and that neither Sovereign Prince nor chief Priest should Lord it over them but rather that a Presbyterian Parity should be both in Sacred and Civil Matters Upon this they presently formed their party drew into the Conspiracy no less than 250 of the chief men of the Assembly and with them boldly appear against Moses and Aaron telling them to their faces that they took too much upon them that all the Lords people were holy and that therefore they ought not to lift up themselves above the Congregation Now tho some of the chief Princes of the house of Dan did appear in the Conspiracy yet it is plainly called in Scripture the gainsaying of Korah because chiefly carried on by the interest and credit that he had among the People particularly on the account of his pretended Zeal for the Worship of God Joseph Antiq. lib. 4. c. 2. and his great pretence to the good of the Commonwealth But a factious Levite he was dissenting and murmuring against the King and the Clergy was his great and only fault In the head of a numerous Faction he endeavour'd to stone Moses and as Josephus saies ran with great Noise and Uproar crying before the Tabernacle of God That the Tyrant Moses was to be cut off and the People deliver'd from Bondage and the like outcrys of Property and Priviledg against Prerogative and Arbitrary Government By such Sedition saies Mr. Jenkins to throw Aaron out of the Priesthood and gain it to himself and with Dathan and Abiram to depose Moses from the civil Government and take it to themselves St. Jude 's purpose here is to shew saies that great Nonconformist that such seducing Separatists as these Gnosticks Exposition on the place are Enemies not only to Ecclesiastical but Civil Order and Superiority And this example of Korah is produced saith Dr. Manton as to note the factious Practices of Seducers Exposition on the place so also Gods vengeance on all such they were factious against Moses and Aaron and they perished in their attempt and so will all they that rise up against Magistracy and Ministry as sure saies he as if it were already accomplished And the other Nonconformist-Expositor in his Exposition How miraculously did vengeance overtake Korah and his company for their Schism and Sedition the Earth clave and swallowed them up for making a cleft or Schism in the Congregation and after that two hundred and fifty of their Princes Men of Renown were consumed by a fire from the Lord and after that fourteen thousand and seven hundred were slain by the Plague And this St. Jude apply's to such Christians as separate themselves as despise Dominion and speak evil of Dignities that renounce the Authority and Communion of the Church of such as these he saies they perish'd in the gainsaying of Korah PHARISEES THey were a most zealous and strict Sect above all others of the Jewish Religion and were called Pharisees from their Separation From 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 separavit secrevit â—ivisit quasi sequestrato ab aliis vita religiosiri because separated from others to a more strict way of professing Religion Pasor cites Hesychius Lexiâ— for making 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Pharisee a Divider a Separatist a Puritan all one but the primary signification of the word Pharisee is one that separates Josephus tho himself a Jew Antiq. Judaic l. 17. l. 13. c. 23. passim and sometime a Pharisee gives this account of them That they were a crafty and subtil Generation of men that imployed their power mightily in opposing Kings that had insinuated themselves so far into the affections and esteem of the populacy that their good or bad word was able to make or blast any one with the people let their report be never so false and malicious And therefore Alexander Jannaeus when he lay a dying advised the Queen his wife as ever she regarded her safety by all means to comply with them and to pretend to govern by their Councel and Direction affirming that his offending that sort of men was that which derived the Odium of the Nation upon him and was the greatest cause of his fatal miscarriage Certain it is that they were prodigiously proud and self conceited censorious and ill-natured that they hated all mankind but themselves and whoever would not be of their way they censured as a Reprobate and a Villian exceeding zealous they were to make Proselytes to their Party confining all Religion and Kindness within the bounds of their own party Like the Donatists their Followers that were the most grievous sort of Persecutors whenever they got power and yet cried out most against Persecution Matt. 23.4 They bound on mens shoulders heavy burdens and grievous to be born yet inveigh bitterly against it in others vers 30. If we had lived in the days of our forefathers we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the Prophets On which very account Christ calls them Serpents