Chariot drawn with Lyons to shew that the earth supporteth all Towers and Castles produceth all herbs and trees is the predominant Element in compounded bodies signified by the Crown Key and Scepter the motion of her Chariot on foure wheels signifieth the motion not of the earth but of her inhabitants in the four seasons of the year the Lions and all earthly creatures though never so strong and fierce are subject to the Laws of terrestrial nature Of the manner how Ceres was painted and worshipped we have said already By Proserpina they meant the Earth as she is fruitful and cherisheth the seeds cast into her For this cause she is called Bona Dea from the many good things she affords us and Fauna à Favendo from favouring and cherishing us Pomona from the fruits and Flora from the Flowers she produceth and Pales as she furnisheth fodder to the cattel therefore she was held the goddesse of Shepherds and her Feasts Palilia were kept without shedding of blood then were the Cattel purified with Sulphure Rosemary Sabin and Bayes and made to passe through flames of stubble and hay Q. What worship had the Deity of the Sea A. He was called Neptune and worshipped in the form of an ancient man with a Crown on his head holding his Trident in one hand and embraced his Wife Amphithrite with the other Between his legs was a Dolphin His Chariot drawn with Horses The Sea 's swift motion was represented by the Dolphin and Horses and its Dominion over all other waters by the Crown and Scepter He was called Consus from counsel to shew that Princes Counsels should be hid as the cause of the ebbing and flowing of the Sea is He was called Neptunus à Nubendo from covering the Earth Nereus and his Wife Thetis were Sea deities and indeed the same with Neptune so was Oceanus whose Chariot was drawn by four Whales Proteus is also the same though those are held by most to be different gods yet in effect all is but one and the same deity so were the Tritons and Nereides though these with the Sirenes are thought by some to be monstrous Fishes The Tritons were counted Neptunes Trumpeters to shew the noise and roaring of the Sea Old Glaucus is also the same Sea-god with the rest who is described and worshipped in the form of an old man with long hair and beard dropping with water his breast beset with Sea-oars and below the Navel like a Fish Q. What worship and names did they give to Death A. Death was held a Deity and worshipped under the name of Pluto or Plutus sitting in a dark Throne with a black Ebony Crown on his head a rod in one hand to drive together the dead bodies and a key in the other to lock them in At his feet was placed the three-headed-dog Cerberus all which was to shew the condition of the dead The Cypress-tree stood alwayes by him he was called from gathering or driving people together Death is the great King of darknesse who drives all men rich and poor wise and fools Kings and beggars into one place omnes eodem cogimur Death is called Cerberus that is a devourer of flesh For it consumes all flesh This is the black dog as Seneca calls him which is still barking at and biting of mortals he is called Bellua centiceps by Horace the-hundreth headed beast for death hath a hundred ways to seize upon us The same death is expressed by Charon to some by Acheron to others for to good men who depart hence with a clear conscience death is comfortable but to the wicked whom the furies of an evil conscience do torment death is terrible and comfortlesse expressed by the word Acheron Q. What was the manner of sacrificing in Greece A. None came neer the altar till they were first purified neither must the sacrifice be laid on the altar till it was also Instrated or purified with Meale and holy water called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The standers by were besprinkled with this water after a firebrand taken from the altar had been quenched in it and then some holy flower or meal was cast on them This done the Priest prayed then the Victim was brought to the altar with the head upward if it was dedicated to the superiour gods but if to the inferiour with its head downward The Fat Heart Spleen and Liver were offered to the gods the rest of the beast was eat up by the Priests and people spending the rest of the day in gormandising and drunkennesse When the Greeks sacrificed to Vesta and the Romans to the Lares they left nothing of the sacrifice hence Lari sacrificare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was to eat up all The poorer sort offered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Meat or Cakes the same with the Roman mol◠which by the richer sort was mingled with Wine and Oyl These frugal sacrifices are called by Pindarus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Supplicating sacrifices intimating that there is more devotion in these mean sacrifices then many times in those that are more costly for it is not the sacrifice but the heart of the sacrificer God requires They used to try if their victim would prove acceptable to their Gods by putting the Cake on the head between the horns which were in solemn feasts gilded if the beast stood quiet it was fit to be sacrificed if otherwise it was rejected In all sacrifices Vesta was first invocated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to shew both the antiquity and necessity of fire in sacrificing Their custom also was to sacrifice in the morning to the Gods in the evening to the Heroes or Demi-gods The Greeks did not as the Romans grind the corn which they laid on the head of the Victim but laid it on whole 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Suides to shew the manner of the ancient feeding before the grinding of corn was invented This whole corn was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They were wont also after their sacrifice and feast to burn the tongue of the beast and besprinkle it with Wine as Homer sheweth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This was to shew that after drinking and feasting the tongue should be silent and nothing divulged what was then spoken This was also done in honour of Mercury the god of Eloquence and of sleep for about sleeping time the tongue was sacrificed The Grecian Priests used to dance or run about their Altars beginning first at the left hand to shew the motion of the Zodiack which is from the West called by Astronomers the left part of the world then they danced beginning at the right hand to shew the motion of the first sphear which is from East to West Their bloody sacrifices were called impure but Frankincense Myrth and such like were named by them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pure offerings The flesh of the Victims were called Theothyta but by the Christian Doctors Idolothyra They that gathered
changed Lots Wife into a Pillar of Salt and Nebuchadnezzar into a beast Satan hath no power over celestial bodies though he be Prince of the Aire he cannot create nor do these things which God hath reserved for himselfe Therefore when we hear of men transformed into beasts or raised from the dead and such like miracles as exceed the course and activity of nature we may be assured these are not true miracles but Satanical delusions especially if they be done to confirme errour wickednesse and superstition for the end of all true and divine miracles are to establish truth and holinesse Therefore when we read of bringing down the Moon of driving the Stars backward and such like impossibilities beleeved among the Gentiles we must conclude they were meer delusions of Satan Such were those wonders adscribed to Simon Magus of making images to walk of turning stones into bread of being transformed into a Sheep Goat and Serpent of raising souls from the dead and such like stuffe all these were meer jugling tricks and Satanicall deceptions Q. But why are we so afraid of Satans Stratagems seeing the most of them are but illusions A. This fear in us proceeds partly from the guilt of our own conscience for Adams sin brought fear both on himselfe and on his posterity therefore after he had fallen he confesseth that as soon as he heard the voice of God in the Garden he was afraid and so we his children do often times fear where no fear is and are afraid sometimes at our own shadows or at the shaking of a leafe Partly this fear proceeds from want of faith which Christ reproved in his Apostles who when they saw Jesus walking in the night time on the Sea they were afraid thinking they had seen a Spirit Besides the implacable hatred of Satan against mankind his delight he taketh in affrighting and hurting us either in our persons or in our estates that irreconcilable enmity which is between the Serpent and the Womans seed is a great cause of this fear in us Lastly we are naturally fearful in the dark because our imagination worketh upon it self having no outward object to divert it hence Satan who is the Prince of darknesse useth the opportunity of the night to hurt or to delude us thus he affrighteth us in the dark in our houses with strange apparitions motions and sounds whence some houses have blin said to be hanted with Spirits So in the night he affrighteth travellers with ignis fatuus or jack in the candle as we call it which though it be a natural Meteor yet Satan can move it to and fro purposely to draw travellers into precipices or waters So in the night time he affrighteth mariners at Sea by insinuating himself into these fiery Meteors which like candles or balls of fire run up and down the ship these were deified by the old Pagans if one single flame appeared they called it Helena and held it an ominons fign of destruction as she was to Trâ—y if there were two they named them Castor and Pollux and placed their statues in their ships as we read Act. 28. And Sea men use to tell us of many strange sights and apparitions they have seen in the Ocean Satan also useth to affright men in Churches and Church yards in the dark by representing to their phantasie the shape of dead men in their winding sheets in the night also strange voices and sounds are heard neer deep waters or rivers which are taken as presages of some shortly to be drowned there the like I have heard my selfe and have found the event to fall out accordingly for one day travelling before day with some company neere the River Don by Aberden we heard a great noise and voices call to us I was going to answer but was forbid by my company who told me they were spirits which never are heard there but before the death of some body which fell out too true for the next day a gallant Gentleman was drowned with his horse offering to swim over It is strange what Plutarch writeth of the voice which from the shoare called upon Thamus the Egyptian ship-Master who then had cast Anchor at Praxeae telling him that the great god Pan was dead Though the night Mare which is called Incubus and Succubus be a natural disease as Physitians know yet Satan hath often times made use of this infirmitie to abuse the bodies of men and womâ—n in their sleep By all which we see his malice against mankinde and the causes of our fear which hath wrought so powerfully among the ignorant Pagans that they have planted their whole Religion in the worshipping of these evil spirits for their gods were none other as Porphyrie she â—eth l. 2. de abstinen l. 2. de sacrificio For saith he These wicked Spirits delight in shedding of blood in filthy and obscene speeches exhorting men to lust vice wickednesse and flagitious actions c. they perswade men that the supreame God delighteth in such impieties c. Q Since the Stratagems and illusions of Satan are so many what is our duty in this case A. Our duty is 1. To be assured that nothing can come to pasâ—e but by the providence of our Heavenly Father who hath numbred the hairs of our heads and hath Satan in a chain so that without permission he could neither afflict Iob in his person children nor cattel nor durst he enter into the herd of swine without leave from Christ. 2. Let us remember what Christ hath promised to wit that he will be with us to the end of the world and if he be with us who can be against us Christ came to destroy the works of the Devil to cast out the strong man and to tread down Satan under our feet he hath promised not to leave us Orphans he is the good Shepherd that laid down his life for his sheep which he holdeth so fast that no man shall take them out of his hand his name is Emanuel God with us He was amongst his Apostles Luke 24. when they were assembled together and in great fear and so he will be in the midst of two or three gathered together in his name He is the watchman of Israel that neither slumbers nor sleeps therefore with David let us lie down and take our rest for he will make us to live in safety Though we walk through the vally of the shadow of death let us fear no evil because the Lord is with us Let us not be moved because he is at our right hand he is our buckler and our exceeding great reward therefore let us not feare 3. Let us put on the whole Armour of God chiefly the shield of faith that we may quench all the fiery darts of the Devil and let us fight against Satan as Christ did with the sword of the spirit which is the word of God Let us resist the Devil and he will flee from us 4. We must
corrival had his Temple within the City of which he was the tutelar god Q. Did the Greeks and Romans worship these gods onely A. Yes innumerable more or rather the same deities above named under other names for Apollo Phoebus Sol Aesculapius Iupiter Liber Hercules Mars Mercurius Pan c. are different names of one and the same Sun which was the chief god worshipped among the Geniles Luna Hecate Diana Iuno Lutina Venus Ceres c. do signifie the Moon Vesta Ops Cybele Rhea Ceres Berecynthia Magna Mater Tellus Pales Flora Fauna Bona Dea Proserpina c. do signifie the Earth and the benefits we receive thence Neptune Nereus Glaucus Proteus Triton Consus Oceanus c. signifie the Sea Pluto Plutus Proserpina Charon Cerberus c. are but different names of one and the same infernal deities And as the same god had different names so he had different sorts of worship for the Sun under the name of Apollo was worshipped in the form of a beardlesse youth with yellow hair carrying in one hand a Cythron in the other arrows and his bow As Sol He was honoured in a flaming ship full of rich wates carried about the world by which light is imparted to all As Phoebus he was adored in a golden Chariot drawn by four horses swift and fiery in one hand he holdeth a glitering target in the other a burning Torch on his head a golden Crown beset with twelve pretious stones As Aesculopius he is set forth sitting in a Chair in the habit of a grave man with a long beard crowned with Bayes holding in one hand a knobbed staffe and with the other learning on a Serpents head Sometimes he is described with two Cocks in his hand and certain frutis and herbs in his lap by which the properties of Physitians are represented but the Sun is the great Physitian As Iupiter he was worshipped sitting in a throne with a Scepter in one hand and an Eagle in the other by which was expressed his power and dominion As Bacchus of Liber he was set out like a naked youth with hornes in his head a Crown of Ivie and sometimes of fig leaves with the Thyrsus or Vine Speare in his hand sitting in a Chariot drawn by Tygers and Panthers Which may signifie both the power influence and raging heat of the Sun As Hercules they honoured him cloathed with a Lions skin Crowned with poplar leaves and the club in his hand knocking down the Hydra We have shewed the meaning of these in Mystagog Poetic and that the Suns courses through the twelve Signes were adumbrated by Hercules his twelve labours As Mars he was adored with a Helmet on his head a spear in one hand and a Bow in the other As Mercury he was worshipped like a young man on a square stone having wings on his head and on his feet with a sword in his hand killing many eyed Argus by which was meant the Suns perpetual vigour in that he was resembled by a youth the wings shewed his swiftnesse the square stone the four seasons of the year or four Climats of the world His killing of Argus shewed the confounding of the Star light by the suns presence As Pan he was expressed and adored under the form of a Satyre with a red face long beard horns on his head a spotted skin about him having in one hand a Pipe in the other a Shepherds staffe his beard and hornes signified his beames his speckled skin the Heaven speckled with Stars the pipe the harmony of his motion and the staffe his power Much more might be said of this subject Q. Vnder what names and shapes did they worship the Moon A. As Hecate she was worshipped under the shape of a monster with three heads by which they signified the Moons threesold form she assumes according to her accesse and recesse to and from the Sun As Luna at her first appearance she was honoured with white and golden garments and a burning torch to shew the increasing of her light when she was halse full with a basket of fruit to shew how the fruits fill and grow with her but when she was at full with a dark coloured garment to signifie the decreasing of her light As Diana she was worshipped in the habit of a woman with a torch flaming in one hand two snakes in the other a bow and arrows on her shoulder sitting in a Chariot drawn with white Deer all which signified partly her light and partly her motion Her light is a help to hunters therefore she was worshipped in the habit of a hunter As Iuno she was honoured in the ornaments of a Queen sitting in a chariot of brasse silver and gold which signified both her light beauty and dominion over the night As Lucina she was crowned with the herb Dictamnus or Dittany which is good for women in labour and a burning torch in her hand to shew the hot fits and sharp pains of Child-bearing women upon which the Moon hath great power As Venus she was resembled by a beautiful woman naked crowned with roses and rising out of the Sea by which they signified the light and beauty of the Moon when she ariseth As Ceres she was represented by a Matron with a sheaff of corn on her head and a lamp in her hand to shew that from her proceeds both light and plenty Q. What names and worship did they give to the Earth and Fire A. They were called Vesta and under that name worshipped in the habit of a virgin sitting on the ground and crowned with white Garlands whose Temple was built round and in it a perpetual fire kept by the Nuns of Vesta These two Elements were joyned together because fire is begot both in and of the Earth The Virgins habit signified the purity of the Fire her sitting the immobility of the Earth the white Garlands the purity of the air or Firmament compassing the Earth and Fire the roundnesse of the Temple shewed the rotundity of the Earth The earth also was called Rhea Ceres Berecynthia Magna Mater Cybele Ops c. She is called Vesta à Vestiend◠because she is cloathed with herbs grasse and trees Rhea from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to flow because waters are still flowing in and upon her Ceres or Geres from corn bearing and supporting all things Berecynthia from the Hill Berecynthus in Phrygia where she was worshipped The great mother because she generally nourisheth and maintains all earthly creatures Cybele from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Cube to shew the stability of the earth Ops from the help we have by her Proserpir◠à serpendo from the creeping things within her and from the herbs which creep out of her Tellus from Terra the Earth which was worshipped in the habit of an old woman with towers on her head having in one hand a Scepter in the other a key cloathed in a garment embroidered with herbs flowers and trees and sitting in a
