A new history of ecclesiastical writers containing an account of the authors of the several books of the Old and New Testament, of the lives and writings of the primitive fathers, an abridgement and catalogue of their works ... also a compendious history of the councils, with chronological tables of the whole / written in French by Lewis Ellies du Pin.

DAMASUS, Bishop of Rome.

AFter the Death of Pope Liberius, which happen'd in the Year 369, the See of Rome being Vacant for some time, by reason of the Caballing of those that pretended to fill it, Damasus at last was * 1.1 chosen by the greater part of the Clergy and People, and Ordain'd by the Bishops. But on the other side, Ursinus or rather Ursicinus, who was his Competitor for the Popedom, got himself Ordain'd by some other Bishops in the Church of Sicinius. This Contest caus'd a great Division in the City of Rome, and stirr'd up so great a Sedition there as could hardly be appeas'd. The two Parties came from Words to Blows, and a great many Christians were kill'd in the Churches of Rome upon this Quarrel. The Governor of Rome call'd Praetextatus, being desirous to allay the heat of this Conten∣tion, sent Ursicinus into Banishment by the Emperor's Order: But his Banishment did not perfectly appease the Quarrel; for the Partizans of Ursicinus Assembled still in the Churches of which they were possess'd, without ever communicating with Damasus; and even when the Emperour had or∣der'd that their Churches should be taken from them, they still kept up their Assemblies without the

〈◊〉〈◊〉, so that it was necessary at last to drive them quite out of Rome. And yet all this did not hin∣der Ursicinus from having his secret Associates in Italy and at Rome. The Bishop of Pu•…•… call'd 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and the Bishop of Parma, were most zealous for his Interests. They were condemn'd 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Council held at Rome in the Year 372, and afterwards banish'd by the Authority of the Em∣perour. However they found means to return into their own Country, and stirr'd up new troubles there. They got Pope Damasus to be accus'd by one Isaac a Jew. This Accusation was examin'd 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Council of Bishops held at Rome in the Year 378, which declar'd Damasus innocent of the Crime that was laid to his Charge. This Council wrote a Letter to the Emperour Graecian, praying him to take some Order for the Peace of the Church of Rome. The Emperour wrote to them, that Ursicinus was detain'd at Cologne, that he had given Order to banish Isaac into a Corner of Spain, and to force the Bishops of Pu••coli and Parma, out of their Country. This did not hinder Ursicinus from re∣turning into Italy in the Year 381, where he stirr'd up new Tumults, and endeavour'd to pre-engage the Emperour: But the Bishops of Italy being assembled in a Council at Aquileia, in the Year 381, wrote so smartly to him, that he banish'd Ursicinus for ever, and left Damasus in peaceable Possession of the See of Rome, in which he continued until the Year 384. St. Jerom places him among the Eccle∣siastical Writers, because of the many short Tracts which he wrote in Heroick Verse, to which may be added some Letters of his writing: But there are many other Letters which go under his Name, that are supposititious. I shall first set down those of which there can be no doubt.

The Two Letters of Damasus, directed to St. Jerom, are amongst the Works of this Father. In the first, he exhorts this Saint to write to him; and to oblige him by fixing a Subject, he proposes to him some Difficulties about the Holy Scripture. He obser••es in this Letter, That he took no pleasure in reading the Books of Lactantius, because they were too long, and were not fill'd with the Doctrines of Religion. In the second Letter, he desires to tell him the meaning of Hosanna to the Son of David: but there is another Letter attributed to Damasus, and written to St. Jerom, with the Answer of this Father, that is not to be placed in the same rank; for the Stile of these Two Letters is very different from that of Damasus and St. Jerom, and they contain many Impertinencies and Follies in the Judgment of Bel∣larmine and Baronius. 'Tis said in the First, That St. Jerom was Ordained by Alexander; and 'tis certain, that Paulinus Ordained him. In the Second, 'tis suppos'd, That St. Jerom exhorted Damasus to Order the Gloria Patri to be sung at the End of all the Psalms, as was ordain'd by the Council of Nice, and as it was practis'd in the East: But if Cassian is to be believed, this was not practis'd in the Fast.

The 3d. Letter of Damasus is written in the Name of this Pope and other the Western Bishops, assembled at Rome, in the Year 370, concerning the Condemnation of Auxentius, to the Bishops of Illyricum. It is related by Theodoret also, in Ch. 22. B. II. of his Hist. and by Sozomen, Ch. 23. of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. VI. and it is in Latin in the Collection of Holstenius. These Bishops do here confirm the Faith of the Nicene Council, and declare, that Auxentius was condemn'd by the Bishops of France, because of his Heresy. They observe, That the Decision of the Council of Ariminum could not prejudice the Decrees of the Council of Nice, because neither the Bishop of Rome, whose Judgment was chiefly to be waited for, nor Vincentius of Capua, nor many others, had ever consented to it. They say at the End of this Letter, That those who taught another Doctrine, should quickly be turn'd out of their Bishopricks. They exhort the Bishops of Illyricum to Defend the Faith of the Nicene Council, with Boldness and Constancy.

The Letter of Damasus to Paulinus, about the Cause of Vitalis, is also Genuine, and has a respect to History, and to what St. Gregory Nazianzen, says in his Letter to Cledonius, that Vitalis the Disciple of Apollinarius, coming to Rome, surpriz'd Damasus, but that afterwards, this Pope had condemn'd him. The Letter of which we now speak, was written sometime after Vitalis departed from Rome, about the Year 373. It acquaints Paulinus,

That he had written to him by this Vitalis, leaving him to manage all things; That he had also sent him word of the same thing before, by the Priest Pe∣tronius; but that he was a little troubled when Vitalis was ready to depart; That to take from him all kind of Scruple, lest too great Precaution should hinder those from being receiv'd into the Church, who had a mind to return, he had sent to him a Confession of Faith, not so much for his own sake, as for theirs who desired to be re-united to the Church of Rome, and embrace its Communion, that they might Sign it.

