Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	apostle_n	church_n	rome_n	3,116	5	6.8909	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A44790	The glory of the true church, discovered, as it was in its purity in the primitive time also, a manifestation how and when the apostacy came, and how long it hath continued in the Church of Rome, proved to be in it, because she differs in doctrin & practice from the Church of Christ in the Apostles dayes : published for this end, that people may be informed, and their understandings opened to discern of the times and seasons, and see the difference between the lambs wife and the mother of harlots / by one who desires that all may come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved, and walk in the light of the Lord, Francis Howgill.	Howgill, Francis, 1618-1669.	1661 (1661)	Wing H3162; ESTC R38990	108,097	179

hardly stir from thence till they die except some greater advance offer it self also Commissaries Procters Parotters and these are subservient to the former then Chancellors Vice-chancellors Doctors of Divinity Batchelors of Divinity Doctors of Art Masters of Art Batchelors of Art Graduates under-graduates and these belong to the former then Prelates Parsons Vicars Priests Curates and Church wardens all which titles and names and Officers if they be but compared with the Scripture there will be hardly any parallel either concerning office work or Doctrine and notwithstanding all these orders and sorts who are fitted by humane learning or natural study though divers years exercised therein are not skilled in the word of righteousnesse neither hath the tongue of the learned to administer a word in season to the weary nor to turn the sinner from his sins and thus the form of things titles and names are holden up but who seeks after the power of God or to be made able Ministers of the Spirit Literal Ministers enough while maintenance lasts but the ministration of the Spirit few is acquainted with and if there be any such it is well if they be not Persecuted So in that which I have said the understanding will see that there hath been a great Apostacy since the Apostles dayes in the Ministry in Doctrine in Worship and practice divers of which I have touched upon to the intent that they that enquire after the Lord may depart out of the mist of ignorance and come to worship God in spirit and truth and in the Temple made without hands and be joyned to the Church which is in God which the Gates of Hell prevails not against though many will claim Authority from the Apostles few will own their life neither walk after their example so take but a few more Institutions which is called Apostolick to this day among them called Christian Churches Clatus the third Bishop of Rome was the first that wrote this tittle that is greeting and Apostolick blessing he ordained the order of Priesthood Everastus the fifth Bishop ordained that Priests should be honoured and that they should be shaven Alexander the sixth Bishop of Rome ordained that Matrimony should be only solemnized and that the married should be Blessed with the Priest there was the beginning of being married by Priests Sextus about the year 114. after Christ the seventh Bishop of Rome ordained Holy Water and ordered that it should be strowed abroad in Christians houses and when the People met to worship Telesphorus the eight Bishop of Rome ordained that the Communion should be laid upon an Altar and that Lay people should not touch the Holy vessels nor the Holy Garments of the Priests he ordained Lent which was to be kept by the Clergy in the year one hundred forty two Higinus the ninth Bishop ordained the Communion to be celebrated three times at Christmas and that Lent should be fasted Pius about the year 147 after Christ the tenth Bishop ordained that Crism should be Ministred as Baptism and that Children should have God-fathers and God mothers here was the beginning of this great Ordinance and he ordained that Easter-day should be kept on the Sunday Urbanus the seventeenth Bishop of Rome ordained Church-yards to be hallowed and forbad marriage of Priests Pontianus the eighteenth Bishop ordained that Psalms and Mattens should be sung in Church night and day to drive away evil spirits Sextus the twenty fourth Bishop in the year 222. after Christ ordained that Priests should wear Holy Garments as Coops and divers other things in imitation of Aaron and then came up surplices he commanded Images to be set up in Churches Foelix the twenty sixth Bishop of Rome ordained division of Parish Churchres and Diocesses to Bishops Leo the Emperor gave Commandment that all Images and Pictures of Saints should be taken out of the Churches for the avoiding of Idolatry but the Bishop of Rome withstood the Emperor the Emperor for his confirmation of taking of Images away called a Councel of Bishops about three hundred and thirty and they ordained and decreed that all Images should be taken away and burned in the 740. But in the year 769. Gregory the third called a Council together at Rome near a thousand Bishops and condemned Leo the Emperor and three hundred Bishops for taking Images out of the Churches and yet the former Counsel