THE Baptizing of a Turke ¶ A Sermon preached at the Hospitall of Saint KATHERIN adioyning vnto her Maiesties Towre the 2. of October 1586. at the Baptizing of one Chinano a Turke borne at Nigropontus By MEREDITH HANMER D. of Diuinitie Printed by Robert Walde-graue dwelling without Temple-barre To the Right Worshipfull RAPHE ROKEBY Esquier Maister of the Hospitall of S. Katherine and also one of the Maisters of her Maiesties Courte of Requests health wealth in the Lord Iesus IT hath bene the maner of olde Right worshipfull that if any strange or new thing happened within anie mans charge the same as auncient histories record was immediately shewed vnto the superiors The Lieuetenant of Iudaea certified the Emperour Tiberius the Senate of Rome of the fame of Christ and especially his reion then rife in the mouthes of most men throughout Palaestina Least I should seem forgetfull of good maners being of diuers intreated to publishe this exercise I haue thought good to shew vnto you the good newes here hapned throgh the mercy goodnes of our gratious God which hath brought home to his folde an erring sheepe by birth a Turke borne at Nigropontus hertofore by professiō a Saracen addicted vnto the superstitious lawe of Mahomet but now by the ministerie of our handes not of worthines but of fauour called to the function after publike confession of his true faith in Iesus Christ receiued into the congregatiō of the faithful marked by Baptisme for a vowed professor and sealed vp in your Hospital of S. Katherine where the diuine prouidence hath alotted you vnder her Maiestie heade gouernour for the childe of God Maners being not forgotten and duetie thus remembred the beholder and hearer haue ioynte cause to bee ioyful for the pearle espied in the field for the coyne found after searching for the sheepe called home from straying according vnto the parables in the Gospell and to praise our God whose mercie endureth for euer Of the other side wee haue cause to sorrowe when wee behold the face of the earth in manner all couered with heathens idolatrers and false worshippers Asia in greatnes halfe the world though of olde reckoned for the third part with the most famous gouernours Zambei of Arabia the king of Narsinga greate Cham of Tartaria and the Indian Ilands if we may credit Marcus Paulus Venetus amounting to the number of twelue thousand seauē hundred all at this day excepting a few Christians here there scattred are either Infidels liuing as brute beastes without God or followers of Mahomet ioyning with the Turke in false worshippe yet not fearing his power the which places haue beene of olde acquainted with the voice of Christ and with the sounde of the Apostles feete Affrike excepting the dominions of Presbiter Iohn the greate king of Aethiopia who professeth the faith in Christ though not so purely as it is to be wished hath many Infidels the rest are Moores Saracens Nigroes Barbarians addicted to Mahomet and obedient to the great Turke In these countries there are fewe Christians seene This triangle of East South West haue shaken off the faith which of olde hath there beene professed Europe remaineth though more peopled yet a lesser parte then Affrike neyther is this part cleare from Mahomet The great Turke hath taken Greece awaye and seated himselfe at Constantinople Christian religion is now couched in the North partes of the world and so far that it seemeth if we looke for fruits all frozen The professors according vnto the words of our Sauiour are now a little flock It is high time wee should earnestlie pray vnto God that hee wil enlarge his kingdome that hee will open the eyes of Infidels that he will direct Idolatrers in the true woorship that they which call vppon him in worde maye followe him in deede that his name may be glorified vpon earth that al may be gathered together into one fold to sing holy holy holy Lord God of Sabaoth And here withal I suppose it needfull to certefie your worship what moued this Turk to becom a Christiā not holie words but workes not the name of faith but the viewe of fruites not the learning of Clarks but the liues of certain good Christiās whose loue kindnes did so rauish him as he saide of himselfe that he cōfessed the God of the christians to be the onely true God And among others he named Sir F. Drake that worshipful knight W. Haukins that worthy Captaine The tree is knowne by the fruits Gods children are