the Levites also was to help the Priests in gathering of tiths and to carry water and wood for the Tabernacle Q. Wherein did the high Priest differ from other Priests A. The high Priest only had power to enter into the Sanctuary he only wore a blew robe with bells a golden Ephod a breast-plate a linnen Myter a plate of Gold on his head by the Crown or plate was signified Christs Kingly office by the breast-plate his Priestly and by the bells his Prophetical office the high Priest also was only anointed after the order of Priesthood was setled but before this every Priest was anointed he also wore about his paps a broydred girdle to signifie that his heart should be girt and restrained from the love of earthly things They that took Sanctuary were not to be set at liberty till the death of the high Priest to signifie that by the death of our High Priest Jesus Christ we are made free The high Priesthood was tied to the line of Aarons first born the other Priests were of Aarons other children the Levites were of Levies other posterity the high Priest might marry none but a Maide other Priests migh marry a Widow Levit. 21. The high Priest might not miourn for the death of his kindred other Priests might mourn for their Father Mother Son Daughter Brother and husbandlesse Sister in other things they agreed For all Priests must be without blemish all must be presented to the Lord at the door of the Tabernacle all must be washed all must be consecrated by offering certaine Sacrifices all must have the blood of the Ram put on the tip of the right eare the thumb of the right hand and great toe of the right foot Exod. 29 Q. What Church government was there after Moses A. In the Desart Eleazer succeeded his Father Aaron and substituted under him Phinees to be chief of the Levites After the Israelites entred the Land the Tabernacle staied some years at Silo then did Ioshuah divide the Land and designed certain Cities of refuge which with some other Cities he assigned to the Priests and Levites The Priesthood did not continue long in the house of Aaron but after the death of Eleazer and three Priests his Successors this office devolved to Eli of the family of Ithamar who being carelesse suffered divers abuses to creep into the Ecclesiastical Government till God raised Samuel who reformed both the State and Church by appointing Schools of Prophets and Consistories of Levites From Silo the Tabernacle was translated to Nob from thence to Gibeon when Nob was destroyed by Ioab and at last it rested in Ierusalem So that all this time there could be no setled Church discipline among the Jewes The Ark also was oftentimes removed to wit from Canaan to the Philistines from thence to the Bethshemites afterward it stayed twenty years at Kiriathjeharim after this it remained three moneths with Obed-Edom and at last it was brought by David into Ierusalem All this time neither Tabernacle nor Ark nor Priesthood were setled till David assembled the Levites and out of them chose Abiathar for High Priest and Tsadoc for chief of the inferiour Priests who were to deliver the Ark to the Levites to be carried on their shoulders and withal appointed Singers and other Musitians in all 68. of the Levites He appointed also for the service of the Tabeâ—â—acle in Gibeon Tsadoc and his Brethren At last David being assured by Nathan that his Son Solomon should build the Temple he ordered that 24000. Levites should be set apart for the service of the Temple to wit 4000. door-keepers and as many Singers and 6000. Judges and Governors and the rest for other Offices Abiathar is made high Priest to wait on the Ark at Ierusalem Tsadoc is chief of the inferior Priests to serve in the Tabernacle at Silo. Tsadoc was Sauls high Priest descended from Eleazer Aarons first born Abiathar of the stock of Ithamar and Eli fled to David who entertained him for his high Priest after the death of Saul David retained them both thinking it did not stand with his honour and piety to reject Sauls high Priest This Tsadoc under Soloman was anointed the second time Priest as Solomon was the second time anointed King 1 Chron. 29. 22. and Abiathar is deposed for the sins of Eli and his Sons and so in Tsadoc the Priesthood is translated from the house of Ithamar to Aarons family again There were also Treasurers ordained some for the first fruits and tenths and others for the moneys that were given to the Temple towards the redemption of vows first born and sins The Priests and Levites were maintained out of the first fruits and tithes the other treasure was for maintaining the daily sacrifices and other charges of the Temple the Gibeonites with others appointed by David and Solomon did help the Levites in their Ministration the Priests and in their absence the Levites did administer justice both in Ierusalem and in the Cities of Refuge and ordered Ecclesiastick affairs There were also sometimes Extraordinary Prophets besides the Ordinary It s probable that the ordinary Prophets were of the Tribe of Levi because the administration and