to wear long haire which when they were made free they layed aside so children when they came to years oâ— puberty cut their Haires and offered them to Apollo who by the Poets is called Crinitus and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the nourisher of Haire the Gentiles gave long Haires to their gods So Iupiter Apollo Bacchus Neptune Aesculapius are described with long Haire Nature gave the Woman long Haire to distinguish her from the Man therefore men with long Hair were noted for Effeminate and in derision called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hair-trimmers The Apostle reproves it in men therefore the Clergy by the Canons of Councils and Decretals are forbid to nourish their Hairs but to cut them yet I do not finde that they used in those times to shave or were injoyned to do so but rather the contrary therefore Optatus Milevitanus L. Cont. Parmen reproves the Donatists for shaving the Catholike Priests and Clemens Alexandrinus L. 3. Paedag. c. II. saith that the Haires are to be clipt with Scissors not shaved with a Rasor And the reason why shaving was then prohibited among the Christians was because it was used by the Gentile Priests in honour of their Idols for in the time of the Primitive Christians were the Priests of Isis yet extant who used to shave their Heads for this cause God would not have the Jewish Priests to shave seeing he would not have them to be like the Idolatrous Priests nor would he have them to shave in Funerals Levit. 21. Now the reasons why Monks and Clerks were shaved among Christians and that onely on the top of their Head so that their hairs hanging about their Ears represented a Crown were these 1. To resemble the Crown of Thorns which Christ wore 2. To shew that Christs Priests are also spiritual Kings 3. They shave off their Haires to shew that they should lay aside all superfluities of the flesh and sinful lusts but the Crown of the Head must be bare to shew that the minde must be free for contemplation 4. their naked and bare Crowns were to shew the nakednesse purity and simplicity of their lives 5. To shew their repentance and conversion for such were commanded to cut their Haires before they were admitted again into the Church 6. To discriminat the Christian Monkâ— from the Jewish Nazarites who wore long Haire as Moses did Vaile to shew that the mystery of redemption was not as yet revealed 7. They cut or shave to avoid the uncleannesse and inconveniences that accompany long Haire 8. To shew their contempt of the world and of those vain Effeminate men who pride themselves in their long Haire 9. They shave their Beards that they may look smooth like Children and Angels who are alwayes painted young by this shewing they should be Children in malice and Angels in innocency Q. 14. Whence came the custome of shaving or cutting the hairs of head and beard among religious persons A. Some will have Saint Peter to be the first Christian that was shaved on the crown at Antioch by the Gentiles in derision Others ascribe this custome to Anicetus who lived about 165. years after Christ but this is rejected by Bellarmine Others again will have the Fourth Council of Toledo about the year of Christ 631. to enjoyn this shaving of the crown and in the council of Aquisgran an Christi 816. the Monks are enjoyned to shave in Easter week But shaving of the Beard is not so ancient for it came in with the Doctrin of Transubstantiation taught by Peter Lombard Anno 1160. and established by Innocent 3. in the Council of Laterâ—n in the year 1200. The reason of this shaving was left any hairs of the beard might touch the body or blood of Christ or least any crum of the bread or drop of the wine might fall upon or stick to the beard In the time of Epiphanius about 400. yeares after Christ it was not the custome among Monks to cut their beards for he inveighs against the Monks of Mesopotamia for wearing long hairs like women and cutting their beards which also was the custome of the Messalian Hereticks But that this custome of cutting the beard was not generally received by the Clergie appears in the French Story for Frâ—ncis the first caused the Church-men with a great sum of money to redeem their beards which he threatned to cut but indeed the custome of shaving was used among the Gentile Priests for which reason God would not have his Priests to shave that they might not seem to follow the wayes of Idolaters The Egyptian Priests by shaving off all their haires did signifie that the Priests should be pure and cleane and free from all pollution They used also in Mourning and Funerals to cut their haires so Statius saith 1. 6. Theâ—â— Tergâ—que â—ectore fusam Caesariem minuit and to cut the haires of the dead which they laid on the Tomb or cast into the fire as a sacrifice to Pluto and Prâ—serpina as may be seen in Euripides and Homer Of this custome speaketh Virgil in the death of Queene Dâ—do Nondum illi flavum Proserpina vertice crinem Abstulerat Stygieque caput damnaverat Orco c. Sic ait dextra crinem secat c. They used also to spread their cut haire upon the Coffin as Heliodor 1. 