four Disciples to wit Valentinus Gentilis Alciat of Milan Gibradus and Blandrata First Valentinus spread his Errors secretly in Geneva for which being taxed renunced them under his own hand under pain of perjurie notwithstanding began to spread them the second time for which he was imprisoned and to be liberat from Prison wrot a second Recantation of his Blasphemies and at the command of the Magistrat burnt them publickly with his own hands Thereafter spread his Errors in France and Italy Arius was but once perjured but he twice then he went to Pole where he did meet with Blandrata and Alciat his old Companions which two had also fled out of Geneva and these three spread their Errors in Pole two years untill the King of Pole banished them out of his Dominions then Gentilis wandered through Austria Moravia and Savoy at last was apprehended within the confines of the Republick of Bern and for his doubled perjury and obstinancy in his Blasphemies against the blessed Trinity was judicially condemned at Bern by the Magistrat and burnt in the Year of Christ 1556. a Bucan loco 1. quest Sect. 5. Beza epist. 81. The History whereof is written at length by Aritius Professor at Bern. Third Blandrata a Physician disput often against Calvin at Geneva thereafter in Germany Helvetia and Pole vented his Errors at last turned Arian Anno Dom. 1569. and wrot against the Trinity Faustus Sosinus in his Book of Epistles pag 687. calls Blandrata his great Patron to be ever in honour with him but at last Blandrata was brother son and died b Beza epist 81. miserably The Fourth Alciot turned Mahumitan and fled to Turkie c Beza epist 16 Gilbraldus died of the Pestilence Beza writes of other two whereof the one â—rowned himself in a well The other Ochinus how miserable he died all Pole knew as writs Beza and Cardinal Hosius Staucarus in Pole wrot against the Sacred Trinity which the Orthodox Synod in Pole condemned and the Divines of Hidelberg and Tigurie refuted and Calvin also An. Dom. 1563. and Beza 1568. d Beza epist. ad Polonos 28. An. 1567 a Book written at Alba Julia by the Hereticks in Sarmatia and Transilvania is refuted at large by Zanchius de tribus Elohim Georgius Paulus Superintendent of the Hereticall Churches in the Dioces of Croco of whom writs Beza Epist 81. Statorius against whom Beza writs Epist 15 and 16. Andrew Dudithius sometime a Bishop in Hungarie and a conspicuous member of the Trent Council he left the Roman Church to him Beza writs his first Epist Anno Dom. 1570. both large and loving yet at last he fell in the snare of the Transilvanian Hereticks Sylvanus Pastor in Hydelberg turns Arian and Traitor against his Prince Palatine For these two crymes he was beheaded Anno Dom. 1522. His Colleague Menzerus escaping out of Prison went first to Pole then to Transilvania at last to Constantinople and there turned a circumcised Turke he dyed crying and roaring most terribly that the Turks said they never saw such a fearfull death and that he was a Child of Satan and the Reader may think no wonder of his desperat death seing he had renounced his Saviour and Baptisme Saedelius in Pole denyed Christs Divine Nature and the New Testament Laelius Sosinus an Italian foresaking the Errors of the Roman-church Calvine wrot an Epistle to him Anno Dom. 1555. of him Beza writs Epist 81. Faustus Socinus his Nephew leaving Italy came to Tyguri with his Uncles Papers where he spent three years in privat Studies he was of a quick wit but too proud and bold he confesseth in his writs that he had little Logick Greek or Hebrew he went to Transilvania and there spread his Errors he was in such repute with these Hereticks that even at this day they are designed Socinians Franciscus Davidis about the Year 1580. Superintendent in Transilvania to that Sect of Hereticks denyed that Christ was God or the Messias or should be worshipped For which the Prince of Transilvania cast him in Prison where he turning mad dyed in dispair affirming he saw the Devils came to take him away with them Poleologus a Dominican at Rome fled to Poland turned Arian but was brought back to Rome and burnt Smalcius Socinian Preacher at Racovia wrot a large Socinian Catechism Printed Anno Dom. 1608. As Socinus had written another and still the Socinians are busie scribling their Blasphemies and Printing them at Goslavius Anno Dom. 1613. And Nicolaides Anno. Dom. 1614. An Advocat at Paris Anno Dom. 1616. caused Print Abailardus his Blasphemies which had been condemned and accursed by a Church Council above 500. years before Anno Dom. 1620 Servetus Books were turned in Dutch and Printed in Belgia in which he blasphemes the most blessed Trinity a Triceps cerberus diabolicum phantasma illusio Doctor Forbes Anno Dom. 1631. refutes a dissertation of a certain Socinian then newly written b Instructionum historico Theologicarum lib. 1. cap. 7. Anno Dom. 1642. Crellius