Churches and many others whom they scandall and accuse of divers heresies and errors which we and they abhorre and detest This point I will conclude with Doctor Fields observations First Doct. Field of the Church lib 3. cap. 1. that by the mercifull goodnesse of God all these different sorts of Christians though distracted and dissevered by reason of delivering certaine points of faith mistaking one another or variety in opinion touching things not Fundamentall yet agree in one substance of faith and are so farre forth orthodox that they reta in a saving profession of all divine verities absolutly necessary to salvation and are all members of the true Catholicke Church of Christ The second that in the principall controversies touching matters of Religion betweene the Papists and those of the reformed Churches they give testimonie of the truth of that which we professe As Docter Field also hath collected 1 They all denie and impugne that supreame universalitie of Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction which the Bishop of Rome claimeth 2 They thinke him subiect to error as other Bishops are 3. They deny that he hath any power to dispose of principalities kingdomes of the world or to depose Kings 4 they acknowledge all our righteousnesse to be imperfect and that it is not safe to trust thereunto but to the meere mercy and goodnesse of God 5 They adâ—nit not of the merit of Congruence condignitie nor works of Superrogation 6 They teach not the doctrine of satisfactions as the Romanists doe 7 They beleeue not Purgatorie and pray not to deliver men out of temporall punishments after this lfie 8 They reiect the Romish doctrine touching Indulgences and pardons 9 They beleeve not that there are seven Sacraments 10. They omit many ceremonies which the Roman Church useth in Baptisme as spittle c. 11. They haue no private Masses 12. They minister the Communion in both kindes to all communicants 13 They beleeve not transubstantiation nor the now reall sacrificing of Christ They have their divine service most of them in their owne tongue 15. Their Preists are married and although they permit theÌ„ not to marrie a second wife without dispensation yet if any do they do not avoid or dissoluethe mariage 16. They make no image of God 17 They have no Massy Images but pictures onely 18. They think that properly God onely is to be invocated and howsoever they have a kinde of invocation of Saints yet they thinke that God onely heareth them and not the Saints And thus much of the Vnity of these Churches with us 4 The Vnitie of the Reformed Churches appeareth by their severall Confessions OF Auspurge Set downe in a booke called the Harmonie of ConfessioÌ„s of the faith of the Chrislian Reformed Churches Printed Cambridge 1586. which was first presented in the Germaine tongue at the Citie of Auspurge in the yeare 1530 to Charls the fift being Emperor by certaine most renowned Princes of Germanie and other States of the sacred Empire whoÌ„ they call Protestants Of Straugsborough Constance Meminga Lindan presented to the said Emperour Of Basill called also the Confession of Millaine Of the Helvetian Churches Of the Saxon and Meissen Churches Of Wirtemberge presented by the Ambassadours of Christopher Duke of Wirtemberge and Tecca Earle of Mountbelgard presented to the Councell of Trent the 24 of the Month of Ianuary Anno. 1552. Of the French Confession which was in the yeare 1559. presented to Francis the second King of France Of the latter Confession of the Helvetian Church which was written by the Pastors of Zurich in the yeare 1566. Of Belgia which was published in French in the name of all the Churches of Belgia in the yeare 1566 and in the yeare 1579. In a publique Synod held at Belgia it was repeated confirmed and turned into the Belgian tongue Of Bohemia published in divers places was also approved by common testimonie of the Vniversitie of Wirtembergâ— published in the yeere 1532. Of Scotland subscribed by King James of famous memorie and the States thereof to the glory of God and good example of all men At Edenborough the 28 day of Ianuary 1581 and in the 14 yeere of his Maiefties Raigne Although some private men led more by passion and their owne selfe pleasing conceipt then by the sacred rules of piety and truth have laboured to sow the tares of dissention in the vineyard of the Lord and have made Crooked some branches cleaving unto them as Anabaptists Brownists and others yet the generall societies of these Orthodox Churches in the publique confessions of their faith do so agree that there is a most sacred har mony betweene them in the more substantiall points of Christian Religion necessary to salvation as touching the Holy Scripture the Sacred Trinitie the person of the Sonner of God God and man The providence of God Sinne Freewill the Law the Gospell Iustification by Christ faith in his name Rogeneration the Catholique Church and supreme head thereof Christ the Sacraments their number and use the state of Soules after death the Resurrection Doctor Potters wantâ— of charitie pag. 93. Doct Field of the Church pag 819. and life eternall They differ rather in Phrases and formes of speech concerning Christs presence in his holy Supper other things then in substance of doctrine and also in Ceremonies And to manifest preface to Mr. Brerwoods enquiries this their unity The first Act in the Polonian Synods of which they have had divers lately as before in which assembly are Protestants embracing Bohemick Augustan and Helvetique confessions The first Act is a religious confession of their unfeined consent in the substantiall points of Christian faith necessary to Salvation and also that all disputation should be cut of concerning the manner of Christs presence All of them beleeving the presence it selfe and that the Eucharisticall elements are not naked and emptie signes but doe truely exhibite to the faithfull receiver that which they signifie and represent And for as much as they all accord in the substantiall veritie of Christian doctrine they professe themselves to be content to tollerate diversities of ceremonies according to the divers parctise of their particular Churches 5 Of the differences and want of unitie in the Roman Church WHereas our Adversaries boast much upon unitie and thinke it to be the glorie of their Church as Coster writeth that the Catholickes in the world are under one Pope whom they all obey and constantly retaine one faith they speake one thing they thinke one thing and beleeve one and the same in all things so that they disagree not in the least point of Religion Yet for all this their want of unitie will appeare not onely in the want of concord and love one to another but also in their difference in opinions amongst themselves and moreover they in their new doctrines differ from all the true Catholike Churches of the world yea even from holy Scriptures it selfe Their want of concord and unitie
Mr. Birckbeck hath written a catalogue who acknowledgeth Doctor Featlies great furtherance in it as I also doe but most especially I acknowledge my selfe bound unto your Lordship for your helpe and incouragement which imboldened me both to write and publish this Treatise Now although the contents of the former writing have beene sufficiently answered againe and againe and neede nothing of mine being one of the meanest of all my brethren Yet I shewed them that brought it me that in stead of a Catalogue of Names I would shew them a Catalogue of Churches in which there now are and have beene many millions of Christians who have generally borne witnesse and now doe to the truth professed by us and our Religion in the principall points in controversie betweene the Roman Church and us as the Greeke Church which hath foure great Patriarches The first of Constantinople whose succession I have set down from Saint Andrew to Cyrill the now Patriarch which succession The Cophti have also a Patriarch of Alexandria Alexandria was inhabited with Greekes and also many other great Cities and Provinces both Africa and Asia have at this day many Greekes in them hath not beene so interrupted with so many Schismes as the Romish succession hath beene The second of Alexandria The third of Antioch The fourth of Hierusalem which Greeke Church is much bigger then the Romish Church in Europe and more ancient The Romish Church having received Christianity from them Againe the Moscovite or Russe Christians who inhabit many countries not onely in Europe but also in Asia as the great Kingdomes of Casan and Astracan and other great Provinces all which together are of greater extent then all Europe besides As also the Christians under the Patriarch of Musall in Asia which Christians Vitriacus the Cardinall reporteth to live in severall Vt de his qui seorsum habitant quorum infinitus est numerus taceamus inter Saracenos non pauciores ut dicitur sunt Christiani infidelibus Vitria histo orient cap. 77. in infinite numbers with their King and also where they live mingled with Saracens they are not fewer then they and howsoever some say that these Christians are decayed since Vitriacus time yet Postell reporteth idem pag. 76. de Iacobitis that they are yet more then the Latine Church Postel Compend Cosmog pag. 69. Dico pauci comparatione priorum temporum â—on in se namsunt nobis latinis multo plures As also the Jacobites dispersed in fortie Kingdomes The Armenian Christians in Europe Asia and Africa who have a thousand Bishops as Cardinall Baronius reporteth out of Otho Frisigensis and also the Abissin Christians in Aethiopia under their Emperour who hath many great Kingdomes of Christians vnder him All these and many more hereafter set downe as they doe agree with us in the maine points of Religion being all baptized in the name of the Father Sonne and holy Ghost c. so also 1. They deny the Popes Supremacie some of them excommunicating him yeerely for an Hereticke or Schismaticke accounting him and his Church hereticall 2. They receive the Communion in both kindes 3. They have no private Masse 4. They hold no Transubstantiation 5. They offer no sacrifice for the quicke and the dead in their Liturgies 6. Married Priests doe administer amongst them 7. They know no Purgatorie nor use any Prayers nor sell any Pardons to release soules from thence 8. Most of them have their Service in their owne tongues Now howsoever the Romanists account no more of the testimonies of these Christians then of the testimonies of Iewes Turkes and esteeme them damned persons as they doe us yet let them know that these Christians are baptized beleeve in Christ and also live devoutly to God obediently to Princes and sincerely to men yea many of them suffer very much for Iesus Christs sake which they might free themselves of if they would renounce their Religion and obtaine great honour and estate for the Turkes Janisaries and Basha's are most of them renegado Christians but these poore Christians account their Saviour more deere to them then all the honours and riches of the world Therefore farre bee it from any Christian Soule to account these men damned as the Romanists doe onely for not being subiect to the Bishop of Rome Bonif. 8. in extrar de major obedi cap. unam sanctam c. according to their Tenet That every Soule must of necessity of Salvation be subject to the Bishop of Rome As for the Dedication in regard I have received many kindnesses from your Lordship both when you were my neighbour and since I am bold to present this Treatise to your Lordship desiring your patronage and protection and also most humbly intreating Almighty God to multiply his blessings upon you to your owne Comfort and good of his Church Your Lordships most humbly devoted EPHRAIM PAGITT Parson of the Church of St. Edmonds the King in Lombardstreet London To the Reader THat which J intend in this treatise is to shew that there are many Christian Churches as well in Europe as in the other parts of the world that doe not adhere to the Roman Church nor acknowledge the Pope for their head Invaine therfore and to no purpose doe many of that party run up and downe the world and cry up the Church of Rome for that one holy catholicke Church which is so assisted by the holy Ghost that it cannot erre wheÌ„ she is indeed but a member and no sound one neither of that body as being miserably infested at this day which also the learned and sober men amongst themselves cannot deny with many new fond opinions and with superstitious practices not a few The Greeke Church may for ought I know by the same reason say that she is that one infalible Catholicke Church that all are Schismatickes that coÌ„municate not with her that out of that church there is no salvation to be had One thing Iadde by way of caution J haue cited many of the opinions practices of those Christians that live in the Easterne and other remote parts of the world but J doe not undertake to justify them in every particular J would not be so understood it sufficeth for my present purpose to shew that many Millions of Christians in the world differ from the Papists J and that in the most of those things wherein they and we do disagree which is the maine of all that few or none of all these doe acknowledge the Church of Rome for their Mother or have any dependance on her The God of peace make peace in Christendome and grant that all they that confesse his holy name may agree in the truth of his holy word and live in unity and godly love Amen So prayeth Thine in our common Saviour The Contents of the first Chapter THe severall sorts of Christians in the World not subject to the Pope or differing in Religion from him First
