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
run with as great alacrity to war against Christians as to a wedding beleeving if they die in that war they shall immediatly possesse Paradise which is indeed the generall belif of all Turks See Les Estats du Monde Boterus Leo c. Q. What Religon is professed in Guinea A. Gentilism for they adore strawen rings instead of God Of whom they speak blasphemously calling him evill and black and the Author of their miseries And that they are no wayes beholding to him for what they enjoy but to their own industry They put within their Rings Wheat Water and Oyle for their god to feed upon Such Rings are worn by many as preservatives against danger Their Priests use to preach to them on festival dayes and after Sermon to besprinkle the infants with Water in which a Newt doth swim They consecrate to their Idol the first bit and draught of their meat and drink But I believe this black god they rail against is the devill whom their cunning Priests represent to that ignorant people in some black and ugly shape Sometimes of a black dog If they paint themselves with Chalke they think they do good service to their God When he is angry with them they use to bribe the Priest with gold so fishermen use to do when they have no successe at sea The Priest with his wives walks in Procession knocking his breast and clapping his hands then hanging some boughs from the trees on their necks and playing on a Timbrel the Priest flings Wheat into the sea to appease the angry God They have certain trees in great veneration consulting with them as with Oracles using divers foolish ceremonies They worship a certain bird which hath feathers like stars and a voice like a Bull. The Tunie is a sacred fish with them and not to be touched So are the mountains whose tops they daily feed or the Priests rather with meat and drink When one dieth the Priest makes gods of straw to accompany the dead in the other world wine and good cheere are sent with him and servants with his wives if he be the King these are slain to wait upon the King and their heads advanced upon Poles round about the grave They hold it a sin to spit on the ground The Tuesday is their Sabbath They use circumcision and some other Turkish ceremonies See G. Arthus Dantiseanus Mercator Bertius c. Q. Of What Religion were the African Ethiopians antiently A. Gentiles for they worshipped some immortall gods as the Sun Moon and the World some mortal as Iupiter Pan Hercules But some of them who dwelt neer and under the line did not worship but curse the Sun still when he rose because his excessive heat offended them When their Queen went to Solomon she being instructed by him in the knowledge of the true God upon her return planted the Jewish Religion in her country but the Eunuch of Queen Candace being baptized by Philip brought home with him the Christian Faith which hitherto they have retained See Diodorus Boemus Strabo Sardus Damianus a Goes c. Q. What Religion do these Aethiopians or Abyssins professe A. Christianity yet Gentilisme is retained in some part of Prestor-Iohns ample Dominions The Christians circumcise both male and female on the eighth day in memory of Christs circumcision The males are baptized fourty days after and the females eighty They abstain from certain meats and use some Mosaical Ceremonies They are very rigid in their Fastings they begin their Lent ten days before ours some Fryers eat no bread all the Lent some not in a whole year but are contented with Herbs without Salt or Oyl They keep a fast of three days after Candlemasse in memory of Ninevehs repentance Some Fryers all that time eat nothing and some Nurses give their Children suck but once a day He that marrieth three wives is excommunicated Queen Candace after her conversion consecrated the two magnificent Temples of the Sun and Moon to the Holy Ghost and the Crosse. Afterward these two Temples were given to the Monkish Knights of Saint Anthonies Order with two large Monasteries The Abyssins in their Liturgy mention the three first general Councils but not that of Chalcedon because they are Eutychians or Jacobltes Their Patriarch is onely a Monk of Saint Anthonies order and so is the Patriarch of Alexandria by whom the Aethiopian is consecrated and is in subjection to the Sea of Alexandria They observe here both Saturday and Sunday with equal devotion In the Eucharist the Priest administers leavened bread except on the Thursday before Easter for then it is unleavened because that day Christ instituted the Supper Anâ— the Deacon gives the Wine in a Spoon They receive all standing and in the Church onely all that day after they must not spit till Sun set They give the Eucharist to Infants immediately after Baptisme They believe traduction of Soules They are careful to confesse their sins to the Priest and still after confession receive the Eucharist The Patriarch onely excommunicates and none but murtherers usually Inferiour Priests and Monks labour for their maintenance but the Bishops Deanes and Prebends have large revenues and benefices They permit their Clergy to marry once and have pictures in their Churches but not images Betwixt Easter and Whitsuntide they eat flesh on Fridays Every Epiphanie day they baptize themselves in Lakes or Rivers So do the Muscovites in memory of Christs baptisme the same day They use no Confirmation nor Extream Unction See Damianus a Goes Alvarez in his Aethiopian History and others