care of holy things belonged to them but extraordinary Prophets were of other Tribes these medled not with sacraments and sacrifices which was the Priests office nor had they their calling by succession as the Priests nor was the gift of Prophecy only tied to the man as the Priesthood was for we read of Miriam Hulda and divers other women Prophets and in the Primitive Church though women must not speak in the Church by preaching praying or exhorting in an ordinary way as the Ministers use yet they were not debarred to utter their extraordinary prophesies if so be their heads were covered in sign of modesty but otherwise the Apostle will not have women to speak in the Church because they must be in subjection to their Husbands and this punishment is laid on them for being deceived in Eve and harkning to the counsel of Satan For if women did preach they might be suspected to speak by that Spirit that deluded Eve Q. What was the Ecclesiastick Government after Solomon A. The renting of the ten Tribes from the other two under Roboam did much impair the beauty and magnificence of the Ecclesiastick state Besides that it was much defaced by idolatry but reformed by Hezekias Iosias and Iehosaphat who took away the high places Under Athaliah it was almost extinguished had not Iehojada the high Priest anointed Ioash who again reformed Religion He being denied all aid from the Levites out of their treasure towards the repairing of the Temple caused a Chest to be made into which mony given in that kinde should be put and imployed by the high Priest or by the chief of the inferior Priests and the Kings Scribe or Secretary towards the reparations of the Temple whereas before it was collected by the Levites King Vzziah
would have burnt incense on the Altar but was prohibited by Azariah the high Priest and eighty other Priests This Vzziah named also Azariah though a King yet was justly resisted by the Priests for his pride sacriledge and ambition in medling with their function whereby he violated the Laws of Politick government which a King should maintain for confusion must arise where offices are not distinct but where men are suffered to incroach upon each others function 2. He had no calling to the Priesthood and no man taketh upon him this office but he that is called of God as was Aaron 3. He violated the Law of God who confined the Priesthood to the house of Aaron and Tribe of Levi excluding from that all other Tribes 4. He was injurious to Christ whose type the high Priest was in offering sacrifices and incense representing thereby our high Priest Christ Jesus who offered up himself a sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour unto God So Iohojada the high Priest did well to depose Athaliah who was a stranger an idolater and usurper this was lawful for him so to doe being high Priest whose authority was great both in civil and ecclesiastick affaires but this is no warrant for any private man to attempt the like Besides Iehojada was bound to see the young King righted both as he was high Priest and as he was his kinsman Hezechias restored all according to King Davids institution he raised great Taxes towards the maintenance of Gods worship and permitted the Levites to flea the burnt offrings which before belonged only to the Priests office and caused the people to keep the Passover in the second moneth whereas by Moses his institution it should be kept the first moneth He permitted also many that were not sanctified or cleansed to eat the Passover against Moses his Law which were innovations in Religion Iosias reformes all abuses abolisheth idolatry repaireth the Temple readeth publickly the Law of Moses which was found by Hilkiah the high Priest and makes a covenant with God to keep the Law Under King Eliakim or Ioachim Religion was so corrupted that the Priests Levites Prophets or Scribes with the Elders of the people condemned the Prophet Ieremy to death Under Zedechiah both the Church government and state fell together in Iudea Q. In the mean while what Church government was there among the Ten Tribes A. The Kings of Israel our of policy least the people should return again to Ierusalem and the two Tribes defaced their Religion with much Idolatrous worship for executing of which they had their Priests and inferior Ministers answering to the Levites but they suffered no Priests or Levites of the order of Aaron to live amongst them Yet they had their Prophets also and Prophets Children or Scholars Their two chief Prophets extraordinary were Eliah and Elisha They had also their Elders who had power of Ecclesiastical censures but both Elders and people were ruled by the Prophets who recided in the chief Cities at last the ten Tribes lost both themselves and Church discipline when they were carried away by the Assyrians When Salmanasser carried away the Israelites into Assyria some remainders of them stayed behinde in their own country but being overpressed with multitudes of strangers sent thither to new plant the country the small number of the Ephramites left behind were forced to comply with the new inhabitants in their idolatrous religions now that the Israelites were not quite driven out of their native country may be seen in the History of Iosiah 2 Chron. 