Tit. 7. parag 17. And whether this be not ridiculous and foolish to give for their armes the book with seven seales is not that a gross abuse of what is laid down in the Revelation as if the liberal Arts two whereof are Grammer and Fidling are typified by these seals which none were worthy to open but the Lamb And as for their habits and black gowns and black Coats these have been borrowed from Rome or else from the Chimerians a sort of people of old among the Jews who were Idolaters Hosea 10. 〈◊〉 Some of the Kings of Israel who drew people into Idolatry and countenanced Idolatrous Priests 2 Kings 23. Who were attired in black These were prophesied against by Hosea 10. chap 5. They were supprest by Josiah and Zephany chap. 14. saith he stretch forth his hand upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and cut off the remnant of Baal and the name of the Chimerims or black-coats with the Priests Jerome bids Nepotian being to enter upon the Clergy to avoid black attire In Tertullians time every one that did turn Christian or was made a Presbyter did renounce his gown which was the Romane vestment and afterwards the Clergy relinquisht dark coloured cloaks for Coats and the Clergy and Laity in fine were both alike habited And a Bishop was condemned of the Council of Gaâ—grae for introducing the fashon of long sad coloured Cloaks that was condemned by the Assembly unbeseeming the Priesthood all this is clear out of Tertullians writings de pallio with the notes of Salmasius thereon And all these things had but a bad Original and were never commanded by God And seeing they are made such Idols of ought no longer to be imitated but to be quite abolished But some may object though the original were popish and Antichristian yet since they are employed to better uses viz for distinction order and decency they may lawfully enough be retained To this is answered might not the Jews have given the same reason to their reformers that the Golden Calfs and their Groves might not be consumed and turned into ashes because they might be better employed to good uses afterwards or might not the Brazen Serpent have continued as well as the pots of Maâ—na Yet when it was become an Idâ—l away it must go but the sum of all is all these habits attir's have been used for superstitious ends and pride and pomp and vain glory So they that retain them they do no more then the Levite that stole away Michals Gods from Mount Ephraim and set them up at Dan where Idolatry became a more publick worship So all this innovated superstitious trumpery is no way advantagious to the Church of Christ neither conduceth to any true order neither hath any congruity with the primitive times is to be denied by all that comes out of Babylon and out of the Apostacy into the primitive Order and the true Churches practice and the Saints example As for Parish Churches which I mentioned before some say it was the Decree of the Lattern Council in the year 1180. But Cambden saith that Dyonysius did onely distribute into Diocesses and others judge into Parishes and as concerning Church-yards to bury the dead its Original is Superstitious and all the ringing and singing and the reading before and over the dead is Iddlatrous and Superstitions Gaudentius saith that of old times and so saith the Scriptures they did bury their dead in their own ground which custome was taken away by Pope Innoteat the third he prohibited that any should cause themselves to be buried in unconsecrated ground forsaking the Sepulchers of their Fathers Hospinian saith that at last it became so superstitious in being buried in order near the Church that they judged it material even to their salvation De Orig. Temple lib. 3. chap. 1. The Waldenses said the uses of Church-yards is superstitious and invented only for Lucre sake and it is no matter in what ground any one is buried see Usher de Sucâ—es Eccles. Christ. chap 6. And how much there is of this superstition in England now and what excessive rates are paid for breaking up ground all is sensible of that it is only one of the Popish nets which is holden up to get money by And so I shall conclude these things and say with John Come out of of Babylon and be not partaker of her sins least you be partakers of her Plaâ—â—es for the hour of her judgment is come and the time wherein her filthiness and loathsomeness shall be made manifest to the Nations and her skirts shall be uncovered and her abominable practises discovered of which in part I have declared unto all in this discourse that all may see the abominations and depart out of the snares that leads to death and these practises which tends to destruction THE END Claudius Espontius ordainâ—d aâ—a counsel at Pysoy in France that Infants baptism should be received by tradition because it could not be proved as a command from the Scriptures Ignatius Bishop of Rome was the first ordainer of Infants baptism and that they should have Godfathers and Godmothers c. Victor Bishop of Rome instituted that children might be christned by Lay-men and Lay-women in case of necessity Pius Bishop of Rome built the first Temple after the Apostacy in bonour to Prudentia Dionysius in the year 267 divided both in Rome and other places into Parishes and Dioceses for Bishops Abraham and his Wife buried in Hebron in a piece of ground he bought Justinian the Emperour ordained that men should swear by the Gospel or Book called the Gospel and lay their hands thereon and kiss it saying So help me God Silvester Bishop of Rome ordained that all Churches should be Christned and should be anointed with oyl Clement Bishop ordained Confirmation of Children and said none was a perfect Christian if he wanted this and thus Children should be smoâ—e on the cheek signed with this Cross. * At Lions in France they apointed holy dayes to increase their Religion Boniface the fourth ordained Stephen Innocents Lawrence Michael Martin John Baptists and All Saints to be kept holy Corpus Christi day ordained by Urbanus the fourth Sylvester Bishop ordained Lammas day in memorial of Peters painâ— Gregory ordained that Mass or short prayer should be said over the Tombs of the dead Gregory appointed wednesday and friday should be fasted Soulmass day was ordained by Odilo Sextus Commanded that no Lay-people should touch the Priests Garments Sabinianus ordained that people should come together to hear Service by ringing Bells John 22. Bishop ordained bells to be tol'd three times a day Singing of Mattens at set times Hierom appointed Pelagius the second commanded Priests to say them dayly â—elesphorus appointed that Lent should be kept before Easter and fasted Concerning Mass and Letany many Authors patched it up at sundry times Acts and Monuments vol. 2. Fol. 55. Euseb. lib. 6. chap. pag. 98. In his book de succes cap. 6. Acts and Monuments vol. 1. fol. 527. Fol. 653. Exodus 20. 7. Acts and Monuments vol. 2. fol. 701. De succes cap. 6. Acts 11. 29. 1 Cor. 16. 2. Eusebius lib. 4. chap. 22. Cyprian Epist. 27. 34. 36. Hom. 11. in actn Hom. 16. in Evan. and dist 5. de consecr Acts and Mon. p. 435. Acts and Mon. p. 536 537. Prosper de vita contempt lib. 2. chap. 14. Cyril de adorat in spir ver lib. 4. ad finem Origen homil 15 in Levit.
