Civility and Policy for the Arts and the Arms and all that is Gallant and Polite or Handsome and deserves to be stil'd The Temple of Religion the Court of Policy and Government the Academy of Civility and good Manners the Mistress of Arts and of Arms of Shipping and Navigation and indeed the Paradice of all humane Felicities in comparison For so it is that all things have their Revolutions and Periods both in regard of Times and of Places from one place to another in one Age and then in another and that the people which now live between the Euxine Streights and the Atlantick Ocean eclipse all the Sparkling and Pomp of Ancient Persia her self In a word is not France at this day incomparably more flourishing than antient Gaule Great Britane has it not quite another countenance than when it bore the name of Albion Or had Caesar then found them in this Estate could he easily have made them Roman Provinces The Tartarians and Americans the Canibals and Man-eating Barbarians shall perhaps in some Ages after be civiliz'd like us Have not the good Letters and good Manners and all the high Marks of Distinction that difference Man-kind passed insensibly from Chaldee into Egypt from Egypt into Greece from Greece into Italy and from thence into the rest of Europe Greece is become a sad and darksome Cell Where nought reigns now but Ignorance and Hell Whence th'hideous Turk hath frighted all that 's fine Greece now 's but th' shadow of old Greece's Prime Muses no more go seek those pleasant Mountains Where Language that 's Divine was taught those Fountains Are now seal'd up sweet Hippocrene clean dry And Pene ' quite forsook of Company That charming Vale where th' Laurel us'd to grow Is now frequented by the croaking Crow The universe hath often chang'd its face Rome then receiv'd when Athens did you chase Your Altars now reach these remoter Climes Under thick darkness bid in elder Times Grudge no more then your Aganippe's sourse You may one day reign i' th Grand Atlantick Course The Banks of Tigre are no longer inhabited but by Tigres The Plains of Palestine are ill cultivated Grand Caire how vast soever it may be resents nothing of the glory of Memphis and has chang'd its fortune with its Name Peloponnesse and Achaia have no more the great Captains nor the famous Philosophers and are to be numbred with the Lands which the Volga and the Tanais water with their Streams the only portion of our Europe that hath nothing of Gallantry nor Polite All her other Regions which way soever one turn are absolute Mistresses of Arms Commerce Arts and Sciences and give Laws to all the Earth But we have been too long upon Comparisons which we should not have so much as once begun had not our Author first entred us and led the way And therefore passing by further we come to a plain-general-Table of Europe consider'd absolutely in her self And therein also wholly passing by her Natural Description of her Situation Extent Climate of her Parts Lakes Rivers Mountains Mines c. of her Quality natural Riches Commodities precious Things and Products of Nature which never vary but appear almost the same in every Map We shall only take notice of her in her Politick Capacity and things subject to change and under certain chief Heads of the most material things occurring draw very plain and distinct Tables both General and Particular of the present Face of Things For the use only and general Information both plain and brief as in Tables or Draughts of ordinary and the less knowing sort of People Table General The Second Part. Description Political of EUROPE CHAP. I. The ARGUMENT General brief Tables of the present Governments Languages Religions Revolutions c. of Europe The Governments Civil and Ecclesiastick in general Table Methodick of each Estate Sovereign A List of Sovereign Princes in their prime or declining Age. Numbering of the Languages of Europe Mother Tongues Dialects and Off-springs Universal Language Partition of the World according to the different Religions Parallel of Countries and Provinces Papist and Protestant The one spread as far by the English and Hollanders as the other by the Spaniards and Portugals Navigations Table of the Revolutions of this last Age. Wars and Treaties of Peace Pretensions and Interests of Europe in General EUrope as hath been enough seen being the most accomplished and considerable though the least part of the Earth and at this day more then ever heretofore deserves chiefly and in the first place to be taken notice of by us as she appears at present To which end we shall first draw a general Table of the whole and then particular Tables of each part In both delineating only bare and naked Draughts as it were of the present Governments Languages Religions Riches Forces and Commerce Revolutions Pretentions and Interest c. of Europe with other memorable observable Things and Occurrences as they fall in our way first in General and then in Particular in the distinct description of each Region and Country thereof GOVERNMENTS We begin therefore this second Part General with the General Governments of Europe intending onely General Heads of Things in this General Table Government is considered either as Civil or Ecclesiastick The Civil Government of Europe in general is either purely Monarchick of a single Sovereign or Aristocratick of the Nobles and Senators or after a sort Democratick and Popular of the People commonly call'd Common Wealth for there 's scarce any that is purely so except you will reckon some few among the Petty Cantons of the Suisses which make but a little member of that great Body or mixt of these But more particularly whether one or the other The Principal Crowns and States Sovereign of EUROPE for they are not all worthy of the high Title of Monarchies may be reduc'd to Empires Kingdoms Principalities Dutchies and Republicks or Common-Wealths together with the Papality and State of the Pope as a Temporal Prince in Italy and the County of Venaissy which makes a Sovereignty apart After which rate Europe has two Empires seven Kingdoms seven Electorships and of late years an eight seven grand Dutchies seven Republicks or Common-Wealths three grand Principalities which are now all tributary to the grand Segnior and a Papality The two Empires are the Empire of Germany half Monarchy half Common-Wealth the Emperor not being absolute but onely in the Lands whereof he is Lord and owner And the Empire of the Turks who are subject to one onely Monarch Some add the Empire of Russia for a third The seven Kingdoms are the Kingdom of France Spain Portugal England Denmark Sweedland and Poland The first the most perfect and descends only to the Heirs Male ever since the Salique Law The five next admit the Females and all are haereditary save the last which is Elective But though all these Estates be purely Monarchick yet the three latter besides Poland are not absolute
A Generall Table OF EUROPE REPRESENTING The Present and Future State thereof VIZ. The PRESENT GOVERNMENTS LANGUAGES RELIGIONS FOUNDATIONS and REVOLUTIONS both of Governments and Religions The FUTURE MUTATIONS REVOLUTIONS GOVERNMENT and RELIGION of CHRISTENDOM and of the WORLD c. From the Prophecies of the three late German Prophets KOTTERUS CHRISTINA and DRABRICIUS c. ALL Collected out of the Originals for the common Use and Information of the ENGLISH Printed for Benjamin Billingsley at the Printing Press in Broadstreet 1670. GENTLE READER THis little Piece of History has stuck in the Birth well nigh a whole year and at last is forced to come forth an imperfect Embryo through the unhappy Midwifry of the Press Yet for thy encouragement thou oughtest to know That there is none such ever yet extant in the English Tongue For for the first Part there is 1. Not a more modern and later History of Christendom in English Nor 2. a better in so small a Volumn viz. None that gives a better account of the last fore-going and this present Age which two chiefly concern us to know that is of the last considerable Affairs of the World and present state of things We say there is none extant of the like nature so short and comprehensive And for the Second Part It is the most wonderful strangest History ever yet known in the World in the English yea or any other Language And indeed not to be parallel'd by all History and Antiquity Whether those Prophetical Revelations be from GOD Man or the Devil yet they exceed all comparison If they be from GOD they are the strangest and most miraculous ever