to visit their House and Church Would visit all the corners of their Colledge with him and divert himself with him alone in his sorry Chamber laying aside all State and Ceremony fit for so great a Monarch and observ'd towards him by all others sometimes sitting upon his Straw-Bed made like a Monks sometimes upon an old Stool to contemplate the Rarities of Europe yea was pleased also sometimes to taste of the domestick fruits of their Garden with great satisfaction and pleasure admired at their Altars and Pictures their Splendour and Curiousness at the Fairness and Elegancy of their Printed Books the Letter and the Cuts But that which is more than all Complements he commanded by his Royal Edict to be engrav'd on an huge Marble-Stone erected before the Doors of their Church which was also built through his favour and finished Anno 1650. his Royal Approbation of the Christian Religion partly in the Tartarian and partly in the China Character and Language which Charter to this very day is exposed to be seen in the Jesuites Gallery at Rome as it was printed in China and is moreover drawn by an excellent hand in China and Tartarian Characters also white upon a black Fund or Bottom in the said Gallery likewise The tenour whereof that you may see the high esteem of this learned Jesuite for his Art and Skill and great Science is as follows A Chinese-Tartarian-Edict WHEREIN The Approbation of the Christian Religion engrav'd on a Marble Monument which was erected before the Doors of the Temple of our Saviour for a perpetual Memorial of the Thing at Pekin the Royal City of China by Command of the China-Tartarean Emperour XuNCHI in the year of Christ 1650. ACCORDING TO THE COMMAND OF HEAVEN The CHARTER Cut in China and Tartarian Characters THe Heavenly Science Astronomy which our Ancestours always made highest account of deserves that We also should follow their steps and extol it above the Skies especially seeing the same was heretofore under divers Emperours wholly declined and decayed and again restored and chiefly in the time of the Empire of Juen Emperour Tartarean who govern'd the Chinois above 400 years since was rendred more exact by Co ru kim and finally at length did too much err in the last times of the fore-going Emperour Mim There has been found one Johannes Adamus Schall coming from the utmost West into China who was expert not onely in the Art of Calculation but also in the Theory of the Planets and whatsoever pertains unto Astronomy He being brought before the Emperour our Predecessor by his Command undertook the care of the Acadamy of Mathematicks and Restoration of Astronomy But because many understood not the fruit that flows from this Science it could not then be concluded that the Subjects should use that Science of his But now when I came to the Empire and my first care was for the Order of Times for the Good of the Realm in the Autumn of the very first year of my Reign seeking an experiment of that Art which John Adams had restor'd I commanded to be observ'd most diligently the Eclipse of the Sun calculated by him sometime before And it being found that aswel the Moments of Time as the Ecliptick Points with all other Circumstances did exactly answer his Calculation And again in the Spring of the following Year when an Eclipse of the Moon offered it self commanding the same to be observed with the same diligence I also found that not to erre an hairs breadth neither wherefore I presently apprehended that this Man was presented to us from Heaven at such a time as this wherein I undertook the Government of so great an Empire and thereupon committed the whole presidence of the Mathematick Tribunal to him only But because John Adams from his Childhood is chast and has led a single life nor will meddle with any affairs not agreeing with his Religiousway of life I thought necessary by absolute command to oblige him to undertake this charge and to add the dignity of the second Order according to the Title of Master of the Heavenly Areana's In which office being now imployed some years he adds daily more and more study and diligence And because he has a Temple near the Gate of the City call'd Xun che Muen where according to the Rites of his Law he offers Sacrifice to God I also contributed some supply toward the building and adorning it And when I entred that Temple I perceived the Images and Utensils to have the appearance of extraneous and forreign things also And concerning the Books of the Law which I found placed on a Table when I had ask'd what was contained in them the said John Adams answered That they contain'd an explication of the Divine Law And truly I seeing I had formerly apply'd my mind to the Doctrine Yao Xun Cheu and Cum Cu I perceived something out of their Books In the Books Foe and I au although I read some things yet nothing sticks in my memory But seeing I could not hitherto by reason of the grand Affairs of the Kingdom look into the Books of this Divine Law but only by the by I cannot give an exact judgment out of them concerning that Law But yet when I consider John Adams who having liv'd for many years among the Chinois and with us both observes and practises this Law I judge it to be exceeding Good For John Adams does so reverence his God that he has dedicated this Temple to him conforming himself to this Law with so great modesty and integrity of his Person for so many years alwayes after the same manner and method and not a jot varying therefrom This truly is an express sign that 't is a Law of the highest perfection wherein John Adams himself is seen to excel with such most approved vertue seeing what that Law teaches namely to serve God obey Kings and Magistrates to do evil to no man to seek the Publick and our Neighbour's good he exactly fulfills with his fidelity And would to God Magistrates and all my Subjects would imitate this his Industry and Diligence in serving God and keeping the Divine Law and would but come any thing near it in obeying their Emperour without doubt it would go far better by many degrees and more prosperously with me and the whole Kingdom As for me I mightily approve of and commend this his mind and this Law And therefore in perpetual memory of this thing I prefix before his Church this Title I um hiven hia Kim That is An excellent place to penetrate Heaven Given at Pekin in the seventh year of Our Empire Whereby may be seen the Emperour's high esteem of this man and consequently of the preheminence of the Europaeans Science and Art For the Church it self it was built upon the account of the restoring the China Calendar as appears further from the Inscription of the Church it self by the Jesuites The Inscription of the Church at Pekin of the Society
the greatest Dominions And this would have been a fair step to be the Head of Kingdoms as the Pope was of the Church And just such beginnings had the Pope himself over all other Bishops Secondly by Arms. For there remained two kingdoms in Spain Portugal and Navarre both which they seize on First that of Navarre and Naples c. Whence perpetuall Wars ever since with France in Catalonia c. For this Kingdom which still retains the Title and by Arms continually requires the possession And then of Portugal by Philip the 2 d about sixty years after viz. about the 1560. Thirdly by Shipping and Sea-Forces or Power at Sea specially afterwards with their Invincible Armado in 88 wherein were above thirty thousand Souldiers to joyn with as many out of the Netherlands And again afterwards with as great Preparation against the Hollanders but to as little purpose too in the year 1640 aiming at Superiority and Dominion of the Northern Seas and consequently of all the World But the Hollanders and English were grown by that time of the World too big to do any good on them 2. To Ferdinand the Catholick succeeds Philip Archduke of Austria c. before-mentioned Son to Maximilian the Emperor about 1504. 3. After whom comes Charles the 5 th An. 1516. king of Spain Archduke of Austria Duke of Milan Burgundy Brabant Earl of Catalonia Flanders Holland c. and Emperor of the Germans under whom the Monarchy of Spain grew towards its greatest height He added the Realms of Mexico and Peru the Dukedom of Milan and several Estates in the Netherlands Marched into Africa possesses Tunis and other parts thereby disposing Kingdoms there at his pleasure But was at last soon outed of the Empire as a foresaid leaving Spain and the Netherlands and other Spanish Territories too 4. His Son Philip the 2d An. 1558. under whom this Kingdom recieved its utmost increase by Portugal and the East Indies therewith and also its greatest decrease by the Netherlands For upon the death of Sebastian King of Portugal slain in Africa without Issue appeared six chief Competitors for the Crown Of all whom the Duke of Braganza had most right but the King of Spain notwithstanding all the help from France and England got it And so was the first of the West-Goths since the Moors that obtain'd the Universal Monarchy of all Spain and both the East and West-Indies besides the Belgick Provinces and other dominions in Europe in so much that they could brag that the Sun rose and set in their ground So that now the whole bulk of his swelling titles was compleated viz. King of Spain Castile Leon Arragon Navar Hierusalem Naples Sicily Sardinia Majorck and Minorck and of the Isles and Continent of the Indies and of the Main Ocean King Arch-Duke of Austria Duke of Burgundy Lorraine Brabant Lucenburg Gelderland and Milan Earl of Hapsburg Flanders Artois Henault Holland Zealand c. Marquess of the Sacred Empire Lord of Friezland Meckleburgh Ulricht c. Great Lord of Asia and of Africa 5. Which mighty Monarchy labouring with its own weight soon began to fall into peeces 1 through exhausting of its people and want of men by naval expeditions into both Indies by many and long Wars by ejecting the Moors and Jews before afterwards c. by the Spanish Inquisition and grievous Taxes and oppressions of the Countrymen and labourers 2 By wasting of its Riches and Wealth by Wars and imprudence 3 By loss of kingdoms and Provinces as well as great defeats of its Armies and Armado's As namely the loss of the Netherlands the Defeat in 88 the long Wars with the French who alwayes oppos'd this rising Monarchy on all sides which brought lastly the revolt of Portugal and Catalonia and so the loss of half their entire united Monarchy besides the new conquests in Flanders the last year by the French all which have made pretty wide gaps in those numerous swelling titles 6. But this great Kingdom was chiefly impair'd by the Revolt of the Netherlands and Portugal For this Philip in indeavouring to bring Tyrannick Government both Civil and Religious specially the last by the bloudy Inquisition and to reduce them back a gain by force to the Church of Rome from that Reformation of Religion which was now every where begun whereof he was a violent Enemy was by a great part of the Provinces confederate together rejected from being their Prince An. 1581. for seeing the Spaniards would bring in absolute domination both over Soul and Body they became desperate to the death declare him for a Tyrant and perpetual Enemy and by eighty years Wars brought the Spaniard to an open confession or conviction of his bad Politicks for Force of Religion and taught them and the World too if they will be taught this Rule That a free Nation must be governed freely For the Pride and Tyranny specially in Religion and the unmerciful Inquisition fill'd all Christian People with Hate and Terror of the Spaniards specially these most concern'd For by no more powerful argument did the Prince of Orange inflame the Netherlanders Spirits than saying That These burn men alive for Religion which set them all on fire So ill does Force upon either mens Civil or Religious Liberties conduce to establish Princes where Subjects are once sensible of them And that Religion had a chief hand in these Revolutions you must know that the main design then driven on by the Catholick Princes and Party was the defence and propagation of that Religion the Protector whereof the King of Spain vaunted to be and the extirpation of Hereticks and so to make the King of Spain Universal and absolute and truly and indeed Catholick at least by some c. In such sort that about 1560 Charles the 9 th king of France with the Queen-Mother Katherine of Medices a busie and Imperious Queen and Isabel this king of Spains Wife and the Duke of Alva make a league to joyne the Power and Policies of both Nations to root out the new increasing Hereticks The Hugonots out of France and the Protestants out of the Low-Countries and Germany and immediately ensued the Holy League in France wherein this King was a mighty stickler also and then those wars here So that he not only confederated with the Leaguists against the Hugonots but also about the year 1580 when the other would not do endeavours also upon the same account to hinder the Reformation growing in his own Dominions by bringing in the Inquisition and arbitrary Government amongst them whereby he was wholly driven out of those Provinces confederating together for their Liberty and Priviledges And indeed except mens Civil Liberties be first invaded their Religious can hardly be To recover which Countries they exhausted all their strength in vain for eighty years till they were at last forc'd to a shameful submission in the Treary of Munster 1648. therein renouncing for ever all Right c. and treat with them and
