ecclesiasticalhi00euse.pdf

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LIBRARY OF WELLESLEY COLLEGE PRESENTED BY /g-iy. THE ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF EUSEBIUS PAMPHILUS BISHOP OF CESAREA, IN PALESTINE. TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL, WITH AN INTRODUCTION, EY CflRISTIAN FREDERICK CRUSE, D.D. AND AN HISTORICAL VIEW OF THE COUNCIL OF NICE, KY ISAAC BOYLE, D.D. TENTH EDITION. ieto |)0rk: THOMAS N. STANFORD, 637 BROADWAY. 1850. UL.^ Entered accoiding to Act of Congrcj4. m tne year 1S33, by the Rev. 11. Davis & Brotiiek, in the Clerk's Office of the oistrict Court cf the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. /^ • i^ci INTRODUCTION TO THE ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF EUSEBIFS- Note—In Part T. of the following Introduction, the references show the Book and chapter ; in Part II. they show the page. Occasionally there is a double reference. Part I.—GENERAL ABSTRACT OF EVENTS. This work, the most important that has come down to us from Eusebius of Cesarea, and the most important of any, perhaps, that have came to us from the earlier Fathers of the Church, em- braces the events of the first three centuries, down to the time when Constantine became sole master of the Roman world. It is divided into ten books, in chronological order, and opens with a preliminary discourse, the matter of which is strictly theological. It is an apology and exposition of Christian doctrine. The de- sign is chiefly to exhibit the Christian Religion in its true antiquity, dignity and excellence, on grounds derived from the titles, offices, and exalted Nature and Dignity of its Blessed Author, and from a comparative view of facts and passages of the Old Testament, showing that the Person and Doctrine of Christ had been the object of faith and hope from the most remote ages. Here, then, we have a summary of Christian Doctrine in the Primitive Church. In this connection also, Eusebius accounts for the seemins: difficulty that the Gospel was not sooner introduced; or rather, why this Divine Dispensation was so long delayed. After this summary of Christian Theology, commences what is properly the object of the work—the History of the Church. (B. I. p. 28.) The time when our Lord was born, being an important histori- cal fact, authorities are given corroborating the statement of St. Luke, and settling the question in general, to what particular period this happy event is to be referred. (B. L ch. 5.) The coincidence with the language of Prophecy is then illustrated by a reference to the state of the Jewish Government at the time, and the seeming discrepancy between the gospels of Matthew and Luke on the genealogy of Christ, is reconciled. (B. L ch. 7.) Historical sketches are given respecting those who acted a promi- nent part in our Lord's trial and death, elucidating both the time of His Ministry and the retributive visitations of Providence, (ch. 8.) The last chapters of this book are chiefly occupied with accounts ofJohn the Baptist, in his relation to the Messiah, and closes with the correspondence attributed to Christ and Agbarus. and which Eusebius translated from the records of Edessa. The second book, in connection with the martyrdom of Stephen and James the Just, shows the organization of the mother Church at Jerusalem, under the latter of these martyrs as its bishop. The origin of the Syrian Church, at Edessa, is interwoven with the ac- count of Thaddeus, deputed thither by St. Thomas. The perse- cutions atJerusalemhaving scattered the disciples, and. Providence overruling this calamity for greater good, the truths of the Gospel were also scattered abroad with this dispersion. The apostles had, thus far, limited their operations to the Jews ; but henceforth commences the period of extension and catholicityo Phenice, Cyprus, Antioch, are thus visited by believers, and even Ethiopia receives intelligence of Christ, (ch. 1 ;) but the apostles were not fully prepared to establish the Church among the Gentiles, until the vision of Peter and the conversion of St. Paul dissipate all doubts. A period of peace under Tiberius is Ill favorable to their work. Churches now every where arise, and Greeks at Antioch are the founders of the Christian name, and of the first Church among the Gentiles. The churches of Pales- tine and Syria are the mothers of all other churches, (ch. 3.) The celebrated Judao-platonic Philo, flourished under Tiberius and Caligula, and becomes prominent as an expounder of mystical philosophy. He is also noted for an embassy to Rome in behalf ofthe Jews. The storm that had been gathering, burst upon that people under Caligula, and ended with the destruction of their city and temple, under Vespasian. Returning to the prominent actors at our Lord's death, the historian characterizes Pilate and Herod, noting the manner and circumstances of their death, (ch. 9, 10.) St. Luke's account of the impostor Theudas is con- firmed by a passage from Josephus, together with other facts stated by the evangelist, from monuments existing in the days ofEusebius. The Gospel now spreads in the city of Rome. Simon Magnus is conspicuous as its antagonist, and as a leader in heresy and li- centiousness. Eusebius, following Justin, Irenseus, Clement, Papias, and a general tradition, (ch. 13, 14,) speaks of Peter's successful mission against Simon, and the compilation of St. Mark's gospel, under the authority of the apostle. Tradition also refers the foun- dation of the Church in Egypt, to St. Mark. (ch. 15, 16.) The extracts from Philo, in regard to the Therapeuta, incline the his- torian to the opinion that they were either a sect of Christians, or else derived their institutions from the latter, (ch. 17.) The works of Philo are now stated and briefly noticed, when the history re- turns to the condition of the Jews at this time ; their seditions and their sufferings under the emperors Claudius and Nero ; their in- surrections under the notorious Egyptian impostor, mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, when Felix was governor, (ch. 18-21.) The history