of Christ upon the Earth 51. That none are damned but for rejecting the Gospel 52. That now many Christians have more knowledge then the Apostles had 53. That miracles necessarily attend the Ministry 54 That there ought to be no Churches built nor should men worship in consecrated places 55. That the Apostles were ignorant of the salvation to be revealed in the last days 56. That all men ought to have liberty of conscience and of prophesying even women also 57. That circumcision and the old covenant was onely of things temporal 58. That Paedobaptisme is unlawful and impious and that others besides Ministers may baptise and that a man may be baptised often 59. That the people should receive the Lords Supper with their hats on but the Ministers in giving it should be uncovered 60. That the Church of England is Antichristian 61. That there is no divine right to call or make Ministers that Ministers should work for their living and that Tythes are Antichristian 62 â—hat Christians are not bound to observe the Lordâ— day and that we should observe still the old Sabbath 63. That humane learning and premeditation is uselesse to preaching and that preaching should onely confist in disputing reasoning and conferring 64. That the Saints must not joyn in prayer with wicked men not receive the Sacrament with them nor with any member of the Church of England 65. That â—ublick prayers are not to be used but by such as have an inâ—allible Spirit as the Apostles had 66. That set hours of prayer are needlesse 67 That singing of Davids Psalmes or other holy songs except they be of their own making are unlawful 68. That wicked men ought not to pray at all 69. That all government in the Church ought to be civil not Ecclesiastical 70 That the power of the keyes is as well in six or seven gathered together as in the greatest congregation 71. That neither miracles nor visions nor anointing the sick with oyl are ceased 72. That in these days many are with Paul rapt up into the third Heaven 73 That the Magistrate is not to meddle with matters of Religion nor forms of Church government which if they do they are not to be obeyed 74. That there ought to be a community of Goods seeing all the Earth is the Saints 75. That a man upon slight causes may put away his wife and that one man may have two wives 76. That children ought not at all to obey their parents if wicked 77. That parents should not instruct their children but leave them to God 78. That Christians ought not to maintain Religion by the sword nor to fight for their lives and liberties noâ— to fight at all nor to kil any thing nay not a chicken for our use 79. That it stands not with Gods goodness to damn his own creatures eternally 80. That i'ts unlawful for a Christian to be a Magistrate 81. That man lost no more by Adams fall then the rest of the whole creation 82 That Christ hath not purchased eternal life for man more then for the rest of the creation and that he offered up himselfe a full and perfect sacrifice not only for man but for all that man kept even the whole creation 83. None are sent to hell before the last judgment 84. It is not the Law but the Gospel which threatens us with Hell fire 85. If God shew not mercy to all he is not infinite 86. Christians are not bound to meet one day in seven for publick worship 87. The Saints are justified not by Christs obedience but by the essential righteousness of God 88. A woman committeth not adultery in lying with another man if her husband be a sleep 89. That the Saints may put away their unbeleeving wives or husbands 90. There is no other seale but the Spirit the Sacraments are no seales at all 91. The Magistrate may not put to death a murtherer being a member of the Church till first he be cast out of the Church 92. The promises belong to sinners as sinners and not as repenting sinners 93. Apocrypha books are canonical Scripture 94. To use set forms of prayer even the Lords prayer is Idolatry 95. Bells Churches and Church-yards preaching in Pulpits in Gowns by an hour-glasse the names of our months and days are all idolatry 96. That the Apostles Creed is to be rejected as erroneous 97. That there ought to be no other laws among Christians but the judicial Law of Moses and that the Magistrate hath no legislative power at all 98. That all Learning Schools Universities Arts Degrees are to be rejected as pernicious 99. That Angels and Devils are not substances but meer qualities and that mens soules are but terrestrial vapours perishing with the bodies 100. That some in this life are perfect without all sin and need not pray for pardon 101. That in God there is some composition and corporiety and mutability also 102. That Christ took not his flesh of the Virgin Mary but that his body was created without all consanguinity with the first Adam 103. That God doth personally subsist in every creature 104. That the world is eternal 105. That the Lords Supper may be celebrated in Inns rather then Churches and that in the end of a feast 106. That the Devils have no sinne But I will leave these Divels though I could mention many more but that it delights not my selfe nor can it the Reader to be raking in such filthy mire and dirt These are some of the poysonous weeds which have too much of late infested our English Garden I mean the Church once admired both at home and abroad for the beauty of her Doctrine and Disciplin and envied of none but ignorants or men of perverse minds The Poet bewailing the ruins of Troy said Seges ubi Troi a fuit Corn grows where Troy stood but I may sadly complain that in stead of corn that is sound and wholsom doctrine which should be the food of our souls now grows Tares and Weeds that choak the good word with which we were formerly fed and might have been unto a life of glory everlasting if we had therein abode But least I should bring thee into danger by giving thee onely a fight of these Rocks and Precepices to prevent that I shall commend to thy serious perusal Master Wollebius his Abridgement of Christian Divinity which for the good of my country men I Englished Enlarged and cleared in obscure places and have now fitted for a second impression A book worthy to be written in Letters of gold and imprinted in the heart of every good Christian The knowledge therein contained by prayer and through the assistance of Gods spirit will root and establish the in every good word and work to the comming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ which God of his infiniâ—e mercy grant The Contents of the Thirteenth Section The Doctrine of the Church of Rome concerning the Scriptures 2. Their tenets concerning predestination
Obedience for God himself prescribed multitudes of ceremonies to the Jews And since the first establishing of the Christian Church she hath alwayes made use of some decent Ceremonies which do not argue any defect or want in Religion but the weaknesse onely of those that are children in Relâ—gion who must sometimes be fed with such milk Râ—ligious Ceremonies are like the Priests ornaments which are not parts of his essence and yet procure him reverence which Iaddus knew when in his robes he presented himself to Alexander who doubtlesse had he appeared without them had gone without either reverence or benevolence so that Ierusalem did owne her safety and deliverance to the high Priests vestments Religion without Ceremonies is like solid meat without sauce Though in the Church of God some are so strong that they need no sauce of Ceremonies to the solid meat of Religion yet most stomacks are so weak that they cannot digest the one without the other Christ deals not so niggardly with his Church as to afford her cloaths onely to cover her nakedâ—esse he is content to see her in rings bracâ—lets jewels and other ornaments Thus he dealt with his first spouse of the Jewish Church I cloathed thee saith he with beoydered work and shod thee with badgers skin c. I girded thee about with fine linnen and I covered thee with silk I decked thee also with ornaments and put bracelets upon thine â—ands and a chain on thy neck and a frontlet upon thy face and ear-rings in thine ears and a beautifull crown upon thine head Ezek. 16. 10. c. If God was so bountifull to his first Wife why should he be so sparing to his second as to afford her no outward Ornaments at all Is she so rich that she needeth not any I wish it were so but I find it otherwise for she stands in as much need of some outward decent and significant Ceremonies to help her knowledge and devotion as the Jews did though not of so many not of the like nature I observe that where are no Ceremonies there is small reverence and devotion and where some cost is bestowed even on the outside of Religion there some love is manifested as our Saviour proves that Mary Magdleâ—â—â— had more love to him than Peter had because she had washed his feet wiped them with her hairs kissed them and anointed his head with pretious ointment which Peter had not done This cost was not pleasing to Iudas yet Christ commends her for it I know the Kings daughter is glorious within yet heâ— cloathing is of wrought gold and her rayment is of needle-work Thiâ— I write not to commend either superfluous needlesse or too costly and frivolous Rites but to shew how requisite it is to have some decent significant and such as may further knowledge and devotion Q. 9. What else may we observe in the view of all these Religionâ— A. That some of them are meerly Heathenish somâ— Iewish some meerly Christian some mixed either of all or some of these Mahumetanisme is mixed of Iudaisme Gentiâ—isme and Arrianisme the Moscovite Religion is partly Christian partly Heathenish In the East are many Sects partly Christian partly Iewish observing Circumcision with Baptisme and the Sabbath with the Lords day Among the Corinthians some professed Christianity and yet with the Gentiles denyed the Resurrection but God alwayes abhorred such mixed Religions as joyn with Micah the Ephod and Teraphim and halt between God and Baal who are Hebrews and yet with the Gentiles round the corners of their heads and cut their flesh c. Levit. 19. 27. God will not have any mixture in the ointment flour mirrhe or incense that is offerd to him but will have all pure he would not have the Oxe and Asse yoaked together therefore the Apostle reproveth sharply the Galathians for using their Iewish Ceremonies with Christianity The Samaritans are condemned for worshipping the Lord and Idols Christ haâ—ed the works of the Nicolaitans who were partly Christians and partly Gentiles and punished the Gergasites by drowning their Swine in the Sea For being Iews they rejected Circumcision and eat swines flesh with the Gentiles For this cause That the Jews might not learn the Religion of the Gentiles God would have them dwell apart by themselves and not mix with other Nations nor dwell near the Sea-side and yet we see how prone they were to Idolatry by the Golden Calf the Bâ—azen Serpent the Ephod Teraphim and Graven Image taken out of the house of Micah and set up in Dan. Iudges â—â—20 The Chariot and horses of the 〈◊〉 set up in the Temple as we may read in Ezeâ—hiel The Golden Calves set up by Jeroboam The Idolatry of Solomon Manasse and other Kings and the falling away of the Ten Tribes from God The reason of this pronenesse in them to Idols was their education in â—gypt the mother of strange Religions where they had been seasoned with idolatry and so pleasing is idolatry to flesh and blood that they will spare no cost nor time nor pains nor their own lives and childrens to please their Idols thus the Hebrews could rise early in the morning and parâ— with their golden-Ear-rings to make a Calf The Baalites could cut their flesh with knives and lanceâ—s till the blood gushed out and could cry from morning till evening Yea many Idolaters did not spare to offer their children to Mâ—loch but there is no sin more hatefull to God than Idolatry which the Scripture calls abomination and Idols lying vanities and sorrows And Idolaters are named Fornicators and Adulterers and God will have the very places of Idolatry to be destroyed Deut. 12. 2 3. The Iews must not eat of things offered to Idols nor marry with the Heathen who having forsaken the true God made gods of their Forefathers and Benefactors by setting up their images at first in memoriall onely and then fell to adoration of them and because they could not see God who is invisible they would have his visible presence in some outward Image or representation thinking they could not but bâ— in safety so long as they had his image with them This made the Trojans so careful of their Palladium the Tyrians of their Apollo other places of their tutelar gods Q. 10. Which of all the Religioâ—s we have viewed seems to be most consonant to naturall Reason A. The barbarous and butcherly Religions of the Gentiles in sacrificing men in worshipping stocks stones c. Divers Tenets also in Mahumetanisme Iudaisme and many opinions in hereticall sects among Christians are against reason The doctrine of the true Orthodox Christian is above naturall â—eason for the natural man saith the Apostle understandeth not the things of the Spirit But the Religion of those Gentiles who worshipped the Sun seemed to be most consonant to their naturall reason because they could not conceive what God was being a Spirit incomprehensible for all knowledge comes by the sences and
notorious Advancers of Heresie with their effigies and an account of their Lives Actions and Ends usually annexed to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the view of all Religions c. The Religions of Asia The Contents of the first Section OF the Church-Disciplin Sacrifices Ordination Publick place Buildings first erected for Divine Service and days of Divine Service before Moses 2. Of the Church Government under Moses difference of the High Priest from other Priests 3. Of the Church Government from him till Solonion 4. Of the Government after Solomon till the division of the Tribes 5. Of Solomons Temple and the outward splendor of the Iewes Religion 6. Of the office of the Levites of the Prophets Scribes Pharises Nazarites Rechabites Essenes Sadduces and Samritans 7. Of the ancient observation of their Sabbath of the observation of their Passover of the feasts of Pentecost Tabernacles new Moons of Trumpets and of expiation of their Sabbatical year and their Iubilee 8. Of their ancient Excommunications how God instructed them of old and of the maintenance allowed by the Iewes to their Priests and Levites 9. Of the Government after the Jewes were carried captive into Babylon 10. Of the Iewish Church-Government at this day their Prayers Sabbaths Feasts Book of the Law Passover what observable thereupon and whether to be permitted among Christians in the exercise of their own Religion and wherein not to be communicated with by Christians 11. Of the Iewish preparation for morning prayer Fast in August Beginning of their new year Feast of Reconciliation Ceremonies in reading of the Law 12. Their Church officers Feast of Dedication and of Purim Fasts Marriages Divorcements Circumcision Redemption of the first born their duty toward the sick and Ceremonies about the dead The Contents of the second Section THe Religions of the ancient Babylonians of the making worshipping of images bringing in Idolatry 2. Of Hierapolis and gods of the Syrians 3. Of the Phoenicians 4. Of the old Arabians 5. Of the ancient Persians 6. Of the Scythians 7. Of the Tartars or Cathaians and Pagans 8. The Religions of the Northern Countries neer the Pole Three ways whereby Satan deludes men by false Miracles The fear of his Stratagems whence it proceeds His illusions many our duty thereupon 9. Of the Chinois 10. Of the ancient Indians 11. Of Siam 12. Of Pegu 13. Of Bengala 14. Of Magor 15. Of Cambaia 16. Of Goa 17. Of Malabar Pagan Idolaters believe the immortality of the soul. 18. Of Narsinga and Bisnagar 19. Of Japan 20. Of the Philippina Islands 21. Of Sumatra and Zeilan 22. Of the ancient Egyptians 23. Of the modern Egyptian Religion The Religions of Africa and America The Contents of the third Section OF the old African Religion 2. The Religion and Church Discipline of Fez. 3. Of Morocco 4. Of Guinea 5. Of the ancient African Aethiopians 6. Of the modern Abissins 7. Of the Lower Aethiopians 8. Of Angola and Congo 9. Of the northern neighbours of Congo 10. Of the African Islands 11. The Religion of America 12. Of Virginia 13. of Florida 14. Of the Religions by west Virginia and Florida 15. Of New Spain and Mexico 16. Idolaters their cruelty and cost in their barbarous sacrifices 17. Of the Americans their superstitious fear and Tyranny thereof 18. Of Jucatan and the parts adjoining 19. Of the southern Americans 20. Of Paria and Guiana 21. Of Brasil 22. Of Peru. 23. Of Hispaniola The Religions of Europe The Contents of the fourth Section THe Religion of the ancient Europaeâ—ns 2. The Roman chief Festivals 3. Their gods 4. Their Priests 5. Their Sacrifices 6. Their Marriage Rites 7. Their Funeral Ceremonies 8. The old Grecian Religion 9. Their chief gods 10. Of Minerva Diana Venus 11 How Juno Ceres and Vulcan were worshipped 12. The Sun worshipped under the names of Apollo Phoebus Sol Jupiter Liber Hercules Mars Mercurius 〈◊〉 c. 13. The Moon worshipped under divers names and shapes 14. The Earth and Fire how worshipped and named 15. The Deity of the Sea how worshipped 16. Death how named and worshiped 17. The Grecian Sacrifices and Coremonies 18. Their Priests and Temples of old The Contents of the fifth Section THe Religion of the old Germans Gaules and Britains 2. Of the Saxons Danes Swedes Moscovites Russians Pomeranians and their neighbours 3. Of the Scythians Geâ—es Thracians Cymbrains Goths Lusitanians c. 4. Of the Lithuanians Polonians Hungarians Samogetians and their neighbours 5. Of divers Gentile gods besides the above named 6. The ranks and armes of their gods 7. With what creatures their Charriots were drawn 8. Of peculiar gods worshipped in peculiar places 9. The. Greek chief festivals The Contents of the sixth Section OF the two prevalent Religions now in Eorope 2. Of Mahomets Law to his Disciâ—les 3. Of the Mahumetans opinions at this day â— Mahomet not the Antichrist 5. Of their Sects and how the Turks and Persians differ 6. Of â—he Mahumetan religious orders 7. Of their oâ—her hypocritical orders 8. Of their secular Priest â— Of the Mahumetan Devotion and parts there â—f 10. Of their Ceremonies in their Pilgrimage to Mecca 11. The Rites of their Circumcision 12. Their Rites about the sick and dead 13. The 〈◊〉 of Mahumetanisme and the causes thereof 14. Mahumetanisme of what continuance THe Contents of the seventh Section The Christian Religion propagated 2. The decay thereof in the East by Mahumetanism 3. Persecution and Heresie the two great enemies thereof 4. Simon Magus the first heretick with his Disciples 5. Menander Saturninus and Basilides Hereticks 6. The Nicholaitans and Gnosticks 7. The Carpocratians 8. Cerinthus Ebion and the Nazarites 9. The Valentinians Secundians and Prolemians 10. The Marâ—ites Colarbasii and Heracleonites 11. The Ophites Cainites and Sethites 12. The Archonticks and Ascothyptae 23. Cerdon and Marcion 14. Apelles Severus and Tacianus 15. The Cataphrygians 16. Pepuzians Quintilians and Artotyrites 17. The Quartidecimani and Alogiani â— 18. The Adamians Elcesians and Theodocians 19. The Melchisedicians Bardesanists and Noetians 20. The Valesians Catheri Angelici and Apostolici 21. The Sabellians Originians and Originists 22 The Samosatenians and Phorinians 23 The Manichaean religion 24. The Hierachites Melitians and Arrians 25. The Audians Semi-arrians and Macedonians 26. The Aeâ—ians Aetians and Apollinarists 27. The Antidicomarianites Messalians and Metangismonites 28. The Hermians Proclianites and Patricians 29. The Ascites Pattalorinchites Aquarii and Coluthiani 30. The Floriani Aeternales and Nudipedales 31. The Donatists Priscillianists Rhetorians and Feri 32. The Theopaschites Tritheits Aquei Melitonii Ophei Tertullii Liberatores and Nativita rii 33. The Luciferians Jovinianists and Arabicks 34. The Collyridians Paterniani Tertullianists and Abelonites 35. The Pelagians Predestinati and Timotheans 36. The Nestorians Eutychians and their Spawn The Contents of the eighth Section OF the opinions in Religion held the seventh Century 2. The opiniâ—ns of the eighth Century 3. The Tenets of the ninth and tenth Centuries 4. The opinions of the eleventh
