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
changed Lots Wife into a Pillar of Salt and Nebuchadnezzar into a beast Satan hath no power over celestial bodies though he be Prince of the Aire he cannot create nor do these things which God hath reserved for himselfe Therefore when we hear of men transformed into beasts or raised from the dead and such like miracles as exceed the course and activity of nature we may be assured these are not true miracles but Satanical delusions especially if they be done to confirme errour wickednesse and superstition for the end of all true and divine miracles are to establish truth and holinesse Therefore when we read of bringing down the Moon of driving the Stars backward and such like impossibilities beleeved among the Gentiles we must conclude they were meer delusions of Satan Such were those wonders adscribed to Simon Magus of making images to walk of turning stones into bread of being transformed into a Sheep Goat and Serpent of raising souls from the dead and such like stuffe all these were meer jugling tricks and Satanicall deceptions Q. But why are we so afraid of Satans Stratagems seeing the most of them are but illusions A. This fear in us proceeds partly from the guilt of our own conscience for Adams sin brought fear both on himselfe and on his posterity therefore after he had fallen he confesseth that as soon as he heard the voice of God in the Garden he was afraid and so we his children do often times fear where no fear is and are afraid sometimes at our own shadows or at the shaking of a leafe Partly this fear proceeds from want of faith which Christ reproved in his Apostles who when they saw Jesus walking in the night time on the Sea they were afraid thinking they had seen a Spirit Besides the implacable hatred of Satan against mankind his delight he taketh in affrighting and hurting us either in our persons or in our estates that irreconcilable enmity which is between the Serpent and the Womans seed is a great cause of this fear in us Lastly we are naturally fearful in the dark because our imagination worketh upon it self having no outward object to divert it hence Satan who is the Prince of darknesse useth the opportunity of the night to hurt or to delude us thus he affrighteth us in the dark in our houses with strange apparitions motions and sounds whence some houses have blin said to be hanted with Spirits So in the night he affrighteth travellers with ignis fatuus or jack in the candle as we call it which though it be a natural Meteor yet Satan can move it to and fro purposely to draw travellers into precipices or waters So in the night time he affrighteth mariners at Sea by insinuating himself into these fiery Meteors which like candles or balls of fire run up and down the ship these were deified by the old Pagans if one single flame appeared they called it Helena and held it an ominons fign of destruction as she was to Trâ—y if there were two they named them Castor and Pollux and placed their statues in their ships as we read Act. 28. And Sea men use to tell us of many strange sights and apparitions they have seen in the Ocean Satan also useth to affright men in Churches and Church yards in the dark by representing to their phantasie the shape of dead men in their winding sheets in the night also strange voices and sounds are heard neer deep waters or rivers which are taken as presages of some shortly to be drowned there the like I have heard my selfe and have found the event to fall out accordingly for one day travelling before day with some company neere the River Don by Aberden we heard a great noise and voices call to us I was going to answer but was forbid by my company who told me they were spirits which never are heard there but before the death of some body which fell out too true for the next day a gallant Gentleman was drowned with his horse offering to swim over It is strange what Plutarch writeth of the voice which from the shoare called upon Thamus the Egyptian ship-Master who then had cast Anchor at Praxeae telling him that the great god Pan was dead Though the night Mare which is called Incubus and Succubus be a natural disease as Physitians know yet Satan hath often times made use of this infirmitie to abuse the bodies of men and womâ—n in their sleep By all which we see his malice against mankinde and the causes of our fear which hath wrought so powerfully among the ignorant Pagans that they have planted their whole Religion in the worshipping of these evil spirits for their gods were none other as Porphyrie she â—eth l. 2. de abstinen l. 2. de sacrificio For saith he These wicked Spirits delight in shedding of blood in filthy and obscene speeches exhorting men to lust vice wickednesse and flagitious actions c. they perswade men that the supreame God delighteth in such impieties c. Q Since the Stratagems and illusions of Satan are so many what is our duty in this case A. Our duty is 1. To be assured that nothing can come to pasâ—e but by the providence of our Heavenly Father who hath numbred the hairs of our heads and hath Satan in a chain so that without permission he could neither afflict Iob in his person children nor cattel nor durst he enter into the herd of swine without leave from Christ. 