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The Manichces. Sect. H. 313
We have already seen the sentinients of two learned ancients.
Eusebius," or Jeroni, said that Maiiichrcism rose in
the second year of Probus, the year of Clirist 277 ;
Socrates^
not louji- before the reiiiii of Constantine. 1 shall now show
the sentiments of divers others.
Jerom elsewhere says iti is certain that the Manichees
appeared before the council of Nice.
Augustine, that"^ this sect did not arise until after Tertul-
lian, and even after Cyprian. In another place he says that^
Cyprian obtained the crown of martyrdom before Manichfeism
was at all known in the Roman empire. It is likely
that Augustine thought that he spoke Avithin compass.
However, if we should not be able to be more exact than
this with full certainty, it is of importance to be assured,
that as this sect evidently appeared in the Roman empire
before the council of Nice, so it did not arise in the world
until after Cyprian, who was ordained bishop about the
year of Christ 248, and obtained the crown of martyrdom in
258.
In The Acts of Archelaus* the reign of Probus is several
times mentioned at the time of Mani's appearing, or the time
of the dispute with him ; soon after which he was put to
death.
Cyril of Jerusalem, who vvrote his Catechetical Lectures
about the year 347, observes, that" the Manich?ean heresy
arose not very long- ago, about seventy years, and that there
were then men living who had seen Mani. In another place
he speaks"^ of Mani's not appearing till the apostles had been
dead two hundred years. Toutee supposes Cyril to mean
the year of Christ 277, which was the second of Probus;
o p. 260. P P. 261.
•I Alioqui hoc argmiiento,—nee Marcion, nee Cataphryges nee Maniehaeus
damnari debent ; quia Synodus Nica?na eos non nominat ; quos certe ante
Synodum fuisse non diibium est. Hieron. ad Pamm. et Ocean. Ep. 41. [al.
65.] p. 344. in. ^ Nam constat, non sokmi post Tertullianum,
verum etiam post Cyprianum, banc haeresim exortam. Aug. contr. Faust. 1.
13. e. 4. in. Ecce praedicatissimus tractator divinonim eloquiorum [Cyprianus]
antequam terras nostras vel tenuissimus odor Manichaeae pestilentiae
tetigisset. Id. contr. duas Ep. Pelag. 1. 4. c. 8. n. 24.
^ numquid et gloriosissiniae coronae Cyprianus dicetur ab
aliquo, non solum fuisse, sed vel esse potuisse Maniehaeus, cum prius iste sit
passus, quam ilia in orbe Romano pestis appaniit ? De Nuptiis et Concup. 1.
2. e. 29. n. 51. ' sub Probo demum Romano
imperatore.—Arch. n. 27. p. 46. Vid. n. 28. init.
" roi' Trpoijji' f TTt Upofts (iam\io)g apKa/itvov' vpo yap oXoii' e/3^0)u?)-
KOVTa STwv i) liKaviy km etryi l^i-fXP'- ''** vvv arGncoTroi avTOiQ ofdaXfiaic Otiopr)-
ffavTtQ tKfivov- Cat. 6. n. 20. * Kpa ol TtXivTrfaavrtQ airo'^oKoi
ano SiaKocriwv iTwv f^tSexovTO Mavr]v'—Cat. 16. n. 9.