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A57667 Pansebeia, or, A view of all religions in the world with the severall church-governments from the creation, to these times : also, a discovery of all known heresies in all ages and places, and choice observations and reflections throughout the whole / by Alexander Ross. Ross, Alexander, 1591-1654.; Haestens, Henrick van.; Davies, John, 1625-1693. 1655 (1655) Wing R1972_pt1; Wing R1944_pt2; ESTC R216906 502,923 690

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they will not acknowledg it but continue still in their obstinacy and cruelty against Christ and his members they ●rag themselves to be the seed of Abraham and glory in their seal of circumcision given to him but if they were of Abraham they would do the works of Abraham they would beleeve with Abraham who saw the day of Christ and rejoyced they can claim no share in the covenant made with Abraham because they deny and persecute him who is the foundation of the Covenant they condemn Christians for making and honouring of the image of Christ and of his Saints which is not so much out of zeal against images for they allow the images of the Cherubins which were in the Tabernacle and Temple but rather out of spight against Christ and his Saints They count it idolatry to honour Christ in his picture or image and yet they consider not that themselves are the greatest Idolaters in the world in worshipping God according to their own fansie and not according to his word which teacheth us that he is to be worshipped in the unity of Essence and Trinity of persons which they deny thus they worship though not images yet their own imaginations how often have their Progenitors attempted to reestablish their antient government but still in vain and to their own destruction witnesse what they suffered under Vespasian and Titus what under Iulian when by his permission they began to rebuild their Temple what under Hadrian when they rebelled and attempted to set up their earthly Monarchy what under Trajan and Marcus Antoninus what under King Philip called Longus in France when they poysoned the Wells what shall I speak of their barbarous cruelties and inhumane savagenesse under Andrew their Captain in the time of Trajan when they murthered many thousands of people eating their flesh wearing their skins and girding themselves with their guts yet bleeding of these passages we may read in Sozomen Dio Marcellinus Paulus Aemilius the French Historian and others as they have still been the greatest enemies that ever Christianity had so doe they continue their harred against us at this day but being kept under they dare not do the mischief they would yet they curse us still and hold that the best of Christians is no better then the Serpent whose head deserved to be trod upon They think they do God good service if they can cheat a Christian and they make no conscience to forswear themselves when they take an oath upon any of our Bibles thinking they are bound to keep no oath but what they take upon their own Torah or book of the Law which is read in their Synagogues Neither will they swear willingly but in the Hebrew tongue counting all other languages profane especially the Latine which they hate because the Romans and Latin Church have been their greatest subduers and conquerers They call us Gentiles Edomites and Devils and Anathematise us daily They will not call Mary the Mother of Christ but in derision The mother of him that was hanged They are mercilesse Extortioners and cunning in the Art of poysoning Their Religion consisteth most in needlesse and ridiculous ceremonies in Rabbinical fables Cabalistical whimsies Thalmudical Traditions large Fringes and Phylacteries and in a meer outside whereas mercy and justice and weighty things of the Law are neglected and slighted Q. May Christian Primes with a safe conscience permit Iews to live within their Territories A. Yes conditionally that they communicate not in Religion nor marry together nor be too familiar and that these Jews be obedient to the civil power quiet modest distinguished by some outward badge and not to be admitted to any publick office or charge for they have been tolerated both by the Civil and Canon Law 2. The Jews in the old Testament had leave to commerce with the Gentiles 3. We ought to permit them upon hope we may convert some of them to the knowledge and love of Christ. 4. We ought by all meanes to commiserate their condition because to them pertaineth the adoption and the glory and the convenants and the giving of the Law and the service of God and the promises whose are the Fathers and of whem as concerning the flesh Christ came c. Rom. 9. 4. 5. we must consider that by their fall salvation is come to the Gentiles and if the fall of them be the riches of the world and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles how much more then fulnesse Rom. 11. 12. let us not then insult over their miseries nor boast against the branches for we are but wild Olives graffed upon them and if God spared not the natural branches take heed least he also spare not thee Rom. 11. For blindnesse is happened but in part upon Israel untill the fulnesse of the Gentiles do come in Rom. 11. And then all Israel shall be saved that is most of them according to the Scripture phrase For the Angel tells Daniel that every one of his people shall be delivered whose names shall be found in the book Dan. 12. 1. so them all the Jews before the last judgement shall be saved and shall acknowledge Christ the true Mesliah yet not all without exception but all whose names are written in the book of life this restriction sheweth that some will not be saved 5. By suffering the Jewes to live amongst us we shall be the more induced to acknowledge the goodnesse of God towards us Gentiles in receiving us to mercy when he cast off his own people By this also we are taught to fear and tremble at Gods judgements because for unbelief they were broken off we stand by faith let us not be too high minded but fear for if we continue not in his goodnesse we shall also be cut off Rom. 11. Lastly from the Jewes we have our Scriptures they can be our witnesses to the Gentiles that cut Scriptures are not devised and compiled by us but by our enemies out of which Scripture even to the great grief of the Jewes we can clearly prove that Christ is the true Mesliah therefore it is convenient that we permit them to live amongst us Q. May Christian Princes permit the Iewes to exercise their own Religion A. They may if so be they dishonour not Christ nor traduce or molest his Church For they were better exercise their Religion then curn Atheists principally seeing they worship the same God with us though not in the same manner and read the same Scriptures though not in the same sense For this cause the Primitive Church and the Imperial Laws suffered them and Christ himself permitted their Doctors to sit in the chair of Moses and to teach his Doctrine and counselled the people to obey the same besides by permitting the Jews to use their Religion without molestation by using them courteously they may be the sooner enduced to embrace Christ and indeed our cruelties against them and the wickednesse of our lives have been
came of Eleazer And the government held out in some sort till Herod the first overthrew it by thrusting out the lawful Priests and substituting at his pleasure unworthy men The like was done by the Roman Governors then were the Levites deprived of their tiths by the chief Priests The singers were permitted by Agrippa the younger to wear a linnen garment as well as the Priests they retained then some Priests and Levites they had also Scribes and Lawyers who exercised Ecclesiastick Jurisdiction with the Elders of the people They had also Synagogues of their profession abroad in Alexandria Cilicia and other places Acts. 6. 9. and in Iudea too whither the people met to pray and hear the Law and Prophets read The Synagogues had their Rulers Acts 13. 15. who did interpret the Law they were also called Prophets Scribes and Lawyers but the Government of the Jewish Church was much pestered by the Samaritans Esseans Sadduces and Pharises Nazareans who rejected the books of Mojes Hemerobaptists who washed themselves daily and the Herodians who held that Herod was Christ the Esseans contemned marriage and thought themselves holier then other men therefore called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Saints they would have had all things equal The Samaritans rejected all Scripture except the Pentateuch and were the sworn enemies of the Iews The Pharisees were so called from Separation for they separated themselves from other men accounting all profane but themselves They placed all Sanctimony in outward shews The Sadduces so called from Justice denied providence subjected all things to our will denied the souls Immortality Angels and the Resurrection The Scribes perverred all by their sophistical glosses on the Law Of these things see Sigonius Bertram Iosephus and others Q. But what Church government have the Iewes at this day A. In Rome Venice Worms Mentz Frankford on the Moen Fridburg Amsterdam and in divers places of Poland Bohemia and elsewhere they have their Synagogues where they use to pray together and to hear the Law read Before they come thither they wash themselves and scrape their shooes with an iron fastened in a wall before the Synagogue They enter with great reverence bowing themselves towards the Ark where their Law is kept and are tied to a set form of prayer which they must read in their books they that cannot read must hearken diligently and say Amen though they understand not what is read for their Liturgy is the old Hebrew which they generally understand not They utter divers brief benedictions and after them some short prayers and because they cannot sacrifice being banished from Ierusalem the place appointed for sacrifice therefore in stead thereof they read the Law concerning sacrifices and offerings and some Expositions thereof out of the Thalmud which they understand not They pray in particular for the rebuilding of Ierusalem and their return thither which they dayly expect for which they expresse great joy and vociferation Then they read a long prayer collected out of the Psalms with some part out of the first Book of the Chronicles ch 30. Then they conclude with singing these words of Obadiah vers 17. But upon mount Sion shall be deliverance and there shall be holinesse and the house of Iacob shall possesse their possessions c. And the house of Esau shall be stubble c. And Saviours shall come upon mount Sion to judge the mount of Esau and the Kingdom shall be the Lords Other Songs also they sing much to this purpose and when they sing or say these words Hearken O Israel the Lord our God is one God they turn their heads to the four corners of the world intimating thereby that God is every where King There be some of their prayers which they are bound to say every day twice standing strait thinking that thereby they shall merit But when they utter these words of Isai. 6. 3. Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Sabbath the Earth is full of the Glory they leap three times They hold that whosoever doth speak whilest they are praying shall eat burning coales when they are dead After this they utter an execrable praver against all Christians and baptized Jews Then they pray for peace bowing their head to the left then to the right hand and depart out of the Synagogue with their faces stil towards the Ark like crabs going backward They use also to go slowly out of the Synagogue lest by making haste they might seem to be weary of praying When they mention the adoration which is given to Christ by Christians they spit on the ground in detestation thereof Q. What circumstances do the Iews now observe in praying A. They pray being girt standing upright with their faces toward Ierusalem laying their hand on their heart and bowing their head They hold it a great sin in praying to belch yawn spit or break wind because they hold the Angels to be there present but if any be necessiated to break wind he must beg pardon of God who hath made him a body so full of holes he that prays must make no interruption though a Serpent should bite him or the King of Israel speak to him They are bound to utter an hundred blessings every day In praying they must not touch their naked skin They hold sneezing in prayers to be a good signe but breaking wind to be ominous and they beleeve that whosoever saith heartily Amen to their prayers hasteneth their Redemption Q. What is the time and order of their Evening prayer A. About five in the afternoon the Door-keeper of the Synagogue with a hammer knocks at their doores warning them to repair to Evening prayer When they are come they sit down and begin their service with these words of the 84. Psalm Blessed are they that dwell in thy house Then the Precentor having said or sung some Psalms and half that holy prayer called Kaddesh the whole Synagogve saith eighteen prayers according to the number of bones in a mans back And then the Praecentor comes down from his Pulpit and falls upon his knees before the Ark after the example of Ioshuah Iosh. 7. 6. and layeth his left hand under his face because it is said Cant. 2. 6. His left hand is under my head This the people do likewise and with their faces covered and towards the ground they say the sixth Psalm Having ended their Evening Prayer and pawsed a while they begin their night prayers which they should say after supper but because it would be inconvenient to return late to the Synagogue and many times they are drunk after supper therefore before they depart they say some prayers but if any have a quarrel with his neighbour he takes the Liturgy-book and shuts it clapping his hand upon it intimating hereby that he would pray no more till his neighbour were reconciled to him Q. Why do the Iews beside the Sabbath keep holy the Monday and Thursday A. Ezdras appointed that the people should meet three times
Blessed be thou O God Lord of all the World who hast given such understanding to the cock When they change their shirts the walls and bed-posts must not see their nakedness but they must change within the bed-cloaths They must not in the morning put on the left shoe before the right but at night they should put off the left shoe first As they are going out of their chamber in the morning they must with a submissive mind bow their head to the ground in remembrance of the devastation of the Temple at Jerusalem but no man must offer to say his prayers till first he hath eased himself at the stoole and washed his hands because upon them evil spirits sit in the night time and his face also because it was made after the image of God but they must be careful that the right hand with which they touch the Law and write the name of God may no waies be defiled And when in private they are easing of themselves they must not then think of God or of his Law for that will shorten their life as their Rabbins say If any man touch his eye in the morning with unwashed hands he shall be blind if his ears deaf if his nostrils they shall still be dropping if his mouth it shall stink if any part of his skin it shall be scabbed they must not presume to pray but in their four cornerd cloak from which hangs certain borders laces or Phylacteries which they call Zizim they must also have their Tephillin tied to their heads and hands these are scrowls or bundels of prayers but of these and many more of their superstitious ceremonies see Buxtorsius in Synagoga Iudaica Q. How do they prepare themselves for the feast of Reconciliation A. The first ten days after the beginning are penitential in which they fast and pray The ninth day every man young and old takes a Cock in his hand every woman and maid a Hen. After some impertinent sentences pronounced out of Scripture each one whirls the Cock about the Priests head saying This Cock shall die for me then the Cocks throat is cut his body flung to the ground and at last roasted His guts are cast upon the top of the house that the Ravens may carry them away and their sins together They labour much for white Cocks which they hold to be pure from sin red Cocks they detest as being full of sin The reason why they sacrifice a Cock is because the Hewbrew word Gheber signifieth a man and in the Thalmud a Cock so to them the death of a Cock is as much as the death of a man After this they go to the Church yard confesse their sins and give to the poor the price of their Cocks because of old they used to give their cocks to the poor In the afternoon they dip themselves again in water and prepare lights for their next days service in the Synagogue where in the evening they meet and reconcile themselves to each other where hath been any offence he that seeks to be reconciled is sufficiently satisfied though the other be obstinate and thinks himself acquitted in seeking for that the other hath refused If the party wronged die he that did the wrong goeth to his grave and before ten witnesses confesseth his fault they confesse also their sins to each other in some secret place of the Church they go two and two the one boweth his body turning his face to the North whilest he is confessing and beating of his breast receiveth thirty nine stripes on the back of his fellow with a leather thong whom he repayes in the like manner Having done they return home and make merry with their roasted cocks and hens Over their cloaths they put on a white shirt or surplice to shew that now they are white and pure from sin Q. What other Ceremonies use they in the feast of Reconciliation A. The ninth day the men in the Synagogues the women at home about evening light wax candles over which they pray stretching out their hands towards the lights which if they burn clear they take it for a good sign that their sins are pardoned and that they shall be happy if the lights be dim or the wax melt it 's ominous Then they fast goe bare-footed abstain from oyl bathing and carnal copulation they spend much of the night in singing and praying and most of the next day while the Priest extendeth his hands to blesse them they all lay their hands on their faces as not daring to look on those sanctified hands of the Priest At this time they fast 48. hours together and some have been observed to stand upright and pray above 24. hours without intermission Some write that they use at this time to bribe Satan that he may not accuse them for their sins Q. What Ceremonies use they when they have read over the Law A. They divide the Pentateuch into 52. Sections according to the 52. Sabbaths of the year The last Lesson which falls out on that day that immediately follows the feast of Tabernacles about the 23. of September is accompanied with singing and the Priests dancing All the books are this day brought o●t of the Ark with dancing about it in the interim whilest the books are out of the Ark a candle burns within it to shew that the Law is a Light In the Synagogue they fling Nuts Peares and other fruit to the Youth who in scrabling for the same fall often times together by the ears That day their Ecclesiastick Offices are proposed to sale which occasioneth much strife and malice among them The money raised on the Offices is for the repair of their Synagogues and relief of the poor At last they conclude all with good cheer and wine at supper and are merry if while the Law was carried about he did not stumble that carried it for that is held very ominous Q. What are these Church offices which they sell yearly A. First the Office of lighting the candles Secondly Of furnishing the consecrated wine which is spent in their Sabbaths and other Festivals Thirdly the Office of folding and unfolding the Book of the Law Fourthly of lifting up and carrying about the said Book Fifthly of touching the sacred staves on which the Book or Parchment is rowled Young men are greedy of this office because they think the touching of these staves will prolong their life Sixthly the Office of reading the Law And seventhly of supplying his place who is negligent in his Office Q. Why do they keep the feast of Dedication A. They keep it in memory of Iudas Macchabaeus who dedicated the Temple the 25. of November After it had been possessed and polluted by the Grecians it was then ordained by Iudas and his brethren and all the people that this feast should be kept yearly for eight days together At that first Dedication was found a small vessel of Consecrated oyl which of it self was
