Secondly whether hath your Gospel been universally and publickly preached these sixteen hundred years or nay And is it the very same that was preached in the first hundred or two hundred years seeing that John saith that all Nations did drink of the whores cup of fornication And then Nâ—tions were Waters Seeing he saith the Gospel shall be preached again to Nations Kindreds and Tongues which clearly demonstrates there was a time when the everlasting Gospel was not preached to the Kindreds and Tongues which are the waters upon which your Church is Scituated And it is evidently manifested that yours hath been another Gospel then that which was preached in the Apostolick Church and in the Catholick Church the first hundred or two hundred years after Christ was manifested in the flesh Much might be said to demonstrate the Truth which is in hand that there hath been an apostacy the beginners whereof came forth in the Apostles dayes and afterward grew into a body and became like a great Sea which according to the best Ecclesiastical writers which have given a narrative of the first five hundred years declared that there was a great loss within 300. years but in five hundred years or less the very power of Godliness was denyed and very much of the form And though your Church pleads Antiquity for a Thousand years for these things a fore mentioned which they would be hard to prove For although it should be granted them yet we will joyne issue with them in this thing and are able to prove all these Doctrines and Practices not to be as it was in the first two hundred years except they will own such as taught the Doctrine of Balaam and taught the Doctrine of Devils and went in Cains and Chores way for an example It were not hard to prove the introducing of all these things before mentioned and how they have come in by degrees one Counsel that rose out of the waters ordaining this another ordaining that and so have risen up into this great body of darkness some of the practices borrowed from the Jews and some from the Heathen and some invented of themselves in latter ages So that the worship that was in the Spirit and in Truth in Christs and the Apostles dayes is turned from and such a numberless number of vain Traditions Avemaries Creeds and Pater nosters and such a deal a do as there is about their unbloody Sacrifice of the Masse that they are glad to be counted by their beads on strings as many very well know By all that which hath been said may easily be collected that there hath been a great Diviation and apostacy from the Doctrine and practice of the Primitive times thus far as I am descended I leave it to the Reader to judge and compare these things with the Churches doctrine and practices in the first hundred years after Christ and if these things be found invented and without footing or ground then let them that are informed depart from them CHAP. III. But now to descend a little further nearer unto our own age to speak somthing to them which I believe look upon themselves to be Catholick and Apostolick in Doctrine and practice according to the Primitive time and order and that they are totally come out of the Apostacy THis I have to say to you which is my judgement and belief and that upon good ground that you are in many things in the Apostacy as hereafter I shall demonstrate and to tell you nakedly and plainly we look upon the reformation which was made in denying the Church of Rome to be but very weak and poor and feeble and imperfect comparatively with the Doctrine and practice and order in the Primitive times in so much that we judge upon good grounds that it cannot be parrelled with the Church in the Primitive times which I have spoke of before in that you have denyed the Pope to be the head of the Church and so are called Protestants So am I knowing that Christ is the head of the Church and ought to rule by his Spiritual Scepter and his eternal power in the hearts and consciences of people and in and over the true Church which is his body whereof he is the head and let all take heed who doth intrude and take upon them that which belongeth to the King of Kings and King of Saints as to matter of head-ship Regulation or Goverment for all power is committed unto him in Heaven and Earth and the Father hath given it to him and will not have any other have that Glory But whosoever seeks it must be condemned and his glory he will not give to another For the Lamb is worthy of glory and strength And though the Church of Rome be generally acknowledged to be in the Apostacy by them that are separated from them and that upon good grounds yet I say the Separation is in some little or smal part more in name then in nature more in form then in power more in some circumstantial things then in the very ground it self and very many of these Doctrines Practices Discipline and order as they call it I find to be upholden practiced and contended for which are found in the former I have mentioned First of all to instance that which is generally holden out by the reformed Protestants is that the writings of Mathew Mark Luke and John and the several Epistles is the Gospel which the Primitive Disciples and Ministers preached and published and which People did receive and by believing the found thereof were accounted Christians and believers We would have all to know the Gospel was preached to Abraham before Mathew or Mark or any of the Apostles writ a word Moreover we would have all to know that Christ had preached glad tidings to the captives and some of the Disciples had preached the word of the Kingdom before Matthew or Mark or Luke or John had wrote a word my reasons are divers Matthew Mark Luke and John must needs hear and see that done which they testified of before they writ and if Matthew Mark Luke and John be the Gospel the writings of them I intend then the Disciples could not preach it before it was given forth and if the Epistles be a part of the Gospel this the Disciples could not preach before it was written for Paul succeeded and was converted after divers of the Apostles had preached the Gospel so then doubtless the Disciples and Apostles had something to say and declare and pâ—blish before any of the new Testament was written and it is manifested that they were not sent out to preach the Law nor the ordinances of the first Covenant after Christ were offered up the end of the first So then there was something and is something which was preached by them and is to be published now to all that are made Ministers by the holy Ghost and that is in few words the power of God which was before the new Testament so
Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God from whence it hath been inferred by many that baptism of infants was absolutely necessary to salvation Christ spoke of that which did regenerate and make a new and clense the heart and of the clean water which the Prophet Ezekiel spoke of which he would pour upon his people visible water cleanses not the inside neither doth regenerate but the water which Christ giveth to every one that thirsteth to drink is the water of life and this washeth the inside and cleans the heart and this is the washing of regeneration which whosoever comes not to know connot enter into the kingdom of God because that which is defiled is shut out but they that do not look after the substance hath made an idol of the figure but the Chuch of Rome themselves which were the first inventers and setters up of this humane institution have said that this must be recieved by tradition and not from the Scriptures because it could not be proved as a commandment witness Claudius Espontius a Popish Bishop at a counsel at Pysoy in France 1500. and yet this Doctrine hath been held out to the Nations for Catholick and Apostolick which the Primitive Churches made no mention of neither the Apostles taught any such Doctrine but was preached up by such who went out of the light and from the power into the Nations which became as waters for the first ordainer of baptism of Infants and that they should have a Godfather and Godmother was Ignatius Bishop of Rome long after the Apostles daves when Rome was got up into pride and claimed authority over all Christian Churches to impose upon them what ever they listed for Doctrine and such dark things as these have been brought forth whereof mention might be made of many things and what unsavory words as Godfathers and Godmothers is used not only amongst them but also amongst the Protestants to this day who is Gods father or who is Gods mother is this Apostolick Doctrine as though God was begotten by generation indeed is it not Blasphemy to affirm such things and also to hold up such things all which demonstrates these things to be in the Apostacy And therefore you who profess your selves that you are come out of the Apostacy and are reformed Churches for shame leave off practising and pleading for the upholding such things which the Scriptures do not own or else the practice of the Saints in former ages will judge you And it hath been reckoned as absolute necessary to salvation and therefore Victor Bishop of Rome did institute that the children might be christened by a Lay-man or Lay-women in time of necessity because infants were often in danger as Polydore makes mention Lib. 4. CHAP. VI. Concerning the Sign of the Cross and ordaining of Parish Churches LIkewise the Sign of the Cross and the Chrism are invented things which are in the Apostacy and therefore you who profess your selves reformed for shame leave off these things and come out of them and deny them Secondly Parishes and Parish Churches which were ordained and builded in the Apostacy and dedicated unto Saints which stand to this day both in the Church of Rome and in the reformed Churches so called and Church-yards which they call holy and consecrated ground to bury their dead in this is an invented thing and superstitious and yet it stands as an Apostolick order both among Papists and Protestants in the Primitive times in the dayes of the Apostles The Scriptures make mention of the Jews Temple at Jerusalem and of the Gentiles Idols Temples in which they worshipped the Apostles and Ministers of Christ who published the word of reconciliation and Christ the substance of all figures they gathered them that did believe of the Iews from the Temple and Temple-worship and the Gentiles from their Temples and Idols to worship God in the spirit and they met together in houses we read of no Parish Churches dedicated to Saints nor consecrated ground for they knew the earth was the Lords and the fulness thereof and was clean and good and blessed to them that believed and there was no dividing into Parishes then nor no compelling then Corinth was not divided into a Parish Antioch Philippi Thessalonica Philadelphia and Smyrna and the rest were not all made into Parishes neither were them that believed not compelled or forced to come to the Christians meeting at Antioch Philippi Thessalonica Philadelphia or any other place that we read of in the Scriptures and the Apostles were not confined nor their spirits were not so strait as to stay over one hundred or fifty families twenty years and call that their Parish between such an hedge and such a ditch and such a water and such a way as Parishes are now divided into though I say they had houses to meet in and preached the Word and brake bread from house to house and sometime by the sea-side they congregated and sometimes on an hill and at certain places they met together to worship God they went not back to the Jews Temple nor Gentiles Idols Temples neither forced any of their maintenance as to minister unto them by which all may see that these invented Churches and Church-yards for holy ground and Parishes are not Apostolical nor was no Catholick nor universal thing then in the Primitive times neither was there any command given to the Christians to do any such thing neither reprehension for not doing such things The first Church or Temple that we read of was consecrated by Pius Bishop of Rome in honour of the Virgin Prudentia and afterwards Calistus made a Temple to the Virgin Mary a place beyond Tibris and instituted a Church-yard in Apius his street and called it after his own name And Dionysius in the year 267 divided both in Rome other places Churches and Church-yards to Curates and made Parishes and Diocesses to Bishops and commanded that every man should be contented with his prescript bonds and there was the beginning of Parishes Churches and Church-yards consecrated ground and in process of time when all Nations had drunk of the cup of fornication the Nations began to imitate their mother and to build and consecrate Temples and Churches and Church-yards to this Saint and the other Saint as is too too manifest through Christendom to this day And here 's the rise of holy Parish Churches which of late have been preached up for the house of God and the house of prayer which bears the name yet by which the Pope baptized them Saint Peter Saint Paul Saint Mary Saint Hellen Saint Katherine Saint Gregory Saint Maudlen Saint Alban Saint Anthony Saint George Saint Margaret Saint Dunstoâ— Saint Clement Saint Christopher Saint Giles Saint Martine and painting and garnishing these houses with Images and pictures and hanging of flowers and boughes and garlands this came from the old heathen who sacrificed to Saturn and Pluto and this hanging up candles
