Astrea a Romance in 3 Volumes in Folio Paulo Paruto's History of Venice Translated by Henry Earl of Monmouth Bishop Andrews second Volume of Sermons The Grand Scipio an excellent new Romance written in French by Monsieur de Vaumoriere and rendred into English by Gil. Havers The History of the Commonwealth of Venice by James Howel Esq The Wall-flower an excellent Romance written by Dr. Baley A Compendious History of the Goths Swedes Vandals and other Northern Nations written by Olaus Magnus Arch-Bishop of Upsal and Metropolitan of Sweden Clelia an excellent new Romance the fifth and last Volume Gondibert an Heroick Poem written by Sir William Davenant Parthenissa an excellent Romance in five Volumes written by the Right Honorable the Lord Broghill The civil right of Tythes wherein setting aside the higher Plea of Jus Divinum from the Equity of the Levitical Law or that of nature for sacred services and the certain apportioning by the undoubted Canon of the New Testament the labourers of the Lords Vineyard of the Church of England are estated in their quota Pars of the Tenth or Tythe per legem Terrae by civil Sanction or the Law of the Land written by C. E. Mr. of Arts. The Art of making Devises by Tho. Blunt The Immortality of the Soul demostrated by the light of nature by Doctor Charleton Natural History of nutrition life and voluntary motion containing all discoveries of Anatomists and most probable opinions of Physicians concerning the Oeconomie of humane nature Methodically delivered in Exercitations Physico-Anatomical by Dr. Charleton Epicurus's Morals collected partly out of his own Greek Text in Diogegenes Laertius and partly out of the Rhapsodies of Marcus Antonius Plutarch Cicero and Seneca and faithfulle Englished by Dr. Charleton Ironodia Gratulatoria Latin Poems by Pa. Fisher The siege of Rhodes The History of Sr. Francis Drake The cruelty of the Spaniards in Peru expressed by Instrumental and Vocal Musick and by Art of perspective in Scenes c. all three written by Sir William Davenant Unum Necessarium or the Doctrine and practice of Repentance by Jer. Taylor D. D. A Collection of Offices and Forms of prayer publick and private fitted for the needs of all Christian assemblies by Jer. Taylor Dr. of Divinity A Collection of Letters made by Sr. Toby Mathews Knight with a Character of the most excellent Lady Lucy Countesse of Carlile by the same Author to which is added many Letters of his own to several persons of Honour who were Contemporary with him Satyrical Characters and handsom Descriptions in Letters written to several persons of quality Poems viz. A Panegyrick to the King Songs Sonnets the Blind Lady a Comedy the fourth book of Virgil Statius Achilleis with Annotations A Panegyrick to General Monck by the Honorable Sr. Rob. Howard The Characters of the Passions written in French by the Sieur de la Chambre Physician to the Lord Chancellor of France put into English by a person of quality Anthropologia abstracted or the Idea of humane nature reflected in brief Philosophical and Anatomical Collections The Court of Rome wherein is set forth the whole Government thereof The Grand difference between France Spain and the Empire with the Titles Claims and pretences to each others Dominions discussed and stated by an Impartial hand very necessary for the clear understanding of the present Commotions and great affairs of Europe A Triumphant Arch Erected and Consecrated to the glory of the Feminine Sex by Monsieur de Scudery Englished by J. B. Gent. Humane Industry or a History of most Manual Arts deducing the Original Progresse and Improvement of them furnished with variety of Instances and Examples shewing forth the Excellency of humane wit â—eraphick Love written by the Honorable Robert Boyl Certain Physiological Essayes written at distant times and on several occasions by the Honorable Robert Boyl A Prospective of the Naval Triumph of the Venetians over the Turks to Signor Petro Liberi that Renown'd and Famous Painter by Gio. Francesco Busenello Englished by Tho. Higgons Esq Rats Rim'd to death or a Collection of Ballets made on the Rump Parliament Dr. Jer. Taylors Rules of living and dying Sr. Walter Rawleighs Ghost or a Translation of Lessius de Providentiâ Numinis Animi Immortalitate written against the Atheists and Politicians of these dayes A Devout Paraphrase on the 50th Psalm by Math. Kellison D.D. A Discourse of a Method for the well guiding of Reason and the Discovery of Truth in the Sciences Musarum Delitiae containing several pieces of Poetick wit by Sr. John Menuis and Dr. Smith Poems Elegies and Sonets written by the Bishop of Chichester All Horace his Lyricks or his fourth book of Odes and his book of Epods Englished Heroick Education or choice Maxims and Instructions for the most sure and facile training up of youth in the wayes of Eminent learning and virtues a Treatise very necessary for all men but most especially for such as undertake the charge to govern the young Nobility and Gentry A Treatise of