of Iudea bestowed by his predecessour CAIVS vpon HEROD AGRIPPA and added thereto all the dominions of HEROD ANTIPAS whom CAIVS had banished Ioseph antiq lib. 19. cap 4. This HEROD AGRIPPA when hee returned from ' Italie to Judea builded the walles of Ierusalem sparing for no cost so high and strong that if the worke had not beene hindered by the procurement of MARSVS gouernour of Syria hee had made them impregnable Hee was not so carefull to build the walles of the spirituall Jerusalem for he beheaded the holy Apostle S. IAMES the brother of IOHN and did cast PETER into prison whome the Lord miraculously deliuered Acts 12. This HEROD and the Iewes made hauocke of the glory of God and blood of his Saintes For hee gratified them by shedding the blood of the Apostles of Christ and againe they gratified him by giuing him the glorie that appertained to God alanerly For which cause he was stricken by the Angel of God and consumed with wormes Acts 12. In this Emperour CLAVDIVS dayes the famine foretolde by the Prophet AGABVS Acts II. afflicted the world One of the causes of this plague doubtlesse was the manifold abuses of the creatures of God in the middes of the aboundance of bread the contempt of the poore which faultes were so vniuersally ouerspread in the worlde that some of the Emperours themselues were not free of the foule spot of intemperancie as the scoffing speaches of the people did witnesse in stead of CLAVDIVS TIBERIVS NERO calling the Emperour CALDIVS BIBERIVS MERO Funct Chron. This is referred to the successour of AVGVSTVS In the yeere of our Lord 48. and in the sixt yeere of the reigne of CLAVDIVS as CHYTRAeVS reckoneth was gathered that famous Councill of Jerusalem described viuely by the Euangelist LVKE Acts 15. whereat were present the Apostles PETER and PAVL and IAMES and BARNABAS a reuerent man of God in whome Apostolike giftes were not inlacking with other worthie men IVDAS surnamed BARSABAS and SILAS notable Prophets and fellow-labourers of the Apostles likewise the Commissioners of Antiochia and Elders of Jerusalem with many others who were beleeuers What was concluded in this Councill I remit to the faithfull narration of the Euangelist LVKE Acts 15. Alwayes if votâ—…s bee pondered rather then numbred this is the Councill of Councils more worthie to be called O Ecomenicke then the Councils of Nice of Constantinople of Ephesus and Chalcedon In the Councill of Nice were worthy Bishops who came from all quarters of the world but in this Councill were holy Apostles who could not erre in matters of faith O Ecomenicke Bishops indeede and any one of the holy Apostles was illuminated with more aboundance of cleare light in things pertaining to the worship of God then all the 300. and 18. Bishops conveened at Nice in Bithynia Many Romaine Deputies were sent in the dayes of CLAVDIVS to keepe Syria and Iudea in subjection to the Romaines such as MARSVS LONGINVS CVSPIVS PHADVS TIBERIVS ALEXANDER CVMANVS and FELIX I leaue MARSVS and LONGINVS for desire to open vp in what Deputies time things mentioned in holy Scripture came to passe When CVSPIVS PHADVS was deputie there arose a deceitful man named THEVDAS to whom resorted a number of men about 400. who were slaine and all who followed him were scattered Acts 5. ver 36 IOSEPHVS writeth that PHADVS sent foorth a troupe of horsemen who suddenly charged the people that followed THEVDAS and slew them and tooke THEVDAS aliue and cutted off his head and brought it to Ierusalem Ioseph antiq lib. 20. cap. 2 Euseb. lib. 2. cap. 11 After this man arose one IVDAS of Galile in the dayes of the tribute and drew away much people after him hee also perished and all that obeyed him were scattered Acts 5 37. If GAMALIEL in that narration keepe the order of time as these words After him would import of necessitie the words of the history of the Actes must be vnderstood of another THEVDAS then that man of whome IOSEPHVS writeth in the place aboue mentioned For IVDAS of Galite liued in the dayes of AVGVSTVS and when CYRENIVS was Deputie of Syria and Iudea Ioseph antiq lib. 18. cap. 2. and likewise antiq lib. 20. cap. 3. But I am not certaine whether or no the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doe absolutely import that IVDAS of Galile was posterior in time to THEVDAS When CVMANVS was Deputie who succeded to TIBERIVS ALEXANDER the insolencie of one Romaine souldier was the destruction of twenâ—… 〈◊〉 innocent people hee discouered the secret parts of his body vpon a solemne feast day neere vnto the Temple and in the sight of the Iewes they counted this a contempt done to God in the porch of his owne house CVMANVS drewe the Romaine souldiers to the Castle called Antonia verie neere the Temple and set them in order and the people of the Iewes fearing the inuasion of the souldiers fled and in the narrowe passages ouertro de one another and a great multitude of people were slaine Ioseph antiq lib. 20 cap. 4. After this the people of the Iewes came to Cesarea where CVMANVS was for the time and complained of a Romaine souldier who had casten a booke of holy Scripture into the fire whom CVMANVS beheaded and so pacified the Iewes Ioseph antiq lib. 20. cap. 4. In end CVMANVS through his euill gouernement procured to himselfe the indignation of the Emperour CLAVDIVS he fauoured the wicked cause of the Samaritanes who had stopped the passages of the Galileans and slaine a great number of them They were accustomed yeerely to goe vp to Jerusalem to holy feastes and their way was through the townes and villages of the Samaritanes CVMANVS rather fauoured then punished this wicked fact of the Samaritanes therfore he was remoued from his place and FELIX was sent to be Deputie of Iudea Ioseph antiq lib. 20. cap. 5. Whether CLAVDIVS was impoisoned by AGRIPPINA his wife to prepare an easie passage to NERO her sonne to be Emperour or not I leaue that to be read in authors who haue entreated the lifes of Emperours politickly It contenteth me to write of the estate of the Church in their time Nero. DOMITIVS NERO succeeded to CLAVDIVS hee reigned thirteene yeres and eight months Euseb. lib 3. cap. 5. His mother AGRIPPINA after the death of CNEVS DOMITIVS AENOBARBVS was joyned in mariage with the Emperour CLAVDIVS In the first fiue yeeres of his gouernement he abandoned the insolencie of his wicked disposition so that it was a prouerbe in the mouthes of men Neronis quinquennium in regard of his good cariage for the space of fiue yeeres But a fire long couered in end breaketh out into a mightie flame that no water can sloken it His crueltie against his mother his wife 's OCTAVIA and POPPEA his master SENECA the Poet LVCAN and the vile abuse of his body with persons of his neerest consanguinitie I remit to the reading of learned authors who haue written exactly the
to death Ioseph antiq lib. 20. cap. 8. EVSEBIVS writeth that he was thrown down froÌ„ the pinacle of the Temple Euseb. eccl histlib 2. cap. 23. This crueltie of ANANVS albeit it displeased both king AGRIPPA and ALBINVS the deputie of the Romaines the people of Ierusalem yet wicked men are wiser in their owne generation then the children of light ANANVS sawe that if he had lingred vntill the Romaine Deputie had arriued he could not haue procured the death of a man counted so just and so welbeloued of the people as the Apostle IAMES was It is to be marked that EVSEBIV in the forementioned place describeth the martyrdome of IAMES surnamed IVSTVS before the edict of the persecution of NERO after which followed the martyrdome of PETER and PAVL in the 12. yeere of NERO his reigne Epiphan contrahares neuerthelesse the Romaine Church had forged epistles decretall whereinto CLEMENS Bishoppe of Rome writeth to IAMES surnamed IVSTVS after the death of PETER What credite these decretall epistles deserue it shall bee declared hereafter Godwilling But FLORVS who succeeded to ALBINVS was an avaritious and cruell man he exhausted the treasure that was in the Temple and tooke out of it sixteene talents of siluer And when the lewes at Ierusalem murmured against him hee came to the towne in great wrath and permitted the souldiers to slay and to spoyle the citizens of Ierusalem at their pleasure Likewise he afflicted with vnaccustomed crueltie men of noble birth by scourging crucifying them Ioseph de bello Iudaico lib. 2. cap 25. This was the ground of the warre betweene the Romanes and the Jewes wherin Ierusalem came to that lamentable ruine foretold by our Sauiour Christ Mat 24. Nowe to returne to the Emperour himselfe and forme of his death After he had reigned 13. yeeres and eight monethes the Senate of Rome proclaimed him to bee an enemie to mankinde and condemned him to be whipped with wands to the death to be harled through the citie For feare of which punishment he was forced to flie and by slaying of himselfe made an end of his most wretched life Iustin. Uespasian AFter NERO OTTO VITELLIVS and GALBA contended for the empire and were all hastely cut off and made out of the way and FLAVIANVS VESPASIAN was chosen Emperour by the Romaine armie he reigned 10. yeeres Bucol Index Chron. The nation of the Iewes at this time for the most parte was giuen ouer into a reprobate minde according as it was foretolde by the Prophet ZACHARIE Then saide I I will not feede you that that dieth let it die and that that perisheth let it perish and let the remnant euery one eate the flesh of his neighbour Zach. 11. 9. Like as the intollerable crueltle of FLORVS had irritat the nation of the lewes euen so on the other side the vnsupportable obstinacie of the Iewes had incensed the wrath of the Rom. unes against them They were now become so head-strong that they rejected the sacrifice that was wont to bee offered for CAESAR Ioseph de bello Iudsico lib. 2. cap. 30. The calamitie of the Iewes who dwelt in Alexandria and in Damascus was but the beginning of sorrowes fiftie thousand Iewes were slaine in Alexandria ten thousand in Damascus Ioseph debel Iud. lib. 2. cap. 36 41. Besides this many signes wonders both in heauen and earth did proclaime their future desolation and destruction A Comet was seene in heauen hanging ouer the towne of Ierusalem for the space of a yeere and hauing the similitude of a sword in the Temple at the mid time of the night a cleare light was sene shining round about the Altar in brightnesse not vnlike vnto the light of the day and the great brasen port of the Temple opened of the owne accord about the sixt houre of the night chariots of fire were seene compassing townes and a voyce was heard in the sanctuarie warning to flit and to transport with many other feareful signes and wonders Ioseph de bello Iud. lib 6 cap. 31. But a people senslesse whose eyes were dimme whose eares were dull of hearing whose heart was fatte and locked vp by Satan in infidelitie they could take no warning of the wrath to come because the Lord was minded to destroy them FLA. VESPASIAN and his sonne TITVS VESPASIAN leading an armie of threscore thousand armed men from Ptolemaida besieged the townes of Galile and Trachonitis so many as would not willingly be subject to the Romanes the townes of Gadara Tiberias Iotopata Tarithea Gamala all these were brought vnder the renerence of VESPASIAN and IOSEPHVS who had beene lurking in a caue after the towne of Iotopata was conquessed was taken aliue and kept in bands by the Romanes he foretolde that VESPASIAN should bee Emperour and saluted him CAESAR and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 while NERO was yet aliue de bâ—…llo Iud. lib. 3. cap. 27. When this prophecie came to passe indeede and hee was chosen to bee Emperour hee sent for IOSEPHVS and commanded that hee should be loosed from bands but TITVS his sonne thought more expedient that his bands should be cut off from him rather then loosed to the end he might be counted a worthy man who neuer deseuned captiuitie nor bands de bello Iud. lib. 4. cap. 39. FLAVIVS VESPASIAN returned to Rome and left behind him his sonne TITVS to sub due the Iewes to besiedge the towne of Ierusâ—…lem but the Christians who dwelt at Ierusalem were warned by God to depart out of the towne of Ierusalem so they left it and dwelt beyond Iordan in a towne of Decapolis called Pella Euseb eccles hist lib. 3. cap. 5. Separation of the corne from the chaffe goeth before the vnquenchable fire wherewith the chaffe shall be burnt TITVS began to besiege Ierusalem in the first yeere of the reigne of his father at the time when the people were gathered to celebrate the feast of the Passeouer Euseb. lib. 3. cap 7. The terrour of the sworde of the Romaines without the feare of mercilesse brigands within in the bowels of the towne preuailing the flewere of the dead wanting the honour of burial infecting the aire and devouring the liuing with contagious sickenesse theviolent plague offamine breaking asunder the bands of Nature and constraining women to eate the birth of their owne bellies Ioseph de bello Iud. lib. 6. cap. 21. AH these calamities seased vpon them at once in the just judgement of God They despised the father of eternitie and the Prince of peace saide to PILAT. We haue no King but CAESAR Ioh 19. 15. now they find that the mercies of CAESAR were cruell his sonne TITVS who was commended in all mens mouths as meeke merciful liberal and eloquent and was called amor delitiae humani generis that is the loue and most daintie thing of all mankinde yet God made him a terrible scourge to the nation of the Iewes who forsooke the Lord Iesus and preferred CAESAR
the martyrdome of PETER and PAVL LINVS ANACLETVS and CLEMENS were teachers of the Romaine Church In the second Centurie followe EVARISTVS ALEXANDER 1. XISTVS 1. TELESPHORVS HYGINVS PIVS 1. ANICETVS SOTER ELEVTHERIVS and VICTOR This VICTOR must needes bee called the 13. Bishop of Rome if ELEVTHERIVS be the 12. according to the computation of IRENEVS lib. 3. cap. 3. ONVPHRIVS according to his own custome giueth more credite to olde parchments that he hath found in the Vatican bibliotheke then to any ancient father He beginneth earely to distinguish CLETVS from ANACLETVS that by taking libertie to thrust in one moe in the first Centurie he may haue the greater boldenesse to thrust out another of the feminine sexe in another Centurie For it grieueth him to the heart to heare this thing so vniuersally affirmed and to see the penne of PLATINA blushing when hee writeth of IOANNES the eight hee maketh litle contradiction to that settled and receiued opinion of the feminine Pope But I leaue ONVPHRIVS sporting with his owne conceits as a Pleasant doth with his owne fingers when no other body will keepe purpose with him EVARISTVS finished the course of his ministration in 8. yeres ALEXANDER who is in expresse words called the fist B. of Rome after the death of PETER and PAVL Euseb. eccl hist. lib. 4. cap. 1. gouerned 10. yeeres and suffered martyrdome in the dayes of ADRIAN as PLATINA writeth After him XISTVS 1. continued 10 yeeres Euseb. lib. 4 cap 5 and died a martyr Platin. TELESPHORVS the 7 Bishop of Rome after the daies of the Apostles liued in that ministration 11. yeeres and was honoured with martyrdome Euseb. lib. 4. cap 10. HYGINVS An. 4. And PIVS the 1. ministred 11. yeeres These two suffered not martyrdom because their lot was to liue in the calme dayes of a meeke Emperour ANTONINVS PIVS ANICETVS ministred in that office 11. yeeres with whome POLYCARPVS B. of Smyrna conferred at Rome anent the obseruation of the festiuitie of Easter day He concluded his life with the glorious crowne of martyrdome Euseb. eccl hist lib. 4. cap 14. To him succeeded SOTER An. 9. After him ELEVTHERIVS An. 15. In whose time LVCIVS King of the Britons desired that he and his people should be baptized receiâ—…ed into the fellowship of Christians to whom ELEVTHERIVS sent FVGATIVS and DAMIANVS who satisfied the desire of the King his people so they were baptized and counted Christians Platina de vita Eleutherii After him VICTOR An. 10. He intended to haue excommunicat all the Churches of the East because they kept not the festi uitic of Pasche day conforme to the custome of the Church of Rome but rather vpon the day wherinto the Iâ—…wes were accustomed to eat their Paschal lamb But this rashnes of VICTOR was somewhat abated by the graue prudent counsell of IRENEVS B. of Lions who admonished VICTOR that there was no lesse discrepance of customes anent keeping of Lent then was anent the keeping of Easter day yet was not the vnitie of the Church violated nor rent asunder for this discrepance And when POLYCARPVS B. of Smyrna came to Rome in his conference with ANICETVS neither of them could persuade the other to change the custome of keeping of daves which they had receiued by tradition of their predecessours Notwithstanding they kept fast the bande of Christian fellowshippe and ANICETVS admitted POLYCARPVS to the communion of the Romaine Church and they departed in peace one from another Euseb. eccl hist. lib 5. cap. 26. QVADRATVS B. of Athens liued in the dayes of ADRIAN This Emperour vpon a certaine time wintered in Athâ—…ns went to Eleusina and was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say initiat into all the mysteries of Grecia This fact of the Emperour gaue encouragement to those who hatâ—…d Christians without allowance of the Emperoures commandement to vexe the Christians Concerning his apologie for Christians giuen in to the Emperour together with the apologie of ARISTIDES a learned Philosopher and eloquent Orator in Athens we haue spoken already in the description of the life of ADRIAN Ierom. Catal script ecâ—…l AGRIPPAS CASTOR a very learned man answered to the bookes of the Heretique BASILIDES who with the noueltie of barbarous and vncouth wordes troubled the hearts of rude and ignorant people talking of a god whome hee called ARBRAXAS and of his prophets BARCAB and BARCOB words inuented by himselfe to terrifie simple people Euseb. lib 4 cap. 7. Such delusions of Satan Quintiâ—…sts in our dayes an ignorant race of braine-sicke fellowes haue vsed And so the blind led the blind and both fell into the ditch In this age HEGESIPPVS of the nation of the Iâ—…wes was connerted vnto the faith of Christ and came to Rome in the dayes of ANICETVS and continued vntill the dayes of ELEVTHERIVS Euseb. lib. 4. cap. 11. But for what cause he came to Rome or in what part of the world hee bestowed the trauels of his ministrie no mention is made neither by EVSEBIVS nor by any other ancient writer no not by IEROM himselfe a man most accurate explorator of all antiquities MELITO B. of Sardis a famous towne in Lydia wrote an apologie for the Christians to the Emperour ANTONINVS Philosophus whome EVSEBIVS calleth MARCVS AVRELIVS VERVS Euseb lib. 4. cap. 13. His apologie was written with Christian freedome and courage for he is not afraid to declare to the Emperour what good successe AVGVSTVS CESAR had in whose dayes Christe was borne and what vnprosperous â—…successe NERO and DOMITIAN had who persecuted the Christians hist. Magdeburg EVSEBIVS calleth him an Eunuch lib. 5. cap. 24. In the fourth persecution died IVSTINVS MARTYR accused and delated by CRESCENS He was conuerted to Christs religion by the trauels of an olde man whome he supponed for his grauitie to haue beene a Philosopher but hee was a Christian. This ancient man counselled IVSTINVS to be a diligent reader of the doctrine of the Prophets Apostles who spake by diuine inspiration who knew the veritie and were not couetous of vaine glory neither were they dashed with feare whose doctrine also was confirmed with miraculous works which God wrought by their handes Aboue all things willed him to make earnest prayers to God to open vnto him the portes of true light because the trueth cannot be comprehended except the father of light his sonne Christ Iesus giue vnto vs an vnderstanding heart Iustin. dialog cum Troph Hee wrote two bookes of apologie for Christians to the Emperour ANTONINVS PIVS and to his sonnes and the Senat of Rome In the second booke of his apologie he declareth that Christians were put to death not for any crime they had committed but onely for their profession In witnesse whereof if any of them would denie his Christian profession straightway hee was absolued because there was no other thing wherewith he was charged Iustin. apol 2. In this same persecution also suffered
