CHA P. XXXIX.

Of the Epocha of the Auguftus's.

RULES.

1. The years of the Auguftus's owe both their Name and Origin to the time when Octav. Cæfar was entitled to the Name of AUGUSTUS by the Roman Senate; which Title has fince been tranfmitted to all his Succeffours. 2. Octavius was not firnamed AUGUSTUS till after he had entred the City thrice in Triumph, after he had put a Period to the Civil War, reftored tranquillity to the whole Roman Empire, heaped great and many Benefits upon the City and People of Rome,filled the Senate-houfe with his Friends, and had the legal Adminiftration of the Government conferr'd upon him by the Senate and People of Rome. 3. At this time Octavius was the 7th time, and M. Vipfan. Agrippa the 3d time, Confuls of Rome. See Dio 1. 52. Hift. Rom. Cenforinus c. 21. and Aur. Caffiodorus. 4. Egypt was reduced under the Ro-. man Jurifdiction two years before. Cenforinus ibid. 5. The 991 year after the Building of Rome and the 283 of the Julian Epocha, was coincident with the 265 of this Epocha. Cenforin. ibid. 6. The years of the AUGUSTUS's begin with the first of January, though Cæfar was dignified with the Name of AUGUSTUS by L. Munatius Plancus, and the rest of the Roman Citizens, on the 14th of January. Cenforin.

11. From thefe Characters we conclude that the Epocha of the Auguftus's, and the legal Administration of the Government in the hands of the Cæfars, began in the Month of January, in the year of the Julian Period 4687, Cycl. O. 11. -). 13.

III. If therefore 4686 years be fubtracted from any certain year of the Julian Period, the Refidue fhews the defired year fince the beginning of the Epocha of the AUGUSTUS's.

The mani-§. 1. THere are no less than 6 several beginnings of fold beginthis Epocha: For fome begin it with the ning of Death of Julius Cefar: others with the first year of this Epoch. Octavius's Confulfhip, which was the third Julian year: Some from the time of the Triumviral Divifion being the 6th Julian year; others from the time of the Battle of Actium, being the 15th Julian year: others again from the Conqueft of Alexandria and Ægypt and others at laft from the time that Octavius received the Title of AUGUSTUS.

The Ro

§. 2. We intimated before that the Romans begin mans and the years of Auguftus from the time that Octavius reEgyptians ceived that Title. But the Egyptians being conquerdiffer in ed two years before that time, the third year of the this Epocha Auguftus's among the Egyptians is the firft with the

Why Octa

Romans.

§. 3. Suetonius gives us this Reason why Octavius vius was was firnamed Auguftus: Octavius affumed the Sirfirnamed name of Auguftus by the advice of Munatius PlanAuguftus.eus, for when fome would have had him called Romulus, as being the very Founder of the City, 'twas carried that Auguftus fhould be prefer'd, as being a more ample Title, in regard that places fet apart for Devotion and Confecrations by way of Augurium are called Augufta, either ab auctu, or ab avium gestu, guftuve. The Germans therefore are strangely out in interpreting the Word Auguftus, an Increaser of the Empire.

The princi

.

S. 4 It will be of no fmall Ufe to reduce the prin pal Heads cipal Heads of the Hiftory of Auguftus to the Fulian of the Hi Period and the Fulian years.

fory of Au- In the year of the Julian Period 4651, the 23d of Sepguftus reduced tothe tember, Octavius was born.

years of the Julian

Period.

In the year of the Fulian Period 4670, the 2d Jul. year, and the 19th year of the Age of Octavius, on the 15th of March, Julius Cafar was flain; and Octa vius being fent before to Apollonia by Julius, who was preparing for an Expedition against the Daci and Parthians, returned to Rome as foon as he understood Cafar had made him his Heir.

In the year of the Jul. Period 4671, and the 3d Jul. year, Anthony was routed in a bloody Battle near Mutina.

In the fame year on the 19th day of Auguft, Octavius then entring the 21 year of his Age, was made Conful; and on the 27th day of November, Octavius, Anthony and Lepidus divided the Roman Em pire betwixt them.

In the year of the Fulian Period 4672, the 4th Fulian year, Octavius and Anthony fought against Brutus and Caffius, and vanquished them near Philippi.

In the year of the Ful. Period 4676, the 8th Julian year, was the fecond Divifion of the Empire, which gave Birth to the Spanish Ara.

In the 4678 year of the Jul. Period, and the 10th Julian year, Sextus Pompeius was vanquished by Ca. Jar, the latter being reinforced by the Forces of Lepidus.

In the year of the fulian Period 4681, and the 13th Fulian year, the Jealoufie that had been for fome time betwixt Anthony and Cafar broke out into open Enmity.

