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. XI. That he will at present relate only the Pious Actions of Constantine.

a 1.1 WHerefore, * 1.2 'tis certainly incumbent on us, rather than on any other per∣son, to give a full Narrative of all the good things we have heard, to those whose minds, by an example of good works, are raised to a Love and de∣sire of God. Now, b 1.3 those Authors (who have put in∣to writing the lives of men in no wise grave and sober, and [have Recorded] Af∣fairs wholly unusefull for the improvement of manners, ei∣ther out of favour or hatred to some persons, or else to make a show of their own Learning;) † 1.4 with a magnifick furni∣ture of words have, otherwise than was fit∣ting,

enlarged the Relations of most reproach∣full Villanies, and thereby have rendred themselves the Teachers of vile Actions, and such as deserved to be buried in perpetuall ob∣livion and darkness, to those who by Gods fa∣vour and impulse have had no hand in mischief. But, our Style, though it is weak and altoge∣ther unfit * 1.5 for the greatness and significancy of what we are to set forth, seems nevertheless to be polish't and illustrated even by the bare c 1.6 Relation of good Actions. Nor, is the commemora∣tion of Works acceptable to God, unusefull, but it affords a very advantagious * 1.7 Lesson to those who shall have a mind rightly fitted and prepared. [Not to men∣tion] therefore very many of this Thrice blessed per∣son's d 1.8 Imperiall Actions, his Battells and Military En∣gagements, his deeds of Va∣lour, Victories, and Tro∣phies [raised] against his Enemies, and what ever Tri∣umphs he Lead; moreover, the Constitutions made by him, conducive to the uti∣lity of every person; the Laws also he composed for the profit and ad∣vantage † 1.9 of his Subjects and the Government; in fine, many other of his Labours and Imperial Conflicts, which are kept in memory by all persons; [all these particulars, I say] I think fit to omit; in re∣gard the Scope and De∣sign of the Work under my hand admonishes me to declare and write those matters only which bear a reference to a Pious and Blessed course of life. Further, where∣as even these particulars are almost infinite, out of those matters which have come to my know∣ledge I will choose such passages only as are most sutable and seasonable, and worthiest of being consigned to the Memory of Posterity, and will give a Narrative of them with all possible bre∣vity. In regard the time it self doth hencefor∣ward allow us this Liberty, that we may extoll this Thrice-blessed Emperour with all manner of Commendatory Expressions. For, a power of doing this was not permitted before now, because it has been advised, that e 1.10 we should not pronounce any person blessed before his Death, by reason of the uncertain Turns and Changes of Life. Wherefore, I call God to be my Assistant, and his Celestiall Word to co∣operate with, and inspire me: and, [taking my beginning] from this Emperour's tender years, I will enter upon my Relation in this manner.

Notes

• a 1.1

  The King's and Fuke∣tian Manu∣scripts, and the King's Sheets be∣gin the Eleventh chapter at these words. Vales.
• * 1.2

  Or, If to any other persons, i•• certainly belongs to us.
• b 1.3

  He means those Writers who had Recorded the Affairs of Nero and other Tyrants; concerning whom he had spoken a little be∣fore. Christophorson therefore ren∣ders it well, Nam illi, &c. For those, &c. But, Portesius tran∣slates it, Nam alii quidem, &c. For others, &c; which is insuffe∣rable. Vales.
• † 1.4

  Or, With a pride of elegancy of words.
• * 1.5

  Or, For the great∣ness of the Emphasis of what, &c.
• c 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The other rea∣ding, which I found in the old Sheets, pleases me better, name∣ly 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Relation. And so the reading is in the Fuke∣tian and Savilian Manuscripts. Vales.
• * 1.7

  Or, Reading.
• d 1.8

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. In the old Sheets 'twas interli••ed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Stratagems, which I like not. For Eusebius does here oppose Constantine's 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Imperial Actions, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to his works that were pious and acceptable to God. And he says, that he does designedly omit his Imperial Acti∣ons: which he divides into two sorts, namely his warlike ones, and those of peace. But, he pro∣poses to himself to set forth only those Actions of his, which bear a relation to Religion. Further, in the Kings Sheets, after those words, and whatever Triumphs he lead, these are added in the mar∣gin, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. Moreover, the con∣stitutions made by him, in the times of peace, for the regulation of the publick, and conducive, &c. which words seem to me to be of good note. Vales.
• † 1.9

  Or, Of the Go∣vernment of his Sub∣jects.
• e 1.10

  He means that passage which oc∣curs at Ec∣clesiasticus 11. 28. Judge none blessed be∣fore his death: for a man shall be known in his children. Vales.