Of the agreement of the Ancient Roman East and South Church with vs in the points set downe and also of Gregorie the great Bishop of Rome who sent Austen into England 7 Of the Religion of the Antient Brittans and of their differences from the now Roman Church 8 Of the Pietie and Devotion of the Christians before named 1 The principall differences betweene the Romanists and us THE maine difference betweene the Church of Rome and us consists in certaine points which they of Rome hold for important and necessary Articles of the Christian faith which we doe not beleive or receive for such For the things which we beleeue are verities cleerely founded upon Scripture and summarily set downe in the Creed and vnaminously received by all Orthodoxall Christianes This Creed which the Antients thought compleat enough seemeth to the Romanists defective and therefore they have adioyned and added to the same many new Articles yea to those twelue which the Apostles set downe for a sufficient Summary of wholesome doctrine The Articles of their New Creed and Doctrines are Their Apocryphall Scriptures Their Dogmaticall Traditions which they equall with the holy Scriptures Their Transubstantiation Their Communion in one kinde Their Purgatorie Their Invocation of Saints Their Worship of Images Their Obedience to the Pope without which no salvation Their Latine Service Their Trafique of Indulgences These and other new doctrines are Canonized in their late meeting at Trent and vpon these and the like is the contestation betweene the Romanists and vs these are obtruded by them as vndoubted verities and to be believed under the Popes curse These are reiected by vs as human inventions some of them cunningly devised to advance their ambition avarice without any solid ground or countenance of Scripture or Antiquitie He that desireth to see mere of the differences betweene the Romanists and us let him reade Doct. Field of the Church Doct. Field of the Church Booke 3. cap. 7. pag. 83. 2 The Agreement of the Churches before named with us in the chiefe Points in Controversie following Of the Greeke Church AS the writings of the Greeke Fathers for above five hundred yeares space after Christ give testimonie to our Religion in the maine Points thereof So also the Churches at this day in those parts doe hold with us and we and they against the now Romish Church As 1 The Greekes deny the Popes Supremacie Cyrill Patriarch of Constantinople 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cap. 10. pag. 28. Wee beleeve that no mortall man can be Head of the Church and that our Lord IESVS CHRIST is the alone Head Marke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Concilium Ptorens pag. 721. Binius Archbishop of Ephesus We account the Pope as one of the Pariarks if he be Orthodox Nilus Archbishop of Thessalonica The Greeke Church though it never denied the Primacie of Order to the Pope of Rome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Nilus de Primatu pag. 101. yet their assumed predominancie of Authoritie they have alwayes resisted The Emperour Ioannes Paleologus submitted himselfe to the Pope in the Councell of Florence 1436. in hope of Aide against the Turke Paulus Aemilius cited by Bishop Iewell Defence of the Apolog. pag. 411. for which he was so hated of his people that being dead they denied him Christian buriall Jsodore Archbishop of Kiovia returning from the sayd Councell because he began Hunc Moscovitae obedientiam Romanam praedicantem spoliaverunt in necem extremam impulerunt Mathias à Michou de Sarmatia lib. 2. cap. 1. for unities sake to move the people to submit themselves to the Pope was deposed from his Bishopricke and put to death 2 They account the Pope and his Church Schismaticall The Patriarke of Constantinople doth yearely upon the Sunday In Praefaclene ante acta screpta Theelogorum Wirtembergensium Patriarchae Constantinopolitani Dom. Hieremiae An. Dom. 1576. called Dominica invocavit solemnely excommunicate the Pope and his Clergie for Schismaticks Summum antem Pontisicem Christi Vicarium omnesque Latinos pre excemmunicatis babens Elench Alphab omnium Hareseum lib. 7. pag. 202. Prateolus The Graecians account Christs Vicar the Pope and the Latines excommunicate persons 3 Concerning Transubstantiation Cyrill the Patriarch of Constantinople 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cap. 17. pag. 60. In the administration of the Eucharist we doe confesse a true and reall presence of Christ but such a one as Faith offereth us not such as devised Transubstantiation teacheth For we beleeve the faithfull to cate Christs body in the Lords Supper not sensibly champing it with their teeth but partaking it by the sence of the soule for that is not the body of Christ which offereth it selfe to our eyes in the Sacrament but that which Faith spiritually apprehendeth and offereth to us Hence it ensueth that if we beleeve we cate and participate if we beleeve not we receive no profit by it Hierimi the Patriarch teacheth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Respons 1. pag. 101. a change of bread into the body of Christ which he calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a transmutation which is not sufficient to inferre a Transubstantiation because it may signifie onely a mysticall alteration which the Patriarch in the same place plainely sheweth saying the body and blood of Christ are truely mysteries 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Patriar Respons cap. 10. pag. 86. not that these saith he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are changed into humane flesh but wee into them for the better things haue ever the preheminence Neither was the flesh saith he of our Lord. which he carried about him given to his Apostles for meate not his blood for drinke neither now in the holy mysteries doth the Lords body descend frō heaven this is blasphemie Ganlterus The Greeks say Malos dum consecratum panem accipiunt non accipere corpus Iesu Christi hoc ipsum perpeino Calvini Ministri in ore habent In Tabula Chronograph pag. 604. de Photio 19. that the wicked eating the consecrated bread doe not receive Christs body This also the Calvinists Ministers have alwayes in their mouthes 4 They celebrate the Eucharist in both kinds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Patriar Respons de Abusib pag. 129. Hieremie the Patriarch You say the holy Supper ought to be received in both kindes and you say well so also doe we when we doe receive those venerable Mysteries Cyrill the Patriarch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cyrill cap 17 pag 61. As the Institutor speaketh of his body so also of his blood which Commandement ought not to be rent a sunder or mangled according to human Arbitrement but the Institution is to be kept intire as it is delivered to us Prateolus Item esse necessario sub vtraque specîe panis scilicet et vini communis andum adeo quidem vt qui vna specie tantum communicat etiamsi laicus sit peccare dicatur quod ut aiunt
approved him and so it may be said of many others Moreover their want of unitie will appeare in that the Popes of Rome as Lawgivers set them down in St. Peters Chaire as they pretend and made lawes and constitutions contrary to Gods commandements and Christs institutions As Clement the 5 gathered a Councell at Vienna 1311 in which it was ordeined that the Emperor should give his oath of Allegiance to the Pope Roman 13.1 1 Pet. 2 13. contrary to the written word of God Let every soule be subiect to higher powers And to the King as supreme Also in the Councell at Constance Anno 1414 the Pope and his Prelates altered the Testamentall legacy of Christ himselfe in taking from the Laitie the use of the Cup in the Sacrament the holy Symboll of Christs bloud which caused many true hearted Christians to tremble for that their Prelates durst set their mouthes against heaven and correct the ordinance of Christ himselfe and in that rude manner that although Christ did administer to his disciples under the formes of bread and wine c. Yet they commanded no Priest to communicate to the people in both kindes under the paine of excommunication And last of all Paul the third summoned a Councell at Mantua after removed to Irent wherein some few Bishops assembled being the Popes Creatures Flaccus Illyricus in prote statione adversus concilium Tridentinum of which holy fathers some were titular as Richard Pates Bishop of Worcester and blind Sr. Robert Bishop of Armagh and also two of them were taken in Adultery as Illyricus reporteth the one stroken with a dart the other taken in a trap by the husband Bp. Iuell defence pag. 625. hanged by the neck out of a window these helped to make the new articles of faith before mentioned and upon this Councell the now Roman Church dependeth Against this assembly Bellarm. de effect Sacrament lib. 2 cap. 25. Francis the French King protested and held it but for a private Conventicle and divers other Christian Nations have disavowed the same Many of the Canons therein decreed and established for Articles of faith are repugnant to the holy Scriptures as for example they decreed That Images may be made to be worshipped contrary to Deut. 27 15. and to the very second Commandement it selfe That prayers may be made to the Virgin Mary and to the Saints departed contrary to Math. 6.9 contrary to the practise of the Patriarches Prophets and Apostles and holy men in Scripture That the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is to be ministred and received in one kinde contrary to Christs institution Mat. 26.27 1 Cor 10.16 They that desire to see more particulars of the popish doctrines Barnard pag. 18.19.20 contrary to holy Scriptures let them read Mr. Barnards booke called Looke beyond Luther Doct Feild of the Church lib. 5 pag. 114. Frequentur accidit ut quae opinio paucis ab hinc annis usu non erat modo communi consensione recipiatur in Gallia et Germania nonulli scriptores tradide runt Crucem non esse colendam hono re et veneratione â—atriae sed alio infe viore cultu at in Hispania communi consensione doce tur Cruci cultum et honorem latriae deferendum Azori mora â—instit Tom 1. lib. 2 cap. 13. And moreover their opinions are different according to times places as Azorius the Iesuit saith it fals out that that which was the Comon opinion a few yeares since is not the opinion now and that which is the common opinion of Papists in one place is not the opinion in another As for example it is the comon opinion in Spaine and Italy that Latria or divine honor is due to the Crosse which in France and Germany is not so but some inferror kinde of worship is due thereunto And Navare the Iesuit saith that at Rome no man may say that the Councell is above the Pope nor at Paris that the Pope is above the Councell and thu s much of their want of unity difference between the Romanists VI. The Agreement of the antient Roman East and South Churches with us in these points following Which sent Austen the Monke to us and especially of Gregorie Bishop of Rome who is pretended to be the founder of the Roman Religion amongst us who lived about the yeere 600. which Tenets are condemned by the now Roman Church which plainely sheweth the Noveltie of the Doctrine of the now Romish Church and the Antiquitie of ours 1. The Popes Supremacie GRegory I say confidently The old Roman Church Ego autem sidenter dice quia quisquis se universalem sacerdâ—tem vocat vel vocari desiderat in elatione sua Antichristum pracurrit lib. 6. Epist 30. whosoever calleth himselfe or desires to bee called the universall Bishop is in the pride of his heart the forerunner of Antichrist None of my Predecessors Bishops of Rome Nullus unquam decessorum meerum hoc tam profane vocabulo uti concessit lib. 4. Epist 36. Distinct 99. Vniversalis autem nee etiam Romanus Pontifex appelletur ever consented to use this so profane a name Pope Pelagius Gregories Predecessor decreed that no Bishop no not the Bishop of Rome himselfe ought to be called universall Bishop Saint Chrysostom The Easterne Church Distinct. 40. C. multi ex Chrysos Quicunque desideraverit Primatum in terra inveniet confusionem in coelo nec inter servos Christi computabitur qui de primatu tractaverit Chrysost hom 3. ad Popul Antiochen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fol. 474. Savil. Patriarch of Constantinople He that seeketh primacy in earth in Heaven hee shall finde confusion and hee that doth but once intreate of primacie is not worthy to bee numbred amongst the servants of Christ Our Citie of Antioch is most dearest to Christ above all others and like as Peter did first preach among the Apostles so among Cities this had first of all the name of Christians as a certaine wonderfull Crowne Saint Augustine Bishop of Hippo in Aphrick The South Church Saint August de Verb. Domini Ser. 13. Super me aedificabo te non me super te Cyprian in sententijs Concil Carthag ad QuirinuÌ„ On these words thou art Peter and on this rocke which thou hast confessed I will build my Church I will build thee upon me and not me upon thee None of us maketh himselfe a Bishop of Bishops neither was Peter so arrogant to take things so insolently upon him as to advance himselfe as primate and one unto whom the rest as novices and punies should bee subject The old Roman Church Greg. moral lib. 19 c. 13. art 6. de qua re non inordinate agimus si ex libris licet non canonicis sed tamen ad adificationem Eccl. editis testimoniuÌ„ proferamus Eleazar namque c. 2. Canonicall Scripture Gregory Wee doe not amisse if wee bring forth a testimony out of the bookes
