Estates and what they had to the Church so the Church imploy'd those Legacies or Gifts to support all those that should be necessitous Besides this their Pastors both by their Doctrine and Example admonish'd them to be diligent in working with their own hands that they might get something not only to be beneficial to themselves but to others too and indeed they thought they did little or nothing if of what they got they did not communieate to those who were not able to help themselves They had nothing that was superfluous and hence it was that there was but little striving about what they left To lay up much Goods for many years they thought was fitter for Heathens that for Christians and having seen no such thing in their Master they could not tell how it could be proper in his Servants Love of Mony and admiration of Riches and anxious worldly Cares and Desires of Hoarding were things they had an antipathy against and though out of that Stock they provided themselves with Necessaries yet for engrossing any thing to themselves besides was a thought as far from their Minds as the Heaven they longed for was from that Earth on which they trampled and looked upon with pity and scorn for alas what greediness could there be in them after Temporal Means who were already greater than the World could make them and took delight in nothing but surveying that Glory which ere long they should rejoyce and triumph in If any were so Malicious as to traduce their Teachers and brand them with the guilt of Covetousness or Slander them their Pastors used no other Weapon to put by the Sting but Meekness to the Back-biter and their own innocence by degrees dashed and wiped away all aspersions Hence the Christians gave them their own freely for they believed they could lose nothing by it and long experience had so confirm'd that belief that Envy it self could make no impressions upon them to the contrary when it was in their hands they thought it was safer than in their own and being hereby freed from abundance of Cares and Incumbrances they pressed more chearfully to the promised Mark. If any Christian kept any land in his hands his care was so to use his Income as to give God the First Fruits of it to bring his Gift to the Church to lay by somewhat for Alms to help and assist the Sick and to relieve the Prisoners and Captives not only such as were within the verge of the Town he liv'd in but others also Thus did those men live under Riches as under Thorns and were sensible of nothing so much as this that great Wealth is but a great temptation to be Vain and Sensual which made them use this Self-denial in their Incomes He that for a kindness he did to his Neighbour expected a Recompence was look'd upon as a Person greedy of filthy Lucre and he that could do nothing for his friend without a Reward or prospect of some Profit to himself was censured as a Person ignorant of the Fundamental Law of their Religion Usury Interest and such names were scarce heard of among them and Oppression was a thing which they thought none that named the Name of Christ could be guilty of In a word they desired nothing so much in this world as to be quickly gone from it and they thought it the joyfullest news imaginable to understand that they were to be dissolved and to go to Christ. This was the Temper Nature and Constitution of that Commonwealth The Members of it look'd mean and contemptible Nothing about them was pompous either in Cloaths or Dyet or Habitation or Houshold-stuff Such among them as were Noble or Learned or of a gentile Extract laid aside their Pride and all their swelling Titles forgot that they were better Born or Educated than others and became like their Brethren Plaiting and Curling the Hair was a thing that both their Men and Women proscribed from their care and they thought that labour lost which was employ'd on such Superfluities They were jealous of their serious frame of Spirit and therefore all such Dresses as might serve to infuse Vanity into their Minds or damp their Zeal to Religion they shunn'd as they did Houses infected with the Plague They minded no such thing as Modes and Fashion nor did any new Habit or Ornament that came up entice them to imitation Decency was their Rule and Modesty the Standard of their Habit and Conversation They wore nothing about them that was either Costly or Curious and there greatest study and contrivance was how to advance their Souls and make them fit for the Wedding of the Lamb Laying on either White or Red upon the Face or disfiguring it with something black and of Kin to Hell they knew not what it meant Their Garments were either Linnen or Woollen or Furr or Sheeps-skin and their Furniture Mean and Homely Without God they attempted nothing and whatever Enterprize