heauen Mat. 19. ver 12. these words I say spoken in an allegoricall sense he tooke in a simple and vnfigurat meaning and gelded himselfe to the ende he might liue without all suspition of vncleannesse Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 8. No learned man hath commended this fact of ORIGEN so far as my reading can extend for if a man might lawfully dismember his own body to the end that he might liue chastly why might not a man in like maner cut off his owne hand to the ende hee should not in hastie motion of anger kil his neighbour But the obedience of the commandements of God is seated in the heart and more commended for voluntarie subjection then for necessity of abstinence of committing euil because there is not an instrument in the body able to commit transgression Finally by seeking of diuinitie without the bounds of the holy scriptures of God in stead of true diuinitie he was intangled with foolish errours anent the creation of many worlds one succeeding to another anent the paines of deuils and wicked men after long torments to be finished and anent the possibilitie of mans nature to keepe the whole law of God For which opinions long after his death he was excommunicat in the 5 generall Council holden Ann 551. Concerning his weaknesse in offering to idols rather then to suffer his chaste body to be abused I haue spoken in the history of the 7. persecution He liued vntil the dayes of GALLVS VOLVSIANVS died in the 69. yeere of his age in the towne of Tyrus where he was also buried CYPRIAN was an African borne in Carthage in his youth altogether giuen to the study practise of Magical artes His cōuersion was by the means ofCECILIVS a preacher whose name after hee bare and through occasion of hearing the historie of the Prophet IONAH Ierom catal script eccles Ierom. comment in Ionam After his conuersion he distributed all his substance to the poore Ierom. ibid. and became first a preaching elder and afterward Bishop of Carthage He was banished in the persecution of DECIVS and martyred vnder VALERIAN Nazianz in laudem Cypriani The worthy D. I. FOXE thinketh that NAZIANZEN commendeth another Bishop of that same name borne in Antiochia and Bishop in Antiochia who suffered martyrdome in the dayes of DIOCLETIAN This CYPRIAN B. of Carthage was a man full of loue a great comforter of CORNELIVS B. of Rome He suffered martyrdome as IEROM writeth that same day albeit not in that same yeere that CORNELIVS concluded his life by glorious martyrdome Ierom Catal. script eccles He had great strife against two contrarie sectes viz. against NOVATVS who was excessiue rigorous against those who had fallen in time of persecution and against NOVATIANVS FELICISSIMVS who by the contrarie would haue had both Heretiques and Apostats receiued without all forme of ecclesiasticall discipline Hist. Magd Cent 3. cap. 10. He esteemed much of those who suffered rebuke for the Name of Christ he said of the mettall mines and those that were condemned for Christs sake to worke in them that whereas they were wont to deliuer golde and siluer and precious things vnto the world no we by the contrarie the mines receiued golde and siluer and the most precious things in the world counting the Confessours and martyrs of Christ the rich treasures of the earth of whom the world was not worthy His opinion anent rebaptizing such as were baptized by Heretiques albeit it was erroneous yet his modestie in not damning thē rashly who were of a contrary opinion is great ly praised by S. AVSTEN who saith that the modestie of CYPRIAN in his error was mo◅e to be regarded then a sound right opiniō anent baptisme without humility modesty August de Baptis contra Donat. lib. 5. cap. 17. He was a faithfull builder of the house of God not by word onely but also by write and his bookes remaine vntill this day as a precious treasure in the Church of Christ. The booke de Revelatione capitis Ioannis Baptista is supposititious because in it mention is made of the reuerence that PIPINVS king of France did to the heade of IOHN Baptist when it was transported from Constantinople to France and it is knowne that PIPINVS was not borne three hundreth yeeres after the martyrdome of CYPRIAN how then could CYPRIAN write of a fact done so long time after his death The Church of Christ was multiplied vnder the persecutions of SEVERVS MAXIMINVS DECIVS VALERIAN AVRELIAN DIOCLETIAN All these sixe persecutions are comprehended in the third Centurie In Ierusalem was NARCISSVS against whome wicked men banded themselues together with forged accusations and false testimonies sealed vp with othes and imprecations to grieue the heart of NARCISSVS in so much that he left his calling and fledde to the wildernesse where he Iurked a long time But the false witnesses who bare testimony against him escaped not the punishment of God One of them and his whole familie and substance was burned with sudden fire another of them was stricken with an heauie disease such as hee himselfe in his imprecation had wished vnto himselfe the third was terrified with the sight of the judgements of God that lighted vpon the other two and hee repented and powred out the griefe of his dolorous heart in such aboundance of teares that hee became blinde All these false witnesses were punished Euseb. lib 6. cap 9. and hee who was penitent albeit the Lorde pardoned his sinne yet hee chastised him with temporal punishments The Bishops of the next adjacent Churches because they knewe not what was become of NARCISSVS they admitted another called DIOS who continued but a shorte time To him succeeded GERMANION and after GERMANION GORDIVS in whose time NARCISSVS manifested himselfe againe to the Church of Ierusalem who requested him to vndertake his office againe for they reuerenced him as a man raised from death to life againe and the punishment of God inflicted vpon his accusers increassed their reuerence toward him He was old and not able to discharge the weightie office of a Bishop theresore ALEXANDER a worthie man was joyned as fellow-labourer with him EVSEBIVS writeth that hee was admonished by a celestiall vision of the will of God that hee should be Bishop of Jerusalem with NARCISSVS for hee had beene Bishoppe of another parochin before in Cappadocia by the like celestiall vision NARCISSVS and others of the clergie were admonished that the day next following a Bishoppe should enter into Jerusalem whome God had appointed to be an helper to NARCISSVS Ierom Catal. scrip eccl He defended ORIGEN against the furie and madnesse of DEMETRIVS B. of Alexandria who set both himselfe and others to great businesse for a matter of no importance as said is Ierom ibid. In the persecution of DECIVS he was caried to Casarea closed into a darke prison and died a martyre as hath beene declared ALEXANDER is supponed till haue beene the 35. Bishop of Jerusalem
vnto him In Scripture we reade of many great vials of the wrath of God powred downe vpon vnrighteous men but these are greatest that resemble by most viue representation the great condemnation of the wicked at the last daye such as the flood of NOE the ouerthrow of Sodom and destruction of Ierusalem The flood of NOE was vniuersall and sudden so shall be the condemnation of vngodly men at the last day Mat. 24 37. 38. 39. The ouerthrow of Sodome and Gomorrha was a destruction vnsupportable and the more meete to be an example of the vengeance of eternall fire epist. Iud. ver 7. The destruction of Ierusalē the forerunning tokens therof are so mixed with the tokens preceeding the condemnation of the great day that it may be clearly perceiued that God hath appointed the one to be a type and figure of the other Mat 24. So ost as wee call to remembrance the flood of NOE the ouerthrowe of Sodom and the destruction of Ierusalem let vs feare and stand in awe to fall into the condemnation of vngodly men because all the terrors of these judgements concurre and are massed together in the judgemēt of the last day What are the deep Weeles of water what are the shoures of fire and brimstone what is famine pest and sworde both intestine and forraine in comparison of that worme that neuer dieth and that fire that shall neuer be quenched the blacknesle of darknesse with weeping and gnashing of teeth c. It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the liuing God Concerning the number ofthem that were slaine in Galile Trachonitis Samaria Iudea chiefly in the Metropolitane towne Ierusalem ouer and beside those that were sold to be siaues and those that were deuoured by wild beastes in the triumph of FLA. and TITVS at Rome reade Ioseph d◅ bello Iud. lib. 6 cap. 45. Titus AFter FLAVIVS reigned TITVS VESPASIAN his sonne two yeeres two months twentie dayes Bucolc index Chron. The nation of the Iewes being nowe subdued there was great peace in all parts of the Romaine dominions both by sea and land and the temple of IANUS in Rome was closed and locked vp againe Bucolc Domitian FLAVIVS DOMITI AN was associat to his brother TITVS in gouernement during his lifetime and after his death was his successor hee reigned 15. yeeres Chytr chron He was proud like NERO persecuted innocēt Christians as he did so prone bent is our corrupt nature to sin to follow euill examples Now againe the Church of Christ militant vpon the earth must learne obedicnce by suffering must giue a proofe before the world that the Couenant of God is written in the tables of her heart and so deepely ingraued by the finger of God that no tribulation anguish persecution famine nakednesse nor death it selfe can separate her from the loue of Christ. The members of the Church were the good marchants of whom Christ speaketh Mat. 13. who hauing found a pearle of vnspeakable value were content to sell all that they had for loue of gaining it they had tasted of the Well of water springing vp into eternall life and thirsted not againe for the water that cannot satisfie the heart of man with full cōtentment Ioh. 4. 14. In this second great persecution the belooued disciple of Christ the Apostle IOHN was banished to the Isle of Patmos for the worde of God Euseb. eccl hist. lib. 3. cap. 18. FLAVIA DOMICILLA a woman of noble birth in Rome was banished to Pontia an Isle lying ouer against Caieta in Italie Euseb. eccl hist. lib. 3. cap. 19. PROT A'SIVS and GERV ASIVS were martyred at Millain Chytr Chron. concerning the miracle wrought at their sepulchres God-willing wee shall speake in the thirde Centurie and in the treatise of reliques CHYTRAEVS writeth that the Euangelist TIMOTHIE was stoned to death at Ephesus by the worshippers of DIANA and that DIONYSIVS AREOPAGITA was slaine by the sword at Pareis DOMITIAN had heard some rumours of the Kingdome of Christ and was afraid as HEROD the great had beene after the Natiuitie of our Lord but when two of Christs kinsemen according to the flesh the Nephewes of the Apostle IYDE were presented before him and hee perceiued them to bee poore men who gained their liuing by handie labour and when hee had heard of them that Christes Kingdome was not of this world but it was spirituall and that he would come at the latter day to judge the quicke and the dead hee despised them as simple and contemptible persones and did them no harme Euseb. eccles hist. lib. 3. cap. 20. In ende as the life of DOMITIAN was like vnto the life of NERO so was he not vnlike vnto him in his death for his owne wife and friends conspired against him and slew him his body was caried to the graue by porters and buried without honour The Senat of Rome also decreed that his name should be rased and all his actes should bee rescinded Sueton. in Domit. Ierom. catal script eccles Nerva COCCIVS NERVA after DOMITIAN reigned 1. yeere 4. months Euseb. lib. 3. cap. 21. Bucolc And hitherto all the Emperours that ruled were borne in Italie from this foorth strangers doe rule for TRAIAN the adoptiue sonne of NERVA his successor was borne in Spaine NERVA redressed many things that were done amisse by DOMITIAN and in his time the Apostle IOHN was relieued from banishment and returned againe to Ephesus where hee died Euseb. cccles hist. lib. 3. cap. 21. CENT I. Chap. 2. AFter the Lordes resurrection his twelue Apostles were indued with grace from aboue and sent foorth to conqu◅sse all people to the obedience of Christ whose trauailes the Lord so wonderfully blessed that within a short time many thousands of all nations languages whom God had appointed to eternal life were conuerted to the faith of Christ. This conquest that Christ made by the ministerie of 12. poore and contemptible men is more worthy to be called a conquest then all the valiant exploites of CYRVS ALEXANDER CAESAR and other conquerours For he made this conquest by a small handfull of poore and infirme disciples also he conquessed not only the bodies of men but also their hearts to his obedience finally hee made this conquest not by shedding of peoples blood but by preaching of his owne death and blood shed for the redemption of many Neither conquessed hee free men to make them slaues as other conquerours had done but they who were slaues indeede to Satan vnto thē he gaue the libertie of the sons of God Now these 12. Apostles the more faithfully they laboured in the worke of their ministery the worse were they intreated by the vnthankfull world according as Christ had forctold Iohn 16. The most part of them were put to death the rest were not free of many painfull sufferings rebukes which they willinglysustained for the Name of Christ. PETER PAVL are supponed to haue beene
to be counted of according to the greatnes of the promises annexed to the succession as namely the succession of DAVID of whom God said His seede also will I make to endure for euer his throne as the dayes of heauen Psal. 89. 29 againe ver 35. 36. I haue sworne once by my holynesse that I will not faile Dauid saying his seede shal endure for euer and his throne shall be as the Sunne before me Here are ample promises to DAVID his succession confirmed by the Lordes oath by the Sun Moone as faithfull witnesses in heauen And that which was more then all the rest this succession of DAVID was a line leading to the great King Christ Iesus who should sit in the throne of his father DAVID of his kingdome there should be none end Luc. 1. for all these causes the succession of DAVID was greatly regarded Yet it is to be marked that all the promises othes testimonies honors did not carie with them a necessity that euery successour of DAVID should be in faith and religion like vnto DAVID but rather God foreseeing the contrarie faith If his ch◅ldren forsake my Law and walke not in my Judgements if they breake my statutes and keepe not my ordinances then w◅ll I visit their transgression with the rod and their iniquitte with strokes ibid ver 30. 31. 32. I suppone that no succession euer had more glorious and ample promises then the succession of DAVID yet these promises inferred no necessitie that euery king sitting on the throne of DAVID should bee heire also of the religion and faith of DAVID as well as of his kingdome And therfore to inferre vpon this ground that ample promises are made to the Apostles their successours that euery one who succeedeth to the Apostolick chaire shall keepe the true faith of the Apostles it is but a foolish and impertinent conclusion If any man shall replie that this was a succession of ciuill gouernours but the question now contrauerted is anent succession of Bishops and men in a spirituall calling True it is that DAVIDS successors succeeded to a ciuill gouernment yet seeing this succession was ratified by the oath of God and led also to Christ who is soueraine Lorde both of soule and body whatsoeuer priuiledge of standing in a good estate can be alledged in any succession the patterne of it is to be found in the succession of DAVID But this priuiledge that the successors of DAVID cannot erre in the true faith is not found no not in the great succession of DAVID Now to come to ecclesiasticall succession The priesthood of AARON was institute by God Numb 17. ver 5. It was confirmed by the miracle of the budding rodde ibid. ver 23. The vsarpers of AARONS office without a calling were also miraculously destroyed by fire that came downe from heauen Numb 16. Others were debarred from it euen in the dayes of NEHEMIAH Nehem. 7. ver 64. This succession of AARON was personall the son succeeding to the father in the Priesthood except some mutilation of a member or impotencie did hinder or any such like cause After AARON ELEAZAR and his son PHINEAS ABISHVA PHINEAS son and BVKKI HVZZI ZERACHIA MERAIOTH AMARIA ACHITVB ZADOK AHIMAAZ 1. Chron. 6. ver 50. 51. 52. 53. Many others after them were Priests of the stock of AARON yet did not all keepe fast the faith and religion of AARON yea some Priestes of AARONS stocke were notable Idolaters men-pleasers such as VRIAH in the dayes of AHAZ king of Juda who set vp an altar at the kings commandement according to the similitude of the altar of Damascus and offered sacrifices thereon 2. Reg. 16. Anent the succession of the Prophets euen when one good man succeeded to another good man the historie of scripture clearely declareth that men pointed out by God himselfe successours to an office yet by this are they not made succ◅ssours to their giftes for ELIZEVS was pointed out by God as successor to ELIAS in his prophetical office 1. Reg. 19. ver 16. yet by this was he not successor to his gifts as ELIZEVS petition of a double measure of the spirit of ELIAS clearely declareth 2. Reg. 2 ver 9 If the gift did necessarly accompany the succession what needed ELIZEVS to be carefull of the gift seeing he was sure of the succession The holy Apostles of Christ haue had a successiō shal haue vnto the end of the world to whō belōgeth the promise of Christ Behold I am with you vnto the end of the world Mat. 28. 20 But who are to be called true successors of the Apostles we haue declared already in the 1. Centurie taking our groūd out of scripture Act. 20 29. And out of Nazian in laudem Athanasii that darknes succeeding to light is not counted the true successor of lignt for the dissimilitude that is betweene darknes light But heere the question ariseth whether or not al Churches keeping the holy Apostolicke doctrine are bound to shew in write their succession from the Apostles◅ as the Priestes of the stocke of AARON after the captiuitie produced in write their lineal descent from AARON Nehem. 7. To this Tertul answereth lib. de pres◅ript adversus baret that Churches truely keeping the Apostolicke doctrine albeit they could not shew in write their succession from the Apostles yet are they to be counted Apostolicke Churches propter consang uinitatem doctrinae that is for their consanguinitie of doctrine But to come neerer and to examine whether the Romaine church hath kept Apostolicke doctrine in their succession without all spot of heresie as they affirme or not And first the chaire of Rome was not free of the heresie of EVTYCHES as clearly appeareth by the sixt generall Councill which was the third of those Councils which were gathered at Constantinople in the 12. yeere of the empire of CONSTANTINVS POGONATVS Ann. 681. Buco◅ In this Councill MACARIVS Patriarch of Antiochia and STEPHANVS his disciple stood vp pertinaciously defended the error of EVTYCHES were excommunicate by the Councill yet they had defended their opinion by the Synodicke letter of HONORIVS sometime B. of Rome written to SERGIVS B. of Constantinople Wherein it was clearely knowne that HONORIVS was infected with the errour of EVTYCHES for the which cause HONORIVS B. of Rome after his death in the sixt generall Councill was also excommunicat as an Heretique Tom Concil hist. Magdeb. This is not vnknown to some writers who notwithstanding defend this opinion that the Bishop of Rome cannot erre in maters of ◅aith ONVPHRIVS saith that the Acts of the sixt generall Councill containing a condemnatory sentence against HONORIVS Bishop of Rome were corrupted by the Grecians and that the Canons of this Councill as they are set foorth are supposititious and false Forsooth ONVPHRIVS is a worthy aduocate to pleade such a bad and reprobat cause The faith of the Romanists leaning vpon two