6. sheweth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And as they offered the hairs of the dead to Orcus so they did of Children to the Rivers from whence they held all things had their Original or else to Apollo and Hercules that is the Sun for by the heat of the Sun and the moisture of Water haires are procreated But in their Marriage Solemnities they used to offer their haires to Diana or Iuno cui vincla jugalia curâ—â— for she was held the Goddesse of marriage Childrens haire were cut with ceremony in the Temples and preserved in boxes or cases of Gold and silver Sea-men in danger of shipwrack used to cut their haires thinking thereby to appease the angry Sea gods Among some Gentiles the haires were cut in signe of liberty among others in token of servitude It was a punishment to cut the hair among the Germans as Tâ—citus de mor. Ger. sheweth of the women there who for adultery had their hair cut Accisis crinibus nudatam domo expellat maritus Such also as stood guilty of capitall crimes were shaved as Nicolaus Damascenus sheweth and Philostratus in the life of Apollonius But sometimes again guilty persons wore long hair and were forbid to shave to be halfe shaved was the badge of a slave Frontes literati capisllum semirass pedes annulati saith Apuleius â— 9. Slaves were stigmatized on the forehead halfe shaved and had rings about their feet Davids servants were sent back by the Ammonites haâ—fe shaved Sometimes shaving was a note of Effeminatenesse sometimes of Craft sometimes of Foolishnesse sometimes of Liberty and sometimes as is said of Slavery But however it was used
Antichrist spoken of by Saint Paul 2 Thess. 2. and by Saint John in the Apocalypse A. No For Mahomet was an Arabian descended from Ismael and Hagar but Antichrist if we will beleeve the ancient Doctors of the Church shall be a Iew of the tribe of Dan. 2. Antichrist shall come in the end of the world and as the Church anciently beleeved immediately before Christs second comming but Mahomet is come and gone above a thousand years agoe 3. The ancient Fathers believed that the two Witnesses which shall oppose Antichrist and shall be slain by him are Henoch and Elias but these are not yet come 4. The tradition of the Primitive Church was that Antichrist shall reign but three years and a halfe supposing that this period of time is meant by time and times and half a time but Mahomet we know reigned many more years 5. Antichrist will wholly oppose himself against Christ vilifie him set himself up in his stead and to extol himselfe above all that is called God but Mahomet doth speak honourably of Christ in calling him the Word of God the Spirit of God the Servant of God the Saviour of those that trust in him the Son of a Virgin begot without the help of man c. as may be seen in his Alcoran 6. Our writers as Forbes Cartwright c. hold that Antichrist is described Revel 9. under the name of that Star which fell from Heaven having the key of the bottomlesse pit and under the name of Abaddâ—n and Apollyon but that Mahomet with his followers are set out in that same chapter under the four Angels bound in the great River Euphrates 7. The Apostle 2. Thess. 2. saith that Antichrist shall â—it in the Temple of God as God and shall exalt himselfe above all that is called God But this cannot be meant of Mahomet for he never sate in the Temple of God whether by this word we understand the Temple of Ierusalem or the Church of Christ for he and his Disciples separated themselves from the Church of Christ and will have no communion with Christians 8. Antichrist is to come with signs and lying wonders and by these to raise his Kingdome But Mahomet came with the sword and by it subdued the neighbouring Nations so that neither he nor his followers did or doe pretend to any wonders 9. Our writers say that Antichrist is not to be taken for a particular person but for a whole company or society of people under one head but Mahomet was a particular person 10. Antichrist is to be destroyed by the breath of the Lords mouth but Mahomet died a natural death By all these reasons then it appears that Mahomet cannot be that Great Antichrist who is to come in the end of the world Yet I deny not but he was an Antichrist in broaching a doctrin repugnant to Christs Divinity Such an Antichrist was Arius likewise in persecuting Christ in his members he may be called Antichrist and so might Nero Domitian Dioclesian and other persecutors Besides the number of the beast 666. is found in Mahomets name and so it is found in divers other names If we consider the miseries desolation and blood that have followed upon the spreading of Mahumetanisme in the world we may with Pererius on Revel 6 conclude that Mahomet is signified by death which rideth on the pale horse followed by Hell or the Grave to whom was given power over the fourth part of the earth to kill with the sword with famine c. for he was the death both of soul and body to many millions of people upon whose wars followed destruction famine pestilence and many