THE GLORY OF THE True Church DISCOVERED As it was in its PURITY in the PRIMITIVE TIME Also A Manifestation how and when the Apostacy came and how long it hath continued in the Church of Rome proved to be in it because she differs in Doctrin Practice from the Church of Christ in the Apostles dayes Published for this end that People may be informed and their understandings opened to discern of the times and seasons and see the difference between the Lambs Wife and the Mother of Harlots By one who desires that all may come to the Knowledge of the Truth and be saved and walk in the Light of the Lord FRANCIS HOWGIL LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-spread-Eagle at the West-end of Pauls 1661. TO THE READER OR Readers GReat hath been the Wisdom which God hath shed abroad in the hearts of his People and made known unto his servants through Ages wherein he hath made known his mind and will at sundry times and in divers manners sometimes by Types sometimes by Shadows and Representations sometimes by Dreams sometimes by Visions sometimes by Prophecy and there was not the least Ministration but it had a glory in it and the one living God manifested his mind unto the sons of men who feared his Name in every Generation and shewed unto them and signified his mind unto them what he was and shewed unto them how he would be worshipped and they that were obedient unto that which was made manifest in every Age and Ministration found acceptance with the Lord and the peace of God in their hearts After man had transgressed and gone from his Maker and lost the guide of his youth and broken Gods Covenant then blindness came upon him and a vail was betwixt him and his Maker and man increased and grew in an earthly part and lusted after earthly things whith fed and increased that part and the Image of God was lost in which the creature delighted yet notwithstanding such was and is the Love of God towards his Creation and to his workmanship that he did not utterly cast off man for ever but followed him to draw him back again out of the transgression to have unity with him who was his Maker and when man was gone into the darkness the Lord stooped so low as to come near him and to that state he was in and made a Covenant with man when mans heart was outward upon outward things and gave him commands outward and Statutes and Ordinances outward that he might worship therein which were shadows and types of some better thing to come and these were the Ordinances of the first Covenant which pertained to the changeable part that was above the seed but they typed forth more Heavenly things which was to be revealed in due time and when the seed came to be manifested and raised up they had an end and the cloud passed away and the day did spring forth in clearness and he brought forth which restored all that believe unto God viz. Christ Jesus then did God more clearly manifest himself in the earth through his Son who had the will of the Father and declared it who rent the vail and put an end to the shadows and blotted out the hand-writing and ended the types and figures and all that believed in him who was the end of them and the sum of all he overthrew the nature in them which was changeable unto which they pertained until the time of Reformation which was when he was sacrificed up a Propitiation for the sins of the whole world and they that did believe and received him came to be the Sons of God and declared the mind of God as it was revealed and as the spirit gave utterance and many did believe and did grow up and become of one heart mind and soul and worshipped God with one accord and in the spirit and in the power of the Father and separated from the Jewish worship and the form thereof and met together in the Power of God and glorified God and spoke of the things of his Kingdom unto all that waited for it freely and the Lord was honoured by them and glorified in them But soon after the mystery of godliness was brought forth the mystery of iniquity began to work and opposed the work of the Lord and transformed into the similitude and outward appearance and form and yet lived in the flesh and there began to be an apostacy and a deviation from that glory and power which was once revealed and Antichrist wrought with signs and lying wonders and got the words and hated the life and power and them that appeared in it and then they that were under his Government and Reign hated the Reign of Christ and said in their hearts we will not have him to rule over us though in words they confess him and then persecuted and drove the true Church into the wilderness and set up imitations and inventions and traditions and vain customs which they have called Apostolical and holy Institutions which are contrary unto Primitive Institutions and Ordinances onely brought in by them when darkness began to spread over the earth when the Bishops in the first three hundred years after Christ began to contend about dayes and times and meats and drinks and Rome began to claim superiority over all Churches called Christian and the Pope became as a Law-giver I have led thee through divers ages and times as briefly as possible may be to single out the Original and beginning of those things and who were the first Ordainers of them betwixt this and the Apostles dayes which are now accounted as holy Institutions The state and glory of the true Church in this Treatise thou wilt see before the Apostacy and the state in the Apostacy how she fled into the wilderness and how Mystery Babylon was raised and the false Church called her self visible many of her Doctrines and Practices which are contrary to the Primitive Church are here discovered and the Authors and formers made known whereby thou may come to see a difference in the Ordinances of the true Church and the Traditions and Inventions of the false Church which are too much contended for in this day by them who say they are come to the true Reformation according to the Primitive times but thou wilt see as thou compares but their practice with the Primitive times to be quite contrary and to be but smoke and that which has darkened the ayr clouded peoples understandings and hath led them into ignorance and darkness so that the way of Truth hath not been discovered unto many but the Lord is arisen and that which comprehends time is made manifest and all that which hath got up in the Apostacy is viewed and seen and laid open to the view of all that they may depart out of these things which are but the inventions and traditions of men in which Eternal Life is not to be had Read with meekness and
and their Candlemas dayes this came of the Gentiles and Pagans who honoured their false God Saturu and their Altar which they have builded in this Temple and their tables upon which they offer and set their sacrifice these Boniface the third commanded that they should be covered with linen clothes and here was the beginning of these kinds of orders so that as I said before most of theâ—e things in and about the worship which hath been since the reign of Antichrist and since the Whore hath sate as a Queen they have been either borrowed from the Jews or else from Pagans and Heathens and the mother of Harlots hath put these things off for Apostolick institutions these many hundreds of years and divers other things which are in and about the Parish Churches your many crosses in and about them of wood and stone your baptized bels and consecrated pulpits and sonts and hour-glasses and soft cushions to preach on all these the Scriptures makes no mention of not in the Christian Churches the first two hundred years after Christ. Now Protestants who have denied the Church of Rome and their practices which was contrary to the Primitive and the Scriptures look about you and see how you are sticking yet in Babylon and buying yet the merchandize thereof and as for your holy ground called your Church-yards which you only judge fit to bury the dead in and would compell all to come thither because there are many Officers in and about this Temple who are greedy of rewards so that they would not miss any thing that might be commodious unto them and so would compell all to come there for their gain But Abraham was the first we read of that made any place of burial in Hebron which he bought so Ephron an Hittite for thirty shekels of silver and there was he and his wife buried and this was no Parishyard neither did he leave any Priest or Clerk that we read of to receive wages and fees and for ringing a bell and reading and singing over the dead and so for shame you who profess the Scriptures and the Apostolick order and institutious of Christ come out from among all this trumpery and wait that you may come again into the order of the Gospel and the primitive order which hath been talked of these many years and yet not known CHAP. VII Concerning swearing by the Gospel and kissing a book and that which is commonly confirmation or Bishoping Children things invented contrary to the Apostles Doctrine and are in the Aopstacy IN the first Covenant the Jews were commanded to swear by the Lord and oaths were observed by the Jews that were in the first Covenant which was faulty Heb. 8. 7. which Ordinance did nor make perfect as pertaining to the Conscience and so there came to be an end of that Covenant and the better was brought in which stood upon better promises and then the Priest-hood Law first Covenant and the ordinances thereof which was only to continue till the time of Reformation H. b. 9. 10 by Christ the everlasting Covenant came to be made manifest the everlasting offering who perfected them that are sanctified who is the oath of God the end of oaths and of all strife and contention his Doctrine was Sweaâ— not at all Mat. 5. 32 24 35 36 3â— neither by the head nor 〈◊〉 nor Books nor Gospel nor any other thing but that yea should be yea and nay nay in all things and James an Apostle of Christ Jesus who knew the New Covenant which was everlasting which saw over the ordinances of the first Covenant of the Jews saith Above all things my brethren sweare not at all neither by heaven neither by the earth nor by any other oath but let your yea be yea and vour nay nay lest you fall into condemnnation James 5. 1 2. and this was Apostolical and Catholick Doctrine in the Primitive Churches But afterwards the faith being lost which once was delivered to the Saints and the power lost they began to set up oathes again imitating the Iews and bringing the commands of the Iews who were under the first Covenant as their Ground But this was in the Apostacy And Justinian the Emperour appointed first that men should swear by the Gospel or book called the Gospel and lay their hands thereon and kiss it saying So help me God and here Christendom may see who are in the Apostacy and who were the first instituters of this Swearing and the manner thereof which the teachers of these latter ages do ignorantly press for an ordinance of God In the primitive times they that had the word of reconciliation who had received the holv Ghost and gift of prophesie and were made able Ministers of the Spirit who had discerning and saw by the Spirit who was fitted for the work of the Ministry and fit to be Elders and helpers in the Church they laid hands on them in Gods power and they received the holy Ghost but now since the Apostacy came in this kind of Imagination of laying on of hands one Hypocrite upon another who are out of the power who have not received the holy Ghost neither they upon whom their hands are said but afterwards it came to be a custom and a holy rite to be performed upon Children Sylvester Bishop of Rome ordained that all that were Christned Churches and Chalices should be anointed with oyl And Fabianus commanded that it should be renewed every Munday and Thursday Clement the first ordained that Children that were Christned should be anointed with Chrisme and he also instituted the Sacrament as it is called of Confirmation or as it is now called Bishoping and did suppose that no man was a perfect Christian if this Rite and Ceremony was omitted and for this cause it hath been judged and lookt upon as Catholick Doctrin both by the Church of Rome and the Protestants that the holy Ghost is more plentifully given them by the hands of the Bishop and on this wiâ—e in the first Institution thereof it was only administred by the Bishop First he asked the name of the child making the sign of the Cross in his forehead saying I sign thee with the token of the Cross and confirm thee with the Chrisme of Salvation in the Name of the Father Son and holy Ghost c. and smote the cheek of the Child softly but if of greater age which was to be confirmed the Bishop gave a sharper stroak that he might remember this great mystery and here you may see how these things came in and the traditions and inventions and precepts of men have been and are taught for Doctrine and Apostolick institutions many of which are upholden in the reformed Churches so called unto this day and so people are kept in blindness in a multitude of traditions and heathenish customes and their minds led out from seeking after the living God CHAP. VIII Concerning Fasts Feasts and holy dayes THe Jews in
