Churches and many others whom they scandall and accuse of divers heresies and errors which we and they abhorre and detest This point I will conclude with Doctor Fields observations First Doct. Field of the Church lib 3. cap. 1. that by the mercifull goodnesse of God all these different sorts of Christians though distracted and dissevered by reason of delivering certaine points of faith mistaking one another or variety in opinion touching things not Fundamentall yet agree in one substance of faith and are so farre forth orthodox that they reta in a saving profession of all divine verities absolutly necessary to salvation and are all members of the true Catholicke Church of Christ The second that in the principall controversies touching matters of Religion betweene the Papists and those of the reformed Churches they give testimonie of the truth of that which we professe As Docter Field also hath collected 1 They all denie and impugne that supreame universalitie of Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction which the Bishop of Rome claimeth 2 They thinke him subiect to error as other Bishops are 3. They deny that he hath any power to dispose of principalities kingdomes of the world or to depose Kings 4 they acknowledge all our righteousnesse to be imperfect and that it is not safe to trust thereunto but to the meere mercy and goodnesse of God 5 They adâ—nit not of the merit of Congruence condignitie nor works of Superrogation 6 They teach not the doctrine of satisfactions as the Romanists doe 7 They beleeue not Purgatorie and pray not to deliver men out of temporall punishments after this lfie 8 They reiect the Romish doctrine touching Indulgences and pardons 9 They beleeve not that there are seven Sacraments 10. They omit many ceremonies which the Roman Church useth in Baptisme as spittle c. 11. They haue no private Masses 12. They minister the Communion in both kindes to all communicants 13 They beleeve not transubstantiation nor the now reall sacrificing of Christ They have their divine service most of them in their owne tongue 15. Their Preists are married and although they permit theÌ„ not to marrie a second wife without dispensation yet if any do they do not avoid or dissoluethe mariage 16. They make no image of God 17 They have no Massy Images but pictures onely 18. They think that properly God onely is to be invocated and howsoever they have a kinde of invocation of Saints yet they thinke that God onely heareth them and not the Saints And thus much of the Vnity of these Churches with us 4 The Vnitie of the Reformed Churches appeareth by their severall Confessions OF Auspurge Set downe in a booke called the Harmonie of ConfessioÌ„s of the faith of the Chrislian Reformed Churches Printed Cambridge 1586. which was first presented in the Germaine tongue at the Citie of Auspurge in the yeare 1530 to Charls the fift being Emperor by certaine most renowned Princes of Germanie and other States of the sacred Empire whoÌ„ they call Protestants Of Straugsborough Constance Meminga Lindan presented to the said Emperour Of Basill called also the Confession of Millaine Of the Helvetian Churches Of the Saxon and Meissen Churches Of Wirtemberge presented by the Ambassadours of Christopher Duke of Wirtemberge and Tecca Earle of Mountbelgard presented to the Councell of Trent the 24 of the Month of Ianuary Anno. 1552. Of the French Confession which was in the yeare 1559. presented to Francis the second King of France Of the latter Confession of the Helvetian Church which was written by the Pastors of Zurich in the yeare 1566. Of Belgia which was published in French in the name of all the Churches of Belgia in the yeare 1566 and in the yeare 1579. In a publique Synod held at Belgia it was repeated confirmed and turned into the Belgian tongue Of Bohemia published in divers places was also approved by common testimonie of the Vniversitie of Wirtembergâ— published in the yeere 1532. Of Scotland subscribed by King James of famous memorie and the States thereof to the glory of God and good example of all men At Edenborough the 28 day of Ianuary 1581 and in the 14 yeere of his Maiefties Raigne Although some private men led more by passion and their owne selfe pleasing conceipt then by the sacred rules of piety and truth have laboured to sow the tares of dissention in the vineyard of the Lord and have made Crooked some branches cleaving unto them as Anabaptists Brownists and others yet the generall societies of these Orthodox Churches in the publique confessions of their faith do so agree that there is a most sacred har mony betweene them in the more substantiall points of Christian Religion necessary to salvation as touching the Holy Scripture the Sacred Trinitie the person of the Sonner of God God and man The providence of God Sinne Freewill the Law the Gospell Iustification by Christ faith in his name Rogeneration the Catholique Church and supreme head thereof Christ the Sacraments their number and use the state of Soules after death the Resurrection Doctor Potters wantâ— of charitie pag. 93. Doct Field of the Church pag 819. and life eternall They differ rather in Phrases and formes of speech concerning Christs presence in his holy Supper other things then in substance of doctrine and also in Ceremonies And to manifest preface to Mr. Brerwoods enquiries this their unity The first Act in the Polonian Synods of which they have had divers lately as before in which assembly are Protestants embracing Bohemick Augustan and Helvetique confessions The first Act is a religious confession of their unfeined consent in the substantiall points of Christian faith necessary to Salvation and also that all disputation should be cut of concerning the manner of Christs presence All of them beleeving the presence it selfe and that the Eucharisticall elements are not naked and emptie signes but doe truely exhibite to the faithfull receiver that which they signifie and represent And for as much as they all accord in the substantiall veritie of Christian doctrine they professe themselves to be content to tollerate diversities of ceremonies according to the divers parctise of their particular Churches 5 Of the differences and want of unitie in the Roman Church WHereas our Adversaries boast much upon unitie and thinke it to be the glorie of their Church as Coster writeth that the Catholickes in the world are under one Pope whom they all obey and constantly retaine one faith they speake one thing they thinke one thing and beleeve one and the same in all things so that they disagree not in the least point of Religion Yet for all this their want of unitie will appeare not onely in the want of concord and love one to another but also in their difference in opinions amongst themselves and moreover they in their new doctrines differ from all the true Catholike Churches of the world yea even from holy Scriptures it selfe Their want of concord and unitie
approved him and so it may be said of many others Moreover their want of unitie will appeare in that the Popes of Rome as Lawgivers set them down in St. Peters Chaire as they pretend and made lawes and constitutions contrary to Gods commandements and Christs institutions As Clement the 5 gathered a Councell at Vienna 1311 in which it was ordeined that the Emperor should give his oath of Allegiance to the Pope Roman 13.1 1 Pet. 2 13. contrary to the written word of God Let every soule be subiect to higher powers And to the King as supreme Also in the Councell at Constance Anno 1414 the Pope and his Prelates altered the Testamentall legacy of Christ himselfe in taking from the Laitie the use of the Cup in the Sacrament the holy Symboll of Christs bloud which caused many true hearted Christians to tremble for that their Prelates durst set their mouthes against heaven and correct the ordinance of Christ himselfe and in that rude manner that although Christ did administer to his disciples under the formes of bread and wine c. Yet they commanded no Priest to communicate to the people in both kindes under the paine of excommunication And last of all Paul the third summoned a Councell at Mantua after removed to Irent wherein some few Bishops assembled being the Popes Creatures Flaccus Illyricus in prote statione adversus concilium Tridentinum of which holy fathers some were titular as Richard Pates Bishop of Worcester and blind Sr. Robert Bishop of Armagh and also two of them were taken in Adultery as Illyricus reporteth the one stroken with a dart the other taken in a trap by