other miseries in that part of the world where he and his successors have spread their doctrine and conquests Q. Are all the Mahumetans of one profession A. No for there be divers Sects amongst them but the two main Sects are that of the Arabians followed by the Turks and of Hali by the Persians To this Hali Mahomet bequeathed both his Daughter and his Alcoran which the Persians believe is the true Copy and that of the Turks to be false This Hali succeeded Mahomet both in his Doctrine and Empire whose interpretation of the Law they embrace for the truest As the Saracen Caliphs of old exercised both the Kingly and Priestly Office so both are claimed by the modern Persian for both were performed by Mahomet and Hali But to avoid trouble the Persian Sophi contents himself with the Secular Government leaving the Spiritual to the Mustaed Dini who is as the Musti in Turky These two Sects differ in many points for the Arabians make God the author both of good and evil but the Persians of good only the Persians acknowledge nothing eternal but God the Turks say that the Law is also eternal the Persians say that the blessed souls cannot see God in his Essence but in his Effects or Attributes The Turks teach that he shall be visible in his Essence The Persians will have Mahomets soul to be carried by the Angel Gabriel into Gods presence when he received his Alcoran The Turks will have his body carried thither also The Persians pray but three times a day the Arabians five times other differences they have but these are the chief Doctrinal differences the maine is about the true Alcoran the true interpretation thereof and the true successor of Mahomet for they hold Eubocar Ofmen and Homar whom the Turks worship to have been usurpers and Hali the onely true successor of Mahomet whose Sepulchre they visit with as great devotion as the Turks do the other three Q. What religious Orders have the Mahumetans A. Most of their religious Orders are wicked and irreligious For those whom they call Imailer and religious brothers of love are worse then beasts in their lusts sparing neither women nor boys their habit is a long coat of a violet colour without scam girt about with a golden girdle at which hand silver Cimbals which make a jangling sound they walk with a book in their hand containing love Songs and Sonnets in the Persian tongue these go about singing and receive money for their Songs and are always bare-headed wearing long-hair which they curle The Order of Calender professeth perpetual Virginity and have their own peculiar Temples or Ghappels They wear a short coat made of Wool and Horse hair without sleeves They cut their hair short and wear on their heads Felt-hats from which hangs cuffs of horse hair about a hand-breadth They wear iron rings in their ears and about their necks and arms they wear also in their Yard an iron or silver ring of 3. lib. weight whereby they are forced to live chastely they go about reading certaine Rimes or Ballades The Order of Dervises go about begging almes in the name of Haly son in Law to their god Mahomet They wear two sheepskins dried in the Sun the one whereof they hang on their back the other on their breast the rest
the weaknesse of preaching against which the more the Roman Empire strugled the more it was foiled and found by experience that the blood of Martyrs was the seed of the Church which conquered the great conquerours not with acting but with suffering not by the sword but by the word and more by their death then by their life like so many Sampsons triumphing over these Philistines in their death and torments Q. 2. Seeing the power of Religion was so irresistible in the beginning that it carried all like a torrent before it how came it to grow so weake within 600 yeers that it yielded to Mahumetanism A. When God saw that the ungrateful professors of Christianity began to loath that heavenly Manna and to covet for Quales of new Doctrin he gave them leave to eat and poyson themselves therewith He was not bound to cast pearls before swine and to give that which was holy to dogs In his just judgements he removed the Candlestick from those who rejected the light and delighted themselves in darknesse it was fit the Kingdom of God should be taken from them and given to a people that should bring forth the fruâ—ts thereof They deserved to be plagued with a famine who grew wanton and spurned against their spiritual food Besides when the devil perceived he could do no good by open hostility and persecution but the more burden he laid upon the Palme the more it flourished and the oftener he flung the Gyant of Religion to the ground the stronger it grew with Antaeus he resovled at last to joyn the Foxes tayl to the Lioâ—s skin and to try whether the heat of the Sun would not make the traveller sooner forsake his cloak thâ—n the impetuosity of the winde He choaks all zeaâ—e and sincerity with the baits of wealth and honour he poysons them with ambition pride covetousnesse and envie the evil man sowed the â—ases of dissention and heretical Doctrines in the Lords fields