O Lord my God how excellent is thy name in all the world Protestants Papists halfe CHRISTIANOGRAPHIE OR The Description of the multitude and sundry sorts of Christians in the VVorld not subiect to the Pope With their Vnitie and hovv they agree with us in the principall points of Difference betweene us and the Church of Rome Goe yee therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Mat. 28.19 And they went forth and preached every where The Lord working with them Marke 16.20 After this I beheld and loe a great multitude which no man could number of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues stood before the throne before the Lambe Rev. 7.9 LONDON Printed by T. P. and W. J. for Matthew Costerden Stationer 1635. REcensui Librum hunc cui titulus Christianographie c. una cum Epistola Dedicatoria ad R. in Christo Patrem Franciscum Eliensem Episcopum qui quidem liber continet folia 88. in quo nihil reperio quò minús cum publica utilitate Jmprimatur modò intra sex menses proximè sequentes typis mandetur Ex aedi Londin Octobris 30. Samuel Baker TO THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD Francis Lord Bishop of Elie my very good Lord. IT was an observation of our late Soveraigne Lord King James that VVheras the Romanists cannot confirme their Faith either by sacred Scripture or ancient Traditions Their manner is to crie up the Visibilitie of the Church and Authoritie of the same And thereby they delude many of the ignorant and unlearned bearing them in hand that there was no such thing in the world as a Protestant before Luther And that before his time all the world beleeved as they doe And that their Church hath not onely beene visible in all ages and all times but eminently conspicuous and illustrious And to this purpose one of that Sect lately delivered to a person of qualitie this writing following viz. It is plaine in holy Scripture and confessed by the Protestants that the Church of God should be alwaies visible and it was agreed by D. White and D. Featly to Mr. Fisher and Mr. Sweet to proove a visible succession in the Protestant Church that they both could and would in all ages from Christ to Luther by name out of good Authors produce Doctors and Pastors professing the Religion which the Church of England and Protestants professe This was promised This is now required without shifts and idle delayes c. VVhereas in this writing an absolute promise is pretended to bee made by your Lordship and D. Featley to Master Fisher and Master Sweet I finde in the relation of the conference testified and subscribed by Honorable personages and others The said promise to bee made but upon condition onely Conference pag. 7. That the forenamed Iesuites would shew visible professors of the intire Doctrine of the Romish Church as yet it is comprised in the Councell of Trent in all ages and name them out of good Authors especially for the first 600. yeeres And in particular your Lordship required them to prove by Christ and his Apostles Conference pag. 22. or by any of the Fathers for the first 600. yeeres these sixe Tenets of the Roman Church viz. 1. That all power of Order and Jurisdiction in respect of the Churches is to bee derived from the Church of Rome 2. That no Scripture sence or Translation thereof is Authenticall unlesse the same were received from the Church of Rome 3. That the Roman Church onely was and is the Authenticall Custos of unwritten Traditions 4. That all generall Councels were called by the sole Authoritie of the Pope and that hee might ratifie and disanull whatsoever pleased him in them 5. That the Pope hath power to Canonize Saints 6. That the Pope had or hath power to depose Princes Likewise Conference pag. 7. Doctor Featley required of them to produce out of good Authors not any Empire or Kingdome but so much as any Citie Parish or Hamlet within 500. yeeres after Christ in which there was any Visible assembly of Christians to bee named maintaining and defending either their Trent Creede in generall or these points of Popery in speciall Conference page 9. to wit 1. That there is a treasurie of Saints merits and super abundant Satisfactions at the Popes disposing 2. That the Laiety are not commanded by Christs institution to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper in both Kindes 3. That the publicke service of God in the Church ought or may be celebrated in an unknowne tongue 4. That private Masses wherein the Priest saith edite bibite ex hoc omnes and yet eateth and drinketh himselfe onely are according to Christs institution 5. That the Popes pardons are requisite or usefull to release soules out of Purgatory 6. That the effect of the Sacrament dependeth upon the intention of the Minister 7. That extreme unction is a Sacrament properly so called 8. That we may worship God by an Image 9. That the sacred Hoast ought to bee elevated or carried in solemne procession 10. That Infidels and Impious persons yea Rats and Mice may eate the body of Christ 11. That all Ecclesiasticall power dependeth on the Pope 12. That hee cannot erre in matter of Faith 13. That he hath power to cannonize Saints 14. To institute Religious orders 15. To depose Kings c. He also urged Master Fisher and Master Sweet to name but one Father or one writer of note who held the particulars above named for 500. yeres after Christ which they would not nor could doe VVhereby any man may see that they who call for a Succession in our Church cannot shew it in their owne Moreover it is not a succession of persons or catalogue of names that maketh a true Apostolicke Church But the true primitiue Faith once given to the Saints set downe in holy Scripture Our Lord himselfe telleth us that he that is baptized and beleeveth shall be saved Marke 16.16 now to perswade such a one that is baptized beleeveth that he is no member of Christs Church except he can also set downe a catalogue of the names of his spirituall parents since Christ is all one as to perswade such a one that he is no man because he cannot reckon up his naturall parents and fetch his pedigree from Noah or Adam Lastly whereas they clamour for a catalogue of names as in this writing without all shifts and idle delayes they have catalogues plentie written both by strangers as by Jllyricus by Symon de Voyons Mounsier Plessis and others and by our countrymen as by B. Jewell for the first 500. yeeres by the Primate of Armagh for the next 500. yeeres and by the late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury for the last 500. yeeres with divers others to which they have returned no answer as I can heare of but they lie upon their hands also of late
in EVROPE Protestants Greekes and Muscovites Secondly in ASIA The Christians under the Patriarch of Ierusalem Antioch The Armenians The Georgians The Mengrellians The Cinassians The Christians in Asia the lesse Muscovite Christians in Asia Christians under the Patriarch of Musall The Jacobites Christians of St. Thome The Maronites Besides the Curdi Morduites Drusi and the Christians of Taprobana Thirdly in AFRICA The Cophti under the Patriarch of Alexandria The Abassines or Ethiopian Christians The contents of the second Chapter The severall habitations of these Christians in Europe Asia and Africa The contents of the third Chapter The Vnitie and how these Churches agree with us in the principall points wherein wee differ from the Church of Rome Jn this chapter is set downe 1 The principall differences betweene the Church of Rome and us 2 The points in which these Churches agree with us with some of their Liturgies 3 That I finde these Churches are not hereticall but orthodox in the maine 4 Of the harmony of the Protestants among themselves 5 Of the differences and want of Vnity amongst the Romanists 6 Our Vnity with the ancient East West and South Churches and especially with Gregory who is pretended to be the founder of the Romish Religion amongst us 7 Our agreement with the ancient Britans our forefathers 8 The lives and conversations of those Churches comparatively The Contents of the fourth Chap. Of the Antiquity of these Churches 1 Some of them are more ancient then the Romish Church 2 The old Church of Rome and the now church are not one but different 3 The now church of Rome as it is a new church so likewise it hath new Articles of Faith c. The Contents of the fift Chapter A Succession of Bishops in Hierusalem Antioch Alexandria Rome for 600. yeeres In Constantinople for some yeeres The Metropolites and Bishoprickes of Constantinople Antioch Hierusalem Africa The Bishops of Constantinople from Stachys to this day That the Roman Bishops since Gregory differ in Title Iurisdiction Life and Doctrine from the former A Succession of the Emperors of Constantinople and of Aethiopia The Contents of the sixt Chapter By what meanes the Papall Monarchie hath beene raised and how it hath been and is upheld in which is set downe 1. The primitive estate of the Roman Bishops 2. How they got the title of head of all other Churches and how they increased their Jurisdiction 3 The Popes Temporalties 4 How the Pope got Superiority above the Emperors 5 Of their inventions to get money 6 Of the Popes state and magnificence 7 Of the Popes munificence and gifts 8 Guicchardines relation of the Popes rising 9 How the Popes keepe that they have Jn giving of Kingdomes to Princes In dispensing with marriages and oathes Their Corrupting the Fathers Suppressing the reading of holy Scriptures Their inventing scandalous lies and Bookes c. The Conclusion A letter sent from the Patriarch of Alexandria to the late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury and his Answer to the same CHRISTIANOGRAPHIE or the description of the sundrie sorts of Christians in the world not subject to the Pope AMongst the usuall and false pretences wherewith our Adversaries of Rome have long gone about to deceive the simple and ignorant One of the principall is the Paucitie of the Professors of the Reformed Religion and the Multitude and Amplitude of them and their Religion as if all the Christian Kings Emperouns and Bishops before King Henry the Eight and Archbishop Cranmer and also the whole Church of God had beene subiect to the Bishop of Rome but onely a few Protestants shut up in an obscure corner of Europe To discover the falshood of these their vaine and glorious boasting I purpose to set downe 1 The Churches of Christians in the world not subiect to the Pope or differing in Religio from him 2 The places of their Dwellings and large Habitations 3 Their VNITIE and how they do agree with us in the principall points in Controverfie betweene the Church of Rome and its 4 The ANTIQVITY of these Churches some of them being more ancient then the Church of Rome 5 A SVCCESSION of Bishops in some of their Patriarchall Churches and other Episcopall Sees 6 How the Church of Rome hath beene advanced above other Churches and how it hath beene since supported and held up The seuerall sortes of Christians In the world not subiect to the Pope or differing in Religion from him CAP. I. CHristianity is not confined to one Countrey or Nation but it is dispersed over the face of the whole Earth Our Lord and Saviour being ready to ascend into Heaven commanded his Apostles Mat. 28 19 saying Goe yee and teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost And this his commandement the holy Apostles put in execution Mar. 16.20 They went forth and preached every where the Lord working with them In the Ecclesiasticall histories the contries Nations are named in which and to whom they preached Peter preached in Iudea Pererius ad Roman cap. 30 sect 27. ANTIOCH Galatia Cappadocia Pontus in Asia Bithinia and Rome James The sonne of Zebedee in Iudea and Spaine Iohn in Iudaea and Asia the lesse ex Origene Dorotheo En sebio Hierony mo Isidore aliisque Andrew in Scythia Europea in Epirus Thratia and Achaia Iames the brother of our Lord in Hierusalem Philip in Scythia and Phrygia Bartholmew in the farther India and Armenia the great Matthew in Ethiopia Thomas to the Parthians Medes Persians Brachmans Hircanians Bactrians and Jndians Simon in Mesopotamia Judas in Aegypt and both after in Persia Matthias in the higher Ethiopia Also Paul and Barnabas in many countries of Europe and Asia All these published the same faith for substance Per Dei voluntatem in scripturis nobis tradiderunt fundamentum et columnā fidei nostrae futuram Co len 1625. Irenaeus advers haeres lib. 3. cap. 1 Mat. 28.20 which we at this day professe in the Church of England for they taught those things that Christ commanded them which are set downe by the will of God in holy Scripture to be the pillar and foundation of our faith as Irenaeus writeh And although men are generally perswaded that these Churches are perished or become Hereticks yet according to Gods promise of assistance not onely to themselves viz Lo I am with you alway but also to their Successors preaching after them even to the latter end of the world Christianity remaineth in many of these Regions to this day maugre the cruelty of the Tyrants and malice of the divel as will appeare afterwards by the testimony of Historiographers and other unreproveable Authors Some make but six sorts of Christians in the world First the East Church which challengeth to her selfe the first place in regard of her prerogatives and priviledges as having almost all the Apostolicke Sees The greatest number of Patriarcks the Maiesty of the Empire of