be silent or else to speak briefly with moderation and submission To avoid contentions contradictions or speaking evil of one anothers native Country let him onely reprove and command who is authorized so to do Let none enter into another mans place office or chamber without leave whilest two are in one chamber let the door stand open Let no man mock another Let no man at table put off his hat except to his superior No talk with strangers or commerce by letters without leave Let no man report idle rumours nor divulge abroad what is done at home None without leave may write any thing of instruction or consolation nor meddle at all with secular affaires Every one ought to instruct and exhort his Brother to confesse Let none go abroad without leave and he must shew the cause of his going abroad and what effect it took when he doth return he must also write down his name and aquaint the Porter whither he goeth and must return before night That when any travelleth he shall lodge no where but in a Iesuites Colledge if there be any in that place and shall be as obedient to the Superior there as to his own Let every one have these rules by him that he may read or hear them read once every moneth but the Coadjutors must read their rules every week They have also their Constitutions wherein is shewed that the end of their Society is to do good to their own souls and the souls of their neighbours and that therefore they are bound to travell to and fro in the world to confesse their sinnes to the Priest every sixth moneth and then to receive the Body of Christ to cast off all inordinate affections of Kindred Friends and worldly things to deny themselves to take up the Crosse of Christ and to follow him to study humility to aim at perfection and all other vertues chiefly charity to have a speciall care of the inward man to imbrace poverty with cheerfulnesse to give freely of their spiritual things as they have received freely to study purity and chastity and to be very vigilant over their senses chiefly over the eyes and tongue To be temperate modest decent and devout in all things chiefly at table To labour diligently for obedience and to refuse nothing that the superior shall command In confession to conceal nothing from the Ghostly Father To study unity and conformity in judgements and affections To avoid idlenesse and secular affairs To be careful to preserve health and to avoid all excesse that may impare it as too much watching fasting labouring or any other outward pennance and in sicknesse to to be humble patient and devout To desire the Superior once every year that he would enjoyn them some pennance for their failings in the observation of their rules and constitutions which ought to be heard or read every moneth Q. 4. What other rules have they besides these common rules and constitutions A. They have rules for every particular officer amongst them As the Provincials rule is to use diligence fidelity mildnesse bounty tempered with severity in his government to alter or adde nothing in the rules and customes of the Province without the consent of the General in his absence or sicknesse he may name if the General do not a Subprovincial he must always have with him four Counsellors with whom he may advise in matters of weight He hath power to chuse divers Officers such as Masters of the Novices the Governours in spiritual things Confessors Preachers and Readers c. He may dispense in divers things and admit such as he thinks fit for probation and may dismiss also in some cases if the General hinder not none must be admitted who have forsaken the society or dismissed without a new examination and probation he is to take care of the Masters and teachers in Schools and Colledges what proficiency there is what books are read who are to study Divinity and the learned tongues that no Stage-playes be acted but in Latine and such as are modest c. He must confer no degrees in Divinity or Philosophy without the Generals leave The degree or title of Master and Doctor must not be used among them He may chuse Coadjutors in spiritual and temporal affairs He must look to the Edifices Revenues and Lands of the society within his Province to avoid Sutes in Law yet to maintain their rights by Law if need be to look to all expenses and accounts to avoid running in debt and to have a care of the wardrob and all the Utensils that if any Lands or Goods be given to the society the General be acquainted therewith and some share thereof be given to the poor of that place where the Goods or Lands are He is to be obedient faithful and reverent to his General to call Provincial assemblies at fit times and to help other Provinces when need requires To see that Masses be had and Sacraments administred according to the custom of the Roman Church That Preachers and Confessors do their duties That none be made Confessors chiefly to women but such as are well struck in years That in time of infection he appoint such as may look to the sick That he depart not out of his Province without the Generals leave nor the Provost or Rector from his House or Colledge without leave from the Provincial That he be carefull what labourers he sends abroad into the Lords Vineyard that he give them full instruction that they travel on foote rather then ride He must visit every place within his Province once a year and first the Church the place wher the Eucharist is keept the holy Oyl the Reliques Altars Seats of the Confessors c. then the persons with whom he must deale prudently lastly the Superior of the House or Colledge Q. 5 What rules have they for the Provosts of Houses Rectors of Colledges Masters of Novices and Counsellors c A. The Provost is bound to observe the common and particular rules as also all customes approved by the General or Provincial to be careful of his Under-officers and Confessors to impose ordinary pennance such as publick reproof to eat under the table to kisse the feet of others to pray in the refectory to impose fasting c. He must have a Book in which he must record what concerns the good of his house He must see that all the rules and constitutions of the house be duly observed That confessions be made at the appoynted times That Scholars and Coadjutors not formed renew their Vows twice a year That every other Friday he make an exhortation to obedience pennance patience charity humility and other vertues That he carry himself sweetly and wisely to his inferiors moderate in reproving and punishing to send if occasion be one who ma● beg almes from door to door for the Hospital or who may accompany the Caterer or who may preach in the streets He must chiefly preserve
Trumpets by which we are awaked and admonished to put on the armour of God to fortifie our selves with prayer against our spiritual enemies Bells are more durable then Trumptes and their sound louder by which is signified that the preaching of the Gospel exceedeth that of the Law both in continuance and efficacy Bells have clappers and Preacher● have tongues it is a shame that the one should be vocal and not the other how is that congregation served which hath sounding Bells and dumb Preachers or that which hath sounding brass and tinckling cymbal for their Preachers such as have clappers but no hands good words but no good works which preach to others and are cast away themselves like Bels they call upon others to hear Sermons but are not thereby bettered or edified themselves In the Roman Church they baptize their Bells and give them names for this alledging the example of Iacob who gave the name of Bethel to Luz the place where he had the vision of the Ladder Their Bells seldom are heard in Lent and three days before Easter are quite silent to shew the sadnesse of that time Church yards in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Dormitories because our bodies sleep there till the resurrection are consecrated with crosses holy Water fumigation and prayers as the Churches are they be also as well as Churches Sanctuaries and places of refuge none must be buried here but Christians who have been baptized such as die without baptisme or without repentance after murther adultery selfe-homicide or any other grievous sin though baptized must not be buried there In the Church-yard are set up five crosses one whereof stands in the middle before each of them are placed three burning Tapers fifteen in all the Bishop beginning at the middle crosse maketh a speech then prayeth and puts the three Tapers on the top of the crosse the like he doth to all the rest and in the interim the Letany is sung and each crosse be sprinkled with holy Water and fumed with incense Q. 15. What degrees of Ecclesiastical persons are there in the Church of Rome A. They divide their Church offices into dignities and orders their dignities are these the Pope Patriarch Primate Arch-Bishop or Metropolitan Bishop Arch-Presbyter Arch-Deacon and Provost or Praepositus For the Quire there are the Dean Sub-Dean Praecentor Succentor Treasurer c. The Popes Senators or Counsellors are named Cardinals from Cardo the hindge of a door because on them as the door on its hindges all weighty affairs of the Church are turned Their orders be seven to wit Door-keepers Readers Exorcists Acolyths or Taper-bearers Sub-Deacons Deacons and Priests These three also are only sacred orders the other four are not The door-keeper is first instructed in his office by the Arch-Deacon who presents him to the Bishop and he ordains him delivering to him from the Altar the keys of the Church and saying So●do and so live as tho● were to give account to God of the things locked up by these keyes The Lecturers or Readers office is to pronounce and read clearly and distinctly the Lessons appointed to be read in the Church none must exercise this function but he who is ordained by the Bishop who in the presence of the people delivers the book to him in which he 〈◊〉 to read saying Take and read the word of God if thou at faithful in thine office thou shalt have a share with them who dispense the same word The Exo●cist is he ●ho calling on the name of Jesus by that name doth ●djure the unclean spirit to depart out of the possessed on whom he laieth his hands When the Exorcist is ordained he receiveth the book of adjurations from the Bishop saying Take and learn these by heart a●d receive power to lay thy ●ands on the possessed whether he be baptised or a Catechumenus as yet The Acolyths or Taper-bearers are they who carry the lights whilest the Gospel is reading or the sacrifice is offered to represent Christ the true light of the world and to shew the spiritual light of knowledge which should be in us Their office also is to provide vessels for the Eucharist The Bishop doth instruct them in their function when he ordaines them and then the Arch-Deacon delivereth to them a candlestick with a wax light in it and an empty tankard to shew their office is to provide lights and vessels for divine ser●ice These be the lesser orders which are not sacred and which they teach Christ himself did exer●ise for he performed the Porter or Door-keepers office when he whipped the money-changers out of the Temple The Readers-office when he took up the book and read that passage in Isaiah The Spirit of the Lord is upon me c. The Exorcists office when he cast seven Devils out of Mary Magdalen The Acoyths office when he said I am the light of the world 〈◊〉 that followeth me walketh not in darknesse c. Q. 16. Which be their sacred orders A. These are three the first is the Sub-Deacon whose ●ffice is to read the Epistle to receive the peoples oblations and to bring them to the Deacon to carry also the Patin and Chalice to the Altar to hold the Bason whilest the Bishop Priest or Deacon washeth their hands before the Altar to wash also the Altar linnen When the Bishop ordains him he delivers into his hand the empty Patin and Chalice saying See whose ministration this is which is delivered to thee From the Arch-Deacon he receiveth then the Tankard with Wine and water and the Towell He wears a Surplesse and Belt as the four former orders do His Coat is girt to him and he holds a handkerchef or towel They say that Christ performed the Sub-Deacons office when he turned water into wine in Cana and when after Supper he poured water in to a Bason and washed his Disciples feet Their second Sacred order is the Deacon or Minister whose office is to preach to the people and to serve o● assist the Priest at the Sacraments to cover the Altar to lay the oblations thereon to read the Gospel and the Epistle also in the Sub-Deacons absence in Processions to carry the Crosse to say the Let●nies to rehearse the names of those who are to be ordained and baptized and to name the holy days c. They must not administer the Sacraments but in case of necessity and by permission of the Bishop or Priest nor must they without leave sit in the presence of a Priest VVhen the Deacon is ordained the Bishop alone layeth his hands on him and blesseth him and delivers using certain words the Book of the Gospel and the Stola to him VVhen he reads the Gospel the Acolyths hold two Tapers before him not to illuminate the aire by day but to shew what joy and Spiritual illumination we have by the Gospel The Censer also with the Incense is carried not onely to represent Christ in the sweet smell of
Oyle puts on his ●wle and so receives him into the Fraternity having vowed abstinence from flesh and perpetual chastity The Monks do not onely live upon their rents but they trade also and are great Merchants as for scholarship they have none Sergius is a great Saint ●mongst them to whom the Empress goeth sometimes in Pilgrimage They have divers Nunneries some whereof are onely for Noble mens Widows and Daughters whose stock the Emperor meanes to ex●i●guish They have E●emites also who go stark naked except about the middle they wear long hair and an l●on collar about their neck or middle The people esteem them as Saints and Prophets and whatsoever they say is received as Oracles even by the great Duke himselfe He thinks himself in great favour with God who is reproved or robbed of any part of his goods by them But of these E●emites there be very few in that cold country Q. 5. What form of Service have they in their Churches A. They have their Matti●s every morning the Priest attended by his Deacon in the middle of the Church calls on Christ for a blessing in the name of the Trinity and then repeats three times Lord have mercy upon us this done he marcheth into the chancel whither no man may enter but the Priest alone and there at the Altar he sayeth the Lords prayer and twelve times Lord have mercy upon us Then Praised at the Trinity The Deacon and people answer Amen Then he reads the Psalmes for the day and with the people turns to the Images on the wall to which they bow three times knocking their heads to the ground Then he reads the Decalogue and Athanasius his Creed After this the Deacon standing without the Chancel door reads a part of their Legend of Saints lives which is divided into so many parts as there be days in the year then he addeth some collects or prayers This Service lasteth about two hours all which time many Wax Candles burn before their Images some as big as a mans wast such are vowed and enjoyned by pe●nance They have about nine of the morning another service and on Festival days they have solemn devotion The evening service is begun like the marnings after the Psalmes the Priest singeth the 〈◊〉 in their Language and then all with one voice Lord have mercy upon us thirty times together and the boyes answer thirty times then is read by the Priest and on holy days sung the first Psalme and 〈◊〉 repented ten times Then the Priest reads some part of the Gospel which he ends with three Hallelujahs and withal that evening service with a collect for the day all this while the Priest standeth as the high 〈◊〉 The Deacon● stand without the Chancel whither they dare not come during service time The people stand together in the body of the Church for they have no Pews to sit in Q. 6. How do they administer the Sacraments 〈…〉 Eight days after the Child is born he is brought to the Church-porch where the Priest receives him and tells the witnesses their duties in the childs education after baptisme namely to teach him how to know God and Christ and withal what Saints are the chiefe mediators then he conjures the Devil out of the water and so after some prayers he plungeth the child three times over head and ears in a tub of warm water holding it necessary that every part of the child be dipped They use the same words that we do In the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost and not By the Holy Ghost as some Hereticks have used Then the Priest lay●th oyl and salt mixed together on the Childes forehead on both sides of his face and on his lips praying that God would make him a good Christian c. This done the child being now made a Christian is carried from the Porch into the Church The Priest marching before who layeth him on a cushion before the feet of the chief Image in the Church to which he is recommended as to his Mediator After baptisme the childs hair is cut off wrapped up in wax and reserved as a relique in the Church The Russians use to re-bapbaptise their Proselyte Christians and in some Monasterie to instruct them in their religion first they cloath the new convert with a fresh Russian Garment then they crown him with a Garland anoint his head with oyl put a wax light into his hand and for seven days together pray over him four times a day all which time he is to forbear flesh and white meats After the seventh day he is washed and on the eighth day is brought into the Church and there instructed how to bow knock his head and crosse himself before their images The Russians communicate but once a year in Lent after confession to the Priest who calls them up to the Altar askes them if they be clean from sin if they be they are admitted but never above three at one time Whilest the Priest prayeth the communicants stand with their ●rms folded one within another then he delivereth to them a spoonful of bread and wine tempered together saying Eat this drink this without any pause Then he delivereth bread by it self and wine mingled with warm water to represent the water and bloc● that issued out of Christ side Then the Communicants follow the Priest thrice about the Altar with their folded arms At last after prayers the Priest chargeth them to make good cheer and be merry for seven days together to fast the next seven days after Q. 7. What is the Doctrine and Ceremonies of the Russian Church at this day A They hold that the Books of Moses except Genesis are not to be read in Churches and are of no use since Christs comming nor the Prophets nor the Revelation 2. They teach that their Church traditions are of equal authority with the word of God 3. That the Greek Church chiefly the Patriarch and his Synod have full authority to interpret the Scriptures and that their interpretation is authentick 4. That the Holy Ghost proceedeth not from the Son 5. They hold Christ to be the onely mediator of redemption but not of intercession this honour they give to the Saints chiefly to the Virgin Mary and Saint Nichola● who they say is attended upon by three hundred of the chief Angels 6. Their doctrine and practise is to adore the Images or Pictures of the Saints whereof their Churches are full and richly adorned 7. They teach that in this life there can be no assurance of salvation 8. And that we are justified not by faith only but by works also which consist in prayers by number on their beads in fasts vows almes crossings offerings to Saints and such like 9. They ascribe great power to auricular confession in doing away sin 10. They hold al to be damned that dye without baptism 11. Extream Unction is with them a Sacrament though not of such