the spiritual husbandmen grew carelesse and idle the Shepherds neglect their flocks the dogs grow dumb and so the Lords sheep are suffered to stray and become a prey to the Wolves The watch-men being inebriated with honour wealth ease and security fall asleep on the walls and let the enemy feise upon the Lords City It was not then the weaknesse of Christian Religion that was the cause of Mahomets prevailing for the heat of the Sun is not weak though it cannot soften the clay not is the good seed that is cast into barren ground to be blamed if it doth not fructifie neither is the preaching of the Gospel impotent aud weak because it doth not alwayes edifie All the water in the Sea cannot mollifie a Rock nor all the rain in the clouds secundate a stony barren ground The subject must be capable or else the Agent cannot operate Mahumetanism then prevailing upon Christianity proceeded from the voluntary perversnesse of mens hearts from the malice and craft of the devil and from the just judgements of the Almighty Q. 3. What were the Engines that Satan used to overthrow Religion in the beginning A. Open persecution and heresie with the one he destroyed the bodies with the other he poysoned the souls of Christians Persecution with Saul killed its thousands but Heresie with David ten thousand Persecution was the Arrow that did flie by day but Heresie the Pestilence that raged in the darknesse Persecution was the Pruning knife that lopped the branches of Religion but Heresie the Axe laid to the root of the tree Persecution was the Dragon that drove the woman into the wildernesse but Heresie the beast that spake blasphemies Open Persecution began in Nero a Tyrant but Heresie in Simon a Witch Open Persecution began about 66 yeers after Christs Ascention but heresie immediatly after Christs departure about the sixth yeere in the beginning of Caligula's reign Persecution is the wild Boar of the Forrest but Heresie the little Fox that eateth up the Grapes of the Lords Vineyard Q. 4. Who was the first Heretick that opposed the Orthodox Religion and what were his opinions A. Simon called Magus because he was a Witch a Samaritan by birth and a Christian by profession he would have bought the gifts of the Holy Ghost for mony Act. 8. 13. He denyed the Trinity and affirmed himselfe to be the true God He taught that the world was made by the Angels not by God And that Christ came not into the world nor did he truly suffer He denyed also the Resurrection of the flesh and permitted promiscuous marriages He likewise affirmed that the true God was never known to the Patriarchs and Prophets This point was afterward maintained by Menander Cerinthus Nicholas Saturninus and Basilides succeeding Hereticks Upon this Doctrine also the Tertullianists and Anthropomorphits grounded their Heresie in ascribing a humane body to God His denying of the Trinity begot afterward the Sabellians Samosatenians Montanists Praxians Photinians and Priscillianists His Heresie of the Creation of the world by Angels begot the Marcionites Manichees and the Angelick hereticks who worshipped Angels In saying that Christ came not nor suffered he gave occasion to the Heresies of Valentinians Cerdonians Marcionites Aphthardocites Docits Samosatenians and Mahumetans Upon his denyal of the Resurrection Basilides Valentinus Carpocrates Apelles and the Hierarchits grounded their Heresies Besides Epicurism Libertinism and Atheism got vigour hereby By permitting licentiousnesse and promiscuous copulation he gave occasion to the Basilidians Gnosticks Manichees Acatians Eunomians and Mahumetans to live like beasts and to slight Marriage Besides these impious opinions he held Magick and Idolatry lawful He gave to the Angels barbarous names He slighted the Law of Moses as being not from God and blasphemously denyed the Holy Ghost to be a substance but a bare vertue or operation and caused his Disciples to worship his whore Helena or Selene for a goddesse Q. 5. Why did Simon Magus his scholars with many other hereticks since him besides Iews Mahumetans deny the Trinity A. Partly the malice of Satan who hates and persecutes the truth partly the pride of Hereticks who would seem wiser then the Church partly their ignorance because by naturall reason they cannot comprehend this ineffable mystery and partly malice against Christ whose Divinity is denyed by Jewes and Mahumetans bred this Heresie notwithstanding the truth is plainly set down both in the old and new Testament asserted by all the Greek and Latin Fathers confirmed by all Generall councills and proved by all Orthodox Divines that it is no more repugnant to naturall reason for the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost to be one God then for the soul mind and body to be one man but because this Doctrin is sufficiently proved by all Divines both ancient and moderne and all objections to the contrary answered and refuted I will forbeare to set down what is so plain and obvious already handled by so many Pens and will onely shew that the
