7.
llows, as Antoages a sliepherd, and two others call-
ed Theudas and Egyptus; but alcre all was Bar-
cozlama, who was for above thirty years together
received by the Rabbies theinselves for the Messias
but seeing that he was not able to deliver them from
heir subjection to the Romans, at last killed him;
u likewise Simon Magus, that he might not seem
nferior to our Saviour, pretended that he was born
»f a virgin, as Christ was.
Q. What is reported concerning the wise men of he east, who was directed by the star, and came to vorship Christ?
A. It is reported that these wise men we re little kings, or petty Lords of particular places, such as ose whieh Joxlua slew thirty in one battle. E- phiplianus is of opinion that they canie to Jerusalem wo years after Christ's nativity, because Herod siew il the infants of that age: but it is generally beiler. d that the star appeared to them two years before Christ's nativity, and that they came to Bethlehem hirteen days after his birth, which the chureh calls Ppiphan, or the twelfth day, or the day of the three
Q. How care those wise men in the east to un- rstand the star that which then appeared to them letoted the birth of the king of the Jews, or the aviour of the world?
A. St. Basil supposeth they were great astrologers nad learned men, who, by magic art, much prae- sed in those countries, and seeing the power of heir Gods and oracies daily decayed ; and is proba- s, he might hear of the propheey so commonly boken of in the east, that out of Judea should come pe ruler of all the world; as likewise miglit have Inong then the ancient propheey of old Balaam,
