gentle and meek easie to be Jam. 3. 17. 2 Tim. 2. 25. entreated with meekness instructing them that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them the knowledge of the Truth It is Spiritual and the Weapons thereof are not Carnal but mighty through the Spirit But that 2 Cor. 10. 4. which stands in the Worship of man or of the Devil or of the Worship of the Devil or man is otherwise It is like that from whence it came which is Carnal and outward and fierce and implacable and destructive in the consequence to those that bow not thereunto which is a demonstration of that from whence it came as pertaking of its nature and being like thereunto This I write to give a little taste of the difference of either that as I go along all may see what things have ruled in the World and what hath been the ground of the troubles that have been therein concerning Religion and that they may know what that Religion is that ends in death and other sufferings and may be convinced how far it is from that which came not to bring death but to deliver from it which seeks the destruction of the spirit that leads aside from God not the man but to redeem and deliver him And here as in a Glass these things may be seen and discovered and with great perspicuity and plainness if men shut not their eyes on purpose and refuse to see though the day-light break in never so bright upon them whose eyes the god of this World hath blinded even the minds of them lest the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who 2 Cor. 4. 4. is the Image of God should shine unto them As the Apostle spake in his day of those to whom his Gospel was hid even to them that were lost it was so plain it was so perspicuous If our Gospel be hid it is to them that are lost in whom the God of this World hath blinded their minds c. as aforesaid 2 Cor. 4. 3. 2 Cor. 4. 3 4. So there I leave this matter and shall proceed to shew what hapned or came to pass after the time of which the Scriptures give testimony being the thing of which I have declared to treat though thus much was necessary to say to bring things down from the beginning to their due order and place and so I shall proceed Sufferings by the Heathen after the days of the Apostles The Roman Emperors were worshippers of Images of Godds their Jurisdictions were large and their Worships they made as large as their Jurisdictions nothing was more against that which was not God than the Name of that or of him which came to redeem from dumb Idols to the Service of the living God and this was Christ Jesus he gave a great start to the Godds made with hands the Inventions of men who had eyes and saw not ears and heard not neither did they understand The Psal 115. 5. Power in which he stood and the Miracles which he wrought were such that drew to him great admiration throughout the World The Romans had jurisdiction over Judea in those dayes and the Regions thereabouts they were an inquisitive and understanding People as men though ignorant of God their Lievtenants Prefects and Governors usually gave them account who had the chief rule of what considerably passed in their Provinces and was most remarkable the mighty things which Jesus did and how he was put to death and rose again went not without its observation and report Pilate under and by whom he suffered Pilates account at the instigation of the Jews being then Governor of Jerusalem who washed his hands and said He would have nothing to do in the death of that just Person though he afterwards delivered Jesus to their wills notwithstanding that he knew that through very envy Jesus was delivered to him having a sence upon him of what Jesus was and of the mighty things he had wrought signified the matter so unto Tiberius who was Anno. 18. to Tiberius Emperor of Jesus occasioned then Emperor that he had him in great Reverence and his Doctrine and declared to the Senate That it pleased him right-well and so would have had him put among the number of their Godds but they received it not because of the decree that was amongst them That no Godd should be consecrated by the Emperor unless it were first agreed upon by the Senate as Eusebius quotes Tertullians words who nevertheless viz. Tiberius Euseb lib. 2. cap. 2. gave not over but persevered in his Opinion of Jesus and his Doctrine â—hreatning them with death that would accuse the Christians The Seâ—ate the liberty of the profession of saith Eusebius of Tertullians words rejected it because they had not allowed the same but he persevered in his Opinion threatning them death that would accuse the Christians And this maketh for us saith Eusebius of Tertullian in his Apology for the Christians that the Deity is weighed amongst you after mans will and judgment unless God please man he is not made God so that saith Tertullian by the Decree man must be favourable Tertul in Apolog advers Gentes cap. 3. and gracious unto God This was the wisdom saith Eusebius of Tiberius his retaining of the sence of Christ and his Doctrine of the Divine Providence lightning his mind that the preaching of the Gospel should pass Christian Religion at the beginning throughout the World So I have given the ground or occasion as to men how the fame of Jesus had its liberty to go through the World which as Eusebius hath observed no doubt was through the Wisdom of God and his mighty Hand that the report of what he was and did from Pilate should bear that weight with Tiberius as to allow a propagation thereof throughout his Dominions which extended very far by reason of which it so came to pass that multitudes were turned from their Idols and worshipped the God which made Heaven and Earth through his Son Jesus Christ Thus got the Name Christian footing in the World and spread it self Which spreading it self over under the whole Heaven as it were of the Roman Empire into Towns Cities Nations Provinces and the Lord was called upon who made Heaven and Earth the Sea and the dry Land of which John speaks and the Earth was replenished with the knowledge of the Lord But in The World occasioned or the Persecution because thereof this state it stood not long but the Enemy as soon as he could wrought off that sound which was of what Jesus was from all the Emperors that succeeded Tiberius and the sence of him and it and got the constitutions of the Roman Empire for the enforcing of the Worship of their Idol become General Godds to take place which gave occasion of infinite sufferings and unheard of Butcheries to be committed on the Christians from the dayes of Nero who succeeded
