Numidia: who formerly pleaded at the bar as an advocate, wrote a letter to the Donatist clergy, which Augustine soon after answered in three books. He was one of the seven Donatist bishops, appointed to defend their cause at the famous conference at Carthage.

7. Says Gennadius, who wrote near the end of the fifth century, Tichonius of Africa, well acquainted with the literal sense of scripture, and not ignorant in secular learning, and well versed in ecclesiastical affairs, wrote three 'books concerning Intestine Divisions, an Exposition of se⚫veral Matters, [or a Miscellany,] in which works he men'tions some ancient synods in defence of his own cause. By all which it appears he was of the Donatist party. He ' wrote also a book of Seven Rules for attaining the true Meaning of Scripture. He likewise wrote a Commentary upon the Revelation of John, from the beginning to the ' end.'

That is a part of Gennadius's article; for the rest I refer to himself.

Augustine in his answer to Parmenian gives Tichonius the character of a man of good sense, and a great deal of eloquence. He was a moderate Donatist. But then heb is reckoned inconsistent: and he fell under the displeasure of his own party. Parmenian, bishop of Carthage, as we have seen, wrote against him. Du Pin says, he flourished about the year 380. Tillemont's computation is not very different. The book of the Civil War, or Intestine Divisions, may be the book referred to by Augustine, and against which Parmenian wrote. The Seven Rules for finding the true Meaning of Scripture, are still extant.

6

8. Vitellius of Africa,' says Gennadius, defending the * Vid. Aug. contr. Petil. 1. iii. c. 16. › Opp. T. ix.

* Tichonius, natione Afer, in divinis literis eruditus, juxta historiam sufficienter, et in secularibus non ignarus fuit, in ecclesiasticis quoque negotiis studiosus. Scripsit de bello intestino libros tres, et expositiones diversarum causarum, in quibus ob suorum defensionem antiquarum meminit synodorum. E quibus omnibus agnoscitur Donationæ partis fuisse. Composuit et Regulas ad investigandam et inveniendam intelligentiam scripturarum septem, quas in uno volumine conclusit. Exposuit et Apocalypsin Johannis ex integro, nihil in eo carnale, sed totum intelligens spirituale. Gennad. De V. I. c. 18.

a

-incidit in manus nostras Parmeniani- —epistola, quæ scribitur ad Tichonium, hominem quidem et acri ingenio præditum, et uberi eloquio, sed Donatistam. Aug. contr. Parm. 1. i. c. 1.

b Tichonius-vidit ecclesiam Dei toto orbe diffusam.-Aug. ibid. Conf. ejusd. Ep. 93. c. x. n. 43. c Hist. Donat. p. 12.

a Les Donatistes, Art. 59. et note 31, 32. * App. Bib. PP. Mex. T. vi. f Vitellius Afer, Donatianorum schisma defendens, scripsit de eo quod odio sint mundo servi Dei. In quo si tacuisset de nostro velut persecutorum nomine, egregiam doctrinam ediderat. Scripsit et adversum gentes, et adversum nos

schism of the Donatists, wrote a book, showing, that the 'servants of God are hated by the world. In which, if he had not treated us as persecutors, he delivered an excellent 'doctrine. He also wrote against the Gentiles, and against 'us, as traitors of the divine scriptures in the persecution. He likewise wrote several other books, relating to eccle'siastical discipline. He flourished under Constans, son of 'the emperor Constantine;' that is, as Cave computes, about the year 344.

As Gennadius's is the only account we have of this author, and none of his writings remain, nothing farther can be added. We may however conclude from hence, that the Donatists were not concerned for the interests of their own party only but employed themselves likewise in the defence of the common cause of christianity against its enemies.

IV. The Donatists used the same scriptures that other christians did as is often owned by their catholic adversaries, Optatus and Augustine.

1. That they received all the several parts of the Old and New Testament, appears from St. Augustine's enumeration of them in his arguments with these people.

velut traditores, in persecutione, divinarum scripturarum. Et ad regulam ecclesiasticam pertinentia multa disseruit. Claruit sub Constante, filio Constantini principis. Gennad. cap. iv.

8 Cum constet merito, quia nobis et vobis ecclesiastica una est conversatio— Denique possumus et nos dicere: Pares credimus, et uno sigillo signati sumus, nec aliter baptizati quam vos. Testamentum divinum legimus pariter. Optat. 1. iii. c. 9.

Denique et apud vos et apud nos una est ecclesiastica conversatio, communes lectiones, eadem fides.—Id. l. v. c. 1. fin.

h Proferte certe aliquam de scripturis canonicis, quarum nobis est communis auctoritas, ab hæreticis venientem denuo baptizatum. Aug. contr. Crescon. 1. i. c. 31. n. 37.

:

Has

In scripturis discimus Christum in scripturis discimus ecclesiam. scripturas communiter habemus. Ep. 105. [al. 166.] c. 4. n. 14. Isti autem fratres utriusque testamenti auctoritate devincti sunt. Ep. 129.

n. 3.

