Sect did long retain the name of Nicolaitans but were called Gnosticks from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Knowledge which proud title they gave themselves as if their knowledge had been transcendent above other men But their knowledge was so whimsical that neither they or any else understood it they babled much concerning their Aeones and of Ialdabaoth who made the heavens and all things we see of water They ascribed divers sons to their chief Aeon to wit Ennoia Barbeloth and Prunicon which they named Christ. They held that most things were procreated of the Chaos and the Abysse of water and darknesse They taught also that in faithful men were two souls one holy of the divine substance the other adventitious by divine insufflation common to man and beasts These are the souls that sin and which passe from man to beast after the opinion of Pythagoras they held also there were two Gods a good and an evill as the Manichees afterward did They made Jesus and Christ two distinct persons and that Christ descended into Iesuâ— when he was thirty yeers old and then he wrought miracles On this Doctrin the Eutychians and Nestorians grounded their Heresies They would have none to suffer Martyrdom for Christ who they said conversed on the earth after his Resurrection 18 moneths This Heresie was much spread in Asia and Egypt about 129 yeers after Christ and in Spain it flourished after Christ 386 yeers Out of this Sink the Valentinians Manichees and Priscillianists sucked their poyson Q. 8. Of what Religion were the Carpocratians A. Carpocrates by birth an Alexandrian in Egypt who flourished about the yeer of Christ 109. in the time of Antoninus Pius and was contemporary with Saturnius this Carpocrates I say taâ—ght there were two opposite Gods that the Law and good works were needlesse to those that had faith that we could not avoid the rage of evil spirits but by doing evil for that was the way to please them Therefore they gave themselves over to Magick and a Libidinous life They taught also that Christ was a meer man and that their master Carpocrates was the better man hence sprung up the Samosatenians and Arrians They said also that Christ was begot as other men of Ioseph and Mary and that onely his soul ascended into Heaven They held Pythagorean transanimation but denyed the Resurrection and that this world was not made by God but by Satan Because their disciples should not publish their abominable mysteries they put a mark by a bodkin on their right Eare. Carpocrates carryed about with him his Punk Marcellina Q. 9. What was the Religion of Cerinthus Ebion and the Nazarites A. Cerinthus being a Jew by birth and circumcised taught that all Christians ought to be circumcised He lived in the time of S. Iohn the Apostle who would not enter into the same Bath with that pernicious Heretick He spred his Heresie in Domitians time about 62 yeers after Christ. He held the same impious Tenets that Carpocrates and taught that it was Iesus who died and rose again but not Christ. He denyed the Article of life eternal and taught that the Saints should enjoy in Ierusalem carnall delights for 1000 yeers the maintainers of this whimsie afterward were the Origenists Chiliasts or Millenaries and on this Mahomes founded his Paradise Ebion was a Samaritan by birth but he would be esteemed a Jew He lived also in Domitians time He denyed Christs divinity and held the necessity of the Ceremonial Law with Cerinthus And that the use of flesh was unlawfull because all flesh was begot of impure generation The Ebionites of all the New-Testament admitted only S. Matthews Gospel because it was written in Hebrew The Ebionite Heresie did not continue long under the name of Ebion but under other names to wit Sampsei and Elcesitae Against these Hereticks S. Iohn who lived in their time wrote his Gospel to prove Christs Divinity they rejected S. Pauls Epistles because they refell the Ceremonial Law As for the Nazarites or Nazarens they were before Cerinthus and Ebion about the end of Nero 37 yeers after Christ. They were the first that retained circumcision with Baptism and the ceremonial Law with the Gospel They were led much with private Revelations and Enthusiasms They had more Gospels then one to wit the Gospel of Eve and that which they called the Gospel of perfection They were much addicted to fables Noahs wife they called Ouria which signifieth fire in Chaldee she often times set the Ark on fire which therefore was so many times rebuilt They make her also the first that imparted to mankinde the knowledge of Angels Q. 10 What was the Heretical Religion of the Valentinians Secundians and Ptolemians A. The Valentinians who from their whimsical knowledge were called Gnosticks had for their master Valentinus an Egyptian who lived in the time of Antoninus Pius Emperor about a 110 yeers after Christ. He taught that there were 30 Aeones Ages or Worlds who had their beginning from Profundity and Silence that being the Male this the Female Of the Marriage or Copulation of these two were begot Vnderstanding and Truth who brought forth eight Aeones Of the Vnderstanding and Truth were begot the Word and Life which produced 10. Aeones The Word and Life brought forth Man and the Church and of these were procreated 12. Aeones these 8. 10. and 12. joyned together made up the 30. the last of these 30. being abortive produced the Heaven Earth and Sea Out of his imperfections were procreated divers evils as darkness out of his fear evil spirits out of his ignorance out of his tears springs and rivers and out of his laughter light They also taught that Christs body was meerly spiritual and passed through the Virgin as through a conduit or pipe Evil was natural they said to the creature and therefore they made God the author of evil which afterward was the doctrine of the Manichees They held that onely the soul was redeemed and that there should be no resurrection of the body Faith they taught was natural and consequently salvation which all did not attain for want of good works this was the Pelagian doctrine afterward They made three sorts of men to wit spiritual who were saved by faith onely these they called the sons of Seth hence the Sethian Hereticks The second sort are animal or natural who are saved by works and are of Abel hence the Abelites The third sort are carnal who cannot be saved these are of Cain hence the Cainite Hereticks They eat of things offered to idols slighted good works as needlesse and rejected the old Prophets Valentinus his chiefe Scholar and Successor was Secundus whose Disciples called Secundians changed the name but retained the Doctrine of Valentinus permitting all kind of vicious life in that they held knowledge without good works would bring men to Heaven Valentinus held that the Aeones were only the effects of the divine
be with till the end of the world and on which he hath bestowed the Spirit of Truth to conduct her into all Truth and which he hath built upon the Rock so that Hell Gates shall not prevail against her his Church I say is a congregation and consisteth not of one but of many and Christ hath promised that where two or three are gathered together in his name he will be in the midst of them 5. Because God is better praised and more honoured of many together then by one alone therefore David will praise God and declare his name in the great Congregation Christ will have our light to shine before men that they seeing our good works may glorifie our Father which is in heaven This cannot be done by him that lives amongst wild beasts in a Desart How can he honour God by the exercise of justice mercy charity humility and other vertues chiefly of his patience in suffering injuries and of his obedience to superiours How shall he find out his own infirmities and failings seeing selfe-love is in every man and no man can so well pry into himselfe as another and the heart of man is deceitful above all things 6. And lastly no man alone can be so secure from danger of enemies as when he is in company and therefore Satan is more ready to assault man by tentations when he is alone then when he is in the company and society of others So he set not upon Christ when he was in Ierusalem but when he was led by the Spirit into the Dâ—sart therefore wo to him that is alone for when he falls there is not a second to help him up As then in the body natural God did not separate one member from another but united them all in one bulk under one head to be animatâ—d by one heart or soul that they might help each other so hath he done in the body Polâ—tick of mankind Q. 6. Who were the first Monkâ— after Anthony A. The Thabennesii so called from Thabenna an Island in the Province of Thebais In this one Pachomius an Eâ—emite about the time of Constantius Constantines Son assembled divers Monks together and by the advice of an Angel so goeth the story prescribed them these rules to wit that they should live together in one house distinguished into divers Cells and in each cell should remain three Monks but should all eat in one Hall No man must be forbid to eat or fast they must sleep not lying on beds but sitting in their chaires they must wear Goats skins which they must never put off but when they communicate then they must come only with their hood with which their heads must be covered when they eat that they may not be seen to eat for in eating they must neither cast their eyes off from the Table nor must they speak No stranger must be admitted without three years trial They must pray twelve times in the day time likewise in the evening and in the night a Psalm preceding each prayer The Monks were divided into 24 Orders according to the number of the Greek letters Q. 7. What were the Religious rules that Saâ—nt Baâ—il pâ—escribed to his Monks A. Saint Basil Presbyter of Caesarea in Cappadocia being molested by Eusebius Bishop there to avoid trouble and disturbing of the Church retired to a Monastery in Pontus where he preached to the Monks of that place and departing thence travelled about the country of Pontus and perswaded the Eremites who lived apart in caves and cells of the Desarts to unite themselves in Monasteries and withal prescribes to them these 95. subsequent rules which were imbraced by most of the Eastern Monks The Rules were these 1. To love God with all their heart soul and strength and their neighbours as themselves 2. To ground this Love of God upon his power glory and excellency as â—e is in himselfe and on his goodnesse mercy and bounty towards us 3. That the love of our neighbour be grounded on the command and will of God and on his love towards us his enemies for if God hath so highly loved us that were his enemies shall not we when he commands us love our neighbours 4. That they should not live any longer a sunder but together because of the mutual helps comforts instructions exercise of vertues efficacy of prayers security from dangers which are in the sociable not in the solitary life â— That they should forsake the delights and vanities of the world and with the Apostle to crucifie it and to be crucified to it 6. That they should dispense their wealth to the poor and indigent 7. That none be admitted into their Fraternity without probation 8. That Infants be also admitted but not without the consent of their Parents 9. That they study to be continent and sober in their diet and behaviour 10. Is set down the mâ—asure of their eating and drinking and simplicity of food 11. That there be no affectation or contention for superiority of place at the Table but that all things be done there with order and decency 12. That their appaâ—el be plain simple and homely and that they weaâ— a girdle after the example of Iohn Baptist and the Apostles 13. That they walk not after their own sense and pleasure but as they are directed by Gods word 14. That they be obedient to their Superiours but chiefly to God 15. That they should serve God with the same affection as David did when he said As the Hart brayeth for the Rivers of water so doth my soul after thee O God 16. That he who is their Governour should consideâ— whose minister he is and that he should be as tendeâ— of his charge as a nutse of her child 17. That he reprove at first gently and in the spirit of meeknesse but that he esteem of the obstinate as Heathens and Publicans 18. That he suffer not the least offence to go unreproved seeing the least is a breach of Gods Law 19. That repentance be in sincerity 20. That it be accompanied with good works 21. And with confession 22. That if a man relapse into sin he may use more sincerity in his repentance then before for it seems the disease was not perfectly cured 23. Let him that reproveth be as a Father or a Physitian and he who is reproved as a Son and a Patient 24. That no man defend or excuse himself in his evil courses 25. That among them all things be in common 26. That men of Estates bestow on their Kindred what is their due and the remainder on the poor 27. That none return to their Parents houses except it be to instruct them and by their Superiors leave 28. That none give way through idlenesse for their minds to waver or wander up and down 29. That to avoid idle and sinfull dreams in the night let every one be diligent in meditating on the Law and the word of God by day 30. That with the
