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
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
death troubled his disciples His doctrine questioned by the Magistrates eleven of the Sectaries secured XI Articles extractâ—â— out of the writings of David George Some of the imprisoned Sectaries acknowledged David George to have been the cause of the tumults in the lower parts of Germany but disowned his doctrine Conditions whereupon the imprisoned are set at liberty The Senate vote the doctrine of D. G. impious and declare him unworthy of Christian burial and that his body and books should be burned which was accordingly effected DAVID GEORGE a man born at Delph in Holland the miracle of the Anabaptistical Religion having lived in the lower Provinces forty years did in the year one thousand five hundred forty and four with some of his kindred and companions in the beginning of April begin his journey for Basil into the state and condition of which place he had before very diligently enquired Whereof having sufficiently informed himself he pretended that he had been driven out of his Countrey for the Gospels sake and that he had been hitherto tost both on the land and sea of the miseries of this world and therefore he humbly intreated that now at length he might be received into some place of Rest. Some being by the representation of his misfortunes and his teares melted into compassion towards him he presum'd to intreat the Magistrate that in tendernesse to Christ and his holy Gospel he might be made capable of the priviledges of the City which if it were granted he bid them be confident of Gods most particular protection towards their City and that for the preservation of it he engaged for him and his that they should be ready to lay down their lives The Magistrate being moved with these just remonstrances and desires received the viper as a Citizen gave him the right hand of welcom and fellowship and made him and his free of the City What should the Magistrate do Behold he hath to do with a man of a grave countenance free in his behaviour having a very long beard and that yellowish sky-coloured and sparkling eyes milde and affable in the midst of his gravity neaâ— in his apparel Finally one that seemed to have in him all the ingredients of honesty modesty and truth to be short one if you examine his countenance carriage discourse and the cause he is embarqu'd in all things without him are within the limits of mediocrity and modesty if you look within him he is nothing but deceit fraud and dissimulation in a word an ingenouous Anabaptist Having already felt the pulses of the Senate and divers of the Citizens coming with his whole family to Basil he and his are entertained by a certain Citizen Having nested a while in Basil he purchased certain houses in the City as also a Farm in the countrey and some other things thereto appertenant married his children and by his good offices procured to himself many friends For as long as he remained at Basil he so much studied Religion was so great an Alms-giver and gave himself so much to other exercises of devotion that suspicion it self had not what to say against him By these cunning insinuations this is beyond a young fox and smells more of the Lybian wilde beast many being surprised came easily over to his party so that he arrived to that esteem and reputation in matters of Religion he pleased himself This perswasion thus craftily gotten was heightened by his great wealth and his riches in jewels whereof he brought some with him some were daily brought from other places in the Low countries was yet further encreased by his sumptuous and rich plate and houshold-stuffe which though they were gorgeous and majestical yet were they not made to look beyond sobriety clean linesse and inediocrity These people sojourning thus in common houses desiring as yet to suppresse the pernicâ—ous inâ—ection of their sect very religiously enacted three things First that no man should profane or speak idly of the name of David George Secondly that no man should rashly or unadvisedly divulge any thing concerning his country or manner of life whence it was that some thought him to be a person of some quality some that he was some very rich Factor or Merchant whence it came that he was so excessively rich others had other imaginary opinions and conceits of him for as much as they themselves being strangers lived in a countrey where they could not be ascertained of any thing Thirdly he was very cautious that none of the Basileans should be carâ—lesly admitted into his requaintance society or correspondence imitating therein the policy of the Ferrets and Weesels which as is reported never assault any bird of supremacy in the place where they frequent And thâ—s did he by