Selected quad for the lemma: tradition_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
tradition_n	authority_n	holy_a	scripture_n	3,181	5	5.9823	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A57667	Pansebeia, or, A view of all religions in the world with the severall church-governments from the creation, to these times : also, a discovery of all known heresies in all ages and places, and choice observations and reflections throughout the whole / by Alexander Ross.	Ross, Alexander, 1591-1654.; Haestens, Henrick van.; Davies, John, 1625-1693.	1655 (1655)	Wing R1972_pt1; Wing R1944_pt2; ESTC R216906	502,923	690

Oyle puts on his ●wle and so receives him into the Fraternity having vowed abstinence from flesh and perpetual chastity The Monks do not onely live upon their rents but they trade also and are great Merchants as for scholarship they have none Sergius is a great Saint ●mongst them to whom the Empress goeth sometimes in Pilgrimage They have divers Nunneries some whereof are onely for Noble mens Widows and Daughters whose stock the Emperor meanes to ex●i●guish They have E●emites also who go stark naked except about the middle they wear long hair and an l●on collar about their neck or middle The people esteem them as Saints and Prophets and whatsoever they say is received as Oracles even by the great Duke himselfe He thinks himself in great favour with God who is reproved or robbed of any part of his goods by them But of these E●emites there be very few in that cold country Q. 5. What form of Service have they in their Churches A. They have their Matti●s every morning the Priest attended by his Deacon in the middle of the Church calls on Christ for a blessing in the name of the Trinity and then repeats three times Lord have mercy upon us this done he marcheth into the chancel whither no man may enter but the Priest alone and there at the Altar he sayeth the Lords prayer and twelve times Lord have mercy upon us Then Praised at the Trinity The Deacon and people answer Amen Then he reads the Psalmes for the day and with the people turns to the Images on the wall to which they bow three times knocking their heads to the ground Then he reads the Decalogue and Athanasius his Creed After this the Deacon standing without the Chancel door reads a part of their Legend of Saints lives which is divided into so many parts as there be days in the year then he addeth some collects or prayers This Service lasteth about two hours all which time many Wax Candles burn before their Images some as big as a mans wast such are vowed and enjoyned by pe●nance They have about nine of the morning another service and on Festival days they have solemn devotion The evening service is begun like the marnings after the Psalmes the Priest singeth the 〈◊〉 in their Language and then all with one voice Lord have mercy upon us thirty times together and the boyes answer thirty times then is read by the Priest and on holy days sung the first Psalme and 〈◊〉 repented ten times Then the Priest reads some part of the Gospel which he ends with three Hallelujahs and withal that evening service with a collect for the day all this while the Priest standeth as the high 〈◊〉 The Deacon● stand without the Chancel whither they dare not come during service time The people stand together in the body of the Church for they have no Pews to sit in Q. 6. How do they administer the Sacraments 〈…〉 Eight days after the Child is born he is brought to the Church-porch where the Priest receives him and tells the witnesses their duties in the childs education after baptisme namely to teach him how to know God and Christ and withal what Saints are the chiefe mediators then he conjures the Devil out of the water and so after some prayers he plungeth the child three times over head and ears in a tub of warm water holding it necessary that every part of the child be dipped They use the same words that we do In the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost and not By the Holy Ghost as some Hereticks have used Then the Priest lay●th oyl and salt mixed together on the Childes forehead on both sides of his face and on his lips praying that God would make him a good Christian c. This done the child being now made a Christian is carried from the Porch into the Church The Priest marching before who layeth him on a cushion before the feet of the chief Image in the Church to which he is recommended as to his Mediator After baptisme the childs hair is cut off wrapped up in wax and reserved as a relique in the Church The Russians use to re-bapbaptise their Proselyte Christians and in some Monasterie to instruct them in their religion first they cloath the new convert with a fresh Russian Garment then they crown him with a Garland anoint his head with oyl put a wax light into his hand and for seven days together pray over him four times a day all which time he is to