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588 CredihiUtij of the Gospel History.
' the psalms, and many other things, which are much read
' by the men of his party.'
In the chapter^ of JMarcelkis, Jerom had before mentioned
a book of Asterius against that bishop. And there must
have been before that some work of Asterius, which provoked
Marcellus to write: as is evident from^ Eusebius,
and^ Sozomen.
All his writings are lost. Athanasius however has quoted^
some passages : and there are some other in Eusebius's books
against Marcellus.'^ And in Eusebius's Commentary upon
the fourth Psalm, published by Montfauqon, there are inserted
Asterius's observations upon the same Psalm : in w hich several
texts of the New Testament are quoted, and divers of our
Saviour's miracles rehearsed ; where also there appears an
air of piety, and zeal for the christian religion.
Socrates says, thaf^ Asterius was a sophist of Cappadocia,
and that forsaking gentilism he embraced Christianity. He
afterwards published books in favour of Arianism, which
were extant in the time of that ecclesiastical historian
who farther adds, that Asterius was very much with Arian
bishops, and frequented synods, desiring to be himself also
bishop of some city. But having sacrificed in the time of
the persecution, he never obtained that honour. This chapter
of Socrates may be compared with another of*^ Sozomen.
That lapse of Asterius happened, it is likely, in the year
004, or thereabout. Epiphanius expressly says, \V Mas in
Maximian's persecution. Asterius is often mentioned by
Athanasius; he calls*^ him a cunning sophist and patron of
heresy ; and speaks" of his having sacrificed in the time of
the last heathen persecution. Nor does Philostorgius dis-
* Cap. 8G. J' Vid. Euseb. contr. Marcell. 1. i. c. 4. et de
Ecc. Theod. 1. ii. c. 19. p. 132, 133. D. 1. iii. c. 4. p. 8G8. A. B.
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