letters writings and emissaries plant and water the venemous seed of his sect through the lower Proviâ—ces yet kept the wayes by which he wrought unsuspected and undiscovered For although he had lived two years among them there was not so much as one man infected or had privately caught the itch of his Religion What transcendent Mysteries are these This man though he feared neither deceit nor treachery from strangers yet the fire kindled out of the deceitful embers of his own houshold For behold one of his is own Râ—tinue doubting of the certainty of the new Religion he caused him to be brought before him and asked him whether he did not acknowledge him to be the true David sent from heaven upon earth and to be the Horn Redeemer and Builder up of the Tabernacle of Israel to which the other answered roundly and peremptorily that the restauration of the kingdom of Israel and other things foretold by the Prophets were fulfilled in Christ the true Messias and that consequently there was no other to be expected Which he hearing not without great astonishment did with much commotion of mind and bitter â—menaces thrust him though his sonne in Law out of dores and which is heavy to think on excommunicated him These things being thus managed Davids wife fell sick of a disease which afterwards visited him and many more thâ—e dispatch'd her into the other world What a miracle is this He that declared himself to be greater than Christ and 〈◊〉 himself immortal upon the second of August one thousand five hundred fifty and six did die the death and was honourably huried according to the ceremonies of the Parish Church and his funerals were celebrated in the sight of his sonnes and daughters sonneâ— in law and daughters in law servant-men and maides and a great conflux of Citizens This sad calamity of his death extreamely troubled and tormented the mindes of his disciples as a thing that very much thwarted their hopes of his promised immortality although he had 〈◊〉 told that he would rise again in three yeares and would bring all those things to passe which he had promised while he was alive Upon the
from Wine and strong drink and women and lie on skins Their Gymnosophists were Philosophers who accustomed their bodies to endure all hardnesse and their eyes to gaze on the Sun from morning to evening Of the Indian Religion see Alexander ab Alexandro Pliny Bâ—emus c. Q. What is the Religion of Siam A. This kingdome of the East-Indies except where the Moors inhabit and some Christians is also idolatrous But especially they worship the four Elements and accordingly there be four differâ—nt Sects Each one desireth to be buried in that element which he worshippeth hence some are buried some burned some hanged in the Ayr and some drowned in the Water They hold that God made all things that the good are rewarded and the wicked punished That each man hath two spirits waiting on him a good and a bad That the world shall stand 8000 yeers and then shall be burned into ashes whence shall come forth two eggs and out of them one man and one woman who shall again replenish the Earth Their religious Orders are so strict that it's death among them to speak to a woman They feed on Rice onely and herbs which they beg from door to door They must not buy nor sell nor take Rents They are tyed to rise at midnight to pray to their Idols They go still bare-footed and in poor cloaths Every King of this Country at his Coronation is bound to erect a Temple with high Steeples and multitudes of Idols Their priests go in yellow being a sacred colour resembling the Suns light They may not nourish any female thing not so much as a hen He that drinks Wine is stoned to death See the discourse of China Boterus Maginus and others Q. What is the Religion of Pegu A. The religious Ceremonies of this kingdom consisted in multitudes of Temples Images and begging preachers who are still preaching and begging Their Alms are brought to them in the Pulpits whilst they are preaching The people when they enter into their Churches at the dore wash their feet and by lifting up their hands to their heads salute the preacher first and and then the Sun When any enters into that Order of Talipâ—n or preacher he is first carried in solemnity about the streets on horse-back with Pipes and Drâ—ms then upon mens shoulders to his house which is without the Town They keep holy day every New-Moon They believe multitudes of gods worlds succeeding each other that this world hath been governed by four gods already who are gone the fift is not yet come after whose death the world shall be burned After this life they hold some shall live in carnal pleasure some in torment and others shall be aunihiarid They hold Transanimation and are bound to fast thirty days every year They know no