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. PHILIP.

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S^t Philip

After he had converted all Scythia he was at Hierapolis a City of Asia first crucified and then stoned to death Baron. May. 1^o.

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S^t. Philip's Martyrdom.

Act. 5. 30. Whom ye slew, & hanged on a tree. Matth. 10. 24, 25. The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his Lord. It is enough for the disciple, that he be as his master, and the servant as his Lord.

Galilee generally despised by the Jews, and why. The honour which our Lord put upon it. S. Andrew's birth-place. His being first called to be a Disciple, and the manner of it. An account of his ready obedience to Christ's call. What the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 re∣late concerning him considered. The discourse between our Lord and him concerning the knowledge of the Father. His preaching the Gospel in the upper Asia, and the happy effects of his Ministry. His coming to Hierapolis in Phrygia, and successful confutation of their Idolatries. The rage and fury of the Magistrates against him. His Martyrdom, Crucifixion, and Burial. His married condition. The confounding him with Philip the Deacon. The Gospel forged by the Gnosticks under his name.

1. OF all parts of Palestine Galilee seem to have passed under the greatest cha∣racter of ignominy and reproach. The Country it self, because border∣ing upon the Idolatrous 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Nations, called Galilee of the Gen∣tiles; the people generally beheld as more rude and boisterous, more unpolished and barbarous than the rest, not remarkable either for Civility or Religion. The Galileans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the Feast, for they also* 1.1 went up unto the Feast; as if it had been a wonder, and a matter of very strange re∣mark, to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 so much devotion in them as to attend the solemnity of the Passeover. In∣deed both Jew and Gentile conspired in this, that they thought they could not fix a greater title of reproach upon our Saviour and his followers, than that of Galilean.

Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? a City in this Province, said Nathanael con∣cerning* 1.2 Christ. Search and look (say the Pharisees) for out of Galilee ariseth no Prophet;* 1.3 as if nothing but briers and thorns could grow in that soil. But there needs no more to confute this ill-natured opinion, than that our Lord not only made choice of it as the seat of his ordinary 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and retreat, but that hencehe chose those excellent persons, whom he made his Apostles, the great instruments to convert the World. Some of these we have already given an account of, and more are yet behind.

2. OF this number was S. Philip, born at Bethsaida, a Town near the Sea of Tibe∣rias, the City of Andrew and Peter. Of his Parents and way of life the History of the 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 no notice, though 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he was a Fisherman, the Trade general of that 〈◊〉〈◊〉. He had the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 honour of being first called to the Discipleship, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thus came to pass. Our Lord soon after his return from the wilderness having met with Andrew and his brother Peter, after some short discourse parted from them: And the very next day, as he was passing through Galilee, he found Philip, whom he* 1.4 presently commanded to follow him, the constant form which he used in making choice of his Disciples, and those that did inseparably attend upon him. So that the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or prerogative of being first called, evidently belongs to Philip, he being the first-fruits of our Lord's Disciples. For though Andrew and Peter were the first that came to, and conversed with Christ, yet did they immediately return to their Trade again, and were not called to the Discipleship till above a whole year after, when John was cast into prison.* 1.5 Clemens 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tells us, that it was Philip, to whom our Lord said (when he would have excused himself at present, that he must go bury his Father) Let the dead bury their dead, but follow 〈◊〉〈◊〉 me. But besides that he gives no account, whence he derived this intelligence, it is plainly inconsistent with the time of our Apostle's call, who was called to be a Disciple a long time before that speech and passage of our Saviour. It may seem justly strange that Philip should at first sight so readily comply with our Lord's command, and turn himself over into his ser∣vice, having not yet seen any miracle, that might evince his 〈◊〉〈◊〉-ship, and Di∣vine Commission, nor probably so much as heard any tidings of his appearance; and especially being a Galilean, and so of a more rustick and unyielding temper. But it cannot be doubted but that he was admirably versed in the writings of Moses and the Prophets.* 1.6 Metaphrastes assures us (though how he came to know it otherwise than by conjecture, I cannot imagine) that from his childhood he had excellent education, that he frequently read over Moses his Books, and considered the Prophecies that rela∣ted to our Saviour: And was no question awakened with the general expectations that were then on foot among the Jews (the date of the Prophetick Scriptures concerning the time of Christ's coming being now run out) that the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 would immediately appear. Add to this, that the Divine grace did more immediately accompany the command of Christ, to incline and dispose him to believe, that this person was that ve∣ry 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that was to come.