then he concludes that the body or flesh which suffered at Ierusalem was not christ body 22. He makes the soul of man to be all one with the Gospel and the body of Christ to be the whole Creation by this and such like stuffe with which his books are fraughted we may see that he deserveth to have his brains purged with Hellebor rather than his crasie opinions refused by arguments or Scripture In the mean while we may perceive to our great grief the lamentable fruits which are begot of two much liberty in religion These impious Opinions are in his printed Pamphlets lately published One Richard Coppiâ— holdeth some of the before recited opinions withall lately before a confused multitude in an usurped pulpit asserted the lawfulnes of womens preaching for such Ranters a pillory were more fit than a pulpit Q. 12. What opinions in Religion are lately broached by Iohn Reeve and Lodowick Muggleton An. These two would perswade us that they are the two last witnesses and prophets of Christ sent by his spirit to seal the foreheads of the elect and reprobate that one Iohn Robins is the last great Antichrist and son of perdition spoken of by the Apostle in the Thessalonians because he sheweth lying signes and wonders and assumes to himself the titles of the onely God in that he calls himself Adam and Melchisedeth and Father of Iesus Christ in saying the three persons in Trinity are Adam that is himself Abel that is his sonne Iesus and Caiâ— that is the holy Ghost Many such blasphemies they ascribe to him They affirm also that Christians using the sword of steel are ignorant of Iesus and enemies to his Gospel and they teach that the two uncreated substances of earth and water were eternally resident in the presence of God the Creator that death was from Eternity that the person of the reprobate Angel or Serpent entred into the womb of Eve and there died but quickened in her all manner of uncleannesse that there is no devil at all without the body of man or woman but what dwells within them so that the devil spoken of so often in the Scripture is mans spirit of unclean reason and cursed imagination that God the Father was a spirituall man from Eternity and that in time his spirituall body brought forth a naturall body that if the very Godhead had not died that is say they the soul of Christ which is the eternall Father had not died all men had perished eternally that Moses and Eliah are angels and did represent the person of the Father in heaven as they did the person of the Son on earth that Eliah was made protectour of God when God became a child and that he filled the Lord Iesus with those great revelations of his former glory which he possessed in heaven when he was the immortall Father and that it was Eliah who spake these words from heaven saying this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased they say also that all the Ministry in this world whether Propheticall or Ministeriall with all the worship taught by them is all a lye and abomination to the Lord. Again they declare that whereas there are three witnesses on earth water blood and the spirit that by water is meant the Commission given to Moses and the Prophets under the Law by blood the Commission given to the Apostles and Ministers of the Gospel by the Spirit is meant the Commission of the two witnesses that were to come in this last age whose ministry is invisible and spirituall cutting off all formall worshipping of an invisible spirituall personall God they say there is hardly a minister in the world that confesseth an invisible God but they preach a God of three persons that is a monster instead of one true personall God they say that the true God is a distinct body or person as a man is a distinct body or person again they say that there is no Christian Magistrate in the world that hath any authority from Christ to set up any visible form of worship and that the spirits and bodies of men are both mortall both begot together and both of one nature that the spirit is nothing without the body that it is the Spirit alone that walks and works eats and drinks and dies for the spirit is a naturall fire of reason they say also that the bodies or persons of holy men wherein they lived and died shall not appear again any more but when the Saints are glorified they are absolutely of the very same glorious nature both in spirit and body as God is and that believing spirits are of the very same divine nature of God This is the summe of their Divinity and Phylosophie as may be seen in their transcendent spirituall Treatise as they call it which is full of transcendent nonsence and blasphemieâ— for here they lay their axe to the very root of Christianity in giving a new Father to our Saviour Jesus Christ in calling the blessed Trinity a monster in denying the Creation whilst they make earth and water eternall in making angels and mens souls mortall in making weak man Gods protector and author of that divine knowledge which was in Christ in denying the Ministry of the Gospel and the power of the Magistrates and the outward worship of God and making the souls of men corporeall in denying also the Resurrection of the flesh and transforming men into the Divine nature By this and other wicked tenets permitted and countenanced among us at this time we see what Christian religion is come to in this land so famous heretofore for piety and zeal we received Christianity as soon as any Nation in Europe whether by the preaching of Saint Peter or Saint Paul or Simon Zelâ—tes or Ioseph of Arimathea I know not but all agree we received it very early and have continued ever since in the profession thereof neither was there ever any Nation more devout and zealous in the advancement thereof as our goodly Temples Monasteries Hospitals Colledges and Schools can witnesse but alas now Quantum mutamur ab illis Angligenis what is there left among us but the bare Skeliton of Religion the vitall substance thereof being eat up and consumed by heresies and blasphemies worse than any Sarcophagus I may here with Ieremiah complain that from the daughter of Sion all her beauty is departed her Princes are become like Harts c. How is the gold become so dimme and the most fine gold changed and the stones of the Sanctuary are scattered in every corner of the streets c. Q. 13. What are the opinions of the Quakers An. These fanaticall spirits are called Quakers because they use to quake and tremble when they prophesie so did the Heathen soothsayers of old non vultus non color unus non compta mansere 〈◊〉 sed pectus anhelum rabie fera corda tument c. but the spirit of God is the spirit of peace
the Jews eight days together The two first and two last are solemnly kept the other four are but half festivals They first repair to their Synagogues then after some praying and singing they run home to their Tents but do not stay there all night as their Ancestors were wont to do They use to take in one hand boughs of Palme Olive and Willow and in the other a Pome-citron then they bless God and shake the boughs towards the four cardinal points of Heaven then having placed the Law upon the Pulpit they go round about it seven times in seven days in memory of the Walls of Iericho encompassed seven times Then having shaken the branches in their hands they pray against Christians This feast is kept about the middle of September in which moneth they beleeve shall be fought the great battel between Gog and Magog in which Gog shall be slain and the Jews restored to their own Land About night they go abroad in the Moon light believing that God doth reveal to them by the shadows of the Moon who shall live or die that year for then they begin the computation of their year The shaking of the branches towards the four corners of the world signifies the destruction of the four great Monarchies to wit the Assyrian Persian Grecian and Roman They make great use of Citrons in this feast for they send sixteen men every year into Spain to bring with them as many of these as they can for by the Citrons they say are represented just men who are as full of good their workes as this fruit is full of seeds Q. How do they keep their new Moons A. Their new Moons are but halfe holy days with them for in the morning they go to their Synagogues the rest of the day they spend in eating drinking and gaming The day before the new Moon they use to fast when they first see her they utter a Benediction and leap three times towards her wishing that their enemies may come no neerer to hurt them then they are able to come neer and hurt her The women have more right to keep this day holy then the men because they would not part with their Ear-rings and Jewels towards the making of the Golden Calf but willingly parted with them towards the building of the Temple They give a ridiculous reason why sacrifices were commanded every new Moon because say they the Moon murmured against God in the beginning therfore he took her light from her and appointed sacrifices to expiare her crime Q. Why do the Iews fast in the moneth of August A. Because they hold the world was made in September therefore they make that moneth the beginning of their year and believe that about that time God will come to judge the world for this cause they fast and pray divers days before and baptize themselvs in Lakes and Rivers and where these are wanting they make pits which they fill with water in these they dip themselves over head and ears thinking this a meanes to expiate their sins they frequent their Synagogues and Church yards desiring God to pardon them for the good Jews sake who are buried there and in the same they distribute large Alms to the poor In some places there they cause Rams horns to be sounded when they go to their Synagogues to put the greater terrour in them when they consider their sins and the horror of Gods judgements Their fasting ceremonies being ended they shave and bath themselves and begin their year with much mirth and jovialty Q. What solemnity use they in beginning their new year A. Because they are commanded by Moses Lev. 23. 24. to keep holy the first day of the seventh moneth therefore they begin their Civil year from that day which after evening peayer in their Synagogues they initiate with a cup of wine wishing to each other a good year The younger sort repair to the chief Rabbi for his blessing which he bestoweth on them by prayer and imposition of hands Being returned home they fall to eating drinking and making merry On the Table is set down a Rams head to put them in minde of that Ram which on this day was sacrificed in Isaacs stead and to signifie that they shall be the Head and not the Tail of Christians They feed that night plentifully on fish and fruit to shew that they will encrease and multiply in good works as the fish do in the Sea and that their enemies shall be cut off from all help as the fruit is plucked off from the tree In the morning they go betimes to their Synagogues to sing and pray the Law is taken twice out of the Ark and some Lessons read after which one soundeth a Rams horn on the Pulpit if he sounds clear it s a good sign if otherwise they hold it ominous and a sign of a bad year This horn-trumpet is also in memory of Isaacs delivery by the Ram this day as they hold The rest of the day they spend in good cheer and mirth After dinner they go to the waters there to drown their sins If they see any fish in the water they shake their cloaths that their sins falling upon those fishes may be carried away by them into the Sea as of old they were by the scape-goat into the wilderness At night they feast again and so initiate the year with two days mirth Q. How doe they prepare themselves for Morning prayer A. They hold it necessary that every Jew from the fifteenth of Iune till Pentecost should rise before day because then the nights are long but from Pentecost till the fifteenth of Iune they may rise after day their rising will be the more acceptable to God if they have weeped in the night for with such the stars and planets do weep they must let their tears fall down their cheeks because then God is ready with his bottle to receive them these tears may serve them for good use because when at any time the enemies of Israel send out Edicts to destroy the Jewes God is ready with these bottles to pour them out upon these writings and to blotuot the Edict that the Jews may receive no hurt thereby They hold the morning the best time to enter into the house of God because David faith Thou wilt heat my voice betimes in the morning In the evening they say God commands all the gates of Heaven to be shut which are guarded by certain Angels who are silent till after midnight then a great noise is heard in Heaven commanding the gates to be opened this noise is heard by our cocks here below who presently upon this clap their wings and crow that men thereby may awake then the evil spirits who had leave to wander up and down in the night whilest Heaven gates were shut lose all power of doing hurt as soon as they hear the cock crow they must say this prayer as they are taught by their Rabbins
their superstitious Church discipline if I may so call it Of which see Lucian in his Syrian Goddesse out of whom I have this description By this and by what we are to speak of the Gentile idolatry we may admire the madnesse of those men who being made after the image of God do subject and enslave themselves to dead images to senselesse blocks and stones which have eyes and see not eares and heare not then not without cause did David say that they who made them are like unto them he meanes those that worship them for not the Artificer but the Worshipper makes the Idol So the Poet Qui fingit sacros auro vel marmore vultus Non facit ille Deâ—s qui colit iste facit And it is strange to see how cold and sparing we are in the worship of the true God how zealous and expensive they are in the service of their false gods they can cut their flesh and cry from morning to evening with Baals Priests they can part from their gold and silver their jewels and ear-rings to make them a golden Calf yea they can offer their sons and daughters to be burned in the fire to Moloch and yet there is no sin so repugnant to God as Idolatry for it is repugnant to his entity because an Idol is nothing in the world saith the Apostle it is repugnant to his unity because he is but one but false gods or idols are many it is repugnant to him as he is verity because Idols are lying vanities it is repugnant also to him as he is life because Idols are dead and senselesse things it is repugnant to his purity for Idols are called filthinesse pollution and abomination in Scripture it is also repugnant to the love he carrieth to his Church for it causeth jealousie in him and therefore he calleth Idolatry Whoredom and Idoters Adulterers and they that worship Idols are said to goe a Whoring after other gods it is likewise opposite to gods goodnesse therefore idolatrie is particularly called sin as if it were the only sin in the world so Exod. 32. 22. This people is prone to sin that is to idolatry so Lament 1. 8. my people have committed a sin that is Idolatry and as it is most repugnant to Gods nature so it is to almost all his commandments To the first because it makes other gods then he To the seond because it makes graven Images and worships them To the third because it takes Gods name in vain by giving it to the creature even to stocks and stones To the fifth because it gives the honour due to parents uno senselesse Idols for the Idolater saith to the stock thou art my Father and to the stone thou hast begotten me Jer 2. 27. To the sixth commandement because the Idolater is a horrible murtherer in not sparing his own children To the seventh for Idolatry is not onely spiritual Adultry but the cause also of carnal pollution and of unnatural lust for among the Indiáns they practised Sodomy in the sight of their Idols as a part of that worship due to them Lastly it is against the eighth commandement for the Idolater is a sacrilegious thiefe stealing from God his due and giving it to his Idol as the Prophet complaineth Hos. 2. 8. There are three sins inseparable companions of Idolatry namely Witchcraft Coveteousnesse and carnal Pollution For the first The Apostle Gal. 5. 20. joyneth Idolatry and Witchcraft together The Ephesians as they were given to Idolatry so they were to Magical Arts and as soon as they forsook their idolatry they forsook also their witchcraft and burned their conjuring books Acts 19. 19. as Manasseh reared up Altars for Baal so he used inchantments and dealt with familiar spirits and Wizzards 2 Kings 21. 