women for whom they allow Nunneries The People drink the water wherein their Preachers wash themselves coâ—nting it holy They feed the Devil each morning with baskets of rice that he may not hurt them that day When they are sick they build him Altars and pacifâ—e him with flowers meat and musick Their Idols are honoured with divers festivals in which wax lights are burned all night and the gates stand open that all those may see and have accesse to the idol who bring presents with them Q. Of what Religion are the people of Bengala A. They are not content to worship the River â—ahges but to its image also they give divine honours The River is visited by many Pilgrims who think themselves happy if they can wash themselves in it If any can drink of the water thereof at the point of death he thinks presently by the vertue thereof to obtain heaven There is also a Well which they adore in If they wash away all their sins and are all clean both without and within if they wash in it and drink thereof They carry away the sand of this Well as a sacred Relique and in recompence leave flowers behind them in the Well For fear Ieast their idols should saint with too much heat there are some who with fans blow the wind for refrigeration All are bound to enter bareâ—ooted into the idol-Temples The more horrid and ugly the idol looks the more he is worshipped Sick people are brought and laid before the idols which are honoured with lights continually burning before them Their marriages are made in some Water wherein the Priest and the married couple hold a Cow with her Calfe by the taile and poure water upon it then the Priest tieth the maâ—ried persons cloaths together then going round about the Cow aud Calse the Ceremony is ended The Priest hath for his Fee the Cow and Calf the poor some Almes and the idols some Money About Iemena they use to pray naked in the water and to do pennance by lying flat on the ground 〈◊〉 the earth holding up their hands to the Sun and turning themselves about fourty times Who deâ—ire more of this stuff let them read Linschoten R. Fitzh 〈…〉 Q. Of what Religion is the kingdom of Magor A. They are for the most part Pythagoreans holding Transanimation they acknowledge one God but have many fabulous conceits of him as that he hath appeared in the world in divers monstrous shapes to wit of a Fish a Snail a Hog a Monster resembling Woman in the lower part and a Lyon in the upper They worship divers idols one chiefly representing a Woman with two heads and many hands to this image neâ—r the City Tahor repair many Pilgrims The King worshippeth every morning the image of the Sun and of Christ also the Son of righteousnesse which he sets on the crown of his head See Oranus in his Narration of Magor Q. What is the Reiigion of Cambaia A. The people here are so superstitiously Pythagoreans that there are among them some religious orders who are afraid to kill a Gnat or Worm They are much addicted to fasting and almes-giving Their religious persons called Verteus leave no hair on their heads and faces but a little on their crown They will not drink their water cold fearing least thereby they should slay the soul of the water which is quickened by boyling The people here redeem birds and beasts appointed to be slain and if any bird be sick or hurt they carry it to the Hospital They redeem also Malefactors condemned to dye and sell them for slaves For fear least they should tread upon Ants they will rather go out of the way then goe neer their Hills They drink no Wine nor will eat Eggs least there should be blood in them Neither will they eat of Radishes Onyons or any herb that hath red colour in it See Maffaeus Linschoten and Purchas Q. What is the Religion professed in Goa A. Here are Christians Jewes Mahumetans and Pagans who pray to the Sun and Moon and worship divers idols of horrible Aspects but their custome is to pray to the first thing they meet with
the Guardian struck on the shoulder three times with the Sword saying Iordain thee Knight of the holy Sepulchre of our Lord Iesus Christ in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost This he repeats three times and crosseth him three times then kisseth him and puts a Golden Chain about his neck with a double red Crosse hanging at it at last the Knight having kissed the Sepulchre the Monks present sing Te Deum and after a short prayer he is dismissed This order was by Pope Innocent the eighth Anno 1485. made one with the Knights of Rhodes The order of Gladiators began in Livonia much about the time that the Tutonicks began in Ierusalem Anno 1204. They were called Gladiatores from carrying on their cloak two red Swords acrosse Albert Bishop of Riga begâ—n this order and allowed the third part of his Chutohes revenues towards the maintenance