conueene for exercise of diuine seruice this fauour I say seemeth to haue proceeded from the coun sell of MAMMEA his Christian mother rather then from the counseli of VLPIANVS that renowmed lawyer an hatefull aduersarie to Christians But MAMMEA his mother hearing the report of the learning of ORIGEN sent for him and by him was instructed in the groundes of Christian faith The learned doctour who wrote the booke of the martyrs very judiciously obserueth the iniquitie of this time whereinto no Christian Churches were erected when as yet notwithstanding of the fauour of the Emperour at some times no publicke house could quietly be obtained for the Christians so that by reason hereof may appeare the decretall epistle of Pope HYGINVS concerning the dedication of Churches is forged fained because the reigne of ALEXANDER is a long time posterior to the dayes of HYGINVS who liued vnder the reigne of ANTONINVS PIVS and in the reigne of ALEXANDER as yet there was great difficultie to obteine a place whereinto Christians might assemble together The just deserued punishment of TVRINVS whome the Emperour caused to bee fastened to a stake in the open market place and there to be killed with smoke the Herald standing by and crying to the people Smoke he sold and with smoke he is punished This punishment I say declareth that this Emperour counted flatterers worthy of great punishment ALEXANDER and his mother MAMMEA were both slaine by his owne souldiers Bucolc Index Chron. Maximinus AFter ALEXANDER SEVERVS MAXIMINVS was Emperour and reigned 3. yeeres Euseb lib 6 cap. 28. A man of base parentage of an huge stature promoted to honours by ALEXANDER who nounished a serpent in his owne bosome as the prouerbe speaketh when he aduanced MAXIMINVS an ingrate foster to great dignities and honours For by his meanes the armie killed ALEXANDER and his mother MAMMEA and saluted him and his sonne Emperours without aduise of the Romaine Senat a man hated of all good men beloued of euill men more grieuous to the citizens of Rome then to their enemies Bucolc Index Chron. who for hatred of the house of ALEXANDER as EVSEBIVS recordeth raised vp the sixt persecution against Christians specially against the teachers and leaders of the Church thinking the sooner to vanquish the rest if the Captaines and guiders of them were made out of the way Euseb. eccl hist. lib 6. cap. 28. ORIGEN at this time wrote a booke de martyrio and dedicated it to AMBROSIVS PROTECTETVS a preaching elder of the Church of Casarea because these two vnder this persecution had susteined great afflictions and constantly perseuered in the true faith Eusebilib 6. cap. 28. No persecution was more violent no persecution endured shorter time In no persecution are the names of suffering martyrs so obscured and couered with silence possibly because the booke of Origen de martyrio through injurie of time is not to be found therefore some learned men do referre the martyrdome of such as wee haue spoken of in the dayes of ALEXANDER to this time or to the persecution of DECIVS I will not dispute of such doubtsome things Three other things that are more necessarie to the edification of the Church I will touch First the malice of the deuill who hateth the welfare of the sheepfolde of Christ and laboureth either to spoyle it of true Pastours or to send in among the poore sheepe hyrelings and men not regarding the well of the flocke but their owne gaine or clse if they haue true pastours to mooue the flocke to be disobedient to faithfull and vigilant Pastors The flocke that can eschew all these three snares of the deuill and all these three wofull calamities so oft seasing vpon the poore sheepesolde they are in good estate Reade CHRYSOSTOME writing vpon the 13. chap Heb. ver 17. Another thing is worthie to be marked that in three great persecutions in the fift sixt and seuenth ORIGEN a man more renowmed in his lifetime then after his death God vouchsafed vpon him two great honours but not the third whereof he was most of all desirous He encouraged his father LEONIDES and his disciples PLVTARCHVS two SERENI HERON HERACLIDES patiently to fuffer martyrdome in the dayes of SEVERVS Next he wrote a booke de martyrio in the daies of MAXIMINVS the sixt persecuter whereby doubtlesse many were incouraged patienly to suffer euill for Christs sake What remaineth now but the third principal honour of martyrdom it selfe whereunto he had a bent desire in the daies of DECIVS the 7 perseter but then he fainted as shall be declared hereafter God-willing When we call to minde this weaknes of ORIGEN let all the cogitations of our heartes stoupe and thinke that wee are not meete for great things but if the Lorde call vs to suffer great things for his Names sake the Lorde perfite his strength in our infirmitie and weakenesse Thirdly let vs marke the great difference that is betweene the volume of the booke of holy canonicke sacred Scripture all other bookes whatsoeuer In Scripture the ouerpassing of maters of great importance and moment is not for ignorance misknowledge or doubting of those things that are ouerslidden but for mysterie and representation of things more necessarie to be knowne as namely when MOSES a most accurat writer of the life death genealogies of holy Patriarches yet hee ouerpasseth the description of the genealogie death beginning of the life MELCHISEDECK this was done of purpose to bring in MELCHISEDECK as a type and figure of the true king of peace Christ Icsus as the Apostle declareth Heb. 7. but among ecclesiasticall writers I finde a preterition of the names of these worthy Pastours who were martyred for the cause of Christ in the sixt persecution and this ouerpassing with silence so weightie a matter is a secret confession of ignorance in this part of the historie together with a doubting whether VRBANVS the first VALERIANVS TIBVRTIVS CECILIA and MARTINA suffered vnder ALEXANDER or vnder MAXIMINVS or vnder DECIVS Yea PLATINA writeth it was the opinion of some men that VRBANVS 1. was martyred in the persecution of DIOCLETIAN I haue insisted at greater length in this purpose to the end that euery man may giue vnto sacred scripture that reuerence that is due vnto it but other writings let vs reade them with judgement for assuredly there is palpable weakenes into them In ende this wicked persecuter MAXIMINVS and his sonne were slaine by his owne souldiers at the siege of Aquileia Func Chron. Gordianus THe tyrannie of MAXIMINVS enforced both the senate of Rome and likewife their oppressed confederates in Afâ—…icke to aduise by what meanes the distressed estate of the Commonwell might be supported And first GORDIANVS a man of noble birth in Rome and at that time PROCONSVL in Africke with his sonne bearing the name of GORDIANVS with his father these two were declared to bee Emperours to resist the tyrannie of
contrarie we affirme that ifâ—…in these wordes Christ had giuen any supremacie to PETER aboue the rest then afterward when they stroue who should be greatest Christ had not damned this fault in all his disciples but he had only damned the eleuen disciples for that they were not voluntarly subject to PETER whom he had alreadie made head of all the rest But in so farre as striuing for superioritie is damned in them all Mat. 18. it is certaine that Christ appointed none of the Apostles to be supreme head of all the rest And CYPRI AN plainly affirmeth in his booke de simplicitate Praelatorum Hoc erant utique 〈◊〉 cateri Apostoli quodfuit Petrus pari consortio praediti honoris potestatis that is Al the rest of the Apostles were that same thing that PETER was furnished with like fellowshippe and honour The second part of the argument that the Bishop of Rome is the successour of PETER hath beene alreadie intreated in the head of succession Another argument proouing the supremacie of the Romaine Bishops is taken out of the decretall epistles attributed to the Bishoppes of Rome who liued in the second Centurie making mention of the superioritie of the Bishop of Rome aboue all other Bishoppes To this I answere that these epistles attributed vnto them are supposititious and false as hist. Magdeburg clearly prooueth by many reasons whereof I shall rehearse a fewe First the stile and ditement of all these epistles declareth that one and the self-same man hath endited them all Secondly the ineptitude and barbaritie of language no wise agreeing with the tightnesse of the Latin tongue vsed in this age Thirdly these decretall epistles agree not with the estate of the Church at that time persecuted by Tyrants troubled by Heretiques slandered by the world If these forenamed Bishops had writteÌ„ epistles indeed they had coÌ„tained exhortatioÌ„s to patieÌ„t suffring apologies against slaÌ„drous mouths refutatioÌ„ of Hereticks but seing they souÌ„d for the most part to the establishing of their own supremacy the very circumstaÌ„ce of time declareth that they are supposititious forged Fourthly the reasons whereby these epistles doe prooue the supremacie of the Romaine chaire are foolish ridiculous vnworthie to be attributed to so worthie men As namely that PETER was called CEPHAS that is an heade for his supremacie Likewise PETER and PAVL died at Rome therefore the Romaine B. is head of all other Bishops Also PAVL saide that hee had continuall remembrance of the Romans in his prayers Rom. 1. therfore the Romaine Church must be head of all other Churches Fiftly these decretal epistles were vnknown to IVSTINVS martyr IRENEVS CLEMENS ALEXANDRINVS who liued about this time as likewise to IEROME an accurat searcher of al an tiquities for none of theÌ„ mak meÌ„tioÌ„ of these decretal epistles Sixtly when the question of appellation to the Romaine Bishop and the question of supremacie was reasoned in the sixt Councill of Carthage if such decretall epistles had bene then exstant the ambassadours of the Bishop of Rome had alledged them for corroboration of their cause but they were not as yet fashioned and shaped Finally in these decretall epistles CLEMENS B. of Rome is broght in writing to IAMES surnamed IVSTVS after the death of PETER it is known by the history that IAMES surnamed IVSTVS was slain at the least 8. yeres before the martyrdome of PETER For Iames was slaine before NERO entended his persecution but PETER was martyred in the very furic of NEROES persecutioÌ„ Ioseph antiq I. 20. c. 8 Euseb. I. 2. c 23 25. The 3. principall argument they vse is taken from the vtilitie of the Church of God whereinto vnitie is very requisit Ioh. 17. for keeping of vnitie one ministeriall head vnder Christ is necessarie like as in the Church of the Iewes one high Priest to whom all the people were subject in matters of religion was a band of vnitie amongst the Iewes euen so say they one ministeriall head viz. the B. of Rome is necessary for keeping vnitie peace concord amongst Christians-To this I answere that all things happened to them in figures 1. Cor. 10. and like as the nation of the Iewes had one high Priest as a band of vnitie so likewise they had one altar one citie of their conuentions Isa. 33 these also were bands of vnitie to keepe the nation of the Iewes into an holy fellowship yet no man wil say that it is necessary to vs in our dayes to resort thrise in the yere to any one citie for keeping the vnitie of Christ No more is it necessary in our dayes for keeping of vnitie to haue one high Priest vpon whome we shall all depend but rather this beeing a figure as said is teacheth vs to depend vpon Iesus Christ the great bâ—…shop of our soules because we are all members of his body we are quickned with his spirit wee haue one hope of calling we haue one faith one Baptisme Eph. 4. These are the bands of our coÌ„junctioÌ„ both with Christ our head with his meÌ„bers but the Apostle PAVL in reckoning out the bands of our conjunction with Christ and amongst our selues speaketh nothing of one ministeriall head vnderChrist neither is it possible that there can be onâ—… ministerial head in al the world as there was one high Priest in one nation of the Iewes The second head of this treatise is to consider the steps degrees wherby the B. of Rome was mouÌ„ted vp in the chair of Christ. 1. The honorable stiles attributed by other churches vnto the chair of Rome began to puft vp some of them into great coÌ„ceit of theÌ„selues The chaire of Rome was called the Apostolick chaire the B. of Rome was called the vniuersal Bishop such honourable stiles by hyperbolicall speaches giuen vnto them should not haue puft them vp in pride to conceit supremacie ouer all other Bishops because the like stiles of dignitie are attributed to other Bishops and other chaires who neuer vsurped superioâ—…itie ouer all Churches Nazianz. in laudem Cypriani saith that he was counted in his time not only a gouern our of the Church of Carthage and of all Africke of all the regions of the West but also of al the East South North. The like is written of ATHANASIVS Nazian in laudeÌ„ Athanasâ—… The like also the EmperorCONSTAN TINE spak of EVSEBIVS PAMPHILIB of Caesarea Palestinae wheÌ„ he refused the bishoprick of Antiochia In this saith CONSTAN TINE to EVSEBIVS thou art blessed that by the testimony of the world thou art thoght worthy to be B. of the whol church Euseb. invita CoÌ„stantn l. 3. c. 59 yet for al this neitherCYPRIAN nor ATHANASIVS nor EVSEBIVS were puft vp in pride to think more of themselues then became the humble dispensators of the mysteries of God Here is to be noted that similitude of BASILIVS that a good Christian should be like vnto a