Socinian Preacher at Racovia hath Printed a Book against the Trinity and after him Stychmanus The Socinians not only increased in Pole and Transilvania but also are come to Belgia where they consort with the Arminian For Anno Dom 1611. The Orthodox Synod in Pole writs to Paraeus regrating that the Socinians in Pole made much of Arminius and now the later Arminians are poysoned with Socinianism as is clear from the writtings of Episcopius their Chiftain c Socinanismi confutati tom 1. pag. 92. It was granted indeed that the Socinians are banished Belgia by publick Proclamation of the States of the Natherlands yet notwithstanding many Socinians lurk there under the notion of Remonstrants and Anabaptists both which Sects are tolerat there and who all three joyn and agree in many of their Opinions as writs Hoorn Beek Divinity Professor at Utright Anno Dom. 1650. a Voetius de tolerantia Antitrinitatiorum ministri remonstrantes non pauci in Socinianis erroribus deprehensi inter quos celebres Hendricus Slatius Adolphus Venator Gesterani duo complures in Zuid Hollandia Ann-Dom 1618. 1619. Idem Voetius in thesebus de necessitate utilitate dogmatis de trinitate scribit quod Remonstrantes inter suos tolerent foverent promoveant eos omnes quos Socinianis aut Anabaptisticis Erroribus aut pejoribus opinionibus delibutos probe noverint E. G. Velsingium Tonbergium Anno Dom. 1638. Sartorius a Socinian at Amsterdam wrot a Letter to Adam Frank Socinian Preacher at Claudiopolis which the Prince of Transilvania intercepted and caused Print where is written that in Holland there is a great harvest of Socinians a The Socinians do not only lurk and multiply in Belgia but which is lamentable are creept over to England Mr. Edwards Ganerene parte prima Printed at London Anno Dom. 1646. Writs That here the Doctrine of the Trinity by too too many is called a Popish Tradition and part third
abhorred them the more So I wish every Christian Reader of this Little Catalogue to make the like good use of it for the Learned read them at length in the large Volums and from this Catalogue the Learned may Collect the Reason why the subtill Serpent the Enemy of Gods Glory and Mans Salvation was so much set against the Doctrine of the Trinity even because of it's great fundamentality in the Christian Saving Faith In the second Part of the Chapter follows the manyfold and sade evils both of Sin and Misery that were caused by these Blasphemous Hereticks 1. The Lord of Glory was in a High Degree dishonoured and greatly provoked to anger So that the Learned and Pious in there consuming Zeal and holy Indignation did admire the Lords long Suffering Patience crying out O God how long shal the adversary reproach shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever Psal 74. 10. 2. Too many followed those Blaspheming Hereticks and their Pernitious wayes and that often in the particular Kingdom where their Blasphemy was first invented and sometimes their Pestilentious Breath spread abroad and infected moe Kingdoms with their Poyson 3. Satan and the power of Darknesse sometimes seemed to triumph and Wickedness to lift up it's horn on high and the smoak of the Bottomless Pit to darken the Face of the Earth 4. Many weak Christians and tender Lambs of Christ staggered and stumbled being troubled with the Words of Hereticks almost to the subverting of their Souls now in a fainting condition their hearts being moved as the Trees of the Wood with a mighty Wind and many in danger to perish for whom Christ died 5. The sade condition of these Flocks no doubt moved their Pastors in holy Zeal like St. Paul to wish these incorrigible Hereticks who did what in them lay to destroy the Flock of God Accursed from the Lord as they were cut off from the Church Gal. 5. 12. even these wandring Stars to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness-for ever Jude v. 13. 6. Sometime unstable Church men were Deceived and Insnared who when Learned Eloquent or both they prevailed mightily both in City and Countrey Like that time when the Great Red Dragons Tail did draw the third part of the Stars of Heaven and cast them to the Earth Revel 12. 3 4. Hence a fearfull Rent and Schisme was made in the Church Hence came Biting Devouring and Consuming one another Gal. 5. 15. 7. The Jew and Pagan were hardened in their Errors and a stumbling block insuperable laid in the way of their Conversion 8. The Jew and in after Ages the Turk joyning with them did gladly â—rasp at the opportunity to increase the Fire of Conâ—ention by joyning with the Hereticks and Apostats and strengthning their hands against the Orthodox And took the more boldnesse to Blaspheme that worthy Name by which we ate named Iam. 2. 7. 