and cut off every way with the most cruel and detestable sufferings and trampled under foot as if they were not fit to live among men or as Beasts of prey were made to be destroyed they were accounted eminent and honourable and had to doing in the mannagement of publick Affairs and in the very Emperors Pallaces were the men of account and trust they degenerated from the natural Rule of Piety as are the Historians own words and his honest and right observation and after The Historians account of the cause as among the Christians of the Persecutions that one pursued another with open contumely and hatred as he goes on and speaks and when saith he we impugned our selves by no other than our selves with the Armour spite and sharp Spears of opprobious words so that Bishops against Bishops and People against People raised Sedition Last of all when that saith he cursed hypocresie and dissimulation had swom even to the brim of malice the heavy hand of Gods high Judgment after his wonted manner whilst as yet saith he the Ecclesiastical Companies assembled themselves nevertheless began softly by a little and a little to visit us so that the Persecution that was raised against us took his first Original from the Brethren which were under Vecturius the Captain aforesaid persecuted the Souldiers in Camp Banner in Camp when as saith he we were touched with no manner of sence or feeling thereof neither went about to pacifie God we heaped sin upon sin thinking like careless Epicures that God neither cared nor would visit our sins and they who seemed our Shepherds saith he Anno. 301. And lamentation oâ—er the divisions of the Christians and the consequences of them Lam. 2. laying aside the Rule of Piety practised Contention and Schism among themselves and whilst they aggravated these things that is contentions threatnings mutual hatred and enmity and every one proceeded in ambition much like Tiranny it self I say saith he then the Lord according to the saying of Jeremiah made the Daughter of Sion obscure and overthrew from above the glory of Israel and remembred not his footsteps in the day of his wrath the Lord hath drowned all the beauty of Israel and overthrown all his strong holds and according to the prophesies in the Psal 87. Psalms He hath overthrown and broken the Covenant of his Servant and prophained his Sanctuary casting it on the ground by the overthrow of his Churches he hath broken down all his Walls he hath laid all his Fortresses in ruine All they that passed by spoiled him and therefore he is become a rebuke unto his Neighbours for he lifted up the right hand of his enemies and turned the edge of his Sword and aided him not in the time of Battle but caused his Dignity to decay and cast his Throne down to the ground the dayes of his Youth he shortned and above all this he covered him with shame I have repeated this his words at large for example sake that the The use of it as to England consequence of such things may be avoided by the avoiding of such things as these and that it may be taken notice of that the Lord hath a correction in suffering such dayes as these to come for them that go astray as he hath judgment for his Enemies who work such things and seek to set up their Dominion over his Principality who lives for ever who will needs prescribe to his Worship and make Laws how he or rather themselves as I have shewed shall be worshipped and destroy and cause to suffer such as cannot fall down and worship the Laws they make and the Images they set up It would require a Volumn if I should go through these things also as in observation of what History affords in this particular even of those very Christians and what they suffered as the ends of this Emperor Maxentius and Lucinnius who rose up in the dayes of Constantine Son to Constantius of whom I have by and by to treat and the general end that then became of those Persecutions when Maximinus was dead and Lycinnius also and Constantine came also to be Emperor alone who being a Christian and a wise and mighty Prince struck all those cruelties and death under foot and gave peace unto all it being also something besides my purpose to notifie those divisions that as peace and rest came rose up among them further then what I have observed already what was among them then when they had no power that which followed in the dayes of Constantine and after serving to my intent herein and of which I shall speak when as I come to shew how that when the Christians came to impose Faiths or National Worships one upon another as did the Heathens to them to gather for their National Worship or Gods of which I have treated and through all to prove the truth of what I have laid down concerning these things and the consequences of all Religions Professions Worships that are not from Spirit and Truth but stand in the contrary Before I come unto which it will be necessary seeing that I have hitherto kept along with the History that I go along in order and give something to be understood of the Persecution which yet the Christians sustained after the death of Dioclesian and Maximinianuâ— aforesaid which is reckoned the tenth Persecution and of this Mâ—â—iminus after his Edict of Liberty to the Christians of which I have made mention Constantius ending his dayes in Quietness and Peace being Emperor Constantius dies in peace Anno. 311. Euseb lib. 8. cap. 14. Constantine proclaimed full Emperor by the Army alone in the presence of his natural Son Constantine who was proclaimed full Emperor and Caesar by the Army being a follower of his Fathers Piety as the Historian observes in Christian Religion and such a one saith he was he But Lycinnius whilst these things were a doing for Constantius died at York in Lycinnius also created Emperor England in the year 310. by common consent of the Potentates as he calls them was also created Emperor and Augustus This grieved Maximinus very sore who unto that time was alone called Maximinus grieved thereat invades their Jurisdictions intitles himself Augustus is attainted of Treason against Constantime deposed aspires again dies a shameful death Caesar of all men who also being Tirannically disposed violently of his own mind invaded the Empire intituled himself Augustus but being attainted of Treason and found to have conspired the death of Constantine and after deposition to have aspired again after the Emperial Scepter died a most shameful death His Son Maxentius which exercised Tiranny at Rome as saith Cap. 15. Maxentius his Son at first dissembles with the Christians at Rome commands Persecution to cease proves afterwards otherwise than he pretended the Historian in the beginning of his Reign dissembled with the Christian Faith egregiously and creeping into credit by flattering the
but to all Nations of the Earth to the Gentiles the Church of God amongst them which to gather or to draw into one was the Gospel sent and preached and the Worship now was no longer National nor was it the National Worship of the Jews which also was commanded of God and accompanied with his presence while the end of it was not come or accomplished But it was every where Spirit and Truth not Form and Letter fearing of God working of Righteousness is accepted of him the true Worshippers the Worshippers whom the Father seeks to worship him All the others were dasht in pieces the end was accomplished it stood not in meats and drinks the Kingdom of God but in Righteousness and Peace and joy in the Holy Ghost not in killing of Sheep and slaying of Oxen but in an humble and contrite heart and that trembled at his Word the Sacrifices of God which even under the Law were entitled and said to be his through all which he looked for and accepted which the Sacrifices and the blood of Goats and Bulls signified Circumcision and all the Ordinances of the Jews which Moses commanded and which it was death not to observe comes now to be called beggerly Rudiments the Hand-writing of Ordinances the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances the enmity which he destroyed on the Cross and blotted out which the Apostle saith was against them and which neither they nor their Fathers were able to bear And he saith Touch not tast not handle Gal. 5. 2. Phil. 3. 2 3. not which all saith he perish in the using And if you be circumcised Christ shall profit you nothing I wish them cut off that trouble you And beware of Dogs and beware of evil workers beware saith he of the Concision for we are the Circumcision which worship God in the Spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh And the Apostles now as any were gathered into the Church they gathered them out of all the Jewish Observations and Heathenish worshipping of Idols into one God and Name of the Lord Jesus who was the great Shepherd and Bishop of the Soul Not into the Name of the Church of the Jews or the Temple or of this Region and that but into the Name of Christ Jesus The Churches of what Of the Jews c. Nay the Churches of Christ Christ the Head of the Church which are in 1 Thes 1. 1. Judea c. The Church which is in God Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus unto the Church of the Thessalonians which is in God Not in this man or that not in this profession and that barely but in God And so it was during the Apostles times of which the Scripture makes mention and their business was to open the eyes to turn men from darkness to the light and from the Power of Satan unto God that they might receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among them which are sanctified by Faith which is in me As Paul saith of his Commission which he received of the Lord Acts 26. 18. And he stiles himself an Apostle not of men neither by men but by Jesus Christ and God the Father which raised him from the dead And he saith The Righteousness which is of Faith speaketh on this wise Say not in thy heart Who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring Christ down from above Or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ again from the dead But what saith it The Word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the Word of Faith which we preach Rom. 10. 