his submission granted to him and his heirs The title of the Kings of England As if they never had it since the Conquest of right before Hence it is observed sayes the Popish writers That all Kings of England must acknowledg the Pope for their Landlord And in like manner his predecessor Hadrian the 4 th about 1555. gave Ireland to the Kings of England for a penny to be paid yearly out of every house as much as a shilling now But As long as there 's a Goose or Gander We must remember Alexander If it were but for this verse sake which ends a coppy sent to him by a Monkish Rimer little better in the Latin About 1190. Celestine Crowns the Emperor with his foot and then spurns it off again with this saying By me Kings reign He set all Princes almost together by the ears that Rome might gain with siding with one part or the other and making them friends again And this was and is a constant practise with them and a principal matter whereby they stand For if one deserts them another still upholds them for their own interest which is mingled with the Papal over all the World About 1200. Innocent the third raised the Otho's against Philip the Emperor resolving that he would uncrown him or be uncrown'd by him because chose without his liking And as soon as Otho himself was made Emperor excommunicates him too as also King John of England Peter King of Aragon and Raimund Earl of Tholoss And decreed in a Council held at Rome from thence forth the Pope to have the correction of all Christian Princes and no Emperor to be acknowledged all he had sworn obedience to him In pursuance whereof deposes the said King John and gives away his Kingdom to the French King causes him to surrender his crown to his Legate interdicts him the Kingdom for six years together and makes him stand to his mercy to have it again and upon the restoring to make it Tributary fining it at the yearly rent of 8000. Marks to be held of the Pope in fee-farme And his usurpations were so great here in England That the Nobles writ in their Letters to their Bishops To such a Bishop or such a Chapter who had rather dye then he ruined by the Romish Task-Masters Likewise the said King of Aragon Naples and Sicily c. was forced also to subject his Kingdoms as feudatory to the Church of Rome and to be held of the Pope And now also was brought up that Idol of Transubstantiation and adoration of the Host to subject the people to a more divine Reverance and external devotion and deportment towards their Holy things and mysteries which is wonderful to behold even to this very day and to make their Religion and Priests more Venerable at least this has been the efect thereof What matter of Zeal Fury and Persecution this became afterwards all storyes and ages ring of as if it had been to deny God indeed and Christ and all Religion to deny this their Idol God they had and have to this day so possessed people with such a fond Imagination God also giving them up to believe lyes and to erre concerning the Faith mistaking the Letter for the Spirit Also that devise of Auricular confession was introduced about this time which aws the people exceedingly likewise Moreover about the same time arose those deadly seuds between the Papaline Guelphs and Imperial Gibelines or if you will Elfs and Goblins so called as is thought from their terrible doings c. which destracted all Italy and contiuned for many ages after which factions were stirred up by the Pope and his Agents means and practises c. It was about the year 200. likewise that Philip King of France was excommunicated and then it was said In the year of the Reign of Christ not of Philip. Also 1204. the Sea of Constantinople and the Greek Church and Emperor became subject to the Roman for above 30. years through their projects c. And about 1220. the East as well as Westren Emperor was crowned at Rome by the Pope no longer now as a Servant you may now well think but their Lord and Superior by what has been already rehearsed For in this Popes time some thought fitting to make this Embleme There are two great lights The Sun that is the Pope and the Moon that is the Emperor Nay the high Papalists would have none to be truly Monarch and Soveraign that is absolute and Independent on any other as Supreme but the Pope as before has been intimated About 1240. the twentieths of Ecclesiastick Revenues are obtained for the Pope It came afterwards to the tenths nay the fifths and fourths too in some Kingdoms c. About 1245. Innocent the fourth excommunicates the Emperor Frederick the fourth time having been three times before by former Popes though he had been his greatest friend and deposes him the King of France in vain interceeding and sets up Anti-Cesaers because his Highness forsooth would not stope low enough to his Holiness and in the end because he would not bring him enough under got him poyson'd The four orders of the begging Fryars viz. the Dominicans Franciscans Carmelits and Augustins began to swarm under him as their great Patron and by their voluntary humility and external devotion to uphold this their exalted and triumphant Church and Religion This Pope demanded also the payment of the Twentieths before granted and afterwards of the Tenths of all Revenues and Profits of the Church adding grievous threatnings if they were not paid and by his Legate in Poland one fifth of all Afterwards he perswaded the French King to make War against Henry the 3 d. of England and to make him either yeeld to all the Pope demanded or to drive him out of his Kingdom An. 1255. The King of Lithuania being converted to Christianity is crowned by the Pope and subjects his Kingdom to him For if they would be Christians they must all acknowledge Christs Vicar or else be Infidels still for all other Christianity now was almost fled the Earth An. 1260. The Pope translates the Kingdom of Naples and Sicily which the King of Aragon had made feudatory to the Church as before c. and which the former Pope also would have sould to Henry the 3 d. of France from the right owners and bestows it on the French most bountifully And now was the Pope come to the hight of power riches and authority and to have mighty interest in the World and now all the Nations worshiped the Beast The Princes generally began to make appeals to the Roman Court and the people were devoted to the Romish Laws Customs and Religion The Pope had now the creating of Electors of the Empire almost as he listed and consequently the Emperor in a manner at his beck About 1270. Rodolph of Napsburg or Ausburgh the first of the Austrian House was affraid to go to Rome to take his Crown or to
power they quite and clean forget the salvation of Souls sanctity of Life and the Commandements of God Propagation of Religion and charity towards men And to raise Arms to make War against christians to invent new devises for the getting of mony to profane sacred things for their own ends by fine tricks fair and specious shews and pretences to get into the affections of Princes and oblige them to them by several arts and wayes to keep the people in ignorance and obedience though with the reigning of all manner of vice to get all the chief Preferments Benefices and Revenues of the Church into their disposal and the whole Army and interest of the Clergy at their service and devotion in these corrupt wayes and for such like unworthy ends to possess the Consciences of men with an opinion of their infallibility and undoubted power not only in Heaven and Earth but also over Pur gatory and Hell viz. to bind and loose to save or damn and that for mony and filthy lucres sake And lastly to make the whole Gospel and Christian Religion a pretext only to get and increase Church Power Dominion and Riches yea and with the Goods and Treasures of the Church to enrich their kindred and base children and raise their families c. I say these and such like things and practises become their only study and work and the great business of that is of him that would be accounted the chief Shepherd and Bishop of Christian Souls c. We will instance only in some of the most notorious particulars and matters of fact as they occur in time by the usurping and incroaching Popes following from this Hildebrand founder of the Popedom as hath been shewn about the year 1073. Next about the year 1090. his successor Urban the 2 d. excommunicates the Emperor likewise and deposes the Antipope by him chosen and thereby sets all christiendom in a combustion for these two Popes Therefore in stead of Urban called Turban or disturber And then likewise by his Religionists and Clergy stirs up and inflames all christendom with a zeal for that bloody Holy War for recovery of the Holy Land from the Saracens Which War consisted of twelve expeditions and of many hundred thousands at a time for the space of above 200 years together to the ruine of so many millions of Lives with the Arms first of the Cross and afterwards of a Globe too upon their Habits signifying that Christ crucified And to be sure the Pope as his Vicar ought to be Lord of the whole World To allay the quarrels of Christian Princes at home this Cross is often preached up with wounderous Zeal So that the main Religion of the World the Rulers and People generally in those days lay mostly in outward Christianity against Infidels Turks and Pagans and inlarging of this Visible Church as out of which no Salvation c. But i' th mean while this exhausive War of Christendom every way made for the Papal Interest The Popes having thereby greater opportunities to work their own ends out of poor Christians misguided Zeal and by weakning and diverting the Princes to strengthen and settle themselves for during all this time most cruel and perpetual wars continued at home between the Popes and Emperors for Imperial and Papal power and priviledges the Pope still usurping and domineering every day more and more About 1100. Paschal the 2 d excommunicates the said Emperor Henry the 4 th also sets his only son Henry the 5 th against him to persecute him to death who by the Bishops is perswaded to perjury also against his own Father whom the Pope caus'd after he was dead to lye likewise unburied five years together He denyed the right of investiture of Bishops to the Emperor and other Imperial priviledges And then excommunicated the son now as devoutly as he had done the Father And entertained and upheld Anselme Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in rebellion against his Soveraign This Paschal also first of all leaves off closing his letters with the year of the Emperor and substitutes the year of his Popedom An. 1120. Calixtus the 2 d. made Gregory set up Antipope by the said Henry the 5 th to ride through Rome upon a Camels back with his face towards the Tail and the tail in his hand for a bridle To shew no doubt that he held up the Tail Caesar and not by the Head St. Peter c. and then thrust him shaven into a Monastery About 1150. the Papal Canons Decretals are first hatched which afterwards in process of time were brought into use and set up and prevailed in the World and the Church in opposition to the Civil and Imperial Law and chiefly to advance the Pontificiall Omnipotency as themselves phrase it And this Canon Law or Divinity not the Law of God became in time almost the only divinity and study of the Prelats and great Church men who studied little else then to gain and increase Church Power and Treasure to get all into their clutches and to keep all people in slavery and subjection to their Authority and Religion And for others there began to creep in a Scholastick Divinity and Philosiphy out of the Fathers and Aristotle together not the Scripture And this Philosiphic-divinity brought all confusion of Opinions and learned Ignorance and Error into the world And for the more piously inclined and devout a practical Divinity of Monkish Legends or pious Tales and at best but devout stories of the Sanctimonious lives of Saints c. all which still made for the Pope About 1160. Alexander the 3 d. opposses the Emperor Frederick the first and excommunicates him thundering out curses and raising War against him every where and by the French Kings favour settles himself in the Popedom The Emperor notwithstanding takes Rome and drives the Pope to Venice for protection and sends his Son with an Army after him whom they beat and took Prisoner neer Venice The good Father therefore to preserve his Son is forced to submit and to prostrate himself before the Pope openly in the great Church at Venice to kiss his feet Where setting his foot on the Emperors neck he impiously and imperiously was not asham'd to say Thou shalt tread upon the Lyon and the Adder and the Dragon shalt thou trample under foot And when the Emperor took the boldness to reply and say I do it not to you but to Peter The proud Beast goes on To Peter and to me too And from this time forth and for evermore forsooth it must be an high favour to kiss his Toes as much as other Princes hands And all this is Your most humble Servant of the Servant of God his Title once come too Beggers of all men proudest are When once they got into the chair This Pope likewise upheld Thomas a Becket against his King here in England and made the King submit to the lash for St. Thomas's death for his Holiness Sainted the Traitor and upon
A Generall Table OF EUROPE REPRESENTING The Present and Future State thereof VIZ. The PRESENT GOVERNMENTS LANGUAGES RELIGIONS FOUNDATIONS and REVOLUTIONS both of Governments and Religions The FUTURE MUTATIONS REVOLUTIONS GOVERNMENT and RELIGION of CHRISTENDOM and of the WORLD c. From the Prophecies of the three late German Prophets KOTTERUS CHRISTINA and DRABRICIUS c. ALL Collected out of the Originals for the common Use and Information of the ENGLISH Printed for Benjamin Billingsley at the Printing Press in Broadstreet 1670. GENTLE READER THis little Piece of History has stuck in the Birth well nigh a whole year and at last is forced to come forth an imperfect Embryo through the unhappy Midwifry of the Press Yet for thy encouragement thou oughtest to know That there is none such ever yet extant in the English Tongue For for the first Part there is 1. Not a more modern and later History of Christendom in English Nor 2. a better in so small a Volumn viz. None that gives a better account of the last fore-going and this present Age which two chiefly concern us to know that is of the last considerable Affairs of the World and present state of things We say there is none extant of the like nature so short and comprehensive And for the Second Part It is the most wonderful strangest History ever yet known in the World in the English yea or any other Language And indeed not to be parallel'd by all History and Antiquity Whether those Prophetical Revelations be from GOD Man or the Devil yet they exceed all comparison If they be from GOD they are the strangest and most miraculous ever since the Apostles days If they be Delusions and Imaginations of Man they are the strangest ever suffer'd or invented by Man If lastly Devices Fascinations and Bewitchings of the Devil transforming himself into an Angel of Light c. they are the strangest still and the least Footsteps of his Cloven Foot to be discerned that ever was in any of his Juggles Onely we have been unhappily hindred by the Press from giving you a short view and taste of the Prophecies themselves as was really intended And these two things may perhaps help to make it go down with the Reader as it is notwithstanding all its faults For 't is confess'd there are many Defects procur'd through manyfold Occasions not fit here to be mentioned And if Worthy Reader thou knewest all Circumstances thou wouldst certainly be so candid as to pardon all Faults Which I doubt not but thou wilt at least for the good will and Endeavours of the Author Farewel ERRATA Courteous Reader These three or four places thou must needs be desired to amend before thou readest the Book All other faults we are forc'd to let pass c. Page 15. line 15. for of Inorganick c. read To which add The greater knowledge of and insight into the Inorganick Motion and Fermentation of Nature and Cultivation thereof And blot out those words as it were Mechanick Page 72. line 20. blot out those words or Nevers and interpose these the Prince of Conde whom the King of France c. Page 113. line 5. Note There was such News at that time that the Vizier himself was slain in a violent On-set c. This Book should have come forth then Page 159. line ult for Holiness read unholiness A General Table OF EUROPE In its Present and Future Appearance The First Part Comparative Of the Advantages of Europe in comparison of other Parts of the Universe The ARGUMENT Europe compar'd with other Parts and former Times for Arms Arts Commerce and Religion The preheminence of Empire and Arms. The preheminence of Arts and