not in the Doctrine and Ordinances of Christ went out into the World and the World went after them and so lost both Power and form of Godliness and invented things some from the Heathen and much from the Priests under the Law Sextus the first commanded that the Corporis should be of linen cloath only and that of the finest and purest and forbad that Lay-men should handle the Hallowed Vessels and namely Women were Prohibited hallowing the Priest Vestures and Altars and Cloaths diversity of vestures of sundry orders were muchwhat taken from the example of the Hebrew Priest-hood was practised and ordained by S. even Bishop of Rome And Sabinianus decreed first that the people should be assembled together to hear Service at certain hours by ringing of bells And John the 22. Bishop of Rome ordained that bells should be roled every day three times and that theâ— every man should say three times Aâ—emary as Polidore saith Lib. 6. The invention of bells was from imitation of the Hebrews because the high-Priest had in the skirts of his uppermost garments little bells to ring when he was in the holy place within the vaile And the banners and trophies which are hung up in Churches were taken from the Heathen which did bear them to signifie the Conquest of their enemies and these have been set up in the Churches so called by some of the Bishops of Rome to declare as they said the triumph of Christ over death and hell Now all Nations who are called Christians look to your original and from whence these practices have risen and those things are continued even amongst the Protestant Churches are either from the Iews or from the Heathen or from the Apostatized Bishop of Rome long after the dayes of the Apostles and so these Hoods and Surplices and Caps and Bonnets and Cowls and Tipets and Miters and canonical Coats and Girdles and divers strange attires it is like to prove these things we must have Aarons breeches brought in and the linnen Ephod and his Sons Girdles and Coats and Bonnets and the high-Priests Mitre and all these Candlesticks for a Gospel proof CHAP. X. Concerning Mattens and singing of Psalms by course in musical tunes and supplications and short prayers called Letany THE Jews under the Law had many Officers which belonged to the Temple-worship among which were singers as the sons of Corah and the sons of Asaph and Exrahites and chief Musitians c. and divers Psalms were given forth by the Spirit of God by David and others upon several occasions sometimes after victories and sometimes when he felt the presence of God and the working of his power and who were eye-witnesses of his wonderous works as the rest of Israel was many times as at the dedication of the Temple and also when they came out of captivity Neh. 7. 44. chap. 12. 27. 42 43. Psal. 149. 3 150. 3 4. and all these Singers of songs pertain to the Temple and the first Covenant and to that Priest-hood which could not continue by reason of the faultiness thereof Heb. 8. 7. and because all these things did not make perfect as pertaining to the conscience and was but to continue for a time untill the time of Reformation and then an end of the Temple Priests and Worship of the Singers and Porters and Organs and stringed Instruments as in matter of worship an end was put to all these when he was offered up that perfecteth for ever them that are sanctified And the Christians and true Believers in the primitive times who had received the spirit in which they did Rejoyce in and with what words the Spirit was pleased to utter and they that had received the Holy Ghost did joy in the Holy Ghost and they that did sing sang in the Spirit and with the Spirit and with understanding from the feeling of the living which they had in their hearts of Gods presence and his assurance and he that had a Psalm might sing but all the Church did not sing together a Psalm was a gift of the Spirit every one had it not there was diversity of Gifts and diversity of Operations Prophecy Interpretation and a Psalm were Gifts which were received from the Spirit and not by tradition 1 Carinth 14. 15. Ephes. 5. 19. James 5. 13. And they that overcome and were redeemed from the Earth who had followed the Lamb who had given them victory over sâ—n death and the Grave they sang a new song which none could learn but those whose names were Written in the Lambs Book of life Rev. 14. 1 2 3. chap. 19. 1. 6. and these were the songs of the redeemed which God had delivered our of their Enemies Hands and they were witnesses of his Wonderous Works and praised the Lord in the Spirit and with understanding and did not get a form of words of Davids words which he spake after his victories and Triumphs over his enemies and also they prayed in the Spirit and with understanding and spoke as it gave utterance and as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and were not limitted as how Short or how Long but as the Spirit gave utterance and not limited to hours and set times but when the Spirit of God which they had received moved thereunto and then their Prayers were accepted and were as sweet incense Rev 5. 8. chap. 8. 3. 〈◊〉 and were not stinted to set hours but as they saw in the Wisdom of God and were moved by his Spirit But since the Apostacy that the Spirit hath been lost by many and the power and some of form retained and then they began to imitate three times a day and seven times a day but Mattens at set times and hours was appointed by Hierom as Polydore and others say Also the Heathen they had Mattens as Apuleus saith which they sung at divers times of the day and so sorted the hours of the day for sacrifices which they did offer unto their Idols Pelagius the second was the first that Commanded Priests to say them dayly and said as the just man falleth seven times so by instant prayers and Mattens he might as often rise and amend Urbanus the second ordained the Mattens called the Ladies Mattens to be said daily and confirmed them in a Councel which he had at Mount Clear in France and Damasus Bishop of Rome gave Commandment that Martens should be said or sung in all Churches and added Gloria Patri to the end of every Psalm Damasus also instituted that Psalms should be said or sung by course Damasus also Commanded that the Creed should be said every hour And Vitilianus invented the decent tunes wherewith the hymns be sung and joyned the Organs but there was divers and sundry manners of prayers and forms and Mattens and singing devised by many as Bennets Monks had one use and Bernard another and Dominicks brethern had one order by themselves and every provincial Bishop made a several use in
Waters shall have an end and the Dragon shall be laid hold on and Chained up and the Beast and false Prophet be cast into the Lake for ever Blessed are they who keeps in the Faith and patience till these things be fulfilled their hearts shall rejoyce and their tongue praise the Lord and magnifie him whose throne is established in the Heavens and his Kingdom is over all And although there was a defection from the Faith and practice of the Apostles in the first two hundred years after Christ yet doubtless there were many who lived and died in the Faith and suffered as Martyrs in the time of the great Persecutions by the heathen Emperors and many who could not nor did not sacrifice to their Idols suffered death and under-went cruel torments by the Heathen who were in the Dragons power for the Testimony of a good Conscience for confession of Christ Jesus and although divers of the Bishops of Rome and other places did bring in things which they instituted as matter of worship so people was darkned by them yet in the ten Persecutions by the Heathen Emperors many of them suffered Death and thousands of the Christians besides but deceit crept in by degrees and invented things were brought in by the Leaders of the People but these things that were invented were prest to be observed in their Diocesses and Parishes which they had made and sat down in but there was little compelling yet till the Dragon gave his power to the Beast and it was 650 years before ever the Bishops of Rome did climb up unto their heigth as to claim the title of the Universal Bishop or head of the Church or challenged Supremacy over all Christian Churches yet before this time abundance of Darkness was entred in and the power was much lost and divers innovations were brought in for Ordinances divers of the Jews Ceremonies and divers of their institutions which belonged to the first Priest-hood and these were prest upon the Churches by several leaders or Bishops as Apostolick Ordinances which had no concurrence with the Primitive Church in the firist hundred years after Christ as hereafter may be shewn in diverse things wherein they were Apostatized from the life and Power of God and from the practice of the Saints mentioned in the Scripture and of the Churches planted in the Apostles dayes CHAP. VIII Something concerning the ten Persecutions by the Heathen Emperors of Rome FOR the first three hundred years after Christ who was born in the reign of Augustus Cesar then Emperor of Rome and was rejected and crucified by the Jews in the seventeenth year of the Raign of Tiberius Cesar then Emperor of Rome who Raigned eight years after Christ was crucified when Pilate gave sentences against and delivered to the Jews the said Pilate was banished by the Emperor and afterwards he killed himself in which time Stephen the Martyr was stoned to death by the Jews and the same day Stephen was stoned Dorothees saith Nicanor one of the Deacons suffered with two thousand Christians more in his Raign about this time Paul was converred The next Emperor that succeeded Tiberius Cesar was Cesar Caligula who commanded his Image to be set up in the Temple at Jerusalem to be worshiped as God Herod who Mocked Christ with his souldiers and set him at nought was banished and died miserably he likewise put forth Caiaphas the High