death of this 〈◊〉 great many with resolute mindes made it their businesse not only to bring his doctrine into suspicion but into utter disesteem unanimously resolving to embrace 〈◊〉 was good sound and consonant to Christian doctrine and reject the rest as hereticall In the meane time the report beat up and downe both among the people and the more learned that this man of ingenuity and authour of private doctrines this very David George was a contagion and a destructive pestilence a devoted incendiary of a most dangerous Sect that though most falsely he was born a King and that he accounted himselfe the true Messias The Magistrate being extreamly moved at these things not deferring his zeale any longer when the glory of God and his Son Iesus Christ was so much concerned caused all those who were conceived to be infected with the pestilence of that Religion to be brought to the Palace to whom he rubbed over what things had been transacted some years before that is to say acquainted them how that they had been banished their Countrey upon the account of the Gospel and upon their humble addresses received into the protection and made capable of the priviledges of the City c. But that it had appeared since that they had fled for refuge to Basil not for the propagation of the Gospel but for that of the leaven of the sacrilegious David though by all outward appearance they had hitherto been accounted favourers and professors of the true Religion In the first place therefore the Senate being desirous to know the truth required to have his true proper name for some have thought as some authours deliver that his name was Iohn Br●●es Secondly whether he had privately or publickly dispersed his Religion and what Tenets he held To which some made answer unanimously that they had left their countrey for the true Religions sake nor did they acknowledge themselves any other than the professors and practisers of the lawfull Religion That for his name he had not called himselfs by any other than his own proper name and for his doctrine they had acknowledged none either privately or publickly save what he had privately sometimes suggested which was not disconsonant to the publick The Magistrate perceiving this obstinacy of mind caused eleven of them the better to discover the reall truth to be secured and more narowly looked to In the mean time the Senate leaving no stone unmored in this businesse appointed some to bring forth into publick view some bookes and writings of David which should give no small light in the businesse and these the Magistrate recommended to men of the greatest learning to be read over and examined with the greatest care possible that so whatsoever they should meet with rep●gnant to the Truth they should extract and give him an account thereof Those who had this charge put upon them presented the Senate with this extract of Articles out of his writings 1. THat all the Doctrine delivered by Moses the Prophets or by Jesus Christ himselfe and his Apostles was not sufficient to salvation but ●ress'd up and set forth for young men and children to keep them within decency and duty but that the doctrine of David George was perfect entire and most sufficient for the obtaining of salvation 2. He affirmed that he was Christ and the Messias the well beloved Sonne of the Father in whom he was well ●leased not born of blood nor of the flesh nor of the lust of man but of the holy Ghost and the spirit of Christ who vanishing hencelong since according to the flesh 〈◊〉 deposited hitherto in some place unknown to the Saints was now at length reinfused from heaven into David George 3. He held that he only was to be worshipped as wh● should bring out the house of Israel and the true tha● is the professors of his doctrine tribe of Levi and th● Tabernacle of the Lords not through miseries sufferings crosses as the Messias of the Jewes did but with 〈◊〉 meekness love and mercy in the spirit of Christ granted unto him from the Father which is in heaven 4. He approved himself to be invested with the auth●rity of Saving or condemning binding and loosing and that at the last day he should judge the twelve tribes of Israel 5. He further maintained that Jesus Christ was sent from the Father to take flesh upon him for this reason at least that by his doctrine and the use of his Sacraments men being as it were no better then children 〈◊〉 uncapable of receiving the true doctrine might be kept within duty till the coming of David George who should advance a Doctrine that should be most perfect and 〈◊〉 effectuall should smooth out mankinde and should consummate the knowledge of God and of his sonne and what●ever hath been said of him 6. But he further affirmed That these things should not come to passe according to humane ceremonies but after a spiritual dispensation and after such a manner as ha● not been heard of which yet none should be able to discern or comprehend but such as were worthy disciples of David George 7. To make good and prove all these things he wrested and misinterpreted many places of the holy Scripture as if Christ and the Apostles whom he commends had inti●●ted not themselves nor any other Ecclesiasticall 〈◊〉 save only the coming of David George 8. And thence it was that he argued thus If th● Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles be most true and 〈◊〉 effectuall for the obtaining of salvation the Church which they had by their doctrine built up and confirmed could not possibly have been broken to peeces for as Christ himself testifieth against the true Church the gates of Hell shall not be able to prevaile But that building of Christ and his Apostles is overturned and pulled down to the very foundation by Antichrist as may be evidently seen in the Papacy according to the Testimony of the same Christ It therefore necessarily followes that the Doctrine of the Apostles is imperfect and interrupted whence he concluded his own doctrine and faith to be the only solid and sufficient doctrine 9. Moreover he maintained himself to be greater than John Baptist yea than all the Saints that had gone before him for that the least in the Kingdome of God according to the suffrage of Truth it self is greater than John But he said David George was one whose kingdome was heavenly and most perfect whence he makes himself not only greater than John but also sets himself above Christ since that he was born of flesh and that himself was born of the spirit according to a heavenly manner 10. He further allowed with Christ that all sinnes committed against God the Father and against the Son may be forgiven but those that are committed against the Holy Ghost that is to say against David George shall be forgiven neither in this world nor in the world to come by
c. Pepuzians Quintilians Artotyrites See Epiphanius Austin Theodoret Quartadecimani Alogiani See Epiphanius Austin Theadoret Is●dor c. Adamians El●●sians Theodotians Of these Hereticks see Tertullian Eusebius Epiphanius Austin Theodoret c. Melchisedecians Bardesanists Noetians See the authors already named Valesians Cathari Angelici Apostolici See the authors above named Sabellians Originians Origenists See Eusebius Epiphanius Austin Theodoret c. Samosatenians Photinians See the forenamed Authors Manichees Of these see Clem. Alexandrinus Epiphanius Theodoret and Austin who had been himselfe a Manichee Hierachites Meletians Arrians See Epiphanius Austin Eusebius Ruffinus Socrates and Theodoret in their Histories Audian● Semi-arrians Macedonian● See Socrates Sozomen Theodoret Isidor Austin Epiphanius c. Aerians Aetians Eunomians Apollinarists See the Authors above named Antidicomarianites Messalians Me●angismonits See Philaster Austin Damascen Theodoret c. Hermians Proclianites Patricians See Austin Isidor Gratian and others Ascitae Pattalorinchitae Aquarii Coluthiani See Philaste● Austin Theodoret Isider c. Floriani Aeternales Nudipedales See Philaster Austin c. Donatists Priscillianifts Rhetorians Feri See Philaster Austin Isidor c. Theopaschitae Tritheitae Aquei Melitonii Ophei Tertullii Li●eratores● Nativitarii Of which see Philaster Austin Isidor c. Luciferians Iovinianists Arabieks See the above named authors and 〈◊〉 against 〈◊〉 Collyridians Paterniani Tertullianists Abelonitae Of which see Austin Pelagians Praedestinati Timotheans Of the Timotheans see Pet. Lombard Evagrius and Nicephorus Nestorians Eutychians and their spawn Hereticks of the seventh Century See Damascen Nicephorus Sanders Baronius c. Hereticks of the eighth Century See Sanderus Ba●onius Gua●terus c. Hereticks of the ninth and tenth Centuries See the above named Authors Hereticks of the eleventh and twelfth Centuries See Baronius Genebrard Sanderus Gualterus c. Albigenses and their opinions See Baronius Sanderus Bellarmin Viegas and the Authors above named Hereticks of the thirteenth Century See the above named Authors Hereticks of the fourteenth Century See the above named Authors Wickliffes opinions See Florimundus Raymundus of the Original of Heresies Genebrard Bellarmine Prateolus Gregory de Valentia and others Opinions and Heresies of the fiftieenth Century Iohn Hus. Hierom of Prague Hussites See the above named Autho●s Opinions of the si●teenth Centurie Luther his opinions Anabaptist● Of these see the above named Author and besides P●ntanus Bullinger Sleidan Osian●der and others Anabaptists of Moravia Of these see Florimundus Raymundus de origine Haeres Sects sprung out of Lutheranisme See Prateolus Sanderus Genebrard Coch●aeus Gualterus c. Calvins Doctrine See Calvins own works Beza and others that have followed Calvins Tenets Of these see Prateolus Genebrard Raymundus Sanderus Gualterus and others Christian Religion pestered with diversity of opinions Eremites or Anchorites See Hierom in the life of Paul and Anthony and in his Chronicle See also Marcellus Sozomen Sabellicus in their histories and others Eremites their first manner of living See Hierom Sozomen Ni●● pherus and others describing their lives And Athanasius 〈◊〉 the life of Anthony if that Book be genuine Their too great rigour They that wil read the superstious sufferings of these men above named and of others let them look in Sozomen Theodoret Socrates Nicephorus Evagrius c. Sociable life preferred to the solitary Monks who were the first See Sozomen Nicephorus and Vincentius in his Spec. hist. Monks of Saint Basil and their rules Saint Hierom. Monks of S. Hierom. See Sabellicus Polydor Virgil Baronius Erasmus on the life of Saint Hierom and in his Antidote to Rusticus the Monk Monks of S. Austin With him see Sabellicus Pol. Virgil Crant●ius Balaeus Alph●nsu● Alvarez de Guevarra c. Monks of S. Austin are not to beg Austins girdle Monks their first institutions and Exercises See Cassianus● Hierom Erasmus Vadianus c. Why they cut their haire and beard Con Agath can 11 Tolet. 3. can 12. See Platina Balaeus Pol Virgil Bellarmin and others Their shaving whence it came Lev. 19 Isa. 7. 20. and 15. 2. Ier. 48. 3●● See Hadrian Iunius Pol. Virgil Hospinian Schedius Bellarmine c. Nuns in the Primitive times They that will read more fully what is written of the Primitive Nuns let the● read Basil Athanasius Cyprian Hier●in Austin c. who have written largly of this subject Monks in what account at Rome at this day See Erasmus Polyd. Virgil Hospinia● Baronius Bellarmine c. How consecrated anciently Nunns how consecrated anciently See Ambrose Tertussian Hierom Austin and Di●nysius the Areopagite in his Hierarchie if that book be his Benedicti●● Monks See Antoninus Sabellicus Bruschius of the German Monasteries Baleus in his Centuries c. Benedictines Authors of other Orders Of these passages see Platina Francus in his Chronicles Sabellicus Volaterran Trithemius c. Benedictines their rules prescribed by Saint Benet These rules are set down at large 〈◊〉 Hospinian out of Gregory and contracted by Isidor Hispalensis Their habit and Dyet Of the Benedictines habit and dyet see more ●n Polyd. Virgil Hospi●ian Sabellicus Antoninus Turre-cremata c. Rules prescribed to the Monks by the Council of Aix Monks of Cassinum These Rites besides their Ceremonies about the dead are Recorded by Thedomarus the twelfth Abbot of that Monastery out of him set down by Hospinian de Orig. Monachatus Abbots how Elected Of these passages see Bruschius in his German Monasteries Baleaus in his Centuries Hospinian and others Nuns of S. Bennets order and their Rules Of these things see Gregory and the Councels chiefly of Tours Forojulium the sixt of Constantinople of Paris under Ludovicus and Lotharius c. Monasteries and their Laws Fraternities Monks or Cluniacenses Of them see Bernard and Peter Cluniacensis Sabellicus Antoninus Cassander c. Monks or Camaldulenses Monks of the Shadowy Valley See Surius de vitis Sanctorum Volaterran Pol. Virgil Antoninus Sabellicus c. Monks or Sylvestrini Monks or Grandimontenses Carthusians See Balaus Surius Panuinius in his Chronicles Genebrard Antoninus Pol. Virgil Vincentius c. S. Anthonies Monks of Vienna Monks or Ci●●ertians Monks or Bernardines Monks or Humiliati Of these orders see Polydor Sabellicus Antoninus V●laterran Balaeus Trithemius Crantzius and others Monks or Praemonstratenses See Balaeus Capgrave and Scrope in Chron. Matthaeus Paris Cranizius Trithemius Sigiberts Continuator c. Monks or Cruciferi Monks or Crucigeri Monks or Hospitalarii Monks or Trinitarians Monks or Bethlemits See Balaeus Polydor Sabellicus Volaterranus Panuinius Genebard Mat. Westminster c. Knights Hospitalers of Saint Iohn Knights Hospitalers of Rhodes Knights of Malta See Crantzius Polydor Iacobus de Vitriaco in his history of Ierusalem Volaterran Aemilius the French Historian Hospinian c. Templar● See Matthaus Paris Antoninus Volaterran Sabellicus Pol. Virgil Peucerus Crantzius Balaeus Hospinian P. Aemilius c. Teutonicks or Marians and their instalment See Polidor Crantzius Funccius Trithemius P. Aemilius Peucerus Sleidan●● Vrspergensis Sebastian Frank Hospinian c. Knights of S. Lazarus Of Calatrava Of Saint Iames. Divers orders of
Book Christian Reader I Understand that some Momes have already past their verdict upon this Book affirming that seeing the world is pestered with too many Religions it were better their names and Tenets were obliterated than published To whom I answer that their assertion is frivolous and the reason thereof ridiculous for the end wherefore these different opinions in Religion are brought into the light is not that we should embrace them but that we may see their deformity and avoid them Shall Logick be rejected for setting down all the waies of fallacious arguments Or Philosophy for teaching what are the different poysons in Herbs Roots Minerals c. The Scripture nameth many sins idols and false gods must it therefore be reproved of impertinency the Sea Coast is pestered with many Rocks Shelves and Quick-Sands must they therefore be past over in silence in the art of Navigation Were Irenaeus Epiphanius S. Austin Theodoret and other eminent men in the Church fooles for handling in their Books all the hereticall opinions that infested Christianity both before and in their times Do not these Censorious Momes know that truth though comly in it selfe is yet more lovely when compared with falshood how should we know the excellency of light if there were no darknesse the benefit of health if there were no sicknesse and the delights of the spring if there were no winter Opposita juxta se posita clarius elucescunt The Swans fethers are not the lesse white because of their black feet nor Venus the lesse beautiful because of her Mole The Stone is set out by the file and the picture by its shadow To infer then that because the world is pestered with too many Sects and Heresies therefore we must not mention them is as much as if they would say the way to heaven is beset with too many theeves therefore we must not take notice of them But how shall we avoid them if we know them not and how shall we know them if concealed its true the world is pestered with too many Religions and the more is the pitty yet this Book made them not but they made this Book He that detects errors makes them not They that informed the Israelites there were Gyants in the Land did not place those Gyants there But now I will let these men see the ends for which I have undertaken this task of presenting all Religions to their view and they are grounded on the divers uses that may be made thereof 1. When we look upon the multitude of false Religions in the world by which most men have bin deluded are not we so much the more bound to the goodnesse of Almightie God who hath delivered us out of darknesse and hath caused the day Star of his truth to shine upon and visit us who having suffered the World round about us to sit in the Valley of the shadow of death and to be overwhelmed with worse than Egyptian darkness hath notwithstanding in this our Goshen aboundantly displayed the light of his truth but how shal we seriously weigh or consider this great mercy if we do not as wel look on the wretched condition of other men as on our own happinesse which we cannot do if we know not the errors which make them wretched What comfort could the Israelites have taken in their Land of light if they had not known that the rest of Egypt sate in darkness 2 When we look upon the different multiplicity of Religions in the world how that in all times and in all places men though otherwise barbarous have notwithstanding embraced a religion and have acknowledged a Divinity I say when we look upon this do we not admire the impudency of those Atheists in this age who either inwardly in their hearts or outwardly in their mouths dare deny the Essence or else the providence of God and count all Religions but inventions of humane policy How can those Atheists avoid shame and confusion when they read this book in which they shall see that no Nation hath been so wretched as to deny a Deity and to reject all Religion which Religion is a property no lesse essential to man and by which he is discriminated from the Beasts than rationality it selfe 3. In the View of all Religions we may observe how the Children of this world are wiser in their Generation than the Sons of God for they spare no paines and charges they reject or slight nothing commanded them by their Priests and Wizards they leave no meanes unattempted to attaine happinesse See how vigilant devout zealous even to superstition they are how diligent in watching fasting praying giving of almes punishing of their bodies even to death sometimes whereas on the contrary we are very cold carelesse remisse supine and luke-warme in the things that so neere concerne our eternal happinesse They thought all too little that was spent in the service of their false gods wee think all is lost and cast away which wee bestow on the service of the true God They reverenced and obeyed their Priests wee dishonour disobey and slight ours they observed many Festivall daies to their Idols we grudge to give one day to the service of the true God They made such conscience of their Oaths taken in presence of an Idol that they would rather loose their lives than falsifie these Oaths But wee make no more scruple to take the name of God in vaine to sweare and forsweare than if we worshiped Iupiter Lapis meer stocks and Stones such reverence and devotion they carried to their Idols that they durst not enter into their Temples nor draw near their Altars till first they were purified they did not onely kneel but fall flat on the ground before their feigned Gods they knock their breasts beat their heads to the ground teare their skines wound and cut their flesh thinking thereby to pacifie their false gods Whereas we will not debarre our selves of the least pleasure or profit to gaine Heaven and so irreverent is our behaviour in the presence and house of Almighty God Before whom the Cherubims and Seraphims dare not stand but with covered faces as if he were our equal and not our Lord or Father for to speak in the Prophets words Malach. 1 6. If hee bee our Father where is his honour and if hee bee our Lord where is his fear Doubtlesse these false worshippers shall stand up in judgement against us who know our Masters will but doe it not is not their zeal in the practice of religious duties to be preferred to our carelesnesse and their ignorance to our knowledge which without practice will but aggravate our damnation for he that knoweth his Masters will and doeth it not shall he beaten with many stripes Wee are in the right way to Heaven they are in the wrong way but if we stand still and walk not they will be as neer their journies end as we They worship Idols we commit sacriledge But is not a sacrilegious
theefe as hateful to God as an ignorant Idolater 4. When we look upon the confused multitude of Religions in the world let us learne to tremble at Gods judgements to make much of the light whilest we have it to hold fast by the truth to embrace it with all affection and the Ministers thereof for if once we forsake the right way which is but one we shall wander all our daies after in by-paths and crooked lanes of error which are innumerable if we reject the thread of Gods word presented to us by the Church a thread I say surer than that of Ariadne we shall be forced to ramble up and down through the inextricable Labyrinth of erronious opinions It stood with the justice of God to suffer men who in the begining were of one language and religion to fall into a Babel and confusion both of tongues and false religions for not retaining the truth to dig to themselves broken Cesterns which would hold no Water for rejecting the fountain of living Waters to surfet upon the poysonable flesh of quails who grew weary of the bread of Angels and with the swine to eat husks who would slight the wholsome food of their Fathers house If the Iewes put Gods word from them and judge themselves unworthy of Eternal Life Loe Paul and Barnabas will turn to the Gentiles Act. 13. 46. 5. In reading this Book we shal finde that the whole rabble of vain phantastical or prophane opinions with which at this day this miserable distracted Nation is pestered are not new revelations but old dreams of ancient Hereticks long agoe condemned by the Church and exploded by the publick authority of Christian Magistrates but now for want of weeders these Tares spring up again in the Lords field and are like to choak the good corne unlesse the Lord of the Harvest send forth labourers into his Harvest 6. The reading of this Book may induce us to commiserate the wretched condition of a great part of the World buried as it were in the darknesse of ignorance and tyranny of superstition To blesse God for the light and freedom we enjoy whereas they are not greater sinners than we but except we repent we shall all likewise perish let us not then be too high-minded but fear and when we think we stand let us take heed-least we fall God hath already permitted divers of those old obsolet and antiquated hereticall opinions to break in amongst us the times are now come that men will not suffer wholesome Doctrine but having itching ears after their own lusts get them an heap of teachers turning their ears from the truth and giving themselves unto Fables 2 Tim. 4. Thus is the Lord pleased to deal with us he suffers Heresies to repullulate that they who are approved among us may be manifested He permits Prophets and Dreamers amongst us but it is as Moses saith to prove ●s and to know whether we love the Lord our God with all our hearts and with all our souls Deut. 13. To conclude whereas all men are desirous of happiness and immortality but few walk in the right way that conduceth to it being there are such multitudes of by-waies as we may see by this Book let us follow the counsel of the Prophet Ier. 6. 16. Stand in the waies behold and ask for the old way and walk therein and yee shal finde rest for your souls And thus good Reader having shewed thee the true use of this book I leave it to thy perusal beseeching God to keep us from the by-waies of error and to lead us into the way of truth A. R. The desire of some Friends hath occasioned the publishing of this list of Books compiled by the Author 1. RErum Iudaicarum or the Jewish affairs in four Books 2. An Exposition on the first fourteen Chapters of Genesis 3. Rasura Tonsoris 4. Mel Heliconium 5. Mystagogus Poeticus 6. Virgilius Evangelisans 7. Christiados Lib. 13. 8. Chymaera Pythagorica 9. The New Planet no Planet 10. Meditations on Predestination 11. Medicus medicatus 12. The Philosophical Touch-stone 13. The picture of the Conscience 14. Colloquia Plautina 15. Wollebius Christian Divinity translated cleered and enlarged 16. Gnomologicum Poeticum 17. Enchiridion Oratorium Poeticum 18. Isagoge Grammatica 19. Arcana Microcosmi 20. A ●aveat for reading the Al●oran 21. A Refutation of Doctor Brownes vulgar errours 22. A Refutation of the Lord Bacon Doctor Harvey and others 23. Sir Walter Raleighs History Epitomised 24. Observations on Sir Walter Raleigh 25. The Second part of the History of the World 26. Leviathan drawn out with a hook 27. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or A View of all Religions c. Books not yet published but ready for the Presse viz. 1. DIvine Moral Natural and Historical exercises on the whole Book of Genesis 2. Melissomachia 3. Religionis Apotheosis 4. Paraphrasis Virgiliana 5. Virgilius Triumphans 6. Psychomachia Virgiliana 7. Epigrammata Romana COLLOQUIA 1. CVlinaria 2. Convival 3. Cubicularia ia 4. Tertullianicum 5. Apnleanum 6. Sidonianum 7. Petronianum 8. Persianum 9. Terentianum 10 Ciceronianū c ☞ THe Reader may please to take notice that this Book being the 27. in order also the 15. in order and the 25. which is the second part of the History of the World Corrected by the Authors own Hand and by him owned as the best and perfectest Copy are to be sold by Iohn Saywell at the Grey-hound in Little Britain LONDON These Books are to be sold by Iohn Saywel at his shop at the Signe of the Grey-Hound in Little-Britain London viz. THe History of the World the second part being a continuation of the famous History of Sir Walter Raleigh Knight together with a Chronology c. by A. R. The true Copy whereof is distinguished by the Grey-Hound in the Frontispice from any other whatsoever though coloured by a pretended representation of the Authour in the Title page An exact collection of the choicest secrets in Physick Chyrurgery both C●ymick and Galenick by Leonard Phioravan● Knight Doctor Edwards and others Speedy help for Rich and Poor as to the Griping of the Gu●s Cure of the Gout c. by Herma●●● Vanderheyden an experienc'd Physitian Mr. Charles Hoole's Grammar in Latine and English the shortest orderliest and plainest both for Master and Scholar of any yet extant Also his Terminationes examplae de ●linat●●● con●ugationum and Propria quae ●●atibus Quae 〈◊〉 and As in praesenti englished and explained for the use of young Grammatians And there is now lately printed a new Primer entituled Mr. Hoole's Primer more easie and delightsome for the learner then any yet extant having 24. several representations of Persons Beasts Brids c. answering the several letters of the Alphabet in a copper plate laying also the surest foundation for true spelling the defect whereof in the ordinary teaching 〈◊〉 so much complained of The practice of Quietnesse by Bishop Web. The Revelation of certain
