foure dayes About the yeere of our Lord 854. being Pope she played the Harlot and by the prouidence of God this viilanie of the Romane Church which cannot erre was manifested to the whole worlde For in the time of a solemne Procession as she was going to the Church of Latcraâ—… she trauelled in birth and died and was buried without honour Onuphrius the Aduocate of all euill causes cannot ouer-passe this matter with silence but hee bringeth an argument from the authoritie of Anastatius a writer of Chronologie to infringe the credite of this historie in this manner Anastatius saith hee liued about this time and knew best who succeeded to Leo the fourth and hee maketh no mention of Ioannes the eight but of Benedictus the thirde as successour of Leo the fourth To this Philip Morney answereth That an argument taken from authoritie negatiuely hath no force Anastatius maketh no mention thereof ergo it was not done It followeth not for hee bringeth in the restimonie of Ranulphus declaring the cause wherefore Anastatius omitted the name of the foeminine Pope to wit Propter deformitatem facti that is For the deformitie of the fact The nature of a short Compend permitteth me not to insist but let them who are desirous accurately to trie out the veritie of this matter reade that worthie Booke of Philip Morney called Mysterium iniquitatis Then followed Benedictus the third and ruled two yeeres six monethes and nine dayes A man in honouring the Funeralles of the Clergie with his presence readie at all times and desirous likewise that the Funerall of the Bishop shoulde bee honoured with the presence of the whole Clergie To Benedict the thirde succeeded Nicolaus the first and gouerned seuen yeeres nine monethes and thirteene dayes Hee subdued the Bishop of Rauenna to his obedience He suffered the Emperour Ludouicke the seconde to light from his horse and to leade his bridle vntill hee came to the Campe which was the space of a mile Hee permitted diuorcement betwixt married persons for Religions cause without consent of partie And that persons in spirituall offices shoulde not bee subject to the justice seates of ciuill Magistrates He ordained also that no man shouâ—…de receiue the holy Sacrament from a married Priest And that the Emperour should not be present at Ecclesiasticall Conuentions except when questions concerning Faith shoulde bee entraited Likewise hee ordamed That the seruice of GOD in all countreyes should bee celebrated in Latine dispensing in the meane time with the Sclauonians and the Polonians to haue the seruice of GOD in their owne Vulgare Language Hee added vnto the Liturgie of the MASSE GLORIA IN EXCELSIS Hadrianus the second succeeded to Nicolaus the first and ruled fiue yeeres nine monethes and twelue dayes He vsed Antichristian authoritie not onely against Hincmarus Bishop of Rhemes but also against Carolus Caluus king of Fraunce whome hee commanded imperiously to present one Hincmarus Bishop of Laudunum and nephewe to Hincmarus Bishop of Rhemes to the ende that his cause might bee judged by the Apostolicke seate The King tooke these letters in a very euill part and writ vnto the Pope That the Kings of Fraunce had euer beene Soueraigne lordes in their owne countreye and not vice-gerentes and vassalles to Bishops and That hee woulde not permitte any man who had bene damned in a lawfull Councell in his owne countrey to wit in the Councell of Acciniacum to make appellation to Rome In this Popes time the eight generall Councell was assembled whereof I shall speake in its owne time GOD willing Ioannes the ninth succeeded to Adrianus the seconde and gouerned ten yeeres and two dayes This is hee who for rewardes crowned Carolus Caluus to bee Emperour and was casten into prison because hee was more affectionated to Ludouicus Balbus sonne to Carolus Caluus and king of Fraunce than to Carolus Crassus king of Germanie Neuerthelesse hee escaped out of prison and fledde to Ludouicke king of Fraunce whome also hee crowned to bee Emperour But Balbus after his coronation incontinent died and Pope Ihon the ninth must seeke newe acquaintance because his olde friendes were gone therefore hee crowned Carolus Crassus to bee Emperour This was the first Pope who in time of his Popedome crowned three Emperours Martinus the seconde rulâ—…d one yeere and fiue monethes Hadrianus the thirde succeeded to Martinus the time of his gouernement was also short for hee continued not aboue one yeere and two monethes yet neuerthelesse men who are busie may make much stirre in short time Hee perfected that worke which his predecessours had beene busied in bringing to passe many yeeres preceeding namely That the Clergie and people of Rome should not attend vpon the allowance of the Emperour but they shoulde freely choose whome they thought meetest to bee Pope Hee tooke the greater boldnesse to doe this because the Emperour Carolus was occupied in warre-fare The Nation of the Normandes were now so sauadge and mightie and molested Fraunce with an hudge Armie that the Emperour was compelled to transact with them in manner as is aboue rehearsed in the Historie of the life of Caralus Crassus Another constitution was made by Pope Hadrian to wit That after the death of Carolus Crassus who died without succession the Emperiall Title together with the gouernement of Italie shoulde belong to one of the Princes of Italie This was the grounde of vnsupportable debate and of factions in Italie euery man according to the greatnesse of his power contending to bee King and Emperour But chiefely Albertus Marques of TVSCIA Bâ—…rengarius Duke of FOROVILIVM and Guido Duke of SPOLETO This seditious plotte also perturbed the Ecclesiasticall estate For after this euery one of the Princes of ITALIE stroue with all their might to haue such a man seated in the Popedome as coulde best aduance his faction as will clearelie appeare in the election of Pope Formosus To Hadrian the thirde succeeded Stephanus the fifth and ruled sixe yeeres and eleuen dayes The lesse Holinesse Learning and Vertue that hee had the greater audacitie and boldnesse was founde in him for hee made a constitution whereof GRATIAN recordeth Distinct. 19. Cap. Enimvero Quicquid ECCLESIA ROMANA statâ—…ie quicquid ordirat perpetuo quidem irre-fragibiliter obseruandum est that is Whatsoeuer the ROMANE CHVRCH doeth statute and ordaine it 〈◊〉 perpetuallie and without all contradiction to bee obserued After STEPHANVS the fifth whome others doe call the sixth succeeded FORMOSVS and continued fiue yeeres and sixe monethes Hee obtained the Popedome not without strife For one SERGIVS a Deacon was his competitor supported with the TVSCVLAN faction Alwayes FORMOSVS preuailed It was supposed that hee was one of them who conspired against Pope IHONNE the ninth and cast him into bandes After this hee seared the authoritie of Pope IHONNE and fledde into FRAVNCE but Pope IHONNE denuded him of all Ecclesiasticall office and put vpon him the habite of a Laicke
that he himselfe was sent from aboue to saue the worlde and by vertue of his Baptisme men should bee made immortall euen in this world in such sort that they should neither waxe olde nor taste of death Euseb eccles hist. lib. 3. cap. 26. This heresie EPIPHANIVS compareth to Aspido-gorgon in Egypt a great serpent inclosed into a vessel of lame with many other serpents after he hath deuoured all the rest of the serpents he beginneth to gnaw his owne taile for hunger and to destroye himselfe Epiph. contrahareses so did this heresie vndoe it selfe by promising great things which MENANDER could not performe neither in himselfe nor in others In this age also sprang vp EBION who denied the diuinitie of Christ and saide hee was onely a man begotten betweene IOSEPH and MARIE and that the obseruation of MOSES Law was necessarie to eternall life his followers were called Ebionites either by the name of their master EBION or else as EVSEBIVS thinketh for their poore beggerly opinion they had of Christ supponing him onely to be a man for EBION in the Hebrewe language signifieth one that is poore Euseb. eccles hist lib. 3 cap. 27. These Ebionites damne all the epistles of PAVL and count him an Apostat from the law and they admit no part of the Newe Testament for canonicke Scripture except the Gospell of MATTHEW CERINTHVS about the same time was the author of strange reuelations which he said he had receiued from Angels that after the resurrection from the dead Christ should haue an earthly kingdome in this world and that the subjectes of Christes Kingdome should eate and drinke and marie and keepe holy dayes and offer sacrifices for hee himselfe was a man giuen to fleshly lustes and he imagined that the pleasures of Christs Kingdome shuld consistin fulfilling the concupiscence of the flesh Euseb. eccles hist lib. 3. cap. 18. Likewise in this age sprang vp the errour of the Nicolaitanes vpon this occasion as CLEMENS ALEXANDRINVS doth write Strom. 3. One of the Deacons chosen by the Apostles to haue the ouersight of the poore Acts 6. had a beautifull woman to his wife was accused of ouer great jealousie To purge himselfe of all suspition of that fault hee brought his wife into the mids of his brethren and said he was content that any man should marrie her Of which wordes many tooke occasion to liue promiscuously like beastes no man hauing his owne proper wife but making them common Howbeit NICOLAVS is said to haue liued himselfe in matrimoniall chastitie contenting himselfe with his own wife alanerly Euseb. eccles hist. lib. 3. cap. 29. Noght the lesse his foolish and vnaduised speaches were the occasion of a most wicked damnable errour of the Nicolaitanes whereof the Lord speaketh in the Reuelation of IOHN that he hated it Apoc. 2. This is that heresie which GREGORIE the seuenth imputed to all married priestes but with what equitie marriage ordeined by God and honorable among all men can be called an heresie hated of the Lord let the Christian reader judge Of Antiquitie TO the historie I haue adjoyned certaine Treatises containing contrauerted questions in our time for decision whereof it is necessarie to haue recourse to the writings of the Apostles the custome of the Primitiue Church adhering to the Apostolicke doctrine firmely euen vnto the death Our first treatise Godwilling shall be of Antquitie Now this doctrine is to be spread out into foure branches First we shall speake Godwilling of Antiquitie of veritie next of Antiquitie of errour thirdly of Antiquitie of custome and fourthly what is the best way to discerne betweene the ancient veritie and the olde lie Antiquitie of veritie is the way of saluation pointed out by the finger of God from the beginning of the world of this way speaketh IEREMIE cap. 6. ver 16 Seeke out the ancient wayes and walke in them ye shall find rest vnto your soulâ—… Antiquitie of errour is an adding pairing altering or contradictioÌ„ to the ancient way pointed out into this word of God and of this Christ speaketh in the Gospell of Matthew Ye haue heard it said of old Thou shalt not slay c. but I say vnto you he who is angrie with his brother without a cause is worthy of iudgement Mat. 5. ver 21. and 22. Whereby Christ declareth that the false interpretation of the law whereby the spirituall lawe was drawen to a corporall and a grosse sense and meaning yet was this errour ancient and was heard of old time but the verie description of antiquitie of errour declareth that it is not so ancient as the trueth forsomuch as it is a depravation marring of the afore-existent trueth either one way or other The third sort of antiquitie is antiquitie of custome that is certaine customes that crept in into the Church of God partly in the dayes of the Apostles partly soone after their dayes such as was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is feastes of loue epist. lude ver 12. and after the Apostles dayes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is three dippings in water in the sacrament of Baptisme These customes were neither authorized by Apostolicke precept and commandement neither abrogated by Apostolicke prohibition but tolerated into the Church vntill the time they were abused as we see clearely 1. Cor. 11. ver 20. 21 22. Now as concerning antiquitie of veritie first we shall declare where it should be sought secondly when it is found what is the vertue and power of it thirdly how it ought to be reuerenced loued and followed of vs. And first antiquitie of veritie is to be sought as the Apostle S. IOHN and beloued disciple of Christ sought it to wit out of the mouth of him who was from the beginning 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that thing which was from the beginning Iohn 1. ver 1. as if hee would say I present vnto you no newe doctrine but that which I receiued from the mouth of Christ himselfe who was existent albeit not manifested in the flesh euen from the beginning of the world In the beginning was the word c Iohn 1. ver 1. If this way we seeke antiquitie wee assuredly finde the ancient way of God whereinto wee should walke and get rest vnto our soules Ierem 6. ver 16. Antiquitie is not to be sought as PSAMMETICHVS King of Egypt sought it from new wained babes keeping them in in secret custodie without hearing any articulate voyce or intelligible speech whereby he might discerne what people and language was most ancient HERODOT EVTERP this was a follish seeking out of antiquitie from them that were not ancient Next when we haue found out the ancient trueth consider the vertue and power of it It is strong and mightie in operation like vnto Christ the author of it whose hnmilitie and apparent weaknesse bruiseth and dasheth in pieces all the glorious strong and stately things of the world that are
the woman described 12. Apocal. she was clothed with the sunne and had the Moone vnder her feete she had a diademe of twelue starres vpon her heade which vndoubtedly was the celestial light of Apostolicke doctrine she trauailed in birth to bring foorth children to God she was persecuted by the Dragon to her was furnished wings of an Eagle and shee fled vnto the wildernesse where she had a place prepared of God that they should feede her there a thousand two hundreth and threescore dayes Now I say I demand of the Papistes what wildernesse was this whereinto the woman lurked so long time for no man dare deny but this woman representeth the true Church of Christ the mother of vs all Lurked she in the wildernesse of Nitria or Schethis Or lurked she in the wildernesse of Arabia or Lybia Or lurked she in the wildernesse of Persia where IVLIAN the Apostat concluded his wretched life Or in what other wildernes of the world did she lurke When they haue giuen me an answere to this second question let them thinke in their own mind that they haue answered the question proponed against vs. If they can giue no answere to this question neither doe I tell them where our Church was sixe hundreth yeeres ago but let them demand this question at him who furnished Eagle wings to her and prepared a place for her in the wildernesse Alwayes it is an article of our faith I beleeue the holy caâ—…holicke Church albeit she was lurking yet she was not dead nor gone out of the world And like as the blood of Christ was not shed in vaine euen so there is in all ages a number of men and women washen in the fountaine of that precious blood and prepared for heauen albeit wee can not at all times point them out by the finger Now errour in religion consisting in adding or pairing or altering or contradicting the trueth contained in the word of God It is euident I say that errour in religion is a cursed and execrable thing To him that addeth vnto the Lordes worde shall be added all the plagues written in the booke of God and if any man take away from the wordes of Gods booke God shall take away his parte out of the booke of life Apoc. 22. ver 18. 19. The like condemnation no doubt abideth them who dare presume to alter the truth and change the right sense or meaning of it or to make a flat opposition and contradiction thereto And truely all these curses which God commanded to bee pronounced out of mount Ebal Deut. 27 euery Christian is commanded to say Amen vnto them a part whereof may justly be applyed against maintainers and forgers of errour in religion First Cursed be the man that shal make any carued or molten image which is an abomination to the Lord and all the people shal answere Amen ver 15. In the 17. verse he who remoueth his neighbours marke is accursed how much more hee who remooueth the marches of Gods most holy Lawe and couenant In the 18 verse Cuâ—…sed he bee that maketh the blind goe out of the way But a thousand times more cursed is he who peruerteth the mindes of ignorant people from the simplicitie of the trueth ofGod Vnto all these curses openly pronounced we are bound by the commandement to say Amen And like as errour in religion is a thing accursed of God so in like maner it is in itselfe an absurd thing and full of horrible confusion not onely repugning vnto the trueth but also to it selfe much like vnto IONAS gourd which had into it a worme that smote it so that it withered Ionas 4. 7 euen so there lurketh into the bowels ofancient errours a worme consuming them vntill they vtterly wither and evanish The errour of EVTYCHES may serue for example He thought that the immensitie of the diuine nature of Christ did so swallow vp his humane nature that in Christ there is no more two natures but one alanerly namely his diuine nature Nowe if so be howe are we saued by the death of Christ Can the diuinitie die Which absurditie of EVTYCHES errour was well marked by ALAMVNDARVS prince of Saracens as writeth THEODORVS lector lib. 2. More ouer the ancient errours which sprang vp euen in the Apostles owne dayes and immediatly after had some portrate and shape of that absurditie that should continue in all errours that were to spring vp afterward euer pairing the glorie that was due vnto the most High and aduancing creatures out of measure EBION and CERINTHVS denied Christes diuinitie and on the other parte MENANDER thought that the world was created by Angels Here we see Christs honour impaired but the honour of Angels infinitly augmented In like maner afterwarde ARRIVS denied that the Sonne of God was consubstantiall with the Father diminishing and pairing the honour due to Christ. But PFLAGIVS another Heretique magnified the power of mans corrupt nature as if in it there were an abilitie to performe all the commandements of God Thus we see that the very shape and similitude after the which Satan fashioned the errour of EBION CERINTHS and MENANDER continueth in ARRIVS and PELAGIVS And in our dayes the Papistes will not goe out of the byas of old Heretiques for Christ must not be the onely Mediator both of redemption and intercession but some thing must bee paired from the honour of Christ to the ende that the Sainctes may be enriched with the spoyle of Christ and be made vp mediators of intercession Here I leaue off to speake any further of the absurditie of ancient and execrable errours But now it may be demanded how commeth it to passe that absurd errours haue so many followers To this question let the Prophet IEREMIE answere who speaking of the people of his owne dayes vtterly addicted to olde idolatrie and to the worshipping of the hoste of heauen hee declareth also the reason mouing them to be so bent to old errours O say they When we sâ—…rued the host of heauen then had we plentie of all things but since we left off to doe so wee are consumed wâ—…th the pest the famine and the sword Ier. 44. ver 17. 18. Heere we see that the multitude judgeth that religion to bee best the professours whereof injoyes greatest ease wealth and worldly prosperitie But in the booke of the Psalmes we receiue a better instruction to judge of the trueth of God and professours thereof according to the hearing of faith and not according to outward things There are glorious things spoken of thee ô citie of our God Psal 87. ver 3. And these who judge according to outwarde appearance they erre in two things first they know not the right cause of the prosperitie of Idolaters secondly they knowe not the right cause of the penuritie of those who apparently haue forsaken idolatrie The Apostle saith that God ouerlooked the time of ignorance Acts 17. ver 30. but in time oflight when the candle
of the Gospell clearely shineth and pointeth out vnto vs the way of ancient veritie the Lord will not spare them who haue hypocritically professed his veritie but in their heart they loue the deceit of errour and lies as the people in IEREMIAS dayes did This is the condemnation saith theEuangelist IOHN that light is come into the worlde and men loued darkenesse rather then light Iohn 3. ver 19. Antiquitie of custome which we haue before described lacketh many things that areto bee found in antiquitie of veritie For it is not authorized by any Apostolicke coÌ„mandement wherupon 3. things do follow First there is no necessitie vrging vs to keep things that are not coÌ„manded by Apostolick precept in matters coÌ„cerning religioÌ„ Secondly where there is no necessity of doing there is no feare or terror of coÌ„science in leauing the same vndone Thirdly where it is gone out of custome or vse there is no necessity to reduce it again as the feasts called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Apostlesown time the 3. dippings in Baptisme after the Apostles time Of these ancient customes we may boldly say foure things 1. That the Apostles gaue no commandement to obserue them 2. that there is no necessitie to keepe obserue these customes 3. there was no just cause of feare to the conscience where these customes were pretermitted or neglected 4. experience declareth that since vse and custome which brought in these exercises hath also obliterat and worne them away the Church in our time hath taken no regard of renewing these ancient customes againe Now anent the examples which I haue alreadie brought foorth there are many who will make no contradiction but as touching other ancient customes obserued of old in the Church without any written commandement if those bee touched and the like be saide of them also more sturre and greater adoe will be made Yet if I proue by ancient writers that the observation of Pasche day and the obseruation of Lent were rites introduced in the Church without warrand of any Apostolicke commandement it will followe that there is neither necessitie in keeping nor leauing these things vnkeeped wherefore consider what SOCRATES saith in his ecclesiastical history lib. 5. cap. 22. Nusquam igitur Apostolus nec ipsa Evangelia jugum ser vitutis illis imponunt qui ad praedicationem accedunt sed Paschatis festum alios dies festos ipsi homines suis quique locis propter remissionem laborum memoriam salutiferae passionis sicuti voluerunt ex consuetudine quadam celebrârunt neque Servator hoc aut Apostoli nobis lege aliqua observandum esse mandârunt Neque poenam nobis aut supplicium Evangelia vel Apostoli sicut Iudaeis Lex Mosi comminantur sed historico tantùm modo ad reprehensionem Iudaeorum quòd homicidium diebus festis exercuerint quòd Christus tempore Azymorum passus sit conscriptum est in Evangeliis That is Therfore no where doth the Apostle or the Euangell lay vpon them the yoke of bondage who come to the preached worde but the feast of Pasche day other festiuall dayes men euery one in their owne places for intermission of labour for the remembrance of the salutiferous passion they kept as liked themselues best these said feastes by a certaine custome Neither did our Sauiour or his Apostles by any law command vs to doe this thing neither did the Apostles or Gospel threaten a punishment against vs to wit if we leaue these things vndone according as the Lawe of MOSES doth against the Iewes but the historie onely for reprehension of the Iewes in the Gospell setteth downe in write that the Iewes vpon festiuall dayes practised murther and that Christ suffered in the dayes of vnleauened bread Here all that I haue spoken is clearely declared concerning the obseruation of the feast of Pasche day 1. no precept or commandement proceeding from Christ his Apostles to keepe it 2. no threatning pronounced against theÌ„ who kept it not 3. that it was brought in into the Church by custome but not by coÌ„mandement 4. that when men endeuoure to authorize by coÌ„mandements such ancient customes then they bring a yoke bondage vpon the consciences of men The like more also is written in that same chapter by SOCRATES concerning the obseruation of Lent before the feast of Pasche day that it was obserued with such diuersitie of customes both in number of dayes and also in diuersitie of meates from which men abstained in Lent as easily declared that the Apostles interponed no commandement in such matters but left such customes free indifferent to the discretion of Christians In the head of antiquitie of customes because I like not to be contentious in my judgement two extremities would be eschewed I. that we should not equall ancient customes to ancient commandements for the causes aboue-written which caueat SOZOMEN an ecclesiasticall writer not obseruing did affirme all these who are not thrise dipped in water to haue departed this life without the sacrament of Baptisme Sozom lib. 6 cap. 26. In which opinion he equalled an ancient custome to an olde commandement And yet this same SOZOMEN who is so precise in obseruation of an ancient custome of 3. dippings in Baptisme is not so precise in another ancient custome of abstaining from eating of flesh in Lent but commendeth SPIRIDION who gaue vnto a wearie stranger in time of Lent swines flesh to eate eated himself of it also affirming that to the cleane al things were cleane Sozom. lib. 1. cap. 1 1. Tit. cap. 1. ver 15. Thus we seee howe SOZOMEN confuteth himselfe at sometimes remembring that ancient customes are not equall to ancient commandements as abstinence from flesh in Lent and in other things forgetting himselfe making the ancient custome of thrise dipping in Baptisme absolutly necessarie 2. anciâ—…nt customes not directly repugnant to the worde if they be kept free of commandement necessitie and feare as is aboue specified should not be so hatefully impugned as ancient errours are impugned but if abuses fall into them these abuses should be timously reprehended as the Apostle PAVL reprooueth the abuses of the feastes ofloue in the Church of Corinth 1. Cor. 11. But aboue all things beware that we rent not for matters of no great moment the vnitie of the Church of God as VICTOR Bishop of Rome was purposed to haue done if he had not bene timously stayed by the prudent aduise of IRENEVS Bishop of Lions Socrat. lib. 5. cap. 22. Now to conclude this short treatise of antiquitie of custome if a wise man would send a tongue to it to speake for it selfe it would be so far from matching and equalling itselfe with the ancient commandements that it would speake modestly and humbly to them as ELIZABETH the mother of IOHN Baptist spake to the blessed virgine the mother of our Lord. Andwhence commeth this to me saith she that the mother of my Lord should come vnto
