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
ceased then Heresie begun to spring apace among the Christians among whom Iuglers and Impâ—…stors crept in as Euseb. relates who bear the same Name and Title and in shew professed the same Doctrine with them thereby the sooner to insnare the Faithful in the slippery way of Perdition and under pretence of reducing them to the Faith over-whelmed them in the Whirl-pool and deep Dungeon of Damnation What a slander Hereticks were unto Christian Religion Eusebius shews how that some Hereticks taught how that they that would attain unto the Perfection of their Mysteries or rather abominable Devices they were to work such Facts though they were never so filthy otherwise they could not overcome the secular i. e. worldly Potentates unless every one played his part after the secret Operation And through the subtilty of Satan came many thereby to be seduced and great occasion was given to the Infidels to blaspheme against the divine Doctrine and a great slander came to be spread in that the Fame of them was bruted abroad throughout Christendom and by this means it fell out often that the Infidels of those times conceived a wicked absurd and shameful Opinion of the Christians saying That they used the unlawful Company of Mothers and Sisters and that they fed upon the tender Infants and Sucklings How the Christians were threatned and how some were converted by beholding their innocent Sufferings In the Judaical Wars it was commanded that the Christians should be grievously punished except they would renounce Christ and blaspheme God but some were Converted by beholding the patient and innocent Suffering of the Christians from Paganism to Piety as one said for my self saith he delighted with the Doctrine of Plato hearing that the Christians were led captive neither fearing Death nor any Torments which are accounted terrible I thought it could not be that this kind of Men were subject unto Malice and set on Pleasure for what voluptuous Person or intemperate or delighted with devouring of Man's Flesh can so imbrace Death that he be deprived of his desire and not rather endeavour that this may always last that he be able to deceive Princes and not betray himself to death Moreover Iustinus writeth how that Adrianus receiving Letters from a noble President signifying in the behalf of the Christians That it was very injurious that for no Crime but only at the cut-cry of the People they should be brought and Executed An Epistle of Adrian the Emperor who ordered that no Christians should be accused neither suffer without just Cause Unto M. F. Proconsul of Asia Adrian sendeth greeting I received an Epistle from S. G thy Predecessor the occasion whereof I cannot with silence leave untouched least that thereby Men be troubled and a gap left open to the malice of Sycophants that is Talebearers wherefore if your Provincials can prove ought against the Christians whereof they charge them and justifie it before the Bar let them proceed on and not appeach that is accuse or bewray them only for the name with making out-cryes against them For it is very expedient that if any be disposed to accuse the accusation be thoroughly known of you and siftod therefore if any accuse the Christians that they transgress the Laws see that you judge and punish according to the quality of the Offence But in plain words if any upon spite or malice in way of Cavillation complain against them see you chastise him for his Malice and punish him with Revengment Antoninus Pius Epistle in the behalf of the Christians The Emperor Caesar Marcus c. sendeth greeting unto the Commons of Asia I know saith he the Gods are careful to discover hurtful Persons for they punish such as will not worship them more grievously than ye do those whom ye bring in trouble confirming that Opinion which they conceive of you to be wicked and ungodly Men. It is their desire in Gods Quarrel rather to die than to live so that they become Conquerors yielding their lives unto the Death rather than to obey your Edicts It shall seem very necessary to admonish you of the Earth-Quake which have and do happen among us that being therewith moved you may compare our Estate with theirs They have more Confidence to God-wards than you have you during the time of your Ignorance despise other Gods contemn the Religion of the Immortal God Banish the Christians which Worship him and Persecute them unto Death In the behalf of these men many of the Provincial Presidents have Written heretofore unto our Father of Famous Memory whom he Answered in Writing again that they were not to be longer molested unless they had practised Treason aganst the Roman Empire And many have given notice unto us of the same Matter whom we answered as our Father did before us If any therefore hereafter be found thus busied in other Mens affairs we command that the accused be absolute and free tho he be found such an one I mean faulty and that the accuser be grievously Punished This Ediâ—…t was Proclaimed at Ephesus in the hearing of that great Assembly of Asia An Extract out of the Epistle of the Church of Smyrna unto all the Congregations of the Holy Catholick Church throughout Pontus Mercy Peace and the Love of God the Father and of our Lord Jesus Christ be multiplied We have written unto you Brethren of such as suffered Martyrdom The beholders of them were amazed seeing their Flesh rent with Scourges even