is clearlie witnessed in another place in those wordes Nowe the Spirit speaketh euidentlie that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith c. Defection in manners is so vsuall a thing that where the word of God is preached in most powerfull manner there also corruption in manners doeth abound arguing the euill inclination of our nature which taketh occasion by the commandement and worketh in vs all kinde of concupiscence so that the corruption of our nature is like vnto a gutter of water the passage whereof is hindered it gorgeth swelleth and setteth forwarde its owne accustomed waye more impetuouslie than euer it did before But the Apostle is speaking of a deeper mysterie and of a thing more rarely contingent to wit of an apostasie from the faith This is the sharpest of all punishments which GOD inflicted vpon mankinde for the contempt of his trueth to cast off a people into a reprobate minde whether wee looke to the actions of God who rejecteth or to the miseries of them who are rejected The actions of God who rejecteth are set downe by the Prophet Zacharie The Lord will not feede that people yea he will breake his shepheards staffe to wit the staffe called beautifull the staffe called bandes The miseries of them who are rejected are set downe by the Prophet Esai in these wordes Yee shall heare indeede but yee shall not vnderstand yee shall plainelie see and not perceiue make the heart of this people fatte c. So it commeth to passe when this heauie judgement is inflicted there is no comfort to bee founde neither in Heauen aboue nor in the Earth beneath When wee looke vp vnto God hee will feede vs no longer when wee looke downe to our selues wee receiue no comfort by the externall ministerie of the worde it is to vs the sauour of death yea and wee are in so desolate a case as the Prophet speaketh That that dieth let it die and that that perisheth let it perish and let the remnant euerie one eate the flesh of another Of this vnsupportable and remedilesse euill that there should bee a defection from the faith neither could the Church of the Iewes of olde nor the visible Church of late euer be content patiently to heare because it seemed to bee repugnant to the euerlasting couenant of God made with Abraham and his seede Neuerthelesse that same blessed mouth which made the couenant with Abraham and his seede fore-tolde also that they should bee cast off into a reprobate sense and that the Great Shephearde would feede them no longer Now both these things being vttered by the blessed mouth of God it is certaine that there is infallible truth in both it is better more agreeable with the honour of God to search out what way both these thinges can consist without impeachment one of another than so to talke of the couenant that wee shoulde gainsay the prophesie of the defection of the Church of the Iewes And the Apostle Paul hath wiselie obserued that the couenant of God is not annulled by the defection of the most part of the I◅wes in respect that a remnant are saued through the electiō of grace The Romane Church in like manner casteth vp that God hath promised that the gates of Hell shall not preuaile against the Church And the same God by the mouth of his holie Apostle hath fore-tolde that there shoulde bee a defection from the Faith Both these Prophesies must bee true neither doeth the apostasie of the great multitude presuppose that the Church of Christ is perished or the promise of God made of none effect but in the middest of this apostasie a remnant are saued according to the election of grace Ioseph in the yeeres of famine was prouident and kept corne asore-hand both for foode to men and beastes and for seede to the ground But Christ is more prouident in the yeeres of horrible apostasie from the faith to keepe afore-hand a saued hand-full as seede for the propagation of the Church Wherefore let no man conclude of the long lasting apostasie of the Iewes or yet of the Popish Church that the couenant of God is of none effect and that the Church is perished The Antichrist of whom the Apostle speakeeh is not one particular man opposite to the kingdome of Christ as manie doe thinke but rather a kingdome hauing fore-runners hauing a growth and hinderers of the growth hauing aduancers admirers worshippers followers discouerers against whom warres are intended y◅a long lasting warres vntill this kingdome be drunken with the blood of the Saincts and finally for this kingdome God hath ordained a fall whereat all her followers shall be sadde and lament for her sudden and vnexpected desolation but the Saincts in Heauen shall rejoyce All these thinges cannot bee done in one mans age Therefore I take the worde Antichrist for a kingdome opposite to the Kingdome of Christ hee is called the man of sinne emphaticklie because in multitude ripenesse and superlatiue excesse of all kinde of sinnes and abominations this kingdome goeth beyonde all other king◅omes lewder in manners more corrupt in doctrine more blasphemous in opinion more deceitfull in carriage more proude in attemptes euen against them who are in authoritie than anie societie of people hath beene before setting their mouthes against the Heauen commanding the Angels of God to carrie soules to Heauen because their armour was crossed their feete were in the waye leading to the Holy Land their intention was to fight against the Saracenes This did Pope Clemens the sixt in his Bull giuen to the crossed souldiours Nowe whether their soules haue bene purged by faith in the fountaine of Christes blood or not it is no matter it is enough that they died in that journey the Ang◅ls must bee obedient to the Romane Antichrist to carrie their soules foorthwith to Heauen after their death Notwithstanding of all this the man of sinne must bee counted so complete and perfect that hee cannot erre in matters of faith and to bee in such high preheminence that albeit hee carrie innumerable soules headlongs to Hell no man should demand of him wherefore hee did so Yea and further horrible sinnes such as promise breaking to Infideles and Heretiques and vile treasons against Christian Princes haue open allowance in the kingdome of the Romane Antichrist and therefore he may justly be called the man of sinne Moreouer the Antichrist is called the childe of perdition in two respects to wit actiuely and passiuely actiuely because hee is a ring-leader to those who walke in the way of perdition passiuely because hee is ordained for destruction and to be consumed by the breath of the mouth of Christ. In both these respectes Iudas seemeth to haue beene the type of the Antichrist first he was a ring-leader to the band of souldiours which came from the High Priest and the Rulers to take Christ secondlie he was appointed to destruction and of
Malachie who saieth Cursed bee the deceiuer which hath in his flocke a male and voweth and sacrificeth vnto the LORD a corrupt thing This grounde being first laide that the principall purpose where â—…t the Prophet aimeth is not vnknowne it is the more eâ—…sie to step toâ—… to the wordes The Prophet bringes in the Lord saying Call vpon mee in the dry of thy trouble c This presupponeth that wee shall bee exercised with manifolde troubles as our maister CHRIST IESUS was crowned with thornes before hee was crowned with glorie yea and that wee shall bee so dashed with the vehement tempest of troubles that except wee bee well taught in the Schoole of GOD wee shall not know what hand to turne vs vnto as the ship-man did who sailed with Jonas euery man prayed to his owne GOD onely Ionas who was taught in the right Schoole directed his prayers to the liuing GOD who made the Heauen the Earth and was heard when he prayed out of the Whales bellie Nowe seeing that GOD inuiteth vs to bee his Disciples and hee will teach vs to whom and in what maner wee should pray in time of our troubles let vs lend our eare to our great School-maister not be ashamed to opeÌ„ our eâ—…re and to bind vp our mouth with silence when the LORD speaketh and count all the speeches of Fathers that repugne vnto this great Oracle of GOD to be like vnto eares of corne withered thinne and blasted with the East wind wherein there is no nourishing food In the second part of this Treatise it is to bee proued that Prayer is a spirituall sacrifice onely to bee offered to GOD and to none other neither in Heauen nor in earth for three principall reasons First in Scripture wee are taught to pray to him onely in whom wee trust and consequently to pray onelie to GOD. The Apostle Paul saith But howe shall they call on him in whom they haue not belâ—…eued Yea and the Prophet Ieremie saith Cursed bee hee that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his ariâ—…e and with-dr weth his heart from the LORD GOD is the just proprietare and owner of our soules for hee hath bought and purchased them with his owne blood and the LORD wil part stakes with no man neither can hee admit a corriual in points of his honour as the naturall mother coulde not abide to see her sonne diuided because hee appertained totally and wholly vnto her selfe so can not GOD abide that his glory be giuen vnto another or yet that any part of that thing that is once dedicated to GOD should bee conuerted to another use In holy Scripture wee reade of three moste abominable Altars to wit of the Aâ—…tar of Damascus and the Altar of Bethel and the Altar at Athens to the vnknowne GOD. The Altar of Damascus was abominable because it was builded to the worship of a false god The Altar of Bethel was abominable because on it the true GOD was worshipped in a forbidden maner And the Altar of Athens to the vnknowne GOD was abominable because they neither knew whom they worshipped nor yet the right maner of his worshipping Therefore in the matter of the worshipping of GOD let vs set our compasse right lest a little aberration procure a great ship-wracke and in the matter of Prayer let vs call vpon him onely in whome wee trust as wee are taught by the holy Apostle And let vs offer spirituall sacrifices acceptable to GOD through IESUS CHRIST The seconde argument whereby I proue that our prayers should bee made onely to GOD is this Wee should pray only to him who is Omnipotent and can support vs in al our distresses ergo wee ought to pray onely to GOD. The antecedent of this argument is euident by the latter part of that short prayer indited by CHRIST to his Disciples For thine is the Kingdome and the Power and the Glory for euer In that short forme of perfect prayer the first words leadeth vs to a consideration of the loue of GOD toward vs who is content to be our Father in IESUS CHRIST In the last wordes his power is described to bee infinite such as becommeth him who is King of Heauen and Earth who like as hee hath made all thinges so likewise hath hee an absolute Souereignitie ouer all thinges both in Heauen and in Earth Now that Omnipotencie is an attribute onely belonging to the diuine nature the very Gentiles could not denie it who attributed the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 onlie to God And it is certaine that all the Angels of Heauen could not haue supported the disasterous estate of man after his fall if God himselfe had not put hande to worke who onely knew the way howe his justice and mercy coulde kisse one another in the person of the Mediator Therefore seeing God onely is Omnipotent and none but hee what fooles are wee to put our trust vnder the shadow of the bramble as the Sichemites did and not to dwell in the secrete of the moste High and abide in the shadow of the Almightie I doe no wrong to the Angels in Heauen when I compare them to brambles in comparison of the eternall God their power is finite and bounded thâ—…ir prouident care ouer vs hath a beginning namely the time of their employment whereinto GOD appointed them to attend vpon vs but the power of GOD is infinite in his prouident care he appointed a kingdome for vs before the foundation of the worlde was laide Let vs therefore trust vnder this shadow of the Almighty and call vpon him in whom we trust Thirdly it may bee proued that wee should pray to GOD onely and to none other because their is neither commandemeÌ„t nor example nor promise to be heard in Scripture except that prayers bee made to the Creator onely and not vnto the creatures of GOD. And in this argument I find that some learned Papists giue ouer reasoning in the contrary and they render reasons wherefore there is no example in the old or new Testament of Inuocation of Saints namely this that in the old Testament the-Patriarchs and Prophets who departed this life went not presently to Heauen and had not the fruition of the presence of GOD incontinent but they went to Limbus patrum where their soules remained vntill CHRIST died and arose againe from death and then hee carried their soules to Heauen And this is the cause say they wherefore there is no example found in the old Testament of Inuocation of Saintes Likewise they say concerning the new Testament that if the Apostles had set downe any precept concerning Inuocation of Saintes it woulde haue seemed vnto the people that they were desirous that this honour should bee done vnto themselues after their death These are the foolish conjectures of Eccius Neuertheles the places that Papists cite out of Scripture to proue inuocation of Saints declare with what
trumpet was heard to these places I say did people bewitched by Satan resort in frequent numbers to bee taught by the mouth of him who was a liar from the beginning and who remaineth a liar albeit he speake at some time the trueth because he speaketh it animo fallendi vpon a purpose to deceiue It is very credible that the blessed Seede who came to breake the heade of the Serpent did stoppe his mouth also in the time of his blessed Natiuitie The countrie of Iudeâ—… at this time was subject to the Romanes and payed tribut to CAESAR Luc. 2. The deputies of AVGVSTVS in Iudea and Syria were CYRENIVS COPONIVS AMBIBVCHVS and ANNIVS RVFVS one succeeding to another Ioseph Antiq. lib. 18. cap. 3. HEROD the sonne of ANTIPATER by fauour of ANTONIVS obtained this honour to be gouernour of the nation of the Iewes but the honourable name of a King hee receiued from AVGVSTVS CAESAR this was ratified for his further assurance by the Senat of Rome Ioseph Antiq. lib. 15. cap 10. for which cause HEROD to testifie his thankfull minde toward ANTONIVS builded a Castle in Ierusalem very neere to the temple called Arx Antonia And to the honour of AVGVSTVS he builded Caesarea Palestinae sometime called the towre of STRATON Now a forreiner and stranger of his fathers side an Idumean of his mothers side an Arabian Sozom. lib. 1. cap. 1. and an aliant both from the stocke of DAVID and also from the Commonwelth of Israel was reigning in Iudea and the scepter was sliding from Iuda now I say was it time that SHILOCH should come according to IACOBS prophecie to whome the people should be gathered Gen. 49. 10. Now was it time that the promised Mâ—…SSIAS should come and sit in the Throne of his father DAVID and of his Kingdome there should be none end And indeed how can the Kingdome of Christ haue an end who acquireth a new title and right of gouernement by death which is the last period of other Kings gouernements and in death they leaue a vacant roome to a successour but Christ Iesus by dying and rising againe hath a right to rule both ouer deade and quicke Rom 14. 9. Yea in verie death it selfe he was practising his kingly office in most effectuall maner and tramping Satan vnder feete and vndoing the power of death Hos. 13. 14. In AVGVSTVS time also IOSEPH was admonished in a dreame to take the babe and his mother and to flee into Egypt Mat. 2. 13. SOZOMEN not content with the certaintie of Scripture addeth a particular nomination of the towne Hermopolis in Thebaida whereinto Christ sojourned vntil the death of HEROD the great This he had by the vncertaintie of tradition The miracle of the hudge and high tree Prestis that bowed the top lowlie to the ground and worshipped her maker Christ and afterward had a medicinable vertue in fruit leafe and barke to cure diseases rather derogateth credit to that Egyptian tradition then assureth vs of the veritie of that report Sozom. lib. 5. cap. 21. HEROD before his departure from this life had put to death three of his sonnes ARISTOBVLVS ALEXANDER and ANTIPATER and by testamentall legacie had diuided his dominions amongst his remanent sonnes ARCHELAVS HEROD ANTIPAS and PHILIP which testament being ratified by AVGVSTVS Iudea Samaria and Idumea were alloted to ARCHELAVS the Tetrarchie of Galile to ANTIPAS and Iturea and Trachonitis to PHILIP Ioseph Antiq. lib. 17. cap. 13. IOSEPH being returned from Egypt when he heard that ARCHELAVS did reigne in Judea in stead of his father HEROD feared to dwell in Iudea but beeing warned of God in a dreame went to the partes of Galile and dwelt in a citie called Nazaret Mat. 2. ver 22 23. All this was done in the dayes of AVGVSTVS After he had reigned 56. yeeres or as Iosephus writeth 57. yeeres viz. with ANTONIVS 14. yeeres and after he ouercame ANTONIVS and CLEOPATRA Queene of Egypt in sea-warfare ouer against Epirus he had the imperiall soveranitie himselfe alone all his dayes and died in the 77. yeere of his age Ioseph Antiq. lib. 18. cap. 3. Tiberius AFter AVGVSTVS reigned TIBERIVS NERO 22. yeres 7 moneths 7. dayes Bucolc Index The Romane Deputies that were sent to Iudea in the time of his reigne were VALERIVS GRATVS PONTIVS PILAT and VITELLIVS VALERIVS GRATVS for loue of gaine remooued the Priests of the Iewes from their offices at his owne pleasure ANANVS ISMAEL ELEAZARVS SIMON the sonne of CAMITHVS all these were denuded of their priestly dignitie when as two of them viz. ELEAZARVS and SIMON had continued scarse one yeere in office In end IOSEPHVS CAIAPHAS is aduanced to the priesthood This is the cause wherefore the Euangelist Iohn calleth CAIAPHAS the high Priest of that same yeere Iohn 18. ver 13. Matters of religion were now come to an horrible abuse and were not ordered according to Gods holy ordinance but according to the appetite of the Romaine Deputies Ioseph antiq lib. 18. cap. 3. After GRATVS PONTIVS PILAT was sent to be Deputie in Iudea a man vigilant and actiue in all civile adoes as the blood of the Galileans mixed with their sacrifices clearely prooueth Luc. 13. 1. but in the cause of Christ remisse negligent and slacke After the issue of ten yeeres VITELLIVS is appointed Deputie in Iudea and PONTIVS PILAT addresseth toward Rome By gratifying of the Iewes in a matter of small importance he conquessed great fauour The priestly garments were wont to be kept in the Castle called Antonia but VITELLIVS gaue commandement to the Captaine of the Castle to let the high Priest haue the vse of them when he pleased and to choose what place he liked best for the custody of the priestly garments He disauthorized CAIAPHAS following as appeareth the example of VALERIVS GRATVS and gaue his office to IONATHAN the sonne of ANANVS sometime high Priest Ioseph antiq lib. 18. cap 6. In the 15. yeere of the reigne of TIBERIVS Christ our Lord and Sauiour was baptized by IOHN in Iordan was led to the wildernesse fasted fourtie dayes was tempted of the deuil and began to preach Euseb. hist. eccl lib. 1. cap. 10. Mat. 3. and 4. In the eighteenth yeere of TIBERIVS the Lord Iesus was crucified and offered a sacrifice for our sinnes which hath a perpetuall vertue to saue such as beleeue Heb. 7. He arose againe the thirde day from death The high Priestes and rulers of the people gaue money to the souldiers to obscure the glory of his resurrection yet it was sufficiently knowne not onely to Christes disciples by his frequent apparitions to them but also to PONTIVS PILAT the Romaine Deputie himselfe who had giuen out a sentence of death against Christ. PILAT by letters signified to TIBERIVS the miracles of Christ his resurrection and that he was supponed of many to bee God but the Senat of Rome refused to acknowledge the divinitie of Christ because hee was worshipped as God before
