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The works of Nathaniel Lardner - The Christian Researcher - Home

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<strong>The</strong> Manichces. Sect. I. 261<br />

iiiont, whom notliino;' escapes. <strong>The</strong> article concerning the<br />

JNIaiiichees in the Chronicle he considers as Jerorn's : it is<br />

only the passage in the History which he reckons Eusebitis's<br />

wherenpon he' says: ' Eusebius, who speaks little <strong>of</strong> this<br />

' heresy, does not precisely mark the time <strong>of</strong> it : he seems<br />

' willing however to have it thought that« it began in the<br />

* time <strong>of</strong> pope Felix, who governed the church according to<br />

' him from 276 to 281.'<br />

2. In the next place I intend to transcribe a long passage<br />

<strong>of</strong> Socrates, the ecclesiastical historian, who flourished about<br />

the year <strong>of</strong> Christ 440.<br />

' But'' it is an usual thing for cockle to grow up among-<br />

' good grain. It is agreeable to envy to lay snares for the<br />

' rio-hteous. Not lono- before the rein <strong>of</strong> Constantine there<br />

' sprang up a kind <strong>of</strong> heathenish <strong>Christian</strong>ity, which mingled<br />

* itself with the true christian religion: as heret<strong>of</strong>ore false<br />

* prophets arose together with the prophets, and false apos-<br />

' ties with the apostles. For in those days the doctrine <strong>of</strong><br />

' Empedocles, a heathen philosopher, was clandestinely<br />

' introduced into <strong>Christian</strong>ity : <strong>of</strong> this Eusebius Pamphilus<br />

' has made mention in the seventh book <strong>of</strong> his Ecclesiastical<br />

' History, but without any particularity; for which reason<br />

' I have judged it not improper to supply his omissions;<br />

' thereby it may be known who this Manichee Avas, and<br />

' whence he came, who made this audacious attempt. One<br />

' Scythian, a Saracen, married a captive woman, native <strong>of</strong><br />

* the Upper <strong>The</strong>bais ; upon her account he lived in Egypt.<br />

' Having been instructed in the learning <strong>of</strong> the Egyptians,<br />

* he introduced the doctrine <strong>of</strong> Empedocles and Pythagoras<br />

* into <strong>Christian</strong>ity ; asserting' two natures, one good, the<br />

' other evil, as Empedocles did ; and calling the evil nature<br />

' Discord, the good nature Friendship. Buddas, formerly<br />

' named Terebinthus, became a disciple <strong>of</strong> that Scythian :<br />

' he travelled into the country <strong>of</strong> Babylonia, which is in-<br />

' habited by the Persians, where he told a great many strange<br />

' stories <strong>of</strong> himself; as that he was born <strong>of</strong> a virgin, and<br />

' brought up in the mountains : afterwards he wrote four<br />

' books, one <strong>of</strong> M'hich was entitled, Of 3Iysteries, another,<br />

' <strong>The</strong> Gospel, a third, <strong>The</strong> Treasure, and the fourth. Heads,<br />

' for Chapters.] While he was performing some <strong>of</strong> his<br />

* pretended sacred rites he was thrown down by a spirit<br />

* and died. <strong>The</strong> woman at whose house he dwelled buried<br />

f Note V. sur les Manich. T. .v, P. 2. p. 956. s Vid. Eus. 1. 7.<br />

cap. 30, 31. p. 283. C. " Socrat. H. E. 1. i. c. 22, 55—57.<br />

' Alio

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