Sciences The Chinois high esteem thereof Of Riccius and Adams Jesuites there The Emperours great Grace and Favour to Adams His Edict and Charter in favour of the Christian Religion engrav'd on a stone at the entrance of their Church and Title given to it by him The Jesuites Inscription thereon The preheminence as to former times in many rare Arts and Inventions The preheminence of Riches and Commerce Shipping and Navigation The preheminence of Religion or Priviledge of Christendom Christendom the Glory of Europe All its Advantages founded on Christianity and Disadvantages on Pagan-and-Anti-christianism Shameful Dissentions of Christians and Christian Princes and States Lamentable Disorders Persecutions and Inquisitions for Religion and Conscience in Europe Liberty of the same commended Revolutions of the World Present flourishing of Europe EUROPE is at this day the most flourising part of the Universe for Empire Religion and Learning Arts and Arms and all the high distinctions of Humane kind And as she now exceeds all other Parts so the present all former Ages and Generations It is not our purpose at present in this General Table to make Comparisons and set her off by the others sad countenance but onely in first drawing some plain and rude Lineaments to expose to general view her present Portraiture and Appearance with some prospect of her future Europe then might be compar'd either with other parts or former Times of the World and every way we should find her to excel For though for largeness of extent she yeilds both to Africa and to Asia yet she surpasses them in politeness and they all seem rude and barbarous in comparison and has got those advantages and felicities above them that all their Riches cannot equal And if for vastness of single Empire and Treasure and dependencies thereon she cannot come in competition with the times of the Roman Greatness yet take her divided and all her parts together and she far exceeds them And by how much her Empire since has been disposed into divers hands by so much have her several parts been more puissant and flourishing The whole Glory of Europe then was contracted into a very narrow compass and one little corner onely and as I may say Toe of Italy For what was England France Spain and Germany c. to wâ—â—â—â—â—â—y are now surely infinitly more inglorious and despicable She could not then look down upon her Feet and inferior parts and not be like the Peacock ashamed in the height of all her pride For if we should compare her for Arts or for Arms for the Virtues of War and of Peace and therein all things else her Courts her Camps her Schools her Cities and her Fields we should find no degrees of comparison nor room in this Table We will only touch upon things loosly here as besides our present intent Asia perhaps has shewn Europe that prodigious Art of Powder and Cannon But Europe in revenge has requited her with another as great and by the Chard and Compass taught her and the World besides the use of that Invention For with her Ordinance and Men of War she has secur'd all the Coasts both of Persia and the Indies and those moreover of Ethiopia and of Peru. She has quell'd the Sophies and the Mogulls and seiz'd on their
Cottons of Bezoart nor of Indigo of Gumlac nor of Purslanes of Salt-Peter nor Salt-Amoniak And to set aside Drugs and Medicaments Tobaco and Castors and abundance of Mullet one of the most excellent Fish of the Ocean which alone makes the Riches of five or six good Cities In a word all the Riches of the Earth and all the delights of the Sea So that though every Land do not bear all things yet they need want none and may so change Commodities as if they had changed Countries one to the other And yet though Diamonds Pearls and Spices are onely fetch'd from the Indies yet some return is made for them in Coral and Amber which Europe exchanges for the Jewels of Asia The Japons all their Passion is for Coral as much as ours for Diamonds and Pearls Insomuch that a Grain of the bigness of an ordinary Egg is there worth 2000 Crowns And in the North of Asia and Cathy much is vended where all the people wear Bracelets thereof about their Necks Arms and Legs and make it their principal Ornament And use the greatest Grains thereof for their richest Purses which they wear by their sides And for Yellow Amber a great quantity is consumed in China for when a person of quality will make a splendid Treatment at the end of the Feast they bring three or four Censours wherein they sprinkle Aber sometimes to the value of a thousand Crowns being the more they burn the more it is for his glory that Treats and is much used in Fumes upon all other occasions the smell thereof being agreeable to them and the flame having something which other flames have not Hence Amber is one of the best Merchandises that Europe can send into Asia and the Holland Company reserve it particularly to themselves to sell it dear at Batavia to the Chineses If Europe then at present carries it so high both for Arts and Arms for Riches and Commerce the main Props of States and Kingdoms and all things else comprehended in them And if she now enjoyes all these advantages before all other parts more than ever heretofore She has yet that which carries her still higher and whereof to glory further as the highest prerogative of humane kind That She is no longer Europe but Christendom I say Christendom and that she has imbrac'd the true Religion and rejected Idolatry and the false Worship of the Pagans And though a new Romish and Papal Superstition and Idolatry overspread one half and more of her Dominions and with grief it is to be confessed that it is every where also yet but a lamentable Christianity and an Heathen a Pagan Unchristian and very Antichristian Christendom or Christian-Heathendom rather where Heathenish Warrs and Fightings Heathenish Rites and Customs and Heathenish Superstitions where Heathenish Sects and contendings about needless Ceremonies and Opinions Heathenish Zeal and Fury against pure Religion and undefiled like that of the Heathen against Socrates for owning the true God and Heathenish Vices and Crimes reign and rage throughout yet the true God is outwardly worshipped and owned The Doctrine or rather Mystery of a Crucified Christ but alone truly deified and adorable Man above all the Hero's and Gods and Saints and Divine-like Persons of the Pagans or Prophets of the Jews and Mahometans The Man Jesus true God and Man O the Mystery of Godliness God manifest in the flesh c. hid in times past to the Gentiles c. but now revealed to the Nations of Europe more than ever and more than to all other parts of the World I say the Mystery of a Crucified Christ but true deified Person the Man Jesus the Saviour of the World is openly professed by all and seriously believed in by thousands O adorable Jesu who would not read thy Story and study thy Acts and Heroick Deeds and Virtues and imitate thy life and believe and obey in thy Kingdom an infinity of Souls are gain'd to him an infinity of Victories got over the Devil and an infinite of Trophies erected upon the ruines of Idolatry But indeed the grievous and shameful Schisms and Vices the lamentable Dissentions and Divisions of Christians and Christian Princes so prodigally throwing away so many thousand mens Christians Lives nay and Souls in unchristian-Christian Quarrels is the reproachful blur to all her Puissance and Splendor and which will never cease nor the Christian Religion ever flourish and prosper in the World as it ought and Kings be her Nursing Fathers and Queens her Nursing Mothers till they be more sunk and baptized into the thing than the name Christianity and answer throughly their Magnificent and Specious Titles of Mass Catholick most Christian c. Majesties And when once the Turks Fingers all four shall grow together Then alack and not before we may hope to see our Masters agree and co-unite Still Christian Wars they will pursue and boast Unjust Successes gain'd whilst Candy's lost Which may now e'ne just take up Rhodes Complaint against them all All gaining vainly from each others loss Whilst still the Crescent drives away the Cross The Cross which they ought to take for their Device or Motto which is believ'd to have been given from Heaven to Christendoms first Emperor in this overcome But 't is hop'd that the two generous Nations of England and Holland which are able to do much when they are entirely united will keep their Union firm for some nobler Enterprise worthy of themselves and the high Reputation they have gain'd in the World But that which more than all Eclipses and stirs her present Splendor and robs her of her Crown and Glory of Religion and hinders the progress and flourishing thereof in the Earth are the cruel and bloody Inquisitions and Persecutions for Religion and Conscience of her several Sects and parties within her self which are more merciless to one another than they would or ought to be to Pagans Turks and Infidels or Turks Pagans and Infidels would be or are to them and give less liberty of Religion amongst themselves then they may find there amongst Barbarians Which plainly shews that there lacks only common Candor and Ingenuity and but tolerable civility of men much more of Christians not to talk of prudence to introduce a reasonable Liberty of Conscience and but that aequanimity and largeness of heart for Religion as is for other matters amongst different perswasions and that only due liberty and freedom thereof that is the common right of mankind even if it were but that they would give to one another which they would have and may and do receive among Idolaters Heathens and Mahometans for the Christians have their Churches and Temples in Turky and even China it self though they have none permitted here neither I say there lacks onely this reasonable liberty and largeness of Christian Religion to make Christendom and the World happy So then Europe is at this day the most noble and fairest part of the Grand Continent for Religion Learning
those of the League that he was glad of the assistance of the Hugonots and to side with them But excommunicated thereupon by the Pope yet Henry the 4 th after he had broke the neck of the League yet to be setled secure in the Ringdom against this faction was by the practices of some won over to Popery though himself likewise before excommunicate by the Pope the better to be universally own'd and received as Ring who would hardly have any but a Catholick Such is the Zeal of People on all sides about Religion when it is not according to knowledge And this is to this day rooted in the generality of France which may be one reason to make the Ring carry so high an hand over the Portestants the better to please his Catholick subjects under all his Exactions and to oblige them to his designs c. and bind them by Religion in opposing the contrary than faster to himself An. 1630. The Duke of Lorrain ingaging in the Wars of Germany for the Emperor lost a great part to the Swede And the Ring of France picking a quarrel with him at the same time deprived him of the Dutchy of Barre and falling into Lorrain with a puissant Army when the Suedes were there compell'd him to put into his hands and protection his chief City Nantz and by consequence all the rest of his Estates An. 1633. and never since could be restor'd Since the general Peace with Spain 1660 he sold per force his Estates or the best part to the King of France his Nephew dissenting Nor has much left yet now makes War with the Palatine and is too hard for him hitherto Of the Dukedom of Holstein Holst in was part anciently of the great Dukedom of Saxony Lotharius Emperor and Duke of Saxony gives it to the Earl of Schumburg with the title of Earl thereof An. 1114. The King of Denmark by his Mothers side succeeds An. 1459. Inlarged with Ditmarsh by the Emperor and made a Dukedom 1474. An. 1500. Ditmarsh recovers its liberty from the Dane subdued again by the Dane an 1559. An. 1560. It was given by the King of Denmark to his Brother viz. the Title and a good part of the Country who governed it interchangably with the Ring in their several Turns An. 1580. It came under the protection of the Danes and performed homage by a perpetual League with the Danes Issue Male failing of these Dukes the Title was conferred afterwards on the then another King of Danes Brother where it continues Of late arose a controversie between the King of Denmark and the Dukes of Holstein about some places but composed in the late Swedish Danish-War For in the Peace at Rotschild between the two Kings 1658 the Dukes of Holstein are made absolute Princes exempt from all homage or subjection to the Dane But the Dane in the second transaction of that Peace it being broken before fully ended betwixt them opposed it But at last the Business was composed The King of Swede Charles Gustavus Adolphus had married the eldest Daughter of Holstein an 1654. that same year he was made Ring Of the Commonwealths and first of the United-Provinces The Tyranny of the Spanyard was the occasion of this Commonwealth as aforesaid The end of which Tyranny was to suppress the growing Reformation of Religion and by force to reduce them back to the Church of Rome To which end Philip the 2 d. transported with Catholick Zeal invades not only their Religious but Civil Liberties without which little good was to be hoped for against their Religious and by this twofold Tyranny endeavours absolute Dominion over them The Religious Tyranny was chiefly the Inquisition and more Episcopal Sees and Courts The Civil was in many respects But their cheif Prerogative was that if the Prince by violence or wrong did infringe any of the said Charters and Franchises the people after declaration thereof made might go to election of a new Prince Ring Philip was so Zealous in the Cause of the Romish Church that 't is thought that his eldest Son was put to death with his consent in the Inquisition House for seeming favourably inclined to the Low-Country-Hereticks as the Spaniards called them At length when they could no longer endure the Spanish Tyranny they begin to vindicate their Liberties and Priviledges by Arms under the Prince of Orange about 1568. which lasted eighty years till 1648. during which time it became the School of War for all great Captains and Warriours The Ring of Suede Gustavus Adolphus is said to have exercised Incognito as a common Souldier under the Prince of Orange The first Province was Holland about 1570. and others afterwards An. 1579. A Confederation is first made at Utricht of perpetual Union and League by certain Laws and Conditions against the Spanyard And An. 1581. they declare by writing directed to all People that Ppilip of Spain was fallen from the Government and take a new Oath which bound them never to return to the Spanish obedience But you must know first that after intolerable persecutions of the Lutherans in such sort that within fourty years an 100000 had been destroy'd and more the Nobility exhibited their humble petition an 1566. whereupon they were nicknam'd Beggars which Title they accounted their Honour and take the Arms of Beggars upon their Cloaths with this Symbole True to the King to the very Bag. The same year the commom people â—â—se every where in Tumult and with their Arms frequented Sermons in all places and practising force against Churches and Temples broke in pieces Statues and Images c. And so the War began And at length as has been hinted abjure all fidelity and obedience for ever solemnly to the King of Spain and resolve to die and undergo any death rather then yeeld and never to have any Peace or Reconciliation so long as he made the least pretence of Right to this Commonwealth which after eighty years they forced him solemnly to renounce and with so much Arder Zeal and Confidence that they had rather all Holland and Zealand should be sunk in the Sea under Water then again submit to the power of the Spanyard The Hugonots in France much about the same time upon Henry the 4 ths turning Catholick took another course and agreed upon Terms which have been but ever since a breaking This done according to their Rights and Priviledges they go to elect a new Prince and seeing the Spaniard too hard for them they seek the protection of strangers and had rather indure any Master then the Spanyard First the Arch-Duke the Emperors Brother Then the Duke of Anjou Brother to Henry the 3 d. Ring of France An. 1582. The Prince of Orange being stabb'd at Delph by a Monck An. 1584. they sue to Henry the 3 d. who was too busie at Home with the holy League c. to take care of strangers And therefore 1588 seek to Queen Elizabeth as distressed States and she of the same reformed