and this all of one Faith and Church which they use to say could not erre and the latter decreed they should be adored and Worshiped with all reverence Boniface the eighth he gave licence to the mendicant Friars to hear the private Confession of sins that people should confess to them Pope Alexander gave commandment that the Sacrament should be made of the Sweet Bread and commanded that water should be mingled with wine Innocentius the third ordained that People should confess their sins to a Priest once a year in the year at the least And these kinds of Decrees stand for Apostolical to this day among the Apostates and the reformed Churches so called do own many things that are too near a kin to them and preffeth them for Ordinances and holy Institutions yea in many Countries the self same things are both owned and practised in many particulars which I have mentioned before in other parts of this Book and are looked upon as divine service and holy Worship which the Ministers of Christ who have the word of reconciliation to publish are ashamed of knowing them to be such things as never was practised nor holden out by Christ or his Apostles but are brought in since darkness hath over-spread the Earth and the Power of God hath been lost And at the first Institution thereof though there might be some shew of a good intention in the formers of them but now they are become absolute Idols and however at the first some of the things mentioned might seem to some to be indifferent yet now being prest of necessity as the Ordinances of God they are become Idols and ought to be thrown away and departed from by all that professeth the Gospel of Christ Jesus and the worship of God in the Spirit For the Lord God hath drawn away his presence out of all formal and visible appearance since Antichrist and the false Church hath got them on for a Garment and to cover themselves withall to the deceiving of the Nations And now in this the day of his power hath appeared in a more mysterious and secret and hidden way and in a more spiritual appearance Into this deceit cannot enter nor transform and therefore all Babylons Merchants are angry and Antichrists followers are full of Wrath and the Dragon cast out floods after the heir and her that brings him forth and makes War with her Seed but the Lord is putting on her Beautiful Garments and Marrying her to himself and she shall reign and her Seed who are born of the Spirit when she that sat as a Queen upon the

the first rise of the Pope But Phocas for his murther was justly rewarded for Heraclius the Emperour cut off his hands and feet and cast him into the Sea but Rome would not so soon loose her supremacy once given as the giver lost his life and ever since that time the Popes have holden defended and maintained the same by all force pollicy and cruelty that possible can be this was in the year 606. And so the Bishop now became Pope his rise was not because of his holiness or righteousness or doctrine or holy practices suitable unto Peter whom he saith he succeeded for his Doctrine and practice Peter had condemned the same things before Boniface was but his rise was by a Heathen Emperor who had Command over a great party at that time and so by the force of his edict he claims authority Vitilianus the eleventh Pope in the year 657 he confirmed that practice which was set up before by some other of the Bishops of Rome that organs should be set up in Churches Paschal in the year 817 was the first that appointed Cardinals to be in number 70. Adrian the third the 47 Pope in the year 884 ordained that the Emperour of Rome from thenceforth should have no more to do with the election or confirmation of the Pope but that it should be left wholly to the Romane Clergy So now that which first gave the Pope power to wit the Emperour he now throws off the yoak and if the Emperour please not him hath stirred up the people to mannage war against him and against divers Princes as may be seen in the histories of latter ages Sergius the third was the first who ordained bearing of Candles in the feast of the purification of Mary thence called Candlemas day Calistine the second in the year 1143 was the first inventer of cursing or anathamizing any who received not his Ordinances with Bell Book and Candle Innocent the third 1198 was the first that brought in the Doctrine of Transubstantiation and imposed auricular confession upon the people Clement the fifth 1350 was the first that sold indulgencies and pardons Sixtus the fourth 1471 brought in the beads to be numbred when they prayed authorized the Ladies psalter Leo the tenth in the year 1553 set Indulgencies and pardons on sale in Germany and France which things caused Luther in Germany and Zunglius amongst the Switzers to write against the Popes Ministers and afterwards questioned many points of the Popish Doctrine upon which the Pope burned Luthers writings and condemned him for an Heretick and Luther burned the Popes Canon Law at Wittenburg and declared the Pope to be a persecutor and a very Antichrist The Inquisition began first in Spain which was set up by the Papists there to terrifie the Moors who had inhabited Spain for 760 years and so long Spain was