many years in learning by heart their precepts in verse They believed the immortality of souls they read Philosophy to their Scholars It is thought by some that Diana's Temple stood where St Pauls Church in London stands now And Minerva had her Temple at Bath and Apollo in Scotland neer Dalkeith The Saxons worshipped the seven Planets among which Thor the same with Iupiter was chiefe from him Thursday was denominated Next was Wodan or Mars Wednesday is so called from him Fred or Frico was Venus to whom Friday was dedicated as Tuesday to Tuisco the founder of the German Nation Q. Vnder what shapes and formes did the old Saxons worship their gods A. They worshipped the Sun under the shape of halfe a naked man set upon a pillar whose head and face was all beset with firie rayes holding on his brest a flaming wheele by which they signified the Suns heat light and motion They worshipped the Moon under the form of a Woman with a short coat and a hood with long eares with the picture of the Moon before her brest they gave her also piked shoes Verstegan cannot find the reason of this habit but perhaps the reason may be this if I may have leave to conjecture they gave her a short coat to shew the swiftnesse of her motionâ— for a long coat signifieth a slow motion therefore they painted Saturne whose motion is the slowest of all the Planets with a long coat The hood or chapron with long eares was to represent her horns or else to shew that sounds are heard a far off in the night which is the time of her dominion Her piked shoes also may resemble her hornes Tuisco their third Idol is set out in the skin of some wild beast with a Scepter in his hand this is thought to be the first and most ancient of that nation from whom the Germans call themselves Tuytshen or as the Flemings pronunce it Duytshen as Verstegan observeth but I think that under this name they worshipped Mars for as Tacitus writes Mars was one of the German gods His hairie garments doth shew the feirce and truculent disposition of that warlike god besides that hairie Sylvanus is thought to be the same that Mars His Scepter may signifie the power and command which Souldiers have in the world But it is more likely by this Idol they meant Mercury for next to the Sun and Moon he was as Tacitus saith the Germans chief god His Scepter and hairie garment may signifie the power and command that eloquence and musick have over the most brutish natures and of these two faculties Mercury was the inventer And we must know that as the Romans next to the Sun and Moon honoured Mars the Patron of their city for which cause they dedicated to him the third day of the week so the Germans for the same cause dedicated to Mercury their chief founder and patron the same day which from his name Tuisco is called Tuesday yet retained among us Their fourth Idol was Woden from whom Wednesday is so called He was the Germans Mars and is called Woden from being wood or mad intimating hereby the firercenesse of Souldiers and furie of Warr. He is painted with a Crown on his head a sword in his hand and in compleat armor Their fift Idol is Thor which was their Iupiter for they made him the god of the aire and commander of winds rain and thunder they painted him sitting in a chaire of state with a Scepter in his right hand a golden Crown on his head encompassed with twelve stars by which they meant he was King of the upper regions and commander of the stars from him Thursday is named as among the Romans Dies Iovis from Iupiter Their sixt Idol was Friga from her our Friday is denominated and was the same that Venus among the Romans she is painted in the habit of a man in armes with a sword in one hand and a bow in the other so among the Romans she was Venus armnata and Barbata armed and bearded she is called by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the masculin and by Aristophanes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so by Virgil Deus descendo ac ducente Deo flammam inter et hostes Their seventh Idol was Seater whence comes the â—ame Saterday dedicated to him Verstegan will not have this Seater to be the same that Saturne because he was other-ways called Crodo but this is no reason for most of the gods had different names the Sun is called Apollo and Phaebus the Moon Diana Lucina Proserpina The goddesse of wisdom is called Pallas and Minerva c. Doubtlesse then this Idol was Saturn as his picture shewes for he is set out like an old man and so he was painted among the Romans the wheele in his left hand signifieth the revolution of time the pail of water in his right hand wherein were â—lowrs and fruites and the pearch under his feet do shew the dominion Time hath over Sea and Land and all things there in containâ—d for all sublunarie things are subject to time and change His long coat as I shewed before did signifie the slownesse of Saturns motion which is not finished but in 30 yeers Other Idols they worshipped but of lesse note of which see Verstegan Q What was the Religion of the Danes Swedes Moscovites Russians Pomeranians and their neighbours A. The Danes and Swedes worshipped the same gods that the Saxons did They call upon Thor or Iupiter when the Pestilence is among them because he â—uleth in the ayre In the time of war they call upon Wodâ—n or Mars In their marriages they invocate Frico or Venus They had also their Heroes or demi-gods they used to kill nine males of each kind of sensitive creatures and to pacifie their gods with the blood thereof then to hang up their bodies in the Grove next the Temple called Vbsola In some parts of Saxony they worshipped Saturn under the name of Crodo like an old man standing on a fish holding in his hands a wheele and a pitcher Venus they worshipped in the form of a naked woman standing in a Chariot drawn with two Swans and two Doves On her head she wore a Garland of Myrtle in her right hand she had the Globe of the world in the other three Oranges Out of her brest proceeded a burning Tapâ—r The three Graces naked with fruit in their hands waited on her In Westphalia they worshipped an Idol all in armour holding a banner in his right hand with a Rose and in the left a pair of Scales On his Breast was carved a Beare on his Helmet a Lion It seems by the Idol they understood Mars The Rugians neer the Baltick sea worshipped Mars in the form of a Monster with seven faces and seven swords hanging by his side in their Scabberds he held the eighth sword naked in his hand The same Rugians as also the Bohemians worshipped an Idol with four heads two of them
then he concludes that the body or flesh which suffered at Ierusalem was not christ body 22. He makes the soul of man to be all one with the Gospel and the body of Christ to be the whole Creation by this and such like stuffe with which his books are fraughted we may see that he deserveth to have his brains purged with Hellebor rather than his crasie opinions refused by arguments or Scripture In the mean while we may perceive to our great grief the lamentable fruits which are begot of two much liberty in religion These impious Opinions are in his printed Pamphlets lately published One Richard Coppiâ— holdeth some of the before recited opinions withall lately before a confused multitude in an usurped pulpit asserted the lawfulnes of womens preaching for such Ranters a pillory were more fit than a pulpit Q. 12. What opinions in Religion are lately broached by Iohn Reeve and Lodowick Muggleton An. These two would perswade us that they are the two last witnesses and prophets of Christ sent by his spirit to seal the foreheads of the elect and reprobate that one Iohn Robins is the last great Antichrist and son of perdition spoken of by the Apostle in the Thessalonians because he sheweth lying signes and wonders and assumes to himself the titles of the onely God in that he calls himself Adam and Melchisedeth and Father of Iesus Christ in saying the three persons in Trinity are Adam that is himself Abel that is his sonne Iesus and Caiâ— that is the holy Ghost Many such blasphemies they ascribe to him They affirm also that Christians using the sword of steel are ignorant of Iesus and enemies to his Gospel and they teach that the two uncreated substances of earth and water were eternally resident in the presence of God the Creator that death was from Eternity that the person of the reprobate Angel or Serpent entred into the womb of Eve and there died but quickened in her all manner of uncleannesse that there is no devil at all without the body of man or woman but what dwells within them so that the devil spoken of so often in the Scripture is mans spirit of unclean reason and cursed imagination that God the Father was a spirituall man from Eternity and that in time his spirituall body brought forth a naturall body that if the very Godhead had not died that is say they the soul of Christ which is the eternall Father had not died all men had perished eternally that Moses and Eliah are angels and did represent the person of the Father in heaven as they did the person of the Son on earth that Eliah was made protectour of God when God became a child and that he filled the Lord Iesus with those great revelations of his former glory which he possessed in heaven when he was the immortall Father and that it was Eliah who spake these words from heaven saying this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased they say also that all the Ministry in this world whether Propheticall or Ministeriall with all the worship taught by them is all a lye and abomination to the Lord. Again they declare that whereas there are three witnesses on earth water blood and the spirit that by water is meant the Commission given to Moses and the Prophets under the Law by blood the Commission given to the Apostles and Ministers of the Gospel by the Spirit is meant the Commission of the two witnesses that were to come in this last age whose ministry is invisible and spirituall cutting off all formall worshipping of an invisible spirituall personall God they say there is hardly a minister in the world that confesseth an invisible God but they preach a God of three persons that is a monster instead of one true personall God they say that the true God is a distinct body or person as a man is a distinct body or person again they say that there is no Christian Magistrate in the world that hath any authority from Christ to set up any visible form of worship and that the spirits and bodies of men are both mortall both begot together and both of one nature that the spirit is nothing without the body that it is the Spirit alone that walks and works eats and drinks and dies for the spirit is a naturall fire of reason they say also that the bodies or persons of holy men wherein they lived and died shall not appear again any more but when the Saints are glorified they are absolutely of the very same glorious nature both in spirit and body as God is and that believing spirits are of the very same divine nature of God This is the summe of their Divinity and Phylosophie as may be seen in their transcendent spirituall Treatise as they call it which is full of transcendent nonsence and blasphemieâ— for here they lay their axe to the very root of Christianity in giving a new Father to our Saviour Jesus Christ in calling the blessed Trinity a monster in denying the Creation whilst they make earth and water eternall in making angels and mens souls mortall in making weak man Gods protector and author of that divine knowledge which was in Christ in denying the Ministry of the Gospel and the power of the Magistrates and the outward worship of God and making the souls of men corporeall in denying also the Resurrection of the flesh and transforming men into the Divine nature By this and other wicked tenets permitted and countenanced among us at this time we see what Christian religion is come to in this land so famous heretofore for piety and zeal we received Christianity as soon as any Nation in Europe whether by the preaching of Saint Peter or Saint Paul or Simon Zelâ—tes or Ioseph of Arimathea I know not but all agree we received it very early and have continued ever since in the profession thereof neither was there ever any Nation more devout and zealous in the advancement thereof as our goodly Temples Monasteries Hospitals Colledges and Schools can witnesse but alas now Quantum mutamur ab illis Angligenis what is there left among us but the bare Skeliton of Religion the vitall substance thereof being eat up and consumed by heresies and blasphemies worse than any Sarcophagus I may here with Ieremiah complain that from the daughter of Sion all her beauty is departed her Princes are become like Harts c. How is the gold become so dimme and the most fine gold changed and the stones of the Sanctuary are scattered in every corner of the streets c. Q. 13. What are the opinions of the Quakers An. These fanaticall spirits are called Quakers because they use to quake and tremble when they prophesie so did the Heathen soothsayers of old non vultus non color unus non compta mansere 〈◊〉 sed pectus anhelum rabie fera corda tument c. but the spirit of God is the spirit of peace
creatures are more prone to venery because the Sun infuseth then a moderate heat into the body Vere magis quia vere calor â—edit ossibus c. This venereal desire is by the Poets called Vrania and Olympia because it proceeds from heaven namely from the Sun the chief ruler in heaven And to shew that by Venus they meant the Sun as he is the God of love they speak of her in the Masculine Gender so doth Virgil Aen. 2. descendo ac ducente Deo flammam inter hostes They paint her with a beard hence Venns barbata to shew the sunne-beams They gave her the Epithets of the Sun in calling her golden Venus so doth Virgil Aen. 10. Venus aurea and by the Greek Poets 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and by the Eastern people she was called Baaâ—eth Shammajim the ruler of Heaven and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phosphorus or Lucifer from the light of the sunne which Venus or the Moon borroweth So what Orpheus in Hymnis speaks of Venus is to be understood of the sunne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is thou procreates all things in Heaven in the fruitfull earth and in the sea or depth She is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fair haired to shew the beauty of the sunne-beams And Euripides in Phoeniss gives her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a golden circled light by Cupid also was meant the sunne who was painted young with wings crowned with Roses and naked to shew the eternity swiftnes colour and native beauty of that great Luminary who may be called the god of love in that by his heat he excites love in all living creatures as is already said By Luna or the Moon they understood the sunne for though these be two different Planets yet in effect they are but one Luminary for the Moon hath her light from the sunne therefore she is called sometimes the sister sometimes the daughter of Phoebus she is painted with a Torch and Arrows and with Wings to signifie her motion and that her light and operations are originally from the sun As the Hawk was dedicated to the sun because of her high flying and quick fight so the Moon was represented by a white skinned man with an Hawks head for her whitenesse is not from her self but from the Hawks head that is the sun They held her to be both male female to shew that she is the sun in acting the Moon in suffering she receiveth her light and power from the sun in this she is passive she imparts this light and power to the inferior world in this she is active she is called Lucina also from this borrowed light and Diana from the divine qualities thereof for which cause Diana was held to bee the sister of Phoebus and Iuno from helping she was painted with beams about her face sitting upon Lions with a scepter in her hand by which was meant the Dominion she hath received from the sun and whereas they made the rain bow to attend upon Iuno they meant hereby that the sun makes the rain-bow therefore by Iuno they meant the sun So when they make Vulcan the son of Iuno they understand the sun for he by his heat causeth fire and not the Moon And so Mars the god of fire is said to be Iuno's son that is the sun for it is he that inflameth mens bloods and not the Moon They expressed the power of the sun over the sea and other waters by the names of Neptune Nâ—râ—us Glaucus Triton and other sea Deities When they would expresse his operations on the earth they gave him the names of Vesta â—ybele Bona dea c when they would shew his power under the Earth then they used the names of Orcus Pluto Proserpina Charon Cerberus c. Orcus is from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an oath because they used to swear by the sun Eâ—to mî sol testis ad haec conscia Iuno Aen. 12. and in another place Aen. 4. Sol qui terrarum flammis opera omnia lustras Pluto is from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wealth for all wealth both upon and within the earth is begot of the suns heat and influence When he is under our Hemisphere he is called the god of hell he is said to ravish Proserpina that is the seminal vertue of vegetables which in the Winter and the sun's absence lyeth hid in the bowels of the Earth his influence upon the corn and other seeds cast into the Earrh and causing them proserpere to creep out thence is called Proserpina Charon is from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 joy the sun is joyfull to us by his presence and as he is Phoebus or light of the world he is also joyfull to us by his absence and as he is Charon under the earth for then he permits the air to receive refrigeration by which all things are refreshed Cerberus is as much as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a flesh eater for aâ— all flesh is generated by the Sun so is all flesh consumed by the same Cerberus had three heads to shew that time which devoureth all things hath three heads one present the other past and the third to come now the Sun by his motion is the measurer of time in which respect he is called Cerberus and so he was represented by Saturn cutting down all things with his â—ickle for all things are consumed by time Tempus â—dax rerum tuque invidiosa vetustas omnia dellruitis By what we have said appears that the wise Gentiles did acknowledge but one Deity giving him divers names from his divers effects and operations This Deity was nothing else but the Sun as we have shewed whose power is diffused every where and nothing as David saith is hid from the heat thereof Iovis omnia plena saith Virgil Ecl. 3 all things are filled with Iupâ—ter and elsewhere he singâ— Gâ—or 4. that God runs through all the parts of the earth of the sea and of the heaven Deum namque ire per omnes terrasque tractusque maris coelumque profundum Aen. 6. And in his Divine Poem he sings that this spirit for so he calls the Sun and so did Solomon before him in the first of Ecclesiastes cherisheth Heaven Earth Sea Moon and Stars and that he diffuseth himself through all parts of the world and produceth Men Beasts Birds Fishes which he animates and foments Principio coelum at terram camposque liquentes Luâ—entemque gloâ—um Lâ—nae Titaniaque astra Spiritus intus alit totamque infusa per artus Mens agitat molem magno so corpore â—iscet Inde hominum pecudumque genus vitâ—que 〈◊〉 Et quae marâ—â—reo â—ert monstra sub aequâ—re Pâ—ntus Igneuâ— est ollis vigor â—oelestâ— origo c. But here it may be objected that seeing the Gentiles acknowledged the power and vertue of the Sun to be every where why did they devise so many pettie Deities I answer this multiplication of Deities was for
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. orderâ— 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 Sepaâ—â—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 Sâ—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
the Jews eight days together The two first and two last are solemnly kept the other four are but half festivals They first repair to their Synagogues then after some praying and singing they run home to their Tents but do not stay there all night as their Ancestors were wont to do They use to take in one hand boughs of Palme Olive and Willow and in the other a Pome-citron then they bless God and shake the boughs towards the four cardinal points of Heaven then having placed the Law upon the Pulpit they go round about it seven times in seven days in memory of the Walls of Iericho encompassed seven times Then having shaken the branches in their hands they pray against Christians This feast is kept about the middle of September in which moneth they beleeve shall be fought the great battel between Gog and Magog in which Gog shall be slain and the Jews restored to their own Land About night they go abroad in the Moon light believing that God doth reveal to them by the shadows of the Moon who shall live or die that year for then they begin the computation of their year The shaking of the branches towards the four corners of the world signifies the destruction of the four great Monarchies to wit the Assyrian Persian Grecian and Roman They make great use of Citrons in this feast for they send sixteen men every year into Spain to bring with them as many of these as they can for by the Citrons they say are represented just men who are as full of good their workes as this fruit is full of seeds Q. How do they keep their new Moons A. Their new Moons are but halfe holy days with them for in the morning they go to their Synagogues the rest of the day they spend in eating drinking and gaming The day before the new Moon they use to fast when they first see her they utter a Benediction and leap three times towards her wishing that their enemies may come no neerer to hurt them then they are able to come neer and hurt her The women have more right to keep this day holy then the men because they would not part with their Ear-rings and Jewels towards the making of the Golden Calf but willingly parted with them towards the building of the Temple They give a ridiculous reason why sacrifices were commanded every new Moon because say they the Moon murmured against God in the beginning therfore he took her light from her and appointed sacrifices to expiare her crime Q. Why do the Iews fast in the moneth of August A. Because they hold the world was made in September therefore they make that moneth the beginning of their year and believe that about that time God will come to judge the world for this cause they fast and pray divers days before and baptize themselvs in Lakes and Rivers and where these are wanting they make pits which they fill with water in these they dip themselves over head and ears thinking this a meanes to expiate their sins they frequent their Synagogues and Church yards desiring God to pardon them for the good Jews sake who are buried there and in the same they distribute large Alms to the poor In some places there they cause Rams horns to be sounded when they go to their Synagogues to put the greater terrour in them when they consider their sins and the horror of Gods judgements Their fasting ceremonies being ended they shave and bath themselves and begin their year with much mirth and jovialty Q. What solemnity use they in beginning their new year A. Because they are commanded by Moses Lev. 23. 24. to keep holy the first day of the seventh moneth therefore they begin their Civil year from that day which after evening peayer in their Synagogues they initiate with a cup of wine wishing to each other a good year The younger sort repair to the chief Rabbi for his blessing which he bestoweth on them by prayer and imposition of hands Being returned home they fall to eating drinking and making merry On the Table is set down a Rams head to put them in minde of that Ram which on this day was sacrificed in Isaacs stead and to signifie that they shall be the Head and not the Tail of Christians They feed that night plentifully on fish and fruit to shew that they will encrease and multiply in good works as the fish do in the Sea and that their enemies shall be cut off from all help as the fruit is plucked off from the tree In the morning they go betimes to their Synagogues to sing and pray the Law is taken twice out of the Ark and some Lessons read after which one soundeth a Rams horn on the Pulpit if he sounds clear it s a good sign if otherwise they hold it ominous and a sign of a bad year This horn-trumpet is also in memory of Isaacs delivery by the Ram this day as they hold The rest of the day they spend in good cheer and mirth After dinner they go to the waters there to drown their sins If they see any fish in the water they shake their cloaths that their sins falling upon those fishes may be carried away by them into the Sea as of old they were by the scape-goat into the wilderness At night they feast again and so initiate the year with two days mirth Q. How doe they prepare themselves for Morning prayer A. They hold it necessary that every Jew from the fifteenth of Iune till Pentecost should rise before day because then the nights are long but from Pentecost till the fifteenth of Iune they may rise after day their rising will be the more acceptable to God if they have weeped in the night for with such the stars and planets do weep they must let their tears fall down their cheeks because then God is ready with his bottle to receive them these tears may serve them for good use because when at any time the enemies of Israel send out Edicts to destroy the Jewes God is ready with these bottles to pour them out upon these writings and to blotuot the Edict that the Jews may receive no hurt thereby They hold the morning the best time to enter into the house of God because David faith Thou wilt heat my voice betimes in the morning In the evening they say God commands all the gates of Heaven to be shut which are guarded by certain Angels who are silent till after midnight then a great noise is heard in Heaven commanding the gates to be opened this noise is heard by our cocks here below who presently upon this clap their wings and crow that men thereby may awake then the evil spirits who had leave to wander up and down in the night whilest Heaven gates were shut lose all power of doing hurt as soon as they hear the cock crow they must say this prayer as they are taught by their Rabbins