Religion too Who refuses the Government but sends relief by an Army under the Earl of Leicester with Cautionary Towns put into his Hands Hereupon growing prosperous But jealous of the Earl they resolve to govern and establish the Commonwealth among themselves so that the Hollanders chuse Prince Maurice and the Friezlanders Prince William Earls of Nassaw for Governours Captain Generals by whose conduct and conquests the seven Provinces were wholly vindicated from the Spaniard and reduced into one intire Body of Common-wealth An. 1594. And afterwards so prospered and succeeded that before they would hearken to any treaty or accommodation they forc'd the Spaniard to this conclusion to treat with them as a Free-State in the year 1609. and then made a twelve years truce only And 1621. renew the War again but not so hot as at first c. till the Treaty of Munster 1648. whereby the Spaniard renounces all pretensions for ever and acknowledges them for a Free-State only dependant on God A War so shamefully begun and after fourscore years so shamefully ended in a Glorious and Eternal Peace made with them for ever Liberty of Religion according to the Laws of their first Union at Utrecht 1579 was the foundation and has been and is the preservation of this Commonwealth The Reformed Religion Protestant or Calvins was publickly established The Anabaptists or Mennonites and others had their publick Temples or Congregations Only Papists and Socinians since for reason of State were forbid the publick exercise of Religion to this Day as disturbing the Peace Though the War was Civil and for their Civil rights directly as knowing well they could not violate and invade their Religious without violating and invading these first yet the end motive and occasion principally was Religion and upon that account and indirectly Religious on both sides Zeal for Religion on both sides moved both to contend for their pretended civil rights and claims And so 't was not a War for Religion but as they say a Defensive War only for their Civil Rights and Liberties though in order subserviency to Religion And yet there was at the same time more Papists then Protestants then called Lutherans at first in these Countries They indulge Liberty of Religion with which their State begins and stands But Trade and Riches has almost eaten out Pure Religion For other particulars the chief are hinted before under Spain c. and we must be short An. 1662. War between England and Holland 1653. a great Sea fight The Hollanders are beat Peace made 1654. An. 1652. The King of France and Holland make a strict League having made a new League also before with the King of England after his restoration But a breach soon arose c. Of the Republick of the Switzers These Countries lie bordering upon Germany Savoy c. Upon the fall of the Roman Empire after various Fortunes and Masters coming under the possession and power of the Austrian Family and Emperors thereof afterwards and overburdened by the Tyranny of the Austrian Governors and Lords sent amongst them and their incroachments upon their Liberties and so weary of them and finding an opportunity amidst the distractions of the Empire by the Pope c. The Swisse constitute a Confederate Republick i. e. contract an offensive and defensive League amongst themselves for desence of their Liberties Begun 1305 but not finished till 1511. For when they did endeavour by force to make them of a free Nation of the Empire the Austrian's own proper Subjects and to bring in Arbitrary Government by force also they opposed First three Rusticks or chief Country men made a League amongst themselves of expelling Tyrants whereof each brought his Town or Village into Society The rest came by degrees afterward successively til in the end after two hundred years from the first beginning of their League to the finishing them they amounted to the present number of thirteen Cantons or distinct Parts and Corporations Besides several other Towns States without the bounds of their Commonwealth also joyn'd and comparted together with them for common defence and safety And becoming Invincible in innumerable Battels and Victories at the first forreign Enemies durst never attempt them more But since frequent Civil Wars amongst themselves but never to break their first Confederacy but still friends again Their Confederacy and Liberty was confirmed and allowed afterwards by the Emperor Lewis the fourth of Bavaria for adhering to him against the faction of Austria for the Empire at the same time After their forementioned Victories and Valour shewn in those Battels Wars eminently becoming renowned for Souldiers the French King takes them into pension in his Wars who became likewise a member of their Corporation which being afterward denied they serve the Pope who stiled them Defenders of the Church An. 1510. The King of France thinks it best to take them again into pension 1522. upon very advantagious terms to themselves and as burdensome to him They became Mercenary also to other Princes Any might have them for their Mony Hence reproached for a Mercenary Nation trusted by none But the King of France bid highest for them And at this day they are in all Armies and Wars Since that agreement they obtained also sixteen hundred to be of the French Gaurd the King preferring them for their Fame and Renown At last upon the differences of Religion they became divided also in pension The Popish Cantons taking pension of the Pope and King of Spain the Protestants of France and the mixt of both and all of the Venetians There was not long since some difficulties about their Pension and Agreements c. They sent Embassadours to the present French King who magnificently received them and things composed c. An Army consisting of Swisse Foot and French Horse is accounted of all the most excellent About 1516. Zuinglius a Canon of the Church begins the Reformation of Religion here at Zurich as Luther had before with good success in Germany Whom followed those of Bern and Basil c. to the number of four in whole and two other Cantons in part which to this day remain mixt of both Those of Lucern and the rest to the number of seven remain wholly Papists Geneva also soon after followed those of the Reformed under Farel and Calvin So that now this Common-wealth became divided into two factions and thence broke out into cruel Wars between Zurich and the Romish Cantons The Protestants at the beginning are worsted Zuinglius himself Slain in the head of the Battel 1531 his heart remaining whole like Cranmers in the midst of the Fire untouched as is said after all the rest consumed to Ashes At last after various successes and defeats on both sides they agree the business upon this condition That every one should imbrace what Religion they liked and force be offer'd to none for Religion but that the ancient first League should be inviolably and religiously kept and observed
And so indulging each other the free exercise of their Religion they break not League for that matter nor ever have to this day till lately notwithstanding any Civil Wars of Religion or State that have since happened Being it seems pretty equally poiz'd and ballanced on both sides But here it will not be amiss to note that these two Zuinglius and Luther went two several waies specially in point of consubstantiation or real presence Hence the Protestants became divided in Germany into Lutherans and Zuinglians afterwards called Reformed And the Names of Ubiquitarians and Sacramentarians every where break forth as has been hinted before under Germany c. Calvin afterwards rising in the place and stead of Zuinglius at Geneva added some Tenents about Predestination Free-will Universall Grace and Perseverance in Faith which further heightened and aggravated the Differences betwixt them About these arose afterwards in Holland great contentions with the Arminians which caused the General Synod at Dort against them An. 1618. c. But to return to Germany Between these two Religions of the Protestants arose grievous discords not only Theological but Political For that many would exclude the Calvinists or Reform'd from the Peace of Religion agreed on at first by the Augustian Confession at Ausburgh and banish them out of Germany Whence those violent Tumults of Ausburg in the Assemblies or Meetings of the States against the Elector Palatine 1560. and again against the succeeding Palatine Elector 1590. and of Lipsia and Brunswick 1595. And this might be one reason perhaps of the Elector the Duke of Saxony's siding at first with the Emperour against the Palatine in the Bohemian-German Wars about the year 1619. the Palatine being head of the Calvinists or Reform'd and then also the chief of the Electoral Princes and the Duke of Saxony of the Lutherans But afterwards fearing the Emperors prevailing and greatness who had ejected the Palatine and the coming in thereupon of Gustavus Adolphus in defence of the German Princes Liberties the Elector of Saxony convocates all the Protestant Princes at Lipsia an 1630. where they concluded of a defensive League against the Emperor and Imperialists and that Liberty was to be propagated and maintained by Arms. But after the King of Swedes death c. he deserts them and by himself alone injuriously agrees with the Emperor against the Swede and the rest c. The conditions of which Peace others also accepted and agreed to as before has been intimated In the end at the conclusion of these Wars of Germany by Munster Treaty 1648. This Political differance was reconciled and they agreed and united into one common name of the Augustan Confession at first made in the beginning of the Reformation as aforesaid The Theological differance ever since both Princes and Divines at this day labour hard to compose and 't is hoped that a bridle will be put upon the Tongues and Pens of the Pastors and Professors that they do not condemn but tolerate one another mutually and friendlily dispute their controversies amongst themselves In France they have of late proceeded so far as to allow and embrace communion with them and in their Churches and Sacraments if they will which made the Friers and Jesuites write that they might as well hold communion with them and be reconciled to the Church of Rome for that the Consubstantiarians was as far from the Sacramentarians as the Transubstantiarions but sufficiently answered Yet the Swedes have this present year lately decreed and enacted by Law for all to lose their native freedom that shall bring up their children in any other Religion then the Lutheran But to return to the Switzers This concord of Religion then made between them lasted till 1654 when a new War kindled amongst them again for Religion and the Protestants cruelly Murthered and Slaughter'd For when some Families of the Canton of Switzers and other Cantons had embraced the Gospel they cruelly put them to Death This those of Zurick and Berne would not suffer After long contestation at last they come to Arms and fierce War begins betwen those of Zurick and Lucern till at last the French King interposing and England this War was composed the same year and the civil commotions for Religion begun presently ended the Duke of Savoy likewise not only then but since persecuted the Waldenses in Piedmont as there has bin hinted c. An. 1663. the Duke Palatine of Newburg by his edict commands all Protestant Lutheran or Reformed out of his Dominions The Elector of Brandenburg by way of retortion in like manner commands all Papists out of his This should have been noted there The last year upon Jealousies of the great preparations of the King of France against some Neighbouring Countries of the Empire and his thriving Greatness this Commonwealth raise an Army of fifty thousand which chiefly diverted him from his then intended designes The thirteen Cantons are Switz Uren Underwald first united 1305. Lucern added 1332. Zurich and two others 1352. Bern 1353. Friburg and another 1481. Another and Basil 1581. and the two last 1511. two hundred years from the first Seven are Papist as Switz Lucern c. four Protestant as Zurich Basil Bern c. Bern is of all the largest and most potent c. and two mixt of Both. Of Geneva The Soveraignty of this City or Commonwealth was anciently in the Earls thereof at first Imperial Officers only but at last the haereditary Princes thereof Between these and the Bishops arose Controversies for the absolute Command At last the Bishops being under the Pope Powerful in those dayes obtained of the Emperor to be sole Princes thereof free from all Taxes and not accountable to any but the Emperor But to maintain it they were fain to call in the Earl of Savoy then who takes upon him first as Protector of them only but afterwards as Lord in chief Whence his pretence to it still And in this Sate it stood till the year 1528. the Bishop being their immediate Lord under him as supream But then Religion being altered in the Canton of Bern adjoyning by Zuinglius c. Viret and Farellus indeavour it in Geneva also But the Bishop and Clergy oppossing it by Persecution Violence and Tyranny the People defend themselves and their priviledges and by force expel the Bishop and his Clergy And though the Bishop made many fair overtures yet would they never harken to any accommodation nor ever admit him again and so changed the Government of the state also disclaiming all allegiance both to Duke and Bishop and standing on their own Liberty as a free Commonwealth like their Neighbour Canton who had sped so well under theirs Calvin afterwards An 1536. confirm'd them in these beginnings made them abjure the Pope and never more to admite their Bishop And then sets up his Ecclesiastick Discipline called since Presbyterian by the Form thereof by Presbyteries and gets it ratified by the Senate An. 1637. But the next year