vers 33. a subtil insinuating Generation of men full of Folds and Intreagues that would put on the appearance of greatest Mortification and Self-denyal and Holiness yet were saies Christ in that very verse Vipers A generation of Vipers for their abominable cruelty The first Principles wherewith they inspired their new Converts as Josephus relates were That none but they were the Godly party and that all other Person were but Slaves and Sons of the Earth and therefore endeavour'd especially to inspire them with a mighty Zeal and Fierceness against all that differ'd from them To this end they were wont not only to separate but discriminate themselves from the Community by some peculiar Notes and Badges of Distinction such as their long Robes and broad Phylacteries their large Fringes and Borders of their Garments c. Their dogged and ill-natured principles together with their Seditious and uncharitable Behaviour they endeavoured to palliate and varnish over with a more than ordinary pretence and profession of Religion Such Duties especially as did immediately refer to God and his Worship as frequent fasting and praying which they did very oft and very long with demure and mortified looks in a whining and affected tone and this almost in every corner of the streets Thus Josephus of the Pharisees Antiq. Judaic ZEALOTS THE Zealots were a Sect or Branch of the Pharisees who looked upon themselves as the Successors of Elias Samuel and others of the Jewish Worthies but especially Phineas which Worthies living under a perfect Theocracy had the miraculous impulse and guidance of Gods Spirit immediate Direction and Commission from God for what they did and particularly in such Acts as those of Phineas tho no Magistrate his killing Zimri and Cosbi Samuel's killing Agag c. And in imitation of these the Jewish Zealots mistaking a Diabolical Suggestion for supernatural Revelation a boiling Passion for holy Zeal and a wild Imagination for holy Divine motion pretended a Commission from Heaven for
the Catholick Martyrs and Orthodox Christians of the Primitive time and all in imitation of those Jewish Worthies Samuel Elias Phineas c. who living under a perfect Theocrasie had that real and miraculous impulse of Gods Spirit and that immediate Guidance and Commission from Heaven which the most fervent and daring Zealot in the Christian World never could without rank Phanaticism so much as pretend to And as their Principle so their Practice At the first starting of Presbytery in Geneva Anno 1535. When the Bishop of Geneva would not admit of the Presbyterian Innovations Viret and Farellus with their Followers presently turned Zealots drove the Bishop out of Town and set up Calvin in his stead disclaiming all Allegiance to their Duke and Bishop From Geneva the Presbyterian Discipline was sent into France where the Abettors of them called Albigenses propagated it at first by their Arch-Zealot the Earl of Tholouse's murdering Trincannel the Viscount and chief Governour of the City Beziers and dashing out the Bishops teeth In the Low Countries Presbytery was first set up at Embden in Friezeland by renouncing all Allegiance to their Prince and taking up Arms against him and setting themselves in form of a Common-wealth In Scotland the Earl of Bothwell and his Accomplices rose Forces to Depose and Murder the King under pretence of removing the Popish Lords and promoting the Presbyterian Discipline The Gowries Conspiracy to kill King James was so approved of by the Presbyterian Ministers of Edenburgh that they refused to give thanks for the Kings Deliverance tho commanded by the Kings Proclamation so to do And as the Circumcillian-Zealots of whom hereafter were taught these practices by their Donatist Bishops and Ministers so were these Presbyterian Zealots by their Ministers as may be seen in the writings of Knox Buchanan Willock the * Thes 358 368 147 136 151 c. Holy Commonwealth Of all which the Murder of King Charles the first the late Murder of the Archbishop of St. Andrews and the late Conspiracy of 83. against King Charles the second are all most barbarous and bloody Comments In short that the Presbyterian Sectaries now called Dissenting Protestants are perfect Zealots Enthusiastick Zealots is evident from hence That ever since the Reformation from Popery there has not been in any Protestant Countrey any Rebellion Massacre Tumult Treason or Murders considerable but what Papists or Phanatick or both had a hand in as a means of Propagating their Religion on the same grounds and principles as all former Zealots did GNOSTICKS THese were the first and worse Schismaticks first and worst Rebels in the Christian Church * Dr. Cave on the Life of St. Paul The first Founder of them was Simon Magus who not being able to attain his ends of the Apostles in getting power to confer miraculous gifts resolved in discontent and revenge to make