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. LVI. The demolishment of Aesculapius's Temple at Aegae.

FOr, whereas the [superstitious] errour of those thought to be wise, was great and much talk't of, in reference to that Daemon of Cilicia; almost infinite numbers of men highly admiring him as a Saviour and a Physitian; in regard he sometimes appeared a 1.1 to those who slept in his Temple; at others, healed the diseases of them that were infirm in their bodies: (ne∣vertheless, he was a manifest Destroyer of souls, a Seducer of men from the true Saviour, one that drew off such as could easily be imposed upon, to the errour of impiety:) the Empe∣rour b 1.2 behaving himself according to his wonted manner, (for he had proposed the jealous God and true Saviour as the object of his adoration;) ordered this Temple also to be pulled down to the very ground. Presently therefore, at one nod of the Emperour's, [this Temple, which was] a wonder cryed up amongst the c 1.3 noble Philosophers, lay flat on the ground, being rui∣ned

by a Company of Souldiers: and [toge∣ther with the Temple] d 1.4 He that lay lurking within it, who was not a Daemon, nor a God, but a Seducer of souls, one who for an ex∣ceeding long space of time had led men into errour. Thus therefore he, who promised that he would free others from their illnesses and cala∣mities, was not able to find out a e 1.5 remedy in order to his own preservation; no more than when he was struck with thunder (as we are told in the f 1.6 Fables.) But the Actions of * 1.7 Our Emperour, being such as were highly acceptable to God, were not in like manner fabulous: but by the manifest power of Our Saviour himself, this Temple in that place was so utterly ruined [together with others,] that not the least footstep of the for∣mer madness was left remaining there.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Neither Christo∣phorson no•• Portesius understood the true import of this word. For this term does not barely signifie to lie down and sleep, but to sleep in a Tem∣ple. This was an usage of the Heathens, to lodge all night in the Temple, ex∣pecting Dreams and Cures from their Gods. Of which thing innu∣merable instances occur in ancient Writers, but especially in Aristi∣des, in his Orationes Saerae. The Latines termed it incubare. Plautus's words in his Curculio are these; Ides fit, quia hic Leno agrotus incu∣bat in Aesculapii fane. Solinus, chap. 7. Epidauro decus est Aesculapii sacellum, eui incubantes, &c. See Saint Jerom on the 65^th chap. of Esaiah. vers. 4. Vales.
• b 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Christophorson was egregiously mistaken in referring these words to Aesculapius, whenas they are spoken of the Emperour Constantine, as I have exprest it in my Version. 'Tis cer∣tain, in the Fuketian and Turnebian Copies the reading is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Emperour behaving, &c. Vales.
• c 1.3

  He means Apollonius Tyaneus, concerning whom Philostratus re∣lates in his first book, that he was a long time resident in the Temple of Aesculapius at Aegae, as the Guest of that very God. Vales.
• d 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. In the excellent Fuketian Manuscript, this place is far o∣therwise exprest. For, after the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in the Greek [or, Soul∣diers in the English Version] that Copy places a full point. Then, it has the following passage worded in this manner; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Because 'twas ma∣nifest from the facts, that no Daemon lay lurking within it; nor a God; but a deceiver of souls, who for an exceeding long, &c. The four last words [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] which are wanting in the or∣dinary Editions, Turnebus had likewise added at the margin of. his book, from a Manuscript Copy. Presently, where the reading in the common Editions is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. Thus therefore he, who promised that he would free others from their illnes∣ses, &c: the Fuketian Copy has it thus written, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. For he who had promised that he would free others from their illnesses and calamity, himself found nothing for his own defence. Which reading seems to me fitter and better. In the Kings Sheets also I found it written 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Vales.
• e 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The last word is wanting in the Kings Copy, and may perhaps be understood. But the other Copies acknowledge it. In the close of this chapter, instead of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Fuke∣tian Copy has 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Vales.
• f 1.6

  The story is this, this Aesculapius, by the entreaty of Diana, restored to Life Hippolitus who had been torn in pieces by horses; whereat Jupiter being angry, killed him with Thunder.
• * 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Of our country Emperour.