Kingdome of the Lombards gave unto the Popes The Exarchate Vrbin Ancona Spoleto and many other Townes and Territories about Rome Sixtly That the Popes in all their Bulls or Charters expressed the date of them in these formall words Such a one our lord the Emperor reigning Seventhly That long after the translation of the Empire from France to Germany the Popes began to make open protestation that the Pontificall Dignity was rather to give Lawes to Emperors then to receive any from them Eighthly That being thus raised to an Earthly power they forgot the Saluation of Soules Sanctitie of Life and the Commandements of God Propagation of Religion and Charity towards men And to raise Armes to make Warre against Christians to invent new devices for the getting of Money to profane Sacred things for their owne ends and to enrich themselves their Children and kindred was their onely study and this is the substance of Guiccardine in that place an Author above all Exception Having thus a little glanced at the meanes by which the present demeasnes of the Church of Rome were first gotten and increased The policies by which the Popes keepe that which they have Let us consider by what Policies the Monarchie hath been held up in respect and magnificence The donation of severall Kingdomes to those that have no right or Title to them but from the Pope and in force of his Donation cannot but oblige them to him Their allowance of Marriages prohibited by God and Nature the issue of which cannot but uphold the Popes infinite Authoritie without whom their Birth is unnaturall and their persons not capable of their Estates Their dispensing with Oathes of Princes which both preserve their Credits in not beeing perjured as they thinke since allowed by the Church and also get somewhat for which they cannot be unthankefull to the Papacy Their State hath the firmest foundation of any as being laid in the Conscience of men by perswading them of their infallible Power and their Ecclesiasticall and temporall Iurisdiction which they have over Heaven Hell Earth and Purgatory The Choosing of younger Sonnes of potent Families into their Cardinall-ships by which meanes the whole Lineage are ready to support him as the chiefe staffe of their Brothers or Cozens preferment The innumerable Preferments of men of all sorts and humors as having well-nigh in their disposing all the Benefices and Bishopricks of Italie halfe in Spaine divers in France and Germany which keepe the Clergie in an infallible bond of Allegiance especially enjoying divers priviledges which they of the temporality are not capable of The multitude of Friers their spirituall Knights or Souldiers whose hopes depend upoÌ„ his safety are known to be more then a Million whereof halfe at the least would grow fit to be imployed in any Warlike service and all them are maintained at other mens costs themselves not disbursing a penny The readinesse of their Ministers to kill such as resist them cannot but deterre Princes from injuring them and constraine them to keepe their Friendships especially since by a Writ of excommunication they can arme the Subjects against the Soveraigne and without levying of a Souldier either utterly to destroy him or bring him to good Conformity The Severitie or Tyranny of the Inquisition crusheth not only the beginnings but the smallest suppositions in being contrarily affected To which I adde that the Church of Rome having beene conscious of their errors and Corruptions both in Faith and manners have sundry times pretended Reformation yet their great Pride and infinite Profit arising from Purgatory Pardons and such like hath hindred all such Reformations Therefore to maintaine their greatnesse errors and new Articles of Faith 1. They have corrupted many of the ancient Fathers and reprinting them Doctor Iames in his treatise of the Corruption of Scriptures Councels and Fathers c. make them speake as they would have them as Doctor Iames hath set downe at large 2. They have written many Bookes in the Names of the ancient Writers and forged many Decrees Canons and Councells to beare false witnesse to them As for example Whereas in the beginning of this Chapter you heare of Pope Pius the 7. his report that the Church of Rome was but of little esteeme before the Nicen Councell The answer of the now Archbishop of Arimagh to a Challenge made by a Iesuite pag. 12. You shall have as the Primate of Armagh relateth a Crafty Merchant Jsidorus Mercator I trowe they call him that will helpe the matter by counterfeiting Decretal Epistles in the name of the primitive Bishops of Rome and in bringing in Thirtie of them in a row as so many Knights of the Post to beare witnesse of that great Authoritie which the Church of Rome enjoyed before the Nicene Fathers were assembled If the Nicene Fathers have not amplisied the bounds of her Iurisdiction in so large a manner as shee desired shee hath had her well-willers that have supplyed the Councells negligence in that behalfe and made Canons for the purpose in the Name of the good Fathers that never dreamed of such a businesse As if the power of Judgeing all others will not content the Pope unlesse hee himselfe may bee exempted from being judged by any other Another Councell as antient at least as that of Nice shall be suborned wherein it shall bee concluded Concil Rom. Sub Syluest cap. 20. Nemo enim judicabit primam sâ—dem Concil Sinuessan circa finem by the consent of 284. Jmaginarie Bishops that no man may Iudge the first Seate And for failing in an elder Councell then that consisting of 300. Buckram Bishops of the selfe same making the like Note shall bee sung Quoniam prima sedes non judicabitur a quoquam The first Seate must not bee judged by any man Lastly if the Pope doe not thinke that the fulnesse of Spirituall power is sufficient for his Greatnesse unlesse he may bee also Lord Paramount in temporalibus