unto the Inner Veins and Sinews so that the most secret Entrails of their Bodies their Bowels and inward Privities were piteously to be seen beholding again the sharp Shells of Sea-fish and pibble Stones strowed under the Martyrs Backs and bruised Bodies with every kind of Torment that could be devised last of all they were thrown to be torn in pieces and devoured of Wild Beasts But there was a certain Phrygian by Name Quintus that trembled at the fierce Rage of the terrible Beasts and shrinked at the sight of their grim Visage and betrayed his own safety with slackness of Courage for the same Epistle testifieth of him that he personally appeared together with the rest before the Bar more of rashness than of any Religion and being taken he publickly professed That none ought to intrude himself among such Men without good Devotion neither to intermeddle in matters wherewith he hath not to do The same Chapters sheweth how that after Polycarpus was apprehended he was brought to the City upon an Ass on the great Sabbath day And a Justice of Peace with his Father meeting him they received him into their Chariot and perswaded him saying What harm is it to say Lord Caesar to sacrifice and so be saved At the first he answered nothing but when they urged him he said I will not condescend unto your Counsel They perceiving he would not be perswaded gave him very rough Language and tumbled him
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
such I call so as are found professing Christianity in words but deny it in works as some that professed in Words they knew God but in Works they denyed him so they that profess to be Christians and live in all manner of Unchastity they by their Works deny that which they profess in words and so are not worthy to be called Christians while they are found in that which is against or contrary to Christianity in which thousands of persecuting false Christians are found and therefore do I call such Antichristians How the Ancient Christians suffered by the Heathen and how true Christians now suffer by the same Spirit of Enmity and Persecution which is entered into the false Christians alias Antichristians The First Persecution WHen that the Jews were bereaved of their Power by the Heathen and that the time was expired wherein they had so cruelly used the People of God nevertheless the Christians were not therefore freed from suffering for they were therein exercised under the Heathens Power and Nero was said to be the first Tyrannical Emperour that persecuted the Christians it was called the first Persecution because it was under the Emperors Power and it began in the year 66 after the Birth of Christ and at that time was chiefly within the City of Rome About that time did People begin to accuse the Christians with all manner of Wickedness and to esteem them as Reprobates because they did not honour the Gods Note Have not the true Christians suffered in England under the sundry Powers that have been of late even as the Antient Christians suffered under the Iewes And it appears that when the Iewes were deprived of their Power then did the Heathens Persecute the Christians And did not both Protectors and Parliaments persecute the Innocent when they were in Authority but since they have been deprived of the power and turned out as the Iewes were when the Gentiles came to have the preheminence hath not the King himself become Guilty of their Sin in persecuting or suffering the Innocent to be persecuted within his Dominions And hath not all manner of Evil been spoken of them and they been accounted unfit to live in either Kingdom or Commonwealth and that chiefly because they could no more honour that Proud and Ambitious Spirit which is gotten up in the hearts of Men then the Antient Christians heretofore could honour the Gods of the Heathen The Second Persecution IN the Year of our Lord 93. did the second Persecution begin under the Emperour Domitianus under whom several were put to Death and about the same time was the Apostle Iohn Banished unto the Island Pathmos where he Wrote his Revelation In those days the Christians were so little esteemed that the People called them Cobler Weavers Combers of Wool Illiterate and exceeding Rustick or Clownish yea such as knew no good fashions Note Have not some of the true Christians been put to death of late in New England and have not many of them suffered the spoiling of their Goods and their Bodies to be cast into Prison to be Whipt and shamefully intreated by the Anti-Christians and that about their Religion And have not many of the true Christians been in derision called Coblers Taylers Weavers Plowmen c. So little esteem have the true Christians now among the Children of this World as the Antient Christians heretofore have had among the Children of Men. The Third Persecution IN the Year 102. did the third Persecution begin under the Emperour Trajanus who tho' he was called a good Emperour did nevertheless Persecute the Christians out of Humility to the Gods in which Persecution several Bishops were put to Death as the Bishop of Rome the Bishop of Ierusalem c. And at that time the Bishop of Antioch testified That Sufferings made us like unto Christ who had suffered for us himself preparing a way through suffering unto Eternal Life About the same time did a Governour Write unto the Emperour in the Christians behalf whereupon the Emperour wrot That they should seek no more of them