the name of Christians is strengthened by the Emperours commandement The trumpets of the Monarches of the world sound the alarme against him who made them Kings and rulers on the earth The poore innocent Lambes of the sheepfold of Christ appointed for the shambles strengthened their heartes in God in the power of his might and chused rather to suffer aduersitie with their brethren then to enjoy the pleasures of sinne for a season Heb. 11. ver 25. they were content to bee racked and would not be deliuered that they might be partakers of a better resurrection Heb. 11. ver 35. whose bodies lacerat with stripes vntill their very inward bowels were patent to the outward sight witnessed the vnrent firmnesse and stabilitie of their faith They were so supported with the power of that grace that commeth from aboue that they were not terrified with the multiplied numbers of cruell torments newly excogitate for dashing that inuincible courage of faith which was seene in Christians Yea further then this When the persecuting enemies were compelled to change the high tuned accent of their menassing speeches and to craue but a litle conformitie to the Emperours desire in swearing by his fortune the holy men of God would not once seem to fall away from their profession by answering with timorous and doubtsome wordes but glorified God with a cleare and constant confession of their Christian faith POLYCARPVS B. of Smyrna and IVSTINVS MARTYR a man of singular erudition were both martyred in the feruent heate of this persecution But aboue all other places the consuming flame of the fornace brast out most vehemently in France that happie nation whereinto both of old and late time so many were found worthie to giue their blood for the Name of Christ. VETIVS EPAGATHVS MATVRVS PROTHENVS ATTALVS SANCTVS and PHOTINVS B. of Lions all suffered for the testimonie of Christ in France And BLANDINA a worthie woman suffered many torments and renued her spirituall courage by continuall iteration of these wordes Christianasum that is I am a Christian Euseb. eccl hist. lib 5. cap 1. Bucolc Index In like maner Christians were persecuted with the slaÌ„derous speches of Pagans objecting vnto them the bankets of THYESTES the chambering of OEDIPVS that is the eating of mens flesh incestuous copulations Euseb. ibid. But men who are giuen to the mo-mentaneal delites of sin are not willing to die because that by death they are separat from all bodily pleasures The Christians by patient and willing suffering of death for Christs sake clearely witnessed vnto the world that they were not addicted to the deceitfull pleasures of sinne Iustin. Martyr Apol Neuerthelesse these slanderous speeches were credited by the Pagans and tooke such deepe root in their heartes that these who seemed before to be more meeke and moderat then others now they became full of madnesse and rage against Christians and that which was foretolde by our master Christ it was fulfilled at this time to wit The time shall come that whosoeuer killeth you shall thinke hee doth God seruice Iohn 16. 2. the huge number of martyrs that were slaine in the furie of this persecution are both accuratly and at great length set downe by that holy man of God who lately wrote the booke of the martyrs I onely point out shortly the estate of the Church at this time In this Emperours time good men were not inlacking who admonished him to appease his wrath against Christians such as CLAVDIVS APOLLINARIS B. of Herapolis and MELITO B of Sardis But nothing could asswage his cruell heart vntill hee was casten intâ—… the fornace of grieuous troubles himselfe for his armâ—… that fought against the Germanes and Sarmatians fell into great distresse for want of water but was supported by the prayers of the Christian legion that was in his armie For they bowed their knees to Christ and prayed for helpe and the Lorde Iesus sent raine in aboundance to refresh the armie of the Romanes and dashed the Barbarians with thunder and fire In remembrance whereof the Christian legion was after that time called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Fulmâ—…natrix Euseb. lib. 5. cap. 5. After this victorie he asswaged his anger and wrote to the Senat of Rome to deale gently with Christians by whose prayers hee acknowledged both himselfe and his armie to haue receiued deliuerance from God Commodus COMMODVS the sonne of ANTONINVS reigned 13. yeeres Euseb. eccl hist. lib. 5 Cap. 27. Many of the Roman's not without a cause called him INCOMMODVS He presumed to doe great things and to change the names of months and would haue the month of December to be called Câ—…mmodus like as the two names of two months Quâ—…ntilis Sextilâ—…s had bene changed in time bypast and called Iulins and Augustus for honour of these two welbeloued Emperours But hee was not so well fauoured of the people that this ordinance could haue place any longer then during his owne lifetime The Churel in his dayes was not altogether free of persecution for APOLLONIVS a man of noble birth in Rome and a man of great erudition fuffered death because hee would not forsake the Christian religion His accuser also was punished to the death Euseb. lib. 5. cap. 21. Such aduantages Iudges might easily haue taken finding so many discrepant lawes some made in fauour and some conceiued in disliking of Christians Pertinax and Julianus AELIVS PERTINAX Imp. 6. months DIDIVS IVLIANVS 21 months Chytr Chron. EVSEBIVS maketh no mention of D. IVLIANVS but of PERTINAX alanerly to whome succeeded SEVERVS Euseb. eccl hist. lib. 5. cap. 27. Chap. 2 IN this second Centurie the Bishops of Rome for the most part prooued faithfull and worthy seruants of Christ. A great number of them were baptized with the Baptisme of Christ dranke of the cup that Christ drank of and were drenched with their owne blood and they watred the Church of Rome with the streames of their blood as Egypt is watred and made fruitfull with the inundation of Nilus Men of blessed remembrance DAMASVS writeth that from S. PETER to TELESPHORYS all the Bishops of Rome were martyrs Others added that vntill the dayes of SYLVESTER who liued in the time of the reigne of CONSTANTINE all the Bishops of Rome had the honour of martyrdome But in these hyperbolicke speeches neither hath the distinction betweene a Martyr and a Consessour beene rightly considered albeit well marked by Eusâ—…b eccl hist. lib. 5. cap. 2. neither hath the historie of the reigne of ANTONINVS PIVS bene rightly pondered in whose dayes HYGINVS and PIVS liued and were not slaine for the testimony of Christ. Alwayes it is a maleuolous minde that holdeth backe from worthie men their due praise and commendation both in doing of good and patient suffering of euill for Christes sake In rehearsing the names of the Romaine Bishops I thought meete to follow IRENEVS and EVSEBIVS rather then PLATINA In the first Centurie after
of the pluralitie of gods as well masculine as feminine the multitude of heauens ages or eternities which he calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thirtie in number deepenesse and silence beeing the beginning of all the rest August index haeres In this his opinion I say EPIPHANIVS conjectureth that he hath followed HESIODVS in his Theogonia yet the man beeing ambitious by permutation of names hee would seeme to haue beene the author and finder out of these mysteries Against whom IRENEVS hath written fiue bookes wherein hee both discouereth and also refuteth the vanitie of his errour MARCVS one of his disciples a notable sorcerer inuented a new forme of Baptisme to baptize in the name of the vnknowne father of al things and in the name of the veritie the mother of all things and in the name of him who descended vpon Iesus Euseb. eccl hist. lib. 4. cap. 11. All the disciples of the schoole of VALENTINVS are called Gnostics with the forenamed Heretiques SATVRNINVS BASILIDES and CARPOCRATES they all denied the resurrection of the body and supponed that saluation did belong onely to the soule of man VALENTINVS and his disciple MARCVS with COLORBASVS and HERACLEON all their opinions were so intricate and obscure that men of meane vnderstanding could not conceiue them and men of deepe judgement would not conceiue them because they had not spitted out their braines as EPIPHANIVS speaketh that is their head was not so voide of wisdome as to hearken to the new inuented to yes of brainsicke men CERDON and MARCION were authours of the opinion of two gods or two beginnings the one they called the authour of all good things the other the author of all euil things They denied the veritie of Christs humane nature and the veritie of his suffering whereupon of necessitie followeth this conclusion that we are not saued indeede but onely to vse MARCIONS own words putative that is in fantasie or supposition The death of Christ is the true ground of our saluation if he only seemed to die died not indeed then we seeme to be saued but are not saued indeede They denyed also the resurrection of the body August index haeres MARCION was justly called by POLYCARPVS Primogtnitâ—…s dâ—…aboli that is The first borne of the deuill Euseb. lib. 4. cap. 14. This heresie by the worke of that olde serpent was dispersed in Italie Egypt Palestina Arabia Syrta Cyprus Thebaida Persia and in many other places This is the cause wherefore TERTVLLIAN after him EPIPHANIVS inveighes so sharply against this pestilent Heretique MARCION Hee was the inuenter of a strange new custome in Baptisme that after a man hath bene once baptized he may be baptized againe the second time and the third time also This hee did to wash away and put in obliuion the foule fault of whoredom committed by him His father was a preacher of Gods word in Pontus he himselfe had vowed chastitie afterward polluted himselfe with whoredome was cast out of the Church by his owne father when he came to Rome at the time when HYGINVS the ninth Bishop after the martyrdome of the two great Apostles was lately departed this life he was not admitted to the fellowship of the Church of Rome therefor he joyned himselfe to the fellowship of CERDON and augmented his errour To the two beginnings of CERDON he added the third in this maner First he saide there was one supreme and vniuersall God and him hee called the good God who created nothing that is in this world Secondly there was a visible God who was Creator and maker of all things and thirdly there was the deuill as a midthing betweene the visible and inuisible God Epiph contra haeres No heresie sprang vp in this Centurie that was so vniuersally ouerspred in many nations countries as the heresie of MARCION was So bent is the corrupt nature of man to followe a doctrine of lies when it is coloured with a shewe and pretence of reuerence towarde God For they feared to attribute the making of any thing that is euill to God who is infinite in goodnesse But this was a needlesse feare because creatures which nowe are â—…uill they haue not this wicked disposition by the creation of God but by their owne voluntarie defection from the firste estate whereinto God created them LVCIANVS and APEâ—…PS were the disciples of MARCION whome many did followe in so much that Marcionists were called Lucianistae and Apeiletani Neuerthelesse APELLES could not agree with his master MARCION in all things for hee graunted that Iesus Christ the sonne of the good God had a true body yet not made of the substance of the Virgin MARIE but of the foure elements and that he died and rose againe not putative as MARCION said but truely in very deede yet he thought that this true body of Christ like as it was composed of the foure elements so likewise after his resurrection he dissolued it into the foure elements and afterwarde returned to heauen from whence he came This errour EPIPHANIVS abhorreth for many great absurdities First saith he did Christ build vp againe that Tabernacle which men destroyed to the end that he himselfe in continent after the building of it should destroy it againe by a dissolution of it into the elements Secondly if Christ dissolued his owne body why would he not let his disciples see at least the reliques of his body resolued into elements to the ende they might haue honoured the reliques of his dissolued body as the women came to the sepulchre with precious oyntments to haue honoured his dead body Thirdly saith he APELLES speaketh of Christes body after his resurrection that which neither Christ nor his Apostles euer spake of that blessed body This is the right way to vndoe heresies to bring them to the right balance of the mouth of Christ and writings of his holy Apostles and then heresies cannot consist and stand In the dayes of ANTONINVS and L. VERVS the authors of the 4. persecution TATIANVS a Syrian came to Rome and was conuerted to the true faith by IVSTINVS MARTYR during whose lifetime hee maintained no errour openly but after the death of IVSTINVS hee became the authour of the sect Encratitae who were so called because they abstained from wine and eating of flesh and creatures quickened with a sensitiue life They damned mariage and blasphemed the Epistles of PAVL Euseb. lib. 4. cap. 28. This they did no doubt because PAVL in his Epistles calleth the prohibition of mariage and the prohibition of meates appointed by God for the vse of men with thankesgiuing to be a doctrine of deuils 1. Tim 4. MONTANVS a man of Phrygia seduced two women PRISCILLA and MAXIMILLA to leaue the companie of their husbands and to be his prophetesses He called himselfe the holy Spirit whom Christ sent to instruct his disciples in al trueth Ioh. 14. He instituted lawes concerning fasting and damned the second
credited that God hath suffered the world to goe astray in such wayes so long time and so many yeeres What is this but as a wette sacke wherewith a naked man is couered as a learned Pastor said it is so farre from arming him against the cold that it encreaseth his shuddering and grwing euen so this excuse vtterly vndoeth their cause they say God would not haue suffered his visible Church to haue erred so many yeeres but the Apostle PAVL saith otherwise that the Spirit speak th euidently that in the latter times some shal depart frō the faith so that it is not a wonderfull thing to see apostasie fall out in the bowels of the visible Church and the golden calfe to be worshipped by carnal israclites Exod. 32. But it is a wonderful thing indeede to see sinceritie of doctrine and puritie of maners to continue long among the very watchmen of the Church so prone and bent is the world to defection that sometime the ordinarie watchmen cannot declare where Christ is whom the soule of the Church loueth Cant. 3. ver 3. Secondly consider that the doctrine of prohibition of meates and mariage is called a defection from the faith a doctrine of deuils When these odious stiles are applied to Gnostici T atiani Or Encratitae Montanistae and Manichai and others all this is heard patiently without sturre and excesse of choler and why because the ancient fathers examining all these opinions according to the rule of the word of God haue found thē heretical opinions But whē we come neerer to say that the prohibition of mariage in some persons and the prohibition of meates at some times is also a doctrine of deuils and a defection from the faith O then it is cast in as a wal of brasse that the anciēt fathers who damned all the forenamed heresies yet liked very well of supplications prayers to be made to God euery Fryday and consequently of abstinencie from delicat meats for the furtherance of prayers in remembrance of the Lords suffering Sozomen lib. 1. cap. 8. And like wise that Priests should bee chaste and continent Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 9. And to damne these opinions also is all on◅ as if we should damne all antiquitie and imagine that the trueth was euer buried since the Apostles dayes vntill our time To this I answere that the fathers are not to be balanced with the Papistes of our dayes in the opinion of meates and mariage for many causes first because the fathers of the first 300. yeeres made no lawes and constitutions to astrict the consciences of men in matters of meate and mariage as the Papists of late dayes haue done The Councill of Ancyra which is a towne in Galatia clearely manifesteth vnto vs what was the custom of the ancient Church in admitting men to ecclesiasticke offices namely this If a man in time of his ordination did protest that he had not the gift of continencie but that hee was purposed to marrie and after his ordination hee maried a wife hee remained still in his ministetie But so many as in time of imposition of handes did professe continencie abstinence from mariage if afterward they maried they were debarred from their ministrie Tom. 1. Concil Here euidently appeareth that in the primitiue Church there was no lawe made anent prohibition of mariage to men in spirituall offices In like maner we reade vnder DECIVS the seuinth persecuting tyrant of whome mention will be made in the third Centurie that DIONYSIVS B. of Alexandria was a maried man and had children and that by the great prouidence of God both hee and his children escaped the hands of the cruell enemie who was laid in wait for him to take him Yea and after the Nicene Councill the assembly gathered at Gangra a towne in Paphlagonia detested the opinion of EVSTATIVS who admiring the monasticke life as a conuersation angelicall began to damne mariage and to perswade maried women to separate from the companie of their husbands and to perswade the people not to receiue the holy sacraments from the handes of maried preachers But when the fathers conueened in the Councill of Gangra pondered the opinion of EVSTATIVS in a just balance they found it to be cursed and execrable not only in the question of mariage but also anent his doctrine in prohibition of meates for he thought that a religious man who eated flesh by so doing was cut off from the hope of better pleasures which God hath laid vp for saintes in heaucn But let vs heare a fewe of the Canons of the Councill of Gangra Tom. 1. Concil CANON 1. If any person vituperat mariage and will detest a faithfull woman because the sleepeth with her husband and counteth her to be culpable and that shee cannot enter into the kingdome of heauen Let him be accursed CANON 2. If any man condemne him who in faith and religion eateth flesh that is neither mixed with blood nor sacrificed to idoles as if by such participation of slesh hee wanted hope Let him be accursed CANON 4. If any man make difference and will not receiue the oblation from a preachers hand when he ministreth it because he hath a wife Let him be accursed CANON 10. If any person keeping virginitie for the Lords sake extoll himselfe aboue those that are maried Let him be accursed In all these constitutions of the councill of Gangr◅ there is no vsurpation of authoritie ouer the conscience in matters of mariage and meates Secondly because euen at that time when custome without a ratified lawe had brought in an vse in the Church of God that vnmaried men should be admitted vnto Bishoprickes and spirituall offices rather then others Yet when such continent men could not be had GRATIANVS himselfe witnesseth that a maried man was admitted by PELAGIVS I. Ann. 556. to be Bishop of Syracuse Distinct. 28. Thirdly the fathers of ancient time spake reuerently of mariage but the Papistes of late dayes haue called it a worke of the flesh and the errour of the Nicolaitanes These two doctrines of the prohibition of meates and mariage are called an apostasie from the faith and endited by the spirit of errour Here it may be objected that the Apostle PAVL himselfe who writeth this in another place saith that the Kingdome of God is neither meate nor drinke but righteousnesse peace and joy in the holy Spirit Rom. 14. ver 17. How then is that thing to be counted an apostasie from the faith wherein no matter is touched that pertaineth to the Kingdome of God To this I answere that there is a great difference betweene abstinence from meates and prohibition of meates for these whose conscience is weake will abstaine from many meates and content themselues with hearbes Rom. 14 ver 2. as it were contenting themselues with the foode of the beastes rather then that their mouth should eat that thing that should perturbe their conscience but such men as take vpon them
EVSEBIVS reckoneth onely 12. yeeres lib. 6. cap. 12. He stirred vp the fift persecution against the Christians The crimes objected against the Christians beside those that were objected in the former persecution were these Rebellion against the Emperour sacriledge murthering of infants worshipping of the sunne and worshipping the heade of an Asse which last calumnie was forged against them by the malice of the Jewes This persecution raged most seuerely in the townes of Alexandria and Carthage like as the former persecution had done in Lions and Vienne in France Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 1. LEONIDES the father of ORIGEN was beheaded his sonne being but yong in yeeres exhorted his father to perseuere in the faith of Christ constantly vnto the death POTAMIEA a yong beautiful virgin in Alexandria was by the judge condemned to death and deliuered to a Captaine called BASILIDES who stayed the insolencie of the people that followed her to the place of execution with outrage of slanderous and rayling worde crying out against her for this cause shee prayed to God for the conuersion of BASILIDES to the true faith and was heard of God in so much that he was not onely conuerted to the faith of Christ but also sealed it vp with his blood and had the honour of martyrdome Euseb. lib. 6. cap 5. ALEXANDER who was fellow-labourer with NARCISSVS in Ierusalem escaped many dangers yet was he martyred in the dayes of DECIVS the 7. great persecuter Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 39. Of this Emperour the Senat of Rome said Aut non nasci aut non mori debuisse that is Either hee should neuer haue beene borne or els should neuer haue tasted of death So it pleased the Lorde by his wise dispensation to suffer the dayes of TRAIAN ANTONINVS Philosophus SEVERVS Emperours renoumed in the world to be more cruell against his owne people then the dayes of NERO DOMITIAN CALIGVLA or COMMODVS to the ende the poore Church might learne to be content to be spoyled of all outward comfort and to leane vpon the staffe of the consolations of God alanerly Many that were brought vp in the schooles of ORIGEN suffered martyrdome such as PLVTARCHVS SERENVS HERACLIDES HERON and another hauing the name of SERENVS also Euseb. lib 6. cap. 4. Among women RHAIS was burned with fire for Christs sake before she was baptized with water in Christs Name Euseb. ibid. Innumerable moe martyrs were slaine for the faith of Christ whose names in particular no ecclesiasticall writer euer was able to comprehend therfore it shall suffice to heare the names of a few The rest whose names are not expressed enjoy the crownes of incorruptible glory as wel as those doe whose names are in all mens mouths It is the comfort of our hearts to remember that the Apostles and Euangelists sealed vp with their blood the doctrine which they taught and committed to writ and no other doctrine and the holy martyres immediatly after the Apostles dayes sealed vp with the glorious testimonie of their blood that same faith which we now professe which they receiued froÌ„ the hands of the Apostles but they were not so prodigall of their liues to giue their blood for the doctrine of worshipping of images inuocation of Saints plurality of mediators of intercession the sacrifice of the Masse both propitiatory and vnbloody expresly against the wordes of the Apostle Heb. 9. ver 22. and such other heades of doctrine vnknown to antiquitie The Romaine Church in our daies is a persecuting and not a persecuted Church more fruitfull in murthers then martyrdomes glorying of antiquitie and follow ing the forgerie of new inuented religion This Emperour SEVERVS was slaine at Yoâ—…ke by the Northerne men Scots Bassianus Geta. SEVERVS who was slaine at Yorke left behind him two sonnes BASSIANVS and GETA BASSIANVS slewe his brother reigned himselfe alone 6. yeres so that the whole time of his gouernment both with his brother and alone was 7. yeeres 6. months Euseb. lib 6. cap 21. He put to death also PAPINIANVS a worthie lawyer because he would not pleade his cause anent the slaughter of his brother before the people but saide that sinne might be more easily committed then it could be defended Bucolc Hee tooke to wife his own mother in law IVLIA a woman more beautifull then chaste In all his time as he confessed with his owne mouth hee neuer learned to doe good and was slaine by MACRINVS Macrinus with his son Diadumenus MACRINVS and his sonne reigned one yeere alanerly Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 21. Antoninus Heliogabalus ANTONINVS HELIOGABALVS reigned after MACRINVS 4. yeeres Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 21. He was a prodigious belly-god a libidinous beast an enemie to all honestie and good order Func Chron. So many villanous things are written of him that scarcely if the Reader can giue credite to the historie that euer such a monster was fashioned in the belly of a woman At his remouing in his progresse oftimes followed him 600. chariots laden onely with baudes and common harlots His gluttonie filthinesse excessiue riotousnes are in al mens mouthes Hee was slaine of the souldiers drawen through the citie and cast into Tiber. Alexander Seuerus ALEXANDER SEVERVS the adopted sonne of HELIOGABALVS reigned 13. yeeres Euseb lib. 6. cap. 28. Chron. Func He delited to haue about him wise and learned counsellers such as FABIVS SABINVS DOMITIVS VLPIANVS c. This renowmed Lawyer VLPIANVS was not a friend to Christians but by collecting together a number of lawes made against Christians in times bypast he animated the harts of judges against them And this is a piece of the rebuke of Christ that Christians haue borne continually to be hated of the wise men of the world hist. Magdeburg Cent. 3. Hereof it came to passe that in this Emperours time albeit hee was not so bloodie as many others had bene before him and therefore his Empire was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is vnbloodie yet not a few suffered martyredome euen in the dayes of ALEXANDER such as AGAPETVS a young man of 15. yeere old at Praeneste a towne of Italie Hee was assaied with many torments and finally with the sword he was beheaded The judge who gaue out a sentence of death against him fell out of his judiciall seat and suddenly died The martyredome of CECILIA if by her trauailes VALERIAN her espoused husband and TIBVRTIVS his brother 400. moe had bene conuerted to Christ secretly baptized by VRBANVS B. of Rome immediatly before her death I maruel that no mention should be made by EVSEBIVS of such a rare miraculous worke Senatours and noble men at Rome such as PAMMACHIVS SIMPLICIVS and QVIRITIVS with their wiues and children died for the faith of Christ with many others Hist. Mag. Cent. 3. The fauour that this Emperour shewed to Christians against whom the very sloobering cookes did contend challenging vnto themselues the right of a place whereinto Christians were accustomed to