and Higinus and Pius and Ansatus Soler and Elutherius all these were Bishops of Rome but many things began to creep in in their time but being kept under by the Romane Emperors they did not get much outward power because they had no outward compelling Laws to force their Institutions in divers things which were contrary unto the former Apostles Practices yet notwithstanding there was something of Truth and of the Power of it kept and they testified against the Idolatry of the Heathen and so suffered Death Severus succeeded in the Empire about the year 195. under whom was the fifth Persecution against the Christians who Raigned eighteen years in the beginning of his Raign he was somewhat favourable to the Christians but afterwards through the malitious suggestions and accusations of wicked men he was so enraged and incensed against the Christians that by proclamation he commanded through the Empire that no Christians any more should be suffered whereby a great number were destroyed and killed as Eusebius saith in his sixth book about the year 205. This Severus the Emperor was slain in Britain about the year 214. and was buried at York Aurelius Alexander Severus began his Raign about 224. at this time the Church had gotten some rest from persecution at this time the Christians had gotten some house or place to meet in in this time of rest in Rome and the Cooks and Tiplers challenged it to belong to them the matter being brought before the Heathen Emperour Severus he judged it to be more honest and reasonable that this place should be continued to the Christians to Worship God in then that the Cooks and Victuallers and Tiplers should enjoy it by this all may understand that there was no great Ministers Steeple-houses or places called Churches erected in Rome unto this time for the Christians although there be so much ado in this time about Steeple-houses and Ministers and Parish Churches within this latter age by them that are run into visible things have been so strongly pressed for a House of God and a Holy Church so that in this time the Christians had no Mass-houses with steeples and Crosses and Bells and Organs standing East and West which are pleaded for to be decent and Holy Institutions yet notwithstanding the moderation of this Emperor Calistus and Urbanus Bishops of Rome were put to death but yet the Bishops of Rome did not arrogate to themselves to be universal and these were not called Popes though divers superstitious things crept in and were allowed by the said Bishops and they were declining from the doctrine and practice of the Apostles in the first Century and this was about the year 226. Maximinius the next was chosen Emperor rather by the wilfulness of Soldiers then the will of the Senate he caused the sixth Persecution which was great against the Christians especially against the Leaders and Teachers hoping that when they were smitten the Sheep would soon be Scattered this was in the year 237. Pontianus Bishop of Rome was banished by his Emperour and many more Christians suffered under this Emperor and were put to death and more its likely would have suffered but the Lord shortned his dayes and his tyranty for he Raigned but three years The next Emperor was Gordianus in the year two hundred and forty who was more moderate towards the Christians so that the sixth Persecution ceased but after he had Raigned the space of six years he was slain by Philip the succeeding Emperor Philippus who slew Gordianus who was called the first Christian Emperor who slew Gordianus began with Blood he with his Son Philip governed the Empire seven years about the year 246. it is said this Philip with his Son and Family was converted by Fabianus and Origen it is said that both he and his Son was slain by Decius one of his own Captains and though being the first that brought in Christianity into the Emperial seat but the name of Christianity would not save him being out of the nature beginning with Blood it was required at his hands and Anthetius Bishop of Rome after Pontanius Damasus saith that this Bishop was put to death because he recorded the deaths of the sufferers and here was the beginning of that which they call the Legend of Martyrs in the Church of Rome The seventh Persecution began by Decius who succeeded Philippus in the year 250 by whom was moved a terrible Persecution against the Christians which is noted to be the seventh Persecution Fabianus being a married man and had a wife was chosen Bishop of Rome this Doctrine of Devils forbidding to marry was not yet brought in which the Apostle to Timothy Prophesied of no not in the Church of Rome not for 250. years after Christ So the Emperor Decius put him to death and gave forth a Proclamation that all that Prosessed the name of Christ should be put to death Origen suffered many bonds Wrackings Torments for Religion yet afterwards it is said he sacrificed to Idols and was excommunicated yet afterwards Repented And Nicephorus saith of this Persecution under the Emperor Decius that it was as easie to number the Sands of the Sea as them that Suffered under him Cheremon a Married Bishop fled with his Wife into the Mountain of Arabia and never was seen more the Prohibition of Ecclesiastical men or Ministers Marrying was not yet begun no not in the Church of Rome although they plead Antiquity for their Institutions and Practices the Emperor Raigned but two years and was slain by the Barbarian about this time divers Bishops suffered and others were condemned to the Mettal Mines Cyprian Bishop of Carthage was Banished these had no power yet to give forth Laws nor Inquisitions nor to force things upon People for they had not the outward Authority then though divers things which were unfound Crept in by little and little even amongst them About the year two hundred and fifty five Valerianus together with his Son Gallienus came to be Emperors who Raigned together at first they were moderate to the Christians for about two or three years insomuch that in the Emperors Court there were many Christians but afterwards being moved by an Egyptian was stirred â—p to Persecution which was about the year 259. this Emperor was stirred up to Persecute the Christians which was the eighth Persecution being Instigated by the Egyptian who was great in his Court telling the Emperor that the Christians was the cause of the evils of famine and plague upon the Empire divers Bishops and many hundreds were put to death besides Stephanus suffered with six more which were leading Men also Lawrence suffered who was pinched with fire tongues and laid upon an Iron Grate or Grid-iron red hot and so broyled to death In the sixth year of the Raign of Valerianus Gallianus having laid for the space of three years in Prison with Claudianus and Bossa his Wife were put to death for being Christians Likewise Fructuousus Bishop of Tarracona
THE GLORY OF THE True Church DISCOVERED As it was in its PURITY in the PRIMITIVE TIME Also A Manifestation how and when the Apostacy came and how long it hath continued in the Church of Rome proved to be in it because she differs in Doctrin Practice from the Church of Christ in the Apostles dayes Published for this end that People may be informed and their understandings opened to discern of the times and seasons and see the difference between the Lambs Wife and the Mother of Harlots By one who desires that all may come to the Knowledge of the Truth and be saved and walk in the Light of the Lord FRANCIS HOWGIL LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-spread-Eagle at the West-end of Pauls 1661. TO THE READER OR Readers GReat hath been the Wisdom which God hath shed abroad in the hearts of his People and made known unto his servants through Ages wherein he hath made known his mind and will at sundry times and in divers manners sometimes by Types sometimes by Shadows and Representations sometimes by Dreams sometimes by Visions sometimes by Prophecy and there was not the least Ministration but it had a glory in it and the one living God manifested his mind unto the sons of men who feared his Name in every Generation and shewed unto them and signified his mind unto them what he was and shewed unto them how he would be worshipped and they that were obedient unto that which was made manifest in every Age and Ministration found acceptance with the Lord and the peace of God in their hearts After man had transgressed and gone from his Maker and lost the guide of his youth and broken Gods Covenant then blindness came upon him and a vail was betwixt him and his Maker and man increased and grew in an earthly part and lusted after earthly things whith fed and increased that part and the Image of God was lost in which the creature delighted yet notwithstanding such was and is the Love of God towards his Creation and to his workmanship that he did not utterly cast off man for ever but followed him to draw him back again out of the transgression to have unity with him who was his Maker and when man was gone into the darkness the Lord stooped so low as to come near him and to that state he was in and made a Covenant with man when mans heart was outward upon outward things and gave him commands outward and Statutes and Ordinances outward that he might worship therein which were shadows and types of some better thing to come and these were the Ordinances of the first Covenant which pertained to the changeable part that was above the seed but they typed forth more Heavenly things which was to be revealed in due time and when the seed came to be manifested and raised up they had an end and the cloud passed away and the day did spring forth in clearness and he brought forth which restored all that believe unto God viz. Christ Jesus then did God more clearly manifest himself in the earth through his Son who had the will of the Father and declared it who rent the vail and put an end to the shadows and blotted out the hand-writing and ended the types and figures and all that believed in him who was the end of them and the sum of all he overthrew the nature in them which was changeable unto which they pertained until the time of Reformation which was when he was sacrificed up a Propitiation for the sins of the whole world and they that did believe and received him came to be the Sons of God and declared the mind of God as it was revealed and as the spirit gave utterance and many did believe and did grow up and become of one heart mind and soul and worshipped God with one accord and in the spirit and in the power of the Father and separated from the Jewish worship and the form thereof and met together in the Power of God and glorified God and spoke of the things of his Kingdom unto all that waited for it freely and the Lord was honoured by them and glorified in them But soon after the mystery of godliness was brought forth the mystery of iniquity began to work and opposed the work of the Lord and transformed into the similitude and outward appearance and form and yet lived in the flesh and there began to be an apostacy and a deviation from that glory and power which was once revealed and Antichrist wrought with signs and lying wonders and got the words and hated the life and power and them that appeared in it and then they that were under his Government and Reign hated the Reign of Christ and said in their hearts we will not have him to rule over us though in words they confess him and then persecuted and drove the true Church into the wilderness and set up imitations and inventions and traditions and vain customs which they have called Apostolical and holy Institutions which are contrary unto Primitive Institutions and Ordinances onely brought in by them when darkness began to spread over the earth when the Bishops in the first three hundred years after Christ began to contend about dayes and times and meats and drinks and Rome began to claim superiority over all Churches called Christian and the Pope became as a Law-giver I have led thee through divers ages and times as briefly as possible may be to single out the Original and beginning of those things and who were the first Ordainers of them betwixt this and the Apostles dayes which are now accounted as holy Institutions The state and glory of the true Church in this Treatise thou wilt see before the Apostacy and the state in the Apostacy how she fled into the wilderness and how Mystery Babylon was raised and the false Church called her self visible many of her Doctrines and Practices which are contrary to the Primitive Church are here discovered and the Authors and formers made known whereby thou may come to see a difference in the Ordinances of the true Church and the Traditions and Inventions of the false Church which are too much contended for in this day by them who say they are come to the true Reformation according to the Primitive times but thou wilt see as thou compares but their practice with the Primitive times to be quite contrary and to be but smoke and that which has darkened the ayr clouded peoples understandings and hath led them into ignorance and darkness so that the way of Truth hath not been discovered unto many but the Lord is arisen and that which comprehends time is made manifest and all that which hath got up in the Apostacy is viewed and seen and laid open to the view of all that they may depart out of these things which are but the inventions and traditions of men in which Eternal Life is not to be had Read with meekness and