his Godheade was approoued by the Senate of Rome Euseb. eccles hist lib 2. cap. 2. The words of the Apostle PAVL had performance in the Romaine Senat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they became vaine in their imaginations and their foolish heart was full of darkenesse when they professed themselues to bee wise they became fooles Rom. 1. ver 21. 22. The verie smoke that riseth from the fornace seemeth to be somewhat at the first but when it mounteth vp into the aire the hier it ascendeth the more it scattereth the sudden disparition of it declareth it is but a vaine thing Such was the wisedome of the Romaine Senate when they mounted vp so hie as to judge of diuine things far surpassing the reach of the naturall vnderstanding of man they proued starke fooles and people destitut of true vnderstanding and PILAT himselfe ouerladen with many heauie calamities in the dayes of CAIVS put handes into himselfe and so ended his wretched life Euseb. lib 2. cap. 7. Caius Caligula CAIVS CALIGVLA successour to TIBERIVS reigned three yeeres and nine months Euseb. lib 2. cap. 8. He was a proud tyrant enemie to all righteousnesse the verie childe of the deuill I insist only vpon Church matters Hee was an hatefull enemie to the Iewes dwelling at Ierusalem and at Alexandria For one and the selfe-same cause were they both despised and hated of CAIVS because they would not giue vnto him diuine honours by building Temples and altars and offering sacrifice to new IVPITER CAIVS and swearing by his name First concerning Ierusalem he had sent PETRONIVS to be Deputie in Judea with commandement to dedicat the Temple of Jerusalem to IVPITER CAIVS and to set vp his image in the Temple Euseb eccles hist. lib. 2. cap. 6. Ioseph antiq lib. 18. cap. 11. The Iewes were more willing to die then to see the Temple of their God polluted PETRONIVS aduertised the Emperour of the grevance of the Iewes but before his letters came into the hands of CAIVS somewhat interueened that both disappointed the purpose of CAIVS and also incensed his heart with furie and rage against his Deputie PETRONIVS At that time HEROD AGRIPPA was at Rome whome afterward the Angell of God smote at Casarea so that he was consumed with wormes Acts 12. he was exceedingly beloued of CAIVS because in the daies of TIBERIVS he had bene cast in prison and bound with bands for the loue he caried to CAIVS in so farre that CAIVS inuited AGRIPPA vpon a certaine time to a banquet and bade him aske what he pleased and it should be granted AGRIPPAES petition was this that CAIVS would suffer the nation of the Iewes to liue according to their own law CAIVS was moued somewhat with this vnexspected petition yet partly for his excessiue loue toward AGRIPPA also lest he should seeme to them which sate at table to be a promise-breaker the petition is granted But the venome of his indignation against the Iewes he poured out against PETRONIVS because that by lingring in executing his commandement occasion was offered to AGRIPPA to present this foresaide petition The letter of CAIVS sent to his Deputie was cruel and bloodie the like whereof was seldome heard because hee fulfilled not the Emperours desire hee is commaunded to giue out a sentence of death against his owne life and to be both judge burrio to himselfe Ioseph antiq lib. 18 cap. 11 Such mercie was in this new IVPITER CAIVS Before I writ anything of his crueltie against the Iewes that dwelt in Alexandria it is a meete place to admonish the reader of the hypocrisie counterfaitholines of HEROD AGRIPPA who seemed both in the dayes of CAIVS and also in the dayes of the Emperour CLAVDIVS to be a paterne of godlinesse preferring at the banquet of CAIVS the libertie of the people of God the inviolable obseruation of the law of God to all the riches that the liberalitie of an affectioned Emperour could be able to afford In CLAVDIVS dayes he sailed from Italie to Judea he acknowledged God to be the author of his deliuerance from prison bands offered a chaine of gold to be hung vp in the Tēple of Ierusalē in testimonie that he receiued that benefit with a thankfull minde out of Lords hands Ioseph antiq lib 19. cap. 5. In outward things he was a builder of the wals of Ierusalem vntill the emulous enuy of MARSVS or enuyous emulation the hinderer of all good workes compelled him to desist to leaue the worke imperfited Ioseph antiq lib. 19. cap 7. For all this outward shew of holines the lessons of CAIVS whom he loued beyond all things neuer left him till his last breath CAIVS desired to be counted a god so did AGRIPPA in Caesarea delite when his oration was called the voyce of God not of man Acts 12. CAIVS persecuted the Iewes without a cause so did HEROD AGRIPPA the Christians Acts 12. CAIVS the higher hee aduanced himselfe the greater was his fall the like also happened to AGRIPPA So pernicious a thing is vngodly companie burning their associats with their fire or els blecking them with their smoke and hurtfull euery maner of way In the towne of Alexandria the Grecians contended against the Iewes both parties sent ambassadours to Rome the Grecians sent APPION the Iewes sent PHILO a very prudent and learned man APPiON with flattering words insinuated himselfe in the fauour of the Emperour CAIVS and accused the Iewes that they neither builded temples nor offered sacrifices to the honour of CAIVS as the Grecians did PHILO was readie to answere but CAIVS ruled with affection rather then with reason caused PHILO to be thrust out of his palace and would not hearken vnto him Ioseph antiq lib. 18. cap. 10. Euseb. lib. 2. ecles hist. cap 5. In these two mirrours we may see the cruell disposition of this Emperour whose dependers were persecuters of Christians like as hee himselfe was a persecuter of the Iewes If any good turne fell into his hand it was rather by accident then of purpose to glorifie God or to punish sinne hee banished HEROD ANTIPAS who beheaded IOHN the Baptist and his wife HERODIAS that incestuous harlot who ended their lifes in penuritie and miserie in Lyons of France Euseb. eccles hist. lib. 2. cap 4. But all this was done for fauour of AGRIPPA Ioseph antiq lib. 18. cap 9. but not for detestation of murther and incest In ende CAIVS was slaine by his owne seruants CHEREAS and LVPVS whom the Emperour CLAVDIVS afterward punished vnto the death Ioseph antiq lib. 19 cap. 3. This new IVPITER I count him to haue bene in worse case then old IVPITER the sonne of SATVRN albeit both of them died yet the one after his death was counted a god but the other after his death was counted a deuill Claudius CLAVDIVS reigned thirteene yeeres eight months Euseb. lib. 2. cap. 19. Hee ratified the gift of the kingdome
lifted vp against him for the litle stone hewed out of the rocke without hands it dashed in pieces and bruised into powder the golde siluer brasse and Iron of the hudge and terrible image set against it Daniel 2. euen so the veritie wherof Christ is the author is like vnto himselfe in outward appearance weake but in operation strong and mightie defacing and abolishing all the apparent pompe glory and power of the lie To this well agreeth the ruine and ignominious fall of DAGON to the very breaking of his necke and palmes of his hands 1. Sam 5. In the third roome consider what reuerence loue and honour we ought to carie to this ancient veritie after it be manifested vnto vs. Bee not like the babes of Alexandria in the dayes of PTOLEMEVS PHILOPATER when the maine huge and great ancre of the ship Thalmegos was laide out vpon the shore the children did ride on the stalke and crept through the ring of the ancre as it had beene made for the pastime of children but wise ship-men knewe it was appointed for a better vse namely to stable and make sure that great vessel in time of great and tempestuous stormes euen so when wee haue found the ancient veritic of God let vs carie a great reuerence to it as vnto the holy and sacred ancre fashioned by God to stablish our soules that no tempest of false doctrine or cruell perfecution make vs to shrinke from that ancient veritie of the Almightie Moreouer consider what commandement is giuen from God euen concerning hoare headed men Leuit. 19. ver 32. to whome we are commanded to rise and to honour their countenance but greater reuerence is to be caried toward the hoare-headed veritie for the commandement giuen concerning ancient men sustaineth some exceptions The soueraigne King of a nation and his honourable counsellers for the eminencie of their places will not arise to honour ancient men but ancient men rather arise to honour them as IACOB arose sat in the bed because his infirmitie could not permit him to rise and stand on his feete to doe honour vnto IOSEPH Gen. 48. ver 2 But as concerning the ancient veritie of God it should be honoured of al men without exception EGLON King of Moab arose out of his chaire when EHVD said vnto him that he had a message vnto him from God Iudg. 3. ver 20. and BALAAM vttering his propheticall reuelation saith Rise Balak and heare and take heede vnto me thou sonne of Zippor Numb 23. ver 22. With reuerence should be joyned an ardent loue and constant following of the ancient trueth vnto the end following the worthy example of godly IOSIAS who despised not the holy booke of the Couenant of God because it had beene long misregarded despised vnreade and far lesse expounded vnto the people in the dayes of his father AMON and of his goodsire MANASSE for the booke of the Lordes Couenant all this while lay in an obscure corner of the Temple neglected and couered with dust yet when it was drawen out of the dust and presented vnto the King hee receiued it reuerently hee loued it ardently and followed this holy Couenant euen vnto the daye of his death so ought wee to loue the ancient veritie of God at all times but specially when it is despised and misregarded by men as IOSIAS did 2. King 22. The loue of the natural mother when she pleaded before SALOMON for the liuing child was not abated but rather inflammed increased by the apparent danger of her child 1. King 22. And that which is more admirable the loue that IEZABEL caried toward the idolatrous seruice of BAAL was not quenched by all these dashes that BAALS seruice got from heauen aboue and in the earth beneath The fire that came miraculously from heauen witnessed the falsh oode of the worship of BAAL and the couenant made betweene HELIAS and the priestes of BAAL with aduise of the King and whole body of the people whereinto the priestes of BAAL with shame skaith and vnspeakable disgrace succumbed 1. King 18. Yet all this I say quenched not the fond loue that IEZABEL caried to that idolatrous worship as appeareth 1. King 19. where shee bindeth her selfe with an oath to pursue HELIAS to the death Should we not then be ashamed to carie lesse loue to the veritie of God which bringeth rest vnto our soules then this woman did to a false worship which led her soule headlong to perdition As touching Antiquitie of errour it is to be marked that whatsoeuer honour antiquitie addeth vnto the veritie the like dishonour rebuke and shame it heapeth vpon the errour For Satan himselfe who is the author of all errours when he is called metaphorically a serpent hee is thereby rebuked but when hee is called an olde serpent Apocal. 12. ver 9 hee is more mightily rebuked euen so when antiquitie is joyned with errour then errour is not graced but utterly disgraced as who would say this woman is an olde harlot or this man is an olde foole or this canker or rottennesse in the flesh is an old feaster all these are reprochful speeches pointing out the maladie of an vnsupportable euil So the paines that are taken in our daies to proue error to be an old thing is al takeÌ„ in vaine for by so doing they only discouer the turpitude shame of the error The Grecians bragged much of antiquity so do the Papists But the Chaldeans Egyptians Phenicians to whoÌ„ antiquitie was better known said no lesse confidently then truely of the Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plat in Timeo Theodo serns 1. de fide The like I say of the Papists who brag of antiquitie more then of any other thing that in such heads of doctrin wherin they differ from vs they are not so much as countenanced by antiquitie As touching their foolish questions demanding of vs where was our Church 600 yeeres before our time I answere by two other questions First Where was their church 1600 yeres ago that is WheÌ„ the Apostles called by Christ immediatly were dispensators of the Gospell to the world where was there a Church saying Masses worshipping images beleeuing Purgatorie They will answere that the Apostle PAVL himselfe said Masse at Rome In testimonie whereof they keepe vntil this day amongst their reliques that table or altar whereupon the Apostle PAVL said Masse at Rome But I will replye that Poperie is a kingdome of lies For the Apostle in his epistle to the Hebâ—…wes setteth down these two things as flat opposit the one to the other a sacrifice propitiatorie and vnbloodie saying Without shedding of blood there is noremission Heb. 9. ver 22. But the Papists will confidently affirme that the Masse that PAVL said at Rome was propitiatorium sacrificium and incruenta hostia that is to say a propitiatorie vnbloodie sacrifice which is vnpossible and repugnant vnto his owne doctrine Secondly I demand of them another question anent
I am the lesse moued with their speaches because it is the custome of lamed creeple men to be mounted vp on horsebacke an euil cause supporteth the own infirmitie by the loude trumpet of rayling wordes yet haue they not cleared to the world that wee maintaine obstinatly any point of doctrine repugnant vnto the articles of true faith and vnto the principall grounds of Christian religion preached by Christ and committed to write by the holy Apostles Let them be as prodigall in their curses as they please crying out against vs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I answere with simplicitie of a humble mind 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this word written with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and not with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth a thing hanged vp in the Lordes Temple and dedicat to God Haue we not seene with our owne eyes deepe woundes made in the flesh of man that haue beene needled by skilfull Chirurgians and in end cured and healed and the skinne of man cutted in twaine by the sword vnited againe by the needle medicinable plasters That doctrine which endenoureth to needle the wounded world and to vnite it againe vnto that holy doctrine taught by the Apostles and Euangelistes and professed in the first hundreth yeere of our Lord shall we call it hereticall Shall we be so babish that wee cannot discerne the sword from the needle conjunction from separation healing from hurting welfare from woe If we knew Christ Iesus and the power of God working by his word we had not so rashly condemned the trueth of God The Iewes spake as confidently against Christ as euer the Councill of Trent hath spokeÌ„ against vs We hâ—…ue a law according to our lawe hee ought to de because hee made himselfe the Sonne of God Ioh. 19. ver 7 Vnder pretence of zealous keeping of the Law made against blasphemers Leuit 24. 15. they condemned the holy One of God as a blasphemer But his father by loosing the sorowes of death receiuing him into heauen placing him at his owne right hand annulled ipso facto that rash sentence giuen out in earth against the innocent Lamb of God Euen so the Lord in his owne appointed time by receiuing our soules into those celestiall mansions prepared for his owne Saintes shall vndoe the rash decreetes that are giuen out against vs in the earth In all ages this matter hath bene contrauerted and Heretiques haue obstinatly maintained their bad and reprobat opinions and as obstinatly refused the odious and vile name of Heretiques and this question in our dayes is like to a flame of fire which no aboundance of water can sloken The definition of an heresie we haue alreadie set downe in the 3 chap resteth nowe in this treatise to ponder the name it selfe to consider the ground of heresie the propagation and preuailing power of it at sometimes the greater and more preuailing power of the curse of God making heresie in end to wither as the figge tree did that was cursed by Christ And finally to declare what should be the cariage both of Pastours magistrats and people toward Heretiques 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a word of the Greeke language and very ample in signification for it signifieth a choosing Now it is certaine that it is no fault to a man to take a choise when God doth offer it vnto him as when it was offered to SALOMON to aske what hee liked best he choosed rather to craue wisdome then riches from God 1. Reg. 3. and when DAVID choosed rather to fall into the hands of God then of man 2. Sam. 24 ver 14. DAVID in choosing the pest rather then the sworde or famine tooke a choice which was offered vnto him by God And the pondering of the generalitie of the worde may declare that in things indifferent wherinto God hath granted vnto men a libertie free choice such as eating of flesh or abstinence from it marying or not marying a man may take his choice in these things at such times as he findeth it granted by God as well as DAVID and SALOMON and a man is not to be called an Heretique because he marieth because God hath giuen him libertie to marie or not to marie as a man listeth best prouiding alwayes he seeke counsell of God to dispose him in such indifferent things that way whereby he shall be most meete and able to glorifie God For true it is that the Euangelist writeth No man hath seene God at any time the onely begotten Sonne of God who is in the bosome of his Father he hath reueiled him Ioh. 1 which words plainly doe testifie that in matters of faith God hath not giuen vnto a man a free choice to embrace what opinion he pleaseth but God hath tied bound vs in matters of faith to the mouth of his deare Sonne to the ende we should thinke no other thing of God then Iesus Christ hath reueiled vnto vs. Now anent the ground of heresie I followe the opinion of AVGVSTINE in his booke of exposition of some places of the epistie to the Galathian wherein hee compareth Heretiques to the sonnes of KETVRA whome ABRAHAM maried after the death of SARA Gen. 25. These children were procreated of an old father and of a yong mother euen so Heretiques pretending antiquitie of Scripture but forging vnto them a new yong sense whereinto Scripture was not written they become defenders of a false opinion The words of S. AVGVSTINE are these Ex occasione antiquaeveritatâ—…s in novitio temporalique nati sunt mendacio that is through occasion of antiquitie of the trueth they are borne into the noveltie of a temporall lie so that AVGVSTINE his judgement soundeth to this that Heretiques pretend antiquitie of scripture for their father but they are more like to KETVRA then ABRAHAM following rather the noueltie of error then the antiquitie of veritie In this maner IRENEVS thinkèth that heresies do spring vp of a false vnderstanding of holy Scriptures vsing the comparison of men who breake the golden image of the king after it is molten againe fashion it according to the similitude of a Foxe now it can not be called the kings image any longer albeit it be composed of that selfe same golde whereof the kings image was made euen so when wordes of Scripture are drawen to a new false hereticall sense count that new sense heresie not Scripture Iren adversus Ualent lib. 1. cap. 1. Now these opinions of IRENEVS and AVGVSTINE concerning the originall ground of heresie do well agree with the word of Christ himselfe written in holy Scripture Are ye not therefore deceiued because ye know not the Scriptures neither the power of God Marc 12. 24. The Sadduces knew wel eneugh the wordes of scripture but not the right sense and meaning of them And therfore it is great wisdome to mixe our reading with prayer to the ende that the Lorde who guided the