killed poysonable creatures and sacrificed Of these Persian Rites see Herodotus Athenaeus Pausanias and others Q What was the Old Scythian Religion A. They worshipped first of all Vesta then Iupiter Apollo Venus Mars and Hercules they had neither Images Altars nor Temples for any of their gods except for Mars whose temples they erected of bundles of twigs heaped up together In stead of his Image they set up an old iron sword to which they offered yearly sacrifices of cattel and horses and of men every hundreth Captive with whose blood they besprinkle Mars his sword Then they cut off the right shoulders of the slain men and sâ—ing them into the air They used to wound first and then to strangle the beast which they sacrificed praying to that god to whom they offered the beast they kindled no fire of wood for the Country yielded none but they burned the bones of the beast to boyl the flesh withal if they want a vessel they boyl the flesh in the beasts paunch they use no Vows nor any other ceremonies Their chiefest sacrifices were Horses But of this see Herodotus and others Q. What Religious discipline had the Tartars or Cathaians A. They worshipped the Sun Stars Fire Earth and Water to whom they offered the first fruits of their meat and drink each morning before they eat and drink themselves They beleeve there is one God maker of all things yet they worship him not nor pray to him They place Idols at their Tent doores â—o preserve their cattel and milk To these silk and felt Idols for of such materials they make them are offered the first fruits of milk meat and drink the hearts also of beasts which they leave before them all night and then eat them in the morning they offer horses to the Emperours Idol which none afterward must ride they do not break but burn the bones of their Sacrifices by their discipline they must not touch the fire with a knife nor meddle with young birds nor pour milke drink or meat on the ground nor break one bone with another nor make water within their Tents and divers other such traditions which if violated are punished with death or else redeemed with much money They believe another world but such as this is When one dieth he hath meat set before him and mares milk his friends eat a horse and burn the bones thereof for his soul they bury also with him a Mare a Colt and a Horse bridled and sadled his gold and silver also and they set upon poles the horse hide that was eat that he may not be without a Tent in the other world they use to purifie every thing by making it passe between two fires When they pray they are injoyned by their Discipline to lift up their hands and smite their teeth three times They use to feed the Ghosts or Spirits with Mares milk cast in the air or poured on the ground They have their religious Votaries and Monasteries amongst which there is an Order called Senscin which eat nothing but bran steeped in hot water They worship not Idols nor do they marry but they hold transanimation and divers other ridiculous opinions as may be seen in Iohannes de Plano Carpini whom Pope Innocent Anno. 1246. sent Embassadour to the Tartarian Court. See also M. Paulus Venetus Vincentius Bellouack in specbist Math. Paris and others There is one thing commendable in their Discipline that they force no man to embrace their Religion But Ortelius mentioneth a strange custom amongst them that their Priests on high trees preach to them and after Sermon besprinkle their auditors with blood milk earth and cow-dung mixed together and no lesse strange it is that they do not bury their dead but hang them on trees Q. Had the Pagans any knowledge of the Creation A. It seems by these Tartars and divers other Gentile Idolaters of which we are to speak that many of them had some knowledge of the beginning of the world which they learned not from the Jewes with whom they had no commerce but from the heathen Philosophers and Poets and these were led to believe this truth by the guide of natural reason for when they considered the continual vicissitudes in the world the alteration generation and corruption of things the nature of motion and of time whereof the one presupposeth a Chief Mover for nothing can move it selfe the other consisteth in Priotity and Posteriority which depends upon motion and suteth not with Eternity when they observed also the Harmony Order and Beauty of things how every motion and mutation aimed at a certain End they concluded that this great Universe could not be ruled or have existence by chance but by providence and wisdom and that therefore this must needs have a beginning otherwise we could not know whether the Egge or the Bird the Seed or the Plant the Day or the Night the Light or the Darknesse were first And seeing the world consisteth of corruptible parts how can the Whole which is made up of such Parts be Eternal They found also that it was repugnant to reason for so many Eternals and infinite Entities to exist actually together for every Entity in the world must be Eternal if it selfe be eternal Besides that it is against the nature of Eternity to admit magis minus degrees auction or diminution which it must needs do if the world be eternal for if there have been infinite annual revolutions of the Sun and infinite monethly revolutions of the Moon there must needs be something greater then Infinity for the revolutions of the Moon are far more then of the Sun by these reasons they were induced to acknowledge a beginning of the world of which Merc. Trismegistus in Poemandra speaketh plainly in saying That God by his word made and perfected the world dividing the Earth from the Heaven and the Sea from the Land c. Orpheus in his Argonaâ—tes singeth How Jupiter hid within his breast the world which he was to bring forth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into the pleasant light c. this same song is sung by Hesiod Homer AEschilus Sophocles Euripides and other Poets Pythagoras as Plutarch and Laertius testifie taught That the world was made by God Thales Empedocles Anaxagoras and the other ancient Philosophers ascribe a beginning to the world some from one element some from another The Platonists alwayes held the creation of the world and the Aristotelians affirming there is a first mover must conclude that the world which is moved had a beginning they say also that the world doth depend upon God how then can it be Eternal seeing dependance and eternity are incompatible Aristotle in his Book de mundo and in his Metaphysicks saith That God is the cause and Author not onely of living creatures but also of nature it selfe and of the world Cicere in his Books of the nature of the gods confesseth That every thing had a beginning and that
from Wine and strong drink and women and lie on skins Their Gymnosophists were Philosophers who accustomed their bodies to endure all hardnesse and their eyes to gaze on the Sun from morning to evening Of the Indian Religion see Alexander ab Alexandro Pliny Bâ—emus c. Q. What is the Religion of Siam A. This kingdome of the East-Indies except where the Moors inhabit and some Christians is also idolatrous But especially they worship the four Elements and accordingly there be four differâ—nt Sects Each one desireth to be buried in that element which he worshippeth hence some are buried some burned some hanged in the Ayr and some drowned in the Water They hold that God made all things that the good are rewarded and the wicked punished That each man hath two spirits waiting on him a good and a bad That the world shall stand 8000 yeers and then shall be burned into ashes whence shall come forth two eggs and out of them one man and one woman who shall again replenish the Earth Their religious Orders are so strict that it's death among them to speak to a woman They feed on Rice onely and herbs which they beg from door to door They must not buy nor sell nor take Rents They are tyed to rise at midnight to pray to their Idols They go still bare-footed and in poor cloaths Every King of this Country at his Coronation is bound to erect a Temple with high Steeples and multitudes of Idols Their priests go in yellow being a sacred colour resembling the Suns light They may not nourish any female thing not so much as a hen He that drinks Wine is stoned to death See the discourse of China Boterus Maginus and others Q. What is the Religion of Pegu A. The religious Ceremonies of this kingdom consisted in multitudes of Temples Images and begging preachers who are still preaching and begging Their Alms are brought to them in the Pulpits whilst they are preaching The people when they enter into their Churches at the dore wash their feet and by lifting up their hands to their heads salute the preacher first and and then the Sun When any enters into that Order of Talipâ—n or preacher he is first carried in solemnity about the streets on horse-back with Pipes and Drâ—ms then upon mens shoulders to his house which is without the Town They keep holy day every New-Moon They believe multitudes of gods worlds succeeding each other that this world hath been governed by four gods already who are gone the fift is not yet come after whose death the world shall be burned After this life they hold some shall live in carnal pleasure some in torment and others shall be aunihiarid They hold Transanimation and are bound to fast thirty days every year They know no women for whom they allow Nunneries The People drink the water wherein their Preachers wash themselves coâ—nting it holy They feed the Devil each morning with baskets of rice that he may not hurt them that day When they are sick they build him Altars and pacifâ—e him with flowers meat and musick Their Idols are honoured with divers festivals in which wax lights are burned all night and the gates stand open that all those may see and have accesse to the idol who bring presents with them Q. Of what Religion are the people of Bengala A. They are not content to worship the River â—ahges but to its image also they give divine honours The River is visited by many Pilgrims who think themselves happy if they can wash themselves in it If any can drink of the water thereof at the point of death he thinks presently by the vertue thereof to obtain heaven There is also a Well which they adore in If they wash away all their sins and are all clean both without and within if they wash in it and drink thereof They carry away the sand of this Well as a sacred Relique and in recompence leave flowers behind them in the Well For fear Ieast their idols should saint with too much heat there are some who with fans blow the wind for refrigeration All are bound to enter bareâ—ooted into the idol-Temples The more horrid and ugly the idol looks the more he is worshipped Sick people are brought and laid before the idols which are honoured with lights continually burning before them Their marriages are made in some Water wherein the Priest and the married couple hold a Cow with her Calfe by the taile and poure water upon it then the Priest tieth the maâ—ried persons cloaths together then going round about the Cow aud Calse the Ceremony is ended The Priest hath for his Fee the Cow and Calf the poor some Almes and the idols some Money About Iemena they use to pray naked in the water and to do pennance by lying flat on the ground 〈◊〉 the earth holding up their hands to the Sun and turning themselves about fourty times Who deâ—ire more of this stuff let them read Linschoten R. Fitzh 〈…〉 Q. Of what Religion is the kingdom of Magor A. They are for the most part Pythagoreans holding Transanimation they acknowledge one God but have many fabulous conceits of him as that he hath appeared in the world in divers monstrous shapes to wit of a Fish a Snail a Hog a Monster resembling Woman in the lower part and a Lyon in the upper They worship divers idols one chiefly representing a Woman with two heads and many hands to this image neâ—r the City Tahor repair many Pilgrims The King worshippeth every morning the image of the Sun and of Christ also the Son of righteousnesse which he sets on the crown of his head See Oranus in his Narration of Magor Q. What is the Reiigion of Cambaia A. The people here are so superstitiously Pythagoreans that there are among them some religious orders who are afraid to kill a Gnat or Worm They are much addicted to fasting and almes-giving Their religious persons called Verteus leave no hair on their heads and faces but a little on their crown They will not drink their water cold fearing least thereby they should slay the soul of the water which is quickened by boyling The people here redeem birds and beasts appointed to be slain and if any bird be sick or hurt they carry it to the Hospital They redeem also Malefactors condemned to dye and sell them for slaves For fear least they should tread upon Ants they will rather go out of the way then goe neer their Hills They drink no Wine nor will eat Eggs least there should be blood in them Neither will they eat of Radishes Onyons or any herb that hath red colour in it See Maffaeus Linschoten and Purchas Q. What is the Religion professed in Goa A. Here are Christians Jewes Mahumetans and Pagans who pray to the Sun and Moon and worship divers idols of horrible Aspects but their custome is to pray to the first thing they meet with
in the morning though a Goose or an Asse and all the day after they pray to it but a Crow they cannot abide the sight of that will make them keep in all day They salute the first appearance of the New Moon with prayers on their knees Neer to every Idol is a Cistern of water in which they that passe by wash their feet worship and offer Rice Eggs or such like When they sow mow marry go to sea and when the women lie in they feast their idols with musick and other solemnities fourteen days together and so do sea-men after they return home See Linschoten Q Of what Religion are the people of Malabar A. Pythagoreans they are holding not onely the immortality of Soules both of beasts and men and transanimation but also a divinity in Elephants Kine and other beasts therefore at Calecut the chief City of this Dominion and head of a small Kingdome of the same name there is a stately Temple of 700. pillars dedicated to the Ape Their Bramanes or Priests the successors of the old Brachmannes are in such esteeme here that the King will not converse with his new married Wife till one of the chief Bramanes hath had the first nights lodging with her They hold that God made the World but because the trouble of governing thereof is so great therefore hath given the charge thereof to Satan whom they worship with flowers on their Altars and sacrifices of Cocks The Bramanes wash his image sitting in a fiery Throne with three Crowns and four Horns in sweet water every morning The King of Calecut eats no meat till it be first offered by his Priests to this Idol Debtors that will not pay are arrested by a rod sent from the chief of the Bramanes with which a circle is made about the Debtor in the Kings name and the said Priest out of which he daâ—e not go till the debt be satisfied otherwise he is put to death Every twelfth year in the City of Quilacare is a Jubilee kept to the honour of their Idol in which the King of that place upon a Scaffold covered with silk before the people washeth himself then prayeth to the Idol and having cut off his nose ears lips and other parts at last cuts his own throat as a sacrifice to his idol His successor by their discipline is bound to be present and to act the same tragedy on himselfe at the next Jubilee See Castaneda Barbosa Boterus Linâ—â—hoten and Purchas Q. How caâ—â— these Idolatrous Pagans to beleeve the immortality of souls A. By the meer force of natural reason for they observed that the soul is incorporeal not onely free from al dependance on the body in respect of its essence but also in regard of its inorganical operations to wit of Understanding and Will they found that the more the body decayed and grew weak the more vigorous active and strong was the soul that it lost nothing of its operations by the losse or decay of the outward senses that it could comprehened all the world within it self that it could move it self in an instant from one end of the world to the other that it can make things past many years agoe as if they were present that it can conceive spiritual Essences and Universalities all which do prove how far the soul exceedeth the body and bodily senses which can reach no farther then to sensible qualities singularities or individuals to things present only to bodies only Besides they observed that the soul could not dye or perish or corrupt and putrifie as bodies do because it is immaterial simple without composition of different substances and free from contrary and destructive qualities which are the causes of death corruption and putrefaction in bodies Again every body is quantitative sensible and may be measured and filled but the soul hath no quantitie nor is it sensible but by its effects nor can it be measured nor can the whole world fill it nor doth it increase or decrease as bodies do nor can it receive hurt or detriment from any outward thing and whereas bodily senses are weakned by any vehement object as the eye by too much light the ear by a violent souâ—d c. the soul is perfected by its object and the more sublime or eminent the object is the more is the soul corroborated in sits understanding neither is the soul subject to time and motion as bodies are for it makes all times present and is not capable of generation corruption alteration c. moreover there is in the soul even of Epicurus himself a desire of immortality which desire cannot be in vain nor frustrated because natural and consequently necessary and wee know that God hath made nothing in vain but this desire must be in vain if frustrâ—ted And we find that many who have denied the souls immortality in their health and prosperity have been forced to confesse it in their sicknesse and troubles and on their death bed If we look upon the writings of the learned Gentiles we shall find them professing this truth this we may see in the fragments of Zoroastres in Trismegistus in Phocillides who thus sings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is The soul is immortal and void of old age and liveth allwayes And againe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is The soules remain void of fate in death The Pythagoreans believed the same as we see by their opinion of Transanimation Socrates and Plato speak most divinely of the soul essence and immortality so doth Aristotle in his books De anima so do the Poets so doth Cicero in Som. Scip. Erigamus in caeâ—um oculos tanquam in Patriam in quam nobis aliquando redeundum est Let us saith he lift up our eyes towards Heaven as our country to which at last we shall return So he saith The body is fraile but the spirit is immortal So Seneca Animus unde demissus estâ— ibi illum aeterna requies manet Eternal rest remaines for the soul there from whence it came Animus sacer aeternus cui non possit inijci manus Many such passages may be seen in his writiâ—gs and that generally the Gentiles believed this truth is plain by their opinion they had of torments in Hell and of joyes in their Elysian fields Q. Of what Religion are the people of Narsinga and Bisnagar A. This rich Indian Kingdom having these two names from the two Chief Cities thereof is infested with horrible Idolatry Here is an Idol to which Pilgrimes resort either with their hands bound or ropes abovt their necks or knives sticking in their armes and legs which limbs if they fester they are accounted holy Gold Silver and Jewels are given by these Pilgrims to maintain this Idol and his Temple All these gifts are cast into a Lake and kept there for the uses aforesaid This Idol is carried yearly in procession with Virgins and Musick going before Under the Idols Chariot Pilgrims