governed by the Emperour of the Moors in Africa until the year 1492. And after this time the inquisttion began against the Moors which was not so cruel at first as afterwards it began to be against the Protestants and is now accounted the greatest violence and torture and the greatest Tyranny and severest kind of persecution upon the Earth insomuch that many papists abhor the very name and mention of it and to the death withstand the bringing in of this slavery amongst them the extremity and rigor of this inquisition untill the year 1609. in Philip the third King of Spains time notwithstanding though the Moors did make a shew of the Papists Religion because of the Inquisition yet eleven hundred thousand of them was forced to quit the Country it was so dreadful And all these kind of Ordinances and Institutions before mentioned compare them with the Scriptures and the cruelty and severity which hath been exercised towards them who could not receive them none who have their eyes open in any measure but must needs conclude that all this is in the Apostacy and so all who prosess reformation flee from these things and from this Spirit and from this Church who forces and kills all them that oppose who are under his power and why should any plead for the holding up of those practices as good and warrantable when as so many has been killed about them and so many has been led from the life and power of godliness while they received and practised these humane inventions vain and customary traditions for the Doctrine of Christ and for Apostolick Ordinances and must it not needs be concluded them who would tye people up and bind men to observe such and such things as is mentioned before in this book and persecute for not observing that they are they who draws back to perdition and keeps people from laying hold upon eternal life Many more vain practises and Doctrines which have been brought in since the Apostles dayes might be mentioned but in that which is said already the understanding will see that there hath been a great Apostacy both in life doctrine and practise from the Apostles time downward untill now that which is called the Catholick Church in Rome is in it And likewise diverse of them who are separated from her sticks too much in these things because of the custom Tradition and Antiquity of them In part I have shewn their Antiquiry and their rise and also shewn that which is more antient then they from which they have swarved to the intent that all may come out of Babylon and drink no more of the cup nor buy no more of the Merchandize nor wear no more the harlots cognizance nor the false Churches at tire but that all may come to see before this heap of dark confusion and beyond the vain observations which hath been introduced which maketh no man through the observation thereof more acceptable unto God but rather twofold more like children of the wicked one who abode not in the truth CHAP. XIIII Something further of the Decrees and Ordinances of the Church of Rome which are holden out for Apostolical Ordinances POpe Paul about the year 757 condemned the Councel at Constantinople for condemning worshipping of Images he wrote a book of the worshipping and vitility of Images calling them the Laymens Kalendar Pope Adrian about the year 770 cloathed the image of Saint Peter with silver and covered the Altar of Saint Paul with a pall of gold and condemned them for Hereticks who kept Peter and Pauls Doctrine which declared against idols Pope Nicholas about the year 858 enlarged the Popes Decrees equaling them to the writings of the Apostles he decreed that service should be said in Latine And although by the Emperours the Pope was first elected yet now having got head did climb up so high in power and pride and arrogancy endeavoured that no Emperour should be crowned without his leave in Germany And Pope Clement the fifth excommunicated Andronicus Peleologus Emperour of Constantinople as a Heretick because he would not suffer the Greek Church to appeal to

Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God from whence it hath been inferred by many that baptism of infants was absolutely necessary to salvation Christ spoke of that which did regenerate and make a new and clense the heart and of the clean water which the Prophet Ezekiel spoke of which he would pour upon his people visible water cleanses not the inside neither doth regenerate but the water which Christ giveth to every one that thirsteth to drink is the water of life and this washeth the inside and cleans the heart and this is the washing of regeneration which whosoever comes not to know connot enter into the kingdom of God because that which is defiled is shut out but they that do not look after the substance hath made an idol of the figure but the Chuch of Rome themselves which were the first inventers and setters up of this humane institution have said that this must be recieved by tradition and not from the Scriptures because it could not be proved as a commandment witness Claudius Espontius a Popish Bishop at a counsel at Pysoy in France 1500. and yet this Doctrine hath been held out to the Nations for Catholick and Apostolick which the Primitive Churches made