9. The frequent and beautiful meetings of the Flocks of Christ being Seduced Diminished and Scattered caused their Faithful Pastors to offend Mourn and Lament these of their Flocks that had fallen Like the Loving Mother weeping over not One only but Many of Her Children dying together And to lyâ— all night in Sackcloath and weep betwixt the Porch and the Altar to be in great heaviness and continual sorrow of heart and almost to wish themselves accursed from Christ for the welfare of His Church and their Flocks therein Rom. 9. 21. 10. When sometime the Faction of Hereticks grew strong as in particular of the Arians having by the subtility of the Serpent obtained the Secular Power to joyn and side with them and so did many Years Persecute the true Church of Christ not only to the spoyling of their Goods Imprisonment or Banishment but also many thousands having suffered Cruel Torments at last Sealled the True Faith of Christ with their Blood and Death Of which Arian Persecution against the true Church of Christ we intend hereafter to give you a more particular accompt Follows the third part of the Chaâ—ter wherein we shall give you a Compendious accompt of the Good and Holy Means which the God of Truth who walks in the midst of the seven Golden Candlesticks and His Church the Pillar and Ground of Truth 1 Tim. 3. 15. Having the Truth dwelling in them and therefore were Fellow-helpers to the truth in this time of Jacob trouble Windowing and Fiery Tryal The Lord stirred up and inspired the Learned Doctors of His Church to plead the cause of their Mother against these Wolves and Foxes who made Havock of the Church which Doctors in their Generation were Burning and Shining Lights did earnestly contend for the Faith once delivered unto the Saints Jude 3. Were valiant for the Truth and suffered it not to fall in the Streets but gave those Hereticks publick Disput as they found Opportunity Refuted them by their Writings left to the Church in their several Volums to this Day wherein they Refuted not only the Heresies that rose in their own Dayes but also all the Heresies that Blasphemers had spread before their time and by Painfull and Zealous Preaching of the Truth they Confirmed their Flocks and furnished them with Powerfull preservatives against the Poyson of Seducers a Ignatius Justinus in suis Epistolis Justinus epistola ad Philippenses Dominus mittens Apostolos jussit baptizâ—re in nomen Patris Filij Spiritus Sancti 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Epist. ad c. Philadel-Phienses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod ad Ignatium in suis maltis epistolis ad varias Ecclesias perquam erudite omnes Hereticos se priores confutat confundit praesertim antitrinitarios 3. Irenaeus justo volumine summo labare scripsit polemice adversus Hereticos se priores contemporarios 4 Cyprianus justo itidem volumine multus est in veritate christiana stabilienda quam hi quatuor heroessanguine consignarunt A second Mean Beside the thousand thousand Christians that Sealed the Christian Faith of the Trinity with their Blood and Death among them many Pious and Learned Bishops not only defended the Truth of God by their Pen and Writings as a foresaid but also Sealed that Truth which they had Written and Preached by their Blood and Death As Ignatius Justin Irenaeus and Cyprian and many others who wrot learnedly in defence of the Sacred Trinity against Blasphemous Hereticks The third Means As these glorious Martyrs for the Glory of their Lord Father Son and Holy Ghost Sealed His Truth with their Blood So the Almighty who only does wonders appended His own Seall to His own Truth in their Death by many miracles of diverse sorts First of stupendious Courage and a Ignatius a militibus Romam conductus in Epist quam ad Romanos praemisit vehementer christianos hortatur Romanos adjurat ut eorumnullus solicitet magistratum Romanum ut Ignatium a morte liberate fassus se exultaturum tormenta mortem pro Christo submenta martyrium
malice in stirring up Hereticks against the Sacred Trinity and Mans Naturall weakness and pronness to listen to Error and believe Lies especially against the blessed Trinity most prudently and Piously aggreed and unanimously to sing the Doxology to the blessed Trinity in the publick Worship of God to be a Witness against the Arian and other Blasphemers of the Trinity and for Confirmation of the Orthodox and sound Believers in the True Faith for Singing Glory to God Father Son and Holy Ghost being in it self a Lawfull and Holy unquestionable Duty of Christians albeit there were neither Heretick to oppose and Blaspheme the Trinity nor Devil to tempt them to that wicked Deed then finding both wicked Men and Devils by Experience enemies to that found and saving Truth makes the singing of the Doxology besides it's Lawfulness and Expediency to be most usefull and edifying for the People of God and a strong preservative against Antitriâ—itarian Heresies Here we are not to think that the Doxology or praising of the Holy Trinity was not used by the