but those they had in Prison should they put to Death Note Without Controversie the Bishop or Pope of Rome must needs be much degenerated from that State in which those Bishops then were forasmuch as he now by that Power through which they were put to death doth put others to Death about their Religion for which they then suffered Martyrdom From hence it may be observed that the Bishops now which persecute tender Consciences about Religion are found rather in the Footsteps of the Heathen then in the condition of those Bishops that suffered Martyrdom Moreover in these latter days the Lord hath stirred up some at times to speak a Word or to Write a few Lines in the behalf of the true Christians unto them in Authority whereby their hearts have been so far moved and reached that they have done something in order to the mitigating of the Sufferings of the Innocent who at this day share with their Brethren in the Fellowship of the Suffering of the Gospel The Fourth Persecution IN the year 164. was the fourth Persecution of the Christians which arose under the Emperour Marcus Aurelius and Lucias Verus in which Polycarpus Bishop of Smyrna was put to Death who had been a Disciple of John and had been many years in the service of the Lord as he himself acknowledged About the same time was Iulianus put to death at Rome in whose time the Christians were accused for having a Fleshly conversion one with another which he marked to be Lyes by their willingness to Die and thereby he coming to be Converted became an Eminent Teacher of the Christians At Lyons in France did there go forth a Proclamation That the Christians might not dwell in their Houses nor that they must not converse upon the Streets nor shew their Faces which being Impossible for them to perform their sufferings became exceeding great and in the mean time some of the Slaves gave out that the Christians lived in filthy Lasciviousness among themselves In this Persecution there was one Lucius put to Death for reproving the Judge for puting the Christians to crueller Deaths then any other Transgressors Note Though the true Christians now are Vilified and Falsly accused by Anti-Christians as the ancient Christians were in former Ages yet wise men can see their Innocency and therefore do they love them in their Hearts and some time some have been Convinced by beholding the Patience Long-suffering and Innecency of the Innocent in these latter days who now some time do suffer the loss of their Liberty and the spoyling of their Gods if not Banishment either by vertue of Proclamations or of Decrees or of corrupt Laws which true Christians now can no more observe and obey then the antient Christians observed the aforesaid Preclamation of the King and this hath been evident that sundry of the true Christiant in these later days
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
death then did they begin to Rack Torture and put to death such as resisted and some were constrained to offer This Persecution hegun as a little sparke but it spread over the whole Church and the Persecution was so hot and great that the Persecutors themselves were troubled if not wearyed In Syria there was so many of the Chritians in hold that their Prisons were filled with them and with joy they went unbound to their death Eusebius Writes how that many of the Christians had their Ears cut off and their Noses slit and other of their Members were cut off also but they who caused it to be thus done unto the Christians did not escape the Hand of the Lord For Diocletianus who had endeavoured to root out the Name of Christians did nevertheless see in his Old Age that the Christians flourished at which he was troubled and killed himself and Maximinianus another Persecutor was terribly perplexed with Pain in his Bowels and other Misery which came upon him the Hand of the Lord was heavy upon others who had Persecuted the Christians yea and some was made to confess that they had deserved the Iudgement from the Hand of the Lord. Note As the Christians were then much prejudiced by their external Prosperity and Preferment so have many Thousands been Since And it's like the most of the Sects that are yet in being among the Christians may experience somthing of this to wit that their great external liberty and Prosperity in the flesh with their Promotion and Preferment in the World hath been a great Snare unto them as it was unto the Antient Christians who afterwards felt the Chastizing hand of the Lord and if all wanton Persecuting Christians in Europe and all the World over felt the same it might I am perswaded be good for the humbling of them who have exalted themselves higher then ever the Lord exalted them and so are become Haughty and insolent the Brotherly Love being Extinguished and so have set up an Usurpation of Authority in matters of Religion concerning the Worship of God But Oh will not the Lord visit for these things will he not avenge his Soul of such Hypocritical Anti Christians who are now found Persecuting and shamefully intreating the Lambs of God with whom in those latter days Prisons have been filled and some of them have had their Ears cut off and the Lives of others have been taken away and that by professing but Persecuting Christians who have run on in their Blind Zeal in Persecuting the Innocent and Harmless Christians and sometime the remakeable hand of the Lord hath been upon their Persecutors though others