the ground of all Government and Greatnesse 2. By divers reasons it is proved that Religion of all Common wealths and humane societies is the foundation 3. That Princes and Magistrates ought to have a special care in setling and preserving of Religion 4. That one Religion onely is to be allowed in a Common wealth publickly 5. In what Respects different Religions may be tolerated in private 6. A Christian Prince may not dissemble his Religion 7. Why God blesseth the professors of false Religions and punisheth the contemners thereof 8. False Religions are grounded upon policy and what use there is of Ceremonies in Religion 9. The mixture and division of Religions and of Idolatry 10. How the Gentile Religion in worshipping of the Sunne seems to be most consonant to natural reason with divers observations concerning Sun-worship and the knowledge the Gentiles had of a Deity and the Vnity thereof with some glimmering of the Trinity 11. That the honour maintenance and advancement of a Priest-hood is the maine supporter of Religion 13 That the Christian Religion is of all others the most excellent and to be preferred for diver reasons being considered in it selfe and compared with others with an exhortation to the practice of religions duties which is true Christianity The Contents of the First Section Of the Church Disciplin Sacrifices Ordination Publick place Buildings first erected for Divine Service and days of Divine Service befâ—re Moses 2. Of the Church Government under Moses difference of the High Priests from other Priests 3. Of the Church Government from him till Solomon 4. Of the Government after Solomon till the division of the Tribes 5. Of Solomons Temple and the outward splendor of the Iewes Religion 6. Of the Office of the Levites of the Prophets Scribes Pharises Nazarites Rechabites Essenes Sadduces and Samaritans 7. Of the ancient observation of their Sabbath of the observation of their Passover of the feasts of Pentecost Tabernacles new Moons of Trumpets and of Expiation of their Sabbatical year and their Iubilee 8. Of their ancient Excommunications how God instructed them of old and of the maintenance allowed by the Iews to their Priests and Levites 9. Of the Government after the Iews were carried captive into Babylon 10. Of the Iewish Church Government at this day their Prayers Sabbaths Feasts Book of the Law Passover what observable thereupon and whether to be permitted among Chirstians in the exercise of their own religion and wherein not to be communicated with by Christians 11. Of the Iewish preparation for morning prayer Fast in August Beginning of their new year Feast of Reconciliation Ceremonies in reading of the Law 12. Their Church Officers Feast of Dedication and of Purim Fasts Marriages Divorcements Circumcision Redemption of the first born their duty toward the sick and ceremonies about the dead SECT I. Quest. WAs there any Religion Church Government of Discipline in the beginning of the World Answ. Yes For then was the Word preached and Sacraments administred We read of Sacrifices offered by Cain and Abel and likewise the distinction of clean and unclean beasts By Faith Abel sacrificed Heb. 11. Noah's sacrifice was pleasing to God Gen. 8. This could not be will-worship for such is no wayes pleasing to God it was therefore according to his Word and Commandement There was also Excommunication for Adam and Eve for their disobedience were excommunicated out of Paradise which was then the type of the Church and every soul not circumcised the eighth day was to be cut off from the people of God Gen. 17. The Word then being preached for God preached to Adam in Paradise and doubtlesse he preached to his Children out of Paradise the Sacraments administred and Excommunication exercised which are the three main points of Church discipline it follows there was then a Church and Church Government Q. Was there then any Ordination A. Yes doubtlesse for God is the God of order nor was it fit that he who mediated between God and the people by preaching prayer and sacrifices should thrust himselfe into that office without ordination therefore God ordained Adam he some of his Children as Cain and Abel and whereas Gen. 4. we do not read that Cain and Abel did sacrifice but only brought their Offerings to wit that Adam might offer them up to God for them it argueth that as yet they had not received ordination and its likely that ordination then was performed by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Imposition of hands which custome the Jewes retained in ordaining their Levites Num. 8. 10. and after them the Christians in ordination of Ministers Act. 6. 6. 1 Tim. 5. 22. which ceremony the Gentiles used in Manumission of their servants and the Jewes in ordination of their Synedrion or the Judges imposed their hands so Moses and Ioshua laid their hands upon the 70. Elders and Moses is commanded by God to lay his hands upon Ioshuah the Son of Nun Numb 27. 18. Q. Was there then any publick place of Sacrificing A. Yes upon the same ground that God who is the God of order will have all things done in his Church with order and decency the meeting also together in one place to hear and pray and offer sacrifice did maintain amity amongst Gods people Besides we read Gen. 25. 22. that Rebecca when the children strugled in her womb did not stay at home but went to wit to the publick place where Gods worship was to enquire of the Lord and because in this place God used to shew his presence to his people by some outward signe it was called Gods presence therefore Gen. 4. 16. Cain went out from the presence of the Lord that is he was excommunicate out of the Church but we must not conceive that as yet there were any material buildings for Gods service for in the beginning men conceived it unfit to include God within the narrow bounds of a material Temple whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain therefore they worshipped him in the open air either upon hills for they thought low places were unbeseeming the most High God hence they called every hill Gods hill or else if they were necessitated to sacrifice on the sea shore or in some low plain they made their Altars so much the higher which from their altitude they called Altaria and these places of Divine worship they named Templa from contemplation The very Gentiles thought it unfit to confine the Sun their chief God to a narrow Temple seeing the whole world was his Temple and after they had built Temples for their Deities they would have them for a long time to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or open-roofed Q. Why were the Groves and high places condemned in Scripture A. Because they were abused both by Jewes and Gentiles to superstition idolatry and all uncleannesse therefore God commands them to be cut down Exod. 34. 13 Deut. 7. 5. 12. 3. 16. 21. Iosiah destroyed them 2. Kings 23.
they will not acknowledg it but continue still in their obstinacy and cruelty against Christ and his members they â—rag themselves to be the seed of Abraham and glory in their seal of circumcision given to him but if they were of Abraham they would do the works of Abraham they would beleeve with Abraham who saw the day of Christ and rejoyced they can claim no share in the covenant made with Abraham because they deny and persecute him who is the foundation of the Covenant they condemn Christians for making and honouring of the image of Christ and of his Saints which is not so much out of zeal against images for they allow the images of the Cherubins which were in the Tabernacle and Temple but rather out of spight against Christ and his Saints They count it idolatry to honour Christ in his picture or image and yet they consider not that themselves are the greatest Idolaters in the world in worshipping God according to their own fansie and not according to his word which teacheth us that he is to be worshipped in the unity of Essence and Trinity of persons which they deny thus they worship though not images yet their own imaginations how often have their Progenitors attempted to reestablish their antient government but still in vain and to their own destruction witnesse what they suffered under Vespasian and Titus what under Iulian when by his permission they began to rebuild their Temple what under Hadrian when they rebelled and attempted to set up their earthly Monarchy what under Trajan and Marcus Antoninus what under King Philip called Longus in France when they poysoned the Wells what shall I speak of their barbarous cruelties and inhumane savagenesse under Andrew their Captain in the time of Trajan when they murthered many thousands of people eating their flesh wearing their skins and girding themselves with their guts yet bleeding of these passages we may read in Sozomen Dio Marcellinus Paulus Aemilius the French Historian and others as they have still been the greatest enemies that ever Christianity had so doe they continue their harred against us at this day but being kept under they dare not do the mischief they would yet they curse us still and hold that the best of Christians is no better then the Serpent whose head deserved to be trod upon They think they do God good service if they can cheat a Christian and they make no conscience to forswear themselves when they take an oath upon any of our Bibles thinking they are bound to keep no oath but what they take upon their own Torah or book of the Law which is read in their Synagogues Neither will they swear willingly but in the Hebrew tongue counting all other languages profane especially the Latine which they hate because the Romans and Latin Church have been their greatest subduers and conquerers They call us Gentiles Edomites and Devils and Anathematise us daily They will not call Mary the Mother of Christ but in derision The mother of him that was hanged They are mercilesse Extortioners and cunning in the Art of poysoning Their Religion consisteth most in needlesse and ridiculous ceremonies in Rabbinical fables Cabalistical whimsies Thalmudical Traditions large Fringes and Phylacteries and in a meer outside whereas mercy and justice and weighty things of the Law are neglected and slighted Q. May Christian Primes with a safe conscience permit Iews to live within their Territories A. Yes conditionally that they communicate not in Religion nor marry together nor be too familiar and that these Jews be obedient to the civil power quiet modest distinguished by some outward badge and not to be admitted to any publick office or charge for they have been tolerated both by the Civil and Canon Law 2. The Jews in the old Testament had leave to commerce with the Gentiles 3. We ought to permit them upon hope we may convert some of them to the knowledge and love of Christ. 4. We ought by all meanes to commiserate their condition because to them pertaineth the adoption and the glory and the convenants and the giving of the Law and the service of God and the promises whose are the Fathers and of whem as concerning the flesh Christ came c. Rom. 9. 4. 5. we must consider that by their fall salvation is come to the Gentiles and if the fall of them be the riches of the world and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles how much more then fulnesse Rom. 11. 12. let us not then insult over their miseries nor boast against the branches for we are but wild Olives graffed upon them and if God spared not the natural branches take heed least he also spare not thee Rom. 11. For blindnesse is happened but in part upon Israel untill the fulnesse of the Gentiles do come in Rom. 11. And then all Israel shall be saved that is most of them according to the Scripture phrase For the Angel tells Daniel that every one of his people shall be delivered whose names shall be found in the book Dan. 12. 1. so them all the Jews before the last judgement shall be saved and shall acknowledge Christ the true Mesliah yet not all without exception but all whose names are written in the book of life this restriction sheweth that some will not be saved 5. By suffering the Jewes to live amongst us we shall be the more induced to acknowledge the goodnesse of God towards us Gentiles in receiving us to mercy when he cast off his own people By this also we are taught to fear and tremble at Gods judgements because for unbelief they were broken off we stand by faith let us not be too high minded but fear for if we continue not in his goodnesse we shall also be cut off Rom. 11. Lastly from the Jewes we have our Scriptures they can be our witnesses to the Gentiles that cut Scriptures are not devised and compiled by us but by our enemies out of which Scripture even to the great grief of the Jewes we can clearly prove that Christ is the true Mesliah therefore it is convenient that we permit them to live amongst us Q. May Christian Princes permit the Iewes to exercise their own Religion A. They may if so be they dishonour not Christ nor traduce or molest his Church For they were better exercise their Religion then curn Atheists principally seeing they worship the same God with us though not in the same manner and read the same Scriptures though not in the same sense For this cause the Primitive Church and the Imperial Laws suffered them and Christ himself permitted their Doctors to sit in the chair of Moses and to teach his Doctrine and counselled the people to obey the same besides by permitting the Jews to use their Religion without molestation by using them courteously they may be the sooner enduced to embrace Christ and indeed our cruelties against them and the wickednesse of our lives have been
and are still great obstacles to their conversion But Christian Princes must be careful that they be not suffered to blaspheme Christ or abuse his Church for they are keepers of both Tables and they do not carry the sword in vain they should also use all the gentle means they can to bring them to the knowledge and love of Christ by instructing them in the grounds of Christian Religion but violence must be avoided for faith cometh by perswasion not by compulsion neither must their infants be forcibly baptized against their Parents consent but when they come to years of discretion they should cause them to be instructed in the principles of Christianity nor must their Parents be suffered to hinder them but whilest they are infants they must not be baptized against their Parents will because that were to take away the right of paternity which parents have over their children both by the Laws of God of Nature and of Nations besides the children of Jewes who are enemies of Christ cannot be comprehended within the Covenant and therefore are not capable of the sign of the Covenant till they be of years and if then they embrace Christ they are included in the Covenant and so made capable of the seal thereof Besides the forced baptism of Jewish children would be a great scandal to Christian Religion which would be traduced as a violent way to force infants to receive that of which they had no knowledg nor could give their consent to and so these children when they come to years of discretion might justly repudiare that Religion which was forced on them when they had neithe knowledge of it nor gave consent to it Q. In what things must not Christians communicate with Iews A. They must not eat nor drink nor bath nor cohabit together nor entertain friendship and familiarity least by these means Christians should be infected with their errors and superstition or least they should seem to countenance their wicked opinions 2. Christians must not serve Jews in any kind of service for then they will brag that they are the Lords of the world and Christians their slaves besides it is unseemly that the children of the free born for so we are being made free by Christ should serve the sons of the bond woman for they are true Israelites and the sons of Abraham who have the faith and do the works of Abraham who are Israelites not after the flesh but after the spirit 3. Christians must not employ Jews for their Physitians for this were to engage them besides we know out of Histories how dangerous such Physitians have proved to Christians who by reason of their inveterate malice make no conscience to poyson them but rather think they are bound to do so 4 Christians must take heed how they traffick with Jews least they be cheated by them or least they partake of the sins and superstition of the Jews by selling them such wares as they know they will abuse to their superstitious worship 5. Let not Christians borrow money of Jews except they mean to be undone by them for they have ever been and are to this day unconscionable Extortioners 6. Christians ought not to read their blasphemous books but to suppress and burn them for by them our blessed Saviour in his person offices preaching miracles is highly dishonoured and his Church traduced therefore Pope Gregory the ninth about the year of Christ 1230. caused the Thalmud in which Christian Religion is so much blasted to be burned which was performed accordingly by the Chancellor of Paris and about the year 1553. Pope Iulius the third commanded that all the Jewish blasphemous books with both the Thalmuds should be searched out and flung in the fire and that their estates should be consiscared who did harbour or read print or write such wicked books or bring them from forraign parts into Christian Territories Q. How many days do the Jews spend in their Easter solemnities A. Eight the two first and the two last are wholly kept with great Ceremony the other four are but half holy days all this time they sup-plentifully and drink strenuously till it be midnight but they drink up four consecrated cups of Wine two before supper and two at or after supper each of these cups is accompanied with a prayer and the last with execrations against Christians at supper they eat the other halfe Cake and keep open all night their doors and gates as being perswaded that then they are safe and secure from all danger and that they are ready to entertain Eliah whose comming they expect then During this time they eat up the whole three cakes mentioned before and have divers disputations about what work is fit to be done that time full of ridiculous subtilties If during this time they find any leaven in their houses they touch it not but cover it till they burn it Now because they are not certain which is the true fourteenth day of the Moon when they begin their Easter they keep the second day as solemnly as the first and because they know not the true seventh day therefore least they should mistake they observe also the eighth day after which day they bring leaven into their houses again the men fast three times after to expiate for their intemperance during the feast and for the space of thirty days they neither marry nor both nor cut their hair because Rabbi Akibha lost by death all his Disciples being eighty thousand between Easter and Pentecost Q. How do they now observe their Pentecost A. Pentecost so called in the new Testament from the fifty days between Easter and that feast in the old Law it is called the feast of Harvest and of first fruits Exod. 23. 16. because then their Harvest began and the time they offered their first fruits of the Earth The Jews are very exact in numbring each week and day from Easter to Pentecost praying continually that God would bring them home againe to Ierusalem that in their own Land they might offer to him their first fruits as Moses commanded them They keep two holy days at Pentecost because they know not which is the true day They produce their Law twice and by five men they read so much as concerneth that festivity They strow their Houses Synagogues and streets with grass fil their windows with green boughs and wear on their heads green Garlands to shew that all places about mount Sinai were green when they received the Law They eat that day altogether white meats of milk to shew the whitenesse and sweetnesse of the Law They make a Cake or Pye having seven Cakes in one to signifie the seven Heavens into which God ascended from mount Sinai Q. How do they keep the feast of Tabernacles A. This third great feast which was kept anciently in Booths or Tents made up of green boughs in memory of the forty years peregrination in the Deâ—art is now observed by