Priest and afterwards in the fourth year of his Raign Caligula was slain Claudius Nero succeeded him and Raigned thirteen years a grievous Tyrant and an hater of all good by him was James the Son of Zebedee Martryed and Symon and Pemenius the second of the seven Deacons Martyred and Thomas who Preached to the Medes and Persians was slain with a dart in his Raign about this time Simon Zelotes who Preached in Africa was crucified Andrew and Matthew the one crucified and the other slain with a spear Matthias and Philip the one was crucified and the other stoned to death About the 62. year after Christ James the Son of Alpheus called the Brother of Christ was stoned to death with many more and Mark slain at Alexandria Domitius Nero began his Raign about the sixty seventh year after Christ he Raigned fourteen years Emperour of Rome under him was the first of the ten Romane persecutions he caused the Christians of all ages sects and sorts to suffer he commanded Rome to be set on fire in tewlve places and to avoid the infamy thereof he accused the Christians with it and caused them to be persecuted and put to death and in the latter end of his raign Paul was put to death for the Testimony of the Faith of Christ. In the year sixty nine this Nero was afterwards proclaimed by the Senate of Rome an enemy to all Mankinde and condemned to be drawn through the City and to be whipt to death for fear of which he fled and afterwards slew himself and the Church had rest for a season from persecution after him In the ninety sixth year began Domitian the Emperor to raign who began the second persecution who was a blasphemer against God and an Idolater In his dayes was Simon Bishop of Jerusalem crucified and John the Evangelist Banished into the Isle of Patmos but after the death of Domitian he was released by Pertinax this Domitian the Emperor fearing the coming of Christ again commanded that all that could be found of the stock of David in Jury should be slain and many false accusations was brought against the Christians and the Inquisition was this Swear the truth whether thou art indeed a Christian and if they confessed they were condemned and put to death for that alone Clement succeeded Anaclatus the Bishop of Rome and after him Everistus who was Martyred under Trajanus in the 102. year after Christ. In the Raign of Trajanus the Emperor began the third persecution of the Christians Simon who was said to be Christs Kinsman was Bishop of Jerusalem and Ignatius Bishop of Antioch who suffered Martrydom in the raign of Trajanus in the year 111. with many other of the Christians who were destroyed in this Persecution the Church of Rome was not so highly exalted as afterwards she usurped Authority neither were the Officers thereof nor Bishops so corrupt as afterwards they came to be both in Doctrine and Practice Marcus Antonius Verus began the fourth Persecution in the year 162. in whose time a great number who professed Christ suffered cruel deaths in Asia and in France and other parts amongst whom was Policarpus the Bishop of Smyrna this Persecution continued thirteen years The Church had some rest under the raign of Lucius Antonius Comodus and then the Christians began to wrangle and jangle about the celebration of Easter and about observation of times and Feasts and run into things outward and contended about them and so weakned themselves and hurt one another Alexander Bishop of Rome succeeded Everistus and Telesphorus succeeded him likewise
and Higinus and Pius and Ansatus Soler and Elutherius all these were Bishops of Rome but many things began to creep in in their time but being kept under by the Romane Emperors they did not get much outward power because they had no outward compelling Laws to force their Institutions in divers things which were contrary unto the former Apostles Practices yet notwithstanding there was something of Truth and of the Power of it kept and they testified against the Idolatry of the Heathen and so suffered Death Severus succeeded in the Empire about the year 195. under whom was the fifth Persecution against the Christians who Raigned eighteen years in the beginning of his Raign he was somewhat favourable to the Christians but afterwards through the malitious suggestions and accusations of wicked men he was so enraged and incensed against the Christians that by proclamation he commanded through the Empire that no Christians any more should be suffered whereby a great number were destroyed and killed as Eusebius saith in his sixth book about the year 205. This Severus the Emperor was slain in Britain about the year 214. and was buried at York Aurelius Alexander Severus began his Raign about 224. at this time the Church had gotten some rest from persecution at this time the Christians had gotten some house or place to meet in in this time of rest in Rome and the Cooks and Tiplers challenged it to belong to them the matter being brought before the Heathen Emperour Severus he judged it to be more honest and reasonable that this place should be continued to the Christians to Worship God in then that the Cooks and Victuallers and Tiplers should enjoy it by this all may understand that there was no great Ministers Steeple-houses or places called Churches erected in Rome unto this time for the Christians although there be so much ado in this time about Steeple-houses and Ministers and Parish Churches within this latter age by them that are run into visible things have been so strongly pressed for a House of God and a Holy Church so that in this time the Christians had no Mass-houses with steeples and Crosses and Bells and Organs standing East and West which are pleaded for to be decent and Holy Institutions yet notwithstanding the moderation of this Emperor Calistus and Urbanus Bishops of Rome were put to death but yet the Bishops of Rome did not arrogate to themselves to be universal and these were not called Popes though divers superstitious things crept in and were allowed by the said Bishops and they were declining from the doctrine and practice of the Apostles in the first Century and this was about the year 226. Maximinius the next was chosen Emperor rather by the wilfulness of Soldiers then the will of the Senate he caused the sixth Persecution which was great against the Christians especially against the Leaders and Teachers hoping that when they were smitten the Sheep would soon be Scattered this was in the year 237. Pontianus Bishop of Rome was banished by his Emperour and many more Christians suffered under this Emperor and were put to death and more its likely would have suffered but the Lord shortned his dayes and his tyranty for he Raigned but three years The next Emperor was Gordianus in the year two hundred and forty who was more moderate towards the Christians so that the sixth Persecution ceased but after he had Raigned the space of six years he was slain by Philip the succeeding Emperor Philippus who slew Gordianus who was called the first Christian Emperor who slew Gordianus began with Blood he with his Son Philip governed the Empire seven years about the year 246. it is said this Philip with his Son and Family was converted by Fabianus and Origen it is said that both he and his Son was slain by Decius one of his own Captains and though being the first that brought in Christianity into the Emperial seat but the name of Christianity would not save him being out of the nature beginning with Blood it was required at his hands and Anthetius Bishop of Rome after Pontanius Damasus saith that this Bishop was put to death because he recorded the deaths of the sufferers and here was the beginning of that which they call the Legend of Martyrs in the Church of Rome The seventh Persecution began by Decius who succeeded Philippus in the year 250 by whom was moved a terrible Persecution against the Christians which is noted to be the seventh Persecution Fabianus being a married man and had a wife was chosen Bishop of Rome this Doctrine of Devils forbidding to marry was not yet brought in which the Apostle to Timothy Prophesied of no not in the Church of Rome not for 250. years after Christ So the Emperor Decius put him to death and gave forth a Proclamation that all that Prosessed the name of Christ should be put to death Origen suffered many bonds Wrackings Torments for Religion yet afterwards it is said he sacrificed to Idols and was excommunicated yet afterwards Repented And Nicephorus saith of this Persecution under the Emperor Decius that it was as easie to number the Sands of the Sea as them that Suffered under him Cheremon a Married Bishop fled with his Wife into the Mountain of Arabia and never was seen more the Prohibition of Ecclesiastical men or Ministers Marrying was not yet begun no not in the Church of Rome although they plead Antiquity for their Institutions and Practices the Emperor Raigned but two years and was slain by the Barbarian about this time divers Bishops suffered and others were condemned to the Mettal Mines Cyprian Bishop of Carthage was Banished these had no power yet to give forth Laws nor Inquisitions nor to force things upon People for they had not the outward Authority then though divers things which were unfound Crept in by little and little even amongst them About the year two hundred and fifty five Valerianus together with his Son Gallienus came to be Emperors who Raigned together at first they were moderate to the Christians for about two or three years insomuch that in the Emperors Court there were many Christians but afterwards being moved by an Egyptian was stirred â—p to Persecution which was about the year 259. this Emperor was stirred up to Persecute the Christians which was the eighth Persecution being Instigated by the Egyptian who was great in his Court telling the Emperor that the Christians was the cause of the evils of famine and plague upon the Empire divers Bishops and many hundreds were put to death besides Stephanus suffered with six more which were leading Men also Lawrence suffered who was pinched with fire tongues and laid upon an Iron Grate or Grid-iron red hot and so broyled to death In the sixth year of the Raign of Valerianus Gallianus having laid for the space of three years in Prison with Claudianus and Bossa his Wife were put to death for being Christians Likewise Fructuousus Bishop of Tarracona