Schisms in the Christian Church So that as the first Schismatick in the World was a Devil so the first Schismatick in the Christian World was a Witch He began his Schismatizing first at Samaria the first place that embraced the Christian Faith Dr. Hammon Annot. Acts 8.12 14. Tho their Schisms and Errors were broached in the Apostles times yet they had not the name of Gnosticks till after when they assumed it to themselves on pretence of greatest Knowledg above other men and particularly in mystical Interpretations They pretended to be well acquainted with the Holy Scriptures to know all the Mysteries of the Old Testament which pretended knowledg is that saies Dr. Hammond which the Apostle charges Timothy to avoid Annot. on 2 Pet. 1.5 1 Tim. 6.20 calling it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. knowledg falsly so called from whence they called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gnosticks i. e. knowing Persons or the knowing Party And by a strange Liberty which they took in Interpreting the Scriptures brought in as the Apostle calls them damnable Doctrines such as resisting Magistrates Liberty in the exercise of Uncleanness for which they were called Borboritae whereby they greatly strengthened their Faction And as they pretended to greater Knowledg so to greater Piety and Holiness than others as * Dr. Ham. Annot. 1 Joh. 1.10 Let. H. Irenaeus saies they called themselves the Spiritual this is the Character of the Gnosticks saies he to live in all Carnality and Uncharitableness and yet pretend themselves to be the most perfect men But the greatest pretension was that Christian Liberty which the Gospel instated them in and on these accounts they separated themselves opposed the Apostles and Governors of the Church deposed the Orthodox Christians as Carnal and not having the Spirit and looking on all others beside their own Party as Ignorant they pretended to know more than the Bishops saith ‖ Dr. Ham. Annot. Preface to 2d Ep. of John Ignatius Yea than the Apostles themselves saies Epiphanius Against these Gnostick-Sectaries St. Peter St. Paul St. James and St. John direct their Epistles chiefly and St. Jude his Epistle wholly where in less then six verses he gives more than sixteen distinctive marks whereby they may be known Mr. Jenkins on the place 1. The first is their insolence against Government ver 8. They despise Dominion and speak evil of Dignities i.e. were sawcy with the Government of Antimagistratical and Tumultuous Carriage to'ards Governours for which cause the Apostles press no one Doctrine in all their Epistles more than Loyalty and Obedience not only to the good and gentle but to the froward and wicked not to good Governors as good but to Governors as Governors and the Ordinance of God 2. A second mark the Apostle gives of the Gnostick-Sectaries is their discontent and murmuring against Governors Mr. Jenkins on the place ver 16. They are Murmurers Complainers never content with any Government The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports a secret muttering and grumbling 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grunnio to grunt like a Swine importing a speaking against another secretly with hatred and impatience Like some now-adays who if for committing a spoil in Gods Harvest Justice takes them by the Ears with hideous outcrys they call all the compassionate Herd to condole their suffering and that they call Persecution and the suffering days of the Saints Are any of them cut off by the hand of Justice for their Seditious Villanies How doth their Party murmur against the Magistrate that they suffer wrongfully c. As the Rebels Korah and his company did against Moses and Aaron Numb 16.41 Ye have killed the people of the Lord the people of the Lord when God had declared from Heaven most miraculously that they were Rebels and that his Wrath was kindled against them on the account of their being so 3. A third mark is Erratick Zeal verse 13. Wandering Stars so called Dr. Manton on the place as for inconstancy and unsetledness pretending to be Stars and great lights that a reindeed
the most horrid and detestable undertakings such as rebelling against Princes Assassinating Nobles c. in pretence for the Honour and Glory of God The account Dr. Hammond gives of them is briefly thus Annotat. on 1 Pet. 4.15 Lett. G. The Jewish Zealots pretending to a perpetual immunity from all humane Power as being the only Children of God and upon that account to be subject to no men especially Heathens but to enjoy an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or perfect immunity would force all men to joyn with them against the Romans i. e. The publick peace calling themselves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Benefactors and Saviours of the Nation and plundering all that would not be as Seditious as themselves under pretence