Constantinople for above 1000 yeeres which hath withstood Paganisme and Mahometisme and of the Empire of Trebizonde and Mosco for some 100 of yeeres the authority of Seven Generall Councells held amongst them the Syrian language in which the Sonne of God delivered his holy Oracles and the Hebrew and Greeke tongues in which they were registred and which hath had not onely all the holy Apostles and Disciples but Christ himselfe when he was in his flesh preaching amongst them Of the communion of this Church are the Grecians the Muscovites the Georgians the Mengrellians the Circassians the Syrians or Melchites and others The second They make the Church of Rome in the west whose Bishops were for some 100 of yeares many of them holy men and Martyrs Now their cheife is the Pope who pretendeth himselfe to be Christs alone Vicar and Head of the Church and to have all power not onely spirituall above Councells and the whole Church of God but also Temporall above all Princes Kings and Emperours and that he alone hath the Keyes of Heaven Hell and Purgatory and he hath in his Treasury the good deedes or workes of Supererogation and Superabundant satis factions of all Saints and Martyrs to bestow them upon whom he list and that he in cathedra cannot erre and that none can besaved but those that are under his Iurisdiction Of this Church Italy Spaine and many other Regions are members as afterwards more largely is set downe The third is the South or Meridional Church in Egypt under the Patriarch of Alexandria and the Abassins in Ethiopia under their Abunna The fourth are Christians falsely called Nestorians under the Patriarch of Musall in divers parts of Asia who are accused to hold the Heresie of Nestorius which they have revoked The fifth are the Armenians in Armenia and dispersed in Europe Asia and Africa The sixt are the Protestants of the Reformed Churches who inhabite a greate part of Europe But that you may the better take notice of these severall sorts of Christians not subiect to the Pope I purpose to set them downe according to their habitations in the severall parts of the world The whole world may be divided into two parts the Old and the New The one is called the Old because it was inhabited many yeares before the New was heard of amongst us either of these may againe be subdivided into three parts The old in to Europe Asia and Africa The new into America and the North and the South unknowne continents Europe the first part of the old world EVROPE Travelors breviat as I read hath in longitude from the farther part of Ireland west unto the River Tanais East both places having 52 degrees for latitude 2166 miles And in latitude from Morea in Graecia South in the degree 35 to 72 North 2220 or thereabouts This is the least part of the world but the best being best inhabited and the inhabitants thereof excelling in Arts and Sciences And moreover Christian Religion flourisheth in Europe more then any part of the world else There are foure sorts of Christians in EVROPE 1 The PROTESTANTS or Reformed Churches under their severall METROPOLITANS or Superintendents The Papists under the Pope of Rome 3 The Grecians under the Patriarch of Constantinople 4 The Muscovites under their Patriarch of Mosco Asin the second part of the old world measuring it with a right line from the River Tanais ASIA to the promontory Tamos both places having 50 degrees of latitude it hath in longitnde 4284 miles and measuring it with a right line from the 150 degree of Eoplin octiall unto The promontory Tabin it hath in North latitude 76 degrees which being multiplied by 60 makes 4560 miles allowing 60 miles for each degree This part of the world is famous in regard of the great Monarchies as of Persians Medes Assyrians and Babylonians but indeed most celebrated in holy writt for the CREATION of man in it for the giving of the law for the Invention af Acts and Sciences It being the place also in which our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ was borne lived wrought his Miracles offered himselfe a sacrifice for our sins In Asia are these severall sorts of Christians following 1 The Christians in PALESTINE under the Patriarch of Hierusalem 2 The Syrians or MALCHITES under the Patriarch of Antioch 3 The ARMENIANS under their two Catholique Patriarchs 4 The GEORGIANS under their Metropolitan 5 The MENGRELLIANS under the Patriarch of Constantinople 6 The CIRCASSIANS under the Patriarch of Constantinople 7 The CHRISTIANS of Asia the lesser under the Patriarch of Constantinople 8 Some Christians in Asia under the Patriarch of Mosco 9 The Christians under the Patriarch of MVSALL 10 The Iacobites under their Patriarch 11 The Christians of St. Thomas 12 The Maronites under their Patriarch Also to these Christians I might add divers others in Asia as the Curdi the Morduits and the Christians inhabiting the great Isle of Traprobana with the Ilands nere therunto Theinhabitants of the which Iles never acknowledged nor their fathers the Popes of Rome Cos lib. 10. cap. 15 as Thomas a Iesu reporteth Africa the third part of the old world AFRICA is all compassed with the Seasaving in one place where it is by an istmos divided from Asia measuring it from Gambra on the West to Cape Gardafu on the East both places having ten degrees North latitude hath in longitude 4155 miles and in latitude from the Cape of good Hope to the Mediterranean Sea about 4020 miles conteining 67 degrees or thereabouts In Africa are these Christians following 1 The Egyptians or Cophti under the Patriarch of Alexandria 2 The Abassins or Ethiopian Christians Quandoquidem hodie multi sunt qui cum nihil sciant scire omnia velint asscrentes nullos in his max imis regionibus usque ad Indiam inveniri Christianos Id quod veruÌ„ non est sed ubique Christus in mundo suoshabet cultores Id quidem verum est omnes Christia nos transmarinos â—usa Armenos under their Abunna or Patriarch of Ethiopia Thus you shall finde it to be true that Brochardus the Monke writeth of the easterne countries although there are many now adaves who knowing nothing would seeme to know all things affirming that there are no Christians to be found in these great Regions evon 10 â—â—lia which is not true for Christ hath his worship â—â— in all places but it is true that all the Christ is bâ—â—â— yond the feas viz the Armenians Cappadocians Greeks Chaldeans Medes Parthians Indians Nubeans Iabeans Asians Georgians EVROPA All these severall sorts of Christians before named in Europe Asia and Africa are not subiect to the papall iurisdiction or differ from the Pope in religion except the Papists and some of the Indians Maronites who also differ in some things from the Papists The severall habitations of the Christians before named and first in Europe CAP. II. The Protestants THE Protestants inhabit the
of Sternberg and Coibus The County of Rapin and lately the three Dukedomes of Cleve Gulick and Berg of which the two former of them have either of them in circuite 130 miles There was an old estimate made of Germany by such as favoured the Papacy Sr. Ed. Sands loco citato supposeth the Pupasts to be sixt part that in the beginning of Ferdinand the Emperór there was not past on twelfth part of iâ—â— remaiding Catholickle There can no exact relation be made of we Protestants there at this day by reason of the daily alteratiomoaused by the wanesâ—â—â— Hungary preface to Brerw enquir In Hungary the Protestants dwell in great multitudes and some thinkle they maked agrâ—â—ter part especially being compared onely with such as are there addicted to the Romish superstition And in Transilvania in a manner the whole body of the inhabitants were protestants by the favour of Gabniell Batthorius Transilvania Preface to Mr. Brer inquir late their Prince who did expell all such as were of the Iesuitical faction For the Archduke of Austria's and the Archduke of Gratzs Countries Austria Nobiles fere omnes qui in subditos clientes Iudicia exercent exnumque nonnulli vitae necis habent potestatem movarum opinionum veneno infecti sunt Thesâ— Polit. apot 6. Bohemia A great part of the people and especially of the Nobility are that way affected In Austria freedome of Religion was granted by the Emperors Maxinullian and Matthias And in the Kingdome of Bohemia and some places thereto adioyning in which haue beene 32000 parishes or townes although the Ministers have beene lately expulsed and the King dome conquered yet the Protestants dwell in great numbers In the Kingdome of Polonia having under its dominion Polonia Preface to Brerwood before Polonia Lituania Livonia Podolia Rusâ—ia the lesle Volhinia Massovia Prussia which united as it were within one roundish inclosure are in circuite about 2600 miles and of no lesse space then Spaine and France laid together In this so large and ample Kingdome The Protestants in great numbers are diffused thorow all quarters thereof having in every Province their publique Churches and Congregations orderly severed and bounded with Diocesses from whence are sent some of the chiefest and most principall men of worth unto their generall Synods Of which within these few yeeres they have held five with great celebrity as at Sendomire Ann. 1570 Cracoria 1573. Petricove 1578. Woodislane 1583. and at Torune 1595. In Poland there are also 8 Russe or Greeke Bishopricks Mira de notit opiscop lib. 4. cap. 19. pag. 213. The Archbishop of Kiow is their Metropolitane They have also many Armenians who have a Bishop of their owne resident at Leopolis For the kingdome of France and the state of the Protestants there France Preface before named In the yeere 1622. I find this written viz. In this mighty Kingdome those as they usually stile them of the Religion besides the Castles and Forts that belong in a property to the Duke of Bullen the Duke of Rhoan the Count of Lavall the Duke of Trimovile Mounsier Chastillion the Marshall of Diguers the Duke Sally and others they are seased of above 70 townes having Garrisons of Souldiers governed by Nobles and Gentlemen of the Religion They have 800 Ministers retaining pensions out of the publique Finances and are so dispersed through the chiefe Provinces of the kingdome That in the Principality of Orange and Poictou almost all the inhabitants Of Gascony halfe In Languedoe Normandy and other Westerne Provinces a strong party professe the Religion Now howsoever the King hath taken Rochell and most of their Forts into his hands yet they still enioy their Churches and free libertie And have now many Churches or congregations at this day For the assurance of those of the reformed Religion see the Edict of Nantes enacted by Henry the Third confirmed by Henry the 4 and restablished by Lewis the thirteenth printed in London 1623. In Piemont Luooa and some other parts of Italy there are some Protestants Piemont c. and also in the Venetian territories And thus much of the countries inhabited by the Procestants The Papists inhabit SPaine containing the kingdomes of Castile Spaine Navarre Portugale Arragon Granda and some other Maginus which are all in compasse as Maginus writeth about 1893 common miles being somewhat more in compasse then the I le of great Britaine but not so well peopled Damiae a Goes Hispania p. 6.7.8 Damianus a Goes reckoneth in Spaine tenne Archbishoprickes and 48 Bishopricks Their revenues are very great as the Archbishop of Toledo hath 150000 ducats yeerly and about 100000 ducats more yeerely to bestow The Archbishop of Sevil 24000 c. Boterus reports that the Clergies revenue is inestimable The inhabitants of Spaine are detained in superstition by the vigilancy of the Inquisition their owne ignorance The Laity being debarred from reading the sacred Scriptures in the vulgar without speciall licence whereby they might come to the knowledge of the truth This country is much exhausted of people by reason or peopling the West Indies their daily warres And in Spaine are a sort of people caled Maurani who are said to have exceeded the true Christians in number S. E. Sands Relat sect 44. in some of the South parts Of these many thousands have beene lately banished France also is inhabited by Papists mingled with Protestants as before France Alotharingia extendit Caletum us qâ—spatio quasi 200 leucarum francica rum eiusque latitudo paulo minor est Imperiorum mundi Catalogus Rex Frauciâ— it is a country in a manner 200 French leagues square as Boterus writeth within which they reckon the Dukedomes of Burgondie Savoy Lorraine The signory of Geneva and Avignion the Pones countrey which doe not acknowledge the French command At this present France is divided into eight Provinces who are under eight Courts of Parliament The first is the Province of the I le of France wherein the Citie of Paris is scituated in which Citie the first court of Parliament resideth The second parliament is of Languadec residing in the citie of Tholouze The third of Guien in the Citie of Bordeaux The fourth is of Normandy in the Citie of Roan Boter relat numbers par 1. lib. 1. Francia qua itor de chi Arehivescovati pin di cento vescovati Pag. 19. The fist of Burgundy in the citie of Diieon The sixt of Daulphene in Grenoble The 7 of Province in Aix the eight of Britannie in Remes under these eight provinces all France is conteined In France there are 14 Archbishoprickes and above a 100 Bishoprickes Italie Italie The length of this region is about 1020 miles In breadth in some places 410 miles in other places 126 miles It containeth the Dukedomes of Millane Florence the territory of the Church of Rome the kingdome of Naples The common wealth of Genoway and part of
