'probably were very excellent and valuable, as may be concluded from the capacity of the authors. The first is that of George bishop of Laodicea, whom Athanasius decries as the worst ' of all men, because he was one of the principal supports of Arianism: to whom however Theo⚫doret bears witness, as one of the greatest philosophers of his time. The second book is that ⚫ of Eusebius of Emesa. This bishop, being born at Edessa in Mesopotamia, understood Syriac, 'which was the vulgar tongue of the province, and was able to read the works of Mani in the original. Moreover he lived at a time, when the memory of his life and actions was fresh, and in places where he saw many of his followers. All this, joined with uncommon knowledge and eloquence, rendered Eusebius the most proper man in the world to teach us both the history and the opinions of that heresiarch. But the envy of the Greeks, or their immoderate zeal against the Arians, has caused the loss of all the works of this excellent personage, except a few remains preserved by the Syrians." 12. Lucius, the Arian bishop at Alexandria after Athanasius, as Jerom says, published some small pieces upon divers subjects: for which cause Jerom has given him a place in his Catalogue of Ecclesiastical Writers, and I have put his words at the bottom of the page, and refer to some others for a fuller account. с d 13. Maximin, an Arian bishop, with whom Augustine in the year 427 or 428, had a public disputation or conference, still extant. And soon after that conference, Augustine wrote two books against Maximin, likewise in being. Having already exhibited his testimony to the scriptures, I need not add any thing farther here. f с 14. Philostorgius was born about the year 368, at a village in Cappadocia. His father's name was Carterius, his mother's Eulampia, only daughter of a presbyter named Anysius, who however had four sons besides. His mother's ancestors, both by the father's and mother's side, were Homousians: but Carterius was a follower of Eunomius. He brought over his wife to his own opinion; she persuaded her brothers, and at length her father and other relations. Of this opinion Philostorgius makes open profession; that is, he did not believe the Son of God to be like the Father. When he was twenty years of age, he went to Constantinople, to improve himself in learning. k i His ecclesiastical History, in two parts, making in all twelve books, was published about the year 425, in the time of the emperor Theodosius the younger, in whose reign likewise wrote those other historians, Socrates, Sozomen, and Theodoret; containing the history of affairs from the beginning of the Arian controversy, or about the year 300, to that time. The work itself is lost, but we have large extracts made by Photius. Beside that history, as he himself informs us, he wrote an encomium of Eunomius, and a book against Porphyry in defence of the Christian religion. Philostorgius was undoubtedly a man of a great deal of knowledge and learning, and Photius commends his " style; nevertheless, he may be said to be remarkably credulous. In his brief account of Philostorgius's history Photius observes, that " he extols Eusebius of Nicomedia, Theophilus the Indian, and many others, as eminent for miracles, as well as for piety of life and conversation. n I apprehend it may be worth the while to take notice of some other instances of credulity and superstition in this learned and zealous Arian. He highly commends, as Photius says, Constantius, and says, that he built the church at Constantinople, which is called, and really is great: and that he brought from Achaia the apostle Andrew, and placed him in the church he had built, called also the church of the apostles; near to which he set his father's tomb. He also translated from the same Achaia, Luke the evangelist, and to the same temple. Finally, in like manner he caused to be brought the apostle Timothy from Ephesus in Ionia, to the same celebrated and venerable church. So writes Philostorgius, with manifest signs of approbation. And I suppose, these to be some P P Vid. Basnage Ann. 356. n. xi, &c. & Basnage Hist. de l'Eglise, liv. 19. ch, iv. n. vi. Vid. Philost. L. ix. c. 9. of the very first translations of reliques. But they are mentioned by some other writers in a different order. For the author of the Paschal Chronicle first mentions the translation of the reliques of Timothy in 356, and then the reliques of Luke and Andrew in the next year. And he says of those last, that by order of the emperor Constantius, the reliques of those