with Farel was bannished but sued to return again which he would not except they would oblige themselves solemnly to his Form of Discipline which upon better Consideration they condescended to An. 1541. And so he returns and his Discipline becoms established The Tithes converted to the use of the State for Pensions for Ministers c. Afterwards comes Beza and not only recommends it as convenient but imposes it as necessary and of divine right therein going farther and higher then Calvin And so by these two chiefly it spreads it self over all France occasioning afterwards those grievous and lamentable Commotions and Troubles before mentioned there as it had done likewise by Luther in Germany Which are not to be attributed to Religion but the Lusts of men For whence come Wars and Fightings Amulation Strife c. are they not from your Lusts For the greater safety of their State and preservation of their Religion they joyn'd themselves in a constant and perpetual League with the Canton of Bern. An. 1528. communicating to each other the freedom of their several Cities and by that means reckon'd in some sort of Commonwealth of the Switzers from the very beginning An. 1589. The Duke of Savoy besieg'd it But they were assisted by neighbouring Princes and States c. so that he could do no good upon them Another time the Pope French King Spaniard and Savoyard had designs upon it But the Emperor then offered assistance Yea sometimes the Duke of Savoy has assisted them against others rather than they should fall into any other hands then his own An. 1602. The Duke of Savoy attempts Geneva by arms The Duke has of later years often threatned and made preparation against them but without effect The King of France never throughly enough favouring his design or else quite against it c. And so flourishes in Arts and Trade more then Religion which as almost through all France is become meerly formal for which God is at this day purging and fanning them in France or else quite rooting them out they have retain'd only the first form of Doctrine and Godliness but not the power thereof peremtorily and stifly rest in the first Reformation and would never hearken of further progress as the manner is of most Churches that settle upon their old Lees once Is it not seen even in New-England it self as well as c. from the very self same spirit that drolls in the unlucky witty Hudibras thinking strange that Reformation should be alwayes doing and never done As if Religion were intended For nothing else but to be mended From hence no doubt was it and a firm perswasion of the Divine Right of Beza's Government as if they had already attained to the perfect form that the French Synod at Carrenton made a publick decree against the Independency of Churches c. An. 1644. whereas that form only is to be imbrac'd and preferr'd which upon all emerging curcumstances conduces most to the present Power of Religion and Godliness For that is Reformation and not Form or Forms though never so pure otherwise for that very thing makes them Impure Except what is plainly manifest out of Scripture and to abide for ever But we intend a short History not Dispute c. Of the Commonwealth of Venice The terrible noise of the Huns for the Conquest of Italy and their expedition under Attila their King occasioned many Noble and Principal Families with their several retinues to betake themselves to these small Islands and inaccessible Marshes of the Adriatick Sea where they build for the time only several habitations An. 421. and finding themselves safe and impregnable began to build Towns and Cities or Corporations An. 452. Till in the end Aquileja and the neighbouring Cities being destroyed by Aquila and these Barbarians An. 456 they then fled from all parts like Exiles hither with a purpose and resolution to settle and so by the destruction of Aquileja takes such increase that it assumed the just form of a Commonwealth For whom soever the Hunnes Goths and Lombards the Nations that harass'd Italy drove from the Continent they presently betake themselves to Venice now begun to be so called from the name of their Nation as to an Haven of security They had first yearly Tribunes according to the number of Islands into which their City was divided for two hundred years then succeeded Dukes An. 697. but soon after changed into yearly Masters of the Militia which lasted but Six years and returns to Dukes again whose power at first was greater but afterwards restrained to be meerly Titular Under this form it thriv'd exceedingly and became exempted from all Jurisdiction either to the East or West Empire upon the division of Italy made by Charles the great betwixt himself the Popes and the Eastern Emperor and left wholly as a free State acknowledging no superior For Pepin King of France Father of Charles had invaded them with a puissant Army but was beat They then extend their Empire far and near by Sea and Land through Dalmatia An. 990. and become freed from all Tribute to the Constantinopolitan Emperor of the East from whom at length they obtained it and Croatia in full right Afterwards Corfu and Chius Islands And from that time called themselves Lords of all the Adriatick Sea and that right confirmed by the Pope An. 1177. for defending the Church stoutly against the Emperor And from that time marry the Sea yearly with a Ring It got its greatest increase about An. 1204. by the chief Islands of the Mediterranean Sea Candy and divers other Places And then spread it's Empire through the Continent of Italy under pretext of freeing the Cities from Tyrants and upon the distresses of their Neighbours for their assistance c. An. 1207. The Genoese a State grown powerful by Sea contend with them for Soveraignty of the Mediterranean by seven several Wars in order vanquished their fleet and brought them on their knees in so much that the Senate sent them a blank Charter and bid them write what conditions they pleased And had utterly lost all if the Enemy could have used his fortune with moderation But the Genoese Admiral grown proud of his advantage and insolent with this great success would have the City wholly at his disposal which made the City desperate and venturing last Stakes beat them pursue them Home and utterly crushed them for ever after For after many various successes and events of War on both sides they got An. 1381. the better of them absolutely made them quiet never daring afterwards to contend in War but apply themselvs wholly to Gain and Merchandize Which misfortunes were occasioned principally by their own divisions and endless factions at Home as shall be touched on afterwards Being now Lords Paramount at Sea they increase amain by Land as even now hinted through the factions and divisions of their Neighbouring States whereby one piece or other is still added either Sold or Morgaged or
Military Power yet in Riches and Wealth equal or exceed them And as they Squeeze the King of Spain with the Interest so he sometimes to be even with them pays them without the Principal Of Lucca Between Florence and Genoa lies this Commonwealth It 's territories only eighty miles compass In the dismembring of the Kingdom of Italy from the Emperors into peeces and several parcels they at last purchased their fredom of the Emperor In the beginning it was tossed with Tyrants The chief was Castruccio who had made himself absolute Master thereof The Emperor under pretence of freeing it from that faction seiz'd on it again But sold again to the Genoese by the German Garrison there left and having passed through many hands the Emperor got it again of whom they once more purchas'd their desired liberty and to secure themselves demolished the Castle built by Castruccio An. 1400. Paulus Guinisius tyrannized over them But dying in prison An. 1430. they recovered their liberty and alone have kept it intire of all the Cities of Italy besides the Commonwealths mentioned But not finding themselves able to maintain it they put themselves under the protection of their potent Neighbours changing their patrons as most conduced to their preservation And seeing they could expect no help from the Emperor and finding no security from Genoa and as little from Florence both which they severally try'd they put themselves at last into the protection of the Duke of Milan and in that right are patronis'd by the King of Spain becoming Lord of Milan and keeps its liberty intire from being made a prey to Princes not by its own proper power but the emulation of Neighbours yet stands in perpetual fear of the Great Duke of Tuscany who pretends to it as once under the Commonwealth of Pisa now subjected to him c. Of Ragusi Ragusi is a free Commonwealth in Dalmatia upon the Sea side both Town and Territory not subject as all the rest either to the Turk or Venetian between both preserving its Liberty and is a noted Empory rich and strong in shipping and of great Traffick yet of much more Wealth heretofore then at present And traded to most parts of the Western World in those great Vessels called from hence corruptly Argusis the last of which their Trade decaying they lent to the King of Spain for his expedition against England in 88. where it was lost c. There remains but one Sovereign Estate more which makes a distinct Government from all the rest and that is a Religious or Estate of the Church called the Popedom Of the Papality or Popedom and Papal Kingdom The Papal Power and Principallity is either Spiritual or Universal Bishop Infallible Judge of Truth with universal power of Excommunication that is as supreame Head of the Catholick or Universal Church at first founded upon Temporal power and greatness and upheald by it as well as Spiritual prerogatives previledges and power Else he had never been owned as Supreme Head c. Or secondly Temporal and this is again founded upon the spiritual So that 't is a mixt dominion of spiritual and temporal power As cheif or High-priest and a King or temporal Prince Which he pretends to over all but enjoynes but in very little part This Dominion and Kingdom thus mixt is either imperfect and limited as what he hath in and over other Ringdoms the Clergy specially Being Head of their Church in their Kingdoms or perfect absolute and Sovereign as any other Temporal Prince over their Subjects as in the Estates and Lands of the Church in Italy c. The foundation and likewise Superstructure of this Religious Principallity consisting of such twofold power was first laid and then built and perfected by the working of the Mystery of Iniquity gradually Which to scent and hunt out would require the History of all ages and places and too long therefore for this short Table Yet to represent it obvious at one view we can but briefly take notice and touch upon only the chief matters of fact without excursion or comments 1. There was first distinction of Clergy and Laity 2. distinction degrees and dignities of Clergy for order and unity to avoid schisme and factions 3. These degrees dignities and distinctions of offices in the Church suited and proportioned very much to those in State and those Independent on the state thereby setting up Imperium in Imperio or a Government in Government 4. Contending for preeminence priority precedency supremacy in the several Churches and Governments 5. Lastly an universal supremacy i. e. of one over all First Spiritual in Ecclesiastick affairs Secondly Temporal in Politick affairs at least aimed at endeavoured and pretended and in some measure usurped and possessed The spiritual supremacy began by Pope Boniface about An. 606. under the title of universal Bishop to which several things conduced 1. First Accommodating the Honours and Governments of the Church to those of the present state that is of the Empire become Christians and so mixing Spiritual and Temporal power and setting up Empire in Empire under Constantine the Great turn'd Christian For because they must needs acknowledge according to that famous maxim amongst them that the Church was in the Commonwealth not the Commonwealth in the Church Therefore upon that foundation the Fathers in the Council of Calcedon raised this superstructure that the Honours in the Church should be accommodated unto those in the State From whence would easily follow an Head of the Church as well as of the Empire at least as far as the Empire reach Hereupon Constantine dividing the Empire into fourteen Diocesses each Diocess into Provinces and each Province into Cities and placing in every Diocess a Vicegerent or Viceroy in every Province a President and in every City a Defendor or Governor the Church accordingly institute for every Vicegerent a Primate or Patriarch in the principal City of the Diocess for every President a Metropolitan in the Metropolis of the Province and for every Governor a Bishop in every City with permission of the superior Emperor and then a Pope over all would follow of course naturally for the Emperor himself c. in the chief seat of the Empire 2. There was suiting Temporal means Tythes Revenues Riches proportional to the Honours Dignities Degrees and Offices of Government in the Church by the said Constantine which a Voice in the Air proclaimed to be a Pest sown in the Church 3. The Bishop of Rome remained as yet at least accounted the most Orthodox and their Religion as in the heart and center of the Empire seemed most to flourish Hence 1. frequent appeals to this Church as the truest and best 2. Thence assuming to be supream Judg interpretor or moderator of controversie of Truth and Error and to be vindicators of the Canon or rule of Faith 3. Lastly to be the only infallible Judge and determiner and as it were Rulers or over-rulers of the Cannons and to