MAXIMINVS but they were both cut off by CAPELLIANVS Captaine of the Mauritanians Within a short time the senate of Rome chused MAXIMVS PVPIENVS and BALBINVS to be Emperours and to resist the tyrannie of MAXIMINVS But this election displeased the people of Rome therefore they were compelled to associat GORDIANVS a young man of 13. yeeres olde in conjunct authoritie with them This GORDIANVS was the nephew of him who was Procâ—…nfull in Africke and the souldiers made out of the way MAX. PVPIENVS and BALBINVS So GORDIANVS reigned himselfe alone without associats sixe yeeres Chron Func Philippus PHILIPPVS a man borne in Arabia and his son reigned fiue yeeres Chron Func Bucolc EVSEBIVS saith 7. yeeres He was the first Emperour who became a Christian and was baptized by FABIANVS B. of Rome Hee was content to stand among the number of the penitents who made confession of their sinnes for his life was reproouable in some things before his conuersion Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 34. especially in slaying of GORDIANVS an Emperour inclined to peace DECIVS one of the Captaines of his armie conspired against him and slewe him and his sonne and reigned in his stead Decius DECIVS and his sonne obteiued the empire 2. yeeres Chron. Func Whether for hatred of PHILIP his master whome hee had slaine or for detestation of Christians or for couetous desire of the treasures of PHILIP left in the custodie of FABIAN B. of Rome or for some other cause it is not certaine Alwayes he mooued a terrible persecution against the Christians The martyrs who suffered death in the time of this persecution were innumerable Some few of the principall martyres I shall rehearse ALEXANDER Bishop ' of Jerusalem died in prison at Casarea BABYLAS B. of Antiochia died likewise in prison FABIAN B. of Rome suffered martyrdome DIONYSIVS ALEXANDRINVS by a wonderfull prouidence of God escaped the handes of persecuting enemies CYPRIAN B. of Carthage was banished and reserued to the honour of martyrdome vntill the dayes of VALERIAN the eight persecuter ORIGEN who from his childhood was desirous of the honour of martyredome in this persecution of DECIVS he fainted and his heart was so oucrset with feare to haue his chaste body defiled with an vgly Ethiopian that he choosed rather to offer incense to the Idole then to be so filthily abused For this cause hee was excommunicate by the Church of Alexardria and for very shame fled to Judea where hee was not onely gladly receiued but also requested publickely to preach at Ierusalem Neuerthelesse in stead of teaching hee watred his face with teares when he reade these words of scripture To the wak d man sath God What hast thou to do to declare mine ordinancse that thou shouldest take my couenant in thy month Ps. 50. ver 16. These words so deepely wounded his heart with griefe that hee closed the booke and sate downe and wept all the congregation wept with him Hist Mag. Cent. 3. cap. 10. No pitie nor compassion was had neither of sexe or age In this persecution APOLLONIA a virgine of good yeeres after they had dashed her face with battons till all her teeth were stricken out of her jawes they burned her quicke at the port of Alexandria This is that holy martyre whose teeth the Romaine church in our dayes say that they haue them as holy monuments kept in the treasures of their reliques vntill this time But the tryall that was taken of late dayes by HENRIE the eight king of England seeking for the teeth of APOLLONIA as a remedy of the toothach clearly prooueth that many teeth are supponed to be the teeth of APOLLONIA that were neuer fastened in her jaw bones Chemnisius dereliquiis The death of QVINTA AMMONARION MERCVRIA DIONYSIA clearly declareth what pitie was had of the weakenesses of women IVLIANVS an olde and gowtie man burned with fire testifieth what regard was had to the gray haires of ancient men DIOSCORVS a yong man not exceeding 15. yeres of age albeit they were ashamed to condemne him to death yet he escaped not many painfull torments was a glorious Confessour with patient expectation awaiting vntill the Lord should call him to the honour of martyrdome NEMESION was accused in Alexandria as a companion of brigants and was punished with stripes and fire vnto the death with greater seueritie then any brigant albeit his innocencie was sufficiently knowne AMMON ZENON PTOLEMEVS INGENVVS THEOPHILVS warriours and knights standing by the tribunall seate beckened with their hands to a certaine weake Christian who for feare was readie to incline and fall that hee should continue constant and stepped to the bench and professed themselues to be Christians This dayly increasing courage of Christians who were emboldened by the multitude of sufferings astonished and terrified the Iudges Euseb lib. 6. cap. 41. ISCHYRION was slaine by his owne master The number of martyres in Alexandria and Egypt of whome DIONYSIVS in his epistle written to FABIVS Bishop of Antiochia maketh mention clearely testifieth that if the names of all those who suffered martyrdome in the townes of Rome Carthage Antiochia Ephesus and Babylon were particularly set down ouer and beside others who suffered in other townes of Asia Africke and Europe subject to the dominion of the Romaine Emperour it were not possible in the volume of a litle booke to comprehend them all For mine owne part I presume not to do it but I reuerence the painfull trauelles of learned men who haue dipped deepely into such a fruitfull subject specially the writer of the booke of martyres Onely I find somethings in this seuenth persecution which the principall purpose wherefore I haue collected this compend will not permit mee to passe ouer with silence Namely these first let no man thinke that the veritie is weake and hath neede to bee strengthened by a lie as NICEPHORVS is accustomed to doe The seuen martyres of Ephesus whose names were MAXIMIANVS MALCHVS MARTINIANVS DIONYSIVS IOANNES SERAPION and CONSTANTINVS were lurking in a caue the entrie where of DECIVS commanded to be closed with great heapes of stones to the end that the forenamed Christians might be killed with famine which came to passe indeede Yet famine could not sâ—…parate these holy Martyres from Christ. But NICEPHORVS the father of many other fables also saith that they fell on sleepe in which they continued till the time of THEODOSIVS that is from the 250 vntill the 379. yeere of our Lord and then they did awake out of their sleepe saith NICEPHORVS lib. 5. cap. 27. But he who will giue hastie credite to NICEPHORVS fables writing of the 7. martyres who lurked in a caue of mount Caelius and to EVAGRIVS description of BARSANVPHIVS an Egyptian monke who enclosed himselfe in a cottage beside Gaza for the space of 50. yeeres and vsed no kinde of bodily refreshment to sustaine his earthly tabernacle he may be easily led to all kinde of errour The second thing worthy to be marked is that
after many torments was in end laid vpon the altar whereupon they vsed to offer sacrifice to idols while there was yet some streÌ„gth in his hande they put franckincense into his right hande thinking that he would haue scattered the incense vpon the altar and sacrificed but he endured the torment patiently saying the words of the Psalme 145. Blessed be the Lord who teacheth mine hands to fight In end LICINIVS made warre against CONSTANTINE and being diuerse times ouercome both by sea and land he yeelded himselfe at length and was sent to Thessalia to liue a priuate life where he was slaine by the souldiers SO CONSTANTINE obtained the whole empire alone Here ende the ten persecutions CENT III. Cap. 2. TO VICTOR succeeded ZEPHYRINVS the 14. Bishop of Rome who liued in that charge 8. yeres 7. months 10. dayes Platin. EVSEBIVS attributeth vnto him 18. yeeres Euseb. lib 6 cap. 21. so vncertaine is the computation of the yeeres of the gouernement of the Bishops of Rome EVSEBIVS writeth nothing of his decretall epistles and these that are forged by late writers are foolish and ridiculous Consecration of the holy cuppe in a vessel of glasse alanerly A Bishop to bee accused before honest Iudges twelue in number whome the Bishop himselfe shall chuse if neede bee honest and vnspotted witnesses to bee heard in his cause no fewer then 72. conforme and aboue the number of these 70. disciples whome Christ adjoyned as fellow-labourers in preaching with his Apostles And finally that no definitiue sentence should bee pronounced against a Bishop vntill the time his cause were heard of the Patriarch of Rome This is but a mocking of the Church of God to attribut such swelling pride such vnaccustomed formes of judicatorie such defensiue armour fencing and gwarding vnrighteous men against just deserued punishment vnto the simplicitie of an ancient Church humbled vnder the crosse and sighing vnder the yocke of heauie and long-lasting afflictions These false and forged decretall epistles altogether vnknowne to the fathers who liued before the dayes of CONSTANTINE will procure one day a decreete and sentence of wrath against these who haue giuen out new inuented lies vnder the names of ancient and holy fathers The canons of the Apostles albeita booke falsly attributed to the Apostles doe agree better with scripture then the constitution of ZEPHYRINVS For the Scripture saith that by the mouth of two or three witnesses euery worde shall bee confirmed Matt. 18 ver 16. The Canons of the Apostles say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Let not an Heretique be admitted to beare witnesse against a Bishoppe neither yet one witnesse alanerly albeit hee bee faithfull because that by the mouth of two or three witnesses euery worde shall be confirmed Canon Apost cap. 74. The writer of the Canons of the Apostles had some remembrance of the words of Scripture but the forger of the decretall epistles of ZEPHYRINVS is like vnto a ship-man who hath hoised vp his saile and auanced his ship so far into the sea that hee hath tint the sight of lande and townes as the Poet speaketh Provehimur Pelago terraeque vâ—…besque recedunt Surely this lying fellowe who euer hee hath bene that hath written this supposititious decretall epistle of ZEPHYRINVS hee hath hoised vp his saile and is so bent to lie that he hath tint both sight and remembrance of the words of holy scripture CALLISTVS the 15. Bishop of Rome continued in his charge 5. yeeres Euseb. eccles hist. lib. 6. cap. 21. PLATINA saith 6 yeeres 10. months 10. dayes The fable of Pope DAMASVS who affirmeth that CALLISTVS builed a Church to the honour of the virgine MARIE beyond Tyber is rejected by PLATINA himselfe because the historie of the time clearely prooueth that in the daies of SEVERVS and his sonnes the conuentions of the Christians could not haue bene in magnificke temples but rather in obscure chappels or subterraneall places so that the multiplied number of lies written of the Bishops of Rome who liued in this age and the decretall epistles falsly attributed vnto them plainely proue that the garment of antiquitie vnder the lap whereof Papistes would so faine lurke is altogether inlacking to them VRBANVS 1. was the 16. Bishoppe of Rome He continued in his office eight yeeres saith Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 22. PLATINA foure yeeres ten months twelue dayes Of his martyrdome EVS EBIVS maketh no mention Others who record his martyrdome are not certaine in what Emperours dayes hee was martyred Iproceede to his successour PONTIANVS the 17. B. of Rome He continued in his charge 9. yeeres 5. months 2. dayes Platin Euseb. saith 6. yeeres He was banished to the Isle Sardinia where he died Of the two decretall epistles ascribed vnto him the second is generall written to al men who feare and loue God the very first words of it prooue it to be false forged Pontianus sanctae uniuersalis Ecclesiae Episcopus c. that is PONTIANVS Bâ—…shop of the holy vniuersall Church to all them who feare loue God wisheth welfare Tom. 1. Concil Such magnificke stiles as these were not as yet in vse and when they crept in into the Church afterward they were giuen by persons who admired the vertues of some singulare and rare men such as CYPRIAN and ATHANASIVS and EVSEBIVS but no man did vsurpe such proud and arrogant titles of dignitie in his owne writings direct to other Christians and therefore the learned reject this epistle as composed by some late vnlearned and flattering fellowe After PONTIANVS succeeded ANTERVS the 18 B. of Rome to whome EVSEBIVS assigneth but one mouth of continuance in his ministrie lib. 6. cap. 29. DAMASVS assigneth to him 12. yeeres PLATINA 11. yeeres 1 month 12. dayes and this diuersitie of counting cannot be reconciled Next to ANTERVS succeeded FABIANVS the 19. Bishop of Rome vpon whose head a doue lighted when the people were coÌ„sulting anent the election of a Bishop therfore with full consent of the wholeCongregation he was declared to be theirBishop The people at this time were so far from beeing secluded froÌ„ giuing their consent to the electioÌ„ of him who should be ordained their Pastour that the consent of the people had the principall swey in the election of Pastours Func Chron Commentar He suffered martyrdome vnder the reigne of DECIVS the 7 great persecuter after hee had continued in his office 14. yeeres 11. months 11. dayes Platin de vit Many constitutions made by him are cited by GRATIANVS insert Tom 1. Concil One of them I cannot pâ—…sse by We constitute that vpon euery Lordes day the oblation of the altar shall be made by euery man and Woman both of bread and wine to the end that by these oblations they may be deliuerea from the heapes of their sinnes First marke in this constitution that the bread and wine which the people brought with them vpon the Lords day for
Thessalomca the Emp. was moued with excessiue anger so that 7000. innocent people were sâ—…in inuited to the spectacle of Playes called Ludi circenses in the Grieke laÌ„guage 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For this fault the good Em. was reproued by Ambrose Bish. of Millane confessed his fault in sight of the people with teares and made a lawe that the like coÌ„mandements anent the slaughter of people should not hâ—…ue hastie execution vntill the time that 30. dayes were ouerpassed to the ende that space might bee left either to mercie or to repentance In like maner he was angry out of meaâ—…ure against the people of Antiochia for ouerthrowing the brasen portrate of his beloued bedde-fellow Placilla The Emp. denuded their towne of the dignitie of a Metrapolitane Citie conferring this eminent honour to their neighbour towne Laodicea Moreouer he threatned to set the towne on fâ—…e and to redact it vnto the base estate of a Vil age But Flauiannus Bishop of Antiochia by his earnest trauailes with the Emperour mitigated his wrath for the people repented their foolish fact were sore afraide the good Emp. moued with pitie pardoned the fault of the towne of Antiochia His lenitie toward the Arrians whom he permitted to keepe conuentions in principall Cities was with great dexteritie wisedome reproued by Amphilochius Bishop of Iconium For hee came in vpon a time and did reuerence to the Emperour but not vnto Arcadius his sonne albeit alreadie associated to his Father in gouernament declared Augustus whereat Theodosius being offended Amphilochis very pertinentlie and in due season admonished the Emperour that the GOD ofHeauen also would be offended with them who tolerated the blasphemers of his onely begotten Sonne the LORD IESUS CHRIST Wherupon followed a lawe discharging the conuentions of Heretiques in principall Cities In all these infitmities it is remarkeable that the good Emperour 〈◊〉 gaue place to wholsome admonitions The excessiue raines hee was compeâ—…led to vndertake in Waâ—…re-fare hastened his death for hee contracted sicknesse soone after his returning from the battell faught against Eugâ—…nius and died in the 60 yeere of his age and in the 16. yeere of his reigne He left behind him his two sons Arcadius to gâ—…uerne the East and Honorius to gouerne the West CHAP. II. Of Pastors and Doctors AFTER Eusebius Miltiades gouerned the Romane Church 4. yeeres 7. moneths and 8. dayes as Platina writeth His ministration was in the dayes of the reigne of Constantine to whom the Emperour remitted the controuersie betwixt Cecilianus and the Donatistes to bee judged by him and his Collegues Rheticus Maternus and Marinus The Donatistes would not acquiesce to the determination of Miltiades and his Collegues The good Emperour appointed this cause of new againe to be judged in Aâ—…les by a number of Bishops of Spaine Italie and France because the Donatists would not acquiesce to the determination of Miltiades and his Collegues In the Councill of Aâ—…les Cecilianus was likewise absolued and the Donatistcs againe succumbed in their probation Notwitstanding they appealed to the Emp. Constantine and when the Emp. heard the cause of Cecilianus pleaded before himselfe the Donatists could not proue that either Cecilianus had beene admitted Bishop of Carthage by a man who was Proditor or yet that hee had admitted any other man culpable of the like fault to an Ecclesiasticall office If the Bishop of Rome had beene supreame Iudge in all Ecclesiasticall causes Constantine had done him wrong to appoint other Iudges to cognosce in this cause after the Bishop of Rome and his Collegues had giuen out their definitiue sentence His ordinance anent prohibition of fasting vpon the LORDS day was expedient at that time to bee a distinguishing note of true Christians from Manichean heretiques whose custome was vpon the LORDES day to fast The purple garment the palace of Lateran the superioritie of the towne of Rome and gouernament of the West which honours some alledge were conferred by Constantine to Miltiades and Silvester is a fable not worthie of refutation all these honours the Emperours of the West successours of Constantine possâ—…ssed and not the Bishop of Rome for the space of many hundreth yeeres To Miltiades succeeded Silvester and ministred 23. yeeres 10. monethes 11. dayes In his time was the Heretique Arrius excommunicated by Alexander without the fore-knowledge of the Bishop of Rome It was enough that after excommunication intimation was made to other bishops which duety the Bishop of Alexandria neglected not Learned men should be ashamed of fables to say that Constantine was baptized by Siluester for Siluester was dead before Constantine was baptized And Platina himselfe is compelled to grant that Marcus the successor of Siluester gouerned the Church of Rome in Constantines dayes And Eusebius testifieth that Constantine was baptized in Nicomedia immediately before his death Concerning the donation of Coâ—…stantine wherein he conferreth the dominion of the West to the Bish. of Rome it is like vnto a rotten egge which is cast out of the basket lest all the rest bee set at the lesse auaile No ancient writter maketh mention of any such thing Yea Constantine in his testamentall legacie allotted the Dominion of the West to two of his sonnes namely to Constantinus younger and to Constans How then had hee by an anteriour disposition resigned these Dominions to the Bishop of Rome If Papistes bee not better countenanced by Antiquitie in other thinges then in this point they haue no great cause to bragge of Antiquitie To Siluester succeeded Marcus and ministred 2. yeeres 8. monethes and 20. dayes After Marcus Iulius gouerned the Romane Church 15. yeeres Sozomenus attributes to Iulius 25. yeeres His ministration was in the dayes of the Emperour Constantius and his brethren Hee was a defender of the true Faith and a Citie of refuge to those who were persecuted by Arrians as namely to Athanasius Bisshop of Alexandria Paulus Bishop of Constantinople Asclepas Bishop of Gaza Marcellus Bishop of Aneyra and Lucius Bisshop of Adrianopolis All these were vnjustly deposed from their offices by the Arrians and had recourse to Iulius Hee was neither ashamed of the Gospell of CHRIST nor of his afflicted seruantes In the Councill of Sardica great honour was conferred vnto him to wit that men vnjustly condemned by Arrians shoulde haue refugâ—… to Iulius to whom they gaue power of newe againe to judge their cause This was an Act of the Councill of Sardica and not of the Nicene Councill as was confidently alledgâ—…d in the Councill of Carthage and a personall honour conferred to one man alone for respectiue causes but not extended to his successours as though all the Bishops of Rome at all times shoulde bee Iudges of appellation The Arrians were sore grieued for this that Iulius both in worde and deede and writ assisted Athanasius and his complices The chafing letters and mutuall expostulations that passed