the ground of all Government and Greatnesse 2. By divers reasons it is proved that Religion of all Common wealths and humane societies is the foundation 3. That Princes and Magistrates ought to have a special care in setling and preserving of Religion 4. That one Religion onely is to be allowed in a Common wealth publickly 5. In what Respects different Religions may be tolerated in private 6. A Christian Prince may not dissemble his Religion 7. Why God blesseth the professors of false Religions and punisheth the contemners thereof 8. False Religions are grounded upon policy and what use there is of Ceremonies in Religion 9. The mixture and division of Religions and of Idolatry 10. How the Gentile Religion in worshipping of the Sunne seems to be most consonant to natural reason with divers observations concerning Sun-worship and the knowledge the Gentiles had of a Deity and the Vnity thereof with some glimmering of the Trinity 11. That the honour maintenance and advancement of a Priest-hood is the maine supporter of Religion 13 That the Christian Religion is of all others the most excellent and to be preferred for diver reasons being considered in it selfe and compared with others with an exhortation to the practice of religions duties which is true Christianity The Contents of the First Section Of the Church Disciplin Sacrifices Ordination Publick place Buildings first erected for Divine Service and days of Divine Service bef●re Moses 2. Of the Church Government under Moses difference of the High Priests from other Priests 3. Of the Church Government from him till Solomon 4. Of the Government after Solomon till the division of the Tribes 5. Of Solomons Temple and the outward splendor of the Iewes Religion 6. Of the Office of the Levites of the Prophets Scribes Pharises Nazarites Rechabites Essenes Sadduces and Samaritans 7. Of the ancient observation of their Sabbath of the observation of their Passover of the feasts of Pentecost Tabernacles new Moons of Trumpets and of Expiation of their Sabbatical year and their Iubilee 8. Of their ancient Excommunications how God instructed them of old and of the maintenance allowed by the Iews to their Priests and Levites 9. Of the Government after the Iews were carried captive into Babylon 10. Of the Iewish Church Government at this day their Prayers Sabbaths Feasts Book of the Law Passover what observable thereupon and whether to be permitted among Chirstians in the exercise of their own religion and wherein not to be communicated with by Christians 11. Of the Iewish preparation for morning prayer Fast in August Beginning of their new year Feast of Reconciliation Ceremonies in reading of the Law 12. Their Church Officers Feast of Dedication and of Purim Fasts Marriages Divorcements Circumcision Redemption of the first born their duty toward the sick and ceremonies about the dead SECT I. Quest. WAs there any Religion Church Government of Discipline in the beginning of the World Answ. Yes For then was the Word preached and Sacraments administred We read of Sacrifices offered by Cain and Abel and likewise the distinction of clean and unclean beasts By Faith Abel sacrificed Heb. 11. Noah's sacrifice was pleasing to God Gen. 8. This could not be will-worship for such is no wayes pleasing to God it was therefore according to his Word and Commandement There was also Excommunication for Adam and Eve for their disobedience were excommunicated out of Paradise which was then the type of the Church and every soul not circumcised the eighth day was to be cut off from the people of God Gen. 17. The Word then being preached for God preached to Adam in Paradise and doubtlesse he preached to his Children out of Paradise the Sacraments administred and Excommunication exercised which are the three main points of Church discipline it follows there was then a Church and Church Government Q. Was there then any Ordination A. Yes doubtlesse for God is the God of order nor was it fit that he who mediated between God and the people by preaching prayer and sacrifices should thrust himselfe into that office without ordination therefore God ordained Adam he some of his Children as Cain and Abel and whereas Gen. 4. we do not read that Cain and Abel did sacrifice but only brought their Offerings to wit that Adam might offer them up to God for them it argueth that as yet they had not received ordination and its likely that ordination then was performed by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Imposition of hands which custome the Jewes retained in ordaining their Levites Num. 8. 10. and after them the Christians in ordination of Ministers Act. 6. 6. 1 Tim. 5. 22. which ceremony the Gentiles used in Manumission of their servants and the Jewes in ordination of their Synedrion or the Judges imposed their hands so Moses and Ioshua laid their hands upon the 70. Elders and Moses is commanded by God to lay his hands upon Ioshuah the Son of Nun Numb 27. 18. Q. Was there then any publick place of Sacrificing A. Yes upon the same ground that God who is the God of order will have all things done in his Church with order and decency the meeting also together in one place to hear and pray and offer sacrifice did maintain amity amongst Gods people Besides we read Gen. 25. 22. that Rebecca when the children strugled in her womb did not stay at home but went to wit to the publick place where Gods worship was to enquire of the Lord and because in this place God used to shew his presence to his people by some outward signe it was called Gods presence therefore Gen. 4. 16. Cain went out from the presence of the Lord that is he was excommunicate out of the Church but we must not conceive that as yet there were any material buildings for Gods service for in the beginning men conceived it unfit to include God within the narrow bounds of a material Temple whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain therefore they worshipped him in the open air either upon hills for they thought low places were unbeseeming the most High God hence they called every hill Gods hill or else if they were necessitated to sacrifice on the sea shore or in some low plain they made their Altars so much the higher which from their altitude they called Altaria and these places of Divine worship they named Templa from contemplation The very Gentiles thought it unfit to confine the Sun their chief God to a narrow Temple seeing the whole world was his Temple and after they had built Temples for their Deities they would have them for a long time to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or open-roofed Q. Why were the Groves and high places condemned in Scripture A. Because they were abused both by Jewes and Gentiles to superstition idolatry and all uncleannesse therefore God commands them to be cut down Exod. 34. 13 Deut. 7. 5. 12. 3. 16. 21. Iosiah destroyed them 2. Kings 23.
two Cherubins in the Temple four in the Tabernacle there was but one golden Candlestick and one brazen Laver but in the Temple there were ten of each So this Temple of Solomons far exceeded the other built by Zerobbabel wherein was wanting the Cloud the celestial fire the Ark and the holy Oyl besides in number of Prophets magnifick structure and wealth it was far inferiour to the first and yet in respect of Christ the second did far exceed the first who supplyed the want of the Cloud fire oyl Prophesie Vrim and Thummim He being all these in a more excellent manner but wee must note that though the pot with Manna and Aarons rod were kept in Moses his Ark yet in Solomons Ark were only the two Tables of the Law 1 Kings 8. 9. In the Womens Court stood the Gazophylacium or treasury containing the Almes or Gifts that were offered Q. What else may we observe of Solomons Temple A. That this Temple was to the Jewes as their Cathedral or Metropolitan Church the Synagogues which were not in Ierusalem till after the captivity did resemble our Parish Churches in which the Scribes taught as the Priests in the Temple and as there was a high Priest for the Temple so there was for the Synagogue a high Ruler called Archisynagogus In the Synagogues also they had their distinct Courts as in the Temple and an Ark for the book of the Law and the same holinesse ascribed to the one as to the other but that they could sacrifice nowhere but in the Temple upon the brazen Altar in the Court of the Priests which Altar was called Ariel or the Lyon because like a Lyon it devoured the flesh of the sacrifices Upon the golden Altar incense was offered Christ was represented by both Altars his humanity and passion by the brazen his divinity resurrection and ascension by the golden Altar and the incense thereof mounting towards Heaven In the Court of the Priests called the holy place stood the Table of Shew-bread on which were twelve loaves which represented the twelve Tribes upon each loaf was a dish of franckincense shewing Christs intercession for his people The Candlestick and Pincers or Snuffers represented the doctrine and disciplin of the Church Some divide the Temple but into three parts excluding the Court of the Gentiles to wit into the outward Court of the Israelites the holy or Court of the Priests and the holiest of all into which the high Priest entred once yearly with blood incense and smoak It was death for any other to enter there and even for the high Priest himselfe if he entred above once in a year yet Pompey and Heliodorus took the boldness to enter thither but the one never prospered after and the other fell mad so dangerous a thing it is to be too bold with Religion The brazen Laver and the Shew-bread in the Priests Court represented the two Sacraments of the Church to wit Baptism and the Eucharist The Women shewed their devotion in bestowing their looking-glasses which were not of glass as ours are but of polished brass upon the brazen Laver Exod. 38. 8. a looking-glass sheweth us the spots of our faces but Baptism washeth away the spots of our soules Two other Temples were built in opposition to that of Ierusalem namely the Temple of Samaria built by Sanballat upou mount Garizim the other at Heliopolis in Egypt by Onias the fourth whom Antiochus had put from the high Priesthood The second Temple of Ierusalem built by Zerobbabel was begun in the second yeare of King Cyrus Ezra 3. 8. and was finished in the ninth year of Darius Histaspes which was 46. years in all whereas the first Temple was begun and finished in seven years Herod spent eight years whether in repairing of the old or in building of a new is uncertain yet Iosephus tells us that Herod pulled down the old temple and built a new one which was six and forty years in adorning and perfecting of which the Jewes are to be understood Iohn 2. 20. Q. What did the Temple and the Vteasils thereof represent to us A. As the flitting Tabernacle shadowed out the Church militant so the fixed Temple resembled the Church triumphant the three Courts represented the threefold estate of mankind to wit his state in sinne before the Law by the outward court of the Gentiles his state under the Law by the inward court of the Priests and his state under grace by the holy of holies The Temple as it was built by Solomon a peaceable Prince resembleth the Christian Church erected by Christ the Prince of peace The one was built without noise so was the other The Temple was built upon a hill and the Church saith Christ is like a City built upon an hill In the Oracle or most holy place was neither the light of Sun Moon nor Candle resembling the new Ierusalem in the Revelation having the glory of God and the Lamb for the light thereof Rev. 21. 23. In this place stood the Ark and golden Censer with the Tables of the Law Aarons rod and the pot with Manna the mercy Seat covered the Ark whereon were the golden Cherubins Christs Kingly Office was represented by the Ark crowned with gold his Priesthood by the censer and his Prophetical office by the mercy seat whence God spake to the high Priest the Tables of the Law and Aarons rod shadowed out his active and passive obedience the Cherubins looking on the Ark did signifie Jews and Gentiles looking on Christ their King The pot with Manna did adumbrate his divinitie by the one and his humanity by the other The Propitiatory covered the Law and so hath Christ hid and concealed the condemning power thereof in the Sanctuary or holy place was the Table with the twelve Loaves representing the Twelve Tribes and in them all true Israelites or Church of Christ on the one side having the golden Candlestick on the other the Altar of incense besprinkled yearly with the blood of the Sacrifice and representing the preaching of the word and prayer which by the death of Christ are made acceptable to God In the same place also stood the brazen Altar of burnt offrings and the brazen Sea the one resembled Christ by whom we are justified the other holiness of life by which we are sanctified or the Altar of burnt offrings did signifie our Eucharist and the brazen Sea our Baptisme The fire that burned continually on the Altar did signifie Christs divinity for our God is a consuming fire saith the Apostle The holy Oyl with which the Priest was anointed shadowed the graces of the Spirit poured our on Christs humanity with this oyl of gladness Christ was anointed above his fellows Q. What was the office of the Levites A. Besides that they helped the Priests in gathering of Tithes some of them did carry wood and water for the Tabernacle which they were bound to carry up and down with its Utensils to pitch and
and are still great obstacles to their conversion But Christian Princes must be careful that they be not suffered to blaspheme Christ or abuse his Church for they are keepers of both Tables and they do not carry the sword in vain they should also use all the gentle means they can to bring them to the knowledge and love of Christ by instructing them in the grounds of Christian Religion but violence must be avoided for faith cometh by perswasion not by compulsion neither must their infants be forcibly baptized against their Parents consent but when they come to years of discretion they should cause them to be instructed in the principles of Christianity nor must their Parents be suffered to hinder them but whilest they are infants they must not be baptized against their Parents will because that were to take away the right of paternity which parents have over their children both by the Laws of God of Nature and of Nations besides the children of Jewes who are enemies of Christ cannot be comprehended within the Covenant and therefore are not capable of the sign of the Covenant till they be of years and if then they embrace Christ they are included in the Covenant and so made capable of the seal thereof Besides the forced baptism of Jewish children would be a great scandal to Christian Religion which would be traduced as a violent way to force infants to receive that of which they had no knowledg nor could give their consent to and so these children when they come to years of discretion might justly repudiare that Religion which was forced on them when they had neithe knowledge of it nor gave consent to it Q. In what things must not Christians communicate with Iews A. They must not eat nor drink nor bath nor cohabit together nor entertain friendship and familiarity least by these means Christians should be infected with their errors and superstition or least they should seem to countenance their wicked opinions 2. Christians must not serve Jews in any kind of service for then they will brag that they are the Lords of the world and Christians their slaves besides it is unseemly that the children of the free born for so we are being made free by Christ should serve the sons of the bond woman for they are true Israelites and the sons of Abraham who have the faith and do the works of Abraham who are Israelites not after the flesh but after the spirit 3. Christians must not employ Jews for their Physitians for this were to engage them besides we know out of Histories how dangerous such Physitians have proved to Christians who by reason of their inveterate malice make no conscience to poyson them but rather think they are bound to do so 4 Christians must take heed how they traffick with Jews least they be cheated by them or least they partake of the sins and superstition of the Jews by selling them such wares as they know they will abuse to their superstitious worship 5. Let not Christians borrow money of Jews except they mean to be undone by them for they have ever been and are to this day unconscionable Extortioners 6. Christians ought not to read their blasphemous books but to suppress and burn them for by them our blessed Saviour in his person offices preaching miracles is highly dishonoured and his Church traduced therefore Pope Gregory the ninth about the year of Christ 1230. caused the Thalmud in which Christian Religion is so much blasted to be burned which was performed accordingly by the Chancellor of Paris and about the year 1553. Pope Iulius the third commanded that all the Jewish blasphemous books with both the Thalmuds should be searched out and flung in the fire and that their estates should be consiscared who did harbour or read print or write such wicked books or bring them from forraign parts into Christian Territories Q. How many days do the Jews spend in their Easter solemnities A. Eight the two first and the two last are wholly kept with great Ceremony the other four are but half holy days all this time they sup-plentifully and drink strenuously till it be midnight but they drink up four consecrated cups of Wine two before supper and two at or after supper each of these cups is accompanied with a prayer and the last with execrations against Christians at supper they eat the other halfe Cake and keep open all night their doors and gates as being perswaded that then they are safe and secure from all danger and that they are ready to entertain Eliah whose comming they expect then During this time they eat up the whole three cakes mentioned before and have divers disputations about what work is fit to be done that time full of ridiculous subtilties If during this time they find any leaven in their houses they touch it not but cover it till they burn it Now because they are not certain which is the true fourteenth day of the Moon when they begin their Easter they keep the second day as solemnly as the first and because they know not the true seventh day therefore least they should mistake they observe also the eighth day after which day they bring leaven into their houses again the men fast three times after to expiate for their intemperance during the feast and for the space of thirty days they neither marry nor both nor cut their hair because Rabbi Akibha lost by death all his Disciples being eighty thousand between Easter and Pentecost Q. How do they now observe their Pentecost A. Pentecost so called in the new Testament from the fifty days between Easter and that feast in the old Law it is called the feast of Harvest and of first fruits Exod. 23. 16. because then their Harvest began and the time they offered their first fruits of the Earth The Jews are very exact in numbring each week and day from Easter to Pentecost praying continually that God would bring them home againe to Ierusalem that in their own Land they might offer to him their first fruits as Moses commanded them They keep two holy days at Pentecost because they know not which is the true day They produce their Law twice and by five men they read so much as concerneth that festivity They strow their Houses Synagogues and streets with grass fil their windows with green boughs and wear on their heads green Garlands to shew that all places about mount Sinai were green when they received the Law They eat that day altogether white meats of milk to shew the whitenesse and sweetnesse of the Law They make a Cake or Pye having seven Cakes in one to signifie the seven Heavens into which God ascended from mount Sinai Q. How do they keep the feast of Tabernacles A. This third great feast which was kept anciently in Booths or Tents made up of green boughs in memory of the forty years peregrination in the De●art is now observed by
