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.

AND That Only-begotten Word of God,* 1.1 Reigns together with His Father, from ages which want a beginning, to infinite and endless ages. But this Our Emperour, a 1.2 always dear to Him, being supplyed with some Imperial Emanations from above, and fortified b 1.3 with the Surname of a Divine appellation, governs upon earth during many and long periods of years. Far∣ther, that Uni∣versal * 1.4 Preserver renders Heaven, and the whole world, and the Celestial Kingdom, fit for his Father. But this [Our Emperour,] who is His Friend, brings all those persons living upon Earth, that are the Subjects of His Empire, to the Only-begot∣ten Word and Saviour, and makes them fit c 1.5 for His Kingdom. And, that Com∣mon Saviour of all, by an invisible and divine power, drives off at the greatest distance from His Fold (in the same manner that a good Shepherd does wild-beasts,) those Rebellious Powers, which flew up and down thorow this Air that is nearest the Earth, and * 1.6 brooded the Souls of Men. But this [Our Emperour,] His friend, adorned from above by Him, with Trophies erected against his Ene∣mies; by the Law of War subdues the open Ad∣versaries of Truth, and chastizes them. That person, existing † 1.7 The Logos before the world was framed, and the preserver of all things; delivers rational and saving Seeds to His Com∣panions, and renders them reasonable, and in∣structed in the knowledge of His Father's King∣dom. This [Our Emperour,] His Friend, as 'twere some Interpreter to the Word of God, re∣calls all mankind to the knowledge of God: cry∣ing out in the hearing of all men, and with a loud voice promulging the Laws of d 1.8 true Piety and Verity, to all persons living upon the Earth. That Uni∣versal Saviour opens the Ce∣lestial Gates of His Father's Kingdom, to those who remove from hence thither. This [Our Emperour,] following the Example of the Deity, after He hath cleansed His Empire on earth, from all the filth of impious Errour, invites the * 1.9 Assemblies of Holy and Pious men, into the Sacred Houses and † 1.10 Basilicae; making it his chiefest care, that the whole Navy, with the

Command and management whereof He is en∣trusted, should be preserved together with the people on Boord. And He is the only person of all those that ever yet governed the Empire of the Romans, who having now been honoured by God the Supream King, with * 1.11 thirty years Reigne, celebrates this Festival, not to terrene Spirits, as the usage of the Ancients was, nor to the Apparitions of Daemons which seduce the unskilfull multitude, nor yet to the frauds and e 1.12 feigned Narratives of im∣pious men: but, pays his thanks to that God, by whom he has been honoured, being truly sensible of those Bles∣sings which He has confer∣red on him. Not polluting his † 1.13 Palace with bloud and gore, agreeable to the Rites of the Ancients; nor appea∣sing terrene Daemons with smoke and fire, and with sacrifices of Beasts wholly consumed by fire on the Altars; but consecrating a most grate∣full and acceptable sacrifice to the Supream King Himself, His own Imperial Soul namely, and His Mind which is most worthy of God. For this is the only Sacrifice wherewith God is well pleased: which Our Emperour has learnt to offer, with the purified thoughts of his mind, without either fire or bloud f 1.14: giving confirma∣tion to his piety by those unerring Sentiments and Opinions treasured up in his mind; setting forth the praises of God in lofty and magnifick Orations, and by Imperial Actions emulating the Clemency of the Deity: and wholly devoting himself to God, and, like some great Gift, making a present of himself to Him, the First-fruits as 'twere of the World, with the Administration whereof he hath been entrusted. This greatest Sacrifice therefore, the Emperour in a due man∣ner Offers, g 1.15 before all other. But he Sacri∣fices like a Good Shepherd, not

Offering glorious Hecatombs of Firstling-Lambs:

but rather, bringing over the minds of those ra∣tional flocks, which are fed by Him, to the know∣ledge and worship of God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  CHAP. II.
• a 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 This place is, in my judgment, thus to be restored; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 &c; continues to Reign together with His Father, from ages which want a beginning, to infinite and endless ages. But, Our Emperour, dear to Him, &c. Vales.
• b 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 'Tis not clearly enough made out, what this Surname of a Divine appellation should be, wherewith Constantine was ho∣noured and signalized. Does Eu∣sebius mean the name of Victor, which was given to Constantine, as we have remark't above? Or rather, the surname of Maximus, which is proper to God? The very Name Constantine may also be meant, the import whereof is, He that is. Now, the Sacred Scriptures do inform us, that this is the proper Name of God. Lastly, we may here understand the surname of Christianus, Chri∣stian; an appellation which Con∣stantine loved most entirely. Vales.
• * 1.4

  Or, Sa∣viour.
• c 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 I read with the Translatour, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for His Kingdom. Vales.
• * 1.6

  Or, Stuck upon the, &c.
• † 1.7

  Or, The Word.
• d 1.8

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 In the Fuketian Copy, the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is wanting; which is the truer reading. Vales.
• * 1.9

  Or, Quires.
• † 1.10

  Or, Churches.
• * 1.11

  Or, Three periods of Decads.
• e 1.12

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is corrupted; in place whereof, what term should be substituted, I don't know. Unless the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 will please. For he praises Constan∣tine, because he would not ad∣mit the Ethnick Oratours to his Decennalia. Vales.
• † 1.13

  Or, Imperial Houses.
• f 1.14

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 These words ought to be expun∣ged; which are not set in their due place here, but must be put in lower, in this manner; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 &c; giving confirmation to his piety, &c. There is nothing more certain than this Emendation; nor did the Translatour read otherwise, as 'tis apparent from his Version. Wherefore this seems to be a mistake of the Printer. This our Emendation was long after∣wards confirmed to us by the Fuketian Copy; wherein 'twas exactly written as I had conjectured; save only, that 'tis there worded, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and wholly devoting himself, &c. Vales.
• g 1.15

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 It must be made 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 before all other, or, first. Vales.