betwixt Iulius and the Arrians conueened in the Councill of Antiochia are to bee read in the Historie of Socrates Platina in the grandoure of his speeches is inconsiderate as if Iulius had damned the presumption of the Orientall Bisshops who durst conuocate an assemblie without licence before obtained from the Bishop of Rome Noe such thing is contained in the letter of Iulius but onely an expostulation that they did not aduertise him of their Councill to the ende hee might haue sent his Ambassadours and giuen vnto them his best aduise Iulius knewe the Constitutions of the Nicene Councill which gaue power to euery Patriarch within his owne boundes to conuocate Councils To IULIUS succeeded LIBERIUS and continued sixe yeeres some assigne vnto him eighteene yeeres others ninetecne yeeres so vncertaine is the computation of the yeeres of their gouernament Hee gouerned the Church of Rome in the dayes of CONSTANTIUS by whom also hee was banished to Thracia because hee woulde not consent to the depositiâ—…n of ATHANASIUS which point was seriously vrged in the Councill of Millane THEODORETUS giueâ—…h ample testimonie of his constancie and freedome of speaking to the â—…mperour not disagreeing with his name before his banishment In his absence FOELIX the second was chosen to be Bishop of Rome to whome THEODORETUS giueth this praise that hee adhered firmely to the Nicene Councill but blameth him for this that hee receaued his ordination from Arrians Nâ—…twithstanding hee was more hated by the Arrians then was LIBERIUS and was put to death by them after he had gouerned one yeere foure monethes two dayes After two yeeres banishment LIBERIUS returned back again to Rome THEODORETUS is silent in the matter of his praises after his returning Hilarius Bishop of Poitiers affirmeth that hee both consented to the deposition of Athanasius and to the councell of Sirmium There is nothing inlaking now to giue out a determinate sentence whether or no the Bishop of Rome may erre in matters of Faith but onely the compearance of the great Aduocate of all euill causes Onuphrius who will needes find out some old partchment or some vnknown manu-script to free the chaire of Rome from all suspition of errour in matters of faith But Bellarmine giues ouer his cause and can finde no sufficient Apologie for him because his letters written to the Emp. Constantius after his returning from banishment smels of Arrianisme After the death of Libâ—…rius succeeded Damasus and ruled 18. yeeres in time of the reigne of Iulian of Iouinian and of Valentinian his competitor Ursinus had many fauourers in so much that the question who shoulde bee elected Bishop of Rome was tried by the sword rather then by reasons suffrages and votes so that in the Church of Sisinum were slaine to the number of 137. persons Damasus preuailed and had the vpperhand Hee was friendly to Peter Bishop of Alexandria whom Lucius an Arrian Bishop imprisoned but he escaped and fled to Rome as Athanasius had done before in the dayes of Iulius Hee damned the Heresie of Apollinaris in a Councill conucened at Rome His Epistle written to the Oriental Bishops whereinto he intimates vnto theÌ„ the condamnitour sentence pronounced against Apollinaris and his disciple Timotheus is indiâ—…ed with the swelling pride of a lofty mind breathing soueranity and preheminence aboue all other Churches as if the Romane Church were that onely Apostolicke chaire whereunto all other Churches aught homage and reuerence So that Basilius Bishop of Casarea in Cappadocia complaines of the pride of the West because they cared onely for their own preheminence but not for the estate of their persecuted brethren in the East vnder the Arrian Emperour Valenâ—… whose estate they knew not neither sent they mâ—…ssengers to visite them neither woulde they receiue true information concerning the estate of their brethren Yea and Basilius saieth that hee purposed oft times to haue written to the chiefe of them that is to Damasus that hee shoulde not count the splendor of pride to be true dignitie honour Where it is to be marked that wheÌ„ he speakes of Damasus he calleth him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the principal of them to wit of the Châ—…rches of the west but not the supreame gouernor of the uniuersal Church neither the soueraâ—…gn coÌ„mander of the Churches of the East It is ignorance of the Ecclesiastical historie that makes men to imagine that the supremacie of the Bishop of Rome is an ancient thing When Damasus damned the Heresie of Apolbnaris in the Council conueened at Rome it was the yeere of our LORD 379. according to the computation of Ierum and at this time the very aiming to supremacie is counted Splendor Supubiae that is the splendor of pride Damasus wrote concerning the liues of the bishops of Rome preceeding his time was familiarly acquainted with Ierom as Ieroms writings clearly proports To Damasus succeeded Siricius and ministred 15. yee es at what time Gratianus and Valentinian obtained the Emperiall gouernameÌ„t he ordained that maried men who were admitted to Ecclesiastical offices after their ordination should absteine from the company of their wiues as if it were great deuotion to a man to transgresse against the wife of his youth the wife of his couenant and his companion in all his wearisome labours His prohibition of the seconde mariage smelleth of the Heresie of Montanus In his time with pride of the 〈◊〉 at Rome was joined vnsatiable auaritiousnes increasing daily by degrees so that the Emperours Valentintan the II. and Theodoâ—…us were compelled by a law to inhibite widows vnder pretence of deuotion to leaue their houses treasures and house-holde-stuffe to the Church to the vtter impouerishing and vndoing the estate of their children Bishops of Alexandria IN the third CENTURIE wee rested at the name of 〈◊〉 Bishop of Alexandria whose successour was Alexander His accurate disputation anent the unitie in the Tiinitie made Arrius a presbyter in Alexandria to thinke that Alexander was intangled with the erâ—…our of Sabellius Hereof arose contertious dispuâ—…ations new opinions exulcâ—…er te minds open schismes This intestine maladie was not vnknowne to the good Emperour Constantine who sent Hosius Bishop of Corduba a man singularly beloued of the Emperour together with persuasiue letters from the Emperour exhorting both Alexander and Arrius to leaue accurate profounde disputations and keepe inuiolably the peace unitie of the Church But no meanes could auaile vntill this question was desided by the determination of the generall Councill of Nice After the Councill of Nice had damned the opinion of Arrius as Hereticall Alexander continued not aboue 5. monethes aliue In the last period of his life hee called for Athanasius but he was not present Of whom Alexander said Thou hast escaped but shalt not escape fore-prophecying that Athanasius should vndergo that wieghtie charge which he giuing place to nature
to the calling of GOD was leauing Athanasius in his young yeeres and childish playes was counterfeiting diuine mysteries baptizing children yet after such due forme of interrogatories answeres preceeding Baptisme that Alexander then Bishdurst not presume to rebaptize those who apparently in childish simplicitie had beene made partakers of diuine grace Hee began no sooner to accept the weightie charge of the Church of Alexandria anno 333. but the Arrians began to fret and offend knowing how diligently he attended vpon Alexander his predecessor at the Councill of Nice and how vigilantly wisely hee had detected the lurking absurdities of the vilde 〈◊〉 of Arrius And they thought the preferment of Athanasius was the vtter vndoing of their opinion Therefore they coÌ„spired against him and by a multiplied number of false accusations preuailed somewhat against him euen in the dayes of the good Emper. Constantine But in the dayes of Constâ—…ntius and Iulian almost the whole world conspired against him so that except he had bene vp-holden by that grace that commeth from aboue it was not possible that hee coulde haue consisted and borne out such vnsupportable hatred Iustly did Nazianzene compare him in time of aduersitie to the Adamant and in time of prosperitie to the Magnet In time of aduersitie no trouble ouercame him in time of prosperitie hee allured the heartes of men more intractable then yron to embrace the trueth of GOD. Now seeing Athanasius liued sixe and fourtie yeeres gouernour of the Church of Alexandria his great troubles can not bee comprised in better order then by declaring shortly what troubles hee susteined first in Constantines dayes next vnder the reigne of Constantius thirdly vnder the reigne of Iulian and last to speake of his peaceable end vnder the reigne of the Emperour Valens albeit he was an Arrian Persecuter In the dayes of Constantine first he was accused by an effronted harlot whom the Arrians had suborned to beare false witnesse against him but Athan. guided the matter with wisedome suffered Timotheus a worthie presbyter to speake whom hee had brought in with him to the Councill but hee was silent himselfe The impudent woman pointing out Timotheus by the finger as if he had bene Athanasius with clamours voide of all womanly modestie affirmed that hee had abused her in whosedome so that all who were present were ashamed of her impudencie This was done in the Councill of Tyrus to the perpetuall shame of the Arrians who suborned an harlot to accuse the faithful seruaÌ„t of CHRIST without a cause Secondly they accused him for this that hee had cutted off the hand of Arsenius some time his owne seruant and for greatâ—…r euidence they produced in the Councill of Tyrus before the Iudges the hand of a man inclosed in a case which hande they affirmed that Athanasius had cut off from Arsenius This they spake the more confidently because they supponed that Arsenius remained still secretly kept in their owne custodie but by the prouidence of GOD hee escaped came to Tyrus and was presented before the Councill hauing both his handes perfect sounde and vnmutilated After this the Councill was full of confusion for the Arrians cried that ATHANASIUS by magicke artes deluded the sences of men and they were purposed by violence and force to lay handes vpon him and to teare him in pieces But he fled by a ship and came to Constantinople where the Emperour was as shall bee declared GOD willing in the fourth CHAPTER The rest of his accusations and howe they dealt against him moste vnjustly and falsely and gaue out a sentence of deposition against him in his absence I remit vnto the place foresaid Vnder the reigne of Constantius Athanasius was compelled to flie at two diuers times First while the Emp. Constans was yet aliue who procured a Councill to be gathered in Sardica wherein the cause of Athanasius was tried and he found innocent and was sent backe againe and reâ—…ored to his place For Constantius feared the minaâ—…ng letters of his brother Constans who threatned to lead an armie to the Fast and to possâ—…sse Athanasius in his place againe incase his brother linguered in doing of it After the death of Constans Sabinianus was sent to kill Athanasius but he escaped miraculously as hath beene declared Againe he was compelled first to flâ—…e and afterward to lurke in the dayes of Iulian He was restored againe by the good Emp. Iouinian and he continued in his ministration vntill the dayes of Valentinian and Valens And although Valens was a crue I persecuter yet hee absteined from persecuting of Athanasius for honour of his gray haires and for that he was reuerently regarded of all men Thus Athanasius full of dayes died in peace after he had gouerned the Church of Alexandria 46. yeeres To worthie Athanasius succeeded Peter whom the Emp. Valens caused to be imprisoned and Lucius an Arrian bishop to be seated in his roome Lucius was made bishop of Alexandria against all kind of Ecclesiasticall order neitheir did the people craue him nor the Cleargie of Alexandria approue him nor any Orthodox bishop giue him ordination Peter escaped out of prison and fled to Damasus bishop of Rome Lucius like vnto a rauenous wolfe not onely banished the Homousians out of Alâ—…xandria and Aegypt but also that which was more insolent and neuer attempted before he persecuted the Monkes who dwelt in solitarie places of the wildernesse and banished them who had â—…lready banished themselues from all the delicate pleasures of the world But marke To what place could men bee banished who inhabited the desert places of barren wildernâ—…sses Hee caused them especially Macarius Isidorus to be transported vnto an Isle whereinto no Christians were to be found but only Pagans and worshippers of deuilles When these prisoners of CHRIST approached neare vnto the Isle the deuill left his olde habitation to wit the mouth of the image from whence hee was accustomed to speake and hee posâ—…essed the Priests daughte who ranne vnto the shore and cried words not vnlike to those which were spoken to Paul and Silas in Philippâ—… by the maid who had the spirit of diuination and after this the deuill left her lying vpon the ground as though she had bene dead But the men of GOD by their supplications to GOD restored the young woman to health and deliuered her to her father The inhabitants of the Isle who saw the wonderfull works of GOD receiued the faith and were baptized in the Name of CHRIST LUCIUS was so dashed with the fame of this wonderfull worke and with the out-crying of the people against him that hee permitted the foresaid monkes to returne backe againe to their owne places Afrer Peter succeeded Timotheus for one cause worthie to bee blamed because he fauoured the usurpation of Maximus Cynicus who presumed without a lawfull calling to bee Bishop of Constantino And after him Theophilus succeeded whose
Constantine The Arrians finding themselues to be vtterly rejected by Athanasius they addressed themselues to Constantinople vnder the conduct of Eusebius bishop of Nicomedia and threatned Alexander that incase hee woulde not voluntarily receiue Arrius into the fellowship of the Church then they should bring him in authorized with the Emperours commande to the grieuance of his heart Alexander clothed himselfe with the armour of GOD and all the night long prayed in this sence LORD if Arrius be to be receiued to morrow into the communione of thy CHURCH then let thy seruant depart in peace and destroy not the just with the wicked but LORD if thou wilt spare thy CHURCH whereunto I am assured thou wilt be fauourable then LORD turne thine eyes toward the wordes of the Eusebians and giue not thine inheritance to a desolation and reproach and cut of Arrius lest while he entreth into the CHURCH his heresie also seeme to enter with him and so no difference seeme to bee betwixt Pietie and Jmpietie The day next following the prayer of Alexander Eusebius bisshop of Nicomedia with his retinue came with great confidence pompe to performe all which they had threatned they would doe But Arrius was compelled to goe to a secret place whereinto his bowels gusihed out and hee concluded his wretched life with ignominie and shame To Alexander succeeded Paulus His lot was to gouerne this Church vnder the reigne of an Arrian Emperour Constantius who rejected him and seated Eusebius bishop of Nicomedia in his place But this great parrone of the Arrian Heresie scarcely was placed in Constantinople when he ended his life The Homousians receiued againe Paulus to bee their bishop The Arrians choosed Macedonius This was the câ—…use of great debate in Constantinople and the people diuided in factions hatefully inuaded one another The Emperour hearing of the tumult sent Hermogenes the generall commander of his horsâ—…-men to remoue Paulus from Constantinople Hermogenes was very ready to execute the Emperours commandement but the people being affectioned toward their Pastor arose vp with popâ—…re tumult compassed the house of Hermogenes set it on 〈◊〉 slâ—…w himselfe and fastned a corde to his legges and trailed him along the streetes For this cause the Emper. Constantius willing to punish the authors of this tumult hastened to come to Constantinople The people went foorth to meete him and with reares confessed their fault and craued pardon The Emperour absteined from punishing them vnto the death but he cutted off the one halfe of the victuall which the liberalitie of his father had bestowed vpon Constantinople to bee payed yeerely out of the tributes of Aegypt He banished Paulus the second time and seated Macedoâ—…ius in Coâ—…stantinople not without effusion of blood Paulus was againe restored by the meanes of the Emp. Constans but after the death of Constans he was banishâ—…d to Cucusus a towne of Armenia where he was strangled by the bloody Arrians The Church of Constantinople was miserably troubled with Arrianisâ—…ne vnder the reignes of Constantius Valens The reignes of Graiianus and Theodosius was a breathing time to the professors of the true Faith At this time Nazianzenus a constant defender of the Faith was chosen Bishop of Constantinople who notwithstanding voluntarily left the great Citie in regarde the Bishops assembled in the second generall Councill gaue not a full and uniuersâ—…ll consent to his admission Yet gaue they all without hesitation their consent to Nectarius a man of noble birth of the countrey of Cilicia at that time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and who had receiued no ecclesiastical preferment before that time This man I say they made Bishop of Constantinople with full consâ—…nt and allowance both of the Councill and people ouerpassing Nazianzenus so fraile are the cogitations of men euen in generall Councils that they are oft times more ruled with affection then reason Nectarius continued in that office vntill the third yeere of the reigne of Arcadius that is vntill the yeere of our LORD 401. In his time the confession of sinnes done in secrete to presbyter poenitentiarius was abrogated in the Church of Constantinople vpon this occasion as Socrates writeth A certaine noble woman was confessing in secret her sinnes to presbyter poenitentiarius and shee confessed adultery committed with one of the Church Deacons Eudaemon this was the name of the father confessor gaue counsell to Nectarius to abrogate this custome of auricular and secrete confession because the Church was like to bee slandered and euill spoken of by these meanes Socrates can scarse giue allowance to this fact of Nectarius in respect that by abrogation of this custome the vnfruitfull works of darknesse were lesse coargued and reproued But Socrates considered not that CHRIST when hee talked with the Samaritane woman at the Well sent away his disciples to buy bread to the ende the poore Samaritane sinner might more freely poure out her secrete sinnes in the bosome of CHRIST who knew all thinges that were done in secrete It is not my purpose to contend with Socrates he is writing an historie I am writing but a short Compend of an historie hee taketh libertie to declare his judgement concerning this fact of Nectarius in abrogating confession of secrete sinnes to pres byter poenitentiarius No man can blame mee to write my judgement concerning auricular confession It is in our dayes not like vnto the mantle where with Sem and Iapheth couered the nakednesse of their Father Noe but it is in very deed a lap of the mantle of the deuill couering the nakednesse of his children that is the horrible treasons that are plotted in secrete by the children of the deuill against Christian Magistrates Nowe is auriculare consession for greater causes to bee abrogated then of olde presbyter poenitentiarius was discharged by Nectarius Bishops of Hierusalem TO Thermon succeeded Macarius anno 318. about the 7. yeere of the reigne of Constantine In his time it is thought that Helena the mother of Constantine founde the Crosse of CHRIST but Ambrose writes that shee worshipped it not for that saith he had beene Gentilis error vanitas impioram that is an errour of Pagans and vanitie of vngodly people But now to lay aside the inexcusable fault of adoration of the tree wherevpon our LORD suffered What necessity had Helena to bee so serious to seeke out this tree and to commit it to the custodie of all posterities seeing that Ioseph of Arimathea who sought the body of IESUS at the hands of Pilate to the end he might burie it honourably yet sought he not the tree whereon CHRIST was crucified which with little adoe might haue bene obtained Secondly during the time that the Crosse was easie to bee found and eâ—…sie to haue bene discerned from other crosses How could the blessed virgine the mother of the LORD and holy Apostles haue committed such an ouersight in not keeping
that precious treasure if so be in the keeping of it there be so great deuotion as the Romane Church now talks of Thirdly what is the cause that the Romane Church brags so much of antiquity when as the worshipping of the crosse one of the maine points of their Religion was vnknowne to the first 300. yeeres of our LORD now in the 4 Cent. the crosse is found but not worshipped yea and the adoration of it is detested abhorred as an error of Pagans To Macarius succeeded Maximus who had be ne his fellow-labourer as of old Alexander was to Narcissus Macarius gouerned the Church of Hierusalem in the peaceable dayes of Constantine but Maximus gouerned that same Church himselfe alone in the dayes of Constantius Hee was present at the Councill of Tyrus but Paphnutius a Bishop and confâ—…ssor in Thebaida pitied the simplicitie of Maximus whom the Arrians with deceitfull speeches had almost circumueened and he stepped to him and suffered him not to sit in the assembly of vngodly people wherâ—…upon followed a bande of indissoluble conjunction not onely with Paphnutius but also with Athanasius who was charged with many false accusations in that wicked Councill of Tyrus This warning made him circumspect and wise in time to come so that hee was noâ—… present at the Arriane Councill of Antiochia gathered vnder pretence of dedication of the Temple which Constantine began to build but his sonne Constantius perfected the building of it To Maximus succeeded Cyrillus a man greatly hated by the Arrians in so much that Acacius bishop of Casarea Palestine deposed him no doubt by some power granted to him by the Emp. Constantius with aduise of Arrian Bishops Notwithstanding Silvanus Bishop of Tarsus receiued him and hee taught in that Congâ—…egation with great liking and contentment of the people The strife of Acacius against him in the Councill of Seleucia I remit vnto the owne place In time of famine hee had a great regard to poore indigent people and sold the pretious vessel and garments of the Church for their support This was a ground of his accusation aftâ—…rward because a costly garment bestowed by the Emp. Constantine to the Church of Hierusalem Cyrillus sold it to a merchant in time of famine and againe the merchant sâ—…ld it vnto a lasciuious woman and such friuolous thiâ—…ges wâ—…re aggreaged by the Arrians who hated the men of GOD. Of other Pastors and Doctors in Asia Africa and Europe BESIDES the Patriarchs of principall places GOD raised vp in this CENTURIâ—… a great number of learned Preachers who were like vnto the Ibides of Aegypt a remedie prepared by GOD against the multiplied number of venemous and flying Serpents Euen so learned Fathers of whom I am to speake were instrumentes of GOD to vndoe the Heresies which abounded in this age aboue al other ages Did not Nazianzenus vndoe the Heresie of Apollinaris Basilius the Heresie of Eunomius Hilarius like vnto a sâ—…conde Deucalion saw the ouer-flowing speate of Arrianisme abated in FRANCE Ambrosius Epiphanius and Ierom set their hearts against all Heresies either in their time or preceâ—…ding their dayes It were an infinite labour to write of them all who in this age like vnto glistering starres with the shining light of celesticall doctrine illuminated the darknesse of the blind worlde but the names of some principall Teachers GOD willing I shall remember Eusebius Pamphili Bishop of Caesarea in Palestina liued vnder the Emp. Constantine with whom he was familiarly acquainted He was desired to supply the place of Eustatius bishop of Antiochia whose deposition the Arrians without all forme of order had procured most vnrighteously but he would not consent to accept that charge so that the chair of Antiochia vaked without a Bishop eâ—…ght yeeres Some expecting the restitution of Eustatius others feeding themselues vpon vaine hopes that Eusebius woulde accept that place The Emp. Constantine commended his modestie and counted him worthie to be bishop of the whole world Neuerthelesse hee was not altogether free of the Heresie of Arrius before the Nicene Councill and hee was remisse and slacke in the cause of Athanasius He was so familiarlie acquainted with Pamphilus who suffered martyrdome in Caesarea that hee clothed himselfe with his name and called himselfe Eusebius Pamphili Hee died about the time that Athanasius first returned from banishment by the meanes of Constantine the younâ—…er about the yeere of our LORD 342. Nazianzenus liued in the dayes of Constantius Iulian and Theodosius He was borne in a little towne of Cappadocia called Nazianzum from which he receiued his name Hee was trained vp in learning in Alexandria in Athens his familiarity with Basilius Magnus began in Athens and it was increased in the wildernesse hee preached in Sasima but because it was a place vnmeete for studies hee returned to Nazianzum and was a helper to his aged father After his fathers death he went to Constantinople where he founde the towne in a moste desolate condition in regard the Arrian Macedonian Heresies had so mightily preuailed that all the principall Churches wâ—…re occupied by them Nazianzenus only had liberty to preach in a little Church called Anastatia because the trueth of GOD which seemed to haue bene buried now by the preaching of Nazianzenus was reuiued againe In the second generall Councill gathered by Theodosius because some Bishops of Macedonia and Aegypt murmured against his admission he counterfeited the fact of Ionas and was content to bee cast out of his place to procure peace and concord amongst his brethren He benefited the CHURCH of CHRIST in the dayes of Iulian by writing bookes of Christian Poesie whereby the Christian Youth shoulde haue no harme by the interdiction of Iulian prohibiting the children of Christians to bee brought vp in the schooles of learning Hee detected the Heresie of Apollinaris and the abominations of Heathen idolatrie whereunto Iulian had sold himselfe more clearely then any other man had done A man worthie for excellencie of giftes to bee caâ—…led THEOLOGUS Basilius Magnus Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia was so united in heart and mind with Nazianzenus that the pen of Socrates will net separate the treatises of their liues His father Basilius his mother Eumele his nuise that fostered him named Macrina all were Christians His father was martyred vnder the persecuting Emp. Maximus Hee left behind him fiue sonnes three of them were Bishops namely Basilius bishop of Caesarea Peter bish of Sebasta and Gregorius B. of Nyssa Hee was instructed in all kind of learning in Caesarea in Constantinople in Athens vnder Himerius and Proaeresius in Antiochia vnder Libanius At his second returning to Athens hee acquainted himselfe with Nazianzenus They spent too much time in searching out the deepenesse of humane learning and it repented Basilius that he had spent so much time in searching out thinges that are not necessary to eternall life Hee was