2. Let us remember what Christ hath promised to wit that he will be with us to the end of the world and if he be with us who can be against us Christ came to destroy the works of the Devil to cast out the strong man and to tread down Satan under our feet he hath promised not to leave us Orphans he is the good Shepherd that laid down his life for his sheep which he holdeth so fast that no man shall take them out of his hand his name is Emanuel God with us He was amongst his Apostles Luke 24. when they were assembled together and in great fear and so he will be in the midst of two or three gathered together in his name He is the watchman of Israel that neither slumbers nor sleeps therefore with David let us lie down and take our rest for he will make us to live in safety Though we walk through the vally of the shadow of death let us fear no evil because the Lord is with us Let us not be moved because he is at our right hand he is our buckler and our exceeding great reward therefore let us not feare 3. Let us put on the whole Armour of God chiefly the shield of faith that we may quench all the fiery darts of the Devil and let us fight against Satan as Christ did with the sword of the spirit which is the word of God Let us resist the Devil and he will flee from us 4. We must
a Bishop for if Presbyters had been distinct from Bishops Paul would not have left them unsaluted for why should he salute the Deacons and not thâ— Presbyters which are a higher degree Quest. Why were the Pastors called Bishops and Presbyters A. To put them in mind of their duty and dignity for the word Episcopus or Bishop signifieth the care inspection and oversight which they should have of mens souls in guiding instructing and feeding them with the Word and Sacraments Presbyter signifieth the age dignity and experience that ought to be in Ministers whose grave carriage wisdome and knowledge should procure reverence of the people to that high calling and obedience to their Doctrine Q. Are young men then fit to be made Presbyters oâ— Bishop A. No except there be extraordinary gifts in them as were in Timothy or in extream necessity when grave and ancient men cannot be found Temeritas florentis aelatis prudentia sinectutes Young men are rash inconstant head strong proud inconsiderate and indiscreet in their words and carriage for the most part which hath brought this high calling into obloquie and contempt They have not that experience wisdome gravity and knowledge that are in old men nor are they Masters of their passions and affections and how are they fit overseers of others who cannot oversee themselves a young Presbyter is a contradiction and a young Bishop is incongruous Young and green heads have been the cause of so much distemper so many Heresies and schismes in the Church of Christ Therefore little hope there is that ever peace Religion and truth shall flourish in that Church where giddy young men are Bishops or Presbyters and hot-spurs or green heads are preferred to gray hairs ancient Divines are fittest to serve the ancient of dayes Q. But if Paul constituted Presbyters and Deacons in all the Churches which be planted why doth he not salute them as he did these of Philippi A. For brevities sake he oftentimes omits them thinking it sufficient to have saluted the Church in generall in which they are included being members thereof Q. Is not the degree of Bishops higher than that of Presbyters A. Sometimes to avoid heresie schismes and troubles in the Church the Presbyters have chosen one of their own society to precede or oversee the rest but this was onely in some places and at some times and rather an ecclesiastick custome than a divine tradition saith Hierom. Q. But why did Paul besides his custome salute the Deacons at Philippi A. Because by Epaphroditus they had sent him relief therefore he would particularly thank them besides he would shew that under these two names of Presbyter and Deacon is contained the whole Ministry of the Church the Presbyter caring for the things of the soul the Deacon for the things of the body Q. What doth the ward Deacon signifie A. A Minister or servant for so the Magistrate is called Rom. 13. a Deacon or Minister Paul calls himself the Deacon of the Gospel Eph. 5. and he calls Christ the Deacon of Circumcision Rom. 15. but this word is appropriated to him that hath the charge of the poor and strangers in collecting and laying out the Church money for their relief Such were those seven mentioned Acts â— and as Christ had twelve Apostles so one of them to wit Iudas was a Deacon for he kept the bag Q. Were there in the Church preaching Presbyters onely A. No there were also ruling Elders of which Paul speaketh 1. Tim. 5. 