fashioned according to the similitude of this world Rom. 12. In doing great things by faith they surpassed mightie Monarches In patient suffering of cuil they ouerwent admired Philosophers In this persecution SIMON the sonne of CLEOPAS an ◅oly A postle suffered martyrdome being now an hundreth and twentie yeeres olde he was first scourged and then crucified but all this rebuke hee most patiently suffered for the Name of Christ Euseb. eccl hist lib. 3. cap. 32 Of IGNATIVS martyrdome wee haue spoken in the first Centurie the time of his suffering was in the time of TRAIANVS Plin. 2. Deputie in Bithynia breathing threatnings against innocent Christians persecuted great numbers of them to the death In ende he was commoued and troubled in his owne minde considering both the number and patient suffering of Christians that were put to death hee wrote to the Emperour declaring that Christians were men of good conuersation and detested murther adulterie and such other vngodlinesse onely they had conuentions earely in the morning and they sang Psalmes to the honour of Christ whom they worshipped as God but they would not worship images here make the portrait of the ancient Apostolicke Church what conformitie the Romaine Church in our dayes hath with it the Lord knoweth This letter of PLINIVS mitigated the Emperours wrath in a part yet gaue he no absolute commandement to stay the persecution but only that the judges should not search them out narrowly but if any happened to be presented before them then let them be punished Euseb. eccl hist. lib. 3. cap. 33 What confusion was in this edict it is well marked by TERTVLLIAN the one part of it repugneth to the other In forbidding to search them out narrowly he declareth their innocencie but in commanding to punish them when they were presented hee pronounceth them to be guiltie Tcrtul Apol. This is that Emperour for whose soule GREGORIE the first made supplications to God 400. yeeres after his death and was heard of God as DAMASCEN writeth serm de defunctis This superstitious Monke of the descent of Saracens blood if hee supponed GREGORIE to be so full of charitie that hee prayed for the soule of one persecuting Emperour why would he not bring him in praying also for all the ten persecuting Emperours to the ende that they being all deliuered from the condemnation of hel heauen might be counted a mansion both for Christes true disciples and also for Christs hatefull and impenitent enemies Adrianus AFter TRAIAN AELIVS ADRIANVS reigned 21. yeeres Chytr Chron. In his time ARISTIDES and QVADRATVS the one a Bishop the other an Orator at Athens wrote learned apologies in defence of Christian Religion and did so mitigate the Emperors mind that in his time no new commandement was set foorth to persecute Christians Euseb. eccl hist. lib. 4 cap. 3. Ierom Catal. script eccles BARCOCHEBAS at this time peruerted the nation of the Jewes and called himselfe the promised MESSIAS whome the foolish Iewes followed to their owne ouerthrow and destruction TYNIVS RVFVS Deputie in Iadea besieged this man in Bethera a towne not farre distant from Jerusalem and destroyed him with all his adherents Also the whole nation of the I◅wes was banished from their natiue soyle and the towne of Jerusalem was taken from the Jewes and deliuered to other nations to be inhabitants of it and was called by the Emperours name Aelia Euseb. eccl hist lib. 4. cap 6. Thus we see that the Iewes who would not receiue Christ who came in his fathers name yet they receiued another who came in his owne name and like vnto babes who are easily deceiued with trifles they were bewitched with the splendor of a glorious name for BARCOCHEBAS signifieth the sonne of a starre and he saide to the Iewes that hee was sent as a light from heauen to succour their distressed estate but he might haue beene called more justly BARCHOSBA the sonne of a lie Here I giue warning againe that wee take heede to our selues lest we be circumveened with the deceitful snares of the deuill for it is an easie thing to fall but a difficill thing to rise againe The Christians who liued in the dayes of ADRIAN were glad to be refreshed with the crums of outward comfort which are denied to no accused persō in the whol world viz. that Christians shall not be condemned to death for the importunat clamors and cryes of a raging people accusing them except it be proued that they haue transgressed the Law and haue committed some fact worthie of death Reade the epistle of ADRIAN written to MINVTIVS FVNDANVS Deputie in Asia Euseb eccl hist. lib. 4. cap. 9. The good intention of ADRIAN in building a Church for the honour of Christ voide of images because such was the custome of Christians was impeded and hindered by some of his familiar friendes who said that if he so did all men would for sake the temples of the gods of the Gentiles and become Christians Bucolc citing the testimonie of LAMPRIDIVS writing the life of ALEXANDER SEVERVS In this point good reader marke what Church is like vnto the ancient primitiue and Apostolicke Church whether the Church decked with images or the Church voide of images Antoninus Pius TO ADRIAN succeeded ANTONINVS PIVS his adopted sonne reigned 23. yeeres Chytr Chron. Hee was so carefull to preserue the liues of his subjects that he counted it greater honour to saue the life of one subject then to destroy the liues of a thousand enemies Carion lib. 3. Monarch 4. In this Emperours time IVSTINVS MARTYR wrote notable bookes of Apologie for the Christians which were presented and reade in the Senate of Rome and mollified the Emperours minde toward Christians as clearely appeareth by his edicts proclaimed at Ephesus in time of most solemne conuentions of all Asia Euseb. eccl hist. lib. 4. cap. 13 Antoninus Philosophus L. Uerus AFter ANTONINVS PIVS succeeded his sonne in law ANTONINVS Philosophus otherwise called MARCVS AVRELIVS with his brother L. AVRELIVS VERVS This is the first time whereinto the Romaine empire was gouerned by two Augusti Albeit TITVS had associated his brother DOMITIAN to be a fellow labourer with him in the worke of governement yet was not DOMITIAN counted or called AVGVSTVS vntill the death of his brother TITVS But nowe at one and the selfe same time two Emperours doe reigne ANTONINVS Philosophus reigned 19. yeeres LVCIVS VERVS his brother 9. yeeres And so after the death of VERVS the whole gouernement returned to ANTONINVS Philosophus alanerly Euseb. eccl hist. lib. 5. cap. 9. Bucolc He was called a Philosopher not onely in regard of his knowledge but also in respect of the practise of Philosophie Hee was neither greatly puft vp by prosperitie nor greatly casten downe by aduersitie yet he was a cruell persecuter of innocent Christians Now is the fuell added to the fornace the fourth time and the flame is great and the arme of wicked men who hated
the name of Christians is strengthened by the Emperours commandement The trumpets of the Monarches of the world sound the alarme against him who made them Kings and rulers on the earth The poore innocent Lambes of the sheepfold of Christ appointed for the shambles strengthened their heartes in God in the power of his might and chused rather to suffer aduersitie with their brethren then to enjoy the pleasures of sinne for a season Heb. 11. ver 25. they were content to bee racked and would not be deliuered that they might be partakers of a better resurrection Heb. 11. ver 35. whose bodies lacerat with stripes vntill their very inward bowels were patent to the outward sight witnessed the vnrent firmnesse and stabilitie of their faith They were so supported with the power of that grace that commeth from aboue that they were not terrified with the multiplied numbers of cruell torments newly excogitate for dashing that inuincible courage of faith which was seene in Christians Yea further then this When the persecuting enemies were compelled to change the high tuned accent of their menassing speeches and to craue but a litle conformitie to the Emperours desire in swearing by his fortune the holy men of God would not once seem to fall away from their profession by answering with timorous and doubtsome wordes but glorified God with a cleare and constant confession of their Christian faith POLYCARPVS B. of Smyrna and IVSTINVS MARTYR a man of singular erudition were both martyred in the feruent heate of this persecution But aboue all other places the consuming flame of the fornace brast out most vehemently in France that happie nation whereinto both of old and late time so many were found worthie to giue their blood for the Name of Christ. VETIVS EPAGATHVS MATVRVS PROTHENVS ATTALVS SANCTVS and PHOTINVS B. of Lions all suffered for the testimonie of Christ in France And BLANDINA a worthie woman suffered many torments and renued her spirituall courage by continuall iteration of these wordes Christianasum that is I am a Christian Euseb. eccl hist. lib 5. cap 1. Bucolc Index In like maner Christians were persecuted with the slaÌ„derous speches of Pagans objecting vnto them the bankets of THYESTES the chambering of OEDIPVS that is the eating of mens flesh incestuous copulations Euseb. ibid. But men who are giuen to the mo-mentaneal delites of sin are not willing to die because that by death they are separat from all bodily pleasures The Christians by patient and willing suffering of death for Christs sake clearely witnessed vnto the world that they were not addicted to the deceitfull pleasures of sinne Iustin. Martyr Apol Neuerthelesse these slanderous speeches were credited by the Pagans and tooke such deepe root in their heartes that these who seemed before to be more meeke and moderat then others now they became full of madnesse and rage against Christians and that which was foretolde by our master Christ it was fulfilled at this time to wit The time shall come that whosoeuer killeth you shall thinke hee doth God seruice Iohn 16. 2. the huge number of martyrs that were slaine in the furie of this persecution are both accuratly and at great length set downe by that holy man of God who lately wrote the booke of the martyrs I onely point out shortly the estate of the Church at this time In this Emperours time good men were not inlacking who admonished him to appease his wrath against Christians such as CLAVDIVS APOLLINARIS B. of Herapolis and MELITO B of Sardis But nothing could asswage his cruell heart vntill hee was casten intâ—… the fornace of grieuous troubles himselfe for his armâ—… that fought against the Germanes and Sarmatians fell into great distresse for want of water but was supported by the prayers of the Christian legion that was in his armie For they bowed their knees to Christ and prayed for helpe and the Lorde Iesus sent raine in aboundance to refresh the armie of the Romanes and dashed the Barbarians with thunder and fire In remembrance whereof the Christian legion was after that time called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Fulmâ—…natrix Euseb. lib. 5. cap. 5. After this victorie he asswaged his anger and wrote to the Senat of Rome to deale gently with Christians by whose prayers hee acknowledged both himselfe and his armie to haue receiued deliuerance from God Commodus COMMODVS the sonne of ANTONINVS reigned 13. yeeres Euseb. eccl hist. lib. 5 Cap. 27. Many of the Roman's not without a cause called him INCOMMODVS He presumed to doe great things and to change the names of months and would haue the month of December to be called Câ—…mmodus like as the two names of two months Quâ—…ntilis Sextilâ—…s had bene changed in time bypast and called Iulins and Augustus for honour of these two welbeloued Emperours But hee was not so well fauoured of the people that this ordinance could haue place any longer then during his owne lifetime The Churel in his dayes was not altogether free of persecution for APOLLONIVS a man of noble birth in Rome and a man of great erudition fuffered death because hee would not forsake the Christian religion His accuser also was punished to the death Euseb. lib. 5. cap. 21. Such aduantages Iudges might easily haue taken finding so many discrepant lawes some made in fauour and some conceiued in disliking of Christians Pertinax and Julianus AELIVS PERTINAX Imp. 6. months DIDIVS IVLIANVS 21 months Chytr Chron. EVSEBIVS maketh no mention of D. IVLIANVS but of PERTINAX alanerly to whome succeeded SEVERVS Euseb. eccl hist. lib. 5. cap. 27. Chap. 2 IN this second Centurie the Bishops of Rome for the most part prooued faithfull and worthy seruants of Christ. A great number of them were baptized with the Baptisme of Christ dranke of the cup that Christ drank of and were drenched with their owne blood and they watred the Church of Rome with the streames of their blood as Egypt is watred and made fruitfull with the inundation of Nilus Men of blessed remembrance DAMASVS writeth that from S. PETER to TELESPHORYS all the Bishops of Rome were martyrs Others added that vntill the dayes of SYLVESTER who liued in the time of the reigne of CONSTANTINE all the Bishops of Rome had the honour of martyrdome But in these hyperbolicke speeches neither hath the distinction betweene a Martyr and a Consessour beene rightly considered albeit well marked by Eusâ—…b eccl hist. lib. 5. cap. 2. neither hath the historie of the reigne of ANTONINVS PIVS bene rightly pondered in whose dayes HYGINVS and PIVS liued and were not slaine for the testimony of Christ. Alwayes it is a maleuolous minde that holdeth backe from worthie men their due praise and commendation both in doing of good and patient suffering of euill for Christes sake In rehearsing the names of the Romaine Bishops I thought meete to follow IRENEVS and EVSEBIVS rather then PLATINA In the first Centurie after
EVSEBIVS reckoneth onely 12. yeeres lib. 6. cap. 12. He stirred vp the fift persecution against the Christians The crimes objected against the Christians beside those that were objected in the former persecution were these Rebellion against the Emperour sacriledge murthering of infants worshipping of the sunne and worshipping the heade of an Asse which last calumnie was forged against them by the malice of the Jewes This persecution raged most seuerely in the townes of Alexandria and Carthage like as the former persecution had done in Lions and Vienne in France Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 1. LEONIDES the father of ORIGEN was beheaded his sonne being but yong in yeeres exhorted his father to perseuere in the faith of Christ constantly vnto the death POTAMIEA a yong beautiful virgin in Alexandria was by the judge condemned to death and deliuered to a Captaine called BASILIDES who stayed the insolencie of the people that followed her to the place of execution with outrage of slanderous and rayling worde crying out against her for this cause shee prayed to God for the conuersion of BASILIDES to the true faith and was heard of God in so much that he was not onely conuerted to the faith of Christ but also sealed it vp with his blood and had the honour of martyrdome Euseb. lib. 6. cap 5. ALEXANDER who was fellow-labourer with NARCISSVS in Ierusalem escaped many dangers yet was he martyred in the dayes of DECIVS the 7. great persecuter Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 39. Of this Emperour the Senat of Rome said Aut non nasci aut non mori debuisse that is Either hee should neuer haue beene borne or els should neuer haue tasted of death So it pleased the Lorde by his wise dispensation to suffer the dayes of TRAIAN ANTONINVS Philosophus SEVERVS Emperours renoumed in the world to be more cruell against his owne people then the dayes of NERO DOMITIAN CALIGVLA or COMMODVS to the ende the poore Church might learne to be content to be spoyled of all outward comfort and to leane vpon the staffe of the consolations of God alanerly Many that were brought vp in the schooles of ORIGEN suffered martyrdome such as PLVTARCHVS SERENVS HERACLIDES HERON and another hauing the name of SERENVS also Euseb. lib 6. cap. 4. Among women RHAIS was burned with fire for Christs sake before she was baptized with water in Christs Name Euseb. ibid. Innumerable moe martyrs were slaine for the faith of Christ whose names in particular no ecclesiasticall writer euer was able to comprehend therfore it shall suffice to heare the names of a few The rest whose names are not expressed enjoy the crownes of incorruptible glory as wel as those doe whose names are in all mens mouths It is the comfort of our hearts to remember that the Apostles and Euangelists sealed vp with their blood the doctrine which they taught and committed to writ and no other doctrine and the holy martyres immediatly after the Apostles dayes sealed vp with the glorious testimonie of their blood that same faith which we now professe which they receiued froÌ„ the hands of the Apostles but they were not so prodigall of their liues to giue their blood for the doctrine of worshipping of images inuocation of Saints plurality of mediators of intercession the sacrifice of the Masse both propitiatory and vnbloody expresly against the wordes of the Apostle Heb. 9. ver 22. and such other heades of doctrine vnknown to antiquitie The Romaine Church in our daies is a persecuting and not a persecuted Church more fruitfull in murthers then martyrdomes glorying of antiquitie and follow ing the forgerie of new inuented religion This Emperour SEVERVS was slaine at Yoâ—…ke by the Northerne men Scots Bassianus Geta. SEVERVS who was slaine at Yorke left behind him two sonnes BASSIANVS and GETA BASSIANVS slewe his brother reigned himselfe alone 6. yeres so that the whole time of his gouernment both with his brother and alone was 7. yeeres 6. months Euseb. lib 6. cap 21. He put to death also PAPINIANVS a worthie lawyer because he would not pleade his cause anent the slaughter of his brother before the people but saide that sinne might be more easily committed then it could be defended Bucolc Hee tooke to wife his own mother in law IVLIA a woman more beautifull then chaste In all his time as he confessed with his owne mouth hee neuer learned to doe good and was slaine by MACRINVS Macrinus with his son Diadumenus MACRINVS and his sonne reigned one yeere alanerly Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 21. Antoninus Heliogabalus ANTONINVS HELIOGABALVS reigned after MACRINVS 4. yeeres Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 21. He was a prodigious belly-god a libidinous beast an enemie to all honestie and good order Func Chron. So many villanous things are written of him that scarcely if the Reader can giue credite to the historie that euer such a monster was fashioned in the belly of a woman At his remouing in his progresse oftimes followed him 600. chariots laden onely with baudes and common harlots His gluttonie filthinesse excessiue riotousnes are in al mens mouthes Hee was slaine of the souldiers drawen through the citie and cast into Tiber. Alexander Seuerus ALEXANDER SEVERVS the adopted sonne of HELIOGABALVS reigned 13. yeeres Euseb lib. 6. cap. 28. Chron. Func He delited to haue about him wise and learned counsellers such as FABIVS SABINVS DOMITIVS VLPIANVS c. This renowmed Lawyer VLPIANVS was not a friend to Christians but by collecting together a number of lawes made against Christians in times bypast he animated the harts of judges against them And this is a piece of the rebuke of Christ that Christians haue borne continually to be hated of the wise men of the world hist. Magdeburg Cent. 3. Hereof it came to passe that in this Emperours time albeit hee was not so bloodie as many others had bene before him and therefore his Empire was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is vnbloodie yet not a few suffered martyredome euen in the dayes of ALEXANDER such as AGAPETVS a young man of 15. yeere old at Praeneste a towne of Italie Hee was assaied with many torments and finally with the sword he was beheaded The judge who gaue out a sentence of death against him fell out of his judiciall seat and suddenly died The martyredome of CECILIA if by her trauailes VALERIAN her espoused husband and TIBVRTIVS his brother 400. moe had bene conuerted to Christ secretly baptized by VRBANVS B. of Rome immediatly before her death I maruel that no mention should be made by EVSEBIVS of such a rare miraculous worke Senatours and noble men at Rome such as PAMMACHIVS SIMPLICIVS and QVIRITIVS with their wiues and children died for the faith of Christ with many others Hist. Mag. Cent. 3. The fauour that this Emperour shewed to Christians against whom the very sloobering cookes did contend challenging vnto themselues the right of a place whereinto Christians were accustomed to
of his Gospell and CYPRIAN a sorcerer to bee a worthy preacher and martyre this same gratious Lord I say in the multitude of his vnspeakable compassions drewe AVGVSTINE out of this filthie mire of abominable heresie and made him like vnto a bright starre sending foorth the beames of light to the comfort of Gods house The opinion of MANES anent the creation of the world and the creation of man the manifestation of Christ in our nature rather in shewe and appearance then in veritie and the horrible abomination of their vile Eucharist no man can be ignorant of these things who hath read but a litle of the bookes of AVGVSTINE written against the Manicheans In ende like as MANES exceeded all the rest of the Heretiques in madnesse of foolish opinions euen so the Lorde pointed him out among all the rest to be a a spectacle of his wrath and vengeance For the king of Persia hearing of the fame of MANES sent for him to cure his sonne who was deadly diseased but when he sawe that his sonne died in his hands he cast him into prison and was purposed to put him to death but hee escaped out of prison and fled to Mesopotamia Neuerthelesse the king of Persia vnderstanding in what place MANES did lurke sent men who pursued him tooke him and excoriated his body and stopped his skinne full of chaffe and set it vp before the entrie of a certaine citie of Mesopotamia Socrat. eccles hist. lib. 1. cap. 22. If any man bee desirous to haue greater knowledge of this remarkable Heretique both in respect of his life and death he may reade the fore mentioned chapter of the ecclesiasticall historie of SOCRATES and hee shall finde that the first man called MANICHEVS who renued the errour of two beginnings was a man of Scythia He had a disciple first called BVDDAS afterward TEREBYNTHVS who dwelt in Babylon This man TEREBYNTHVS was the composer of these bookes which MANES gaue out vnder his owne name MANES was but a slauish boy bought with money by a woman of Babylon in whose house TEREBYNTHVS had lodged and shee brought vp the boy at schoole his name was CVRBICVS when he was bought but when this woman died she left in legacie to CVRBICVS the money and bookes of TEREBYNTHVS and he went from Babylon to Persia changed his name and called himselfe MANES and set forth the bookes of TEREBYNTHVS as if they had beene composed by himselfe so that hee added vnto the rest of his villanies this fault also that he was from his very youth a dissembled and deceitfull fellow Reade the historie of Socrat lib. 1. cap. 22. After MANES sprang vp HIERAX who spake of the Father and the Sonne as of two lights different in substance He damned mariage denied the resurrection of the body excluded infants from the kingdome of God Epiph. contrahaeres Hist Magd. Marke in this Catalogue of the heresies of the first three hundreth yeres how many of the deuils trumpeters sounded the doctrine of the prohibition of mariage The Nicolaitans Gnostici Encratitae Montanistae Apostolici Origeniani called Turpes Manichei and Hieracitae Satan hateth mariage to the end that his kingdome might be aduanced by fornication and all kinde of vncleannesse CENT 3. A Treatise of Purgatorie and prayer for the dead IN this Centurie also the opinion of ORIGEN anent purgatory paines before a man can enter into the kingdome of heauen giueth me manifest occasion to speak of Purgatorie In the beginning of this treatise I protest that I detest the worshipping of reliques and the conceit of Purgatorie fire as two heades of doctrine borrowed from Ethnickes and Pagans The bones of THESEVS saith PLVTARCH being transported placed in