thereof Their habit was white on which were woven two bloody Swords in manner of a Crosse as is said to signifie their innocency and warfare against the Pagans whom they converted to Christianity not onely in Riga the Metropolis but in most places of Livonia Pope Innocent gave them all the Lands they could subdue there The rule they professed was the same with that of the Templars but by the Popes perswasion both the Cruciferi and Gladiators incorporated themselves into the Teutonick order Q. 17. What were the Knights of Saint Mary of Redemption of Montesia and the order of Vallis Scholarium and Canons Regular of Saint Mark A. The Knights of Saint Mary de Mercede or of Redemption because their charge was to redeem Captives was instituted by Iames King of Arragon who in the year 1212. subdued the Isles Baleares This order began about the year 1232. and is confirmed by Gregory the nineth They wear a white garment with a black crosse They are of the Cistertian order The Knights of Montesia are so called from that place in the Kingdom of Valentia They were iustituted much about the time of the former Knights of Saint Mary by the same King Iames and confirmed by the same Pope Gregory the nineth the badge of this order is a red crosse and are also Cistertians The order of Vallis Scholarium began Anno 1217. by one Guilelmus Richardus a Scholar of Paris who with Edward and Manasses professors of Divinity betook themselves to the Desare in Champanie where they set up a new order but after the rule of Saint Austiâ— They borrowed also some things of the Cistertians that the Prior should visit all the Churches of his order without exacting any temporalties that they hold a general Chapter every year that they wear no linnen shirts nor sleep on feather-beds that none eat flesh but such as are sick and weak The place where they first resided in was called Vallis Scholarium This order was confirmed by Pope Honorius the third The order or Congregation of Saint Marks Canon Regulars began in Mantua about the year 1231. Q. 18. What was the order of Saint Clara Saint Pauls Eremites and Boni-homines A. Clara was of the same Town Assisium with Francis and his intimate acquaintance she was Daughter to Ortulana who undertook Pilgrimages both to Rome and to the holy Sepulchre in her Childhood she wore sackcloath next her skin and would never hear of marriage She stole away from her Parents cut off her hair and could not be drawn away by any perswasions from her intended course of life About the year 1225. at the Church of Saint Damianus she instituted the order of Poor Ladies called from her name Clarissae and from the place the Nuns of Saint Damian Neer this Church in a Cottage she lived two and forty years afflicting her body with fasting watchings and all kind of hardnesse Next her flesh she wore the brisley side of a Hogs skin lay on hard boords went bare-footed In Lent and other fasting times she used only bread and water she tasted wine onely upon Sundaies her rule was that of the Franciscans Pope Innocent the third or as others say Honorius the third confirmed this order She could not be perswaded by Pope Gregory the nineth to reserve any of her possessions but forsook all for Christ as she thought Saint Pauls Eremites in Huugary were instituted in the year 1215. after the rule of Saint Austin by Eusebius of Strigonia and was confirmed by Gentilis the Popes Legat Anno 1308. They came into England and seated themselves in Colchester Anno 1310. The order called Boni Homâ—â—es or Boni Viri that is good men was instituted by Edmund sonne to Richard Earle of Cornwall who had been elected Emperor These did follow Saint Austins rule and wear a skie-coloured garment Q 19. What were the Servants of Saint Mary the Caelestini and Jesuati A. One Philip Tudert a Florentine by birth and a Physician by profession instituted this order of Saint Maries Servants they follow the rule of Saint Austin they wear a short black coar and over that a long black cloak pleated about the shoulders They were confirmed by Pope Bennet the eleventh and seven other Popes after him They are permitted to carry a Satchel or Bag to put the almes in which they beg In Italy there he eight and forty Monasteries of these Servants This order was instituted Anno. 1282. or as others say 1285. The Caelestini were so called from Pope Caelestine the fifth who having before his Popedom lived an Eremiticall life in divers Desarts at last erected this order after the rule of Saint Bennet and procured it to be confirmed by Pope Gregory the tenth in the Generall Councell of Lyons Their habit is of skie-colour without a hood Caelestin their Author being elected Pope and cheated out of it by Boniface the eight who by a Cane and a hole in the Wall speak to him to relinquish