Doctors of the Church these burning and shining Lights before and beside the publick singing in the Church for the Sacred Trinity being the great Fundamental of the Christian Faith and object of Divine Worship these Doctors ordinarily closed their Prayers or Sermons or other Writtings with the Doxology Anno Dom. 165. Policarpus Bishop of Smirna who had been the Disciple of the beloved Disciple St John dying a glorious Martyre in presence of many thousand Jews Pagans and Christians ready to step into the Fyre closed his heavenly Prayer thus I glorifie thee through the everlasting high Priest Jesus Christ thy welbeloved Son to whom with the and the Holy Ghost be all Glory World without end Amen Here this blessed Martyr not only sealled the Doctrine of the blessed Trinity with his Death but also the Blessed Glorious Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost Sealled that same Faith of this Faithfull Martyr with many miracles at his Death of which we wrot in the second Chapter b Eus lib. 4. hist cap. 19. About the Year of Christ 190. Clemens Alexandrinus writeth thus Let us praise Father Son and Holy Ghost who one is all and in whom are all altogether Good Beautifull Wise and Just to whom be Glory now and for ever a lib. 3. paedagog In the Year of Christ 325. The famous Councill of Nice having condemned Arius and his Blaspheming Associats for denying the Co-eternity of the Son and Holy Ghost with the Father they writ a Synodical Letter to the Churches of Alexandria Aegypt Lybia and Pentapolis which they close with a Doxology to the Sacred Trinity Thus By the help of God the Father Almighty and our Lord Jesus Christ with the grace of the Holy Ghost to whom be glory for ever Amen b Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 6. Theodoret lib. 1. cap. 9. The Synodical Epistle of the Council of Illyricum closeth thus these things are inacted to the glory of the Father Son and Holy Ghost for ever 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sozemen lib. 3. cap. 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sozomen closeth the Preface to his Church History to Christ with God the Father and Holy Ghost be Glory for ever Amen c Macarius a Church-man in Aegypt who lived in the reign of Constantine and Constantius closeth his 12th 16th and 17th Homolies with the Doxology About the Year of Christ 360. in the Church of Antioch being a Patriarchall See at Publick Worship were conveened most part Orthodox but some Arians mixed with them when they came to that part of the Worshhip which a Chronologer d Nicephorus Hist Ecclesiast lib. 9. cap 24. Ait eos cecinisse Doxologiam ad sinem Psalmodij writes was immediatly after their singing the Psalm then the Orthodox did sing the Doxology Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost according to the Doctrine of the Nicen Council But the Arians who were with them in the Church differing from the Orthodox sang Glory to the Father by the Son thereby purposing that the Father was greater then the Son which difference in the singing being perceived by Leontius e Leontius tametsi sordibus Arianae blasphemiae fuit inquinatus tamen eas callide admodum occultare studuit Etenim cum clerum Laicam etiam multitudinem in duas partes divisam cerneret Orthodoxos adhibentes conjunctionem Filio Spiritui Sancto Arianus vero ante Filium Per ante Spiritum Sanctum In. praeponere Ipse totam glorisicationem tacitus secum recitavit adeo ut qui ei proximi erant solum hanc particulam in secula seculorum audirent haec Theodoretus lib. 2. cap. 24. Ex Athanasio Regnante Anastasio diuterius Arianorum Constantinop Episcopus cum quendam Barbam nomine baptizare intenderet spreta dominica institutione diceret baptizatur Barbas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hoc dicto aqua in columbethra evanuit Barbas vero arreptâ fugâ exivit miraculum hoc cunctis significavit Haec scribit Theodorus lector in collectaveris lib. 2. Nicephorus calisti lib. 16. hist Eceles cap. 35. then Bishop of Antioch and inclining to Arianisme putting his hand to his Gray Hairs said when this snow is melted there will be much Mire by Age and Experience and Humane Prudence he did foresee the Storm of the Arian persecution of which I have spoken somewhat in the 3d. chap. of this Treatise for the Orthodox did sing the Doxology according to the Words of our Saviour in the Gospel in the Words of His Divine Institution of Baptisme Matth. 28. 