it was they betook themselves to they sanctified it by Prayer and Suplication If they went out either to Sow or to Plough or to Reap or to Build God's Blessing was first sought and begg'd and they never put on their Cloaths but entertained themselves all the while with some holy reflections Theaters and seeing of Plays they hated as a thing contrary to their Profession and though the Heathen despised them for it look'd upon them as unsociable Men of pitiful Spirits Strangers to the Art of Conversation Melancholy Wretches Brethren of Worms and no better than Vermin of the Earth yet they mattered not their Censures and triumph'd more in a good Conscience than the other could do in all the Vanities and Glories of this present World The Worlds Contempt was their Glory and they were proud of being Scorn'd and Undervalued by the Vulgar Crowd that they might with greater earnestness long after a better Inheritance If any wanted business he would find some and they that had no need to work for their Living work'd for the Poor Idleness they had an aversion from as from the root of Evil and great Men and Women would do something which the Needy might be the better for The greatest Lady would not disdain to Spin or Sow or Knit for her distressed Neighbour and like Bees they were ever busie and employed for the common Good Love of the World was death to them and they thought it a certain sign that they had no Portion in Christ if they did serve both God and Mammon To be in the World and not of the World was their Motto and to be other Men than they seemed to be was the thing they chiefly aimed at They seemed to be profane because they would worship no Heathen Gods but were the devoutest persons in the World to the true God and they forgot to be Men that they might be the better Christians Not a few left their high Places and great Dignities to become Christians and chose to be low and
distinguish between faithful friends And fauning flatterers who for base ends Will speak thee fair whose words are soft and oylie And make a shew of friendship to beguile thee The secrets of thy friend do not disclose Left in so doing thou resemble those Whose ears are leaking vessels which contain Nothing but what 's pour'd in runs out again At the mouth These fools proclaim themselves unfit For any trust and to be voyd of wit If thou resolve to change a single life And hast proposed to become a wife Câ—…use then thy husband not for worldly gain Not for his shape or Air these things disdain If money draw or thou by lust art lead Expect no blessing of thy marrage bed But if the fear of God most excellent Be thy chief end then look for true content Cast off all needless and distrustful care A little is enough o're much a snare Our Journey from our Cradles to our grave Can be but short no large provision crave For such conveniences as must be had Confide to God who hath so richly clad The fragrant Meadows with fresh ' silver show'rs Send down to nurse up tender plants and flowers He for the chirping Birds provides a nest And gives each Creature that which feeds 'em best To him give thanks for mercys which before Thou hadst receiv'd and that makes way for more For faults before his face reprove thy friend But all good deeds behind his back commend Labour for peace chuse to contend with none Let reason with sweet clamours keep the throne Treading fierce wrath and lawless passions down The grace of meekness is the womans crown Be loving patient courteous and kind In doing these thou'lt praise and honour find Here on the Earth and when all conquering Death Thy body shall desoul and stop thy Breath Upon the golden wings of faith and love Thy soul shall fly to Paradise above When sin and sorrow shall for ever cease And there be crown'd with endless joys and peace Greshon Boate. CATONIS DISTICHA RUmores fugè ne incipias novus autor haberi Nam nulli tacuisse nocet nocet esse locutam Shun rumors least thou beest as th' Author nam'd Silence hurts none but some for words are blamed Cum rectè vivas ne cures verha malorum Arbitrii nostri non est quid quisque loquatur When thou livest well mind not what lewd folks say It is not in our power their tongues to sway Dilige non oegrâ charos pietate parentes Nec matrem offendas dum vis bonus esse parenti Thy parents love the one as well as th' other To please thy Father doe not cross thy Mother Tranquillis rebus quoe sunt adversa cave to Rursus in adversis melius sperare memento When things go well adversity beware Again when things go ill do not dispair Veritati adhaereto Stick to the Truth THis Historiographer Eusebius is accounted by many to be a witness unto whom credit may be given he was a Bishop of Caesarea and one that was said to be very studious in the Holy Scripture He flourished chiefly under the Emperour Constantinus Magnus and his Son Constantius about the Year 316. THE INDEX Or TABLE A. ADrian the Emperours remarkable Epistle in the Christians behalf Lib. 4. Chap. 23. Agbarus Epistle unto Iesus l. 1. c. 1â—… Antioch Citizens stirred up against the Christians l. 9. c. 2. Antonius Pius Epistle in the behalf of the Christans l. 4. c. 13. Apphianus zeal and boldness l. 8. c. 22. Apollonarius touching Montanus and the False Prophets that then were entred l. 5. c. 14. 