Wherefore, adds he, if Vitalis will joyn himself to us, you must oblige him to Sign the Nicene Creed, and to profess that he believes, That Jesus Christ took a Body, a Soul, a Mind, and in a Word, a Nature in every thing like to ours, Sin only, and Concupiscence, excepted; and to Anathematize those that should say, that the Word was instead of a Soul in the Person of Jesus Christ, or should dare to affirm, That there were two Sons of God in Jesus Christ, and deny, that he was the same Son of God before and after his Incarnation. He says, That he could freely receive those that should Sign this Letter, provided they had before approv'd the Ecclesiastical Canons, and the Faith of the Council of Nice. He concludes with telling Paulinus, That he doubted not but he had Power to propose the same things to those that were willing to be restor'd, and that he had written to him only for this End; that his Consent and Example might render him more Bold and Free to do it.

'Twas probably at the same time, and perhaps in consequence of this Letter, that Damasus sent to Paulinus, the Anathematisms that are set down in Greek by Theodoret, Ch. 11. of the Vth. B. of his History, and in Latin by Holstenius. They establish the Faith of the Church concerning the Myste∣ries of the Trinity and the Incarnation, by condemning the contrary Errors. There is one of them against the Translation of Bishops. Vitalis having refused to Sign the Declarations which Damasus would have him to Sign, this Pope assembled a Council at Rome, in the Year 375, where Peter of

Al•…•… 〈…〉〈…〉 the H••••••••ick 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and his Followers. The 〈…〉〈…〉 Rea•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thinks that th•• D••••••ees which are in the Collection o•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 found in the second Volume of the Additions 〈◊〉〈◊〉 L••••ee's Edition of the 〈…〉〈…〉 of this Council, and that they were really 〈…〉〈…〉 These Decrees are Sign'd by Me••••ti•••• of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by Euse••i••s o•• 〈…〉〈…〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of T••••s••s, by Eulogi•••• of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, by Zen•• of •…•…, Bishops of the East, whose 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are said, to be in the 〈…〉〈…〉 of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉. These Subscriptions make it very 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that these De∣•…•… 〈…〉〈…〉 of this 〈…〉〈…〉 the Western Bishop••, which was Sign'd in the Year 378 in a Council 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 whereof 〈◊〉〈◊〉 i•• ••ade in the 〈…〉〈…〉 of the Cou••••il of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and in a Letter of the Council of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, produced by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 In short, the Bishop•• of the East having desir'd 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to con•••••• Tim•••••••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, received this Answer. That he was 〈…〉〈…〉 by a Council at Rome, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Peter of Alexandria. This Letter is re∣cited by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ch•• 10 of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉. of his History. It was written about the Year 378. In the •…•…ble of this Letter▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Greatness of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 o•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and speaks of its Preheminence above 〈◊〉〈◊〉

These are the only 〈…〉〈…〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that are extant; all the rest that go under his Name, are forg'd by 〈…〉〈…〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 have not the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Damasus and contain many things which plainly discover their Forgery. The Letter that goes under the Name of A••••elius Bishop of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to Dam•••••••• as well as the Answer of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Pope hear the Names of the Consuls, Gr••••∣••n•••• the third time 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the first. Now this Consulship happened in the Year 374, and A••••elius was yet a D••••con when •…•…, 385, and he was not Ordain'd Bishop, till 389. 'Tis plain therefore that 〈…〉〈…〉 written by Aur••lius. The Letter of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of As••i••k to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of those of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Ma••tin, and establishes a Doctrine contrary to that which the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the Case of Appeals. The Letter to Stephen who is call'd 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is taken out of the Letters of Inno∣centi••••, St. Leo, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 'Tis said to have been written under the Con∣sulship of Sti••ic••o, who was no•• Consul till 16▪ Years after the Death of Damasus. The Letter con∣cerning the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 quotes the Canon•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the Version of dionysius Exiguus. There is also a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Council of Chalced••••, and some Passages of the Letters of Siricias, Innocentius, Z••∣simus, Celestinus, St. Leo, &c. The Letter to the Bishops of Italy, is taken out of St. Leo, St. Gregory, M••••ti•• I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 I the Falshood of it is found out by the Note of the Consulship. Lastly, There are in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 C••••••utens•••• and Gratian, some Decrees attributed to Damasus; but one cannot be assur'd of their Antiquity, upon the Credit of these Authors.

There are besides, above 40 Epigrams, Inscriptions o•• Epitaphs in Verse, which go under the Name of Damasus, and are produced by B••••••nius and Gruter, and Collected together by Sarraza∣nius, who has made long Commentaries upon these Pieces. 'Tis not very certain, that all these be∣long to Damasus, but 'tis no great matter who is the Author of them, for they contain nothing Re∣markable. I shall not here stay to prove that the Book of the Lives of the Popes, entitled the Ponti∣••i••••l of D••••asus, is none of his, because 'tis certain by the Confession of all the World, that it was compos'd long after the Death of this Pope.

The Works of Damasus were Printed at Rome, in the Year 1639. By the Care of Ubaldinus, who Dedicated the•• to Pope Urb•••• VIII. And Billaine▪ Printed another Edition of his Works at Paris, according to that at Rome, in the Year 1672. [His Poems, as Dr. Cave assures us from Oloarius's Abacus Patrologicus, were Printed at Leipsick, by Andreas Rivinus, in 8vo. 1652.]

Notes

• * 1.1

  Damasus, Bishop of Rome