6 7 8. And the Apostle to the Hebrews saith But finding fault with them that is the first Covenant and the things therein of which he had been speaking in the former words he saith Behold the dayes come saith the Lord when I will make a new Covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah Not according to the Covenant which I made with their Fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt because they continued not in my Covenant and I regarded them not saith the Lord For this is the Covenant that I will make with the House of Israel after those dayes saith the Lord I will put my Laws into their mind and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a People And they shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying Know the Lord for all shall know me from the least unto the greatest For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their iniquities will I remember no more Heb. 8. 8 9 10 11 12. Now here is nothing of Churchship of an outward Administration and Worship of a delegation of Power to any to constitute and appoint Worships or how God should be worshipped or what Discipline should be used in the Church or what Power the Church should have as to visible things and who should be the Governors or Rulers thereof that should direct or order as to that throughout all Ages but a turning to a Principle wherein God is to be known and whereby he is to be worshipped Not to Man Kings Princes Governors States Emperors no not to Presbyters Councils Fathers Pastors Officers Synods Be ye followers 1 Cor. 11. 1. of me as I also am of Christ saith Paul But to the Light the Light of the Son of God who is Light God is Light and in him is no darkness at all the Covenant of Light to the Gentiles the Light of the World the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World that which sheweth man that is in the Transgression that he is in the dark that turns him from the darkness to the Light and from the power of Satan unto God The Lord never sent to turn man unto man nor did he ever give power to man to order man as to the Worships of him no not in the Mosaical Administration all the World have been in mistakes about these things but he alwayes reserved the power in himself and by the guidance and order of him man was to be directed and God to be worshipped for from the Lord Moses received in the mount what was that Administration hitherto to the Law of Moses when the Israelites were gone astray and had transgressed were all things to be reduced and the reformation to be made the Law of Moses which was a figure of that which came by Jesus Christ unto which all things after he was come to which Moses his Administration or the Law which was given by Moses was to have reference as it was to spring from it And the coming of him was the time of Reformation of which the Apostle speaks Heb. 9. 10. Which stood saith he speaking of that Ministration which in the verse before he calls a
the Principles and Practices of the People called Quakers in this day are the same as were the Principles and Practices of Christ and his Apostles in that and of the Holy-men of God since and the Martyrs of Jesus who have prophesied in Sackcloth and that the Apostacy hath held all other professions ever since the dayes of Christ and his Apostles in which I shall of necessity be somewhat large because the nature of the thing requires it but with what brevity I can I shall reduce them to what I have laid down and determined And because I may not seem too prolix and tedious I shall comprehend much of what I have to say under these four heads or the following four heads are the things in which I shall comprehend much of what I have to say First National Worship how it came in when it ended and what testimonies the Scriptures and History afford against it since it was at an end Secondly Swearing and what appertains to that when and how it arose and when it had an end and since it was at an end what testimonies are against it Thirdly Bearing of Arms when and how that was and wherefore it is that now it is declined by us and what may be said as to that during the Apostacy Fourthly The changeable Priesthood its rise date time and end and of what concerns it and of what hath been said and suffered in opposition thereunto since it had its end Of these things I intend to treat and begin in their order First General Head concerning National Worship First With National Worship National Worship had its institution under the Jews or the Jewish was the only Nation which the Scriptures mention to have had a Worship that was National ordained of God who as a Figure or Representation of what was to be Universal in reference to those throughout the World whom the Lord would gather to be Kings and Priests unto God a Chosen Generation a Royal Priesthood an Holy Nation a Peculiar People This Nation of the Jews had their Laws and Ordinances their Kings and Governors their Religion and Worship all outward though they had their inward signification which was Christ the Messiah the Prophet which was to come who according to the flesh was of theirs who were of the Seed of Abraham whose Seed in the Spirit the Seed of Abraham are the Elect the Children of Abraham whom to redeem he came in the flesh so the whole constitution of the Jewish Kingdom whether as to the Civil Policy or Ecclesiastical had its face looking hitherward which it signified which it represented Now in the fulness of time he coming whom these things did hold forth and typifie and which in his flesh the last of all was accomplished the things themselves ceased and he whiles he was not yet offered up and all things yet were not accomplished began to end them as the morning doth the night as the day approacheth And he said unto the Pharisees The Kingdom of God is within you it cometh not by observation Luke 17. 21. or it is not outward that is to say such as your Kingdom is an Administration which is to be seen with the outward eye but it is of an inward and intrinsecal nature seen by another eye that seeth not as man seeth but beholds things as they are which gives Law to wickedness reproves judges it as your outward Administration represents which shews you how God will be worshipped and when and what you are to do which your outward Government in all the particulars thereof had reference unto which because of transgression which came over and had blotted out the other the Law written in the heart and the fear put in the Heb. 8. 10. Gal. 3. 6. inward part the Seed which is Christ the High Priest of his People was added or given which was not at first to wit the Law written in Tables of Stone but in the fleshly Table of the Heart and which was promised should be again and which now came to be fulfilled So the Partition-Wall came to be removed and that which was general to the Jews in the Figure who were singled from all the Nations in particular came to be general to the Jew in the Spirit throughout all Nations and to be no more particular to the Jew and this was that which Peter aforesaid came to be informed of when in the Vision he was sent to the Centurion and which made him speak having been so informed as aforesaid I perceive of a truth that God is no respecter of persons but in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh Righteousness is accepted of him So the thing being come Christ Jesus the Universal Head of the Church which the Priesthood signified to the Nation of the Jews the Partition that is to say the Nation of the Jews or the Laws Ordinances and Administrations of Moses which were outward came to be taken away and the Vail to be rent and no more was the National Church-Worship to be minded which that constitution held forth but the Worship which was to be Universal Now through the offering of him up and the Law in the Heart and the fear in the inward parts Christ the Seed was that which every one was to know and worship by as it was in the beginning before transgression was and as before the Law was given by the Prophets and holy men of God Abraham who saw his day and rejoyced who said Before Abraham was I am Noah Enoch c. The Law came by Moses but Grace and Truth by Jesus Christ Hence it came to pass that upon the first encounter when after he was risen from the dead and ascended and the Holy Ghost was given the Comforter which he said he would send to them which should abide with them for ever the Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father which he said should receive of his and give unto them the Latitude or rather Narrowness was no longer to the Nation of the Jews but its extent was to the end of the World How hear we every man in his own tongue wherein he was born Parthians and Medes and Elamites and dwellers in Mesopotamia and in Judea and in Cappadocia in Pontus and Asia Phrygia and Pamphilia in Egypt and in the parts of Lybia about Cyrene and strangers of Rome Jews and Proselytes Creets and Arabians We do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful Works of God And there were added the same day unto them about three thousand Souls Peter a Jew according to the flesh preaching to them who were Gentiles and Jews now promiscuously together and to the Gentiles The promise is to you and to your Children and to those that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call Acts 2. 8 9 10 11 39 41. So that the limits of the Church was now no longer restrained to the People or Nation of the Jews nor the Worship
