Some seasonable remarks upon the deplorable fall of the Emperour Julian with an epistle of his to the citizens of Bostra / now made English ; by Philaretus Anthropopolita.

JULIAN to the BOSTRENS.

I Thought verily the Galilaean Prelates would have accounted themselves better obliged by me, than they were by my Prede∣cessour. Since in his time many of them Suf∣fer'd Exile, Persecution and Imprisonment; nay whole Corporations of them they term Hereticks, were put to the Sword: Insomuch that at Samosata, Cyzicum, Paphlagonia, Bi∣thynia, Galatia and many other Countreys, whole Towns were laid level with the Earth. The clean contrary to which has been in my time. For such as had been Exiled I called home, and to such as had been Proscrib'd, I restor'd their own entire. But to that pitch of bestial Outrage are they arrived, that since they may not still act the Tyrants, nor as men above the controul of Laws, perpetrate what they did formerly, not only upon us, that reverence the Gods, but upon one another too; they leave no stone unturn'd, and have the impudence to raise Tumults and Insurre∣ctions among the people; practising neither Piety to the Gods, nor Obedience to our Laws, though so gentle and humane to them.

Wherefore we will have none of them hal'd to our Altars, but contrariwise do hereby streightly charge them, that if any of them shall hereafter of his free minde desire to par∣ticipate with us in our Religious Rites, that he first offer Expiatory Sacrifice, and propi∣tiate the averting Deities. So far are we from being fond of their communion, that it cannot so much as once enter into us, that any per∣sons so impious as they, can be at all qualified to participate of our holy Sacrifices, before he hath purged his Minde by supplicating the Gods, and his Body by the usual Purgations. To me it is plain that the People, by the se∣duction of those they call Clergie, do raise these stirs, and all because they are restrained their former Excesses. For having once en∣joy'd a Tyranny of their own, they cannot be contented with Impunity for their past Crimes, but still thirst for their former Domi∣nation; and because they may not play the Judges, nor make peoples Wills, and pos∣sess themselves of other mens Patrimonies, and so get all into their own clutches, they leave no base nor unlawful design unattempted; but as the Saying is, Pile fire upon fire; and are so daring as to adde to their former Villanies

fresh ones, much greater than them, enraging the people, to create Disorders. Wherefore I thought fit by this publick Declaration to fore∣warn all good people, that they tumultuate not with their Clergie, nor be perswaded by them to take up stones, nor to oppose their Superiours. Let them congregate with them as long as they shall think good, and say what Prayers they shall appoint them, so it be for themselves only. But if they shall go about to Preach them into Rebellion, let them give ear to them at their utmost peril. I the rather give this warning unto the good Citi∣zens of Bostra, because Bishop Titus and his Clergy, to purge themselves, have impeach'd them; saying, That they had indeed done their utmost to qualifie them, but that they were ungovernable. I have therefore speci∣fied in this my Declaration the words the Bishop had the face to insert into his Defense; Though the Christians (saith he) were not inferior to the Greeks in number, yet I did my best to pacifie them. These are your Bishops very words of you. Mark, I pray you, how he imputes your quietness to himself, not to you. You are, if he say true, restrained, not by your own good Inclinations, but by his per∣swasions.

Expel him your City as your com∣mon Accuser. You Lay-men live in peace one with another, and let none of you act either Opposition to the Government, or In∣justice to your Neighbours. Neither do you, abused and mistaken people, offer any wrong to those that lawfully and truely serve the Gods according to antient Custome; nor do you, the true Worshippers of the Gods, either mo∣lest the Families or ravage the Goods of those that are misled through Simplicity and Igno∣rance. Men ought to be brought over by Reason and Perswasion, and not by ill Usage, Blows, or Stripes. I again and again strictly charge all such as are Followers of true Piety, no wise to injure, affront or abuse the Galilaean Laity. For such as act erroneously in greatest matters, are rather objects of Commiseration than Hatred. Now as Piety is the best of Goods, so is Impiety the worst of Ills. And such as relinquish the Immortal Gods for the Bones and Reliques of dead men, are suffici∣ently punisht by the exchange they make. We ever compassionate persons involv'd in Cala∣mities, as we congratulate those whom the Gods have deliver'd.

Dat. Antioch. Aug. 1.