hee hath his followers ready at hand to frame a faire Donation in the name of Constantine the Emperor whereby his Holinesse shall be estated not onely in the Citie of Rome but also in the Seigniorie of the whole West Jt would require a volume to rehearse the Names of those severall Tractates which have beene basely bred in the former dayes of Darkenesse and fathered upon the antient Fathers of the Church who if they were now alive would be deposed that they were never privie to their begetting 3. As they have expurged antient Writings so also the holy Commandements of God And lest the Lay people should smell their Idolatrie they leave out the second Commandement of the Ten out of 〈◊〉 Psalters and Catechismes and they are published by the Church of Rome in this manner following 1. I am thy Lord God thou shalt have no other Gods but me 2. Thou shalt not take the name of God in vaine 3. Remember to sanctifie the holy daies 4. Honour thy Father and Mother 5.
O Lord my God how excellent is thy name in all the world Protestants Papists halfe CHRISTIANOGRAPHIE OR The Description of the multitude and sundry sorts of Christians in the VVorld not subiect to the Pope With their Vnitie and hovv they agree with us in the principall points of Difference betweene us and the Church of Rome Goe yee therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Mat. 28.19 And they went forth and preached every where The Lord working with them Marke 16.20 After this I beheld and loe a great multitude which no man could number of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues stood before the throne before the Lambe Rev. 7.9 LONDON Printed by T. P. and W. J. for Matthew Costerden Stationer 1635. REcensui Librum hunc cui titulus Christianographie c. una cum Epistola Dedicatoria ad R. in Christo Patrem Franciscum Eliensem Episcopum qui quidem liber continet folia 88. in quo nihil reperio quò minús cum publica utilitate Jmprimatur modò intra sex menses proximè sequentes typis mandetur Ex aedi Londin Octobris 30. Samuel Baker TO THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD Francis Lord Bishop of Elie my very good Lord. IT was an observation of our late Soveraigne Lord King James that VVheras the Romanists cannot confirme their Faith either by sacred Scripture or ancient Traditions Their manner is to crie up the Visibilitie of the Church and Authoritie of the same And thereby they delude many of the ignorant and unlearned bearing them in hand that there was no such thing in the world as a Protestant before Luther And that before his time all the world beleeved as they doe And that their Church hath not onely beene visible in all ages and all times but eminently conspicuous and illustrious And to this purpose one of that Sect lately delivered to a person of qualitie this writing following viz. It is plaine in holy Scripture and confessed by the Protestants that the Church of God should be alwaies visible and it was agreed by D. White and D. Featly to Mr. Fisher and Mr. Sweet to proove a visible succession in the Protestant Church that they both could and would in all ages from Christ to Luther by name out of good Authors produce Doctors and Pastors professing the Religion which the Church of England and Protestants professe This was promised This is now required without shifts and idle delayes c. VVhereas in this writing an absolute promise is pretended to bee made by your Lordship and D. Featley to Master Fisher and Master Sweet I finde in the relation of the conference testified and subscribed by Honorable personages and others The said promise to bee made but upon condition onely Conference pag. 7. That the forenamed Iesuites would shew visible professors of the intire Doctrine of the Romish Church as yet it is comprised in the Councell of Trent in all ages and name them out of good Authors especially for the first 600. yeeres And in particular your Lordship required them to prove by Christ and his Apostles Conference pag. 22. or by any of the Fathers for the first 600. yeeres these sixe Tenets of the Roman Church viz. 1. That all power of Order and Jurisdiction in respect of the Churches is to bee derived from the Church of Rome 2. That no Scripture sence or Translation thereof is Authenticall unlesse the same were received from the Church of Rome 3. That the Roman Church onely was and is the Authenticall Custos of unwritten Traditions 4. That all generall Councels were called by the sole Authoritie of the Pope and that hee might ratifie and disanull whatsoever pleased him in them 5. That the Pope hath power to Canonize Saints 6. That the Pope had or hath power to depose Princes Likewise Conference pag. 7. Doctor Featley required of them to produce out of good Authors not any Empire or Kingdome but so much as any Citie Parish or Hamlet within 500. yeeres after Christ in which there was any Visible assembly of Christians to bee named maintaining and defending either their Trent Creede in generall or these points of Popery in speciall Conference page 9. to wit 1. That there is a treasurie of Saints merits and super abundant Satisfactions at the Popes disposing 2. That the Laiety are not commanded by Christs institution to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper in both Kindes 3. That the publicke service of God in the Church ought or may be celebrated in an unknowne tongue 4. That private Masses wherein the Priest saith edite bibite ex hoc omnes and yet eateth and drinketh himselfe onely are according to Christs institution 5. That the Popes pardons are requisite or usefull to release soules out of Purgatory 6. That the effect of the Sacrament dependeth upon the intention of the Minister 7. That extreme unction is a Sacrament properly so called 8. That we may worship God by an Image 9. That the sacred Hoast ought to bee elevated or carried in solemne procession 10. That