known by their holines the true professors are knowne by their loue Hereby saith our Sauiour shall all men knowe that ye are my disciples if ye loue one another The Iews gloried they were of God their behauior declared thē our sauiour gaue sētence to be of the deuil they said they were of the seede of Abraham their works denied them to be such This is the course that Christ tooke with the Scribes Pharises for the stay of his credit If I do not the workes of my Father beleeue me not Agayne though ye beleeue not me beleue the works This is the rule that Iewe and Gentile that Turke Saracene euery good Christiā now marketh beholdeth but at this day nothing rifer thē sayyng nothing rarer then doing Wher be the almes-houses Hospitals Colledges and Churches nowe a daies founded builded No doubt God hath his people and they haue their fruites though the same be very few If wee were so desirous to haue our lights I mean our fruits so shine vpon the earth in these North partes of the world where Christianitie is professed as we are gredily bent to gette the earthly commodities of Affrike Asia and the hid treasures of the far Indies we shoulde no doubt prouoke them out of the said coūtries to seek after our God and to bee rauished with the conuersation and steppes of the Christians as they allure vs wyth fame of their commodities to seeke after their forrain riches And wheras now one silly Turk is won ten thousands no doubt woulde receiue the faith The heathens in far coūtries do wōder at the couetousnes of the christiās the cruelty among other nations of the Spaniard Presbiter Iohn in Affrike crieth out vpon the Christian Princes for their diuision discorde The great Turk at Cōstantinople laugheth the pope his prelats to scorn for their pride the Christian churches he reuileth and not without cause for their idols images Reformation is to be sought for of al men not onely in Religion wherein some ouer-busie themselues neuer satisfied vntill they haue ouerthrowne all but in liues maners that they which are without seeing our good workes may glorifie our father which is in heauen Thus occasioned by these circumstances my pen hath ouer-ruled me I feare lesse ouer tedious Maye it please you to accept this remembrance proceeding from a willing mind though other-wise not furnished to gratifie your kindnes From
space of 300. yeares vntill the late councell of Basill where there was but a colourable reconciliation Germanus Archbishop of Constantinople telleth Gregorius 9. the cause of their departure in this sort That great discord contrarietie of doctrine ouerthrow of Canons alteration of rites which the fathers deliuered are causes of this particion which seperateth those things which at first were vnited and ioyned with the coniunction of peace and concord let the whole world being made one language confesse c. A little after And that we may touche the marrowe of the truth Many mighty and noble parsonages would obey you vnlesse they feared your vniust oppressions your insolent exactions of riches your vnlawfull seruitude the which you extort of them that are subiect vnto you Here hence are crueel battailes one against the other desolation of Cities sealing vp of Church-dores schisme of the brethren the priestly function ceasing and a stay that God according vnto our duetye bee not praised vnder the Climate of the Grecians Hee writeth the like vnto the Cardinalls concludeth that the Aethiopians Syrians Hyberians Lazians Alanians Gothes Chazarians all Russia Bulgary hold with the Greeke-church and because of the aforesaide enormities haue did Rome farewell The Archbishop of Antioch about the same time calling vnto him a great number of Bishoppes of Greece excommunicated the Pope and the Clergye of Rome The Patriarch of Constantinople complained at the councell of Lions to Innocentius 4. face what a great number of Churches there were in Greece that reiected the Churche of Rome for the abhominations thereof Papa tacuit The Pope said not a word Hee might bee iustly ashamed who glorying in the keyes locketh vp all shutteth out suche as would come and receaue the christian faith but he will neither enter neither suffer others by reason of y e shamefull sinnes and wickednes there raigning If either Heathen or Iew or Saracen speake of the christian faith immediately he hath Rome in his mouth Rome cannot be excused And for that they knowe not the puritie of