1â— Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine for the preaching Presbyters thought it too great a burthen to preach and to have the inspection of mens manners therefore they desired some of the Laity to assist them whom they called ruling Elders Q. What difference is there between a Minister and a Deacon A. The Greek word signifieth both promiscuously but we have appropriated the word Minister to a preacher and the word Deacon to the Overseer of the poore Q. How doth it appear that Presbyter and Bishop was the same A. Because the Apostle Phil. 1. salutes the Bishops of Philippi but in one Town there is onely one Bishop usually so called So Acts 20. having called together the Presbyters he bids them take heed to the stock whereof the Holy Ghost hath made them Bishops And leaving Titus at Crete to establish Presbyters sheweth that a Bishop must be without reproof Q. Have there not been sometimes two Bishops in one Town A. We read in Sozomen l. 4. c. 14. that the Bishops assembled at Sirmium wrote to Foelix and the Clergy of Rome to admit of Liberius as an assistant Bishop to Foelix but the Councel of Nice forbids two Bishops to be in one City Can. 8. Q. Why do not the Reformed Churches now call our Ministers by the name of Bishops and Priests A. Because these Offices have been abused in Popery the one to pride and tyranny the other to superstition and idolatry Q. May a man exercise the office of Presbyter or Bishop without a calling A. No for no man takes upon him this office but he that is called of God as Aaron was Vzza was struck with sudden death for his rash touching of the Ark 2. Sam. 6. God complains of those Prophets that run and yet were not sent Ier. 23. and how can such preach if they be not sent Rom. 10. Leprâ—sie shall seize upon King Uzziah if he stretch out his hand to touch the Ark 2 Chron. 26. Christ himself spoke not of himsel nor was his Doctrine his own but his that sent him Iohn 5 7. Q. How must a man be called A. First Internally by the Spirit moving his heart and furnishing him with graces fit for so high a Calling Secondly Externally by the Church to which twofold calling we must yield obedience and not resist and run from it as Ionah did Q. How shall we know the inward call of the Spirit from the stattering concept of our Fancies A. If we are called by the Spirit we have no other ends but Gods glory and the salvation of souls we seek Christ for his miracles not for his loaves we will not trust to our own strength learning or eloquence but will disclaim our own sufficiency with the Apostle will accuse our own uncircumcised and defiled lips with Mosâ—s and Esay and will rely onely upon the goodnesse and promise of God who will give us wisdome and will put in our mouths what we shall speak Quest. How many sorts of callings are there in the Church A. Two to wit Extraordinary as that of the Apostles Evangelists and Prophets and Ordinary as the callings of Presbyters or Bishops of preaching Prophets or Pastors and of Deacons Q. Can both these callings be in one maâ— A. Yes for Ieremy and Ezechiel were ordinary Priests and Levites yet were extraordinary Prophets So Luther had an ordinary Function in the
of Christ upon the Earth 51. That none are damned but for rejecting the Gospel 52. That now many Christians have more knowledge then the Apostles had 53. That miracles necessarily attend the Ministry 54 That there ought to be no Churches built nor should men worship in consecrated places 55. That the Apostles were ignorant of the salvation to be revealed in the last days 56. That all men ought to have liberty of conscience and of prophesying even women also 57. That circumcision and the old covenant was onely of things temporal 58. That Paedobaptisme is unlawful and impious and that others besides Ministers may baptise and that a man may be baptised often 59. That the people should receive the Lords Supper with their hats on but the Ministers in giving it should be uncovered 60. That the Church of England is Antichristian 61. That there is no divine right to call or make Ministers that Ministers should work for their living and that Tythes are Antichristian 62 â—hat Christians are not bound to observe the Lordâ— day and that we should observe still the old