betwixt Iulius and the Arrians conueened in the Councill of Antiochia are to bee read in the Historie of Socrates Platina in the grandoure of his speeches is inconsiderate as if Iulius had damned the presumption of the Orientall Bisshops who durst conuocate an assemblie without licence before obtained from the Bishop of Rome Noe such thing is contained in the letter of Iulius but onely an expostulation that they did not aduertise him of their Councill to the ende hee might haue sent his Ambassadours and giuen vnto them his best aduise Iulius knewe the Constitutions of the Nicene Councill which gaue power to euery Patriarch within his owne boundes to conuocate Councils To IULIUS succeeded LIBERIUS and continued sixe yeeres some assigne vnto him eighteene yeeres others ninetecne yeeres so vncertaine is the computation of the yeeres of their gouernament Hee gouerned the Church of Rome in the dayes of CONSTANTIUS by whom also hee was banished to Thracia because hee woulde not consent to the depositiâ—…n of ATHANASIUS which point was seriously vrged in the Councill of Millane THEODORETUS giueâ—…h ample testimonie of his constancie and freedome of speaking to the â—…mperour not disagreeing with his name before his banishment In his absence FOELIX the second was chosen to be Bishop of Rome to whome THEODORETUS giueth this praise that hee adhered firmely to the Nicene Councill but blameth him for this that hee receaued his ordination from Arrians Nâ—…twithstanding hee was more hated by the Arrians then was LIBERIUS and was put to death by them after he had gouerned one yeere foure monethes two dayes After two yeeres banishment LIBERIUS returned back again to Rome THEODORETUS is silent in the matter of his praises after his returning Hilarius Bishop of Poitiers affirmeth that hee both consented to the deposition of Athanasius and to the councell of Sirmium There is nothing inlaking now to giue out a determinate sentence whether or no the Bishop of Rome may erre in matters of Faith but onely the compearance of the great Aduocate of all euill causes Onuphrius who will needes find out some old partchment or some vnknown manu-script to free the chaire of Rome from all suspition of errour in matters of faith But Bellarmine giues ouer his cause and can finde no sufficient Apologie for him because his letters written to the Emp. Constantius after his returning from banishment smels of Arrianisme After the death of Libâ—…rius succeeded Damasus and ruled 18. yeeres in time of the reigne of Iulian of Iouinian and of Valentinian his competitor Ursinus had many fauourers in so much that the question who shoulde bee elected Bishop of Rome was tried by the sword rather then by reasons suffrages and votes so that in the Church of Sisinum were slaine to the number of 137. persons Damasus preuailed and had the vpperhand Hee was friendly to Peter Bishop of Alexandria whom Lucius an Arrian Bishop imprisoned but he escaped and fled to Rome as Athanasius had done before in the dayes of Iulius Hee damned the Heresie of Apollinaris in a Councill conucened at Rome His Epistle written to the Oriental Bishops whereinto he intimates vnto theÌ„ the condamnitour sentence pronounced against Apollinaris and his disciple Timotheus is indiâ—…ed with the swelling pride of a lofty mind breathing soueranity and preheminence aboue all other Churches as if the Romane Church were that onely Apostolicke chaire whereunto all other Churches aught homage and reuerence So that Basilius Bishop of Casarea in Cappadocia complaines of the pride of the West because they cared onely for their own preheminence but not for the estate of their persecuted brethren in the East vnder the Arrian Emperour Valenâ—… whose estate they knew not neither sent they mâ—…ssengers to visite them neither woulde they receiue true information concerning the estate of their brethren Yea and Basilius saieth that hee purposed oft times to haue written to the chiefe of them that is to Damasus that hee shoulde not count the splendor of pride to be true dignitie honour Where it is to be marked that wheÌ„ he speakes of Damasus he calleth him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the principal of them to wit of the Châ—…rches of the west but not the supreame gouernor of the uniuersal Church neither the soueraâ—…gn coÌ„mander of the Churches of the East It is ignorance of the Ecclesiastical historie that makes men to imagine that the supremacie of the Bishop of Rome is an ancient thing When Damasus damned the Heresie of Apolbnaris in the Council conueened at Rome it was the yeere of our LORD 379. according to the computation of Ierum and at this time the very aiming to supremacie is counted Splendor Supubiae that is the splendor of pride Damasus wrote concerning the liues of the bishops of Rome preceeding his time was familiarly acquainted with Ierom as Ieroms writings clearly proports To Damasus succeeded Siricius and ministred 15. yee es at what time Gratianus and Valentinian obtained the Emperiall gouernameÌ„t he ordained that maried men who were admitted to Ecclesiastical offices after their ordination should absteine from the company of their wiues as if it were great deuotion to a man to transgresse against the wife of his youth the wife of his couenant and his companion in all his wearisome labours His prohibition of the seconde mariage smelleth of the Heresie of Montanus In his time with pride of the 〈◊〉 at Rome was joined vnsatiable auaritiousnes increasing daily by degrees so that the Emperours Valentintan the II. and Theodoâ—…us were compelled by a law to inhibite widows vnder pretence of deuotion to leaue their houses treasures and house-holde-stuffe to the Church to the vtter impouerishing and vndoing the estate of their children Bishops of Alexandria IN the third CENTURIE wee rested at the name of 〈◊〉 Bishop of Alexandria whose successour was Alexander His accurate disputation anent the unitie in the Tiinitie made Arrius a presbyter in Alexandria to thinke that Alexander was intangled with the erâ—…our of Sabellius Hereof arose contertious dispuâ—…ations new opinions exulcâ—…er te minds open schismes This intestine maladie was not vnknowne to the good Emperour Constantine who sent Hosius Bishop of Corduba a man singularly beloued of the Emperour together with persuasiue letters from the Emperour exhorting both Alexander and Arrius to leaue accurate profounde disputations and keepe inuiolably the peace unitie of the Church But no meanes could auaile vntill this question was desided by the determination of the generall Councill of Nice After the Councill of Nice had damned the opinion of Arrius as Hereticall Alexander continued not aboue 5. monethes aliue In the last period of his life hee called for Athanasius but he was not present Of whom Alexander said Thou hast escaped but shalt not escape fore-prophecying that Athanasius should vndergo that wieghtie charge which he giuing place to nature
the assemblie some urging the matter of Faith to bee first entreated others crauing that the liues of such as were accused or deposed shoulde bee first examined and both parties grounded themselues vpon the warrande of the Emperours letters The principall ring-leaders of the one faction were Acacius bishop of Caesarea Palestinae Georgius bishop of Alexandria Uranius of Tyrus Eudoxius of Antiochia and their followers exceeded not the number of two and thirtie On the other side were Georgius bishop of Laodicea in Syria Sophronius of Pompeiopolis in Paphlagonia and Eleusius of Cyzicus and the greatest number of the Councill followed the opinion of these Bishops So it came to passe that the moste parte thought it expedient that the matter of Faith shoulde bee first entreated After this the Councill was of newe againe diuided into three factions Acacius and his complices thought meete that the forme of Faith shoulde bee altered The moste parte were in a contrarie opinion that the summe of the Nicene Faith shoulde bee kept onelie the worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shoulde bee left out Silvanus bishop of Tarsus was in the thirde opinion that the summe of Faith compiled in ANTIOCHIA at the dedication of the Temple shoulde bee kept Pluralitie of voyces preuailed that the Sonne of GOD shoulde neither bee called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nor yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but rather 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is like vnto his Father because in Scripture he is called the image of the inuisible GOD. And they consented to excommunicate all those who called the Sonee of GOD 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is vnlike vnto the Father Nowe Acacius and his complices who were indeede Anomaei woulde haue seemed to accorde with the rest of the Councill But when it was demanded of them in what sense they counted the SONNE alike vnto the FATHER They answered that hee was like in will but not in substance After that much disputation and little aggreement had beene Leonas a secrete fauourer of Acacius dissolued the assemblie Neuerthelesse the Fathers of the Councill conueened to judge the cause of Cyrillus Bishop of HIERUSALEM whome the Acacians had deposed and warned the Acacians to bee preâ—…ent but they woulde not compeare Therefore the Councill proceeded to the deposition of Georgius bishop of Alexandria Acacius bisshop of Caesarea Uranius bishop of Tyrus Patrophylus bishop of Schythopolis and Eudoxius bishop of Antiochia in whose place they substituted Avianus a presbyter in Antiochia others call him Adrianus The Acacians laide handes on Avianus and deliuered him into the handes of Leonas and Lauritius and they banished him The Councill protested against Leonas Lauritius the Acacians that they had violated the Decrete of the Councill and without further delay they addresse to Constantinoplc to giue information to the Emperour But the Acacians preuented the rest and misinformed the Emperour accused the Councill and perswaded him to reject the summe of Faith aggreed vpon in Seleâ—…cia The wrath of the Emperour against the Fathers of the Councill of Seleucia made the rest to bee dispersed onely the Acacians remained still in Constantinople and they gathered together fiftie Bishops out of Bithynia and other neere adjacent places In this Synode they confirmed the summe of Faith read by Ursatius and Valens in Ariminum It is judiciously obserued by Socrates that after the Councill of Nice the Arrians in the multiplied conceites of their wauering mindes set foorth nine diuers summes of Faith to wit In the dedication of the Church of Antiochiâ—… two formes The thirde by those who adhered to Narcissus was exhibited to Constantine in FRANCE The fourth was sent by Eudoxius to Italie In Sirmium three formes were indited whereof one was read in Ariminum with noting the names of the Consuls in whose time it was written The eight was the summe of Faith set foorth in the Councill of Seleucia The ninth was the summe of Faith set downe in Constantinople with this addition that the wordes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shoulde bee silenced when Preachers spake of GOD. Thus we see that there is no end of wandering when men haue once forsaken the narrow path of the â—…rueth of GOD. The Emperour Constantius and the rest of the Arrians were like vnto a troubled sca that cannot take rest yet another Councill must be gathered in Antiochia for abjuring both the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so that in time to come no man shall call the Sonne of GOD consubstantiall with the Father nor yet of a different substance from the Father The Bishops conueened thought expedient before they intreated concerning the Faith that the chaire of Antiochia vacant at that time without a Bishop should first bee prouided Choise was made of Meletius some time bishop of Sâ—…bastia in Armâ—…nia He receaued ordination by Arrians who subscribed also to his admission and their hand-writs were deliuered into the custody of Eusebius Samosatenus But when Meletius disappointed the expectation of the Arrians they procured his banishment and that Euzious shoulde bee placed in his stead Likewise Eusebius Samosatenus for no minassings and threatnings of the Emp. would deliuer backe againe the subsâ—…riptions of the Arrians so that the Emp. both commended and admired the magnanimous courage of Eusebius This Councill was holden in the 25. yeere of the reigne of Constantius In it the Arrians coulde not perfect their intended purpose anent a new summe of faith which woulde haue made out the tenth forme of faith indited by them because Constantius got knowledge of the seditious attempts of Iulian and he lest the Councill to preueene the interprises of Julian but he fell sicke by the way and died at Cilicia Vnder the reigne of Iulian Iouinian some particulare Councils were assembled such as a Council in Alexandria gathered by Athanasius Eusebius Vercellensis for damning olde Heresies and confirming the Nicene Faith Another in Palestina for ordaining a bishop in Maiuma Another in Antiochia by the Acacians vnder the reigne of Iouinian These wandering starres accustomed to accommodate themselues to times places and persons to gaine sauour at the Emperours hands they subscribed the Nicene Faith But I set forward to the rest Laodicea is the Metrapolitane towne of Phâ—…ygia and one of the seuen Churches of Asia to whom the Apostle Ihon when he was banished in Pathmos for the worde of GOD did write his Epistles This description I haue premitted to distinguish Laodicea of Syria a citie neere approaching to Antiochiae and whereof frequent mention is made in the Ecclesiastical History from Laodicea of Asia In this towne Laodicea of Asia a Synode was gathered after the death of Iovinian about the yeere of our LORD 368. Nothing was determined in this Councill concerning matters of Faith but onely constitutions concerning Ecclesiasticall policie were made in number 59. In this assemblie the worshipping of
Righteousnesse the affaires of their Kingdome Bambaâ—… King of Gothes which nation reigned in Spaine resigned the title of his Royall authouritie to Euringus and entred into a Monâ—…erie Sâ—…bbus King of the Orientall Saxons left his Kingdome and entred into a Monasterie to the end that it might seeme that GOD gaue allowance vnto this superstition false miracles were inuented to grace this fact of sebbus for the tombe whereinto his bodie was laide beeing â—…n length an hand brâ—… shorter then his corpes was miraculously enlarged and lengthened to the just proportion of his dead bodie so that in the seuenth CENTURIE and about the dayes of Pope Vitaliaâ—…s it was a prouerbe in the mouthes of the people that three adm rable thing s feil out in their age First innumerable Abbaciâ—…s were builded Secondly the heads of King were shauen and they entred into Monastries Thirdly that whoredome waâ—… canonized that is notable â—…arlots were counted Saintes So with the increasing number of Monastâ—…ies superstition false miracles and a lewde conuersation in like maner daily increased In the eight CENTURIE Rachis King of Lom-bardis entred into the Abbacie called Cassinerse in Italie and his brother Aistulphus gouerned the affaires of the Kingdome in the dayes of Pope Zachariâ—… Caralomannus the elder brother of Pipinus King of France was first in the Monasterie builded vpon the Mount Sarapte afterwarde in the Monasterie called Cassinâ—…nse whether voluntarily or against his will I dispute not and hee ended his life in the Monasterie of Vienne in France beeing transported thither against his heart by the violence of his brother Pipinus In the ninth and tenth CENTURIES the Bilshops of Rome finding that their estate was mightily aduanced by Abbacies and Nunneries they also on the other part endeuoured to aduance the Monasticke life in so farre that Kings Princes were allured to profefâ—… themselues to be of the order of Monkes with dispensation not the lesse to them from the Bisshop of Rome vnder whose souereignity all high powers began to stoupe to gouerne their owne Kingdomes prouiding alwayes that with liberall giftes they had enriched the chaire of Rome So it came to passe that the world saw a rare and vnquoth spectacle to wit Kingly Monks and Monkes Kinges Yea and Kings were so bewitched with seducing speaches that they who would not abase their Royall estate with participation of Monkish orders yet they thought it was so holy and meritorious a turne to build Monasteries that by so doing they might merite forgiuenes of hainous sins As Edgarus king of England a man contaminated with many vild spots of sinne such as adultery murther tyranny and an aâ—…tender vpon three notable harlots yet because hee was accustomed euery yeere to build an Abbacy this holy fact abolished the remembraÌ„ce of all his faultes and made him worthie afâ—…er his death to haue his name togâ—…ther with the name of Wâ—…frida an holy Nunne and yet the Kings whore the name of her daughter Edâ—…ha whom she did beare to the King All their names I say were counted worthie to bee enrolled in the Catalogue of Saintes Caziminus King of Poll beeing driuen from his Kingdome entered into a Monasterie of France in the dayes of Benedict the ninth and the Poloâ—…ian Ambassadours who came to France to entrait their king to returne againe to his Kingdome wâ—…re fore grieued at his negatiue an were Yet by the meanes of Pope Benedict the ninth at whose handes all thinges might haue beâ—…ne obtained for money they obtained their King againe with libertie to him to marrie and to procreate children If Monasticke vowes bee lawfull the loosing of the bandes of Monasticke vowes for money was not lawfull This Benedâ—…ctus the ninth is he of whom Platina writeth that after his death his effigie appeared vnto a câ—…rtaine man horrible and monstrous more like the similituâ—…e of a Beast then of a man which betokened the beastly conuersation of this vnhappie Pope in his lifetime The examples of late dayes that are recent in all mens memorie of Lordes Earles Dukes Ladies yea and of the Emperour Charles the fift in his olde dayes who entered into Monastries and Nunneries whether to leade or to conclude their lifetime I passe ouer with silence This was the glorie of Monkes since the six hundreth yeere of our LORD vntill our dayes that Kinges Monarches Popes and mightie men in the world magnified their estate by repairing olde Monasteries building new Abbacies and bestowing great reuenewes and rents vpon them and some times as saide is entering themselues into Monastries either to leade or to ende their liues Monasteries also of late dayes became places of imprisonment especiallie of Noble persons dejected from their anteriour dignities so that Pope Christophorus himselfe in the dayes of the Emperour LODOVICUS the thirde beeing dejected from his Papall dignitie was thrust into a Monasterie Unicum 〈◊〉 refugium as saieth Platina that is the onely refuge of men who were in calamitie Constantine the sonne of the Emperour Leo thrust his brethren into a Monasterie rendri gâ—…vnto them a just recompence of the like inhumanitie that they had practised against their owne father Likewise Monastries became places whereinto men entered to sorrowe for by-past offences imagining that by the strickt obseruation of the rules of the Monasticke life they might obtaine forgiuenesse of sins at the handes of GOD. Paulus Cyprius Bishop of CONSTANTINOPLE before the seconde Councill of NICE entered into a Monasterie and lamented for that hee had consented to the abolishing of Images in the Councill assembled by CONSTANTINUS COPRONYMUS This PAULUS CYPRIUS was a man of a base timorous and feeble spirite who neuer knewe what the Godlie sorrowe described by the Apostle PAULE did meane which causeth repentance to saluation not to bee repented for hee had great neede to haue repented this his repentance and his sorrowe was not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereof Paul speaketh 2. Corint 7. This bastard glorie aboue specified whereof Monkes rejoiced when the firâ—…t ornamentes were lost did rather belong to the Conuentuall Monkes than to the Anachorites Wee reade not of Kinges who delited to exchange their Kingdomes with the solitarie liuing by themselues apart in the Wildernesse except Suatacopius King of Moravia who beeing ouercome in battell by the Emperour Arnulphus hee went to the Wildernesse wherin hee continued vntill the day of his death eating hearbes and drinking water with greater contentment of mind then hee liued before in the pleasures of his Kingdome As concerning â—…saphat King of India of whom Damascene writeth that hee forsooke his Kingdome and went to the Wildernesse and exercised himselfe continually in reading and praying for the space of fiue and thirtie yeeres it is but a fabulous narration and the writer of it cannot cite so much as one approued Author for confirmation of his alleadged Historie But the purpose of Damascene is to confirme a