the husband Bp. Iuell defence pag. 625. hanged by the neck out of a window these helped to make the new articles of faith before mentioned and upon this Councell the now Roman Church dependeth Against this assembly Bellarm. de effect Sacrament lib. 2 cap. 25. Francis the French King protested and held it but for a private Conventicle and divers other Christian Nations have disavowed the same Many of the Canons therein decreed and established for Articles of faith are repugnant to the holy Scriptures as for example they decreed That Images may be made to be worshipped contrary to Deut. 27 15. and to the very second Commandement it selfe That prayers may be made to the Virgin Mary and to the Saints departed contrary to Math. 6.9 contrary to the practise of the Patriarches Prophets and Apostles and holy men in Scripture That the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is to be ministred and received in one kinde contrary to Christs institution Mat. 26.27 1 Cor 10.16 They that desire to see more particulars of the popish doctrines Barnard pag. 18.19.20 contrary to holy Scriptures let them read Mr. Barnards booke called Looke beyond Luther Doct Feild of the Church lib. 5 pag. 114. Frequentur accidit ut quae opinio paucis ab hinc annis usu non erat modo communi consensione recipiatur in Gallia et Germania nonulli scriptores tradide runt Crucem non esse colendam hono re et veneratione â—atriae sed alio infe viore cultu at in Hispania communi consensione doce tur Cruci cultum et honorem latriae deferendum Azori mora â—instit Tom 1. lib. 2 cap. 13. And moreover their opinions are different according to times places as Azorius the Iesuit saith it fals out that that which was the Comon opinion a few yeares since is not the opinion now and that which is the common opinion of Papists in one place is not the opinion in another As for example it is the comon opinion in Spaine and Italy that Latria or divine honor is due to the Crosse which in France and Germany is not so but some inferror kinde of worship is due thereunto And Navare the Iesuit saith that at Rome no man may say that the Councell is above the Pope nor at Paris that the Pope is above the Councell and thu s much of their want of unity difference between the Romanists VI. The Agreement of the antient Roman East and South Churches with us in these points following Which sent Austen the Monke to us and especially of Gregorie Bishop of Rome who is pretended to be the founder of the Roman Religion amongst us who lived about the yeere 600. which Tenets are condemned by the now Roman Church which plainely sheweth the Noveltie of the Doctrine of the now Romish Church and the Antiquitie of ours 1. The Popes Supremacie GRegory I say confidently The old Roman Church Ego autem sidenter dice quia quisquis se universalem sacerdâ—tem vocat vel vocari desiderat in elatione sua Antichristum pracurrit lib. 6. Epist 30. whosoever calleth himselfe or desires to bee called the universall Bishop is in the pride of his heart the forerunner of Antichrist None of my Predecessors Bishops of Rome Nullus unquam decessorum meerum hoc tam profane vocabulo uti concessit lib. 4. Epist 36. Distinct 99. Vniversalis autem nee etiam Romanus Pontifex appelletur ever consented to use this so profane a name Pope Pelagius Gregories Predecessor decreed that no Bishop no not the Bishop of Rome himselfe ought to be called universall Bishop Saint Chrysostom The Easterne Church Distinct. 40. C. multi ex Chrysos Quicunque desideraverit Primatum in terra inveniet confusionem in coelo nec inter servos Christi computabitur qui de primatu tractaverit Chrysost hom 3. ad Popul Antiochen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fol. 474. Savil. Patriarch of Constantinople He that seeketh primacy in earth in Heaven hee shall finde confusion and hee that doth but once intreate of primacie is not worthy to bee numbred amongst the servants of Christ Our Citie of Antioch is most dearest to Christ above all others and like as Peter did first preach among the Apostles so among Cities this had first of all the name of Christians as a certaine wonderfull Crowne Saint Augustine Bishop of Hippo in Aphrick The South Church Saint August de Verb. Domini Ser. 13. Super me aedificabo te non me super te Cyprian in sententijs Concil Carthag ad QuirinuÌ„ On these words thou art Peter and on this rocke which thou hast confessed I will build my Church I will build thee upon me and not me upon thee None of us maketh himselfe a Bishop of Bishops neither was Peter so arrogant to take things so insolently upon him as to advance himselfe as primate and one unto whom the rest as novices and punies should bee subject The old Roman Church Greg. moral lib. 19 c. 13. art 6. de qua re non inordinate agimus si ex libris licet non canonicis sed tamen ad adificationem Eccl. editis testimoniuÌ„ proferamus Eleazar namque c. 2. Canonicall Scripture Gregory Wee doe not amisse if wee bring forth a testimony out of the bookes
of Cuthbert that one Hildmar an officer of Egfrid King of Northumberland intreated Cuthbert to send a Priest that might minister the Sacrament of the Lords body and blood unto his wife that then lay adying Antoninus Archbishop of Florence writeth that William the Conqueror and his whole Armie received the Communion in both kindes And Mathew Paris saith the same to wit the Normans the morning before they fought with Harald strengthened themselves with the body and blood of Christ For the marriage of Priests it was accounted as lawfull then as now Anselme was the first that made a decree against Priests marriage in this Kingdome Hon. Hunting lib. 7. pag. 378. Anselmus prohibuit uxores sacerdotibus Anglorum ante non prohibitas as Henry of Huntington reporteth Anselme saith he held a Synode in London in which he forefended Priests to have wives which they were not inhibited before to have which was about the yeere 1104. It seemeth that the Priests kept their wives after Anselmes time by the Decree made by the Cardinall of Cremen in the yeere 1131. against Priests marriage who having in a long oration commended Chastitie and in a Synod in London made a Decree against the marriage of Priests was himselfe that night found in bed with a whore as Mathew of Paris reporteth to the no little shame of the Clergie What Anselme or the Cardinall did against Priests marriage proceeded from the Pope Gregorie the seventh who under the colour of Chastitie forbad marriage His Bull is to be seene against Priests mariage which the Germans and French resisted what a holy man this Gregory was appeareth by the sentences of the Councell of Wormes and Brixia in which the said Gregory was deposed for his perjurie for necromancy for beeing a Conjurer and many other crimes Ordâ— Baptizandi visitandi For Merit reade a booke set foorth by Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury to be used in his province called the order of Baptizing and visiting the sicke in which are these words Dost thou beleeve that none can bee saved by his owne merits but by the merits of Christs passion to which the sicke partie was taught to make answer all this I beleeve And the Priest concluded Goe to therefore as long as thy soule remaineth in thee place thy whole confidence in his death onely c. And for the Supremacy what did King Henry the eighth assume more then Bishop Eleutherius gave to Lucius our King and that the antient Kings of the Britans assumed to themselves Of these points and others you may reade more in the most learned discourse of the Religion antiently professed by the Irish and British written by the most reverend Father in God Iames Vsher Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland And thus you may see how King Henry the eight or King Edward brought in no new Religion amongst us but restored the old ancient Religion suppressed for some yeeres by the Church of Rome By this it manifestly appeareth that most of the Doctrines before named now taught and urged for Catholike in the Roman Church were neither the Doctrines of the other Christians in Europe Asia and Africa nor the antient Roman Easterne Southerne Churches nor of Gregory the great Bishop of Rome who sent Austen hither nor of the antient Britaines our forefathers And whereas inquirie is made for the visibilitie of our Church or for any one professing our Religion before Luther heere you may see the whole true Catholike Church of God upon the face of the Earth of the which these Churches are members professing the same faith with us For