since the Apostles days If they be Delusions and Imaginations of Man they are the strangest ever suffer'd or invented by Man If lastly Devices Fascinations and Bewitchings of the Devil transforming himself into an Angel of Light c. they are the strangest still and the least Footsteps of his Cloven Foot to be discerned that ever was in any of his Juggles Onely we have been unhappily hindred by the Press from giving you a short view and taste of the Prophecies themselves as was really intended And these two things may perhaps help to make it go down with the Reader as it is notwithstanding all its faults For 't is confess'd there are many Defects procur'd through manyfold Occasions not fit here to be mentioned And if Worthy Reader thou knewest all Circumstances thou wouldst certainly be so candid as to pardon all Faults Which I doubt not but thou wilt at least for the good will and Endeavours of the Author Farewel ERRATA Courteous Reader These three or four places thou must needs be desired to amend before thou readest the Book All other faults we are forc'd to let pass c. Page 15. line 15. for of Inorganick c. read To which add The greater knowledge of and insight into the Inorganick Motion and Fermentation of Nature and Cultivation thereof And blot out those words as it were Mechanick Page 72. line 20. blot out those words or Nevers and interpose these the Prince of Conde whom the King of France c. Page 113. line 5. Note There was such News at that time that the Vizier himself was slain in a violent On-set c. This Book should have come forth then Page 159. line ult for Holiness read unholiness A General Table OF EUROPE In its Present and Future Appearance The First Part Comparative Of the Advantages of Europe in comparison of other Parts of the Universe The ARGUMENT Europe compar'd with other Parts and former Times for Arms Arts Commerce and Religion The preheminence of Empire and Arms. The preheminence of Arts and Sciences The Chinois high esteem thereof Of Riccius and Adams Jesuites there The Emperours great Grace and Favour to Adams His Edict and Charter in favour of the Christian Religion engrav'd on a stone at the entrance of their Church and Title given to it by him The Jesuites Inscription thereon The preheminence as to former times in many rare Arts and Inventions The preheminence of Riches and Commerce Shipping and Navigation The preheminence of Religion or Priviledge of Christendom Christendom the Glory of Europe All its Advantages founded on Christianity and Disadvantages on Pagan-and-Anti-christianism Shameful Dissentions of Christians and Christian Princes and States Lamentable Disorders Persecutions and Inquisitions for Religion and Conscience in Europe Liberty of the same commended Revolutions of the World Present flourishing of Europe EUROPE is at this day the most flourising part of the Universe for Empire Religion and Learning Arts and Arms and all the high distinctions of Humane kind And as she now exceeds all other Parts so the present all former Ages and Generations It is not our purpose at present in this General Table to make Comparisons and set her off by the others sad countenance but onely in first drawing some plain and rude Lineaments to expose to general view her present Portraiture and Appearance with some prospect of her future Europe then might be compar'd either with other parts or former Times of the World and every way we should find her to excel For though for largeness of extent she yeilds both to Africa and to Asia yet she surpasses them in politeness and they all seem rude and barbarous in comparison and has got those advantages and felicities above them that all their Riches cannot equal And if for vastness of single Empire and Treasure and dependencies thereon she cannot come in competition with the times of the Roman Greatness yet take her divided and all her parts together and she far exceeds them And by how much her Empire since has been disposed into divers hands by so much have her several parts been more puissant and flourishing The whole Glory of Europe then was contracted into a very narrow compass and one little corner onely and as I may say Toe of Italy For what was England France Spain and Germany c. to wâ—â—â—â—â—â—y are now surely infinitly more inglorious and despicable She could not then look down upon her Feet and inferior parts and not be like the Peacock ashamed in the height of all her pride For if we should compare her for Arts or for Arms for the Virtues of War and of Peace and therein all things else her Courts her Camps her Schools her Cities and her Fields we should find no degrees of comparison nor room in this Table We will only touch upon things loosly here as besides our present intent Asia perhaps has shewn Europe that prodigious Art of Powder and Cannon But Europe in revenge has requited her with another as great and by the Chard and Compass taught her and the World besides the use of that Invention For with her Ordinance and Men of War she has secur'd all the Coasts both of Persia and the Indies and those moreover of Ethiopia and of Peru. She has quell'd the Sophies and the Mogulls and seiz'd on their
Melinda Mosambica Quiloa The Protestant some places of the same Africa upon the Western and Southern Coast as in the Kingdom of Congo Guiny and Cape Verd. The Roman Religion possesses in America Mexico and Peru the Isles of Porto Rico St. Domingo and Cuba also Brasil and Canada and some of the Antilles Islands The Protestant in like manner in the same America New England New Swede New Denmark New Holland and Virginia and now of late the Island of Jamaca and the two thirds of the Antilles Islands and heretofore the Northern part of Brasil c. By all which you may see how little reason of Geography the Religion Roman has to appropriate the Name Catholick The Jesuites as has been seen by the first part have also promoted their Religion even into China but 't is not yet become National or powerful It rests only to draw hence their Proportions thus The Proportions of Europe Asia Africa and America ought to be considered as 1 3 4 and 7. So that taking only the Inhabited part of the World the Christians possess about a sixth the Mahometans a fifth or something more and the Heathens two thirds or hardly quite so much So that dividing all the known Regions of the Earth into thirty equal parts The Christians part shall be as five the Mahometans as six and the Heathens as ninteeen which is very near two thirds of thirty As for the Christians that are found in Asia Africa and America their petty number is as it were swallowed up in this fearful multitude of Mahometans and Idolators and is elsewhere counterballanced by that of the Mahometans in Europe And if to the Lands discovered one joyn that great Southern Continent which comes near to the very Aequator and coasts as it were continually from East to West the two other Continents of Asia and Africa so that it seems to be as large as Europe Asia and Africa put together then the Heathen will surpass the Mahometans and the Christians in an excessive proportion for they will then have near as much more for 't is to be believed that that part of the World has no other for its Inhabitants than Idolaters seeing that they found no other at the point of good Hope and towards the streight of Magellan which are the most neighbouring Lands to this vast Continent of the South whose shores onely are known unto us These are the three grand Branches of the Christian Religion in Europe out of which arise onely three other that are become distinct and National viz. the Lutheran the Calvinist and the Episcoparian all of them Protestant and Reformed All of them deny the Popes Supremacy and Transubstantiation c. The Calvinists deny both Transubstantiation of the Papists Consubstantiation of the Lutherans and Episcopacy and the Discipline of the others And these again the Presbytery of the Calvinists Consubstantiation of the Lutherans and Transubstantiation Supremacy c. of the Papists only retaining Episcopacy which they contend to be Primitive and some Popish Ceremonies which they contend to be indifferent and lawful all of them at great variance and with much zeal and animosity each against the other There are indeed many other Sects and Parties and Opinions shooted out of these but none to be accounted General National or Powerful though such as have rais'd great Disputes and Contentions and overwarm Fewds and Zealousness and some to Separation