the middle part of the towne of Athens they honoured his ashes as if hee himselfe had beene returned to the towne and gaue vnto him all these diuine honours calling him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is he who diuerteth euill from them also they called him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a patron a helper 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is who receiueth the supplications of the humble What was this else but to honour THESEVS with diuine honours And the excessiue honours attributed to the reliques of saints in the Popish church with confidence to be helped and better heard of God because they were prostrate before the reliques of saints what was it else but a counterfaiting of the superstition of the Pagans In like maner the opinion of Purgatorie is but an Ethnicke inuention PLATO seemeth to be the first authour of it except any man of greater reading can reduce it to a more ancient beginning for PLATO in his dialogue called Phedo vel de anima hath three opinions concerning the soules of men First hee thinketh that the soules of men who haue liued a very honest and vnreproouable life when they depart out of their bodies they goe to a place of vnspeakable happinesse Secondly he thinketh that the soules of men who haue continued into incorrigible wickednesse they goe to a place called Tartarus there to be punished with endlesse paines These two foresaide opinions PLATO by his trauelling to Egypt where the people of the Iewes had remained a long time might haue learned to wit that the soules of good men goe to heauen and the soules of euill men goe to hell But PLATO thought by Philosophie to mend the want that was in ancient Theologie and he deuised a third place whereinto soules should be both tried and purged and after suffering of paines should be set at libertie namely the soules of men who had heauily grieued their parents afterward repented or had committed filthie murthers and afterward repented these mens soules I say according to the opinion of PLATO behooued to goe through infernall floods specially through Acheron Câ—…ytus and Phlegeton to be tried purged in end to be set at libertie prouiding they had fully satisfied the persons whom they had offended These beginnings of PLATOES conceites had neuer hurt Christian religion if CLEMENS ALEXANDRINVS and after him ORIGEN had not mingled prophane Philosophie with Theologie But when the question is riped vp to the very ground the defenders of Purgatorie fire worshipping of reliques haue cause to be ashamed as disciples of Pagans and not of the holy Apostles in these two points of doctrine The foolishnes of CLEMENS and ORIGEN hath beene very pernicious to the Church of God because they borrowed not from PLATO siluer and golde as the Iowes borrowed from the Egyptians by warrant of Gods commandement Exod. 11. but they borrowed chaffe and doung lies and fables which some time spreading sometime growing sometime altering the first similitude fashioned in the combes of PLATO in end became an article of Popish faith and was so straitly vrged that they who would not beleeue the fained fire of Purgatorie were burned as Heretiques with true flammes of tormenting fire AMBROSE and HILARIVS as foolishly
vnder the coÌ„duct of the SVLTAN of Babylon wherein an hundreth thousand men were slaine Thus was Ierusalem recouered out of the hands of the Saracens with great effusion of blood and GODFREY crowned king of Ierusalem But it was so deare bought and so soone lost againe for this kingdome continued not 100. yeeres that God gaue cleare testimonies to the world that he liked not that vnhappie Counciâ—…l of Claremontâ—… whereby the peace of the world was perturbed and blood was shed aboundantly like water powred out vpon the ground the mindes of the infidels so exasperat against Christians that albeit they haue payed vs home againe with the conquest of Thracia Bulgaria Macedonia Gracia Ploponesus and a great part of Hungaria and illyricum yet are not their hearts satisfied but set on edge through remembrance of the armie that came to besiege Ierusalem I leaue off to speake of the vnprosperous successe of CONRADVS 3. and howe his armie besieging Iconium was impoysoned by the falshood of EMANVEL Emperour of Constantinople and the successe of LEWES king of France and ROGERIVS duke of Sicil to whome all things succeeded not to their contentment as the siege of Damascus clearly declareth No better successe had PHILIP king of France and RICHARD king of England who enterprised likewise to recouer againe all that was lost but king RICHARDS shipwrack captiuitie ransome 〈◊〉 that the voyages to the holy lande seldome had a good succâ—…sse The calamitie of BARBAROSSA who seemed to prosper but was pitifully drowned in the passage of a riuer And finally the compelled returning of FRIDERICKE the 2. in the mids of his victories to saue his owne dominions from the outrage and oppression of the Pope the bad successe I say of all these expeditions and other moe declareth that God gaue not his blessing to the Councill of Claremont So that in very deede the aduancement of the Bishop of Rome tendeth to the calamitie of the whole world The second tragedie that followed the high aduancement of the B of Rome was bellum pontificium others call it bellum Imperatorium a cruell and hatefull warfare betweene the Emperours and Bishops of Rome wherein no sort of villanie falshood barbarous crueltie was left vnpractised against noble and worthy Emperours GREGORIE 7 caused the Emperour HENRY 4. at Canusium in sharpe winter weather to stand barefooted and to craue absolution from him He vttered a false prophecie of the Emperours death within yeere and day which when the issue declared to be a lying prophecie he took him to his shifting mental meaning that he spake of the spirituall death of the Emperours soule and not ofhis bodily deathPope PASCALIS 2. stirred vp HENRY 5. against his owne naturall father HENRY 4. and caused raise the body of the noble Emperour HENRY 4 out of his sepulchre so that it remained 5. yeeres vnburied Pope ADRIAN 4. was offended because the Emperour BARBAROSSA held his left stirrop in stead of the right stirrop when the Pope mounted vp vpon his horse Pope ALEXANDER3 trampled vpon the same Emperours necke Pope GREGORY 9. by his cursings compelled the Emperour FREDERICKE 2. to leade an armie to Asia against the Turkes and Saracens and in his absence like vnto a deceitfull traitor inuaded the kingdome of Naples and the rest of the dominions which in heritage belonged to the Emperour Thus we see clearly in this second tragedie that the B. of Rome was like vnto the melt in the body when it waxeth great by swelling and hardnesse all the rest of the noble parts are lessened and become weake euen so the excessiue preferment of the Bishoppes of Rome was the vndoing of the Emperours and princes of the earth The Bishops of Rome not contented with the two tragedies already mentioned to wit to haue filled the world with blood and to haue trampled the Emperouâ—…s princes vnder foot they added the third tragedie woâ—…st of all They would be lawgiuers sitting in the very chaire of Christ and making of none effect the ordinances of Christ to the ende that place might be giuen to their constitutions INNOCENTIVS 3 in the Councill of Lateran confirmed the blasphemous doctrine of transubstantiation Ann. 1215. In the generall Councill holden by GREGORIE 10. Ann. 1273. forgiuenes of sinnes was promised in most ample maner to those that would bee marked with the badge of the crosse and would goe and fight against the Saracens But Christ promiseth remission of sinnes to such onely as repent their sinnes beleeue in him in token of true repentance to these who beare the easie yocke light burden of Christ Mat. 11. ver 28 29. 30. In the generall Council gathered by CLEMENS 5. in Vienne Ann. 1311. it was ordained that the Pope should not be subject to the Emperour but rather the Emperor to the Pope that the Emperor shal giue his oth of alledgance to the Pope expresse contrary to the written word of God Let euery soule be subject vnto the hier powers Ro. 13 ver 1. Ioh 23. with aduise of SIGISMVND gathered a generall Councill at Constance Ann. 1414. wherein the very testamental legacie of Christ was altered and impaired by sacrilegious prelats in taking from the people the vse of the holy cup in the sacrament And the clause Non obstante set down in their act made the whole people of Christendome to tremble that they durst not set their mouthes against the heauen and correct the ordinance of Christ and that in such rude maner that notwithstanding that Christ instituted this sacrament vnder formes both of bread wine yet the church thought meete that the sacrament shal be giuen to laicke people vnder the forme of bread only The late Councils of Basil Florence are flat repugnant one to another in the head of supremacie And last of all the Councill of Trent wherein some piece of reformation was expected made it knowne to the world that the whore will neuer reforme the Borthell and the Antichrist will not be consumed with the breath of his own mouth but with the breath of the mouth of Christ which thing the Lord performe in his owne time Amen FINIS A SHORT COMPEND OF THE HISTORIE OF THE FIRST TEN PERSECVTIONS MOVED AGAINST CHRISTIANS DIVIDED INTO III. CENTVRIES WHEREVNTO ARE ADded in the end of euery Centurie treatises arising vpon occasion offered in the historie clearely declaring the noveltie of Popish Religion and that is neither flowed from the mouthes of Christs holy Apostles neither was it confirmed by the blood of the holy Martyrs who died in these ten persecutions IEREM 6. ver 16. Thus saith the Lord Stand in the Wayes and behold and aske of the old Way which is the good Way and Walke therein and ye shall find rest unto your soules but they said We will not walke therein LVC. 10. ver 42. Marie hath chosen the good part which shall not be taken a Way from her EDINBVRGH Printed by Andro Hart
Basilius Bishop of Casarea in Cappadocia the peaceable death of Athanasius which hapned in the verie time of the Persecution of this Arrian Emperour Valens together with the surie madnesse of the Arrian Bishop Lucius intruded in Alexandria All these thinges GOD willing shall bee touched in their owne places Amongst all the facts of vnspeakeable cruelty committed by Valens oâ—…e fact ouerwent all the rest While the Emperour was at Nicomedia fourescore Ambassadours were directed vnto him amongst whom Menedemus Urbanus and Theodorus were the chiefe These complained to the Emperour of the manifolde injuries done to the Homousians The Emperour gaue commandement to Modestus the Gouernour of his armie to embarke them into a ship as if they were to bee banished vnto some remote and far distant place but secret direction was giuen vnto the ship-men to set the ship on fire to retire themselues into a boat So it came to passe that these fourscore Martyrs circumuented by the craft of Valens glorified the NAME of CHRIST by patient suffering of many deathes at one time both tormented by fire and drowned in water Terentius and Traianus two worthie Captaines used some libertie in admonishing the Emperour to absteine from persecuting of innocent people because his fighting against GOD procured good successe to the Barbarians but the LORD was minded to destroy him therefore hee coulde receiue no wholsome admonition for a number of the nation of the Gothes whom he intertained as souldiers meet to defend his Dominions against the inuasion of forrainers and strangers they began to waste the countrey of Thracia and they faught against the Emperour Valens and preuailed against him so that he fled and was ouertaken in a certaine Village which the Gothes set on fire So this Emperour died miserably brunt with fire by his enemies without succession and left his name in curse and execration to all ages after he had reigned fifteene or sixteene yeeres as Sozomenus reckoneth Nowe to returne to the Emperour Valentinian Hee was a defender of the true faith and was so highly offended against his brother Valens that hee would make him no support against the inuasion of the Gothes for he said it was an impious thing to strengthen the hande of a man who had spent his dayes in warrefare against GOD and his CHURCH In his dayes the Sarmatians inuaded the bounds of the Romane Dominions Valentinian prepared a mightie armie to fight against them but they sent vnto him Ambassadours to intreate for peace When the Emperour sawe that they were but a naughtie people hee was moued with excessiue anger whereby he procured the ruptuâ—…e of some arters or vaines whereupoÌ„ followed great effusion of blood And so he himselfe died leauing behind him two sons Gratianus whose mother was Seuera and Valentinian the second whose mother was Iustina Gratianus Valentinianus the second and Theodosius GRATIANUS the sonne of Valentinian after the death of Valens his fathers brother had the gouernament both of West and East His brother Valentinian the second was his associate in the gouernement of the West But when hee perceiued that the weightie affaires of the kingdome required the fellowship of a man who was ripe in yeeres hee choosed Theodosius a man of Noble parentage in Spaine to whom hee committed the gouernement of the East contenting himselfe and his brother Valentinian with the gouernement of the West Gratianus in the beginning of his reigne reduced from banishment those Bisshops whom the Arrian Persecuter Valens had banished Hee was slaine by Andragathius Captaine of the armie of Maximus who usurped the Empire of the West This Andragathius not by valour and might but by circumuention falshood and treason ouerthrew the good Emp. Gratian for he made a report to passe in Lions where the Emp. Gratian had his remaining that his wife was comming to visite him and he in simplicitie went foorth to meete his wife beyond the riuer of Rhonne but Andragaâ—…hius who was couertly lurking in a chariot stepped out and slewe Gratianus after he had reigned with his father with his brother and with Theodosius 15. yeeres His brother Valentinian young in yeeres was seduced by the intising speeches of his mother Iustina after the death of her husband in whose dayes she durst not presume to auow the Arrian Heresie yet after his death she intised the flexible minde of her sonne to persecute Ambrose Bishop of Millane because hee would not consent to the Arriane doctrine The zeale of the people affectioned to their faithfull Pastor hindered the cruell purposes of Iustina Likewise the miracle wrought at the sepulchres of Protasius and Geruasius opened the mouthes of the people to glorifie GOD and to magnifie that Faith which Protasius and Geruasius had sealed vp with their blood these holie men of GOD were martyred in the second great Persecution moued by the Emp. Domitian The dolorous tithinges of the death of Gratianus and the neere approaching of the tyrant Maximus to Italie compelled Iustina to leaue the persecuting of Ambrose to fly to Illyâ—… for safety of her own life her sons life Theodosius being mindfull of the kindnes of Gratianus toward him led an army against the tyrant Maximus The captains of Maximus armie terrified with the rumor of he might of Theodosius armie deliuered him bound into the haÌ„ds of Theodosius he was justly punished vnto the death Andragathius who slew the Em. Gâ—…atian as said is seeing no way to escape threw himselfe headlonges into a riuer so ended his wretched life About the same time Iustina the mother of Valent. the II. she died her son was peaceably possessed in his kingdome Theodosius returned to the east againe But within few dayes he was compelled to gather a new army fight against the tyrant Eugenius his chiefe captaine A bogastus who had conspired against Valent. the II. strangled him while he was lying in his bed This battel went hardly at the beginning but Theodosius had his recourse to GOD by prayer the LORD sent a mighty tempest of winde which blew so vehemently in the face of Eugenius army that their dartes were ramueâ—…sed and turned backe by the violence of the winde in their owne faces Of which miraculous support sent from aboue the Poëâ—… Claudian writes these Verses O nimium dilecte Deo cui fundit ab antris Eolus armatas hiemes cui militat ather Et conjurati veniunt ad classica ventâ—… The tyrant Eugenius fell downe at the feete of Theodosius to beg pardon but the souldiours pursued him so straâ—…tly that they slew him at the Emp. feete Arbogastus the author of al this mischiefe hee fled being out of all hope of safetie slew himselfe Like as there was no sacrifice wherein dung was not fouÌ„d eueÌ„ so the life actions of this noble Emp. was spotted with some infirmities Against the inhabitants of
the Church in the Councill of Sardica but Photinus was deposed at the Council of Sirmium and banished by the Em. Constantius Neuerthelesse after his deposition banishment he continued obstinately in his errour wrote bookes both in Latine Greeke in defence of his Heresie whereby his name became infamous and he was counted the author of this Heresie Audaus was a man of Syria vnder the reigne of Valentinian and his brother Valens Hee published an errour That GOD was like vnto the similitude of a mans bodie This errour hee conceiued through wrong vnderstaÌ„ding of the words of Scripture wherein it is saide Let vs make man in our owne Image according to our likenesse With this errour many vnlearned Aegyptian Monkes were intangled They pretended great innocencie and chastitie in thier liues and separated themselues from the societie of the Church couering their impietie with this pretext that they saw usurers and vncleane persons tolerated in the Church About this time saith Theodoretus that is in the dayes of Valentinianus and Valens sprang vp the Heresie of Messaliani Albeit this name bee vnquoth yet the Greeke names giuen vnto this Heresie are more significatiue they were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 becâ—…use they counted prayer the onely exercise necessary to the children of GOD euen as if a man could talke with GOD by prayer before he hath first heard GOD talking with him by the preaching of the Word Likewise they were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is men rauished in the spirite after long continuance in prayer When they were transported and out of their wits then they supposed that the holy spirit was sensibly infused into them whereby their bodies were made free of all perturbations and their soules were auerted from all inclination to euill in such sort that they had no need of fasting to subdue their bodies nor of Doctrine to restraine the disordered affections of their soules This pestilent Heresie was ouerspred in many places but it was mightily suppressed by Letoius B. of Meletina Amphilochius B. of Iconium in Lycaonia and Flaviaenus B. of Antiochia who with great dexteritie drew out a Confession out of the mouth of Adelphius an aged man and a propagator of this Heresie in Edessa This Heresie albeit it had many patrones such as Dadoes Sabas Adâ—…lphius Hermas Simeones yet from none of them it receiued the name but rather from the actions and passions whereunto they inclined Apollinaris bishop of Laodicea in Syria gloried in the quickenesse of his ingine and delited to make contradiction to euery thing that any man coulde speake and so it came to passe as Ruffinus writeth Heresim ex contentione generauit that is to say Through contention he procreated an Heresie affirming that in the dispensation of CHRISTES Incarnation hee assumed the body of a man onely but not the soule of a man because his diuinitie supplied the place of his soule And when hee was argued by euident places of SCRIPTURE that CHRIST in his humane nature was a perfect man hauing not onely a body but also the soule of a man as when he said His soule was heauie vnto the death lest he should haue seemed to bee vtterly conuinced and ouercome hee confessed that CHRISTES bodie was quickned with a natural life but the diuinitie of CHRIST was in place of a reasonable soule This Heresie was damned in Councils conueened at Rome Alexandria and Constantinople He augmented the schisme at Antiochia where there had bene alreadie three factions to wit Eustatiani Meletiani and Pauliniani Now Apollinaris dwelling in Laodicea a towne of Syria neere approaching to Antiochia hee was the author of the fourth faction In the dayes of Iulian he compiled histories of Scripture in Greeke Poesie In the dayes of Valentinian and Gratian he defended his Heresie In the dayes of the Emp. Theodosius he concluded his life His sonne in name learning and bad use of excellent gifts was like vnto his father Vitalius presbyter in Antiochia was a serious defender of the Heresie of Apollinaris in so much that the followers of Apollinaris were called Vitaliani Donatus was a Bishop in Numidia who contended with vnsupportable hatred against Cecilianus B. of Carthage challenging him that hee had receiued ordination from Foelix Altungensis who was proditor that is who in time of persecution had deliuered the booke of holy Scripture to bee brunt or as others say because hee admitted to an Ecclesiasticall office a Deacon who had committed the like faule The cause of Cecilianus was oftagitat before the Councill of Carthage before Miltiades B of Rome before the Councill of Arles and by the Emp. Coustantine but the Donatistes at all times succumbed in probation Therefore they were enraged because they coulde not accomplish their wicked designes against Cecilianus and they fell from the unitie of the Church Inucterate schismes oft times turne to Heresies So the Donatistes in end were defenders of Hereticall opinions namely that the Catholicke Church was no where els to be found but onely in that corner of Africke whereinto they themselues dwelt and that Baptisine was not effectuall except it had beene ministred by one of their societie Of all the branches of this Heresie Circumcelliones was the most reprobate branch a people cruell and sauage not onely against others but also against themselues throwing themselues headlonges from high places or casting themselues in fire and water and this sort of death they countâ—…d Marâ—…yrdome The diuersitie of names wherewith this Heresie was pointed out clearely declares that the Donatistes wanted not a great number of fauourers for they were called Parmeniani Rogatistae Cirtenses and Maximianistae Against this Heresie and the Heresie of the Pelagians August B. of Hippo contended with mightie grace as likewise against the Heresie of the Manicheans whereinto he had beene nursed himselfe Collyridiani were a sort of superstitious people who worshipped the Virgine Marie the mother of our LORD with diuine adoration and with baking little pasties which in the Greeke language are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which they offered to the Virgine Marie as to the Queene of Heauen Epiphanius counts them Heretiques because the Virgine Marie albeit shee bee a blessed woman yet is shee not GOD. Manie late Heresies are nothing els but a renewing of old decayed Heresies Such was the Heresie of Priscillianus a man of Noble birth in Spaine verie eloquent rich temperate with great show of humilitie who easilie insinuated himselfe in the fauour of the people In his youth he was inclined to Magical Arts and renewed the filthie Heresie of Gnostici who disallowed Marriage and commended fornication Some bishops of Spaine were entangled with this Heresie such as Iustantius Salvianus and Helpidius whom Adygimus Bishop of Corduba damned in a Councill gathered at Caesar-augusta This was done in the dayes of the Emp. Gratianus and Valentinian The