which common Vnion we have greate cause to rejoyce Hieremie as the Greeke Patriarch having seene the Tenets of some of the reformed Churches congratulateth with them after this manner Wee give thankes to God the Author of all grace and wee rejoyce with many others especially in this that in many things your Doctrine is agreeable to our Church So let us thanke God for the holy harmony and agreement of these Churches with us in the point before mentioned in controversie betweene the Roman Church and us and let us endeavour to keepe the unitie of the Spirit in the bond of peace VIII Of the Devotion and pietie of these Churches BRochardus the Monke telleth us Brochard Monac that he found the Nestorians Jacobites Maronites and Georgians and such others whom they judge to bee heretickes to bee for the most part honest and simple men living sincerely towards God and man men of great abstinency attentively hearing the word of God And that the Armenians and Georgians have for their Prelats men of the best conversation going before them aad teaching them as by word so also by example Devotion Godignus de Abass rebus p. 133. In oratione frequentanda non facile similes reperiri censeo omni namque diluculo cuncti corum toto corpore in pulverem ipsuÌ„ prostrati orationes ad Deum fundunt Faber in Relig. Moscovit p. 180. These Christians use great reverence in their Churches no man is allowed to walke talke or sitt in them the old and weake may leane against the walls Godignus reporteth that the Aethiopians doe allow the old weake crutches to sustaine them withall as before and Faber reports of the Russes that hee hath not seene of them the like for their frequenting prayers and devotion in their prayers which lying prostrate on the ground they poure out unto God They touch not the holy Scriptures but with great reverence and place the Bible in their houses in the most honorable place The Greekes much blame the Latines for their unreverent sitting in their Churches and suffering Lay men with Bootes and Spurres to sit by the Priests at time of Divine Service and also for not keeping dogges out of their Churches as before Of these Churches I may say although wee thinke them not to be so learned as we are they wanting the meanes that we have yet they are more devout For their Fasts Their Fasts these Christians tast nothing at all till Sun sett The Aethiopians doe so macerate themselves in their Lent-fasts which they begin tenne dayes before ours that their enemies commonly set upon them at the end of their Fasts hoping then to finde them feeble and weake in their Fasts especially upon good-friday beside their great abstinence they goe like mutes not saluting one another with their countenances dejected The Greekes also blame the Latines for drinking in their Fasts Irineus Râ—dâ—ginus pag. 15. and that some of them are drunke before their fasts are ended and that when their fasts are ended generally they eate and fill their bellies plentifully For their obedience to Princes Obedience to Princes their Patriarches and Bishops although they are subject to many greivous pressures yet they submitt themselves to their Kings and Princes that God hath placed over them according to that of Lactantius Religion is to bee defended not by
Priest 10. That Infidels and impious persons yea ratts and mise may eate the body of Christ 11. That the Laiety are not bound by Christs institution to receive the Communion in both kindes 12. That private Maffes wherin the Priest saith Eat drink ye all of this yet eateth drinketh himselfe only is according to Christs institutioÌ„ 13. That extreme Vnction is a Sacrament properly so called 14. That the publique service of God in the Church ought or may be celebrated in an unknowne tongue 15. That wee may worship God by an Image c. These and other new Tenets and Doctrines defide of the now Church of Rome cannot be shewed to bee the Doctrines of faith of the old ancient Church of Rome To conclude this point as there is Antiquity of Time so also of Truth and Doctrine for a people to receive Christianity the true faith from the Apostles or Christ himselfe profiteth nothing except they doe still retaine the said Faith Doctrine as our Lord told the Pharises boasting of antiquity that they had Abraham to their Father That they were of their father the devill not doing Abrahams workes So it may be said of them Iohn 8. that boast only of Antiquity of Time without Antiquity of Truth Doctrine The succession of Bishops CHAP. V. WHereas inquirie is made but for one Bishop of our Religion before Cranmer although wee neede no witnesses having our blessed Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ the great Bishop of our Soules and the twelve Apostles with Saint Paul Saint Iohn Baptist St Marke and St Luke for our Bishops Doctors teaching the truth professed by us yet I have set downe a fuccession of Bishops in some of the Patriarchall Churches as of Hierusalem Antioch Alexandria Constantinople and also of Rome for the first 600 yeeres amongst whom you may finde very many noble witnesses Hierusalem St. Iames. Simeon Cleophas Iustus a Iew Zacheus Tobias Benjamin Iohn Matthias Philip Sennecas Iustus the second Levi Ephrem Ioseph Iudas Marcus Cassianus Publius Maximus Iulianus Caius Symachus Caius the 2. Iulianus the 2. Capito Maximus Antoninus Valens Dolychiauus Narcissus Dios Germanon Gordius Narcissus and Alexander Mazabanes Hyminaeus Zambdas Hermon Macarius Maximus Cyrillus Herenius Heraclius Hilarius Cyrillus Iohn Nepos Prayllius Invenalis Polycbronius Theodosius Anastasius Martyrius Salustius Helias Petrus Macarius Eustochius Iohn c. Antioch St Peter Euodius Ignatius Heros Cornelius Theophilus Maximinus Serapion Asclepiades Philetus Zebinus Babylas Fabius Demetrianus Paulus Samosatenus Domnus Timaeus Ciryllus Dorotheus Tyrannus Vitalis Philogonus Eustathius Eulalius Euphonins Placitus Steven Leontius Eudoxius Anianus Meletius Euzojus Dorotheus Paulinus Evagrius Dorotheus Meletius Flavianus Porphyrius Alexander Theodotus Iohn Domnus Maximus Martyrius Iulianus Basilius Peter Gnapheus Stephen Calandio Peter Gnapheus Paladius Flauianus Severus Paulus Euphremius Domninus Anastatius Gregorius c. Alexandria St. Marke Anianus Abilius Cerdo Primus Iustus Eumenes Marcus Celadion Agrippas Iulianus Demetrius Heraclas Dionysius Maximinus Theonas Peter Achillas Alexander Athanasius Gregorie Peter Timothie Theophilus Cyrillus Dioscorus Proterius Timotheus Aelurus Timotheus Basilicus Peter Athanasius Iohn Theodosius Zoilus Appollinarius Iohn Eulogius Rome St. Peter Linus Clemens Cletus Anacletus Euarestus Alexander â—yxtus Telesphorus Hyginus Pius Anicetus Soter Eleutherius Victor Zepherinus Calistus Vrbanus Pontianus Anterus Fabianus Cornelius Lucius Steven Xystus Dionysius Felix Eutychianus Caius Marcellinus Marcellus Eusebius Miltiades Silvester Marcus Iulius Liberius Felix Demasdele Siricius Anastasius Innocentius Zosimus Bonifacius Celestinus Sixtus Leo Hilarius Simplicius Felix Gelasius Anastasius Symachus Hormisda Iohn Boniface Agapetus Silverius Vigilius Pelagius Iohn Benedict Pelagius Gregorie the great c. Constantinople St Andrew Stachis Onesimus Polycarpus Plutarchus Sedecion Diogenes Elutherius Felix Polycarpus Athenodorus Euzoius Laurentius Alippius Pertinax Olympianus Marcus Cyrillianus Constantius Ciriacus Castinus Titus Domitius Metrophanes Probus Alexander c. AS there is a Succession of Bishops in the Patriarchall Churches before-named so generally of the Metropolitans and Bishops kept in the Registers as is reported Titus was the first Bishop of the Church of the Cretians Tit. cap. 3. placed there by St Paul hee was not a Parson Tit. cap. 1.15.5 or Minister of one Parish but Bishop of the whole Isle called Hecatompolis of one hundred Cities placed as aforesaid by St Paul to ordaine Elders in every City Mirae lib. 4. pa. 181. de notitia episcop Miraeus reporteth that there are in the Isle of Crete one Archbishop and seven Bishops Of Ephesus Timothie was the first Bishop 2 Tim. 4. in fin placed there also by St Paul Caius succeeded him and many other famous men as Marke so famous in the last Florentine Councell Of Thessalonica Silvanus was the first Bishop Theatrum convers gentium anthor frat Arnol. Iohn Merman pag. 42. Chryt de statu Eccles pag. 159. Idemibidem placed there also by St Paul I heare that Athanasius is now Metropolitan thereof and I read ten Bishopricks to be under that See In Corinth Silas was also placed by St Paul The Metropolitane of Corinth hath foure Bishops under him Of Caesarea Apollo was the first Bishop Idem pag. 44. 