Antiquitates christianæ, or, The history of the life and death of the holy Jesus as also the lives acts and martyrdoms of his Apostles : in two parts.

THE LIFE OF S. ANDREW.

[illustration]

S^t. ANDREW.

He was fastened to a Cross since distinguished by his name by y^e Proconsul at Patrae a City of Achaia, from which he preached severall dayes to y^e Spectators. S. Hierom. Baron. Nov: 29.

[illustration]

S^t. Andrew's Crucifixion.

Matth. 23. 34. Behold I send unto you prophets and wisemen and scribes, & some of them ye shall kill and crucifie, & some of them shall ye scurge in your synagogues, and persecute them from Cyty to City.

The Sacred History sparing in the Acts of the succeeding Apostles, and why. S. Andrew's Birth-place, Kindred, and way of Life. John the Baptist's Ministry and Discipline, S. Andrew educated under his Institution. His coming to Christ, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be a Disciple. His Election to the Apostolate. The Province assigned for his Ministry. In what places he chiesly preached. His barbarous usage at Sinope. His planting Christianity at By∣zantium, and ordaining Stachys Bishop there. His travails in Greece, and preach∣ing at Patrae in Achaia. His arraignment before the Proconsul, and resolute defence of the Christian Religion. The Proconsul's displeasure against him, whence. An ac∣count of his Martyrdom. His preparatory sufferings, and crucifixion. On what kind of Cross he suffered. The Miracles reported to be done by his Body. Its translation to Constantinople. The great Encomium given of him by one of the Ancients.

1. THE Sacred Story, which has hitherto been very large and copious in de∣scribing the Acts of the two first Apostles, is henceforward very sparing in its accounts, giving us only now and then a few oblique and accidental re∣marques concerning the rest, and some of them no further mentioned, than the meer recording of their Names. For what reasons it pleased the Divine wisdom and provi∣dence, that no more of their Acts should be consigned to Writing by the Pen-men of the Holy story, is to us unknown. Probably, it might be thought convenient, that no more account should be given of the first plantations of Christianity in the World, than

what concerned Judaea, and the Neighbour-countries, at least the most eminent places of the Roman Empire, that so the truth of the Prophetical Predictions might appear, which had foretold, that the Law of the Messiah should come forth from Sion, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem. Besides, that a particular relation of the Acts of so many 〈◊〉〈◊〉, done in so many several Countries, might have swell'd the Holy Vo∣lumes into too great a bulk, and rendred them less serviceable and accommodate to the ordinary use of Christians. Among the Apostles that succeed we first take notice of S. Andrew. He was born at Bethsaida, a City of Galilee, standing upon the banks of the Lake of Gennesareth, Son to John or Jonas a Fisherman of that Town; Brother he was to Simon Peter, but whether Elder or Younger, the Ancients do not clearly decide, though the major part intimate him to have been the younger Brother, there being only the single authorlty of Epiphanius on the other side, as we have formerly noted. He was brought up to his Father's Trade, whereat he laboured, till our Lord called him from catching Fish, to be a Fisher of men, for which he was fitted by some preparatory Institutions, even before his coming unto Christ.