are transported with incertainetie of doubtfull opinions so that albeit they bee met together to settle others in the certainetie of the true Faith yet they themselues are so wauering minded that they can neuer bee at rest Like as the Arrians not content with the summe of Faith set downe at Nice assembled themselues many times set downe 9. diuers formes of Faith as Socrates recordeth yet coulde they neuer agree vpon one certaine forme of Faith which they woulde not alter Likew◅se in the affaires of Discipline so great discrepance of opinion was founde that neither Councill agreede with Councill nor Bishop with Bishop nor yet Bishops with Councils The Councill of Ancyra thought expedient for order taking with those who had sacrificed vnto Idoles in time of persecution that vnto Bishops should bee adjoined Chorepiscopi that is Countrey Bishops or Landward Bishops to whom they gaue not power to ordaine Elders and Deacons but onely Readers and Subdeacons Damasus Bishop of Rome coulde not agree to this subordinate order of Bishops called Chorepiscopi The Councils of Neocaesarea Antiochia liked of this forme of gouernament Other Councils in not making mention of this name declared their misliking so that this abuse likewise of diuersity of opinions frequently altered both in Doctrine and Discipline impaired much the authoritie of Councils Before I declare who hath power to conuocate Generall Nationall Councils something is to bee premitted concerning the assemblies vpon the LORDS holy Sabboths These assemblies of all other were counted moste holy in so much that when the Princes of the people of Israel were to conueene with Moses to consult concerning matters of ciuil gouernament they were warned so to doe by the blowing of one of the siluer trumpets onely but when both the siluer trumpets did blowe then the people were warned to conueene at the doore of the Tabernacle for the exercise of diuine seruice which as it was of all Conuentions most holy so in like maner it was foresignisied in most solemne maner These holy meetinges were warranded by the LORDES expresse commandement Remember the Sabboth day to keepe it holy c. And in the new Testament Christians hauing receiued power to meete together in CHRISTES Name with promise that CHRIST woulde bee amongst them they conueened secretely to the hearing of the worde and ministration of the Sacramentes albeit they were most straitely inhibited so to doe by the Edictes of persecuting Tyrantes and these who were comprehended and put to death for their conuentions profession they died Holy Martyres how soeuer the Pagans did put them to death as traitors because they disobeyed the Emperours commandement both in their conuentions and profession Yet this ground beeing once laide that they died Holy Martyrs it wil follow that Christians haue power to conucene to heare the worde preached especially vpon the LORDES day albeit all the Princes of the worlde woulde forbid them to meete And this libertie granted by CHRIST and sealed vp by the blood of innumerable martyrs Confirmed also by the lawes of Christian Princes euer since the reigne of Constantine it will continue vnto the blessed appearance of the LORD IESUS to judge the world albeit all the enemies of the Gospell of CHRIST shoulde grinde their teeth and fret against this libertie These fore-saide weekely conuentions are necessarie at all times and in all ages euen albeit there were no H◅retique nor Scismatique in the worlde to diuert people from the trueth of GOD because euen the best of vs all is but like vnto a barren husbandrie that hath neede continually to bee dressed and laboured and watered with the streames of the riuers of the Sanctuarie of our GOD lest wee wither in the barrennesse of a corrupt nature But Councils Generall or Nationall are not necessarie at all times but onely when the peace of the Church is troubled with Heresie and Schisme or an uniuersall ouer-spreading scab of corrupt maners and at such times it is meete that Pastors acquaint the supreame Magistrate with the danger who hath not neede at all times to conuocate a Councill except the maladie that hee would rem◅die be vnsupportable After this wise forme of dealing did Constantine send Osius Bishop of Corduba to Aegypt to see if by his trauels the Heresie and Schisme springing vp in Alexandria could bee timously suppressed but when the good Emperour sawe that this Gangrene dayly increased then there was no remedie but to gather a Generall Councill for suppressing of Heresie and for keeping of intestine peace into the Church of CHRIST Now to proue that Nationall and Generall Councils ought to bee gathered by Monarches and Princes In the olde Testament the great Conuentions at Carmell Silo and Mizpeh were assembled by Princes and the assembly conueened at Mizpeh by Samuel hee gathered it as a ciuill Gouernor of the land and not in so farre as hee was a Prophet for as yet Saul was not allowed by the people to bee king The Conuention appointed at Gilgal was with the expresse consent and allowance of King Saul who was also personally present at that Assemblie In the new Testament the assembly of the Apostles at Hierusalem albeit it was gathered without the knowledge and allowance of the Emperour Cluadius in whose time it was assembled Yet the Apostles had such extraordinary warrandes of the Spirite such extraordinary giftes and their painefull trauels fell in such an extraordinary time when there was no Christian Magistrate fauouring the Gospel that hee who furnished vnto them courage to preach without libertie granted vnto them by Princes furnished also courage and grace vnto them to meete at Hierusalem for the well of the Church without the fore-knowledge and allowance of the Emperour Claudius But thinges done extraordinarily leane vnto their owne extraordinary warrandes and are no impediment to vs to proceede and to speake of thinges that are ordinary And it is to be noted that euen during the time of the 10. Persecutions Christians neglected not to seeke the support of Emperours against Heretiques whē it could be obtained as clearelie appeareth by the ninth Persecuting Emperour Aurelian who with his ciuil authority assisted the Synode of Antiochia against Samosatenus as hath beene declared in the thirde CENTURIE and the Church had craued the support of the Emperours authoritie to that effect From the dayes of the Emperour Constanti◅e vntill the yeere of our LORD 1215. the Emperours were in use to conuocate Councils But Innocentius the thirde to whose tuterie Fredericke the seconde was recommended by his father Henrie the sixt more like to the successour of Iudas then the successour of Peter made Otto Duke of Saxon Emperour in prejudice of Fredericke vntill the spirit of dissention fell betwixt Otto and Pope Innocentius the thirde Then was Otto excommunicated and the Empire was giuen to Fredericke the seconde to whom it rightly belonged Notwithstanding Pope Innocentius tooke vpon him boldnes to
lying narration with lying miracles wrought at the sepulchres of Iosâ—…phat some time King of India and Barlaam an Eremite whose bones hee alleadgeth were transported by King Baracbias out of the Wildernesse into the Countrey of India but I leaue Damascene lying and I proceede Vnder the shadowe and coloure of all this counterfeit glorie aboue mentioned from the sixe hundreth yeere of our LORD vntill our owne time horrible abominations hath beene hatched so farre surpassing the defections preceeding the sixe and seuenth hundreth yeere of our LORD as the darknes of the winter night goeth beyonde the darkenesse of the summer night Beside the doctrine of Images where of Monkes were the principall authors yea and Paulus Cyprius before hee coulde procure the gathering of the second Councill of Nice entred into a Monastrie as it were into the shop and office house of Sathan and with his vntimous sorrowing moued the Empresse Jrene to gather the Councill fore-saide But beside this I say Monks were the first forgers of the doctrine of Transsubstantiation for Damascene expreâ—…ely writeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the very Bread and Wine are changed into the Bodie and Blood of the LORD And againe he saieth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the Bread and the Wine are not a figure of the Bodie and Blood of CHRIST but the verie Dei-fied Bodie of our LORD This errour was receiued dispersed and propagated the more willingly in Monastries because it was forged by the braine of a Monke Likewise the doctrine of the merite of mens workes cuen such workes as are superstitious and not commanded in the Law of GOD This doctrine I say as a banner displaide against the merites of the sufferings of CHRIST it was chiefely spred out in Monastries wherein the grand our of great and legible letters made their opinion knowne to the worlde ORDO SERVAT US DUCIT AD VIT AM that is The keeping of order to wit Monasticke rules leadeth to life Other points of erronious corrapt doctrine where of they are not the first inuenters they are the principall propagators of them as namely prayer for the dead and the opinion of purgatorie these errours inuented of old had died out long agoe as the fires of Aetna and Vesuvius haue done if that the fables of Monkes dayly renewed had not beene like vnto fewell intertaining the flame of foolish opinions The vilde and vnchaste conuersation of the Monkes from the sixe hundreth yeere of our LORD vntill our time he who vndertaketh to describe it vndertaketh an â—…nnecessarie worke as they did who of olde commended Hâ—…rcules whom no man did 〈◊〉 euen so they who presume to describe the vnchastitie of Monastries and Nunneries they spend time in vaine to prouâ—… that thinâ—… which no man can denie yea and their owne speaches contâ—…ine a confession oâ—… the Guiltines of vnchaste liuing When any of their number is dâ—…prehended in whoredoâ—…e and aduâ—…rie they do not aggre gâ—… thâ—… fault as a shame and dishonouâ—… done vnto their holy Order but rather extenuâ—…e the horrour of sinne saving it is better to bee a secrete whore-monger than an open Heretique The commendation that the Poet Nigellus giueth to the Nunnes of the Gilbertine order in our neighbour Countrey is but slender namely this that when they were aged they left off bearing of children This Order began in ENGLAND ANNO 1140. The Monkes and Nunnes of our owne Countrey where they were best knowne they were worst liked and â—…hey might haue suffered a triall of anie persons except of neighbours and such as knew them well In other Countreyes albeit the turpitude of an vnchaste life was couered with lesse transparent vailes alwayes GOD is like vnto himselfe and hee hateth the workers of iniquitie Let S. Adonei a Monke of Rowâ—…m bee an examplarie type of the maners of manie others when hee fell ouer the bridge in the night time and drowned in the water of Seane the good and euill Angels stroue for his soule because it was to bee doubted whether his foote-steps led to the Church or to his harlot And in ende the decision of this controuersie was referred to RICHARD Duke of Normandie It appeareth by this fable inuented by Normand Monkes that their purpose was not only to excuse the villanie of Adonei and to count him a Saint but also to encourage themselues to lasciuiousnesse because the good Angels woulde striue for the soule of a villane who was cled with an holie Monkish habite and at last the decision of the controuersie must bee referred to some mortall man not vnlike vnto Paris who was more fauourabiie inclined to Venus then hee was either to Iâ—…no or Minerva Now it is time to speake of the multiplied number of the orders of Monkes not to make a perfect reherâ—…all of them but to let the Reader vnderstand that the woride groned vnder the charge of an importable burthen which neither were they willing to shake off nor able to beare it Ouer and beside the multiplied number of the branches of the Augustine and Benedictine Orders aboue specified other Orders also sprang vp such as the order of the Charterus Monkes where of Brâ—… a man bo ne iâ—… Colne was the author ANNO 1080. It is rumored that a certaine man in Paris died who was renowned for the honestie of an vnreproueable life notwithstanding after his death in audience of the people who were assembled to performe the last funerall duetie to him hee sate vp in the bire and vttered terrible wordes that hee was accused and in the righteous judgement of GOD condemned Bruno was present and heard these tragicall wordes and saide vnto the people If so bee that this man bee condemned it is not possible that any man can bee saued except hee renounce the worlde And so being accompanied with a few followers he went into a Wildernesse neâ—…re to Gratianopolis and was the author of a new Order of the Charterus Monkes whose continuall abstinence from flesh vnmanerly silence and purging with fire the footesteps of women was in their opinion a renouncing of the world If this bee true the people of Aethiopia called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 haue renounced the worlde and are neerer to the Kingdome of GOD then the Charterus Monkes By the like Diabolicall inuention the Order of Catherina de Senis was found out ANNO 1455. The marks of CHRISTS sufferinges the spousing Ring shee receiued from CHRIST with foure pretious Pearles of inestimable value the emptying her body of her owne heart to the ende the heart of CHRIST might bee thrust in place of it What are all these forgeries but as the filthie exhalation of a stirred mire of vncleanenesse yet are these fables published to the worlde in that booke laden with lies called Chronica Chronicorum yea and this woman was canonized by Pope Pius the seconde ANNO 1470. And the Order of S. Catherene was receiued amongst other holy orders Hospitalarii Templarii Teutonici gladiatores
he was banished Seuerus a notable Eutychian heretique was placed in his roome this is he of whom I haue mentioned diuers times that Alamundarus prince of Saracens deluded his messengers and sent them backe ashamed and confounded The next attempt was against Helias B. of Ierusalem against whom this quarrell was forged that he would not subscribe the Synodicke letters of Seuerus and damne the Council of Chalcedone and by the Emperours commandement Olympius his captaine came to Ierusalem expelled Helias and placed Iohn a familiar friend of Seuerus in his roome This Iohn by the perswasion of Sabas a Monke of Palestina forsooke the fellowship of Severus was cast into prison by Anastatius the Emperours captaine but when he was brought foorth out of prison againe he disappointed the expectation of Anastatius the captaine for hee openly auouched the foure generall Councills and anathematised the followers of Arrius Macedonius Nestorius and Eutyches In doing whereof he was mightily assisted both by the people and the Monks so that Anastatius the Emperours captaine fearing popular commotion fled and returned againe to the Emperour but Severus B. of Antiochia moued with wrath against the Monks of Syria set vpon them slew 300. of them gaue their carcases to the foules of the heauen and the beastes of the earth such mercie was and is to bee found in headstrong heretiques In all this desolation the courage of Cosmas B. of Epiphania and Severianus Bishop of Arethusa is to be admired who wrote a booke conteining a sentence of deposition of Severus B. of Antiochia which booke Aurelianus a deacon of Epiphania clad in a womans apparrell deliuered vnto him in Antiochia and afterward conueyed himselfe away secretly The Emperour was highly offended against Cosmas and Severianus and he wrote to Asiaticus gouernour of Phoenitia that he should eiect them out of their places but when answere was returned to the Emperour that it could not be done without blood the Emperour left off further pursuing of them Many counted Anastatius a peaceable Emperour because he would haue setled controuersies in the Church as ciuile controuersies at some times are settled namely by a lawe of obliuion but there is no capitulation betwixt darknes light but darknes must yeelde vnto the light of GOD. In Africke moe than 900. were crowned with martyrdome vnder the reigne of Anastatius as the Magd. historie recordeth out of the first booke of Regino de Anastatio Platina writteth that he was slaine with thunder Justinus the elder AFTER Anastatius succeeded Iustinus a godly Emperour and gouerned nine yeeres 3. dayes Hee restored the Bishoppes whome Anastatius had banished Hee banished also Arrian bishoppes who were found within his dominions Severus bishop of Antiochia a vilde Eutychian heretique and a bloody Foxe hee displaced and caused him to be punished by cutting out his tongue as some affirme Theodoricus King of Gothes obtaining dominion in Italie persecuted true Christians with great hostilitie and sent ambassadours to the Emperour Justinus to restore the Arrian bishoppes whome hee had banished else hee would persue the bishoppes who were in Italâ—…e with all kinde of rigour And because the ambassadours returned not backe againe with such expedition as he expected hee put hand to worke and slewe two noble Senatours Symmachus and Boâ—…tius Likewise when the ambassadours were returned he cast in prison Ivannes Tuscus Bishop of Rome and his companions whom he had before imployed to goe in message to the Emperour Iustinus The bishop of Rome died in prison for lacke of sustentation but the LORD suffered not this barbarous cruelty of Theodoricus to be long vnpunished for the LORD strake him with madnesse of minde so that when he was sitting at table and the head of a great fish was set before him he imagined it was the head of Symmachus whome hee had slaine and was so stupified with feare that incontinent after he died In the dayes of this Emperour Iustinus was a terrible earthquake the like whereof hath not bene heard at any time before wherewith the towne of Antiochia was shaken vtterly ruined With the earthquake fire was mixed consuming resoluing into ashes the remnant of the towne which the earthquake had not cast downe In this calamitie Euphrasius B. of Antiochia perished The good Emperour mourned for the desolation of Aâ—…tiochia put on sackcloth on his body was in great heauinesse whereof it is supponed that hee contracted that disease whereof he died When hee found his disease dayly increasing he made choose of Iustinian his sisters sonne to bee his collegue who gouerned foure moneth in coniunct authoritie with his vncle and then Iuslinus ended his course Justinianus AFTER the death of Iustinus Iustinianus his sisters sonne gouerned 38. yeeres He would suffer no faith to be openly prosessed except the faith alowed in the foure general Councills Notwithstanding the Emprice Theodora his wife was a fauourer of Eutyches heresie This Emperour was bent to recouer all that was lost by his predecessours in Asia Africke Europe he had a good successe through the vertue valour of his captaines especially Belisarius Narses Belisarius first sought against the Persians who had ouercome not onely Mesopotamia but also many parts of Syria Antrochena Caua He ouercame them in battell compelled them to go backe beyond Euphrates Next he was employed to fight against the Uandales in Africke who possessed a great boundes of the Romane dominion euer since the dayes of Gensericus King of Vandales And it is to be marked that the time is now come whereinto the LORD will declare that the blood of his Sainctes is precious in his eyes For since the daies of Dioclesian that bloody persecuting Emperour no race of people persecuted GODS Saincts with so barbarous crueltie as the Vandales did for zeale they had to the Arrian heresie wherewith they were infected After Gensericus Hunericus and Amalaricus and Trasimundus who closed the doores of the Temples of Christians and banished their bishops to Sardinia Childericus would haue shewed some fauour to Christians reduced their bishops from banishment for this cause the Vandales did slay him gaue his Kingdome to Gillimer Now the LORD remembred the grones of his own prisoners wold not suffer the rod of the wicked perpetually to lye vpon the lot of the righteous Belisarius fought against the Vandales prosperously recouered Carthage al the bounds pertaining to the Romane Empire possessed by the Vandales Also he tooke Gillimer their King caried him captiue to Constantinople It is worthy of remembrance that Iustinian would not receiue into his treasure the vessels of golde which the Emp. Titus when hee burnt the Temple of Ierusalem transported to Rome These same vessels Gensericus King of Vandales when hee spoyled Rome transported to Carthage Belisarius after he had conquessed Carthage againe he brought them to Constantinople but Iustinian sent them to