forbear flesh and white meats After the seventh day he is washed and on the eighth day is brought into the Church and there instructed how to bow knock his head and crosse himself before their images The Russians communicate but once a year in Lent after confession to the Priest who calls them up to the Altar askes them if they be clean from sin if they be they are admitted but never above three at one time Whilest the Priest prayeth the communicants stand with their ●rms folded one within another then he delivereth to them a spoonful of bread and wine tempered together saying Eat this drink this without any pause Then he delivereth bread by it self and wine mingled with warm water to represent the water and bloc● that issued out of Christ side Then the Communicants follow the Priest thrice about the Altar with their folded arms At last after prayers the Priest chargeth them to make good cheer and be merry for seven days together to fast the next seven days after Q. 7. What is the Doctrine and Ceremonies of the Russian Church at this day A They hold that the Books of Moses except Genesis are not to be read in Churches and are of no use since Christs comming nor the Prophets nor the Revelation 2. They teach that their Church traditions are of equal authority with the word of God 3. That the Greek Church chiefly the Patriarch and his Synod have full authority to interpret the Scriptures and that their interpretation is authentick 4. That the Holy Ghost proceedeth not from the Son 5. They hold Christ to be the onely mediator of redemption but not of intercession this honour they give to the Saints chiefly to the Virgin Mary and Saint Nichola● who they say is attended upon by three hundred of the chief Angels 6. Their doctrine and practise is to adore the Images or Pictures of the Saints whereof their Churches are full and richly adorned 7. They teach that in this life there can be no assurance of salvation 8. And that we are justified not by faith only but by works also which consist in prayers by number on their beads in fasts vows almes crossings offerings to Saints and such like 9. They ascribe great power to auricular confession in doing away sin 10. They hold al to be damned that dye without baptism 11. Extream Unction is with them a Sacrament though not of such

take it down whilest it was movable they were distinguished according to Levies three sons into the Gershonites Cohathites and Merarites the first carried the hangings and coverings The second the chief things of the Sanctuary the third had the charge of the wood-work In Davids time some were Judges some Treasurers some Singers and some Porters 1 Chron. 23. 26. The Singers and Porters were divided into 24. order● 1 Chron. 25. 26. The elder Levites were to oversee and teach the younger Who from the thirtieth year of their life till the fiftieth did bear about the Tabernacle Under them were the Gibeonites or Nethinims whose office was to draw water and hew wood for the house of God Q. What were the Prophets Scribes and Pharises A. Not only were they called Prophets to whom God revealed himself and his purposes in an extraordinary way but those also that expounded the Scripture they were also called Fathers Doctors of the Law Disputers Wise men and Rabbies from their greatness in knowledge Which title the Pharisees did appropriate to themselves their Scholars were called children and sons of the Prophets The name of Scribes was given to Scriveners and publick Notaries these were called Scribes of the people Mat. 2. 4. and likewise those that did write and expound the Law such a Scribe was Esdras Esdr. 7. 6. these were called Doctors of the Law The Pharisees were so called from separation and by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Sepa●●rists for they separated themselves to a strict kind of life and to the study of the Law having no commerce with other people nor communicating with them in dyet apparrel nor customs They held a fatal necessity with the Stoicks and transammation with the Pychagoreans hence they thought that either the soul of Iohn Baptist or of Elias or of Ieremy had animated Christs body They preferred Traditions to the written Word and placed most of their holiness in washing counting it a less sin to commit fornication then to eat with unwashed hands from their daily washings they were named Hemero-Baptists they always washed when they returned from the market thinking themselves polluted with the touch of other people They are noted Mat. 9. 11. for holding it unlawful to eat with sinners and Mark 7. 4. for their superstitious washing of cups pots brazen vessels and tables and Luke 18. 12. for fasting twice in the week and Mat 23. 5. for their broad Phylacteries which were scrolls of partchment wherein the law was written so called from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to keep or reserve for by these they kept the Law in their memory they are noted also for their large borders and fringes Mat. 23. 