from all the former And they are either such as are or may be common to all other such as are chiefly those about Doctrine as Arminianism and Antiarminianism Socinianism or Antisocinianism c. according as Reason and Faith directs each The Socinians are chiefly in Poland The Arminians are spread every where Or else such as separate from all others chiefly about Discipline as the Brownists Independants c. chiefly in England and New England the Anabaptists in Germany and England also c. and other places the Quakers the latest of all in England c. The Latitudinarians who submit to any Discipline and contend only for the Substantials of Religion Seekers or Spiritualists who submit to no Religion as whose Religion is to be not so much against as above all Religions or Forms of Religion All which are comprehensive of most others and are all generally Libertinarians more or less that is for liberty of Religion Amongst such a company of Religions in the World what other means possible can there be for Unity Peace and Love amongst Christians or mankind but Liberty rather than Uniformity For how is it possible there should be Uniformity long where there 's onely necessity not consent and harmony There are but few places where liberty of Religion is tolerated and those with difference Among the Turks in Poland Germany and Holland generally all more or less In France the Protestants only In New England all but errors judg'd fundamental The Jesuites in China and in Italy and Avignon the Jews But the World will then onely be happy when it shall once become Universal that is as large as the very Universe it self and mens minds like to Truth it self noble and free and not narrow but large spirited and diffusive like the infinite Creators who would have all men to be saved and that by perswasion and not force because impossible But we pass by this less pleasing particular As also the Commerce Commodities Riches and Forces of Europe of which it is enough to say in general that she commands by Sea all the Riches of the World and of which enough before till we come to more particulars which are best referred to each several Countrey REVOLUTIONS The late grand Revolutions of Europe have been either of States and Kingdoms whether for Dominion or Religion or of Religions themselves or of both mixtly We shall onely look so far back as to take a view or prospect of the present face of things and the Foundations of the present Governments and Religions before mentioned The Foundation of the present Germane Empire in the House of Austria which grand Revolution has made it as it were Haereditary and put a period to Liberty of Elections I. ABout the year 1250. the Empire being greatly distracted through the Popes means and practices who for above an hundred years had notoriously usurped authority over the Emperors and made a common practice of excommunicating them in a manner successively for so many years one after the other the Empire I say being distracted into many Factions each Faction chose a King of the Romans or Emperor insomuch that there were now at one time three Elected together and a fourth a year or two after bought it and presently left it again and then for several years without any The Empire fluctuating thus for about twenty years and after so long an Interregnum the Princes of Germany met at Quidlinburg and made a League of Defence together about the year 1270. Thereupon Pope Gregory the tenth sends order to them to chuse an
most excellent and useful things of Nature Art and Religion That so true Religion Learning Arts Sciences Commerce and Traffick and all things else for the Common weale of mankind may flourish and be advanced in the World that Mercy and Truth may meet together Righteousness and Peace may kiss each other on the Earth which they have so long for saken But first There are a sort of Popelings yet behind Must ride the Devil off on 's legs and break his wind CHAP. II. Of the future State and Revolution of Europe both of Church and State OUT OF The last Visions and Revelations of Drabicius the Seer concerning wonderful things shortly to come As the ruine of the House of Austria of the Pope of Spain c. by the Turks Tartars King of France c. conversion of the Turks Jews and Heathens Reformation of the World and Church by the Secular Powers The Renovation and Restitution of all things at hand New Heavens and new Earth viz. Church and State c. The Preface VVE should now finish this Table but that we think it meet to add a second Chapter of the Prophetick History of Europe not from the uncertain conjectures of Astrologians and Politicians but Revelations truly accounted Divine If it more immediately concern all to know the present State of Christendom and of this last age above all before that are past and gone and almost forgotten yet that is principally in order to what is to come And so much more it concerns us to consider what shall be hereafter then the things that have been and are And indeed this all mens minds generally are most inquisttive after yet few will have faith to believe And hence the knowledge of things to come is one part of History as well as of those that are past Wherefore I shall think it no unacceptable service to my Country men and not unbefitting this place to represent to view a summary draught also of those wonderful Visions and Revelations of Dabricius by the Godly and Learned esteemed Divine at least that few yet dare say are meer phanatick delusions or diabolical that so this Historical Table or Representation of things last past and next to come may be for more profit and advantage and of greater use to the English Reader 'T is certain all the world expects some great Catastrophe and Revolutions at hand and great have lately past in all Nations preparatory thereunto All Astrologers gaze for it All Politicians presage it all Theologers divine it And generally All People Jews Turks Christians Papists and Protestants seem to bespeak as much As if some dark intelligence were hovering up and down to abode and whisper some such matter presently to betide the world The Jews stand gazing for the Kingdom of their Messias the Turks of their Mahomet The Christians of their Christ and the Papists of their Antichrist The Planetary Conjunction and new Stars the dreadful Comets and terrifying Prodigies The remarkable predictions and prophetick Spirits yea the very false prophets too in several Countries The wonderfull providences and strange revolutions and alterations of this last Age specially those of late as the great Eclipses not many years agoe The new Star in 1572. in 1604. and lately in 1660. The fiery Trigon begun 1603. and ended with that great Conjunction of the two superior Planets Saturn and Jupiter in that fiery Trigon in 1663. never before this eight hundred years viz. at the beginning of the German Empire by Charls the Great and hoped to be the last being the seventh only of the world having never happened but six times before since the Creation And this being also the third Conjunction of those superior Planets which is every twenty years in the seventh fiery Trigon and falling in the year 1663. Rome Rome remember sixty three and three was said of that year by the Astrologers and the great congregation of all the seven Planets in the fiery signe of Sagittary also preceeding it which whether ever happened before since the beginning of the world is not known makes some not only take a Sign but a beginning of some great Mutation in Religion and Government In Religion namely the conversion of Jews Turks and all the Nations of the Gentiles In State the subversion of all Tyrannicall Rule and Domination and all manner of oppression and violence in the Earth The too late Prodigious Comets succeeding about a year after as well as those in 1652. and 1618. Saturn being in the House of Infirmity for six month before concerning which there is extent a strange Prophecy found by Capistranus above two hundred years agoe and printed above an hundred agoe at Venice and afterwards upon the Comet in 1618. appearing at Pargue in Germany in 1620. and said by the said Capistran to be one of the Sybill's twenty years before Christ concerning the ruine of the Pope and Emperor and return of the Apostolick times There is also some thing particular mentioned in Capistrans explication concerning France and others Aix la Chapelle which is forgot The Prophecy said to be of the Sybills was only in figures of a Woman with a Triple Crown