Empire and led a Private life having Raigned one and twenty years which was in the year 305. these two latter Emperors Maximinius and Constantius who were called Cesars now became the Emperors of the whole one in the East and the other in the West Maxentius was set up Emperor by the Souldiers and goes against Maximinius the Emperor who sent Severus his Son to War against him which Severus being slain Lycinius Caesar was chosen in the room so that Maximinius Constantius and Maxentius continued the tenth Persecution after Dioclesian and his partner had given over saving Constantius and esepcially his Son Constantius were kind to the Christians Constantius Chused those who refused to offer Sacrifice and commit Idolatry to be in his Court and Banished the Heathen Idolaters as unfit for his service that were Traitors to God and this was about the year 311. On the other hand Maximinius the Emperor and his partner was very Wicked in Idolatry and Cruelty God struck him with a great Plague in the Belly and secret parts which purrifying broke our with swarms of Lice which caused such a stink that the Physitian could not endure the same wherefore he slew the Physitian and by the anguish of his Disesase he slacked Persecution making confession that his Persecuting of them had brought this upon him and so acknowledged his offence and the Infidels divers exalted the God of the Christians yet afterwards being incensed against the Christians this Emperor set up Decrees afresh to Persecute the Christians whereby many Bishops and others were Martyred here was no titles of Lord Bishops and Arch-Bishops not yet in the first three hundred years neither was there any Pope then that did lay claim to supremecy over all the Churches neither had these Bishops whole Counties and Provinces for their maintenance neither all Rome Constantinople Antioch and Jerusalem and all People therein for their Dioceses but them only of the Christians who believed in each of those places but afterwards in the great Persecution there followed great famine and pestilence on the Heathen which caused the Persecution to cease and caused Maximinius to revoke his Decrees and punished the Inchanters that incensed him against the Christians Maxillianus who was joyned in the Empire with Dioclesian who laid down the Goverment of the Empire endeavoured to have slain Constantius the Emperor that he might have got up again into the Empire but failing of his enterprize was slain of Constantius Maxentius this time Reigns wickedly and tyrannically at Rome which caused the Romans to entreat Costantine to come against Maxentius for his Wickedness who made War against him and upon a Bridge made of boats over the River Tyber he was intraped by Constantine and drowned in Tyber and thus the Righteous Judgements of God at last came upon them for their Blood and cruelty as a recompenence and a reward for their deeds but Constantine set forth Decrees of favour to the Christians Marcellinus was Bishop of Rome about the tenth year of Dioclesian in the Persecution he sacrificed to Idols and was excommunicated by three hundred Bishops but afterwards was killed in the Massacre of Dioclesian Marcellus succeeded and one Lucina a rich maid of Rome dying made Marcellus her heir and gave him all her substance and from that time saith Pollidore lib. 1. the Bishops of Rome were greatly enriched and so began to grow up in earthly honours higher and higher But Constantine the Emperor about the year 318. caused a Cross to be made of Gold and precious stones and to be born before his Army instead of a Standard when he went to fight against Maxentius Maximinius and Lucimus these were the least Persecutors of the Christians in the Romane Monarchy which this Constantine did vanquish and set the Christians at liberty who had been Persecuted about three hundred years and so afterwards this Cross others began to Imitate and set up in their Churches and became a flat Idol notwithstanding after this some Persecution was stirring in the Eastern Counties yet in Rome and the Western parts and there was no general Persecution for many years and also in the East part he subdued those Tyrants and we read of no Persecution against the Christians untill the time that John Wickliff suffered which was when the Spirit of the Heathen was entred into the Bishops of Rome and Popes who had retained the name of Christian but lost the life and the Power he began with fire to Persecute the Members of Christ. But long before this time the Wisdom and Power of God was much lost among many of the Bishops of Rome and also divers others that the Apostacy was entred in and they made great contentions about Easter and about dayes which should be Fasted and some was for two and some was for three and some was for forty dayes all the Churches of Asia and their Bishops was for keeping it the fourteenth Moon as Eusebius saith lib. 5. For Asia observed the Feast of Easter and they called a great Council together and decreed that it should be observed the fourteenth Moon upon what day soever in that week the Moon fell and appointed fasting dayes and Meetings and Synods in all parts met together about this trivial matter in the year 199. At Rome likewise there was a Synod gathered together wherein Victor the fourteenth Bishop was President and the Eastern Churches decreed it the day aforesaid and fastings before it and a Western Church decreed it to be the day wherein Christ rose from death to Life but Victor Bishop of Rome with the adjoyned Congregations pronounces flatly all the Westren Churches to be excommunicated Persons and gives them up to Sathan so that it became a Proverb that the Bishop of Rome must judge all and be judged of none this was about the year one hundred ninety nine after Christ when they had respit from Persecution And Iraeneus Bishop of Lyons he was of Victors mind that it ought to be celebrated on the Sunday only yet reproved Victor Bishop of Rome Peters successor as they say for cutting off all the Churches of God in Asia for such a trivial thing And Policarpus and Anisatus contended about trivial things and although there was much good in them both yet this weakned the Christians and led the minds of People out into the observance of outward things and neglected the life and the Power Lucius the two and twentieth Bishop of Rome about the year 255. and Stephanus who succeeded him a great contention in their time about baptism the matter was whether they that returned from any heresie should be rebaptized or be received in with Prayer and laying on of hands only and so here was a great jangling and contention about outward things which were geting up as Idols And Cyprian Bishop of Carthage judged that Hereticks had no way to be purged from Error but by baptism but Stephanus was greatly offended with Cyprian for this After Stephen Xystus succeeded and
hardly stir from thence till they die except some greater advance offer it self also Commissaries Procters Parotters and these are subservient to the former then Chancellors Vice-chancellors Doctors of Divinity Batchelors of Divinity Doctors of Art Masters of Art Batchelors of Art Graduates under-graduates and these belong to the former then Prelates Parsons Vicars Priests Curates and Church wardens all which titles and names and Officers if they be but compared with the Scripture there will be hardly any parallel either concerning office work or Doctrine and notwithstanding all these orders and sorts who are fitted by humane learning or natural study though divers years exercised therein are not skilled in the word of righteousnesse neither hath the tongue of the learned to administer a word in season to the weary nor to turn the sinner from his sins and thus the form of things titles and names are holden up but who seeks after the power of God or to be made able Ministers of the Spirit Literal Ministers enough while maintenance lasts but the ministration of the Spirit few is acquainted with and if there be any such it is well if they be not Persecuted So in that which I have said the understanding will see that there hath been a great Apostacy since the Apostles dayes in the Ministry in Doctrine in Worship and practice divers of which I have touched upon to the intent that they that enquire after the Lord may depart out of the mist of ignorance and come to worship God in spirit and truth and in the Temple made without hands and be joyned to the Church which is in God which the Gates of Hell prevails not against though many will claim Authority from the Apostles few will own their life neither walk after their example so take but a few more Institutions which is called Apostolick to this day among them called Christian Churches Clatus the third Bishop of Rome was the first that wrote this tittle that is greeting and Apostolick blessing he ordained the order of Priesthood Everastus the fifth Bishop ordained that Priests should be honoured and that they should be shaven Alexander the sixth Bishop of Rome ordained that Matrimony should be only solemnized and that the married should be Blessed with the Priest there was the beginning of being married by Priests Sextus about the year 114. after Christ the seventh Bishop of Rome ordained Holy Water and ordered that it should be strowed abroad in Christians houses and when the People met to worship Telesphorus the eight Bishop of Rome ordained that the Communion should be laid upon an Altar and that Lay people should not touch the Holy vessels nor the Holy Garments of the Priests he ordained Lent which was to be kept by the Clergy in the year one hundred forty two Higinus the ninth Bishop ordained the Communion to be celebrated three times at Christmas and that Lent should be fasted Pius about the year 147 after Christ the tenth Bishop ordained that Crism should be Ministred as Baptism and that Children should have God-fathers and God mothers here was the beginning of this great Ordinance and he ordained that Easter-day should be kept on the Sunday Urbanus the seventeenth Bishop of Rome ordained Church-yards to be hallowed and forbad marriage of Priests Pontianus the eighteenth Bishop ordained that Psalms and Mattens should be sung in Church night and day to drive away evil spirits Sextus the twenty fourth Bishop in the year 222. after Christ ordained that Priests should wear Holy Garments as Coops and divers other things in imitation of Aaron and then came up surplices he commanded Images to be set up in Churches Foelix the twenty sixth Bishop of Rome ordained division of Parish Churchres and Diocesses to Bishops Leo the Emperor gave Commandment that all Images and Pictures of Saints should be taken out of the Churches for the avoiding of Idolatry but the Bishop of Rome withstood the Emperor the Emperor for his confirmation of taking of Images away called a Councel of Bishops about three hundred and thirty and they ordained and decreed that all Images should be taken away and burned in the 740. But in the year 769. Gregory the third called a Council together at Rome near a thousand Bishops and condemned Leo the Emperor and three hundred Bishops for taking Images out of the Churches and yet the former Counsel and this all of one Faith and Church which they use to say could not erre and the latter decreed they should be adored and Worshiped with all reverence Boniface the eighth he gave licence to the mendicant Friars to hear the private Confession of sins that people should confess to them Pope Alexander gave commandment that the Sacrament should be made of the Sweet Bread and commanded that water should be mingled with wine Innocentius the third ordained that People should confess their sins to a Priest once a year in the year at the least And these kinds of Decrees stand for Apostolical to this day among the Apostates and the reformed Churches so called do own many things that are too near a kin to them and preffeth them for Ordinances and holy Institutions yea in many Countries the self same things are both owned and practised in many particulars which I have mentioned before in other parts of this Book and are looked upon as divine service and holy Worship which the Ministers of Christ who have the word of reconciliation to publish are ashamed of knowing them to be such things as never was practised nor holden out by Christ or his Apostles but are brought in since darkness hath over-spread the Earth and the Power of God hath been lost And at the first Institution thereof though there might be some shew of a good intention in the formers of them but now they are become absolute Idols and however at the first some of the things mentioned might seem to some to be indifferent yet now being prest of necessity as the Ordinances of God they are become Idols and ought to be thrown away and departed from by all that professeth the Gospel of Christ Jesus and the worship of God in the Spirit For the Lord God hath drawn away his presence out of all formal and visible appearance since Antichrist and the false Church hath got them on for a Garment and to cover themselves withall to the deceiving of the Nations And now in this the day of his power hath appeared in a more mysterious and secret and hidden way and in a more spiritual appearance Into this deceit cannot enter nor transform and therefore all Babylons Merchants are angry and Antichrists followers are full of Wrath and the Dragon cast out floods after the heir and her that brings him forth and makes War with her Seed but the Lord is putting on her Beautiful Garments and Marrying her to himself and she shall reign and her Seed who are born of the Spirit when she that sat as a Queen upon the