sit in the Temple of God as God and all to submit to the decision of the Bishop of Rome at least presiding in Council 4. The Bishop of Romes Seat was the Seat or metropolis of the Empire thereby gaining great authority power and priviledges and no less fame esteem and repute over all the World c. But we can but hint things here in brief 5. The Empire began soon to be divided into the Eastern and Western Where upon the Eastern Bishops contend for precedency and supremacy upon the removal of the Seat of Empire to Constantinople and the outward flourishing of that Church 6. At last upon the further breakings and weaknings of the Empire he obtains of Phocas killing the Emperor Mauritius in a tumult of the Souldiers the absolute supremacy and Title of Universal Bishop about 606. as aforesaid In these contentions for this spiritual supremacy they pretended for their Title and claim the donation or delegation of Christ thereto the Succession to St. Peter the donation and Constitution of Constantine the first Christian universal Emperor c. Having got the Supremacy of the Church in spirituals the same mystery of Iniquity works for Supremacy also in Temporals over all Emperors Kings and Princes and as it were universal Monarchy For from universal Bishop clearly follows universal Excommunication even of Emperors Rings and Monarchs afterwards practised From Excommunicating deposing From deposing disposing of Ringdoms From disposing to whom should he be more kind then himself Usurping and possessing So naturally one Wedge drives in and makes way for another And having got in his head casily wriggles in his whole Body c. Besides the Church was to be preferred above the State and the Head of the Church above the Head of the State And so the Spiritual Supremacy prepares and makes way for the Temporal For there is no end of Pride and Ambition so long as any equall or superior unless he be above all that is called God like Lucifer who would be above God himself and all Government or subjection But we must not insist As to this Temporal Power Particulars of fact in brief lye thus as well as we can observe things as they fell out Only first take notice the foundation of his spirituall Supremacy a little more particular in the order of time 1 By the Council of Nice in Constantines time the four Patriarchs of Rome of Jerusalem of Alexandria and of Antioch were all equal 2 about the year 410. the Bishop of Rome would pretend to be the first Patriarch and to that end falsifies the Canon and sends it to the Council of Carthage where it was rejected as false 3 The Imperial Seat being translated to Constantinople the Bishop thereof was made a fifth Patriarch in order and not long after the second the rest oppossing c. in vain 4 The Lombards overcoming Italy and the Pope not well pleased with the Emperor c. The Bishop of Constantinople endeavours the Title of Universal Bishope and obtains it of Mauritius the Emperor the Bishop of Rome to the utmost opposing and exclaiming against it as intolerable Pride and the signe of antichrist And whether out of a good mind or because he could not be uppermost himself laments the corruptions of the Church and Clergy For of the Priests he complains the World is full of them and yet but few Labours in the Lords Harvest We take upon us the office but discharge it who list And I think no dishonour to God can be shewed so great as that which it tolerated in Priests For they are come now to that pass that they jear at him that lives humble and continently and takes better courses then themselves which Mantuan versifies on to this purpose Poor Curats only keep Pope Gregory's Laws And fish in Rills and Rivers surface sweep But fatter Jacks and Carps escape their paws Mudding themselves in Coverts of the deep 'T is Prelats sink St. Peters larger Net And ' lone i' th deep all sort of Fish do get The said Gregory cryed out O times O manners The world is all on fire with Wars Christians are destroyed by Idolaters Cities and Temples by Barbarians and yet Priests as it were insulting over Calamities usurp the names of vanity and make ostentation of profane Titles to themselves thereby taxing this arrogance of the Constantinopolitan Patriarch 5 Phocas killing Mauritius and invading the Empire to oblige the Bishop of Rome to keep Italy the better in quiet and obedience grants the dignitiy of Universal Bishop to Boniface requesting it and decrees the Sea or Seat of Rome to be the Head of all Churches Which decrees Boniface publishes in a Synod of 62 Bishops and obtains it not without opposition and contention c. After these things the Eastren or Greek Church broke off from the Latine or Roman Italy by several Masters began to be quite pluck'd from the Empire and Rome to come into the Popes power and several Schisms and Heresies in the Church and contentions and quarrels between Popes and Emperors thereupon c. The Pope alienates the Romans or people of Italy and Rome from the Emperor brings them to oppose him amidst the troubles of Italy And condemns Emperors of the East of Heresie and at last excommunicates them And out of the ruines of Italy works his own greatness and by his means and through his occasion a new Empire is set up in the West by the Franks under Charles the Great and great Temporal Power and Dominion and Estates accrew'd to the Church and the Pope at length claims superiority above the Emperors themselves c. As the following particulars will manifest After the Supremacy of the Pope thus established the Greeke Church in the East seperates from the Roman not only for Primacy but other high points of Religion as was now said About the year 710. arose the controversie about Images And about 726. the Pope excommunicates the Emperor for his Edct against Images who laughs at it and excommunicates him again for an Idolater and forbids Revenues and Taxes to be paid in Italy Upon these differences Italy is torn from the Empire by divers Usurpers and Rome by the Pope c. An. 712. Lands and Teritories are first conferr'd on the Church by some new Conquerors And soon after more And at last most he now possesses by Pepin and Charles the Great For about this time Charles Martel Maire of the Kings Palace recovers France from the Infidel Moors and Saracens which drew the heart of the French towards him creating him Duke or Prince of France and might have had the Kingdom too if he had been so aspiring Pepin his Son under colour of Election is made King The lawful King having his Pole shaven and feign to retire into a Monastery the Pope approving these proceedings and investing and confirming Pepin in the Kingdom But the Pope being distressed in Italy calls in Pepin therefore whom he had so obliged to defend him
and the Church in this Stile Peter the Apostle of Jesus Christ to you the most Illustrious King Pepin and to all Bishops Abbots c. I the Apostle Peter whose Adopted Sons you are admonish you that you perfectly come and defend this City c. And doubt you not but trust assuredly that I my self as if I stood before you do thus exhort you c. and that I Peter the Apostle of God will at the last day yeeld you mutual kindness and prepare you Tabernacles in the Heavens Upon this quarel of the Popes Pepin and his Son Charls destroy the Kingdom of the Lombards in Italy and give large Territories to the Church And these things made way and gave occasion and opportunity for Charles upon his great conquests to set up the German Empire of the West Franks The Pope in requital confirms Pepin in the Ringdom of France gives his Son Charls afterwards the Title of most christian King and crowns him Emperor of the Romans at Rome An. 800. From which he would pretend to be above Emperors and Kings and to be his right to Crown confirm and depose them if not dispose of their Kingdoms But Charls at length reassumes the ancient and original Imperial Dignity and Power to Govern the Church call Councils and order Papal Elections and confirm and invest them c. against all begun usurpations and incroachments of the Pope and aws Italy And keeps the Pope still Subject which Authority of the Empire was prety well upheld during the Caroline Race The Pope in the mean while under pretext of the Christian Religion and converting Infidels and the Nations increases in Wealth Power and Authority over the World Thundering out these Decrees of Holy Church Out of the Church no Salvation The Pope's the Successor of St. Peter the visible Head of the Church the Vicar of Christ on Earth His right as aforesaid to create confirm excommunicate and depose Kings and dispose Kingdoms for the cause of Religion c. That they are Hereticks that dissent from the Roman Church the only true Catholick Church or are Enemies to it c. Hereby the Consciences of the Nations Princes and People converted to an outward christianity are aw'd and fill'd with Reverence and Zeal for the Church to convert or root out Infidel Nations c. and to do any Benefices or Services for the Church As the most acceptable Service to Christ whom they began to acknowledge and Worship as their God and Saviour Hence almost all the Nations subject themselves to the Pope as Head of the Church yea and in Temporals also in a great measure nay some to hold their Kingdoms of him c. As if they could not any better way recompence Christs Vicar for the benefit of their Eternal Salvation then to submit themselvs all theirs to his dispose And this Opinion was brought about to prevail in the World that they might redeem their sins by good deeds and charitable works and services for the Church against it's enemies c. Hence Riches and Revenues of the Clergy and Hosts and swarms of clergy men Hence Churches Temples Abbies Monastries without number c. for the Redemtion of Souls Hence Expeditions Holy Wars Leagues and undertakings for the Church Hence Pardons Indulgences and devices for mony c. 'T would be endless to mention particulars c. The Pope having thus erected his Throne in the Consciences of men strongly seated there through Ignorance and blind Zeal and Devotion begins to play Rex in the World Besides there being perpetual emulation of Princes specially in Germany and Italy for Empire and Dominion c. The Pope interests himself in one part and the other for fear of excommunication or force becomes subject to him The Pope therefore now practises all wayes he can against the superiority of the Emperor and from being any wayes subject to his Authority or control and to undermine all Supremacy in Temporals presuming that all power is given to him both in Heaven and Earth in the Church and State c. 'Till in the end they come not only to let the Emperors have nothing to do in their Election Confirmation and Investiture but also to have all in a manner themselves to do in the Creation and Coronation of the Emperors Not long after the Caroline power and race declining and that partly through the Popes practises Italy is usurp'd by several Tyrants against the Emperor and almost wholly broken from it wherein the Popes have a finger and make their own advantage upon these distractions of the Empire For An. 884. Adrian the 3 d. denyes the Emperors Authority necessary to the creating Popes and about the year 900. the Empire is wholly and perfectly translated from the French or Caroline race to the Germans by Pope Agapetus's plotting And about the year 1000. as some write Gregory the fifth appoints Electors for choosing the Emperors whereby they afterwards became weakned and the Empire broken into factions and parties and the Pope thereby to have the better opportunity to work his own ends and to raise his greatness out of others ruines striving now to be uppermost not only in Church but State too and to be above even the Emperors themselves For after this time open and down right Tyranny over the Emperors begins to manifest it self First Pope John takes away all choise of Popes from the people to the Clergy only upon this plausible ground That the People are to be taught not followed Next Clement the 2 d. about 1047. set up by the Emperor against other Anti-Popes by the Authority of a Synod caused the Romans to renounce by oath the right they claimed in choosing Popes Then about 1050. Leo the 9 th invested by the Emperor is perswaded by Hildebrand to put off his pontificalibus or papal Robes in his journey from Germany to Rome to wave the Emperor and have a new election from the Roman Clergy and then made Hildebrand Cardinal who manag'd all at his pleasure After this Nicholas the 2 d. about 1060. takes away the election from the Roman Clergy bringing it about to a Colledge of Cardinals also then instituted that is of Spiritual Temporal or Lincy-woollcy Princes like himself the Supreme Emperor as it were for the greater grandure and more magnificent authority of his Almighty Holiness who was now almost got to the top of Empire Supremacy and Omnipotency For it was decreed in Council the Pope only to be chose by Cardinals whose Wounderful Worships or Eminencies might lift him up one step higher even as it were into Heaven to be God on Earth For so some thought fitting afterwards to stile forsooth his divine Majesty c. And then they order that no lay Person should confer Ecclesiaslick Investiture For what should the Church concern them But yet they themselves would invest and Crown Lay Princes For though the State had nothing to do with the Church yet the Church had to do
with the State in order to the good of the Church necessarily And therefore the Church must now comprehend the State And as it was above it so now must rule it for it's own good as the less worthy for the more worthy And therefore the chief Churchman must be both Supreme Bishop and Emperor or high Priest and King That is the Vicar of Christ must be like his Master and of the same Authority in the World to whom all power was given both in Heaven and in Earth thus the Mystery of Iniquity wrought with all deceitfulness c. Accordingly the next year or two after Alexander the 2 d is elected by the Cardinals only without the Emperor who complains of this as against his right Hildebrand stoutly maintains it That the Emperor had no right in the Election of Popes Alexander inclining to yeeld to the Emperor is soundly box'd by Hildebrand then imprisoned and at length poysoned to make way for this mighty man of mettal this Universal Monarch Pope Hildebrand by name who the first usurps the Power and Right of Supreme and Universal Monarch as Boniface had before of Supreme and Universal Bishop at least layes the foundation thereof and endeavours it Thus Hildebrand and Boniface notoriously founded the Popedom or Kingdom of the Beast For first An. 1073. he sets up himself without any election either of Emperor or Clergy but the thing being disputed and the Emperor striving to vindicate his right He refers himself to the Emperor and Princes The Emperor Henry 4 th thereupon confirms him but the Imperial Majesty was thereby debased and impair'd For 2. afterwards he sets himself might and main against him And 3. excommunicates and so deposes him and sets up Competirors among the Princes and Electors sending a Crown to Rodolph or Ralph with a verse upon it to this sense The Crown which Petra gave to Peter Peter on Ralph bestows in Meeter Petra from whence Petrus or Peter signifying The Rock that is Christ and makes him rebel against his Master And likewise sets up a second after him when he was foyl'd and involves Germany and Italy in horrible confusions and fractions and Pope-like pronounces Absolution thus We do absolve from their Oath of Allegiance all that are sworn to excommunicate Princes So arrogating the power of deposing and making Emperors to himself and confirming his usurpations by a pack'd Council held at Rome At last 4 ly the Emperor through these means and practises deserted by all is fain to submit and to get off his excommunication and be absolv'd forced to come suppliant together with his Emperess and young son the Prince before Hildebrand barefooted and bare legged in the cold of Winter all ragged and torn and with a pitious Countenance and in a lamentable posture to knock at his Palace Gate and with tears beg admission there to wait three days fasting till his Highness now as well as his Holiness with his Minion Madam Mathilda or as they called her St. Peters Daughter that left her own Husband to live with this Holy Father and other Grandees and Roman Courtiers despisingly looking out of his window i' th' mean while could be at leasure But at last on the 4 th day having