Infidels and Impious persons yea Rats and Mice may eate the body of Christ 11. That all Ecclesiasticall power dependeth on the Pope 12. That hee cannot erre in matter of Faith 13. That he hath power to cannonize Saints 14. To institute Religious orders 15. To depose Kings c. He also urged Master Fisher and Master Sweet to name but one Father or one writer of note who held the particulars above named for 500. yeres after Christ which they would not nor could doe VVhereby any man may see that they who call for a Succession in our Church cannot shew it in their owne Moreover it is not a succession of persons or catalogue of names that maketh a true Apostolicke Church But the true primitiue Faith once given to the Saints set downe in holy Scripture Our Lord himselfe telleth us that he that is baptized and beleeveth shall be saved Marke 16.16 now to perswade such a one that is baptized beleeveth that he is no member of Christs Church except he can also set downe a catalogue of the names of his spirituall parents since Christ is all one as to perswade such a one that he is no man because he cannot reckon up his naturall parents and fetch his pedigree from Noah or Adam Lastly whereas they clamour for a catalogue of names as in this writing without all shifts and idle delayes they have catalogues plentie written both by strangers as by Jllyricus by Symon de Voyons Mounsier Plessis and others and by our countrymen as by B. Jewell for the first 500. yeeres by the Primate of Armagh for the next 500. yeeres and by the late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury for the last 500. yeeres with divers others to which they have returned no answer as I can heare of but they lie upon their hands also of late
The cheife Cities are Mosco Cap. 4. Novograd Rostoue Volodomer Plesko Smolensko Cazan Astracan c. The Citie of Mosco is reported to be bigger then London twise as bigge as Pragnes Math. a Micheu de sarmat lib. 2 cap 52 bis maior quam Praga Fletcher cap. 16. The Emperors title is Theodore Iuanowich by the grace of God great Lord and Emperor of all Russia great duke of Volodemer Mosco and Novograd King of Cazan King of Astracan Lord of Plesko and great duke of Smolensko of Twerrig Ioughoria Permia Vadska Bulghoria and others Lord great duke Novograd of the low countrie of Chernigo Rezan Polotskoi Rostoue Yaruflaveley Bealozera Liefland Oudoria Obdoria and Condenfa and commaunder of all Siberia and of the North parts and lord of many others countries Ioann Faber pag. 170 de Theolog Moscovit For their Ecclesiasticall government they were subject to the Patriarch of Constantinople but since the time that the said Patriarch hath bin under the Mahometan tyranny they haue a Patriarch of their own at Mosco to whoÌ„ are subject two Metropolitans one of Novogrod Fletcher cap. 21 some say 4 metropolites the other of Rostove Four Archbishops towit of Smolensco Cazan Vobsko and vologda and their Bishops are six whom they call Vladikey their Priests they call Papaes The late Patriarch Theodore was father to Michael the now Emperor of Moscovia The Bishops live upon tithes as God hath commanded and they use lordships given to them and also possesse farmes and castles Ioan. Faber pag 172 Decimis queÌ„ admodum a Deo decretum est qâ—oque vivunt Episcopâ— Their Renes and reuenues to mainteine their dignities are some what large The Patriarches yeerely rents out of his lands besides other fees is about 3000 Rubbells or Markes The Metropolites and Archbishops have about 2500. The Bishops have some 1000. some 800 some lesse The matters perteining to their jurisdiction are the same in manner that are used by the Clergie in other parts in Christendome for beside their authority over the Clergie and matters meere ecclesiasticall their Iurisdiction extendeth to all testamentarie causes matters of marriage and devorcements and some pleas of iniuries c. This Countrie conteineth two Kingdomes 15 Dukedomes Imperior mund catalog pag. 51 Bot relat univer par 3 lib. Moscovia and 16 Provinces They have in so great reverence the holy Scriptures that they touch them not without many bowings of their heads and making the signe of the Crosse and the like reverence they shew to the foure first generall Councells The Russians in Polonia finding that they could not have recourse to the Patriarch of Constantinople as was fit being subiect to the tyranny of the Turke in the yeere 1591 fell from his jurisdiction but yet retaine the Greeke religion Churchces in Asia Hierusalem THe Christians subiect to the Patriarch of Hierusalem Inhabite mingled with Turks and others Palestine Microcosme pag. 380. The Patriarch doth keepe his residence in Hierusalem In which there are now remaining about 10 Churches of Christians Chytr destatu 〈◊〉 clesiarum pag 24. The Patriarcall Church is the Church of St. Sepulcher in Hierusalem and his house is neere unto it Tyrius histor bellisacri lib. 14. cap. 12. There did belong to this Patriarch the three Palestines Tyrius addeth more two Provinces to wit Rubensis and Beritensis He also relateth five Metropolitans to have belonged to this Sea and about 101 Bishops This Countrie of Palestine is called the holie land because the holy One dwelt and was borne there who beareth up all things by the power of his word Antioch The Christians under the Patriarch of Antioch are called Syrians Niceph histor eccles lib. 18. cap. 52. of the place of their cheife habitation And Melchites because their Bishops have alwayes followed in faith and in the councells the example and authority of the Emperors of Constantinople Boterus relat univers par 3. lib. 1. de melchiti per che questi nella fede e ne concilii hanno sempre seguito l'essempio el autorita de gl Imperatori Constan â—in â—olitani Idem Ibâ—â—em e â—i tima che questa siaâ—la piu numerosa na time Christiana diâ—evante Tyrius in Histor Bells sacri