6. hence proceeded diabolical inspirations and Enthusiasmes Oracles and many other inchanting tricks As for covetousness it is no wonder that it accompanies idolatry for it is a kind of idolatry and so the Apostle calls it The covetous man worshippeth his god Plutus or Mammon with as great devotion as any Idolater doth his Idol he saith to the wedge thou art my hope and to the gold thou art my confidence he sacrificeth to his god the poor whom he oppresseth his own soul also and his body too which he macerates with care and deprives of things necessary King Ahaz no sooner gave himself to Idolatry but he presently shews his sacrilegious covetousnesse in robbing the house of the Lord of its wealth 2 Chron. 28. As for carnal uncleannesse how much that hath been practised by Idolaters is known to them that have read Histories for they did not think their daughters fit for marriage till first they had been prostituted before their Idols and though adultery fornication and Sodomy were thought sins yet these were held vertues and a part of religious worship in the presence of their gods and it is no marvel for their very gods were incestuous Adulterers and Sodomites and divers Strumpets after their death were deified as Lactantius instanceth in Laurentia the Wife of Faustulus who for her whoordomes among the Shepherds was called Lupa that is a Whore Such another was Leaena among the Athenians such was Faula Hercules his Whore and Flora who left her estate to the Romans In a word Idolatry hath been the cause of all sin and mischiefe in the world from whence proceed murthers rapine oppression injustice intemperance uncleannesse sorsery avarice c. but from this that men forsook the living God who is the punisher of vice and rewarder of vertue and served false gods who had been wicked men themselves whilest they lived and patronized wickednesse when they were dead Q. What Idolatrous Gods or Devils rather did the ancient Syrians worship A. Their chief god was Baal-Zebub or Beel-Zebub the Lord of Flies either because his Temple was much infested with Flies or else from the power he had in driving away Flies He was a great god at Ekron and is called in the Gospel Prince of the Devils Some take him for Jupiter others for Priapus others for Sumanus chief god of the Manes which some think to be Pluto 8. Baal-Phegor or Peor that is the gaping or naked Lord so called from the naked posture in which he was worshipped hâ— was the God of the Mâ—abites His Temple is called Beth-Peor Deut 3. 29. some take him for Priapus 3. Baal or Bel which signifieth Lord was a great god or Idol amongst the Babylonians Sidonians Samaritans and Moabites and sometimes among the Iews some take him for Mars others for Iupiter who by the Phoenicians is called Baal Samen that is Lord of Heaven by which I think they meant the Sun 4. Baal-berith that is Lord of the Covenant Iudg. 9. 4. by whom they meant Iupiter whose office was to confirme Covenants and to punish the breakers thereof Audiat haec genitor qui foedera sulmine sancit Virg. Aene. 12. So Aristophanes calls upon Iupiter to send his
who produceth all things of himselfe the End of Ends and first cause of all operations the Author of all goodnesse and beauty by whose light all things shine c. Simplicius saith that from this divine beauty proceed all beauties and all truths from this divine truth the beginning of all beginnings the sowrce and original of all goodnesse the cause of causes God of Gods c. Plotinus to the same purpose makes God the original of all things and who only is sufficient in himselfe giving being to all c. The same doctrine is taught by his Scholar â—orphyrie and likewise by all the other Platoâ—â—sts this was also the general Tenet of the Stoicks as may be seen in Epictetus who sheweth that above all things we must learn to know there is but one God the governour of all things c. who is not ignorant of our works words and thoughts c. Cicero tells us that nothing is more excellent then God by whom the world is governed who is subject and obedient to none So Seneca we must find out something more ancient then the world whence the Stars had their original c. He calls God the Soul and Spirit the preserver and keeper of this Universe the Lord and Architect of this great work c. The same is acknowledged by Chrysippus as he is cited by Plutarch there cannot saith he be found out any other beginning or original of justice but from Iupiter who is the common nature fate and providence of all things The Peripateticks maintained the same doctrine as may be seen in Aristotles Physicks Metaphysicks and De mundo he acknowledgeth a first infinite and eternal Mover who is only wise and the cause of causes He is the Father of gods and men the preserver of the world the mover of Heavens Sun Moon c. His Scholar Theophrasâ—us to the same purpose confesseth that from this one principle all things have their existence and consistence that God made all things of nothing Alexander Aphrodisaeus and the rest affirm the same truth aud not onely the Philosophers but likewise the Poets assented to this doctrin Orpheus sings thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there is none other but this great King whose seat is in Heaven and is compassed with clouds who seeth all things and is seen of none c. To the same purpose Phocyllides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There is one wise God powerfull and blessed But of this subject I will speak more hereafter concerning the Sun I could alleadge Homer Hesiod Sophocles Virgil Ovid and other Poets to this purpose but this work is already performed by Iustin Martyr Eusebius Clemens Lactantius Plessis and others who likewise have inserted many verses out of the Sibylls Q. What Priests had the Romans A. Of these we have said somewhat already but we will say something more Their antientest Priests were Luperci the Priests of Pan Lycaeus Potitii and Pinarii of Hercules Of divination by chirping of Birds Augures of divining by Poultry Pullarii They that had the care of Altars and looked into the intrals of the Sacrifice were called Aruspices and Extispices Curiones were the Priests that had care of each Curla or Ward in the City for Romulus divided Rome into 33 Wards and assigned to each of them a Priest or Curio Over these was Curio maximus that is an Archbishop The Priests which Romulus ordained to the memory of Titus Tatius King of the Sabins were called Sodales Tatit. The Priests that went alwayes covered with threaden caps or hoods were called Flamines quasi Filamines whereof there were divers sorts as we have already shewed Of the Vestal Priestesses and the Salii as also of the Feciales Rex Sacrificulus and Pontifex maximus we have said The Priests that had the charge of the Sibylls books were at first but two called Duumviri then they were increased to ten Decemviri at last to fifteen called Quindecemviri Fauna or Fatua who for her loyalty to her husband was called Bona Dea had her peculiar Priestesses The Priests of Sybele mother of the Gods were called Gâ—lli whose chiefe or Archbishop was called Archi-gallus there were also other Priests called Triumviri and Septemviri epulonum who had charge of the publiquâ— Feasts and games Besides these every Idol had his Priest and these had their under Officers or servants called Camilli The servants of Flamen Dialis were called Flaminei They had their Church-Wardens called Aeditui their Trumpeters and Sacbutters called Tubicines and Tibicines Popae were those that bound the Sacrifices Victimarii that killed them Their Cryers that went before the Priest to injoyn the people to forbear working during the time of Sacrificing were called Preciae The women that were hired to sing the praises of the dead were named Praeficae Their Grave diggers Vespilones Q. What sort of Sacrifices did the ancient Romans use A. They used to offer a day before the solemn Sacrifice a preparative Sacrifice called Hostia Praecedanâ—a Their Succedaneae were Sacrifices which succeeded when the former were not satisfactory Wethers that were led to be Sacrificed with a Lamb on each side of them were called Ambiguiâ— Bidentes were sheep sacrificed having two horns and two eminent teeth Ambervales were sacrifices carried in their Processions about the fields Amburbales were Processions and sacrifices about the City Heysers sacrificed which had never been tamed or put under the yoke were called Injuges The Priest having brought the sacrifice to the Altar used to pray laying his hand on the Altar Musick in the mean time sounding Then he layeth on the head of the beast Corn or a Cake with Salt and Frankincense this was called Immolatio from molâ— the Cake Then followed Libatio which was the tasting of the Wine and sprinkling thereof upon the beasts head this done the hairs between the horns of the beast being pluckt out were flung into the fire this they called Libamina Primâ— Then the beast was killed the blood received in vessels and the intrails searched at last the beast is cut in pieces one piece was wrapped in meale and then burned on the Altar this was called Litare After this they went to feasting singing and dancing now every particular God had his sacrifice white beasts were sacrificed to their supernal Gods black to the infernal The Bull was the proper sacrifice of Iupiter Neptune Apollo Mars Luna and the Heroes The Ram was sacrificed to Mars and the Heroes Wine was offered to Ceres and Liber The Goat to Aesculapius and Liber Milk and hony to Ceres A Horse to Sol and Mars A Lamb to Iuno and Faunus A Dove to Venus A Doe to Pan and Minerva A Hinde to Diana A Hog to Sylvanus A Cock to the Lares A Sow to Cybele and a Sow to Ceres A Hen to Aesculapius and a Child to Saturne c. But this last was abolished by the Romans To each god also they assigned his particular Bird. The
substance communicated from parents to Children and not a quality or affection These wicked opinions raged in the world 340. years after Manes was excoriated alive for poysonning the Persian Kings Son these Hereticks were three Sects to wit Manichees Catharists or Puritans and Macarii or blessed Q. 25. What was the Religion of the Hierarchites Melitians and Arrians A. The Hierachites so called from Hieracha an Egyptian and a Monk who lived shortly after Origen under Gallienus 234. years after Christ taught that married people could not enjoy heaven nor infants because they cannot merit they admitted none into their Church but those that lived single They denied that Paradise in which man was created had any earthly or visible being They held Melchisedeck to be the Holy Ghost and denied the Resurrection The Meletians so called from Meletius a Theban Bishop in Egypt who because he was deposed for offering to Idols in spleen he taught the Novatian Heresie in denying pardon of sins to those that fell though they repented rejected all from their communion who in time of persecution fell from Christ though they afterward repented They used Pharisaical washings and divers other Judaical ceremonies and in their humiliations to appease Gods anger with dancing singing and gingling of small bells This Heresie began under Constatine the Emperour 286. years after Christ. The Arrians so called from Arrius a Lybian by birth and a Presbyter of Alexandria by Profesion were called also Exoucontji for saying that Christ was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 created of nothing This heresie brake out under Constantine 290. years after Christ and over-run a great part of the Christian world They held Christ to be a creature and that he had a mans body but no humane soul the divinity supplying the room thereof They held also the holy Ghost a creature proceeding from a creature to wit Christ. The Arrians in their Doxolegier gave glory not to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost but to the Father by the Son in the Holy Ghost They rebaptized the Orthodox Christian and baptized onely the upper parts to the Novel thinking the inferiour parts unworthy of baptisme Q. 26. What was the Religion of the Audians Semi-arrians and Macedonians A. The Audiani so called from Audaeus a Syrian who appeared under Valentinian the Emperour 338. yeares after Christ were named afterwards Anthropormorphytae for ascribing to God a humane body these as afterward the Denatists forsook the Orthodox Church because some wicked men were in it They held darknesse fire and water eternal and the Original of all things They admitted to the Sacrament all sorts of Christians even such as were profane and impenitent The Semi-arrians were those who neither would have Christ to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the same individual essence with the Father as the Orthodox Church held nor yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of a like essence but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of a different Essence but of a like Will and so they taught that Christ was not God in Essence but in Will only and Operation This Heresie also held that the Holy Ghost was Christs creature It began under Constantius the Emperour 330. years after Christ. The chief author thereof was one-eyed Acatius Bishop of Cesaraea Palestina successor to Eusebius hence they were called Acatiani The Macedonians so called from Macedonius Bishop of Constantinople held that the holy Ghost was a creature and the servant of God but not God himselfe and withal that by the holy Spirit was meant only a power created by God and communicated to the creatures This Heresie sprung up or rather being sprung up long before was stifly maintained under Constantius the Son of Constantine 312. years after Christ and was condemned in the second Oecumenical councel at Constantinople under Theodosius the great These Hereticks were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fighters against the spirit Q. 27. Of what Religion were the Aerians Aetians or Eunomians and Apollinarists A. The Aerians so called from Aerius the Presbyter who lived under Valentinian the first 340. years after Christ held that there was no differance between a Bishop and a Presbyter that Bishops could not ordain that the dead were not to be prayed for that there should be no set or anniversary fasts and with the Encratites or Apotactitae admitted none to their communion but such as were continent and had renounced the world They were called Syllabici also as standing captiously upon Words and Syllabies They are said also to condemn the use of flesh the Aetians were called so from Aetius a Deacon whose successor was Eunomius about the year of Christ 331. under the Emperor Constantius he was Bishop of Cyzicum whose disciples were called Eunomians and Anomei for holding that Christ was no way like the Father They were called also Eudoxiani Theophronâ—ani When they were banished they lived in holes and caves and so were called Troglodytae and Gothici because this heresie prevailed much among the Goths by means of Vlphillas their Bishop These hereticks held that God could be perfectly here comprehended by us that the Son was neither in power essence or will like the Father and that the Holy Ghost was created by the Son that Christ also assumed onely mans body but not his soul. They permitted all kind of licentiousnesse saying that faith without good works could save The Eunomians did rebaptise the Orthodox professors and baptised in the name of the Father uncreated the Son created and the Holy Ghost created by the Son The Apollinarists so called from Apollinaris Presbyter in Laodicea divided Christs humanity in affirming that he assumed mans body and a sensitive soul but not the reasonable or intellective soul of man because that was supplied by the divinity from this division they were named Duplaâ—es and Dimâ—iritae In stead of the Trinity they acknowledge onely three distinct degrees of power in God the greatest is the Father the lesser is the Son and the laest of all the Holy Ghost They held that Christs flesh was consubstantial with his divinity and that he took not his flesh from the Virgin but brought it from Heaven They held that Christ had but one will that mens souls did propagate other souls that after the Resurrection the ceremonial Law should be kept as before This heresie brake out 350. years after Christ under Valens the Emperor Q. 28. What did the Antidicomarianites Messalians and Metangismonites professe A. The former of these were so called because they were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 adversaries to Maries Virginity Whence they were named Antimaritae and Helvidians from Helvidius the author who lived under Theodosius the great 355. years after Christ. These held that Mary did not continue a Virgin after Christ was born but that she was known by Ioseph whereas she was indeed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a perpetual Virgin The Messalians were so