Figure only in Meats and Drinks and divers Washings and Carnal Ordinances imposed on them until the time of Reformation Heb. 9. 10. Moses his time or the duration of the standing of the Law or the outward Administration or Jewish National Worship was not to remain for ever the first Covenant but it was to pass away and to have an end as not being able to make the comers thereunto perfect Heb. 10. 1. though it was commanded of the Lord So there was to be a time of Reformation when that which could not make the comers thereunto perfect was to be removed when that which was the shadow of good things to come but not the very Image of the things as the same place hath it was to have an end which was in the coming of him who was perfect who perfects for ever them that are sanctified Heb. 10. 14. which the other lead unto For by one Offering saith the Apostle in the verse aforesaid he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified and this was called the time of Reformation when he came who put an end to all that was outward and had a visible or an outward Administration which could not make the comers thereunto perfect nor was appointed for that end and purpose but to lead unto another thing which should put an end thereunto and which was its end Now I say if the very outward Mosaical Jewish Administration National Worship the first Covenant which was all the outward Government which was commanded of God in the World was not of man but from the Lord which yet had reference to another thing which was Christ the new Covenant the Law put into the mind and wrote in the heart which was the Prophet which Moses said unto the Jews the Lord their God should raise unto them of their Brethren like unto him whom they should hear in all things whatsoever he should say unto them and that it should come to pass that every Soul he doth not say Body that will not hear that Prophet should be destroyed from among the people Acts 2. 23. How much more now that the thing is come which those Administrations had reference unto the great Reformer ought all things now in relation unto Worship have reference unto him and how ought all things of this nature thither to be directed For as I said he sent not to turn from man to man from the darkness to man but to the Light to the Principle of God that which is of God in man the Seed which is Christ the Mystery hid from Ages and Generations now made manifest as the Apostle speaks Col. 1. 26 27. that men may know who they worship and when and how thy may worship him God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth Spirit that is something that is Spirit that is of the Nature that God is that is Spirit and Truth that is as as he is Spirit they that worship him must worship him not in the Letter not in the Injunctions of men not in an outward or fleshly Principle not in man or the spirit of man but of God which is in opposition to all that is of man or cometh from man that is not from the Spirit or Principle of God So men must first come to learn or be turned to the Light to the Principle of God to that which is Spirit by which they may come to know him that dwells in the Light that is inaccessible as to all that is mannish or mortal from the darkness all that is from man or of him who is mortal then something may be said to them as to the Worship of God then they are somewhere and know something which God accepts and in which he is well pleased such Worshippers the Father seeks to worship him All other Worships are not available nor are they to any purpose nor doth God seek them though men may think thereby that they seek after God The time of Reformation svveeps them avvay to the Moles and to the Bats to go into the Clefts of the Rocks all the Idols of Silver and of Gold which are made each one for himself to worship and into the tops of the ragged Rocks for fear of the Lord and the glory of his Majesty when he ariseth to shake terribly the Earth Cease from man whose breath is in his Nostrils for wherein is he to be accounted of Isa 2. 20 21. The great Reformer gives them no standing every one must worship him from his Temple whose Temple ye are saith the Apostle to the Saints Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God saith he and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you 1 Cor. 3. 16. In his Temple doth Psal 26. 9. every one speak of his glory Novv man coming to be the Temple of God and the Spirit of the Lord dvvelling in man and the Principle of God in man being knovvn 1 Cor. 3. 16. here the Worship comes to be knovvn vvhich is in the Spirit and in Truth and this is that vvhich the Father seeks So avvay vvith all inventions of men in the Worship of God avvay vvith all Imitations and Likenesses avvay vvith the shadovvs even of good things to come Novv the thing it self Christ Jesus is come the Principle the Measure of him is knovvn the Incense or Odour vvith Rev. 8. 3. vvhich the Prayers of all Saints are offered upon the Golden Altar vvhich is before the Throne vvhich God accepts The Principle of God is to lead the Spirit of the Lord to offer as this moves the Lord accepts in this he is vvell pleased the living Root must be knovvn something that is holy that never sinned to guide and direct something that is as he is vvho is holy and no iniquity can come near his dvvelling Hab. 1. 13. then the Worship is accepted of the Lord. Say not in thy heart Who shall ascend into Heuven that is to bring down Christ from above Say not Who shall descend into the deep that Rom. 10. 6 7 8. is to bring up Christ again from the dead You need not go so far you need not look vvithout you to Forms Constitutions Ordinances of Men Laws and Imitations the thing is vvithin you the Lord hath brought it nigh to you he hath not put you to another You must account for your selves and joy or be undone for your selves every man is an Individual he is made so by God An Individual signifies a being by it self that can never be mixed that can never be made tvvo something vvherein a man is determined for ever vvhich the Lord should guide of vvhom the Lord vvill require an account the Lord hath not put you to seek here and look there Loe here and loe there it is not in Heaven that thou shouldst say who shall go up for us to Heaven and bring it unto us that we may hear it and do it Neither is
Claudius whom Caius Caligula succeeded who was Nero the first chief persecutor of the Christians the successor of Tiberius to the dayes of Constantine and so onwards as the same spirit ruled in the Emperors who made their Laws like themselves and shewed the inward portraicture of their bloody brests by inflicting most inhumane sufferings of which what I have further to say gives a more particular account Read your Authors saith Tertullian Tertul. in Apolog. cap 5. his account thereof and of him in his Apology for the Christians to the Gentiles there you shall find Nero chiefly to have persecuted this Doctrine which was that of the Christians at Rome where the whole East was now subdued he became cruel unto all men We boast and brag saith he of such a famous persecutor for they which knew him may easily perceive that this our Doctrine had never been condemned by Nero had it not been passing good So the setting up of Religion by man the requiring of man to observe the Religion that was set up by man was that which at first gave the occasion or was the ground of the first and the fiercest persecutions And of Persecution the ground of it for as Tertullian hath fully and well said as aforesaid unless that God please man he is not made God A strange presumption that poor man whose breath is in his Nostrils and is not sure that once more he shall breath should be so bewitched with the inchantments of the wicked One and so deluded as to take upon him to prescribe unto God and in effect to say unto him who made him Thou shalt not be or have any The sence of Persecution in effect of God and what of him it saith according to Tertullian Worship but as I will and shall please to afford thee Indeed he might well assume and say as upon the former account as aforesaid Man must be gracious and favourable unto God A strange inversion yet it is that which all that which by the force or power of man would prescribe how God shall be worshipped doth affirm and speak viz. If thou please me or if it so like me thou shalt be so and after this manner worshipped otherwise expect not any Worship in the World pray thou unto me that I may be gracious and favourable to thee for unless thou please me thou shalt not be God thou shalt not be worshipped It were well if mens eyes were open to see these things and how their And what the seeking to enforce Religion signifies as to that or speaks setting up of Worship of Religion something that is of their own mind and framing which is not from the Spirit the Principle the measure of God in them is the same with what hath been rehearsed for if he be a God knows not he how to direct his Worship If he hath made the World and Man and required Man to worship him and to do what is pleasing in his sight knows not he how to direct man in what manner to worship him Or hath he left man so without something of himself to guide and instruct him that man must needs take upon him to advise and instruct yea to inforce as to the Worship of God Gird up now thy loyns like a man for I will demand of thee and answer thou me said the Lord to Job cap. 40. vers 7. who answered I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear but now mine eye doth see thee wherefore I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes Job 41. 5 6. These things would be ridiculous to affirm yet the things speak it and every dayes experience manifests it how vain man would be wise who is born as the wild Asses Colt who Job 11. 