not sufficient to hold out above one night but by miracle it maintained the Lights for the whole eight days Now this feast consisteth in drinking and gormandising and in pompous superstition about their lights Yet Christ honoured this feast with his presence Iohn 10. 22. not to countenance the abuses thereof but the institution it self for all places set apart for the service of God ought to be consecrated and dedicated to him by prayer and decent ceremonies therefore Moses dedicated the Tabernacle to God and Solomon the Temple with great solemnity and prayers when the Temple was rebuilt after the peoples returne from Babylon it was dedicated again and now the third time it was dedicated when it was profaned by Antiochus These second Dedications are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Renovations The Temple was also newly consecrated or dedicated under Ezechia after it had been profaned by Achaz 2 Chron. 29. The Priests and Levites spent eight dayes in this dedication Q. What is their feast of Purim A. That is of Lots for Haman by lot had appointed the Jews to be massacred all through the Persian Kingdom in one day to wit the thirteenth day of the twelfth moneth which is Adar or February but the Plotters were massacred themselves by the Jews the same day For at Sufae Haman with his ten Sons and five hundred men more were slain and three hundred the day after and on the same day through the rest of Assuerus his Dominions were slain by the Jews 75000. So because this day they destroyed their Enemies and the next day rested themselves therefore at this feast they keep two holy days or rather days for Bacchus In their Synagogues they set up lights in the night time a●d the whole book of Esther is read As often as they hear the name of Haman they keep a cruel noise and stamping with their feet They read all that passage of the death of Hamans Sons at one breath to signifie the suddennesse of that death These two days are spent in singing playing eating and drinking The men wear womens apparrel and the women mens against the Law of God which they think at this time of mirth they may lawfully violate And that the poor may be merry also the richer sort furnish them with meat and drink and so with this ryotous Bacchanal they conclude their Anniversary Feasts for this is the last of the year having none between this and Easter Q. What Fasting days do the Iews observe now A. They keep the four Fasts mentioned by Zachary chap. 8. 19. to wit that of the tenth moneth on the the tenth of December in memory of Ierusalem besieged that day by Nebuchadnezzar Secondly they fast the seventeenth day of the fourth moneth or Iune in memory of the two Tables of the Law broken for the loss of their dayly sacrifice for burning of the Law for setting up idolatry in the Temple for besieging Ierusalem the second time and for breaking down the walls thereof They count the days from this till the ninth of the next moneth all unlucky so that they avoid all great businesse and School-Masters during that time will not beat their Scholars Thirdly they fast the ninth day of the fifth moneth or Iuly because then the Temple was burned therefore they go bare-foot sit on the ground read Ieremiahs Lamentations and in the Church yards among the dead they bewail the losse of Ierusalem From the first till the tenth of this moneth they abstain from flesh wine shaving bathing marrying and pleading and from all kind of delights Fourthly they fast the third day of September because G●doliah Governor of those Jewes that were not carried away in Captivity was treacherously murdered as we read Ieremy 40. and 41. Besides these fasts they have others but not so generally observed for some of their preciser sort fast every Monday and Thursday Some fast the tenth of March because Miriam died that day and the people wanted water in the Desart Some fast the tenth of April for the death of Eli and his two Sons and the losse of the Ark. Some fast the eighteenth of this moneth for the death of Samuel At Ierusalem the Jewes used yearly to fast in remembrance of the Translation of the Bible out of Hebrew into Greek by the seventy Interpreters This fast was observed the eighth day of Tebheth or December and was a day of much heavinesse among them which must proceed from their pride or envy or too much superstition disdaining that their Law should be imparted to the Gentils and that this Translation was a profanation thereof So superstitious they are in their fasts that they will read no passages in the Bible but such as are sad and sorrowfull as the destruction of Ierusalem Ieremies Lamentations c. and not any passage that is joyful such as their delivery from Egyptian slavery or Hamans tyranny The only fast that God commanded was that upon the day of Expiation other fasts were enjoined by the Prince upon emergent occasions as the fast commanded by Iehosophat by Ioachim and other Princes Divers other private fasts they have upon private occasions Their fast is from all meat and drink till the evening that the stars appear Q. What is the manner of their Marriages A. They are married in the open air either in the streets or gardens by their Rabbies The Bridegroom wears about his neck a hair-cloath the end of which the Rabbi puts on the Brides head after the example of Ruth who desired to be covered with the skirt of Boaz his garment Then the Rabbi takes in his hand a glasse full of wine over which he pronounceth a blessing praising God for this Conjunction and gives it to the Bride-man and his Spouse that they may drink Then he takes from the Bridegroom his gold ring and asks of the standers by if it be good and worth the money given for it and so puts it upon one of the Brides fingers then are the marriage writings read openly Then the Rabbi takes another glass of wine over which he prayeth and presents it to the married couple to be tasted but the Bridegroom takes the glasse and dashes it against the wall in memory of the destruction of Ierusalem and for the same cause in some places ashes are put on the Bridegrooms head so the Bride in sign of sorrow puts on a black cloak and the Brideman a black hood they are married in the open aire that by looking up to Heaven they may be put in mind of multiplying like the stars The other ceremonies used before and after marriage are not to our purpose as not being Ecclesiastical But we must know that besides the principal Wife they have others that are subordinate which we may call Concubines who have not the command of the family nor gifts or presents from the Husband as Rebecca had from Isaac nor matrimonial writings as the chief Wife hath nor may their Children
for among them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Hesychius the forraign gods were worshipped This feast is called by Pindarus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hospitable tables and the sacrifice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 36. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was the feast of Bacchus in whose Temple three empty vessels in the night time were filled with wine but none knew how for the doors were fast locked and guarded Thuia also was the first Priestesse of Bacchus from which the rest are called Thyadae 37. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were the feasts of Bacchus every third year in Latine Trienalia and Triennia of which Ovid Celebrant repetita Triennia Bacchae Some other festivals the Greeks observed but of lesse note The Contents of the Sixth Section Of the two prevalent Religions now in Europe 2. Of Mahomets Law to his Disciples 3. Of the Mahumetants opinions at this day 4 Mahomet not the Antichrist 5. Of their Sects and how the Turks and Persians differ 6. Of the Mahumetan Religious Orders 7. Of their other Hypocritical Orders 8. Of their secular Priests 9. Of the Mahumetan devotion and parts thereof 10. Of their Ceremonies in their Pilgrimage to Mecca 11. The Rites of their Circumcision 12. Their Rites about the sick and dead 13. The extent of Mahumetanism and the causes thereof 14. Mahumetanism of what continuance SECT VI. Quest. WHat are the two prevalent Religions this day in Europe A. Mahumetanism and Christianity The former was broached by Mahumet the Arabian being assisted by Sergius a Nestoria● Monk with some other Hereticks and Jews about 600. years after Christ for Mahomet was born under Mauritius the Emperor anno Christi 591. and under Heraclius anno 623. he was chosen General of the Saracen and Arabian Forces and then became their Prophet to whom he exhibited his impious doctrin and law which he pretended was delivered to him by the Angel Gabriel But his Book called the Alcoran was much altered after his death and divers different copies thereof spread abroad many of which were burned and one retained which is now extant This is divided into 124. Chapters which are fraughted with Fables Lyes Blasphemies and a meer hodg-podge of fooleries and impieties without either Language or Order as I have shewed in the Caveat I gave to the Readers of the Alcoran yet to him that readeth this Book a thousand times is promised a woman in his paradise whose eye-brows shall be as wide as the Rainbow Such honour do they give to their ridiculous Book called Musaph that none must touch it till he be washed from top to toe neither must he handle it with his bare hands but must wrap them in clean linnen When in their Temples it is publickly read the Reader may not hold it lower than his girdle and when he hath ended his reading he kisseth the book and layeth it to his eyes Q. What Law did Mahomet give to his Disciples A. His Law he divides into eight Commandements The first is to acknowledge onely one God and onely one Prophet to wit Mahomet 2. The Second is concerning the duty of children to their Parents 3. Of the love of neighbours to each other 4. Of their times of prayer in their Temples 5. Of their yearly Lent which is carefully to be observed of all for one moneth or thirty days 6. Of their charity amd alms-deeds to the poor and indigent 7. Of their Matrimony which every man is bound to embrace at 25. years of age 8. Against murder To the observer of these commands he Promiseth Paradise in which shall be silken Carpets pleasant Rivers fruitfull trees beautiful women musick good cheer and choice wines stores of gold and silver plate with precious stones and such other conceits But to those that shall not obey this Law hell is prepared with seven gates in which they shall eat and drink fire shall be bound in chains and tormented with scalding waters He proveth the Resurrection by the story of the seven sleepers which slept 360. years in a Cave He prescribes also divers moral and judicial Precepts as abstinence from swines flesh blood and such as die alone also from adultery and fals witness He speaks of their Fridays devotion of good works of their Pilgrimage to Meccha of courtesie to each other of avoiding covetousnesse usury oppression lying casual murder disputing about his Alcoran or doubting thereof Also of prayer alms washing fasting and Pilgrimage He urgeth also repentance forbideth swearing commends friendship will not have men forced to Religion will not have mercy or pardon to be shewed to enemies He urgeth valour in Battel promising rewards to the couragious and shewing that none can die till his time come and then is no avoyding thereof Q. What other opinions do the Mahumetans hold at this day A. They hold a fatal necessity and judge of things according to the successe They hold it unlawful to drink Wine to play at Chess Tables Cards or such like recreations Their opinion is that to have Images in Churches is Idolatry They believe that all who die in their wars go immediatly to Paradise which makes them fight with such cheerfulnesse They think that every man who lives a good life shall be saved what Religion soever he professeth therefo●e they say that Moses Christ and Mahomet shall in the resurrection appear with three banners to which all of these three professions shall make their repair They hold that every one hath two Angels attending on him the one at his right hand the other at his left They esteem good works meritorious of Heaven They say that the Angel Israphil shall in the last day sound his trumpet at the sound of which all living creaturs Angels not excepted shall suddenly die and the Earth shall fall into dust and sand but when the said Angel soundeth his trumpet the second time the souls of all that were dead shall revive again then shall the Angel Michael weigh all mens souls in a pair of scales They say there is a terrible Dragon in the mouth of hell and that there is an iron bridge over which the wicked are conveyed some into everlasting fire and some into the fire of Purgatory They hold that the Sun at his rising and the Moon at her first appearing should be reverenced They esteem Polygamy no sin They hold it unlawfull for any man to go into their Temples not washed from head to foot and if after washing he piss go to stool or break wind upward or downward he must wash again or else he offends God They say that the heaven is made of smoak that there are many seas above it that the Moons light was impaired by a touch of the Angel Gabriels wing as he was flying along that the devils shall be ●aved by the Alcoran Many other favourless and sensless opinions they have as may be seen in the Book called Sca●la being an Exposition of the Alcoran Dialogue wise Q. Was Mahomet that Great
who were of the Cistentian Order They wear a black Garment with a red Crosse the revenue of their Master is forty thousand Crowns yearly they are enjoyned by their rule to sleep in their cloathes girded to be silent in the Chappel Hall Kitchen and Dormitory to eat flesh but on Sundays Tuesdays and Thursdays and but of one kinde and but once a day and must fast Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays from the exaltation of the Crosse till Easter if they be at home If any lay violent hands on them they shall be excommunicated In the Lands that they shall acquire from the Saracens it shall not be lawful for any to build Churches or Chappels without leave from the Knights who also may chuse their own Clergy other immunities and priviledges they have as may be seen in the Confirmation or Bull of Pope Innocent the third which is extant in the Second Book of his Decretal Epistles The Knights of Saint Iames in Spain were instituted under Pope Alexander the third who confirmed this order and were to follow Saint A●tins rule The first Master was Peter Ferdinand whose yearly revenue is one hundred and fifty thousand Crownes They were instituted Anno 1170. the great Master i● next to the King in power and state they wea● both in Peace and Wars a Purple Crosse before thei● Breast resembling the Hilts of a two-handed Sword called Spatha therefore these Knights are called Milites S. Iacobi de Spatho and the order from Compostella is named Compostellanus Many other orders of Knight-hood there are in Chrisstendom as of Saint George in England of Saint Andrew in Scotland of Saint Michael in France of the Lilly in Nava● of Saint Mark in Venice of the Dove in Castile of the Golden Fleece in Burgundy of Saint Maurice in Savoy of Saint Stephen in Tuscany and many more which are rather Secular then Religious Knights Th●●●st of which may be seen in our continuation of Sir Walter Raleighs History to be sold at the Grey-hound in Little Britain London the edition which I owne Q. 11. What were the Orders of Mendicant Friers A. Of these were four sorts namely Augustinians Carmelites Praedicants and Minorits The Augustinians were erected by William Duke of A●nitania ●bout the year 1150. from whom they were named ●uilehelmits but afterwards Pope Innocent the fourth understanding that their were many sorts of Eremiles in divers parts of the world living under different title● and rules he invited them to live under one ●●●d and to professe one rule to wit that of Saint Austin But this Pope dying in the interim Alexander the fourth succeeded to whom Saint Austin appeareth in a vision having a great head but small links by this he is warned to perfect the Union which 〈◊〉 began which he did accordingly and so he 〈…〉 all in own order and calls them by one 〈◊〉 to wit the Eremites of Saint Austin whose rule he commanded they should follow and be subject to one General Prior and so dispensed with their former rules and obse●vances Withall he enjoynes them to forsake the Desares and to live in Cities that they might ●each the people To this end he gave them divers priviledges and so did He●erius the fourth about the year of Christ 1290. They wear a black coat with a hood of the same colour and under a white short coat a l●●thren girdle with ●orn buckles They came into England Anno 1252. before Alexanders vision and by their sermons in deavoured to advance King Richard the third his title against the heirs of King Edward These Eremites did spread so fast through the world that there were reckoned of this order about 200● Covents These Monks have three rules to which they are bound given them by Saint Austin as they say The first is that they possesse nothing in property but have all things in common that they be not sollicitous what they shall eat or drink or wherewith they shall be cloathed That none be admitted without triall That none depart of carrie any thing out of the Monastery without the Superiors leave That no man maintain any point of Doctrine without ac●●ainting the S●perior with it That secret faults be first reproved and if not repented of punished In Persecution let them repair to their Praepositus Their Second rule contains the times and manner of their praying and singing their times of working reading and refreshing of their obedience silence and behavior both at home and a broad and how contumacy must be punished The third rule contains their duties more largely as that they must love God above all things that they maintain unity that ●●eat drink and cloth be distributed as need is that all things be common that there be not pride contempt or rain glory amongst them here they are enjoyned to prayer reverence devotion abstinence 〈…〉 to hear the word read at table to be 〈◊〉 of the sick and infirm to be modest in apparre worth and gesture in their looks when they 〈◊〉 to see a woman to reprove immodesty in their Brothers to receive no letters nor guifts without the Superiors knowledge to have their cloathes well kept from moths to beware of murmuring and repining that to conceal any thing shall be counted● theft that they be not too nice an washing them cloathes That in sicknesse the Physitian be advised with That they may bathe sometimes That the● sick want not any thing needfull for him That there be not strife envy nor evil words among them That the Superior use not harsh words in reproving That he shew good example to his Brothers in holy conversation That he be wise humble and careful of his charge and that the duties here enjoyned may be the better performed these rules must be read once every week which rules are followed and observed not onely by all the Canon Regula●s and the Eremites of Saint Austins order but also by the Mendicants except the Minors and likewise by the Dominicans the Servants of our Lady the Bridgidians Iesuati Canons● Regular of Saint George Montolihetenses Eremites of Saint Hierom Hieronymites simply Cruciferi Scopetini Hospita●arii St A●●onii Trinitatis Servitae Feruerii Ferie●● or of Saint Iohn of Ierusalem Cruciferii with the Star the Friers of Saint Peter the confessor de Magella Sepulchritae or Brothers of the Lords Sepulchre The Friers of the V●lliseholarii Victoriani Gilbertini The Eremites of Saint Paul whom some think to be all one with the Augustinians Fratres de ●oei●ite●tia Coronati● The Knights of Saint Iames de Spatha and divers 〈◊〉 who notwithstanding differ in their habits exercises and manner of living Q● 12. What were the C●●meli●es A. These were Eremites whose habitation was in Caves and Rocks within the hill Carmel famous for the Prophetes Elias and Elisha About the year of Christ 1160. or as others say 11●1 Almericus Patriarch of Antioch and the Popes Lega● came thither and gathered these