Some of them deny the souls immortality and doubt whether there be any other Deity except Heaven and Earth 21. The Family of Love whose author was one Henry Nicolas a Hollander They reject all Sacraments and the three last petitions of the Lords prayer They say that Christ is onely the image of God the Fathers right hand and that mans soule is a part of the divine essence 22. Effroâ—tes so called from shaving their foreheads till they bleed and then anoint them with oyle using no other baptisme but this they say the holy Ghost is but a bare motion inspired by God into the mind and that he is not to be adored all which is directly repugnant to Gods word which proves that the holy Ghost is true God Thou hast not lyed saith Saint Peter unto man but unto God meaning the holy Ghost This Sect took up their station in Transylvania 23. Hosmanists these teach that God took flesh of himself whereas the Scripture saith that Christ was made of a Woman They deny pardon to those thaâ— relapse into sin and so they abridge the grace of God who wills us to repent and thereupon receives us into â—avour 24. 〈◊〉 so called from one Gaspâ—â— Schewenkfeld a Silesian he taught that the Scripture was needlesse to Salvation and with the old Mâ—nichees and Valentinians that Christ was not conceived by the holy Ghost in the Virgins Womb but that God created a man to redeem us and joyned him to himselfe and that this man became God after he ascended into Heaven they confound the Persons of Father and Son and say that God did not speak these words This is my beloved Son That faith is the very essence and nature of God That all Christians are the Sons of God by nature procreated of the divine essence That the Sacraments are uselesse that Christs body is every where Of these Sects and many more of lesse note see Florimundus Raymundâ—s hence we may see what a dangerous Gap hath been made since Luther began to oppose the Church of Rome for the little Foâ—â—es to destroy Christs Vineyard what multitudes of Taâ—es have grown up 〈◊〉 the good Corn in the Lords field what troublesome Frogs worse then those of Egypt have crawled into mâ—st mens houses what swarmes of Locusts have darkened thâ— Sun of righteousnesse whilst â—e was â—â—ining in the Firmament of his Church Q 13. What other opinions in religion were maintained this age A. Carolostadius Arch Deacon of Witâ—berâ— and Oecolâ—â—padius Monk of the Order of S. Bridges opposed Luthers Doctrin in the point of the real presence shewing that Christ was in the bread onely sacramentally or significatively The Libertius whose author was one Quintious a Taylor of Piâ—cardy taught that whatsoever good or evil we did was not done by us but by Gods Spirit in us that sin was nothing but an opinion that in reproving of sinners we reproved God himself that he onely was regenerate who had no remorse of conscience that he onely reâ—euted who confessed he had committed no evil that man in this life may be perfect and innocent that the knowledge we have of Christ and of our Resurrection is but opinion that we may dissemble in Religion which is now the opinion of Master Hobbs and lastly they slight the Scriptures relying on their own inspirations and they slight the Pen men of the Holy Ghost calling Saint Iohn a foolish young man Saint Matthew a Publican Saint Paul a broken vessel and Saint Peter a denyer of his Master Zuinglius Canon of Constance held the Doctrine of Câ—rolostadius against Luther concerning the real presence David George a Glasier in Gaunt taught that he was God Almighties Nephew born of the Spirit not of the flesh the true Messiah and third David that was to reign on Earth that Heaven was void of inhabitants and that therefore he was sent to adopt Sons for that heavenly Kingdom He denied Spirites the Resurrection and the last judgement and life eternal He held promiscuous copulation with the Adamits and with the Manichees that the soul was not polluted with sin that the souls of Infidels shall be saved and the bodies of the Apostles as well as those of Infidels shall be burned in Hell fire and that it was no sin to deny Christ before men therefore they condemned the Martyrs of folly for shedding their blood for Christ. Melaâ—â—ctâ—on was a Lutheran but not altogether so rigid so was Bucer except in the point of Christs real presence Westphalus also but he denied original sin and the Holy Ghosts procession from the Son and that Christs did not institute the Lent Fast nor was any man tied to keep it Q. 14. What were the chief Heads of Calvins Doctrine A. That in this life our â—aith is not without some doubtings and incredulity that the Scriptures are sufficient without traditions that an implicite faith is no faith that the Books of Tobias Iudith a part of Hester The Wisedome of Solomon Ecclesiasticus Baruch The History of Bell and the Dragon and the books of Macchabees are not parts of the Canonical Scripture that the Hebrew Text of the Old Testament is only authentical and so the Grek of the New Testament that the Scripture in Fundamentals is clear of it selfe and is a sufficient judge of controversies that the Elect have saving faith onely which can never totally and finally be lost that predestination to life or death dependeth not on mans foreseen merits or demerits but on Gods free will and pleasure that no sin comes to passe without the will of God that the Son of God received not his Essence of the Father nor is he God of God but God of himselfe that Christ in respect of his humaniâ—y was ignorant of some things that the Virgin Mary was obnoxious to divers sins and infirmities that Christ is our Mediaâ—or in respect of both natures that Christ was in the state of damnation when he suffered for us but did not continue in it that Christ by his suffering merited nothing for himselfe that he descended not truly into Hell but by suffering the pains of Hell on the Crosse that there is no Limbus Patrum nor Purgatory that our prayers avail not to the dead that the torments of the evil Angels were deferred till the day of judgement that Christ came not out of the grave whilest it was shut that the true Church of God consisteth onely of the Elect and that it is not visible to men that the Church may erre that Saint Peter was not Bishop of Rome nor the Pope his successor but that he is Antichrist that the Church and Magistrate cannot make Laws to bind the conscience that caelibat and the monastical life is unlawful consequently the vows of chastity poverty and obedience that man hath not free will to goodnesse that concupiscence or the first motions before the will consents are sins that all sins are mortal and none in themselves venial that in
this life our sinnes are still inherent in us though they be not imputed to us that wee are justified by faith without works and that faith is never without charity that the best of our works deserve damnation that here we may be assured of our justification and salvation that the Church Liturgy ought not to be read in Latin but in the vulgar tongue that faith is a more excellent vertue then charity that there is no merit in us that in this life we cannot possibly fulfil the Law that to invocate the Saints to worship Images and Reliques or the Crosse is Idolatry that usury is not altogether unlawful that Lent and other set Fasts are not to be kept that there be onely two Scaraments Baptisme and the Lords supper and that the Sacraments cannot justifie or confer grace that the Baptisme of water is not of absolute necessity nor depends the efficacy of it from the intention of the Minister nor ought it to be administered by private men or women in private houses That Christ is not corporally in the Eucharist that in the want of Bread and wine other materials may be used and that Wine alone without Water is to be used that there is no Transubstantiation nor ought to be any adoration of the Bread that the â—up should be administred to all that Extream Unction was onely temporary in the Church that the Clergy ought to marry He rejected also the Church-Hierarchy and Ceremonies and exorcisms Penance also Confirmation Orders Matrimony and Extream Unction from being Sacraments Q. 15. What other opinions in Religion were held this age A. Servetus a Spaniard who was burned at Genevâ— taught with the Sabellians that there was but one Person in God and that there was in Christ but one nature with Eutychees he denied the holy Ghost and Baptisme to Infants which he would have to be deferred till the thirtieth year of their age He held also that God was Essential in every creature Brentius a Lutheran taught that Christs body after its ascension is every where whence sprung up the Vbiquitaries Castelliâ— a School-Master in Geneva held that the Canticles was not Scripture but a Love Ballade between Solomon and one of his Concubines One Postellus taught that men of all Sects and Professions should be saved by Christ. Oâ—iander held that we were justified not by â—aith but by the Essential righteousnesse of God which he said was the formal cause of our justification One 〈◊〉 a Maâ—tuan taught that Christ justified us not as he was God but as he was man Amsdorphius wrot a Book to prove that good works were pernicious to salvation One George Maiâ—r taught that Infants could not be justified for want of good works Iohn Agricâ—â—â— affirmed that the Law was altogether needlesse and that Christians were not tied to the observation thereof Hence sprung up the Antinomians One Steunbergetus in Morâ—via denyed the Trinity the Divinity of Christ the holy Ghost and Virginity of Mary he rejected also Baptisme and the Lords day affirming we had no command in Scripture to keep that but the Sabbath onely One Oâ—inus taught that â—olygamy or multiplicity of Wives was lawful One Valentinus Gentilâ—â— of Naples denied the Trinity and rejected the Creed of Athâ—â—â—â—ius One 〈◊〉 of Cracovia in â—oland denyed also the Trinity and thâ—â—ty of Essence and taught that neither the Second nor Third Person were God that Satan was created evil that mans intellect is eternal that our free will was a passive power moved necessarily by the appetite that God was the Author of sin and that the will of man in sinning was conformable to the will of God that it was not adultery to lie with another mans Wife that we must belive nothing but what is evident to sense or reason that the same body which dieth riseth not again that the soul perished with the body that there should be no care had of burial that separated souls could not suffer corporeal fire and that God being a Spirit should not be invocated by our mouth but by our heart One Swenkfeldius taught that the Scripture was not the Word of God nor that our faith depended on it but it rather on our faith That Christ brought his body with him from Heaven That Christs humanity became God after his ascension that every man was endowed with the same essential vertues of justice wisdom c. which were in God That the power and efficacy of Gods word preached was the very Son of God In Moravia there started up some professors called Nudipedales because they went bare-footed these in imitation of the Apostles forsook houses Lands Businesse and Children and lived together in common avoiding the society of other people Another Sect sprung up which called themselves Free Men teaching that they were freed from obedience to Magistrates from Taxes Tythes and other duties that after baptisme they could not sin That they were not onely like God but already deified And that it was lawful among themselves but no where else to have women in common Q. 16. Were there no other opinions held this Century A. Yes many more so vain and luxuriant are the wits of men in finding out many inventions and shaping to themselves forms and Ideas of Religions every one esteeming his own the best and as much in love with his own imaginations as Narcissus was with his shadow in the Water or Dercalion with his own picture Some reject Scriptures others admit no other writings but Scriptures Some say the Devits shall be saved others that they shall be damned others that there are no Devils at all Some hold that it is lawful to dissemble in Religion others the contrary Some say Antichrist is come some say not others that he is a particular man others that he is not a man but the Devil and others that by Antichrist is meant a succession of men some will have him to be Nero some Caligula some Mahomet some the Pope some Luther some the Turk some of the Tribe of Dan and so each man according to his fancy will make an Antichrist Some onely will observe the Lords day some onely the Sabbath some both and some neither Some will have all things in common some not Some will have Christs body onely in Heaven some everywhere some in the Bread others with the bread others about the bread others under the Bread and others that Christs body is the bread or the bread his body And others again that his body is transformed into his divinity Some wil have the Eucharist administred in both kinds some in one some not at all Some will have Christ descend to Hell in respect of his soul some onely in his power some in his divinity some in his body some not at all some by Hell understand the place of the damned some Limbus Patrum others the wrath of God others the state of the dead others the grave Some wil make Christ two Persons some give him but