lib. 14 cap. 12 pag. 247. Their Patriarch is the Patriarch of Antioch who now keepeth his residence at Damascus They inhabite mingled with Mahometants part of Syria Beritus Tripolis Alepo and other places in Asia these are one of the greatest sort Christians in the Orient This Patriarch had fifteens Provinces allotted to him and Tyrius reckoneth Metropolitans Archhishops and Bishops belonging to Antioch 142 The Syrians do boast themselues to be the first Christians of the world because St. Peter had his seat 7 yeare in Antioch before he went to Rome which is the reason that the Syrians would never submit themselues to the Church of Rome The Georgians THe Georgians Chytreus de stat ecclesiarum pag. â—1 inhabit the Countrie that was antiently named Iberia betwixt the Euxine and the Caspian seas They haue on the North Cancasus on the West the Mengrellians on the East and on the South the Armenians All their Bishops being 18 professe absolute obedience to their Metrapolitan without any other higher dependance these christians liue severally by themselues without any mixture of Mahumetans or pagans under their owne King or Prince They are a very warlike people valian in Bataile of great strength and might with an innumerable multitude of Soulders very terrible to the parazens As often as they come to visit the Lords Sepulcher they enter into the holy Citie with their Standards exected not paying any tribute As it is reported by Vitriacus the Cardinall And in their standerds they beare St Gâ—orge In the yeere 1614. Teimurazes being Prince of the Georgians the Persian armie entred into Georgia and spoiled divers Cities and carried away many prisoners and amongst others Cetaba the Princes mother was taken in the Citie Cremen and caried into Persia which Cetaba refusing to be come a Mahumetan and to leave Christianty was put to death and martyred by the Tyrant and her body cast out into the feilds unburied But Moacla who had beene a servant of the Queenes and then slave to a Persian got leave of her Master to bring home the body in the night telling her master what profit he might receive by it her sonne ransoming it The bodie she imbalmed and put into a Coffin There were at that time certaine Iesuits in Persia who seeking the body and finding it not being perswaded that it was devoured by wild beasts got another dead mans head and imbalming it and wrapping it in lynnen travelled towards Georgia and drawing neere sent a Messenger to the Prince to tell him that there were certaine Roman Christians come out of Persia who had brought with them the head of the holy Martyr Cetaba his Mother which had delivered them out of many great dangers
invocate Saints in whom they do not beleeve and call on Some whom they are ignorant of whether they be in Heaven or Hell 3. Matth. 26.26 Whereas Christ hath commanded us to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper in both kindes in his holy Institution as it is set downe in the holy Scripture They now sacrilegiously forbid the people under a Curse the Symboll of Christs precious Blood 4. Whereas holy Scripture testifie that marriage is honorable unto all men Heb. 13.4 1 Cor. 10.9 and che bed undefiled and Saint Paule teacheth it is better to marrie then to burne They now Teach Doctrines of Devills Gravius peccare sacerdotem si uxorem ducat quam si dâ—â—ni concubinam foveat Coster in enchrid cap. 17 â—rop 9. 1 Cor. 14. forbidding Marriage that it is better for a Priest to have a concubine then to marrie 5. Whereas Saint Paule teacheth us to pray in spirit and understanding They teach men to pray in an unknowne Tongue without understanding 6. Whereas the worship of Images is flatly forbidden by God in his morall Law under Gods curse Confounded be all they that serue graven Jmages They now command due worship and veneration to be given to Images under the Popes curse 7 Whereas God curseth all them that adde or diminish to his holy word Rev. 22.18.19 They have made many new Articles of Faith contrary to Gods holie word curse them that observe them not 8. Whereas holy Scripture teacheth us to relie onely on the Merits of Christ Psal 2.12 Blessed are all they that trust in him Bell. de iustif 5â— l. cap. 7. which Bellarmine confesseth to be the safest way They joyne their owne Merits with Christs Merits 9 Whereas we are to build our Faith on the Scriptures which cannot erre Regula credendi certissima tutissima Bell. de verbo Dei lib 1. cap. 1. They on the Pope and his Church which doe erre 10 And whereas St. Paul telleth the Roman Church that they are not the Roote but a branch grafted into the Tree and bidds them take heed of Pride Yet the now Church of Rome will not acknowledge herfelfe to be onely a branch or member of Christs Church but will bee the Roote or Head of the holy Catholike Church teach that no man can bee saved unlesse he be a Member of that Chuch Thus you see how the latter Popes of Rome differ from the former Bishops in Title in Iurisdiction in Holinesse of Life and Doctrine so not worthy to be numbred amongst them or to be accounted their Successors To the Succession of Bishops I have added the Succession of the Emperors of Constantinople who have many of them opposed the Popes greatnesse and Doctrines and also the Emperours of Ethiopia who have never been subject to the Pope as farre as I can reade viz. The Emperors of Constantinople before the division Constantinus Constans Constantius Iulianus Apostata Iovintanus Valentinianus Gratianus Theodosius Arcadius Honorius Theoddosius 2. Martianus Leo Zeno Anastatius Dicorus Iustinus Iustinianus Fl. val Iustinus Tib. Constantinus Mauritius Cappa dox Phocas Heraclius Constantinus Constans Constantinus Pogo natuâ— Iustinianus Leontius Absimarus Philippus Bardanes Artemius seu Anastasius Theoaosius Leo 3 Isauricus Constantinus Co. Leo 4 pronymus Irene Emperors since the Division Nicephorus