it seems done penance enough being admitted by her mediation he imposes on him most intolerable conditions and unworthy of the vilest Slave and by Oaths Curses and horrible imprecations obliges him never to receed from obedience to the Pope These things so transacted not only the like are practised by his Successors to the Emperors following as the story will shew But not long after also they likewise decreed it by their Canons and Ecclesiastick Pontificial Laws viz. The Roman high-Priest to be over all not only in Spirituals but also in Temporals All Kingdoms and Empires to depend on him and to order and administer all as judged convenient for the Church c. That is to be Supreme Head both of Church and Sate And in one word Supreme Universal Monarch of the World So that now the Pope begins to take upon him as High Emperor or King that is above all Kings and Emperors as well as High-Priest and to play Rex indeed At least laid the foundation or groundwork and first beginnings of all that tremendous and terrible Pontificial Power and Omnipotency namely in Church and State too afterwards over all the World The Pope then is now become both Universal High-Priest and King For so their Canons Canonists would now about this time have him to be viz. Supreme nay Only Monarch of the World and Universal over all For so Baronius a cheif Author contends at this time That none on Earth ought to be called Monarch but the Pope We shall have him God too by and by And the same Baronius sticks not at that but proclaims him not only greater then Emperors and all Kings but also calls him Lord God And the Canon saith no less both for his Kingship and Godship too But we must for brevity pass by these things c. After these usurpations of Hildebrands the succeeding Popes follow his practises towards the succeeding Emperors and never leave excommunicating and deposing them till either by force or fraud they brought them in a manner under their Girdle and that at last they durst no more come into Italy nor medle with the affairs thereof but by their stirring up or backing of parties and factions were finally outed of all their Provinces and Estates there and not only so but in the end lost almost all their power and authority in Germany too as after we shall see The Princes and Nations also after grievous Wars Quarrels and Troubles caused partly by his and his Clergy's and Zealous Religionists means being by degrees brought under and subdued one after another did by their consent also at length approve those their Decrees and Canons and own him as Head at least of the Church to excommunicate c. consequently to depose from Government of the Christian-Flock as Infidels and Enemies of the Church And so subjected their Kingdoms both People and Clergy very much in temporals also which they did either for fear of the Clergy and superstitious people who had a carnal and furious zeal for the Pope as Christs Vicar the Church as out of which no Salvation and that Religion as most suited to the natural man and the peoples humours and lusts and very apprehensions of God Religion and the way of Salvation c. or else through their own blind Devotion and Religious Superstition or at best pious Veneration of the Christian Religion Church and chief Pastor and Priest thereof at their first turning Christians which was for the most part but to an outward christianity neither c. and in those times of gross darkness and ignorance of the inward Mystery thereof c. All which things by the sequel of the story will more plainly appear And now being thus raised to an earthly
that is called God was the first Pope in Heaven and the Father of these his Sons on Earth About 1605. He excommunicated the Venetians for maintaining stoutly their Rights of state and withstanding his incroachings whereupon War insued Baronias exhorting the Pope thus Arise and Eate the Venetians as if it had been as easie as to eate his dinner But he found them a tough Morsel which he could not get down and so was held to hard meat But a Cardinal of France made up the business as well as he could but could not without enough dishonour to his Popeship He by briefs or writings sent to the Loyal Catholicks of England forbad the Oath of Allegiance to King James from his own Subjects He laid a great Tax also on the Clergy in Italy to uphold the good old Catholick cause in the Wars of Germany about 1618. and a new Order of Knighthood was erected at Vienna the Imperial Court for all Heroick Catholicks under the Patronage of the blessed Virgin St. Michael and St. Francis to root out the Hereticks But all would not do For they increased and multiplyed The Powder plot in England was also in the beginning of his Popedom set on foot by the Jesuits and their complices in England An. 1605. An. 1621. Gregory the 5 th elected by way of adoration instigates the French King against the Protestants Canonizes Ignatius the founder of a company of Incendiaries that is Jesuits for so they have proved ever since Baptized with not the Holy Ghost but with Fire answerable both to his Name and Motto and their Natures Quarrels with the Venetians for entertaining Greeks now they had no wars with Infidels the Turks To whom the Venetians wisely replyed That they held all Infidels that opposed their Commonwealth An. 1623. Twenty four of the Cardinals grew sick upon the quarrelsome and ambitions choise of Urban the 8 th whereof ten lost their lives with divers of others Father Paul a venerable Religious Monk who stood up high for his Venetians against the Jesuits who pragmatically stood up for their Pope for which they were deservedly banished by the State not till now smarts and is wounded for his crime of Loyalty to them and petty treason as it were against the Jesuits c. this Pope made War against the Duke of Parma and Florence for the Dukedom of Castro c. And no doubt he had an underhand or little finger at least in the bloudy Massacre of Ireland 1641. by the Catholicks Afterwards Innocent the 10 th pronounces void and goes about by his Legate to null the Peace of Germany made at Munster 1648 between the Protestant and the Papal princes where the Protestants both Calvinists as well as Lutherans were esserted into full and free liberty of their Religion as hurtful and dangerous to the Church forsooth But Germany no longer now fears their loud Bulls roarings and bellowings as formerly and do but laugh at such the vanity of his Omnipotent Impotency After 1654. Alexander the 7 th determines new Articles of Faith against the Jansenist's and condemnes them for Hereticks The Church of France begin to vindicate their Liberty against such new decrees and power of the Pope It grows to a great faction between them and the Jesuits The Pope and his Instruments make the King look upon them as a dangerous Sect and as it were a new kind of Calvinistical Papists that would both joyn against the true French Catholicks and endanger France both Church and State as much as formerly those Hugonots But they increased notwithstanding and several Bishops Clergy men and others adhered to them against the Novel Usurpations and determinations of the Pope who would feign have been accounted infallible in his Court and pack'd Consistory at Rome without a general Council And fowl work had like to have ensued but that the King and Pope together have lately within this year or two devised an expedient latitude for the dissenting Bishops and Leaders least the rent should be made greater willing to make use of any Salvo for such a Sore c. An. 1662. The Popes Guards by his Brothers design against the interest of France assaults the French Embassador which was connived at by the Pope and his Brother who set it on foot countenanced and due Justice evaded The King demands satisfaction prepars a great Army to enter Italy whereof some had in a manner begun to enter which made the Pope tremble and the French sing hartily Rome is ours already c. yea the grand Ball at Court since become a common Tune or Air too in England began thus Great King will you profane Your Rapier in vain Your young brave Conquering Blades ' Gainst Chaplains only with Beads c. But his Holiness wisely submits and drives on a Treaty for Satisfaction and Accommodation and thereby condescended to set up at Rome a Piller of Remembrance as it were for the Injury and Affront offered Upon which submission the King of France recieves his Embassadour through all his Kingdom with extraordinary Magnificence and ever since has been very kind to his Holy Father and lately out of complement granted the present Pope leave to take down this too lasting a Monument of their reproach but all no doubt for further ends to himself which he is driving on in the world c. And while the King was thus good to the Church The Pope takes that opportunity to see if he could get to be owned as infallible in France and supreme Judge and determiner of Controversies and differences of Opinions in Religion finding by woful experience they should never have that property of a Vice-God Omnipotency in the World before they had thisof Infallibility This was towards and in the year 1666. by Alexander the late Pope But that year has not proved so kind and lucky to their projects as they looked for Nor could they fool France into such a premunire This Pope has had little to do yet but patch up the Jansenian Breaches to avoid further mischief as but now hinted To mediate between France and Spain as much as he could and to invite Princes against a less worse Enemy to Christendom than himself the Turk who never did it half so much harm nor ever will Yet the Noble Venetians deserve Succour and the Pope destruction Yet so it is that the Kings Princes Clergy and People of the Earth have so drunk of and been intoxicated with the Cup of Romes Fornications that notwithstanding all the evill they have suffered by her Domineering and Tyrannizing over them their Kingdoms Subjects and People both Soul and Body as by the foregoing story may in part appear yet they love to commit folly and abomination with her still and her fine and goodly Religion so carnal so pleasing and sutable to flesh and bloud But in the end sure God will put it into their hearts when he shall once have opened their Eyes to see what miseries and mischiefs she has brought
flourishing Monarchy laps'd into a short liv'd Commonwealth A State A Protector and a Miraculous return to where they began an unheard of Restitution of the Banished and wonderful preserved Prince without War or Bloud-shed We have seen the mightiest Emperor deposed and strangled by his own Vassals in the same year 1648. and his Successor much a-doe to escape the Rout in 1656. that made sixteen Bashaws one Vizier forcing the Emperess and the High Priest almost equal with the Emperor himself to the Seraglio c. And the Brother of a King to depose his Prince under pretence of Loyalty and the publick good keep him in durance Rule in his stead and make the Father and High Priest of the Church give his Queen to him for wife and all the Princes of Christendom even their late Master of Spain too himself by their Embassies and for their own Interests to approve in a manner all and to Complement the new Prince Regent from all parts We have seen also above twenty years civil Wars Broyls Commotions and Factions in Poland and the poor old King made weary of his Scepter by his own restless and unconstant Subjects We have seen him and a Queen besides to lay down their Crowns of their own accord for a more quiet and happy life We have seen a Universal Calme as it were and Peace for a while but a sudden Eruption of fierce Wars again both by Sea and Land and again a present deep Silence and stand as it were of a sudden and the World gazing on one another what they are about to do c. Lastly we have seen Grand Eclipses Conjunctions Comets and new Stars Innumerable Prodigies and Signs in the Heavens in the Earth in the Waters a raging Plague marching from Country to Country together with raging Wars and the most dreadful Fire that ever was designed or contrived of one of the greatest and most flourishing Cities in Christendom And behold greater things yet to come ch following c. An additional Observation concerning the late Popes designes There has already been hinted his new Negotiation with the Kings of the Earth to establish the Papal Sea's Infalibility He had a great zeal besides in rapairing the Church of St. Peter Paul and to erect there a new Apostolick Chair And would have imposed this Inscription thereon although hindred by the wiser Cardinals In the year of the Apostolick Authority restored the first He spent likewise all the time of his Priestdom in adorning Rome with new Palaces and Basilicon's especially in raising a Palace designed for the future choice of Popes called the Conclave into a stupendons Grandure To Erect which that there might not want room he commanded many Streets of the City with Temples and Monasteries to be demolished and sent for all sorts of Artificers out of Italy as if like Nebuchadnezer he meant to say This is Babilon the Great which I have built for an house of my Kingdom and for the Glory of my Majesty c. And now we should pass to the Foundations and Revolutions of the present Religion of Christendom but that they would swell this Table of the general heads of things only into a volumn already too larg And for that they may be also somewhat apprehended from this general View of the Revolutions of States and Kingdoms Behold the desolutions of the Earth For want of the King of Peace to rule The Pretensions and Interest of Europe The pretensions of Europe are either of one part to another as of England to France Spain to Portugal c. of which 't will be needless to speak a word or else to other parts of the World as to Asia Africa or America Of which a word or two These pretences are founded on wrong and false titles as Right of discovery or of Christianity and Religion and the Popes donation and disposal of the whole Infidel world accordingly thereupon For towards the year 1500. Pope Alexander the 6th as if he was Master of the whole Earth distributed by his Bull all the new World between Ferdinand the 5th King of Spain and John King of Portugal Here was a wonderful donation indeed of the World from East to West parted between two Princes And to make them agree it was accorded that the Portuguess should equally share from the fortunate Islands or Canaries by one streight line from North to South for the first Meridian an hundred and eighty degrees that is one half of the World Eastward and the Spaniard as many Westward And that both one and the other should have right to take possession of all the Earth they could seize on and all upon this title forsooth That they should convert the Infidels and Barbarous Nations to the Christian Faith which they did indeed more like Infidels and Barbarians then Christians So mankind preys one upon another like ravenous Beasts and Birds of prey Neither can the Protestans perhaps much reproach the Papists upon this account and both will alwayes agree in this point that glory and gain are not to be neglected what ever becoms of Christianity or humanity it self But when the Portuguese through ignorance and impudence judged that they had wrong done them as yet ignorant that the World was round or might be sail'd round by great importunity they extorted that the first Meridian should be removed from the Canary Islands to the Azores three hundred miles more Westward Hence the first Meridian ever since has place not in the Canaries but the Azores Islands the cause of which mutation is not the declination of the Margent and variation of the Needle or Compass but this division between the Portuguess and Spaniard Now by this change it happened that the Portugals afterwards obtained Brasil in the West Indies which fell within the Meridian of the Azores but the Spaniards reaped a far greater advantage because they from that time chalenge right to the greatest part of the East Indies viz. the Philippy Islands which they have to this day to the Molucco's and others c. then out of dispute the Portugals And this made the Spaniard alwayes retire and adhere to the Azores for the first Meridian As for the Interests of Europe in these sad dis-unions revolutions and confusions of Christendom The Interests of the whole and of every part seems mainly to be to agree in Religion and known Articles of Faith and not devour one another as Infidels and Pagans for Opinions or Ceremonies and exclude not only one another their Church but their Nation and the World too for Hereticks or if not agreement at least Freedom and liberty of Religion which is no unpracticable Romance we see also for Christian Princes to unite not so much against the Turk as with one another and not destroy and ruine one anothers Kingdoms and so many Subjects lives in unnatural unchristian Wars and quarrels and lastly each Nation to accord and conspire together into mutual correspondence and free intercourse in all their