in that which is spiritual in thy self through which the things of God are made manifest for with that I have unity and in that as thou livest and walkest I bid thee farewell F. H. The Principal Heads treated upon in this following Discourse 1. THe State of the Church from the manifestation of Christ in the flesh to the end of the Apostles briefly discovered 2. The entring in of the Apostacy and the declination from that purity and Doctrine Worship and practise downward unto this present age and time 3. The Reformed and separated Congregations called Parochial proved in the Apostacy compared with the Primitive times in Worship and Practise 4. A few words unto all how they may come out of the Apostacy to the true Church which is in God the Lambs wife 5. Concerning Baptizing or sprinkling Infants 6. Concerning the sign of the Crosse and ordaining of Parishes and Parochial Churches 7. Concerning swearing by the Gospel as it is called and kissing the Book and Bishopping of Children the first Authors shewn 8. Concerning Fasts and Feasts and Holy dayes their Institutions and founders in the Apostacy 9. Concerning Priests Vestures and Garments and Bells their Authors shewn which are practised amongst Christians as Apostolick Institutions 10. Concerning the Mattens and singing of Psalms by course in Musical tunes and supplications and short Prayers called Lettanies their Authors shewn 11. Conrerning the Passeover and the Lords Supper and the Ceremonies about it 12. Concerning Ministers and their Office under the Law and under the Gospel 13. Concerning the ten Persecutions under the Heathen Emperours and how diverse vain Traditions and Institutions got up among the Christians in those times and Constitution amongst the East and Western Churches after the Apostacy was entered in the first 300. and 400. years after Christ. 14. Of the decrees of the Church of Rome and Ordinances which are held as Apostolick Institutions 15. Concerning the general Councils since the Apostles dayes which belonged to the Church of Rome their Decrees not infallible but are contradicting one another 16. Concerning the worship of God and whether Kings and Rulers ought to compel in Spiritual things declared and some Scriptures cleared and divers objections answered about this thing 17. Concerning Oaths in the first Covenant and the Lawfulness thereof and the unlawfulness thereof discovered in the new Covenant in the Gospel times though the Apostates mingle the Ordinances of both together 18. Tythes in their first Institution unto whom they were due according to the Command of God declared And that Tythes are no way lawful to be received neither sought for by any who are Ministers of the new Covenant and the everlasting Gospel proved out of the Scripture and Antiquity 19. Respecting of Persons and Complemental bowings and worshipping one another and flattering Titles no good manners but are in the transgression and hath been antiently reproved and condemned 20. Universities and Schools of Natural Learning are of no use as to the making of Ministers of Christ in the Primitive times but a thing introduced and brought in in latter ages by the Apostates who had erred from the Spirit who then admired and set up natural Languages and Philosophy that thereby they might be furnished to make discourses speeches and Sermons to get money by and as they are holden up at this day are made an absolute Idol and as to their Practise it s generally known to be prophane and no way meet to advance the Church of Christ. CHAP. I. The State of the true Church from the manifestation of Christ in the flesh to the end of the Apostles dayes briefly discovered GOd according to his determinate will and everlasting Counsel in the fulness of time sent his onely begotten Son into the World to be the Light of the World and to be a Leader to the People and to be a Propitiation for the sins of the whole World Who obeyed the will of the Father in all things according as it was testified of him by Moses and the Prophets and as it was said by David concerning him in the volumn of thy Book it is written concerning me I come to do thy will O God Psal. 40. 7. And so he did as it was written of him he fulfilled all righteousness and ended all the Types and Figures and Shadows and Worship of the first Covenant as the Apostle testifieth of him Heb. 7. 12. The Law was changed and the Priest-hood changed in that they were but Figures and Shadows of Good things to come and in regard that they were faulty and did not make the comers thereunto perfect as pertaining to the conscience but the bringing in of a better hope did and the better Covenant to wit the Covenant of life and peace which the Prophets by the Spirit had testified of from Moses to Samuel and till John and John likewise bore Testimony of him who was the Lamb o God that took away the sins of the world Joh. 1. 29. 36. And now he being come â—o whom the Prophers testified who was not made by a carnal Commandment as was Aaron and the rest of the Priests under the Law but after the power of an endless life offered up himself once for all putting an end to all the offerings of the first Covenant for the perfecting them that are Sanctified Heb. 10. 14. Now he being come into the fulness of time manifest according to the Testimony of the Prophets he fulfilled all things which the Prophets Testified of him and his works did Testifie of him that he was the Son of God Now he declared the will of the Father and discoursed with them who were Doctors and Ministers of the first Covenant declaring unto them divers times and shewing unto them in divers places that the Kingdom of God was at hand and to be manifest in power and testified of himself and the Father also with him and his works declared the same that he was the everlasting high Priest which put an end to all the first Priest-hood Covenant and Ordinances thereof and he preached the word of the Kingdom and declared against them who sticked behind in the figures and types and shadows and did reprove them to wit the professors of the first Covenant who were searchers of the Scriptures and said you will not come unto me that you may have life I am the bread of Life that came down from above and came to fulfill the Law and all righteousness and to publish the word of Faith which did not make void the Law but establish it which was new And so he said while you have the â—ight believe in the Light that you may be children of the Light And this he spoke to the Pharisees which had the Law and the Prophets and were acting in the Types and Figures which were shadows of the thing it self but not the very thing but he preached the very thing The word of the Kingdom the word of power and the word of life and many
making any Covenants or enquiries after wordly revenews but went from City to City preaching the Gospel of Christ freely as they had received without any conditions from the people And as many as beleived and received the Gospel did Minister freely their hearts being open unto them who had declared unto them spiritual things Acts 4. 34. Mat. 10. 8. c. So that we read of no compulsion or forceing maintenance from any of the Cities whether they beleived or not believed the Father took care of such harvest men and what they received was given freely and there was no complaint though often they denyed that which was profered to them and their care was to make the Gospel of Christ not burdensome or chargable but rather their hands should Minister unto their necessities Act. 18. 3. Again though divers gifts were given unto the Disciples before and after Christs ascention as some to be Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors some Teachers and some Elders or Bishops yet they were all made Ministers by the holy Ghost yet it were large to speak of the Power and of the wisdome and of the enjoyments of God in that day and time and of the gifts and of the order which was in the Church at that time But in a word the Son of God was made manifest and gave them an understanding and they knew him that was true Truth it self and Christ was revealed in them and manifested to them the hope of their Glory Col. 1. 27. Furthermore they came to see over the new Moons and Fasts and feasts and Dayes and Times and Meats and Drinks and nonecould judge of them or ought to judge of them in those cases for they saw the Body Christ for the man-child was brought forth and the woman was cloathed with the Sun who had the Crown of twelve Stars upon her head who brought forth the holy Child Jesus who saves his people from their sins In whom all Shadows Types Figures representations ends This in short was part of the glory of the Primitive Church which would be large to spake of as it was in the first State of its purity But hereafter some fuller thing the Lord may bring forth in his own time and day CHAP. II. Concerning the entering in of the Apostacy and the Declination from that purity of Doctrine Worship and Practice and when it began downwards from the entering of it in until this present age and time CHrist the true Prophet which Moses spake of whom the Lord raised up manifested in the fulness of time he prophesied and declared of false Prophets that should arise Mat. 7. 15. Beware of false Prophets which shall come unto you in sheeps cloathing which are inwardly ravening Wolves ver 16. ye shall know them by their fruits and in Mat. 24. 11. But many false Prophets shall arise and deceive many and this came to be seen and fulfilled in the age of the Disciples and John Testified 1 Joh. 2. 18. Little children it is the last times as ye have heard that Antichrist should come even now there are many Antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time they went out from us but were not of us and Chap. 4. 3. So they entered in then and went out from the Light from the Power of God which the Apostles preached for the remissions of sins And Jude he testified against such as was entered in who was in Cains way that were degenerated and killed and in Balaams way for gifts and rewards and yet preached up the words which the Apostles spoke but for filthy Lucre and had mens persons in admiration because of advantage And Peter said false Prophets and false Teachers should arise that should bring in damnable Heresies that should deny the Lord that bought them and many should follow their pernicious wayes 2 Pet. 2. 2. And the Apostles wrote to Timothy the Bishop or overseer that the Spirit spoke expresly that in the last times some should depart from the faith giving heed to seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils speaking lies in Hypocrisie forbiding to Marry and abstain from meats c. 1 Tim. 4. and again Paul in the 2 Tim. 3. saw the Apostacy coming in and perillous times should come that men should be lovers of their own selves Covetous Boasters without natural affection Truth-breakers False accusers dispisers of them that are good Traytors Heady High-minded lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the truth having a form of Godliness but denying the power and as the same Apostle saith in another place was enemies to the Crosse of Christ And these went out into the world and this is 1400. years agoe and upwards Then the mystery of iniquity began to work and worught and they went out and did not preach up the Jews Religion the ordinances of the first Covenant But they preached Christ in words and transformed into the form of the Apostles words but denyed the Cross and spoke those things they ought not for filthy Lucre sake and there was the beginning of the Hirelings that care not for the Flock and those went out into the world and many followed their pernicious waies and there held the form but denyed the power and so indeed preached another Gospel and they lived in the liberty of the flesh and held People in the Liberty yet prosylited them into a kind of a faith which was seigned and these kinde of false Apostles and deceitful workers led many after them and there was the beginning of the Apostacy and they published these things in the World and when the Name of Christ came to be in reputation and the preaching of the Gospel to be in request then they for filthy Lucre went out with the words and retained the form not the Jewish from altogether but the form of the Saints worship and practice which were in the Church of Christ which were elect and precious and they grew to such a head and to such a body and became such a number and yet gain-sayers and in Cains way for they were out of the power and out of that which mortifies the deeds of the flesh and they spred themselves over Nations and Kindreds over Tongues and People and Nations and Kindreds and Tongues and People have now got the name of a Church and the seat thereof came to be great the false Church the Harlot Mystery Babylon the Mother of Harlots which had denied the Husband Christ the power of God her seate was set upon Nations Kindreds Tongues and People and these were her seate And John said these were the waters which he saw the Whore or false Church sit upon and she turned and all her children against the free-woman the Lords spouse the Lambs Wife and made her fly into the Wilderness for a time times and half a time and she reached out her Golden Cup a fair out-side but full of fornication within and she claimed
Christ to be her Husband and sate as a Queen and the Kings of the Farth John saâ— in the Revelation drink of her Cup and bewitched by her Sorceries and then all the Nations becoming Water and unstable being drunk with fornication sraggered up and down and reeled up and down and stood in nothing being out of the power which should have stablished them And then a great Beast arose out of these Nations Kindreds and Tongues and People which are these waters with seven heads and ten horns and then these Apostatized Disciples or Ministers which preached for filthy Lucre and them that beleived them sheltered them under the Beast and cryed who is able to make war with the Beast and the Kings of the Earth gave their strength to the Beast which arose out of the waters and now the false Church gets upon him these that had the form of Godliness and out of the power and rides upon the Beast and he carries her and hath done this many years and she hath travelled in the greatness of his strength And then Laws began to be made about Religion and then began compelling we heard of none in the Primitive times nor in the true Church but now the false Church calling her self by the Free-Womans name and getting on the outward dress and habit and attire saith I am she have not I the form and ordinances which was practised in the Apostles dayes Who doubts of that may look into the Primitive times and see that I am conformable to the form which was amongst the first Christians in things that are outward And thus she hath deceived the Nations Rev. 18. 