have not laid it to Heart yet they that have felt it have Mourned under it and therefore true is that saying Qui ante non cavet post dolebit The Eleventh Persecution IN the year 316 did the Eleventh Persecution of the Christians arise under the Emperour Licinius who formerly had been inclining to the Christians and a favourer of them yet afterwards did he Imitate the Wickedness and Impiety of other Tyrants for he by his Injunctions gave Commandment that no Charrity should be extended to the Christians for they that shewed them favour were to be Punished like the rest In this Persecution the Bodies of some were cut in small pieces and thrown into the Sea for to feed the Fish And the flattering Presidents to gratify this Tyrant Tormented such as had done no Evil even as if they had been Murtherers but when the Emperour Constantine could bear his Wickedness no longer he made War with him and overcame him then did this Persecution cease by whose means also the Christians lived in External Peace and Tranquillity but after this Peace there ensued Wars and deadly hatred among the Christians themselves Note Many were the Tribulations of the Antient Christians during the time of these Persecutions whereof I writ howbeit it is very like that then true Brotherly Love abounded among them and that they had a perfect fellow feeling of one anothers Sufferings for their Hearts was bound up in the bond of Love while they were kept in the unity of the Faith and exercised together in the fellowship of the sufferings of the Gospel But when these profitable Chastizments ceased and that they who succeeded in the places of those Persecutors became the great Friends and Favourers of the Christians so that they thereby came to enjoy external Peace ease in the Flesh and liberty in the outward How soon then did they Entertain Prejudice and Evil surmizing one against another how then did they begin to rend and tear one another and that often about their Bishopricks an Benefects How then did they run into Sects heaps and Partys and how did they weary the Emperour their special Friend with their complaints one against another and with the perpetul strife and division that superabounded among them To demonstrate these things at large would require a greater Volum then I intend to make at this time and particularly to prescribe them would ask more time then at present I have to spend about this matter yet thus much I may avouch or boldly affirm that in those days many evils crept in among Christians which unto this day could not be totally excluded root and Branch And about that very time when the Church was thought to Flourish most of all did many hurtful Weeds and degenerat Plants took rooting which have much more thriven and grown among the Anti-Christians then the Seed of the Kingdom which Seed hath been so overgrown and overtopt that that little which yet thereof remains is as hard to be found now in the Children of Men as Faith wili be to be found upon the Earth at the coming of the Son of Man The Twelfth Persecution IN the year 362 did the Twelfth Persecution arise under the Emperour Julianus the Apostate i. e. one that revolted from true Religion who had been accounted a Christian but was an Hyprocritical dissembler and counterfeated a Monkish life who being sent into France by the Emperour to make War with the Barbarians and obtaining some notable Victories was afterwards Proclaimed Emperour by the Souldiers and then did he set wide open the Temples and Idoll groves and Sacrificed to Pictures and Intituled himself an High Priest Then the Pagans at Alexandria stomaked the Christians and that the more because they went about to disclose unto the World the Pagans Pictures to the end their fond Ceremonies might be derided of all Men Whereupon they Boyled within themselves for Anger and took what first came to their Hands set upon them and Slew of them every kind of way so that some were run through with Swords some others Brained with Clubs other some Stoned to Death some Strangled with Haltors about their Necks in the end as commonly it falleth out in such hurly-burlies they held not their Hands from their dearest Friends for one Brother sought the other Brothers Life
indicting himself for this Fact and pleading Guilty when the blood of thy Martyr Stephen was shed I also was standing by and consenting unto his death and kept the Raiment of them that Slew him Acts 22. 20. God chiefly inspects the Heart and if the Vote be passed there writes the man Guilty though he stur no farther in all moral Actions God values the will for the deed the storm thus increased apace and a violent persecution began to arise in which our Apostle was a prime Agent and Minister Raging about in all Parts with a mad and ungoverned Zeal searching for the Saints beating some imprisoning others and procuring them to be put to death indeed he was a kind of Inquisitor imployed to hunt and find out these upstart Hereticks accordingly took a Warrant and Commission to go down to Damascus in fury and a misguided Zeal whether many of those persecuted Christians had fled for shelter but God who had designed him for a work of another nature and separated him from his Mother's womb to the Preaching of the Gospel stopt him in his journey as Acts 22. 