of Athanasius are supposititious and false and Erasmus that learned man who was neuer satisfied with reading yet hee wearied in reading the supposititious works of Athanasius making an end of reading of them with this proucrbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say enough of accornes meaning that hee might spend the time better than in reading vâ—…profitable and vnnecessarie bookes The miracle of the Image of the Virgine MARIE and the candle set before her Image by an Heremite who went in pilgrimage a farre iourney and when hee returned againe after the issue of three moneths others say sixe moneths the candle was still burning and not consumed in all this time This miracle hath the right shape of a fable for all circumstances of time place and persons are obscured neither is it declared in what yeere of the LORD this miracle was wrought nor in what place of the world the Image was neither is the name of the Heremite expressed nor the name of the place whereinto hee iourncyed Onely the writer of this miracle is said to be Dionysuis Ascaâ—…onita presbyter some obscure fellow doubtlessâ—… or the faiâ—…ed name of some author for his name is vnknowne to the learned The second Councill of Nice which gaue such full allowance to adoâ—…ation of Images it began euill and it ended worse for it began at the fables conteined in Adrians letter but it ended at a dialogue betwixt the deuill and a certaine monke whome Sathan sorbade to woâ—…ship the image of our Ladie but his foolish Abbot Theodorus saide vnto him that it was a lesse sinne to haunt all the baudie houses in the towne euery day than to leaue off worshipping of the Image of our Lady one day The Apostle PAVL neuer vsed the testimonie of the deuill to proue himselfe to be the seruant of GOD albeit the woman possessed with a spirite of diuination cried after PAVL and SILAS that they weâ—…e the seruants of the most high GOD and in my opinion the arguments taken from the testimony of Sathan should be eschewed for GOD hath not appointed him to be our teacher Now let vs consider the multiplied honours of images hatched in the second Councill of Nice vnder this one worde adoration of Images This adoration standeth in decking of them knâ—…eling vnto them saying of prayers before them censing lighting of candles vowes offerings sestuall dayes salutations building of Churches and altars All these honours were done both to the image and to tâ—…e Sainct represented by the image The decking of images is damned by the Prophet HOSEA and it is indeede a spoyling of the poore who haue neede of such support as is bestowed in vaine vpon images who haue no need of ornaments and clothing Vnder the bowing of the knee all Idolatrie is comprehended Prayer should be conceiued without wrath and doubting but so it is he who prayeth before an image cannot be free of doubting because he hath no promise to be heard Cersing was a part of the ceremoniall lawâ—… verie badly transferred fâ—…om the liuing GOD to senslesse images Candles lighted before images declare that the Saints represented by those imâ—…ges were the lights of the world but it is a vaine thing to forsake the light of their wholesome doctrines and to honour them by lighting candles before their images Salutations of images are no lesse ridiculous than the salutations wherewith S. Francis saluted the knee as his sisters for humilities sake As concerning vowes building of Temples setting vp of altars and festuall dayes to the honour of images it is too great honour done vnto them with some slippe of memorie in them who doe it for in one word they say there is no diuinitie in images immediatly after they do such honour vnto them as SALOMON when he stood did to GOD and when he fell did to Astaroth Chemosse and Moloch Before I make an ende of this Treatise it may be demanded Howe could the worshipping of images get place at that time when Emperours and Councils with all their might contended in the contrarie that images should not bee worshipped The Emperours Philippicus Leo Isaurus Constantinus Copronymus and Leo his sonne were all seriously bent to suppresse the worshipping of images and in the VVest Carolus Magnus King of France and Emperour was present in the Councill of Francford where the worshipping of images was damned To this I answere that the authoritie of the bishop of Rome was at this time so increased that they durst encounter with the Emperours of the East who were farre distant from them Constantine B. of Rome razed out of Charters the name of the Emperour Philippicus Gregorius 2. did excommunicate Leo Isaurus and forbade to pay tribute vnto him Gregorius 3. in contempt of Leo gathered a Councill and ordained the worshipping of images As concerning Carolus Magnus who was proclaimed Emperour by the speciall mandate of the chaire of Rome the question is greater Howe could the bishops of Rome tolerate that worshipping of images should bee damned by a Councill gathereâ—… by this new Emperour whom they had authorized by their owâ—…e trauâ—…ls To this Ianswere that the bishops of Rome did as the ancient Romanes did of whome Augustine writeth Multas cupiditatâ—…s 〈◊〉 ingenâ—… cupiditate presserunt that is to say Many desires they Prâ—…ed downe for the excessiue desire they had of one thing to wit of soucraignitie and domination euen so the great desiâ—…e the Romaâ—…e bishoppes had firmely to keepe in theiâ—… 〈◊〉 that great territorie of land in Italie called Exerchatus Ravâ—…nnae which Pipinus King of France reft from the Emperour of the East and gaue it to the chaire of Rome for the excessiue desire I say which they had to keepe this rich prey they would not contend with Carolus Magnus but after his death they could not suffer his posteritie to take such a doing against the worshipping of Images as Carolus Magnus had done Insomuch that in the dayes of the reigne of Ludouicus Pius it was hard to the Emperour to protect Claudius Taurinensis against the chaufing malice of the bishops of Italie who hated him because hee cast out Images out of his Church in Turin yea and Claudius Taurinensis directly impugned the adoration of Images by a booke written by him vpon that subiect whereunto none answere was giuen during his lifetime but after his death many were found like barking dogges railing against his blessed memoriall and that so much the more because in his booke he rubbed quickly vpon the surfeiting pleasures of the Romane Church who were better content to worshippe the Crosse of Christ because that was easie to bee done than to beare the Crosse of Christ because that was a laborious worke and painefull to the flesh yet did Christ command vs to beare his Crosse but not to worship it Finally it is to be noted that the defection of some men of great account was a stumbling blocke to many others Paulus Cyprius B.
Emperours and Councils with all their might contended in the contrarie that images should not bee worshipped The Emperours Philippicus Leo lsaurus Constantinus Copronymus and Leo his sonne were all seriously bent to suppresse the worshipping of images and in the VVest Carolus Magnus King of France and Emperour was present in the Councill of Francsord where the worshipping of images was damned To this I answere that the anthoritie of the bishop of Rome was at this time so increased that they durst encounter with the Emperours of the East who were farre distant from them Constantine B. of Rome razed out of Charters the name of the Emperour Philippicus Gregorius 2. did excommunicate Leo Isaurus and forbade to pay tribute vnto him Gregorius 3. in conternpt of Leo gathered a Councill and ordained the worshipping of images As concerning Carolus Magnas who was proclaimed Emperour by the speciall mandate of the chaire of Rome the question is greater Howe could the bishops of Rome tolerate that worshipping of images should bee damned by a Councill gathered by this new Emperour whom they had authorized by their owne trauels To this Ianswere that the bishops of Rome did as the ancient Romanes did of whome Augustine writeth Mulcas cupiditates unius ingenti cupiditate presserunt that is to say Many desires they pressed downe for the excessiue desire they had of one thing to wit of soueraignitie and domination euen so the great desire the Romane bishoppes had firmely to keepe in their possession that great territorie of land in Italie called Exerchatus Ravinna which Pipinus King of France reft from the Emperour of the East and gaue it to the chaire of Rome for the excessiue desire I say which they had to keepe this rich prey they would not contend with Carolus Magnus but after his death they could not suffer his posteritie to take such a doing against the worshipping of Images as Carolus Magnus had done In so much that in the dayes of the reigne of Ludouicus Pius it was hard to the Emperour to protect Claudius Taurinensis against the chaufing malice of the bishops of Italie who hated him because hee cast out Images out of his Church in Turin yea and Claudius Taurinensis directly impugned the adoration of Images by a booke written by him vpon that subiect whereunto none answere was giuen during his lifetime but after his death many were found like barking dogges railing against his blessed memoriall and that so much the more because in his booke he rubbed quickly vpon the surfeiting pleasures of the Romane Church who were better content to worshippe the Crosse of Christ because that was easie to bee done than to beare the Crosse of Christ because that was a laborious worke and painefull to the flâ—…sh yet did Christ command vs to beare his Crosse but not to worship it Finally it is to be noted that the defection of some men of great account was a stumbling blocke to many others Paulus Cyprius B. of Constantinople left his charge entred into a Monastrie and lamented that he had consented to the abolishing of Images Gregorius B. of Neocesarea one of the chiefe disallowers of Images in the Councill holden at Constantinople gaue in his supplicant bill in the second Councill of Nice confessed his error and subscribed to the decreet of that vnhappie Councill by whose example the bishops of Nice Hierapolis of the Isles of Rhodes and Carpathus were mooued to doe the like Let this bee a warning to them who are in eminent places that they fall not from the trueth of GOD lest by their fall they procure a great ruining and desolation to the house of GOD. The LORD keepe vs from defection to whome bee praise and glory for euer AMEN A TREATISE Of Satisfaction and Indulgences SATISFACTION of olde was publicke repentance made for grieuous faultes such as murther adulterie apostasie And this publicke humiliation made in sight of the people with fasting teares basenesse of apparrell and such other tokens of an humbled minde with a sense of sorrow for by-past offences it was called satisfactio as Augustine writeth quia satisfiebat Ecclesiae that is because the Church was satisfied yea and the slander was remooued This humiliation foresaide in the Greeke Church was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or a punishment because it was infâ—…cted as a punishment in Church discipline to terrifie others from committing the like offences Now seeing this Ecclesiasticall discipline was very rigorous and indured many yeeres as the Canons of Councils clearely declare It pleased the Church vpon weightie considerations to relent somewhat of the severitie of the first prescribed discipline yea and the people ofâ—… times intreated the Pastor by earnest requests that the time of publicke repentance might be shortned because they saw great tokens of vnfained repentance in the offender This dispensation with the rigour of olde discipline was called indulgentia but in Poperie which was beginning in this Centurie to haue great vpper hand the abuse of these two words hath vtterly vndone the ancient puritie of religion and discipline The word satisfaction which of old was referred to the people now in Poperie is referred to God in this maner They teach the people that the sinnes committed before Baptisme are abolished in Baptisme but sinnes committed after Baptisme wee must obteine pardon for them by our own satisfactions namely by fasting praying almesdeedes pilgrimages and such other workes done by our selues And to make this doctrine the more plausible vnto the people they bring in the similitude of a man sailing in a ship if he fall out of it into the sea the ship say they goeth away without recouerie and incace he find not another vessell to support his distressed estate and to bring him to land he must needes perish and drowne euen so say they if after baptisme we commit any transgression we must either be supported by our owne satisfactions els wee must perish in our sinnes No similitude can be more repugnant to Scripture thaâ—… this For albeit there bee many vessels whereinto mens bodies may bee preserued from the danger of drowning yet is there not many vessels whereinto our soules can bee saued from damnation but â—…ee are saued onely by our spirituall Baptisme whereby the filth of our soules is washen away in the blood of Christ. And like as God commanded not NOE to make two arkes but one alanerly for the safetie of a fewe so hath GOD appointed only one way for safetie of our soules so that if wee sinne after Baptisme wee must haue refuge to the sweete promises of remission of sinnes made to vs in Baptisme In what sense indulgentia was taken of old I haue already declared In the Romane Church Indulgences and Pardones are a dispensation of the merites of Christ and his Saintes to the vtilitie of sinnâ—…rs This presupponeth that the merites of Christ and his Saintes are put in the custodie of the bishop of Rome and that
a sufficient number of odious names Hee is called the Antichrist an aduersarie to God the man of sinne the childe of perdition and in other places the false prophet the beast that is worshipped great Babylon the mother of whoredomes which stile albeit they transfeâ—…re it vnto the Romane chaire when the tenne persecuâ—…ing Emperours compelled men to worship heathen gods yet the holy Scripture referreth it to that whore who braggeth that she is married to wit to Christ and shee is not a widowe Apocal. cap. 18. verse 7. And this agreeth better with the chaire of Rome wherein Popes doe sit than with the chaire of Rome when persecuting Emperours sate into it Besides all these odious names the Apostle addeth another hatefull name calleth him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is that lawlesse man who will bee subject to no lawe neither diuine nor humane but hee will bee aboue all lawes hee will judge all men and bee judged of no man what regarde hee hath of the lawe of GOD it maye bee knowne by this That the breaking of the Popes lawe is counted a greater sinne than the breaking of the Lawe of GOD for in matters of marriage and meates if the Popes lawe bee transgressed foorth-with a man is counted an Heretique But when the Lawe of GOD is broken for a small summe of money a pardon may be purchased Yea further I am bolde to saye that the moste discrepant Idiomes of the GREEKE language such as the ATTICKE and IONICKE Idiomes they differ not so farre as the lawes of CHRIST and ANTICHRIST differ one from another Albeit the Atticke Dialect delighteth in contractions and the Ionicke in resolutions yet notwithstanding one and the selfe same thing in substance and matter maye bee vttered in both these discrepant Idiomes But the Lawes of CHRIST and Antichrist are so opposite in matter and substance that they cannot both consist and stand namelie when the Lawe of CHRIST biddeth alloweth and approoueth and the lawe of the Antichrist in that same subject forbiddeth disalloweth and disapprooueth The Lawe of GOD Exod. 20. counteth worshippers of Images haters of GOD The lawe of the Antichrist counteth them good Catholiques The lawe of CHRIST in the doctrine of Faith Inuocation and Mediation sendeth vs onelie to the Creator The lawe of the Antichrist sendeth vs to the creatures also so that the Antichrist is justlie called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or a lawlesse man in respect hee will not bee obedient to the Lawes of CHRIST Concerning humane and ciuill ordinances Hee who dare assoyle subjectes from the oathe of alleadgeance to their soueraine lordes hee vndoeth all ciuill gouernement policie and lawes from the verie foundation I superceede to write further in this point In the second place let vs consider the time wherein the Antichrist shall bee reueiled pointed out in these wordes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is and then shall the wicked man bee reueiled which wordes beeing relatiue to that which immediatelie passed before importeth that the Antichrist shoulde bee reueiled at that same time when the mightie Monarchie of the Romanes was trodden vnder his feete Then it seemed that all the nations of the worlde should adore and worshippe the beast continuallie and that the tongues of men shoulde haue bene locked vp in silence so that no man euer shoulde take boldnesse to speake one word against the whore of Babylon yea and the Holy Apostle describeth the great securitie of the mother of whoredomes saying in his heart I sit being a Queene and am not a widow and shall see no mourning Apocal. 18. 7. At this same time the vnchangeable decreet of the Almightie God appointed that this wicked one should first be reueiled and afterward should be destroyed Wherin it is to be noted with what patient expectation wee shoulde attende vpon the times and seasons wherein it should please the Lord to performe his owne works for like as Christ thought it more expedient more teÌ„ding to the aduancement of His owne glorie to raise Lazarus out of his graue Ioan. 11. rather than out of the bedde of his infirmitie Euen so the Lord thought meet to suffer the Antichrist to mount vp vnto the top of all his desired prehemineÌ„ce then the Lord put hand to work both to discouer to destroy him to the further manifestation of his own vnspeakeable power wisdome In the third place the meanes are to be considered whereby the Antich should be discouered namely by the sincere preaching of the Gospel by the mouthes of men holy zealous Apoc. 11. 3 in gifts not vnlike vnto Henoch Helias Now seeing the man of sin is to be discouered by the sincere preaching of the Gospell let vs consider what benefite redoundeth to vs by the true and sincere preaching of the Gospell of CHRIST it is like vnto the light of the daye which manifesteth euerie thing in its owne coloures The thing that is beautifull is seene to bee bee beautifull and the thing that is euill fauoured is seene to be such as it is where of the madnesse of some Heretiques such as Gnostici and Mâ—…nichet is clearly perceiued who rejected the Scriptures of God because in them is contained a commemoration of the faultes of the Patriarches Shall the light be despised because it manifesteth both beautie and desormitie both strength and debilitie both the perfection of a complete body and the imperfection of a dismembered and mutilate bodie In like manner the Holy Scriptures are to bee had in the more reuerende regarde when they describe euery thing in their own colours and manifesteth on the one part the riches of the mercie of God in Iesus Christ and on the other part the falsehood subtiltie hypocrisie and pride of the Antichrist to the end that Gods people maye eschewe the Antichrist and rejoyce in the sweete saluation of Christ Iesus This discouerie of the Antichrist in some weake measure began about the yeere of our Lord 1300. at what time learned men fearing the tyrannie of the Emperour of the Turks fled to Italie and restored the Grieke and Latine languages to their own puritie This vindicating of languages from the grosse barbaritie of those times opened a doore of knowledge and a desire of reading with a judicious consideration of that which was read whether or not it were a suppositious worke More-ouer God annointed the eyes of many learned men with the eye-salue of vnderstanding whose sight increasing by degrees in end manifested to the worlde that the chaire of Rome was the seate of the Antichrist Marsilius Patavinus in his booke called Defensor Pacis writeth that the Clergie of Rome is a denne of thiâ—…ues and that the doctrine of the Pope is not to bee followed because it leadeth vnto eternall death Franciscus Petrarcha a man famously learned calleth Rome the whore of Babylon the Schoole and mother of errour the temple of Heresie the nest of treacherie growing and increasing by the oppression of others