holy apostles were brought to Constantinople, with much care and veneration, with singing of psalms and hymns, and were deposited in the church of the holy Apostles. St. Jerom's manner of speaking leads us to consider this as a very early instance of this kind of translations. It is our author who says, that Lucian after his martyrdom was brought by a dolphin to the bay of Nicomedia: near to which place was afterwards built the city of Helenopolis. Beside many wonderful appearances related by other historians, by which Julian's attempt to build the temple of Jerusalem was frustrated, Philostorgius tells this strange story: At clearing the foundation a stone was taken up that covered the mouth of a cave, cut out in the rock, into which one of the labourers being let down by a long rope, found it full of water to the middle ' of the leg. Having carefully viewed the cave on every side, he found it to be four-square. This was the report he then made. Being let down again, he observed a pillar reaching a little * above the water, whereon lay a book wrapped up in clean and fine linen. Being drawn up, the • linen was seen to be fresh and fair. And at the front of the book was found written in capital letters, to the great surprize of all, but especially of Jews and Gentiles, " In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." This is related by no other writer of that time. For which reason, as Cave well observes, it stands upon the single authority of Philostorgius;' though he is pleased to add: but he ancient enough, being born. • within five years after the thing was done.' f He says, the s empress, wife of Constantius, was miraculously cured of a certain distemper by Theophilus the Indian. h Photius says, that the ninth book of Philostorgius's history contains many wonderful works of Aëtius, Eunomius and Leontius, forged by the author, as also of Euagrius, and Arianus, and Florentius, especially of Theophilus the Indian, and some others; which nothing but a bigotted: zeal could make him invent: yet he relates them without any restraint from a sense of shame of their absurdity and improbability. k He has many stories of judgments befalling the apostates from Christianity, in the time of Julian; and another judgment upon a wicked man, who endeavoured to shelter himself in communion with Athanasius. m Speaking of things that happened in his own time, he says, that in several places there fell hail as large as a man could grasp in his hand; and some pieces were found to weigh eight pounds. I forbear to mention any more of these wonders; but I shall refer in the margin to a place or, I proceed to take some things in him relating to the scriptures. At the beginning of his large extracts Photius observes that Philostorgius says, he does not know who is the author of the books of the Maccabees. He esteems the first of those books very valuable, as agreeable to the prophecies of Daniel.- -Moreover he says, that the second book does not appear to be written by the same author.- -The third book he much dislikes. fourth book, he says, was written by Josephus.. The He blames some people for sitting when the gospels were read. He speaks of Aëtius having first with care studied the evangelists, then the epistles of Paul, after that the Prophets, particularly Ezekiel: which was mentioned formerly: as have been also divers other things, relating to the scriptures, in the history of several, taken from this writer. 15. Sabinus. Cave supposeth him to have flourished about the year 425. For what reason he placed him so late I cannot tell. Tillemont agrees, that he wrote in the time of Valens: and Fabricius, under Valens or Gratian. с e g By Socrates we are informed, that Sabinus was bishop of the Macedonians at Heraclea in Thrace. He sometimes calls Sabinus a leader of the Macedonian sect, and a' Semi-arian. He wrote a History of Councils, beginning with that at Nice. The title of his book seems to have been a collection of Synods, or of the Acts of Synods. This author is often quoted by Socrates, who took some materials from him for his own work. Socrates does likewise several times complain of his partiality," in suppressing and concealing divers things which did not make for the honour of his party. And the justness of those remarks must, I think, be allowed by every one who reads them in Socrates. i 16. Says Jerom: Theodore bishop of Heraclea in Thrace, in the time of the emperor Con⚫stantius, published Commentaries upon Matthew and John, and upon the Apostle, and upon the Psalter, in a neat and elegant style, explaining