45. Of Sardis Clemens the first Fruits of Achaia or Convert of the Gentiles Of Nicomedia Procorus the Deacon In Nice St Andrew placed Calistus In Iconium Tertius was first In Smyrna Polycarpus In Thebes Rusus In Philpipi Hermas And so I might name some others But to shew the Greatnesse of some of these Churches I will set downe a Catalogue of some of their Metropolites Of the Metropolites and Archbishoprickes which are or have been belonging to the Patriarch of Constantinople Metropoles 1 Caesarea 2 Ephesus 3 Heraclea 4 Ancyra 5 Cyzicus 6 Sardes 7 Nicomedia 8 Nicaea 9 Calcedon 10 Sida 11 Sebastea 12 Amasea 13 Melitene 14 Tyana 15 Gangra 16 Thessalonica 17 Claudiopolis 18 Neocaesarea 19 Pissinas 20 Mira 21 Caria 22 Laodicea 23 Synada 24 Iconium 25 Antiochia 26 Sylaeum 27 Corinthus 28 Athenae 29 Mocissus 30 Seleucia 31 Calauria 32 Patrae 33 Trapezus 34 Larissa 35 Naupactus 36 Philippopolis 37 Trajanopolis 38 Rhodus 39 Philippensis 40 Adrianopolis 41 Hierapolis 42 Dyrrhachium 43 Smyrna 44 Catana 45 Ammorium 46 Camachus 47 Cotyaium 48 Sancta Seuerinae 49 Mitelena 50 Novae Patrae 51 Euchaita 52 Amastris 53 Chonae 54 Hydrus 55 Kelzene 56 Colonia 57 Thebae 58 Serrae 59 Pompeiopolis 60 Rossia 61 Alana 62 Aedelenus 63 Tiberiopolis 64 Euchania 65 Cerasus 66 Nacolia 67 Germanicia 68 Madyta 69 Apamea 70 Basileum 71 Drystra 72 Nazianzus 73 Corcyra 74 Abydus 75 Methymna 76 Christianopolis 77 Rusium 78 Lacaedaemonia 79 Naxia 80 Attalia c. Archiepiscopatus 1 Bizya 2 Leontopolis 3 Maronea 4 Germia 5 Arcadiopolis 6 Parium 7 Miletus 8 Praeconesus 9 Selybria 10 Chius 11 Apros 12 Cypsella 13 Nice 14 Neapolis 15 Selga 16 Cherson 17 Messana 18 Garella 19 Brysis 20 Dercos 21 Carabyzya 22 Lemnus 23 Leucas 24 Misthea 25 Cudrae 26 Soteropolis 27 Pedachthea 28 Germa
O Lord my God how excellent is thy name in all the world Protestants Papists halfe CHRISTIANOGRAPHIE OR The Description of the multitude and sundry sorts of Christians in the VVorld not subiect to the Pope With their Vnitie and hovv they agree with us in the principall points of Difference betweene us and the Church of Rome Goe yee therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Mat. 28.19 And they went forth and preached every where The Lord working with them Marke 16.20 After this I beheld and loe a great multitude which no man could number of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues stood before the throne before the Lambe Rev. 7.9 LONDON Printed by T. P. and W. J. for Matthew Costerden Stationer 1635. REcensui Librum hunc cui titulus Christianographie c. una cum Epistola Dedicatoria ad R. in Christo Patrem Franciscum Eliensem Episcopum qui quidem liber continet folia 88. in quo nihil reperio quò minús cum publica utilitate Jmprimatur modò intra sex menses proximè sequentes typis mandetur Ex aedi Londin Octobris 30. Samuel Baker TO THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD Francis Lord Bishop of Elie my very good Lord. IT was an observation of our late Soveraigne Lord King James that VVheras the Romanists cannot confirme their Faith either by sacred Scripture or ancient Traditions Their manner is to crie up the Visibilitie of the Church and Authoritie of the same And thereby they delude many of the ignorant and unlearned bearing them in hand that there was no such thing in the world as a Protestant before Luther And that before his time all the world beleeved as they doe And that their Church hath not onely beene visible in all ages and all times but eminently conspicuous and illustrious And to this purpose one of that Sect lately delivered to a person of qualitie this writing following viz. It is plaine in holy Scripture and confessed by the Protestants that the Church of God should be alwaies visible and it was agreed by D. White and D. Featly to Mr. Fisher and Mr. Sweet to proove a visible succession in the Protestant Church that they both could and would in all ages from Christ to Luther by name out of good Authors produce Doctors and Pastors professing the Religion which the Church of England and Protestants professe This was promised This is now required without shifts and idle delayes c. VVhereas in this writing an absolute promise is pretended to bee made by your Lordship and D. Featley to Master Fisher and Master Sweet I finde in the relation of the conference testified and subscribed by Honorable personages and others The said promise to bee made but upon condition onely Conference pag. 7. That the forenamed Iesuites would shew visible professors of the intire Doctrine of the Romish Church as yet it is comprised in the Councell of Trent in all ages and name them out of good Authors especially for the first 600. yeeres And in particular your Lordship required them to prove by Christ and his Apostles Conference pag. 22. or by any of the Fathers for the first 600. yeeres these sixe Tenets of the Roman Church viz. 1. That all power of Order and Jurisdiction in respect of the Churches is to bee derived from the Church of Rome 2. That no Scripture sence or Translation thereof is Authenticall unlesse the same were received from the Church of Rome 3. That the Roman Church onely was and is the Authenticall Custos of unwritten Traditions 4. That all generall Councels were called by the sole Authoritie of the Pope and that hee might ratifie and disanull whatsoever pleased him in them 5. That the Pope hath power to Canonize Saints 6. That the Pope had or hath power to depose Princes Likewise Conference pag. 7. Doctor Featley required of them to produce out of good Authors not any Empire or Kingdome but so much as any Citie Parish or Hamlet within 500. yeeres after Christ in which there was any Visible assembly of Christians to bee named maintaining and defending either their Trent Creede in generall or these points of Popery in speciall Conference page 9. to wit 1. That there is a treasurie of Saints merits and super abundant Satisfactions at the Popes disposing 2. That the Laiety are not commanded by Christs institution to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper in both Kindes 3. That the publicke service of God in the Church ought or may be celebrated in an unknowne tongue 4. That private Masses wherein the Priest saith edite bibite ex hoc omnes and yet eateth and drinketh himselfe onely are according to Christs institution 5. That the Popes pardons are requisite or usefull to release soules out of Purgatory 6. That the effect of the Sacrament dependeth upon the intention of the Minister 7. That extreme unction is a Sacrament properly so called 8. That we may worship God by an Image 9. That the sacred Hoast ought to bee elevated or carried in solemne procession 10. That Infidels and Impious persons yea Rats and Mice may eate the body of Christ 11. That all Ecclesiasticall power dependeth on the Pope 12. That hee cannot erre in matter of Faith 13. That he hath power to cannonize Saints 14. To institute Religious orders 15. To depose Kings c. He also urged Master Fisher and Master Sweet to name but one Father or one writer of note who held the particulars above named for 500. yeres after Christ which they would not nor could doe VVhereby any man may see that they who call for a Succession in our Church cannot shew it in their owne Moreover it is not a succession of persons or catalogue of names that maketh a true Apostolicke Church But the true primitiue Faith once given to the Saints set downe in holy Scripture Our Lord himselfe telleth us that he that is baptized and beleeveth shall be saved Marke 16.16 now to perswade such a one that is baptized beleeveth that he is no member of Christs Church except he can also set downe a catalogue of the names of his spirituall parents since Christ is all one as to perswade such a one that he is no man because he cannot reckon up his naturall parents and fetch his pedigree from Noah or Adam Lastly whereas they clamour for a catalogue of names as in this writing without all shifts and idle delayes they have catalogues plentie written both by strangers as by Jllyricus by Symon de Voyons Mounsier Plessis and others and by our countrymen as by B. Jewell for the first 500. yeeres by the Primate of Armagh for the next 500. yeeres and by the late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury for the last 500. yeeres with divers others to which they have returned no answer as I can heare of but they lie upon their hands also of late