Sect did long retain the name of Nicolaitans but were called Gnosticks from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Knowledge which proud title they gave themselves as if their knowledge had been transcendent above other men But their knowledge was so whimsical that neither they or any else understood it they babled much concerning their Aeones and of Ialdabaoth who made the heavens and all things we see of water They ascribed divers sons to their chief Aeon to wit Ennoia Barbeloth and Prunicon which they named Christ. They held that most things were procreated of the Chaos and the Abysse of water and darknesse They taught also that in faithful men were two souls one holy of the divine substance the other adventitious by divine insufflation common to man and beasts These are the souls that sin and which passe from man to beast after the opinion of Pythagoras they held also there were two Gods a good and an evill as the Manichees afterward did They made Jesus and Christ two distinct persons and that Christ descended into Iesuâ— when he was thirty yeers old and then he wrought miracles On this Doctrin the Eutychians and Nestorians grounded their Heresies They would have none to suffer Martyrdom for Christ who they said conversed on the earth after his Resurrection 18 moneths This Heresie was much spread in Asia and Egypt about 129 yeers after Christ and in Spain it flourished after Christ 386 yeers Out of this Sink the Valentinians Manichees and Priscillianists sucked their poyson Q. 8. Of what Religion were the Carpocratians A. Carpocrates by birth an Alexandrian in Egypt who flourished about the yeer of Christ 109. in the time of Antoninus Pius and was contemporary with Saturnius this Carpocrates I say taâ—ght there were two opposite Gods that the Law and good works were needlesse to those that had faith that we could not avoid the rage of evil spirits but by doing evil for that was the way to please them Therefore they gave themselves over to Magick and a Libidinous life They taught also that Christ was a meer man and that their master Carpocrates was the better man hence sprung up the Samosatenians and Arrians They said also that Christ was begot as other men of Ioseph and Mary and that onely his soul ascended into Heaven They held Pythagorean transanimation but denyed the Resurrection and that this world was not made by God but by Satan Because their disciples should not publish their abominable mysteries they put a mark by a bodkin on their right Eare. Carpocrates carryed about with him his Punk Marcellina Q. 9. What was the Religion of Cerinthus Ebion and the Nazarites A. Cerinthus being a Jew by birth and circumcised taught that all Christians ought to be circumcised He lived in the time of S. Iohn the Apostle who would not enter into the same Bath with that pernicious Heretick He spred his Heresie in Domitians time about 62 yeers after Christ. He held the same impious Tenets that Carpocrates and taught that it was Iesus who died and rose again but not Christ. He denyed the Article of life eternal and taught that the Saints should enjoy in Ierusalem carnall delights for 1000 yeers the maintainers of this whimsie afterward were the Origenists Chiliasts or Millenaries and on this Mahomes founded his Paradise Ebion was a Samaritan by birth but he would be esteemed a Jew He lived also in Domitians time He denyed Christs divinity and held the necessity of the Ceremonial Law with Cerinthus And that the use of flesh was unlawfull because all flesh was begot of impure generation The Ebionites of all the New-Testament admitted only S. Matthews Gospel because it was written in Hebrew The Ebionite Heresie did not continue long under the name of Ebion but under other names to wit Sampsei and Elcesitae Against these Hereticks S. Iohn who lived in their time wrote his Gospel to prove Christs Divinity they rejected S. Pauls Epistles because they refell the Ceremonial Law As for the Nazarites or Nazarens they were before Cerinthus and Ebion about the end of Nero 37 yeers after Christ. They were the first that retained circumcision with Baptism and the ceremonial Law with the Gospel They were led much with private Revelations and Enthusiasms They had more Gospels then one to wit the Gospel of Eve and that which they called the Gospel of perfection They were much addicted to fables Noahs wife they called Ouria which signifieth fire in Chaldee she often times set the Ark on fire which therefore was so many times rebuilt They make her also the first that imparted to mankinde the knowledge of Angels Q. 10 What was the Heretical Religion of the Valentinians Secundians and Ptolemians A. The Valentinians who from their whimsical knowledge were called Gnosticks had for their master Valentinus an Egyptian who lived in the time of Antoninus Pius Emperor about a 110 yeers after Christ. He taught that there were 30 Aeones Ages or Worlds who had their beginning from Profundity and Silence that being the Male this the Female Of the Marriage or Copulation of these two were begot Vnderstanding and Truth who brought forth eight Aeones Of the Vnderstanding and Truth were begot the Word and Life which produced 10. Aeones The Word and Life brought forth Man and the Church and of these were procreated 12. Aeones these 8. 