Quintilianus, who pronounced sentence against Pionius: but when that excellent martyr suffered, whether in the time of Marcus Antoninus, or of Decius, is a point much contested by learned men; though Eusebius has expressly mentioned his martyrdom in his Ecclesiastical History.

Beside these, there is one Proclus, a bishop, who joins with five other bishops in a letters to Paul of Samosata, supposed to have been written some time between 264 and 270. But the genuineness of that letter has been called in question.

6

I need not here take notice of any more of this name, who lived a good while before, or after this time: and therefore are in little danger of being confounded with our Proculus, or any of the others just mentioned.

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IV. Geminus,' says Jerom, in his Catalogue of Ecclesiastical Writers, presbyter of the church of Antioch, 'composed a few monuments of his wit, flourishing under the emperor Alexander, and Zebennus, bishop of his city, chiefly about the time that Heraclas was ordained bishop of the church of Alexandria.'

k

In his Chronicle, Eusebius, or rather Jerom, at the sixth of the emperor Alexander, of Christ 227, writes—' Geminianus, presbyter of Antioch; and Hippolytus, and Beryllus, bishop of Bostra in Arabia, are esteemed fa6 mous writers.'

Here is a small difference; for in the Catalogue Jerom says, Geminus or Geminianus flourished in the time of Zebennus; whereas in the Chronicle he puts him a year before Zebennus was bishop of Antioch, whose ordination is there placed at the seventh year of Alexander. Tillemont reconciles this difference thus: that Geminianus appeared in the world at the year 227, but was more especially famous about the year 231 or 232, when Heraclas was bishop of Alexandria. I think, that in the Chronicle, where Jerom was pleased to name several persons together, and put them at one and the same year, it is not to be expected

e Vid. Ruinart, ibid. p. 137, et seqq. Basnag. ann. 269. n. 21, et seqq. 250. n. 7, 8, et Saint Pione, p. 230, et note ii. p. 445. dans Tillemont, Mem. Ecc. T. iii. P. ii. Lib. 4. cap. 15. p. 135. C. D. h Vid. Basnag. Geminus, Antiochenæ ecclesiæ

Ap. Labb. Concil. T. i. p. 844, &c.

ann. 264. n. vi. vii.

presbyter, pauca ingenii sui monumenta composuit, florens sub Alexandro principe, et episcopo urbis suæ Zebenno, eo vel maxime tempore, quo Heraclas Alexandrinæ ecclesiæ pontifex ordinatus est. De Vir. Ill. cap. 64.

* Geminianus presbyter Antiochenus, et Hippolytus, et Beryllus, episcopus Arabiæ Bostrenus, clari scriptores habentur. Chron. p. 173. See Saint Urbain. Tillem. Mem. Ecc. T. iii. P. ii. p. 46.

that the time should suit them all alike; and he was at liberty to mention their time more exactly in his Catalogue, if he thought fit, and had room. This writer is placed by Cave at the year 232.

n

I have formerly mentioned the succession of the bishops in the church of Antioch from the time of the apostles to Serapion, the eighth bishop of that church. Asclepiades the ninth succeeded him in 211. The tenth was " Philetus, ordained about 220. The eleventh Zebennus, or Zebinus, in 288. The twelfth P Babylas, who had the honour to die a martyr for Christ in the Decian persecution, in the year 249 or 250: the year of his ordination is not certain; it is supposed by some to have been 237 or 238. He was succeeded by Fabius, who died " in the beginning of the year 252. His successor was Demetrian; whom Paul of Samosata succeeded in 260.

6

t

6

V. Tryphon,' says Jerom in his Catalogue, a disciple of Origen, to whom several of his letters, still extant, were written, was very skilful in the scriptures; as his 'many pieces every where show, but especially that book which he published about the red heifer in Deuteronomy, [It should be Numbers; see chap, xix.] and the half 'pieces of the living creatures laid by Abraham's pigeon ' and turtle-dove in Genesis.' See Gen. xv. 9-11. This learned man is placed by Cave at the year 233. His works are not extant.

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ni See ch. xx. and ch. xxvi.

cap. 21. p. 223. C.

Conf. Eus. Chr. p. 172, 173.

9 Vid. Basnag. ann. 239. num. iii.

in Tillem. Tom. iii. P. ii. p. 192.