23. Now Rome look to thy beginning and read thy Original and view thy Antiquity We will grant thee every dram and every hour of time these thirteen hundred years and prove thee to be in the Apostacy in doctrine and practice from the Primitive time after the first hundred years after Christ was manifested in the flesh And Christendom look about thee for thou art measured and thy compass is seen If Nations and Kindreds and Tongues and People have drunk the Whores Cup since Johus dayes as will be made manifest then what cause hast thou Rome to boast of Antiquity and universality for that doth the sooner prove thee to be a Harlor then the true Church and thy universality which hath long been boasted of proves thee no more to be the true Church of Christ then the sea can prove it self to be a Rock for if Nations Kindreds and Tongues and Languages and People universally be the waters that the Whore sits upon and the Beast rose out of the Waters Now read thy self we have measured thee as in the hollow of a hand and we have thee in the Apostacy clear thy self when thou can If the Beast compelled all both small and great to worship him and made war with all that bore not his Image then we have thee between us and the Apostles time as in a press for not such compelling was in the true Church by any Ecclesiastical or Secular power Instance if thou can from the Apostles writings any such thing or where Cains Weapons was lifted up or Creatures men and women killed by the Sword or destroyed with lingring torments in the time of the Apostles Now in that it is said the Church hath been universal to that more might be said Europe or some parts adjacent is not all the Earth and it is no where found since the Apostles that klling and compelling and forcing hath been but by thee and them that are at the best but in the Suburbs of thy City which afterwards I shall in brief descend to and so it is evidently known that thy Church so called hath been upheld more by cruelty and force then any sound Doctrine or Practice agreeable to the Apostles dayes Though thou may wipe thy Mouth and say I am clear we persecute none to death we have a Beast to ride upon and will make war for our City and will compell to our worship and institutions we 'l cry him up for the higher power and we will frighten people that who resists this resists the ordinance of God And he will kill and destroy and compel and force and we shall be clear and he will call us the holy Church and we will call him the higher Power And so it is clear and evident by what hath been said that thou art in the Apostacy as hereafter shall be manifested by name and practice First thy Ministers are not according to the Ministers of Christ in the Primitive times their call not such their practice noâ— such They were made Ministers in the primitive times by the holy Ghost and by the Spirit but yours by natural parts Tongues Arts Philosophy and Study and packing up Old Authors together to make a little discourse of and this must be called the Gospel Secondly the Ministers of Christ they preach freely not for gifts and rewards and Tythes but you have brought in Judaisme Tythes which belongeth to the first Priest-hood your Oblations Obventions your Mortuaries and these Invented and Introduced things to maintain your Ministers by Thirdly the Ministers of Christ did not compel any at Corinth Thessalonica Macedonia or any other Church to give them such and such maintenance by force who received not their Doctrine But you compel and force and have made that which you call the Gospel chargeable to the Earth where you have power 1 Cor. 9. 18. Fourthly your Doctrine is contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and the primitive times as that the real and substantial presence of Christs Body and blood after the consecration of Priests is in the bread and wine which may corrupt and so doth not the body of Christ do contrary to Christs Doctrine who saith he that eats my flesh and drinks my blood shall live for ever Joh. 6. 56. But you that eat that which you call his substantial and real Body and blood both it and you shall corrupt Fifthly of the unbloody Sacrifice of the Masse this sacrifice doth no good at all for where there is no blood there is no life and where there is no blood there is no remission saith Paul Heb. 9. 14. and so your sacrifice is abominable and an Idol and such an one as there is no mention made of in the Scriptures Sixthly of your Liturgy and publick prayers in an unknown tongue this is an unprofitable and a vain Worship and this is like your unbloody Sacrifice herein you are like Barbarians one to another and how should they that worship with you say Amen when they know not what you say you praying in an unknown tongue is contrary to the Apostles Doctrine who said 1 Cor. 14. and the 18 verse I thank my God I speak with Tongues more than you all verse 19. yet in the Church I had rather speake five words with my understanding that I might reach others also then ten thousand in an unknown Tongue
gained to it when as they commanded the Parishes to buy it and then sells it them again that the Priest must have an offering at Easter also a token of a piece of lead a token that they are at unity with the Priest or else they may not have their bread and wine again for which they paid before and this hath been called a great mystery CHAP. XII Concerning Ministers and their Office under the Law and the Gospel BEfore the Law was given forth there were divers did offer sacrifice and buidled Altars unto the Lord as Seth Abel Melchizedeck Abraham Isaac and Jacob who pere guiders and directers of People in the way of righteousness who instructed their Families in the fear of the Lord But after the Law was given forth Aaron and his Sons and they were to offer sacrifice according to the command of the Lord and to perform the worship that God had appointed For that time and age at the Tabernacle and Temple there was Levites who bore the Ark and looked to the vessels and pitched the Camp and divâ—â— other services as singers and readers of the Law and Prophets on their Sabbath dayes and Porters and the like and all these petrained to the first Covenant and Priesthood which was to have an end both the Priesthood and the Law and the service thereof for it was but to continue till the substance came Now Christ being come the end of the Law for righteousness unto all that beleive made after the order of Melchizedeck and not by a carnal commandment he offered up himself once for all and became the Author of eternal Salvation unto them that believe put an end to the first Worship and Priest-hood Before he was offered up he chose Disciples unto him Twelve and also Seventy and endued them with Power and many did Believe through their words and they were not Men of great parts but as they were sitted by the Holy Ghost that gave them utterance and they were sent out not to Preach the Law but the Word of the Kingdom and many did Believe and grew and were confirmed in the Faith and after Christs Ascention the Holy Ghost was Poured forth upon them in a more ample manner and it did bring to their remembrance as Christ had foretold and they received great Gifts for the work of the Ministry some were Prophets some Apostles some Evangelists some Pastors some Teachers and all made Ministers by the Spirit for the work whereunto they were chosen and many were converted and did believe then they that had the Word of God to publish travelled as they were led and Moved by the Spirit to publish the glad tydings of the Gospel and when the Believers were many and many young in the Faith they ordained Overseers or Bishops or Elders who were sound in the Faith to watch over them that were begotten but mark they were approved men and Faithful and of blameless lives not given to covetousness neither did tirannize over them in rigour but were apt to teach and instruct in love and gentelness and they that had been Ancient Laborers in Gods Work did so who had received a Gift to Minister unto others and as to be helpers in the Work of the Gospel and all that were ordained were ordained by the Holy Ghost although its true they had the consent of the Brethren and the Church in that thing and there were also Deacons ordained which served to look to the Widows and for the Ministration of the Poor and these were faithful men and had also a gift Stephen was one full of the Holy Ghost and these were helps unto the Apostles also theâ—e were some Faithful Widows who were examples to younger men and to instruct them and to be patterns unto them and all was as a body knit together in love and served the Lord and strengthened one another in the faith and served one another in love and all these forementioned served the Lord freely and willingly and not for rewards and gifts and benefices and earthly things this was the state and glory of the Church in that time in short and these are the Ministers we read of in the Primitive times But since the Apostacy hath entered in and the Power hath been denied of Godliness there is such a numberless number of names crept in we never heard of then and so many offices and yet none of that work done which the Ministers of Christ did but certain new invented things brought in for worship and service and the power despised and men seeking offices and great titles and great benefits and great revenues and the heritage of God is laid waste and the earth become like a wildernesse unplanted with good and the sheep is scattered And so all may compare these ensuing names and offâ—es with the Apostles dayes and the primitive Church and see if they be alike First of all The Pope his holiness Christs Vicar universal Bishop Metropolitan Bishop Lord Cardinals which were but Priests at the first ordained to baptize the Heathen who came to Rome when the seat thereof began to be had in honour but now they are swelled big and become Princes and the only men to govern States also Monks of divers orders and Friars of divers orders Hieroms order of Austins order Gregorys order Carmalite Friars Cross or Crouchet Fryors of Dominicks order of S. Frances order Benets order and all of these orders sprung up and were ordained in the midnight of darkness within this four hundred years at the most as were easily proved and Trinity order and Brigandine order of Jesuites and Hermites and Anthonies order and Clunisencies order And Nuns sprung up First of one St. Clara one order then Brigidia a widow in the time of Urban the fifth in the year 1370. and all these kind of orders were distitute of the true order of the primitive Church and their service was appointed by them that ordained them and these practised the patched inventious that were given them for worship which hath not concord with the primitive Doctrine but borrowed from the Iews or Heathen And all these kind of Offices and Officers have been acting their parts this many years and led people into superstitious blindness and further from the Lord then ever But to come to the reformed Churches so called and there is so many Officers and names but few that do accord with the Apostles times either in name or nature As Metropolitan Bishops Arch-bishops Lord-bishops we heard not of Lord Timothy or Lord Titus Bishops before mentioned but to come on to other Orders Arch-deacons Deans and Chapters Prebends and these must attend on some old superstitious Buildings called Cathedrals or Ministers and there performs a service somewhat like the former these are injoyned their service like the Levites and Priests of old by turns and course as once in a month or two it may be and have a hundred or two hundred pounds in the year for the same and
hardly stir from thence till they die except some greater advance offer it self also Commissaries Procters Parotters and these are subservient to the former then Chancellors Vice-chancellors Doctors of Divinity Batchelors of Divinity Doctors of Art Masters of Art Batchelors of Art Graduates under-graduates and these belong to the former then Prelates Parsons Vicars Priests Curates and Church wardens all which titles and names and Officers if they be but compared with the Scripture there will be hardly any parallel either concerning office work or Doctrine and notwithstanding all these orders and sorts who are fitted by humane learning or natural study though divers years exercised therein are not skilled in the word of righteousnesse neither hath the tongue of the learned to administer a word in season to the weary nor to turn the sinner from his sins and thus the form of things titles and names are holden up but who seeks after the power of God or to be made able Ministers of the Spirit Literal Ministers enough while maintenance lasts but the ministration of the Spirit few is acquainted with and if there be any such it is well if they be not Persecuted So in that which I have said the understanding will see that there hath been a great Apostacy since the Apostles dayes in the Ministry in Doctrine in Worship and practice divers of which I have touched upon to the intent that they that enquire after the Lord may depart out of the mist of ignorance and come to worship God in spirit and truth and in the Temple made without hands and be joyned to the Church which is in God which the Gates of Hell prevails not against though many will claim Authority from the Apostles few will own their life neither walk after their example so take but a few more Institutions which is called Apostolick to this day among them called Christian Churches Clatus the third Bishop of Rome was the first that wrote this tittle that is greeting and Apostolick blessing he ordained the order of Priesthood Everastus the fifth Bishop ordained that Priests should be honoured and that they should be shaven Alexander the sixth Bishop of Rome ordained that Matrimony should be only solemnized and that the married should be Blessed with the Priest there was the beginning of being married by Priests Sextus about the year 114. after Christ the seventh Bishop of Rome ordained Holy Water and ordered that it should be strowed abroad in Christians houses and when the People met to worship Telesphorus the eight Bishop of Rome ordained that the Communion should be laid upon an Altar and that Lay people should not touch the Holy vessels nor the Holy Garments of the Priests he ordained Lent which was to be kept by the Clergy in the year one hundred forty two Higinus the ninth Bishop ordained the Communion to be celebrated three times at Christmas and that Lent should be fasted Pius about the year 147 after Christ the tenth Bishop ordained that Crism should be Ministred as Baptism and that Children should have God-fathers and God mothers here was the beginning of this great Ordinance and he ordained that Easter-day should be kept on the Sunday Urbanus the seventeenth Bishop of Rome ordained Church-yards to be hallowed and forbad marriage of Priests Pontianus the eighteenth Bishop ordained that Psalms and Mattens should be sung in Church night and day to drive away evil spirits Sextus the