12. would teach his Maker and instruct the holy One of Isâ—ael and instead of abiding at his Feet to intreat his Grace and Favour seems to seek to bring his Maker to his feet to intreat his grace and favour how and that he may be worshipped Well these things cost them hard who ran this course through And the consequence thereof as to punishment throughout all Generations as a warning to this all Generations and this will cost them hard who run the same course now the Lord will be known by the Judgements that he will execute And as Heathens and those who bear the Name of Christians but are otherwise in Nature do the same thing who enjoyn Worship and require men to conform unto their Decrees therein for the spirit in both is the same so will they partake of the same punishment Judah and Edom and the Children of Moab and Ammon all that are in the utmost Corners that dwell in the Wilderness For all these Nations are uncircumcised and all the House of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart Jer. 9. 26. Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I will punish all them that are circumcised with the uncircumcised vers 25. So all Kings and Princes Lords and Potentates of the Earth had need to look about them and consider how they meddle with his Dominion who lives for ever in the Conscience as to his Worship How they say in effect Unless he please them he shall not be made God and so by their Decrees speak that they must be gracious and favourable to God as the Heathens did of old lest he dash them to pieces Kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish in the way if his anger be kindled yea but a little Blessed are all they that put their trust in him Psal 2. 12. Thus stood the case of the Heathen Emperors as to God by the And the reason thereof judgment of Tertullian whose judgment is true and this proves the consequence when as by virtue of their Power and Jurisdiction they took upon them to meddle with his Dominion in the Conscience as they went over and murthered all sence of God or as the sence of God and his Majesty and dread was murdered in their hearts so they murdered those who retaining a sence of the dread and Majesty of God in their hearts could not bow down unto and worship their Godds their National Worship which required all men to fall down and worship it The truth of it is they required God to fall down and worship and because that which was of him in men hindred many from so doing therefore they laid at God what they could but missing him whom they could not reach they killed the Creature in which he was which that of him which was in them kept them from doing and bore them through all that which the rage of man executed upon them because of God And thus stands it with all those who tread the same steps the spirit is the same and the way is the same and the work is the same and the same will be the end of those that tread therein Nero was the first of all the Emperors
others say they found unready less exercised The flagging of many and yet weak not of ability to bear the burthen of so weighty a Combate in number Ten which fell through the frailty of the flesh to our great heaviness and sorrowful lamentation quailing the chearfulness of others which were not as yet apprehended but accompanied the Martyrs what torments soever befel them and severed not themselves to the great grief of the rest from them Then trembled we all say they for fear and that greatly because of the uncertainty of confessions being not terrified with any torments but carefull for the end lest any should fall from the Faith Yet say they daily there were apprehended such as were accounted worthy to fulfil the number of the fallen weaklings so that out of both these Churches as many as ruled and bear the greatest sway were taken and executed and the others came on again as aforesaid and died the death whom to encourage lest when at the Bar again they should flag Alexander offered himself up and was torn in pieces A worthy remembrance Drew Alexander to offer up himself wheâ—eby such were strengthened at the Bar to die of the famous power of the Truth and of the valour of him and the Christians in that day who thought not their lives dear unto the death for the confession of Jesus Christ The President commanded publickly a general Inquisition to be made for them And the inhumane and most cruel butcheries of them were made the recreation of the Heathen on their days of pleasure who to be so recreated flocked to The Heathen recreated themselves in their sufferings and came to them as to sport the Theatres in great multitudes which would be strange to think that men could be so far degenerated into cruelty who are made of a tender nature So that no man ever hated his own flesh as to make sport of the highest torments inflicted on their Brethren and to count it a pastime and come thither to such savage and barbarous cruelties for that purpose but that the Devil being got into Man and forming his Worship look how much their understandings are dark and they are brought into the grossest sort of Idolatrous Worship by so much they are come into his Nature and he hath power over them who is the Godd they worship who is without natural affection that they destroy and take pleasure therein These noble Christians were kept low and tender under all their sufferings desiring with watery eyes the prayers uncessantly of their Brethren that they might hold out unto the end and in the fulness of the fear of God as are those Christians own words refused to be called of the Brethren Martyrs as thinking themselves not worthy Cap. 2. The low account the Christians had of themselves who thus suffered but themselves said We are mean and base and humble Confessors whom the Lord highly exalted and counted worthy of this Name and of the Crown Immortal which they enjoy with the Lord in the highest Heavens And thus much shall suffice of this horrible Persecution of the French and their Noble Constancy and Faithfulness to God by which may be judged what was done in other Provinces for the Persecution under this Verus seemed to be general of which in these words I thought fit to give this particular Nevertheless the Lord was not absent from his People but with a The tendernes of the Lord to suppoâ—t them and to work a release tender hand not only upheld those that suffered through the greatest tortures and so gave the demonstration of his power in them but some release also of those sufferings in as great a wonder when he saw good he gave them as he did in carrying them through sufferings in manner following Historians do Record saith Eusebius that when his Brother Marcus Euseb l. 5. c. 5. By the means of the Legion of the Christians under Marc. Aurel. Antoninus's Brother in Germany who praying to the Lord obtained Lightning against the Enemy which overthrew them and Rain to refresh the Army which was near perishing The Heathen Writers Record it Aurelius viz. Antoninus his Brother who gave these Persecutions warred against the Germans and Sarmatians his Hoast was ready to perish with thirst so that he wist not what to do and that the Souldiers of the Legion called Militina moved again and again with faithfulness towards their Prince bowed down upon their bare knees as our accustomed manner saith he of praying is in the midst of the Army turning them to the Enemies and made supplication unto God When as this sight seemed strange unto the Enemies there was shewed a more sad Spectacle viz. Lightning which put the Enemy to flight and overthrew them and withal a shower of Rain to refresh the Army which well nigh perishing with thirst poured out their Prayers before the high Throne of the Majesty of God The History saith he is reported by them who favoured not the Christian Faith yet were careful to set down the things which concerned the aforesaid persons It is also written by our men saith he and of the Heathen Historiographers themselves the Miracle is mentioned but not expresly to proceed from our men yet our Writers saith he as Friends and Favourers of the true Doctrine have delivered it simply and plainly as in deed it was done whereof saith he Apolinarius is a Witness of credit who reporteth that this Legion by whose Prayers this Miracle came to pass was from that time forth called by the Emperor in the Roman Tongue after a peculiar The Emperor calls them the Lightning or Thundering Legion Name the Lightning Legion or Thundering as some interpret it Tertullian also saith he a man worthy of Credit dedicated an Apology in the Roman Tongue unto the Roman Senate in the defence of our Faith whereof saith he we mentioned before hath confirmed this History with a mightier and more manifest proof for he writeth saith Marc. Aurel. himself records it he that the most prudent Epistles of Marcus that is the Emperor aforesaid are yet extant that is in Tertullians time that thus wrote wherein he himself testifies that wâ—rring with the Germans his Army well nigh perished through the scarcity of Water but yet was saved through the prayers of the Christians he saith viz. Tertullian That the Emperor Tertul. in Apolog. cap. 6. and threatned them with death which accused the Christians threatned them with Death which went about to accuse them Unto the aforesaid things he addeth What manner of Laws are these against us Impious unjust cruel which neither Vespasian observed although Conquerer of the Jews which Trajan partly frustrated commanding the Inquisition of the Christians to cease which neither Adrianus although busiing himself with every matter neither he which is called Pâ—us confirmed And under Comodus the Emperor who succeeded Verus the rage of the Gentiles saith Eusebius was mittigated