34. 6 7 33 2 Chron 35. 18. 2 Kings 23. 19 20. Q. Wherein did the outward splendor of the Iews Religion consist A. In the wealth and magnificence of their Temple which for the beauty riches and greatnesse thereof was one of the wonders of the world for besides the abundance of Iron work there was in it an incredible quantity of brasse silver and golden materials The great Altar the Sea or Caldron the Basis the two Pillars before the Temple the twelve Oxen the ten Lavers the Pots the Shovels the Basins and other Utinsels of the Temple were all of brasse 1 Kings 7. as for silver Iosephus tells us lib. 8. 9. that there were in the Temple ten thousand Candlesticks whereof most were silver wine Tankards eighty thousand silver Phials ten thousand two hundred thousand silver Trumpets forty thousand Snuffers or pot-hooks which he calls musical instruments besides incredible numbers of silver Plates and Dishes silver Tables and the Doors of silver This we know that David left seven thousand talents of refined silver for the Temple besides what Solomon added 1 Chron. 29. as for gold we read that the Oracle and Altar were overlayed with gold so were the Cherubins and the whole house overlaid with gold and the very floore also 1 Kings 6. besides the golden Altar Solomon made the Table whereon the shewbread was of gold the Candlesticks also with the flowers and lamps and tongs with the bowls snuffers basons spoons censers and hinges all of pure gold 1 Kings 7. I need not speak of the rich woods and pretious stones in the Temple The Contriver of this Fabrick was God himselfe the form of it was four square the Courts four one for the Gentiles another for the Israelites the third for women and the fourth for the Priests the Gentiles might not enter into the Israelites court for that was counted a prophanation of the Temple yet our Saviour who was frequently conversant in the court of the Gentiles accounted that a part of his Fathers house and the house of prayer and it was out of this Court that he whipped the buyers and sellers this was called Solomons porch Iohn 10. Acts 3. because in that place Solomon stood when he dedicated the Temple and used there to pray or because it stood undemolished by the Chaldeans when the rest of the Temple was destroyed In the Priests Court stood the Altar of burnt offerings and the brasen Sea In the Sanctuary called the Oracle because there God delivered his Oracles stood the Ark the Censer Propitiatory and Cherubines it had no light nor window in it hither the high Priest only had access and that but once a year where he burned incense so that he neither could see not be seen In the holy place which was also without windows there burned lights perpetually to represent the celestial lights but in the most holy there was no light at all to shew that all outward light is but darknesse being compared with that light which God inhabiteth and which no man can approach unto Within the Ark were the two Tables of the Law the pot with Manna and Aarons rod. The Tables and the rod represented Christs active and passive obedience the golden pot with Manna his two natures The Temple was built after the manner of the Tabernacle but that did far exceed this in stability magnitude glory and continuance In the Tabernacle were but
from Wine and strong drink and women and lie on skins Their Gymnosophists were Philosophers who accustomed their bodies to endure all hardnesse and their eyes to gaze on the Sun from morning to evening Of the Indian Religion see Alexander ab Alexandro Pliny Bâ—emus c. Q. What is the Religion of Siam A. This kingdome of the East-Indies except where the Moors inhabit and some Christians is also idolatrous But especially they worship the four Elements and accordingly there be four differâ—nt Sects Each one desireth to be buried in that element which he worshippeth hence some are buried some burned some hanged in the Ayr and some drowned in the Water They hold that God made all things that the good are rewarded and the wicked punished That each man hath two spirits waiting on him a good and a bad That the world shall stand 8000 yeers and then shall be burned into ashes whence shall come forth two eggs and out of them one man and one woman who shall again replenish the Earth Their religious Orders are so strict that it's death among them to speak to a woman They feed on Rice onely and herbs which they beg from door to door They must not buy nor sell nor take Rents They are tyed to rise at midnight to pray to their Idols They go still bare-footed and in poor cloaths Every King of this Country at his Coronation is bound to erect a Temple with high Steeples and multitudes of Idols Their priests go in yellow being a sacred colour resembling the Suns light They may not nourish any female thing not so much as a hen He that drinks Wine is stoned