tribe of Iudah the Lyon Rampant in the feild Or and their motto is The Lion of the tribe of Iudah shall overcome It is written the Emperour to have set before him at his meaâ—e Godignus cap. 6 pag 25 de Abass rebus a vessell full of Ashes to put him in minde of his Mortality The Abassins reckon a succession of Christian Emperours from Abraham called the Saint Who was Emperor Anno 470. Alvares cap. 13. in Purchas The Prets or Emperours dwell in a movable citie of tents on festival dayes he vseth red tents About 50000 Mules attend the Prets campe to remoue his carriages They call themselues as we do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ithiopia wian In Arabike are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Elhabaschi vulgarly the Abassines _____ presbiter signifieth Apostolike in Arabike Scaliger de Emen de temporum pag. 680. For their Ecclesiasticall government Ecclesiasticall government Myrae de notitia episcop lib. 1 cap. 21 pag. 56. They are subiect to a Patriarch of their owne whom they call Abunna Their Abunna when Alvares was in Aethiopia was called Marke Aluares cap. 14. a Reverend old man aged about 110 a man very gracious in his speech never speaking without blessing God and giving thankes his apparell was white his upper garment like a Cardinalls cloake buttoned before When he goeth out of his tent he rideth upon a Mule well attended having a Crosse in his hand and three crosses carried on staues about him Some do report that there are in Ethiopia 127 Archbishops Godig de Abassin rebus lib. 1. cap. 32. pag. 195. Aluares reporteth in Macham Celacem which is the Church of the holy Trinitie Alvares cap. 14. he saw 200 mitred preists together and 64 Canopies carried over them Their Churches are builded round and very rich with hangings of cloth of gold Velvet and plate They have many goodly Monasteries to the Monasterie of the vision of Iesus belongeth about 3000 Monks Alva cap 2. In Europe there was litle knowledge of these Abassine Christians untill the Portugalls had footing in the East Indies Damia Goes de Aethiopum moribus Idem pa. 161. about the yeare 1486. Iohn King of Portugall sent Alphonsus a Pavia and Petrus a Covilham to Prester Iohn They saild to Caire like marchants agreed one of them to goe into India and the other into Aethiopia Peter having seene Goa and Calecut and other places in India returneth to Caire to meete Alphonso where he heard of his death and receaved also letters from the King of Portugall that they should not returne without seeing Prester Iohn Peter writing back what he had seene in India traveleth into Ethiopiae to the Emperour and delivereth King Iohns letters to him but could never get leaue of the said Emperour to returne but lived richly there Afterwards the King of Portugall sent divers men Idem pag. 169. and amongst others Francis Alvares his Chapline who remained in Ethiopia 6 yeeres and hath written a booke of the religion and and customes of the Ethiopians This Aluares returning brought letters from the Emperour of Ethiopia to the Pope which were delivered to him in Bonnonia in the presence of the Emperour Charles the 5. An 1533. Damia Goes pag. 171. Vpon the receipt of which letters there was great Ioy and a report of a great Countrie of Christians in Africk as bigg as all Europe that had submitted themselves to the Pope and especially in that time when dyuers Princes in Germanie Tum primum lusitanos adijsse Aethi opidni cum fidem ca tholicâ—m Lutherus deserâ—â—t Godig de Abass rebus lib. 1 pag. 145 cap 23. Dam. a Goes pa. 203. de AethiopuÌ„ moribus and King Henry the eight had with drawne themselves from the Roman Church David Emperour of Aethiopia sent a learned Bishop called Zabazago into Porgall a man of admirable faith learning and Eloquence whose confession of Faith is set downe by Damianus a Goes The Pope sendeth a Patriarch with others into Aethiopia one Johannes Berniudes a Spanish Frier there went with him 400 shot and some pioners out of the Portugall Jndies their commander was Don Christopher a Gama who arrived in Aethiopia anno 1538 and was suffered their to remaine vntill Precious Iohn had vanquished the King of Adell by the help of the said Portugalls But the said Patriarch was compelled to returne being accused of Sacriledge for stealing a vessell of gold out of a Church and with this message that the Emperour would not submit himselfe to the Bishop of Rome Afterwards their were 13 Iesuits chosen by Ignatius Eoiola Godig de abass reb lib. 2. cap. 15 and others to be sent into Ethiopia of which one of them had the title of Patriarch to wit Joannes Nonius Barrtius and two of Bishops the Patriarch dyed and never saw Aethiopia to whom one of the Bishops Androas Orviedo succeeded in his Patriarch all title be failing with the Portugal shipps to Goa in the East Indies the vice-roy sent a Messenger first into Aethiopia to know whether the Emperour would receive some learned men Portugals sent to him from the Pope and the King of Portugall which he refused not Where vpon the Vice-roy sent the said Patriarch Andreas with some Iesuits and twentie attendants according to the dignitie of his person who landed at a Port in the Red Sea neere to the Citie of Arquick in the yeare 1557. From whence he went to a Citie called Baroa where an Ethiopian King called Barnagasses received the Patriach with great honour from thence the Patriach was 50 dayes going to the Emperour Claudius who receiving his letters told him that he would never yeild obedience to the Bishop of Rome he gave him leave to teach the Portugals but forbad him to speake on word to his Abassines and that he would not suffer the Roman yoke to be layd on him or his Claudius the Emperour dying Adamas succeeded who banished the said-Patriarch Andreas All these Christians before named are not subiect to the Pope except before excepted In Europe the Papists inhabit somewhat above a fourth part The Protestants Muscovits and Greeke Christians inhabit the rest of it with some Turkes who are mingled with the Greeks and make one third part with them some say much lesse Bellonius writeth the Greek Rites Asserlmus Graecauica Ecclesia ritus latius patere quaÌ„ latina lib. 1 cap. 35. to extend farther then the Latine which may be true of the Latins in Europe onely In Asia the second part of the old world and Africa the third part the last whereof is three times bigger than Europe and Asia bigger then the other both The Pope hath very little Possevine the Iesuit writeth In apparatu de Maronitis Maronitae Libani Montis in Syria incolae sub corum Patriarcha pietatem et fidem erga RomanuÌ„ ponti ficem et sedem Apostolicam uni ex omnibus Orientis populis sat integraÌ„
Field of the Church lib 3. pa. 73. The Emperor hath supreame authoritie in all causes as well Ecclesiastical as Civill though the Patriarch also exercise a spirituall iurisdiction 13 Concerning Purgatorie Godignus the Iesuit Godignus de Rebus Abassinorum lib 1. Cap 28. pag 172. ex literis Petri Paes qui praesit Iesuit in Aethiopia PurgatoriuÌ„ negant They deny Purgatory 14 They do not expresse the number of their sinnes in Confession Abassinos neque species neque numerum peccatorum in confessione exprimere sed tantum generatim dicere Habessen Habessen hoc est peccavi peccavi Godign lib 1. Cap 35. pag 216. They do not expresse in their Confessions neither the kindes nor number of their sinnes but onely generally ory out Habessen Habessen I have sinned I have sinned 15 Concerning Jmages Mr. Sandes his iourneis lib. 3. pag 171. They haue pictures in their Churches but no Carved Images neither do they bestow any undue reverence on them Idem loco citat They have no crucifixes but use the Crosse as a badge of their profession their preists carrying crosses in their hands 16 Thomas a Iesu They have no oblations oblations for the dead neither do they offer for the living Nullas pro defunctis oblationes habent nec sacra faciunt pro vivis Tho a Iesu de convers omnium Gentium lib 7 pa 1 cap 8 pag 370. Praeterea traditiones sanctas non admittunt solumque verbo Dei scripto fidem dicunt se habere Tho a Iesu lib 7 cap 8 pag 369. 17 Moreover they doe not admit holy Traditions but they say that they must onely beleeve Gods word The Aethiopians do beleive the holy Trinity Zaga Zabo apud Damianum a Goes pag. 204 Credimus in nomen sanctae Trinitatis patrem filium et spiritum sanctum that there are three persons and one God They have goodly Monasteries and Monks but onely of the order of St. Anthony their Monks are not suffred to begg but live on their labours They use the Ni en Creed In their Lent they tast nothing till the sunne be set neither old men nor sick Godignus lib. 1 cap. 35. pag. 218. eate on their fasting time without offence they begin their Lent ten daies before ours In their Churches Idem lib. 1 cap. 2â— pag. 133 134. they do demeane themselues most reverently no man may walke laugh or talke in their Churches they suffer not doggs to come into their Churches or Church-yards they suffer no man to sit in their Churches the aged and weake have onely Crutches to ease them withall For their manner of Administration of the Sacrament of Baptisme they are Baptized They Baptize in the Church-portch in the Church Porch The Priest after hee hath said certeine prayers putteth the partie to be baptised three times under water saying I doe Baptize thee in the name of the Father the Sonne and of the holy Chost the Comforter WheÌ„ he renounceth the Devil the preist turneth the face of the partie to be baptized to the West when the covenaÌ„t is made with God to the east They do beleeve that the Sacrament of Baptisme washeth away origenall sin Godign de Abassin rebus lib 1 cap. 35 pag. 212. with which the soule is tainted as soone as it is infused into the bodie in the Mothers wombe yea in the very moment of his first being Whereas the Aethiopians are charged with having many wives Godign lib. citat cap. 36 pag. 225. it is a scandall for no Nation punisheth Adultery more severely then they And whereas they are accused of rebaptizing themselves yeerely Scaliger de emendatione temporum lib. 8 pag. 683 True it is they do veerely upon the day of our Lord IESVS CHRISTS Baptisme goe into the water and wash themselves as the Moscovites doe and other Christians and this they doe onely in memoriall of our Lords Baptisme And that they absteine from blood Scalig loc citat and things strangled as this was forbidden by the Apostles Cannon Acts 15. so it was the Custome of the auntient Christians in the primitive Church read Cannon 53 of those which are called the Apostles And they doe Circumcise their Children they use it not as a sacrament but as a nationall custome and they Circumcise both Males and Females which the Iewes did not and they are not bound to it by law nor religion And that they Baptise their Children Scaliger de emend temp lib. 8. not onely with water but also with fier It is reported that it is the custome of the Aethiopians not onely of the Christians but also of the Mahometans to burne their Children with a hot Iron in the temple veines to stop distillations from falling into their eyes Some write that the first Aethiopian Emperors Godignus lib. citat cap. 35. pag. 213. that embraced the faith of Christ invented this burning that every Christian man might beare about some outward signe of his Christianity Others write that Iohn the Emperor who was called the Saint who lived in those miserable times of the Arrians Idem pag. 214. appointed that after Baptisme the Aethiopian Children should receive three prickes in the face with an hot Iron in signe that they professed the faith of the holy Trinity The Aethiopian Liturgie set downe by Francis Alvares in the Portugall tongue and afterwards written in Italian related by Cassander in his Liturgies cap. 1 pa. 28. This Alvares was chaplin to K. Iohn of Portugall and was six yeere in Aethiopia Cassander Theologus Belga Imp. Ferdiu 1 et Maximil 2 〈◊〉 a consiliis Printed Parisiis apud Abrahamum Pacard MDCXVI THey make a great Cake or a lesse in their Churches 1 In Ecclesiis faciunt libum magnum aut paruum pro multitudine gentis quia omnes communicant et pro multitudine faciunt erassum dimidio digito aut integro aut etiam crassiorem magno digito infundunt vinum calici factum ex uvis pressis magna quantitate quia quot quot communicant de corpore totidem â—tiam communicant de sanguine according to the multitude of people for all Communicate For the greatenesse of it they make it halfe a finger or a whole finger or more thicke They power wine into the Cup made of Grapes pressed in great quantitie as many as doe Communicate of the bodie so many do Communicate of the blood 2 Is qui missam dicturus est incipit altâ voce Alleluia Sacerdos facit benedictionem cuvs cruce parvâ quam tenet in manu 2 He that saith the service beginneth with a loud voice Alleluia The Preist blesseth with a little Crosse which he holdeth in his hand 3 3 Canunt tam qui foris suut quam qui intus They that are without and within sing 4 The Epistle is read the blessing being asked likewise the Gospell 4 Legitur Epistola cursim petita prius
