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.

COMMODIANUS.

HERE are Two Authors of the Fourth Century, whose Works have the same Character and * 1.1 Genius with those that were composed by the Writers of the Three first Centuries.

The First is called Commodianus: He is no where mentioned by the Ancients; but in reading his Poetry, 'tis an easie matter to see that it is not Supposititious. Gelasius places his Books amongst those which he calls Apochryphal, because the Millenary Opinion is here maintain'd, and Gennadius speaks of this Author in the following Words.

Commodianus giving up himself to the Study of Humane Learning, read also the Books of the Christians. This gave him a favourable Opportunity of embracing the Faith. Being now become a Christian, and desirous to offer to Jesus Christ the Author of his Salvation a Present befitting a Man of Learning, he wrote a Treatise against the Pa∣gans in Verse, which is composed in a middle Stile, neither Verse, nor Prose: And because he had but slightly turned over our Authors, he was able to confute the Pagan Religion with more ease, than to establish that of the Christians. Hence it is that he speaks of the Divine Recompences af∣ter a gross manner, following in this the Opinion of Tertullian, Lactantius and Papias. But his Morals are Excellent, and he persu••des Men to embrace a voluntary Poverty.

This is the Opinion of Gennadius concerning this Author, who lived in the Beginning of the Fourth Age, in the time of Pope Sylvester a 1.2. He calls himself Commodianus b 1.3, and by way of Allusion Gazaeus c 1.4, and gives himself the Title of the Beggar of Jesus Christ. He tells us, That he was once engaged in the Errors of the Heathens; but that he was converted by reading the Law of the Christians. His Work is entituled, Instructions; and is composed after the Fashion of Verse: I say after the Fashion of Verse, because he neither observes Measure, nor Cadence in it; but only takes care that every Line shall comprise a fini∣shed sence, and shall begin with an Acrostick, in such manner, that all the Letters of the Title of every Strophe are to be found one after another at the beginning of each Verse; and thus by taking all the first Letters of the Verse, we find the entire Title.

His Stile is harsh, his Words barbarous, and his Thoughts are seldom elevated. The Author ap∣pears to have been a Good Man, very simple, very humble, very charitable, thoroughly affected with the love of Jesus Christ, zealous for his Religion, austere in his Morals, an enemy to Vice, far re∣moved from the Pleasures of the World, and a singular good Monk, as Rigaltius has observed of him. Though after all, we must own, that he was not very Ignorant; for there is a tolerable store of Pro∣phane Learning in his Work, and we meet there with several Remarks upon the Pagan Deities that are exceeding Curious and Rare, as well as Entertaining. He seems to have had a great deal of good Sence, of Quickness, and Christian Morality: This Treatise was for a long time buried in Obscurity, and was lately found in our days. Sirmondus had it Copied from an old Manuscript, and Rigaltius made use of this Copy, and Printed it separately in the Year 1650. We may divide it into Three Parts. The First, which contains Thirty six Strophes, is addressed to the Gentiles; whom he exhorts to embrace the Religion of Jesus Christ, after has exposed the Falshood he of the Divinities which they Adored. The Second is directed to the Jews; whom he likewise persuades to embrace the Christian Religion, showing them, that the Law was merely Figurative. He there speaks concerning Anti-christ,

the last Judgment, and the Resurrection. The Last is addressed to the Christian Catechu∣mens, to the Faithful, and to the Penitents, to whom he gives admirable Instructions in Morality. It begins at the Forty sixth Strophe.

We find in this Author most of the Errors of the Ancients. He is of Opinion that the Daemons 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Angels, that were de••••••ched with the love of Women; and that the Giants came from this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Commerce; That the World will end after Six Thousand Years; That Nero was Anti-christ; That there will be Two Resurrections, That of the Just before the Reign of the Thou∣sand Years▪ and the General One at the Day of Judgment; That the Just after the First Resurre∣ction, shall live a Thousand Years upon the Earth; That 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that time, all Men shall be Judged, the Wicked thrown head long into Fire, and the whole ••ead of Nature changed. His Moral Instru∣ctions are very Excellent. He recommends to the Consideration of the Catechumens to lead a Life free from Sin. He advices the Penitents to pray Night and Day, to live after an austere manner, that they may obtain Remission of their Sins. He Exhorts the Faithful to avoid all Evil, and to banish from their Hearts the very Motions of Hatred, assuring them, That Martyrdom will stand them in little stead, if they have an Aversion towards their Brethren. He represents to Apostates the greatness of their Sin, and admonishes all Christians in general, that being Souldiers of Jesus Christ, they ought continually to wage War with their Passions. He prohibits them to appear at the Prophane Shows. He advises Christian Women to be Modest, to avoid Luxury and Magnifi∣cence of Apparel. He gives incomparable Instructions to Ministers and Priests, that they may ac∣quit themselves worthily in their Ministry, and persuades them to lead a Life unblameable, and ex∣empt from Avarice; but above all, to relieve the Necessities of the Poor. He counsels the Rich not to value themselves the more highly upon the score of their Riches, but to communicate part to the Indigent; to assist and visit those that are in Sickness, and to Comfort those that labour under Affli∣ction. He says, That we ought not to lament the Death of our Children or Relations. He condemns all Funeral Pomps, and proud Interments. He powerfully reprehends those Persons that don't observe Silence in the Church.

The Priest of the Lord, says he, has said, Lift up your Hearts to God; you answer, That you have; and yet immediately forget the Word. He prays to the Lord in behalf of the People, and in the mean time you are entertaining one another with Stories; you Laugh, you speak Evil of your Neighbours, you talk inconsiderately, as if God were absent, even he that has made all, that sees all, and understands all.

He advises those that Pray to God, to purifie their Hearts, before they address themselves to Him by way of Prayer. In a word, The last Part of his Instructions contains excellent Exhortations, to incline Christians to the Love and Pra∣ctice of Vertue, to turn them away from Vice, and his Remonstrances concerning the corrupt Man∣ners of the Christians, and the Irregularities of his own time, carry a very near resemblance to those of our Age.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Commodia∣nus.
• a 1.2

  In the time of Pope Sylvester.] Chap. 33. He ex∣horts the Pagans to join themselves to the Congregation of Sylvester; which plainly shows, that he lived at that time, and wrote in Rome or in Italy, though his Stile is African.
• b 1.3

  Commodianus.] At the end of his Work he tells us, That his Name may be found out by searching after it in his Verses; now if we take the first Letters of every Verse in the last Strophe, and put them together, we shall find Commodianus Mendicus Christi.
• c 1.4

  Gazaeus.] In all Probability he is so called à Gaza, as he is named Commodianus à Commodis.