Mr. Birckbeck hath written a catalogue who acknowledgeth Doctor Featlies great furtherance in it as I also doe but most especially I acknowledge my selfe bound unto your Lordship for your helpe and incouragement which imboldened me both to write and publish this Treatise Now although the contents of the former writing have beene sufficiently answered againe and againe and neede nothing of mine being one of the meanest of all my brethren Yet I shewed them that brought it me that in stead of a Catalogue of Names I would shew them a Catalogue of Churches in which there now are and have beene many millions of Christians who have generally borne witnesse and now doe to the truth professed by us and our Religion in the principall points in controversie betweene the Roman Church and us as the Greeke Church which hath foure great Patriarches The first of Constantinople whose succession I have set down from Saint Andrew to Cyrill the now Patriarch which succession The Cophti have also a Patriarch of Alexandria Alexandria was inhabited with Greekes and also many other great Cities and Provinces both Africa and Asia have at this day many Greekes in them hath not beene so interrupted with so many Schismes as the Romish succession hath beene The second of Alexandria The third of Antioch The fourth of Hierusalem which Greeke Church is much bigger then the Romish Church in Europe and more ancient The Romish Church having received Christianity from them Againe the Moscovite or Russe Christians who inhabit many countries not onely in Europe but also in Asia as the great Kingdomes of Casan and Astracan and other great Provinces all which together are of greater extent then all Europe besides As also the Christians under the Patriarch of Musall in Asia which Christians Vitriacus the Cardinall reporteth to live in severall Vt de his qui seorsum habitant quorum infinitus est numerus taceamus inter Saracenos non pauciores ut dicitur sunt Christiani infidelibus Vitria histo orient cap. 77. in infinite numbers with their King and also where they live mingled with Saracens they are not fewer then they and howsoever some say that these Christians are decayed since Vitriacus time yet Postell reporteth idem pag. 76. de Iacobitis that they are yet more then the Latine Church Postel Compend Cosmog pag. 69. Dico pauci comparatione priorum temporum â—on in se namsunt nobis latinis multo plures As also the Jacobites dispersed in fortie Kingdomes The Armenian Christians in Europe Asia and Africa who have a thousand Bishops as Cardinall Baronius reporteth out of Otho Frisigensis and also the Abissin Christians in Aethiopia under their Emperour who hath many great Kingdomes of Christians vnder him All these and many more hereafter set downe as they doe agree with us in the maine points of Religion being all baptized in the name of the Father Sonne and holy Ghost c. so also 1. They deny the Popes Supremacie some of them excommunicating him yeerely for an Hereticke or Schismaticke accounting him and his Church hereticall 2. They receive the Communion in both kindes 3. They have no private Masse 4. They hold no Transubstantiation 5. They offer no sacrifice for the quicke and the dead in their Liturgies 6. Married Priests doe administer amongst them 7. They know no Purgatorie nor use any Prayers nor sell any Pardons to release soules from thence 8. Most of them have their Service in their owne tongues Now howsoever the Romanists account no more of the testimonies of these Christians then of the testimonies of Iewes Turkes and esteeme them damned persons as they doe us yet let them know that these Christians are baptized beleeve in Christ and also live devoutly to God obediently to Princes and sincerely to men yea many of them suffer very much for Iesus Christs sake which they might free themselves of if they would renounce their Religion and obtaine great honour and estate for the Turkes Janisaries and Basha's are most of them renegado Christians but these poore Christians account their Saviour more deere to them then all the honours and riches of the world Therefore farre bee it from any Christian Soule to account these men damned as the Romanists doe onely for not being subiect to the Bishop of Rome Bonif. 8. in extrar de major obedi cap. unam sanctam c. according to their Tenet That every Soule must of necessity of Salvation be subject to the Bishop of Rome As for the Dedication in regard I have received many kindnesses from your Lordship both when you were my neighbour and since I am bold to present this Treatise to your Lordship desiring your patronage and protection and also most humbly intreating Almighty God to multiply his blessings upon you to your owne Comfort and good of his Church Your Lordships most humbly devoted EPHRAIM PAGITT Parson of the Church of St. Edmonds the King in Lombardstreet London To the Reader THat which J intend in this treatise is to shew that there are many Christian Churches as well in Europe as in the other parts of the world that doe not adhere to the Roman Church nor acknowledge the Pope for their head Invaine therfore and to no purpose doe many of that party run up and downe the world and cry up the Church of Rome for that one holy catholicke Church which is so assisted by the holy Ghost that it cannot erre wheÌ„ she is indeed but a member and no sound one neither of that body as being miserably infested at this day which also the learned and sober men amongst themselves cannot deny with many new fond opinions and with superstitious practices not a few The Greeke Church may for ought I know by the same reason say that she is that one infalible Catholicke Church that all are Schismatickes that coÌ„municate not with her that out of that church there is no salvation to be had One thing Iadde by way of caution J haue cited many of the opinions practices of those Christians that live in the Easterne and other remote parts of the world but J doe not undertake to justify them in every particular J would not be so understood it sufficeth for my present purpose to shew that many Millions of Christians in the world differ from the Papists J and that in the most of those things wherein they and we do disagree which is the maine of all that few or none of all these doe acknowledge the Church of Rome for their Mother or have any dependance on her The God of peace make peace in Christendome and grant that all they that confesse his holy name may agree in the truth of his holy word and live in unity and godly love Amen So prayeth Thine in our common Saviour The Contents of the first Chapter THe severall sorts of Christians in the World not subject to the Pope or differing in Religion from him First
people as when they must enjoy the Reverend Mysteries Againe But one Body one Cup is given to all Cassander It is sufficiently manifest Consult de utraque specie pag. 1025. Eccle. orientalis in hunc usque diem occidentalis verò five Romana mille amplius annis continuis non aliliter quam sub duplicispecie in conventu Ecclesiae sacramentum hoc Dominici corporis sanguinis administrasse legitur c. that the universall Church to this day and the Westerne or Roman Church for more then a thousand yeeres did exhibit the Sacrament in both kindes to all the members of Christs Church 8. Merit of Workes Gregorie There are some which glorie that they are saved by their owne strength The old Roman Church In 28. Iob. lib. 18. cap. 25. sunt nonnulli qui salvos se suis viribus exultant suisque prâ—cedentibus meritis redemptos esse gloriantur quorum assertio invenitur sibimet ipsis contraria quia dum innoceâ—â—â—â— se asserunt redemptes hoc ipsum in se redemptionis nomen evacnant brag that they are redeemed by their owne precedent merits but herein they contradict themselves whilest that they affirme that they are innocent and yet redeemed they frustrate the name of Redemption in themselves Chrysostom Although we die a thousand times Chrys de Compunct cordis lib. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and if wee fulfill all the vertues of the minde yet wee doe nothing worthie to those things which we have received of God Saint Augustine God Crowneth in us the gifts of his mercy In Ioh. tract 13. Tom. 9. Coroâ—at in nobis Deus dona misericordiae suae The old Roman Church Adorare imagines omnibus modis devita lib. 9 epist. 9. 