no mention of neither the Apostles taught any such Doctrine but was preached up by such who went out of the light and from the power into the Nations which became as waters for the first ordainer of baptism of Infants and that they should have a Godfather and Godmother was Ignatius Bishop of Rome long after the Apostles daves when Rome was got up into pride and claimed authority over all Christian Churches to impose upon them what ever they listed for Doctrine and such dark things as these have been brought forth whereof mention might be made of many things and what unsavory words as Godfathers and Godmothers is used not only amongst them but also amongst the Protestants to this day who is Gods father or who is Gods mother is this Apostolick Doctrine as though God was begotten by generation indeed is it not Blasphemy to affirm such things and also to hold up such things all which demonstrates these things to be in the Apostacy And therefore you who profess your selves that you are come out of the Apostacy and are reformed Churches for shame leave off practising and pleading for the upholding such things which the Scriptures do not own or else the practice of the Saints in former ages will judge you And it hath been reckoned as absolute necessary to salvation and therefore Victor Bishop of Rome did institute that the children might be christened by a Lay-man or Lay-women in time of necessity because infants were often in danger as Polydore makes mention Lib. 4. CHAP. VI. Concerning the Sign of the Cross and ordaining of Parish Churches LIkewise the Sign of the Cross and the Chrism are invented things which are in the Apostacy and therefore you who profess your selves reformed for shame leave off these things and come out of them and deny them Secondly Parishes and Parish Churches which were ordained and builded in the Apostacy and dedicated unto Saints which stand to this day both in the Church of Rome and in the reformed Churches so called and Church-yards which they call holy and consecrated ground to bury their dead in this is an invented thing and superstitious and yet it stands as an Apostolick order both among Papists and Protestants in the Primitive times in the dayes of the Apostles The Scriptures make mention of the Jews Temple at Jerusalem and of the Gentiles Idols Temples in which they worshipped the Apostles and Ministers of Christ who published the word of reconciliation and Christ the substance of all figures they gathered them that did believe of the Iews from the Temple and Temple-worship and the Gentiles from their Temples and Idols to worship God in the spirit and they met together in houses we read of no Parish Churches dedicated to Saints nor consecrated ground for they knew the earth was the Lords and the fulness thereof and was clean and good and blessed to them that believed and there was no dividing into Parishes then nor no compelling then Corinth was not divided into a Parish Antioch Philippi Thessalonica Philadelphia and Smyrna and the rest were not all made into Parishes neither were them that believed not compelled or forced to come to the Christians meeting at Antioch Philippi Thessalonica Philadelphia or any other place that we read of in the Scriptures and the Apostles were not confined nor their spirits were not so strait as to stay over one hundred or fifty families twenty years and call that their Parish between such an hedge and such a ditch and such a water and such a way as Parishes are now divided into though I say they had houses to meet in and preached the Word and brake bread from house to house and sometime by the sea-side they congregated and sometimes on an hill and at certain places they met together to worship God they went not back to the Jews Temple nor Gentiles Idols Temples neither forced any of their maintenance as to minister unto them by which all may see that these invented Churches and Church-yards for holy ground and Parishes are not Apostolical nor was no Catholick nor universal thing then in the Primitive times neither was there any command given to the Christians to do any such thing neither reprehension for not doing such things The first Church or Temple that we read of was consecrated by Pius Bishop of Rome in honour of the Virgin Prudentia and afterwards Calistus made a Temple to the Virgin Mary a place beyond Tibris and instituted a Church-yard in Apius his street and called it after his own name And Dionysius in the year 267 divided both in Rome other places Churches and Church-yards to Curates and made Parishes and Diocesses to Bishops and commanded that every man should be contented with his prescript bonds and there was the beginning of Parishes Churches and Church-yards consecrated ground and in process of time when all Nations had drunk of the cup of fornication the Nations began to imitate their mother and to build and consecrate Temples and Churches and Church-yards to this Saint and the other Saint as is too too manifest through Christendom to this day And here 's the rise of holy Parish Churches which of late have been preached up for the house of God and the house of prayer which bears the name yet by which the Pope baptized them Saint Peter Saint Paul Saint Mary Saint Hellen Saint Katherine Saint Gregory Saint Maudlen Saint Alban Saint Anthony Saint George Saint Margaret Saint Dunsto● Saint Clement Saint Christopher Saint Giles Saint Martine and painting and garnishing these houses with Images and pictures and hanging of flowers and boughes and garlands this came from the old heathen who sacrificed to Saturn and Pluto and this hanging up candles