chiefly the literal sense.' Cave computes, that he was made bishop of Heraclea about the year 334. Tillemont says that he was put in that see some time before the year 334, but in what year is uncertain. The time of his episcopate is collected from a passage of Theodoret. Athanasius expressly says, that he was promoted by the Arians. He was deposed by the synod of Sardica in 347. He died as some think, in 355, others about the year 358. Theodoret reckons him with Eusebius of Nicomedia, and Theognis of Nice, one of the prime adversaries of Athanasius. He nevertheless owns, that he was a very learned man, and wrote a Commentary upon the divine gospels. Jerom has elsewhere plainly mentioned this bishop's Commentary upon the Psalms; and refers also, as it seems, to his' Commentary upon the epistles to the Galatians. X It is supposed by " Cave, and Fabricius, that his Commentary upon the Psalms is still extant entire. Tillemont only says: It' is thought, that we still have his Commentary upon the Psalms, and some fragments of what he wrote on St. Matthew. I must own likewise, that it appears to me very doubtful, whether the Commentary upon the Psalms, published by Corderius, be justly ascribed to this Bishop of Heraclea in its present condition. It is however well written, and there are in it many good observations. The author (if the remarks of several are not there mixed together,) received the epistle to the Hebrews as St. Paul's. aa 17. I may not omit Ulphilas, but must aim at brevity, and refer to others, both " ancients and bb moderns, for a more particular account. Cave supposeth him to have flourished chiefly about the year 365. сс Socrates says, that " Ulphilas subscribed the Arian Creed of the council held at Constantinople in 360, who before had followed the Nicene faith, which had been signed by Theophilus, bishop of the Goths, who was present at that council. a H. L. T. i. P. 41. Je ne sais, si cette retenue de Sabin à leur égard ne marqueroit point, qu'il écrivoit sous Valens, dans le temps que les purs Ariens étoient encore tout-puissans. Les Ariens. Art. 107. med. cujus oollectionema Concilio Nicæno usque ad Valentis tempora, sub quo, vel sub Gratiano, scripsisse videtur. Fabr. Bib. Gr. T. 6. p. 119. not. d ὁ Σαβίνος γαρ, ό των εν Ηρακλεία της Θράκης Μακεδονιανων επίσκοπος. κ. λ. 1. i. c. 8. p. 20. A. • Σαβίνος ὁ της Μακεδονια αίρεσεως προεςως. 1. i. c. 9. p. 31. D. Vid. & l. ii. c. 15. f • Αρειανίζων γαρ τι ήμισυ. 1. iv. c. 22. p. 231. Β. 8 - εν τη συναίωξη των συνοδων. 1. ii. c. 17. p. 95. Β. τη συναίωξη των συνοδίκων Σαβίνε. 1. iii. c. 25. p. 204. D. Vid. l. ii. c. 15. p. 92. et c. 17. p. 95. l. iv. c. 22. Theodorus, Heraclea Thraciarum episcopus, elegantis apertique sermonis, & magis historicæ intelligentiæ, edidit sub Constantio principe commentarios in Matthæum & in Joannem, & in Apostolum,& in Psalterium. De V. I. cap. 90. Hist. Lit. T. i. p. 203. 1 Les Ariens Art. 20. n Ad Episc. Æg. & Lib. p. 277. A. m L. i. c. 28. • Fabr. Bib. Gr. T. viii. p. 412. › Cav. ubi supr. maxime in explanatione Psalmorum, quos apud Græcos interpretati sunt multis voluminibus primus Origenes, secundus Eusebius Cæsariensis, tertius Theodorus Heracleotes, Hier. ad Aug. Ep. 73. al. 95. p. 627. in. Prætermitto Didymum,- Eusebium quoque Emisenum, & Theodorum Heracleotem: qui & ipsi nonnullos super hac re commentarios reliquerunt. Ib. p. 619. in. Ex his exstat nonnisi commentarius integer in Psalmos. Cav. ib. p. 203. * Commentarium Theodori in Psalmos integrum cum Patrum in Psalmos Catena Corderius edidit. Fabr. ubi supr. p. 412. y Les Ariens Art. 21. sub fin. * Vid. Corderii Caten. Patr. Gr. in Ps. ii. ver. 7. T. i. p. 27. bb Cav. H. L. Tillem. Les Ariens art. 132, 133. b a It seems, that in the time of the emperor Valens, the Christians of that country were brought more generally into the Arian scheme than they had been before. Theodoret expressly says that the Goths had long before received the rays of divine light, and until that time had been nourished in the apostolical doctrine. He adds, that even after that alteration they believed indeed the Father to be greater than the Son; but they did not call the Son a creature, though they communicated with those who did so. с Ulphilas was in great authority with that people, and very useful to them. He cultivated among them civility and learning, and made many converts to the Christian religion. He invented for them an alphabet, and translated the scriptures of the Old and New Testament into their language: excepting only, as Philostorgius says, the books of