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.

FOR, Whereas he perceived, that the simple* 1.1 multitude, like children, in vain stood in fear of those Bug-bears of Errour, made of Gold and Silver; it was his Sentiment, that they ought wholly to be destroyed; in regard they would be like some pieces of Stones, cast before the feet of those who walk in the dark; a 1.2 and because a smooth and plain passage thorow the Kings-high-way was in future to be open to all men. Having therefore diligently weighed these mat∣ters with himself, he was of opinion, that he stood not in need either of Mili∣tary Forces or a numerous Army, in order to his giving Check to those things; but, that one, or two of those persons well known to him, were sufficient to effect this business: whom by one only Nod he dispatcht away into every Province. They, confiding in [the Emperour's] Piety▪ [and in their own Religiousness towards God,] made their way thorow the thickest crowds, and thorow infinite multitudes of people, and b 1.3 fully discove∣red that ancient Errour [of Idolatry,] in all Cities, and throughout every Coun∣try. And in the first place, they commanded the Priests themselves, with much laugh∣ter and disgrace to bring forth their Gods, out of certain dark re∣cesses. Then they divested [those Gods] of their outward dress, and exposed their inward deformity, which lay concealed under a pain∣ted shape, to the eyes of all men. Lastly, having scrap't off that matter which seemed to be usefull, and * 1.4 cast it into the fire, and melted it down; c 1.5 so much as by them was thought to be of use and necessa∣ry, they reserved, and put it up safe. But, what∣ever was superfluous and wholly useless, that they left with the superstitious, for a lasting monu∣ment

of disgrace. Moreover, this admirable Emperour performed another thing like hereto. For, at the same time that those Idols of the Dead, made of pretious matter, were spoyled in that manner we have declared; he * 1.6 ordered the rest of the Images, consisting of Brass, to be brought together. Therefore, those Gods, [ce∣lebrated] in the doting Fables [of the Greeks,] having had ropes made of hair cast about them, were drag'd away bound. After these things, this great Emperour, having as 'twere light up a most bright Torch, lookt about with his Im∣perial Eye, if peradventure he could any where find, any Remains of Errour as yet lying con∣cealed. And, as some most sharp-sighted Aeagle, which has raised herself to Heaven on her wings, sees from above those things on the earth that are at the greatest distance: in the same man∣ner he, whilst he † 1.7 was resident in the Imperial Palace of his own most beautifull City, behold as from a Watch-Tower, a certain pernicious snare of Souls, lying concealed in the Province 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 gloriously built for ornaments sake: but this [Temple] 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. This was a School of wickedness, [open] to all incontinent per∣sons, and such as with all manner of dissolute∣ness had debauch't their own Bodies. For certain effeminate men, who ought to be ter∣med women rather than men, having renounc'd the venerableness of their own Sex, appeased the Daemon by suffering themselves to be made use of as women. Besides, unlawfull ‖ 1.8 Coi∣tions with women, and Adulteries, and other beastly and infamous facts were committed in that Temple, 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 mo∣desty durst go thither. But, the impieties com∣mitted there, could not lye concealed from this Great Emperour also. But, when he himself had look't into them with the eye of an Im∣perial providence, he judged such a Temple as this to be unworthy of being [enlightned with the Rayes] of the Sun it self, Wherefore he orders it to be totally demolished, together with [its Statues and] Consecrated Gifts. Imme∣diately therefore, the Engines of this impudent and Libidinous Errour, were dissipated by an Imperial Order; and a Company of Souldiers gave their assistance in cleansing that place. And they who had hitherto been addicted to Lasciviousness, [being scar'd] by the Empe∣rour's Menaces, in future learned modesty. When therefore the Emperour had in this man∣ner d 1.9 pull'd off those Vizards of abominable wickednesse, which were visible in the Temple of that Daemon the seducer of the people; and had exposed them to the view of all persons; he Preached his own Saviour in the presence of all. Nor was there any one who could defend or assist the persons detected; no Daemon; no God; no Utterer of Oracles; no Diviner. Nor were the minds of men any longer wrap't up in thick and profound darkness: but being illustrated by the Rayes of unerring Piety, they condemned the ignorance of their Ancestours; and pityed their Blindness; and pronounc't themselves happy, in regard they were free'd from the cruel slavery of Errour. e 1.10 Thus therefore in a moment, by the Will of the Great God, and the Emperour's Assistance and Ministery, all the kinds of E∣nemies and Adversaries, as well the visible as invisible, were totally destroyed: and in future, Peace, the best Educatrix of Youth, encompassed the habitation of all men. Nor were there any more Wars, because The Gods were not. Nei∣ther did there happen any Fights, either in the Countries or Cities, as there had been before, when the worship of Daemons flourisht: nor were there any more effusions of bloud amongst men, such ••s had usually hapned, whilst the fury of Polytheisme was prevalent.

Notes

• * 1.1

  CHAP. VIII.
• a 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. It must be made 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to▪ all men; from the Fuketian Copy, and from his Third Book con∣cerning the Life of Constantine, Chap. 54; where this passage oc∣curs word for word. Vales.
• b 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Doubtless it is to be written 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, fully discovered; and thus it is to be mended in the Third Book of his Life of Con∣stantine, Chap. 54; where the reading is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ to∣tally destroyed, In the Fuke∣tian Copy 'tis 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Vales.
• * 1.4

  Or, tried it in the furnace and in the fire.
• c 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 must be expunged; the Fuketian Copy acknowledges not that word. Vales.
• * 1.6

  Or, Set upon the o∣ther Ima∣ges, made of Brass.
• † 1.7

  Walk't up and down in, or, was con∣versant in.
• ‖ 1.8

  Or, Co∣pulations of women.
• d 1.9

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. I can't ap∣prove of the Translatour's Version, who has rendred this place thus; Ad bunc modum igitur Imperator, tum spectra illa improbitatis & nequitiae, quae hominum animi o••caeca••i fuerant, palam sub omnium oculis sub∣jecit, &c; In this manner therefore the Emperour, both exposed to pub∣lick view those Spectres of improbity and wickedness, wherewith the minds of men had been blinded, &c. But I had rather render it thus; Cùm flagitiorum larvas, quae in Daemonis illius populorum seductoris temple visebantur, detraxisset, &c. When therefore the Emperour had in this manner pull'd off, &c. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (for so the Ac∣centuation is to be restored,) are the integumenta vitiorum, the masks of vices, wherewith the Heathens covered their own unclean∣ness. So above, Eusebius speaking of the Images of the Daemons, says, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c▪ Then they divested [those Gods] of their outward dress, and exposed their inward deformity, which lay concealed under a painted shape, to the eyes of all men. Farther, this place is thus to be mended from the Fuketian Copy, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Vales.
• e 1.10

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Que∣stionless it must be, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ Thus there∣fore in a moment. Presently, I read 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the best Edu∣catrix [or Breeder.] of Youth; without the particle 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. For Eusebius alludes to that Verse of He••iod, in his Opera;

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

  Vales.