embraced by a Crowned King or Emperor With a Wheel with twelve spokes denoting the Cardinals like the twelve Apostles with the Arms of France Low-Countries c. with other particulars forgotten From one Angel appeared a blazing Star darting upon the Woman and Emperor c. Capistran by a prophetick Spirit wrote an explication of every particular in short Motto's writ underneath each which he buried in a wall not daring to make it known in those times Being an enlightened Monk and was found an hundered years after and Printed as was said at Venice The Motto under the Comet is only remembered viz. Saturn in the house of Infirmity which some Astronomers say could be meant of no former Comet but this last only having examined it by their Rules Since this we have seen the sudden irruption of the French into Flanders c. and the peace soon made again at Aix la Chapel and yet indeed as good as no peace but rather a truce It were well this prophecy were better looked into to see whether any thing solid to be observed therein or any thing that may answer and concern the present affairs or the late Comet yea or no. In fine the most lamentable Wars Plagues Fires and sad calamities and heavy and grievous judgments of Gods wrath abroad in the Earth especially the astonishing Blazing Fire of London soon after in 1666. The powerful approach and threatning of the Turks and their dreadful design upon Christendom the universal unsettlement shakings of Kingdoms and Nations the high Animosities and Jealousies of Princes and States the cry of Subjects and general failing of mens hearts for fear and expectation of others and the total deluge of prophauness atheisme impenitency and unbelief with their desperate effects namely all injustice oppression wars and persecutions and universal
any other Province of Greece The States General of the United Provinces did some years since contribute liberally to the charge of an Impression of the New Testament in Vulgar Greek whereto there has been joyn'd the Ancient or Original Greek for the consolation of those poor people that groan under the Tyranny of the Ottomans The Latin the other Tongue Mort has but three principal shoots or branches the Italian French and Spanish But this last has an huge medly of barbarous tearms left from the Moors And under these three are to be comprehended the Savoyan and Piemontian those of Sicily Sardinia and of the Grisons in the Alps. We might find out yet seven other Tongues in Europe but of far less extent then the preceding and not nois'd of in the World As the Albanian or Epirotick in Epirus and Macedonia The Bulgarian for Servia Bosnia and Bulgaria under the Turks The Cossack or Tartarian of the lesser Tartary in the Taurica Chersonesus and all along the River Tanais The Finnick in Finland and Lapland Provinces of Swedeland That of the Wilde Irish and Scotch in Ireland and the West of Scotland The British or Welch in Wales and some parts of Cornwal in England and half through Bretain Armorica or Little Britain in France And lastly the Biscayan on this side and that side the Pyrenean Hills and near to the Cantabrian Ocean as little understood to the rest of the World as the old British it self Besides some Arabick not worth mentioning in the Mountains of Granada call'd Alpuxarras ever since the Moors possess'd those parts Of all these Languages there are some Masculine but something rude and harsh as the German and in some sort the Spanish through the Reliques and mixture of the Moorish And some Faeminine but more delicate and fine as the Italian and in some sort the English Which are more graceful in the mouths of the Women and become them best than the Mens who cannot use too much gravity in their Speech Moreover the Language of the Spaniards is said to be Manly the Italian Courtly and the French Amorous The German is like their Nation Warlike The English is now become a compleat mixture of all viz. old Dutch or Saxon Latine and chiefly French with some sprinklings of Spanish and Italian flourishing now at length with a rare choice out of all occasioned by the constant travels and education of our English Gentry and Nobility and Scholars with them abroad By reason of all which diversities of Tongues there has been not only Designs but real Endeavours and Essayes and of late more than ever towards an Universal Character and Language to avoid the confusion of these And of all the Universally Learned Wilkins excels and has wonderfully out-done all the Ingenioso's Virtuoso's or Literado's of the World that have gone about it or medled therewith And it no longer lies now on the Inventors but the Learners no less than the whole Worlds part who are hardly taught all one thing to make it familiar and easie that is Universal RELIGIONS Three Religions do at this day divide all the Earth Heathen Mahometan and Christian The first is without doubt the largest the second in like manner carries it from the third and best but with this difference that this last is more concentred together and fills the most peopled Provinces of the Universe As for the Jews they are no Nation but dispersed in all have no fixt Seat Principalities nor Magistrates Yet their number is great both in Poland and Greece and all the Turks Dominions besides some sprinklings in Italy Holland c. Paganism or Heathenism embraces more than three quarters of both the America's and more then two thirds even of Africa and Asia also All that prodigious space of Ground of the America's greater than all the other three parts of the World besides put together is fill'd with Idolaters who worship Animals Vegetables Stars and Devils And comprehends innumerable vast Regions populous Nations and mighty Kingdoms And in Africa and Asia in like manner a fearful company of Nations Kindreds and People live in thick darkness of Paganism and Ignorance of the true God Mahometism never yet had footing in America But in Africk the mighty Kingdoms of Fez and Morocco the Jurisdictions of Tremisen Algiers Tunis Tripolis of Barce and Egypt In Asia the Grand Seignor the Kings and Princes of the three Arabia's the Grand Cham of Tartary the King of Persia the Grand Mogul the Kings of Visapor and Colconda The Kings on both the sides of Coromandel and of Malavar The King of the Maldives The King of Achem and all the Princes of the Grand Isle of Sumatra The Emperor of Java The King of Bantam and other Princes of the Neighbouring Isles For their people are generally Idolaters Which we ought no more to wonder at than at the medly that is found in like manner among Christians themselves Christianism makes two Grand Branches the Trunk or Body whereof is in Europe but the Branches extend themselves far and near into all the parts of the Universe both Asia and Africa and America And they are the Eastern Christians or the Eastern and Greek Church the Roman Christians or Papists the corrupt Church and the Protestant Christians or Reformed Church both members of the Latin or Western Church in opposition to the Greek or Eastern The Greek Church differs chiefly from the Latin about the Profession of the Holy Ghost and some other Points and Articles of Faith The Protestant from the Papistical chiefly about the Popes Supremacy and Infallability Sacrament of the Altar and Indulgences which gave the first occasion and other corrupt Points and Doctrines stablish'd since by the Council of Trent The Romans call themselves the Catholick Apostolical Church but most unjustly and all the rest Hereticks and the Protestants reckon themselves the onely true Catholick Apostolick and call the others the Antichristian Babylonish or false and themselves the Reformed Church which indeed is true so far as they are truly reformed But yet 't is much to be fear'd and shrewdly to be suspected that Antichrist reaches further than Rome and that all Rome 't is to be hoped is not Babylon The Christians of the East make up a great number and possess large Countries the Christians Roman and the Christians Protestant may dispute for Number and Power and make comparison We make none here but only of the Provinces which they possess without going beyond our mark intending only a bare Relation or plain Table and no Zeal of Comparisons In the Eastern Church are also many differences crept in but the Greeks bear the chief sway although both the Armenia's who make a company apart are a considerable Body We put all together here the Greeks the Abyssins the Armenians and the Muscovites the Nestorians the Cophites the Maronites the Georgians the Jacobites and the Melchites or Assyrians In the Reformed Church of the Protestants are the two great Sects of the