religion in the reformed Churches beeing corners pingles of Christendome with open mouth they reuile and speake ill of al to the great dishonor of God and hinderance of the preaching of the Gospel There are many nations no doubt that if the truth were opened vnto them they would most willingly receaue the christian faith many hungring thirsting after the knowledge of the true God In Turkie they may not call into question the incertainty of Mahomets law it is death vnder the dominion of the Pope they may not professe what they know for truth much like them of whō Augustine speaketh that being among the schismatickes and heretickes they durst not confesse the Catholique faith least they and their houses should be destroyed Many doe heare and see yet are they stopped with staines misliking the water for the puddle of Rome O what blessinges hath God poured vppon England blessed bee his name therefore We maye saye as it is in the Gospell Many Prophets and Kinges haue desired see those things which Englād hath seen and haue not seene them It is to be feared least the vnthankfulnes of the people the rechlesnesse in Gods seruice and the want of Christian lights and works will cause God to remooue the candlesticke out of his place and the light of the Gospell from among vs and deliuer it to such a nation according vnto the parable in the Gospell as will bring foorth fruits accordingly God of his infinite goodnesse shewe mercie vnto his Church continue the Gospell purge all blemishes open the eyes of all Infidels Iewes Turkes and Saracens bring into the folde all lost and wandering sheepe make of all nations one sheepefolde vnder the head shepheard and Bishoppe of our soules Iesus Christ to whome with the Father and the holy Ghost bee all honour and glorie nowe and for euer Amen FINIS ¶ After the Sermon ended the Turke confessed in the Spanish tongue before the face of the congregation the Preacher out of Pulpit propounding the questions and receiuing the answers by skilfull Interpretors in summe as followeth INprimis that hee was verie sorie for the sinful life which he had lead in times past in ignorance and blindnes and hoped to obteine pardon in Iesus Christ Secondly hee renounced Mahomet the false Prophet of the Moores Saracens and Turkes with al his abhominations and blessed GOD which had opened his eyes to beholde the truth in Iesus Christ Thirdly hee confessed there was but one God he beleeued the Trinitie of persons the Father the Sonne the holy Ghost and the same to bee one God in vnitie which is to bee blessed for euer Fourthly hee confessed and affirmed that hee beleeued verily that Iesus Christ was and is the sonne of God God from euerlasting the onely true Messias sauiour of the worlde that he suffered for the sinnes of al that beleeue in him and that there is no way to be saued but onely by the merits of the death and passion of Iesus Christ Lastly he desired hee might be receiued as one of the faithfull Christians bee baptized in the faith of the blessed Trinitie promising from henceforth newnes of life and fruits according vnto this profession ¶ In the middest of the congregation there was a comely Table set couered with a faire linnen cloth and thereon a Basen with water After the congregation had blessed God for his great mercies and after sundry godly Praiers and Collects according vnto the reuerend order of holye Church suche as broght him thither desired his name might be William so was he baptized In the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holie Ghost Praise be to God Fulgent lib. 1. ad Trasimund Ephes 2. Psal 66. Math. 20. Rom. 11. Luke 15. Math. Palmer Massaeus chron lib. 13 Volfgang-Drechsler Chronic. de Saracen Turc origine Volaterran Geogr. lib. 12. Paul Diac. rer Rom. lib. 18. Sabellicus Enead 8. lib. 6. Ludouicus Carrett ad Iudaeos lib. diuinorum visorum Paulus Diaconus Rer. Com. lib. 18. Math. Paris hist Anglor in Henric. 3. Isidor Etymolog lib. 14. cap. 3. Sabellic Enead 6. lib. 4. Auentin Annal. lib. 3. Zonaras Annal. tom 3. Paul Diac. Volater lib. Sigebert Cronic Elor histor Sabellic Enead 8. lib. 6. Anton. Cropart 2. tit 13 cap. 5. Flor histor Antoninus Sabellic Enead 8. lib. 6. Naucler generat 22. Ludouic Roman Patritius nauigat lib. 1. cap. 12. Isid Aetym lib. 14. cap. 5. Sabellic Enead 1. lib. 5. Stephan Anton. cron part 2. cap. 5. Sabellicus Enead 8. lib. 6. Volfgang Drechsler Cronic Nauclerus Generat 22. Theodorus Gaza epist ad francisc philelph Strabo lib. Laonicus Chalcondyl de reb Turc lib. 1. Mathias â Michou de Satmat Asiatic lib. 1. cap. 15. Volater lib. 12. Andreas â Lacuna de Turc orig cap. 1. Mathias â Michou cap 11.13 Laonicus lib. 1. Otho Frisingensis Bullinger in Apocalyp concione 41 Volater Geogr. lib. 7 Andreas â Lacuna de orig Turc cap. 1. Iohannes Ramus rer Turc lib. 3. Math. 10. Leuitic 13. 