his Popedom which he did thinking an Angel had spoken to him I say Caelestine returned again to his Eremiticall life which he could not long enjoy for Pope Boniface put him in prison upon jealousie where he died These Monks came into England Anno 1414. The Iesuati began at Senae by Iohn Columbanus and Francis Vincent Anno 1365. they were called Iesuati from using the name of Iesus often in their mouthes Pope Vrban the fifth approved them and enjoyned them to wear a white garment a white cover for their head a leathern girdle and to go bare-footed using onely wooden soles These Monks were afterward called Apostolici Q. 20. What was the Order of Saint Briget A. Briget not that of Scotland who lived about the year 530. but a Princess of Sweden Anno 1360. obtained a confirmation of her order which she received immediately from Christ as she said by Pope Vrban the fifth Her rule was according to that of Saint Basils The Monks and Nus may have their Covents contiguous and the
Arnhem Answer They hold that Independency is a beginning of Christs temporall Kingdome here on earth that within five years but these are already expired Christ was to come in the flesh and with an iron sword to kill most of his enemies and then that he should reign here on earth with his Saints a thousand years in all carnal delights 2. That God is not onely the author of sin but also of the sinfulnesse or Ataxie thereof 3. That all men are bound to know God in abstracto without Christ without Grace or Scripture 4. They held extreme unction to be a Sacrament and necessary for the sick and of divine institution so they held the holy kisse of peace a religious and needfull Ceremonie 5. They put down singing Psalmes and set up in lieu thereof singing prophets who are to chant out alone in the Congregation their own hymnes 6. They teach that the soul is mortall 7. That just mens souls go not into heaven till the last day but remain in the upper element of fire whither Enoch and Eliah with the Soul of Christ before his resurrection and the soul of the good thief went and no higher they teach also that the Souls of the wicked go not before the last judgement into hel but remain in the lower region of the air or in the bottom of the sea 8. They say that after the day of judgement all the world shall be hell except that part of heaven where God resides with his Angels 9. In preaching they will have their Ministers covered and the people bare but in administring the Sacrament they will have the people covered and the Minister bare Q. 8. Vpon what grounds do these Millenaries build Christs temporall Kingdome here on earth for a thousand years An. Upon that place of the Revilation 19. 4 5 6. I saw the Souls of them who were beheaded for the witnesse of Iesus and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years but this place proves no such Kingdome for it is mysticall and symbolicall Divinity not argumentative Again in this place there is no mention at all of any earthly presence of Christ nor of any earthly reign with him besides the Kingdome of Christ is everlasting for of his Kingdome saith the Angel there shall be no end therefore here is put a definite number for an indefinite Christ saith his Kingdome is not of this world the Kingdome of Christ is spirituall and within us and if we speak of Christs Kingdome as he is Mediator reigning in his Church by his word sacraments and discipline we must conclude that he hath reigned already above 1600. years and how long more he shall reign here on earth we know not 2. They build their opinion upon Dan. 12. 2. Many of them who sleep in the dust shall arise c. hence they inferre two resurrections in the first many shall rise to reign with Christ here on earth in the second they say all shall rise to Judgement but this interpretations is ridiculous for the first Resurrection mentioned in Scripture is spirituall to wit a rising from the death of sinne of which the Apostle if you be risen with Christ seek the things that are above for as sin is called death you were dead in sinnes and trespasses so the forsaking of sinne is called a resurrection this is the rising of the mind the other of the body Agaiâ— in Scripture many and all are promiscuously taken for the same as here many shall rise that is all So Matth. 