of his wits and Maximinianus depose themselves which bereaved him of his wits together with Maximinianus the second to him after they had been Emperors for the space of twenty years as aforesaid deposed themselves and lived a private life from which time to his end Dioclesian wasted and pined Dioclesian wasts away with Diseases Maximinian hangs himself Constantius and Maximinus sole Emperors away with Diseases and Maximinian hanged himself Constantinus and Maximinus then took the sole government of the Empire which had before four Princes at one time governing Constantius was very friendly and Persecution on his hand loosened from the Christians Maximinus persecuted them sorely though at Maximinus sorely plagued in his body at Tarsus times he would seem to be otherwise minded The Hand of God pursued him so that at Tarsus a great plague fell upon him first taking hold in his flesh and afterwards proceeding to the very Soul for there arose suddenly in the secret parts of his body an impostume or running sore afterwards in the lower part of his Privities a botchy corrupt Boyl with a Fistula whence issued out with a Botch corrupt matter eating up the inward bowels and an unspeakable multitude of Lice swarming out and breathing a deadly stench and Lice and stench when as the corpulency of the whole body through abundance of meat before the Disease came was turned into superfluous grosness and then being grown into matter yeelded an intolerable and horrible spectacle to the beholders wherefore of the Which flew some of his Physicians Physitians some being not able to digest that wonderful noysome stench were slain some other when there remained no hope of Others were executed because they could not help recovery by reason of the swelling throughout the whole body being not able to help at all with their Physick were cruelly executed themselves Whilst the Hand and Plague of God was on him and he lay in his miserable plight he pondered with himself the rash enterprises he had practised against the Worshippers of God Cap. 18. In this plight he repents confesses to God Commands persecution to cease wherefore returning unto himself first he confesses his sins to God next calling upon him such as were about him he gave commandment that with all speed they should cease from persecuting the Christians and that by Decree and Commandment of the Emperor they should build again their Churches and that they should meet often to celebrate their wonted Ceremonies and pray for the life of the Emperor And immediately that And desires Prayers of the Christians for his life The Proclamations hastned which by word he commanded was indeed brought to pass The Proclamations of the Emperor were published throughout the Cities containing a recantation of those things formerly prejudicial unto the Christians in this form The Emperor Caesar Maximinus Puissant Magnificent chief Lord The Copy of the Edict Lord of the Thebais Lord of Salmatia five times Conqueror of Persia Lord of Germany Lord of Egypt twice Conqueror of the Carpyans six times Conqueror of the Armenians Lord of the Medes Lord of the Adiabeni twenty times Tribune nineteen times general Captain eight times Consul Father of the Countrey Proconsul And the Emperor Caesar Flavius Valerius Constantius some read Constantius but it is not so found in the Greek Vertuous Fortunate Puissant Noble chief Lord general Captain and Tribune five times Consul Father of the Countrey Proconsul Among other things which we have decreed for the Commodity and profit of the Common Wealth our pleasure is first of all to order and redress all things according to the antient Laws and Discipline of the Romans and withal to use this provisoe That the Christians which have forsaken the Religion of their Ancestors should be brought again to the right way for after a certain humour of singularity such an Opinion of excellency puffed them up that those things which their Elders had received and allowed they rejected and disallowed devising every man such Laws as they thought good and observed the same assembling in divers places great multitudes of people Wherefore when as our Edict was proclaimed that they should return unto the Ordinance of their Elders divers standing in great danger felt the penalty thereof and many being troubled therefore endured all kinds of death And because we perceive many as yet to persist in the same madness in their yeelding due worship to the Caelestial Godds nor regarding the God of the Christians having respect unto our benignity and godly custom pardoning all men according to our wonted guise we thought good in this case to extend our gracious and favourable clemency that the Christians may be tollerated again and that they may repair again the places where they meet together so that they do nothing prejudicial to publick Order and Discipline We mean to prescribe unto the Judges by another Epistle what they shall observe Wherefore as this our gracious Pardon deserveth let them make intercession to their God for our Health for the Common Weal and for themselves that in all places the Affairs of the publick Weal may be safely preserved and that they themselves may live securely in their own houses I have mentioned this Edict or Proclamation the rather that men The reason of the reheaâ—sal of the Copy of the Edict however swel'd with Titles Dominions and Honours notwithstanding all that they can say of them and do by them must come to bow to him whom in their hearts they despise and seek to trample his Worship and Worshippers under foot who is a Spirit and will be worshipped in Spirit and Truth Great calamities attended the Roman Empire whilst their rage was The sad consequence of these persecutions to the Roman Empire and the forbearance of them great against the Christians whilst they imposed the Worship of their Heathen Godds and destroyed all those who could not bow down unto nor worship them which when they forbore and left to these who worshipped the Lord to worship him according to his Spirit not according to their Law it flourished was safe and increased I should be marvellous large if I should go through those things also in particular The rebellious invasions divisions amongst themselves Plagues Pestilences Famines Earth-quakes and untimely deaths that befel those Emperors themselves the Lord when he saw time cutting short their race who ordaineth his Arrows against the Persecutor notwithstanding that he saw it good also to suffer those things to be to prevent greater The end of the Lord to the Christians in suffering these persecutions mischiefs amongst the Christians and to give testimony before all the World of his Power that was in them wonderfully to carry them through whatsoever was laid upon them for the testimony unto his Name For the Christians when a little ease and liberty befel them and the Hand of the Lord so wrought that instead of being cast out like Dogs
Concord for he would by no means communicate with he called Arians so being exiled he leads his life at Trevere in France The thirtieth year of Constantines Reign was expired while Peace ensued not among the Câ—ristians though Constantine had past thirty years of his Reign Arius returning sets Alexandria on fire The Emperor sends for him to Constantinople Thither he comes these things were a doing yet he saw no peace among rhe Christians Arius with his company returning to Alexandria set the whole City in an uproar for they were not onely distasted with the return of Arius but the banishment of Athanasius The Emperor understanding as the History saith of the perverse mind and corrupt purpose of Arius sends for him again to Constantinople to render an account of the tumult and sedition he had raised afresh The City being divided into two parts one for the Nicene Creed the other for Arius Alexander then governed the Alexander Bishop of Constantinople holds disputation with him He layes aside quirks of Logick and seeks by Prayer to overcome Church who a little before succeeded Metrophanes in the Bishoprick of Constantinople held disputation with Arius and laying aside the quirks of Logick is said with continual Fasting and Prayer and Tears many dayes and nights to have fled for aid to the Lord and on his bare knees before the Communion Table called also the Altar of â—â—e Church called Peace having lock't himself in to have besought the Lord in these words Grant I beseech thee O Lord that if the Opinion of Arius be true His Prayer and his Obtestation therein concerning him and Arius as to the determination of the matter The Emperor demands of Arius to sign the Nicene Creed He doth it He puts him to his Oath He swears to it by Equivocation The Equivocation The Emperor requires Alexander to receive him into Communion I my self may never see the end of this set Disputation but if the Faith I hold be true that Arius the Author of all this mischief may receive due punishment for his impious desert Arius being come to Constantinople the Emperor demands of Arius to sign the Nicene Creed he subscribes it chearfully he puts him to his Oath he swears it also his juggle is said to be this he wrote his own Opinion in a piece of Paper the same he carried under his arm in his bosome coming to the Book he takes his Oath That he verily believed as he had written The Emperor believing he had dealt plainly commanded Alexander Bishop of Constantinople to receive him to the Communion It was on a Saturday saith the History the day after Arius looked to be received into the Church and Communion of the Faithful but vengeance saith it lighted forthwith upon his lewd and bold Vengeance overtakes Arius enterprises when he had his leave and departed out of the Emperors Hall he passed through the midst of the City with great pomp and pontificiality compassed and attended with the Faction and Train of Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia that waited upon him as soon as he came nigh Constantines Market for so was the He is taken ill suddenly in the street place called where there stood a Pillar of Red Marble sudden feat saith the History of the heinous faults he had committed took Arius and withal he felt a great lask Sirs saith Arius is there any draught or jakes nigh When they told him there was one in the back side of Constantines Market he got him thither strait then he was taken with faintness and together with