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.

ATHENAGORAS and HERMIAS.

ATHENAGORAS an Athenian Philosopher, lived in the time of the Emperor Marcus Antoninus, * 1.1 to whom he presented an Apology for the Christians a 1.2. This Work and its Author, were unknown to Eusebius, S. Jerom, and Photius, but it is cited by S. Epiphanius in the Heresie of Origen. In this Apology he refutes the three principle Calumnies that were alledged against the Christians, as 1. That they were Atheists. 2. That they eat humane Flesh. 3. That they committed horrible Crimes in their Assembles. To the first Accusation he makes Answer, that the Christians were not Atheists, since they acknowledged and adored one God in Three Persons, and lived Conformably to his Laws and Commandments, believing that he sees and knows all things; that they refused to worship Idols, and to offer Sacrifice to them, as being persuaded that they were not Dieties. He replys to the two last Objections, in shewing that the Life, Laws and Manners of the Christians were very far from Murther and those infamous Crimes whereof they were accused. He plainly Establisheth the Unity of the Essence of God, and the Trinity of the three Divine Per∣sons: He affirms that the Word, that remained in God from all Eternity departed from him, (if we may use such an Expression) to create and govern all things: He maintains the worship of Angels, and declares that they were created to take care of Affairs here below. He asserts that the Devils were ruined through the Love that they bore unto Women; he admits Free-will in its utmost Latitude; he makes divers Descriptions of the Holiness of the Conversation of the Christians; he commends Virginity; he condemneth second Marriages, calling them an honest Adultery; Lastly, he Treats of the Resurrec∣tion, and of the last Judgment.

There is another Treatise of this Father extant, concerning the Resurrection of the Dead, wherein he endeavours to prove, that it is not only not impossible, but even extremely credible: These two Books are written in a Dogmatical style; they were Printed separately in Greek and Latin b 1.3, Tran∣slated by Gesner, Nannius, Marsilius Ficinus and Suffridus, and are inserted in the Bibliotheca Patrum, as also in Greek, in the Supplement to the Bibliotheca; and Lastly, after the Works of S. Justin, with the Annotations of Gesner, and Henry Stephen; there is another imperfect Tract annexed to them, which is a continual Series of Satyrical Reflections, on the Opinions and Philosophical Notions of the Gentiles, Composed by Hermias, a Christian Philosopher. But this Author is not known, nor the precise time when he wrote, however it is not to be doubted but that he is ancient, and that he lived before the Pagan Religion was extirpated. This little Book was Printed by it self in Greek and Latin, at Basil, Anno Dom. 1553.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Athenago∣ras & Hermias.
• a 1.2

  In the time of Emperor Marcus Antoninus, &c.] He joyns Lucius Aurelius Commodus with Marcus. Labbé affirms that it was Lucius Verus; but it is more probable, that it was Commodus the Son of Antoni∣nus, and that this Apology was presented after his be∣ing taken into the Government, about the Year 178.
• b 1.3

  In Greek and Latin] At Paris in Quarto, by Veke, Ann. Dom. 1541, and in Octavo, by Stephen with Nannius's Translation in 1557. Also by Plan∣tin at Antwerp in 1560, 1583, and 1588. The Tran∣slation of Suffridus was Printed at Colen, with Com∣mentaries in 1567, and 1573. Nannius's Version of the Treatise concerning the Resurrection, was pub∣lished at the end of the Works of Philo at Basil 1561, and in 1558 by Episcopius, as also at Colen in 1599. There is a Version of the Treatise of the Resurrection by Ficinus, and Printed at Basil in 1516, and another of Valetus in Italian, Printed at Venice in 1556. The Apology was Printed in Latin at Paris in 1498, in Greek and Latin in 1577. In Latin at Basil 1565. Translated by Gesner, and there again in 1558, in Octavo at Zurick in 1599. The Book concerning the Resurrection of the Dead, was Printed in Latin at Paris in 1498, at Basil in 1561. In Greek and La∣tin in Venice in 1498, and 1550. At Basil in 1593, and 1653. At Paris in 1615, 1618, and 1636. The Tran∣slations which are at the end of S. Justin, are Nan∣nius's of the Treatise of the Resurrection, and Ges∣ner's of the Apology.

  [Athenagoras has also been Printed at Oxon Gr. Lar. in 12^o. 1682; and at Leipzick 1684, in Oct. cum Not is Var.]