'Non invidemus alicui. Legite nobis hoc de lege, de prophetis, de Psalmis, de ipso evangelio, de apostolicis literis. Legimus, et credimus. Aug. de Unit. Ecc. cap. 6. n. 11.

Ut ergo non commemorem gentes, quæ post apostolorum tempora crediderunt, et accesserunt ecclesiæ: illæ ipsæ solæ, quas in sanctis literis, in Actibus, et epistolis Apostolorum, et Apocalypsi Johannis invenimus; quas utrique amplectimur, et quibus utrique subdimur, &c. Ib. c. 12. n. 31.

Sed in præscripto legis, in prophetarum prædictis, in Psalmorum cantibus, in ipsius Pastoris vocibus, in evangelistarum prædicationibus et laboribus, hoc est in omnibus sanctorum librorum auctoritatibus. Ib. c. 18. n. 47.

Quas utique scripturas, nisi canonicas legis et prophetarum? Huc accesserunt evangelia, apostolicæ epistolæ, Actus Apostolorum, Apocalypsis Joannis. Ib. c. 19. n. 51.

2. There can be no question therefore, but they received all those books in particular, which were generally received.

3. The book of the Acts is largely quoted by Petilian, and Tichonius.

4. I cannot say, whether they received the epistle to the Hebrews. Tichonius has the words of Heb. x. 38, "The just shall live by faith;" but he seems to consider them as the prophet Habakkuk's.

5. They plainly received the Revelation of St. John. Augustine frequently" quotes it in his arguments with them. It is also cited by the anonymous author of the Acts of Saturninus and others. Tichonius P the Donatist wrote a Commentary upon the whole book, as we before saw in his article from Gennadius.

Augustine bears witness to them, that they had the like respect for the scriptures that the catholics had, and were not unwilling to be determined by them.

Moreover, their respect for the divine scriptures was manifest, in their aversion for all those who had betrayed them, or were supposed to have done so.

Quod non de lege, non de prophetâ, non de Psalmo, non de apostolo, non de evangelio,- -recitatis. Ep. 105. [al. 166.] c. 1. n. 2.

* Sed ut hæc ab apostolis præluceant, eorum Actibus edocemur. Petilian. ap. Aug. contr. Lit. Pet. l. ii. c. 37. n. 85. Vid. ib. c. 20. n. 44. et c. 21. n. 47. Tichon. Reg. iii. p. 52. Bib. PP. T. 6.

Quomodo autem ex lege nemo justificatur apud Deum; justus autem ex fide vivit. [Conf. Gal. iii. 11.] Ostendit præterea, dictum esse per prophetam, ex fide vivit. Tich. Reg. iii. ap. Bib. PP. T. vi. p. 52. F.

Nam populos significari aliquando vocabulo aquarum, legant in Apocalypsi.-Sic enim dicitur Joanni.-Aug. contr. Ep. Parmen. l. ii. c. 10. n. 22. Vid. ib. n. 20. Et conf. Aug. contr. Crescon. 1. iii. c. 66. n. 75. et c. 67. n. 77. • Et hanc sententiam suam Sancti Spiritûs auctoritate conscriptam tali comparatione firmabant. Scriptum est, inquiunt, in Apocalypsi.- -Acta Saturnin. &c. cap. 18.

P Exposuit et Apocalypsin ex integro. Gennad. De V. I. cap. 18.

Sed, ut dicere cœperam, non audiamus: Hæc dicis, hæc dico. Sed audiamus: Hæc dicit Dominus. Sunt certe libri dominici, quorum auctoritatibus utrique consentimus, utrique cedimus, utrique servimus. De Unit. Ec. c. 3.

c. 5.

Sileant humanarum contentionum animosa et perniciosa certamina. Inclinemus aurem verbo Dei. ib. c. 7. n. 15.

CHAP. LXVIII.

ALEXANDER, BISHOP OF ALEXANDRIA.

1. His history and works. II. His testimony to the
scriptures.

I. ALEXANDER, bishop of Alexandria, succeeded Achillas in the year 312, or 313. In his time arose the Arian controversy, which made so much noise in the world. He was present at the council of Nice in 325, and died at Alexandria, before the end of that year, or some time in 326, within five months after the breaking up of the council, or after his returu home from it.

By Theodoret he is called the great Alexander, and® an excellent defender of the evangelical doctrine.

It is not known that Alexander wrote any thing beside epistles, sent to bishops in several parts of the world; which, as Epiphanius says, were in number almost seventy, and were extant in his time in the hands of the curious. Socrates says, thats great numbers of epistles having been written by many, sent chiefly to the bishop of Alexandria, collections were made of them; one by Arius, of those favouring him, another by Alexander, on the contrary side. It is probable, that each collection contained the letters written by them

Vid. Cav. Hist. Lit. et Pagi Crit. in Baron. Ann. 311. n. 25.

b Alexander quinto post synodum habitam mense obiit, exeunte anno 325, vel mense primo insequentis anni. Cav. ib. in Alexandro.

