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. XXVI. That the Impious had covered our Lord's Sepul∣chre with Rubbish and Idols.

FOr impious men, or rather the whole Tribe of Daemons by the assistance of such men, had heretofore made it their business, wholly to involve that admirable monument of Immor∣tality in darkness and oblivion. [That Monu∣ment I say] to which an Angel, shining with light, descended from heaven, and rolled away the stone from their minds who were really stony, and who supposed that the living [Christ] as yet lay amongst the dead: [which Angel] brought glad tidings to the women, and removed the stone of Infidelity from a 1.1 their minds, to the end he might assert an opinion concer∣ning his Life, who was sought for by them. This salutary Cave therefore some impious and profane persons took a resolution wholly to render invisible; being so foolish as to think, that by this means they should con∣ceal the truth. Where∣fore, having by much la∣bour brought together a vast quantity of earth, b 1.2 from what place soever they could get it, and heap't it up, they * 1.3 filled that whole place. And after this they raised it to an height, and paved it with stone; under which great heap of earth they hid the divine Cave which was below. Then, as if nothing else remained to [be done by] them, upon this [heap of] earth they pre∣pare a truely horrid Sepulchre of Souls; erect∣ing a dark Cavern of dead Idols, in honour of that Lascivious Daemon [whom they term] Venus: in which place they c 1.4 offered abomi∣nable oblations upon impure and execrable Al∣tars. For by this means only, and not other∣wise, they thought to bring to effect what they had attempted, if by these execrable abomina∣tions they could cover the salutary Cave. For the Wretches were not able to understand, that it was altogether unlikely, that he who had been Crowned with a Victory over death, should leave this attempt of theirs concealed: d 1.5 in the like manner as 'tis impossible, that the Sun shining above the earth, and perfor∣ming his † 1.6 usual course in the Hea∣vens, should escape the knowledge of all man∣kind. For the power of our Saviour (which shines with a light far more resplendent than the Sun, and which does not illustrate Bodies [as the Sun does,] but the souls of men,) had now filled the whole world with its own Raies of Light. Nevertheless, the Machinations of these im∣pious and prophane men against the Truth, had con∣tinued for a long space of time. Nor was there any person to be found, either of the Presidents, or * 1.7 Duces, or of the Emperours themselves, who could be fit to destroy this so audacious an im∣piety; save only this one [Prince,] the Friend to the supream God. Who, inspired with the divine Spirit, and not enduring that that forementi∣oned place, which by the Enemies frauds had been hid under all manner of impure † 1.8 filth, should be delivered up to oblivion and ignorance; nor thinking it fit to yield to their malice, who had been the occasioners hereof: having called upon that God who was his Assistant, gives order that it should be cleansed. It being his Senti∣ment, that that part especially of the Ground, which had been defiled by the Enemie, ought by his means to enjoy the Divine Magnificence. As soon there∣fore as this Order was issued out from the Em∣perour, those engines of fraud were thrown down from their vast height to the very ground; and the Buildings erected to lead men into errour, were ruined and demolish't, together with the very Statues themselves and the Daemons.

Notes

• a 1.1

  I supposed the word their was to be referred to the women which came early to the Sepul∣chre of our Lord. But Christo∣phorson referred it to those stony and incredulous persons, concer∣ning whom Eusebius hath spoken a little before; which I approve not of. Vales.
• b 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. I would rather read 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, from what place soever they could get it. Vales.
• * 1.3

  Or, Cover.
• c 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Christo∣phorson has rendred this place very ill, in this man∣ner; tum detestabiles ibi victi∣••••as super impuras aras immo∣lar••, also to offer dete∣stable vi∣ctims there upon impure Al∣tars. But the term 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 does sufficiently shew, that E••∣sebius speaks not here concerning Victims or Beasts killed in Sacri∣fice, but concerning Libations; to wit, Wine, Milk, and the like, which the Heathens offered to their Gods. Besides, 'tis wholly absurd, that Victims should be killed upon the Altars. For Sa∣crifices were killed by, not upon the Altars. This is a known Verse of Ovid; Rode caper vitem. Tamen hinc cùm stabis ad aras, &c. Vales.
• d 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. This place is im∣perfect, of which sort very many occur in these Books of Eusebius. It may, as I think, not unfitly be made good in this manner; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. in the like manner as 'tis impossible, &c. Indeed, Eusebius's following words do most plainly confirm this our emendation. But Christophorson has confounded all things here, as 'tis apparent from his Version. Vales.
• † 1.6

  Or, Own.
• * 1.7

  Military Comman∣ders.
• † 1.8

  Or, Matters.