the Jews eight days together The two first and two last are solemnly kept the other four are but half festivals They first repair to their Synagogues then after some praying and singing they run home to their Tents but do not stay there all night as their Ancestors were wont to do They use to take in one hand boughs of Palme Olive and Willow and in the other a Pome-citron then they bless God and shake the boughs towards the four cardinal points of Heaven then having placed the Law upon the Pulpit they go round about it seven times in seven days in memory of the Walls of Iericho encompassed seven times Then having shaken the branches in their hands they pray against Christians This feast is kept about the middle of September in which moneth they beleeve shall be fought the great battel between Gog and Magog in which Gog shall be slain and the Jews restored to their own Land About night they go abroad in the Moon light believing that God doth reveal to them by the shadows of the Moon who shall live or die that year for then they begin the computation of their year The shaking of the branches towards the four corners of the world signifies the destruction of the four great Monarchies to wit the Assyrian Persian Grecian and Roman They make great use of Citrons in this feast for they send sixteen men every year into Spain to bring with them as many of these as they can for by the Citrons they say are represented just men who are as full of good their workes as this fruit is full of seeds Q. How do they keep their new Moons A. Their new Moons are but halfe holy days with them for in the morning they go to their Synagogues the rest of the day they spend in eating drinking and gaming The day before the new Moon they use to fast when they first see her they utter a Benediction and leap three times towards her wishing that their enemies may come no neerer to hurt them then they are able to come neer and hurt her The women have more right to keep this day holy then the men because they would not part with their Ear-rings and Jewels towards the making of the Golden Calf but willingly parted with them towards the building of the Temple They give a ridiculous reason why sacrifices were commanded every new Moon because say they the Moon murmured against God in the beginning therfore he took her light from her and appointed sacrifices to expiare her crime Q. Why do the Iews fast in the moneth of August A. Because they hold the world was made in September therefore they make that moneth the beginning of their year and believe that about that time God will come to judge the world for this cause they fast and pray divers days before and baptize themselvs in Lakes and Rivers and where these are wanting they make pits which they fill with water in these they dip themselves over head and ears thinking this a meanes to expiate their sins they frequent their Synagogues and Church yards desiring God to pardon them for the good Jews sake who are buried there and in the same they distribute large Alms to the poor In some places there they cause Rams horns to be sounded when they go to their Synagogues to put the greater terrour in them when they consider their sins and the horror of Gods judgements Their fasting ceremonies being ended they shave and bath themselves and begin their year with much mirth and jovialty Q. What solemnity use they in beginning their new year A. Because they are commanded by Moses Lev. 23. 24. to keep holy the first day of the seventh moneth therefore they begin their Civil year from that day which after evening peayer in their Synagogues they initiate with a cup of wine wishing to each other a good year The younger sort repair to the chief Rabbi for his blessing which he bestoweth on them by prayer and imposition of hands Being returned home they fall to eating drinking and making merry On the Table is set down a Rams head to put them in minde of that Ram which on this day was sacrificed in Isaacs stead and to signifie that they shall be the Head and not the Tail of Christians They feed that night plentifully on fish and fruit to shew that they will encrease and multiply in good works as the fish do in the Sea and that their enemies shall be cut off from all help as the fruit is plucked off from the tree In the morning they go betimes to their Synagogues to sing and pray the Law is taken twice out of the Ark and some Lessons read after which one soundeth a Rams horn on the Pulpit if he sounds clear it s a good sign if otherwise they hold it ominous and a sign of a bad year This horn-trumpet is also in memory of Isaacs delivery by the Ram this day as they hold The rest of the day they spend in good cheer and mirth After dinner they go to the waters there to drown their sins If they see any fish in the water they shake their cloaths that their sins falling upon those fishes may be carried away by them into the Sea as of old they were by the scape-goat into the wilderness At night they feast again and so initiate the year with two days mirth Q. How doe they prepare themselves for Morning prayer A. They hold it necessary that every Jew from the fifteenth of Iune till Pentecost should rise before day because then the nights are long but from Pentecost till the fifteenth of Iune they may rise after day their rising will be the more acceptable to God if they have weeped in the night for with such the stars and planets do weep they must let their tears fall down their cheeks because then God is ready with his bottle to receive them these tears may serve them for good use because when at any time the enemies of Israel send out Edicts to destroy the Jewes God is ready with these bottles to pour them out upon these writings and to blotuot the Edict that the Jews may receive no hurt thereby They hold the morning the best time to enter into the house of God because David faith Thou wilt heat my voice betimes in the morning In the evening they say God commands all the gates of Heaven to be shut which are guarded by certain Angels who are silent till after midnight then a great noise is heard in Heaven commanding the gates to be opened this noise is heard by our cocks here below who presently upon this clap their wings and crow that men thereby may awake then the evil spirits who had leave to wander up and down in the night whilest Heaven gates were shut lose all power of doing hurt as soon as they hear the cock crow they must say this prayer as they are taught by their Rabbins
names of Saturn Iupiter Mars Venus and Mercury At length they multiplyed their gods so fast that every Beast Spring River Tree Trade or Profession in the world Disease in the body Faculty and Passion in the Mind had its peculiar Deity And so mad they were upon idolatry that of a mans Yard they made a god under the name of Phallus and Priapus in memory of Osiris his Privities which after much toyl were found by Isis in Nilus being drowned there by Typhon his brother who had cut his body into many pieces and buried them in many places They worshipped Beasts Birds Vermiâ— Leeks and Onyons Their Priests were shaved and clothed in pure Linnen abstained from fish Wine and Onyons Their Kings after election were chosen into the society of Priests They held two beginnings they consecrated red Bulls flung the heads of their Sacrifices into Nilus and abstained from salt See Arnobius Eusebius Plutarch Iamblichus and many others Q. What devotion did the Egyptians use to their deified Beasts A. They were fed by their Priests in their Temples with choice food when any dyeth it is wrapped in clean Linin and embalmed and buried in a consecrated place with much lamentation All shave themselves in that house where a Dog dieth Their god Apis being dead and lamented another was found by the Priests and brought to Memphis where he was placed in Vulcans Temple and seven days kept holy for him By their Law he must live but a prefixed time then he is drowned in a sacred spring and buried with much lamentation All beasts are not worshipped in all parts of Eygpt but in some places the Crocodile in other places the Goat in some Satyrs in others Cynocephalus or Anubis with his Dogs-head The Serpent was a great god amongst them so was the Bull the Dog the Cat the Hawk and Ibis and two fishes peculiar to Nilus to wit Opyrinchus and Lepidotus They worshipped the Hippopotamus Frogs Beetles and other vermifie Their Priests were bound to offer a Cock to the Sun a Dove to Venus a Peacock to Iuno c. And bloody Busiris sacrificed men to Nilus Quis illaudati nescit Busiridis aras The Egyptians hate Swine so much that if by chance one should touch them he instantly washeth his cloathes and Sow-heards are forbid their Temples They circumcise male and female and offer wine to the full Moon The Priests wash themselves thrice in the day time and twice in the night They must not eat milk eggs or oyl except with Salads Their Priests were Judges their Gymnosophists were Philosophers who had their Colledge in a Grove neer the banks of Nilus The Egyptians observed divers feasts to Isis Diana Latona Mars Minerva Mercury Bacchus Osiris and his Nurse In these feasts was much disorder and vanity some beating of themselves some cutting their fore heads with knivs some dancing some singing some drinking some quarrelling In the feast of Bacchus they were all drunk In that of Mars all mad knocking down one another with clubs In the feast of Isis they shewed their folly in tumbling an Ass down from a Precipice In that of Minerva in burning lights with oyl and salt But of these and other ridiculous or rather impious Rites see Hospinian Coelius Rhodiginus Plutarch Herodotus Diodorus Siculus Eusebius Strabo Lucian and others Q. How long continued this heathenish idolatry in Egypt A. Till the Sun of Righteousnesse shined upon it and by the bright beams of his Gospel dispelled and scattered all the dark mists of idolatry so that Alexandria the chief nursery thereof by the preaching of Saint Mark became a Patriarchal seat whose successors have continued till this day but their residence now is at Cairo where the Metropolitan of Aethiopia or Archbishop of the Abissins receiveth his confirmation from the Patriarch of Alexandria 'T is true that Gambyses son to Cyrus King of Persia destroyed many of the Egyptian Idols and Ochus his successor killed their Apisâ—â— but these were shortly after restored by Alexander the great whose successors the Ptolemies upheld the same idolatry and so did the Romans till by the preaching of the Gospel darknesse was forced to give place to light Q. What Religion is there now professed in Egypt A. Here at this day Christians have their Churches Jews their Synagogues and Mahumetans their Mosques of these last there be four sorts differing in their Laws Liturgies and Ceremonies There is a Sect in Chairo which liveth altogether on horse flesh And another who go naked giving themselves to fleshly lusts openly The Christians there are Eutychians and are circumcised but it is thought that they have forsaken circumcision by the perswasion of the Popes Legates at a Synod held at Cairo Anno. 1583. These are called Cophti not from their Profession but from their Nation for in the Thalmud Egypt is called Gophti and the Egyptians in old time Aegophtia They are not rigid Eutychians which were condemned in the Council of Chalcedon for affirming one Nature and one Will in Christ but they are modern Eutychians called Iacobites from Iacobus the Syrian who held that Christ was true God and true man yet he and his Scholars will not in direct termes affirm there are two natures lest they should fall into the error of Nestorius of the two Persons These fast every Wednesday and Friday and have four Lents in the year They make Infants Deacons and baptise them not afore the fourtieth day and then give them the Eucharist They leave out the words in the Nicene Creed From the Son They condemne the Council of Chalcedon and admit no general Council since that of Ephesus They read publickly the Gospel of Nicodemus They receive the Eucharist in both kinds and in leavened bread To the sick they neither administer the Eucharist nor Extream Unction They deny Purgatory and Prayer for the dead They Marry in the second degree of consanguinity And in their Church government are subject to the Patriarch of Alexandria There are not above three Christian Churches at Alexandria and so many at Cairo about fifty thousand Christians in all Of these passages see Boterus in his Relations Thevet in his Cosmography Chytraerus of the State of the Church Baronius in his Annals c. And Brerewoods Collections out of them The Contents of the third Section Of the old African Religion 2. The Religion and Church Discipline of Fez. 3. Of Morocco 4. Of Guinea 5. Of the ancient African Aethiopians 6 Of the modern Abissins 7. Of the lower Aethiopians 8. Of Angola and Congo 9. Of the northern neighbours of Congo 10. Of the African Islands 11. The Religion of America 12. Of Virginia 13. Of Florida 14. Of the Religions by west Virginia and Florida 15. Of New Spain and Mexico 16. Idolaters their cruelty and cost in their barbarous sacrifices 17. Of the Americans their superstitious fear and tyranny thereof 18. Of Jucatan and the parts adjoyning 19. Of the southern Americans 20. Of Paria and
run with as great alacrity to war against Christians as to a wedding beleeving if they die in that war they shall immediatly possesse Paradise which is indeed the generall belif of all Turks See Les Estats du Monde Boterus Leo c. Q. What Religon is professed in Guinea A. Gentilism for they adore strawen rings instead of God Of whom they speak blasphemously calling him evill and black and the Author of their miseries And that they are no wayes beholding to him for what they enjoy but to their own industry They put within their Rings Wheat Water and Oyle for their god to feed upon Such Rings are worn by many as preservatives against danger Their Priests use to preach to them on festival dayes and after Sermon to besprinkle the infants with Water in which a Newt doth swim They consecrate to their Idol the first bit and draught of their meat and drink But I believe this black god they rail against is the devill whom their cunning Priests represent to that ignorant people in some black and ugly shape Sometimes of a black dog If they paint themselves with Chalke they think they do good service to their God When he is angry with them they use to bribe the Priest with gold so fishermen use to do when they have no successe at sea The Priest with his wives walks in Procession knocking his breast and clapping his hands then hanging some boughs from the trees on their necks and playing on a Timbrel the Priest flings Wheat into the sea to appease the angry God They have certain trees in great veneration consulting with them as with Oracles using divers foolish ceremonies They worship a certain bird which hath feathers like stars and a voice like a Bull. The Tunie is a sacred fish with them and not to be touched So are the mountains whose tops they daily feed or the Priests rather with meat and drink When one dieth the Priest makes gods of straw to accompany the dead in the other world wine and good cheere are sent with him and servants with his wives if he be the King these are slain to wait upon the King and their heads advanced upon Poles round about the grave They hold it a sin to spit on the ground The Tuesday is their Sabbath They use circumcision and some other Turkish ceremonies See G. Arthus Dantiseanus Mercator Bertius c. Q. Of What Religion were the African Ethiopians antiently A. Gentiles for they worshipped some immortall gods as the Sun Moon and the World some mortal as Iupiter Pan Hercules But some of them who dwelt neer and under the line did not worship but curse the Sun still when he rose because his excessive heat offended them When their Queen went to Solomon she being instructed by him in the knowledge of the true God upon her return planted the Jewish Religion in her country but the Eunuch of Queen Candace being baptized by Philip brought home with him the Christian Faith which hitherto they have retained See Diodorus Boemus Strabo Sardus Damianus a Goes c. Q. What Religion do these Aethiopians or Abyssins professe A. Christianity yet Gentilisme is retained in some part of Prestor-Iohns ample Dominions The Christians circumcise both male and female on the eighth day in memory of Christs circumcision The males are baptized fourty days after and the females eighty They abstain from certain meats and use some Mosaical Ceremonies They are very rigid in their Fastings they begin their Lent ten days before ours some Fryers eat no bread all the Lent some not in a whole year but are contented with Herbs without Salt or Oyl They keep a fast of three days after Candlemasse in memory of Ninevehs repentance Some Fryers all that time eat nothing and some Nurses give their Children suck but once a day He that marrieth three wives is excommunicated Queen Candace after her conversion consecrated the two magnificent Temples of the Sun and Moon to the Holy Ghost and the Crosse. Afterward these two Temples were given to the Monkish Knights of Saint Anthonies Order with two large Monasteries The Abyssins in their Liturgy mention the three first general Councils but not that of Chalcedon because they are Eutychians or Jacobltes Their Patriarch is onely a Monk of Saint Anthonies order and so is the Patriarch of Alexandria by whom the Aethiopian is consecrated and is in subjection to the Sea of Alexandria They observe here both Saturday and Sunday with equal devotion In the Eucharist the Priest administers leavened bread except on the Thursday before Easter for then it is unleavened because that day Christ instituted the Supper Anâ— the Deacon gives the Wine in a Spoon They receive all standing and in the Church onely all that day after they must not spit till Sun set They give the Eucharist to Infants immediately after Baptisme They believe traduction of Soules They are careful to confesse their sins to the Priest and still after confession receive the Eucharist The Patriarch onely excommunicates and none but murtherers usually Inferiour Priests and Monks labour for their maintenance but the Bishops Deanes and Prebends have large revenues and benefices They permit their Clergy to marry once and have pictures in their Churches but not images Betwixt Easter and Whitsuntide they eat flesh on Fridays Every Epiphanie day they baptize themselves in Lakes or Rivers So do the Muscovites in memory of Christs baptisme the same day They use no Confirmation nor Extream Unction See Damianus a Goes Alvarez in his Aethiopian History and others Q. What is the Religion of the lower Aethiopians A. These were not known to the Antients but they are found by Navigators to be for the most part Gentiles though divers Moors live among them Yet some of them worship but one God They superstitiously observe divers days of the Moon They feast the dead with bread and boyled flesh They punish witchcraft theft and adultery with death They may marry as many wives as they please but the first is the chief and the rest are her servants They pray to the dead in white garments In Monomotapa and some other places thereabouts the Jesuites have converted divers to Christianity many whereof are fallen back again to Gentilisme See Eâ—anuel Acosta of the Eastern affaires and Boterus c. Q. What is the Religion of Angola and Congo A. In Angola they are all heathens In the midst of their towns they worship wooden Idols resembling Negroes at whose feet are heaps of Elephants teeth on which are set up the skulls of their enemies killed in the wars They believe they are never sick but when their Idol is angry with them therefore they please him by pouring at his feet the Wine of Palmes They use to wash and paint and new cloath their dead and bury with him meat drink and some of his goods at whose grave they shed the blood of Goats They are much addicted to divination by