Michael Curopalates Leo Aâ—minus Michael Balbus Theophilus Michael Basilius Macedo Leo Philosophus Alexander Constantinus Romanus Nicephorus Phocas Ioan Cimifces Basilius Porphyrogenitus Constantinus Romanus Argyrus Michael Paphlago Michael Calaphates Zoe Constantinus Mononachus Theodora Michael Stratioticus Isacius Comnenus Constantius Ducas Romanus Diogenes Mich. Parapinacius Niceph. Boteniates Alexius Comnenus Caloioanes Manuel comnenus-Tryphon Andronicus Comnenus Isacius Angelus Alexius Angelus Alexius Iunior Baldninus Comes Flandriae Henricus Petrus Altisiodorensis Robe tus Balduinus Michael Palaeologus Andronicus Palaolog us Andronicus Iunior Ioannes Palaeologus Ioannes Cata. cuzenus Eminuel Palaeologus Ioannes Palaeologus Constantinus Palaeologus Emperors of Aethiopia Baazena Lacasa seu Candace cujus Eunuchus a Philippo fuit bapti-Zatus Baazena Mesve Sectua Agdala Agba Mali Able Dâ—dima Autetes Alda Zeahim de Rama Gafeles Beseseoch Azgua Agua Hherch Besane Guachena Hadas Saghell Affe Asgehba Asgueba Samra Aiba Stendhem Zacham San Igaam Alamida Achinna Abraham Azba fratres deinde solus Abraham Asfa Asba Albamedon Abra Sahell Ghebez Sekul Azba AbraÌ„ Adakana zaham Amida Sahan AZba Zahan Gabed Iacob Dabid frat Arma Zittahana Iacob Constantinus Beth Esrael Gabra Mafchall Nalek Bazen Bensaghed Bahar Saghed Gherma Aapher Saliuba Callula Sion Sargue Zarui Bagaharnaâ— Gianscheda Zeonechia Malgeres Sepharad Agdai Abraham Asbaha Asfa Afra Amsi Ahan Arcada Aladana Alameda Tabena Caleb Gabra Maschel Constantinus Beza Agher Asfa Arma Gianasfa Gianascheda Fressennai Adazahaz Aizar Delnahadan Madai Sahada regina Ambazandin Gemoasfare Girgas Degva Michael Bedegaz Arma Cullandin Sbinahanni Tredda Gabez regina Gabez filius Tredda Gabez Nep. Tredda St. Zalibala St. Zimra Naakutolah Icum Nuam Lach Iacba Hazcon Baazarda Ezbrahad Cadem Saghed Vdim Raah Amdezeon Sepharab Vdma Asfan David Theodorus Isaacke Andreas Hezbinaam Zarach Bethemariam Schender Amdezcon Nabud Helena Lebnadenghel danid cum matre Helena Asnasgahet Caudius Adamastus By what meanes the Papall Monarchie hath beene raised and how it hath been and is upheld CHAP. VI. THere was a Time when the Bishops of Rome were holy men painefully labouring in the Lords harvest Of the primitive estate of the Bishops of Rome many of them suffering Martyrdome And then they acknowledged our Lord Iesus Christ to be the onely Head of his Church Pope Pius the second testifieth that before the Nicen Councell Aeneas Silvius in epistola 301. Ante Nicenum concilium sibi quisque vivebat ad Romanam ecclesiam parvus habebatur Re spectus the Bishops of Rome had small or no respect That Councell divided the Regiment of the Church into foure Patriarchall Sees Rome Alexandria Antioch and Hierusalem They had all equall Authoritie given them in their owne Provinces as appeareth by eight Councells cited at large by Doctor Willet Afterward Synopsis pag. 148. there was a certaine Primacie of Order Can. 28. quia urbs illa imperaret granted to the Patriarch of Rome as To have the first place to sit first To give sentence first for that Rome was then the Imperiall Citie This reason is yeelded in the Calcedon Councell 2. For the Popes Title about the yeere 604. Boniface the third obtained with much contention of Phocas 2. Popes Title Egit is ab initie administrationis cum Phoca ut Romana Ecclesia esset omnium aliarum capnt nec sine multa contentione Apostolicae sedi datum Sabell Ennead 8. lib. 6 pag. 396. For this read Mouns Plesses his Historie of the Papacie who proveth it by many Testimonies who murthered his Master Maurice the Emperor the title of Vniversall Bishop and that the Church of Rome should be head of all Churches This Phocas murthered also
Thou shalt not kill 6. Thou shalt not commit adultery 7. Thou shalt not steale 8. Thou shalt not beare false witnesse 9. Thou shalt not desire thy neighbours wife 10. Thou shalt not desire thy neighbours goods 4. And that which is worst of all they forbid the Reading of the holy Scriptures Haeresin esse si quis dicit necessarium esse ut scripturae in vulgares linguas convertantur Sander visib monar lib. 7. hares 191. Credo institutum hoc a Diabelo esse inventum Peresius de Trad. par 1. Assert 3. pag. 47. Characteres mortui Lindan Lib. 2. Stromat cap. 3.6 traducing them and blaspheming them viz. that it is 〈…〉 that it is the Devils in vention to permit the Laitie to reade them that they are dead Characters and not to be permitted Which if they should be suffered to be read they would casily discover their new Articles of Faith to bee blasphemous their Image-Worship to bee Idolatrie and their not erring Bishop to bee a meere Imposture and Deceiver 5. And also to breede an Antipathie and hatred betweene the Papists and Protestants they are taught to beleeve that the Protestants are Blasphemers of God and all Saints That in England Churches are made Stables and that the people are growne barbarous To these they have wilfully feyned many scandalous lies of us and the Reformers set downe by learned Doctor Hall In his scrious disswasive from Poperie pag. 37. now Lord Bishop of Exeter as of Wickliffs Blasphemies of Luthers advice from the Devill of Tindalls communitie of Calvins blasphemous death of Bucers breaking his necke of Beza's Revolt of the blasting of Hugonites of Englands want of Churches and Christendome of our putting English Catholikes into beares skinnes and casting them to dogges to be baited of the Lutherans nightrevelling of Scories drunken or dination of our Bishops in a Taverne of the casting of the remaine of our Sacraments to Doggs of Mounsier Plessis overthrow and the like And lately they have published two Bookes commonly sold in Jtalie and in France one of them of the late Right Reverend Father in God Doctor King late lord Bishop of London his Apostacie the other containing a relation of Gods Iudgement