the kingdom, [meaning, it is likely, the two books of Samuel, the two books of the Kings, and the books of the Chronicles,] containing the history of wars: for the Goths being a warlike people, he thought they rather needed a check, than an incentive to fighting. As these were great performances, I have placed at the bottom of the page, the accounts of several writers in the original words at length. This may suffice for a brief history of Arian writers, in most of which articles somewhat has offered relating to the scriptures, so much respected by all Christians in general.. CHA P. LXX. CONSTANTINE THE GREAT, THE FIRST CHRISTIAN EMPEROR. I. The time and place of Constantine's birth, and the condition of his mother IIelena. II. The state of the Roman empire in the latter part of the third, and the beginning of the fourth Century, with a view of Constantine's reign. III. His conversion to the Christian religion. IV. His acts, as a Christian, or favourer of Christians: 1. Edicts in favour of the Christians, soon after the defeat of Maxentius. 2. Particular privileges for catholic Christians, and their ministers. 3. Edicts in favour of the Christians, and restraining the heathens, after the final defeat of Licinius. 4. The council of Nice. 5. Churches built by Constantine and Helena in Palestine. 6. Of her finding the cross at Jerusalem. 7. Heathen people farther restrained, their temples shut up, and some of them demolished. 8. His treatment of heretics. 9. His religious exercises, and laws for observing the Lord's day, for abolishing the punishment of the cross, for prohibiting shews of Gladiators, and the like. 10. Other laws and edicts. V. His character. VI. The censures passed upon several of his actions examined. VII. Remarks upon the different treatment of catholics, heretics, and heathen people. VIII. His testimony to the sacred scriptures. I. CONSTANTINE, called the great, son of Flavius Valerius Constantius, surnamed Chlorus, and Helena, was born on the 27th day of February, in the year of Christ 272, or, as some think in " 273, or, as others, in 1 274. a Vid. Socr. I. iv. c. 33. Soz. 1. vi. c. 37. • Παλαι γαρ τας της Θεοίνωσιας ακτίνας δεξάμενοι, τοις απος :λικοις ενεΐρεφοντο δείμασι. Theod. 1. iv. c. 37. p. 195. D. • Οι δη ένεκα, μέχρι και σήμερον οἱ Γοίθοι μείζονα μεν τον Πατερα λείωσι το Υί8· κίισμα δε τον Υίον ειπείν εκ ανεχονται. x. λ. ib. p. 196. B. * Τοτε δε και Ουλφίλας, ὁ των Γοίθων επίσκοπος, γραμματα εφεύρε Γοΐθικα, και τας θείας γραφας εις την Γοίθων μεταβαλων, της βαρβάρος μανθάνειν τα θεια λαδια παρεσκυασεν. Socr. 1. iv. c. 33. p. 251. Πρώτος δε γραμμαίων εὑρείης αυτοις εξενείο, και εις την οικείαν φωνην μεταφρασε τας Ιερας βιβλος. Soz. I. vi. c. 37. p. 698. Α. • Και γραμμαίων αυίοις οικείων εὑρελης καλαςας, μετέφρασεν εις την αυτων φωνην τας γραφας άπασας, πλην γε δη των Βασιλείων, άτε των πολέμων ισορίαν εχετων. κ. λ. Phil. 1. ii. c. 5. VOL. II. f His name at length, in Latin, is Caius Flavius Valèrius Aurelius Claudius Constantinus Magnus. Natus est tertio Calendas Martii A. 272. Anno 306. octavo Cal. Augusti, patre Eboraci mortuo, in imperatorein levatus est. Cav. H. L. in Constant. M. Natus est Constantinus anno Ch. 272. ex Helena priori Constantii Chlori conjuge. Pagi Ann. 337. n. iv. Constantinus-anno vel 272 vel 273; natus est. Basnag. 306. n. iii. h Imprimis certum est Constantinum natum esse anno circiter 273, Aureliano imperante. Noris. Diss. de M. Constantini patriâ & parentibus. i Natus Naïsi Daciæ oppido A. C. 274, die 27 Februarii. Fabric. B. Gr. 1. v. c. 3. sect. 1. Il naquit le 27 Février, vers l'an 274. Tillem. L' Emp. Constantin. Art. iv. in. 2 T a Others, Baronius, and many others, have thought, that Constantine was born in Britain. (which I suppose to be at present the more common opinion,) say, he was born at Naissus, now called Nissa, a town of Dardania in Illyricum. d с The opinion, that Constantine was born in Britain, is chiefly founded upon a passage in the panegyric of an anonymous author to Maximian and Constantine, spoken in the year 307; where it is said, that Constantine had ennobled Britain by his birth. But that expression may be as well understood of his royal, as of his natural birth. Eumenes likewise, in his panegyric to this prince, calls, Britain happy, which first saw Constantine Cæsar. But the meaning, I apprehend, is not, that Britain first saw Constantine, but first saw him Cæsar: he having been there proclaimed Cæsar by the soldiers, immediately after his father's death. f h i It is generally allowed, that Helena, the mother of Constantine, was