full of pride and he followed the footsteps of Joannes Cappadox and would bee called vniuersall bishoppe against whome Gregorius 1. contended mightily euen as Lactantius of olde contended against the Pagans impugning the error more mightily than solidly confirming the trueth It is supponed that he ministred 13. yeeres vnder the Emperour Mauritius To whom succeeded Cyriacus Patriarches of Alexandria AFTER Iohn called Tabennesiota succeeded another Iohn who kept the true faith and was banished by Anastatius because he would not damne the Councill of Chalcedone To John succeeded Theodosius an obstinate defender of the errour of Eutyches He was familiarly acquainted with Severus of Antiochia and Anthimus of Constantinople whereby the miserie of these dayes may bee easily espied whereinto three notable heretiques gouerned principall townes such as Constantinople Alexandria and Antiochia He was so obstinate in his errour that he was rather content to be banished vnder the reigne of Iustinian than to renounce his errour After him succeeded Zoilus and after him Appollinarius who was present at the fift generall Councill To whome succeeded Eulogius and after him Petrus who ministred vnder the reigne of Mauritius Patriarches of Antiochia AFTER Palladius succeeded Flavianus who suffered great troubles for the true faith namely by the cruell persecution of the Emperour Anastatius and the calumnies of Xenaeas B. of Hierapoâ—…is a stranger indeed from the couenant of GOD as his name importeth for hee blamed Flavianus most vniustly of the heresie of Nestorius but when Flavianus both by worde and write had cleared himselfe of that calumnie the malice of Xenaeas ceased not for he brought with him to Antiochia a great number of Monkes to compell Flavianus to abiure the Councill of Chalcedone The towne supported their bishop against a raskall number of seditious and hereticall Monkes Notwithstanding the Emperour Anastatius infected with the heresie of Euâ—…yches counted Flavianus who was most vniustly persecuted to be the author of this tumult and banished him and placed Severus in his roome The Emperour Iustinus the elder displaced Severus and punished him and appointed Paulus to be bishop of Antiochia To Paulus succeeded Euphrasius who died in that feareful calamitie of the towne of Antiochia when it was shaken and ouerthrowne with earthquake as Evagrius witnesseth Euphraimius was a ciuile gouernour in the East parts who pitied the decayed estate of the towne of Antiochia furnished all necessarie things for the repairing of the towne of Antiochia for which cause the people was so affectioned to him that they would haue him to bee their bishop So Euphraimius becomes bishoppe of Antiochia or Theopolis for at this time it had both thâ—…se names Evagrius writeth that hee vndertooke the charge of the Apostolicke chaire in which wordes it is manifest that not onely the chaire of Rome but also the chaire of Antiochia was called the Apostolicke chaire The towne of Antiochia at this time was taken by Cosroes King of Persia set on fire and many of thâ—… people were cruelly slaine Euphraâ—…us their bishop at this time left the towne a perilous example except the people had beene in safetie and he onely persecuted yet he left behinde him so much as might redeeme all the Church goods AFTER Eâ—…phraimius followed Domnius And after him Anastatius He ministred vnder the Emperour Iustinian at what time the â—…mperour fell into the errour of them who saide that our LORD IESVS in his very conception adioyned vnto his diuine natâ—…e an immortal body which was subiect to no humane infiâ—…mities Anastatius opponed himselfe to the Emperours opinion the bishops followed Anastatius not the Emperour for this cause Iustinian was purposed to haue banished him but he escaped this trouble by the Emperours death Neuerthelesse hâ—…e was banished by Iustinus the younger for some alleadged cause of dilapidation of Church-gooods and Gregorius was placed in his roome Gregorius ministred in Antiochia 23. yeeres vnder Justinus 2. Tiberius and Mauritius hee was in great account with Mauritius to whome he foretolde that he would be promoted to the Imperiall dignitie And Mauritius imployed him in great and weightie businesse such as in pacifying the tumult of his armie which made insurrection against Germanus their captaine Also hee sent him ambassadour to Cosroes King of Persia who was astonied at the grace that was in his speaches Notwithstanding he was accused by Asterius a Deputie of the East of the filthie sinne of incest but he cleared his owne innocencie so euidently that his accuser was with ignominie scourged and banished Hee died of the gowtes infirmitie after his death Anasiatius whome Iustinus banished for dilapidation of Church-goods beeing yet aliue was restored to his owne place againe To whom succeeded Euphemius Patriarches of Jerusalem AFTER MARTYRIVS succeeded HELIAS a feruent defender of the true faith Neither would hee condescend to the banishment of EVPHEMIVS bishop of Constantinople nor to the admission of Severus to be bishop of Antiochia therefore the Emperour Anastatius banished him To him succeeded Iohn of whose politicke dealing in circumueening Anastatius the Emperours captaine I haue sufficiently declared in the preceeding historie To John succeeded Peter after him Macarius after Macarius Eustochius who impugned the bookes of Origen draue out of his bounds the Monks of Nova Laura defenders of the opinions of Origen Theodorus Ascidas B. of Caesarea in Cappadocia tooke this in an euill part The Emperour Iustinian caused a generall Councill to bee gathered at Constantinople whereinto not only the bookes of Origen were damned but also Theodorus himselfe the defender of them This displeased the Emperour Iustinian because hee loued Theodorus dearely therefore hee procured that Eustochius B. of Ierusalem should be remooued and Macarius restored againe After whome succeeded Ioannes Neamus and Isieius In this Centurie whereas I pretermit the names of other Pastors and Doctors in the Church I haue done it vpon this consideration I find in this Centurie that by the irruption of barbarous people such as the Gothes Uandales Hunnes Auares Schythians Lombards youth was hindred from studies many memorable bookes were burnt ancient languages were vtterly spoyled learning was greatly diminished flatterie of preuailing powers increased ambition in the West heresie in the East turned the estate of the Church vpside downe so that scarcely could men of good giftes and keeping integritie of faith be furnished vnto the principall Apostolick chaires Now after a maner the sunne is going downe the shadowes waxe great the darknes approacheth the Antichrist is at the doore worthy to bee welcomed with darknesse and decay of knowledge What shall I now write of other Pastors and Doctors shall I followe the foolish conceates of Historiographers in whose opinion the gift of miracles increased when the gift of knowledge decayed but the contraâ—…e is knowne by Scripture that the holy Apostles whome CHRIST induced
politique others in the opinion of ignorant people were so deuote and holie that miracles were wrought by their handes and at their sepulchres namelie lying miracles aduancing the kingdome of the Antichrist The most remarkeable Bishops of Rauenna in this CENTVRIE were Theodorus Reparatus and Foelix all of contrarie dispositions so flat opposite one to another as possible could be Theodorus was teâ—…rible and couetous and when hee sawe that hee was despised by the people and Clergie being 〈◊〉 of reuenge hee betrayed the libertie of the Churâ—…h of Rauenna in the dayes of Pope Donus Reparatus being ignorant of that which â—…eodorus had done and finding tâ—…e Church of Rauenna subjected to the chaire of Rome for vâ—…rie heart griefe incontinent hee ended his life Foelâ—…x refused to paye vnto Pope Constantine the summe of money which he demanded as a testimonie of subjection For this cause Pope Constantâ—…e desired support from the Emperour Iustinian the second for subduing the Bish. of Rauenna Foelix on the other part hearing that the Emperours armie was approching to Rauenna for the cause aforesaid he instigated the people to fight for the liberty of their Church Both the armies faught with martiall courage In ende the Emperours armie preuailed the Towne of Rauenna was taken manie were slaine others were carried captiue to Constantinople the eyes of Foelix were put out the rest were banished to Bithynia What can bee found in this historie but pride on the one part ambiciouslie seeking superioritie and on the other part policie sometimes yeelding sometimes despairing and sometimes with bellicous hardinesse presuming to pleade a spirituall cause with weapons of a corporall warre-fare In this CENTVRIE manie miracles are attributed to persons whome the people counted to be deuote Ioannes Bishop of Bergomum in Lombardie was a man of so great reuerent account that Princes were wont by rising out of their Thrones to doe honour vnto him It happened vpon a time that hee reprooued Ivnipertvs king of LOMBARDIS freelie and sharpelie in time of a banquet IVNIPERTVS willing to bee reuenged of him prouided that hee should bee sent home vpon a strong fierce and loftie horse which was accustomed to cast the ryders and to teare and lacerate them But when the bishop of BERGOMVM was mounted vpon him hee left his fiercenesse and carried him peaceablie and calmelie vnto his owne house IOANNES AGNVS bishop of WTRECHT in whose hand a piece of drie timber budded and flourished yet was hee an idiote and an vnlearned man REMACLVS bishop of the same Towne and borne in Bourâ—… of FRANCE left his Episcopall office and went to the Wâ—…ldernesse where hee ledde an Heremiticall life defending his insolent fact by the example of MOSES ABRAHAM HELIAS HELISEVS and CHRIST himsâ—…lse who were all found to haue beene in the Wildernesse But if he had beene a man of deâ—…pe vnderstanding hee might haue alledged more pertinentlie the example of NARCISSVS bishop of IERVSALEM who in going to the Wildernesse foâ—… sooke his Episcopall office for a time than the example of CHRIST who went vnto the Wildernesse to enter into the holie office of Preaching after preparation of fasting praying and fighting with spirituall armour against the prince of Darknesse Notwithstanding hee is thought both in his life time and also after his leath to haue wrought miracles In AVSTVME a Towne of FRANCE called in Latine Augustodunum LEODEGARIVS is thought to haue reteined his voyce and the benefite of distinct speaking after that his tongue was cut out and that manie miraculous works were wrought after his death if credite can bee giuen to VINCENTIVS The miracles of ANDOENVS bishop of ROWEN who also writ a booke of the miraculous deliuerance of the soule of DAGOBERTVS King of FRANCE and an infinite number of other lying miracles all confirming superstition of purpose I leaue them as fables superaboundant in the writings of VINCENTIVS Concerning ISIDORVS HISPALENSIS occasion will bee offered to speake of him in the sixt Councell of Tolido The vaine disputation concerning the diuersitie of the keeping of EASTER daye in SCOTLAND and ENGLAND betwixt COLMANNVS and WVILFRIDVS it is as vnnecessary to be written as it was vnnecessary with heat and contention to haue bene disputed CHAP. III. OF HERESIES IN this age partlie through the malice of Sathan and partlie through the power of the wrath of GOD punishing the contempt of his trueth Heresies did mightilie abound for the heresie of Arrius beganne to reuiue againe and manie of the Kinges of Lombardis were addicted vnto it in speciall Rhotaris the sonne of Arioaldus who appointed that in euerie Towne of Lombardie there should be two Bishops hauing equall authoritie the one a Catholique bishop the other an Arrian In Scotland and England the heresie of Pelagius was renewed as Bedâ—… testifieth The Monkes of Syria propagated the heresie of Nestorius as Platina recordeth in the life of Donus the first The heresies of Seueritae Aphartodotitae Momphysitae Acephali Theopafcitae Iacobitae Armenii all were Eutychian heretiques differing one from another in some ceremonies in absurditie of speaches in authors whome they principally admired and followed in places where the heresie chiefelie increased in their carriage Likewise Staurolatrae were Eutychian heretiques but the worshipping of the Crosse was a note distinguishing them from other heretiques of their owne opinion Priscillianistae were heretiques who borrowed absurd opinions from Samosatenus and Photinus from Cerdon and Marcion and from the Manicheans but all these auncient erroures were sufficientlie refuted in auncient times The heresie of the Monothelites was a branch of the heresie of â—…tyches by a secretâ—… and craftie connoye insinuating it selfe in credite againe after it was condemned in the Councell of Chalcedon The authors of this heresie were Sergius Pyrrhus and Paulus Patriarches of Constantinople and Macarius Patriarch of Antiochia Cyrus Patriarch of Alexandria Petrus bishop of Nicomedia with manie others They denied not directlie the two natures of CHRIST personallie vnited but onlie they affirmed that after the vnion of the two natures there was onlie one will and one opeâ—…tion in CHRIST Whereas the holie Scriptures attribute vnto CHRIST as Hee is man the action of sleeping and to CHRIST in respect of His diuine nature the action of compescing and calming the rage and stormie tempest of blowing windes and swelling Seas This heresie was damned in the sixt generall Councell as wee shall heare God willing in the owne place CHAP. IIII. OF COVNCELS IN the yeere of our LORD 607. and vnder the reigne of the Empâ—…rour Phocas a Councell was assembled at Rome of sâ—…uentie and two Bishops thirtie Presbyters and three Deâ—…cons In this Councell the priuiâ—…edge of supremacie giuen by Phocaâ—… to the Romane Church was published Likewise it was ordained vnder paine of cursing That during the life-time of a Bishop no man should talke of the election of another That no man by largition of money should purchase vnto himselfe
high Bishop and great Sheepheard of our soules only remaine with Christ who is only worthie of such high dignitie For like as many comforters came out of Hierusalem to comfort the two sisters Martha and Marie who lamented for the death of their brother Lazarus yet there was but onely one great comforter to wit Iesus Christ who could raise Lazarus out of the graue restore him to life again Euen so there are many bishops but there is only one great and vniuersall Bishop who can conferre eternall life to all that beleeue in him Let this royall garment bee laide vp in the Kinges wardrope and let none other man honour his owne bodie with it Let this oyle of consecration be kept in the Lords Sanctuary and let not the flesh of a stranger be annointed with it Let this inaccessible dignitie remaine as a fixed starre in heauen wherevnto no mortall man can reach his hand Let the death resurrection ascension and glorious sitting of Christ in heauen at the right hand of his Father budding foorth better fruite than the rodde of Aaron did testifie that this honour of the great Bishop of our soules belongeth only to Christ And finally Let him who onely is called the King of kinges the Lord of lordes the Prince of Prophets bee counted also the Bishop of all bishops who is worthie to be glorified for euer AMEN Vpon the necke of this Treatise if the next Treatise coÌ„cerning the Antichrist be subjoyned let no man maruell For in my opinion when the Popes hyrelinges cast themselues downe at his feete they testifie that they will bee subject vnto him as to the only Vicare of Christ vpon earth as to the Uniuersall bishop of the Church as to him that cannot erre in the Decrees of Doctrine concerning Faith and finallie as to whome onely it is lawfull as he listeth himselfe to determine of Religion and Christian Discipline So that these outwarde submissions of the bodie doe then appertaine to Idolatry when they are testimonies that the minde attributeth more vnto a creature than is meete But the miserie of all miseries is this that as it were by hereditarie succession euerie man who is seated in the chaire of Rome shall also haue right to gouerne the affaires of the whole Church how beit they bee not good common Christians let bee good Bishops and by the testimonie of their owne writers they be ambitious auaritious contentious and libidinous monsters Surelie before wee should conferre the glorie of CHRIST to such vile persons it were better that men should sacrifice their life for the honour of CHRIST For euen the LACEDEMONIANS when they were commanded to render their children answered to the MACEDONIANS Si grauiora morte imperatis mori volumus that is If yee commaunde thinges more grieuous than death wee will choose rather to die to wit than to obey such commaundementes And the verie Asse of Balaam is set downe vnto vs as an example of striuing against the vnlawfull commaundementes of vnlawfull prelates because the sword of the Angell of GOD is more terrible than the staffe of Balaam And albeit with Balaams Asse wee were thrise beaten with the staffe yet it is better to remember the by-past euilles which wee haue suffered than with the rich glutton to bee tormented not onelie with the sense of present paine but also with the remembrance of by-past pleasures which wee haue moste vnrighteously abused The Romane Church after the six hundreth yeere of our Lord had the wisedome of dogs who are wiser in senting than in barking for they knew that ambition was ambition and that verie fewe climbed vp to the papale dignitie by vertue but rather by procuration friendship bribes and other vnlawfull meanes but fewe durst barke against their doinges as dogges will not barke against men with whome they are familarly acquainted yea and men whome neceslitie of the extraordinary lewde conuersatioÌ„ of Pâ—…pes compelled at some times to barke Onuphrius the Aduocate of all cuill causes is ready with snurling words to reproue the reprehenders of them and by impudent deniall of the veritie of the historie to blind-folde the eyes of the simple and ignorant Reader Nowe is the way of righteousnesse made rough and difficill and the broad way is smoothe and easie and many walke therein But whensoeuer it pleaseth God to exercise the faith of his Saincts with difficill times it is not to mooue them to forsake a good course but rather to be well shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace Indeede incase the course of vngodlinesse be made rough and difficill then the Lord hath set thorny hedges in our way to the ende that wee may repâ—…nt and returne to our owne husband againe from whom we haue wandered And happie is he who can discerne the way and the cause wherefore the Lord hath made it either rough or smoothe Now is the time come wherein Church-men are become like vnto carnall Iewes who loathed MANNA and the waters of the spirituall Rocke and the cloude of God and the holy Tabernacle yea and the flesh-pots of Aegypt are laide in ballance with all the treasures of the goodnesse of God bestowed vpon a carnall people Euen so Church-men at Rome after the sixe hundreth yeere of our Lord began to loathe the humilitie of Christ the patient suffering of the Apostles the riches of faith and other spirituall treasures which were the glorious ornamentes of the Primitiue Church whereunto are preferred the riches and honours of this world justly called by Nazianzenus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Precious dungue IN the second head of this TREATISE it followeth to be declared that the bishops of Rome sought this dignitie of Papal supremacie vnhonestly and vsed it tyrannously and impiouslie after they had obtained it Concerning the seeking of it Philip Morney that Phoenix of FRANCE from whom I am not a shamed to borrow many things in this TREATISE hee prooueth by the testimonies of Paulus Diaconus Freculfus Regino Anastatius Hermannus Contractus Marianus Scotus Sabellicus Blondus Pomponius Laetus Platina Author compilationis Chronologicae and Otho Episcopus Frisingensis that Bonifacius the third begged at the handes of the Emperour Phocas that the Church of Rome should be called the head of all other Churches Hee who sought this supremacie was a flatterer hee at whose handes it was sought was a traitor a parricide and the vile excrement of all gouernours and the time wherein he sought it was at that time wherein the wordes of Gregorie the first vttered against Ioannes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bishop of Constantinople were in recent remembrance to wit That whosoeuer did vsurpe such a magnificke stile to be called Uniuersall Bishop hee was the fore-runner of the Antichrist But seeing the time was nowe come wherein the purpurate Harlot was to sit vpon the Citie of seuen Mountaines in her first entrie she laieth aside all shamefastnesse and modestie she wipeth her mouth