3. NO sooner had Religion taken possession of his mind, but like an active prin∣ciple it began to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and diffuse it self. A way he goes, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Nathanael, a person of note and eminency, acquaints him with the tidings of the new-found Messi∣ah, and conducts him to him. So forward is a good man to draw and direct others in the same way to happiness with himself. After his call to the Apostleship much is not recorded of him in the Holy story: 'Twas to him that our Saviour propounded the question, What they should do for so much bread in the wilderness, as would feed so* 1.7 vast a multitude, to which he answered, That so much was not easily to be had; not considering, that to feed two or twenty thousand are equally 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to Almighty Pow∣er, when pleased to exert it self. 'Twas to him that the Gentile Proselytes that came up to the Passeover addressed themselves, when desirous to see our Saviour, a person* 1.8 of whom they had heard so loud a fame. 'Twas with him that our Lord had that dis∣course concerning himself a little before the last Paschal Supper. The holy and com∣passionate Jesus had been fortifying their minds with fit considerations against his de∣parture from them, had told them, that he was going to prepare room for them in the Mansions of the Blessed, that he himself was the way, the truth, and the life, and that no man could come to the Father but by him, and that knowing him, they both knew and* 1.9 had seen the Father. Philip not duly understanding the force of our Saviour's reason∣ings, begged of him, that he would shew them the Father, and then this would abun∣dantly convince and satisfie them. We can hardly suppose he should have such gross conceptions of the Deity, as to imagine the Father vested with a corporeal and visible nature; but Christ having told them that they had seen him, and he knowing that

God of old was wont frequently to appear in a visible shape, he only desired that he would 〈◊〉〈◊〉 himself to them by some such appearance. Our Lord gently reproved his ignorance, that aster so long attendance upon his instructions, he should not know, that he was the Image of his Father, the express characters of his infinite wisdom, power and goodness appearing in him, that he said and did nothing but by his Father's appointment, which if they did not believe, his miracles were a sufficient evidence: That therefore such demands were unnecessary and impertinent, and that it argued great weakness after more than three years education under his discipline and Institu∣tion to be so unskilful in those matters. God expects improvement according to mens opportunities, to be old 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ignorant in the School of Christ, deserves both reproach and punishment, 'tis the character of very bad persons, that they are ever learning, but* 1.10 never come to the knowledge of the truth.

4. IN the distribution of the several Regions of the World made by the Apostles, though no mention be made by Origen or 〈◊〉〈◊〉, what part fell to our Apostle, yet we are told by* 1.11 others, that the Upper Asia was his Province (the reason doubtless why he is said by many to have preached and planted Christianity in 〈◊〉〈◊〉) where he applied himself with an indefatigable diligence and industry to recover men out of the snare of the Devil, to the embracing and acknowledgment of the truth. By the con∣stancy of his preaching, and the efficacy of his Miracles he gained numerous Converts, whom he baptized into the Christian Faith, at once curing both Souls and Bodies, their Souls of Error and Idolatry, their Bodies of infirmities and distempers, healing diseases, dispossessing Daemons, setling Churches, and appointing them Guides and Ministers of Religion.