10. and 12. joyned together made up the 30. the last of these 30. being abortive produced the Heaven Earth and Sea Out of his imperfections were procreated divers evils as darkness out of his fear evil spirits out of his ignorance out of his tears springs and rivers and out of his laughter light They also taught that Christs body was meerly spiritual and passed through the Virgin as through a conduit or pipe Evil was natural they said to the creature and therefore they made God the author of evil which afterward was the doctrine of the Manichees They held that onely the soul was redeemed and that there should be no resurrection of the body Faith they taught was natural and consequently salvation which all did not attain for want of good works this was the Pelagian doctrine afterward They made three sorts of men to wit spiritual who were saved by faith onely these they called the sons of Seth hence the Sethian Hereticks The second sort are animal or natural who are saved by works and are of Abel hence the Abelites The third sort are carnal who cannot be saved these are of Cain hence the Cainite Hereticks They eat of things offered to idols slighted good works as needlesse and rejected the old Prophets Valentinus his chiefe Scholar and Successor was Secundus whose Disciples called Secundians changed the name but retained the Doctrine of Valentinus permitting all kind of vicious life in that they held knowledge without good works would bring men to Heaven Valentinus held that the Aeones were only the effects of the divine
sacerdos and in the Emperours of Rome that were also chief Pontifies and though Melchisedech was King and Priest and among the Iews Abraham was a Prince and a Priest Heli a Judge and a Priest the Machabees were Princes and Priests yet this was not ordinary for Abraham Melchisedech Heli were Types of Christ the Machabees by usurpation undertook both governments but ordinarily these Offices were distinct among the Iews therefore Moses who gave Lawes concerning the Priesthood did not exercise it himself neither did Ieshua David nor Salomon but on the contrary Saul and Vzziah were severely punished for medling with the Priests Office Saul for offering sacrifice lost his Kingdome and Vzziah was struck with Leprosie but among Christian these Officers are much more distinct for Christs Kingdome is not of this world and the Ministry is burden enough without other addition who is sufficient for it saith the Apostle besides it is Christs prerogative to be alone King and Priest of his Church Yet so far may the Magistrate meddle with the Ministry as to reform what is amisse both in their life and Doctrine examples hereof we have in Iehosaphat Ezechia and Iosiah and in Salomon too who deposed Abiathar the Priest Q. Was the Presbytery in use among the Iews A. Yes for besides the Civill Judicature which by Moses his appointment consisted of 70. men and had its seat in the City gates there was a spirituall or Ecclesiastick judicature kept in the Synagogues which judged of things holy and clean and discerned between holy and profane clean and unclean things and declared the Statutes of God and because of the Scribes among them they decided matters of their Civil Law Levit. 10. 10. This judicature consisted of Priests and Levites as also of the chief Fathers of Israel which we may call Lay or ruling Elders as we may see 2. Chroâ— 19. 8. Ichosaphat did not onely restore and reform from the Civil Courts called Sanhedrim in each City the chiefest whereof was at Ierusulem but also he reformed the Presbyteries or Ecclesiastick judicatures as may be seen there placing Amariah the chief Priest over these but Zâ—badiah ruler or Prince of the house of Iuda over the Synedria or Civil affairs called there verse 11 the Kings matters because the King was chief over these Courts as the High-Priest over the Presbyteries but afterward through the corruption of time These Courts were confounded and the Presbyteries did not onely judge de jure as anciently they used but also de facto even of life and death as in the time of the Mathaâ—ees but under the Romans this power was taken from them for they neither could put Christ nor Paul to death as for Stephen he was stoned not by the sentence of the Court but in a popular tumult Q. How are these two Courts named in the New Testament A. The Civil Court is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Councell the Ecclesiastick Court is named the Synagogue Mat. 10. 17. The chief of the Synagogue was the High-Priest but of the Councel was the Judge Deut. 17. 12. Ieremâ—ah was condemned by the Synagogue Ier. 26. 