16. 19. Attalus Revelation l. 5. c. 3. B. BAsilides Courtesie to a Virgin Martyr how he would not Swear and so was Beheaded l. 6. c. 4. Biblis restored again to the Faith in the time of Torment l. 5. c. 1. Bishops bribed with presents and sums of Money l. 10. c. 1. Bishops divided about a Lay-mans Preaching l. 6. c. 19. Blandina Refreshed in her suffering and torments l. 5. c. 3. C. CHristians Name dwelling and foundation l. 2. c. 17. Christians suffering by Proclamations or Edicts l. 4. c. 25. Christians terribly threatned and some converted by beholding their Innocent sufferings l. 4. c. 8. Christians prosperity also calamity l. 8. c. 1. Christians were generally summoned to appear at the Idols Temple l. 8. c. 22. Clements and of his Epistle l. 3. c. 14. Clements Bishop of Alexandria touching the Scriptures l. 6. c. 13. Clergy freed from Paying Tax or Tribute l. 1â—… c. 7. D. DEfinition of a Christian l. 1. c. 5. Doctrine of Christ approved of by Tiberius l2 c. 2. Dioclesians Proclamations against the Christians l. 8. c. 3. Dionysius Epistle concerning the Martyrs l. 6. c. 40. Dionysius Epistle to the Romans l. 4. c. 22. Dionysius Epistle to Novatus l. 6. c. 44. Dionysius Vision l. 7. c. 9. Dionysius Fidelity and Constancy in the time of Tryal l. 7. c. 10. E. EAster and the controversie about that Fast. l. 5. c. 23. Emperors begun to favour the Christians l. 10. c. 2. Emperours Proclamation concerning Christian Religion l. 10. c. 2. The Emperour refered the Bishop to the Judges for them to take acoursâ—… with troublesome Persons l. 10. c. 6. The Encratits and their Heresie l. 4. c. 27. F. THe Frenchman's Epistle unto the Church l. 5. c. 1. G. THe Gospel of the Evangelists l. 3. c. 21. vide l. 3. c. 35. H. HOw Heresie crept into the Church when persecution ceased l. 4. c. 6. Hereticks were a slander unto Christian Religion l. 4. c. 7. Hereticks and False Prophets among the Christians l. 4. c. 21. Herod was Smitten of an Angel l. 2. c. 10. I. JAmes was slain with a Sword l. 2. c. 9. The Martyrdom of James the Brother of Jesus l. 2. c. 9. A History of John the Apostle and a Young man l. 3. c. 20. Ignatius his Valourous courage l. 3. c. 32. Josephus Testimony of Christ. l. 1. c. 12. Justinus the Martyr l. 4. c. 16 17 18. The Jews would not allow of Carved Images l. 2. c. 6. What Irenaeus Wrote concerning the Holy Scriptures l. 5. c. 8. L. LAw against the Christians l. 5. c. 19. Licinnius cruelty towards the Christians l. 10. c. 8. M. WHy Mark Wrote his Gospel l. 2. c. 15. See l. 3. c. 35. Maximinus Impiety Proclamations l. 6. 8. c. 16 17 18. Maximinius conquered his Proclamation and Iudgment l. 9. c. 2. Money given to Ministers l. 10. c. 6. N. NEro's persecutions l. 2. c. 25. Nicolas and his Sect. l. 3. c. 26. Novatus beresie and impietie l. 6. c. 24. O. ORigen's zeale while he was young his Lâ—…vs to the Martyrs how he sold his Philosophy books l. 6. c. 2. Origen's Tryall Fall and bitter Lamentation l. 7. c. 1. P. PAulus Samosatenus's heresie l. 7. c. 19. Persecutions against the Christians l. 8. c. 6. Persecution suddenly Revived againe against the Christians l. 8. c. 27. Pilate became his
will lead a Life agreeable to the Gospel I being of late at Ancira in Galatia found the Church through Pontus not with Prophets as they call them but rather as it shall be proproved with Falâ—…e Prophets where through the Lord as much as in me lay I disputed in the Chuhch the space of many Days against them and their several Objections so that the Church rejoiced and was thereby confirmed in the Truth but the contrary Part yet repined and the Gainsayers were very sorrowful It is written of Montanus that he was puffed up with an immoderate Desire of Primacy i. e. Chief Authority opened a Gap for the Adversary to enter into him and being mad and estranged suddenly and bereft of his Wits waxed furious and published strange Doctrine contrary to the Tradition and ancient Custom of ancient Succession now received under the Name of Prophecy they which then were Auditors of this unlawful Preaching some chastised and checked him for a Lunatick i. e. one possed with Lunacy who at certain times of the Moon is distracted in his Wits and one that was possessed with the Spirit of Errours and forbad him to Preach being mindful of