of Zeal for the Law of God and making all men perform their duty Agreeable to this is that of Dr. Cave in the life of St. Simon the Zealot from Maimonides Josephus c. They were saies he a Sect of the Pharisees mighty Assertors of the Law and of the strictness and purity of the Jewish Religion assuming a Liberty to themselves to question and punish notorious Offenders without staying for the formality of the Law and when they thought good executing capital Vengeance on them Thus saies my Author from Maimonides when a Blasphemer cursed God by the name of any Idol the next Zealot that met him had power to kill him without bringing him before the Sanhedrim Thus in imitation of Phineas who in a great passion for the Honour of God did immediate Execution on Zimri and Cosbi they took upon them to execute Judgment in extraordinary Causes and that at first not only by the Connivence but good leave of the Rulers and People till in after-times under a pretence of this their Zeal degenerated into all manner of Licentiousness and wild Extravagance and they not only became the very pest of the Commonwealth at home but open'd the door for the Romans to invade them to their final ruin They were continually prompting the people seditiously to throw off the Roman Yoke to vindicate themselves into their native Liberty excelling the Pharisees in their outcrys for property and priviledg against their Rulers Prerogative and when they had turned all things into hurry and confusion themselves in the mean time fished in those troubled Waters Josephus frequently bewails them as the great Plague of the Nation He tells us that they scrupled not to kill many of the Nobility under pretence of their holding correspondence with the Romans Lib. 4. De bell Judaico and betraying the liberty of their Country boasting that thereby they were the Benefactors and Saviours of the People Joyning themselves with the Idumeans they slew the High-Priest profaned the most Holy Places and committed all manner of outrages yet stiled themselves the Zealots pretending greatest Zeal for the Glory of God Nor has this Phanatick Zeal this kind of Zealots been wanting wherever Schism has prevailed in the after Ages of the World The Donatists had among them an Order of men called Circumcelliones that were wholly designed and set apart for these Zealotick exploits they were as so many Hectors to fight for the Donatists on all occasions and were exactly among the Donatists as the Pseudo-Zealots were among the Pharisees Ep. 48.166 Quas caedes c. saies St. Augustine what Slaughters and Outrages did they not commit when Julian restored the Churches to them and gave them Power and all this by believing that they were inspired by God to do such extraordinary things which they were ready to attempt whenever their Brethren or their own Lust did prompt them to it the Donatist Bishops instructing them soundly in this That they did certainly dye Martyrs who suffer'd Death for Religion sake as they called their Rebellious and most Murderous undertakings Nor hath this Zealotick temper been more discernable in any than in the Schismaticks of this latter Age. At the first planting of Presbytery in Scotland History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland p. 387. in Mr. Knox's Disputation with Ld. Secretary Lethington about the Power of Princes i◠being asked whether the Subjects ought to suppress the Queen supposing her an Idolater or Papist Mr. Knox's Answer was That not only Idolatry ought to be suppressed but the Idolater also ought to die But by whom said the Secretary Lethington by the People of God said Mr. Knox for the commandment was to Israel saies he Hear O Israel the Statutes and the Ordinances of the Lord thy God yet commandment is given That if Idolatry be committed in any City the whole body of the People rise and destroy the City sparing neither Man Woman nor Child Secretary But there 's no command given to destroy their King Knox. If he be an Idolater or Papist I find no Priviledg or Exemption given to him more than to the People to offend Gods Majesty Secretary I grant that but People may not be Judges to their King to punish him tho he be an Idolater Knox. God is the Vniversal Judg to him as well as to the People so that what his word commands to be punished in one is not to be absolved in the other and that the People yea or a part of the People may not execute Gods Judgments against their King being an Offender you have no other warrant for than your own Imagination Whereupon the Lord Secretary Lethington calling for his Papers produced the Authority of Luthor Melancthon Musculus and Bucer for the Doctrine of Non-resistance in any case And in another place History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland p. 393. Mr. Knox saies That God has armed Subjects against their natural King and commanded them to take Vengeance on