to death See the discourse of China Boterus Maginus and others Q. What is the Religion of Pegu A. The religious Ceremonies of this kingdom consisted in multitudes of Temples Images and begging preachers who are still preaching and begging Their Alms are brought to them in the Pulpits whilst they are preaching The people when they enter into their Churches at the dore wash their feet and by lifting up their hands to their heads salute the preacher first and and then the Sun When any enters into that Order of Talipâ—n or preacher he is first carried in solemnity about the streets on horse-back with Pipes and Drâ—ms then upon mens shoulders to his house which is without the Town They keep holy day every New-Moon They believe multitudes of gods worlds succeeding each other that this world hath been governed by four gods already who are gone the fift is not yet come after whose death the world shall be burned After this life they hold some shall live in carnal pleasure some in torment and others shall be aunihiarid They hold Transanimation and are bound to fast thirty days every year They know no women for whom they allow Nunneries The People drink the water wherein their Preachers wash themselves coâ—nting it holy They feed the Devil each morning with baskets of rice that he may not hurt them that day When they are sick they build him Altars and pacifâ—e him with flowers meat and musick Their Idols are honoured with divers festivals in which wax lights are burned all night and the gates stand open that all those may see and have accesse to the idol who bring presents with them Q. Of what Religion are the people of Bengala A. They are not content to worship the River â—ahges but to its image also they give divine honours The River is visited by many Pilgrims who think themselves happy if they can wash themselves in it If any can drink of the water thereof at the point of death he thinks presently by the vertue thereof to obtain heaven There is also a Well which they adore in If they wash away all their sins and are all clean both without and within if they wash in it and drink thereof They carry away the sand of this Well as a sacred Relique and in recompence leave flowers behind them in the Well For fear Ieast their idols should saint with too much heat there are some who with fans blow the wind for refrigeration All are bound to enter bareâ—ooted into the idol-Temples The more horrid and ugly the idol looks the more he is worshipped Sick people are brought and laid before the idols which are honoured with lights continually burning before them Their marriages are made in some Water wherein the Priest and the married couple hold a Cow with her Calfe by the taile and poure water upon it then the Priest tieth the maâ—ried persons cloaths together then going round about the Cow aud Calse the Ceremony is ended The Priest hath for his Fee the Cow and Calf the poor some Almes and the idols some Money About Iemena they use to pray naked in the water and to do pennance by lying flat on the ground 〈◊〉 the earth holding up their hands to the Sun and turning themselves about fourty times Who deâ—ire more of this stuff let them read Linschoten R. Fitzh 〈…〉 Q. Of what Religion is the kingdom of Magor A. They are for the most part Pythagoreans holding Transanimation they acknowledge one God but have many fabulous conceits of him as that he hath appeared in the world in divers monstrous shapes to wit of a Fish a Snail a Hog a Monster resembling Woman in the lower part and a Lyon in the upper They worship divers idols one chiefly representing a Woman with two heads and many hands to this image neâ—r the City Tahor repair many Pilgrims The King worshippeth every morning the image of the Sun and of Christ also the Son of righteousnesse which he sets on the crown of his head See Oranus in his Narration of Magor Q. What is the Reiigion of Cambaia A. The people here are so superstitiously Pythagoreans that there are among them some religious orders who are afraid to kill a Gnat or Worm They are much addicted to fasting and almes-giving Their religious persons called Verteus leave no hair on their heads and faces but a little on their crown They will not drink their water cold fearing least thereby they should slay the soul of the water which is quickened by boyling The people here redeem birds and beasts appointed to be slain and if any bird be sick or hurt they carry it to the Hospital They redeem also Malefactors condemned to dye and sell them for slaves For fear least they should tread upon Ants they will rather go out of the way then goe neer their Hills They drink no Wine nor will eat Eggs least there should be blood in them Neither will they eat of Radishes Onyons or any herb that hath red colour in it See Maffaeus Linschoten and Purchas Q. What is the Religion professed in Goa A. Here are Christians Jewes Mahumetans and Pagans who pray to the Sun and Moon and worship divers idols of horrible Aspects but their custome is to pray to the first thing they meet with