same Church but the Brothers must officiate below the Sisters above Both Sexes must use gray cloaks and coats with a red cross thereon They must have nothing in propriety touch no money must lie onely upon straw The fashion colour and measure of their cloathes are set down on their Vaile they must wear a weite linnen Crown on which are sowed pieces of red cloath representing drops of blood and so placed that they may resemble the cross The Sisters are enjoyned how to officiate and what prayers they shall use every day to be silent to avoid conference with men except it be at a window upon urgent occasion on Sundays and great Festivals and that onely from nine till the evening She that openeth not her window at all shall have the greater reward in Heaven Days of fasting are prescribed them none must be admitted into the order without a years probation then she must be examined and consecrated by the Bishop who is to bring her into the Church with a red Crosse carried before her having the Crucifix on the one side and the Virgins Image on the other to put her in minde of patience and chastity two Tapers burning must be carried before the Crosse then the Bishop consecrates a Ring and prayeth She having testified her constant resolution to that kinde of life the Bishop by putting the Ring on her finger marrieth her to Christ and prayeth she comes to the Altar and offers then returns to her place again Her new cloathes are also consecrated and she is called by the Priest to come bare-footed to the Altar the Bishop prayeth again and withall puts on her the coat of her profession her shooes hood and cloak which he tieth with a wooden button in memory of Christs wooden Crosse to which her minde should be fastned Then her Vaile is put on the Bishop at every action and parcel of her cloathes prayeth and at last her Crown the Bishop praying that she may be Crowned with joy She returns to her place and is called again to the Altar where she falls on her face the Bishop with his Priests read the Letanie absolves her and gives her the Eucharist her Coffin which during the time of the Masse stood there is carried by four Sisters sprinkling dust on it into the Covent at the gate whereof stands the Abbatesse with her Nuns the Bishop with two Tapers carried before him and the Priests singing brings the new Nun and recommends her to the care of the Abbatesse which she receives shuts the gate and brings her into the Chapter The first eight days she is tied to no discipline At Table and in the Quite she sitteth last The number of the Sisters is sixty and no more Thirteen Priests according to the number of Apostles whereof Saint Paul was one four Evangelists or Preachers representing the four Doctors of the Church Ambrose Austin Gregory and Hierom and eight Lay-men All these together make up the number of the thirteen Apostles and 72. Disciples The Priests Garments shall be of course gray on which shall be worne a red crosse and in the middest a round piece of white cloth to resemble the host which they daily offer The four Evangelists shall carry on their cloaks a white circle to shew the incomprehensible wisdom of the four Doctors which they represent Within these circles red pieces of cloth shall be inserted like tongues cloven to shew their learning and eloquence The Lay-brothers shall wear on their cloaks a white crosse to shew Christs innocency with five pieces of red cloth in memory of Christs five wounds The number of Brothers in the Covent must not exceed five and twenty who are to be blessed by the Bishop after the same manner that the Sisters were but instead of a Ring the Bishop shall hold the Priest by the hand and for a Vail shall lay his hands on his head and instead of a Crown shall use the sign of the Crosse. The Abbatesse shall be among the thirteen Priests as Mary was among the Apostles she shall have for Confessor him whom the Bishop alloweth Confession must be made at least three times yearly and every day if need be to such Priests as the Confessor shall chuse the Priest shall be diligent in preaching praying and fasting Every Thursday shall be a Chapter held wherein the delinquent Sisters may be punished with fasting standing without doores in the Church-yard whilst the other Sisters are within at Divine Service and with prostrating her self on the ground till the Abbatesse take her up and intercede for her absolution If a Sister possesse any thing in propriety and dyeth before she confesseth it her body is layed on a Beer at the Church door where they all say an Ave-Mary for her and then is absolved and after Mass is carried from the Quite to the Church door by the Sisters where the Brothers receive her and bury her Neither the Abbatesse nor any Sister must receive gifts or have any thing in proper Every one after the first foundation must bring their yearly revenues to be imployed by the Abbaresse but after the number of Sisters is filled and a revenue setled they that come after need brinâ— nothing If any dye her cloathes and allowance in dyet shall be given to the poor till another be chosen Every year before the Feast of All-Saints let there be an audit of expences kept if any thing remain over and above the expences let it be reserved for the next years expences or bestowed on the poor on whom also the Nuns old cloathes must be conferred Every Novice must bring a present or almes gift to the Covent but nothing that hath been got by oppression cheating stealing or any other sinistrous means such gifts must be restored again and so must gifts doubtfully got be rejected and if the Covent stand not in need of any persent let it be given to the poor In every Church must be thirteen Altars on each of which one Chalice but on the high Altar two Chalices two pair of Flaggons so many Candlesticks one Crosse three Censers one for daily use the other two for solemn Feasts a Cibory for the Host let there be no Gold nor Silver in the Covent except where the Holy Reliques are kept Let every one have her office or service Book and as many other books as they will for good arts Let each Altar have two Altar-cloths Let no Sisters be admitted under eighteen nor Priest or Brother under five and twenty years of age Let the Sisters imploy their time in devotion labouring with their hands and about their own affairs after the manner of Christ and his Mother Let rich and poor have the same measure of meat and drink and let not any afflict their body too much for not their own correction but Gods mercy must save them Let the sisters confesse at the lattess of the windows where they may be heard but not seen but in receiving the Eucharist they
Leyden their King reigned who taught that he had a commission from heaven to take many wives 18 Libertines who make God the author of sin and deny the Resurrection 19. Deo relicti who rejected all meanes and relied onely upon God 20. Semper Orantes who with the old Euchytes are still praying thinking they are tyed to no other duty Q. 2. What are the Tenets of the Brownists A. These being so called from their author Master Robert Brown of Northamptonshire sometimes a School-Master in Southwark hold there is no other pure Church in the world but among them so did the Donatists of old 2. They reject the Lords Prayer in this they are Iewes and agree with the old Hereticks called Prodiciani 3. They will not serve God in consecrated Churches nor will communicate with those they called wicked in this they follow the old Cathari 4. They reject tythes and affect parity in this they are Anabaptists 5. They hold all the Church Ceremonies to be Popish 6. That the love which is in God is not Essential 7. That Ordination of Ministers by Bishops is Antichristian 8. That the Word preached and Sacraments administred by scandalous Ministers are altogethers ineffectual 9. That Church-musick is unlawful 10. That Lay-men and Mechanicks may preach and expound Scripture 11. That set forms of prayers are aboninable in the sight of God whereas notwithstanding we have diverts set forms both in the Old and New Testament at which they quarrel and chiefly at the Lords Prayer 12. There be divers sorts of this profession some Brownists of which we have spoken some Barrowists so called from Barrow their first Martyr He called the Church of England Sodom Babylon and Egypt Some are called Wilkinsonians from Wilkinson their Master who thought that he and his followers were truly Apostles and therefore denyed communion with such as did not give them that title A fourth sort there is of Anabaptistical Brownists who hold themselves the onely true Church and condemn the other Brownists for Pedobaptisme therefore they re baptise such as come to them They that would see more of this Sect let them read the Book called The profane Schisme of the Brownists another called The foundation of Brownisme Master Whites Discovery of Brownisme Doctor Halls Apology against the Brownists Giffords Declaration against the Brownists Pagits Heresiography c. Q. 3. What are the Familists A. The Familists or Family of love are so called from the love they bear to all men though never so wicked and their obedience to all Magistrates though never so tyrannical be they Iewes Gentiles or Turks Their first Founder was one David George of Delfe who called himself the true David that should restore the Kingdom to Israel He held 1. That neither Moses nor the Prophets nor Christ could by their Doctrine save the people but his Doctrine was the onely meanes of salvation 2. That whosoever spoke against his Doctrine should never be forgiven neither in this life nor in the life to come 3. That he would set up the true house of David and raise the Tabernacle of God not by suffering but through love and meeknesse 4. That he was the right Messiah the beloved son of the Father 5. That he should not die or if he did he should rise again His Successor Henry Nicholas of Amsterdam maintained the same Doctrine but in his own name calling himself The Restorer of the World and the Prophet sent of God To the former Tenets he added 1. That there is no other Christ but holinesse and no other Antichrist but sin 2. That the Family of love hath attained the same perfection that Adam had before he fell 3. That there is no resurrection of the flesh 4. That the day of judgement is already come and that this Nicholas is the Judge of the world 5. That there hath been eight great Lights in the world whereof Christ was the seventh but himself the eight and greatest of all 6. That none should be baptized till the thirtieth year of their age 7. That the joyes of Heaven shall be onely here on the Earth and so likewise Hell 8. That they ought not to bury the dead not to give almes to such as are not of their profession 9. That Angels are born of women 10. That every day of the week should be a Sabbath 11. That the Law may be fulfilled in this life 12. That there was a world before Adam was made 13. That there is no other Deity but what man partakes of in this world 14. That such wives as are not of their belief may be rejected for whores 15. That in H. Nicholas dwelleth all perfection holinesse and knowledge and that their illunâ—inated Elders are deified in this life and cannot sin There be also divers sorts of Familists as Castalians Grindletonians of the Mountains of the Vallies of the scattered 〈◊〉 c. which hold with these former opinions that the Scriptures are but for Novices that we ought not to pray for pardon of sin after we are assured of Gods love that wicked men sin necessarily and such more stuff Q. 4. What be the Adamites and Antinomians A. Of the Adamites in Saint Austins time we have already spoken as also of the Bohemian Adamites Of late years there were some of them in Amsterdam where the men and women did pray in their meetings and perform other divine services naked This posture they called the state of innocency and their meetings Paradise In their opinions they were Anabaptists The Antinomians are so called from their opposing and rejecting of the Law which they say is of no use at all under the Gospel neither in regard of direction nor correction and therefore ought not to be read or taught in the Church 2. They say that good works do neither further nor evill workes hinder salvation 3. That the child of God can no more sin then Christ could and therefore it is sin in him to aske pardon for sin 4. That God never chastiseth his children for sin not is it for their sins that any Land is punished 5. That murther adultery drunknesse are sins in the wicked but not in the children of grace nor doth God look upon them as sinners and consequently that Abrahams lying and dessembling was no sin in him 6. That the child of grace never doubteth after â—e is once assured of salvation 7. That no man should be troubled in his conscience for any sin 8. That no Christian should be exhorted to performe the duties of Christianity 9. That an Hypocrite may have all the graces that were in Adam before his fall and yet be without Christ. 10. That Christ is the onely subject of all graces and that no Christian believeth or worketh any good but Christ onely believeth and worketh 11. God doth not love any man for his holinesse 12. Sanctification is no evidence of a mans Justification Of this and such like stuff you may read in