run with as great alacrity to war against Christians as to a wedding beleeving if they die in that war they shall immediatly possesse Paradise which is indeed the generall belif of all Turks See Les Estats du Monde Boterus Leo c. Q. What Religon is professed in Guinea A. Gentilism for they adore strawen rings instead of God Of whom they speak blasphemously calling him evill and black and the Author of their miseries And that they are no wayes beholding to him for what they enjoy but to their own industry They put within their Rings Wheat Water and Oyle for their god to feed upon Such Rings are worn by many as preservatives against danger Their Priests use to preach to them on festival dayes and after Sermon to besprinkle the infants with Water in which a Newt doth swim They consecrate to their Idol the first bit and draught of their meat and drink But I believe this black god they rail against is the devill whom their cunning Priests represent to that ignorant people in some black and ugly shape Sometimes of a black dog If they paint themselves with Chalke they think they do good service to their God When he is angry with them they use to bribe the Priest with gold so fishermen use to do when they have no successe at sea The Priest with his wives walks in Procession knocking his breast and clapping his hands then hanging some boughs from the trees on their necks and playing on a Timbrel the Priest flings Wheat into the sea to appease the angry God They have certain trees in great veneration consulting with them as with Oracles using divers foolish ceremonies They worship a certain bird which hath feathers like stars and a voice like a Bull. The Tunie is a sacred fish with them and not to be touched So are the mountains whose tops they daily feed or the Priests rather with meat and drink When one dieth the Priest makes gods of straw to accompany the dead in the other world wine and good cheere are sent with him and servants with his wives if he be the King these are slain to wait upon the King and their heads advanced upon Poles round about the grave They hold it a sin to spit on the ground The Tuesday is their Sabbath They use circumcision and some other Turkish ceremonies See G. Arthus Dantiseanus Mercator Bertius c. Q. Of What Religion were the African Ethiopians antiently A. Gentiles for they worshipped some immortall gods as the Sun Moon and the World some mortal as Iupiter Pan Hercules But some of them who dwelt neer and under the line did not worship but curse the Sun still when he rose because his excessive heat offended them When their Queen went to Solomon she being instructed by him in the knowledge of the true God upon her return planted the Jewish Religion in her country but the Eunuch of Queen Candace being baptized by Philip brought home with him the Christian Faith which hitherto they have retained See Diodorus Boemus Strabo Sardus Damianus a Goes c. Q. What Religion do these Aethiopians or Abyssins professe A. Christianity yet Gentilisme is retained in some part of Prestor-Iohns ample Dominions The Christians circumcise both male and female on the eighth day in memory of Christs circumcision The males are baptized fourty days after and the females eighty They abstain from certain meats and use some Mosaical Ceremonies They are very rigid in their Fastings they begin their Lent ten days before ours some Fryers eat no bread all the Lent some not in a whole year but are contented with Herbs without Salt or Oyl They keep a fast of three days after Candlemasse in memory of Ninevehs repentance Some Fryers all that time eat nothing and some Nurses give their Children suck but once a day He that marrieth three wives is excommunicated Queen Candace after her conversion consecrated the two magnificent Temples of the Sun and Moon to the Holy Ghost and the Crosse. Afterward these two Temples were given to the Monkish Knights of Saint Anthonies Order with two large Monasteries The Abyssins in their Liturgy mention the three first general Councils but not that of Chalcedon because they are Eutychians or Jacobltes Their Patriarch is onely a Monk of Saint Anthonies order and so is the Patriarch of Alexandria by whom the Aethiopian is consecrated and is in subjection to the Sea of Alexandria They observe here both Saturday and Sunday with equal devotion In the Eucharist the Priest administers leavened bread except on the Thursday before Easter for then it is unleavened because that day Christ instituted the Supper Anâ— the Deacon gives the Wine in a Spoon They receive all standing and in the Church onely all that day after they must not spit till Sun set They give the Eucharist to Infants immediately after Baptisme They believe traduction of Soules They are careful to confesse their sins to the Priest and still after confession receive the Eucharist The Patriarch onely excommunicates and none but murtherers usually Inferiour Priests and Monks labour for their maintenance but the Bishops Deanes and Prebends have large revenues and benefices They permit their Clergy to marry once and have pictures in their Churches but not images Betwixt Easter and Whitsuntide they eat flesh on Fridays Every Epiphanie day they baptize themselves in Lakes or Rivers So do the Muscovites in memory of Christs baptisme the same day They use no Confirmation nor Extream Unction See Damianus a Goes Alvarez in his Aethiopian History and others Q. What is the Religion of the lower Aethiopians A. These were not known to the Antients but they are found by Navigators to be for the most part Gentiles though divers Moors live among them Yet some of them worship but one God They superstitiously observe divers days of the Moon They feast the dead with bread and boyled flesh They punish witchcraft theft and adultery with death They may marry as many wives as they please but the first is the chief and the rest are her servants They pray to the dead in white garments In Monomotapa and some other places thereabouts the Jesuites have converted divers to Christianity many whereof are fallen back again to Gentilisme See Eâ—anuel Acosta of the Eastern affaires and Boterus c. Q. What is the Religion of Angola and Congo A. In Angola they are all heathens In the midst of their towns they worship wooden Idols resembling Negroes at whose feet are heaps of Elephants teeth on which are set up the skulls of their enemies killed in the wars They believe they are never sick but when their Idol is angry with them therefore they please him by pouring at his feet the Wine of Palmes They use to wash and paint and new cloath their dead and bury with him meat drink and some of his goods at whose grave they shed the blood of Goats They are much addicted to divination by
Eagle to Iupiter The Cock to the Sun The Magpie to Mars The Raven to Apollo c. They had also their peculiar Trees Iupiter the Oke Pallas the Olive Venus the Mirtle Pluto the Cypress Bacchus the Vine Hercules the Poplar Apollo the Lawrel c. Q. what Religious Rites did the Romans use in their Marriages A. In their marriages they used prayers in which they called upon the chief Wedding gods to wit Iupiter Iuno Venus Diana and Pytho or Suadela Before they married they consulted with their Auspices who encouraged or discouraged them according to the Birds they saw the best Auspicium was either two Crowes or two Turtles these signified long and true love but to see one of these alone was ominous After this sight they went to their prayers and in the Temple before the Altar were married first sacrificing a Hog to Iuno Cui Vincla jugalia curae for she had the chief care of marriages the gall of the sacrifices the Priests flung away to shew there should be no gall in the married life They must not marrie upon unluckie dayes such were the dayes after the Calends Nones and Ides these were called dies atri or black dayes such a day was that which was kept in memory of Remus killed by his brother called Lemuria or Lemulia Neither must they marrie on Funeral dayes nor on Festivals nor when there was any Earth-quake or Thunder or Stormy weather no such commotions must be in marriages The Bride was besprinkled with water to signifie her purity and in the Entry or Porch she must touch the fire and water placed to shew she must pass through all difficulties with her Husband In the wedding Chamber were placed certain Dieties or Idols rather to shew what was to be done in that place these were Virginensis Subjugus Prem◠Pertunda Manturna Venus and Priapus Their other Rites which were rather Politick then religious I touch not as not being to my purpose Q. What were their Religious Rites in Funerals A. The Corps was wont to be washed anointed crowned by the Priest and placed in the porch of his house with a Cypresse tree before it every thing that was to be imployed in the Funerall was to be bought in the Temple of Venus Libitina to shew that the same diety which brought us into the world carrieth us out of it The eyes of the dead bodies were closed upon the going out of the breath but opened again in the Funeral pile that by looking towards Heaven they might signifie the soule was gone thither which also they expresse by the flying of the Eagle out of the same pile where the Emperors body was burned The place for the burial was appointed by the Pontifices and Augures Before the pile were wont to be sacrificed Captives to pacifie the infernal Ghosts but this being held too cruel Gladiators were appointed to fight and for want of these Women were hired to teare their Cheeks but this custome was forbid by the Law of the twelve Tables The Priest after the fire was burned gathered the bones and ashes washed them with wine put them in an Urn and besprinkled the people three times with holy Water For the number of three was sacred So was 7. and 9. Therefore upon those days they used to keep Festivals in memory of the dead Altars adorned with Cypress boughs and blew Laces were wont to be erected to the Ghosts and on them Frankincense Wine Oyl Milk and Blood Q. Why was the burying of the dead held an act of Religion A. Because it was held an act of justice and mercy both to bury the dead of justice that earth should be restored to earth and dust to dust for what could be more just then to restore to mother earth her children that as she furnished them at first with a material being with food rayment sustentation and all things needfull so she might at last receive them again into her lap and afford then lodging till the Resurrection whereof some of the wiser Gentiles were not ignorant it was also an act of mercy to hide the dead bodies in the earth that those organs of such a divine soul might not be torne by wild Beasts and Birds and buried in their mawes That disconsolate mother of Euryalus in the Poet is not so much grieved for the murthering of her Son as for that he should be left a prey to the Birds and Beasts Heu terrâ ignotâ cunibus data praeda Latinis Alitibusque jaces It was held among the Egyptians one of the greatest punishments that could be inflicted to want the honour of burial and with this punishment Iehoiakim the Son of Iosiah is threatned Ierem. 22. 19. That he should be buried with the burial of an Asse and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem And the Milesian Virgins were terrified from hanging themselves by the Law of their Senat that such self-murtherers should have their bodies dragged naked through the streets in the same rope wherewith they hanged themselves Mezentius in the Poet doth not desire Aenaeus to spare his life but earnestly intreats him to afford him burial Nullum in caede nefas nec sic in praelia veni Vnum hec per siqua est victis venia hostibus ore Corpus humo patiare tegi c. So Turnus intreats for the same favour from Aenaeas si corpus poliari luinine mavis Redde meis Aen. 12. The right of Sepulture hath been held so sacred among all civil nations of the Gentiles that the violation thereof hath by their Lawes been counted Sacriledge Therefore they have ascribed to their gods the patronage of funerals and Sepultures for this cause they called the Law of interring the Law of their gods 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isocrates in Panatheniaco sheweth that the right of Sepulture is not so much humane as divine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The burying of the dead is commended by the Pagan writers as a work of humanity mercy clemency piety justice and religion therefore the Latine pharse yet doth intimate how just a thing it is to bury the dead when they call Funerals Deities justa exequiarum or justa funebria We read in Homer Iliad 24. how angry Iupiter and Apollo were with Achilles for abusing and neglecting to bury the body of Hector shewing that Achilles had lost all mercy and modesty 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. And to shew how religious an act it is to bury the dead the Gentiles assign the care of Funerals and Sepulchres to certain gods which they called Manes whose chief was Pluto called therefore Summanus hence all Tombs and Monuments were dedicated Diis manibus and therefore they who offered any violence to Tombs were said to violate the Manes Deorum Manium jura sancta sunto Of this you may see more in our Mystagogus Poeticus It was counted an execrable thing if any should light upon a dead body unburied and not cast earth
love-feasts in which kinsfolks entertained each other with good cheer and gifts 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were feasts at Athens wherein all kinds of seeds were boiled to Bacchus and Mercury in a pot called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this feast was kept about the midst of November 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was the scourging feast among the Lacedemonians in which the prime youth were whipt in the presence of their friends at the altar of Diana 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the feasts of Iupiter they were called also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here they were not very jovial but sad and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of sower countenance 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were feasts kept to Diana in February called Eâ—aphetolion wherein Stags were sacrificed to Diana 13. Ephestia at Thebes were feasts kept to the honour of Tyresias the Prophet who had been both man woman therefore that day they cloathed him first in mans apparel and then in a womans habit 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 marriage this was Iunos feast kept in Ianuary called Gamelion and she having the charge of marriages was called Gamelia 15. Hecatâ—mbe to Iuno in which 100 sacrifices were offered and divers shews of sports exhibited to the people He that overcame was rewarded with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a brazen Target and a Myrtle garland This feast was called also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from Iunoâ— name and the moneth of Iuly in which this feast was kept is named 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Athenian â—easts in which certain holy Reliques were carried about in a chest called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the Priests called Helenophori 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were Lacedemonian feasts kept to the honour of Apollo and his Boy â—yacinthus whom he lost therefore Lycander calls him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 much lamented 18. Hypocaustria were feasts to Minerva for avoiding the dangers that come by firing from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to kindle or burn 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was a feast at Argos so called from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Sow because by them then this beast was sacrificed to Venus 20. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so called from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Torch or Lamp This feast was kept to Bacchus into whose Temple in the night they used to carry burning Torches and to place goblets full of Wine in all parts of the City 21 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were the feasts of Cybele called Magna Mater in which were exhibited divers spectacles to the people in the moneth of April 22. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was Apollo's festival who was called Metageitnius and the moneth in which it was kept was named 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which some say is May others Iuly 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was a feast among the Aegeans in which it seems they eat all of one dish or else but once a day or else each man apart These are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 24. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the feast of Minerva kept in the harbour of Athens called Munichium The moneth of March was also called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 25. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were sober sacrifices without wine therefore called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at Athens these sacrifices were performed to Venus Vrania likewise to Mnemosyne Aurora Sol Luna the Muses and the Nymphs and even to Bacchus himself Sometimes they offered in stead of Wine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 water mingled with honey 26. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were the night sacrifices of Bacchus whence he was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 27. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were Athenian feasts so called from the great cup of the same name which being filled with wine beardlesse youths 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Athenaeus being to cut their long hair offered to Hercules 28. Ornea the festivals of Priapus who was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from Ornis a Town of Peloponnesus 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Athenian feast in which the noble youth carried 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vine branches into Minerva's Temple This feast was instituted when The seus returned mourning from Crete upon the report of his fathers death Aegeus 30. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the chief Athenian feast to the honour of Minerva it was celebrated every fifth year In this were divers shews the youth then used to dance in armour called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from Pyrâ—hus the inventer The Image of Pallas was then carried in a Ship called Panathenaica in which the sail called Peplus was spread and on this was woven the Giant Enceladus slain by Pallas In this feast they used to run with lamps or torches and so they did in the Feasts called Ephestia and Promethea He that overcame had for his reward 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Olive fruit that is a pot of Oyl whereof Pallas was the Inventer and none but he could by the law carry any Oyle out of the Aâ—tick Countrey 31. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were feasts dedicate to Apollo in the moneth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which some take for October others for Iuly This feast was so called from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from beanes or other kind of legumina consecrated to Apollo 32. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Athenian feast to Minerva the moneth in which it was kept was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from bearing about in procession 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Fan to make a shadow from the Suns heat The Fan was carried by Minerva's Priest accompanied with the Gentry of Athens out of the Tower from this they called Minerva Sâ—irada The moneth of this feast was thought to be March 33. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this feast was dedicated to Apollo and Diana at Athens in the moneth of April which was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In it the first fruits of the earth were offered to these gods and boiled in the pot called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 34. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were feasts to Bacchus the god of Wine who was therefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and his Temple 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 commonly called this was an Athenian feast 35. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were feasts dedicated to all the gods together This feast by the Latines is called dies pandiculaâ—is and communicarius Theoxenia also were games exhibited to Apollo who was called Theoxenius and this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 common feast was at Delphi consecrated peculiarly to Apollo This feast was so called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because all the gods were entertained at a feast Castor and Pollux were the authors of this feast for when Hercules was deified he committed to these Diâ—scuri the care of the Olympick games but they devised this new feast of Theoxenia It was chiefly observed by the Athenians in honour of forreign gods