Q. What is the Religion of the lower Aethiopians A. These were not known to the Antients but they are found by Navigators to be for the most part Gentiles though divers Moors live among them Yet some of them worship but one God They superstitiously observe divers days of the Moon They feast the dead with bread and boyled flesh They punish witchcraft theft and adultery with death They may marry as many wives as they please but the first is the chief and the rest are her servants They pray to the dead in white garments In Monomotapa and some other places thereabouts the Jesuites have converted divers to Christianity many whereof are fallen back again to Gentilisme See Eâ—anuel Acosta of the Eastern affaires and Boterus c. Q. What is the Religion of Angola and Congo A. In Angola they are all heathens In the midst of their towns they worship wooden Idols resembling Negroes at whose feet are heaps of Elephants teeth on which are set up the skulls of their enemies killed in the wars They believe they are never sick but when their Idol is angry with them therefore they please him by pouring at his feet the Wine of Palmes They use to wash and paint and new cloath their dead and bury with him meat drink and some of his goods at whose grave they shed the blood of Goats They are much addicted to divination by
birds and their Priests are in such esteem that they think life and death plenty and famine are in their power In the Kingdome of Congâ— they worship some monstrous creatures in stead of God But they were converted to Christianity by the Portugal Anno 1490. At the City of Banza afterward called Saint Saviours was erected a Cathedral Church for the Bishop who was there received by the King in great magnificence This Church had 28. Canon Residents All their Idols of beasts birds trees and herbs with their conjuring characters were burned Divers Religious persons and Jesuits were sent from Portugal thither to erect Schools and Colledges for Divinity and the Arts. See Purchas Lopez Maffaeus Osorius of the acts of Emanuel Q. What Religion do the northern neighbours of Congo professe A. In Loango under the Line they worship idols and are circumcised Every trades-man appeaseth his god with such things as belong to his trade the husbandman with corn the weaver with cloath c. At the death of their friends they kill Goats to the honour of their idols and make divers feasts in memorial of the dead They will rather dye then touch any meat which is prohibited by their Priests At Kenga the Sea-Port of Loango there is an idol kept by an old Woman which is once a year honoured with great solemnity and feasting There is another idol at Morumba thirty leagues northward where boys are sworn to serve this God and are initiated with hard diet ten days silence abstinence from certain meats and a cut in their shoulder the blood of which is sprinkled at the Idols feet Their trials of life and death are in the presence of this Idol At Anzichi they are circumcised worship the Sun and Moon and each man his particular Idol In some of these neighbouring countries the people are man-eaters and worship the Devil to whom when they offer sacrifice they continue from morning till night using charming Vociferations dancing and piping See Lopez Barros and others Q. Of what Religion are the Islands about Africa A. In some of them are Mahumetans in some Christians but in most Heathens In Socotera an Island neer the mouth of the Red Sea whence we have our best Aloes they are Iacobites and are governed by their Abuna or Priest They much reverence the Crosse. They have Altars in their Churches which they enter not but stand in the Porch In Madagascar or the great Island of Saint Laurence there are many Mahumetans upon the coast but more Idolaters within the Land who acknowledge one Creator and are circumcised but use neither to pray nor keep holy day They punish adultery and theft with death In the Isle of Saint Thomas under the Line are Christians and Moors In divers Islands are no people at all In the Canaries are Christians before they were idolaters and had many wives whom they first prostituted to their Magistrates and this uncivil civility they used to strangers instead of hospitality They bury the dead by setting them upright against a wall with a staff in their hand and if he was a great man a vessel of milk by him Madera is also possessed by Christians and so be the other Islands on this hither part of the African coast see Ortelius Mercater and other Geographers Q. What Religion was professed among the Americans A. Before the Spaniards came thither they were all Pagans who as they were distinguished into divers Nations so they worshipped divers gods after divers manners but they did generally acknowledge the Sun and Moon for the chief gods In Canada they worshipped the Devil before the French came thither and in most places there as yet they worship him who when he is offended with them flings dust in their eyes The men marry two or three wives who after the death of their husbands never marry againe but go still after in black and besmear their faces with coal dust and grease they do first expose their daughters to any that will lie with them and then give them in marriage They believe that after death their soules ascend into the Stars and go down with them under the Horizon into a Paradise of pleasure They believe also that god stuck a multitude of arrows in the beginning into the ground and of these sprung