the house of Iacob for ever to this City of the Church shall the Kings of the earth bring their glory and honour in that day he that is feeble shall be like David and the house of David shall be as God See Isa. ch 2. ch 55. and ch 65. Ier. 16. Ezech. 21. Dan. 2. Zach. 12. Luke 1. Rev. 21 and many more places which speak of the Churches felicity under the Gospel but not a word of a millenarie Reign Q. 9. Wherein doth the vanity of the Millenaries opinion consist An. 1. In giving to Christ a temporall Kingdome of a thousand years whereas his Kingdome is eternall it shall stand fast for ever of his Kingdome shall be no end saith the angel 2. In giving him an earthly Kingdome whereas his Kingdome is heavenly My Kingdome saith he is not of this world It is not from hence it is within us 3. In making his Kingdome to consist in earthly pleasures in eating drinking fighting c. all which are directly against the nature of his Kingdome which as the Apostle saith Rom. 14. 17. Is not meat and drink but righteousnesse peace and joy of the Holy Ghost the end of his coming was to fight with no other weapon but with the two edged sword of his word proceeding out of his mouth he was the prince of peace the dove that brought the olive branch in his mouth he brought peace in his birth he preached peace in his life and recommended peace to us at his death and as Saint Austin saith pacem nobis reliquit iturus ad Patrem pacem nobis dabit perducturus ad patrem his peace he left with us and his peace he will bring again to us 4. In this their imaginary Kingdome they bring Christ down from heaven before his time for the heavens must contain him till the restitution of all things which cannot be till the last Judgement it is an Article of our Creed that Christ shall come down from heaven to judge the quick and the dead which shall not be till the last day 5. He is to sit at Gods right hand untill be hath made his enemies his footstâ—â—l Ps. 110. 1. But these men will bring him from thence before he hath obtained this conquest and triumph which is not to be obtained till the last day and consummation of all thing 6. They are injurious to Christ to bring him from his place and condition of glory to play the part of a butcher and executioner in murthering of men with the sword here on earth an office ill beseeming him and no wayes suitable to his glorious condition and mercy who came to save sinners and not to destroy them 7. The Scripture mentioneth no other Resurrection of the bodies but such as shall rise at the last day Iohn 6. 39 40 44. in the end of the world when he shall have delivered up the Kingdome to God 1 Cor. 15. 22. where we shall be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the aire and shall be ever with the Lord 1 Thes. 4. 15. but this Millenarie Resurrection is long before the last day and end of the world neither in it shall we be ever with the Lord if we are with him but a thousand years 8. The Scripture doth not speak of three comings of Christ but of two onely the first when he came in humility the second when he shall come in glory unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation Heb. 9. 28. let them shew us out of Scripture a third coming and we will believe them 9. Christ tells us Iohn 14. 2. that in his Fathers house that is in heaven are many mansions thither he is gone to prepare a place for us that where he is there we may bâ— but he is in heaven in his Fathers house there doth he prepare a place for us and not here upon earth for so we shall not be where he is but he will be where we are which is repugnant to his own words 10. They make the time of Christs second coming to Iudgement certain in affirming it shall be at the end of their thousand years but this is repugnant to Christs words who faith that his coming shall be sudden secret and unexpected like the coming of a thief in the night like the coming of Noahs stood or the fire of Sodom so that of that day and 〈◊〉 knoweth no man no not the angels in heaven nor Christ himself as he is man 11. Whereas the condition of Christs Church here on earth is mixed consisting of Saints and reprobates of sheep and goats of good and bad fishes of wheat and chaffe of corn and â—ares they give Christ such a Church as is without sinne or sinners as need no preaching nor Sacraments no Pastors and Jeachers no Advocate with the Father no Christ to appear for us in the presence of God and lastly such a Church as is not subject to persecution affliction sufferings and trouble all which is directly repugnant to Gods word and condition of the Church miâ—â—tant here which is subject both to infirmities and afflictions 12. Antichrist shall not be destroyed till Christs second coming to Iudgement as the Apostle sheweth 2 Thes. 2. 8. That Christ shall destroy him with the brightnesse of his comming but the millenaries will have him to be destroyed before the beginning of their thousand years which is flat against Scripture 13. They do exceedingly wrong the Martyrs in bringing their souls down from heaven where they have the fruition of God and his angels to reign here on earth and to enjoy carnall and sensuall pleasures the meanest of the Saints in heaven must be in a far better condition than the greatest martyr in this earthly Kingdome 14. The reward that is promised to the Saints after this life is not a Kingdome here on earth but the Kingdome of heaven a house made without hands eternall in the heavens a mansion in our heavenly Fathers house to sit with Christ in his throne to be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and to be ever with the Lord to be with Christ in Paradise to enjoy life eternall c. 15. Whereas they dream that Ierusalem shall be rebuilt and the Iewes shall reign in Iudea a thousand years with christ is directly also against Gods word which Ezech. 16. 53. 55. sheweth that the Iews shall be restored to their former estate when 〈◊〉 and Sodom shall be restored which will never be and Gen. 49. 10. The Scepter shall depart from Iuda when Sâ—iloh cometh Ierusalem saith Saint Hierom est in aetornos collapsa cineres fallen into everlasting ashes and never to rise again 16. Whereas they dream that in the millenarie Kingdome sacrifices circumcision and all other Iewish ceremonies shall be used 't is plainly to deny that christ ever came in the flesh or that he offered himself a propitiarory sacrifice to put an
lyable to be censered as a brother Hence King Vzziah was excommunicate by the Priest Azariah and Theodâ—sius the Emperor by Ambrose Q. Will it follow that there must be no excommunication because Christ will not have the Tares plucked up till the Harvest A. 1. No for Christ speaketh there of Hypocâ—its which cannot be plucked up by the Church because she knoweth them not but in the great Harvest they shall be pluckt up by the Angels at his command who knows the secrets of the heart 2. If the place be meant of Hereticks they are not to be plucked up at such times as may endanger the Churches peace but they must be left to a convenient time when the Church may excommunicate them without danger or else left to the judgement of the great day 3. All Tares cannot be pluckt up whilest the Church is here Militant for there will be found still some Tares amongst the Corn some Goats among the Sheep a Iudas among the Apostles as there were Cananites and Iebusites among the Israelites 4. Christ by this condemns their rashnesse who presently go to pluck up and flye to excommunication before they use reproofe and admonition Q. Can the Minister exclude any man from the Kingdome of God A. 1. He cannot by his own power but by the power of him whose Minister he is 2. He cannot exclude any man from Heaven but he can pronounce and declare that such a man is excluded thence Q. Can the delivering of a man over to Satan be a means to save his spirit A. Yes accidentally for God can draw good out of evil and light out of darknesse thus the bufferings which Paul suffered by the Angel of Satan caused him to pray heartily it is the special work of Gods mercy to save our souls by affliction and misery Q. Can an excommunicate person be accounted as a Brother A. Yes for excommunication takes not away true Brotherly love and affection an excommunicate person may be shut out of Heaven but not out of hope we may exclude him out of our Society but not of our â—owels of compassion and mercy we draw the Sword of excommunication against him not to kill but to cure him Who would be more fully resolved of these Presbyterian Tenets let him read their own writings Q. How many Erroneous opinions in Religion have been lately revived or hatched since the fall of our Church government A. It were almost endlesse to number every particular it may suffice that I shall name more then one hundred of the most ordinary and latest received of them which are 1. That the Scriptures are a humane invention insufficient and uncertain and do not contain half of his revealed will 2. That they are all allegoricall and written according to the private spirit of the pen-men and not as moved by the Holy Ghost And that the Old Testament is now of no force 3. That reason is the rule of faith 4. That Scripture binds us no further then the Spirit assureth us that such is Scripture 5. That Scripture should not be read to a mixt Congregation without present exposition 6. That God is the Author of the pravity and sinfulnesse of mens actions 7. That Turks Jewes Pagans and others are not to be forced from their opinions 8. That God loves a crawling worme as well as a holy Saint 9. That Gods will not sin is the cause of mans damnation 10. That man was a living 〈◊〉 before God breathed into him and that which God breathed was a part of his divine essence 11. That God is the onely Spirit and that Prince of the aire who ruleth in the children of disobedience 12. That the soul dieth with the body 13. That reprobation cannot be proved out of Scripture 14. That there is no Trinity of persons in God 15. That every creature is God as every drop in the River is water 16. That Christ is not essentially but nominally God 17. That Christ was polluted with original sin 18. That Christ was true man when he created the world yet without flesh 19. That Christ died onely for sinners and not for unbelievers for sins past before our conversion but not for sins done after conversion 20. That no man is damned but for unbeliefe and that man can satisfie for his own unbeliefe 21. That Heathens have the knowledge of Christ by the Sun Moon and Stars 22. That the end of Christs comming was to preach Gods love to us and not to procure it for us therefore did not obtain life for the Elect but a resurrection only and deliverance us from death temporal 23. That Christ preached not the Gospel but the Law for the Gospel was taught by his Apostles 24. That our unction is all one with Christs Divinity 25. That Christ with the Church of Jewes and Gentiles shall reigne one Earth a 1000 years in carnall pleasures 26. That the Heathens are saved without Christ. 27. That the Spirit of God neither dwells nor works in any but it is our own spirit which both works in the children of disobedience and sanctifies the Elect. 28. That God seeth no sin in his Elect. 29. That a man baptized with the Holy Ghost knows all things as God doth 30. That we may be saved without the word prayer Sacraments c. 31. That there is no inherent sanctification in believers but all is in Christ. 32. That Adam had died though he had not sinned 33. That we have no original sin nor is any man punished for Adams sin 34. That Gods Image consisteth onely in the face which Image was never lost 35. That men who know the Gospel are of themselves able to believe 36. That one man is not more spiâ—itual then another 37. That we have no free will not so much as in our natural estate 38. That the moral Law is of no use among Christians 39. That we are not justified by faith and that neither faith nor holinesse nor repentance are required in Christians 40. That the childe of God can no more sin then Christ himselfe can 41 That there should be no fasting days under the Gospel 42. That God doth not chastise his children for sin 43. That God loves his children as well when they sin as when they do well and therefore Abraham in denying his Wife sinned not 44. That Gods children ought not to ask pardon for their sinnes for though they have sin in the flesh they have none in the conscience 45. That the body of iniquity is the great Antichrist mentioned in Scripture 46. That men shal have other bodies given them in the resurrection and not the same they had here on Earth 47. That Heaven is empty of souls till the resurrection 48. That Infants shall not rise at all yet Beasts and Birds shall rise againe 49. That after this life there is neither Heaven nor Hell nor Devil but Hell is in this life in the terrours of conscience 50. That there is no true Ministery nor Church
of Christ upon the Earth 51. That none are damned but for rejecting the Gospel 52. That now many Christians have more knowledge then the Apostles had 53. That miracles necessarily attend the Ministry 54 That there ought to be no Churches built nor should men worship in consecrated places 55. That the Apostles were ignorant of the salvation to be revealed in the last days 56. That all men ought to have liberty of conscience and of prophesying even women also 57. That circumcision and the old covenant was onely of things temporal 58. That Paedobaptisme is unlawful and impious and that others besides Ministers may baptise and that a man may be baptised often 59. That the people should receive the Lords Supper with their hats on but the Ministers in giving it should be uncovered 60. That the Church of England is Antichristian 61. That there is no divine right to call or make Ministers that Ministers should work for their living and that Tythes are Antichristian 62 â—hat Christians are not bound to observe the Lordâ— day and that we should observe still the old Sabbath 63. That humane learning and premeditation is uselesse to preaching and that preaching should onely confist in disputing reasoning and conferring 64. That the Saints must not joyn in prayer with wicked men not receive the Sacrament with them nor with any member of the Church of England 65. That â—ublick prayers are not to be used but by such as have an inâ—allible Spirit as the Apostles had 66. That set hours of prayer are needlesse 67 That singing of Davids Psalmes or other holy songs except they be of their own making are unlawful 68. That wicked men ought not to pray at all 69. That all government in the Church ought to be civil not Ecclesiastical 70 That the power of the keyes is as well in six or seven gathered together as in the greatest congregation 71. That neither miracles nor visions nor anointing the sick with oyl are ceased 72. That in these days many are with Paul rapt up into the third Heaven 73 That the Magistrate is not to meddle with matters of Religion nor forms of Church government which if they do they are not to be obeyed 74. That there ought to be a community of Goods seeing all the Earth is the Saints 75. That a man upon slight causes may put away his wife and that one man may have two wives 76. That children ought not at all to obey their parents if wicked 77. That parents should not instruct their children but leave them to God 78. That Christians ought not to maintain Religion by the sword nor to fight for their lives and liberties noâ— to fight at all nor to kil any thing nay not a chicken for our use 79. That it stands not with Gods goodness to damn his own creatures eternally 80. That i'ts unlawful for a Christian to be a Magistrate 81. That man lost no more by Adams fall then the rest of the whole creation 82 That Christ hath not purchased eternal life for man more then for the rest of the creation and that he offered up himselfe a full and perfect sacrifice not only for man but for all that man kept even the whole creation 83. None are sent to hell before the last judgment 84. It is not the Law but the Gospel which threatens us with Hell fire 85. If God shew not mercy to all he is not infinite 86. Christians are not bound to meet one day in seven for publick worship 87. The Saints are justified not by Christs obedience but by the essential righteousness of God 88. A woman committeth not adultery in lying with another man if her husband be a sleep 89. That the Saints may put away their unbeleeving