the greatest Dominions And this would have been a fair step to be the Head of Kingdoms as the Pope was of the Church And just such beginnings had the Pope himself over all other Bishops Secondly by Arms. For there remained two kingdoms in Spain Portugal and Navarre both which they seize on First that of Navarre and Naples c. Whence perpetuall Wars ever since with France in Catalonia c. For this Kingdom which still retains the Title and by Arms continually requires the possession And then of Portugal by Philip the 2 d about sixty years after viz. about the 1560. Thirdly by Shipping and Sea-Forces or Power at Sea specially afterwards with their Invincible Armado in 88 wherein were above thirty thousand Souldiers to joyn with as many out of the Netherlands And again afterwards with as great Preparation against the Hollanders but to as little purpose too in the year 1640 aiming at Superiority and Dominion of the Northern Seas and consequently of all the World But the Hollanders and English were grown by that time of the World too big to do any good on them 2. To Ferdinand the Catholick succeeds Philip Archduke of Austria c. before-mentioned Son to Maximilian the Emperor about 1504. 3. After whom comes Charles the 5 th An. 1516. king of Spain Archduke of Austria Duke of Milan Burgundy Brabant Earl of Catalonia Flanders Holland c. and Emperor of the Germans under whom the Monarchy of Spain grew towards its greatest height He added the Realms of Mexico and Peru the Dukedom of Milan and several Estates in the Netherlands Marched into Africa possesses Tunis and other parts thereby disposing Kingdoms there at his pleasure But was at last soon outed of the Empire as a foresaid leaving Spain and the Netherlands and other Spanish Territories too 4. His Son Philip the 2d An. 1558. under whom this Kingdom recieved its utmost increase by Portugal and the East Indies therewith and also its greatest decrease by the Netherlands For upon the death of Sebastian King of Portugal slain in Africa without Issue appeared six chief Competitors for the Crown Of all whom the Duke of Braganza had most right but the King of Spain notwithstanding all the help from France and England got it And so was the first of the West-Goths since the Moors that obtain'd the Universal Monarchy of all Spain and both the East and West-Indies besides the Belgick Provinces and other dominions in Europe in so much that they could brag that the Sun rose and set in their ground So that now the whole bulk of his swelling titles was compleated viz. King of Spain Castile Leon Arragon Navar Hierusalem Naples Sicily Sardinia Majorck and Minorck and of the Isles and Continent of the Indies and of the Main Ocean King Arch-Duke of Austria Duke of Burgundy Lorraine Brabant Lucenburg Gelderland and Milan Earl of Hapsburg Flanders Artois Henault Holland Zealand c. Marquess of the Sacred Empire Lord of Friezland Meckleburgh Ulricht c. Great Lord of Asia and of Africa 5. Which mighty Monarchy labouring with its own weight soon began to fall into peeces 1 through exhausting of its people and want of men by naval expeditions into both Indies by many and long Wars by ejecting the Moors and Jews before afterwards c. by the Spanish Inquisition and grievous Taxes and oppressions of the Countrymen and labourers 2 By wasting of its Riches and Wealth by Wars and imprudence 3 By loss of kingdoms and Provinces as well as great defeats of its Armies and Armado's As namely the loss of the Netherlands the Defeat in 88 the long Wars with the French who alwayes oppos'd this rising Monarchy on all sides which brought lastly the revolt of Portugal and Catalonia and so the loss of half their entire united Monarchy besides the new conquests in Flanders the last year by the French all which have made pretty wide gaps in those numerous swelling titles 6. But this great Kingdom was chiefly impair'd by the Revolt of the Netherlands and Portugal For this Philip in indeavouring to bring Tyrannick Government both Civil and Religious specially the last by the bloudy Inquisition and to reduce them back a gain by force to the Church of Rome from that Reformation of Religion which was now every where begun whereof he was a violent Enemy was by a great part of the Provinces confederate together rejected from being their Prince An. 1581. for seeing the Spaniards would bring in absolute domination both over Soul and Body they became desperate to the death declare him for a Tyrant and perpetual Enemy and by eighty years Wars brought the Spaniard to an open confession or conviction of his bad Politicks for Force of Religion and taught them and the World too if they will be taught this Rule That a free Nation must be governed freely For the Pride and Tyranny specially in Religion and the unmerciful Inquisition fill'd all Christian People with Hate and Terror of the Spaniards specially these most concern'd For by no more powerful argument did the Prince of Orange inflame the Netherlanders Spirits than saying That These burn men alive for Religion which set them all on fire So ill does Force upon either mens Civil or Religious Liberties conduce to establish Princes where Subjects are once sensible of them And that Religion had a chief hand in these Revolutions you must know that the main design then driven on by the Catholick Princes and Party was the defence and propagation of that Religion the Protector whereof the King of Spain vaunted to be and the extirpation of Hereticks and so to make the King of Spain Universal and absolute and truly and indeed Catholick at least by some c. In such sort that about 1560 Charles the 9 th king of France with the Queen-Mother Katherine of Medices a busie and Imperious Queen and Isabel this king of Spains Wife and the Duke of Alva make a league to joyne the Power and Policies of both Nations to root out the new increasing Hereticks The Hugonots out of France and the Protestants out of the Low-Countries and Germany and immediately ensued the Holy League in France wherein this King was a mighty stickler also and then those wars here So that he not only confederated with the Leaguists against the Hugonots but also about the year 1580 when the other would not do endeavours also upon the same account to hinder the Reformation growing in his own Dominions by bringing in the Inquisition and arbitrary Government amongst them whereby he was wholly driven out of those Provinces confederating together for their Liberty and Priviledges And indeed except mens Civil Liberties be first invaded their Religious can hardly be To recover which Countries they exhausted all their strength in vain for eighty years till they were at last forc'd to a shameful submission in the Treary of Munster 1648. therein renouncing for ever all Right c. and treat with them and
Military Power yet in Riches and Wealth equal or exceed them And as they Squeeze the King of Spain with the Interest so he sometimes to be even with them pays them without the Principal Of Lucca Between Florence and Genoa lies this Commonwealth It 's territories only eighty miles compass In the dismembring of the Kingdom of Italy from the Emperors into peeces and several parcels they at last purchased their fredom of the Emperor In the beginning it was tossed with Tyrants The chief was Castruccio who had made himself absolute Master thereof The Emperor under pretence of freeing it from that faction seiz'd on it again But sold again to the Genoese by the German Garrison there left and having passed through many hands the Emperor got it again of whom they once more purchas'd their desired liberty and to secure themselves demolished the Castle built by Castruccio An. 1400. Paulus Guinisius tyrannized over them But dying in prison An. 1430. they recovered their liberty and alone have kept it intire of all the Cities of Italy besides the Commonwealths mentioned But not finding themselves able to maintain it they put themselves under the protection of their potent Neighbours changing their patrons as most conduced to their preservation And seeing they could expect no help from the Emperor and finding no security from Genoa and as little from Florence both which they severally try'd they put themselves at last into the protection of the Duke of Milan and in that right are patronis'd by the King of Spain becoming Lord of Milan and