with two Deacons were burned the same year for being Christians this Valerian the Emperor Raigned seven years and was taken in the War by the King of Persia who made him his Block to take Horse on to his dying day and though the Christians in this time were much Darkened yet they were much more justiffed in the sight of God then the Heathen Emperors who came all or most of them to a woful End for their Cruelty and Tyranny and Murther for the hand of the Lord who distributes Justice equally to every man according to his Works found them out and Gallianus the Son of Valerianus who joyned with his Father in Persecution had many earthquakes and thirty rebellions and insurrections raised in his time in the Empire in nine years time and this stopt their Persecuting of the Christians somewhat And after Gallianus the Emperor succeeded Claudius who Raigned two years and after him Quintilian●s the Brother of Claudius who continued only seventeen dayes about the year 274. in this time the Christians had some rest from Persecution The ninth Persecution began under Aurelianus who began his Raign mildly but soon after moves the ninth Persecution about this time many Christians suffered and some of the Bishops of Rome and Sixtus and Dionysius and many others in the middle of his Raign there was a Council of the Christians at Antioch the Emperor seeming not to be against it nor them but afterwards he was about to seal an Edict for further Persecutions of the Christians but he was so terrified with thundering and lightning that it stopt his tyranny in the sixth year of his Raign he was slain about the year 276. After him succeeded Tacitus who Raigned but six Months and Florianus Raigned next who Raigned but sixty dayes and after him Raigned Marcus Aurelius Probus who Raigned six years and four Months in this time there was no Persecution but the Christians had rest as in matters of Religion but he was slain by his souldiers in the year 248. Carus with his two Sons Carinus and Numerianus succeeded Probus in the Empire the Raign of which Emperors continued in all but three years Carus was slain with lightning and Numerianus was also slain and Carinus the other Son Raigned alone in Italy with much Wickedness who afterwards was slain by the hands of the Tribune at Rome so that from the latter end of the Raign of Valerianus unto the Raign of Dioclesia there seeming to be about forty four years in which there was little Persecution of the Christians but they had rest and enjoyed their Worship in quiet and they were kept under sufferings and the Law and did not exercise Authority over the consciences of the rest as afterwards they did when they came to have Power in their hands although as I said before divers things were brought in by the Bishops of Rome in this time which were much disagreeing from the Apostles dayes yet they held part of the true Worship and bore a Testimony against the open prophaness and cursed Idolatry and Pride of the Heathen Emperors who killed one another for the Impeiral Seat and in this Testimony that they bore for God I Beleive they were accepted and had peace with God The tenth Persecution began under the Raign of Dioclesian which was in the year 289. this was the last Persecution against the Christians which was horrible and grievous that never was any Persecution before or since comparable unto it for the time which it continued which was the space of ten years together though there were more Emperours which had an hand in this Persecution yet principally it beareth the Name of Dioclesian This Dioclesian the Emperor took unto himself Maxillianus to be Partner with him in the Empire those two Emperors chose two others to themselves that is to say Gallerius and Constantius whom they called Cesars Gallerius was sent into the East parts against the Christians and Constantius to the West to Britain these two last Raigned moderately and did not Persecute the Christians for about 10. years so they Prospered in their Wars abroad but afterwards by reason of their victories were puft up with pride in their hearts they Ordained a triumph at Rome after which triumph Dioclesian gave commandment that he himself should be worshiped as God and said he was Brother to the Sun and Moon and so commanded the People to kiss his feet which afterwards when the chief Bishop of Rome got up into pride and claimed superiority over all the Christian Churches having got the Authority of the Dragon commanded the Emperors and Kings then to kiss his feet and so in this the Pope hath imitated the Heathen Emperor who was the greatest Persecutor that ever we read of But to return to Dioclesian he began a great and grevious Persecution of the Christians which was the nineteenth year of his Raign in the year of Christ 103. he commanded all the