are in the place of God on Earth both Governors of States and Churches too humbly to plead this Cause before them Now if they be of Man or the Devil none ought to fear them but contemn them And therefore none should be offended that they are thus brought to light and into English For we intend them here only as a most wonderful History of the present Age not to be passed over without taking notice of For be they true be they false they will be found exceeding useful to the Age and to Posterity The Sum and Substance of the chiefest Prophesies of Kotterus Christina and Drabricius three late German Prophets OR A Summary View of some most Solemn Divine Visions and Revelations Had in these our Dayes By Kotterus a Selesian from the year 1616 to 1624. By Christina a Bohemian Virgin in the years 1627 1628 1629. By Drabricius a Moravian from the year 1638 to 1668. For the use of this Age. Wherein I. Lamentable Complaints are made of the extream Corruption of the Christian People II. And the terrible Plagues of God denounced against the Impenitent III. And how God will raze out the Babylon of false Christians Jews Turks Pagans and all Nations under Heaven and set up a new truly Catholick Church to shine forth most gloriously with the Light of the Gifts of God and what its future State is now to be even to the end of the World ALL Prophesies before they have their effects are Riddles and Ambiguities to men But when the time comes and that happens which was prophesied then the Prophesie has a clear exposition Irenaeus Book 4. ch 43. Certainly it must needs be confessed That these things are once to be or have already been or God to be accused of a lie For there is so great felicity promised to Christians in the Divine Oracles and such perfect knowledge of God and obedience and such universal Peace as neither is nor ever has been in the World c. Castellio to our King Edward the Fourth I confess that I also was in that Opinion that there were no Revelations of Divine Authority since Christ and his Apostles and so also I taught But after that I read these things more accurately I use to say That greater wisdom shines forth in them then that men can be their Authors much less those from whom they proceed And that they seem to be things of a better Nature and so constantly continned such for many years then that they can be attributed to the Devil Testimony of a great Divine Prophets are seldom or never believed Another Divine Witness Jeremiah the Prophet and all the Prophets of old Jerem. Chap. 36. And the Word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah saying Write in a Book all the Words against Judah and Israel and against all Nations If perchance they will hear and return Therefore Jeremiah call'd Baruch to write from his Mouth all the Words of the Lord. And commanded him to go into the Temple and to read them before the People Who did so Which thing being known the Princes assembled in the House of the King and sent to Baruch to come unto them with that Volumn and said unto him Sit and read these things in our Ears And he read who when they had heard were astonished saying every one to his next Neighbour We ought to tell all these words to the King But they said unto Baruch Go and hide thy self thou and Jeremiah And they went in unto the King Who when he had read three or four Leaves he cut it with his Pen-knife and cast it into the fire Neither were they afraid neither the King nor his Servants but commanded to apprehend them But the Lord hid them And the Word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah saying Take another Volumn and write in it all the former words and thou shalt say unto the King Thou hast burnt the Book Therefore I will punish and bring all the evil I have pronounced And Baruch wrote from his Mouth all the former words And there were added besides uuto them many like words The Lord said unto me Write these things and hasten to divulge many hundred Copies through all parts of the World For this is my Will that all Nations of the Earth read those things which I have spoke unto thee Drab Rev. 55. Now for these Prophesies we shall first give you the scope and sum of them beforehand in general and then come to the Revelations and Visions themselves in particular The utmost scope of all these Revelations is according to the manner of the Ancient Prophets 1. To shew unto Christians the manifold sins and aberrations wherewith they have provoked and do provoke God and sad Lamentations thereupon 2. To discover the Causes of the present Plagues and Judgments wherewith God breaks in pieces the World and the Causes why Gods Wrath waxes hot so against Christendom and to excite and forewarn men to attend seriously to the terrible threatnings of Wrath and comfortable promises of Grace 3. To shew the way of escaping the Wrath and preventing the last destruction and of obtaining the Grace 1. By general and universal Humiliation Repentance Reformation and Amendment 2. By universal mutual Love Charity and peaceableness one with another of all Parties Sects and Religions That all Names of distinction be laid aside and factious contendings about Opinions cease and that one common Faith and Love prevail among Christians of all sorts to preserve the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace And that all wicked unchristian-Christian Wars and Fightings and such cruel devourings of one another not becoming that Name whether for Religion or worldly Interests be laid aside And 3. by offering and communicating the same common Mercy and Benefit that is the Light and Blessing of the Gospel and thereby Universal Peace Truth Righteousness and Salvation to the Nations of the Earth For that now God would have all the World reformed and blessed with all true Felicities and Universal Salvation both Temporal and Eternal In a word the Kingdom of God come and the State of the Divine and Holy Life tryumph and be exalted over the Animal Sensual Beastial and Devilish 4. And lastly That otherwise Christendom shall feel the Power of Gods Anger and of his wonderful Judgments and the Vials of his Wrath be poured out c. For that Christians ought first to reform and begin this Universal Restitution Else that God will find others but destroy them by one another or by letting in the Barbarous Nations the Turks and Tartars c. in upon them That the time of destroying and overturning is at hand This and such like is their general scope And more particularly to stir up Princes Priests and People all to their particular Duties Kings to execute the call of their high Function To do the Will and Work of God on Earth i. e. To reform both Church and State and to take unto them their Scepters and
Authority committed to them of God out of the hands of the Antichristian usurper c. To call a General Council in order to a Universal Peace and Unanimity in Christendom and to agree for God and Religion for the publick good both of Church and State For that God will put it into their hearts to fulfil his Will and agree or make one Mind and Will and no longer give their Kingdoms to the Beast But that the Words of God shall be fulfilled To destroy Babylon and all her Abominations and Idols c. and to rule the World peacefully under the Banner of Christ and universally reform it out of all its horrible confusions and disorders according to the Will that is the Word of God c. And all Ecclesiasticks Angels of the Churches Pastors Bishops and Priests to perform the Ministry of their high Calling and the Service of God and the Church to restore the Primitive Reformation and do their first Works and repent and no longer neglect the Catholick Church of God through the whole World for worldly Dominion Honours Riches and Interests Nor to hinder Universal Reformation by wrangling and contesting for Opinions Ceremonies Revenues Prerogatives and Priviledges and such like vanities but rather to promote Catholick Charity and Indulgence and practise Christian Humility Self-Denyal and all the excellent virtues of the best Religion in the World which they are Chieftains of and to Sacrifice all their dearest concerns for the Salvation of Men And not mind their own things but the things of Jesus Christ c. And all Christians to endeavour and begin Reformation generally in their several places For that now is the time of Gods reforming the World more then ever That towards the end thereof it may be as from the beginning viz. one God and one Worship of God in Spirit and in Truth without Idols and false Godds and false Worships That all may inhabit peaceably the Earth without Wars Fightings Hatreds Contentions Envyings Strifes and without Sects and Parties lest his Wrath break forth upon them to the utmost and there be no Remedy for the Present Generation All which things to be sure are no other then was the drist of all the Prophets and extraordinary Messengers of God to Men of old when that all ordinary Persons Kings Princes Priests or People were become so corrupt and exorbitant that there were none that did his duty rightly but all desperately transgressed the Law of their God and provoked his Wrath without measure For what else was their Burthens but sad Lamentations for the Peoples sins and wickedness Exhortations to Repentance and amendment And denunciations of Grace upon Repentance and of Wrath upon Impenitence c. And what else are these likewise as to their main Scope and Intent The Sum and Substance of them in General now follows The Sum of all these Prophesies in the General is the same with all the Antient Prophets and indeed an Explication of them concerning the State of the Church in the last dayes And that our present Age is the last time of the World wherein shall be fully and finally accomplished all Scripture Prophesies I. Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth typified by the old to fall and its Builders to be dispersed Gen. 11. Jerem. 50. and 55. Revel 18. II. The Stone cut out of the Mountain without Hands to destroy the great Image of Iron and Clay and increase into a great Mountain filling the whole Earth Dan. 2. III. The very Relicks of all Nimrodian Tyranies and Oppressions to be abolished quite and the Kingdoms given to the Saints of the most high Dan. 7. IV. Both the Beasts in the Revelations The greater with seven Heads blaspheming God and making War against the Saints and the lesser with two Horns counterfeiting a Lamb yet speaking like a Dragon now to be slain Rev. 13. V. The great Harvest and Vintage of the whole Earth at hand Rev. 14. VI. All the Vials of Gods Wrath a pouring forth upon the Earth Rev. 16. VII Till the great Beast that carries the Whore with seven Heads and ten Horns be destroyed and the Whore her self forsaken by her ten Horns viz. Kings her once defenders and lovers be burnt with fire Rev. 17. VIII The Lamb to be Victor over all Enemies Satan bound in the bottomless Pit for a thousand years The Church to be quiet Rev. 20. IX And then the Marriage of the Lamb to be solemnized under the whole Heavens Rev. 19. X. And the Church to appear in its Splendour and Glory such as the Prophets have heretofore described of old Isa 60. Rev. 21. And indeed these Books of the three Prophets are a very Revelation of the Revelation of St. John to end and decide all further contentious Comments thereabouts They being a new Comment upon that old Revelation not Humane but Divine explaining what is that Babylonish Beast making War with the Saints and the great Whore the Mother of Harlots c. riding upon the Beast and who are those Kings commanded from God to execute the Judgement upon Both. And that those destroyers of Babylon are now Born now Chosen and Called And that this whole affair is now in doing And now shortly to be Sealed and concluded by a full and compleat effect in the sight of Heaven and Earth And that we are now under the sixth Seal sixth Trumpet sixth Vial. That is That upon our times happens the great Earthquake shaking the whole frame of Heaven both of Church and State c. and the day of his great Wrath come And the day of the sixth Trumpet when the Angels bound at the great River Euphrates shall be loosed and come and kill the third part of men with Fire and Smoak and Brimstome although the rest that escape repent not And the sixth Vial poured forth upon the great River Euphrates to prepare a way for the Kings of the East to root out Babylon the unclean Spirits of Frogs mustering up heaps of Armies against them in vain to the Battel of the great Day of the Lord God Omnipotent Which Day shall come as a Thief on a sudden and unlook'd for That so the seventh Seal being opened Silence may be in the Heaven of the Church And that the seventh Trumpet sounding the Mystery of God foretold by his Servants the Prophets may be finished Namely That all the Kingdoms of the World may become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christs c. And that the seventh Vial being poured forth there may be Voices and Thunders and Lightnings and Earthquakes such as have not been since men have been upon the Earth whereby the Cities of the Nations may fall and great Babylon it self c. More expresly and particularly I. That the World is become as corrupt now as it was in the dayes of Noah before the Flood and in Egypt Babylon and Jerusalem when she rebelled against God especially the Christian Nations By name Germany