keeps its liberty intire from being made a prey to Princes not by its own proper power but the emulation of Neighbours yet stands in perpetual fear of the Great Duke of Tuscany who pretends to it as once under the Commonwealth of Pisa now subjected to him c. Of Ragusi Ragusi is a free Commonwealth in Dalmatia upon the Sea side both Town and Territory not subject as all the rest either to the Turk or Venetian between both preserving its Liberty and is a noted Empory rich and strong in shipping and of great Traffick yet of much more Wealth heretofore then at present And traded to most parts of the Western World in those great Vessels called from hence corruptly Argusis the last of which their Trade decaying they lent to the King of Spain for his expedition against England in 88. where it was lost c. There remains but one Sovereign Estate more which makes a distinct Government from all the rest and that is a Religious or Estate of the Church called the Popedom Of the Papality or Popedom and Papal Kingdom The Papal Power and Principallity is either Spiritual or Universal Bishop Infallible Judge of Truth with universal power of Excommunication that is as supreame Head of the Catholick or Universal Church at first founded upon Temporal power and greatness and upheald by it as well as Spiritual prerogatives previledges and power Else he had never been owned as Supreme Head c. Or secondly Temporal and this is again founded upon the spiritual So that 't is a mixt dominion of spiritual and temporal power As cheif or High-priest and a King or temporal Prince Which he pretends to over all but enjoynes but in very little part This Dominion and Kingdom thus mixt is either imperfect and limited as what he hath in and over other Ringdoms the Clergy specially Being Head of their Church in their Kingdoms or perfect absolute and Sovereign as any other Temporal Prince over their Subjects as in the Estates and Lands of the Church in Italy c. The foundation and likewise Superstructure of this Religious Principallity consisting of such twofold power was first laid and then built and perfected by the working of the Mystery of Iniquity gradually Which to scent and hunt out would require the History of all ages and places and too long therefore for this short Table Yet to represent it obvious at one view we can but briefly take notice and touch upon only the chief matters of fact without excursion or comments 1. There was first distinction of Clergy and Laity 2. distinction degrees and dignities of Clergy for order and unity to avoid schisme and factions 3. These degrees dignities and distinctions of offices in the Church suited and proportioned very much to those in State and those Independent on the state thereby setting up Imperium in Imperio or a Government in Government 4. Contending for preeminence priority precedency supremacy in the several Churches and Governments 5. Lastly an universal supremacy i. e. of one over all First Spiritual in Ecclesiastick affairs Secondly Temporal in Politick affairs at least aimed at endeavoured and pretended and in some measure usurped and possessed The spiritual supremacy began by Pope Boniface about An. 606. under the title of universal Bishop to which several things conduced 1. First Accommodating the Honours and Governments of the Church to those of the present state that is of the Empire become Christians and so mixing Spiritual and Temporal power and setting up Empire in Empire under Constantine the Great turn'd Christian For because they must needs acknowledge according to that famous maxim amongst them that the Church was in the Commonwealth not the Commonwealth in the Church Therefore upon that foundation the Fathers in the Council of Calcedon raised this superstructure that the Honours in the Church should be accommodated unto those in the State From whence would easily follow an Head of the Church as well as of the Empire at least as far as the Empire reach Hereupon Constantine dividing the Empire into fourteen Diocesses each Diocess into Provinces and each Province into Cities and placing in every Diocess a Vicegerent or Viceroy in every Province a President and in every City a Defendor or Governor the Church accordingly institute for every Vicegerent a Primate or Patriarch in the principal City of the Diocess for every President a Metropolitan in the Metropolis of the Province and for every Governor a Bishop in every City with permission of the superior Emperor and then a Pope over all would follow of course naturally for the Emperor himself c. in the chief seat of the Empire 2. There was suiting Temporal means Tythes Revenues Riches proportional to the Honours Dignities Degrees and Offices of Government in the Church by the said Constantine which a Voice in the Air proclaimed to be a Pest sown in the Church 3. The Bishop of Rome remained as yet at least accounted the most Orthodox and their Religion as in the heart and center of the Empire seemed most to flourish Hence 1. frequent appeals to this Church as the truest and best 2. Thence assuming to be supream Judg interpretor or moderator of controversie of Truth and Error and to be vindicators of the Canon or rule of Faith 3. Lastly to be the only infallible Judge and determiner and as it were Rulers or over-rulers of the Cannons and to
his submission granted to him and his heirs The title of the Kings of England As if they never had it since the Conquest of right before Hence it is observed sayes the Popish writers That all Kings of England must acknowledg the Pope for their Landlord And in like manner his predecessor Hadrian the 4 th about 1555. gave Ireland to the Kings of England for a penny to be paid yearly out of every house as much as a shilling now But As long as there 's a Goose or Gander We must remember Alexander If it were but for this verse sake which ends a coppy sent to him by a Monkish Rimer little better in the Latin About 1190. Celestine Crowns the Emperor with his foot and then spurns it off again with this saying By me Kings reign He set all Princes almost together by the ears that Rome might gain with siding with one part or the other and making them friends again And this was and is a constant practise with them and a principal matter whereby they stand For if one deserts them another still upholds them for their own interest which is mingled with the Papal over all the World About 1200. Innocent the third raised the Otho's against Philip the Emperor resolving that he would uncrown him or be uncrown'd by him because chose without his liking And as soon as Otho himself was made Emperor excommunicates him too as also King John of England Peter King of Aragon and Raimund Earl of Tholoss And decreed in a Council held at Rome from thence forth the Pope to have the correction of all Christian Princes and no Emperor to be acknowledged all he had sworn obedience to him In pursuance whereof deposes the said King John and gives away his Kingdom to the French King causes him to surrender his crown to his Legate interdicts him the Kingdom for six years together and makes him stand to his mercy to have it again and upon the restoring to make it Tributary fining it at the yearly rent of 8000. Marks to be held of the Pope in fee-farme And his usurpations were so great here in England That the Nobles writ in their Letters to their Bishops To such a Bishop or such a Chapter who had rather dye then he ruined by the Romish Task-Masters Likewise the said King of Aragon Naples and Sicily c. was forced also to subject his Kingdoms as feudatory to the Church of Rome and to be held of the Pope And now also was brought up that Idol of Transubstantiation and adoration of the Host to subject the people to a more divine Reverance and external devotion and deportment towards their Holy things and mysteries which is wonderful to behold even to this very day and to make their Religion and Priests more Venerable at least this has been the efect thereof What matter of Zeal Fury and Persecution this became afterwards all storyes and ages ring of as if it had been to deny God indeed and Christ and all Religion to deny this their Idol God they had and have to this day so possessed people with such a fond Imagination God also giving them up to believe lyes and to erre concerning the Faith mistaking the Letter for the Spirit Also that devise of Auricular confession was introduced about this time which aws the people exceedingly likewise Moreover about the same time arose