with two Deacons were burned the same year for being Christians this Valerian the Emperor Raigned seven years and was taken in the War by the King of Persia who made him his Block to take Horse on to his dying day and though the Christians in this time were much Darkened yet they were much more justiffed in the sight of God then the Heathen Emperors who came all or most of them to a woful End for their Cruelty and Tyranny and Murther for the hand of the Lord who distributes Justice equally to every man according to his Works found them out and Gallianus the Son of Valerianus who joyned with his Father in Persecution had many earthquakes and thirty rebellions and insurrections raised in his time in the Empire in nine years time and this stopt their Persecuting of the Christians somewhat And after Gallianus the Emperor succeeded Claudius who Raigned two years and after him Quintilianâ—s the Brother of Claudius who continued only seventeen dayes about the year 274. in this time the Christians had some rest from Persecution The ninth Persecution began under Aurelianus who began his Raign mildly but soon after moves the ninth Persecution about this time many Christians suffered and some of the Bishops of Rome and Sixtus and Dionysius and many others in the middle of his Raign there was a Council of the Christians at Antioch the Emperor seeming not to be against it nor them but afterwards he was about to seal an Edict for further Persecutions of the Christians but he was so terrified with thundering and lightning that it stopt his tyranny in the sixth year of his Raign he was slain about the year 276. After him succeeded Tacitus who Raigned but six Months and Florianus Raigned next who Raigned but sixty dayes and after him Raigned Marcus Aurelius Probus who Raigned six years and four Months in this time there was no Persecution but the Christians had rest as in matters of Religion but he was slain by his souldiers in the year 248. Carus with his two Sons Carinus and Numerianus succeeded Probus in the Empire the Raign of which Emperors continued in all but three years Carus was slain with lightning and Numerianus was also slain and Carinus the other Son Raigned alone in Italy with much Wickedness who afterwards was slain by the hands of the Tribune at Rome so that from the latter end of the Raign of Valerianus unto the Raign of Dioclesia there seeming to be about forty four years in which there was little Persecution of the Christians but they had rest and enjoyed their Worship in quiet and they were kept under sufferings and the Law and did not exercise Authority over the consciences of the rest as afterwards they did when they came to have Power in their hands although as I said before divers things were brought in by the Bishops of Rome in this time which were much disagreeing from the Apostles dayes yet they held part of the true Worship and bore a Testimony against the open prophaness and cursed Idolatry and Pride of the Heathen Emperors who killed one another for the Impeiral Seat and in this Testimony that they bore for God I Beleive they were accepted and had peace with God The tenth Persecution began under the Raign of Dioclesian which was in the year 289. this was the last Persecution against the Christians which was horrible and grievous that never was any Persecution before or since comparable unto it for the time which it continued which was the space of ten years together though there were more Emperours which had an hand in this Persecution yet principally it beareth the Name of Dioclesian This Dioclesian the Emperor took unto himself Maxillianus to be Partner with him in the Empire those two Emperors chose two others to themselves that is to say Gallerius and Constantius whom they called Cesars Gallerius was sent into the East parts against the Christians and Constantius to the West to Britain these two last Raigned moderately and did not Persecute the Christians for about 10. years so they Prospered in their Wars abroad but afterwards by reason of their victories were puft up with pride in their hearts they Ordained a triumph at Rome after which triumph Dioclesian gave commandment that he himself should be worshiped as God and said he was Brother to the Sun and Moon and so commanded the People to kiss his feet which afterwards when the chief Bishop of Rome got up into pride and claimed superiority over all the Christian Churches having got the Authority of the Dragon commanded the Emperors and Kings then to kiss his feet and so in this the Pope hath imitated the Heathen Emperor who was the greatest Persecutor that ever we read of But to return to Dioclesian he began a great and grevious Persecution of the Christians which was the nineteenth year of his Raign in the year of Christ 103. he commanded all the meeting places of the Christians to be spoyled and the Books of the holy Scriptures to be Burned he sent out a Proclamation for casting all the Bishops and Elders into Prison in his Empire and constrained them by several torments to Worship Idols and so great Persecution there was among the Christians and grievous torments they suffered because they would not offer sacrifice to Idols one Nobleman at Nicom pluckt down the two Emperors Proclamations against the Christians not fearing the Emperors who were then in the City for which act he was put to most bitter death afterwards they were so mad that they sought to destroy all the Christians in the World it can hardly be expressed with words what numbers suffered and what Blood was shed throughout all the Regions and they cast the Christians among the Lions Bears and Leopards who were kept Hungry for that purpose and them that the wild Beast would not Devour they slew them with the Sword and threw them into the Sea Cerena the Wife of Dioclesian he killed because shee was a Christian two thousand were burnt in one place many suffered in Phrygia and were burnt with the whole City in this Persecution likewise in France Spain and Brittan so that some Rivers were Coloured with Blood one thousand slain sometimes in one day and they slew them by ten twenty sixty and sometimes an hundred Men Women and Children Damasus Beda Oratius Honorus and others do testifie that there was slain in the space of one Month seveâ—â—een thousand Persons likewise Peter Bishop of Alexandria and three hundred more were slain with axes there Mauritius was slain with 6666. Victor with 360. were slain in the City of Troy the Christians notwithstanding all this Persecution did increase and though a Cloud was over many and darkness entred in in part respectively to what had been in the first Century yet they were the best Witnesses for the Lord in their generations and the Christians did increase so that the two Heathen Emperors were tired with Persecuting and gave up their
Dionysius writes unto him how that all Cilicia Cappadocia Galatia and the bordering Nations how great Synods had decreed that they would not communicate with them because they rebaptized Hereticks and saith further the greatest Synods of Bishops hath decreed that such as renounce any heresie should first be instructed and then Washed and Purged of their impure leaven and thus they Wrangled and Jangled about things with one another and brake into Fractions notwithstanding many of these men Suffered under the merciless Cruelty of the Heathen Emperor likewise they excommunicated one another and called Councils and censured one another and hurt the spreadng of Truth amongst them that believed in the Name of Jesus all this is to shew that they were declining and coming to loss in this time though so near the Apostles time and though they suffered under the Emperors and found peace with the Lord yet many practices and institutions were made which are not according to the Primitive times which ought not to be binding to all generations afterwards because of the Antiquity of them as the now called Church of Rome would have all to receive as Apostolick Doctrine But to return to Constantine the Emperor when peace was established in the Empire he set forth a general Proclamation or Edict not constraining therein any man fro any Religion but giving liberty to all men to exercise their Religion whether Christians or others which thing was taken well by the Romans and all wise men this Licinius joyned with Constantine in the Government of the Empire and seemingly favoured the Christians and joyned with Constantine in setting forth an edict for the Christians liberty yet afterwards he had great hatred towards Constantine and conspired his death rejecting the Christian Religion and Persecuted them who said he would become an Enemy to the Christians for that in their Meetings and Assemblies they prayed not for him but for Constantine so cast the Christians into Prison and Persecuted them within his Dominions and many were put to death but at length he was slain after several battels between him and Constantine by the souldiers in the year 324. Constantius the Emperor the Father of Constantine dyed a natural death and was buried at York Dioclcesian died at Salena as some say by his own Poyson in the year 319. he was the chief of the seven Tyrants in the tenth Persecution Maximinian the second who was hanged at Mazilla by Constantine in the year 310. Thirdly Galerius who was plagued with a terrible disease Severus the fourth was slain by Maximinian the father of Maxentius the wicked Tyrant who was Banished by Constantine in the year 318. The sixth was Maxentius who dyed not long atfer in the year 320. Lastly Licinius was overcome by Constantine and slain about the year 324. And thus the Lord Plagued the cruelty of the Heathen Emperors who knew not God but hated his appearance and rewarded them according to their deeds The Christians in these three hundred years wherein was the ten Persecutions they were sufferers under the Power of the Dragon who ruled in the Emperors and then they were not Persecutors having not the outward power in their hand but when they had the outward power then they turned Persecutors especially the Bishops of Rome when they had the outward power on their side then they were worse then Constantine the great who gave liberty to all Christians and others to Worship God without forcing of any as their actions following afterwards makes it appear for being countenanced by the Emperor they grew proud and lordly and increasing in power and outward Authority though set up at first by the Emperor at last excluded him for having any Authority or Power over the See of Rome as after a season may be made appear In the year 367. Damasus was Bishop of Rome 18. years Also in the first three or four hundred years before ever the Bshop of Rome did get so