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
the house of Iacob for ever to this City of the Church shall the Kings of the earth bring their glory and honour in that day he that is feeble shall be like David and the house of David shall be as God See Isa. ch 2. ch 55. and ch 65. Ier. 16. Ezech. 21. Dan. 2. Zach. 12. Luke 1. Rev. 21 and many more places which speak of the Churches felicity under the Gospel but not a word of a millenarie Reign Q. 9. Wherein doth the vanity of the Millenaries opinion consist An. 1. In giving to Christ a temporall Kingdome of a thousand years whereas his Kingdome is eternall it shall stand fast for ever of his Kingdome shall be no end saith the angel 2. In giving him an earthly Kingdome whereas his Kingdome is heavenly My Kingdome saith he is not of this world It is not from hence it is within us 3. In making his Kingdome to consist in earthly pleasures in eating drinking fighting c. all which are directly against the nature of his Kingdome which as the Apostle saith Rom. 14. 17. Is not meat and drink but righteousnesse peace and joy of the Holy Ghost the end of his coming was to fight with no other weapon but with the two edged sword of his word proceeding out of his mouth he was the prince of peace the dove that brought the olive branch in his mouth he brought peace in his birth he preached peace in his life and recommended peace to us at his death and as Saint Austin saith pacem nobis reliquit iturus ad Patrem pacem nobis dabit perducturus ad patrem his peace he left with us and his peace he will bring again to us 4. In this their imaginary Kingdome they bring Christ down from heaven before his time for the heavens must contain him till the restitution of all things which cannot be till the last Judgement it is an Article of our Creed that Christ shall come down from heaven to judge the quick and the dead which shall not be till the last day 5. He is to sit at Gods right hand untill be hath made his enemies his footstâ—â—l Ps. 110. 1. But these men will bring him from thence before he hath obtained this conquest and triumph which is not to be obtained till the last day and consummation of all thing 6. They are injurious to Christ to bring him from his place and condition of glory to play the part of a butcher and executioner in murthering of men with the sword here on earth an office ill beseeming him and no wayes suitable to his glorious condition and mercy who came to save sinners and not to destroy them 7. The Scripture mentioneth no other Resurrection of the bodies but such as shall rise at the last day Iohn 6. 39 40 44. in the end of the world when he shall have delivered up the Kingdome to God 1 Cor. 15. 22. where we shall be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the aire and shall be ever with the Lord 1 Thes. 4. 15. but this Millenarie Resurrection is long before the last day and end of the world neither in it shall we be ever with the Lord if we are with him but a thousand years 8. The Scripture doth not speak of three comings of Christ but of two onely the first when he came in humility the second when he shall come in glory unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation Heb. 9. 28. let them shew us out of Scripture a third coming and we will believe them 9. Christ tells us Iohn 14. 2. that in his Fathers house that is in heaven are many mansions thither he is gone to prepare a place for us that where he is there we may bâ— but he is in heaven in his Fathers house there doth he prepare a place for us and not here upon earth for so we shall not be where he is but he will be where we are which is repugnant to his own words 10. They make the time of Christs second coming to Iudgement certain in affirming it shall be at the end of their thousand years but this is repugnant to Christs words who faith that his coming shall be sudden secret and unexpected like the coming of a thief in the night like the coming of Noahs stood or the fire of Sodom so that of that day and 〈◊〉 knoweth no man no not the angels in heaven nor Christ himself as he is man 11. Whereas the condition of Christs Church here on earth is mixed consisting of Saints and reprobates of sheep and goats of good and bad fishes of wheat and chaffe of corn and â—ares they give Christ such a Church as is without sinne or sinners as need no preaching nor Sacraments no Pastors and Jeachers no Advocate with the Father no Christ to appear for us in the presence of God and lastly such a Church as is not subject to persecution affliction sufferings and trouble all which is directly repugnant to Gods word and condition of the Church miâ—â—tant here which is subject both to infirmities and afflictions 12. Antichrist shall not be destroyed till Christs second coming to Iudgement as the Apostle sheweth 2 Thes. 2. 