but to all Nations of the Earth to the Gentiles the Church of God amongst them which to gather or to draw into one was the Gospel sent and preached and the Worship now was no longer National nor was it the National Worship of the Jews which also was commanded of God and accompanied with his presence while the end of it was not come or accomplished But it was every where Spirit and Truth not Form and Letter fearing of God working of Righteousness is accepted of him the true Worshippers the Worshippers whom the Father seeks to worship him All the others were dasht in pieces the end was accomplished it stood not in meats and drinks the Kingdom of God but in Righteousness and Peace and joy in the Holy Ghost not in killing of Sheep and slaying of Oxen but in an humble and contrite heart and that trembled at his Word the Sacrifices of God which even under the Law were entitled and said to be his through all which he looked for and accepted which the Sacrifices and the blood of Goats and Bulls signified Circumcision and all the Ordinances of the Jews which Moses commanded and which it was death not to observe comes now to be called beggerly Rudiments the Hand-writing of Ordinances the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances the enmity which he destroyed on the Cross and blotted out which the Apostle saith was against them and which neither they nor their Fathers were able to bear And he saith Touch not tast not handle Gal. 5. 2. Phil. 3. 2 3. not which all saith he perish in the using And if you be circumcised Christ shall profit you nothing I wish them cut off that trouble you And beware of Dogs and beware of evil workers beware saith he of the Concision for we are the Circumcision which worship God in the Spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh And the Apostles now as any were gathered into the Church they gathered them out of all the Jewish Observations and Heathenish worshipping of Idols into one God and Name of the Lord Jesus who was the great Shepherd and Bishop of the Soul Not into the Name of the Church of the Jews or the Temple or of this Region and that but into the Name of Christ Jesus The Churches of what Of the Jews c. Nay the Churches of Christ Christ the Head of the Church which are in 1 Thes 1. 1. Judea c. The Church which is in God Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus unto the Church of the Thessalonians which is in God Not in this man or that not in this profession and that barely but in God And so it was during the Apostles times of which the Scripture makes mention and their business was to open the eyes to turn men from darkness to the light and from the Power of Satan unto God that they might receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among them which are sanctified by Faith which is in me As Paul saith of his Commission which he received of the Lord Acts 26. 18. And he stiles himself an Apostle not of men neither by men but by Jesus Christ and God the Father which raised him from the dead And he saith The Righteousness which is of Faith speaketh on this wise Say not in thy heart Who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring Christ down from above Or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ again from the dead But what saith it The Word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the Word of Faith which we preach Rom. 10. 6 7 8. And the Apostle to the Hebrews saith But finding fault with them that is the first Covenant and the things therein of which he had been speaking in the former words he saith Behold the dayes come saith the Lord when I will make a new Covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah Not according to the Covenant which I made with their Fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt because they continued not in my Covenant and I regarded them not saith the Lord For this is the Covenant that I will make with the House of Israel after those dayes saith the Lord I will put my Laws into their mind and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a People And they shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying Know the Lord for all shall know me from the least unto the greatest For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their iniquities will I remember no more Heb. 8. 8 9 10 11 12. Now here is nothing of Churchship of an outward Administration and Worship of a delegation of Power to any to constitute and appoint Worships or how God should be worshipped or what Discipline should be used in the Church or what Power the Church should have as to visible things and who should be the Governors or Rulers thereof that should direct or order as to that throughout all Ages but a turning to a Principle wherein God is to be known and whereby he is to be worshipped Not to Man Kings Princes Governors States Emperors no not to Presbyters Councils Fathers Pastors Officers Synods Be ye followers 1 Cor. 11. 1. of me as I also am of Christ saith Paul But to the Light the Light of the Son of God who is Light God is Light and in him is no darkness at all the Covenant of Light to the Gentiles the Light of the World the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World that which sheweth man that is in the Transgression that he is in the dark that turns him from the darkness to the Light and from the power of Satan unto God The Lord never sent to turn man unto man nor did he ever give power to man to order man as to the Worships of him no not in the Mosaical Administration all the World have been in mistakes about these things but he alwayes reserved the power in himself and by the guidance and order of him man was to be directed and God to be worshipped for from the Lord Moses received in the mount what was that Administration hitherto to the Law of Moses when the Israelites were gone astray and had transgressed were all things to be reduced and the reformation to be made the Law of Moses which was a figure of that which came by Jesus Christ unto which all things after he was come to which Moses his Administration or the Law which was given by Moses was to have reference as it was to spring from it And the coming of him was the time of Reformation of which the Apostle speaks Heb. 9. 10. Which stood saith he speaking of that Ministration which in the verse before he calls a