meeting places of the Christians to be spoyled and the Books of the holy Scriptures to be Burned he sent out a Proclamation for casting all the Bishops and Elders into Prison in his Empire and constrained them by several torments to Worship Idols and so great Persecution there was among the Christians and grievous torments they suffered because they would not offer sacrifice to Idols one Nobleman at Nicom pluckt down the two Emperors Proclamations against the Christians not fearing the Emperors who were then in the City for which act he was put to most bitter death afterwards they were so mad that they sought to destroy all the Christians in the World it can hardly be expressed with words what numbers suffered and what Blood was shed throughout all the Regions and they cast the Christians among the Lions Bears and Leopards who were kept Hungry for that purpose and them that the wild Beast would not Devour they slew them with the Sword and threw them into the Sea Cerena the Wife of Dioclesian he killed because shee was a Christian two thousand were burnt in one place many suffered in Phrygia and were burnt with the whole City in this Persecution likewise in France Spain and Brittan so that some Rivers were Coloured with Blood one thousand slain sometimes in one day and they slew them by ten twenty sixty and sometimes an hundred Men Women and Children Damasus Beda Oratius Honorus and others do testifie that there was slain in the space of one Month seve●●een thousand Persons likewise Peter Bishop of Alexandria and three hundred more were slain with axes there Mauritius was slain with 6666. Victor with 360. were slain in the City of Troy the Christians notwithstanding all this Persecution did increase and though a Cloud was over many and darkness entred in in part respectively to what had been in the first Century yet they were the best Witnesses for the Lord in their generations and the Christians did increase so that the two Heathen Emperors were tired with Persecuting and gave up their

Dionysius writes unto him how that all Cilicia Cappadocia Galatia and the bordering Nations how great Synods had decreed that they would not communicate with them because they rebaptized Hereticks and saith further the greatest Synods of Bishops hath decreed that such as renounce any heresie should first be instructed and then Washed and Purged of their impure leaven and thus they Wrangled and Jangled about things with one another and brake into Fractions notwithstanding many of these men Suffered under the merciless Cruelty of the Heathen Emperor likewise they excommunicated one another and called Councils and censured one another and hurt the spreadng of Truth amongst them that believed in the Name of Jesus all this is to shew that they were declining and coming to loss in this time though so near the Apostles time and though they suffered under the Emperors and found peace with the Lord yet many practices and institutions were made which are not according to the Primitive times which ought not to be binding to all generations afterwards because of the Antiquity of them as the now called Church of Rome would have all to receive as Apostolick Doctrine But to return to Constantine the Emperor when peace was established in the Empire he set forth a general Proclamation or Edict not constraining therein any man fro any Religion but giving liberty to all men to exercise their Religion whether Christians or others which thing was taken well by the Romans and all wise men this Licinius joyned with Constantine in the Government of the Empire and seemingly favoured the Christians and joyned with Constantine in setting forth an edict for the Christians liberty yet afterwards he had great hatred towards Constantine and conspired his death rejecting the Christian Religion and Persecuted them who said he would become an Enemy to the Christians for that in their Meetings and Assemblies they prayed not for him but for Constantine so cast the Christians into Prison and Persecuted them within his Dominions and many were put to death but at length he was slain after several battels between him and Constantine by the souldiers in the year 324. Constantius the Emperor the Father of Constantine dyed a natural death and was buried at York Dioclcesian died at Salena as some say by his own Poyson in the year 319. he was the chief of the seven Tyrants in the tenth Persecution Maximinian the second who was hanged at Mazilla by Constantine in the year 310. Thirdly Galerius who was plagued with a terrible disease Severus the fourth was slain by Maximinian the father of Maxentius the wicked Tyrant who was Banished by Constantine in the year 318. The sixth was Maxentius who dyed not long atfer in the year 320. Lastly Licinius was overcome by Constantine and slain about the year 324. And thus the Lord Plagued the cruelty of the Heathen Emperors who knew not God but hated his appearance and rewarded them according to their deeds The Christians in these three hundred years wherein was the ten Persecutions they were sufferers under the Power of the Dragon who ruled in the Emperors and then they were not Persecutors having not the outward power in their hand but when they