adhering to God written by Albert the Great Bishop of Ratisbon put into English by Sr. Kenelm Digby Knight Also a Conference with a Lady about choice of Religion The Royal Game at Chess-Play sometimes the recreation of the late King Charls the first of blessed memory with many of the Nobility Illustrated with almost an hundred Gambels being the study of Biochimo the famous Italian A Diarium or Journal divided into 12. Jornades in Burlesque Rhime or Droling verse with divers other pieces of the same Author Satyrical Declamations at the entertainment at Rutland house by Sr. William Davenant A Proposition for the advancement of Experimental Philosophy by Abraham Cowley A Discourse between the aforementioned Author and the Devil concerning Oliver Cromwel The Ephesian Matron or a Discourse upon the nature of Women The Roman the Conversation of the Romans and Macenas in three excellent Discourses written in French by Balsac Englished by a person of quality PLAYES The Enchanted Lovers The Amorous Fantasm The Noble Ingratitude The Guardian Cowley Bélius and Thetis Loves labour lost Hamlet Prince of Denmark Romio and Juliet
made provision for them for these thirteen years The Solymitans or Shepherds with the unclean multitude made now great havock of all things in Aegypt burning Villages and Cities and raging against the sacred Animals with their Priests whom they compelled to be their Butchers and drave away naked the forementioned Priest still giving Laws and framing their Policy who being from Osiris the Heliopolitan-god called Osarsiphus now changed his name into Moses But at the end of the thirteen years Amenophis returned with great power out of Aethiopia and with the assistance of his Son Rampses fell upon the Shepherds and unclean multitude whereof killing many they pursued the rest as far as the borders of Syria 13. These ridiculous lyes are much more augmented by others Chaeremon Chaeremon his ridiculous Lyes who professed to write the History of Aegypt giveth the same name Amenophis to the King and of Rhamesses to his Son but addeth that the Goddesse Isis appeared to the former complaining that her Temple was destroyed by War That Phritiphantes a sacred Scribe told the King that if he would be freed from terrors in the night he must purge Aegypt from polluted Men he therefore gathering out 250000 diseased persons cast them out of his borders That the two Scribes Moses and Joseph the Aegyptian name of the former being Tisithes and of the later Petesephis became their Leaders and coming to Pelusium found there 380000 which Amenophis having left behind would not convey into Aegypt with those they struck up a league and undertook an Expedition against the Land Amenophis not expecting the issue of their attempt fled into Aethiopia leaving his wife big with child which lying hid in a Cave brought forth a Son called Messenes He when he came to age expelled the Jews to the number of 200000 into Syria and received back his Father Amenophis out of Aethiopia Lisimachus his malicious forgeries 14. Lysimachus an Historian going beyond the other two in the maliciousnesse of his lyes wrote that when Bocchoris reigned in Aegypt the people of the Jews infected with Leprosie Scab and other diseases resorted to the Temple to beg for their living and many being infected with this disease barrennesse fell upon the Land Bocchoris sending to the Oracle of Ammon about it received this answer that the Temples were to be cleansed from impure and prophane persons who were to be cast out into the Desart but the scabbie and Leprous should be drowned the Sun not enduring they should live which being done and the Temples purified fruitfulnesse would be restored to the Earth Bocchoris accordingly ordered the Priests to gather all the prophane out of the Temples and give them up to Soldiers who were to carry them into the Wildernesse and the Leprous and Scabbie to be wrapped in Lead and cast into the Sea which being drowned accordingly the other were exposed to perish in the Desart But those consulting for their own safety kept fires that night and strict watch then the day following a solemn Fast to God for their preservation On the next counsell was given them by a certain Man named Moses that they should march on in one body till they arrived at some good Soil Then commanded he them to be kind to no man to give bad counsell rather than good and overthrow the Temples of the gods as many as they should find which being approved of they travelled through the Desart and after much trouble came to a fruitfull Soil where using the Inhabitants very injuriously and rifling and burning the Temples they arrived at length in that Country since called Iudaea and building a City seated themselves there This City was at first called Hierosyla from the spoiling of the Temples but afterwards to shun the disgrace of the occasion they changed it into Hierosolyme and took the name of Hierosolymitans Apion his Lyes 15. Further than this Apion a Grammarian of Alexandria Josephus