1. Iohn 4. Iudic. 12. Iud. Epist 3. Reg. 3. Sabellic Enead 8. lib. 6 Fascicul Temporum Sabel Enead 8. lib. 6. Anton. cron part 2. tit 13 cap. 5. Mathias â Michou de Sarmat Asiana lib. 1. lib. 7. Laonicus de reb Turc lib. 3. Sabellic Enead lib. 6. Iacob 2. Naucler Generat 22. Anton. cron part 2. tit 13 cap. 5. Esay 53. Iohn 6. Iohn 11. Hebr. 9. Math. 26. Irenaeus lib. 1. cap. 23.25 Epipan heres 24.28 Math. Paris hist Angl. in Henric. 3. Sabellic Enead 8. lib. 6. Iacob de Vorag in vita Pelag. legend 177. Laonic. lib. 3. Volater lib. 12. Anton. cron part 2. tit 13. cap. 5. Naucler Generat 22. Flor. Hist Paul Diac. rer Rom. lib. 18. Ludouicus Carettus ad Iudaeos lib. diuinorum visor Esay 62. Zachar 9. Math. 21. Esay 53. Iohn 18. Act. 4. Abacuk 2. Act. 3. Luk. 17. 2. Corinth 3 Naucler Generat 22. Sabellic Enead 8. lib. 6 Suidas Laonic. de reb Turc lib. 3. Ieremy 35 Math. 26. 1. Timoth. 5. Ephes 5. Iacob de Vorag legend 177. Laonic. de reb Turc lib. 3. Anton. cron Volater lib. 12. Genes Coelius Nicol. Clenard 1. Epist Anton. cron part 2. tit 13 cap. 5. Bonfin lib. 8 decad Bernard in Rosar part 1. serm 14. Anton. vt supra Anton. Chronic. Iacobus de Vorag legend 177. Laonic. Volaterr Anton. Math. Paris in Henric. 3. Bernard Laonic. rer Turc lib. 3. Antoninus Cron. part 2. tit 13. cap. 5. Cuspinian Ludouicus Rom. patritius Nauigat lib. 1. cap. 8. 13. Ludouic Rom. lib. 1. cap. 1. 18. Lib. 2. cap. 6. Math. 7. Math. 16. Deut. 12. Deut. 22. Exod. 12. 1. Corinth 5 Math. 6. Eccle. 13. 2. Corinth 6 Math. 15. Auicenna Metaphysic Luke 16. Rom. 14. Math. 4. Deutr. 8. Ioh. 4. Iohn 17. Ioh. Zonar Annal. tom 3. Anton. cron part 2. tit 13. cap. 5. Auierus lib. 2. cap. 12. Ioh. Leo. lib. 3. cap. 23. 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holy for I am holy saith the Lorde learne of me saith our Sauiour Again Let your light shine c. Peter writeth shew forth the vertues of him that hath called you out of darkenes into his maruelous light Paul exhorteth walke wisely toward them that are without Againe wee are councelled to bee quiet medling with our owne busines working and getting our liuing with our owne hands to what ende That ye maye behaue your selues honestly towarde them that are without Hee also that will bee Pastor and gouernour ouer the people must warely walke least the enemy note any bleamish in him Therefore the Apostle writeth He must bee well reported of euen of them that are without So that neither Iew nor gentile Turke nor Saracen neither Hereticke or false Christian whatsoeuer may iustly charge the Christian faith with the life of the professor Saint Paul exhorteth the Philippians Doe all things without murmuring and reasoning that ye may be blamelesse pure and the sonnes of God without rebuke in the middest of a naughtie and crooked Nation among whom ye shine as lightes in the world This kinde of Christian conuersation shall bringe foure notable thinges to passe First the Heathens Turkes and Saracens seeing this holinesse of life will fall to a great wonder admiration therof writeth Peter It is sufficient for vs that we haue spēt the time past of the life after the lust of the gentiles in wantōnes lustes drunkennes in gluttony drinkings abhominable Idolatries wherin it seemeth to thē strange that ye run not with them vnto the same excesse of Riotte Secondly wee shall stop the mouthes of sclaunderous people as it is written For so is the will of God that by well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men A little before Haue your conuersation honest among the gentiles that they which speake euil of you as of euil doers may by your good works which they shall see glorifie God in the day of the visitation Thirdly wee shall win them that are without as by example this seely Saracen which walked of a long time without knowledge of the true God without the light of the glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ the onely sauiour of the world and now hauing behelde the shine thereof most willingly embraceth