the weaknesse of preaching against which the more the Roman Empire strugled the more it was foiled and found by experience that the blood of Martyrs was the seed of the Church which conquered the great conquerours not with acting but with suffering not by the sword but by the word and more by their death then by their life like so many Sampsons triumphing over these Philistines in their death and torments Q. 2. Seeing the power of Religion was so irresistible in the beginning that it carried all like a torrent before it how came it to grow so weake within 600 yeers that it yielded to Mahumetanism A. When God saw that the ungrateful professors of Christianity began to loath that heavenly Manna and to covet for Quales of new Doctrin he gave them leave to eat and poyson themselves therewith He was not bound to cast pearls before swine and to give that which was holy to dogs In his just judgements he removed the Candlestick from those who rejected the light and delighted themselves in darknesse it was fit the Kingdom of God should be taken from them and given to a people that should bring forth the fruâ—ts thereof They deserved to be plagued with a famine who grew wanton and spurned against their spiritual food Besides when the devil perceived he could do no good by open hostility and persecution but the more burden he laid upon the Palme the more it flourished and the oftener he flung the Gyant of Religion to the ground the stronger it grew with Antaeus he resovled at last to joyn the Foxes tayl to the Lioâ—s skin and to try whether the heat of the Sun would not make the traveller sooner forsake his cloak thâ—n the impetuosity of the winde He choaks all zeaâ—e and sincerity with the baits of wealth and honour he poysons them with ambition pride covetousnesse and envie the evil man sowed the â—ases of dissention and heretical Doctrines in the Lords fields the spiritual husbandmen grew carelesse and idle the Shepherds neglect their flocks the dogs grow dumb and so the Lords sheep are suffered to stray and become a prey to the Wolves The watch-men being inebriated with honour wealth ease and security fall asleep on the walls and let the enemy feise upon the Lords City It was not then the weaknesse of Christian Religion that was the cause of Mahomets prevailing for the heat of the Sun is not weak though it cannot soften the clay not is the good seed that is cast into barren ground to be blamed if it doth not fructifie neither is the preaching of the Gospel impotent aud weak because it doth not alwayes edifie All the water in the Sea cannot mollifie a Rock nor all the rain in the clouds secundate a stony barren ground The subject must be capable or else the Agent cannot operate Mahumetanism then prevailing upon Christianity proceeded from the voluntary perversnesse of mens hearts from the malice and craft of the devil and from the just judgements of the Almighty Q. 3. What were the Engines that Satan used to overthrow Religion in the beginning A. Open persecution and heresie with the one he destroyed the bodies with the other he poysoned the souls of Christians Persecution with Saul killed its thousands but Heresie with David ten thousand Persecution was the Arrow that did flie by day but Heresie the Pestilence that raged in the darknesse Persecution was the Pruning knife that lopped the branches of Religion but Heresie the Axe laid to the root of the tree Persecution was the Dragon that drove the woman into the wildernesse but Heresie the beast that spake blasphemies Open Persecution began in Nero a Tyrant but Heresie in Simon a Witch Open Persecution began about 66 yeers after Christs Ascention but heresie immediatly after Christs departure about the sixth yeere in the beginning of Caligula's reign Persecution is the wild Boar of the Forrest but Heresie the little Fox that eateth up the Grapes of the Lords Vineyard Q. 4. Who was the first Heretick that opposed the Orthodox Religion and what were his opinions A. Simon called Magus because he was a Witch a Samaritan by birth and a Christian by profession he would have bought the gifts of the Holy Ghost for mony Act. 8. 13. He denyed the Trinity and affirmed himselfe to be the true God He taught that the world was made by the Angels not by God And that Christ came not into the world nor did he truly suffer He denyed also the Resurrection of the flesh and permitted promiscuous marriages He likewise affirmed that the true God was never known to the Patriarchs and Prophets This point was afterward maintained by Menander Cerinthus Nicholas Saturninus and Basilides succeeding Hereticks Upon this Doctrine also the Tertullianists and Anthropomorphits grounded their Heresie in ascribing a humane body to God His denying of the Trinity begot afterward the Sabellians Samosatenians Montanists Praxians Photinians and Priscillianists His Heresie of the Creation of the world by Angels begot the Marcionites Manichees and the Angelick hereticks who worshipped Angels In saying that Christ came not nor suffered he gave occasion to the Heresies of Valentinians Cerdonians Marcionites Aphthardocites Docits Samosatenians and Mahumetans Upon his denyal of the Resurrection Basilides Valentinus Carpocrates Apelles and the Hierarchits grounded their Heresies Besides Epicurism Libertinism and Atheism got vigour hereby By permitting licentiousnesse and promiscuous copulation he gave occasion to the Basilidians Gnosticks Manichees Acatians Eunomians and Mahumetans to live like beasts and to slight Marriage Besides these impious opinions he held Magick and Idolatry lawful He gave to the Angels barbarous names He slighted the Law of Moses as being not from God and blasphemously denyed the Holy Ghost to be a substance but a bare vertue or operation and caused his Disciples to worship his whore Helena or Selene for a goddesse Q. 5. Why did Simon Magus his scholars with many other hereticks since him besides Iews Mahumetans deny the Trinity A. Partly the malice of Satan who hates and persecutes the truth partly the pride of Hereticks who would seem wiser then the Church partly their ignorance because by naturall reason they cannot comprehend this ineffable mystery and partly malice against Christ whose Divinity is denyed by Jewes and Mahumetans bred this Heresie notwithstanding the truth is plainly set down both in the old and new Testament asserted by all the Greek and Latin Fathers confirmed by all Generall councills and proved by all Orthodox Divines that it is no more repugnant to naturall reason for the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost to be one God then for the soul mind and body to be one man but because this Doctrin is sufficiently proved by all Divines both ancient and moderne and all objections to the contrary answered and refuted I will forbeare to set down what is so plain and obvious already handled by so many Pens and will onely shew that the
Father of Christ and author of the Gospel but Moses Law they rejected and the old Testament as proceeding from the other god to wit of justice The Cerdonians also denyed the Resurrection of the flesh and Humanity of Christ Affirming that he was not born of a Virgin nor suffered but in shew Marcion by birth a Paphlagonian neer the Euxin Sea was Cerdons Scholar whose opinions he preferred to the Orthodox Religion out of spleen because his Father Bishop Marcion excommunicated him for Whoredom and because he could not without true repentance be received again into the Church therefore he professed and maintained Cerdons Heresies at Rome in the time of M. Antoninus Philosophus 133. years after Christ but he refined some points and added to them some of his own phansies With Cerdon he held two contrary gods and denied Christs Incarnation of the Virgin and therefore blotted his Genealogy out of the Gospel affirming his body to be from heaven not from the Virgin He denied that this world by reason of the Ataxie and Disorder in it could be the work of the good god He rejected the Old Testament and the Law as repugnant to the Gospel which is false for their is no repugnancy He denied the Resurrection and taught that Christ by descending into hell delivered from thence the souls of Cain Esau the Sodomites and other reprobates translating them into heaven He condemned the eating of flesh and the married life and renewed baptism upon every grievous fall into sin If any of the Catechumeni died some in their name were baptised by the Marcionites They also baptised and administred the Eucharist in presence of the Catechumeni against the custom of the Church They permitted Women also to baptize They condemned all Wars as unlawfull and held transanimation with the Pythagoreans Q. 15. What was the Religion of Apelles Severus and Tatianus A. Apelles whose scholars were called Apellitae was Marcions Disciple and a Syrian by birth He flourished under Commodus the Empâ—ror about 150. years after Christ. He taught that there was but one chief God to whom was subordinat a fierie God who appeared to Moses in the bush who made the world and gave the Law to the Israelites and was their God He gave to Christ a body compacted of the Stary and Elementary substance and appeared in the shape onely of man This body when he ascended he left behind him every part thereof returning to their former principles and that Christs spirit is onely in heaven He rejected the Law and Prophets and denied the Resurrection Severus author of the Severians was contemporarie with Apelles under Commodus 156. years after Christ. He used the company of one Philumena a Strumpet and Witch He taught his disciples to abstain from Wine as being poyson begot of Satan in the form of a Serpent with the Earth The world he said was made by certain Powers of Angels which he called by divers barbarous names He hated Women and Marriage denied the Resurrection the Old Testament and Prophets using in stead of them certain Apocryphall Books Tatianus a bad Scholar of a good Master Iustin Martyr was a Mesopotamian by birth and lived under M. Antoninus Philosophus 143. years after Christ his disciples were called Tatiani from him and Encratitae from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 temperance or continence for they abstain from Wine Flesh and Marriage They were called also Hydro-Paristatae users of Water for in stead of Wine they made use of Water in the Sacrament They held that Adam was never restored to mercy after his fall And that all men the sons of Adam are damned without hope of salvation except the Tatiani They condemned the Law of Moses the eating of flesh and the use of wine and held Procreation of Children to be the work of Satan yet they permitted though unwilingly Monogamy or the marrying once but never again they denied that God made male and female and that Christ was the seed of David Q. 16. Of what Religion were the Cataphrygians A. Montanus disciple to Tatianus who was his contemporary was author of this Sect who for a while were from him called Montanists but being ashamed of his wicked life and unhappy end they were afterward from the Country where he was born and which was first infected with his heresie called Cataphrygians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they were named also Tascodragitae because they used in praying to thrust their forefingers into their Nostrills to shew their devotion and anger for sin Tascus in their Language signifieth a long slick or slaff and Druggus their Nose as if you would say Perticonasati as the interpreter of Epiphanius translates it They loved to be called Spirituales because they bragged much of the gifts of the Spirit others that were not of their opinion they called naturual men This Heresie began about 145. years after Christ and lasted above 500. years He had two Strumpets which followed him to wit Prisca and Maximilla these forsook their Husbands pretending zeal to follow Montanus whereas indeed they were notorious Whoors they took upon them to prophesie and their dictates were held by Montanns as divine oracles but at last he and they for company hanged themselves He blasphemously held himself not onely to be in a higher measure inspired by the Holy Ghost then the Apostles were but also said that he was the very Spirit of God which in some small measure descended on the Apostles he condemned second marriages and yet allowed Incest He trusted altogether to Revelations and Enthusiasmes and not to the Scripture In the Eucharist these wretches mingled the Bread with Infants Blood they confounded the persons of the Trinity affirming the Father suffered Q. 17. What was the Religion of the Pepuzians Quintilians and Artotyrites A. These were disciples of the Cataphrygians Pepuzians were so called from Pepuza a town between Galatia and Cappadocia where Montanus dwelt and Quintillians from Quintilla another whorish Prophetesse and companion to Prisca and Maximilla They held Peprza to be that new Ierusalem fore told by the Prophets and mentioned in the Epistle to the Hebrews and in the Revelatien In this they said we should enjoy life eternal They perferred Women before Men affirming that Christ assumed the form of a Women not of a Man And that he was the author of their wicked Tenets They commended Eve for eating the forbidden fruit saying that by so doing she was the author of much happinesse to man They admitted Woman to Ecclesiastical functions making Bishops and Priests of them to preach and administer the Sacraments They mingled also the Sacramental Bread with humane Blood The Artotyritae were so called from offering Bread and Cheefe in the Sacrament in stead of Wine because our first Parents offered the fruits of the Earth and of sheep and because God excepted Abels sacrifice which was the fruits of his sheep of which Cheese cometh therefore they held cheese
more acceptable then wine In other points they were Pepuzians and differed from them onely in cheese offering therefore they were called Artotyritae from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bread and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cheese Q. 18. What was the Religion of the Tessarescae Decatitae or Quarradecimani and of the Alogiani A. The former of these were so called from observing Easter on the fourteenth day of the Moon in March after the manner of the Iewes and they made Saint Iohn the author of that custome which was observed by the Oriental Churches till Pope Victor excommunicated them as Schismaticks in dissenting from the custome of the Western Church This controversie fell out about the 165 year of Christ Severus then being Emperour and from the first Original thereof continued 200. years This Heresie was condemned by the council of Nice and ordered that Easter should be kept after the manner of the Western Church which derived their custom from Saint Peter These Hereticks also denied repentance to those that fell after baptisme which was the Novatian Heresie Alogiani so called from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the privative and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word because they denied Christ to be the word and consequently they denied his divinity as Ebion and Cerinthus had done before Samosâ—tenus Aâ—â—ius and the Mahumetans afterward These Alogiani rejected Saint Iohns Gospel and his Apocalypse as not written by him but by Cerinthus which is ridiculous for Cerinthus denied Christs Divinity which Saint John asserteth in writing that the Word was God These Hereticks were named also Berilliani from Berillus a Bishop in Arabia who taught that Christ was a man and then became the word of God The first broacher of this Heresie is thought to be Artemon a profane man who lived about the time of Severus Emperour 167. years after Christ from him they were called Artemonitâ— Q 19. What was the Religion of the Adamians Elcesians and Theodotians A. The Adamians or Adamites so called either from one Adam their author or from Adam the first man whose nakednesse they imitate sprung up shortly after the Gnosticks and were called Prodiciani from one Prodicus whom they followed Of this Sect there be many extant at this day They held it unlawful for men or women to wear cloathes in their congregation and assemblies seeing their meetings were the only Paradise on earth where they were to have life Eternal and not in Heavenâ— as Adam then in his Paradise so Christians in theirs should be naken and nor cloathed with the badges of their sin and shame They rejected marriages as diabolical therefore they used promiscuous copulation in the dark they rejected also all prayers to God as needlesse seeing he knew without us what we wanted The Elcesei so called from Elcesae an impostor and Sampsei from a spotted kind of Serpent which they represented in their changable dispositions were much addicted to judicial Astrology and Soothsaying They held two Priests one below made of the Virgin a meer man and one above they confound Christ with the Holy Ghost and sometimes they call him Christs Sister but in a masculine name to both which persons they give longitude latitude and locality To water they ascribe a divinity and so they did to two Whoores Marthus and Marthana the dust of whose feet and spittle they worshipped as holy reliques They had a certaine Apocrypha book the reading whereof procured remission of â—in and they held it no sin to deny Christ in time of persecution This Heresie began to spread about 210. years after Christ under Gordian the Emperor See Origen who writ against it The Theodocians so called from one Theodoâ—us or Theodotion who lived under Severus Emperour 170. years after Christ. He was a Byzantian by birth and a Tanner by profession who taught that in times of persecution we may deny Christ and in so doing we deny not God because Christ was meerly man and that he was begotten of the seed of man He also added to and took from the writings of the Evangelists what he pleased Q 20. What was the Religion of the Melchisedecians Bardesanists and Noetians A. The former were called Melchisedecians for believing that Melchisedeck was not a man but a Divine power superiour to Christ whom they held to be a meer man One Theodotus Scholar to the former Theodotus the Tanner was author of this Sect who lived under Severus about 174. years after Christ. The Bardesanists were so called from one Bardesanes a Syrian who lived under Verus the Emperour 144. years after Christ. He taught that all things even God himself were subject to Fate or a Stoical necessity so that he took away all liberty both from God and man and that vertue and vice depended on the Stars He renewed also the whimsies of the Aeones by which he overthrew Christs divinity and denied the Resurrection of the flesh The Noetians so called from Noetus born in Smyrna taught that there was but one Person in the Trinity which was both mortal and immortal in heaven God and impatible on earth Man and patible So they made a Trinity not of Persons but of Names and Functions Noetus also taught that he was Moses and that his brother was Aaron This Heretick was buried with the burial of an Asse and his city Smyrna was overthrown eight years after he broached his Heresie He lived about 140. years after Christ under M. Antoninus and L. Verus Emperours Q. 21. Of what Religion were the Valesians the Cathari Angelici and Apostolici A. The Valesians so called from one Valens an Arabian who out of the doctrine of the Gnosticks or Tatians condemned marriage and procreation Therefore his Scholars after the example of Origen gelded themselves thinking none can enter into heaven but Eunuchs Whereas the Eunuchs Christ speaks of be such as by continence subdue the lusts of the flesh This Heresie springing under Iulianus Philippus Emperour about the year of Christ 216. The Cathari 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so called by themselves as if they were purer then other men derived most of their Tenets from Novatâ—s hence they were named Novatians This Novatus lived under Decius the Emperour after Christ 220. years He was an African born This Heresie lasted till the time of Arcadius to wit 148. years they denyed repentance to those who fell after Baptism they bragged much of their Sanctity and good works They condemned second Marriages as adulterous They used rebaptization as the Donatists did afterward They rejected also Oyl or Chrism in Baptisme The Angelici were so called from worshipping of Angels it seems this Heresie was begun in the Apostles time who condemneth it but had its growth shortly after the Melchisedecians about the year of Christ 180. The Apostolici were so called from imitating the holinesse of the Apostles these were the spawn of the Encratites about the year
