the Diocess of John Bishop of Jerusalem, as 'tis manifest from Jerome's Epistles. S••crates therefore, and those that follow him, being deceived by the likeness of the name, thought that was done by Epiphanius in the Church of John Bishop of Constantinople. This device Ba∣ronius has invented to excuse Epiphanius. But, who sees not, that there is no reason, why we should charge Socrates with a lie in those things which he himself was able to see? For what had been once done already by Epiphanius in Palaestine, why could it not afterwards be made use of by the same person at Constantinople? For there was not so great a crime in ordaining a Deacon, whom notwithstanding Epi∣phanius ordained not, but by the entreaty of the multitude that stood by. Vales.
• b 1.4

  Instead of [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, I have nothing;] it must doubtless be [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, having nothing:] in the next line▪ we read [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, were pleased] instead of [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is pleased.] Vales.
• c 1.5

  I agree with Chri∣stophorson, who in stead of [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, saying,] read [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, know,] and at the end of this clause pla∣ced a full point. Notwithstanding, 'tis my opinion, that there is something▪ more wanting here. And after the word [Origen,] I think the place is to be made perfect thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ha∣ving said these words, and produced a book, &c. Which is confirmed by Sozomen and Nicephorus. And Epiphanius Scholasticus seems to have read thus, as may be collected from his Version. Vales.