19. All three in one manner to the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost but the Arian did sing Glory to the Father by the Son in the Holy Ghost where observe that the Arian as yet did not altogether refuse to sing the Doxology upon any pretended reason or scruple of Conscience as some men do now but it is like the singing of the Doxology was then performed by the Orthodox with such Zeall and unanimity that the Arian was as yet afraid or ashamed altogether to refuse the singing of it as some now do Basil the great who lived in the Year of Christ 369. in his Book concerning the Holy Ghost cap. 27. He writs that the most ancient Fathers did sing Gods praise to Father Son and Holy Ghost according to the Word in Baptism and these two great Doctors Basil and Chrysostom who were contemporary Bishops in the Greek Church each of them wrot a Greek Leturgy being their Mother tongue which both are used at this day in all the Christian Churches of the World that are within the Greek Communion a In Lyturgia St. Basil prope finem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The one Lyturgy on the Sabbath Dayes b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The other Lyturgy on all other Solemn Dayes and in both these Lyturgyes the Doxology was and still is used these 1300 Years without
evadere se ommnino abnuere sed instexibiliter desiderare qualis fortitudo in pluribus martyribus fuit conspicua Joy given them from above to the Admiration and Confusion of their their tormenting Enemies 2dly Miracles manifested without them in their Death as the Learned may read in the Church History often the wild beasts refusing to devour them and sometimes the fire to burn them b Hujus instantia in Polycarpi martyrò commemorantur haec miracula in itinere ad ignem voce è Coelo confortatur 2. dum stat in igne ingens flamma ad distantiam corpus circumvallat quasi sanctum dei attingere renuens ita ut miles illud observans flamma crudelior Policarpi corpus hastâ confoderit 3 sancti combusti corpus suavissimum fragrantissimum emisit odorem Euseb hist Eccles lib. 4. cap. 14. Yea 3dly the Lord wrought many Glorious Miracles at the Graves of Martyres after their Death of which there are many Examples in the Church History The Fourth Mean whereas Solomon saith in the multitude of counsellers there is safety Therefore the Doctors of the Primitive Church did meet in Councils as they saw need in this or that Kingdom but sometimes also they did meet more solemnly in greater numbers sometimes 3 or 4. sometimes 600 Bishops together besides moe then the double number of Presbyters and these of the most Learned and Pious Divines that were in the Christian World out of Asia Affrica and Europe by long and perilous journies crossing Sea and Land beginning with a Patres Synodi Nicerni jejunium indixerunt ut Deus utilitati Ecclesiarum consultum vellet Teo doret in ancorato fasting and praying To which Councils respective the then reigning Hereticks were Summoned to appear and appearing were examined anent their Errors their Errors refuted and sometime yet seldome themselves converted but if obstinat their mouths stopped their Errors and Blasphemies condemned and accursed themselves Excommunicat and sometimes also Banished by the supream civil Magistrate and for the furder confirmation of the Faith of following Generations and establishment of the Posterity in the Truth The Church did put in register the proceedings of these famous Councills whether Nationall or Generall against these severall Hereticks As also their severall Acts for Order and Decency which Books are extant to this day in great Volumes As for these Hereticks albeit the Lord did permit them for a season to try His People if they would cleave to His Truth or not Deut. 13. 3. And that the approved might be made manifest 1 Cor. 11 13 Yet the Lord blessed the pains of His faithfull Servants against them So that these Storms were turned to a Calme and these Hereticks wholly made known and He who sets bounds to the proud waves of the Sea set also bounds to Satans Malice and put a hook in the nose of these Blasphemers The Fifth Mean The Lord from Heaven did manifest His Wrath and Indignation signally against some of the speciall Ring-leading Hereticks or else by the hand of the civil Magistrat b Eus lib. 2. cap. 1. 13 14. Egesippus lib. 3. cap. 2. Epiphanius lib. 2. her 22. Simon Magus at Rome by the help of Devils did flee in the Air but fell down and was bruised to death at the prayers of the Apostle Peter Secondly Elimas the Sorcerer was by God miraculously smitten with blindness for his Anti christian perversness Acts 13. 