" Eus. H. E. 1. vi. • Id. ibid. cap. 23. p. 224. C. ♪ Ibid. cap. 29.

See Saint Babylas, • Vid. Basn. ib. n. i.

et Tillem. ib. p. 288. et note i. et. ii. sur Saint Babylas.

t

Παραπλησίως εν Αντιοχεια το Βαβυλα μετα την όμολογίαν εν δεσμωτηριῳ μεταλλάξοντος, Φαβιος της αυτοθι προΐταται εκκλησιας. Eus. l. vi. cap. 39. "Vid. Pagi, 252. num. vi. Tillemont, St. Denys d' Alex. sect. vii. Mem. T. iv. P. ii. p. 563, 564. ▾ Vid. Euseb. 1. vi. cap. 46. p. 248. A. et lib. vii. cap. 14. Vid. Pagi, 261. n. vi.

x

Tryphon Origenis auditor, ad quem nonnullæ ejus extant epistolæ, in scripturis eruditissimus fuit. Quod quidem et multa ejus sparsim ostendunt opuscula, sed præcipue liber, quem composuit de vaccà rufâ in Deuteronomio, et de dichomematibus, quæ cum columbâ et turture Abraham ponuntur in Genesi. De V. I. cap. 57.

CHAP. XLI.

NOETUS, AND OTHERS, CALLED HERETICS, IN THE FORMER PART OF THE THIRD CENTURY, OR SOON AFTER.

1. Noetus. II. Valesians. III. Angelics. IV. Apostolics. V. Origenists.

a

C

I. BASNAGE supposeth that Noetus arose about the year 240. Fabriciusb about 245. And, indeed, as Epiphanius composed his work against heresies in 375 or 376, and he there says that Noetus lived about 130 years before that time, we are carried up to the year 245: but Epiphanius does not pretend to be exact; and since we have supposed Hippolytus, who wrote against the Noetians, to have flourished about the year 220, we cannot place Noetus much later. Beausobre has argued after a like manner. He says, that Noetus must have published his notion sooner than is intimated by Epiphanius; because Hippolytus, who flourished about the year 222, speaks of Noetus as dead some time before he wrote against him. However, this argument of that learned man depends in part upon the supposition that the work ascribed to Hippolytus is genuine. Huet observes, that Noetus was contemporary with Origen, which I presume will not be denied by any.

The piece referred to by Beausobre, sometimes called a homily against Noetus, by others supposed to be the concluding article of Hippolytus's work against heresies, begins in this manner: Others there are who advance another opinion, being disciples of one Noetus, of Smyrna, who lived not long ago. He, elated with pride, said that Christ was the Father himself, and that the Father was begotten, and suffered and died. He likewise said, that ' he himself was Moses, and his brother Aaron. When the

* Vid. Basnag. ann. 256. n. 14.

a

Hær. 53. not. . p. 105. Ed. Fabr.

b Vid. Philastr. de

- Αλλ' ώς προ

χρόνο των τέτων έκατον τριακοντα, πλείω η ελασσω. Epiph. Η. 57. p. 479. C. d Vid. Hist. de Manich. P. ii. 1. 3. chap. vi. p. 533. not. (7.) T. i.

• Vid. Huet. Origenian. 1. 2. c. ii. qu. 2. n. xi. p. 37. c.

f Έτεροι τινες-γενόμενοι τινος Νοητε μαθηται, ός το μεν γενος ην Σμυρναιος, ο προ πολλές χρονο γενομενος.-Εφη τον Χρισον αυτόν είναι τον πατέρα, και αυτον τον πατερα γεγενησθαι και πεπονθέναι και αποτεθνηκεναι. Hippol. contr. Hær. Noet. n. i. p. 5, 6. T. ii. Ed. Fabric.

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blessed presbyters had heard of these things, they called him before the church, and examined him. At first he denied that he held such doctrine; but at length, after having concealed himself for a while, when he had got some few to be of the same erroneous opinion with him, he became more ready to defend it publicly. The blessed presbyters then called him before them again; when he said, "Whats harm do I do in honouring Christ?" To 'whom the presbyters answered, "We also know there is one God, we own Christ, and know that the Son suffered, 'died, and rose again the third day, and is at the right hand of the Father, and will come to judge the quick and the 'dead." Thus, having convicted him, they cast him out of 'the church.' This writer adds soon after, that Noetus argued in this manner: The scriptures declare one God, even the Father. This being manifest, and it being ' acknowledged that there is but one God, it follows of 'necessity that he suffered; for Christ was God, and he 'suffered for us, being the Father, that he might be able

'to save us.'

