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. LV. The demolishment of the Idol-Temple at Aphaca in Phoenice, and [the disannulling] those Acts of uncleanness [committed there.]

AFter this the Emperour having as 'twere lighted a most bright Torch, lookt about with his Imperial eye, if peradventure he might any where find any Remains of Errour as yet lying concealed. And as some most sharp∣sighted Eagle, which has raised her self to hea∣ven on her wings, sees from above those things on the earth which are at the greatest distance: in the same manner he, whilst he * 1.1 was resi∣dent in the Imperial Pallace of a 1.2 his own most beautifull City, beheld as from a Watch-Tower a certain pernicious snare of souls in the Pro∣vince of the Phoenicians. It was a Grove and a Temple, [not placed] in the midst of a City, nor in the Forums, or Streets; of which sort many [are visible] in Cities, most glo∣riously built for ornament sake: but this [Tem∣ple] was out of the way, far distant from the common Road and beaten path, consecrated to that filthy Daemon [termed] Venus, in part of the top of [Mount] Libanus which is at b 1.3 Aphaca. This was a School of wickedness, [open] to all impure persons, and such as with all manner of * 1.4 Intemperance had debauch't their bodies. For certain effeminate men, who ought to be termed women rather then men, having re∣nounc't the † 1.5 Gravity of their own Sex, ap∣peased the Daemon ‖ 1.6 by suf∣fering themselves to be made use of as women. Besides, unlawfull * 1.7 mixtures with women, and adulteries, and other † 1.8 obscene and infamous facts were committed in that Temple, c 1.9 as in a place that was lawless and without a Governour. Nor was there any one that might inspect what was done in that place, in regard no person of gravity or modesty durst go thither. But the impi∣eties committed there could not lie concealed from this great Emperour. But when He Himself had lookt into them with the eye of Im∣perial providence, he judged such a Temple as this to be unworthy of [being en∣lightned] with the Rays of the Sun. Wherefore, he orders it to be totally demolished, together with its Statues and con∣secrated Gifts. Immediately therefore, the * 1.10 En∣gines of this impudent and libidinous errour were dissipated by an Imperial Order; and a com∣pany of Souldiers gave their assistance in cleansing that place. And they who had hitherto been addicted to Lasciviousness, being scar'd by the Emperour's Menaces, in future learned Modesty: as likewise did those superstitious Heathens, that in their own opinion seemed very wise; who even themselves truly and experimentally under∣stood their own vanity ••nd folly.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Walk't up and down in, or, was conversant in.
• a 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. So Themistius does like∣wise term Constan∣tinople, in his 16^th Oration, a∣bout the close of it; to wit, on account of the Beauty and Magnificence of the publick Works, which Constantine had most gorgeously erected there. For he had spoiled all Cities, Towns, places, and Temples, that he might beautifie that City which bore his own name. There∣fore Jerome has with good reason affirmed in his Chronicon, that Con∣stantinople had been dedicated by the nakedness of almost all cities. Vales.
• b 1.3

  Concerning this Temple of Venus Aphacitis, Zosimus is to be con∣sulted in his first book▪ and the Authour of the Etymologicon in the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; as also Suidas in the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and M^r Selden in Syntagm. 2. de Diis Syris. Further, in the Fuketian Manuscript the reading here is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of [Mount] Libanus in Aphaca. But in the Kings Sheets 'tis 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in part of the Top of Libanus which [Top] is in Aphaca. Vales.
• * 1.4

  Sloth, or, pleasure.
• † 1.5

  Or, Dignity.
• ‖ 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; Valesius ren∣ders it, muliebria patientes.
• * 1.7

  Or, Copulations of women.
• † 1.8

  Horrible.
• c 1.9

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Doubtless it must be made 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, with∣out a Governour▪ as the reading is in his Panegyrick, chap. 8▪ •• where this whole passage occurs. Yet in the Fuketian Copy▪ 'tis 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 deserted, in the Pane∣gyrick also. A little before it must be made 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as the reading is in the Panegyrick. Vales.
• * 1.10

  Or, In∣struments.