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. LXVI. That impious and prohibited Books having been found amongst the Hereticks, very many of them returned to the Catholick Church.

IN this manner therefore the * 1.1 Dens of the Heterodox were by the Imperial Order laid open; and the wild Beasts themselves, that is the Ring-leaders of their impiety, were put to flight. Now, some of those persons who had been deceived by them, being put into a fear by the Emperour's Me∣naces, crept into the Church with a mind and meaning that was false and counter∣feit, and for a time a 1.2 play'd the Hypocrites. And be∣cause the b 1.3 Law commanded that a search should be made after the Books of those men; they who made evill and forbidden Arts their business, were apprehen∣ded. On which account they practised dissimulation, and did all things, to the end they might purchase themselves safety. But o∣thers of them betook them∣selves to a better hope, with a purpose of mind that was hearty, true, and sin∣cere. Further, the Prelates of the Churches made an accurate † 1.4 inspection into both these sorts of persons, and such as they found coming over [to the Church] * 1.5 under a disguise, who were hid under the skins of Sheep, them they drove away a far off. But they who did this with † 1.6 sincerity, were tryed for some time; and after a sufficient proof, [the Bishops] enrolled them amongst their number who are c 1.7 admitted to the sacred As∣semblies. And in this manner they treated those * 1.8 Hereticks that were infamous and abominable. But such as maintain∣ed nothing that was impious in † 1.9 their Opinions and Doctrines, but by the fault of Schismatical men had been rashly severed from the common society, them they ad∣mitted [into the Church] d 1.10 without any delay.

These therefore, returning in troops from some e 1.11 Forreign Region as 'twere, recovered their own Country again, and acknowledged their Mother the Church. From which having strayed, after a long interval of time they made their return to * 1.12 Her with a gladness and joy. Thus the members of the whole Body were united one with another by one common Band, and grew together into one Frame. And the one and only Catholick Church of God, † 1.13 fitly cohering with it self, darted forth its Rays of Light; no congregation either of Hereticks or Schismaticks being left remaining in any part of the earth. To the performance of which f 1.14 singular and great Action, Our Em∣perour (the only person car'd for and respected by God, amongst all those that had ever sway'd the Imperial Sceptre,) entitled Himself.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; it properly signifies a company of Souldiers hid in any place, in order to their attacking the Ene∣my at unawares.
• a 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. In the Kings Copy, this term is thus explained in the margin, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, acting the Hypocri∣tes. Vales.
• b 1.3

  Therefore besides the above said Letter of Constantine to the Hereticks, there was another Law, which ordered the books of Hereticks to be found out and burnt; or else this Letter pro∣duced by Eusebius is not entire. Further, the reading should be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, And because, &c; and a little after, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c; not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which is the rea∣ding in the Fuketian Copy, and must be rejected; though, by what chance I know not, it has crept into our Edition. Vales.
• † 1.4

  Or, In∣quisition.
• * 1.5

  Or, Feig∣nedly.
• † 1.6

  Or, A pure mind.
• c 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. I had rather write 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. For, that Bishop is properly said 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, who holds a re∣ligious as∣sembly. The 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 are the Laicks who come together into the Church. Whence 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 imports an Ecclesiastick Assemblie. Dionysius Alexandrinus's words in his fifth Epistle to Pope Xystus, are these; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. Therefore Scaliger, Christophorson, and Gruterus have mended it ill, thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Christophorson has rendred it adscititios, counterfeit; which can no wise be born with. In the Fuk. and Savil. Copies, the reading likewise is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Vales.
• * 1.8

  Or, He∣terodox persons.
• † 1.9

  Or, The Doctrine of their Opinions.
• d 1.10

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, without care. It must doubtless be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, with∣out any delay. For he says, that Schismaticks were without delay received into the Church; but, that Hereticks were admitted after a long penitency. For the Church is always wont to give Schismaticks a more favourable and kinder reception, than Hereticks. Of which matter we have an eminent instance in the Nicene Synod; which, when it had Anathematized the Arians, received the Mel••tians into Communion, after they had been gently chastized. Now, what the difference is between Hereticks and Schismaticks, Basilius informs us in his first Canonical Epistle to Amphilochius; where he distinguishes these three, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Nevertheless Chrysostome, in his eleventh Homily on the Ephesians, proves Schismaticks to be worse than Hereticks. Vales.
• e 1.11

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. He has used 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 improperly, to signifie a Forreign Region. Which Christa∣phorson not perceiving, rendred it very ill, ex colonia, from a Co∣lony. Vales.
• * 1.12

  The Church.
• † 1.13

  Or, Ha∣ving been converted into it self.
• f 1.14

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 must be blotted out, because it disturbs the sense; unless you ••ake it to signifie singula••, or Eximious. Further, Christophorson has translated this place otherwise, For thus he rende••s it: cujus praeclari facinoris causam Imperator Deo acceptam plane re••ulit, the cause of which fa∣mous Action the Emperour, plainly ascribed to God as acceptable to him. Nor does Musculus render it otherwise. But I have interpreted these words [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or rather, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] con∣cerning Constantine Himself; that is, The Emperour was the Au∣thour of this glorious action. Johannes Portesius also, the first Translatour of these Books, renders this place in the same man∣ner. For thus his Version runs; Id verò unicum ab orbe con∣dito ••actum, homini dei tutel•• praeclaro, tum acceptum etiam relatum est. Vales.