4. Christ healed all Diseases that is many Besides the words of Daniel are directly spoken of the second Resurrection to Iudgement and not to a temporary Kingdome for he saith that some of those shall rise to life eternall not to a temporary of a thousand years and others to everlasting shame which yet the Millenaries deny in saying the wicked shall not rise till the expiration of the thousand years and where they say that the Saints shall shine as starres or the Firmament in the first Resurrection but as the sun in the second it is vain for in the second Resurrection shall be degrees of glory as the Apostle sheweth 1 Cor. 15. For as one Star differeth from another star in glory so is the Resurrection of the dead some shall shine as the Sun who is the brightest of all the starres and some shall be lesser starres an glory they do also vainly call their first Resurrection a hidden mystery whereas indeed it is the second Resurrection that is a mesterie and so hidden that the wisest Philosophers understood iâ— not and thought Paul had been 〈◊〉 when 〈◊〉 preached this mystery as Athens that which cannot be apprehended by reason but by faith 〈…〉 â—e truly called a hidden mystery 3. They misapply divers places of Scripture to prove this imaginary reign of Christ here on earth as Psalm 102. 16. when the Lord shall build up Sion he shall appear in his glory This Scripture was fulfilled when Ierusalem was rebuilt after the captivity So they alledge Acts 3. 20. 21. The Heavens shall receive Christ till the times of restitution of all things but this is spoken of the second Resurrection for then shall be a restitution of all things and not before in their thousand years reign for they confesse that then all the Jews shall not rise nor all Christians it must then follow that there shall not be a restitution of all things at that time That place of Rom. 11. 12. concerning the calling of the Jews is impertinent for we deny not but they shall be called to the faith of Christ but that they shall return to build Ierusalem and be under Christs earthly reign 1000. years is not at all spoken in that place no lesse impertinent is that place of 2. Pet. 3. 13. We look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousnesse for this is spoken of the last Judgement wherein all things shall be renewed by fire and not before as the circumstances of the Scripture do shew and all Jnterpreters do agree so without any sense or reason they apply the 65. chapter of Isa. to their Millenary reign which is plainly spoken of the calling of the Gentiles and of Christs first coming to preach the Gospell and to gather a Church which there and elsewhere is called Ierusalem and the Prophets usually under the terms of planting building eating and drinking new heavens and new earth the joy of hills forrests and trees c. do expresse the happy estate of the Church of Christ under the Gospel When the mountain of the Lords House shall be coealted on the top of the mountains and all nations shall flock to it then Jerusalem that is the Church shall be the throne of the Lord. Then out of Sion shall go forth a Law and the word of the Lord from Ierusalem then shall the God of heaven set up a Kingdome which shall never be destroyed Christ shall reign over
the same kidney That the world was to be reformed by their means which done and the wicked utterly cut off from the face of the earth it should be governed â—y Justice it self All that gave not up their names and embraced their Sect they branded with the name of ungodly Out of this Sodomitical lake sprung THOMAS MVNTZER one that boasted that he had had communication with God This mans doctrine incredibly spred as being in the first place levell'd at the holy Doctors of the reformed Religion And from thence discharged at the Magistrates themseves for the Christian flock being once deprived of these two constitutions of men there were nothing to hinder the greedy wolves to break out into all rapine and oppression And this is the reason why the wolves that is to say the false Teachers have ever most violently opposed the Ministry and the Magistracy in hopes if possible to draw these from the care and charge of their flocks or at least to bring them into contempt with their sheep which by that meanes should stray into their parties This Muntzer did both by his teachings and writings publickly affirm that the Preachers of that time that contributed their endeavours to the advancement of the Gospel were not sent by God but were meer Scribes and impertinent Interpreters of the Scriptures That the Scriptures and the written word were not the pure word of God but only a bare Testimony of the true word that the true reall word was something that were intrinse call and heavenly and immediately proceeding out of the mouth of God and consequently to be learned intrinsecally and not out of the Scriptures or by any humane suggestion With the same breath he brought Baptisme into contempt most inconvincibly affirming that there was no warrant from God for Paedobaptisme or baptisme of children and that they ought to be baptized after a spirituall and more excellent dispensation He further endeavoured to teach that Christs satisfaâ—ction for us was unnecessary whatever honest and weak understanding