and the holie Sacramentes were seldome ministred and with filthie addition of ceremonies inuented by the braine of man to Baptisme and a sacrilegious with-holding from the people the cuppe in ministring vnto them the holie Supper and so the fountaines of liuing water were stopped and cisternes were opened and the wholsome foode of GODS people was turned into ashes and in steade of preaching GODS Worde sincerelie all Church-seruice was turned into a dumbe guise of the Masse and in reading of prayers and passages of Scripture into an vnknowne language so the people for fault of good instruction withered as grasse when it is not refreshed with dewe and raine Yea and SALOMON saieth Where there is no vision the people decay PROV 29. 18. The thirde and moste venomous consequence of the Masse is procession and adoration for hosties consecrated in time of Masse although not broken and eaten they are counted CHRISTES bodie and carried about in procession and worshipped This was not the ancient custome of the Church for the sacrament consisting in the action and vse thereof so long as the blessing and the actions of breaking distributing and eating lasted the bread was counted holie and represented the bl◅ssed bodie of IESVS but after these holie actions were ended the rest of the bread that was not vsed in the Sacrament it was distributed to the poore but it was not kept in boxes to bee carried in procession and to bee adored and worshipped by ignorant people And of all thinges that are deficient in Poperie I haue of◅ times obserued that antiquitie whereof they principallie bragge is moste deficient and lacking in them The ground of Popish procession no doubt was the sending of the Sacraments to those who were sicke and absent by some necessitie But they reade not in IVSTINVS nor in any other ancient writer that people who met the deacon carrying the Eucharist to sicke persons fell downe vpon their knees and worshipped it This abominable idolatrie more vile than the idolatrie of the Gentiles was not of ancient time in vse in the Church Nowe the LORD who hath redeemed our soules from death and who hath called vs from darknesse vnto His marucilous loue establishe our soules in the trueth of GOD through CHRIST IESVS our LORD AMEN FINIS THE VIII CENTVRIE CHAP. I. OF EMPEROURS PHILIPPICVS AFTER IVSTINIAN the second was slaine PHILIPPICVS reigned two yeeres and nine monethes Great dissention fell out betwixt the Emperour Philippicus and Constantine Bishop of Rome for razing as appeareth the pictures of Fathers who were present at the sixt Generall Councell which beeing pictured in the Temple of Sophia were abolished by the commandement of Philippicus Constantine Bishop of Rome declared the Emperour an heretique and commanded that his name shoulde bee rased out of charters This was the first great direct and violent opposition that the Bishops of Rome attempted against noble Emperours Philippicus was taken and his eyes were put out by Anastasius otherwise called Artemius his Secretarie who reigned in his stead ARTEMIVS ARTEMIVS otherwise called Anastasius reigned one yeere and three monethes hee deposed Ihonne patriarch of Constantinople who kept not the true faith and placed Germanus in his steade Hee was taken by Theodosius and sent prisoner to Nice and from thence to Thessalonica where hee was compelled to renounce his Emperiall dignitie and to be cloathed with the habite of a Monke THEODOSIVS THEODOSIVS reigned scarce one yeere and when hee heard that Leo Isaurus gouernour in the East partes was saluted Emperour by the armie hee willinglie gaue ouer his Emperiall dignitie and liued a priuate and peaceable man LEO ISAVRVS LEO ISAVRVS reigned twentie foure yeeres great commotions were in his time both in Church and policie In Church-affaires hee was an hater of Images and burnt images made of wood other images hee melted and misfashioned against whome Gregorius the seconde puft vp with antichristian pride hee opponed himselfen ◅t only allowing worshipping of images but also forbidding to paye tribute to the Emperour Leo. The Emperour on the other part irritated with the proude attempts of Gregorius the second he vsed indirect meanes to cut him off but the enterprises of his deputies Marinus Paulus Eutychius and their followers succeeded vnprosperously Moreouer the Bishop of Rome sought support from the Lombardis who had beene at all times preceeding enemies to the chaire of Rome yet in Leo his dayes they were bounde with the bishop of Rome in a couenant of friendship for none other cause but this onely to shake off the yoke of the Emperours obedience And when the bishop of Rome sawe that the Emperour had great businesse in warres against the Saracens he thought it a sit occasion to drawe the dominion of Italic vnto his owne subjection and therefore with aduise of his Clergie hee both excommunicated the Emperour as a destroyer of the images of the Saincts and disauthorised him of his Emperiall soueranitie So early began the increasing grandour of the Antichrist to sende foorth the thuńder-boltes of cursinges against the annointed of the Lord. In this Emperours dayes the Saracenes passed ouer the Straites inuaded the kingdome of Spaine slewe Rodericus king of Gothes and his sonne and put an ende to the kingdome of the Gothes in Spaine after they had reigned 346. yeeres and being incited by Eudo Duke of Aquitania they marched towardes France but thorowe the valour of Carolus Martellus a man of noble birth in France they were so encountered that three hundreth thousand and threescore and ten thousand Saracenes were slaine and the countrey of France was made free of the feare of the Saracens CONSTANTINVS COPRONYMVS AFTER LEO his sonne CONSTANTINVS COPRONYMVS reigned 35. yeeres Chytreus reckoneth onlie 23. yeeres because hee hated the worshipping of images which errour had taken deepe roote in this age the writers of the historie of this time haue dipped their pennes in gall and worm-wood to blaspheme the honourable name of Constātinus but whatsoeuer Paulus Diaconus or zonaras haue written to his disgrace his name will bee in honourable account and regarde in the Church of CHRIST The Senate and the people of Constantinople addicted to the worshipping of images hated the Emperour and were glad of the false rumoured tithings of his death when hee went to fight against the Arabians they chose Artabasdus to bee Emperour in his steade But Constantine returned to Constantinople besieged the towne and recouered his owne kingdome againe Hee gathered a Generall Councell in Constantinople anno 755. wherein the worshipping of images was damned as shall bee declared God willing in its owne place In this Emperours dayes were warres betwixt the kings of Lombardis and the Bishops of Rome but the Romane Bishops begged the helpe of Carolus Martellus against Luitprand and the helpe of Pipinus against Aistulphus and the helpe of Carolus Magnus against Desiderius all kinges of Lombardis and so by continuall imploring the helpe of the Nobles Kinges of France the
It is a Nouelty because that ancient Fathers wheÌ„ they spake of Satisfaction meaned not of a satisfactioÌ„ made to God but of a satisfaction made to the Church Yea and S. Augustine calleth it Satesfactio quiasatis fiebat Ecclesiae that is because the Church was satisfied It is also a blasphemous opinion because the honour only due to the merites of Christes suffering is attributed to the worthinesse of mens satisfactions such as Fasting Praying distribution of Almes going in Pilgrimage to holie places and such like offices But the vsurpation of the least of the honoures belonging onelie to CHRIST is hornbletreason in the sight of God CHRIST is a propitiation for our sinnes saieth the Apostle 1. Ihon chap. 2. vers 2. If anie man doe imagine that hee can make a satisfaction for his owne sinnes hee is blasphemous against the sonne of God And like as Iulian the Apostate when hee suffered himselfe tò bee saluted by the Armie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Emperour CONSTANTIVS the Emperour by that one worde vnderstoode the treasonable attemptes of his aspiring minde And let vs bee perswaded in our owne heartes That incase anie man imagine that hee can satiâ—…fie for his owne sinnes hee is but a Traitor against the SONNE of GOD. THe last head of Popishe Pennance is Absolution wherein three things doe concurre to wit blasphemie vncertaintie and foolishnesse It is blasphemie to saye that any man can forgiue finnes who is not Eternall GOD Marke 2. 7. except in forme of a Messenger executing GODS commaundement in such manner as GOD hath prescribed in his holie worde It is great vncertaintie to absolue men from the guiltinesse of their faults but not from their punishment insomuch that if they bee preuented by death before they haue fulfilled the pennance enjoyned by the Priest then their soules must bee tormented in Purgatorie vntill they haue made full satisfaction for their offences Then Popishe Absolution depending vpon the vncertaintie of a mans life cannot bee a certaine thing but a miserable excrutiation of poore soules put in vaine hope of absolution and yet vncertaine whether they be absolued or not Nowe because they will needes referre the institution of the Sacrament of Pennance vnto CHRIST as the Author thereof when Hee breathed vpon His Disciples and saide Whose sinnes yee remitte they are remitted c. Ihon chapt 20. verse 23. Necessitie constraineth them to prooue two thinges out of the wordes of CHRIST which they count essentiall in the Sacrament of Pennance First that CHRIST commaunded a penitent sinner to make a particulare rehearsall of his secrete sinnes in the eare of the Priest which thing CHRIST neuer commaunded Secondlie that in the absolution of a penitent sinner CHRIST commaunded to enjoyne vnto him a satisfaction whereby hee might merite at the handes of GOD forgiuenesse for sinnes committed after Baptisme which thing CHRIST neuer commaunded yea repugneth manifestlie to the Holie Scriptures of GOD in the which it is saide With one offering hath Hee consecrated for euer them that are sanctified Hebr. chapt 10. vers 14. This is not a single and vpright dealing to referre the institution of the Sacrament of Pennance vnto CHRIST when as they cannot prooue that thinges moste essentiallie requisite in their Sacrament hath allowance from the mouth of CHRIST I compare the Romanists in their doctrine of Pennance to king Hezekias not in time of his zeale vprightnes but in time of his reproueable weaknes for hee shewed vnto the Ambassadours of the King of BABEL the house of his treasures his Siluer Golde Spices and Precious Ointmentes and all the house of his Armour The Messengers of the King of BABEL had no such commission from their Master to viewe the Treasures Riches and Armour of King HEZEKIAS but onely to present letters of congratulation for the miraculous restitution of HEZEKIAS to health and to bring vnto him a present from MERODACH BALADEN King of BABEL But HEZEKIAS King of IVDA in his reprooueable weakenesse as I haue alreadie spoken let the Ambassadoures see maine chinges which they had no commission to see to the great harme and disaduantadge of his posteritie Euen so CHRIST sent out His Apostles and their true Successours to preach the doctrine of repentance and remission of sinnes But the ROMANE Church will let the Ambassadoures of GOD see such thinges as are not contained in their commission to wit a particular confession of all secrete sinnes together with a satisfaction to GOD for sinnes committed after Baptisme of which thinges no mention is made in the written worde of GOD. Heere I leaue them delighting in their Nouelties which haue no grounde from the mouth of CHRIST nor from the doctrine of His Apostles Yea they are like vnto the frogges of the I le of SERIPHVS one of the Iles called CYCLADES in the which the Frogges sette vp their heads in the Monethes of March and Aprill but they vtter no sounding voyce as the Frogges in other places doe Euen so the ROMANE Church holdeth vp their heads as if they would prooue that CHRIST instituted this Sacrament but they faint in the probation A TREATISE Of the Sacrament of Confirmation IN the Sacrament of Confirmation there is a glorious shewe of a signe and a spirituall thing signified The outward signe is Chrisme that is Oyle mixed with some mixture of Baulme which beeing signated with the signe of the Crosse vpon the fore-head of him who is confirmed in the Name of the Father Sonne and holy Ghost they saye that with this outwarde signe is conferred the seuen-folde grace of the holy Spirit And this Sacrament they extoll aboue the Sacrament of Baptisme because the grace of God which is begunne in vs by Baptisme is perfected by the Sacrament of Confirmation Yea and a Priest or Deacon of the Church may baptize but the Sacrament of Confirmation must only bee ministrated by a Bishop Verie early did Popish bishops prouide that they shoulde not be altogether idle for they beganne to loath the office of preaching and baptizing and lest they should seeme to bee idle bellies they reserued some easie exercise to themselues to wit the making of Chrisme and anointing the people therewith To all this is added a Rhetoricall discourse That the people of Israell after they had passed thorow the redde Sea they entered into a Wildernesse in the which they had a great combate with many troubles before they could enter into their rest And in like manner after that we are baptized we haue a great fight with many aduersaries troubles before we can enter into the rest of God All this is true but what is inferred vpoÌ„ this If the Apostle Paul were our instructor hee woulde bid vs put on the complete armour of God to the ende that we might withstand spirituall wickednesse and eate the blessed bread and drinke the cuppe of blessing to the ende that beeing corroborated by the strength of the
Godefridus King of Denmarke a fearce aduersary against the Christians who dwelt in Saxonie Likewise he subdued the Sclavonians and Bohemians enemies to Christian Religion and was justly called Magnus for his great exploytes valiant acts which God prospered in his hand Pipinus the sonne of Emperour Charles was declared King of Italieâ—… who died before his father and after his death he appointed Bernard his nephew to reigne in Italie with expresse commandement That he should be obedient to his sonne Ludouieke whom hee ordained to be successour to himselfe in the Emperiall office So the Emperour Charles full of dayes died in the 71. yeere of his age and was buried in AKEN LVDOVICVS PIVS AFter Charles succeeded his sonne Ludouicus Pius and reigned 26. yeeres For his gentle and meeke behauiour hee was called Pius Hee receiued the Emperiall Diademe from Stephanus the fourth at Aken Bernard his brothers sonne forgetfull of the mandate of Charles the Great rebelled against Ludodouicus Pius and was beheaded at Aken Likewise his owne sonnes assisted with Hugobortus Bishop of Lions and Bernhardus Bishop of Vienne and other bishops who did excommunicate the Emperour for adherence to Iudith his wife they behaued themselues very vnduetifully towards their father Neuerthelesse hee freely pardoned his sonnes and accepted them againe into fauour Also Fredericke bishop of Wtrecht threatned to excommunicate the Emperour if he did not for sake the company of Iudith his welbeloued wife and daughter to the Duke of Bauaria because shee was his neare kinswoman to wit in degrees of consanguinitie forbidden in the Popish law The Empresse willing to be reuenged of the bishop she hired two gentlemen who set vpon him after Church seruice and slewe him in his Priestly garments In his time also the Saracenes in hudge numbers like vnto Locusts swarmed out of Aegypt and Africk and inuaded the Isle of Sicill By cutting down all fruitful trees burning Townes Temples and Monasteries and by killing bishops priestes and monks they brought the Isle to an vtter desolation Gregorie the fourth at this time was Pope and hee exhorted the Emperour and his sonne Lotharius to support the distressed estate of the Isle of Sicill They answered That albeit that matter duely belonged to Michael Emperour of Constantinople yet neuerthelesse they refused not to vndertake the worke vpon the common charges of the countrey Nowe whilest these thinges were in reasoning Bonifacius Count of Corsica and his brother Bertarius with support of the people of Hetruria arriued with a Nauie at Africke and betwixt Vtica and Carthage encountered with the Saracenes foure times and slew of them so great a number that they were compelled to recall their forces backe againe from Sicill Like as of olde the Carthaginians vexed by Scipio recalled Hanniball for the safety of his owne countrey So Bonifacius returned backe againe with an armie victorious and richly ladened with the spoyle of his enemies Nothing was more vnprouidently done by the good Emperour Ludouicus Pius than the ouer-giuing of that right voluntarily conferred to Charles his father by Adrian the first and Leo the third to wit That no man should be elected Pope without the consent and allowance of the Emperour This fore-saide right Ludouicus gaue ouer to the Clergie and people of Rome onely the Romanes for keeping of friendship should sende an Ambassadour to the Kinges of Fraunce declaring whome they had elected to bee Pope Heereby a patent doore was opened to all mischiefe which after followed and to that horrible contention betwixt Emperoures and Popes concerning investment of Bishops In his time three Emperoures reigned in the East at Constantinople to wit Leo Armenius Michaell Balbus and Theophilus Leo Armenius reigned seuen yeeres Hee banished Nicephorus Patriarch of Constantinople for defending adoration of Images Michaell Balbus slew Leo his predicessour whilest hee was praising God in the Church and reigned in his steade nine yeeres In his time the Saracenes mightilie preuailed a number of them issued out of Spaine and tooke the Isle of Candie Another companie comming from Africke wasted the Isle of Sicill Theophilus reigned tenne yeeres and faught against the Saracenes who did oppresse the Countrey of Asia but hee had no good successe LOTHARIVS LOTHARIVS the sonne of LVDOVICVS PIVS was declared King of Italie and Augustus before his fathers death Hee was anointed by Pope Pascalis in the Church of Sainct PETER and hee reigned fifteene yeeres Great hostilitie and bloodie warres fell out amongst the children of Ludouicus Pius to wit Lotharius Lewes Charles and Pipinus for diuiding of their fathers Landes In this ciuill dissention the Nobilitie of Fraunce was so miserably weakened that the Normandes and Daines tooke boldnesse to inuade the Countreye of Fraunce which they vexed for the space of twentie yeeres In the East after Theophilus had concluded his life his sonne Michael with his mother Theodora gouerned the estate Michael reigned foure and twentie yeeres Theodora continued onlie eleuen yeeres Shee persecuted those who woulde not worship Images albeit her husband before his departure from this life had seriously admonished her that shee should not trouble the Church for restoring of Images LVDOVICVS the second LVDOVICVS the seconde and sonne of Lotharius reigned twentie yeeres and one The intestine dissention betwixt him and his brother Charles seemeth to bee like vnto an hereditarie sicknesse Howsoeuer the Emperour Ludouicke had dishonour thereby because the reballes of Charles desired the Emperoures protection against his owne brother which when hee had graunted the rebelles were reconciled againe with their owne King Charles and the Emperour with dishonour was compelled to retire from his brothers Dominions In the East Michael Emperour of Constantinople slew his brother Theoctistus and thrust his mother Theodora and her sisters into a Monasterie and reigned himselfe alone after his mothers deposition thirteene yeeres So the whole time of the gouernement of Michael was twentie and foure yeeres Hee faught against the Saracenes but very vnprosperously and was slaine by Basilius who reigned in his steade seuen yeeres CAROLVS CALVVS LVDOVICVS the second dying without children his brother Carolus Caluus king of Fraunce obtained at the handes of the Bishop of Rome by many liberall giftes to bee annointed Emperour He continued Emperour not aboue two yeeres and was poysoned by one Sedekias a Iewe whome hee vsed for his Physition CAROLVS CRASSVS CAROLVS CRASSVS was the sonne of Lewes king of Germanic he reigned 10. yeere Carolus Balbus the son of Carolus Caluus was incontinent cut off by death Therefore I haue ouer-passed his name with silence In this Emperoures time the Normandes and Daines made such horrible excursions and desolations in FRAVNCE that the Emperour who came with a great Armie to support the distressed estate of Fraunce was compelled to make peace with them anno 888. and assigned vnto them that part of Fraunce which lieth beyonde Seane towardes the Britannicke Ocean to bee their habitation which hath the name of Normandie vntill