the Church in the Councill of Sardica but Photinus was deposed at the Council of Sirmium and banished by the Em. Constantius Neuerthelesse after his deposition banishment he continued obstinately in his errour wrote bookes both in Latine Greeke in defence of his Heresie whereby his name became infamous and he was counted the author of this Heresie Audaus was a man of Syria vnder the reigne of Valentinian and his brother Valens Hee published an errour That GOD was like vnto the similitude of a mans bodie This errour hee conceiued through wrong vnderstaÌ„ding of the words of Scripture wherein it is saide Let vs make man in our owne Image according to our likenesse With this errour many vnlearned Aegyptian Monkes were intangled They pretended great innocencie and chastitie in thier liues and separated themselues from the societie of the Church couering their impietie with this pretext that they saw usurers and vncleane persons tolerated in the Church About this time saith Theodoretus that is in the dayes of Valentinianus and Valens sprang vp the Heresie of Messaliani Albeit this name bee vnquoth yet the Greeke names giuen vnto this Heresie are more significatiue they were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 becâ—…use they counted prayer the onely exercise necessary to the children of GOD euen as if a man could talke with GOD by prayer before he hath first heard GOD talking with him by the preaching of the Word Likewise they were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is men rauished in the spirite after long continuance in prayer When they were transported and out of their wits then they supposed that the holy spirit was sensibly infused into them whereby their bodies were made free of all perturbations and their soules were auerted from all inclination to euill in such sort that they had no need of fasting to subdue their bodies nor of Doctrine to restraine the disordered affections of their soules This pestilent Heresie was ouerspred in many places but it was mightily suppressed by Letoius B. of Meletina Amphilochius B. of Iconium in Lycaonia and Flaviaenus B. of Antiochia who with great dexteritie drew out a Confession out of the mouth of Adelphius an aged man and a propagator of this Heresie in Edessa This Heresie albeit it had many patrones such as Dadoes Sabas Adâ—…lphius Hermas Simeones yet from none of them it receiued the name but rather from the actions and passions whereunto they inclined Apollinaris bishop of Laodicea in Syria gloried in the quickenesse of his ingine and delited to make contradiction to euery thing that any man coulde speake and so it came to passe as Ruffinus writeth Heresim ex contentione generauit that is to say Through contention he procreated an Heresie affirming that in the dispensation of CHRISTES Incarnation hee assumed the body of a man onely but not the soule of a man because his diuinitie supplied the place of his soule And when hee was argued by euident places of SCRIPTURE that CHRIST in his humane nature was a perfect man hauing not onely a body but also the soule of a man as when he said His soule was heauie vnto the death lest he should haue seemed to bee vtterly conuinced and ouercome hee confessed that CHRISTES bodie was quickned with a natural life but the diuinitie of CHRIST was in place of a reasonable soule This Heresie was damned in Councils conueened at Rome Alexandria and Constantinople He augmented the schisme at Antiochia where there had bene alreadie three factions to wit Eustatiani Meletiani and Pauliniani Now Apollinaris dwelling in Laodicea a towne of Syria neere approaching to Antiochia hee was the author of the fourth faction In the dayes of Iulian he compiled histories of Scripture in Greeke Poesie In the dayes of Valentinian and Gratian he defended his Heresie In the dayes of the Emp. Theodosius he concluded his life His sonne in name learning and bad use of excellent gifts was like vnto his father Vitalius presbyter in Antiochia was a serious defender of the Heresie of Apollinaris in so much that the followers of Apollinaris were called Vitaliani Donatus was a Bishop in Numidia who contended with vnsupportable hatred against Cecilianus B. of Carthage challenging him that hee had receiued ordination from Foelix Altungensis who was proditor that is who in time of persecution had deliuered the booke of holy Scripture to bee brunt or as others say because hee admitted to an Ecclesiasticall office a Deacon who had committed the like faule The cause of Cecilianus was oftagitat before the Councill of Carthage before Miltiades B of Rome before the Councill of Arles and by the Emp. Coustantine but the Donatistes at all times succumbed in probation Therefore they were enraged because they coulde not accomplish their wicked designes against Cecilianus and they fell from the unitie of the Church Inucterate schismes oft times turne to Heresies So the Donatistes in end were defenders of Hereticall opinions namely that the Catholicke Church was no where els to be found but onely in that corner of Africke whereinto they themselues dwelt and that Baptisine was not effectuall except it had beene ministred by one of their societie Of all the branches of this Heresie Circumcelliones was the most reprobate branch a people cruell and sauage not onely against others but also against themselues throwing themselues headlonges from high places or casting themselues in fire and water and this sort of death they countâ—…d Marâ—…yrdome The diuersitie of names wherewith this Heresie was pointed out clearely declares that the Donatistes wanted not a great number of fauourers for they were called Parmeniani Rogatistae Cirtenses and Maximianistae Against this Heresie and the Heresie of the Pelagians August B. of Hippo contended with mightie grace as likewise against the Heresie of the Manicheans whereinto he had beene nursed himselfe Collyridiani were a sort of superstitious people who worshipped the Virgine Marie the mother of our LORD with diuine adoration and with baking little pasties which in the Greeke language are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which they offered to the Virgine Marie as to the Queene of Heauen Epiphanius counts them Heretiques because the Virgine Marie albeit shee bee a blessed woman yet is shee not GOD. Manie late Heresies are nothing els but a renewing of old decayed Heresies Such was the Heresie of Priscillianus a man of Noble birth in Spaine verie eloquent rich temperate with great show of humilitie who easilie insinuated himselfe in the fauour of the people In his youth he was inclined to Magical Arts and renewed the filthie Heresie of Gnostici who disallowed Marriage and commended fornication Some bishops of Spaine were entangled with this Heresie such as Iustantius Salvianus and Helpidius whom Adygimus Bishop of Corduba damned in a Councill gathered at Caesar-augusta This was done in the dayes of the Emp. Gratianus and Valentinian The
great Citie of refuge to Heretiques was to addresse themselues to the B. of Rome and to leane vnder his shadow But Damasus who was bishop of Rome at this time would not admit these Heretiques to his presence Neither would Ambrose B. of Millane to whom they ad dressed next in any wise accept of them when al other meanes failed them last of al with buddes and bribes they sollicited the Emp. cubiculers were sent backe againe to enjoy their owne places Neuerthelesse GOD suffered not Priscillianus to escape punishmeÌ„t for he was conuict of sorcery was punished to the death after the death of Valentinian the seconde whether by Maximus an usurper of the Emperiall Soueranitie or by Theodosius I am not certaine Lucifer was bishop of Calaris in Sardinia He was present at the Councill of Millan and was banished by Constantius because hee would not consent to the deposition of Athanasius Hee was reduced from banishment by the Em. Iulian. He visited Antiochia a towne miferably distracted with Schismes and by ordaining Paulinus B. of Antiochia hee rather augmented then paired the scisme he perceiued that this his fact was disproued by Euseb. b. of Vercellis many others therefore he his followers did not coÌ„municate with such as disproued the ordination of Paulinus This seemes rather to be rekoned in the catalogue of schismes then of heresies Theod. disprouing Lucifer saith that he made faith to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but he saith not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a weapon of contentions but not a weapon of heresie These who supposed that after the Natiuitie of the LORD the Virgine Marie companied with her husband Ioseph and did beare childreÌ„ to him were called Antidicomarianitae In this opinion was Helvidius a man more curious then wise The opinion of the Fathers of the Church not repugnant to Scripture was this That like as no man did lie in the sepulchre wherein Christ was buried before him Euen so in the wombe wherein hee was conceiued no man was coÌ„ceiued after him so the Fathers tooke the wordes of the Apostolicke symbole 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as iâ—… it had bene said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is born of Mary a perpetual Virgine In holy scriptures by the brethren of our LORD is meaned the kinsmen of the LORD according to the flesh to which exposition the consent of Ancient Neotericke writers for the most part aggreeth Augustine cites out of Philaster a sort of Heretiques called Metangismonitae whose heresie sounded to this That the SONNE is in the FATHER according to the similitude of a little vessell comprehended within the compasse of a greater vessell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Greeke Language signifieth a vessell and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth the entering of one vessel within another which in our language caÌ„not be expressed by one word as it is in the Greeke From Seleucus and Hermias this heresie had the name where they dwelt or in what Emperours dayes this Heresie was propagated August maketh no mention their opinions were most abominable namely that the Masse whereof GOD created the elements was coeternall with him and that the Angels not GOD created the soules of men that CHRIST in his ascension vnclothed himselfe of the flesh of man and left it in the globe of the Sunne They receiued not baptisme by water They denied the resurrection of the dead supposing that by new generations one succeeding to another that is performed which in Scripture is written concerning the resurrection The rest of the Heresies of this age were all obscure and had few followers such as Proclianitae who denied that CHRIST was come in the flesh Patriciani who affirmed that the bodie of man was formed by the Deuil not by GOD Ascitae who carried about with them newe vessels to represent that they were vessels filled with the new wine of the Gospell Patalorynchitae foolish men who counted it religion to stop their breath with their fingers and to vtter no intelligible speach Aquarii who in stead of wine receiued water in the holy Sacrament The beginning of this errour seemes to haue beene in the dayes of Cyprian Coluthiani denied that any euill either of sinne or punishment came of GOD. Floriani who by the contrarie affirmed that GOD created creatures in an euill estate The 8. Heresies which Philaster commemorates without any name either taken from the Author or from the heresie it selfe Augustine scarcely will reacken them into the roll of Heresies CHAP. IIII. Of Councils COUNCILS may bee diuided in Generall Nationall or Prouinciall and particulare Councils Generall were called Oecomenik Councils 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Greeke language signifies the World because from all quarters of the World whereinto CHRIST was preached commissioners were sent to these Councils and they were gathered by the authoritie of the Emperour Nationall or provinciall Councils were such as were gathered by the authoritie of the Emperour in one nation with asfistance of other neere approaching nations for suppressing of Heresies desyding of questions pacifying of schismes and appointing Canons and constitutions for decent order to be keeped in the Church The third sort of Councils were particular Councils by Bullinger called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Such as the Councils of Gangra Neocaesaria many others gathered vsuallie by Patriarchs and Bishops in a corner of a countrie but for the like causes as nationall Councils were assembled Let no man expect a recital of particular Councils except at such times as some matter of great moment enforceth me to speake of them Ancyra is a towne of Galatia In this towne were assembled Bishops of diuerse prouinces about the yeere of our Lord 308. as is supposed The principal cause of their meeting was to constitute a forme of Ecclesiasticall discipline according to which they who either willingly or vnwillingly had sacrificed to idols in time of persecution should bee receiued into the bosome of the Church againe when they were found penitent There were many rankes of persons who had defiled themselues with Heathnicke Idolatrie such as Libellatici Thurificati Sacrificati Proditores The Council of Anâ—…yra tooke order chiefely with those who were called Thurificati and Sacrificati that is with them who either had casten vp incense vpon Idolatrous Altars or els had eaten of meates sacrificed to Idoles to whom it was injoyned to testifie the r repentance a long time before they were receiued to the communion of GODS people some one yeere some two yeeres others three or foure yeeres some fiue or sixe yeeres and aboue according to the heauinesse of their transgression In this Councill it was ordained that Deacons who in time of their ordination did protest that they had not the gift of continencie but were disposed to marry if they married they shoulde remaine in their Ministrie but they who in time
Athanasius It was an easie matter for the Arrians to imprint into the vlcerate mind of Constantius an hatred against Athanasius In this Councill they set downe diuers summes of Faith first secretly couâ—…ting the venome of their Heresiâ—… but afterward as it were repenting they manifested themselues more clearly in their owne colours After this Councill followed terrible earth-quakes in the East wherewith many townes were shaken especially the towne of Antiochia with continuall earthquakes was shaken for the space of a whole yeere The principall designe of the Councill was to eject Athanasius out of his chaire and to alter the summe of Faith set downe in the Nicenâ—… Councill as euidently appeared by sending of Syrianus to destroy Athanasius and to place Gregorius in his roome but Athanasius escaped the danger by the great prouidence of GOD and fled to Iulius Bishop of Rome and the Arrians displaced againe Gregorius and appointed Georgius a man of Cappadocia and moâ—…e fit for their purpose to bee bishop of Alexandria The fauour that Iulius bishop of Rome shewed to Athaâ—…asius b. of Alexandria Paulus b. of Constantinople Asclepas b. of Gazâ—… and Lucius b. of Adrionopolis was the cause mouing the Arriâ—… to haue so frequent meetings in Antiochia Very sharpe lâ—…tters passed betwixt Iulius and the Orientall bishops Iulius blamed them because they had both rashly and vnrighteously deposed the fore-named bishops They on the other part expostulated with Iulius because he had receiued to his fâ—…llowship men deposed by them whereas none of the East Church had admitted Novatus to their communion whom the bisâ—…op of Rome had excommunicated After the issue of three yeere another Councill was conueened in Antiochia about the yeere of our LORD 348. whereinto the Arrians set foorth a newe summe of their Faith in very ample and prolixe maner and different from all other formes sâ—…t downe before the copie whereof they sent to the bishops of Italie by Eudoxius b. of Germanicia Martyrius and Macedonius but the bishops of Italie woulde not receiue it contenting themselues with the summe of Faith set downe in the Nicenâ—… Councill In the yâ—…ere of our LORD 351. by the commandement of Constantius and his brother Constans a great Nationall Councill was gathered in Sardica a towne of Illyricum of olde Dâ—…cia Many Bishops of the West to the number of three hundreth resorted to this assemblie but from the East onely 76. They who came from the Easterne parts would not vouchsafe to bee present in the Councill except Protogenes b. of Saraica and Osius b. of Corduba had separated from their fellowship Paulus b. of Constantinople and Athanasius b. of Alexandria But the cause of their absenting themselues from the Councill indeed was this as Theodoretus prudently recordeth because the forgers of false accusations against the men of GOD whose cause was appointed to be judged in this Councill they durst not abide the trial of honest judges and men of vnsuspect credite The Councill finding that the Arrians conuicted in conscience durst not compeare to accuse Paulus and Athanasius whom notwithstanding they had deposed in the Councils of Tyrus and Antiochia proceed to the triall of their cause and findâ—…th all the accusations of the Arrians agâ—…inst Paulus Athanasius Asclepas and the rest to be but a masse of forged calumnies and lies Arsenius was found to bee aliue whom the Arrians alleadged Athanasius had slaine As concerning the ouer-throwing of the holy Table and breaking of the holy Cuppe by Macarius whome Athanasius had employed and therefore the blame was laide vpon him it was found to be a notable lie because when Macarius entered into the Church of Mareota where this fact was alledged to bee done 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were present in the Church And such kinde of persons were not permitted to be present at the celebration of diâ—…ine mysteries Ishyras also who was the principall forger of all the fore-mentioned calumnies was found to haue bene tyed to the bedde by infirmitie at that time when Macarius was alledged to haue done these thinges And finally it was founde that â—…shyras had receiued a Bishopricke as the wages of iniquity from the Arrâ—…ans before he had bene admitted presbyter in any Churâ—…h Also the supplicant billes of Paulus Asclepas Marcellus c were read tryed and examined and they were all found honest vpright men and they were all recommended by the letters of the Councill of â—…ardica to their owne flockeâ—… On the other part the Bishops whom the Arrians had intruded in the places of the fore-mentioned brethren they deposed them and abhorred their memorie such as Gregorius in Alexandria Basilius in Ancyra and Quintianus in Gaza of whom they decearned that they were not worthy of the name of common Christians let be to be called bishops commanding all people to forsake their fellowship and neither to send letters to them nor to receiue letters from them The like sentence they pronounced against Theodorus of Hâ—…raclea Narcissus of Neronias Acacius of Caesarea Palestinae Stephanus of Antiochia Ursatius of Sigidun in Mysia Valens of Myrsain Pannomia Menophantus of Ephesus and Georgius of Laodicea principall patrons of the Arrian Heresie The Arrians on the other part assembled themselues in Philippopolis a towne of Thracia and there they damned of new againe Paulus and Athanasius Likewise they damned Iulius B. of Roâ—… Osius b. of Corduba Protogenes b of Sardica Maximinus b. of Trieâ—… and many others whom they cursed also because they had admitted to their fellowship those Bishops whom they had deposed Sozomenâ—…s is in that opinion that the Councill of Philippopolis preceeded the Councill of Sardica From 35. Prouinces did Bishops resort vnto the Councill of Sardica From this time forward there was added diuersitie of affection vnto diuersitie of opinion and these who dwâ—…lt in the East did not communicate with them who dwelt in the West Some Arrian Bishops dwelt in the West such as Auxentius b. of Millan and Ursatius Valens But by the vigilant trauels of the b. of Rome and other godly Bishops of the West it came to passe that these Sâ—…minaries of errours did not preuaile much in the Wâ—…sterne partes This is that Councill whereinto Iulius B. of Rome for his good carriage good deseruings was appointed to be Iudge of Appellations when the like case fell out that righteous men were oppressed with the vnrighteous deâ—…ling of Heretiques But remember that this is a constitution of the Councill of Sardica and not of the Nicene Councill And this was a priueledge both persona'l and temporall for extraordinary causes conferred to Iulius but not to bee extended to all his successors nor yet to continue at all times In the yeere of our LORD 356 and fiue yeeres after the Councill of Sardica by the commandement of the Emp. Constantius a Councill was gathered in Sirmium a towne of Illyria Bullinger calleth it a towne of
conuocate the Generall Councill of Lateran wherein Popish Transsubstantiation did get allowance the like whereof no Pope preceeding his time euer persumed to doe Now I demande of these who defende the Popish Religion and herewithall continually bragge of Antiquitie whether or no this bee an ancient custome that the Bishops of Rome should conuocate Generall Councils The Historie is so euident and cleare that hee who is not altogether effronted will grant that it was not an ancient custome that the Bishop of Rome shoulde conuocate Generall Councils and no Pope did it before Innocentius the thirde Gratianus according to his foolish and flattering forme of writing bringeth in the testimonie of Iulius the first affirming that no Councill is or shall bee firme and sure without the allowance of the chaire of Rome What shall wee then say of the Councill of Hâ—…erusalem holden by the Apostles before there was any Bishop of Rome to giue allowance vnto it Notwithstanding euen Pope Iulius himselfe when hee writeth to the Bishops gathered in the Councill of Antiochia hee blameth them with manie faultes yet hee chargeth them not with this that they had assembled themselues together without licence obtained from him but rather for this that they had not required him or his messengers to be present at their assembly Whereby it is euident that it was not an ancient custome that the Bishop of Rome shoulde conuocate all Generall and Nationall Councils With the like arrogancie the Bishops of Rome tooke vpon themselues to bee Moderators of Councils from thee yeere of our LORD 1215. vntill our dayes And this is another noueltie which the Romane Bishop coulde not bring in vntill hee had troden the Emperours authoritie vnder foote In the Councill of Nice Eustatius Bishop of Antiochia was Moderator In the second Generall Councill holden at Constantinople Gregorius Bishop of the great Towne at that time was President In the third Coun. conueened at Ephesus Cyrillus bishop of Alexandria was Moderator In the fourth conueened at Chalcedon in Bithinia Lucentius Pascasianus and Bonifacius messengers sent from Leo Bishop of Rome had the presidencie This is the first time whereinto the B. of Rome either in his owne person or by his Agent moderated any Generall Councill And at this time who can say that the Counc of Chalcedon was assembled by the commandement of Leo B. of Rome When as in the very frontespice of the Councill it is written Ex Decreto piissimorum fidelissimorum Imperatorum Valentiniani Martiani c. Moreouer it is euident by reading the Epistles of Leo that hee intraited for this fauour at the Emperours hand that the Generall Councill might haue beene conueened in Italie which hee needed not to haue done if by his owne authority he had power to conuocate Generall Councils It is well obserued by that worthy and learned writer of France Philip Morney that Baronius for excessiue desire hee hath to proue that Leo had power to assemble Generall Councils he changeth the Orthographie of the Latine language and in stead of Consilium Synodi Generalis indiximus hee citeth Concisilium Synodi Generalis injuximus It is true that Leo B. of Rome gaue aduice and counsell both to Theodosius and to Martianus to gather a Generall Councill but he had no power to appoint command that it should bee kept But this power belonged to the Emperour Baronius will not proue his purpose so easilie as by stealing in the letter C in place of the letter S. The fiâ—…t Generall Councill was assembled in Constantinople by the commandement of the Emperour Iustinian and not by the commandement of Vigilius B. of Rome neither was Vigilius Moderator in this Councill but Eutychius B. of Constantinople gouerned the Assemblie The sixt Generall Councill was assembled by the commandement of the Emperour Constantinus Pogonatus and was perfected by the commandement of Iustinianus the second his sonne Sergius Bishop of Rome did not appoint this Councill to be keeped neither woulde hee giue allowance to the determinations of this Councill because in it the constitutions of the Romane Church concerning prohibition of Marriage were disallowed Notwithstanding his Agent who was present in Constantinople and compeared in his name gaue consent and subscribed the Acts of the sixt Generall Councill but stolide saieth Platina that is foolishly writing with flattering stile pleasant things to the Bishops of Rome For dâ—…cision of the question concerning worshipping of Images 3. great Councils were gathered one by Constantinus Copronymus at Constantinople another by the Empresse Irene at Nice the third by the Emperour Carolus Magnus at Francfâ—…ra which of them soeuer shall bee founde the seuenrh Generall Council alwayes none of these three was gathered by the commandement of the Bishop of Rome neither was hee Moderator in anie of them The eight Generall Council was assembled by the commandement of Basilius Emperour of Constantinople but the Ambassadours of the Bishop of Rome Hadrian the seconde had the gouernament of the assemblie and they began early to manifest the portraict of their tyrannous gouernament No man was admitted to giue vote in the Generall Councill saue hee onely who woulde consâ—…nt and subscribe to the supremacie of the Bishop of Rome Adoration of Images did get full allowance in this Councill and this was a fore-running messenger of the tyrannie that followed heereafter from the 1215. yeere of our LORD vntill our time Now the Bishop of Rome conuocateth Generall Councils gouerneth them by himselfe or his substitute and maketh ordinances flatly repugnant to the written worde of GOD. No cause is so impious and vngodly that euer wanted an aduocate but this I repeat againe that hee is verie impudent who dare affirme that the Bishop of Rome of olde time did conuocate Generall Councils and was Moderator in them By conference with persons of the Romane Religion I vnderstand that they will not giue full credite to any Assemblie but to such a one as is lawfully conuocated holden and lawfully ended They count it lawfully conuocated when the Bishop of ROME by his Edict hath gathered it lawfully holden when the Bishop of ROME or els his substitute is Moderator of the Assemblie and lawfully ended when hee who is Moderator continueth in his office vntill the ende of the assemblie Such deepe instructions Papistes of our Nation haue receiued from their teachers and alas an ignorant person is soone shooueled out of the way but cursed bee hee that makeâ—…h the blinde to goe out of the way and all the people shall say So bee it Are not these Doctors of lyes ashamed at some times to commend the first foure Generall Councils with excessiue praises and againe to giue such instructions to their disciples as shall make the fiâ—…st foure Generall Councils to bee of no account because none of them was conuocated by the Edict of the Bishop of ROME but by the commandement of the Emperours CONSTANTINE THEODOSIUS VALENTINIAN and MARTIANUS