showne upon a sort of Protestant hereticks by the fall of a house in Black-fryers London in which they were assembled to heare a Geneva Lecture Octo. 26. Anno. Dom 1623. By which the simple people were made to beleeve that Iudgement to bee upon the Protestants which God sent upon the Papists and as they scandall us so also the other Christians not subject to them Thus you may see in the Church of Rome Religion to be Metamorphised into Policie and all their Policie tending to maintaine their atchieved Majesty and greatnesse The Conclusion TO Conclude in this little Treatise you may see the Church of God not to be in Rome onely but to bee Catholike and dispersed over the face of the whole Earth Here is also set downe the large habitations and dwellings of the Christians not subject to the Pope and how they doe agree with the Protestants in the mayne Points in difference and the Harmony of the Protestants amongst themselves with the differences in the Roman Church Also the Antiquitie of some of these Churches with a succession of Bishops in some of their Churches not subject at all to the Pope nor acknowledging the Papall Iurisdiction And as these Churches agree with us so you may see what Correspondency they have with the Bishops of Rome The Greeke Church excommunicateth yerely the Pope and his Church for Schismatickes The Muscovites account him an Hereticke The Christians under the Patriarch of Musall call the Pope the reprobate Bishop as before The Churches of Asia answered Pope Iohn the 23. who wrote to them that hee was the alone Head of the Church and Christs Vicar after this manner Wee firmely beleeve thy great authority over them that are subject to thee we cannot indure thy great pride and ambition we cannot satisfie thy great Covetousnesse c. And whereas Pope Gregory as before calleth him Antichrist and Lucifer who shall but in the pride of his heart desire to be called universall Bishop what would hee say if hee lived now to see the Pope lifted up above Kings and Emperors and the whole Catholike Church To conclude I wish every man that hath a care of his Soule to follow the grave and divine instruction of that excellent Light of the Church Saint Augustine for establishing of his Conscience to performe our Saviours Commandement Search the Scriptures 1. Now search diligently whether you can finde in holy Scripture that Christ made Saint Peter and his Successors his alone Vicars 2. Or gave them dominion over the other Apostles 3. Or gave them power to depose Kings 4. Or to dispence with oathes made Sacred by Gods holy name 5. Or to license incestious marriages 6. Or to give pardons for money 7. Or to release Soules out of Purgatory 8. Or whether in holy Writt marriage is forbidden to Priests 9. Or the reading of the Scriptures to the Laiety 10. As also the Symbol of Christs blood in the holy Sacrament 11. Or power given to a Priest to make his Maker 12. Or to Communicate alone And if thou canst finde none of these things in holy Scripture remember what Saint Paul saith Gal. 1.9 if any man preach any other Gospel unto you then that you have received let him be accursed And whereas our Adversaries boast and make a great cry of the Catholike Church here you may see how the Catholike Church of God agreeth with us Now to put an end to this Treatise I thanke God for his truth revealed unto us and his Church and most humbly intreate his divine Majesty to open the eyes of them that erre and have gone astray that they may returne to the great Shepherd and Bishop of their Soules and for them that are in darkenesse that they may also know the great Mystery of Salvation in Iesus Christ Now to Him that is able to doe exceeding abundantly above all that we can aske or thinke to Him be Glory in the Church by Iesus Christ throughout all ages world without end Amen Literae à Patriarcha Alexandrino ad Archiepiscopum Cantuariensem ex Aegypto in Britaniam transmissae ex autographo Cyrilli graeco in Latinum jussu Archiepiscopi traductae à Daniele Featleyo eidem Archiepiscopo à sacris Inscriptio literarum Beatissimo magnificentissimo Domino Archiepiscopo Cantuariensi totius Angliae Primati Metropolitano Georgio Abbati mihi multis nominibus colendissimo officiose cum honore debitâ reverentiâ in Britaniam tradantur istae Subscriptio Cyrillus dei gratia Papa Patriarcha magnae urbis Alexandriae Iudex oecumenicus Exemplar Literarum BEatissime amplissime Archiepiscope Cantuariensis totius Angliae Primas Metropolitane Domine Georgi Domine frater charissime Exopto amplitudini vestrae prosperam valetudinem ademolumentum
saith inhabited the greater part of Asia some of them lived amongst the Saracens others had their owne proper countries as in Africa Nubia and a great part of Aethiopia and all the regions unto India containing as they report more then 40 kingdomes These Christians were converted by St. Matthew and other Apostolike men to the faith of Christ The Jacobites now are dispersed in the cities of Mesopotamia Babylonia and Syria and of other places for their Ecclesiasticall government they are subiect to a Patriarch of their owne whose patriarchall Church is in the monastery of Saphran neere to the City Merdin in the North parts of Mesopotamia but hee keepeth residence in Caramite the ancient Metropolis of Mesopot amia Eutichae errores uno cum suo authore condemnant qui duas naturas in â—nâ—m confundebat at ipsi contrâ— haâ—c opinionem asserunt duas in Christo naturas esse unitas unamque factam naturâ—m personatam de duab us natur is non personatis sine mixtione tamen aut confusione apud Tho a Iesu de conuer lib 7 par 1. cap. 14. These Iacobites as Leonard Bishop of Sidon visiter to Pope Greg the 13th in the East regions doe condemne Eutiches and his error who confounded the two natures of Christ And they affirme two naturs to be united in Christ one personated nature to be made of the two natures