Lib. 2. contr Apionem as he counterfeited himself but born in Oasis a Town of Aegypt amongst severall other lyes against the Jews wrote that he had received from the eldest of the Aegyptians how Moses was a Heliopolitan and being brought up according to the customs of his Country changed the rites thereof at his own pleasure That he led the Leprous Blind and Lame out of Aegypt but fairly saith it was in the first year of the seventh Olympiad the same wherein Carthage was built by the Tyrians which happened about 150 years after Hiram the King of Tyre as apppeareth out of the Phoenician Annals with whom Solomon was contemporary He mentioned the same number of infirm persons as Lysimachus but addeth a reason why the Sabbath was so called Travelling six dayes together saith he on the seventh day they rested in Judaea for that they were sorely plagued with Ulcers in their privy parts and named it Sabboth from the Aegyptian word Sabbatosis which signifieth that disease Notwithstanding that he saith they finished their journey in six dayes yet he further writeth that Moses hid himself for forty dayes upon the Mount Sinai which lyeth betwixt Aegypt and Arabia whence coming down he gave Laws unto the Jews As for the Jewish Religion he was not ashamed to write that in their Temple was set the head of an Asse made of gold and of great value which being there worshipped was taken thence when Antiochus Epiphanes spoiled the place 16. Such absurdities were delivered by the Egyptians and those who out of desire to gratifie them have after their example endeavoured to conceal the truth to which Josephus in his two Books against Apion hath abundantly answered Severall reasons have moved them to corrupt their Originall Records Reason for these Lyes raised by the Aegyptians and others against the Jews The Israelites growing great in that Country out of it they returned to the promised Land by the stretched out arm of God to the great reproach of their cruel and imperious Lords The difference of religion raised also betwixt the two Nations as betwixt the Jews and the whole world mortall enmity whilst the one worshipped the onely true God and the base and degenerate spirit of the other fell down to things far inferior to themselves which difference some though but few persons discerning were ambitious to become Proselytes to the Jewish Doctrine Hence again arose such Envy that some descended to that indiscretion and weaknesse as to contradict their own most antient and authentick Writers The in-bred blindnesse of Men's minds increased by Paganish Education hath so far prevailed that the (b) As Diodorus Siculus in Eclog. lib. 34. 40. Tacitus Hist lib. 5. ad initium Justin. lib. 36. greatest part of Heathen Writers have in this contention sided with the Egyptians otherwise contemptible enough in their eyes and subscribed to what they have said concerning the Originall of the Jewish Nation though some (c) Strabo lib. 16. p. 761. Dion Cassius lib. 37. have not given credit to
in vain seeking to escape hid themselves in caves and privies The Romans entering put all to the Sword and burnt the houses with all that fled to them for safeguard Titus commanded both the Temple and City to be utterly razed by a plow brought over them Titus commandeth the Temple and City to be utterly razed according to the custom onely the West part of the wall with three Towers for their strength and beauty he preserved A. D. 71. Ol. 212. an 2. V. C. 823. to bear testimony of the statelinesse of the City to posterity They would have crowned him as a Conquerour for this work but he refused the honour denying he was the author of it for that he onely served God herein who by it demonstrated his wrath against the Jews To such an end came this famous City on the eighth day of September in the second year of Vespasian he and Titus his son being Consuls 38 years after the death of Christ the Blood of whom now fell heavy upon them It had been taken in all six times by Asochaeus or Shishack King of Aegypt Nebuchadnesar Antiochus Epiphanes Pompey Herod and Sosius and now by Titus but twice onely was it destroyed viz. by Nebuchadnezar and Titus It was first built saith Josephus by Melchisedeck King of Salem and afterwards inlarged by David It was destroyed by the Babylonians 1468 years and six moneths after the founding of it and 477 years and six moneths after it had been taken by David from the Canaanites By Titus Vespasian it was destroyed 1179 years after David took it but from it's first founding to it's last destruction intervened 2177 years 20. John and Simon having hid themselves were taken and the former being condemned to perpetual prison the other was reserved for a Triumph The rest of the thieves and seditious were discovered one telling of another and were all slain Of those which during the whole War were taken captives the number amounted to 97000 and of those that perished in the siege to 1100000. ' o heavy was the guilt which lay on them for the death of Christ and such