people cry out against them if they reject them not then let us alleage their works and writings and confirm the matters in controversie out of them This was the advice of Sisinius and this was the policy of those The policy of those dayes as to truth dayes as to Truth which not being from a right Principle could neither determine of Truth nor quiet the minds of people concerning it for the determination of Truth as it comes from the Principle of Truth is that only which can answer to the Witness of God and so satisfie Nectarius having received this advice acquaints the Emperor Theodosius receives his Judgment Puts the matter They perceive him not at first the Emperor likes it well and treads the steps thereof he puts the question concerning the Fathers Whether they liked them They not seeing his drift who were of the opposite part answered They highly reverenced them as their Masters He demanded Whether they would be tryed by their Testimonies concerning the true and right Faith Here they were in a puzzle and knew not what Afterwards were stumbled answer to make for they were divided among themselves some held with the Emperor and some affirmed That it was altogether contrary to their mind and purpose So that not only every Opinion was divided from the other but each Opinion among themselves Each Opinion becomes divided amongst themselves as well as one with another The Emperor seeing this and how they builded not upon the Antient Fathers exposition of the Faith but trusted in their Sophistical quirks of Logick for they had brought many Logicians with them he went another way to work and bad He bids each give him by suâ—h a day their Faith in writing every Opinion to take Pen and Ink and lay down in writing what they held and by such a day bring it unto him at the Emperors Pallace They met viz. Nectarius Agelius of the Faith of one Substance They meet The four Opâ—nions and the heads of them under which the whole world was divided Demophilus of the Arrians Eunomius himself in the name of the other Eunomians and Eleusius of Cyzicum for the Macedonians And into these four was the whole World of Christians chiefly divided there being under each of them also several other Opinions as the History makes manifest The Emperor saith the History salutes them friendly next Theodosius receives all friendly Locks his Closet Prayes for direction Tears in pieces all Creeds but the Nicene Approves of that receives every ones writing then he went aside and lock't in himself fell down on his knees and prayed unto God That he would assist him in the choice and revealing of the Truth Last of all having perused every ones Opinion he condemned and tore in pieces all such Creeds as derogated from the Unity of the blessed as the History calls it Trinity and allowed and highly commended that above all the rest the Creed containing the Clause of one Substance This was the cause that the Novations had their The cause why the Novations had Churches with the Nicenians The rest depart pensive yet endeavour by Letters to comfort their people Churches with their priviledges as the rest because to this Creed they leaned the rest though at their departure they went away sorrowful and pensive yet fell they a comforting of their charge by Letters exhorting them not to shrink at all from them because many had left them and were fallen to the Faith of one Substance they being set at naught by reason of their mutual discord and difference yea by the people committed to their charge For many were called but few were chosen Yet these of one Substance were not without molestation for at Antioch they Factions at Antioch again About Flavianus Three Nations to remove him three to keep him in fell into two Factions the Egyptians Arabians and Cyprians held together and thought good to remove Flavianus out of the Bishoprick of Antioch but the Palestinians Phoenicians and Syrians took his part Thus this Council ended which I have the rather been particular The end of the Council The cause of bringing these instances in because it s of great consequence as to what I have further to produce as to the effects thereof and what followed thereupon in the World as well as to shew what Policies have been used in matters of Religions and how that Religion hath been built thereupon Thus fared it at Constantinople In the Western part of the Empire Cap. 11. Persecution in the West by Justina which hitherto had generally been more free from Persecution there arose Persecution Justina the Mother of Valentinianus the Younger whilst her Husband lived could effect nothing of this matter but he being dead she removed to Millain and her Son being of tender years she raised tumults being of the Opinion of Arius against Ambrose so that in the end he Ambrose ordered to Exile by the Arrians The people resist Gratian is murdred The news stops Justina's persecution was exiled which when the people withstood and hindred their force that came to carry him to exile news came that Gratian was murthered by the wiles and slights of Maximus which cooled the heat of Justina against Ambrose So the Lord that looketh down from Heaven and beholds the doings of the Children of men puts stops to their rage and reproves it as he sees good Andragathius Maximus his Captain hiding himself in a Chariot The conspiracy by which Gratian was murdered in the form of a Litter born with Mules went to meet with Gratian giving in charge to them that conducted it That it was the Empress who came to meet the Emperor he passed over Rhodanus River that runs by Lyons in France The Emperor suspecting nothing went to the Litter out of which Andragathius lighted and killed him presently So Valentinianus was constrained to receive Maximus who being a Brittain thus conspired Designed by Maximuâ— his fellow Emperor Executed by Andragathius Probus hasts to Illyrium for fear of Maximus with Valentines Army Cap. 12 Theodosius troubled who gave trouble to the World Gathers a great Army and had slain Gratian his fellow Emperor But Probus who had governed prudently during the nonage of Valentinianus fearing Maximus power left Italy and hastned to Illyrium making his abode at Thessalonica a City in Macedonia Now found Theodosius trouble who began to trouble the World about Religion he was wonderfully sorry and gathered a great power to go against Maximus fearing lest he should conspire the death of Valentinianus also At the same time Legates came from Persia to conclude a Peace between them and Honorius was born to him by Placilla the Empress So Theodosius leaving his Son Arcadius at Constantinople marched towards Maximus to give him Battel When he came to Thessalonica he found Valentinianus's Comes to Thessalonica finds Valentines Army discouraged because they had proclaimed Maximus He neither