Moreouer in none of these foure was the Bishop of ROME or yet his substitute Moderator except onely in the Councill of CHALCEDON Who can giue credite to such teachers who in one word build and in another worde destroy that same thing which they haue builded The Apostle PAUL saieth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is For if I builde againe the thinges that I haue destroyed I make my selfe a trespasser And when they haue founde out newe distinctions by these distinctions the contradiction of their late Councils are the more inexcusable The Councill of BASIL gâ—…thered by EUGENIUS the fourth ANNO 1431. wherein it is decearned that the B. of ROME shall bee subject to the Generall Councill as a child to his mother And the Council of FLORENCE gathered by the selfe same Bis. ANNO 1439. wherein the contrarie is decearned yet were both these Coun. according to their owne description lawfully conuocated holden ended and yet are they flatte contrary one to another in a fundamentall point of Popish faith for it leaneth not vpoÌ„ scripture only but also vpon the authority of Generall Councils and of the B. of ROME Before I speake of the last head it is to bee considered that in gathering of Councils diuers respects haue beene had some times to the people some times to the Pastors and at some times also regard hath beene had to good men who haue bene vnjustly accused Regarde was had to the people when Councils were conueened in those selfe same places whereinto the pestilent venome of Hereticall doctrine was chiefely ouerspred For Novatus was damned at Rome Samosatenus at Amiochia Artemon in Bostra of Arabia Eustatius in Gangra of Paphlagonia and Arrius at the first in a particular Synode holden at Alexandria In aâ—…l these Councils regard was had to the people that heresie might die as the grasse-hoppers die to wit in the fieldes whereinto they haue beene bread and bee buried as the frogges of Aegypt were buried to wit in the riuer from whence they came when they ouer-couered the lande At other times great regarde was had to Pastours especially in assembling Generall Councils that the place of meeting might bee commodious whereinto the Preachers of Asia Europe and Lybia either by sea or lande might moste conueniently resort and without all question this was the cause wherefore all the Generall Councils preceeding the woefull Councill of Lateran were assembled either in Bithynia Ionia or Thracia places whereinto Europe and Asia doeth moste neerely confine and the Nauigation is moste easie to the Bishops of Aegypt Pentapolis Lybia and Mauritania Some times a regard was had to innocent men that they might resort to such places whereinto their cause might haue beene tried without partialitie as Sardica a towne of Illyrium was appointed for the triall of Paulus Athanasius Marcellus and Asclepas For it is no reason that honest men shoulde bee journeyed to places whereinto the force of armour is more to bee feared then the force of their aduersariâ—…s arguments The last head had beene vnnecessarie to bee entreated if that the ambition of the Bishops of the Romane Church had not compelled men to seeke out this question to the verie ground for who can doubt but Bishops Elders Deacons and wise and learned men hauing commission from their owne Churches should bee present at Councils and vote according to the word of GOD in such thinges as shall happen to be proponed in the Councill Neuerthelesse the ambition of Bishops fearing lest by pluralitie of votes matters shoulde frame otherwise then liked themselues best they began to make distinction betwixt consultatiue and definitiue votes minding thereby to appropriate vnto themselues onely definitiue votes and the rest of the Councill albeit Elders Deacons Doctors and learned men furnished with commission their vote shoulde onely bee consultatiue and shoulde not bee numbered amongst the votes whereupon the definitiue sentence shoulde arise This question was reasoned in the Generall Councill of Basil â—…ssembled ANNO 1431. And recourse was had to Scripture as the true ground whereby controuerted questions shoulde bee decided and there it was founde in the definitiue sentence of the Councill of Hierusalem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. that is For it seemed good to the Holie GHOST and to vs. Now this demonstratiue worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sendeth vs to the preface and superscription prefixed to the Epistle wherein it is written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is The Apostles and the Elders and the Brethren vnto the Brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antiochia and in Syria and Cilicia sende grecting In these wordes it is manifest that the Elders and Brethren who came to HIERUSALEM furnished with commission gaue such votes whereupon the definitiue sentence of the Councill did arise But seeing that the Bishops of the Romane Church haue presumed to set themselues so farre forward as if they should bee the onely actors and doâ—…rs of matters entreated in Councils it were not amisse if reason can afforde so much euen to set them a soote abacke Now therefore I affirme that when any Councill either Generall or Nationall is conueened whereinto the question concerning the supremacie of the B. of Rome is disputed In such a Councill I say no Popish B. should haue vote neither definitiue nor consultatiue because he commeth not to the Counc as a free man to vote according to the light of his conscience but hee commeth as a bond-slaue to the Bish. of Rome anticipated and preoccupied in the very time of his admission to his Bishopricke and bounde by an oath to defende the supremacie of the Pope together with the ordinances of the late Generall Councils What to doe hath such a bonde-slaue to vote in a free Councill except hee bee first loosed from the bandes of his oath moste vnrighteouslie conceiued and maâ—…e so that it is not possible for them to vote as free men in anie Councill vntill that oath made to the Anti-christ and not to CHRIST bee abjured abrenounced and vtterlie vndone Nowe to conclude It were a wise course in all thinges that wee presume to doe at least to set such a patrone before our eyes which without all contradiction is perfect and let vs indeuour to approach so neere as possible is to the similitude of that patron to the ende that our doinges bee not altogether euill and reproueable And if the men of our age woulde set before their eyes the perfect patrone of the Holie and Blessed Councill of HIERUSALEM no doubt but the people of GOD shoulde receiue greater comfort of their meetinges then hitherto they haue receiued But let the LORD worke this in his owne time To whom bee praise for euer AMEN A TREATISE Of the Monasticke life THE originall of the Monasticke life is referred by some men to Helias by others to John Baptist some referre it to those who were in companie with the Apostles and had all things common Others referre it to
are reckoned amongst orders of Monkes yet was their emploiment more in desending Christians from the injurie of Infidels then in reading praying or any other spirituail exercises What became of these Templarii after they were dispersed throughout EUROPE and whether they were justly or vnjustly cut off all at one time by the ordinance of Clemens the fift in the Councill of Vienne I omit to speake but whether they had beene guiltie or innocent it was but small clemencie in Pope Clem. to giue out a sentence of death against so many before they were warned heard and sufficiently conuicted of faults laide vnto their charge The Orders of Carmelâ—…es who dwelt vpon Mount Carmell where Helias prayed and of Camaldinenses Ioannites the Order of white Monkes of the holy Trinitie of S. Clara of Penitentiers and scourgers of themselues of Crosse-bearers and Starrebearers of Minimes and of Bonehomes of Penitent sisters of Saccit of Bethlehemites of the seruantes of Marie of Georgians and many more This multiplication of Orders declareth that there was greater care amongst late Monkes to find out some dissimilitude of habite and ceremonies amongst themselues then to conforme themselues to the similitude of CHRIST The Orders of the Franciscans and Dominicans ouerspred the worlde about the 1200. yeere of our LORD Their number in short time was mightilie increased so that the Francisâ—…ans rejoyced that there were founde of their Order in diuers Nations two thousande one hundreth fourescore and sixe Monasteries And the Dominicans numbred foure thousande one hundreth and fourtie sixe Monasteries in EUROPE all professing their Order as Creccelius sometime an Augustine Monke reckoneth These were like vnto the Frogs of AEGYPT whose number made them to bee fearefull And like vnto the Grasse-hoppâ—…rs of AEGYPT which ate the residue that remained and escaped from the Haile These were like vnto Mothes in a garment like Myce in a barne like Caterpillers amongst corne and roust in mettals so offensiue vnto the world that the people groned for the oppression of begging Friers The Dominicans followed the rules of the Augustine Monks this is the cause wherefore Creccâ—…lius of whom we spake before reckoneth not the Dominicans as one of the principall stockes and rootes from which other Orders as branches did proceed Both these Orders of Franciscans and Dominicans had their allowance and confirmation from Innocentius the third who dreamed that the Church of Laterane was bowing and inclining to fall and that saint Francis and saint Dominicke set to their shoulders to vphold the decaying Church of Laterane What wonder is it that these Orders teach a doctrine of lyes dreames whose confirmation coulde not bee obtained vntill Pope Innocentius the third dreamed that these two did vphold the Church of Laterane In the Sermones of the begging Friers saint Francis is extolled with excessiue praises as if by long fasting earnest prayers and deepe meditations he had beene counted worthie to see Celestiall visions and to bee marked in handes feete and side with the markes of the sufferinges of CHRIST Notwithstanding of all these Hyperbolicke praises in the verie beginning of his deuotion hee beganne at theft and stole money from his father and gaue it to a Priest to helpe the reparation of the Church of saint Damian And for this cause his father tooke him and did beate him with manie stripes In so farre that they who doe pleade saint Francis cause deny not that hee tooke away his fathers money neither doe they deny that for this cause hee was chastised by his father but they call the foresaide chastilement persecution The Monkes and Friers of the Order of Saint DOMINICKE doe attribute vnto him both in his life-life-time and after his death the working of so manie and so great miracles as if it were their purpose not onely to preferre him vnto saint FRANCIS but also to equali him to CHRIST and to his Apostles Notwithstanding his greatest deuotion was in beating himselfe thrise â—…uerie night with an yron chaine partlie for his owne sinnes partlie for the sinnes of other men who were aliue and partlie for the sinnes of those who were in purgatorie This fact I saie was as foolish and derogatorie to the honour due to CHRIST and to the merites of his sufferinges as anie thing that was done by that notable foole saint FRANCIS The latest Orders such as the Iacobines and Capuscings are but branches of the Francisâ—…ane and Dominicane Orders and are famous as Erostratus was rather for euill then for good The lapuscings are fine Trumpetters to proclaime warre-fare against the Citie of GOD And the Iacobines are souldiours of Sathan to put hande to worke and to fight against the Heauen in not sparing the Anointed of GOD and him who was anointed with that Celestiall oile that came from aboue as they themselues and others of their Religion doe affirme Concerning the Iesuites who may more properlie bee called Layolites then Iesuites because they walke rather in the foote-steps of Layola the author of their sect then in the footesteps of IESUS who neuer taught any man to follow the way of Cain as they doe But Layola was a souldiour and delited in shedding of blood Of them I say I am in doubt whether to call them an Order or not for the old Aenigma is reuiued in them Vir non vir percussit non percussit lapide non lapide avem non avem super arbore non arbore Euen so the Layolites may be called an order and not an ordere because they will not be bound vnto a certaine habite as a distinguishing note separating them from other Orders lest by their habite they shoulde bee discouered and made knowne to Princes against whose estate they trafficke with most treasonable attemptes neither will they conteine themselues within their owne boundes as if they woulde counterfeit the Apostles but with a preposterous counterfeiting called by the Gracians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Apostles were the Ambassadours of CHRIST the Iesuites are the ambassadours of the antichrist the Apostles endeuoured to set vp the Throne of CHRIST by preaching the death of CHRIST the Iesuites endeuour to repaire the losse of the antichrist with the slaughter of Christian Princes O generation of Vipers the broode alreadie conceiued in their venomous breastes will bee their destruction as it is the destruction of the feminine Vipers but I leaue a description of their bloodie attemptes to others who haue better knowledge of the profundities of Sathan more clearely manifested in them then it was of olde in the tenne persecuting Emperours To all these fore-mentioned Orders one thing is common that they are all obliged bound by vowes of chastity pouerty obedience euery one to the atteÌ„dance of his owne order the Layolites haue added the vow of temperancie without which custody it is hard to keepe chastitie the vow of chastitie is good prouiding that Matrimonial chastity be included vnder the generality of the word
Emperour Anaslatius a nationall Councill was assembled at Sidon of eightie bishops by the procurement of Xenâ—…as B. of Hierapolis for vndoing the Councill of Chalcedone The Emperour had al eadie banished Euphemius and Macedonius bishops of Constantinople Yet he found that Flavianus B. of Antiochia and Helias bishop of Ierusalem altogether disliked and reprooued his proceedings neither could they admitte the lawe of oblinion called in the Greeke language 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which the Emperour would haue brought in to pacifie controuersies in the Church as ciuile controuersies at some times haue beene pacifiâ—…d for this cause the Emperour Aanastatius set himselfe directly against the trueth of GOD and gathered this Councill to vndoe the authoritie of the Councill of Chalcedone Flavianus Helias would not bee present at this vngodly Councill whereinto they damned the Councill of Chalcedone yet they abstained from damning Flavianus and Helias for a time Neuerthelesse by continuall accusations of these two bishops as if they had bene mockers of all the Emperours doings they procured their banishment as hath bene declared in the preceeding historie In the 22. yeere of the reigne of Anastaâ—…us and vnder the reigne of Clodoueus King of France conueened 32. bishops in the towne of Aurâ—…lia of purpose to settle some order in Ecclesiasticall discipline which through iniurie of time and irruption of barbarous people into the countrie of France had beene brought to great dissolution and misorder The Canons of this Councill are coincident for the most part with the Canons of all other Councils The two former Councils assembled in Spaine namely Ilerdense and Valentinum were vnder the reigne of Theodoricus Now these two Gerundense and Casaraugustanum are ceâ—…ebrated vnder the same King to wit Theodoâ—…us of the nation of the Gothes reigning in Spaine In Gerunda seuen bishops conueened made Ecclesiasticall constitutrons chiefly anent Baptisme that Catechumeni should bee baptized on Pasâ—…he day and at Pentecoste when most sâ—…lemne conuentions of people were gathered They who were vnder infâ—…mitie and sicknesse might bee baptized at any time and the infant which was likely to die mightlee baptized that same day where into it was borne In Caesaraugusta elenen bishoppes seeme to haue beene conueened They forbid fasting vpon the LORDS day for supersution or for respect of times or for perswasion It would appeare that this Councill had a desire to abolish the rites and customes of the Matichean heretiques who were accustâ—…med to fast vpon the Lords day In the dayes of Hormisda by the mandate of Theodoricus King of Gothes reigning in Italie a Councill was assembled at Rome vpon this occasion It was thought meet by the Emperour Anastatius Theodoricus King of Italie and many others that a Councill should be conueened at Heraclea for deciding controuersies in religion Many bishops resorted to Heraclea aboue the number of 200 but Anastatius suffered no Councill to be holden thereby incurring the great blame of inconstancie and carelessenesse in seeking out the trueth for this cause Theodoricus willed Hormisda bishop of Rome to gather a Councill at Rome whereinto the errour of Eutyches is damned of newe againe and ambassad ours are ordeined to bee sent to Anastatius the Emperour and to the bishop of Constantinople to diuert them if possible were from the errour of Eutyches but howe in humanely the ambassadours were intreated it hath beene declared in the description of the life of Hormisda Vnder the reigne of the Emperour Iustinus a Synode was gathered in Constantinople by Ioannes Cappadox Many grieuous accusations were giuen in against Severus B. of Antiochia such as sacrilegious spoyling of Temples vnder pretence of eschewing causes of Idolatrie he tooke away the golden doues that hung aboue the fontes and the altars and hâ—…e vttered many blasphemous speeches against the Councill of Chalcedone Ioannes Cappadox albeit hee was of a bad religion himselfe yet the authoritie of the Emperour and consent of the Councill procured that Severus should be damned of heresie whom the Emperour also banished and as some affirme punished him also by commanding that his blasphemous tongue should bee cut out In like maner the Monks of Apamea in a Council conueened in Syriasecunda accused Severus of bloody cruelty oppression in besieging of Monastries slaying the Monks spoyling their goods The like accusation was giuen in against Peter B. of Apamea which accusations beeing sufficiently proued by vnsuspect witnesses this Council damned Severus Petrus B. of Apamea In the fifth yeere of King Abnaricus was the second Councill of Toledo conueened partly for renuing the ancient constitutions of the Church and partly for making new constitutions belonging to Ecclesiasticall discipline It was ordeined that children whome their parents had dedicated to the Church they should not be admitted to the office of a Subdeacon vntil they were 18. yeeres of age neither to the office of Deacon before they were 25. yeeres old and at the beginning of their admission to the office of a Subdeacon namely when tâ—…ey â—…re full 18. yeeres olde and not before that time they should bee presented before the Clergie and people to make an open declaration whether they were of purpose to leade a continent life or to marie and these who protested they had not the gift of continencie are tolerated by the first Canon of the second Councill of Toledo to marrie In the yeere of our LORD 551 and in the 24. yeere of the reigne of the Emperour Iustinian was a generall Councill assembled at Constantinople The principall causes of this meeting are expresly set downe by Evagrius lib. 4. cap. 38. First in reâ—…pect of the controuersie betwixt Eustochius B. of Ierusalem and Theodorus Ascidas B. of Caesarea Cappadocia Eustochius cast out the Monkes of Nova Laura who obstinately defended the errours of Origen Theodorus Ascidas assisted them and saide that Eustochius B. of Ierusalem had dealt cruelly and inhumanely with his brethren to pacifie this controuersie was this Councill conueened Also great disputation was in the Church anent the bookes of Origen of Theodorus B. of Mopsuesta and some writings of Theodoritus B. of Cyrus and Ibas B. of Edessa this was the second cause of this great conuention to put an ende vnto these contentious disputations At this time MENAS was bishop of Constantinople but hee ended his life in the very time of the generall Councill The first question mooued in the Councill was this Whether or no men who were deade and had ended their course might lawfully bee cursed and excommunicated To this EVTYCHIVS a man before this time of no great account answered That 〈◊〉 as IOSIAS not onely punished Idolatrous Priestes who were aliue but also opened the graues of them who were dead to dishonour them after their death who had dishonoured GOD in their lifetime euen so the memorialls of men might be accursed after their death who had harmed Christes Church in