birds and their Priests are in such esteem that they think life and death plenty and famine are in their power In the Kingdome of Congâ— they worship some monstrous creatures in stead of God But they were converted to Christianity by the Portugal Anno 1490. At the City of Banza afterward called Saint Saviours was erected a Cathedral Church for the Bishop who was there received by the King in great magnificence This Church had 28. Canon Residents All their Idols of beasts birds trees and herbs with their conjuring characters were burned Divers Religious persons and Jesuits were sent from Portugal thither to erect Schools and Colledges for Divinity and the Arts. See Purchas Lopez Maffaeus Osorius of the acts of Emanuel Q. What Religion do the northern neighbours of Congo professe A. In Loango under the Line they worship idols and are circumcised Every trades-man appeaseth his god with such things as belong to his trade the husbandman with corn the weaver with cloath c. At the death of their friends they kill Goats to the honour of their idols and make divers feasts in memorial of the dead They will rather dye then touch any meat which is prohibited by their Priests At Kenga the Sea-Port of Loango there is an idol kept by an old Woman which is once a year honoured with great solemnity and feasting There is another idol at Morumba thirty leagues northward where boys are sworn to serve this God and are initiated with hard diet ten days silence abstinence from certain meats and a cut in their shoulder the blood of which is sprinkled at the Idols feet Their trials of life and death are in the presence of this Idol At Anzichi they are circumcised worship the Sun and Moon and each man his particular Idol In some of these neighbouring countries the people are man-eaters and worship the Devil to whom when they offer sacrifice they continue from morning till night using charming Vociferations dancing and piping See Lopez Barros and others Q. Of what Religion are the Islands about Africa A. In some of them are Mahumetans in some Christians but in most Heathens In Socotera an Island neer the mouth of the Red Sea whence we have our best Aloes they are Iacobites and are governed by their Abuna or Priest They much reverence the Crosse. They have Altars in their Churches which they enter not but stand in the Porch In Madagascar or the great Island of Saint Laurence there are many Mahumetans upon the coast but more Idolaters within the Land who acknowledge one Creator and are circumcised but use neither to pray nor keep holy day They punish adultery and theft with death In the Isle of Saint Thomas under the Line are Christians and Moors In divers Islands are no people at all In the Canaries are Christians before they were idolaters and had many wives whom they first prostituted to their Magistrates and this uncivil civility they used to strangers instead of hospitality They bury the dead by setting them upright against a wall with a staff in their hand and if he was a great man a vessel of milk by him Madera is also possessed by Christians and so be the other Islands on this hither part of the African coast see Ortelius Mercater and other Geographers Q. What Religion was professed among the Americans A. Before the Spaniards came thither they were all Pagans who as they were distinguished into divers Nations so they worshipped divers gods after divers manners but they did generally acknowledge the Sun and Moon for the chief gods In Canada they worshipped the Devil before the French came thither and in most places there as yet they worship him who when he is offended with them flings dust in their eyes The men marry two or three wives who after the death of their husbands never marry againe but go still after in black and besmear their faces with coal dust and grease they do first expose their daughters to any that will lie with them and then give them in marriage They believe that after death their soules ascend into the Stars and go down with them under the Horizon into a Paradise of pleasure They believe also that god stuck a multitude of arrows in the beginning into the ground and of these sprung up men and women They have divers ridiculous opinions of God as that he once drank much Tobacco and then gave the pipe to their Governour with a command that he should keep it carefully and in so doing he should want nothing but he lost the Pipe and so fell into want and misery Such senselesse conceits have these people who as they are savage in their carriage so in their understandings they are little better then beasts They use to sing the Devils praises to dance about fires which they make to his honour and leap over them They bemoan the dead a great while and bring presents to the grave Many of these ignorant souls were converted to Christ by the industry of the Jesuites Anno 1637. and 1638. See Father Pauls relation of new France See also Champlain and Iaques Cartier c. Q. What is the Religion of Virginia A. Before the English planted Christianity there they worshipped the Devil and many idols as yet they doe in many places there They beleeve many Gods but one principally who made the rest and that all creatures were made of water and the Woman before the Man who by the help of one of the gods conceived and bore children They are all Anthropomorphites giving to their gods the forms of men whom they worship with praying singing and offerings They hold the soules immortality rewards and punishments after this life the one in heaven the other in a burning pit toward the west The Priests are distinguished from other people by garments of skins and their hair cut like a comb on their crowns They carry their gods about with them and ask counsel of them Much of their devotion consisteth in howling and dancing about fires with rattles of Gourd or Pompian rindes in their hands beating the ground with stones and offering of Tobacco Deer suet and blood on their stone Altars They undertake no matters of consequence without advice of their Priests the chief whereof is adorned with Feathers and Weasels tails and his face painted as ugly as the devils They bury their Kings after their bodies ate burned and dryed in white skins within arches of mats with their wealth at their feet and by the body is placed the devils Image The Women expresse their sorrow with black paint and yellings for twenty four hours None but the King and Priest may enter these houses where the Images of Devils and their Kings are kept Instead of saying Grace at meat they fling the first bit into the fire and when they will appease a storm they cast Tobacco into the water Sometimes they sacrifice children to the devil But of these passages See
more acceptable then wine In other points they were Pepuzians and differed from them onely in cheese offering therefore they were called Artotyritae from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bread and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cheese Q. 18. What was the Religion of the Tessarescae Decatitae or Quarradecimani and of the Alogiani A. The former of these were so called from observing Easter on the fourteenth day of the Moon in March after the manner of the Iewes and they made Saint Iohn the author of that custome which was observed by the Oriental Churches till Pope Victor excommunicated them as Schismaticks in dissenting from the custome of the Western Church This controversie fell out about the 165 year of Christ Severus then being Emperour and from the first Original thereof continued 200. years This Heresie was condemned by the council of Nice and ordered that Easter should be kept after the manner of the Western Church which derived their custom from Saint Peter These Hereticks also denied repentance to those that fell after baptisme which was the Novatian Heresie Alogiani so called from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the privative and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word because they denied Christ to be the word and consequently they denied his divinity as Ebion and Cerinthus had done before Samosâ—tenus Aâ—â—ius and the Mahumetans afterward These Alogiani rejected Saint Iohns Gospel and his Apocalypse as not written by him but by Cerinthus which is ridiculous for Cerinthus denied Christs Divinity which Saint John asserteth in writing that the Word was God These Hereticks were named also Berilliani from Berillus a Bishop in Arabia who taught that Christ was a man and then became the word of God The first broacher of this Heresie is thought to be Artemon a profane man who lived about the time of Severus Emperour 167. years after Christ from him they were called Artemonitâ— Q 19. What was the Religion of the Adamians Elcesians and Theodotians A. The Adamians or Adamites so called either from one Adam their author or from Adam the first man whose nakednesse they imitate sprung up shortly after the Gnosticks and were called Prodiciani from one Prodicus whom they followed Of this Sect there be many extant at this day They held it unlawful for men or women to wear cloathes in their congregation and assemblies seeing their meetings were the only Paradise on earth where they were to have life Eternal and not in Heavenâ— as Adam then in his Paradise so Christians in theirs should be naken and nor cloathed with the badges of their sin and shame They rejected marriages as diabolical therefore they used promiscuous copulation in the dark they rejected also all prayers to God as needlesse seeing he knew without us what we wanted The Elcesei so called from Elcesae an impostor and Sampsei from a spotted kind of Serpent which they represented in their changable dispositions were much addicted to judicial Astrology and Soothsaying They held two Priests one below made of the Virgin a meer man and one above they confound Christ with the Holy Ghost and sometimes they call him Christs Sister but in a masculine name to both which persons they give longitude latitude and locality To water they ascribe a divinity and so they did to two Whoores Marthus and Marthana the dust of whose feet and spittle they worshipped as holy reliques They had a certaine Apocrypha book the reading whereof procured remission of â—in and they held it no sin to deny Christ in time of persecution This Heresie began to spread about 210. years after Christ under Gordian the Emperor See Origen who writ against it The Theodocians so called from one Theodoâ—us or Theodotion who lived under Severus Emperour 170. years after Christ. He was a Byzantian by birth and a Tanner by profession who taught that in times of persecution we may deny Christ and in so doing we deny not God because Christ was meerly man and that he was begotten of the seed of man He also added to and took from the writings of the Evangelists what he pleased Q 20. What was the Religion of the Melchisedecians Bardesanists and Noetians A. The former were called Melchisedecians for believing that Melchisedeck was not a man but a Divine power superiour to Christ whom they held to be a meer man One Theodotus Scholar to the former Theodotus the Tanner was author of this Sect who lived under Severus about 174. years after Christ. The Bardesanists were so called from one Bardesanes a Syrian who lived under Verus the Emperour 144. years after Christ. He taught that all things even God himself were subject to Fate or a Stoical necessity so that he took away all liberty both from God and man and that vertue and vice depended on the Stars He renewed also the whimsies of the Aeones by which he overthrew Christs divinity and denied the Resurrection of the flesh The Noetians so called from Noetus born in Smyrna taught that there was but one Person in the Trinity which was both mortal and immortal in heaven God and impatible on earth Man and patible So they made a Trinity not of Persons but of Names and Functions Noetus also taught that he was Moses and that his brother was Aaron This Heretick was buried with the burial of an Asse and his city Smyrna was overthrown eight years after he broached his Heresie He lived about 140. years after Christ under M. Antoninus and L. Verus Emperours Q. 21. Of what Religion were the Valesians the Cathari Angelici and Apostolici A. The Valesians so called from one Valens an Arabian who out of the doctrine of the Gnosticks or Tatians condemned marriage and procreation Therefore his Scholars after the example of Origen gelded themselves thinking none can enter into heaven but Eunuchs Whereas the Eunuchs Christ speaks of be such as by continence subdue the lusts of the flesh This Heresie springing under Iulianus Philippus Emperour about the year of Christ 216. The Cathari 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so called by themselves as if they were purer then other men derived most of their Tenets from Novatâ—s hence they were named Novatians This Novatus lived under Decius the Emperour after Christ 220. years He was an African born This Heresie lasted till the time of Arcadius to wit 148. years they denyed repentance to those who fell after Baptism they bragged much of their Sanctity and good works They condemned second Marriages as adulterous They used rebaptization as the Donatists did afterward They rejected also Oyl or Chrism in Baptisme The Angelici were so called from worshipping of Angels it seems this Heresie was begun in the Apostles time who condemneth it but had its growth shortly after the Melchisedecians about the year of Christ 180. The Apostolici were so called from imitating the holinesse of the Apostles these were the spawn of the Encratites about the year
this cause these Abclites did marry Wives but not use them as Wives for propagation for â—â—ar of Original sin whereof they would not be authors therefore they condemned copulation as a work of the flesh and altogether Satanical But for the conservation of their Sect they used to adopt other mens Children This heresie sprung up under Arcadius the Emperout 370. yeares after Christ in the Terriroties of Hippo where Saint Austin was Bishop This heresie lasted not long Q. 36. What Tenets in Religion held the Pelagians Praedestinati and Timotheans A. The Pelagians were so called from Pelagius a Brittain by birth and a Monk at Rome afterward a Presbyter under Theodâ—sius the yonger 382. years after Christ. They were named also Caelestiani from Caelestius one of Pelagius his scholars These taught that death was not the wages of sin but that Adam should have died though he had not sinned That Adams sin was hurtful onely to himselfe and not to his posterity that concupiscence was no sin that Infants did not draw original sin from their Parents that infants might be saved without baptisme that they should have life eternal but out of the Kingdom of God that man after the fall had the free will to do good and ascribed no more to grace but that by it we had our nature and that by our good works wee obtaine grace they rejected the Doctrine of predestination perhaps because the Hereticks called Praedestinati made Predestination a cloak for all wickednesse security and desperation for they taught that the Predestinate might sinne securely for he could not be damned and that such as were not predestinate should never be saved though their life were never so holy This heresie was not long before Pelagianisme and is the same with that of the Libertins The Timotheans so called from Timotheus Aelurus that is the Caâ— from his bad conditions sprung up under Zeno the Greek Emperour 447. years after Christ. These taught that the two natures of Christ were so mixed in the Virgins Womb that they ceased to be what they were before and became a third substance made up of both as a mixed body is made up of the Elements which lose their names and forms in the mixtion These Hereticks afterward lost the name of Timotheans from Timotheus their Author Bishop of Alexandria and were called Monothelites and Monophysites from ascribing onely one will and one nature to Christ. Of the Pelagians see Austin and the other Fathers who have written against them Q. 37. What was the Religion of the Nestorians Eutychians and of those Sects which sprung out of them A. The Nestorians were so called from Nestorius Patriarch of Constantinople who broached his Heresie under Theodosius the younger 400 years after Christ. He taught that in Christ were two distinct persons to wit the Son of God and the Son of Mary that the Son of God in Christs baptisme descended into the Son of Mary and dwelt there as a lodger doth in a house therefore he would not call the Virgin Mary 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Mother of God but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Mother of Christ. Besides he made the humanity of Christ equal with his divinity aad so confounded their properties and operations This Heresie was but the spawn of some former Heresies chiefly of Manicheisine and Arrianiame It was condemned in the Councel of Epâ—esus under Theodosius the younger in which Cyrill Bishop of Alexandria was Presidentâ— and the author Nestorius was deposed and banished where his blasphemous tongue was eat out with Wormes and his body with Core and his seditious complices swallowed up by the Earth The Eutychians so named from Euâ—yches Archimandrite or Abbot of Constantinopie who lived in the latter end of Theodosius the younger held opinions quite contrary to Nestorius to wit that Christ before the Union had two distinct natures but after the Union only one to wit the Divinity which swallowed up the Humanity and so they confounded the property of the two natures affirming that the Divine nature suffered and died and that God the Word did not take from the Virgin Humane nature This heresie was first condemned in a Provincial Synod at Constantinople then it was set up again by Dioscurus Bishop of Alexandria in the theevish Councel of Ephesus called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and at last condemned by the generall Councel of Chalcedon under Marcian the Emperour From the Eutychians sprung up the Acephalâ— or headlesse Hereticks so called because they had neither Bishop Priest nor Sacâ—ament amongst them these held that in Christ were two natures which notwithstanding they confounded as they did also the properties saying that the humanity lost it selfe and properties being swallowed up by the divinity as a drop of Vineger is lost in the Sea Severus Bishop of Alexandria was author of this Sect under Anastasius Emperour 462. yeares after Christ. They were called also Theodosians from Theodosius their chiefe Patron and Bishop of Alexandria 2. The Monophysites were all one with the Eutychians differing onely in name 3. The Agnoetae so called from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ignorance becausâ— they held that Christs Divinity which with them onely remained after the Union was ignoranT of the day of judgement and where Lazarus after his death was laied This heresie was revived by Theodosius Bishop of Alexandria under Mauritius the Emperour 572. yeares after Christ. 4. The Iacobites so called from Iacobus the Syrian held the same opinions that the Eutychians and scoffed the Christians with the name of Meâ—chites because they followed the Emperour in their Faith These under Phâ—cas the Emperour drew all Syria into their Heresie 575. yeares after Christ. 5. The Armenians so named from Armenia insected with that Heresie held that Christ took not a humane body from the Virgin but that it was immortall from the first minute of its Conception hence they were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they againe in sâ—orn called the Orthodox Christians Manicheans and Phantasâ—asts these held a Quaternity of Persons and that the Divinity suffered and kept their Easter after the Jewish manner They sprung up under Phocas the Emperour 577. yeares after Christ. 6. The Monothelites in words held there were two natures in Christ but in effect denyed them by giving him one Will onely All these branches of Eutychianisme were condemned by the fifth General Councel held at Constantinople under Iustinian the first who confirmed the councel of Chalcedon to which these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or doubting Hereticks for so they called themselves would not subscribe At last sprung up Mahumetanisme 589. years after Christ. Of which we have spokeh already Of all these see Isidor Theodoret Evagrius Nicephorus Sâ—erates Sozomen and others The Contents of the Eighth Section Of the opinions in Religion held the seventh Centurâ— â— The opinions of the eighth Century 3. The Tenets of the ninth and tenth Centuries 4.