seeme to agree with us in iudgement though they differ in words as also Thomas a Iesu writeth Lib. 6 pag. 248. solis verbis differre But for full satisfaction in this point reade the Conference betweene the most Reverend father in God the Lo Archbishop of Canterburie his grace my honorable Patron and Fisher the Iesuit bound with the Lo Bp. of Elies booke against Fisher Secondly in questions touching the Pope his power Priviledges and authoritie the said Azorius affirmeth that the Greekes have no other opinion then Gerson and the learned men of Paris held who were yet never accounted Heretiques nor Schismatikes either for they yeild a Primacie to the Pope if he be Orthodox but no Supremacie They acknowledge him as Patriarch over his owne Iurisdiction but they deny as the French doe that his power is Supreme or his iudgment is infallible and and affirme that he is subiect to a Councell All which things were defined in the Councell of Constance and Basil and the contrary positions condemned as Hereticall Neither wants there at this day many worthy divines living in the Communion of the Roman Church who strongly adhere to the Councells before named as the whole king dome and State of France admitted these and reiect the Councells of Florence Trent who would no lesse with drawe themselues from the Communion of the Roman Church if they were pressed to acknowledge the Popes power and authoritie is Supreame that he cannot erre and that he may depose Kings and dispose of their Kingdomes as the Iesuits and other flatterers affirme and defend wherefore the Greekes are no Heriticks as Azorius resolveth So that the Romanists have done the Greekes infinite wrong in condemning to hell so many millions of Christian soules redeemed with the precious bloud of his deerest Son for this point onely Andr Fric de Ecclesia lib 4 cap 2. Andreas Fricius also saith that there are some who thinke that the Russians Armenians and other Christians of the East part perteine not to Christs Church but seeing they use the same Sacraments which we do seeing they professe to fight under the banner of Christ Crucified and reioyce in their sufferings for his sake farr be it from us ever to thinke that they should be cast out and reiected from being fellow Citizens with the Saints who have endured the heate of the day so many ages in the vineyard of the Lord Nay rather I thinke that there can be no perfection nor union of the holy Church without them Many of these Christians live under the Turke and Pagans and suffer very much for Iesus Christs sake which they might quit themselves of if they would renounce their religion and also might enioy many immunities and priviledge which they are for their religion only deprived of as before The lamentable Calamities of these afflicted and distressed Churches should cause all true hearted Christians in true sence and compassion of their miseries to make their prayers and humble petitions to Almighty God to cast downe his pitifull eyes upon them And farr be it from us to boleive that all these Christians are excluded heaven and plunged into hell for not submitting themselves onely to the Bishop of Rome Also although the greatest part of Christians in Assyria Persia Tartaria and other Easterne Provinces are called by the odious and hatefull name of Nestorians yet they hold nothing Onuphr in vit Iulii 3. hi Nestoriani nomen potius Nestorij haeretici quam errores retinuisse mihi videntur nam nihil plane quod ad illam sectam referat comperio Thom a Iesu couvers lib 7. part 1. cap. 3 et 4. savouring of the Nestorian heresie as Onuphrius writeth and the same appeareth also by the confession of Elias their Patriarch of Musall sent to Rome which was found Orthodox and right as Leonardus Bishop of Sidon reporteth Also the Aâ—menians are Iudged by many to be Eutichian heretickes for that they received not the Councell of Calcedon which they refused to subscribe unto upon a false suggestion and appreheÌ„sion that in that CouÌ„cell the heresie of Nâ—â—torius conde mned in the Councell of Ephesus was againe revived Genebrard Cron ad Annum 1153. of this imputatioÌ„ Genebrard also cleereth them The Christians of Aegypt Asserunt duas in Christo naturas esse vnitas vnamque factam naturam personatam de duabus naturis non personatis fine mixtione tamen et confusione apud Tho a Iesu lib citat cap 14. and Aethiopia with the Jacobits of Syria are thought also to be infected with the heresio of Eutiches whom they curse for an hereticke as Leonardus Bishop of Sidon reporteth for the confounding the two Natures of God and Man in Christ but yet affirmed that the two natures are so vnited that there is one personated nature arising of the two natures not personated without mixtion or confusion Likewise Mr. Brerwood writeth Brerw Enquirie pag 183. That the Christians of the East haue disclaimed and abandoned those Hereticall phantasies touching our Saviour wherein by their misleaders they haue been auntiently plunged doth manifestly appeare first of the Iacobites Secondly of the Nestorians by their severall Confessions Translated out of the Syrian tongue by Masius extant in Bibliotheca veterum Patrum Thirdly of the Armenians by their owne Confession translated by Pretorius Fourthly of the Cophti by their owne Confession of faith mentioned by Baronius also by Tho a Iesu and of the Abassines by the Relation of Zaba Zago Moreover the Romanists scandall these Churches with false imputations as Guido the Carmelite and Prateolus impute unto the Graecians sundry errours which Lucinianus of Ciprus Possevin Biblioskâ— lib 6. cap 1. a Bishop and a learned Dominican and a worthy man as Possevin accounteth him sheweth to be fasly ascribed unto them 1. As first simple fornication to be no sinne 2. That they condemne second Mariages which he sheweth to be untrue 3. That they thinke that the contract of mariage may be broaken and the band dissolved at the pleasure of the parties whereas contrary he affirmeth they allow no divorce to permit a secoÌ„d mariage while both parties live 4 They are said to affirme that the Sacrament consecrated on Maunday Thursday is of more force vertue and efficacy then consecrated any other day wherin he sheweth that they are wronged as in the other imputations 5 They are charged to teach that it is no sin to lend upon usury and that it is not necessary to make restitution of things uniustly taken away 6 They are said to thinke that if a Priests wife die he ceaseth to be a Preist any longer which is as meere a slander as the rest were So that it is true that Thomas a Iesu saith that one of the principall things that maketh the Graecians so averse from the Latins is that they are wronged by them by untrue reports and uniust imputations And as they use them so also us and the reformed
people as when they must enjoy the Reverend Mysteries Againe But one Body one Cup is given to all Cassander It is sufficiently manifest Consult de utraque specie pag. 1025. Eccle. orientalis in hunc usque diem occidentalis verò five Romana mille amplius annis continuis non aliliter quam sub duplicispecie in conventu Ecclesiae sacramentum hoc Dominici corporis sanguinis administrasse legitur c. that the universall Church to this day and the Westerne or Roman Church for more then a thousand yeeres did exhibit the Sacrament in both kindes to all the members of Christs Church 8. Merit of Workes Gregorie There are some which glorie that they are saved by their owne strength The old Roman Church In 28. Iob. lib. 18. cap. 25. sunt nonnulli qui salvos se suis viribus exultant suisque prâ—cedentibus meritis redemptos esse gloriantur quorum assertio invenitur sibimet ipsis contraria quia dum innoceâ—â—â—â— se asserunt redemptes hoc ipsum in se redemptionis nomen evacnant brag that they are redeemed by their owne precedent merits but herein they contradict themselves whilest that they affirme that they are innocent and yet redeemed they frustrate the name of Redemption in themselves Chrysostom Although we die a thousand times Chrys de Compunct cordis lib. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and if wee fulfill all the vertues of the minde yet wee doe nothing worthie to those things which we have received of God Saint Augustine God Crowneth in us the gifts of his mercy In Ioh. tract 13. Tom. 9. Coroâ—at in nobis Deus dona misericordiae suae The old Roman Church Adorare imagines omnibus modis devita lib. 9 epist. 9. 9. Worshipping of Images Gregory The Adoration of them avoid by all meanes The ancient Greeke Church long withstood Images which was a principall cause of the division of the Empire The Popes excommunicating Leo Constantine and others of the Greeke Emperors who were against Images and the weakenesse of the Christians divided was a great cause of the Mahumetan conquests and greatnesse To the Iewes and Mahumetans the worship of images is abominable And wheras the Turkes know much of Christ Postel Compend Cosmograp p. 76. as that hee was borne of the Virgin Mary conceived by the Holy Ghost received by the Christians being the Christ promised in the Iewes Law who is in heaven in body soule and that he shall come to judge the quicke and the dead with just judgement yet the image-worship used by some Christians is so offensive to them that it may bee supposed to bee a hindrance of their conversion The South Church De morib Eccle. lib. 1. cap. 34. Augustine I know certaine worshippers of Tombes whom the Church condemneth Thus as you have seene the agreement of the Moderne Churches beforenamed with us as also of the old antient Roman East South Churches in the points before named which doctrines then taught by Saint Gregory Saint Auâ—â—eâ— Saint Chrysostome and others are not now owned by the Roman Church but by them disallowed and anathematized VII The Religion of the Antient Britaines and the differences from their now Roman Church THe Ancient writers testifie that most of the points before named were the Tenets of the Britains both before and also after the comming of Austen for although the the Romanists pretend that at the comming of Austen Christianity was lost amongst us yet Historiographers witnesse the contrarie Bed Eccle. hister lib. 2. cap. 2. as Beda testifieth that at the comming of the said Austen which was about the yeere 600. there were here 7. Bishops one Archbishop and above 2000. Monkes of Bangor and many learned men And also the Queene was then a Christian and that Christianitie was amongst us before Bishop Iewellâ— Defen pag. 11. Bishop Iewell proveth out of Saint Chrysostome who lived about the yeere 400. and Saint Hillarie who lived about the yere 360. And Origen who lived about the yeere 240. And Tertullian who lived about the yeere 230. Haec epistola communiter habetur inter leges divi Edvardi Antiq. Britan. pag. 5. in margine And this will also appeare by the letter of Eleutherius Bishop of Rome to our King Lucius then a Christian and as the inhabitants were Christians as before so the antient writers testifie that they were them differing from the now Romish Religion in their new Articles For the sufficiency of Scriptures Tantum ea quae in Propheticis EvaÌ„gelicis Apostolicis literis discere poterant observantes Bed lib. 3. hist cap. 4. Omnes aut legendis Scripturis aut psalmis discendis operam dare Bed Eccl. hist lib. 3. cap. 5. Beda recordes the Successors of Columkelle that they observed onely those things which they could learne in the Propheticall Evangelicall and Apostolicall writings They had them also in their owne language and Beda reporteth amongst others of a translation made by the appointment of King Adelstan The Clergie and Laitie were bound to read the holy Sciptures and they accounted them their chiefe riches according to that of Columbanus Sint tibi Divitiae divinae dogmata legis Beda also commendeth Altfrid the King for a most learned man in the Scriptures Alfrit vir in scripturis doctissimus lib. 4. cap. 26. and also their service was in their owne language as Bishop Iewell proveth in his replie Bishop Iewell pag. 142. For the Doctrine of Sacrament of the Lords Supper the same was taught then which wee teach now Hom. in die sanctae pascae pag. 17. As you may see in the Homilie of Elfrick approved by divers Bishops in their Synods This booke is subscribed by the two Archbishops of Canterbury and of Yorke and 13. other Bishops and appointed to be read upon Easterday before the receiving of the Communion who saith There is a great difference betwixt the bodie wherein Christ suffered and the body which is hallowed housell The body truely that Christ suffered in It was borne of the flesh of Mary with blood with bone with skin and with sinne wes in humane limmes with a reasonable soule living And his Ghostly bodie which wee call the housell is gathered of many cornes without blood and bone without lymbe without soule and therefore there is nothing to be understood bodily Beda in vita Cutberti cap. 15. pag. 163. Vt mittas Presbyterum qui illam priusquam moriatur visitet â—ique Dominici corporis sanguinis Sacramenta ministret Antoninus archi Florent cronic 2. par pag. 623. Northmanni autem confessioni peccatorum vacantes mane Dominico corpore sanguine communicaverunt Mat. Paris in Harald Normani mane Dominici corporis sanguinis munimine saginati c. pag. 3. but it is ghostly or spiritually to bee under stood And this Doctrine also Scotus our Country-man did teach for the Communion in both kindes Beda also reporteth in the life