5. HAVING for many years successfully managed his Apostolical Office in all those parts, he came in the last periods of his life to Hierapolis in Phrygia, a City rich* 1.12 and populous, but answering its name in its Idolatrous Devotions. Amongst the many vain and trifling Deities, to whom they payed religious adoration, was a Ser∣pent or Dragon (in memory no doubt of that infamous Act of Jupiter, who in the shape of a Dragon insinuated himself into the embraces of Proserpina, his own Daughter be∣got of Ceres, and whom these phrygians chiefly worshipped, as* 1.13 Clemens Alexandri∣nus tells us, so little reason had‖ 1.14 Baronius to say that they worshipped no such God) of a more prodigious bigness than the rest, which they worshipped with great and so∣lemn veneration. S. Philip was troubled to see the people so wretchedly enslaved to error, and therefore continually solicited Heaven, till by prayer and calling upon the name of Christ, he had procured the death, or at least vanishing of this famed and be∣loved Serpent: Which done, he told them, how unbecoming it was to give Divine honours to such odious creatures, that God alone was to be worshipped as the great Pa∣rent of the World, who had made man at first after his own glorious Image, and when fallen from that innocent and happy state, had sent his own Son into the World to redeem him, who died, and rose from the dead, and shall come again at the last day, to raise men out of their Graves, and to sentence and reward them according to their works. The success was, that the people were ashamed of their fond Idolatry, and many broke loose from their chains of darkness, and ran over to Christianity. Whereupon the great enemy of mankind betook himself to his old methods, cruelty and persecution. The Magistrates of the City seise the Apostle, and having put him into prison, caused him to be severely whip'd and scourg'd. This preparatory cruelty passed, he was led to execution, and being bound, was hanged up by the neck against a pillar, though others tell us, that he was crucified. We are further told, that at his execution the Earth began suddenly to quake, and the ground whereon the people stood, to sink under them, which when they apprehended and bewailed as an evident act of Divine vengeance pursuing them for their sins, it as suddenly stopt, and went no fur∣ther. The Apostle being dead, his body was taken down by S. Bartholomew, his fel∣low-sufferer, though not finally executed, and Mariamne, S. Philip's Sister, who is said to have been the constant companion of his travels, and decently buried, after which having confirmed the people in the Faith of Christ, they departed from them.

6. THAT S. Philip was married, is generally affirmed by the Antients;* 1.15 Cle∣mens of Alexandria reckons him one of the married Apostles, and that he had Daugh∣ters, whom he disposed in marriage:‖ 1.16 Polycrates Bishop of Ephesus tell us, that Philip, one of the Twelve Apostles, died at 〈◊〉〈◊〉, with two of his Daughters, who persevered in their Virginity, and that he had a third which died at 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The truth is, the not careful distinguishing between Philip the Deacon (who li∣ved at Caesarea, and of whose four Virgin-daughters we read in the History of the

Apostles Acts) and our Apostle, has bred some confusion among the Ancients in this mat∣ter.* 1.17 But the account concerning them is greatly different; sor as they differed in their Persons and Offices, the one a Deacon, the other an Apostle, so also in the number of their Children, four Daughters being ascribed to the one, while three only are attri∣buted to the other. He was one of the Apostles who left no Sacred writings behind him, the greater part of the Apostles (as * 1.18 Ensebius observes) having little leisure to write Books, being imployed in ministeries more immediately useful and subservient to the happiness of mankind: Though ‖ 1.19 Epiphanius tells us, that the Gnosticks were wont to produce a Gospel forged under S. Philip's name, which they abused to the pa∣tronage of their horrible principles, and more brutish practises.

The End of S. Philip's Life.

Notes

• * 1.1

  John 4. 45.
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 1. 46.
• * 1.3

  John 7. 52.
• * 1.4

  John 1. 44.
• * 1.5

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 3. p. 436.
• * 1.6

  Apud Sur. ad 〈◊〉〈◊〉 1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Tom. 4.
• * 1.7

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 6. 5.
• * 1.8

  John 12. 22.
• * 1.9

  John 14. 8.
• * 1.10

  2 Tim. 3. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.11

  S. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Comm. de S. Philip. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. ad 1. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, H. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. 2, c. 39. p. 200.
• * 1.12

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. & 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ibid.
• * 1.13

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. ad Gent. p. 11.
• ‖ 1.14

  Ad 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉. 3.
• * 1.15

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. lib. 3. p. 448.
• ‖ 1.16

  Ap. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. H. Eccl. lib. 3. c. 31. p. 102. vid. Do∣roth. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. de vit. & mort. App. B. Pp. Tom. 3. p. 148.
• * 1.17

  Acts 21. 8, 9.
• * 1.18

  Lib. 3. cap. 24. p. 94.
• ‖ 1.19

  Adv. Gnost. Haris. 26. p. 46