8. That Christ shall destroy him with the brightnesse of his comming but the millenaries will have him to be destroyed before the beginning of their thousand years which is flat against Scripture 13. They do exceedingly wrong the Martyrs in bringing their souls down from heaven where they have the fruition of God and his angels to reign here on earth and to enjoy carnall and sensuall pleasures the meanest of the Saints in heaven must be in a far better condition than the greatest martyr in this earthly Kingdome 14. The reward that is promised to the Saints after this life is not a Kingdome here on earth but the Kingdome of heaven a house made without hands eternall in the heavens a mansion in our heavenly Fathers house to sit with Christ in his throne to be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and to be ever with the Lord to be with Christ in Paradise to enjoy life eternall c. 15. Whereas they dream that Ierusalem shall be rebuilt and the Iewes shall reign in Iudea a thousand years with christ is directly also against Gods word which Ezech. 16. 53. 55. sheweth that the Iews shall be restored to their former estate when 〈◊〉 and Sodom shall be restored which will never be and Gen. 49. 10. The Scepter shall depart from Iuda when Sâ—iloh cometh Ierusalem saith Saint Hierom est in aetornos collapsa cineres fallen into everlasting ashes and never to rise again 16. Whereas they dream that in the millenarie Kingdome sacrifices circumcision and all other Iewish ceremonies shall be used 't is plainly to deny that christ ever came in the flesh or that he offered himself a propitiarory sacrifice to put an
sacerdos and in the Emperours of Rome that were also chief Pontifies and though Melchisedech was King and Priest and among the Iews Abraham was a Prince and a Priest Heli a Judge and a Priest the Machabees were Princes and Priests yet this was not ordinary for Abraham Melchisedech Heli were Types of Christ the Machabees by usurpation undertook both governments but ordinarily these Offices were distinct among the Iews therefore Moses who gave Lawes concerning the Priesthood did not exercise it himself neither did Ieshua David nor Salomon but on the contrary Saul and Vzziah were severely punished for medling with the Priests Office Saul for offering sacrifice lost his Kingdome and Vzziah was struck with Leprosie but among Christian these Officers are much more distinct for Christs Kingdome is not of this world and the Ministry is burden enough without other addition who is sufficient for it saith the Apostle besides it is Christs prerogative to be alone King and Priest of his Church Yet so far may the Magistrate meddle with the Ministry as to reform what is amisse both in their life and Doctrine examples hereof we have in Iehosaphat Ezechia and Iosiah and in Salomon too who deposed Abiathar the Priest Q. Was the Presbytery in use among the Iews A. Yes for besides the Civill Judicature which by Moses his appointment consisted of 70. men and had its seat in the City gates there was a spirituall or Ecclesiastick judicature kept in the Synagogues which judged of things holy and clean and discerned between holy and profane clean and unclean things and declared the Statutes of God and because of the Scribes among them they decided matters of their Civil Law Levit. 10. 10. This judicature consisted of Priests and Levites as also of the chief Fathers of Israel which we may call Lay or ruling Elders as we may see 2. Chroâ— 19. 8. Ichosaphat did not onely restore and reform from the Civil Courts called Sanhedrim in each City the chiefest whereof was at Ierusulem but also he reformed the Presbyteries or Ecclesiastick judicatures as may be seen there placing Amariah the chief Priest over these but Zâ—badiah ruler or Prince of the house of Iuda over the Synedria or Civil affairs called there verse 11 the Kings matters because the King was chief over these Courts as the High-Priest over the Presbyteries but afterward through the corruption of time These Courts were confounded and the Presbyteries did not onely judge de jure as anciently they used but also de facto even of life and death as in the time of the Mathaâ—ees but under the Romans this power was taken from them for they neither could put Christ nor Paul to death as for Stephen he was stoned not by the sentence of the Court but in a popular tumult Q. How are these two Courts named in the New Testament A. The Civil Court is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Councell the Ecclesiastick Court is named the Synagogue Mat. 10. 17. The chief of the Synagogue was the High-Priest but of the Councel was the Judge Deut. 17. 12. Ieremâ—ah was condemned by the Synagogue Ier. 26. 8. but absolved by the Councel or secular Judges in the Gate verse 16. Q. Why are Ministers called Presbyters and Bishops but not Priests in the New Testament A. Because they were to be put in mind of their dignity and Function which consisteth in the care and inspection of their stcok not in offering of sacrifice which was the proper work of the Priest but ceased when Christ our propitiatory sacrifice was offered besides Christ would reserve this prerâ—gative to himself in being the onely Priest of the New Testament not after the order of Aaron which ended when he was sacrificed but after the order of Melchisedech which was in him to continue for ever without successor Therefore the Ministers of the New Testament are no otherwise Priests then they are Kings but these titles are common to all Christians who by Christ are made Kings and Priests to God the Father Q. How are Ministers to be elected A. They must be examined whether they be apt to teach and well reported of by them who are without Therefore Tiâ—â—othy must not lay hands suddenly on any man 1. Tim. 5. 