were the horrid enormities committed by them that we have reason to agree with Josephus who thought Lib. 6. c. 16. that if the Romans had delayed to come against them the City would either have been swallowed up of the Earth or have perished by some Deluge or else by Thunderbolts and Lightning have undergone the punishments of Sodom whose Inhabitants they exceeded in wickednesse A year after was Lucilius Bassus sent Lieutenant into Judaea Idem l. 7. c. 25 26 28 29 30 31. who taking the Army of Cerealis Vitellianus took the Castle of Herodian and of Machaerun beyond Jordan Not long after Vespasian wrote to Liberius Maximus the Governour to sell all the Land of the Jews upon whom wheresoever they lived he imposed a yearly tribute to be paied into the Capitol it being that they were wont to pay into the Temple at Jerusalem The War finished by Sylva About a year after Publius Sylva succeeded Bassus then dead and finished the War taking the strong Castle of Massada from Eleazar who held it with 960 hacksters who upon his motion set fire on the Castle and all their goods and then killed themselves Many such as these flying out of the Country came to Alexandria in Aegypt where they sollicited the Jews to revolt but were by them delivered up to the Romans and those of them that then escaped were afterwards taken Vespasian hearing of their attempt gave order to Lupus Governour of Alexandria The Temple of the Jews in Aegypt destroyed to demolish the Temple of the Jews built in Aegypt in times past by Onias brother of the High-Priest which he neglecting to do onely spoiled it of some consecrated things and shut it up But Paulinus his Successor utterly bereaved it of all and so shut it up that he made it inaccessible and without any shew of Religion 343 years after it was first built by Onias 21. But the Jews of Cyrene were also infected with a distemper of madnesse There one Jonathan a Weaver led many of the simple sort into the Wildernesse promising to shew them signs and wonders but by the chiefest of the Jews the matter being discovered to Catullus Governour of those parts A sedition of the Jews in Cyrene he sent Soldiers who slew most of them and not long after Jonathan himself was taken Catullus a covetous man procured him and others to accuse many unjustly whom having slain and seized on their estates he caried him to Rome where following the same trade Joseph the Historian was also accused but Vespasian having found out the deceit caused Jonathan first to be whipped and then burnt alive Catullus at present escaped through the mildnesse of the Emperour but not long after fell into grievous anguish of mind imagining he saw the ghosts of those he had slain and his bowels rotted away from him that he died miserably Thus far hath Josephus communicated to us the affairs of the Jews Vide Euseb Eccles Hist l. 3. c. 9 16. who being kindly entertaind by Vespasian was honoured with a Statue and his Books were thought worthy of the publick Library For the truth of his History concerning the Wars he had the testimony of the Emperours King Agrippa and others Titus would have the certain knowledge of these Wars delivered unto the World by his Books onely The end of Josephus his History Josephus contra Apionem lib. 1. Antiquit. l. ult c. ult commanding them to be published with the privilege of his own hand And King Agrippa wrote 62 Epistles wherein he testified of the true History delivered by him But his Jewish Antiquities he finished not till the thirteenth of Domitian when he himself was 56 years old as he testifieth at the end of that Work The Lex Regia renewed in behalf of Vespasena 22. To Vespasian was renewed the Lex Regia and the same power that Augustus Tiberius and the rest enjoyed was confirmed to him as hereditatr A fragment of this Law which evinceth that absolute power we formerly proved to have been in the Emperours is yet extant after this manner Let it be lawful for him to make a League with whom he pleaseth as it was lawful to Divus Augustus Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus and Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus The Lex Regia renewed to Vespasian c. As also to hold the Senate make report dismisse and make Senatus Consulta by reporting and separation as it was lawful to Divus Augustus Tib. Julius Caesar Augustus Tib. Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus Moreover when as by his will authority Ex tabula aenea in basilica Lateranensi alta palmos 9. lata 5 digitos 3 crassa in Inscrip Gruteri pag. 242. Et ex Antiq. Epigrammatum libro apud Hottomannum l. de Legibus Romanis command or mandate or he being present the