2. JOHN the Baptist was lately risen in the Jewish Church, a Person whom for the efficacy and impartiality of his Doctrine, and the extraordinary strictness and au∣sterities of his Life, the Jews generally had in great veneration. He trained up his Proselytes under the Discipline of Repentance, and by urging upon them a severe change and reformation of life, prepared them to entertain the Doctrine of the Messiah, whose approach, he told them, was now near at hand, representing to them the greatness of his Person, and the importance of the design that he was come upon. Besides the mul∣titudes that promiscuously flock'd to the Baptists discourses, he had according to the manner of the Jewish Masters some peculiar and select Disciples, who more constant∣ly attended upon his Lectures, and for the most part waited upon his Person. In the number of these was our Apostle, who was then with him about Jordan, when our Saviour, who some time since had been baptized, came that way: upon whose approach the Baptist told them, that this was the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the great Person whom he had so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 spoken of, to usher in whose appearing his whole Ministry was but subservient, that this was the Lamb of God, the true Sacrifice that was to expiate the sins of Mankind. Upon this testimony Andrew and another Disciple (probably S. John) follow our Saviour to the place of his abode. Upon which account he is generally by the Fathers and ancient Writers stiled 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or the* 1.1 first called Disciple; though in a strict sence he was not so; for though he was the first of the Disciples that came to Christ, yet was he not called till afterwards. After some converse with him, Andrew goes to acquaint his Brother Simon, and both together came to Christ. Long they stayed not with him, but returned to their own home, and to the exercise of their calling, wherein they were imployed, when somewhat more than a Year after our Lord passing through Galilee, found them 〈◊〉〈◊〉 upon the Sea of Tibe∣rias, where he fully satisfied them of the Greatness and Divinity of his Person by the convictive evidence of that miraculous draught of Fishes, which they took at his com∣mand. And now he told them he had other work for them to do, that they should no longer deal in Fish, but with Men, whom they should catch with the efficacy and influence of that Doctrine, that he was come to deliver to the World; commanding them to follow him, as his immediate Disciples and Attendants, who accordingly left all and followed him. Shortly after S. Andrew together with the rest was called to the Office and Honour of the Apostolate, made choice of to be one of those that were to be Christ's immediate Vice-gerents for planting and propagating the Christian Church. Little else is particularly recorded of him in the Sacred story, being comprehended in the general account of the rest of the Apostles.

3. AFTER our Lord's Ascension into Heaven, and that the Holy 〈◊〉〈◊〉 had in its miraculous powers been plentifully shed upon the Apostles, to fit them for the great er∣rand they were to go upon, to root out prophaneness and idolatry, and to subdue the World to the Doctrine of the Gospel, it is generally affirmed by the Ancients, that the Apostles agreed among themselves (by lot, say * 1.2 some) probably not without the special guidance and direction of the Holy Ghost, what parts of the World they should seve∣rally take. In this division S. Andrew had Scythia, and the Neighbouring Countries primarily allotted him for his ‖ 1.3 Province. First then he travelled through Cappadocia, Galatia, and Bithynia, and instructed them in the Faith of Christ, pasling all along the Euxin Sea (formerly called ‖ 1.4 Axenus, from the barbarous and inhospitable temper of the People thereabouts, who were wont to sacrifice strangers, and of their skulls to