him according to Divine Law and that accordingly Gods people have executed Gods Law against their King having no further regard to him in that behalf than if he had been the most simple Subject in the Realm And in a Sermon before a great part of the Nobility Ask of the Queen saies he that which by Gods word you may justly require Page 358. and if she will not agree with you in God you are not bound to agree with her in the Devil And when the Queen asked him Whether he allowed that her Subjects should take her Sword into their hand His Answer was They sin not that bridle Kings when they Transgress For which he instances in Elias's not sparing Jezabel's false Prophets and Baal's Priests tho King Ahab stood by And Samuel's not sparing to slay Agag King of Amalek and Phineas's killing Zimri and Cosbi tho no Magistrate and in the People's conspiring against Amaziah King of Judah their following him to Lachish and killing him And so throughout all Ages among Hereticks and Schismaticks and none else there have always been such rebellious Pseudo Zealots acting quite contrary to the Gospel-Religion and to the Precepts of Christ and his Apostles and to the practice of all
him making it as unlawful to recede from the Presbyterian Discipline as from the most Material Points in the Christian Faith 3. The Self-ends and Ambition of some Ministers affecting the Parochial Episcopacy or Supreme Ministerial Power in their own Parishes 4. The Covetousness of some Great Persons who thought thereby to raise to themselves great fortunes by the Spoils of the Bishopricks and for the attainment of these Ends they stuck at nothing whether the deposing of Kings or subverting the Fundamental Constitutions of all Civil States where-ever they came and it 's observable that that very thing which the English Dissenters at this day insist on as the Articulus Stantis vel cadentis Presbyter the very basis on which their Nonconformity doth stand as Popery doth on the infallibility was the main rule which Calvin went by in all his Reformation work viz. That there ought to be nothing and consequently no ceremony in the Worship of God Lib. 6. n. 3. which is not warranted and required in Gods Word or which hath not particular and express command in Scripture for its use An Error which Mr. Baxter himself hath soundly confuted by many substantial Arguments in his Defence of the Principles of Love Part 1. p. 97 98 99 100 c. Calvin having compleated the settlement of his new Discipline in Geneva about the Year 1541. thought himself of such grand assurance that no Church could be reformed without his interposal He offers his Assistance to Arch-Bishop Cranmer as soon as he heard of the Reformation intended here in England but the Arch-Bishop knowing the Man refused the offer whereupon he took Order with Martin Bucer at his first coming into England to give him some account of the English Liturgy which was no sooner done but he presently makes those Exceptions which afterward became the main ground of those many Troubles those horrible Disorders and Confusions with which his Faction had involved the Church of England from that Time to this Prevailing nothing with that Holy Martyr he tampers with the Lord Protector with the King himself and the Lords of his Council had his Agents in the City and Country N. 15 16. the Universities and Convocations all of them Practising in their Several Provinces to decry the use of Kneeling the Cross at Baptism c. and to bring the People to a dislike of the Common-Prayer-Book which at its first composure was looked on by the People generally as a Heavenly Treasure says Mr. Fox in his Acts and Monum Preface sent down by God in great Mercy to the English Nation all moderate Men beyond Sea applauding the Happiness of the Englanders in having such an Excellent form of Gods Publick Worship Lib. 6. n. 3. And an Act of Parliament declared it composed by the special Aid and Assistance of the Holy-Ghost But all Mr. Calvin could do would avail nothing nor could his Presbyterian Discipline get any footing in England till 1. Popery introduced it by Queen Mary's banishing most of the most Eminent of the English Protestant Divines into Embden Basil The first rise of Pres out of Popery Strasburgh Geneva Frankford and where the Presbyterian Discipline and Government was from whence they returned into England tainted when the Persecution was over Lib. 6. n. 14. and had preferment given them in the Churches whereby they got opportunity of preparing the minds of People for such innovations as they hoped when Time served to bring into the Church But the Fabrick of the State was joined together with such ligaments of Power and Wisdom that they were able to act but little and to effect less About this Time died Calvin having sat 28 Years in the Moderators Chair at Geneva and was succeeded in the same Year 1564. by Beza who tho at last