bestowed on them what his father had been unjustly scraping together for eighteen years Then falling like a savage beast into cruel courses he cut off all Geta's friends and acquaintance all the Senators of any considerable rank or wealth the Lieutenants and Governours of Provinces with the Vestal Nuns and set the Soldiers to kill the people beholding the Circensian Games After this going into Germany to please his Army he lived an hard and labouring life and thence passing into Thrace Olymp. 247. an 4. V.C. 965. A. D. 212. Bassiani 2. he there imitated Alexander the Great whom he ever much affected to talk of and pretended to emulate He went thence to Ilium were he counterfeited Achilles and so to Alexandria where he made the Inhabitants dearly repent of their rashnesse and folly 11. Being naturally given to much tatling they had formerly railed against him for his cruelty towards his brother and despised him for that being a man of so contemptible stature he compared himself to their Alexander Resolving then to be revenged on them he first entertained them very plausibly but afterwards drawing forth all the youth by a wile he compassed them in with his Army and killed them all After this desirous to become famous by some great exploit he sent to the Parthian for his Daughter and pretended that he himself would come and mary her whereby that King being perswaded to meet him with a great number of people he fell upon them and made a great slaughter for that they thought it needlesse to come armed to a wedding and Artabanus himself with difficulty escaped Getting here much booty and as he thought much glory he returned into Mesopotamia where he received punishment from above for his manifold cruelty There was one Opilius Macrinus an African born and one of his Captains whom he unworthily used This Macrinus receiving a letter from Maternianus directed to the Emperour who had commanded him to call together the Magicians and consult them about his end and whether any lay in wait for the Empire wherein Antoninus was advised to cut him off as aiming at the Soveraignty when he had ventured to open it perceiving that either he or his Master must dye and therefore procured one Martialis to kill him This man being inraged against the Emperour for that he had condemned his brother without sufficient hearing slew him as he was making water on the sixth of the Ides of April after he had reigned six years and two moneths in the first year of the 249 Olympiad A. V. C. 970. A. D. 217 Brutius Praesens and Extricatus being Consuls Amongst many others Caracallus put to death Papinianus the great Lawyer as it s said because he would not defend his paricide 12. In the first year of Severus that we may continue our method concerning Ecclesiastical matters died Victor Bishop of Rome Bishops on the fifth of the Calends of August and Zephirinus succeeded the fifteenth Bishop of that Sea according to Damasus In the last of Antoninus Bassianus Zepherinus died on the seventh before the Calends of September The Sea was vacant five dayes Then succeeded Callistus who therefore was elected the day before the Calends of September on the first feria After Dios Bishop of Jerusalem whom the Bishops of the neighbouring Churches had ordained after the departure of Narcissus Germanion succeeded Euseb Eccles Hist l. 6. c. 10. and after him Gordius in whose time Narcissus shewed himself again as if he had been risen from the dead and was intreated by the brethren to enjoy his Bishoprick being much marvelled at for his departure for his Philosophical course of life and especially for the vengance and plagues of God poured upon his accusers And because for his great age he was not able to supply the place Alexander Bishop of Cappadocia was joyned with him and governed alone after his death In the Church of Antioch Asclepiades was Bishop after Serapion about the first year of Caracalla and was succeeded by Philetus about the last of that Prince's reign 13. Upon Zepherinus Bishop of Rome falleth very foul Tertullian a Presbyter or Priest of Carthage in Africk for that he was more severe against such as through fear had sacrifized to Idols than against Whoremongers and Adulterers wherein not without cause truly saith Cappellus but yet without measure he blameth Zepherinus and the whole Roman Clergy the manners of whom were even now very corrupt if we may believe Tertullian But really not so much out of hatred to their vices as out of prejudice to the truth he calleth the Roman Clergy Psychicus Tertullian as well in his book de pudicitia as in that de monogamia which he thus beginneth Haeretici nuptias auferunt Psychici ingerunt He pretendeth therein onely to condemn second mariages but indeed most of his arguments respect both first and second although he himself had maried a wife and retained her in his Presbytery But mariage which he had learnt of the Orthodox to approve he learnt of Montanus to despise to whom he would have more revealed than to the Apostles because they as yet or for certain the Church could not bear the yoak of fastings and caelibate which Montanus brought in and he as a Montanist would inculcate This humour at length so possessed him that neither content with the title of Christian nor that of Presbyter he put on the Philosophick Pallium as a token of a more austere life wherein he would be eminent not onely