Sabbath 63. That humane learning and premeditation is uselesse to preaching and that preaching should onely confist in disputing reasoning and conferring 64. That the Saints must not joyn in prayer with wicked men not receive the Sacrament with them nor with any member of the Church of England 65. That â—ublick prayers are not to be used but by such as have an inâ—allible Spirit as the Apostles had 66. That set hours of prayer are needlesse 67 That singing of Davids Psalmes or other holy songs except they be of their own making are unlawful 68. That wicked men ought not to pray at all 69. That all government in the Church ought to be civil not Ecclesiastical 70 That the power of the keyes is as well in six or seven gathered together as in the greatest congregation 71. That neither miracles nor visions nor anointing the sick with oyl are ceased 72. That in these days many are with Paul rapt up into the third Heaven 73 That the Magistrate is not to meddle with matters of Religion nor forms of Church government which if they do they are not to be obeyed 74. That there ought to be a community of Goods seeing all the Earth is the Saints 75. That a man upon slight causes may put away his wife and that one man may have two wives 76. That children ought not at all to obey their parents if wicked 77. That parents should not instruct their children but leave them to God 78. That Christians ought not to maintain Religion by the sword nor to fight for their lives and liberties noâ— to fight at all nor to kil any thing nay not a chicken for our use 79. That it stands not with Gods goodness to damn his own creatures eternally 80. That i'ts unlawful for a Christian to be a Magistrate 81. That man lost no more by Adams fall then the rest of the whole creation 82 That Christ hath not purchased eternal life for man more then for the rest of the creation and that he offered up himselfe a full and perfect sacrifice not only for man but for all that man kept even the whole creation 83. None are sent to hell before the last judgment 84. It is not the Law but the Gospel which threatens us with Hell fire 85. If God shew not mercy to all he is not infinite 86. Christians are not bound to meet one day in seven for publick worship 87. The Saints are justified not by Christs obedience but by the essential righteousness of God 88. A woman committeth not adultery in lying with another man if her husband be a sleep 89. That the Saints may put away their unbeleeving wives or husbands 90. There is no other seale but the Spirit the Sacraments are no seales at all 91. The Magistrate may not put to death a murtherer being a member of the Church till first he be cast out of the Church 92. The promises belong to sinners as sinners and not as repenting sinners 93. Apocrypha books are canonical Scripture 94. To use set forms of prayer even the Lords prayer is Idolatry 95. Bells Churches and Church-yards preaching in Pulpits in Gowns by an hour-glasse the names of our months and days are all idolatry 96. That the Apostles Creed is to be rejected as erroneous 97. That there ought to be no other laws among Christians but the judicial Law of Moses and that the Magistrate hath no legislative power at all 98. That all Learning Schools Universities Arts Degrees are to be rejected as pernicious 99. That Angels and Devils are not substances but meer qualities and that mens soules are but terrestrial vapours perishing with the bodies 100. That some in this life are perfect without all sin and need not pray for pardon 101. That in God there is some composition and corporiety and mutability also 102. That Christ took not his flesh of the Virgin Mary but that his body was created without all consanguinity with the first Adam 103. That God doth personally subsist in every creature 104. That the world is eternal 105. That the Lords Supper may be celebrated in Inns rather then Churches and that in the end of a feast 106. That the Devils have no sinne But I will leave these Divels though I could mention many more but that it delights not my selfe nor can it the Reader to be raking in such filthy mire and dirt These are some of the poysonous weeds which have too much of late infested our English Garden I mean the Church once admired both at home and abroad for the beauty of her Doctrine and Disciplin and envied of none but ignorants or men of perverse minds The Poet bewailing the ruins of Troy said Seges ubi Troi a fuit Corn grows where Troy stood but I may sadly complain that in stead of corn that is sound and wholsom doctrine which should be the food of our souls now grows Tares and Weeds that choak the good word with which we were formerly fed and might have been unto a life of glory everlasting if we had therein abode