presided Eight Years, according to _Eusebius_[225]; that is, from the Year 168. to 176. or to the Beginning of 177. the 17th Year of the Reign of _M. Aurelius_. [Sidenote: _He did not die a Martyr._] The Title of Martyr is given him by the modern Writers, but not by _Irenæus_, or any of the Antients. To him are falsly ascribed Two Epistles, which have been placed among the Decretals. Where he was buried is uncertain; but his Body is worshiped, at present, in the Church of St. _Sylvester_ at _Rome_, _and in the Cathedral of_ Toledo _in_ Spain[226]. ----- Footnote 218: Euseb. l. 4. c. 23. Footnote 219: Idem ib. Footnote 220: Idem, l. 7. c. 5. Footnote 221: Basil. ep. 220. Footnote 222: Euseb. l. 4. c. 23. Footnote 223: Euseb. chron. Footnote 224: Auct. anonym. de hæres. Sirmund. edit. hær. 26. 86. p. 28. 79. Footnote 225: Euseb. l. 5. p. 153. Footnote 226: Bar. in martyrol. 22 April. et Bolland. ad eund. diem. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- M. AURELIUS, ELEUTHERIUS, COMMODUS. _Twelfth_ BISHOP _of_ Rome. [Sidenote: Year of Christ 176. ] _Eleutherius_ was Deacon of the Church of _Rome_ in 168. when _Hegesippus_ came to that City[227]; but _Soter_, the Successor of _Anicetus_, being dead, he was chosen to govern the Church in his room[228]. [Sidenote: _The Martyrs of_ Lions _write to_ Eleutherius.] It is certain, that his Election was known in _Gaul_ before the Death of the Martyrs of _Lions_, so famous in ecclesiastical History; for the Controversy, which had been raised some Years before in the Churches of _Asia_, by _Montanus_ and his Followers, concerning the prophetic Spirit, to which they pretended, making at that time a great Noise in the Church, the Martyrs of _Lions_, desirous to contribute, so far as in them lay, to the public Peace, wrote Letters, from their Prisons, to the Churches of _Asia_, and likewise to _Eleutherius_, Bishop of _Rome_, declaring their Judgment and Opinion in the Case[229]: for great Honour was paid, in those Times, to the Martyrs, and their Opinion was always received with Esteem and Veneration. It were much to be wished, that _Eusebius_ had set down their Opinion at Length; but he contents himself only with saying, that it was intirely agreeable to true Piety, and to the orthodox Faith[230]; which, in my Opinion, is enough to make us reject the Notion of Dr. _Pearson_, who takes it for granted, that they wrote in Favour of those Fanatics, and that for no other Reason but because they are said, by _Eusebius_, to have written for the Peace of the Church[231]. Was the admitting of false Prophets, and false Prophecies, giving Peace to the Church? The same Writer adds, that _Eleutherius_ was induced, by the Reverence and Regard he had for the holy Martyrs, to receive the Prophecies of _Montanus_, and his Two Prophetesses[232]. [Sidenote: Eleutherius _did not approve the