not personated without mixtion or confusion They renounce Eutiches and honor Dioscorus The Maronites THE Maronites are found in Alepo Damascus Tripoli of Syria and Cyprus Mirae not Episco lib 1 cap. 19. but their maine habitation is in the Mountaine of Lebanus which conteineth in circuite aboue 700 miles and is possessed only by the Maronits who for that privileidge namely Tho. a Iesu lib. 7. pâ—â— 1. cap. 22. de convers omni gâ—nt to keepe themselues free from the mixture of the Mahometans pay the Turke large Tribute The Patriarch of the Maronites hath under his iurisdiction 8 or 9 Bishops and keepeth residence for the most part in Lebanus keeping ever the name of Peter Their Patriarch hath lately communion with the Pope as before Boter rel pa. 3. lib. 2 de maronitis sonoda minima natione Christina dâ—orieâ—te but with some reservation Boterus writeth that the are the least Cristian Nation of the East whether Maronites inhabiting Damascus Alepo Cyprus and other places have also Communion with the Pope or no I doe not find Christians under the Patriarch of Musall falsely called Nestorians THese Christians inhabit mingled with Mahometans and Pagans a great part of the Orient for besides the countries of Babjlon Assyria and Mesopotamia Parthia and Media wherein very many of them are found Brerwood pag. 139 enquir These Christians are scattered farre and wide in the East both Northerly in Cataya and Southerly to India Boter relat par 3 lib. 2. de Nestorâ— So that in Marcus Paulus Venetus his historie of the East Regions and others we find mentioned of them and of no sort of Christians but them in very many parts and provinces of Tartaria as namely in Cassar Samarchan Carcham Chinchitalas Tangut Cariam Mangi Tenduc c. In so much that beyond the River Tigris Eastward there is not any other sort of Christians to be found for ought I have read except the Portugales and the Convents made by them in Indâ—a and the late Migration of the Armenians into Perfia Vitriac histor Orient cap. 77. pag 149. hi nestoriam cum Iacobinis longe plures esse dieuntur quam latini vel graeci the Cardinall Vitriacus a man well experienced in some parts of the orient hath left registred that these Christians with the Iacobites exceeded in multitude the Christians of the Greeke or Latine Churches About 400 yeeres agoe Bote loco citat The King of Tenduc a Christian ruled farr and wide in the Northeast part of Asia as having under his dominion besides Tenduc which was his owne native and peculiar kingdome All the neighboring Provinces which were at that time for a great part Christians but after that his Empire was brought to ruine and he subdued by Chinges a rebell of his owne Dominion and the first founder of the Tartarian Empire which happened about the yeere Marcus Paulus Venetus lib. 1. cap. 64 maior pars provintiae observat fidem Christianam et bi Christiani primas tenent in hac provincia 1190 the state of Christian religion became in short time altered in those parts for I finde in Marcus Paulus who lived within 50 yeares after Vitriacus and was a man of more experience in those parts then he as having spent 17 yeeres together in Tartaria and partly in the Emperors Court and partly in travelling over those regions about the Emperors affaires that except the Province of Tenduc 20 whereof Marcus Paulus confesseth the greater part to have professed the Christian religion at his being in Tartaria the rest of the Inhabitants being partly Mahometans and partly Idolators and Christians but a few Dico pauci comparatione priorum temporum non in se nam sunt nobis latinis multo plures compend cosmograp pag. 69 Postell writeth that they are but a few in comparison of former times not of themselues they being many more then the Latins are Borchardus who lived since Paulus Venetus hath left record that in some of those parts there were more Christians then Mahometans And he speaketh of his owne experience that in Cilicia and Armenia subiect to the Tartars that he found in a manner at the Inhabitants meere Christians William de Rubriquis also reports that these Christians inhabit fifteene Cities in Cathay and that they have a Bishop in the Citie Segin Gulielm us de Rubriquis lib. 27. cited by Parchas and that they have also a Patriarch in Balduc Thom. a Iesu lib. 7 par 1. cap. 4. pa. 358. de conv omn. gent. in Persia Thomas a Iesu also writeth that under one of these Patriarchs there are many Nations two and twenty Bishopricks sixe hundred Territories and more c. Their cheife Patriarch is the Patriarch of Musall Mirae notitia epis lib. 1 cap 16. in which Citie is recorded the Nestorians to reteine fifteene Temples and the Iacobites three which Citie was in times past Seleucia To the Bishop whereof was assigned the next Place of session in councell after the Bishop of Jerusalem which name and authority in those parts the Bishops of Musall now hath There is one Church of these Christians in the great Citie of Quinsay in China Paul Venet de regi orient lib. 2. cap. 64. Haiton King of Armenia was himselfe in Tartaria and hath wrtten a booke thereof and of the aid he had from the great Cam who was a Christian and of the taking of Mesopotamia Babylon and Syria by the Tartars from the Sasens In former time the heresie of Nestorius prevailed much in these parts of the world