his excrements he voideth his Guts a great stream of blood followeth after the slender and small bowels slide out blood together with the Spleen and Liver gushed out and immediately he dieth And dieth miserable and with a remarkable hand of Judgment like a Dog saith the History And the Jakes was then to be seen when the History was wrote and that Passengers were wont as they went by to point their fingers thereat in remembrance of the miserable end of Arius Which saith the History being done terror and astonishment amazed the mind of Eusebius His followers are amazed The Emperor cleaves the more to the Nicene Creed as confirmed as he said Cap 26 by the testimony of God himself The Emperor falls sick the next year makes his Will trusts the Priest therewith that perswaded him to tenderness to Arius and dies his Confederates that followed him And that the Emperor clave the more unto the Christian Religion and said that the Nicene Creed was ratified and confirmed to be true by the testimony of God himself and rejoyced exceedingly at the things which then came to pass The next year being the 65th of his Age he sailed to Helenopolis for his healths sake where his sickness more and more encreased he got him strait to Nicomedia where after a certain time he was baptised in which he is said to have greatly rejoyced made his last Will and Testament wherein he had appointed his three Sons their particular Inheritances trusteth the Priest which was the occasion of Arius his return from exile as aforesaid with charge to the Priest to deliver it into no mans hands but to his Son Constantius whom he had made Emperor of the East and died having reigned one and thirty years Yet neither with Arius nor the death of Constantine was there Anno. 348. Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 2. Discord ends not with Constantine nor Arius Constantius Constantines Son leans to the Arians by means of the Priest that Constantine entrusted his Will withal who also brought Arius in respect with Constantine an end of the troublesome discord that was among the Christians For the Priest aforesaid unto whose charge Constantine committed the trust of his last Will and Testament having possessed Constantius therewith and with the Arian Heresie as it was called and Constantius being pleased therewith as he was with the disposition of his Father to him of the Government of the East that Opinion came to vent it self again and to bear head for it had entred into the Empress and the Chamberlains and the Emperors Guards and every where almost as the History relates it the Opinion had entrance and controversies throughout the East and plain questions would not serve the turn but open contention tumult and stir but in the West in Illyrium and other Countries Contention tumults stirs grew high thereabouts The Western parts clear they held to the Nicene Council or the Faith as it was called of one Substance which by no means they would suffer to be abbrogated And Eusebius of Nicomedia waited for an opportunity through these tumults when some or other should be put into the place of Athanasius to accomplish his purpose there But Athanasius once more goes to Alexandria upon Constantine the youngers Letters through means of Constantine the youngers Letters who was also Caesar who governed the Western Parts which he wrote to Alexandria
Jesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him 1 Cor. 8. 5 6. And all are yours and you are Christs and Christ is Gods 1 Cor. 3. 22 23. And For this purpose the Son of God was manifest that he might destroy the works of the Devil 1 John 3. 8. And Great is the Mystery of Godliness God was manifest in the flesh 1 Tim. 3. And if he were not the Son of God then is your Faith vain and ye are yet in your sins For He became the Author of Eternal Salvation to as many as obey him yea even to as many as believe in his Name Heb. 5. 9. And if he be not God how can his Name be believed in for the Name of God is Power and how can that which hath not power be the Author of Eternal Salvation and what obedience due where there is no power These things are manifest Now to return to the History The Emperors Edict was for the Council to meet at Millain Cap. 29 The Council is at Millain from the East many Bishops came not because of the length of the way Three hundâ—ed Bishops of the West came The East Bishops require Sentence against Athanasius The Western decline it Make their Speech whither very many Bishops from the East could not come because of the length of the way but of the Western there were to the number of three hundred Being come together the Bishops of the East in the first place require that Sentence by their general consent should be pronounced against Athanasius thinking thereby to stop all gaps for his return to Alexandria The Bishops of the West perceiving that the Bishops of the East bent all their might to enact a Decree against Athanasius for no other purpose but to overthrow the true Faith they stood up and cried That in so doing the Christian Religion should be cancelled by the means of their deceitful and fraudulent Treachery That the Crimes laid to Athanasius his charge were false reports and meer slanders and that they had invented such things to deface the true and Catholick Faith When they had ended these loud Speeches the Council The Council ends broke up The Emperor understanding this commanded them forthwith The Emperor banishes the West Bishops Summons another general Council to Exile and Banishment determining to summon another general Council thinking thereby to bring them into Unity and Concord which upon better consideration he laid down perceiving it very hard to accomplish by reason of the long Journeys from the East unto the West so he divides them into two parts the Divides the Council Those present to meet aâ— Ariminum the East at Niâ—omedia Neither agree amongst themselves Bishops then present to meet at Arminium in Italy the Eastern at Nicomedia in Bythinia yet he prospered not in his purpose for neither Council agreed among themselves but was divided into several Factions A new Schism also arose among the Eastern at Selencia a City of Isauria Leontius that preferred Aetius aforesaid to be Deacon being also dead Eudoxius Bishop of Germanicia a City in Syria who was then at Rome thought it high time for him to return feigns a pretence to the Emperor and gets a Pasport and through the interest of the Emperors Chamberlains creeps into the Bishoprick of Antioch then seeks to restore Aetius Leontius getting into the Bishoprick of Antioch seeks to restore Aetius but prevails not again summons a Council of Bishops to make him Deacon but could not prevail At Ariminum the Eastern Bishops letting pass the business of Athanasius without mentioning Ursacius and Valens aforesaid who were observed still to lean to the stronger and surer side first Arrians then Nicenians now Arrians again having others that joyned with them affirmed That all forms The East Bishops lay by all preceeding forms of Faith to be cancelled and establish the Latin Paper-form of Faith now turned into Greek which was made at Sirmium and called in with some additions Observations here-upon of Faith laid down in times past were thenceforth to be cancelled and that the new form of Faith published at Sirmium a little before at the Council there was to be confirmed and gave forth a sheet of Paper which they had in their hands to be read The second Creed written before at Sirmium and suppressed there as I said before was also read at this Council See what divisions here is about forms of Faith and how their Languages like Babel are divided whilst they seek to bring that into Form which is everlasting and so make a Law to worship it What a do and clutter there was about the Creed containing the clause of one Substance I have shewed before up and down now this and now that and then it must not be at all but omitted I mean that clause as hath been declared and now all forms of Faith But what is now produced must be cancelled and that which themselves sought to suppress the Copies of must now be read being translated out of the Latin into the Greek it being before in Latin and not so well liked of So whilst men go about in the wisdom that perishes And their confusion to bring forth that which men have nothing to do to force or compel or enjoyn see what confusion they bring forth and the consequences thereof blood and torment and fierce persecution Behold how the Lord laughs them to scorn and hath them in derision and how their folly they bring forth and hath left it for after Generations to see and consider Substance Substantia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Greek and Latin of the same Sustantia and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latin Greek for the English word Substance what a do it made in the World as to the Creeds word Substance what a do it made I have in part manifested for to speak all would seem endless I do but touch at things that in a series I may bring something reasonable to serve my purpose which as the end will produce is of weight and yet to many I may seem overlong though upon due consideration I hope I shall be excused and that seeing these things having not been before so produced and the thing unto which I bring them being of greatest weight that can be thought of in the World and even in the things that men hold that it may be manifest how they run against the Lord whilst they run against us in point of Worship and forcing of Religion which the whole series of History gives to understand I say I hope I shall be excused as not having done amiss in bringing things thus together in the series of History I say what ado the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Substantia the Greek and Latin of the word in English called Substance have made in the World I have in part manifested and how through disagreement it must be left out Now here 's a Creed after the