substance communicated from parents to Children and not a quality or affection These wicked opinions raged in the world 340. years after Manes was excoriated alive for poysonning the Persian Kings Son these Hereticks were three Sects to wit Manichees Catharists or Puritans and Macarii or blessed Q. 25. What was the Religion of the Hierarchites Melitians and Arrians A. The Hierachites so called from Hieracha an Egyptian and a Monk who lived shortly after Origen under Gallienus 234. years after Christ taught that married people could not enjoy heaven nor infants because they cannot merit they admitted none into their Church but those that lived single They denied that Paradise in which man was created had any earthly or visible being They held Melchisedeck to be the Holy Ghost and denied the Resurrection The Meletians so called from Meletius a Theban Bishop in Egypt who because he was deposed for offering to Idols in spleen he taught the Novatian Heresie in denying pardon of sins to those that fell though they repented rejected all from their communion who in time of persecution fell from Christ though they afterward repented They used Pharisaical washings and divers other Judaical ceremonies and in their humiliations to appease Gods anger with dancing singing and gingling of small bells This Heresie began under Constatine the Emperour 286. years after Christ. The Arrians so called from Arrius a Lybian by birth and a Presbyter of Alexandria by Profesion were called also Exoucontji for saying that Christ was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 created of nothing This heresie brake out under Constantine 290. years after Christ and over-run a great part of the Christian world They held Christ to be a creature and that he had a mans body but no humane soul the divinity supplying the room thereof They held also the holy Ghost a creature proceeding from a creature to wit Christ. The Arrians in their Doxolegier gave glory not to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost but to the Father by the Son in the Holy Ghost They rebaptized the Orthodox Christian and baptized onely the upper parts to the Novel thinking the inferiour parts unworthy of baptisme Q. 26. What was the Religion of the Audians Semi-arrians and Macedonians A. The Audiani so called from Audaeus a Syrian who appeared under Valentinian the Emperour 338. yeares after Christ were named afterwards Anthropormorphytae for ascribing to God a humane body these as afterward the Denatists forsook the Orthodox Church because some wicked men were in it They held darknesse fire and water eternal and the Original of all things They admitted to the Sacrament all sorts of Christians even such as were profane and impenitent The Semi-arrians were those who neither would have Christ to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the same individual essence with the Father as the Orthodox Church held nor yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of a like essence but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of a different Essence but of a like Will and so they taught that Christ was not God in Essence but in Will only and Operation This Heresie also held that the Holy Ghost was Christs creature It began under Constantius the Emperour 330. years after Christ. The chief author thereof was one-eyed Acatius Bishop of Cesaraea Palestina successor to Eusebius hence they were called Acatiani The Macedonians so called from Macedonius Bishop of Constantinople held that the holy Ghost was a creature and the servant of God but not God himselfe and withal that by the holy Spirit was meant only a power created by God and communicated to the creatures This Heresie sprung up or rather being sprung up long before was stifly maintained under Constantius the Son of Constantine 312. years after Christ and was condemned in the second Oecumenical councel at Constantinople under Theodosius the great These Hereticks were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fighters against the spirit Q. 27. Of what Religion were the Aerians Aetians or Eunomians and Apollinarists A. The Aerians so called from Aerius the Presbyter who lived under Valentinian the first 340. years after Christ held that there was no differance between a Bishop and a Presbyter that Bishops could not ordain that the dead were not to be prayed for that there should be no set or anniversary fasts and with the Encratites or Apotactitae admitted none to their communion but such as were continent and had renounced the world They were called Syllabici also as standing captiously upon Words and Syllabies They are said also to condemn the use of flesh the Aetians were called so from Aetius a Deacon whose successor was Eunomius about the year of Christ 331. under the Emperor Constantius he was Bishop of Cyzicum whose disciples were called Eunomians and Anomei for holding that Christ was no way like the Father They were called also Eudoxiani Theophronâ—ani When they were banished they lived in holes and caves and so were called Troglodytae and Gothici because this heresie prevailed much among the Goths by means of Vlphillas their Bishop These hereticks held that God could be perfectly here comprehended by us that the Son was neither in power essence or will like the Father and that the Holy Ghost was created by the Son that Christ also assumed onely mans body but not his soul. They permitted all kind of licentiousnesse saying that faith without good works could save The Eunomians did rebaptise the Orthodox professors and baptised in the name of the Father uncreated the Son created and the Holy Ghost created by the Son The Apollinarists so called from Apollinaris Presbyter in Laodicea divided Christs humanity in affirming that he assumed mans body and a sensitive soul but not the reasonable or intellective soul of man because that was supplied by the divinity from this division they were named Duplaâ—es and Dimâ—iritae In stead of the Trinity they acknowledge onely three distinct degrees of power in God the greatest is the Father the lesser is the Son and the laest of all the Holy Ghost They held that Christs flesh was consubstantial with his divinity and that he took not his flesh from the Virgin but brought it from Heaven They held that Christ had but one will that mens souls did propagate other souls that after the Resurrection the ceremonial Law should be kept as before This heresie brake out 350. years after Christ under Valens the Emperor Q. 28. What did the Antidicomarianites Messalians and Metangismonites professe A. The former of these were so called because they were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 adversaries to Maries Virginity Whence they were named Antimaritae and Helvidians from Helvidius the author who lived under Theodosius the great 355. years after Christ. These held that Mary did not continue a Virgin after Christ was born but that she was known by Ioseph whereas she was indeed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a perpetual Virgin The Messalians were so
named from the Caldaicks word Tsalah which signifieth to pray therefore in Greeke they were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prayer because they did pray continually and Martyriani for worshipping as a Martyr one of their Sect who was killed by a Souldier They were called also Enthusiastae from their pretended inspirations and Euphemitae from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 praises or elogies which they sung to God and Satanici from worshipping of Satan whom they held to be the governour of mankind They held that nothing was required to salvation but prayer therefore they rejected faith preaching and sacraments and taught that God was visible to our bodily eyes and that Satan was to be worshipped that he might do no hurt they bragged that they could visibly expel Satan whom they could see come out of the mouth like smoak and in form of a Sow with her Pigs into whose place the holy Ghost did visibly succeed They live idly and hare working so that they excommunicate any of their Sect that labour they condemn all almes giving except to those of their own Sect They allow lying perjury and disâ—embling in Religion They slighted the Sacraments and held that baptism was of no use but onely for sins past This heresie prevailed under Valentinian and Valens Emperors 341. years after Christ. The Metangismonites were so called from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is transvasation or putting one vessel or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek into another for they held that the Son was in the Father as a lesser vessel in a bigger and so they make the Divine Essence bigger and lesser then it self they held also that God was corporeal Q. 29. What was the Religion of the Hermians Proclianites and Patricians A. The Hermians or Hermogenians so called from Hermius or Hermogenes an African under Severus the Emperour 177. years after Christ are by Saint Austin reckoned the same with the Seleucians These held that the elements or matter of the world was coeternal with God That the Angels were made of spirit and fire and that they were the creators of mens souls That evil was partly from God partly from the matter that Christ in his ascention left his body in the Sunne they denied that there was ever any visible Paradise that there shall be any Resurrection and that baptisme by water was to be used The Proclianites were so called from one Proclus or Proculus an obscure man who held the Hermogenian opinions and withal taught that Christ was not yet come into the flesh The Patricians were so called from one Patricius whom Danaeus thinks lived under Arcadius the Emperour 387. years after Christ. These held that not God but Saran made mans flesh and that therefore men may lawfully kill themselves to be rid of the flesh they admit and reject what books of the Old Testament they please Q. 30. What did the Ascitae Pattalorinchitae Aquarii and Coluthiani professe A. The Ascitae so named from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Bottle used to carry about Bottles filled with Wâ—ne and stopped bragging that they were the new Evangelical Bottles filled with new Wine and such they held necessary for all good Christians to carry about in this they placed the main of their Religion These and divers other heresies like Ionas his gourd were quickly up and quickly down The Pattalorinchitae were so named from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a staff or stick and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Nose for they used to thrust their fingers into their Nose and Mouth to hinder them from speaking for they placeâ— all their Religion in silence Hence they were called Silentiarii The Aquarii were so called from 〈◊〉 water because in stead of pure Wine they offered Water in the Sacrament These were the spawn of the Severians Encratites and Helcesaites The Coluthiani were so called from Coluthus Presbyter of Alexandria and coetanial with Arrius under Constantine 290. years after Christ. Their opinion was that God could not be the author of punishment because it is evil whereas Amos the Prophet shews the contrary that their is no evil in the City which the Lord hath not done Amos 3. 6. and in Isay the Lord formeth the Light and Darknesse making peace and creating evil Is. 45. 7. Q. 31. What were the Religious Tenets of the Floriani Aeternales and Nudipedales A. The Floriani were so called from Florinus or Florianus a Roman Presbyter who lived under Commodus the Emperor 153. years after Christ. These hereticks were spawned by the Valentinians whose Doctrines concerning the â—â—ones and other of their Tenets they maintained and withall that God made evil and sin whereas Moses tells us that all things which he made were very good They retained also the Jewish manner of keeping Easter and their other Ceremonies Aeternales from the opinion of the worlds eternity for they held there should be no change after the Resurrection but that the world should continue as it is now This heresie in Philaster and Austin hath neither name nor author The Nudipedales were those who placed all Religion in going bare foot because Moses and Ieshua are commanded to pull off their shoes and Isay to walk bare-foot whereas these were Extraordinary and peculiar precepts and signs of particular things not enjoyned to be iitated Q. 32. What was the Religion of the Donatists Priscillianists the Rhetorians and the Feri A. The Donatists so called from Donatus a Numidian who because Cecilian was preferred before him to the Bishoprick of Carthage accused him and all the Bishops that ordained him to be Traditores that is such as had delivered the Bibles to be burned by Idolaters under the persecution of Maximinus though this accusation was found false yet Donatus persisted obstinate and separated himself and congregation from all others accounting that no Church where any spot or infirmity was to be found and that such a pure church was onely to be found among the Donatists and yet they would have no man to be forced or urged to a godly life but must be leâ—t to himself which was to open a Gap to all impurity they did also flight the magistracy and would not suffer them to punish hereticks They held the efficacy of the Sacraments to depend upon the dignity of the Minister and not on the Spirit of God they rebaptized also the Orthodox Christians as if their baptisâ—n had been no baptism They held it no sin to kill themselves rather then to fall into the hands of the Magistrate and so they made no scruple to kill others that were not of their faith when they found any advantage They used certarn magical purifications and bragged much of Enthusiasms and Revelations They also with the Arrians made the Son lesse then the Father and the Holy Ghost then the Son This herefie was divided into divers schismes the chief whereof were
the Circumcellions so called from their Cells and Cottages in which they lived to shew their austerity these made no bones to murther all they met that were not of their Religion so that they were more dangerous then High-way Robbers The Donatists were named also Parmenianists from Parmenianus one of Donatus his disciples At Rome they were named Campates from the Camp or Field and Montenses from the Hill where they used to hide themselves The Priscillianists were so named from Priscillianus a Spaniard who under Gratian the Emperor spread his heresie first in Spain 348. years after Christ. From thence like a canker it run through all the West his heresie was made up of former heresies for with the Manicnes he held that the world was made by an evil god With the Sabellians he confounded the persons of the Trinity with the Origenists he taught that mens souls were made before their bodies in some receptacle of Heaven and with the Manichees that they were parcels of the Divine Essence With Astrologers they held that all humane events depended on the Stars and with the Stoicks that we sin necessarily and coactively With the Gnosticks they condemned marriage with the Encratites the eating of flesh with the Audians they allowed lying and perjury in matters of Religion and with the Gâ—osticks they rejected the ancient Prophets as fanatical and ignorant of the will of God The Rhetorians so called from one Rhetorius held the same Tenet which the Mahumetans do at this day namely that every man shall be saved by the Religion he professeth and that therefore no Religion should be forced but men should be left to their own choice and will The Feri or wild Hereticks were such as held it unlawful to eat or converse with men therefore they held none should be saved but such as lived alone They taught also that the holy Ghost was a creature Q. 33. What were the Theopaschitae Tritheiâ—ae Aqueiâ— Melâ—â—onii Ophei Tertullii Liberatores and Nativitarii A. The Theopaschites held that the divinity of Christ suffered as if there had been in him but one nature because one person The Tritheits divided the Essence of God into three parts the one they called the Father the other the Son and the third the Holy Ghost as though either of the persons had not bin perfectly God The Aquei held that the water was not created but coeternal with God this heresie was culled out of the Hermagenian and Audian Tenets The Melitonii so named from one Melito taught that not the soul but the body of man was made after Gods Image and so with the Anthropomorphites they made God corporeal The Ophei so called from one Opheus held there were innumerable worlds The Tertullii from one Tertullus taught that the souls of wicked men should be converted into Devils and Savage Beasts Liâ—eratores are those who taught that Christ by his descending into Hell did set at liberty all wicked that then beâ—eved in him Nativitarji were such as taught that Christs Divine Nativity had a beginning because it is written Psal. 2. Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee so they acknowledged the Eternity of his Essence but not of his Filiation These were but branches of former Heresies broached by obscure or unknown authors and of short continuance Q. 34. What were the Luciferians Jovinianists and Arbicks A. Luciferians so called from Lucifer Bishop of Caralitanum in Sardinia who lived under Iulâ—an the Apostate 333. years after Christ taught with the Cerinthians and Marcionites that this world was made by the Devil That mens souls were corporeal and had their being by propagation or traduction They denyed to the Clergy that fell any place for repentance or reconciliation neither did they restore Bishops or inferious Clerks to their Dignities if they fel into Heresie though they afterward repented This was the Doctrine of the old Novaâ—ians and Meletians these Luciferians were named also Homonymians for using the word flesh ambiguously in their dispurations The Iovinianists were so called from Iovinian a Roman who lived under Jovinian the Emperour 335. years after Christ. These held with the Stoicks that all sins were equal that after baptisme we could not sin that fasting was needlesse that Virginity was not better then the married life and that the blessed Virgin in bearing Christ lost her Virginity The Arabicks were so named from Arabia the countrey where this heresie was broached and maintained under Philip the Emperour 217. years after Christ they held that mens soules died with their bodies and that both in the last day should rise again From this heresie they were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is mortal soules not much different from them are the Psychopanuychitae of this age who make the soul sleep in the Grave with the body till the Resurrection Q. 35. What were the Collyridians Paterniani Tertullianists and Abelonitae A. The Collyridians were hatched also in Arabia and so named from a kinde of Cakes or Buns which the Greeks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 these Cakes they presented every year with great ceremony to a certain Maid fitâ—ng in a chair of State and covered with a vail â—n honour of the Virgin Maâ—y these flourished under Theoâ—osius the great 357. years after Christ. Paterniani so called from one Paternus an obscure fellow were named also Venuâ—iani from Venus which by their venereal actions they honoured more then God These held that all the lower parts of mans body from the Navel downward were made by the Devil and therefore they gave themselves to all lasciviousnesse and uncleannesse therefore they were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deriders of good manners and honesty The Tertullianists were so called from that famous Lawyer and Divine Terâ—ullian who lived under Severus the Emperour about 170 years after Christ. He being excommunicated by the Roman Clergy for a Montanist fell unto these heretical opinioâ—s to wit that God was corporeal but without delineation of members that mens souls were not onely corporeal but also distinguished into members and had corporeal dimensions and did encrease and decrease with the body and that the soul had its Original by propagation or traduction He held also that the souls of wicked men after death were converted into Devils that the Virgin Mary â— after Christs birth did marry once and with the Catapâ—rygian he bragged much of the Paraclet or Spirit which they said was poured on them in a greater measure then on the Apostles He condemned all use of arms and wars among Christians and with the Mâ—ntanists rejected second marriages as no better then adultery The Abelonitae were so called from Abeo Adams Son these taught that Abel was married but had no carnal commerce with his Wife because there is no mention made of his Children as there is of Cains and Seths For