But least I should bring thee into danger by giving thee onely a fight of these Rocks and Precepices to prevent that I shall commend to thy serious perusal Master Wollebius his Abridgement of Christian Divinity which for the good of my country men I Englished Enlarged and cleared in obscure places and have now fitted for a second impression A book worthy to be written in Letters of gold and imprinted in the heart of every good Christian The knowledge therein contained by prayer and through the assistance of Gods spirit will root and establish the in every good word and work to the comming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ which God of his infiniâ—e mercy grant The Contents of the Thirteenth Section The Doctrine of the Church of Rome concerning the Scriptures 2. Their tenets concerning predestination
the Prophet and the Ecclesiasticks out of their hands Nine and forty of the said citizens were after a most barbarous manner put to death Hereupon the Prophet cried out that all those who should do any violence to those enemies of God should do God a very high peice of service whence it came to passe that some were torn in peices with Hooks and not a few killed by Knipperdoling himself Upon the four and twentieth of Iune which is the day of the Nativity of Iohn Baptist in the year one thousand five hundred thirty four at Munster or rather Monster for so may that place be called from the monstrous and portentous pullulation of Anabaptists there sprung from Hell another new Prophet one Iohn Tuysentschreuer a Goldsmith of Warendorp The people being generally summoned to the Market place this man acquainted them that the most holy Prophet Iohn Buckhold of Leiden was to be exalted to Kingly Dignity and that he should inherit the eternal seat of his Father David and should possesse it with farre greater Majesty Having prophecied these things Buckhold kneeling down confirmed all saying that so much had been revealed to him from God the Father ten dayes before though it was against his inclination to undertake the difficulties of Government The common people being astonished at this extravagant piece of villany tore their hair as they went yet however some might smell out the cheat fear was able to stifle all murtering For this Beast fatten'd for destruction having been very successeful in some encounters had now assum'd what Authority he pleased Behold he that at Leiden was but a Botcher is made King at Munster Iohn Buckhold is invested with all the Regalia of supreme Authority Having hereupon immediately degraded the twelve Counsellours of State according to the wonted manner he constitutes a Viceroy a Controller of his houshold four Huissers or common Cryers a Noble man a Chancellour Cup-bearers Carvers and Tasters and Master-builders and disposed of all other offices as Princes use to do The Kingly robes were some made of waterd stuffes some made of silk some of pure silk some scarlet some made more sumptuous with the Gold of the Ornaments which the sacriledge had furnished him with so that it can hardly be expressed how artificially how gallantly how indeed Emperor-like they were interwoven being embroyder'd with gold edg'd scollop'd and dispos'd into divers colours His spurs were gilt with gold and he had two Crownes of solid gold and a golden scabbard The King walking in these ornaments two young men in a Courtly and magnificent habit one of each side of him accompanied him whereof one carried a naked sword the handle whereof glister'd with gold and precious stones the other held up the holy Bible together with a golden Crown shining with most excellent pearls A certain jewel dazeling the beholders with the bright sparkling of a Diamond and whereat was hanged a golden apple to represent as it were the world wounded through with two swords a cross hang'd at his neck His Scepter was set forth with three golden incirculations His Nobles who were eight and twenty in number clad in green and ashie coloured garments and having on white Turbants accompani'd him The Kings title was THE KING OF IVSTICE THE KING OF THE NEW IERVS ALEM In the Market place there was erected a Throne for him of three steps high which when the King sate in it was adorned with ornaments of more then Attalick sumptuousnesse Some money he caused to be coin'd whereon was this Latin Inscription VERBVM CARO FACTVM QVOD HABITAT IN NOBIS that is The word made flesh which dwelleth in us The City being all this while besieg'd the Prophets and the Doctors published the book call'd THE RESTITVTIONS wherein they endeavoured to defend that monstrous I would say Munstrous and seditious tumult and all those almost infinite inconveniences that were consâ—quent to it but to prevent that poysonous Hydra