make Cups to drink in in their Feasts and Banquets) and so into the solitudes of Scythia. An ancient * 1.5 Author (though whence deriving his intelligence I know not) gives us a more particular account of his travails and transactions in these parts. He tells us, that he first came to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, where being entertained by a Jew, he went into the Synagogue; discoursed to them concerning Christ, and from the prophecies of the Old Testament pro∣ved him to be the Messiah, and the Saviour of the World. Having here converted and baptized many, ordered their publick Meeting, and ordained them Priests, he went next to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, a maritime City upon the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Sea, whence after many other places he came to Nice, where he staid two Years, Preaching and working Miracles with great success: thence to Nicomedia, and so to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, whence sailing through the Propontis he came by the Euxin Sea to Heraclea, and from thence to Amastris: in all which places he met with great difficulties and discouragements, but overcame all with an invincible patience and resolution. He next came to Sinope, a City scituate upon the same Sea, a place famous both for the birth and burial of the great King Mithridates; here, as my Author reports from the Ancients (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) he met with his Brother Peter, with whom he staid a considerable time at this place: as a Monument where∣of he tells us, that the Chairs made of white stone wherein they were wont to sit while they taught the People, were still extant, and commonly shewed in his time. The In∣habitants of this City were most Jews, who partly through zeal for their Religion, part∣ly through the barbarousness of their manners, were quickly exasperated against the A∣postle, and contriving together attempted to burn the House, wherein he sojourned: however they treated him with all the instances of savage cruelty, throwing him to the ground, stamping upon him with their 〈◊〉〈◊〉, pulling and dragging him from place to place, some beating him with Clubs, others pelting him with stones, and some the better to satisfie their revenge, biting off his Flesh with their Teeth; till apprehending they had fully dispatched him, they cast him out of the City. But he miraculously re∣covered, and publickly returned into the City, whereby and by some other Miracles, which he wrought amongst them, he reduced many to a better mind, converting them to the Faith. Departing hence, he went again to Amynsus, and then to Trapezus, thence to 〈◊〉〈◊〉; and to Samosata (the birth-place of the witty but impious Lucian) where having baffled the acute and wise Philosophers, he purposed to return to Jerusalem. Whence after some time he betook himself to his former Provinces, travailing to the Country of the Abasgi, where at Sebastople, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 upon the Eastern shore of the Euxin Sea, between the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Rivers Phasis and Apsarus, he successfully Preached the Gospel to the Inhabitants of that City. Hence he removed into the Country of the Zecchi, and the Bosphorani, part of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Scythia or Sarmatia, but finding the Inha∣bitants very barbarous and intractable, he staid not long among them, only at Cherson, or Chersonesus, a great and populous City within the Bosphorus, he continued some time, instructing and confirming them in the Faith. Hence taking Ship he sailed cross the Sea to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, to encourage and confirm the Churches which he had lately planted in those parts, and here he ordained Philologus, formerly one of S. Paul's Disciples, Bishop of that City.

4. HENCE he came to Byzantium (since called Constantinople) where he instruct∣ed them in the knowledge of the Christian Religion, founded a Church for Divine worship, and ordained Stachys (whom S. Paul calls his beloved Stachys) first Bishop of that place. * 1.6 Baronius indeed is unwilling to believe this, desirous to engross the ho∣nour of it to S. Peter, whom he will have to have been the first Planter of Christianity in these parts. But besides that Baronius his authority is very slight and insignificant in this case (as we have before noted in S. Peter's life) this mat∣ter is expresly asserted not only by Nicephorus ‖ 1.7 Callistus, but by another * 1.8 Nicephorus Patriarch of Constantinople, and who there∣fore may be presumed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in his Predecessors in that See. Banished out of the City by him, who at that time usurped the Government, he fled to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, a place near at hand, where he preached the Gospel for two Years together with good suc∣cess, converting great Numbers to the Faith. After this he travelled over Thrace, Macedonia, Thessaly, Achaia: ‖ 1.9 Nazian∣zen adds Epyrus, in all which places for many Years he preach∣ed and propagated Christianity, and confirmed the Doctrine that he taught with great signs and miracles: at last he came to Patrae a City of Achaia, where he gave his last and great testimony to it, I mean, laid down his own Life to ratifie and ensure it: in describing whose Martyrdom, we shall for the main follow the account that is given us

in the Acts of his* 1.10 Passion, pretended to have been written by the Presbyters and Dea∣cons of Achaia, present at his Martyrdom; which, though I dare not with some assert to be the genuine work of those persons, yet can it not be denied to be of considerable antiquity, being mentioned by‖ 1.11 Philastrius, who flourished Ann. 380. and were no doubt written long before his time. The summ of it is this.