11. c Eus lib. 5. cap. 15 18. Thirdly Montanus and his Prophetess Maximilla hanged themselves d Eus lib. 5. cap. 14. Fourthly Theodotus by force took his flight towards Heaven but fell down and died miserably Fifthly Buddas or Terebinthus Nicen through Sorcery did flie up in the Air but fell down and brake his neck e Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 17. Sixthly Manues a Persian Heretick the King of Persia caused take off his skin flayed alive filled it with Chaffe and hanged it up at the Gate of the City f Socratas lib. 1. cap. 21. Seventhly Arius being observed by the Bishop of Alexandria that he was a dangerous Heretick and mighty proud while he is under Process intends to come to the Church of Alexandria to morrow in a presumptuous manner wherefore the Bishop all that night stayed in the Church with Fasting and Prayers and Tears wrestling against Arius who to morrow going to that Church a sudden Terror of Conscience and vehement louseness of Belly did assault him that he was forced to go aside to the next publick Jacks where all his bowells gushed out a fit Death-bed for so vile an excrement of Satan whose breath had bred the most deadly pestilency that ever was in the World whose manner of Death was a mercy to the World and a Beaken of his Shipwrack fixed by the Almighty upon the dangerous Rock of his Blasphemous Heresie g Prosper in chronico Eightly Priscbillianus Anno Dom 400. being condemned by a Church Council at Burdeaux for his Blasphemies against the Trinity with others of his Stamp was beheaded by the Emperour Maximus All the foresaid Blasphemers of the Trinity the Lord stigmatized with a miserable death to the terror of others CHAP. III. Containeth the rise of the Arian Heresie in the Fourth Century their Persecution and Activity their Falshood Injustice and Cruelty and the prevalent Testimony both of God and His Church against them AS in the first 300. Years after our Lord's Ascension His Church was sore vexed by Ten bloody Persecutions raised by Pagan Emperours and molested by Antitrinitarian Hereticks of which we have given you a short view in the former Chapter So in this fourth Century Satan the Father of Lies Anno Dom. 324. filled the Heart of Arius a proud Presbyter in Alexandria with Blasphemies against the second Person of the Blessed Trinity wherefore the famous Council of Nice consisting of 318. Bishops conveened partly for examining and confounding of Arius Error in the Year 325. where after long dispute granted to the Adversary his blasphemous Error was condemned and he Excommunicate Notwithstanding thereafter his Errors spread like a Gangren and that chiefly by occasion of two Emperours Constantius and Valence whom the Arians seduced to their Heresie and so the Arian obtaining the Arm and Countenance of the Civil Power to their wicked Faction they left no mean unesseyed to encrease and strengthen their Party and spread their Poison which we intend to treat of in this Chapter in these particulars First Their indefatigable pains in conveening Church Councils Secondly The Falshood and Injustice in their Proceedings Thirdly Their hellish Policies Fourthly Their monstruous Cruelty against the Orthodox Fifthly The Lord 's witnessing against them both by His Church and His own immediate Hand of Justice upon them To return to the first of these in imitation of the Orthodox and true Church like Satan they transformed themselves into Angels of Light did conveen Councils sometime in one City and Kingdom and sometime in another
reason and cause to sing Glory to the Father Son and Holy Ghost for His merciful Providence to them who knowing their weakness better then themselves hath preserved them from such an hour of temptation and fiery tryal not suffering them to be tempted above that they are able But furthermore I give you this warning that if ye affirm with the three Children you would sing in your fiery trial but refuse to sing now when ye are preserved from it Look to your selves that ye be not tempting God to cause you suffer Arian Persecution that then ye may praise the glorious Trinity better which now ye refuse because the Lord frees you from Arian Persecution this sore Trial the Lord avert In the last part of this Chapter we shall observe the Testimony given by God and His Church in this fourth Century chiefly against the Arian First As for the true Church they were not deficient to bear witness to the Truth but as opportunity served they conveened Orthodox Councils and among others one at Sardica a Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 16. of 370. Orthodox Bishops where the Arians Accusations against Athanasius and other Orthodox Bishops were examined and all found false and forged Another Council at Jerusalem b Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 19. Anno Dom. 351. A third at Millan of 300. Bishops c Theodoret. lib. 2. cap. 15. in which Councils they ratified the Orthodox Truth and Nicen Creed and before that Anno Dom. 363. a Council of about 200. Bishops at Ariminum ratified the same Orthodox Nicen Creed As the Orthodox Church during the time of the Arian Persecution notwithstanding of all the cruelty used against them the Church-men gave Testimony against the Arian by Preaching Writing and Disputes and both the Church-men and their Flocks by valiant suffering of Martyrdom and sealing the Truth with their Blood So the Lord Himself from Heaven divers ways did bear Testimony against the Arian and for His Truth first in granting Signs and Wonders to be done by the Orthodox Church in this