a woman of a mean birth. And S. Ambrose calls her stabulariam, perhaps, as being the daughter of an innkeeper. Whether Helena was the lawful wife of Constantius Chlorus, or only his concubine, is a disputable point for even some Christian, as well as heathen authors, call her a concubine, and her son spurious. It may seem strange that Constantine should succeed his father in the empire without dispute, when there were several sons by a legal wife, if he was not legitimate. But the writer of the Paschal Chronicle (who calls Constantine spurious) assigns this reason for it, that all the other children of Constantius were young at the time of his death. However, beside that undisputed succession, there are several reasons to think, Helena was the lawful wife of Constantius Chlorus. If Constantine had been illegitimate, he would not have been treated, when young, with so much' respect by Dioclesian as he was. When it was proposed to choose new Cæsars, it does not appear that " any exception was made to Constantine on account of his birth. The author of a panegyric pronounced in 313, speaks of Constantine, as the genuine son of Constantius: which would scarce have been openly mentioned, if there had been any ground for suspicion or contradiction. And the historians, who speak of Constantius's marriage with the daughter of Maximian, say, he was first divorced from his former wife. which seem to be arguments of no small force, for the lawful marriage of Helena: and will at least render it probable, that if she was originally a concubine only, she was afterwards married to Constantius. All Cardinal Noris ingeniously accounts" for Constantius's marrying a woman of mean condition, from the low military office he was in, when young. And if there is any ground for the story in 1 Nicephorus, one might be apt to think, that Constantius became first acquainted with Helena at a Ann. 306. n. xvi. Pagi. Crit. in Baron. 3C6. n. ix. Basnag. 306. n. iii. Cuper. Pr. ad Lact. de M. P. Tillem. Hist. des Emp. T. iv. P. i. Constantin. Art. iv. Noris. Diss. de M. Constantin, patr. & parent. Hic igitur Constantinus natus Helenâ matre vilissimâ in oppido [forte vilissimo in oppido. Cuper.] Naïso, atque eductus, quod oppidum postea magnifice ornavit. Excerpta auctoris incerti a Valesio edita, ap. Amm. Marcell. p. 710. Lugd. Bat. 1693. Vid. & Jul. Firmic. Mathes. I. i. c. ult. & Steph. de Urbibus V. Nairo5. d Liberavit ille [Constantius] Britannias servitute: tu etiam nobiles illic oriendo fecisti. Paneg. vi. sect. 4. p. 192. Paris. 1676. e Vid. Basnag. 306. n. iii. Pagi 306. c. xiv. xv. O fortunata, & nunc omnibus beatior terris Britannia, quæ Constantinum Cæsarem prima vidisti. Paneg. vii. sect. ix. p. 207. Stabulariam hanc primo fuisse asserunt, sic cognitam Constantio seniori, qui postea regnum adeptus est. Amb. de Obit. Theod. sect. 42. p. 1209. T. ii. h Constantius sexto decimo imperii anno diem obiit Eboraci. Post quem filius ejus Constantinus, ex concubinâ Helenâ procreatus, regnum invadit. Hieron. Chron. p. 180. Και εδέξατο αυτόν ὁ παις αυτ8 Κωνσαντινος, ὁ νοίος εξ Ελενης αυτῳ γενόμενος· οι γαρ απο Θεοδωρας αυτῳ τεχθενίες μικροι UTO. Chr. Pasch. p. 278. A. B. Paris. 1688. * Κωνσαντινος εξ ὁμιλιας γυναίκος 8 σεμνης, εδε κατα νόμον συνελθέσης, Κωνσαντιῳ τῷ βασιλει γε ενημενος. Zos. 1, 1. p. 672. Verum Constantio mortuo, Constantinus, ex obscuriore matrimonio ejus filius, in Britanniâ creatus est imperator. Eutrop. 1. x. cap. 2. 1 k Vid. not. " συν τω πρεσβύτερῳ των βασιλεων 8 και επι δεξια παρεςως. κ. λ. Euseb. V. C. 1. i. c. 19. m Vid. de M. P. cap. 18, 19. n Quod erat ille Maximiani suppositus, tu Constantii Pii filius. Paneg. ix. c. 4. Relictâ enim Helenâ priore uxore, filiam Maximiani Theodoram duxit uxorem. Vales. Anonym. in. Prior Herculii privignam, alter Diocletiano editam sortiuntur, diremptis prioribus conjugiis. Aurel. Vict. de Cæsar. c. 39. -Tradens Constantio Theodoram Herculii Maximiani privignam, abjectâ uxore priori. Victor. Epit. c. 39. Ambo uxores, quas habuerunt, repudiare compulsi. Eutrop. 1. ix. P Cæterum Helenam origine plebeiam fuisse, si antiquioribus ulla fides.-Hæc verisimiliora fient, si primam in castris Constantii dignitatem consideremus. Fuit enim primum Protector.-Fieri ergo potuit, ut Constantius cum ex injuncto munere Protectoris itinerum custodiis præesset, ac publicorum equorum stabula, quæ amplissima per Romanum imperium publicis impensis servabantur, Helena stabularii filiæ pulchritudine captus, cum eâdem nuptias iniverit. Noris. ubi supr. p. 648. 1 Vid. Niceph. T. i. p. 463, 464. |