men could urge to the contrary That matrimony in the unfaithful and incontinent was a pollution meretricious and diabolical That God discovered his will by dreames whence it was that he was mightily infatuated with them holding that those were as it were communicated by the holy Ghost Hereupon was he acknowledged by his followers for some heavenly and spiritual Prophet and it was believed that he was thus taught by the spirit of God without any humane assistance This doctrine did he disperse throughout all Germany by printed books and Epistles which the tinder-brain'd disciples of his seditious sect were soon fir'd with read approved and propagated The same man in the yeares M.D.XXIII â—nd M.D.XXIV taught at Alsted which is a City in Saxony near Thuringia and when not only the Ministers but also the Magistrates lay under the lash of his calumny insomuch that his Sermons were stuff'd with most seditious and bitter invectives against them and pretending to groan for the return of lost liberty and for the insufferable pressures of the people under Tyranny he complained of it as a great grievance that their wealth and estates were the prey of the Magistrate and therefore would perswade them that a remedy was timely to be applied to these things Being for this doctrine dispatched out of Alsted he comes to Norimberg and thence without discontinuing his journey into Basil and thence into Switzerland from whence at length he came to Cracovia where at a certain â—own called Griessen he continued some weeks In the mean time he was no lesse idle then ever and that especially in the County of Sâ—uâ—ing where he sowed so much of his contagious seed among his factious disciples as afterwards thrived inâ—o an extraordinary harvest At the same time he publickly scattered abroad his doctrine of Baptisme and the word of God in such sort as we have touched before Departing out of this countrey and wandring up and down Mulhusium in the countrey of During he writ letters to some of the most confident to his Religion by whose connâ—enance and assistance factious spirits were sometimes more and more exasperated against the Magistrate Some small time before the countrey people took up arms he sent up and and down certain Briefes by Messengers wherein were divers things and among the rest was represented the greatnesse of those warlike instruments which were cast at 〈◊〉 upon occasion of this sedition so to encourage and enflame the fiery followers of his faction For having stayed two moneths at Griessen and that he thought he could not so much advance his designes if he â—eturned into Saxony because his affaires prospered not according to his desires in these places he returns back to the people of During and Mulhusium But before he was arrived thither LVTHER had by letters forewarned the reverend 〈◊〉 of Mulhusium concerning him that they should beware of him as of a destroying wolfe and fitter to be 〈◊〉 then Serpents or whatever Mankind beares any antipathy to for that both at Swickaw and not long before at Alsted he was accounted a tree sufficiently evill and corrupt which boâ—e no other fruit but 〈◊〉 and inevitable destruction and one who no more then his Comâ—â—ades could ever be brought to make any defence of their opinions among which was That they 〈◊〉 were Gods elect and that all the children of their Religion were to be called the children of God and that all others were ungodly and designed to damnation And divers other things to the same purpose were contained in the aforesaid letter which was dated from Weimaria on Sunday being the day of the Assumption of Mary in the year M.D.XXIV Muntzer in the mean time with words plausibly sweetned drew away the mindes of all he could to favour his party and by promising mountains of gold to the common people to the end they should cry him up with the general acclamations of being a true Prophet it came to passe that a very great conflux of the dregs of the people repaired to him from Mulhusium and other places nay by his subtilty and the authority he had gotten he perverted the very Magistrate of Mulhusium and made him a new abeâ—tor of his opinion And this was the first original of the mischief and thence divers other Hydra's of seditions like so many excrescencies took a suddain growth from this For all mens goods became common and he taught that no man had any propriety in what he enjoyed To which he added that it was revealed to him from God that the Empire and Principalities of this world were to be extirpated and that the sword of Gideon was put into his hands to be employed against all Tyrants for the assertion of true liberty and the restauration of the Kingdom of Christ and at this time he gave orders for the preparing of certain warlike engines While he was wholy