and the holie Sacramentes were seldome ministred and with filthie addition of ceremonies inuented by the braine of man to Baptisme and a sacrilegious with-holding from the people the cuppe in ministring vnto them the holie Supper and so the fountaines of liuing water were stopped and cisternes were opened and the wholsome foode of GODS people was turned into ashes and in steade of preaching GODS Worde sincerelie all Church-seruice was turned into a dumbe guise of the Masse and in reading of prayers and passages of Scripture into an vnknowne language so the people for fault of good instruction withered as grasse when it is not refreshed with dewe and raine Yea and SALOMON saieth Where there is no vision the people decay PROV 29. 18. The thirde and moste venomous consequence of the Masse is procession and adoration for hosties consecrated in time of Masse although not broken and eaten they are counted CHRISTES bodie and carried about in procession and worshipped This was not the ancient custome of the Church for the sacrament consisting in the action and vse thereof so long as the blessing and the actions of breaking distributing and eating lasted the bread was counted holie and represented the bl◅ssed bodie of IESVS but after these holie actions were ended the rest of the bread that was not vsed in the Sacrament it was distributed to the poore but it was not kept in boxes to bee carried in procession and to bee adored and worshipped by ignorant people And of all thinges that are deficient in Poperie I haue of◅ times obserued that antiquitie whereof they principallie bragge is moste deficient and lacking in them The ground of Popish procession no doubt was the sending of the Sacraments to those who were sicke and absent by some necessitie But they reade not in IVSTINVS nor in any other ancient writer that people who met the deacon carrying the Eucharist to sicke persons fell downe vpon their knees and worshipped it This abominable idolatrie more vile than the idolatrie of the Gentiles was not of ancient time in vse in the Church Nowe the LORD who hath redeemed our soules from death and who hath called vs from darknesse vnto His marucilous loue establishe our soules in the trueth of GOD through CHRIST IESVS our LORD AMEN FINIS THE VIII CENTVRIE CHAP. I. OF EMPEROURS PHILIPPICVS AFTER IVSTINIAN the second was slaine PHILIPPICVS reigned two yeeres and nine monethes Great dissention fell out betwixt the Emperour Philippicus and Constantine Bishop of Rome for razing as appeareth the pictures of Fathers who were present at the sixt Generall Councell which beeing pictured in the Temple of Sophia were abolished by the commandement of Philippicus Constantine Bishop of Rome declared the Emperour an heretique and commanded that his name shoulde bee rased out of charters This was the first great direct and violent opposition that the Bishops of Rome attempted against noble Emperours Philippicus was taken and his eyes were put out by Anastasius otherwise called Artemius his Secretarie who reigned in his stead ARTEMIVS ARTEMIVS otherwise called Anastasius reigned one yeere and three monethes hee deposed Ihonne patriarch of Constantinople who kept not the true faith and placed Germanus in his steade Hee was taken by Theodosius and sent prisoner to Nice and from thence to Thessalonica where hee was compelled to renounce his Emperiall dignitie and to be cloathed with the habite of a Monke THEODOSIVS THEODOSIVS reigned scarce one yeere and when hee heard that Leo Isaurus gouernour in the East partes was saluted Emperour by the armie hee willinglie gaue ouer his Emperiall dignitie and liued a priuate and peaceable man LEO ISAVRVS LEO ISAVRVS reigned twentie foure yeeres great commotions were in his time both in Church and policie In Church-affaires hee was an hater of Images and burnt images made of wood other images hee melted and misfashioned against whome Gregorius the seconde puft vp with antichristian pride hee opponed himselfen ◅t only allowing worshipping of images but also forbidding to paye tribute to the Emperour Leo. The Emperour on the other part irritated with the proude attempts of Gregorius the second he vsed indirect meanes to cut him off but the enterprises of his deputies Marinus Paulus Eutychius and their followers succeeded vnprosperously Moreouer the Bishop of Rome sought support from the Lombardis who had beene at all times preceeding enemies to the chaire of Rome yet in Leo his dayes they were bounde with the bishop of Rome in a couenant of friendship for none other cause but this onely to shake off the yoke of the Emperours obedience And when the bishop of Rome sawe that the Emperour had great businesse in warres against the Saracens he thought it a sit occasion to drawe the dominion of Italic vnto his owne subjection and therefore with aduise of his Clergie hee both excommunicated the Emperour as a destroyer of the images of the Saincts and disauthorised him of his Emperiall soueranitie So early began the increasing grandour of the Antichrist to sende foorth the thuńder-boltes of cursinges against the annointed of the Lord. In this Emperours dayes the Saracenes passed ouer the Straites inuaded the kingdome of Spaine slewe Rodericus king of Gothes and his sonne and put an ende to the kingdome of the Gothes in Spaine after they had reigned 346. yeeres and being incited by Eudo Duke of Aquitania they marched towardes France but thorowe the valour of Carolus Martellus a man of noble birth in France they were so encountered that three hundreth thousand and threescore and ten thousand Saracenes were slaine and the countrey of France was made free of the feare of the Saracens CONSTANTINVS COPRONYMVS AFTER LEO his sonne CONSTANTINVS COPRONYMVS reigned 35. yeeres Chytreus reckoneth onlie 23. yeeres because hee hated the worshipping of images which errour had taken deepe roote in this age the writers of the historie of this time haue dipped their pennes in gall and worm-wood to blaspheme the honourable name of Constātinus but whatsoeuer Paulus Diaconus or zonaras haue written to his disgrace his name will bee in honourable account and regarde in the Church of CHRIST The Senate and the people of Constantinople addicted to the worshipping of images hated the Emperour and were glad of the false rumoured tithings of his death when hee went to fight against the Arabians they chose Artabasdus to bee Emperour in his steade But Constantine returned to Constantinople besieged the towne and recouered his owne kingdome againe Hee gathered a Generall Councell in Constantinople anno 755. wherein the worshipping of images was damned as shall bee declared God willing in its owne place In this Emperours dayes were warres betwixt the kings of Lombardis and the Bishops of Rome but the Romane Bishops begged the helpe of Carolus Martellus against Luitprand and the helpe of Pipinus against Aistulphus and the helpe of Carolus Magnus against Desiderius all kinges of Lombardis and so by continuall imploring the helpe of the Nobles Kinges of France the
and he married another woman named Hildegarde of the Dukerie of Sweue These are the fruits of antichristian pride to threaten the torments of hell against the princes of the worlde for marriage if so be they fore-see anie damnage may redound to the chaite of Rome by the marriage of princes After Stephanus the thirde succeeded Adrian the first and gouerned 23. yeeres ten monethes and seuenteene da◅es In his dayes Charles the Great came into Italie with an armie and banished Desiderius king of Lombardes his wife and children to Lions in France and vtterly suodued the kingdome of the Lombardes which had continued in Italie 204. yeeres Nowe in the yeere of our Lord 776. this kingdome was abolished vndone by Charles the Great king of France for the fauour he carried towards the chaire of Rome Likewise he augmented the donation of his father Pipinus and he bestowed vpon the Church of Rome the Isle of Corsica and the places interjacent betwixt Luca and Parma with the Dukedomes of Spoleto and Beneuento This being done Charles returned backe againe to France carying with him Bertha his brothers wife and hir children who came to Adrian bishop of Rome hoping for fauour at his handes and that hee should haue annointed her sonnes to be kings of France seeing Carolomannus their father was now dead but hee deliuered them into the hands of Charles and so Charles the Great reigned without exception as absolute commander of France Irene the Empresse of the East during the time of Adrians popedome assembled a great Councell at Nice in Bythinia where the adoration of images was allowed In this Councell the popes Ambassadours were present and his owne letter was read in the Councell no man gaue greater allowance to the worshipping of images than pope Adrian did as shall be declared God willing in the head of Councels It is to be marked that Platina writing of the death of Constantinus Copronymus is compelled to beare witnesse to the trueth and testifie that the opinion of the leprosie of Constantine the Great was a notable fable and that it sprang vp by occasion of the disease of Constantinus Copronymus the father in law of the Empresse Irene To Adrian succeeded Leo the third and gouerned 21. yeeres he was hated by Pascalis and Campulus who lay in waite for him at the Church of Sainct Syluester threw him downe to the ground spoy led him of his pontificall garments beate him with manie strokes and finally cast him into prison and bands but he escaped by the meanes of a cubiculare named Albinus lurked in the Vaticane vntill the time that Unigisius duke of Spoleto conuoyed him safely vnto his boundes At this time Charles king of France had warres against the Saxones The bishop of Rome who came to him to complaine of the injuries which hee had receiued was sent back againe verie honourably accompanied with the souldiours of Charles king of France and with promise that hee shoulde without delay addresse his journey towardes Italie When Charles came to Italie the popes enemies were so dashed with feare that they durst not appeare to accuse him and the Clergie of Rome thought meete that no man shoulde judge of the Apostolike chaire but the bishop of Rome should be his own judge Leo tooke the booke of the Gospell in his handes and swore that he was innocēt of all the crimes objected against him and so he was absolued Pascalis Campulus the friēds of the late deceassed pope Adrian were counted worthy of death but pope Leo intercided for safetie of their liues so they were banished to France For this benefite Leo caused Charles to bee declared Emperour of the West and crowned him with the Emperiall Diademe And from that time forwardes the custome beganne that Emperoures shoulde receiue their Coronation from the Bishop of ROME Notwithstanding of this it was ordained that no man shoulde bee elected Bishop of ROME without aduice of the Emperour of the West and without receiuing inuestment from him THE Patriarches of Constantinople in this CENTVRIE were placed and displaced according to the changeable conceits of the Emperours Vnder the reigne of Iustinian the seconde Cyrus was Patriarch whom Philippicus remoued and aduanced one named Ihonne who had fore-tolde that he should be made Emperour This Ihonne was infected with the heresie of the Monothelites and was remoued by Artemius by whome Germanus was aduanced to the chaire of Constantinople Germanus continued vntill the reigne of Constantinus Copronymus Hee was deposed and excommunicated by the Generall Councell assembled by Constantinus because hee allowed the worshipping of images To him succeeded Anastasius who albeit hee disliked images yet hee was vnthankefull to the Emperour and fauoured the seditious attemptes of the people of Constantinople who aduanced Artabasdus to the Emperiall dignitie More-ouer hee slandered the Emperour as if he had spoken against the diuinitie of Christ. Hee receiued a just recompense of his vnthankefulnesse for hee was deposed and scourged and set vpon an Asse with his face towards the Asses taile and made a ridiculous spectacle to the people After him Constantine a Mōke was made Patriarch who at the first seemed to damne images but afterward he was found to be a maintainer and allower of them The Emp. banished him to Iberia where hee spake contumeliouslie both of the Emperour and of the Councell holden at Constantinople therefore hee was brought backe againe from banishment and was beheaded and his bodie was trailed through the towne with a corde casten into a pit where the bodies of male-factors were accustomed to bee casten After him succeeded Nicetas a man vnlearned aduāced by the Em. Const. Copron. for none other cause but only for his zeale against the worshipping of images After him succeeded Paulus Cyprius who in the dayes of Const. Copron. damned the worshipping of images but afterward repented vnder the reigne of Irene entered into a Monastery lamented that he had cōsented to the abolishing of images The vaine repentance of this timorous and superstitious man was the chiefe occasion of the conuocation of the seconde Councell of Nice by the Empresse Irene To him succeeded Tarasius who was present at the second Councell of Nice and gaue allowance to the adoration of images The preuailing power of the Saracenes in Alexandria Antiochia and Hierusalem did so obscure the names of the Patriarches of these cities that I haue no remarkeable thing to write of them in this CENTVRIE IN this declining age wherein spirituall grace dayly decayed and nothing encreased except an heape of earthly treasures which God permitteth to be powred into the bosomes of them who loue the wages of iniquitie Alwayes euen at this time some men of good literature and learning did manifest themselues vnto the world such as Bonifacius bishop of Mentz Damascene alearned Monke Paulus Diaconus a learned writer of histories and Beda a man counted venerable in his time yet all
these were miserably infected with the superstitions of their time such as the opinion of Purgatorie inuocation of Sainctes and worshipping of Images and prohibition of Marriage Bonifacius was a man borne in ENGLAND in a place neare adjoyning to EXCESTER he was familiarly acquainted with fiue popes to wit with pope Constantinus the first Gregorius the seconde Gregorius the thirde Zacharias the first and Stepanus the seconde And by them hee was aduaunced to manie honours First to be the Popes Legate in ENGLAND GERMANIE and FRANCE and afterwardes to bee Archbishop of Mentz All his studies and trauels tended to this to bring the people of ENGLAND Germanie and France to the subjection of the Romane bishop and to a conformitie to the superstitions of the Romane Church In the name and at the commandement of pope Zacharias he disauthorised Childericus king of France thrust him into a Monasterie and anointed Pipinus the sonne of Carolus Martellus to be king of France So zealous was hee to performe all the desires of the Romane bishops by whome also his name was changed for hee was first named Vinofridus but the bishops of Rome who delited in his seruice called him Bonifacius After he had serued the Romane bishops in slauish subjection 36. yeeres hee was slaine by Pagans because he had anointed Pipinus king of France and for hope they had to enrich themselues by his coffers in the which when they had opened them they found nothing except bookes and reliques of Saincts whereof they made no account And his bodie was buried in the Monasterie of Fulda Damascene a superstitious Monke the disciple of Cosinas liued vnder the Emperours Leo and Constantinus Copronymus hee was a long time in companie of the Saracenes and with the prince of Saracenes he went to the sepulchre of Mahomet and like vnto a timorous bodie worshipped the bones of Mahomet fearing to haue beene put to death if hee had not done such homage Hee was a patron of worshipping of images and was excommunicated in the Generall Councell assembled by Constantinus Copronymus It is written by Ihonne patriarch of Hierusalem in the historie of Damascens life that the prince of Saracenes was mooued to indignation against him by a deceitfull letter sent from the Emperour Leo Isaurus in the which Damascene was charged as a man willing to haue betrayed the towne of Damascus into the hands of the Emperour Leo. Vpon this occasion saieth Ihon patriarch of Hierusalem the prince of Saracenes cut off the hand of Damascene and on the other part Damascene by humble kneeling before the image of the Virgine Marie was miraculouslie cured and restored againe to the power of his hand But this is like to the rest of Popish fables and lies For Damascene writeth manie notable fables for confirmation of adoration of images And incase a miracle had bene wrought in his owne person by prostrating himselfe before an image Damaescene had no manner of waye ouer-passed with silence the memoriall thereof But wee haue to doe with aduersaries who are not ashamed of lies Damascene was a diligēt reader of the bookes of ancient Fathers as appeareth by his foure bookes De Orthodoxa Fide but not so diligent a reader of holy Scripture which is the ground of manifolde errours His historie of Iosophat king of India is knowne to bee a Monkish fable Paulus Diaconus of the kinred of the Lombardes became a Deacon in Aquileia hee was carried captiue into France in the dayes of Charles the Great who besieged Papia banished Desiderius and made an ende of the kingdome of the Lombardes Afterwards he was accused of treason and conspiracie against Charles king of France His malicious and hatefull accusers were bent