and these two words Domine Proâ—asti in the Ovals are flames of fire burning about Gold-Smiths melting pots full of pieces of Gold At the end of the Collar within an Oval are two Angels standing upright holding a Chalice and Pixe Crowned on the Table whereof are three drops of blood with this Legend about the Oval Nihil isto triste recepto Q. 14. What were the Christian Military orders in the East A. The order of Cyprus and of Luzignan or of the Sword was instituted by Guye of Luzignan King of Ierusalem and Cyprus Anno 1195. The collar of this order was composed of Cordons of white Silk twined into love knots interlaced with the letters S. and R. at this hung an Oval of Gold with a sword in it about the Oval was engraved these words Securitas Regni Of the other Eastern orders wee have already spoken namely of that of the holy Sepulchre instituted by Baldwin the first of that name and second King of Ierusalem Brother to Godfrey oâ— Bulloigne Anno 1103. They were at first Canons Regular of Saint Austins order permitted to live in Ierusalem by the Sâ—â—acens after they were Knighted retained their white habit whereon they carried the Crosse of Ierusalem such as the Kings bare in their Armes Pope Innocent the eighth Anno 1484. united these Knights to the Hospitallers of Saint Iohn but this Union lasted not long for the Knights married wâ—ereupon Pope Alexander the sixth took the power of conferring this order himselfe giving power to the Guardian of the holy Sepulchre who is alwayes a Franciscan to conferr this order on Pilgrims to the Holy Land provided they take their Oath on the Holy Sepulchre Wee have also spoken of the Hospitallers of Saint Iohn Baptist of Ierusalem instituted by Baldwin first King there Anno 1104. Likewise of the Knights Templars instituted under Baldwin the second third King of Jerusalem Anno 1119. Of these I will make no further mention There were other orders in the Holy Land as the Knights of Saint John of Acres Of Saint Thomas Of Saint Gerion Of Saint Blaze c. but these were of small note and are now lost See Favines Theater of honour The Contents of the Twelfth Section The opinions of the Anabaptists and wherein they agree with the old Hereticks 2. The Tenets of the Brownists 3. Of the Familists 4. The Adamites and Antinomians 5. The Religion of the Socinians 6. Of the Arminians Tenets 7. Of the Church of Aruhem and the Millenaries opinions 8. Of many other Sects at this day amongst us 9. The opinions of the Independents 10. The Tenets of the Presbyterians where by way of a Catechisme is delivered their whole Doctrine concerning the Ministery Episcopacy Presbytery Lay-Eldership Deacons Civil Magistrates the Election of Ministers Ordination power of the Keyes Excommunication 11. Diverâ—s erroneous opinions which have been lately revived or hatched since the fall of our Church-Government c. SECT XII Quest. 1. WHat opinions in Religion are there held at this day among them that are fallen off from Rome A. We have already spoken of the opinions of Luther Calvin Oecolampadius Zuinglius and other Protestants whose Tenets are followed by many thousands at this day We have also spoken somewhat of the original and encrease of Anabaptisme now we will briefly set down their opinions as they are recorded by Pontanus Bullinger Gâ—stius Sleidan Osiander and others and will shew wherein they agree with the old condemned Hereticks They hold that Christ took not his flesh from the Virgin Mary so held the Heretick Valentinus 2. That Christ is not true God so held Arrius 3. They deny Baptisme to Infants so did the Pelagians 4. They re-baptise so did the Novatians Arrians Aetians and Donatists 5. They believe to enjoy here after the day of judgement an earthly Monarchy so did the Cerinthians Nepotians Millenaries and Mahumetans 6. They say our righteousnesse depends upon the works of charity and affliction not upon faith in Christ so did the Cathari Meletians Donatists and Pelagians 7. They maintain free-will in spiritual things so did the Pelagians 8. They account themselves the onely pure Church without sin so did the Donatists 9. They say Lay-men may administer the Sacraments so did the Marcionites and Pepuzians 10. They reject Magistracy among Christians so did the Minichees 11. They say that Christian Magistrates are not to punish Malefactors with death so said the Tertullianists 12. They will have all things in common with the old Nicholaitans 13. They teach that a man may put away his wife though not for adultery so taught the Iews 14. And that a Christian may have many wives which is the Doctrine of Mâ—homet 15. They will not swear at all in this they follow the Tenet of the old Pelagians Now all these opinions are ancient Heresies as we have shewed which have been refuted sufficiently by the ancient Doctors of the Church and condemned by General and Provincial Councils besides that divers late writers both of the Roman and Protestant Church have fully refelled these opinions whose writings they that are at leisure may peruse And by the way we must observe that as the Anabaptists have divers opinions so they have divers names Some are called Manzerians from Manzer who raised the Boores in Germany against their Lords He taught that all things shall be common 2. Separatists for separating themselves from the affairs of the World 3. Cathirists for thinking themselves more pure then others therefore deny original sin nor will they pray Forgive us our sins 4. Apostolicks who like the Apostles go without staff or scrip up and down the world preaching 5. Enthusiasts pretend revelations and brag they have the gift of prophesie 6. Silentes who place all their holinesse in silence 7. Adamites who believe that the wearing of cloathes is a cursed thing therefore they affect nakednesse 8. Georgians so called from David George the Familist who boasted he was greater then Christ. 9. Liberi who think they are made free by Christ from payments of Taxes or Debts and free from obedience to humane Laws 10. Hatites so called from one Huta who denyed Christs Divinity and made himselfe the onely son of God 11. Melchiorists so named from one Melchior of Strausburg who taught that Mary was the Conduit through which Christ did passe as water through a Pipe 12. Menonists so called of Menon a Friezlander 13. Beuheldians so called from their Author these affirme Polygamy to be an holy kinde of life 14. Augustinians from one Augustine a Bohemian who bragged he was the first that opened Paradise for himselfe and followers 15. Servetians so called from Servetus the Arrian who was burned at Geneva for denying Christs Divinity 1553. These will not baptize Children till they be thirty years of age 16. Denkians from one Denkius their author who with Origen would have the wicked and Devils to be saved 17. Monasterienses so called from Munster where Iohn of
quietnesse and tranquility he is not in fire earthquakes and whirlwinds but in the soft and still voyce it s not the quaking of the body but humility and reverence of mind which he requires these Sectaries deny all ministeriall Ordinances and knowledge got by study and industry pretending an inward light from the spirit and that all our Learning got by Preaching Hearing Reading or Catechising iâ— but notionall and carnall and hanging upon the tree of knowledge they blasphemously prate also that Christ had his failings and that he distrusted God on the Crosse when he cryed out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me by which they overthrow the work of our Redemption which none could perform but he that knew no sin in whose lips was found â—o guil whom his enemies could not accuse of sin They will not have Ministers to preach for titheâ— which they call wages and yet our Saviour saith That the labourer is worthy of his wages and the Apostle That they who serve at the altar should live by the alâ—ar and if they communicate of their spirituall things why should they not participate of the peoples temporall things They will not have particular houses for preaching and prayer and yet among the Iews was the temple and Synagogues and after Christianity was settled Churches were erected They cannot abide studied or methodicall Sermons nor expouâ—ding nor learning in matters of Divinity by which we see how ignorant these people are who despise such helps as God hath given for propagating the Gospel Is it not better to studie and premeditatâ— than to utter quicquid in buecam veâ—erit undigested immethodicall ignorant trash Christ and his Apostles expounded and opened the Scriptures and yet these men reject expounding these men are also against singing of Psalmes a duty practised by Christ and urged by Saint Paul and Saint Iames. They reject infant-Baptisme and yet to infants belongeth the kingdome of heaven They will have no set days for Divine worship and consequently the Lords day must be of no account with them They will have no prayer before and after Sermâ—n and yet the Apostles joyned prayer with their Doctrine and breaking of bread Acts 2. 24. neither did they ever undertake any weighty businesse without prayer They condemn set houres of prayers and yet we read in the Acts of the Apostles that the third and ninth houres were set houres of prayer but by these wild Fancies we may see how crosse-grained these people are in contradicting every thing even Gods word it self if it be not consonant to their shallow reason which they call the spirit but it is indeed the spirit of giddinesse with which they are troubled and trouble others for the rejecting of all outward forms and decent ceremonies in Religion iâ— the overthrow of Religion it self which thought it consist not in ceremonies yet without them it is like a man stript naked of his garments and so for want of them exposed to all injuries of weather and danger of death The leaves of a tree are not the fruit thereof and yet without them the fruit will not prosper Q. 14. What other opinions do the Quakers hold An. Not to mention their â—orrid blasphemies in saying that some of them are Christ some God himself and some equall with God because they have the same spirit in them which is in God They maintain that the Scripture is not the word of God that out preaching is conjuration that expounding of Scripture is adding to it that the letter of Scripture is carnall that the word is not the rule to try the spirits that the soul is a part of God and long existent before the body that there is no Trinity that Christ hath no other body but his Church that Christs coming in the flesh was but a figure that all men have a light in them sufficient to salvation that the man Christ is not ascended into heaven that there is no imputation of Christs righteousnesse that prayer for remission of sinnes 〈◊〉 needlesse that we are justified by our own inherent righteousnesse that there is no 〈◊〉 life or glory to be looked for but in this world that there is no locall heaven nor hell nor resurrection of the body that many of them cannot sin that the calling of our Ministry is Antichristian that our preaching is altogether uselesse that themselves are immediately called by God that our worshiping of God in the Church is heathenish that the of children with water in Baptisme is Antichristian that we have no Sacraments that Dâ—vids Psalms are â—arnall and noâ— to be sung that in our Churches which they â—ll breasts houses God is not worshipped 〈◊〉 Christ 〈◊〉 to destroy all propertie and that therefore all things ought to be common that no man is to be called Master or Sir or to be saluted by the way and that one man ought not to have power over another here we see that these men despise Magistracy reject the Ministry sleight all decency and ordinances in Christs Church and in a word overthrow as much as in them lyeth all Religion and piety setting up a Babel of their own full of impiety ignorance aud blasphemie these are the fruits of too much liberty and the effects of reading Scripture by ignorant and malicious spirits who like spiders suck poyson out of the sweetest and wholesomest flowers and like mad men use that sword of the word to destroy themselves and others which was ordained to saye and defend us from our enemies Q. 15 Wherein do the absurdities and impieties of their opinions consist An. 1. In rejecting all Vniversity Learning because Christ and his Apostles were never taught in Schools but this opinion is ridiculous for Christ and his Apostles taught no other Divinity for the matter than what is taught in Universities the difference is onely in the manner of attaining this knowledge for they had it by inspiration we by study labour and instruction and yet the prophets had their Schools and Colledges both on the hill of God 1 Sam. 10. 5. 10. and at Bethel 2 Kings 2. 3. and at Iericho v. 5. and at Naiâ—th 1 Sam. 14. 20. Elisha had his Colledge 2 Kings 6. 1. 2. They will not have us expound Scripture because the Apostles expoundeâ— them but this conceit is also frivolous for to what purpose did Christ appoint Doctours and Pastors to continue still with his Church if they are not to expound Scripture what the Apostles expounded briefly we expound more fully In their expositions there be many intricate obscure high and figurative passages which require a further exposition God did never reveal all his truth at one time Among the Jews we read that Ezra the Scribe and the Levites expounded the Law Neh. 8. Christ took a Text and expounded it Luke 4. and so did Philip Acts 8. 3. They will not have Ministers to be called Masters but I would know of these men whether they that labour in
Church of Millan the other by Saint Gregory which the Angel in the night by scattering the leaves up and down the Church did signifie that it was to be spread abroad through the world In the sixth part they place much religion in the observation of their canonical hours of prayer whereof at first were eight four for the night and four for the day the diurnal hours are the first third sixth and ninth the night hours are the Vespers Completory Nocturnals and Mattins or morning prayses but now these eight are reduced to seven to signifie the seven gifts of the holy Ghost or the seven deadly Sinnes or the seven-fold passion of Christ the Nocturnals are now said with the Mattins and not apart as heretofore every one of these canonical houres begins and ends with a Pater noster the Nocturnall Office is the first and is sung at mid-night in memory that about that time Christ was born and apprehended by Iudas and that about mid-night he shall come to judgement the Mattins or Prayses are said and sung in memory of Christs Resurrection and the Creation of the world about that time the first hour is kept in memory of Christs being delivered by Pilate to the Jewes about that hour and that then the women who came to the Sepulchre were told by the Angel that Christ was risen the third hour is in memory of Christs being at that time condemned by the Jewes and scourged at that time the holy Ghost was given to the Apostles who then spoke the great works of God the sixth hour is in memory of Christs Crucifixion at that time and of the Suns miraculous defection the ninth hour Christ gave up the Ghost his side was then pierced and then he descended into hell the Vaile of the Temple was rent and the graves opened at that hour also Peter and Paul went up into the Temple to pray and so did Peter into an upper chamber where he fell into a trance the Vespers are observed because in the evening Christs body was taken down from the Crosse at that time he instituted the Sacrament and did accompany the two Disciples to Emâ—us at this time is sung the Magnificat because the Virgin Mary who compiled this song is the bright evening Star of the world Then also the Tapers are lighted to shew we must have our Lamps ready with the wise Virgins The Completory is so called because in it are compleatly ended all the diurnal services it is observed in memory of Christs sweating of blood at that time he was then also put in the grave The song of Simeon Nunc dimittis c. is sung in the Completory because as he before his death sung it so should Christians before they sleep which is a resemblance of death In each one of these Canonical or Regular hours are sung Gloria Patri with Hymnes Psalmes and spiritual songs peculiar lessons are read and prayers said Q. 21. Wherein consisteth the seventh part of their worship A. In observation of Festival days to every one of which are appropriated Divine Services or offices They begin their Feasts from the four Sundays in Advent kept to put us in minde of Christs fourfold comming to wit in the flesh in the mindes of the faithful in death and in judgement at the last day In the third week of Advent begins the first of the four Fasts called Iejunia quatuor Temporum and this Fast is for the Winter quarter the Vernal Fast is in the first week of Lent The Aestival is the first week after Whitsuntide and the Autumnal in the third week of September These four seasons of the year resemble the four ages of mans life to wit his Childhood Youth Manhood and Old Age for the sins of which we ought to fast They observe also the Fasts of Lent and of Fridays and on the Eves of the Apostles Saint Laurence alone of all the Martyrs and Saint Martin of all the Confessors have their Fasts On the Eve or Vigil of Christs Nativity a lesson is read out of Exod. 16. concerning the Manna that fell in the Desart to prepare the people for the due receiving of the true Manna Christ Jesus the next day in which are sung three Masses to shew that Christ was born to save those that lived before under and after the Law The first is sung at mid-night with the Angelical Hymne the second at the breaking of the day in which mention is made of the Shepheards that came to see Christ The third Masse is at the third hour in which are read Prophesies Gospels and Epistles shewing Christs Nativity On the Sunday following are lessons of the same Nativity The first of Ianuary being the eight day after the Nativity is observed in memory of Christs Circumcision who in this would be subject to the Law would teach us humility and mortification and would shew himself to be true Man and the Messiah The Epiphany is kept in memory of the Star that appeared and of the three wise men that offered him guifts and because on the same day Christ was baptized when the whole Trinity appeared it is called Theophania and because on the same day Christ turned water into wine at the marriage in Cana it is called Bethphania from the house where the miracle was done The eight day after the Epiphany is kept in memory of Christs baptisme Every Sunday throughout the year hath its peculiar Service or office chiefly Septuagesima Sexagesima Quinquagesima and Quadragesima Sundays Their Lent-Fast which is kept in memory of Christs forty days fast begins on Ash-Wednesday in which consecrated Ashes are put on their heads in signe of humility and mortification and to shew we are but dust and ashes During the Lent every day in the week as well as the Sundays have their proper service and devotion on the fifth Sunday in Lent they begin the commemoration of Christs passion Palm-Sunday is kept in memory of the branches of trees cut down by the people and born by them when Christ was riding in triumph to Ierusalem therefore this day the Priest blesseth and distributeth branches of trees The three days immediatly going before Easter are kept with much sadnesse and devotion their Mattiâ—s end in darknesse the Bells are silent all lights are put out c. Three sorts of Oyle are blessed this day to wit that of Baptisme that of the Sick and that of the Catechumeni the Bishop breatheth on the Oyle three times to signifie the Trinity whereof the Holy Ghost represented by the Oyle is one of the Persons After evening service the Altars are stript naked to shew Christs nakednesse on the Crosse. In some places also they are washed with Wine and Water and rubbed with Savin leaves to represent the blood and tears with which Christ our true Altar was washed and the thornes he was crowned with In the Parasceve is kept a strict â—ast and silence no Masse is said this day Christs
which the Eucharist is covered signifying how Christs body was wrapped up in fine linnen for as linnen is first washed then wrung and lastly dried so must our souls be first washed in tears then wrung by repentance and lastly dried by the heat of the love of God Organs are also used in Churches to excite the minde and to stir up devotion Yet in the Popes Chappel there are none perhaps to shew that he needs no such helps Their Altars are inclosed with railes to keep off the people for the Priests only have accesse to them they were anciently places of refuge and are covered all the year except in the passion week then they are stript to represent Christs nakednesse on the crosse Ordinarily the Altar is placed towards the East yet in the Church of Antioch it was placed towards the West On the Altar sâ—ands the Pixis or Ciborium which keepeth the Host for strangers sick persons and travellers but it must not be kept above seven dayes least it mould therefore the Priest must eat it himselfe and put in a fresh one They have Fonts called Baptisteria of stone in which the water of Baptisme is consecrated by the Priest who poureth oyle into it he also by breathing and by certain words exorciseth the evil spirit Salt is consecrated and put into the childs month to shew that he must have spiritual Salt within him Then the Priest layeth his hand on the childs head in sign he is reconciled and made a member of the Church Then he signeth his forehead with the sign of the crosse that hereafter he may not be ashamed of Christ crucified He puts his finger into his eare and into his nostrils also with spittle saying to his right eare Epphâ—ra that is be thou opened to shew that by nature we are deaf in spiritual things as was that man whom Christ after this manner cured in the Gospel The touching of the Nostrils sheweth that the child must remember his vow in baptisme so long as he hath breath in him Then he anoints the Child two times that he may renounce the devil and all his works c. The breast is first anointed then the shoulders to shew the strength of our love and faith in the Trinity and that withall we must be wrestlers against all spiritual wickednesse The childe is three times dipe in the water and in some places onely sprinkled to shew Christs three days burial and our faith in the Trinity After baptisme the child is anointed by the Priest on the forehead with chrisme and cloathed in white to signifie he must cast off the old man and be cloathed with innocency Antiently those that were baptized at Easter wore white all that week which they laid aside the Sunday following called therefore 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 this also signified the glory of the resurrection Then a wax candle burning is given him to shew the light of faith and knowledge that should be in him and with which he should be ready to meet the bridegroom Then the Godfathers are instructed concerning their duty to the Child Q. 28. What other Vtensils have they in their Churches A. They have three viols or flaggons for oyl which the Priest carrieth on the day of the Lords Supper one holds the oyl of the Catechumeni the second is for the Chrisâ—me and the third for the oyl of the sick With the Chrisme the baptized are anointed on their crown and they that are confirmed on the forehead and so are they who be ordained The Catechumeni and 〈◊〉 are anointed with single oyl They have also in theiâ— Churches holy water pots which by some are called 〈◊〉 by others Situlae and Aquâ—ninaâ—ia and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This pot must be of Stone or Marble at which is tied with a chaine the holy water spunge with this salt water they are 〈◊〉 that enter into the Church because antiently they wasted before they entered into the Temple to shew that with pure and sanctiâ—ied minds we must come before God They have also Bells which they 〈◊〉 with water and consecrate with certain prayers these have suceeded the Trumpets used by the Jewes to 〈◊〉 together the Assembly They have also Altars which they anoint and consecrate holy Reliques whereof many doubtlesse are supposititious and false therefore no new Reliques are to be received without the Bishops approbation nor to be honoured without the Popes authority And because the Altar represents Christ therefore the Priest after Masse in sign of reverence and subjection kisseth the Altar by which also he sheweth the great desire the Church hath to enjoy Christ when she saith Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth The Vestry is the place where the sacred Vestiments of which we have already spoken are kept Here the Priest before Masse puts on his holy garments this place they say represents the Virgins Womb in which our great high Priest put on the garment of our humane nature that in it he might offer the true propiatory sacrifiâ—e to God his Father for the sins of the world They make also every part of their material Temple to have a mystical signification The Quire represents the Church triumphant the main body the Church militant the Porch or great Door is Christ by whom onely we have accesse to the Father the Windows are the Scriptures which give light to the spiritual Church the Pillars are the Apostles by their Doctrine supporting the Church the Pavement is Humility and faith the Cover is Gods protection the Tower with the Bells are the Prelates which ought to be eminent in their conversation and sounding in their preaching the Cock on the top thereof is to put them in minde of their vigilancy the Lights that shine continually in their Churches are to signifie our good works which should shine before men Q. 29. What office do they perform to the dead A. They have a peculiar office or service for the dead in Purgatory which some perform every third day that they might be partakers of Christs resurrection who overcame death that day some again every seventh day that they may attain to the eternal Sabbath or rest in Heaven whereof Gods resting from the works of Creation on the seâ—enth day was a type Others perform this office the thirtieth day because the Israelites mourned for Moses and Aaron thirty days Others again the fortieth day because Ioseph and his brethren bewailed Iacob forty days Others the fiftieth day because the fiftieth year is the Jubilee or year of liberty which they wish these imprisoned soules may partake eternally Others perform this office yearly and make it anniversary but if this day fall upon Sunday or any other solemn festivity then it must not be kept nor put off till the next day as the feasts of the Saints are but must be kept the day before that the souls may the sooner partake the fruits of our devotion No