next traces the different parts visited by St. Paul, as deduced from his own writings, with a view to determine also the time of his death, (ch. 22.) Now follows a more full account of the death ofJames the Just, (coll. p. 49, 77,) the first bishop of Jerusalem, of whose Epistles there is a brief notice in connection with what are called the Seven Catholic Epistles, (ch. 23.) The history then relates the martyrdoms of Peter and Paul, re- ferring as authority to Caius, an Ecclesiastical writerwho flourished soon after the events ; and also to Dionysius of Corinth. This book closes with a review of the great miseries now thickening around the Jews ; but does not carry us yet, as far as the destruc- tion of Jerusalem, and may be said to comprise between thirty and forty years after our Lord's ascension. The third book commences with a succinct statement of the re- gions evangelized by some of the apostles. The epistles of the aposdes are reviewed according to their canonical authority, and in a digression, is subjoined to this the account of those who im- mediately succeeded the Apostles Peter and Paul in their labors, (ch. 4.) The narrative returns then to the affairs of the Jews ; details the destruction of Jerusalem under Titus ; compares the predictions of our Lord with the sign of the times, and refers to the contemporary testimony of Josephus. The works of the latter are mentioned and reviewed, together with the Canon of the Old Testament, (ch. 10,) and a notice of those who, under Vespasian, Titus and Domitian, were bishops of Jerusalem, Rome, and Alex- andria, (ch. 11, 13.) About this period occurred the dissensions in the Church of Corinth, (ch. 16 ;) the persecution also under Domitian, which, connected with the origin of the Apocalypse, furnishes occasion to detail some parts of St. John's history, and the relatives of our Lord, (ch. 20,) John's return from the Isle of Patmos, the episco- pate of Ignatius at Antioch, the history of the youth recovered to the Church by the efforts of St. John, are spread before us from the writings of the Alexandrian, Clement and Irenseus. Eusebius now, from the wridngs of St, John, passes to the order and authors ofthe gospels, and reconciling apparent discrepancies, lays down that important statement of the Canon of the New Testament, which was received in the primitive Church, together with the distinction between the acknowledged (c/uacycvy.mi,) the disputed {xvnSiyofA^r.t,) and the spurious (vsQ«.) (ch. 25.) A new subject offers next, in the rise of heresies, (ch. 27.) The gross errors taught by jNIenander, the Ebionites and Cerinthus, the delusions of the Nicolaitans are exhibited en the authorities of Irenaeus, Justin, Clement, and the Caius, already quoted above. The reference to the last of these errorists, as if by contrast, intro- duces the subject of marriage, and an account of those apostles who lived in this state, (ch. 30.) The Epistle of Polycrates of Ephesus, throw^s light on this subject, whilst the extracts from Hegesippus also shows the purer state of the Church, and the period about which the apostolic chair became extinct, (ch. 23.) Persecution now reared itself again under Trajan, and this oc- casions the Epistle of Pliny, and the answer of the Emperor. At Rome, Clement is succeeded by Euarestus, whilst Simeon, who died at 120 years of age, is succeeded by Justus at Jerusalem. The Epistles of Ignatius, and his martyrdom, are noticed from the writings of Irenaeus and Polycarp. A general account of some, about this time distinguished for prophetical gifts and miracles, (ch. 37,) the notice of the genuine epistle of Clement, with inter- esting extracts from the last works of Papias, close the third book. This brings the history down to the beginning of the second century, comprising a range of more than thirty years. The fourth book exhibits the churches ofRome and Alexandria, becoming more and more prominent in their influence on the rest of the Christian world. With the growth of Christianity we also see the growing misery of the Jews. The eighteenth year of Trajan's reign w^as a time of great calamity to them, in consequence of insurrectionary movements. In the reign of Adrian, his suc- cessor, the enemies of Christianity created persecutions which drew forth apologies from Quadratus and Aristides. The series of bishops at Jerusalem, before the destruction of the city, the delu- sion ofthe impostor Barchochebas in the eighteenth year ofAdrian's reign, (ch. 6,) and the entire exclusion of the Jews from their an- VI cient Jerusalem, now called iElia, fix our attention on the re- markable changes of that city. Turning aside from political events to doctrines, Eusebius reviews the heresies that grew out of those already mentioned, of which Menander Saturninus and Basilides were the leaders. They were successfully opposed by Agrippa Castor, (ch. 7.) A new aspect is given to heretical speculations by Carpoeratcs, who is pronounced the father of Gnosticism. The effects of these wild speculations, and the successful triumph over them, stand con- nected with a notice of the writers who shared in the defence of the truth. Hegesippus is marked with much distinction. From Justin Martyr extracts are also given against Cerdon and Marcion. Mehto, bishop of Sardis, is also quoted, (ch. 13.) Much space is allotted to the character and martyrdom of Polycarp, as detailed by IrensGus. (ch. 14.) The machinations of Crescens against Justin, the death of the latter, and the martyrdom of many Christians, are followed by extracts from the works of Justin, (ch. 18.) The works of Hegesippus are reviewed, (ch. 22,) on whose authority the names of different sects, both Christian and Jewish, are given, with a reflection on the Apocrypha, sufficient to exclude them from the Canon, (ch. 22.) We are now introduced to an acquaintance with the character and writings of the excellent Dionysius of Corinth, the loss of whose works we are led to deplore, from the value of the frag- ments here preserved. His Christian lenity in regard to certain

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