love and unity in his house and must read all Letters that are either sent to or from any under his charge and must suffer none to have a seal without the Provincials leave let there be no armes nor musical instruments nor wanton Books nor idle recreations within his house The Provost may if need be preach and hear confessions but must not suffer Priests of the society to preach and hear the Nuns confessions except upon extroardinary occasion He must take care that all spiritual exercises be duely performed and divine service every day Let there be seven hours allotted for sleep and eight hours between dinner and supper Let the table be blessed and thanks given according to the Roman Breviary Let an hour be allowed for recreation after dinner and supper and on Friday after evening collation half an hour Let there be conferences touching cases of conscience held twice a week at which all the Priests should be present Let there be an account taken every moneth of what is received and expended in the house Special care must be had of those that labour in the Lords Vineyard that they may not want If any thing of moment is to be done in the house let the Provincial be acquainted therewith Let no man keep a horse except upon urgent occasion and with the Generals leave Women must not be permitted to enter into the house Lands given by Will must be sold for the use of the society but not without the Generals leave Let no man walk abroad without a companion let travellers of the Society be entertained kindly c. The Rectors of Colledges also have their rules which are in a manner the same with those of the Provosts Which rules and constitutions must be read twice or thrice a year in the Refectory The examiner also of those that desire admission hath his rules he must be a man skilful and discreet who must signifie to his Superior how he findes the party affected and qualified If unfit he must be cheerfully dismissed If fit he must aske him if he is resolved to forsake the world and why what induced him to be of this Society If he be in debt or subject to any infirmity what is his age his country his parents and their condition if he be born in marriage of Christian parents or of Hereticks if he be a Seholar where and how long he hath studied if he will be a Coadjutor and content with Martha's lot Then he must be well instructed in the constitutions and rules of the Society The Master of the Novices by his rules is tied to be courteous and loving to his Novices to help comfort and instruct them upon all occasions He hath power in some cases to enjoyn pennance on them and in some cases to absolve them He must also be well exercised in Basils Rules Gregories Morals Austins Confessions and Meditations in Bernard Bonaventure Cassian Dorotheus his Homilies Caesarius Ep●raim Huge and Richard de S. Victore Vmbertus de Eruditione Religiosorum Innocentius of contempt of the world Thomas de Kempis of the imitation of Christ and such like Books for Histories he must read Gregories Dialogues Gregory Turonensis of the glory of Confessors and life of Saint Martin Eusebius his Ecclesiastick History Sulpitius of Saint Martins life the select lives of the Fathers the lives of Lippoman and Surius Pet. Damianus Pet. Cluniacensis of Miracles the Indian Letters and the life of Ignatius The Probationer for the first three weeks is to be used as a guest in which time he is to be instructed in the rules and constitutions of the house Then must be examined and must promise that in a years space after his enterance he shall part with all his estate If he be a Scholar he must read some lectures if no Scholar he shall do some handy-work A General confession must be also made what he brings with him into the house must be inventoried in a Book where the day and year of his enterance with his Country must be registred and subscribed with his own hand he must also performe some spiritual exercises in his second probation and he must be tried how he can serve for a moneth and then for another moneth he must be imployed in begging from door to door to shew how willing he is for the love of Christ to forsake all worldly hopes And for a fourth experiment fie must be exercised in some base employment about the house After this he shall be imployed in teaching the ignorant and Children the doctrine of Christianity and must be tried with meane cloathes and diet and with moderate pennance also and must be instructed in the practise of devotion and mortification and modesty and must be made a chamber-fellow to one by whom he may profit He must not speak with his kindred without leave and witnesses and therefore must not be in any such office as hath relation to strangers as Caterer Porter c. The Novices once a week must have a day of recreation The Coadjutors must be taught the rosary After all this the Novices must be asked if they are able to undergoe the burthens of that Society if they bo let it be recorded and then let them confesse to the Priest In the morning after the ringing of the bell they must by their private devotion prepare themselves for publcik prayer Halfe an hour is allowed them for dressing up their Beds and Chambers then they must hear Masse and exhortations which are made to them twice a week for half an hour the other half hour they shall repeat and conferr Then the next day their Master shall propose them ways to overcome tentations and difficulties the rest of the time till examination before dinner shall be imployed in some exercise Having recreated themselves an hour after dinner at the ringing of the Bell they shall repair to their Chambers to study an hour after they shall repeat something to their Master and twice a week they shall aske one another the grounds of Christianity they must be silent except in times of exercise and recreation before supper they shall pray and so before they go to bed After two years of probation they are examined again touching their resolution and constancy in that order and then certain rules of modesty and behaviour are prescribed them The rules for Counsellors are that they be sincere judicious faithful intelligent free from partiality considerate and not rash in giving sentence to use few words to submit to the judgements of the Superior to divulge nothing without him to maintain his dignity and with submission to give him their best advise c. Q. 6. What rules have they for Travellers or Pilgrims for the Minister for the Admonitor and other officers A. Travellers must ease the wearisomnesse of their journey with spiritual fruits every day when they begin their journey they must say all the Letanies and other prayers their talk
must be of heavenly things that Christ may be their fellow-traveller They must beg almes for the love of Christ who was poor himself let them accustome themselves to patience In bearing all injuries let the stronger follow the weaker and not go before if any fall sick by the way let one stay with him to look carefully to him to edifie in the Lord all such as give them entertainment Let them in all places shew good examples of holinesse and modesty If they travel neer any House or Colledge of the Society they must not beg of strangers without leave from the Superior of that House or Colledge Let none travel without his Superiors Letters Parents The Minister or Controller of the house is bound by his rules to be assistant to the Provost or Rector to be exact in all the rules constitutions and customes of the house to visit every other day all the offices and chambers in the House or Colledge In the Spring and Autumne he must acquaint the Superior that the dyet and cloathes of the Society must be changed Let him be present with the Physitian when he visits the sick every day he must know the Superiors minde touching the houshold affairs and must acquaint him with what is fit to be done and what is amisse He must see that all things be in good order and clean that the gates be shut every night to look to the windowes candles fires and linnen Let him see there be no disorders or quarrelling he may supply the Superiors place in his absence and may have an under-Minister The Admonitor is tied by his rules to put the Superior in minde wherein he faileth in his office But this he must do with reverence and submission and with advice of the Counsellors and must not acquaint others what is done in this case If the Superior be incorrigible after divers warnings he must acquaint the higher powers he must have a seal for those letters which are sent to the Superiors The Iesuites have also rules in writing of letters The Superior or Rector of House or Colledge is to write every week to the Provincial and so is he that is sent abroad to preach or convert of all matters of moment concerning their Society the Provincials are to write once a moneth to the General but the Superiors and Rectors of Houses and Colledges once in three moneths the Provincials must write once a moneth to Provosts Rectors and those that are sent abroad in messages the General shall write to the Provincials once in two moneths but to Rectors once in six moneths except there be urgent occasion to write oftner iest letters be lost or intercepted they must be written divers times and the coppies thereof if they be to the General must be recorded in a book secrets must be written in characters or mystical terms The letters written at Rome by the General shall be read in the Houses and Colledges and there safely laied up He that hath the charge of spiritual things is tied by his rules to be carefull over the soules committed to him in admonishing instructing exhorting and examining The Overseer of the Church is by his rules bound to acquaint the Provost every Saturday of the next Feasts and Fasts that warning may be given on Sunday in the Refectory at supper-time He must every Saturday set down in writting what Ceremonies are to be used the next week at the high Alter He must take care of the Masses and Prayers to be used for their deceased Founders and Benefactors as also for the defunct of their Society He must see that the Priests be shaved and that they observe their rules He must suffer no almes to be given for hearing of confessions or saying Divine Service He must have special care of the Host of the Holy Oyle Crosses Chalices Reliques c. When the Reliques are to be shewed two Wax Candles must be lighted He must look to the Fabrick of the Church and must admonish the Superior to nominate preachers for the next day He must take care over all the Church moveables and keep an inventory of them He must also take care of the linnen candles prayers graves When the holy linnen groweth old and uselesse let it be burned and the ashes thereof cast into the holy Pond or Lake a Catalogue also must be kept of all the Masses that are to be celebrated by the Priests and the prayers to be said by those that are not Priests yearly monethly and weekly besides extraordinary times the Priests are tied by their rules to be devout holy and reverent in the exercise of their Function to observe all the Roman rites uniformity and decency to be expert in cases of conscience and diligent in hearing confessions but the Confessor and Penitent must not see one another in time of confession and there must be an eye witness present though not an ea● witness if the Penitent be a Woman Confessions must be heard from the morning till noon The Priests may exhort the sick to make their Wills but not to assist them in making thereof Preachers are tied by their rules to teach sound wholsom Doctrin tending not to curiosity but edification to be diligent in reading the Scripture and Fathers to be exemplary in their conversation to abst●in from reproving Princes Bishops and Magistrates in their Sermons or any Religious Orders to forbeare any expressions that may move laughter or contempt Let them beware of Pride Arrogance Vaine-glory or affected eloquence let their gestures be modest and grave let them chiefly commend the frequent use of confession of the Encharist of good works of obedience of the Church Ceremonies of pennance prayer c and let not their Sermons be extemporary or exceed an hour They that are sent to preach abroad in remote places are tied by their rules to walk on foot to live upon almes to lodge in Hospitals to aske leave of the Ordinary to preach to take notice of the most devout people In every place where they come They shall not onely preach but likewise conferr catechise pray administer the Sacraments visit the sick resolve doubts of conscience compose differences c. They must strive to make all men their friends and to pray for their persecutors and bear their burthens patiently Let them write every week to their Superiors what progresse they make in their preaching and other spiritual exercises to preach to themselves as well as to others and to do nothing but what they are inioyned to by their Superior●s The Generals Proctor is tied by his rules to entertain no Suites in Law if he can otherwise 〈◊〉 them to give an account of all his actions to the Provost Generall to keep in books all accounts of expenses and receivings to keep a lift of all Church 〈◊〉 united to their Colledges to have a great care of all the Writings Popes Bulls Records and other papers committed to his charge c.
The Proctor of the House is tied by his rules chiefly to have care of the Houses Records and Money how it is expended and to give an account thereof to his Superiours The Proctor of the Colledge and House of probation is tied by the same rules to be careful of the records and moneys to keep a good account of what is layd out and received and to write down all in his book He that hath charge of the Readers at Table is bound by his rules to take care that they have a loud clear and distinct voice that they be perfect in what they read that first they read a Chapter in the Bible except in chiefe festivals for them Homilies must be read concerning the day Letters also from the Indies are to be read yearly In the beginning of every moneth their constitutions and common rules with Ignatius his Epistle of obedience must be read In the evening after the Lesson must be read the Martyrology of the next day Leviticus and the Canticles with some obscure Chapters in the Prophets are not to be read at all Eusebius his history Nicephorus Gregories Dialogues Ambrose Austin Bernard with such like books whereof the Catalogue is set down in the rules are to be read The Superiour is to appoint what is to be read every day He that hath the overseeing of the sick is tied by his rules to be careful of them of their dyet Physitian and all things else that may concern them that his substitute called by them Infirmarius have all kinde of physical Druggs that he acquaint the Superiour with the sicknesse and quality of it that every eighth day the sick receive the Encharist that prayers be made for him and all things performed which may tend to his comfort and recovery if he die that the corps if without offence be kept above ground foure and twenty houres and then decently interr'd The Library keeper by his rules must have still by him I●dex Expurgatorius and that he keepe no prohibited books to keep the Library locked except to those who are permitted to be in it to keepe the books cleane to write down their Titles to have a Catalogue of them to lend no book without the Superiours leave c. The 〈◊〉 Minister of the House is to look to the Chambers ●●●ectory Kitchin Buttery and other places that all things be fit and in order The Aedituus or Sexton must be subject to the Praefectus or him that hath the charge of the Church to have a care of the sacred Vestiments of the Linnen of the Host and Wine he must in divine Service light two candles and at the elevation of the Host a wax Torch or Taper and then shall ring the bell he must keep clean the Church Plate before Masse or Sermon let him ring the bell and the Virgins salutation bell in the morning at noon and in the evening and to ring the passing bell when any of the Society is departing he must have a light continually burning before the Host and there must never be wanting holy water he shall deliver to the Praesectus all oblations that he shall finde he must be careful of the Church-doors to shut them at noon and at Sun set and whilest they stand open he or one for him must not be wanting he must suffer none to walk up and down to make any noise and let all things be kept cleanre The Porter must haue a list of all the Domesticks names he must suffer none to go out without the Superiours leave all letters he shall deliver to the Superiour none that returns from the Country must be let in till the Superiour know it if Bishops or great men come in let a Priest attend them whilest he acquaints the Superiour Let the keyes of the gate be delivered every night to the Provost or Rector He must acquaint the Superiour if any poore be at the gate or if any almes be given there c. The keeper of the Wardrobe must have an Inventory of all the cloathes in the house and linnen thereof of which he must be careful he must every Saturday night furnish each chamber with cleane linnen and carry away the soule every Sunday morning to the Washer In Summer every fifteenth day he must give out cleane sheets and in Winter every three weeks c. The Steward of the house must be careful of the Wine and VVater and Dyet of the Society and to have the VVine-casks kept clean He that hath the charge of the Hall or Refectory must look there be not wanting VVater Towels Napkins Tablecloths which must be changed once or twice a week that the due hours of refection be observed by ringing the Bell that he have a list of all their names who are in commons that the remainders of the meat be reserved for the poor and that he have the names of the VVaiters at table every week and of the Readers c. The Cook hath his rules to be cleanly frugal diligent to touch no meat in cutting or dividing with his hands but with a fork to cut as he is directed by the Superiour to dresse nothing for any particular man except he be sick not to be wastful of the VVood to keep a list of all things belonging to the Kitchin The Excitator who wakeneth the Iesuites in the morning must goe to rest halfe an houre before others that he may rise so much the sooner ring the bell and carry lights to every Chamber a quarter of an hour after he must visit each Chamber againe and if he finde some in bed yet he must tell the Superiour another quarter of an hour after he must ring to prayers he that visits the Chambers at night must ring or knock that every one may examine his conscience about a quarter of an houre after he must ring to bed and a quarter after that he must see if every one be a bed and the candles put out if not to acquaint the Superiour Each House or Colledge hath one who buyeth all things necessary for the house his rule is to be diligent and faithful in buying and employing the money delivered to him that he may give a just account thereof These are the principal rules to which every Officer and Member of the Society is bound Some of lesser note I have omitted for brevities sake which may be seen at large in the Iesuites own rules set out by themselves in one Book at Lyons by their Superiours permission Anno 1607. Q. 7. What Priviledges have been granted to this Society from the Popes A. Pope Paul the third gave them power to make what and how many rules and constitutions they pleased towards the advancement of their Society to admit as many into their order as their General shall please whereas in the beginning they were stinted to sixty onely he also excommunicates all such as shall either hinder or not aid this Society He gave them also