the Forewarnings and Threatnings of our Saviour tending to this end that we should take diligent heed of False Prophets Others waxed insolent i. e. proud and boasted and bragged of him not a little as if he had been endued with the Holy Ghost and Gift of Prophecy so that through disobedient Persons he came to be more honoured than his Merit did require And two Women being possessed of a foul Spirit spoke fond foolish and fantastical things even as he had before and they gloried and rejoiced in that Spirit which pronounced them happy and puffed them up with infinite fair Promises yet sometimes by Signs and Tokens he rebuked them to their faces so that he seemed a chastising Spirit There were few of the Phrygians seduced notwithstanding that bold and blind Spirit instructed them to blaspheme and revile generally every Church under Heaven because they neither did Homage i. e. a servile Ceremony of some Tenants which by Duty they owe to their Lords neither courteously received among them that false Spirit of Prophecy Those things he wrote in his first Book and in his second Book he writeth thus of their Ends These say they are the Prophets which the Lord promised to send his People Let them answer me I charge them in the Name of the Living God O ye Good People Is there any of the Sect of Montanus and these Women which have been persecuted by the Jews or put to death by any Tyrant Not one of them bearing the Name was either apprehended or crucified neither was their any Woman of them in the Synagogues of the Jews either scourged or stoned at all but Montanus and Maximilla are said to die ' another kind of Death Moreover when the Bishops went about to rebuke the Spirit which spoke in Maximilla they were hindred by others that wrought by the same Spirit saying Let not the Spirit of Maximilla say I am chased as a Wolf from the Sheep I am no Wolf I am the Word the Spirit and Power but let him manifestly express the power by the Spirit and prevail Apollonius against the Montanists He wrote in this manner saying But what kind of New Doctrine this is his Works and Doctrine do declare This is he which taught the breaking of Wedlock i. e. Marriage this is he which prescribed Laws of Fasting This is he which called Pâ—…puza and Tymium pelting Parishes of Phrygia Jerusalem to the end he might entice all Men from every where to frequent thither This is he which first ordained Tollgatherers and Taxers of Money this is he which under pretence and colour of Oblations hath cunningly invented the Art of Bribing this is he who giveth great hire unto the Preachers of his Doctrine that by feeding of the Paunch his Prophecies may prevail Moreover he addeth saying Doth not the whole Scripture forbid that a Prophet should receive Rewards and Money When I see a Prophetess receive gold and silver and goodly Garments how can I chuse but detest her Again of another he saith And besides these Themison also inflamed with the burning Thirst of Covetousness tasted not of the tart Cognisance of Confession before the Tyrant but shuffled himself out of Fetters with much Money And whenas therefore he should have humbled himself yet he all in bragery as if he were a Martyr i. e. one that died for Righteousness sake after the example of the Apostle wrote a Catholick i. e. Universal or General Epistle very presumptuously to instruct them which believed better than himself and to exhort them to strive with him for this New Doctrine and to revile the Lord and his Apostles and his holy Church Again speaking of one of their highly esteemed Martyrs he writes in this sort And that we trouble not our selves with many let the Prophetess tell us touching Alexander who called himself a Martyr with whom she hath banqueted whom also many do adore i. e. worship whose Thefts and other heinous Crimes which he suffered for I will not presently rehearse for they are publickly known and registred Whose Sins hath he pardoned Whether doth a Prophet yield theft unto a Martyr or a Martyr an immoderate Desire of gathering unto a Prophet For as when Christ commanded You shall not possess Gold neither Silver neither two Goats these on the contrary seek after the Possession of unlawful Substance for they whom they call Prophets and Martyrs have extorted Money i. e. wrested it from people per force not only of the Rich but of the Poor the Fatherless and Widows But if they plead innocency let them stay and join with us in the issue in the matter upon this condition that if they be overthrown at leastwise from henceforth they will cease to commit the like Sin again The Fruits of the Prophets are to be tried the Tree is to be known by its Fruit. And that the case of Alexander may be known of such as desire it he was condemned at Ephesus by Aemilius Frontinus