to haue had his hands cut off or his eyes put out but K. Charles pittying him for his learning was content that he should be banished to the I le of Diomedes From thence hee fled and came to Beneuentum where Arachis was dwelling who had married Adelperga the daughter of Desiderius In his pallace it is thought hee writ his sixe bookes De rebus gestis Longobardarum After the death of Arachis hee came to the Monasterie called Cassinense where hee ended his life Beda a man borne and brought vp in ENGLAND was called venerable and was in great account in his time Onely hee was miserably intangled with deceitfull antichristian errours vniuersally ouerspred in his dayes such as inuocation of Sainctes worshipping of Reliques opinion of Purgatorie and of support that might be had by saying of Masses In writing reading and praying hee was a man of incessant paines Nothing is found in him more commendable than his patient suffering of the agonies immediately preceeding his dissolution with a desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ. Albertus Gallus a Bishop in some part of France a learned and godly man opponed himselfe mightily to Bonifacius the foote-groome of the Romane Antichrist with whome concurred two Iearned men borne in Scotland named Clemens presbyter and Samson and offered to prooue both by worde and writing that Bonifacius was an author of lies a troubler of the peace of Christians and a corrupter and deceiuer of the people But pope zacharias excommunicated them before they were heard in a lawfull Assemblie and gaue power to his foote-groome Bonifacius to depose them procured at the hands of the king of France that they should be casten into prison and bound with bandes as schismatiques false teachers and sacrilegious men Such rewarde men receiued who were witnesses to the trueth of God and reprehended any corruption of the Romane Church In like manner Joannes Mailrosius and Claudius Clemens learned men of Scotland sent by king Acha◅us to Charles king of France and the first professors of learning in the Academie founded by Charles the Great in Parise these two likewise were disliked of the Romane Church because they could not assent to all the superstitions of that Church in this age so miserably deformed CHAP. III. OF HERETIQUES MANIE were counted Heretiques in this age because they worshipped God sincerelie according to the rule of His owne blessed worde and woulde not giue consent to the fonde errours of the Romane Church But some were counted Heretiques justly and without all controuersie as namely they who called Christ in his humane nature the adoptiue sonne of God This wicked heresie repugneth vnto the Celestiall Oracle which the three Apostles hearde in the holie mountaine This is my welbeloued sonne in whome I am well pleased We are adopted in Christ to be the sonnes of God But Christ euen in his manly nature is the sonne of GOD by the excellent prerogatiue of personall vnion with the diuine nature It is not certainly knowne whether Elipandus bishop of Hispalis or another named Foelix with whom some affirme that Elipandus consulted about this damnable opinion was the author of this damnable heresie CHAP. IIII. OF COUNCELS IN the
person which indignitie done vnto him hee tooke it so grieuouslie that hee bounde himselfe by an oath That hee shoulde neuer see the Towne of ROME nor returne againe to his Bishopricke for hee was Episcopus PORTVENSIS But Pope MARTINVS absolued him from his oath and repossessed him into his Bishopricke againe and in ende hee was made Pope as saide is Neuerthelesse the faction of his competitor SERGIVS ceassed not to vexe and molest FORMOSVS so that hee sent secrete aduertisement vnto ARNVLPHVS the Nephewe of Carolus Crassus to come to ROME who came with an Armie and was crowned Emperour by Formosus as hath beene alreadie declared To Formosus succeeded Bonifacius the sixt who concluded his course after he had continued twentie and sixe dayes After Bonifacius the sixt succeeded Stephanus the sixt and ruled one yeere and three monethes Hee not onely annulled all the Decrees of his Predecessor Formosus but also caused his dead bodie to bee taken out of his graue and cutte off his three fingers wherewith hee was wont to consecrate persons admitted to spirituall offices and threwe them into Tyber and caused all them who had receiued ordination by Formosus to receiue newe ordination This fact of Stephanus the sixt is so full of vncouth and vnnaturall inhumanitie that Onuphrius denieth that any such thing was done whose impudencie Morneus discouereth by the testimonie of Luitprandus who liued at that same time and was a Deacon of the Church of Ticinum and maketh mention of this vile fact not without horrour and detestation thereof Baronius is not so impudent as Onuphrius and will not denie the fact but extenuateth the atrocitie and vilenesse thereof for hee saieth Non fuit error in side sed violenta tyrannis in facto that is to saye It was no errour in the faith but a violent tyrannie in the fact And like wise hee annulled the inauguration of the EMPEROVR ARNVLPHVS and annointed ALBERT or Lambert Marques of Tuscia who followed the Popes course to bee Emperour Nowe is the Popedome encreased to the measure of a full strength when they dare authorise and disauthorise place and displace Emperoures at their owne pleasure So that there remaineth nothing but to enter into grippes with the Emperour to throwe him downe to the grounde and to treade vpon the excellent honour of his Soueraignitie which in the next CENTVRIE will follow To Stephanus succeded Romanus and continued onely three monethes Hee abrogated the Decrees of Stephanus his predecessour Theodorus the successour of Romanus continued in his Popedome twentie dayes onely In this short time hee allowed the Decrees of Formosus Patriarches of Constantinople PAtriarches of Constantinople in this Centurie were changed according to the disposition of Emperoures fauouring or disliking the worshipping of Images Nicephorus was a defender of adoration of Images and was banished by the Emperour Leo. Theodotus againe Antonius and Syngelus who had beene Schoole-masters to the Emperour Theophilus were haters of Images But after the death of Theophilus Theodora his Wife aduaunced Methodius a superstitious man and an obstinate defender of adoration of Images and intercession of Sainctes Concerning Ignatius and Photius and the great troubles that arose about placing and displacing of them occasion will bee offered to speake of these thinges in the head of Councels Of other Pastors and Doctors IN this corrupt and backe-sliding age wherein the Romane Antichrist had so great vpper-hande the head of Councels will compell mee to make mention of the names of a number of Learned men At this time the name of Claudius Taurinensis putteth a great number of the rest out of my remembrance because hee was a faithfull witnesse vnto the trueth of God in a difficill time Hee was a man borne in Spaine and vnder the reigne of Ludouicus Pius hee was made Bishop of Thurin in P◅emont At his first entrie to his Bishopricke hee threwe the Images out of his Church affirming that the Sainctes who in their lifetime were not content to bee worshipped much lesse coulde they bee content to haue their pictures worshipped after their death In speciall hee condemned the worshipping of the Crosse. affirming that if it shoulde bee worshipped because Iesus died vpon it then the Shippe in the which Christ sailed the Asle whereupon Christ did ride into Hierusalem and infinite other thinges which Christ touched by the like reason behoued also to bee worshipped Concerning the Bishop of Rome he said that hee was not to bee counted an Apostolicke Bishop who sate in the Apostolicke Chaire but hee who fulfilled an Apostolicke office Hincmarus bishop of Rhemes liued vnder Carolus Magnus and continued in office almost vntill the reigne of the Em. Arnulph He had great strife with his nephew Hincmarus b. of Laudunum who refused to be vnder his Diosie and appealed from him vnto the b. of Rome Likewise in the cause of Rhotardus b. of Soission whom Hincmarus deposed and remoued from his office Nicolaus the first b. of Rome absolued him Hadrian 2. gaue him commandement to excommunicate C. Caluus k. of Fraunce his soueraigne lord but hee refused to performe such an vnlawfull commandement and writ vnto the Pope to be circumspect and not precipitate rashly his sentences of excommunication The question wherunto Hadr. 2. was so serious was about diuision of lāds betwixt C. Caluus his brother Lotharius C. Caluus denied that hee did vnjustly inuade any of his brothers landes but landes duely belonging vnto himselfe by paction and couenant And the Nobles of the countrey saide that it was a strange and an vnaccustomed thing that the Pope would take vpon him to be judge in a controuersie concerning the Titles and Rights of Kingdomes because hee coulde not bee both a Bishop and a King CHAP. III. Of Heretiques THEY who of olde were accustomed to condemne Heresies nowe they are become the chiefe Patrones and maintainers of adoration of Images a notable heresie whose pusillanimitie argueth the weaknesse of their cause for vnder the reigne of Ludouicus Pius Claudius Taurinensis wrote bookes against the adoration of Images and the Emperour by a publicke edict commanded them who were disposed to answere to his bookes to answere whilest Claudius was aliue But Ionas bishop of Orleans concealed and obscured his bookes during Claudius lifetime But after his death with impotencie of railing wordes rather than with power of solide arguments he endeuoureth to refute Claudius Taurinensis But I entrait the judicious Reader without partialitie to reade the bookes of Ionas bishop of Orliens the very stinking breath of the adversary of the trueth shall giue great allowance to the trueth of God Godescalcus a man of the Lowe Countreyes is reckoned in the number of Heretiques of this age about the yeere of our Lord 849. because hee spake of Predestination perilously to wit that these who were predestinated to life by the decree of Gods predestination were forced to doe well and those who were predestinated to
Oleum and againe it shall bee saide thrise Aue sanctum Chrisma and the thirde time it shall bee saide thrise Aue sanctum Balsamum that is to saye Haile holie Oyle Haile holie Chrisme Haile holie Balsome No such commaundement is contained in the Scriptures of GOD. In like manner they saye it is onlie lawfull for a Priest to applie this Oyle as if in the dayes of the Apostle IAMES there had beene such sacrificing Priestes as are in our dayes Whereas by the contrarie Pope INNOCENTIVS the first who liued in the dayes of AVGVSTINE permitted not onelie Priestes but also common Christians to comfort themselues and their friendes by annointing them with oyle as SIGEBERTVS writeth in his Chronicles Also with this oyle made by the Bishop exercised consecrated and saluted as if it were a sensitiue and reasonable creature the organes of mens senses are to bee annointed such as the eyes the eares the nosthrils the lippes the handes the feete and the reines In this poinct their heartes are ouer-casten with darknesse and they erre mis-knowing the Scriptures and power of GOD For the grounde of corruption is in the heart and not in the senses and the verie heart of EVA was corrupted with infidelitie and pride before her eyes or hands or mouth did sinne GENES 3. No man can discourse rightlie of sinne nor of anie other thing except hee knowe the fountaine and well-spring thereof Concerning auncient Fathers they had no such custome to annoint with oyle the eyes eares and the rest of the organes of senses before mens departure from this life And whereas they bring foorth the testimonie of AVGVSTINE Lib. 2. De visitatione infirmorum reckoning Unction as one of the necessarie consolations to bee adhibited to them who are concluding their life This citation is an ouer-giuing of their cause and a secret confession that Extreame Unction is but the inuention of man for they cannot bee ignorant that those bookes De Visitatione Infirmorum were not written by AVGVSTINE bishop of HIPPO but by another after his death who sette them foorth vnder the name of AVGVSTINE AECVMENIVS writing vpon the aforesaide place of the Apostle IAMES is shorter in his Commentarie than the Apostle is in his precept or counsell which thing hee could not haue done if hee had thought that an holie Sacrament had beene recommended to the Church to remaine vnto the ende of the worlde for hee writeth onelie that the Apostles had this custome whilest CHRIST was conuersant with them in the earth to annoint sicke persons with oyle and to restore them to health Aecum in Epistol Iacob cap. 5. vers 14. The custome of the Romane Church approacheth somewhat nearer to the fashions of the Pagans and olde Heretiques called Gnostici than to the custome of the Apostles for the Pagans annointed with oyle the bodies of the dead as the Poete witnesseth in these wordes Corpusque lauant frigentis vnguunt Iren. Lib. 1. Cap. 18. And olde Heretiques annointed the head of the dead with oyle and water to procure redemption to their soules The Romane Church annointeth not the dead with oyle but they annoint them who are halfe dead in whome there is no hope of life and recouerie LINDANVS in all his writinges is like vnto an ASIATICKE Oratour fighting rather with the shaft than with the poinct of the Speare and when hee citeth a place of CHRYSOSTOME De Sacerdotio Libr. 3. to prooue Extreame Unction to bee an ordinarie Sacrament in the Church hee prooueth starke nothing yea the thing that is not in controuersie betwixt vs and the Papistes for CHRYSOSTOME affirmeth that men are more benefited by their teachers than by their parentes in respect their naturall parentes haue begotten their bodies but their pastors haue begotten their soules to GOD Yea and their naturall parentes haue not supported their bodilie infirmities so much as their pastors haue done for oft times by prayer and annointing them with oyle they haue procured health to their bodies as Sainct IAMES witnesseth which their naturall parentes were not able to procure In all this discourse there is not one worde which wee denye But this prooueth not Extreame Vnction to bee a Sacrament of the Newe TESTAMENT instituted by CHRIST to continue vnto the ende of the worlde This Popishe Sacrament LINDANVS in his Panoplia entraiteth of it in the last rowme as a secure hauen in the which hee will leaue them of his religion reposing and resting themselues And truelie when I consider the grounde whereupon Papistes woulde haue their disciples to leane and the hauen vnto the which they woulde haue them to arriue I am compelled to saye that their grounde is sandie grounde MAT. 7. and that their hauen is like vnto the hauen of NAVPLIVS and they are wisest who hath least confidence in such deceitfull refuges yea they are wise who with VLISSES and DIOMEDES can beware of the stonie rockes of EVBOIA and sette their course another waye Nowe the LORDE open vnto vs the bosome of His sweete Compassions which is the true Citie of our Refuge in the which our soules maye finde true securitie and rest AMEN A TREATISE Of the Sacrament of Order THE ORDERS in the ROMANE Church are diuided into inferiour and superiour Orders The inferiour Orders are doore-keepers readers exorcistes and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is followers whome by a newe inuented name they call Ceroferarii or Waxetaper-bearers The superiour Orders are sub-Deacons Deacons and Presbyters By inferiour Orders mens humilitie and obedience was tried and so by degrees they were promoted to superiour Orders But seeing in euerie one of these Orders the outwarde signes at their entrie are different and the thinges signified are different to wit diuerse graces of the holie Spirite increassing according as men by ascending degrees mounted vp to higher honoures what is the cause that all these seuen are counted one SACRAMENT and not rather seuen SACRAMENTES To all these Orders one thing was common to wit all were shauen in the vpper part of their heads to represent as Lindanus affirmeth Panopl Libr. 4 Cap. 77. that the glorie of Church-men is to weare a crowne of thornes and to bee partakers of the sufferinges of CHRIST And the Councell of Triburium in the 20. Canon thereof citeth the same cause of shauing the heads of Clergie men It is true that men and women of olde delighted in haire as a naturall ornament of their bodies and MARIE is commended for this that shee dryed the feete of CHRIST with the haire of her head IOAN CAP. 12. vers 3. And all the glorie of the worlde yea and the crownes of immortall glorie shoulde bee casten downe at the feete of CHRIST APOCAL. CAP. 4. vers 10. Neuerthelesse the fact of SAMSON is reprooueable who suffered his haire to bee cutte off and casten at the feete of DELILA IVDG CAP. 16. vers 19. And the shauing of the haire of men to bee casten at the feete of the Antichrist and to bee a