5. they wore their Phylacteries on their foreheads and left arms and Hierom observeth in Matth. 23. that they used sharp thorns in their fringes that by the pricking thereof they might be put in minde of the commandements Q. What were the Nazarites Rechabites and Essenes A. The Nazarites were votaries Numb 6. so called from Nazar to separate for they separated themselves from wine and strong drink from coming neer the dead and from the rasor some were Nazarites for their life as Sampson Iohn Baptist c. others only for a time to wit thirty days as Absolom who cut his hair the thirtieth day of his vow such a Nazarite was Paul Act. 21. 24. Nazareth was a village in Galilee where Christ was conceived and bread and therefore was called a Nazarite Mat. 2. 23. and his Disciples Nazarites Acts 24. 5. but indeed he was the onely true Nazarite because he was pure holy and separate from sinners but he was no legal Nazarite for he drunk wine and went neer the dead These Hereticks were also called Nazarites who taught that with the Gospel should be joyned the Law of Moses Acts. 15. 2. Of the Rechabites so called from Rechab their Father We read Ierem. 35. 2 3 4 c. these neither drunk wine nor lowed seed nor built houses nor planted vineyards but like strangers lived all their days in Tents The Essenes so called from their skill in curing of diseases for they were much given to the study of Physick in their opinions were Pythagoreans ascribing all things to fate offering no sacrifices but of inanimate things shunning oathes pleasures and wine contenting themselves with water only and mean apparrel their garments were white and had all things in common amongst them They worshipped towards the East observed the Sabbath more strictly then others kept seven Pentecosts every year to wit every seventh week one and generally they abstained from marriage yet some did marry for procreation They were superstitious in preserving the names of Angels they were much given to silence with the Pythagoreans chiefly at table none were admitted into their Society without four years probation there were some of these Essenes contemplative only and lived in gardens or remote villages who contented themselves with bread and salt others were active and gave themselves to manual labours these lived in Cities and fared better and eat twice a day Q. What were the Sadducees and Samaritans A. The Sadduces were so called either from Isedek justice because they would be accounted the onely just men in the world or from Sadock the Author of their Sect who was the scholar of Antigonus Socheus these rejected all Traditions and Scriptures except the five books of Moses denied the Resurrection paines or rewards after this life Angels and spirits fate likewise or destiny ascribing all to mans freewill They held also that the soul died and perished with the body The Samaritans held with the Sadduces that there was no Scripture but the Pentateuch that there was no Resurrection nor life Eternal nor any Traditions to be admitted yet they dissented from the Sadduces in acknowledgeing Angels in worshipping only upon mount Garizim whereas the Sadduces worshipped also in Ierusalem and kept faire correspondency with the other Jewes whereas the Samaritans and Jewes did so hate and abhor each other that there was no commerce between them but did curse and excommunicate each other Of these Jewish Sects see Iesephus Philo Drusius de trib Sect. Munster Sigonius Buxtorsius and others Q. How did they anciently observe their S●bbath A. The day before was the preparation of the Sabbath called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which began about the sixth hour that is our twelfth That day they might not travel above twelve miles least by comming home too late they might want time for preparation to the Sabbath which began in the evening and which for the excellency thereof was called the Queen of Feasts and gave denomination to the whole week on the Sabbath they must not travel above two thousand paces or cubits for so far was the distance of the Ark from the Camp They were so superstitious in the keeping of their Sabbath that they would not fight that day and so suffered Ierusalem