Bishop of Constantinople from one Sea to another the second time saith the History having deposed Dracontius after this they ratifie And Dracontius removed The form of Faith read at Ariminum confirmed Sent about the World with a Mandamus imperial of perpetual Exile to the Non-subscribers Observations on these things the form of Faith that was read at Ariminum together with additions and glosses as a very absolute thing and send it abroad into the whole World commanding that whosoever refused to subscribe unto the same should by virtue of the Emperors Proclamation be condemned to perpetual banishment And to see the ridiculousness of folly when wise men advancing themselves into the Throne of God are turned their wisdom backwards and their understanding into foolishness Eudoxius having done these things and signified to the Eastern Bishops this his intent who were of the same mind with him having placed his Seat in the great Church called by the name of Wisdom gave forth this as his first Sentence which at this day saith the History is rife in every mans mouth and become a famous jest The Eudoxius his foolish Jest of the Father and the Son in the Church of Wisdom Raiseth a tumult His explanation thereupon Son Religious the Father Irreligious meaning God the Father and the Son By occasion of which words a tumult arising Let this saying saith he nothing grieve you at all for the Father is Irreligious because he worshippeth none The Son is Religious because he worshippeth the Father This quieted the contentious multitude instead of the hurly-burly the whole Church saith the History was set on laughter and thus these Faith-makers who turned the Sets them into laughter The Faith-makers and the fruits of their brains World upside down in reference to conformity to their Faith exercise their brains in such trifling quirks and about such fond and frivolous words having broke asunder the Bond of Unity and Concord contained in the Church of God This Council The end of the Council at Constantinople at Constantinople had such an end as hath been declared Now Meletius after the deposition of Eustathius was first chosen Cap. 34. Meletius and his succession of Bishopricks he comes to Beraea Bishop of Sebastia in Armenia from thence he was taken and translated to Beraea a City in Syria after he had been at Seleucia and subscribed unto the form of Faith which the factious of Acacius had framed and exhibited to the Council he immediately turned to Beraea The Antiochians hearing how Eudoxius had made light of them and for great lucre saith the History had crept into the Bishoprick of Constantinople send for Miletius Is sent for thence and made Bishop of Antioch and made him Bishop of Antioch he at first medling little with Faiths and such things delivered unto his Auditors such things as good manners good life and godly conversation but afterwards Preaches the Faith of one Substance is exiled Euxojus put in his room expounded to them the Faith and clause of one Substance which the Emperor hearing of commanded him to Exile and put Euxojus that was deposed with Arius into his place whereupon the affectionated to Meletius began to meet privately and Meletius's Auditors meet in Conventicles had their particular Conventicles yet those who alwayes had been for the Faith of one Substance refused their Communion because Are refused Communion by those of the Faith of one Substance because Meletius was made Bishop by the Arrians Meletius had been made Priest by the Arians and for that his followers had been baptized of them though these men being Arians followed Miletius so the Church of Antioch leaned to that side which agreed with it self Well the Lord who usually attendeth these bold presumptions Judgements as the consequence of these presumptions of mortal men about his Faith and Worship with exemplary Judgments left not himself without a Witness in this time as he had done before of which I have given some little instance The The Persians break League and proclaim War with the Romans Persians being in amity with the Romans proclaimed War with them which caused the Emperor to hast to Antioch Thus much of Miletius Now as to Macedonius with whom I Macedonius and the account of him and his end have had some what to do in this large Tract and to declare his wickedness and cruelty that I may make an end of the History of him and draw what concerns him to some conclusion give me leave a little farther to signifie as followeth Being banished from Constantinople he took it very impatiently Cap 35. His shifts turnings and could by no means quiet himself but shifting for himself made use of his wits and turned himself to the contrary side to such as had deposed Acacius at Seleucia and with his Complices he dealt with Sophronius and Eleusius by Messengers that they should firmly addict themselves to the form of Faith set forth at Antioch afterward confirmed at Seleucia and requested them earnestly to call it the Faith of one Substance whereupon many of his familiars frequented unto him together with those who after his Name are called Macedonians Others also resorted unto him that were foes to the Faction of Acacius who at first maintained both publickly and privately the Faith of one Substance but afterwards trod it underfoot as it hath been the course of many from the beginning under policy to cover themselves to serve other ends he affirmed that the Son of God was like unto the Father as His blasphemy of the Holy Ghost well in Substance as in all other things yet he avouched that the Holy Ghost had not these Titles and Honours but tearmed him their Servant or Drudge He is said not to be the first founder of this blasphemous Opinion but Marathonius who long before his Marathonius the first founder thereof time had been Bishop of Nicomedia whereupon such as maintained that Opinion are called Marathonians unto these Eustathius So the followers are called Marathonians Eustathius joyns to them He would neither call the Holy Ghost God nor a Creature This Sect were called deadly Foes to the Divinity of the Holy Ghost Acacius c. gets another Council at Antioch to undo what they had assented unto of the Sons being like to the Father in all things aforesaid linked himself when Macedonius affirmed that the Holy Ghost was equal and partaker of the Godhead which is in the Blessed Trinity Eustathins made answer I for my own part saith he do not mind to call the Holy Ghost God neither dare I presume to call him a Creature Wherefore such as imbrace the Faith of one Substance do call them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by interpretation Deadly Foes to the Divinity of the Holy Ghost Again Acacius his Faction endeavoured with all might to call a Council at Antioch for it repented them that they affirmed the Son in all
and destruction in the World men avenge themselves on persons and destroy them they know not that or are not guided by it which conquers the risings of evil in their own minds and that which rises in another The strong man Armed that keepeth the House they know not to be bound by the stronger than he which spoileth him of his defence and taketh his goods to overcome themselves which is greater prowess than to overcome strong Cities Every one ought said the Poet of old to tame or make subject his own heart This is the thing that keeps all things in order that leads captivity captive that cannot be overcome which overcomes ill will strifes variance mischiefs hatreds envies emulations whisperings backbitings risings blood which kills things in the root the Devil and his nature and spirit that leads into those things the works of the Devil the which to destroy the Son of God was manifest who saith He came not to destroy mens lives but to save them Here is the Safeguard the Rock the Buckler the place of Defence the Pavilion the hiding-place under the shadow of the Wing of the Almighty the Defence from the strife of Tongues the Secret of the Almighty the Mountain full of Horsemen and Chariots of Fire the more with us than against us where the Sword is beaten into a Plowshare and the Spear into a Pruning-hook and War is learnt no more as the Prophets Isaiah and Micah prophesied should be in that day That the Mountain of the Lords House is established on the top of the Mountains and exalted above the Hills and all Nations shall flow unto it and many people say they shall go and say Come ye and let us go up to the Mountain of the House of the Lord to the House of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his wayes and we will walk in his Paths For out of Sion shall go forth the Law and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem and he shall judge many Nations and shall rebuke many People and they shall beat their Swords into Plough-shares and their Spears into Pruning-hooks Nation shall not rise up against Nation nor shall they learn War any more O House of Israel come ye and let us walk in the Light of the Lord Isa 2. 2 3 4 5. Micah 4. 1 2 3. And he adds But they shall sit every man under his Vine and under his Figtree and none shall make them afraid for the mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it vers 4. And saith Joel Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles prepare Wars wake up the mighty men let all the men of War draw near let them come up Beat your Plough-shares into Swords and your Pruning-hooks into Spears let the weak say I am strong Assemble your selves come all ye Heathen and gather your selves together round about thither cause the mighty ones to come down O Lord Let the Heathen be awakened and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat for there will I sit to judge all the Nations round about Put ye in the Sickle for the Harvest is ripe come get ye down for the Press is full the Fat 's overflow for the wickedness is great Multitudes multitudes in the Valley of decision for the day of the Lord is great in the Valley of decision Joel 3. 