of Cuthbert that one Hildmar an officer of Egfrid King of Northumberland intreated Cuthbert to send a Priest that might minister the Sacrament of the Lords body and blood unto his wife that then lay adying Antoninus Archbishop of Florence writeth that William the Conqueror and his whole Armie received the Communion in both kindes And Mathew Paris saith the same to wit the Normans the morning before they fought with Harald strengthened themselves with the body and blood of Christ For the marriage of Priests it was accounted as lawfull then as now Anselme was the first that made a decree against Priests marriage in this Kingdome Hon. Hunting lib. 7. pag. 378. Anselmus prohibuit uxores sacerdotibus Anglorum ante non prohibitas as Henry of Huntington reporteth Anselme saith he held a Synode in London in which he forefended Priests to have wives which they were not inhibited before to have which was about the yeere 1104. It seemeth that the Priests kept their wives after Anselmes time by the Decree made by the Cardinall of Cremen in the yeere 1131. against Priests marriage who having in a long oration commended Chastitie and in a Synod in London made a Decree against the marriage of Priests was himselfe that night found in bed with a whore as Mathew of Paris reporteth to the no little shame of the Clergie What Anselme or the Cardinall did against Priests marriage proceeded from the Pope Gregorie the seventh who under the colour of Chastitie forbad marriage His Bull is to be seene against Priests mariage which the Germans and French resisted what a holy man this Gregory was appeareth by the sentences of the Councell of Wormes and Brixia in which the said Gregory was deposed for his perjurie for necromancy for beeing a Conjurer and many other crimes Ordâ— Baptizandi visitandi For Merit reade a booke set foorth by Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury to be used in his province called the order of Baptizing and visiting the sicke in which are these words Dost thou beleeve that none can bee saved by his owne merits but by the merits of Christs passion to which the sicke partie was taught to make answer all this I beleeve And the Priest concluded Goe to therefore as long as thy soule remaineth in thee place thy whole confidence in his death onely c. And for the Supremacy what did King Henry the eighth assume more then Bishop Eleutherius gave to Lucius our King and that the antient Kings of the Britans assumed to themselves Of these points and others you may reade more in the most learned discourse of the Religion antiently professed by the Irish and British written by the most reverend Father in God Iames Vsher Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland And thus you may see how King Henry the eight or King Edward brought in no new Religion amongst us but restored the old ancient Religion suppressed for some yeeres by the Church of Rome By this it manifestly appeareth that most of the Doctrines before named now taught and urged for Catholike in the Roman Church were neither the Doctrines of the other Christians in Europe Asia and Africa nor the antient Roman Easterne Southerne Churches nor of Gregory the great Bishop of Rome who sent Austen hither nor of the antient Britaines our forefathers And whereas inquirie is made for the visibilitie of our Church or for any one professing our Religion before Luther heere you may see the whole true Catholike Church of God upon the face of the Earth of the which these Churches are members professing the same faith with us For which common Vnion we have greate cause to rejoyce Hieremie as the Greeke Patriarch having seene the Tenets of some of the reformed Churches congratulateth with them after this manner Wee give thankes to God the Author of all grace and wee rejoyce with many others especially in this that in many things your Doctrine is agreeable to our Church So let us thanke God for the holy harmony and agreement of these Churches with us in the point before mentioned in controversie betweene the Roman Church and us and let us endeavour to keepe the unitie of the Spirit in the bond of peace VIII Of the Devotion and pietie of these Churches BRochardus the Monke telleth us Brochard Monac that he found the Nestorians Jacobites Maronites and Georgians and such others whom they judge to bee heretickes to bee for the most part honest and simple men living sincerely towards God and man men of great abstinency attentively hearing the word of God And that the Armenians and Georgians have for their Prelats men of the best conversation going before them aad teaching them as by word so also by example Devotion Godignus de Abass rebus p. 133. In oratione frequentanda non facile similes reperiri censeo omni namque diluculo cuncti corum toto corpore in pulverem ipsuÌ„ prostrati orationes ad Deum fundunt Faber in Relig. Moscovit p. 180. These Christians use great reverence in their Churches no man is allowed to walke talke or sitt in them the old and weake may leane against the walls Godignus reporteth that the Aethiopians doe allow the old weake crutches to sustaine them withall as before and Faber reports of the Russes that hee hath not seene of them the like for their frequenting prayers and devotion in their prayers which lying prostrate on the ground they poure out unto God They touch not the holy Scriptures but with great reverence and place the Bible in their houses in the most honorable place The Greekes much blame the Latines for their unreverent sitting in their Churches and suffering Lay men with Bootes and Spurres to sit by the Priests at time of Divine Service and also for not keeping dogges out of their Churches as before Of these Churches I may say although wee thinke them not to be so learned as we are they wanting the meanes that we have yet they are more devout For their Fasts Their Fasts these Christians tast nothing at all till Sun sett The Aethiopians doe so macerate themselves in their Lent-fasts which they begin tenne dayes before ours that their enemies commonly set upon them at the end of their Fasts hoping then to finde them feeble and weake in their Fasts especially upon good-friday beside their great abstinence they goe like mutes not saluting one another with their countenances dejected The Greekes also blame the Latines for drinking in their Fasts Irineus Râ—dâ—ginus pag. 15. and that some of them are drunke before their fasts are ended and that when their fasts are ended generally they eate and fill their bellies plentifully For their obedience to Princes Obedience to Princes their Patriarches and Bishops although they are subject to many greivous pressures yet they submitt themselves to their Kings and Princes that God hath placed over them according to that of Lactantius Religion is to bee defended not by
it hath new and different Articles and doctrines of Faith unknowne to the old Church and not to be found for such in the writings of any of the ancient Fathers for five hundred yeeres after Christ FOr the first The Church of Hierusalem is more ancient then the Church of Rome Hierusalem where our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ himselfe preached and offered himselfe a Sacrifice for our sinnes and where the Apostles and Disciples first preached for although they were sent to preach to all Nations yet they preached first to the lost sheepe of the house of Israel according to Christs Commandement This Church is most ancient St Iames was the first Bishop there The Law went out of Sion Matth. 10.6 the word of the Lord from Jerusalem This Citie was Emporium Isay 2.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Histor Eccles Lib. 5. cap 9. the Mart of Christian faith the mother of all Churches as Theodoret saith 2. 2. Antioch Acts. 11.26 The Church of Antioch in Syria where the Disciples were first called Christians Of this Church Saint Peter was Bishop some yeres before he went to Rome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ad populum Antioch homil 3. and this Church is also more ancient then the Church of Rome Saint Chrysostome calleth this Church the Head of all the world 3. The Greeke Church was planted by Saint Paul 3. Graecians and Saint Andrew from whence and the fore named Churches the name of Christ flowed Eia igitur Graecia mater nostra cui id totum debet quod habet Latina Ecclesia Conc. Trid. orat Episc Bitont as from a spring over all the world and the faith was spread in all places and this the Bishop of Bitonto acknowledged in the Councell of Trent It is our mother Graecia to whom the Latine Church is beholding for that which she hath the Easterne Church was before the Church of Rome in Time and from thence the Church of Rome hath received Christianitie the new Testament the three Creedes the very name of Baptisme Eucharist Bishop Priest and Deacon 4. 4. Aethiopia Aethiopia received Christianitie from the Eunuch of Queene Candases Huic Philippus responsis Sancti Spiritus jussus primò ex omnibus Gentibus mysterium fidei sacramentum Baptismi tradidit velut quasdam eum Dee primitias omnium consecrat nationū Eusch Eccles histor lib. 2. cap. 1. to whom as Eusebius reporteth first of all the Gentiles Philip by the command of the holy Ghost delivered the mysterie of Faith and the Sacrament of Baptisme and consecrated him to God as the first Fruits of all nations Saint Matthew also preached to the Aethiopians 5. For the Antiquity of the Church of Rome both St Hierom and Eusebius testifie that St Peter came to Rome in the raigne of Claudius the Emperour 5. Rome Hierom Catalog Eccles script pag. 265. Euseb Eccles his lib. 2. c. 14.16 and in his second yeere saith Hierom. 6. The Church of England received Christianitie as some say from Joseph of Arimathea others from Simon Zelotes the Apostle 6. England Guildas Sapiens de excidio Britan. Christus suos radios id efl suapraecepta indulget tempore ut scimus sūmo Tiberij Caesaris quo absque ullo impedimento eius propagabatur religio Bibli vet Pat. tem 5. par 3. pag. 675. Britannia omniū provinciarum prima publicitus Christi nomen recepit Sabel in Ennead 7. lib. 5. Guildas reporteth that our Island received Christianitie in the time of Tiberius Caesar who dyed in the yeere of our Lord 39. which if it bee so the Church of England received Christianitie before the Church of Rome some yeeres before Peter came to Rome which was in the time of Claudius who succeeded Tiberius And for the Honour of my Mother Church I speake that Christianity was first publickly professed by authority in this Kingdome about 130. yeeres before it was in Rome Lucius our King beeing as I reade the first Christran King in Europe who reigned about the yeere of our Lord 170. And moreover Constantine the Christian Emperour was borne amongst us who gave the first publique libertie of Religion to the Roman Church So that Rome was beholding for the publique liberty of Religion to Constantine Our country man Speedes histerie pag. 207. Also the inhabitants of Britaine as I reade were instructers unto others as frō hence was Netherland converted to Christianitie as testifieth the storie of Swithbertus Burgundie by our Columbanus saith Sigebert Swedia by Gallus as saith Petrus de Natalibus and Frisia by Wilfred as it is recorded by Beda and Matthew of Westminster The Franconians Hassians and Turingians by Winifred our Devonshire man The Norvegians by Nicolas Breakespere of Middlesex And the Lituanians by Thomas Walden of Essex and all the reformed Churches in Christendome derived their light from the learned Wickleffe of Oxford In regard of this Polidor Virgil doth rightly call England the Parent or Mother-Monasterie of all Europe And Peter Ramus termeth Britaine to be twice Schoolemistris to the Kingdome of France Terra Britanniae ante adventum Christi unius Dei consensit religionem hom 4. in Ezech. moreover Origen writeth that the Britaine 's received the religion of one God before the comming of Christ Secondly whereas the Church of Rome boasteth of Antiquity The Church of Rome since Boniface the 3 and the old Church of Rome planted by St Peter St Paul are not one and the same but are farre different The old Church of Rome as St Paul telleth us was a branch of that Tree whereof Christ Iesus was the root The now Church of Rome will bee no branch but the roote it selfe The ancient Church of Rome was but a member of the Catholique Church of God of which Iesus Christ was Head But the now Church of Rome is the Catholique Church it selfe of which the Pope is head and such a Church was never in Rome for 600. yeares after Christ for so long no Bishop of Rome durst presume to take upon him Christs title to be head of his Church husband of his spouse till Boniface the third with him began this Church Thirdly And as they have a new Church so they have a new Creede and Articles of Doctrine as for example sake 1. That the Pope the head of the Church cannot erre in the matter of faith 2. That all Ecclesiasticall power dependeth upon the Pope 3. That he hath power to canonize Saints 4. That he hath power to depose Kings 5. That the Popes pardons are requisite or usefull to release soules out of Purgatorie 6. That there is a treasurie of Saints merits and superabundant satisfactions at the Popes disposing 7. That the Priest can make his Maker 8. That the sacred Host made by the Priest ought to bee elevated and carried in solemne procession and adored 9. That the effects of the Sacrament dependeth upon the intention of the