Some of them deny the souls immortality and doubt whether there be any other Deity except Heaven and Earth 21. The Family of Love whose author was one Henry Nicolas a Hollander They reject all Sacraments and the three last petitions of the Lords prayer They say that Christ is onely the image of God the Fathers right hand and that mans soule is a part of the divine essence 22. Effro●tes so called from shaving their foreheads till they bleed and then anoint them with oyle using no other baptisme but this they say the holy Ghost is but a bare motion inspired by God into the mind and that he is not to be adored all which is directly repugnant to Gods word which proves that the holy Ghost is true God Thou hast not lyed saith Saint Peter unto man but unto God meaning the holy Ghost This Sect took up their station in Transylvania 23. Hosmanists these teach that God took flesh of himself whereas the Scripture saith that Christ was made of a Woman They deny pardon to those tha● relapse into sin and so they abridge the grace of God who wills us to repent and thereupon receives us into ●avour 24. 〈◊〉 so called from one Gasp●● Schewenkfeld a Silesian he taught that the Scripture was needlesse to Salvation and with the old M●nichees and Valentinians that Christ was not conceived by the holy Ghost in the Virgins Womb but that God created a man to redeem us and joyned him to himselfe and that this man became God after he ascended into Heaven they confound the Persons of Father and Son and say that God did not speak these words This is my beloved Son That faith is the very essence and nature of God That all Christians are the Sons of God by nature procreated of the divine essence That the Sacraments are uselesse that Christs body is every where Of these Sects and many more of lesse note see Florimundus Raymund●s hence we may see what a dangerous Gap hath been made since Luther began to oppose the Church of Rome for the little Fo●●es to destroy Christs Vineyard what multitudes of Ta●es have grown up 〈◊〉 the good Corn in the Lords field what troublesome Frogs worse then those of Egypt have crawled into m●st mens houses what swarmes of Locusts have darkened th● Sun of righteousnesse whilst ●e was ●●ining in the Firmament of his Church Q 13. What other opinions in religion were maintained this age A. Carolostadius Arch Deacon of Wit●ber● and Oecol●●padius Monk of the Order of S. Bridges opposed Luthers Doctrin in the point of the real presence shewing that Christ was in the bread onely sacramentally or significatively The Libertius whose author was one Quintious a Taylor of Pi●cardy taught that whatsoever good or evil we did was not done by us but by Gods Spirit in us that sin was nothing but an opinion that in reproving of sinners we reproved God himself that he onely was regenerate who had no remorse of conscience that he onely re●euted who confessed he had committed no evil that man in this life may be perfect and innocent that the knowledge we have of Christ and of our Resurrection is but opinion that we may dissemble in Religion which is now the opinion of Master Hobbs and lastly they slight the Scriptures relying on their own inspirations and they slight the Pen men of the Holy Ghost calling Saint Iohn a foolish young man Saint Matthew a Publican Saint Paul a broken vessel and Saint Peter a denyer of his Master Zuinglius Canon of Constance held the Doctrine of C●rolostadius against Luther concerning the real presence David George a Glasier in Gaunt taught that he was God Almighties Nephew born of the Spirit not of the flesh the true Messiah and third David that was to reign on Earth that Heaven was void of inhabitants and that therefore he was sent to adopt Sons for that heavenly Kingdom He denied Spirites the Resurrection and the last judgement and life eternal He held promiscuous copulation with the Adamits and with the Manichees that the soul was not polluted with sin that the souls of Infidels shall be saved and the bodies of the Apostles as well as those of Infidels shall be burned in Hell fire and that it was no sin to deny Christ before men therefore they condemned the Martyrs of folly for shedding their blood for Christ. Mela●●ct●on was a Lutheran but not altogether so rigid so was Bucer except in the point of Christs real presence Westphalus also but he denied original sin and the Holy Ghosts procession from the Son and that Christs did not institute the Lent Fast nor was any man tied to keep it Q. 14. What were the chief Heads of Calvins Doctrine A. That in this life our ●aith is not without some doubtings and incredulity that the Scriptures are sufficient without traditions that an implicite faith is no faith that the Books of Tobias Iudith a part of Hester The Wisedome of Solomon Ecclesiasticus Baruch The History of Bell and the Dragon and the books of Macchabees are not parts of the Canonical Scripture that the Hebrew Text of the Old Testament is only authentical and so the Grek of the New Testament that the Scripture in Fundamentals is clear of it selfe and is a sufficient judge of controversies that the Elect have saving faith onely which can never totally and finally be lost that predestination to life or death dependeth not on mans foreseen merits or demerits but on Gods free will and pleasure that no sin comes to passe without the will of God that the Son of God received not his Essence of the Father nor is he God of God but God of himselfe that Christ in respect of his humani●y was ignorant of some