from the Father and the Son not by way of Generation or Conception but of Eternal and Spiritual dilection he also taught that it was injustice to punish any man for opinions in Religion or Heresie The Whippers taught that whipping of themselves with rods full of knots and sharp pricks did more expâ—â—te and abolish sin then confession that this their voluntary whipping was before Martyrdom which was inflicted by outward force that now there was no use of the Gospel nor of the Baptisme of Water sith the Baptisme of Blood was better that holy water was â—â—â—iesâ—e that no man could be saved who did 〈…〉 himselfe They also held perjury lawful The 〈◊〉 whose author was one Hermannus Italus held community of Wives lawful which Doctrine they put in practise at their meetings to pray then putting out their lâ—ghts â—hey used promiscâ—ous copnlation and the children born of such commixtion they put to death They taught that all things amongst Christians should be in common that Magistracy did not consist with Christianity and that the Saints did not see God till the day of judgement Gerardus Sagarellus of Parma whose Disciples were named Pseudâ—-apostoli that is false Apostles because they bragged that they did imitâ—te the Apostles poverty therefore they would not take or keep money or reserve any thing for the next day he taught that to make vows or to swear at all was unlawful that marriages might be dissolved by such as would embrace their Religion and that they were the onely Christians they were enemies to Tythes and to Churches which for prayer they accounted no better then Hogs Styes Q. 7 What were the opinions in Religion the feurteenth Century A. The Beguardi who professed a Monastical life taught that we might attaine to as much perfection and beatitude in this life as in Heaven that all intellectual natures were blessed in themselves not in God that it was a sin to kisse a Woman but not to lie with her because nature inclined to this but not to that That perfect and spiritual men were freed from obedience to superiours from fasting praying and good works and that such men could not sin nor encrease in grace being perfect already They would have no reverence to be used in the Eucharist nor at all to receive it for that did argue imperfection The Beguinae professed the same Tenets and withal were against vows and voluntary poverty The Beguini taught that wealth consisted not with Evangelical perfection and therefore blamed Pope Iohn 22 for permitting the Franciscans to have corn in their barns and wine in their cellars They held that the state of Minorites was more perfect then that of Bishops that they were not bound to give an account of their faith when they were demanded by the Inquisitors and that the Pope had no power to dispense with Vows The Lolhards so called from Walter Lolhard their author held that Lucifer was injuriously thrust out of Heaven that Michael and the blessed Angels should be punished eternally that Lucifer should be saved that the blessed Virgin lost her Virginity after Christs birth and that God did neither see nor would punish sins committed under ground therefore they gave themselves to all uncleannesse in their vaults and caves Richardus Armacanus taught that voluntary poverty was unlawful and that priests could blesse and confer orders as well as Bishops One Ianovesiâ—s taught that in the year â—â—60 on Whitsunday Antichrist would come who should pervert all Christians and should mark them in their Hands and Foreheads and then should be damned eternally and that all Iewes Saracens and Infidels who were seduced by Antichrist should after his destruction be converted to Christ but not the Christians that fell off from Christ. The Turelupini taught that we should not be ashamed of those members we have from nature and so like the Cynicks they gave themselves openly to all uncleannesse they held also that we were not to pray with our voice but with the heart onely Q. 8. What were the Tenets of the Wicklevits who lived in this Centurie A. They were so called from Iohn Wickliffe an Englishman and taught that the substance of bread and wine remained in the Sacrament that neither Priest nor Bishop remaining in any mortal sin could consecrate or ordain that the Mass had no ground in Scripture that outward confession was needlesse where there was true contrition that a wicked Pope had no power over the faithful that Clergy-men should have no possessions that none should be excommunicate by the Church but he who is first excommunicate by God that the Prelate who excommunicates a Clerk appealing to the King is a traitorâ— and so is he that being excommunicate refuseth to hear or to preach that Deacons and Priests may preach without authority of the Bishop that the King might invade the Churches Revenues that the people may punish their Kings that the Laity may detain or take away the Tytâ—es that special prayers for any man were of no more force then general that religious orders were unlawful and that such should labour with their hands that it was a sin in Constantine and others to enrich the Church that the Church of Rome was Satans Synâ—gogue they rejected also the Popes election by Cardinals Indulgences decretal Epistles the Popes excommunications and his supremacy they held also that Austin Benet and Bernard were damned for instituting religious orders that God ought to obey the Devil that he who gives almes to Monasteries should be excommunicate that they are Simoniacks who pray for their Parents or Benefactors that Bishops reserved to themselves the power of Ordination Confirmation and Consecration for lucres sake that Universities Degrees and Schools of Learning were hurtfull to the Church These and such like Tenets of Wickliff are let down in the Councel of Constance where they were condemned Other opinions are fathered upon him to wit that man had no free will that the sins of the Predestinate were venial but of the Reprobate all mortal that the Saints were not to be invocated nor their reliques kept nor the Crosse to be worshipped nor images to be placed in Churches they rejected also Vows Canonical hours Church-Musick Fasting Baptizing of Infants Benedictions Chrism and Episcopacy He held also that the Brother and sister might marry that every creaâ—ure may â—e called God because its perfection is in God Q. 9. What opinions were taught the fifteenth Century A. Iohn Hus of Bohemia publickly maintained the Doctrine of Waldus and Wickliffe and withal taught that Saint Peter was never head of the Church that the Church is onely of the predestinate that Saint Paul when he was a persecutor was not a member of Satan that the Divinity and the Humanity made up one Christ whereas the personal union consisted indeed not between the two Natures but between the Person of the Word and the Humane Nature That the Pope was subject to Cesar that the Pope
his age and after Christ 361. To him succeeded Hilarion the first Eremite in Palestina and Syria Then Paul surnamed the Simple Amen an Egyptian with divers others Q. 3. How did these first Eremites live A. They spent their time in working sometimes in preaching praying fasting and meditating and sometimes in composing differences between Christians in visiting the sick and in such like holy exercises did they place their Religion Paul the Theban was content with a cave in stead of a palace with a piece of dry bread brought to him by a Raven every day in stead of delicate cheer with water in stead of wine and with the leaves of Palmes in stead of rich apparrel And to avoid idlenesse he would work sometiems with his hands Anthony contented himself with bread salt and water his dinner-time was at Sun-setting he used to fast sometimes two dayes together and to watch and pray whole nights he lay on the bare ground disputed often times with the Arâ—iâ—ns and Meletians in defence of Athanasius did intercede many times with the Emperour Constantine for distressed Christians and was alwayes ready to compose their quarrels Hilarion was content to live in a little hovel which he made himself of shells twigs and bulrushes foure foot broad and five foot high spending his time in praying fasting curing of diseases casting out Devils His garment was sack-cloath which he never put off his food roots and herbs which he never â—asted before Sun set six ounces of Barleyâ—bread contented him from 30. years till 35. from that time till 63. he used Oyle to repair his decayed strength From 64. till 80. he abstained from bread That he might not be idle he made him baskets of bulrushes and used to lie on the ground Thus did these Primitive Eremites spend their time Not in chambering and wâ—â—tâ—nnesse surâ—etting and drunkennesse but in temperance sobriety continence hunger thirst heat and cold reading praying preaching and fasting not placing Religion in saying but in suffering not in good words but in good works not in talking of Scripture but in walking by Scripture Q. 4. Wherein did some Eremites exceed in their Religious or rather superstitious kind of living A. As Jealousie is too much Love so is Superstition too much Religion but too much of one thing as we say is good for nothing Ne quid nimis should be in all our actions God will have merey and not sacrifice He will say Who required these things at your hands Such kind of bodily exercise as the Apostle saith availeth little It is not a torn skin nor a macerated body nor a pinched belly that God requires but a broken and contriâ—e spirit a renting of the heart and not of the garment and therefore the excesse of Eremitical penance is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will-worship and not that which God requireth to wit mercy and justice to relieve the oppressed to comfort the comfortlesse to visit the Fatherlesse and widows and to keep our selves unspotted of the world To place Religion in abstinence from certain meats is against the Apostles rule â— Tim. 4. saying That every Creature of God is good and nothing to be rejected which is received with thanksgiving Altogether to abandon the society of Christians is contrary to Saint Pauls counsel Heb. 10 Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works not forsaking the fellowship that we have among our selves as the manner of some is under pretence of forsaking the world to abandon all care of Friends and Family is condemned by the Apostle 1 Tim. 5. If any man hath not a care of his Family he hath denied the Faith and is worse then an Infidel They that willingly deprive themselves of the means of doing good to their neighbours transgresse the Law of God which commands us to love our neighbours as our selves These subsequent examples will shew how far some men have exceeded the bounds of Christianity and out-run Religion by too much superstitious devotions and excessive pennance One Asepesâ—â—a lived Sixty years together in a Closet all which time he never was seen of any nor did he speake to any The like is recorded of one Didymus who lived ninety years by himselfe One Batthaeus an Eremite of Caelosyria fasted so long till Worms crawled out of his teeth One Martinus tyed his leg with an Iron Chain to a great Stone that he might not remove thence One Alas never tasted bread in eighty years together Iohn Sorâ—â—ny the Egyptian stood praying within the Cliff of a certain Rock three years together so long till his legs and feet with continual standing swelled with putriâ—ied matter which at last broke the skin and run out One Dominicus and Eremit wore continually next his skin an Iron Coat of Male and almost every day used to scourge himself with whips in both hands Some have killed themselvs with hunger some with thirst some with exposing themselvs to excessive heat have been stifâ—ed others by extremity of cold have been frozen to death as if God took delight in self-murther which in him to affect were cruelty and in any to act were the greatest impiety Some again not content with ordinary ways of Eremitisme have spent their days within hollow pillars whence they were named Stylitae neither admitting the speech nor sight of any man or woman O 〈◊〉 hominum O quantum est in rebus inaâ—e What needed all this toil Christ saith that his Yoâ—k is easie and his Burthen light but these men laid heavy burthens on themselves which God never required he made man Animal Politicum a sociable creature therefore said It was not good for man to be alone Wo to him that is alone saith Solomon Besides no place though never so remote and solitary can priviledge a man from sin Lot was righteous among the wicked Sodomites and yet in the solitary Cave committed Incest with his two Daughters what place could be more retired then Paradise and more secure then Heaven yet Adam fell in Paradise and the Angels fell in Heaven Q. 5. Whether is the solitary life in a Desart or the sociable life in a Covent to be preferred A. 1. The sociable life because the end of our creation was not to live apart like wild beasts but together like men 2. Because we are hound to help each other by Counsel Instruction Admonition Exhortation to bear one anothers burthens to comfort the comfortlesse to support the weak to cloath the naked to seed the hungry for as the Orator said we are not born for our selves but our Parents Country and Friends challenge a share in us 3. Because he that liveth alone as he sins against his creation and humane society so he sins against himselfe in that he debars himselfe of those comforts and aid both spiritual and corporal which he hath in a sociable life 4. Because God is more present with many then with one Therefore his Church which he promiseth to
of the Cloyster they wear a black cloak with a black hat There be two orders more of this name the one wear white the other blew they abstain from flesh except in their sicknesse and are not tied by vow to their profession The Mendicants of Saint Hierom were iustituted by Carolus Florentinus Anno 1407. and are confirmed by Gregory the twelfth They professe Saint Austins rule they wear dark-coloured cloathes and over their coat a pleated cloak divided they use a leathern girdle and wooden shooes The Canons of Lateran make Saint Austin their Author these were expulsed Saint Iohn Lateran by Pope Calixtus after they had been seated there by Eugeuius the fourth who expolled the Seculars thence but Paul the second called back the Regulars and by degrees expelled the Seculars Their cloak Scapulars and hood are black The order of the Holy Ghost was instituted neer Venice by Gabriel of Spâ—letum Anno 1407. they use the same habit that the Canons Regular doe wear The Brothers of Saint Ambrose ad Nemus were instituted at Milan and confirmed Anno 1433. They wear dark-coloured cloathes and profess Saint Austins rule The Minimi of Iesu Maria were instituted by one Francis Paula a Cicilian Anno 1471. he made three rules one for the brothers another for the Sisters and the third for both Sexes called Tertiarii He would have the Brothers to be called Minimi and the Sisters Minimae to teach them humility They were enjoyned to keep the Ten Commandements to observe the Church Laws to obey the Pope and to persevere in their Vowes of Chastity Poverty Obedience and Fasting This order was allowed by Iulius the second Innoceâ—â— the eighth Sixtus the fourth Alexander the sixth and Leo the tenth They abstain altogether from flesh they wear onely corse linnen and wander up anâ— down bare-headed and bare-foote Q. 24. What Orders of Knighthood were there erecteâ— in Christendome after the year 1400 A. The Knights of the Annunciation of Mary by Amadeus the fifth Earle of Savoy and first Duke thereof Anno 1420. of this order we have already spoken The ordâ—â— of Maurician Knights was instituted by Amadeus the seventh Anno 1490. to the honour of Saint Maurice whose Ring was delivered to Peter Earle of Savoy that by him it might be conveyed to his successors as a badge of their right to and soveraignity over that Country The Knights of the Golden Fleece were instituted by Philip the good Duke of Burgundy and Father to Charles whom the Switzers defeated and flew This Philip on his wedding day with Isabel the King of Portugals daughter erected this order Anno 1429. which he called by the name of the Golden Fleece in memory of Iason and those other worthies who ventured their lives for that Golden Fleece to encourage Christians to venture their lives like couragious Argonautes for the defence and honour of the Catholike Church There were appoynted thirty one Knights of this order the chief whereof was the Duke of Burgundy now the Kings of Spain are chief in right of that Dukedome Of these Knights we have spoken already in our History of the world in the impression by me owned as before is mentioned The Knights of the Moon were instituted by Reiner Duke of Anjou when he obtained the Kingdom of Sieily Anno 1464. These Knights wore a silver half Moon on their arme and were bound to defend one another in all dangers and never to fall at variance among themselves The Knights of Saint Michael