5. AEGEAS, Proconsul of Achaia, came at this time to Patrae, where observing that multitudes were fallen off from Paganism, and had embraced Christianity, he endea∣voured by all arts both of favour and cruelty to reduce the people to their old Idolatries. To him the Apostle resolutely makes his address, calmly puts him in mind, that he be∣ing but a judge of men should own and revere him, who was the supreme and impar∣tial Judge of all, that he should give him that Divine honour that was due to him, and leave off the impieties of his false Heathen-worship. The Proconsul derided him as an Innovator in Religion, a propagator of that superstition, whose Author the Jews had infamously put to death upon a Cross. Hereat the Apostle took occasion to discourse to him of the infinite love and kindness of our Lord, who came into the World to pur∣chase the Salvation of mankind, and for that end did not disdain to die upon the Cross. To whom the Proconsul answered, that he might perswade them so, that would believe him; for his part, if he did not comply with him in doing sacrifice to the Gods, he would cause him to suffer upon that Cross, which he had so much extolled and magnifi∣ed. S. Andrew replied, That he did sacrifice every day to God, the only true and om∣nipotent Being, not with fumes and bloudy offerings, but in the sacrifice of the im∣maculate Lamb of God. The issue was, the Apostle was committed to prison, whereat the people were so enraged, that it had broken out into a mutiny, had not the Apostle restrained them, perswading them to imitate the mildness and patience of our meek humble Saviour, and not to hinder him from that crown of Martyrdom that now waited for him.

6. THE next day he was again brought before the Proconsul, who perswaded him that he would not foolishly destroy himself, but live and enjoy with him the pleasures of this life. The Apostle told him, that he should have with him eternal joys, if re∣nouncing his execrable idolatries, he would heartily entertain Christianity, which he had hitherto so successfully preached amongst them. That, answered the Proconsul, is the very reason, why I am so earnest with you to sacrifice to the Gods, that those whom you have every where seduced, may by your example be brought to return back to that ancient Religion, which they have forsaken: Otherwise I'le cause you with exquisites tortures to be crucified. The Apostle replied, That now he saw it was in vain any longer to deal with him, a person incapable of sober counsels, and hardned in his own blindness and folly; that as for himself, he might do his worst, and if he had one torment greater than another, he might heap that upon him: The greater con∣stancy he shewed in his sufferings for Christ, the more acceptable he should be to his Lord and Master. AEgeas could now hold no longer, but passed the sentence of death upon him; and* 1.12 Nicephorus gives us some more particular account of the Proconsul's displeasure and rage against him, which was, that amongst others he had converted his wife Maximilla, and his brother Stratocles to the Christian Faith, having cured them of desperate distempers that had seised upon them.

7. THE Proconsul first commanded him to be scourged, seven Lictors successively whipping his naked body; and seeing his invincible patience and constancy, com∣manded him to be crucified, but not to be fastned to the Cross with Nails, but Cords, that so his death might be more lingring and tedious. As he was led to execution, to which he went with a chearful and composed mind, the people cried out, that he was an innocent and good man, and unjustly condemned to die. Being come within sight* 1.13 of the Cross, he saluted it with this kind of address, That he had long desired and ex∣pected this happy hour, that the Cross had been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it, and adorned with his members as with so many inestimable Jewels, that he came joyfull and triumphing to it, that it might receive him as a disciple and follower of him, who once hung upon it, and be the means to carry him safe unto his Master, having been the instrument upon which his Master had redeemed him. Having prayed, and exhorted the people to constancy and perseverance in that Religi∣on which he had delivered to them, he was fastned to the Cross, whereon he hung two days, teaching and instructing the people all the time, and when great importunities in the mean while were used to the Proconsul to spare his life, he earnestly begged of our Lord, that he might at this time depart and seal the truth of his Religion with his bloud. God heard his prayer, and he immediately expired on the last of November, though in what year no certain account can be recovered.