twenty fourth Bishop in the year 222. after Christ ordained that Priests should wear Holy Garments as Coops and divers other things in imitation of Aaron and then came up surplices he commanded Images to be set up in Churches Foelix the twenty sixth Bishop of Rome ordained division of Parish Churchres and Diocesses to Bishops Leo the Emperor gave Commandment that all Images and Pictures of Saints should be taken out of the Churches for the avoiding of Idolatry but the Bishop of Rome withstood the Emperor the Emperor for his confirmation of taking of Images away called a Councel of Bishops about three hundred and thirty and they ordained and decreed that all Images should be taken away and burned in the 740. But in the year 769. Gregory the third called a Council together at Rome near a thousand Bishops and condemned Leo the Emperor and three hundred Bishops for taking Images out of the Churches and yet the former Counsel and this all of one Faith and Church which they use to say could not erre and the latter decreed they should be adored and Worshiped with all reverence Boniface the eighth he gave licence to the mendicant Friars to hear the private Confession of sins that people should confess to them Pope Alexander gave commandment that the Sacrament should be made of the Sweet Bread and commanded that water should be mingled with wine Innocentius the third ordained that People should confess their sins to a Priest once a year in the year at the least And these kinds of Decrees stand for Apostolical to this day among the Apostates and the reformed Churches so called do own many things that are too near a kin to them and preffeth them for Ordinances and holy Institutions yea in many Countries the self same things are both owned and practised in many particulars which I have mentioned before in other parts of this Book and are looked upon as divine service and holy Worship which the Ministers of Christ who have the word of reconciliation to publish are ashamed of knowing them to be such things as never was practised nor holden out by Christ or his Apostles but are brought in since darkness hath over-spread the Earth and the Power of God hath been lost And at the first Institution thereof though there might be some shew of a good intention in the formers of them but now they are become absolute Idols and however at the first some of the things mentioned might seem to some to be indifferent yet now being prest of necessity as the Ordinances of God they are become Idols and ought to be thrown away and departed from by all that professeth the Gospel of Christ Jesus and the worship of God in the Spirit For the Lord God hath drawn away his presence out of all formal and visible appearance since Antichrist and the false Church hath got them on for a Garment and to cover themselves withall to the deceiving of the Nations And now in this the day of his power hath appeared in a more mysterious and secret and hidden way and in a more spiritual appearance Into this deceit cannot enter nor transform and therefore all Babylons Merchants are angry and Antichrists followers are full of Wrath and the Dragon cast out floods after the heir and her that brings him forth and makes War with her Seed but the Lord is putting on her Beautiful Garments and Marrying her to himself and she shall reign and her Seed who are born of the Spirit when she that sat as a Queen upon the
Waters shall have an end and the Dragon shall be laid hold on and Chained up and the Beast and false Prophet be cast into the Lake for ever Blessed are they who keeps in the Faith and patience till these things be fulfilled their hearts shall rejoyce and their tongue praise the Lord and magnifie him whose throne is established in the Heavens and his Kingdom is over all And although there was a defection from the Faith and practice of the Apostles in the first two hundred years after Christ yet doubtless there were many who lived and died in the Faith and suffered as Martyrs in the time of the great Persecutions by the heathen Emperors and many who could not nor did not sacrifice to their Idols suffered death and under-went cruel torments by the Heathen who were in the Dragons power for the Testimony of a good Conscience for confession of Christ Jesus and although divers of the Bishops of Rome and other places did bring in things which they instituted as matter of worship so people was darkned by them yet in the ten Persecutions by the Heathen Emperors many of them suffered Death and thousands of the Christians besides but deceit crept in by degrees and invented things were brought in by the Leaders of the People but these things that were invented were prest to be observed in their Diocesses and Parishes which they had made and sat down in but there was little compelling yet till the Dragon gave his power to the Beast and it was 650 years before ever the Bishops of Rome did climb up unto their heigth as to claim the title of the Universal Bishop or head of the Church or challenged Supremacy over all Christian Churches yet before this time abundance of Darkness was entred in and the power was much lost and divers innovations were brought in for Ordinances divers of the Jews Ceremonies and divers of their institutions which belonged to the first Priest-hood and these were prest upon the Churches by several leaders or Bishops as Apostolick Ordinances which had no concurrence with the Primitive Church in the firist hundred years after Christ as hereafter may be shewn in diverse things wherein they were Apostatized from the life and Power of God and from the practice of the Saints mentioned in the Scripture and of the Churches planted in the Apostles dayes CHAP. VIII Something concerning the ten Persecutions by the Heathen Emperors of Rome FOR the first three hundred years after Christ who was born in the reign of Augustus Cesar then Emperor of Rome and was rejected and crucified by the Jews in the seventeenth year of the Raign of Tiberius Cesar then Emperor of Rome who Raigned eight years after Christ was crucified when Pilate gave sentences against and delivered to the Jews the said Pilate was banished by the Emperor and afterwards he killed himself in which time Stephen the Martyr was stoned to death by the Jews and the same day Stephen was stoned Dorothees saith Nicanor one of the Deacons suffered with two thousand Christians more in his Raign about this time Paul was converred The next Emperor that succeeded Tiberius Cesar was Cesar Caligula who commanded his Image to be set up in the Temple at Jerusalem to be worshiped as God Herod who Mocked Christ with his souldiers and set him at nought was banished and died miserably he likewise put forth Caiaphas the High Priest and afterwards in the fourth year of his Raign Caligula was slain Claudius Nero succeeded him and Raigned thirteen years a grievous Tyrant and an hater of all good by him was James the Son of Zebedee Martryed and Symon and Pemenius the second of the seven Deacons Martyred and Thomas who Preached to the Medes and Persians was slain with a dart in his Raign about this time Simon Zelotes who Preached in Africa was crucified Andrew and Matthew the one crucified and the other slain with a spear Matthias and Philip the one was crucified and the other stoned to death About the 62. year after Christ James the Son of Alpheus called the Brother of Christ was stoned to death with many more and Mark slain at Alexandria Domitius Nero began his Raign about the sixty seventh year after Christ he Raigned fourteen years Emperour of Rome under him was the first of the ten Romane persecutions he caused the Christians of all ages sects and sorts to suffer he commanded Rome to be set on fire in tewlve places and to avoid the infamy thereof he accused the Christians with it and caused them to be persecuted and put to death and in the latter end of his raign Paul was put to death for the Testimony of the Faith of Christ. In the year sixty nine this Nero was afterwards proclaimed by the Senate of Rome an enemy to all Mankinde and condemned to be drawn through the City and to be whipt to death for fear of which he fled and afterwards slew himself and the Church had rest for a season from persecution after him In the ninety sixth year began Domitian the Emperor to raign who began the second persecution who was a blasphemer against God and an Idolater In his dayes was Simon Bishop of Jerusalem crucified and John the Evangelist Banished into the Isle of Patmos but after the death of Domitian he was released by Pertinax this Domitian the Emperor fearing the coming of Christ again commanded that all that could be found of the stock of David in Jury should be slain and many false accusations was brought against the Christians and the Inquisition was this Swear the truth whether thou art indeed a Christian and if they confessed they were condemned and put to death for that alone Clement succeeded Anaclatus the Bishop of Rome and after him Everistus who was Martyred under Trajanus in the 102. year after Christ. In the Raign of Trajanus the Emperor began the third persecution of the Christians Simon who was said to be Christs Kinsman was Bishop of Jerusalem and Ignatius Bishop of Antioch who suffered Martrydom in the raign of Trajanus in the year 111. with many other of the Christians who were destroyed in this Persecution the Church of Rome was not so highly exalted as afterwards she usurped Authority neither were the Officers thereof nor Bishops so corrupt as afterwards they came to be both in Doctrine and Practice Marcus Antonius Verus began the fourth Persecution in the year 162. in whose time a great number who professed Christ suffered cruel deaths in Asia and in France and other parts amongst whom was Policarpus the Bishop of Smyrna this Persecution continued thirteen years The Church had some rest under the raign of Lucius Antonius Comodus and then the Christians began to wrangle and jangle about the celebration of Easter and about observation of times and Feasts and run into things outward and contended about them and so weakned themselves and hurt one another Alexander Bishop of Rome succeeded Everistus and Telesphorus succeeded him likewise
Dionysius writes unto him how that all Cilicia Cappadocia Galatia and the bordering Nations how great Synods had decreed that they would not communicate with them because they rebaptized Hereticks and saith further the greatest Synods of Bishops hath decreed that such as renounce any heresie should first be instructed and then Washed and Purged of their impure leaven and thus they Wrangled and Jangled about things with one another and brake into Fractions notwithstanding many of these men Suffered under the merciless Cruelty of the Heathen Emperor likewise they excommunicated one another and called Councils and censured one another and hurt the spreadng of Truth amongst them that believed in the Name of Jesus all this is to shew that they were declining and coming to loss in this time though so near the Apostles time and though they suffered under the Emperors and found peace with the Lord yet many practices and institutions were made which are not according to the Primitive times which ought not to be binding to all generations afterwards because of the Antiquity of them as the now called Church of Rome would have all to receive as Apostolick Doctrine But to return to Constantine the Emperor when peace was established in the Empire he set forth a general Proclamation or Edict not constraining therein any man fro any Religion but giving liberty to all men to exercise their Religion whether Christians or others which thing was taken well by the Romans and all wise men this Licinius joyned with Constantine in the Government of the Empire and seemingly favoured the Christians and joyned with Constantine in setting forth an edict for the Christians liberty yet afterwards he had great hatred towards Constantine and conspired his death rejecting the Christian Religion and Persecuted them who said he would become an Enemy to the Christians for that in their Meetings and Assemblies they prayed not for him but for Constantine so cast the Christians into Prison and Persecuted them within his Dominions and many were put to death but at length he was slain after several battels between him and Constantine by the souldiers in the year 324. Constantius the Emperor the Father of Constantine dyed a natural death and was buried at York Dioclcesian died at Salena as some say by his own Poyson in the year 319. he was the chief of the seven Tyrants in the tenth Persecution Maximinian the second who was hanged at Mazilla by Constantine in the year 310. Thirdly Galerius who was plagued with a terrible disease Severus the fourth was slain by Maximinian the father of Maxentius the wicked Tyrant who was Banished by Constantine in the year 318. The sixth was Maxentius who dyed not long atfer in the year 320. Lastly Licinius was overcome by Constantine and slain about the year 324. And thus the Lord Plagued the cruelty of the Heathen Emperors who knew not God but hated his appearance and rewarded them according to their deeds The Christians in these three hundred years wherein was the ten Persecutions they were sufferers under the Power of the Dragon who ruled in the Emperors and then they were not Persecutors having not the outward power in their hand but when they had the outward power then they turned Persecutors especially the Bishops of Rome when they had the outward power on their side then they were worse then Constantine the great who gave liberty to all Christians and others to Worship God without forcing of any as their actions following afterwards makes it appear for being countenanced by the Emperor they grew proud and lordly and increasing in power and outward Authority though set up at first by the Emperor at last excluded him for having any Authority or Power over the See of Rome as after a season may be made appear In the year 367. Damasus was Bishop of Rome 18. years Also in the first three or four hundred years before ever the Bshop of Rome did get so high as to be called universal Bishop abundance of Darkness spread over and abundance of Idolatry and