high as to be called universal Bishop abundance of Darkness spread over and abundance of Idolatry and superstitious things was invented and abundance of Orders as Friars and Monks and Monasteries and Nunneries wherein they were diverted from the order of the Gospel and a great Apostacy came in In the year 260. Anthony is called the Father of the Monks who followed the Example of Paulus born at Thebes in Egypt who retired himself to a private Gave under the foot of a Rock in the seventh Persecution by Decius And one called Basil is said to be the first that built Monasteries and ordained vows of Poverty Chastity and Obedience and these are called the Monks of Basils Order and are bound to abstain from all kinde of Flesh and here began this Doctrine of Devils contrary to the Doctrines of the Apostles of Christ. The next who prescribed Orders was Augustine born in the year 350. this order was called Austin Fryars they wear a Lethern girdle to distinguish them from the Monks the first Order of the Eriars was Mendicants the third that Prescribed Orders was Benedict in the year 472. and out of this Order did spring the Monks of Benedict and divers other Orders which I have mentioned before in the former part of the Book The fourth that Prescribed Orders was Francis of Assis these are called Franciscans or Grey Friars their rule and order was confirmed by Innocent the third these are the fourth Order of Friars Mendicants or begging Friars and from this order sprung Friars Miniries and Capouchen Friars Miniries were ordered by Franciscus de Pola and Capouchens were ordained by one Matthew Basa of Acona The Jesuites were first founded by Ignatius Loyolla born in Navar they were first confirmed by Paul the third The Nuns first Author was one Clare the Daughter of Asses who forsoke her Fathers House and devised an Order of religious Women who vowed Poverty and Virginity they were confirmed by Honorius the third but many of these being mentioned and their Practices which are contrary to the Primitive time is mentioned before in this Book and so let them pass and to return to the Bishops of Rome but divers contentions and sects began to breake forth and the Bishops not only of Rome but of Alexandria and Nicomedia and Miletus and one clashing against another Alexander Bishop of Alexandria and Eusebins Bishop of Nicomedia and many Bishops in other places joyning one to one side and one to another and envying one another insomuch that as Eusebius saith a man might have seen not only the Presidents and chief Rulers of the Churches envying one against another with spightful approbrious Terms and also the Multitude severed into parts that the Christian Religion was openly derided of all Men and so called Councils and Synods and condemned one another and excommunicated one another as Hereticks and so went out of the Long-suffering and Patience and forbearance which the Apostle exhorted unto And so no less then four hundred years many run wholly out into contention about
dayes and Meats and Drinks some Running this way and some that way and forging things upon the Apostles and Churches in Asia saying that John the Disciple gave them an order to observe Easter the fourteenth day of the Month And Rome and the Western parts alledge Peter and Paul for their Author how they left them this tradition both alike true for this came up more by custom then any injunction from the Apostles or tradition either for they condemned such things in their life time and called them beggarly rudiments such as inhabit at Rome they began to make fasts and fasted three weeks before Easter excepting the Saturday and the Sunday Illyricum Greece and Alexandria began their fasting dayes six weeks before Easter and that they call fourty dayes fasting or Lent others begin to fast seven weeks before Easter Yet in all the while they use abstinency but onely fifteen dayes and hath intermission amongst those dayes and yet calls these fourty dayes fasting or Lent so that they disagreed in the time disagreed in the months disagreed in the dayes and times and in the abstinence and contended about these things or for life and death and excommunicating one another and judging one another Hereticks and at last when they got power killed one another and stirred up the Emperours one against another and this in the 350 or 400 years after Christ. And all this fasting was but from some meat as though some had been clean and some unclean some abstained onely from flesh and fed onely upon fish and abstain from all other Creatures others upon fish and fowls of the Air affirming their Original is of the water and so no flesh and others some fasted till nine of the Clock and then eat of divers sorts as they pleased and here was their fast and their Lent about which all this contention and stir all which practices are condemned in the Apostles writings and such ignorance and hypocrisie for the Kingdom of God stands not in meats and drinks and yet the Protestants and them that calls themselves reformed will needs presse these things as holy Institutions when as it is manifest when the Christians in former dayes began to judge one another about these things and strive and bite one another and devoure one another and they lost the power and then Mystery Babylon began to rise these things became her Merchandize and these practices became to be called Christianity which Christ and the Apostles would have been ashamed of And about the Sacrament great contention arose as about the time and the manner some did receive the bread and wine every Sabbath day yet Alexandria and Rome do not use it Yet the Egyptians joyning to Alexandria and the Inhabitants of Thebes they had another order they did receive it when they had banquetted and filled themselves with delicates and then received their Communion and so they judged one another in these things In Thessalonica Macedonia and Hellas in Achaia they baptize only on the Easter holy dayes Likewise in Hellas Jerusalem and Thessalia their service they said with Candle-light likewise in Caesaria Cappadocia and at Cyprus the Priests and Bishops expound the Scripture on the Saturdayes and Sundayes by Candle-light as Socrates saith Lib. 5. In this time it is said the Customes and observations were so many that none was able to find two which did retain one Order of the service At Caesaria in Cappadocia they receive not into communion such as sin after Baptism and even so the Macedonians in Hellespont did the same The Phrygians allow not of two Marriages The Original Authors of so great diversity of services rights and customes were Bishops which governed their Churches at several times and such as do like of such practices have commended them to posterity for Laws and such vain and frivolous Contentions did arise in this age whereby it is manifest the Apostacy from the life and power of God was great and Gods wisdome and the Unity of the Spirit was wanting and Philosophy and customary practise was their chief Foundation And one Bishop exiled another and complained to the Emperors and banished one another and so the sheep was made havock of and starved and scattered and the name of Christ and Christian came to be evil spoken of by the many fractions and contentions that were amongst them But to return to the Bishops of Rome after the raign of Constantine in which persecution ceased many Superstitious Injunctions and Idolatrous practices were set up in the first five hundred years which I shall not much trouble the Reader with further then what is already said But divers other things were brought in afterwards more gross then the former Gregory called the Great the Bishop of Rome of whom it is said of all that went before him he was the basest or worst and of all that came after him he was the best It is he that brought in this Title among the Roman Bishops to be called the servant of Gods servants but by his practise he proved a Lord over Gods servants consciences and over their faith he made an Act that Priests should not marry a wife and he ordained a book called the Service or Letany which goes under the name of Gregories Mass-book to be recived in all Churches After the death of him Fabianus was Bishop who continued scarce 2. years he was the last of the Roman Bishops who had not the Title of universal Bishop or Head of the Church he was the last of sixty five Bishops before the first Pope he died in the year six hundred and five Palagius the first was the 69 Bishop of Rome in the year 355. he ordained that Hereticks and Shismaticks should be punished with temporal death there was 65 Bishops before Boniface the third who was the first Pope and since there hath been 179 Popes Boniface the third who succeeded Fabianus was the first Pope he reigned but one year and did more hurt in that year then Gregory could do in many before he obtained of the Emperour Phocas that he and his Successors after him in the See of Rome above all other Churches should have the preheminence and that the Bishop of Rome should be the head of all the Churches of Christ in Christendom alleadging this frivolous and reasonless reason that Saint Peter had left to Saint Peter his successors in Rome the Keyes of binding and loosing for before this Constantinople Asia and other Churches their Bishops had some stroak and divers times many of the Bishops of Rome were reprehended by the rest but now obtaining this Decree of Phocas he began to take head over all other Churches and this Phocas to aspire to the Empire of Rome he murthered his own Master and Mauritius the Emperour and his Children so Phocas somewhat fearing and willing to have Boniface his favour gratifies him and condescends to all his petitions and grants him to be universal head Bishop over all Christian Churches and there was
come upon thee Likewise Paul said I was a persecutor and a Blasphemer This generation who professeth Pauls words would say let him dye he hath confessed he was a Blasphemer but he was slain with other weapons Christ slew the Blasphemer and the Persecutor in him and left the man alive and made him a chosen vessel to declare against Blasphemy and lead out of all ungodliness And herein is the second Covenant more excellent then the first and the Ministration more excellent then the former and the Dominion and Government of Christ more excellent then the Dominion and government of the Kings of Israel and the weapons more excellent then theirs and the power greater then theirs which is able to destroy the works of the Devil as Blasphemy Idolatry and Adultery and save the Creature alive This is the better Covenant indeed the everlasting and herein is the mercy of God exalted his Dominion and Power exalted and Christ the King of Glory exalted And these sins before-mentioned punished with great severity and great Judgment For in the first Covenant they slew with a temporal death But Christ when he appeareth in his power and glory in flames of fire renders vengeance within upon the wicked which burns and scorches and brings anguish tormenteth all them that are in that Nature and banisheth all them from his presence and from the Glory of his power till that be dead and slain which would not have him to Raign to wit that which is born of the flesh which is within And blasphemy Idolatry Murther are the fruits of the flesh where the flesh is not lived in these things cannot be brought forth I speak not of the Creature who is Gods Workman-ship for that may be alive when the birth fruits which are after the flesh are both dead and herein is the mighty power of God made known and his Justice and his severe Judgment which all must pass thorow before they come to witness eternal life He that dispised Moses Law died by the mouth of two or three witnesses which was a natural death of how much sorer punishment shall he be worthy which treadeth underfoot the Son of God and counteth the bloud of the Covenant an unholy thing Heb. 10. 