amongst Christians but also Montanists The Africans either being amazed or laughing at this novelty he wrote an elegant but most obscure Book de pallio which before being miserably lacerated hath been of late dayes restored by the most learned Salmasius He wrote his Book de praescriptionibus about the eighth year of Commodus as Cappellus gathereth because in the end thereof making a Catalogue of Hereticks he mentioneth Theodotus who was censured by Victor Bishop of Rome for holding Christ to have been a meet man but not Artemon the Heretick who appeared shortly after 14. His book de corona militis acquainteth us with the occasion of the persecution of the Christians in the reign of Severus The Emperour ere he marched into the East in that Expedition wherein he overthrew the Parthians made his elder son his partner in the Tribunitial power and by his liberality pleased the People formerly inraged by the many punishments he inflicted By occasion of this liberality as it seemeth a Christian Soldier holding a certain garland or crown in his hand as if it were wickednesse for him to set it on his head as the rest did was asked why he did so and answered that he was a Christian This was the occasion of the Emperours rage About the fifteenth of Severus he wrote against the Mancionites whom he so impugneth as yet underhand he inculcareth his Montâ—nism For saith he Amongst us spiritual reason derived from the Comforter perswadeth in the Faith
single matrimony But we must not forget that about the fourth of Severus he wrote a most excellent Apology for the Christian Faith Clemens Alexandrians At the same time with Tertullian flourished Clemens Alexandrinus because a Philosopher of Alexandria the Scholar of Pantenus and Master of Origen Eusebius mentioneth him and Pantaenus in the second of Severus at which time it 's probable he wrote his Stromata for not intending his Chronology beyond the time of Commodus Minutius Felix he seemeth not long after his death to have begun that Work At this time also lived Minutius Felix an eminent Lawyer and the Author of that excellent Book intituled Octavius which as Lactantius writeth doth declare how fit an assertor of the truth he might have been had he applyed himself wholly to that study This Book being intended as an Apology for Christian Religion acquainteth us what thoughts the Heathen at that time had thereof as also do the Apologies of Justin Martyr the Books of Origen against Celsus and especially that of Tertullian We have already shewn the rise and increase of Christian Religion we have delivered the series of the most eminent Bishops and Fathers thereof as also of the several Hereticks which from within disturbed the peace thereof We have also given an account of the several fiery tryals the faithful underwent But what opinions the Infidels had of Christians and Christianity of what crimes they accused them whence their hatred proceeded whereupon the Emperours grounded their bloody Edicts what the Primitive Saints did in the mean time how they behaved themselves under these pressures how they caried it towards their Enemies how they stood affected in duty towards their Princes in sum what their conversations both as men and Christians were is most worthy to be considered and those things in short out of the Apologies aforenamed and other Authors we shall endeavour to discover 15. The first thing that the Heathens cavilled at in Christianity was the newnesse of it (a) Acts 17 18. St. Paul seemed to them to be a setter forth of new gods And there was an antient Law at (b) Tertullian Apol c. 5. Rome which forbad introducing new ceremonies into Religion as worshipping strange deities unlesse approved by the Senate and this was an inviolable Law which binding Emperours as well as others An inquiry into the condition of Christians Tiberius could not as he desired receive Jesus Christ amongst their gods for the Senate would not approve of a God they did not know This prejudice which yet in Idolatry often effected nothing amongst the Romans was increased by a misapprehension of our Lord and Saviours sufferings his being crucified made them despise both him and his Hence (c) Annal. l. 15. c. 44. Tacitus telling the original of the Christians will let the World know that Christ from whom they derived their name was Tiberio imperitante per procuratorem Pontium Pilatum supplicio affectus And hence Trajan (d) Acta Ignatii in his discourse with Ignatius when he would mean Christ called him Crucifixus the Crucified in way of contempt This contempt was increased into disdain by reason that Christ would have no other Gods as they accounted them sharers with him in worship and this disdain was heightned into rage when Christians preaching this saving doctrine declaming against Idolls The reason of the prejudice of Heathens against them proving the Heathen gods to be devils and striking at the root of Paganism endeavoured to draw even the whole World from superstition and Idolatry so antient and universal You say we do not worship the Gods saith (e) Apol. c. 10. Tertullian This was accouned a crime of sacrilege and worthy of death much more then to disswade others from doing it Quid homines sustinebitis enim me impetum suscepta orationis liberius exerentem homines inquam deploratae illicitae ac desperatae factionis grassari in Deos nonne ingemiscendum est saith (f) Minuc Fael Octav. p. 22. Caecilius as he is brought in by Minutius Hereupon the Christians were accounted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Atheists and it was a custom to cry out against them where the Greek tongue was used (g) Smymens Ecclesiae epist De S. Polycarpi Martyrio p. 16. 20. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Take off the Atheists which words they would have had Polycarp utter as a sign of his recantation This by reason of the malice of Devils who were worshipped under the names of the several gods did render them so highly impious in the opinion of the vulgar and so inraged the multitude against them that (h) Tertull. Apol. cap. 40. if Tiber over-flowed if Nile watered not the plains if Heaven stopped its course and did not powr its rains here below if there were Earth-quake Famine or plague they would immediately cry out Christianos ad Leones Cast the Christians to the Lions as the cause in their opinion of all the calamities that arrived in the World and all the evils that people suffered 16. Prejudice and hatred being risen thus high invented false accusations and caught hold of idle surmises nothing ill seeming incredible concerning those that are already odious (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pag. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apol. c. 7. Athenagoras saith that three things they objected against Christians Atheism Thyestes his feasts and the Copulation of Oedipus The two later whereof as much as concerneth Thyestes and Oedipus we have spoken above in their due places b Tertullian thus explaineth The Crimes pretended against us the horror of which makes us passe for wicked in the opinion of the people are that we meet together to sacrifize a Child that after we have taken away his life by a barbarous superstition we devour his body and when we have eaten the flesh of this innocent we commit Incests They add that we have Dogs which serve to overthrow the Candles and doing the Office of those infamous Merchants of modesty make us lose all shame in taking the lights from us and covering our actions under the veil of darknesse embolden us to seek the use of ungodly and sacrilegious pleasures Malicious slanders concerning the manner of their worship Caelicius maketh beginners initiated by the bloud of an Infant which they all licking up and dividing his Members amongst themselves by so horrid a Ceremony confirmed their league and the Covenant of their mutual secrecy These Sacra saith he are more abominable than all sacrilege And as for their feasting 't is known sufficiently all speak of it in all places the Oration also of our Certensis doth witnesse it They meet together to eat on a set day with all their Children Sisters Mothers Persons of every Sex and every age There after much eating when the feast is now grown hot the heat of incestuous lust is kindled by drunkennesse the Dog that is tied to the Candle-stick is provoked by casting a piece of
assemble to proâ—ure the hurt of any one we are the same in a body as when separated as we are in particular so we are in general that is to say in whatsoever estate we are found we injure no body when any virtuous or godly People are associated when any pious or chast persons assemble together their union should not be called a faction but a lawful society Thus Tertullian to whose words as to the harmlesse cariage of the Christians in their Assemblies Apostates witnessed as appeareth from what Pliny the younger wrote to Trajan As for the crimes supposed to be committed by them they ever challenged any witnesse to be produced of them and sufficiently confute the vain reports in their Apologies They laughed at the fiction of the Asses head and such like stuff and as for worshiping Crosses Octavius in his answer to Cecilius saith Cruces etiam nec colimus nec optamus Crosses we neither worship nor wish for Neither did they meet for seditious ends as for the alteration of Governments destruction of Princes or changing of Magistrates Though they rather than any of late time might pretend to Saintship They were good and loyal Subjects yet did they not make it an advantage to raise themselves whereby they laid no claim to the riches power or dominion of the World they did not hold that temporal dominion was founded in grace nor that the true and spiritual Kingdom of Jesus Christ destroyed the right and interest of earthly Princes They made no insurrections covered on rebellious designs with the name of Religion neither did by violence attempt a reformation although they were so many thousands as in all probability they might have born down all