8. but absolved by the Councel or secular Judges in the Gate verse 16. Q. Why are Ministers called Presbyters and Bishops but not Priests in the New Testament A. Because they were to be put in mind of their dignity and Function which consisteth in the care and inspection of their stcok not in offering of sacrifice which was the proper work of the Priest but ceased when Christ our propitiatory sacrifice was offered besides Christ would reserve this prerâ—gative to himself in being the onely Priest of the New Testament not after the order of Aaron which ended when he was sacrificed but after the order of Melchisedech which was in him to continue for ever without successor Therefore the Ministers of the New Testament are no otherwise Priests then they are Kings but these titles are common to all Christians who by Christ are made Kings and Priests to God the Father Q. How are Ministers to be elected A. They must be examined whether they be apt to teach and well reported of by them who are without Therefore Tiâ—â—othy must not lay hands suddenly on any man 1. Tim. 5. 22. and 3. 7. Secondly the Bishop or Pastor must be chosen by all the Bishops or Pastors of the Province or by three at least as it was ordained by the Councel of Nice Canon 4. Thirdly the election of the Minister must be made known to the people as we may see in the sixth Canon of the Councel of Chalcedon Fourthly the people must give their approbation Acts 6. 5. therefore Saint Austin Epist. 110. presented his succcessor Eradiâ—s to the people for their consent Fifthly there must be imposition of hands a custome used not onely in the Christian Church 1. Tim 4. 14. and 5. verse 18. 〈◊〉 also among the Iews Num. 27. 18. Deut. 34. 9. Sixthly in the Reformed Churches the other Ministers give to him that is elected the hand of fellowship as Iaâ—s Peter and Iohn gave to Paul Gal. 2. Seventhly the new elected Minister subscribes the confession of faith and discipline of the Church which custome was used in the Churches of Africa Q. Are Romish Priests converted to our Church to be re-ordained A. There is no necessity of a new ordination for though their commission in the Church of Rome 〈…〉 the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist yet they were ordained to preach the Word and to administer the Sacraments Which ordination is not nullified when they shake off the errors of Doctrine and preach the Wâ—â—d in purity 〈…〉 their ordination originally from the Pope or his subordinate Bishop but from Christâ— neither must their Oath taken in ordination to maintain the Romish Doctrine hinder them from preaching the Word in purity for an unlawfull Oath must not be kept Therefore Luther and others who forsook the errors of Rome received no new ordination Q. Had the Presbytery power to excommunicate A. Yes and not the Bishop alone for Paul would not by himself excommunicate the incestuous Corinthian without the Presbytery or the Church gathered together 1. Cor. 5. 4. for indeed the whole congregation should have notice given them of the Excommunication that they may avoid the party exommunicated Q. Vpon what is this power grounded A. Upon Gods own practice who excommunicated Adam out of Paradise and Cain from his presence 2. Upon his command who prohibited the unclean from entring the Temple till they were purified and from eating the Passeover or commercing with Gods people who commanded every soul not circumcised the eigth day to be cut off from the people 3 Upon Christs words Whomsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven 4. Upon Christs counsel forbidding to give that which is holy to dogs â—rto cast pearls before swine 5. Upon the Apostles practise Peter excommunicated Simon Magus in keeping him off
which the Eucharist is covered signifying how Christs body was wrapped up in fine linnen for as linnen is first washed then wrung and lastly dried so must our souls be first washed in tears then wrung by repentance and lastly dried by the heat of the love of God Organs are also used in Churches to excite the minde and to stir up devotion Yet in the Popes Chappel there are none perhaps to shew that he needs no such helps Their Altars are inclosed with railes to keep off the people for the Priests only have accesse to them they were anciently places of refuge and are covered all the year except in the passion week then they are stript to represent Christs nakednesse on the crosse Ordinarily the Altar is placed towards the East yet in the Church of Antioch it was placed towards the West On the Altar sâ—ands the Pixis or Ciborium which keepeth the Host for strangers sick persons and travellers but it must not be kept above seven dayes least it mould therefore the Priest must eat it himselfe and put in a fresh one They have Fonts called Baptisteria of stone in which the water of Baptisme is consecrated by the Priest who poureth oyle into it he also by breathing and by certain words exorciseth the evil spirit Salt is consecrated and put into the childs month to shew that he must have spiritual Salt within him Then the Priest layeth his hand on the childs head in sign he is reconciled and made a member of the Church Then he signeth his forehead with the sign of the crosse that hereafter he may not be ashamed of Christ crucified He puts his finger into his eare and into his nostrils also with spittle saying to his