8. THERE seems to have been something peculiar in that Cross that was the in∣strument of his martyrdom, commonly affirmed to have been a Cross decussate, two pieces of Timber crossing each other in the middle, in the form of the letter X, hence usually known by the name of S. Andrew's Cross; though there want not* 1.14 those, who affirm him to have been crucified upon an Olive Tree. His body being taken down and embalmed, was decently and honourably interred by Maximilla, a Lady of great quality and estate, and whom Nicephorus, I know not upon what ground, makes wise to the Proconsul. As for that report of‖ 1.15 Gregory Bishop of Tours, that on the Anniver∣sary day of his Martyrdom, there was wont to flow from S. Andrew's Tomb a most fragrant and precious oyl, which according to its quantity denoted the scarceness or plenty of the following year; and that the sick being anointed with this oyl, were re∣stored to their former health, I leave to the Readers discretion, to believe what he please of it. For my part, if any ground of truth in the story, I believe it no more, than that it was an exhalation and sweating sorth at some times of those rich costly per∣fumes and ointments, wherewith his Body was embalmed after his crucisixion. Though I must confess this conjecture to be impossible, if it be true what my Author adds, that some years the oyl burst out in such plenty, that the stream arose to the middle of the Church. His Body was afterwards, by Constantine the* 1.16 Great, solemn∣ly removed to Constantinople, and buried in the great Church, which he had built to the honour of the Apostles: Which being taken down some hundred years after by‖ 1.17 Justinian the Emperor in order to its reparation, the Body was found in a wooden∣Coffin, and again reposed in its proper place.

9. I SHALL conclude the History of this Apostle with that Encomiastick Cha∣racter, which one of the* 1.18 Ancients gives of him.

S. Andrew was the first-born of the Apostolick Quire, the main and prime pillar of the Church, a rock before the rock (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) the foundation of that foundation, the first-fruits of the beginning, a caller of others before he was called himself; he preached that Gospel that was not yet believed or entertained, revealed and made known that life to his brother, which he had not yet perfectly learn'd himself. So great treasures did that one question bring him, Master where dwellest thou? which he soon perceived by the answer given him, and which he deeply pondered in his mind, come and see. How art thou become a Prophet? whence thus Divinely skilful? what is it that thou thus soundest in Peter's ears? [We have found him, &c.] why dost thou attempt to compass him, whom thou canst not comprehend? how can he be found, who is Om∣nipresent? But he knew well what he said: We have found him, whom Adam lost, whom Eve injured, whom the clouds of sin have hidden from us, and whom our transgressions had hitherto made a stranger to us, &c.

So that of all our Lord's Apostles S. Andrew had thus far the honour to be the first Preacher of the Gospel.

The End of S. Andrew's Life.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 sub lit. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.2

  Socr. H. Eccl. l. 1. c. 19. p. 50.
• ‖ 1.3

  Orig. in 〈◊〉〈◊〉. l. 3. ap. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. l. 3. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1. p. 71. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. H. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. l. 2. c. 39. p. 199.
• ‖ 1.4

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. Geogr. l. 7. p. 206.
• * 1.5

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 S. Andr. A∣post. & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. in 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 sub lit. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.6

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 An. 44. N. 31. vid. ad An. 314. n. 94, 95, &c.
• ‖ 1.7

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. l. 2. c. 39. l. 5. c. 6. p. 540.
• * 1.8

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, C. P. in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, à 〈◊〉〈◊〉. edit, p. 309. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 Man. Grac. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 supr.
• ‖ 1.9

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 25. p. 438.
• * 1.10

  Extant apud Sur. ad ditm 30. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. p. 653.
• ‖ 1.11

  De 〈◊〉〈◊〉. c. 89.
• * 1.12

  Lib. 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 39. p. 200. vid. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. ad 〈◊〉〈◊〉 30. Novemb. ubi 〈◊〉〈◊〉 babent.
• * 1.13

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 S. Andr. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 327.
• * 1.14

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. in S And. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 133. p. 120. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Com∣ment. MS. Gr. ap. Bar. Not. in Martyr. ad 30. Novemb.
• ‖ 1.15

  Di Glor. Martyr. hb. 1. 6. 31. pag. 37.
• * 1.16

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. adv. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. p. 122. T. 2.
• ‖ 1.17

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. de 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Justin. lib. 1.
• * 1.18

  〈◊◊◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊◊◊〉. CCIXIX. Col. 1488.