superstitious things was invented and abundance of Orders as Friars and Monks and Monasteries and Nunneries wherein they were diverted from the order of the Gospel and a great Apostacy came in In the year 260. Anthony is called the Father of the Monks who followed the Example of Paulus born at Thebes in Egypt who retired himself to a private Gave under the foot of a Rock in the seventh Persecution by Decius And one called Basil is said to be the first that built Monasteries and ordained vows of Poverty Chastity and Obedience and these are called the Monks of Basils Order and are bound to abstain from all kinde of Flesh and here began this Doctrine of Devils contrary to the Doctrines of the Apostles of Christ. The next who prescribed Orders was Augustine born in the year 350. this order was called Austin Fryars they wear a Lethern girdle to distinguish them from the Monks the first Order of the Eriars was Mendicants the third that Prescribed Orders was Benedict in the year 472. and out of this Order did spring the Monks of Benedict and divers other Orders which I have mentioned before in the former part of the Book The fourth that Prescribed Orders was Francis of Assis these are called Franciscans or Grey Friars their rule and order was confirmed by Innocent the third these are the fourth Order of Friars Mendicants or begging Friars and from this order sprung Friars Miniries and Capouchen Friars Miniries were ordered by Franciscus de Pola and Capouchens were ordained by one Matthew Basa of Acona The Jesuites were first founded by Ignatius Loyolla born in Navar they were first confirmed by Paul the third The Nuns first Author was one Clare the Daughter of Asses who forsoke her Fathers House and devised an Order of religious Women who vowed Poverty and Virginity they were confirmed by Honorius the third but many of these being mentioned and their Practices which are contrary to the Primitive time is mentioned before in this Book and so let them pass and to return to the Bishops of Rome but divers contentions and sects began to breake forth and the Bishops not only of Rome but of Alexandria and Nicomedia and Miletus and one clashing against another Alexander Bishop of Alexandria and Eusebins Bishop of Nicomedia and many Bishops in other places joyning one to one side and one to another and envying one another insomuch that as Eusebius saith a man might have seen not only the Presidents and chief Rulers of the Churches envying one against another with spightful approbrious Terms and also the Multitude severed into parts that the Christian Religion was openly derided of all Men and so called Councils and Synods and condemned one another and excommunicated one another as Hereticks and so went out of the Long-suffering and Patience and forbearance which the Apostle exhorted unto And so no less then four hundred years many run wholly out into contention about
Rome And when any Kings or Princes had displeased him he hath excommunicated them and given away their Kingdomes to some other teaching their people to rebell and also instigating other Princes to make war against them and to kill one another for trifles and if any displeased him he caused many Kings to do penance and to pay great summes of money to get an absolution from excommunication and the Rule and power of the Empire which gave him first his being to be universal Bishop and to be called Pope he hath raised war often against and if he like not the Election of the Emperour he hath deposed them and one he brought into such subjection that he caused him to hold his stirrop a thing that the Emperour was not accustomed with he happened to hold it on the wrong side for which he received a sharp reproof by his holiness Likewise some difference being between Pope Innocent the fourth in the year 1250 and the Emperour Frederick the second the Pope would not be reconciled though the King of France strongly interceded and offered full satisfaction for all pretended wrongs would go out of his Empire if the Pope could not endure him there never to return into Europe again so as that his son with the popes approbation might but succeed him in the Empire which the Pope would not do And how England and diverse Nations hath been troubled with his oppression is well known and what exactions and great sums of mony there hath been enhaused and squeezed out of the Dominions where he had power the Nations well remembers to maintain the pride of his Court at Rome which abounded with all manner of vitiousness in so much that it was grown to that height that Vincentius Clemence the popes Legate said it was now too late and past reforming But to take the Legates own words as follows against his Master the pope and his Court W. H. in his book called a description of England in the 136 page saith thus that this Vincentius Clement in the year 1452 being Legate for the pope was here in England about the popes business and hearing that the Clergy had given the King two tenths for the repaying of his losses which he had sustained in France and for the recovering of Bouâ—deox this Legate Vincentiâ—s coming into the Convocation house he earnestly required the Clergy to be no less favourable to their Spiritual Father the Pope and their Mother the See of Rome then they had been to his vassal and inferiour meaning the King and in his speech in the Convocation he shewed them how that his holiness the pope was much disturbed and in daily danger of his life by cut-throats varlors and harlots which did much abound as he said in Rome but the Clergy in the Convocation slighted his speech and said how should we contribute towards the suppression of such whenas he and such as you continually uphold them I grant saith the Legate that there wanteth just reformation of many things in the City of Rome which would have been made sooner but now it is too late and past reforming nevertheless I beseech you send the Legate to write unto his holiness the Pope to request him that he would abandon and leave that Babyâ—on which is but a sink of mischief and of all ungodlinesse and keep his Court elsewhere in some place of better fame and this is the Legates testimony of the seat of the Mother Church of Rome Besides many of her own Members in England in the year 1245 do manifest what exaction has been upon this Nation as may be seen in a supplication written in the names of the Nobles and Commons of England to Pope Innocent the fourth shewing how many Subsidies and taxes had been levied and sent out of the Râ—alm and how they had been liberally paid they complaining also how he sent Italians and forraigners to possess their Churches and Benefices in England who had no regard of peoples souls and so were no good Shepherds as they said and how the Italians received threescore thousand Marks by the year besides other vails and excises they do reap more rents then the King himself and so when he could not have his subsidies and raise all the sums which he exacted from year to year Pope Innocent perswades the French King to make warre with the King of England for his not condiscending to the pope in all things although he was then one of his sons and of his Church but enough of this it were large to enumerate the actions and cruelties the oppressions which hath been done in that which is called Christendom since the Emperour gave unto the Pope his power and how much idolatry supersttion herâ—sie and Doctrines of Devils hath been spread over the Nations these many hundreds of years and how many have been put to cruel death for not obeying and conforming to the said Doctrines and practices Injunctions and Ordinances and how many he this falle Church hath stirred up to kill one another and destroy one another about these things which hath been put upon people under the name of Divine Authority and holy subjection and Apostolical Institutions by what as iâ— written all may see that these things are in the Apostacy and in the fall in the cuâ—se and in the night of darknesse wherein all this wickedness hath been wrought by the false Church which the Lord God will reward double and dry up her waters under which she sits and make her seat desolate and throw down her pride who hath drunk the blood of the Martyrs and shed the bloud of the Saints and devoured the Lambs of Christ and made merchandize of souls and therefore all who are in part departed from her stay not in the Suburbs but come out of her-City and the Adjacent places thereof that ye be not partakers of the Judgement which is to come upon her But Oh abundance of darkness remains yet in the Nations and even in the Protestant Churches who hold up things yet which was invented by her insomuch that one belonging to the Church of Rome Dionysius Petavius 〈◊〉 Cardinall layes claim to the Ceremonies which were practiced in England in the Bishops time For saith he in his book called the History of the World the Religion of England and Doctrine is Calvinisâ—â— the Doctrine of Geneva but the Ceremonies are of Rome as they were practiced in England in the year 1640. In the time of Leo the fourth Edelwâ—lphus King of England went to Rome for performance of a vow that he had made and was courteously received and accepted by the Pope Leo For which cause he ordained atribute to be paid yearly to the Pope to wit a penny sterling for every house in England that kindled a Fire New Protestants look to your Easter reckonings you have denied the Popes supremacy and yet Vicars and Parsons receives his tribute of every house that kindles a Fire and this stands yet as a good and
wholsome Institution amongst you And so for shame let all that profess Reformation and the Doctrine of godliness and the faith of Christ and the practise of the Apostles as their example Come out of things which the Harlor hath invented and say as Abraham said to the King of Sodom That he would not take a shoe-latchet least he should say he had made Abraham Rich So let them that professes Reformation not keep a shoe-larchet nor one lap of the Whores garment nor any piece of her Ornaments that she may not boast any more that we are made rich by her merchandize so purge out horn and huff and all the old leaven out of your hearts and out of your Assemblies and come to believe in Christ the true light that lighteth every one that comes into the world that he may be your Law-giver whose Institutions are spiritual and his Ordinances heavenly which makes perfect and clean and pure the comers there unto and so let the old Româ—sh tâ—ash and foolish Ceremonies about worship alone many of which are borrowed from the Heathen and judge not any for departing from them nor perâ—ecute none for not observing of them for who so doth will manifest themselves to belong to the City which is to be overthown and to be in the Apostacy and not Members of the true Church of Christ the Lambs Wife And many more things which stands yet amongst them called Christions as set discourses hath been set up â—â—lled homilies And the aâ—oresaid W. H. shews the ground wherefore they were devised Some complained that their Churches and Universities were spoiled with error as many are at this day by which there was a want of able Pastors four Sermons were appointed by publick order in the year only and certain homilies was devised by learned men and confirmed for sound Doctrine by the Clergy who made them and the Authority of the Prince which homilies were appointed to be read by Curates of a mean understanding and them that had but mean pay as five mark or twenâ—â— Nobles a year of which sort we had many in England in the year 1640. I desire we have no more leâ—st more ignorance abound and these homilies were to be read after a certain number of Psalms read and the Leâ—any and an Epistle and Gospel and it may be Aâ—hâ—nasius or Nicene Creed and this was the worship which hath been holden out even amongst the reformed as spiritual worship all which while people has been exercising themselves in those things they have been further and further off from God and the knowledge of his truth which is manifest to them that believe not by the Injunctions and Ordinances of men but by holy Spirit which leads out of all Error Superstition and deceit and all that believes in it comes to be taught of the Lord and worship in that which is pure and are acceptable in his sight CHAP. XV. Something Concerning the General Councils since the Apostles dayes though they have been all of one faith and though it hath been said the Church could not err all which of the several Councils belonged to the Church of Rome yet see the difference IN that which some call a Council or a Synâ—d at Jerusalem Acts 15. when some dissention arose because of some of the Phariâ—ees that believed and yet would needs Judge it needful for all that believed to be circumâ—iâ—ed So they that stickt in the outward Types and Figures would needs lay yoaks upon the necks of them who were come to the substance So the Apostles Elders and Brethren coming together seeing the state of the matter stood not disputing years together as the Council of Trent forty years but they as they saw in the wisdom of God sent some chosen men from Jerusalem to the Gentiles to certifie the Gentiles by the Spirit of the Lord that they abstained only from meats offered to Idols and from blood and from things strangled and from Fornication from which if you keep your selves you shall do well Acts 15. they pressed not upon them the ordinances of the Jews neither the custome of the Gentiles in the unbelief which since this the Church of Rome hath done and diverse Councils appertaining to her hath cumbred people with multitudes of things and heavy yoaks some borrowed from the Jews in the unbelief and some from the Heathens in the unbelief and prest their Institutions and inventions as Ordinances of Christ upon all the Members of the Church which are so many and so innumerable and all contrary to the Primitive Church And they have been of the nature of those Councils that David speaks of Psal. 2. who took Council against the Lord and against his Anointed and that was a Council which condemned the Son of God Christ Jesus and these Councils though Rabbies and great men yet they â—rred from the life But to come downward amongst the Doctors and Bishops of that which they call the Catholick Church the Council that was held at Carthage under Cyprian decreed that those who were baptized by Hereticks ought to be baptized again which others called it error And that Councils proceedings was condemned The Niceâ—e Council decreed flat Idolatry about worshipping of Images and the Council at Constantinâ—ple condemned that proceedings and their decrees The Council of Basil as Albeâ—â—us Pâ—igius saith decreed against all reason and against the Scriptures The Council of Armenium decreed for the Aâ—meâ—iaâ—s that Christ was not God The Council of Calcedon which was one of the four that Gregory the great compares to the four Gospels that the Decrees were as sure and Constitutions as certain infallible as the Scripture yet Pope Leo did not stick to condemn it and all them as unadvised And these Councils has been one against another and the multitude of their votes is brought for great proof not only amongst the Romanists but also amongst them that are separated from them so Councils have erred and hath opposed one another yet and the Popes and Bishops of Rome to Leo the fourth abrogated and made void the Acts of Adrian yet they both said they were Peters successors and infallible And Stephanus Bishop of Rome made void the Acts and decrees of Formosâ—s and Sabinian the Pope commanded that Gregories Mass and all Pope Gregories writings should be burnt And all of these said they had the Keyes to bind loose and yet one bound that which another had loosed and another loosed that which the former had bound and yet all these claimed infalibility The Council of Carthage Decreed that the Bishop of Rome should not be called high Priest nor chief of Priests nor the head of the Church but following Councils have stiled him chief Priest chief Bishop and head of the Catholick Church The Eliberine Council Decreed that no Images should be set up in the Churches nor worshipped nor the walls painted Likewise the Council of Constantinople before mentioned decreed that Images were not to be suffered in the