up men and women They have divers ridiculous opinions of God as that he once drank much Tobacco and then gave the pipe to their Governour with a command that he should keep it carefully and in so doing he should want nothing but he lost the Pipe and so fell into want and misery Such senselesse conceits have these people who as they are savage in their carriage so in their understandings they are little better then beasts They use to sing the Devils praises to dance about fires which they make to his honour and leap over them They bemoan the dead a great while and bring presents to the grave Many of these ignorant souls were converted to Christ by the industry of the Jesuites Anno 1637. and 1638. See Father Pauls relation of new France See also Champlain and Iaques Cartier c. Q. What is the Religion of Virginia A. Before the English planted Christianity there they worshipped the Devil and many idols as yet they doe in many places there They beleeve many Gods but one principally who made the rest and that all creatures were made of water and the Woman before the Man who by the help of one of the gods conceived and bore children They are all Anthropomorphites giving to their gods the forms of men whom they worship with praying singing and offerings They hold the soules immortality rewards and punishments after this life the one in heaven the other in a burning pit toward the west The Priests are distinguished from other people by garments of skins and their hair cut like a comb on their crowns They carry their gods about with them and ask counsel of them Much of their devotion consisteth in howling and dancing about fires with rattles of Gourd or Pompian rindes in their hands beating the ground with stones and offering of Tobacco Deer suet and blood on their stone Altars They undertake no matters of consequence without advice of their Priests the chief whereof is adorned with Feathers and Weasels tails and his face painted as ugly as the devils They bury their Kings after their bodies ate burned and dryed in white skins within arches of mats with their wealth at their feet and by the body is placed the devils Image The Women expresse their sorrow with black paint and yellings for twenty four hours None but the King and Priest may enter these houses where the Images of Devils and their Kings are kept Instead of saying Grace at meat they fling the first bit into the fire and when they will appease a storm they cast Tobacco into the water Sometimes they sacrifice children to the devil But of these passages See
the Circumcellions so called from their Cells and Cottages in which they lived to shew their austerity these made no bones to murther all they met that were not of their Religion so that they were more dangerous then High-way Robbers The Donatists were named also Parmenianists from Parmenianus one of Donatus his disciples At Rome they were named Campates from the Camp or Field and Montenses from the Hill where they used to hide themselves The Priscillianists were so named from Priscillianus a Spaniard who under Gratian the Emperor spread his heresie first in Spain 348. years after Christ. From thence like a canker it run through all the West his heresie was made up of former heresies for with the Manicnes he held that the world was made by an evil god With the Sabellians he confounded the persons of the Trinity with the Origenists he taught that mens souls were made before their bodies in some receptacle of Heaven and with the Manichees that they were parcels of the Divine Essence With Astrologers they held that all humane events depended on the Stars and with the Stoicks that we sin necessarily and coactively With the Gnosticks they condemned marriage with the Encratites the eating of flesh with the Audians they allowed lying and perjury in matters of Religion and with the Gâ—osticks they rejected the ancient Prophets as fanatical and ignorant of the will of God The Rhetorians so called from one Rhetorius held the same Tenet which the Mahumetans do at this day namely that every man shall be saved by the Religion he professeth and that therefore no Religion should be forced but men should be left to their own choice and will The Feri or wild Hereticks were such as held it unlawful to eat or converse with men therefore they held none should be saved but such as lived alone They taught also that the holy Ghost was a creature Q. 33. What were the Theopaschitae Tritheiâ—ae Aqueiâ— Melâ—â—onii Ophei Tertullii Liberatores and Nativitarii A. The Theopaschites held that the divinity of Christ suffered as if there had been in him but one nature because one person The Tritheits divided the Essence of God into three parts the one they called the Father the other the Son and the third the Holy Ghost as though either of the persons had not bin perfectly God The Aquei held that the water was not created but coeternal with God this heresie was culled out of the Hermagenian and Audian Tenets The Melitonii so named from one Melito taught that not the soul but the body of man was made after Gods Image and so with the Anthropomorphites they made God corporeal The Ophei so called from one Opheus held there were innumerable worlds The Tertullii from one Tertullus taught that the souls of wicked men should be converted into Devils and Savage Beasts Liâ—eratores are those who taught that Christ by his descending into Hell did set at liberty all wicked that then beâ—eved in him Nativitarji were such as taught that Christs Divine Nativity had a beginning because it is written Psal. 2. Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee so they acknowledged the Eternity of his Essence but not of his Filiation These were but branches of former Heresies broached by obscure or unknown authors and of short continuance Q. 34. What were the Luciferians Jovinianists and Arbicks A. Luciferians so called from Lucifer Bishop of Caralitanum in Sardinia who lived under Iulâ—an the Apostate 333. years after Christ taught with the Cerinthians and Marcionites that this world was made by the Devil That mens souls were corporeal and had their being by propagation or traduction They denyed to the Clergy that fell any place for repentance or reconciliation neither did they restore Bishops or inferious Clerks to their Dignities if they fel into Heresie though they afterward repented This was the Doctrine of the old Novaâ—ians and Meletians these Luciferians were named also Homonymians for using the word flesh ambiguously in their dispurations The Iovinianists were so called from Iovinian a Roman who lived under Jovinian the Emperour 335. years after Christ. These held with the Stoicks that all sins were equal that after baptisme we could not sin that fasting was needlesse that Virginity was not better then the married life and that the blessed Virgin in bearing Christ lost her Virginity The Arabicks were so named from Arabia the countrey where this heresie was broached and maintained under Philip the Emperour 217. years after Christ they held that mens soules died with their bodies and that both in the last day should rise again From this heresie they were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is mortal soules not much different from them are the Psychopanuychitae of this age who make the soul sleep in the Grave with the body till the Resurrection Q. 35. What were the Collyridians Paterniani Tertullianists and Abelonitae A. The Collyridians were hatched also in Arabia and so named from a kinde of Cakes or Buns which the Greeks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 these Cakes they presented every year with great ceremony to a certain Maid fitâ—ng in a chair of State and covered with a vail â—n honour of the Virgin Maâ—y these flourished under Theoâ—osius the great 357. years after Christ. Paterniani so called from one Paternus an obscure fellow were named also Venuâ—iani from Venus which by their venereal actions they honoured more then God These held that all the lower parts of mans body from the Navel downward were made by the Devil and therefore they gave themselves to all lasciviousnesse and uncleannesse therefore they were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deriders of good manners and honesty The Tertullianists were so called from that famous Lawyer and Divine Terâ—ullian who lived under Severus the Emperour about 170 years after Christ. He being excommunicated by the Roman Clergy for a Montanist fell unto these heretical opinioâ—s to wit that God was corporeal but without delineation of members that mens souls were not onely corporeal but also distinguished into members and had corporeal dimensions and did encrease and decrease with the body and that the soul had its Original by propagation or traduction He held also that the souls of wicked men after death were converted into Devils that the Virgin Mary â— after Christs birth did marry once and with the Catapâ—rygian he bragged much of the Paraclet or Spirit which they said was poured on them in a greater measure then on the Apostles He condemned all use of arms and wars among Christians and with the Mâ—ntanists rejected second marriages as no better then adultery The Abelonitae were so called from Abeo Adams Son these taught that Abel was married but had no carnal commerce with his Wife because there is no mention made of his Children as there is of Cains and Seths For
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
from the Son abstained from blood and strangled things observed the Sabbath with the Lords day condemned the fourth marriage as utterly unlawful rejected confirmation administred the Sacrament in leavened bread and in both kindes and excluded the blessed souls from heaven till the Resurrection they did besides hold that all mens souls were created together in the beginning that Hereticks are to be rebaptized that the child is not to be baptized till the mother be purified which is fourty dayes after a Male childe and eighty after a Female that children should receive the Eucharist as soon as baptized that the Father may dissolve the Matrimony of his child if he dislike it that the Eucharist is not to be reserved nor to be carried to sick persons in danger of death that Priests and Deacons must be married that children of five or six years old may be made Subdeacons that women during their monthly purgations are not to be admitted into the Church nor to the Eucharist But these opinions the Maronites renounced when the Christians had the command of Syria and Palestine but when Saladine recovered those 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 fell off from the Roman Church and embraced their former Teners but in the 〈◊〉 of Gregory the 〈◊〉 and Clement the eighth they reconciled themselves again to the Roman Church Q. 13. What are the Cophti A. The 〈◊〉 are the Iacobites of Egypt for the Egyptians were anciently named 〈◊〉 we call them Cophti that