had the outward power then they turned Persecutors especially the Bishops of Rome when they had the outward power on their side then they were worse then Constantine the great who gave liberty to all Christians and others to Worship God without forcing of any as their actions following afterwards makes it appear for being countenanced by the Emperor they grew proud and lordly and increasing in power and outward Authority though set up at first by the Emperor at last excluded him for having any Authority or Power over the See of Rome as after a season may be made appear In the year 367. Damasus was Bishop of Rome 18. years Also in the first three or four hundred years before ever the Bshop of Rome did get so high as to be called universal Bishop abundance of Darkness spread over and abundance of Idolatry and superstitious things was invented and abundance of Orders as Friars and Monks and Monasteries and Nunneries wherein they were diverted from the order of the Gospel and a great Apostacy came in In the year 260. Anthony is called the Father of the Monks who followed the Example of Paulus born at Thebes in Egypt who retired himself to a private Gave under the foot of a Rock in the seventh Persecution by Decius And one called Basil is said to be the first that built Monasteries and ordained vows of Poverty Chastity and Obedience and these are called the Monks of Basils Order and are bound to abstain from all kinde of Flesh and here began this Doctrine of Devils contrary to the Doctrines of the Apostles of Christ. The next who prescribed Orders was Augustine born in the year 350. this order was called Austin Fryars they wear a Lethern girdle to distinguish them from the Monks the first Order of the Eriars was Mendicants the third that Prescribed Orders was Benedict in the year 472. and out of this Order did spring the Monks of Benedict and divers other Orders which I have mentioned before in the former part of the Book The fourth that Prescribed Orders was Francis of Assis these are called Franciscans or Grey Friars their rule and order was confirmed by Innocent the third these are the fourth Order of Friars Mendicants or begging Friars and from this order sprung Friars Miniries and Capouchen Friars Miniries were ordered by Franciscus de Pola and Capouchens were ordained by one Matthew Basa of Acona The Jesuites were first founded by Ignatius Loyolla born in Navar they were first confirmed by Paul the third The Nuns first Author was one Clare the Daughter of Asses who forsoke her Fathers House and devised an Order of religious Women who vowed Poverty and Virginity they were confirmed by Honorius the third but many of these being mentioned and their Practices which are contrary to the Primitive time is mentioned before in this Book and so let them pass and to return to the Bishops of Rome but divers contentions and sects began to breake forth and the Bishops not only of Rome but of Alexandria and Nicomedia and Miletus and one clashing against another Alexander Bishop of Alexandria and Eusebins Bishop of Nicomedia and many Bishops in other places joyning one to one side and one to another and envying one another insomuch that as Eusebius saith a man might have seen not only the Presidents and chief Rulers of the Churches envying one against another with spightful approbrious Terms and also the Multitude severed into parts that the Christian Religion was openly derided of all Men and so called Councils and Synods and condemned one another and excommunicated one another as Hereticks and so went out of the Long-suffering and Patience and forbearance which the Apostle exhorted unto And so no less then four hundred years many run wholly out into contention about

come upon thee Likewise Paul said I was a persecutor and a Blasphemer This generation who professeth Pauls words would say let him dye he hath confessed he was a Blasphemer but he was slain with other weapons Christ slew the Blasphemer and the Persecutor in him and left the man alive and made him a chosen vessel to declare against Blasphemy and lead out of all ungodliness And herein is the second Covenant more excellent then the first and the Ministration more excellent then the former and the Dominion and Government of Christ more excellent then the Dominion and government of the Kings of Israel and the weapons more excellent then theirs and the power greater then theirs which is able to destroy the works of the Devil as Blasphemy Idolatry and Adultery and save the Creature alive This is the better Covenant indeed the everlasting and herein is the mercy of God exalted his Dominion and Power exalted and Christ the King of Glory exalted And these sins before-mentioned punished with great severity and great Judgment For in the first Covenant they slew with a temporal death But Christ when he appeareth in his power and glory in flames of fire renders vengeance within upon the wicked which burns and scorches and brings anguish tormenteth all them that are in that Nature and banisheth all them from his presence and from the Glory of his power till that be dead and slain which would not have him to Raign to wit that which is born of the flesh which is within And blasphemy Idolatry Murther are the fruits of the flesh where the flesh is not lived in these things cannot be brought forth I speak not of the Creature who is Gods Workman-ship for that may be alive when the birth fruits which are after the flesh are both dead and herein is the mighty power of God made known and his Justice and his severe Judgment which all must pass thorow before they come to witness eternal life He that dispised Moses Law died by the mouth of two or three witnesses which was a natural death of how much sorer punishment shall he be worthy which treadeth underfoot the Son of God and counteth the bloud of the Covenant an unholy thing Heb. 10. 