Field of the Church lib 3. pa. 73. The Emperor hath supreame authoritie in all causes as well Ecclesiastical as Civill though the Patriarch also exercise a spirituall iurisdiction 13 Concerning Purgatorie Godignus the Iesuit Godignus de Rebus Abassinorum lib 1. Cap 28. pag 172. ex literis Petri Paes qui praesit Iesuit in Aethiopia PurgatoriuÌ„ negant They deny Purgatory 14 They do not expresse the number of their sinnes in Confession Abassinos neque species neque numerum peccatorum in confessione exprimere sed tantum generatim dicere Habessen Habessen hoc est peccavi peccavi Godign lib 1. Cap 35. pag 216. They do not expresse in their Confessions neither the kindes nor number of their sinnes but onely generally ory out Habessen Habessen I have sinned I have sinned 15 Concerning Jmages Mr. Sandes his iourneis lib. 3. pag 171. They haue pictures in their Churches but no Carved Images neither do they bestow any undue reverence on them Idem loco citat They have no crucifixes but use the Crosse as a badge of their profession their preists carrying crosses in their hands 16 Thomas a Iesu They have no oblations oblations for the dead neither do they offer for the living Nullas pro defunctis oblationes habent nec sacra faciunt pro vivis Tho a Iesu de convers omnium Gentium lib 7 pa 1 cap 8 pag 370. Praeterea traditiones sanctas non admittunt solumque verbo Dei scripto fidem dicunt se habere Tho a Iesu lib 7 cap 8 pag 369. 17 Moreover they doe not admit holy Traditions but they say that they must onely beleeve Gods word The Aethiopians do beleive the holy Trinity Zaga Zabo apud Damianum a Goes pag. 204 Credimus in nomen sanctae Trinitatis patrem filium et spiritum sanctum that there are three persons and one God They have goodly Monasteries and Monks but onely of the order of St. Anthony their Monks are not suffred to begg but live on their labours They use the Ni en Creed In their Lent they tast nothing till the sunne be set neither old men nor sick Godignus lib. 1 cap. 35. pag. 218. eate on their fasting time without offence they begin their Lent ten daies before ours In their Churches Idem lib. 1 cap. 2â— pag. 133 134. they do demeane themselues most reverently no man may walke laugh or talke in their Churches they suffer not doggs to come into their Churches or Church-yards they suffer no man to sit in their Churches the aged and weake have onely Crutches to ease them withall For their manner of Administration of the Sacrament of Baptisme they are Baptized They Baptize in the Church-portch in the Church Porch The Priest after hee hath said certeine prayers putteth the partie to be baptised three times under water saying I doe Baptize thee in the name of the Father the Sonne and of the holy Chost the Comforter WheÌ„ he renounceth the Devil the preist turneth the face of the partie to be baptized to the West when the covenaÌ„t is made with God to the east They do beleeve that the Sacrament of Baptisme washeth away origenall sin Godign de Abassin rebus lib 1 cap. 35 pag. 212. with which the soule is tainted as soone as it is infused into the bodie in the Mothers wombe yea in the very moment of his first being Whereas the Aethiopians are charged with having many wives Godign lib. citat cap. 36 pag. 225. it is a scandall for no Nation punisheth Adultery more severely then they And whereas they are accused of rebaptizing themselves yeerely Scaliger de emendatione temporum lib. 8 pag. 683 True it is they do veerely upon the day of our Lord IESVS CHRISTS Baptisme goe into the water and wash themselves as the Moscovites doe and other Christians and this they doe onely in memoriall of our Lords Baptisme And that they absteine from blood Scalig loc citat and things strangled as this was forbidden by the Apostles Cannon Acts 15. so it was the Custome of the auntient Christians in the primitive Church read Cannon 53 of those which are called the Apostles And they doe Circumcise their Children they use it not as a sacrament but as a nationall custome and they Circumcise both Males and Females which the Iewes did not and they are not bound to it by law nor religion And that they Baptise their Children Scaliger de emend temp lib. 8. not onely with water but also with fier It is reported that it is the custome of the Aethiopians not onely of the Christians but also of the Mahometans to burne their Children with a hot Iron in the temple veines to stop distillations from falling into their eyes Some write that the first Aethiopian Emperors Godignus lib. citat cap. 35. pag. 213. that embraced the faith of Christ invented this burning that every Christian man might beare about some outward signe of his Christianity Others write that Iohn the Emperor who was called the Saint who lived in those miserable times of the Arrians Idem pag. 214. appointed that after Baptisme the Aethiopian Children should receive three prickes in the face with an hot Iron in signe that they professed the faith of the holy Trinity The Aethiopian Liturgie set downe by Francis Alvares in the Portugall tongue and afterwards written in Italian related by Cassander in his Liturgies cap. 1 pa. 28. This Alvares was chaplin to K. Iohn of Portugall and was six yeere in Aethiopia Cassander Theologus Belga Imp. Ferdiu 1 et Maximil 2 〈◊〉 a consiliis Printed Parisiis apud Abrahamum Pacard MDCXVI THey make a great Cake or a lesse in their Churches 1 In Ecclesiis faciunt libum magnum aut paruum pro multitudine gentis quia omnes communicant et pro multitudine faciunt erassum dimidio digito aut integro aut etiam crassiorem magno digito infundunt vinum calici factum ex uvis pressis magna quantitate quia quot quot communicant de corpore totidem â—tiam communicant de sanguine according to the multitude of people for all Communicate For the greatenesse of it they make it halfe a finger or a whole finger or more thicke They power wine into the Cup made of Grapes pressed in great quantitie as many as doe Communicate of the bodie so many do Communicate of the blood 2 Is qui missam dicturus est incipit altâ voce Alleluia Sacerdos facit benedictionem cuvs cruce parvâ quam tenet in manu 2 He that saith the service beginneth with a loud voice Alleluia The Preist blesseth with a little Crosse which he holdeth in his hand 3 3 Canunt tam qui foris suut quam qui intus They that are without and within sing 4 The Epistle is read the blessing being asked likewise the Gospell 4 Legitur Epistola cursim petita prius