22. and 3. 7. Secondly the Bishop or Pastor must be chosen by all the Bishops or Pastors of the Province or by three at least as it was ordained by the Councel of Nice Canon 4. Thirdly the election of the Minister must be made known to the people as we may see in the sixth Canon of the Councel of Chalcedon Fourthly the people must give their approbation Acts 6. 5. therefore Saint Austin Epist. 110. presented his succcessor Eradiâ—s to the people for their consent Fifthly there must be imposition of hands a custome used not onely in the Christian Church 1. Tim 4. 14. and 5. verse 18. 〈◊〉 also among the Iews Num. 27. 18. Deut. 34. 9. Sixthly in the Reformed Churches the other Ministers give to him that is elected the hand of fellowship as Iaâ—s Peter and Iohn gave to Paul Gal. 2. Seventhly the new elected Minister subscribes the confession of faith and discipline of the Church which custome was used in the Churches of Africa Q. Are Romish Priests converted to our Church to be re-ordained A. There is no necessity of a new ordination for though their commission in the Church of Rome 〈…〉 the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist yet they were ordained to preach the Word and to administer the Sacraments Which ordination is not nullified when they shake off the errors of Doctrine and preach the Wâ—â—d in purity 〈…〉 their ordination originally from the Pope or his subordinate Bishop but from Christâ— neither must their Oath taken in ordination to maintain the Romish Doctrine hinder them from preaching the Word in purity for an unlawfull Oath must not be kept Therefore Luther and others who forsook the errors of Rome received no new ordination Q. Had the Presbytery power to excommunicate A. Yes and not the Bishop alone for Paul would not by himself excommunicate the incestuous Corinthian without the Presbytery or the Church gathered together 1. Cor. 5. 4. for indeed the whole congregation should have notice given them of the Excommunication that they may avoid the party exommunicated Q. Vpon what is this power grounded A. Upon Gods own practice who excommunicated Adam out of Paradise and Cain from his presence 2. Upon his command who prohibited the unclean from entring the Temple till they were purified and from eating the Passeover or commercing with Gods people who commanded every soul not circumcised the eigth day to be cut off from the people 3 Upon Christs words Whomsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven 4. Upon Christs counsel forbidding to give that which is holy to dogs â—rto cast pearls before swine 5. Upon the Apostles practise Peter excommunicated Simon Magus in keeping him off
leaving their dennes broke into the City without any controll and with an unanimous violence assaulting the Market place they soon possessed themselves of the Palace and the Magazine sentencing with loud conclamations and such as required a greater voyce then that of Stentor that all were to be destroyed as so many Heathens and Reprobates that did not embrace Anabaptisme In this tumult a certain young man of Burchstenford was killed This gave occasion both to the Papists and to those of the Reformation to provide for their safety The chiefest Patrons of the Anabaptistical Heresy were Bernard Rotman Iohn Buckhold Bernard Knipperdoling Gerard Knippenburch Bernard Krachting c. These two parties having skirmished with as great eagernesse and animostly as greater armies exasperated one against another for some dayes there followed a Truce whereby it was agreed that every one should quietly enjoy and persever in his own Religion However the surges of Anabaptisme were not yet laid till they had entered into a conspiracy to drive those of the Reformation out of the City The most eminent of the Conclave writ to the Anabaptists of the Cities adjoyning viz. to these of Dâ—â—men Coesvelt Soyst Warendorp and Osenburg that leaving all things behind them they should repair with all speed to Munster promising they should have ten-fold what ever they left Being enticed by these propâ—â—â—â—ns husbands and wives leaving all behinde them 〈◊〉 in swarmes to Munster A great number of the more religious â—nhabitants looking on that strange rabble as an insufferable grievance to their City left it to the disposal of the Anabaptists who being by this meanes increased in number became also more extravagant degraded the Senate and chose another out of themselves wherein were Consuls Gerard Knippenburg and Bernard Kniperdeling whose Effigies is the ensuing BERNARD KNIPPERDOLING Quò non fastus abit