their constitutions to bee so vilepended that they are not worthie of an answere and namely when they saye that the Church hath power to dispense with the degrees of consanguinitie forbidden in the eighteenth CHAPTER of LEVITICVS and for to appoint moe degrees impeding the binding vp of Marriage than are contained in that CHAPTER of LEVITICVS What answere shall bee giuen to such Apostates from the trueth of GOD They make so great account of the Canons of their Councels that they accurse all them who dare contradict anie of them and on the other part they make so light account of holie Canonicke Scripture that euen when they adde to the Scriptures of GOD or diminishe anie thing from them they are worthie to bee hearde and to bee regarded But HENRIE the eight King of ENGLAND when hee sought resolution in this question at the moste part of the Vniuersities in EVROPE if it were lawfull for the Bishop of ROME or for a Councell to dispense with the degrees of consanguinitie forbidden in the eighteenth of LEVITICVS hee receaued a negatiue answere That it was not lawfull so to doe The prohibition of Marriage in moe degrees of consanguinitie and affinitie than are contained in the XVIII of Leuiticus is a wicked inuention to make the Law of GOD of none effect For like as Cyrus when hee caused manie channels to bee made wherein the water of the Riuer Gyndes should bee deriued What intention had hee but to drie vp the Riuer Gyndes and to make it ebbe of water that young boyes girles should not bee afraide to wade thorowe it Euen so prohibitiue degrees added to the Lawe of GOD tended to none other purpose but to vndoe and make of none effect the blessed Lawe of GOD. And this appeareth the more manifestlie because in that same Canon in the which they claime libertie to adde moe degrees of prohibition of Marriage to the degrees forbidden in Leuiticus they claime also a libertie to dispense with the degrees forbidden by GOD. But GOD confoundeth the counsels of men which are opposite to His diuine institution and turneth them all to follie And the prohibition of Marriage vnto the seuenth degree was retrenched in the Councell of Laterane anno 1215 and reduced to the fourth degree of consanguinitie So men who woulde correct the ordinance of GOD they are like the Serpent whereof Epiphanius writeth contra heres which for hunger is compelled to gnaw his owne taile and to procure his owne death More-ouer the prohibition of Marriage with spirituall sisters that is with them to whome they haue beene witnesses in the Sacrament of Baptisme or Confirmation it is a constitution neither countenanced by Scripture nor knowne to Antiquitie but onelie leaning vpon the authoritie of the ROMANE Church and therefore the people and nations in our time who acknowledge CHRIST to bee the onelie Lawe-giuer in His owne Church they haue giuen this Antichristian lawe as the ashes that are casten to the dongue-hill Their constitution concerning diuorcementes that it is not lawfull for the innocent partie to marrie so long as the other partie is aliue with whom he was once married is partly conceaued vpon wrong interpretation of Scripture and partly vpon the opinion of ancient Fathers who misconceauing the right meaning of holy Scripture haue giuen to others occasion of stumbling and erring True it is that the Apostle Paul saith Let not the wife depart from her husband but if shee depart let her remaine vnmarried or be reconciled vnto her husband and let not the husband put away his wife 1. Cor. 7. 10. 11. In this place the Apostle is speaking of such alienation of minds as falleth out betwixt man and woman and separateth their cohabitation for a time but hee is not speaking of diuorcements justly made for fornication for like as death cutteth insunder the bandes of Matrimonie giueth liberty to the liuing party to marry in the Lord Rom. 7. 2. 3 Euen so fornication cutteth insunder the matrimoniall bande and giueth libertie to the innocent partie to marrie another in the Lord. Matth. 5. 32. The billes of diuorcement giuen to honest women in the old Testament after the receauing whereof they married other husbands as clearly appeareth in the booke of Deuteronomie cap. 24. vers 4. this custome I saye is no sufficient grounde to prooue that the innocent partie may marrie after diuorcement for such diuorcementes were rather tollerated for the hardnesse of the Iewes heartes than commaunded or allowed and because they were made without anie triall of fornication they are damned by Christ as occasions of adulteries Matth. 19. 9. But the exception that Christ maketh in expresse words of fornication declareth that the diuorcement made for fornication is a lawfull diuorcement and consequently giueth libertie to the innocent partie to marrie as death interuening giueth libertie to the partie liuing to marrie The opinion of Augustine concerning the exception of fornication made by Christ in the question of diuorcement Matthew 19. 9. hath so blinded the eyes of Lindanus and manie others of the Romane Church that they suppose the meaning of the words of Christ to bee this That a man who putteth awaye his wife for fornication and marrieth another hee sinneth not so grieuouslie as hee who putteth away his wife vngrieued with anie such transgression on her part Alwayes both the one and the other sinneth saieth hee if they marrie another during the life time of the first bedde-fellowe But with Augustines fauour exclusine wordes such as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is cannot bee expounded by Magis and Minus but the meaning of Christs words is euident That except fornication cutte the matrimoniall band the husband should not repudiate his wife and hee who marrieth a woman who is not diuorced for whordome committeth adulterie TO conclude this TREATISE let no man bee mooued by the honour which the Romane Church seemeth to giue vnto Marriage when they call it an holy Sacrament neither bee much troubled when they speake vnreuerently of Marriage for in the Courtes of Caiaphas and Pontius Pilate Christ was scornefullie honoured and seriously mocked and buffetted Mat. 27 Euen so when the Romane Church speaketh honourably of Marriage they are onely sporting and delighting themselues with conceits and discourses but when they abhorre Marriage and speake vnreuerently of it then they speake seriously and from their heart But the LORD in His owne time will stoppe the mouthes of them who teach a doctrine of Deuils from whose deceitfull doctrine the LORD make His Church free to whome bee all praise power and dominion both nowe and euermore AMEN FINIS Apoc 4. 10. Acts 20. 32. Euseb. lib. 2. Cap. 12. loseph antiquit lib. 20 cap. 2 Genes 85 Zach. 3. Ioan 8. 36. 1. Sam 2. 14. Christ Was borne when the scepter was apparently sliding from Iuda Christs kingdome is euerlasting The vncertainty of tradition Romaine Deputies in Iudea The priestly garments Christ crucified in the 18
17. dayes he was insected with the heresie of the Monothelites and was damned in the sixt generall Councell assembled in the dayes of the Emperour Constantinus Pogenatus and hath bene touched in the Treatise of succession To him succeeded Seuerinus the first and continued 1. yeere 9. monethes and 11. dayes He was confirmed in his Popedome by Isacius Exarche of Italie for at that time the election of the Clergie and consent of the people was not much set by Isacius also spoiled the treasures of the Church of Laterane being offended with this that the Church treasures were so rich and that they bestowed nothing to the support of Souldiers who were in great necesâ—…itie After him followed Pope Iohn the fourth who exceeded not the space of one yeere one moneth and nineteene dayes in his gouernement Theodoretus the successor of Iohn the fourth was the sonne of Theodorus Bishop of Ierusalem If the Romane Church so much detested Marriage in the persons of men in a spirituall calling how came it to passe that they admitted Theodoretus to be Pope who was the sonne of a married Bishop Hâ—…e â—…uled 6. yeerâ—…s 5. monethes and 18. dayes He excommunicated Pyrrhus Patriarch of Constantinople for the heresie of the Monothâ—…lites but after the death of the Emperour Heraclius Pyrrhus returned from Afrike where he had remained a space in banishment he came to Rome recanted his errour and was absolued from excommunication but like vnto a dogge hee returned againe to his vomite and was excommunicate of new againe by Theodoretus but Pyrâ—…hus was slaine by the Senators of Constantinople before hee was possessed into his former dignitie as partaker of the vile treason intended by Martina and Heracleonas her sonne against Constantine the sonne of the Emperour Heraclius After him succeeded Pope Martinus and gouerned 6. yeeres 1. moneth 26. dayes he sent Ambassadours to Paulus Patriarch of Constantinople exhorting him to forsake the errour of the Monothelites but he misused the messengers the more confidentlie because he saw the Emp. Constans altogether addicted vnto the heresie of the Monothelites Martinus on the other part assembled a Councell at Rome of 150. bishops wherin he renewed the excommunication of Syrus B. of Alexandria Sergius Pyrrhus bishops of Constantinople likewise he excommunicated Paulus bishop of Constantinople for the errour of the Monothelites The Emp. Conslans highly offended against Martinus sent first Olympius the Exarche of Italie either to take Pope Martinus prisoner or else to kill him but his attempts were frustrate not without a miraculous work of God as Platina recordeth And afterward hee sâ—…nt Theodorus Calliopas who vnder pretence of friendship came to salute the Pope cast him in bands and sent him to Constantinople where Constans the Emp. caused his tongue to be cut out and his râ—…ght hand cut off and banished him to Cheâ—…souesus Poâ—…ti The chaire of Rome was vacant for the space of fourteene monethes because they had no certaintie of the time of the death of Pope Martinus Next vnto him Eugenius the first was chosen Pope and gouerned two yeeres and nine monethes Hee was the first that made an ordinance that bishops shoulde haue prison-houses for correcting the enormitie and contumacie of the Clergie so that by degrees bishops are encrouching vpon the authoritie of the ciuill Magistrate After him succeeded Vitalianus the 1. he continued 14. yeeres and 6. moneths in the Popedome to the singing of Psalmes in the Church by viue voyce he added Organes This was not an auncient custome in the Christian Church but a noueltie inuented by Vitalianus Next after Vitalianus followed Adeodatus and ruled foure yeeres two moneths and fiue dayes of a Monke he was made Pope In his time there was terrible apparitions in Heauen a great Comete continuing for the space of three monethes terrible thunders the like whereof had not beene heard in anie precâ—…eding time great abundance of raine fastning the cornes to the ground so that they grew againe and in some places of Italie came to maturitie and ripenesse Great incursions of Turks and Saracenes who spoyled the Isle of Sicile In all these calamities saieth Platina Adeodatus multiplied supplications for the preuenting the fore-signified wrath to come If repentance and abolishing of horrible Idolatrie which had nowe taken deepe roote had bene joyned with prayers the Lord might haue bene the more easilie entreated Donus or Domnus his successor ruled fiue yeeres ten dayes he reduced the Church of Rauenna after long reluctation to the obedience of the chaire of Rome It is to bee noted that all the time they were not subject to the Bishop of Rome they were called by the Romanes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so bent were they to vindicate all declining from their authoritie with opprobrious names of Heresies imposed to the decliners thereof Agâ—…ho successor to Donus ruled 2. yeeres 6. monethes and 15. dayes of whom Platina writeth that he cured a leprous man with a kisse as Pope Deus dedit had done before In his time Constantinus Pogonatus Emperour gathered the sixt generall Councell at Constantinople wherein the heresie of the Monothelites was condemned and Macarius Patriarch of Antiochia for his obstinate perseuering in that errour was excommunicate and Theophanius some time an Abbot was placed in his rowne But this I remit vnto the owne place The epistle of Agatho written to the 6. generall Councell is full of Antichristian pride wherein hee affâ—…meth that the chaire of Rome neuer erred and that it cannot erre that euerie soule that is to bee saued must professe the Romane traditions and all the constitutions of the Romane Church are to be receiued as if they had bene deliuered by the diuine voyce of Peter Likewise he damned the marriage of men in spirituall calling he commendeth the Masse impudentlie alledging a writing of Chrysostome concerning the Masse whereas in all the writinges of Chrysostome this word of the Masse is not to bee found After Agatho succeeded Leo the second who continued onelie tenne monethes and seuenteene dayes Hee was the first author of the kissing of the Pax. To him succeeded Benedictus the second and ruled 10. monethes and 12. dayes onelie In his dayes Constantinus Pogonatus Emperour ordained that in time to come the consent of the Emperour and Exarche of Italie should not be expected but he whom the Clergie and people did elect should foorthwith bee counted the Vicare of Christ. In so doing the Emp. very vnaduisedlie put an hurtfull weapon into the Popes hand whereby the estate of the Empire was encombered and hurt afterward Ioannes the fift his successor continued not aboue one yeere and nine dayes And Conon the first the successor of Iohn the fift ended his course after the issue of eleuen monethes and three dayes After the death of Conon the election of the Pope was like to be decided by weapons rather than by suffrages votes some
fauoured Theodorus others promoued Paschalis and neither of the parties would yeeld to the other In end the people thought expedient to reject them both and to choose some third person to the Popedome So they elected Sergius the first and carried him vpon their shoulders to the Church of Laterane In his time Iustinian the second gathered a Councell at Constantinople to perfect and finish the worke which his father had begunne Sergius refused to subscribe the Acts of the sixt generall Councell albeit his Ambassadour who was present at the Councell had subscribed them Of the consecrated Hostie hee ordained one part to be put into the Chalice to represent the bodie of Christ which was risen from death another part to be eaten to represent the bodie of Christ walking vpon the earth the third part to bee laide vpon the Altar vntill the ende of the Masse to represent the bodie of Christ lying in the Sepulchre He gou◅rned thirteene yeeres eight monethes and 24. dayes COncerning the Patriarches of Constantinople in this Centurie little mention is made of them because for the most part they kept not the right Faith but were intangled with heresie After Cyriacus Thomas and Ioannes and constantinus succeeded whose faith as vnspotted with anie blame of heresie hath an honest testimonie in Church rolles called Sacra diptytha Sergius Pyrrhus and Paulus were miserablie infected with the heresie of the Monothelites Pyrrhus once recanted his heresie and was absolued from excommunication by pope Theodorus but hee returned incontinent againe as a dog to his vomite Pope Theodorus whē he excōmunicated him the second time vsed a new insolent forme of doing the like wherof was neuer heard at any time before for he infused some drops of the consecrated cup into inke writ a sentence of cursing against Pyrrhus Paulus also obtained at the hands of the Em. Constans edicts to be affixed in diuerse places whereby all men should be compelled to subscribe the errour of the Monothelites After them Petrus Theodorus albeit they maintained not the fore-mentioned heresie with so high and proude attempts as others had done yet they were addicted vnto it Georgius successor to Thcodorus in the 6. generall Councell had defended the errour of the Monoth but when he was clearly refuted by testimonies of Scripture by places cited out of the Fathers he yeelded embraced the true faith Callyni◅us ministred vnder the reigne of Iustinian 2. who demolished a Church neare approching to his palace builded an house of presence wherein the people might cherish the Em. Callinycus was compelled to consecrate the house by prayer but in regard he was enforced against his heart to pray he made his prayer short in this maner Giorie be to God who patiently comporteth with vs both now for euer Am◅n For this cause Iustinian hated Callynichus whē he returned back again from his 10. yeeres banishment he caused the eyes of Callyn to be put out sēt him to Rome there to remain in banishmēt IN Alexandria before the Saracenes vnder the conduct of Mahomet conquered the countrey of Aegypt few of note marke were to be found in that chaire After Eulogius Ioannes scribo continued in office only 2. yeeres After him Ioannes Eleemosynarius is highly commended for his liberalitie toward the poore Cyrus his successour was an her◅tique following the errour of the Monothelues He payed tribute to the Saracenes but when the Em. Heraclius wearied of the payment of tribute then all the countrey of Aegypt was possessed by the Saracenes which incursion of the Mahumetans albeit it cutted not off the personall succession of the patriarches of Alexandria yet it obscureth the cleare notice of their succession vnto vs who are farre distant from them IN Antiochia Anastasius Sinaita is found to haue beene bishop of Antiochia in the dayes of the Emperour Phocas Hee obtained this name to bee called Sinaita because hee had macerated himselfe with long fasting and with hard exercises of an heremiticall life vpon mount Sina anno 610. hee was slaine in a seditious commotion stirred vp by the Iewes who dwelt at Antiochia who slewe manie other Christians but they vttered great crueltie joyned with vile inhumanitie against Anastasius in whose mouth they cast the verie excrements of his owne bodie as the MAGDEBVRG historie recordeth citing the testimonie of Nicephorus After him another of that same name called likewise Anastatius succeeded was B. of Antiochia he was a Syrian a man of a subtile spirit who circumuened the Em. Heraclius for at the Em. command he subscribed the decrees of the Councell of Chalcedon only simulately for desire of preferment but after he had subscribed that two natures personally vnited were to be acknowledged in Christ he demanded of the Em. what he thought of the will operation of Christ whether was two willes operations in Christ or one will and one operation only The Em. troubled with the nou◅lty of the question consulted with Sergius B. of Constantinople who returned this answere to the Em. that one will one operation was to be acknowledged in Christ. The Em. Heraclius being circumuened by false deceitfull teachers was ashamed to forsake that opinion which hee had once condiscended vnto So this heresie of the Monothelites tooke deepe roote in the East vntill the time that God punishing the contempt of his truth suffered the Saracenes with their blasphemous Mahometon doctrine to be vniuersally ouer-spred in the East To Anastatius succeeded Macarius a most obstinate defender of the heresie of the Monothelites for the which cause he was both excommunicated and deposed in the sixt generall Councell and Theophanius an Abbor in Sicile was made bishop of Antiochia After him are reckoned Petrus Thomas and Ioannes without anie further discourse except a bare commemoration of their names THE Church of Ierusalem in this age was pitifullie defaced as lying nearest to the incursions of strong enemies both Persians and Sa◅cenes Zacharias Bishop of Ierusalem was carried captiue by Cosroes king of Persia and remained a prisoner for the space of fourteene yeeres In ende he was restored to his former dignitie at that time when the Emperour Heraclius ouercame Cosroes in warre-fare and recouered the Crosse of Christ againe which the Persians had spoyled and taken out of Ierusalem This came to passe in the yeere of our Lord 624. To Zacharias succeeded Sophronius of a Monke He was made Patriarch of ◅erusalem Hee lacked not his owne commendation in the sixt generall Counce◅l as one who kept the true Faith inuiolablie Hee was present in Ierusalem when Haumar Prince of Saracenes entered into the Towne and Temple and he was a beholder of the last desolation of the Church in that Towne OF OTHER PASTORS AND DOCTORS IN this CENTVRIE there is great scarsitie of learned men yet that which was inlacking in l◅arning it must bee supplied one way or other Some were