is Egyptian Christians as the Iacobâ—res of Syria are named Syrians and in no country were these Euâ—ychians more patronised then in Syria and Egypt yet these Iacobites differ from Eutyches in this that He taught the two natures in Christ to be one by confusion or commixtion whereas They say that they are one by co-adunation but so that the properties oh each nature remain distinct so that in effect they 〈…〉 but dare not say to for fear of 〈…〉 persons not being able to 〈…〉 the Nature and the Person These 〈…〉 to the Patriarch of Alexandria whose 〈…〉 is now in the City of Caire They used heretofore to be circumcised but by the Popes perswasion have left it They baptize not children till the 〈◊〉 day to whom they give the Euceharist immediately after baptism and then also confer on them all sacred orders under Priesthood their parents promising for them and performing what they promise till they be sixteen years old chastity fasting on Wednesdayes Fridays and in the four Lents They administer the Eucharist in leavened bread and in both kinds With the Greeks they leave out the words of the 〈◊〉 creed and from the Son they deny the Sacrament and extream Unction to the sick reject Purgatory and prayer for the dead and all General Councils chiehly Chalcedon after that of Ephesus They keep no Lords day nor Feasts except in Cities They marry within the second degree of consanguinity without dispensation they account the Romane Church heretical and in their Liturgies use to read the Gospel of Nicodeâ—â—â— Q. 14. What are the Abyssin Christians A. These be they which in habit the Mid-land 〈◊〉 under Presbyter or Preâ—ious 〈◊〉 they have a 〈◊〉 of their own whom they call Abunna whose 〈◊〉 is white his upper Vestimeâ—t is like a Cardinals cloak 〈…〉 before When he rides abroad on his Mule he is attended on with a great train three crosses or staâ—es are carried about him and holdeth a crosse in his own hand They have many 〈◊〉 Priests or Bishops and great store of Monasteriâ—s All their Patriarchs and Bishops are of S. Anthonies order as are the Patriarcks of Alexandria to whose jurisdiction anciently Aethiopia did belong and yet at this day they are tied to chuse their Abunna whom they call Catholike of the juriâ—diction of 〈◊〉 by the 〈◊〉 of which place he is confirmed consecrated and invested in his Ecclesiastical Rights In their Liturgy also they pray particularly for the Patriarch of Alexandria The 〈◊〉 Religion consisteth in circumcising Male and Female whether out of Religion or the ancient custom of their Nation as being descended from the ancient Aethiopians or Arabians Ismaels posterity who used to be circumcised is uncertain But most likely they are circumcised in memory and imitation of Christ who was also circumcised They use also every year to baptise themselves in Lakes and Rivers 〈◊〉 Epiphany day in remembrance of Christs baptisme who was baptized on that day in Iordan The other points of their Religion be these they abstain from such beasts as the old Law accounteth unclean they keep the Sabbath and Sunday together The Thursday before Easter they administer the Sacrament is unlearened bread but ordinarily in leavened bread all communicate standing in both kindes The Wine they receive from the Deâ—con in a spâ—on and that in the Church onely The day they receive in they must not spit till 〈…〉 After sorty days the Males are baptized the 〈◊〉 after eighty except in case of necessity and then also they give them the Eucharist they think their Children dying without baptisme shall be saved by the â—aith of their parents They confesse after every sin committed and then receive 〈…〉 They are Iacobites in acknowledging 〈…〉 and will in Christ therefore they 〈…〉 of Chalcedan for condemning Dioscorus the 〈◊〉 So they deny Confirmation Extream and 〈◊〉 They hold tradâ—ction of souls admit of painâ—ed not 〈◊〉 Images they usually excommunicate are none but 〈◊〉 and this onely belongs to the 〈◊〉 Priests and 〈◊〉 have neither Tythes nor Almes by begging but live by their labour They permit not their Bishops and Priests to marry twice Flesh is eat every Friday betwixt Easter and Whitsunday The King conferreth all Ecclesiastick promotions except the Patriarchship Of these passages see the above named Authors and 〈◊〉 the Aethiopian Liturgy in Bibliâ—thâ—ca 〈◊〉 tom 6. Alvares the King of Portugals Chaplain who lived in Aethiopia 6 years wrote the Aethiopian History Zega Zabo an Aethiopian Bishop sent into Portugal by King David the Abyssin who set out the confession of the Aethiopian faith translated by Damianus a Goes c. Q. 15 Wherein doth the Protestant Church agree with 〈◊〉 dissent from other Christian Churches A. They agree with the Greek Church in giving the Sacrament in both kindes in admitting Priests to marry in rejecting images purgatory and extreame unction and in denying the Popes supremacy in the same points also they agree with the Melchites or Syrians with the Georgians Mengrelians and Gircassians and with the Moscovites or Russians who are all of the Greek profession though in some things they differ The Protestants agree with the Nestorians in rejecting auâ—â—cular confession in permitting Priests to marry in communicating in both kinds and in rejecting Crucifixes With the Christians of Saint Thomas they agree in administring the Sacrament in both kinds in rejecting images and extream Unction and permitting Priests to marry and denying the Pope supremacy They agree with the Iacobites