things that the Virgin Mary was obnoxious to divers sins and infirmities that Christ is our Media●or in respect of both natures that Christ was in the state of damnation when he suffered for us but did not continue in it that Christ by his suffering merited nothing for himselfe that he descended not truly into Hell but by suffering the pains of Hell on the Crosse that there is no Limbus Patrum nor Purgatory that our prayers avail not to the dead that the torments of the evil Angels were deferred till the day of judgement that Christ came not out of the grave whilest it was shut that the true Church of God consisteth onely of the Elect and that it is not visible to men that the Church may erre that Saint Peter was not Bishop of Rome nor the Pope his successor but that he is Antichrist that the Church and Magistrate cannot make Laws to bind the conscience that caelibat and the monastical life is unlawful consequently the vows of chastity poverty and obedience that man hath not free will to goodnesse that concupiscence or the first motions before the will consents are sins that all sins are mortal and none in themselves venial that in

the Image of God original and actual sin and free will 3. Their opinions concerning the Law of God concerning Christ Faith Iustification and good works 4. Their Tenets concerning pennance fasting prayer and almes 5. Their opinions concerning the Sacraments and Ceremonies used in those controverted 6. What they believe concerning the Saints in Heaven 7. Their Doctrine concerning the Church 8. What they hold concerning Monks Magistrates and Purgatory 9. Wherein the outward worship of the Church of Rome consisteth and first part of their Masse 10. Their dedication of Churches and what observable thereupon 11. Their Consecration of Altars c. 12. The Degrees of Ecclesiasticall persons in the Church of Rome Their sacred orders office of the Bishop and what colours held Sacred 13. Wherein the other parts of the Masse consisteth 14. In what else their outward worship doth consist 15. Wherein consisteth the seventh part of their worship and of their holy days 16. What be their other holy-days which they observe canonical hours and processions 17. Wherein the eighth part of their worship consisteth their ornaments and Vtensils used in Churches dedicated to Christ and the Saints their office performed to the dead SECT XIII Quest. 1. WHat is the Doctrine of the Church of Rome at this day and first of the Scriptures A. Though they maintain the same Scriptures with us the same Commandments the Lords Prayer and the three Creeds of the Apostles of Nice and of Athanasius yet in many points they differ from other Churches which briefly are these 1. They hold that Apocrythal Books are for regulating our faith and manners of equal authority with the Canonical Scripture such are Iudith Tobias third and fourth of Esdras the Book of Wisdom Ecclesiasticus Baruch the Epistle of Ieremie the thirteenth and fourteenth Chapters of Daniel the Books of Macchab●es and that part of Hester which is from the tenth verse of the third Chapter 2. They preferr the vulgar Latine Edition to the Hebrew and Greek Texts 3. They hold that there is no necessity to translate the Scripture into Vulgar languages 4. That the Scripture is not to be read of Lay-people except of such as are discreet judicious and learned and are authorised by the Ordinary 5. That the Masse is not to be celebrated in the Vulgar tongue 6. That the sense and interpretation of the Scripture depends upon the Churches approbation 7. That the Scriptures by reason of their difficulty and obscurity are not fit to be read by the Laity or to be judges of controversies 8. That the Scriptures have four different senses namely the Literal Allegorical Tropological and Anag●gical which are to be expounded according to traditions written and unwritten according to the practise of the Church the consent of Fathers and interpretation of Councels confirmed by the Pope 9. That the Scriptures are not of absolute necessity for the being of a Church seeing there was a Church from Adam to Moses for the space of two thousand years without any Scripture being onely guided and instructed by traditions without which the Scriptures are not perfect as not containing all Doctrines necessary to salvation Q. 2. What are their Tenets concerning predestination the Image of God Original sin and Actual and Free-will A. 1. They hold election mutable because the Elect may totally fall from faith and righteousnesse 2. That sin foreseen was the cause of reprobation in respect of the positive act of condemnation and some of them hold that foreseen works were the cause of election 3. concerning the Image of God they hold that it consisteth most in charity and that this is Gratia gratum faciens Grace which makes us acceptable and that it is a habit infused whereas they say that Gratia gratis data is