full of pride and he followed the footsteps of Joannes Cappadox and would bee called vniuersall bishoppe against whome Gregorius 1. contended mightily euen as Lactantius of olde contended against the Pagans impugning the error more mightily than solidly confirming the trueth It is supponed that he ministred 13. yeeres vnder the Emperour Mauritius To whom succeeded Cyriacus Patriarches of Alexandria AFTER Iohn called Tabennesiota succeeded another Iohn who kept the true faith and was banished by Anastatius because he would not damne the Councill of Chalcedone To John succeeded Theodosius an obstinate defender of the errour of Eutyches He was familiarly acquainted with Severus of Antiochia and Anthimus of Constantinople whereby the miserie of these dayes may bee easily espied whereinto three notable heretiques gouerned principall townes such as Constantinople Alexandria and Antiochia He was so obstinate in his errour that he was rather content to be banished vnder the reigne of Iustinian than to renounce his errour After him succeeded Zoilus and after him Appollinarius who was present at the fift generall Councill To whome succeeded Eulogius and after him Petrus who ministred vnder the reigne of Mauritius Patriarches of Antiochia AFTER Palladius succeeded Flavianus who suffered great troubles for the true faith namely by the cruell persecution of the Emperour Anastatius and the calumnies of Xenaeas B. of Hierapoâ—…is a stranger indeed from the couenant of GOD as his name importeth for hee blamed Flavianus most vniustly of the heresie of Nestorius but when Flavianus both by worde and write had cleared himselfe of that calumnie the malice of Xenaeas ceased not for he brought with him to Antiochia a great number of Monkes to compell Flavianus to abiure the Councill of Chalcedone The towne supported their bishop against a raskall number of seditious and hereticall Monkes Notwithstanding the Emperour Anastatius infected with the heresie of Euâ—…yches counted Flavianus who was most vniustly persecuted to be the author of this tumult and banished him and placed Severus in his roome The Emperour Iustinus the elder displaced Severus and punished him and appointed Paulus to be bishop of Antiochia To Paulus succeeded Euphrasius who died in that feareful calamitie of the towne of Antiochia when it was shaken and ouerthrowne with earthquake as Evagrius witnesseth Euphraimius was a ciuile gouernour in the East parts who pitied the decayed estate of the towne of Antiochia furnished all necessarie things for the repairing of the towne of Antiochia for which cause the people was so affectioned to him that they would haue him to bee their bishop So Euphraimius becomes bishoppe of Antiochia or Theopolis for at this time it had both thâ—…se names Evagrius writeth that hee vndertooke the charge of the Apostolicke chaire in which wordes it is manifest that not onely the chaire of Rome but also the chaire of Antiochia was called the Apostolicke chaire The towne of Antiochia at this time was taken by Cosroes King of Persia set on fire and many of thâ—… people were cruelly slaine Euphraâ—…us their bishop at this time left the towne a perilous example except the people had beene in safetie and he onely persecuted yet he left behinde him so much as might redeeme all the Church goods AFTER Eâ—…phraimius followed Domnius And after him Anastatius He ministred vnder the Emperour Iustinian at what time the â—…mperour fell into the errour of them who saide that our LORD IESVS in his very conception adioyned vnto his diuine natâ—…e an immortal body which was subiect to no humane infiâ—…mities Anastatius opponed himselfe to the Emperours opinion the bishops followed Anastatius not the Emperour for this cause Iustinian was purposed to haue banished him but he escaped this trouble by the Emperours death Neuerthelesse hâ—…e was banished by Iustinus the younger for some alleadged cause of dilapidation of Church-gooods and Gregorius was placed in his roome Gregorius ministred in Antiochia 23. yeeres vnder Justinus 2. Tiberius and Mauritius hee was in great account with Mauritius to whome he foretolde that he would be promoted to the Imperiall dignitie And Mauritius imployed him in great and weightie businesse such as in pacifying the tumult of his armie which made insurrection against Germanus their captaine Also hee sent him ambassadour to Cosroes King of Persia who was astonied at the grace that was in his speaches Notwithstanding he was accused by Asterius a Deputie of the East of the filthie sinne of incest but he cleared his owne innocencie so euidently that his accuser was with ignominie scourged and banished Hee died of the gowtes infirmitie after his death Anasiatius whome Iustinus banished for dilapidation of Church-goods beeing yet aliue was restored to his owne place againe To whom succeeded Euphemius Patriarches of Jerusalem AFTER MARTYRIVS succeeded HELIAS a feruent defender of the true faith Neither would hee condescend to the banishment of EVPHEMIVS bishop of Constantinople nor to the admission of Severus to be bishop of Antiochia therefore the Emperour Anastatius banished him To him succeeded Iohn of whose politicke dealing in circumueening Anastatius the Emperours captaine I haue sufficiently declared in the preceeding historie To John succeeded Peter after him Macarius after Macarius Eustochius who impugned the bookes of Origen draue out of his bounds the Monks of Nova Laura defenders of the opinions of Origen Theodorus Ascidas B. of Caesarea in Cappadocia tooke this in an euill part The Emperour Iustinian caused a generall Councill to bee gathered at Constantinople whereinto not only the bookes of Origen were damned but also Theodorus himselfe the defender of them This displeased the Emperour Iustinian because hee loued Theodorus dearely therefore hee procured that Eustochius B. of Ierusalem should be remooued and Macarius restored againe After whome succeeded Ioannes Neamus and Isieius In this Centurie whereas I pretermit the names of other Pastors and Doctors in the Church I haue done it vpon this consideration I find in this Centurie that by the irruption of barbarous people such as the Gothes Uandales Hunnes Auares Schythians Lombards youth was hindred from studies many memorable bookes were burnt ancient languages were vtterly spoyled learning was greatly diminished flatterie of preuailing powers increased ambition in the West heresie in the East turned the estate of the Church vpside downe so that scarcely could men of good giftes and keeping integritie of faith be furnished vnto the principall Apostolick chaires Now after a maner the sunne is going downe the shadowes waxe great the darknes approacheth the Antichrist is at the doore worthy to bee welcomed with darknesse and decay of knowledge What shall I now write of other Pastors and Doctors shall I followe the foolish conceates of Historiographers in whose opinion the gift of miracles increased when the gift of knowledge decayed but the contraâ—…e is knowne by Scripture that the holy Apostles whome CHRIST induced
of humane wisdome who chused Patriarches to sâ—…ppresse heresies and yet they are the principal maintainers of it Like wise a multitude of wicked men specially Monks cried out against the decrees of the Council of Chalcedon which was assembled by the authoritie of the Emp. Martianus these were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they had no principall head vpon whom they depended all these countenanced the heresie of Eutyches whereby it became the more pernicious to the Church It is to be vnderstood that old heresies such as the heresie of the Manicheans and the heresie of the Donatists sprung vp of latter time were in vigour and strength as yet whereby it came to to passe that Augustine is compelled to write in his time against many Manicheans such as Faustus Fortunatus Felix Sâ—…cundinus against Donatists such as Gandentius Parmenianus Emeritus Ticonius so that it is euident that the Church in this Centurie in the former was chiefly perturbed with the multitude and diuersitie of heresies CHAP. IIII. Of Councils COncerning Councils gathered in the dayes of Arcadius and Honorius by Epiphanius in Cyprus and Theophilus in Alexandria vnder pretence of damning the bookes of Origen and in Constantinople first last by the malice of Eudoxia the Emperour Arcadius wife to procure the deposition of Iohn Chrysostome B. of Constantinople I hope I haue not need to make a new declaration of things which are amply declared in the preceeding historie About the yeere of our Lord 419. a great number of bishops were assembled in the towne of Câ—…thage whose names are particularly expressed in their Synodicke letter sent to Innocentins I B. of Rome In this assembly they damned the opinions of Pelagius Coelestius which hath bene aboue rehearled as hereticall The answere that Innocentius returned to the Councill is intermixed with words of swelling pride as if no decreet could bee firme vntill it had allowance of the Romane chaire yet the fift Councill of Carthage had pronounced Anathema against the opinions of Pelagius and Coelestius before they sent their letter to Innocentius Amongst the canons of this Councill the two last are to bee remarked namely the 14. and 15. canon The one declareth that no Church was consecrated without the reliques of the Martyres the other declareth that adoration of reliques at this time was the custome of Ethnickes supplication is appointed to be made to the Emperours that reliques which are found in Images groues or trees or such other places should be abolished The first Councill of Toledo in Spaine was assembled vnder the reignes of Arcadius and Honorius the yeere of our LORD wherein this Councill was gathered is much contrauerted therefore I ouerpasse it contenting my selfe with some notice of the time of the Emperour in whose time the Councill was gathered It seemeth to haue bene assembled for confirmation of the Nicene Councill and refutation of some errours The canons anent prohibition of marriage to some persons are foolish and the admitting of a man to the communion who wanteth a wife and contenteth himselfe with one concubine allanerly is foolisher so perilous a thing it is in a iot to depart from the certaine rule of the written word of GOD. Mileuitum is a towne of Numidia in it many bishops were assembled vnder the reigne of Arcadius whose names are particularly expressed in the letter sent from the Councill to Innocentius B. of Rome which letter is insert in the Epistles of Augustine together with the answere of Innocentius I. Two principall causes mooued them to assemble together First to finish the worke they had begunne in the fift Councill of Carthage in condemning the heresies of Pelagius and Coelestius by whome as yet many were deceiued and peruerted from the true faith Augustine B. of Hippo was not onely present but also president The opinions of Pelagius and Coelcstius anent the power of mans nature not supported by the grace of GOD and the free will of man to doe good of it selfe is so solidly refuted and that by arguments taken out of holy Scripture alanerly that it is to bee wished that other Councils had followed the example of this Council whereinto Augustine was president The other cause of the meeting of this Councill was to constitute canons anent ecclesiasticall discipline specially that no man should make appellation from his owne bishop to bishops beyond sea but incace his own bishop did him wrong then he should appeale vnto an assembly of African bishops but he who wold needes appeale to bishops beyond sea meaning chiefly of the B. of Rome let him bee secluded from the coÌ„munion of all African bishops The cause of Apiarius his B. Vrbanus Siccensis seemeth already to be wakned the fathers of this Council foresmelled that he was to appeale to the B. of Rome like as hee did indeed to Zosymus the successor of Innocentius therefore likewise men in due time they made this constitution Innocentius receiued the Councils letter froÌ„ a brother named Iulius approued the condemnatorie sentence pronounced against Pelagius Coelestius but marke the words of Innocentius letter Frater Coëpiscopus noster Iulius dilectionis vestrae literas quas ex Milevitano cura fidei propensiore misistis mihi inopinanter suggessit that is to say Our brother and fellow bishop Iulius brought vnto mee vnawares your brotherly letters which yee sent vnto me from the Councill Mileuitanum with a care very bent for the faith The word inopinanter declareth that hee receiued their letter before hee knew that any such Councill was gathered for the bishops of Rome as yet tooke not vpon them that authoritie to be the only appointers of generall and nationall Councills Pâ—…lagius after this Councill compeared before a Councill in Palestina and seemed to renounce his errours but hee spake deceatfully as heretiques are accustomed to doe but he set foorth nothing in writ to destroy the errour hee had builded and to procure the safetie of them whome hee had intanâ—…led with the snares of deceatfull errours as the Epistle of Aurelius Alipius Augustinus Euodius and Posstdius written to Innocentius doth declare Obscure Councils I haue both ouerpassed with silence do mind God-willing to keepe the like order in time to come In the yeere of our LORD 420 and vnder the reignes of Honorius and Theodosius 2. a great nationall Councill was assembled in Carthage two hundreth and seuenteene bishops were present at this Councill and it continued for the space of sixe yeeres Aurelius bishop of Carthage was moderator Three bishops of Rome to wit Zâ—…symus Bonifaecius 1. Coelestinus endeuoured with all their might to perswade the Africane bishops that they were vnder the soueraignitie and iurisdiction of the bishops of Rome but all in vaine as the issue of this Councill will proue The ground of the great controuersie betwixt the bishops of Rome the 6 Councill of Carthage was Apiarius Presbyter
are iustified by faith onely The Apostle wisely considered that no man could liue spiritually except hee had a fellowshippe with GOD. Againe there is no fellowshippe that mortall and sinfull men can haue with GOD without remission of sinnes Neither is there any remission of sinnes without 〈◊〉 Mediatour and Aduocate And wee can take no holde of this Mediatour except onely by faith so that by faith wee liue and by faith we are made iust in the sight of GOD. Then this place of Scripture teacheth vs that it is faith onely that leadeth vs vnto CHRIST in whome wee finde righteousnesse and life but by a due and competent order to wit by stripping vs naked of all conceate of our owne strength and righteousnesse to the ende wee may haue the greater delite in the saluation that is offered to vs in CHRIST Faith is not like vnto a robber who strippeth a mannaked without any purpose to clothe him with a better garment But faith doth to vs as the father of the forlorue sonne did to him and as the Angell of GOD did to IEHOSVA the high Priest Both these were vnclothed of their beggerly rayments but onely of purpose to clothe them with better apparell so doth faith strippe vs naked of all vaine conceate of our owne righteousnesse to the ende it may leade vs to the wardrope of GOD there to bee cladde with the garment of the righteousnesse of CHRIST which is able to couer our nakednesse and to present vs holy blamelesse and vndefiled before his father Before I leaue the wordes of the Prophet HABACCVK let vs yet againe ponder the Emphaticke worde Behold for by seeing and hearing some good lessons may bee learned Beholde men who haue leaned vpon the staffe of GOD in our owne time how peaceably haue they concluded their dayes with SIMEON reioycing that they had scene the saluation of GOD. And on the other side men who haue leaned to their own righteousnesse albeit only in a part what agonie trouble of conscience haue they found in their last battell vntill they haue forsaken all confidence in their owne merits and leaned onely vnto the merites of the passion of our sweet LORD and Sauiour IESVS CHRIST The Papistes in our COVNTRIE for the most part haue beene like vnto the fishes called Amphbia which can liue both in the Sea and on the Land but when any man approaches neere to doe them harme they trust more to the sca than to the land euen so when the terrors of death beginnes to shake our countrey people then they leaue confidence in their owne merites and betake themselues vnto the deepe Ocean sea of the mercies of GOD in IESVS CHRIST In the second heade I promised to speake of the difference betwixt Iustification Sanctification betwixt the righteousnes of the Law and the Gospell Our Iustification is a free forgiuenes of our sinnes for CHRISTS sake and a free imputation of his righteousnesse to vs. Our Sanctification is an inherent holinesse begunne in vs by the operation of GODS Spirit to bee a testimonie that wee are in CHRIST The not obseruing of the difference betwixt these two hath beene and as yet is the ground of great errours True it is that these two gifts are freely bestowed vpon vs at one and the selfe-same time yet are they distinct in order of causes because Iustification is the ground from whence Sanctification as an effect doth flow And like as the starres called Pleiades or Vergiliae they doe arise and manifest themselues vnto the worlde all at one time yet are they distinct starres and Electra is not Alcinoe nor Alcinoe Celeno nor Celeno Mâ—…ia And the like may bee spoken of the other tâ—…ree whose apparition and disparition albeit it bee inseparable yet are they distinct starres Euen so Iustification and Sanctification are inseparably linked together yet are they two distinct giftes of GOD. I will vse yet another similitude for declaration of the same purpose If a sword be laide into the fire vntill the mettall thereof be firie coloured this sworde at one time hath two powers one to cut and another to burne yet is not cutting burning nor burning cutting but these two distinct powers are at one time inseparably in one subiect Euen so are wee at one and the selfe same time both iustified and sanctified yet are they still two different giftes of GOD. Nowe the doctrine of Iustification rightly taught is our cihefe incouragement to Sanctification and on the other parte the doctrine of Sanctification rightly taught giueth vnto vs the greatest assurance of our Iustification A man who is assured that his sinnes are freely forgiuen that hee is beloued of GOD in CHRIST yea and that hee hath put on CHRIST as the Apostle speaketh he may with courage and gladnesse addresse himselse to lead an holy life being fully perswaded that GOD will accept of his willing obedience albeit it can not be perfect in all points so long as wee dwell into this sinsull tabernacle And on the other side when the spirit of sanctification worketh in our members it is a token that we are incorporated into the stocke of CHRIST by true faith For like as the spirit of man quickneth no member that is cut off from his bodie euen so the spirit of CHRIST worketh not true sanctification in any person who is not made a member of Christes body by true iustifying faith For this cause the Romane Church blames vs vndeseruedly as though by teaching that we are iustified only by faith we had impaired the zeale of the people in doing of good workes To this I answere that more credite is to be giuen to the holy Apost PAVL who was taught in all trueth immediatly by Christ himselfe nor to the calumnies of the aduersaries of the doctrine of grace for the Apostle exhorting the Romanes to agodly conuersation he saith I beseech you brethren sor the mercies of God that yee offer vp your bodies an holy liuely and acceptable sacrifice to God and what mercies are those I pray you whereof the Apostle speaketh but the mercies whereof hee hath intreated in the former parte of that Epistle to wit GOD hath freely elected vs he hath freely instified vs he hath freely sanctified vs and hee shall freely in his appointed time glorifie vs. Nowe in regard of all these mercies let vs endeuoure to leade a holy conuersation as it becommeth them who are partakers of so great mercies This holy exhortation could not haue beene drawne from a more pithie more persuasiue and mouing ground Therefore wee will walke in the footsteps of the holy Apostles and continue still exhorting the people to leade an holy conuersation in regarde of the rich mercies of GOD in CHRIST who hath freely elected them to eternall life and freely iustified them by faith in CHRIST alanerly Whereas they obiect that experience it selfe testifieth that people are not nowe so bent and readie to doe good
a spirituall office and That no man should consult concerning the election of another Bishop or Pope before three dayes were expired after the death of the detunct that the Bish. should be elected by 〈◊〉 Clergy people their election should be ratified by the Magistrate of the citie and the Pope by these wordes voluâ—…us jubâ—…mus that is Wee will and wee command otherwise the election shall bee voyde and of none effect Bonifacius the fourth gathered another Assembly in the eight that is in the last yeere of the reigre of Phocas wherein hee gaue power to Monkes to preach to minister the Sacramentes to heare confessions to bind and loose and asâ—…ociated them in equall authoritie with the Clergie Bracara or Braecara vulgarlie called Braga is a towne in â—…ortugall In the yeere of our Lord 610. and vnder the reigne of Gundemarus king of Gothes reigning at that time in the countrey of Spaine assembled some Bishops of Gallicia Lusitania and of the Prouince called Lucensis of olde It was ordained That euerie Bishop shoulde visit the Churches of his Diosie and see that Baptisme was duelie ministred and that Catechumeni twentie dayes before their baptisme shoulde resort to the purifications of Exotcismes and shoulde bee instructed in the knowledge of the Apostolicke Symbole and that the people shoulde bee exhorted to beware of Idolatrie Adulterie Murther Peâ—…jurie and all other deadlie sinnes That Bishops should not lift vp the third part of 〈◊〉 oblations of the people but that it should remaine in 〈◊〉 paroche Church for furnishing light and for repairing the fabrike of the Church and that the Bishop shoulde compell none of the Clergie to attende vpon him in seruile workes That bishops for ordination of the Clergie shoulde receiue no rewardes That neither a little balme nor yet the price thereof should bee exacted from the people for their baptisme in any time to come lest they should seeme with Simon Magus to sell the gift of God for money That bishops before the dedication of Churches shall see a charter containing a sufficient maintenance for them who shall serue in the Church and for a substantiall furniture of lightes thereunto A Church builded for gaine contribution of the people redounding to the vantage of the builder shall not bee consecrated Parents who are poore present their children to baptisme if they offer anie thing voluntarilie it shall bee accepted but they shall not bee compelled to pay anie thing neither shall a pledge bee required from them lest poore people fearing this with-holde their children from baptisme If anie of thâ—… Clergie bee accused of fornication let the accuser proue his accusation by 2. or 3. witnesses according to the precept of the Apostle cls let the accuser be excommunicate That Mâ—…trapolitane Bishops shall signifie to others of the Clergie the time of theobseruation of Easter or Pashe day and the Clergie after the reading of the Gospell shall in like manner intimaâ—…e the day vnto the people That whosoeuer tasteth meate or drinke before hee consecrate the oblation of the Altar shall bee deposed from his office In the yeere of our Lord 613. assembled in a Towne of France called Altissidorum otherwise Antissidorum vulgarlie Auxerre a number of Abbots and Presbyters with one bishop and three deacons In this Councell they damned sorcerie and the seeking of consultation at sorcerers in the first third fourth and fift Canons Whereby it appeareth that sorcerie hath bene in frequent vse in France Manie superstitious constitutions were set downe in this Synode concerning the number of Masses prohibition of tasting meate before Masse concerning buriall prohibition of baptisme before the festiuitie of Easter daye except vpon necessity and feare of approching death prohibition of Matrimoniall copulation with their own wiues to presbyters and deacons after their blessing and consecration with prohibition of marriage also to the widowes of the defunct presbyters deacons or sub-deacons this was a yoke of Antichristian subjection indeed Brother and sisters children are forbidden to marrie It is not lawfull for a presbyter to sit in judgement when any man is condemned to death It is not lawfull for a Clergy man to cite another of the Clergie before a secular Iudge It is not lawfull for a woman with a naked hand to touch the holie Eucharist It is not lawfull to take refreshment of meate with an excommunicate person If any of the Clergy receiue an excommunicate man without the knowledge of him who hath excommunicated him he shall receiue the like sentence that is he shall likewise be excommunicated It is not lawfull for a presbyter in banqueting time to sing or dance Manie Canons to the number of 45. were concluded in this Councell but I haue determined not to ouer-lade a little booke with commemoration of an heape of vnprofitable vnnecessarie and superstitious Canons In the yeere of our Lord 364. and in the 24. yeere of the reigne of the Emp. Heraclius a Councell was gathered in Hispalis a towne of Spaine vulgarly called Ciuill la grand It was gathered by Isidorus B. of Hispalis at the command of king Sisebutus who was both present and President in this Councell For two principall causes was this Synode conueened namelie for suppressing the heresie of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which was a branch of the heresie of Eutyches secondly for decision of questions which arose amongst bishops concerning the marches and boundes of their diocesis with some other Ecclesiasticall causes They had 13. Sessions or meetinges as is declared 2. Tom. Concill In the first action Theodulphus bishop of Malaca complained that by injurie of warres an ancient paroch Church was separated from his towne and possessed by others It was concluded that he should be repossessed again into his ancient priueledges that prescriptioÌ„ of time should haue no place if it were known that hostilitie and warre-fare had hurt a man in his rights In the second Session the controuersie betwixt Fulgentius bishop of Astigita and Honorius bishop of Corduba concerning the marches of their dioceses was debated and men were chosen to visite the boundes and to decide the controuersie In the third Session compeared Cambra bishop of Italica a Towne of the prouince of Spaine of olde called Baetica hee complained against one of his Clergie named Passandus that he being brought vp from his infancie in the Church of Italica yet had fled without anie just cause to Corduba It was ordained that whosoeuer fled from his owne Church vnto another should be sent backe againe and should be thrust into a Monasterie and should bee deuested of his honour for a time to the end that the sharpenesse of Discipline might correct the licencious libertie of vaging and wandering In the 4. Session it was complained that some were consecrated to be Leuites in the Church of Astigita who had maried widowes