a Gospel antidote was prescrib'd In the moneth of August about S. Bartholomew's day Iohn Tuysentschreuer went sounding a â—rumpet through all the streets thereby inviting all to the Lords Palace where there being a sumptuous feast prepared he magnificently entertained all that came The King himself the Queen and all the Courtiers waited on them At the last course he gave to every one a loaf of unleavened bread saying Take eat and celebrate the Lords death which done the Queen in like manner carried about the Cup by which ceremony the Supper of the Lord or rather that Scean of pleasure wantonness and temerity was certainly very frolickly celebrated Hunger being banished farre enough by this feast the Prophet Tuysentschreuer goes up to preach requiring of them obedience and complyance with the word of God whereunto with one head and as with one eye they unanimously consented This obtained he acquaints them that it was revealed from the heavenly Father that eight and twenty Ecclesiasticks should depart out of this City that should preach our doctrine throughout the world whose names he recommended and designed the wâ—y they were to take their journey that is to say six for Osenburg as many for Warendorp eight for Soyst for which quarter he himself was one and the rest for Coesveld These exercises performed the King went to Supper and at the second watch of the night caused the forementioned Apostles to take their journey giving unto each of them a peece of gold with this charge that neglecting their own safety they should deposit it for a note and testimony of consequent condemnation wherever they bestowed it They went their Wayes and never returned again all having except one who escaped the Gallows met with punishments corespondent to their sedition For being entred the fore-recommended Cities they in a direful manner howl'd out their Repent repent the axe is laid to the root of the Tree if you repent not and be rebaptized woe be to you ye are undone But the several Senates of the said Cities caused them to be apprehended and brought before them to give an account of themselves who answered That they were divine Preachers of the Gospel called and sent by God and that all those who would receive their doctrine must be baptized and that all things were to be made common but to those that should neglect these things they were to leave the golden coin of eternal damnation Nay further That the Gospel had not been preached as it should have been since the times of Christ and the Apostles but that there were two Prophets the Progeny of truth it self slip'd down as it were from Heaven viz. Iohn of Leyden and David George born at Delph in the Low-countries that there were many false Prophets that is to say the Pope of Rome and Martin Luther of Wittemberg who was worse then the Pope Being taken and cast into Irons they were asked by what Right
appease that tumult got secretly away But before they were all departed one of them called Drewjis whom they called Doctor Nucius out of pâ—re spight laying hold of the Father being sick in his bed thundred to him in these words Thou villain thou fruit and groanings of the Gallows where where is now your governing and authority now the time of prayers is past c. Having drag'd him out of bed by head and shoulders they with some assistance bound him with cords and delivered him to the custody of the Mistresse of the house to be safely kept till night In the mean time the valiant Charles surrounds the house with his men and besieged it which the woman seeing cut the cords Being loose he takes a trident fork wherewith assaulting them as with a sword he put to flight forty men through other houses whom he hastily pursuing was unawares surprised by others and brought to Groeninghen But behold the miracle to that very place where this naked of all truth Messias with his forky Scepter and this Shoemaker or Cobler beyond his Last had with his Trident put so many to flight did the water-dreading Anabaptists resort and render unto God infinite thanks for the religious priviledges thereof Of this lewd Messias who was now well acquainted with the fetters of Groeninghen it was asked in his torments whether those routs of whom he was ring-leader were out of pretence of saâ—ctity raised to robbe the publick treasuries as many thought which yet as some say was denied For he hardening himself against even the most cruel torments could be inflicted on him still cried out Destroy destroy destroy Monkes Popes kill all Magistrates and particularly our own In the midst of these bawlings being miserably worried out he gave up the Ghost THEODORuS SARTOR Quis quaeso hic Sartor 〈…〉 erit ille Quî rogo Ceruentis domine dignus erat THE CONTENTS THEODOR the Botcher turnes Adamite he affirmes strange things his blasphemy in forgiving of sins he burns his cloathes c. and causeth his companions to do the like He and his rabble goe naked through Amsterdam in the dead of night denouncing their woes c. and terrifie the people They are taken and imprisoned by the Burgheâ—s but continue shamelesse May 5. 