Leyden their King reigned who taught that he had a commission from heaven to take many wives 18 Libertines who make God the author of sin and deny the Resurrection 19. Deo relicti who rejected all meanes and relied onely upon God 20. Semper Orantes who with the old Euchytes are still praying thinking they are tyed to no other duty Q. 2. What are the Tenets of the Brownists A. These being so called from their author Master Robert Brown of Northamptonshire sometimes a School-Master in Southwark hold there is no other pure Church in the world but among them so did the Donatists of old 2. They reject the Lords Prayer in this they are Iewes and agree with the old Hereticks called Prodiciani 3. They will not serve God in consecrated Churches nor will communicate with those they called wicked in this they follow the old Cathari 4. They reject tythes and affect parity in this they are Anabaptists 5. They hold all the Church Ceremonies to be Popish 6. That the love which is in God is not Essential 7. That Ordination of Ministers by Bishops is Antichristian 8. That the Word preached and Sacraments administred by scandalous Ministers are altogethers ineffectual 9. That Church-musick is unlawful 10. That Lay-men and Mechanicks may preach and expound Scripture 11. That set forms of prayers are aboninable in the sight of God whereas notwithstanding we have diverts set forms both in the Old and New Testament at which they quarrel and chiefly at the Lords Prayer 12. There be divers sorts of this profession some Brownists of which we have spoken some Barrowists so called from Barrow their first Martyr He called the Church of England Sodom Babylon and Egypt Some are called Wilkinsonians from Wilkinson their Master who thought that he and his followers were truly Apostles and therefore denyed communion with such as did not give them that title A fourth sort there is of Anabaptistical Brownists who hold themselves the onely true Church and condemn the other Brownists for Pedobaptisme therefore they re baptise such as come to them They that would see more of this Sect let them read the Book called The profane Schisme of the Brownists another called The foundation of Brownisme Master Whites Discovery of Brownisme Doctor Halls Apology against the Brownists Giffords Declaration against the Brownists Pagits Heresiography c. Q. 3. What are the Familists A. The Familists or Family of love are so called from the love they bear to all men though never so wicked and their obedience to all Magistrates though never so tyrannical be they Iewes Gentiles or Turks Their first Founder was one David George of Delfe who called himself the true David that should restore the Kingdom to Israel He held 1. That neither Moses nor the Prophets nor Christ could by their Doctrine save the people but his Doctrine was the onely meanes of salvation 2. That whosoever spoke against his Doctrine should never be forgiven neither in this life nor in the life to come 3. That he would set up the true house of David and raise the Tabernacle of God not by suffering but through love and meeknesse 4. That he was the right Messiah the beloved son of the Father 5. That he should not die or if he did he should rise again His Successor Henry Nicholas of Amsterdam maintained the same Doctrine but in his own name calling himself The Restorer of the World and the Prophet sent of God To the former Tenets he added 1. That there is no other Christ but holinesse and no other Antichrist but sin 2. That the Family of love hath attained the same perfection that Adam had before he fell 3. That there is no resurrection of the flesh 4. That the day of judgement is already come and that this Nicholas is the Judge of the world 5. That there hath been eight great Lights in the world whereof Christ was the seventh but himself the eight and greatest of all 6. That none should be baptized till the thirtieth year of their age 7. That the joyes of Heaven shall be onely here on the Earth and so likewise Hell 8. That they ought not to bury the dead not to give almes to such as are not of their profession 9. That Angels are born of women 10. That every day of the week should be a Sabbath 11. That the Law may be fulfilled in this life 12. That there was a world before Adam was made 13. That there is no other Deity but what man partakes of in this world 14. That such wives as are not of their belief may be rejected for whores 15. That in H. Nicholas dwelleth all perfection holinesse and knowledge and that their illun●inated Elders are deified in this life and cannot sin There be also divers sorts of Familists as Castalians Grindletonians of the Mountains of the Vallies of the scattered 〈◊〉 c. which hold with these former opinions that the Scriptures are but for Novices that we ought not to pray for pardon of sin after we are assured of Gods love that wicked men sin necessarily and such more stuff Q. 4. What be the Adamites and Antinomians A. Of the Adamites in Saint Austins time we have already spoken as also of the Bohemian Adamites Of late years there were some of them in Amsterdam where the men and women did pray in their meetings and perform other divine services naked This posture they called the state of innocency and their meetings Paradise In their opinions they were Anabaptists The Antinomians are so called from their opposing and rejecting of the Law which they say is of no use at all under the Gospel neither in regard of direction nor correction and therefore ought not to be read or taught in the Church 2. They say that good works do neither further nor evill workes hinder salvation 3. That the child of God can no more sin then Christ could and therefore it is sin in him to aske pardon for sin 4. That God never chastiseth his children for sin not is it for their sins that any Land is punished 5. That murther adultery drunknesse are sins in the wicked but not in the children of grace nor doth God look upon them as sinners and consequently that Abrahams lying and dessembling was no sin in him 6. That the child of grace never doubteth after ●e is once assured of salvation 7. That no man should be troubled in his conscience for any sin 8. That no Christian should be exhorted to performe the duties of Christianity 9. That an Hypocrite may have all the graces that were in Adam before his fall and yet be without Christ. 10. That Christ is the onely subject of all graces and that no Christian believeth or worketh any good but Christ onely believeth and worketh 11. God doth not love any man for his holinesse 12. Sanctification is no evidence of a mans Justification Of this and such like stuff you may read in
end to all Iewish rites which w●re but shadows of christs sufferings the substance being come the shadows were to vanish therefore the Apostle saith Gal. 4. 9. That they who turns to these beggarly elements again desire to be in bondage again and in the next chapter he tells the Galathians that if they be circumcised Christ shall profit them nothing Lastly this millenary kingdome of eating drinking and sensuall pleasures was fitly devised by Cerinthus the heretick as best suiting with his swinish disposition for he was noted for a person given to gormandizing and libidinous sports Q. 10. What other Sects and Opinions are there now stirring amongst us A. We have Anti-trinitarians or Polonian Arrians which sprung up in Poland Anno 1593. These deny the Trinity of Persons the Divinity of Christ and of the Holy Ghost that Christ was the Son of God essentially but in respect of his dominion and say that the eternal generation of the Son is against truth and reason We have also Millenaries the spawn of Cerinthus the Heretick these dream of a temporary Kingdome bere on Earth which they shall enjoy with Christ a thousand years But indeed they aim at the enjoyment of the temporal estates of such as they call wicked who as they think have no property in their estates We have Traskits so called of one Trask who would have no Christian Sabbath kept but the Jewish Laws observed and their Sabbath or Seventh day to be perpetually kept holy till the worlds end Others we have who will keep no Sabbath at all these we call Anti Sabbatarians We have likewise Anti-Scripturians who reject all Scriptures as mans inventions there are amongst us Divorcers who hold that men may put away their Wives upon small occasions VVe have also Soul-Sleepers who with the Arabick Hereticks hold that the soul dieth or sleepeth with the body whose souls I think are asleep before the body dieth Amongst other professions we have of late Seekers or Expe●●ers who deny there is any true Church or Ministery and therefore they are seeking one But they know not where to find this Church except it be in the Land of Utopia There was one Hetherington a Box maker who rejecting all Church discipline published that the Sabbath of the Iews was abolished by Christ and that every day now is a Sabbath that the books of Esdras were canonicall Scripture and in other opinions agreed with the ●amilists Q. 11. What Opinions in Religion are held by Theaurau John Ans. He cals himself Priest of the Iews sent as he saith from God to convert them his wilde whimsies are these 1. He cals it nonsence and a lie to say that God is Father of us all 2. That we Gospellers as he cals us worship the Devill because saith he the spirit of man is a Devill 3. That it is a Monster and absolute blasphemie to say the godhead dwelt in Christ bodily 4. He wonders how he that created all could be born of a woman by which we may plainly see he is a circumcised Iew. 5. He saith that the child which the Virgin brought forth is love as if the generation of christ were altogether mysticall and not reall 6. He saith That Mary is christ and christ is Mary and that these are but names of one thing 7. He denyeth That Christ was properly born or that he was born in one or that he was begotten or that be could be flesh properly or that he did descend into our fl●sh but into our spirits onely or that he could be included in the Virgins Wombe and withall he belyeth us in saying That we have brought the humanity to be very God whereas we say the same person is God and man one not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh but by taking of the manhood into God One altogether not by confusion of substance but by unity of person 8. He calls the English clergy thieves robbers deceivers sounding from Antichrist and not from the true christ in which we see the Impudent spirit of an heretick who can no other wayes defend his lies and blasphemies but by railing 9. He prateth That the Gospel cannot be preached by another but by it self so that mans voyce or outward sound is a lye and Antichist 10. That our Ministers are not christs ambassadors but that their call is a lye for 't is learning and learning is that wh●re which hath deceived the Nations and compleated the work of Antichrist See the impudence and boldnesse of this blind ignoramus 11. He denyeth that the Priests tips can preserve knowledge though the Scripture is plain for it but by the Priest he understands knowledge it self and so he will make the Holy Ghost to speak Tautologies in saying knowledge shall preserve knowledge here we see the fruits of ignorance 12. He makes the spirit of man to be a quintessence abstracted out of the elementarie motions such is his dull philosophie 13. Out of his kind respect to the Devil by whose instinct he writeth he affirms That he with the false prophet shall receive mercy at last because God with not punish a finite thing infinitely but here be again bewrayes his ignorance for the devil is infinite a posteriore both in regard of his essence and of his desire in sinning besides that God whom he offendeth is infinite 14. H● ignorantly saith That ●e who conf●rs Gods gift is as great yea greater than God himself is so then it must follow that the Apostles were greater than God when they gave the gifts of the Holy Ghost by imposition of hands 15. He impiously saith that Saint Paul wrote many things which he understood not 16. And as impiously doth he say that in them books which we call Scripture is the lye as well as in other books 17. After his ignorant manner he c●●founds the gift of prophesie with the Prophet himself in saying man is not the Prophet but the light in man from God 18. He will not have us to seek for Antichrist abroad for man in darknesse is Antichrist I deny not but every man in darknesse is in some sort an Antichrist yet there is one great Antichrist to be sought for abroad 19. The Trinity which he acknowledgeth is God the Sonne and Man this Trinity is hatched in his crasie 〈…〉 20. He is so mad that he saith he can make one word bear forty significations so he can make 〈◊〉 thou stand for dark or light or hell or heaven or sea or land or angel or Sunne or the devil 21. He will not have Christs body that suffered to be our Saviour nor Christs body for christs body saith he is obedience thus he would fain make christ our Saviour a 〈◊〉 allegorie and therefore in plain termes affirmeth that true Christ hath not nor cannot have any true corporall body for he is a spirit and a spirit is free from fl●sh as if forsooth a spirit flesh could not be united in the same person
of Christ upon the Earth 51. That none are damned but for rejecting the Gospel 52. That now many Christians have more knowledge then the Apostles had 53. That miracles necessarily attend the Ministry 54 That there ought to be no Churches built nor should men worship in consecrated places 55. That the Apostles were ignorant of the salvation to be revealed in the last days 56. That all men ought to have liberty of conscience and of prophesying even women also 57. That circumcision and the old covenant was onely of things temporal 58. That Paedobaptisme is unlawful and impious and that others besides Ministers may baptise and that a man may be baptised often 59. That the people should receive the Lords Supper with their hats on but the Ministers in giving it should be uncovered 60. That the Church of England is Antichristian 61. That there is no divine right to call or make Ministers that Ministers should work for their living and that Tythes are Antichristian 62 ●hat Christians are not bound to observe the Lord● day and that we should observe still the old Sabbath 63. That humane learning and premeditation is uselesse to preaching and that preaching should onely confist in disputing reasoning and conferring 64. That the Saints must not joyn in prayer with wicked men not receive the Sacrament with them nor with any member of the Church of England 65. That ●ublick prayers are not to be used but by such as have an in●allible Spirit as the Apostles had 66. That set hours of prayer are needlesse 67 That singing of Davids Psalmes or other holy songs except they be of their own making are unlawful 68. That wicked men ought not to pray at all 69. That all government in the Church ought to be civil not Ecclesiastical 70 That the power of the keyes is as well in six or seven gathered together as in the greatest congregation 71. That neither miracles nor visions nor anointing the sick with oyl are ceased 72. That in these days many are with Paul rapt up into the third Heaven 73 That the Magistrate is not to meddle with matters of Religion nor forms of Church government which if they do they are not to be obeyed 74. That there ought to be a community of Goods seeing all the Earth is the Saints 75. That a man upon slight causes may put away his wife and that one man may have two wives 76. That children ought not at all to obey their parents if wicked 77. That parents should not instruct their children but leave them to God 78. That Christians ought not to maintain Religion by the sword nor to fight for their lives and liberties no● to fight at all nor to kil any thing nay not a chicken for our use 79. That it stands not with Gods goodness to damn his own creatures eternally 80. That i'ts unlawful for a Christian to be a Magistrate 81. That man lost no more by Adams fall then the rest of the whole creation 82 That Christ hath not purchased eternal life for man more then for the rest of the creation and that he offered up himselfe a full and perfect sacrifice not only for man but for all that man kept even the whole creation 83. None are sent to hell before the last judgment 84. It is not the Law but the Gospel which threatens us with Hell fire 85. If God shew not mercy to all he is not infinite 86. Christians are not bound to meet one day in seven for publick worship 87. The Saints are justified not by Christs obedience but by the essential righteousness of God 88. A woman committeth not adultery in lying with another man if her husband be a sleep 89. That the Saints may put away their unbeleeving wives or husbands 90. There is no other seale but the Spirit the Sacraments are no seales at all 91. The Magistrate may not put to death a murtherer being a member of the Church till first he be cast out of the Church 92. The promises belong to sinners as sinners and not as repenting sinners 93. Apocrypha books are canonical Scripture 94. To use set forms of prayer even the Lords prayer is Idolatry 95. Bells Churches and Church-yards preaching in Pulpits in Gowns by an hour-glasse the names of our months and days are all idolatry 96. That the Apostles Creed is to be rejected as erroneous 97. That there ought to be no other laws among Christians but the judicial Law of Moses and that the Magistrate hath no legislative power at all 98. That all Learning Schools Universities Arts Degrees are to be rejected as pernicious 99. That Angels and Devils are not substances but meer qualities and that mens soules are but terrestrial vapours perishing with the bodies 100. That some in this life are perfect without all sin and need not pray for pardon 101. That in God there is some composition and corporiety and mutability also 102. That Christ took not his flesh of the Virgin Mary but that his body was created without all consanguinity with the first Adam 103. That God doth personally subsist in every creature 104. That the world is eternal 105. That the Lords Supper may be celebrated in Inns rather then Churches and that in the end of a feast 106. That the Devils have no sinne But I will leave these Divels though I could mention many more but that it delights not my selfe nor can it the Reader to be raking in such filthy mire and dirt These are some of the poysonous weeds which have too much of late infested our English Garden I mean the Church once admired both at home and abroad for the beauty of her Doctrine and Disciplin and envied of none but ignorants or men of perverse minds The Poet bewailing the ruins of Troy said Seges ubi Troi a fuit Corn grows where Troy stood but I may sadly complain that in stead of corn that is sound and wholsom doctrine which should be the food of our souls now grows Tares and Weeds that choak the good word with which we were formerly fed and might have been unto a life of glory everlasting if we had therein abode But least I should bring thee into danger by giving thee onely a fight of these Rocks and Precepices to prevent that I shall commend to thy serious perusal Master Wollebius his Abridgement of Christian Divinity which for the good of my country men I Englished Enlarged and cleared in obscure places and have now fitted for a second impression A book worthy to be written in Letters of gold and imprinted in the heart of every good Christian The knowledge therein contained by prayer and through the assistance of Gods spirit will root and establish the in every good word and work to the comming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ which God of his infini●e mercy grant The Contents of the Thirteenth Section The Doctrine of the Church of Rome concerning the Scriptures 2. Their tenets concerning predestination
the Image of God original and actual sin and free will 3. Their opinions concerning the Law of God concerning Christ Faith Iustification and good works 4. Their Tenets concerning pennance fasting prayer and almes 5. Their opinions concerning the Sacraments and Ceremonies used in those controverted 6. What they believe concerning the Saints in Heaven 7. Their Doctrine concerning the Church 8. What they hold concerning Monks Magistrates and Purgatory 9. Wherein the outward worship of the Church of Rome consisteth and first part of their Masse 10. Their dedication of Churches and what observable thereupon 11. Their Consecration of Altars c. 12. The Degrees of Ecclesiasticall persons in the Church of Rome Their sacred orders office of the Bishop and what colours held Sacred 13. Wherein the other parts of the Masse consisteth 14. In what else their outward worship doth consist 15. Wherein consisteth the seventh part of their worship and of their holy days 16. What be their other holy-days which they observe canonical hours and processions 17. Wherein the eighth part of their worship consisteth their ornaments and Vtensils used in Churches dedicated to Christ and the Saints their office performed to the dead SECT XIII Quest. 1. WHat is the Doctrine of the Church of Rome at this day and first of the Scriptures A. Though they maintain the same Scriptures with us the same Commandments the Lords Prayer and the three Creeds of the Apostles of Nice and of Athanasius yet in many points they differ from other Churches which briefly are these 1. They hold that Apocrythal Books are for regulating our faith and manners of equal authority with the Canonical Scripture such are Iudith Tobias third and fourth of Esdras the Book of Wisdom Ecclesiasticus Baruch the Epistle of Ieremie the thirteenth and fourteenth Chapters of Daniel the Books of Macchab●es and that part of Hester which is from the tenth verse of the third Chapter 2. They preferr the vulgar Latine Edition to the Hebrew and Greek Texts 3. They hold that there is no necessity to translate the Scripture into Vulgar languages 4. That the Scripture is not to be read of Lay-people except of such as are discreet judicious and learned and are authorised by the Ordinary 5. That the Masse is not to be celebrated in the Vulgar tongue 6. That the sense and interpretation of the Scripture depends upon the Churches approbation 7. That the Scriptures by reason of their difficulty and obscurity are not fit to be read by the Laity or to be judges of controversies 8. That the Scriptures have four different senses namely the Literal Allegorical Tropological and Anag●gical which are to be expounded according to traditions written and unwritten according to the practise of the Church the consent of Fathers and interpretation of Councels confirmed by the Pope 9. That the Scriptures are not of absolute necessity for the being of a Church seeing there was a Church from Adam to Moses for the space of two thousand years without any Scripture being onely guided and instructed by traditions without which the Scriptures are not perfect as not containing all Doctrines necessary to salvation Q. 2. What are their Tenets concerning predestination the Image of God Original sin and Actual and Free-will A. 1. They hold election mutable because the Elect may totally fall from faith and righteousnesse 2. That sin foreseen was the cause of reprobation in respect of the positive act of condemnation and some of them hold that foreseen works were the cause of election 3. concerning the Image of God they hold that it consisteth most in charity and that this is Gratia gratum faciens Grace which makes us acceptable and that it is a habit infused whereas they say that Gratia gratis data is the gift of Miracles 4. That man in the state of innocency did not stand in need of any special assistance by which he might be excited to good workes 5. That original sin is not in the understanding and will but in the inferiour part of the soul onely which they call the flesh that concupiscence and ignorance are onely infirmities and remainders of original sin That the Virgin Mary was without original sin That Infants dying in original sin onely are punished with the paine of losse not with the paine of sense That original fin is taken away by baptisme and that in the regenerate it is remitted and not imputed or to be called a sin but onely as it is the cause and punishment of sin that some actual sins are of their own nature veniall and some mortal That the sin against the holy Ghost is pardonable 6. They hold that in free-will is required not onely a liberty from coaction but also from necessity that an unregenerate man can by his own strength without Gods special help perform some moral good in which there may be no sin found That an unregenerate man hath freedom of will in matters of salvation though not without the help of grace so that he may hinder or further his conversion and may by his natural power cooperate with grace Q. 3. What are their opinions concerning the Law of God concerning Christ faith justification and good works A. 1. They divide the two Tables so that they make but three commandements in the first and seven in the second making one commandement of the first two and two of the last They hold that Idols and Images are not the same and that the Images of Christ and of the Saints may be worshipped without Idolatry That equivocation may be used in some cases and an officious lye 2. Concerning Christ they hold that he was not ignorant of any thing and that he did not attain to knowledge by learning That he descended truly into Hell in respect of his soul and there preached to the Fathers in prison and delivered them from their Limbus so that they had nor as yet entered into Heaven till Christ by his death had opened the gates thereof which Adam shut by his sin That Christ did merit by his sufferings not onely for us but also for himself that glory which he enjoyes after his Ascension 3. Concerning faith they say that Historical miraculous and saving faith are one and the same that the special application of the promises of grace belongs not to faith but to presumption That faith hath its residence onely in the intellect and not in the will That faith is an assent rather then knowledge That justifying faith may be totally lost in the regenerate That true faith may be without charity That we are not justified by faith alone That man by the natural strength of free-will can prepare himself for future justification being assisted by the holy Spirit In his preparation are contained these acts namely Fear Hope Love Repentance a purpose to receive the Sacrament a resolvtion to live a new life and to observe Gods Commandements 4. Concerning justification they say that the first is