the gift of Miracles 4. That man in the state of innocency did not stand in need of any special assistance by which he might be excited to good workes 5. That original sin is not in the understanding and will but in the inferiour part of the soul onely which they call the flesh that concupiscence and ignorance are onely infirmities and remainders of original sin That the Virgin Mary was without original sin That Infants dying in original sin onely are punished with the paine of losse not with the paine of sense That original fin is taken away by baptisme and that in the regenerate it is remitted and not imputed or to be called a sin but onely as it is the cause and punishment of sin that some actual sins are of their own nature veniall and some mortal That the sin against the holy Ghost is pardonable 6. They hold that in free-will is required not onely a liberty from coaction but also from necessity that an unregenerate man can by his own strength without Gods special help perform some moral good in which there may be no sin found That an unregenerate man hath freedom of will in matters of salvation though not without the help of grace so that he may hinder or further his conversion and may by his natural power cooperate with grace Q. 3. What are their opinions concerning the Law of God concerning Christ faith justification and good works A. 1. They divide the two Tables so that they make but three commandements in the first and seven in the second making one commandement of the first two and two of the last They hold that Idols and Images are not the same and that the Images of Christ and of the Saints may be worshipped without Idolatry That equivocation may be used in some cases and an officious lye 2. Concerning Christ they hold that he was not ignorant of any thing and that he did not attain to knowledge by learning That he descended truly into Hell in respect of his soul and there preached to the Fathers in prison and delivered them from their Limbus so that they had nor as yet entered into Heaven till Christ by his death had opened the gates thereof which Adam shut by his sin That Christ did merit by his sufferings not onely for us but also for himself that glory which he enjoyes after his Ascension 3. Concerning faith they say that Historical miraculous and saving faith are one and the same that the special application of the promises of grace belongs not to faith but to presumption That faith hath its residence onely in the intellect and not in the will That faith is an assent rather then knowledge That justifying faith may be totally lost in the regenerate That true faith may be without charity That we are not justified by faith alone That man by the natural strength of free-will can prepare himself for future justification being assisted by the holy Spirit In his preparation are contained these acts namely Fear Hope Love Repentance a purpose to receive the Sacrament a resolvtion to live a new life and to observe Gods Commandements 4. Concerning justification they say that the first is

Masse must be said on festival days for the dead except the body be present And although in the Masse for the living incense is burned to shew that their prayers like incense ascend before God yet in the Masse for the dead incense is not burned because their prayers are of no efficacy for do the dead praise thee saith David The corps may not be brought into the Church whilest Masse is saying for the living but must be set in the Porch till Masse be done and the Mass for the dead be begun in which Masse the kisse of peace must not be given because there is no communion between us and the dead neither can they answer us the dead corps is washed and anointed then it is carried to the Church but by the way the bearers rest three times to signifie Christs three days rest in the grave Holy water and Frankincense is put in the grave with the corps to keep off evil spirits thence and to shew that the deceased party hath offered to God the incense of his prayers and good life whilest he lived He is buried with green bayes to shew that his soul is alive and that it doth not ●ither with the body and with his face upward and his feet towards the East to shew his expectation of Heaven and his readinesse to meet Christ in the Resurrection whose appearance is believed shall be in the East Every Christian that is buried out of the Church or Church-yard hath a Crosse set at his head to shew he was a Christian. C●ergy men that have taken orders are buried in the habit of their orders all are wrapt in linnen because Christ was so yet some are buried in sackcloth to shew their repentance Antiently the names of holy men departed were registred in scrolls or ●olding tables called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which word Diptycha the Latin Church retained these were kept by the Bishop and the ●ames publickly read in time of