those deadly seuds between the Papaline Guelphs and Imperial Gibelines or if you will Elfs and Goblins so called as is thought from their terrible doings c. which destracted all Italy and contiuned for many ages after which factions were stirred up by the Pope and his Agents means and practises c. It was about the year 200. likewise that Philip King of France was excommunicated and then it was said In the year of the Reign of Christ not of Philip. Also 1204. the Sea of Constantinople and the Greek Church and Emperor became subject to the Roman for above 30. years through their projects c. And about 1220. the East as well as Westren Emperor was crowned at Rome by the Pope no longer now as a Servant you may now well think but their Lord and Superior by what has been already rehearsed For in this Popes time some thought fitting to make this Embleme There are two great lights The Sun that is the Pope and the Moon that is the Emperor Nay the high Papalists would have none to be truly Monarch and Soveraign that is absolute and Independent on any other as Supreme but the Pope as before has been intimated About 1240. the twentieths of Ecclesiastick Revenues are obtained for the Pope It came afterwards to the tenths nay the fifths and fourths too in some Kingdoms c. About 1245. Innocent the fourth excommunicates the Emperor Frederick the fourth time having been three times before by former Popes though he had been his greatest friend and deposes him the King of France in vain interceeding and sets up Anti-Cesaers because his Highness forsooth would not stope low enough to his Holiness and in the end because he would not bring him enough under got him poyson'd The four orders of the begging Fryars viz. the Dominicans Franciscans Carmelits and Augustins began to swarm under him as their great Patron and by their voluntary humility and external devotion to uphold this their exalted and triumphant Church and Religion This Pope demanded also the payment of the Twentieths before granted and afterwards of the Tenths of all Revenues and Profits of the Church adding grievous threatnings if they were not paid and by his Legate in Poland one fifth of all Afterwards he perswaded the French King to make War against Henry the 3 d. of England and to make him either yeeld to all the Pope demanded or to drive him out of his Kingdom An. 1255. The King of Lithuania being converted to Christianity is crowned by the Pope and subjects his Kingdom to him For if they would be Christians they must all acknowledge Christs Vicar or else be Infidels still for all other Christianity now was almost fled the Earth An. 1260. The Pope translates the Kingdom of Naples and Sicily which the King of Aragon had made feudatory to the Church as before c. and which the former Pope also would have sould to Henry the 3 d. of France from the right owners and bestows it on the French most bountifully And now was the Pope come to the hight of power riches and authority and to have mighty interest in the World and now all the Nations worshiped the Beast The Princes generally began to make appeals to the Roman Court and the people were devoted to the Romish Laws Customs and Religion The Pope had now the creating of Electors of the Empire almost as he listed and consequently the Emperor in a manner at his beck About 1270. Rodolph of Napsburg or Ausburgh the first of the Austrian House was affraid to go to Rome to take his Crown or to
upon all Kingdoms and Nations and the whole World too at least occasionally or even but to see their own interests and concerns to hate the Whore and burn her with fire Daemonis Ira premens odijs ac fraudibus orbem Implet nec damnis hominum exsaturata quiescit The Devil fill'd with Rage the World doth fill With Wars and Cheats to rule it at his will And for more mischief is more greedy still The Devil Of Evil Will never have his fill This is the Kingdom of the Beast and the Synagogue of Satan or a General draught of the hellish Hierarchy of Rome or Popedom of King and Priest Lucifer on Earth The pretended grouuds and foundations of their Popedom Spiritual have been already hinted before Those for their Temporal are much of the same nature viz. That the Pope is Christ s that is God's Vicar or Vice-Gerent and so not only Vice-Roy as it were but Vice-God on Earth which title they dare own That He 's Visible Head of the Church and so of the State too in order to the Church For that the Church is above the State The Head of the Church above the Head of the State The State for the Church not the Church for the State and therefore dominion to be founded in Grace c. And so no Enemies of the Church Infidels or Hereticks to be capable thereof but to be destroyed and rooted out c. which are all they shall judge so Likewise many Rights Priviledges and Favours granted by Constantine the Great Charls the Great and other Emperors and Kings As also usurped and long permitted or connived at Customs Examples Presidents c. But in one word an outward Carnal Religion in the Letter without the Spirit The form of Godliness without the Power Christians both Pastors Preachers and People first not having the Spirit nor the wisedom from above namely the wisedom of God and the Power of God but the wisedom of man or that which is worse the wisedom from beneath earthly sensual and devillish Hence Ceremonies without substance external and carnal Ordinances Commandements and Inventions of men in the Worship and Service of God Love of the World and things of the World Pride Ambition Covetousness and Voluptuousness and Preaching and professing Religion for such ends and taking all up from tradition authority and forefathers c. Whence contentions and divisions about needless Opinions and Ceremonies for Dignity Superiority and Supremacy for Riches and Honours c. â—nd then a pompous gaudy and merry Religion to please the people and gratifie the outward man to maintain and uphold the greatness power pomp and pleasures of the Clergy through the secret and mysterious working of Iniquity in men of corrupt minds and erring concerning the Faith and the Truth which was after godliness c. with some frightful devices to scare and awe their guilty fearful and slavish Consciences and other petty ones again to pacifie and allay them mistaking the whole Mystery of Godliness and inverting it into a Mystery of Iniquity one degree of Error and Corruption bringing in another I say all this is the foundation and Superstructure of this Kingdom of darkness and of Hell For the natural man perceiveth not the things of God and of the Kingdom of God As for the Popes Temporal Principality and Soveraigne Estate in Rome and Italy and Avignon called the Estate or Land of the Church and St. Peters Patrimony The foundation thereof as a peculiar and distinct Soveraignty apart besides the forementioned grounds of the donation of Christ to St. Peter and his Successors as his Sea c. it depends over and above on the forged and counterfeit donation of Constantine on the real donation of Pepin and Charls the Great c. on the Countess Mathilda's last Will and Testament All which gave liberally to St. Peter and lastly on Usurpation Arms and Violence And notwithstanding it 's convenient situation for the command of all Italy and the perpetual fractions there formerly yet they could never so wisely manage their Pope-craft as yet to possess themselves like the ancient Romans of the whole which remains divided among many Princes and Soveraign Estates As the Estate of ancient Lombardy under which is contained the Dukedom of Milan subject to Spain the Dukedom of Mantua Modena Montferrat and the Principality of Piemont which belongs to Savoy The great Dukedom of Tuscany or Florence The Lands or Estate of the Church or the Popes Patrimony The Kingdom of Naples with Sicily Sardinia under Spain And lastly The Commonwealth of Venice Genoa and Lucca An. 1595. The Pope chalenged the Dukedom of Ferrara for want of lawful Issue in the right of the Church and partly by force partly by composition united it for ever to the Sea of Rome An. 1626. The great Dukedom of Urbin foremerly made fudatory to the Church and held thereof in homage for want of Heirs of right fell to the Pope c. About 1647. The Pope seized on the Dukedom of Castro from the Duke of Parma upon the account of feudatory Quit-rent due to the Popes whence arose War But the Controtroversie was composed by the authority of the King of France in their late treaty 1664. when agreed that Castro