28 29. and blasphemeth But further it will be objected that the Apostle exhorteth for a submission unto every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake 1 Pet. 2. 13. whether it be unto Kings as Supream or unto Governours as unto them that are sent of him and in Romans the 13. 1 2. Let every Soul be subject unto the higher power for there is no power but of God and the powers that be are ordained of God Ans. From these Scriptures many bad Constructions and Inferences hath been gathered as that Kings and Rulers were to be obeyed in all things and that every worship which is commanded by●a King or Superiour ought to be obeyed and that Kings and Rulers had power in Spiritual things to make a Law for such a Worship or forbid such a Worship and all these ought to be obeyed And so in the Apostacy the Ministers of Antichrist hath brought in many Inventions and Traditions and humane Institutions for Divine Worship and Service and thereby hath pressed Rulers to make Laws and compel all people to receive them although they have been repugnant to the true worship of God and then such Teachers hath pressed such people to obedience as of duty and necessity because the aforesaid Scripture doth Command subjection to all Rulers And thus hath Babylon reared up her City and gotten Merchants to put off her Merchandize and so hath cheated both Rulers and people and hath led them to hate and destroy one another Unto these Scriptures and divers others which speaks of obedience to Magistrates in all things must needs be truly understood to be of things that are Just and equal which are onely civil and concerning things between man and man and the Ordinances which are for the well being of a Nation or the good and wholesome government of a state and cannot be understood of things Spiritual or relating to things appertaining to the Conscience or respecting things about the worship of God My reasons are weighty for in that time and age the Apostle wrote whether Peter Paul or any other the Magistrates were all Heathens as Herod Pontius Pilate Augustus Caesar Tiberius Caesar and Nero who were all Heathen Emperours of Rome and Idolators and at that time they had power over Rome and also over Jerusalem Judea and Paul writing to the Romans and Peter to Capadocia Pontius and Asia who were also under Heathen Rulers and did not worship the true God doubtless they injoyned not submission unto the Heathen Rulers in spiritual things for then they must have been joyned unto Idolatry for if it be understood that they had power in spiritual things which partained unto the Conscience and that they ought to be obeyed in all spiritual things then Peter and John were transgressors themselves when they taught boldly the things of the Kingdome of God in every City where ever they came And the Rulers in most places opposed and put Peter and John out of the City and commanded the Apostles to speak no more in the Name of Jesus And yet they returned again and disobeyed their Command and their power and authority and said whether it were better to obey God or man judge ye So that no King Ruler nor Magistrate as a Magistrate has power given of God to Imprison or force or perscribe any Law or worship upon the hearts and Consciences of men For that belongs onely to Christ the Law given the Bishop of souls But then it will be objected if not as a Magistrate yet then as a Christian he may injoyn and give Command concerning worship and compell and punish them that obey not Answer As a Christian they have no priority but as they stand in the growth of truth not above others for God is no respecter of persons for the Apostles and Ministers of Christ who preached the Gospel and had begotten many into the Faith thorow the power of God which was with them by which they spoke and in things spiritual might have claimed obedience to their Command much more then any temporall Prince and yet they said we are not Lords over mens faith nor did they exercise Lorship over mens Consciences but left every one to Gods witnesse and to the word of his grace which was nigh in their hearts And furthermore said let every one be perswaded in his own mind said if any should be contrary minded God would reveal it to them and so waited in the patience to see the work of God prosper and was content And so forcing and compelling about Spiritual matters by temporal punishments and temporal Law is all contrary to the Apostles practice in the primitive times though the heathen persecuted the Christians by their temporal Laws for Spiritual things and