9. Worshipping of Images Gregory The Adoration of them avoid by all meanes The ancient Greeke Church long withstood Images which was a principall cause of the division of the Empire The Popes excommunicating Leo Constantine and others of the Greeke Emperors who were against Images and the weakenesse of the Christians divided was a great cause of the Mahumetan conquests and greatnesse To the Iewes and Mahumetans the worship of images is abominable And wheras the Turkes know much of Christ Postel Compend Cosmograp p. 76. as that hee was borne of the Virgin Mary conceived by the Holy Ghost received by the Christians being the Christ promised in the Iewes Law who is in heaven in body soule and that he shall come to judge the quicke and the dead with just judgement yet the image-worship used by some Christians is so offensive to them that it may bee supposed to bee a hindrance of their conversion The South Church De morib Eccle. lib. 1. cap. 34. Augustine I know certaine worshippers of Tombes whom the Church condemneth Thus as you have seene the agreement of the Moderne Churches beforenamed with us as also of the old antient Roman East South Churches in the points before named which doctrines then taught by Saint Gregory Saint Auâ—â—eâ— Saint Chrysostome and others are not now owned by the Roman Church but by them disallowed and anathematized VII The Religion of the Antient Britaines and the differences from their now Roman Church THe Ancient writers testifie that most of the points before named were the Tenets of the Britains both before and also after the comming of Austen for although the the Romanists pretend that at the comming of Austen Christianity was lost amongst us yet Historiographers witnesse the contrarie Bed Eccle. hister lib. 2. cap. 2. as Beda testifieth that at the comming of the said Austen which was about the yeere 600. there were here 7. Bishops one Archbishop and above 2000. Monkes of Bangor and many learned men And also the Queene was then a Christian and that Christianitie was amongst us before Bishop Iewellâ— Defen pag. 11. Bishop Iewell proveth out of Saint Chrysostome who lived about the yeere 400. and Saint Hillarie who lived about the yere 360. And Origen who lived about the yeere 240. And Tertullian who lived about the yeere 230. Haec epistola communiter habetur inter leges divi Edvardi Antiq. Britan. pag. 5. in margine And this will also appeare by the letter of Eleutherius Bishop of Rome to our King Lucius then a Christian and as the inhabitants were Christians as before so the antient writers testifie that they were them differing from the now Romish Religion in their new Articles For the sufficiency of Scriptures Tantum ea quae in Propheticis EvaÌ„gelicis Apostolicis literis discere poterant observantes Bed lib. 3. hist cap. 4. Omnes aut legendis Scripturis aut psalmis discendis operam dare Bed Eccl. hist lib. 3. cap. 5. Beda recordes the Successors of Columkelle that they observed onely those things which they could learne in the Propheticall Evangelicall and Apostolicall writings They had them also in their owne language and Beda reporteth amongst others of a translation made by the appointment of King Adelstan The Clergie and Laitie were bound to read the holy Sciptures and they accounted them their chiefe riches according to that of Columbanus Sint tibi Divitiae divinae dogmata legis Beda also commendeth Altfrid the King for a most learned man in the Scriptures Alfrit vir in scripturis doctissimus lib. 4. cap. 26. and also their service was in their owne language as Bishop Iewell proveth in his replie Bishop Iewell pag. 142. For the Doctrine of Sacrament of the Lords Supper the same was taught then which wee teach now Hom. in die sanctae pascae pag. 17. As you may see in the Homilie of Elfrick approved by divers Bishops in their Synods This booke is subscribed by the two Archbishops of Canterbury and of Yorke and 13. other Bishops and appointed to be read upon Easterday before the receiving of the Communion who saith There is a great difference betwixt the bodie wherein Christ suffered and the body which is hallowed housell The body truely that Christ suffered in It was borne of the flesh of Mary with blood with bone with skin and with sinne wes in humane limmes with a reasonable soule living And his Ghostly bodie which wee call the housell is gathered of many cornes without blood and bone without lymbe without soule and therefore there is nothing to be understood bodily Beda in vita Cutberti cap. 15. pag. 163. Vt mittas Presbyterum qui illam priusquam moriatur visitet â—ique Dominici corporis sanguinis Sacramenta ministret Antoninus archi Florent cronic 2. par pag. 623. Northmanni autem confessioni peccatorum vacantes mane Dominico corpore sanguine communicaverunt Mat. Paris in Harald Normani mane Dominici corporis sanguinis munimine saginati c. pag. 3. but it is ghostly or spiritually to bee under stood And this Doctrine also Scotus our Country-man did teach for the Communion in both kindes Beda also reporteth in the life
killing but by dying not by crueltie but by patience not by wickednes but by faith c. For their Chastitie among the Russes adulterie is severely punished and the Aethiopians punish all fornication and lust and none of the Patriarches of these Churches allow brothel-houses or Stewes that I reade of Whereas the Pope of Rome howsoever they pretend Chastity yet they onely of all Christians Patriarches allow stewes brothelhouses where a father Sixtus pontiâ—ex maximus Romae nobile admodunlupanar extruxiâ— Agrippa de van taâ—e scientiarum cap. 64. Atque utrique sexui assignavit Zeg spec ponti pag. 79. Dici nequit quaâ— incredibili Christianorum tum pâ—dore tum etiam â—orum qui vere tales sunt cordolio ut Iudae filiae scortari non liceaâ— Dei filiae liceat his sonne and his brother may commit uncleannesse with one whore yea Sixtus the fourth built a famous Stewes in Rome for both Sexes This wickednes is not unpunished among the Iewes themselves Bishop Espensous reporteth to the great shame of Roman Christians of a Iew maide who renounced her Religion and turned Romish Christians that she might freely exercise the art of Ribandie not permitted by herown Religion his words are It cannot bee spoken but with incredible shame of Christians with the great heart griese of them that are the like that it is not lawfull for a daughter of Judah to commit fornication but lawfull for the daughter of God Imo Israe is filia meretricari non aliter ante possit quam facta per BaptismuÌ„ sanctuÌ„ Christi soror filia yea the daughter of Jsrael may not otherwise play the whore before shee bee made by holy baptisme sister and daughter of Christ c. Moreover he writeth that we cannot but be offended to see so many Stewes in one Citie and that it may be almost said of Rome Christian as of Rome Ethnick that the whole Citie is one stewes Againe these Patriarches and Bishops sell no pardons to deliver soules out of Purgatorie nor allow the sale of any Sacrament that I reade wheras the Roman Church maketh infinite gaine of their Masses Romana scorta in singulas hebdemadas juliuÌ„ poudent Pontifici Agrippa loco citat Zeg loco Citat Taxa Cancell Apostolicae Parisiis 1613. Pardons and Dispensations yea the Popes themselves have a rent out of the brothell houses every whore paying weekely a Iulie to his holines which rent is more some yeeres then 40000. Duckets In the booke of taxes of the Apostolike Chancerie and sacred penitentiaries you may see the prises and rates of all dispensations and absolutions as for murthers of all kindes as of Clergie men Lay men of Father Mother Sonne Brother Sister Wife c. For impoisoning inchantment witchcraft sacriledge simony c. for fornication adultery incest without any exceptioÌ„ or distinction c. Also for dispensations for oathes vowes and many things more although there be many sinnes raigning amongst these Christians and us yet they are not allowed by them and us and so they are not the sinnes of the Churches as fornication is one of the sinnes of the Roman Church as before To put an end to this some of their sinnes are not only personall but Cathedrall from whence they seeme to have a liberty of sinning to use their own distinctioÌ„ their veniall sins are easily done away with a short shrift as for mortal sins a man may have for money a warrant dormant Anton. sum par 3 tit 1. cap. 11. Crantzius saxon lib. 5. cap. 8. Quid enim hodie per dispensationem Apostolicam non obtinetur Quinta causa dissidij Graecorum credipotest species austerioris vitae quaein eorum Hiere monachis Metropolitis Archiepiscopis at que episcopis frequenter cernitur Haec igitur austerioris vitae ratio Latines contemnendi praebuit occasionem c. Tho. a Iesis de convers p. 284. or dispensation to commit sinnes against nature