right eare Epphâ—ra that is be thou opened to shew that by nature we are deaf in spiritual things as was that man whom Christ after this manner cured in the Gospel The touching of the Nostrils sheweth that the child must remember his vow in baptisme so long as he hath breath in him Then he anoints the Child two times that he may renounce the devil and all his works c. The breast is first anointed then the shoulders to shew the strength of our love and faith in the Trinity and that withall we must be wrestlers against all spiritual wickednesse The childe is three times dipe in the water and in some places onely sprinkled to shew Christs three days burial and our faith in the Trinity After baptisme the child is anointed by the Priest on the forehead with chrisme and cloathed in white to signifie he must cast off the old man and be cloathed with innocency Antiently those that were baptized at Easter wore white all that week which they laid aside the Sunday following called therefore 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 this also signified the glory of the resurrection Then a wax candle burning is given him to shew the light of faith and knowledge that should be in him and with which he should be ready to meet the bridegroom Then the Godfathers are instructed concerning their duty to the Child Q. 28. What other Vtensils have they in their Churches A. They have three viols or flaggons for oyl which the Priest carrieth on the day of the Lords Supper one holds the oyl of the Catechumeni the second is for the Chrisâ—me and the third for the oyl of the sick With the Chrisme the baptized are anointed on their crown and they that are confirmed on the forehead and so are they who be ordained The Catechumeni and 〈◊〉 are anointed with single oyl They have also in theiâ— Churches holy water pots which by some are called 〈◊〉 by others Situlae and Aquâ—ninaâ—ia and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This pot must be of Stone or Marble at which is tied with a chaine the holy water spunge with this salt water they are 〈◊〉 that enter into the Church because antiently they wasted before they entered into the Temple to shew that with pure and sanctiâ—ied minds we must come before God They have also Bells which they 〈◊〉 with water and consecrate with certain prayers these have suceeded the Trumpets used by the Jewes to 〈◊〉 together the Assembly They have also Altars which they anoint and consecrate holy Reliques whereof many doubtlesse are supposititious and false therefore no new Reliques are to be received without the Bishops approbation nor to be honoured without the Popes authority And because the Altar represents Christ therefore the Priest after Masse in sign of reverence and subjection kisseth the Altar by which also he sheweth the great desire the Church hath to enjoy Christ when she saith Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth The Vestry is the place where the sacred Vestiments of which we have already spoken are kept Here the Priest before Masse puts on his holy garments this place they say represents the Virgins Womb in which our great high Priest put on the garment of our humane nature that in it he might offer the true propiatory sacrifiâ—e to God his Father for the sins of the world They make also every part of their material Temple to have a mystical signification The Quire represents the Church triumphant the main body the Church militant the Porch or great Door is Christ by whom onely we have accesse to the Father the Windows are the Scriptures which give light to the spiritual Church the Pillars are the Apostles by their Doctrine supporting the Church the Pavement is Humility and faith the Cover is Gods protection the Tower with the Bells are the Prelates which ought to be eminent in their conversation and sounding in their preaching the Cock on the top thereof is to put them in minde of their vigilancy the Lights that shine continually in their Churches are to signifie our good works which should shine before men Q. 29. What office do they perform to the dead A. They have a peculiar office or service for the dead in Purgatory which some perform every third day that they might be partakers of Christs resurrection who overcame death that day some again every seventh day that they may attain to the eternal Sabbath or rest in Heaven whereof Gods resting from the works of Creation on the seâ—enth day was a type Others perform this office the thirtieth day because the Israelites mourned for Moses and Aaron thirty days Others again the fortieth day because Ioseph and his brethren bewailed Iacob forty days Others the fiftieth day because the fiftieth year is the Jubilee or year of liberty which they wish these imprisoned soules may partake eternally Others perform this office yearly and make it anniversary but if this day fall upon Sunday or any other solemn festivity then it must not be kept nor put off till the next day as the feasts of the Saints are but must be kept the day before that the souls may the sooner partake the fruits of our devotion No