before them though they filled all places consisted of all degrees and hereby shared in all interests in power and intelligence and by their combinations might have taken their opportunities and easily by force of arms made way for their designs yet obedience to their Princes they ever held most inviolable by the Principles of their Religion and made use of no other weapons than prayers and tears though for their own safety and preservation Hear to this pupose what challenges Tertullian makes to such as if he had not had truth on his side would have been sufficiently ready to instance wherein the Christians offended which they yet never adventured to do 26. In the midst of all these outrages have you observed that these People who as you think have framed so strange a conspiracy and on the other side might be animated enough for revenge by the punishments wherewith you take away their lives endeavoured any thing against you to ressent the evil treating they have received Think you that they want an occasion Tertul. Apolog. c. 37. when in one night onely a small number of torches would be enough to satisfie their Revenge if with us it were permitted to render evil for evil but God forbid we should do so A Religion that is all divine ought not to revenge by the instigation of men and must not think it strange to suffer that which is made use of to prove them If we would declare against you as open rather than pursue you as secret Enemies might we not have forces and troops enough It may be the Moors and Marcomanns the Parthians or whatsoever People they are shut up in the bounds of the Country they inhabit make a greater number of men than they that are spread throughout all the Universe and have no other limits than that of the World Our Religion is but of late and we fill already all that your power acknowledgeth Cities Fortresses Isles Provinces the Assemblies of the People the Armies also the wards and tenths of Rome the Palace the Senate and the Publick places Finally we leave you but the Temples What Wars were we not able to undertake with what readinesse might we not arm our selves although we should be the weaker we that suffer our selves so willingly to be killed if in our Religion it were not rather lawful to let our selves be killed than to kill others we could also make War against you without taking up arms by casting our selves into a revolt it were enough not to live with you and to separate our selves our divorce would print shame in your foreheads For if Christians who make so great a multitude of all sorts of persons should abandon you to retire unto some Country of the World dispersed from all society truly the losse of so many Citizens of what condition soever would disparage your Government and also our retreat would be a rude punishment to you without doubt this solitude that would remain with you this silence of all things this general astonishment of nature even as if all the world were dead would frighten you you might go seek Subjects to command there would remain to you more Enemies than Citizens now you have more Citizens than Enemies because there are a greater number of Christians among you 27. Thus we see their peaceable demeanour how their minds stood affected towards their Princes let Tertullian also inform us As for us Apol. c. 30. in the prayers we make for the Emperours we call upon the eternal God the true God the living God c. In the same place It is to him to whom we Christians addresse our prayers make them with hands opened and lifted up because innocent the head bare because no cause to be ashamed when we pray to God There are none telleth us the words we are to say because it is our heart that acteth rather than our tongue We pray for all the Emperours and ask of God that he would give them a long life that their Empire enjoy a profound Peace their house happy concord their Armies be innumerable themselves assisted with good Councils the People remain in their duties no trouble arise in the World against their authority In conclusion we forget nothing the Prince can wish for either as a man or as an Emperour A little after Whilst we implore the grace of God for the Emperours with our hands lifted up and stretched towards Heaven let irons peirce us let us be put on gibbets and crosses fires consume us knives cut our throats beasts devour us A Christian while in prayer lifting up his hands to God is in a condition fit to receive all sorts of punishment and therefore continue O Magistrates so affected to Justice ravish our Souls whilst they are in prayers for the welfare of the Emperours and make a crime of Truth and the Service of God In the following Chapter We intreat them who believe our Religion takes no care of the preservation of the Emperours to examine the Laws of our God to read our Books which we hide not and which by divers accidents fall into other hands than ours They will learn there that it is commanded by a superabundant charity to pray to God for our Enemies Chap. 31. and to