not for his Profession but for his presumptuous and bold enterprised Theft being a lewd Person And then with a false pretence of Christian Profession seducing the faithful of that place he was pardoned and set at liberty Again in another place he writeth of their Prophets thus If they deny their Prophets to have been Bribers let them affirm it conditionally that if it be proved they be no longer Prophets For all the Works of a Prophet are necessarily to be proved Tell me I beseech ye Is it seemly for a Prophet to painthimself in Colours Is it seemly for a Prophet to smooth himself with the white glittering Stibiâ—… i. e. A certain Stone which maketh the Skin look very fair when it is rubbed with it Is it seemly for a Prophet to pinch and gingerly to
Service due unto God but rather may occupy themselves about their profession without any molesting at all who while they perform the great Ministry of the Holy Worship do seem to profit very much the publick Affairs Licinnius's Cruelty towards the Christians Afterwards Licinnius began to imitate the Wickedness and Impiety of cruel Tyrants and secretly endeavoured by little and little to impugn i. e. resist or assault the Saints under his Dominion who never molested or endamaged his Empire neither hurt him any kind of way at all Yet by his Injunctions commanded That no Charity by any man should be extended towards them which were afflicted in Prison neither Compassion should be had on them which in Fetters were like to perish with Famine neither was it lawful for any to be honest or to practise Charity towards their Kinsfolk whom they were bound to pity even by the Law of Nature The Law was indeed shameful and cruel and far from a Good Nature unto the which there was a penalty annexed That such as had shewed Compassion were punished alike with them unto whom they had been merciful and such as had shewed any Kindness towards them were fettered imprisoned and punished alike with the afflicted Such were the Constitutions i. e. Decrees or Appointments of Licinnius So that the flattering Presidents to gratifie the mischievous Tyrant tormented some without cause that had done no evil as if they had been Murtherers whereof some endured a strange Death their Bodies being cut in small pieces as Butchers do use and after this cruel and horrible Spectacle thrown into the bottom of the Sea to become Food for Fishes But in a short time after Licinnius was overcome by Constantine who favoured the Christians and restored unto them external Peace The End of the First Part. A SUMMARY Or brief Hint of the Twelve Persecutions Sustained by the Ancient Christians With a compendious Paragragh upon the same and a Catalogue of the Synods and Councils which were after the Days of the Apostles Together with a Hint of what was decreed in the same as also the Judgment of some Wise Men concerning such Convocation LIKE-WISE An Appendix of some observable Things concerning the Christians which lived about a Thousand and Four hundred Years since with whose State Principle and Condition is parallell'd the Suffering Christians of this Age. PART II. Qui est Crucianus non est Christianus He that beareth not the Cross of Christ is no Disciple of Christ. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him but also to suffer for his sake Phil. 1. 29. LONDON Printed for Francis Holder in the Passage going into White-Hart-Yard in Lombard-street 1698. PART II. How from the beginning the Enmity of Satan hath been great against the Reghteous and Innocent People of God OF a truth he that is born after the Flesh persecuteth him that is after the Spirit and that irreconcielable Enmity which God after many Transgression put betwixt the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent hath in all the ages of the World appeared in Satans Instruments against the Righteous and Harmless People of the Most High who since the Fall have suffered through many Generations And it is observed how that when the Adversary of Mankind had got possession in Cain Adam's first Son Gen. 4. 1 8. that then did Cain rise up against his Brother Abel and slew him And this same Adversary is he who hath been a Murtherer and a Lyar from the beginning who until this day hath retained a place in the Hearts of Cain's Posterity and one remarkable Token whereby he might be known in all Ages hath been Persecution And after he had gotten Dominion in Mans Heart the Wickedness of Man became great in the Earth and the Imaginations and Thoughts of his Heart were evil continually so that the Earth came to be corrupted yea to be filled with violence And then did the Wicked and Ungodly often offer violence unto the Just and Righteous even as the wicked Sodomites did unto just Lot whose Enmity was not only against him but also against the Angels whom he had entertained Gen. 19. 