the Arch-Angel were instituted by Lewis the French King Anno 1469. These wear a Golden Chain at which hanged the image of Saint Michael treading on the infernal Dragon This picture his Father Charles the seventh wore in his banners and it is worne by his posterity in memory of Saint Michael who was seen in the battel at the bridge of Orleans fighting against the English whom he forced to raise their siedge The King appoynted there should be of this order 36. Knights whereof himself should be the first They are tied to hear Mass every day The Knights of Saint Stephen were instituted by Cosmo Dake of Florence and confirmed by Pope Pius the fourth Anno 1561. in imitation of the Knights of Malta They differ from the Ioannites that instead of a white they wear a red Crosse set in Gold They may also marry once which the Ioannites could not do Their seat is in Ilua an Island in the Ligustick Sea They are called Saint Stephens Knights not from Stephen the first Martyr but from Stephen Bishop of Florence who was Canonised or from Pope Stephen The Knights of the holy Spirit were instituted by Henry the French King Anno 1579. Of the Knights of Saint George in England or of the Garter instituted by King Edward the third Anno 1351. and of the Knights of the Star set up by King Iohn the first of France in memory of that Star which appeared at Christs Nativity the Knights also of Jesus Christ in Portugal and of the Knights of Alcanthara in Castile we have already spoken He that wll see more let him read Panuinius in Chron. Sabellicus Enne 9. Crantzius L. 9. Frank in Chron. Polyd. L. 7. Volaterran L. 2â— Girard Hist. L. 15. Balaus Cent. 5. Heuterus L. 4. reâ— Burgund Tilius Hist. Franc. Genebrard in Chron. Hospinian de orig Monach. and the continuation of Sir Walter Raleighs History of the World in the edition by we owned to be sold by I. S. at the Grey-hound in Little Britaine London c. The Contents of the Eleventh Section Of Religions Orders and opinions from the year 1500. till this day 2. The order of Jesuites 3. Of their general rules 4. Of their other rules 5. Of their rules for Provests of houses Rectors of Colledges c. 6. Of their rules for Travellers Ministers Admonitors c. 7. Of their priviledges granted by Popes 8. Of other Orders in the Church of Rome 9. How Abbots are consecrated at this time 10. Wherein the Christian Orders of Knight-hood differ 11. Of other Orders of Knight-hood besides the French 12. of the Orders of Knight-hood in Germany Hungary Bohemia Poland c. 13. The Orders of Knight-hood in Italy 14. Of the Christian Military Orders in the East SECT XI Quest. 1. WHat Religious Orders and opinions in Religion are there sprung up in these latter times that is from the year 1500. till this day in the Christian World A. In the year 1500. started up a new order called Poor Pilgrims these came out of Italy into Germany bare-foote and bare-headed some covered their bodies with linnen others with gray cloth carrying every one in his hand a wooden Crosse but without scrip or bag staff or money drinking neither Wine nor Beere feeding all the week except on Sundays upon Herbs and Rootes sprinkled with salt they abstained altogether from Egges Butter Milk Cheese Fish and Flesh. In
days at which time because of baptisme white is worn this colour signifieth that all who are baptized are made Priests to God the Father for the Priests garment is white it sheweth also the innocency and purity that ought to be among Christians and it puts them in mind of the resurrection and glory of the life to come They pray standing in sign of liberty obtained by the Spirit Hallelujah and Gloria in excelsis are sung often this week from Easter till this time no man is bound to fast this feast is observed seven days to shew the seven gifts of the holy Ghost and every day three Lessons are read because all the seven gifts are included in these three Faith Hope and Charity The next Sunday is kept to the honour of the Trinity for as Christmasse was ordained to be kept in honour of God the Father who sent his son into the world and Easter to Christ the second Person and Whitsunday to the third Person so this Sunday was instituted to the three persons together and from this day are named the other Sundaies till Advâ—â—t whereof are twenty six to each of which is appropriated a peculiar Masse with Lessons and Psalms fit for each day Q. 23. What be their canonical hours of prayer A. Their set hours of prayer are called canonical because they are prescribed by the Canons of the Church and regularly observed by devout people These hours they ground upon the practise of David and Daniel who prayed three times a day These hours are seven because David speaketh of calling upon God seven times a day because the gifts of the holy Ghost are seven and the foul spirit bringeth seven spirits worse then himself there be seven deadly sins the walls of Ierico fell down at the blowing of the seven Ram horn Trumpers there were seven Aspersions in the Levitical Law Levit. 14. 16. We read also of seven Lamps and seven golden Candlesticks These canonical hours are not onely for the day but also for the night after the example of David and Christ who spent some part of the night in prayer and of the Church in the Canticles which sought Christ in the night The Prince of darknesse is most busie in the night to assault us therefore we ought to watch and pray that we may not be slaine with the Egyptian first born in the night The Nocturnals or night praises are said at midnight because at that time Paul and Silas praised God and so did David About that time Christ rose from the grave as the Greek Church believeth but the Latine Church holdeth that he arose in the morning The first hour of the day is dedicate to prayer that whilest the Sun riseth we may call upon the Sun of righteousness who bringeth health under his wings About that hour he was mocked spit upon buffeted and at that hour after his resurrection he was seen by his Disciples standing on the Sea shore To whom the first fruits of the earth were offered in old time to him also should the first fruits of the day be offered The third hour is consecrated to prayer because then Christ was crowned with thorns and condemned by Pilate It was the third hour also that the holy Ghost descended on the Apostles The sixt hour is canonicall because then Christ was crucified at that houre Peter went up to the top of the house to pray acts 10. and then it was that Christ asked water from the woman of Saâ—atia The ninth hour is for prayer because then Christ gave up the ghost so Peter and Iohn went up into the Temple at the ninth hour of prayer acts 3. The evening also is a time for prayer then they have their Vespers because the Iewes had their evening Sacrifice then it was that Christ instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist at his last Supper And then was his body taken down from the Crosse. The hour of the Completory about the beginning of the night is Canonical also in memory of Christs buriall And because David would not go up into his bed nor suffer his eye-lids to slumber till he had found out a place for the Temple Then is sung the song of old Simeon Nunc dimittis Q. 24. What else may we observe about these Canonical hours A. That all Priests Deacons and Sub-Deacons are bound to observe these hours so are also Monks and Nuns if they be not Novices But the inferiour orders of Clergy that are not beneficed as they are not debarred from Marriage so they are not tied to these Canonical hours They also that are excommunicate and degraded are to observe these hours for the character is indelible but sick persons and such as have any natural impediment are excused Again these Canonical prayers are not to be said everywhere but in the Church because the multitude of petitioners makes prayers the more efficacious otherways they acknowledge that private prayers may be said anywhere The times also order and reverence must be observed in saying of these prayers and diligent attention must be used without wandering thoughts the attention must be â—ixed not onely on the words and sense thereof but chiefly on God the object of our prayers and devotion must be used both outward in prostrating of the body and inward in humility and submission of the minde But on Sundays and all the time between 〈◊〉 and Pentecost they pray standing to shew 〈◊〉 readinesse being risen with Christ in seeking the things that are above Beneficed men who neglect in six moneths time to say the Canonical prayers are to lose their benefices In the first Canonical hour the Kyrie Eleeson is said so is the Lords Prayer and the Creed but with a low voice to shew that prayer and faith consist rather is the heart then in the tongue In the third hour prayers are said for the dead as well as for the living The sixe hour they say Adam fell and was 〈◊〉 out of Paradise therefore they hold it then a fiâ— time by prayer to enter into Gods favour again The ninth hour Christs side was peirced out of which flowed water and blood the two Sacraments of the Church then the Vaile of the Temple rent asunder the graves opened and Christ descended into hell all which do furnish sufficient matter for prayers and praises that hour In the end of the day are said the Vespers or evening service to signifie that Christ came in the end of the world In the evening Christ washed his Disciples feet and was known to the two Disciples in breaking of bread as they were going to Emaus Five Psalmes are then said in reference to Christs five wounds and to expiâ—â—e the sins of our five sences In the evening is sung the Magnificat to shew that in the evening of the world the Virgin brought forth Christ in whom is our cheifest rejoycing And then are Lamps lighted to put us in minde that with the wise Virgins we should
August he preached in India and then in Albania of Armenia where he was first â—leaed and then beheaded therefore some keep the Feast of his Excoriation others of his Decollation S. Iohn Baptists Decollation is kept the 29 of August his head hath been removed from divers places the Nativity of S. Mary is celebrated the 8 of September it was kept in heaven by the Angels so goeth the story long before it was observed by men here on earth the Romane Church celebrates no Nativities except that of Christs of his Mother and of his Forerunner The Exaltation of the Crosse is kept the 14 of September in memory of the Crosse recovered from Cosroes King of Persia by the Emperor Heraclius and by him carried in triumph into Ierusalem the Feast of S. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist is on the 21 of September in remembrance of his suffering for Christ in Ethiopia where having planted the Gospel he was beheaded there S. Lukes day is on the 18 of October he was a Painter Physitian and Evangelist and the Disciple of Saint Paul the Feast of Simon and Iude is kept on the 28 of October these were brothers and sons to Mary Cleophas who married to Alpheus they had two brothers more to wit Iames the lesser and Ioseph called Barsaâ—as and sirnamed Iustus Simon was called Zelotes and Cananaeus from Cana of Galilee Iude was named 〈◊〉 and Lebeus Simon preacht in Egypt afterward he succeded Iames in the See of Ierusalem where he was crucified Iude preached to the Medes and Persians and suffered at Persis the first of November is dedicated to all the Saints because there be more then can have particular dayes assigned them The old Romans worshipped all their gods together in one Temple called Fantheon Christians held it fitter to worship all the Saints and Martyrs in the same Temple under the name of Saint Mary this Feast is ushered in with fasting the day before and backed with prayers for all souls in Purgatory the day after Saint Martin Bishop and Confessor is honoured the eleventh of November for his charity to the poor in parting with his own Garments to cloath them and for his humility in that he would dye on no other bed but on a heap of ashes this Feast hath its Vigil and Octave They thought that he should be thus honoured by men who had been honoured by Angels The thirtieth of November is Saint Andrewâ— day he preached in Scythia Achaia and other places thereabout and suffered death on a crosse his bones with those of Saint Luke were translated to Constantinople in the time of Constantine the second The sixth of December is for Saint Nicholas the Bishop famous for his charity boldnesse and constancy in the maintenance of Christianity They write that being an Infant he would never suck his Mothers brests but once on Wedensdays and Fridays The 21 of December is for Saint Thomas who preached to the Indians by their Idolatrous Priests was first shot with arrows and then thrust through with a lance as he was at his prayers Saint Stephen is celebrated the six and twentieth of December as he was the first Martyr so he deserved to be the first in the Kalendar the first Martyr is placed next to Christs Nativity to shew Christ was born that we might suffer and Christs Nativity here on earth was the cause of Stephens Nativity in Heaven Saint Iohn the beloved Disciple is honoured on the seven and twentieth of December He escaped miraculously first poyson and then burning oyle The eight and twentieth of December is for the Innocents who suffered in their Infancy by Herod for the Infant King of the Iewes Christ Jesus there are multitudes of Saints more who are placed in the Kalendar as Ambrose Bishop on December 7. Anselme Bishop April 21. Augustine Bishop August 21. Babylas Bishop Ianuary 24. Barbara the Virgin December 4. Barnabas the Apostle Iune 11. Basil Bishop April 26. Basil the Great Ianuary 1. Bernard Abbot August 20. Bonavâ—ntura the Cardinal Iuly 14. Three Bonifaces and three Katharines on several days Christopher Martyr Iuly 25. Clemens Pope and Martyr November 23. Saint Paul's conversion April 25. Saint Austins conversion May 5. Cyprian Martyr September 26. Dionyflus the Areopagiâ—e October 9. Epiphanius Bishop May 12. George Martyr April 24. Gregory the Great Pope March 12. Gregory Nazianzen Bishop May 9. Gregorius Thaumaturguâ— November 17. William Confessor February 10. Hierom September 30. Ignatius Bishop and Martyr Feburary 1. Ignafius Loyoâ—a Iuly 31. Iohannes Chrysostom Bishop Ianuary 27. Iohn Damascen May 〈◊〉 Ioseph Maries husband March 19. Irenaeus Martyr August 26. Iulianus Martyr Ianuary 9. Iustinus Martyr April 13. Landfrancus Bishop Iuly 3. Laurence Martyr August 10. Lewis King August 25. Mary Magdalen Iuly 22. Matthias Apostle February 24 Michael Arch-angel September 29. Narcissus Bishop October 29. Olaus King Iuly 29. Patrick Bishop March 17. Polycarpus Bishop Ianuary 26. Severinus Boethius October 23. Thomas Bishop December 29. Tomas Aquinâ—s March 7. Vigilius Bishop Iune 26. There are multitudes more in the Roman Kaâ—endar but these are the chiefe which I have culled out They have also holy days for some eminent Iewes as Daniel the Prophet c. For Angels also and for dedication of Churches which the Greeks call Eâ—coenia a custom borrowed from the Jews Q. 27. What Ornaments and Vtensils doe they use in their Churches dedicate to Christ and the Saints A. They have in them their reliques pictures images crosses also and crucifixes the images also of Angels which they paint with wings to signifie their swiftnesse and sublimity of their nature with white garments also to shew their purity The images of Christ and of the Saints are painted with the sunne beams about their heads to represent the glory they are in God the Father is represented like an old man because he is described by Daniel like the ancient of daies The Holy Ghost is painted like a Dove because in that form he appeared on Christ. They have Chalices not of Glasse because subject to breaking not of wood because that is porous and drinks in the liquor not of brasse nor copper because of the bad smell thereof and rust or canker but of silver or gold They have also candlesticks tapers and lamps which they burn to the Saints by day to shew they are not in darknesse but in light Their censers and incense represent Christ and the prayers of the Saints which like incense ascend before God these odors are burnt in their Churches both to expel bad vapors and to refresh the sences They have also their flaps or fans to drive away flies from the Chalice after the example of Abraham who drove away the birds from his sacrifice and to teach us that we should drive away all wandring thoughts when we pray Their Patinâ— and other vessels shining bright put us in mind how we should shine in out conversation The Corporal is the linnen cloath in