fourth Century and in the Arians hottest Persecution when in the mean time the Arians had no Miracles amongst them nor did they pretend to any and although they had pretended to work Miracles yet the Arians Miracles had been nothing but Satans lying Wonders But God honoured even the persecute Orthodox to work glorious Miracles for instance the Arians having banished some Orthodox Christians to a remote Island in the Sea where the Pagans worshipped the Devil seated in a Grove these banished Orthodox Christians first cast a Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 19. out the Devil out of the Pagan Priests Daughter then converted her and her Parents and at last the whole Pagans of that Island to the Christian Faith So the Devil could not stand before these Orthodox Christians A second instance Moses an Orthodox Christian was famous for working of Miracles who coming to Alexandria refused to receive Consecration to a Bishoprick from Lucius Bishop of Alexandria b Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 29. because he was an Arian but reproved him sharply proving him to be altogether void of the true Principles of Christian Religion but that same worker of Miracles received Consecration from the Orthodox Clergy to the said Bishoprick As the Lord did bear Testimony to the Orthodox Christians and their Faith by giving them the gift of Miracles and not to the Arian so did that Lord as Judge of the World declare and manifest His Wrath against the chief Arian Persecuters in this Century First instance Constantius the first Arian persecuting Emperour who as he was false to God in turning Arian so his kinsman Julian whom he choised to be General of his Army turned false to him who having rebelled Constantius leads an Army against him but died by the way in Silicia sore lamenting and repenting of his Arian Heresie c Theodoret. lib. 2. cap. 32. Second instance The other Arian Emperour Valence was Satans evil Instrument perverting the Goths to Arianism of which Poyson they were not cured some hundreds of Years therafter d Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 27. and for the Emperours reward the Goths rebelling beat him and his Army in Battel and he flying to a little Tower they burnt the Tower and him with Fire a Theodoret. lib. 4. cap. 3. Hieronimus chronico ad annum 382. Third instance The Wrath of God was remarkable in the death of George the Arian Bishop of Alexandria whose cruelty is mentioned in this same Chapter before in the sixth instance of the Arian Cruelty where this Arian George was Ringleader for not many Years after the foresaid instance of Persecution the Pagans in Alexandria raised a seditious Tumult against the said George pulled him out of the Church by the Ears tied him to a Camel then did tear him in pieces and burnt him and the Camel to Ashes b Socrat. lib. 3. cap. 2. CHAP. IV. The unamimous practice and appointment of the universall Church for singing of the Doxology because Satan and his supposts mad and stupendious opposition of the Doctrine of the Trinity and so warring against God THe Glorious Trinity of Persons in the God-head being the great fundamental Article of our Christian Faith and that Christ is the Son of God the second Person of the blessed Trinity upon which Rock the Christian Church is built Matth. 16. 18. By which Name they are saved Acts 4. 12 Even the great mystery of godlinesse God manifested in the Flesh which Mystery cannot be known nor believed aright to Salvation unless we first know and believe that the Son sent by and from the Father was incarnat and not the Father John 17. 3. To this point we have spoken in the first Chapter Therefore Satan in the three first Centuries stirred up most Hereticks against the Sacred Trinity and the Incarnation of the Son of God to which we have spoken in the 2d Chapter Thirdly The Arians who rose in the Fourth Century being more Active and Subtil False Bloody and prevalent then any Hereticks which were before them persecuted the true Church of God in an Hellish manner for this cause the then Orthodox Church as they used many good means for strengthening the Christians in the Faith and confuting confounding of Hereticks as Preaching Disputs Writtings Councils and Church Censure by Excommunication all which Means the God of Heaven Countenanced and Blessed with good Success So in that Fourth Century the True Church in their Publick Worship did appoint that at the close of singing the Psalm they should sing this Doxology Glory to the Father to the Son and to the Holy Ghost in which Deed they have imitate the Lords own Example commanding Moses now therefore write ye this Song for you and teach it the Children of Israel put it in their mouths that this Song may be a witness for me against the Children of Israel Deut. 31. 19. So the Primitive Church perceiving by sad experience Satans incessant