Hincmarus bishop of Laudunum as a man disobedient to his Metropolitane and a man who for priuate injuries had excōmunicated all the Presbyters of his Church debarring them from saying of Masse baptizing of Inphantes absoluing of Penitents and burying of the dead And Hincmarus bishop of Rhemes proponed vnto the Councell 50. Canons which hee desired to bee read in the Synode and they allowed all the Canons written by the bishop of Rhemes Also they condemned Hincmarus bishop of Laudunum of petulancy and compelled him to subscribe obedience to Charles his King and to his Metropolitane hee was also depriued of his office and his eyes were thrust out But Pope Ihonne the ninth vnder the reigne of Carolus Crassus restored him to his office againe beeing the more affectioned vnto him because he had appealed from his owne bishop and from the decreet of a Synode in his owne countrey to be judged by the Chaire of Rome IN the yeere of our Lord 899. and in the eight yeere of the reigne of the Emperour Arnulphus in the Towne of Triburium twentie and two Bishops of Germanie were assembled who made many constitutions a great number whereof Caranza is compelled to ouer-passe with silence lest he shoulde make a superfluous repetition of Canons mentioned before First it was concluded in this Councell That excommunicate persons if they repent not are to be subdued by the Emperour Canon 10. That a Bishop shall not be deposed before his cause be judged by twelue Bishops and a Presbyter by sixe Bishops and a Deacon by three Bishops 11. A Church man who committeth slaughter shall be deposed albeit he hath beene inforced vnto it 12. Baptisme shall not be ministred except at Easter Whitsonday without necessitie require 13. Tythes are to bee payed for the sustentation of the Ministerie the support of the poore and the fabricke of the Church 15. Let mens bodies bee buried in that Paroch vnto the which they payed their Tythes 16. No buriall place shall bee solde for money 17. Let Laicke people be buried in the Church yarde not in the Church but if they be buried alreadie let not their bodies bee remoued 18. The vesselles wherein holy mysteries are celebrated are Challices and Platters whereof Sainct Bonifacius a Bishop and Martyr being demanded If it was lawfull to celebrate the Sacrament in vesselles of wood He answered That of olde there were golden bishops and woodden vessels but nowe by the contrary saith he the Bishops are woodden bishops and the vesselles are vesselles of golde And Sepherinus ministred the Sacrament in vessels of glasse Neuerthelesse this Councell straitly inhibiteth the Sacrament to be consecrated in vesselles of wood 19. Let not wine without water bee offered in the holy Challice because both blood and water flowed out of the side of Christ. 20. Priestes are shauen to the end they may carrie vpon their heads a similitude of the crowne to wit of thornes wherewith the Lord was crowned who is their lot and portion 21. Let not Presbyters who are called before Iustice seates bee compelled to sweare but let them bee put in remembrance of their holy consecration in stead of an oath 22. The triall of persons defamed by the burning iron is ceassed but let no man giue out rashe judgement in se◅ret matters 27. They who haue vnder-taken a spirituall ofsice shoulde not goe to warre-fare nor accept vpon them ciuill offices according to the seuenth Canon of the Councell of Chalcedon 31. A thiefe or a robber who is slaine in the perpetration of his diabolicall fact let no man praye for his soule nor distribute almes for his reliefe 35. Let no justice Courtes bee holden on the Lordes daye neither on Festiuall nor Fasting dayes 39. A man who marrieth a woman of a strange countrey but not of a strange religion shall be compelled to cohabite with her 40. It shall not be lawfull for a man to marie a woman whome hee hath polluted in adulterie during her husbandes life-time 45. Hee who hath defiled two sisters let him bee subject to pennance all his dayes and remaine continent 46. A woman that hath committed adulterie and for feare of her husband who persueth her vnto the death shee fleeth vnto Bishops to seeke reliefe let them trauell seriouslie for the safetie of her life and if that can bee obtained let her be restored to her husband againe but if that cannot bee obtained let her not bee restored but her husband during his life time shall not marie another 54. A forme of externall repentance is prescribed to them who of precogitate malice and of purpose haue committed slaughter TREATISES Belonging to the IX CENTVRIE A TREATISE Of Extreame Unction THE Councell of TRENT entraiting of this subject of Extreame Unction setteth downe a glorious Preface before their Canons That Sathan that vigilant enemie who is readie at all occasions to take his aduantadge he is most readie in the last conflict to assault poore soules when naturall powers are weakened and the feare of approaching death doeth perturbe the cogitations of sinfull people then hee endeuoureth to brangle their faith and to bring them to a distrust of the mercies of GOD. But on the other part saye they Christ hath instituted the Sacrament of Extreame Unction as an armour to guarde vs at our last breath against the subtile inuasions of that deceitfull aduersarie This Preface importeth that all the weapons of our spirituall warrefare both defensiue and offensiue wherewith wee faught against spirituall wickednesse in our life-time are not sufficient to guarde vs in our last combate except wee bee annointed with oyle at our last departure Neuerthelesse the holie Scripture expresselie saieth I am the resurrection and the life hee that beleeueth in mee though hee were dead yet shall hee liue and whosoeuer liueth and belecueth in mee shall neuer die Ioann Chap. 11. verse 25. 26. In which wordes it may bee euidentlie perceiued that the word of GOD apprehended by faith can saue vs both in life and death The Romanistes in proouing Extreame Unction to bee a Sacrament of the Newe Testament in the which there is a signe instituted by GOD and to the signe there is added a promise of forgiuenesse of sinnes and consequentlie of eternall life They are like to the drunkardes of our Nation who when their stomacke is ouer-laden with too much drinke then they laye them downe to sleepe but incase by any occasion they be wakened before the drinke be digested and gone out of their heads they arise like madde men and make such a stirre and businesse that all men wishe that they were in their bedde againe Euen so the Romane Church hath beene so miscarried with the traditions of men with the writinges of auncient Fathers especiallie in poinctes of doctrine in the which they were weake and with the authoritie of Councels that they layed them downe and slept securelie as people who were perfectlie instructed in the way of GOD. But nowe they
teach vs our duetie in all thinges AMEN P. S. CENTVRIE VII CHAP. I. OF EMPEROURS PHOCAS THE Heresie of EVTYCHES continued in this CENTVRIE from the beginning to the ende thereof countenanced by the Emperours such as Heraclius and Constans Neuerthâ—…lesse I haue cut off the Eutychtan Persecution at the end of the VI. Centurie because Heraclius albeit he fauoured the errour of the Monothelites a branch of Eutyches hercsy notwithstaÌ„ding he was so employed with warres against the Auares in the West and the Persians and Saracenes in the East that hee had not a vacant time to persecute them who professed another faith And Constans began to persecute but was incontinentinterrupted by new occasion of sea-warre-fare against the Saracenes wherein also he was ouer-come For this cause I haue referred the Eutychian persecution rather to the former Centurie than to this Moreouer in this CeÌ„tury the vniuct sall Bish. the Antichrist beginneth to spring vp so that all the rest of the Historie must bee spent in three heads First in declaring The grouth of the Antichrist in the VII VIII and IX Centuries Secondlie in declaring his tyrannie and preuailing power ouer the Romane Emperours and Monarches of the worlde in the X. XI and XII Centuries And finallie in declaring his discouerie and his battell against the Sainctes especiallie against those who discouered hâ—…m and this shall bee done God willing from the XIII Centurie vntill our owne time In the Historie I am compelled to bee short because it may bee read in manie Authors Chronol gies and Compendes and place must be giuen to Treatises to be lengthened when the Historie by a briefe coÌ„memoration may be susficientlie knowne Phocas aftâ—…r the cruell slaughter of his master Mauritius was proclaimed to bee Emperour by the Romane souldiours in the yeere of our Lord 604 and he reigned eight yeeres in crueltie drunkennesse lecherie he surpassed beyond all men justlie was called The calamitie of the Romane Empire nothing succceded prosperouslie with this parricide Cosroes on the East side the Auares on the West the Slauonians on the North side inuading Dalmatia and Agâ—…lulphus king of Lumbardis in Italie adding vnto his dominion Mantua Cremona and Vulturnia all these at one time weakened the Romane Empire so farre that it could neuer attaine again to the former strength splendor that it was wont to haue Great strise had bene betwixt the chaires of Rome 〈◊〉 for supremacy The Patriarch of ConstaÌ„â—…no thought it due to him because 〈◊〉 was the seat of the Empire The Patriarch of Rome on the other part saide that Constantinoâ—…le was but a Colonie of Rome and tha the Grecians themselues in thei Letâ—…ers called the Emperour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To this controuersie Phocas put an ende ordained Bonifacius the third to be called Universall 〈◊〉 and the Church of Rome to be head of all other Churches This dignitie the Romane Church begged as Platina granteth and not without great contention obtained 〈◊〉 the handes of Phocas This is that stile which Gregorius the fiâ—…st counted Antichristian in the person of Ioannes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Patriarch of Constantinople In end Priscus his owne sonne in law Heraclianus the faâ—…her of Heâ—…aclius the Emperour and Phocius whose wife Phocas had vnhonestlie abused conspired against him and ouer-came him and brought him to Heraclius who commanded his head feete and secrete members to bee cut off and the stumpe of his bodie was giuen to the souldiers to bee burnt with fire HERACLIUS AFter Phocas reigned Heraclius thirtie yeeres Cosroes king of Persia had mightilie preuailed and had conquered Syria Phenicta and Palestina and had taken Hierusalem and Zacharias the Bishop thereof and the Holie Crosse and had giuen manie thousands of Christians to the lewes to be slaine Neither would hee accept anie conditions of peace with Heraclius except hee would condiscend to forsake the worshipping of Christ worship the Sunne as the Persians did For this cause Heraclius was compelled to make peace with the Aâ—…ares on his West side and to leade his Armie to Asia against the Persians which indured the space of six yeeres wherein he preuailed against Cosroes and recouered all the Prouinces which Cosroes had taken from the Romane Empire Finallie Cosroes was taken cast in prison and cruellie slaine by his owne sonne Siroes because he had preferred Medarses his younger sonne to Siroes his elder brother This Siroes made a couenant of peace with Heraclius and deliuered vnto him Zacharias Bishop of Hierusalem with the Holie Crosse and the prisoners whom his father had carried captiue And so Heraclius in the seuenth yeere returned backe againe to Constantinople with great triumph After this the Emperour beeing circumuened by Pyrrhus Bishop of Constantinople Cyrus Bishop of Alexâ—…dria fell into the Heresie of the Monothelites And to this fault he added other faults such as incest for he married his owne sisters daughter and hee was giuen to curious Artes and to seeke out the euent of thinges by judiciall Astrologie and was admonished by the Astrologians to beware of the circumcised people Heraclâ—…us onlie deemed that the lowes should trouble him but it was the Saracenes in whom this prophesie had performance for in his time beganne the Monarchie of the Saracenes and the blasphemous doctrine of Mahomet The Saracenes were people dwelling in Arabia the posteritie of Hagar and not of Sara These faught vnder the banner of Heraclius in his 6. yeeres warrefare against the Persians wheÌ„ they craued the wages of their seruice in stâ—…ad of money they receiued coÌ„tumelious words were called 〈◊〉 by the Em. treasurer This coÌ„tumely did so irritate them that they choosed Mahomet to be their captaine anno 623 inuaded Damascâ—…s took it within few yeeres coÌ„quered Syria Phenicta Palestina Aegypt And not content with this they inuaded the kingâ—…ome of the Persians subdued it cut off the kings seed The blasphemous AlcaroÌ„ alsurca of Mahomet which he said he receiued froÌ„ heaueÌ„ was a doctrine of lies coÌ„taining a mixture of the reâ—…igioÌ„ of the Jewes PagaÌ„s ChristiaÌ„s to the making wherof coÌ„curred Sergius a Nestorian herâ—…ke Iohâ—… of Antiochia an ArriaÌ„ 〈◊〉 some Iwes Mahomet also ordained that all people whom the Saracenes could conquere should be coÌ„pelled by fire sword all kind of violence to receiue the doctrine contaiâ—…ed in these bookes Heraclius perceiuing the sudden great increase of the dominion of the Saracâ—…nes gathered a gr at army faught against them but he was ouâ—…r-come in battell lost 150. thousand meÌ„ of his army And wheÌ„ he renewed his forces again to fight against the Saracâ—…nes he found that 52. thousand of his army died in one night suddenly as those did who were slain by the Angell of God in the army of Senacheâ—…b Heraclius was so discouraged with the calamitie of his aâ—…mie that he contracted sicknesse and died CONSTANTINUS and HERACLEONAS AFâ—…er
the death of Heraclius reigned his son Constantine 4. moneths was made out of the way by poison giueÌ„ vnto him by Martina his fathers second wife to the end that Heracleonas her son might reâ—…gn But God suffered not this wickednes to be vnpuâ—…ished for Martina Heraclconas were taken by the Senators of Constantinople her tongue was cut out his nose cut off lest either her flaâ—…ering speaches or his beauty comlines should haue moued the people to compassioÌ„ they were both banished About this time the Saracenes had taken Caesarea in Palestina after they had besieged it seuen yeeres and they slew in it seuen thousand Christians CONSTANS AFter the banishment of Martina Heraclâ—…onas her son reigned Constans the son of ConstaÌ„rine 27. yeeres in religion he followed the footsteps of Heraclius was infected with the heresie of the Monothâ—…lites persecuted Martinus 1. bish of Rome because he had gathered a Synode in Rome damned the heresie of the Monothelues whom also he caused to be brought in bands to Consiantinople cut out his tongue cut off his right haÌ„d banished him to Chersonâ—…sus in Pontus where hee ended his life Hee faught also against the Saracenes in sea-warre-fare was ouer-come by them like as interpreters of dreames had fore-tol le him for he dreamed that he was dwelling in Thessalonica the interpreters said it portended no good but that others should ouer-come him as if the word Thessalonica did import 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is render victory to another Constans was sâ—…aine by one of his owne seruants as he was washing himselfe in the bathe-houses of Siracuse CONSTANTINUS POGONATUS Constans being slâ—…ine in Sicile the army in those paâ—…ts appointed Mezentius a man of incomparable beauty to be Emp. but Constantinus the eldest son of Constans sailed to Sicile with a great nauie slew Mezentius the murtherers of his father and recouered his fathers dominion to himselfe Hee was called Pogonatus because his face was not bare voide of haiâ—…e when hee returned from Sicile as it was wheÌ„ he sailed thithâ—…r from Byzans but his face was rough couered with haire He had 2. brethreÌ„ whome the people reuerenced with equall honour as they did him therfore he disfigurated their faces by cutting off their nose reâ—…gned himself alone 17. yeeres In religioÌ„ he was not like vnto his predicessors who had bin fauourers of heretiques but he assembled a generall CouÌ„cell at Constantinople vulgarly called the sixt Oâ—…cumenick Councell whereinto the heresie of the Monothelites was vtterly damned as in the owne place shall be declared God willing Likewise the estate of the Emp. was more peaceab'e than it had bene in time of his predicâ—…ssors for the Saracens were compelled to seeke conditions of peace from him and to offer yeeâ—…ely paimenâ—… of 3000. pound weight of gold vnto him with other tribâ—…tes of horse seruâ—…nts and prisoners IUSTINIANUS the second LEO NTIUS and ABSIMARUS AFter the death of Constantine reigned his sonne Iustinian the second sixteene yeeres to wit tenne yeeres before his banishment and sixe yeeres after his banishment His gouernement was cruell and bloodie by perswasion of Stephanus and Theodoâ—…us whose counsell hee followed euen till the purpose of exstirpation of all the Citizens of Constantinoâ—…le But Leontius a man of noble birth pitying the Citie tooke Iustinian the Emperour cut off his nose and banished him to Chersonesus ponti where hee remained in great miserie tenne yeeres Steâ—…hanus and Theodorus his bad counsellâ—…rs receiued a condigne punishment for they were burnt quicke in the bellie of an hot brasen bull After this banishment of Iustinian the second Leontius reigned three yeeres The flâ—…xible mindes of vnconstant people and souldâ—…ers choosed Absimarus to bee their Emperour who dealt with Leontius as hee had dealt with Iustinian and cut off his nose and thrust him into a Monasterie where hee remained seuen yeeres to wit all the time of Absimarus gouernement In ende Iustinian after tenne yeeres banishment recouered his Emperâ—…all dignitie againe by the helpe of Terbellis Prince of Bulgaria Hee caused Leontius and Absimarus to bee brought vnto him whome hee tramped vnder his feete and after commanded that they should bee beheaded The crueltie thaâ—… hee vsed against the Citizens of Constantinople and against the â—…habitants of Cheâ—…sonesus Ponti is almost vnspeakeable He was hated of all men Philippicus conspired against him and hee was slaine by one named Elias his owne 〈◊〉 CHAP. II. OF POPES BISHOPS PASTORS AND DOCTORS AFTER Sabinianus succeeded Bonifacius the third and continued onelie nine moneth in his Popedome finding oportunitie of time by the disliking that the Emperour Phocas had of the Patriarch of Constantinople Bonifacius insinuated himselfe in the fauour of the Emperour and obtained at his hands that the Church of Rome should bee called the supreme head of all other Churches To him succeeded Bonifacius the fourth and gouerned sixe yeeres eight monethes and thirteene dayes He obtained from Phocas a Temple of olde builded to the honour of all the gods of the Gentiles called Pantheon this he purged from the abominations of Heathen people and dedicated it to the Virgine Marie and the Saincts Likewise he instituted a Festiuall day to be kept in honour of all the Saincts in which day the Bishop of Rome himselfe should say Masse Thus wee see at what time the Bishop of Rome vsurped gouernement ouer all Churches At this same time the chaire of Rome fell awaye from the worshipping of the liuing God to the worshipping of dead creatures Hâ—…e esteemed much of the Monastike life and gaue vnto the Monkes equall honour with the Cleargie in priueledge of prâ—…aching ministring the Sacraments binding and loosing c. so were the Monks associated into the tribe of the Priâ—…sts After him succeeded Theodatus otherwayes called Deus dedit and gouerned three yeeres and three dayes He made an ordinance that no man should marrie the woman to whome or with whom he had beene witnesse in Baptisme because this was counted Spirituall consanguinitie This was an vndoubted note of the Antichrist to make lawes in the matter of marriage not agrâ—…eable to the law of God Manie doe write that hee cured a leprous man with a kisse But from this time forward let vs beware to giue hastie credite to miracles which are brought in for none other cause but onâ—…ie to confirme a lying doctrine and in holy Scripture they are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is miracles of lyes To him succeeded Bâ—…nifacius the fift and ruled fiue yeeres and ten monethes he made a constitution that no man who ranne for safeâ—…e to a religious place should be drawne out of it by violence how grieuous soeuer his offence had beene A lawe Antichristian indeede and much impairing the authoritie of the ciuill Magistrate Honorius the fiâ—…st succeeded to Bonifacius the fift and ruled 12. yeeres 11. monethes and