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. XLVIII. Constantine's Edict to the Provinces, concerning the Errour of Polytheism. The preface, con∣cerning Virtue and Vice.

VICTOR CONSTANTINUS MAXIMUS AUGUSTUS, To the † 1.1 Provincials of the East.

ALL things what ever that are contained in the most Authentick Laws of Nature, do give all men sufficient notices of a divine provi∣dence over and ‖ 1.2 Inspection into the administration of all matters. Nor is there any doubt to those, whose minds are by the right way of knowledge † 1.3 directed to that end, but an accurate compre∣hension of a sound mind and of the very sight it self, a 1.4 by one and the same impulse of true Virtue, may lead to the knowledge of God. Wherefore, no considerate person can ever be disturbed, when he perceives most men following * 1.5 Courses of Life contrary the one to the other. For, the Beauty of Virtue would be b 1.6 unusefull and lye concealed, un∣less improbity should on the other hand † 1.7 set forth a perverse and depraved way of living. Therefore, a Crown is pro∣posed to Virtue; but the Most high God presides in the Judgment [and punishment of Improbity.] But, I will attempt, with all possible perspicuity, to ‖ 1.8 discourse to you all, concerning those * 1.9 Hopes I have of things future.

Notes

• † 1.1

  Or, Ea∣stern Pro∣vincials.
• ‖ 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, contempla∣tion; Va∣lesius ren∣ders it In∣telligence.
• † 1.3

  Or, Car∣ried to that scope.
• a 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Virtue seems here to be taken for per∣fection, as well that which is in the sight, as that in the intel∣lect. For each power and per∣fection tends to the same end, to wit, the knowledge of truth. The sense proceeds to the truth of things sensible; and the understanding to the verity of Intelligibles from the truth it self of things sensible: and hence by degrees it ascends to the knowledge of the supream God. Also at this place 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 may be termed the force and virtue of Truth. Yet, the following words doe assure us, that this place must be taken concerning Moral Virtue. Vales. Valesius renders those Greek words set at the beginning of this note thus, verae virtutis eodem urgente atque inclinante naturâ, the nature of true Virtue verging and inclining to the same end.
• * 1.5

  Or, Con∣trary pur∣poses.
• b 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, foolish or absurd. I read 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 unusefull, as 'tis in the Fuketian Manuscript, and in Moraeus's, and Gruter's Copy. A little after I write, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Therefore a a Crown is proposed to Virtue. But these words are very obscure and intricate; which is partly to be attributed to Constantine himself, in regard being 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a person that began to learn late, he was more obscure in expressing himself; and partly to Eusebius, or whoever else it was, who of obscure Latine words made the Greek more obscure. In the Fuketian Manuscript the reading is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. excellently well. Vales.
• † 1.7

  Or, Dis∣close a life of perverse madness.
• ‖ 1.8

  Or, Make a confession.
• * 1.9

  Or, Hopes within my self.