lesser but now the one sits in Persia the other to wiâ— the lesser in Ciliciâ— They are in some sort 〈◊〉 holding a coalition of Christs two natures into one compounded nature but by their late confession ìt seems they have renounced this opinion Their Patriarch they call Catholikes they administer the Sacrament with unleavened bread and will not have Christs body to be really in the Sacrament under the species of bread and wine nor do they mingle water with wine With the Greeks they deny the procession of the Holy Ghost from the Son They give the Eucharist to Infants presently after Baptism they pray for the dead yet deny Purgatory they re-baptise converts from the Latine Church They fast the 25. of December and keep Christmasse day on the Epiphany or rather Christs baptisme They keep the feast of Annunciation the sixt day of April the Purification the fourteenth of February They eat flesh on Fridays betwen Easter and Ascention day In Lent they feed onely on Herbs Rootes Fruits and Pulse they abstain from such beasts they account unclean they hold that the souls of good men obtain not felicity till the Resurrection They admit none to be secular Priests till they are married but must not marry the second time They will not have the Sacraments to confer grace They administer the cup to all and celebrate no Masse without distributing the Sacrament They invocate Saints and insert divers words into the Creed which are neither Greek nor Latine Q. 10. What other Sects are there of the Greek Religion A. The Melchites so called from Melech a King because they have always followed the faith of the Emperors of Constantinople according as it was established by the Councel of Chalcedon against Eutyches and Dioscorus They are also called Syrians from the country where they inhabit These are altogether of the Greek Religion and Communion but not of the jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Constantinople but of the Arch-Bishop of Damascus under the title of Patriarch of Antiochia for this City where Christianity had its first residence and name and where Peter sat seven years Bishop being wasted and forsaken the Patriarchs seat was translated to Damascus where it remaineth 2. The Georgians are also of the Greek Religion but are not subâ—ect to the Patriarch of Constantinople having a Metropolitan of their own whose residence is in the Monastery of Saint Katharine in Mount Sinâ—i a great way from Iberia lying between the Euxin and Caspian Seas where the 〈◊〉 inhabit who are so called from Saint George as some think who converted them to Christianity and whose picture they carry yet in 〈…〉 but doubtlesse they were called 〈◊〉 before Saint George was born for Mela speake of them in the first Book of his Geography who lived in the time of Claudius the Emperor and Vadianus on that place thinks they were called Georgians from their Husbandry to which they were much addicted 3. The Georgians next Neighbours to wit the Mengrelians called of old Colchi and the ancient Zychi now called Circassians whence the Sultan had his 〈◊〉 are also of the Greek Communion and subject to the Patriarch of Constantinople but they baptise not their Children till they be eight years old In other points they are of the Greek Religion being converted to Christianity by Cyrillus and Methedius the Apostles or Ministers of the Patriarch of Constantinople Q. 11. What is the Religion of the Nestorians Christians of Saint Thomas and Jacobites A. 1. The Nestorians so called from Nestorius the Heretick whose opinion concerning two Persons in Christ they held a long time and spread themselves through a great part of Asia by reason of Cosroes the Persian King who in hatred to Heraâ—â—ius the Emperor caused all Christians within his Dominions to become Nestorians these were subject to the Patriarch of Musal which some think to be Bagded or Babyloâ— others Seleucia and others a part of old 〈◊〉 but at this day most of them are subject to the Pope both in jurisdiction and partly in Religion and have renounced their old errors concerning the two 〈◊〉 in Christ that Mary should not be called the 〈◊〉 of God that the Councel of Ephesus and all other Councels after it are to be rejected these errors I say they have renounced but they administer the 〈◊〉 with leavened bread and in both kindes 〈◊〉 permit their Priests to marry the third or fourth 〈◊〉 they have Crosses but not 〈◊〉 nor Crucifixes nor 〈◊〉 confession 2. The Christians 〈…〉 or of Saint 〈◊〉 so called because converted by him They were heretofore Nestorians and subject to the 〈◊〉 of Masal but now are subordinate to the Pope both in profession and jurisdiction They did use to give the Eucharist in both kindes to season the bread with salt instead of Wine to drink the â—oyce of Raisons to baptise their children when fourty days old to reject all Images except the cross the Popes supremacy extream â—uction and second marriages of their Priests but now they are of the Roman Religion 3. The Iacobites so called from Iacobus the Syrian a great Eucychian are spread through many Kingdomes in the East They are named also Dioscorians from Dioscorus Patriarch of Alexandria a great Patron of Eutyches They belonged anciently before the Councel of Chalcedon to the jurisdiction of Antiochia but since they yeild obedience to a Patriarch of their own whose residence is in Caramit the Old Metropolis of Mesopotamia but yet retains the name of Patriarch of Antiochia They held there was in Christ but one nature will and operation and therefore in signing with the Crosse they used but one singer whereas the other Eastern Christians used two Before baptisme they imprinted on their children the sign of the Crosse with a hot Iron They deny Purgatory and prayers for the dead and say that the Angels are made of fire and light They hold that just mens souls remain in the earth till the Resurrection their Priests are married they deny 〈◊〉 confession give the Eucharist in both kindes and the bread 〈◊〉 They circumcise both Sexes they condemn Eutyches as an Heretick and yet honour Dioscorus and Iacob the Syrâ—an as Saints but now they have utterly rejected the Heresie of one nature in Christ and with the Latine Church acknowledge two distinct natures with their distinct properties as may be seen by the Iacobites confessions Q. 12. What is the Religion of the Maronites A. The Maronites are so called from Maron a holy man their chiefe residence is in Mount Libanus though some inhabit Aleppo Damascus Tripoli of Syria and Cyprus Their Patriarch is a Monk of Saint Anthony having nine Bishops under him he is alwayes called Peter and will be stiled Patriarch of Antiochia which title is claimed by the Iacobite Patriarch who is alwayes named Ignatius The Maronites were Monothelites and with the Greeks denyed the Procession of the holy Ghost
or priviledge they had thrust out of the City so many godly people together with their wives and children not granting them any toleration for their Religion and had disinherited them of all they had To which they replyed That the time was now drawing nigh wherein the meek and the humble should inherit the earth and that they followed the example of the Israelites who with Gods approbation took away from the Egyptians their jewels and earâ—rings Moreover they boasted that Munster was well furnished with provisions ammunition and all things requisite to warre and that the King did daily expect great recruits out of Holland Zealand and other places by the means and assistance whereof he should bring the whole world under subjection all wicked refractory Princes being subdued should establish the peaceful reign of Justice About the same time another Prophet fell down from heaven one Henry Hilverse a notable â—nave This man acquainted the King that it was revealed to him from heaven that God was pleased to bestow on him three most rich Cities Amsterdam Daventry Wesell near Lippa Upon this Divine message he advises with his Counsellours whom he were best to send thither to baptise them with his baptisme In the first place he sends Iohn Campensis to Amsterdam to be the chiefest man in that City to whom he assigned for companion and co-Apostle Iohn Mathias of Metellburg These being sent into Holland issuing out of their holes kept themselves among those of their own tribe and infected most Cities with the mortal infection of their doctrines For at Leyden about Ianuary in the year following viz. one thousand five hundred thirty and five very many by the perswasion of Anabaptisme and by the means of its contagious Conventicles were baptized into the baptisme of death About the end of the year one thousand five hundred thirty and five this Kingly Botcher sent into Frisland a most subtle fellow and one very well experienced in warlike affaires whom he furnished with very great summes of money which had been raised out of the sacriledges wherewith he should raise souldiers in Zeland and should raise the close siege which was then before the City He being departed managed his affaires very secretly with the assistance of those of his way and at length upon the last of March one thousand five hundred thirty and five having gotten together some hundreds of souldiers he set upon the Monastery which also was called old Munster drove away the Monks and having plundered all he there pitched his tents out of hopes thereby to strengthen his party by the accession of any that should come in But Gâ—orge Sckenck the then Governour of Friesland having with as much expedition as could be got together certain expeditionary forces besieges these tumulâ—uary Rioters and gave an assault to the place which though they avoyded as much as might be by a gallant defence yet had they their belly-full of murther blood and dry blowes so that they were all destroyed save threescore and two who being brought to Leoward were paid for their audacious folly with the wages of death The Ringleader of this businesse who was also the Camp-master Iohn Geel escaping at this sight flies to Amsterdam to prove the occasion of a greater slaughter For many Anabaptists being found in that place whom Iohn Campensis had strangely fascinated to engage them the more they made promises to them of golden mountains and talk'd highly of the Magnificence and Liberty of the Anabaptists of Munster and cryed up the new kingdom of Iustice upon earth for the report of the siege and defence of Munster had smitten and raised up the mindes of a many in regard the City being closely besieged by a potent Army yet performed religious duties without any disturbance Hence câ—me it to passe that the Liberty and Liberality of the City was celebrated beyond all truth and beliefe and there wanted not a many who desired to be embarqu'd in the same Fortune There was therefore at Amsterdam a Burgher called Henry Gotbelit a strong man and warlikely given who being bathed in the waters of Anabaptisme joyned his endeavours with those of Iohn Goel For by divers pretences and crafty shifts which it is not worth our labour to repeat in this place they drew together six hundred Anabaptists with whose assistance their intention was to have possessed themselves of Amsterdam to enrich themselves and to introduce the Religion of those of Munster Whereupon upon the tenth day of May the chiefest that were engaged in this conspiracy having their Rendezvous at the house of Peter Gael broke out in the night time to the Market place wherein being more and more seconded by some of their own they killed some of the Watch and some they kept prisoners But the Burghers making head discharged some Musquets at the Anabaptists who most unworthily when their Consuls were cruelly killed entrusted their safety to their heels so that the others courages being heightened by this they violently ran upon the Deuterobaptists and after a most bloody engagement put them to the worst wherein Iohn Geel and Gotbelit were slain Iames Campensis was taken and put to death Now other Tumults had already forced others from those places the prevention whereof could not be possibly without the infinite inconveniences which fell upon the honester sort There wanted not also some clandestine vipers who disguisedly waited for the restauration of the kingdome of Israel as they called it whereof one being apprehended at Leyden and upon examination put to the question confessed That the King of the Anabaptists who was a Hollander sojourned then at Vtricht and had not yet began his reign but that according to the good hope they had conceived of him and the confidence placed in him they doubted not but he would undertake it Having with what 's above gotten out of this fellow that some gold and silver vessels and other ornaments had by a most wicked surprise been taken out of their Churches by the means of their King and who with his followers had attempted some most detestable villanies it was discover'd that there could no other be meant ther David George I crave thy pardon courteous Reader if I acquaint thee that it is not any thing the lesse for thy advantage if in the description of these rotten anâ— contemptible rags and menstruous clouts of humanity I have woven a longer web of discourse then thou didst expect Although Iohn Buckhold and the other Prophets had entertained the ignorant greedy vulgar with hopes of more then Arabian wealth yet the citizens being daily more and more streightned by the siege were accordingly brought into greater perplexities and being brought low by the famine which is the consummation of all misery began as it for the most part happens upon the barking of the stomack to snatle at one another to grumble and complain and to hold private consultations about
incredible how joyful he was at that newes out of an excessive thanksgiving to God putting off his shoes and casting his hat into the ayâ—e is and calling the living God to witnesse that he would live upon bread and water before he would discover and brand the authour of that opinion In the mean time some Prophets began to rise and keep a stirre hinting that he should be secured for that half year and that afterwards he should go abroad with one hundred forty and four thousand Prophets who should without any resistance reduce and bring the whole world under the subjection of their doctrine There was alsoâ— certain Prophetesse who should prophecy that this Hosman was Eliâ—â— that Cornelius Polterman was Enocâ— and that Strasburg was the new Ierusalem and she 〈◊〉 also dreamed that she had been in a great spacious Halâ— wherein were many brethren and â—â—sters fitting together whereinto a certain young man in shining appareâ— should enter having in his hand a golden Bowâ—e of rich Nectâ—â— which he going about should taste to eâ—â—â—y one to whom having drunk it to the dregges there was none pretended to compare with him but onely Polterman Alas poor Melchior He having nothing yet made Master of a strong Tower did after the example of Esdras signify by letters that his Baptisme should be put off for two years longer untill Africk should bâ—ing forth another monster that should carry haâ— in its horns There were many other dreams and some nocturnal pollutions which they attributed to heaven and thought such as should have been wriâ—â—en in Cedar But it was Melchior's pleasure to think it a miserably happy kind of death to die voluntarily by pining and consuming away with hunger thirst and cold MELCHIOR RINCK Discipulos sic Rincke dooâ— Baptisma negare Sanguine carnifices et scelerare Manus THE CONTENTS MElchior Rinck an Anabaptist He is accounted a notable interpreter of dreamâ—s and visions His disciple Thomas Sâ—â—cker in a waking dream cut off his brother Leonard's head pretending for his murther obedience to the decree of God MELCHIOR RINCK a most wonderfull 〈◊〉 was also a most extraordinary promoter of Anabaptisme and among his followers celebrated the festivals of it He made it 〈◊〉 businesse to extoll Anabaptisme above all others with those commendations which certainly iâ— wanted not Besides he was accounted no ordinary promoter and interpreter of dreames and visions which it was thought he could not performe without the special indulgence of God the Father nay he arrived to that esteem among the chiefest of his opinion and became so absoluteâ—y possessed of their minds that his followers interpreted whatever was scattered abroad concerning dreames and visions to have proceeded from heavenly inspirations from God the Father Accordingly in Switzerland to omit other particulars at Sangall even at a full Concill his disciple Thomas Scucker being rapt into an Enthusiasme his Father and Mother then present and his Brother Leonard having by his command cast himself at his knees before him calls for a sword whereupon the parents and divers others running to know what was the cause and meaning of such an extravagant action he bid them not be troubled at all for that there should happen nothing but what should be according to thâ— will of God Of this waking dream did they all unâ—nimously expect the interpretation The for 〈◊〉 Thomas guilty alas of too much 〈◊〉 did in the presence of all those sleeping-waking â—pectators 〈◊〉 off his own Brothers head and having forgotten the use of water baptized him with his owne blood But what followed The Magistrate having sudden notice of it and thâ— offence bâ—ing fresh and horrid the Malefactor is dragg'd to prison by head and shoulders where he having long conâ—idered his action with himself professed he had therein obeyed the decrees of the Divine power These things did the unfortunate yeare one thousand five hundred twenty and seven see Here men may perceive in a most wicked and unjustifiable â—ction the eminent tracts of an implacable fury and madnesse which God of his infinite goodnesse and mercy avert from these times ADAM PASTOR Nomine qui Pastor tu Impostor moribus audis Qui â recto teneras Tramite ducis oues THE CONTENTS ADam Pastor a derider of Paedobaptisme He revived the Arrian heresie His foolish interpretation of that place Gen. 2. 17. so often confuted ADAM PASTOR a man born at a Village in Westphalâ—â— was one of those who with the middle finger pointed at 〈…〉 that is to say looked upon it with indignation as a thing ridicâ—lous being of the same opinion in that businesse as Menno and Theodorus Philip but as to the incarnation of God he was of a quite contrary judgement For Menno held that Christ was something more worthy and more divine then the seed of a woman but our Adam stood upon it that he was lesse worthy then that of God so that he rowsed up the Arrian heresy which had laiâ— so long asleep as having been but too famous in the year three hundred twenty five For in a certain book of his whose title was OF GODS MERCIE he writ thus The most divine word which is the main considerable in our businesse is written in the second of Gen. v. 17. The day that ye shall eat of the fruit ye shall die the death This is that word which is made flesh John 1. Tea that God which is uncapable of suffering and impassible is made passible and he that was immortal is made mortal for he was crucified and died for our advantage To be brief he held that Christ was not to be accounted any thing but the hand the finger or the voice of God But although the opinion or Religion of this third but most unfaithful Pastor Adam wander out of the limits of divinity that it seem to be an ancient heresie containing nothing in it but what is childish trifâ—ing and meer foppery hath bin confuted brought â—o nothing by the most religious preachers of the word of God notwithstanding the barking of the viperous progeny of Arrius and Servetus yet he hath this in particular that he would have us look narrowly to his â—â—â—lication of the second of Genesis which he so commends where he foolishly and vainly endeavours to prove that the prohibition there is the word mâ—de flesh This monster did not only beget this sect but nursed it here are baites alluâ—ements and all the poisonable charmes imaginable that may cunningly seduce the best and most innocent of men But alas where is the free and indulgent promise of God of the seed of the woman which cuts the very throat of the Devill and tyes him in the strictest chaines where are his often promiseâ— to Abraham to Isaac to Israel and to his old people confirmed by a League so solemnly made In thy seed all the earth shall be blessed And thou shalt be