should be restored to Parma and the Duke to pay the mony due c. And then agreed likewise that the K. of France should restore Avignon to the Pope w ch he had seiz'd on not long before upon the quarrel about his Embassador at Rome w ch was acordingly done And thus we have in general represented the foundations and Revolutions of the Papal Hierarchy or Kingdom of the Pope both Temporal and Spiritual its rise growth increase height and decrease not being able well to comprehend so long and mysterious an History and so confused with all others in less room and willing only to touch upon chief particulars of their usurpations incroachings and domineerings down to our times that so you might have a Map or Table and plain veiw as it were at once of this Ecclesiastical and Priestly Kingdom All which 't was necessary to fetch so high the better to understand the coherence of the story and present State thereof with the Affairs and Revolutions both of the Governments and Religions of all Christendom which it has so wretchedly involved it self with The sum of all in short is this The Popedom was a digging working and preparing as it were underground about 400. years most eminently from Victor about the year 192. and others especially afterwards from under Constantine the Great about the year 300. to Boniface the 3 d. About the year 600. As Covetous Proud Corrupt Opinionated and in one word Apostate Luciferian Bishops Pastors and Priests that had fell from their first standing and foundation of the Apostles that is the primitive purity and simplicity of the Gospel to devised Fables Ceremonies Inventions Constitutions and Prudentials c. The Popedom Spiritual or Universal
Cottons of Bezoart nor of Indigo of Gumlac nor of Purslanes of Salt-Peter nor Salt-Amoniak And to set aside Drugs and Medicaments Tobaco and Castors and abundance of Mullet one of the most excellent Fish of the Ocean which alone makes the Riches of five or six good Cities In a word all the Riches of the Earth and all the delights of the Sea So that though every Land do not bear all things yet they need want none and may so change Commodities as if they had changed Countries one to the other And yet though Diamonds Pearls and Spices are onely fetch'd from the Indies yet some return is made for them in Coral and Amber which Europe exchanges for the Jewels of Asia The Japons all their Passion is for Coral as much as ours for Diamonds and Pearls Insomuch that a Grain of the bigness of an ordinary Egg is there worth 2000 Crowns And in the North of Asia and Cathy much is vended where all the people wear Bracelets thereof about their Necks Arms and Legs and make it their principal Ornament And use the greatest Grains thereof for their richest Purses which they wear by their sides And for Yellow Amber a great quantity is consumed in China for when a person of quality will make a splendid Treatment at the end of the Feast they bring three or four Censours wherein they sprinkle Aber sometimes to the value of a thousand Crowns being the more they burn the more it is for his glory that Treats and is much used in Fumes upon all other occasions the smell thereof being agreeable to them and the flame having something which other flames have not Hence Amber is one of the best Merchandises that Europe can send into Asia and the Holland Company reserve it particularly to themselves to sell it dear at Batavia to the Chineses If Europe then at present carries it so high both for Arts and Arms for Riches and Commerce the main Props of States and Kingdoms and all things else comprehended in them And if she now enjoyes all these advantages before all other parts more than ever heretofore She has yet that which carries her still higher and whereof to glory further as the highest prerogative of humane kind That She is no longer Europe but Christendom I say Christendom and that she has imbrac'd the true Religion and rejected Idolatry and the false Worship of the Pagans And though a new Romish and Papal Superstition and Idolatry overspread one half and more of her Dominions and with grief it is to be confessed that it is every where also yet but a lamentable Christianity and an Heathen a Pagan Unchristian and very Antichristian Christendom or Christian-Heathendom rather where Heathenish Warrs and Fightings Heathenish Rites and Customs and Heathenish Superstitions where Heathenish Sects and contendings about needless Ceremonies and Opinions Heathenish Zeal and Fury against pure Religion and undefiled like that of the Heathen against Socrates for owning the true God and Heathenish Vices and Crimes reign and rage throughout yet the true God is outwardly worshipped and owned The Doctrine or rather Mystery of a Crucified Christ but alone truly deified and adorable Man above all the Hero's and Gods and Saints and Divine-like Persons of the Pagans or Prophets of the Jews and Mahometans The Man Jesus true God and Man O the Mystery of Godliness God manifest in the flesh c. hid in times past to the Gentiles c. but now revealed to the Nations of Europe more than ever and more than to all other parts of the World I say the Mystery of a Crucified Christ but true deified Person the Man Jesus the Saviour of the World is openly professed by all and seriously believed in by thousands O adorable Jesu who would not read thy Story and study thy Acts and Heroick Deeds and Virtues and imitate thy life and believe and obey in thy Kingdom an infinity of Souls are gain'd to him an infinity of Victories got over the Devil and an infinite of Trophies erected upon the ruines of Idolatry But indeed the grievous and shameful Schisms and Vices the lamentable Dissentions and Divisions of Christians and Christian Princes so prodigally throwing away so many thousand mens Christians Lives nay and Souls in unchristian-Christian Quarrels is the reproachful blur to all her Puissance and Splendor and which will never cease nor the Christian Religion ever flourish and prosper in the World as it ought and Kings be her Nursing Fathers and Queens her Nursing Mothers till they be more sunk and baptized into the thing than the name Christianity and answer throughly their Magnificent and Specious Titles of Mass Catholick most Christian c. Majesties And when once the Turks Fingers all four shall grow together Then alack and not before we may hope to see our Masters agree and co-unite Still Christian Wars they will pursue and boast Unjust Successes gain'd whilst Candy's lost Which may now e'ne just take up Rhodes Complaint against them all All gaining vainly from each others loss Whilst still the Crescent drives away the Cross The Cross which they ought to take for their Device or Motto which is believ'd to have been given from Heaven to Christendoms first Emperor in this overcome But 't is hop'd that the two generous Nations of England and Holland which are able to do much when they are entirely united will keep their Union firm for some nobler Enterprise worthy of themselves and the high Reputation they have gain'd in the World But that which more than all Eclipses and stirs her present Splendor and robs her of her Crown and Glory of Religion and hinders the progress and flourishing thereof in the Earth are the cruel and bloody Inquisitions and Persecutions for Religion and Conscience of her several Sects and parties within her self which are more merciless to one another than they would or ought to be to Pagans Turks and Infidels or Turks Pagans and Infidels would be or are to them and give less liberty of Religion amongst themselves then they may find there amongst Barbarians Which plainly shews that there lacks only common Candor and Ingenuity and but tolerable civility of men much more of Christians not to talk of prudence to introduce a reasonable Liberty of Conscience and but that aequanimity and largeness of heart for Religion as is for other matters amongst different perswasions and that only due liberty and freedom thereof that is the common right of mankind even if it were but that they would give to one another which they would have and may and do receive among Idolaters Heathens and Mahometans for the Christians have their Churches and Temples in Turky and even China it self though they have none permitted here neither I say there lacks onely this reasonable liberty and largeness of Christian Religion to make Christendom and the World happy So then Europe is at this day the most noble and fairest part of the Grand Continent for Religion Learning