stoned to death And this was according to the Law of God their bloud was uâ—on their own heads And when Israel â—usted after a King he gave them a King and they had many Kings who were Anointed of God by his appointment which was to rule in the same manner as Moses Joshua and the rest of the Judges had done and whosoever were disobedient unto the aforesaid command of God whether in things civil or things concerning the worship of God and several punishments were to be inâ—â—icted by them for several transgressions as Blasphemers Sabbath breakers false Prophets and Wizzards and witches were not suffered to live This was before Christ the Seed was manifested in the flesh this was the old way the old paths that Israel was to walk in But this Covenant was filthy as the Apostle saith and the Ministers thereof could not continue by reason of death The Law was changed and the Priest-hood was changed and the Ordinances and worship was changed when Christ came to be manifest the end of the Law for Righteousness Now as Aâ—ron and the rest of the high Priests were but types and figures of the everlasting High Priest So the Judges and Kings of Israel were types and figures of Christ the King of Kings and King of Saints and Lawgiver and Judge And their outward power which continued but for a time in compelling to the true worship under that Covenant or restraining from Idolatry did but continue until the time of Reformation was but a type and a figure of Christ and his spiritual power and weapon and spiritual execution upon his enemies who are not subject to his government oâ— power seeing the Father hath committed all power unto him in Heaven and in Earth And Moses the Mediator of the first Covenant which stood in outward Ordinances both the Mediator the Covenant and the Ordinance had an end when the better Covenant was given the Covenant of Light and Christ the Mediator thereof was manifest And this Covenant and Ordinances pertained unto the Jews and the compelling unto the worship and punishing for Idolatry partained to the Jews only who were under that Covenant and not to the Gentiles as it is written To Jacob he gave his Law and to Israel his Statutes to every Nation he did not so So they which would bring people now under this Covenant and the power thereof denies the second the everlasting Covenant his power and them that would preach up compelling and forcing to worship and bring those Scriptures of the first Covenant to be their ground are ignorant of the times unto which they were spoken And upon this false Foundation hath the false Church persecuted about worship this many hundred years and this Doctrine is in too much credit with many in these dayes who say they are under the Gospel And this hath made people to hate and persecute one another And the Ministers of Antichrist hath pressed it upon Kings Rulers that God hath required it of them to enforce and enjoyn all people unto a Worship although they themselves are divided amongst themselves one while for this thing and another while for that and because the Kings of Israel did so and had power to do therefore they have concluded that Princes and Judges ought to do so and so have made them put their neck in a yoak which is too heavy for them to hear which the Lord hath not required at their hands and because of this compellings and forceings many hypocrites have been made and many of Gods peoples consciences wounded and burned and many Kings and Rulers have lost their Dominions and they have been taken from them because of this by the Lord. So all they that have in truded upon Christs prerogative Soveraignty in this thing are sure to be reckoned as no other but as usurpers and intruders into that power which the Father alone hath given unto his Son which Power Dominion and Glory he will not give unto any other as to be Judge Law-giver in the hearts and consciences of his people Object But some may say did not the Prophets exhort to inquire for the old paths and the good old way And did not the Prophets say Kings should be nursing Fathers and Queens nursing Mothers And must not this be fulfilled in these dayes Ans. This is true that the Prophet did exhort the Princes people of Israel who were in the revolted estate who had transgressed the Commandments of the Lord and had lost the guide of their youth the rest of their souls And therefore he turned them back to consider of the day of old and inquire after the good old way that they might walk therein wch they were gone from but this doth not pertain at all unto this time for Christ Jesus is the new and living way which all is to inquire after now who is the end of the Law for Righteousness and the first Covenant unto them that believe And as for Kings being nursing Fathers the Queens nursing Mothers this was Prophesied by the Prophet before they went into Captivit how the Heathen should have power over their Kings Prophets and Priests and people and Jerusalem should lye desolate Now this the Prophet spoke of concerning the return of them unto the Lord and they to inhabit their own land then their own Kings and Queens should rule over them be as nurses to them when they should return from their Captivity then Jacob should rejoyce and Israel should be glad and this was spoken to the Jews and this had reference to their state in that time Further it may be objected ought not Blasphemy Idolatry and Adultery to be punished is this to be suffered now Seeing it was punished under the Law Answer Yea this is to be punished and shall be punished and that even with death for as I said the Father hath committed all Power unto the Son who will execute his judgement upon all them who will not have him to raign in their hearts as it is written these my enemies that would not that I should rule over them bring them before me that I may slay them with what weapons With carnal nay but with the sharp two edged Sword which proceeds out of his Mouth and with the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God and the Spiritual weapons which runs thorow the Blasphemer and kills him and flayes the false Prophet and Soothsayer and Inchanter and Idolator and yet saves the Creature a live take one example of Christ the new and living Way when the Pharisees brought a woman tempting Christ which was taken in Adultery saying according to the Law of Moses she ought to be stoned to death he that was the end of the Law said he that was without sin cast the first stone convicting them al that they were in the same nature and yet did not approve of the Adultery but said go and sin no more least a worse thing
and Princes may take warning by this King Richard not to fulfil the cruel and bloody desires of their Prelates And Chrysostome who was Bishop of Constantinople in commendation of whom much is said in the Ecclesiasticall histories he blameth them greatly that bringeth forth a book to swear upon charging Clerks that in no wise they constrain any body to swear whether they think a man swear true or false saying that it is a sin to swear well now I mentioned before it was an Emperor that commanded first that men should swear by it book this Chrysostom reproves so hereby it may be seen by these examples it is no new doctrine to deny all swearing and there hath been a people very many years in the Low Countries that have denied swearing in any matter therefore their yea and nay stand in Courts of judicature equal with an oath they being men generally of known integrity whose yea is yea and nay nay in all places and matters If they that despise Moses Law died without mercy of how much more sorer punishment suppose ye shal they be thought worthy of who treads underfoot the Son of God c. and disobey his commands teach others so to do they shall be shut out of the Kingdom of God have no part with the obedient who keeps Christs commands through temptations and sufferings and are not offended at them neither counts them grievous they only are happy and shal inherit everlasting life Likewise Jerome who was an antient Father and Teacher in the Church which all the Protestants owneth upon that place the 5 of Mat. and 37. ver 5 James 12 These are his words It was permitted under the law to the Jews as being tender and as it were infants that as they were to offer Sacrifices to God least they should Sacrifice to Idols so they might swear by God not that it was rightful so to do but because it was better to swear by the Lord then by false Gods devils but the great Evangelical sincerity and truth admits not of an oath since every true saying is equivolent thereunto In like manner doth Theophilact an antient Father of the Church whoÌ„ the Protestants owns have often cited his doctrine for proof upon the place in controversy saith Learn hence that then under the law it was not evil for one to swear but since the coming of Christ it is evil as is circumcision in sum whatever is judaical for it may become a child to suck but not a man So that oaths pertained to the Jews who were under the changable Covenant the mutable Covenant which continued but for a time till the Seed Christ the oath of God was revealed and where he is revealed and witnessed all the Judaical Types and Figures and changeable Ordinances hath an end Likewise Ambrose upon the 118. Psalm he saith None doth swear a right but he that knows what he swears and the Lord hath sworn and will not repent upon Psalm 110 Ambrose saith let him then swear who cannot repent of his oath and a little after the said Ambrose saith do not imitate him in swearing whom we cannot imitate in fulfilling And indeed the principal solution given by him is swear not at all and the aforesaid Waldenses who condemned all maner of swearing as unlawful they made it their care to avoid swearing and lying and hereby they did give sufficient caution against all inconveniences which may come thereby as to government in general for where a testification or assertion is made without an oath is as sure as if it had been sworn to And Bishop Usher doth esteem that place of Matthew the fifth swear not at all to be a sufficient plea for the Waldenses against swearing And therefore they who have any esteem of the aforesaid Authors and of their doctrine must not condemn the Quakers as for novelties or for broachers of new Doctrine For Reynerius one of the popish inquisitions saith amongst all the sects which are or have been there is not any more pernitious to the Church meaning the Church of Rome then the Waldenses and that for three reasons 1. Because of their antiquity secondly because of their universality thirdly in that they did profess it no way lawful for a Christian to swear on any occasion which doctrine was contrary to the Church of Rome which made Rinerius Jansenius two papists so much envied the Walden ses in this thing about keeping the commands of Christ And yet notwithstanding all this cloud of witnesses both in primitive times after ages diverse who suffered as Martyrs did hold the same also the many testimonies of them who have died in the faith yet many are so wilful and so peevish and so envious against every thing which they cannot joyn unto as that they will brand this Doctrine for Novelty and Heresie Let such consider how they will condemn this doctrine and yet justifie Christs words and them which have been reckoned as Fathers and Marryrs and as Orthodox found in the faith by all except the Church of Rome who too much imitates the Jews yet are no Jews and they have been the chief criers up of oaths and swearing afterwards gives dispensations to them that breaks them and therefore all who reckons your selves as Christians keep to the doctrine of Christ and the doctrine of the Apostles who were followers of him and run not back to the Jews ordinances wâ—h continued but til the time of reformation and you that reckons your selves aâ— Protestants for shame leave off that Doctrine which hath been brought in by the Apostates who hath mingled things together without having respect either to time or age or people And so have run back to the Jews and brings those commands injunctions wch pertained to the Jews layes them as yokes upon the necks of Christians remember what the Apostle said to the Galathians concerning the works of the Law concerning Types and figures Gal. 1 2. If ye be circumeised Christ profits you nothing and an oath was a type as well as circumcision to the Jews and what if I say of all swearers who hath no better ground for so doing then the Jewish oaths which were types and testifie unto every one that he that takes an oath swears at all is bound to keep the whole Law Christ profits him nothing And so ler all people who fear the Lord and doth believe that they have received Christ in their hearts the end of the Law for Righteousness not turn back to the changeable Covenant again least he who is the everlasting Covenant say unto them who hath required these things at your hand and also raise up his swift witness to condemn them who transgresses his pure and holy and righteous commands and would compel others so to do CHAP. XVIII Tythes in their first institution unto whom they were due according to the Command of God declared and