wives or husbands 90. There is no other seale but the Spirit the Sacraments are no seales at all 91. The Magistrate may not put to death a murtherer being a member of the Church till first he be cast out of the Church 92. The promises belong to sinners as sinners and not as repenting sinners 93. Apocrypha books are canonical Scripture 94. To use set forms of prayer even the Lords prayer is Idolatry 95. Bells Churches and Church-yards preaching in Pulpits in Gowns by an hour-glasse the names of our months and days are all idolatry 96. That the Apostles Creed is to be rejected as erroneous 97. That there ought to be no other laws among Christians but the judicial Law of Moses and that the Magistrate hath no legislative power at all 98. That all Learning Schools Universities Arts Degrees are to be rejected as pernicious 99. That Angels and Devils are not substances but meer qualities and that mens soules are but terrestrial vapours perishing with the bodies 100. That some in this life are perfect without all sin and need not pray for pardon 101. That in God there is some composition and corporiety and mutability also 102. That Christ took not his flesh of the Virgin Mary but that his body was created without all consanguinity with the first Adam 103. That God doth personally subsist in every creature 104. That the world is eternal 105. That the Lords Supper may be celebrated in Inns rather then Churches and that in the end of a feast 106. That the Devils have no sinne But I will leave these Divels though I could mention many more but that it delights not my selfe nor can it the Reader to be raking in such filthy mire and dirt These are some of the poysonous weeds which have too much of late infested our English Garden I mean the Church once admired both at home and abroad for the beauty of her Doctrine and Disciplin and envied of none but ignorants or men of perverse minds The Poet bewailing the ruins of Troy said Seges ubi Troi a fuit Corn grows where Troy stood but I may sadly complain that in stead of corn that is sound and wholsom doctrine which should be the food of our souls now grows Tares and Weeds that choak the good word with which we were formerly fed and might have been unto a life of glory everlasting if we had therein abode But least I should bring thee into danger by giving thee onely a fight of these Rocks and Precepices to prevent that I shall commend to thy serious perusal Master Wollebius his Abridgement of Christian Divinity which for the good of my country men I Englished Enlarged and cleared in obscure places and have now fitted for a second impression A book worthy to be written in Letters of gold and imprinted in the heart of every good Christian The knowledge therein contained by prayer and through the assistance of Gods spirit will root and establish the in every good word and work to the comming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ which God of his infiniâ—e mercy grant The Contents of the Thirteenth Section The Doctrine of the Church of Rome concerning the Scriptures 2. Their tenets concerning predestination
Temples of the Sun were built in Gardens Moloch also was the Sun for he is Melech that is King of the world to whose fight and power all things are obvious therefore the Egyptians represented him by a Scepter with an eye on it now this Moloch had on his forehead a pretious stone shining like Lucifer or the Sun 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Theophylact. in Actâ— c. 7. and Cyril upon Amâ—s The Valentinian Hereticks by the word Abraxas meant the Sun as I have shewed for in this word are contained 365. which is the number of dayes the Sunne makes in the Zodiack And it is derived from Abrâ—ch Ab in Hebrew signifieth Father and Rech King in the 〈◊〉 tongue So they made the Sun Father and â—ing of the Universe he was also called Mithres which signifieth Lord as Ioseph Scaliger de â—mend temp l. 6. sheweth and â—lâ—ndian in thaâ— verse l. 1. de â—â—ilic Et vagae testatur volventem â—idera Mithram For they thought that Mithra or the Sun did regulate and govern the other starres and in the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is found the number of 365. dayes The Sun also was expressed by the name of Iupiter or juvans pater the Father that helps and supports all things therefore he was painted with Iupiters Thunder in his hand I know Iupiter is most commonly taken for the Heaven or Aire but I rather think that by this name was meant the Sun So when Virgil Ecl. 7. speaks thus Iupiter largo de scendit plâ—rimus imbre He means not that the Heaven comes down in rain but the Sun rather who by his heat elevated the vapors and by resolving them into rain may be said to come down in a showre So in another place Fâ—cundis imbribus aether conjâ—gis in laetae gremium descendit Geor. 2. There is also meant the Sun who is named Aether from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shining or from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his constant race or motion By Mercury also was meant the Sun for he is Mercurius quasi â—edius curreâ—s keeping his Court in the middest of the Planets And Hermes from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 interpreting for by his light he expoundeth all daâ—k places He was painted with wings to shew the Suns swift motion He killed many-eyed Argus that is he puts out the light of the Stars which are as it were the eyes of Heaven Mercury is still painted young to shew that the Sun never groweth old or feeble he was pictured with three heads upon a four corner stone to shew the Sunnes three vertues of heat light and influence upon the four parts of the world or four seasons of the year He was held the god of Merchants because without light there can be no trading The Sunne also was worshipped by the Eastern Nations under the name of Bel Baal Belus Baal Samen or Baal-Shammajim that is Lord of the heavens by the old Celâ—es and Noâ—icks under the name of Belenus now Belus as Macrobius Sat. l. 1. â— 19. sheweth us is the same that Iupiter and Iupiter is the same that Sol as I have said and which Orpheus in Hym. ad Iovem confirmeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. that is â—eautifull Iupiter the Sun generator of all things therefore the Sun is called by Plato in Phaedro 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Iupiter the great Commanderâ—â— heaven driving his swift Charriot whom the Army of gods follow divided into twelve parts and Vesta alone stands immoveable in the Court of the gods he means the motion of the Sun and Starres through the 12. signes of the Zodiack and the Earth standing in the middle That under the name of Belenus was meant the Sun is apparent by the number of 365. which is found in the letters thereof answering the 365. dayes which the Sun finisheth in his annuall motion By Hercules also was meant the Sun as his name sheweth being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the glory of the air his twelve labours are the twelve signes of the Zodiack through which he laboureth every year he is called Alcides from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strength for like a strong gyant he rejoyceth to run his couâ—â—e Iuno endeavoured to obscure the glory of Hercules so doth the Air which the Poets called Iuno oftentimes obscure by clouds mists and vapors the glory of the Sun Hebe the Goddesse of Youth was Hercules his best beloved so is the Spring-time wherein in the youth of the earth is renewed the Suns lovely wife Hercules overthrew Geryon and rescued his Cattle so doth the Sun by destroying Winter preserve the beasts The Tenths of the Earths increase were offered to Hercules to shew their gratitude to the Sun for his heat and influence by which the earth â—ructifieth Hercules is noted for his fecundity for in one night he begot 80 sons this was to shew that generation and fruitfulnesse is from the Sun he was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the driver away of all evils and diseases by which was meant that grief of mind is driven away by the Sunnes light and infirmities of body by the Sunnes heat he is also much noted for his voracity in eating and drinking by which was signified the rapid heat of the Sun consuming the moysture of the earth and exhaling the Lakes and Brooks In the name also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is contained the number of 365 he was expressed also by Antaeus the gyant whose strength increased as he touched the ground but being lifted up from thence he grew weak so doth the sun begin to gather force when he is in his lowest declination and near the earth but when he is in his Apogaeum or highest elevation his strength begins to decay Pan also signified the Sun whom they painted with a red face horns and a long beard to shew the colour and beams of the Sun Pan was covered with a spotted skin so is the Sun covered in the dark with the sported or starry mantle of the night his wings and crooked staffe was to signifie the Suns swiftnesse and oblique motion in the Zodiack he was the god of shepherds and driver away of wolves therefore called Lycaeus and so was Iupiter the Sun by his heat and light is a friend to shepherds and their flocks who by his presence drives wolves and other wild beasts into their dens the perpetuall fire kept by the Arcadians in the Temple of Pan was to shew that the Sunne was the fountain of heat which stirs up Venery therefore Pan is described by his salacious nature the sunnes monethly conjunction with the Moon was expressed by Pan being in love with the Moon They meant also the sun by Bellerephon who by the help of winged Pegasus overcame Chimaera for the sun by the help of the winds overcometh the pestilentiall and infectious vapors of the air By Polyphemus also they meant the sunne which 〈◊〉 that great gyant
or priviledge they had thrust out of the City so many godly people together with their wives and children not granting them any toleration for their Religion and had disinherited them of all they had To which they replyed That the time was now drawing nigh wherein the meek and the humble should inherit the earth and that they followed the example of the Israelites who with Gods approbation took away from the Egyptians their jewels and earâ—rings Moreover they boasted that Munster was well furnished with provisions ammunition and all things requisite to warre and that the King did daily expect great recruits out of Holland Zealand and other places by the means and assistance whereof he should bring the whole world under subjection all wicked refractory Princes being subdued should establish the peaceful reign of Justice About the same time another Prophet fell down from heaven one Henry Hilverse a notable â—nave This man acquainted the King that it was revealed to him from heaven that God was pleased to bestow on him three most rich Cities Amsterdam Daventry Wesell near Lippa Upon this Divine message he advises with his Counsellours whom he were best to send thither to baptise them with his baptisme In the first place he sends Iohn Campensis to Amsterdam to be the chiefest man in that City to whom he assigned for companion and co-Apostle Iohn Mathias of Metellburg These being sent into Holland issuing out of their holes kept themselves among those of their own tribe and infected most Cities with the mortal infection of their doctrines For at Leyden about Ianuary in the year following viz. one thousand five hundred thirty and five very many by the perswasion of Anabaptisme and by the means of its contagious Conventicles were baptized into the baptisme of death About the end of the year one thousand five hundred thirty and five this Kingly Botcher sent into Frisland a most subtle fellow and one very well experienced in warlike affaires whom he furnished with very great summes of money which had been raised out of the sacriledges wherewith he should raise souldiers in Zeland and should raise the close siege which was then before the City He being departed managed his affaires very secretly with the assistance of those of his way and at length upon the last of March one thousand five hundred thirty and five having gotten together some hundreds of souldiers he set upon the Monastery which also was called old Munster drove away the Monks and having plundered all he there pitched his tents out of hopes thereby to strengthen his party by the accession of any that should come in But Gâ—orge Sckenck the then Governour of Friesland having with as much expedition as could be got together certain expeditionary forces besieges these tumulâ—uary Rioters and gave an assault to the place which though they avoyded as much as might be by a gallant defence yet had they their belly-full of murther blood and dry blowes so that they were all destroyed save threescore and two who being brought to Leoward were paid for their audacious folly with the wages of death The Ringleader of this businesse who was also the Camp-master Iohn Geel escaping at this sight flies to Amsterdam to prove the occasion of a greater slaughter For many Anabaptists being found in that place whom Iohn Campensis had strangely fascinated to engage them the more they made promises to them of golden mountains and talk'd highly of the Magnificence and Liberty of the Anabaptists of Munster and cryed up the new kingdom of Iustice upon earth for the report of the siege and defence of Munster had smitten and raised up the mindes of a many in regard the City being closely besieged by a potent Army yet performed religious duties without any disturbance Hence câ—me it to passe that the Liberty and Liberality of the City was celebrated beyond all truth and beliefe and there wanted not a many who desired to be embarqu'd in the same Fortune There was therefore at Amsterdam a Burgher called Henry Gotbelit a strong man and warlikely given who being bathed in the waters of Anabaptisme joyned his endeavours with those of Iohn Goel For by divers pretences and crafty shifts which it is not worth our labour to repeat in this place they drew together six hundred Anabaptists with whose assistance their intention was to have possessed themselves of Amsterdam to enrich themselves and to introduce the Religion of those of Munster Whereupon upon the tenth day of May the chiefest that were engaged in this conspiracy having their Rendezvous at the house of Peter Gael broke out in the night time to the Market place wherein being more and more seconded by some of their own they killed some of the Watch and some they kept prisoners But the Burghers making head discharged some Musquets at the Anabaptists who most unworthily when their Consuls were cruelly killed entrusted their safety to their heels so that the others courages being heightened by this they violently ran upon the Deuterobaptists and after a most bloody engagement put them to the worst wherein Iohn Geel and Gotbelit were slain Iames Campensis was taken and put to death Now other Tumults had already forced others from those places the prevention whereof could not be possibly without the infinite inconveniences which fell upon the honester sort There wanted not also some clandestine vipers who disguisedly waited for the restauration of the kingdome of Israel as they called it whereof one being apprehended at Leyden and upon examination put to the question confessed That the King of the Anabaptists who was a Hollander sojourned then at Vtricht and had not yet began his reign but that according to the good hope they had conceived of him and the confidence placed in him they doubted not but he would undertake it Having with what 's above gotten out of this fellow that some gold and silver vessels and other ornaments had by a most wicked surprise been taken out of their Churches by the means of their King and who with his followers had attempted some most detestable villanies it was discover'd that there could no other be meant ther David George I crave thy pardon courteous Reader if I acquaint thee that it is not any thing the lesse for thy advantage if in the description of these rotten anâ— contemptible rags and menstruous clouts of humanity I have woven a longer web of discourse then thou didst expect Although Iohn Buckhold and the other Prophets had entertained the ignorant greedy vulgar with hopes of more then Arabian wealth yet the citizens being daily more and more streightned by the siege were accordingly brought into greater perplexities and being brought low by the famine which is the consummation of all misery began as it for the most part happens upon the barking of the stomack to snatle at one another to grumble and complain and to hold private consultations about