he recanted very far at first endeavoured the settlement of the Presbytery in England with more Zeal and forwardness than Calvin had done He presently brought it to an open Schism and a resort to Conventicles which himself takes notice of in a Letter to Bishop Grindal Rem tandem in pertinax schisma evasisse Nonnulli tam seorsim suos caetus habent c. Bez. Ep. 23. Having by this means got some footing in England as also by the connivence of some Bishops and by the Queens indulgence to'ards them particularly in tolerating the French church in London where the Geneva discipline was exercised they became so insolent as to publish those pestilent Pamphlets called the Admonitions wherein they proceeded so far as to tell the Parliament that it should be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for them and that if they would not countenance the Geneva Discipline themselves would be their own carvers Lib. 7. n. 23. 24. Whereupon the Queen issued forth her Proclamation for the further suppressing of them so that by means of the Rigor of the Laws the Government being too strong for them their next Expedient was 2. To dissemble Conformity Lib. 7. n. 33 34 35. thinking thereby to breed up their Presbytery under the Wing of Episcopacy till it should be strong enough to subsist of it self Lib. 8. n. 24 26 Next they proceed to libel the Government with such ridiculing Pamphlets as Mar-prelate Ha' y' any work for the cooper the Epistle to the Confocation house c. in which they far exceeded the railings of the Donatists against the Catholicks calling the Arch-Bishop Pope of Lambeth and Belzeebub of Canterbury the rest of the Bishops petty Popes and cogging Knaves c. and the rest of the Clergy worse To stop the Mouths of these Rabshakehs there were several grave Refutals given but all in vain till Tom. Nash the Observator of those Times a man of Sarcastick Wit by some Pamphlets written in the same loose way such as the Pasquil the Counterscuffle Pap with the Hatchet c. stopped their Mouths for ever medling more in that way About the Year 1592. they were busie in petitioning the Queen Their Petitions were such as gave the Queen a full assurance of what restless Spirits they were Lib. 9. N. 22. and that no quiet was to be expected till they were utterly suppressed In order thereto a Parliament was called at their first Sitting the Queen signified it to both Houses that they should keep themselves to the redress of popular Grievances but that they should leave all matters of State to Her and Her Council and all Ecclesiastcal matters to Her and Her Bishops But contrary to her Command Mr. Peter Wentworth a Member of the House of Commons and a great Zealot for the Presbyterian Discipline with Mr. Bromley and others of the House of Commons deliver'd a Petition to the Lord Keeper Puckering desiring that the Lords would joyn with them of the lower House in becoming Suppliants to the Queen for entailing the Succession of the Crown according to a Bill which they had prepared At this the Queen was so displeased that Mr.
Catholick Schismatology OR An ACCOUNT OF SCHISM AND SCHISMATICKS IN The several Ages of the World To which are prefixed some Remarks on Mr. Bolde's Plea for Moderation Eccl. 2. Wo to them that have a double heart and to the Sinner that goteh two manner of ways Augustini Epist 166. Lett. G. Constantinus contra partem Donati severissimam legem dedit hunc imitati Filii ejus talia praeceperunt Quibus succedens Julianus desertor Christi inimicus libertatem Parti Donati permisit reddidit basilicas eo modo putans Christianum nomen posse perire de terris J. B. LONDON Printed for Anthony Steevens Bookseller in OXON 1685. To the Worshipful ROBERT FOLEY Esq One of His MAJESTIES Justices of the Peace for the County of Worcester May it please your Worship 'T IS not long since thrusting such Books as this into the Press was like thrusting ones hand into a nest of Hornets when neither Innocence nor Majesty nor any thing that 's sacred could be sufficient Fence against the pungent and venomous Detractions of a waspish sort of Sectaries And then indeed it was but needful in behalf of such Books as this to ask the Patronage of some such as your self whose stanch Loyalty in the late distinguishing and perilous times those days of Danger and Rebuke was yet so truly Heroick as to dare to look Faction in the face and oppose it even then when most Insolent and Domineering A practice on grounds of Reason so truly Generous on grounds of Christianity so Religious as makes your late Promotion a due Debt to your Merit as your Merit is to your self But now blessed be God that by wonted Miracle of Preservation has made the King great in his Salvation has in great measure given him the Hearts of his Subjects and the Necks of his Enemies has turned our threatned Captivity back and made our English Zion like to be the praise of the whole