as to marie his Aunt his brothers wife his neece his own daughter for which Pope Martin the fift gave a dispensation as Antonius reporteth and what saith Crantzius their own writer cannot be gotten by dispensation To conclude Thomas the Iesuite confesseth that the fift cause of difference betweene the Greekes and Latins may bee thought to be the shew of a more austere life which is often seene in their holy Monkes Metropolites Archbishops and Bishops this their more austere life causeth the Greeks to contemne the Latins c. But the Greekes are to know that Christian righteousnes doth not consist chiefly in macerating the body but in Charity Faith Hope Humility and Patience and other vertues WHereas there is come to my hands a booke of Possevins the Iesuit written against Chytraeus in which he challengeth these Churches for agreeing with them In praying for the Dead invocating Saints worshipping Images having of Monkes c. I answer that I finde these Churches in these things also to differ from the Papists 1. As in praying for the dead they pray not to deliver Soules out of Purgatorie nor from any temporall punishment as the Papists do but for their generall resurrectioÌ„ Field of the Ch. pag. 59. publicke acquital c. 2. For their invocating of Saints some doe it not at all pag. 109. of this booke as the Aethiopians as before but I will not justifie all these Churches in their invocations 3. For Imageworship Nullas habent sanctorum imagines Iosephus Indus cap. 133. some have none at all as the Indians others have Pictures onely to which they give no undue reverence as the Aethiopians yet will I not justifie some of them in this point 4. For their Monks Singuli pro sui Monasterij oeconemia sustinenda laborant alij vineas fodientes c. Bellon obser lib. 1. cap. 35. they are not idle bellygods or beggers but live on their labour as before For other things mentioned the Iesuit hath a streame of witnesses against him And last of all if these Churches agree with the Roman Church why doe most of them excoÌ„municate the Pope and his clergie as before And more especially to shew their disagreement with the Aethiopian Church Godign de Abass rebus pag. 225. the Bishop of Sydonia gave new orders to Tecla Maria an Aethiopian Priest in the Chapell of the Cardinall of Saint Severin by the coÌ„mandement of the Pope and advice of the Cardinals Of the Antiquitie CHAP. IIII. WHereas the Church of Rome boasteth of her Antiquity I purpose to set downe in this Chapter three things 1. That some of these Churches are Churches more ancient then the Church of Rome and that the ancient Church of Rome received Christianitie from them or some of them 2. That the now Church of Rome and the ancient before Boniface the third are not one and the same Church but different 3. As the now Church of Rome is a new Church and a different from the old so
it hath new and different Articles and doctrines of Faith unknowne to the old Church and not to be found for such in the writings of any of the ancient Fathers for five hundred yeeres after Christ FOr the first The Church of Hierusalem is more ancient then the Church of Rome Hierusalem where our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ himselfe preached and offered himselfe a Sacrifice for our sinnes and where the Apostles and Disciples first preached for although they were sent to preach to all Nations yet they preached first to the lost sheepe of the house of Israel according to Christs Commandement This Church is most ancient St Iames was the first Bishop there The Law went out of Sion Matth. 10.6 the word of the Lord from Jerusalem This Citie was Emporium Isay 2.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Histor Eccles Lib. 5. cap 9. the Mart of Christian faith the mother of all Churches as Theodoret saith 2. 2. Antioch Acts. 11.26 The Church of Antioch in Syria where the Disciples were first called Christians Of this Church Saint Peter was Bishop some yeres before he went to Rome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ad populum Antioch homil 3. and this Church is also more ancient then the Church of Rome Saint Chrysostome calleth this Church the Head of all the world 3. The Greeke Church was planted by Saint Paul 3. Graecians and Saint Andrew from whence and the fore named Churches the name of Christ flowed Eia igitur Graecia mater nostra cui id totum debet quod habet Latina Ecclesia Conc. Trid. orat Episc Bitont as from a spring over all the world and the faith was spread in all places and this the Bishop of Bitonto acknowledged in the Councell of Trent It is our mother Graecia to whom the Latine Church is beholding for that which she hath the Easterne Church was before the Church of Rome in Time and from thence the Church of Rome hath received Christianitie the new Testament the three Creedes the very name of Baptisme Eucharist Bishop Priest and Deacon 4. 4. Aethiopia Aethiopia received Christianitie from the Eunuch of Queene Candases Huic Philippus responsis Sancti Spiritus jussus primò ex omnibus Gentibus mysterium fidei sacramentum Baptismi tradidit velut quasdam eum Dee primitias omnium consecrat nationū Eusch Eccles histor lib. 2. cap. 1. to whom as Eusebius reporteth first of all the Gentiles Philip by the command of the holy Ghost delivered the mysterie of Faith and the Sacrament of Baptisme and consecrated him to God as the first Fruits of all nations Saint Matthew also preached to the Aethiopians 5. For the Antiquity of the Church of Rome both St Hierom and Eusebius testifie that St Peter came to Rome in the raigne of Claudius the Emperour 5. Rome Hierom Catalog Eccles script pag. 265. Euseb Eccles his lib. 2. c. 14.16 and in his second yeere saith Hierom. 6. The Church of England received Christianitie as some say from Joseph of Arimathea others from Simon Zelotes the Apostle 6. England Guildas Sapiens de excidio Britan. Christus suos radios id efl suapraecepta indulget tempore ut scimus sūmo Tiberij Caesaris quo absque ullo impedimento eius propagabatur religio Bibli vet Pat. tem 5. par 3. pag. 675. Britannia omniū provinciarum prima publicitus Christi nomen recepit Sabel in Ennead 7. lib. 5. Guildas reporteth that our Island received Christianitie in the time of Tiberius Caesar who dyed in the yeere of our Lord 39. which if it bee so the Church of England received Christianitie before the Church of Rome some yeeres before Peter came to Rome which was in the time of Claudius who succeeded Tiberius And for the Honour of my Mother Church I speake that Christianity was first publickly professed by authority in this Kingdome about 130. yeeres before it was in Rome Lucius our King beeing as I reade the first Christran King in Europe who reigned about the yeere of our Lord 170. And moreover Constantine the Christian Emperour was borne amongst us who gave the first publique libertie of Religion to the Roman Church So that Rome was beholding for the publique liberty of Religion to Constantine Our country man Speedes histerie pag. 207. Also the inhabitants of Britaine as I reade were instructers unto others as frō hence was Netherland converted to Christianitie as testifieth the storie of Swithbertus Burgundie by our Columbanus saith Sigebert Swedia by Gallus as saith Petrus de Natalibus and Frisia by Wilfred as it is recorded by Beda and Matthew of Westminster The Franconians Hassians and Turingians by Winifred our Devonshire man The Norvegians by Nicolas Breakespere of Middlesex And the Lituanians by Thomas Walden of Essex and all the reformed Churches in Christendome derived their light from the learned Wickleffe of Oxford In regard of this Polidor Virgil doth rightly call England the Parent or Mother-Monasterie of all Europe And Peter Ramus termeth Britaine to be twice Schoolemistris to the Kingdome of France Terra Britanniae ante adventum Christi unius Dei consensit religionem hom 4. in Ezech. moreover Origen writeth that the Britaine 's received the religion of one God before the comming of Christ Secondly whereas the Church of Rome boasteth of Antiquity The Church of Rome since Boniface the 3 and the old Church of Rome planted by St Peter St Paul are not one and the same but are farre different The old Church of Rome as St Paul telleth us was a branch of that Tree whereof Christ Iesus was the root The now Church of Rome will bee no branch but the roote it selfe The ancient Church of Rome was but a member of the Catholique Church of God of which Iesus Christ was Head But the now Church of Rome is the Catholique Church it selfe of which the Pope is head and such a Church was never in Rome for 600. yeares after Christ for so long no Bishop of Rome durst presume to take upon him Christs title to be head of his Church husband of his spouse till Boniface the third with him began this Church Thirdly And as they have a new Church so they have a new Creede and Articles of Doctrine as for example sake 1. That the Pope the head of the Church cannot erre in the matter of faith 2. That all Ecclesiasticall power dependeth upon the Pope 3. That he hath power to canonize Saints 4. That he hath power to depose Kings 5. That the Popes pardons are requisite or usefull to release soules out of Purgatorie 6. That there is a treasurie of Saints merits and superabundant satisfactions at the Popes disposing 7. That the Priest can make his Maker 8. That the sacred Host made by the Priest ought to bee elevated and carried in solemne procession and adored 9. That the effects of the Sacrament dependeth upon the intention of the