1535. they are put to death some of their last words IN the year of our Lord one thousand five hundred thirty and five upon the third of February at Amsterdam in a street called Salar street at the house of Iohn Siâ—rid a cloth-worker who at that time was gone into Austria about some businesse there 〈◊〉 â—even 〈…〉 and five women of the same perswasion of which flock the Bell-weather was Theodoruâ— Sartor who rapt into a strange enthusiasme and 〈◊〉 stretching himself upon the ground stark-naked upon his back before his brethren and sisters seemed to pray unto God with a certain religious dread and horrour Having ended his prayers he affirmed that he had beheld God with his eyes in the excessive and inefâ—â—ble 〈◊〉 of his glory and that he had had communication with him both in heaven and in hell and that the day of his judgement was at hand After which he said to one of his companions Thou art decreed to eternal 〈◊〉 and shalt be cast into the bottomless pit at 〈◊〉 the other cried out The Lord God of Mercy 〈…〉 passion on me the Prophet said to him be of good 〈◊〉 now art thou the sonne of God thy sins are forgiven thee Upon the eleventh day of February the foresaid year the persons aforementioned unknown to their husbands repaired to the same Augias's stable This Prophet or Seer having entertained them with a Sermon of three or four hours long casts a helmet a brest plate a sword and other armes together with all his cloathes into the fire Being thus stark naked and his companions who yet had their cloaths being uncovered he peremptorily commanded them to do the like as being such as must be as safe as himself He further affirmed that the children of God ought to look upon all things of this world with contempt and indignation And since Truth which is most glorious in her nakednesse will not admit the deformity of any earthly disguise whatsoever he affirmed that they ought in all things to conform themselves to that example of Truth and Justice A great many hearing these things having quite cashier'd all 〈◊〉 offered up their shirts smocks and petticoats and whatsoever 〈◊〉 of earth as a burnt-offering unto God The Mistresse of the house being awaken by the stink which these cloathâ— made in burning and going up into the upper chambers she findes this deplorable 〈◊〉 of immodesty and impudence but the 〈…〉 influence of propheticall integrity 〈…〉 to that passe that she was drawn in 〈…〉 in the same â—ire of 〈…〉 he advised to continue alwayes a constant 〈…〉 to the unblameable truth Going out of the house in this posture about three of the clock the 〈…〉 and women marched barefoot after him crying 〈◊〉 with a horrid voyce Woe woe woe the heavy wrath of 〈◊〉 the heavy wrath of God c. In this fanatick errour 〈…〉 hypocondriack rabble run about the streets 〈◊〉 such a horrid noisâ— that all Amsterdam seeme◠〈…〉 and tremble at it as if it had been assaulted 〈…〉 enemy The Burghers not having the least 〈◊〉 of such a strange and unlook'd for Accident for this 〈◊〉 action happen'd in the dead of nigâ—t 〈…〉 and getting these people lost to all 〈◊〉 and modesty up to the Palace clapâ— them into prison Being so disposed of they would owne no thoughts of shame or chastity but would justifie their most 〈◊〉 and naked Truth In the mean time the fire being 〈◊〉 they broke into the house where it was and wondring 〈◊〉 their casting off their cloathes into the fire which had since reached the bed they made a shift to quench it But the other distracted and mad people such as deserved to be sent to their kindred the Savages and Heathens inconvincibly persisted in their pestiferous opinion and so upon the fifth of May the same year they expiated their wicked impieties by their death Ones farewell saying was Praise the Lord incessantly Anothers was O God revenge thou these our sufferings Others cried out Woe woe shut thine eyes DAVID GEORGE Heretici plures visi hic cui visus ego illi Pluribus in 〈…〉 sque Haeresiarcha fui THE CONTENTS DAVID GEORGE the miracle of the Anabaptists At Basil he pretends to have been banished his Countrey for the Gospels sake with his specious pretences he gaines the freedome of the City for him and his His Character His Riches He with his Sect enact three things His Sonne in Law doubting his new Religion is by him questioned and upon his answer excommunicated His wifes death He had formerly voted himself immortal yet Aug. 2. 1556. he died c. His