Quo pacto Alexander in suam ecclesiam initio hiemis pervenit, et die 16 Aprilis defunctus est. Quæ Athanasii laudati sententia fuisse videtur. Hæc enim ejus verba: Ουπω δε πεντε μηνες παρήλθον, και ὁ μεν μακαρίτης Αλεξαν Spoç TETEλEUTηKev id est, nondum quinque menses (scilicet ab adventu Alexandri in ecclesiam suam) præterierant, cum Alexander mortem obiit. Pagi ib. An. 326. n. 3. Conf. Ap. d. contr. Arian. n. 59. p. 178. et Thdrt. 1. i. c. 26. Hær. Fab. 1. iv. n. 1. p. 232. et n. 7. p. 239.

e

πρόμαχος.

- Αλεξανδρος ὁ γενναιος των ευαγγελικών δογματων γενόμενος Jd. H. E. l. i. c. 2. p. 7.

- ὡς τον αριθμον ἑβδομηκοντα. Epiph. Η. 69. n. 4.

5. Ούτως εναντιων γραμμάτων προς τον επισκοπον Αλεξανδρειας πεμπομένων πεποίηνται των επιτολών τέτων συναγωγας, Αρειος μεν των ύπερ αυτέ, Αλεξανδρος δε των εναντίων. Socr. 1. i. c. 6. f.

Non omittendum, quod Socrates narrat, Arium collectionem fecisse epistolarum causæ suæ faventium, in quibus non dubium est etiam Arii ipsius epistolas incertas fuisse. Fabric. Bib. Gr. T. 8. p. 309. Vid. et p. 340.

selves, as well as by others in their favour. But, as may be argued from the words of Socrates, and is farther evident from Sozomen, each collection consisted of letters written on one side only.

Of all those epistles of Alexander there now remain two only, one in Socrates, tok the bishops of the catholic church. throughout the world: the other in1 Theodoret, to Alexander bishop of Byzantium, with fragments of some others. The time of writing those two letters will be shown more particularly at the beginning of the next chapter.

m

It must be owned that Alexander expresseth himself with much warmth, if not with bitterness of spirit.

He calls Arius and his followers" apostates, and enemies of Christ, and impious. He says they had done their utmost to exceed all past heresies, and approach nearer to Antichrist.

II. All the farther account which I shall give of those two letters will relate to the holy scriptures.

1. It is observable, that several books of the New Testament, particularly St. Paul's epistles, are here frequently quoted.

2. St. John's gospel is largely and expressly quoted. 'John' the evangelist: John' in his gospel: the most excellent John.'

3. Alexander received the epistle to the Hebrews as Paul's. As" the apostle says, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever: and what reason have they to say that he was made for us, when Paul writes, "forw whom are all things, and by whom are all things." Again,

i

9

ύπερ της οικείας αἱρέσεως φερομένων Sozomn. 1. i. c. 1. p. 402. Α.

-συναγωγήν εποιησαντο των επιτολων, και τας εναντιας παρελαβον. k Τοις αγαπητοις - συλλειτεργοις τοις άπανταχε της καθολικής εκκλησιας. Socr. 1. i. c. 6. p. 10. A. Ap. Thdrt. 1. i. c. 4.

in Vid. Const. Ap. 1. viii. c. 28. in notis: et Fabric. Bib. Gr. T. viii. p. 341. et S. Maxim. Confess. T. ii. p. 152, 155. Conf. Car. H. L. in Alexandro. * Εξήλθον νυν ανδρες παρανομοι και χριςομαχοι, διδάσκοντες αποςασίαν. Ap. Socr. 1. i. c. 6. p. 10. A. B.

- Ευσέβιος-προϊςαται και τέτων των αποςατων. ib. Β.

• Απαξ γαρ προθεμένοι χρισομαχειν. p. 112. Β.

-φασιν οἱ αλατορες. ap. Th. p. 10. D.

η εδικαιωσαν

εξ ἑαυτων εκείνας, ώς εγγύτεροι τα αντιχρισε γενόμενοι. p. 12. D.

Ιωαννης ευαγγελισης κ. λ. Αp. Thdret. l. i. c. 4. p. 11.

• Τις ακέων Ιωαννυ λεγοντος—; η τις ακέων εν τω ευαγγελιῳ; Ap.

Socr. l. i. c. 6. p. 11. C. D.

'O Evλaßesaroc Iwavvns. Ap. Theod. p. 12. A.

" Αλλ' ως αποτολος Ιησες Χριςος χθες και σημερον αυτός, και εις τες αιωνας τι δε αρα ειπειν αυτός επεισεν, ότι δι' ἡμας γεγονε, καιτοι τω Παυλι γράφοντος, δι' ὁν τα παντα και δι' ε τα παντα; ap. Socr. p. 12. Β.

Heb. xiii. 8.

* Heb. ii. 10.