A vindication of the primitive Christians in point of obedience to their Prince against the calumnies of a book intituled, The life of Julian, written by Ecebolius the Sophist as also the doctrine of passive obedience cleared in defence of Dr. Hicks : together with an appendix : being a more full and distinct answer to Mr. Tho. Hunt's preface and postscript : unto all which is added The life of Julian, enlarg'd.

His dying Speech.

THe time of departing this life is (my Companions) now at hand; which as an honest and well-meaning Debtor, I gladly repay to Nature; not, as some belie∣ved, with reluctancie and sorrow; for by the common Opinion of Philosophers I am sufficiently instructed in how much more blessed condition the Soul is than the Bodie; and am satisfied, that when one passeth out of a worse into a better estate, he ought to rejoyce, rather than to be troubled: consi∣dering also, that the Celestial Gods reward the most pious men with death, as the grea∣test reward of all others. I also am assured that it hapneth to me after the same man∣ner; lest I should fall under some heavie burthens, as I undergo, or do any thing un∣worthie of my self: having yet ever found by experience, that sorrows and pains as they domineer over Cowards, so are easily overcome by Valiant persons. Neither doth it repent me of my Actions, nor the re∣membrance of any Wickedness afflict me, either committed at such time as I lay in

the shade and in corners as I could, and studied vertue; or since I came to the Government. I think I have kept my self blameless and without blemish, as one de∣scended from the Gods above. —In times of Peace governing with moderation, not without good consideration making either Offensive or Defensive Wars, though the issue were not always answerable: For the Celestial Powers alone have the Soveraignty of Events; concluding with my self, that the end of Government is the advantage and safety of good Subjects. I have ever been (as you know) more inclined to Peace and Tranquillitie by the whole course of my actions; opposing Lasciviousness, as that which corrupts both things and man∣ners; and whithersoever my Mother the Commonwealth, how imperiously soever, called me, though to never so dangerous a Post, there have I stood immovable, being accustomed to despise all fortuitous events. I will not be ashamed to confess, that I have heretofore understood that I should die in War: and therefore I adore and praise the eternal Divinity, that I perish not by any Conspiracie, nor languish through the pain of a Disease; nor am I condemned to death, (he thought it might have been upon his Bro∣ther's death) but in the middle course of

my flourishing Glory, I have deserved so renowned a passage out of this world. He is equally to be esteemed a Coward, who desireth to die when he ought to live, as he who shuns death when it comes convenient∣ly. Thus much may suffice to have spo∣ken, my strength now failing me. Con∣cerning my Successor I wittingly say no∣thing, lest through imprudence I should pass by a worthie person, or by naming one I conceive fitly qualified, if another should chance to be preferred, bring him into im∣minent danger; but as a dutiful Son of the Commonwealth, I wish her a good Gover∣nour in my room.

Having spoken this, he perceived his At∣tendants to weep, whom he gravely rebuked, affirming it a pitiful mean thing to bemoan a Prince that was a friend to Heaven and the Stars. And they being silent, he entred in∣to a subtile discourse with Maximus and Pri∣scus, two Philosophers; concerning the subli∣mitie of Souls; till such time as the Wound gaping, and the Tumor of the Vessels inter∣cepting his Breath, having called for a draught of cold Water, he died the more easi∣ly, about Midnight, in the 32d year of his Age, and the second of his Empire; having been Caesar Six years. He left no Child be∣hind him; his Wife being dead in France be∣fore

he came from thence. He was buried in the Suburbs of Tarsus by Procopius, to whom he gave order for it: and Zosimus saith his Tomb hath this Epitaph:

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