531 c. Cong● its religion 101. The religions of its Northern neighbours Ibid c. Cophti of Egypt 493 c. Creation the knowledge the Pagans had thereof 71 c. of it and Noahs flood what knowledge the Americans had 109 c. D. DAyes festival in the Church of Rome 458 c. D●acons and their office 397. and 399. Dead vide Burial Death how worshipped 143 c. Domin●cans 30● c. E. Earth c. how worshipped 142 c. Egyptians their ancient religion 90 c. Their idolatrous worship 91 c. and continuance thereof 92 c. Their modern Religions 93 c. Elders 403 c. Endymion the Sun 522 Episcopacy what among the Presbyterians 408 c. How diffeferent from Presbytery 410. c. Eremites or Anchorites 243 c. Their first manner of living 244 c. Their too great rigour 245 c. Of S. Austin 2●8 c. Of S. Paul in Hungary 312. Of S. Hierom 318. Ethiopians of Africa their ancient religion 98 c. Their religion at this day 99 c. The religion of the lower Ethiopians 100. Europe the religions thereof 121 c. Excommunicate persons their condition 415. Prophets Pharisees c. could not excommunicate ihid c. Why Christ did not excommunicate Iud●s 416. Excommunication and excommunicate persons considered ibid. c. F. FAmilists their Heresies 364. Superstitious Fear its cruelty 116. Festival dayes of Christ 458 c. Of the Saints 468 c. Fez the religion and Church-discipline thereof 95 c. Their times of prayer 96 c. Fire c. how worshipped 142 c. Florida its religion 104. Franciscans 304 c. subdivided into divers Orders 341 c. Fraternities 279 c. Fratricelli 319. Friers Mendicants 298. Predicants 302 c. Minorites 306 c. G. GEntiles their Gods vid. Gods worshipped the Sun under divers names and shapes 516 c. acknoweldged but one deity 527 c. under divers names 528 c. Their superstitious fear ibid. acknowledge a Trinity 529 c. Georgians 490 c. Goa the religion thereof 84 c. God acknowledged by the Americans 109. but one God acknowledged by the wiser sort of Gentiles 126 c. and 529. Gods of the Gentiles 134 c. 155. c. How ranked and armed 156. Their chariots how drawn 157. In what peculiar places worshipped ibid c. One God acknowledged by them 529. Greeks their religion and Gods 134 c. their worship and how painted 137 c. The Greeks sacrifices 144 c. Their Priests and Temples 146. their chief festivals 158 c. Greek religion at this day 478 c. their Church dignities and discipline 480 c. ●roves and high places condemned in Scripture ●3 etc. Guinea its religion 97 c. H. HErcules the same with the Sun 520 c. Heresy an enemy to christianity 183 Hereticks and Heresies namely Simon Magus 184. Menander 186 c. Saturninus 187. Basilides ibid. Nicolaitans Gnosticks 188. c. Carpocrates Cerinthus 189. Ebion Nazarites 190. Valentinians ib. etc. Secundians P●ol●means 191 c. Marcites ib. etc. Colarbasii 192 Heracleonites 192. Ophites ibid. c. Cainites and Sethites 193. Archonticks and Asco●●yprae Cerdon 194. Marcion ibid. c. Apelles 195. Severus ib. etc. Tatianus 196. Cataphryglans ib. c. Pepuzians Quintilians 197. Ar●otyrites ibid. c. Quartodecimani Alogiani 198. Adamians ibid. c. Elcesians and Theodotians 199. Melchisedecians ibid. c. Bardesanists Noetians Valesians 200. Cathari ibid. c. Angelici Apostolici 201. Sabellians Originians Originists ibid. c. Samosatenians 202. Photinians ibid. c. Manichees ●03 c. Hierachites 204. Melitians ibid. etc. Arrians Audians Semi-Arrians 205. Macedonians ibid. c. Aerians Aetians 206. Eunomians ibid. c. Apollinarists Antidicomari●nites 207. Messalians ibid. c. Metangismonites Hermians Procli●●ites Patricians Ascitae ibid. c. Pattalorinchitae Aquarii Coluthiani Floriani Aeternales 209. Nudipedales ibid. c. Donatists 210. Priscillianists ibid. c. Rhetorians Feri Theopaschitae Tritheitae Aquei Meli●onii Ophei 211. Tertullii ibid. c. Liberatores Nativitarii Luciferians Iovinianists and Arabicks 212. Collyridians Paterniani Tertullianists 213. Abellonitae ibid. c. Pelagians Praedestinati 214. Timotheans ibid. c. Nestorians 215. Eutychians and their spawn ibid. c. Hereticks of the seventh Century 218. c. of the eighth Century 220. of the ninth and tenth Centuries ibid. c. of the eleventh and twelfth Centuries 221. c. of the thirteenth Century 224 c. of the fourteenth Century 225 c. of the fifteenth Century 227 c. of the sixteenth Century 229. and 2●8 c. Hierapolis the religion thereof 62 c. High places vid. Groves c. Hispaniola its religion 118. Hussites their tenets 227 c. I. IAcobites 492. Ianus the Sun 522. Iapon its religion 88 c. Idola●ers their cruelty and cost in their barbarous sacrifices 106. c. The making worshiping of Images and bringing in Idolatry 19 c. Idolatry of the Gentiles and of all kindes condemned 63 c. Idolatry further condemned 118. c. and 515. The Gentile Idols were dead men 60 c. Iesuites 325. c. their rules 326. c. their constitutions and rules for Provincials 328. Provosts 330 c. Rectors 331. Masters ibid. c. Counsellers 333. Travellers ibid. c. Rules for the Admonitor 334 c. Overseer of the Church 335. for the Priests ibid. c. Preachers 336. for the Generals Proctor ibid. c. for the Readers Infirmarii 337. Librarii and under Officers ibid. c. Their privileges granted by divers Popes 339. c. Iewes their Church discipline from the beginning till their last destruction 6 c. The difference of the High Priest● from other Priests 7. Solomons Temple and the outward splendor of the Iewes religion 11 c. what represented by Solomons Temple and utensils thereof 15. office of the Levites 16. Prophets Scribes ibid. Pharisees 17. Nazarites ibid. etc. Rechabites 18. Essenes Sadduces ibid. S●maritans 19 Iewes their ancient observation of the Sabbath 19 c. how they observed their passover 20 c. their feast of pentecost 21. their feast of tabernacles ibid. c. their new Moons 22. and 45. their feast of trumpets 22. c. their feast of expiation 23. their Sabbatical year ibid. c. their Jubilee 24 c. their excommunications of old 25 c. how instructed by God of old 26 c. their maintenance or allowance to their Priests and Levites 27 c. their Church government at this day 29 c. their manner and times of prayer 30 c. they hear the law three times a week 31 c. their ceremonies about the book of the Law 32 c. their manner of observing the Sabbath 33 c. how they keep their passover 35 c. their manner of eating the paschal lamb 36 c. their modern ceremonies are Rabbinical 37. observations concerning the Jewes
other places These emissary messengers of Christ or rather of Satan boyled over with their various opinions held marriages of no account and dreamed divers other things Some taught by parables and their own illusive dreams others acknowledged not him a Brother who defiled his Baptisme with sinnes others preferred the Baptisme of Iohn before that of Christ others taught that all Magistrates and whoever were unsatisfied with their Religion ought to be destroyed root and branch some would acknowledge nothing but their own visions and prophecies others that all the Prophets and Teachers that were departed this life should shortly rise again and should reign with Christ upon earth a thousand years and should receive a hundred fold for what ever they had left behind them Some of these men affirmed that they had communication with God some with Angels but the more discreet and wiser sort of men conceived that their conferences had been with the devill Hereupon the great Prophet Iohn Mathias upon whose account his most vain Apostles already proclaimed a Peace perceiving an occasion by this means of domineering in this world consecrated in his stead his disciple Iames Campensis a Sawyer Bishop at Amsterdam committing unto his charge the people to be seduced with the same zeal as he had begun These things being thus fairly carried he repaired to Munster to his Apostle and Ambassadour Iohn Buckhold whom he made Governour of the City who presently published these severe edicts That every man should bring his gold and silver and whatever were of greater importance into the common heap and that no man should detain any thing at his house for the receiving of which things so collected a place was appointed Though the people were not a little astonished at the rigour and severity of the edict yet did they submit thereto Moreover he forbad the reading of all books but the Bible all which that they ought to be burnt the divine authority had by him its witnesse commanded At this very time a certain Tradesman whose name was Hubert Trutiling had scattered some contu●●elious expressions concerning this great Prophet whereat he being immeasur●bly incenled even to the losse of all compassion caused the foresaid Trutiling to be brought into the Market place where he is accused and sentenced Whereupon he himself laying his violent hands upon this innocent man layes him along upon the ground in that posture he runs him through with a spear but finding by the palpitation that there was some remainder of life he made him be conveighed thence and taking a musket from one that stood by which was charged killed him intimating that he was commanded by God that is to say his own who was a murtherer from the beginning to do what he had done This noble exploit performed he took a long lance in his hand and hastily ran about the City crying out that he was commanded by God the Father to put to flight the enemy which at that time had closely besieged Munster Having taken the said weapon and running like a mad man upon the enemy he himself was run through by a souldier of Misna JOHN BuCKHOLD or JOHN of LEYDEN Agressusque nefas magnum et memorabile Regem Somniat abjecta forfice sceptra gerens THE CONTENTS IOHN BUCKHOLD his character his disputing and contention with the Ecclesiasticks concerning Paedobaptisme he succeeds John Mathias he comforts the people with a pretended revelation he makes Bernard Knipperdoling of a Consul to become common executioner Buckhold feigneth himself ●umb he ass●●●es the Magistracy he allowes Polygamy he takes to himself three wiues he is made King and appoints Officers under him his sumptuous apparel his Titles were King of Iustice King of the new Jerusalem his throne his Coi● and motto therein The King Queen and Courtiers wa●e on the people at a Feast with other ligressions The King endea●ours to raise ●●●●●tions abroad is happily prevented He suspects his own safety his large promises to his Captaines himself 〈…〉 one of his wives he feignes himself sick and deludes the people with an expectation of deliverance in the time of famine forgets community he is betrayed by his confident it brought prisoner before the Bishop who checks him his jesting answer and proposall ●e is put to a 〈◊〉 place is convinced of his offences his deserved and severe execution IOHN BUCKHOLD was a ●●●cher of Leyden a 〈◊〉 fellow eloquent very perfect in the 〈…〉 confident more ●●●geable then proteus a serious student of 〈◊〉 briefly a most ferrent Anabaptist This man being sent by Iohn Mathia● to Munster was a perpetual thorn in the sides of the Ecclesiasticks craftily ●i●ting them about the b●sinesse of P●●●●baptisme in which employment he spent nine whole moneths and most 〈◊〉 making his party good with them both as disputationand litigious contention while in the mean time he secretly spawn'd and scatter'd the doctrine of Anabaptisme as much as lay in his power About that time a certain unknown Preacher of the word of God 〈…〉 Stapreda of Meurs came to Munster who supplying the place of Ro●man●●s in preaching seduced him and tea●ened him with Anabaptisme and he also publickly anat●●matized P●dobaptisme This gave occasion of raising 〈◊〉 among the people they who before were only secretly instructed by Iohn Buckhold discover themselves openly to the world and lay aside all disguises of their intentions City they have their in most parts of the frequentmeetings indivers 〈◊〉 but all in the night time whereat the Magistrates being 〈◊〉 and offended prohibited their Conventicles and some they banished But they weigh not this any thing and being sent out at one gate they came in at another and lay concealed among those that were the favourers of their Sect. Hereupon the Senate caused all the Ecclesiasticks to assemble at the Palace to dispute the businesse of Paedobaptisme In this Assembly Rotmannus stood tooth and naile for the Anabaptists but those of the Reformation fully refuted their errors as the publick acts concerning that businesse do abundantly testifie At this very time the Ministers of the Church of Argentoratum signed and set out an account of their Faith in a printed Book Hereupon the Senate of Munster by a publick edict banished the Anabaptists out of the City which edict they persisting in contention opposed being now arrived to that rashnesse and impudence that they thrust a reformed Preacher one Peter Werthemius out of the Church Yea some of them rioting about the City whereof the Ringleader was Henry Rollius cryed out as they went Repent and be rebaptized otherwise will the heavy wrath of God fall upon you These things hapned about the end of the year M.D.XXXIII and the beginning of M.D.XXXIV Some honest-hearted and harmlesse men partly out of an apprehension of divine wrath as they made them beleive partly for fear of men suffered themselves to be washed in the l●ver of Anabaptisme For the Anabaptists
a blessing unto me This seed witnesse the Apostle is none other than Christ himself whom God without question meant The desperate contagion of this mans Religion did Servetus and his adherents professe embrace and celebrate HENRY NICHOLAS Vestra Domus Nicholas cadat qui● ex rud●re versae Futile fundamen Religionis habet THE CONTENTS HENRY NICHOLAS Father of the Family of Love He is against Infant-Baptisme His divellish Logick THere was also one Henry Nicholas the Father of the family of Love as he called himself not the meanest man of all his Gang one who by many means endeavoured to cripple the Baptisme of children as is too known and apparent out of his writings which at a third hand he with all fredome earnestnesse and kindnesse endeavoured to communicate to David George and the other of his fellow-labourers and his new Ierusalem friends This man in ● Pamphlet of his wherein he notably described himself and which he ●●●icated to an intimate friend of his under the name of L. W. maintaining that the minute of the last T●●mpet was coming th●t should unfold all the Books of unquiet consciences hell and eternal Judgement which should be found to have been onely things grounded 〈◊〉 mee● lie● and as all wicked and high misdeeds were hateful and detestable to God so also were glorio●●●nd plausible lies no lesse odious to him The same man endeavoured to perswade people th●t he was a partake of God and the humanity of his 〈◊〉 He ●●rther affirmed that at the last day God should bring all men nay the Devils themselves into perfect happinesse All the things that were 〈…〉 of Hell 〈◊〉 Angels and eternall Iudgement 〈◊〉 the paines of ●●●nation he said were only told by the Scrip●●re to 〈◊〉 fear of civil punishments and to establish right Policy The conclusion These few things we have brought to light were not invented by us but were extorted out of their own Disciples with abundance of discourse not without the presence of many men of godlinesse and excellent understanding they admitting not the universal rule of the Scriptures But alas take these away where is Faith fear of God eternall happinesse But let us believe them let us believe them and we shall be ●aved Oh! that to Heresies I could say FINIS An Alphabetical TABLE to the revelation of Hereticks A. A Pio●s Act. 48. Adam Pastor a derider of P●●●baptisme 74. c. An●baptists their leading principle 3. usually they grow worse 〈◊〉 worse ibid. their bold attempt 14. c. where Masters most insolent 16. of a levelling principle 21. they as the divel pret●nd Scripture for their base 〈◊〉 22 they aime at universal Monarchy ibid. their design upon Amsterdam 24. they aim at the advancement of themselves but destruction of others 64. they would inforce others to their opinions yet pretend liberty of conscience as to themselves 70. Arrius his character and wretched death 〈◊〉 c. Arrianisme it● increase 56. B. IOhn Bu●khold or Iohn of Leyden His actions and end 12 c. C. CAlvin's reproofe of Servetus 54. Godly and loyal Citizens hate usurpation 18. Conventicles usually the nurseries of Tumults 13 D. THe Divell an enemy of peace 9. E. A Bad Example soon followed 18. F. FAmine the co●su●●●tion of all misery 25. its character c. 26. G. DAvid George an Anabaptist his character doctrine actions and death 40 c. H. HEeresie a c●●ching or mad disease ●3 Hereticks their usual pretence 2. the end that they propose to themselves in opposing the Ministry and Magistracy 2. they are restless 3. their cruelty 19. they are inconstant in their opinions 34. they allow not of the Scriptures 78. Herma●nus Sutor or Herman the Cobler his blasphemies opinions and ●nd 〈◊〉 c. Lo●owick H●tzer a famous ●eretick 65 c. his end 67. Melchior Hofman an Anabaptist 6● pined himself to death 69. Balthazar Hubmor an Anabaptist ●0 c. he and his wife burned 62. Iohn Hut an Anabaptist 63 c. I. IOhn of Leyden vide Buckhold An Item to the Hot spurs of our times 66. K. BBernard Knipperdoling 16. L. THe learned to be consulted with in detection of Sectaries and Hereticks 45. Loyalty not alwayes successeful 19. Luther's advice to the Senate concerning M●ntzer 4. M. MAgistrates seduced most umincus 5 A pattern for good Magistrates 44. Mahomet characterized 58 c. his Iron Tomb 59. Iohn Mathio● a Baker at Harlem his actions and end 8 c. Moneys preferments the usual baits of sedition 25. Thomas Muntzer His Opinions Actions and end 1 c. N. HEnry Nicholas Father of the Family of Love he i● against Infant B●●tisme his blasphemy an● divellish Logick 77 c. O. OECOLAMPADIVS puts Hetzers Emissaries to their shifts 66. P. AN ill President soon followed 5. Pretenders to Religion prove usually the distu●bers thereof 9. R. A Good Resolution 44. 48 Melchior Rinck an Anabaptist 71 c. his disciple Thomas Sc●cker cut off his brothers head 72. S. SEctaries like tinder are soon on fire 3. their usual pretence to raise sedition ibid. Sedition goes not alwayes unpunished 21. Michael Servetus an Anabaptist his blasphemous opinions and end 51 c. Snc●esse in bad enterprises causes evil men to rejoyce 31. T. THeodorus Sartor or Theodor the Botcher an Adamite his blasphemy Actions and End 37. c. Iohn Tuysentschreuer an abertor of Iohn Bu●●hold 19 c. his seditious Sermon 21. V. VIce corrects sin 35. FINIS ASIA the religions thereof Ordination in the beginning of the World Churches Groves and high places condemned in Scripture Buildings first erected for divine service Set day of worship Sacrifices Iewes their Church government from the beginning till their destruction Vnder Moses Priests among the Iewes Levites among the Iewes Difference of the high Priest from other Priests Church go●●●ment after Moses Vnder David and Solomon After Solomon Church government among the ten Tribes Solomons Temple and the outward splendor of the Iews Religion What represented by Solomons Temple and Vtensils thereof Office of the Levites Prophets Scribes Pharisees Nazarites Rechabites Essenes Sadduces Samaritans Iews their ancient observation of their Sabbath Their observation of their Passeover Their feast of Pentecost Their feast of Tabernacles Their new Moons Their feast of Trumpets Their feast of Expiation Iews their Sabbatical year Their Iubilee Their excommunications of old Iews how instructed by God of old Their maintenance or allowence to their Priests and Levites Church government in and after the captivity of Babylon Iews their Church government at this day Jews their manner of prayer Their times of prayer Iews hear the Law three times a week Their ceremonies about the book of the Law Their manner of observing the Sabbath Modern Iewes how they keep theis Passover Their manner of eating the Paschal Lamb. Their Modern Ceremonies are Rabbinical Observations concerning the Iews at this day Iews whether to be permitted to live among