9. and he fell unto the ground and heard a voice saying Saul Saul why Persecutest thou me and he went to Damascus another man from a Persecutor he became one of the Persecuted from hence he Traveled to Arabia and spent three years in the Ministery there and then retunned to Damascus a great and populus City from hence he went to Ierusalem and converst with Peter and Iames it was at Antioch about the beginning of Claudious's Reign ten years after Christ's Ascension where the Desiples was first called Christians being usually stiled before Nazarens from Jerusalem he set Sail to Cyprus and planted Christianity there and now the Old Spirit of the Iews did begin to hunt and persue them who coming from Antioch and Iconium exasperated and stired up the multitude and they who just before accounted them as Gods used them not only worse then men but slaves for in a mighty Rage they fell upon Paul stoned him and as they thought Dead and then drag'd him out of the City where the Christians of that place coming probable to Inter him he suddenly Revived and Rose up among them and the next day went hence to Debe and so Traveled to several places to Confirm the new planted Church he was Imprisoned and Ill-used at Phylippi His Parents were Tent Makers by Trade Preaching Christ at Jerusalem Italy Spain Labouring much among the Gentiles suffered at Rome under Nero as he was leading to Execution it is said Three of the Soulders that Guarded him seeing his Courage become Christians and suffered Death he kneeled down and his head strucken off with a Sword as some write in the 68 year of his Age and was buried with Peter The description of his Person He was a Man said to be of Low and tittle Stature and somewhat stooping his Complection fair his Countenance grave his head small his Eyes carried a kind of beauty and sweetness in them that he was Low himself plainly intimates when he tells us they were wont to say of him that his bodily person was weak and his speech contemptable in which respect he is stiled by Chrysostom a Man Three Cubits or a little more than four Foot high and yet tall enough to reach Heaven The Life of Andrew HIstory which hath hitherto been very Large and Copius in describing the Acts of the two first Apostles is hence forward very sparing in its accounts giving us only now and then a few oblique and accidental Remarks concerning the Rest and some of them no farther mentioned than the meer recording of their Names for what Reason it pleased the divine Wisdom and Providence that no more of their Acts should be consigned to writing by the Pen Men of Old is to us unknown Andrew was Born at Bethsaida a City of Galile standing upon the bank of the Lake of Genesareth Son to John or Jonas a Fisher-man of that Town Brother he was to Simon Peter he had Scythia and the Neighbouring Country primary alloted him for his Provinces first then he Traveled through Cappadocia Galatia and Bithynia and Instructed them in the Faith of Christ. Passing all along the Euxine Seas formerly called Axenus from the Barbarous and Inhospitable temper of the People who were wont to sacrificed strangers and of their Skulls make Cups to drink in at their Feasts and Banquets he was brought before the Proconsul who perswaded him that he would not foolishly destroy himself but live and injoy with him the pleasures of this Life the Apostle after many more words replyed that now he saw it was in vain any longer to deal with him a person incapable of sober Counsel and hardened in his on blindness and folly he might now do his worst and if he had one Torment greater than another he might heap that upon him the greater constancy he shewed in his suffering for Christ the more acceptable he should be to his Lord and Master the Procounsul first Commanded him to be scourged seven lashes successively whipping his naked body and seeing his invincable patience and constancy Commanded him to be Crucified but not to be fastned to the Cross with Nails but Cords that so his death might be the more lingering and tedious as he was led to Execution to which he went with a chearful and composed mind the People Cried out that he was an innocent and good Man being come within sight of the Cross he saluted it with this kind adress that he had long desired and expected that happy hour thus having prayed and exhorted the People to constancy and perceverance in that Relgion he was fastned to the Cross whereon he hung two days teaching and instructing the People all the time and when great importunities in the mean while was used to the Proconsul to spare his Life he earnestly begs of the Lord that he might at this time depart and seal the Truth of his Religion with his blood God heard his prayers and he immediately expired in the 9th month though in what year no certain account can be Recorded his Body being taken down and Embalmed was decently and honourably Interred by Maximilla a Woman of great Quality and Estate JAMES The Son of Zebede a Fisher-man by Birth a Galilean suppos'd to be one of the Brethren that their Mother asked that one might sit at the right hand and the other at the left hand of Jesus in his Kingdom he Preach't Christ unto the 12 Tribes some write that he came to Spain and other Western parts and also Britain Ireland he was slain with a Sword by Herod the Tetrach of the Jews in Judaea where he was buried JOHN The Brother of James by Birth a Galilean Preach't Christ in Asia coming near Rome was accused to the Emperor as an Assertor of Athesim and Subvertor of the Religion of the Empire whereupon he was sent bound to Rome and put into a Coldron