29 Bosporus 30 Cotradis 31 Eroina 32 Carpathus 33 Mesembria 34 Gotthia 35 Sugdaia 36 Phullae 37 Aegina 38 Pharsala 39 Matracha Bishoprickes which have belonged to the Church of Antioch Sedes 1. Tyrus sub qua sede sunt episcopatus XIIII Porphyreon Archis Ptolemais Sydon Sarepta Byblium Botryon Ortosia Arados Antarados Paneas Maraclea Araclia Tripolis Sedes 2 Tharsus sub hae sede sunt episcopat V. Sebastia Mallos Thina Choricos Poderades Sedes 3 Edissa sub hae sede simt episcopat X. Virchi Constantiae Capron Marcopolis Varnon Cedmaron Himeria Querquensia Tapsaron Celimeos Sedes 4 Apamia sub qua sede sint episcopat VII Epiphania Seleuconvilla Larissa Valanea Mariania Ruphania Arethusa Sedes 5 Hierapolis sub qua sede sunt episcopat VIII Zeuma Surron Varnalis Neoecaesaria Perri Ormion Dolichi Europi Sedes 6 Bostra sub qua sedesunt episcopat XIX Cerasson Philadelphia Adraon Midanon Anstamidon Belmindon Zoroyma Herry Iceny Entemy Constantia Paramboli Dionysia Conothaton Maximopolis Philippolis Chrisopolis Heylon Lorea Sedes 7 Anaverza sub qua sunt episcopat IX Epiphania Alexandris Hirenopolis Cambrisopolis Flavias Rossas Castravalet Egnas Lysia Sedes 8 Seleucia sub hac sede sunt episcopatus 24. Claudiopolis Diocaesarea Oropi Dalysanidos Serinla Celenderis Anemory Titopolis Lamosy Antiochia parva Nephelia Ristra Selinuntis Hioropy Philadelphia parva Hermopolis Germanicopolis Mosoda Demenopolis Sbydi Synopolis Adrasson Myim Neapolis Sedes 9 Damasens sub hac sede sunt episcopatus XI Ably Palimpon Laodicea Euria Renocora Hiabanda Danabi Carathea Hardam Surra Quini Sedes 10 Amida sub hac sede sunt episcopatus VII Hynilon Valentium Arsamosata Sophin Caytaris Riphi Zeuma Sedes II Sergiopolis sub hac sede sunt epis IIII. Byzanonias Marcopolis Venethall Ermenia Sedes 12 Theodosiopolis sub hac sede sunt epis VII Oricos Mazmini Mauriocastron Agyamaria Axieri Tarosia Palitinios Sedes 13 Emissa sub hac sede sunt episcopatus IIII. Arqui Orisson Herigem Oragison Metropolitani per se sustinentes VIII Piericus Heliopolis Laodicia Samosata Cyros Pompeiopolis Mopsphestia Adama Archiepiscopi XIII Verea Calquis Gabula Scleucia Piperia Anasar Phon Paltos Germanicia Salamias Varcosos Fassos Ananagarthon The Bishoprickes which have belonged to the Church of Hierusalem set downe by William Metropolitane and Archbishop of Tyre Sedes 1. Caesarea maritima Tyrrius histor belli Sacri lib. 14. cap. 12. sub hac sede sunt episcopat XX. Dora Antipatrida Idmnias Nicopolis Onus Sorutis Raphias Regium Apatos Regium Hierico Regium Livas Regium Gadaron Azolus Hiaralias Azotus Hippon Estomason Triconias Taxus Saltum Constantinianum Sedes 2. Scythiopolis sub hac sede sunt episcopat IX Capitoliados Miru Gadaron Pelon Philippus Terraconias Clima Gallanis Comanas Sedes 3. Rubba Moabitis sub hac sede sunt episco XII Augustopolis Arnidilla Carah Hierapolis Memsidos Eluris Zora Virossam Pentacomia Mamapson Mitrotomias Saltum Hieraticon Sedes 4. Becerra Arabiae sub hac sede sunt episcopat XXXV Adrasson Dias Medavon Hierasson Nein Philadelphia Hierapolis Esuos Neapolis Phenustus Philopopolis Dionysius Constantianis Pentacomias Tricomias Conafados Saltu Vocaneos Hexacomias Euacomias Comagannas Comogeros Comostanis Comis Mahederon Comocoreatos Comis Copion Comis Iulianos Comis Pygmarethō Comis Petius Comis Anathon Comis Neotis Clima Anatolis quae visinon Comis Anochis Comis Traliconos Comis Nephdomos Suffraganeae Lidda Ioppe Ascalon Gaza Lennas Diocletianopolis Bergrobin Neapolis Sebastea Hiericuntos Tiberiadis Diocaesarea Legionum Capitolina Mauronensis Gedera Nazareth Thabor Caracavel Petra Hadroga Aphra Helem Faran Helenopolis Mons Syna For the Church of Alexandria SAint Marke consecrated with the mysteries of Christian Religion Aegypt Merman Theatrum conversionis pag. 80. Libya Marmarica Aemmoniaca and Pentapolis Idem pag. 30. Alexandria for the worship of God flourishing therein is often called the Paradise of God To this Patriarch belonged ten Provinces Mirae lib. 1. cap. 11. pag. 24. de notitia Epis so many Metropolitanes Theodosius and Valentinianus commanded to be Convocated in the Epistle to Dioscorus which is repeated in the first Act of the Calcedon Councell The Church of Alexandria challengeth a succession from St Marke to Gabriel the late Patriarch of Alexandria The Bishoprickes which have beene in Africa Alphabetically sett downe by Miraeus in his Notitia Episcopatuum Page 94. Abbezēsis Episcopus Abiddensis Abbiritensis Abbirmaius Abbissensis Abitinensis Abbrensis Abziritensis A casis Favensibus A casis Silvanae Acemerinianus Aceniensis Adequizirensis Adrumetinus Advocatensis Aggeritensis Aguensis Agnensis Ajurensis Altiburitensis Amburensis Ammoderensis Amphorensis Ancusensis Anguiensis Apissanensis Aptucensis Aptugnitensis Aquae Albensis Aquae-Nonensis Aquensis Regiorum siue Aquisregiensis Arenensis Asenemsalensis Assabensis Assuritensis Aturburnitensis Avicoateriensis Avinicensis Auincensis Auvidarcensis Ausugradensis Auzagerensis Azugensis Badiensis Bagvaiensis Bajesitensis Bahannensis Bamaccorensis Bartiniziensis Bauzarensis Bazarididacensis Bazaritanus Bazienus Bazitensis Betagbarensis Bennefensis Beucennensis Bicensis Bizaciensis Bladiensis Bonustensis Bosutensis Botrianensis Boucarensis Bucaborensis Buccomensis Bullensis Burensis Buritanus Burugiatensis Caesariensis Calamensis Calanensis Canianensis Caniopitaneorum Capsensis Carcabianensis Carianensis Carpitensis Carthaginiensis Casensis Medianēsis Casensis Nigrensis Castellanus Catagnensis Catharensis Cathauguritensis Caviopipavorensis Cebarsussensis Cediensis Celerinensis Cellensis Cenculianensis Cenensis Cenestensis Centenariensis Centurionensis Centuriensis Ceramuensis Cerramusensis Cessitensis Cilibiensis Cillitensis Cincaritensis Cliensis Clypiensis Constantiniensis Creperulensis Cresmiensis Cubdensis Cufrutensis Cuiculitensis Cullitensis Culusitensis Dianensis Dionysianensis Druensis Drusilianensis Drusitensis Dusensis Dydritensis Edistianensis Eguilguilitensis Eguizetensis Eptiminensis Ermianensis Euerensis Felicianiatensis Feraditensis Ficensis Fissanensis Flumen-Piscensis Furvitensis Gaguaritensis Garbensis Gartanensis Gazabianensis Gegitensis Gemellensis Germaniensis Ginesittensis Girbitensis Gisipensis Gittensis Giuiritensis Gobbensis Gratianopolitanus Guirensis Guzabentensis Gypsuriensis Habensis Hermianensis Hierpinianensis Hiltensis Hippensis Hipponiensis Hirenensis Icositensis Iadessensis Idicrensis Idicrisensis Idurensis Imuntensis Infitensis Inucensis Iubaltianensis Iucundianensis Iziarianensis Labdensis Lacuducensis Lamasbensis Lamasuensis Lambiensis Lambiritensis Lamiggigensis Lampuensis Lamsortensis Lamzellensis Larensis Laritensis Legensis Lelalitensis Leptitensis Lettimiensis Libertinensis Lubertimensis Lucimagnensis Macanianensis Macomadiensis Macomarensis Macrensis Macrianensis Mactaritensis Madaurensis Margarmelitensis Magnensis Magomaziensis Malianensis Mamillensis Manazenensis Mandasunutensis Marazenensis Marcellianensis Masculitensis Masdianensis Mataritanensis Mazacensis Mazulitanensis Medefessitensis Medianensis Melzitensis Memblositensis Membressitensis Merferaritensis Mesarfeltensis Metenensis Metensis Midicensis Midiliensis Migirpensis Milensis Mileuitanus Moptensis Mullitensis Munavilitensis Mustitensis Mutigennensis Muznensis Muzucensis Naraggaritensis Narensis Nasaitensis Nationensis Neapolitensis Nebbitensis Neglapolitanus Nigizubitensis Nomapetrensis Nonasinuensis Nouasumensis Novensis Numidiensis Nurconensis Obbensis Oënsis Olivensis Omzensis Oriensis Pauzerensis Perdicensis Pisitensis Presidiensis Pudentianensis Puppitensis Putiensis Putisiensis Refalensis Regensis Ressianensis Rotariensis Rusipitensis Rusticianensis Rusubiccariensis Rusuccadensis Rusuccuritanus
Thou shalt not kill 6. Thou shalt not commit adultery 7. Thou shalt not steale 8. Thou shalt not beare false witnesse 9. Thou shalt not desire thy neighbours wife 10. Thou shalt not desire thy neighbours goods 4. And that which is worst of all they forbid the Reading of the holy Scriptures Haeresin esse si quis dicit necessarium esse ut scripturae in vulgares linguas convertantur Sander visib monar lib. 7. hares 191. Credo institutum hoc a Diabelo esse inventum Peresius de Trad. par 1. Assert 3. pag. 47. Characteres mortui Lindan Lib. 2. Stromat cap. 3.6 traducing them and blaspheming them viz. that it is 〈…〉 that it is the Devils in vention to permit the Laitie to reade them that they are dead Characters and not to be permitted Which if they should be suffered to be read they would casily discover their new Articles of Faith to bee blasphemous their Image-Worship to bee Idolatrie and their not erring Bishop to bee a meere Imposture and Deceiver 5. And also to breede an Antipathie and hatred betweene the Papists and Protestants they are taught to beleeve that the Protestants are Blasphemers of God and all Saints That in England Churches are made Stables and that the people are growne barbarous To these they have wilfully feyned many scandalous lies of us and the Reformers set downe by learned Doctor Hall In his scrious disswasive from Poperie pag. 37. now Lord Bishop of Exeter as of Wickliffs Blasphemies of Luthers advice from the Devill of Tindalls communitie of Calvins blasphemous death of Bucers breaking his necke of Beza's Revolt of the blasting of Hugonites of Englands want of Churches and Christendome of our putting English Catholikes into beares skinnes and casting them to dogges to be baited of the Lutherans nightrevelling of Scories drunken or dination of our Bishops in a Taverne of the casting of the remaine of our Sacraments to Doggs of Mounsier Plessis overthrow and the like And lately they have published two Bookes commonly sold in Jtalie and in France one of them of the late Right Reverend Father in God Doctor King late lord Bishop of London his Apostacie the other containing a relation of Gods Iudgement showne upon a sort of Protestant hereticks by the fall of a house in Black-fryers London in which they were assembled to heare a Geneva Lecture Octo. 26. Anno. Dom 1623. By which the simple people were made to beleeve that Iudgement to bee upon the Protestants which God sent upon the Papists and as they scandall us so also the other Christians not subject to them Thus you may see in the Church of Rome Religion to be Metamorphised into Policie and all their Policie tending to maintaine their atchieved Majesty and greatnesse The Conclusion TO Conclude in this little Treatise you may see the Church of God not to be in Rome onely but to bee Catholike and dispersed over the face of the whole Earth Here is also set downe the large habitations and dwellings of the Christians not subject to the Pope and how they doe agree with the Protestants in the mayne Points in difference and the Harmony of the Protestants amongst themselves with the differences in the Roman Church Also the Antiquitie of some of these Churches with a succession of Bishops in some of their Churches not subject at all to the Pope nor acknowledging the Papall Iurisdiction And as these Churches agree with us so you may see what Correspondency they have with the Bishops of Rome The Greeke Church excommunicateth yerely the Pope and his Church for Schismatickes The Muscovites account him an Hereticke The Christians under the Patriarch of Musall call the Pope the reprobate Bishop as before The Churches of Asia answered Pope Iohn the 23. who wrote to them that hee was the alone Head of the Church and Christs Vicar after this manner Wee firmely beleeve thy great authority over them that are subject to thee we cannot indure thy great pride and ambition we cannot satisfie thy great Covetousnesse c. And whereas Pope Gregory as before calleth him Antichrist and Lucifer who shall but in the pride of his heart desire to be called universall Bishop what would hee say if hee lived now to see the Pope lifted up above Kings and Emperors and the whole Catholike Church To conclude I wish every man that hath a care of his Soule to follow the grave and divine instruction of that excellent Light of the Church Saint Augustine for establishing of his Conscience to performe our Saviours Commandement Search the Scriptures 1. Now search diligently whether you can finde in holy Scripture that Christ made Saint Peter and his Successors his alone Vicars 2. Or gave them dominion over the other Apostles 3. Or gave them power to depose Kings 4. Or to dispence with oathes made Sacred by Gods holy name 5. Or to license incestious marriages 6. Or to give pardons for money 7. Or to release Soules out of Purgatory 8. Or whether in holy Writt marriage is forbidden to Priests 9. Or the reading of the Scriptures to the Laiety 10. As also the Symbol of Christs blood in the holy Sacrament 11. Or power given to a Priest to make his Maker 12. Or to Communicate alone And if thou canst finde none of these things in holy Scripture remember what Saint Paul saith Gal. 1.9 if any man preach any other Gospel unto you then that you have received let him be accursed And whereas our Adversaries boast and make a great cry of the Catholike Church here you may see how the Catholike Church of God agreeth with us Now to put an end to this Treatise I thanke God for his truth revealed unto us and his Church and most humbly intreate his divine Majesty to open the eyes of them that erre and have gone astray that they may returne to the great Shepherd and Bishop of their Soules and for them that are in darkenesse that they may also know the great Mystery of Salvation in Iesus Christ Now to Him that is able to doe exceeding abundantly above all that we can aske or thinke to Him be Glory in the Church by Iesus Christ throughout all ages world without end Amen Literae à Patriarcha Alexandrino ad Archiepiscopum Cantuariensem ex Aegypto in Britaniam transmissae ex autographo Cyrilli graeco in Latinum jussu Archiepiscopi traductae à Daniele Featleyo eidem Archiepiscopo à sacris Inscriptio literarum Beatissimo magnificentissimo Domino Archiepiscopo Cantuariensi totius Angliae Primati Metropolitano Georgio Abbati mihi multis nominibus colendissimo officiose cum honore debitâ reverentiâ in Britaniam tradantur istae Subscriptio Cyrillus dei gratia Papa Patriarcha magnae urbis Alexandriae Iudex oecumenicus Exemplar Literarum BEatissime amplissime Archiepiscope Cantuariensis totius Angliae Primas Metropolitane Domine Georgi Domine frater charissime Exopto amplitudini vestrae prosperam valetudinem ademolumentum