from the Son abstained from blood and strangled things observed the Sabbath with the Lords day condemned the fourth marriage as utterly unlawful rejected confirmation administred the Sacrament in leavened bread and in both kindes and excluded the blessed souls from heaven till the Resurrection they did besides hold that all mens souls were created together in the beginning that Hereticks are to be rebaptized that the child is not to be baptized till the mother be purified which is fourty dayes after a Male childe and eighty after a Female that children should receive the Eucharist as soon as baptized that the Father may dissolve the Matrimony of his child if he dislike it that the Eucharist is not to be reserved nor to be carried to sick persons in danger of death that Priests and Deacons must be married that children of five or six years old may be made Subdeacons that women during their monthly purgations are not to be admitted into the Church nor to the Eucharist But these opinions the Maronites renounced when the Christians had the command of Syria and Palestine but when Saladine recovered those 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 fell off from the Roman Church and embraced their former Teners but in the 〈◊〉 of Gregory the 〈◊〉 and Clement the eighth they reconciled themselves again to the Roman Church Q. 13. What are the Cophti A. The 〈◊〉 are the Iacobites of Egypt for the Egyptians were anciently named 〈◊〉 we call them Cophti that is Egyptian Christians as the Iacobâ—res of Syria are named Syrians and in no country were these Euâ—ychians more patronised then in Syria and Egypt yet these Iacobites differ from Eutyches in this that He taught the two natures in Christ to be one by confusion or commixtion whereas They say that they are one by co-adunation but so that the properties oh each nature remain distinct so that in effect they 〈…〉 but dare not say to for fear of 〈…〉 persons not being able to 〈…〉 the Nature and the Person These 〈…〉 to the Patriarch of Alexandria whose 〈…〉 is now in the City of Caire They used heretofore to be circumcised but by the Popes perswasion have left it They baptize not children till the 〈◊〉 day to whom they give the Euceharist immediately after baptism and then also confer on them all sacred orders under Priesthood their parents promising for them and performing what they promise till they be sixteen years old chastity fasting on Wednesdayes Fridays and in the four Lents They administer the Eucharist in leavened bread and in both kinds With the Greeks they leave out the words of the 〈◊〉 creed and from the Son they deny the Sacrament and extream Unction to the sick reject Purgatory and prayer for the dead and all General Councils chiehly Chalcedon after that of Ephesus They keep no Lords day nor Feasts except in Cities They marry within the second degree of consanguinity without dispensation they account the Romane Church heretical and in their Liturgies use to read the Gospel of Nicodeâ—â—â— Q. 14. What are the Abyssin Christians A. These be they which in habit the Mid-land 〈◊〉 under Presbyter or Preâ—ious 〈◊〉 they have a 〈◊〉 of their own whom they call Abunna whose 〈◊〉 is white his upper Vestimeâ—t is like a Cardinals cloak 〈…〉 before When he rides abroad on his Mule he is attended on with a great train three crosses or staâ—es are carried about him and holdeth a crosse in his own hand They have many 〈◊〉 Priests or Bishops and great store of Monasteriâ—s All their Patriarchs and Bishops are of S. Anthonies order as are the Patriarcks of Alexandria to whose jurisdiction anciently Aethiopia did belong and yet at this day they are tied to chuse their Abunna whom they call Catholike of the juriâ—diction of 〈◊〉 by the 〈◊〉 of which place he is confirmed consecrated and invested in his Ecclesiastical Rights In their Liturgy also they pray particularly for the Patriarch of Alexandria The 〈◊〉 Religion consisteth in circumcising Male and Female whether out of Religion or the ancient custom of their Nation as being descended from the ancient Aethiopians or Arabians Ismaels posterity who used to be circumcised is uncertain But most likely they are circumcised in memory and imitation of Christ who was also circumcised They use also every year to baptise themselves in Lakes and Rivers 〈◊〉 Epiphany day in remembrance of Christs baptisme who was baptized on that day in Iordan The other points of their Religion be these they abstain from such beasts as the old Law accounteth unclean they keep the Sabbath and Sunday together The Thursday before Easter they administer the Sacrament is unlearened bread but ordinarily in leavened bread all communicate standing in both kindes The Wine they receive from the Deâ—con in a spâ—on and that in the Church onely The day they receive in they must not spit till 〈…〉 After sorty days the Males are baptized the 〈◊〉 after eighty except in case of necessity and then also they give them the Eucharist they think their Children dying without baptisme shall be saved by the â—aith of their parents They confesse after every sin committed and then receive 〈…〉 They are Iacobites in acknowledging 〈…〉 and will in Christ therefore they 〈…〉 of Chalcedan for condemning Dioscorus the 〈◊〉 So they deny Confirmation Extream and 〈◊〉 They hold tradâ—ction of souls admit of painâ—ed not 〈◊〉 Images they usually excommunicate are none but 〈◊〉 and this onely belongs to the 〈◊〉 Priests and 〈◊〉 have neither Tythes nor Almes by begging but live by their labour They permit not their Bishops and Priests to marry twice Flesh is eat every Friday betwixt Easter and Whitsunday The King conferreth all Ecclesiastick promotions except the Patriarchship Of these passages see the above named Authors and 〈◊〉 the Aethiopian Liturgy in Bibliâ—thâ—ca 〈◊〉 tom 6. Alvares the King of Portugals Chaplain who lived in Aethiopia 6 years wrote the Aethiopian History Zega Zabo an Aethiopian Bishop sent into Portugal by King David the Abyssin who set out the confession of the Aethiopian faith translated by Damianus a Goes c. Q. 15 Wherein doth the Protestant Church agree with 〈◊〉 dissent from other Christian Churches A. They agree with the Greek Church in giving the Sacrament in both kindes in admitting Priests to marry in rejecting images purgatory and extreame unction and in denying the Popes supremacy in the same points also they agree with the Melchites or Syrians with the Georgians Mengrelians and Gircassians and with the Moscovites or Russians who are all of the Greek profession though in some things they differ The Protestants agree with the Nestorians in rejecting auâ—â—cular confession in permitting Priests to marry in communicating in both kinds and in rejecting Crucifixes With the Christians of Saint Thomas they agree in administring the Sacrament in both kinds in rejecting images and extream Unction and permitting Priests to marry and denying the Pope supremacy They agree with the Iacobites
in confessing their sins only to God in rejecting purgatory and prayers for the dead in giving the Sacrament in both kindes and in unleavened bread and in tolerating Priests marriages in the same points also they agree with the 〈◊〉 or Christians of Egypt with the Abyssins Armenians and Maronites But the Protestants difher from the above named Churches in these subsequent points 1. They believe that the holy Ghost proceedeth from the Son 2. They use unleavened bread in the Sacrament 3. The English Protestants allow Confirmation 4. They hold that the blessed souls enjoy Gods presence and that the wicked are tormented in Hell immediately after their departure hence 5. They permit Priests after ordination to marry 6. They reject pictures as well as Massie-images 7. They observe not the Saturday 〈◊〉 Sabbath 8. They have but one Lent in the year 9. They make no scruple in 〈◊〉 of blood in these points the Protestants dissent both from the Greekâ— Melchâ—tes Georgians 〈◊〉 Circassiani Moscovites and other Sects above named They defer not baptisme till the eighth year with the Circassians they pray not for the dead nor give the Sacrament in a spoon nor divorce their Wives upon every light occasion with the Mâ—scovites they affirm not two persons in Christ nor deny Mary to be the Mother of God nor reject the Councel of Ephesus and all other Councels after it with the Nestorians They defer not baptism till the fortieth day nor exclude Priests from second marriage with the Christians of Saint Thomas They do not ascribe one nature only one will and one operation to Christ nor do they use circumcision and a hot Iron in baptisme nor do they reach that Angels are composed of fire and light with the Iaoobites They give not the Eucharist to Insants they marry not in the second degree of consanguinity nor do they read the Gospel of Nicodemus with the Copâ—ti They do not hold traduction of souls by seminal propagation nor baptize themselves every year nor suffer they their Ministers to live by mechanical labours with the Abyssins They use nor rebaptiâ—ation nor fasting on Christmasse day nor abstain from eating of uncleane beasts prohibited by the old Law with the Armenians they do not hold that all souls were created together nor that parents ought to dissolve their childrens marriages when they please nor that Children should be made Sub-Deacons nor that Menstrâ—ous Women should be excluded from the Sacrament with the Maroâ—ites The Protestants do not celebvate their Liturgy in an unknown tongue as the 〈…〉 Iacobites Indians and Nestorians do who make use of the 〈◊〉 or Syriack language in their divine service which few understand nor with the Greeks Melchiâ—es Georgians Circassians and others do they use the ancient Greek tongue in their liturgies which these above named know not and yet make use of it in their Churches nor with the Boman Catholicks doe they read and pray in Latine but in their own vulgar languages which are intelligible by all in which point they agree with the Abyssins Aâ—menians Moscovites Russians 〈◊〉 anciently called Illyrians Lastly Protestants differ from the Roman Catholicks in these points 1. Of the number of Canonical Books of Scripture of their sufficiency authority and interpreter 2. Of Christs descent into hel 3. Of the head of the Church and of the Popes supremacy 4. Of the true Catholick Church 5. Of their Clergy their orders immunities and 〈◊〉 6. Of â—he Monastical life vows and Evangelical Counsels 7. Of the power of the Civil Magistrate 8. Of Purgatory 9. Of invocation of Saints 10. Adoration of Images and Reliques 11. Sacraments their number efficacy and ceremonies 12. Baptisme its necessity effects and ceremonies 13. Transubstantiation and the consequences thereof 14. Of administring in both kinds 15. The sacrifice of the Masse 16. Auricular confession 17. Satisfaction 18. Indulgences 19. Extream Unction 20. Original sin 21. Free will Predestination and Grace 22. Justification Faith and good woâ—kâ— 23. The Latine Service 24. Traditions Some other small differences there are and fewer there might be if men would be moderate on either side but the spirit of contention and contradiction hath hitherto hindered and will yet hinder the peace of the Church till the Prince of Peaâ—e our true Solomon who built this mystical Temple without noyse of Axes or Hammers put an end to all jâ—rrs and discords till he whom both the Winds and Seas do obey awake who now seemes to be asleep till he I say awake and rebuke the stormy winds and proud billows on which his ship is tossed to and fro that at last she may eâ—joy a calm time and some Halcyonian days and may cast Anchor in the safe harbour of tranquillity where we may finde our Saviour not in the Earthquakes Whirlewinds and fire of contention but in the 〈◊〉 and quiet voice of peace concord and unity which he left to us as a Legacy but we have lost it by our pride sacriledge â—nvy 〈◊〉 covetousness profanenesse and vain-glory The Contents of the Fifteenth Section Religion is the ground of all government and greatnesse 2. By divers reasons it is proved that Religion of all Common wealths and humane societies is the foundation 3. That Princes and Magistrates ought to have a special care in setling and preserving of Religion 4. That one Religion onely is to be allowed in a Common wealth publickly 5. In what respects different Religions they be tolerated in private 6. A Christian Prince may not dissemble his Religion 7. Why God blesseth the professors of false Religions and punisheth the contemners thereof 8. False Religions are grounded upon policy what use there is of Ceremonies in Religion 9. The mixture and division of religions and of Idolatry 10. How the Gentile Religion in worshipping of the Sun seems to be most consonant to natural reason with divers observations concerning Sun-worship and the knowledge the Gentiles had of a Deity the Vnity thereof with some glimmering of the Trinity 11. That the honour maintenance and advancement of a Priest hood is the main supporter of Religion 12. That the Christian Religion is of all others the must excellent and to be preferred for divers reasons being considered in it selfe and compared with others with an exhortation to the practice of religious duties which is true Christianity SECT XV. Quest. I. HAving now pass't through all Religions known in the World it remains that we make some use of what we have viewed let us know then to what end and purpose hath this View been taken A. First to let us see that there is no nation so barbarous or brutish except some particular fools who have said in their heart there is no God which hath not made profession of some Religion by which they are taught to acknowledge and worship a Deity For Religion is the pillar on which every Commonâ—wealth is built so long as the pillar is stable and firm which is the foundation so long
at this day ibid. c. whether to be permitted amongst Christians to live and exercise their own religion 39 c. wherein christians are noâ— to communicate with Jewes 41 c. they spend eight dayes in their Easter solemnities 43. their pentecost ibid. c. their feast of tabernacles 44 c. they fast in August 45. their solemnities in beginning the new year ibid. c. their preparation for morning prayer 46 c. their feast of reconciliation and ceremonies therein 48. their rites after the law is read over 49. their Church offices sold ibid. c. their feast of Dedication 50. of Purim ibid. c. their fasts 51 c. their marriages 52. c. their bills of divorce 53 c. the separating of the Wife from the decâ—â—sed husbands brother 54. their circumcision and rites thereof ibid. c. how they redeem their fiâ—st born 56. their duty to the sick ibid. their ceremonies about the dead ibid. etc. Ignatius Loyola 325 c. Independents and their tenets 389 c. Independents of New-England their tenets 39â— c. The grounds whereupon the Independents forsake our Churches 391 c. the grounds whereupon they and the Anabaptists allow Lay-men to preach without call or ordination 392 c. Indians their ancient religion 81. and at this day 492. Iohn Tany vide Theaurau Iohn Iucatan its religion 111 c. Iupiter the Sun 519 K. KAtharine of Sena 317 c. Knights-hospitlers of S. Iohn 290 c. of Rhodes 292 c. of â—alta 293. Templars ibid. c. the Teutonicks or Marians and their instalment 294. c. of S. Lazarus 297. of Calatrava ibid. c. of S. Iames 298. Divers other Orders of Knighthood ibid. c. Knights of the holy Sepulchre 309 c. Gladiators 310 c. Knights of S. Mary of redemption 311. of Montesia ibid. of the Annunciation of S. Maâ—rice of the the Golden Fleece of the Moon of S. Michael 3â—1 of S. Stephen ib. c. of the holy Spâ—rit etc. 322 and 347 c. Knights of the Gennet 345 c. of the Crown Royal of the Stir of the Broom flower of the Ship 346. of S. Michael ibid. c. of Christian charity of S. Lazarus of the Virgin Mary in mount Carmel 348. of Orleance or Porcupine ibid. c. of the golden Shield of the Thistle of Aniou 349. of S. Magdalen ibid. c. of Britaigne or Ermin 350. of the Golden Fleece of the Garter 351. of the Bath ibid. c. of S. Andrew or the Thistle of Navarre or the Lilly 352. of S. Iames of the Sword ibid. c. of S. Iulian or the Pear-tree or Alcantara 353. of Calatrava ibid. c. of the band or red scarffe of the Dove of S. Saviour of Montreal of our Lady in Montesia 354. of the Looking glasse ibid. c of Iesus Christ of D. Avis In Germany of the Dragon in Austria of S. George in Poland of the white Eagle 355. in Denmark of the Elephant ibid. c. in Sweden of the Sâ—raphims in Cleve of the Swan in Livonia of the Sword-bearers in Switzerland of S. Gaâ—â— 356. Divers Orders of Knights at Rome ibid. c. Knights of Venice Genoa Savoy 358. Florence ibid. c. of Mantua 359. of Knight-hoâ—d in the East ibid. c. L. LIber the Sun 518 Life vide sociable Luther his opinions 229. and sects sprung out of Lutheranisme 231 c. M MAgistrates Office 403 and 411 Magor its religion 83 c. Mahomet not that great Antichrist spoken of by S. Paul and S. Iohn 165 c. Mahumetans their Law 163 c their opinions 164 c. their Sects 166. c. their religious Orders 167 c. secular Priests 170. their devotion ibid. etc. their pilgrimage to Mecca 172 etc. their circumcision 173 etc. their rites about the sick and dead 174 etc. Mahumetanisme its extent 175 etc. and of what continuance 177 etc. Malabar its religion 85 Maronites 492 etc. Mars the Sun 516 Melancholy its danger 79 Melchites 490 Mendicants of S. Hierom 320 Mengrelians 491 Mercury the Sun 519 etc. Mexico