divine service to shew that the just shall be had in everlasting remembrance The prayers that are made for the dead are not for the Saints in Heaven for they need not our prayers but our praises to God for them nor for the damned in Hell seeing our prayers can availe them nothing but onely for those who dying in venial sins unrepented make satisfaction in Purgatory Lastly there is neither Gloria in exce●sis nor Hallelujah sung in the office for the dead Of these passages see Alcui●us de divin offic Amalar. Fortunat. de Eccles. officiis Stephanus Durantus de ritibus Eccles. Cathol Guliel Durandus in rationali c. The Contents of the Fourteenth Section Of the Eastern Religions and first of the Greeks 2. Of the Church dignities and discipline in the Greek Church at this day 3. Of the other Nations professing the Greek Religion chiefly the Moscovites and Armenians 4. Of the Monks Nun● and Eremites of Moscovia 5. Of the form of service in their Chu ches 6. How they administer the Sacraments 7. The Doctrine and Ceremonies of the Russian Church at this day 8. Of their Marriage and Funeral Ceremonies 9. Of the profession of the Armenians 10. Of the other Greek Sects namely the Melchites Georgians and Mengrelians 11. Of the Nestorians Indians and Jacobites 12. Of the Maronites Religions 13. Of the Cophti 14. Of the Abyssin Christians 15. Wherein the Protestants agree with and dissent from other Christian Churches SECT XIIII Quest. 1. HAving taken a view of the differences in Religion among the Romanists and Anti Romanists in the West what Religion do the Christians in the East professe A. In the East the Greek Religion prevaileth in many places chiefly in those Countries of Europe namely Greece Macedon Epirus 〈◊〉 Thr●ce Servia Basci● Moldavia Walachi● Bosnia Podolia and Moscovia In the Islands also of the Aegean Sea and in some parts of Poland Dalmatia and Croatia in some parts also of Asia namely in Natolia Circassia Mengrelia and Russia The Greek● place much of their devotion in the worship of the Virgin Mary and of painted but not carved Images in the interces●ion prayers help and merits of the Saints which they invocate in their Temples They place justification not in faith but in workes School-divinity chiefly the works of Thomas Aquin●s which they have in Greek are in great request with them The Sacrifice of the Masse is used for the quick and the dead and they use to buy Masses they do not hold a Purgatory fire yet they believe there is a third place between that of the blessed and the damned where they remain who have deferred repentance till the end of their life but if this place be not Purgatory I know not what it is not what the souls do there Though they deny the Procession of the Holy Ghost from the Son yet they baptise in the name of the Three Persons Priests among them may marry once but not of●●er That marriage is unlawfull which is contracted within the seventh degree of Consanguinity and Affinity They use leavened bread in the Sacrament and administer in both kinds they have four L●●ts in the year they deny the Popes supremacy abstain from blood and things strangled observe the Jewish Sabbath with the Lords day They use neither confirmation nor extream unction and will not have either the blessed souls i● Heaven to enjoy Gods presence or the wicked in Hell to be tormented ●ill the day of judgement preaching is little used amongst them but Masses often therefore one of their Monks whom they call Coloieri for preaching sometimes in Lent and at Christmasse and Eastet was accused and banished to Mount Sinai by the Patriarch of Constantinople as Chytraus witnesseth They esteem equal with the Scriptures the Acts of the seven Greek Synods and the writings of Basil Chrysosto●e 〈◊〉 and their traditions They believe that the souls of the dead are bettered by the prayers of the living They are no less for the Churches authority and for Traditions then the Roman Catholicks be when the Sacrament is carried through the Templ● the people by bowing themselves adore it and falling on their knees kisse the 〈◊〉 Q. 2. What Ecclesiastical Dignities and Discipline is there in the Greek Church at this day A. They have their Patriarch who resides at Constantinople who is elected by his Metropolitans and Arch-Bishops but is confirmed by the great Turkes chief Bassa who upon promise of some thousand Duckets from the Patriarch do●h ratifie his priviledges He hath no more authority with the great Turk then any Christian Embassadour who thinks it a great honour to be admitted to fall down at the Seigniors feet and to kisse his cloak Next to the Patriarch are the Metropolitans who are placed according to their antiquity Of thes Metropolitans are 74. under whom are Arch-Bishops and Bishops The Metropolitan of Thessalonica hath ten Bishops under him he of Athens hath six Corinth hath foure Bishops and one hundred Churches Mitylena had five