This is in short the history of Noetus, which is contained in that Homily, or else a fragment of some larger work. But here ought to be remembered the account formerly given of the works ascribed to Hippolytus, and that few or none of them can be relied upon as genuine and uncorrupted. If this piece be his, yet it is to be feared that there are in it some interpolations. Tillemont's observation upon this piece was, that the sentiments concerning the Trinity are agreeable to those of the third century. And undoubtedly many things are here expressed after the manner of the ancients. But there are also some expressions which seem to have prevailed chiefly after the Nicene council. Another thing may be fit to be observed. It is allowed that Hippolytus did not receive the epistle to the Hebrews as the apostle Paul's. But here is an expression, which some may think to be taken from thence, where the writer speaks of Christ being "without sin;" see Heb. iv. 15. However this piece, for the main part, must be reckoned ancient, for the sake of several internal characters of antiibid. p. 6.

m

8 Τι εν κακον ποιω δοξάζων τον Χρισον ; Ibid. n. ii. p. 7.

Χρισος γαρ ην Θεος, και επασχεν δι ήμας, αυτος ων πατηρ, ίνα και σωσαι ἡμας δυνασθῇ. ibid.

* See chap. xxxv. p. 424, &c. And be pleased likewise to consult Beausobre, as above, p. 553. not. (7.) and p. 534.

See chap. xxxv. p. 427.

1 Γεγονως παντα όσα

ESI AYOWTOS, EKTOC aμaprias Hippol. contr. Noet. n. xvii. p. 18. Conf. Heb. iv. 15. χωρις αμαρτίας.

quity; and because much the same account is given of Noetus by Epiphanius, though he does not say that he borrows from any other writer.

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6

He is to be produced in the next place. In his work against heresies he says, that" Noetus was of Ephesus in Asia. In his Summary, or Recapitulation, he says, he was of Smyrna, as the above quoted fragment of Hippolytus does. In the large work against heresies, Epiphanius says, 'that P Noetus taught a doctrine not held by the prophets, or apostles, or the church after them: For such was his pride, that he dared to say, that the Father suffered. And with a like arrogance he said, that he himself was Moses, and his brother Aaron. In the mean time the blessed 'presbyters of the church called him before them, and examined him about these things, and whether he had ' uttered such a blasphemy against the Father. At first ⚫ he denied it, being ashamed to own a horrible and per'nicious doctrine, never taught by any before him. After'wards, having propagated his mad opinion, and gained himself a few followers, about ten in number, he became 'more bold and open. Whereupon the presbyters call him ' and his adherents before them, and examine him again, as formerly then he said, "What harm have I done? I 'worship one God, I acknowledge one God, and no other beside him: who was born, suffered, died." As he persisted in that doctrine, they expelled him out of the church, together with those who were of the same opinion with him. Soon after which he and his brother died; ' and they were left as apostates and outcasts, for none of the pious would bury them. After this his followers ' endeavoured to uphold the same doctrine, induced thereto by the like considerations with their master; for when, being examined by the presbytery, he answered, I worship one God, they replied, "Truly, that is well said, for we also worship one God, but as he ought to be worshipped. And we have also one Christ, as we know him to be, the Son of God, who suffered, died, rose again, ascended to heaven and is at the right hand of the Father, and will 'come to judge the quick and the dead. This we say,

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p. 145. T. 2.

P Adv. Hær. 57. num. 1.

Anaceph. n. xi.

१ – και ες ταυτην βλασφημίαν περι πατρος προηγαγετο, ὁ δε τα πρώτα μεν ηρνείτο, επι το πρεσβυτηριο αγόμενος, δια το μηδένα προ αυτό εξέμεσαι ταυτην την δεινην και ολετήριον πικρίαν. Ibid. p. 480. Α.

Ερρίφησαν γαρ, ὡς παραβαται, και εδεις αυτές των θεοσεβών περιετειλε. Ibid. C.