In the year of the Julian Period 4683, the 15th Jul. year, Anthony was defeated by Cafar near Actium. In the year of the Jul. Period 4684, the 16th Ful. year, Cafar conquered Alexandria and Egypt, and Anthony and Cleopatra killed themselves.

In the year of the Ful. Period 4687, and the 19th Ful. year, Octavius Cafar was firnamed AUGUSTUS. See Vellejus Paterculus Lib. 2.

In the year of the Jul. Period 4711, being the 43d Ful. year, and the 42d of the Reign of Auguftus, our Saviour was born.

In the year of the Jul. Period 4727, the 59th Ful. year, on the 19th day of Auguft, died the Emperour Octavius Auguftus in the 76th year of his Age, and was fucceeded by Tiberius,

CHAP.

CHA P. XL.

Of the True and Vulgar Epocha of

CHRIST.

RULES.

1. To regulate the Epocha of the Nativity of Christ, according to the Tenure of Sacred and Prophane Hiftory, the following Characters may be obferved. 1. Our Saviour was born in the Days of King Herod, who was fucceeded by Archelaus, Mat. 2. V. I. 22. 2. Octavius Augustus was then Emperor of Rome,Luke 2. V. I. 3. By whom was fent out a Decree that all the World fhould be taxed, ibid. 4. And this taxation was first made when Cyrenus was Governour of Syria. 5. In the 15th year of Tiberius Cæfar,Pontius Pilate being Governour of Judæa, Herod Tetrarch of Galilee, his Brother Philip Tetrarch of Iturea and of the Region of Trachonitis, Lyfias being Tetrarch of Abylene, Annias and Caiaphas High-Priefts, &c. JESUS himself began then to be about thirty years of Age, being (as was supposed) the Son of Jofeph, the Son of Heli, Luke 3. v. 1, 2, 23. 6. In the 6th Month after Elizabeth had conceived John by Zecharias the Priest of the Course of Abia, after the Days of his Miniftration were accomplished, the Angel Gabriel was fent to announce to the Virgin Mary the Conception of Chrift, Luke_1. v. 23, 26, 36. 7. Clemens Alexandrinus fays, Our Saviour was born in that 28th year, in which the first Decree was made by Auguftus about a Taxation: Which, doubtless, was faid with reference to what is related by Dio Caffius lib. 1. That the Day when Alexandria was taken by Auguftus, was ordered to be kept as an Anniversary Feaft, from whence was to be begun the Computation of the following years. 8. It was therefore in the 42d year of the Reign of Auguftus, and in the 28th after the Con. queft of Egypt and the Death of Anthony and Cleopatra, that our Saviour JESUS CHRIST was born;

at

at the time of the first Taxation by Cyrenius then Governour of Syria; he was then born in the City of Bethlehem of Judea, pursuant to the Prophceies of the Prophets: Thefe are the Words of Eufebius 1. 1. c. 5. Hift. Ecclef. with whom agree as to the year of Auguftus, Clemens Alexandrinus Epipiphan. l. 1. Her. Tertullian Contr. Fud. c. 8. Paul. Orofius l. I. c. 1. 1.7. c. 2. St. Jerome Chr. Eufeb. Ifodorus, Jornandes, Zonaras, &c. 9. The Death of the Emperor Commodus (ays Clem. Alex. 1. 1. Strom.)hapned 194 years after the Nativity of Chrift. Now the Emperor Commodus was murdered according to the fame Author) in the 222 year of the Egyptian Era. His Death is defcribed by Dio Caf fius 1. 72. H. R. 15. At the time of the Nativi ty of our Saviour, Lentulus and Meffala were Roman Confuls; though there are also fome who refer his Nativity to the 13th Confulship of Auguftus in conjunction with Plautius Sylv. See Aurel. Caffiodorus, Geo. Cedrenus, Epiphan. l. 1. Hæref. Lucius Dexter Bivar. Mar. Scotus, &c. 11. Chrift was born in the 6506 year of the Conftantinopolitan Epocha, Cycl. 6. Græc. 18. D. 15. Geor. Cedren. 12. Chrift was born on the 25th day of De cember, according to the vulgar Opinion; which was generally received in the time of Theophilus Bishop of Cæfarea in Palestine, who lived under the Reigns of Commodus and Severus: And Vict, Pictav. affirms,that in the 31 Age after the Nativity of Chrift, bis Nativity was celebrated among the Chriftians about the Hybernal Solstice, which Custom was afterwards retained by the Members of the Councils of Bafil and Florence; as well as the ancient Writers of the Martyrologies, Breviaries, Diaries, &c.

II. From thefe Characters it feems evident to me, that our Saviour was born in the year of the Julian Peri od 4711, Cycl. 0.7. >. 18. on the 25th day of De

cember.

III.If therefore 4711 years(almost)be subtracted from any certain year given of the Julian Period, the Refidue Shews the year fince the beginning of this Epoche, &c.