y e same blessed be God for it Saint Peter exhorteth the wiues to obedience his reason is to great purpose That euen they which obey not the worde may without the worde bee wonne by the conuersation of the wiues Fourthly God the giuer of all goodnes who with his holy spirite guideth man into all felicitie and godlines is thereby blessed and glorified This ende our Sauiour pointed vs to behold when he inioyned vs saying Let your light so shine before men that they maye see your good workes and glorifie your father which is in heauen For wee are the workemanship of God saith Saint Paul created in Christ Iesus vnto good workes as I saide before which God hath ordained that wee shoulde walke in them But more is the pittye there are byrds which defile their owne nests there are loose Christians Gospellers in word but Atheistes in deede Quali pudore suffūditur ecclesia what a shame is this to the Church Sayth Cyprian there is pride ambition coueteousnes dissention debate simonye vsurye oppression crueltye bloudshedding schisme heresie Idolatrye crept in among Christians The enemy standeth without pointing at the Christians w t y e finger laughing them to skorne Froissart writeth of the Turkes Tartarians in y e time of Clement 7. Vrban 6 saying They doe mocke the Popes whereof one is at Rome an other at Auignion they say that the two Gods of Christendome warreth each against other wherby they affirme our law to be the more feeble and the lighter to be destroyed condēned they lay therto a reasō in that they that should exalt the Christian faith are the first that minisheth it destroy it The Earle of Neuers sonne to y e Duke of Burgoine cōming from Turkie deliuered vnto the frenche king y e Lords of Fraunce this newes from Lamorabaqui y e Turke his intent is to see Rome to make his horse eate otes vpon Saint Peters altar also hee saide howe our christian faith was nothing worth but corrupted by the headdes that ought to gouerne them whereat the Turks made but a mock wherfore he said it should bee the destruction of Christendome It made Fraunce amazed and some of the Nobility then brake out and said of the Popes It was time to abate their pompes to bring them to reason In the time of Henry the 3. y e christians had geuen the Turks a great foile The Turke offered peace w t most fauorable cōditiōs saith Mathew Paris It was then saide and affirmed for truth that the Soldane with his Nobilitie was fully determined to renounce the Law of Mahomet which is knowne to be most filthy and faithfully to cleaue to the christian faith which appeareth most honest so that they might quietly enioy their lands and possessions The Pope by his Legate most arrogantly refused it Being denied the Turke gathereth a great power and saith Nunc demum spero quod pro superbia eorum confundet Christianos Dominus ac Deus eorum Iesus Christus amator modestiae humilitatis Now at length I am in good hope that for their pride their Lord and God Iesus Christ will confound the Christians for he is the louer of modestie and humilitie The Turke preuayled the Christians went to wracke Fridericus the Emperour wrote to Henry 3. bitter letters against the pride ambition crueltie exaction vsurie with many other enormities of the Church of Rome calling the same the roote and fountaine of all mischiefe the Popes Insatiabiles sanguisugas Insatiable bloud suckers concluding they are to be knowne by their fruites Cham the Emperour of Tartarie would not receiue the Christian faith offered vnto him by Innocentius 4 for that the Embassadours of the Turke alleadged the same to be Religionem otiosorum imbecillium Idolatrarum imagines colentium The religion of idle persons of faint and weake people and of Idolatrers worshipping of Images This is the credite these Images haue brought into the Church this was a stumbling blocke in the waye of this Saracen that he would not be baptized in Spain Fie vpon Idolatry filth and abhomination Let the Church of God bee swept then will the Heathens the Iews the Turks Saracens the sooner come in About the yeare 1237. the greeke-Greeke-church fel from the church of Rome vpon such an occasion A certaine Archbishop orderly elected in Greece came to Rome to be confirmed he could not be dispatched afore he hadde paide a certaine summe of money the which hee refused to doe at his returne hee made reporte vnto the Grecians of the abuses of Rome The two Churches iarred the