9 to 14. So there 's their judgment And here is that which preserves and keeps the Arm of the Lord and his Dominion which is greater than all which keeps the heart in peace in perfect peace which trusteth in him which he that is of this World is not so great which gives to overcome the evil of this World all provocations enmities malice mischiefs all that would stir up a man that is of this World and overcome him which beareth all things and suffereth all things which thinks no evil that hopeth all things endureth all things 1 Cor. 13. 4 5 6 7 8. which never faileth which suffereth long and is kind which envyeth not which vaunteth not it self which is not puffed up which doth not behave it self unseemly which seeketh not its own is not easily provoked rejoyceth not in iniquity but rejoyceth in the Truth the Love which man being an enemy seeks to reconcile him to God the Power of God which preserves and keeps The Jews were required thrice in the year all their men Children to Exod. 34. 23 24. appear before the Lord the God of Israel and whereas they might object and say The Enemy then that lives round about us may come and invade our Land and possess our Habitations when there are no men to keep it but they are all in one place far distant from the Borders The Lord answers them For I will cast out the Nations and enlarge thy Borders Neither shall any man desire thy Land when thou shalt go up to appear before the Lord thy God thrice in a year This was when War was lawful to them and yet being thus required the Lord in the time of Wars when all was against them round about when the Nations were cut off and they had possessed their Land none invaded them till there was an end of them He passed through them whom the Jews sought oftentimes to kill whose Kingdom was not of this World who had no outward Arm to preserve and keep him his Apostles and Disciples who had no Arm of flesh and whose Doctrine had no tutelage or defence by the Sword of man whom the powers of the Earth were against carried through their Doctrine throughout notwithstanding all opposition and though they were esteemed as perverters changing the Laws and Customs and turning the World upside down Acts 17. 6 7. doing contrary to the Decrees of Caesar saying There is another King one Jesus and had the whole World in opposition who were contrary to the World and not of it therefore the World hated them yet their Doctrine stood it throughout the whole World and though multitudes of the Christians were suffered to be cut off during the Heathen Persecution as a proof of the power of God in them which carried them through on whom also the Apostacy had entered yet the thing was the same which carried them through all the torments imaginable and cruelties of deaths so that they were not overcome but by death overcame him that had the power of death viz. the Devil and left a good savour of the vertue of the power of him who is everlasting who made them more than Conquerors as what hath been repeated out of History gives abundantly to understand So that the Testimony is abundant to this thing of which I have declared even the whole Series of that which hath born through and suffered for the Truth from the beginning and that the Truth yet is from the beginning notwithstanding all that in this World hath made head against it which hath seemed alwayes in comparison to be little in the World and which the men of
after this the Judgment So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many and to them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto Salvation Heb. 9. 24 25 26 27 28. So the Changeable Priesthood had an end in him who changeth not Jesus Christ yesterday and to day and the same for ever And his Apostles were Ministers of that of which he was of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit not of that which changeth but of that which changeth not for the Letter that which changed killeth but the Spirit that which changeth not giveth life 2 Cor. 3. 6. And who saith the Apostle is sufficient for these things 2 Cor. 2. 16. The changeable Priesthood was then of the Law which could not make the comers thereunto perfect but the bringing in of a better hope which hope is Christ Christ in you the Hope of Glory the Mystery hid from Ages and Generations now made manifest to his Saints saith the Apostle which maketh not ashamed because the Love of God is spread abroad in our hearts which was a stedfast and stable thing which was not subject to change neither was it to pass away So Paul an Apostle not of man nor by man but by the Will of God And when it pleased God who separated me from my Mothers Womb and called me by his Grace to reveal his Son in me that I might preach him among the Heathen immediately I consulted not with flesh and blood neither went I up to Jerusalem to them who were Apostles before me But I went into Arabia c. Gal. 1. 15 16 17. And here stood their bottom in Christ that changeth not whose Minister he was he preached his Ministry that changed not his Ministry did not change because he of whom he preached and who sent him to preach did not change he was not in mans will which made and unmade at his pleasure nor was he a Minister of Man to preach what man pleased or Conformity he received not by Tradition or by certain conclusions or Systems of Divinity or Art what to say but the Son of God being revealed in him he consulted not with flesh and blood neither with the other Apostles that were before him but preached c. Thus stood the state of Paul and the Apostles who had the mind of Christ but the Form and the Letter which was done away from that he preached not in the oldness of the Letter but in the newness of the Spirit Now the Form and the Letter being done away there was no room for that which was the Ministry of the Form or the Letter no more killing of Sheep and slaying of Oxen no more Sacrifices Washings New Moons Sabbaths Shadows of good things to come who were the Shadows but not the very things themselves which changed into the thing come or had an end in it no ground or footing at all for that but as he who is everlasting was come the same for ever so the Ministry must be of and from him he must send he must be revealed the words must be spoken from his mouth not the Letter but the Spirit not the oldness of the Letter but the newness of the Spirit Thus stood it in the dayes of the Apostles So the Ministry or Priesthood that changeth hath no ground from Christ and his Apostles but is quite otherwise it is a changing or deviation from them it hath no footing either in the Letter or in the Spirit not in the Letter for that was a Priesthood Figurative having relation to him that was to come which in him ended so there was to be no more as there never was but that not in the Spirit for that is it which changeth not is not at the will order or direction of man but the Will of God its ground its bottom its fountain its beginning and end is from him who changeth not whom the changeable signified I need not be long in these things the matter being so plain already the whole progress of the History which I have before been particular in speaks the Priesthood after the Apostles decease to be changeable leaning to this Creed and that confession of Faith and varying and changing according to the leaders of that Confession and this Creed and what work it made in the World I have manifested whatsoever stands not in him which changeth not that is called Ministry which is not Spirit and proceeds from it is not from him who is the Head of the Church the Law-giver and Teacher of his People it hath no footing from the Scriptures of Truth nor the Spirit of them it is so far from the Spirit that in that sence it is not Letter it hath no relation to that of the Jews the Priesthood which was changed and ended in Christ nor to Christ Jesus or the Ministry of him who changed the Priesthood Jesus I know and Paul I know but who are ye said the evil Spirit which was in the man whom the Exorcist Jews took upon them to adjure by Jesus whom Paul preached from whence cometh Acts 19. 13 14 15. this new covered Priesthood which filleth the earth may a man say that is neither Paul nor Jesus nor Jew nor Christian it 's much that men are not ashamed of these things Man makes man men make themselves diversities of men make diversities here 's the Priesthood a God they make a System of Divinity a Form of Worship and then they form themselves or one another Ministers of that form of Worship Teachers of the Systems or Precepts of Religion they made of the God whom they formed Thou shalt have no other God but me said the Lord to Israel of old who gave Israel a form whereby to worship God but now men make Godds and make forms of Worship for their Godds and Priests to their forms and whosoever will consecrateth himself a Priest or is consecrated to whatsoever Godd he hath made or Worship he hath formed which is not from that which is everlasting the Priest that is for ever that changeth not Whosoever would he consecrated him and he became one of the Priests of the high places it is said of in the dayes of Jeroboam 1 Kings 13. 33. And the man Micah had an house of gods and made an Ephod and Teraphim and consecrated one of his Sons who became his Priest In those dayes there was no King in Israel Judg. 17. 5 6. So the matter is plain the ground original or rise of all the Priesthood or Ministry that is not Spirit that is not in and from that which changeth not the Ministers of Christ in whom is no variableness or shadow of changing is neither from Christ nor the Scriptures and hath neither ground nor foundation to be believed in or heard whose rise is not in the Letter of the Scriptures nor the Spirit whose bottom is man and the will of man or rather the Devil in man