5. And likewise this Adversary of God and good Men had gotten place in the Hearts of Joseph's Brethren who conspired together to slay him but they not being suffered of the Lord to do that they cast him into a Pit in the Wilderness Moreover it appears that Satan i. e. an Adversary or Devil had a possession in Pharoah and in the Egyptians who did much perplex and afflict the Righteous in those days for they were grieved with them and therefore did they make the Lives of the Righteous bitter with hard bondage c. Again the Enmity of this Adversary was great in many of the Potentates of the Earth against the People of God in the days of old as appears in sundry Places of the Old Testament And it may be observed how that when they that were called the Lords People departed from his Counsel that then this Adversary got place in them also which plainly appeared by their murmuring against the Lord when they were wroth over his Servants and cried out Stone them with stones c. Numb 14. 10. Again this Adversary of God and of good People got possession yea dominion in the Sons of Belial who beset the House of him that entertained the way-faring Levite and intended to have slain him Again we may see how that when Saul departed from the Gounsel of the Lord then did the Evil Spirit of this Adversary enter into him and then commanded he his Footmen to slay the Lord's Priests and although they would not do it yet Doeg slew fourscore and five of them upon one day 1 Sam. 22. 17 18. Again the evil persecuting spirit of this Adversary appeared also in Jezebel Ahab's Wife who stirred up the Elders and the Nobles to procure two false Witnesses against Naboth to testifie falsly against him as if he had blasphemed against God and the King and the People of the City being leavened with the aforesaid Spirit they carried him out of the City and stoned him to death Again when the Israelites were departed from the Lord then did the Enmity of this Adversary of God and all Goodness appear in them which manifested it self by the wrath and indignation which appeared in them against the Prophet Jeremiah whom they cast into Prison and against Zechariah whom they slew betwixt the Temple and the Altar Yea so mightily did the Enmity of Satan's persecuting Spirit prevail over them that in the end they killed and crucified those whom God sent among them and scourged them in their Synagogues and persecured them from City to City Mat. 23. 24 25. From these few Examples which I have here alledged it doth most plainly appear that Satan this Adversary of God of the Creation and of Mankind hath of old had a mighty Enmity against
who could not bow to the Gods of the Heathen no more then the true Christians now can bow to the corrupt wills of Ambitious and unreasonable men and though the Innocent suffer therefore for the present yet for their sakes will the Lord shorten the days of the Wicked as he did the days of that Persecuting Emperour The Seventh Persecution IN the year 253. did the Seventh Persecution arise under the Emperour Decius who with Excessive Cruelty did Persecute the Christians In this Persecution several of the Bishops were put to death and such as were the chief among the Christians did they torture with many Torments and the Houses of the Christians they Plundred and that which the Plunderers did not esteem that they burned In this Persecution many suffered Martyrdom some being Burned some Beheaded Women so well as Men some being whipt to death and some Souldiers for Incouraging these Martyrs in their Suffering were put to death In this Terrible Persecution several departed from the Faith for fear of the Torments yet afterwards came to be restored again the Suffering of the Christians was great under this Emperour but his days were also shortened for he had not Raigned two years but was caught in a Whag of Mire where he met with a check or Reproof for his cruelty Note Thus it appears that the Christians that lived Godly in Christ-Iesus suffered Persecution according to what the Apostle hath said 2 Tim. 3 12. And many now that live Godly and Righteously do suffer not only the Imprisonment of their Bodies but also the Spoyling of their Goods which have been Spoyled both by Priests and People who have sometime as it were Plundred their Houses for their dishonest gain and they have shewed themselves in their carriage and behaviour to be liker unto the Heathen then the suffering Christians who suffered their Houses to be Plundred but we do not Read that they then Plundred the Houses of any but with patience suffered the Plundring of their Goods and in this patience and long Suffering are the Christians that are so not in Name only but in Nature found in these Perillous