28 29. and blasphemeth But further it will be objected that the Apostle exhorteth for a submission unto every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake 1 Pet. 2. 13. whether it be unto Kings as Supream or unto Governours as unto them that are sent of him and in Romans the 13. 1 2. Let every Soul be subject unto the higher power for there is no power but of God and the powers that be are ordained of God Ans. From these Scriptures many bad Constructions and Inferences hath been gathered as that Kings and Rulers were to be obeyed in all things and that every worship which is commanded byâ—a King or Superiour ought to be obeyed and that Kings and Rulers had power in Spiritual things to make a Law for such a Worship or forbid such a Worship and all these ought to be obeyed And so in the Apostacy the Ministers of Antichrist hath brought in many Inventions and Traditions and humane Institutions for Divine Worship and Service and thereby hath pressed Rulers to make Laws and compel all people to receive them although they have been repugnant to the true worship of God and then such Teachers hath pressed such people to obedience as of duty and necessity because the aforesaid Scripture doth Command subjection to all Rulers And thus hath Babylon reared up her City and gotten Merchants to put off her Merchandize and so hath cheated both Rulers and people and hath led them to hate and destroy one another Unto these Scriptures and divers others which speaks of obedience to Magistrates in all things must needs be truly understood to be of things that are Just and equal which are onely civil and concerning things between man and man and the Ordinances which are for the well being of a Nation or the good and wholesome government of a state and cannot be understood of things Spiritual or relating to things appertaining to the Conscience or respecting things about the worship of God My reasons are weighty for in that time and age the Apostle wrote whether Peter Paul or any other the Magistrates were all Heathens as Herod Pontius Pilate Augustus Caesar Tiberius Caesar and Nero who were all Heathen Emperours of Rome and Idolators and at that time they had power over Rome and also over Jerusalem Judea and Paul writing to the Romans and Peter to Capadocia Pontius and Asia who were also under Heathen Rulers and did not worship the true God doubtless they injoyned not submission unto the Heathen Rulers in spiritual things for then they must have been joyned unto Idolatry for if it be understood that they had power in spiritual things which partained unto the Conscience and that they ought to be obeyed in all spiritual things then Peter and John were transgressors themselves when they taught boldly the things of the Kingdome of God in every City where ever they came And the Rulers in most places opposed and put Peter and John out of the City and commanded the Apostles to speak no more in the Name of Jesus And yet they returned again and disobeyed their Command and their power and authority and said whether it were better to obey God or man judge ye So that no King Ruler nor Magistrate as a Magistrate has power given of God to Imprison or force or perscribe any Law or worship upon the hearts and Consciences of men For that belongs onely to Christ the Law given the Bishop of souls But then it will be objected if not as a Magistrate yet then as a Christian he may injoyn and give Command concerning worship and compell and punish them that obey not Answer As a Christian they have no priority but as they stand in the growth of truth not above others for God is no respecter of persons for the Apostles and Ministers of Christ who preached the Gospel and had begotten many into the Faith thorow the power of God which was with them by which they spoke and in things spiritual might have claimed obedience to their Command much more then any temporall Prince and yet they said we are not Lords over mens faith nor did they exercise Lorship over mens Consciences but left every one to Gods witnesse and to the word of his grace which was nigh in their hearts And furthermore said let every one be perswaded in his own mind said if any should be contrary minded God would reveal it to them and so waited in the patience to see the work of God prosper and was content And so forcing and compelling about Spiritual matters by temporal punishments and temporal Law is all contrary to the Apostles practice in the primitive times though the heathen persecuted the Christians by their temporal Laws for Spiritual things and
their Brethren there was made of necessity also a change of the Law and a disanulling of the Commandment going before Christ Jesus when he had finished his Office upon earth by fulfiling all righteousnes he offered up himself through the eternal spirit sacrifice unto God without spot The Apostles and Ministers who were made partakers of the divine nature and of the word of reconciliation did not look back to the former Ordinances of the first Priesthood but testified an end was put to them witnessed again the Temple wherein the Priests Ministred Paul and likewise Stephen was stoned to death against circumcision saying It was not that of the Flesh and against all the outward ordinances of that Covenant called them carnal preached up Christ Jesus his doctrine the new and living way wch was not manifest while the first Tabernacle was standing they preached freely the ever lasting Gospel and did not desire or require setled maintenance but were Ministred unto only by them who had believed their report were turned to Christ Jesus and were made partakers of spiritual things though they often denied that which was given unto them Here was no Tythes spoken on either to the Jews or Gentiles who believed At Jerusalem and there abouts such was the love and unity of heart among the Saints in the Apostles time that all things were in common none wanted So likewise the Church gathered by Mark at Alexandria in Egypt followed the same practice and the Church at Jerusalem and Philo Judeus saith in many other provinces the Christians lived together in societies In the Church of Antioch Galatie and Corinth the Saints possessed every man his own Estate where the Apostle ordained that a weekly offering should be made of the Saints that every one might offer freely of that which God had blessed him with which was put into the hands of the Deacons of the Churches whereby the poor was relieved and other necessary services were supplied In the next age monthly offrings were made not exacted but freely given as appears plainly by Tertullian in Apologet. chap. 29. where he upbraids the Gentiles with the piety and charity of the Christians he saith Whatsoever we have in the Treasury of our Churches it is not raised by taxation as though we put men to ransom their Religion But every man once a month or when he pleaseth himself gives what he thinks good for no man is compelled but left free to his own descretion and it is not bestowed in vanity but in relieving the poor and for maintenance of poor Children Deffitute of Parents and aged people and such as are cast into Prisons for professing the Christian faith And this way of contribution continued till the great persecution under Maximinian and Dioclesian about the year 304 as Eusebius witnesseth and so doth Tertullian Origen Cyprian and others Also about this time some Land was given to the Church by them that believed and the revenue thereof was distributed as other free gifts were by the Deacons and Elders to the poor for the fore mentioned uses but the Bishops or Ministers medled not with them Origen saith It is not lawful for any Minister to possesse Lands given to the Church to his own use Cyprian Bishop of Carthage about the year 250 also testifieth the same sheweth how the Church maintaineth many poor and that her own diet was sparing plain and her expences full of frugality Prosper saith also that a Minister able to live of himself ought not to desire any thing to be given unto him and he that receiveth it doth it not without great sin The Council at Antioch Anno 340 finding that much fault had been among the Deacons to whom it properly belonged to distribute the offerings or free gifts where there was need which they detained for their own covetous ends the Council did ordain that the Bishop might distribute the Goods but required that they took no part thereof to themselves nor to the use of the Priests using the Apostles words having food and rayment be therewith content Chrysostome notes who lived about the year 400 that Christian converts joyned in societies and lived in Common after the example of the former Saints at Jerusalem by whose writings it doth appear that three was not the least mention made of Tythes in that age The Church at this time living altogether by free offerings of Lands Monies and Goods the people were much pressed to bountifull Contributions for holy uses as may be seen in the writings of Hirome and Chrysostome who brought the liberality of the Jews in their payment of Tythes for an example beneath which they would not have Christians determine their charity Chrysostome saith I speak not these things as commanding or forbidding they should give more Yet as thinking it fit they should not give less then the tenth part And Hierome also doth admonish them to bounty and charity towards the poor not binding at all to offer this or that part leaving them to their own Liberty yet pressing them not to be shorter then the Jews in their tenths Ambrose who was Bishop of Milane about the year 400 preached up tenths to be offred up for holy uses as the phrase was then But his Authority he produceth wholly from Moses writings Likewise Augustin Bishop of Hippo joyns and agrees with Ambrose in this thing but from the Law given to Israel take their whole Doctrine and threatned them with great penalties and heavy Judgments from God that did not give their tenths But yet take notice to what end they required them that the poor might not want and saith God hath reserved them for their use So by this time love did grow cold in many and the power of God was much wanting which would have kept the hearts of people open in love and mercy to their members And therefore they were much prest on and threatned by the Bishops to give their tenths Not that the Bishops had any better ground but only the Jewish Law for their foundation and so in process of time this Doctrine came to be received many following the opinion of the antient Fathers yet hitherto it was not laid down as a positive Doctrine to pay them as the Jews did but onely brought the Jews for an example that Christians should not pay less Leo called the great about the year 440 who reigned twenty years he was very earnest in stiring up mens devotion to offer to the Church but speaks not a word of any quantity Severin also 470 stirred up the Christians in Panona to give the tenth to the poor Likewise Gregory not only admonished the payment of Tythes from Moses Law but also the observing of Lent which he reckoned as the tenth of time in the year And this he would have given unto God saying we are Commanded in the Law to give the tenth of all things unto God And thus Ignorance