Ecclesiastical history epitomized containing a faithful account of ye birth life & doctrine, crucifixion & ascension of ye holy Iesus : with the lives of ye apostles evangelists & primitive fathers & other famous men in ye Christian Church both antient & modern who have couragiously confessed & suffered glorious martyrdomes & persecutions under several tyrannical governours both heathenish and Romish : faithfully continued to ye reformation and since deduced to this present age / carefully collected by J.S. ... ; in two parts.

The Life of St. CHRYSO∣STOM.

ST. Chrysostom was Born at Antioch, his Fathers Name was Secundus, and his Mother's Au∣thusa, being both descended of Noble extra∣ction. When he came to Years of discretion he was put under the Tutorage of Libanus the Phi∣losopher, where he applyed himself to all the Studies of humane Learning, and greatly reprehend∣ed such as lived loose and ungoverned lives, per∣swading them to embrace the Doctrine of Chri∣stianity, when after a while he perswaded several of his Companions to cast of the cares of the World, and apply their minds wholly to the at∣taining Divine Sapience. He also associated him∣self with St. Basil, by whose grave Instructions he greatly profited. A while after his fame of Learn∣ing encreasing, he by the Bishop of Hierusalem was made Reader of the Church of Antioch. In which station he so discreetly behaved himself, that still he increased in the good opinions of the People; when a while after the Bishop of Constan∣tinople Dying, he was by the unanimous consent of the Clergy chose Bishop in his stead, the Em∣perour highly approving of the choice.

When he was setled in that See, he made it his whole Study to Reform the Errors that were crept into the Church, as also the Lives of the Clergy, whom he freely reproved for their faults.

When at that time finding a great Schisme, be∣tween the Western and Eastern Churches; he laboured diligently to unite their Opinions, nor were his endeavours altogether frustrated.

He Converted many Pagans and Atheists, to the belief and veneration of the true God. Insomuch that he grew famous throughout all the East, so that the conflux of People that resorted to his Sermons were exceeding great, and when he heard that the Bishops of the Churches of Asia, by reason of their wicked Lives were altogether un∣worthy to Govern the Churches, He deposed Thirteen of them, placing Pious and Learned men in their rooms, which aftewards created him no small trouble: For those that were thus outed gathering their Friends together, opposed him in many things, raising scandals, and lay grei∣vous Crimes to his Charge, and amongst the rest they stirred up Eutropius, one of the Emperours Eunuches, who was the Emperours especial Fa∣vorite. This man procured of the Emperour that a Law should be made, that if any Malefactor took Sanctuary, he might be drag'd out of the Church to Execution, but to see the just judgment of God, not long after this Eunuch being Accu∣sed for abusing the Empress, he fled to the Church, and there lay under the Communion Table, when as the Sunday following St. Chry∣sostom Preaching, took occasion to discourse about the unstability of Greatness, and how wicked men though never so highly exalted stood in slippery Places, when at that time the People carryed the Eunuch out of the Church, and according to the Law that himself had procured to be Enacted, delivered him up to the Emperours Officers,

who at the Emperours Command beheaded him.

About this time the Arrians began to trouble the Church, by withdrawing many from the Truth to embrace their Erroneous Opinions, as likewise a great difference arose in Egypt, some affirming that God the Father had a Body in hu∣mane shape, which others as strongly opposed, but Theophilus the Bishop of Alexandria, holding with the formers Opinion many of the latter were obliged for their better safety to fly to Constanti∣nople, there to make their complaints to the Em∣perour, as likewise to St. Chrysostom the Bishop who received them into the Church, which so greived Epiphanius, Bishop of Salamine in Cyprus, and Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria, that they used their utmost endeavours to stir up the Cler∣gy against him. Whereupon they called a Coun∣sel of their party and condemned the Books of Origen, then Epiphanius, coming to Constanti∣nople, made many complaints against Chryso∣stom, and endeavoured to stir up the People a∣gainst him, but finding his hopes frustrated, he returned greatly displeased, and died in his way home.

A while after Theophilus came to Constantinople and there calling a Counsel by the Command of the Emperour, he so far wrought that they depo∣sed Chrysostom, and he was thereupon sent into Ex∣ile, though much against the minds of the People who Guarded his House three days to prevent his being carried thence. But he had not been long absent, before the Emperour revoked his Edict of Banishment, and he was again restored. But a while after the Empress causing her Picture of

Silver to be set up upon a Pillar near the Church, he sharply inveighed against it as a means to in∣troduce Images into the Christian Churches, which so offended the Empress, that she caused another Council to be summoned; who again de∣posed him, which was no sooner done but Cyrinus Bishop of Calcedon, who had most exclaimed a∣gainst him, had such greivous Sores fell in his Legs, that they were forced to be cut off, and the same evening such mighty Hall-stones fell, that the like was never known in that Country, and within four days after the Empress dyed: Yet he was carryed to Cucusus in Armenia, where he was followed by such a number of People, who came to hear him Preach, that his Enemies en∣vying his Fame procured a second Edict, to re∣move him thence far remote; but upon the way by reason of the extream heat he fainted away, and finished his course, receiving the glorious re∣ward of his Labours, the year of his death I find no where set down, but that he flourished in the Bishoprick of Constantinople, Anno Christi 400 is most certain.