quid non Rex impius audet Carnificem fecit qui modò Consulerat BEing now become Lords and Masters they in the first place seized on Maurice Church and burnt it and the houses all about it thence falling forcibly upon other holy places and Monasteries they carried away Gold Silver Ornaments and Utensils and whatsoever else was of any consequence Upon the fourth day after those rapines trudging up and down the streets and high-wayes they with a horrible howling uttered Repent Repent to which they added Depart depart be gone ye wicked otherwise woe be to you This done they immediately went armed in multitudes and with unspeakable barbarisme and cruelty turned out their miserable fellow-citizens as enemies to their Religion out of their houses and possessions and thrust them out of the City without any consideration of age or sexe so that many women with child had this misfortune seconded with that of dangerous abortions The Anabaptists presently by what right they please seize to themselves the possessions of the banished so that the honest and godly party being cast out of the City fell into the hands of the souldiers who had block'd up the City and all the avenues as among enemies by whom some were taken others unadvisedly killed at which entreaty the other honester part of citizens being discouraged and seeing that guilty and not guilty fared alike would not stirre a foot out of the City which being closely besieged by the Bishops Army all places were filled with blood â—ighâ— â—eares Now do the mad men of Munster and such as no Helleboâ—e can have any effect on grow insufferably insolent and above all that great Prophet Iohn Mathias of whom we have spoken before But that sally of his out of the City those of Munster looked on as a great Omen of their destruction thought that the unexpected death of that most holy man did signify that some great calamity did hang over their heads But Iohn Buckhold must be his successor a lid fit for the other pot who addressing himself to the people comforted them perswading them that they ought not to mourn for that unlooked for miscarriage of the Prophet for that it had long before been revealed to him and withall that he should marry his widow Upon Easter Eve they fell upon all the Churches and places of devotion about the City and pulled down all the brasse works Some few dayes after Bernard Knipperdoling prophesied that all the chiefest men ought to be disqualified and degraded and that the poor and the humble were to be exalted He also declared that it was the command of the divine Oracle that all Churches should be demolished which indeed was sufficiently performed The very same day Iohn Buckhold putting into the hands of Bernard Knipperdoling the Executioners sword conferred on him withall his employment and that according to Gods command so that he who had discharged the office of a Consul was now to execute that most dishonourable employment of a common executioner This most excellent condition he cheerfully accepted By this time had the City been besieged some moneths by the Bishops forces when resolving to 〈◊〉 it they lost both Gentlemen Commission Officers others to the number of about four thousand upon which they quitted all hope of taking it by force Some few dayes after Whitsuntide the City being notwithstanding the dis-execution of that assault still besieged was wholy taken up to rest and imaginary dreams wherein there were spent three whole days which done THE ANABAPTIST being awaken acted the part of Zacharias Iohn Baptist's father for pretending to be dumb he desired to have a Table-book wherein he wrote down the names of twelve men who should be as it were the twelve Elders of Israel and should administer all things at Munster as if it were the New Ierusalem and this he affirmed that he was commanded to do from heaven By this brokery did this crafty knave chalk out his way to that soveraign dignity whereof he was so ambitious But in the mean time consider by what a strange Stitch this excellently wicked Botcher did utterly dis-repute that Magistrate whom God had ordained and by the assistance of most illusive dreams his own excellency of playing the impostor he possessed himself of that dignity A while after our Prophet advanced certain conclusions tending to the allowance of Polygamy whereat the Ecclesiasticks made some opposition but afterwards were content to sit still So that not long after the Prophet at one bouâ— took to him three wives whereof the most eminent was the widow of the deceased Prophet Io. Mathias and whom he afterwards dignified with the title of Queen This example of Kingship some other knaves like himself did without any difficulty admit but divers of the more godly citizens looking on this thing with the greatest indignation that might be repairing to the Market place laid hands on the Prophet Knipperdoling which occasioning the people to take up arms they set upon those citizens in the palace and having taken them they delivered
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