Rusucensis Sapensis Satafensis Satatensis Scillitensis Segiomitensis Seleuciamensis Serrensis Serteitensis Siccesitensis Sicilibbensis Sifaitensis Signitensis Sililitensis Sillitensis Simidiccensis Simittensis Simmaritensis Simungitensis Sinitensis Sinnipsensis Sitensis Sitifensis Sitipensis Solencianensis Suboabburitensis Subratensis Sucardensis Sufasaritensis Sufetelensis Sufetensis Sululittensis Tabaicariensis Tabanensis Tabazagensis Taborensis Tabracensis Tabudensis Tabudesensis Tacapitensis Tacaratestensis Tacaratensis Tagannitensis Tagaratensis Tagareyensis Tagorensis Talensis Tamagristensis Tamallensis Tambalensis Tamiggigensis Tanudaiensis Tanussensis Tamogadensis Tasfaltensis Tebestinus Tegulatensis Telensis Teleptensis Temonianensis Tenitensis Tesaniamensis Teodalensis Tibaritensis Tibilitensis Tibizabulensis Ticcnsis Tigillanensis Tigillabensis Tigisitensis Tigimmensis Tignalensis Tignensis Tignicensis Tigualensis Tunicitensis Tinistensis Teseditensis Tisilitensis Tiuicitensis Traprurensis Tricensis Trigisitensis Trisipensis Trofimianensis Truvascaninensis Tubiensis Tubiniensis Tubulbacensis Tuburbitanus Tuburbitaronensis Tubursicensis Tubusubtensis Tuccensis Tuggensis Tullitensis Tumidensis Tuneyensis Tunsudensis Tunugabensis Turensis Turreblansiensis Turreâ—amallumeÌ„sis Turrisalbae Turubitensis Turudensis Turuzitensis Tusdritensis Tusuritensis Tuzummensis Tzellensis Vagalitensis Vagealensis Vagensis Vaiensis Valletensis Vamaccorensis Vanarionensis Vatarbensis Vazaritanensis Vcimaius Vculensis Vensanensis Verronensis Vesceritensis Vicensis Villagerensis Viltensis Vindensis Virensis Visitensis Viuensis Vndesitensis Volitensis Vosetensis Vrugitensis Vsilensis Vticensis Vtimarensis Vtinensis Vtinicensis Vtinunensis Vtunnensis Vzalensis Vzittarensis Vuaggiensis Vuazensis Zamensis Zaraitensis Zaritorensis Zattarensis Zellensis Zenitensis Zertensis Zicensis Zipparitanus Zugabbaritensis Zummensis The Church of Constantinople fetcheth her Originall from St Andrew the Apostle as Nicephorus testifieth who hath had a succession to Cyrill the now Patriarch St Andrew ordayned Stachis Bishop of Bizantium now called Constantinople The Bishops and Patriarchs of Constantinople Niceph. lib. 8. cap. 6. pag. 540. St Andrew Stachis Onesimus Polycarpus Plutarchus Sedecion Diogenes Elutherius Felix Polycarpus Athenodorus Euzoius Laurentius Alippius Pertinax Olympianus Marcus Cyrillianus Constantius Ciriacus Castinus Titus Domitius Probus Metrophanes Alexander Paulus Euscbius Macedonius Eudoxius Demophilus Euagrius Gregorius Nazianzen Nectarius Iohannes Chrysost Arsacius Atticus Sisinnius Nestorius Maximianus Proclus Flabianus Anatolius Genadius Acasius Phrabitas Euphenius Macedonius Timotheus Iohannes Cappadox Epiphanias Anthinius Menas Eutichius Iohannes Eutichius Iohannes Diaconus Cyriacus Thomas Sergius Pyrhus Paulus Petrus Thomas Iohannes Constantinus Theodorus Georgius Paulus Calinicus Cyrus Iohannes Germanus Anastasius Constantinus Nicetas Paulus Tarasius Nicephorus Theodorus Antonius Iohannes St Methodius St Ignatius Photius Stephanus St Anthonius Nicholaus Euthimius Nicolaus Stephanns Polyenostus Basilius Anthonius Nicolaus Sisimius Sergius Constantinus Iohannes Cosmius Eustratius Nicolaus Leo Michael Cosmus Theodosius Basilius Nicetas Leontius Dositheus Georgius Xiphilinus Iohannes Michael Theodorus Maximus Manuel Germanus Methodius Manuel Nicephorus Arcenius Germanus Iosephus Iohannes Iosephus Georgius Athanasius Iohannes Athanasius Niphon Iohannes Gerasinus Isaias Iohannes Calistus Philetus Macarius Nilus Antonius Calistus Euthymius Iosephus Gregorius Genadrus Sophronius Simeon Maximus Niphon Pachomus Theoliptus Ieremias Dionisius Ioseph Metrophanes Ieremias to whom the Ministers of Germany sent their Confessions 1576. Macarius Mattheus Gabriel Theophanes Meletius Mattheus Neophitus Mattheus Raphael Neophitus Cyrillus Tymotheus Cyrillus The pretended Succession of the Bishops of Rome FOR the Succession of the latter Bishops of Rome of which Boniface the third was the first they succeeded the former Bishops many of them onely in name and place but not in Title Iurisdiction holinesse of life nor faith as is hereafter shewed and so not worthy to be named or ranked amongst them 1. Generally for the Title the former Bishops of Rome were most of them men of great humilitie their glorie was to be members of the holy Catholike Church of which Christ Iesus was the alone head But these latter Bishops have presumed to take vpon them the Title due onely to Christ to wit to be head of the univerfall Church of God and Husbands of Christs Spouse the Church 2. For their Iurisdiction The former Bishops were subject to higher powers even to cruell Nero and other persecuting Emperours 25 of them were Martyrs but these latter by degrees haue got Iurisdiction not onely Spirituall but also Temporall above Princes and the Emperours themselues 3. For life the former of them were most of them holy men these latter most of them most wicked ad vitious 4. For doctrine for the former their Faith was heard of in all the world these latter are fallen from the truth in many maine points as afterwards followeth First Title Pelag. distinct 99 for Title Pope Pelagius the second in his dayes perceiving that Maurice the Emperour went about to make and establish an vniversal Bishop very much opposed it and decreed that no Bishop no not the Bishop of Rome himselfe ought to be called the vniversall Bishop And Pope Gregorie his Successour writeth that none of his Predecessors ever consented to vse so prophane a name as before Secondly Iurisdiction for Iurisdiction the Pope claimeth both Spirituall and Temporall not onely over all Bishops and the Church of God but aboue all Kings and Emperours causing some of them to lie under his feete some to hold his stirrop Kings to leade his horse by the bridle some to kisse his feete placing and displacing Emperours Kings Duks whom and when he liâ—â— taking vpon him to translate the Empire at his pleasure first from Greece to France from France to Germanie preferring and deposing whome he pleased 3. For the life and conversation of some of them Baronius reporteth Baron Annal. 985. that Boniface the seventh was a very villaine a Church robber a Savage theefe the cruell murtherer of two Popes and invader of Peters chaire Sigon reg Ital. lib 7.963 Iohn the thirteenth Was accused in a Synod for Murther Adulteries Incests Periuries and vices of all sorts c. Bâ—tron Ann anno 912. What was the face of the Roman Church saith Baronius and how most filthily did it appeare when the most impudent and base Queanes bare all the sway at Rome changed Sees and gave Bishoprickes at their pleasure and which is most abominable and not to bee named placed their Paramours into St. peters Chaire Their owne Genebrard confesseth that there were fiftie of those Popes irregular disordred Quod per annoâ— 150. pontifices circiter 50. a Ieannc scilicet 8. ad leonem 9 a virtute maiorum prosus defecarint Genebrard Chron lib. 4. pag. 553. Iohn 5.39 Psal 1. and Apostaticall Fourthly for their Doctrine some of it is coÌ„trary to the Word of God pernicious to mens consciences and iniurious to Christ himselfe viz. 1. Whereas Christ hath commanded us to reade the holy Scriptures and the Holy Ghost blesseth them that delight therein The now Church of Rome forbidd th the reading thereof to the Laitie in the vulgar tongue without speciall licence 2. Whereas Christ hath taught vs to pray to God and St. Paul to call on him in whom we beleeve Rom. 10.14 They