Earth So that now the design of this Dedication is cheifly this To publish to the World my grateful acknowledgment of your great Favours presuming that the good design of this little Book will help to satisfie for its great defects especially if it be interpreted as Divines interpret Parables Quae non sunt argumentative ultra suum Scopum The Scope or Intention of it being no more than such an imperfect Schismatology as may instruct but the vulgar Reader in some little of that great agreement between the Modern Schismaticks and those of Old which I take to be a Novel expedient whereby to endeavour as every honest man ought the exposal of that pernicious Sin of Schism the depluming of that Church monster of all such thievish Bravery and popular Decoy as erroneous conscienciousness and specious Pretensions to Sanctity beyond holier Persons than themselves to expose this vile Sin to the publik view like Aesops Crow to be reviled and hooted at as the very pest of Societies and bane of Christianity fatal to Churches and Kingdoms detestable and odious to God and Good Men worse said the Fathers than a Dionys ap Euseb l. 6. Idolatry b Opt. l. 1. Sacriledg or c Chrysost ad Eph. p. 823. Heresie and yet now a days so little made Conscience of This is chiefly the design of this little Book and my acknowledgments to your Worship is the design of its Dedication as also to beg the encouragement of your Worships Approbation and to contribute a wish to the long continuance of your happiness here and the compleatment of it hereafter which is honoured Sir the hearty prayer of Your Thankful and Obedient as much Obliged Servant J. B. Catholick Schismatology OR An Account of Schism and Schismaticks in the several Ages of the World The Introduction THO the first two thousand years of the World called the Patriarchal Ages which was from the Creation to the giving of the Law to Moses were called by the Jewish Rabbies the two thousand years of emptiness because of that little that is recorded of the Transactions of those times yet is not the Holy Scripture silent in this matter but speaks of Schism and Schismaticks as coaeval with Sin and Satan St. Jude speaking of the Separatists of his time the Gnostick-Schismaticks Jude 6. compares them first to the fallen Angels the first that sinned those Schismaticks from the Church triumphant Jude 6. Where he plainly intimates That as the Devil was the first Sinner so was he the first Schismatick Saies the Apostle The first that left his first estate which was Communion with the Church triumphant From this he descends to compare them to some of the first Schismaticks from the Church Militant He instances first in Cain Jude 11. They have gone in the way of Cain or which is all one they have followed the Principle and Practise of Cain i. e. are Cainites As those that go in the way of or follow the Principles and Practise of Aerius Donatus Novatus are called Aerians Donatists Novatians And thus do some of the most learned Nonconformists interpreat those words The way of Cain Dr. Manton and Mr Jenkins Exposition on Jude i e. say they the way of Cains Separation Cain was the first Separatist saies Dr. Manton He went out from the presence of the Lord that is from the Church saies he where the presence of Gods Grace is And therefore Cains example is produced because saies that Expositor he was the first and chief of those that departed from the true Church and pure Service of God KORAHITES THus saies the Apostle of the Separatists of his time Jud. 11. They have perished in the gainsaying of Korah This Korah was one of the Sons of Levi of great esteem among the People and great interest in many of the Princes and no doubt was accounted an able and godly man only thus he was a factious Levite dissenting and murmuring against Moses and Aaron the King and the Priest was his only fault Whoever consults the History of Schismaticks from the times of the Apostles to this present Age and compares them with the Modern ones in their professed opposition as well to the Monarchical as Episcopal Government must give them Extraction from this famous Triumvirate Korah Dathan and Abiram Aeri Red. Preface combined in an Association against Moses and Aaron the Supream Prince and the High Priest Dathan and Abiram descending from the line of Reuben the eldest Son of Jacob thought themselves more worthy of the Sovereign Power than Moses who descended from the younger House and Korah thought himself so much neglected in seeing Elizaphen the Son of Vzziel made Prince of the Kohathites The principal Family of the Levites next to that of Gerson when he himself descended of the eldest Brother and therefore thought that if there were not a Parity but an Episcopacy among the Jewish Ministers that himself was as fit for the chief Priesthood as Aaron Hereupon having compared their grievances they resolved on a Conspiracy