high Bishop and great Sheepheard of our soules only remaine with Christ who is only worthie of such high dignitie For like as many comforters came out of Hierusalem to comfort the two sisters Martha and Marie who lamented for the death of their brother Lazarus yet there was but onely one great comforter to wit Iesus Christ who could raise Lazarus out of the graue restore him to life again Euen so there are many bishops but there is only one great and vniuersall Bishop who can conferre eternall life to all that beleeue in him Let this royall garment bee laide vp in the Kinges wardrope and let none other man honour his owne bodie with it Let this oyle of consecration be kept in the Lords Sanctuary and let not the flesh of a stranger be annointed with it Let this inaccessible dignitie remaine as a fixed starre in heauen wherevnto no mortall man can reach his hand Let the death resurrection ascension and glorious sitting of Christ in heauen at the right hand of his Father budding foorth better fruite than the rodde of Aaron did testifie that this honour of the great Bishop of our soules belongeth only to Christ And finally Let him who onely is called the King of kinges the Lord of lordes the Prince of Prophets bee counted also the Bishop of all bishops who is worthie to be glorified for euer AMEN Vpon the necke of this Treatise if the next Treatise coÌ„cerning the Antichrist be subjoyned let no man maruell For in my opinion when the Popes hyrelinges cast themselues downe at his feete they testifie that they will bee subject vnto him as to the only Vicare of Christ vpon earth as to the Uniuersall bishop of the Church as to him that cannot erre in the Decrees of Doctrine concerning Faith and finallie as to whome onely it is lawfull as he listeth himselfe to determine of Religion and Christian Discipline So that these outwarde submissions of the bodie doe then appertaine to Idolatry when they are testimonies that the minde attributeth more vnto a creature than is meete But the miserie of all miseries is this that as it were by hereditarie succession euerie man who is seated in the chaire of Rome shall also haue right to gouerne the affaires of the whole Church how beit they bee not good common Christians let bee good Bishops and by the testimonie of their owne writers they be ambitious auaritious contentious and libidinous monsters Surelie before wee should conferre the glorie of CHRIST to such vile persons it were better that men should sacrifice their life for the honour of CHRIST For euen the LACEDEMONIANS when they were commanded to render their children answered to the MACEDONIANS Si grauiora morte imperatis mori volumus that is If yee commaunde thinges more grieuous than death wee will choose rather to die to wit than to obey such commaundementes And the verie Asse of Balaam is set downe vnto vs as an example of striuing against the vnlawfull commaundementes of vnlawfull prelates because the sword of the Angell of GOD is more terrible than the staffe of Balaam And albeit with Balaams Asse wee were thrise beaten with the staffe yet it is better to remember the by-past euilles which wee haue suffered than with the rich glutton to bee tormented not onelie with the sense of present paine but also with the remembrance of by-past pleasures which wee haue moste vnrighteously abused The Romane Church after the six hundreth yeere of our Lord had the wisedome of dogs who are wiser in senting than in barking for they knew that ambition was ambition and that verie fewe climbed vp to the papale dignitie by vertue but rather by procuration friendship bribes and other vnlawfull meanes but fewe durst barke against their doinges as dogges will not barke against men with whome they are familarly acquainted yea and men whome neceslitie of the extraordinary lewde conuersatioÌ„ of Pâ—…pes compelled at some times to barke Onuphrius the Aduocate of all cuill causes is ready with snurling words to reproue the reprehenders of them and by impudent deniall of the veritie of the historie to blind-folde the eyes of the simple and ignorant Reader Nowe is the way of righteousnesse made rough and difficill and the broad way is smoothe and easie and many walke therein But whensoeuer it pleaseth God to exercise the faith of his Saincts with difficill times it is not to mooue them to forsake a good course but rather to be well shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace Indeede incase the course of vngodlinesse be made rough and difficill then the Lord hath set thorny hedges in our way to the ende that wee may repâ—…nt and returne to our owne husband againe from whom we haue wandered And happie is he who can discerne the way and the cause wherefore the Lord hath made it either rough or smoothe Now is the time come wherein Church-men are become like vnto carnall Iewes who loathed MANNA and the waters of the spirituall Rocke and the cloude of God and the holy Tabernacle yea and the flesh-pots of Aegypt are laide in ballance with all the treasures of the goodnesse of God bestowed vpon a carnall people Euen so Church-men at Rome after the sixe hundreth yeere of our Lord began to loathe the humilitie of Christ the patient suffering of the Apostles the riches of faith and other spirituall treasures which were the glorious ornamentes of the Primitiue Church whereunto are preferred the riches and honours of this world justly called by Nazianzenus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Precious dungue IN the second head of this TREATISE it followeth to be declared that the bishops of Rome sought this dignitie of Papal supremacie vnhonestly and vsed it tyrannously and impiouslie after they had obtained it Concerning the seeking of it Philip Morney that Phoenix of FRANCE from whom I am not a shamed to borrow many things in this TREATISE hee prooueth by the testimonies of Paulus Diaconus Freculfus Regino Anastatius Hermannus Contractus Marianus Scotus Sabellicus Blondus Pomponius Laetus Platina Author compilationis Chronologicae and Otho Episcopus Frisingensis that Bonifacius the third begged at the handes of the Emperour Phocas that the Church of Rome should be called the head of all other Churches Hee who sought this supremacie was a flatterer hee at whose handes it was sought was a traitor a parricide and the vile excrement of all gouernours and the time wherein he sought it was at that time wherein the wordes of Gregorie the first vttered against Ioannes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bishop of Constantinople were in recent remembrance to wit That whosoeuer did vsurpe such a magnificke stile to be called Uniuersall Bishop hee was the fore-runner of the Antichrist But seeing the time was nowe come wherein the purpurate Harlot was to sit vpon the Citie of seuen Mountaines in her first entrie she laieth aside all shamefastnesse and modestie she wipeth her mouth
and saith shee hath committed none iniquitie ambition so blindeth her eyes that vnconstancie is counted no fault and taking deepe roote in her heart hideth from the eyes of her mind the sight of heauen and all heauenly vertues such as humilitie modestie constancie and vprightnesse of a siable and vnwauering heart The preheminence that God licenciateth to bee sought ouer brethren is like to the preheminence of Moses ouer the Elders he ascended higher vpon the mountaine of God than they did and when he came downe againe from the mountaine of God his face shined with greater splendor of celestiall glorie than the faces of others did Would God Pastors could striue to attaine to such preheminence for the striuing for prerogatiue of places hath bred many vnnecessary and vnfruitfull contentions in the Church as an ancient Father hath well marked This supremacie aforesaid so vnhonestly sought was vsed tyrannously vnrighteously Pope Bonifacius the fourth dedicated the Temple called Pantheon wherein all the Gentile gods were worshipped this Temple I say he dedicated to the Virgine Marie and to all the Martyrs rather changing than correcting the vile abomination of Idolatrie Honorius the first in the sixt generall Councell was found to haue bene an Eutychian heretique The Popes Martinus the first and Eugenius the first Vitalianus and Adeodatus were so puft vp in pride that they counted the Bishops of Râ—…uenna heretiques onely for this because they receiued not their ordination from the Bishops of Rome were not subject to their authoritie And this heresie they called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pope Sergius 1. obstinately refused to subscribe the decrees of the sixt generall Councell partlie because in it the doctrine and lawes of prohibition of marriage to men in spirituall functions was damned and partlie also because the Bishop of Constantinople was equalled in honour with the bishop of Rome Constantinus the first and Gregorius the second were the first open and auowed traitors against the Emperours the one of them rased the name of the Emperour Philippicâ—…s out of charters the other assoyled the subjects of Italie from the oath of all edgeance to the Emperour Leo Isaurus because these two Emperours dâ—…tested the worshipping of Images What villanie was in Pope Stephanus the thirde who perswaded CAROLVS MAGNVS king of FRANCE to repudiate his wife BERTHA the daughter of DESIDERIVS king of LOMBARDIS abusing in moste impudent manner the wordes of holie Scripture What fellowship hath righteousnesse with vnrighteousnesse and what communion hath light with darknesse 2. Coriâ—…t chap. 6. vers 14. In that place the Apostle is giuing counsell to Christians who are disposed to marrie not to couple themselues in matrimoniall band with infideles but the counsell of the Apostle to them who are alreadie married euen with infideles is this If any brother haue a wife that beleeueth not if she be content to dwell with him let him not for sake her 1. Cor. 7. 12. So that albeit Bertha the daughter of Desiderius had bene an infidell shee beeing willing to cohabite with her husband there was no reason to repudiate her But now the bishops of Rome are become wiser than the Apostles of Christ and they bid repudiat the wife with whome the Apostle Paul in expresse wordes biddeth a Christian man cohabite It is more intolerable that Suphanus the third calleth Bertha an infidell was she not baptised in the name of Christe was not her father Desiderius before him Aistulphus partakers of the Lordes holie Sacramentes was not Rachis the brother of Aislulphus so deuout according to the superstitious forme at that time commended in the Romane Church that hee forsooke his kingdome and entered into a Monasterie there to leade his life But the bishops of Rome are become so prodigall of their reproachfull speaches that all persons are counted Infideles who followe not absolutely all the conceites of their changeable mindes Pope Adrian the first with aduise of a great Councell ordained that no man should bee consecrated bishop of Rome before hee had receiued investment by staffe and ring by the Emperour but Gregorius 7. by the contrarie cursed them who receiued inuestment from the Emperour anno 1073. These two popes speak contradictory things yet they must be counted holy Fathers who cannot erre Pope Leo the third tooke vpon him boldnesse to change the Empire and to proclaime Charles the Great king of FRANCE to be Emperour in the West And Baronius the moste inâ—…pt expounder of Scriptures of anie learned men of late dayes defendeth this doing of Lâ—…o by a place of Scripture The moste High beareth rule ouer the kingdome of men and giueth it to whome hee will Dan. 4. 22. Daniel in that place speaketh of the Eternall GOD who indeede is moste high and giueth the kingdomes of the worlde to whome hee pleaseth but Baronius applieth this to the bishop of Rome as if hee were moste high and had the kingdomes of the worlde at his owne dispensation to giue them to whome he pleased So saide the Deuill of himselfe Luke 4. 6. but hee lied for hee had no such power and Baronius attributing this power vnto the Pope lieth as impudentlie as the Deuill did sergius the second with his brother Benedictus for gaining vanta e vnto themselues were not ashamed to sell bishoprickes and to preferre men to spirituall offices not for the worthinesse of their giftes but for the weight of their numbered money and so the chaire of ROME was filthilie spotted with simonic Yea it came to passe that the pridâ—… and simonicall auarice of the bishops of ROME brangled their late vsurped authoritie so that AVGVIBERTVS bishop of MILLANE with allowance of many bishops of ITALIE disclaimed the authority of the bishop of ROME and with great difficultie after the issue of two hundreth yeeres was the chaire of MILLANE reduced againe to the obedience of the bishop of ROME in the dayes of Pope Stephanus the ninth It grieued the bishops of ROME that they were bound by the constitution of Adrian the first to haue the allowance of the Emperour to their election and therefore by degrees they endeuoured to shake off that yoke of bondage Stephanus the fourth was elected without the fore-knowledge of Ludovicus ' Pius but he pacified the Emperours wrath by his comming to FRANCE Pascalis the first in like manner was chosen bishop of Rome without the foreknowledge of the Emperour Neuerthelesse by his letters sent to the Emperour Ludouicus he excused himselfe and ratified the constitution of Adrian In like manner Leo the fourth following the example of his predecessors was admitted without the fore-knowledge of Lotharius hee likewise excused himselfe to the Emperours sonne Ludouicus pretending that the sudden incursion of the Saracenes was the cause mouing the people to precipitate his election and hindering himselfe to make due aduertisement to the Emperour Lotharius in whose time he was elected But the issue after following declared that all these excuses
This same Author about the yeere of our Lord 1350. writeth to one of his friendes Let none euill desire entangle thee that thou shouldest dresse thy selfe againe to those Princes of darknesse c. To what purpose wouldest thou goe thither That thou mightest see good men borne downe and euill men aduanced Eagles creeping and Asses flying Foxes in chariots and Rauens in castles and Doues in the dungâ—… Wâ—…lues to bee free and Lambes to bee in bandes Finally Christ to bee bâ—…nished and Beelzebub to bee judge To these spectacles am I called backc againe I will not hearken neither doe I agree with them nor they with me O cruell and wicked sect of men louing no-bodie but themselues and that altogether preposterously and wickedly Who shall relieue the oppressed woilde and the afflicted towne Who shall reforme the enormitie of manners Who shall collect the dispersed sheepe Who shall reproue errontous Pastors Who shall reduce and bring them backe againe vnto their owne chaires Shall there bee none ende of licentiousnesse and sinne Hath the Spirit in vaine threatned by the Prophet These thinges hast thou done and I helde â—…y tongue therefore thou thoughtest that I was like vnto thee John Wiklef a Professor of Diuinitie in Oxford affirmed that whatsoeuer the Pope and his Cardinals command which cannot bee deduced clearely out of Scriptures this same is to bee counted Hereticall and not to bee obeied These few witnesses of God holy like vnto Hanoch the seuenth from Adam and zealous like vnto Helias by the example of their couragious zeale and zealous courage incited a greater number of Holy men in Germanie Switserland France Britanie and Poll to be witnesses to the truth of God whose number albeit it was as contemptible in the eyes of Romane Prelates as the number of the armie of Alexander of Macedo was in the eyes of Darius king of Persia. Notwithstanding by these witnesses of God the Antichrist hath bene discouered the citie of spirituall Babylon hath bene shaken the head of the beast hath beene wounded and all his Physitions haue much adoe to cure his wound againe But let vs proceede to that which followeth in the ende of the 8. verse namely that the Antichrist should not only be reueiled but also should bee consumed by the Spirit of the mouth of Christ whereof it may bee perceiued that the Lord will not abolish the kingdome of the Antichrist as hee did abolish other Monarchies of the Babylonians Persians Grecians and Romanes but hee keepeth the kingdome of the Antichrist afore-hand to bee consumed by the tempest of his owne wrath This argueth the great indignation of God against the kingdome of the Antichrist wherein hee findeth might joyned withslight so that the Lord will drawe out against him his great and mightie sworde wherewith hee visiteth Leuiathan that piercing Serpent and Leuiathan that crooked Serpent and hee slayeth the Dragon that is in the Sea for all his might the wrath of God shall bee reueiled against him from Heauen because hee hath with-holden the trueth in vnrighteousnesse Whatsoeuer shal be done against this mother of whoredomes in this worlde is nothing else but an earnest-pennie of that vnspeakeable wrath of God that shall seaze vpon the kingdome of the Antichrist at the latter daye More-ouer the equitie of the justice of God is to bee noted in this that God rendereth vnto the Antichrist such punishment as doeth moste proportionallie agree with the nature of his fault for by the Anathemes and Curses of his mouth hee subdued the mightie Monarches of the earth so shall Christ pronounce a Curse against him by the power whereof hee shall bee sent vnto the fornace of euerlasting punishment Nowe it might haue beene objected Howe could it come to passe that euer the Antichrist shoulde haue obtained so great place in the Temple of God To this objection the Apostle returneth a foure-folde answere First it came to passe by the mightie operation of the Deuill Secondly by lying miracles Thirdly by the deceiueablenesse of vnrighteousnesse And fourthly by the incredulitie of men who would not beleeue the trueth of God therefore the Lord suffered them to be deluded with errours These foure causes are set downe in the 9. 10. 11. and 12. verses whereof when wee haue spoken a little GOD willing wee shall conclude this Treatise The first cause of the preuailing power of the Antichrist is the mightie operation of Sathan concurring with him who is to bee considered two manner of wayes sometimes as bound at other times as lowse and set at libertie hee is a perillous enemie at all times euen when hee is bound in respect of our childish simplicitie wee are like vnto babes who through curiositie at sometime will come within the reach of a bounde Lyon and will bee harmed by the meanes But when Sathan is set at libertie then hath hee a mightie operation euen so great that albeit light bee offered vnto men yet they loue darknesse better than the light of God If euer Sathan was set at ample libertie who is euer for the Elects sake somewhat restrained hee was set at greatest libertie when the Romane Antichrist had greatest preheminence for at that time the smoake of the bottomlesse pitte so ouercouered all thinges with darknesse that men sawe neither Heauen nor Hell nor yet themselues The Heauen was darkened because men sought an entrie into it another waye than by the blood of the euerlasting Couenant of God by the worthinesse whereof the moste Holy place is made patent to vs and none other way And Hell was darkened because men liued in a deepe securitie as if they had made a couenant with Death and Hell the Popes pardon and the fulfilling of the pennance injoyned by the Priest was counted a complete armoure to saue them against the fierie indignation of Gods wrath Yea and men saw not themselues but in seeking to establish their owne righteousnesse they were not subject to the righteousnesse of God Now it is our duetie with all our heartes to blesse the King of Heauen who hath begun to cast Sathan into bandes againe for experience of our wauering mindes declareth that if Sathan were set at libertie againe it were an easie thing to transport vs headlonges to all kinde of errours The second cause of the preuailing power of the Antichrist is signes and lying wonders in the Grieke language 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth miracles confirming a lying doctrine All the miracles of the Antichrist are either false miracles wherein nothing is wrought aboue nature nor contrarie to nature or else the ende of his miracles is the confirmation of a false doctrine The Romane Church braggeth much of miracles as if the power of working miraculous workes were a gift continuallie to remaine and an vndoubted token of the true Church of God Howbeit Holy Scripture attributeth to false Teachers who intise people to worship strange gods power to worke signes and wonders
attempts against Chrysostome I remit to the next CENTURIE Bishops of Antiochia IN Antiochia after Tyrannus succeeded Vitalius about the time that the rage of the tenth Persecution began to bee asswaged therefore hee re-edified a Church in Antiochia which had beene demolished in time of the Peâ—…secution of Dioclesian and his successour Philogonius perfected the building To whom succeeded Eustatius who was present at the Councill of Nice was Moderator and Mouth to all the rest Eusebius sometime bishop of Berytus afterward bishop of Nicomedia and last of alâ—… bishop of Constantinople did insinuate himselfe in fauour with the Emperour Constantine and obtained from him libertie to goe to Hierusalem and to visite the Temples that Constantine had lately builded in Bethlehem Hierusalem vpon Mount Oliuct To him resorted a number of Arrian Bishops who had alâ—… secretly conspired against Eustatius and suborned a vilde woman to accuse him of whoredome The Arrians vpon the simple deposition of a woman suborned by themselues contrarie â—…al kind of order depâ—…sed Eustatius and perswaded the Empâ—…rour to banish him as a man conuict both of adulterie and of tyrannie But the LORD laide his correcting hand vpon the woman whom the Arrians had suborned so that she died sore tormented with a grieuous sickenesse and confessed that money was giuen vnto her to accuse Eustatius that she had sworn deceitfully because the child procreated with her was begotten by Eustatius a smith of that name but not by Eustatius bishop of Antiochia The Arrians in the dayes of Constantine had no great vpperhand except onely in the matter of Athanasius his banishment to Triere and in the deposition and banishment of Eustatius to Illyricum But in the dayes of Constantius they tooke boldenesse and planted Arrian bishops in all principall places so that in Antiochia after Eustatius Eulalius Euphronius Placitus Leontius Eudoxius all these were Arrian bishops and placed by them in Antiochia In end Meletius was ordained bishop of Antiochia a man of great giftes whom the Arrians transported our of Sebastia in Armenia and placed him in Antiochia supposing that by the meanes of his excellent learning many should be allured to their opinion But it fell out farre otherwise for Meletius professed the true faith Onely the reproueable forme of his entrie by receiuing ordination from Arrian bishops was the grounde of remedilesse schismes in the Church of Antiochia There had beene alreadie two factions in the towne to wit Arrians and Eustatians now the thirde faction is added of them who were called Meletiani with whom Eustatiani did not communicate but abhorred them as they did the Arrians This schisme indured after the death of Meletius for the space of fourescore and fiue yeeres Meletius was banished in the dayes of Constantius and Euzoius an Arrian bishop placed in his roome Hee was restored againe by Iulian onely for desire hee had to vndoe things done by Constantius and to bring his name to disgrace Likewise vnder the reigne of the Emperour Valens he was banished the seconde time Hee gouerned the Church of Antiochia fiue and twentie yeeres and died in Constantinople immediately after the second generall Councill and was caried to Antiochia to be buried there The ordination of Paulinus to bee Bishop of Antiochia Meletius beeing yet aliue was the foolish fact of Lucifer bishop of Calaris in the Isle of Sardinia He was restored from banishment in the dayes of Iulian. And tooke purpose accompanied with Eusebius bishop of Vercellis in Liguria who was likewise restored at that same time to visite the estate of their brethren Eusâ—…bius addressed himselfe to Alexandria and conferred with Athanasius But Lucifer went to Antiochia where hee found miserable distractions euen amongst those who professed one the selfe same Faith When exhortations to unitie could preuaile nothing but the dissention daily increased hee ordained Paulinus presbyter of Antiochia and the chiefe of those who were called Eustatiani to bee bishop of Antiochia This fact of Lucifer was like vnto fewell added vnto the fire and mightily augmented the schisme Theodoretus blameth him for so doing and Eusebius Vercellensis when hee came backe from Alexandria disliked also the fact of Lucifer Wherefore Lucifer woulde not communicate any longer with Eusebius These sorrowfull times of multiplied schismes alienated the heartes of a great number of people from the true CHURCH Meletius was restored from his seconde banishment in the dayes of the Emperour GRATIANUS Paulinus woulde vpon no condition communicate with him because hee had receiued ordination from the Arrians When Meletius had ended his life the people woulde not admit Paulinus to be their bishop because they said it was not meete that hee should bee his successour who dispised his fellowship and counsell in his life time To MELETIUS succeeded FLAVIANUS a worthie mâ—…n Paulinus albeit hee appointed Euagrius to bee his successor yet such formes manifestly repugnant to the approued order of the Church could take no place The bishops of Rome Damasus Siricius and Anastatius were great aduersaries to him and misinformed the good Emperour Theodosius against him but when hee compeared before the Emperour he spake before him both freely and wisely wordes that liked the Emperour well as they are reported by Theodoretus O Emperour if any man doe blame my Faith as peruerse or my life as vnworthie I am content to be judged by my very aduersaries but if the disputation onely boe anent principalitie and eusinent places I will not contende with any man but denude my selfe of all superioritie and comâ—…it the chaire of ANTIOCHIA to whome yee like best The Emperour admired his courage and wisedome and sent him backe againe to gouerne his owne flocke and was slow to heare friuolous accusations in time to come against Flarianus This was that worthie Bishop who associated 〈◊〉 Chrysostome to be his fellow-labourer in Antiochia and who mitigated the wrath of Theodosius conceiued agaâ—…nst the Citie of Antiochia for misusing the imagâ—… of his wife Placilla Bishops of Constantinople CONSTANTINOPLE was builded by Constantine anno 336. in a plaâ—…e where Asia and Europe neerely confines bâ—…eing separatâ—…d onely by a narrow firth called of old Boâ—…phorus Thracius The cause wherefore this Emperiall Citie was builded in this place was not to resigne the towne of Rome and the gouernament of the West to the bishop of Rome but as Sozomenus writes that Constantinople or new Rome might be as a soueraigne Lady to all those who in the East West North or South were obedient to the Romane Empire Learned men in our dayes are ashamed to mainetaine all the foolish fables of the Romane Church for they see clearely the cause of the building of this great Citie was to keepe firmely both the East and the West vnder the Souerainitie of Constantine and his successours Alexander bishop of Constantinople proued a worthie man in the dayes of the Emp.