times Again have not some Souldiers been turned out of their places yea and brought into suffering for countenancing and favouring the Sober Innocent true Christians among whom some for fear of Suffering may in some respect desert the Truth as some faithless ones among the ancient Christians did yet we know certainly there are a Remnant that cannot bow their knee to Baall but would chuse rather to die the death which many ancient Christians suffered then they will forsake the Lords Truth or Transgress his Righteous Law by breaking his commands The Eighth Persecution IN the year 259. did the eighth Persecution arise under the Emperour Valerianus who put forth a Proclamation against the Christians wherein he forbad their Meetings and when this Proclamation or Order was not observed then did there follow a great Persecution of the Christians in which there was very many put to death and some were Banished and they converted of the Heathen in the place to which they were Banished but the Emperour under whom the Christians thus suffered did not go unreproved for his cruelty for he was taken Prisoner by the King of Persia who made use of him for a Foot-stool when he got up upon his Horse c. Note Hath it not happned so in England that by the Kings Proclamation the Meetings of the true Christians have been forbidden And when that they observed the Kings Proclamation no more then the antient Christians observed the Emperours hath not a great Persecution followed have not many of the Prisons he silled with them partly because they could not Swear and partly because they continved their Meetings when they were forbidden by the Kings Proclamation as the Religion of the Christians was forbidden by the Laws of the Heathen and therefore did the Heathen with much rigour pronounce these words unto the Christians Your Religion is forbidden by the Laws c. And did not Anti-christians the like when they abused them in their Meetings and broke them up with much Violence did they not also pronounce these words with much Rigour Your Meetings are forbidden by the Kings Proclamation c. And forasmuch as the true Christians now have chused rather to suffer Bonds and Imprisonment yea the spoyling of their Goods and what not then they would renounce the Faith deny their Religion or forsak the Assembling of themselves together it doth therefore appear that the same mind is found in them now which was heretofore in the antient Christians who chused rather to suffer the loss of their Lives then to forsake him for whose cause they suffered yet we see their Persecutors did not always go unreproved Oh! that other Kings Princes and Magistrates would take warning from that which happened to these Persecuting Emperours The Ninth Persecution IN the year 273. did the ninth Persecution arise under the Emperour Aurelianus but this Persecution was not so great as the other because he was cut off by death soon after he had determined the same yet in this Persecution was Felix the Bishop of Rome put to Death with several others here and there in divers places Note Often doth the Lord frustate the purposes and Determinations of such as conspire Mischief against his People yea have we not seen sundry Powers overturned in England and Parliments broken up and Councels if not Committees also shattered to pieces when they have been determined to do Wickedly so that sometime they have not had power to bring that forth which they had Conceived and brought to the Birth so mightily hath the Lord confounded their Conspiracies and brought their devices to nought and this the true Christians have concluded to be the Lords doing which they have beheld and which thing hath been indeed marvelous in their Eyes The Tenth Persecution IN the year 302. begun the Tenth Persecution which was so great that it exceeded all that had been before it not only in cruelty but in continuance for it continued 12 Years Eusebius who lived at that time Writes of it at large in his Eclesiastical History saying it was occasioned through the freedom of the Christians who were come into great Reputation and were put in places of Office to Rule in Countrys and Cities but through their prosperity and voluptuousness Brotherly Love came to decrease Haughtyness and Pride got up and in stead of the worship of God an insolent authority begun to get up in the Church of the Christians And at that time the Emperour Diocletianus gave forth a Proclamation wherein he commanded that all the Christian Churches should be pulled down and the Holy Scriptures Burned and that the Christians should be turned out of their places with other such like things After that there came another Order that they should cause the chief of of the Church to offer unto Idols or else they were to be put to