its Priests and Sacrifices 108 etc. Millenaries their opinions 370 etc. the grounds upon which they build Christs temporal kingdom here on earth for a thousand yeares ibid. the vanity of their opinion 373 etc. Minerva the same that the Sun 522 etc. Ministerial calling 400 Ministers called Presbyters 412 etc. How to be elected 413. etc. three wayes whereby Satan dedeludes men by false miracles 74 etc. the fear of Satans stratagems though illusions whence it proceeds 76. etc. Our duty respecting the many stratagems and illusions of Satan 77 etc. Mithra the Sun 519 Moloch the Sun ibid. Monasteries and their lawes 277 etc. Monks who were the first 248 Monks of S. Basil and their rules 249 etc. of S. Hierom 254. of S. Austin ibid. etc. and 300. they are not to beg 256 etc. the Monkes first institutions and exercises 258 etc. why they cut their hair and beard 260 etc. whence came this custom â—61 etc. In what account Monks are in Rome 265 etc. how consecrated anciently 266 Benedictin Monks 267 etc. Authours of other Orders 269 their rules ibid. etc. their habit and diet 272. Rules prescribed to the Monks by the Council of Aix ibid. etc. Monks of Cassinum 274 etc. Cluniacenses 282 etc. Camaldulenses 283. of the shadowy Valley ibid. etc. Silvestrini and Grandimontenses 284. of S. Anthony of Vienna 286. Cistertians ibid. etc. Bernardines Humiliati 287. Praemonstratenses 288. Gilbertins ibid. etc. Cruciferi Hospitalarii 289 Trinitarians ibid etc. Bethlemites 290 Augustinians â—98 Carmelites 300 etc. Dominicans 302. Franciscans 304 etc. their Habits Schismes Families Rules and Priviledges 306 etc. of Vallis Scholarium S. Marks Canons regular 311 Boni homines 312. of S. Maries servants ibid. etc. Coelestini Iesuati 313. of S. Briget ibid. etc. of S. Iustina 318 of mount Olivet 319. of the Holy Ghost of S. Ambrose ad Nemus Minimi of Iesu Maria 320 Monks in Moscovia 483 etc. Moon how worshipped 141 the same luminary with the Sun 525 etc. her properties 526 Morocco its religion 97 Moscovites religion and discipline 481 etc. their Monkes and Nuns 483. etc. their Church service 484. their Sacraments 485 etc. their doctrine and ceremonies 486 etc. their marriages 488 etc. their Funeâ—â—ls 489 Muggleton vide Reeve N. NArsinga its religion 87 c. Nemesis the Sun 523 Nestorians 491 c. New Spain its religion 105 etc. Festival dayes there 110 etc. Nuns in the Primitive times 263 c. how consecrated 266 c. Nuns of S. Bennets Order 276 etc. of S. Clara 312. of S. Briget 313 c. of S. Katharin 317 c. O. DIvers erroneous Opinions which have bin lately revived or hatched since the fall of our Church Government 422 etc. Orders of Pilgrims 323 c. of Indians of divine love or Theatini 324. of Paulini ibid. c. of Iesuites 325 c. Observantes Cellarii Ambrosiani Capellani
a blessing unto me This seed witnesse the Apostle is none other than Christ himself whom God without question meant The desperate contagion of this mans Religion did Servetus and his adherents professe embrace and celebrate HENRY NICHOLAS Vestra Domus Nicholas cadat quiâ— ex rudâ—re versae Futile fundamen Religionis habet THE CONTENTS HENRY NICHOLAS Father of the Family of Love He is against Infant-Baptisme His divellish Logick THere was also one Henry Nicholas the Father of the family of Love as he called himself not the meanest man of all his Gang one who by many means endeavoured to cripple the Baptisme of children as is too known and apparent out of his writings which at a third hand he with all fredome earnestnesse and kindnesse endeavoured to communicate to David George and the other of his fellow-labourers and his new Ierusalem friends This man in â— Pamphlet of his wherein he notably described himself and which he â—â—â—icated to an intimate friend of his under the name of L. W. maintaining that the minute of the last Tâ—â—mpet was coming thâ—t should unfold all the Books of unquiet consciences hell and eternal Judgement which should be found to have been onely things grounded 〈◊〉 meeâ— lieâ— and as all wicked and high misdeeds were hateful and detestable to God so also were glorioâ—â—â—nd plausible lies no lesse odious to him The same man endeavoured to perswade people thâ—t he was a partake of God and the humanity of his 〈◊〉 He â—â—rther affirmed that at the last day God should bring all men nay the Devils themselves into perfect happinesse All the things that were 〈…〉 of Hell 〈◊〉 Angels and eternall Iudgement 〈◊〉 the paines of â—â—â—nation he said were only told by the Scripâ—â—re to 〈◊〉 fear of civil punishments and to establish right Policy The conclusion These few things we have brought to light were not invented by us but were extorted out of their own Disciples with abundance of discourse not without the presence of many men of godlinesse and excellent understanding they admitting not the universal rule of the Scriptures But alas take these away where is Faith fear of God eternall happinesse But let us believe them let us believe them and we shall be â—aved Oh! that to Heresies I could say FINIS An Alphabetical TABLE to the revelation of Hereticks A. A Pioâ—s Act. 48. Adam Pastor a derider of Pâ—â—â—baptisme 74. c. Anâ—baptists their leading principle 3. usually they grow worse 〈◊〉 worse ibid. their bold attempt 14. c. where Masters most insolent 16. of a levelling principle 21. they as the divel pretâ—nd Scripture for their base 〈◊〉 22 they aime at universal Monarchy ibid. their design upon Amsterdam 24. they aim at the advancement of themselves but destruction of others 64. they would inforce others to their opinions yet pretend liberty of conscience as to themselves 70. Arrius his character and wretched death 〈◊〉 c. Arrianisme itâ— increase 56. B. IOhn Buâ—khold or Iohn of Leyden His actions and end 12 c. C. CAlvin's reproofe of Servetus 54. Godly and loyal Citizens hate usurpation 18. Conventicles usually the nurseries of Tumults 13 D. THe Divell an enemy of peace 9. E. A Bad Example soon followed 18. F. FAmine the coâ—suâ—â—â—tion of all misery 25. its character c. 26. G. DAvid George an Anabaptist his character doctrine actions and death 40 c. H. HEeresie a câ—â—ching or mad disease â—3 Hereticks their usual pretence 2. the end that they propose to themselves in opposing the Ministry and Magistracy 2. they are restless 3. their cruelty 19. they are inconstant in their opinions 34. they allow not of the Scriptures 78. Hermaâ—nus Sutor or Herman the Cobler his blasphemies opinions and â—nd 〈◊〉 c. Loâ—owick Hâ—tzer a famous â—eretick 65 c. his end 67. Melchior Hofman an Anabaptist 6â— pined himself to death 69. Balthazar Hubmor an Anabaptist â—0 c. he and his wife burned 62. Iohn Hut an Anabaptist 63 c. I. IOhn of Leyden vide Buckhold An Item to the Hot spurs of our times 66. K. BBernard Knipperdoling 16. L. THe learned to be consulted with in detection of Sectaries and Hereticks 45. Loyalty not alwayes successeful 19. Luther's advice to the Senate concerning Mâ—ntzer 4. M. MAgistrates seduced most umincus 5 A pattern for good Magistrates 44. Mahomet characterized 58 c. his Iron Tomb 59. Iohn Mathioâ— a Baker at Harlem his actions and end 8 c. Moneys preferments the usual baits of sedition 25. Thomas Muntzer His Opinions Actions and end 1 c. N. HEnry Nicholas Father of the Family of Love he iâ— against Infant Bâ—â—tisme his blasphemy anâ— divellish Logick 77 c. O. OECOLAMPADIVS puts Hetzers Emissaries to their shifts 66. P. AN ill President soon followed 5. Pretenders to Religion prove usually the distuâ—bers thereof 9. R. A Good Resolution 44. 48 Melchior Rinck an Anabaptist 71 c. his disciple Thomas Scâ—cker cut off his brothers head 72. S. SEctaries like tinder are soon on fire 3. their usual pretence to raise sedition ibid. Sedition goes not alwayes unpunished 21. Michael Servetus an Anabaptist his blasphemous opinions and end 51 c. Sncâ—esse in bad enterprises causes evil men to rejoyce 31. T. THeodorus Sartor or Theodor the Botcher an Adamite his blasphemy Actions and End 37. c. Iohn Tuysentschreuer an abertor of Iohn Buâ—â—hold 19 c. his seditious Sermon 21. V. VIce corrects sin 35. FINIS ASIA the religions thereof Ordination in the beginning of the World Churches Groves and high places condemned in Scripture Buildings first erected for divine service Set day of worship Sacrifices Iewes their Church government from the beginning till their destruction Vnder Moses Priests among the Iewes Levites among the Iewes Difference of the high Priest from other Priests Church goâ—â—â—ment after Moses Vnder David and Solomon After Solomon Church government among the ten Tribes Solomons Temple and the outward splendor of the Iews Religion What represented by Solomons Temple and Vtensils thereof Office of the Levites Prophets Scribes Pharisees Nazarites Rechabites Essenes Sadduces Samaritans Iews their ancient observation of their Sabbath Their observation of their Passeover Their feast of Pentecost Their feast of Tabernacles Their new Moons Their feast of Trumpets Their feast of Expiation Iews their Sabbatical year Their Iubilee Their excommunications of old Iews how instructed by God of old Their maintenance or allowence to their Priests and Levites Church government in and after the captivity of Babylon Iews their Church government at this day Jews their manner of prayer Their times of prayer Iews hear the Law three times a week Their ceremonies about the book of the Law Their manner of observing the Sabbath Modern Iewes how they keep theis Passover Their manner of eating the Paschal Lamb. Their Modern Ceremonies are Rabbinical Observations concerning the Iews at this day Iews whether to be permitted to live among
Christians Whether to be permitted amongst Christians to exercise their own Religion Wherein Christians are not to communicate with Iews Iews spend eight days in their Easter sâ—lemnities Their Pentecost Their feast of Tabernacles Their new Moons Fast in August Their solemnities in beginning the new year Their preparation for morning prayer Their feast of Reconciliation and Ceremonies therein Their Rites after the Law is read over Church Offices sold among the Iews Their feast of Dedication Their feast of Purim Their fasts Their Marriages Their Bills of Divorce Their separation of the wife from the deceased Husbands brother Their circumcision and Rites thereof How they redeem their first born Their duty to the sick Their Ceremonies about the dead Babylonians their ancient Religion The making worshipping of Images and bringing in Idolatry The Gentiles Idols were dead men Hierapolis the Religion thereof Gods of the Syrians Phoeâ—icians Their Religion and Discipline Arabians theiâ— Religion and Discipline Persians their ancient Religion Scythians their old Religion Tartars their old Religion Pagans their knowledge of the Creation Tartars their diversities of Religion Religions of the Northern countries neer the Pole Three wayes whereby Satan deludes men by false miracles The fear of Satans stratagems though illusions whence it proceeds Our duty respecting the many stratagems and illusions of Satan Chinois their Religion Indians their Ancient religion Siam its religion Pegu its Religion Bengala and its Religion Magor and its Religion Cambaia and its religion Goa the religion thereof Malabar its religion Pagans though Idolatrous believe the immortality of the soule Narsinga and Bisnagar its Religion Japon its religion Philippinae their religions Sumatra and Zeilan their Religions Egyptians their ancient Religion Egyptian Idolatry continuance thereof Egypt its modern religions Africans their Religion Fez the Religion and Church discipline thereof Their times of prayer Morocco its Religion Guinea its Religion Aethiopians of Africa their ancient Religion Their Religion at this day The lower Aethiopians their Religion Angola its Religion Congo its religion The Religion its Northern Neighbours African Islands their religions America the Religion thereof Virginia its Religion Florida its Religion Religions of the nations by west Virginia and Florida New Spain itâ— Religion Idolaters their cruelty and cost in their barbarous sacrifices Persius his notable saying Mexico its Priests and Sacrifices Americans acknowledge a Supreme God a Trinity the immortality of souls a life after this and have some tradition of Noahs flood New Spain its festival days Jucatan its religion and parts adjoyning Southern America the Religion thereof Paria Guiana and Debaiba their Religions Brasil its Religion Peru its Religion Peruviant their Festival days Peruvians their Belief of the departed souls Americans their superstitious feare aud Tyranny thereof Hispaniola its Religion Idolatry further condemned Europeans Greekes and Romans their Religions Romans their old Religion See Alexanâ— ab Alexandro Plutarch Pliâ— Cicero Gelâ—â— Fenestella Lâ—tus Their chief Festivals See Plutarch Alex. ab Alexandro Ioseph Scaliger Rosinus and others Their chiefgods But one God acknowâ—edged by the wiser sort of Gentiles Of these see Augustine in the City of God Lactantius Cicero Plutarch Rosinus and others Their Priests Of these seeâ— the aforenamed Authors Romans their Sacrifices Of these particulars see Servius on Virgil Rosinus Alexâ—â— ab Alex. and the Latine Poets Their marriage Rites See Scâ—liger de re Poetica Alex. ab Alex. Rosinus Servius Del-Rio in Senecam c. Their Funeral Rites Of these and other customs see Virgil. and Servius on him Kirchmannus also Rosinus Rhodiginus Alex. ab Alex. Gyraldus and others Burial of the dead an act of justice and mercy Aen. l. 9. Aen. lib. 10. Greeks and Gentiles their Religion and gods See the Greek Poets and their Interpreters Of these see the Greek and Latine Poets Greeks their gods how worshipped and painted See Pausanias Capella Boccatins c. See Cartarius Martianus Capella Scaliger Spondanus c. But see the Mytbologists and what we have written in Mystag Poetice Moon how worshipped Earth and fire how worshipped See the Mythologists Sea how worshipped Of all these we have spoken fully in Mystagogo poetico Death how worshipped Of these things see more in Mystag Poetic Greeks their Sacrificing See Suidas Eustathius Rhodiginus Athenaeus c. Their Priests and Temples But of theâ—â— passages 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 on Aristophâ—â— Suidas 〈◊〉 Virgil Cerda on Tertullian Rhodiginus Turneâ—us and others Germans Gauls and Brittains their Religions See Tacitus Cesars Commentaries Camden and others Old Saxons worshipped their gods under divers shapes and forms Danes Swedes Moscovites and their neighbours their Religions See Saxo Grammaticus Cranzius on Vandalia Olaus Guaguin and other Historians Scythians Getes Thracians Cymbrians Goths c their Religions See Olaus Magnus Saxo Guaguinus Ioâ—annes Magâ—â—s Aventinus c. Lithuanians Polonians Hungarians c. Their Religions See Olaus Munster in his Geography and others Gods of the Gentils Of these see Austin Lactantius Tertullian Plutarch Arnobius Eusebius c. How Ranked and Armed Of these see the Poets and their Commentators Their Chariots how drawn In Myst. Poet. In what peculiar places worshipped Greeks their chiefe Festivals Of these see Suidas Athenaeus Rhodiginus Gyraldus Hesychius â—ertullian Austin Plutarch Iuâ— Pollux the Scholiast of Aristophanes Meursius and others Mahumetans their Religion See Lanicerus and others Their Law Their opinions Mahomet not that great Antichrist spoken of by Saint Paul and Saint John Their Sects See Borrius Lanicerus Knolles Camerarius Iovius c. Mahumetans their religious orders See Menavino Nicholaus Nicholai Septemcastrensis c. See Georgiovitz Septemcastrensis Busbequius and others Their secular Priests See Cuspinian Knolles c. Their devotion See Georgiovitz Knolles Purchaâ— c. Their Pilgrimage to Mecca See Vertoman Lanicerus and others Their Circumcision See Georgiovitz and others Their Rites about the sick and dead See Menavino Bellonius c. Their Superstition how far spread Mahumetanism of what continuance Christianity its beginning Yeelds to Mahumetanism Religion by what Engines battered Hereticks and Heresies namely Simon Magus Menander Saturninus Basilides See Austin Irenaeus and Epiphanius upon this subject in their Books they wrote against Heresies Trinity denied by Simon Magus and his Scholars with others besides Iewes and Mahumetans and why See Irenaeus Austin Theodoret Tertullian Epiphanius c. Nicholatians Gnosticks See Irenaeus Tertullian Austin Theodoret c. Carpocrates See the authors above named Eusebius also and Clemens Alexandrinus Cerinthus Ebionites Nazarites See Epiphanius Eusebius Austin c. Valentinians Secundians Ptolomeans See Irenaeus Epiphanius Austin with his Commentator Danaeus c. Marcites Colarbasians Heracleonites See Tertullian Itenaeus Epiphanius Austin c. Ophites Cainites Sethites See the above named Authâ—â—s Archonticks Ascothyptaâ— See Austin Theodoret Isidorus c. Cerdon Marcion See Epiphanius Eusebius Austin Theodoret c. Apelles Tatianus See Irenaeus Tertullian Eusebius Austin Theodoret Epiphanius c. Cataphrygians See Epiphanius Eusebius Austin Theodoret Isidor