began to enter in and Judaism among the Christians brought in by their leaders and from the opinions of these and other antient Fathers who took their ground from the Law Tythes Easter Penticost and other things came to be introduced and brought into the Church Yet notwithstanding the doctrine and hard threats of some of the great Bishops of that time It was not a General received doctrine that tythes ought to be paid till about the year 800. Neither was any thing by the then Church determined or ordained touching the quantity that should be given though no doubt in many places the offerings of the devouter sort tenths or a greater part of their increase were given according to Ambrose doctrine and others And then at this time the offerings or gifts to the Church were disposed of in this wise being received into a common treasury one fourth part to the Priests out of which every one had his portion another fourth part to the relief of the poor and sick and strangers A third to the building and repairing places of publick meeting And the fourth to the Bishop and generally the Bishop lived in some Monastry his Clergy with him from whence he sent them to preach in the Countries and Diocess and there they received such offrings as were made and brought them to the Treasury So that by the way the Reader may take notice that the Priest had no such a peculiar interest in that which was given But now they claim all their meeting places since called Churches was builded out of the gifts of people and the poor was relieved and the widow But now Tythes taken by force three or four sold and people compelled to build repair their houses or Temples by force and the poor the widdow hath no share nay hath not many poor been cast into prison and widows goods spoiled by the Priests of this generation how unsuitable these practices are unto the Apostle let all judge nay they are proud of the antient Fathers and their words but they will not so such as come near them in example in any thing that 's good So for shame you Protestans leave forcing of maintenances and forcing of your wages and forcing to repair your Houses of worship and do not tell us of Church Church and Antiquity when you are far enough off their practice though they were in a declining state in this age I have been speaking of And although divers of the Fathers and Bishops and Popes in this age did declare that Tythes were due and ought to be paid their ground only taken from Moses yet none of the first eight generall Councils did ever so much as ever mention the name of Tythes or declare them a duty The ninth general Council held at Latteren under Pope Calixtus the second 1119 mentions tythes but speaks only of such as had been given to the Church by special consecration for at that time people being led to believe that their Tythes ought to be given to the poor did dispose of them to the heads rulers of religious houses who keeps open hospitality for the poor and for strangers they were esteemed holy and good Treasures for the poor who took care of distribution of them as is testified by Cassian But the Councel held under Pope Alexander the third Anno 1180. Seeing much given to the poor little to the Priests made a Decree to restrain peoples freedom and indeed by this time much wickedness was crept into these houses as Histories relates There was no Law Cannon or Constitution of any General Council as yet sound that did command tythes or expresly supposed them a duty of common right before the Council of Lateren held in the year 1215 under Pope Innocent the third about which time the Popes power was grown great powerful But still the people had greater mind to give them to the poor then to the Priest and made Innocent complain cried out against those that gave their tythes and first fruits to the poor and not to the Priests as hainous offenders At a Council held at Lions under pope Gregory the 10 in the year 1274 it was constituted that it should not thenceforth be lawful for men to give their Tythes at their own pleasure as they had done before but to pay all to the Mother Church But the great Decree which speaks most plain and till then nothing was given forth which did constitute them but rather supposed them as by former right was made at the Council of Trent under Pope Pius the 4th about the year 1560. They commanded tythes to be paid under the penalties of excommunication about the year 800 900 1000 and after tythes were called the Lords goods the patrimony of the poor according to Ambrose Jerome Chrysostoms Doctrine only borrowed from the Jews So thus in short I have shown that Tythes were never reckoned as due to the Clergy for a thousand years but they did give them as they would how much they would that without compulsion till the hight of popery and the power of darkness spread over all And since forcing Constitutions have been made by Councils of Priests And so you who looks upon your selves to be Ministers of Christ and to follow the Doctrine of the Primitive times for shame cease from those things of taking Tythes and giving tythes which was ordained and Constituted in the mid-night of Popery when the power of God was lost which should have opened peoples hearts both to the poor and to the Ministry and then this false Church began to force and compel or else they could not have subsisted for the Doctrine had little influence upon peoples hearts About the year 600 or soon after Gregory the first then the pope of Rome sent over Augustin the Monk into England by whom Ethelbert King of Kent was converted as they call it but it was but to popery he and his Clergy long time after followed the example of former ages living in Common upon the Offerings of their convers those that received them joyned into societies according unto the primitive practice by Gregories order and that they should in tenderness to the Saxon Church that they should still imitate the primitive times that they might not make their Religion burthensome But afterwards having brought a great part of the Nation to their faith they began to preach up the old Romane Doctrine that Tythes ought to be paid and having taught people that pardon of sin was merited by good works and the torments of Hell be avoided by charity then it was no hard matter to perswade them to give their tenths and Lands but also their outward Riches and the Clergy had almost got a third part of the Land into their hand As concerning Laws and Canons for tythes among the Saxons in England it is reported that in the year 786 two Legates were sent from Pope Hadrian the first to Off a King of
Seventhly your Doctrine of Purgatory an invented and an imagined thing as to clense from sin this is contrary to the Primitive Doctrine the blood of Christ clenseth from all sin John 1. 7. and your distinctions of mortal and venial sin is to blind people withal for the wages of sin is death Rom. 6. 23. Eightly Of worshiping and invocation of Angels and Saints as mediators between us and God this is contrary to the primitive Doctrine there is one Mediator between God and man even the man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2. 5. and he alone makes intercession for all them that beleive Heb. 7. 25. and the Angel reproved John Rev. 22. 8 9. when he would have worshiped him and said unto him see thou do it not for I am thy fellow Servant c. and the Prophet said thou art onr Father though Abraham know us not and Israel be ignorant of us Isay. 63. 6. Ninthly of Reliques and sacred Images this is contrary to what the Lord spake by the Prophets Lev. 26. 1. ye shall make you no I dols nor graven Image neither rear you up a standing Image neither shall you set up any Image of stone in your Land to bow down unto it Deut. 6. 22. neither shalt thou set thee up any Image which the Lord thy God hateth and Ezek. 6. 4 and your Images shall be broken and Rom. 1. 23. there they were condemned that changed the glory of the incorruptable God into an Image made like to corruptable man c. Thus you may plainly see your Idolatrous Image worship is forbidden and condemned in the Law Prophets and new Testament and as for your Reliqne worship you have neither command nor example for it from Christ nor his Apostles Many more things might be enumerated which is found among you in the Apostacy as your voluntary poverty and feigned humility and your wilful vows and many more things which are found to be contrary to the Church of Christ which must be turned from and denyed if ever you come to know the everlasting Gospel which is to be preached again to the Nations by which they must be brought out of all this Apostacy Furthermore as to the practice and Discipline of the Catholick Church as it is called which pleads for antiquity we find it not consonant and agreeing to the Churoh in the primitive times the first hundred years after Christ. As for the vestmeuts your Priests wear at certain times one on this manner another on that your Ecclesiastical men or Church-Officers of several ranks and orders such we find not in the primitive times in that which may be truly called primitive And for the invented holy dayes and their eves for fasting and feasting we find no such things in the Primitive Times and such a service for such a day and such a worship for such a day we find not in the first hundred years after Christ. And for your Lent which one of your Fathers invented and this was his ground because God had the tenth of the increase or Tythes due to himself and for his Ministers under the Law therefore it was necessary that the tenth part of dayes should be allowed as Tythes to the Lord O grosse ignorance and palpable blindness midnight it self came upon you in the time of your visibillity when the True Church was fled into the Wilderness As though the Lord was not Lord of all dayes and as though all dayes were not his and to be used to his glory And your prohibiting meats and distinguishing of meats one holy for such a day another for such a day flesh one day and fish another day as though there were not the flesh of fish or one thing were clean and another unclean And this invented trumpery hath been observed for Catholick and Apostolick Doctrine but by whom we must needs tell you by the Nations Kindreds and Tongues and People upon which the Whore sits and out of which the Beast rose And we will grant you antiquity enough this many hundred years and yet we will prefer the Primitive times before you and bring their Doctrine and practice to reprove you though we do not desire to go in Cains way and to kill Creatures that are out of the Doctrine of Christ and contrary to Apostolick and Catholick Doctrine which wrestled not with the flesh and blood but with spiritual wickedness whose weapons were not carnal but Spiritual and yet they had great might in them and threw down by these weapons that which never could be by Carnal 2 Cor. 10. 4. Again your forbiding to marry which is reckoned by the Apostles Doctrine to be a Doctrine of Devils and contrary unto that the Apostles Doctrine was marriage is honorable in all estates the bed undefiled Heb. 13. 4. And seeing you plead Peter was at Rome and Peters chair and that the Bishop of Rome doth succeed him and hath the Keys as Peter had Why do you exclude the chief Bishops as you account them from marrying and divers other orders seeing Peter had a wife and seeing that it is Catholick and Apostolick Doctrine before you could claim the name of visible Church that a Bishop should be the husband of one wife and should not be covetous nor no striker nor given to Wine nor filthy Lucre c. But since the Bishop of Rome hath appropriated to himself to be the head of the Church and the chief Bishop over all the Catholick Church It hath been manifested how much covetousness and covetous practices hath been acted as money for Pardons and Indulgences and get money for the living and the dead and the invented Purgatory hath filled your coffers and your meritorious works have been sold at a dear rate In so much that a poor Woman who hath lost het husband and he deceased must pay ten shillings for a mortuary that he may be prayed for or some of your merits may be accounted to him which you have in store as a stock to sell to any who come with a prize in their hand And from whence have you all these Tythes have yoâ— not borrowed them of the Jews And yet you are no Jews and such things we do not read among the Iews were Tytheable as Pigs Eggs Hens and Geese to omit greater matters and the smoak passing up the chimneys and that which you call your Peter pence And this is contrary to the Catholick and Apostolick Doctrine which Peter would have been ashamed to ever have mentioned either amongst Iews or Gentiles And now I would ask you a question or two seeing John saw the true Church flee into the Wilderness the woman that was cloathed with the Sun who brought forth the man-child What cause have you to boast of visibility or universality Now when were you in the wildernesse if your Church hath not been so then it demonstrates that your Church is nor the woman cloathed with the Sun for she did fly into the wilderness as with the wings of an Eagle