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. XXIX. Constantine's Pious Expressions towards God; and his praise of the Confessours.

(a 1.1 FOr I could never have been ingratefull in reference to the Benefit wherewith I am oblieged; in regard I firmly believe b 1.2 this most excellent Ministery to have been conferred on Me as a Gift of the highest value;) at length I am come as far as the Eastern Parts. Which [Countries,] because they * 1.3 groan under heavier Calamities, call for a greater Cure from us. Further, I do most firmly believe, that My whole Soul, all that I breath, and what ever dwells within the inmost recesses of my mind, is entirely owing from Me to the supream God. I know accu∣rately well indeed, that they who have rightly pur∣sued † 1.4 an hope of Celestiall things, and have c 1.5 peculiarly and firmly placed this Queen in the divine ‖ 1.6 dwellings; do in no wise stand in need of the Bene∣volence of men: in regard they enjoy

so much the Greater Honours, d 1.7 by how much far∣ther they have removed and separated themselves from * 1.8 the vices and impieties of Mor∣tality. Nevertheless, I account it as belonging to Me, at the greatest distance now to remove, from persons void of all fault and reprehension, those necessities imposed on them for a time, and those misbe∣coming tortures. Otherwise, it would be most absurd, that these mens fortitude and stability of mind, should have been made apparent under their Reign, who were desirous of persecuting them, on account of their Worship of God: but, that under a servant of God [swaying the Im∣periall scepter,] their Glory should not have been raised e 1.9 to an higher degree of Resplendency and Blessedness.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. In the Me∣dicaean Copy the reading is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; right, if you make it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; For I could ne∣ver have been un∣gratefull. Further, these words from for I could, to highest value, must be under∣stood as spoken by a Parenthesis. In the Fuketian and Turnebian Copies the reading is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Vales.
• b 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. In the Medicaean Copy this whole place is writ∣ten far truer, thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. in regard I firmly believe this most excellent, &c. as we have rendred it. Fur∣ther, with these words the whole period is concluded, which begins from those words of the preceding chapter, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. who having begun from that Brittish, &c. which the Translatours per∣ceived not. Nor could I my self ever have found it out, with∣out the assistance of the Medicaean Copy. Vales.
• * 1.3

  Or, Are sei∣zed with.
• † 1.4

  Or, The Celestiall hope.
• c 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The Medicaean Manuscript has it written, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ and have peculiarly and firmly placed this Queen. The Emperour Constantine terms the hope of the Sons of God, a Queen, because it excells all humane things Vales.
• ‖ 1.6

  Or, Places.
• d 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Be∣fore I had gotten the Medicaean Copy, I per∣ceived the reading was to be, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, by how much farther they have removed and separa∣ted them∣selves from, &c; which conjecture the Medicaean Manuscript hath plainly confirmed. In which also the reading is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 so much the greater; but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is overwrit∣ten, thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Vales.
• * 1.8

  Or, Ter∣rene de∣fects.
• e 1.9

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. In the Medicaean Copy I found it written, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. to a more resplendent and more blessed Scheme or Figure. Vales.