perswaded men that if they were not baptized by him and his they must necessarily incurre great danger 〈◊〉 their souls To which he added that those who 〈…〉 with the pâ—crogative of his Baptisme should be the restored people of Israel and that the wicked Cananites should be destroyed by their swords and the God himself should râ—â—eale from heaven the times wherein these things should be fulfilled To visions horrible dreams which he thought procâ—eded to him from God he gave great credit and he affirmed that he saw the preparations of the last day and the Angel going to blow the Trumpet by an indispurable revel 〈…〉 Godâ— Upon the account of which dreams his 〈◊〉 as â—redulous as their Master speâ—r and destroyed all they had fearing the difficulties of the times wherein they should spend them all which being scatter'd and consum'd before the day came they suffer'd a punishment and inconveniences befitting their folly having the lash of poverty perpetually at their backs However they a generation on whom the greatest quantity of black Hellebore would not be much effectuall did still adore this miraculous piece of 〈◊〉 as â— true Prophet even to admiration of which men some not worthy the face or name of mankind do at this day in great numbers live at Merhern in Palaces and Covents upon their accidental contributions and where they get their livelihood with their hands and apply themselves to any handy-craft whereof they are the Masters and Governours who by the commodities gained by them increase the common stock They have at home with them their Cooks their skullions their errand-boyes and their Butlers who have a care and dispose all things as they do in Monasteries and Hospitals They study to maintain mutual peace and concord being all equal These even to this day are commonly known by thâ— name of the Hutsian Fraternity LODOWICK HETZER Polluit ut mentem Sectis deformibus error Corpore sic Hetzer foedus adulter erat THE CONTENTS LOdowick Hetzer a famous Heretick He gaines Proselytes in Austria and Switzerland Anno 1527. at a publick disputation Oecolampadius puts Hetzers Emissaries to their shifts Hetzer denied christ to be co-essentiall with the Father His farewell to his Disciples He is put to death 〈◊〉 Adultrery LOdowick Hetzer famous for his Heresie and Learning was first very inâ—imately acquainted with Nicholos Stork and then with Thomâ— Muntzer yet he agreed not with these in some things as in that opinion of theirs of the overturning and destroying of all the powers of this world which opinion he looking on as malicious and barbarous forlook them and joyning with Iohn Deâ—â— they by their mutual endeavours sent some Prophets into Germany But dissenting also from him in some things be propagated his own sect in Austria and made many Proselytes at Berâ— in Switzerland Which gave occasion that the Reverend Senate appointed a publick disputation at Soning and caused letters of safe conduct to be sent to Hetzer and his followers for which bickering was set apart the first day of February in the year one thousand five hundred twenty seven where he appeared not himself but his emissaries came who were by the most learned but withall stinging Oecolampadius driven unto their shifts and enforced to acknowledge conviction Hetzer was a considerable part and the fire brand of the Anabaptistical sect but he stiffely denied Christ to be co-essential with the Father which the verses made by him upon the carrying of the Cross do more than hint Ipse ego qui propriâ cuncta haec virtute creabam Quaris quot simus Frustra ego solus eram Hîc non tres numero verùm sum solus at isti Haud numero tres sunt nam qui ego solus eram Nescio Personam solus sum rivus ego fons Qui me nescit eum nescio solus ero I who at first did make all things alone Am vainly ask'd my number as being one These three did not the work but only I That in these three made this great Syzygie I know no Person I 'm the only Maine And though they know me not will one remain He was excellent at three tongues he undertook to translate the book of Ecclesiasticus out of the Hebrew into High-Dutch Plauterus hath testified for him in writing that he very honestly and unblameably bid farewell to his Disciples and with most devout prayers commended himself to God even to the astonishment of the beholders He having been kept long in dose prison was on the fourth day of February in the year one thousand five hundred twenty nine senâ—â—nced to die and thinking himself unworthy of the City was led without the walls where he was put to death not for sedition or baptisme as Plauterus sayâ—â— but for Adultery which act be endeavoured to 〈◊〉 by some arguments fetcht from the holy Scriptures MELCHIOR HOFMAN Pellibus a teneris suetus doctissime nôsti Hofmanni teneras excoriare Greges THE CONTENTS HOFMAN a Skinner and Anabaptist Anno 1528. seduced 300 men and women as Embda in West-Friesland His followers accounted him a Prophet At Strasburg he challenged the Ministers to dispute which was agreed upon Jan. 18. 1532. where being mildely dealt with he is neverthelesse obstinate Other Prophets and Prophetesses deluded him He deluded himself and voluntarily pined himself to death IN the year one thousand five hundred twenty eight Melchior Hosman a Skinner of Strasburg a most eloquent and most crafty man at Embda in West Friezland ensnared 300. men and women into his doctrine where he conjured up Anabaptisme out of hell upon pain of damnation whereupon being returned to the lower Provinces who ever addressed themselves to him he entertained them with water baptizing all promiscuously This man upon the prophecy of a certain decrepid old man went to Strasburg it having been foretold him that he should be cast into prison and remain there six moneths â—t which time being set at liberty he should with his fellow-labourers disperse the harvest of the Gospel through all the world He was by his followers acknowledg'd and honour'd as a great Prophet This was the great prop and pillar of the reign of Munster Having therefore made what haste he could possible to Strasburg in order to the fulfilling of the prophecy he there challenges the Ministers of the word to dispute which offerture the Senate engaged with upon the eleventh of Ianuary one thousand five hundred thirty and two at which time the mists and clouds of errors and blindnesse were quite dispersed by the sunne of the Gospel However Hosman stiffely adhered to the foresaid prophecy as also to his own dreams and visions nor would he acknowledge himself overcome but their mildnesse having somewhat appeased him he was thence dismissed as one judged worthy of such a place where Lepers are shut up left others be infâ—cted But 't is
with one eye put out sometimes by mists and vapors arising out of the earth Endymion was the sun with whom the Moon is in love visiting him once every moneth Ianus also was the Sun who is keeper of the four doores of Heaven to wit East West North and South he hath two faces seeing as well backward as forward in one hand he hath a Scepter in the other a Key to shew that he rules the day and that he openeth it to us in the morning and shuts it in the Evening Ianus was the first that taughâ— men Religion and doubtlesse men became Religious and did acknowledge a Deity by beholding the Beauty Motion Power and Influence of the Sunne By Ianus was placed a Serpent biting his tail intimating that the sunnes annuall motion is circular beginning where it ends atque in se sua per vestigia labitur annus By Minerva also was meant the sunne as appears by the golden Lamp dedicated to her at Athens in which burned a perpetual light maintained with oil which not only shews the suns golden beams and inextinguishible light but also that oil as all other fruits are begot by his heaâ— for the same cause she was the inventer of Arts and sciences and held the Goddesse of Wisedome and Learning for by the moderate heat of the sunne the organs of the brain are so tempered and the spirits refined that all Arts by men of such temper have been found and wise actions performed she had a golden Helmet and a round Target the one signifying the colour the other the orb of the Sunne the Dragon dedicated to her signified the sunnes piercing eye as the Cock was dedicated to Minerva so he was to the sunne to shew that by these two names one Deity was meant no man could look upon her Target having Gorgâ—ns head in it without danger nor may any without danger of his eyes look upon the sunne The Athenians preferred Minerva to Neptâ—â—e because the benefits men have by the Sunne are greater than those they have by the Sea and that hot and dry Constitutions are fitter to make Scholars than cold and moist for the fire which Prometheus stole from the sun brought Arts to perfection The Image of Pallas was kept in Vesta's Temple where the sacred fire burned perpetually to shew that the sunne the â—ouâ—tain of heat and light is the same that Minerva who was called Pallas from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to signifie the shaking and brandishing of the Sun beams expressed also by the brandishing of the spear She had power to use Iupiters thunder and to raise storms to shew that thunder and storms are caused by the Suns heat she and Vulcan the god of Fire were worshipped on the same Altar to shew these two were but one Deity to wit the Sun who is the god of Fire which Homer also expressed by giving her a fiery Charriot and a golden Lamp holding out a beautifull light she made her self invisible by putting on the dark helmet of Orcus so is the Sunne to us when he is covered with mists clouds and vapours which arise from Orcus or the loweâ— parts of the earth and so he is invisible to us when he goeth under Orcus or our hâ—misphere By Nemesis the Goddesse of Revenge was also meant the Sun for he punisheth the sinnes of men by pestilence famine and the sword for he by his heat either raiseth infectious vapors or inflameth the blood burns up the fruits of the earth and stirreth up the spirits of men to strife and Waâ—â—es as Nemesis raised the humble and humbled the proud so doth the Sun obscure lucid bodies and illustrate obscure things The Aâ—gyptians to shew that the Sun and Nemesis were the same they placed her above the Moon By beautifull Tithonus also they meant the Sun who is the beauty of the world Aurora was in love with him and rejoyced at his presence it is the approach of the Sun that gives beauty lovelynesse and chearfulnesse to the morning Tithonus in Aurora's Charriot was carried to Ethiopia where he begets black Memnoâ— of her to shew that the Sun in the morning having mounted above our Hemisphere moves towards the South parts of the world where by his excessive heat in the Meridian he â—awns or blacks the Ethiopians Tithonus in his old age became a weak grashopper so in the Evening the light and heat of the Sun weakneth and decayeth to us By Castor and Polluâ— they signified the Sun and Moon the one that is the Sun being a Champiâ—â— subdueth all things with his heat the other to wit the Moon is a rider if we consider the swiftnesse of its motion they may be said to divide immortality between them because when the one liveth that is shineth the other is obscured and in a manner dead to us they ride on white horses to shew their light and motion They that will see more of the Sun let them read what we have written elsewhere in Mystagog Pâ—eâ—ico But besides what we have written there we now make it appear that the Sun was in a manner the onely Deity they worshipped for the honoâ—r they gave the Moon Fire Stars Air Earth and Sea was all in relation to the Sun as they are subservient to him and the many names they gave to the Moon as Minerva Vesta Vrania Luna Iuno Diana Isis Lucina Hecate Cybele Astarte Erthus were onely to signifie the different operations of the Sun by the Moon so that as Aristotle de mundo saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God being One hath many names from his many effects which he produceth in the world The Sun then in regard of the seminall vertue generative facultie and desire of procreation which he gives to sublunary creatures for eternizing of their severall species is called Venus à venis from the veins and arteries for these also were anciently called veins in which are the blood and vitall spirits the proper vehicles of Venus or the seminal vertue of which the seed of generation is begot which the Prince of Poets knew when he said of Dido's Venereal love Vulnus alit venis Every Spring when the sunne returneth to us he brings this venereal faculty with him therefore he may be called Venus à veniendo from coming for he cometh accompanied every year in the spring with this generative desire which he infuseth in the creatures which the same learned Poet Geor. l. 2. acknowledgeth in these divine Verses Ver adeo â—râ—ndi nemorum ver utile silvis Veâ—e tument terrae genitalia semina poscunt Tum Pater omnipotens foeâ—undis imbribus â—ther Conjugis in gremium laetae descendit omnes Magnus alit magno commistus corpore foetus Avia tum resonant avibus virgulta canoris Et Venerem certis repet unt â—rmenta diebus Parturit omnis ager c. And in another place Geor. 3. he sheweth the reason why in the spring living